It's A Friday The 13th

 

It's a Friday the 13th!!!   Well, The Son has to Work a half Day on Friday but he get's Paid too and will be off by 9:30 a.m. and not have to go in until 5:30 a.m., so, I get to Sleep In a little longer and still get Home in time to get Princess T to Work by 7:00 a.m. and picked up at 3:30 p.m., then go to my Shift at 5:00 p.m..   Makes for a logistically complex Day, but, whatever, it is what it just is.   Steven, our Manager, called to tell me he's got a Newbie I'll be Training for just an Hour on Friday, 'til she gets the hang of it.  She was a Key Dealer once before, but a long time ago, so it's more of a refresher for her.  I might even know her from before, will know when I see her, the Name didn't ring any recollection of who she might be for me.  A lot of Dealers come and go and then come back again, sometimes you remember them, sometimes you don't or never knew them.

The fact the FBI manhandled a Hispanic Democratic Senator Padilla, is making big News.  My Sentiments are he was treated that way because he is Hispanic.  And Noem is talking about "Liberating" Los Angeles, what exactly that means or entails is anyone's guess at this juncture?  Incendiary Language being used is deeply troubling to me, a lot of the Quiet Parts are being said out loud now with no shame or pretense at all.  It is a very Totalitarian Agenda towards Authoritarian Rule, but a more extreme version of Authoritarianism.  And it should concern ALL Americans who have any understanding what that actually is and entails for Citizens and the Nation?   So much Political Theater going on, but a lot of what they're doing in this Administration and it's Cabinet is Illegal and Immoral or Unconstitutional and they're getting away with doing it so far.   The first Two Lead Images are just a couple of new Tees going in to Inventory Tomorrow too.

 

There's so much going on incessantly, that is so Negative, and it's all rather overwhelming, and Emotionally draining, isn't it?   I did some Retail Therapy at Princess T's Chazza while picking her up from Work.  Couldn't help myself they've been getting some Primo Merch in.  I got Two 1960's Vintage Squirt Soda Bottles for Three Bucks each, Online they can go for quite a lot, definitely more than I paid.   I got a 1957 Chevy Vintage Car Phone, for Six Bucks, Online they're around $150!  I got Two Antique Chinese 12 inch Porcelain Dolls dressed in gorgeous Traditional Silk Wardrobe, a Boy and a Girl with real Hair, for $4 each... similar ones online are about $80 each.  A Vintage Tambourine for $3.  A Metal Starbucks Fancy Tumbler with great Graphics and Lid for $2.  And a Vintage Pepsi Wooden Crate for $7.  Princess T got some things too.

Princess T's Boss was Joking with her earlier when I dropped off the Phone that now I had to Buy something.  *LOL*  AS IF that even needs to be said, so I Joked back to him as we were leaving after her Shift, "See what you've made me do now!?"  *Winks and LMAO*   And, she claimed she does owe me enuf to pay for her Younger Sister's Tuition, so that's good, we'll be able to Wire it to them Tomorrow then.   So long as it was the Youngest "Good Sister" she didn't Mind, the Middle "Bad Sister", she wouldn't have wanted to 'Reward' for Bad Behavior, which, I thought was so Funny.   But, Princess T is a very Rules Oriented Child and has no tolerance for Bad Behavior of anyone, which has made her our Golden Child to Raise and we have always called her that.  *Smiles*  

The Middle Sister of the Trio in Mexico has been the Wild Child, the other Two are very Academic and very well Behaved and Mature beyond their Years, so, tough Acts to follow or be compared to.  But, to be Fair, the Middle one has Special Needs and did do a lot of Loving Extreme Caregiving for her Elderly Gramma when Saint Maria was Alive.  So, she's not a Bad Kid, but, she is a High Maintenance Child with Behavioral Issues that have made her a Challenge.   And that is never easy and it is too much for her slightly Older Sister to finish Raising that one, coz she's only not quite a Year Older.   The Youngest one is only about a Year and a Half Younger than the Middle one, but acts with more Maturity and takes her Education very Seriously.  

Like her Oldest Sister there, she wants to Graduate with Honors and Win some Scholarships, so she too can afford to attend College and further her Education.  So, she can't afford to drop out to achieve that Goal due to lack of not being able to afford Tuition for High School completion.   I'm glad Princess T is willing to cover it, she said it was about the amount she owed me anyway that she'd insisted on paying me back for fronting her some Money to get things she needed.   She understands her Opportunities are far better than they are for her Younger Siblings living in a 3rd World Country and trying to make it now on their own since their Custodial Paternal Grandma Died.   Saint Maria was their whole World and had Raised them all since Birth, so it was a great Loss for those Girls when she Passed, even tho' at 90, it was expected and her decline had been considerable, the Children were doing Extreme Caregiving on their own for her in fact. 

The Children were intended to come here to live with us and their Mom after their Abuelita Died.  Becoz none of the other Relatives was willing to assume the Responsibility to finish Raising them or Supporting them.  But, we couldn't get them across the Border since The Daughter had never had Legal Custody of them, and due to her extent of Disability, and the fact the Paternal Side had been given Custody, it became complex to even transfer that to the Maternal Side even tho' we were willing to assume the responsibility when no-one else would.  The Immigration System is also very broken, so, even with an American Mother and proving they are dual Citizens of both Countries, and should be able to cross the Border to either side freely, the American Side was trying to extort a lot of Money to make that happen and we wouldn't Pay it.  

We also didn't have that much Money to be Extorted or to Fight the Illegality of it either.  We're talking Thousands of Dollars demanded, so, The Daughter and her American Friends, who are people who have Properties there and in America, and spend Years living in each Country, weren't allowed to Cross with the Kids and had to take them back and return without them.   They spent Months over there trying to override the Restrictions, to no avail, even with all correct Paperwork and our verification that the Children were now without a Mexican Family Guardian, she'd Died, proving that with her Death Certificate, and proof that we're American Biological Family willing to take them and be their Guardians now.   Her Mexican National Friend Sergio, let them live in his Beach Mansion, so that they could stay as long as they did or needed to without the added expense.   With Help on both sides of the Border, it just couldn't get them across Legally.   So I know how complex anyone trying to Legally access the Country or leave that one can be, Trust & Believe. 

Okay, and now Israel is bombing Iran, Splendid.   I have no Words, but, this can't End Well.   It can escalate into a larger regional War and who needs or wants another War and potentially a WWIII!?   I do Hope Cooler Heads prevail in our response to any of it, but with this Leadership, I ain't holding my Breath about THAT!   We can't even Imagine what's going on in this White House from Moment to Moment.  And Diplomacy isn't in this President's vocabulary, he probably doesn't even know what it means.  He's looking, talking and acting more out of it all the time and his Word Salads are so meaningless it's embarrassing and such a spectacle on full display for the whole World to witness.  We've lost all credibility and all Trust now as a Leader of the Free World.   Iran has a Regime that cannot be Trusted and they shouldn't possess Nuclear capabilities due to their Extremists in Power.  The Persian People have been oppressed too long under the Extremists in Power who support Terrorism, hopefully they find a way to replace the Regime, for their sake and for the World's.

I had to take The Son all the way in to Work Today, which was a hassle, but even tho' it had gotten to 112 Degrees Yesterday, this Morning it was actually Chilly and pleasant, so we drove with the Windows down and the Wind blowing thru our Hair all the way there.  It's Light now by 5:00 a.m. and the Freeway was pretty deserted all the way there and back, so I made good time.   We'll have to go pick him up by 9:30 a.m. so The Man and I, after dropping Princess T off to Work at 7:00 a.m., will just drive over to the Northeast Valley and do some Environmental Cleanup around where he Works.  There's a lot of Natural Desert out there and it's quite lovely and Scenic around Deer Valley.  So, The Man is packing us an Ice Chest up and we'll have a nice Morning of it while the temps are so comfortable and Cool.  It is very Odd to have it so Cool in the Mornings after it's gotten into the High Triple Digits in June.  The High Today expected to be 113.

 

It "Officially" got to 122 in late June of 1990, a Record High, which means it was actually hotter than that "Unofficially".   I remember it well coz we were having a Birthday Party for The Son at a Park and the Rangers turned the Commercial Sprinklers on for the Kiddos to play in at the Party.   Then in 2023 we set another Record for 31 Days of over 110 consecutively from June 30th to July 30th, I remember that well too.  I've recorded the Temperature on my Truck's Thermometer to be way higher than 122 many times and Photographed it as Proof, yep, Unofficially it gets Hotter than the "Official" Temps they claim are the Record Highs.  Everyone Jokes that those "Official" Temps are taken outside of the City, over Grass, in an open area and 20 Feet off the Ground or something.  *LOL*   Actually it is taken at Phoenix International Airport and has been since 1953 since that's the only Weather Station in the Valley.  We rest our Case... it's not all that accurate a Reading for the rest of the Cities of Metro Phoenix.

Now, there are a lot of you that claim you could not Take the Heat, and it's Scary to you that it gets that toasty.   But, frankly, I can't Take the Cold and have lived in places like Maine and Upper Michigan, definitely don't miss that Weather.   I never have to shovel Sunshine.  And, Arizona Weather is temperate 10 Months or more out of an entire Year, so, Idyllic Weather the majority of the time.   And, we don't get Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Earthquakes, Blizzards or Mudslides to have to Deal with.   But, we do get Fires, Floods and Droughts.   You have to pick your Poison now with Catastrophic Weather Events, Climate Change is Real.

 

I changed our A/C Filters, the Two of them that are Original Duct Placement and I can reach.   I was upset that when we had the Ductwork Updated they placed the new 3rd Filter on the Vaulted Part of our Livingroom Ceiling that we'll never be able to change on our own.  Part of the reason we bought this Home is we can change our own Filters and Lightbulbs without Hiring someone to risk their lives to do it.  *LOL*  Had they told me in advance where they intended to place the 3rd Filter I'd of objected and had it placed on a low Ceiling part of the Home instead.  I complain about it to the A/C Company now and forevermore and make them change it out for us.  *Winks*   I do think they should ask about such things, where would you want this?   The biggest Issue at the Villa McManse was all Filters and Lightbulbs were over 30 Feet High and only The Young Prince was Tall enuf and could barely stretch up on the highest Ladders to reach any for changing them.

I didn't used to consider such things when we were Younger and Buying Homes, now we're Seniors, it's high on the list of your priorities, what can you do for yourself in this Home?   What won't be possible or Safe for you to do in this Home?   So then you begin critiquing properties more critically for Safety issues and what will extend Independent Living.  Especially in a Forever Home in Retirement Years... or if you're a Multigenerational Family like we are... you have different criteria to meet everyone at their point of need.   We were Seniors that also had to consider School Districts coz we were still Raising Grandkids in School when we bought every property well into Senior Living.  And with The Man's extent of Disability, that also had to be considered carefully.

I think this Home checked all the Boxes for us and some extra ones actually, considering how things have progressed with the Economy and Political Scene becoming grave.   I'm really glad we bought a Mini Farm in the City, best of both Worlds.   And right at the time Mortgage Rates were at 2%, becoz I was used to having a Paid Off Property and it gets hard to re-adjust to having a Mortgage after you've enjoyed being Mortgage Free and Debt Free for many Years.   My Retirement Plan was to remain Mortgage and Debt Free, had to ditch that Plan.  Shit happens, Life happens, you adapt, improvise and adjust accordingly and keep Moving Forward with New Plans and your New Reality, whatever it is.

We sent the Tuition Money to Mexico for the Youngest Granddaughter, so now that's taken care of and they don't have to worry about her dropping out for lack of ability to pay to finish her Education.  When we got Home the Kids trimmed our front Hedges, they had been Flowering profusely and have Beautiful Orange with sometimes hints of Yellow Trumpet Shaped Blooms, but had grown damn near as high as the House and needing a shaping and trim badly.   I think they're called Trumpet Bush and we have Four of them in a row in front of the Art Studio/Front Yard facing the Street.  They are quite drought tolerant.  We have very Mature lush Lantana Bushes too, the Hedge of them in front of the  house  has grown a lot since we bought the House.  They have the Mix of Red, the Yellow and the Variegated Pink-Yellow-Orange Blooms.  The one Poolside only has the Yellow.

The usual Lantana Colored Blooms are below and we have every one of those Colors except the Lavender in the middle pix.   The hardiest seem to be the Deep Red and the solid Yellow.  Hummingbirds Love them and so we attract a lot of Hummingbirds and have had some Nest nearby the Bushes and raise their Family.   Our Pool Guy Brad HATES Lantana and claims they suck the Chemicals out of the Pool Water via the Air?!   But, we're not getting rid of our Bush Poolside, we like it.   And, Google claims that's a complete Myth.  And when the Leaves are crushed or cut they have a very lovely Minty aroma and they Bloom almost continuously and Year round.   We also have an Oleander Poolside with Pink Blooms that Flower Year round too.

Now, Oleander do have invasive Root Systems and their Leaves are Toxic, but, they do well in Arizona and are very drought tolerant.  So, if you keep your Pets or small Kids away from them they are a good Privacy Screen Bush.  You almost cannot kill Oleander or Lantana and they are very Low Maintenance plants except for the trim to keep them the size you want them to be.   And we're at that Season of Life now where Low Maintenance is very attractive.  *Smiles*  Yes, I do Love to Garden, but, in an extreme climate keeping a Garden lush or even alive can be a challenge in Arizona.  Even tho' we have a Year round Growing Season, so Food Crops can be grown almost any time if you want to take the Time and Care to ensure a good Harvest.  Our Tomatoes, the hardier Cherry Tomato that are robust, produce Year round and never really completely Die off or quit producing Tomatoes for us.  I have the Husky Cherry Red Tomato Plants.

Above the Oleander Blooms and Below the Variety of Cherry Tomato I've always done very well with.   I've not done well with full size Tomatoes, I've tried and failed to keep them alive or to get a Harvest worth all the effort.   I'd of liked to have been able to grow various Heirloom Tomatoes, even with a modest Harvest for just our personal use.  But, you do find out what thrives and what's worth your effort when you live in the Desert, it takes work to have a Victory Garden, so you tend to grow what doesn't need too much pampering and is hardier when the temps get really extreme.   I do need to work on my ability to grow more of what we eat rather than buying it.   Plus, there's nothing better than eating what you grow for yourself and picking it Fresh the moment you've decided you want to make a Meal with it.

I'm waiting on Princess T to call me to pick her up from Work, lately, due to all the people Quitting, she never knows how long past her usually time to get off, that she'll still be working.   It might make it a rush for me to drop her off and get to my Shift on time actually if she doesn't get off until past 4:00 p.m., coz I have to get there by 5:00 p.m. in rush hour traffic.  It's not far, but it's pretty gridlocked at that time of the Afternoon as most people are commuting either from a Day Shift or to a Night Shift.   LATER:  Work was busy, but mostly Pokemon Shoppers all Night long, that's about 90% of the Sales now, Pokemon Cards and Pokemon related Merch, it's Crazy.   My Sales are fairly decent for Week 1 of the 2 Week Pay Period, considering I'm not a Pokemon Dealer.  *LOL*   I do have some Pokemon Merch, but I don't Specialize in it.

The Trainee that the Manager had said would be coming in for an Hour to Train for Key Dealer Position was a No-Show.  As it was, Judith felt she should Train her if she did come in and I didn't Care, go for it.  Judith likes to do stuff like that so if she was Volunteering then it was one less thing I had to do.  *LOL*   We had another New Night Shift Key Dealer, but she's worked Day Shift before so she wasn't a Newbie to the Work, just to the Shift.   Her Name was Debbie, Older Lady, very Nice, works well.   We also had Donna, whose fairly New too, another Older Lady, very Nice, works well too.   So the Four of us did just Fine and tho' busy it was an uneventful Shift and good coverage.   My Bad Foot did swell by the end of my Shift, I'd been on it too long and walking too much.  I don't know if my circulation is impaired, it could be the Neuropathy, or even some Kidney Issues, so I'll have to tell my Doc about it when I see her next Week.

My Mammogram came back Fine and last time they checked my Kidney function it was Fine too, so I'm thinking it's the Neuropathy, and it's only in the Left Foot, not the Right one.   Even Hot Weather can cause it, so there's a multitude of reasons why it could be swelling and hurting, but, just near my Toes on the Top of that Foot from the Little Toe and the next Two Toes to it... not the whole Foot... and not my Leg... and no other Swelling anywhere else.   Anyway, it was good to get Home and just elevate it.   I saw some Vendors I hadn't seen in a while, so they asked where I'd been and how I was doing.   I hadn't realized how infrequently I've been in there in 2025, so I have been MIA and it has been noticed.   Only a few Friends there know why.

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Hope your Friday the 13th was memorable in only the best of ways my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian