Stranger Things

 

*WARNING: Epic Holiday Post Ahead*

After ALL this Time, I FINALLY figured out how to make my Photo Archives Icon Thumbnail Pixs Extra Large, so I don't have to strain my Eyeballs to see them when I download them to here!!!  *Whew, what a Relief!  LOL*  When they were minuscule my Eyes would often get wonky looking for specific Pixs.  *Smiles*  Sometimes I'm such a slow Learner and fearful of doing something exploratory on my Computer or Cellphone for Fear that I will do something I can't then undo!?   And what I had to do to enlarge the Thumbnails was so damned simplistic, I feel like a Moron for not figuring it out sooner!!!  *Bwahahaha*  Now it won't take me so long to compose a Post.  *Ahhhhhhhhh, Blissful Contented Sigh!*

You know how I like to Go Big or Go Home, and enlarging Photos on my Blog was a Big Deal when I realized how to Supersize them.  But, I never could figure out Enlargement of my Photo Archives Stored Pixs until now.  I'm very Visual, so it was important to me to always have a Visually pleasing Blog.  I like to Write, yet, that's always secondary to the Visuals when I'm Creating a Post.  And, my Pixs never have to match whatever I'm Writing about, they could, but, they don't have to.  I don't follow any of the "Rules" of successful Blogging, since, who made the "Rules" anyway?  *Winks*  And in the early days of my Blog I do remember going to the Library and finding Books about Blogging, since it was all so New to me and I wanted to Create a nice one.  Since, well, I'm Vain like that.  *Winks*

Well, I'd check the Book out of the Library, then go Home and look up the Author's Blog and realize, I don't even LIKE their Blog, it's a Meh Blog, both Visually and what they Write about!!!  WTF? So what kind of Blogging Expert ARE they actually, self professed?  And, how did they get a Book Deal based on not being very Good at what they're Writing about, to presume to tell other Bloggers how to make a Successful Blog?   Yes, I was, and still am, a Blog Critic and I can be quite harsh.  *LMAO*  There are different Blogs I enjoy for different reasons, but one with a good Writer I can identify... and one with a good Photographer I can identify... and some who just Crib great Images I don't mind either.  But, let's face it, some Blogs you just wouldn't visit often or capture your Blog Devotion or Interest.  Those Blog Book Authors probably don't even still Blog?  *Winks*

There used to be a Stampington Issue Magazine about Blogging that I'd Buy every Month called "Artful Blogging" and I just Loved that Edition of their Magazine Series and Collected it.   Now it is Sold Out Of Print, so, I'm glad I Saved all my Copies of it and I miss it.   It's Out Of Stock even Online and I do Wish they'd resurrect it, but, they probably won't now that the heyday of Blogging has long passed.  Stampington makes a lot of good Magazines and tho' expensive, they're worth it as a Keeper Mag that is more like a Soft Cover Book than a regular Magazine.  There's other Series they've done that are now Out Of Print too like "Where Women Cook", which was also good and I Collected during it's brief Production.  They come out with New ones, right now a New one I like is "In Her Studio".

I spent most of Tuesday Morning and early Afternoon working in The RV Garage Mahal and my She Shed, since, it was very Cool until past 1:00 P.M., so, perfect temperature to work in non-climate controlled spaces.  We took 3 Boxes of Donations to SAVERS from me cleaning out and purging stuff, and dropped it off as we were picking Princess T up from Work there.   I got a whole Vintage Set of Apple Design Franciscan Dinner Ware at a Bargain, Service for Four, with Tureen with Lid, Divided Serving Dish, Water Pitcher and Coffee Creamer, which I'll be Selling in my Showroom.  An Original Squishmallow Backpack that Online said it was Rare and was Selling for $99, I got it for $4... Specialty Backpacks of Trending Characters Sell easily and for big Bucks!!!

 

I watched the Finale of "Halloween Wars", "Outrageous Pumpkins" and "Halloween Baking Championship".  I took some Pixs with my Cellphone Camera of some of the Entries from my TV Screen of "Halloween Wars", they turned out pretty good so I've included them in this Post.  In the Past I've tried to do it, with not much Luck, but now I've figured out the best way to take the Pixs fastest and capture thru my Lens what I want to Photograph.   You don't look at the TV while doing it, that was my Mistake before, you look at your Cellphone Screen instead and snap each Image, that way your reflexes aren't delayed too much.   Seconds count and, well, my reflexes ain't what they used ta be either.  *Winks*  I'm always Impressed and Amazed at what Cake, Sugar and Pumpkin Artists Create from their Specialty Mediums. 

 But, I wouldn't wanna be a Judge, the Contestants are all so damned good that Judges really have to split Hairs and be picky to send any Team Home during Eliminations and to pick Winners!!!   Of coarse I can't Taste the Tasting Elements and sometimes that makes the difference too when the Displays are just too well matched.  I'll even watch the Reruns from previous Seasons and just Marathon Binge Watch it all thru the Autumn Showings of it.   I'm not big on Reruns, but some Classics I'll watch again and again, and some of the good Holiday Contests on the Food Network.   By next Weekend they'll be starting the Christmas Holiday Food and Baking Contests.   

Right now I've been watching Old Reruns of "Supermarket Sweep" from the early 1990's.  The Man and I never missed that Show... and The Son even remembers it always being on during his Childhood.  *LOL*  The Host, David Ruprecht, is still Handsome even tho' he's 76 now!   He looks exactly the same only with White Hair now, and still a whole Head of it!!!   He's still in Buff shape too and I don't know if he's had Work done that is really good, or, if he's got that Dave Clark Ageless thing going on of just having good Genes?  *LOL*  He comes on during the Commercials between the Old Reruns now and I was shocked he looks so good and so much the same after all these Years!   In the early 1970's my Fav Game Show was "Let's Make A Deal" with Monty Hall.

When I was in my First Corporate Life of Banking, a Co-Worker got on the very early "Wheel Of Fortune" and Won the Big Showcases they used to have in the beginning, including a Luxury Car!   Well, he had to not accept all the Luxury Prizes he Won, becoz what we didn't realize was, that you had to pay the Taxes on however much you Won and he didn't have the Cash to do that!   It's got to be reported as Income on your Tax Returns and I recall he Won more than what he'd of Earned on a Year and a Half's Worth of his Salary!   It makes Winning a Car or a Luxury Vacation hard for a lot of Winners to accept.   You can choose to refuse a Prize if the Tax Liability outweighs it's Value, you couldn't afford to Pay the Taxes, or it's Usefulness or Desirability to you doesn't make it worth accepting.  I remember how disappointed he was and his Testimony stuck with me.  I'd want to therefore only Win Cash.  *LOL*  Then you could set aside what you'd Owe of it in Tax Liability.

Because it's Halloween, I watched a new Horror/Thriller Movie on Netflix "Don't Move" {2024}, about a Serial Killer and his last Victim, who was Suicidal when he met her, a very different storyline that provoked thought.  I didn't recognize any of the Actors in it, but, it was well Acted nonetheless and I felt it was successfully suspenseful and kept you on the edge of your seat for the entire Hour and a Half.  I've learned not to discount Movies where I don't know who any of the Cast are, sometimes they turn out to be really Good.   Just like some well known Cast can be in a Bad Movie.   I haven't been binge watching NetFlix as much lately, I started with a Series "The Haunting Of Bly Manor", that was really good, until, it just wasn't, and got so Weird that I had to ditch finishing it halfway thru.   I Hate when that happens, I'd rather it start out Bad to begin with so I don't invest myself and waste so much of my Time.

Well, just Two more Days until Halloween.   I got all the Treat Bags done and feel we'll have more than enough.   I put Candies and a Halloween Party Favor Toy in each Decorated Bag.   Things like Skull Erasers, mini Halloween Pinball Type Toy Games, Spider Rings, Neon Slime Goop in Ounce Containers, and Halloween Tops. {See Below}   TARGET was Sold Out of most Halloween Party Favors to give out so I got the last one they had of the Selections Below.   Finding the Party Favor Halloween Bags with appropriate Halloween Graphics on them proved even harder, I had to go to Three Dollar Stores before I found One that still had some left!  And, I didn't wait 'til the last Minute to Source any of it either, things were just Selling Out quickly with Halloween related Merch, even before October in some cases!   So, you couldn't linger making decisions about any of it or you'd miss the brief Window of Opportunity that they'd even still have any, let alone a good selection to choose from!!! 

Now, I remember in Holidays Past, my Mom and I would always hit the After Seasonal Sales and get all our Holiday Merch half off or more.  Remember those Days?   Well, now, you have to Shop at least a Month or Two early to even Score any at Full Price and they Sell Out long before the actual Holiday arrives.  I don't know when that shift happened, but it did and Post Holiday Sales are a thing of the past by and large.   And even IF a remnant is left, if you don't go the Morning After, when the Stores first Open, you won't find anything left at all.   I do miss the days of the Old After Seasonal Sales Post-Holiday.   And now, you almost can't find Boxed Christmas Cards becoz so few folks even Mail anything anymore that is personal.  I'm glad that I have a Stash of them from way back when I bought them Post-Holiday to use for subsequent Years.  We used to send a lot out, but now that List has dwindled, as has those who exchange them with us still either.  

I also miss getting Letters and Cards... I'm probably the last of the Dinosaurs that did either.   I don't do Letters anymore, ceased when everyone else just quit reciprocating... and, it's going that way with Cards as well.  If I don't receive one after I've sent one, then I figure they don't want to exchange them anymore and they drop off the List so they don't even have to feel any obligation to.  Some people used to send you the E-Cards instead on The Book Of Faces... it. is. not. the. same!   So, this Year's Christmas Card List is very Short now and so will be the Cards received and I'm just resigned to accepting that Cards are a thing of the Past too.   In fact, the Individual Cards now are ridiculously priced so I don't blame anyone for not having a Hallmark Moment of choosing an Individual Card for anything anymore!!!   

Holy Mother of God... I Photographed some Halloween Cards I liked at TARGET and most of them were around Ten Bucks Each, I Kid you not!!!   When I turned them over to check the Price, I was in Sticker Shock!!!  For something someone will immediately throw away that's just ridiculous!   So, it was no Wonder they had a slew of Holiday Greeting Cards left and now I often see them Donated to the Chazzas.  When I find them there, as New Old Stock Donated, I will sometimes Buy them if they're the price a Card used to Cost.   But now, I don't really have many folks I even would send them to, since, they don't do Cards anymore, or Letters, and are confined to their Social Media sites, where the majority have about 1,000 or more alleged "Friends" Invitations they've sent out or accepted, and mostly Lurk and hit a Like Button every once in a while if they're trawling anyone else's Pages.   *LOL and Eye Roll*   

Yes, I'm Cynical about a lot of Social Media sites, The Book of Faces included.   There is a lot of Drama and a Headache Online, and heavily Filtered Photos.   I have a Private Setting and only accept Requests from those I still have a Relationship with in Real Life or want one with.  Or, if I Lost Touch with someone over the Years and we wanted to reconnect and found each other there, and that's the best and easiest way to still keep in Touch over a great Distance.  With being Career Retired Military, most of our Friends have lived a Nomadic Life too, and moved a lot and often, so could have ended up anywhere and everywhere over the Years... here and Abroad.  It is very difficult to keep in Touch when someone's Address changes constantly or you lose Contact information during Moves, and so Social Media has helped reconnect people.  I've even reconnected with folks from my Childhood and the Old Dusty Memories we Share is Priceless.

We'll all go thru our Photo Archives Blast From the Past and Share them Online with each other of how we remember each other way back when.  Very Nostalgic in a good way and the History Shared with certain People from our Past is so Special and Cherished.   Especially since we always Moved a LOT, sometimes every Year to 18 Months my whole Life, so, you didn't have long Histories with too many people unless you deliberately managed to stay connected somehow over the Years.  Some of my Civilian Friends lived in the same place all their Lives so for them it was/is quite different.   Now that I've stayed put for a while I understand how much deeper the connections become to even a Place, and the People, once you've been Invested there a longer time.   With Career Military folks it is a very different way of Life.  I don't miss all the Moving now I'm Older, but, I'm Thankful I got to see so much of the U.S. and the World and experience so much more.

It is Interesting to me how many of my Civilian Friends will comment on how Adventurous I am and how we get around and go everywhere all the time.   Becoz I know some of them who've lived in Arizona all their Lives and never even seen the Grand Canyon or Traveled within the State to different places outside of the Metro Area.   Sometimes, they've stayed on ONE Side of the City and never even gone to the other Sides of it!   Mind Blown!!!   And when your Exposure and Experiences is so Limited, it does affect how you Think about things becoz the Experiences and Filters formed are very narrow and had Limits and tight Boundaries to them.  

And OMG, speaking of going outside of Boundaries, well, we all got into the Halloween Candies.   And I ain't gonna Lie, and will have to Come Clean, the Gummi Finger Dippers with Pop Rocks Dip are probably not gonna last until the Trick-Or-Treaters show up.   *LOL*  I may have to trawl a few TARGETS and see if different locations might still have some?   And Stock up if they do!  *Winks*   I forgot how much Fun Pop Rocks are to eat and have fizzling and popping on your Tongue... and the Gummi Finger Five Flavors were so fragrant, flavorful and strong that you could smell them thru the Bag!!!   And, I may have also snagged one of each Design of the Four Designs of this Year's PEZ Mini Halloween Dispensers for my Halloween PEZ Collection too... *Winks*  The ones not shown have Bats against Yellow Dispenser or say Trick-Or-Treat against Black Dispenser.   I've been Collecting full size Halloween PEZ Dispensers for Years and have some Older Rarer ones.  

If you are a Serious Consummate Collector and want to round out a Collection and Locate Rarer Items, Online Sellers give you the best Opportunity to Source anything and everything.   And, a lot of the International Sellers have Sold me some of my best stuff, without me having to leave Home or the Country to Source it.   I became Friends over the Years with Fav Sellers, and I've had a French Canadian Seller, Marco, Sell me Fabulous Antique Rosaries he was Selling that had been his deceased Mother's Lifelong Collection... and I'd send him American Postage Stamps for his Son's Stamp Collection.  And a Welsh Ex-Pat living in Belgium Seller, who had a Bed & Breakfast there, George.  He Sold me Antique Belgian Velvets and Victorian Trims by the Kilo!  *LOL*  Yeah, Customs and DEA had Fun with that when Blue Wrapped Kilos from Europe were arriving Monthly marked "Fabrics & Trims"!  *Bwahahahaha*  The Man was like, "Honey, you KNOW what these LOOK like, Right?"  *Winks*   

Why by the Kilo, you might ask?   Well, from Belgium, it's Cheaper to Mail a Kilo of anything than it is to Mail less than that.   So, George would wait until I'd Bought a Kilo of Fabrics from him, and add Free Victorian Metal Fringes that his other Customers asked him to take off their Antique Fabrics before Mailing to save on their Postage Costs, and then he'd send it to me by the Kilo.  *Smiles*  I had an Open Invitation that if I ever visited Belgium, to stop in at their Bed & Breakfast... it was in a gorgeous Historic Inn.   George would hit all the Flea Markets to Source what he Sold Online and he knew my Mom was from his Home Country and I'd been Born there, so, we became Instant Friends.  He and his Dear Wife would send me Gifts with some of my Purchases, as a Surprise.   I miss them, she got Cancer and he had to quit the Business and I never knew if she recovered or not, since, we lost Touch?

Marco, after he eventually Sold Off all the Antique Rosaries that had belonged to his Mom, quit being an E-Bay Seller too, so I also lost Touch with him as well.  Miss them both, great Guys and we spent Years with not only an Online International Buyer/Seller Relationship, but a Friendship as well.   I still have all the Antique Rosaries in my Collection and all of the Antique Belgian Fabrics and Victorian Metallic Fringe Trims as well.   When I was a Fabric Artist I used a lot of Antique Fabrics and Trims, but Saved the very best and Favorite ones for what I made for my Family, Best Friends and myself.   Everyone wants me to get back to Creating my Bags, but, I'm not sure if I can do that much Handwork anymore with Arthritis and Aging Eyesight now?   So, even if I did resume, I doubt I'd want to do it with the motivation or intention to Sell it.   I never did to begin with, I made some for myself, and started getting requests for Custom Bags every time someone saw me with one of my Bags.

If someone bugged me enuf, I'd just Sell them the one I had and make myself another one.  *LOL*   One thing led to another and about every Nine Months or so I'd agree to do a Commissioned Piece if someone didn't mind waiting longer than it would take for them to have a Baby?  *LMAOROTF*   And I'm not kidding, each Bag had a minimum of 36 Handwork Hours since I just use a Needle and Thread and Hand Make it all, no Machines... and, I only worked on it when I felt like it and was "On"... forced Creativity and a Deadline stifles Art IMO.  I was into Feeding my Soul by doing it, not into Selling my Soul.   Finally, my List of Waiting Clients became too long and it just wasn't enjoyable anymore, so I just quit.  I had zero Intention of making it a Business and I still have zero Desire to.   So, if I did resume it would be Private and Secretly so nobody would know and ask for one.  *Ha ha ha*

 

I liked to use Antique Brooches or Old Asian Jade Pendants as the Clasps/Embellishments on the Flaps.   And I originally began making them myself so I wouldn't have to use and ruin my Art Bags by Favorite Designer Friends that Created those I began seriously Collecting.  And I've had some of my Old Original Hippie Carpetbags since the 1960's-1970's when they were a Thing, so, it's not like any Modern Designers have Invented The Wheel, by using Old Fabrics and Rugs to make Fabric Art out of.  Every Hippie I ever knew did it from as far back as I can remember.   A lot of us Hippies made what we wore, or Embellished the Hell out of it.  That's why we were considered Freakish and Dirty to the Non-Hippies.  *LOL*   The Young Prince has the Bag below, which was one of the First I made and so he wanted that one.   The one I made for my Mom got Stolen from her Nursing Home Hospice in Cali, which pissed me off.  Luckily by then she had the final Stages of Dementia and probably didn't miss it and thus why they risked taking it.

It's a damned Shame that in a place that was charging Eleven Grand a Month Ten Years ago, they had Employees who'd Steal from the Residents and especially from those Dying.  I put a Curse on whoever it was, fuck them hard.  *Winks*   Princess T and our Old Cats would hide amongst the piles of Antique Fabrics, half finished Bags and Art Pillows I made from Tapestries, Antique European Fabrics, Old Cut Belgian Velvets, Vintage and Antique Trims, Seam Bindings and Lace.   You'd often just see their Heads sticking out!  *LOL*   The Cat pictured Below was Peaches, she had been born under a Meth Lab Property as a Feral Kitten and her Head was too small so she had a lot of Health and Respiratory Issues.  So did Princess T, so, the Cat would take Breathing Treatments with the Granddaughter and that's why she'd take them so willingly.  Coz Peaches would sit at the end of the Nebulizer Mouthpiece and catch the Medicine as it came out, and they both then could Breathe better and do it Together!

You see, The G-Kid Force were Meth Babies too, so... similar exposure that the poor Kitten had and thus similar Health Issues and Disability.   Peaches actually lived to a ripe Old Age and only Died due to a Stray Dog attack.   When a pack of Street Dogs got over our high Adobe Wall of the Historic Property and Killed Three of our Dear Older Working Cats that were too Elderly to get away!!!   One problem in Da Hood was there were a lot of Strays, Ferals and just Abandoned or Neglected Pets roaming the Streets.   Every Cat we ever had during the 20 Years of Living there Southside was a Stray or Feral that Adopted us and just voluntarily became Working Cats for us.  So we let them live out their Lives there and just got them Spayed and Neutered by a place that offered the Service for Non-Pet Quality Animals.   Most Shelters would not take the Felines we took in, they would have put them down.

Tho' all but a scant few of our Feline Fur Babies ever wanted to come Inside, if I left the Door to the Art Studio Open, they'd often roam in and out to see what I was doing.  Curious and would hang out and watch me Create... But, you had to leave an Exit Strategy or they'd Freak Out and feel Trapped, so the Door had to remain Open.   Only Rat Boy, who lived to be 20, was our Inside Only Cat before Eli, our current Inside Only Cat.  The rest were all Working Cats and had been Born and Lived Wild and Free, so, I Respected that they preferred being Out of Doors and not confined.  Some stayed with us 'til the day they Died, and lived with us many Years, like Peaches.   Others came and went, as they felt the need to, and might only have chosen us for a short term stay, like a Hostel Arrangement.  *LOL*  Usually if they came to us as Feral, Abandoned or Stray Kittens, they stayed longest, Adult Cats have a Duality to their previous Life and the Calling and Allure it might still have.

Different personalities and levels of Human Acceptance or Tolerance too.  We'd have some that lived on our Property for Years and would never let you Touch them.  Others were very personable and allowed handling to various degrees.   We had one Female Adult Cat with One Eye and a very damaged deformed Face, we Named her Jackie One Eye and she was so Feral and so Intolerant of Humans we never could trap her to take her to a Vet for Medical Care.  She was savvy to Traps and we don't know what happened to her, whether it was a serious Deformity she was Born with, a horrible Accident she Survived, or, some other Abuse we shuddered to even contemplate.   Some Humans are exceedingly Cruel Psychos against the Sentient Beings we Share this Planet with.

All I know is she enjoyed what Life she had left on our Acreage and would get along with other Cats, but, never really Trusted us.   She knew we were good for a Free Meal and she lived out the rest of her Days living alongside us for a long time, in spite of her horrible Facial disfigurement and never being Touched.  I only Hoped she could Feel she was Beloved?  Every Cat, like every Person, has their Story and their distinctive Personality too.   I am a Cat Person, I can Appreciate their Independence and Aloof Attitude.  They can take Care of themselves and don't really Need us as Owners or to be Devoted like a Dog, they prefer seeing us as their personal Staff and "The Help".  *Winks*  I think that's why some Humans have a strong dislike for them actually, it might trigger an inferiority complex or self esteem issue they already struggle with?

The Daughter sent this Pix of herself with the Middle Daughter there, who is the Prodigal and the Higher Maintenance Child... just like she was.  I told her this One is Payback for how she Challenged us in her own Childhood.   And she was mine for what I put my Parents thru.  Every Family usually has one.   And this one looks just like I did as a Young Teenager actually, kinda eerie to see a Clone of yourself in a Future Generation.  *Bwahahahahaha*  Of coarse these Girls have the Full Angelina Jolie Lips they got from their Dad.  Salvador has the most Beautiful Lips for a Man I've probably ever seen, and is a very Handsome Man, even tho' he's in his late 50's now.  When we first met him we thought The Daughter was robbing the Cradle and couldn't Believe he was way Older than she was and had Kids the Ages we thought he was!  He had Older Children the Age of our Daughter!  Some people just Age very Gracefully and well.

Anyway, The Daughter said things are going very much better now he's out and straightening things out so that she can leave and come back Home.  They're attempting to get the Child Services Case Closed or transferred exclusively to him, since he's always had Custody of his Children there.  And once that happens, she's not needed there anymore.  Him being incarcerated is almost a non-issue, since in Mexico, people can and do get arrested and locked up for almost anything or nothing at all.  It is a very corrupt System and most Mexican Nationals would Trust Criminal Civilians and even Cartel more than they could or would Trust the Police or the Mexican Military or even Government Officials.  That's what it could and probably would be like under a 2nd Term of a DonOld Presidency.   It will be like a Banana Republic of Lawlessness at all levels and the Revenge and Retribution Tour.

The Daughter said you can avoid almost anything in Mexico with Bribes, disguised as an Offering "For The Sodas" so that everyone is pretending it's not a Bribe.   And they'll shake you down for anything you do have that they want.   Or, if they have a Vendetta against you personally or feel you are problematic to them in any way, shape or form, you will be Targeted and Dealt With harshly.  Does that sound familiar to what the ReTrumplican Party has devolved into and is Promising?  When they are talking about The Enemy Within, they mean any American not OF them, and that could even mean if you didn't Vote for them.   So, it's like those Faux Sham Democracies that have a Voting System, but, know if they don't Vote for the Oppressive Authoritarian Ones, they're on a Hit List of Retribution, Revenge and even sometimes Assassination.   *Eye Roll and Yes, every American better start Paying Attention my Friends!!!*  Salvador's Dad was Assassinated when he was 13, it happens a lot in Countries compromised by Lawlessness and Forced Oppression.

And quite often, if the ones Lusting for Power and complete unfettered Control don't Win, they'd burn the whole Country down to Rule over the Ashes.   This is who we're now Dealing With on our Far Alt Right Party that has been infiltrated by Extremist Fascists now and hopelessly infected with their Ideology.  To where 47% of Americans are now deluded into thinking somehow their lives will be better under a Regime than under a Free Democracy upholding the Rule of Law, having Humanity and decency.   And an Interesting discussion was had by an esteemed Sociologist that made perfect Sense now as to Why some Groups gravitate to the Darker Instincts they have out of Fear mostly and in an attempt to solidify their current Social Caste in a Society.  You see, even in a Democracy there is always a Caste System of Society.  Some have more Privilege and Power than other Castes within it.  We all instinctively know this and see it playing out Daily in fact. 

Everyone knows the Status they have in a long standing Caste System, but, when Demographics shift to where a more Privileged Caste, regardless of it being Socioeconomic wise, Political wise, Ethnic Wise, Gender Wise, Whatever... well, they've not had to function under THAT now potentially altered Caste System and it Scares them and makes them feel Threatened.   I think the Alt Right has become so Extreme now becoz they saw slippage in Demographics and Power Structure within our Country.  The actual beneficial Policies that would ensure more Equality would then erode those who are, have been, and want to hold onto the ways that made their lives and treatment better than those in Society with a struggle for a level playing field.  It's never been a level playing field, it's just slowly Evolved into one over 200+ Years of our Nation's Existence.   

Women, Minorities, LGBTQ+, newly arriving Immigrants, having more Rights and Freedom or Power, is a Threat to those that have always enjoyed more of it Historically.   Mathematically by 2045 the Shift in Demographic will make it so that just being a White Male won't make you the Privileged Majority anymore and once any Demographic becomes a Minority, the Fears that they will be "Replaced" in a more Dominant Position within a Society strikes Fear and the Changes will be resisted.   Mebbe the Changes would be more Positive for the whole Society, but, some don't want Equality for ALL, they want to have that Dominant Position of the Colonial Era Patriarchy that has granted them more Rights, more Privilege, more Power, so they're desperate to hang onto it.   

 

And, it's not just the Men in their Caste that feel that way usually, their Families realize their Status of being an "Upper" Caste is slipping.   They will resent those they deem "Others" of a "Lower" Caste in their Eyes, having Equality and competing on all levels now it's a more level playing field.   And even in our preferable Democratic Experiment, Justice for All has been an Ideal, it actually doesn't play out that way even now, it will play out worse tho' when there is NO Justice and it's decided by an Oppressor who Dictates your Fate depending on their Whims and their Ego driven Lusts.  Power corrupts and absolute power absolutely corrupts, that's not just a trite saying, it's the Truth.  If you doubt it, just look at any Society that has someone with absolute power running it without guardrails and nobody to stop their worst Instincts.

And after listening to this Sociologist explain in Simple Terms that every Society of Humans, and even most Animals, do have a Hierarchy and Caste System in place that is known, familiar, and their Societies have been run by the constructs of it.   It can Change, depending on whose Dominant in it at any given time, but, it's a Natural progression to how that "Societal" Structure works or goes haywire.   And so long as it's not Challenged, it stays the same, but, Challenges will and do happen, that's another Natural part of it.   You see it in the Animal Kingdom all the time with Dominant and Alpha Animals leading the Packs in any Pack Animals.   And you even see it in Solitary Animals, especially during Breeding Seasons, that Challenge for the best Positioning to perpetuate whatever the Species will become in the Future.   There is an Evolution going on constantly and this Sociologist said it should be expected and carefully calculated... to ensure what we become is better, not worse.

I know this is a very Epic Post becoz I had so many Great Images and got carried away loading them first and then inserting my Writing later.  *LOL*   Plus, by now, Halloween is less than a full Day away and I've got lots I will be doing that Day.  So, don't know if I'll actually get Time to Blog on Halloween or not?  *Smiles*   Princess T will be having a Pot Luck at Work, her very first, so, she's wanting me to help her with what she'll be bringing.   I'll let her decide what to bring, but, she wants my input since she knows I've had Pot Lucks galore at places of Employment and Gatherings of Friends and Family.  *Smiles*   I will also chip in with what it will Cost so she can bring something nicer in and make Brownie Points with her Co-Workers and Bosses.  *LOL*   Yep, good Food will grant you Favor my Friends!!!   And Favor ain't Fair, it's just Favor, and that's why everyone wants some.  *Winks*

Like I said in that Political Explanation part, when a Playing Field isn't level and you're at a disadvantage, for any reason, you Learn just how to Play the Game better to grant you Favor and some Privileges, whether Earned or not.  *Smiles*   I'm a Strategist by my very Nature, it's how I was Raised to be.   My Parents went thru their Lives with distinct and Historic disadvantages that they not only Learned to Overcome in Society, given the Caste Systems as they stood in each and every Country they ever lived in, but Thrive despite them.   Being an Oppressed Minority or an Oppressed Gender or Demographic that doesn't have all the Advantages, you just Learn quickly how to tilt The Game in your Favor and be better at it than your Opponents.   And you Play that Game to Win and with tenacity and a Passion.   I've taught all my Kiddos the same, how to Win even when all the Odds are stacked against you in any Game being Played within the Social Structure and this Caste System that metes out unfair Hands Dealt.

Therefore, the Kiddos and even The Man, have always consulted me when they need a Strategy and we have a War Room meeting to Strategize the Situation among us.   The Son, The Daughter, and Princess T do it almost Weekly, Daily if they Need to about Life in general when they're up against something, or Career specifically.  The Young Prince does it less so now, Allen was Raised differently and so he isn't a big Fan of accepting or even soliciting Consultations, especially of his Elders or those with more Wisdom and Experience.   So, usually The Young Prince waits until things have gone sideways and Allen has to relent, or not even know, that we're then having our Pow-Wow about whatever it is.  *Smiles*  

Things tend to work out better and more favorably when you have Humility and recognize you know what you know, you don't know what you just don't know, and even the things you Think you know can be Wrong or just not successful Solutions to your Problems.  And if you're not part of a Solution, you are part of the Problem.  *LOL*   The Young Prince was about to just Leave and come back to Arizona if he didn't Consult me first, have our Strategy and Pow-Wow to discuss potential Solutions and lay out some Strategic Plans to work shit out for the Grandsons.   So, after it, he told me things were infinitely better and could be navigated from a place of Strength rather than of Fear and Panic.  I was Happy to hear that, it's always the Goal to Help everyone be able to Help themselves and feel Supported and Heard.  Life has lots of twists, turns, injustices and obstacles, it's fraught with them, you Learn how to Navigate it all most Successfully.  Success leaves Clues. 

And even Failure is a valuable Lesson on how not to do something again and repeat Bad History and lack of Successes.   Those that won't or don't Learn, will just have a lot of Losses and fewer Wins, that's all.   I've never Feared Failure at all, ever... I've Learned more how to Fear too much Success, especially too much Success too quickly, becoz, to whom much is Given, much is Required.   I was an Assistant Vice President of a Major Financial Institution and running Three Departments before I was 23 Years Old, it was too much Success too quickly.   By the time I was 35 I was having Stress related serious Health Issues and switched Strategies and Careers.  Yeah, big Risk, potential to Fail, but, I've never stayed Down, and I like a good Challenge.  In my 2nd Corporate Life I was better equipped to slow my roll and Ambitions to take on only what I felt most comfortable handling with less pressure.   

As a Woman, a Young one at that, with not much Higher Education and not a lot of Privilege afforded to my Family Historically, and due to my Mixed Racial Ancestry, I quickly Learned how to choose my Battles wisely and Strategically to overcome Societal Disadvantages I clearly had.   I had Witnessed my Dad rise to the Top of his Game with not much more than a limited Grade School Education and the Deck stacked against him Historically and Ethnically.   And my Mom was one of the Smartest and Cunning Women I have ever known.  She had a Genius IQ and could Think Circles around even MENSA folk, yet, play down her Intelligence so they'd never see her coming.  And, she had the Gift of Prophesy and Intuition that was Dead On.   She was in fact Never Wrong about her Premonitions about anything, it spooked the shit out of people, unnerved almost everyone, and they thought her to be a Welsh Gypsy Witch.  *Winks*  

The Man to this Day likes to Joke that people not just THOUGHT HER TO BE... she Fucking WAS Honey!   He's not so certain I'm not either???  And most of my Spawn as well.  *Winks*  The Joke now is that becoz Ancestry DNA after Three different attempts at extracting my DNA, couldn't Identify 21% "Other of Undetermined Origin", and that seemed Odd, he's not even sure we Ancestrally even Originated from this Planet?  *Bwahahahaha*   Regardless, my Parents were great Consultants to have in Life and they Taught me who to look for as Mentors that would Advance me in anything I wanted to Achieve.   Find those ready and most willing to pass the Mantle, they'll Teach you everything they know and experienced, it's a Priceless Free Education that then won't Die with them so they'll be eager to Share it with a Protege'.

I had some of the most Outstanding Mentors too and I Owe a Debt of Gratitude to every single one of them and am Grateful for all they Taught me and passed on.  So, now I pass it on and Pay it Forward as well and Mentored many Young People I worked with before I Retired.  I even Consulted and held Pow-Wows with after Retirement if they Solicited my Advice, many still do and come have Strategy Meetings like Family.   I don't give Unsolicited Advice tho', it's never worth your Time to actually, if someone isn't seeking or wanting to receive Advice, or Learn, well, you can't Help them.   And I will tell anyone Solicited Advice, they make the ultimate decisions to take or discard it.  But, if you never take the Advice and use it to your Advantage, why bother asking for any, makes no Sense to me.   Some folks don't want Solutions tho', they want to just Vent or have become too Familiar with their Problems to Let Go of them.   There is some Payoff/Reward to some for Keeping a Problem and not finding a Solution actually.

Great Political Example is 45 shooting down the Bipartisan Support for a Border Solution that would have Solved and eased many of the Problems.  He Needed to Run on the Platform of that Problem, for his Fear Mongering and Nazi Inspired Hate Tour, so he did not want a Solution to it.   He required a Common Enemy and Marginalized Immigrants were handy Scapegoats to project National Anger and Biases upon.  So his Payoff/Reward was from keeping the Problem and then fabricating a Lie as to why it didn't get better, when he was the Instrument that ensured it didn't.   And as long as he can give them "Others" to project everything upon that they're currently Angry about, well, it Works for him.   

 

He pretends as if he'll be their God Sent Savior... he's even compared himself to Christ.  And of coarse the Evangelicals Worship him now like a Golden Calf and have Cult Devotion to attending and supporting his demented Revivals.   I personally think he fits the Bill of an Anti-Christ, and what Scripture actually Warns about, if you're a Biblical Scholar, but... if not him, someone in his Orbit likely is.   He isn't the Whole Problem we need a Solution for, Trust and Believe, it's way bigger than him.   A mere Election isn't Solving the Shitshow of America Devolving to where we have sunk to now and what we're Becoming.   So, we must resist Becoming Worse and find ways to Become Better, that's all, it'll be a progression and Evolution one way or the other.   I just personally would rather be on the Right Side of History, but doing the Right Thing is almost never the Easy or Comfortable Thing, and without some Sacrifices, Trust and Believe.

I think the Instant Gratification and Disposable Society we've become has a lot to do with the lack of Patience, Resolve and Steadfastness of our Society now.   Most have become fickle and quite wishy-washy, too many will turn on a Dime and stand for nothing, so they fall for anything.  When too many become Sell-Outs they'll throw anyone under the Bus for their own Gain or perceived Protection.  Dictators actually Love a Fearful Audience.   They prefer Loyalty over Competence and distrust Intelligence.   Most often Elites receive and are freely given positions they are unqualified for.   Sound familiar?   

There are a Big Six Personality Disorders Dictators seem to have:  Being Paranoid, Narcissistic, Sadistic, Antisocial, Schizotypal {Odd or Eccentric Thinking and Behavior}, and Schizoid {A Mental Health Condition with Lifelong Patterns of Social Withdrawal and Limited Emotional Expression}.   I lack Two, mebbe Three, so probably would never make an adept Dictator.  *Bwahahaha*  I'll leave it up to you go Guess which Two or Three I've assessed?  *Winks*   But, 45 has all of the Big Six, so, pretty sure he's Dictator Material.  And he's trying to endear himself to those who have Successfully been Dictators and Oppressed their Countries and Populations for years and sometimes Generations now.   

So, if you want America to look like Russia, North Korea, any existing Theocracy in the Middle East... or WWII Germany or Pol Pot's Cambodia... just Vote for the Lunatic, you'll then get what you foolishly and naively Think you want.  Once Done its difficult to Undo tho', so be Careful of what you Hope for, you might just get it.    And a Sorry won't cut it when you've ruined it for everyone and taken us so backwards it'll take Generations to run damage control enuf to bring us back into the 21st Century once again or progressively moving forward in a Positive direction in the distant Future.    Every cocked up Nation has been stuck there for Generations, which is why their Citizens are often desperate to get out.   I know I'm Preaching to the Choir, I doubt any MAGA come here, they stick with their own validating Social Media, Channels and Podcast sites.

The Desert Botanical Gardens will be Celebrating Dia de los Muertos November 1-3, with the Community Altar Ofrenda, Mercado, Food Vendors and Entertainers the 2-3, and the Procession at Dusk both Saturday and Sunday.  I plan to go on the 2nd, Saturday, since, I have to Work Friday Night and want to attend the Mercado and see the Entertainment during the Weekend Festivities.   Usually they have the Altars up for longer, so this is the shortest they will be having it up and I know there's a lot of improvements Construction going on right now.  I'm looking forward to a Day spent there, tho' the Dia de los Muertos is said to begin at Noon, and the Gardens Open at 7:00 in the Morning, so, that's unusual too and different from previous Years.   We'll see how it's Staged?   When they truncate the Times tho' is when they get unmanageable Crowds.   So, I do Plan to get there earlier like I did for the Halloween Event.  Then I bounce when it gets too crowded.

I don't like to Feel like I get caught up in a Storm of people.  Above was the "Halloween Wars" entry of Mother Nature attacking in revenge, "Little Shop Of Horrors" was the Inspiration for all the Teams.  So, a lot of them went literal with Plants attacking, and this Team made a Wonderful Tornado attacking the Pumpkin Carver as revenge for Carving up the Pumpkins.   That Tornado was done by the Sugar Artist, the Pumpkin Carver was done by the Pumpkin Carver, and the Cake Artist did the Barn, Pumpkin Patch and Painted that Awesome Storm Backdrop with Icing... I mean it really has depth to that Painting and Visually looks like it goes back for Miles!!!   That huge Pumpkin Carver made entirely out of Pumpkin defies Gravity!   And the Cake Artist was responsible for the Tasting Treat which was a Pumpkin Shaped Macaron that dotted the Pumpkin Patch along with the Cake Pumpkins.   And this entry wasn't even the Winner, that's how Good they all were!

 

By the time they got down to the last Three remaining Teams, I could never have made a Judgment Call as to who would Win this Season, any of them could have.   It was the tiniest of details or flaws that sent any Team Home or secured them a Win this Season.   I only lament that I can't try the Tasting Elements.  *LOL*   Below was a Visually Stunning Tasting Element that Won on Flavor too and was Zombie Brains.   All of the Tasting Element has to be edible, including any container holding it if they need a container.   The Imaginative ways they construct edible Containers for the Tasting Elements is Brilliant too.   And they always have to abide by the requirements of what they have to do with any Tasting Element Flavor they're randomly given.  Sometimes it's a Winning Element easy to incorporate like Chocolate... Citrus... a type of Fruit... or Coffee... and sometimes it's a Zinger Element that will be more challenging, like Basil... Garlic... Verbena... or Rose Water.

There was an Iranian Sugar Artist that this Season came up with some of the most unusual Winning Flavor Profiles for their Team's Tasting Elements.  Things that would have been Zingers for other Teams, he Inventively Created Magic using and Impressed the Judges almost every time.  He often Saved his Team from Elimination just due to their Tasting Element and Zingers they were thrown that might have derailed other Teams!   Things like Rosewater, Cardamom, Pomegranate, Turmeric or Pistachio didn't throw him, becoz those Flavor Profiles are often used in Persian Cuisine and are quite flavorful if you know what you're doing with it.  I Love Middle Eastern Flavor Profiles, but they are not common to the American Palate.   Same with a lot of Unique Asian Flavor Profiles typically used in various Asian or Polynesian Cuisines.  Things like Pandan, Taro, Manioc, Mango, Papaya, Green Tea, Dragon Fruit, Lychee, Durian, Plantain and Mangosteen.

I was talking to an Old Girlfriend of The Son, they Dated for Years during and right after High School and are still Friends.  She's Married with Two Young Children now and she was telling me the Characters they're dressing up for at Halloween and I had literally no Idea who they were!  That's when you know you're Done Raising Kids and enduring the Kid Infatuations.  *LMAO*   On the News they were also saying the most Popular Halloween Costumes this Year and I had no Idea who any of them were either now that all my Grands are Grown Up.  *Bwahahha*  Perhaps the Great-Grands will be in those Costumes and I'll have to try to Guess who the Hell they are supposed to be?  *Winks*

So, I had the Opportunity since one of the Great-Grands had Costume Day at her School and this is what she wore.   Is she Princess Fiona from Shrek I Wondered, with her Donkey named Donkey?   Or Anna from Frozen replacing her Reindeer with a Donkey?  I just don't know?  *LMAO*   Finally, we gave up, Princess T and I Cheated, we Google Picture Searched the Costume and it was Luisa of Madrigal from the Encanto Movie!  *Shhhh, our Secret!  The Adult Grandkids and Great Grands will still think we're relevant enuf to know without Cheating... ha ha ha.*   See what I mean.   *Smiles*

Our Grocer was giving away Free Heirloom Pumpkins so we snagged a Pair while we took Princess T there after Work to get her Potluck Potato Salad.  She doesn't eat Potato Salad, or Hamburgers, which is what Management is Making, but, it's what they had her Signed Up for to bring.  She doesn't know if they'll have anything there she'll Eat?  She's a very fussy Eater and has a lot of Allergies to certain Foods, she's had Gut Problems since Birth so has to avoid a lot of Foods that make her ill and in Pain to try to digest.   It's part of why she's always been so Thin.  The Foods she can Eat she enjoys a lot, but she's Lactose Intolerant so anything Dairy is The Devil for her, even tho' she likes Cheese, she can only risk it if she wants to suffer the consequences of it.  She's not allergic to Hamburgers, she just doesn't like them at all.

These were some Fine Free Heirloom Pumpkins!!!  Anyway, I do Hope somebody brings something she can partake of or it will suck to have a Big Pot Luck provided for a Halloween Party Lunch and she can't Eat any of it?   She's going as a Cow since she has an Old Cow Onesie she once wore for Halloween a few Years ago.  Then she's loaning it to Timmy to wear to First Fridays, since, they decided not to do anything for Halloween and to just wait for First Friday the Day After to wear their Costumes.  They are all too Old now to go Trick-Or-Treating and none of the Posse are Mister or Miss Party All The Time Types, which I'm Thankful for.  So, First Fridays is their Jam and luckily it falls the Day After Halloween.  She's currently making White and Dark Chocolate covered Organic Strawberries for Timmy's Grandma and Timmy for Halloween.  Then she'll be going to their House for a Halloween Party in her Cat Costume she wore again for Work.

Timmy's Two Younger Female Orphaned Cousins are now being Raised by his Grandparents, they're still Young enough to go Trick-Or-Treating, so Tomorrow his Grandparents will be taking them Door to Door while Timmy hands out Candy to other Kids that come to their House.  Tonight, the Grandparents are doing something Special for the Older Teens, Timmy and his Friends, which is nice, and so Princess T wants to Thank them and bring the Chocolate Covered Strawberries.  She does such a Fine Job of them that Guys we know who Buy them for their Wives from Gourmet Expensive Shops, have said hers looked more Professional and better!   So, she could do it as a Paid Sideline.  *LOL*

I'm glad she's got some Fun things Planned with her Friends and their Family since we didn't Plan anything.  She really wants me to attend a First Friday, she thinks I'd enjoy it, and, I probably would.  But, I don't want them to have to drag around another Grandparent.   Now that Timmy drives and has a Vehicle, I don't even think that his Grandparents go with them anymore.   And, I don't want to go Solo and it's not something that The Man would have any Interest in doing.  Perhaps when The Daughter returns we might go together to check it out.   The Son has gone before with his Friends.   But drinking and Bar Hopping is involved and everyone gets wasted and ends up taking an Uber or Public Transit or Walking to Gypsy James' House, which is fairly close by where it's Hosted, to Sleep Off their Hangovers.  So, that's not my Jam, I don't Drink, don't like being around Drunks or hanging with Alcoholics, don't want to have to be anyone's Designated Driver either.  Even The Son said it got to be too much, so he doesn't even go anymore and declines the invites to.

 

He said they Partied too much once and he and Gypsy James got Blackout Drunk and woke up on the Sidewalk Downtown, and, were Lucky they didn't get Rolled!   So, that was when The Son told Gypsy James, Nope, we got Lucky Bro', but another time mebbe not, and it's too risky and dangerous to get that Drunk Downtown.   When you're that inebriated you're an Easy Mark, even if when Sober you can defend yourself really well and nobody would mess with you usually.   I'm actually glad The Son just plans to stay Home this Halloween and help us hand out Candy and sit around the Fire Pit while doing it out front where we've Decorated the Front Porch.  I don't wanna hafta Worry about any of the Adult Kids... you don't stop being a Parent just becoz they're Grown.  Yet, you can't tell them what to do and how to live their Life either.

The Above "Halloween Wars" Entry was a Winner, the Elevator had Teeth and the Zombie Bellhops would drag unwitting Halloween Visitors into it's gaping Jaws to be Eaten.   The Victim in this Entry was a Guest who was ready to go Trick-Or-Treating and wearing a Skeleton Costume.  Each Team had to have Three Fully Defined Characters and tho' the other Teams went small with the 3rd Character, which was a Surprise requirement dropped on all the Teams, this Team did Three Full Sized fully Developed Characters, which was pretty Amazing given the Time Constraints and adding that Surprise of requiring a 3rd Character.   So, their 3rd Character didn't look like a hurried hasty Afterthought... I think that secured them the Win.

We delivered the Chocolate Covered Strawberries to the Grandma and the Cousins, but she didn't decide to stay there yet, since, Timmy has a Date.  It's not that he's looking for Mister Right, so this is just a Mister Right Now, but, Princess T didn't want to intrude on them having some Alone Time.  *LOL*   She'll probably have Timmy pick her up later and then they'll have the Tea Spilled about the Date.  *LMAO*  It cracks me up how much those Two like to Spill Tea about everything with each other.  *Smiles*  She said the Cousins are warming up to her a bit more, they used to dislike her and flip her off all the time, which she thought was hysterical, little Darlings.  *Bwahahha*  Those Girls have had a difficult hard Life tho', they were abandoned by their Drug Addict Mother, their Drug Addict Dad, Timmy's Uncle, Raised them, and he got Murdered in their presence! 

 I suspect it was a Drug Deal gone Bad and those Kids shouldn't have even been there and Thank God they weren't physically harmed since they were Young, but Witnesses.  At some points in his Drug Addled Life the Uncle was Homeless, and living in his Car, so the Girls were placed with the Grandparents by Child Protective Services involuntarily, so, Timmy's Grandparents had a lot of problems with their Son during that time.  He regained Custody when he got Clean for a Minute... and then, of coarse he relapsed and ended up Dead.  So, tho' the Grandparents didn't want to have to Raise any more Grandkids, since they'd Raised Timmy for similar Reasons, his Single Mom is an Addict and he has no idea who his Dad even is.   She's since ended up with another Man and had a Son by that Guy, that Brother is way Younger than Timmy, but, the Mom retained Custody of that Child.   It's very complex and Timmy's Grandparents are decent people and doing their best in a bad situation.

Finally... The End... Bwahahahahaaha!  Those of you Dear Readers who made it all the way to The End are Troopers!  *Winks*

*******

Happy Halloween my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian