A Small Voice Raging Against The Machine

This Thursday was a very good day, packed with lots to do and I also got plenty of Photography done for new Blog Fodder.   We hadn't really been out and about a lot in this Heat, but, the End of the Month held some End Of Season Sales I wanted to attend at some Events.  Even if we didn't Buy anything, it would be enjoyable and inspiring, both The Man and I were getting restless doing nothing day after day with nothing to look forward to doing.   We decided that since I'm picking The Son up on the East Side after Work anyway, why not go Eastside and attend some Events going on, then go pick him up when it's time to.   We headed out right after our AC Service Guy left from doing our Routine Prepaid Maintenance on our Two Units. 

 We had some Tri-Color Grapes that were past their Prime so I told The Daughter to set them out Poolside to make Raisins of them, they're now deliciously dehydrated by the Sun and not wasted.  I plan to Plant some of my Moscato Grapes and see if I can grow the Vines myself to Harvest them more often than "Whole Foods" gets them?   Grapes grow well in Arizona and there used to be many Vineyards around Phoenix Metro.  But now the Vineyards and Orchards have been razed and Sold Off Farmland to make more Seas of fucking Subdivision Hells where Agriculture used to thrive around the Valley.   Too much Residential Development has replaced thriving Agriculture that grew a lot of local Crops, and raised Animals for Meat, Eggs and Dairy, which always made Groceries cheaper and fresher here and not rely on Imports.

That's why I wish they'd Develop more Mini Farms instead of these high density Subdivisions and massive Apartments.   Coz Mini Farms contribute to the Food Supplies locally to Source fresh and often Organically grown Produce, Eggs, Milk and Livestock.   Almost every Neighbor in our Mini Farms Communities grow something edible and sustainable on their Land, even tho' it's only 1-3 Acres per Lot here, you can grow a lot on just that much.  They always grow more than they can personally consume and either give away or Sell the rest.  Once the Trees are Mature the amount of Nuts and Citrus or other Fruit is quite abundant that each Tree produces.  The Daughter brought Home some freshly laid Eggs that Roy's Chickens just produced.  She's been helping with his Mini Farm Chores.  His Hens and Roosters free roam his Acreage.

Anyway, I lament how much is being Lost that can never be replaced as greedy Developers just overdevelop everything around here now.  The loss of Agricultural Land is also heating up the Valley considerably as we lose more open and Green Space to high density Multi-Residential, Residential and Commercial or Industrial Developments.   They aren't helping with Climate Change, so it's all counterproductive for the Future and Water scarcity is gonna impact the Valley all the more as Populations explode in a Fragile Desert Environment that cannot feasibly sustain it.  Short Term Corporate Greed always surpasses Long Term viability of what they've done and quickly Profited off of within a Community or at the expense of Nature and Preservation of it.  They only see it all as a mere Commodity to exploit and then move on, like a plague of hungry insatiable Locusts devouring and destroying all in their Path.

I know I'm but a small Voice raging against the Machine.  But, I refuse to be Silenced and remain very Vocal and Militant nonetheless.  I liked a Meme I saw that said if you fail to acknowledge what a Human Identifies as, then I'll be Identifying as a Fucking Problem, my loose ad lib translation.   *Bwahahaha*  Yep, that's me.  *Winks*  {See Above actual Meme borrowed from that fav Blogger for Pride Month.}  I've never been timid about Militantly Identifying as a Fucking Problem to strongly Advocate for Human Rights, Animal Rights, Environmental Protection, and making Good Trouble, etcetera... etcetera... etcetera.   If you don't want me becoming your Fucking Problem, then be part of the Solutions and not part of the Problems that plague Society, Humanity and the Environment, that's all.  Simple.  *Winks*

I always felt like America's "Strength" was in our Goodness, and that's what made us Great and looked up to and Admired.  When we Fail to be Good, then we Fail to be Great, IMO.  Bad Actors are not generally thought of as being Great or Good, and generally are only Admired by the abhorrent Creatures and lowlifes of Society who aren't inherently decent either.  There seems to be an exponential increase in indecency in America lately and people aren't even ashamed or embarrassed to have no decency anymore.   Some even seem Proud of it and of being Offensive and Vile on Purpose.   It's become a MAGA Badge of Honor to be and many of them even Buy all the MAGA Paraphernalia proclaiming to be just that, saying all the Quiet Parts out Loud now they got their Guy in the White House as the King of Chaos, Corruption and Indecency.

And many of them are Spawning and Raising their Offspring to be Future Assholes of America and they're mighty Proud of that too.  I feel Pity for their Kiddos, Kids Learn what they Live and can't do better if they don't know better, or until they grow up and do.   I've met folks who turned out well in spite of the toxic environments they were Raised and Indoctrinated into.   Some refuse to become Radicalized and realize something is inherently Wrong with being that way and Rebel against it.  Usually they're Outcasts then of their Relatives who still are that way.  I commend those that were strong enough to do better against all odds and Hand Dealt them to be Born into such dysfunction and toxic Generational Hatreds, propensity to Violence, and Biases passed along and expected to conform to.  When you Know better, you generally wanna Do better.

As the 4th of July is quickly approaching, it will be Interesting what Americans will be Celebrating and feeling Patriotic, or not, about?  I don't feel particularly Proud of America and not at all Proud of it's Leadership right now.  So we don't plan to be very participatory this 4th of July becoz it would be like Celebrating the dismantling of Democracy, and of all we have held Dear and our Family Served this Country to Preserve and Protect for Generations of Honorable Military Service and much Sacrifice.  Freedoms are being eroded and taken away Daily now and not much is being done about it!   So I'm angry that more resistance has not been evident by other Leaders and those Elected, who allegedly Oppose it all, but are acting Impotent to do anything about it. 

 So, it's continuing unabated and really pitifully unchallenged effectively.   When the Guilty of his Tribe have been Convicted and Imprisoned, they've been Pardoned and turned loose, and Restitutions to Victims erased.  So, what's the Point if the Rule of Law isn't enforced or taken Seriously now?  If, under this Regime, all that commit Criminal Acts, no matter how Violent, Vile or Extreme, are given their Get Out Of Jail Free Cards, becoz they're his Supporters or his Rich Friends, they know they're Above The Law and count on it.   So, they're Lawless and keep committing Crimes, since, no real consequences exist under the Protection of a President that incites such activities and gins his Supporters up to commit Crimes freely and with impunity on his behalf.

  Yet, Innocent Adversaries can be rounded up and Kidnapped off our Streets in broad Daylight now, even Shamelessly filmed doing it!   Without Due Process or even Charges, Assaulted viciously by Masked Goons he's sent out as Henchmen.   Who often have no ID or Uniform Identification, the Victims are expected not to Resist, and are Disappeared or Terrorized and Threatened, and Locked Up with no access to Legal Counsel!   So, are we any different than a Banana Republic or Fascist Country now really?   How can we hypocritically now pretend we're any better, when, clearly, we're mimicking these atrocities being committed against our own people now who refuse to Bow Down, Bend the Knee and Kiss the Ring in Obedience and meek Compliance?  {Above: The Daughter made Brownie Cupcakes, I can't eat Chocolate or Sweets, but they turned out Pretty enuf to be Blog Fodder, No?  LOL}

 Elderly Veterans, some in Wheelchairs and Walkers, who were exercising their Right to Protest about the Benefits being denied our Military and Veterans, have been Zip Tied and Arrested!   Shamelessly done and filmed as it was happening, so it can't be Denied, so I am glad it's Documented on Film so everyone can SEE it Live.  Unnecessary, to Zip Tie them and pretend like they were a Threat, many of these Old Heroes are in their 70's, 80's and 90's now, and Disabled Veterans, it's totally Disrespectful and intentionally punitively Cruel.  They Served and Sacrificed to afford us Freedom and Rights!  And they're Brave enuf still to Stand Up for all they Believe in regardless of consequences being harsh to do so.  This Administration now only uses our Military and Veterans as Props and for their own Ego Birthday Parades, while disrespecting and dishonoring their Service to Country, calling them Suckers and Losers, and taking Earned Benefits away from them and their Families.

Our AC Guy just left, everything was fine, tho' our 2011 Older Unit could use some Off Season Maintenance and replacement of a part that will be $500, but can wait until Fall or Winter, not imperative, but will need it to extend the Life of the Older Unit.  Better and cheaper than buying a new Unit at Eight Grand, so, we'll save up for the part replacement that's wearing out and they'll clean everything else for free since we're on their Maintenance Program that is Prepaid.  So, that was good news and after he left it was still really early so The Man and I decided to go to "Merchant Square" Antique Mall that was having a Sale, some Vendors giving 50%-70% off, and "Highland Yard Vintage" behind the Antique Mall which was having their End of Season Warehouse Sale.  The Warehouse will Close for the Summer Months.  The Warehouse was packed with Shoppers but we didn't find anything we wanted or couldn't live without.  Just fun to go and see some Friends who are Vendors there.

We'd had Breakfast at "Tipsy Egg" on the way in, it's in Old Town Chandler and has great food.  I had the Farmer's Market Veggie Omelette with a side of Fresh Fruit & Bacon, all on my Restricted Diet allowables now according to my Doctor.  The Omelette had Spinach, Roasted Tomatoes, Caramelized Onion, Feta Cheese, & Mushrooms, very tasty and large enuf it will serve me for Two Meals.   And Yes, it tasted as good as it looks and I drank about half my Gallon of Water for the day while there coz their Water tastes so good there.   And when I picked Princess T up from Work later on, she bought me Vegan Pho at her Favorite Vietnamese Restaurant, coz she was Jonesin' for their Chicken Pho.  *Smiles*   If I take her she always Treats me to a Meal too.  Our Waitress was so glad to see us since she said she hadn't seen us in a while, which is True.

We've been going there since Princess T was a Toddler and the Owners would hear her screaming Soup! Soup! from her Stroller as we got to the Parking Lot!  *LOL*  Even if I was only going to the "99 Cent Only" Store Chain that used to be Next Door, and now went Chapter 11 Bankrupt, the Owner's Wife would rush a complimentary Pho out for my Granddaughter!   They Adore her and still do, she's been coming there for 19 Years so they've watched her Grow Up.   Our Friend Two's Mom is the Chef and always has been, now she's a part Owner of the Restaurant.   Two was Married to the Owner's Son, the Owners are Vietnamese and Two's Family were Thai.  Two moved back to Michigan but her Mom stayed here and all the Recipes there are actually hers, she's the Head Chef and still Works Seven Days a Week and takes no time off.   Don't ever suggest that Immigrant Families don't Work Hard, they Work Harder and longer Hours than anyone else I know.

We found out a Family Owned Business that is a Fav Fish N Chips Shop near our Historic Home, recently got Sold by the Daughter.  Her Mom and Dad had Founded "Ed's Fish N Chips" Forty Years ago and it had been in the Family, with very long time Employees, including Penny's Adult Kids and Adult Grandsons working there, Three Generations.  Well, Penny Died of Cancer a Year ago and The Son was recently told by some of the long time Employees, that the Daughter Sold her Interests in the Business to some Guy outside of the Family and he's gonna change everything!!!   It's a well established Local Business that everyone goes to and has for Years and Years.  I've been going there for the 40 Years they've been Open, but I had suspected something was up and different after the Owner Died.   They started Closing on Sundays, which, had been one of their Busier Days, and some of the long time Employees were quitting.

Some of the Cooks, like Paul, went to School with The Son and had worked there ever since he Graduated from High School.   I don't know if the New Co-Owner will Buy Out the rest of the Family or even keep the long time Employees?   He's allegedly already making significant changes, including to the Menu.   The Menu has been the same for Forty Years and if something is solid and still working well for that long, it don't need fixing and why change it if it's not broken?   I don't know how all the Regulars and Locals will receive the Changes in something established in the Community that long, we'll see I guess?   I'll be Sad if it changes so much we won't want to go there anymore.  It's been a staple in the Community so long and it's the first place The Son ever Worked when he was 14 and Old Penny hired him to Shell Shrimp.   She gave a lot of the Young People from the Barrio their first Job.

Anyway, the other thing The Man and I did was to stop at our Friend Nan's Antique Mall in the East Valley while waiting for The Son to get off Work.   She has some New Vendors there and one in particular I really liked the Merch, Aesthetic and Prices of.   I bought some Crystals from them, they had them about 70% Cheaper than I've ever seen them anywhere else.   They had some Palo Santo Sticks with a Crystal Talisman Charm Necklace on them too, most of their Crystals were only $3-$8!!!   And the Antiques they had were Interesting and well priced too.  I didn't have the Budget to buy some of those I Admired so I Photographed them for now, in case they Sell before I have the Budget to do some Retail Therapy.  *Winks*

I bought Three of these Crystals Wands for only $8 each, the Ball Crystal and the Tower Crystal is different on each Wand and the Dragon is also in different Metals.   Below are the Palo Santo with Talismans made of Crystal and Semi-Precious Stones for $3 each, I bought these Two.   The Crystal Talismans are actually a Necklace and you can burn the Palo Santo Wood like an Incense, it smells Divine.    The Son and Mando did work on his Car some more and might have got it running, all Body Parts crossed this time the repairs will hold?   He can't afford a new Car or even a used one, so, he really needs this to be fixed this time and nothing else go Wrong?  Now he may be able to commute to and from Work by himself again?  

Mando isn't coming over as much, only when Invited and allowed, they're also to have no squabbles on our Property.  If they're not getting along with each other, go argue someplace else or just separate until you can get along with one another.  I don't want the Drama or the Headaches of a Middle Ages Couple fighting all the time.  They both did all the Yardwork and he taught The Daughter how to operate the John Deere, so now she can do it without help. If they're determined to be together, they're Grown and I can't tell them they can't be, but I can tell them that here, I make the Rules and if he breaks them, he's no longer Welcome here, even occasionally.  We'll see how it now goes.   I watched a good NetFlix Movie with Liam Neeson and Laurence Fishburne called "The Ice Road" {2021}, good special effects.   The Leading Actress was Amber Midthunder, who is Native American.  I liked the Movie, it had a lot of Action, Drama and Suspense.

It bothers me that now transferring Money from an Emergency Savings Account to a Checking Account for another Bank isn't immediate like it used to be and can take up to 2-3 Days!    Clearly the ACH aren't working as efficiently as they used to, when Wire Transfers were pretty much same day.    Now they claim Security Checks and shit delay them up to 72 Hours, which is some bullshit IMO.   The Son also now cashes his Payroll Checks at the Credit Union they're drawn on, coz if deposited in his Bank, which is a major one, it can take up to 5 Days to clear and access his Money, which is some bullshit too!   A lot has changed, and not for the better, since I was in the Banking Industry, lemme tell ya!  UPDATE:  The Transfer FINALLY hit, after 3 Days, good thing I didn't need the Money immediately, huh?  *Eye Roll*  I just wanted a buffer until our next Check hits the household account to ensure I have enuf Gas Money.  

Princess T said another good Worker quit Today, she's really discouraged about how many of the better Employees are leaving.  She said a lot of the New Hires wash out right away too, so, it's a constant rotation of Newbies and the Seasoned People quitting.   I don't really know the Posturing or Politics of it all since I don't Work there, something has to be going on to suddenly have such turnover.   I say this becoz a lot of those Quitting had been with the Company a long time, so, it's just Odd.  Usually that means Corporate is doing something very different, and perhaps not in a popular way that the Veteran Employees have a Peace about?   She has to stick it out until she learns to drive and gets her own transportation.   Her Hours there are Regular and it's close to Home so I can accommodate her there, I might not be able to elsewhere.   Irregular Hours or a longer Commute wouldn't work for me providing her Rides to and from Work. 

Plus, not many Employers would be as flexible as they've been about her chronic Health Issues causing a fair amount of missed Work from being Sick.   Well, this Morning The Son's Car wouldn't start again, it had been doing fine after they repaired it last Night, so he hasn't a Clue why it does good, no problems, then takes a sudden shit like before?   To complicate matters, he'd slept thru his Snooze Cycle so was late and had already told his Boss that the Car was probably okay now so he didn't need a ride halfway to Work.   This meant he had to hastily roll me out of Bed and I had to drive him all the way there!   I got him there on time, no small feat, I may have gone above the speed limit considerably.  *Eye Roll*   There was actually a lot of traffic on the road and everyone else was going about 20 mph faster than the 80 mph I was only comfortable going.   I guess they all overslept too?  *LOL*

I'll also have to pick him up AT Work since it's his Payday and he needs to stop by the Credit Union to cash his Check after Work and they only Work until about 11:00 a.m..   I'll leave the house earlier so I can stop by the Event I couldn't attend Yesterday coz we ran out of time.  "Studio 108 Collective" is right next to Nan's Antique Store but The Man and I knew we had to ditch plans to go next door to attend coz The Son was already getting off Work.   So, we only had time to go to the Antique Store and then leave to get him on time.   I knew I had to return Today so might as well swing by when they Open at 10:00 a.m. and check it out before going to get him and get some more Gas Money from him after he gets Paid.   I might get Paid Today myself when I go in to Work Tonight, I think Today is our Payday too but I have no idea how I did?  I think I'll be getting a Check, Sales weren't abysmal, but, they weren't great either, so it might be a small Check?   Ah, well, que sera sera...

I was watching the Late Night News before Bedtime, never a Good Idea, but I'd evaded The News for a while so needed to know what other Fuckery had transpired in the interim?   They were talking of the Big Ugly Bill and how Working stiffs don't need to be on Medicaid, they really are Clueless aren't they?   Just becoz someone has a Job doesn't mean they are offered AFFORDABLE Healthcare.   The Son's Employer offers Healthcare and Dental but none of the Workers can afford it, not even the Single ones coz it would be 1/4 of what they Earn!   And for Married Guys with a Family, even more than that!   Already most of them, like The Son, can't afford the Rents Locally, so tack on Unaffordable Healthcare & Dental, or ability to afford reliable Transportation either, they really NEED the ACA to Qualify for, or, go Uninsured and never risk ever getting Sick or Injured!

If that Bill passes, he will be among the 20 Million without Insurance, even tho' he's Working a difficult Job and long Hours, pulling any Overtime they might offer, or having to get reduced Hours due to the Tariff Wars situation hurting his Employer.   It's all one big Cluster Fuck this Administration is creating for Businesses and Workers alike.  And those who are Unemployable are particularly screwed and vulnerable.  Or Families with someone will chronic and expensive Health Care Needs and Disabilities that Insurance won't cover the Costs of, often, to just keep them Alive.  They've been interviewing Families with Special Needs Children whose Medical Needs are more than the Family could provide if they didn't have Medicaid.  I know what that's like coz when I was Raising The G-Kid Force, had it not been for them Qualifying for Medicaid, they'd of had no Insurance Coverage at all.  The Man's Insurance wouldn't pick them up coz they're not his Children and he was too Disabled to Adopt them.

And when I took early Retirement from the DA's Office, to keep my COBRA Health Insurance would have cost me $1,200 a Month!!!  So, I hadda drop my Insurance upon Retirement, coz, I wasn't even Old enuf to draw my Pension or my Social Security at the time and it was Years off before I could, so I virtually had no Income and was now an Unpaid Full Time Caregiver.   So, I can understand and relate with Families in similar predicaments, plus, even The Man's Insurance didn't cover 100% of his catastrophic Medical Bills either, which he'd now have for Life.  Nor did he Qualify for Long Term Care at the VA Old Soldier's Home, they claimed he required too much Care!!!!!!!!!   Guess they only want Veterans there who aren't TOO Disabled, and, I thought that was the POINT of Long Term Care... to provide it to those Veterans whose Point of Need could no longer be met at Home coz of the extensiveness of the Extreme Care they needed?   Guess not!

We once were at a Restaurant and in the next Booth was a Man abled bodied enuf to have driven himself to the Restaurant to meet his Two Elderly Buddies for Lunch.   I overheard their Conversation and discovered all Three of them lived at the Old Soldier's Home there by the Downtown VA Hospital that I couldn't Qualify to get The Man housed in when he was really, really, bad off right after his Catastrophic Accident and needed Extreme Long Term Care!    I listened in, turns out all Three were Officers whose Wives had Died and they just didn't wanna take Care of themselves!!!   Guess the Wives had done everything for them, so, they just moved in to the Old Soldier's Home where everything is taken Care of FOR them!!!   WTF, what an Abuse of The System and taking Beds from the Veterans who are truly Disabled, probably the Enlisted, and whose Families, if they even have one, cannot take Care of them becoz they require actual Long Term Care!!!   I was so Angry, you have no Idea!!! 

At the time I even made a Complaint, not that I'm sure it did any good.   And, I heard from a Friend from Church, whose my Pastor's Sister, and whose Husband was a Veteran and got Advanced Dementia and she couldn't Care for at Home anymore, that the Old Soldier's Home for Veterans was costing her $200 a Day for him, even when he did Qualify to be there!!!   No, it's not Free to Veterans, in case you didn't know that either.   And that was over a Decade ago, she was having to rely on her extended Family to help her pay for it, they all chipped in so he could remain there!!!   So, in hindsight, even IF they would have taken The Man, I couldn't have afforded that either, all our Pensions don't add up to that much Daily, so The Grandkids and I would have been without any Money to live on.    So, I know should he ever get to the point AGAIN, that we can't Care for him at Home, we have NO Options available to us.  And he Served his Country for 39 Years, it means Nothing!!!  He's apparently thought of as a National Discard now...

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Pointlessly Raging Against The Machine... But I refuse to shut up and be Silenced... Dawn... The Bohemian