Emotionally Raw... A Good & A Bad Day Combo

UPDATE IN REAL TIME:  I had to take The Man to the ER, he had severe Chest Pain and they may have to bump up his 2nd Heart Surgery to install that other Stint?  They put him in a Room for Observation 'til they get hold of his Cardiologist, Dr. Singh, but, we were in the ER for over Four Hours.  This is the 4th time in 2 Weeks I've in in an Urgent Care or ER with a Family Member in Medical Crisis, I'm physically and mentally exhausted from it.  Just got a Call at 8:00 p.m. that they're doing his 2nd Surgery in the Morning and not delaying... will keep Real Time Updates in the Unpublished next day Scheduled Posts now about how it goes. 

When I Wrote this Post it wasn't in Real Time of this Date, only the above paragraph was written on the 11th, the rest, about a Week plus ago.  Above is my Lily Munster Shirt, they had One XXL.  *Whew*  I just deleted a whole Post, it was mostly about Work, and banal in content.  I'll try now to do better.  *Smiles*  The fill-in Shift for Thursday was Okay, my Co-Workers were Okay.  They're Two Women I like and can get along with, so long as they don't talk Politics and their Whack Conspiracy Theories, need I say more?  *LOL and Winks*   I can amicably agree to disagree and not ever intend to change Hearts and Minds of the Devout that lean in towards being quite MAGA still.  But, I also don't wanna hear it or discuss those Topics with them at all either and endure willful ignorance.  *Eye Roll*  Don't talk Crazy shit to me and presume I'll just Smile & Nod so as not to upset you.  *Bwahahaha* 

 With Princess T having a bad case of that lingering Flu Virus, which is now requiring a Specialist Visit, a slew of even more Tests, and Two Urgent Care visits, that both Co-Workers knew of, of coarse the topic of Health came up.  Their Anti-Vax stance and Love for JFK, Jr., the Roided Out Conspiracy Theorist unfit for his position to lead National Health, came up too.  Oh, Brother... here we go thought I!!!  Listen, I'm dealing with it in Real Time, this whole fiasco with Vaccines, becoz a Whacko Roid User, whose neither a Doctor or a Scientist, peddling Snake Oil Remedies, is presuming to tell America how to handle Medical Issues, and he just sounds Mental and people are Dying becoz of him.   Above was my Breakfast Green Chile Cornbread Benedict with Chorizo.

 But I digress, if someone wants to obtain all their Medical Advice from Untrained Quacks rather than Trained Professionals, and Believe outrageous disproven Conspiracies, that's their prerogative to, but I don't.  No need for further discussion.  So, except for sidestepping their Anti-Vaxxer Mentality they were about to expound upon, and thinking the Mental Kennedy Brother is qualified, the Shift went well enuf.  *Bwahahaa*  The One Gal has a very Young Daughter and all I can say is I Pray that Child avoids contracting some of these once eradicated Diseases like Measles, that is now Killing Unvaxxed American Kids!?   And the other Woman is a very Elderly Retired Military Surgical Nurse, in her 80's now, so it didn't Square with me how she can be espousing some of this Mental shit, coz she knows better? 

 But, she is quite Geriatric now and I've heard some of the quite Elderly really Buy Into some outrageous shit in their Old Age, so... perhaps that's what happened to her, I dunno?   They don't call the very Elderly "Vulnerable Adults" for nothing and have Legal protections for them to not being taken advantage of.  Co-Workers call her The General, as a Nickname, coz, she's very bossy and abrupt, she can be abrasive and a little bit of her can go a very long way sometimes.   Some Customers don't want her to wait on them coz they find her Rude and Offensive, and, she can be.  She's THAT kind of Old... to where she can be unlovely and seem completely unaware of it.  But, I've always gotten along with her Okay and she has always genuinely Cared about my Family, especially The G-Kid Force.

So, that's a better version of what I wanted to Blog about Work.  I got thru the Shift and it did remind me of why I'd prefer not to Work on a Thursday Night Shift.  Note to Self: Remember that!  *Smiles*  I can get along with you and even LIKE you as a Human Being and have some contact with you that is limited, but not want to Work with you, for a variety of reasons.  *LOL and Winks*  Spending a few Minutes Socializing is way different than working several Hours with someone.  And, I can NOT LIKE you but still be Okay Working with you if you exhibit qualities I can respect on a Professional level.  But if you're Unprofessional or Lazy, even if I really Like you as a Person, I don't wanna Work with you coz I can't Respect that lack of a Work Ethic and inconsideration for fellow Employees and Customers that you display.

Anyway, I went to the Halloween Event and The Man opted not to come coz he's been having trouble being agitated even before Sundown lately.  He is somewhat Aware of it, so he didn't wanna spoil my experience, knowing I look forward to the Halloween Themed Events.  I did really enjoy it, tho' it was Day No. Two it was Mad Busy from the time they Opened at 10:00 a.m. and hardly any Parking already when I arrived at Two Minutes after Ten!!!  I did some serious Retail Therapy and went over Budget, but, that's Rare for me not to have more discipline and stay within whatever Budget I'd set for myself.  I'll Sell some more things to Fund what I Bought, so, it's all Good.  *Winks*  I got to visit with some Industry Friends while there too, which is always enjoyable.

I took loads of Blog Fodder Imagery as well, and the Event exceeded my expectations, it really was a Killer Show for Halloween and the kickoff of Autumn.   Even the Antique Mall in front of the Warehouse Event had a lot of Halloween and some Killer Sales going on!   I got a full size 1960's Mannequin Female at a ridiculously low price and she's wearing a Sexy Black Lace Negligee.  I got a Lily Munster T-Shirt.  Two Seashells with Creepy Art Sculpture embellishment on them and a matching Bottle with the Art Sculpture embellishment too.  I was upset that the Cashier slightly damaged the Art of the Bottle when she wrapped it, so I will now have to make a repair.  The Sculpting was more fragile than I realized or I wouldn't have had her Wrap it like she did, it's a Chalky material that if banged, goes to powder!  And I got another Outfit that's hard to describe so I just took Pixs of it to show you all.   

So, Above is the Slip Dress Top I got, which I'll wear like a long Top with a plain Black or White Tank Top and Leggings underneath.   It's made from Vintage Linens and Vintage Lace, it has Pockets.  This is my Friend's new Booth at the Event, she's Partnered with another Friend since their Aesthetic is so similar.  And, I am a regular Customer of both since their Aesthetic is my Aesthetic too.  Some of the new Creations she has that are doing well is melding Vintage T-Shirts with Long Sleeve Plaid Shirts, also pictured Below further down.  I'll let you know when anything I bought is Photographed.  I hadn't intended to buy as much as I did, but, damn, there was more there at good prices and that I really wanted, than I was prepared for!!!  That doesn't happen too much anymore.  Usually I got for the Inspiration and Atmosphere, but see very little that I gotta have or want!!!

I would have liked to have spent more than a couple Hours there, but, it's a long commute and I wanted to get back in time to take a quick Nap before picking up Princess T.  I've been Emotionally Raw lately, even when there is a Good Day like this Day had been.   And I was able to indulge in some decent Pathological Picture Taking, Socializing, Retail Therapy, soaking in Inspiration and getting into my Autumnal Vibe in a big way... which, is all Good and I really, really Needed.  When you're struggling Emotionally there has to be some balance to get Centered.  I do feel like it moved the Needle back to Center for me and tempered some of the Anxiety I feel all the time now about the direction our Country is going careening down Ten Miles of Bad Road without Brakes, anyone Sane at the Wheel, or Guardrails.

My Industry Friend whose making these Shirts says she wants to visit our Showroom to Buy Vintage T-Shirts, she knows she'd have a standing Discount buying from me.   She doesn't have a saturation point and as long as we can all make Money I will gladly be the Middleman.  She'll also buy any Fabric Remnants of my Antique & Vintage Fabrics and Trims that I'm Letting Go of, so, I'm considering that too.  She knows I did a lot of Fabric Art myself, but haven't done so in a long time due to the Arthritis and just Life getting very complicated and all consuming.  I want to get back to doing it, but know I'd never be doing it at the volume she's able to, nor would I want to or strive to.  I do my Art to Feed my Soul and not to Sell it, so, I'm not Interested in making my Art into a Business.  I know what that requires and I'm not making that level of Sacrifice or putting myself under that amount of pressure to perform.

For Younger Business People making a Living of it, they are Ambitious and Motivated enuf to make the Sacrifices necessary.  Will stand up under the pressure of performing in order to profit off it and develop a Brand and a large Client Base that will increase Demand and require an increase in Supply.  That takes a lot out of you and comes at a Cost to attain that level of Success, to whom much is given, much is always required.  I'm at a Season of Life now that I'm not willing to pay that Cost, coz I know how much it Costs and what must be Sacrificed.   I have a lot of Ideas that could be quite profitable, but I'm not as Invested anymore to Produce and Profit off of that Production.  My Priorities have shifted in Old Age and what I spend my Time and Energy doing now is tailored for that Space I now occupy in my Life.

It was exciting to talk to Younger Industry Friends with a Vision and new Partnerships that should make them some Money during these turbulent and uncertain Times tho'.  The Younger Generations have to work their Hustle and have a strategy to stay afloat and solvent, so they won't go under.  It's not like our Government will have any of their Backs and I think most are Aware of that and Mindful that they gotta Go for themselves.   I'm helping my Friends and Loved Ones with some of the strategies that might be lucrative and help them along, but, they gotta do the Work.   And a lot of them are willing and able to do the Work and just want some Mentoring and fleshing out their Vision, which, us Older Folks can be solicited to assist with, to help them Succeed.

Below is the Altered Art Antique Doll Head Bottle I bought from my Friend too, mine is the larger one on the Left.   I Love Altered Art and have a lot of it.  I've made some, I've bought some, I have plenty of Supplies to make more or Sell for other people to make more.   I did buy one piece of her Jewelry too, it's the Antique Spectacles pictured a few Photos Below made into a Necklace.  She gave me a First Cousin price on it since I'd bought the Altered Art Bottle and the Slip Dress from her without asking for any Discount.  I give Discounts to my Industry Friends becoz they do buy a lot from us, and many of them give me a Deal too becoz I'm a good Customer and don't expect preferential treatment, it's up to them if they want to hook me up.

I really Loved the Necklace Below, but didn't Buy that one, the Spectacles was just more unique and better priced.   But her Jewelry I do have a Collection of and her Prices are always Fair, her Creations Unique and my Aesthetic.  I prefer OOAK Jewelry and Accessories, I rarely buy mass produced pieces and only a few mass produced Lines and Designers even interest me, like Betsey Johnson and Magnolia Pearl.  The latter used to Create OOAK pieces in their Vintage Line of the early days, when the Creator made it herself and had a small American Staff.  I have a lot of that, fewer pieces of their mass produced Lines once they Branded themselves and started Production in India.  India does a lot of Beautiful Hand Work, but I don't know it's not made by an exploited Labor Force notorious for Human Rights violations.  So, I try not to Support that kind of Production by Buying what is mass produced, especially abroad.  Though America and Major Manufacturers rely on that almost exclusively now.

Directly Below is my Necklace, the Spectacles are Antique and have beautiful Blue Lens and a Swallow like Bird between the Lens.  

I'm a Sucker for unusual Jewelry and Accessories, I suspect I got that from my Mother, she was similarly afflicted.  We're like Human Magpies.  *Smiles*

Above and Below are my Shells with Altered Art Eyes or Teeth.  The Clamshell with the Teeth in the Center is now mine, so is the Shell Above with the Reptile Eye.

I only bought the Two Shell Creations and the Bottle Creation from this Vendor, but, I liked their Work and their Vignette.  I have a Shell Collection I Display all over the place and these Creepy little Treasures will go nicely with it to add Interest and Whimsey.  Which I always strive for when Styling anything, I like for Decor and Wardrobe to be Unexpected, Interesting and make you Feel something, whatever that Feeling is, is Okay.  And if it can also make you Smile, that's a Bonus.

Above is my Eyeball Bottle, which, got damaged on the Bottom Lid by the Cashier that wrapped it to 'protect' it.  I was crestfallen when I got Home and realized she'd damaged it, and hope I can fix it?   I know it wasn't intentional, and perhaps the Creation is too Fragile on the Sculpted part, making transport tricky no matter how carefully Wrapped it would have been?

Above are some Halloween Decor made from Old Wooden Kitchen Tools, I got One of the Black Widow Spider Wooden Spatulas and a Beetle on a Wooden Spoon.  The Antique Mall offers a Military Discount on all your Purchases that aren't already on Sale.  I'm thinking about what Product I'm going to use to repair it so it won't seem noticeably repaired?  Since it's a Halloween Prop it can look a bit rough tho' and look like it has some Patina of Age.    I wish it hadn't of been damaged tho' and it was a OOAK Creation.  I'm taking great Care with my Shells that have been Created by the same Artist now I know the Sculpture part is so fragile like a Chalk.  Since it's painted it hard to tell what the composite was, but it's like a very delicate Chalkware... and it goes to Powder again if it gets bumped or damaged.

I liked what this Artisan did with a Vintage Jack O'Lantern Candy Pail and some Bottlebrush Trees and Paper Mache Trim.   It was expensive so I didn't buy it, but I have all the Supplies to make one of my own except for that type of Trim, which, could be replaced with other Vintage Trim, tho' I like that Paper Mache and will look to see if it's available in Craft Stores?   I have a bunch of those Vintage Pails in various Colors and Faces, never thought to make little dioramas on top of them for Display purposes, I usually just stack ours or put them in the Hands of our Lifesize Skeletons we Display Outside.  Most of which are so Weather worn now that we'll have to replace them after this Season, they're brittle and falling apart after a few Years of use.

I'm going to be working on Sunday Night to Fill-In for someone, I know Sundays are busy so it's usually Weekend Shifts that get bailed on by those who have them as a permanent Shift.  Everyone wants Comped Space Rent, hardly anyone really wants to have to put in a lot of Work for it.  Part of that is the paltry amount Comped per Hour, which is equivalent to just over Ten Bucks, well under Minimum Wage and so not worth a lot of effort put forth.   If they bumped it up to at least a Minimum Wage equivalent I think perhaps they'd entice more quality Vendors to work it?   Most who even Volunteer to take on a Shift or fill in for one are Retirees wanting to enjoy their Retirement and not have to Work.  The rest have Full Time Real Jobs so this is like having to pull Overtime for them, understandable they're burnt out working too much and too long at Two Jobs, one that doesn't even offer Pay, just Comped Rent.

Anyway, you never know anymore who you'll be Working with when you're a Fill-In, and the Regular Shift People who do show up say they never know anymore who they'll even be Working with since most of their Co-Workers now are not showing up so often.   And that usually means no consistency to how your Shift is gonna go, depending on who shows up or fills in?   And not everyone lives as close as I do to the Antique Mall, if I had to commute to get there and it was far, I wouldn't even bother coz you'd spend more for Gas than you're being Comped and not benefit you financially at all.   Rents keep increasing and at some paradigm shift that will cause loss of Vendors/Tenants too.  It's already pretty expensive per Square Foot compared to most Commercial Space.  So far we still have a Waiting List and few, if any, vacant Space, but we have very high Turnover.   When Rents were more affordable, coupled with a Stronger Economy and Stronger Sales, we had very little Turnover.

I think those days are History tho' and never making a Comeback, so, I don't know how the Industry will fare due to that?   A fair number of Vendors have turned to Online Sales, but even those aren't like they used to be in the early days of sites like E-Bay and Etsy.  Not for Buyers and especially not for Sellers.   And I don't even know how Tariffs are affecting International Auction sites now, I know I look and won't consider Buying anything from outside of the Country now and I suspect a lot of Buyers aren't risking it either?   When I went into Big Box Stores to check out their Holiday Merch it's lean, sometimes only One or Two of everything and lots of bare Shelf Space now that Tariffs are devastating Imports and Exports.   

TARGET and MICHAELS Shelves in the Halloween section were so sparse and I don't know they can or will fill it up?  It was so bad at MICHAELS I wondered if they were going out of business too like JOANN'S did?   We'll see... but that's how empty the whole Store looked and devoid of Customers too!!!  And they had to put on a big Sale early.  So I did get a 24" Ashland Little Shop Of Horrors Style Audrey Wreath with Venus Flytrap for Halloween 50% Off and then the Cashier gave me my 10% Military Discount on it too!   So, I'm wondering if the Store isn't Eating a 50% Tariff becoz Customers wouldn't pay the inflated Post-Tariff Price otherwise and Sales would flatline and Customers would stay away and the Stores would go into a Freefall and require more Layoffs and Closing of Locations?  Which, is already happening.  Really only the AI Bubble is keeping the Markets Strong right now and when that slows down or collapses it will Tank the Market and S&P500 coz not much else is thriving and holding the Market up right now IMO, Economic disruption is inevitable and AI Pros and Cons is still a huge scary Question Mark.

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Hold on tight, America bought the Ticket so we're on for the whole hairy scary Ride... Dawn... The Bohemian