The Mystery Post

 

Most of my Images are of just a little of the Fresh Inventory I'm bringing in to the New Showroom.  The Son helped me bring Home that large Bookcase, so, we got that out of the way.  It was the only thing I was concerned about being able to transport safely.  It barely fit, but could transport easier than I anticipated, which was a relief.  Now everything left to get out of the Old Showroom will be easier to remove.  We Donated a huge amount on Friday.  I just don't wanna wait until the 11th Hour to dispose of most of the remaining Merch, so am clearing it out now.   I'll spend all of next Week finishing that up, I'll probably be out of the Old Showroom before the Vacate Date if all goes well.

Princess T helped me to make what's left of Inventory in there look displayed better.   When you're moving out it's hard to make it look enticing, except to maybe Scavenger Hunters anyway.   Yet, you've Paid Rent on the Space, so, might as well make it Work for you until it's no longer yours.  I did intentionally keep some expensive items in there to Showcase for that reason, and, they Sold already.   So, I might bring in some Artwork to hang on the Walls like a Gallery for the last Couple Weeks, why not?  Easy to remove quickly and take back Home if I need or want to, if the New Showroom has no Space for it.   I've got some Art in the Truck to bring in on Saturday.

I have to go in anyway on Saturday to cover another 4-8 pm Night Shift for Submarine Lady AGAIN.  She's not showing up for her Shift pretty regularly, I get called with short notice, so I don't think she's giving them much notice when she isn't gonna show up for her Shift.  I think they should replace her with someone willing to permanently take the Saturday Night Shift and be more reliable.  But, it's not my Call and I could have declined to cover for her, but didn't have anything going on Saturday Night, so, why not?   I need to still work on the Old Showroom so would be there anyway, so, I'll just show up an Hour or Two early to do my Showroom exiting some more before the Shift starts.  Then I'll have another Hour after I get off before the Mall closes to work on it some more.

This is a heavy Antique Blue & White Stoneware European Pitcher I just brought in.   Looks like it could be Dutch by the Graphics, it's quite large and extremely thick and heavy.  It is marked on the bottom, but I wasn't familiar with the Marking and could find nothing exactly like it Online.  It's got the same Graphics on both sides.   I had a Trio of Vintage 1970's Era Pyrex Nesting Mixing Bowls with Autumn Harvest Wheat Design.  There should be Four in the Set, this Set was missing the 2nd largest Bowl and I priced it accordingly.   The Pix below isn't my Set, but a full Set cribbed off the Internet of what the Set is like.  The Bowl I'm missing is the largest Butterscotch one nearest the bottom.   You can Source Orphaned Bowls easily these days.   

So if someone wants/needs the full Set, they'd do well to purchase my incomplete Set and just add a missing Bowl more inexpensively than Buying a complete Set.   Those who have complete Sets tend to price it in the Stratosphere and are looking for the End of the Rainbow Customer.  Vintage Kitchenware, especially of the Retro Era, is desirable now, so an Easy Turn.   We have a couple Vendors that have entire Booths of nothing but Vintage Pyrex and they seem to do well enuf to have Specialized in it for Years now.  Often they'll purchase mine from me so they can corner the whole Market on it at the Mall.  I don't Care who I Sell it to first.  Some of my best Customers are other Vendors and Resale Pickers.  *Winks*  I remember my Mom had this Set in the Seventies, it matched the Harvest Gold Appliances of that Era.  They also had it in the Pyrex Avocado Hue of that Era's Appliances, with a Spring Blossom Crazy Daisy Graphic. *LOL*

 

I watched a NetFlix Movie tonight called "The Irishman" {2019}, it had Pesci, DeNiro, Pacino, Keitel and Romano in it.  Very long, but good, as most Scorsese Movies are, done in the Style of a Historical Documentary of the Jimmy Hoffa Story.   Politics then were as corrupt and scandalous as now, lest we forget that it mostly always has been.  It was good to see so many Quality Actors in a Movie.   The Son and The Daughter had seen it before and of coarse I'd lived thru the Era it was set in, so, didn't need any real Spoiler Alert.  *Smiles*   Hoffa's Body has never been found and he was pronounced Legally Dead in 1982, after having gone Missing in 1975.   The Crime has of coarse never been Solved and has a lot of conspiracy theories surrounding his disappearance.

 

Anyway, it was a very productive Friday, Princess T stayed Home from School since it was Senior Ditch Day.  She was invited to go to the Lake with Timmy and Matthew and then they left without her.  So, they're not in her good graces after having invited her and then went without her.  I saw Timmy at Work later that Day, he works for Home Depot now, so I mentioned it.  I know she won't and it needed to be said.   She spent the day with us instead, mostly helping me with the Showroom and Inventory, which probably wasn't the most memorable way to spend Senior Ditch Day and I know she was disappointed and Let Down.  But, after Work Rusty, her Boyfriend, picked her up and they went out.  If her Friends can't be more reliable, she'll dissolve the Friendships and have good reason to, their loss.

Timmy's version of why they didn't pick her up was that when he Invited her, she didn't commit to actually going and sounded like she wasn't very interested.   Knowing her that could be somewhat accurate. Sometimes she's not very locked in when you ask if she wants to do something, so at times I've even been unsure when asking her if she wants to go somewhere.  So, sounded like it could be just a simple misunderstanding, yet, they should have confirmed with her if she was going... or not.   I asked Timmy if he'd even gone, since clearly he was at Work and could have been called in.  I wanted to know if perhaps only Matthew had gone?  He wasn't evasive, said he went, but couldn't stay long becoz of having to Work.

 

  It sounded like it wasn't something that met with anyone's expectations anyway, he didn't seem to have enjoyed himself and got a Sunburn that he showed me.  He's quite Fair so burns easily.  If you don't have a Boat or Jet Ski, and don't want to Swim in a rather murky Lake, or go Fishing, there's not much to do there actually.   It's raw Desert right up to the Lake and hardly any actual Shade.   I haven't been in Years and I don't know that Princess T has ever been, so, I doubt she would have enjoyed it at all.   But, I could understand why she was feeling Left Out, especially since she was Invited and didn't actually decline the Invitation.    She's so different than me, I would ask someone why they never picked me up after Inviting me... and confront them directly to see what they'd say or if they had a valid reason?

Timmy helped me find what I'd come in for but then I ended up not buying it, since Home Depot wouldn't Honor our Military Discount and their Employees were not Helpful about why we weren't in the System all of a sudden?  We'd signed up Online as they now want you to, but now they want you to have an App to use it and Lowe's doesn't, so, I'm going to buy from Lowe's instead.   Home Depot makes a production out of saying they Honor our Military, then give you a hard time and keep changing how or if you can even use the Military Discount they have.  Since I'd be spending a lot the 15% Discount matters, so, we'll just quit shopping there and shop at their Competitor's Lowe's instead, who do Honor the Military Discount properly and without a hassle or making it a fucking Dog and Pony Show.   So, Home Depot is therefore put on Blast.  Fuck them.   Don't say you give Military a Discount and then refuse to for bullshit reasons. *Winks*

 

We don't use Apps since it uses up lots of Memory in your Phones and then you have to pay for more, our Phones are also Older and I don't want to learn or pay for a new one.  We're Old School, we don't trade our devices in every Five Minutes becoz Technology came out with something new and twice the price.   I'm not a Gadget person and tho' The Man used to be, now with the TBI, he has trouble Learning anything new or complicated and wouldn't be able to use it.  He often now forgets how to use his Old Phone and he's had it for Years.   He still doesn't know how to use anyone else's Phones and I've had mine for Years.  So, the less complicated for both of us, with our Tech Challenges, the better.  I don't want to be remembering or having to use Apps for every damned place I Shop anyway just to get small Discounts.

 

I already have Frequent Shopper Cards at all the Grocers we use so I don't wanna have to use their Digital Deals and other Apps also, it's bullshit and not necessary.   I only use the unmanned Kiosks half the time.  Becoz tho' I can usually check my own shit out faster than a Cashier, I don't wanna hafta do all the Work without Compensation and I don't want all the Cashiers to end up among the Unemployed either.  Sometimes I want and need an actual Human for Customer Service, not some Machine or Bot on the other end of the Phone.  In fact, calling any Business that doesn't use Humans for Customer Service by Phone is a pet peeve of mine.  Half the time the Bots can't provide the Service and Help I'm calling for or about.  I've never had a Phone Bot Solve any problem I've called about in fact... NEVER.  Okay, tiny Rant over.  *Winks*

I'm Selling Two Tiny Signed Oil Paintings of Indian Pottery, tho' it was Tempting to Keep the one Below to put with my Skookums in a Cabinet Of Curiosities, I won't.   I'd rather Cash Out and have the Money, and that's how I'm Feeling about a lot of things I still Like and Own, but, am ready to now Cash Out and Let Go of.  As I'm getting down to the more Primo Collectibles I'm finding that it's not as difficult to Let Go when I realize the Value of most of it now is significant to Cash Out on it instead.  Saves The Heirs having to do it later and we can spend some of their Inheritance doing shit together, which, they claim they prefer and perhaps they actually do?  *LOL*   Besides, they have concerns about squabbles breaking out on Inheritance.  Since, not everyone is always on the same Page about everything, even if most are unanimous about what to do and how to do it.

Let us just say everyone knows who might be more problematic and who might be easier to be in agreement with.  I think with all Families there is that factor to some degree if there are numerous Members and their Spouses, Kids spanning other Generations, etcetera.   I was fortunate that when our Parents Crossed Over, my Younger Brother and I were always in Agreement and cooperative with one another about how to dispose of the Estates.   The Man never ran interference and neither did my Brother's Lady.   At the time, our Kiddos also let my Brother and I handle everything, distribution of it all however we decided.   It is an Ordeal and difficult even when everyone is cooperative.

  The Man had a totally different experience since he has numerous Siblings, their Spouses and beaucoup Nieces and Nephews.  That became even more of a Cluster Fuck when his Mom Remarried a Widower with an even larger Family.  Oy Vey!   The Man and I stayed out of the whole Loop and let the Dust settle where it may, there was nothing in either Estate of his Parents worth Bad Blood over.   We let the rest of them Settle it and then distribute to him whatever.   With his Mom we felt the distribution to us was fair enuf and more than we expected, without any of the hassles, Drama and Headaches.   We knew that for some of his Siblings, it had been a grueling Ordeal tho', mostly with some of the Stepdad's Demon Spawn, he'd had a slew of Kids with his First Wife.  Some had questionable Ethics.  *LOL and Le Sigh*

Speaking of questionable, the Asian Food Porn Shared a couple of pixs above LOOKED good, but was the first time ever at that Fav Vietnamese Restaurant, that was so bad it was inedible!   It was an expensive Dish and supposed to have been a version of Mongolian Beef.  Which, anywhere I've ever had Mongolian Beef is slightly Spicy and pretty consistent a Recipe at almost any Asian Restaurant with only slight variations.   This was ridiculously over spiced to where you literally couldn't eat it at all!   Too much Garlic, too much Chile Oil, too much Red Chile, too much Jalapeno... I had to leave ALL of it and only eat the Cucumbers to be able to feel my Tongue again and recover from Spice Shock Heat!!!  

They always ask how the Meals were since we've been Regulars for Years.  I was disappointed they apologized, but, still charged me for a Meal I told them was over spiced and I literally could not eat!   The Man's choice wasn't much better, we're wondering if they have a new Chef and it's no longer our Friend Two's Mom, whose been their Chef for almost Two Decades now?  She's now a Business Partner, but, she's getting Old and near Retirement Age.   Anyway, The Man's wasn't a spicy dish, just the Meat in his was tough and dry, so, he didn't eat it and just brought it Home for one of the Kids to try to eat.  We didn't wanna waste nearly Forty Bucks worth of Food.  Princess T's Meal was the only one up to par.  They could lose our business entirely over this experience, which, would be a shame.  

 Restaurants charge a lot more now after Pandemic, since, they really all almost went Under during those closures and have tight Margins to operate.  Now distribution is also an Issue and Supply Shortages, so, prices escalated on everything, as we all well know.   So, Quality AND Service has to be on Point for what they're charging now, or people just won't spend their Money where it's not.  We still have the indulgence of eating out more often than most, we can afford to and it's our one Guilty Pleasure to.  We're not people who go on Vacations or Live Large, so, my Budgeting accommodates what we do like to do and spend our Money on discretionally.   But, we don't HAVE to, it's not a Necessity and therefore, any discretionary spending could be halted at a Moment's Notice and cut those places off that we frequented and spent it there.  Businesses that don't recognize that Fact, risk losing both Money and Clientele. 

I'm seeing a definite shift to where too many Businesses now are taking their Customers, and often even their Employees, for Granted, and not treating them appropriately, grave Mistake.  We all can spend our Money anywhere.   Or quit and find other Work... and some Employees will stay put, but then retaliate in ways against a shitty Employer that can sink that Company in ways they'll be hard pressed to eradicate entirely.   The Son tells me he's seeing it daily where he works.  Where Staff are feeling unappreciated and exploited, so even some of the good Workers barely put forth the effort and sabotage a lot of the quality of Work performed. Many call out a lot or just don't show up or leave early, waste time, push all boundaries, or just Quit and then have to be lured back when the Company can't find skilled replacements.  It's causing the Company to be in Crisis, lose major Contracts, and it's of their own doing.

The Son is one of the few Workers whose integrity and Work Ethic won't be compromised.  He's also very outspoken to Upper Management about concerns and suggestions to improve Moral and Working Conditions.  They rely on him a lot and they do recognize his Value, I always told my Kids if they are Working with Excellence, it's always Noticed.   But, if you have a stellar Reputation in any Industry, other Companies Notice too and so, you can always go to the Highest Bidder and have that leverage since all Business is competitive.   If you Value me and mine you best show your Appreciation in one way or another, preferably in our Paychecks and with preferential Treatment... or... Bye Bye Bye.  I always told my Corporate Life Executives that I wasn't looking for a Job when I found that one, and that was the Truth... I was always Solicited to Work for my Employers by their Headhunters.  I cultivated enuf important Contacts to call in Favors too.

When I decided to take Early Retirement in both of my Corporate Lives, it was for Personal Reasons primarily and Family always came first.  Any Employer that expected to come above God or Family was told they were a distant Third for me, find someone else who would sacrifice their core Beliefs or their Families, I would not, period.  I never regret standing my Ground on that, Family knew they were a Priority and I'd do anything and everything FOR them, it was always in their Best Interest I did anything I did.  I am a deeply Spiritual Person too, even tho' I don't like Organized Religion at all.   So I know my God had my Back so long as I didn't compromise my core Beliefs and have a Moral Compass Guiding me in all I did.   My Work spoke for itself, I know I'm a Valuable Asset to any Employer and not a Liability.

  I make good decisions and I don't need to do it by Committee to cover my Ass.  I'm confident with my own Decision Making Skills enough to be able to make independent ones.   If I thought someone else would be better suited for the Job at Hand, I'd tell any Employer to Hire or Promote them instead without hesitation.  I know what I know and I don't know what I don't know, I have the introspection to know the difference.   Too many folks THINK they know what they do not know and you can only bullshit your way thru something only so far before it's exposed.   If you Hate a Job/Career, find something else and do everyone a Favor, no excuse to project your incompatibility to a Position upon Co-Workers, Employers or their Clients.  Everyone would be better off without you, recognize that if you're not Content doing what you do.

And I know what some of you are thinking, BUT... what IF you can't find something else and are stuck?!   Well, if your Skills, Options and Abilities are that limited and finite, perhaps you should expand them.  Becoz if you're truly that stuck, then the Job you Hate is the least of your worries my Friend.   Nobody I ever Mentored who had Potential didn't have Options at their disposal and if they developed their Reputation and Cultivated their Contacts, they always had Options.   Life is filled with Options and Choices, and Perception is also everything, how and why you make them is what really matters at the end of the Day and how things are Perceived.   And your Outcome will reflect that, Trust and Believe.   If you can't pivot when a Decision or Choice doesn't work out, either becoz of your Choice or someone else's, then, you will be in a bind.   I've been in binds, it happens, just don't pitch Camp there.

It's a complete Mystery why this Post went in THAT direction, but I suppose some Dear Reader might need the advice or encouragement, since, I felt strongly compelled to Go There.  *LOL*   Anyway, I'm glad that I'm Retired from the Corporate Grind, don't miss it, tho' I do miss making all that Money.  *Ha ha ha*   I lost touch with everyone from that part of my Life, most Died actually.  There's a few Retired Corporate Executives at the Antique Mall now doing what we just do for Pleasure, but, we rarely talk about our previous Careers, no interest in any of it anymore now we're out of it.  I like it to be a distant Memory since it's not relevant anymore and I'm not Mentoring anymore either.   Most of the Younger Generation doesn't seem interested in being Mentored by Seasoned Elders.  A pity, it's a Free Education Money can't Buy, having all that knowledge and actual Sage Experience imparted.

It Amuses me when someone who got a Degree at some College or University actually thinks that's gonna be like the Real Job Experience... and taught them everything they're gonna need to know, it's not.  I saw many Newbies with Masters Degrees wash out on the Job and be unable to perform and turn Book Knowledge into actual On The Job Knowledge. Since, some Real Life things that actually happen aren't Taught in School and some folks don't have the Natural Abilities or Instincts to do some things they think they might want to make a Living at.   Or, their Problem Solving Skills are weak and thus, if there's not something they had as a precedent to draw upon or someone else already did, they're dead in the Water to figure it out on The Fly themselves and find Solutions. 

  Some of my best and brightest Employees I Trained, didn't have Degrees and couldn't afford College, but, they excelled at the actual Work and were Quick Studies.  Others had a shit ton of Student Loan Debt and couldn't do the actual Job, even with more Degrees than a Thermometer, so they were screwed.   It's a shame that a lot of Higher Learning Institutions just are a Money Grab.   Or, some of their Students just come from means, but aren't the best or the brightest.   I think Investing in the Future Generations and affording Opportunities regardless of Means would benefit our Nation much better IMO.  We're wasting a lot of Talent making it so that only those who can afford it can get Opportunities, even if they're not the best at what they'd be doing.  A Brilliant Mind is a terrible thing to Waste.

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