Restless, Incorrigible And Stir Crazy

 I Binge watched all of the "Leanne" Series and it was good for every Episode, great Comedic Writing, great Cast, you really fell in Love with the whole Family the Series had Created.  In so many ways it reminded me of "Roseanne" with the lead Actress being a fav Comedian that transitioned well into a Comedic Family Sitcom that was endearing and Iconic.  So, then I got hooked on another NetFlix Series I'm watching called "Building The Band" {2025} with Singer Hopefuls that pick each other to form a Band, sight unseen, based solely on Voice and whether they have any Chemistry after just talking to each other prior to ever seeing one another.  It's an Interesting concept and some of those Young People have some Chops!

It also has it's Drama made for TV, natch.  There were 50 Hopefuls and only Six Bands allowed to be formed.  Each Band had to have between Three to Five Members, and there were eliminations coz every Singer got 10 Votes for other Singers they thought they'd want to match up with and form a Band.  There's one Gal with a gorgeous Voice but is a ratchet cut Throat lil Bitch, so I knew right away she was gonna be Drama and a Headache, I doubt she's Band Match Material for anyone, but, she got chosen.  Anyway all Six Bands have been formed, only One is a Mixed Band, the other Five turned out as Boy Bands or Girl Bands, which was intentional on the part of most Singers who desired that Gender exclusivity.  

I already like the Mixed Band best, but, I don't know they will pull their personalities together enuf to make it Work?  They get along just fine, but seem to lack the confidence and unity of Purpose early on.  All Four of the Singers are so diverse, there's a Plus Sized Gal who wants to break the barrier on Looks, an Androgynous Guy that everyone assumed was a Gal and he's had that problem of Gender misidentification all his Life, a Boys 2 Men looking Guy, and a Rapper looking Guy... very different Mix, but some of the best Vocals.  The Ratchet Gal has a Girl Band Trio and she's so shallow I think the other Two now realize she joining up with them is a Mistake, tho', they do sound good together too and all are Hot and Lookers.

Another Girl Band is a Quartet of extremely Hot looking Gals, so with the good Vocals too, they are Visually and Talent Wise perfect to promote as a Band.   A Boy Band is a Quartet of Guys very diverse too, with Two Australians and Two Americans, good Voices, but a lot of Personality that will take a lot of Work to make cohesive into a Band I think, and, none of them can Dance and aren't receptive to learning to be well rounded Entertainers, very stiff, and sounding good and/or looking good is only part of Success.  The final Two Bands aren't memorable enuf that I can recall them already, so, that's not such a good Sign for them, is it?  {Spoiler Alert: One of those unmemorable Girl Band Trios actually Won and I was like WTF?  So Generic, didn't like most of their performances, with the exception of just One they did.  Ah well, so typical of these Competitions to chose Status Quo Garden Variety Generic to Market easily.}  One of the Guest Judges, Liam Payne, Died in October of 2024, he fell from a Hotel 3rd Floor Balcony while quite High on a Cocktail of Drugs in Brazil.

   I do think Ratchet Gal will try to sabotage other Bands and some of the Guys need to focus on their Music and not how Hot some of the Gal Band Members are, too much of a distraction.   The Winning Band makes some Big Money, but I do think Talent Scouts will be watching this to see who might make an excellent Solo Artist if their Band doesn't cut it?  Or, mebbe invite them to be part of an existing Band?   Some Contestants are very Young and some more Seasoned and Older, some already have Music Careers, some don't.   I'm enjoying the Series, which has 10 Episodes and I'm already halfway thru it.   The Six will be narrowed down to Three for the finals.   Some really good Singers never got picked for a Band coz they delayed cultivating Relationships and being strategic to be forming 'their' Band before Six got chosen, which automatically eliminated them.  Sidebar: My Salvage Victorian Red Door pictured above always makes me think of The Stones Song, but, I won't Paint it Black.  *LOL*

Okay, enuf about a TV Series you may or may not have seen or have any interest in either.  *LOL*  I've never been much into Boy Bands or Girl Bands, but, they are madly popular with the Young People so the Industry is always looking for the next Successfully formed one.  And I do like Music a LOT, so looking for someone new with Chops or Charisma is always a Joy to see fresh Talent in the Industry.   Teddy Swims is my fav 'New' Artist and he was in the Game many Years before getting his break, "Lose Control" is perhaps my fav newer Song.  And who knew a big Guy with Facial Tats could be so Sexy and have such Presence and Swagger on Stage?  *LOL*   Teddy will be in Concert in Phoenix Today, which in Real Time is August 3rd.  He and his Girlfriend just had a Baby Boy, they make a cute Couple.

Since finances will be tight during my Birthday Month, and it's so Hot, dammit, I'll probably be Home a lot and Fixating on needing to Blog about it so I don't get too restless and stir crazy.  *LOL*  We also don't know exactly when The Man's next Surgery will be Scheduled, I suspect, it will be soon, and we need to get all that behind us too so we can get on with Life and our usual Routines.  Right now everything is suspended for him, due to the badly remaining clogged Artery... and the need to have a full Recovery from Surgery No. One in order to have Surgery No. Two!   It's just a LOT.   I can tell that externally I seem stoic but internally not as Calm in my Spirit.   And that amps me up to where I'm very Manic or taking to the Bed, quite the Bipolar Mixed Episode Rollercoaster, due to present circumstances being a lot of pressure and added stress. 

I'm glad each of the Kiddos here at Home right now is in a Relationship that helps them move thru it all with their respective Partners as an Emotional Support System.  I know in part it's why The Young Prince doesn't want to drop back in to Arizona to be one more challenge for me to navigate right now.  He says he and Allen can share Space right now so don't worry about him, but I do worry about him coz I know that Marriage is kaput.  He at least has his Phone fixed now so we can talk anytime we need or want to and he's been on that new Medication for Schizophrenia that seems to be helping him be Present and Deal with interactions and engaging with other Humans.  *LOL*  Otherwise, he'd rather not.  *Smiles*  The last few Phone Calls he even initiated and stayed on the Phone longer than I could!  Just, WOW!  Usually with him it would be a 30 Second Call tops, not an Hour or more!!!

Of coarse I can't hang for an Hour on a Phone Call and he knows with my Adult ADHD I begin to Drift and have to hand the Phone over to another Family Member to wrap up the Call.  *LOL*   We all know each other's limitations really well by now, so don't personalize any of it.   I can Blog for Hours but that's coz there is no Human actual Connection until ya'll come to Visit and perhaps engage, then I don't have to be Present for that either and can respond when I'm up to it.  *LOL*   I Love The Land Of Blog for a variety of reasons, and how it Works for me personally to interact with other People successfully and expel my Stream of Consciousness about anything and everything is just a Daily Ritual now and a Joy.  A little bit of anyone can go a long way with me, and a little bit of me can go a long way with everyone too.  *Winks*  Hey, it's the Reality.  Blogs are small Doses of Just Enough to manage Socialization for me.

Caregiving can be very Isolating, but, even if I wasn't a Full Time Caregiver, quite Honestly, I don't really feel like I'd be a Socialite either.  Wait, can The Poor even be a Socialite, not sure?  *Bwahahaha*  I mean, most are associated with Wealth, Leisure, Prominence, their Presence in High Society and a Sophisticated Lifestyle... so... yeah, I couldn't be a Socialite... Nope... can't check off any of those fucking Boxes.  Nor would I WANT to, not my Tribe of Peeps.  *LMAOROTF*  Okay, so on a very Manic Day where I have Bipolar Delusions of Grandeur, perhaps I could pretend to Be one... as an Alter Ego Created just for Laughs and Wicked Fun, and to fuck with people to amuse myself!?   *Snort*  I know, the Adult Kids and Adult Grandkids claim I'm incorrigible like that, and, they could be Right???  *Winks*

I never picked up my paltry Check at The Antique Mall on Payday.  Which, I had Worked on Payday, but, I forgot it WAS even Payday, so ponced off after my Shift without asking for my Check.  We'd gotten The Man's Disability and Pension Checks on the First, so I didn't desperately Need the Crumbs that Check would have contributed to the Budget right now.   And our Social Security and my Pension Checks, if they're on time, come on or about the 16th of the Month.  Stock Dividends come Quarterly, and I think I'm due for one of those, which will be particularly Helpful this Month.  Luckily I'd already Bought my Birthday Pressy to Self last Month when I had some discretionary Income to Indulge myself for the turning of 68 Spins around the Sun.  It is a Magnolia Pearl Great Spirit Line Bag and showed up as big as Luggage, I thought it was Purse Size.  *LOL*

I'm absolutely Loving it, but the Family Tease me that it looks like I'm Moving or going on a Trip when I'm carrying something that large!  I could use it as a Gym Bag, I kid you not!  It's Mary Poppins Bag large and exceeded my expectations for it, coz Online, at Auction, I had assumed it to be much Smaller, so I got way more bang for my Bucks with it and the Seller had Negotiated her Price Down and contacted me to make ME an Offer I couldn't refuse.  So we did it more as an E-Bay Private Sale, which, I've done that quite often, you still go thru the Auction site, but Privately so you and the Seller can Negotiate your own Terms outside of Dealing with other potential Buyers.   The Family Joked that I'd probably "Claimed it in The Name Of Jesus" and so nobody else was getting it anyway and the Seller probably didn't even know Why she was offering it to me for so much less and Initiating that Negotiation with me before her Auction even ended on it?!  *Bwahahhaa*

Hey, I did that with a couple of Properties I liked when we were looking for one and then after "Claiming them in The Name Of Jesus", even tho' I was only a Backup Buyer originally... got offered them and then declined, coz I changed my Mind or had bought something else already!!!   The Young Prince said it was Evil of me to do that and make it so nobody else could really Buy it now coz my 'Claim' had Blocked their Sales going thru Spiritually... and then, have it so I didn't Buy it coz I'd decided on something else, he knows how I am.  *Bwahahahaha*  I said every Negotiation has a Window of Opportunity and Time Frame to Finalize it, so, not my fault.  If you Snooze, you fucking Lose... and so when I Want something, and a Seller cannot Perform on Time, then, I Move On... nothing Evil about that, even if I initially really Wanted it and 'Claimed' it.  Timing is everything for Successful Negotiations anyway.  *Winks*  And I Trust that any Door that Shuts, wasn't meant to be Stepped thru as your Destiny anyway.

I am a self-professed Fatalist, as was my Dad... Pre-Determination plays a big role in Life I truly think.   Yes, we're the Sum of our Choices, to some degree, but I do have a sense of Resignation and Acceptance of whatever happens.  I can have a Peace about it, so it doesn't make me Feel Powerless, but I do think it explains, to me at least, why sometimes bad things happen to even good people, thru no Fault of their own.  Fair is Rare in Life.  And some good things happen to bad people, that they never earned on their merit whatsoever, for whatever reasons, Grace was extended that they didn't really show they were deserving of or even appreciative of.  That's one of Life's particular Mysteries that as a deeply Spiritual Person, I can't otherwise make any Sense of whatsoever.  The Divine will have to explain it to me, for me to have any Understanding with my Mortal limited comprehension. 

 Coz, if I had a Universe, I wouldn't Run it like that... but I don't have a Universe, and whatever Divinity is Running it, can Run it as The Divine sees fit.  Coz, until I have a Universe, who am I to Question any of it?  And, let us be Real, if I had a Universe, pretty sure I'd fuck it up way more than any Divine Being could or would!!!  So, I don't think I'd want that weighty Responsibility.  *Bwahahahaha*  I'm not so Arrogant as to think I am Wiser than The Divine, I have often fucked up my tiny Life and Sphere of Influence from time to time with quite the flourish!!!  And I have yet to meet the Human Being whose Lived Perfectly, tho' some of the most Arrogant assume they have.  Very annoying, those Humans.  *Winks*   Yeah, we can't be Friends if you're under the delusion you are Perfection, I find that to be out of Touch with Reality.  And that detachment from Reality and/or the inability to handle The Truth, as we can see clearly since 2016 especially, is Off the Chain in Society these days!   Lord have Mercy... I just can't with folks like that!!!

My Brother was covering some more Events and Shared a lot of the Photography he took for the Participants.   I Loved the Two taken of this Horse so I'm Sharing them as Blog Fodder too.   You can tell that this one was really feelin' being in front of the Lens.  Hey, when you know you look that good, and being the Center of Attention, and it's your Moment, why wouldn't ya?  *Smiles*   My Brother is a Retired Professional Hollywood Photographer and used to Photograph a lot of Famous People and Models, but he's always had a soft spot for Photographing Animals and they seem to know it and sense it, so cooperate for him in front of the Lens.  He's gonna take the best Pixs of them they've ever had done.  *Winks*  He said the best thing about Animal Photography is they're a Natural and their Essence always shines thru becoz of that.   And like People, some like to be in front of the Lens and some do not, depending upon their Personality.

This was a Beautiful Animal and seems Chill around People and of being Photographed up close and personal.  Of coarse my Brother had Dozens of Photos of the Human Participants, it was the Heritage Museum, Boots, Bustles and Brew held on July 19th in Cali.  Phoenix dropped the Ball on Heritage Tourism and didn't Preserve enough of it's History or it's Natural Beauty, which was a rich one that could have had incredible long term Value to make it worth Preservation efforts.  But, short term Developer Greed prevailed and so now here we are.   Some States do better than others at Valuing their History and their Natural Areas and Wonders.  I've done my part to Preserve and Rescue what I can, for as much as I can and as long as I can.  I Hope that Legacy is evident enuf that Future Generations will then pick up the Baton and run the good race to continue, since, it is their Future to Protect and Preserve?

Well, I finished watching "Building The Band" and didn't agree with who they chose as the Winner, in fact, I'd of placed them 3rd, and my fav came in 2nd.  I think they chose a Girl Band Trio that is so similar to every other Girl Band Trio I've ever seen that it wasn't unique, not in sound or performance, good, but not great.  The Mixed Quartet of 2 Gals and 2 Guys that was my fav were so unique and made the audience and the Judges Emotional and shed Tears during several Songs.  I just never felt any Emotion evoked with the Winners, just another Pop Band that was pretty Generic IMO.  So, disappointing ending.   SZN4 had a strong connection with it's Audience and more consistently delivered in their performances, which were all Powerful, great Voices, great Chemistry from The Jump.  

I guess a lot of Viewers felt the same as me too and were disappointed in the Finale' Choice, by what I read Online after the Series was a Wrap.  Most Viewers felt the Mixed Band got robbed, I agree.  The Judges said the other Band had more 'growth', but the Band most Popular didn't need to grow, they started out strong and like Pros!  I think if the Audience had Chosen the Winner instead of the Three Judges, it would have had a different outcome.  I think anything 'different' from the Status Quo scares Marketing becoz they know what's Sold before and keep churning it out ad nauseum now just to make Money off the familiar and expected they feel they already have a ready made Audience for.  So, Yawn at the End... I almost knew they'd end up choosing who they chose, predictable and therefore boring.   I wouldn't watch another Season if they had one now.

Okay, so, other than the terribly disappointing ending of the last Episode, I had enjoyed most of the performances.   Not all of them tho'.  And the Band that Won had some duds, and some really good performances, but the consistency was never there.   I do Hope some of those Bands do stay together in spite of not Winning, coz some of them were superior to who Won in every way.  I only know who I'd buy the Music of, want to Listen to often, or go to a Concert of, but, Music, like any Art Form, is highly Subjective, isn't it?   Even Genre has a lot to do with what Sells and some of what Sells isn't my Taste.  Like I don't even see the Appeal of Taylor Swift at all.   Can't think of a single thing she's sung that is memorable to me or showcases that she has great chops like some of the Singers who really have Iconic and powerful Voices. 

  But, she's Branded herself brilliantly and that's a Skill too, which is Why she got so Rich and so Famous.  I think in part it's coz Young Girls can look at her and think, I could do that.  If they look at someone with chops, they know they couldn't, so it's not as relatable.   I've heard people I personally know who can Sing as good as, or better than, Taylor Swift.  But, I've never personally known someone whose got the chops of say, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand or Mariah Carey.  They got the iconic chops!!!   Same with a lot of Male Singers whose Voice is just Jaw dropping.  But, I gotta admit, I've liked Artists too who didn't have the greatest Voice, but were still easy to listen to, put out great Music, or put on a good performance.   Someone like Joe Cocker or Rod Stewart comes to Mind off the top of my Head. 

Okay, enuf of that disappointing ending of a Series Competition... Moving On.  *LOL*   Above is one of Princess T's Older Sisters in Mexico.  The only Older Sibling in Mexico that I have any Contact with at all, the rest really don't even have any Contact at all with their Paternal Side of the Family, so, I never even got to know their Names, Ages and such, just that he Fathered a lot of Children and had way too many Baby Mamas.  This isn't his Oldest Child, he also has some Twins and a couple of Kids the same Age but by different Women, so, yeah, Playa-Playa.  I don't have Contact with him anymore myself, tho' I did initially, his Choice in Life aren't Okay and so I want no Contact, he's not improved any and has caused a lot of Issues for Family, including his Children.  

Anyway, it's always good to get some Pixs of this Granddaughter and her Family, that's her Husband in the previous Pix with her, when they were considerably Younger, and now they have Two Beautiful Children, a Boy and a Younger Girl.  The little Girl looks SO much like Princess T did at the same Age {see Above Pix}... and this Sister and Princess T are the Siblings with the more Exotic Darker Eyes and Hair.  And she takes good Selfies and is very Photogenic, and still looks really good into her 30's and after having had a couple of Kiddos, she can still Rock a Bikini like the Girl from Ipanema.  *Smiles*   A couple of Princess T's Sisters Model in Mexico, this one does and the one a Year Younger than Princess T also does to help put herself thru College, along with Winning Academic Scholarships and Working Full Time too.   This Sister recently sent me a bunch of new Pixs I didn't yet have, so, I'm oversharing like Proud Grammas just do of Grandkids and Great-Grandkids.  *Winks*

I'm grateful for the Blog Fodder since I don't wanna just wander around the House photographing stuff.   Better to have good Family Photos to Share, more Meaningful.   She's such a Cutie Pie and from what The Daughter says, a really Sweet Girl.   The Daughter and her bonded during the Years that The Daughter was with her Ex there in Mexico, this Daughter of her Ex is only Nine Years Younger than she is, since her Ex is much Older, he just doesn't look it.  I know when I first met him my Mom and I thought The Daughter was robbing the Cradle!!!  *LOL*  Not that he was so much Older than The Daughter was and had Kids almost her Age!!!   We didn't even initially Believe how Old he really was, but, he really was.   I would like to meet this Granddaughter too one day, if visits to America and visits to Mexico become easier after we rid ourselves of this dreadful Administration.

Her Son doesn't like having his Pix taken so there were none of him this time, he's Grade School Age and looks a lot like his Dad, so he's a Handsome little Guy.   This Granddaughter also helped Saint Maria with the Three Younger Sisters, of The Daughter's Kids, when she could, so we appreciated that.   She did want to have them come live with her, but she doesn't live in their Region so the Girls didn't want to relocate that far where they didn't know anyone else and would have to change Schools and be apart from their Grandma when she was still living.   They took Care of their Grandma in her latter Years and were Devoted to her, as she had been to them.   The Middle one did go spend some Summer Vacations with this Big Sister, but would get Homesick and want to come Home.  I'm kinda sure they'd of felt the same way moving here to America, had we been able to arrange it and not have the Immigration Trouble.  So, perhaps it was for the best they had to remain where they know and feel is "Home" to them.

I don't know how often this Sister gets to go to their Region to visit?  Becoz she spent a lot of her Growing Up Years in Spain, going to University there, not in Mexico.   The Ex-SIL is of European Ancestry actually, his Dad was Spanish, his Ancestors from Spain and still has Relatives there, and his Mom {Saint Maria} was French Ancestry, but her Parents, over 100 Years ago, Immigrated to Mexico and were in the Government, still are in fact, so they are actually Europeans of Latino Origin.   They've just spent Generations now in Mexico and most have been Born there and most have Married people of Mexican Ancestry now.   With The Young Prince, the Paternal side has Puerto Rican Ancestry, so they're originally Island Nation Latinos.  So our extended Family has a lot of Ethnic Flavor going on.  *LOL and Winks*   I personally think Variety is the very Spice of Life and we're Enriched by it.

It would be so nice if Society just evolved to where we can Celebrate our differences instead of being divisive about them.  But, we're clearly not that Evolved as a Species yet and probably won't be in my Lifetime.   I always held out Hope we'd progress, evolve in Positive ways and not devolve in Negative ones... some people have tho'.    LATER: Since it was a Monday in Real Time and I can Sleep In that day since Princess T doesn't Work, I completely forgot that The Man had an early VA Doc Appointment with Dr. Kline!!!   The VA Clinic is all the way in Sun City so luckily it was The Man who remembered and rolled me out, who knew?!  *LOL*  Getting this Show on the Road takes time tho' and he was predictably forgetting everything else he'd need for this Appointment, including his New Med List we needed to get Approved, which was the reason for the whole Visit!  So, that made us late enuf we barely skidded in on time.  *Whew* 

Dr. Kline is an adorable Old Yiddish Doctor tho' and we just Love him, he's so funny and has a great rapport with his Veteran Clients and a Wicked sense of Humor.   It had been Two Years since The Man had been in to see him and he knows how stubborn my Old Man is and I said, Hi Dr. Kline it's been a Minute.  He responded by looking down at his Chart and saying, well, it's been a Couple Minutes now, hasn't it?  *LMAO*  But he then said, "Well I can't make an Old Marine do anything.", to which I responded, "Me neither...", and then we both laughed heartily, he doesn't judge, doesn't Preach, but he genuinely Cares about his Veterans very much and was a Combat Veteran Doctor himself on the Front Lines, last Tour, in Afghanistan, and he's not a Young Man, so I'm guessing he did it as a Volunteer to go over there Post-Retirement as a Civilian?  He also Served in Vietnam, so, like The Man, is in his 70's now too. 

He instantly approved The Man's new Meds and they'll be delivered to our Door, he renewed existing Meds for the Diabetes and said he may consider putting The Man on a Statin too, especially if his A1C isn't good again, so we also had Labs done for that reading.  And he wished him Well on the 2nd Heart Surgery.  I wanted to take The Man to one of our fav Thai Restaurants nearby "Tom Yum" and was shocked that they're Locked Out by their Landlord, so it's Closed!!!  I'm crestfallen, yet another fav Haunt now Closed due to the shitty Economy, Tariffs and Raised Rents, most probably.  They were always busy so I'm guessing Rents went up to where they couldn't afford them, judging by the Notice the Landlord Posted on the Door and the Lock-Out.  That happened to a "Subway" Sandwich Shop nearby too and they were always busy as well.  So, anyway, I took him to "Olive Garden" nearby instead and had the endless Soup, Salad & Breadsticks.  Tho' we both behaved on the Breadsticks, so hard.  *LOL and Le Sigh*

We went to "Trader Joe's" and the "Sprouts" nearby the Doc's Office too and got what we needed.   And we took a gander in the Sun City "Goodwill" as well, since I wanted to see their abundant Halloween Merch at that location.  Didn't get any Halloween, but got another large Glass Canister with a Bamboo Wooden Lid, a Wedgwood Ashtray sized Plate with the last Dead Pope on it, and Two Health Food Cookbooks.  My Mom Collected Wedgwood all her Adult Life so I always think of her when I see any at a Chazza and usually have a few small pieces I put on my Dia de los Muertos Altar in Honor of Mom, so this will be on this Year's Altar.  It was only Two Dollars, Online they're about Twenty Bucks.  When we got Home Mando had done the whole Yard again, Bless him.   I'm making Chili now in the Crockpot... coz it was 110 before 10:00 a.m. Today and will be Record Breaking Heat all Week, so once again I don't feel like heating up the Kitchen Cooking.  In Summer, the Crockpot is our Friend.

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Happy Summer Vibes from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian