New Year's Day Morning

 

Caregiving is not for the faint of Heart, you never know what you'll be Dealing with next?  Sometimes now The Man is prone to doing something just to be annoying and for the Attention, especially if I'm trying to do something else and he's not my primary focus.  Something like Blogging, per se.  *Eye Roll*  I was here early after dropping the Grandchild off at Work, happily Blogging away.  He gets up, sits in his Media Chair behind me breathing so hard you'd of thunk he just ran a fucking Marathon!  Honey, why are you so out of Breath, I finally ask, as he got louder about taking a Breath?!

I'm not Breathing hard, he Lies, and I call him out about it and said, Yes, you ARE, now Stop it before you hyperventilate!  He immediately ceases and is breathing now quietly and normally, so it was all unnecessary and dramatically faked.  *Eye Roll*  Now that he wasn't getting desired Attention, or breathing so hard he passed out, he went back to Bed and promptly fell back Asleep.   Coz I was not aborting a nice Morning Blog to Deal with Childish shenanigans to start my New Year's Eve Day.  I just would have ended up irritated and agitated for no good reason otherwise.  *Winks*  Patience isn't one of my Virtues in Dealing with anyone's nonsense.  {Above are some of my Vintage Twizzle Stick Collection}   I don't drink but I do like Cocktail Twizzle Sticks and Collecting them. 

I will be going to The Gym again this Morning for not only an End of Year Workout, but to show that Nice Manageress the Paperwork, Cards and Codes that Humana gave me, for their Silver Sneakers Benefits provided, effective on January 1st.   It's December 31st so I'll have to go in again on the 1st to have them be able to Transition me, if that is even possible, but she wanted to see which Tier of Silver Sneakers they're providing on the Advantage Plan I Qualified for?  I really don't know, I just know it's the one Humana set up specifically for the Needs of Military Dependents and had a decent array of what they cover that TriCare For Life does not, and is our Secondary Insurer thru the Military.

Even with Two Insurances, you often still pay Out of Pocket or don't Qualify for what is Accepted at various places you'd go for your Health.  I would prefer a National Health Program like most 1st World other Countries have had for Decades.   That provide Healthcare to their Citizens at No Cost and don't have an Ability To Pay Barrier if you wouldn't or couldn't afford the Care.  I've been in some of those Countries and they even treated an American or other Visitor of their Country, if you got Sick or injured while there. 

 My Mom would always take me to one of their Hospitals rather than the Base Hospitals when I was a Kid and we were Stationed Abroad, coz, I received better Care than our Military Hospitals provided.  She gave Birth to my Brother and I while Abroad and in a Local Hospital.   Base Hospitals weren't always bad ones, they had good ones, depending upon that Location, but now the one at the Base here was Closed down.  And Google says this about the Why: 

Military hospitals are closing or consolidating primarily due to post-Cold War force reductions, a strategic shift to focus on Military Readiness {Training for Combat}.  And a major DOD reorganization under the DHA {Defense Health Agency} to integrate care.  Pushing more Beneficiaries {Retirees & their Families, ie: Us} into Civilian Tricare Networks.  The goal is to streamline operations, standardize care, and ensure Medical Personnel maintain critical Combat Skills by treating Active Duty Troops, rather than relying on large, less-utilized {eye roll coz they're VERY utilized in Truth} Facilities for Non-Active Duty Care.

My problem with that is Twofold:  First, Contractually when you Enlisted you were Promised Free Healthcare for Life for you and your Dependents even in Retirement as part of your Earned Benefits if you made the Military your Career and Retired from it.  Secondly, not every Civilian sector Network accepts Tricare Recipients, in fact, the majority don't, coz, they claim they don't get Paid by the Federal Government for Services rendered and often get stiffed when they do, getting a small fraction of what is owed, so, many just won't take you on as a Patient.  And the Military and Government has pretty much said to their Retirees, you don't matter anymore, disposable assets.  For those really Disabled by their Military Service, you and your Families Caring for you, go get Sponsored like a 3rd World Child by some Civilian funded Charity like Wounded Warriors Project!

  And, your Out Of Pocket expenses can be prohibitive and your Caregiving won't come with a Salary to your Caregivers, when, you should have an EARNED Benefit that was Contractually Promised that should cover it all, but now, doesn't.  Basically they Screwed Over their Veterans and Families who fulfilled their end of the Contractual Agreements, since they just chose to cease Honoring their end of the Contractual Agreements made to them.  And the Base Clinics, won't accept anyone over a certain Age either, even prior to when you'd Qualify for Medicare to pick you up.  And they keep breaking Promises and eroding Earned Benefits all of the time, which is why most Young People aren't making the Military a Career.

Anyway, we'll see how things go on Humana's Advantage Plans by Medicare?  And if this Administration keeps messing with Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security... and probably Grifting and Skimming the Funds for their own enrichment, we might eventually not even have any of that left when the Well runs dry from being Stolen from by the Criminals in Power?   Trusting Foxes to be in charge of and in the Henhouse means you will end up with Dead Chickens, that's my best Analogy of what is happening in Government and the White House right now.  Today's Mini Rant now over.  *LOL*  When Caregiving gets to me I Need to Vent a bit about how Families doing it have been Forgotten and become Invisible.  And I'm that very Loud Invisible Caregiver that won't Shut Up and Behave.  Not fading into the Woodwork Quietly or Obediently, so as not to make Waves or make folks feel uncomfortable.  *Winks*

What can I say, I Believe in Sharing and Spreading the Endless Joys of Caregiving and who it impacts directly when I do, matters not to me.  *Smiles Wickedly*  I remember when I had Cases at both the VA and at DES for The Man and for The G-Kid Force, which became a Full Time Unpaid Job.  If I wasn't gonna get Services Needed, and if any of the Staff became my Barriers to Solutions required, well, I was gonna make those specific Barriers Working at all those Agencies as uncomfortable, miserable and Stressed Out as possible. 

 Having to Deal with me incessantly, coz, I wasn't going away and they'd given me Nothing left to Lose, so, now it was On.  I'm Nice until and unless someone gives me a reason NOT to be and go Dark Dawn on them.  Welcome to My World, now we're truly All In It Together.  They did not Like being In It With Me at all.  Often, to make me go away they'd provide something, which, was always better than nothing... so, Worked for me.  I never get flustered or even raise my Voice, I am Calm and Calculated as I go Mental, but sometimes it has required them to call Security.  The VA always has Big Cute Muscular Stud Muffin Security, but not a good Look for them manhandling an Old Career Military Dependent Wife defending her Disabled highly Decorated War Hero.  *Winks* 

  This is Why The Son asked me to go with him to handle his DES "Problem" rather than Mando.  When they had not been able to have a Solution and the Problem Fixed by going themselves numerous times, they weren't Convincing enuf.  Time to let the Dogs Out.  *Smiles*  I must say the Two Caseworkers we ended up with were God Sent Angels, coz he said he hadn't had such Nice ones before, so bringing me seemed to be Charmed and like a Lucky Talisman. *Smiles*  Well, my Lord knows when Devils are put in my Path what's gonna happen I guess, so He better handle it better for everyone's sakes, I dunno?   Coz I will go quite scarily Pre-Demonic myself, to appropriately Deal with any Minor Devils or lowly Demons Spawn sent to Square Off with me.  It can be Amusing for me and I'll make it Fun, for me anyway.  *Bwahahaha*

Didn't matter to me that the last Five folks in front of us with the exact same Problem as we were having had to leave without their Solution.  I feel like being the First has it's thrill and taste of Victory.   The Son had sat there saying, "Mom, what IS gonna happen when we get up there if they do us like they just did all of them?"  He was concerned, but the Security at DES look like Mall Cops compared to the Security at the VA, so I'm not the least bit Intimidated or deterred.   There had been some Scrappers from Da Hood come in wearing their Bonnets and Pajamas, being as Ghetto as you can get.  Who did cause quite an Entertaining Scene... rightly so, they were being jerked around and NOT being Helped at all after Hours of waiting to be Helped and with Disabled small Kids in tow.  So, it was questionable to The Son if I would be similarly dissuaded to just Exit without our Solution?   

Fortunately God Smiled favorably upon us and tho' it was 3.5 Hours of Patience and Virtue we had to exercise waiting for our Turn, it wasn't in Vain.   So we got to leave Happy and with the Joy of Jesus still in our Hearts.  *Smiles*  Yes, it's just for a bit over $200 of Groceries for him to be able to buy for himself a Month while he has no Income or way to Support himself now whatsoever.   But that's important when there's only $1.99 left to your Name and you're living with your Crazy Old Mom on your Parent's Fixed Income Pensions/Disability Income, whose also now Supporting the rest of the Family in Crisis, Three Generations worth.   So, he knows I could Snap at any Minute, so giving me any old Excuse will do and he knows it and might as well use it to his Advantage, why not?

I just got back from my Workout at The Gym, boy do I feel better when I've had a good Workout to start my Day!   Since that is the case I met with Manager Crystal again, she tried to push our transition thru, but it wouldn't do it Today, she'll try again Tomorrow.  I'm meeting with her Tomorrow Morning too, since, if it won't push thru on the Tiers our new Provider has thru Medicare Advantage, she's willing to work a Deal out with me for a reduced Paid Senior Membership with no Age Restrictions imposed either, that is affordable for me.  The Man will drop, but, he doesn't use his Membership really and it's more difficult for me to have a proper Workout with him coming along and not wanting to actually Work Out.

So, having an Option that will work, if my Tier of Silver Sneakers won't, made me Happy coz I don't wanna look for another Gym, I like this one a lot.  It's one of the few things I do FOR Myself that is beneficial to keep me Fit, Healthy and Strong enuf to keep doing the Caregiving Duties vital to being able to take care of The Man, lift him and such.  I can't do that in a weakened or unhealthy state.  Also, the alternative to being Healthy is being Unhealthy, which is much, much, more expensive than a Gym Membership, any way you cut it.  It's a Pay now or Pay more later scenario if you don't take Care of the Temple that is our Bodies and Minds and Invest in Maintaining it appropriately.

If I end up with a Paid Membership with no Age related Time Restrictions imposed anymore, I can adjust my Workouts.   Back to either very early Mornings after dropping the Grandchild off at Work... or late in the Evenings when I tuck The Man in to Bed for the Night.  I preferred Working Out at unusual Hours when The Gym isn't as busy and I don't have to wait to use any of the Equipment.  It's more Tranquil with less People, especially Young Families.   I don't mind Young Families, if they're up to Parenting appropriately, but, some really aren't up to the Job.  

 And if I'm doing something to Center myself, I just don't want to Deal with the Chaos of the Littles, most not even wanting to be at a Gym, so can become fussy, which is understandable.  They have a Daycare there that is excellent tho', I used it when The G-Kid Force were little up 'til The Young Prince became too Old to go to the Children's Section.   You could use it 'til your Kiddos were 13 and it was no extra Cost and they gave them Physically Beneficial Activities to Work Out at their Age levels, it was great and my Kiddos Loved going.  But, once The Grandson was 13, it wasn't like he wanted to Work Out with his Grandparents.  *Smiles*  And his Sister didn't want to attend without her Big Brother, she did everything only if he did it too. 

I'd rather do my Workouts with no Kids or The Man in tow, then I can concentrate on doing what I Need and Want to do without being in Caregiver Mode at all.   A Middle Aged Hispanic Man just asked if he could take Princess T's Old Mattress.  And he didn't make a mess of the other Yard Debris Bags and Boxes filled from the Yardwork we'd done, so, didn't mind at all.  Less to go to a Landfill and if someone could use it to replace a Mattress they have or don't have, I'm glad.  You just can't Donate used Mattresses and we try to replace ours at appropriate times and when we can afford to upgrade them.  I realize for some Families, that might be impossible tho'.   Most of what we put Curbside for Bulk Garbage gets taken by those who Need or could use it.

They closed early where Princess T works and she's off and getting Holiday Pay for Tomorrow.  But, found but the Store is Open, but only the Front Staff are working, they're mostly part time.  I asked if she had anything Planned for Tonight, but she doesn't and said she's not going to stay up 'til Midnight either.  She's tired and if you don't drink then usually New Years Eve is too much drunken revelry and she doesn't want to be around any of that, I don't blame her, I don't either.   We usually don't make Plans for New Year's Eve, I don't wanna be on the Road, too many impaired Drivers.  And we haven't been to any House Parties in a long while, tho' we have been invited to some and have Opted Out.  It's just not something we do now.

It is now the 1st Day of the New Year, Everyone but Princess T was Home for New Year's by Midnight!!!   Surprised me that The Son, The Daughter and Mando wanted to be here to bring in the New Year with us Old Folks.   The Man was Sleeping at Midnight but our Community had so many Fireworks it was more than on the 4th of July and quite a Display and eventually woke him up!!!  We stood Outside and watched it for a long time, coz it was nice that Evening, the Bad Weather didn't move in until Today with the Rain and Colder Temperatures.  I was also Surprised that even my Alcoholic Kiddos didn't get drunk on New Years Eve, they chose not to!!!  Very Proud of that decision they made.   

 

This New Year's Day Morning I went to The Gym early, our Humana Codes still didn't give us the Tier needed to transition to Silver Sneakers Membership Paid by Medicare.  With all the changes to Medicare due to Federal Cuts and such, I'm just Thankful our Humana Advantage Plan offered Rebates and such that made it so I could go ahead and Pay for the Special Senior Membership Crystal offered me instead.  And now I can attend anytime I want to, no Age related Restrictions imposed, which will work out so much better for me.  I prefer to go to The Gym either very Early or very Late instead.  So, after meeting with Crystal and setting the Membership Update up, I could do my Workout real early before any of the Seniors flood in to use the same equipment I use.  Paying for that seemed worth it when she gave me Options that were affordable to me, with no Contract, Month to Month, in case Health or Circumstances Change.

 

The Man didn't mind giving up his Gym Membership.  He acknowledged he hasn't been using it and the last time I took him, he'd taken to Wandering and I don't want him getting Lost.  I don't want him getting Confused and possibly Wandering out the Doors and needing a Silver Alert becoz I was trying to Work Out and it's not the duty of the Staff to Babysit him for me.  And we had talked it over whether I should give up mine too if Medicare isn't paying for it?   Due to the Tiered limitations of the Advantage Plan offered to us, that had to be a replacement when we were dropped by the other Provider and given no choice but to accept a Change and get picked up by someone who would accept us and meet us at our Point of Need and existing Conditions.   He knew I like going to The Gym and it's what I do for myself to keep fit and maintain Strength for Caregiving.   So he encouraged me to just buy into what they were offering me at a Discount.

I went in to the Antique Mall to tidy up my Space for the Big Sale going on Today for New Years.   I Won 20% Off on the Cookie Toss, I always get it in the 20% Circle, I'm good at Midway Games, I have good Hand/Eye Coordination for them.   So, I bought another Anna Lee Christmas Stocking Baby that is large sized and is the Mate to the one I bought from that Vendor before Christmas.  And I bought another rolling Canvas Industrial Mail Cart that we use for Laundry.  The Vendor I got that from never gives Discounts, but has Primo Merch, so I took advantage of getting 20% Off with the Sale going on.  I wanted to get more Vintage Knee Hugger Elves from my Fav Vendor but they were Sold Out.

So this is my Anna Lee Stocking Child and I got Ten Bucks Off the Price.   These came in a Pair and I had the other one I bought from the Vendor before Christmas, she didn't even have this one in Inventory before Christmas tho'.   She has a lot of the rarer Anna Lee Large Collectibles, these Stocking Children are from the early 1990's.  Her Pricing is Fair even when it's not a Sale and she will work with you on Offers too, so I've bought from this Vendor often.  I also got a Vintage Starbucks Tumbler Collectible with the Two Tailed Mermaid for only $4 and some Scrabble Tile Garden Stakes for only $2 each... but I'd built up a Store Credit that ended up Paying for all those.  It was very busy, and my Showroom was messy, so I tidied that up, but I'd had excellent Sales Post-Christmas.  Even from my Locked Case and more expensive Merch is Selling now.

So, it was good news to know Sales are Stronger, we Needed that, the Holidays had been very Soft with Sales.   I was able to see many of my Vendor Friends and Paid Staff Friends while there, everyone wishing each other a Happy New Year.   Shoppers were receiving the Sale well and Buying a lot.  It was encouraging.  It will mean that for this Pay Period, which ends on Saturday, I should get a nice Check again.  We had to cancel the Outdoor Plans we'd made for Today since the Weather took an inclement turn and is too Wet and Cold now.  We've had Schizo Weather, Hot and Sunny and then Wet and Cold, with huge spreads in temperatures.  

It was good to have Good News for a Change tho' and some things going Right.   The Young Prince sent me a bunch of Selfies, he usually doesn't do Pixs, so I appreciated that, he did one for each of his Alters, which, was Interesting.  I know each is a distinctive Individual all wrapped up in One Body that 'they' Share, those with D.I.D. are quite complex.  It used to be called Multiple Personality Disorder and many with Schizophrenia and/or Borderline Personality Disorder, also have it.  He and his Mom have it, she has Four distinctive Alters, he has Seven... very fractured and depending on which is Dominant, you have to treat the Relationship you have with each as if it is a completely different Individual Person, becoz, it is.

That Velvet Peacock Top used to be mine... he liked it and now I think it is in New Mexico, which is Fine.  *LOL*  He's always worn a lot of my Clothes and so I've Shared my Wardrobe so long as he doesn't make any of it into an Art Project.  *Smiles*   This is the Alter I 'Know' best and is and has been most Dominant while in my Presence.  Very easy to have Relationship with this one and is one that doesn't mind me still referring to Male Pronouns and being my GrandSON.   And the Countenance of 'His' Face in this one appears more like The Young Prince to me.  I do think he tries very hard to keep this Alter Dominant for my sake when we're around one another.

Some are Feminine Alters and present as Female, which, has always been, ever since very early Childhood, perhaps even since Age Two.  So I'm used to it, totally and unconditionally Love and Accept each facet of 'their' Personalities and Gender Identification.  That said, the Feminine ones can be the most volatile and hardest to have smooth Relationship with.  I've had to Square Off with some of "The Ladies", it's difficult.  I'd say they're the ones responsible for being Institutionalized the most, and more frequently when Dominant.  That's a Bitch that will Cut you, even while looking less Threatening than a Male.  The Male Alters are much more Laid Back and get along and Play well with others, which, is Interesting to me, but, not Surprising.  I usually find Females more Complex than Males to have Smooth Relationships with, so, it makes Sense to me.

The one he calls "Greed" {Middle Selfie Above}, is the one I remember being particularly Dominant during Puberty and thruout his Teens, and got into a LOT of Trouble.  He even made me a piece of his Art representing that Alter, coz that was the one he knew I had the roughest time with Raising him, but Loved and Supported anyway, and stood beside during his very turbulent Youth.  Back when the Adoption Board told me he was Unadoptable, and that on their Rating Scale of 1-4, with 4 being the hardest Children to find any Placement for, if they had a 5... he'd be Rated a 5!  *LOL but they weren't kidding!!!*  That was quite The Wild Child even tho' he looked like Butter wouldn't melt in his Mouth. Greed looked benign, so people always underestimated how challenging it could be around that one.   You can see the new Tattoo he let his Dad's New Wife give him on his Chest on the bottom Alter's Pix directly above.   I'm glad it turned out the way he liked it since it's something ya gotta Live with one you get one. 

I'm glad 'they' are all Living their Best and most Authentic Life, I Support that and Advocate for that.  But I also know the risks posed in the doing of that, around intolerance within Society and especially around the most Transphobic in Society who want to vilify that Community.   A Transgender Child will always have a lot more misunderstanding and intolerance with extreme prejudices in our Society.  Treating someone whose very different inhumanely is rampant these days.   Like I've said before, I always wondered why Society at Large Feared the Witches MORE than they did those that Burnt them Alive?   People, and Society At Large, can be really conflicted about whose the real Devils and Villains within their midst.

Eli the Cat is upset coz his Human has been spending more time with her Boyfriend than with him here, so, he's not a Happy Cat.  I'm a poor replacement for her and he's not having it.  He likes me to brush him and that soothes him for a little while, but, he wants his Human Mommy.  And he's wailing pitifully in the Song of his People.  *Le Sigh*  Pretty sure he's going to do something dastardly to some of her things, in defiance and protest about it.  *LOL*   I'm feeling like a Sloth now after a Morning of being so Motivated I did a Workout at The Gym before 9:00 a.m.!!!  It began Raining and then I lost all Interest in whatever else we'd planned to do for the Day, since, being Wet AND Cold is not my Desired State of Being at all.  Plus, these Dreadlocks take ages to Dry out if they get sopping Wet and I'd JUST dried them out from the Shower I took at The Gym this Morning!

 

I am Hungry and being too Lazy to Cook anything for myself coz I was being fussy about what The Daughter was Cooking for the rest of them.  Usually I'm not a fussy Eater either, but I just wasn't feelin' what the rest of them were eager to have, that's all.  Being on Ozempic my Appetite can be iffy even when it's something I really, really Like!  But, I am losing Weight as a Bonus to taking it, and it's noticeable now and it's Stabilized the Diabetes, which is why I was switched to it.  My A1C now being in the 6 Range, which was the Goal we easily attained once I was on that Med.  The long-term Goal of coarse is to get to about  157-160 Lbs. and not less than that, or I'd look like a Frail little Old Lady, which is not the Desired Look I'm going for either.  *Smiles*  I've Weighed, as a Younger Adult, anywhere from 98 Lbs. to 130, before I got Old, needed all my Lady Plumbing removed, and gained all that Weight... but on Old Me, it wouldn't look as good now to be that Thin and Tiny.

So, I decided 157-160 would be my Ideal Weight at this Season of Life and probably would eliminate the Dreaded Diabetes and get me off a lot of expensive Medication.  So, it would be good for Health and Wealth to turn all that around, No?  *Winks*  That's my rationale now for deciding I'll attend The Gym daily now in 2026, since I no longer have Time Restrictions hindering me with the New Paid-By-Me Membership, instead of Medicare Paying for it, and I'd be back Home before The Man even wakes up.   We got our Letters saying how much our Social Security and Pensions have been adjusted for COLA... yet, our Mortgage Company also sent a Letter saying how much our Taxes increased on our Property, so... the Mortgage Payment shall go up effective February too... dammit!  The Govt. gives with one Hand and takes it away with the other, don't they?!

When I had Paid Off Properties I preferred it, of coarse.  But that was back then and this is now, so, Que Sera Sera and all that.  Shit happens, Life happens.   The Rain eventually stopped but then The Man didn't wanna go out anymore and do what we'd Planned to do earlier.  I don't blame him, once you sit around doing Nothing for a while during any given Day, it feels preferable now.  *Bwahahahaha*  I did enuf between Sunup and Noon to make up for doing fuck all after the Afternoon rolled in anyway.  And I don't feel bad about it either, being Slothful is something I used to have trouble Being, now, not so much.  *Winks*  I could get used to it in fact.  I'm even considering keeping Christmas up longer this Month than I'd originally decided to, fuck it, why not?  I can extend Holidays really well... it's a Super Power of sorts to linger and languish in every Holiday for Super Human amounts of Time.  *LOL*

Now I'm gonna trawl some Blogs and Lurk at many, as is my Custom...  And close by saying I Wish I had as much Hair as my Grandson, The Young Prince, {see Below}, who has more than most people even when he's Shaved 3/4 of it off and just kept a thick Mohawk worth of it long!!!   His Braid with only 1/4 of his Hair, is thicker than ALL of mine WITH Phat and Heavy Dreadlocks!!!

*******

Happy New Year my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian

The New Year's Post ... Hello 2026!!!

 

This is going to remain Unpublished until New Year's Day, which it's been pre-scheduled for... and is the New Year's Post, so, Hello 2026!!!   In Real Time we've got One Day left until New Year's Eve Day, I have no Plans to Celebrate it at all.  We usually do a New Year's Eve Buffet, but, I haven't thought about it for this Year.   I think all the Family have Plans for New Year's Eve anyway, so it will just be The Man and I here.  He goes to Bed around 7-8 p.m. so won't even be up at Midnight when the Ball drops.  Usually anyone setting off Fireworks wakes him tho' and gives him PTSD, so I'm going to encourage him to take something to help him Sleep thru it.

I never was a New Year's Eve Reveler tho' since I do not drink alcohol.  The Fire Water and I don't mix, a failing and scourge of those of us with Indigenous Heritage, so I refrain and am perfectly Fine being sober all the time anyway.   I woke up to the Kitchen being a mess so I suspect someone was up cooking something in the middle of the Night?  The Usual Suspect being the most likely one.  The Daughter is notorious for making a Kitchen look wrecked and doing it in the middle of the Night.  Is she even Awake whilst doing it, or Sleep Walking doing it, I don't know, since, I'm Asleep!  *Le Sigh*   She's Sleep Walked since early Childhood tho' and Slept in the Oddest places you'd find her.

We have Nurse Remi coming that the VA sends for The Man, so I like to have the House tidy for her Visits.   She comes pretty early too, so I may Solicit reinforcements to help me get that Kitchen back in Order and Cleaned.   Nobody even had a Sit Down Meal Yesterday, so, I have to assume most of it happened in the middle of the Night?  *Sigh*  The Man had asked me Yesterday, if he could make he and I something for Dinner?  Rare for him to offer to make Food now, he also has to be Supervised in the Kitchen, so The Daughter did say she'd do that.  She asked what Dad was doing, I said he wanted to make he and I a Dinner, so, just let him try.  Well, he came in with Two little Uncooked Corn Tortillas folded over some un-melted Cheese that tasted like Rubber and has the same Texture!  It was of coarse inedible, but I Thanked him, then threw it away.  *LOL*

The Daughter snuck in quietly to talk to me about what had he made?  I showed her and she stifled a Laugh, and then Secretly made me an edible Quesadilla, knowing I HAD to throw what her Dad had made for me, out.   "What Cheese even IS that which won't Melt, Mom?", she asked, coz it WAS Weird Cheese I hadn't bought.  I couldn't tell you, your Brother did Grocery Shopping Yesterday with his Nutritional Assistance Card and I think he bought some of that cheap faux Artificial Cheese???  *Bwahahahaha*  Honestly it was the Texture of Shredded White Rubber Bands and just as tasty and edible as... Shredded White Rubber Bands!   And, since The Man isn't allowed to use the Stove, and often can't remember how to use the Microwave, whatever he makes now is gonna be Raw for Safety Prompt Reasons.  Raw Corn Tortillas, not tasty either.

I asked her to make him a Real Quesadilla and take that pretend Food away from him before he chokes on it.  *LOL*  I don't think he protested, coz I couldn't even chew it and I have Teeth, he doesn't!!!  *LMAO*  So, he won't be making any more Meals anymore for me, unless it's a Jam Sandwich.  *Ha ha ha*  It's Sad, becoz before the TBI and Dementia he was an Excellent Cook and did all the Cooking, he Loved to Cook and was very good at it, I really do miss his Meals.  And a foggy part of him recalls that he used to Cook, now, he can barely remember that Food is for Eating and not Playing with on your Plate! And, if I don't get Annoyed and exercise Patience at Meals with him,  I end up getting real Emotional about it instead.   I'm not an Emotional Person, so, usually it's Annoyance and forced Patience as my reaction.

He's been enjoying just munching on the good Cheese, Crackers and Meats that came in those Holiday Gift Sets.   So I leave him Be and making Morsel Foods on Crackers to partake of.  He builds the Crackers up with the Meats and Cheeses like a Kid would build LEGO Creations and seems quite Content and Happy in the doing of it.  Plus, it's something he remembers he should consume after he builds it... so a Win-Win, since Mealtimes can be a Battle Royale with him now as the Illness progresses.   There's a Google Search slew of valid Reasons as to why Dementia Patients stop Eating, so at least I know it's typical behavior for what ails him.  Dr. Google Searches have been such a Blessing for further understanding his Behaviors altering and modifying my Caregiving tactics.

Anyway, other than that everything is Swell.  *Bwahahahaha*  I haven't been in to the Antique Mall coz I really don't want them to see me and ask me to Work.  Which usually happens anytime Management Sees me anymore.   And tho' I don't mind pulling a few unexpected Shifts to Cover for No-Shows, coz I like Working there, it can be my Happy Place, fitting it in can be logistically challenging at times.   Plus, sometimes I'm Tired now, Caregiving and Maintaining a Home now that has so many living here, is Enough to do in this alleged Retirement Years Mode I'm in.  *Winks*   I got things I Need to do that aren't even getting done at times.  

I was taken to The Bed for most of Yesterday, just feeling out of sorts Emotionally, not even Physically.   I Napped intermittently too, all Day long except for taking The Son to DES for Three Point Five Hours of our Lives we'll never get back to sort out his Food Card Issues.   Oh, and I did Trade In some Aluminum at the Recycle Center, since it's just down the Street a Block from the DES Office.  It was only just over Ten Dollars worth of Cans this time, but, that's Ten Bucks and some Change that I didn't have before, it just looked like more Poundage than it was.  Now when I'm holding and schlepping a 15-25 Lb. Bag of Cans it feels Heavy to me.  It didn't used to, before.  Clearly I need to Work Out more to maintain more Strength in my Old Age.   How am I expected to still be able to Knock a Sucker Out Cold, if I can't carry 25 Lbs. easily anymore?  *Bwahahahahaha*

 

I still don't know if we'll be able to transition our "Lifetime Fitness" Membership from United Healthcare Silver Sneakers Plan to Humana's Silver Sneakers Plan, until Humana is Activated on January 1st.  I have all of the Codes that the Gym said they would Need, but it seemed to me they weren't too eager to Maintain Membership of any Seniors that Medicare Advantage Plans are Paying for your Membership.  They kept wanting to Sell me on the Paid by You Memberships for Seniors, which, was offering Fuck all except no Ageism Restrictions on when you could attend, so, forget about it.   I'll let Medicare Pay and just go between 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., and all Day on Sundays, and not take a Hit to an already stretched too thin Fixed Income Budget, Thank You.  

I don't Need to Pay Too Much and be all "Extra", to have Pandering where you then make an effort to know my Name.   As I shuffle thru the Doors to Check In and you then feign you actually Care and are Glad to see me.  I'll stay Anonymous and an Invisible Member you show you don't Care about keeping, it's Fine.  *Eye Roll*   The Bougee Seniors do like the Pandering tho', it's Comical to me when they're setting some of them up with Expensive Personal Trainers.   And these Rich Old Geezers are in such Bad Shape, I have to Wonder what THAT Workout even Looks like?   Some of them are in Walkers, can barely Stand or put one Foot in front of the other anymore.  I think they might have trouble lasting thru a 10 Minute Sauna, let alone an actual Workout!?   

I've seen Physical Therapy be beneficial, don't get me Wrong, but, this is more a Status Symbol of the more Affluent Seniors and a Money Grab going on, clearly.   And, in some Cases I've seen the Personal Trainers they set them up with, {See Above Visual of what it Looks like}, as they usher some Rich Old Man in for his "Workout" by a Buff Beautiful Babe whose now gonna be his Personal Trainer.  Insert a Buff Gorgeous Stud Muffin if it's a Rich Old Lady.  *Winks*  Yeah, Easy on the Eyes, and mebbe only the Eyes will get the Workout, the Bodies of some of these Seniors is shot to Hell and there's no chance in Hell they're gonna get Fit.  There are some very Fit Seniors there tho' that have clearly taken good Care of themselves and actually Workout and clearly, often. 

 It is possible and some of those Seniors look fucking Amazing, well, from the Neck Down anyway.  *Smiles*   The Faces usually still looks Busted for a great many of them.  Not much can erase the ravages of Time there except mebbe some really skilled Cosmetic Surgery or Good and Fortunate Genetics.  *Ha ha ha*  My Goal is staying Healthy and Fit enough to have Quality of Life and Continue Extreme Caregiving for my Loved Ones, not to enter a Seniors Body Builder Competition.  *Winks*  I can more easily build Muscle than get my Girlish Figure back, I still have good Muscle Mass for someone my Age and I'm Strong and Flexible for my Age, so I want to Maintain THAT with Gym visits.   I do LIKE those Wet Sauna visits too, I ain't gonna Lie.  And the Cryo Beds Therapy and HydroMassage Bed Therapy... Sublime. 

Anyway, since Today and Tomorrow are the last Days of United Healthcare paying for my Membership, I do Plan to go to The Gym after The Man's VA Nurse leaves Today.  Then Plan to go to The Gym Tomorrow and see if I need to convert Memberships on the last Day of the Year, or the First Day of the New Year, if they're gonna even do it?  They've waffled quite a bit on giving me a firm Answer too, if they will transition my existing Membership, since United Healthcare dropped all of us Military Retired Seniors and we had to be picked up by a different Provider who still Honors our Veterans and their Families on Medicare???

  I don't know if United Healthcare and Aetna did it to ALL Retired Military on Medicare, or just some Regions like all of Maricopa County in Arizona?   Plan Cancellations of certain Seniors affected around 180,000 of us, primarily in Rural Areas, but Maricopa County was included and we're VERY Urban, 5th Largest City now actually.   They said it was a "Strategic Effort in less Profitable Markets" and not a "Broad Dropping" of Military Members.  *Eye Roll and Resting Bitch Face*   I put them on Blast here becoz it is discriminatory in a very obvious way and these Health Plans make plenty of Profits.  And this Regime is fucking enuf with Medicare and Medicaid Recipients without the Private Sector fucking with us too.

We had intended not to even Change our Medicare Advantage Plan.  But, forcing you to by dropping you involuntarily, for no real Reason other than discriminatory practices they can get away with, caused us to have no Option but to.  And then scramble to ensure we could get picked up by another Plan and transition what we can now with all our Doctors, Pharmacy Providers, Hospitals, and Gym.   It was a lot more stress and Work than I cared to have to be burdened with on very short Notice, since they didn't even notify us until almost the 11th Hour when you could have Open Enrollment Options available to you.  And, if you have Health Issues that are Chronic or potentially Life Threatening, it IS a Big Deal too.  You can't have or risk interruptions in Care, Medications, Services, it can be Life Threatening for many people if you do.  You have to inform everyone of the Changes and see if it's Okay with them, or NOT?  So, you might get Dropped by them too?

So, after January 1st when Humana kicks in as our new Provider, I have to go to everyone both of us uses, and give them all the new Information on whose Paying now on our Behalf and Covering us.   So far it is looking Promising with Doctors and Specialists, and who I get my Meds from, just not that Gym giving me a Green Light yet.   We'll see what happens?  We were Paying Members of that Gym for Years when we both had Careers and more Income, before Forced Retirement, Medically for him and to be his Caregiver full time for me.  Money always Talks and Matters... Always.  Don't kid yourself that it doesn't.  Money Buys Options and Favor, without Money, fewer, if any, Options or Favor.  It's the American Way.  *Eye Roll*

So, The Man, The Daughter and I whipped the Kitchen into Shape and I have a Crockpot of Chili on now too for Lunch and Dinner.  The Son had bought everything to make it once his Food Card got Activated, as a Strong Hint, he wanted me to make Chili.  *Winks*   I'm teaching him how to make it and what he can vary to put into it to make a good Chili that doesn't have to be the same every time,   And give almost limitless variety to Meals with Basics in the Pantry, with or without Meat on hand.  He had bought a Pound of Hamburger Meat, which is enough if you do want a Chili Con Carne.  It smells aromatic before you even Cook it.  The Guys are doing Yardwork for me so they'll work up an appetite, and they're clearing out the Irrigation Ditch behind our Property of debris and Pecan Tree Leaves.  While Irrigation is suspended for the Winter, you work on your Irrigation Ditches and SRP works on the Main Canals.

Princess T took all her Christmas down, I'll leave mine up for a part of January.  No hurries, no worries, to take it down, since I like how it looks and lights up the Livingroom at Night.   Stores were even still playing Christmas Music and I'm Fine with that too.  I may hit a TARGET and a Wal-Mart again to see if they marked down their Christmas Seasonal Food Gifts even more?  Getting some from "Sprouts" at 90% Off cost hardly nothing for quality Food items we enjoy and are Gourmet Foods that usually costs a lot.  Since the Family plowed thru those Cheeses and Meats so fast, if they have some of those Hickory Farms, Hillshire Farms, Old Wisconsin, Butcher Shoppe and Stonewall Kitchen Gift Sets, I'd get some more at an even bigger reduction in price.  So, after Nurse Remi leaves, that's my Destination, and, the Gym.

Above was Princess T's 1st Christmas, she wasn't even Two Months Old yet.  It was a Handful to have Two small Grandkids to Raise, hold down a demanding Career, and The Man's Health was Tanking big time by then, so Early forced Retirement was inevitable for us both.  I don't know how many places will be Closed on New Year's Day?  I know Princess T has the Day Off so her Store must be Closed.   Our Mall is Open New Years Day from 9am-9pm regular Hours and has a Big Sale. Where Customers do a "Cookies Toss" with Beanbag Cookies and can Win 10%-15%-20% Off their entire Purchase, depending upon which Hole the Bean Bag Cookie lands in.  

It's always well received so we may do well that Day in Sales?  When I'm manning the Toss, I tend to upgrade everyone to Winner Status and a 20% Off Coupon to Tempt them to spend more.  *Winks, and shush, our Secret*  Few do that, to me it makes sense and they then feel like a VIP who got the Big Prize upgraded like at a Carnival if they give you the Bigger Prize than you actually Won.  Everyone likes to be a Winner.  *Winks*   The Two Pixs Below were The Daughter as a Teenager with a Boy she got his Name Tattooed on herself and I'm like, you better have a Son with that Name then, unless this one lasts?  It didn't, she had his Name removed with an Aztec Design Coverup Tattoo.  Nice Kid, from a good Family, their Destinies were never gonna be on the same trajectory.

I went into KFC in between the long wait for The Son to flow thru the lengthy DES process and get to No. 88 being Called.  I have to Eat, with being a Diabetic, and it was taking too long.   So I had to dip out and get a Chicken Pot Pie on KFC's $4.99 Special for one.  Well, the Young Native American Kid working there saw me counting out Change and sat a Drink Cup on the Counter.  The Pot Pie Deal didn't come with a Drink so I looked perplexed and said, "Is that mine?"   And he Grinned and said, "No, but... if you want to Take it...", and Winked, giving me Da Hood Hookup.  Coz we were in Da Hood and this Kid might even have known me when we lived in the Historic Property?  They Grown Up and sometimes I no longer recognize them.  But they always recognize and remember me.  All the Indigenous Kids knew me, who went to the Schools off the Rez and didn't attend the Indian Boarding Schools.

Anyway, after The Son got done at DES I took him back to KFC for his Meal and the same Kid waited on us.  And said, "You're Back!!!"  *Smiles*  And I Joked, well, I can't Eat and then NOT Feed The Children, even after they're all Grown Up, they follow me around Hungry, I can't Shake 'em.  *LOL*  The Son had a piece of Chicken so Big on his Chicken Sammie Meal Deal he couldn't Believe it and Joked, "You always do get the Best Hood Hookups Mom!"    And... I do.  *Winks*  One time a Friend and I went out to Lunch Together, she's NOT from Da Hood, but I took her to a Restaurant in Da Hood.  Nobody knew we'd come in and were Together, we Ordered separately, paid separately, then joined each other afterwards at a Table.  She'd ordered the exact same thing as I had.  When mine came it was Twice the Size of hers, no hyperbole, hers looked like a Miniature version.  *LOL*

She's looking at mine, looking at hers, had seen every person in there Greet me by Name when I came in.  Obviously I'd gotten The Hood Hookup.   And I'd told her I'd known most of the Families of them from a long ways back, The Grandparents, the Parents, knew their Kids and watched them Grow Up, now even some of the Grown Grandkids of theirs who Work there!  It makes a difference.  If they own or manage the Business, sometimes it's Generations of a Family Working there.  And, I always Support my Local Small Business Owners, always have, always will.  And, I'm a Creature of Habit, so, if I like a place, they end up Knowing me eventually as a Regular.   It's like what happens at that Gym with Favor shown the Rich Folk, only for us Less Rich Folk and even Poor Folk who Know the Right People.   "I Know a Guy", is a frequent saying in Da Hood.  *Winks*   And once an Introduction is made, now "YOU Know That Guy" too.

Nurse Remi just left, The Man had a Good Report this time, his Blood Pressure was excellent and finally Stabilized, and his Sugars were good too, 83 was this Mornings Reading while Fasting!!!  She was pleased, I was pleased, and he sees his VA Doc the end of January, we have Two Approved Visits of Nurse Remi in January.  Whether we'll have her longer than that, we won't know until we see his VA Doctor what will be requested and Approved?   I did my Gym Workout and spoke to one of the Manageresses there, she was very nice, very informative.  She said there's so many different Silver Sneaker Tiers of Programs that she won't know 'til she knows which one I'm on if it can transfer over or not.

But, that said, she saw I've been a Member a long time, even before I was a Senior.  And she said so many Maricopa County Seniors and Military Retirees have been dropped with all these Healthcare Plan Changes for 2026 that "Lifetime Fitness" has implemented a new lower Paid Program/Plan for Seniors called Aurora and I may Qualify for that if they cannot transfer my Humana Medicare Advantage to cover my Membership.  It actually would be a lot less than any other Senior Plans they offer and my Humana Rebate Monthly for my Medicare Premium Cashback will just about cover it.  So, I am glad to have Options coz I don't wanna switch Gyms.

I don't know I'll continue The Man's Membership if his Humana Silver Sneakers Plan he's on, which is different than mine coz he's the Veteran, and mine is a Veteran's Dependent Program/Plan with Humana, doesn't cover it.  Not worth paying for him since he doesn't really Work Out at all and is reluctant to do anything even when we're there, so it would be a waste.   Anyway, my Workout went very well and the Gym wasn't too busy either at about 1:00 in the Afternoon.   I ate Lunch at their Cafe' and had the Rainforest Acai Sorbet with Fresh Fruit, Granola & Honey Bowl.  It's very refreshing.

They still had The Gym Decorated for Christmas, it's very festive and pretty.   I felt better Emotionally, as well as Physically, doing a Workout and tho' I don't make New Year's Resolutions, I do Plan to go to the Gym more frequently and carve out that Me Time for myself with consistency.  The Kiddos said they'd watch their Dad for me so I can, they'd been concerned when I got so Low Emotionally for so many Days in a row.  It was hard to even get out of Bed and tho' I didn't feel Depressed per se, I didn't feel in a Good Head Space at all either.  It was one of those Funks where you just feel Emotionally without any affect to you at all, not Sad, not Happy, feeling absolutely Nothing really one way or another.

I did go to Wal-Mart and TARGET too to look and see if they had marked down their Holiday Food Gift Sets more, Wal-Mart had Sold Out and TARGET had one Aisle left, but hadn't marked anything down further than last time.  But, I got The Man another Meat/Cheese Gift Set by Hickory Farms and got another of the Salsa Gift Sets and Two of the Breakfast Gift Sets from Stonewall Kitchen.  They had almost Sold Out of the Sets I got and liked best and had gone back for.   The Money my Brother-In-Law sent us paid for it all, he'd wanted us to Buy something nice to Eat, he'd said, when The Man and I called him to Thank him for the Money he'd sent in the Christmas Card.  He's Selling his Home in Texas and moving in with his Daughter and her Family, they're building a Custom Home with a MIL Suite attached for him.

Originally they told him he could live in the Home they own there while the Custom Home is being built, but then decided it would just be easier, while building the Custom Home, to add a MIL Addition for him instead.  I agree, he's close to 80 Years Old now and lives Alone, tho' in good shape, it will be beneficial to live on their Property, but with his Privacy and not have to pay expenses of his own place either.  They're covering all of his Costs and Selling their other Home there too.  He will still have his Property in Alaska, which he's just not ready yet to let go of coz he prefers living in Alaska and goes there every Spring and Summer.  He Sold his enormous Home there, which had it's own Air Field, Airplane Hangar and an Elevator in the House, but it was as big as a Ski Chalet and too much House in their Old Age.

When my SIL, his Wife, was still Alive, she no longer wanted to go up to Alaska, she wanted to stay full time in Texas and be near her Daughter and the Grandkids full time too.  They lived on the same Street only a few Houses away from each other and were very close Relationally since it's their Only Child... and those Two Granddaughters are their only Grandchildren.   The SIL Died in 2025, she'd been Sick and very Disabled for a very long time and the Caregiving was too much for the BIL but he said she wasn't getting proper Care in a Nursing Home, which he was paying a Fortune for the Best Care, so he took her out of there.  She Died at Home around her Loved Ones, which, was better for her.  He seems to be doing Okay as a Widower, he's still a fiercely Independent Old Guy in Good Shape Mentally and Physically for his Age.  

I still had a lot of Christmas Imagery to sprinkle in current and future Posts and I'm not ready yet to make them wait another Year.  *Smiles*  I'll probably go in to our Antique Mall for New Year's Day on Thursday, in Real Time it's only Tuesday Afternoon, tho' this Post will Publish on New Year's Day and I'll probably be at the Antique Mall wishing everyone a Happy New Year.   Our Asst. Manager and "Adopted" Daughter, Rachel, Won something from a local TV Station that rewards Employees during the Holidays, who are entered by Co-Workers and go above and beyond at Work.  I'm so happy for her.   Below was Channel 3's Surprise Squad to present her Winning the Contest.

 She is a Single Mom and her Only Child, a Son, has Special Needs and requires Therapy, so she Works full time and Bakes from Home, Selling the Baked Items, to pay for his Therapies.   Everyone used to think Princess T was her Daughter and I was her Mom, which is Why she calls me Mother and calls Princess T her Child, and we play along too.  *Smiles*   She lives with her Mom, who is also a Custodial Single Grandmother and Raising a Female Grandchild, whose the Daughter of one of Rachel's Sisters and is the same Age as Rachel's Son, so the Cousins are being Raised like Siblings and are Adorable Kiddos.  Rachel helps in the Raising of her Niece as well, to ease the burden and Share it with her Mom, they're a Strong Mother/Daughter Team.

We polished off just about all of the Chili, everyone had seconds and some had thirds.  It had turned out very good.  There might be perhaps a single Bowl of it left, which will get eaten before the Evening is over I suspect.  I went to 'Sprouts' again to look to see if they had any more Holiday Gift Foods 90% Off, they were Sold Out but had X-Large Brown Pasture Raised Hen Eggs on a Manager's Special for only $2 a Dozen!!!  I loaded up with Three Dozen since we eat a lot of Eggs... and Eggs have been so expensive for so long now.    Some Grocery Stores still had about 1/4 Aisle of their Christmas Merch marked down, but it was all either Decorations or Candy, I'm not Buying or Interested in any of that.  I got some Artisan Breads on Sale too so we could have some of our Holiday Jams and Jellies on Toast each Morning now.

The Two Above Pixs are way back when I used to set up a Christmas Village at the Holidays for The G-Kid Force.  Once they got Older I Sold it all at our Antique Mall, they're madly popular and this was a Vintage Village I'd had for about 30+ Years and kept Collecting New Pieces over the Span of my Kids Growing Up and then The G-Kid Force Growing Up too.   Then there was no point, with no more small Children, to Display it at the Holidays and Storing it was taking up a lot of Space.  I Cashed out Selling it Off Individually and made really good Profit off the Sale of it.  Some of it was from Hallmark Stores, others from Specialty Boutiques, and even Department Stores like "Dillard's" and "Macy's".  It has several Buildings, Victorian Houses, General Stores, Mission Church {pictured here}, Iced Skating Pond with Skater Figures on it.   Many of the Buildings could be lit up as could the Victorian Street Lights, which were Wrought Iron.   It had Rock Walls {pictured}, White Picket Fences with Pine Bough and Red Bow Garlands, Cobblestone Streets.

I've only Kept the Halloween Village Collection that I used to set up right up until the Villa McManse.  Here, I just don't have the Room to set it up so I haven't since we've lived here.  But am loathe to Sell it off, coz it's part of my Vintage Halloween Collectables.  I used to have an infatuation with Miniatures and Collected many.   I've kept some Mini Foods that are in some of my Antique Typeset Cabinet drawers.   I can't Believe how much Miniatures Cost in Craft Stores! Wow, I have a Small Fortune then if I ever decided to Resell my Collections of them!!!   I doubt I will Sell them all, but I have started Editing and Purging some and they are a Fast Turn when I do put them up For Sale.

  

I am in the Mood to Blog, but not a lot going on to really Write about.   I am getting some Adorable Holiday E-Cards, from those who don't send out Real Christmas Cards, but make their Online Versions to send out during the Holidays.   And I like them, since, they've always got Photos and then they embellish them using Online Photo Editing Tools.  The Niece sent the E-Card Below, and she'd made and sent several different ones, I Loved them all.   She's included some of Christmas Morning with her Two Daughters, her Youngest is a Son and not as eager to have his Pix taken as his Sisters.   Her Youngest Daughter, to her Left here, looks exactly like she did at that Age, she Cloned that Child!  *Smiles*  The Oldest Daughter, and the Youngest, The Son, look more like their Dad.

The Niece lost a lot of Weight in 2025 and looks fantastic now.  She'd gotten heavy and I had asked her what methods she used to lose the Weight, but she hasn't said and avoided talking about it.  Since she's had some Serious Health Issues, I'm just hoping then it wasn't Weight Loss from Serious Illness?   Or perhaps from Serious Worry, since her Mom is the BFF of mine who has Stage 4 Cancer and is now in Hospice.  This is the Daughter who had been her Caregiver and now the Docs have only given her Mom a couple more Months to Live and they've ceased all Treatments, she was just too weak to tolerate any more and no promising results from going thru Chemo and Radiation.  The Cancer was too far gone and was everywhere now.  I'm Thankful they managed to still have a good Christmas in spite of the Issues of Life.

The Granddaughter got her new Mattress Ordered, it's Full Sized, Memory Foam and comes in Black now as an Option, which we really liked.  The prices were good and Delivery was Free, also a Bonus.  She's Sleeping now on a Chaise Patio Furniture Pillow until it arrives.  She didn't like Sleeping on the Sectional, too firm for her Back.  Plus, tho' Eli did come out to Sleep with her, we had to put him back in their Room after we all wanted to go to Bed, just in case he got too confused where his Litterbox was if he needed to Go during the Night?  I didn't want Cat Piss anywhere and he can be a naughty Boy sometimes and on purpose too.   He'd been good laying up on a Pillow on the Sectional with her most of the Night watching TV with me tho', it was Adorable.  Mostly coz he's usually afraid to leave their Room much, he's a very neurotic Cat and Scared of everything unfamiliar.

He's not too happy that their Room changed again, the Tree is now down and her Bed is gone, he does not like it.  He'll get used to it, but it usually takes him a few Days if she changes how she Decorates their shared Room.   He doesn't like Change... at all!!!   Below is my Lovely Friend Carissa whose slung Hotdogs from her Food Cart to Raise her Four Sons and is Ageless.  She's given Birth to Four Children, including a Set of Twins, and still has maintained her Girlish Figure and even Modeled while Preggy!!  She doesn't look any different now than Years ago when I met her and the Kiddos were Babies, now Three of her Four Sons are Grown Men, my how Time just flies!!!  I remember when the Twins were just Babies and before her Youngest was even Born.

Santa would be Happy if he had a Mrs. Claus that looks like this!  *Winks*  Carissa has a Cute Sexy Outfit for every Holiday and Season to wear when she's slinging Hot Dogs.   Along with the Santa Ensemble for Christmas she has a Cute Grinch one too, sewing a lot of her own Wardrobe.  And she Bakes the most Ahhhmazing Confections too and Sells them from the Cart.  When you Bake that good I don't know how you stay in shape?!  *LOL*   I met her Years ago when she'd set up outside many of the Events we attended.  She's as Beautiful a person on the inside as she is on the outside and works so hard, but makes it look so easy to do all she does and with the most Positive Attitude.   She owns a Ranch now too and has a menagerie of Animals there that she Spoils, Selling Fresh Eggs now too.  And now I bet you might even want a Hot Dog?  *Bwahahahaha*

*******

Happy New Year from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian