Economic Vandalism And The Meltdown

 I'm starting this Post early coz I have to stay Home due to the John Deere being delivered sometime and we don't know exactly when.  Mostly becoz it's coming from their Mesa Location across the Valley, they didn't have that Model in Stock at our Location just down the Street.  But, Delivery is Free so it didn't cost us more and we weren't on a Time crunch.  I told them I've not had a functional Tractor Mower since the end of last Year, so, no hurries no worries.  I'm pleased with what I Negotiated with the Dealership and didn't know if Tariffs would affect Agricultural Vehicles or not?  So, bought just in time not to have to find out.

We'd gotten our Taxes done on Thursday Morning, our CPA is a delightful 75 Year Old Latino Man whose Adorable and so Funny.  I think he comes out of Retirement every Year to just do Taxes, Bless him.  We owed only slightly more to the Feds than last Year, and got only slightly less of a Refund from the State than last Year.  The Fee to have our Taxes done only went up slightly too, so, overall, no big Surprises and we had the Money set aside for it all.  *Whew*  Hopeful by next Year we won't be Taxed on Social Security Income, we'll see if that Political Promise is kept?

The Daughter and I did some Work together in The RV Garage Mahal, it was Fun and we had a lot of Laughs.  She knows I'm completely Insane when it comes to Decorating and Style, so she Laughs her Ass off about some of my Ideas.  We were hanging up some Taxidermy Game Fish Mounts I have and I was putting Antique Doll Limbs hanging out of their Mouths, she couldn't stop Laughing at the Sight of it.  I told her I want a reaction when anyone beholds a Vignette or Art I've Created.  I don't Care what Emotion it evokes and if it's Horror or Laughter, it's all Good, at least they FEEL something about it.

We made more Bookcases out of my Antique Metal and Metal/Wooden Milk Crates, I have a huge Library of Books.  The Wooden Milk Crates are very Old and have Graphics on the Sides, so we always put those ones on Top, so you can see the Graphics.  Plus, you can Display things on top of the Wooden ones too in a small Vignette.  Almost all the Wooden ones also have Metal Sides, or Trim and Corners, often a Metal Plate attached at one End with who the Manufacturer or Distributor was.  They're becoming harder to Source and get at a Deal.  The Metal ones too.

Management asked me to Work Friday Night, but only called 40 Minutes before the Shift and I was right in the middle of eating Dinner, so I declined.  I need more Notice and don't wanna enable the Vendors who just don't show up without Notice.  There's a Vendor at our Antique Mall who claims to have an abundance of Metal Milk Crates and told me she'd Sell me some, but so far hasn't brought any in to make good on that.  She initiated the conversation when I bought some from my Friend Bryant.  She said she could do better and Sell me some on the Side, she doesn't Sell that genre of Merch in her Spaces at our Mall.  I call her our Corelle, Corning Ware & Pyrex Vendor, she Sells lots of Vintage Kitchen Dinnerware Line Merch.  I said Okay, bring them by and I'll come out to your Vehicle and take a look, then pay Cash when we Negotiate what you want and what I'll pay.

I've brought it up a few times, since I'm still Interested and she knows I am serious.  So I don't know what her delay is now, perhaps she can't really do better than Bryant does for me?  Some Vendors like to brag they can do better, but until they do, or show me what they claim they have, it could be all Talk?  Many Talk a Good Game but can't Deliver.  I think she could be one of those, since so far she's not shown me the Product she claims she has such an abundance of, and can give me a Deal on, so, not sure I even Believe her?  She used to own one of the Mini Farms here in the 1970's and Sold it after her Family was Raised.  She's an Odd Duck, I didn't used to Like her, but I got used to her, she's Peculiar.  *LOL*

Anyway, I haven't been in our Antique Mall to even tidy up my Showroom or Locked Case and restock anything, so it's probably in dire need.  *LOL*  I just don't wanna be asked if I'll Work and Cover a Shift for someone on The Fly, which lately always happens anytime they see me there!   Yes, I can decline, and sometimes I do, but they're usually persistent and I Cave and agree to, realizing they're desperate to have the Shift covered if they're begging and pleading.  I'm a Sucker, to Help someone out in a Time of Need, what can I say.  *Le Sigh*  I don't mind Working there, I just like more advance Notice is all.

Plus, Covering for people who aren't reliable and who aren't being considerate isn't something I want to be an Enabler of either.  So far, the Shifts I've Covered since my Stroke, I've Worked with Co-Worker Vendors that I don't mind Working alongside at all, good People, good Workers.   I won't tolerate having to Work with Slackers, those who are Drama & a Headache, or Assholes, we'd have us a Situation.  *Winks*  And Management knows that about me, I've made it abundantly clear who I won't Work with or tolerate.  And I don't Care if those folks know it too, I'm not there to Win Friends or Influence Enemies.

Actually some folks I will not Work with, but I do Like as a Social interaction exclusively, they just have a poor Work Ethic and can be too much Drama and a Headache as Co-Workers.  As for the Assholes, they usually steer clear of me, since they know how I am when Triggered, not Fun and it would really suck to be them.  *Winks*  I don't consider myself an Asshole type of Person, I'm Nice and Pleasant to everyone until they give me a Reason not to be Nice.  Then I'm not "A" Bitch, I'm "The" Bitch and that will be "Mrs. Bitch" to them, that's all.  You don't want me as an Adversary, Trust me, I have a very Dark Side.  I freely Confess it and can't always Control it if you take me to the Edge and Push.  And, I won't be Remorseful or show you any Pity or Mercy either.  In fact I probably won't "Feel" anything one way or another towards you.   I don't figure Dinosaurs Felt any kinda way about tearing their Prey apart.  I am a Dinosaur like THAT.  *Winks*

 And nobody has to Like Dark Dawn, that side of me doesn't even Care if you don't Respect me.  But you will fucking Learn to have Reverential Fear of me when Triggered to Go Dark on your Ass.  And we don't have to Go There, it's YOUR Choice if we do.  And Why would you even Voluntarily Invite Dark Dawn out to Play anyway, when you can just engage with Dawn of The Light, I ask you?  *Smiles and Winks*  I prefer to be a Chill and just a Nice Harmless Old Hippie, it's my preferred State of Being and how I Wake up every Morning.  Even when things are going very badly for me in Life, as they often do, I don't project that shit upon other people.  Most of the time they're not even aware I'm going thru some heavy shit.  I can hold my Mud and not be Sour or lash out just becoz Life has gone Bad for me and it has nothing to do with you.  So if I come Unglued at You and go Mental, you Deserved it and had it coming.

The Kiddos didn't want me coming Unglued at Brad the Hot Pool Guy over this Vacuum Situation.  Much like they didn't want me coming Unglued at Rob over the Tractor Situation.  Both Men they knew were Testing the Patience of Dawn of the Light.  *LOL*  So... The Kids removed the dysfunctional Pool Vacuum for me and put it in a Plastic Bag to take to a Pool Supply Store when we can head out to one and replace it.  We'll Keep it for Parts tho'.  I figure if I Buy and Install the Pool Vacuum ourselves, it will Cost less and we'll know for sure it's New and what it Costs, have the Receipts.  The fact Brad bought the last one and then acted like he didn't remember that, or be able to produce paperwork for it, made me skeptical.  How do I even now know now if it was New or a refurbished one?  And, he charged $500 and they don't Cost that much, so, we'll do this one ourselves and be sure and save needless expense of a padded Bill for having him do it for us.

Brad is still on thin Ice with me tho', and if he doesn't get the Pool Water looking Right after we replace the Vacuum, he'll end up Fired and Replaced.   I liked him until I don't, when you're providing a Service for Hire for me, you need to provide good Customer Service and continue doing the Job with excellence, otherwise, I don't retain you.  I've Hired and Fired plenty of people in my Corporate Lives, so, I have no trouble doing it when it's necessary to.  If you aren't working out or you're no longer up to the Job, you gotta Go.  Be Well and Be Gone.  It's all Business with me when I'm Paying for you to perform a Service for me.  We worked hard for our Money and when I Pay good Money for a Service I have expectations for an acceptable Return on that Investment, plain and simple.  Don't fuck with my Money or with my Family.  Taboo or the Wrath of Dark Dawn will be upon you.  *Smiles Wickedly*

 Brad is slippin', and I don't know Why or what his Problem is?  But if he's having Personal Problems he needs to be Professional enuf not to take it to Work and have it affect his Work and Business Dealings.  I sense this might be the Issue, his demeanor has certainly had a big Shift in a Negative direction. And if I don't like how someone is behaving or their Attitude, that also affects my decision whether or not to do Business with them anymore.   Don't project upon others whatever is going on with you that has nothing to do with me.  And, if you have a problem with me, and it's become Personal, then we need a Sit Down to discuss it in a Professional Manner and either sort it out or go our separate ways, that's all. 

If you don't want me as a Customer anymore, just say so, I'll spend my Money somewhere else, there's plenty of Competition and Options out there.   With Pool Companies they're a Dime a Dozen out here and I've been Solicited by many lately, so they seem eager to do Business and get new Clients, it's very competitive.   I'll stick with anyone doing a good Job and I know and have used a long time tho', so I don't drop anyone like a Rock if they've been good to me over the Years.  I'm a Loyal Long Time Customer, but don't take me for Granted, or become Offensive or Rude, or do me Wrong, big Mistake.  I just think everyone should treat each other with civility, kindness, humanity and basic respect... far too few people seem capable of doing that these days tho'.  And then act like the Victim when it blows back on them.

It is consequential when you're Hateful, Disrespectful, lack Civility and are Unkind.  So anyone with that kind of Behavior deserves whatever blows back on them in the way of Bad Karma IMO.   You will reap what you have sown.   The Daughter and I made a Chinese Takeout Run to "Dragon Garden" our fav nearby Family Owned little Restaurant.  It's no frills and great Food at reasonable prices.  I can feed 6-7 on about $30.  Everyone was so hungry I didn't get a chance to Photograph all the Food before they dug in, but I did take some Pixs of the Altar and Decor in the Restaurant while waiting for our Order.  They are so fast it's unbelievable you can get Homemade Food that good and that quickly.  I'd Ordered Mongolian Beef, Kung Pao Chicken, Lo Mein Noodles, 3 Orders of Veggie Spring Rolls {6}, Chicken Eggrolls {2}, Fried Rice, Steamed Rice, Egg Drop Soup and Fried Wonton... out the Door in 10 Minutes!!!

The Older Couple who Own it usually do all the Cooking and Today they were also Working the Register, they didn't have their Help there Today.  So, they were doing it all and still that Fast!   Usually I think it's their Son, Older Grandson and Daughter-in-Law there.  Sometimes even their little Granddaughter, whose Adorable and so Tiny and Smart, she speaks 3 Languages fluently already and is only 2!   She is as Good as Gold while her Mom and Grandparents are Working and even helps out with what she can do, Bless her!   She's such a tiny Old Soul.  Her Mom is Hispanic so she speaks Spanish as well as Chinese and English.  The Older Grandson is about 20 and may have the same Mom, he's definitely Amerasian and quite Handsome.  They are a Lovely Family and always hook me up with Freebies I didn't Order, as a Surprise in my Order!

They've done that ever since I once asked a Young Homeless Man inside and paid for his Order.  He looked like a Young Twenty-Something Year Old Modern Hippie, Handsome, Man-Bun, very Clean, Backpack and sitting on a Yoga Mat on the Sidewalk.  We'd eaten in that day and brought Home our Leftovers.  He didn't ask for Money, but asked if we could spare some of the Leftovers and I told him we'd already eaten of it, so No, but I'd Buy him a Meal.  And I let him Order what he wanted, he washed up in their Restroom, came out and Thanked me profusely.  I just thought of the time when our Grandsons were Homeless in Washington, and The Son here in Phoenix, and The Daughter in Phoenix and in Mexico, and myself at one point in a low spot in Life here in Phoenix after my Divorce.  And how many Kind Souls were benevolent towards us.  So, I always pay it forward whenever we can.

And I could tell the Old Chinese Lady paid attention to that Generosity we extended to that Young Man, and after that began putting little Surprises of "Extras" with our Orders when we got either Takeout or even when we Ate in.  Often it's one of the Appetizers that doesn't usually come with the Meal, like the Crab Puffs, Spring Rolls, or Eggrolls.   And even with a Lunch Special that does come with one Veggie Spring Roll, she'll always add a little somethin'-somethin' Extra.  She and her Husband look like they've had a very hard Life, and you can usually tell if someone has been thru Hardships by how they treat other people, they tend to be more compassionate and generous.  

Most will Give out of their Lack, even tho' those with Much are often reluctant to Give out of their Abundance.   The most Greedy folks I've ever known have Too Much and insatiably Want More and will even Take it from the most Needy or shamelessly Exploit them.  I Hope there is a Special Space in Hell for them, but it seems to me that even here in this Realm most are quite Miserable people and seem so unusually bitter and mean Spirited.   No amount of Money in the World can Buy them what they lack in Character or Happiness, let alone fill whatever Void they are trying desperately to fill by the accumulation of obscene Wealth.  I don't have Pity for them, but, they are Tortured Souls, with Defective Personalities, clearly.

The Daughter said that Mando's Friend that just Died, his Family are having a Big Estate Yard Sale to dispose of his Possessions Tomorrow and defer his Funeral Costs.  He Collected a lot of Antiques so she's going to take me there to see what I might want to Buy.  It will help his Family out and they know her now, so said they'd give us good prices on anything we could use or want.  The Daughter had been going over there to Help out when he was Sick and Dying.  They also visited him often when he finally was in Hospice.  It was hard for Mando to go alone being he's also diagnosed with Terminal Illness with a very grim Prognosis, to watch a Dear Friend Dying of one too.   So, she offered a lot of Emotional Support for him and for his Friend and Family.   I don't know that the usual Tag Sale Crowd will appreciate what he had of Value?  It's not a Formal Estate Sale they're Hosting, more like a Yard Sale.

The Yard Sale folks usually are Cheap and want Crap, or ordinary Household stuff and Old Clothes, not Quality items.  This is Why I do not like to Host Yard Sales.  Most of the demographic annoys me and how even if something is a great Deal they're too Cheap to pay it and wanna lowball you and insult you with what they wanna get it for, fuck it, I'd rather set it on Fire.  Right in front of them!  *LOL*   Becoz Honestly, Crap I throw in the Garbage and decent usable items I'd rather Donate to a Charity than haggle with a Cheap Lowballer at a Yard Sale.  I'll work with someone reasonable, I don't mind a good Negotiation and Haggle, so long as you don't Insult me with a ridiculously Low Offer.   It's not as if, when there's an Item that Retailed for Fifty Bucks and I'm asking Five, I want to bother with you if you're asking me if I'll take a Dollar, you know?   Get the Matches!  I'd rather Light that Person on Fire actually! Cheap Fucker!  *LOL*

 

If someone shows up who actually looks Poor tho', we usually won't even take their Money if we see they're struggling to afford whatever it is.  If they aren't Offended by Gifting it to them, we'd rather Give it to them.  Or give them something extra if they spent what they could afford and didn't have enough to get everything they needed or wanted.  Especially if they have a Child(ren) in tow who wanted something and I can tell the Parent would have bought it for them if they could have afforded it, but can't.  You can always tell a Poor Kid, they won't throw a Fit when they can't have something and are Grateful for whatever they do have.  The same with a Hungry Kid, they won't fuss about whatever they're given to Eat, a Hungry Child will eat anything!   I've been Hungry, I know the Feeling.  Hunger is Painful.

  When we lived in a Poor Community, Kids would come over to Play and decline a visit to the Snack Box, which we always let Kids go do after they Cleaned Up Toys and were ready to go Home.   Asking instead if they could have a Sandwich or some Cereal, that's a Hungry Kid whose missed a Meal or Two.   We'd fix them a real Meal then AND tell them they still Earned a visit to the Snack Box for tidying up after Playtime.  And, Poor Families, if they have anything, offer it in Hospitality to any Guest at their Home, Sharing whatever they have, however little it is.  The Wealthy Communities, they wouldn't piss on you if you were on Fire!  I never received any extension of Hospitality or a Kindness when we lived in Affluent Subdivision Hell.  Where our Neighbors all had Million Dollar Homes and could afford to be Generous or Hospitable, but weren't!   

But their "Help" would offer things, coz we treated them Kindly when we saw who Hired them were not.   The Gardeners we'd see working hard and never offered even a Cold Drink, so I'd run some over to them.  In turn, one of their Gardeners saw me with a little Broom and gave me his Industrial One.  When I told him I couldn't accept it, he insisted and said, they replace these often for us and you could use this one since you do your own Work.  It was Rare to see anyone in that Community doing their own Gardening or Housework, or even Raising their own Kids, most had Gardeners, Maids and Nannies.   No telling how they'd get by Maintaining a Household if they didn't have Staff?  *LOL*

Anyway, I much rather enjoy Living in a close knit Community of folks that are Kind, Neighborly, and Help one another out.  Like this one and our Historic one in the Old Barrio, and even the Property we owned Southside before that which were Trailer Homes on Land.  I'd rather live in a Shack around Good People than a Mansion around Horrible ones.  So, I don't think I ever wanna Move again, this Forever Home is in the most desirable Location around a Community we Love.  I feel so Blessed to be where we are right now, even tho' there are things I do miss about every Property I've ever Owned, each had their Merits, you know?  That's Why I bought each one of them.  I've never bought Real Estate that didn't have some Awesome things going for it... or that wouldn't make me Money on the Back End.

Plus, I really Love Arizona.  Of all the places I've ever lived or visited in the U.S. and Abroad in various Countries, this is my favorite Place by far.  I actually like the Weather here and don't even mind the Heat.  Mostly becoz we have about 10 Great Months of Weather a Year, and I can't say that about anywhere else I've ever lived or visited!   And frankly, after you've Climatized, when it's over 100, by any amount of digits, it's just Hot.   Anything over 104 your Body is gonna be Stressed about as well as having Temperatures too low to be not having your Body react favorably.   If your Body falls below 95 Degrees then it's Stressed either way.   The John Deere didn't get delivered as planned, the Mesa Location got it to the Avondale Location too late in the day before their Driver left.  It's Fine, we'll re-schedule next Week.  And I kept busy all day in spite of staying Home waiting on delivery.

So, the Stock Market fell off a Cliff and the Dow dropped 2,200 Points overnight and lost 6.5 Trillion of Stock Market Value in a Day, it's just Economic Vandalism by this President!!!   Economists are saying this is the worst and most needlessly Bad Economic Decision in a Century!!!  Yep, that's DonOld for ya, Bad Economic Decisions since the 1970's, so he's staying True to Form.   He loses his Money and everyone else's too, he doesn't pay what he Owes and he's totally reckless with Finances, that's been his M.O. for his entire Adult Life in Business, so I don't know Why anyone is fucking Surprised he can't run a Country either?!  Did anyone think he'd Magically Change, come on...   Well, there are those that Believed the Myth that he's the Art Of The Deal Maker.  *Bwahaha*

He's basically good at Branding, Conning folks, Losing Money, being a Showman and Lying, that's about it.  And after everyone's Retirements are evaporated, Investors quit Investing, we've got all the Farmers on Welfare again becoz they need to be bailed out, everything costs more, we've Deported all the Foreign Workers who do Essential Jobs, Fired all the Federal Workers who run crucial Agencies and Research for the Government and provide Natural Security, Exports and Imports are all fucked up coz Global Trade got Wrecked, we have no more Allies and a completely wrecked Reputation Globally, and a Crashed Stock Market... tell me how that's gonna make America Great Again or Save any of us Money?   I wanna hear what Fairy Tale someone spawns and actually expects anyone to Believe out of that Hot Mess?

Oh, and rather than Honor those Servicemen who were Killed, he went Golfing and to a Dinner promoted by the Saudis, while the President of Lithuania showed more Respect for our Fallen Soldiers!    Well, according to the Orange Draft Dodger, anyone who Serves or Served their Country are a bunch of Suckers and Losers anyway, so, Why would he show up?   I'm not Surprised he Insulted the Families of these Honorable Americans who gave all for their Country and are True Patriots.   Look what he's doing to Services for our Military and Veterans, gutted them. 

 I could insert the Laundry List of what he's doing to everyone else too, but, you can watch the News yourself so I'll spare you.  I don't know how many Americans have their Head stuck in the Sand or up their Ass still, but now even Russian Dissidents with a Bounty on their Heads are coming here now to tell us to Wake Up before it's too late!   Ah, but being Woke has fallen out of Fashion, hasn't it?  *Eye Roll*  And anyone that stays Asleep by now, well, what can you say about them, they don't wanna know what's going on and most can't handle the Truth.  But, they're gonna have to Face what it all means like everyone else whether they didn't or wouldn't pay attention and be Woke or not.

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Well, hang in there my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian