Stagflation

 

Well, I've got to call my Antique Mall this Morning and file a Complaint, coz on Monday they Sold a $30 Collectible 1994 Alice In Wonderland Barbie out of our Locked Case and only charged the Customer $3!!!  Of coarse the Customer didn't say anything, and whatever Cashier rang it up didn't catch their error either by omitting a Zero, which can be an Honest Mistake and not Intentional, but I expect the Mall to reimburse me the $27 Error they made coz the Product is now long gone and that Customer isn't likely to come back and pay it!  I'm not Eating the Loss.  

They have to keep the Tags on all Sales and those Collectible Barbies had Large oversized Sales Tags clearly marked with the Correct Price twice, large and unmistakable.  Plus, along with $30 written out large I also always on every Tag Write Out the Amount in a Word too, so it would also have said "Thirty" on the Tag, so a Cashier nor a Customer could alter the Price Tag and get away with it.  Mistakes can happen, but they need to make good on THEIR Mistakes to the Vendor who takes a substantial Loss due to their errors.  I Sold a lot of my Collectible Dolls that Day that were more expensive and out of our Locked Case.

I don't want Drama or a Headache about it either, sometimes they will try to claim Vendors have to Eat any Losses we have.  If someone Steals it, or breaks it, then we do, but if it's a Cashier's Error on the Sale of it, I stand firm that their Hired Help messed up and that's then their liability and on them to put Right!  Tag Switching is harder to get reimbursement on coz a Cashier can't honestly always tell that's been done, even some alterations are pretty Smooth when someone is good at altering Tags.  It's why I Write the Number AND the Word of the Amount on my Tags and always have.  Staff know this about me, so can't claim they couldn't Read both a Number or a Word.  One or the other would and should make it clear what the Price is.

So, that's how I'm starting my Wednesday Morning, dammit!  With a Problem to Solve.  Shit.  Like I Need more problems or battles, Right? *LOL*   I finally cleared up most Battles with our Insurance and Medical stuff... I'm still waiting on full reimbursement from a Credit Card Company that my Account got hacked and someone was using it that I contested, coz it wasn't me.  They reimbursed some of the $600 this Thief Charged, but not all of it yet.  The Card was immediately Cancelled and Re-Issued, I only had one legit Charge on it during that Period, which I told them that Charge was me and Fine to Charge me for. 

 It was a significant Charge I'd made, I rarely use the Card and the Credit Card Company knows and can see that History.  And the other fraudulent Charges were numerous yet Small amounts that just added up to a lot.  So they'd avoided detection by CitiBank alerting me of fraudulent use, which isn't uncommon for Hackers to do that to get away with their Scam longer and for perhaps a whole Billing Cycle.   Since I verified the largest Charge as being my own, I was entirely Believable and had never done Business with any of the Small Charge Companies ever, so that was Telling too, they were all on the East Coast and I'm on the West Coast.  

Most of my Purchases are Local, with very few exceptions, all the fraudulent small Charges totaling around $600 were out of New Jersey, where the Perp may live, if they trace it back to them.  And all were Online Purchases, not made from my Computer or Cellphone, so easier to trace back by their Fraud Dept..  I'm not paying for fraudulent purchases.  If a Hacker is out of the Country it's harder to pursue, but I think this one was in America and Younger, by what was Purchased and who they do Business with.  Some were like Credit Restoration {which I don't Need the Service of, I have excellent Credit}, others were those Porn Hub sites {don't Need that either, LMAO}.  So, some horny Young Male Criminal Hacker with Bad Credit, I presume?  *Bwahahaha*  But, it's a Pain in the Ass to Deal with and run damage control behind being Victimized by these Criminal Assholes.

The Rep at CitiBank laughed that I had somewhat a Wicked Sense of Humor about describing the Perp Negatively, but probably accurately.  Well, they Needed THEIR Credit Restored, so there's a Clue as to Who they are.  The Credit Restoration Company should be able to tell you whose requesting the Credit Restoration Services.  *Eye Roll, some Thieves aren't all that Smart or Clever as they Think they are!*  In fact, when I Worked at the DA's Office, frankly, the really Smart and Clever Criminals are the Exception, not the Rule.  There's a lot more Stupid folk out there committing Crimes actually and why so many of them aren't that difficult to catch or Prosecute.  Unless it's a Syndicated Crime Ring, those can be really difficult to take down... for obvious reasons.

Well, at 9:00 a.m. when our Mall Opened I talked to our Manager and he could see the Error and told me he'd take care of it, so, that's a relief.  They'll pull the Tag from Monday's Sales and see it's clearly marked 30 and Thirty, not 3 and Three... not that any 1994 New Old Stock Collectible Character Barbie in it's original Packaging would ever Sell for only Three Dollars anywhere, not even in a Chazza and not even in 1994 when she was Produced!!!  I paid more than that for her.  It was a Disney Exclusive, and tho' a lot of them were Produced, to find one in it's Pristine Unopened Condition is Uncommon, the European Version can even go for $100, but $30 on up is what the American Version goes for in New Old Stock Pristine Condition, which this one was. 

 It Retailed for $30 when it was Released in 1994, so my Price Point was very Good at the original early 1990's Price and I knew she'd easily Sell.  I wasn't trying to find the End Of The Rainbow Customer, I just wanted to Turn a reasonable Profit on my Investment all these Years later when I happened upon her at a Chazza and saw that her price remained stable, she never Lost in Value from 1994, tho' those who paid full price for her in 1994 would be disappointed that they might just break even after holding onto her in Mint Condition for all these Years.  So, she wasn't an Investment for the Original Purchaser on The Buy, which is always where you make your Money, on The Buy.  If Values decrease or don't increase at all, it wasn't an Investment Vehicle for you to make Money on.  And sometimes we Buy without a Thought to the Intention of Resale or parting with it when we made the Purchase..

Most folks pay too much in the first place, so will never get their Money back if and when they Need to get rid of it.  But, "Alice In Wonderland" is a popular Theme for Resale and I think the Japanese Buyers might have purchased all the Collectible Dolls that Sold that Day, they cleaned my Locked Case out of most of them.  They might not have even realized, Buying in bulk, that they hadn't been Charged the right price on her.  I've never had a Japanese Picker ever try to make an Offer, they always pay what the Ask Price is and are decent Buyers, usually repeat Buyers, they used to come every Quarter, but haven't been here since 2018 so it's nice to see them back.  They usually stay a little while, put all their Purchases in Shipping Containers to Export back to Japan, and Travel to various Countries Sourcing Inventory before returning to Japan. 

 So, I wouldn't expect them to come back and tell the Mall, oh, we owe you $27 more, you made a mistake on our large Purchase.   They Trust they got Charged correctly and may not even scrutinize their Receipt and Laundry List of Purchases, they do it all so quickly and efficiently.  It's hard to keep up with them when they come in and sometimes Management will even Assign them an Employee to assist them coz they're Buying so much at once and are in a hurry to Buy Fast and move on to the next location on their itinerary.  Like Princess T said, they were literally RUNNING into their Store and hitting the Racks like it was a Timed Contest!  *LOL* 

 I've seen them drop over Twenty Grand in a matter of Minutes!  They know what they want and are looking for, they don't screw around or haggle.  If your Prices are Correct, and they can still make their Margins in Japan, they will Buy from you all day long.  Certain American Products can fetch a fortune Overseas in many Countries.  My Uncle from Wales used to come with Empty Suitcases and fill them up with Red Line American Levi Vintage Jeans to Resell back Home in North Wales.   Even now in America they can Sell for $200-$800+ these days.  I still look for them, hard to Source these days.  LEVI even puts out Tutorials on how to Identify their Vintage Jeans and the Era made.  It's worth knowing.

It was so Hot Today that anything I thought I might do, I aborted the notion of even doing it and took a long Nap instead.  *LOL and Le Sigh*  I'm not 100% yet or thru with my Antibiotic regimen so I'm just not pushing myself.  I do have to go in to the Antique Mall later Tonight coz my Friend Amy has a Gift for me of an Antique Loving Cup that she won't allow me to Buy from her but wants to give me as a Friendship Gift.  I also have to pick up my Check, it was a pleasant Surprise to know I even had one coz that Pay Period was a rough one.  I only Sold a scant few good pieces and not enuf Smalls I thought I'd even turn a Profit and hoped I didn't Owe. 

 Rents are high everywhere and why a lot of Brick & Mortar Shopping is going away and being replaced by Online Shopping.  Now that Gas is so high too and likely not to go down anytime soon, perhaps even go up more, folks don't wanna commute to Work or to Shop, too expensive an outlay.  I rethink going anywhere now and even Shopping, I don't do if I don't have to do it, coz it's not like I make a point to GO Shopping or spend Money.  I've bought some things lately mostly for Princess T's sake and she pays me back for it.  She has the Money Saved Up, I don't.  Just expenses now pretty much taps me out Month to Month anymore, so there's less discretionary spending.  This is where Stagflation may creep in... Prices Rise while the Economy contracts and stalls.

*******

We will continue to alter our habits as necessity dictates... the Country and Administration will have to then Deal with it... everything they do will have consequences... Dawn... The Bohemian

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 to $100,000+ Tickets who are REAL Fans, and priced out of attending... or even getting close... 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 came 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 Buyer I'll not mind how long you need to take, 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.  America isn't ONLY 250 Years Old, People were here for Thousands of Years before...

*******

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