Happy Holidaze

 I had a much Needed Day To Myself on Sunday and went back to the Event.  They were having an even bigger last day Sale, from 10%-75% Off everything!   And, it wasn't as crazy busy as Opening Day, so much more Zen an Experience to Shop and soak in the ambiance of.  Sadly, my Artist Friend Mary had Sold the items I'd wanted to Buy from her of the Children's Blocks with Vintage Christmas Decorations on them, but she gave me a Deal of 20% Off a Frozen Charlotte Creation instead that is way more unique.

Plus, a Vendor there was having ALL their faux Christmas Stems of any Size and no matter what they had Cost before, for only a Dollar apiece!  I bought some Pine Bough Stems of all Sizes and types of Evergreen, some Oak Stem with Acorns, and some unusual large Pinecone Picks {see Pinecone Picks Below}.  I put the Pinecones on the smaller Vintage Gold Metal Tree, it looks even better with them on there.  The faux Evergreen stems and Boughs I'll arrange all over the House too.  Right now they're wrapped Bouquet Style and I was walking around with them like I'd just Won a Pageant.  *Bwahahaha*

I had Lunch at the Restaurant in the Antique Mall and a Lovely Older Lady from Montana Named Mary asked if she could sit with me.  She was great Company and we must have sat there getting to know one another for over an Hour chatting.  She was Delightful and really we should have exchanged Phone Numbers, she Winters here in Arizona now as a Snowbird and Lives in San Tan, which is way Southeast tho', so getting Together often would be logistically challenging.  The Daughter has a Lifelong Friend, also ironically named Mary, who Lives in San Tan and it's over a 2 Hour Drive to see each other each way, so they rarely get together.

Anyway, Montana Mary was telling me that Bozeman, Montana, where she's from, has had too many people moving there, and like Arizona, now is having a Cost of Living crisis due to it.   The Exodus from expensive States to more affordable ones is usually causing the Wealthiest people to flee, thus, they can afford anything and drive prices way up for the Locals, who can't.   She herself has the Money to be a Snowbird, but her Adult Children and Adult Grandchildren can't, so, she said they're all in a similar dilemma as our Kids and Grandkids now are, not able to afford Rents locally.

She Laughed that SHE is part of the Problem here in Arizona.  But San Tan had such lovely Homes at such an affordable price point {they do} and they used to Vacation here all the time anyway every Winter, so, she couldn't resist Buying.   I really enjoyed Montana Mary and I could tell she lingered longer than she was supposed to, so she must have enjoyed me too.   She definitely was someone I could become very good Friends with and close to, it was as if we'd known each other for Years, and Why she gravitated to me I couldn't say, but I'm glad she asked if she could join me at my Table.  She came from a Family of 11 Kids and we also Laughed about Communal Living.

Her Home in San Tan she invites all 7 of her Sisters to Join her during the Holidays, becoz it has a lot of Bedrooms for everyone.   I don't know about the 3 Brothers, but I guess The Sisters are very close and always have a Big Time having reunions, which I think is Wonderful.   I didn't ask, but I speculated that Montana Mary was of Italian or Sicilian Ancestry.  I used to live in predominantly Italian, Portuguese and Sicilian Neighborhoods on the East Coast as a Child and she definitely gave off the Vibe of every close Friend I ever had who was Italian, Sicilian or Portuguese.   I'm STILL close to this Day with ALL those Friends, many of which I made in Childhood or early Adulthood!

Then I went to all my Specialty Grocers like Whole Foods, Trader Joes and AJ's Fine Foods.  I don't know about the rest of you, but I enjoy going to my Specialty Grocers more than is probably Normal.  *Bwahaha*  I only ever had one Friend, Pamela, who enjoyed it as much as I do and we both knew we were a couple of Weirdos like that.  *Winks*   Thus, on my Solitary Days, I'm likely to visit them ALL, which, if I have Family or Friends other than Pamela in tow, they really aren't as 'into' it.  *LMAOROTF*  So, I have to tell you a funny thing that ALWAYS happens to me when I'm at my Specialty Grocers.

For some reason, several random People, of all Ages, will come up to me while I'm at my Specialty Grocers and ask my Opinion about Healthy Foods!!!   ALWAYS, and at every Store a minimum of Two to Three People will randomly do it and also strike up conversations with me, Male and Female, from Age 20's thru Age 80's, all Races and persuasions, it cracks my Family up every time it happens!   They say I must look like some Health Food Guru Expert or Fanatic, LOL, and one Handsome Young Hispanic Man, who looked to be in his 20's, also asked about what Inspired me to get my Dreadlocks and had lots of Questions about having them himself, so, he must be considering it.

Another attractive White Lady who was 80, and didn't look it at all, was asking me about my LaFermiere Yogurts and I convinced her to Buy some.  Then, when the People around us heard us discussing the Brand, THEY started Buying some and next thing you know, it was almost Sold Out!  *LOL*  Luckily I'd loaded up on my fav Flavors, which I was seeking that day coz not everyone carries the Floral Flavors, but Whole Foods was the only one that did that day.   So I have the Jasmine, the Rose, the Honey Orange Blossom, and even found the Coffee Creme Flavor there that I'd never had before and comes in their Clear Glass Pots, it's Divine!  I am definitely making Converts to this Brand of Yogurt!  *LOL*

So, between Whole Foods, AJ's and Trader Joe's, it's like I'd met Five New Random Friends who approached me and asked for Health Food and Dreadlock Advice.  *Smiles*   The Young Prince says it's becoz I look like a Healthnut Guru and seem very approachable becoz People can always initiate contact by complimenting what I'm Wearing, which they often do.  This Day I had my Hippie Mushroom T-Shirt on where the Stems are Sexy Lady Bodies wearing Thongs {see above}, my Over-The-Top Betsey Johnson Earrings that have Cracker Jack Type Toys dangling from several Gold Chains on each Earring... and got numerous compliments from mostly Young People that they really dug my Style, the Shirt, the Earrings {see below}.  *LOL* 

 It's a Trade Stimulator since we Sell those types of Tees in our Showroom at the Antique Mall and so when random peeps ask me where I got my Clothes, I can tell them that my Granddaughter and I Sell them in our Showroom at THE BRASS ARMADILLO WEST.  Then they put that info into their Phones and likely end up becoming our newest Customers.  *Winks*   Princess T and I always Wear our Revolution, so, if someone likes our Style, we carry it in our Showroom as well as wear it every day as well.   We don't Sell anything we wouldn't also have in our own Wardrobe and Wear Proudly and often.  Of coarse many of our Tees are Vintage, so, I don't know how many like them still exist?  So, ya gotta get yours while there's still some left.  *Winks*

Princess T and The Man wanna go to The Big Retail Mall Today so that's our destination.   It was Funny coz Sunday Princess T thought her Grandpa had pissed me off coz I left by myself and initially she thought I was taking him out again!   She asked him what he'd done to make Gramma so Mad she left him behind and he could think of nothing.  *Bwahaha*  It wasn't even that, I just wanted some Me Time and no entourage, Solitary and Apartness Time is as important to me as Togetherness Time is, there MUST be a Balance for me to feel Centered and Restored.   And, Sunday Night the Air Quality was horrible, too many people burning Fires in their Fireplaces, so the Smoke was thick and he'd of had Respiratory Issues being out in it.

Plus, I'd taken him along Saturday all Day and tho' he had Traveled Well, sometimes I don't wanna be in Caregiver Mode all the time.  I also Need that Space to unwind by myself and just do what I want without considering anyone else.   More random folks approach me when I'm out and about by myself and so I get to Socialize more than when I have Family in tow.  I think approaching a whole Family is just a lot more intimidating or seemingly inappropriate Socially than approaching a random Stranger who is Alone in a Friendly manner, I dunno?  I don't get a lot of Social contact outside of my immediate Family and the Friends of my Kiddos daily, or at Work, so I enjoy the random exchanges of Social interactions other People just initiate with me.

I've had Friends tell me random People never approach them and just start Talking and interacting, but I've had that happen all my Life so consider it quite Normal.   I do think you put out a Vibe and an Aura of Approachability that People instinctively pick up on, even if they do it subconsciously and not with intention.   I'll talk with anyone, I'm very Sociable like that and truly enjoy People and Love hearing their Story and whatever they choose to Share to someone random they meet.   I have many Acquaintances that I Value very much, but my Inner Circle is quite limited and Small intentionally.  I tend to Know when I'm meeting someone I COULD be Closer to tho'.

LATER:  So, Princess T, The Man and I went to The Big Retail Mall called Arrowhead and finished all our Christmas Shopping.  Princess T needed to do all of hers and I needed to finish up a bit myself and do The Daughter's Shopping since she can't handle a busy Mall with all those People swarming around.  She wanted to get Princess T's Gift from her and we decided it would be best for me to take Princess T to pick it out.  She ended up going to "Bath & Body Works" for it and they had a Sale going on so that she ended up getting 2 Free items with the Purchase we made.   Princess T took Grandpa to the "Hickory Farms" Store for his Gifts from her, it's his Fav to get the Meat and Cheese Holiday Gift Sets.  They sure have gone up in Price tho'!

 

Princess T gave me Money so I can Buy my Gift from her at "Sweet Salvage's" Event on Thursday.  She'd rather I pick something up that I really want and be able to actually be able to afford to Buy something while I'm there enjoying the last Christmas Event of the Year.  She's also giving her Uncle Money too so he can just Buy whatever he wants for Christmas from her.   Like her Uncle and her Grandpa, she's not really keen on going Shopping due to her Social Anxieties, she Buys most of what she Wants and Needs Online instead.  But, she did really well at The Mall, she and Grandpa only got overwhelmed at the Hot Topic Store and the Box Lunch Store, both of which are smaller, popular, but always too crowded.

We were originally also gonna look at Lights and go to the Santa House, which is a Home that always does Extreme Christmas Decorating inside and out and does House Tours.   But, by Rush Hour we just were ready to go Home and The Daughter was cooking a nice Dinner for everyone.  Plus, Princess T was going out later to an Event with a Male Friend, whose on College Break from Montana, where he Won a full Scholarship for Football.   So he was picking her up by about 7:00 p.m..   I was watching "It's A Wonderful Life" {1946} Tonight, I am more intrigued looking at the Movie Sets and lusting after the Antiques and the Old Houses *Smiles*, than paying attention to the Movie, which really is a tragic one with a Message, that they run every Holiday Season.

 

Parts of it are Funny tho' and campy Acting, especially the Honeymoon Scene in the Victorian Home falling down and into extreme decay before they fix it up.  The new Bride cooking Chicken Rotisserie Style in the Fireplace and that being the only Room not leaking during the Rainstorm.   And everyone talking like Al Capone Style Gangsters... Looky here ya see...  *LMAO*   Anyway, I forgot what a long Movie it is, over 2 Hours, I almost needed an Intermission.  *Bwahahaha*  The Adult Kids were watching it with me and Laughing, but also saying how depressing the Movie is to run always at the Holidays, with the Main Character being Suicidal at Christmas and his Life going to shit.

I did get to see some Christmas Lights while out and about after Dark this Weekend, but we haven't intentionally driven around like we usually do yet.   Quite a few were evident on my Route Home.   Traffic has been really heavy tho', so you have to keep your Eyes on the Road and not be looking around.   The Retail Mall was pretty busy for a Monday Afternoon, but, it's one of the few Indoor large Malls even left, most have Closed or been torn down in recent Years.  In Arizona's Climate the Indoor Malls were preferable, more comfortable and more convenient to having to walk around from Store to Store in the Heat or driving from Store to Store.   But, the Era of the Indoor Mall has waned since the early 2000's, the heyday of them being in the 1970s-1980s Decades.  And even now a lot of Commercial Skyscrapers that used to be Businesses, are being converted to Apartments Downtown... like the one in the background in this Pix, which they've been converting for Years now and stalled out on... so mebbe Funding dried up to complete the Project?

Many enormous Skyscrapers thus stand Vacant now, like the Old Valley National Bank/Chase Skyscraper I once worked at in my first Corporate Life... 24 Floors, now Abandoned and Vacant for Years.  Now the small Strip Malls and stand alone Big Box Stores or Outdoor Shopping Malls are more prevalent.   Even the Outlet Mall Craze is over and done, very few of those remain and have been redeveloped.  And of coarse Online Shopping is the new Craze as is the proliferation of these Mega Warehouses owned by Companies like Amazon, that are over 800,000 sf and quite hideous eyesores upon the Communities they occupy.   But, large Industrial complexes of these obscenely large Warehouses are springing up everywhere now, even alongside Residential Communities.  As they Pay Off City Officials to rezone everything as a convenience to the Billionaire Owners and a detriment to the surrounding Communities who don't want them as Neighbors or what it does to depress Property Values and increase Crime.

Anyway, above is my Frozen Charlotte Angel Altered Art Piece I bought from my Artist Friend Mary and got for 20% Off.   I have had Fun Photographing everything for Blog Fodder, so I'm Rich in Fresh Photos now for my Posts.   I'll probably use just what I already have clear thru 'til the New Year now, since I got a lot of good Images taken.  And, since we got everything Done for Christmas now, we can sit back, relax and just enjoy it all leisurely.  We weren't stressed or hectic this Season anyway, we've deliberately taken it easy and not been rushed or pressured to do anything at all.  What we have done became more Organic as we just decided to do it spontaneously and have Fun in the doing of it.

We will probably now make some Time to go Drive around and look at Lights and visit The Santa House in the Evenings, which is a Holiday Tradition for as long as that Homeowner still does it.  Most of the Extreme Christmas Decorators have now Passed Away, so there's only the One that still does it and he's getting pretty Old now.   He lost his Boyfriend many Years ago from AIDS and I think does it in remembrance of his Partner, since, it was something they always did Together to give as a Gift to the Community around them.  He always dresses up in Costume and greets Visitors as they are Welcome to Tour the entire Home.  Every Room is Decorated to the hilt.  He must have over 50 Themed Christmas Trees Inside, a Snow Machine and Sleigh Outside, as well as massive Exterior Decorations and Lights.  It is a Labor of Love.

While at The Mall I did enjoy seeing what Holiday Jewelry Line Betsey Johnson had, the above Two Necklaces, layered, were my Favs.   You'd really have to Buy both tho' to get this Look, individually they just weren't as Stunning IMO.   And most of the Christmas Line just wasn't appealing to me, a lot of Hot Pink Blinged Bow Jewelry... it just didn't give off a Christmasy Vibe at all.   There were a few Cute pieces, like some mismatched Earrings with one being Santa in a Pink Cadillac. {Below}   And the Santa Elf Cat Necklace, which was in a Pix earlier and pictured several Pixs Above in this Post.

I'm still upset with East Coast Mail delivery, or with East Coast Clearing Houses, not sure which, since, it has been problematic to the States of Ohio and Maryland Clearing Houses for Payment of Bills.  I sent out the November Payments early, they claim never to have received them, and then as soon as I pay by Phone to get it caught up, the Check sent that they claimed they never received, suddenly clears!   And that caused double payment overdrafts last Month and they said perhaps their bad Weather and Hurricane was responsible... but now, I'm just skeptical of what's going on?   Bills sent anywhere else clear just fine and arrive on time, but any going to Cleveland or Baltimore have ALL been problematic!  They are for bills such as Cell Phones, Car Insurance, Cable Bills... it's just making me suspicious now as to what exactly is going on?

I speculated originally that it must be a Mail Delivery Issue only becoz it's Three different Companies with the exact same problem of not receiving the Payment on Time... or so they say.  But, the fact the Payment Clears almost directly after I pay by Phone to cover the alleged Missing Check that was Mailed, is just very Odd.   It would mean even a Stop Payment made, which is expensive and not foolproof, would not have stopped the Checks from Clearing anyway.   The double Payment would still have happened, no avoiding it given how it's playing out so close together.   I get a Notice the Payments haven't been received, I call my Bank to see if the Checks Cleared, if they haven't I then call the Creditor and check if they received it since the Letter, if they claim they haven't I make a Phone Payment instead.  {Which they charge you for.}

And only THEN is that 'Lost' or 'Delayed' Check suddenly Clearing too, causing a duplicate payment they won't reverse and Credit you for.  Very often, a Creditor will not even apply it as a next Month Payment, but as an additional Principal Payment instead if it's on a Loan!   It's problematic since I can't budget for double payments on these Bills and Loans... but, I also won't set up Auto Pay since in the past I've had worse problems with duplicate Debits being made to an Auto Pay Authorization and it's perfectly Legal for them, once you give access to Auto Deduct, for them to deduct any amounts they see fit and choose to.   So, it's all a double edged Sword and I'm very Creditor/Company supplying Services suspicious these days, so much shady shit going on with so many Predatory Practices.

   

So, in the Morning I have to call T-Mobile now, since they claim they didn't get the November Cellphone Services Payment, which I sent out in early November and just got notification they didn't receive it.   I think what I'm going to do for the December Cellphone Payment is to see if I can just bring it in to a T-Mobile Local Store to pay it?  That way I get an immediate Receipt proving I hand delivered it to them Locally?   I'll have to see if they will do that, I know the Stores take Payments when you Buy a new Phone, but I don't know if they take Payments for your Phone Bill you get every Month?   I just don't want more hassles about Mailing it to their Clearing House in Cleveland and Hoping for the best.  It's all becoming a Pain in the Ass with these Companies and/or the Mail Delivery being Trustworthy.

Now, I do recall some Wackos, probably MAGA Radicals, were setting USPS Mailboxes on Fire during the Elections to burn up Ballots, but how much Mail was Lost to that wouldn't explain my Checks for Bills just Clearing so late after being Mailed so early.   The Mystery isn't one I can Hope to Solve at this juncture, just keep running damage control behind whenever it happens and I'm Hopeful won't keep happening with any regularity?   I do know there are rumors that 45/47 and his Insane Clown Posse want to Privatize the Postal Service from being a Non Profit Federal Delivery to being in a Profit Making Delivery for one of his Cronies wanting to Grift whatever they can exploit.  Right now the Postal Service operates at a Loss due to assurance of the Rural Deliveries being Delivered and thus subsidized.  Privatizing the Mail will make it more Costly for Mailing everything in order for it to become For Profit instead.

  

It's like when Prisons were Privatized, there was more incentive to Lock folks up if it profited whoever Owned the Business of it For Profit. Keeping Prison Populations high to to maintain Revenue is a definite Incentive.   They also prioritize Profit over Prisoner Safety or Rehabilitation.   Violence was also 163% higher in Private Prisons versus Public ones.   So, Privatizing what was once Public/Federal is usually filled with complications and probably some risks, even if they claim they can do it cheaper.   When you do something cheaper, that doesn't always mean you can do it better, in fact, it usually means you won't.  And if it's For Profit, that will always be The Priority... not whatever the Service to Society is, should be, or is supposed to be The Priority.

Seems many of the Christmas Classics are on TV right now as we're getting closer to Christmas.  "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer" {1964} was on, I watched about half of it.   I remember we lived in Massachusetts around that time and my Dad worked a 2nd Job in the Evenings {he was Active Duty Military running the Base Dining Hall during the Day}, at a Fancy Restaurant called "Smiths Old Surrey Room" as their Master Chef.   Well, Burl Ives came in one day and my Dad was the Chef that prepared his Meal.   One of the Staff, after Work, later overheard Burl Ives say to his Chauffer that they'd go into the Woods and bury something where nobody would ever find it or know about it.   

Hoping it would be something of a Treasure, he wanted to know what it was they would be burying?  So, the Guy followed them, waited, then dug up what they'd buried... and... it turns out Burl had taken a shit in the Woods and buried it!   I never forgot that Story becoz it was such a Weirdo Gross thing for a Famous Person to do when there had been nice Bathrooms at the Restaurant to use instead!   And, Dad had no reason to doubt what the Co-Worker had said coz it had grossed the Guy out and he'd imagined they were burying and hiding something valuable... not taking a shit in the Woods and burying it!!!  *LMAOROTF*   I mean, you can't make shit like that up... and after that my Parents couldn't watch Burl Ives on TV or hear his Music without thinking upon that Story my Dad's Co-Worker had told.  *Snicker*

On E-Bay recently I saw an Old Menu from that Era and Restaurant and did Wonder if they mentioned the Chef in it and if it was when my Dad was the Master Chef there?   Might not have been since the Restaurant had been around a long time before the 60's when we lived in Falmouth and Dad was Stationed at Otis, AFB during that Tour of duty.  This might have been an earlier 1950's Menu before we moved there?   I should have Bid on it anyway, coz the starting Bid had only been Five Bucks.   My Dad always Worked a Civilian Job as well as his Full Time Military Career, usually at a High End Civilian Restaurant that would accommodate his Military obligation as the Priority.   Here in Phoenix he worked for Chez Louis of Scottsdale for several Years while also working at Luke, AFB before he Retired from his long Military Career of 27 Years. 

At "Spencer's" they had a lot of Wacky Christmas Gifts and Ugly N Naughty Christmas Sweaters, most of which Lit Up.   Had they not Lit Up I probably would have liked one with Snoop Dogg on it, but I don't like Plastic or Baubles attached to Sweaters.   And the Merry Chrismizzle Snoop On The Stoop Ugly Christmas Sweater had Plastic Light Up Pot Leaves and Golden Christmas Tree Ornament Bobbles on it that put me off wanting it.  Had it just all been Embroidery, I'd of wanted that one, so, a shame they had to put all those attachments to the Sweater and ruin it, IMO.  {It is Pictured earlier in the Post so you can see what I mean.}   The Daughter wanted the Snoop Dog Sweatshirt Hoodie and Dressing Gown that Wal-Mart was Selling for her Christmas Prezzies, so Princess T and I did get those for her along with his T-Shirt of the Line.  

And the Lead Image was one of the Snoop Dogg Gift Bags we got to put some of it in.  Snoop is Selling and Promoting everything now and has really Branded himself brilliantly IMO.   I had thought his Clothing Line was Called "Doggy Style" *Bwahahahaha*, which would have been Tongue In Cheek appropriate for a Clothing Line IMO and risque' Double Entendre.  But, as it turns out it's called "Dogg Supply", which is not nearly as Funny and Clever IMO, the Kiddos thought it hilarious that I was calling his Line "Doggy Style" coz that's what I actually thought the Line was called!  *Bwahahahaha*    Anyway, clearly, Above, you can see that my Great-Granddaughter likes LOL Dolls Line of Wardrobe and is Styling her Wardrobe accordingly.

And The Man can Pass for being Santa this time of Year and Kids aren't sure which is the Imposter, him or the Statue?   They were leaning towards pointing him out as the 'Real' Santa incognito and just out of Uniform.  *Winks*   Of coarse this time of Year we see a lot of Old Guys with long White Beards and long White Hair, who are portly and often dress like Santa to go anywhere.  We saw one of them on his Scooter just tooling down the Street in full Costume and he really did make a Fine Looking Santa Clause.   *Smiles*   The Man used to carry mini Candy Canes in his Pocket just to hand out to any very small Children who were positive he was Santa, sans the Outfit, and would get so excited to see us out in Public near Christmas.  *LOL*

I'm having a hard time finishing up this Post... I laid out some Photos for it first and then decided to Write the Content... Le Sigh.    Below is a Breakfast we had on our way to the Eastside Event and I thought it was enuf for Two of my Breakfasts.  Well, while I was at Work I found out later that The Man had snuck and eaten the other half of my Leftovers, so, no 2nd Breakfast of it for me!   There I was looking forward to it coz it always tastes great heating up the Gourmet French Toast that "The Tipsy Egg" has and its always enuf for Two Meals worth for me, so I always Save half for later.   This time they were out of the thick Challah Bread, which is very large, so instead of the Order having the usual 2 Challah Bread Slices, they gave me 4 of the substitute Bread.   I do prefer the French Toast Challah Bread version tho', so Hope they get it in next time and don't run out?

That's an Espresso Drizzle and Espresso Whipped Creme on top, they also put some White Chocolate chips in the Toast and usually top it with some Roasted Coffee Beans as Garnish... it's sublime.   Anyway, now I'll have to Guard my Leftovers since The Man has discovered he likes this version of French Toast even tho' he's not a Coffee Drinker.   And, he always orders something else for himself and won't Share his Leftovers with anyone!!!  *Le Sigh*   He quite casually said, almost like an afterthought when I got Home from Work on Sunday Night, "Oh, Honey, I ate your Coffee French Toast...", as if somehow I'd be Okay with that!  *Eye Roll*   I'd really been looking forward to having it on Monday Morning, dammit!!!   I'd even written my Name on the Container so none of the Kids would get into it!!!  *Le Sigh*

Well, I got the whole T-Mobile thing sorted out, my Bank had Cleared the Check Weeks ago and T-Mobile had sent out the missed Payment Statement AFTER receiving Payment.   So, they acknowledged the mistake and overlap of receipt of payment and updating their System to reflect it before sending a Statement out.  *Huge Sigh*   I'm wondering now if that's not what also happened with those other Creditors?   Sometimes they still claim they can't find your payment even when your Bank says, yep, they got Paid and the Check Cleared... luckily this time that wasn't the case and they found I had Paid.  Anyway, I was happy it got sorted out satisfactorily.

I filled everyone's Christmas Stockings.   Cards really are coming in late this Year in the few I still do exchanges with.  I sent mine out early, seems most people are sending theirs out so late Christmas will be over before they even arrive!   And, I whittle the Card List down more if I don't receive one after I sent one to someone, concluding they just ceased Card exchanges, Died, Moved, or something I'm unaware of.   If they resume another Year, I do too.   Mostly I keep in Touch via The Book Of Faces with everyone and some had Moved and not given me a new Address, so Updated me this Year and I was able to send them a Christmas Card again.   But I realize things like sending Cards, Letters and actual Hard Copy Photos is a thing of the Dinosaur Past.  *Le Sigh*

*******

Merry Christmas from Dawn The Bohemian... and The Last Of The Card Sending Dinosaurs