Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Seriously Behind The Eight Ball

 


I just caught up on some Blog Reads and discovered one of my fav UK Bloggers, Vix, is having Health Issues.  This is a Senior who takes such exceptional Care of herself and exercises like a Youngster, eats healthy, looks amazing, and is vibrant, Fashionable and active.  So it seems so unfair to have a Hip go out, limiting mobility and cramping her very active Lifestyle.   But, the Body can and does sometimes just wear out over Time.  And to hear that the Right Wing Reform Party of their Political System is making it in to Power too in her area, was even more Bad News from across the Pond.  She keeps so Positive and Uplifted tho', quite an Inspiration, and I just Love her Blog VINTAGE VIXEN.  So, Healing Energies being sent out to Vix in England... and may their Politics have a Healing Touch too!  Her Beloved booked a Holiday to Greece to Cheer her... they Travel extensively and bring you along vicariously on her Blog.




So much can happen when I haven't kept up with my Blog Reads and check in more regularly with all my fav Bloggers, I apologize for being a MIA Reader!  I'm falling behind in other things too, including my housekeeping and decluttering, my Edit & Purging, my Spaces at the Antique Mall, well, you get the Picture.  I'm seriously behind the Eight Ball. *Le Sigh*  The further I fall behind in it all, the less ambitious I'm becoming to try to catch it all up, since it's quite overwhelming at some point of the deferred practice of keeping up with it all.  And sometimes I am doing other things more enjoyable than trying to constantly and futilely trying to Play Catchup and Failing miserably at it anyway.  The exterior looks splendid, so it's deceiving for what lies inside, a Hot Mess of deferred... everything.  I Care, and yet, I'm limited with Solutions.




I've tried instead to focus on what matters most and just concentrate on that.  The New Fridge is a Vision of Organization and that was helpful, I'm loving the Icemaker function which makes 10 lbs. of Ice daily if you Need for it to.  So, we always now have Ice and we still use the little portable Icemaker I bought prior, only, not relying on it as much now the Fridge cranks out lovely abundant Crescent Shaped Ice Cubes and dumps them in a large Bin in the Freezer section to just scoop out when needed.  It also has that built in Pitcher of fresh Ice Water that refills itself and is filtered, so saves on having to Buy Bottled Water.  With the scare about micro-plastics, the Family are trying to drink less Plastic Bottled refreshments now.  I'm sure we've already consumed a deadly amount of them before they made it known it's building up in our Bodies.  Whaddya gonna do with or about Modern Toxins tho'?  *Le Sigh*




On a Positive Note, since Vix really Inspired me to stay Positive and look at the Bright Side of things when Life's Issues and Challenges pile up, my Potted Herbs on the front Porch are thriving nicely and looking lovely.  I have Mints and Oregano, I never did get to buy my Basils and Pot them.  I've found that the Front Porch is a perfect fit for Potted Herbs tho' and makes me feel good when I enter and exit the House to see them growing so well flanking our Front Doorway.  They're even Flowering and setting some Seed.  I've yet to Harvest some to eat, which, I thought I would have by now, but I haven't been exactly in the Kitchen much making Homemade Sauces or Pho' to use them with either.  The Son will start a Chili in the Crockpot this Morning he said.  Usually it's been The Daughter who took over Cooking and Feeding everyone and she's been MIA for a Week now, so we've fended for ourselves and dealt with constant Health Crisis of The Man, which is distracting us from almost anything else.




White John his OT is coming Tomorrow at 4:00 and couldn't Believe he'd just had another Hospitalization and Medical Emergency on the very DAY he'd done so well in OT when John was here last time!  I explained that later that very DAY after PT at 4:00 p.m., he got Stung by a Scorpion before Dark and as I was getting Dinner!   Then it was Urgent Care, Ambulance Ride to a Trauma Hospital, and another Hospital Inpatient Stay!!!  He just got Discharged by Sunday Afternoon and we'll have to start OT and PT slowly again and work our way back up to where he was.  One Step forward, Three Steps back, has been what's constantly happening with him anymore, keeping Pace is grueling Work to keep him Mobile and out of Rehab.  So, I can really relate to what Vix was going thru with her Mobility Issues.  A Body in Motion Stays in Motion... a Body at Rest too long, Deteriorates rapidly, and it's a downward spiral from there!




I do get really concerned about both The Man and I being able to stay in the Home and Independent of requiring Longer Term Care and Alternative Placement eventually.  It's just not a viable Option Economically, at all.  There are no Holidays booked in the foreseeable Future, can't even remember the last Vacation we have even gone on.  So I shall vicariously visit any of you taking us along on yours Virtually.  *Winks and Smiles*  I really do enjoy coming along on the Canvas of my Imagination, I'm very Visual like that and have a Fertile Imagination.  Which is handy when Real Life is devoid of such activities afforded us.  I had intended to go back up to Jerome for a Weekend at least, but I cannot take this Show on the Road and that's a rather remote little Ghost Town Touristy spot, so if he took ill there we'd be in real Crisis.  Plus, his Mobility is seriously compromised now, so our Fav 1800's Hotel, The Connor, which has no Elevator, would not Work now for him.  We'd never get him up them Stairs anymore.  Leaving him behind is not an Option.




When you're a Full Time Unpaid Caregiver then there is no Respite Option to go on a Vacation without whoever it is you're Caregiver of.  I wouldn't have a Peace about it even if there were, in case while I was away he took a Bad Turn and I wasn't there for him.  I'd have intense Guilt and have to Abort the whole Trip immediately.  I couldn't even do Brunch on that Memorial Day Weekend Sunday he was Hospitalized with any measure of Success, now, could I?  *Le Sigh*  So, quite often I give up even trying to do Independent Me Time or leave to do anything, becoz it always seems if I leave the House, even to go get a Pizza less than a half Block away, another Crisis happens with him here at Home now!!!  And that's all way too Stressful to have on the Back of your Mind while you try to go do anything, however necessary it is.  I don't have adequate coverage here at Home to handle Crisis in my Absence.  No Drivers besides me, and they all have their own Disabilities they try to Cope with... adding Dad/Grandpa so I have Backup, can be a Big Ask of them.




Lately things have been falling apart like that, and not just with him, it's like a House of Cards when One falls... it's a Domino Effect of sorts.  The Young Prince has been less than Functional.  I didn't realize how much less Functional until he moved back Home.   And now I know why Allen burnt out trying to juggle a demanding Career and Caregiving for a Seriously Disabled Spouse.  With little to no Present Help, it's a LOT.  He's blown thru yet another perceived "Relationship", I think he builds up in his Head how his Relationships are actually going... and they're NOT really going well, except with Sayde, his long time Female Friend.  The Military Guy ended up Ghosting him, I think over a brief time they realize how Unwell he really is and that is a Red Flag, which, is understandable.  Hard for the person with the Serious Disability tho'.  But, he always finds the next Ex-BF and so there's already someone New... on to The Next Ex.  Reminds me of Jeff Goldblum's Dr. Ian Malcolm's Character's iconic Line of always looking for "The Next Ex Mrs. Malcolm".  *LOL*




The Young Prince will suddenly get Obsessive about something, the other Day it was Showering, he took Four of them in One Day!!!  And then he might go on a bender of NOT practicing good hygiene and you have to remind him to pop into the Shower, Comb his Hair, get Dressed or Change out of Clothes he's worn for Days, Brush his Teeth, etcetera.  I ended up doing an entire Load of Wet Towels from his Showerfest that day.  He used 2-3 each time it seems.  And if I don't see him doing his own Laundry regularly I have to ask him if I NEED to do a QC in The Art Studio to make sure I can see the Floor and it's not a mound of Dirty Clothing piled up like that last time he went Off The Rails?  I know it's gonna take 5-7 Months for Social Security to even REVIEW his Case and Application for Disability Status, Payments and Services.  So, it'll be at the very least the end of the Year before they even consider evaluating him and either Qualifying or Denying our Claim!  *Le Sigh*




And then let the Appeals and The Games then begin, coz I am going to be relentless and tenacious about Qualifying him, since he's at least been willing to go Apply with me as his Caregiver.  I can't get The Daughter in there to Social Security or DES coz she thinks they will involuntarily snatch her and put her in an Institution.  Like a Mental Health Facility or the State Hospital ... a Jail... Prison... or ICE Detention Center and Concentration Camp, never to be heard from again or get Due Process.  And there's no talking her out of that Fear coz... well, fuck... the way and direction this Country is going... she could be Right!!!???  And I'm not even a Paranoid Schizophrenic like she is and I can see that she has a bit of a Point about her Concerns about all of that given this Regime's Project 2025 being Implemented, albeit Illegally, nobody seems to be effectively stopping them either!  They wanted a "List" of all people in the Country Diagnosed with Autism... Por Que?!  One has to Wonder!!!




  The Son has Autism and he's so suspicious of Government now he won't even Register to Vote!  He doesn't wanna be on any "Lists" they might have!  And he is convinced our Votes don't matter anyway, otherwise this Clown wouldn't have been Voted in the 1st time, coz he definitely never Won the Popular Vote, his Opponent Hillary got more Votes and yet she still Lost.  So as far as The Son is concerned, that PROVES that One Vote per Citizen doesn't even matter, if Millions more Votes than your Opponent still makes you the Loser of an Election due to the Electoral College, which, I agree, should be abolished.  If we wanna pretend our Votes matter, then who gets the most Votes should have Won every Election based on that Fact... having the most Votes of The People... and not having that overturned by any other Alternative Method that allegedly makes things more "Fair"???  Really???  How is that MORE OR FAIR?!




In 2016 Hillary got 2,868,686 more Votes than Donnie Two Dolls, or, 48.18%... he got 46.09%... how was that MORE or FAIR then that he Won due to the Electoral College skewing the Popular Vote in his Favor to where he Won that Election?   That means just shy of 3 Million of The People's Votes didn't Count or Matter.  That's a considerable amount of Wasted Votes cast, that really DIDN'T MATTER, to be sure.  I don't Care where you choose to Live, it shouldn't have preferential treatment of how much more or less your Single Vote should Count towards Electing anyone.  And I've heard all the Excuses about Rural folks Needs being different than Urban folks Needs and there's less of them, or something, well, there's less of them, which doesn't make them a Majority then.  Lots of "Minorities" and various Demographics haven't been properly Represented in this Nation's History, based on something far more significant than who got Elected or where they chose to Live. 




 Things like their Color, Ethnicity, Country of Origin, or Gender, for example.  I couldn't even get a Loan without a Male Co-Signer when I was a Young, but Grown Ass Adult Female!  Native Americans didn't even become U.S. Citizens until June 2, 1924!  Let that sink in, it's THEIR Country Stolen from them by who Immigrated here and wasn't from here originally, but they weren't granted Citizenship of it!  Columbus arrived in the Americas {he didn't FIND America, people were already here for Thousands of Years}, in October of 1492, so, do the Math in how long it took for the Indigenous to even be acknowledged as Citizens here and have any Voice!!!   My Native American Paternal Grandparents and Elder Relatives were not considered American Citizens for most of their Lives!  The Voting Rights Act wasn't Signed into Law until 1965!!!  And now it's all being overturned, that is a brief period of time before we're devolving as a Nation, rather than Evolving or becoming more Enlightened, or MORE FAIR in Reality!!! 




 Despite Ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, there has been a LOT of Voter Suppression... White Primaries, Literacy Tests, Intimidation, etc. to try to stop the ability to cast a Vote.  It's happening all over again.  We should be concerned about it.  And I don't know that as many folks are concerned about it as should be and that's a good part of the Problem.  If someone doesn't even acknowledge there IS a Problem, then when it's too late to do anything about it, becoz they were Asleep rather than Woke and Aware about what was happening, that's how Battles are Lost that were worth Fighting for.  But they never even put up a Fight, so it was Lost before it even Began really.   And the Administration getting into Global Fights is a handy distraction so you're not even paying attention to the Battles going on right here at Home, that you should be up in Arms about and Fighting like Hell not to Lose.  We are Losing... a LOT... and yet I see folks acting as if everything is Business As Usual out there, going about their Daily Lives in oblivion or intentional ignorance or denial about it.  It bothers me.  It's too Smug, or Ambivalent, Complacent, or Clueless.




 Anyway, with The Son Working now I'm back to doing Irrigation if it comes during when he is at Work, bummer.  Especially since it comes Weekly now and I already fell once doing it.  You can't really Hire Help to do it coz you only know shortly in advance when it's coming and must take on the Water whenever SRP Schedules you which can be any Hour of the Day or Night.  It's rather a hassle, but the Water is Free so you can't complain about Cost, we only pay an Annual nominal Fee, with having Agricultural Zoning here at the Mini Farms, to have the distribution of it from the Main Canals, which are nearby.  Today I noticed City Workers out on the Street tho' coz One or Two of the Streets behind ours is Flooding and I don't know Why?  It's been Flooding for Two Days now, enuf that DUCKS are floating around in it ON the Street!  They are known to come in and float around in your Pastures as it's being Irrigated, coz it is like a small Lake then, but, not in the Street!  There shouldn't be that much Water in or around the Streets!




But, I don't know that it's an Irrigation Problem coz The City has designated our area to do some Improvements and notified us of it going on and I think they might have hit a Water Main or something?   Every time there's Construction lately they cock up and hit something they shouldn't have.  When they were building all those new Subdivisions and Apartments East of us they kept knocking out Power, or Water, or Sewer Systems all the time!!!  We didn't have to worry about the latter here in our Community coz we're still on Septic Systems and not connected to City Sewer Services.  Don't know Why the City bypassed connecting this Community when they've built up all around us considerably since the 1960's now... in fact, some of the newer areas around us aren't New at all, they were built over 30 Years ago now!!!   The Garden Lakes Community was built 1987-1993.  Ours has some 1960's Homes but most were built in the early 1970's to 1980's when this was all still Rural around us and no City Sewer Connections yet out here.




I'm going to do some Environmental Cleanup after dropping The Son off at Work, Princess T got dropped off at 6:00 a.m. but he gets dropped off at 8:00 a.m. Today.   So, I may also try to gird myself to do some tidying up of the Hot Mess Cluttering of the Sitting Room and Diningroom then too while The RV Garage Mahal and She Shed are Cooler to move stuff into.   Well... Worked on that for about 45 Minutes before petering out, but, if I spend that much time every Morning eventually it's gotta get Done, Right?  *Winks*  It looks better at least and isn't bothering me quite so much now I've moved at least some of it into The RV Garage Mahal.  I did The Man's Med Routine, Eli's Routine of Feeding & Grooming & Cleaning out his Litterbox, the Wild Bird's Routine, Watered all Porch Plants in Pots, and put the Chili in the Crockpot to Cook.  Lit a Scented Candle and will soon be taking The Son to Work, do some Environmental Cleanup for about an Hour or so at a Park nearby, which gets me my Exercise for the Morning too.




Can't do The Gym Today coz he has his Home Nurse coming by 10:30 a.m. and his O.T. coming at 4:00 p.m. so that shoots having a Morning of Afternoon Workout in the Head.  I'm working around a cluttered existence, both in the Home and on the Calendar lately.  Placement when you have a lot of people Sharing Space with all their Worldly Possessions Displacing many of yours, becomes challenging.  Then the Calendar with so many becomes Nightmarish logistically too.  And everyone's Work Schedules is hectic, his aren't set, hers are to get there but no telling anymore when they get off.  Some Days she's working late and other days they don't get a full day of work in.  So, since I'm providing Transportation, as the only Driver and only fully functional Vehicle either, it's a lot of fitting in commutes around everything else as well.  Very hectic, I'd like a Calmer Pace of Life at this Season of Life, I really would prefer it.  The Environmental Cleanup or going to The Gym is really my Time to Self to unclutter my Thoughts, reduce Stress build up, and Exercise my Body simultaneously.




Anyway, the Day looks like the Weather will be very nice and pleasant again like it was Yesterday.  I Love being Outside in Nature as much as Weather will permit me to be safely.   I do push myself Physically to all limits becoz it's the only way I can maintain enuf Stamina and Strength for what is required, regardless of how Old I'm getting.  It actually feel good even when it's not always comfortable, to keep in Motion and have any kind of Workout.  The Man has a T-Shirt a USMC Recruiter gave him as a Gift for all his Years of Service that says "Pain is Weakness leaving the Body".   That has become my Mantra when pushing past Physical fatigue and challenging myself to Keep Moving even when it's getting me some discomfort of Old Age related shit that would like you to Quit, but, I won't.   I have Neuropathy from Diabetes in my extremities, it can be exceedingly Painful but I do have Thankfully a very high threshold for Pain.  My Dear Ole' Dad would Raise us saying "Pain is a figment of your Imagination", I never once saw that Man even wince when Pain must have been excruciating.




His Medical Team would tell us, he HAS to be in excruciating Pain yet he would take nothing for it and override it with just his Mind and Willpower, and it does Work, I've done it myself.   He said that's why Placebos also Work, becoz as you Think, so you ARE.  The Mind being the most powerful Drug there is and we don't even access very much of it's Power and Harness it to our Benefit becoz so much of it is still a Mystery.  We are 100% of our Brains and it's Firing all of the time, so the 10% Useage is 100% Myth... yet, I'm fairly certain we could do more with our Brain Power than we average during a day accessing what it COULD do for us, the Voluntary Parts... it already takes Care of all the Involuntary Parts for us and I think we Humans get Lazy about utilizing what we can of our Brain's Power.   I Challenge my Body and my Brain every single Day to do more than I Think I Can.   And then once I do it, well then, I THINK I CAN from that point forth and it becomes easier becoz I've discovered and Proven, Yes, I CAN.  Have there been times I can't?  Yeah, but, over Time I can change that outcome as well with Practice, Relentless Determination and Tenacity to not accept Failure.




When I went to do Environmental Cleanup someone had kindly left me an entire Bag of Aluminum Cans beside one of the Trash Cans.  When you go regularly to clean up the Park you become known for doing it, so sometimes people will do sweet things like that.  Sometimes they'll give me a Cold Drink or Thank me for tidying up the Park, I'm ensuring less trash goes to the Landfill by Recycling the Aluminum thrown away.  The City did try to put Recycle Only Bins but people are too careless, clueless or lazy to sort it out that way, so it all goes to the Landfill and in the same pickup now.  I've even heard exposes on TV that put tracking devices on the Recycle Trash to see if it indeed goes to Recycle Centers like what I take mine to, and in most Cases, it doesn't or is shipped out of State if it does.  So, it's not Cost effective and therefore they don't do or take it Seriously.  The actual Recycle Centers do and I take mine directly to them coz it's specifically what they do.




  This used to be The Son's favorite Cigarette Case I got him as a Gag Gift one time.  He's since lost it but I dredged up an old Pix of it I had.  I can't even remember which Novelty Shop I got it in, but it would hold about 10 Cigarettes nicely.  *Smiles*  Hopefully the Censorship Nazis don't now Flag this Post for that innocent looking Imagery of a Gag Gift?   I did finally just delete the Forbidden Post as it only ever let 17 Dear Readers access it easily enuf to get any Views at all.  Content was banal and not that interesting so no point in keeping it in the Archives languishing without Views.  As it is once Readership slows down on any Archived Post, I Delete it so I have fewer taking up Space, since I'm a Daily Blogger and the Posts add up fast.  I only wanna keep around 20 or so at any given time before Culling the Older Posts.   I need to go to the Recycle Center Today coz the back of my Truck is full again of Bagged Cans to turn in.  But I've got to go in between his VA Nurse's Home Visit and his Occupational Therapist's Visit.



 

He is making kind of a Production now of Walking, and I don't know how much of that is Exaggerated, or Legit?  Hard to tell with him sometimes as he will magnify things for the Attention at times or to see what kind of a Reaction it gets.  I Wish he wouldn't do that, and The Son was talking to me about how we Wish he'd motivate himself to do some small things that he still can.  He has a nice Workbench on the Back Patio I bought for him and completely kitted it out with all the things he was interested in and claimed he wanted to begin doing, but, it's languished and never been used, not even once.  I think he liked the "Idea" of it all and not really the application of actually the Doing of it.  And he still could do any of it, that's the thing... he could sit out there and Tie Fishing Flies or putz around with tinkering with his Tools and Hobbies that he could initiate and have Purpose again in the Doing of them.  But, he sits in front of that damned TV all the time now watching one Rerun after another.  If it weren't for the OT and PT actually coming and doing Exercises with him, he won't do them at all like he should.





I cannot keep Motivating FOR him, it's exhausting to prop someone up to do what they're supposed to do and then they'll rarely do it or only Under Protest even Try to do it.   I get to where I think, well, if you're resistant and don't wanna do it, I can't Force you to, this is for your own Good and everyone else's that your decline impacts, but you have to be Involved in the Process, we can't do it ALL FOR you!   When he knows I've gotten Cross with him is the only time he'll even try.  He's making our Bed as we speak coz it's the one little Chore I've told him I expect him to do with consistency.  He is the better Bed Maker and it's a small thing he still can do that is a Positive Start to any Day.  Granted, he's been up since 6:00 a.m. and only got around to doing it at 9:45 a.m., but at least he finally did it coz I wasn't gonna keep nagging at him to.  I told him I expected it to be THE ONE THING he did for ME Today to Help Out.  The Condition of your Bed is the Condition of your Head, after all... and sets a Tone for the rest of the Day IMO.  The Son makes his first thing when he gets up, for that very reason, he and I agree it sets a Motivational Tone for the rest of the Day, even tho' it's a Small Thing.





I had to Praise The Man once he'd finished making The Bed, as Positive Reinforcement, he was huffing and puffing so I could HEAR how exerting it had been for him.  *Eye Roll coz I pretend I don't Hear it, Winks*  I'm here in the Corner of said Room Blogging coz I've spent since 4:00 a.m. doing all my Work around here and Self-Motivating, so I don't really require being a Full On Cheerleading Section when anyone else does ONE Small Thing to be duly Encouraged to MEBBE do it again without even being Asked or Told to.  *Eye Roll*  The Young Prince did do his One Small Thing I Asked this Morning, so he and his Grandpa are pretty much tuckered out I guess for the rest of the Day???  *Another Huge Eye Roll and a Snicker and Snort*  The Son just gets highly Upset with them both coz he knows they could DO more, despite their Disabilities, but I told him he has to choose his Battles Wisely or he'll have it Get To him too much otherwise and elevate his BP... not worth it.




I Hope both The VA Nurse Remi and OT White John put The Man thru the Paces Today, so that he is required to do more Movement Today than he'd normally otherwise ever Entertain.  *Winks*  He tends to Show off for his OT and PT Young Men coz they're all so Fit and Young so it's a Male Pride kinda thing that he won't allow them to see him seem frail, weak or a Quitter, which is Good!  I'm glad they're Stud Muffins he wants to Impress and who can and do Encourage and Praise him for the Work he will put in for them.  I just Wish he'd put in the Work more frequently and for himself and his Family too like that.  He just won't anymore and he hasn't in a while so that's why everyone gets frustrated with him.  Even Princess T, who is always making Excuses for her Beloved Grandpa, is now telling me she's getting irritated with him acting up or making up stuff, even tho' she knows it's likely the Dementia/Brain Injury... he does Play that Up sometimes too and use it as a handy Excuse now.  I tell him it's an Explanation, it can never be used just as an Excuse tho' and a Crutch.   





I keep reminding him, the ONLY way you can remain in the Home is if you can be met by us at your Point Of Need, when it exceeds our Abilities, we may then have no Choice in the matter of your Alternative Required Placement.  I wanna get that thru to him, coz it worries me if he gets so deteriorated, mostly due to not doing his Preventative Maintenance things to stabilize or slow down progression of what's Wrong and gone Sideways, that it will reach a point where he exceeds our level of Care we can provide.  That happened with each of my Parents eventually.  But, since each of them lived Independent of one another, we could Liquidate all their Assets to cover some expenses that nobody could afford.  Mom lasted so long in Long Term Care we had to make her a Ward of The State of California to provide her continued Care until her Death.  No way we could pay Eleven Grand a Month it was Costing for Mom's Care, my Brother's Income and ours Combined wasn't that much... and we had to Support ourselves and the rest of our Families still too.





It's a delicate balance sometimes between what they cannot do for themselves anymore and what they will not do for themselves anymore.  I don't mind the Doing of what they cannot do or need help with, but if they can do something I do expect them to still do THAT at least and not expect everyone to do everything FOR them, that's just Lazy and leaning upon the Disability at the expense of your remaining Abilities and burdening others with what you could still do for yourself.   Nurse Remi just left, his BP was elevated Today, so she said when OT comes have them take the BP first before doing any Exercises and then make a decision if they feel he can even tolerate any OT or not?  I had told White John the OT when he called to Schedule a visit, that The Man just got out of the Hospital, so I felt they'd have to Monitor closely and start over from scratch anyway.  But if The Man's BP is elevated, perhaps he shouldn't do any at all, I don't know, but will leave it up to the Professionals to decide what's best.  Nurse Remi didn't like more changes to his Meds any more than I do either.  He's being taken off Two but put on Three New ones.




Switching things around all the time makes me nervous and get confusing as a Caregiver too.  It makes me wonder if they're just trying new things to see if it works... or not???   I don't want him to be some ongoing Experimental Project.  You end up with all these discontinued Meds to then have to dispose of, luckily we don't pay for his Meds, the VA does at least cover that.  But if you're paying for your Meds like I do, then you don't wanna pay for something only for them to change their Mind about it and now put you on something else you gotta outlay for, it's already too expensive, that makes it needlessly more expensive and wasteful of expensive Medications.  If the VA weren't providing his Meds we couldn't afford all these changes they're always doing for what he's on again, off again, and so many of them too!!!  I have Two Pages to Check Off as we Administer them, I should have been a Pharmacist!!!  I can't even pronounce most of the Meds, let alone know what they do and are for and keep all that straight in my Head!  When it's constantly being changed too!!!




The Man did his OT really well, John was impressed and by later Afternoon his BP was Normal again so he could do all his exercises.  John came an Hour Earlier coz he had a Cancellation, so, asked if he could come at 3:00 rather than 4:00 p.m., which was Okay, better to get it done earlier before The Man tires out for the Day.  Our Chili turned out really good, we used some Elk Meat this time and The Son even put a Can of Succotash in it as well as the Beans... I put some Carrots, Celery and Mexican Squash Cubed in it too.  The Man is terrible about eating his Veggies so we hide them in stuff like Chili that he really likes.  *Shush, our Secret, Smiles*  The rest of the Family Love our Veggies, so we don't mind them being in there.  The Son found out from Omar, our Neighbor, that Irrigation isn't come at 4:00 a.m. Tomorrow Morning, that's when they'll Text us our Rotation Time that will be next Week.  So, that was good News, perhaps he won't be Working whenever it comes next Week?  If he is The Grandson and The Daughter said they'd help me.  I finally got hold of The Daughter.




The Daughter has made enuf Money with her Jobs out there helping the Elderly Guys that she was able to send some to her Kids in Mexico to help them out, which is good.   When Nurse Remi came I felt so bad for her, only 20 Miles from where she's from in Nigeria is where those Islamic Extremists abducted, tortured and murdered small Toddlers and Beheaded a Teacher at a School, where they'd Abducted Hundreds and done the most heinous Crimes against Humanity.  She said some of the Toddlers were only 2-3 Years Old they tortured.  She and most of her Family got Asylum here, in Australia, and some Island Nations due to being the Targeted Christians being slaughtered horribly by these Religious Criminal Extremist Groups committing War Crimes rampantly in Regions of her Country.  She still has a 90 Year Old Mother there, so she worries for her Mom's Safety.  I have no Words when I hear of such Atrocities against Humanity, anywhere, including here in America, where Cruelty is the Point.  



*******

Blessings, Love and Light from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Family Is Everything... But, Not To Everyone



 So, our damned Irrigation Rotation is coming at 4:00 in the Morning Tomorrow and The Son has to be at Work by 5:00 in the Morning, which means, I'll have to rely on The Young Prince to help me.  That might not sound like a Big Ask or Big Deal, but it is.   Relying upon a Serious Schizophrenic to be your Backup is a Last Resort Hail Mary kinda Move.  I had a Senior Fall and Slipped on the Mud near the Ditch during the last Rotation of Irrigation and was floating like a Starfish, so, The Son is nervous about me doing it at all.  We were picking Goat Head Burs and tiny Sticks out of my Dreadlocks for Days afterwards!  *LOL*  Luckily I didn't get injured, well, mebbe my Pride, coz I went down Horizontally and like a Ton of Bricks, like a Cartoon Fall!!!  And just laid there in my Jammies, like a Wet T-Shirt Contestant, completely Soaked to the Skin, with my Okabashi Flip Flop Sandals floating beside me coz they came completely off my Feet!  *Smiles*




I have some Rubber Galoshes but I don't think that helps with slippery parts of the Pasture that might get overly saturated to where the Ground just can't absorb any more Water.  We'd flooded some last Rotation coz of the Ditch getting backed up with Debris that floated downstream from Lazy Neighbors who hadn't cleared out their Ditches.  It got stuck at Omar's Ditch coz he has his covered, so the Pipe he installed is narrower than the very Wide Ditch we have.  We have one of the widest and deepest sections of Ditch and I like it that way, great flow, easier to clean out and holds a lot of Water.  Some Neighbors have shallow and narrow ditches or overgrown ones, you're responsible for maintaining your Ditch that runs either behind or in front of your Property.  Ours runs behind and we Share it with the Neighbor directly behind us.  So you really have to cultivate a Relationship with whatever Neighbor Shares your Irrigation Ditch for mutual cooperation of Irrigation and Maintenance.  When Laura moved, it's now Manuel, a Younger Owner whose very nice, Laura and her Boyfriend were in their 70's so becoming limited to what they could and couldn't do.




I didn't have it in me to go to The Desert Botanical Gardens and make the trek across the Valley to get there and Walk around.  So, instead I did Environmental Cleanup and got a whole Bag full of Aluminum Cans.  A lot of Drinkers over this Holiday Weekend.   One of the Food Banks had left a Box in the Park and everything was taken except Two New Simply Orange Juices, which is what we Buy and it was starting to get Warm Outside so I got them so they wouldn't spoil in the Heat if left there untaken all day long.  And, I also found an Antique Table Leg with a Brass and Clear Marble Claw Foot!!!  Odd thing to find, someone had mebbe used it as a Walking Stick or for Protection against any Threat, I dunno, I brought that Home too as I can use the Claw Foot, it's quite Ornate and will easily unscrew off the broken Table Leg it's on.  You do find the Strangest Things discarded.




Nobody else has Accessed The Forbidden Post, so it stands at 17 who did manage The Gauntlet of Sensitive Post Warning status.  *LOL*  The Garbage did come Today even tho' it's a Holiday, no Drama this time tho' early this Morning as I'm taking The Son in to Work I almost shit Kittens coz The Young Prince had overfilled it last Night and I didn't know, so I had to jump out and squash it all down so the damned Lid would close fully lest we get Tagged and not picked up again!!!  So, I had to remind him, don't do that or they won't pick up our Garbage now, they're getting fussy and anal about Lids being tightly Closed or they just Tag it as in Violation and pass it up.  I just don't want or Need more City Services Drama.  I Won the last Battle, but, I just would rather comply with any Silliness they're implementing than Fight with them constantly.  But it makes sense why Illegal Dumping has escalated, now I know WHY!




I made Cinnamon Raisin Brioche French Toast with Maine Maple Syrup and Vanilla Powdered Sugar for The Family this Morning.  I was very Uptown about Breakfast for Memorial Day.  *Winks*  I even used my mini Retro Shenango, Jackson, Buffalo China, and Syracuse Diner Ware Pitchers for the Syrup, they're so Cute and have great 1950's Diner Graphics on them.  I have a small Collection of Restaurant Ware Mini Pitchers and we do use them all of the time.  Some are Military Logo Emblem Graphics too.  Above is a little Sampling of my Collection, various sizes, I have other Graphics, some in Green and Brown on White.  All were either Chazza Scores or I got from our Antique Mall from a Vendor who Specializes in Retro Diner Ware and has good prices on it.  I don't know if they were an avid Collector downsizing their Personal Collection, or just gravitated to that Genre of Merch to Resell?




Anyway, I'm sitting here quietly Blogging in our Bedroom. The Man has taken to watching Jackson Galaxy The Cat Whisperer's Reality Show and the Australian Zoo Show with the now Grown Irwin Kids, Robert and Bindi. Who sound and look so much like their Dearly departed Dad, Steve Irwin, who got Killed by a Stingray of all things he ever messed with!!!  They are following in his Footsteps of Zookeeping, Environmental and Conservation, which would have made him so Proud.  He took a lot of risks, many unnecessary, and it sealed his Fate in the end, but his Kiddos seem more cautionary and sensible around Wildlife.  Of coarse what made Irwin so Famous was how outrageously risky he was and that translates well to Reality TV and those that flock to it to hope they Witness a pending disastrous Moment.  The Shows are both Cute ones and more uplifting than what he usually watches, which is probably better for his Psyche.




LATER: Took The Man out to Estrella Park with a Quartet of Subway Sammies they had a $3.99 each Special on, and a Cooler full of Cold Drinks.  It was a Breezy Day, but Warm, we sat and had a Picnic Lunch at one of the Ramadas and I did Environmental Cleanup while he sat out in the Fresh Air in the Shade and near the Bathrooms.  It does him good to get outside, we practically had the whole Park to ourselves, considering it was Memorial Day Weekend, becoz there is a Fire Ban in effect, so no Charcoal or Wood BBQing allowed, nobody was there.  During the Fire Bans the Parks are deserted but we've had so many big Fires already that they just can't take the risk of having more.  The Man enjoyed the Outing and it was good to be able to do one with him again, I'd missed doing that with him.  He's still having some Breathing Issues, but the Wind and Pollens were likely to blame, it kicks up dust, Pollen and particulates into the Air.  There were some good sized Dust Devils it kicked up too.




I got a lot of Exercise while doing a few Hours of Environmental Cleanup at that large Mountain Park tho', and gleaned a fair amount of Aluminum too.  The Man looked like he'd had enuf Fun for the Day tho', so I could tell it was enuf of an Outing for him already, even tho' he just sat in the Shade and enjoyed Nature with a nice Picnic Meal.  Which is about all he can handle right now, so soon after yet another Hospitalization.  I've got about another Two Bags of Aluminum to take in to the Recycle Center Tomorrow, they were Closed Today for Memorial Day Holiday.  Yesterday The Son had BBQed Hotdogs and Hamburgers coz we had Sayde over visiting The Young Prince and it was just an easy Meal to serve up to Feed a large group without hassle.  The Son LOVES to BBQ, it's a Guy Thing, grilling.  *Smiles*  His Dad used to always do it and then when The Man couldn't anymore, The Son took over and his Dad passed the Mantle and Torch to him to be the Family Grill Master.  *Smiles*  And Memorial Day Weekend just Begs for at least One BBQed Meal.




We're getting Free NetFlix and Hulu now with my Phone Service, we may have always had it, I just didn't know it!!!  Otherwise we never would have been paying for NetFlix like we did.   Anyway, The Son set it up using my Phone's Freebies for it all and I watched a Samuel L. Jackson Movie I had never seen before with Ed Harris, Luis Guzman and Eva Mendes in it too called "Cleaner" {2007}, which was really good, a Crime Thriller, but also Funny in parts.  I was Surprised I never had seen it, thought I'd seen most of Jackson's Movies, usually like anything he's in, and he's been in a LOT of Movies.  He's one of the most versatile Actors in Hollywood IMO... he can morph into so many different and interesting Characters in each.   Hard to Believe he's 77 now and Ed Harris is 75... a lot of my Fav Celebs are quite Geriatric now, but still Working and making good Movies.




The Daughter has gone Off the Grid now for about a Week without contact.  Last we knew she was doing more work for Jason and his Neighbor out on their Mini Farms/Ranches.  I know that they don't always get strong Cellphone Signals out there coz of the Mountains they're up against and both Guys are Older than me so I don't know they use Computers much, if at all?   She has about 7 different FB Pages coz she's such a Paranoid Schizophrenic, so I don't always know which one she's using at any given time, the last entry to one of them was May 18th, which was around the last time she made contact.  You have to get used to this kind of thing with someone who has Serious Mental Illness... they go MIA a LOT.  No answer to any Social Media or Phones I've reached out with... so... will have to wait for her to respond.  I'm sure Jason would have contacted us if something was Wrong, he's the elderly Cousin of our Nextdoor Neighbors.  I know he's had Truck Troubles, so probably can't drop her off.  Those are very nice Mini Farm and Ranch Properties out there with Guest Quarters.

 



She did leave some stuff not Done here so I just went ahead and did it myself.   Allen is sending a lot of stuff to The Young Prince, so, that's making him Happy to receive things being Delivered.  They did discuss that until the Divorce is finalized, Allen is still Legally responsible for Spousal Maintenance and it shouldn't fall on Grandparents totally.  So, I do feel that Allen should provide some Spousal Support since he did knowingly Marry a Disabled Person who cannot Work or Support themselves and was his Full Time Caregiver and Promised to do so 'til the Vows are severed Legally.  Anyway, so, I haven't asked what is in every Package, some have been Groceries from Amazon tho' and they do a good Job at Amazon with the Quality of the Groceries sent and how they Package them. 




 I know I don't buy everything my Grandson likes to eat and he is a very fussy eater becoz he has Eating Disorders brought on by the Schizophrenia.  He often Imagines his Food is Alive and Moving... or that it's Tainted.  He seems to feel confident that nobody at Amazon is trying to Poison and Kill him tho'.  *LOL... I know I shouldn't joke about his Paranoia like that... however... Smiles*  But sometimes it is Dark Humor Funny, Sorry... but, I can't help it... when something just Amuses me that is Gallows Style Humor.  And that Thought just Tickled me... the absolute Trust he puts in Amazon Food Deliveries being not Tainted... but... sometimes any other Food COULD BE???  *Bwahahahaha*  But, whatever... the Amazon Deliveries keep coming and I don't have to Pay for them so I'm Fine with that.  *Winks*




Above is one of the Granddaughters in Mexico blowing me a Kiss.  I hear from the Grandchildren in Mexico and the Grandchildren in Pittsburgh via The Book of Faces and mostly their Photo Shares they send.  They're all pretty good about Posting often on the Social Media that is FB.  Princess T doesn't use FB at all, she considers it very Passe'.  Perhaps it is, I wouldn't know.  *Winks*  I do think the Grandkids all use it more for my sake and my Generation's sake really, coz it's not like they Write Letters or Call you either, so... it's the next best thing to being there in Person and making any actual Contact with Grandparents who are Dinosaurs and not Local.  *Smiles*  They all got used to me always Photographing my Food Porn and now most of them do it too, which is pretty Funny.  It's as if we're now having Food Porn Challenges with one another.  *LMAO*  They all used to Tease me about doing it and now they all do it too!!!  That's what's Funny to me.




Plus they all began to realize if they Photographed their Food when Eating Out, it's Assumed that they're a Social Media Influencer or Food Critic and get the VIP Treatment at all the Establishments.  And there's certainly no Downside to that and it does Promote those Businesses and gives them Free Advertisement and there's no Downside to that either.  Everyone Wins.   I have sometimes been asked and I just say I'm a Blogger... they don't know I'm not a Food Blogger... there are some of those who exclusively have Foodie Blogs and Critique Restaurants and such.  I used to Follow some Food Blogs and had to Stop coz it made me too Hungry at ridiculous Hours that I'd be Online Reading them.  *LOL*  But some of you do have some good Food Porn you Share too and I do always appreciate a good Foodie Photo.  And sometimes it's introduced me to something New I never ate or mebbe never heard of, like Tomato Pie, which I guess is a Southern Thing!?  I still haven't had one coz they don't offer them here in the Southwest, but I WANT to try one now!





Above is a couple of Adorable Pixs of The Young Prince's Paternal Aunt Stephanie as a Toddler.   She was such a Pretty Baby and grew into a Beautiful Young Woman.   Sadly she's on The Outs with The Young Prince, and her Mom {his Gramma Lydia}, right now.  She Married into Money and it did Change her in ways that sadly aren't necessarily Positive towards her own Family Members.   She has a very Nice Husband, he has a very Successful Business and comes from a very Nice Family with Money, so, they aren't the Problem at all, she just began associating more with the Pretentiousness that having Money can sometimes Change those who are Nouveau Rich.  She grew up extremely Poor and Disadvantaged.  She worked very hard to get her Degree in the Pharmacy Career Field and is now a Pharmacist, making good Money herself and I'm very Proud of her for that.  But, I don't like how she's treating her Nephew {The Young Prince}, or her Mom now.  Her Mom is Dying.  She used to be very Close to The Young Prince so it's hurtful to him she doesn't want to be now.  She's been Okay with me so far.




Above, another one of the Granddaughters in Mexico, also blowing me a Kiss.   I get the Three of them mixed up visually sometimes coz they almost look Cloned... especially the Younger Two!  *LOL*  They're all doing really Well right now and I'm so relieved.  I was so Worried about them when Saint Maria, their Custodial Paternal Gramma, Died and left them to fend for themselves and none of them was 18 yet at that time!  The Oldest one, when she finally turned 18, helped Care for, Support and finish Raising her Two Younger Sisters tho' and now each of them has a Boyfriend who also helps them out a lot.  We found out the Youngest and her Boyfriend even have their own House now!!!  That was a huge Surprise and I'm very Happy for them.  Each has a good Boyfriend and all Three of them Work now and have their own Incomes.  Sometimes they'll do Facetime with The Daughter while at Work showing them where they Work, one is Managing a Bodega that her Boyfriend's Mom Owns.  The Oldest is still going to College, Working, and also Modeling as another Side Income Job.  She Inherited Gramma Maria's Home, so lives there with her Middle Sister now.




Another Granddaughter in Mexico, one of Princess T's Older Siblings, with her Daughter, one of our Great-Granddaughters.  She has an Older Son whose a Tween, and has been Married a long time to her Childhood Sweetheart, a really Good Guy.   This Granddaughter went to University somewhere in Spain, where some of Salvador's Paternal Relatives still apparently live.  His Dad was a Spaniard who lived in Mexico and was high up in the Mexican Government, he got Assassinated when Salvador was only 13 and Maria was Widowed ever since then.  Many of Maria's side of the Family are also very high up in the Mexican Government.  We have met some of the Relatives who are Presidente's of their Regions, they have Bodyguards and everything.  When they took us out to Dinner they have the entire Restaurant cleared out for just them and their Guests.  I found that to be terribly unsettling, having a Motorcade and stuff... just never FEELS Safe but high up Government Officials do need that added level of Security.





This is the Young Prince's Paternal Gramma Lydia, who is now Dying of a Terminal Illness she's battled for a very long time and is now succumbing to finally, from what our Grandson has said about it.  It's Hep C and her Husband Joe Died of it many Years ago, he looked Healthy and Fit, but got it when he was a Drug User.  It can be Cured with Treatment, she could not always get her Treatment and had a lot of damage from it due to Poverty, Lifestyle, and poor access to good Healthcare.  Anyway, our Grandson hasn't had contact with her in a while so doesn't know if she's even still among the Living or not?   She hasn't Posted to Social Media since April 13th, which is unlike her to go Off Grid like that on FB, even tho' she does often in Life go Off Grid frequently, her Birthday was April 11th.   He has her thick coarse Hair.  We all Love Lydia, but Relationship with her for our Grandson was always difficult becoz she too suffers from Serious Mental Illness and could be quite volatile.  Lydia is a Handful, much like The Daughter is.  I do think Bobby gravitated to a Relationship with our Daughter becoz she's so much like his Mom, who he Loves Dearly but has a very complex Relationship with.  Bobby mostly Raised himself since he was 13 he's been on his own, while his Mom was in and out of Institutionalization.  Just like The Daughter has been constantly.




  So I was used to Dealing with someone who could be quite unstable like that, but who, I genuinely Like the Personality and Essence of, in spite of their SMI Status and Choices in Life being quite complex and challenging for Family and for Friends who Care about them deeply.  I think I'm the only person she's never gotten into an altercation with, and was always on her best Behavior around me for all the Years we've known each other.   So her Family would always invite me to Special Occasions and Family Gatherings if she was coming, so she'd Behave.  *LOL*  Lydia is a Colorful Character and she Adores The Daughter, and The Daughter Adores her too, even long after The Daughter and her Son were no longer together she kept in touch with our Family.   So she always got along fabulously with both The Daughter and I.  Crazy just Respects Crazier I guess?  *Bwahahahaha*  We never Judged her either, she is Authentically herself.  I do Hope she has Family around her when the Time comes for her to Cross over?  There are Estrangements right now tho'.  I'm sure the Family will let us know when she Passes tho', at least Bobby will, our Grandson's Dad.





The Young Prince and Sayde spent some more time with his Dad and the New Wife, things are apparently better???  His Dad and the new Wife were having Marital problems... mostly coz Bobby is Bobby.  And me thinks the New Wife has Mental Health Issues too... Crazy is drawn to Crazy.  *LOL and Le Sigh*  Anyone whose with Bobby in a Relationship is gonna have "Bobby Problems" tho'.  Most of the Women in his Life have been not as unwilling to put up with his BS as The Daughter was, she didn't take any shit from him.  He'd Trigger The Daughter with his BS when they were Together and she'd try to Kill him... so... it was best they decided not to be a Couple anymore so that he'd remain among the Living.  *Smiles*  He got Clean YEARS before she did too and I was Proud of him, he had been a Heroin Addict since he was a Tween, Living on the Streets since Age 13.  He's had a Hard Knocks Life for sure and Survived it.





 The Daughter once had to be Tased out of his Apartment by Glendale PD and sent off to Mental Health coz she was gonna cut his Heart out with a Knife and was using an Axe to chop into the Door of the Room he Locked himself into!!!  I thought it might make the News.  Bobby and The Man went and Signed the Commitment Papers and before the Ink was Dry the Mental Health Committee let her out and said she was "Restored"!   They had me come get her and she tried to kick the Windshield out of my Vehicle and jumped out while I was going 45 mph and Ran like a Gazelle across 3 Lanes of heavy Traffic!  NOT Restored, clearly.  *Winks*  This is how The Mental Health System tends to go, in case ya don't know, if someone is very, very SMI and yet also very, very Cunning, Clever and Convincing, they can tell the Board everything they wanna Hear and Agree to Everything to get Sprung.   She's Played Judges and Prosecutors in Mental Health Court too, she's very adept at it in fact.




 I've told the Board every time, Listen, she's Crazy, not Stupid... of coarse she Agreed to everything and told you everything you Wanted to Hear... she Played you.  And now if she does something really awful, it's on you Guys for making a very Bad Error and Decision in your Evaluation of her.   Anyhoo... Now they, she and Bobby, are on very Friendly Terms and he knows not to Trigger her Crazy Ass... or Mine.  *Winks*  He has Triggered me only a couple times in all these Years, each time involved the Grandson, each time he realized he's really, really, stepped in my Waters and wasn't near enuf a strong enuf Swimmer not to Drown in them.  *Winks and Smiles*  Now we have an "Understanding"... also, his Son is now a Grown Man.  So they sort their own shit out between each other now.  Only Involve me if you truly need Mediation and a "Heavy" in that Situation.  And it will then BE a Situation, rest assured.  But, we got Stories!  *Winks*  




Bobby at least has tried to be a Parent, even tho' he had no Idea what Good Parenting looked like, he never had any.  Salvador never tried with any of his Girls he had with The Daughter, Four of them, or any of his other numerous Children, I think he has 15 Total!!!!   And Salvador led a Privileged Life with a very Good and very Influential Family, was very well Educated, is very Skilled in his Career Field of Computer Programming, and extremely Charming, everyone Likes him.  And becoz he is Handsome and doesn't look his Age, he is and has been a notorious Womanizer who Fathered too many Children by numerous Women.  He and The Daughter were together a very long time and she followed him to Mexico when Lockheed couldn't renew his Work VISA for him and he got Deported shortly after Princess T was Born.  He went to Work for Lockheed in Mexico when they had a lot of International Contracts.  They had Three more Daughters while in Mexico, the Three that his Mother ended up Raising.  Our Daughter too Mentally Ill to Parent, he too irresponsible to.  




And since he was an Only Child and Maria had him very late in her Life, she didn't mind taking on the Three Granddaughters to Raise becoz they looked the most like her side of the Family.  Maria, tho' Born and Raised in Mexico and only Spoke/Understood Spanish, is originally of French Immigrant Ancestry who came to Mexico Generations ago and got into the Mexican Government at High Levels.  So, she was Ethnically, a European with Blonde Hair and Green Eyes, White skin.  Those Three Grandchildren look like our Daughter, but are Fair like Maria's Family, so they look White and not half Hispanic, with the Mixture of Native American, Welsh, French Canadian and Asian thrown in from The Daughter's Ancestry lineage.   Maria did a very good job with those Kids and they Adored her and she absolutely Adored them... they were and became her whole Life.  The Daughter, in Maria's latter Years, helped with Maria's Caregiving until The Daughter had to come back to America.  In latter Years she and Maria became very close.




Anyway, Families and their Dynamics are often quite Complex... and how you work all that out is strictly up to each Family Unit.  To me Family is EVERYTHING... but I realize for some Families, that isn't their Priority or their Outlook towards Family, for whatever the Reasons.  I never presume to Judge anyone's Relationships coz I'm not them and so I don't know everything they may or may not Deal with or even want to.  But, I sure see a lot of Dysfunction, High Drama and Estrangement between Families... and many of them at least have the Appearance to be more Functional than ours, yet, aren't.  And I think that is a tragedy...



*******

If you can be close with Family it's a Blessing... if you can't, well, it can be a whole other Story... Dawn... The Bohemian

A life touched by God always ends in touching others. - Erwin McManus

I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars. - Og Mandino (1923-1996)

For creativity to flourish one should try to look at everything as though it were being seen for the first or the last time. - Quote from "A Thousand Paths To Creativity" by David Baird

Is what I'm about to say an improvement on silence? ~ Galen Pearl