Be Mindful Of What Was Always An Apex Predator

 Today is The Man's Birthday.  He's having a bit of an Old Man's Crisis about it, he'd rather not acknowledge Birthdays anymore and just ignore them.  *LOL*   I woke up Tuesday Morning to The Man telling me that Rev. Jesse Jackson had Died this Morning.  He was 84, so had a long run and was very instrumental in the Civil Rights Movement and Married to his Wife since 1962, so a 64 Year Marriage too.  It must have grieved him terribly to live long enuf to see Civil Rights so hard fought for and won being eroded in his Lifetime and threatened to be taken away again.  I'm glad my own Parents didn't live long enuf to see it.  I remember my Dad particularly being so Proud that his Kid's Generations had so much more opportunity in America than he ever had the Privilege of, due to being Indigenous.  The Man almost is too gleeful about telling me whose Died now.  "Honey, guess who Died Today?", he'll say, all excited... if somebody Died, The Man will know about it and tell you now.  He knows which one I'm waiting for to be Taken... and will be Jazzed to be able to tell me THAT one!!!   *Bwahahaha*

 But, back to my Dad... in his 27 Year Military Career he usually was in Black Units, when things were still pretty segregated in the Military.  The Man was in Mormon Units due to Religious segregation during some of his 39 Year Career.  I recall my Dad being glad to see Civil Rights become a Movement... and when Women could have more opportunity in a Military Career and when the LGBTQ+ Community could Serve openly as well, rather than Closeted for fear of being kicked out.  Dad was a Two Spirit Person, but the Military never really fully or even partially understood Native American Culture and Beliefs enuf to acknowledge any of it, which could sometimes be a benefit due to the ignorance.  He was Married to a Woman and so what being Two Spirit meant to the Average American was Lost on them.  *LOL*  But, Dad always said a Good Activist whose effective, will almost always turn up Dead and become a Martyr for The Cause.  He wasn't Wrong about that.  Only a few Survive, and make it to Old Age, like the Rev. Jackson. 

Back when I considered joining the Military as a Career, once a Woman got Pregnant it was cause for Discharge, so I'm glad I chose a Banking Career instead.  Or my Military Career would have been very short lived and a waste of my Time and Energy due to the Rules, which, Thankfully did Change and now Women in the Military can have a Family, just like they always allowed the Men to have.  Double Standards existed in the Civilian Sector too due to Gender, of coarse.  When I got Pregnant with The Daughter and wasn't Married, another Bank Executive tried to get me Fired over my "Lack of Morality" and promoting a "Bad Image" for our Bank.  *Eye Roll* 

 Coz he was Married with Children, but fucking everything in sight, the hypocrisy was dripping and I threatened to expose his infidelities and make them Public. He'd come on to me a few times but I told him I wouldn't crawl under him if they were bombing Phoenix.  So, he had an Axe to grind for having been spurned and his Pride bruised.  He fancied himself as a real Ladies Man and in those days Sexual Harassment was rampant and a real nuisance.  When Affirmative Action finally had a Department and I was friendly with the Department Manager of it, Roger Betts {RIP 2013}, helluva nice Guy and fought for the Rights of Women and Minorities being discriminated against at VNB, you could go to him when improprieties and unprofessionalism became problematic in your Career due to Gender, Ethnicity, Religion, chosen Lifestyle, or Race.

Roger started his Career in the 1960's as a Bank Teller and also rose up in the Ranks to become a Vice President by the 1980's in spite of being Black.  It was a tough row to hoe in the Good Ole Boy Networking Days of Banking if you were Female and/or a Minority, Glass Ceilings had to be kicked and broken.  I made AVP before I was 30, and ran Three Departments before I Retired, but the Misogynists would always be who they just are and not Respect you, often Openly.  I remember being in an Executive Staff Meeting as an AVP and having some of the Old White Male Executives of the Good Ole' Boy Network, tell me to "Get us some Coffee Honey."   I was the only Executive Female in the Meeting, definitely the only Young Person in the Room filled with Powerful Old Men.   I responded that my Uterus was not a Tracking Device for their Liquid Refreshments, so get one of their Secretaries to Serve them their Coffee or go get it themselves.  *LOL* 

 I also had an Old White Male VP call me a Bitch to my Face once.  I told him I wasn't A Bitch, I was THE Bitch, and that would be Ms. Bitch to him.  He actually gave me Respect after that.   Deciding I made a better Ally than an Adversary Fixated on Taking him Down, now that's a Wise Man.  *Smiles*  I remember visiting my Dad at the time, all Twisted and Offended about the fact I'd Earned my Titles and Position, was excellent at my Career with many accolades racked up at an early Age, yet couldn't get nor gain their Respect.  I was lamenting to him about the discrimination and he was Silent for just a Moment after he'd let me Feel Heard, then just Calmly said, "They will never Respect you, so make them Learn to Fear you."   That was his Sage unemotional advice, coz Dad wanted you to Face Life Strong and Fierce, Fight the Enemy all Day long and make sure they'll never See you, Old School Apache Style, take their Scalps as your Trophies, or their Balls... whatever.  *Winks* 

  So, after that I racked and busted Balls, not Caring if they Respected me, but they damned sure would Learn to Fear me, it Worked Wonders.  I would Today be what the tiny Mushroom Dick Orange POTUS would refer to as a "Nasty Woman".  Racking his tiny Draft Dodging Coward's Balls would be like a delightful Sport, "Rack 'em".  He's REALLY Threatened by Strong Women and it shows.  Try to grab this Pussy and see what happens you Pedo Child Rapist Pervert.  My Dad had watched Donnie Two Dolls Star Rising in the 1970's and said he was a White Forked Tongue Devil, he wasn't Wrong, the Track Record from then to now speaks for itself about that. 

 It's all common knowledge if anyone had done even a modicum of due diligence before Voting for him.  Even after being a Convicted Felon and Adjudicated Sex Offender, unless they absolutely really know and are like him themselves.  Sometimes their own Demons demand Revenge and Retribution when they've got Tortured Souls and Cold Hearts Sold Out to Devils.   Out of the abundance of the Heart the Mouth and the Actions always eventually Speak volumes to the World.  So Listen and Watch Carefully what folks Say, Support and Do over Time.  They trip up and the carefully constructed facades fall away to reveal who they really are and probably always were.  Often just masked until they felt confident it doesn't matter coz they Elected a Man in their Image who Represents them and what they really Jones for America to Become and the MAGA Movement embodied in all it's depravity, bitterness and ginned up primal Fears magnified.

 Funny and sickly Ironic how some of the Far Right Fundie Religious can't recognize a Devil when they see one either.  And actually Worship at the Feet of one and the Golden Calves he offers them in exchange for the Hope and their Wet Dreams of installing an American Theocracy.  Their Brand of Religion that promotes 'Christian' Values such as Cruelty, Infidelities, Inhumanity, Racist White Supremacy, protecting Pedophiles, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Religious Persecution of other Faiths or against Freedom From Religion, Anti-Semitism, and Hatred encompassing a Laundry List of other Ungodly abominations before the Lord.  Jesus wept and would weep again over the likes of them and their kinds of Bad Religion, which shows no Relationship with God whatsoever.

Moving on... The Son made Chili this Morning, and since I Woke Late, coz I'd had a very Sleepless Night, it was pretty much Lunchtime for my first Meal of the Day.  And it smelled Sublime, the Aroma of it wafting thru the House.  I have to Work Tonight to cover for my Friend Crazy Ed, whose having a lot of Health Problems lately and is discouraged about Working his Shifts too.  He Rents a lot of Space there and a lot of Offsite Storage Unit Space too, but is nearing his Octogenarian Years and really Needs to Downsize his Cargo in earnest.   But it's hard for him and I Get It and can relate.  A Lifetime of accumulation of The Good Stuff doesn't get disposed of easily or recklessly coz it was/is an Investment that often will supplement Retirement Income which Buys less and less over Time.  His Kids and Grandkids have zero Interest in Inheriting any of it.

He tended to Hoard large Antique Furnishings and the types of other Antiquities that right now can be a Hard Sell even tho' it's Quality Merch.  China, Crystal, Art Glass, Gallery Quality Art, Bronze Sculptures, Western and Native American Collectible Pieces, all a tough Sell and hard Turn at our Location.   And, he often Paid too much for them in their heyday and so the Money wasn't Made on the Buy either.  And now they've depreciated to a place where a Loss is a Given and he should just cut his Losses now and get something rather than nothing for it.  Something is only "In" until it's "Out" and you may not live long enuf to see it recover in your Lifetime now, if ever.  Some things are so far on the "Outs" that you couldn't Give them Away, let alone Sell them, nobody wants it and it's actual Value is now questionable and quite subjective.  Something only being really worth only what someone is willing to Pay for it.

We get people coming in to the Antique Mall all the time trying to hawk their Stuff or their Inheritance to Vendors and expecting to get Full Retail on it.   They seem dismayed that the Industry doesn't Work like that and they certainly don't wanna put in the Work, Time or Expense of trying to Sell it in Hopes of finding the Retail Paying Customer who will Buy it.  I always decline whatever they're trying to Sell and suggest they just Rent Space if they expect to get Full perceived Value on what they have, no Resaler is gonna Pay that and Auctions take a big hunk out of what it Sells for to get their Cut of Commission ranging from 5%-35% of the Final Hammer Price, plus additional Fees and Buyer's Premiums {10%-30%}. 

 It's Why I don't do Live Auctions... exception for E-Bay as a Buyer, not a Seller.  So a Resaler won't get their Margins unless they Pay about Half, or less, not worth it to them after their Expenses otherwise to Buy it from you.   And even Friends who Sell on E-Bay expect to pay about 14% Final Value Fee and 15% on Jewelry.  That's why these Shows I've been watching of UK Auctions that Celebrities are doing and aren't making Money on, usually Losing Money coz they Paid too much for the items and it Auctions for Less, are a Lark, good thing they aren't doing this for a Living or they'd be Broke as Hell and running into the Red seriously Owing after they Auctioned everything off.  They make it seem Celebratory if they make a narrow Margin beyond what they Paid, which won't even cover the Auction Commission and Fees actually.  I've not seen an Episode yet where they actually made Bank.  *LOL*

The same with these proliferation of Pickin' Shows and Storage Locker Buyer Shows... it's comical to me and purely Entertainment, not Reality based.  Buy only what you Love and just Enjoy it until you Need to dispose of it for any reason.   Some things will Appreciate, but some things will Depreciate, as with any Investments, there's few Guarantees.  And Bottoms have dropped out before, erasing even Fortunes.   And since I'm a Statistical person, 60% of Billionaires Wealth is derived from Inheritance, Cronyism, Monopolies or Corruption, which suggests a high retention Rate.  Millionaires may face Financial Mismanagement Issues, but that Data doesn't transfer to the Billionaires Class, who generally Maintain their Assets. 

 So don't Count on Donnie Two Dolls going Broke unless the Government Seizes all his Assets of mostly ill gotten Wealth.  Sorry, Data suggests he just won't, he's gone Bankrupt half a Dozen times, even Bankrupting Casinos, and yet still has Billions.  There's about 2,800 Billionaires Worldwide.  Most Billionaire Wealth is Taken, not Earned.   Monopoly Power is driving Wealth inequality and Global Economic imbalance.   So, overall Billionaires aren't Positive for any Economy or Economic Stability of any Nation.  The Myth that we 'Need' them is just that, Mythical.  When you hit bottom, don't expect Billionaires to be Philanthropic towards the less fortunate, they exploit the underclass as a means to enrich only themselves.  

 Ask anyone whose ever Worked for say, Amazon, being their Employer, unless they're Top Tier Execs.  I know an Amazon Top Tier Employee, he got Stories.  And sure, he's getting some and his, while there's still some left, he's no Fool.   LATER:  Work was SO busy for a Tuesday Night!!!  Lots of folks shopping and buying, so we didn't get out of there right at 9:00 p.m..  I was working with Friends Brigid and Yolanda, so it was a good Shift, we work well together.  I'd eaten Dinner at "Dragon Garden" and they were Celebrating Chinese New Year {February 17th, 2026} .  It's the Fire Horse Celebrations and will last 16 Days until March 3rd.

 

The Young Prince was meeting up with His Dad and the New Stepmom to Sing Karaoke, luckily Boring Car Guy, Chris, could take him coz I couldn't and get back thru Rush Hour Traffic in time for Work.  As it was Princess T was one of the only ones at Work that didn't get off early, as they go in earlier on a Tuesday.  She had to Work late, but it was overtime, it just set me back some to getting to Work and having time to Stock my Showroom with the Merch I was bringing in with me.  I'd done Well for the 20% Off President's Day Sale and even after the Sale, there were stronger than usual Sales, who knows Why?   Mostly it was our Smalls and T-Shirts, but some higher end Merch too for a change. 

And Management had bought "Jimmy John's" Sammies and Wraps for everyone.  They were 3" Subs and Wraps, so I had a Roast Beef one and a Ham one of the Mini Sub Sammies, I like "Jimmy John's", Love their Bread.  Someone also brought in Oranges from their Trees at Home and they were really Sweet and Juicy.  I brought some Home coz they had a whole Basket of them and wanted everyone to take them, as many as we wanted.  So, I took Four and ate one while there, it was delicious, they were Small Oranges compared to the huge ones our Neighbor Omar's Trees produces, which are very Old Citrus Trees from the 1960's... but, they were still good Oranges.

The Daughter has been spending more time with the Boyfriend off site than here, which is fine, her choice and nobody here has to Deal with their dysfunctional Relationship and in-fighting all of the time.  I do think she bores with the Serenity she's still not used to here at Forever Boheme', it's unfamiliar to how she's lived her Life for Decades and hard to break old habits deeply ingrained now?  She has belonged to the Streets a very long time and even staying put here has exceeded her Record for staying in one place very long at all.  The Family are all now a lot more settled with no Drama unfolding between a couple that aren't getting along and can't seem to for a sustained period of time.  

 

Both of her Kids didn't wanna Deal with it another Day either and her Brother, her Dad and I, had enough as well of their bickering and his Adult Man Drama and Anti-Social Behavior towards all of her Friends and ours when we had other Guests.   And we often have other Guests and he was spending much too much time being here rather than where ever he should be living.  He was ingratiating himself to us with abundant helpfulness, he's not a lazy person and is industrious.   But not being functional with other people, including her.  Some people would be better off being Recluses, I think perhaps he is one of them?  We'd met him thru our next door Neighbors who attended Church with him.  But I never saw him going to Church in all the time we've known him and their Missionaries never have come to see him, which is very unusual for the LDS.  They come for The Man all the time and pester him, and he hasn't gone to the Church in all the time I've known him.

And the Boyfriend's complex History is just what I'd been either told or Read in very Old News, so I don't know the accuracy of his Back Story.  You can't really know the accuracy of anyone's Back Story you don't have a lot of History with and even then you can find out Surprise Revelations of what hasn't been told.  I've known folks since the 1980's I'm still finding out new important Facts and Secrets about!!!  I do know he's Lost a lot of Loved Ones and I think it's Negatively impacted his Fear of Losing People?   And so he's clingy and controlling, very insecure and acts immaturely for someone whose 59.  And I'm sure having a dire prognosis is frightening to live with daily just waiting to Die and after nothing has worked to Heal you from a Terminal Illness.  So I have compassion, I just didn't Need him to be a Problem for me and mine, I got 99 other Problems and eliminate even One more that I don't Need to Deal with and can banish from our lives.  

She has to decide when and if she will banish him from hers I guess.  I think she doesn't want him to Die alone or give up on him... and I Get that.  She appreciated those in her life who never gave up on her and have taken Care of her.  And she told me he's not all Bad and I know this, but what has been Bad isn't acceptable and tho' she acts Crazy as a March Hare herself, if he can't manage or handle her level of Mental Illness appropriately, he shouldn't be with her either, it's unhealthy for the both of them.  And neither of them Needs the stress and pressures of that in their respective conditions.  She has Caregiver instincts in her, but often can't be all that someone Needing Care requires.  In Mexico she often looked after ailing Old Men who were scary people before they got Old and Sickly or Dying, so not much Scares her.  In fact she tells them only I have ever Scared her, and that's probably her Truth.   She's Squared Off with me in the Past, it didn't go Well for her and she Remembers that and that it's Wise not to go there again.  *Winks*

 Anyway, she looked after all of them she Cared for, until they Passed and I've been told by many of her Friends in Mexico, that everyone knew how close she became to those Guys, who usually didn't allow anyone to get close to them or Care for anyone else either.  One of the American Heads of an very well known Outlaw Biker Gang, Dave, who was Old and Dying, had been Living in Mexico for Years and still was quite a Shot Caller.  He was so close to her he called often to Check on how she was doing here, and so pleased she'd gotten Clean and was doing well.  He's a really Bad Actor and was up front with me about that and his Past, along with the Present associations he had.   I Liked Dave, but was Mindful of who he just was at all times.  I was Grateful for all he'd done to both Protect and look after my Daughter and he knew this too.  The allegedly "Good Guys" in Mexico and in America have never looked after or out for her EVER.  Just sayin'.  Sometimes it's hard to tell the Good Guys from the Bad Guys in Life.

 But there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for her or to keep her under his Protection while he was Alive.  And nobody Dared mess with her due to who Looks Out for her.  She looked after him, his little Dogs, and took Care of his Home there for Years and until she left.  When he Died others contacted us to tell of his Passing, she was distraught.  She truly Cared for Dave when nobody else really did and most were just justifiably Scared of him.   I just don't want anyone Unsafe around the rest of my Family and she knows that, even if they're Kind to me, they can be Kind from a distance.  I feel like having Scary People in close proximity to you is like having a Wild Animal as a Pet... they're still a Wild Animal and you have to be very Mindful of that Fact.  It's why folks can have Pet Tigers and such for Years and Years, 'til one Day it just acts like a Natural Apex Predator it always has been and was meant to Be.  And nobody should be Surprised when it happens.  It was always a Tiger and Wild.  And Predators Need Prey, it's just that Simple.

 *******

Guard against becoming Prey my Friends, the World is full of Apex Predators who have power, lotsa money and influence... Dawn... The Bohemian

Losing Your Marbles... And Losing Or Adding To Mine

 I made a big Donation to SAVERS on Monday Morning, I'm clearing out the She Shed of both Inventory to Sell, and whatever I've decided to just Donate and not try to Sell.  I'm Curating what I'm Selling, and the Yard Sales that The Daughter has done so far haven't been all that well attended.  I just don't think folks have the disposable income to spend, even on essentials, let alone non-essentials.  Tho' the Stock Market is doing quite well, most average Americans don't own Stock and took such a big hit with their 401K's, that even if it's moving towards compensating them for those enormous losses, they'll be Lucky to break even in their Lifetimes now.  My Bank Stock always does well and has for about the last 50 Years.

Anyway, rather than Store a bunch of Product that isn't getting Sold, I'd rather activate the Laws Of Reciprocity and Donate it to worthy Charitable Causes that can use it and help good Causes.  It also brings Positive Chi to be able to clear out things and I've cleared out about half of what was in the She Shed already.  Then I can Curate what's in The RV Garage Mahal and Crate it up For Sale or Donation and use the cleared out Space in The She Shed to hold it until it's rotated out again.  Tackling it one Crate or Banana Box at a time is my newest tactic and it's been working out quite well without being overwhelming to me or cluttering up the Main House either.

I made up a little Cart with my Pricing Supplies that I can Wheel around the House and Price things as I'm watching TV or listening to Music in Climate Controlled Space.    Princess T hung up her Dozen Pink Roses she got from her Boyfriend, and he bought her a Dozen Pink Rose LEGO Flowers, I'd bought her a Dozen Red Rose LEGO Flowers previously.  She likes the Floral LEGO Sets that are out now.  She likes to dry her Flowers and has a Wall of Dried Roses that Rusty has bought for her.  I always liked drying of Flowers and Herbs too, I used to do it to Lavender all of the time, and Sage, along with Rose Petals, making my own Potpourri Bags to put with Clothing and Scent Rooms fragrantly.   We're a very Sensory Family.

Our Social Security should be hitting on The Man's Birthday, which is timely.  He hasn't conveyed yet how he wants to Celebrate it and he has his Cardiology Appointment that Morning.  I'll probably take him out to eat again, he enjoys doing that and can still do that without too many hitches.  We've had to suspend Environmental Cleanup while he's unsteady with his Mobility, until we know what's going on with his Legs and Lower Back?   My Friend Cindy, who used to be his VA Nurse at the Clinic before she Retired, told me to ask if they could order him an Upright Walker for around the House, since our Home is not really accessible with his wider all terrain Four Wheel Walker with a Seat.

Now I'll have to take him to all his appointments coz there's no other Vehicle or Driver in the Household right now.   So we have to more carefully schedule everyone's appointments with no potential for overlapping.  Logistically that's been challenging, but, it's just necessary now coz Four in the Household can't drive and The Son can drive but has no Vehicle that's operational.  He gave Plasma Today for some Cash.  It's been about Five Years since he has done that so they qualified him for their Bonus for coming back again.  If he donates enough times before the middle of next Month he could earn $800.   So, he's shooting for that Goal.  The Daughter only did it once and didn't feel good afterwards so thinks it's unwise to do it again.  They give you a Physical and check all your levels first to make sure you are healthy enuf to donate. 

This is what Princess T said she'll wear to the Renaissance Festival when we go next Month.  I'm taking The G-Kid Force.  We always try to go at least once when it's here.  I've been on a Nostalgia kick recently for Collectible Smalls like Antique/Vintage Marbles.  I'm picky about the kinds I want but have Scored some on Buy-It-Now Features on E-Bay that I was pleased with.  You often see Vintage Jars of them in Antique Stores and tho' I Photograph them coz they're visually attractive, the Sellers are usually way more in Love with their Collection of Jarred Marbles than I'd be to pay that much for them.  *Smiles*  I didn't realize how much the Older and more desirable types of Marbles could fetch tho' and looking at what Auction Bidders have Bid on was an Eye Opener.  They are really Serious about their Marbles!!!  I'm not that Serious a Marble Collector nor that knowledgeable about Values, I just know which ones I like best.

This Vendor had some in her Jarred selections I did like, but many I was Meh about so I wasn't willing to pay the price asked for a Jar of Marbles I was only mebbe a quarter interested in the contents of.  I rather buy them Loose and choose the Marbles I want.   I have a big Collection already, many from my Childhood and 'Won' in Europe as a Kid when I Played Marbles.  Many of those Marbles are Antique European ones and apparently quite valuable now even individually, who knew?  They hold Sentiment and Nostalgia for me, I was a good Player so would almost always Win the ones I most wanted and coveted and would Trade a lot with Friends who had Marbles I wanted. 

 They wanted Volume, I was a Kiddo that preferred Quality over Quantity.  So, if there was a Special and Unusual Marble, that I didn't wanna risk getting damaged during Play, I'd give them several ordinary ones for that extraordinary one and they were always happy with our Trade.   These type were always my Favorite kind and I don't know what they're called in Marble Collecting Circles?  But, I kept every one I ever Won or Bought of this particular Marble type.   And I guess the ones Below are called JABO, coz the Seller Listed them as such, not that I Cared, I just Liked the Look of the Lot and that I didn't have to Bid against anyone and just Buy them on a Buy-It-Now Feature offered.

Some International Sellers had good Lots at good Prices, but with Tariffs I just haven't been Buying Internationally now, not knowing what kind of Tariff I'd be hit with to receive them?  It's always the Americans that are paying for Tariffs on those Taxes this Administration is levying, remember that.  It's a Tax that American Businesses and American Purchasers end up paying and absorbing the actual Cost of, not International Sellers.   Donnie Two Dolls Spins his lack of knowledge with whatever he makes up off the top of his Head and will give numerous different made-up Stories each time he opens his Mouth.   It's all a Long Con, ALL of it.

Our Mall was having their 20% Off Sale for President's Day so I did go in, Visit with some of my Vendor Friends and Paid Staff Friends, and Buy Three items I'd wanted that were gonna be at that considerable Discount.  One was a large Canadian Mounted Police 9" Dam Troll from 1977, I got him for only Six Bucks.  I also got the above Prim Doll my Fav Maker of them Sells on occasion, she'd made this one for St. Patrick's Day apparently and just brought it in.  I have a growing Collection of her Prim Dolls.   She has a small Unlocked Case of mostly worthless Crapola, but the Prim Dolls are worth looking for when she gets them stocked, and very rarely, she has actual Collectible Treasures at low prices.  I once bought a Vintage Magnolia Pearl Line OOAK Bag from Robin's earliest Line from this Vendor for under Twenty Bucks!!!

I also got a 1960's Woodstock T-Shirt for Four Bucks in XXL, which, Rare to find any that Large for that Era, folks were so much Smaller/Skinnier back then, as was I back then.  *LOL*   If it is a newer made Shirt it had been washed and worn so much that it looks like it's from the actual 1960's, and at that low price, and in my Size, who Cares?  *Smiles*  That Vendor too had mostly worthless Crapola, but low prices on the few Nice items they had in their Upstairs Booth.  I trawl the Upstairs Vendors coz Rents are lowest up there and a lot of the Newer less Experienced Vendors Rent Space up there and often have the best Deals, if not consistently the best Inventory.  It was very busy and a lot of Cases were going to Last Call coz they had some Slacker Lazy Key-Dealers working the Sale.

My Co-Worker Friend Jeff and his Wife Cindy were there and Jeff was talking with me about how laisse faire the Dealers were who were working this Sale.  He's complained to Management about the Slackers who work on the Shifts he works, he's fed up with doing double the work coz of Lazy people and I don't blame him.  He's kept his Permanent Shifts and doesn't wanna give them up over Lazy Ass Co-Workers who aren't up to the Job and Management isn't confronting about it.  I like working with Jeff and he's relieved if I'm filling in for someone he'd rather NOT work with.  *LOL*  He'd like for me to fill-in for some Day Shifts, but he knows why I can only Work Nights and as only a Fill-In.  And Why I gave up my permanent Shifts too.  His Wife used to be The Man's VA Clinic Nurse before she Retired.  They know his Health has been steadily declining.  She still really Cares about him.

 

Our Mall never did do much for Valentine's Day in the way of Merchandising for it, they do have some Easter, not much tho'.  Ours is one of the only Antique Malls where you can't tell what Season it is or what Holiday it is, they rarely have Vendors who do Themes with their Merchandising.   Those that do Holiday Merch, well, they do Christmas all Year in their Booths, so, it's more like that.  I don't know how I finished out last Pay Period on Saturday, but I know I had that $300 worth of Parisian Fashion Art I Sold, so I think I closed out pretty decently overall for the 2-Weeks.   I'd like to have more Serious Collectors of the Good Stuff like that Customer that bought all the Vintage Parisian Fashion Art, but they're few and far between these days now.  Right now the Pokemon Serious Collectors will spend a Fortune, but, that's it.

Even the Militaria Collectors, Disney Pin Collectors, Sports Memorabilia Collectors, Comic Book Collectors, and Coin Collectors, have slowed way down in what they spend and how often they come in to even Buy now.  And due to Tariffs and America's tenuous relationship with all overseas Countries, we no longer get any International Buyers like we used to.  The Canadians, Europeans, and Japanese always came and spent a lot, now they don't come at all.  Arizona is renown for it's Climate and Tourism but we've noticed this Administration just Killed the Tourism Industry deader than Hell.   I have Friends in the Hospitality Industries that said they're concerned it won't ever bounce back now due to the Bad Reputation he's given America???   

I do know most of our International Friends realize most Americans don't align with MAGA Politics.  But it doesn't really matter, when MAGA Mental Policies is destroying International Relations and alienating Allies while cozying up to Adversaries and Bad Actors around the World.   I do Hope that the Midterms don't get cocked up too bad with all the Voter Suppression Tactics the ReTrumplicans are wanting to instigate to disrupt a Free and Fair Election they always Claim everyone else is doing, yet, they're the only ones that actually can't Win unless they commit Fraud or Intimidate Voters.  Now they're spouting some bullshit about having the Right Voters who will Vote for the Right Candidates... pray tell what they really mean by that?  I think we all Know.  

The whole Spin on Illegals Voting has been BS for a long time, and Red Meat for Xenophobes.  Evidence has shown less than .04% ever of Votes were cast by those who weren't Citizens... minuscule percentiles, more Dead Voters cast Votes actually.  *Eye Roll and that's a Statistical Fact BTW*  I think we all know their Wet Dream is to have no Women Voting, no People of Color Voting, no Gays Voting, no Democrats Voting, no Independents Voting... coz only then they would be really able to feel less threatened and if they can't rig the System, they are exceedingly fearful of Losing.   For a Party that used to profess they wanted Less Government in their Business, they sure wanna put a lot of Government in now to everyone's Business, don't they?  I never seen so much Government in my Business as this Regime, in my entire Lifetime!!!

 

I had such Fun falling down the Rabbit Hole of Marble Auctions and looking at the Marble Lots being offered.  I cribbed some Images of some of the Lots I liked best, some priced only for the very Serious heavy hitter Collectors and in the Stratosphere of Marble Collecting, where Money apparently is no Object.  But, they are little Works of Art so worth the Free Visuals.  *Winks*   And, made for some Pretty Blog Fodder to Share too.   Free of Charge.  *LOL*  Did I get Carried Away with it, yep, I did, Free Falling Down that Rabbit Hole and gleefully Cribbing away the Imagery that was a Visual Delight even if I couldn't Bid on 99.9% of these Lovelies.

So, I do Hope you enjoy looking at Marbles as an Art Form coz I'm dumping the whole Bale on ya in this Post my Friends.  *LOL and Winks*  To be sure some of the more unusual ones seemed of irregular shape and smoothness of exterior, that would roll well if you were using them as intended rather than as just a Collectible Display of tiny Glass Art pieces.  And tho' I didn't download Photos of Clay ones, they had those too, which seem to be Collectible and perhaps Older Marble composites?  I don't know the whole History of the Marble or how to Date or differentiate the various Types.  I know us Kids used to give them fancy Names of our own like Steelies, Fireflies, Aquarius, Bumble Bees, Cat's Eyes, Clearies, Agies, Corkscrews, Spaghettio's, Pee Wees and such.

But on Auction sites I did see specific Names given like JABO, Akro Agate, Alley Agate, Peltier, Bennington, Vitro, Latticinio, Marble King, Das, New London, Oxblood, West Virginia Redbuds, Dark Knight, etcetera.   Some Sellers were High End and had some distinctive Product that wasn't anything I'd seen in my Childhood that us Kids were familiar with and may be Art Marbles Produced for Collectors, or Rare Production, and not for Children's Games?   Anyway, enuf about Marble Talk, just enjoy the rest of the Eye Candy of them as we discuss other Topics, not as frivolous, like how to Save the World or prepare for Armageddon.  *Bwahahahaha*

Seems with the enormous amount of Cash bestowed upon ICE that exceeds our whole Military Budget, they're now forcing tiny podunk Towns to tolerate them purchasing Warehouse sized Detention Centers they'll turn into their Concentration Camps.   That will exceed the Populations of said Town's Residents and strain or exceed their available Resources.  So, coming to a Town near you soon.  Larger Municipalities have successfully fought them and prevailed in Court to block Purchases of Buildings.   That rival the size of Amazon Warehouses and were never built to house Prisoners and those ICE is indiscriminately Kidnapping without Due Process and without having commit any Crimes, often being American Citizens they've just Racially Profiled and abducted.  The "Worst Of The Worst" this Regime speaks of is actually themselves, as it turns out.  They've committed more Serious Crimes than anyone they're Targeting.

Is it any wonder I'm choosing Free Falls down Rabbit Holes of the Fluff of Life when the Stuff of Life is so grave and atrocities are being committed all across America now with impunity?!  I fear every time my Loved Ones go out, especially the Younger ones and those in the Family who look more Ethnic.   Coz Phoenix is one of the Battlegrounds and if you're a Family of Flavor, you could be a prime Target for their Gestapo Goons.  Our Communities Locally are using Social Media to Report where they see Raids actively going down.  And it's not where the worst Criminals would be rounded up, if in fact they were actually going after, who they Lie about are their Targets, you know, to make American Citizens allegedly feel 'Safer'.  Nobody is feeling Safer, quite the opposite.

And if those feeling Smug that they aren't coming for them {yet}, I'm pretty sure when they do, it will be far too late my Friends.  If you're only worried about your Four and no more, and don't mind them rounding up your Neighbors, they're counting on that ambivalence, indifference, personal bias, and callous inhumanity you're displaying about your fellow Human Beings.   And so when they do come for you too, don't expect anyone to feel Sorry for you either then.  If you didn't give a shit when it was somebody else, what did you expect when it's finally YOU?  Yeah, they have already rounded up some MAGA Loyalists too, you're not Immune, just coz you aided and abetted, enabled all of this and caused it.  

 

And some of the most Die Hard influential MAGA like MJT finally Woke Up and realized, shit, this is Spun and really fucked up.  And are now running Scared and have their Heads on the Swivel, for their own Safety and that of their Families, coz they got Bulls-Eyes on their Backs now.  What, our Fearless Leaders and Orange Messiah don't Care that 9 Year Old Girls were Sex Trafficked by our Elite, Gasp, the Horror, you mean he's a PART of it and Covering it up?!  I don't know at what Age Raping Children was their fucked up Hillbilly Gold Standard, but apparently 9 got to some of them more than 14 or 16 did?!  And now the Pearl Clutching Realization is hitting them of what these people really are all about.  Well, of coarse not, you Fool, it's of Record he personally Raped a 13 Year Old, and her Name has been out there for Years, so 9 isn't such a Surprise or Stretch really.  

And he is now an adjudicated Sex Offender, coz Pervs and Pedos be doing Perv and Pedo shit, they never stop if allowed to continue and get away with it.  He's bragged about that and of his Bromance Buddy Epstein liking getting them Young for the Parties they ALL attended on The Regular.  They saw, they knew, they were involved, and why the FBI he's rigged and totally corrupted now with Nepo Hires, is redacting Perps Names like a Motherfucker and only exposing the Victims so they are the ones Victimized all the more.  And this goes back a long ways, so, there's lots of dirt and Tea to be spilled Politically and in high places, so, yeah, they're afraid if all Names are Named, they Crash "The Whole System" Globally.   

The Elite obscenely Rich do some really fucked up shit when they can Buy anything and anyone.  And have the Power, Influence and Money to eliminate anyone at any time who might expose them for what and who they are.  Our Tiered Justice System has always gone Light on their Type... I saw it firsthand for too long to not be Cynical.  And if they can't Buy your Children, they'll just Steal them now.  Right off the Streets of America, easy pickins when even a 5 Year Old is Abducted and used as Human Bait, then Imprisoned until the Public Outcry was a bit too loud so they let THAT ONE go, but how many others are there?  We just don't really know, do we?  

How was that Kindergarten Aged Child the "Worst of the Worst" by the stretch of anyone's Imagination, no matter how fucked up your own Moral Compass, Personal Biases, or Imagination is?  What Baby belongs in a Prison or a Cage?  Just how far do you Dehumanize another Human Being?   You know, I'm the type of Human Being with enuf Compassion and Empathy in me I don't even like to see Animals Caged Up and denied their Freedom, Abused or otherwise mistreated, let alone other Human Beings.  But that's me, each Individual has to Square Up with their own Conscience, if they even have one, when they've sunk that low with their particular levels of depravity and Hatreds.   Looking at Pretty Marbles is much easier than looking in the Mirror of America now and what is reflected back of some of those who live among us, isn't it?  We're quickly becoming a Global Spectacle of a Nation of Abominations, aren't we?

Okay, enuf of that, I don't Suspect many of my Dear Readers are Abomination inclined and more likely stand in Agreement with me about this Fuckery and that it must be stopped.  How to do so is complex and when the paradigm shift comes, how it will play out is anyone's best Guess?   The fundamental shift in and Change in our Core Beliefs, Assumptions and World View is really vague right now, isn't it?  We're definitely not all on the same Wavelength, that's for damned sure, here in America and what we want or Hope to Become.  We're definitely seeing Two Americas emerging, one on the Right Side of History and one on the Wrong Side of History... which will prevail remains to be seen, but for sure we'll never be the same due to it, of that I am Sure.  

 

 

I'm paying very close Attention to whose on which Side of that History, you can bet on it.  Nobody can be Neutral in this one even if they wanna be.  To Witness Evil and Do absolutely Nothing in Hopes it will just not Touch You, is to be complicit with it and aiding in it's Purpose and Goals.  Bad Company corrupts even Good Character eventually and over Time.   It's why when someone shows themselves to be Bad Company, I drop 'em like a Rock and distance myself from them.  They're just not gonna turn into Good Company to be exposed to.  So I refuse to be corrupted of my Character by having them around me and mine and be Guilty by Association.  Your Inner Sanctum should be of People you don't have to feel Shame or Fears about cozying up to.  If you do have Shame or Fear of who you're allowing Close to you, then it's time to Clean House my Friends.  Or take a long hard look in the Mirror and see what's reflecting back at you of what and who you've Become or are Becoming?

Anyway... Moving On.  I had to vent coz I've had the Three in the Mornings again and it's happening with more regularity lately.   And the Weirdness of Days is that it kinda feels like we're all Frogs sitting in a Pot of Water on the Stove right now with the Heat turning up slowly but steadily.  To where we'll be boiled Alive and yet never fully realize when it's going to be Fatal to us as a Nation.   And my Nature usually leans more towards Guarded Optimism, and that Humanities Better Angels will prevail, but I'm having trouble Feeling THAT, I ain't gonna Lie and Shine you on.  I keep it 100% here on the Ole' Blog and don't Bullshit you or Sugar Coat Life and keep it Saccharine Sweet, so that it attracts more Readership or 'Likes'.   I can be controversial about my Opinions and I have Strong Ones that I don't often keep to myself, coz I'm not Timid about speaking Truth to Power at all.  Always have, always will.  If you can't Handle the Truth, or Speak your Truth without Fear, you got to Deal with that Weakness in yourself.

Wrong Blog to visit if you avoid Truths and Reality.  I can and sometimes will indulge in the occasional Fantasy and Fluff of Life, it can be Fun and frivolous.   But it's detached from Reality and I can discern Reality from Fantasy and don't Live in some Alternate Reality of my own Creation.  I do see some who do tho', Full Time, not tethered to Reality anymore.  Or Living so Insulated a Life that they wouldn't stray out of their Comfort Zone unless dragged out of it kicking and screaming.  And they wouldn't rock the Boat either coz they might not be a strong Swimmer.  And in a Titanic Moment, they might not even have the Bandwidth to Survive the Shipwreck coming and get their Seat on any existing Liferafts... Natural Selection at Work there.

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Sorry I wasn't a Ray of Fucking Sunshine for this Post... it happens... Dawn... The Bohemian