We Have A Different Relationship With Time

 I had Old People Insomnia last Night so I was up super Early even tho' I could have slept in coz nobody Works on a Sunday here.  So, I decided to get to The Desert Botanical Gardens when they Opened at 7:00 a.m. and do the last Day they were Celebrating Dia de los Muertos.  It was lovely at Sunrise there and they have a Light Show that isn't on during the Day, so that was great to experience and I got to Photograph it just at Sunrise.  The Ofrenda was so packed with what everyone had put on it to Honor their Dearly Departed that you could hardly see it anymore, so I'm glad I went on Day One and Photographed it in it's more pristine condition.  But, it was lovely and so Moving to see everyone's offerings, Family Photos of those they Lost, and Notes put up on the Altars.  Just about every Square Inch was covered in what folks had added, very Touching.

Unfortunately the Outside Cafe' was out of the Green Chili Pork Stew, I had really wanted to have some on the crisp chilly Morning coz it was so Cold I could see my Breath this Morning and everything was tinged with Frost.  Then Warmed up to 82 Degrees by Noon.  I did still take a lot of Photos.  And, I was disappointed to learn the Mercado wouldn't begin, or any of the Dancing, Music, Costumed Performers, until after Noon!!!  No way I was hanging around for Four more Hours for that and by then it would be crowded too.  I'd come early to avoid crowds and for the first Hour practically had the whole Garden to myself.  The second Hour I was there it began to fill up and that was my cue to bounce.  I went to "Five & Diner" for Brunch instead by 9:30 a.m..

I had the Cadillac Meatloaf Dinner, since, when you're Old, you can eat whatever you want whenever you want it.  Coz we have a different Relationship with Time in Retirement and Old Age.  So Meatloaf Dinner for Breakfast it was!  *Winks*  And it was delicious, I ate all the Mixed Veggies and Texas Toast, half the Mashed Taters & Gravy, one slice of the Meatloaf with Mushrooms/Gravy/Crispy Onion Straws.  Then I brought Home the other half of the Taters and other Meatloaf Slice with what was on it for The Man.  Plenty for both of us and that's all he eats when we go there anyway, he always gives me his Veggies and Texas Toast.  I had their delicious Strawberry Lemonade too.  There was a Car Club eating there that had their Vintage Cars in the Parking Lot and they were Old Guys and those Cars were Original 1st Cars they'd Owned since their Teen Years, I was impressed at how good Care they'd taken all their Lives of their 1st Cars!

My 1st Car was a 1973 Orange & White Ford Maverick Grabber that I bought from my Dad.  My Brother was into Mustangs and Restoring them, so his 1st Car was a 1966 Silver Mustang Coupe with Black Racing Stripes, his 1st Wife Wrecked it.  So I Sold him my 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback, which was Baby Shit Green with Black Racing Stripes. *LOL*   And I had it Pimped out like a Bangkok Thai Taxi coz I'd bought it from my Thai Friend Lar {may she now RIP}.  And when her Military Husband Joe was going to be Stationed in Korea, they decided to Sell me the Car and I Loved how Lar had Decorated the Interior Dashboard, sorta Asian Gypsified.  Jam packed with Lucky Charms, Talismans & Deities Portraits, Buddhist Statues and Christian Saint Statues, Dingle Balls Trim, Fuzzy Dice & Roach Clips with Feathers & Rosaries hanging from the Rearview Mirror... you shouldda seen it!   Definitely a More is More Aesthetic. *Ha ha ha*  

 I was heavily preggy with The Daughter at the time and the Seats of that were on the Floor and I'd have to roll my Pregnant Ass out of the Car.  I only weighed 118 when I Delivered her, but had been 98 lbs. before ever having Children, and it just wasn't a practical Car for a very Pregnant Woman or a Newborn Baby, so by 8 Months Pregnant, I Sold the Car to my younger Brother.  *Smiles*   By the time my 1st Kid was Born I was more into Trucks and only bought Toyota, Nissan {used to be Datsun}, or Mitsubishi... to this day I still only drive those coz they serve me well and I'm past my infatuation with driving American Muscle Cars, tho' I still admire them.  In Arizona, Mustangs used to overheat coz their Radiators were too small for Desert Driving in this extreme Heat. 

 My Maverick used to overheat a lot too but had a bigger Radiator, still, if you had to stop every so many Miles to tend to an overheating Radiator situation and always carry tons of Water, too much of a Pain in the Ass just to have the Style of a Muscle Car.  I had 100 Spoke Chrome Rims on my Maverick, those were a Bitch to keep shiny and clean too, but they looked so damned Good.  And we'd Cruise Central Avenue and Race with other Cars, I had a 302 V-8 Stock Engine so it was a fast Quarter Car and I'm still a Lead Foot to this Day.  *LOL*  Before I Dated The Daughter's Father I Dated a Professional Racecar Driver that also worked for Max of Switzerland Dealership that Serviced Luxury Cars like Rolls Royce and Maserati's here in Phoenix. 

 He had a Shelby Mustang that was Gun Metal Grey with a Roll Bar Inside instead of a Back Seat and half the Engine was in the Front Seat.  That Shelby could blow the Doors off a Porsche Carrera and he often did just that Street Racing.  He could put a $100 Bill on the Dashboard and say if you could grab it when he punched the Accelerator, you could have it... you could. not. do. it!!!  It was like a fucking Jet taking off!  *LOL*  He quit Racecar Driving when he had a Bad Accident in a Pro Race and put the Racecar upside a Wall, damned near leaving nothing but the Frame and him strapped in his Seat.  He had an Identical Twin Brother, but after the Accident, due to the reconstructive Surgeries he hadda have on his Face to put him back together, they didn't look alike anymore!  But, he was still a Handsome Italian Stallion.  *Winks* 

Anyway, enuf of Nostalgia, back to the Here & Now.  I stopped by "World Market" and they were having a Golden Santa Scavenger Treasure Hunt, Four Golden Santas hidden in the Store and if you found them you got a $50 Gift Certificate.  I had wondered why there were a throng of people waiting in a group before they even opened, a huge amount of Japanese Tourists were there, they seem very keen on Scavenger Hunts and were speaking Japanese, so I don't know if they were Tourists on Vacation?  We're finally starting to get our International Tourists again, they have stayed away due to Donnie Two Dolls Offending the Whole World and NOT making America a Trusted Destination to go on Vacation anymore.  In fact, we had Travel Advisory Warnings Worldwide for the United States, like you usually reserve for Politically unstable and dangerous corrupt led Nations!!!  Well, with this Regime we are unstable, dangerous and corrupt now, no doubt about it.

Anyway, all Four Golden Santas were found in short order, I wasn't looking all that hard for them coz I was there to see if they had any Sales Post-Holiday.  They did and I got Five large Bottles of Imported Olive Oil, from Greece, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal, usually $19.99 a Bottle, for only $3 each!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Color me Happy, we use a lot of Olive Oil and it's usually very expensive, so I stock up when I can get the better Brands discounted.  I also saw that at Grocery Stores and Big Box Stores Today, Coffee had skyrocketed to about $16 a Box for the individual K-Cup Pods!!!   So I went to my Discount Grocer and got every Specialty kind they had in the K-Cup Pods for only $4.99 a Box of various Starbucks types {Sunsera, Pike Place, Holiday Blend, Fall Blend, Creme' Brulee, Sumatra, Verona, French Roast, House Blend, Vanilla Lavender, Veranda, Breakfast Blend, Caramel, Vanilla, Pumpkin Spice, and Blonde Veranda} LaVazza, Death Wish Coffee, Black Rifle Coffee, Seattle's Best, Bulletproof Coffee, Medium & Dark Roast Trader Joe's Brand.  I could become a Barista right here at Home now!  *LOL*

I had a $15 Discount too there so Three Boxes of the 10-Pod Coffees were Free to me.  Since Coffee had skyrocketed in price and we drink a lot of it I wasn't hesitating to get what they had before everyone does a Run on it there.  That's what happened with the Ocean Spray Cranberry different Flavored individual Bottle drinks, they had a Run on them and now are out and probably won't get more in.  They get Overstock so you never know what they'll get in or when they'll ever get it again, if ever.  So, you gotta get yours while there's still some left.  I also got Boxes of Cereal, the really good Brands, for 99 Cents each, so stocked up on that too.  And they had Eli's Gourmet Cat Food also on deep Discount, so I stocked up on that as well while they have it.  Alas, they no longer have Cheap Wild or Exotic Bird Seed, so I couldn't Score any of that for our Wild Bird Friends.

Amber came over so us Gals, The Niece, The Daughter, Amber and I, sat Outside and visited around the Pool area.  It's a Beautiful pleasant day and has been all day long, it's still 80 degrees at 4:00 p.m., but with a light Breeze.  This is why Snow Birds flock here in the Fall and Winter Months.  And they are here in force now, for sure, they are apparent everywhere.  Some are very friendly and outgoing with Locals, some just are enjoying a Vacation and acting very Touristy, some have 2nd Homes here they live in half the Year or a few Weeks of every Year if it's just a Vacay Home they Own.  Most have Means, since, you don't go on lots of Vacations, especially lengthy ones, or Own Two or several Homes if you don't have the Means to be able to.  But not all are Pretentious, I've met some Lovely people who became Friendly with me when they're in Arizona, but from somewhere else that's their Home State or Country.

One of the things that The Man and I did on Saturday was go look at what the Flooding across the Roads in and around the Nature Preserve.  They are really destroyed and I don't see us being able to go there most of the Winter since a lot of major construction and expense is gonna be required.  Not being able to be near the Rivers for so long is a bummer, we enjoy the Nature Preserve, but, it's not done Flooding yet and we have no idea yet how much more catastrophic Weather might hit either.  Nationally it's been very irregular Weather that is highly unpredictable and causing a lot of damage and high risks now.  People have been harmed or Died, Properties have been damaged or destroyed.  So I don't want to get too complacent.  We don't even have our Roof replacement started either coz the Roofers are so behind coz so many Properties received considerable damage and current Storms are stacking up more damage on top of existing damage to Properties locally.

 

 

Today I simply must Price some of that Boxed Inventory I've got sitting in the House to get it out of here and into the Showroom to try to make some Money.  I need to knuckle down and finish decluttering the main living areas in here again and keep on top of it this time.  *Le Sigh*  My Executive Function is clearly compromised by whatever disabling factors cause it.  So I guess it's gonna be a Lifelong Battle from here on out as it just seems to get worse with Age and not better.  *Sob*  It's the bane of my existence and yet I'm my own worse Enemy, nobody else to blame for any of it, I'm the Sole Offender and I Own that Guilt and Conviction of causing it all.  The rest of the Family doesn't spend that much time in the Common Areas to seem to notice or be bothered by it, tho' they know it bothers me and help me deal with it from time to time when I finally say Enough Dawn, take Care of it!  But, they know it will go right back within probably a Month or Two of my ability to Maintain it slipping.  The slippage has become predictable.

I am a Hoarder, I ain't gonna Lie and it is like a Disease that if you are afflicted with it, battling it is constant.  I Hoard nice or necessary things, not Trash, and for the most part it never gets to a level that would require a definite intervention or need Sanitary or Safety Concerns either.  I like a Home that is visually pleasing and people tell me it is, so, mostly they say nothing about what I find to be bothering about it.  Mebbe they're too Polite to, I dunno?  *LOL*  So, for right now I'm going to tackle a room of it again and then get back to Blogging later on... since, I do prefer doing this to doing that... if I tidied up and organized as frequently as I Blog then it would be Done already.  *Bwahahahaha*

Well, as I walk in to clean the Kitchen this is what I see!  How Crazy is that?!  A fake Eyelash in the Yellow Death Mac N Cheese Container!  Princess T said to tell my Bloggers it wasn't hers!!!   Hadda be her Mother's or one of Mom's equally Crazy Friends like Amber!? *Bwahahahha*  Sometimes what the Kiddos leave in their wake just cracks me up and definitely makes for some hilarious Blog Fodder, No?  *Smiles*  Nothing Surprises me anymore actually, I've seen it all... or at least I think I have until I see something like this, that is!!!!!  *LOL*  I quit the Cleanup and Decluttering after about 40 Minutes once I got overwhelmed and my Executive Function just went to shit.  The Young Prince told me the best thing to do is to just Step Away, Regroup, and come back later when those unsettling Feelings aren't as Paralyzing and Overwhelming to me.  Otherwise, Emotionally I start to get really bottomed out and agitated.  So, some got Done... most didn't.  Some being better than None.  *Winks* 

Princess T is mad at her Cat and doing her Room coz he was Naughty again with her long absence of being over at Rusty's for the Weekend.  He is prone now to pissing on something of hers in defiance.  And if it's on her Bed she's really Mad at him, which, I don't blame her.  He's on thin Ice right now with her.  We're getting a lot of Spam Callers on our Phones right now, probably those damned Medicare Advisors trying to talk you into switching Plans, it's almost worse than the Political Calls during Elections when Open Enrollment is upon us for Medicare, its nonstop Calls we aren't interested in receiving.  I forbid The Man to talk to them coz he'll agree to anything or get confused about what the caller is even trying to explain or do... and I don't want him Recorded Agreeing to something that then I have to run damage control behind and explain it's not valid coz he has Dementia and TBI... so is Mentally Impaired.  I'm sure many Seniors are and get themselves into all kinds of binding shit they weren't competent to have Agreed to Ethically or Legally if their cognitive decline is extreme.

But we have someone like that as President in the White House and they're still allowing him to make crucial decisions, while being Bat Shit Crazy AND in serious Cognitive Decline, so, mebbe it's what we've come to as a Nation, I dunno?  Do we really even get phased at whatever Crazy shit he says, does or Tweets anymore becoz it's been this way now for 10 fucking Years with him, worsening by the Minute?!  He should have been removed and Institutionalized for his own good and the good of the Nation, a long, long time ago.  There is nobody in my Crazy Family who is as Crazy as that man, and that's saying something!!!  *LOL*  And when other Crazy People notice and say you're too Crazy, that's about as Crazy as it fucking gets on the spectrum and Far Side of how Crazy a Person can get or be.  Donnie Two Dolls is definitely at the FAR Side of Crazy, Pegged Out and Certifiable. 

Anyway, so, what I did get done was all Skellies and Halloween off the Front Porch now, the Kitchen tidied and Purged of what needed to be tossed or Donated to declutter it.  I've still got to go to The Bank and make a couple Deposits of my Stock Dividend, which is doing very well, and my Child Support Check for my 40 Year Old Child now they're garnishing my Ex's Social Security Checks.  *LOL*  It's how I know the Fucker is still Alive and may he now live Forever so he can pay me back all that he owes me in Back Child Support Payments I never received a Penny of when The Son was a Child, from Age Six Weeks when I got Divorced, to Age 18.  Seems Crazy to be now getting it when the "Child" is Forty!   But, better Late than Never I say, it was an unexpected Surprise.   *Bwahahahahaha*  I'd only attend any Funeral me Ex has to make sure he's Dead.  {Shirley, you can relate to that, huh GF? Winks}

Okay, so, we establish I Faded at the Gate in doing the Work around here that needs doing and I haven't had the Bandwidth yet to tackle Pricing Inventory either.  The House is a Hot Mess and looks it too, but, I don't even have the Energy to Burn the Place to the Ground actually.  *LOL*  In fact, I don't FEEL like Working at all, so, I probably will cut myself some slack and not Work, since, allegedly I AM supposed to be Fucking Retired, Right?  *Bwahaha and Eye Roll*  Now I don't have to GO to Work, I just Wake Up and it's all around me!!!  *Le Sigh and Winks*  I am probably on extended Burnout coz I know what that Feels like, I did have it in my Corporate Lives too as some juncture and at least I was getting PAID handsomely to do all that.  None of what I do around here comes with a fucking Check.  *Humphhhhhh and Fucky Darn*  So there's little incentive or motivation, it's like running on a Hamster Wheel actually, you get nowhere and there's no Reward.  Just an Exercise in Futility.  *Le Sigh*

Plus I'm bummed the Holidays I enjoy most are over.  Tho', by this Month already and Mid-Month Christmas will kick in to High Gear.  They're already playing Christmas Music in most of the Stores now! Which, that was a Surprise when it was only the 5th and TARGET had the Christmas Music Playing when I was in there!!!  Now, don't get me Wrong, I'm not one to complain about Holiday Music, I find it to be uplifting unless they play the C&W Depressing Christmas Songs where the Poverty Stricken Kid is Buying his Dying Mother New Shoes so when she meets Jesus they will somehow matter!  *Eye Roll*  When I hear C&W Christmas Music I think to myself, well, this could account for a portion of Christmas Suicides if they're listening to this shit during the Holidays, that's for sure... makes me wanna Slash a Wrist and I Love and revel in Christmas and it's Vibes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Lord have Mercy it's depressing, despondent and Hopeless Lyrics to that Genre!!!  Perhaps why so many MAGA are of that demographic, and make even whatever Crazy shit he's saying sound good to them, I dunno?

But, it was of the Happier Vintage Variety of Christmas Music, so it was Uplifting to trawl TARGET listening to it and seeing Christmas being hauled out and put up on all the Shelves now.  There are some lovely Christmas Offerings this Season tho' I rarely, if ever, Buy any Christmas Themed Merch anymore.  I'm more on the downside of Christmas Decorating now I'm considerably Older and I have a Christmas Closet, that's Walk-In Sized and full of Christmas Decor, with some overspill in The RV Garage Mahal Storage of it too.  Now that I have half The She Shed cleared out of Stored Inventory I also have a large faux Christmas Tree Stored in a Corner of it too.  I got that little Tabletop 4 ft. Christmas Tree at SAVERS this Year on The Cheap which will go up this Year and be Decorated easily and quickly.  It's small enuf it will go down easily and quickly too, which was a consideration.  This Year even Princess T said she's probably not putting up a Tree in her Room, first time ever, she usually does.  She has put too much new stuff to Decorate her Room regularly with, to have Placement now for a Tree.

The Son has been avoiding me and just sequestered in his Room since I gave him the Messenger/Text Ultimatum about Drinking.  But, he hasn't had a Drink and so I guess he's trying Sobriety and hopefully he can Maintain and accomplish it better this time around?  I know it's a Process for any Addiction and Alcoholism is one of the worse ones to conquer from what I hear from those who've experienced multiple Addictions.  Even Dangerous Drugs they say were easier to get Clean of than Alcohol is to get Sober of, which, speaks Volumes about how Addictive the Fire Water is.  And why it's a Scourge to Society, but, perfectly Legal... and even Prohibition didn't Solve the Problem, so the only Solution is folks CHOOSING ABSTINANCE over indulging.  And, overall, that's not gonna happen with most Adults partaking of Alcohol, even if they aren't Alcoholics and seem not to have a problem with it that becomes a full blown Addiction to it.  Most Seniors I know drink and get hammered in fact... you see more Seniors in the Alcohol Section of Grocery Stores than any other Demographic.

My Observation being that most seem to have a preference for Wine and could be full blown Winos for all I know.  *LOL*   By the time you're Buying your Wine in the Big Box with a Spigot, that reminds me of Frat Kids at Keggers, I think perhaps you could have a Problem with it beyond a Glass of Wine with your Meals?   *LMAO*  The Wine Drinking Senior Crowd is Chatty tho'.   Those loaded up with Wine in their Grocery Carts, with few actual Edible Groceries, always tend to wanna make Conversation with an Old Dreadlocked Hippie whose Cart is filled with Organic Fresh Produce and such.  And lots of it, since I'm Feeding Three Generations here and a Rando Stranger wouldn't know that, as they look into my Cart, compared to theirs.  *LOL*  The Interrogation usually goes like this:  Oh, are you having People over?   No, People just live with us, lots of them in fact, Three Generations worth of Younger Hungry ones.  So all this won't last long or go bad... I'll be back soon for replacement Food.  *Bwahahahaha*  Then it will swing towards:  You all sure eat Healthy.  And that's coz all their Carts hold is a copious amount of Liquor and not-so-healthy options.  *LOL*

Of coarse we have Two Alcoholics at Home {Son and Daughter} so, I never buy Alcohol or keep it at Home even for Guests, they must bring their own if they want to imbibe.  Except for what the Alcoholics have bought for themselves, it would be a Dry Home completely and I'm Okay with that.  Never needed it or Cigs in my Life or Home, never want it either.  It's a Smoke Free Home as well, Smokers have to Smoke outside in the Smoking Area that only was set up for the Smokers after Adult Kids who Smoke moved in, I've never Smoked and The Man gave up Smoking and Drinking when he met me and realized I did neither and tolerated neither in a Partner either... Deal Breaker for Moi.  If you Smoked or Drank, I probably wouldn't even consider you coz my Ex was an Alcoholic and Drug Addict, so I've had Enough of living with that.  And I don't want my Home smelling like a Dirty Old Ashtray either, yuk and Gak!   I was so glad when they Banned Smoking in Stores, Work Places and Restaurants.  Tough transition for the Smokers, since most were Addicted to their Cancer Sticks.

Even now, at the Antique Mall, if I Work a Shift with a Smoker I ask them how they ever held down a Career with as many Smoke Breaks as they Need to take?!  Christ on a Bike, you're only here 4 Hours, is a Smoke Break every 15 Minutes Telling that it's a serious Problem for you?  We have some Chain Smokers clearly... and honestly, I don't wanna cover for you coz you have an Addiction that takes you away from the Work you're supposed to be doing.  Being gone that frequently that everyone else has to do your Work FOR you when you're out there Smoking rather than up to the Job!!!  Same with folks who can't put down their Phones... Addiction is never good for anyone, renders you less functional or tolerable and places burdens on everyone else due to your Addiction.  When I'm on Base and I see all the Young GI's on their Phones constantly I'm thinking, WTF do they do during a War, take their Phones into Battle doing this?!   Es No Bueno.  *Eye Roll*

I worked on things about an Hour more and didn't feel as Overwhelmed or stuck inside my own Head as much, so got more done, then quit once I got physically tired.  I found out from a fellow Local Blog Friend/Reader that after 30 Years they changed the Veteran's Day Parade Route in Downtown Phoenix from Central Avenue to 3rd Street between McDowell Road and Indian School Road, ending near the VA Hospital!  That sucks, way less Parking, which Downtown Parking is already limited and a chore for any large Event, a very Strange choice of Route since 7th Street or 7th Avenue would have made more sense, 3rd Street is not a good Choice for Routing a large Parade.  Our Veteran's Day Parade has often been the biggest one in the Nation and we always go coz it's The Man's Special Day to be Honored and he so looks forward to that, being Recognized for his Many Years of Service to Country, just shy of 40 Years worth!!!  Plus, he is a Highly Decorated actual War Hero.

So, I Google Earthed the new Route and saw where I MIGHT be able to find Parking close enuf I can Walk a Disabled Veteran or Wheel him in a Wheelchair, Curbside to watch the Parade along 3rd Street.  There's an Affluent Neighborhood nearby where a large 1800's Victorian sits on Acreage right on the Corner of Palm Lane and 3rd Street which looks Hopeful to me to snag a spot to Park.  But, if Parking is ridiculous I can't do it coz he's too Disabled to Walk far and lug all his Medical Equipment, so for Disabled Veterans this is going to be a really piss poor change of what the Route is and I'm sure there will be complaints about it later.  They claim it was due to "Heightened Security", just WTF?!  Did they have any High Security Concerns or Issues in the past 30 Years that have suddenly escalated in 2026 or do they think the Outcome of this Election might have caused some?   I do wonder what "Heightened Concerns" they Speak of?  They were very vague on the Website. 

After all, the MAGA who Lost are the most Violence Prone Devoted Cult Base that PRETEND to be Patriots and wouldn't be above doing Domestic Terrorist Acts again REAL Patriotic Veterans who Served and are being duly Honored.  They Worship a Sex Offending Five Time Draft Dodger too Cowardly to Serve and pretended to have Bad Feet.  He's 80 now and Walks just fucking Fine for his advanced Age, so you can't tell me that as a Young Draft Age Man his Feet were so Bad he couldn't go to War.  His Rich Daddy just Paid Off some Doctor to say he had Bad Feet, but all thru the 70's he sure was at a lot of Discos Dancing Away with his Pedophile Bro's like Epstein, on those alleged Bad Feet and the Vietnam War didn't end 'til 1975.  A lot of the Yahoos who act like they would Fight for Donnie Two Dolls sure turned on his Ass when they thought mebbe he'd reinstate the Draft and send them to Iran to Die for his Ego and Greed Based Illegal War he and his Spawn are making lotsa Money on with Government Contracts and Lord knows what other shady Backroom Backdoor Deals.

Anyway, even if the Parade Route makes it so we can't find Parking and just have to forget about attending this Year until they put it back on a reasonable Route that Works for Attendees and Disabled Veterans, I'll take him for his Free Meal at "Applebees".   I almost forgot it was already gonna be Veteran's Day on Wednesday, so much has been going on I lost track of what's coming up in a hurry!!!   So, Thanks Taja for informing us of the Change and New Route, they haven't been Advertising any of that worth a damn so there will probably be lots of confusion and folks lining up at Wrong locations along Central Avenue where it's been for Three Decades, I highly suspect. 

 It could end up being a real confusing Cluster Fuck, I Hope not, since Veterans and their Families do look forward to this and those participating in the Parade and putting it on do put a lot of Work and Effort into it too.  Many come from all over the State to be in the Parade.   And it being culminated at the VA Hospital is something perhaps Hospitalized Veterans might appreciate, I dunno?  Depends how much of it they could see thru the South facing VA Hospital Windows I suppose?   We'll see how it all Plays Out on Wednesday?   I start my new Night Shift on Friday Nights starting this Friday The 13th, so I'm trying to build up my Stamina so I'll Feel more like it was a good idea to accept it?   Right now I'm more inclined to Feel like, What WAS I Thinking!?  *LOL*

*******

Happy belated Veteran's Day by the time this Post Publishes... Dawn... The Bohemian

The Prodigal Fur-Child And Human Child

 Princess T went over to her Boyfriends for the rest of the Weekend and all Three Adult Kiddos went to the MMA Fights.  So The Man and I are all Alone on a Saturday Night, Whoo Hoo, we could run around the House Naked if we wanted to... we just don't want to... it's been a long day.  And he can't Run with his Walker anyway.  *LOL and Winks*  I don't know if The Daughter and The Niece will have a hard time with The Son, he drank too much before they left for the Fights.  Usually he holes up in his Room when he knows he's fallen hard off the Wagon on a day he doesn't go to Work and drinks too early.  But, since they had Plans and he'd spent $150 on Tickets for the MMA Fights, it wasn't like they weren't going, no Refunds.   My Imagery will be really heavy on recent Holiday Celebrations coz I went on a Pathological Picture Taking Binge for them.  *Smiles*  
So... Strap in...

 He was being a Jerk, which, when Drunk, that always happens.  He gets really hostile and even argues with his damned self if there's nobody in the Room, it's Mental Illness and Autism just magnified with Alcohol.  The Girls were exhibiting Dark Gallow's Humor about it, which is good, coz I was NOT.  I told him he was being an Asshole and nobody wants to be around him in that condition... Yes, I'm vicious with my Words around Drunks, it's a Trigger for me.  At least they have to be around him all Night, I do not, I told them to give him copious amounts of Coffee to sober his Ass up before they come back Home so I won't wanna set his stuff on Fire in the Front Yard and say Burn Baby Burn!!!  *Winks*  Anyway, they're all Gone for the Night, so there's Peace in the Valley and no Trouble at The Asylum or Paradise for now.  *Smiles*

Eli the Cat was Singing the Song of his People and trying to open the damned Door to the Bedroom he shares with his Human.  He knows how to do it.  So I had to go in there and make a fuss over him, coz if he gets really Mad at his Human being gone he's been prone lately to pissing on her stuff, her Bed, well, whatever he can reach to show his contempt for her choosing her Boyfriend over spending time with him instead.  *Le Sigh*  He is a Rascal and he could give a Fuck how Mad she gets when she gets Home to Piss-Fest.  And since nobody wants a Cat Piss smelling Home, she then has to Deep Clean everything right away.  This is why she doesn't ever want Children, she can barely tolerate being a Pet Parent and putting up with his Prodigal Fur-Child Nonsense!  *Ha ha ha*

I did a lot of Work Today putting Halloween away, it's 90% done now, 10% left on the Front Porch and then it will just be an Autumnal Decor Vibe of Harvest Themed Decorations left on it until Thanksgiving is a Wrap.  I have been asked on occasion, with having a European Welsh Mom and a Native American Dad, did we have conflicting sentiments about Celebrating Thanksgiving?  In a Word, Yes.  Had I been the Indigenous I wouldn't have Invited the Pilgrims to Dinner.  *Winks*  History shows us that it didn't end Well at all for the Native Americans of this whole Continent, any of them, in spite of their initial Hospitality.  My Mom's Country doesn't Celebrate Thanksgiving so it was a foreign Holiday and concept to her anyway and she never understood why Dad Celebrated it at all!  *LOL*

Later in Life, after we Grew Up, since they didn't have to just do if for us Kids anymore, so we wouldn't stand out even more amongst General Population as the very 'Different' Family in so many ways, they both quit Celebrating it at all.  I'd bring over a Plate of the Food for them tho' every Thanksgiving, spend Time with each of them.  They were Divorced and living Separately by then, after 36 Years of Marriage they called it a Wrap... and they'd eat it, we weren't opposed to Food as a Family, after all.  *Bwahahahahaha*    I don't know that any of my Paternal Relatives on the Rez Celebrate Thanksgiving at all, never seen any Posts that they do or ever have???  And definitely none of my Relatives in Wales even Understand or Celebrate American Holidays.   And none of our Relatives in Mexico do either.  But I think Thanksgiving is a very neglected Holiday anyway.

Except for Selling Thanksgiving specific Food, it's not a big Commercially profitable one, unless you Raise Turkeys, who eats them most of the rest of the Year?   Well, mebbe at Christmas???   Then Turkeys pretty much get a reprieve for the rest of the Year really, we're not clamoring to purchase a 12-25 lb. Bird most of the rest of the Year.   And it's harder to find the smaller Turkeys, so unless you have lots of Mouths to Feed, it can amount to a shit ton of leftovers and creative ways to use it up after Thanksgiving.  By Day No. 2 I'm pretty much Over eating Turkey and don't have room in the Fridge to have a lot of leftovers that perhaps won't get eaten.  Coz we're not Big on leftovers really, everyone forgets about them or wants something fresh and different.  So, this Year, "Golden Corral" it is, Twenty Bucks each, no Work, no Mess or Cleanup, no leftovers, all you can eat in one sitting of it all that somebody else Cooks and Cleans Up after... Works for us this Thanksgiving.

We never have had some of the Family Fights some folks endure during Thanksgiving Get-Togethers, coz frankly, we don't discuss Politics or Lifestyle Choices during a Gathering.   The only time we ever had a Fight at Thanksgiving was one of the 1st Years that The Man and I were Married and he insisted on Inviting my Mom TO Thanksgiving Dinner.  I tried to explain to him this would not be a good idea.  First of all, she doesn't Celebrate the Holiday.  Second of all, she prefers I just deliver her a Plate of the Food after we Celebrate the Holiday and just visit with her at her Home, she's Old now and set very much in her ways.  My Parents were never big on Visiting Grown Kids Homes, they preferred we go to their Homes and Visit and that was always what worked best.  But, he insisted, I relented, she and he got into a huge heated Argument about ZIP CODES... I shit you NOT!!!

It was whether Luke AFB had its own Zip Code or used the Zip Code of the City it's in?  OMG I shit you not!   As if anyone really gives a shit, Right?!  But, lemme tell ya something about my Mom AND The Man, they both have THE NEED TO BE RIGHT, and so neither was backing down and it was a Hill they were ready to go to Battle Over... and him to Die on... coz, she's a formidable Adversary, he had no Idea, he was pretty "New".  *Bwahaha*  Listen, that Old Welsh Gypsy will put fucking Hexes on you Man, and so for a couple Years they didn't Speak after that coz I shuffled her irate Ass on Home before Dinner even got Served at our House.  So that we could eat it in Peace and Tranquility and not have Thanksgiving totally ruined... and I brought her a Plate of it with us.  And she and The Man had a very volatile relationship the whole time she was among the Living.  But, he'd do anything for her and she'd do anything for him... it was complicated... they are both complicated and Mom was Crazy.  He didn't Factor In how Crazy my Familia is/was/will always be. *LOL*

And Listen, I'm one of those No Drama Mamas and so I will forfeit MY Need to be Right in Favor of Peace, you Hear me.  Do you wanna be Right or do you Value your Peace and not having your Calm Disturbed? And I told The Man the Key to avoiding Confrontation and Arguments is that if someone NEEDS to be Right, or has a difference of Opinion, be it him or anyone else, I don't really Care or give a Fuck at all... so... Four Simple Words will Solve any Problems as my response to anyone initiating Confrontation or being Argumentative: 

YOU COULD BE RIGHT.  

And then I just Walk away. *Winks and Smiles*

Yes, it drives them Crazy, but they're left Holding that Space, coz, what could they say?  I didn't say they WERE Right, I didn't say they were WRONG either.  And I frankly don't Care or have any Fucks to Give either way coz my Calm is not being or going to be disturbed and I maintain my Peace.  Shuts that shit down immediately tho'.  And did I really Care what Zip Code Luke AFB has?  I don't Live there, in fact, I don't really Care what Zip Code you have either.  I'm not Obsessed or Impressed with Zip Codes, or which are the Right and desired ones or Wrong and undesired ones.   And I don't work for the fucking Post Office so it's not important to me to get it Right unless I'm mailing you something and Need to Know what yours is so the Post Office can get it to ya and not waste my Cost of a Stamp.  *LOL*

My Kiddos also loathe that it's difficult to provoke me into an Argument about anything, I just don't Care enough to Argue about whatever it might be or is.  If it's something you are so passionate or Obsessed about you come unhinged, and lose your shit about it, that's for you to sort out, not my Problem and I won't let it be either.  I am apt to even tell you, if you are like a Dog with a Bone about it and can't or won't just Let It Go, "I just don't Care."  End of the whole Conversation for me, coz now I'm Checking Out and you're wasting your Breath and our Time.  It's become just a Monologue, not a Dialogue.   Remember in the "Peanuts" Comic Strip where the Teacher's Voice, Miss Othmar, was just squawking with no actual Words?   Wah wa wah wa-wah...   Well, that's what I now Hear after I've Tuned you the Fuck Out and my Adult ADHD Kicks in to High Gear so you've completely Lost my Focus and Attention anyway, Boring me.  *LOL & Winks*

I'm contemplating, since I don't have anything on the Agenda for Sunday, whether to go back to the Gardens for the final day of Dia de los Muertos being Celebrated there as an Event in Real Time, Sunday the 8th?  I could load The Man's Wheelchair up and take him and that would also let me experience the Mercado, if not the Procession, since, I doubt we'd stay 'til late when they have it at almost Dusk.  I usually attend very early when they first Open so that we have a lot of it to ourselves for an Hour or Two before Crowds usually show up.  Everything is Wheelchair accessible, and that would be easier than Renting a 
Scooter and not being sure he could work it properly or not be mowing people over with it.  *Smiles* 

 Even before Dementia, he in a Scooter was a Road and Pedestrian Hazard, as so many folks in Scooters often are.  Something about being on a Scooter makes the Rider feel Entitled to not have common courtesies and know that Pedestrians still have the Right of Way if you're in any Motorized Vehicle that could injure or perhaps even kill someone if you're out of control operating it irresponsibly, angrily or recklessly.  The moment I saw he got irate and aggressive while behind the Wheel of one, forget about it, you're not Safe to be in control of one.  I've had to confront people on Scooters who have tried to run into me, or run me over, or bully Pedestrians into conceding to their Vehicle aggressively. That if they don't wanna be yanked off that thing and don't have the Ability to still Run so I don't kick your Ass, back the Fuck Up and don't EVER Threaten me with it.  I've gotten Applause from other Shoppers for doing and saying that, coz those Scooter Riders are a Menace when they are misusing it in Public and being a dangerous Threat behind the Wheel of one.

One Younger Morbidly Obese Woman in a GOODWILL once got Mouthy with me while on her Scooter trying to Buffalo past me in a too narrow Aisle.  She got right up to where she actually bumped into me!  Then had the Nerve to have a Mouth on her too, Oh Hell to the NO!   I went Postal and Hood on her Ass and told her loudly I'd yank her Fat Ass right off it and trash her Scooter for Touching me with it if she dared to again!!!  She put that fucker in Reverse so damned fast and headed for the Exit.  Even the Employees Applauded me coz she'd been intimidating all kinds of Customers and even Children with her damned Scooter and feeling Entitled to misbehave coz she was on one and too Fat to Walk.  So I knew for sure she was too Fat to Run or last in a Brawl/Fight.  Her Mouth could get her Fat Ass handed to her if she isn't Careful in the Future and picks the Wrong One to get Froggy with.   Coz if you're feelin' Froggy, go ahead... Leap.   I won't even say a Word before I fuck you up.  *In Self Defense... of coarse... coz it's what a Jury Believes that Counts.  LOL*

Anyway, mostly, unless someone is the initiator of Trouble I'd rather avoid it completely.  But some Public are just out there spoiling for Trouble and it shows.  I'd still rather engage in avoidance at all costs, ignoring them if possible.  Coz it's not worth having a Good Day turning into a Bad One on account of anybody whose a Rando out there causing Trouble.  People who just can't Get Along and Play Well with others... and to them, we're all "Others" coz they're prone to "Othering" and being Theatrical about it.  There's just so many of them these days, too many of them in fact.  And I'm Old and rather not have my Calm or Peace disturbed by them, as we've mentioned before.  I Wake Up every Day in a Good Mood with the Joy of Jesus in my Heart and the New Day being filled with Possibilities of it being a Positive one if I can make it happen like that.  But I sure see a lot of the Public that just seem Angry and Confrontational all of the time.  Often for no apparent reason that probably involves me personally, or probably not you either, but they may Project it all on me, you, or anyone handy... and many do.  They have Tortured Souls I guess.

And during the Holy Days/Holidays is when so many of these types of People seem to be the most Aggressive, the most apt to act Inappropriately, even if they're allegedly Celebrating the Holidays and what they should mean.  *Eye Roll*  Think Black Fridays for an Example.  I NEVER do a Black Friday, nothing on this Earth that I want or Need to endure that melee and throng of inappropriately behaving people vying for a Discounted TV or something.  And Losing their Shit in Public to get it at all costs during a Holiday where allegedly Peace on Earth and Goodwill towards Men should prevail, if they were Practicing it properly.  *Bigger Eye Roll*

So, I didn't get to bed until late to ensure the Trio of Kiddos that went to the MMA Fights in the Far East Valley all got Home safely and without incident.  Coz, since The Son was already Drunk before they left the House to go, and being a Jerk, I knew that it likely wasn't gonna End Well, and, it didn't.  They had to leave early, after his Friend's Fight, which was 5th on the Schedule, becoz he had continued to Drink, I suppose he snuck a Voodoo Ranger into The Niece's Car and drank it on the way, which pissed her off coz she doesn't allow open containers in her Vehicle.  And then they probably Sell Alcohol at that kind of an Event too, pretty sure.  And an Alcoholic on a Bender isn't someone anyone wants to be around.  So, I got Calls from both The Niece and The Daughter to say he was being belligerent and they'd have been tempted to strand and leave him there except they wanted to ensure his Safety Home since they'd brought him there and he was close to being Blackout Drunk.

It got hairy on the ride Home since he picked a fight with his Sister and The Niece felt she was impaired by having someone not handling their Alcohol in the Vehicle.  She's a very cautious and timid Driver anyway, so I was relieved when they got Home, dumped him off and called me again to say they were driving around the Block and just wanted him inside and to go to Bed and Sleep it off before I come unhinged on him after he's sobered up.  They both don't want him kicked out, but I think they know nobody wants this kind of Stress and Drama or Substance Abuse in the Home either.  So, he's got some hard decisions to make about his arrangements.  Keep drinking and you can't be here... but maintaining his Sobriety has been short-term at best, he's found it way harder than getting Clean from Opioid Addiction, which he conquered and has stayed Clean with no relapses in over Six Years now.  Addictions are a difficult Demon to Wrestle with for a Lifetime.  If you are an Addict you know this, if you know an Addict you've probably dealt with what the Wake of and Addict causes to everyone else.

 

So, I really dunno if he'll be able to stay here or have to be asked to make other Arrangements, that will be on him as to what Choices he makes, Alcohol or Relationships and an easier Row to Hoe Sober?  He doesn't have as many Options as his Sister to find other Arrangements, she has lots of people who have and will take her in when she's not doing Well.  When he's not doing Well he pretty much knows he's chosen a Hard Path to go on Life's Journey thru if nobody is willing to Tolerate his Unwellness or be able to Cope with it.  I have a difficult enough time Coping with everyone's Illness of the Mental variety and Physical varieties, let alone any Addictions they add to that mix.  So, I just don't Cope with Addictions, don't want to, don't have to, don't need someone else's Addictions complicating my Home Life either and disrupting my Calm.  He's running out of Chances and so his Choices are narrowing, so he best choose carefully and Mindfully.  He has no Transportation due to Drinking, he has Court appointed conditions to driving due to a DUI several Years ago, and doesn't have an operational Vehicle anymore either. 

So, he's either riding a Bike or Walking to his Work every day and he does go to Work every day, he's a hard Worker and reliable on a Job.  So, I'd call him a Functional Alcoholic, I've known many people like that.  They juggle a demanding and/or successful Career or Job, all the while being a Closeted Alcoholic in their Personal Lives.  Sometimes, and quite often actually, their Personal Lives then become a Train Wreck due to their Alcoholism.  And Wreck the Lives of many of their Loved Ones who've had to Deal with who they become once under the influence and/or an out of control Drunken Hot Mess.  The Son is becoming increasingly Angry and Violent when Drunk, which, he never was before, so, he has to go if he can't behave well and verbally or physically have Control over himself.  

Otherwise, he's likely to catch Charges and end up in Jail too coz I have Zero Tolerance for verbal or physical abuse of anyone.  The mutual combat he and his Sister get into is not Okay either... she prefers not to engage with him coz she knows he Triggers her and only is like this when he's had too much to Drink.  She's an Alcoholic but drinks moderately, not until she's in a stupor and acting Stupid.   I don't want anyone Homeless again or losing Employment, but I can't get Sober FOR anyone either.  So that's on them if they can't and find it impairs their ability to make good Life's Choices and therefore make a Hard Life for themselves that could have been avoided with Sobriety.  Be an Addict and you have to Live like one, and suffer the consequences of your Addiction and what it causes for you, it's just how I see it.  Be a Drunk and be Alone is how it usually ends up when you drive everyone off who ever Cared.  And Burn all your Bridges with Alcohol that fuels those Fires.  And now for the Political Satire for Today's Post:

*******

Life is complex... and... i don't have all the answers... dawn... the bohemian