So, the Internet and TV were both down all day Yesterday from about 7:00 a.m. to this Morning!!! Our provider first told you it would be restored by 5:20 p.m. Yesterday Afternoon, then they just got vague about when if you called back, coz they couldn't get it restored at all for that day! Our whole area was affected and it might have been due to Storm damage since they had Microbursts that caused as much damage locally as Hurricanes or Tornados, major Flooding too. Businesses could only accept Cash coz their Point Of Sale Systems were down too. Luckily, Princess T had Cash coz I don't carry much of it anymore. She still had a wad of Cash from Birthday Pressy offerings and she never uses Cash, so still had it from September. *LOL*
The Man and her went thru TV and Internet withdrawal respectively, I just read a Book. *Smiles* I could still access Blogs via my Cellphone so I caught up that way and had Pre-Scheduled a lot of Posts that hadn't Published, but would at the assigned times and day. But, we were spared serious problems due to the Storms. They had Rescues and State of Emergency declared locally due to the Storms, The Red Cross had to shelter some Families Flooded out of their Homes or who had such severe damage to their Structures it rendered them uninhabitable. Therefore, just losing Internet and TV Service was just a mild inconvenience compared to what many folks were experiencing. I'm Thankful we mitigated our Flooding here on our Property with Sandbags and Pumping Water into the Pasture.
I was considering visiting The Desert Botanical Gardens, but that area, including The Phoenix Zoo next door to it, were Closed due to Storm Damage they incurred. That area and Tempe, the City closest to there, got hit particularly hard by the Microbursts, with 90 mph Winds!!! I have heard of some Fatalities, but a lot more of hairy Rescues that could have drowned those caught and trapped when their Vehicles got swept up in Waters that rushed in and picked the Vehicles up. Or had huge Trees fall near them or on their Vehicles and Homes, many had to have Fire and Rescue get them and their Pets out coz they were trapped with the Treefall. I don't think the Storms are over either, so they've put in for Federal Disaster Relief for some areas of Arizona affected.
We don't usually get Natural Disasters in Arizona, it's really Hot and getting Hotter, but, normally other than Haboobs, we don't get things like Tornadoes or Hurricane force Winds, we did have Two Funnel Clouds that dropped down during this Storm System!!! Those are anomalous conditions for our State. But, they are now happening with more frequency with Climate Change happening everywhere. Anyway, each Storm seems to worsen how severe it is and the damage it's causing now, that's for sure. Monsoon Season is normally over by now, but, it came late and is staying longer, so the Seasonal expectations have also shifted considerably and aren't as predictable.
What concerns me is that this Administration has gutted most of the Agencies that provide protection to the Public. Agencies who provide Weather Services that provide Warnings, the CDC, Legal Protection, Food Inspections, Safety Inspections for Products, Workplace Safety, FEMA, Nutritional Assistance Programs, the List goes on and on of what they've gutted so it's barely functioning now for the American People!!! Why? Not due to fraud, waste & neglect of providing Services as they falsely claim, nope, it's to be able to provide more for the Top 1% and to Grift Money themselves that should be providing Services to the 99%, that's the ONLY reason they're doing it. So, they're ripping the rest of us off while also putting us at grave risk in the process.
I got some Adorable Pixs of my BFF on her Birthday, she's Rockin' her Look after she lost her Hair to Treatments she's receiving, she's just as Attractive Bald and looks Stunning and Radiant. I know it's a tough time for her and for her Family, the Daughter in the Photo is her Youngest Child and the one doing her Caregiving who she lives with now. This Friend and I Share a LOT of History and some Wild Times. Below is The Daughter on her Special Day and with her Cake, a Strawberry Shortcake, light and tasty, we're not really Cake People for Traditional Cakes. Her Birthday is the Day After my BFF's Birthday and their Personalities are so similar too. BTW: She does have Arms. *LMAO* Princess T was miffed that her Gay Boy Posse, tho' they took her out for Dinner on her Birthday last Month, for the first time EVER, didn't make her up a Gift Basket each or do a Photo Collage of HER on their Instagrams! *Gasp, the Horror of it! LOL*
She's still Bitchin' about it almost a Month later *Eye Roll and LOL*, coz it has to be all about her all of the time you know. *Winks* And so she Texted Timmy to say, since you're not using my Photos anymore to make me a Collage on my Birthday, just send them all to me, since now I'm feeling like just a Side Piece. *Bwahahaha* It was a Joke of coarse and he knew this, so sent back a hysterically Laughing Emoji and saying, "Side Piece?!" I told her there is likely some jealousy his Boyfriend has about how close he is to her? And with Matthew, he's spending all his Money at College coz he only had an Academic Scholarship to NAU and has to pay for the rest of his expenses while living away from Home North of the State. He's Native American but I'm not sure his Family still have Family living on the Rez up there or not, or if they are even of the Navajo or Hopi Nations, they all live here in the Valley?
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The Son's Girlfriend, after being Laid Off, went back to the Rez so he's been missing her. She's on Paid Severance Leave for now and has some prospects, so I do Hope she can return to the Valley and find Work? But, she is a Single Parent of Two Children and all her extended Family still live on the Navajo Nation Rez. Tribal People on a Reservation will assist one another, that doesn't happen Off Rez and separated from their Tribe. It's why all of my Paternal Relatives, with the exception of my Brother and I, all live on their Reservation in Oklahoma. This Administration has also made a lot of cuts to Tribal Benefits, which was to be expected, Donnie Two Dolls initially floated the Idea of making all Indigenous Americans NOT American Citizens anymore!!! Yeah, that was Rich, since it's their Stolen fucking Country, they're the ONLY True Original Americans!
The Internet and TV just froze, so I don't know that my Words will Save or not coz the Update says 'Fail', but I can't load Images and the TV Screen is Frozen as well, more Cable and Internet troubles, clearly!!! Well, it was Up for about an Hour anyway, so I got some of this Post Saved and done before it crashed again!!! And, I didn't lose this Page, so will Hope that I don't lose what I'm Writing right now? *Le Sigh* Traffic is a mess out there due to Storm Damages being cleared off Roads and some Roadways got washed out completely and aren't Safe until they rebuilt them. Some Mountain Roadways actually almost got Washed off the Side of the Mountain they're on, scary stuff!!!
The Images of the U.S. 60 going into Globe-Miami, which were Sister Cities hit really hard, are terrifying coz they're on the side of a Mountain or go across enormous Gorges and the Road was seriously compromised! Like you'd see in an Apocalyptic Movie! When the Internet is Restored I'll see if I can Crib some of those terrifying Images! Can you only imagine if you'd been driving ON that section of Road when all this happened? Yikes!!! UPDATE: Internet and TV working again. The Man and I went and did environmental cleanup and met an Old Guy named Lupe who owns a Historic Home near the Base that has always intrigued me. Clearly he scavenges for Cool Signs, Antiques & Yard Art, the Home is 1920's Era, nothing out there like it, so I always wanted to know the Back Story. {Below parts of US 60 Bridges compromised due to Storms/Flooding/Mudslides and Closed 'til they can make it Safe.}
Well, anyway the Owner was Outside when I was taking the Pix Below and doing Environmental Cleanup on his Street and he came out to talk to me. Turns out he moved the Home there from Historic Downtown Glendale back when they were gonna raze a bunch of the Historic Homes and his Brother-In-Law at the time knew how to move Houses and was trying to Save/Rescue as many of the Historic Ones from there as he could. The City gave them to him if he'd just pick them up and move them off while finding people who wanted to Buy them and pay for them to be Moved elsewhere. Lupe had paid Three Grand for a Lot there near his Mom's House, next door to where he grew up. I actually lived Walking Distance from his House when I met The Man in 1989.
So, he had it moved there and worked on it for Two Years to rewire, do the plumbing and Restoration of it. He trained himself to do all the DIY, built a Rock Wall in front of it. Built the Fireplace and Mantle out of Old Brick and Old Oak Lumber Salvaged, coz the Original One hadn't moved with the House, so he said where it had been was a hole big enuf to drive a Car thru it. *LOL* He lived with his Mom while doing all that with his Wife & Kids. He said Moving the House cost Seven Grand so he only paid a total of Ten Grand, plus Sweat Equity, for it. We had such a nice Chat that he wants us to come visit again, I could tell he was a Kindred Spirit so we had such a spirited conversation about Junquing, Salvaging, building and Dealing in Salvaged Architecture.
Princess T HATES this Ventriloquist Dummy of Edgar Bergen, she won't be in the same Room with him. *LOL* I have one that I think is Creepier {see Below}, it's a Hillbilly Character with Red Hair, at The Mall that we're Selling in our Showroom, called Otis O'Brien {1972}. But I wanna Keep this one, it's Classic looking, he came out in the same Era as the one I'm Selling and was Sold at "Montgomery Wards", that my Dad always called "Monkey Wards". I remember that Wards always sent us a huge Christmas Catalog and as a Kid it was a Big Deal to look thru it. I think it's a Perfect Halloween Prop coz they ARE so Creepy. Otis has never Sold for Two Halloweens now so it he doesn't Sell this Year I may pull him from Inventory and keep him as a Halloween Prop too? I thought for sure he'd Sell easily, but he's been a Hard Sell.
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The Daughter has begun Decorating the Art Studio Space for Halloween now and clearing/cleaning everything she's crammed in there of hers. It's a Hot Mess and it shouldn't be this close to him coming for his Visit. Had he been Moving Back we'd of Needed to spend a lot of time in there getting it Purged, she's got way too much in there and it's not all that Functional due to it. I want to Purge it considerably this Fall/Winter since she's no longer really occupying the Space and has moved more into the 5th Wheel. I want to reclaim my Art Studio Space even tho' we'll likely keep the Double Bed in there for Guests visiting, tho' the 5th Wheel has ample extra Beds for Guests to stay and Sleep in too. Anyway Below is some of what she's done and I've Edited the Pixs to reduce the Clutter all around being seen. *LOL* Sweet Baby Jesus that Girl is worse at being Editorial than I am! There's a LOT going on, nowhere for the Eye to Rest, but, she's having Fun with it. *Ha ha ha*
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She's had so much Fun just dressing, undressing, re-dressing this Vintage Mannequin... every time I go in there it's wearing something different! *LOL* It has as many Wardrobe Changes at she does... or Aretha Franklin did! *Bwahahahaha* Every time I come Home from going somewhere she eagerly greets me saying, "Mom, come look at what I've done now..." *Ruh Roh, LOL* She and Mando also set up our new Ice Machine and I just Love it, handy spot, it already made almost 30 Lbs. of Ice. I got it at TARGET recently while they were having all their Ice Machines on Deep Discount After Season. But, in Arizona, you always Need Ice and we use a lot of it.
But many Men just aren't, at any Age. I know when The Man's Brothers and Adult Nephews would come to visit, shit got Broken and I Wonder if their Wives were always having to replace shit at their Homes if they Break shit while visiting someone else's Homes?! Anyway, I digress... Using Ice Trays is what we resorted to and the Family fight all the time over who leaves them empty with just One Cube left in them and puts them back in the Freezer without filling them back up all the way? Now, the only thing will be to ensure fresh Water is in the Ice Maker for it to make Ice continuously.
We're grilling Marinated Hamburgers Today that I bought from "Albertson's" Specialty Meat Section of Pre-Marinated Meats. The Man and I worked up an Appetite doing so much Environmental Cleanup all Day and we missed Lunch so are eating an early Dinner. Princess T was saying none of her Boyfriend's Friends remembered to Wish him a Happy Birthday or do anything for him, it made her Mad that she was the only one who even acknowledged it! She doesn't even know if his Family did? We make a Big Deal out of anyone in the Family on their Special Day. Except for me coz I prefer to have Me Time and they all know just giving me Cash and a Day all to myself unencumbered with an Entourage in tow is the Best Gift of all. *LOL* I can be very self-indulgent then without relying on anyone else to indulge me. I'm Good to me, what can I say? *Winks*
Too Funny to me tho' that my Adult Kids and my Adult Grandkids always seem shocked at how Old I'm ACTUALLY turning, coz they really never remember my Age at all. They always imagine I'm Younger, a LOT Younger, and I'm like, do the Math, it would have meant then I'd of been a Child Parent and damned near a Child Grandparent!!! I guess they all Suck at Math?! *Bwahahahaha* They just don't think I behave, seem or appear "So Old" to them and I kinda felt that way about my own Mom actually, so I "Get It". My Mom was the most Youthful Spirited 80+ Year Old you'd ever meet. AND she'd add a Decade to her Age when asked how Old she was coz she said Women Lied in the Wrong Direction... add a Decade and be CERTAIN to get a Sincere Compliment of how Fabulous you Look!!! And what Woman don't wanna hear THAT?! *LMAOROTF*
Anyway, Today the Temp was only in the 60's or 70's all day long and that was Fabulous to be out and about in, so, we were out until I had to pick Princess T up from Work at 3:30 p.m.. We also did some Grocery Shopping... and the Guys just did the BBQ of those Hamburgers, turned out Sublime, I liked that Marinate used. "Albertson's" Bakery also had Homemade Buns from their Bakery, which were so good that's all I'm gonna Buy from now on when I wanna Cook Hamburgers!!! They only come in a 6-Pac of Buns, but, that's all we Needed, coz there was only Six of us to Feed Today, no Extras present. *LOL*
Tomorrow is the Event at "Sweet Salvage" with a Thanksgiving Bountiful Market Theme. I've perused the FB Sneak Peeks and I think it'll just be an Inspirational visit for me, not seeing anything intriguing that I would be Tempted by. I'm still very much in an Autumnal Vibe but more of a Halloween leaning and there's nothing there of that Genre at all, and, there still could have been since it's still a couple Weeks away. And, since people are Buying Halloween like Crazy at all the Stores right now. Some are running out of Selling Out, so, they could have bumped up Sales by still catering to the Halloween Shoppers IMO. If you rush forward to Thanksgiving, most people don't Buy anything but Food for Thanksgiving really. I can't even recall anyone I know Decorating specifically for Thanksgiving.
I'm probably leaving most of my Halloween on the Interior anyway, up for most, if not all, of November, just to enjoy it longer. On the Porch I keep the Faux and Real Pumpkins out there and put away the Skellies and Creep Factor Decor. The Pumpkin Harvest Decorations will last until the Day after Thanksgiving, then, we'll be thinking about Christmas Decor. I haven't decided yet which of our Faux Christmas Trees we'll put up this Year in the Livingroom? I am seriously thinking of getting rid of some of my Faux Trees tho', we have a few and used to put up more than one Tree. I did consider putting the rest up full time in The RV Garage Mahal but I'm rethinking that since, I'm trying to Downsize on what isn't necessary now. I've been paring down on Seasonal Holiday Decorations for a while now, I don't Need all that I have. I don't mind parting with some more of it.
The good thing about Holiday Collectibles is that at the Antique Mall, they often still Sell well out of Season when nobody else is offering them. And, especially if you have Vintage, Collectible or Antique Holiday Decor. Those that seriously Collect Holiday Decorations are always on the lookout to add to their Collections of it any time of the Year. We have some Vendors that Specialize in Christmas Decor and that's all they Sell all of the time and they do quite well. Our Mall has sometimes done a Christmas in July Event, also very popular. I'd like to see something like that Out of Season for Halloween too, like the Christmas in July thing. Sales for this new Pay Period started out very slow again tho', very slow. The inclement Weather wasn't Helpful. The Storms were so bad few people braved going out in them to Shop, I didn't blame them.
She said that some Homes and some People just don't have a Good Energy, and I know exactly what she means, they don't and you can Feel it if you are inclined that way. It was Telling to me that she said when she first met me she knew that I can pick up on Energies like she does. So she knew I'd understand her more than most Americans probably would. She felt the Cultures of my Family were most similar to the Culture of hers in so many ways, she commended The Man on embracing that. He did explain it was very different than how he was Culturally Raised, but that, he's come to prefer it and feel a connection to it. Even tho' it's not at all what he'd experienced before being a part of this Family. He always felt more comfortable around my Parents than he ever did around his own. People always felt comfortable around my Parents and I always Hope people always feel comfortable around us too?
I am always flattered when anyone tells us they Love coming to our Home and always feel Welcome and totally at Ease here and comfortable. Once we've known anyone a long time they become like Family to us and feel like extended Family with us. I know it is very likely the VA won't extend the Home Nurse Visits beyond October. But I think both Nurses we've had assigned to visit, have sorted out what we needed the most Help with, so that even if we don't get extended Services, we'll be in much better shape. This Nurse changed The Man's Dressings and took the last of them off his Arm. Which now looks perfectly Fine and completely Healed so well in just a Week that it's an amazing transformation. You may recall by the Pix I Shared of it when it looked so gnarly, that I was very worried about it.
Anyway, I Opened an October File Folder from the Past that I apparently haven't Opened in a long time coz I completely forgot I even had those Images. I now enlarge all File Folder Thumbnails so I can see them better as I'm getting Older and this File Folder hadn't yet been enlarged. This is how I know I probably hadn't Opened it in Years. *Smiles* So, I dutifully enlarged the Thumbnails for easier Viewing and lo and behold, here were some of Princess T with one of her Beloved Fur Babies she grew up with and who Adored her... and her him... Yul. He came to us as an Adult Stray, so we have no idea how Old he was, just that he was a Siamese Male who came to us quite Thin from Alley Cat Living, but stuck around our Historic Home and Adopted us. He got HUGE, not in a Fat Overweight way, just that he grew to be an enormous Cat and very protective of Princess T. Siamese are very Protective Cats and used to be used in Thailand as Palace Guard Cats for that reason. They will attack a Canine!
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