The Feng Shui Tree And The Day After

 We went to Bed so late in the wee Hours of Thanksgiving Morning due to everyone being so congested, that nobody was up before 10:00 a.m. and thus it's quiet and I decided to just Blog again.   I'm dosed up on Nyquil and it's helpful for the Cough and Congestion build up.   It could just be we all caught a Cold with the severe drop in temperatures in the Evenings and early Mornings.  The Desert can sure be a landscape of extremes like that.  Only place I've ever lived where in a single Day you can have it be lower than 40 Degrees in the Morning, then shoot up to almost 90 within Hours, then drop back down again at Sunset!   A 30-50 Degree spread every day is bound to mess with your Body being able to regulate Temperature without being under a lot of Stress and compromising your Natural Immunities.

Anyway, I'm going to over-photograph the Feng Shui Tree as my Blog Friend Shirley so aptly Named Tree No. 2.   Also giving me a Blog Title Hook too, Thanks Shirley!  *Winks*   So, I did some Daytime Pixs of it this Morning, it looks good Night and Day, a very Editorial Tree, we're Pleased with it.   I'm glad The Daughter talked me into putting up another Tree, I was thinking about it, but without her Help it might not have happened.   And, it does look more like Christmas around here now, I like the glow of a lit Tree and we couldn't Light Up that Golden Metal Tree without electrocution.  *LOL*   So, with Princess T's Tree it's a Trifecta of Christmas Trees in the Main House this Christmas.  I'll be working on Decorating some more of the House now that it will be Post Thanksgiving after Today.  We never Decorate the Exterior, never felt a need to do anything but put a Wreath on the Door here.  One Year I did hang Pine Swags and plain Pine Wreaths on our Front Wall.  

They got raggedy after a single Year Outside tho', so I don't have them anymore and won't Buy more for just a single Season of Displaying them.   A lot of our Neighbors put Lights on their Homes, it's a lot of Work and tho' I like seeing other people's Homes lit up for Christmas, we don't want the added Work or Expense during the Holidays.  I have no delusions about how it increases Utility Bills and the Dangers and Safety Hazards of hanging Lights.   There are Companies now that do it for you, for Hire, but... naw.  *Smiles*   We don't feel compelled to do anything that's just not necessary for us to feel Inspired or Complete for the Holidays.  I see that it's Raining on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, we've got nice Weather for Thanksgiving, already quite Warm and pleasant by 10:00 in the Morning.

I don't watch the whole Parade on TV, it starts too early and doesn't hold my Interest like it did when I was a Kid.  Tho' I do like a good Parade in Real Life, just watching one on TV becomes tedious to me.   I like seeing elaborate Floats and the big Balloons, the rest I could do without, especially the Song and Dance Numbers.  *Smiles*   I realize all the hard Work that must go into orchestrating it all for a Big Parade like that one.   And I'm sure being there in Person is Memorable and Special.  Just to say you did, tho' I can only Imagine how difficult finding a spot and getting there would be in NYC.   I always found bigger East Coast Cities a pain in the Ass to get around in if you don't like using Public Transit, which, I don't.   If you've always HAD to use it then I suppose it doesn't bother you, but, if I don't have to, I don't ever use Public Transit in any City.

We got these faux Snowballs made of Cotton to throw at each other and give our Vignettes a Wintery feel, since, you don't get Snow in Metro Phoenix.  There's been a few Years we see it on the tops of the Mountain Ranges that completely surround the City, or the peripheral Cities North of Phoenix like Carefree and Cave Creek, sometimes North Scottsdale.  We used to get Mad Hail at the McManse coz it was at the base of the White Tank Mountain Range, so, higher elevation and the Mountains always have their own unique Ecosystem around them.  It was very Scenic and Pretty there, the Mountains would often be Misted in the Mornings during the Fall and Winter Months.   The Natural Beauty couldn't make up for everything else I didn't like about living out there in Rural Affluent Subdivision Hell tho'.  *Smiles*  But, at times I do Miss the McManse, I ain't gonna Lie, the House was spectacular.  So, I enjoyed Owning it for a Time.

I don't Miss it as much as I Miss Owning the Historic Home, which, on some Days I regret Selling, should have held onto it in hindsight.  Would have given all the Adult Kids a place to live and it was Paid Off and good Walk Score to everything so they wouldn't need Transportation to Shop or have plenty of Entertainment for the ones that don't Drive or own a Vehicle.   But, hindsight being 20-20, you do whatever is necessary at any given point in Time and as the Issues of Life need to be immediately addressed.  At the Time the Adoption of The G-Kid Force was a much higher Priority and the only way to accomplish that required Moving and Buying what would be Approved by the Adoption Board, and Sell Off what they had a problem with.   I do resent they put us in that position and thru all they did, The System doesn't Work in the best Interest of the Families so much of the time or to keep them Together.

The Young Prince has always said that if Mr. Avila, who Bought our Historic Home, ever wanted to Sell it, he's asked him to give us first option to Buy it back.   I doubt Mr. Avila ever will, Thankfully he seems to appreciate and Love the Property as much as we did and Why I Sold it only to him after turning down many Offers from Developers and Investors who only saw it for Land Value and as a Commodity to profit off of razing and redeveloping for low income high density Housing, which, Da Hood has plenty of those hideous Slumlord Structures.  Anything resembling The Projects is always going to be an Eyesore and Blight upon the Communities around them.  It got so bad with some of them they had to tear them down and Gentrify before the entire Community became blighted and laid to waste and neglect.  What they built in their place is much better and people began moving back instead of bailing.

The Son did get Paid for his PTO so turns out he didn't lose it when they Laid him Off coz he returned in a Fortnight when they asked him to come back.  So, that was a relief, tho' they did Postdate everyone's Checks, so, he can't Cash it until after the Holiday, which was a bummer.  I had to Front him for Gas, Cigs and a couple Mike's Hard Lemonades.  I didn't mind, one of my Accounts wasn't tapped out and he's good for the Money when he cashes his Check.  He's also done a lot of Work around here for me, so I said the Cigs and Drinks were on me.  I could tell he was so Down for Thanksgiving, being broke... and it does Suck when you're Working hard and still barely making the ends meet and Dealing with shit like temporary Layoffs and other bullshit.  I'm Thankful I got Kids that would do anything for me and give me their last Dollar if I needed it.  They know I got their Backs too.  He was Laughing coz his 1st Check back to work was $666!  Argh, Devil's Number!  *LOL*

The Neighborhood is filling up with Vehicles since a lot of the Families in this Mini Farms Community Host big gatherings on their Properties, they have the Space, bigger Older Custom Homes, some have Barns, RV Garages and of coarse the Acreage.  You often see Neighbors Hosting Weddings and Such on their Acreages coz you could easily have a couple Hundred Guests... hard to do that on a regular Residential Property.  We've been fortunate that our Historic Home had Acreage too with multiple Buildings on it and the McManse was ridiculous sized, so, we've never been cramped for many Years now.  But, I've Lived Small too, often with less than 500 sf of Space, now I couldn't imagine going back to that and being that Minimalistic either.  *LOL*  But, it never felt deprived at all to Live Small, and, I know I CAN do it if I HAD to... I don't NEED to Live Large, it's a Choice to.

  

I've Lived in an Airstream, a Pop-Up Coleman Camper, a 300 sf Studio Apartment, a Single Wide Mobile Home, a Double Wide Mobile Home, a Military Quonset Hut, I've even been Homeless.   So, I've had the whole Beverly Hillbillies experience of Shack to Million Dollar Listing and everything in between.  And whatever it was, we made it Work.  I've been Thankful for every experience, it makes you who you are Today, all of it.  I like who I am and tho' still a Work In Progress, as are we all, I know I keep trying to be a better Person and have a Positive Legacy I shall leave behind when I'm Gone.  I think if we all tried to make the World a better place, each in our own small ways, it would solve a lot of the Problems or actually make some never happen.  For some it seems to be beyond their capacity to be a better person, I don't know Why, perhaps they're too damaged and broken, I dunno.

I am digging out more of our Christmas stuff, The Daughter has been Organizing it as she's finding more of it in The RV Garage Mahal.  We have the Christmas Storage Closet too, where it's been Organized for Years now, it was a Walk-In Utility Closet in what used to be the Double Car Garage, which the previous Owners converted to a Home Office for their Trucking Business.  I turned it into an Art Studio, but then, various Kiddos have occupied it when living here, so it doubles as their Living Space continuously now.   I've kept the Closet for Christmas Storage tho', I refused to give it up or Share it.  *Winks*  Makes finding Seasonal Decor a lot easier.  But, there was some still packed away and The Daughter has now unboxed everything from The Big Move that never got unpacked.   A lot of it I forgot we even had after it being Boxed Up so long.  What happened is during The Big Move, a lot of Boxes didn't get Labeled or properly Labeled, we got rushed and lazy at the very end.

   

Plus, at the time of The Big Move I had The Son helping a lot and he was often High, back before he got Clean, plus he has a twisted sense of Humor.  So, he was Labeling my Boxes with Gallow's Humor about the Contents:  Eye Of Newt, Tears Of a Virgin, Old Gypsy Woman's Voodoo Shit, Tail Of An Ox, Bat Balls, Etcetera Etcetera Etcetera... *Eye Roll but, it was Funny!*   And he mostly did that coz his Friends and mine who were Helping us Pack didn't know what half my shit even was, to be able to Label it properly, so they'd ask him and he'd say something outrageous like that.   So, in the end, a lot of the Labels were outrageous Guesses or plain Satirical Humor about me having so much Weird shit and being a real Weirdo.  *Smiles*

These are the Pixs of Tree No. 1 that The Daughter took with her Phone.  All the Kids prefer the Fend Shui Tree tho'.  *Smiles*  Each has their merits.  I'm glad we kept going, I wasn't initially in the Mood or Spirit to, but, now I am.   And the Kids really Surprised me this Year by all of them being MORE into the Holidays than I am, that's Rare.  They felt the Need to carry the Torch since I just wasn't up to Cooking and Decorating this Year, nor feeling 100% right now either.   It also made me realize how significant it has been to them that I have done all that for all these Years and when I wasn't gonna do it, they were despondent and melancholy about it.  *LOL*  So, it was more meaningful to them all that I'd ever realized it was.

But, I do remember that by the time each of my Parents got to be in their 70's, they didn't have it in them anymore do DO the Holidays like they always had.  So, us Kids would come over with our Friends and whoever we were in a Relationship with and do it for each of them.  They appreciated it and then we'd also bring over Holiday Meals that we Cooked for them too, so they didn't even have to anymore.  Neither of them wanted to leave their Homes as much by then, so we also made it a point to go over to their Homes and Celebrate at least a full Day there too for each Holiday.   We'd set aside Christmas Eve for visiting my Parents and opening Gifts with them, and Christmas Morning for our own Families.  Which was fitting, since, while Serving in the Military my Dad always had to Work Christmas Day, so we always opened our Presents on Christmas Eve growing up.

The Daughter decided to Surprise everyone by Cooking up a Storm since she found a lot of things in the Pantry for a Home Cooked Thanksgiving Meal to compliment the Turkey TV Dinners, which, were actually quite good.  I remember as a Kid loving the Turkey TV Dinners best, and, I still really think they're very good for an inexpensive Option that only takes 9 Minutes to prepare.   The Daughter did Homemade Stuffing, Fresh Mashed Potatoes and Homemade Biscuits, plus, she really wanted Cranberry Sauce.   Turkey is the only thing she didn't Cook but really only The Man and I like Turkey, so, it wasn't missed by the rest of them and what the TV Dinner had of it was like what you'd get in a nice Turkey Sammich.  *Smiles*

Some of the Adult Kid's Friends have been dropping by during the Day to visit us and say Happy Thanksgiving.  The Daughter's Friend Steven has his Birthday on Thanksgiving this Year.  My Dad was also Born on a Thanksgiving Day but it doesn't always fall on the same Date every Year, just the same Thursday of the Month during any given Year.  That used to confuse the Hell out of me as a Kid trying to recall if Dad's Birthday was anywhere from November 24-27?   So, he'd usually just let us Celebrate it ON Thanksgiving Day Thursday, even if the Date was Wrong.  *LOL*   He actually said the Year he was Dying that he'd make it to his Birthday and THEN Die, so, Yes, he made it thru Thanksgiving Day in Hospice, his Birthday, and then he Died.   So every Thanksgiving I think of him a lot.

 

I watched the Parade pretty much all day off and on, caught it on the loop to see the parts I'd missed earlier, with waking up late.  Then I watched NetFlix Comedy Specials and a good Movie called "K--.ller" {2023} an Assassin Thriller starring Michael Fassbender, who I'd never heard of or seen before in anything, but he's Talented and Hawt!  *LOL*   It didn't get good reviews, I don't know why... I liked it and it held my interest all the way thru... it was unique and I like when a Movie is different and has a unique perspective.   Anyway, I was tired early, I don't know why either, since, I woke up late and didn't do anything to make me tired, I didn't even overeat.  I enjoyed what I ate but I didn't eat too much of anything.  It was a Zen Thanksgiving and yet I feel kinda worn out.  *LOL*

A fav Singer Bishop Briggs sang Paint It Black while on my Fav Addams Family 'Wednesday' Float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  She has such a powerful Voice.   There were a lot of good Floats and Big Balloons in the Parade, it was all very colorful.  They had Artists and Groups Singing that I didn't even know were still Alive, let alone still Performing!  *LOL*  And some Gen Z Performers that I had no Idea who they even were.  *Smiles*   And I do know who some Gen Z popular Performers are, just not many of the ones I happened to see Singing in this Parade.  I can't always keep up with the new Artists since I don't listen to a lot of them, just a fav few.

The Day After:  Well, Thanksgiving is a Wrap and now it's Black Friday and I'm up at 2:00 in the Morning becoz the Air feels heavy and I feel congested as fuck.  Been taking Allergy Meds since it's felt like severe Allergies, no Aches or Fever, just Head congestion and Chest congestion, a Cough that isn't particularly productive and my Ears feel filled up with drainage, like I've been Swimming, yet, I haven't.  The Man is equally in distress and we've spent Days just resting, keeping hydrated, and having trouble later at Night.  I'm supposed to go in to Work Tonight and I just don't know I'll be able to do it or not?   I'm waffling on whether or not to call in Sick and also whether or not to go in to an Urgent Care and ensure it's just Allergies or a Cold, or something I should be more concerned about like RSV, Bronchitis, Pneumonia or COVID?  Yes, I'm Vaxxed up to the hilt, but I still caught COVID before in spite of that, badly in fact.  Had they not had Vaccines I'd felt I would have been Toes Up that time.

The Daughter is up and we discussed our strategy, we'll get Princess T to Work and then we'll go to the ER for me to get Checked Out.  Depending on what they determine, we'll see whatssup and I should do, or not do?  She's going with me in case they keep me, since, she can Drive, she just doesn't have a License and we live within sight of the Hospital, so, she can take my Truck Home and then have her Brother be my transportation later on.  The Daughter could even then drive her Kiddo to Work and back.  In a pinch Princess T could walk to Work, tho' she goes in so early I wouldn't want her doing that alone so her Mom would have to walk her there and back after Work.  The Daughter is Street Smart but the Granddaughter isn't, so, that's the only way we'd have a Peace about it.  The Son goes to Work earlier and gets off later, with a long commute, so he couldn't provide transportation for that.  So, anyway, that's the Plan for now.

 

When you're the Caregiver and one of the only Drivers in a Household, you have to Plan for all contingencies with strategic Planning since, if you end up Hospitalized, there has to be adequate coverage in your absence.  I try never to get Sick and I've been Blessed with pretty good Health, strong Immunity and Stamina for my Age, but Diabetes does compromise that as a comorbidity even when it's stabilized.   And usually when I get something I get over it quickly, when I don't, I have concerns about what it is I'm battling that could be and should be more concerning.  This Feels like that to me so I want to err on the side of Caution.  I'm mostly Sleeping and Napping during the Daytime coz the Air is Lighter and I don't feel as suffocated when I'm lying down, or even propped up, during the Nighttime.   Sucks the Big Kahuna, being Sick during Holidays is always the biggest Bummer and puts a damper on Celebrating them properly.

Only Yesterday I'd called my Medicare Advantage Plan to inquire about any Changes that might benefit me more that they have.  I didn't want to switch from United Healthcare Medicare Advantage's Patriot Plan, which they have for Retired Military.  But, this Year TriCare For Life, which is your Retiree Federal Healthcare, has lifted the Restriction of you not being able to have Medicare Part D too, which might have deferred some more Rx Expense I currently have Outlay for.  The Man gets all his Meds from the VA for Free, but now my Meds cost me about $200 Monthly coz the Base no longer carries most of them at their Pharmacy anymore, where it was covered completely.   So, I had to go straight Civilian to ensure I could get all my Meds and without trying to find alternative Meds my Doc would substitute.  That never worked well since I'm stable only with what she's got me on.  I'm currently getting them via Express Scripts which Delivers and renews automatically and has caps on what they charge per Med, Thanks to Uncle Joe's Policies capping Diabetic Med Costs.

   Well, long story short, the changes wouldn't have Saved me, coz some cheaper versions of Part D and that they require you use, didn't have some of my Meds on their formulary or had high co-pays, very high ones per Med... so... I didn't pick up Part D after all and stuck with what I have.   The Rep on the Phone was fantastic tho' and it costs you nothing during Open Enrollment to make these Inquiries to be best Informed and not confused by changes in The System they do every Season.  Medicare can be quite complex to navigate on your own otherwise.   Above is The Older Granddaughter in Pennsylvania's Kiddos Thanksgiving Day in their Turkey T-Shirts.  The Older Daughter looks exactly like our Oldest Daughter did at that Age, the Younger Daughter looks exactly like her Mama, our Granddaughter... it's like she Cloned those Two to look like herself and her Mom!

This is the Middle Granddaughter who lives in Pennsylvania.   As she's going thru her Divorce she's looking hawt-er and happier, it's agreeing with her to dump the baggage of that Loser she Married.  *LOL*  She seems to be getting in the groove of being a Single Parent and of coarse our Daughter and her Family are all helping her now with the Kids.  They're a tight knit Family and our Oldest Daughter is a great Mom and Grandma, our SIL is a great Dad and Grandpa, her Sisters also are close to one another, even tho' each of the Trio is vastly different in personality and lifestyle choices.   It has caused some dissidence at times, mostly with disapproval of a Guy {or Gal} the Younger Two might have Dated... and this one Married.   Nobody liked the Guy this Granddaughter Married, we all knew it probably wouldn't End Well, but, when they're a Whole Grown Woman, their Choice.  I wasn't gonna be the one that had to Sleep or Live with the Guy, so, tried to be as supportive as you can be when a Trainwreck is imminent.  At least she got Two Beautiful Children out of it and she'd waited so long to even have Children and get Married, so, it's very disappointing to her that he was a complete failure at being a good Husband and Dad... again.  That last Word is the important one tho'.  *Eye Roll*

 

The Daughter, in her Decorating Frenzy, even Decorated some hilarious little parts of the House that just make me Smile... like hanging tiny Chinese Lanterns on some of my Antique Bronze Statues.  *Bwahaha*  I'm glad we at least got most of the House Decorated already, in case I've got something with a longer than usual Recovery Period?  So much is going around it's hard to say what the Hell it is or how serious?  And it does disturb me that once RFK, Jr. gets confirmed, and unfortunately, he probably will be pushed thru, the quality of Healthcare could tank.  So, best to get yours while there's still some left and they still offer it and don't yank it all.   I suspect all us "Undesirables" are gonna be on the Hurry Up And Die Plan the ReTrumplican Nazi Party have Dreamed Up... it all sounds very Hitleresque, this Project 2025 Scheme and Agenda they tried to pretend 45/47 knew nothing about once the contents of it met with overall resistance, even amongst his devoted.  *Huge Eye Roll* 

So, anyway, I'm Freaking Out The Daughter a bit by prepping her just in case I end up Hospitalized and she'll be left in Charge of the Asylum in my absence.   So, how do you prep a Paranoid Schizophrenic with D.I.D. to fill in for you, I'm glad you asked.  *Eye Roll and LMAO*  Since, she now, in her Head, almost has me already Dead and Buried so she's Panicking more than a little bit, which is now Freaking Out her Dad, so he's following me around the House patting me on the back like I'm his Emotional Support Service Animal.  *Bwahahaha*  And I'm going Si Se Puede pretty often to her!  *Smiles*  And I don't intend to Freak any of them Out, but, there are possibilities and so you have to prepare for the Worst whilst Hoping for the Best and have Plans in place beforehand.   So, I got all the Bills done, for December, lined up with a due date written in a tiny corner of each Envelope as to when to Mail it.  All Pantry and Freezers are already stocked.  Truck has a full Tank of Gas.

The Daughter has preoccupied herself with her Transition into the 5th Wheel, so, I'm regaling you right now with her Photos she took for me of her complete Move In.  *Smiles, Blog Fodder is always appreciated*  She's almost completely out of The Art Studio Space now so her Son can Move In whenever he does arrive from New Mexico and get dumped off by Allen after the First of the Year as we anticipate.   She still Cooks, Showers and Shits in the Main House, but has her Fridge in the 5th Wheel Stocked.   We just haven't hooked up some of the amenities in there yet {plumbing especially} to get it totally functional for full time Living, but, that's Fine, it's steps away from the Main House facilities.  And, given her Mental Health Status, well, it's rather Enshrined in there, which makes her feel Secure and comfortable to have her numerous Altars she has to have around her, Warding shit Off.  She has all Windows Blacked Out so no Paranoia that "They" could be watching her.  Check, Check and Check to keep her off The Ledge.

That's why she Liked The Art Studio Space, NO Windows and only One exterior Door with a Window in it that has a Security Grid over it and she could Black Out with a Single Window Covering.  Another Door accessing the Main House from it so she has an Escape Route, so, it was like her Safe Room.  Now the 5th Wheel is set up similar, she's been able to stay in there without Freaking Out and the Babysat Kitten of Julissa's has been helping keep her Company.   I'm sure Julissa is worried about her Kitten since she visits daily to ensure it's being taken Care of adequately.  I'm not sure the Kid is detaching enuf to give it up when we find permanent Placement for it, but, it's a Process, I Get It.  The Kitten really doesn't like The Daughter, most Animals are fearful of her, she Loves and is Kind to all Animals, has never hurt one, but I have a Theory that like Epilepsy Sensors, Animals have Serious Mental Health Sensors too and just "Know" when someone is Mentally unstable?

So, said Kitten hides a lot until another Human comes in to the 5th Wheel, then she comes out of hiding.   It upsets The Daughter that Animals are afraid of her when she's given them no cause to be, but I explained my Theory and it helps her not get Paranoid about it.   When her Kids were Babies she thought they didn't Like her either and were looking at her Funny, which is Why she gave them all to the rest of us to Raise, she knew her Paranoia wasn't good for them or for her.  She'd cry a lot when she was around them, sometimes she still does get very Emotional and it makes them uncomfortable, coz they don't fully understand why being around them makes her so Emotionally Fragile.  I just have always explained she wants so badly to be a Good Mom and often feels like she's unable to be and so it makes her Emotional and Sad.   They look out for her more than she is able to look out for them actually.  Now they're Grown, it works out well for all now.

So, anyway, she'll be Quasi In Charge coz her Brother is at Work all Day and exhausted when he gets Home.  With his Autism he doesn't Cope as well as she does with the rest of the Residents of The Asylum when they're more difficult to Manage.  *Winks*  Princess T doesn't wanna be In Charge of anyone but her Grandpa, with Backup, so, she's clearly not ready yet to be Anointed as The Chosen One in my absence.  *LOL*  The Young Prince, even if he was here, wouldn't be capable of any of it at all... nor would he have any delusions he could be, so, his Vote would be for his Mom too.   They all would assist her, and I've previously had the Come To Jesus with every single one of them that should something happen to me where someone has to fill in and step up, they are to Honor that Family Member's Anointing to do it.  Either that or they're all Fucked... so... make a conscious choice as to which it will be?  *Winks*  I know, I have a knack for cutting to the chase and telling it like it is.  The Cavalry ain't coming folks, so, Deal with it.

So, anyway, she has her Private Sanctuary in the 5th Wheel now where she can Hole Up when she just Needs to get away from them all, but, they'd know where to find her.   She's been known to just disappear in the Past and go Off Grid for Weeks, Months or even Years... so the fact she's stuck around for about 3 Years Now without doing a Houdini is Progress in the Right Direction.   And, she's building confidence about all the Right things.  She was very proud of herself for cooking a Thanksgiving extra Meal and it did turn out good and gave everyone extra besides the TV Dinners, which was all I could handle this Thanksgiving.  She knew that and so she stepped up and stepped in to supplement what I could only do whilst tapped financially and physically this Holiday Season.  It's been rough, I ain't gonna Lie, but I stayed Stoic about it up 'til now.  Now full disclosure was just necessary.

I do feel rather like I did last time I had COVID and that does concern me coz I was as close to Death then as I've ever been in my Life.  Allen had to spring me from the ER then when they were on Crisis Standard of Care and not doing anything anyway for those of us that didn't look viable, and take me Home to just Die, but, I didn't.  And, I'm not intending to now either.   That said, I know shit's just not good and I can't delay finding out just how not good it is?   I can handle The Truth, I just have to know what I'm up against, or, if it's nothing to be all that concerned about really?   Preparing the Family for that is part of my Duty as Matriarch and Full Time Unpaid Caregiver here at The Asylum.

And also a Heads Up for Dear Readers, especially the Regulars, if I go Offline for a while, you'll know in part Whatssup with that.   If I never come back Online, well, Pray for the rest of them will ya, it would be much appreciated.   I'm not being unduly morbid or pessimistic, but, I always consider all possibilities when faced with anything that don't look or feel so good to me.   And this just Feels not so good and I'll know by later this Morning, how not so good it is... or isn't?   Getting Old isn't for sissies or the faint of Heart, but it beats the alternative and is a privilege not afforded to many.   Plus, I've had some Outside Pressures exerted, The Daughter's BFF Amber, whose gone thru Nursing and Works in the Medical Field, had been dogging me Daily to go get checked out, she was concerned about me and my Symptoms, so was like a Dog with a Bone about it.

I didn't know it until this Morning, when I told The Daughter I wanted her to go with me to the ER after we drop her Kid off at Work, and mebbe even drag her Dad there to get checked out too, that Amber had told her if I hadn't already been checked out, she was Kidnapping me Today and taking me Under Protest to the ER when she got off Work.  *Smiles*   So, it's better I Voluntarily comply since Amber isn't one you can get to accept a No, she'll fucking Stalk you and not go away.  *Ha ha ha*   To say Amber is tenacious and relentless, would be an understatement, I am too, but I pale in comparison to her tenacity and relentlessness, which is saying something.  *LOL*   And I'm like her other Mother and her own Mom is battling Stage 4 Cancer, so, right now she's on Heightened Alert with "The Moms" as she calls us... and is Fixated on our Health and Well Being.  When Amber is Fixated, well... it's quite a Fixation... she's Bipolar and Autistic, so, there's no distracting or budging her once you become her Mission Statement and Obsession.   Bless her. *LOL*

  

She has an Aunt that does Santeria and had cooked me up some Alchemy that looked like Orange Juice and tasted heavily of Turmeric, Garlic and God knows what else the concoction has in it?   They take it regularly during the Season when everything is going around and none of them ever gets Sick, and none Died of COVID either, so, I did try it.   It was quite effective but tastes so difficult to get down that I wasn't sure I could do a Tablespoon worth a Day like I should.  Now, it's not as if I haven't had some Eastern and Tribal Remedies that were not so palatable and work wonders, which I've taken all my Life from my Dad and from my Chinese Medical Docs, but, the Tonic her Aunt batched up for me is some Strong Medicine and a Spoon full of Sugar might have helped it go down, I dunno?  *LOL*   It's sitting in a fancy Glass Pot in my Fridge.  Anyway, Above, is Dear Amber and The Daughter {B&W Pix on the Left} when they were very Young Teenagers about 15 Years Old.   The Daughter and her Lifelong Friend Jennifer in the other Pix at about 17 Years Old.  Back then they were the "Devilish Desirz" Girl Posse and quite a Handful.

Another part of the Posse was her Lifelong Friend Amelia, pictured above with The Daughter in a current pix.   Now Amelia is an Attorney and both Amber and Jennifer are in the Medical Field, so, they done Well and have remained Lifelong Friends that are Ride or Die with our Family.   All the Girls have some Stories... bwahahahaha.   And they all remember as Young Wayward Teens when I'd Threaten them all the time.  *Winks*   And, if their Moms were unable to keep them in Check, they knew if The Moms came to me, I'd send out a Hunting Party and Hunt each and every one of them down.   Urban Hunting I'd call it... and they belonged to the Streets back then, so it took us to some Interesting places and Situations lemme tell ya.   I remember The Moms asking me if it would be Safe to go where we went and I'd level and say No, but, we're going anyway.   Then I'd be kicking down Doors and taking Names if I had to, so I became known on the Streets as the Crazy Mom you didn't trifle with.  The Daughter Laughs that even if Mexico... they Fear me just from her True Stories.   And the fact they now know I'm even Crazier than her.  A little bit of that Knowledge goes a long way. *LOL*

So, anyway, I always remind all the Girls that when they were only Young Teens they belonged to The Streets and that didn't fucking Scare them, so, they Got This, whatever Life is now hitting them with.   Now they're all in their 40's, Fear has set in during some Instances.  Mebbe a sense of Mortality too that they didn't have when Younger and reckless, which is Natural, Healthy Fear ain't a bad thing, unless you just don't give a Fuck and then Fear is irrelevant.   I have not had a Fuck to give since about the Age of 13, as I recall ever having had one, so, I'm Golden.   Plus, even if Afraid, I Do It Afraid anyway, so, there's no stopping me once I'm in Motion.   A Body in Motion stays in Motion, so I always Keep It Moving.   And something only can't be done until you do it.   So, I think Coverage here is gonna be sufficient as I've delegated it to be, just in case.

When Princess T wakes up I'll inform her of the Plan and to be Backup for her Mom.  I'll give her the itinerary in case her Mom can't remember it all without Prompts... or has some Psychotic Moments under stress and duress.   I'll Text The Son, IF I can't come Home right away, to make sure his Sister has 2 Mike's Hard Daily and Cigs... and since I've fronted him some Cash due to his Paycheck being Post Dated, he can use that which he owes me to cover the cost.   Her Friend Steven said he'd bring by some Medicinal MJ if necessary to keep her Chill, Focused and On Track... so... we should be Good.  *Winks*   On to Lighter Blog Post Fluff now, whaddya think of her little Sanctuary she's Cocooned herself with?    It's A Lot, I ain't gonna Lie, but, she Likes it and that's all that matters.   I let her drag anything in there she wanted to Decorate it with from The RV Garage Mahal or Main House.

Below was Princess T's Contribution to her Mom's Cause... since, her Mom had expressed concern about being in there "Alone" and so Princess T Donated a slew of Squishmallows, Care Bears, Hello Kitty and Nightmare Before Christmas stuff of hers to keep her Mom Company in there.  It Works.  *Smiles and Winks*   Since she's dealt with her Older Brother's Paranoid Schizophrenia and D.I.D. since he was 7 Years Old, she knows how to Manage someone with that kind of Diagnosis.  You don't Argue with a Psychotic Individual, you go along and make Helpful suggestions for That Reality which they are in and trying to Deal with as best they can becoz it IS Real to them.

So, she has Altars and Squishmallows, Care Bears, Jack Skeleton, Yoda, Hello Kitty, The Virgin of Guadalupe, Oh My... and other Mojos for Protection, and that's put her at ease in there now.  I know if I was any Devil or Demon from the Bowels of Hell, I couldn't be in there now with any level of Comfort... so... just sayin'.   It's up Under Protection to the fuckin' hilt!   *Smiles*   *Bwahahaha*   So... Stay Tuned...

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Moving On towards Christmas now, have a Safe Black Friday my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian