Going 50 Shades Of Grey...

So, we kicked off the New Year with back to back Domestic Terrorist Attacks, Splendid.  Yes, the New Orleans Terrorist was radicalized by Isis and Arabic, but he was Home Grown in Texas, Domestic Terrorism, not Foreign Born, and, he'd Served in our Military at one point.  But, then again, so had about 130 Insurrectionists on January 6's Coup attempt.  Then one of Elon's Cyber Trucks just happened to blow up in front of 45/47's Hotel in Vegas, probably NOT a coincidence.  And Curious choice of vehicle and location, Cyber Trucks are built with Bulletproof Windows and an Odd Choice for a Demolitions Special Forces attack Vehicle if a mass casualty event was the Goal.  His Manifesto should prove to be Interesting.  Vegas had numerous other soft Target locations with big Crowds, all the time.  Whether the Two have Connections remains to be seen.   And do we really think that under the Moron's Watch when he dismantles the FBI and other Guardrails for National Security that it's gonna get BETTER?   Please.

My Heart really hurts for all of those Victims of this senseless violence and their Families.  Just trying to Celebrate the New Year and Holidays, just like that unfortunate Crowd of Victims in Germany did under similar circumstances, as their Government also fell apart.  But just Thoughts and Prayers aren't gonna cut it.  And eroding and installing his Insane Inept Clown Posse in our Institutions definitely ain't gonna cut it.  America better Wake the fuck up and fast.  Once the Lunatics are running the Asylum, all of this Chaos and violence is likely to only escalate and be more effective.  It troubles me deeply and it is spreading Terror and a sense of insecurity to the Public.  It's a lot to Unpack and Process for anyone.   And folks are Rightfully Concerned and ill at Ease.

I re-wrote this Post Three times already, at a loss for Words... or... then an angry outpouring of them.   The Daughter made some lovely Homemade Caldo de Pollo {Mexican Chicken Soup}, she makes an outstanding one and it's great Comfort Food.  I didn't want to leave the house all day even tho' it was glorious outside.  It was still thick with Smoke all Morning from all the Fireworks let off the Night before, like a dense Fog.   But, once that cleared, it was Warm and Sunny.  Winters in the Desert are hard to beat. Starting off 2025 with such grim Breaking News wasn't the Wakeup Call any of us feels beginning a New Year will be like, but, it was.   Let us Pray things improve from here on out at least somewhat... or, it will be a very Rough Year to move thru with any sense of Peace in our Souls.   And as an Old Hippie, I'm more about Peace and Harmony if it's at all Possible to Coexist that way with everyone.  But with some folks, in spite of your best efforts, it is challenging, isn't it?   They are NOT about any of that.

I didn't go in to the New Year's Sale at Work to even see how it went.  We used to do things like Vendor/Employee Breakfasts, Thanksgiving Dinner and Christmas Parties at the Antique Mall... now they sometimes bring in Pizza for if you're pulling a Shift on a Holiday.   It just isn't the same and the turnover of Staff and Vendors is constant now.  People used to stay when it felt like an extended Family that did things Together that were enjoyable and bonded everyone and formed Relationships.   Now I rarely bother to get to know the Names of the Newbies becoz before it sticks in my Memory and you get to know them at all, they're already gone, so, why bother?  I do Miss everyone no longer there or even who have Crossed Over thruout the Years I've been there.  We Lost some really outstanding folks and Good Friends.

 Society is becoming more detached, disenchanted, feeling disenfranchised and polarized overall, so I do struggle with adjusting to that Fact.  What is willing to be excused, overlooked and ignored is deeply Troubling.  The Selfishness and Ego of too many seems to know no bounds and Communities suffer for that lack of Connection to one another in a meaningful, Caring, Selfless, Compassionate and giving way.  I do find it hard to get along with contentious people who are Cruel, Lie and develop a Habit of being Dishonest, I don't Trust them and they are hard pressed to Earn my Trust.  I know how a Foothold becomes a Stronghold and can be a downfall of Society and a Nation.  I Worked the Files for many Years of the effects of Criminal Activity and Violence in my 2nd Corporate Life at the DA's Office.  It's never Pretty, there are no Victimless Crimes.   Sanitizing or Excusing Criminal and Unacceptable Behavior is complicit in allowing it to thrive, it Feeds it, IMO.  And whatever you Feed Grows.    

 We've Traveled the World extensively and Trust N Believe there are many Nations that have Criminals in Charge and the People suffer for it, they're not Nice or even Safe places to Live or Visit.  This is Why people flee and are desperate to Escape such Nations and seek Asylum.  We have many Asylum seekers and if you Educate yourself on Why that is then perhaps you'll understand why preserving the Rule of Law and a functional Democracy is so important.  That Dictatorship and Authoritarianism or Theocracy Bent Leaders are dangerous and unhealthy.  My Ex-DIL and her Family fled the Killing Fields of Cambodia and Lost half their Family to the atrocities committed by Dangerous Leadership, it ain't no Joke.  They likened 45/47 to Pol Pot and that speaks Volumes, they saw the obvious Parallels to Ruthless Cruel Unhinged Leadership.   They barely Survived it and it Scared them during 45's first Term, let alone a 2nd Term now afforded him.  They spent many Years in horrible Refugee Camps seeking Asylum.

 The Educated were eliminated in their Nation and ruthlessly rounded up, Tortured and Murdered by Pol Pot for a reason.  Easier to manipulate the Uneducated and trick, then control them, and fully exploit them.   Passive People with low information and intentionally made Fearful on top of that, are like Sheep led to the Slaughter by a Predatory Type.  Predators always Groom their potential Victims and know which ones will be the easier Marks to prey upon.  They are astute Studiers of Human Behavior and their Play Book is Old, but it still Works.   I have elderly Friends who Survived Nazi Germany and Austria, I have Friends whose Parents Survived the Jewish Holocaust and had the Tattooed Numbers on their Forearms.   My Dad was Native American and the inhumanity is still felt to this day by the Indigenous Cultures around the World who were dehumanized and suffered attempted Genocides.  We shouldn't want to repeat such sordid and Shameful Histories.  We should have Learned something from them to be able to Evolve as a Species, not Devolve further and be worse Creatures, even Monsters towards other Human Beings.

I held out the Possibility that 2025 wouldn't be the shitshow I suspected it probably was gonna be... I Hate to be Right like that tho'... dammit!  Yes, it's only Day No. Two in Real Time, but what a horrific sucky start.  I don't want anyone in my own Family to attend big Celebrations and Gatherings, I'm Glad I no longer am Raising a School Aged Child.   Princess T used to have so much Anxiety when they'd have the Shooter Drills.   She stays in her Room a lot becoz it just rarely feels all that Safe out there in Public anymore to her, so many Angry, Hateful People amongst us.   She said Rusty's Family didn't even have a Gathering for New Year's, just Family and a Movie.  She fell Asleep before Midnight, Woke at Midnight hearing Fireworks, Wished everyone a Happy New Year and then went back to Sleep.  *LOL*

She said Rusty had also dozed off before Midnight and that's why they hadn't come Home, such Party Animals they are.  *Bwahahaha*   His Family didn't have the Heart to Wake any of the Kiddos and send them out groggy into the Night amongst Drunk Drivers.   So, I'm glad they just let her spend the Night and come Home when it was Safer on the Roads for their Son and her.   She said it was a good Movie Night with his Family and a good time, she doesn't like Parties anyway.  Most of his Siblings are Younger and still School Aged.   So, it was a Kid Friendly New Years at his house.  I was so damned inattentive with all the Breaking Bad News on the TV, that I didn't even realized she'd already come Home and gone to her Room!  

So at about 1:00 p.m. I called her on the Phone and asked if she was Okay!!!??  She answered from her Room, Laughed and said, Yeah, I'm in my Room Gramma!!!  I felt like a Putz and a Bad Parent.   This is precisely Why Women my Age don't still Breed and shouldn't still be Raising Children!!!   I doubt that The Man even knew she ever wasn't Home and in her Room???!!    So, this is Why Grandpa's shouldn't still be Raising Children either!!!  We're fortunate she's our Golden Child and not another Prodigal One.  *Bwahaha*   The Daughter was equally Clueless and said, this is Why she wasn't even allowed to Raise any of her Kids, and voluntarily entrusted them to be Raised by the Grandparents... since we couldn't do a Worse Job!?  Then we all burst into raucous Laughter inappropriately, including Princess T, Gallow's Humor is our Go To about our foibles and Family Hand Dealt.  *Smiles and Winks*

I then thought upon the Younger Three Siblings in Mexico who were Raised by a Single Widowed Paternal Gramma between her Ages of being 70+ to 90!!!   God Bless Saint Maria, may she RIP.   Well, all Five of The Daughter's Kiddos managed to Survive being Raised by all us Geriatrics, they're resilient little Spawn.  *Smiles*  The Young Prince said he and The Niece have coordinated his return Home in Late January, God be Willing and the Creek don't Rise.   He decided he need not wait until the Lease on their Cottage expires coz he's not even on the Lease and has no Income, so, that's all on Allen anyway.  Their cohabitation agreement just isn't working out very well, so The Young Prince is anxious to just get the Divorce and go their separate ways.  He's just not interested in potential reconciliation at this point.  Things aren't improving, the Horse is Dead, so he's getting off.   Yes, it's a Shame, he SO wanted it to Work and gave his All.  Which is all you can Give.

Other that that, everything is Swell.  *LOL and Eye Roll*  Above is how Princess T used to Dress herself as a Kid... and, after Raising a 2nd Generation, you let them Express themselves without a Care and just with Amusement.  She cringes now when I dredge up her Younger Fashionista Self Statement, she had a lot going on.  *LMAO*  It was taken in our Showroom #114 at the Antique Mall that she'd also Styled.  *LOL and Winks*  My Heart Monitor itches, it's the Adhesive that attaches it to your Body.  The Implanted One they'll likely do later on won't seem so invasive and uncomfortable.   The Bourgeoisie just make me Laugh and are terribly Annoying, I didn't enjoy living among them.   Beautiful Luxury Homes don't make up for a horrible Community of Humans.  Gak!   Horrible Humans are just very difficult to live amongst.   You can attempt to Peacefully Coexist alongside them, but they will be who they just are, you have to adjust your expectations of that accordingly.  They have to do the Work on Themselves, nobody else can.

 Had we Owned that Home outside of that Community and on some Acreage with no HOA tho', and in a close knit Community like the one we're now in, it definitely would have had a different Ending.  I just Love our Community, our Home, our Location and our Neighbors now, so it was the Right decision for us, definitely.  The Sun, Stars and Moon all lined up in the End.  *Whew*  Moving just gets harder so I didn't wanna do it anymore.   But, we'd lived in Great Communities we Loved before and wanted to return to that Lifestyle and not compromise or Settle.   Finding a Forever Home in the Old Neighborhoods we Loved proved to be quite Challenging tho', people don't rotate in and out of those close knit Communities, they know what they have and they Keep it.  Now we're entrenched here it is interesting how often we're approached about Selling, since, so many want to Live The Dream and know which Neighborhoods might provide it.

We've got an Electrician coming Today to give us a Quote on removing the Ugly Chandie in the Entryway and replacing it with a Tract Light.  I'll also get a Free Estimate while he's here to remove a Ceiling Fan that isn't functional anymore and we didn't like the Style of anyway.  I want to replace it with one of the New but Vintage Industrial Looking ones.  The Daughter knows some Electricians, so, I could get a Hood Hookup if this Quote comes in too High.  It's our A/C Company that provides the Free Services and Estimates for almost any Home Maintenance Job tho' and so far they've had Fair Prices, so, we'll see.   I would still have to Purchase the New Ceiling Fan and factor in that Cost, so it's not like we'll likely be doing the Job Today anyway, just seeing what to Save Up for and get Estimates.  The Estimates came in Okay, but now Low.  We may Fund one Project for the Recess Light, but not the Fan Replacement, we'll DIY that one with The Daughter's Friend whose an Electrician and offered to do it as a Favor and Friend.

I've Hated that Chandie since we bought the House and feel that the Seller had stuck it up there and taken down a better one?  It's Plain Black Wrought Iron with one bent Arm and these hideous little Lampshades on each Light.   Anyone Tall walking in bumps their Head on the damned thing so it hangs too low and I'm pretty sure wasn't the Original One there when they decided to Sell the House.  *LOL*  The Older Owner before them had done the complete Urban Farmhouse Remodel and I saw she had put in Top O'The Line everything with Style, Class and High End Products.  She was a Realtor and I've met her, she's Top Shelf and her Husband built The RV Garage Mahal himself.  Clearly he had Contractor experience and did a Fine Job of it.  We LOVE our RV Garage Mahal it was a Primary Selling Point of this Property in fact!  I came with a lot of Cargo, as Long Time Readers well know.  *Winks*  And, Downsizing Property to Property is a lengthy Process.

 So, anyway, the Chandie and a couple of Ceiling Fans just looked Off and didn't Line Up with the rest of the Improvements THEY did to the Property.  You can tell the Ceiling Fans were Replacements by the Young Sellers, telltale marks of Paint differences where they took the Originals Down and put up some POS replacements.   I know the Young Sellers were Trust Fund Babies and their wealthy Parents had funded everything, so, like most Trust Fund Babies their Kiddos were reckless and irresponsible with Money and blew thru it without a Care, since they Earned none of it.   They took it all for Granted and thus their Privilege overtook them.  We still get Collection Letters sent here trying to find them and pay what they Owe Creditors.   They ran a Trucking Business out of here and I'm told were never here much.   So our Neighbors were Paid by the Kiddos Parents to just Maintain this Property, which was Vacant most of the time before we Bought it.   

  In my 1st Corporate Life as a Banking Executive running Collections, Foreclosures and Bankruptcy Departments of Real Property, I knew the 'Type'.  Debt Counseling rarely self-corrects it.  They will Bankrupt most of what they Touch and was too easily Had and will keep being Freely Given in Bail Out after Bail Out with few Consequences.  Anyway, this Property still had all Brand New Never Used Expensive Appliances, with all the Stickers still attached to them.  Looked like those Kids never Cooked or did Laundry here the whole time they Lived here?  Or Maintained anything themselves, their Parents Paid for Staff to do it all.  So, it was not only newly Remodeled Four Years before we Bought it, but Turn Key and didn't even look Lived In.   And the Older Owner had chosen exactly the same Products I would have Chosen myself if I were to have done the Remodel.  It's eerie how similar that Woman's Tastes and Aesthetic were to my own and I told her that when I finally got to meet her and her Husband.  They drove by one day and introduced themselves and I got to know more about the Property and what they had done before Selling it to the Young Family that Bought it before us.  

 I commended them on the Remodel and RV Garage Mahal, they seemed genuinely pleased we appreciated their hard Work on improving the Vintage Property, saving us all the Work, expense and inconvenience that comes with a Remodel.   The Young Couple really didn't seem to Care to Sell it at Top Dollar to squeeze all their Equity out of it and they gave us about Twenty-Five Grand worth of unexpected "Housewarming Gifts" that weren't conveyed with the Sale really, like the John Deere, a Laptop Computer, the Pool Umbrella, Trampoline, and Kid's Redwood Playground Set {the latter we Donated to TJ's Grandkids who were little}.   This made me realize, those Young People hadn't Paid for any of it, their Parent's probably had funded it ALL, including the Property, so they felt no Investment towards the Property or anything in/on it?  I certainly appreciated the Generosity, regardless of how they'd obtained it at the Cost of someone else, as I later Learned from the Neighbors, that Daddy Warbucks had Bankrolled it all.

Our Neighbors have all verified that tho' Nice enough Kiddos, the Young Family were Spoiled Rich Kids and very Wild and out of Control with their Lifestyle and Finances.  They were into the Swinger Scene and Partying all the time, so, I'm quite sure their Parents had a hand full with them and probably bankrolled it all still on account of the Two Young Grandkids, a Kindergarten Aged Girl and a Toddler Boy.   I remember Princess T's Room was bright Bubblegum Pink coz it had been the little Girl's Room and we bought Paint to redo it on Day One.  *LMAO*  And the Guest Bedroom had been the Little Boy's and was John Deere Green and Yellow with fucking Stripes going Horizontal between what was Green and what was Yellow... which, yep, Day One that hadda go too!  It reminded me of Green Bay Packer Colors, but, I "Got" the Farm implication of them being John Deere Fans.   Gak.  Good Product but I'm not Decorating my whole Home with it like a Fan Girl!  *LMAOROTF*

Other than the Kid's Bedroom Paint choices everything else was Ideal and needed no changes tho', Love it all.   And Paint ain't that expensive and didn't put me Off as a Buyer.  In fact, Princess T is now gonna Repaint her Room again, she's keeping the one Black Chalkboard Paint Wall coz she Arts that Up all the time.  But she's replacing the Taupe Walls with a Light Grey.   I Joked with her that she's in her 50 Shades of Grey Phase?  She didn't "Get" the Joke, it's Fine, I'm glad that at 19 she didn't "Get" it actually and had no Idea what I was even talking about.  *Whew and LOL*   But, I swear as we stood in Home Depot she had about 50 Shades of Grey in Paint Chip Samples and couldn't make up her Mind which Hue she might go for!  She knows she's indecisive, so I know I'll end up telling her which one to use... and Pretend like it was her Choice and Idea all along.  *Eye Roll*

via: Pocket Full Of Heirlooms

Grey is the New Trend for House Flippers, everything is now Grey and I didn't mind Grey at all until it was overdone.  It's a Classic Francophile Hue in fact and Nordic Style uses it a lot too.  But, I'm not Fighting the Grey she's choosing, I can Live with it and won't need to Repaint it if she ever moved out, which she swears she won't, and we Believe her.  *Bwahahahaha*   In fact, I don't think any of them is ever leaving and I'm Okay with that and The Man is getting used to it.  Especially when he's getting Home Cooked Meals, which I never do... and the Kiddos have assumed all Housekeeping, Home Maintenance and Yard Maintenance, which, he never does any of and it would ALL fall on me if they weren't here.  I've made it Clear that I now am having Limitations and so, unless he Ponies Up for Staff somehow, the Free Labor of our Children and Grandchildren will Maintain Forever Boheme' from now on... aka: The Asylum.  *Winks*   Below is another of our Beautiful Granddaughters... Family after all, is EVERYTHING and worth staying in the Game of Life for, no matter how rocky the Journey gets.

*******

Happy New Year my Friends, stay Encouraged and may we all have a way to figure out having some Peace within for the next Four Years... I know I'll be a Work in Progress in that regards, coz, some things you cannot or should not overlook, excuse or ignore.  Nor Pretend isn't a Problem... Dawn... The Bohemian