Some Sweet Nostalgic Moments

I'm steamrolling ahead with Unpublished Posts, it's been enjoyable to be more relaxed than Blogging in Real Time.  I Scored a Medical Grade Chrome and Tan Leatherette Adjustable Rolling Medical Stool to sit on while working on Inventory at the Back Patio for only $8 at SAVERS.  They are around $169 Online, it's a very good Quality one, good condition, and will be more efficient than sitting in a stationary Chair back there and have to keep getting up out of it and sitting back down as I do things.  I can whiz around on this Stool and it's just the right Height, spins and rolls smoothly.  I got a Vintage Chunky Krispy Kreme Coffee Mug for $2 and an Iridescent Pearlized colored STARBUCKS textured Ceramic Tumbler that has raised wavy Pattern on it, for $3, Online it's going for $20.  {See the Online Auction exact same one pictured Below}  I still have a Thing for Collecting various Vintage Diner Mugs and STARBUCKS Mugs and Tumblers.

I got a La La Loopsie Large Doll for $3, coz Princess T said they're making a big Comeback and Online they're asking $30-$60 for the one I got, we'll Resell it.  {See Pix like it Below}  Mine isn't New Old Stock Boxed and doesn't have her little Dog, but while Checking out several Twenty-Something Young Stylish Women came up gushing over it and jealous that I'd Scored it before they could.  So, I know she'll be a Quick Turn and Princess T said, "See, I told you Gramma... a lot of the Old Toys are making a huge Comeback and some aren't being manufactured in the U.S. anymore like "Calico Critters"." {Pictured underneath the La La Loopsie Image}  Off and On I've had a bunch of these Collectible Toys and had noticed an uptick in Sales of these specific ones, now I know Why.  She said to move them to our Locked Case for sure for added Loss Prevention now they're so desirable.  Sad that you have to do that coz it's mostly the Parents doing the Shoplifting, not the Kids.

  

It's 116 Today and muggy, so I just haven't spent much time Outside for obvious reasons.  I have to go to my Dealership Tomorrow tho' coz my Truck notified me that my Key Battery is low and I've been told that after replacing it they MIGHT have to do a Reset on Programming it to my Truck, which I'd have no idea how to do.   Online it says if you change it out quick enuf, which, I don't do anything quick enuf anymore, and I've never changed one out before either, the Chip in the Fob will retain it's Memory Code.  I'm just not risking it if it doesn't.  And, I don't even know which kind of Battery it even uses.  Plus, I do need to get in and have my Oil Changed anyway, so they can do both at once for me and I'll be good for a while longer in preventative Maintenance.

E-Bay notified me that they're looking into the Fake Mushroom Coffee Vendor and made them remove the Listing.  It seems this Seller had some deeply hidden Negative Feedback Reviews for Selling Fakes or Questionable items, so I think that kind of Seller should be Banned.  From what Feedback the Buyers made, none got a Refund, which, they should have.  The Seller has to know they're Selling Fake Products in violation of E-Bay and Intellectual Property Infringements.  Safety concerns should be in the forefront of Edible/Ingested items that are Fakes and Packaged and Sold as if they're legitimate and nobody knows what the Contents even are in a Fake Product, could be anything.  I didn't even know so many Products are being Faked... scary stuff if no Regulations exist penalizing whoever is Selling them as if they are the legitimate Product.   I have a Reference ID No. that E-Bay Issued me while they conduct their Investigation of the allegations.

Well, my Nissan Dealership Comped me all the stuff they had to do for me Today, a nice Surprise.  Complimentary Oil Change, they say I have Eight more Complimentary Oil Changes on the House... Free Battery for my Key Fob, Free Filters coz they needed changing too.  I drank copious amounts of their Gourmet Complimentary Coffee Lattes and Cappuccinos while waiting on my Complimentary Service.  *Smiles*  So, it was a good Morning and they tried to Buy Back my Truck from me at 125% of the Value coz it apparently is a Model they need and want for Resale of Used Nissan Frontier Trucks, but, we couldn't sweeten the Deal enuf for me to Upgrade to another Nissan Frontier.  For the past 4 Truck Purchases they throw in a tonnage of Freebies, low or 0% Interest, Free Lifetime Oil Changes, etcetera... but, I'm very demanding when convinced to Upgrade coz I prefer to have Paid Off Vehicles and no Car Note Payments.  *Smiles*  I've been a repeat Client long enuf they know how I am.  *Ha ha ha*  But they've always treated me Right.

Near the Dealership the City Cleanup Crews had bagged a bunch of Cans and Water Bottles, but the Bag was deteriorating badly in the Heat and wouldn't have held up 'til they picked it up before falling apart.   So I picked it up, took all the Cans out to Recycle and put the Water Bottles in a City Trash Bin at the Park while I did more Environmental Cleanup.  I don't do Plastics coz they're only about 5 Cents a Pound and my Bags would cost me more than I'd get for collecting and recycling them.  Aluminum is at 70 Cents a Pound.   I took The Man to "Applebees" for Brunch since he hadn't eaten at all since I'd headed for the Dealership real early after dropping all Kiddos off at Work.  The Dealership was super busy even then, I wouldn't have gotten in Today had I waited and I didn't know how much Juice was left in that Key Fob Battery?  I could not risk it crapping out, not being able to Work, and then needing to be reset if the Chip went Offline.

It's bulk Garbage Day on Monday so I gleaned a Metal Industrial Grey Shelving Unit Curbside.  The folks had Two but one was badly twisted and this one was in very good condition and worth Salvaging to put beside The RV Garage Mahal to Store things on like Yard Maintenance Tools and stuff to Organize with a good Shelving Unit for Storage.  We are trying to make things more Orderly, Organized and Tidy, even on the Exterior Storage Spaces.  I'm ridding us of anything not Useful and just Donating it or Recycling it for Scrap Metal.  We have a good rapport with our Local Recycle Center and the Owner of it.   And a lot of our Friends and Neighbors are some of his better Customers too, so sometimes he'll make Deals with us all that he won't with just anyone or everyone.   I'm gonna ask The Son if we should pick up that other Shelving Unit to turn in for Scrap Metal Salvage?

I Scored a Grey Labubu for Princess T at a Chazza {see that one Below}, I don't know if it's a Knock Off Lafufu... but I got it for Four Bucks so... whatever.  It's Adorable either way.  And then we went back to pick her up and they had Three Authentic Labubu's in Green, Lavender and Blue, so I Bought them too, she Authenticated them with her Phone coz you can Scan the Barcode now so you aren't accidentally Buying a Fake.  But, I only paid Ten each for them so I didn't Care really if they were Real or not... but... they were, so, Booyah!   She doesn't Care about the lil Guy Below, didn't bother to Scan him coz whatever he is, he's Adorbs and she really likes him, so he was well worth the Three Bucks.   I got a lot of Halloween Design Paper Plates at the GOODWILL for 99 Cents a package in various sizes, so now we don't have to Wash Dishes for a long while, which, is Priceless.  *Smiles*  What Price can you put on NOT Washing Dishes, Right?  *Winks*

The Labubu Craze is fading, but she still likes them so when I can pick them up on The Cheap I Buy them for her.  Resale we could still make Money since we made our Money on the Buy to begin with, way below Retail.   She got some other Plushie Anime Character she likes too, I forgot it's Name.   Since it was 117 when we got Home I jumped in the Pool to Cool off, felt refreshing and now I'm in my Jammies by 4:30 p.m..  *LOL*  Done Todaying for Today, clearly.  *Winks*  The Daughter's Friend Danae picked her up to take her back to Jason's House.  He's the Disabled Nephew of our Nextdoor Neighbors and lives on a Mini Farm out near the White Tank Mountains, he's the Elderly Son of the Brother of our Neighbor Old Tom, whose in his 80's, his Brother passed away and had Three Mini Farms out there that his extended Family live on now.

  The Family are at odds tho' and trying to Sell the one Jason lives in, out from under him.  Which is a Paid Off Property, so it's foolishness, the Siblings of Jason got into a lot of Debt and stripped all the Equity out of their other Two Inherited Properties, so now they owe Money on those, and will squander the rest of the Inheritance and try to screw over their Disabled Brother.   The Daughter has been out there helping Jason with the Maintenance coz he's not able to do it, he's Crippled badly, but isn't a Lazy Old Man and does what he can.  She feels badly that his Able Bodied Siblings are trying to screw their Disabled Brother over like they are, she doesn't like them and they're a bit scared of her.  *LOL*  So, Jason likes her being out there and has a Guest Cottage on his Acreage that she can stay in, she Cooks, Cleans, Tidies up the Property for him, and says he's the nicest Old Man, which, he is.

  

He doesn't like Mando tho', so I know when she's out there with Jason helping out, Mando isn't allowed on his Property either, which is good.  *Winks*  And Jason isn't taking Advantage of her, or her with him, he Pays her a little bit for what she's doing for him, even tho' she wouldn't quote a price and would do it just to be a Blessing to the Old Guy.   When she's doing any little Jobs for anyone, it's never about the Money for her, it's about whether they truly need the Help.  If I don't think she's being exploited I will be okay with her helping out someone in Need, it's never the Wrong thing to do for folks.   Sometimes Jason gives her things in Trade for Work coz he's been a Salvager like me for Years too, he's only slightly Younger than me I think.   So she says he has a lot of Cool stuff and he doesn't mind giving her some of it knowing it's going to be given to me.  We all Love Jason and his Cousins, TJ and Rob, look out for him too... so does his Uncle, Old Tom, their Dad.  They all know the extended Family and other Cousins are doing him Wrong, or trying to.

Anyway, Jason has good Friends out there who have means and own lots of Mini Farm Properties out there too.   So he's made Introductions and The Daughter goes and works for a lot of them too, coz most of them are Old Men without Wives, either Widowers or just Single Old Guys.   She gets along fabulously with Old People, especially Old Cranky Men, she doesn't put up with nonsense from them but is very Caring towards them like she is with her Dad, so they Adore her and know her Heart is in the Right place, she enjoys helping them out.   Most of them are serious Collectors too and one Old Guy has Killer Collections and his Home is all Antiques of Western Collectibles and Native American Collectibles, really Decorated Cool.  He has a huge Fieldstone Fireplace with a Buffalo Mount above it.  His Bar Stools are Saddles and he has an Old Fashioned Saloon Style Bar in his Den and Game Room.  Looks just like the Old West coz he has so much Authentic turn of the Century Western Collectibles in it.  It's not my Aesthetic but I can appreciate it when it's done that well.  He looks like an Old Cowboy too.

Above is The Son and Gypsy James Fishing at a South Phoenix Park Lake.   Gypsy James either grows most of what he eats or Hunts and Fishes for it, he's a Health Nut and always has been, he's got quite the Green Thumb and his Garden he grows it in at his House there Southside in a Historic Barrio, is impressive.  He's the only White Guy there in that Neighborhood but since he's an Irish Gypsy, everyone leaves him alone... you don't mess with the Travellers.  *Bwahahahahaa*   They are a distinct Indigenous Ethno-Cultural Group native to Ireland and are completely unrelated to the Romani People, but they're very insular as a Group too... and very Persecuted as well, suffering the same Marginalization and systemic barriers to Employment, Housing and Education.   The Population in the U.S. is not specifically track by this Ethnicity tho'.   It was funny that back when he and The Son first met when they were quite Young, James said to him, I would swear you were Irish and probably a Gypsy.  *LOL*

The Son didn't even know back then that my Nanna {Mom's Mom} was originally from Ireland and Married a Welshman of some Romani Heritage.   So, he comes Home and said he has this Irish Gypsy Friend who swear he must be Irish and probably a Gypsy... and I Laughed at the uncanny accuracy of James recognizing one of his own.  Even tho' I'd not said much to my Kids about all of our Heritage coz Kids tend to innocently mention such things and then suffer the ignorant biases that other people have and the shunning or cruelty some of Society will just always have against certain Ethnic Groups.    Sometimes it's best to just let folks make their assumptions and be on a Need to Know basis, and most don't Need to Know.  *Bwahahahaha*   Dad always knew Indians would be the MOST despised and discriminated against in America, so he often just let other folks guess at what he was and make their assumptions.   It shouldn't matter, but it does, so why make Life just harder if you don't have to, he always felt.  He was Proud of his Heritage but knew most Indians off a Rez wouldn't be treated well at all.   They still aren't.

 Most people just thought he was Asian, coz they'd never seen a Native American anyway.  *LOL*  And Asians do have discrimination in America too, but not nearly as much as Indians, and most Americans had seen lots of Asians before.   Nobody ever knew what Mom was and she let them Guess and make their assumptions too, coz nobody had ever met anybody from where she was from either, nor did we, ever, to this day.  And my Parents kept a low Social Profile since, until June 12, 1967, Interracial Marriages weren't even Legal in all States here in the U.S. so there were some States that the Military tried never to send our Family to, becoz it could be very dangerous and he could be arrested and Mom deported just due to their Union.   My Native American Uncle, Dad's Older Brother, was Married to a Cherokee, but my Aunt is very Light Skinned Indian so most people thought she was White with a good Tan.   She's actually a Registered Tribe Member Federally Recognized, Dad's people are not Federally Recognized.

 When my Uncle was in the Military, and they Stationed him in some Southern States, he and the Family were routinely shot at when they went off Base!  Why?   Coz of Civilian Racist folks with Guns assuming he had a White Woman with him!   He and my Aunt had no Laws against being Married coz they were both Indigenous, just from different Tribes.  So he got out of the Military coz he didn't want his Family getting harmed traveling from Base to Base on mandatory Assignments, and went back to live on the Rez in Oklahoma.   Where all my Paternal Relatives all still are, who are his Children, Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren.  He and my Aunt passed away long before my Dad did.  Dad at 74 was the Oldest Surviving Family Member of his Generation, most don't live that long.  I attribute it to him being in the Military and making it a 27 Year Career, living off Rez and my Mom's European Influence.  They often asked for Overseas Assignments, it was just easier living outside of the United States for him, he was a Novelty and Curiosity Overseas as an "American Red Indian".  *LOL*

 

Me and The G-Kid Force in front of a Traditional Apache Wikiup, look how little my Grandkids were back then, and it doesn't seem that long ago really!!!   Awwwwww, just Precious... and they still are, but now they're Precious Adults, who still enjoy doing things with their Old Gramma, awwwww, it does Touch my Heart too that they still do like hanging out with me voluntarily and that all their Friends Like me so much.  So, I'm like a Surrogate Gramma to most of their Friends who call me Gramma too and give me Hugs and ask my Advice.  Awwwww, it chokes me up sometimes.   They Loved doing things with me when they were Younger to Learn about as much as I wanted to Teach them about what I knew they'd never be Taught in School.  Both are Old Souls.  Most of what I know was Taught to me by my Parents, that would never be Taught in School and they knew this too, so much is withheld and only Selective History is Taught and much is Omitted, MUCH.   And not just recently by this Regime... tho' it's escalated under this Regime to erase as much as they can get away with.

 So, we hand these things down Generationally by Word of Mouth so that no matter how much History is Whitewashed or Lied about, the Truth will still be told and passed down Generation to Generation verbally... it's how we've always done it and I Hope future Generations will continue to do it.     I enjoyed doing a Deep Dive thru some more Photo Archives I had, some had Dates on them back when my Camera put Dates on them as I took the Pixs.  Didn't always like that Feature actually, but, it does help identify when the Pixs were taken, coz otherwise I now do forget.  We always have had a lot of Cats and that's why Princess T never wants to Live without having at least One.   Above is The Son with our Oldest Cat ever, Rat Boy, who was actually a Girl, and lived to be just over 20 Years Old.   I was her "Person", she Adored me.  But she was good with everyone and much Beloved, our only Indoor Only Cat before Eli actually.

 On the Historic Homestead we always had several Working Cats on the Acreage coz it had a lot of Outbuildings and we Needed Working Cats. Sadly, most of the Cats came to us as Strays, Alley Cats, Ferals, or Abandoned Pets and just Adopted us.  So, we'd Spay or Neuter them all and let them live out their Lives on our Property.  Some stayed longer than others, some Cats like their Nomadic Freedom and remained transient, even if they have a good Gig somewhere.  Some stayed for the rest of their Lives.    Like Peaches and Missy Foo Foo Pictured here with Princess T.   Peaches, in the forefront, was Born near another Property we once Owned that was deep in the Barrio in a very rough Neighborhood.   She was Born under a Meth Lab Shed that got Raided and was brought to us in Bad Shape as a Kitten. 

 She was not expected to survive coz she had Deformities due to the Meth Exposure.    Her Head was unusually Small so we'd affectionally also call her Monkey Face as a Nickname.  So she had lots of Respiratory Issues like Princess T had from Birth too, and we'd give her Breathing Treatments with Princess T, who was on Five Daily anyway with being Born a Meth Baby too.   The Cat thrived with the Treatments and lived to be quite Old but was killed by some Marauding Stray Pit Bulls that jumped our Wall and killed Three Cats.    And the other, Missy Foo Foo, was Born at the Historic Property to a Feral pure White Mother who ran off and abandoned her after we Bought the Property and replaced the Broken Windows that the Wild Cats had come in thru while it had been in Probate for so many Years and Vacant.   The Above Pix is Princess T with Gypsy, a Beautiful Female who got her Name coz she'd only stick around half the time and disappear, and one time she just never came back. 

 

She was great with the Family when at our Property and we Guessed perhaps she actually belonged to a Neighbor and just visited us coz we gave good Kibbles and had other Cats she Befriended???  *LOL*  Most Neighbors were Renters so Moved Out often so we think whoever she may have Belonged to just Moved and took her with them?   Above is Rusty, a Big Orange Tomcat who was Born on our Property and also abandoned by it's Mother, he was a frail sickly Kitten but grew enormous and was so fond of our much Older Male Orange Tomcat, Morris, that if Morris hadn't of been Neutered, we'd of sworn Rusty might have been his Son???  *LOL*  Morris lived to be Ancient and we don't know how Old he ever was coz he came to us Full Grown as a Stray, but Rusty Sadly didn't live long, he looked Healthy and Robust, but one day just up and Died.  Both he and Morris were Sweet Natured Big Orange Tomcats tho'.  And would let Princess T lug them around like this coz they were damned near as big as she was.  Remember the Boneless Cat on the PEANUTS Comic Strip?

Below is her again with Peaches and Missy Foo Foo, look at her little Toe holding onto that Arm of the Chaise Lounge!!!   Anyway, poor Missy Foo Foo was one of the other of the Three Cats killed by those Pit Bulls, along with Peaches, coz they were always together... the other was a Neighbors Cat who looked so much like one of our Orange Tomcats we thought it was him, but, it wasn't.   Sadly my Grandchildren found the carnage and the Dog Catchers finally rounded up the Three Pit Bulls before they ended up Killing or Mauling any more Pets or Heaven Forbid, a Child!!!    The only reason they got driven off our Property is The Man came out with his Gun and was going to Shoot them since they'd been so vicious about Killing Two of our Pets and he wasn't sure they wouldn't also attack Humans if they're been Trained to Fight and Kill.  Sadly, some people at the time were getting Arrested and Prosecuted for not only Fighting Dogs, but Fighting Cocks too... and we'd often get the Fighting Roosters that escaped, coming onto our Property and chasing the Kids around, they are mean suckers and will mess you up with their Spurs!

I did want to do at least a Post every now again of some Sweet Nostalgic Moments and Personal Stories.   Since I'm really trying to avoid Fixating on Current Affairs, which are so fucked up right now, that I don't even wanna comment on it too much coz it puts me in a really Bad Head Space sometimes!   I have heard that this Regime is going to demand that even folks with Cancer, Parkinson's Disease, and other serious Ailments are going to be required to Work a Minimum of 80 Hours per Month just to keep their Medicare or Medicaid Insurance now or they'll be cut off and not be able to afford their Treatments or Medications!!!  Cruelty always being the Point, I can't say I'm Surprised at all.  And of coarse the Money they claim they'll Save by gutting Social Services for the most Needy, just happens to be the same amount they're Saving the most Wealthy... no mere coincidence there.  Take Trillions from the most Needy Americans to give to his Billionaire Buddies, his Family, and himself, it's his quite Predictable M.O..

Yet, some Political Satire Memes are just too damned Good NOT to Share... and so we'll end with a few that make me Smile and showed up on my Algorithm Feed, coz they do 'know' me so well... ha ha ha...  So... Enjoy... and by Mid-August when this Publishes, do you suppose they'll finally confess that Moscow Mitch is either Dead or Brain Dead?    Coz Scott Jennings now is being cagey when asked if he has Talked to Mitch again... for 20 Minutes... or let's do a Skype Call shall we Scott?  *Eye Roll*   Coz of coarse, we're all asking for a Friend whattsup with Mitch and why do they have him on Ice and think nobody will think that's so suspicious when they can't prove Proof of Life and his Old Lady took off for China...

But, since the ReTrumplicans are gonna Parade around some obvious AI generated Faked Photos of Ole' Moscow Mitch with his Old Lady by his Side... I thought we might Parade around a few obvious AI Generated ones of our own for Political Satire Purposes.   Winks... and Smiles Wickedly.   I'm not even sure Ole' Mitch is still tied to this Earthly Coil but unlike Miss Lindsey, they're unwilling to say so... yet... so as to keep his Cold Seat in the Senate, Warmed with pretenses that he's still competent enuf to fill it... and probably getting Paid too... while someone with Cancer or other Terminal Illness will be required to continue showing up for Work or get cut off completely... ain't that Rich!!!!!!!!   And now just a couple of Old Blast From The Past Pixs to round out the Post of Me with Family...

*******

Hang in there my Friends... and look back fondly, even if you can't manage to look ahead with any semblance of Guarded Optimism either...Dawn... The Bohemian

Keep On Keepin' On My Friends... It's My Birthday!!!

In Real Time it isn't my Birthday but this will Publish on it.  I don't think The Daughter did the Crazy Ride to Buckeye on her Bike when it was 111 Degrees and I was at Work, after all, whew.  When she's on the Crazy Train with what she intends to do and is Psychotic about it, there's usually no swaying her otherwise.  She hasn't had the Money for her Two Drinks to take The Edge Off and it shows.  And frankly I'm so Tapped Out this close to EOM that I haven't had any to lend to her but I can see it's necessary, the Self-Medicating with Moderated Alcohol is better for her Function than NOT having it.  She really becomes very Schizophrenic and exceedingly Paranoid otherwise.  I'd prefer Psyche Meds and Treatment for her, but that's not happening and might not even Work as well as Two Mike's Hard or this new Purple Canned Liquor she's liking which are 3 for $5.

Anyway, apparently she got thru the Night but was very dramatic and Psychotic as Hell.  Some of her more unpleasant Alters also become the Dominant Personality when she's Feeling very Unwell.  And she was definitely Feeling very Unwell becoz she got bold enuf to be a tad bit confrontational with me, not much, but that's Testing my Waters and I made her aware, before I left for Work, don't fucking Go There Darlin'.  I could tell she was rolling that over in her addled Brain and deciding, yeah, Mom's got a LOT to Deal with, so if she Snaps, it will be very Bad, and... we'll ALL be Screwed.  So, from what I was told she Slept it Off and was no problem for her Daughter, who was left Babysitting her Grandpa, since her Mom wasn't up to it and her Uncle was already closed off in his Room coz after his Drunken Night where he did Set me Off, he hasn't touched a Drink since.  He'll go Cold Turkey for a while without ending up totally Mental like his Sister.

He will never take Psyche Meds again but isn't opposed to Therapy or going to a Rehab, but he doesn't wanna lose this new Job.  He likes it and tho' it's only Part Time and Minimum Wages he can Walk to it if he has to and he gets Paid Daily by it.  He's not good Managing Money so that is better for him to Manage his funds, he's even built up an impressive Savings.  He'd like to get the Restrictions lifted from his License and Buy a reliable Used Vehicle so he can get Work in the Trades again eventually.  But, everyone in the Trades is struggling right now coz Asset Strippers are Buying Up a lot of those Companies and doing what they do to make big Money and leave it Debt laden and everyone holding that Bag.  Society is suffering for the few Asset Strippers and most wealthy Venture Capitalists preying on them IMO.  They don't call them Sharks for nothing.

Anyway, The Niece said she'll be here by next Week, still no Word from The Young Prince about when he and Allen will be showing up or when Allen plans to relocate back to Metro Phoenix?   Whatever they work out, so long as it works out for me too, I'm good with it actually.  The Young Prince is a LOT for me to Manage and Care for without more Help, so if Allen is willing to split the Care and Costs, I can be Okay with that so long as they Manage it without Drama and Headaches.  I know how mine can be, and Allen lived with us long enuf I know how he can be, so, it's Six of One and Half a Dozen of the other with those Two.  So I'm not placing 'blame' anywhere, Allen took on more than he could Manage and Cope with and The Grandson is totally Mental and a Handful... I know, I Raised him, he's been that way and so Unwell since Age 7, Bless him.

The Daughter is doing better Today and has helped me Clean and Price a lot of Inventory to go into the Showroom, I bought her Two Mike's Hard coz she definitely Earned Six Bucks worth of Drink.  *LOL and Winks*  We joked about it, will Work Hard for 2 Mike's Hard.  *Ha ha ha*  I don't want her going thru Withdrawal or going Mental, I'm not Cruel or trying to be and she knows that... so does The Son.  They know I Love them Unconditionally but I have Boundaries that can't be crossed and I have limited Income that has to be parsed out to Support us all and Priorities are set and can't be compromised on this kind of a Budget and with this many Mouths to Feed, Maintain everyone's Medical Needs, and keep a Roof over the Heads of.  We've still got a shit ton of Pokemon Cards to Price, have to look each one up so it's Labor Intensive but profitable.

The Daughter and I had Fun sitting out on the back Porch with Fans blowing on us and talking while we Worked, she's enjoyable to be around when she's not on the Crazy Train.  And she knew she had been all of Yesterday so really tried hard to get a Grip by Today and I appreciate her striving for Sanity, sometimes she even Succeeds... me too.  *Winks*  Hey, we're not Well Women and we know it, so, what can we say, sometimes we Feel like a Nut, sometimes we don't.  *Smiles*

  It's only 11:00 a.m. but now we're getting Tired so we're taking Time Out from Pricing and had gotten Two Banana Boxes filled, plus a Donation Box filled, not bad for a couple Hours of Work we Partnered to get Done.  It emptied out about Four Milk Crates from The She Shed and we're gonna clear out all Inventory from there and then load more Inventory into the Crates, Fresh from The RV Garage Mahal.  A steady Rotation that will go out the Doors either to a Charity or the Antique Mall For Sale. 

Little by Little I think if we consistently slog away at it for perhaps 1-2 Hours Daily we can make some significant Progress again?  And perhaps make some much needed Discretionary Income so Finances aren't so tight every Month?  I don't see the Economy improving so long as this Criminal Idiot and his Sycophant Cabal of Vulgarians are in charge tho', so I'm bracing for at least Two more Bad Years.  Perhaps worse Years, but The Daughter reminded me she Lived impoverished for the past 20+ Years in a 3rd World Country, so we Got This and will Survive when most folks can't or won't, and she's Right. 

 We've been very Poor before and know how to be Content and Survive anything, regardless of what happens to the Society and the Economy around us.  I know that many Americans won't be able to tho' and it will be Interesting to see what happens when those who've enjoyed unmerited White Privilege start to feel the Squeeze, the Oppression, and React?  I think the Wheels will Come Off, I really do.  If some of our Population has never suffered any real Hardship or lack, I don't know how they can or will handle it when it hits them too?   And until it's them, far too many simply don't Care when it's somebody else and very abstract to them coz they have no Point of Reference.

But, until The Hurt is put Hard on everyone, too many will remain complacent, even supportive.   Until the Bottom drops out on them and they realize they've been Played and it's all coming Home to Roost what they've ignored or been complicit of or too complacent about.  People often don't know what a Good Thing they had 'til it's Gone.  I appreciate what we've always had as a Good Thing in America, becoz I have been a Global Traveler and experienced other Countries.  Many are lovely but I always wanted to come Home to America becoz I appreciated what we do have here that many Countries simply don't have and often we take for Granted becoz we've never NOT had it. 

 We're very spoiled and soft really in this Country, compared to most parts of the World, and have much to be Thankful for in America.  It's why so many come here and make it their Home, even tho' they may miss where they came from, the vast majority do stay and make this their permanent Home.  And they have contributed, each wave of Immigrants, and we should be Grateful for those contributions, instead of vilifying Immigrant Communities and resenting them.  America was not built on just One Demographic here.   The Above Thrifted LP always Amuses the Hell out of me, Wish I'd Found it... just the Names of those Fundie Couple is hilarious... Mahulda Ezra and Pastor Deke!!!   And just look at their Dour Facial Expressions... no Joy of The Lord evident there... I can only Imagine what the Recording was like?!  LMAOROTF!

Anyway, some folks will have their irrational Biases and Prejudices based mostly on Ignorance or Fear and Insecurities they have.  If you have to put anyone down to feel better about yourself, then you have Issues of your own Self-Esteem and Self-Worth.  Grievance Politics exploit that Human Weakness, Fears and Insecurities by Scapegoating.  Lyndon B. Johnson once said the following, and this Administration is exploiting this Fact even Today:

 “If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you.”

― Lyndon B. Johnson

I've been watching some British TV on Cable and enjoying it tremendously, mostly on PBS.   It's frivolous Programs but I enjoy seeing the English Countryside and how the Cast on it are being with one another, coz most of it is going to Antique Shops and then taking what they Buy to Auction Houses and trying to make a Profit, as a Game, and they have Two Celebs paired with Two Antique Dealers.  It's Interesting but I think none of them really knows what they're doing.  Coz they almost always overpay on the Buy and don't choose stuff that does well at Auction.  

 So there's no way taking it to Auction and paying a Premium they really made any Money, most of the time they substantiated a Loss even if deemed the "Winner" at the end of the Auction and Show.  So, it's just who Lost Less in most cases.  They start out with 400 British Pounds each and I've hardly seen an Episode where they increase it to even 500 Pounds after Auction... usually they're left with 200 to 300 Pounds, which, any way you cut it, was a Loss.  But they're having Fun and I like looking at what the Antique Stores have there now.

Today's Episode they had Two former Olympians who Won Medals in Track and Field as the Celebs.  The Countryside was lovely, they always give them Vintage or Antique Vehicles to drive in.  The Quartet always have a good Relationship doing the Episode.   Sometimes I'm familiar with the parts of Britain they're Visiting and Shopping at, so that's been Fun to see what is the same, since the 1970's when I was there.  Seems to me Pricing is way higher than it used to be for Antiquities, Britain used to have reasonable pricing for their Antiques when we were there, my Parents brought a lot of it back when we returned Stateside.  And some of my Industry Friends, before the Pandemic, would visit Eleven different European Countries to do Picking and bring it back for Resale.  Few, if any, do that now with the Tariff Fiasco.   A pity coz I prefer Imported Antiquities.   I have a lot of them still.   If I was still a Global Traveler I know I'd always be shipping things back Home to America.  *LOL*

Today I do Plan to go in to the Antique Mall and deposit all the Merch we Priced on Wednesday, before the Weekend.  Hoping Sales will improve, since we only have Three more Days in this Pay Period and my Sales aren't decent enuf to ensure a Profit after Expenses this time... dammit!  I Sold a lot of Smalls, nothing significant, and Rents are high, over $600 a Month for a Showroom now and over $100 a Month for a Locked Case... which takes a considerable chunk out of your Bottom Line, along with the 10% Commission, Fees, and Cost of what your Inventory was... so, it's getting harder and harder to turn a decent Profit Margin on it all now.  I used to make more than I did at the DA's Office back when Antiques were Selling well, just as a Hobby and necessity of Downsizing my Personal Collections, those Days are long gone. 

 I don't know how anyone attempts to make a Living doing it?  I'd be Stressed Out if I had to rely on the Income from Resale of what I Own to Survive and have it be the main Source of Income!!!   I'd say more than half the Vendors only do it as Hobbyists or Collectors having to Downsize coz their Heirs don't want their Collections, or they don't wanna burden Loved Ones with disposing of all of it after they're Gone.  Mine will have to coz too much to dispose of in my Lifetime.  *LOL and Winks*  Plus, there's much of it I want to still Enjoy while I'm among the Living and Bought when I had the Income to indulge myself with Investments, those Days are long gone too.  *Le Sigh*  Yeah, sometimes I still Invest in a piece or Two, but it's much more Sacrificial and I'm more hesitant to even if I'm in Lust with something I'd Love to Own.  The Kiddos are more inclined to encourage me to just get it now and to slow down on what I am getting rid of that will be their Inheritance.  *LOL, who knew?!* 

So, I do regularly Solicit their Opinions on what they'd like for us to Keep in case it is something they want or might feel a Need for?  I don't always know what holds the most Sentiment or Value to them.  My own Parents didn't either, us Kids had Nostalgia about random stuff our Parents Collected, coz my folks were avid Collectors of The Good Stuff too, Mom had a Good Eye for the Finer Things in Life.  Dad liked Kitsch and I know I Inherited that juxtaposition of both Parents coz I know and like Fine Things AND Kitschy Things.   And some Kitsch does have Value and can be an Investment if you know the Right Stuff to Collect of it.  Some Fine Things aren't popular anymore, some Not So Fine Things are very popular now, you just never know what will become most Collectible, Hold Value, Increase in Value, or Decrease in Value over Time and with Demand for it or lack of Demand for it.  Just coz something is Rare doesn't always make it Valuable.

And any Art is Subjective to the Beholder and their preferences.  Something is only Worth what someone is willing to Pay for it.   LATER:  Got my 3 Boxes of Inventory into the Showroom and Locked Case this Morning, barely had room enuf to put it all in, but managed.  Several Vendor Friends and Co-Workers hadn't seen me in a while so visited with me and gave me a big Hug, they thought something had happened to me.  Sometimes I forget how long it's been that I've been MIA there. 

 Then The Young Prince's Social Security Disability Caseworker got back with me, she's a very nice Young Woman, I feel good about her being Assigned to us.  Her Name is Briana, she was upset that the Main Office had given us inaccurate Information when we had our initial Intake Interview.  I'd brought all the Paper Evidence since he was Age 7 and initially Diagnosed all the way to the Present and they had claimed they only needed and wanted the last 2 Years worth, which is false, they need it all!!!  I thought so, but... it's not unusual to get faulty and conflicting Information.  *Le Sigh and Eye Roll*

I told her I thought it sounded incorrect but I wasn't gonna argue with the Interviewer there at the Downtown Office giving me the information, I thought perhaps it had changed from Years ago, it hasn't.  *Eye Roll*  I gave her a Laundry List of Psychiatric Agencies and Facilities he's been seen at over the Years, but I told her I could add to it when I got Home and pulled his File I have all the Information in and had brought to Social Security for our Intake Interview but they didn't wanna even see any of it.   He's been seen, since Age 7, at about a Dozen Psychiatric Facilities in Arizona, plus whatever ones he was seen at in Washington State and New Mexico.  He's been in various Mental Facilities and even Penal Facilities Mental Health Units.  So if that's not enuf Evidence that something has been Wrong for a very long time and verifying extent of Serious Mental Illness and Social and Quality of Life Dysfunction, I don't know what is?  *Eye Roll*

 I do have a good Feeling about this Caseworker, been Assigned enuf of them over the Decades of Raising Two Generations of Special Needs Kiddos, and Caring for The Man's extent of Disability, to know when one Assigned to us is a Good One.  It's the Luck of the Draw really.  They did get back to us quicker than anticipated which was a very Good Sign.  They had said even being Reviewed might take 7-12 Months, but this seemed Fast Tracked and taken more Seriously this time.  Which was Surprising given all the Cuts I know all of these Services and Agencies have had under this Administration, everything is understaffed, massive Firings and good folks Quitting or Retiring Early, underfunding, etcetera.  So, it's kind of a Get Yours While There's Still Some Left scenario playing out anymore.

*******

Keep On Keepin' On my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian