If You Have A Public Role It Doesn't Matter What You Say In Private

 Allen arrived this Morning with Tyson, he said there was Snow on the Mountains coming in to Phoenix, but we still have 105 degree Weather here in the Valley.  The Mornings are Cooler tho' and the Evenings are Cooling Down too, so that's when I try to get everything done.  We're letting Tyson run the Pasture again coz Allen secured every Gate we thought he might be pushing open with that big Bulldozer Head of his.  *LOL*  So, hopefully he'll behave and not lose his Freedom again?  So far, he's behaving.  Allen wanted to be here for The Young Prince's moral support before the Psyche Eval by the Social Security Psychiatrist.  In a way, the more unstable my Grandson is during the Eval, the more beneficial it might be to his Case... he's getting really Paranoid and agitated about it already.  He said if they don't allow me in the room he'll tell them he doesn't feel Safe enuf... which is Fine, I should be in the Room as his Advocate and Caregiver.

I really enjoyed that new Show about renovating a Historic Mansion in Ohio.  I guess the Owners couldn't get any Local Contractors to work on it due to it's Haunted History and they were worried it would deteriorate to where it would have to be razed if it wasn't renovated.  It's gorgeous and huge, it's in Ohio, and the Designers are already doing a spectacular Job on each Room they're assigned to renovate.  Right now they're split into Two Teams coz there were originally Six of them, but one Woman only lasted a single Day before getting too Scared and quitting!!!  So, they didn't have to eliminate anyone on the 1st Challenge due to that, so they had the Fabulous Five still for Episode Two.  Which they ran right after Episode One, back to back, which was a nice Surprise.  Sadly, one of my Fav Designers got eliminated in Episode Two, but I knew he'd messed up on his personal challenge and would be the one going Home.

But, they beautifully renovated Two Bedrooms, a Living Room and a Parlor so far.   So, "A Very Haunted Renovation" could be my fav New Show now.  The Winner will get $50,000... and that gorgeous 1800's Historic Mansion will get a complete Renovation in the Process, Win-Win.  I'd like to see that Show do well so they go across the Country Saving fabulous Old Mansions in a Tasteful way so they aren't Lost.  It's expensive for Owners to do it and if they can't get Contractors to do it then the DIY is limited, we found that out with our Haunted Historic Home, we had a difficult time finding Contractors, they were legitimately Scared.  Coz it does stir up Activity when you renovate/remodel or change things in a Home with Spirit present.  My observation of this Home they're renovating is it's seeming to be more Poltergeist Activity, which is mischievous, but not necessarily malevolent or Demonic in nature.

Politics, you know what I get most upset about, Public Figures who in Private will say things, but in their Public Role won't out of Fear.  Coz if you have a Public Role it doesn't matter what you say in Private.  If you don't have the Cajones to say it Publicly, just shut the fuck up you Cowards!   I can't Respect anyone who won't boldly Stand for something in Public, yet in Private will claim they do.  Nuff said, and it makes for impotent Governing when they are flaccid like that.  We have a bunch of limp Dicks in our Government right now.   And those who do boldly speak out are being punished, but they've got the Balls to do it anyway, so, Respect, even if I don't always agree with them becoz of what they aligned with in the Past, admitting what they Own of the Mistakes made is always preferable to making things better in the Present and Future.  We're all a sum total of our Failures and our Successes... our Mistakes and what we got Right.

Okay, that's all I have to say about Politics and the Fuckening for now, it's too dire and too Depressing to allow to Torment me all of the time, so, I Move On.   Princess T and Rusty came Home last Night from having gone to Malls all over the Valley it seems, laden with her Gifts, he's probably broke now but Smiling broadly at how Happy she was.  She gave him one of her Tarts coz he's never had one before, which, she found hard to Believe you can be in your 20's and never had a Tart!  *LOL*  She's having him experience all kinds of Cuisine's he's never had before and he's finding he likes some of them.  Like Vietnamese Food, which, he'd never experienced before either, and now they eat it all the time together regularly.  A lot of Families are like that tho', they haven't Experienced very much outside of what they know... of Cultures, Cuisines, Locales, Travel, even just different Neighborhoods than theirs!

She did spend all his Money, she showed me everything he bought for her, it was a LOT, and he'd already bought her a lot before then in advance of her Birthday.  He enjoys Spoiling her and she's liking being Spoiled.  They had a good time, he even went Lingerie Shopping with her at "Victoria's Secret", how many Young Guys would do that?  And she got some adorbs Sexy Lingerie and Sexy Undergarments, she's at the Age and Size they make the Cutest things even in your Intimates.  They went to some far Eastside Malls that she hadn't been to since Childhood, coz we don't Shop many Malls even on the Westside very often.  We're not Mall People devotees... or even Big Box Store devotees.  She showed me all her Haul, it was all so Cute and mostly her Collectibles and Wardrobe.  The Chantilly Cake was excellent and so were the Tarts, she gave me a Tart too.

She still has Today off and all of what she took off for her Birthday was Unpaid Leave, but she didn't mind so long as they allowed her to take it.  I didn't mind either, you only turn 21 once and it is a Big Deal.  Today she's just languishing and her Mom is supposed to be Home Today and did buy her a Gift to still give her.  The Daughter hasn't been Home for a while since she's stayed at the Properties she's working at right now so they didn't have to transport her back and forth to do the Jobs.  With not having her own transportation she needs to rely on who can get her there and get her Home for when she gets her Side Jobs to earn a little bit of self-support.  It's never enuf to Live on but it Helps and keeps her busy and well connected in the Circle and Sphere of Influence she has of Caring People who are Friends.  Her Friend Danae even got her a new Free Phone.  The Free Phones often break down or just break coz they're Free after all for Marginalized folks to be able to have Emergency Phones available to them and unable to afford a Phone Contract and Service.

We're just all gellin' Today so I got BBQ, I have to Work Tonight and didn't wanna Cook for this many, I'd traded in enuf Aluminum recently to cover it with my Can Money.   The Owner's Sister comped me a Soda while I was waiting for our Takeout... which was Sweet of her.  They appreciate the business of their Regular Customers and we come in fairly often now coz we Love the Food and the Pricing is fair for the Quality and Quantity of what you receive.  And it's always very Editorial for my Food Porn Postings.  *winks*  I'll save some for other Posts, since I do have some good other Food Porn Imagery I'll be Sharing in Future Posts too, to Wet your Appetites or Torment you.  *LOL*

There were Sides too which come with the BBQ Meat Entree.  It was enuf to feed the Six of us who are at Home right now.  Two more aren't Home yet so they will miss this Lunch and probably none will be left over.  But with Eight here it's first come, first served, and get yours while there's still some left, or fend for yourself.  The Man and I don't eat much, nor does Princess T... but the Younger Guys do.  The Daughter isn't a big Eater either, but The Niece is... both of them aren't Home yet.  So half of us are Light Eaters and half are Big Eaters... The Young Prince Eats well when he's not having Psychosis about his Food being Alive and moving or being tainted/poisoned.  Right now he's Eating pretty well, but doesn't Eat Pork products, so we save some of the Brisket for him.  

I talked with my Best Friend since Childhood Today, she's the Caregiver for her Developmentally and Physically Disabled Brother, he's my Age, she's in her 70's now.  She Inherited her Brother's Care when her Parents Died, but his Point of Need is exceeding her capacity now so she's trying to get him evaluated and approved thru Medicaid for Nursing Home Care, which he desperately Needs now.  He's no longer continent or ambulatory, he's cognitively seriously compromised at about a 13 Year Old Level of Intelligence and Comprehension, and he's falling a lot and she can't pick him up.  He's got terrible pressure Sores on delicate Body Parts, the Home Care Nurses they send often don't show up or take appropriate Care of him, so it falls on her and the Respite Care she's supposed to receive she hasn't received in over Three Months now.  I know she's doing the Right thing, but it's still the hard thing.  The Facility is one her Dad was in and a good one, if they'll enroll and accept him to receive Care there.

  

It's close to their Apartment, so, she can visit him often there and I think it will meet him at his point of Need more appropriately and allow her to have a Life finally.  Her Parents Died Decades ago so she's Cared for him a long, long time and it has Negatively impacted her Quality of Life, Career, and Relationships.  But it's still difficult to make this decision for him, since he's incapable of making the decisions for himself and has never been able to live Independently and without Extreme Full Time Caregiving.   He was Born with Spina Bifida.  Their Mom Died in her 40's from Cancer and their Dad Died later in life of Parkinson's Disease, his Care way back then was Ninety-Nine Dollars a Day, he was a Retired Veteran of the Air Force but the VA Nursing Home wouldn't take him either so they had to find a Civilian one that would. 

 He succumbed to what I consider some Neglect since he choked to Death on a Meal.  In his advanced condition he should have had Supervised Meals.  So, even the Best Facilities can have Issues and why she's Scared about putting her Younger Brother in one... he's a particularly Vulnerable Adult.   I don't know he has the Mental Capacity to tell her if he was experiencing Abuse or Neglect so she'll still have to be vigilant that he has the Right level of Long-Term Care.  Especially his Wound Care, which could end up Life Threatening if the Dressings aren't changed regularly enough or get infected or worse without anyone seeing or knowing.  In Private Areas of the Body, most Visitors would never know or see.   She told me even his Wound Care Nurses often aren't doing the greatest Job of keeping Dressings changed or secured, or even showing up when they are scheduled to and so she has to do it.  The Hospital Wound Care had to be discontinued coz he took Bad Falls while there.  So, that's also a concern.

They keep messing up his SSI Disability Benefits too and recently owed him almost a Thousand in unpaid Disability Income he should have gotten to aide in his Support and Care, which burdens his Sister to provide it on her Dime.  Luckily she won't have to liquidate all of her Assets in order for him to Qualify for his Benefits/Services since she's a Sibling.  If it was a Spouse or one of his Dependents, she'd be really screwed.   Spouses and Children of those requiring Long-Term Care are expected to Liquidate all Assets before it will be Approved, leaving them basically destitute in order for the Loved One to receive the Care desperately Needed and they can't provide.  As it is she still is forced to continue doing it until they make her Brother's determination even tho' she cannot do it anymore, it's putting her at Risk to try now.  Making critical decisions for a Loved One is always so difficult to have a Peace about tho'.

I was just thinking that all my Themed Events I look forward to for Autumn are over now except perhaps what The Desert Botanical Gardens might do for Dia de los Muertos.  Recent Years it's been less and less tho' and I'm not even sure I wanna renew my Membership since I've gone so infrequently this past Year to use it.  When I go often it's worth it, but with the price of Gas and so much else going on I haven't now, plus they no longer have a Restaurant there that I wanna eat at now that "Gertrude's" is gone and replaced by what's now there in it's place.  I won't ever be a Fan of a $30 Taco or Burger, no matter how High End you try to make it.  It doesn't even appeal to me anything they have on their Menu now and their prices at the new place are ridiculously high IMO.

When I looked it up they won't even have the Ofrenda Altars or Procession until November 6-9, which is way after it should be.  They used to have the Ofrendas up {several of them by different Artists} in October and running thru earlier November when Dia de los Muertos is actually Celebrated customarily.  Now it's one Ofrenda for only Three Days almost a Week after when it should be.   And they used to tie it in with the Pumpkin Festival for Kiddos to get their Pumpkins to carve for Halloween, guess they aren't even doing that if they're Hosting this so late and well after Halloween, I dunno?   They had a Two Year hiatus prior to 2025, which was unpopular, so they brought it back last Year and it was a Shadow of what it had been in the past... now it's so delayed I don't know if people will think it was cancelled again?  Traditionally it will be Celebrated Nov. 1-2 and major Celebrations and Parades usually begin starting October 31st... both in the United States and in Mexico. 

Becoz we have Loved Ones who are of Hispanic Heritage both here in the U.S. and in Mexico, we've always Celebrated that Holiday as well as American Traditional ones.   And my Mom enjoyed it becoz in her Culture they have a similar Tradition and Celebration Honoring the Dearly Departed Loved Ones called All Saints Day on Nov. 1st and All Souls Day on Nov. 2nd, on the same Time Frame and very similarly actually.  High Church of Wales, which is the Anglican Church my Mom was Raised in, similar to Catholic and their recognition of Saints, but without the Pope, uses that Holiday/Holy Day to recognize all known and unknown Saints, Honor departed Loved Ones and visit their Graves in a Celebratory way and leave Offerings.   My Dad's Culture had reverential Practices Year Round for the Ancestors and Spiritual Traditions and Rituals, not confined to specific Days.  Plus every Tribe has their own distinctions.

Dad and Mom knew we'd be Raised within widespread Practices here in America that neither of their respective Cultures necessarily ever Practiced but they incorporated and allowed us to grow up Celebrating and Learning about from other Cultures that were not their own.  It's how I also chose to Raise my Children and the Grandchildren we Raised.  They have experienced the diversity of many Cultures and Learned to Respect even those we don't personally Culturally or Religiously have.  I may disagree with the ways of some Cultures and Practices, but we don't have to always be in complete Agreement with one another to get along and be mutually Respectful of one another's differences.  That's how I was Raised becoz I come from a Culturally blended Family and I'm Thankful of that exposure and tolerance for what and who may be different than I am.  But with the understanding that we Share our Humanity as fellow Human Beings, in more Harmony and Loving Kindness extended despite whatever differences we may have.  Imagine if everyone could or would do that. 

They have had some nice Candy and Caramel Apple offerings at Events but OMG the Prices have been sky high, so, sadly, I haven't had any yet coz I won't pay $9-$18 for one, Yikes!   The Arizona State Fair is October 1st thru November 1st this Year and I may go.  I skipped last Year and do Hope this Year the prices are affordable/reasonable?   I just looked it up and it's $12 for Military/Veterans and $14 for Seniors, so that's a good Deal.  That is prompting me to set a Date to attend then, probably earlier when it begins than later on, and probably on a Weekday rather than a busier Weekend.  Unfortunately Mon-Wed they are gonna be Closed and that nixes the Monday that Princess T has off Work for me not to have to provide Transportation.  Tuesdays Nurse Remi comes so I would stay Home that day anyway.  So, a Thursday or Friday would have to be the alternative Midweek, ugh, disappointing but doable if I can get Rusty to pick her up from Work on the Day I decide to go.

I used to go with a Grandchild when they were Younger and one Year I went with The Daughter while she was back from Mexico and hadn't been in over 20 Years.  But it gets expensive to have someone in tow and when I go it's more for the Atmosphere of it than to spend Money per se.  I don't go on the Rides anymore at my Age, I don't want or Need to Win anything on the Midway that are the Prizes, I haven't even attended the Free Concerts they Host at it for Years now, coz it's in the Evenings and I never go at Night anymore.  I don't like going that far Downtown in the City at Night if I can help it, risk factors considered at Night and being Alone when I go.  Old Lady traipsing around the City Alone at Night is just risky business.  I mitigate and minimize Risks, always have, always will.  Why expose yourself to unnecessary risk factors in Life?  Above and Below my Friends Carol and Monica are Modeling some of what Carol Sells at the Event of Wardrobe and Accessories.  She still Owns Brick & Mortar Stores in Historic Downtown Glendale, in Historic Cottages there, but now does Events too, mostly in Phoenix.

Those Pants that Monica is Modeling I bought coz they claimed One Size Fits All, but, didn't, and so I had to give them to The Daughter. *Sob*  I could get them on but they were too tight thru my Hips, uncomfortably so, and I was worried about ripping seams and do not like wearing tight Clothing either.   I really liked them too... dammit!  The Daughter looks Cuter in them tho', so, whatever...  *Shrugs*  I should have tried them on first and lament that I just Believed the Label Claim that they'd fit anyone of any size.  I didn't think I was a Size so big they wouldn't fit, so it's disheartening when they don't.  *LOL*  I don't have delusions of being a not Big Woman, but sometimes I'm Surprised at what Sizes do NOT fit me that are Larger than I expect would be too Small. 

 I like looser Clothes so I intentionally often Buy larger Sizes than I am for comfort, but when they say something is XL it should fucking fit me I figure!  Coz... Damn... I don't feel like I'm morbidly Obese now... but then again, I don't feel like I'm Old and Geriatric either and I guess I actually am by Societal Standards... so... fuuuuuck!  *LMAO but Sighing*  But, I have nice Wardrobe and it all fits so I don't mind so much when something just doesn't, I like to IMAGINE it's just running Small... *Bwahahahaha*  You know, an XL in China or India where they make all this stuff, may not be the same as an XL in America, Right?  *Winks and Laughs*   That's my Story and I'm sticking to it anyway.  *Ha ha ha*  I've got about 15 Minutes before I have to leave for Work now and I didn't Price a damned thing to take in with me, probably should have, didn't have the motivation or desire to look up more Pokemon Cards right now tho'.  If a whole bunch more Sold out of our Locked Case tho', I should and may have to.  Can't Sell 'em in piles sitting here at Home unpriced, can I?  *Winks*

Michelle and I always have Fun working together, she's filling in all Month for a Female Co-Worker who was gonna be off a Month, I'm filling in for Ed all Month.  Michelle got Widowed last Year when her Husband, who was 72, Died of a sudden Heart Attack.  Her Step-Granddaughter was having a Baby Tonight so she kept checking to see if the Great-Grandbaby had been Born yet, they were inducing and it has been a very long Labor and the 1st Child for this Granddaughter.  She's very close to the Step-Daughter whose the Mother of this Granddaughter having the Baby.  It was her Husband's Daughter from his First Marriage, but she was closer to Michelle, the Stepmom, than she ever was with her Biological Mom.   Michelle said the Bio Mom is 80 now, and never was a good Wife nor a good Mother, very Narcissistic. 

 Even after Michelle's Husband Died, her Step-Daughter still lived with Michelle, overall for Three Years, after having a Divorce, and even after her Dad had Died.   She said they had the best Three Years together and it really helped them both thru the Grief and Coping with losing him last Year so suddenly.  The Step-Daughter got Re-Married last Year again and she said she misses her a lot coz they moved to another State now, but that she's happily Married.  I don't know if this Granddaughter lives in another State too?   She only has been Married a little over a Year, and is in her late 20's, first Baby for the Couple.  Michelle said that they do worry coz the Step-Granddaughter is very immature still, and so is the Husband.  So her Step-Daughter is worried if they're even ready yet to be Parents, coz they act more like Teenagers than Adults in their later 20's.   Being a first time Parent is always a bit scary and new tho', so perhaps they'll be just fine I told her.  It changes you when you become a Parent.

  Rachel, our Night Supervisor asked me if I'd work this Friday Night, I can, so I agreed to, will help comp more Space Rent and Sales are decent so I'll be able to keep more of the Check with less overhead expenses.  It was slow Tonight tho', not busy like the past few Wednesday Nights.  Less than 300 Shoppers thru the Doors, which is about half of what we've been having on Wednesday Nights, but, more typical for a Midweek actually.  Jackson is our other Co-Workers, it's his usual Shift.  We all work well together and the Kids who Work behind the Registers are a nice bunch I enjoy too, so it was a nice Shift.  We didn't have to Work too hard and there wasn't much to do so we mostly Socialized with one another so it wouldn't be too boring and drag on.

 

Okay, in the Morning at 10:00 a.m. we have the Social Security Medical Appointment and I was assuming they were sending him to a Psychiatrist for an Evaluation for the SSI determination.  Well, turns out this Dr. Cunningham is a General Practitioner, an M.D., and tho' he has 25 Years of Experience per his Bio, and does Specialize in Seizures, which, The Young Prince does have after a Hit & Run Car versus him as a Pedestrian Accident which caused a TBI that now gives him Seizures and he takes Meds for those, we didn't think that is the MOST debilitating Disability he has, the Serious Mental Illness is much more debilitating than his Seizures, tho' they do impair him as well now and could cause more Brain Damage over time if they're not controlled.  So, it's all Curious, to say the least, but less stressful for both of us that he's just being seen by a General Practioner, shouldn't take as long as a Shrink Eval would, that's for sure.  Now I'm wondering, will they also require a Psychiatric Eval later on before making a decision?  This Guy isn't gonna be able to assess Mental Health, he's not Qualified to.

 

Am I Surprised tho', not at all... it's always quite the Cluster Fuck to receive Disability Services and they haven't always sent us to the most competent Docs they tend to use to make determinations.   So, anyway, Surprise, Surprise, Surprise.  Even when the SSI Caseworker talked to me I was under the impression the Mental Illness was what they wanted to Evaluate for his Case... even tho' we did also say he has Seizures too as a Medical Condition.   I don't know how The Young Prince will pivot about seeing a Medical Doctor about his Seizures when he'd braced for a Psychiatric Eval?  He doesn't like seeing any Doctors and I don't even know if they've told this Doc he's also Seriously Mentally Ill as well?  It will all be very Interesting.  Just about all Paperwork I have on file is not for his Seizures since that Accident that caused them happened when he was living in New Mexico and he didn't even tell me about being hit by a Car coz he didn't wanna Freak me Out!  But, he had to tell me about his Seizures and that's how I found out when he came back Home to live!

 

Now when I talked to my BFF in Texas she was telling me that Social Security has been more Interested in her Disabled Brother's Mental Acuity and Capacity than his Physical Medical Issues, which, in his Case are more debilitating, more serious, and requiring the Residential Care she's trying to get him placed in.  So, you just never know what The System is gonna Fixate on that might not even be the bigger problem and the most Disabling condition someone even has whose applying for and trying to get approved for Placement, Services, Disability Status and Support Payments.  It would be quite a Surprise tho' if my Grandson Qualifies for SSI and Services more for the Seizures, than he ever did for having such Serious Mental Illness tho', that's for sure!!!   I gave up trying to figure out Qualifying and Disqualifying Factors many Moons ago tho' and it all changes constantly depending on if you're Flavor of the Month.

*******

Happy Autumn from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

Phantom Smells ~ Phantosmia ~ Olfactory Hallucinations ~ Oh, And More Crisis

 

I'm 23 Unpublished and Scheduled Posts ahead now, it's a Record for me.  *LOL and Winks*  If I end up with Blog Block and don't Create Posts for a couple Weeks to almost a Month now, I'm still Golden and you'd never know.  *Smiles*  I'm up at almost 3:00 in the Morning coz I can't Sleep, I was having heightened Senses of Smell, of Aromas that were not even in the Air... of Cinnamon, Cloves and Oranges, it was Weird and Woke me up!   Phantom Smells isn't something that I can recall happening before, so it was unexpectedly Odd.  These Phantom Smells were strong, yet pleasant ones and even once Awake I was still smelling them so I went in to the Kitchen just to make sure nobody was in there making something with those Aromas?  There wasn't and eventually it all subsided, but, not for a while.  I Googled it and it's called Phantosmia or Olfactory Hallucinations.  It can be caused by Medical Issues so if it persists it says to seek Treatment... Splendid.

As it is I received a Bill from The Man's last Hospitalization of whatever our Insurances have not Paid them.  I'm going to ask if they've run it thru all of his Insurances first and then hit the VA up for paying it since they're the ones that transported him from the VA Hospital to a Civilian Hospital in the first place.  The VA Hospital wouldn't have cost us anything and why I took him there, coz Insurances lately are really balking to pay out even close to the amount being Billed, even if you have an Insurance AND a Medicare Insurance.  I don't know how many fucking Insurance one needs to have in order to have everything appropriately covered, but, apparently him having Three isn't nearly enough???  *Eye Roll*

  I get annoyed that I have yet another Insurance problem to remedy while I still haven't even remedied getting the Claim Paid Out on the Hazard Insurance for Storm Damage, so no Work has begun to replace that Roof yet still!!!  The initial Check is somewhere now between here and Ohio getting Endorsed so I can Deposit it and at least pay my Contractor something!!!  And now the Hospital wants a couple Hundred Bucks that they claim we have to now Pay, but I'm contesting that, we should be fully covered and dammit, I'm gonna make sure all Three Insurers that The Man has pay out all that they're required to before I pay a damned Dime out of Pocket!   As it is the Water Bill came in almost double, also likely due to all these damned Data Centers built and using up all our Water Resources!!!  I'm not paying double just so they can drain us Dry and use up all the Water!!!

And our Electric Bill almost doubled too and I highly suspect it's due to the Data Centers using up too much Electricity on an already overburdened Electrical Grid Serving Five Million Residents!?!  Nobody wants Data Center in their Communities and nobody was consulted or given input before they started building them and approving it all.  And, why aren't they paying for all the Water and Electricity they're using?  Why is the cost being distributed to Residents and doubling our Costs, we're not using any more than we ever did!!!  And we can't afford our Electricity and Water to double in Costs, but these Data Centers and AI Companies apparently have plenty of Money, so, Bill them and Tax the Hell out of them for all of this... they should be Paying all of us a Monthly Dividend for the Privilege of being allowed in our Communities IMO.  I want a fucking Monthly Dividend if they're here, every Resident should receive one if they've forced this upon us involuntarily.

Well, I got Woke by a Niece who lives in Texas calling me.  I knew it must be Bad News calling that early.  She's the one whose Mom Died of Cancer recently and she was her Mom's Caregiver.  She's been losing a ton of Weight herself and tho' she was looking Amazing at first, she'd gone to look like she was losing too much too fast and she claimed she wasn't on any Weight Loss Meds and thought it might just be the Stress.  I wanted her to get it checked out tho' coz she had Heart Problems too from the Stress and she's still so Young, only around 30 and has Three Children, a Teen Daughter and Two Younger School Aged ones, a Girl and a Boy.  Her Husband Works in the Oil Fields there in Texas so is gone a lot and she's mostly been Single Parenting while he's away Working.  Well, her results came back and she has Cancer too.  The same kind her Mom Died of and they're doing a Surgery to try to remove it on October 1st!!!   This is her with the Youngest Daughter, Above... her Mini Me.

The sudden Weight Loss for no apparent reason had made me think something was very Wrong and so I do Hope they caught it in time, it's Ovarian Cancer, but her Mom's had spread so much by the time she got Diagnosed that it was too late, it had gone everywhere.  And, as if that wasn't enuf, her Oldest, whose 15, was Diagnosed with Schizophrenia and had become a Danger to the rest of the Family, especially the Younger Children, she's tried to commit Suicide and tries to harm, or even Kill, the Younger Siblings.  She tried to push the Younger Sister in front of a moving Vehicle!!!  So, my Niece had to give up Custody, she couldn't have her in the Home anymore in order to keep herself and the Younger Children Safe, and putting her in Residential Treatment in various Facilities, even in other States, hadn't Worked.  The Meds don't Work, and with having 2 Schizophrenics in my Family, she knew I'd have a Point of Reference.  This Niece has Mental Illness, so did her Mother and some of her Four other Siblings, but not Schizophrenia, so she didn't know what to do.  It's very hard to admit your Child is Unsafe to be around and give them up due to an Incurable Dangerous Mental Disorder.  This is her with the Older Daughter Above and Below.  And with her Youngest, a Son.

Her Daughter is a Smart and Beautiful Teen, but a lot bigger than her Mom, and dangerously Ill and has become a Threat to try to Manage.  So, Managing her Physically was becoming high risk without becoming abusive to protect herself or the Younger Children.  Right now her In-Laws have Custody of the Girl, but she worries that her Husband's Family are the type not to Believe their Grandchild has Mental Health Issues.  Some Families stay in Denial or are too Ashamed to admit anyone related to them has Mental Illness and they're of that ilk, Fundamentalist Religious Types in Texas tend to lean towards Faith Healing exclusively, often to the detriment of their Loved Ones who should have Medical Care and Intervention or Medications.  So, it's a mess and caused Marital Problems too, so she and the Husband are having Relationship Crisis now that she's been diagnosed and they lost Custody of their Oldest Child.  So, it's all so messy and I had no Words and could only offer Moral Support and Comfort as Aunt Dawn.  She no longer has her Mom, who was a Single Parent Raising them their whole Lives, and isn't close to any of her Four Siblings. 

My Heart aches for her and she's so far away that I can't offer Present Help like if she were here in Arizona still.  Our Families were always very close and Ride or Die with one another.  We Share a lot of History and tho' there's no biological connection, her Mom's Family are a Train Wreck so there really was no Bio Family there for them.   So my Family, and even my Mom and Dad, when they were still Alive, were closer to their Family than any of their own Relatives ever were.   The Kids all called my Mom their Nanna and my Dad their Grand-Dad, people always just assumed their Mom and I were Sisters.  And truly, we were like Sisters and she was just a Year Younger than me, and closer to me than she was with her Biological Sister.   Their Parents and their Brother had Died many Years earlier so there wasn't much Biological Family left.  The Father of Two of her Oldest Kids had been Murdered when they were little, and the Father of her Younger Three, she Divorced and was out of the picture when the Kids were still Young. 

So, I wasn't Surprised she called me during a Crisis, she knows she always can, any time, for any reason.  She just hadn't told me everything about the Older Child or her Marriage becoz she knew we were going thru a lot of stuff here as well.  But, Losing her Mom and then finding out she has the same Diagnosis now, Scared her and she said she can't afford to get as Sick as her Mom did, her Two Youngest Children still need her and she has nobody to be her Caregiver.  She's pretty sure that her Husband isn't gonna be there for all of this, he was already faltering when she was Caregiving for her Dying Mom.  I didn't know that, I thought he was still quite the Family Man.  But, nothing sorts People out quite like Trouble.   Just becoz someone is there for you during the Good Times doesn't mean they'll stick around for the Bad Times.

  And she knew here in Arizona, when there was a Family Member having a Mental Health Meltdown, they'd always Call me to come Manage the Loved One for them, including their Mom and even their Dad when he was still around.  I knew their Dad long before I knew their Mom or the Kids, he was The Son's Coach for Elementary level Sports.  Nice Guy, but, had Mental Health Issues and later on Self-Medicated with Alcohol and Substance Abuse and went downhill, which, isn't uncommon.  He's still Alive as far as I know, but I don't know he ever became Well enuf to be a Functional Family Man ever, so it's best his Kids didn't have him in their lives very much once he deteriorated with drinking to excess and abusing his Prescription Drugs and no telling what else, coz he was a Veteran too who'd been Medically Discharged. 

 I used to have to transport him to Mental Health coz nobody else would come get him when he went Off Rails, coz he could become Violent and very volatile.  I'd pop his Crazy Ass in the Passenger Seat and tell him if he got unhinged while I was transporting him, I'd throw him out of the Vehicle without even slowing down... and he'd settle right down coz he knew I'd do it... I don't make idle Threats.  And he knew if my Crazy and his Crazy had to Square Off, it might be Wilder than his Wife's Crazy coz even The Man wouldn't Go There.  And everyone knew what The Man had done for the Military.  *Winks and Laughs*  But I liked Kenny, Sr. and when he was Sane he was one helluva nice Guy.  Funny, Smart, Caring, Athletic, a Good Friend even, he'd do anything for me and my Family and was a great Coach when all our Sons were very Young and before he went totally Off the Rails Mentally and never came back from The Edge and the Brink of Insanity.  He was Institutionalized over and over again, but they kept letting him out and he'd Self Destruct all over again.

  Since, when he was on the Crazy Train, it was better for his Family that he wasn't in the Household and even my Crazy Friend had to finally admit, that things were becoming Unsafe for her and the Kiddos.  I told her, you do know you have to Divorce him, this has all become untenable.  I knew coz I had to Divorce my Psychopath Ex... or somebody would have ended up Toe Tagged.  And if it was between me or him, I was gonna make sure it was him, so it was best we ended it without a Homicide.    Some things are best put behind you and move on for your Safety and Well Being as a Family.  My Ex eventually got sent up and locked up for 27 Years without Parole, Problem Solved.  Kathie was bigger than me, but her Husband was more afraid of me... and not of her.  I felt she could have kicked his Ass without even spilling a Drink... but... it wasn't in her to I guess... but, he knew I would.  Kenny, Sr. had known me a long time.  *Winks*  I Bow Down to no Man and even that Criminally Insane Murderer backed down to me in Psyche Lockdown... Wisely so.  *LOL*  It is said that often your Misery becomes your Ministry.

 So, I know The Niece would never reach out to her Dad, even if he is still among the Living.  She also has a Schizophrenic Brother who isn't Safe to be around and nobody has had Contact with in Years, including us.  He's too Unsafe.  Nobody has heard from him since Dec. 2025 so he may not even still be among the Living, we don't know?  Nobody could even notify him of his Mom's Death.   And The Niece said her other Siblings and her Nephew, all of whom have very good Careers and make good Money, never came to their Mom's Funeral nor did they contribute to the expense of it.  She and her Mom's Older Sister, paid for it all, even tho' the Sister was estranged from her Younger Sister, she did the Right thing by her to have a nice Funeral/Burial.  The Niece says she hasn't heard from her Aunt since and probably never will now.

She lives in the Hamptons and is Wealthy, so she never wanted people to know she had a Seriously Mentally Ill Younger Sister, an Older 
Seriously Mentally Ill Brother {now Deceased}, and a Mentally Ill Nephew and Niece.  She only kept in contact with the Well Nephew & Niece, and Kathie's Oldest Grandson, all who are Well... and she had Raised their Oldest Sibling when Kathie lost Custody due to her Illness.  That Sister works for the CIA.  So it's a complex Family dynamic, not unusual when Mental Illness has such Stigma attached to it, that Families keep it Secretive about Loved Ones afflicted or pretend they don't even Exist.  Their Older Brother was SMI too, and after Serving in Vietnam in the early 1970's, went Mental and Killed himself. 

  He'd been quite Mental long before being Drafted and sent to War.  But they Inducted almost anyone back then, which is why they Discharged him from the Military after using him as a Killing Machine and then discarding him.  And even some Guys who go to War quite Well, come back quite Unwell.  And those who were Unwell to begin with become even MORE Unwell, like Allen did.  When Kathie's Older Brother lived in NYC he once walked down a busy well known Street there in nothing but his Military Brogans!   Yeah, they send Guys like that to War, yet let this Cowardly Prez fake Bad Feet to get out of the Draft or Serve their Country, coz they're Rich Fucks, and the Elite generally don't Serve anyone but themselves... go figure, some things will never change.

  And now that the Niece's Husband is never Home and always in the Oil Fields, she suspects he's been acting like a Single Man rather than a Married Man with a Family... she could be Right... and from what she told me she's found out, he probably is.  Her Dad bailed on the Family during Crisis and she's concerned her Husband may take the Easy way Out as well and Abandon them all too.  Now he's got a Sick Wife and a Child who may end up Institutionalized if his Parents can't cut it, and I suspect they won't be able to, God ain't Healed any Mental Illness that I'm Aware of yet.  I'm not saying He couldn't but He hasn't, and I'm a pragmatic person when it comes to realizing having Faith doesn't always mean Miraculous Healings will happen or that bad things won't happen, even to good people.  So, you have to be sensible about seeking Treatment for Illness, Disease and Disabling Diagnosis that do or don't have Cures.  You can be deeply Spiritual and still rely on Science as well, they're not mutually exclusive nor does it mean you lack Faith or don't Trust God.

Anyway, so that wasn't a great Call to receive very early on my Granddaughter's 21st Birthday.   I did get her a Chantilly Cake and a Quartet of Mini Fruit Tarts, which is what she said she'd prefer.  She didn't want me spending more Money and found out about the E-Bay Purchase... then I showed her another Lot of the Pop Mart Hirono Set of 20 and we decided to get that too on a Buy-It-Now Feature and she's splitting Cost with me coz it was a really good Deal and she didn't have any of those.  Turns out she had 2 of the 5 of the Halloween Set I had already Bought... so I'll keep those 2 coz they're Darling and they're Halloween Inspired in an Adorable way, so I can use them as Halloween Props.  She was more Jazzed about the Above Lot so I'm glad I showed her and just Bought 'em.   I counted 21 and it said 20 on the Listing, so, they missed One.  *LOL*

Princess T was having her Boyfriend, Rusty, spend more of his Money on her, she will lighten that Wallet.  *LOL and Winks*  So, he's at The Mall with her Today ON her actual Birthday coz they both took the Day Off to Celebrate her turning 21.  So she shall come Home laden with even MORE Gifts from her Beloved, he Spoils her Rotten.  Her Bouquets have been in my Living Room coz they have Lilies and they found out Cats are allergic to Lilies so she didn't want Eli getting Sick or Dying due to the Bouquets.   So, I've been enjoying her Birthday Bouquets more than she has been able to.   Can't wait for her to get Home so we can have some of her Birthday Cake and Tarts!  *Smiles*   So, we'll end with her Birthday Food Porn... you're Welcome... or... I'm Sorry.  *Winks*

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Happy Autumnal Vibes my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian