Another Medical Emergency... Geez!!!

*It's A Two Post Kinda Day... So Strap In!*

 I got The Man Showered and ready for his Cardiologist Appointment and The Young Prince helped him get Dressed and came to me and said, I don't think Grandpa is doing good.  I agreed, so was glad we were going to see Dr. Pham that Morning.  Well, he wasn't in so we saw an East Indian Female Cardiologist who was seeing Patients for him, she was very nice but when they saw his Blood Pressure was tanking, after taking the Readings 3 Times, she says, "Can you drive him to an ER right away?!"   Fuuuuck, Yeah, I can, we were way out in Verrado so I guess it was quicker than getting an Ambulance, Cheaper too since Medicare & TriCare won't pay for an Ambulance anymore, so it's about $1,300+ a Ride out of Pocket now.

So, I spent all of Wednesday in the ER with him and they determined along with the dangerously low Blood Pressure, he has Pneumonia now too!!!  Last Week it was the Heart Attack and Surgery, this Week Pneumonia, mebbe from being put under, which, is fairly common after a Surgery, but can be deadly.  So, he's waiting for a Room to Open Up and I rushed Home to retrieve the Kiddos from Work and get some Paperwork the Hospital needed that I didn't have with us.  They said to take my time, he's in good Hands, and I know he is, so I got something to Eat too at the Hospital Cafeteria, which wasn't all that good, but I was Mad hungry and ate it anyway, and am trying to decompress from the Stress now a bit before going back to the Hospital. 

The Son's Lifelong Friend Q came over with Pizza and Wings for the Family when he heard what had happened to The Man, so that I didn't have to try to cook in between back and forth to the Hospital.  It was Sweet and very good Pizza and Wings, Comfort Food for everyone coz of coarse the Kiddos are all Stressed Out about Dad/Grandpa again.  At least Hopefully we caught everything in Time enuf again?  And Hopefully he's going to respond well to Treatment?  What made me upset is I was at the VA Pharmacy only Yesterday picking up his Meds and they told me they only had the One for his Ozempic, I knew there should be 3 more New Ones his Cardiologist Ordered to replace some they want to take him off of.

Well, they said they didn't get a request for them, so I questioned the Cardiologist and Hospital and they claimed they did Fax an Order to the VA Medical Center Downtown.  So, they Faxed it again and just for a safeguard, also Faxed a copy to a Civilian Pharmacy coz he should be on these right away with no delays.  Splendid.  This is the kind of thing that tends to happen all the time and confuses Families a lot when you're seeing both Military Docs and Civilian Docs, also Specialists, everyone changing things all the time, not much communication between them all going on, and you're left to sort it all out yourselves satisfactorily!!!  *Le Sigh*

  He's got Two Pages worth of Meds he's on, I'd have to be a Pharmacist to sort all that out and know about it all, what it does, what it's for, remember all the Names off the top of my Head, why he's taking it, why they're discontinuing or replacing it?   Becoz along with his Meds, I have to keep track of my Meds, the Kiddos Meds, it's just a LOT to expect of someone not Medically Trained.  I do my best, and sometimes it gets very confusing if it's not explained well, or at all, and changed constantly too, it's all rather overwhelming, I'd need a personal Nurse at my disposal and why I'm grateful for Nurse Remi coz she checks it Weekly for me to ensure it's being done Right, both by me, and by whoever is prescribing it.  She's better at explanations too that I can understand and make sense to me.

Anyway, I went back to the Hospital and he had an episode that looked like he was having another Heart Attack so they brought a Cardiologist in who was on Staff that Afternoon.  He was a Middle Aged East Indian Guy who probably is a good Cardiologist, but not very likeable as a Person, a Doctor with an obvious big Ego.  I didn't like this one, he was arrogant and dismissive, even to the Nurses IMO.  So I'm glad we had Dr. Pham before, who isn't pretentious at all and has a great Bedside manner and sensitivity to the Patient, their Family, and the Staff who are any Hospital's Support System and so vital too. 

 Anyway, he didn't stay long, I didn't actually mind, since I did not LIKE him.  *Winks*   And our Head Nurse made an Insider Joke after he left and the other Two Nurses giggled, I think she could see he rubbed me the Wrong way, The Man sure did. *LOL*  I don't like being Patronized as a Patient and/or Family Member when a Crisis is unfolding that is alarming and potentially Life Threatening.  Don't ask me an important Question about what brought us to the ER and then not act like you're even Listening and your Thoughts are clearly somewhere else.  I'd rather you not ask a Question at all if you're half Listening or not Listening, what's the Point?  Since another Cardiologist at Dr. Pham's Office, also East Indian, but a Female, is the one who felt it Urgent enuf to take him immediately to an ER, I felt that was important to pass along?

I got the sense that Cardiologist was dismissive about the other one's alarm, I personally don't think so, his BP was like 75 over 52 and dropping as they took it 3 times at the Cardiologist's Office.  She was visibly shaken, enuf that she thought if I could get him there quicker than waiting for an Ambulance, I should.  I don't know what the ETA for an Ambulance would be out in Verrado, but I knew I could get to the closest Cardiac Hospital damned quick myself coz on the Freeway next to the Cardiologist Office, it's a straight shot and Traffic was light.  I also know an Ambulance ride puts many Seniors in Debt every time they take one coz Insurances aren't covering it anymore, no matter how critical the Need for one.

Anyway, Arrogant Cardiologist Guy spent mebbe 5 Minutes evaluating The Man's Condition, that the Nurses, who seemed quite competent, were very worried about, which is about all of him I could stand anyway.  *Winks*  I felt he was in better Hands with our Head Nurse, I liked her, she was Experienced and on top of her Game.  I'm not a Medical Professional, but I can spot one whose an asset to their Profession and been doing this more than a Minute.  She seemed very respected, even by this Arrogant Doc, tho' among the Nurses I could tell he is not popular around there.  *Bwahahahaha*  I watch People a LOT, I pick up on even subtle Nuances and listen to what's being said among folks and what is being unsaid and communicated in other ways that speak louder than Words.

Anyway, he's in there mostly for the Pneumonia, the Pain was so Bad for his Chest tho' they wanted to give him Morphine, but he can't have Morphine.  So, I don't know what they could sub for someone allergic to Morphine, Penicillin and Codeine?  Those are Three Medications he just can't have.  And his History of Opioid dependency is something he also doesn't want to relapse into, so he's hesitant to be prescribed one for Pain Management and makes that known.  It was due to severe Medical Issues he got addicted to Opioids in the past and kicked it many Moons ago.  He had to or I was saying the "D" Word as an alternative.  Only time I ever have, but I had too much going on to be Married to another Addict.  My 1st Husband went down that Road due to Opioid dependency coupled with Alcoholism, is No Bueno for me to be in that kind of a relationship.

I'm Ride or Die with you, but, one of my Deal Breakers is Addiction you have spiraled out of Control with.  It changes who a person is and makes them also not Safe to be around, so, if you Use, I'll likely Step Off with you and let you destroy just yourself and not me too.  And as a Mother and Grandmother, I don't want that around my Family and all the collateral damage it causes Families having to Deal with Substance Abuse and Addictions.  It wrecks a lot of Lives it touches.  So, anyway, no fears about him taking something he'd have a problem with, he always refuses it now and just tells them it's problematic to him.  I've found now a lot of Medical Professionals don't push it like they used to and respect it has become a National Scourge/Problem.  Often created by their Industry... and then tends to Morph into Illegal Drug Use once dependency is ensured and thus must have it... or an equivalent.

Sorry to go down that Path of a Topic if it's a Trigger for you too?  It is for me so I'm adamant I don't want it around me, period.  I just want him to be able to Recover and not add layers of problems to what's already problematic for him that isn't a Choice.  I'm very Worried about him and don't have a Peace about his Condition.  I'm trying not to dwell on my Intuitions about it and push that out of the way coz it's making me too anxious and edgy.  Q had stayed over after he heard what was going Sideways with The Man, he's always called us Mom and Dad, he is like a Son from another Mother to me and always been there for our Family.  He's not particularly close to his own, so since he was little, he's been closer to ours.  He's a Good Guy and like a Brother to The Son, people think they actually are Brothers.  *Smiles*

His Name is Quinardo but we've always just called him Q, he's a big Bear of a Man and Strong as an Ox.  He's Married now with Two Sons and the Youngest One has a lot of Medical Issues.   So they've had to Deal with the Medical System and astronomical Medical Costs for that Son's Care.  He's still a very Medically Fragile Child and the Family don't have much in spite of Q working a good Job, and his Wife working, becoz most Earnings have gone towards what the Insurances wouldn't pay for that their Child required and has literally cost Millions of Dollars now and he's still in Grade School.  This is why I am a proponent for America adopting National Healthcare like every other Progressive First World Country already has for their Citizens.  But I digress.

Enough of all of the Medical Stuff for now, it could consume me if I let it when we're deep in the throes of yet another Medical Emergency and Personal Crisis.  I knew this would be a difficult Post to Wade thru the Weeds of.   So, on a Positive Note, a Silly one in fact, our Antique Mall is within Sight of the Hospital he's in.  So, when I finally left the Hospital coz Visiting Hours were over and I'd been there literally all day again from Morning to Night, I went in to Work to foof my Showroom and pull a Printout on my Sales.  Sales had been so Strong and then 3 Days {this Mon-Wed} of not a Single Sale!  *Le Sigh*  That's how it has been tho', it's all or nothing.   Luckily they have been Strong enuf and I've got 3 more Days before the Pay Period Closes. 

 And, so anyway, I Needed a teensy bit of Retail Therapy, I bought a DAM Vintage Troll.  Yep, didn't NEED it but Wanted it, and he was Cheap and I'd built up a Healthy Store Credit I used towards the Purchase.  He's got Black Hair and is a Mid-Sized One, I got it from who I now call The Troll Vendor Upstairs.  The Booths up there are Cheaper and so the more random Vendors tend to Rent Space up there, but it's where you can usually find some of the best Deals too on Merch.   So, I only paid about Seven Bucks for him, he has Black Hair and a simple felt Wardrobe, an adorable expression, I'd say he's an earlier one, they came out in the 1950's but I'd say he's mebbe 1970-1980 Era?   He just looks like the more Popular larger Ones of the Early 1980's to me.  The 1960's were the heyday of Trolls.  But they've made huge comebacks in the 2000's.

She had some earlier ones, and they were Larger than even this one, but some were New Old Stock from the very Vintage Ones so she wanted a Fair but higher price for them.   I wasn't a Player right now to spend Twenty Bucks or so on one.   Even tho' anywhere else and from any other Vendor at our Mall with the Older Ones that are Large, you'd pay $40 to Stratospheric Prices for them.   Some of our Vendors really do have an "I Don't Really Wanna Sell It" Price on their Rarer Vintage Trolls IMO.   They're clearly looking for that Beyond-The-End-Of-The-Rainbow Customer. *Smiles*  In my Collection I do have several that could fetch Hundreds to a Serious Troll Collector wanting them.  I've Sold some very Old ones when I Needed the Cash more than a Rare Troll.  *Smiles*  But, it's Silly at my Age, the Collection is one I Cherish enuf to not Sell Off unless I HAVE Need of the Cash.  And I often add to the Collection instead.

I think I have definitely entered into my 2nd Childhood like Seniors can revert to?  *Bwahahahaha*  And, I don't fucking Care, we were Poor when I was a Child, so, now I'm not Poor I sometimes Buy a Toy, or Collect a Genre of those that are Collectible, that I either never could have or it was Sacrificial to my Parents to get me even One of.  I think I had Two of the tinier Trolls growing up, one had long Black Hair, one had Orange Hair, both had the Horseshoes on the Feet and we bought at a Rexall Drugstore when I was an Older Child in the 1960's, but not yet a Grown Adult.  In fact, since I've Worked from Age 14, I think I even bought them for myself?!  I often did that, since I was a Child Hustler, if there was a Buck to be made, I was making it and Working my Hustle so I could buy what my Parents couldn't afford to.  They were great tho', and Dad worked very hard to make a memorable Childhood in all the best of ways.

He never owned a Toy growing up and Mom only recalls ever owning One, a Porcelain Doll she never even played with.  She said she looked at it in the original Box from time to time, coz her Family were hard working but not affluent either.  My Maternal Welsh Gran-Gran, due to his Cultural Background, never went to School and was illiterate, couldn't even Sign his Name, but could speak Several Languages fluently and was in The Trades.   My Dad had perhaps a Grade School Education given at the Indian Schools, but he was a Smart and very Wise Man just like my Welsh Gran-Gran, and very Naturally Talented.  Your Gifts always make Room for you in Life even if you were Denied many Opportunities Culturally.  It's why I always told my Kiddos you can be anything you want to be and you can Succeed, if you Dream Big enuf.  I've always had Big Dreams.  If the Dream wasn't outrageously Big, I figured God wasn't even in it.  *LOL*

Coz if I could do it just by myself without Divine Partnership to attain it, then clearly the Dream wasn't BIG Enough, so Dream Bigger!  *Smiles*  True Story, when I was Two Years Old and we were living in France, I was Working my Hustle in the French Flea Markets my Parents took me to.  No Money, just good Negotiating Skills, and I'd end up with whatever I wanted, coz at Age 2 I spoke several Languages... now I struggle with 1.5 Languages.  *LOL*  So, we befriended this Old French Gypsy who became one of my Best Adult Friends and she'd visit our Home from time to time.  She knew my Mom's Heritage of being Didi Kai, and so that she'd take the Predictions Seriously.  She told my Mom that tho' they wouldn't be able to Buy me the Education I Needed to be Successful, I'd find a way to get it for Free and be very Successful and get whatever I Wanted out of Life.  She wasn't Wrong that Old Gypsy.  But, I think every Child ought to Feel they can too. 

********

Coping with Trolls *Winks*, since, Why Not?... Dawn... The Bohemian

 

A Break In Da Blues

I'm doing a little better at having a Break in Da Blues, moving to a better Head Space slowly.  We're awaiting Nurse Remi's arrival, she's always punctual, I appreciate that about her and we like her a lot.  The VA has Partnered with a good Subcontractor for these Nurse/Caseworker Home Visits IMO.  I Love hearing about her Homeland in Africa, I know she misses it, but being a Christian Minority there is risking Genocide, so she knows America is now her Home and she really likes it here in Arizona.  Tho' she admits, it is way Hotter than Africa, and every African Immigrant I know has told us that!  *LOL*  That was a revelation to me coz I've never been to Africa but would have thought it was Hotter than Arizona, Nope, apparently not!  *Wow and Ha ha ha*   And Yes, I'll be doing another Grandchild and Great-Grandpup Picture Dump in this Post.  Coz they've sent me a bunch of them and I'm a Proud Gramma and Great-Gramma, what can I say?  *Winks*

 She talks of her Homeland with much Love, it must have been so hard to leave and seek Asylum in an unknown to you Country, I couldn't even Imagine.  She said Luckily, in Africa, most people speak English fluently, and at least as a 2nd Language, so that wasn't a problem.  A lot of Nurses and Doctors in Arizona are now from Africa and we've been impressed with each one we've had Care for us.  The Man has had Two African Cardiologists and we have to give them Nicknames coz we can't pronounce their last Names.  *Smiles*  His New Cardiologist is Vietnamese and we like Dr. Pham too, he's Adorable and very Good, Saved The Man's Life. 

 And did his Residency outside of my Dad's Reservation in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, ironically enough.  He had some funny Stories about that... as the Indigenous, we don't much like or Trust using Western Medicine.  *Winks*   So, Dr. Pham said, most Tribal Patients were really bad off before they'd relent and come in to any Western Medical Doctor, like, their Arm had to be hanging off or something.  *LMAO, so True*  I know my Dad always used Tribal Remedies his whole Life, even when he got Cancer, so Outlived Western Medical Prognosis for his Survival by Eleven Years, and didn't Die of the Cancer! 

  His Western Medical Oncologist used to marvel at what Dad was using to Treat his Illness.  He'd be brewing shit up in the Kitchen every time I went over that his Medicine Man had sent him and would drink it.  I don't know what all it was, but, it was working.  In fact, as a Kid, or a Young Adult, if I was Sick and my Dad brewed some concoction up for us, we'd just drink it or use it as a Poultice and never Question what it was.  Coz, it always Worked.  And now as a Senior and Elder, I sure Wish I did know what it was so I could brew some of that shit up myself and use it.  *Winks*  Instead I found a good Chinese Doctor and use their Brews and such they make for me. 

 Eastern Medicine is also very good, very Tried and True for Centuries now.  My Welsh Gran-Gran was Raised by a Chinese Family after his Dad Died in WWI, so he always used it rather than Western Medical Practices.  Unfortunately your Insurance Companies won't cover the Costs coz they say it's "Experimental", when in fact, it pre-dates Western Medicine by Thousands of Years, so... it's NOT really.  But it isn't as Profitable and doesn't rely on addictive Pharmaceuticals that keep folks dependent and paying Medical Bills all the time.  The Business of Wellness isn't as Profitable as the Business of Sickness, just sayin'.  And Big Pharma is very Profitable as a Business.  As are Uncured Disease.

My Dad's Take on Cancer when he was Diagnosed with it was, I won't let them give it Oxygen by Operating on me.  And, I will Partner with my Body's Natural Desire to Fight it internally as best we can.  He also used Spiritual Energy and his Strong Faith that if he was meant to do more for his Purpose in this Realm, he would Survive it and not be Taken until his Purpose was fulfilled by the Creator's Design for him in this Realm.  When it was Finished, he'd be Finished, and he had a Peace about that which transcended the Desire to remain here.  The Day he lapsed into unconsciousness and never Woke Up again, he simply looked out the Window of his Room, turned to me and said, "It is a Good Day to Die."  And so I knew, he was Going then.  He Gave Up The Ghost on his own Terms Peacefully.

My Mom fought Death like a Seasoned Roman Gladiator, she had a different way of Being. *LOL*  I think I'm more like my Dad about Death and about Dying.  My Brother is definitely more like our Mom and damn he's also been fighting it like a Seasoned Gladiator now for Decades.  He's been deemed Terminal for so long now his Doctors just tell him, Syd, we don't even know Why you're still Alive!!!???!!  He's been on Life Support now Eleven different Times and had it unplugged by his Beloved Partner, and then Came Back!!!  Marcie is like, you know how hard it is for me to keep making the decision to Pull the Plug on you and then you don't Go?  *LMAO*  I did tell him once, "Well, we're not Dead 'til God says so." 

 My Welsh Uncle, Mom's Older Brother, was deemed Terminally Ill in his Forties, lived to be 90, outlived Four Doctors, so Mom's Side is like that.  Tough Old Welsh Didi Kai. {Angloromani Term for Mixed Romani and Non-Romani Heritage People often used in Wales.}  Never minded being Called that any more than I never minded being called a Half-Breed, due to being Mixed Native American and Non-Native American Heritage here in America on my Dad's Side of the Family.  We are a Heinz 57 Mixture several Generations in now and have just about every Ethnicity "Represented" and so it's a Loaded Question anytime someone asks our Kids or our Grandkids, "What ARE you?"  Very Subjective Opinion, take your pick, we don't mind or care at all, we won't Take or Receive the Offense, even if it's Intended. *Winks*

Speaking of Intentions, I Intend Today to get thru all these Appointments The Man and The Young Prince have stacked up like cordwood Today and Tomorrow, without losing my Calm.  There, I said it out loud, and so, we'll see what happens?  *Winks*  Princess T has to get her Boyfriend Rusty to pick her up from Work Today coz I'll be at Chicanos Por La Causa with her Brother having them help him wade thru The System's requirements to Qualify for and hopefully Receive Services.  Don't know how long that will take, we'll be there from 3:00 p.m. onwards tho' and it's a long commute into the City.  He's Anxious about it and already getting Mentally Squirrelly about it, so is detaching from Reality quite quickly this Morning, not a Good Sign, means he's getting Psychotic and Schizo under the Stress.  Splendid!

The Man always gets a bit Anxious before his Appointments too even tho' I prepare him for them in Advance, and even if he has a Weekly Visit, it's as if for the First Time for him.   He remembers Nurse Remi after a little bit and he Likes her.  I don't know if he'll remember Dr. Pham or not?  And he won't know the HUMANA Home Nurse whose coming coz it's the 1st time.   LATER:  Nurse Remi just left, her Sister is visiting from Adelaide, Australia where she was granted Asylum to now Live.  She's only here for another Day and had said Arizona is Hotter than Australia too.  *LOL*  The Man has been to Australia, so agreed.  *Smiles*  He liked Australia and liked the Australians, he said they're a tough bunch of People.  Will Fight you and then Invite you Home to Dinner.  *LMAO*

He said in Vietnam the Australian Military fighting there were Crazy coz they only carried Bullets and Beer!!!  He said rather than Water in their Canteens, they carried Fosters Beer!!!  Now that's Crazy Tough!  *Ha ha ha*  He got in a Bar Fight once with some Australians while they were on R&R from Vietnam.  He said after the Fight the Guys who picked the Fight with the American Marines invited them all Home for Dinner and they became good Friends, he said that's just how they are, and a Wicked Sense of Humor too.  The Man liked Australia and said I'd like it too if I were to ever visit there.  I've known some Australians who Immigrated here, and they were always so Funny, great sense of Humor and a charming Accent, we always got along great.  I can see why people would Immigrate there.

Nurse Remi wanted me to Question why the Hospital gave us instructions to take The Man off of a lot of his current Medications tho' and not replace them with something else?  I wanted to know that too so haven't taken him off anything until all of that is explained to me coz most of them are important Medications he's on.  So, he sees Dr. Pham, his Cardiologist, Tomorrow and I'm going to ask.  Coz the VA hasn't contacted me with any new Medications or sent any, and the Hospital didn't send me Home with any new Meds from their Pharmacy either.  So, I am confused and want to be enlightened as to what he should be taking, not taking, and why?  I'm not getting rid of Meds only to find out he should still be taking them, doesn't have replacement new Meds, or might not tolerate new Meds well.

I should have been a fucking Pharmacist for how many Medications I have to keep track of for he and I now!  It's Crazy and often confusing for someone whose not Medically Trained... and Old... and getting Forgetful... and has several Family Members to monitor the Health and Rx for too spanning Three Generations.  It's just a LOT to juggle, keep track of... and unpack daily.  I do pretty good I think but I'm not infallible.  We have a Routine, but when they keep changing the Routine, that's when it gets very confusing and mixed up if we're not Careful about it and have it properly and fully Explained.  Sometimes they send you off without thinking about the fact you're not a Nurse/Doctor and are Laymen about such things.  And as it is the VA forgot to renew his Ozempic and Lantus Prescriptions so we're calling as to Why, he's still supposed to receive them!?

 So, we called the VA and they're having me pick up his Rx Refills of Injectables while I'm still in the City Today at the Grandson's Appointment Downtown.  So, that's relatively convenient to do and he'll be taking his Ozempic now on time.  Coz Tuesdays are Ozempic Day and he was out of it, and in Real Time it's a Tuesday.  I have to get hold of my PCP's Office and tell them I'm almost out of all my Injectables too and Express Scripts hasn't called me about refills of them so perhaps I do need to see the New Primary they'll be Assigning me now my Doc has been Transferred, to insure no interruption in my Meds?   So, got that done too, so both The Man and I won't run out of necessary Meds.  Nurse Remi felt good about The Man's trajectory and thinks he can Fight this, so that made me feel more Confident too.

I just got back from The Young Prince's Interview at Chicanos Por La Causa, the Caseworker was nice, it's located on a big Community Service Campus that has several Agencies assisting Residents.  It used to be a School and is a newer looking Campus, so don't know why the School vacated it and it became a Community Service Center instead?  She could only help us sign up for AHCCCS Healthcare, which now doesn't cover Dental for Adults, only Children.  He still has to go to DES for Nutritional Assistance and be Interviewed there.  They give out Emergency Food Boxes at that Campus from St. Mary's Food Bank on certain times of the Month, but don't do Food Stamp Assistance Applications.  So, it will be as much a rigamarole as it was for The Son then... and that didn't go Well after 3.5 Months of trying, he was only approved for 1.2 Months of Nutritional Assistance.

I just don't know The Grandson can weather that much Hoop Jumping, he was getting Psychotic at this Interview coz it was in a Smallish Room with White Walls and he said the Walls started moving and undulating.  So, he was Freaking Out, so she really ramped us thru quickly once she knew that, and it was very efficient and we only had to provide my I.D. since she put me down as his Representative due to the Nature of his Illness being so extreme that he's just not capable of representing himself for Services.  He has given me Medical Power Of Attorney for a Year at a time, and has no problem renewing it if that becomes necessary.  The VA had The Man's Rx ready for us when we arrived at the Main VA Hospital Pharmacy.   The Hospital was Mad busy but the Pharmacy thankfully was not.

So, we were in and out of the VA Hospital STAT and that was good, we even found good parking in the parking garage near the lower level, which almost never happens there.  Someone had just pulled out so we pulled right in.  *Whew*   The Man was anxious we were gone so long so of coarse Princess T and The Son were blowing up my Phone and Texting The Grandson about how much longer we might be, as Dad/Grandpa was getting agitated.  He has no concept of Time anymore, so became anxious, to be Fair we were gone from 1:00 p.m. to 4:55 p.m. to get everything done and all the City Commuting, which has a lot of Traffic.  I did stop at "Culver's" to feed The Grandson and I coz I was shaky, I'd only had a small Breakfast very early so had missed Lunch entirely.  And Today is Double Shot Day, which makes me jittery to take both the Ozempic and the Lantus Injectables on Tuesdays.

I had the Cod Dinner, it was very good.  I Love their Pretzel Bites and The Grandson likes Broccoli.   Their Fish is always first rate there and their Custard Frozen Desserts are very good too.   I had Salted Caramel and The Grandson had Strawberry... mine was a Concrete Mixer and his was in Shake form.  I always forget their Small is too big, I should have ordered a Mini.  *Smiles*   The Man was settled down once we got back Home, so then Princess T went to her Boyfriend's House and The Son is going to a Concert with his Ex-GF Marina, they're still best of Friends, but have been since they were Tweens.  The Dating didn't work out coz both of them had a lot going on in their Personal Lives, so they decided to keep it a Friendship again.  He Won Two Sets of Two different Concert Tickets on the Radio recently, so this is the 1st Concert he Won Tickets to.  He's very Lucky at Winning Radio Contests.  I think becoz people with Autism have Hyper Fixation.  *LOL*

I know I talk about our Neighbors Sylvia and Old Tom and their Two Sons T.J. and Rob who still live with them, so, this is to put Faces to Names I Blog about often.  Their other Son doesn't live with them, and this is a Pix of Sylvia with her Sons, Rob is in the Middle with his Mom hugging him, he does a lot for his Parents... and T.J. is next to him.  I don't know their other Brother's Name on the other side of their Mom in this Pix, coz I've never met him.  Old Tom must have taken this Pix.   Sylvia is in her 80's, as is their Dad, Old Tom, but they are the most vibrant Seniors for their Ages that you'd ever meet for Octogenarians, they still do everything for themselves and are more Active than I am!  *LOL*   

The Daughter told me that Sylvia can still Rock a Bathing Suit!!!   T.J. just became a Father again Yesterday, his New Wife is the Oldest Daughter of a lifelong Friend of ours, Amber, and is only in her 20's, nobody approves of the Union.  They had a Baby Boy and she's now living at his Parent's Home too.  They only got Married just before the Baby was Born and I don't think Julissa is competent enuf to Parent the Child, she's a Special Needs Adult and can't even take Care of herself!  And she's only slightly Older than some of her New Husband's Adult Grandkids!!!   So, it's Crazy, and they're having to live with his Octogenarian Parents coz he has no place to live and is Retired and on Social Security.  A Newborn in that household will be rough!  Newborns wear out Young People, let alone Geriatric folks that the Household is mostly comprised of.

Amber gets Emotional every time she discusses it becoz T.J. is not Good to her Daughter and is abusive, so she is worried for her Daughter and for the Baby.  I don't blame her, her Daughter is only a tiny little Sprite who doesn't even Weigh 100 Lbs. soaking wet!  And she's very Passive and Mentally not Right.   I'm concerned with my own Daughter's Relationship with an abusive guy whose almost 60, but she's at least in her 40's, and tho' also SMI, she can kick Ass, even a Grown Man's Ass, so, she can hold her own if she has to or wants to.   So, Mando should be concerned if he ever goes too far and she Snaps on his Ass.  But, I do worry more for Amber's Daughter and that Newborn, I really do.

Anyway, I got enuf Troubles and Issues of Life of our own so I can't Worry about anyone else's.  Rob wants to Buy our 5th Wheel, but, I'm reluctant to Sell it coz we need the Space for Family to live in apart from the Main House.  I'd like to get out from under the Payments, but someone would have to Cash me out and I'd have to find Placement then for Family and their Stuff that's in there.  I just don't intend to juggle that much right now.   Ideally, I'd prefer to build a Bunkhouse and then Sell Off the 5th Wheel eventually.  It's a very nice 5th Wheel, I bought a Quality one when we thought we were getting Custody of Three more Teen Granddaughters after their Paternal Custodial Grandmother Died in Mexico.  But, we couldn't get any of them into the Country so that didn't pan out after Months and lots of expense trying.

 

So, The Daughter moved in there by herself and eventually, if she gets back on Track, she's Welcome to come back and try harder to stay Clean.  We'll see how she fares, only Time and Restored Trust will tell.  Anyway, I guess Rob wants to move up North on some Land he's Buying.  I think his Younger Brother and new Young Bride with the Newborn all moving in to their Parent's Home is just too much for Rob.  He doesn't mind doing for his Parents, but his Brother is notoriously irresponsible and Lazy, but he's the 'Baby' of the Family so Rob said T.J. has always gotten away with more due to that and his Parents still enable inappropriate Behaviors.   So, Rob and his Dad go rounds about all of that all the time and I've overheard the arguments.  Rob thinks his Elderly Parents ought to Sell the Property and move into Long-Term Care Assisted Living for their Final Years.  I agree it would be best for them.  And then Rob could go off and live his Life, with having a Peace about leaving.

The Son is upset coz the Plans for his Guest to attend the Concert with him, and was his Ride, fell thru 20 Minutes before they are supposed to be there.   His Nephew said he'd go with him and I'd take them and drop them off, Rob also offered to take him if he needs another Ride.  But, I know he gets really chapped when someone accepts an Invite and then waits 'til the last Minute to back out and be a No Show.  He doesn't wanna waste a Ticket on them since he doesn't wanna go alone and had other people he could have asked to give the Ticket to.  I don't blame him for being upset about that, it's inconsiderate and would be a waste of a Concert Ticket to a good Show and potentially ruin a good time he was looking forward to.   We don't live far from where the Concert is being held so getting there is no Big Deal, but, he is still rightfully upset for valid reasons.   But, I told him nobody will want to accept that Ticket if they know he's Upset and won't be Good Company, so Chill Out and Calm Down.

 

The Young Prince has alternative Plans with his Dad, his Dad's New Wife, Sadie, and some other Friends Downtown, that he made when his Uncle said the Old GF said she wanted to go to the Concert with him.  So, I doubt The Young Prince wants to go now coz he's already got Sadie coming over to pick him up and do what they've now all Planned.  And I don't wanna go to a Rock Concert, not interested and I think it's an Outside Venue too, which, too Hot, it's still 93 Degrees Tonight out there.  Anyway, I Hope he goes and has a good time despite the upset at the 11th Hour of someone else having to give the extra Ticket to?   Rob would probably even go with him.  Lots of folks like Rock Concerts and a Free Ticket, is Ideal, no expense to the Guest.  

 Usually the Radio Station Contests give away the Best Seats/Tickets too and sometimes Back Stage Passes as well to meet and greet with the Entertainers/Bands.  I think it's Bad Omens, Beartooth and PRESIDENT, I'm showing my Age, coz I don't know who any of them are?  *LOL*  They usually have a Pre-Party that he wants to go to, which is why he wanted to be there an Hour beforehand, which, is NOW.  Anyway, once he and The Young Prince leave for their Nights Out, it will just be The Man and I having a Peaceful Night and the House all to ourselves, Blissfully!   Can you only Hear it... the Silence?  *Winks*  Well, except for Eli the Cat wailing the Song of his People coz he can hear me Typing in here so he sometimes wants my Attention.  *Le Sigh*  He'll settle down once I don't respond.  I already played with him, groomed him, fed him... put "Sponge Bob Square Pants" on his TV, so he's Golden.

He's not Happy that his Human now spends more time with her Human Boyfriend than with him, which, is understandable.   And her Human Boyfriend got stuck with his Younger Two Sisters Two Female Cats, both Female Cats are Cuddlers and Love the Granddaughter, so, Eli also doesn't like smelling those Felines on HIS Human when she comes back Home.  *Smiles*  Rusty doesn't even want a Pet, he's usually getting stuck with all the Family Pets coz he's vigilant about their Care, so his Family have Cats, Dogs, whatever... and he ends up being the one stuck with Caring for them.  Princess T said it's not Right so she helps him with the Animals, but thinks, rightly so, that irresponsible People shouldn't even own an Animal.   This from the Girl tho' that her Cat relies on Gramma Dawn for his Kibbles, Water, Litterbox Changing and Grooming. Coz The Granddaughter often forgets and he's Living right there in her damned Room!  It's Good she never wants Human Children, it really is.  *LOL*

She argues that I SPOIL him, and I do... BUT, I tell her that Feeding and Watering him and making sure he has a Fresh Clean Litterbox every Morning is NOT Spoiling him!  *Winks*   And I make sure his Program is on coz he Loves watching that Cartoon on his TV and will lay there and watch it for Hours on end.   I don't know what it is about that particular Cartoon, but, Eli LOVES it and likes it being on.  So, Nickelodeon Channel has a Marathon of it on Streaming, so, I just keep checking that it doesn't Time Out.  *Smiles*    Lo and Behold, I think The Son's Ex GF just showed up coz she knew he was so upset, so, now no Trouble in Paradise... Good... he can now debark from the Crazy Train he was Boarding there for a Minute.   

 

His Ex is Navajo so he really doesn't wanna wind her Ass up and have her go on the Warpath with his Ass either.  *Smiles*  She's a Mom of a Teenager and a 10 Year Old, so shit can come up with Family, and at the last Minute with Kids, and she is a Single Parent.  So I had told him she might be Dealing with some shit, so, Calm Down... might not have been an intentional Cancellation?   I didn't know for sure, but I was trying to get him to Dial it back coz he was losing his shit at first and panicking about the whole thing being ruined... and... it could have... but, there was still a chance it wouldn't.   I just spoke with Marina and she did have some personal stuff to sort out to still be able to attend, so, I'm glad she was able to sort it out and go, she probably needs a nice Night out too.  Single Parenting is never easy... she's got Two great Kids, but, they're still Kids, and the Daughter is a Teenager and the Son is Autistic. 

Anyway, so, they're leaving early enuf to catch some of the Pre-Concert Party, so, he's Happy now and had made Dinner for her and his Dad to eat.  Food and Beverages at Concerts is expensive and not so good.  So... now we do have the House to ourselves, The Man and I, coz all Kiddos are gone now doing their Thing.   I had felt like a Nap when I first came Home from all the Day's Appointments, but, I knew if I laid down for it I'd not wake up at all from it 'til it was a brand New Day.  *Smiles*  I do Hope all of Tomorrows Appointments go as well as Today's did, that would be Swell.  Tomorrow it's the Cardiologist Appointment way out in Verrado and the HUMANA Caseworker/Nurse's Home Visit, both for The Man.  One is quite early, the other has a Four Hour Window for her to show up at our House.   I Hate those Hours Long Four Hours Windows they give a Non-Specific Time to your Appointment.  I Hope she comes closer to Noon than to 4:00 p.m. so we're not waiting around for her too long?

I'm winding down the Night now and it's Peaceful, Quiet and Calm around here now that all the Youngsters are out on the Town.  The Man is always very Quiet, he just listens to his Shows loudly coz he's mostly Deaf from Years of Sniper Work and then Working with Jets in his Military Career, it destroyed his Hearing.  I remember when he was being Mandatorily Medically Retired and the Military Panel had to Rate the level of his Disability.  Well, one Officer on the Panel asked him why he hadn't worn Earplugs as a Sniper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   And The Man couldn't be insubordinate to such a Stupid Question so simply deadpanned, "Well, Sir, becoz I wanted to come back Alive."  *LOL*  

 

Then another one on the Panel asked him if they could be sure he hadn't been Drafted in the Condition he was now in {after Serving 39 Years and now being 100% fucking Disabled}!!!  Mind you, he got Drafted in 1969 to be Marine Corps. Special Forces... and he'd Walked into that Eval in a goddamned Zimmer Frame Walker 39 Years Later, so, WTF?!  Yeah, Sure, they Drafted me just like THIS and put me in charge of an Elite Special Force Recon Team to Serve Two Covert Mission Tours in Vietnam/Laos, don't they always?  Of coarse he didn't say that, he just told them to look up all his Wartime Hospitalizations to be put back together again like Humpty Dumpty, to prove Timeline of Injuries related to Service, and get their Money's Worth for the Ninety Grand spent to Train him to be the Best of the Best, and then sent back out into the Battlefield for several other Wars during his 39 Years of Service.  The Stupid Questions are always Funny in the Retelling, but at the time, he was not Laughing.

 

Anyway, The System has always been quite The Dog and Pony Show of a Three Ring Circus.   NEXT DAY:  This Morning I have to get The Man ready for his Cardiologist Appointment and then later, his Home Visit with the HUMANA Nurse/Caseworker, it will be a lot for him in One Day.  I'm getting him to be Showered now before I take The Granddaughter to Work.  He won't remember to do things like Showering now without prompting to do it and protests like a Young Boy would about practicing proper hygiene.  I don't know why he bothers to protest, he knows I'm not giving in about saying he has to do it, it's not a request Marine, it's an Order!  *Winks and Smiles*  He always feels better afterwards and our Master Bathroom has a nice walk-in large Shower and I've kitted it out with Medical Seating for him to use.  But TBI and Dementia are just different in how someone behaves after suffering either or both. 

At least Today all Appointments can be worked around taking and picking The Granddaughter up from Work so that she doesn't have to ask Rusty to do it.  His Shifts lately in The Trades have been compatible to him helping me out with her Transportation, which is a Lucky break.  I guess his Company has cut back Hours tho', so, that's not been good for him.  Especially since Princess T said it had something to do with Safety Issues being resolved... well... in The Trades... that doesn't sound Good!  So, I hope any Safety Issues are being resolved so that none of the Workers get injured or killed!!?  The Son has always been in The Trades and he's gotten hurt on Jobs that weren't as Safe as they should have been.  So, it happens far too often and OSHA isn't always on top of it to spank and Fine Employers who violate Safety Standards. 

 I only once worked Audit for a large Company at a Warehouse and I got seriously hurt just doing that coz of their violations of Safety Practices!  It was a Crush injury and my Feet got messed up for Life, but I damned near lost my Life in the Accident!  They had to pay me a Settlement coz I went Hard about Reporting them and learned they hadn't even filed an Accident Report coz then the Supervisors don't get their Weekly Bonus if there have been no Accidents!!!  Yeah, a lot was going on that was Illegal, and I quit.  And if that was happening at a Mega Warehouse of a very Nationally well known Company, I'm sure it happens at smaller ones too.  Corporate Audit at Banks and the DA's Office was never potentially Life Threatening, so it was a Learning Experience for me that not all well known large National Businesses are conducting Business as they should, or keeping Employees Safe, and their Audits are the least of any violations!  

They even made me go to their Company Docs for Treatment and Evaluation, who Lie for that Employer and Cover Up injuries incurred at the Job sites.   But what they didn't Count on is that I Paid for my own Docs too, which screwed them royally in Court.  So, that was yet another violation added to the list, that their Company Doctors were intentionally covering up injuries from Accidents and giving false evaluations of the Victim's conditions in favor of the Company.  Oh yeah, I know they regret having hired me for sure, but not as much as I regret ever having taken the offer to Work for them and risk my Life and my function after a bad injury that never should have happened.  The irony being, I only took the Job at the urging of a Friend who was in Management at that Warehouse and told me it was a legit place to Work, good Pay, good Benefits.   Well, later on he got seriously hurt there too, so clearly they hadn't changed a thing, they just pay out Claims when they Lose Cases and keep doing Business as usual.

But, in a Capitalist Society run amok we know that happens all the time.  How many Lawsuits do you see advertised on TV paying out Millions in Settlements for intentional harm caused by them.  But, they made Billions off whatever it was, so paying out Millions is just their Cost of doing Business in such a Shady Ass way and still quite lucrative for them to continue doing Business that way.   Victims get permanently Disabled or even Die over it, but they're just collateral damage for what was known to be harmful and pushed thru or out anyway, or covered up.  And the Workers or the Public using the Product or exposed to the Toxins, or the Environmental Damage and such are what Pay the Ultimate Price for the Greed and irresponsibility of the Corporations profiting off of whatever it was. 

  Even in this Epstein Case, so many Victims were Paid Off and how Epstein made his Money and who Bankrolled him has never been exposed or Investigated.   The FBI should have been following the Money to do a proper Investigation of Money coming in from what Source, and Money going out to what Source and Why, from Whom and to Whom.  Following the Money is Investigation 101 in damned near any top tier Crime that is extremely Profitable and Syndicated/Organized.  When lots of Money is involved and lots of Heavy Hitters, is usually when Victims and Witnesses are intimidated, threatened or even Murdered or commit alleged and very suspicious "Suicides" too.  Even Epstein's, well... I have an Epstein Air Freshener that says "This Air Freshener didn't Hang itself...", need I say more about my Opinion on that one Silenced.

 It's got all the Hallmarks of a Case like that and they know it, they can't NOT know it if they're Career folks with lots of Experience and Knowledge.  So, one has to Wonder, why did it go on so long and so much got ignored or hidden and covered up thru several Administrations?   There's a lot of Dirty Hands to be sure that go very high up the Food Chain and are involved.  I have my Opinions about it, they're not Good.   And do I think all the Perps will even be revealed, let alone prosecuted and Justice Served?  Nope.  It would have been done already if Justice were the actual Goal, but it never has been, clearly.  My Heart breaks for all the Victims who Reported what happened to them and have since been Victimized further by the System.  One protecting the Abusers and covering up such Serious Crimes, since Sex Trafficking of Children and protecting Pedophiles is a Major Crime, not a Minor one.

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Keep being part of the Resistance my Friends ... Dawn... The Bohemian