World Cup Attendees Remind Us Why America Is Wonderful

 You know why I'm liking that the World Cup being Hosted here is bringing in so many People from around the World who are Soccer Fans?  Becoz World Cup Attendees remind us why America is Wonderful... that's why!  Now, I know we got our problems, for sure.  I Rant about what I don't like a lot, but, I've also been a World Traveler and know that I Love America more than any other Country I've ever visited or lived in.  And some of them have been really nice places, don't get me wrong, but, I was always Homesick to return Home to the U.S.A, the Country that is mine and that I Love more than anywhere else in the World.  I'm so fortunate to be an American, even tho' in this Political Climate I'm also frustrated to be one, Two things can be True at the same time. 

And I'm glad that people who've heard a lot of Bad things about America and are coming here for the 1st time ever, are raving about us in a Positive way, and having a great experience during their visit.  They're in Awe of things we Americans take for granted.  And becoz we're so used to it, don't even realize nobody else has it in the World!  And I always watch Bill Maher coz I just LOVE Bill and his Show.  He always has Guests on that I want to see him interact with and interview.  This Night he had J.D. Vance on... and Raphael Warnock.  Now, I knew I'd like Warnock, I'd like Raphael to be President actually, I think he's a good Man and an excellent Politician... so few of those around that I can say that about.  But, my Surprise was, that I liked J.D. in his Interview with Bill, not expecting that at all!!!  *Gasp! Yeah, I know!!!*  How did that happen?! 

 He came across not so much like a Bullshit Artist, tho' I know he can be one and usually is.  On Bill's Interview he seemed more Authentic.  And my Spidey Senses spiked and I thought to myself, humnnn... seems to me like J.D. be Gaming the Game and the fame... Playing the Player with Donnie Two Dolls to usurp him and replace him???  Gave me a different angle of how he's Playing the Game Politically.  I mean, at one time he did compare Donnie to Hitler, and so when Orange Hitler chose him as his V.P. you couldn't be more Surprised than I was, given how much Smack Talk and Shade J.D. had done against Heil MAGA Cult Messiah.  I do think Donnie may be catching on and why he's got Rubio so far up his Ass now, scheming to replace J.D. and why Donnie is trying to throw J.D. under the Bus now and discard him as a handy Scapegoat.  But, the Interview with Maher did reveal some stuff about Ole' J.D. that was in a Word... veeeeeery Interesting... as they used to say on "Laugh In" as Arte Johnson's Satirical German WWII Character.  *Winks*

Of coarse Bill had also Interviewed Mike Pence, so he's killing it with getting Vice Presidents to be on his Show.   And Honestly, even Cyborg Pence came across a lot more Human during his Interview too.  What bothers me is that Bill can never get the Democrats high up the Food Chain to come on... he's tried... they won't do it.  I have to wonder Why, since, really... if the ReTrumplicans are Game and Brave enuf to face Bill and be in the Hotseat on his Show, it at least shows that they are willing to take some punches and state their case, whatever it may be, and whether or not I agree with it, I can Respect that with whoever the Guest is.  Even if I loathe their current Political Party's way of doing everything.  But I tell you what, as much as I loathe everything MAGA stands for... I'm not liking where the Extremist Democratic Left is heading with the Democrat Socialists.  It's like the Left's version of MAGA, which is disturbing, sans the constant Lying and making things up.  So far anyway.

Have you heard some of these People, like Darializa Avila Chevalier, who was just Elected in NY?!  Christ on a Bike... she's OUT there in Extremist Far Left Field, isn't she!!?  Fuuuuck!  If that's where the Democrats are going, my Vote is really in Question and up in the Air now!!!  Being very Anti-Partisan I don't LIKE either Party anyway, been disenchanted with damned near all of them for a long, long time.   But 2016 and The Cult of MAGA along with their Orange Jesus, who I knew was exactly what he's always been and attracts Weird and Extremists in a way like nobody else probably ever, did make me Vote Blue No Matter Who, coz... well... would have no part of that Insanity and Fuckery.  But, these Democratic Socialist Extremists, swing from one Extreme to yet another, also want no part of that Insanity and potential Fuckery either.   I don't think Socialism is a dirty Word or particularly scary to me, Socialized Medicine for example I'm completely On Board with, as most Progressive 1st World Nations have had it a long time for their People, we're the only ones who don't.

Most of what Bernie Sanders says makes Sense to me and to most Young People I've talked to actually, and Bernie is an Independent, not a Democrat, and I'm an Independent, just more Moderate leaning than Ole' Bernie.  *LOL*  He's the longest Serving Independent Member of Congress in U.S. History and that Staying Power speaks for itself, Bernie has some Common Sense Policies, which if passed and implemented, would Solve and be Solutions to a lot of Problems in sensible ways that are not the least bit Extreme, even tho' he's quite the Socialist.  I didn't Vote for Bernie when he ran for Prez, coz I would have preferred Andrew Yang and was part of the Yang Gang, Andrew left the Democratic Party in 2021 to become an Independent, he's also very Smart, very Common Sense in Policies that would be very Helpful to Solving American Problems. 

 He's more comfortable trying to Fix The System than being a part of it, I Like that.  That's my Tribe of peeps in Politics.  I have zero Hang Ups about an Intelligent Asian Man being President, but I knew far too many Americans would so he'd never Win.   Any more than a Woman would... especially a Woman of Color, so tho' I Voted for Kamala and thought she'd make a Fine President, I knew she would not Win.  I think she came closer to Winning than I thought... and against Donnie Two Dolls she should have Won, but, his abysmal 1st Term had not Taught his Supporters a damned thing.  And of coarse I was Right and she didn't and I do Believe it had more to do with Gender and Race than any other reason and nobody could convince me otherwise.  It stuck in the craw of too many Americans that she was even VP coz she was a Woman AND Black.  I know how biased Racially and how Patriarchal America still is and it won't change in my Lifetime unfortunately.  I always held out Hope it would tho', but, it hasn't and it won't before I'm Toes Up.  We got a tonnage of Evolution and Evolving to go...  *Le Sigh* 

But, back to my Point of this Post, that America is, as a Country, still Wonderful and there's nowhere else like it in the whole World.  It's why so many from all over the Globe flock here and want to become Americans and be a part of the American Dream.  Yes, that Dream is wobbly, but, compared to most other parts of the Globe, it still has the Promise that many other places don't have at all, to do anything and be anyone you want to be.  Sure, some Poor will stay Poor, but some Poor have Made It and Prospered too in America.  My Dad was a Fine Example of a Man with very limited Education and almost no Opportunity, who still made himself a good Life with a successful and Honorable Military Career spanning 27 Years and was also a Master Chef in Civilian Life. He told me I could do anything I wanted to do and be anything I wanted to be, I just had to work harder than any Man or White Person to attain it, so, I did, and he was Right.  

 

  I was an Assistant Vice President of a Bank before turning 23 Years Old. In an Era where it was a Good Ole' Boy Network and the vast majority of other Bank Executives were Old White Men wearing Power Ties with complete disdain for Females in positions of Authority.   And there is a lot still Wrong, and stuff that won't get Fixed, mebbe ever and certainly not in my Lifetime.  But I do think most of America will stand on the Right Side of History and those who stand on the Wrong Side of History will be accountable for it, one way or another.   Karma does have a way of evening things out in The End.  And I just think Public Pressure will go a long way when the Majority get Fed Up and Resist strongly.  There are very few folks I know who want constant Chaos, Drama, Headaches in their Daily Lives that could be avoided and are caused by outside influences that disrupt their way of Life and cause Hardships for them.  And America is still the best Country in the World to Live in IMO.  I try to be Mindful and Grateful of that even when I'm Bitching about our current Political Fuckery and Woes.

Speaking of Resistance, I watched a really good Movie on NetFlix Tonight called "One Battle After Another" {2025} starring an All Star Cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, and Sean Penn, well worth watching, it's an Activism Inspired Drama, but also rather a Dark Comedy.  With that Cast I knew it would be good and they play well off one another's Characters.  I enjoyed each Actor's Character Portrayal.  I haven't seen Penn in anything in a long time coz I know he works behind the Scenes in Hollywood now Producing and Directing, I always Loved his Body of Work.  DiCaprio and Benicio also are some of my favorite Actors.  It does have an Activism Theme to it relevant to Today's messy World and Injustices abounding.   Penn is well known for his Humanitarian Activism and he's very hands-on and doesn't mind being Controversial when doing it.  I applaud him for that, it can be risky.

The Daughter Works Noon to Four in Chandler Today, The Son finished all the Yardwork in prep for Irrigation coming at a ridiculous time Monday Morning again.  We've had shitty Rotation Hours the past few times, wee Hours of the Morning where he has to be Asleep to get enuf Rest for Work, since he Works Early Shifts starting at 5:00 a.m., so he can't stay up 'til 2-3 in the Morning to do Irrigation for us.  So, The Daughter and I have had to do it instead and she gets Scared at Night about Scorpions and Paranoid about what might 'get' us as we're wading around in the pitch Black Darkness.  Our Mini Farm Community is very Rural Dark after Sunset even tho' we're in the Heart of the City.  So you can't see your Hands in front of your Face after Dark.

Well, we're back from The Daughter's Gig, while waiting on her to finish the Work I found a GOODWILL Clearance Center in the East Valley.  It's got AC, the West Valley Location in a Warehouse is bigger but doesn't have AC.  You pay by the Pound, like $2.18 a Lb. and they had really nice Brand Name Clothing and Shoes there, so I got some for each Family Member, including a T-Shirt by Versace and a Gay Pride Pair of Overalls.   I had 9 Lbs. worth of Clothing and Shoes, very pleased with my Haul from there and it's near the Antique Mall I always go to there in Chandler.  Also next door to the Clearance Center was a "Dollar General" that was Closing so they had everything marked 30%-50% Off.  I got Eli his Food, Treats and Litter.  I got the Colorful Cheerful Wreath Below for the Front Door for Summer from SAVERS and got some more Fiesta Ware Vintage Coffee Mugs.  Someone must have Donated their whole Fiesta Ware Collection to that Location the Granddaughter Works at?!

One of the Shirts I got at the Clearance Center in The Daughter's Size is Below, Loved the Graphics and what it says, she did too.   And I got me a 2XL John Lewis Good Trouble T-Shirt too.  I got so many good quality and Brand Name T-Shirts at that Eastside Clearance Center even tho' they have a lot of Pickers there who clearly are Resalers.  But, they weren't vying for the Product I wanted, they were all Young Men heavily Tattooed with really nice Trendy Black and Grey Flash full Sleeves, and dressed very Trendy too, you could Imagine them in a Rock Band.  They seemed to all be together but mebbe they just all knew each other, seemed they were Regulars there.  Some Older Senior Ladies were Regulars there too and knew one another, they too looked to be Pickers for Resale of what they were Buying in bulk.

 

Below was my Brunch from "Tipsy Egg", the Manager there now feels like he Knows me and always comes up and talks with me, nice Guy.  He said, you're here late Today, coz it was past Breakfast and damned near Lunchtime becoz her Work Hours were later this time.  I told him I'd gotten to Sleep In and The Daughter had a later Gig.  He'd been there since 6:00 a.m. and I told him usually I keep those kinds of Hours now myself, so it was a Luxury to "Sleep In" until 8:00 a.m. and not have to get a Kiddo to Work until Noon.  *Smiles*  I don't think a lot of folks would consider rolling out of Bed at 8:00 a.m. as "Sleeping In" tho'.  Especially Retired Folk.  *LOL*  He Laughed at that Truth.  He probably came up to talk to me Three different times coz it was thinning out by Brunch coz they Close after Lunchtime, they don't do Dinner there, it's strictly a Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch Restaurant in Old Town Chandler's Main Street.

I had the Acai Bowl, which has Fresh Yogurt, their House Made Granola, Fresh Fruit and drizzled with Honey, with an Acai Sorbet... delicious and refreshing on a very Hot Morning-Afternoon.  I also got another Side of Fruit and an Iced Caramel Coffee.   I sat up at the Bar, it's a Trendy Spot so a lot of Young People go there and it's a good place to People Watch.  They have Seating on both sides of the Bar and the one side is Open to the Outside, I sat on the Inside section of the Bar facing Main Street.  I also went to the Antique Mall again, didn't Buy anything but looked around, they were having a very busy Weekend of Sales.  I didn't Need nor Want anything.  I did take a scant few Pixs for Blog Fodder.  It hadn't been that long ago I was there so I'd taken a lot of the Pixs the last time.

They won't be having their Monthly Event at "Highland Yard Vintage" again until Fall.  They Close it for the Summer Months.  It's in a huge Warehouse Space behind the Antique Mall and perhaps it's not Economical to Cool that thruout the Summer?  A lot of Businesses Close for the Summer Months due to the Heat and the fact Visitors and Snowbirds have left by late Spring, sometimes even early Spring, depending on how Hot it gets early on now.   With Climate Change we're Heating Up even during Fall and Winter Months now.  They'd done their 250th Anniversary Patriotic Themed Event before Closing for the Summer and it was really good and a nice way to Close Out for the Season.   Their Antique Mall does more Theme Decorating Seasonally and for Holidays than our Mall's Vendors do.  I've yet to go to the newest Antique Mall that Opened recently, a lot of my Vendor Friends have Rented Space there already.  So, I'll have to make a Pilgrimage there and check out the Competition.  *Winks*

It's called "America's Antique Mall" and is at 2820 West Dunlap, so, closer to our other Downtown Phoenix Antique Mall's Location than ours.  They Opened in early May.   It's large, 45,000 sf and we're 55,000 sf, our Downtown Location is 45,000 sf so it rivals that one but is 10,000 sf smaller than our Location.   I'm glad it Opened tho' coz we've lost a lot of Antique Stores, Malls and Specialty Shops.   I prefer Shopping for Vintage items and Salvage, so those are the places I become a Regular Customer and like to trawl.  I'm not one to often go to Big Box Stores unless I specifically Need something they have that's Essential.  And I don't tend to look around much at any place that only Sells Mass Produced Merch, it's not Interesting to me, there are no "Deals", and Mass Produced Product has no real Value, so is no Investment Vehicle on the Buy of it.

*******

I do Hope you're having a Great Summer my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian

Moving Bodies

via: Magnolia Pearl

 Okay, so, the Blog Post Hook Title isn't actually as "Dateline" Ominous as it sounds, but, it got your Attention and drew you in, didn't it?  *Winks*  The Bodies I am Moving aren't Human... *Whew*... so no Need to make an Anonymous tip to the FBI or anything.  Tho' what that Drunken Mister-Party-All-The Time Moron Kash Patel would do with it might Amuse the fuck out of me.  *Giggle*  I managed to schlep my 2nd large full Body Antique Dress Form on a hanging Cast Iron Frame out of the Art Studio and into our Boudoir.  What an ordeal, she's heavy as a Boat Anchor or a Dead Body {I am Imagining that 2nd Example, Winks} but she is on workable Cast Iron Wheels.   I just didn't want them in the Art Studio Space now that it's not gonna be my Art Studio, they had Purpose in there and now they didn't with The Grandson living in that Space now.  He was starting to utilize them in ways I wasn't having a Peace about coz they could get damaged and they are expensive, Old, not Props for Cosplay Weaponry and Silence of the Lambs Type Costumes.  

I took a lot of time Saving Up to afford them, they're pretty Rare and hard to Source or replace should something happen to them.  I got good Deals when I bought them quite some time ago, I couldn't get those kinds of Deals now on one or afford what they go for now.  Both of them are unusual in that as Old as they are, they are both very Full Figure Dress Forms for us Big Made Women.  So, when I want to Design Wearable Art Wardrobe for myself, they are the perfect Size too.  Most Antique Dress Forms have Wasp Waists and were diminutive Sizes during that Era.  My 2nd "Rescued" Dress Form is Pictured Above and Below.  *Smiles*  Another Body successfully Moved out of Buffalo Bill's Space, the Adult Kids inappropriately joked.  *Winks*   And now you can see the wee Corner I Blog in of our Boudoir, behind the Door!  *LOL*  

Yes, I've been totally Displaced from having an Office Space now... whatever... I kind of Like my Lil Cubby Corner here... with the Clothing Rack and Mannequin surrounding it,  it's now very sequestered and insulated from prying Eyeballs and distractions.  They can't even get in here to stand behind me now or peek at me from the Media Chair Location!  *Bwahahahaha*  These I have, I don't know if they're European originally, but, could be, and likely are American ones?  In case you aren't familiar with them I Cribbed an Online Image of one very similar to mine only not as Full Sized. {Further Above the Pixs of one of mine.} One of mine has a full Right Arm too.  The Cast Iron Base is usually Ornate and mine actually hang from a Cast Iron "L" Shape away from the Main Pole.  These days the Vintage and Antique Models go for close to $800 or more if you can Source one.  They make Modern versions that are still around $770, so not much cheaper than the Antique versions, even if bought from large Retailers like Wal-Mart.  I don't know the new ones are built as well? 

I had Room in our Boudoir for one, the other one now stands behind me here at the Computer.   Coz I really didn't have Placement for her here, but, I'm not opposed to where she is either.  The same with my Cast Iron Clothing Rack with my T-Shirts that had to move in here, it'll do, we make do with what Space and Room we have now.  There isn't even adequate Placement for all the People, let alone all our Worldly Possessions, all crammed together now indefinitely.  At least now I can enjoy the things I Need, Use and want to Look at, that I Value most of what I've Collected and wouldn't ever Sell Off.  These Dress Forms won't be Sold in my Lifetime anyway, I have serious Attachment Issues to my Collections like this.  *Smiles*  I rescued some of my Jewelry out of his Room too, he'd broken this Rosary coz he had it as part of an Art Installation he'd Created and I had the Vapors when I saw that coz it's an Antique Nun's Rosary!!!  *Argh!*  The Mad Artist struck again!!!

via: Magnolia Pearl

  I always Decorated my Art Studio Spaces with Inspirational Objects Collected and Displayed, but, now I no longer have an Art Studio.  Off and on that's just been the Reality of being displaced when Family had to move back in with us and Occupy what was used as my Art Studio.  For lack of anywhere else to put them and their possessions.  Will I ever have the Time to devote to doing my Art again, I truly don't know?  I'd like to think I will, but it's been long delayed now.  I used to enjoy working on my Art Projects and now it's been so long that I haven't even thought about Creating in ages now.  And it Feeds the Soul, so I know I should get back to it but I can't concentrate well if I don't have a Space designated to do it that I don't have to pick up in between working on something.  An Art Studio gives you the Creative Space to spread everything out and work on it without interruptions and without tidying it up while the Work is still in Progress.  And I do so miss my previous Art Studio Spaces I had at Two previous Properties.  They always were my Favorite part of our Properties.

via: Magnolia Pearl

The RV Garage Mahal is massive, but not a Climate Controlled Space, so utilizing it Year Round is not possible.  And, with Climate Change and every Year heating up hotter and for longer, there's even less Time I can safely spend much time in there now either.  It would cost a lot to Climate Control a Space that large, it's Warehouse sized.  As it is Utility Costs are escalating just to AC or Heat a Home, let alone extra Spaces.  If I Invested a small Fortune in Solar perhaps it could be done, but the Two Major Utility Companies in Arizona have already been Fined and lost Cases in Court for violating Anti Trust Laws concerning Solar and what they have done illegally to Solar Customers.  When I had Solar on the Villa McManse, I fought the Utility Co. we had at that location, APS, and Won a huge Reimbursement from them.  They were Stealing Energy from me at a Discount and then trying to Sell my own Energy produced back to me at a Premium!!!  They are only allowed to Buy any Overage... and we're only required to Sell them any Overage at a Discounted Price.

The way Solar is presently structured, and how they Sell it to the Public, is corrupt still, so I'm not willing to Invest in it again until that is remedied, even tho' it's Cheaper Energy and works very well.  The Sun in Arizona never lets you down and produces a lot of Solar Energy Year Round.  We need to rely less on Fossil Fuels and Traditional Energy Methods that make us Vulnerable Globally and at Home,  And Invest more in Alternative Green Energy like Solar, Wind and Battery... but the Big Oil and Utility Companies spend a lot of Bribery Money to block it in our Politics by being Mega Donors to our Politicians, coz they fear the Competition and Losses it would cost them.  Just follow the Money, as I always say, to know why Sensible and Progressive better Methods are not being considered or Invested in to Solve critical Problems we're already facing.  

This Regime is Bought and Paid for by Oil and Coal, it's why they tout it so aggressively and vilify Green Energy.  With lame excuses like Wind Turbines hurt Birds and Whales, etcetera.  *Eye Roll*  Like that Corrupt Environmentally Unconscious Money Hungry Fucker Cares about Wildlife or the Environment!!!  Does he remotely look or sound like a Guy who gives a Rat's Ass about the Birds, the Bees or Whales?  *Come On Seriously!* And he certainly doesn't Care about the American Public or our Future.  And what he's forcing us to be reliant upon and refusing to give us Options that would be less Costly and less reliant on these Countries supplying Oil and holding us Hostage right now becoz of that reliance on those forms of Fuel and Energy.   China for Example is Developing Alternative Energy on a far larger Scale than the United States.  It is expanding it's renewable Energy Generation capacity, particularly Wind, Solar and advanced Grid Infrastructure.   And at an exponential rate that currently is outpacing the rest of the World combined, they're Smart to be doing that, we're Stupid and Foolish not to be also.

I like the Above Tag but didn't Buy it, I don't think I've been Tamed, pretty sure most of you would concur I'm still Wild?  *Bwahahaha*  I'm not completely Feral Acting tho', like some nasty and destructive Humans prone to Wrecking their whole Environment coz they cannot be the least bit Civilized... or their out of Control Spawn.  Luckily, when I picked up my Check and worked on the Showroom at the Antique Mall on Friday the Ferals hadn't been in there and it was in decent Order still from the last time I ran damage control behind the Feral Humans.  I don't mind a lot of Traffic thru the Space, that's usually a good Sign that it's attracting Interest.  But those that come in and Wreck it are not Welcome and I would rather that the Mall take a firm stance about those vandalistic types who manhandle everything, act the Fool, break things and Steal, just be asked to leave.  Or be permanently Banned if they cannot behave while there.

I think it's a very sad commentary on the lack of appropriate Parenting when even the Chazzas have to constantly make Public Service Announcements over the Intercom for Parents to keep their Children up under Control and with them at all times.  For the safety of the Child and other Shoppers, coz some of them Bebe's Kids {Comedian Robin Harris' infamous skit}, are buck Wild and completely out of Control.   Sadly Harris is no longer with us and taken prematurely, but his Dark Humor about out of Control Spawn lives on and on... and in Public, you still see Feral Children like what his Comedy talked of that were the scourge of his Dating Scene.  A "Bebe Kid" is now Slang term for extremely unruly, chaotic and misbehaving Children.  Our Family uses the Term all of the time when we see those types of Families in Public with Kids who are out of Control, run Wild, have no Home Training and the Parents aren't up to the Job of Managing them appropriately.  *Winks*   And we will say it loudly in Public too, so their Parents and the Kids can hear us, "Them some Bebe Kids!"  *LOL* 

They made a Satirical Movie of it, Cartoon Style, but in Real Life, Kids who Act like that are no Joke and everyone despises them and their Parents.  Especially Retailers coz they can Wreck a Store or Restaurant and cause a lot of disruption among other Patrons who would rather not have to Deal with your Kid misbehaving.   I have been known to give my "Gramma Crazy Eyes" Stare Down to a Kid acting like that, no Words are necessary and the response is immediate.  A Kid knows when an Adult is in Charge and won't take no mess from them.   And most Kiddos aim to Please, Kids Like me in spite of me taking no mess from any Child and expecting them to Behave.  Gentle Guidance and Consistent Training work wonders even on Kids whose own Families fall way short and thus end up with Behavioral Issues.   So, I blame the Adult who isn't being responsible, not the Child, that Child could be Trained to know how to Act and be Socially Acceptable little Humans.  It's a shame for any Child to have Parental Guidance completely absent, it sets them up for some Hard Knocks Life when they grow up and nobody is gonna Deal with them kindly once they're Grown and still act like that.

Discipline is not Abuse, but we have so many Undisciplined Humans running around creating Problems for Society.  I highly suspect many of them were Bebe Kids who were either Spoiled Rotten, or the Parents tried too hard to be a Friend and not a Parental Respected Figure, or the Parents just didn't Care and were Negligent.   There are some recent Commercials on TV that irk the shit out of me coz of the Kid in it.  A VRBO Air B&B one in particular where the Rude, Bitchy, Sassy Teen is so Disrespectful to the Parents, especially the Dad, and the Commercial makes Light of it as if that's Normal Behavior that should be Tolerated and is Humorous.  It's NOT, if a Teenager acted that Disrespectfully to me or in front of me, there would be no holding me back in Dealing with them appropriately and swiftly.  It would be a "Who in the Hell do you Think you are?" Moment for damned sure.  

In the Commercial the Teen is a pretentious precocious total Bitch acting Older Teen Female Child at the cusp of Adulthood.  Oh, she'd Learn FAST who was the Alpha Female and dominant in the equation if she was foolish enuf to try to Square Off.  *Winks*  The Take Down would be fast... it wouldn't happen again.  I HATE how those Parents react in that damned Commercial!   But, I can Guarantee that a Kid that Old whose Acting like that, had a whole damned Childhood of Learning instead that she was in Charge of the Parents and could say or do whatever she liked or wanted without consequences.   And when I Googled why the Ad Makers would chose such a Rage Bait Scenario, I was Right... it's a Marketing Ploy to make it more Memorable.  To feature a Sassy Teen to leverage the "Entitled Disrespectful Youth" Trope as a form of Rage Bait, is a common Marketing Tactic Designed to make the Ad Memorable by sparking Strong Emotional Reaction, both Positive and Negative... and translate to high Brand Recall.  

But, for a Consumer like me, doing so would make me avoid said Brand even if I remember it and Blog about the Commercial.  *Smiles*  One that every time I watch it, is making me wanna jump in that Hot Tub and hold that Bitchy Girl underwater for a Minute... and slap both of her Parents... on the Canvas of my Imagination, coz all Three of them annoy the Hell out of me and make me Hate the Brand I'm Recalling too.  So their Rage Bait did work, just not the way they probably intended for it to and I put VRBO on Blast for making such a distasteful Commercial that I cannot stand watching, so I wish they'd just take it off the air.  I'm not Connecting to that Family in any kind of Meaningful way or commiserating with them.  Coz that would be a Kid who'd never fucking go on a Vacation with me ever.  *Bwahahahaha*  Our Kiddos Learned early on if they couldn't Behave in Public or on Trips, they would be denied the opportunity to come along as a consequence.   And my Kiddos are Special Needs ones, somewhat Behaviorally Challenged due to what's Wrong with some of them, but it was never an Excuse to get away with shit that was unacceptable or disrespectful.  

And, Yes, I've known some very Liberal Parents who think it's Progressive to not Discipline a Child at all and be their "Buddy", and talk to them that way.  *Gak*  And those are typically the Kids I see manipulating the Hell out of said Adult coz Boundaries are blurred about whose really in Charge, the Kid or the Adult???   You can use some Psychology Successfully on a Child that is more effective, Kind and Gentle Guidance, but don't fall into the Trap of thinking your little one should be your "Friend", they Need a Parent, chances are they're all Friended Up already and don't Need any more Friends, especially "Adult Friends". *Eye Roll*   I personally think it could even make them more prone or susceptible to being Victims of Child Predators to assume that an Adult posing as a "Friend" could Earn their Trust quickly coz they've been Conditioned to think that way?   Just sayin'.   And a bratty Kid is generally not endearing themselves to any Adult quite frankly, so their Parents should Wake Up to that Fact.  I don't Like bratty Kids... blame the Parents... but, still don't want that Kid around me disrupting my Calm and Testing my Patience, Period. 

Okay, so enuf of me Ranting about People's Feral Children.  *LOL*  I genuinely LIKE most Children, but the Feral ones need to be Domesticated and Housebroken better to be tolerable to me.  *Smiles*  And if you're Twenty-Something and still acting The Fool in Public, I will ask you how Old you are and if you think that's a Good Look for someone Old enuf to Know better?   *Winks*  I've had College Aged Young Men, in particular, who I do think come in to the Mall after some libations and act like they're 14 Year Old Boys.  Once I had one on our Upstairs level, which circles the entire Downstairs level, dropping Ice Cubes down on his Friends Below!!!  Well, one of them had rang a Locked Case Bell and I was responding just as an Ice Cube was dropped and hit me!  I looked up, The Young Men were now no longer Laughing about the Prank gone awry and hit some Old Lady, and were Shitting Kittens!  Coz I looked up, and sternly told their wayward Friend, as if he was my Adult Grandchild, and loud enuf to draw Attention, get down here RIGHT NOW Young Man!!!  *Ruh Roh*

  

He complied Obediently and his Friends now were somber as Hell, coz they knew I was not Playing.  I had Ice Water dripping down my Face and in my Dreadlocks!  When he got down there I do what all Young People dread, I Called him Out about misbehaving in front of his Friends.  How Old are you?  He responded he was 23.  Are ya'll in College?  Yes Ma'am, he and the others responded.  And this is what your Parents are paying for Higher Learning for... and likely making Sacrifices and going into Debt, thinking you all are Mature enuf now that you are all Grown Ass MEN?  They all looked down at their Feet, shuffling and uncomfortable by now.  I want you all to DO better coz I KNOW at your Ages you SHOULD KNOW BETTER, so Man Up, Okay???!!!  Yes Ma'am they replied in unison. And then I Opened said Case and waited on them pleasantly.  They all Behaved for the rest of their stay at the Antique Mall and the Young Man did apologize profusely and sincerely to me, I accepted said Apology.  

I knew he hadn't intended to hit ME on the Head, and they weren't Bad Young People or total Delinquents.  I've confronted Gang Bangers just as harshly when living in Da Hood, if they Disrespected me or messed with me or Mine.  I'm not Inhibited or Intimidated in the least and I Bow Down to no Man.  The Man doesn't back down to anyone either, he's Calmly and Chillingly told Young Thugs who think they are Bad Asses that he'll rip their Head off and shit down their Throats.  He can give that Deranged Veteran with extreme PTSD 1000 Mile Stare that Chills those Punks to the Bone.   He put one Young Adult Thug who tried to Rob him at a Gas Station thru the Windshield of that Young Man's Vehicle once, he was in his Sixties, the Guy perhaps Twenty-Something.  *Ha haha*   We Give Respect and Demand it.   Anyway, this Young Adult was just messing with his Friends as Young People do... but this was in Public and it could hurt someone, cause a Slip and Fall liability to the Business once the Ice Melted on the Floor, and we have Families and Old People Shopping there. 

  

 Plus, when I was 23 I was already out on my own, Raising a Child as a Single Parent, holding down a Corporate Bank Executive AVP as my Career, Managing Three Departments of Nine People Older than me and a Fourteen Million Dollar Portfolio of Investors Loans, and Owning my own Real Estate.   If I'd of met any of these Guys back then, who were the same Age as me and acting like Tween Boys, it wouldn't be attractive in the least.  And they were all Nice looking Young Men, and Cleaned Up well once they were confronted with Immature Behavior not being Appropriate at their Age and in Public.  Sometimes they just get carried away with themselves and go too far having a good time, but, being a public Menace in the doing of it that gets out of Control.  And I never wanted to get embarrassed as a Young Adult by Acting Immature for my Age.  Yet, I do also try not to get so Old I Forget what it was like to be Young.  So, I can relate to Younger Generations quite well, I just don't put up with any Bullshit and Nonsense, and most of them do Respect that and Respect you more for it.  You Teach People how to Treat you.

In France it reached 110 Degrees and that massive Heat Wave is hitting all of Europe.  All of Germany is under Extreme Heat Advisory Today, they're as Hot as here in Arizona, which is Crazy!!!  Here we are not only used to it, but everywhere has Air Conditioning and mostly, it's a Desert Dry Heat, except during Monsoon Season, where then it's Humid.  I've lived in Europe, numerous Countries there, triple digit temps are not Normal there and probably they will be now with Climate Change.  I don't know they're being proactive enuf about it either to protect their Populations adequately?  Cooling Stations here are plentiful, I don't know they are in Europe?  I don't know that many European Families have AC, I know during the Years we lived there, nobody did, not even in Shops, tho' they might have more AC Buildings retrofitted now?   Google says only 20% of European Households have AC... compared to 90% in the U.S..   Southern Europe does better, with 50% in Italy and 40% in Spain having AC.   But only 6% in Germany do and they are under Extreme Heat Advisories, which can be Fatal.

 It was Windy Today but still around 108-110 all day, I did some Environmental Cleanup, a lot of Drinking had gone on Friday Night so I got 23 Lbs. of Aluminum Cans and traded them in at the Recycle Center.  The Daughter has a Cleaning Job in Chandler Tomorrow, so the day will be spent doing that and transporting her there and back.   Monday will be The Son's 40th Birthday in Real Time, I know this Post will Publish long after that since I'm about a Dozen Posts ahead that aren't Published.  I'm still trying to remember to shorten my Posts, sometimes I even Succeed.  *LOL*  When I went to one of the Major Mountain Parks that I have an Annual Pass to I was literally the only Person there!!!  It's Summertime and the Kids are out of School but most Parks are barren and devoid of anyone lately, it's kinda eerie and unusual.  Usually there are lots of Kids on the Playgrounds, which are covered in Arizona to provide Shade, the Gazebos and Ramadas are usually full of Parties and Picnics, but lately... Nada.  There are Fire Restrictions in effect and No BBQing may account for some of the avoidance.

And nobody should go Hiking in this Heat either, so a lot of the Hiking and Biking or Horse Trails are Closed while the Extreme Heat Warnings are in effect.  Mostly due to Rescues and Deaths already happening when folks are foolish enuf to go do something like that when it's over 110 Degrees.   Usually it's not Locals, it's Vacationers and they're ill equipped to be out in the Desert to begin with and bring a single paltry Bottled Water!   And don't realize that even surrounded by City, sometimes you can't get Cell Service for Emergencies around the Mountain Ranges that surround Metro Phoenix.  There are Dead Zones where you can't get a Signal Out so you couldn't Call for Help if you Needed it and nobody is coming by to accidentally find you either.  Coz most Sane and Sensible folks wouldn't be taking a Hike in the Extreme Heat and wouldn't imagine anyone else would be either.  Unless someone sees a Vehicle Parked near a Trail Head for Days, it wouldn't even arouse suspicions unless someone reports you Missing.

Anyway, I had all of Estrella Mountain Park to myself and it's a very big Mountain County Park, so it was quite Serene and lots of Wildlife apparent when People are absent.  I saw what I think were some Vermilion Flycatcher and Cassin's Finch, which are tiny Birds, that are very Colorful and you don't see too often, the Red Feathers on them catches your Eye and they're Curious when they see you.   And we'll end this Post with a couple of Selfies of one of the Granddaughters in Pittsburgh.   The Young folks take such good Selfies, I totally Suck at it.

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I'm finished moving Bodies for now... Dawn,,, The Bohemian

Not My Day To Watch Them

 

Well, I Won $5 on my Frida Scratch Ticket and The Son Won $20 on his Scratch Ticket, so we both were Winners!  *Winks*  The Ten Grand would have been Nice, but, hey, whatever... a Win is still a Win, Right?  I had forgotten my Phone tho' and didn't realize it in time, so Princess T had poor Rusty, her Boyfriend, get off Work to come get her coz she couldn't reach me by Phone... and when I finally realized I didn't have it on me, I raced to her Work just as she was getting off and poor Rusty was almost there too!!!  So, he had to do a turnaround and just go back to Work, I felt really bad and so did she.  I'm so forgetful lately tho', I'd forgotten to Cash my Check too and had to go back to the Bank to do that as well... it was just an Airhead kinda day for me.  Princess T did feel badly for making me feel badly, and apologized, she knew I didn't forget it on purpose.  It was 114 and nobody wants her walking Home alone anyway, let alone in that kind of extreme Heat.

I'd told The Man I was rushing to the Bank coz I'd forgotten to Cash my Check from the Antique Mall, and then I'd be picking her up from Work after that.  He didn't know I didn't have my Phone, I didn't know I didn't have my Phone, so when she called the House to ask where I was and why I wasn't answering my Phone, he'd forgotten where I said I was going, just that I wasn't Home, and just told her to call my Cellphone again!!!  She did and her Uncle answered it coz he heard it ringing here in our Bedroom and thought it Odd coz he knew I wasn't Home, or why I hadn't taken it with me?  *Le Sigh*  And told her, well, Gramma doesn't have her Phone and she's not Home!  That's when she called the Boyfriend for an Emergency Ride!!!  And then everyone was Worried about me and where I was?!   Oy Vey!!!

Anyway, all is Well now, we passed Rusty and waved, she was Calling him to tell him what happened, he wasn't Mad, we were probably more upset about it than he was.  He's such a good Guy that Princess T said he just never gets Mad or Upset, he's Chill all of the time and very Laid Back about everything, which is Nice.  We're all High Strung enuf to offset his amount of Chill, she said, and she's Right about that!  *LOL*  Anyway, she took Tomorrow off Work coz initially a Friend was having a Birthday Party, so Matthew and Timmy, her Gay Posse, wanted her to go to it with them, they all know the Birthday Girl.  Well, she asked for the day off and then decided she didn't wanna go coz everyone was gonna spend the Night since Drinking would be involved, the Friend was turning 21.  Princess T doesn't Drink so she just didn't wanna be around a bunch of Drinkers who'd likely end up Drunk... and Opted Out now so it wouldn't end up awkward.

She would require a ride there and Home so Matthew would have been her Ride and if he was Drinking and spending the Night, she didn't want him to feel obligated to take her Home first.  Matthew is Native American and a very Conservative Young Man with high moral values about his Lifestyle.  So I was under the impression he didn't drink... both due to being Indigenous, and being like Princess T, rather Conservative in their Habits compared to most other peers in their 20's.  Princess T doesn't hang out with any Party Crowd and doesn't want to either.  Even her Friends who do like to Party every once in a while, she says, I Opt Out coz I don't want it to be my Day to Watch them.  We Laugh about that but it's our Catch Phrase... "Not My Day To Watch Them".  *Winks*  So, anyway, now we're all relaxing at 3:00 p.m., done Todaying for Today.  *Smiles* 

   While I was at the Antique Mall our Manager came up and asked me if I was Okay and The Man was Okay?  He knew things were not Right and so I did tell him a bit of what's going on and why I've been turning down so many Shifts, he only knew in part and hadn't wanted to pry.  He's a Young Guy and the Grandson of the Founder, and has always been very good to me personally and values my input and my Work Ethic.  So he always calls me first when options exist and I appreciate that.   He also knows I have been there since this Location Opened and had the 1st Sale before they even had a POS up and running!  *LOL*  He was truly concerned about us and I saw that.  He said he will always have me at the top of the List for whenever I feel Well enuf to take on Shifts again.  And will be Hoping for the best for us both.  As you can see by my Fiesta Ware Vignette in the Showroom, I'm trying to make it Display Summery and Festive.  Not going with the Red, White & Blue Patriotic Theme, coz not Feeling particularly Patriotic with this Regime in Power giving America a Black Eye Globally, Tanking our Reputation among Allies, Friends, and valuable Trade Partners.

I had several other Vendors, that I don't even know all that well, I couldn't even tell you their Names, coz I don't even know their Names, come up and talk with me and ask why they haven't seen me around?  I hadn't realized anyone who doesn't know me that well even had noticed, I guess they had and were concerned.  That Touches your Heart to see the genuine Concern of people you don't really have a Relationship with, but Care and notice when you've been Missing.  I don't elaborate with folks I don't know, but just said Health Issues had come up in the Family and I was giving that a priority right now.  Of coarse the Co-Workers and other Vendors I do know well always ask how we're doing and we have a good Relationship with all of them there.  They really are the bulk of my Social Circle beyond the Blog actually.  I've said it before, most of our Inner Circle have either moved away or Passed Away now.  We have already Lasted longer than damned near everyone we were very Close to who were Lifelong Friends, or Family our Age.

Our Antique Mall hasn't leaned heavily into the Patriotism Decor even tho' it's the 250th, like so many others have.  I've enjoyed seeing it elsewhere even if I don't Plan to go all Stars N Stripes Forever as a Theme in our Retail Spaces at the Antique Mall.  I don't Collect nor have a lot of 4th of July related Vintage Merch anyway.  Plus, Red and Blue not being Colors I personally Style with often, if at all, and White isn't my Fav Non-Color either to Decorate with, too hard to keep Clean.  Tho' if done well I'm not opposed to a Colorless Palette, so long as I don't have to Maintain it.  *Ha ha ha*  I tried it once back during the "Shabby Chic" Rachel Ashwell craze, which, I did Adore her Style Sensibilities, it just wasn't for me and my Family.  Too many Men, too many Kids, too many Generations under one Roof, too many Pets, and constant Visitors, to make it Functional for us in the Home.   It isn't a very Forgiving Color to Live with, or Entertain in, let us just say.  *LOL*

And, while at the Antique Mall I was overhearing some very Interesting conversations from mostly Older Shoppers as I Eavesdropped unintentionally on conversation they were having with each other while Shopping.  About the 250th, the 4th of July this Year, and not feeling at all Patriotic!!!  Most seemed just Sad they couldn't Feel it since you overheard them saying they've always felt Blessed to live in America and Proud to be an American... but current Politics have made them just not feel Patriotic at all now.   These were mostly Old White Folk too, some of whom one would think could be MAGA Supporters and might have Voted for this Administration once, twice or thrice... so, it was interesting to overhear that Sentiment from so many this close to the Big Milestone National Holiday coming up soon.  I completely understand and am in Agreement.  I've always been Proud to be an American, I've always Loved my Country, felt Blessed to be here, and for Generations our Family has Served in the Military and made Sacrifices for the U.S. and our way of Life, and to Protect Democracy Abroad when it was threatened.

It's not that I don't acknowledge some of our Bad History, I certainly do and a lot of it is quite recent.   It's not Old Bad History, the Timeline has been before and during my own Lifetime.  But I always felt like we could do better, be better.   Aspire to become more enlightened and Support Humanitarian Causes in a way that would make Americans Proud of being on the Right Side of History as we go into the Future.  That our Children, Grandchildren, Great-Grandchildren would have it better than we did.  That they all could attain The American Dream and Inherit a Future and a Nation that Ancestrally has been Fought long and hard for them and many Sacrifices made so they could Receive so much more.  My Parents were always so Proud that we had attained so much more than they had or even could.  It made all their incredible Sacrifices worthwhile to them, all their Hardships worth whatever they'd been thru or endured, to ensure that kind of Present and Future for us, their precious Children.   We were so Proud of them too, against incredible Odds they gave us a good Foundation to build upon and excellent start to move Forward and Succeed.

My Dad never even finished Grade School at the Indian Schools... I don't know that his Mom or Dad ever had an Education... my Welsh Gran-Gran didn't have any Schooling either.   My Welsh Nanna and my Mom were highly Educated tho', it's something they got the Opportunity of even back when a lot of Women didn't, of their Cultures.  I would venture to Guess they both had Genius IQ's and stood out, so were selected for Higher Education due to that.  My Mom was given a College Education free of charge from the Age of 14 becoz she was so Brilliant... before she met our Dad she was in Charge of a large Export Company's Comptrolling.  She was a Senior Executive Comptroller before she was 17.  Often your Gifts make Room for you in Life that way.  She only gave up her Successful Career to Marry our Dad and put his Military Career ahead of hers and come to America, which she didn't know a lot about actually and had never thought she'd leave her Homeland, which she Loved and was fiercely Proud of her entire Life.  She never became an American Citizen and never wanted to be... she was Proudly Welsh.

There weren't a lot of Non-Welsh folk she'd ever met in her Lifetime before then anyway.  Before Dad joined the Military, there weren't a lot of Non-Native American folk he'd ever met in his Lifetime before either.  So both of them had Grown Up in rather insulated Cultures among their own People, and were Young and eager to explore the whole World and everyone in it, and experience all they could.   Which they did together for over 36 Years, 27 of it was my Dad's Military Career Span.  They did eventually Divorce after 36 Years... for a brief time Dad went back to the Rez, but decided it wasn't for him anymore and returned to Arizona.  One of his Youngest Sisters became Widowed and moved from the Rez and in with him until the day she Died.  Which is Culturally what Indigenous Brothers do with Widowed Sisters, take Care of them when their Husbands Die.   My Dad and his Brothers took Care of my Widowed Grandmother until the day she Died too, financially Supporting her.  I never knew a time when my Dad wasn't sending Money Home to his Family to help Support them.  My Mom was Okay with it coz in her Culture you do that too.

Her Older Brother Supported not only their Mother, my Welsh Nanna, when she became a Widow... but his Wife's Father when he became a Widower too.  He moved in with my Uncle and my Aunt, who was his Daughter and an Only Child, so it would have been her Duty to take him in, when his Dear Wife Died and lived there with them until he Died.  My Uncle just Adored his FIL William and I heard many wonderful Stories of William.   My Male Cousin and his Wife helped Care for my Uncle once he became a Widower, tho' he chose to live Independently, becoz he was able to, and was self-sufficient still when he Died at Age 90.  But my Cousin and his Wife visited him, made sure he had everything, had him over often and corresponded with us so we'd know Uncle Syd was doing well.   My Uncle's Wife was an Only Child, usually its the Brothers who Inherit the Parents to take Care of in Old Age, but if there are no Male Siblings, the duty goes to the Daughters.  My Brother and I split Care of our Parents, me doing most of it since I lived Locally still and he lived in Cali.  Then he moved Mom out to Cali near the End of her Life.

The Man's Family weren't that way at all, since most American Families aren't structured that way Culturally, and I think their Church mostly stepped in to help my MIL when she became Widowed and until she Remarried.   The Man likes and now prefers my Family's way of Being, we look after our own, no matter what it takes.  Whatever it takes, that's what ya gotta do without Question.  And we really never think about it as being Optional or something we would choose not to do anyway.  So, sometimes when The Man tells the Adult Kids or The G-Kid Force, oh, I don't want to be a 'Burden' to you Kids... they scold him and say, it's no Burden Dad/Grandpa, you Looked after us and took Care of us, now it's your Turn to be Looked after, it's only Right and you've Earned that Right for the rest of your Days now, Mom/Gramma too.  It is Daunting, I won't Sugarcoat Full Time Caregiving or Sanitize any of it.  Anyone whose done it, whether Paid or Unpaid, knows what it takes and entails... you cannot Romanticize it or you'd be being disingenuous and not Keeping it 100% and Real.  I'm sure I have PTSD from Decades of doing it nonstop.  *LOL*

But I do Believe those we Love should be shown unconditional Love and Care.   If you don't Care or don't have that Love, then I would think it would be impossible for you to fill that Role tho', and mebbe you even shouldn't or can't, for whatever the reasons or circumstances?  I wouldn't presume to Judge or know your Personal Dynamics with those in your Family or Inner Circle.  Every Family is Unique, different, diverse, it can be very complicated and there's really no Right or Wrong answers for each of us IMO.   I do think Americans NEED to Connect more with one another tho', on a deeper and more meaningful level, and in Unity, and of Unified Purpose.  We would be the better for it...

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Positive Energies being sent your way my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian