Strap In We're Going Long Again

Strap in we're going long on this Post, I got a LOT to say and there's no condensing it.  *Winks*   Plus, I decided, why not do a Two-Fer Post kinda day as well, I'm oodles of Unpublished Posts ahead due to being Editorial and Condensing some down in size now.  *Bwahahaha*   VA Nurse Remi just left, as she tended to The Man we talked about Crepes, she ate a lot of them in her Country, so wanted to know where we just had ours this Morning that would be more Authentic.  Then we got to talking about Jams and Jellies, which I'm a total Snob about too, so I understand her criticism that finding International Grade Jams and Jellies is harder here.  She lamented about loving Orange Marmalade and not finding a good brand or quality of it at the ordinary American Grocers.  And that Tariff's have made it more difficult to get International Product in to the U.S. at a decent price point, or at all, now. Well, I have more Jams and Jellies Hoarded Up than any Sane Woman should possess in several Lifetimes, and a penchant for International Foods, so I gave her a Jar of one of my Fav Imported Orange Marmalades.

  She was ecstatic about it and Thanked me profusely, I know she'll like it.  Since Africa was Colonized by the British she said she's always enjoyed British Import Foods, and this was Imported British Orange Marmalade.  It was my Mom's Favorite too, I told her. As she left she said she always feels so Welcome and comfortable in our Home that it's always hard to leave.  That's the highest compliment any Guest to your Home can ever give you and my Parents called it Giving the Gift of Hospitality, which both of their Cultures not only excelled at, but demanded you give to all Guests entering your Home.  It's sadly lacking in Modern Culture now in many places and we should bring it back, it connects and bonds people in a more meaningful way to Extend the Gift of Hospitality.  My Parents almost always gave a Guest a small Parting Gift or Served Food & Refreshments even if it was Hired Help coming.  A little Hospitality goes a long way with anyone.

They may never remember what you Said, but they will always remember how you made them FEEL.  The Human Connection can be a very powerfully Positive thing if you make folks FEEL Good in your Presence.  My Dad always said that Sharing a Meal with anyone is one of the most Intimate and Hospitable of Human Experiences.  And as a Master Chef he said that the Breaking Of Bread with Adversaries would Solve a lot of the World's Issues and Problems between them if they partake of Meals Together more often.  And, as a sidenote, Dad said, if your Adversaries are not at all receptive to Resolutions or Peace with you after a Big Meal you invited them to and extended Gracious Hospitality towards them with Good Intentions... well, then it's easier to Conquer anyone whose recovering and digesting from having a Full Stomach, and decides they won't be Peaceful towards you, so the Strategy either way it goes can have a better Outcome.  *Winks and Laughs*  Dad had Sage Wisdoms imparted like that.  *LOL*

Anyway, I don't know when Princess T gets off Work Today, usually it's earlier coz she goes in an Hour earlier on Tuesdays, but, we never know anymore.  Too many folks have Quit or been Fired, so she said the workload isn't evenly distributed now and she's doing more than just what her Position requires of her now.  She doesn't mind, so long as they don't take Advantage or take her for Granted, tho', I told her usually Employers do, so, just set Boundaries not to be exploited.  If they don't like it, have them to Hire someone who can do the Work better than you then, I know they'd be hard pressed to and so do they really.   Listen, any Employer I ever had knew my Value, I knew my Value and used it as Leverage.  If they could Hire someone better than me, go for it, I wasn't looking for a Job when I found that one... or more often, they found me and made me offers I couldn't refuse to come work for them.  I rarely ever looked for Work, potential Employers looked to Hire me away from where ever I was already working or try to lure me out of Retirement.  *Winks*

Anyway, so, she could be calling anytime after 1:00 p.m. now for pickup.  I may go earlier to look thru the Store coz it's Senior Day and I'm looking for a couple things I Need.  And I may always find something I don't Need too?  *LOL and Winks*   Well, she had to Work Late, so I've got to go back later, Work called for a Shift to fill in for my Friend Crazy Ed, and I always try to accommodate my Friend if he can't make his Shifts for whatever reasons.  So, I accepted the Shift, the comped Rent will be Helpful since Sales are soft right now during Summer.  I did get Princess T some more wonderful Anime Figures from the Locked Case at her Store, she was Delighted coz she wouldn't be able to Buy them yet, they just were put out.  I got a Starbucks Mug for myself, so most of my outlay was for her.  *Smiles, it's a Grandkid Thing*

So, Donnie Two Dolls completely ruined the whole experience of the NBA NY Knicks game, causing increased Security and expense, inconvenience by all the Street Closures on account of his attendance, shutdown of the Events for those who can't afford the ridiculously priced $8,000 Tickets who are Fans, and he fucking fell asleep and left before the end of the 4th Quarter!!!   He's no Fan and NY hasn't been a Fan of his since the 1970's coz they KNOW this Guy and the Negative NY Legacy he has there from way back when.  This could have been something very Positive and he put a Negative Vibe and Black Cloud over all of it, ruining it for True Fans and a City that was really rooting for this Team.  Perhaps the Bad Energy and Vibe he brought with him is why they Lost?  But, then again, it's been like 50 Years of Losing... so...   And, he's ruining the World Cup too, denying some Referees and those Participating Athletes access due to his Racist and Xenophobic Profiling. 

 A Somalian highly Respected long time FIFA Referee was turned away after 11 HOURS of interrogation, even tho' he had everything in Order required... and an Arabic Player was Interrogated for over 7 Hours!  I don't feel Sorry for FIFA tho', they're the ones that gave that ridiculous fake Peace Prize to Donnie Two Dolls, guess that wasn't Bribe, Ass Kissing and Fawning over him enuf, was it?  *Huge Eye Roll*  We're making lousy International Hosts so they should have held the damned thing somewhere else and let any other Country reap the Profits from it, they'd of been better off.  He'll for sure ruin that whole thing too that can bring Countries together if not only for just a Moment for a Sporting Event.  Everything he involves himself in or touches, Dies or is contaminated by his Presence and involvement, and becomes polluted.  He's like the Kiss of Death of anything and anyone that aligns with him.  And his Track Record speaks for itself, he's never changed, he is what and who he's always been, it's no Secret.

I don't know if my Brother and his Oldest Son managed to Connect yet or not, I Hope so.  Playing Phone Tag is always hard, each has at least attempted contact so that's Positive.  It would be nice if they could build upon some Contact eventually made.  We're a long time Dead as my Parents always used to say about never letting the Sun go Down on any Relationship Issues that cause dysfunction or division within interactions with Loved Ones.  LATER:  Work went well, it was all fill-ins again coz none of the folks who work Tuesday Nights had showed up for their Shift!!!   But, it meant I was working with my Friends Yolanda and Brigid again, which is always enjoyable.  Brigid got called in so late to cover for a no-show that she couldn't even get there by 5:00, I don't think the person she was covering for had bothered to call Management to say they weren't coming in?

For a Tuesday it was super busy and people were Buying.  In fact, when I had my Printout for last Pay Period and requested one for this new one, which was only on it's 3rd Day, I was shocked!  I didn't Owe for last Pay Period and it had been abysmal right up to the last Day of it, but, I managed on the last 24 Hours to Sell enuf to be getting a Check!  Nice Surprise.  Nicer still was THIS Pay Period where I made more in the first Two Days of it than I'd made in Two Weeks the Pay Period before!!!  What!!!  A Sunday and a Monday had Sales off the Charts, Monday being the Strongest in probably YEARS, it was so unexpected and ODD.  Mondays typically are slack days in Sales, always, but I'd killed it that Monday and Sold some very expensive quality items. 

 And then I noticed the Demographic in there this Tuesday Night.  For the first time since before Pandemic, we had some International Buyers coming in!!!  Mostly Japanese Pickers and they hadn't been back since 2018!!!  Aha, likely whose in there spending serious Money?  I've missed our International Customers, mostly they're wealthier Tourists or International Pickers.  And perhaps some are in the Country for the FIFA World Cup?  Even tho' it's being Hosted on the East Coast, I have to speculate it is attracting International Visitors coz it is a Big Deal and World Event.  And even in spite of our ridiculous Immigration fiasco going on making it so hard to come to the U.S. even as a Visitor or Tourist, PERHAPS some got thru to be here???  Speculation on my part, but interesting that all of a sudden some long absent Money is being spent and coming in and I noticed a lot of International Customers who've been conspicuous by their absence since this Regime got into Power and gave America a soiled ugly Global Reputation. 

 When I told Princess T this Morning on her way in to Work, about the Japanese Pickers being back, she said, Yeah, they can RUNNING into our Store too Gramma, Yesterday, a bunch of Asian Men!   And I told the Staff, when they asked who those Guys were and why are they Running like they have such Urgency to Buy, that I think those are the Pickers my Gramma always talks about!?   Coz she said it alarmed Staff at first, thinking it a Gang of Smash and Grab Robber People.  *LOL*   And she said they had a Moving Van in the Parking Lot and were filling it up with Merch and spent a ton of Money.  *Smiles, Yep, they do that and they do fill it!!!*  She had told Staff that she knew from me telling her, that they haven't been back since before Pandemic, so they probably Need a lot of Inventory.  She wasn't Wrong and now I'm sure if was the same Crew that hit our Mall and spent a lot of Money there too.  *Ha ha ha*  

Now, that said we all Hated waiting on One Customer that Night and I knew the Old White Guy, looking very 'Duck Dynasty' in appearance, even before I saw the Front or Back of his Camouflage Hat, was MAGA and Confirmed it!  *LOL*  He looked like the Poster Child for MAGA and it had TRUMP Embroidered in White across the Front and even the Back of said Green Camo Cap.  He had Camo everything on, like he was in a Militia.  And since we're a State that allows Conceal and Carry, I did scan his Ass for a Weapon, just in case.  *Ruh Roh and Eye Roll*  At first he appeared pleasant, that switched almost instantly, especially for Yolanda, whose Hispanic, and he caught at Attitude with right away, even tho' she's the Sweetest Woman and very Customer Service Oriented.  The MAGA Movement really have Targeted the Hispanic Community to project all their Anger, Blame, and Hatred upon, that's for sure.  Even if they aren't Immigrants, it seems to matter not, the Die Hardest MAGA Blame them for damned near everything they're Mad about!!!  Yolanda didn't deserve to be Exposed to that shit! 

 She quietly came and asked me if I noticed the Vibe and Energy was "Off" on that Customer?  I Laughed and said, well, Yeah, Duh... his Politics are OBVIOUS in more ways than just the HAT!  *Bwahahahaha*  She then Laughed nervously and asked if we'd wait on him, coz he made her feel very uncomfortable and he scared her, we took one for the Team and did, even tho' by then I was catching quite the Bad Vibe and Energy off the Old Man too.  *Le Sigh*  Listen, I can be Professional enough that even if you're a problematic douchebag Asshole of a Customer, I can be stoic but civil with you and do my Job, but he was a True TEST lemme tell ya!!!  Most who are still Die Hard MAGA are tho', without exception, and I've come to Terms with that Fact.  They aren't Good People or they wouldn't Align with such an abhorrent Leadership, even if they can be Nice People, to who they CHOOSE to be Nice towards.  The Character and level of Basic Humanity is Off, it's not even so much about the Politics anymore, it's way more Serious, abhorrent and depraved than that.

I mean, this can still be the Wild, Wild West sometimes, but let us just TRY to Act like it's 2026, and that we're more Civilized and Evolved, shall we?   Just fucking TRY!!!  It's not such a Big Ask!!!  *Eye Roll*  He became a difficult Customer almost immediately, we were swamped busy, everything going to Last Call on the Locked Cases, and he was a Time Waster Looky Lou of Coins.  Shit!!!  He wanted to handle every Silver Dollar Coin and Kennedy Half Dollar in a Case.  Then complain it was too high priced, or "Washed", yet still scrutinize it after saying that EVERY FUCKING TIME, with his Magnifier and Light AS IF he was ever gonna Pay a Price he'd already said was Too High!!!  He then began complaining that it probably wasn't even Real Silver, oh shit, a Conspiracy Theorist MAGA, one who Imagines fake everything, including U.S. Currency Coins now apparently!!?  Jesus, Joseph and Mary... and he was Imagining everything was faked, in every Case, every Coin, what would be the Odds?  I mean, Seriously? 

 Fakes exist, they always have, but, not in that volume. EVERYTHING isn't counterfeit or faked, or a damned Conspiracy Theory.   I'm sure he's an Election Denier too, any Election they LOST of course, only the ones they WON would not have been Stolen or Rigged.  *Bigger Eye Roll*  Coz that makes Zero Sense, but it's all so Nonsensical with MAGA, and their "Alternative Truth" is what they cling to desperately, it's all they've got.  Even tho' something not True, with no Proof or Evidence, usually means IT IS THE LIE or fabrication, or you've been Played, but, whatever, the Brainwashed and Indoctrinated are a complete Lost Cause not worth Salvaging.  *Le Sigh*   And every time this Guy opened his Mouth, his Politics were showing, so, I acted more like a Deaf Mute towards him as the Night wore on and finally HOURS later he left without Buying a damned thing.

  Just making other Real Customers inconvenienced and having to wait a long time while he wasted Staff time and acted ignorant and malcontent.  And either oblivious of how it comes across, or intentionally Wanting to be, and enjoy being problematic to everyone?  Hard to say.   I seriously think something is inherently Wrong with most in that Cult, I really do.  Deep in their Souls there HAS to be some inner turmoil, defect, and torment going on!!!  It's just abnormal and too Weird how they are. And Thankfully, the MAGA paraphernalia wearing ones are scarcer to be seen out and about these days.   Thanks be to God, coz I couldn't take it if they were still swarming everywhere and you couldn't avoid one every day.   And risk it ruining your day and everyone else's. *Whew and Winks*

 But when you do run into one, it's predictable how they will just ACT now, very predictable, not even concealed anymore.  I'd liken it to someone KKK wearing their Sheet all the time, or a Nazi wearing their Swasticka, even if just in their consistent Behavior and how they converse in Public.  There's no Shame anymore being what and who they just ARE to their Cores now.  It disgusts me, I find it revolting and alarming, and my tolerance for them is at Zero, it really is, I don't even like exposure to that kind of Person.  I was so glad when he left, but he was there most of the Night and didn't leave soon enough.  I'd say he had hung around only the Locked Cases, which doesn't take Three Hours to move thru for anyone, bothering and being a bother for a good Three Hours of our Four Hour Shift, dammit.  Malingering ridiculously at any Case with anything Silver or a Coin in it!!!   Which if you're a Serious Buying I'll not mind, but Looky Lous can Waste an incredible lot of Time at such Cases!  Usually pretending they know more than they do, as if you'll be Impressed or wanna listen to them drone on.  *LOL*

 He seemed to have a Fixation on Silver.  Not that he was Buying any mind you.  The Younger Man with him had been Quiet, and no problem, and looked a bit embarrassed by the Older Man, he at least bought some small thing while there, somewhere in the Mall.  By then everyone had been exposed to and had to endure the Old MAGA Dude, that was Working that Night, and ALL of the Staff was like, "What was Wrong with THAT Guy?"  Coz he'd been problematic at the Registers too even tho' he wasn't Buying anything.  And had made Lowball Offers that definitely weren't getting accepted or countered, coz they were not serious Offers. My Gallow's Humor kicked in, so my response was, "I dunno, but the Hat, the Hat pretty much incapsulated what was Wrong with him, is the short answer, going deeper would take a fucking Psychiatrist or Psychologist evaluation to go deep into those Weeds!  We Need to Sage that Shit!!!"  *Bwahahahahaha*  

My Co-Workers were like, "Dawn, you're hilarious!"   Yeah, I guess I can be... we have to view this Craziness in the World with a Balanced Attitude of Concerns and Dark Gallow's Humor, to get thru it Emotionally and Mentally intact my Friends.  And it is quite the Balancing Act these days, I ain't gonna pretend it isn't.  The Circus came to Town and the Big Tent and Sideshow is presently being erected in front of the White House... it's the Biggest Trashiest Shitshow on Earth!!!   And their Diapered Demented Ringmaster is completely Wheels Off his damned Rails.  *Winks*   And now here America is and we better brace for these Midterms, coz, I foresee some real contentious shit happening when the Red lose bigly. They're already doing their setup for pretending everything is rigged AGAINST them, even tho' they're the ones doing all the rigging going on and blatantly so with Voter interference tactics, redistricting, threats and intimidation, Gerrymandering.  

 Becoz they desperately wanna hold onto Power and know the majority of Voters are not Happy with them, Polls look bleak for them, Approval Ratings are the worst in History for any President ever.  Americans know they're suffering needlessly and this Administration is the reason why.  Can't keep blaming Uncle Joe or Obama anymore.  Gotta Own it or Fix it... and the latter ain't happening coz they've outright said they do not Care about any Hardships they've Created Economically for the Peons they have nothing but contempt for and are grifting and robbing blind.  And before there's nothing left the American People as a Collective better all be fucking Woke and not staying Asleep or deceived and in delayed denial.  Or they'll have nothing left to protect, it will be GONE, all of it, and we will all, the 99%, be up Shit's Creek without a Paddle as the 1% speed off with it all on their Mega Yachts, saying what Suckers we all were.  And this was the biggest and boldest Heist in Modern American History!!!  Only Paling in comparison to Stealing the whole Country from the Indigenous.

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America is taking one to the Chin... Dawn... The Bohemian

Just Follow The Money

 Well, my Brother contacted me to let me know that the High School BFF Debbie in our Mall Photo Booth Pixs together, had also Died some time ago too, I didn't know.  At least now I don't have to keep searching to Find her. Last time I'd seen her I think we were in our Forties, which, was a long, long time ago now.  I wish we'd kept in touch after that, she looked the same then as she always had, and was just the Sweetest of People.  So was her Dear Mom, who she looked a lot like.  Her Mom had Died relatively Young too, both Women were about 6'4" and all her Four Brothers were around 6'7", that's what I recall most about their Family, they were like Giants.  *LOL*  

My other Lifelong Friend Barb, who sadly also Died prematurely, was 6'2" and also had Four Brothers who all were over 6'4", so, another Family that were like Giants.  So both long time Friends towered above short lil ole me at 5'2".  *Smiles*  But they were like laid back docile Big Dog types and I was like one of those high strung lil Ankle Biter types.  *Winks*  Both would always semi Joke with me that if anyone ever threatened to get confrontational or unlovely with them, as Big and intimidating LOOKING as they both were, they'd threaten to sick their lil Friend Dawn on their Ass!  *LMAO*  Coz I was small but scrappy.  And they were like fierce looking Amazon Women but wouldn't hurt a Fly.  *Smiles*  Looks can be deceiving like that.  *Winks*

The Son said he never wants to Fight a Small Person coz we're like Ant People. *Bwahahaha*  And Ants are Strong as Hell for their size, relentless attackers and can go Long in Battle with a fierceness that belies their tiny non-threatening looking appearance, they can swarm Adversaries and overpower them.  He said the strongest Guy he ever knew at Work was an Old Man that was 5'3" and probably weighed under 100 Lbs. but could lift anything and never tire out even working a 14 Hour Shift, they nicknamed him Ant Man becoz of it.  If he was that Strong and had that kind of Endurance over Age 65, they could only Imagine how much Stronger and how much more Stamina he had as a Young Man!?!  Everyone had Mad Respect for Ant Man on the Job and nobody messed with him, they'd Pity the Fool who would.

I'm enjoying my Caramel Iced Macchiato I got at "Colado's" for Breakfast when we had out Crepes alfresco Tuesday Morning.  I started a load of our Laundry while waiting for Nurse Remi to show up for The Man at around 10:00 a.m..  Then we don't have his next Home Help coming until 3:00 p.m. when Asian Paul the PT shows up for their Session.  I found out he's Filipino and not Vietnamese, we'd thought he'd said he was Vietnamese due to him being cautious around his Vietnam Veteran Clients and understanding if they didn't want him as their Therapist.  I didn't think he looked full Vietnamese coz he's stocky and very Muscular built like an MMA Fighter.  And, he definitely looks more Filipino.  He'd told us last visit that he recently went to the Philippines to visit his Grandmother there and she Doctored him up when he got Dengue Fever with some Weeds she got out of an Irrigation Ditch that Cures it.

We had been talking about Indigenous and Eastern Medical Practices and that's when he brought it up coz The Man was telling him I hardly ever use Western Practices.  The Man told him that tho' he used to be skeptical of the Tribal or Eastern Remedies I'd give to him, they always worked so well that now he's convinced they're better.  That's when Paul said he got Dengue Fever and had severe life-threatening complications from it that Western Medicine didn't know what to do for him, so his Gramma went to the Irrigation Ditch, pulled some Plants that grew Wild near it, and brewed up a Tea that Cured him in no time.  He said it tasted bitter and vile, which, isn't so unusual, a lot of what I was taught to brew does too, but you can sweeten it for American Palates to find it palatable.  *Smiles*  

I myself don't mind the Herbal Bitter taste coz I grew up having it anytime we got Sickly.  Dad's Tribal Remedies, Mom's Chinese Remedies passed down by her Father who was Raised by Chinese, always worked wonders.   And I've usually gone to my Eastern Medical Doctors first before relying on Western Medicine.  I don't have Contacts with the Medicine Man my Dad always used via his Relatives, now that Dad's gone, and my Chinese Docs Retired, so now I do have to find another Eastern Medical Doc that I have confidence in the proper Training of.  Like Western Medicine, there are those with better Training and Skills than others.  

 And sadly, Insurance won't cover Eastern Medicine and pretend it's too "Experimental" even tho' it's effectively been around and worked for over 2,500 Years.  *Huge Eye Roll*  It makes you Well and therefore they don't wanna use it or support it's use... no dependency or Money to be made off Wellness, only Sickness.   And we do need Universal Healthcare in this Country and we could have it too if the Insurance Companies, Big Pharma, Paid Off Politicians, and the Medical Community were not so Money Hungry and Greed Driven to block it.  If a Problem is never Solved, just Follow The Money and that will be the Reason WHY!

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Keeping it short n sweet has me several Unpublished Posts ahead now, I could get used to this, winks... Dawn... The Bohemian

Embracing Your Muchness In The Madness

 

I ordered The Man some of those Ski Sled things for his Walker coz right now he's got Tennis Balls on it, he's using the narrower upright one that only has Two Wheels in the front, predominantly now.  The VA All Terrain Wheeled one has Four Wheels and is built with a Seat and Storage Space, and has Hand Brakes and Wheel Brakes built in, but it's Wide and he has to bend over more to use it.  This Zimmerframe Walker I got at a Chazza is Narrow and Tall, so he can stand upright to use it and he likes it and uses it with more consistency.  Getting him to use Medical Equipment with any consistency is Key coz he usually won't voluntarily do it, but he sure likes that Tall Walker, best Six Bucks I ever spent! 

 The fancier one the VA got for us at no cost, but Chazzas do often have Medical Equipment very reasonably priced and Donated often.  There's a Charity called "The Lending Closet" that Loans Medical Equipment at no cost to those who can't afford it or don't have Insurance.  I've donated a lot of stuff to them to Loan out to their Clients over the Years.  When I did Ministry Work we worked closely with all the other Major Charities and Faith Based or Secular Organizations and Agencies that provided various Community Services.  So, I cultivated a lot of valuable contacts over the Years.  I sometimes wonder how I juggled a demanding Career with long Hours, Raising a Family, Caregiving AND doing 20 Hours sometimes of Volunteer Work?!  *Whew* 

 But, I did, and I spent Decades doing it and my Kids grew up doing the Volunteer Work when they turned 13, they were eligible to participate.  And I Believe it instilled the superb Work Ethic they now all have, coz if you can work with excellence as a Volunteer with no compensation, then when you get Paid, you really have incentive.  *Winks*  I expected them to work with excellence even when it was Free Volunteer Labor tho', and they did.  I Believe if you're gonna do anything, do it to the very best of your abilities or just don't do it at all.  When people are lazy, slackers or do anything half-assed, it annoys me.  If I gotta run damage control behind everything you do, and you're not Mature or competent enuf to not need intense Supervision to do the work well, then what do I even then need you for, you're worthless to me and no asset to the job at hand.

And I don't need someone to give me more lines than the Telephone Company and Excuses about why they do a shitty job.  Coz I've trained seriously Developmentally and Physically Disabled People to do Jobs and they tend to do it to the very best of their abilities and are dependable, with intense Pride of their Work.  So if a Paraplegic, someone with Down's Syndrome, extensive Learning Disabilities, Serious Mental Illness, Traumatic Brain Damage, missing Limbs, significant Autism, Advanced Age related limitations, Deaf Mutes, the Blind, or any other significant Disability, can be Taught to do a Job with excellence, then if you're of able Mind and Body you have zero Excuses you can try to pass off to me as to why you can't.  I'm not buying it, you just choose not to, and have a shitty Work Ethic is your problem, and so you're more of a liability to any Employer than an asset.  And THAT is your barrier to employment and why you Wash Out all the time.

The Young Prince did some Organizing and decluttering in the Kitchen for me, he can do a really good job when he's motivated to and wants to volunteer to.  I had emptied out a cupboard of what we used to store in it, now it's open to put my ridiculous amount of Spices, which, had been on the Counter.  *LOL*  We do Love spicing our Foods so I have about every Spice known to Man, but it does take up a lot of Space even with those tiered shelves for Spices that consolidate Space to display them for use.  Now the majority are in the Spice Cupboard designed for Spices {which was full}, and on a Shelf in that emptied out Cupboard, with only the most used ones on a Carousel that spins on the Countertop.  Yeah, it's THAT MANY Spices.  *Ha ha ha*  My Muchness always shows like that.  I think it's a manifestation of my particular Mental Health Issues, I really do.  I know it's Too Much, yet the compulsion is there towards Muchness.  Embracing your Muchness in the Madness is all you can really do with any measure of Success.

As far as AI Google is concerned about Muchness proclivity, it says the desire for an overabundance of Life, Creativity, Depth, or Possessions - is rooted in a Rebellion against Mediocrity and an attempt to reconnect to our Authentic, Uninhibited Inner Child.  Driven by varying Psychological Needs, this Drive Manifests in several Key ways that I thought ALL FIT quite accurately, in my case anyway, so it was interesting and helpful to have it fleshed out like this:

 Reclaiming Authenticity: Many are compelled toward muchness after a period of suppressing their vibrant personalities to fit in. The urge is a reclamation of their innate joy, passion, and unique perspective in a world that often demands conformity.

Multipotentiality and Curiosity: People with a drive for muchness often possess a voracious desire to learn and experience multiple passions. This overabundance of ideas and interests can feel overwhelming, but it is deeply fulfilling for those who naturally operate at a higher volume of creativity.

Coping Mechanisms and Grief: Paradoxically, a push toward muchness can serve as an emotional buffer. People sometimes surround themselves with excess or hyper-focus on vibrant experiences to fill a void, mask feelings of inadequacy, or distract themselves from hidden losses and grief.

The "Too Muchness" Paradox: Society frequently labels intense, deep, or highly passionate individuals as "too much". The compulsion here is the refusal to shrink, dull one's light, or settle for surface-level living, viewing this intensity as a strength rather than a flaw.

I did some Environmental Cleanup this Morning after getting all Kiddos to Work at 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. respectively.  Then I took The Man out for Crepes at "Colado's" {lead Imagery Food Porn for this Post}.  It's a gorgeous day and he has Nurse Remi this Morning and then PT later in the Afternoon.  It was a nice start to the Morning tho' and he thoroughly enjoyed it.  We Scored a 7-Pac of Lipton White Raspberry Bottled Teas at the Park, someone clearly had tried one and didn't like the flavor so left the rest.  The Man drinks Lipton Bottled Teas, usually the Peach, but he's not opposed to the White Raspberry, so that's about Seven Bucks worth of Free Teas.  People can be wasteful, but at least if they just leave it at the Park, somebody who can use it can then make sure it doesn't go to waste if they take it before Park Services has to throw it out.

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Hey, did you notice I'm successfully making my Posts somewhat shorter and not As Much?  Even on Purpose, Winks... and You are Welcome.  Smiles ... Dawn... The Bohemian

Negative News -vs- Positive News

 Well, the HUMANA Home Nurse to do our Annual Evals for both The Man and I never showed up between 8:00-Noon on Monday like they said they would.  Didn't call either, so I stayed in all Morning for nothing, which made me mad.  I have lots to coordinate and hold Time Slots open when it's already booked and scheduled, plus, I don't like wasting my Time.  I'm not that pleased with HUMANA overall, I'd of preferred not being dropped by United Healthcare, never had problems with them as a Provider.  But, they targeted Maricopa County Veterans to drop coverage of in 2026.   Now White John the OT is coming at 2:00 for The Man, so, I'll just be Home all damned day.  At least he always shows up exactly when he says he will.  Tomorrow we have VA Nurse Remi at 10:00 a.m. and PT Asian Paul at 3:00 p.m. for The Man, they too are punctual.  He's making such good progress that he only has OT thru this Week and then he's Released, I don't know about PT yet, I'll let Paul tell us what he thinks.

I don't know if longer time Readers remember a Post some Days back where I had ordered a T-Shirt from some Obscure Online Seller and wasn't sure it was legit?  {Their Online Image Above}  I should have checked it's Reviews first, but didn't, and when I saw Reviews were dismal, thought, oh shit, I just got Scammed, there's a Lesson Learned.  I probably won't even receive what I Paid for!? Usually I only Buy Online from E-Bay, a couple times on Etsy, or Brands that are well known and Sell their Merch, so have a Trusted site.  Well, lo and behold my T-Shirt arrived Today and exceeded my expectations in Quality, the Graphics were Two sided, which was a nice Surprise, the Size was running Smaller per Reviews but I'd deliberately ordered a very large size, so it's Fine too and will fit well.  So, I wasn't Scammed after all.  *Whew*  Sometimes you have a Happy Ending and this was one, so, Color me Happy.  I still will probably not order from obscure Companies tho', I can't and won't usually take the Risk.  But, Positive Retail Therapy is Uplifting.  *Winks* 

Above is my Welsh Cousin's Daughter, she looks a lot like I did at that Age, more than my own Kids look like me. *Smiles*  So, it's been Negative News to report {A Healthcare No Show}, and Positive News to report {Not Scammed and a Positive Purchase Experience}, all in One Post this day.  I feel better Today and think Sunday was just a "Recovery" Day from doing too much on Saturday.  I have to remember that I'm still Recovering from that UTI and whatever else might be Wrong with me, still on strong Antibiotics, and that can impact how I feel overall as my Body tries to adjust and Heal.  I've really needed to Nap a LOT and yet I do still feel very worn out and tired.  So, I know my Body is still not at 100% function right now.  I'm resting when I just feel the Need to rest and be gentle with my Recovery by taking whatever time I require to Heal.  I tell the Family, I just need to take some time for myself, I don't feel good yet.  The Man got a bit cross and testy, which isn't unusual with Dementia, they get impatient if they don't get their way or a response immediately to a request.  So, I had to put him in Check for his raised angry Voice not being "Nice" and not being necessary either.

The Grandson was present and looked at me with concern in his expression, he wasn't sure how that would go over, with Grandpa being so Unlovely to me when I was only giving him his Medications and trying to get Breakfast made simultaneously.  He heard his Grandpa yell at me and thought, Oh No, Gramma's now gonna lose her shit with him being that ungrateful for what she's trying to do for him and being confrontational unnecessarily!   He backed down and got compliant immediately once he instantly realized now he would be confronted with Dark Dawn responding to his little tirade of disrespect and inconsideration.  Ruh Roh!  *Winks*  Even a very nice Pit Bull, if you start to act like a Threat/Adversary towards it, is gonna remind you it's very poor judgment on your part.  *Smiles*  I reminded him he doesn't need to Yell angrily at anyone whose just doing Caregiving FOR him.  This is precisely why he wouldn't do well in a Long Term Care Situation with people who aren't Relationally Invested in him and don't like difficult Residents who make their job harder.

We had that problem with him whenever he was recovering from his TBI, Staff and Management would say he was too high maintenance and unlovely, too non-compliant and combative, too high cost to have in their Facility.  He was a liability to them so they wouldn't even take him.  Home Help sent back then would quit after just one Visit and refuse to come back.  So, it's a big improvement that he Likes Nurse Remi and she's like a Stern 2nd Wife {LOL, she is, it's hilarious, she will scold him in a very Loving way about whatever he's being difficult about and not in his best interest}.   And he Likes his OT and PT Young Men who come to our Home to do his Exercises with them.  Coz if he doesn't wanna cooperate he can be a handful and a real Old Bastard.  And with his Military Training, that can become dangerous or even deadly if he loses control or detaches completely from Reality and starts Imagining everything and everyone is a Threat.  So, I have to Monitor that closely and keep him In Check as one of his Safety Prompts.

 I don't and won't put up with it, he knows this about me, he's had almost Four Decades to get that Straight in his Head.  And no matter how Addled he is, it's best he doesn't have Memory Care Issues about how I will ALWAYS respond to inappropriate Behavior and the consequences thereof.  Don't become Threatening or Angry to the point you lose Control around me or the Kiddos, that's non-negotiable and he knows it without a Shadow of a Doubt.  I know he's impaired, I acknowledge what it's doing to his poor Brain, this progressive Disease that has no Cure.  He already had Traumatic Brain Injury, now the Age Related Cognitive Decline is adding complexities to his Caregiving.  Behavior Tolerated is Behavior Accepted and there's NEVER a Good Excuse for Bad Behavior.  We're trying to Modify his Behavior and Outbursts, so we can Manage his Care.  I had to do it with our Mom due to her Dementia, she could get Physical and Assault you near The End.  She looked like a Sweet harmless lil Old Lady but she could fuck you up if you got in too close when she Went Off Rails!

Speaking of someone not appropriately being Managed by his Handlers as he spirals downwards Cognitively, Donnie Two Dolls Stormed Off an Interview when a Female Journalist did some proper Journalism and pressed him about his Lies about Stolen Rigged Elections he has never presented PROOF or EVIDENCE of.  He melted down coz he's been living in a Fact Free Zone and nobody has been confronting him about his Lies and Bullshit, and he can't handle it when someone does, so he runs away.  He's used to Ass Kissers and Yes-People who Bend the Knee and Kiss the Ring so just let him say the most outrageous bullshit without Calling him Out on it.   When he is Called Out, or confronted with what he said before and how he's saying the complete opposite now, he can't handle the Truth or Reality anymore and it's obvious he's diminished so much now cognitively, he behaves like he's got full blown end stage Dementia and is either completely delusional, or very potentially violent and totally Unlovely towards anyone he can't Cope with.   This is not Presidential Behavior, makes one Wonder how his "Calls and Negotiations" go, if he flies off the handle so easily and melts down so completely?

The Man will sometimes Melt Down completely about things that would be for his own Good.  Like keeping his Legs elevated when they're swelling, until his Lasix is working to ensure his Skin doesn't split open again so that he's require Wound Care again!  He's Diabetic, he can't afford open Wounds or he could lose his limbs if they get infected or don't Heal.   Every time I leave the damned Room he's in, I swear he tries to get away with not Elevating his damned Legs/Feet again!!!  I'll walk back in and say, "Honey do you have your Legs Elevated?  NO, NO you don't!  Now get them back up so you reduce your Swelling and don't have your Skin splitting again!  Do you want to Lose your Feet or Legs?!"  He'll get grumpy about it, and a bit pissy, but I insist, coz I'm the Caregiver.  So when he makes himself worse the consequences fall upon all of us and me in particular.  I'm not having that. 

 If it gets to the place where I can't look after him in the Home... we have a huge Problem finding or affording alternative Placement for him.  I'm already spread as thin as I can be, I don't need him compounding that level of Care that could be avoided or delayed.  So, yep, I go on the Warpath with him at times.  *Winks*  I Love him with all my Heart, but there are some things I can't do FOR him, he has to do it for himself, he has to put in the Work and be compliant, or he won't get the best results.  Thus, we all won't get the best results and then everyone suffers for that nonsense he's putting everyone through by being difficult.  Everyone gets put at risk, and I've got to think about more than just One Person here, the impact to me, our Kids, our Grandkids, is very Real and very critical as his Illnesses and deterioration progresses.  Some of it we can't prevent, but some of it we can, or delay and slow down to make Quality of Life for all of us better.

  I think that The Daughter has been staying away coz she was finding it really difficult to deal with and cope with her Dad's deterioration Physically and Mentally/Emotionally.  It is hard to Lose a Loved One in Layers.  And it was a lot to put on her to Help as much as she had been.  I knew that, she knew that, but each person, regardless of our Individual Conditions, and hers is Schizophrenia, has to do the best we can with what we have and the Hand Dealt us.   The Son and The G-Kid Force do get angry that she bailed on the Family, but I could tell it was too much for her and at times it's too much for all of us.  You have to acknowledge that Reality too.  The Son was ready to check himself into a Rehab the other day for Mental Health coz he felt like he wasn't Coping at all and had too much he was attempting to do around here. 

 But, he didn't wanna lose his new Job, after having been Unemployed for Six Months, so he didn't go... but he probably could have benefit from it and some Hospitalization.  He's worried I'll have Caregiver Burnout again... which once put me in Psyche Lockdown for a Week before and a near Death Experience.  I know how it feels when Hopelessness and Caregiver Fatigue overcomes you and the only way out seems to just hurry up and Die, becoz there is no "Happy Ending" and the Cavalry ain't coming either.   So, I don't want any of my Kiddos hitting that Wall, so if they Need any Time Away, I told them, Take It if you Need it.  I don't want anyone in the Family cracking up under the Pressure of taking Care of either The Man or I, they got their whole Lives ahead of them.  Of coarse these are scary times for all Younger Generations, they aren't able to make it without assistance in most cases now.  Shelter isn't affordable, Healthcare isn't affordable, Nutrition is often not affordable, Income/Salary isn't sufficient to Exist and Buy the Essentials!!!  I worry about the Future of our Young People... all of them.  The American Dream is fast becoming a Nightmare.

 

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Hang Tough my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian