Yep, it's gonna still be a Halloween Heavy Post. *Winks* So, it wouldn't seem like Halloween to us without me Sharing some of the Iconic Pumpkin Carver, Ray Villafane's, Creations. I think he got Professional Pumpkin Carving to a whole new level of being able to be a Profession that people Talented at it could make a Living at. A lot of Art is filled with Starving Artists of a high caliber, who remain the Unknown Masters. So I'm really glad that some Art Forms are now being profitable for Artists of all kinds, and especially Seasonal Artists on TV, like Pumpkin Carvers, Cake Artists, Cookie Artists, and Sugar Artists to compete at and get exposure of their Talents. Most of their Creations are fleeting since they are made of perishables, but to behold them even for a brief Moment in Time is Memorable. To watch them Work and Create their Amazing Creations is even more Jaw Dropping.
Granted in their Studios, their Homes, and their Businesses they can take their Time to Create Masterpieces. But in Timed Competitions and under Pressure, they churn out some Creations that still manage to Amaze and defy logic. That they can do something that great in a specified deadline of Time given and with whatever Challenge they are handed by the Judges and Hosts is impressive! How they can salvage mishaps on The Fly is equally a Testimony of their Skill and their resourcefulness. Ray Villafane was in Season 1 of "Halloween Wars" in 2011 and I recall his Skill level was so exceptional the Judges told him to hold back on Talent and Dial it back so his Team could keep Pace and make it all more cohesive. Yeah, he was just Too Good at what he did and too fast as well, so none of the other Competitors, even on his own Team, could keep up or compare.
Above is Ray with Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper. Rob was a Judge on Original "Halloween Wars" Episodes. Now they don't have a 3rd Celebrity Rotating Judge. Every time we'd see Ray performing his Art Locally at the Events once being Hosted of his Work, he'd be graciously giving aspiring Pumpkin Carvers in the Audience tips on the Craft. The Young Prince was mesmerized and enthralled by watching him and absorbing what he Shared. I didn't realize he was in Buckeye nearby this Weekend at their 85th Halloween Carnival... dammit!
I do Wish the Local Events Advertised better, we're a short distance from the City of Buckeye and didn't even know he was Hosting an Event there or we would have gone. Shit. I didn't even know Buckeye had such a long standing Halloween Event that attracts Big Names like Ray!!! So, I missed it by a mere Two Days and would have gone there instead of the Desert Botanical Gardens Event which was a complete Letdown and not worth the longer drive! It was Saturday the 25th and in Real Time it's the Morning of the 27th. I was Googling Ray's Work when I accidentally found out about it, Two Days too late... fuck, fuckity, fuck! *Le Sigh*
Above is Ray's Cat and Princess T's Cat. She has Potential. *Winks* Ray's Partnership with more affluent Cities dried up, but it seems the less affluent Cities are Partnering with him, which is good to know. For Years he did Events in affluent Carefree-Cave Creek, then in Phoenix. Buckeye is still a mostly Rural City just outside of Metro Phoenix, but certainly Urban Sprawl has made it almost connect now as part of Metro Phoenix, which, many other Cities now have and the lines are blurred between them all. Only a Sign saying you're entering one City from another differentiates now coz there's no Space in between anymore they all blend together, numerous Cities that now make up the Metro Phoenix Metropolis.
Buckeye has about 114,300 Residents now and still growing, a lot of new builds going up there. Our City now has 96,600 Residents so is slightly smaller but continuously growing by leaps and bounds. Our Sister City of Goodyear which has always blurred Space with our City, has 118,100 Residents, and the small but affluent City of Litchfield Park has 6,800 Residents and is just a couple Miles from our City. The once Rural Agricultural Far West Valley is becoming more and more Urban. I have mixed Emotions about that and about Gentrification.
And now it's Daylight, also Rusty's Jack O'Lantern Creation. The Kiddos did a Fine Job of it and I didn't have to be Involved, which is a Plus. *Winks* I just put some Chili in the Crockpot to Cook for Dinner Tonight, with 7 People to Feed it's the Cheapest and most effortless way to stretch a Meal for many. This Chili has a little bit of everything in it to make it most nutritious and to hide the Healthy Stuff from those in the Family who don't eat the Healthiest. *Winks* Hidden well in a Chili they will eat it and think it's really good. *Smiles* So, there's about 8 types of Vegetable, 8 types of Beans, Vegetable Broth, Bison Meat, Stewed Tomato with Jalapenos, and various Chili Recipe Spices. This is it just put in, not Cooked yet, it will thicken as it Simmers all day.
The Man is being very Weird this Morning, I got him Showered for his Appointment and dressed in fresh Clothes and now he's sitting on his Walker's Seat looking out at the Road behind The Son's Car!!! This Morning he'd taken a Walk with his Walker to get the Wheels dirty so it looks like he's actually using it {Eye Roll}, but forgot to tell anyone, so we thought he'd wandered off and ignored his Safety Prompt?! So we panicked, he's supposed to have someone with him in case he gets disoriented or confused and not wander off by himself.
He didn't tell anyone and by the time he got back he just sat there in the Driveway staring into Space, so, it was just Weird behavior and I'm certain it's Stress and Anxiety about his VA Appointment and that I'm not the one taking him. Princess T had her Meltdown of Anxiety first about her Dental Appointment and wouldn't go if her Mom and Mom's Boyfriend had to take her. Since hers had been Scheduled Months ago, I agree to take her so she'd even still go!!!
The Man had scheduled the VA Appointment on top of her Appointment so it just made sense to either Cancel/Re-Schedule his or have another Family Member willing and able to take him. The Son is the only other Driver in the Family and right now doesn't even have a functional Vehicle and his Dad is least cooperative with him too, The Daughter can never Drive Legally, and Princess T doesn't know how to Drive yet or have a Vehicle.
So, Mando was Kind enuf to drive The Son to Work at 3:00 in the Morning and still agree to take The Man to the VA Appointment with The Daughter managing his Care. He's pretty good for The Daughter, but he's always Anxious about Appointments and especially if I'm not Present, he discombobulates badly... as badly as Princess T does if I'm not Present. Both of them have extreme Attachment Issues and Distrust Issues of anyone else handling anything with or for them except me. *Le Sigh*
Princess T has always been like that since Infancy, she was a Clingy Baby and I had to get used to that. I feel very suffocated if someone is Clingy or very Needy, so it took a LOT of getting used to, for to Raise a Clingy Child with Attachment and Abandonment Issues. It's as if she could Feel a Disturbance In The Force if I was even Thinking about leaving her Proximity, it was fucking Eerie! It's like she had "Gramma Radar" and everyone Joked about it coz it was so Evident. She still Needs to Know where I'm at, all of the time.
Now that she's Grown she doesn't Need me to be Present all of the time and won't always insist on going everywhere with me like she used to, or Panic if I tried to sneak away. *LOL* But, if she's got to do something or go somewhere, I have to be the one she wants with her, nobody else. It's only after a Year in a Relationship with Rusty she'll let him take her anywhere instead! And she would go places with her Gay Boy Posse, Timmy & Matthew.
She Loves her Mom and is so Happy they're forming a closer Relationship, but, she doesn't want to be responsible for her Mom... which it is and would be. So, her Mom taking her to this Dental Appointment, even with the Boyfriend being capable of ensuring everything went off Okay, was not gonna Fly at all and I knew this before she even had a Freak Out about it. Her Mom and Mando had originally thought it best that I take her Dad and they'd take her Daughter... Nope... Dad was a whole lot less Dramatic and at least appeared to accept them taking him better. Now, not so sure, but he's going with them anyway and may have to then go with them to pick up The Son from Work after the VA Appointment if it runs too long to drop him back off at Home? He likes being driven around so I just gave them some Money for Gas and something to eat while they're taking him. Call it a Bribe and Incentive to take this one for The Team. *Winks*
I know that by the time this Post Publishes another Holiday Season is a Wrap, yet, I linger in the Escapism of it a while longer. No apology for doing so, I think we all Need some Escapism right now from the Madness of our Realities and how fucked up it all is. The Niece called me again, long talk, she Needs to Vent and knows I'm a Safe Space to do so. She's still Unemployed since August as a very Skilled Computer Programmer and Web Designer. But has been doing Okay with playing Poker enuf to make Rent at least and keep her Head slightly above Water. She Won Seven Grand at a Poker Tournament and that got her Bills Paid too that had been stressful to juggle, with just having Unemployment Benefits that don't even cover the Rent. At some point she knows Unemployment will run out so she's Anxious about no Work, none of the Companies saying they're Hiring are actually Hiring, no Responses, not even a single Interview.
Her Dad did 18 Years in the Military but took a RIF when they offered it, huge mistake, he only had 2 Years to go to Earn full Retirement Benefits. They offered The Man one too when they were trying to force Long Time Military out, but we declined. He took my Advice and stayed in 'til they Involuntarily Retired him on a 100% Medical Disability Status... after 39 Years in. Anyway, now her Dad is not getting his Pension Checks on time, if at all, due to the Government Shutdown, so he's Panicking. She offered to move him from Texas to Oklahoma to Share her Apartment and see if them combining Assets might help both of them? He's been Sober now 3 Years so she felt comfortable offering, they are able to sustain Relationship now he's got enuf Sobriety in. She's worried he'll start drinking again if he despairs?
Anyway, it was a long call, The Niece goes as long on Telephone Calls as I go on Blog Posts. *LOL and Winks* And I can only use the One Ear to hold a Phone up to now that the other Ear has those Issues I Need to see a Specialist for. I called the Specialist this Morning, they claim they never got the Referral from my Docs Office and my Docs Office said they Faxed it over last Monday, which, I'm sure they did, they gave me the Referral Info to make contact myself as to why the Specialist hadn't turned it around in 24-48 Hours as required? Well, the Specialist Office claims they do turn a Referral around in that time frame but couldn't find mine. So, they'll contact my Docs Office and ask them to resend it. Swell. So, they claim they'll call me no later than Wednesday after Receiving it, which is 48 Hours from Today. I just hope no further delays ensue to get in to actually see them in an Urgent Request?
So, it was a good thing I did my own Follow-Up or I'd of been waiting for a call that would have never came from the Specialist. *Eye Roll* My Docs office had verification it had been sent and received, when you send a FAX you know those things, so, I'm assuming the Ball was dropped at the Specialist's Office Admin folks? Anyway, so long as they straighten that shit out and have a good Dermatologist I don't Care. They are just down the Road within sight of our House near the Big nearest Hospital, which is surrounded by many Specialist's Offices, including The Man's Cardiologist Office too. That's why I Love our Location so much, so convenient to almost anything you'd ever Need. They have a Five Star best Online Rating, which is encouraging too. You can only Earn Five Stars. Reviews were all so Positive, not a single Negative Review. They say the average visit is 1.5 Hours.
I've been splashing Holy Water on my Ear Daily and Princess T took another Pix of it and it looks better already than the one my Doc took, which is also encouraging. I don't feel as panicked about how bad it looked then, as how it now looks. It still hurts a lot tho' so, still feel a Specialist has to determine what's going on with it? Princess T feels it looks more like deep Bruising and a small festered spot that might have originated what is problematic? She asked if I got bit by something and I don't know, I'd rather think that's what happened and a reaction to a bite or sting actually, than Sun Damage? We'll see. I don't have a Fair Complexion but I have lived in Arizona over 50 Years now, so, that's a lot of Sun Exposure in an Extreme Climate.
The Man has had his Hat on for a while now waiting for the Kids to take him, pacing around. So I suggested to The Daughter to perhaps leave an Hour early so they can take their time and him settle down some and not be so Anxious. She can be notorious for lateness and I had told her you can't be late at the VA or they skip right over you and you'll then have to re-schedule, which could take Months to get in again. So I always get him there early, sometimes they even see him early if they have someone else who didn't show up on time. The Young Prince said he'd forgotten how less Stressful it is living here than living with Allen. He'd forgotten that here he's rarely Stressed Out or having as many Mental Health Episodes coz it's so Calm and Balanced here. I do try to keep a Harmonious Household no matter how many folks are Sharing Space here. Harmony is less Stressful and Calming.
I do think part of the problems with Society right now is the lack of Harmony, Balance and basic Kindness extended or projected outwards. So it's Chaotic and Angry rather than Calming and Peaceful. Some folks do thrive on Chaos and the Negative Emotions are manifested from their Inner Turmoil or own Torment and projected outwards at the whole World. Angrily and with bitterness and/or violent reactions they have as a means of how they think Problems should be resolved or mediated. Decisions made from a place of Anger, Extreme Emotions, Reactiveness, or Desperation are rarely good ones. The Niece said she's had confrontations with Paternal Relatives due to them being unable to Process what's going on in the World in a Balanced or Thoughtful way. They want to Scapegoat too many who really aren't responsible for any of what's going on, just handy Targets to vent towards and Blame.
The top Photo is my Year Old Pumpkin from Autumn of 2024 that now has lost all it's Color and completely dried out like a Gourd, but never Rotted. It kept it's Color until about a few Days ago. I think I may just put a coat of Varnish over it to Preserve it now? Never had a Pumpkin do this, I've dried out Gourds before now. Getting the Show on the Road for The Daughter to get her Dad on his way has proven to be a fiasco... she was cooking something 5 Minutes before they are supposed to leave and suddenly remembering what she's supposed to bring with them of his Meds for Dr. Kline to Review. *Eye Roll* I wanted Doc Kline to see that indeed the VA has been sending us the Meds directly that Civilian Doc Singh had ordered Post-Op, and yet put Doc Kline's name on the Rx Bottles!!! But, they hadn't input that to Doc Kline's System and he knew nothing about it... now we can prove, Yep, tho' it shouldn't happen that way, it did happen just as I told him it had.
Doc Kline had just thought we were mistaken and surely those Rx had been filled by a Civilian Pharmacy, but, they hadn't, I KNEW they'd been filled by the VA and sent directly to us. Now I could prove it by showing him the Rx Bottles from the VA and with him listed as the Doctor, not Singh. You see, Singh can only authorize a Civilian Pharmacy to fill the Scripts and Civilian Pharmacies don't take TriCare and we can't use Medicare Part D for Scripts coz it's a Federal Program too. Anyway, we get the Meds so I don't Care who sends them, and the VA sends them at no Cost, so, as long as it's Working, I don't need to change anything and risk cocking it up. *LOL* So, now the Kids should be on their way and I need to get Princess T on her way now too, got 30 Minutes to get her where she Needs to go on time.
LATER: The Man's Appt. went well, they refilled all his Meds and his Heart sounded good, he doesn't have to go back now for Four Months. Princess T's Dental went well too, she doesn't have to go back now 'til Mid-January of 2026. She and I ran some errands she wanted to do, we made a last stop at one of the bigger "Spirit Stores" in the Far East Valley and I took some more Pixs. They had a lot of Fresh Merch I hadn't seen last time I was there and that location actually still had a lot in stock and wasn't as picked over as our Locations in the Far West Valley. Princess T got everything she went for, except some Brown Thigh High Tights she was hoping they'd have. We went next door to "Five Below" and got some things we didn't Need but Wanted. *Winks* They had the Fuggler Keychains I Collect that I didn't have already. I'm worse in my 2nd Childhood than I was about Toys in my 1st one. *LOL*
She treated me to Lunch at "Rice Paper" our Fav Vietnamese Restaurant in Central Downtown Phoenix. The Staff there have known her since she was in Grade School and the one Gay Handsome Waiter she'd had a Crush on as a Little Girl. He looks exactly the same and she can't Believe he hasn't seemed to Age a Day since she was a Kid, he's very Handsome, Hispanic, has Dimples and a very fit Physique. He was there Today and seems to be in Management now, he's been there for a long time and is such a Sweetheart. He's let her sit at the Bar when she was about 8-9 and drink her Dr. Pepper with a Cherry in it like it was a Cocktail, she felt so Grown-Up. I joked with her that by next September she can sit at the Bar Legally and For Reals. *Winks* At Home everyone loved my Chili.
It's about halfway gone already and it's not even Dinnertime yet. *Smiles* So, I guess it must have been good, I haven't had any yet. Better get mine while there's still some left. *LOL* While we were at the Dentist the Elementary School had brought in a bunch of the smaller Kids to get their Fluoride Treatment and Checkups, the Girls were looking at Princess T and saying how Pretty she was. *Smiles* She said when Little Kids say something like that it's more Believable than when Adults say it, and I agree, Kids tell it like they see it and are so innocent about stating things without inhibitions... good or bad. The Waiting Room had been full, no empty Chairs and Two little Boys gave up their Seats for her and I, then sat on the Floor, such little Gentlemen. The one had extremely thick long Dreadlocks, so I wasn't sure at first if it was a little Boy or a little Girl? But his Voice gave it away... he had a very Androgenous little Face and with his Hair being so long I wasn't sure.
We also went to "Barnes & Noble" Bookstore and I had not only a $9.75 Frequent Shopper Discount built up, but also my Platinum Membership Discount of an additional amount off our Purchase. I only got One Book, but Princess T got a couple of Anime Collectible Figures that come in a Blind Box. She didn't have either one she got, so she was thrilled with the ones she had gotten this time. It was a good Girls Day Out after her Appointment, which was mostly her Fluoride Treatment too. She usually has excellent Dental Checkups coz she practices good Dental Hygiene and doesn't eat much Sugary or Junk Foods. Before we left the House we did find my lost Watch, it was in the Bed and must have come loose and fallen off when I was sleeping and was under a Pillow! I'm glad, I like the Digital Watch with a Scuba Type Black Rubber Wristband, we found it when doing Environmental Cleanup and it works perfectly and keeps good Time. Mine had gone on the fritz days before we discovered it laying Roadside, so I found it just in Time too. *LOL*
I Love seeing not only the Culinary Creations, but also the Halloween Costumes the Judges wear during the Show, they are exceptional Costumes, so Creative and Fun. Whoever their Wardrobe Costume Designer is, someone called Jupiter Heart, they're Brilliant!!! I've included some of my Fav Costumes in this Post and look forward each Season and Episode to see what Costumes they'll come out in? Carla Hall and Zac Young are my Fav Judges, I just Love their Personalities and they're both so Funny. There has been a rotation of Judges over the Seasons, some I didn't like, I Hope they never rotate those Two out tho'. I like the Host as well, John Henson. It's one of my Fav Food Network Halloween Programs I never miss.
I still don't know what The G-Kid Force plan to wear for Costumes this Halloween, they both still like wearing one and they both dig Halloween as much as I do. Their Mom has had Fun with it since she came back to the U.S. too, but, The Son hasn't worn a Costume for Years now, he used to and did great Make-Up, mostly of a Horror Genre. I used to always wear a Costume for Halloween Night and for Dia de los Muertos, but at the very least I do wear Halloween Themed Shirts for most of October, with Halloween Themed Necklaces and Earrings. Today when Princess T and I were out and about we did see a few Adults wearing Costumes, a few were Couples in matching Costumes. At some Stores the Employees wear Costumes, they do at SAVERS and are encouraged to, so Princess T often participates and it's a lot of Fun to see what the Employees are Wearing? They often just Borrow some of the Costumes from Inventory and one Young Male Employee, whose a Goth Kid anyway, changes his several times during a single Shift, having Fun with it.
At the DA's Office they didn't do anything like that, but early in my Banking Corporate Life, I worked for several Financial Institutions back in the Day that did Costume Parties for their Employees and it was such Fun. They'd have Contests for best Costume, best Department participation, I have some Blast from the Past Pixs of our Department all in Costume, such Fun, very Memorable, great Team Building. Everyone did it including Corporate Executives, everyone being a Good Sport in those days. I like that where the Granddaughter Works, the Managers participate too in the Fun frivolous activities, sometimes outrageously so and the Younger Employees, and the Customers, just Love that they do. Our Antique Mall used to Celebrate all of the Holidays with Activities for Customers and Staff, Events and Employee Parties. They do none of that now and so Morale isn't as High as it used to be among Paid Staff or Vendors. Customers used to Love that we did stuff like that too.
When everything is so Serious or Glum, well, it's fucking Boring and a complete Downer, isn't it? Yawn. Jesus, Lighten Up and have some Fun already, don't be so Uptight, Frigid and Rigid! And now that we've had more Halloween Fun and lingered... which I may just continue to do for a few Days and Posts, why not? Moving On to some Food Porn... both Holiday and Non-Holiday Inspired:
As you can see from the Bottom Pix Princess T and Rusty lit up their Jack O'Lanterns at his House and Photographed them for me. Carvings fade fast in the Heat and we're back up to temps in the 90's again, so it was a brief respite of cooling off some. We've had to keep the Air Conditioners on and usually by October we can turn them off, but, not this Year. Princess T, whose usually Cold coz she's such a frail little Waif barely Weighing 90 Lbs., asked me to turn the Truck's Air Conditioner on rather than just leaving the Windows down, after it got above 90 this day while we were out and about. City Traffic being heavy enuf you couldn't catch a Breeze whilst driving and move that Hot Air enough. And at Home, we're still able to use the Pool, also rather extended use into October usually, but, we're not complaining about that. *Winks*
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Yep, also toying around with the Blog's Wallpaper and Fonts... but decided to switch back to what I had, boring, but, easier to Read... Dawn... The Bohemian
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ReplyDeleteGlad everyone's medical appointments went well! I hate it when I hear about events after the fact.
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