It Was A Bust

 I took The Man with me to "Highland Yard Vintage" Spring Event, Honestly, it wasn't worth the drive all the way there.  It was a Bust in our Opinion and a Shadow of what it used to be, being this was the 1st Event of the New Year, it doesn't portend Well.  All of my Fav Vendors aren't there anymore and it's new Vendors with mass produced items mostly that resemble what you could buy from a "Hobby Lobby" or "TARGET" and any Big Box Store.   Cutesy Seasonal New mass produced Merch, but nothing I'd be interested in and way less Vendors than they used to have.  Now it makes sense to me why they were Closed all of January, you'd probably need to entice new Renters to fill the Warehouse sized Space if you had a lot who left at end of Year.  Anyway, if it is never any better than this Month, I won't make the Pilgrimage there, I barely took any Photos, just nothing all that Editorial for Blog Fodder.

The few OOAK or Vintage items worthy of enticing me were hella expensive, in the Stratosphere of price points, so it was Sticker Shock.  Yowsah, it seemed more like the Vendor had it more as a Display piece as a backdrop to all the new mass produced Merch and had their "I don't wanna Sell it" Price on it??  A lot of Vendors do that rather than put NSF or Display Only on Primo Pieces that look good to Display their other Merchandise that is For Sale.  Anyway, we spent about 10 Minutes there, that's how disinterested and disappointed I was.  We'd already done the Antique Mall twice before recently so had no reason to stick around.  We got some Bakery Items from the Restaurant Section and were done 30 Minutes after arriving.  Bought nothing but some Scones and a Cookie.  It had taken longer to drive there.  *Le Sigh*  I did Like how they Rescued this Upcycled Salvaged Antique Headboard that's Caning had been Roached, very Clever... it was Priced in the Stratosphere for their Efforts tho'.

It was a gorgeous Day tho', 79 Degrees and balmy, so we had Brunch at "The Tipsy Egg" and then went to the Nature Preserve just to be out in Nature.  I did a bit of Environmental Cleanup, but The Man had to use his Walker, so he wasn't a Happy Camper about that and complained about it, but I insisted so he wouldn't risk another Fall.  Plus I made him carry his Walking Stick with Emergency Whistle on it too, so, he mostly sat in the Truck pouting, and when The Son called from Home coz his Sister and Mando had placed the Key to the John Deere Mower somewhere we couldn't find it, and Irrigation was coming and he needed to move the Mower, I just came back Home.  By then our Neighbor Rob had given The Son the Key to their John Deere, which worked on ours {whew} to move it and was helping The Son with Irrigation.

The Daughter is supposed to be coming Home to bring us the Key to the John Deere and to the 5th Wheel coz I don't want them dragging either set of Keys around with them, no need to.  She can get her Key to the 5th Wheel any time she needs to from me and I don't want the Boyfriend having Keys to anything now.  He's not doing any Work for us now, so, he doesn't need access.  I'm paying too much for the 5th Wheel and the Tractor Mower Monthly to risk anyone losing a Key or being Careless with it and I want access to both since we Own them and are making the Payments.  So, I was irritated that The Son couldn't find a Key to either and felt his Sister had all the Keys and had taken them off the Property with them, NOT Okay.  She's not kicked out but she's notorious for losing things and misplacing things, I don't need to pay to have anything Rekeyed for anyone else's Carelessness or irresponsibility with it.

She hasn't been Home for well over a Week, which is Fine, she's Grown, so, she's not Helping with anything either and her Son and Brother have had to pick up the slack in her absence.  I can't have them Taking Care of Business when they can't find the Keys to anything to take Care of it for me.   Anyway, we had a good day and a good Morning and early Afternoon before I felt that The Man was tiring out and needed to come back Home to Rest and watch his Shows.  Plus, in case The Son or her Son had hassles with her or the Boyfriend, I wanted to be here to ensure they didn't get any pushback to getting those Keys returned.  Rob knew I was upset about it and he felt rightly so, he knows what happened and had a run-in with Mando before over a time he overheard some verbal abuse directed at The Daughter.  

He hadn't told me about it coz he didn't wanna wind me up at the time, but his Brother had.  TJ had told me he didn't want his Brother Rob getting arrested, for getting into a Fight with Mando over business that really wasn't his own to get into.  But, Rob had said what he overheard wasn't appropriate and he felt he had to intercede on her behalf at the time.  He said back then he told her she should end the Relationship, but she was making excuses that she'd wound the Boyfriend up... which, wasn't justification for his reaction tho', and Rob was Right about that.  The Boyfriend does not Live here so if he's not getting along with her he could always just Leave the premises.  If he chooses to remain and engage in unacceptable ways, that's a stain on his Character, not hers, this is her Home.  If asked to Leave he should always then just Leave and without Mouthing Off.  Simple.

Now of coarse he can't be here becoz I've mandated that he's no longer Welcome.   Becoz I overheard him being verbally threatening to her and to my Grandson and he's just Lucky I didn't call the Police and have him Arrested for communicating Threats that made anyone feel Unsafe.  She is waffling on dumping him, and I can't do anything about that part of it, but I just don't want him around here.  I don't want him around the rest of my Family since he's emotionally not stable and it's showed that he doesn't have Control over his Angry outbursts and his Temper.  And his Insecurities and Irrational Behavior are something he needs professional Help with to manage IMO.  Mebbe there's Medication he should be on, or whatever Meds he's on need adjusting, IDK?  But, act all Crazy somewhere else, we're all stocked up on Crazy here.  *Winks*

The Scones were still Warm from the Oven when I bought them and the Glaze wasn't even set up yet, they were Sublime.  I ate most of the Peach and Cream one, Saving the Berries one for later.  The Man had an Orange Dreamsicle Cookie.  It was a good day overall and so beautiful outside, a stark change from how Cold and Wet it had been just days beforehand.  The Weather is schizo like that now, 80 Degrees one day and Cold enuf to form Frost the next.  We'd had Frost Yesterday and it was barely in the 40's, then Today it's 81 right now.  No telling what Tomorrow will bring and it's been really hard on Plants, they don't know what to do, stay Wintered or burst into Spring??? 

 While we were at the River a lot of Fish had Beached themselves, which was Weird... I tossed them back, thinking perhaps they'd just gotten Scared into too Shallow Water by Humans?  They all swam off so weren't Dying or injured... just had gotten stranded in Shallow Water they couldn't Swim out of by themselves without Help.  I rescued about half a dozen large Fish and several Juvenile ones that were halfway Grown.  Only the Fry should be in such Shallow Water and be Okay, sometimes they even get stranded if the Pool they're in of Shallows gets separated from the Main River and then they can't get back into the River.  The River is still running high and fast, so the Banks of it are up considerably.  

There were lots of folks Fishing there this day, some Legally, some Illegally and using Nets, which, you can't do and if Fish & Game or the Sheriff's Office Catch them, they will be Fined heavily and have everything confiscated and seized.   I always Warn them, ignorance of the Laws is no excuse for breaking them, if you're gonna Fish or Hunt anywhere, you should know what the Legal Requirements are and have your Permits to do it in Order.  If someone Warning you that you're doing something Illegal isn't cause enuf to deter you, even if you were previously unaware and ignorant, then you deserve the consequences if Caught of Confiscation/Seizure, which can include your Vehicles, Fines and even possible Imprisonment.  Most of what they Ignore is Posted in English and Spanish with Pictures, so unless you're Illiterate, Stupid, or don't Care about breaking Laws, you Know you're in Violation.

I could tell we hadn't been there in a while, since The Man's Fall in fact, coz I got a LOT of Aluminum Cans picked up and we weren't there that long.  The Man had gotten back in the Passenger Side of the Truck and put his own Walker away, so I knew he wasn't gonna participate any more and it was just time to take him back Home if he was gonna be difficult about using his Walker.  *Eye Roll*  I told him if he didn't use it, we weren't doing this anymore, period.  Coz I don't want to risk him Falling or getting Hurt, I Need for him to be Safe during any Outing.  He's not Happy about it, but, oh well.  It is what it just is and he has to accept when he has limitations that make the use of Medical Equipment a necessity if his Mobility is becoming compromised.  I won't accept Stubborn obstinance.  And I can't Fix what's going Wrong with him.  But, I am his Caregiver so I have to be the Heavy sometimes on what he isn't allowed to do anymore.

It was the last Day of the Event at "Sweet Salvage" too, but I had no desire to go back a 2nd time either.  It was an Okay Show, but, I didn't see much to even get good Editorial Photos of and no Urge to Buy anything but the bit of Architectural Salvage I'd Bought on Day Two of the Four Day Event.   The Man and I did stop by "Bookman's" Used Bookstore and I got a Vintage 1960's Globe of Mars on a Lucite Mid-Century Stand, for about 70% Off what they Sell for Online.  I got Two Used Decor Books and The Man got One Soft Cover Book of a Genre he likes.  That's all we bought this day.  One of my Books was a little Spendy, called VINEYARD FOLK, but still 50% Off the Retail Price of it, some Books now Sell for a Fortune Full Retail!!!   The other Book I got for less than 60% Off the Retail Price.

  The Man's Book wasn't Used so I had to pay Full Retail for it.  They do stock some New Books.  And of coarse he didn't want to Pick a Used Book.  *Eye Roll*  But, since he hadn't found anything he wanted for his Birthday Pressy, I consider that something as part of a Gift for it that he did actually show Interest in and want.   He got rid of most of his Collection of Books he'd been accumulating for a long time, without even Reading or looking at them, so I don't know he'll Read or even look at this one either... but... whatever.   It made him Happy to get it.  *LOL*  It's some kind of Homesteading Book and he likes all those Failed Homestead Shows where they have to go Rescue City Folks that think they wanna live Off The Grid coz they can't Make It in Society I guess. But, know nothing about how to Live in the Wilderness either, so fail at it too, often miserably and put their whole Family at risk and spent everything they had on the "Dream/Fantasy".

Some folks have a Romanticized version of what they Daydream about doing and Zero Knowledge or Experience about how it Needs to be done.  Or not enuf Money to get it done.  To me it's just irresponsible and naive for them to haul their whole Family out there and put especially any Children, at grave risk or in unsuitable and dangerous conditions.  I'm surprised that some of the Episodes don't prompt Child Protective Services to check in on some of those Families for Welfare Checks.  Some don't have access to Clean Water, enough Food, Safety from Predators, a Safely built Domicile, access to Medical or Emergency Services or Catastrophic Natural Conditions that can cost you your Life... they'd be almost better off Homeless in a Town or City than what they're risking being Off Grid in some remote area with no way to actually make it Work and Survive.

It's now 86 Degrees Outside, getting Toasty, good thing we got Irrigation coz the Odd back and forth with Cold and Hot is hard on all the Plants and Trees.   The Daughter never did show up with the Keys, Hours later, even tho' she'd Texted her Brother that she was on her way here.  So... everyone is irate about it.  Yes, Rob got some Keys of theirs that worked on our John Deere to get it to dry ground so it wouldn't be flooded when Irrigation hit, so that was a Blessing.  She doesn't know that tho', so clearly didn't give it a priority of the urgency of everyone's request to get those Keys in particular or tell us where they are at?  They were the last ones to use them, so they'd be the only ones that know where they put them.   I'm tired of it being a hassle unresolved ever since he was asked to leave our Property.  And I do Worry over her Sobriety holding {from Drugs, she still Drinks}, coz I don't think he's a Positive Influence for her staying Clean.

She's avoiding Family and Home now and she's usually done that when Using, so I do Hope we're Wrong being suspicious of that?  I don't like to accuse someone of something they're NOT doing, but she is a Recovering Addict and her Behavior around him has been unstable.  That could just be her Mental Health Condition since he's Stressful for her to be around and often Triggers her Schizophrenia.  No telling what he's Whispering in her Ears about all of us, coz every time she has Called her Brother, he has heard the Boyfriend in the background saying things that have made her act Paranoid and hang up on him.  She's called her Brother tho', she has hesitated to call any of her Kids or I, also very Uncharacteristic.  She usually always answers her Son's Calls and mine, she hasn't been during this Week she's been gone with him.  So, it's speculation on our part what's going on?  I don't know anything about this Ranch they're Working at either or the folks that Own it. 

I do know her Friend Amber said it's a lot of Land with Horses, but that the Trailer on it is unsuitable and whoever bought it from the Owner probably did so for the Value of the Land and it's Zoning as Equestrian.  Amber's Daughter was living out there with TJ before his Parent's took them in becoz of her being Pregnant and them having no place to Live.  And Amber had told TJ's Parents she didn't want her Pregnant Young Daughter living out there becoz it was so substandard.  Amber has lived in Mobile Homes when she was growing up, so she wasn't being Bougee, but she said this is a dump of a Trailer and not a livable Mobile Home.  She has no reason to make up her assessment of it and I know TJ's Family took her Daughter and their Son back in... when TJ had been previously kicked out of his Parent's Home.  So, it's probably an accurate assessment of that Property.

  

The Daughter has lived substandard in Mexico so that wouldn't bother her if that's where the Boyfriend is now being allowed to stay until the Sale goes thru.  I don't know the Old Guy that owns the place or if he even lived out there on the Property or just kept his Stables there with the Trailer as a place to store what he needed to look after his Horses?  A lot of folks own Ranches in Buckeye coz it's Zoned for that and they can have their Horses and Livestock on the Land, many also can have a Trailer or Mobile Home on the Land, which is Rare to get that kind of Zoning in other Cities even if you Own lots of Land.  Our Mini Farm Community has Custom Homes and Zoned for Bunkhouse Structures and you can have Recreational Vehicles, so most do.  About half the Community has large 5th Wheels or Fancy Airstreams.  But not jenky Trailers or Mobile Homes.

Anyway, she never did come Home with the Keys to the Tractor or the 5th Wheel yet.   I suspect she will, I have no need of them right now, but want them here, not elsewhere.  If she wants to move out she'd go with all of our Blessings.  She's Grown and Free to Live where ever she wants to.  This Boyfriend has no way to even support himself, let alone her.  My suggestion to her was if she needs to, go back to Mexico to be with folks we Trust more than this Guy, who have had her Best Interests at Heart and taken Care of her.  Two of them have told me personally she has an Open Invitation to come back and live at their Properties, one has a Mansion on the Beach, the other owns several Beachfront Properties.  She's helped them over the Years take Care of their Properties and their Horses, had her Kids there on Vacations.  And one even put her up with the Three Kids at his Mansion, after the Paternal Grandmother initially Passed Away and we were trying to get the Kids into America, but couldn't.

So, I know she has Options and I do Wish she'd just take them.  But she seems to have it in her Head that she can't abandon this Guy becoz he's Dying and he's using his Illness as leverage for her Pity of him IMO.  I may Pity a person whose Terminally Ill and fighting an Incurable Disease, it's a horrible way to Go, but I won't let it become a good excuse for bad behavior.  There's never a good excuse for bad behavior, ever.   And if his own Family have been falling away, then I suspect they feel the same way I do about behavior not being tolerated that they don't approve of or feel unsafe around?   His Temper flareups have been out of Control and when a person has lost Control of themselves, nobody wants them around them.  Anyway, it is what it just is, I can't Control how anyone else reacts to what's going on with them or the Choices they make.  It does affect other people tho', it never just affects them.

I actually Slept In and managed not to get woken up prematurely by The Man, UNTIL he clogged our Toilet... AGAIN!!!  *Le Sigh and Eye Roll*  He has Colace so I have to make sure now he's taking it, we've been Eagle Eyed about his Medications to make sure he's not Hiding them without our knowledge.  I check the Bottles, the Labels, we have someone present to Administer them and his Shots every Day too.  He's not allowed to take anything or pretend he did without a Witness now, coz he can't be Trusted or Believed.   His Memory Care isn't the only Issue, he now gets belligerent about following his Safety Prompts, using his Medical Equipment, taking his Shots and Oral Meds, Showering, Changing Clothing and practicing overall good Hygiene with consistency, eating, exercising a little bit so he doesn't atrophy, putting his Seatbelt on in the Truck.   It's very much like coaxing a Small Child to do all those things... you get pushback every time.

Patience not being one of my Virtues with Small Children or Old Men, I have to exercise my Patience daily to build it up.  *Winks and Snort*  Don't get Mad at Dad... Grandpa... is usually something all of the Kiddos all have to say as a Mantra to me, when they see he's really pushing my limits of Patience with him and Testing me.   *LOL*   If I quit Coaxing and just give him a Look, THE Look, with what the Kids claim are my Crazy Eyes, usually that's enough for compliance with him.  He knows once I quit Talking, that's when you're on shaky and dangerous ground with me... that no longer Needs Words.  *Bwahahahaha*  If he's refusing to use his Walker, I fold that Motherfucker up, put it in the back of the Truck and get in the Driver's Seat... Fun Over... Okay then, we're just not Doing this... whatever this is. 

I'm opening up a Bank Account for The Grandson with him Today, he just has Cash App and some places want a Debit Card use, so it's best he has both in his own Name now.  I'm a Retired Executive of this Bank so I get a lot of perks still and can link him up to my Accounts for preferential Services and Rates.  His Sister, Mom and Uncle are already linked up.  Usually I help the Family manage their Finances, coz except for Princess T, who Learned to manage her own appropriately, the rest of them need help with Managing such things.  The Son's Ex did all the Money Management when they were together, I've always done it for The Man, he sucks at Financial Management otherwise.  Either you're good with Money or you're not... Financial IQ isn't strong in some folks no matter how much they Earn or Make, it's never what you Make that is the problem, it's what you Keep.

We got The Grandson all hooked up with his Bank Account linked to ours so he's getting good Rates and Perks.  We stopped in to the Antique Mall to put in some more Merch, my Sales are way up, let's Hope it holds for the 2nd Week of the Pay Period now?  He enjoy seeing all the Friends there he's known a long time, they're all glad he's back.  Most remember The G-Kid Force when they were little.  This is Rachel, who so many folks thought was another one of my Kids and so thought she was Princess T's Mom, so now Rachel calls me Mom, and Princess T calls her Mom, and it's a running Joke she should be in our Family Holiday Pixs to send out.  *LOL*  The Year I Adopted The G-Kid Force, Rachel, and another Young Employee, Cole, were gonna be in our Family Christmas Card Photo that December.  Just to send it out and say nothing about who they were... as if we just Adopted a couple Spare Kids while Finalizing the Adoption.  *Ha ha ha*

 

I got the above Heart {The Red N Black One} that was similar to that Pink One I'd seen before.   I like mine better than the Pink one, which had already Sold.  I like that mine has a round piece of Jade and the Crystal Towers.  I like that the Heart shows on both sides and isn't flat and the Price was low at Twenty Bucks.   The Daughter did come Home with the Keys and she looks Fine and Clean, so, that's a relief.  The folks from that Property brought her, they still have a bunch of Work on that Property for her to do that they're paying her for, since it is Sold and has to be done before the Transfer to the New Owner.  They wanted it conveyed in a certain condition and it was dump coz the Old Man had let it go into Neglect with his Age and only kept the Animals well Cared for, not the Property really or the Trailer.  She made Peace with her Son, which is good, he was very upset with her.  I felt stupid coz I'd been Texting her Old Broken Phone and not the New One... no wonder she didn't respond!  Ooops. 

Now there's no more Trouble in Paradise.  *Whew*  And, I also had forgotten the spare Key to the 5th Wheel had broken in the Lock once and had to be dug out.  So, we'll be making a spare now with her Key, which, she's allowed to have coz she's living there.  I just wanted the spare with me and had completely forgotten it had broken, they make the Keys very flimsy now and they bend and break rather easily compared to older Keys.  Anyway, I'm glad she has Work that is steady, she was able to send some to the Oldest Daughter in Mexico for her College Books and some Tuition Costs already.  She knows why I was suspicious and upset, apologized to me, she doesn't like seeing me upset, none of the Kids do.  They know I always worry about the ones who've had Substance Abuse Issues staying Clean.  The Daughter said she and her Brother would always drop a UA for me to prove their continued Sobriety from Drugs.

We got Test Results back for The Man from his Cardiac Doc's Office, his A1C was 7.8, which for him is good, tho' still elevated, it's been 8-9 before, so for him in the 7's is still an improvement.  I'm in the 6's now and that's where we'd like him to be as well one day, but he struggles more with healthy Dietary choices than I do.  It's easy for me to eat healthy, I prefer to and am not one to eat Fried Foods, Sugary Foods, Junk Foods, I don't really like that kind of Food.  I prefer Savory, Salty and Sour Foods over anything Sweet.  His Thyroid was low, he has an underactive one, but not alarmingly so and they aren't ready to say he needs Meds for that yet.   So, it does slow his Metabolism and has all the persistent symptoms of Hypothyroidism.  But, all his other levels were good.  We'll end the Post on a Visually Positive Note with a Pix my Brother took at an Event he covered, which is Adorbs...

*******

More of my Brother's great Photography to come in another Post... Dawn... The Bohemian

Comfortable With A Certain Social Isolation Over Time

 We'll likely wait 'til Sunday to visit "Highland Yard Vintage" Spring Event coz Princess T's Hours at Work on a Saturday aren't consistent and we're her ride.  I can't be all the way out in Chandler when she calls for pickup.  I do Wish she had more consistent full time Hours, she's a full time Employee, but, they haven't been getting regular Hours for a while now.  Either they're sent Home early, or have to Work late, either way, those requiring Transportations that don't have their own, means it interrupts the Lives of those offering them the rides to and from Work, which is a Pain in the Ass for us too.  She's got enuf Saved now to Buy a Vehicle if she finds a reliable one at a good price, but, she still has to Learn to Drive.

I'd like to have another Driver in the Household who has their own Vehicle too.  The Son drives but has no reliable Vehicle right now.  Mando was providing transportation 'til we learned he doesn't have a valid License and his Tags were expired too!   And now, he's not here anymore either, so, there's that, tho' he's still driving and that's on him to get his affairs in order with the DMV.   The Daughter and The Young Prince, along with The Man, can never drive due to the extent of their Illnesses being too profound to do so safely.  They all know how to drive, but aren't Legally able to either, the DMV told us that The Daughter has a Lifetime restriction, and with her illness, that's not a Surprise at all. 

So, having Princess T able to drive would be most Helpful, and especially if she gets a reliable Vehicle first so we have Two available to the whole Family and don't just rely on me and mine.   Right now The Young Prince has BCG willing to do some driving on his behalf, which is very kind of this new individual, and helpful.  I don't really have anyone I could call on for an Emergency Ride and I wouldn't ever use Uber coz I don't know they vet their Drivers very well and folks have been Victimized by using the Gig Industry for Rides.  I think they're trying to tighten all that up, but, I consider the risk factors too high, same with Public Transportation in the City, which is rife right now with Bus Pirates, sometimes traveling in whole Gangs, riding on Public Transit Systems and Targeting Victims to Rob.  Elderly and the Disabled do have some Ride Share options, which are Safer and Regulated better.

The Young Prince has an invite to attend a Japanese Festival Downtown with his Dad but I have to wait until his Sister is off work before I could take him.  It is the dilemma when you're a One Vehicle Family.  The Son and Amber were doing their Exercise Walk around our Neighborhood and saw one of our South American Neighbors was making fresh Homemade Pupusas at their Yard Sale and called me so I could go buy some.  For Three bucks each, they were the Pork, Bean and Cheese, plus Selling freshly made Horchata to drink too, delicious.  The Daughter was making them Fresh on a Grill in the Front Yard, it made for a nice unexpected Lunch.

I did get The Young Prince to his Dad's in time for the Japanese Festival, which, he didn't end up wanting to stay at so he got a Lyft Home pretty early.  I think his Dad and new Stepmom stayed longer, I'm assuming it wasn't such a Big Time that the Grandson wanted to stay any longer than he did.  I'd thought I'd heard his Voice while Napping this Afternoon and dismissed it as, he's not even here, I must be Dreaming?  *LOL*  I'd taken him to that Festival many Years ago when he was a Young Teenager and it was nice, but I don't think we stayed all that long either, the G-Kid Force were Younger then and we'd had enuf Fun in just a couple Hours as I recall, then too.  There's very few things we wanna attend all day.

I got a Fresh Margherita Pizza {uncooked tho'} and a Pepperoni Fresh Pizza Kit {you put it together and cook it} from "Sprouts" Today and The Son is cooking both of them now for Dinner.  His Sister never has come Home from whatever she's doing.  We suspect she did finish the Job in Buckeye and get Paid coz she Posted some Social Media Pixs of her and Mando at a Casino or Bar, drinking Cocktails and likely Gambling... so I would suspect he'll help her blow thru any Money she did Earn, including her Housekeeping Job last Weekend.  Coz none of it got deposited in her Account as it should have and I'm no longer Trustee, even tho' she's incapable of managing Finances, I can only make suggestions.  Which, she usually takes them when she doesn't have influence that would exploit that vulnerability and just 'Use' her.  She's very defensive of him so I just stepped off the Topic.

I dunno, take a Seriously Mentally Ill Alcoholic to a Casino after they get Paid for some hard Work you lined up for them, get them Drunk and see what happens... just didn't seem like you're looking out for THEIR Best Interests?  But, that's just my Opinion.  I know once her Son sees that Social Media Post it will land like a lead Balloon.   The Son and her Daughter were not at all Surprised and noticed whenever she had any Money was when the Boyfriend was nicest to her.  In order that she'd spend it all with him rather than having it in her account for her own Needs.  Lots of his Manipulative Habits are on full display now he's been told he can't be here and the facade has fallen away. 

 She won't likely abandon him due to his Health, so I gave up telling her that even a Dying Man who Respects or Cares about who he's with won't mistreat them or exploit them.  Another Opinion of mine.   I feel you have to Be like that all along I highly suspect?   And I have found that if you're Kind to some folks, they do tend to get too comfortable and take it for Granted or mistake Kindness for Weakness.  Once I realize someone is of that Camp, well, I won't be Unkind, but, I won't Enable that kind of Behavior either or Tolerate it.  But, you cannot tell other Adults what to Tolerate or Accept in the Behaviors of other People, that's on them to Choose.  Folks make Poor Choices all of the time and the consequences play out based on that decision making.

 I don't Care what they try to justify Bad Behavior with, his Illness doesn't excuse or justify treating someone Bad whose been and is being Kind to him and genuinely Caring for him when he's down and out, even actively Dying, so, there's no Future for her to be with him.  I can see why his Family have fallen away mostly and won't help him anymore, if he's behaved this way towards any of them or even just some of them.  I know some of his Family before I ever knew him, and I've met some since, they seem like very Nice people, but have a lot of Family internal Drama and some Estrangements.   And perhaps he has a History of it himself, even when Well, I just don't know?  He's not all Bad, but not all Good for her either.  But, she's not all Good for him either.

He has always treated me and The Man very Well, and was nothing but Helpful, Respectful and Industrious while on our Property towards US. Which was appreciated and rewarded in ways that benefitted him too.   So I don't have it Personalized in that way, but mistreating ANY of my Loved Ones then disqualifies you as being Welcome here to me, period. He had conflict continuously with The Daughter, and Off N On with The Son, The Grandson and many of her Friends while they were Visiting us.  Princess T didn't Like him so wouldn't have much to do with him even tho' towards her he was like he was with The Man and I, but she too didn't like how he Treated other People at times.  It was rather a Dr. Jekyll and Mister Hyde Persona going on, some saw One Side, others saw quite another.  One Side isn't Pretty or Tolerable IMO.

    And I do think The Daughter often gets involved with Relationships that are not going to work out... she's part of why they don't, but who she chooses is also part of why they don't.   I didn't always make the best Choices when I was Younger either, nor did The Man, so we had failed Relationships too until we met each other, it happens.  You Move On and SHOULD learn from Mistakes made of who you aren't compatible with long-term and don't repeat Bad Choices and look for the Red Flags in folks.  Love is often Deaf, Dumb and Blind.   And I think as folks get Older especially, you just cut loose anyone and everyone whose bringing any Drama to the Table in any way.  I'm all Friended Up so I don't Need to Deal with anyone's Drama and being a Headache, especially at our Home.

 

So, the Middle Granddaughter in Mexico has a Boyfriend whose clearly quite smitten with her and lavished her with Roses and Gifts on Valentine's Day.   And thinks she's a Princess Too.  *Winks, they ALL are, Right?  Ha ha haa*  He even Paid for her to have Braces, tho' I didn't think her Teeth were jenky, but now they'll be Perfect.  Princess T has Naturally Perfectly straight Teeth, her Dental Surgeon who'll be doing the extraction of Wisdom Teeth was Surprised to learn she'd never had Braces to make them as Straight as they Naturally are.   This is the Granddaughter {above} who looks exactly like I did at that Age, it's eerie really to see a Grandchild whose your absolute Clone.  And sometimes they crack me up by saying Gramma, Look at my New Outfit, and send me a Pix but with their Heads cut off!  Ummm, very Pretty little Black Dress, but I'd of liked to have the Frame with YOUR Head Shot in it too Darlin'!!!  *LMAOROTF*  Kids...

All the Sisters often compete with one another on who has the best Style and often try to emulate Princess T, who is Older than the Trio of Sisters in Mexico who are her Full Sisters.  She has numerous Half Sisters and Brothers on the other side of the Border, many Older, One Younger Sister.   The Ex who Fathered Four Granddaughters of ours had a lot of Kids by various Baby Mamas.   I don't approve and only One of the Older ones keeps in Touch with us and has a Lovely Family and looks a lot like Princess T.  I wouldn't even know what all the others look like except that one of his Oldest Daughter's and his very Youngest Daughter, whose very Fair.   Saint Maria, his Mother, was of French Ancestry, but Born and Raised, lived all her Life, in Mexico, so was a Green Eyed Blonde.  So, about half of Salvador's Family look European, the other half look Spaniard, including him, coz his Dad's People were from Spain originally.

The Oldest Granddaughter of the Trio of Mexico just sent me this most recent Selfie, she's got her other Two Sisters living with her again and taking Care of them until they're Grown.   She's very Mature, Intelligent and Responsible beyond her Years.  Is going to College, Working Full Time at a Job and Modeling on the Side, while Raising her Two Younger Siblings after their Grandmother Died who had been Raising them all.  They all got Saint Maria's Porcelain Fair Skin, my Family all tend to be Darker complexion.  Even my Mom only stayed Fair if she stayed out of the Sun completely, which, in her latter Years, when she was Housebound, made her Fairer than I remember her being Growing Up.  And of coarse my Native American Dad was very swarthy and Dark, but not as Dark as some of his Siblings were.  They are all a Sultry Bunch and a Handful... Wonder where they got THAT from?  *Bwahahaha*

The Son has a Job prospect with someone he used to Work with whose starting their own Business and Hiring folks they know would be Assets to the Team they're building for it.  He's encouraged since, it would probably work out better.   He knows this Gal and that her Work Ethic is good and she's really Smart at Business, is the Entrepreneur Type, so didn't really like working for someone else.  I think I met her once, I met so many of his Co-Workers at his last Career in the Cabinet Custom Biz.  I had thought she was a Guy until she spoke, she's quite Butch and can hold her own in a Male dominated Field of The Trades.  For some reason the Lesbians have always thought highly of The Son and gotten along with him and become close Friends, which they don't usually do with many Straight Guys.  He treats everyone with Respect, Dignity and no Biases or Judgment, which is probably the draw tho'.

And The Young Prince told me it's also likely for the same reason Gay Men like having an Attractive Female in their Krew, it attracts Guys.  That's why The Young Prince has always had a Straight Beautiful Gal Posse surrounding him.  And Princess T's Gay Boy Posse always want her to be Queen Bee of their Krew too.  *LOL*   So, his Uncle being a Handsome Male, attracts Women... so... no downside to that if you're a Lesbian or a Straight Man, Right?  *Smiles*  He could be Right?  *LOL*  The Son does admit he's never had to approach Women, they always approach him first, and, he's very approachable.  Ever since he was a Young Teen, the Gals have really liked him... all of them.  *Smiles*   And all of his Friends liked his Older Sister being around when they were Growing Up.  *LOL*    I remember having the same effect on my Younger Brother's Friends.  *Winks*

Above is The Son with a Gal on each Arm, at Age Three, both of those Girls are still his Friends to this day.  *Smiles*   Also The Daughter with her BFF Amber when they were Buck Wild Teens, still Friends to this day.  And our Oldest Daughter with The Man at her Wedding... well over 30 Years ago, my how Time just Flies, huh?   She's a Gramma now of Five, and those Grandkids she gave us are now Middle Aged and gave us those Five Great-Grandkids... they get Old and drag you along with them.  And you think to yourself, Wow, how did that happen so fast?!   *Winks*  I've been going thru and Organizing Old Photos and I forget sometimes how much Time has flown by!

Lord have Mercy what a difference over Half a Century can make, huh?  *Bwahahahaha*   The Middle Pix was Interesting coz I never realized until then that my Grey Eyes are so Pale that they are prone to picking up and reflecting the Color of whatever I'm wearing.  So that Turquoise Wrap made my Eyes appear Turquoise and I went thru a Middle Aged Phase then of wearing a lot of Colors that changed my Eye Color to match with my Outfits.  *LOL*   And No, my Hair was never Auburn and I've never been a Redhead ever, but when Pixs get Old it seems the Colored Pixs back in Da Day were so Poor Quality that it all goes to a Reddish Sepia over Time and your Complexion also washes out to look Paler than you were too.

  

 I was quite Swarthy as a Child and as a Young Woman, but had the very Pale Eyes and Light Hair that didn't match my Complexion at all.  And I really Hated that as a Youngster, made me feel a bit Freakish.   I'd often get people ask me how I kept such a Dark Tan all Year round, especially in Climates with little Sun, coz they assumed I was not of Mixed Race.   And as a Kid you'd not understand completely why their demeanor would quite often change and be suddenly Negative and not so enamored with your Skin Tone, when you'd explain becoz your Dad was Indigenous, so, it wasn't a Suntan.  I always thought that rather Ironic really, how your Complexion could be Complimented, Admired, even Envied, if it was assumed to be a Suntan.  But not if it was your Natural Complexion as a Person of some Color, and now despised and looked down upon.  Racism is just that ridiculous and absurd to me.

A much Younger Tween Princess T.   Looking thru my Photos is Nostalgic but can be bittersweet, as I get to Missing my Friends who have either Moved Away or Passed Away and the Images remind me of when they were still here and we got to spend precious Time together.  You still have the Memories, and the Photos, but not the Person Present anymore and as Time goes on that's happening at an accelerated pace now.  More Move Away, more Pass Away.  So few are left now that it's very much deepening the Void left behind, of so many Missing Friends and Family now.   I do keep in touch with the majority that Moved Away and are still among the Living tho', so Social Media is a wonderful thing in that way.  We didn't used to have that at our disposal, so it's one part of Technology that I'm not so opposed to in the Positive ways it can be used.

Seeing their Smiling Faces and what they're up to where they now Live is uplifting and I'm so Happy for them that as they've Moved On to somewhere else, things are mostly Good.   And some do make it back to Arizona from time to time for visits.   A lot of folks were originally From somewhere else and just went back when the Time seemed Right for them to return.  In Arizona, most folks are usually From somewhere else Originally.   Our Two Youngest Kids and some of my Grandkids being the exception, having been Born here, tho' The Daughter did choose to migrate and live in Mexico for close to 20 Years.  The Son and Grandson Traveled extensively, but always came back to Arizona.  And the Oldest Daughter was Born in Pennsylvania and Raised there, deciding to make that her permanent Home, along with her Children and Grandchildren.

For The Man and I, our Global Nomad Days are behind us now.  If he were Well, I'd still have Wanderlust enuf to Travel extensively and Globetrot, quite Honestly, but would return here as Home Base now.  I consider Arizona my permanent Home and I feel a very strong Connection here to the Land.  I couldn't even tell you exactly Why, it's Primal and rather Visceral, like I'd been here Before, or Ancestrally did have a Tie to this Land, I dunno?   I've been to many Countries and many States, never stayed Put for very long, never felt that Connection before to any Place until I got here and felt it immediately.  It was like Coming Home even tho' I'd never been here until then.  And never want to Leave now.

I will probably be Losing this Dear Lifelong Friend sometime between now and the end of March and I'm trying to brace myself for The Call when it comes.   Her Youngest Daughter has Promised to let me know when it happens and that her Fight is over now.  I do Wish I could either be there or they could be here, instead of all that Distance between us now.  Texas might as well be on another Planet since I can't take this Show on the Road and even Traveling distances myself now poses it's challenges due to the Medications I'm on and well, Finances as well.  Travel is pretty expensive, budgets are pretty tight for everyone.   And, frankly, I don't do Weddings, Baby Showers or Funerals... if I can Help it.  I will however, attend my own Funeral.  *Winks*

 The Young Prince said he could have gone on a Cruise to the Bahamas Cheaper than moving back to Arizona from New Mexico... to put it all in perspective.  He would have liked a Cruise to the Bahamas, since, it would have been a lot less Expensive, by far, and been a Memorable Vacation and not an Exodus from an Emotional difficult Bad Situation.  *LOL*   I'd still like to get to Bora Bora one day, still No. 1 on my Bucket List.  I've had Friends who've gone there and said I won't be disappointed, it's all and more they thought it would be.  I felt that way when visiting Kauai on our Honeymoon.  We were supposed to return for our 25th Anniversary, for a 2nd Honeymoon, which, was over a Decade ago now, but The Man's Health had tanked by then, I was Full Time Caregiving, and it just wasn't possible.  Plus, we were Raising Grandkids too, it was just complicated, so Vacays were a thing of the Past.

The Man isn't a Fan of Tropical Destinations either, he was sent to fight too many Wars in Tropical Locales, so it doesn't bring back fond Memories of those kinds of places for him.   I'm Surprised he finds a certain Peace living in a Desert, for the same reasons, the Middle East was a place he was sent to fight too many Wars also.  I think his fondness for Cold Climates stems from, we've really done no Wars there that he was involved in?   And, in all Truthfulness, I Married a Content Homebody, he likes to just stay Home, that's where he'd rather be than anywhere else, Princess T also.  If they never went anywhere they'd be just Fine with it.  *Smiles*   And Princess T found herself a Content Homebody also, Rusty would rather stay Home than anywhere else too, so most of their Time together is spent here or at his Home.  They rarely go out or get together with other People and are Fine with that. 

 

I've become more able to just feel most comfortable and content going nowhere and seeing no-one to get together and do stuff.  So, I do see the Appeal now.   And when we do go out, it's usually just myself and One Family Member, or I go Solo, and that's my preferred way of rolling as well now.   The Simplicity and the Peacefulness of that kind of Solitude is preferred over a whole lot of Social interactions now to me.  I'm not a Natural Recluse, but, Full Time Caregiving did challenge me to be more comfortable with a certain Social Isolation that over Time, you not only got used to, but found was quite Zen and less complicated.  It slowed Life way down to a pace that was a Solitude that was enjoyable and a Routine that was comfortable to settle into as you Aged.  I think it prepared me better for growing Older and Losing People.

I can stay Connected mostly via Social Media and Blogging now, or attending Regular Events I still enjoy for short periods of Time, which is Fine and Enough.   And I'm beginning to think a lot of the Young Folks have Disconnected for a lot of the same reasons?   As the World became too fast paced, too complicated, too harsh in so many unlovely ways they just don't want to immerse in daily?   I know The G-Kid Force tell me they really don't want to deal with a lot of Society at large, becoz they don't Like what they see of it.  A sad commentary of the condition of Society and the trajectory of it, but I can't say that I disagree or blame them for Passing on a lot of it and Opting Out in order to Maintain their Peace and their Calm.   So many out there seem to have no Peace and certainly lost their Calm along with Kindness a long, long time ago.

 

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Keep your Peace and Maintain your Calm, try to always react with Kindness... Dawn... The Bohemian