Taking This Show On The Road

 

Well, I went to the Dollar Store and now most things are increased AGAIN, this time to $1.75 each, another 25% Hike in only Two Weeks!!!  It had gone from 99 Cents before Pandemic, to $1.25 during and after Pandemic, to $1.50 after Tariffs began, and now $1.75!!!  That's now almost a 100% increase, getting mighty close.   And it ain't China, India or any other Foreign Nation paying that my Friends, it's us, the American Public!!!  Now, the Feds are saying they plan to slightly decrease the Interest Rate by some, due to intense Pressure exacted by the White House, but you do know that lower Interest Rates generally equals higher Inflation, Right?  Fun Times!!!  And it's just the Beginning...

Anyway, so, I was at the Dollar Store stocking up even more on things that were still at $1.25, but about half of their Merch is $1.50 or $1.75 now.  I think they're raising it gradually on some items to easy the Shopper into getting used to it being eventually the Two Dollar Store.  Now, that's just Dollar Store Tariff increases, we've all been everywhere else and seeing the steady rise in pricing, especially of Essentials and big ticket items like Cars and Homes, which, one could say Transportation and Shelter are Essentials too.  And I know Utilities are up, way up in fact, and Climate Change is making it Hotter, so, it's quite a dilemma all around as to how to afford just Essentials these days and stretch Budgets further.  We aren't Eating Out now hardly at all, we used to enjoy that as a Recreational Pursuit and preferred Indulgence to use discretionary income for.  Now discretionary income is low, we just don't when Budget is strained more.  *Sad Face*  So, my Food Porn Imagery will be rehashed mostly, reminiscent, if you will.  *Sadder Face* 

We'll Mask it of coarse and Carry On, adjusting what we do or don't do depending on Economic Circumstance.  Keeping it in Perspective as First World Problems mostly, Created by our own Government right now.  I bought another dozen Six-Pacs of Crystal Geyser Spring Water while they still had some left, they're almost out of Stock of it.  That was still $1.25.  Our Heat Warnings are still in effect Daily, it's been Humid AND between 113-118 Degrees every day now!!!  It's hard to breathe when it's that Hot AND that Humid, usually it's a Dry Heat in Arizona except during Monsoon Season, and, it's Monsoon Season and usually our Temps dip some when the Rains come.   Mostly it's just Humid with no consistent Rains tho', so muggy, Hot, and things are parched.  You just opt to stay inside after about 9:00 in the Morning!!!  Even the Pool Water is so Warm it's more like a Spa than a refreshing dip to Cool Off.  We're fortunate ours is a deep Diving Pool that has a 10 ft. deep section that the Water stays Cooler at that end. 

We were happy to hear that "Coldwater Coffeehouse & Bakery" has already re-opened just a couple days after the terrible accident where a Car drove thru their Building.  Repairs are being made, but we'll support it while they Recover and rebuild, glad the function wasn't totally compromised.  It's one of our favorite Local Small Businesses in the Historic Old Barrio we used to live in.   I do miss living so close to Old Town, I used to walk to everything from there, here that's not possible, you really do need a Car here, the Walk Score is different even tho' it's close to a lot.   The Historic Property was literally Walking Distance to almost everything we needed to Shop, Eat, go to School at.  Even our Family Doctor was walking distance back then from our Home... and the Garage we had repairs to Vehicles was Walking distance from Home, as was the Post Office.  I do miss that level of convenience.

Anyway, that's the Past, this is the Present and I do look forward to the Future, with some trepidation, since America is morphing in ways I'm not at all comfortable with Politically.   I do Hope we get back to Center and less towards Extremism and Fascism.  Only Time will tell.   I am enjoying Newsom's Trolling Mockery of MAGA World and their Orange Buffoon, it's brilliant and taking the Mickey out of them, not a Mimic, they're the butt of The Joke Satirically.  And whatever helps bring this Regime down I'm Fine with it.  He's using Political Satire to put a spotlight on the absolute absurdity and insanity of this whole dangerous Shitshow in the White House and it's Cult Devotion by those who eat it up Daily when Donnie Two Dolls is doing it... but now his Nemesis is, Oh Mylanta, they just can't handle it and it's definitely getting under their Skins and DonOld's.  *LMAOROTF*   Just a couple of my personal Favs circulating around The Land Of Blog compliments of Blog Friends Sharing some of them.

I don't know where folks are finding these, I'm not getting any in my Algorithms... YET.  *Bwahahaha*  Probably will tho' eventually.  This Morning is Irrigation and The Daughter and her Boyfriend do all that for us now.  Which is a relief coz trudging around in Irrigated Pasture, Lifting the Gates, distributing Front Water equitably with Pumps and Line, then Closing Gates, at all Hours they distribute the Water to us on SRP Scheduling you can't choose, can be A LOT.  And we suspect, due to getting feeble Heads of Water the last couple Cycles and SRP E-Mails, that there has been some Water Theft going on, so we're all not getting the amount of Water we should be and we don't know who, up the Line, is Stealing it?   Some take more than they should, forget to Close their Gates, sometimes forget to take on their Water, or don't even Opt In and Pay the Annual Fee but take Water Illegally anyway.  People.

I could have Slept In later, it's a Sunday, but, I had to remind Kiddos about Irrigation lest they forget which time it was coming, not bad rotation time this Cycle 8:40 a.m. to 10:10 a.m., so it was already light outside and not at some absolutely Crazy Hour.  *Whew*  Today I may try again to take The Man Canning and looking for more River Stones for the Mosaic Project.  He Loves doing that and it's good Exercise and Cardio for him.  We tried Yesterday Morning and didn't even get there before we had to turn around coz he forgot to use the Bathroom before we left!!!  And, he didn't put Pullups on to avoid an Accident, which is now recommended since he Forgets important things like needing to Go... so we had to rush Home to avoid one.  We made it in time but it was a long drive for nothing and I didn't have it in me to go all the way back again.  Plus, the Lost Time meant it had gotten Hotter and more Humid too... so, we aborted that Mission.  I was upset, but, you get Over it... it's gonna happen with him now and it's just Sad that it does.

Sometimes I have it in me to try to take this Show on the Road, and sometimes I do not anymore.  Just getting him ready and in the Truck can be a bit Testing on my last Raw Nerve sometimes, his distractibility increases and keeping him focused and on track is like Herding Cats.  I have Adult ADHD but his is a different kind of Attention Deficit than that, with the TBI coupled with Early Dementia.  He requires almost constant Reminders of what we're doing, why we're doing it, how we're doing it, where we're doing it, who is involved, etcetera, almost constantly and repetitively.  I will explain on Repeat and then after several Reminders just tell him it doesn't matter, the Details aren't that important, just come along for the Ride, or, choose to stay Home.  He almost always Opts to come along... but sometimes now chooses to stay Home and that's Okay too, don't Threaten me with a Good Time and no Entourage in Tow.  *LOL*

But I do like doing things with him and our Together Time is meaningful and usually enjoyable.  We just have to adapt to what that entails now for his Sake, and what is a reasonable expectation for him to be able to still do.   The frustrations are mostly mine due to Caregiving being a complex Role that needs constant adjustment, adaptations and patience, and sometimes the latter is not my particular Strength.  You know HOW you Develop Patience?   Yeah, by getting loaded up with shit that Exercises it, building up your Patience, that's HOW!!!   And it's a Bitch of a Workout lemme tell ya!  *Bwahahahaha*  Let us just say I'm more Patient than I used ta be, but, I need more Exercising of my Patience to be considered a Patient Person.  *Winks*  And there's just something about growing OLDER that Tests your Patience MORE, isn't there?  Mebbe it's coz Tick-Tock you're running out of Time and so you become Impatient with everything, anyone and anything, Times a Wastin' after all and you've got Less of it now!!!  *LOL*

So, for me, when The Man gets distracted and starts getting scattered to where it is like Herding a Cat with him, I have to use all my Patience Tools in my Patience Toolbox not to Snap and lose my shit about it!!!  Sometimes I even Succeed!!!  *Smiles*   He will start moving slow or fiddling with shit incessantly, until you gently guide him back to whatever he needs to do.  Like not going back into the House several times coz he forgot this, that and the third... mebbe then sit back down in front of the TV coz he forgot I'm still out in the Truck waiting on him and we were going somewhere... then actually getting all of himself into the Truck {Leg often hanging out the Door}... remembering to close the Truck Door... NOT fiddle with everything he's Squirrelled away in the Door Compartments... and then put his fucking Seatbelt on every time before the Alarm goes off incessantly and makes me wanna do a Thelma & Louise due to the Ding-Ding-Ding-Ding-Ding!!!  He will then fumble with the Seatbelt trying to remember HOW to put it on.  Yeah, you're getting the gist now, are ya?   And that's just while we're backing out of the Driveway... we haven't even begun whatever Journey we'll be on yet!!!  *Bwahahahaha* 

So, yeah, taking this Show on the Road can be an Ordeal, EVEN IF I don't bring any of the rest of them that got their own Issues going on.  *Winks*  It's a real Clown Car when we pile them all in and go anywhere, whilst trying to keep Harmonious Peace between them all!  So, usually, I can Handle ONE of them at a Time, not a few or all of them at a time in the Truck... or, I'd drive it into a Telephone Pole at a high rate of Speed probably on Purpose, I swear!  *LOL*  If they're fussing I have asked one of them to Step out of the Truck before, and I don't even slow down and they know I'm probably NOT kidding either.  So, unless they wanna hit the Ground Running, knock it off immediately.  You don't want whoever is behind the Wheel to go Psycho after all.  *Smiles*  And BTW: The Crazy Daughter has Stepped Out of a Vehicle Voluntarily while it's going 45 MPH before, during a Psychotic Break, and hit the Ground Running across several Lanes of Traffic... so... you can't Risk one of the others Winding her Ass Up!!!  *LOL*

 

The Son is notorious for Winding others Up coz of his Autism.  So was Allen due to his Autism, no Filter in the Autistic Brain to Mouth.  It's an Autistic Trait to Wind people Up, seemingly either for their own Amusement, or becoz they can't/don't pick up on Social Cues at all and have Zero Filter to Process information to Read the Room!!!   They often get Carried away with something they think is Funny or Enjoyable, but then they go too far and it's not Funny anymore to anyone but them and Nobody is having Fun anymore but them, yet, they can't Stop, even when Asked nicely to.  Can't.  Won't.  Then you explode and they seem dazed and confused, oblivious, like, Why?  I didn't do anything... Why you so Mad?  *Eye Roll*   This is why Elon couldn't Understand the Why either and became such a handy Scapegoat for The Felon In Chief to do dirty Work and shift Blame upon.  Donnie Two Dolls had the whole Autistic Spectrum up there on the Dais during a lot of his Campaigning with all the Rich Tech Bros Genius Savants on Stage with him!  *Bwahahahaha*

And don't expect someone with Autism, no matter how Functional and highly Intelligent they may be, to have the level of Empathy, Compassion or other Key Emotional Traits that will differ or be absent with those with ASD.   They will have difficulty identifying or explaining their own Feelings and Emotions, let alone picking up on yours!!!   Understanding the Emotions of others will be difficult for them and they don't Emotionally Regulate Well at all!!!   They don't lack Emotion, they express and experience it differently than Neurotypical people do.  I'm pretty sure I'm on the Spectrum and undiagnosed, since, Girls and Women often are adept at Masking their Condition better than Boys and Men do.  And the higher functional you are, the less likely you'll even be Diagnosed formally with the Condition, but there will be Clues!!!  *LOL and Winks* 

I am procrastinating in fact on getting even Dressed this Morning, let alone taking this Show on the Road while it might still be Cool enuf Outside to even attempt it?   It's already 95 and Humid, The Man toddled out there to pretend to Supervise the Irrigation, and the Kids let him act like he's advising them on how to do it properly, Bless 'em.  And he came in exaggerating how Hot he was, in the doing of Nothing out there, so that I'd SEE and more importantly HEAR, how Hot he Felt from doing all that Nothingness that wasn't even necessary for him to do.  *Winks and Eye Roll... Man Drama is The Worst!!!*   So, I had to look up from Blogging this Post and say, "Oh, is it already too Hot out there Honey?"   

Which was Bait offered for me to then say, well, let's abort doing anything Outside then shall we, that I said we MIGHT do when we Aborted everything Yesterday due to your Toiletry Urgency, and I'll just sit here in my Jammies and forget about it.   He then ignored The Bait, he's a bit Addled, but he's not Stupid, he knew a Set Up when I offered one.  *Winks and Smiles Wickedly*  We may still not get me out of my Jammies and go anywhere, but he's hopeful we might I think?   And I don't know how to Feel about it since I'd like to go to the River and get some more River Stones and get out in Nature.   Andrew Huberman, Neuroscientist, was on Real Time With Bill Maher Yesterday and said some Interesting things that intrigued me.   I want to get his Book "Protocols".

  About going outside every Morning and looking at the Sun to Charge Up yourself for the Day.   And the Breathing Exercises to also do, in Inhaling Deeply to Charge Up... and Exhaling Deeply to Calm Down.  I'm gonna do it Daily now and see what happens.  I NEED something to happen!  *LOL*   I also Need to Buy his Books, coz I'm fascinated by his Studies, which are very similar to Chinese Medical and East Asian Philosophy and even my Indigenous Dad's Philosophy about Health and the Holistic approach that has been Known and Practiced for Thousands of Years actually.   I Practice Tribal and Eastern Medicine mostly, I'm skeptical of a lot of Western Medical Practices.  Since I think they create a lot of Money and Dependency Issues to keep one Dependent upon the Industry and not necessarily to Be Well.  No Money to be made in Being Well for those in that Industry really or for Big Pharma.  Being Well is preferable to being dependent upon Drugs and Doctors constantly... Cheaper too.

This is one of my Welsh Cousins and his Lovely Wife, we haven't seen each other since we were Teenagers.  I haven't been back to Wales since the early 1970's and he's never been to Arizona, as far as I know anyway.  He Travels extensively for his Work since he Welds at Nuclear Power Plants and other high risk Projects, he's Fearless.  *LOL*   He's the Youngest Son of the Welsh Uncle, my Mom's Older Brother, who used to visit us annually when he was still Alive.  I have so many fond Memories of my Uncle's visits and he lived to be 90 and still looked great and way Younger and more Powerful than his Years, right up until The End.   My Uncle had been in the Welsh Guards and British Special Forces as a Younger Man.   He and The Man became very close over Shared Experiences, they both saw a lot of Action in their Military Careers and they got along so well, he really liked my Uncle.  My Dad and my Uncle were Best Friends all their Adult Lives, it's how Dad met my Mom, via her Big Brother!  *LOL*

Okay, so my Welsh Uncle was a Trip, and had the most Wicked and Wry Sense of Humor and was never PC about it, so he meets my Dad and one of Dad's Co-Worker American GI Friends on a City Bus, who was a Black G.I. named Ernie.  The Bus Driver was taking advantage of the Americans not knowing the Money, and my Uncle intervened on their behalf, he Hated anyone being Exploited or Done Wrong, especially Cheated of Money or Discriminated against due to their Ethnicity.  He'd endured enuf of that himself as a Welshman and of some Roma Ancestry on my Gran-Gran's Side.  So, he invites them Home to my Nanna's House for Dinner, coz he was on Leave himself and staying at my Grandparent's Home before he went back to his Active Duty Assignment and got deployed again. 

  He says to his Family, including my Mom, in the Introduction:  Here's your First American Red Indian and First American Black Fella... coz none of Mom's Family had ever seen a Native American or a Black Person in their entire lives.  *LOL*  In those Days Mom said everyone around was either Welsh, Gypsy or Chinese Ancestry, with a smattering of some Italian Immigrants, but, that's about the scope of it in the Hills of Wales back then.  The Americans were 'New' due to the Military Base that did exist there briefly and Dad was Stationed at in the late 1940's early 1950's.   Dad was even pretty 'New' to the Military back then and had only ever Lived on a Reservation until he Enlisted at Age 17.   So he was Experiencing a lot more in those days than just being around his own Culture and People.  So he was absorbing it like a Sponge too, as was my Mom, who'd lived in a rather Insulated Homogenous Society herself.  They bonded with their Love of diversity and new Experiences and Bohemian Free Spirits which were quite unconventional and often misunderstood, even sometimes made Conformist Types afraid of 'differences' and lack of understanding or rejection of inclusiveness.

Mom said Dad and Ernie were so Gracious about being a Novelty "First", answered all the prying Questions, let my Developmentally Disabled Younger Aunt even Touch their Skin and Hair, my Aunt Angela ADORED my Dad.  She had the permanent IQ and Innocence of a very Young Teen and once asked him that if her Sister Died, would he Marry her instead!?  *Bwahaha*   Ernie also liked that in Europe, acceptance was easier than in America, a lot of Black GI's Married Foreign Brides in fact.  And since Dad and Ernie also had a Wickedly Wry and totally NOT PC Sense of Humor as well, they told them the Americans used them as "Night Fighters" because they were harder to see at Night due to their Darker Complexions!!!   *Bwahahahaha* 

  My Mom's Family even Believed it at first!  *LMAOROTF*  My Gran-Gran and my Dad were very, very close too, Dad even learned enough Welsh to communicate better with my Gran-Gran.  My Gran-Gran knew some English, but mostly spoke Welsh and Chinese, which were his First Languages, he was Raised by a Childless Chinese Family with Four of his Younger Siblings.  His Six Older Siblings being raised by their Widowed Mom, who some Family said was of Roma Ancestry.   I guess my Old Great-Nina was a Trip and everyone was Afraid of her, she was Austere, practiced a lot of ways that Scared folks, and dressed Traditionally.  I Wish there were Photos of her, but like my Older Native American Family Members, she too was deeply Superstitious about having Photos taken, to the point I don't think she ever allowed any to be taken of her.  And she was very distrustful of people who weren't of her people and so wasn't happy my Gran-Gran Married my Nanna, who was of Irish Ancestry... so still Gaelic, but... had been very well Educated and my Nina never sent any of her Children to School.  Schooling was run by the English so she had good reason to have distrust about indoctrination and attempted eradication of their Culture, Language, Traditions.   

 In many Countries the Gypsies still have it very bad, so even if you're only part Gypsy, some will not attest to it for fear of not getting Housing or Employment.  And to be Fair, those who are Mixed aren't accepted by either Culture, much like all of us who are Racially blended sometimes aren't.  So, it can still be complicated Socially and Culturally speaking. Well, in Reality, back in those Days, the American Military was still pretty much segregated, so Dad was Assigned to a Minorities Unit of mostly Black G.I.'s..  Officially it was in 1948 Desegregated, but in Reality, a lot of Segregation existed far beyond that Date.  And I even remember thruout my entire Childhood, that all my Dad's Friends from Work were either Black or Puerto Ricans and not White, coz they all Worked together and if you lived Off Base in some States, segregation still existed too and we'd have to live in Non-White parts of Town.  The Man said Mormons were even Segregated when he was Enlisted in late 1960's early 1970's, I didn't even know that Fact 'til I met him!!!

I'm so glad I grew up in the Military and eventually Married a Career Military Man like my Dad.  You not only got to see The World and Travel extensively, the Military Culture is very tight and close to one another.  There is a camaraderie and Bond that I saw didn't exist in Civilian Life as strongly and as tightly knit.  And I got to Travel extensively within the United States as well with various Assignments here in America.  So you got to see and experience a lot and it makes for a more well rounded view of The World and all it's Beautiful diversity of People, Cultures, Cuisines, Climates, Ecosystems and various Traditions, Customs or Rituals.  I Adopted many along the way that I particularly liked or had some feeling of a Connection to.  And our Family was an Intercultural Interracial Blend to begin with.   I do Believe it made me a Better Human Being for having had all that Exposure and of being a Blended Family Unit with Diversity within our immediate Family.  The Man said Marrying into this Family did that for him too, along with his long Military Career Exposure and Experiences.

*******

The Show didn't go on the Road this Day... Dawn... The Bohemian