Get 'Er Done... FAST!!!

 

With a Sunday Morning Heat Advisory Warning out by 10:00 A.M., this is what a 15 Minute Halloween Porch Decorating looks like!  *LOL*  Princess T climbed the Shelving in The RV Garage Mahal, without a Ladder, like a little nimble Monkey, to get to the Top Shelf of Halloween Decor, where it's now Stored.  She tossed it down to Grandpa, whose Job it was to also catch her if she fell.  *LMAOROTF*  And I delegated which Decorations we were streamlining the Vignette with this Year.  Most of our Skeletons are falling apart, they're brittle Plastic, and in a non-climate controlled Storage Space, it's a wonder they don't melt rather than dry out and fall to bits.

We still have a few relatively intact and won't buy replacements this Year, so we Frankensteined them together and slapped some Wigs on them and called it a day.  *Smiles*   I Photographed them with both my Cellphone and my Old School Camera for posterity and Blog Fodder, Halloween 2024 immortalized now.  *Winks*   Turned out decently for a 15 Minute Get 'Er Done... FAST Project.  I knew if we didn't pull it off this Weekend, we probably weren't gonna, so, a hasty Vignette is better than no Vignette at all I say.  *Ha haha*   We already have folks driving by slowly and approvingly, so, it's Editorial enuf from the Street and a Blog Post... Victory Dance!!!   And, if we get any Rain, well, it will wash a Year's worth of Dust off, since, I wasn't up to Cleaning them as well.  Hey, adds to the Ambience of Benign Neglect, Decay, Dereliction and Spooky Creep Factor, No?  *Winks*

I had Scored a few new Secondhand Halloween Decorations whilst Goodwill Hunting, when they first put out their Halloween Decor in early September.   By late September everything was gone and they were rolling Christmas Decor out, so I'm glad I was pre-emptive in getting mine while there was still some left.   I Scored this Old Typewriter, some very large Faux Pumpkin Jack O'Lantern Blow Molds, and a Rubberized full sized Skeleton, and a Tapestry Fabric Halloween Scene we hung up on the Garage Door... all on The Cheap.   If you Scavenge early enuf you will never have to pay full Retail for Seasonal Decor or even Vintage Holiday Decor.   Gone are the days of After Holiday Sales, it's Sold Out now a full Month before a Holiday hits most of the time now.  My Mom and I used to Live for the After Season Sales... but now, Inventory and Supply Chain Issues are apparent and even the Big Box Stores don't get a lot of any Merch in.  You Snooze and you Lose.

The good thing about Halloween Decor is it can be in deplorable shape and actually look better in a Vignette as it deteriorates until it's unusable.   Some of our Halloween Skeletons are in worse Physical Shape now than The Man or I.  *Bwahahhaa*   We didn't get down all of our Skeleton Animals this Year, just the Skeleton Poodle and a Crocodile Skeleton Head.   If I feel energized to before Halloween arrives, I could add to them, but, I kinda doubt it.  *Smiles*  Less is definitely More this Holiday Season and I'm Fine with that actually.   My Fav Interior Vintage Halloween Collectibles are set up now Year Round, so, I enjoy them all the time in the areas we've Showcased them permanently on Display.  In fact, as I Downsize, Edit and Purge, the Primo and most Beloved Collections are not being put away or hidden in Storage anymore and only making Holiday Appearances.  I got less Holidays ahead of me than behind me now, so, why not?

The Halloween Fabric Tapestry I got for Four Bucks where Princess T Works.   I think it's Winnie The Pooh Inspired and might have been a Children's Photographer's Backdrop, usually they're stiff Tarp Commercial Banner Material, but this one is a good Quality Fabric.   We usually sit around a Fire Pit on Halloween Night out front, in Costume, to hand out Candy, so it's a perfect Scene tho'.   Princess T went to First Friday with Timmy, Matthew and another Guy and Girl they know who are a Couple.  She dressed as a Bunny, grainy Pixs are Below in this Post, she said some Professional Photographers for First Friday asked permission to take her Photo too, but, we don't have those.  I'll have to keep checking to see if they have a First Friday Roosevelt Row Promo Website they might end up on?

It ended up with a High of 113 again Today, ridiculous for October.  Before it got quite that Hot tho', The Man and I went to the Gila River Indian Reservation and did Environmental Cleanup along the Main Road thru the Rez that gets a lot of Traffic now that their Tribe has a Casino.  The Casino has really improved the Quality of Life for the Tribe, better Housing, better on site Facilities like a nice Boys & Girls Club, Clinic and even a Convenience Store.   The Convenience Store Sells some American Indian Foods grown by the Tribe.  I bought some Huun Ga'i, which is a whole kernel Cob Roasted Pima Corn.  {Below}  It's Hand Roasted over Mesquite Coals and can be eaten as a side Dish or put in Soups or Stews, can be added to Wheat Berries and Tepary Beans, also Sold by the Tribe there and a Native Diet Staple.

Tepary Beans are high in Protein and come in White, Brown and Black.  Next time we're on the Rez I'm going to pick up some of each of the Tepary Bean Products too.   It's a Wild Species growing in the Sonoran Desert and Cultivated for at least 1,000 Years by Indigenous Tribes, who continue to grow it on Reservation Lands.  They are higher in Fiber and Protein than most other Beans and a low Glycemic Index, good for Diabetic Diet, they thrive in arid climate with limited Irrigation along the Gila River.   I often replace Meat with Legumes now for Protein.   I like to Support Tribal Small Businesses and enjoy the variety added to our Diet of Organic Grown Local Products.   The Tribe doesn't Sell Seed Stock, only what is intended for Food use. 

Anyway, we ran out of Bags to keep doing the Aluminum Cleanup there on the Rez, so, will be going back again soon when we have more Bags.  The Son jokes that the Black Bags I Buy for Environmental Cleanup look like Body Bags, they're just that large.  *Bwahahahaha*  It's very Peaceful doing Environmental Cleanup Roadside on the Rez, it's a lot of Raw Natural Desert and Scenic Mountain Views along the Gila River to the South of it.  The Tribal Police don't seem to mind you doing Volunteer Cleanup on their Land, since, it's mostly Non-Tribal Visitors who are doing most of the littering when they drive thru or go to the Casino.   But, the Main Road is very long and straight, with not much Traffic at all, you can see for Miles in either direction and it's so Quiet and Restorative to Walk along while doing Cleanup of the Aluminum Litter.

Tonight is my "Halloween Wars", so I'll be Glued to the TV all Night.  Tomorrow Night will be "Halloween Baking Championship".  I'm not trying to Photograph the TV as it's on this Year and only found One Image {Below} of this Year's Work from One Team of Contestants.  It was a good entry, but wasn't even my Fav for that particular Challenge.  But, the combining of Cake, Sugar and Pumpkin is always amazing.  And, they also have to make a specific Tasting Treat too and incorporate it in each Challenge.  When the Talent become so refined, even some really good Teams get eliminated on the smallest of details.   So, it's not as if they didn't Create something Fantastical, it's just the Competition is that Fierce now.  I don't always agree with the Judges, but, that's what makes it Fun and Interesting... and... of coarse we don't get to Taste the Treat that can make all the difference when margins of Talent are so tight.

I'm having such Fun in the Photographing of all the things I Love most about Autumn and it's Holidays.   And, it gives me great Blog Fodder, since, I confess I haven't been Pathologically Picture Taking very much otherwise.  The House is in disarray and not very Editorial right now so I'm definitely not Photographing anything in here until I get it decluttered and cleaned up.  I've done it before and it just never seems to stay pristine, mostly my fault too, I can't blame the others.  *LOL*  I keep vowing to keep it decluttered and tidy, so, this time when I pull it together and minimize even the Decor, I really Hope I do better?   It's a Process for me and unless I'm getting ready to Host a Party, BBQ, Wedding or something here, I am not all that motivated to pull it together and put in the Work.  *Le Sigh*

It's not as if I don't WANT it that way all of the time, it's just very difficult for me to Maintain it like I prefer it to look and not clutter it up eventually.   I'm working on clearing out each Room now of what shouldn't be in there and moving it to either The She Shed or The RV Garage Mahal.   If it's Inventory, I'm trying, ONCE AGAIN, not to drag it into the Living Areas to Price it.   Sometimes I even Succeed.  *Eye Roll*   Seriously, I need an Intervention Accountability Partner sometimes.   Well, more often than just Sometimes, Truth be told.  *LOL*   The Older I get the worse I become too, it's unsettling.   I don't expect Family to run damage control behind my Wake either, but, The Daughter has been very Patient and Encouraging.  She convinces me my Coping Mechanisms are better than what I could have done to Cope with Mi Vida Loca and what I've been responsible for.  *Bwahahaha*  She could be Right about THAT!?  *Big WINKS*     

A messy Home is probably not the worse thing that could have happened, and, it is a Clean Home, just cluttered up.   I don't abide by things being dirty or piggish, so, it's not like that at all.  Just an abundance of Stuff and not really the Space here to have as much as we still have, which is Why I'm Working on that and Curating Possessions.  Even the Holiday Decor, I've scaled down how much we have and will even Sell Off and Donate more of it.   I'll keep what's in the best Shape or most Beloved, the rest is subject to being Let Go of.   And, I don't Buy as much Holiday related stuff anymore either, I Admire it in the Shops and don't have a whole lot of Temptation to Own the majority of it.  A lot of what I have, we've Owned for a very long time now.  So, we got a lot of Mileage out of it all.  Most of my Faux Pumpkins are when they first started making Faux Pumpkins.

 

The Antique Marble and Brass Ornate Candelabra you see in some of these Images on the Bistro Table, I got at SAVERS for only $15!   Closer to Halloween Night I'll put some Tapers in it and Light them for Halloween Evening, but the Candles would completely melt in the current Heat, so for now it's Candle-Less.  *LOL*   Even Jarred Candles, in a non-climate controlled Space, completely Liquify every single Day, so, you never have to Light them.  You get the Aroma from the whole Jar of Wax melting completely and releasing the Fragrance!   So, I have them situated thruout The RV Garage Mahal and one in the She Shed, so that it always Smells Sublime in each without Lighting any of the Jarred Candles situated in there.   Here in the Home we Light Jarred Candles Daily too, and Incenses, so that it has wonderful Aroma of our fav Fragrances.   I like a Space to Smell as good as it might Look.

I used to put a Fragrance Product in our Showroom so it would Smell Divine, but people kept Stealing it, so, now I try to hide one where it's not easily seen or accessible.   Can't Believe that folks would Steal an Air Freshener!!!  But, they do the same with Light Bulbs, Finials on Lamps, and Candles or Teas Lights you put as a Visual Display in Candleholders... I think it is probably other Vendors that are the main Culprits?   So, I just don't put Tempting items in that I know someone is likely to do the Five Finger Discount on, I am not funding their Shoplifting Tendencies.   I will Donate a Light Bulb at the Front Desk so that anyone needing to see if a Lamp Works, can screw one in and then Staff can take it out for someone else to use it for that Purpose.  A shame really that you just can't Trust folks these days to be Honest and have a Moral Compass.

By next Week some of the Events will start Hosting their October Shows.  Some might still be doing Halloween, if they still have any Seasonal Holiday Merch left?   Nan's Antique Mall had no Halloween on Display last Month, so I'm Hopeful that some of her Vendors might have some now?   I'm still trying to figure out how to Embed Reels to my Blog Posts, the Tutorial didn't work, the Embed Code just showed up on the Post, not the actual Visual and Reel, so, I just deleted it.   Whenever The Niece visits again I'll have her show me how it's done and make a Note so I can Remember how.   I used to know how to do it, that's what frustrates me now, if I don't do something for a long while, I just can't remember how I did it before.   Retaining the Knowledge now means I have to do it frequently.  My Rubberized Skeleton is melty looking, I Scored it whilst Goodwill Hunting in September for Five Bucks.

Princess T decided on which Wigs we'd be using on our Skeletons and she wanted the Geisha Wig on the Red Skeleton, which gave it a good Look.   I was gonna put Halloween Ties on all the Skeletons, but, decided I didn't wanna Risk my Collection of Halloween Ties fading in the Sun.  Plus, we just Simplified the Decorating this Year and didn't wanna spend a lot of Time or Energy in the Doing of it.   And, when Halloween is a Wrap, taking it down will be Quicker and Easier too, which now has to be a consideration.   I usually keep the Harvest Themed Decor up thru Thanksgiving tho', so, only have to take the Halloween Elements down and put them away after the 31st of October... or, wait 'til Dia de los Muertos is over on November 2nd.   I miss having my Home Altars in the House.  But, I do Plan to Create some Areas of The RV Garage Mahal for Home Altars instead.

 

This Home just doesn't have the usable Space for a Home Altar or for a Computer Room/Office Space either.   I miss that, since previous Homes did have Room for them, so, it's been an adjustment and compromise we just had to make with having 3 Generations Sharing this Space.  The Man and I never anticipated that.  We naively assumed that after we got The G-Kid Force Grown and Raised, they'd move out and it would just be the Two of us so this Size Forever Home would have been more than enough for Two Old Folks.  *LOL*   It's not a Small Home, it's 2400 sf and I've lived in far less, sometimes as little as 300 sf as an Adult... and far more, as much as 4350 sf, so... you adapt, improvise and adjust as your livable Area changes over Time and Seasons of Life and circumstances.   The Equity in this Property is building way faster than the McManse or the Historic Properties we Sold.

 

Of coarse, what the new Owners did with the Villa McManse depreciated it considerably.  They had the Solar repossessed and they took out most of the Professional and Matured Landscaping which gave it Curb Appeal.  To add more Parking Pavers and less Maintenance, since, it is an Air B&B Party House now, so, the Owners don't even live In State and it's never Owner Occupied, just an Investment Property.   I think the Devil of an HOA out there is in crisis too, a lot of the Common Areas aren't being well Maintained as they once were and I noticed the HOA Monthly fee has decreased a lot, which is Odd, unless the HOA is in Crisis and being Mismanaged.  Not Surprising, they Elected unqualified People to Manage it who didn't know anything about their own CC&R's and were just making shit up to harass and threaten to Fine Residents.  Likely bored Housewives and Pretentious Residents wanting to be on a Power Trip.   

The Beloved Historic Home has appreciated considerably, so Mr. Avila has built up impressive Equity.  But, the Location, being in an Older and Low Income Barrio with higher Crime Rate, would always cause it to be worth less than if it were in a more desirable Location.  Along with needing to Adopt The G-Kid Force and have to Sell it to accomplish that, the decline of the Neighborhood over the Years made it so it wouldn't have been the most Ideal place to grow very Old in or finish Raising Grandchildren.   So, our Move here, for numerous reasons, was the Right Move at the Right Timing, and so I have no regrets.  I just Wish it didn't take me so damned long to get settled in and have everything finished from having Moved.  *Le Sigh*   I'd like to be doing less Work and more Play, enjoying Retirement in a Forever Home that has everything Done and the way I want it to be.

While I was going thru my Halloween Merch in The She Shed to Price it and take it in to the Showroom, I changed my Mind on one Object.  The Cast Iron Votive Candle Cat.  I just didn't want to Let it Go and Sell it, so, decided to move it to Keep Status and Display it.  With a Votive Lit inside of it, the Look of it is Cool and I've never seen one like it so would have surely regret Selling it.   I don't reconsider often when I've moved something to a Sell or Donate Status, but, I reserve the Right to change my Mind with certain Objects that my Attachment to is more of a struggle to Detach from.   The Cast Iron Cat is such an Object, I don't even recall Why I put it in a Sell Crate at all?   Depends on my Mood sometimes really.   If I'm in The Mood to Release more, I just do.  Whaddya Think of that Antique Candelabra?   Killer, huh?  I happened to already Own one similar to it... and for how low it was Priced, the Chazza clearly didn't know Value.  My Heart raced like a Hummingbird when I spied it!  *LOL*

 

Look how Yummy these Filo Dough, Honey Walnut, Herbed Spinach and Cheese Biscuits are!   A think of Beauty as well as Sublime as a Savory Treat.   It's like a nice Greek or Turkish Recipe, but with a different Twist.  It showed up on my Book of Faces Feed and tho' I snagged the Image, I forgot to Save the Recipe more than once when FB had a Glitch and didn't Save it the first Transfer over to my Page.  Becoz I really wanted to try it.   I think they used Thyme and a Mozzarella rather than what would Traditionally be used in say a Greek Spanokopita or Turkish Muska Boregi.   When I tried to Save it to my FB Wall, FB was having Issues and it didn't transfer over... just the Image Save worked, but I had to retrieve even that from somewhere other than my Live Wall Feed.   Lately Blogger and FB have been Acting Up and so I don't know what to do to recover things Lost when it malfunctions like that?

It is still 109 Degrees at almost 8:00 P.M., which, is ridiculous for October.  Usually in the Fall it Cools down after Dark, it's not doing that anymore and it's over 20 Degrees or more Hotter during the Day now too in Autumn.   This is worrisome for a whole lotta reasons.   Usually Fall our Utility Costs go way down becoz you usually don't need your Air Conditioner or your Heater on.   I don't even know what Winter will be like if Autumn is this screwed up now?   Granted, a lot of States and Countries are experiencing Catastrophic Weather Events, so, I'm Thankful we don't have all of that going on too.   But Climate Change needs to be taken way more Seriously by ALL People and the Deniers are just pretending like nothing is Wrong, even with all the dire Evidence to the contrary.  I don't know if they Imagine that by Ignoring it and being deeply in Denial, then it will just go away or not be Real?  *Eye Roll*

I guess it could mean Trick-Or-Treaters could wear some skimpy Costumes this Halloween?  *LOL*  Princess T and her Posse are already thinking upon their Costumes, well, except Matthew, who always just goes as Matthew.  *Smiles*  At least now she has a Job and her own Income, she can Buy her Costume this Year and I don't have to be The Wallet and Bankroll it.  *Winks*   She always has a Grandiose Vision of what Costume she wants and they aren't inexpensive anymore.  When I went to SPIRIT STORE the Cost of Retail Costumes is prohibitive now.  A lot of the Chazzas have a good secondhand selection at reduced price point.  To me the best Costumes are the more inventive and creative ones.   We don't get a lot of Trick-Or-Treaters in our Mini Farm Community since the Subdivision is Older and Aged Out, not a lot of Smaller Children anymore.   Plus, the Properties are Acreages and no Street Lighting or Sidewalks, so, a little Spooky, very Dark, and a lot of walking between Homes. 

The Residential Cookie Cutter Modern Subdivisions around us are the best Haul for the Candy Seekers going Door to Door.  So, they get a lot of Trick-Or-Treaters and even my Grand-Kiddos went there to ensure a good Haul of Candies with less Walking and better Lighting/Safety.   Our Historic Home's Old Barrio didn't get a lot of Trick-Or-Treaters either, mostly due to a heavy Immigrant Population that didn't know anything about Halloween and didn't Celebrate it in their Countries of Origin.  At the Villa McManse, it was a Big Deal tho' and tons of Kids in that Community. There were a lot of Fundamentalist Religion Families with very large Families, most had Five or more Children.  It was good participation for Halloween, Surprising to me actually, since many Fundies won't Celebrate it.  It was one of the Positive things I could say about that Community that was enjoyable and made Halloween and Christmas very Festive and interactive in a good way.

Since our Street is the only Street in the Mini Farm Community that Faces and Fronts a Main Road, we have Street Lights and a Sidewalk, the rest of the Community does not.  We're also visible from the Main Road, separated only by an Access Road running parallel to the Main Road with a low Block Wall between both Roads.   We're set way back from the Access and Main Roads, since the Home was built halfway back on our Acreage, but, still quite visible to Passers By and we get a lot of Lurkers who slow down to admire the Holiday Vignette out Front.  Those that want a closer look and to drive by slower, come onto the Access Road to drive by.   It has good Curb Appeal, so I really enjoy Decorating our Porch for the Autumnal Holidays.   Our Historic Home was Idyllic to Decorate for Halloween, since it was over a Century Old and had a legit Reputation for being actually Haunted.   People often were afraid to Walk on the same side of the Street during Halloween.  *LOL*

I took The Man to FARMER BOYS for Lunch, we tried their Fish for the first time and were very impressed with the portion size given it was just Eleven Bucks for a 3 Piece Fish Meal!!!   It's in an Industrial Area but gets a lot of business, especially on a Sunday Afternoon, it was packed with Customers and even the Drive-Thru had a long line.   Below was a Luncheon from TAMALES GUADALAJARA, which is a small Family Owned Mexican Restaurant in a small Town near us, with the BEST Refried Beans EVER!   I had the Shredded Beef Enchilada, which was terrific too.  It's a small Restaurant but I've never had anything there that wasn't exceptional, they only serve Breakfast and Lunch tho', they close before Dinner.  We often just get a Large Takeout Container of their Refried Beans and make something for Dinner with it.  A lot of Mexican Dishes have the Beans as a Main Ingredient.

The Man has a Foot Injury that he caused himself accidentally trying to cut his Toenails.  Now one of his Big Toes is swollen and looks like it might have become infected.  Since he's an Insulin Dependent Diabetic we have to take great Care of his extremities and any inability to Heal, any apparent Infection or Injury that worsens.  So, I'll be spending the early Hours of Monday Morning at the ER getting it looked at.

8 Hours Later:  Well, we were at the ER for Eight Hours while they gave him 3 rounds of IV Antibiotics to fight the Infection so that he hopefully won't have to be Hospitalized!   I Slept in the Truck, since, we were there from 1:00 A.M. to after 8:00 A.M. and now I've got to stay up and find a Pharmacy that is Open and takes TriCare For Life Insurance.  Pretty sure CVS does, most others don't anymore... and if you have TriCare due to being Retired Military, you can't get Medicare Rx Coverage at all, it's not even an Option.  *Le Sigh*

Our Nurse at the ER was Preggy and said her Husband is Military and she's pretty disgusted with how eroded the Healthcare Earned Benefits are for Veterans and their Spouses.   Even most Active Duty now have to go straight Civilian to receive Care or have a Baby, the Military Base here only has a Clinic now and no Emergency Services, it used to be a Full Service Hospital.   You can't use the Clinic once you attain the Age of 62 and the Pharmacy quit carrying a lot of Meds, so, now we have to pay for Meds too and for Healthcare.  The Earned Benefits were supposed to cover for for Life of the Veteran and their Spouses... but, tough luck, they don't now and don't Honor their end of the Contractual Agreement for those who Served and Honored their end of it to Earn those Benefits.  People always assume if you're Retired Military everything is covered... well, it used to be... and the Main VA Hospital doesn't even have some Specialists on Staff, like a Cardiologist for example!!!

 

The Man's Primary Physician is at the Sun City VA Clinic and the ER Doc wants a 24-48 Hour Follow Up, but, I really don't even know if they can ever get a Veterans in that fast?   A lot of Appointments take Months... so... I may have to just follow up at some Civilian ER again if they won't get him in at the VA.   He has Three Rx to fill, so right now I'm waiting for a Pharmacy to Open to get those filled, he has to take each of the Three for 10 Days straight.   Fun Fun Fun... it's always Something...

********

Very Tired this Morning... Dawn... The Bohemian

Word To The Wise

 We were able to get Two more Old Salvage Doors from that big stack of them before someone else came along and took the rest.   Funny, since they'd clearly sat there untouched for a long, long time with nobody interested, thick dust was all over them.   Then the moment we saw value in them, then someone else suddenly wanted them too and competed for them almost a day or Two later!  Ain't that the way it always goes tho'?   Dammit!!!  *Le Sigh, Eye Roll & LOL*   We got the Three with the Glass Windows that looked to be Old Commercial Doors, very Tall and Wide... no drilling for Doorknobs or evidence of Hardware tho', so, intriguing what they came out of?  

I looked Online for Old Commercial Salvage Doors with Glass Fronts to see if there were any very similar and the one above is almost identical in Style and Age, except for having Hardware and Painted Store Info on the Glass.   This one was Selling for $985 and that's about the Estimate I figured on each of the Trio I got for Free, they are heavy duty Old Doors with very thick Custom Commercial Grade Glass Fronts, probably 1920-1930 Era I'd Guess.  They are very Tall and very Wide, plus, VERY Heavy!   Mine don't have a kick plate at the bottom and my Windows go further down towards the bottom as well.  Mine also haven't been Painted ever, just the Natural Wood... and the construction is Dovetailed, no Nails... which became less prevalent after the 1930's.  They are Wide Plank Solid Wood too, not hollow core.

I'm going to use mine as a Room Divider with Cast Iron Shelf Bracket Ornate Feet attached to the bottom on both sides.   I've been accumulating Old Cast Iron Ornate Shelf Brackets whenever I could find any Salvaged ones, Antique Ornate Wooden Corbels would work too but you can't find those Cheap anymore.   The Old Salvaged Door Room Dividers will help break up the cavernous Warehouse sized Space of The RV Garage Mahal and give the illusion of separate Spaces that look like Rooms.   I Love Architectural Salvage and have been Rescuing and Hoarding it since the early 1970's.  Each Move I also Sold a LOT of it to Friends in the Industry and Fabricators or those who Restore Old Homes with Original Period Architectural pieces.

Work was busy, they hadn't been during the Day Shift, but, after 5:00 P.M. Customers starting shopping.  The Count thru the Doors was low tho' for a Friday and thus Sales weren't that Strong.  I'm doing Okay with our Sales, but, nothing to get excited about.   Perhaps the Weekend will be Stronger?   My Co-Worker Richard had a Fill-In, he's not been Well for a while now so misses most of his Shifts.   He's an Insulin Dependent Diabetic who just didn't take Care or do what he should and it all caught up to him.  I had Warned him for Years that it would, you can't have a reckless Diet of too many Carbs and think it won't.  He'd sometimes eat a whole Pizza and fall Asleep standing up!  Now he's becoming rail thin... he's likely breaking down Muscle and Fat for Energy.

Anyway, a Sweet Middle Aged Lady named Jane filled in for him, I really like her, she is jovial, personable and kind, very easy to get along with and a good worker, she easily and genuinely Smiles.   Well, my Friend Judith was also filling in for my other MIA Co-Worker, whose recovering from Shoulder Surgery.   Judith can be abrupt and come across as Bossy and Mean Spirited.  She's not well liked, but, doesn't seem to understand Why.  We've been Friends a long time and she helped with my Move, she's got a good Heart, but a gruff way of Being that is often intrusive and very opinionated.  I don't personalize her way of Being, it's just how she is, but it does cause her to not get along with a lot of folks. 

 She does whatever she just wants to do on her Shifts and makes up a lot of Rules.  Rules that really aren't Policy of the Mall and insists everyone abide by them anyway, and will argue that Yes, it's a Rule.  *LMAO, since, I break 'her' Rules all the time and Challenge or just Ignore them often*  So, Co-Workers having problems with Judith is not unusual, let us just say.  *Winks*  Well, halfway thru the Shift, Dear Jane comes up to me looking quite concerned and asked me if "The Other Lady" was always so Mean?!  *LOL*   I Smiled and said, "Well, she can be...", and she sighed, Laughed, and said, "That's a relief, I thought it was something I did!?"  We both then Laughed and I'm like, "No... it's NOT YOU, Dear, that's just how she IS."  I felt so bad for her, coz, she's not one to want to do something to make someone be Negative towards her in any way.

But, talking to Judith about it wouldn't have done an ounce of good, since, Judith's personality is deeply ingrained and she's in her late 70's now, so, it would be futile.   Easier to just tell someone not to let her Personality be taken so Personally, since, it's not Personal.   She's that way with everyone, but, she does have her Positive qualities, like most of us, and she can be a damned good Friend if you accept her how she just is.   She's been a good Friend to me and mine, in fact, my Family really Like Judith.   And my Crew here don't just Like anyone, they're selective.   Around us she's a lot less Uptight and we get to see a side of her that is truly Endearing and would do anything for you.   Like me she's a Retired Bank Executive and ran a lot of things in her Corporate Life. I think she can't just Let that Go, the delegating, even when she's not the one in Charge.  And, she's never the one in Charge there at the Mall, she just acts like and thinks she is. *Smiles* 

She recently became a Widow, and she and Gary were quite affluent too, he was a Trust Fund Baby, she was a very successful Corporate Executive.   So, she can be a bit of a Snob becoz she's led a Life of exceptional Privilege and Entitlement, so has little point of reference to most people's daily struggles.   When Judith has a problem, it's a typical First World Problem.   Something like she's not sure if she should Sell Off another one of her numerous Paid Off Properties.  *LOL*   That doesn't exactly make her relatable to a lot of people, it can come off as seeming pretentious and uppity.   But, I know she's more down to Earth and Generous than what comes across if you don't know her well at all.  If I ever needed someone to have my Back, Judith comes thru for you as a Friend, if you but ask, she's Ride or Die and I like that in someone.

Anyway, Jane I really liked immediately, she's someone to very easily become Friends with, she's New there and so doesn't quite know everyone yet.  She and I bonded instantly tho', she's a Genuine Kind Hearted Soul and her Essence is just so Authentic, Positive and Endearing.  She told me she doesn't really want any permanent Shifts, she just wants to fill in for Key Dealers who can't be there.  I can relate to that, it's my preferred way of Working there too, as an Alternate just On Call.   I told her that it often means you'll think a Shift is Temporary tho' and it ends up becoming Permanent.  *LOL*   She's kind of concerned that might be the Case for Friday Nights, and given Richard's overall decline in Health, it could be.  I wouldn't mind working with Jane often, she's an Asset to the Mall.

So, I'd brought in my Anime Card Pacs, my Vintage Globe, some Strawberry Shortcake Collector Dolls and the Thug Kitchen Cookbook.  It's all I had Space for, all my Rental Space is chock full right now with Inventory.   I'm consistently Selling about 60-75 items a Fortnight, which is a Pay Period, and not bad Stats, depending upon what's Selling and the Price Point of it.   So, the Downsizing here at Home is going quite well and I'm emptying out the She Shed with rotating Merch into it and then into the Showroom.  Donations I just immediately take to a Charity Shop after I fill a Boxload or several Boxloads of them.  So, I'm also depleting the empty Boxes that used to hold what hadn't been unpacked since The Move.  Yeah, the one almost 7 Years ago now.  *LOL*

The Kiddos all say it's like Christmas when they're helping me to unpack, since, it's been so long since any of it has seen the Light of Day.  *LOL*  I've never taken this long after a Move to get all the way unpacked, organized and settled in... so, it just seems ridiculously delayed and annoying to me.   I think the previous Record was mebbe 3.5 Years, so, I could never afford to have another Big Move or I'd never get unpacked in the rest of my Lifetime and re-settled in!?  *Bwahahahaha*   This made me realize I've reached a Tipping Point in my Old Age to where Moving is just too hard now to adjust to and get everything done in a reasonable Time Frame.   And... I have too much Cargo!  *LOL*  The longer I Live the more Cargo I seem to accumulate and amass!  *Ha ha ha*

But, The Man and I enjoy what we do, especially as Scavengers and Rescuers of Objects, Keepers Of The Past, and being avid Preservationists.   A lot of very Cool things still Exist becoz we Rescued them, Salvaged them, saw Value in them, Restored them, Upcycled them, gave them a place to Be until we disposed of them via Resale or giving them to someone who fell in Love or Need with them.  My Friends in the Industry always tell me my place is a Honeyhole of the Best Stuff and I take that as a compliment, every Picker and Fabricator I know likes to receive an Invitation to help me rid myself of some of it.  *Winks*  It's a running Joke that I could Open a Shop right here on site... and... that could be an eventual Goal, once I FINALLY get everything organized and done, who knows?  *Ha ha ha*

I do know I want the Art Studio to finally be set up right so we can begin Creating again.   Everyone keeps asking me when I'll start making my OOAK Hippie Carpetbags again?   I haven't made one since the Historic Home, I never Created any at the Villa Boheme' McManse, tho' I did get that Art Studio up and running.   We concentrated on less complex Art from there, a Bag takes me a minimum of 36 Hours to Hand Sew... and that's over a period of Months.  You could probably have a Baby quicker.  *Winks*  When I'm On I'm On, but when I'm Off, I just don't Create and try to Force it.   To me Art is about Feeding the Soul, not Selling it.  I never Created my Art just for the sake of Profiting off of it, tho' it's nice when you make Bank off it while still Alive and aren't a Starving Artist, to most Artists, it's not the motivation to Create. 

At Work I bought a Metal Black Widow Spider with a Pyrite Stone Butt, it's so Cute and is in a Cute Apothecary Jar with a Ball of Cotton "Web", as a Halloween Display.   I was Surprised it was only $9.  That Vendor had Created all kinds of Interesting Halloween Smalls and she also Sells such things as Sage Bundles, Incense and Nightmare Before Christmas Collectible Merch, so, she's one of my Favs.   The Daughter is Gaga over Jack Skeleton Merch and her Birthday is coming up this Month so even tho' she's not here, I'll probably Buy her something from that Vendor and present it when she returns from Mexico at the first of the Year.

She called me Yesterday, she'd taken the Kids to the Prison to see their Dad, nobody had done that for them and they wanted to make sure he was Okay.   Mexican Prisons are harsh and The Daughter said they're so dangerous too.   He didn't look good and had been beaten by Guards, also not unusual, Mexican Prisons don't fuck around with Inmates like American Prisons tend to with any who become problematic.   So, if you become problematic, for any reason, they will fuck you up there in no uncertain manner... and he had clearly not been in compliance.   The Daughter told him he really needs to get with the Prison Program and just behave like a Model Inmate so that he might get out and get on with Life.  

 She doesn't really want or need to know his Back Story, she's his Ex, but, they do have Four Daughters together and so that's important to her, for the Children, that he be Okay and not be a problem for any of them.  The Sins of the Father and all that.   I used to like my Ex-SIL very much, but, it appears he's made choices that aren't favorable and so he and his New Wife aren't always being Wise.   The Daughter may be Crazy, but, she's not Stupid.   On both sides of the Border she knows whatssup and what choices are favorable and what ones definitely are not, depending upon who you're dealing with in Life.   I didn't Raise any Fools.   I personally think the Ex-SIL has made some foolish choices that are regrettable and consequences of that are what they are.  Listen, a lot of folks don't make good Choices on a consistent basis, whaddya gonna do?

When we Traveled Internationally and often, you just know that some Countries are not places where you wanna make any Bad Choices, or fuck up, Okay.   Unless you're a Special kind of Stupid.  That Basketball Player, Brittany Griner, comes to Mind instantly.  What WAS she thinking bringing any Drugs into a Country like Russia!!!???  Fucking A!!!  Then ignorantly assuming becoz she was an American Famous Athlete, that would somehow grant her Favor and Immunity, not have the dire consequences that to me, were not at all the least bit Surprising!!!  She's lucky she got out Alive, just sayin'.   And No, she wasn't this Victim they painted her to be.  She Stupidly broke a Law in a Notorious Foreign Country that is NOT our Ally either, that they take breaking their Laws fucking Seriously and have a Zero Tolerance Policy about, especially if you're there as a Guest they're Hosting... just WTF Girl?!  I just couldn't feel Sorry for such Stupidity.

It got to 113 again Today, there's just no relief from high Summer Temperature Heat this Fall, so, Heat Advisories every day now.  I'm therefore not getting a whole lot done in non-climate controlled Spaces yet and it's eating into the Season when I can usually begin to... dammit!   Usually I can start in September, here it is October and really can't even begin to, gets too Hot too soon to make any headway really.  I opt to just do what we enjoy doing instead, since, I overwhelm too quickly and get too discouraged trying to get work done at Home in areas that just are still far too Hot to make any progress that is noticeable.  I'm chipping away at it really early... or really late... but... my Stamina wanes quickly once it heats up.  I really already miss The Daughter being here to help me.

The Son has been trimming the Hedges and helping TJ with the Yard Cuttings, he doesn't mind Outside Work but helping me with The Gauntlet is harder for him.  He and The Man are too heavy handed and like Bulls in a China Shop to really navigate what needs to get done with anything fragile or needing TLC when handling it.  They also wanna rush and not take the Time to be careful enough, so, I'd rather they just not get involved actually.   The Daughter enjoys doing it with me and she's got great Organizational Skills.  Princess T does too, but she isn't interested in the whole Downsizing Project at all... she Maintains her own Space and helps in the Kitchen and Bathrooms.   So, The Daughter is my most Present Help and she doesn't need me delegating or micro managing her either, she can figure it out independently.

Well, Frank Fritz of American Pickers fame Died in a Hospice, September 30th, he was 58.  He'd had serious health problems and a Stroke back a couple Years ago and had left the Show for good.   I had heard he was in a Nursing Home and since he was Single, probably didn't have a Caregiver, if he ended up in Hospice they must have known he was Dying and wouldn't be recovering.  I still like the Show, tho' I had heard that Danielle had left the Show too due to health related issues.  I still watch the new Episodes.   And now I'm Binge watching a British TV Series called PARANOIA on NetFlix, luckily it's only 8 Episodes long.  *Smiles*  It's a Crime Drama and I forget sometimes how lovely the British Countryside is and how Charming the Villages are, with such a Historic and Bucolic feel to it all.  We lived Off Base in Villages like that when Stationed there during Active Duty.  A very Laid Back Lifestyle compared to here.

 

I'm procrastinating on getting my Front Porch Halloween Set Up, I would have done it by now during previous Holiday Seasons.  If The Daughter was still here helping, it would have been done and we would have added to the Faux Pumpkins already out there and put the Skeletons out now and arranged them into a Scene.   Yes, I still have Time, it's only the 6th, but everything seems deferred lately and getting harder for me to feel ambitious enough to tackle.  I want to shake myself out of that Funk, but, it's been hard to.   I haven't even renewed my Desert Botanical Garden Membership either and their Autumnal Events are starting and I don't want to miss them.  But, I spent the Money I had set aside for that on the John Deere Tractor Mower Tires it needed.  So, now the Tractor is completely overhauled and operational and TJ finished all Yardwork that had been deferred.  One Thing at a Time I guess.

I have such high Expectations for Autumn and there's so much to do, that I want to do, and that I need to do as well.   So, it tends to whiz by at warp speed and typically everything doesn't get Done.   So, this isn't anything New.  *LOL*  I've Done a lot already, so it's not as if I've been Idle, and I've enjoyed the Recreational aspect.   My main dilemma likes in wanting it to be all Play and no Work now.  *Bwahahaha*  I guess easing into Retirement does that to ya, I dunno?   I just know that Work starts Feeling like a Four Letter Word in every aspect of it and I get to where I make excuses to myself to avoid it or crap out on it early.  I don't push thru like I used to while tackling Work.  Sometimes I even avoid it entirely and then get upset at myself for just letting things pile up or slide during my periods of inertia.  *Le Sigh*  I'd rather sit here Blogging or even doing Environmental Cleanup, FUN Work that I can still Feel Accomplished for Doing and ENJOY.  *Winks*

Okay, Whinefest over, I thought I'd Sleep In Today since Sundays nobody Works in the Household now, so I can.  But, I still find myself rolling out of Bed way earlier than I think it is.   The Son is at Gypsy James House, they were going to work on his Car and Drink.  And Gypsy James, being an Irish Gypsy, there is gonna be some epic Drinking going on there.  *LOL*  So, when he's Drinking at all now he won't Drive at all, and I'm so relieved about that more responsible decision, even if he drinks a single Alcoholic Beverage I've told him not to ever get behind the Wheel.   The problem with an Alcoholic is, One would never be enough and he knows I also don't allow Drunks around me, it's a Trigger.   A BAD Trigger, I go fucking Mental if someone is Drunk around me or really High on Drugs, I lose my shit at them and Dark Dawn takes over completely.  Not Fun.  And definitely a Buzz Kill for those under the Influence.  *Bwahahaha and Winks*

Think of the Scariest Villain in a Horror Movie and I'm told that's Who I Become the moment someone Drunk or really High makes the Mistake of entering my Orbit and stepping in my Waters.  *LOL*  It disrupts my Calm and I definitely have PTSD about Drunks and Addicts, so, don't want to be around them, no matter Who they are or how much I might Care about them.  I make no apologies for flipping out on their Asses, I feel totally Disrespected if they can't Honor doing their Substances elsewhere and NOT around me.  So, everyone I know who either has struggled with Substance Abuse and is Recovering or even long time in Recovery... or still Using... knows NOT to do it around me or bring anyone around me who does.   

Zero Tolerance and Yes, slips ups have happened in the Past, by Family or Friends, and they sorely regret it when it Triggered me to Wrath.  I can't even Calm Down you see, they have to GO!!!  It's a Cause and Effect that is Predictable... if YOU do THIS, I definitely WILL Flip The Fuck Out!!!!!!!!   I guess everyone has their Triggers, that's a huge one for me, so if my Alcoholic Kids want to have more than a few Drinks, they go do it somewhere else around someone else, not me.   The Man doesn't drink and I have low tolerance for Alcohol so I don't either.  If I have a single Corona Beer, it would be one of those little Coronita Size ones with a Lime and mebbe once or twice a Year.  

I can't handle the Fire Water myself at all and I know this, so, didn't partake much even in my Youth, I'm a Mean Drunk, and I will get into a Fight, go figure.  *Winks and Bwahahhaa*  If someone "New" tries to push Alcohol and insist I have one, everyone I know says, "NO!" and backs up my insistence on Declining it.  *LMAOROTF*   I'm not opposed to Light Social Drinking so long as someone doesn't slip into Drunkenness.   I'm not Opposed to Pot Smoking or MJ Edibles, just Hard and Dangerous Drugs, so, I'm not Saintly about the use of what is Legal and Socially acceptable indulgences, so long as you don't get carried away with it.   I won't tell you how to Live your Life, I just know how I wanna Live mine and that's Substance Abuse Free.   I've endured a lot of collateral damage from other people's Addictions my whole Life, so, I fiercely Protect myself from it completely now.

So, if you're a Junkie {and that includes abusing your Prescription Meds} or an Alcoholic, just know that my Tolerance Levels for you are real fucking low my Friends.  So, prepare yourself if you can't refrain, to just stay away from me entirely, doesn't matter Who you are to me, you won't be Welcome.   My Adult Kiddos had to get Clean before they knew they'd be Welcome and could be around me, they stayed away while they were Using and out of Control.  It was answer to fervent Prayer they got Clean and have stayed Clean, but, they still work on being Alcoholics.   And, they had to cut a lot of other folks out of their Lives in order to ensure Sobriety that they attained, the whole Lifestyle has to Go and be dropped like a Rock or you Risk continued Sobriety.  And a Backslid User has much higher rates of Death from an Overdose.

 Gypsy James drinks, but he's never been a Drug User. He helped get The Son Clean and probably Saved his Life.  He's never been Drunk around me and I've known he's a heavy Drinker for Years, but he Respects me just that much and he's like a Son to me.   The Son worries about his Friend's Drinking, which, says a lot coz The Son can Drink... so if he thinks you Drink too much, you really do Drink too much.  *LOL*   The Son and The Daughter cut way back on even their Drinking when they came to Live with us, it was a requirement.   And, if they want to drink more, they spend the Night with whoever Hosted that Party.  That way their Host has to Deal with the aftermath, not me.  And I'm Fine with that, everyone is a Grown Ass Adult, I can't tell them what NOT to do when they're not around me.  But, in my Presence...  Word to the Wise.  *Winks*

*******

Happy Autumn my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian