Fighting The Funk & Dia de los Muertos Celebrations

 

Strap In, we're going long... *Smiles*  In Real Time it's only the later Middle of the Month, but by the time this Publishes we'll be Celebrating Dia de los Muertos.  I doubt I'll get an Altar made this Year coz I don't have room for it unless I take the time to make room for it and I doubt that's gonna happen.  *Le Sigh*  We always had room for our Altars in previous Homes, this one is more challenging.  Eventually I just plan to set one up in The RV Garage Mahal.  I Sold Off what I used to set mine up on when we moved from the Historic Home.  The Villa McManse had abundant room to set one up elaborately and anywhere, I don't have that Luxury here.  Bummer.  When you've had Too Much Space and Downsize to far less than half the livable Space and add about a Half Dozen more People to the mix of cohabitating too with all their Worldly stuff now combined with yours... well... challenges then abound.

 

And to be perfectly candid, most of the Local Celebrations are doing less and less every Year too in the way of setting up their Altars for Public Display... also a Bummer.  But Nationally in some areas and Internationally in Central and South American Countries, they still go all out.  I think with the current Climate in America and the temperature turned up in Targeting our Hispanic Communities, it's too risky.  That's a real American tragedy displaying intense Racism and unfounded Hatreds projected towards entire Communities that don't deserve the inhumanity of what they're experiencing in America right now under this awful vile and intentionally cruel Leadership.  It disgusts me, it should disgust us all.  And I'm getting irritated at those saying it's not who we are as a Nation, becoz it's exactly who we've become and shouldn't be!!!  Otherwise it wouldn't be fucking happening and it would immediately be condemned by more Americans and STOPPED... Publicly and Openly Shaming and Condemning those who are any part of it or Support it, but, it isn't.

I watched "Soylent Green" {1973} the other Night and we're heading in that direction of a Dystopian outcome... when the ultra Wealthy have everything and everyone else is screwed and either considered a nuisance to be eliminated or a commodity to be exploited.   I forgot that Chuck Connors, Edward G. Robinson and Charlton Heston were in it, been so long since I'd seen it.   And, forgot how bad some of the Old Movies really were too... and 'Dated' in a way that doesn't hold up over Time or Age Well.  *LOL*   I'm guessing they ran that one for Halloween Horror Movie Genre Week?  *Smiles*  It's not particularly one of the Cult Classics, but the premise of the Movie, Secretly making Food out of People, when shortages of Food and Water become dire, was Iconic.

Anyway, I'm Hopeful that with Elections and Dia de los Muertos falling together that ICE won't fuck both up and terrorize the population in Communities like ours.  I Voted early by Mail, as most Arizonans do, which is why we were Targeted by this Regime during the last Election and they Seized Maricopa County's Ballots even after their Cyber Ninjas found absolutely no Voter Fraud.  Who knows what they did with those Ballots and the Data, that still bothers me becoz I don't trust a swinging Dick in that whole Administration and all the Females in it are in their Positions coz they had Mattresses on their Backs and had a 'Look' and are the 'Type' the Sexual Predators in Power dig.  I mean the 1st Lady is a Prostitute and did Porn, one of Epstein's Girls. 

 It's why she's so hardened, she was probably underaged when she was recruited or abducted or whatever her Back Story REALLY is.  So at her advanced Age, she's probably Lucky she's still Alive really, being a Sex Worker of Powerful and very Dangerous Men for so long... so I won't throw too much Shade her way.  She's a Survivor.  I don't presume to know everything she had to endure or do to get where she's at and still be among the Living.  I doubt we'll ever know all the Names of not only all the Victims, but all the Powerful and Rich Sexual Predators involved in Trafficking them and using them.  Those Files shouldn't even be redacted except for the Names of Victims... every Criminal involved in the Sex Ring and every Customer ought to be Exposed and Named Publicly IMO.  But they won't be, so don't hold your breath and don't expect Justice to be Served.  Lesser Players may be Sacrificed to appease the Public Outrage, but not the Heavy Hitters. 

 And like my Epstein Air Freshener says, this Air Freshener didn't Hang itself, and he'll likely be the only Larger Player that was Sacrificed and Disposed of.  *Winks*  And the Ghislaine Look Alike, notice how they haven't had that one on Camera too much since the Sweet Deal transfer and folks started Questioning the Odd changes in her Appearance?  My Spidey Senses went way up during that whole Political Theatrical Production Paraded before the Media.  Deflection was needed and Outrage needed to be misdirected.  I wasn't remotely convinced that was even her, which is Why the Sweet Deal didn't even bother me coz I think whoever it is could be a Stand In for her and didn't commit her Crimes. So, if she was Neutralized along with Epstein so she wouldn't Sing to try to Save herself, well, Good Riddance to them both no longer being among the Living for what they did.  I don't think the whole Epstein Thing will ever just Go Away like they want for it to... so I'm glad Pressure keeps being applied... I Hope it does Forever and Ever, not just Nationally, but Internationally.

It's another Beautiful Day Outside so I may take The Man out again and/or Work in The RV Garage Mahal some more.  I did Work a little while in The Young Prince's Space to remove some things I want to get Sold that were mine.  I found things in there that I didn't put in there but I can Sell and I know aren't his, Art Stamps of an ilk I wouldn't Keep for myself, so I got a Basket full of those and have no idea where they came from or why they were in Drawers I put what I Keep?  I assume one of the Kiddos got them and just put them there.  So now I'll have to one day go thru my Keeper Supplies and see what else they Organized for me that I don't want to Keep, but, are Art Supplies?  The Daughter Scores all kinds of Good Stuff for us to Keep or Sell, she's like a Junque Magnet at Cultivating Contacts of folks who've Hoarded Up some Good Stuff amongst their crap and they give it to her if she helps them clear out and clean out their Spaces and remove some of the Hoard.  She knows the Good Stuff and has a Good Eye, the rest they usually haul off in one of her Friend's Trucks to the Landfill for the people they're working for and Helping.

She told me not to buy a Commercial Grade Weed Trimmer coz she's pretty sure she can Score one from one of the many Landscapers she knows who might have a used one she can do some Work in exchange for.   She Barters and is good at it, so will Work for Stuff she wants or needs, or Cash, whatever they got.  *LOL*  If they say, well, I can't Pay you, she'll say, that's Okay, whaddya got to Trade for my Work?  *Smiles*  And if they're Needy and very Old she'll usually Work for Nothing and then they introduce her to their Cultivated Contacts and Friends, which is more Valuable than Cash and Trades.  She Networks even better than I do and Cultivates Contacts easily and effortlessly.  And sometimes what she Trades for is THEIR Labor.  Oh, my Mom could use you over at her place to do some Work {insert whatever that Guy's Skillset is}... so if you can't Pay me or give me something in Trade besides yourself, you can Work it off.  *Ha ha ha* 

 I guess I've got one of the Rancher's Ranch Hands, Jesus, gonna do that for us.  *LOL*  Coz she Helps Jesus with whatever Work he's got on the Ranch so he doesn't have to try to find someone to actually Hire.   And Jesus knows a lot of Ranchers he's done Work for, so he's made Introductions and now she's Friends with all those Ranchers.   And so it goes.  *Smiles*  They all know she's Unwell, but that she will do Good Work and be Ride or Die with you and Trustworthy, so long as you don't mind how Mental she is.  *Ha ha ha*  She knew affluent folks in Mexico and even Bad Actors there who'd give her spare Keys to their Mansions so she could take Care of their Properties.  That's how much they knew she could be Trusted and that whatever she saw, would be as if unseen, coz she could Care less what business dealings they had.  

In her Mind all Rich and Top Tier Folks are Corrupt to some degree and she doesn't Need to Know their Business... coz it's none of her business... none of them got so Rich being Saints.  She isn't Wrong.  She said Politicians in both Countries are the Worst... not the Street Criminals who Run the Streets... it's the ones that Run the Countries who are most Corrupt and the most Dangerous.  I am in complete Agreement with that Observation and Assessment.  When I was a Corporate Executive I saw more Corruption in the Institutions than I ever saw on the Streets in the worst Hoods I ever Lived in.  And I've Trusted more of the folks who belong to the Streets than I ever would any of those Executive Types that engage in what they're tangled up in.  The Daughter also feels that way, so does The Son, The Man, and my Grandkids... everyone in Life isn't always as they Appear on the Surface, Trust and Believe.  

 The Man Loves his Country but doesn't Trust his Government, never has, never will.  They had him to do some stuff  in Special Forces, so he knows what they're capable of giving Orders for and to do, so no Illusions or Delusions about it.   He'll Observe some of these Prominent Deaths and tell you which ones he can be confident was a Hit and not what they claimed was the Cause.   He said there is always some Truths to some of the Conspiracy Theories that just won't go away.  Becoz people aren't necessarily as gullible or as stupid as our Government assumes we all are... when they shovel us Bullshit and Propaganda to Coverup shit they've done or had done.   Sure, a swath of the population are gullible and stupid enuf to Believe anything, or WANT to, coz mebbe they can't handle the Truth.  And think that ignorance is Bliss, so they don't really wanna Know either and prefer to remain in Denial or Uninformed, or run with Low Information.  But not everyone.

And The Daughter said one of the Bonuses of being Crazy is that far too many people assume that Crazy Equals Stupid, which it does not.  And so they underestimate what Crazy folks are absorbing and noticing about the World around them.   But, since they're Crazy, nobody would listen to them Seriously or Believe them... and that's Okay too... coz at least THEY are in the Know about what was revealed or exposed carelessly coz Crazy often equals Invisible in Society, nobody pays attention to the Mental folks.  And if nobody else ever knows, who Cares, us Crazy folks definitely could give a Fuck what anyone else Believes or dismisses to their own peril.  We don't really give a Rat's Ass about it... Disbelieve if you want to... Disbelieve all day long until the Truth hits you right upside the Head hard.   Then you assumed you were Sucker Punched when in fact, the Truth was always there, hiding in plain Sight, you just refused to See it or Hear it.  Oh well... Sucks to be you then.  I have no Pity reserved... to me YOU were the one that perhaps was Stupid about it.  And you cannot fix Stupid any more than you can fix Crazy.  It's never happened.  *LOL and Winks*

Princess T just gave me back a small Bookcase we've had in the Family for Generations now.  She'd Painted it Black with Gilded Ornate Accents on it.  She didn't need it in her Room to Display things on anymore coz she got something larger Delivered from IKEA.  So now I have it back and she moved it into The RV Garage Mahal for me so I can put some Books on it again.  It's small enuf to find Placement easily in there and Organize some more of my vast Library, which, is out of control so I do have to Purge some more Books eventually and Sell them in our Showroom.  They Sell quite well and I'm sure I have duplicates, when your Library reaches Bookstore proportions you can't possibly remember or recall every Book you already have sometimes.  But if a good one is at a Chazza for Cheap, I know I can make my Money on the Buy with it.  And I've done well with Book Selling.  Mostly coz what I Collect are Decor Hardcover and Cookbook Hardcover of the best kind of each Genre.  I have a lot of Rare Books too of those Genres.  And I have some Antique Books with Gorgeous Bindings that are Literary Works of Art.

Today I did easily get Overwhelmed when I went to Work on Spaces so after about an Hour I had to Stop or my Head Space would have seriously been compromised.  It happens.  My Executive Function is definitely short-circuiting sometimes.   I was looking AT the Elephant in the Rooms and thinking, how the fuck do I remove a whole Goddamned Elephant from this Room?   And that Elephant would Stare me Down to where I'd think, not Today.  We're not gonna try to get you outta here Today, so you can just stay here for now.  This is my Circus and I am the Ringmaster of this here Shitshow and they're all my Flying Monkeys, so, what's an Elephant Herd in every fucking Room gonna send me Over The Edge for?  *LOL*   I may end up at End of Life with the whole damned Herd of Elephants still here and will it really matter?  I think not.  *Bwahahahhaa*   Sometimes I just become Obsessed and Fixated with what hasn't gotten Done instead of Celebrating what already has.

Now all of the Adult Kiddos want to go to The Desert Botanical Gardens with me so I may Upgrade my Membership to include more Guests since The Niece gave me all of what it would have Cost me to just have my Usual Membership with One Guest.   So I could afford to Upgrade now if Friends and Family who are Younger and want to attend with me regularly, would actually use it and accompany me.  They're all presently on a Health Kick and so they want to go on long Walks with me now out in Nature.   And that's good, Younger Generations are too sedentary and out of shape for their Ages.  The Niece joined Amber's Gym so they can go do Workouts together now they're getting along swell and realized they had more in Common than just being The Daughter's Childhood Lifelong Besties.  *LOL*  And now The Son is contemplating joining the same Gym with them so they can all go together.  Also then my Crew can use the Gym's Showers so they don't stack up here hoping to have Hot Water after they get a Turn.  *LOL*  I do that too coz my Gym has nice Showers and I can stay in a Hot Shower for as long as I want there.

But, even tho' it's a gorgeous day Outside I don't feel Motivated to even get out of my Jammies.  I feel like I should, it would improve my Mood, too late to go do a Workout at The Gym, but I could go do some Environmental Cleanup after the Weekend, when usually there's more discarded Aluminum Cans from Parties and such that people did Recreationally and were Environmentally Unconscious about.  I enjoy doing that but have to get Dressed and out there to do it, so far I've waffled considerably.  I ate all of my Leftovers for Lunch, but The Man still couldn't and wouldn't eat so I gave his to The Son so it wouldn't be wasted.  It's worrying me and Tomorrow is when Nurse Remi comes so we'll be discussing that Situation with him not Eating.  I've tried everything to stimulate his Appetite, it's not that he doesn't have things here he really likes usually either, he just says he can't eat it.  Has no sensation of Hunger and even when he tries, he just can't, which, isn't Normal and is worrisome.  And perhaps all of that is a Weight on me, along with worries about my Brother's prognosis being more grim too. 

It's a lot to Process and Digest Emotionally, even when you're having really Good Days otherwise.  The simple act of getting Dressed sometimes is taking me all my Energy to muster coz I'm comfortable in my Jammies and it's an excuse to do Nothing.  I had Weird Dreams last Night, bordering on being slightly Nightmare coz they weren't exactly pleasant, but they were very Odd and didn't make Sense either.  I don't usually remember Dreams unless they're Important in some way, these didn't seem Important enuf to remember, and just unusual, so, I don't even try to interpret any of that nonsensical Dreamscape that sometimes happens and can't be interpreted in any meaningful way.  I will likely get Dressed but don't want The Man in tow Today, I don't have the Bandwidth right now to be in Caregiver Mode outside of Home.  He could benefit from the Fresh Air and was good for me Yesterday, but getting him and his Medical Equipment he now requires loaded and unloaded is a Show I don't always wanna take on the Road if I'm not feeling up to it.  It's not personal but I think he might take it personally, and I don't want that.

He's Fragile right now and I don't even know why he is faltering, since his Numbers have been so good that we felt like we were moving in a more Positive direction for a change.  So I don't want him Emotionally Tanking and Feeling like he's a Burden, coz he's not considered a Burden to us, he's much Beloved and Appreciated.   And we don't feel like we can't move thru this as a Family Unit in complete Unity about his Care and Well Being being a high priority.  Everyone is willing to make whatever Sacrifices for one another that become necessary, if Family is Everything that's just what you do.   If Family isn't, then it's evident by your Actions, regardless of what you might Say otherwise.  I've known far too many who pay Lip Service about how much of a Priority their Loved Ones are, but by their Actions, it's not credible or accurate, perhaps they even deceive themselves, I dunno?  But, they're not convincing anyone else if Actions don't Line Up and Square with their Words.  Even if they manage to convince themselves so they don't feel Guilt or any Obligation to be the least bit Sacrificial or Inconvenienced.

Some will make a big Show Publicly, especially on Social Media, about how Important their Relationships are.  But then, you speak with the Loved Ones or their Kiddos and realize it's all for Show and Theatrics, an Illusion.  To give the Appearance of what they wanna Project Publicly, it's not actually happening in Real Life.  Sadly, with The Niece, that's how her Sisters are and have become, so if you just went by their Social Media Posts and Photos, you'd assume everything is Peachy and Functional, not completely Dysfunctional and Estranged to a degree the whole Family Unit is in total disarray and Chaos Relationally and even not being Responsibly Managed.  The Middle Sister makes a big Show on Social Media of No Trouble In Paradise, especially making it look like she's Super Mom to her Twins. 

 In Reality, she lost Custody to her Ex and owes almost $100,000 in Back Child Support.  She doesn't get much Visitation coz it's been Toxic to the Children, a Boy & Girl, who now are getting Old enuf to probably realize their Mom is a Train Wreck and they're not really her Priority at all.  And she's got Court Costs galore that she gets upset if Family won't cover for her.  It's why she and her Older Sister are currently Estranged, The Niece wanted to pay the Lawyer directly if she fronted that much Money for Legal Representation to make sure her Sister wasn't using the Money for something else, which, she probably would have and was.  I strongly suspect she has serious Substance Abuse Issues, she LOOKS like she does, it's evident.   She is a Recovering Alcoholic but I told The Niece, I think your Sister is Using and tho' she might have gotten Sober, I can lay Money down she's not Clean and is Abusing Drugs.  She LOOKS like a Junkie and is Behaving like one too.  

It's a tough conversation to have, but The Niece knows I spit the Truth and don't Sugar Coat things if you Solicit my Advice, Opinions and Observations.  I suggested she not give her Sister any more Money, it only Enables her on a Wrong Path.  Tough Love is Hard, but necessary, I know firsthand.   And if you have Loved Ones or Friends with Addictions, or you've struggled with them yourselves, you know exactly what I mean.  It gets real complicated real fucking fast.  And it is ALWAYS Drama and a Headache.  If someone even Smells like Drama and a Headache, I don't want them in my Orbit anymore, Be Well and just Be Gone.  Life is too Short and Toxicity in it just infects and infests, polluting and destroying everything and everyone it Touches. 

  Anyway, we're weaning The Niece off of allowing her Family to Live Rent Free in her Head all the damned Time coz it's causing her too much Distress, Anxiety and Depression, making her Unwell.  It is Okay to still Care about them and Love them, but she can't allow them to destroy her Life either, along with theirs.  She tried to do what she could for them, she really did have the best of Intentions, which we usually do if we're decent caring Humans, and it did no good.  Nothing was improving even the slightest, it was only getting worse.  Here she Feels Appreciated and truly Loved, and she is.  She's got a Big Heart.  It was Time to roll up the Doormat and make it a Club.  They rebelled of coarse when she set limits and boundaries, Addicts don't like accountability or not to get their way to be able to fund their chosen Lifestyle. 

  And it is a fucking Choice... unless someone held a Gun to your Head and forced that Drink or Drug into you, you make the Decision to initially partake of it.  Now, if some Doctor got you Hooked, I have Sympathy and Empathy.  But once you become dependent upon an Addictive Substance, you are the only one who can then decide to get Clean or Sober.  Nobody can do it FOR you.   I commend each person who attains Sobriety and is determine to try to Keep it, but it will be a Lifelong Battle now.  Those who backslide usually have early fatalities for doing so.  It's messed up so many Lives and Touches the Lives of everyone else who Cares about the Addict too.  It can destroy the Lives of Loved Ones who've never Used in their Life and that's where I reserve the most Compassion, for the Innocent Victims.  For those who've done all they can do to assist to no avail, for the Children of Addicts who've had to Live with a Drunken Parent(s) or one(s) whose Spun Out on Drugs.  For those who've Lost a Loved One to Drugs or Alcohol dependency.

I'm bringing up these unpleasant and uncomfortable Topics on Day Of The Dead becoz such things Need to be discussed more openly and candidly, so that more don't end up Dead from it and Grieving Losses from it.  A great many who we will be Honoring and paying our Homage to on Dia de los Muertos were Lost prematurely and things could have perhaps Ended differently for them.   Every Day our Family hears of one more Person we know whose succumbed to an Addiction they didn't beat, didn't hold onto Sobriety and it took them out.  Or they were the Victim of someone on Drugs or Alcohol who then commits a Crime and takes a Life, either accidentally, carelessly or on purpose.  I get tired of it... tired of the carnage and heartache it all causes senselessly.  And affluence doesn't insulate someone from Addiction, Elon Musk is the World's first Trillionaire, and yet he's a Junkie.   Has everything Money can Buy, and still Needs his Drugs... so his Drugs HAVE him.  Hitler was a notorious Junkie.  And I can bet this President is Spun on more than we know.  He doesn't Drink, but what else does he do and is on?

I did end up getting Dressed and getting a lot done.  I picked The Daughter, Nate and another Friend up at a Job they had, the Van they came in wouldn't start and they didn't have Jumper Cables and I didn't know where mine were, turns out The Son had them.  The Friend they were with is an Older Guy and turns out we knew a lot of the same people and a lot of the History of the Area dating back to the early 1970's.  So we reminisced about it all, how it was back then compared to now.  The Daughter was getting a kick out of it saying we knew so many of the same People and lived in the same area that long and are just now getting to know each other.  *LOL*  His Wife works at the Prison there at Perryville and they live across the Street from the Prison.   Then I went to a GOODWILL near there and Scored a lot of Killer Old New Stock of Primo Halloween Decor for a pittance.  They had most of it marked lower than $3 each and most of it still had Original Price Tags on them of $25-$65 each from Specialty Stores I'm familiar with!!!  Booyah!!!

 

I also went to "Barnes & Noble" Bookstore and spent too much there, but I have a Discount from my Premium Card Membership.  Then I had Dinner at "Colado's" and had a Tropical Crepe with a Caramel Macchiato.  I know it shouldn't bother me, but it does, that a Family with a Child had bought the Child a Crepe Meal and a Lemonade and that Kid didn't touch a single bit of it and they just left it there, wasted, didn't even take it Home!!!  Such spoiled privileged Wanton Wastefulness really bothers me, especially when there are Families that don't know where their next Meal is coming from or can barely afford Groceries.  The Crepe and Drink that Kid didn't even try to eat or drink probably cost around $17.  The Adults did pick at their Food some, but left a great deal of it on their Plates too and a lot of their Beverages half full.   The Food and Drinks there are very good... but clearly these are just Wasteful People with more Money than Sense.

Anyway, after eating I stopped by the Antique Mall to foof my Spaces and visit with Friends who were Working Tonight.  It was pretty dead so we visited for quite some time, not much for them to do.  I Scored a Quartet of Silver and Semi-Precious Stone Jewelry Pendants from a Vendor who had them marked at only $5 each!!!  I think they assumed it was Costume Jewelry, but, it wasn't.  They had a 5th piece but I didn't like it so passed on that piece. {See my Scores Below}  Tina, Amy and Eve were there Tonight so we visited extensively.  I bought a 60th Anniversary Turquoise Fiesta Ware Disc Pitcher with 4 matching Juice Tumblers from a Vendor, I got my 10% Discount on her already low price.   The Skeleton Heads wearing Fascinators on a Bed Spring were my Fav GOODWILL Score coz they Sell those at "Highland Yard" for a lot and I got mine for only $2.99 each!!  Whoop Whoop!  The Halloween Cook Book by Ami Bruni, who is on several of the Ghost Hunter Shows, I got the last one of at the Bookstore and got my Discount on that too.  And the large Halloween Vintage Plastic Candy Pail is an Old one, got it for only $2.49.  It's Two Sided and the other Side has a Jack O'Lantern Painted Face.  The Pillow is also Two Sided and Bolster sized... got it for only $6.99.

The GOODWILL I Scored all the Halloween Decor at, including Four Faux Pumpkins I didn't Photograph, Three are Orange Foam and had been $24.99 each at a Specialty Store, One is larger White Plastic and Sells at Craft Stores for around $15... well, they had a Yellow Fiesta Ware or Homer Laughlin Ball Pitcher that I waffled on getting.  Only becoz in the Interior it had marks in it all the way around that I wasn't sure weren't a Crack compromising the integrity of it?  Since they wanted $9.99 for it I wasn't paying that much if it was damaged and no longer Functional, coz I use my Fiesta Ware, or I Resell it and don't Sell damaged pieces.  It wasn't marked which is why I wasn't sure if it was Homer Laughlin instead of Fiesta Ware, which is usually always marked.  The Homer Laughlin Harlequin Ball Pitchers made between 1940-1950's aren't always marked. The Exterior was pristine and it was an Older Piece and the Bright Yellow.  They're about $45-$95 at Auction sites, but if damaged they're worthless really.

 

I hadn't intended to indulge in any Retail Therapy but when something is marked so low I knew I'd have Non-Buyers Remorse if I just passed it all up.  SAVERS was having half price day and I got about a Dozen Old BALL Turquoise Glass Canning Jars for only $1.49 each in various sizes all the way up to the largest ones they made.  I'm guessing someone must have Donated them all coz it's unusual to find that many of the Old ones in any one Chazza.  I also bought some unusual Old raised pressed pattern Glass Canning Jars from an Unknown Maker, they had Four of them and only said Made In The USA underneath, but clearly had some Age to them.   I've seen the 1930's Waffle Pattern pressed raised Glass Canning Jars before, but never this Pattern, so I'm trying to find Pixs Online to see who the Maker might be and the estimated Age? 

 Turns out they're Textured Diamond Pattern 1940's Judge Coffee Jars, and on E-Bay they're fetching about Forty Bucks each, who knew?  Glad I Scored all Four, and will put my Zinc and Milk Glass Antique Lids on them.  I have a Hoard of the Old Lids coz a lot of times the Old Mason Jars are Lidless when Donated to Chazzas.  And you can often Buy the Jars dirt Cheap if Lidless, so I don't mind putting my own Lids on them afterwards and prefer to buy them Cheaper and Lidless.  If a Chazza sees the original Lids on them they mark them up otherwise to what you'd pay at an Antique Mall for them.  All the Canning Jars and Old Coffee Jars were Lidless at SAVERS which is why they were so inexpensive, I just put this Modern Canning Lid on just one of them to see if the Standard Size Lid would fit, and it does.  I wasn't familiar with these Jars so I wasn't sure.

The Daughter sent me this for a Smile and it did indeed make me Smile coz I knew what the translation meant.  *Ha ha ha*  And now you know her Real Name... which, she doesn't Care, even tho' she knows I don't usually use everyone's Name on the Ole Blog.  I Named her after a Childhood Friend whose Name I always liked and was told meant Wild Flower in a Native American Language.  My Friend was pretty Wild, even when we were in Jr. High School and the Meaning fit The Daughter to a Tee also.  *Ha ha ha*  She is indeed a Wild Flower.  *Smiles*  Well, fast forward many Moons and I'm in charge of a Collections Dept. for a Major Lender and happen to see a Client named Talana Martin.  Rather than let my Collector handle the Call I took it.   And I'm glad I did...  Coz I was curious that there was even another Talana... coz my Childhood Friend Talana Moles was the only other Talana I'd ever heard of, and I had Named my Daughter after her.  Well, guess who it was?  My Old Childhood Friend and she'd Married a Man with my Maiden Name of Martin !!!!!!!!! 

Which is an Adopted Name coz my Native American Grandfather was a Foundling, so we have no idea what his Surname should have been and most of our Native American Relatives have Tribal Last Names that are very unusual.  The White Family Named Martin that took my Grandfather in was Childless and Raised him as their own even tho' clearly he was a Native American Baby, probably of Mixed Race, which in those Days could have and often was a Death Sentence for the Child otherwise.  Which is why many became Foundlings to try to Save their Life if the Mother didn't want them becoming Infanticide Victims.  And the Family Raised Race Horses and apparently my Grandfather could ride Bareback and Train Horses very well, so was an asset to the Family who Raised him.  He Died quite Young in Adulthood tho'.  

 So my Dad barely knew him.  And we think he might have had Two Wives, also not unusual for some Tribes for a Man to have more than One Wife during that Era.  I think the Missionaries tried to put a Stop to that... and to Two Spirit People being allowed to be who they are as well and accepted as such by the Indigenous Society.  My Two Spirit Relatives are accepted Tribally to this day, coz Culturally it's a Non-Issue and considered a Heightened and Enlightened Form of Being.   In fact IMO most Indigenous Cultures Worldwide are far more Civilized than those of Colonialism and Religious Brands that considered them to be Uncivilized.   My Native American Grandma Outlived Four Husbands, she was Tough as Old Boots.  *LOL*  

She was Married to my Grandfather at only Age 13... which in her Day, sadly, wasn't unusual, and even one of my Native American Cousins whose my Age was Married at Age 13.  I'm glad most States Outlawed Child Brides, but some States still allow Girls too Young to be Married IMO.   Tho' I had many Friends who were Married and had Children from Age 15 onwards to their Teens, way too Young.  I waited a really long time to have Children or Marry, I'm sure my Family thought I never would.  *Ha ha ha*  But my Brother and his First Wife Married as Young Teens who were far too Young, they had One Son, he's the Son my Brother recently reconnected with and is just 3 Months Older than my Son, who I had at Age 28.  But I digress, back to the Story: Anyway, isn't that Wild... that it not only was my Old Friend from Childhood, but that the Man she Married now had given her the same Surname my Child has!!!  The Daughter has my Dad's Surname coz I never Married her Bio Father.  Small World sometimes!?!

I do feel like some Retail Therapy improved my Mood... ha haha... I've been in a Funk about my Brother and The Man's Health Issues and continued deterioration.  I don't want to Lose either one of them but it's a distinct possibility that we could, and that is tough to accept as just how it is and we, and they, can do nothing about it.  *Le Sigh*  Both of them seem to have a Peace about whenever their Time comes, it's the rest of us who are struggling with it.  My Brother said his Lady, Marcie, is struggling with it too... she's much Older than him and always felt like she should go first.  And they've been together, albeit not Married, but California recognizes Common Law Arrangements... for almost as long as The Man and I have been together... well over 30 Years now and nearing 40.  That's a long time to have a Partner in Life... and then contemplate not having them.   And I don't even like contemplating that at all... or of not having my Brother.

I don't wanna get all Morbid tho'.  I priced some Merch to go into Inventory, had Sold some of my Halloween Merch and am wondering if it's too late to bring in more and see what happens?  I'm thinking of bringing in just a few pieces more to see if in the last 10 Days it Sells?  Often folks even buy more after the Holiday is a Wrap, so it's worth taking up some Real Estate to see if you can unload it this Season?  Most of my Mannequins were Naked when I went in coz I'd Sold what they were Modeling, which was mostly Halloween and Gothic Inspired Graphics on the Tees.  So I re-dressed them with more Halloween and Gothic Inspired Graphics Tees and Shirts.  I'd have Kept and worn the Halloween Shirt pictured Below if it had been in my Size.  *Smiles*  Alas, it wasn't, but I do Love the Material's Vintage Halloween Style Graphics.

While I was in there foofing my Spaces and Stocking new Inventory I had a few of the Customers compliment me on what I was wearing, which is exactly the Styles we Sell in our Showroom.  Often someone will ask me where I buy my Shirts and I tell them we Sell them in our Showroom at the Antique Mall.   And so Princess T and I have been our own best Walking Advertisements for the Wardrobe and Accessories we Sell.   I won't Sell what I wouldn't Wear or Decorate our Home with myself, nor does she.  If I don't dig it, I don't Sell it.  Even the Anime stuff I think is Cute and my Kids and Grandkids Collected it and I became Familiar with it and the Characters, more than most people my Age.  *LOL*  And Pokemon has been around for 27 Years now and I don't think it's going away anytime soon.   It's been one of those Collectibles that abides over more than a couple Generations now.  My Great-Grandkids like it, my Grandkids liked it, my Son liked it.  So, why wouldn't we Sell it?  *Smiles*  I even know Seniors that played "Pokemon Go" on their Phones.

I'm not into the Online Games but most of the Seniors I know are and their Facebook Pages are saturated with what they Play.  They all finally quit sending me Invites to Play coz I don't know how many times I had to tell them, I don't have Time for Online Games or Online Gambling and it really doesn't Interest me whatsoever either.   If someone else enjoys it that's Fine, but I can't be bothered.  I never was Into Board Games or Video Games either, or Cards, or any type of Gambling, just not my Jam.  I also don't think I have the Attention Span for any of it, the Adult ADHD makes it so I lose Interest really quickly and then my Mind wanders and I'm no longer paying attention to it or have any focus for it.  *LOL*   Blogging is different becoz I'm Creating something, so it holds my Interest longer.

A Flood Watch was just issued and it's 3:00 in the Morning, so I guess a big Storm is approaching.  I should go to Bed but I'm not necessarily tired enough to.  We never did drive around to look at Halloween Night Decorations lit up, I wanted to get around to it, coz, well, Tick-Tock.  A lot of Subdivisions that have HOA's can only keep their Decor up for a Specified period of time before required to take it down, they had to put it up in a Specified period of time too, I always took Issue with that when we had that Devil of an HOA.  I want to Decorate when I feel like it and for as long as I feel like having it up and taking it down on a Property I bought and Paid for.  I don't like someone who doesn't Own it and doesn't pay my Mortgage dictating what I can't and cannot do with it as if I'm a Renter with a fucking Landlord to kowtow to, it's why I OWN Property and don't Rent.  And I've been Grown a long time, so I don't want another Adult to presume to tell me how to take Care of my Business and what is mine.  I'm quite capable.

Loved this Bearded Red Troll that Jim & Mary had on one of their Endcap Shelves.  I thought they wanted too much for it but when I looked it up I guess they really didn't.  I knew I'd never seen one like this, but didn't realize how much it could fetch now.  It's a Dam 1960's Satan Bearded Red Rootie Troll.   All I found at Auction were asking more than the Vendors I know were and theirs didn't have the Glass and Wood Cloche to Display it in included.   So, I may have to reconsider if I should buy it for my Troll Collection being it has considerable Value as a Troll Collectible way beyond what they're asking for it.  I don't wanna have the Non-Buyer's Remorse I once did for waffling on a Siamese Twin Two Headed Troll a Vendor at our Mall once had For Sale and I was thinking it was more than I wanted to pay... turns out it was worth Four Times what they were asking for it and I should have bought it.  I do have One already but had gotten it so long ago I'd lost touch with what it was now worth.  By the time I realized it was a Bargain to get the other one, it had of coarse Sold.   I may make an Offer and see if they'll discount it some tho', you never know.

We overslept and now don't have Time to get The Man to the VA for his Labs before Nurse Remi's scheduled to visit.  It's okay, he hasn't been eating worth a shit anyway so can Fast until after her visit and then we can go.  The Labs are Fasting Labs in preparation for his VA Doc Visit next Tuesday with Dr. Klein.  I'm hoping The Young Prince and Allen arrive this Week coz his Appointment is very early next Monday Morning for that SSI Evaluation.  I don't like cutting it fine right up to the 11th Hour that he's not even in Arizona yet!!!   He's wanting to cut it to where he's here only a Day or so before his visit which isn't taking into account any Bad Weather along the way or Car Troubles.  They should be in a Rental Vehicle, but it's a long drive and Young People tend to never think anything could happen to delay their very spontaneous plans that don't give them any wiggle room for the unexpected.  I've been arguing with him about it, I want them leaving earlier but perhaps Allen can't?

And it's sounding very much like he only plans to be in Arizona for Sunday and Monday, just to get the Appointment out of the way?  Which would be fine if everything goes swimmingly.  I don't care how much time he's away... his Living Space is still somewhat of a disaster and if he's gonna be gone again, it just gives me more time to work on that and square things up in there.  I can't make all decisions for him when he's resistant and has his Mind made up.  I'm just Glad he will go to these damned Appointments and none of his Alters have come forth to say they won't.  *Whew*   And if things are working out okay between he and Allen now, then Allen is shouldering the Support and Caregiving rather than me and you don't have to threaten me with a good time.  *Winks and Laughs*  One less Bell to Answer, one less Egg to Fry, coz I ain't getting a Caregiver Income for any of this Caregiving I do for this whole Greatest Show On Earth Shitshow we got going on under Forever Boheme's Big Top and I'm Ringmaster of.  *Smiles*

I know, sometimes I really do sound Mean and like a Devil, don't I?  Mebbe the Kiddos could be Right?   *Bwahahahahaha*  Yesterday while at the Job that The Daughter, Nate and that other Friend were doing, and their Van broke down... as I drove them back to where the others lived, The Daughter was telling them some of "The Stories".   Becoz they had been telling her, well, your Mom SEEMS Nice.   And she's like, "Well, she IS, until she ISN'T!  Ask anybody."  *LMAOROTF*  And then she regaled them with some of the Classic Stories of Dark Dawn goes on the Warpath and whose Scalps I took during that Massacre if I had a reason to NOT be Nice anymore.  *Winks*   And, to be Fair, it doesn't then SEEM Nice on the spectrum of how NOT Nice one can become.  Dark Dawn IS DEFINITELY NOT Nice, that wouldn't be in the Description of that Side of me, and I acknowledge, Own, and am Aware of that Fact, so, just don't ask her out to Play is all.  *Winks and Maniacal Laughter*   Dawn Of The Light is who I prefer to be and everyone thinks is very Nice and would prefer to Deal with on The Regular.  Wise Choice.  And YOU DO get to Choose who you will be Dealing with.  *Winks again*  I am Bipolar as Fuck!!!

This is Kathy Cano-Murillo, who is an Artist of all Trades and a Published Author known as "The Crafty Chica".   She's a National Syndicated Columnist and a Jewelry Designer featured in TARGET with her Line.  And speaking of being Nice, she's such a Nice Person tho', for Reals.  *Smiles*  My Favorite Book of hers that I Own is the one Below.  I have some of her Art and some of her Craft Kits, I have met her several times.  She's often at various Dia de los Muertos Celebrations around the Country.   I Love her Fun Style... it reminds me of a Hispanic version of Betsey Johnson's Fun Whimsically Creative Style.   I do Hope she's at this Year's Celebration at The Desert Botanical Gardens coz I'd like to add to my Collection of her Art... especially her Wearable Art.

Anyway, The Niece wants to go with me to the Gardens when I go and since she paid for my Membership Renewal in order she can be my Guest anytime we wanna attend together, I Hope she can make it to go with me to The Dia de los Muertos Celebrations there?  With her Work Schedule I dunno, she's already been getting a lot of Overtime.  The Son has been sneaking Drinks, as if I wouldn't notice, but, he hasn't been getting Drunk so I just Warned him, don't make me kick you out and NOT change my Mind about it.  I'd rather he be and stay Sober and he did for a while, so I know he can do it whenever he's ready to seriously get Sober.   Hopefully that won't mean he'll have to be sitting on a Park Bench in the Rain and kicking Dog Turds down the Road to reach that level of seriousness about it?  With Drugs it did take him completely Bottoming Out to get Clean... and then stay Clean... and now he's got Years of being Clean to Celebrate and feel Proud about.  I'd like it to be the same with Alcohol, but I can't get Sober FOR him.

Any more than I can get Well FOR any of them.  I can't even get Well FOR MYSELF really, it's a constant struggle to Maintain my Physical and Mental Health and stay Balanced and optimally Functional, it always will be.   But I tell them to let it be an Explanation as to their Struggle, but never allow it to become an Excuse, that is used as a handy Crutch and justification for what isn't justified and cannot be Excused.  You never find out what you CAN do if you have a Mindset that you Can't and don't even Try.  Trying and Failing is Okay, I've never been afraid of Failure, it just shows me another way something can't or didn't get done is all.  And even if something's never been done before, I always consider I might be the First Person to ever do it.   I've done some allegedly Impossible things that I was told couldn't be done.  *Ha ha ha*  Sometimes Success if more daunting to me than any Failure ever would be or has been.  To whom much is given, much is required, when Successes mount up in your Favor and can even overtake you before you're ready to receive them and hold onto them.

I've had many premature Successes and when I was at a Tender Age all that early Success wasn't all that and a Bag of Chips.  Also, the View from the Top of the Mountains was often scary if you're afraid of Heights and it's a big Fall if you falter, mebbe even a Fatal one, with any misstep.   I did learn to be Nice to everyone on your way Up, coz you never know when you're gonna meet 'em on your way Down... Sage Advice from Dear Ole' Dad.   When Nurse Remi came The Man's Numbers were excellent, but she didn't like how he Looked, his Eyes are sunken in and so are his Cheeks and he has a Pallor, so she's concerned too that something is going on that we're not informed enuf about.  We Hope that Dr. Klein orders some Tests when I tell him that The Man isn't eating.  After I took him to his VA Labs, we went and had Caldo de Pollo at "Food City" Grocery Deli, he only ate a bit of it but that's better than nothing and Chicken Soup is good for those who don't feel Well. 

You get a hearty portion, I ate a lot of mine {pictured Above} and still had enuf left over to take Home that filled one of their largest Takeout Containers.  You get a Side of Spanish Rice and a large Flour Tortilla too that they make on Site.  I also had a large Horchata, theirs is very good.  They have a Discount Produce area where they Bag various mixed Produce for $1.50 a Bag.  I got one that had Cantaloupe, Tangelos, Mandarin Oranges, Plantain, Pears, Limes and Jicama.  They have some mixed Veggie Bags and some Bags that have both Fruits and Veggies and/or Potatoes.  They have a Dining Area there near the Deli and Bakery, so we sat there to have our Brunch, it got The Man out for a bit and walking around holding onto our Cart for stability.  I'll do my Errands later on coz I have some Inventory to bring in to the Antique Mall and I wanna see about getting that Specialty Troll in the Cloche, to see if Jim & Mary may consider discounting it some?  Even if they don't I get my 10% Employee/Vendor Discount anyway.  LATER: They gave me a good Discount so the Devil Troll is now mine.  Yay!

 

The Hospital sent back the paperwork we filled out for them to file a claim against The Man's VA Hospital for the rest of the Bill when they transported him to a Civilian Hospital involuntarily.  They had an area thyey want filled out that I didn't have information about so I didn't think it relevant to fill out... guess I was Wrong and they insist on that part being filled out too.  I may have to call them now and find out what they want in that portion of the paperwork?  At least it does delay things further while it's all still being worked on coz I'm not paying the over $200 they're saying is still due and we shouldn't Owe.  He has Three Insurances, they've Billed Two already, so only the VA paying out now is what's needed to resolve the Billing and outstanding Balance due.

 

The Niece has been promising to make Emerald Chicken for Dinner for about Four Days now, she bought all the Fresh Ingredients and hasn't made it yet.  She's had to work a lot of overtime so I understand, I just think her Fresh Ingredients won't be Fresh much longer if she keeps procrastinating and she may have to just throw it all out spoiled?  I don't know that she's cooked many Dinners and fit that into her Schedule very often, seems not and we're getting to where we just eat something else when it never happens.  I can't wait on a promised Meal that then gets cancelled at the last Minute and I've got to scramble to prepare an alternate Meal for ourselves.  The Son felt the same so he's just been eating something else and thinks we may never get Emerald Chicken?  *LOL and Le Sigh*  I was looking forward to it coz she said she knew how to make the "Chino Bandido" version which we all Love.  Oh well...

I'm watching the Haunted Renovation Show now, it's about to start the newest Episode which is the Finale'.   They Renovated the Dining Room and the Kitchen.  But while I'm watching this last Episode I'll tell you what I Scored at SAVERS when I picked the Grandchild up from Work.  They had Two previous Line Cross Body Themed Bags that had been from "Spirit Store" ... one was a Freak Show Bag {See Below}... the other was a Dia de los Muertos Skull Bag that may have either been from "Spirit Store" or from TARGET, not sure?   But it was Senior Discount Day so I Scored each of them for only Six Bucks each.  *Booyah!*  Online they are as expensive as they were New when the Line came out, so they've held their Value and popularity, I Love both of them but the Freak Show Bag is one I wanted back when it came out but didn't wanna pay what it was costing back then.  But for Six Bucks... just Wow and a Squeal!  *LOL*

 

As you can see I also got a Grinch Beanie, which I was gonna Sell but now I think we may just Keep instead for Winter, so Cute!  Love my Bags, they're Keepers too.  The Finale of the Renovation of the Haunted House was spectacular, they knocked that Kitchen Project out of the Park and one would have thought only One Designer did it and not Two competing with each other, it was that cohesive and well done.  I wouldn't have wanted to be a Judge.  But they Judged the Finale' on how both Designers did in all their Projects and S.K., the Young Black Lesbian Designer, Won, and rightly so, she'd really had the most Wins and impressive Design overall, tho' the other Gal had done a fabulous job in that Kitchen too... honestly, I wouldn't be able to have picked a Winner just based on that Kitchen, I WANTED that Kitchen in my own Home!!! 

 It had a Vintage Apothecary look to it with a Modern Twist, great Color Palette and Fabulous Innovative Design to it.  Overall, the Team of Designers Renovated that Gorgeous 130 Year Old Mansion spectacularly.  I Hope they do more Shows like this one to bring Old Mansions back to Life so well.   So far they haven't posted any Photos of that Renovated Kitchen, so I won't Share some of the other Rooms Renovations until I can Share all of it, I really enjoyed this Show.   With the exception of the One Designer who Quit before she even did anything, the rest of them were able to Showcase their Talents via the Show even if they didn't Win.  So I think it will benefit them all to have participated in it to show what they can do and their Design Concepts, which, were impressive.  Especially given the tight Time Frames they had to Work with of just Days per Challenge of each Room to Transform the whole Space.

My Devil Troll at Home.  *Smiles*   It's taken me several Days lately to finish a Post so it's a good thing I'm several Unpublished Posts ahead still.  Not as many as I was, but enough to be relaxed about Blogging and Publishing Posts consistently.  If a Dry Spell or Bloggy Block happens I can weather it just fine for a couple Weeks still and you'd never know.  *Winks*  My Head Space has been all over the place lately no matter how enjoyable a Day has been or how Glorious the Weather is Outside... it's just been hard to Fight The Funk.  I think there's been so many Positive things happening to distract me from Personal Issues of Life, and all of that is winding down now, and that's kinda a Bummer coz I really Needed it right now, you know?   October and Halloween being my all time Favorite Month and Holiday, and even in September there were Halloween Events to attend and be Uplifted by and Excited about.  Now, most are a Wrap and even tho' this will Publish after Halloween Night and as Dia de los Muertos is happening... then it's on to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

And even tho' Autumn is my Time of Year, it is also when each of my Parents Died, Mom in October and Dad just Days after his Birthday and Thanksgiving in November.  For Mom it's been 10 Years now she's been gone, it doesn't seem that long... and for Dad it's over 21 coz he never got to see Princess T be Born or any of The G-Kid Force's Younger Siblings that were his Great-Grandkids.   And I'm Sad they never got to meet or know him at all, just the Stories and Pictures that remain.  With Nanna she did get to see them all arrive and know who she was, so that was Special.  And so every October and November there is still that tinge of Sorrow that it's the Time of Year that in the Past, was very hard as I lost each Parent.   Losing Loved Ones at or around the Holidays just makes those Holidays hard that Year to Celebrate, and really forevermore different coz of that Loss happening then.   And perhaps my Fight of the Funk is due to some of that Void it leaves behind?

 

With my Younger Brother and my Husband struggling with Serious Health related Issues this time of Year and yet again, just adds to the nervousness I Feel.   My Brother's newest "Expiration Date" given is that he will be Lucky and it will be Miraculous if he sees 2027.  Which means, Holiday Time could be his last and this time he has a sense the Docs could be Right this time and his Heart has done about all it possibly can to keep going on such reduced function.   As for The Man, he's looking Bad, it's showing and it's scaring me more than a little bit.  Yes, his Numbers have been Great, but it's not evident in his Appearance showing signs of serious decline and illness that for now, we're not sure what's going on with him now?    I try to avoid Eye Contact directly coz I don't wanna See what I Typically See for those near End of Life.  Just don't wanna SEE it in his Eyes... so Pray that I can't and don't.  He looks Happy and Joyful in his recent Pixs at least and for that I'm glad he's still able to have Positive Experiences in spite of Grim Prognosis not giving him much longer.  I just don't wanna get That Call. 

So, I'm wrestling with a wide range of Emotions right now on each end of the Emotional Spectrum.  It doesn't always Balance out... and some Days fucking Blow!  I'm on Season 3 of "Mayor Of Kingstown", still enjoying it tho' the levels of Homicide that they have is grossly exaggerated even for a Metropolis, which, they're supposed to be in a Town.  And the Coverups are beyond the scope of any one person's, or even their Posse's, Sphere of Influence.  *LOL*   But, aside from the exaggerations galore, it's entertaining and touches on a lot of Truths about Systems and their Corrupt Practices and flawed Players in all of it.  Where recognizing the Good Guys from the Bad Guys is no easy task... and Society has a delicate balance at the best of times, at the worst of times it could become bedlam and spin out of control on the turn of a Dime.

*******

Death being the ultimate Equalizer and Destination for us all... Dawn... The Bohemian