I had the biggest unexpected Surprise when we went to Shop at our favorite Dollar Store "99 Cent Only", they're all going out of Business and Closing! So suddenly, nobody was informed, not even the Staff, they found out when Customers found out! I Googled the reasons, all of them pointed to the usual reasons for recent Closures of Businesses... the Pandemic impact, Economy, Inflation, Supply Chain Issues, shifting Consumer demands, Theft, eroded Profit Margins, Administrative Errors. This Company was the very best and largest of all the Dollar Stores, so it will be missed by the Communities it Served. I bought a lot of necessities from there at affordable prices.
I don't know that it will benefit the different Dollar Store Chains that were competitors? Perhaps the whole Dollar Store concept is not sustainable anymore? I know the ones left, have few things now in Inventory for anywhere near a Dollar. Perhaps they cannot Source Merch to be more affordable? I know all of them increased even their Ninety-Nine Cent items by at least 25% after the Pandemic, to $1.25, a significant increase all at once. With Wage growth only being at 4.6%, income is not keeping pace with inflation of the cost of everything. Especially necessities like Shelter, Food, Transportation, Utilities. Rents locally went up 30%, Gas prices have gone up by 4 Cents a Week almost continuously locally, Food went up 3.3%, eating out by 6.4%, Utilities 15%.
Anyway, I'd gone to the "99 Cent Only" Store to get the Ear Drops I can usually Score there for 99 Cents to $1.99 max for Brand Name Product. At almost every other Store its $7.00+ and some are $23.00!!! But, I have an Earache and didn't have any in our Over-The-Counter Stash of Medicines I keep on hand, so, I had to Pony Up. I think it's just Allergies and Air Quality has been horrible for the past few days... so my Left Ear hurts like Hell and into my Jaw. If I can't clear it up I'll have to make a Doc Appt. and get on some Antibiotics for any Ear infection it might now be. But, usually I respond well to just regular non prescription Ear Drops if I catch it early and treat it.
I literally have a house full of the Adult Kiddos Friends they grew up with, coz they're all going to a Concert Together Tomorrow, so got together here this Afternoon to coordinate it. One came down from Show Low, which is up North of the State, where she moved about a Year ago. So, she'll be spending the Night here. The other Four will come back Tomorrow to have a Concert Convoy. Saturday we'll be Hosting a BBQ here since they're all together and some we hadn't seen in a couple of Years. I've known all these Kiddos since they were small Children and now they're all Middle Aged and most have their own Kiddos who are either Grown or almost Grown. Only Adam has no Children, but is in a long term Relationship with an Older Woman who is Childless.
Adam used to sport a huge Mohawk, now he has long Hair and looks rather like Jesus. *LOL* The above pix is he and his Lady taken when he still had the Mohawk. He and The Son have been Friends their entire Lives. Most of The Son's Friends and The Daughter's Friends locally are Lifelong Friends they've had. It's good when they all get together since they have/share so much History and Memories. Nobody knows each other quite like your Lifelong Friends do or your Family does. Lifelong Friends become like extended Family in fact. Almost all of our Kiddos Lifelong Friends call me Mom and a lot of newer Friends I have don't even realize we're not biologically connected. *LOL* Not all the Kids have seen each other in a while tho', so this was like a Reunion of sorts. The Daughter has been in Mexico for about 17 Years and some of the others have moved or moved and then come back.
The Son lived in the Far East Valley for over a Decade when he was with the DIL, so, now all but Bee are back where they grew up. She only moved to Show Low to get out of a toxic Relationship, her Parents live up North of the State and she has a Teen Son she's Single Parenting. She's in the lower half of the above pix with my Kiddos and another Lifelong Friend of theirs. Below is one of the Grandkids in Mexico, Sister of The G-Kid Force, with one of their Paternal Cousins. All the Girls are so Pretty and growing into Fine Young Women so fast that it's Scary!!!
The Kiddos in Mexico have been sending us some updated pixs, they're all now doing Well and I'm so relieved. All are living with the Families of various Paternal Relatives, so, now get to spend time with their Cousins daily, which is nice. They also get to still see their Grandma Saint Maria, she's still piping along, Bless her. This is the Youngest of the Trio with one of their Cousins. She's the only one now still in High School, since the Older Two have now Graduated, the Oldest is attending College on a Full Scholarship. All Four of the Daughters of The Daughter are very close in Age, only the Young Prince is quite a bit Older than his Younger Sisters. Since, The Daughter had him when she was just a Teenager, with her Childhood Sweetheart. She and Bobby knew each other since they were just Kids.
The Four Girls also have a Younger Sister, a Child he's had by his new Wife, and numerous much Older Brothers and Sisters by their Dad's other Relationships before he was with our Daughter. The Young Prince has Two Younger Siblings, a Brother and Sister, that his Dad and Girlfriend had together. So, it's a lot of Kids and most of them now also have Kids, so, I lose Count. *LOL* They all grow up so fast tho', in the blink of an Eye and poof, they're suddenly Grown and are no longer Children, but Young Men and Women! Of coarse, when all the Adult Kiddos get together for a Reunion, all the Friends like to parade out the Blast from the Past Pixs I've never seen of my Kiddos when they were all Young. A lot of the Pixs are Party Pixs of forbidden underaged escapades Teens keep from their Parents. Now, they can come Clean about it all and embarrass each other. *LOL*
Bee had this never-seen-before-by-me Pix of The Son, when he was perhaps 13-14. He said Pot and Beer might have been involved... and probably some fake Story the Kids made up about where they actually were and what they were actually doing. *Eye Roll and LOL* I'm so fortunate that of all the Kiddos, Princess T is the ONLY one who has never been a Prodigal and done any of that Miss or Mister Party All The Time shit behind our Backs. She has Vaped MJ, but only after she turned 18 and she felt badly for pretending her Vape Pen was Timmy's and has never been a liar, so, she came Clean about it being hers. Well, it wasn't my First Rodeo, so, tho' I wanted to Believe it was Timmy's and he accidentally left it at our House and backed up her Story... I was pretty sure it was hers. So, had the Vaping is Bad for You and Illegal for anyone Under 21 Speech anyway and she sheepishly came Clean about it being hers. *LOL*
That Kid used to make up her own Rules for herself if you didn't give her enuf Rules. *LOL* She'd tell ME, from a very early Age, that I shouldn't allow her to do certain things. *LMAO* She is perhaps the most Rules Oriented Kid I've ever seen, so, I've not had Issues with her breaking Rules we did impose, she's rigid about following Rules. I never have made a slew of them, I'm pretty laid back about Raising Children to just be able to Think for themselves with Guidance, and have them want to solicit the advice of their Elders becoz they have learned to Trust and Respect our Wisdom. Yes, many times some of them didn't follow advice or did things they regretted, haven't we all? But, they still value our advice and guidance and still solicit it about anything they're wanting input about or an opinion they trust. There is nothing they can't ask me about. I'm glad we have an open line of communication between all the Generations.
I got this Crystal Cluster today at our Antique Mall. The Elderly Vendors Daughter was there re-stocking Inventory for her Parents. They just got these multi-cluster Crystals in of several different types of Minerals. The one I chose has about Fifteen, she had one with about Seventeen, but some of the Points were broken and this one had better formation and clarity. This Vendor has the best prices in our Mall for Minerals, Crystals and various Rocks, Fossils, and Semi-Precious Stones. We have many other Vendors that Sell similar Product, but charge a lot more. The only problem I have is that The G-Kid Force also Collect these so keep liberating some from my Collection. *LOL* So, I'll have to tuck this one away inconspicuously in one of the full Cabinets Of Curiosities and mebbe they won't notice it? *LOL*
Berries are in Season now so there's lots of Food Porn that is Mouth watering and a Feast for the Eyes too. I have refrained from Buying any Cakes or Tarts, but, I have Bought lots of Fresh Berries and Fruits. I usually have some with my Breakfast at Home. But, this Day we had Brunch at "Wildflower Bread Co." and I tried one of the new items on their Menu that was a Breakfast Bowl. It was good, but I had to take most of it Home since lately I just can't eat very much. I feel hungry and then when I start eating I feel full right away. It's fine, since I don't suffer any ill effects from not having much of an appetite and I enjoy what I can eat of it. I'm pretty sure it's the GOLO Release that just satiates you quickly at meals and suppresses hunger between meals.
They had a Mexican Honey Huatusco Coffee that was Sublime, I made it Iced with Sweet Creme. The Man had Soup and half a Sammie, Above, my Breakfast Bowl and Coffee is Below. Now, I know you're probably looking at that Image and Thinking, you couldn't eat just that? Nope, couldn't, not even half of that actually. The other half I'll have for Breakfast in the Morning. The Man made a Happy Plate and ate all of his, which for him is unusual, becoz he's not a big eater and he eats painfully slow and is very fussy about food. Ever since his TBI he had to learn how to do everything again, like chewing, swallowing, and not choking, so, he's very cautious about eating ever since. I have to make sure he doesn't have something he could choke on and that he's cutting things up into very small bite sizes. He has aversions now to some food, especially food that's good for him, much like Kids do too. Very similar to what you'd have to do for a small Child so they don't choke and eat what's best for them.
He liked the Idea of Eating Out, but, often he balks at actually eating whatever he has ordered and spends more time arranging his utensils and fussing with things on the Table, than actually consuming his meal. *Le Sigh* I'm usually about done before he even starts eating! I will let him linger some, but then I just ask for a To Go Box and pack it up or we'd be there all damned day. *Le Sigh and Smiles* The Kids do Joke about it, since, they know I'll pack their Dad/Grandpa up once I've lost Patience with him playing with his Food and fussing with everything that's a distraction on the Table. When someone is 3 it's more tolerable than when they're 73, but, just barely. I wouldn't have the Patience to do a Meal with a Toddler in tow either anymore. I don't even have the Patience when someone else at another Table has a fussy Kid in tow ruining everyone's Dining experience. *LOL*
Hey, if they're Tired or overly Fussy and can't be Comforted, it's Time to take them Home for a Nap, for their sake and everyone else's. Or at least have the courtesy and consideration to remove them from disturbing everyone else in a Restaurant, Movie Theater, or any other Public Place. I can't Believe how many Modern Parents allow their Kids to act the Fool in Public and/or go Feral and tear a place up and be intrusive with Strangers or Scream their Heads off! We usually prefer sitting at a Booth than a Table. But if someone has Small Children, we'll take a Table, preferably away from any of the Smalls. Otherwise they're standing up on their side of the Booth and reaching over into yours with sticky Fingers and disturbing you incessantly or jumping up and down on their Seat like a Trampoline! I Love Kids, but, I want you to have Control over Yours and be up to the Job of Parenting them and teaching them Manners and learn how to appropriately Socialize and behave.
I remember when the Oldest Daughter brought her Oldest Child to visit us when the Granddaughter was about Two. She was their first Child and The Daughter at the time was Preggy with their Second. Well, the Toddler had a habit of throwing herself on the Floor dramatically and having an equally dramatic meltdown, our Daughter said she did it all the time, especially in Public, if she didn't get her way. Becoz she was so pregnant, it was difficult for her to try to pick a petulant emotionally deregulated Child up off the Floor that was resisting and refusing to get up or cooperate and causing a Scene. I asked her if she wanted me to handle it next time we were out, she agreed. I did what I'd done with every Kid in tow with me whenever they'd even hint at acting the Fool in Public. Thus, our Kiddos always Cleaned Up well. *Winks*
No, I didn't stab her... just couldn't resist the visual. She's Alive and in her 30's now with Three Kiddos of her own probably acting the Fool in Public and having to Learn not to. *Bwahahahaa* We were in a Walgreens and were ready to leave, Grandkid apparently wasn't ready to leave and tossed herself on the Floor pitching a Fit. I told her Mom to ignore it and just keep Walking away and don't even look back or say a damned thing. I also stepped over said Grandbaby and kept Walking away, no pleading, no Negative Attention, I just disengaged since she knew she was doing something she shouldn't. Even the Smalls are Intelligent and Manipulative as Hell, Testing Limits to see how far they can take you. *Winks*
So, you didn't have to go over the whole Spiel over and over again if you weren't getting any compliance or cooperation and Change. In fact, my Parenting Style is the same as my Dad's was with us, I tell you Once and you better Remember now for the rest of your Life, or, just accept the Consequences you choose. *LOL* Anyway, you never saw a Fit end so fast as she jumped up, shut up, and caught up, thinking she'd be left behind if she didn't. *Winks* Had we been in a Restaurant, I always just asked for To Go Boxes and the Meal ended immediately if Behavior was inappropriate. No eating 'til we were Home and they were Calmed Down... no going out again for an extended period of time until they could Behave. Consequences always had an impact if you were consistent and Fair.
Well, with Caregiving for a Vulnerable Adult, same Tactics also Work if you are consistent and Fair. If The Man begins to deteriorate while we're out, I cut the Outing short and explain why we're ending it prematurely. If he has Control over how he's behaving, he usually turns it around quickly so as not to be taken Home. *LOL* If he's just overly Tired or has Sensory Overload and Anxiety or Confusion, I don't make it seem like punishment. Just that clearly he needs to go Home and get Centered or take a Nap, and he'll do and feel better. Usually once we get Home he is just Fine and settles in to his Routines and perhaps the Outing was just too much for him that Day even if he really wanted to do it. I do tell him we'll see if he can manage better next time, so that he can practice and make progress in the right direction. Some Days he does. He's improved a lot over Time... other Days he's Higher Maintenance.
Blessings, Love and Light from The Asylum... Dawn... The Bohemian
You are such a strong woman forged by necessity. I could not survive in your life. And I'll bet mine would bore you to death. LoL
ReplyDeleteLOL forged by necessity... I like that description of it. *Smiles* I think we all have the lives we are best able to handle. I had a Friend once tell me that your Misery is often your Ministry. It made perfect sense, becoz in many ways it has been what I'm best at, those things that were hardest in my life. And in that, you can be an encouragement to others who are traveling a similar Path and Minister to their Spirit as they move thru their similar difficulties you have already experienced and have Sage advice about. This Morning Princess T was ratchet, as Graduation looms closer her Mood deregulation is on the Basement level so I know this whole Super Senior Label is bothering her more than she lets on. She jokes about it but it's humiliating to her and those damned Teachers who are saying unkind things about the Students who will be Seniors for an extended period hasn't helped. I'm sure some of the Students are more Mature than some of those Adults who are unkind and insensitive. Kids can be brutal, but usually those types of Kiddos come from Families who are no better and that's where they learned how to be. All my Kiddos have their significant Issues, but one thing I do know about all of them, they are Kind and would do anything for anyone. I hope that they learned some of that from us and that it's a trait in them that will be passed along Generation to Generation.
DeletePS: I think you lead a fascinating Life Jean, I enjoy reading about it and look forward to each and every Post. I doubt we'd be Bored, in fact, we'd likely find lots of things in common to do and see how much of it could be done without getting Arrested? *Winks*
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