Bohemian Valhalla: It's an Aberration... These Times We're In

I'm having some reruns of previous "Halloween Wars" in the background of me Blogging, since, The News is just so much more accusatory of Hateful divisive rhetoric, which continues to incite Violence and discord. Everything coming out of this White House is aimed at vilifying only "The Radical Left" and that "The Radical Right" does nothing to contribute to the moral decline we all see happening. And no accountability of this Administration to Own their part in all of it, which they're in Neck fucking deep with accusatory inflammatory rhetoric against more than half of America! They don't even pretend to represent us! And what Angers me most is that most of us in America are in the Middle, we're neither Radical Right or Radical Left, we're not Extreme Right or Extreme Left. We're not Hateful, Cult Devoted or Violence prone. Most of us aren't even Partisan and don't Label ourselves with Political preference at all. Since the Assassinated Guy was from Arizona, they're pushing to change a Freeway Name to his Name... they are choosing to Martyr him above so many other Shooting Victims, it makes no sense, but, he was MAGA and a Fan of this President, so... guess we'll end up with another ridiculous Name Change to pacify a 'Side'. It's happened a lot in Arizona, depending on whose Flavor of the Month to decide to elevate?

We personally want Moderation, we're Moderate and Balanced in our Politics, most of America is actually Registered as Independent now and yet we're completely ignored as if we're fucking Invisible and don't have a Voice becoz it's not some Crazy Attention getting vitriol the Extremists constantly spew. We want it ALL to cease and desist, to Stop the Madness and the unraveling of our Nation, the leaning to either side of Extremist Ideology and Hateful rhetoric by any of our Leaders. Stop pitting Americans against other Americans, it's dangerous and not right. A President and his Cabinet are SUPPOSED to represent ALL of America and regardless of your Political stance, they SHOULD be representing you properly once they Win an Election. We are their Citizenry, ALL OF US, not just those who Elected them, not just those who happen to Share their Ideology and Point of View, not just those who look like them, ascribe to whatever Religion they are, or are of a specific Gender or Sexual Orientation. America is diverse, we're not a Monolith, we're not a Homogenous Society like some Countries are.

In China, almost all Citizens are Chinese ethnically, so Culturally perhaps they are more alike as well. It's like that in numerous other Countries around the Globe. In America, Americans come in all ethnicities and Culturally we're quite a diverse blend as well. That's what I Celebrate about America, opposed to Countries I've visited or lived in that are less diverse. It's worth Preserving, and I see no Threat to diversity and inclusion of everyone who is living in America alongside me. I don't strive to exclude or Hate my Neighbors, or want less for them than I'd want for myself and mine. As a Christian my Faith Commands me to Love my Neighbor as myself, and a Command isn't a mere Suggestion. I'm Commanded by my God to Love, not to Hate, my fellow Human Beings and display the Fruits of the Spirit in order to be a Worthy Witness of what I Believe, so it's Evident, and Walk out my Faith to the very best of my Abilities to.

These folks who profess to be Christians, or Religious of whatever Faith they happen to be, and are Hate filled and Cruel to other Human Beings, don't look like they have God in them at all, it's simply not Evident that they are allegedly Godly. They sure aren't acting or talking like they have much Love within them, just toxicity and extreme biases they project outwards upon other Human Beings, it's abhorrent. And I think us Moderates of no Partisan Devotion are fed up to Death with all this Political Theater, Division and Extremism that has gripped America and spun way out of Control. I don't want to have bad things happen to you just becoz of your Religion, your Ethnicity, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Country of Origin, or your Politics... but I also would sincerely Hope you wouldn't want something bad to happen to me or anyone else becoz of those things either. I do think some people are Evil, I don't want those People in any Position of Power and Influence, it's Toxic and Dangerous... and Monstrous.

I have found it Interesting and rather Ironic that some people I know who don't Celebrate something as benign as Halloween becoz they consider it Pagan, Dangerous or Demonic, will say or even do Hateful things that make them appear far more ominous and Monstrous than any Decoration or Costume they might wear!!! Wearing their countenance is scary enuf when they're Hate filled, hold extreme Prejudice and Bias, Dangerous Ideology, or have no Tolerance for other Human Beings and don't Care if bad things happen to them. You can Call Out what another Human Being is doing or saying that is Wrong without wishing Harm upon them. That fellow that was recently Assassinated I had never heard of and only just now have heard some of what is being Shared that he said, Believed in, and was all about.

Don't agree with any of it, strongly disagree with all of it that I've heard so far, pretty Toxic stuff in fact. He was willing to Debate it with opposing Viewpoints tho'. Not that I think either side ever changed each other's Hearts or Minds, but, Civil discourse in Debating differences can be done without Violence and Killing your Opponents. But, I also think it's deplorable than anyone is Celebrating his horrible Assassination, in front of his Wife and Small Children no less, a Young Man with his whole Life ahead of him, taken prematurely, regardless of what he happened to Believe, say or ascribe to that I don't approve of nor agree with. That was a horrific Act. And Assassinations are escalating, I find that deeply disturbing. That's what happens regularly in Countries out of Control and with Unstable Governments and Bad Leadership. It's not what should be happening regularly in America. I barely recognize my Country anymore by what's happening here regularly now. What's being tolerated and accepted as "our New Normal", WTF?!

Blog Friends are returning from Vacays taken Abroad and say the Locals are giving them their condolences of having to return to the America we're now living in!!! Isn't that a sad commentary of how we're now Viewed on the World Stage and the terrible Reputation our Leadership and Country now have? I have Friends and Relatives in other Countries too and they also send their condolences regularly, it's embarrassing, and I know they mean it in only the best of ways becoz of genuine Concerns for the Future of America and it's Citizens. We've never been a perfect Nation by any means, but during my Lifetime I did think some Positive Progress had been made, for a time. Now all of that is being quickly eroded and taken away, in mere Months, after literally Years of having fought for Rights and Freedoms, Equality and Inclusion of all People of our Nation. The Good Ole' Days weren't Good for everyone, I don't wanna go back to those Injustices and Bad History that existed then. Why would we wanna digress to Draconian times and not move Forward in Positive ways instead?

Enough of that, Moving On... it's not that late but I feel really tired, like it's later than it is. Watched Liam Neeson in a good Sequel "Ice Road Vengeance" {2025}. I'd watched "The Ice Road" {2021} not too long ago on NetFlix too, I like Liam's body of Work. The Lead Female Actress was Fan Bingbing who is a Chinese Actress, she was Blacklisted from Mainland China's Film Industry for a time due to a Scandal, but seems to do well in this American Film as a Lead Actress in it. And tho' the Movie is set in Nepal, it was ironically mostly filmed in Australia, which was interesting, I couldn't tell it wasn't set on Location, great faux Sets to make it look like a Nepalese Village. Only a few Scenes were actually shot in Nepal. I spent some more of the Evening pricing Inventory to bring in to the Showroom and Locked Case Tomorrow, which, in Real Time is a Tuesday and hopefully our Social Security Checks for September will hit on Time this Month? When you only get half your Retirement Income due you, it makes for a tight Month Financially.

On Thursday is the Halloween Event at "Sweet Salvage" and oddly they haven't given much in the way of Sneak Peeks on their Social Media Page, which, usually they do, so, that's Odd. Especially given the Halloween Event is the most Popular, actually outperforming the Christmas Event usually. And the few Sneak Peek pixs they did have looked more Harvest Themed, which, probably won't excite anyone all that much, Yawn... Boring. So, I do Hope it really does Channel a Halloween Vibe and not just a Generic Autumnal one, which, won't interest me in the least and I probably wouldn't be Tempted to Buy anything at all if it is. When I was at the "Ivy & Sage" Shop I did hear several Women complaining that "Hobby Lobby" had nothing in the way of Halloween Merch, and I'm thinking, that Surprises you? *LOL* It's a Fundie Owned Business, Closed on Sundays, had a lot of Bad Press and Boycotts for how Homophobic they have been, and it shouldn't Surprise anyone they don't carry anything for Halloween.

Sure, a LOT of American Businesses have a lot of reasons anyone would Boycott them, it's more an exception to the Rule that you can even find one that doesn't, which is a Big Corporate Entity actually. That's why I mostly Support Small Businesses where I know the Owners and Sellers personally, then I know what they're about and if I want to do Business with them regularly or not. But, occasionally I have bought from the Big Box Entities which I know exploit personnel or have positions I don't agree with, I just limit how often I would rely on them to get what I Need... very seldom would I rely on them to get what I just Want or could get somewhere else that has a better Reputation. Corporate America by and large has a lot of Corruption, a lot of controversial things they do and support, a lot of Greed and Exploitation going on regularly, you can't really Boycott them all or you'd be able to Shop nowhere. And Businesses Owned and Operated by most Fundamentalist Religions is steeped in hypocrisy and ugly biases and Scandals, they are some of the worst in fact. Plus, self-righteousness is never Pretty.

Work hasn't called me to Fill-In and I'm Glad, I got too much on my Calendar, so I'd have to decline most requests from now thru early November. And my Halloween Baking Championships started Tonight and I ended up missing it, got too Tired to watch it, it's on too late. But, I won't wanna miss Halloween Wars which comes on next Sunday I think? Usually the Baking Championship loops previous Episodes so I'll try to catch it next Week to see what I missed Tonight? With that one I mostly watch to see the Costumes the Judges will be wearing, coz, most of the Bakers entries aren't that outstanding sometimes IMO. But on Halloween Wars the Talent is Off the Chain for the Pumpkin Carvers, Bakers and Sugar Artists on the Teams. I don't always Agree with the Judges decisions, but, I'm also not Tasting on the Taste Test part either and am no Culinary Jedi to Judge the Quality of the Work. Plus, Judging anything is subjective really.

They did have some Cute Halloween Decor as well as the Creepy Whimsical Merch, and generic Autumnal Merch that you could leave up clear past Thanksgiving, so, there was something for every Taste in Holiday Decorating at "Ivy & Sage". I wish that Shop was closer coz I thoroughly enjoy Shopping there, even when I don't Buy anything, their Vendors really do a spectacular job of Merchandising brilliantly. It's all small Merchant Vendors so the Shop is Supporting Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs, which, I like that and mostly Shop Small when I can, and even for some Essentials. I did get some of my Vintage Toys Priced and some more T-Shirts and Rubber Art Stamps to take in to the Antique Mall Today.

In Real Time it's a Tuesday, so it should be pretty dead at the Mall. They should do some Trade Stimulator for Tuesdays, like a Senior Day, I've mentioned it for Years, to no avail. Management isn't receptive to Ideas to Stimulate Trade so long as they get their Rent from Vendors, they're more like Glorified Landlords and not Business Partners to help their Vendors Succeed and Prosper. Hence, their high turnover. If they Partnered with their Tenants we'd all Prosper coz they get a Commission off every Sale and then they'd retain Vendors if we were always doing well. They have Six Locations around the United States and they claim One can't do something the others aren't doing. But, a Location in Rural Iowa or Nebraska is a different Business Model than a Metropolis in Urban Arizona, so, that's ridiculous. Even Wal-Marts know that and a Wal-Mart in Mexico operates differently than one in America. Some of our smaller Cities in Arizona have a larger population than Des Moines or Omaha!

Anyway, the Owners and their Kinfolk, who are Nepo Hires at all the Locations, are from more Rural beginnings, so they don't have an Urban Mentality. Nothing Wrong with that if you're still living Rural becoz it fits where you are. I've lived Rural and I've lived Urban, big differences tho' and you have to develop the Mentality for where ever you ARE and adapt to it to be successful there with the demographic you'll be Serving and living amongst. I think most of the Owner's Kinfolk here in Metro Phoenix are Homesick for Iowa and Small Town Living, which is understandable. So they are quite resistant to Change, if it Worked in Iowa they seem to be obstinate that it will also work in Urban Arizona settings... whatever. It doesn't. I also suspect it interferes with the ability of Management to confront problems with Customers, Vendors and Staff too, different Mindset. The Polite Country Boy approach might work in a Small Midwest Town, but in a big Urban Setting you better roll up the Doormat and make it a Club. *LOL*

Anyway, they're not Stimulating Trade and it shows in how Sales slump and they won't even try something New and Innovative to improve it. So, it is what it just is and us Vendors have to get innovative within the restrictions they impose upon us. And, so long as I have Need to continue with the Great Edit & Purge, it's suiting my Need good enuf, so, we Carry On. *Smiles* Plus, Princess T and I still like doing what we do together, she's been helping me with it since she was Five and now we're Partners in the doing of it for discretionary income to supplement my Retirement and her Minimum Wage Job, every little bit helps. Plus, what else would we do... that's the common saying of most of the Older Vendors, I think many of them would be Bored to Tears in Retirement if they didn't have the Mall Space as an Outlet, not only to Downsize and make discretionary income, but to Socialize and be around people rather than a mostly solitary existence. Most say that until and unless they end up in Assisted Living or a Nursing Home, they'll continue doing this.

Okay, so "Sweet Salvage" JUST Posted some Sneak Peeks and I'm 'mos def NOT seeing much of a Halloween Vibe and more of a Harvest Theme, but I'll let you all be the Judge of that, see the next half Dozen Pixs Below and tell me if I'm Wrong? We'll have an Informal Vote afterwards shall we? *Winks and Smiles* Perhaps I'll enjoy it anyway, not Sure, but I was more Hopeful there would be a splash of Halloween and the Macabre that some Designers would take advantage of, given the Season and the Theme being "Wicked Faire". Absolutely nothing Wicked is actually being Projected here, I'm more Channeling Hayrides, Campfires, Falling Leaves and Pumpkin Patches Vibes myself. Which, for November I might be more into once I'm moving past Halloween Atmospheres and into Thanksgiving ones. But right now, naw... not happening with Yours Truly, I want Full On Halloween Vibes right now if it's allegedly a Halloween Event and some Haunted Attraction Creativity going on. So, Color me disappointed and not so enthusiastic and eager to attend or Tempted to Buy. Coz it's gone very "Hobby Lobby" and we discussed that before. But I expect that from a "Hobby Lobby" Fundie Owned Biz at least, not my usually Madly Creative Peeps at "The Sweet". Have they just Given Up?

Yawn, well, if this was supposed to get me into the Halloween Spirit, I'm underwhelmed by the Visuals and Atmosphere myself, mebbe you feel differently? The Palmistry Modern Print is a bit of a Nod and I do see a subtle sprinkling of Modern mass produced Halloween Props, but not innovative or Creative. And I do know from Industry Friends that Sales are sagging badly, so, it doesn't Help if you don't take full advantage of the Seasonal Opportunities to go Full On with it and see if that might Stimulate Trade and make it a Destination becoz you have. Their Past Halloween Events were Spectacular, and so, that's part of the disappointment in recent Shows not matching that and having the consistency that was always the Big Draw. If the usual Crowd are viewing these Images first, I won't have any trouble finding Parking. Even tho' usually Halloween's Event is slammed, long Lines etcetera, it's looking doubtful it will be? And, even if I were to miss the Event, I wouldn't be distraught about it. No wonder they held back on Sneak Peek Visuals, folks might decide not to even bother attending now? And I'm now Sharing better Visuals of Halloweens Past and who has Delivered in the Present.

Above is how "The Sweet" used to Deliver, and, it isn't real hard to transport folks to an appropriate Atmosphere. Well, I'm Glad I got me some Halloween by going to "Spirit Stores", "Ivy & Sage" and "Highland Yard Vintage" then. Even TARGET had more of a Seasonal Vibe going on. So, I did get a dose of what I wanted, even the GOODWILLS did initially have some good and abundant Halloween Merch, tho' they rolled it out early and ran out of it so quickly that they should have tried to Source more. Of coarse, Halloween is the one Holiday harder to Source good Merch for, so you have to get Creative and Design a lot of your own Inventory. The Artisans that do a spectacular job of that, Clean Up during the Season and Sell Out. After having Expectations Exceeded at One Event... now you can Color me Let Down and Underwhelmed by Another... it happens. Whaddya gonna do? I'd rather be pleasantly Surprised by being Wowed and not expecting something so good... than to be Built Up and then Let Down by the Promotion of something that fails to Deliver. But, that's me. And I've been Spoiled Rotten by Events of The Past. *Le Sigh*

My Post Title Hook pretty much Mirrors how I just Feel about the Present, and possibly the Future. It doesn't compare to the Past, which, in the Industry especially, and the Economy particularly, was just Better and a lot more Hopeful and Optimistic. And just Letting Go of that and realizing things are most likely never returning to a semblance of Normalcy and becoming better, mebbe even worse, is rather like having to Grieve a Death! And laying it to Rest in order to Move on and Forward, even whilst Grieving what has been Forever Lost and always Missing that. I'm missing what was, what used to be, and embracing what is and I just am not thrilled about moving thru. We don't have a Choice, moving thru it isn't optional, things are what they are right Now. I keep the TV turned Off almost all of the time, tho' I want to be somewhat Informed, for Safety Sake mostly and to be forewarned is to be forearmed and all of that, I don't need ample exposure to the Fuckery and National Disgrace, it's too weighty to carry or drag along Daily. It's fucking Depressing and a Real Life Horror Story on many levels. It is an aberration!!! It is Unwelcome and a departure from what is Normal, usual or expected, it's deviant.

And some days I'm not Coping with it all that well becoz I have a lot of Anger about it coz it's all so unnecessary and could have been avoided. I sometimes resort to thinking what everything would have been like had Kamala just Won, you know, a decent and competent Leadership in place? Yes, tho' I Voted for her and REALLY wanted her to Win, I knew she was at a distinct disadvantage on many levels. Too hastily taking over coz Biden just didn't step aside like he should have in his diminished capacity, we don't need Geriatric Old White Men in serious cognitive decline running anything, let alone a whole Country. Even IF they are or were a Good Man, they come from a bygone Era long Past. To move into the Future we need Fresh Faces who are anchored to the Present and look forward to bringing us into a Bright Future with both Vision and Wisdom, and be Experienced enuf at Diplomacy to be up to the Job. You simply can't run a fucking Country like a Business, doesn't Work.

Then with Kamala, she was a Woman, and Black, so, Strike Three for many Voters, who have Gender and Racial Biases that run very fucking deep still in America, which is still kinda stuck in the Good Ole Boy Network of the Past that far too many long for a return to coz they're so fucking insecure and fearful as fuck of being 'replaced' or losing long standing Privilege and the oppressive Nature the Past held the "Othering" Down with for Generations. Even tho' she had the outstanding Credentials... and the Moron that Won didn't, and his first Term was disastrous and a precursor to what was to come. Did we REALLY think the Sequel would be better in Psycho 2.0?! Come On!!! To Own The Libs most were willing to lose The Farm... and now they're begging for Bailouts coz, well, they're losing The Farm for the decisions they made on who to Elect.

Even tho' he made it abundantly Clear what he intended to do, I guess they weren't listening, Asleep rather than Woke, or were in Deep Denial? Whatever... actions have consequences, I don't have much pity for those who make bad decisions and reap what they have sown. My pity is Reserved for Americans who knew better and didn't naively think they want all of this Fuckery, High Drama, Grifting, Lying Convicted Career Criminal Leading them, high blatant levels of Corruption, the dismantling of a Democracy, and knew who he is and always has been. He aspires to be a Dictator and Thug, he schmoozes with the absolute worst morally Bankrupt and corrupt depraved Humans and always has, he Admires and Idolizes them, he wants to BE them, and therefore is a Puppet for them, it's no fucking Secret. He craves their Acceptance and their Admiration. Which is Why he must always be ridiculously flattered constantly, even if it's grossly disingenuous and the groveling is a means to an end for those who prostitute and debase themselves and allow themselves to be Extorted, to gain his Favor, even as a Spectacle on National TV. None of that can have a Happy or Fairy Tale Ending.