Radioactive Fiesta Ware & The Spilled Tea From Work

 I just purged some older Archived Blog Posts from August. I'm still 20 ahead in Unpublished Posts, so I could take a long Blog hiatus and nobody would know.  *Winks*  Princess T and The Man agreed that what happened with The Niece stranding The Son after his Concert wasn't Right or Cool.  At least he was in good Spirits this Morning, tho' he'd been so upset when he got Home after I went and got him, that he forgot to charge his Phone and that's what has his Alarm, so he overslept and got to Work late.  I drove him and he'd called his Boss to explain, she'll let him just Work later to make up the time, she's pretty flexible, she knows he doesn't do that kind of thing intentionally, he's very reliable.

Another Pedestrian got run over last Night and is in critical condition, which is another reason I didn't want him Walking Home from that Concert.  The number of Pedestrian versus Vehicle incidents, many being Homicides, is escalating exponentially lately.  And he'd had that close call just the other day where he almost got hit by a speeding Truck while IN the middle of the Pedestrian Crosswalk on a "Walk" Signal Right-Of-Way in the Intersection by his Work!  They've even had Pedestrians getting hit while on Sidewalks or AT Bus Stops becoz Vehicles jump the Curb when they're impaired or distracted!  Too many folks on their devices while driving or impaired by Substances or just plain distracted or reckless.   Above is my Adorable Vendor Friend Sarah, she Lives and Breathe's Retro Fashion and Decorating 24-7 and 365.

 Anyway, If the Niece dares bring the subject up she'll wish she hadn't.  She's been avoiding all of us this Morning.  She had Messaged me on Facebook last Night that she WAS picking him up, so I have the Receipts she was supposed to and didn't.  {I dropped him off and he is gonna call me before 11pm to pick him up. } It did upset me, especially with her knowing what happened to Mando recently being Killed while an innocent Pedestrian late at Night not that long ago!  You don't take someone's Money, after Agreeing to give them Transportation, and then Strand them either, it's Unsafe Alone, especially that Late and deserted, they could get Mugged too!  Or tell them to Pay someone else now, coz you didn't use the Gas Money for Gas... that's on you... not on them.  Anyway, I do Hope the Kiddos can get to a place of reconciliation, but I won't push for them to if they just don't want to or can't now.  Nobody needs to have Drama and a Headache in any Relationships, nor should they put up with it IMO.  Behavior Tolerated is Behavior Accepted.

I do have to Work Tonight, filling in for Susan, she's a Younger Amerasian Gal, probably in her 30's or 40's, she has a different kind of attitude and personality about her so not everyone gets along with her.  She is one of the Gals that got Yolanda and Marco upset with bringing up MAGA Politics last time we all worked together.  We didn't know she was a MAGA or a Sympathizer of the Movement, now we do, and frankly, given her personality and some stuff she'd eluded to in the Past, I wasn't exactly Surprised.  I knew the other Gal, Brigid, was, she'd been more Open about her Politics there at Work and is strongly Opinionated in sometimes controversial ways, so no Surprise at all she is.  *LOL* 

 I don't engage with the MAGAts about their Extreme Political Views.  They know I'm no Fan and I'm very Open about my Opinion and Opposition of their demented Criminal Leader.  *Winks and Laughs Openly*  Right off the bat I shut down any Dialogue with the Statement that he's a complete Lunatic and I could never Support a Predatory adjudicated Sex Offending Pedophile anyway, end of Story.  If they wanna appear to Support those involved in Sex Offenses, especially against Children, that's on them.   And that's not even Counting the Laundry List of his other Serious Felony Convictions, Chronic Criminal Behavior and total lack of a Moral Compass or any basic Humanity.  He's a Cruel, Evil, Corrupt, Prejudiced, Narcissistic, Greedy, Perverse and Sick Human Being.  I can't align with nor justify any of that and never will.  And Yes, he did say that above Quote in the Political Satire Meme on National TV at one of his Rallies recently... it's not Made Up... all the Money his Daddy had couldn't Buy that ignorant Moron an Education! 

 What did Surprise me with Brigid is that she did have an Interracial Marriage and has Black Children.  AND she's a Retired Military Veteran. So why she'd Support an open Racist and someone with such open Contempt for our Military Personnel and Veterans, is just very Odd?!  She's an intelligent Woman, so I can only assume that some folks who Label themselves as Republicans will just hold their Noses and go along with anyone pretending to be one whose in Office or running for Office. Putting Party over Country or even over any Moral Standard or sense of Decency they might have ever had?   Once you lose your Humanity and your Decency to where you no longer have an intact Moral Compass, we probably can't be Friends, too Toxic and abhorrent to me to want exposure from all that baggage you have on the inside and project outwards.

 Personally I do think most Americans are fed up with both Political Parties and we need to eliminate Partisan Politics altogether and enough of the Labeling and Partisan Loyalist bullshit.  It's so divisive and causes unnecessary Chaos and Hatreds.  Just Vote In the most competent and decent Individuals who'd do the Best Job for the Country and the American People.  Why does that have to be so fucking HARD for some folks to understand is better for all?   I do think November is gonna play out in an interesting fashion in many States.  Our Local News is already alerting Voters that Election Interference is happening in our State, we're one of the more Targeted States.    Above is The Son and The Daughter when he was around 5 Months Old and she was 4 and a Half.

 Especially Urban Arizona Voters who have more diversity of how we Vote, the Rural Voters tend to be Deeper Red, as most Rural demographics across America tend to display.  Not that Republicans have done much for Rural America ever... but... whatever.  And Democrats tend to be notoriously bad at Politics and Messaging IMO.  I don't Like either Party and am ANTI-Partisan rather than just Non-Partisan.  I'm a Moderate Independent if you had the Need to slap some Label on me.  *LOL*  Last time the Cabal sent those ridiculous Cyber Ninjas to Audit and Seize Voter Records in Maricopa County, who knows what they did with the Information Seized that should be Protected? 

 They found NO Fraud... and that was his Paid People... they couldn't find what never was there and an Invented Problem that didn't Exist... a Lie.  Perpetuating that Big Lie seems to be Standard Procedure now of that whole hijacked Party that is losing Support and Popularity rapidly. So they're quite desperate to hold onto Power or get Voted Out.  Over 80% of Arizonans Vote by Mail so they're trying to fuck that up intentionally now to Suppress our Votes.  Even tho' Donnie Two Dolls Votes by Mail himself.  Nothing Wrong with Mail-In Voting, it's Safe, it's Secure, it's worked for a very long time just Fine.   Nobody had a problem with it until he started spreading Conspiracy Theories and Lies to try to undermine confidence in our Elections and sow Doubt and stoke Fears, and pit Americans against other Americans by vilifying anyone who didn't or wouldn't ever Vote for him.  He never wanted to Represent ALL the People as President.

 I've always Voted by Mail about 99% of the time, very Seldom gone to Polling Places coz The Man can't Stand a long time with his Disability and Voting Stations aren't always convenient or well advertised where they'll even be.  Some Districts seem to have less Voting Stations, especially in Lower Income Areas or predominantly Minority Demographic Areas, and I think that is Purposed and Intentional too.  To try to Suppress Voters of Color, or Intimidate them from Voting.  Some that used to be somewhere, aren't now.  And often it's still over 100 Degrees and we have over Five Million Residents in Metro Phoenix.  And we have a large Hispanic Population and Immigrant Population from many different and diverse Countries.  Most Urban Communities are more diverse than Rural ones and less Homogenous and not as Xenophobic.

And with them now saying they'll Flood The Zone with ICE Officers, or possibly even a Military presence, at our Voter Locations, that is Intentional to Scare Voters too, Suppress and Intimidate them.  Nobody wants to be Kidnapped or Killed by ICE and be the next Victims on the 10:00 O'Clock News!  Even some of our Native American Friends have been Targeted by ICE!!!  And ALL of our Legal Immigrant Friends say they still Fear being abducted even if they can prove they're here Legally or are now Naturalized American Citizens, becoz of the rounding up based solely on Racial Profiling or sounding different, or speaking another Language.  They said Foreign Tourism is way down, well, is it any Wonder with all this nonsense going on?  

Why would you come here to Vacation if you don't know you won't end up rounded up and put in a Concentration Camp or shipped off to a dangerous Country that is not even your own!?  They're sending Latinos to dangerous Countries in Africa where they could be Murdered horribly!!!   Our African VA Nurse said many places in her own Country are so dangerous that many have fled and sought Asylum in other Countries so they won't be burnt Alive or have their Limbs chopped off to Murder slowly and horribly!!!  Who wants to Risk THAT?!  Yet, this Psycho Prez is sending folks to those Countries coz he's worked out some 'Deal' with their Despot Leadership and I'm sure it's Transactional in some way that benefits him personally and Monetarily.  And he's not so Senile he doesn't know what he's doing to commit his Crimes... he's been a Career Criminal long before he became 80.

Okay, enuf of that, the News just keeps getting Darker about the Present and our Future.  So something has to be said out Loud and often until more people take it more Seriously than they are right now.  Or pretend there's no Trouble In Paradise and think indifference, denial, Cowardice, or apathy will somehow make it all just go away.  It won't, Trust and Believe it won't.  To see Injustices, Inhumanity, and Crimes, and do or say nothing, is in fact, complicit.   So is Supporting it.  Just as guilty as whoever is doing it.  And it bothers me how many people are ambivalent still... how Bad does it have to get before they realize this shit is Serious, dire and very Dangerous?  If the Cost of your Gas and your Groceries is your Biggest Concern about all of this, you're missing the bigger Dangers of what could and likely will happen that is ever so much Worse.

I took The Man to "Dragon Garden" for Lunch, he got so confused looking at the Menu he ordered something he's never had and didn't know what it even was.  I asked him if he knew what it was and he said No, so I gently steered him to a couple choices I know he's liked a lot before and let him choose which of those Two to have instead.  I want him to be able to Save Face in Public, and not be Humiliated.  The Young Amerasian Grandson of the Owners was our Cashier and he knows us, so backed me up saying that was a very good Choice, of the Sweet and Sour Pork, which, it is and I know he really likes that.  The Moo Goo Gai Pan is very good, but he didn't know what it is and it has a lot of chewy Veggies he'd have to pick out or risk not being able to chew up and swallow without choking.  I have to be Mindful of what he can now choke on when eating.

I also order food for him now that if he fails to eat it, it's something someone else likes to they'll eat it and it won't be wasted.  He likes the Sweet & Sour Pork but mostly just pushed his food around and ate very little of it Today.  I no longer push food on him when he's like that, I just pack it up and take it Home with us.  Sometimes he'll eat it later, some days he eats very little, other days he does quite well and has a better appetite.  It's concerning, but, he's not losing a bunch of Weight and his Diabetic Numbers are excellent right now, as is his Oxygen Levels and BP so Physically he's doing better than before, but Mentally is deteriorating fairly rapidly now with the Dementia's progression.  I'm trying to do things to slow it's progression, but he's resistant to some of the Activities to increase cognitive abilities and slow down cognitive decline.

Above is a long time Childhood Friend of The Son, Paul, who has Worked for "Ed's Fish & Chips" since High School as the Line Cook there.  The Restaurant even threw a Wedding Party for he and his Wife there when they got Married, becoz a Friend of ours Owned it until she recently Passed Away.  Her Daughter has since Sold the Business, but when Penny still Owned it she had 3 Generations of her Family Working there, including Adult Grandchildren.  She gave The Son his first Job there when he was 14, Shelling Shrimp.  And he worked there for a time when he was in his early 30's in between when The Trades were laying folks off.  Penny made the most Amazing Handmade Quilts and often took First Place at The Arizona State Fair.  Which began now and will run until November 1st.  I miss seeing Penny's Quilts there.   Below is The Son's Childhood Friend Jeremy's Mom, also Named Penny.  She was good Friends with the Owner Named Penny.  Our Son's have known each other almost all their Lives, they still live in the Old Barrio.

 Penny the Owner used to hire so many Kids from the Old Barrio for their 1st Jobs to give them Experience and an Income, for to help their Families out.  A lot of Kids from the Old Barrio were from disadvantaged At Risk Homes and Poor, even tho' their Parents often Worked long Hours or more than One Job.  People aren't Lazy just becoz they are Poor or have Low Income and struggle Economically.  There's so many Barriers to Employment, a good Education, and Equal Opportunities.  Not everyone has Privilege or a Level Playing Field to get ahead or not face forms of Discrimination and Exploitation.  Everyone I knew from Da Hood worked very hard and the vast majority of Neighbors were good decent hard working people and became Lifelong Friends. 

 

It's a close knit Community and everyone helped one another out and if you were from there, everyone knew you and you knew everybody.  Even tho' I Sold the Two Homes we once Owned there, I can go back to the Old Barrio's Neighborhood Today and it's like I never left, we're still well received and considered part of the Community.  That said, it is very "Hood", there is higher Crime and some Criminal Element, Gangs, and it can be Rough.   But, I grew up in some Rough Areas so I never felt it was something I couldn't handle or wasn't familiar with.  Even when I could afford to leave, I chose not to becoz it was my Community and my Homes there were always Paid Off and I Loved my Community, our Homes, and my Neighbors.  So many Good Memories and Good Times over the Years living there.

  The only Community I absolutely HATED and couldn't wait to get out of, was affluent Subdivision Hell where we lived in that Million Dollar Listing of the Villa McManse, with a Gestapo of an HOA and Pretentious fuck arrogant judgmental Neighbors who had absolutely no sense of Community and were not Nice People at all.  They wouldn't piss on each other if they were on Fire.  Constantly causing Trouble for one another, lots of them were Bible Banger Hypocrite judgmental Holier Than Thou self-righteous Fundies {Fundamentalist Far Right Leaning Christians}, with too many Homophobes and Racists there too.  I had experienced Racism before, especially in the 50's thru 70's Eras, due to my Family being Interracial and Intercultural.   Hatred of fellow Human Beings over such Superficial shit is never Pretty or can be Justified, it's Ugly and Barbaric.

But it was Darkly reminiscent of those Ugly Bygone Days where those sentiments and practices were perpetuated well into the later 2000's.  Loads of MAGA there, in 2016 the Signs in their Front Yards and Banners they put up on their Million Dollar Homes were all kinds of the MAGA paraphernalia being hawked by Donnie Two Dolls.  Not Surprising at all, given the Demographic and habits/sentiments of the Residents there.  It's not just the Poor Whites and Uneducated or Undereducated that he appealed to, or the Violent Hate Groups and White Supremacists, that are Domestic Terrorists and have to be monitored closely, and always have been becoz they're so dangerous and foment Trouble where ever they go.   And now... a flurry of Food Porn Imagery Showing Off my Youngest Granddaughter's Culinary Creations from Pittsburgh, she's 25 and a Creative Genius in all her Artistic Endeavors, I didn't know that translated to her abilities in the Kitchen tho' 'til recently, so Enjoy:

Well, The Son and The Niece already reconciled, which is good.  Mostly coz he didn't have the whole Story about what happened.  She HAD gone to pick him up and drove around for a whole 40 Minutes looking for him in the Crowds leaving the Concert and couldn't find him.  They were on the Phone together but she's not as familiar with the City as I am, so she never could locate where he said he was waiting and did finally tell him she was too low on Gas so had to return Home, she gave up.  That's when she was trying to call me to see if I'd come get him but I was asleep and tho' I heard the call coming in, was too tired to answer it.  That's when he started calling me and finally on the 3rd call I figured something bad had happened, woke up completely, and answered the call, then went to get him.  By then crowds were dispersed and he'd walked to the Circle K Convenience Store 3 Miles from the Concert site for pickup.

Okay, so, now the Story is more accurately conveyed, she understood why he was upset, but neither he or I was as upset with her either, she did go to get him and just couldn't find him.  The Venue is a big area with North, South, East and West Parking Lots that are massive.  With tons of people there, I've had trouble before locating him after a Concert and I know the area much better than she does.  Not only that, but I have an uncanny ability to zero in on any Child of mine, The Man used to marvel about that when we'd go pick one up from School and they all looked the same to him sometimes.  *LOL*  Especially Princess T when she was real little, at a predominantly Hispanic Grade School, do you know how many Pretty little Hispanic Girls with long Dark Hair he sometimes mistook for being ours, especially at a distance?  I'm Surprised he didn't bring the Wrong Kid Home! *Bwahahahaha*  I used to Joke that he had typical Old White Guy Syndrome.  *LMAO*

The hilarity being she KNEW that he sometimes had trouble picking her out of a crowd of other Pretty Hispanic Little Girls!  So she'd put a specific huge Bright Colored Bow in her Hair so he'd know for sure which one was her from a distance!  *Bwahahahaha*  She never got offended and thought it was as Funny as I did... No, Honey, that one's not ours, we can't take her Home.  *Winks and Laughs*  The Young Prince was easier for him than any of the other Three we Raised, coz tho' he's Hispanic too, he's very Weto and had Blonde Hair and there were not a lot of Blondes.  And of coarse The Young Prince was different than any other Garden Variety Grade School Kid on Planet Earth in how he expressed himself thru Style and Sensibilities, so he always stood out in a Crowd, even his Teachers would remark about that.  Even with mandatory School Uniforms he'd manage to still look distinctive and stand out Fabulously.  *LOL and Winks*

 The Son had a doppelganger at School that even I couldn't tell them apart, coz Joe Solano STILL to this day looks so much like The Son that people always thought they were Twins!  In Grade School they looked like Identical Twins!  They'd sometimes pretend to be each other!  I kid you not, and they're still Friends and only look different enuf NOW at Age 40 to differentiate!  *Smiles*  Even Joe's Sister, Jennifer, could barely tell them apart, she was good Friends with The Daughter.  And The Daughter and her Posse would dress alike and do their Hair alike.  And she'd put forbidden changes of Clothes in her Backpack that were against School Dress Code, so she never was in what she'd left the House with when he'd go to pick her up.  *Bwahahahaha*  

 

So, anyway, I'm Happy the Kiddos resolved their Issues and Made Up.  Q and Jennifer, his Wife, came over last Night to visit the Kiddos and brought fresh Indian Fry Bread with Honey and Powdered Sugar.  So when I came Home from Work they'd Saved a couple for me.  Nom-Nom, they were then my Favorites.  *Winks*  They'd all made sure The Man got Fed and had his Night Meds, so I had plenty of coverage for him here at Home in order to work my Fill-In Shift for Susan.  It went well, we were super busy, over 1,300 Customers thru the Doors on a Friday Night, which was a high Count, almost suspect high, but they claimed that was the accurate Count.  And we were Asses to Elbows helping Customers that Night and I Learned something New and Important from a Young Male Customer about a Collectible I've always had and didn't know!

He was Sourcing a Specific bright Burnt Orange of Fiesta Ware which he called "Radioactive Red" and had a Geiger Counter with him!!!   Passing it over pieces... and Collects anything with Uranium in it.  I had no Idea that Vintage "Fiesta Red" made between 1936 and 1972 is radioactive becoz it's Bright Orange-Red Glaze contains up to 14% Uranium Oxide by Weight, OMG!!!  No Wonder it got the Nickname of "Radioactive Red"! Health advisories now Warn against Eating or Drinking from these pieces and the Customer said some are really Hot, and he'd suggest not even handling them very much or putting them near Food Sources!!!

  WTF, I never knew this fact!  I was so glad to run into him and have this important discussion coz tho' I only kept my Mugs and Cereal/Salad Bowls in all my Colors, I use them all the fucking time and will now pull that Color and just Display it, not Feed the Family off it!  The Son said, no wonder we all have turned out Mental and you Shake Mom, we're probably fucking Radiated!  We ate off that stuff for Decades and probably should Glow in the Dark?!  *LOL*  So, you Learn something New every Day, dont'cha?  *Smiles*

My Friend Judith was working and was being really Bitchy, so I happened to ask Jeff and Yolanda, whatssup with Judith Tonight?  That's when I learned she's probably in a lot of Pain.  I'd noticed her wearing a Face Mask again recently but figured with it being Flu Season and her being in her late 70's she's just protecting herself while Working from catching something, she lives Alone since being Widowed Last Year.  Well, apparently she's wearing it to hide her Injuries!  She Passed Out and Face Planted at Home, when she came to there was Blood and Teeth everywhere, she had to drive herself to the ER!  They just stitched her up and didn't even X-Ray her Head to see why she'd Fainted or Fell, she could have had a fucking Stroke, Tumor, Traumatic Brain Injury from the Fall, it was very negligent, but, she lives in Buckeye... still quite Hayseed and on the skirts of the Metro Area.

  She's having to have Dentures made to replace the missing Teeth she knocked out and it explained her being irritable and not talking much.  And hiding her Bruises and Trauma to where they had to Stitch her Face up!  I Hope she gets good follow-up Care to find out what really happened and why... make sure she doesn't have a Brain Bleed or Tumor going on?   She didn't wanna talk to me and when she had to she was very Bitchy so I just gave her some Space after I knew what happened, but, she's not acting like herself and so I was picking up that her behavior was out of Character and I didn't know why until it was explained by Yolanda.  

Yolanda told me that Judith was reluctant to even talk about it with her at all, and divulge what happened.   So, I didn't pry or say anything about it even after I heard what had happened and the Tea was spilled.  Judith is still a very Attractive Woman for her Age.  So having disfigurement would be Emotionally Traumatizing for her too, coz she takes such Pride in looking Attractive and in her Appearance.  I'd be more concerned about what's going on Inside my Head tho' if I were her, not Vanity, coz what caused this Episode and Injury is more of a priority.  I'm shocked Doctors didn't at the ER.  I'm concerned about her, coz she does live alone and if she has Negative effects from these Injuries, she may not be Aware with nobody else monitoring it.  They should have Hospitalized her.  I got Hospitalized for a Week after my Stroke and I didn't even lose consciousness.  But, I do recall the first ER didn't take it Seriously and was Negligent too, so we went to another one that did! 

 

My Youngest Granddaughter in Pittsburgh, whose 25, is a Special Effects Artist and very good at it.  I didn't know she's also a Culinary Jedi and Artsy about Food.  Well, she's been seeing Gramma Dawn's Food Porn on FB and so now she's Sharing some of her own Food Porn with us all and it's exceptional.  I Wish she lived Closer, I'd Hire the Kid to Cook all our Meals.  *Bwahahahaha*  So, I'll be mingling some of her Food Porn into my Posts to Share and Show Off my Granddaughter's Abilities, along with what I'm actually eating here.  But hers look very Healthy and well rounded and the Presentation is spectacular... see for yourself, coz all the Food Porn Pixs under that Pix of the Teeth Samples Above is of her Food Porn Shared with me in a Photo Collage Showing Off her Abilities.  I swear I've got all the Kiddos now Photographing their Food rather than Teasing me all the time about Photographing mine!  It's like a Food Porn Competition going on now.  *Winks, Smiles, Laughs and Drooling!*

I was like, Goddammit, why does that Grandchild have to live so far away, Gramma Dawn and The Man could USE someone like her visiting on The Regular to Cook for us!!!   How can we lure her out to Arizona?  *LOL*  I mean shit, we already have half the Spawn of Two other Generations of Kiddos Living with us already, she'd come in mighty handy too in our Old Age!   We need to start an official Commune!  *Bwahahaha*   And she kept this part of her Talented Repertoire hidden, I didn't even KNOW... she should Publish a Cookbook and use this Imagery in it IMO.  *Smiles*  Of coarse she's always been a well rounded True Artist in every sense of the Word so I'm not Surprised.  Everything she does has always been done with Excellence and her Quirky Take on all of it.  She's not your Garden Variety Grandchild and she's very Edgy about pushing Boundaries, so I imagine she does in her Culinary Creations as well as all her other Art and ways of expressing herself thru it. 

I took Saturday as a day to take The Man out to do things and he really did well during the whole Outing and enjoyed it.  That makes it enjoyable for me to when we can still have really quality Together Time and he's not as impaired by his Disabilities as much.   I took him to the new Antique Mall "America's Antique Mall" and they had a complimentary Wheelchair for me to push him around in. I did some Retail Therapy coz they had some great prices on a few things I really wanted when I saw how low the price point was.  I hadn't intended to actually Shop while there, just get plenty of Blog Fodder Imagery of whatever Halloween they had on Display, but, they had some Oddities Taxidermy priced so low I got a Trio of them from a Locked Case Vendor with a Quirky Aesthetic I Adored that reminded me of "Pocket Full Of Heirlooms" type Merch, only priced way lower.  I also got a Tie Dyed Caftan Maxi Dress from another really Vibey Fashion Vendor.

I'll be Showcasing my Purchases probably in the next Post since this one already is Image Heavy.  And I gave you a Break from too much Halloween Imagery, with all the Food Porn instead, in this Post. *Smiles*  I know I saturate my Posts this time of the year with Halloween Heavy Posts but it's my Jam and my Joy to.  So there.  *Ha ha ha*  I also took The Man out to Brunch at "Longhorn Steakhouse" coz the Antique Mall is near where Old Metrocenter Mall was, before they tore it all down and completely razed such an Iconic Architectural Significant Treasure.  I'm still Mad about that, they should have reimagined the Mall and Modernized the Vibe of it and kept the Futuristic Iconic Structure intact IMO.  But Phoenix is notorious for just tearing shit down and replacing it with something built inferior to what was Historic and significant, and, built significantly better!

 It had cost over One Hundred Million to build, a staggering amount and especially so in the 1970's, and was designed by a famous Architect, Robert Fairburn in 1972-1973.  It was 1.4 Million Square Feet, it was featured in the Iconic Film of 1989 "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" starring a Young Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter and featuring George Carlin.  They began demolition in 2024 and it's completely razed now in 2026.  It makes me Sad as well as Mad, that the Community and Historic Society of Phoenix didn't put more pressure on about Redevelopment and Preservation.  But, they never do so a lot of Phoenix History has been Forever Lost.  It always pisses me off every time something Historically significant is razed and some POS is built in it's place, usually to enrich some greedy Developer who sees everything as a Commodity and not a Community.

In Iconic Professional Imagery of Metrocenter, the Bottom Pix was a capture of The Son as a very Young Kiddo playing Video Games in the Arcade, when he had a Leg Injury from Skateboarding!  I hadn't even realized this Pix existed 'til I was Googling some Iconic Imagery of The Mall to add to this Post!  And thought, wait a Minute, that's my Kid in that Photo!!!   Yes, he had a Rat Tail, LOL... I hear they're coming back too!  *Smiles*  He was really good at Video Games and used to Hustle Grown Men to be able to play for Free!  Flattering them by watching them for a while and telling them how Good they were, but, that if he had Money he bet he could still beat them.  Then letting them think they could beat him and intentionally only Winning by a little bit each time so they'd keep feeding the Machine to rematch him and try to defend their Ego and Reputation that no little Kid could outmatch them on their Favorite Games!!!  What they didn't know is that little Kid had Top Score on just about every Game he ever Played... and was now "Playing" them!  *LOL*

Lots of fond Memories I have of Metrocenter from 1974 until Pandemic.  When pretty much they had very few Stores still in the now deserted Mall and just opened it up for folks to Walk and exercise in relative Safety Indoors during Lockdown.  So, the last Pixs I have of the Mall's Interior are from the Pandemic Years when The Man and I would Mask Up and go Walk it just to get out and about during that bleak time when we didn't know for sure anything would ever Open Up again.  They Auctioned Off Interior pieces and furnishings, I wanted to get one of their Iconic Round Coffee Tables with colorful Mosaic Tiles which ended up only Selling for $80 each.  But, at the time it was Pandemic and I really wasn't spending much at all during those Years in case the Economy never did rebound and the Deaths kept soaring so I definitely didn't wanna attend an Auction where there may be too many People and potential Non-Masking Covidiot Spreaders.  *LOL*  

The new Toilet Seat arrived and the Kiddos seem to be having trouble installing it coz getting the Old Broken one off has been a hassle.  Why does everything Modern have to be such a Pain in the Ass to repair or replace?  I've swapped out Older Model Toilet Seats on Vintage Toilets numerous times with no problem or hassles, and now... problems, and it's a shitty built POS Toilet Seat that is Plastic and broke easily.  So I'm replacing it with a higher end one built better and made of Metal and Laquered Wood so it'll hold up better and look higher end as well.  The Kiddos said becoz it's cheap Materials the pieces that hold it onto the Commode stripped, Splendid.  So I don't know how many Days it will take them to wrestle that broken Seat off and it shifts when you sit on it so everyone using the Guest Bathroom has to be careful so they don't fall off or in!  I don't want anyone risking injury falling off a Toilet Seat or wrenching their Back when it Shifts and makes them lose balance when using the Toilet!

I'm contemplating Today whether to go and have a Me Day and go to The Arizona State Fair?    Since nobody Works on a Sunday so I'm not Ubering anyone to or from Work.   I just go and walk around having a Nostalgic Moment, I don't do Rides or Midway anymore, don't go to the Free Concerts or Free Events they Host Daily coz the Crowds are usually something I don't wanna Deal with.  Anything Free after you pay the Admission, is usually Mad Crowded and there's nothing I wanna see that badly to deal with all that to be Entertained at no additional cost.  *LOL*  Back in the Day they did have some really Famous Entertainment, Rodeos, Derby's, Dancers, Cultural Entertainers... but now it's mostly Entertainment I don't even know or never heard about.  So I don't even know I'd enjoy whatever it is they're doing?  The Fair is now a Shadow of what it used to be coz it's expensive for Vendors to even be there now too.  So whole Areas of the AZ State Fairgrounds that used to be filled with Vendors, Food Trucks, Booths of all kinds, are Vacant or sparsely filled. 

Inside the Ampitheater used to Host all the Artistic Competitions for a variety of things, Crafts, Art, Photography, Baking, Collections, that too is much smaller with less Entries now in all Categories.  I remember one Year The Daughter Won a Blue Ribbon for Art in her Age Group Category entry.  Which was around 2nd or 3rd Grade, she Won it becoz the Judges thought it was the best rendition of a Pineapple they'd ever seen a Child of that Age draw and Color.  Well, she was distraught, even with Winning the Blue Ribbon and 1st Place, coz it was SUPPOSED to be a Vase with Flowers!  *Bwahahahaha*  I kept the Drawing and Blue Ribbon for Years and tho' very Proud she Won, the Humor of it not even being what they thought she'd drawn tickled me even more and always made me Smile when I looked at it.  *LOL*

I do Hope you enjoyed the Culinary Creativity of my Granddaughter as much as I did?  Pix of the Artist is Below, since I didn't wanna just Show Off her Food without also Showing Off the Kiddo.  *Winks*  And whether or not I attend The State Fair is still in Question.  I'd made Saturday a Couples Day and taken The Man out all day so I don't know how petulant he'll be if I take off and leave him in the Care of the Kiddos Today?  Sometimes he's difficult for them if they fill in for me and it's their Day Off too so they wanna relax and Enjoy it before going back to Work.  The Daughter did finally make an appearance Last Night but don't know whether she'll stay or take off again?  The other Three have the Day Off too and I'm sure don't wanna hafta be burdened with being in Caregiver Mode?   If he behaves it's easy, if he doesn't, it's hard.  And it's the flip of a Coin as to which version of him you'll get?  *Le Sigh*

*******

Autumnal Vibes coming to you from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

Living Mi Vida Loca And Reading The Room

 

This Morning I'm getting my Crown done on that Cracked Molar I had a bit of sensitivity of and found out that's the reason why, when I had my Teeth Cleaned on Tuesday and he noticed and Photographed the Crack for me to see it.  He said I'm grinding my Teeth, likely due to Stress.  AS IF I have Stress... or any reason to gnash my Teeth... Bwahahahahahahaha... my Dentist has a Twisted Sense of Humor like me so we both Laughed about that Dark Joke of Mi Vida Loca.   I have to pick my Prescription Mouthwash up at FRY'S Pharmacy too.

I found out on Wednesday Night why the Antique Mall feels like they don't have to do anything Special for Vendors anymore, they have a Two Year Waiting List to Rent Spaces!  So, they don't feel they Need to cater to any of us if they have so many waiting to be Tenants.  Of coarse turnover is still high so they almost require a lot of prospective replacement Tenants rather than trying to keep Loyal Tenants who'd stay long term and be good for the Reputation of the Mall, so it's still a Bad Business Model IMO.  Customers get disappointed if their fav Vendors are always leaving and going someplace else, to then try to locate them elsewhere.

We're constantly getting asked where a Vendor went that left the Mall and honestly, we almost never know if they even went somewhere else or just got out of the Game?  Lots of good Vendors left the Industry or have scaled way back now in Rental Space and Inventory they carry.  I'm glad I got all my Anime Plushies into Inventory before my Dental Work, just in case I don't feel up to it afterwards?  it was risky to take on a Shift the Day After having the Work done.  But I like keeping more of my Profits during the Holiday Season so build up as much Comped Space Rent as possible since my Rent is up to $604 a Month now for the Showroom and the Locked Case in the most Ideal Locations in there.

  But even the Smallest Booths are well over $250 a Month now and Cases are $108 a Month, so less than $500 a Month for a whole Room is more reasonable and a better Deal IMO.  Plus Scoring a Showroom is hard to come by, I waited Years to get one, and Locked Cases the same, Years wait to get one.  Which is why I don't consider giving either of what we have up.  We did at one time have the benefit of Two Showrooms, which is almost unheard of, very few Vendors have been that Lucky, but with Pandemic, we let a Showroom and a Booth, plus some Art Walls, and Open Shelving Upstairs, go. 

 I could move more Merch and Downsize faster with more Real Estate. But wanted to reduce Overhead Costs after Pandemic and with an iffy/shitty Economy and Bad Leadership in the White House.  Until we have better Leadership the Prospectus for any Business Moves Long Term is really hard to calculate and gauge.  He does such Crazy irrational shit all of the time and Grifts, to only be for the benefit of enriching himself and his Spawn or Cronies, or Extortion schemes, to the detriment of all others trying to make a Living.  This level of Corruption is unprecedented and abnormal in a Democracy.  We've gone into what I call Democrazy now, heading rapidly towards total Fascism and Authoritarianism. 

I'm not sure what can of Business Model you can set up successfully in that kind of an Environment?  And the Stock Market is Juiced, so it's all an Illusion and tied too closely to the AI Bubble, which, will burst very soon, and go totally Sideways, I Predict.  I'm usually not an Alarmist or Pessimist, but even Guarded Optimism at this juncture is a stretch, I ain't gonna Lie, I got Serious Concerns about the direction we're heading Wheels off the fucking Rails under this Regime and it's Cabal of Vulgarians and Insane Stable Genius Psychopath at the helm!  The fact the WHOLE of the Country isn't Worried about that is even more Alarming actually.  We're really Dumbing Down Nationally the Critical Thinking ability and discernment of our Populace it seems, with still over 30% seemingly acting like fucking indoctrinated radicalized brainwashed Zombies!!!

 The Elections really Concern me, ICE already said they're gonna Flood The Zone, but mostly Blue and Purple States. Yeah, if that ain't highly Partisan Political Intimidation and Voter Suppression Tactics from the Top of the Food Chain in Power, in order to try to hold onto it, I don't know what is.  We Vote by Mail but they are trying to compromise that too.  Ironic to me that every Republican in Power got Voted in by this Alleged Voter Fraudulent System they Claim all of the time, yet, they control the House, Senate and White House, but, it's all supposed to have been so fraudulent... how does that even fucking Square?   If it's been SO fraudulent, how did you then Win again after Losing?  *Shakes Head*  Frankly I think he wants to eliminate Voting altogether so he can just install himself and his Spawn/Cronies for Life.

 And their Base that thinks the Election was Stolen from them, then how did their Side get into complete Power and Win if it's not been a Free or Fair Election?  It is the classic Tails I Win, Heads You Lose Mindset they seem to have.  Definitely Voter Fraud if we Lose, but still claiming something is still Wrong with the System even when they Win???!!  And Down Ballot even when Donnie Lost the Presidency, lots of his Party didn't and Won their Elections.  Anyway, I think every Future Election is likely to have high Drama and the potential for some January 6th Type Violence.   And Losers not accepting defeat or a Peaceful Transfer of Power that we've always had before this whole Shitshow came down the Golden Escalator and hijacked everything and Acolytes plus Sycophants enabled it all.  If they can all have Lifetime Appointments and be Above The Law, it's what they all seem to now want and expect.

My Dental Work went well, no Pain while having it done, had to be numbed Twice, which isn't unusual for me, I don't respond real well to numbing agents so they usually had to give me more to have the desired effect.  I don't know why?  It is said Biological, Anatomical, Chemical Factors and Stress that change how our Bodies process Pain and Drugs is likely the reason, which, makes sense.  I have a high threshold and insensitivity to Pain and I don't respond Normally to most Drugs.  And frankly, the numbing agents don't last as long as they should for me either so I knew it would wear off prematurely as well.  Which, it has.

 In fact, Sleeping Pills and Anti-Anxiety Meds tend to make me feel quite Wired, and Caffeine Calms me and makes me Sleepy, which is opposite to what they should do when taken.  Anyway, I didn't feel anything and got the temp Crown installed, permanent one in about 2 Weeks from now or sooner.  The Novocaine hasn't worn off yet so I was able to get a Meal eaten of Pork Belly with Seasoned Potatoes once I got Home and get all my Morning Chores done and some Grocery Shopping, pick up my Prescription Mouthwash from the Pharmacy at my Grocer.  I know I'll be sore when it completely wears off so I wanted to get everything done first.

We have the AC folks we have on Contract and Prepaid Retainer coming to do our Winter Maintenance between now and 2:00 p.m..  I also got all the Bills Paid for the 1st of the Month.  I may take a Nap just so I can recoup a bit before picking the Granddaughter up from Work later this Afternoon and then make a Deposit at the Bank.   We just had the AC Guy call both my Cellphone and the Landline, The Man was blocking the Hallway with his Walker and getting him out of the way to answer either Phone before it quit ringing didn't happen.  So I then had to call the Main Office to confirm that we are here.  The Man in that Walker can be so frustrating when he's blocking the way around him in a Room or Hallway.

He gets so flustered and confused and then he's agitated, as you're trying to move him out of anyone's way or your way.  But he's so slow in the damned thing and I swear sometimes he'll wait to go into a Room that already has people in it, rather than waiting 'til they are out of there, and there's no room for him to bring that into the Room too and fit or not obstruct people.   He'll do it when people are in there trying to Cook or Wash Dishes, or put Groceries away, and it's obvious he's getting in the way and has no urgent need to be in there right then too!

My Mom got a Motorized Wheelchair when she was no longer ambulatory and she was a menace in that thing too once she got Dementia.  So I do know it can be part of the Disease/Condition to do contrary things with their Medical Equipment in a sort of demented entitlement kind of way and figuring everyone else and everything else should not be in their way.  Even when they don't have the Right of Way or won't fit thru, they'll attempt to anyway, crashing into things and sometimes people, or getting stuck.  I know that now he needs the damned thing so as to feel stable on his Feet, but it grates on all our Nerves, sometimes your Last Nerve when he's misbehaving with it or always in the way with it.

Okay, small Rant over.  I know he can't help it really, dealing with lots of Medical Equipment in the Home is a Given at some point and it just means a lot of adjustments for everyone, not just the person requiring it all.  My Mouth is Sore from being held open for over an Hour and having the series of numbing Shots in my Jaw, plus the trauma of the Work done, so I'm Emotionally a bit Raw right now and why trying to get to Two different Phones unsuccessfully pissed me off when he's blocking the way entirely and standing there like a Deer in the Headlights when I'm trying to shoo him in one direction or another so I can get to a Phone!  *LOL*

I had to call back and be on Hold for a long while then, and was hoping the Tech wouldn't cancel the visit if he didn't get confirmation in time.  Luckily he won't coz the Office said they'd contact him FOR me.  *Whew*  They give a Six Hour Window for when they come so I've had to not leave the House during that Window in order not to miss the Tech arriving.  No way I can leave The Man in charge to handle that visit.  The Son wasn't feeling good when he got Home from Work, said he was really Tired, so went to Bed by Noon, he's been in a Depressive Funk lately and quite morose.  I didn't realize 'til later why he was so Down, but he couldn't talk about it right away, he'd almost Died that Morning in a Pedestrian/Vehicle Incident on his way Walking to Work!!!  OMG!!!  His Mortality had really hit him hard at how Fragile Life is and a Near Death Experience narrowly avoided!!!  Too Soon after Mando's Vehicular Homicide being a Pedestrian Killed by someone Driving Crazy!!!

Things at his Work are really good so that's not problematic, but I think Life in general for him is not going well, and just Mortality is General has been a consideration too often lately.  When he had his Friend Jeremy show up to visit, seeing Jeremy looking like he very likely is Dying, was hard, Jeremy is his Age, only 40.  Mando just Died tragically, in his 50's. And several of The Son's Friends also in their Age Group have recently Died, so it gives someone Middle Aged Pause of Mortality isn't just for the Elderly.  The Son knows he Drinks too much and drowning your Sorrows with alcohol doesn't really Work.  He has only Healthcare for Medicaid folks who can't afford Medical... so he never gets Preventative Care for anything, not Medical, Dental or Mental Health... and he needs more Care of all Three.

 He doesn't earn enuf to Support himself anymore coz cost of living is too high Locally, and doesn't have his own Transportation either.  Just about all of his Friends are also having Personal Crisis, mostly Economically, no matter how hard they Work, everyone is only One Paycheck or Crisis away from disaster anymore it seems.  And, it becomes disheartening I'm sure.  The Niece was reminding him how fortunate they all are to have here to be and what a Blessing and Privilege it is, she has a different perspective of the Luck of it and being Mindful of that.  Not everyone has a Safe Space to Land, she reminded him.  She just got her 1st Paycheck Today from the New Job.

She's been doing Gig Work Deliveries to get by until she started getting her Paychecks from the Career Work.  She'll still do Gig Work and play Poker to supplement her Income and try to Save Up for her own place by Winter.  She'd like The Son to consider being a Roommate, but his lack of Transportation would be an Issue if he wasn't Walking Distance from his Work like he is right now.  I can take him or he can Walk to and from Work right now.  There aren't many affordable Apartments in this area with a good Walk Score.  He doesn't want to live in some shithole in Da Hood and be far from his Employment too.  He said that's barely better than being Homeless.

Where the least expensive Apartment Rentals are is in areas as dangerous as being on the Streets Unhoused.  And would take up more of his Income than he can outlay on Part Time Minimum Wage Employment.  So he doubts he is a candidate to be anyone's Roommate and be able to go halves on Costs, especially since Utility and Water Costs have soared.  This Month's Bill came in for Utilities and we used less than the same time last Year for the Month and yet the Bill was just under Twice as High to use that much LESS!!!  It's not sustainable for most Americans to have those kinds of massive increases unabated.

I just had the AC Tech change all our Filters for me, so now I don't have to.  They always have some new product they try to upsell you on, not interested, no Money and I don't need/want another thing to have to be Financed in this Lifetime.  *LOL*   The Techs are always Young now, I think this Guy might be 30, if that.  Nice Young Man, has a 2 Year Old Daughter... I always seem to have these Young People tell me their whole Life Story before they leave.  The Man always says I'd make a great P.I. or Detective coz folks just open up and tell me stuff voluntarily and spill all the Tea.  *Ha ha ha*  I just must have that Grandmotherly Confidante' Look about me I Guess?  *Winks*

The Bulbs on our UV Light installed to keep Molds out is up to $500 to replace now so we won't be having that done if they've burnt out.  You only get about Two Years out of them and Mold hasn't been a problem for a while now so I'll hold off on replacing the Bulbs at that price point.  Replacement Parts for anything that can be replaced rather than needing a whole new Unit are Crazy expensive now... as are whole new Units when they can't be repaired with replacement parts.  And they don't build a damned thing to last anymore 2-7 Years, 10 if you are Lucky, is about the absolute Max Life of anything anymore, no matter how much you Paid for it or being Top Of The Line!!!  Doesn't matter, might as well just Buy the Cheaper Model coz the High End Model won't last either.

The Son almost got run over in the Crosswalk at 5:00 a.m. this Morning Walking to Work!  A Big Ford Truck tried to beat the Light and almost made a Right Turn into him, missing him by only a couple Feet, but only coz he jumped back just in time!!!  He was Walking on a "Walk" Right of Way Pedestrian Light and was in the Middle of the Crosswalk, so he had nowhere to go and was in the Middle of the Street Legally Crossing, so yelled loudly, "You fucking Asshole!"  So the Truck's Driver stopped! And The Son then thought, here we go, Today's the Day... and figured now there would be a violent confrontation.  But, he was so Angry at almost being Run Over by some Asshole willing to Run Over a Pedestrian, coz if he hadn't seen the Headlights in his peripheral and jumped back, the Guy would have hit him at a high rate of speed!!!  Killing or seriously Injuring him!!!  Vehicle versus Pedestrian never Ends Well for the Pedestrian!  And someone willing to run over any Living Thing shouldn't be behind the Wheel of a Vehicle!

  Thoughts of what had just happened to Mando ran thru his Head and he was so Mad he walked angrily towards the Truck and the Driver thought better of it and took off.  His Boss Witnessed the whole thing coz it was at the Intersection of where his Store is!  She said she thought for sure she'd see her Employee get Run Over and Killed right in front of her Eyes!  It shook them both up a lot, not a good way to start their Shift or the Day, too damn Close a Call.  Thank God for The Son's quick Reflexes and peripheral Vision Saving him.   We definitely don't Need another Homicide so close together.  But people do drive Crazy, Carelessly, Distracted, Recklessly, Impaired, it's getting ridiculous how bad it is.  Every Day is almost a close call, whether you're in a Vehicle or a Pedestrian, your Head has to be on a Swivel!!!

Anyway, the Young AC Tech had 'bonded' with me enuf that he did $300 worth of Work and Comped me it and said he won't even tell his Employer he did a Complimentary Service of some items that were problematic with the Old Unit.  *Whew*  It needs TLC, I know this, it's over 10 Years Old but I can't afford a 2nd New Unit or another Loan right now.  It's rough, at some point shit needs Repairs or Replacement and there's no avoiding it, but for now it's limping along on a Wing and a Prayer.  Arizona is hard on Units, we have excessive Heat and even excessive Cold in the Evenings during Winter.  Desert Temps can fluctuate like no others, being high triple digit Heat during the Day and dropping to near Freezing at Night on the same day!!!  So your Units work overtime all of the time.  But Maintenance Costs are so astronomically High now, and Labor.  Keeping Pace is a Challenge when you're on a Fixed Income.

Saw a good Movie "The Family" {2013} with Robert DeNiro, Tommy Lee Jones and Michelle Pfeiffer, among many others in an All Star Cast.   Yes, it's Older but I hadn't seen it before, there's a lot of Movies I haven't seen yet.  I don't get out much.  *LOL*  My Mouth finally quit hurting like Hell, so that's good, I took some Tylenol and a Nap, which helped.  I did finally get to the Bank and make my Deposit and Mailed all Bills for the beginning of the Month.  The Social Security hits late this Month, on the 21st, which is the latest all Year wouldn't ya know.  So, a good thing I'm making some side Money to cover what needs to get paid by Mid Month and can't wait 'til the Feds pay us our Money.   It hits all Year anywhere from the 15th to the 21st, that's quite a spread IMO.  But whaddya gonna do, Right?  Hurry Up and Wait.

The Son got a Free Concert Ticket from his Friend Garrett coz he couldn't make it and had already bought the Ticket, so just sent it electronically to The Son to use instead.  He hadn't expected to go out Tonight so I felt he'd had more to Drink than he would have had he known he'd Score a Concert Ticket.  He worked something out with The Niece to take him and pick him up after it was over at 11:00 p.m..  He wanted to give her Gas Money but she insisted he Buy her Cigarettes with it instead.  He was concerned that Buying the Cigs then she might not have the Gas to come get him but she insisted on the Cigs and he Bought them as the Agreement to get him there AND pick him up.  Well, when it was time to pick him up she said she didn't have enuf Gas now and he'd have to spend Money for an Uber, so he was really Mad.  He told her he'd wanted to put Gas in so she'd have enuf to get him there and back... now he's Paid and only gotten a One Way Ride and 10 Miles to Walk Home, when she knows he has Work in the Morning!

So, he knew I'd gone to Sleep early coz of hurting from my Dental Work, which the Pain had made me very Tired.  But he had to blow up my Phone coz by Midnight he'd only been able to Walk 3 of the Miles Home and knew the rest of 7 would take him 'til 1:00 in the Morning and he'd have to call in and miss Work!!!  Luckily he called 3 times and I finally heard the Phone and woke up to go get him.  It was understandable he was Mad, since, he'd spent the Money they'd agreed upon for the round Trip, she got her Cigs and knew she then would be short on Gas and wouldn't be able to go get him as agreed upon.  So a lot of Drama ensued when it was time to pick him up and he made the Phone Call and she rescinded picking him up even after he'd already spent the Money agreed upon Buying what she insisted to use the Money for rather than Gas!  And probably why she was blowing up my Phone earlier, but I was Asleep.  She knew he'd have to Call me for a Ride and was trying to get out Ahead of what had transpired I Suspect?

  Getting an Uber would have cost him the Trip Twice if he could even get one to pick him up, sometimes too late, especially on a Weekday, you can't always to some locations.  And what was the Point of accepting a Free Concert Ticket if it cost him $75-$100 for a relatively short ride there and back by Vehicle?  At least he did get Home safely, he was gonna offer me Gas Money, but I said it was Okay 7 Miles there and back wasn't that much driving and the Roads were deserted coz they're under construction and it was really late.  I don't blame him for being Mad at her but told him, No Drama, Okay?  He agreed not to have a Dust Up with her over it but he's kinda Done, coz apparently Arguments have been initiated over differences of Opinion and I know how she can be like a Dog with a Bone about pushing her Opinion.  For me I end any potential for a difference of Opinion with a Simple, "You could be right..." and just End it there... so my Peace isn't disturbed or disrupted.  *LOL*  I don't Care enuf about anyone's Opinion to Argue about it Honestly, if I don't Agree and they can't seem to Agree to even Disagree.  *Smiles*

She has a Strong Personality and he's kind of Done with her tho', the reasons are mounting, and she needs to know if you give your Word to someone you should Honor it and not rescind it.  Especially after they've already Honored their part and Paid you.  And now you alter the Arrangements.  The Arrangement was never to Pay for her Cigs, it was to Pay for her Gas to ensure she had enuf Gas. Anyway, so now she's on the Outs with him, and with The Daughter apparently, she's burning her Bridges with them and neither of them wants to be around her.  They're finding her too difficult to get along with and understanding why her own Family may be having a hard time getting along with one another too perhaps?  Especially if they're all like this, Argumentative and Opinionated to an Extreme?  I'm getting along with her Fine, and she has Honored the Agreement we had and Paid me Today what we had Agreed upon once she got Paid.  So, I have no complaints about that aspect of our Arrangement.  

I told her if it doesn't Work Out, no hard feelings, make other Arrangements is all.  But, she has to learn how to better get along and play well with others around here or she's going to continue to have Relationship Problems with those closest to her I think.  She's burned Bridges with her Family, but, they are quite the Train Wreck so I can't fault her fully for that whole dysfunctional dynamic they've always had.  I have discussed this with her already about how she's likely messing up her Relationships on her end.  Like my Friend Tina used to, she tends to become Argumentative and have Strong, often Stubborn Opinions that not everyone will Agree with.  And then even Argue that they're not Arguing!  *LOL*  People do get fed up with regular conversations becoming Arguments, or even Debates all the time, for no good reason, it's exhaustive Emotionally and Relationally.  Everything doesn't have to be confrontational or a Debate over everyday discussions.  Do you wanna be Right or have Peace?  I personally always choose Peace.  Opinions are like Assholes, we all have One and nobody wants to be Exposed to someone else's.  *Winks*

My Adorable Friend Minnie just turned 51 and she's still Fabulous and I swear that Woman is Ageless, she looks the same as she did in her 20's, I Kid you not!!!  She posted a couple Birthday Pixs {Above and Below} and apparently had a really nice 51st and is totally Rocking her Fifties.  She's also a Beautiful Spirit on the Inside as well, the Sweetest Gal, a Great Mother and Wife.  She was Adopted and is wonderful to her Adoptive Parents and has a great Relationship with them.  She doesn't know much about her Birth Parents other than her Mom being a Native American Tribal Member and that she was Born at the Indian Hospital and given up for Adoption at Birth.  So, she too is a Registered Tribal Member even tho' her Adoptive Parents are not Native Americans.  She has Three Adorable Kiddos.  The Oldest she had by a failed 1st Marriage to an abusive Asshole, but her 2nd Husband is a Good Man and Adopted her Oldest and Raised her as his own, the Two Youngest are theirs together.  They are a Lovely Family.

Anyway, I'm Hoping that Tomorrow The Niece doesn't go on about trying to sway me about what happened between her and The Son and try to Justify what she did.  My Opinion will definitely not Square with hers, he Honored what they Agreed to in front of me before they even left the House and she didn't Honor her part, period.  He spent the Money and had it been for the Gas, and she used it for Gas and not Cigarettes, she'd of had enuf to go get him too, as AGREED upon.  Not Stranded late at Night 10 Miles from Home on a Night he has to be up early for Work the next Day!!!  And then have to Wake me up to go get him coz he was exhausted after Walking 3 Miles coz he'd gone to Work that Day at 5:00 in the Morning and will have to be at Work by 5:00 a.m. Tomorrow Morning too.  He never likes to call in to Work unless he's actually Sick and make lame excuses to a Boss over something other than Illness to miss Work.  At least it was an excellent Concert and he appreciated Garrett giving him the Ticket so it wasn't Wasted.  

I have to Work Tomorrow Night myself so the last thing I want is any Drama and a Headache between any of the Kiddos.  *Eye Roll*  So, I Hope she doesn't engage with The Son and just leaves him alone and stays in her own Lane and drops it, so she doesn't set him off again.  He doesn't want to discuss it anymore, but he also doesn't want anything to do with her now either.  And until he feels differently, and The Daughter, I think she needs to just respect that the estrangement is due to something she's either said or done that has caused a Rift.  Perhaps it can be resolved later, but right now it can't and that's gonna be somewhat awkward.  Allen learned that the hard way too when he couldn't always get along and play well with others.  Now he's trying much harder and we all saw that and so everyone let him know we are willing to work things out, but he HAS to do his part or we're just not having it.  So far, so good, with Allen.  Some people do have problems in their Relationships and if it's ALL of them, they really do have to see and Own that the common denominator is THEM.  

If every single one of your Relationships is failing or faltering, your Estrangements are with everyone you know, then chances are that YOU could be the Problem.  *Smiles and Winks*   Being introspective can be hard to face sometimes and make necessary changes.   Allen and The Niece are really decent people and have Good Hearts.  And usually have the best of Intentions... but the Road to Hell is paved with Good Intentions.  If you just are Socially awkward and don't Read The Room, then it really becomes problematic in Life tho' and in interactions with other people.   I think they both tend to lack the Ability to Read The Room.  His is due to Autism mostly, that's obvious, I know The Niece struggles with Mental Health Issues, most of her Family does, I don't know what her Formal Diagnosis has been.  I do know it seems to interfere with her ability to function optimally tho', she's wicked Smart, but being Brilliant can sometimes be at the expense of having Normal Relationships.  A lot of Brilliant Minds are quite Weird, different, and Socially Awkward in how they relate... it Isolates them.

Anyway, since she and my Kiddos have been like Cousins their entire Lives, I'm Hopeful they can manage reconciliation, but I'm not getting involved in them working it out, or not.  It's up to them what they do and who they want to be around, or not be around if it's too difficult or too high maintenance.   I have told The Niece her intensity can be overwhelming so try to Dial it back some and perhaps that might make for easier interactions with other people?  I Love her dearly so want her to be able to sort out problems she's experiencing with people that I know she genuinely Cares about.  But, you can't have Relationships FOR other folks, that's on them to work out for themselves as best they are able to.  People in general are complex Beings, each Unique and different in their own ways of just Being. 

 

I accept that with each Individual, but there are some that I don't want a lot of contact with if it's too draining for me too... so, I Get It.  I'm more blunt about telling someone when they're Too Much and to just Dial it back or we can't spend too much, if any, Time together if they can't.  *LOL*  I made it clear to The Niece, no Talk about Religion, especially Jehovah's Witness stuff, not Interested in Cult Religions or Religions being pushed.  I think all the formative Years she spent being one really Mind Fucked her and deprogramming may take a Lifetime now to get it out of her Head.  That Cultish Mentality persists even after they leave, and how pushy they always are about everything, not just their Religion.  She was only about 15 when she separated from her Family and the JW's encouraged that.  It was like Child Abduction coz one let her move in with their Family, and I remember it put her Dear Mother thru a lot.  She even tried to press Charges that a Cult was Brainwashing her Child and she wanted to get her back.  The Family had a similar Situation with the Youngest Daughter, but by another Family, that they thought were Friends.

That whole thing with the Youngest was actually legitimately illegal.  They befriended Two Families, I even met both Families and spent time with them, I never even imagined they'd do what they did!  One Family had a Daughter Dying of Brain Cancer who was a Young Teen and the Best Friend of their Youngest Daughter.  They had an Older Son who was Grown and my Friends Youngest Daughter had a Tween Crush on him, she was a Minor, only 14, he was in his 20's.  Well, both of these Families moved to Georgia and invited my Friend's Youngest to come spend the Summer with the Dying Daughter, coz it was to be her last Summer.  So, my Friend allowed it for Dying Christina's sake.  Well, her Daughter never came back Home!  Even after Christina had Died, it was like Christina's Family replaced her with my Friend's Daughter, very fucking demented and Creepy as fuck!

 And it was discovered that their Adult Son was having relations with her! Which, was Statutory Rape and Child Abduction, since they had taken her across State Lines and allowed this illegal Relationship!  Under the pretense of having her come to spend time with their Tween Dying Daughter, also Age 14, deceiving her Family to get their permission for only a brief Summer visit!    Which constitutes Child Sex Trafficking coz they knew their Son was having intimacy with a 14 Year old in their Care and was their Responsibility her Family had entrusted them with her Safety and Well Being.   And were evading her Family trying to get her back!!!  Of coarse the Tween thought she was in Love, so was resistant now to leaving. Their Daughter Died and frankly I thought they intentionally 'took' her as a replacement 'Daughter'! 

 She eventually Married their Son and had her Two Children by him, giving them Grandchildren!!!  Quite the Drama, they're now Divorced.  And that Youngest Daughter never did reconcile with her own Family and saw nothing Wrong with what happened and that she'd been exploited.  And the Dysfunction in her own Family didn't help matters.  I never realized the levels of Dysfunction even tho' I'd been Best Friends with their Mom for Years.   She never confided about the problems behind closed doors with her Husband, tho' I never liked him and thought him to be a Strange Person that I didn't particularly Trust.  But I totally Trusted my Friend and didn't think she'd put any of the Children at risk, mine or hers.  I also had no idea she was dealing with Domestic Abuse, she was 6' tall and her Husband smaller, shit, I could have kicked his Ass and he was Afraid of me, and of The Man once we got Married... she was Head and Shoulders Taller than me!   The Man also had no idea their Family was such a Hot Mess behind Closed Doors!  Sometimes you just never know.

  My Kids and their Kids were very close from practically Birth, so we were like extended Family and still are.   They knew me when I was Unmarried and Single, when I was Married to my Psycho Ex 1st Husband, and knew I kicked his Ass to the curb when the Relationship became Toxic, Unsafe and potentially dangerous becoz tho' Charming and Popular, he was a Psychopath as it turns out.  It happens, even to Careful People, so I'm not Judging.   Many Families don't let on the Darker Side of their Family Lives, they hide and are ashamed when the Illusion of a Functional Happy Family is just that, all Illusionary or goes Bad.  It wasn't until my Friend Died that her Oldest Daughter and even MY Daughter told me things they didn't want me to know becoz they were fearful I'd go Mental on my Friend's Husband for being an abusive Asshole in Private, and that he drank a lot and was Mentally very unstable.  The Daughter knew I wouldn't allow my Kids over there if I'd known, so, all the Kiddos kept it a Secret, like my Friend did.  Perhaps she thought our Cherished Friendship would End? 

 The same with another very close Lifelong Best Friend who was a Single Parent and The Daughter spent a lot of time with.  Coz our Daughters were also Best of Friends growing up, and her Kiddo was an Only Child.  I even allowed The Daughter to go on Vacations with this Family, thinking all was Well, perfectly Safe and in Order!  In all the Years, Decades, I never knew that when she'd have my Child over for Sleepovers or on Vacations, she'd often leave the Girls alone and go out all Night!!!  Sometimes not even coming Home!  They were apparently told not to 'Tell' coz she knew I'd lose my shit if I knew she was leaving the Kiddos Unsupervised and Alone, when I'd entrusted my Child to her Care!!!  I'd rather she had asked me to Babysit her Kid instead, if she needed or wanted to go out!  But some Parents don't think leaving Kids Unsupervised or Alone is Wrong, or Justify it being 'necessary', Latchkey Kids do abound.  Sometimes you just never fucking know the Secrets people keep, even if you think you 'know' them, you can't always know everything about them and their habits that aren't acceptable to you!   

The Daughter... and even The Niece... only told me fairly recently about all this, seemed all the Kiddos knew, but never 'Told'.  Mostly coz they knew I'd go Postal if I Knew or mebbe wouldn't be Friends anymore with their Parents?  And, to be Fair, I would have gone Ballistic!   When I found out this Single Parent Friend and her Daughter are estranged now and I couldn't understand Why, coz I'd imagined them to have always been very Close, an only Child raised by a Single Mom who seemed to dote on her, from what I'd SEEN.  It puzzled me and I brought it up to The Daughter and asked her if she Knew the Friend and her Daughter weren't close at all?  But, it was what was UNSEEN that apparently was the Issue, and my Daughter said, Oh, I KNOW Why!!!  And then spilled the Tea and said, Well, it's so many Years ago now that I figure you won't go on the Warpath, but I always knew you definitely would if you'd of Known Mom, so we didn't "Tell"!  But she left her Kid Alone a LOT, and I was just the Companion so she'd have someone else there when her Mom always went out to do whatever with whoever!!!  OMG!!!  It has since led me to Believe this Person has been leading a Double Life of some kind, Secretly?

 You're damned straight!  Nobody is a Perfect Parent, but, we all have Parenting Boundaries not to be violated or Trust Broken.  Especially with or about our own Precious Kids!!!  And Kids shouldn't have to Keep Secrets about Adults misdeeds.  So, if you have Littles still, make sure they know that no Adult should insist or threaten that they keep "Secrets".  We're only ever as Sick as our Secrets and that's too much to burden any Child with, ever!   It really can make you Distrustful when you realize how much you don't Know about people, no matter how long you've Known them tho'!   The deceptiveness can be shocking, and Misplaced Trust can blindside you sometimes.  I've always thought I was perceptive, discerning, and a decent Judge of Character and someone's Moral Compass.   But there's a lot of folks who Clean Up Well in Public and in Private you may discover are a fucking Hot Mess, Unstable or Unsafe in their ways, or an absolute Train Wreck.  And Who knew... or... didn't "Tell"???

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Sometimes Real Life has the Scariest of Stories... Dawn... The Bohemian