Dia de los Muertos ~ Part I

 By time time this Publishes it will already be November and the Celebration of Dia de los Muertos for the next Couple Days.  But, in Real Time it's the 24th of October and The Son has a Four Day Weekend. Since they Closed his Shop on Thursday and Friday, nobody is happy about it, coz they won't get Paid Leave, but, it's better than being Laid Off.  They had Mandatory Overtime when busy, now they're not busy. At least living here at Home he doesn't have to fret about making Rent or buying Groceries, as he would if he had an expensive Apartment and didn't get a full Paycheck.  At least he'll be Home when his Uncle arrives, as will The Young Prince be here, so, my BIL will get to see the whole Family.  That hasn't happened in Years, I don't think he's seen The Daughter for over 20 Years, she was Princess T's Age last time she saw her Paternal Uncle, now her Daughter is that Age.  And The Young Prince was a Teenager last time he saw this Uncle, he's 25 now.

We're awaiting his arrival this Morning, he was in Wickenburg last Night which is only a couple Hour Drive from Metro Phoenix.  But, he's never been to this Home before so I do Hope the directions given he can find it.  We have easy directions off Two Freeways living here, so it's easier to find than our other previous Properties were and he found them easily.  But, then again, he wasn't 80 back then either.  *Smiles*  I thought he might be using his GPS on his Phone, but, apparently not, he needed directions the Old School way, Bless him.  If he gets a bit Lost we can go get him and guide him in.  I suspect he'll find us tho' since he gets himself to Texas from Alaska every Year.  *Winks*  He did say he stopped and visited some Relatives while in Utah, where most of their Family still live.

He got to see their Aunt Mary, whose the Sister of their Dad, who had something like 10 Siblings and only a few of the Youngest of the 11 Kids their Paternal Gramma had are still Alive.  Granted, their Grandma had Kids spanning a wide Age range, one of their Uncles is Younger than The Man is!   My Paternal Gramma was like that too and had 11 Kids spanning wide Age range, she had been Married Off at Age 13.  Now that would be unspeakable, but in their Generation and especially Tribal Cultures, it was the Norm.  Even one of my Paternal Cousins, whose my Age, was Married and had her first Child at Age 13 on the Rez!!!  And in Hispanic Culture a lot of Girls are Married and have Kids by Age 15.  In White Culture that would be considered some Hillbilly shit.   To me any Girl or Boy under 18 is still a Child.

Anyway, I'm glad he got to visit with their Aunt Mary, I think she and their Uncle Tommy, the one Younger than my Husband, are the only Paternal Aunt/Uncle still Living out of the original 11 Kids their Paternal Grandparents had.  This Brother, and The Man, only ever Fathered a Single Daughter, which, in Mormon Culture was very unusual to have a Small Family and not want a slew of Children.  One of their Sisters, the Youngest Sibling, has 7 Kids.   And the other Sister, who was Older than The Man but Younger than the Older Brother, had 5.  She is deceased now.  Their Younger Brother has 3 Sons, so he kept a reasonable sized Family too, all the Sons did.  Of coarse The Man Raised the Children I brought into our Marriage, and then the Grandkids we also Raised, so, he's Technically had a Big Family of Kids, his, mine and The Daughter's.  *LOL*

I only have the One Younger Brother, I think my Parents would have had a very large Family, but my Mom suffered a lot of Infant Mortality with having Multiple Births often.  In those Days, depending on where you Lived, Twins and Triplets often didn't make it.  My Mom had Two Sets of Twin Boys, and Two Sets of Triplet Boys, and one Single Birth Boy, that didn't make it.  I was actually her 10th Child and only Girl.  My Brother was actually her 13th Child and almost didn't make it, only 3 Lbs. at Birth and no Incubators at the Hospital he was Born in Overseas.  I always said he was Unlucky in Life {which he was often} coz of being the Number 13th Child.  I'm big on Numerology.  *LOL*  She lost Twin Boys between having me and my Brother.  The Man was a Twin, his Twin Sister Died at Birth. 

 Infant Mortality was still high in our Day really.  Moreso in our Parent's Day.  My Dad lost 3 Brothers in Childhood.  My Mom said her Mother lost a set of Twins at Birth too.  On Mom's side of the Family Multiple Births were common, especially Twins.  I was worried each time I got preggy that I'd have Twins or Triplets for that reason!   The Family History wasn't good for the Multiples Surviving.   The Daughter also Miscarried One Child, but had 5 Children Born Healthy.  Both of my Pregnancies luckily were healthy big Babies, all over 8 Lbs. and The Son weighed in at close to 11 Lbs., and Yes, I had him Naturally and with no Pain Meds, Ouch! 

 At the time of his Birth I only Weighed 128 Lbs. so the Docs were astounded I rather easily gave Birth to a Samoan Sized Baby!  Compared to the other Newborns, he looked 3 Months Old already and actually like a little Samoan Baby in Size & Complexion!  *LOL*   I had a Doc ask me if my Husband was Samoan?  Not that I knew of, but, he was Adopted and never discovered who his Birth Father was, so, who knows for sure?  *Bwahahaha*  We always Guessed my Ex was half Italian {Bio Mom was Italian}, and probably half Indigenous/Hispanic, perhaps of Yaqui Ancestry?  Even tho' my Ex could grow Facial Hair, Indigenous people always thought he was a Tribal Mixed Race Person, and likely, he probably was.  He sure behaved like one on the Fire Water, that's for sure, and was a raging, yet high functional Alcoholic!  I think he was drunk all of the time but didn't even Act or seem drunk all of the time.  But, definitely Crazy all of the time!!!

Now, that said, I'm Crazy all of the time too, so clearly it wasn't gonna last, or one of us would have surely Killed the other. I'm more of a Planner, so, I'd say his Spontaneity would have to be swift and very accurate if he tried to take me Out, or he'd of had to Keep One Eye Open and Watch his Back otherwise Forever and Ever.  *Winks*   And so I got our Marriage Annulled shortly after our Son was Born, he was only 6 Weeks Old when I said Enough, Peace Out.  The Marriage lasted shorter than the Pregnancy... but, since a Kid was involved they called it a Divorce and not an Annulment Legally.   I probably Dated him longer than I was Married to him, I cut my Losses quickly in any Situation that's a Loser or going Down.   And as my Dad Sagely Advised me about it when I consulted him, "If the Horse is Dead... get off."  *Bwahahaha*   I sure do Miss my Dad's Wisdom and brief analogies of Life Situations.  *Smiles and Winks*

My Mom really Liked my Ex tho' and felt he was damaged goods long before I got him.  She said his Aura and Essence had a very Negative impact on his whole Life and his Destiny, it was unavoidable for him to have a tragic Outcome.   She told me it wasn't Personal, he would have a tragic Destiny and mine wasn't Tied to his, she had Predicted much of what happened to him Post-Divorce actually, so, she also felt Divorcing him was best for the Kids and I.   Mom was eerily accurate in Predicting shit about People and was never Wrong about it, she Read People like a Book and it Scared a lot of folks coz they equated it with Witchcraft.  She had a Vision about my Ex, told me about it, and it came to Pass, he spent 27 Years in Maximum Security Prison and she'd Predicted fairly accurately what led him to that Destiny.  He'd been out of my Life by then for several Years and I'd Remarried The Man.

I got the whole Pool Area parameter around the Pool Decking now outlined with Wishing Stones we Collected.  I had more of them than I thought we did so we still have a lot left to line along the Bock Wall and West Side of The RV Garage Mahal that encloses the Pool.   I want to put Wishing Stone Rock Rings around our Baby Palm Trees we've now got growing Poolside.  I want more Palms and we've been finding Baby ones around Old Palm Groves out near Agricultural Fields.  Our Palms have also Seeded some Baby Palms that we're nurturing.  We don't need as much Open Pasture as the previous Owner did who probably had Horses or Livestock that grazed it.  We will only have Chickens that The Daughter is Adopting from an Elderly Friend who has to get rid of his Flock, Selling their Mini Farm and going in to Senior Living now.

My BIL arrived and stayed 'til about 3:00 p.m., so, he didn't get so see Princess T, she was Working late 'til 4:00 Today and he's got a long drive still to Texas.  He looked great and is 76, not 80, so we were Laughing about that, he's only 3 Years Older than The Man, it was their Older Sister that would have been 80 if she hadn't Died recently.  He's in good Health, compared to both Younger Brothers, he got the Good Hair Genes too and isn't losing his like his Younger Brothers or their Dad did.  He looks exactly like their Dad tho', it was like my FIL Cloned his Oldest Son.  As you can see us Old Folk really suck at Selfies.  *LMAO*  "Is this how it Works?", we're all saying and then didn't have the dexterity to hold it out there and push the right Button on the Phone, even when giving it to the one with the longest reach.  *Smiles*   We had so much Fun during this visit, he bought everyone Pizza and we sat Poolside for most of the time, he said our Property is like a Staycation.  He Loved our New Place.

He said when he gets back to Texas his Daughter and SIL are Trading Homes with him coz they're building a newer bigger Home nearby.  The Home they have is 5 Houses down from his Winter Home on the same Street, but theirs has a Pool and better View unobstructed of a Park.  So, they're swapping Homes and he's giving them his and they'll Rent it out and let him just live in theirs.  They'll live in their New Custom Home they're Building.  He doesn't know why they're building such a big House with 5 Bedrooms and 3 Bathrooms coz their Oldest Child is a Senior in High School and the other one is a Sophomore in High School already.  They said coz when he has to, they want him to move in with them.  He said he's not ready for that yet, but I'm so glad to hear they are thinking about and looking out for him now he's a Widower.  I'd been worried they weren't.

I think he really enjoyed the Visit and so did we.  He seems much more relaxed now and didn't realize how stressed out he'd been looking after his ailing Wife for so many Years as she deteriorated.  He said he tried to put her in a Nursing Home when it got to be too much but had to bring her Home due to them not taking good Care of her.  He said it was costing a fortune for her to be neglected and he said he could do a better job at Home even without Staff, I agree, usually you do provide more Caring Caregiving of your own than Strangers do or would, at any Price.  He couldn't stand to see her in a Care Facility and worrying all the time about the level of Care she was or wasn't receiving.  She said she wanted to come Home and just Die there, and that's what they did in the End.  It was hard on him tho', and I can see the Weight lifted now, his whole countenance and personality has a Lightness to it without all that Stress and Strain of Full Time Caregiving.   And... he can take better Care of himself now.

We should have taken the Pixs earlier when The Young Prince was present, but so busy visiting and having Lunch Poolside that we only remembered to get Pixs just before he needed to leave.  By then Mando and The Young Prince weren't there and Princess T wasn't Home from Work, so, no Group Shot unfortunately.   I Hope he can make it back for another Visit on his way back to Alaska in the Spring?  He's fixing up his Property there but said he Sold his Properties in Wyoming, Virginia and Florida, since, the Real Estate Markets were booming in all those areas and he could get a huge Equity Profit off of them all.  He said a lot of Billionaires are moving to Wyoming and he Sold his Property there to one.  He said they used to go to Jackson Hole to Buy Real Estate but now are Buying up in smaller Communities.   

  

He's putting all his Profits now, from anything he Sells, including his Roth Dividends, into Gold Coins.  Gold is now up to $4,126 an Ounce!!!   He buys the smaller Gold Coins so he can Sell less at a time if he wants to cash out on the Gold.  He's buying Silver now too coz he can double his Money easily, Gold isn't doubling, but, is still a great Investment right now.   Silver is at $48 an Ounce.    He said he decided to liquidate most of his Real Estate Investments coz it's a hassle to Rent, even tho' Rental Income was a nice Passive Income Flow, Tenants could be problematic and from a distance, he just didn't wanna Deal with that anymore.  He Sold his huge House in Healy, Alaska that had it's own Runway, a Wealthy Family bought it.   He maintains an Old Rustic Cabin in a smaller Town in Alaska that he lives in all Spring & Summer that he bought from some Old Russian Homesteaders who built it.   It needed a lot of Work so that's been his Hobby, fixing it up.

He said the Kids are moving all his things from Storage now to their Old House they're swapping with him coz they already got Tenants for his Old House in Texas.  The Homes are not "Old", they were built about 15 Years ago, have an HOA and are in a very small Town in Texas that has less than 38,000 Population.   It's where his SIL Retired from the Military Career, coz the SIL was originally from Texas and wants to live there.  My BIL doesn't really Like Texas but said so long as his Kid and Grandkids live there he'll remain.  He Loves Alaska but said now all his Old Friends there have either Died or Moved away, so he doesn't feel he will stay there either eventually, no connection anymore.  He's lived in Alaska for more than 50 Years and Traveled the World.  

In a couple Weeks he's going to China with some Chinese Friends from Alaska.  The Husband is a Chinese National and his Wife a Chinese American, they're taking him to China with them coz they want him to see it and he wants to go, it's been on his Bucket List.   The funny thing to me is that the Husband, who was Born in China, has an American First Name {mebbe he chose to take an American Name as some Immigrants choose to do?}... and his American Born Wife has a Chinese First Name of Ming.  *LOL*   Anyway, the Husband is going back to China for Business, he has an American Business but still does Business in his Home Country, so he'll go first and then send for his Wife and my BIL to join him.   My BIL said he wouldn't go to someplace like China unless he was going with Friends who know the Country and speak the Language, or, he'd feel Lost and vulnerable.  I agree.  Great that his Friends are asking him to go with them.  He's excited about the Trip.

He's excited about swapping Homes with his Daughter/SIL too, he likes their House better, they've done more improvements to it, it's a better Location in the Subdivision, is larger, and they are setting it up for him with all his things before he arrives.   He did say the Forrest used to be the Scenery behind that Home but the City cut all the Trees down to make a Park and displaced all the Natural Wildlife, which, he was sad to see.  But, he says a lot of Residents use the Park and nobody used the Forrest.  Of coarse the Animals did and my BIL is a huge Conservationist.  He's an avid Hunter too, but when it's not Hunting Season he would often take his Grandkids into the Forrest and feed Wildlife with them.  He said most of the Deer around those parts were used to Humans and would come eat out of your Hand.  Now they're all displaced, due to Human Encroachment, and it's a shame.  I agree it is.

 He said he no longer decorates for Halloween or Christmas, but goes to his Neighbors to hand out Candy to the Trick-Or-Treaters now and sits with them, combining Candy.  He leaves the Porch Light Off at his House but wants to still buy Candy to hand out to the Neighborhood Children.  He said he and the Neighbors just make a Sociable Night of it while handing out the Candy.  He used to go all out when his Grandkids were little, but now they're almost Grown, there's no Point, especially now he's Alone.   He said Holidays now are like every other Day and I suppose if  you don't have Family living with you, that's understandable.  Plus, his Wife was the one who enjoyed Decorating for Holidays, and I'm the one who does here... and The Daughter... the rest of them aren't Holiday Decorators at all.  *LOL*   My BIL does Like Antiques and said he's got a lot of Stuff and his Daughter keeps telling him to get rid of most of it coz she doesn't wanna Inherit it and have to dispose of it all.  So, he's begun to Downsize now in Earnest, for her sake. 

Her Husband Retired as a very high ranking Military Officer, so they're financially good, he doesn't have to worry about that, but, since she's an Only Child she will Inherit his entire Estate of coarse.   And she's Older than our Kids, so, she's Retired, as is her Husband, and they just don't want the hassle of having to downsize her Dad's possessions if he can do it while still Alive and benefit from the proceeds.   He said the Issue for him is that he'd rather Donate all the Household stuff and be done with it in one fell swoop rather than the hassle of Selling it or trying to.   But, for now it still holds a lot of Memories of his Wife, who hasn't been Gone that long yet and I understand, she bought most of what they have in their Home and Feathered their Nest, so it has her Essence and he wants that still, to retain it for now.

I was talking to The Young Prince and he said there is definitely going to be a Divorce, he just can't keep trying reconciliations that aren't Working for either one of them.   His Great-Uncle told him he was Sorry to hear that, he hadn't met Allen, but knows they have only been Married a few Years.  The Young Prince asked if he could stay thru Thanksgiving and I said that's Fine.  Originally he was only staying thru Halloween, but the Phone Calls with Allen have been tense and he just doesn't want the Holidays spoiled that he enjoys most.  He's not one to enjoy Christmas like he does Halloween and Thanksgiving.   Halloween is always Fun Times and Thanksgiving for us is always about Family and being Thankful, so he thoroughly enjoys those Holidays around us.  If he wanted to stay thru Christmas it's Fine too actually, we don't Care.  He told his Great-Uncle if all his Stuff wasn't still in New Mexico, he doubts he'd even go back.  That speaks volumes.

They don't Own a lot, but, most of what he has is his Art, which he's very Attached to coz it's meaningful to him, or what we've bought for him over the Years, which is Sentimental to him.   Allen is very much The Minimalist like The Son, so I'd venture to Guess that both Men could pick up and move their Worldly Possessions in the back Seat of their Cars and be totally Packed in less than an Hour.  *LOL*   Anyway, I could tell things aren't great but hadn't gotten into discussing it with him until he's ready to spill the Tea about everything.  I know he doesn't wanna Worry me about any of his Personal Troubles and wants to handle his own Business.   But, Relationship Problems can be so draining and so complex that it takes a heavy toll on anyone going thru that. 

The Above pix was taken when I was wearing a lot of Turquoise Blue and other bright Jewel Tones for a previous Year's Dia de los Muertos Procession I attended.   Which when you have Grey Eyes, that are very Pale, they will reflect certain Colors like Blues and Greens, and seem to change your Eye Color dramatically.   The Young Prince's Green Eyes do the same, if he wears Neutrals like Browns, his Eyes look Amber or Green-Hazel.   I don't know that I'll Paint my Face like a Sugar Skull Girl this Year, I can't do it as well anymore.   I used to be able to do Face Paint really well and now I don't have a steady Hand or as keen Eyesight as I used to for such things that require Detailed Work.  I'd probably look like a Hot Mess or that I let a Great-Grandchild whose a Toddler do it for me.  *LOL*

And speaking of those Munchkins, here's the Middle Granddaughter's Brood and I noticed she has a Brace on her Hand so gotta ask her whatssup with that?  She's a Nurse, and a Single Parent now, so can't afford a jacked up Hand!   They were out in the Pumpkin Patch picking out their Pumpkins for Halloween.  I haven't visited a Pumpkin Patch now the Kiddos are all Older.   That one that lasted from last Halloween is finally starting to dry out, but, not Rot, it's just losing it's Color now, but, it's gonna last thru Two Halloweens, can't beat that!!!   Especially how Hot it's been and that it's sat out on the Porch for over a Year now!!!  The Daughter and Mando brought a small nice shaped Orange Standard Pumpkin a Friend of theirs grew on his Mini Farm, so we have 3 Real Ones and a slew of Faux Ones out on the Front Porch.

The BIL Loved what we'd done for Halloween here and said it really got him in the Spirit of the Season.   He thinks I should Sell more from Home, but, I told him only Trusted Industry Friends by Invitation Only are Welcome to, I don't want Random folks coming to our Home to Buy anything.  He understands, he said it's a good thing his Alaskan Property is so remote or he'd worry about Theft or Squatters while he's gone.  His Texas Property is so close to his Daughter and Family they keep an Eye on it when he's gone and maintain it for him.   He splits his time 50-50 between Texas and Alaska now that his Wife has Died.  He prefers Alaska but said he's too Old now for Winters there.  And he no longer flies his own Plane now, tho' he still could.  He Sold his Plane and hasn't considered yet whether to Buy a new one and Fly again or not?  I understand, one of The Daughter's Elderly Friends flies a lot but said as you get to a certain Age you consider the safety factors of still flying.

The BIL says Cantwell, Alaska, where his Cabin is, only has a permanent Population of 121 People.   There's only 8 places to stay if you're not a Resident, so, we won't ever be visiting him there.  *LOL*   He doesn't mind living so remote coz he was a Mountain Man for most of his Adult Life and didn't live close to Civilization.  He started his own River Rafting Business outside of Denali Park and had a big Homestead there where he built a small Cabin first and then the Huge Home that was like a Ski Lodge and had it's own Runway and smaller Cabins he Rented out in Season when Tourists came for a Wilderness Adventure.   When The Man was Well enuf he'd go up there for 6 Months and help his Brother out with the Wilderness Tours and make sure the Tours were Safe and no Tourists got eaten by Predators.  *LOL*   Seriously, it could happen. 

 My BIL also Retired from Working the Big Mines in the Huge Mining Operations up there, which are good paying Union Jobs.  He knows that The Son worked Gravel Pits here in Arizona and wanted him to come up there to Work the heavy Equipment, coz he knows how, but, The Son was never interested.  Like Arizona Mining Operations, where you're Mining for anything, the Hours are brutally long, usually 16 Hours a Day, and usually 6-7 Days a Week, you don't have a Life.  The Son isn't that interested in making a lot of Money and just Sleeping and Working nonstop for his whole Life until Retirement.    Anyway, the Mines are always Hiring, here and in Alaska, but, he turns down the constant Offers.   And I can't say that I blame him at all.  

I have a Female Friend at the Antique Mall, Rocky {Rochelle}, whose Elderly and Worked the Mines in Alaska, she got Wealthy doing it coz she said there was no place to spend it there.  So she spent over 35 Years just Saving what she Earned.  *Bwahaha* Yeah, she goes on endless Cruises now, but... her entire Adult Youth and Prime Years of Life were spent Working and doing nothing else in Alaska.   And now her Husband is too sickly to go on any of the Cruises with her so she goes Alone... I dunno, I'd of rather of done Fun things with him when they were able to and Younger.  But, that's me.   In fact, she goes on so many Cruises now that she almost seems Bored by it.  And with nobody to Share the Experiences with, I can understand why the Thrill is Gone.  She doesn't even talk about the Cruises now when she gets back, it's become banal to her I guess?

 

I do think I'm going to try to get to The Desert Botanical Gardens Today.  They have "Strange Garden" going on so I think it will include some Pumpkin Art.  I charged my Camera's Battery up, since it had gone Dead while my BIL was visiting so with my Old School Camera I only got Two Pixs of him with it... dammit!   Hadn't realized I'd let the Battery drain that much, but, I have taken a lot of Halloween inspired Pixs.  I may ask The Young Prince if he wants to go with me, it's too much Walking for The Man and The Daughter won't wanna go without Mando and I can only take One Guest.  The Son probably wouldn't be interested, so, it's hard to know which Family Member might enjoy it... or not?  *LOL*  It's my Jam, not necessarily theirs to spend Hours walking around a Garden looking at Pumpkin Art.  *Winks*  The Man thinks I should just go by myself to maximize my enjoyment, he's probably Right?  *Ha ha ha*

But, the Young Prince Loves, Lives and Breathes Art, so, I dunno, it might be something he'd really enjoy so I will ask if he gets up in time to go?   He's seemed quite tense since having those Phone Calls with Allen and needs something enjoyable to get his Mind off his Relationship Troubles.  He spent a few days with a Friend, and that was Helpful, for him to Connect again with Positive People he's Friends with in Arizona.  In New Mexico he said it's almost impossible for him to make Friends in Clovis, very Homophobic Community and he's 'New' there.  With some smaller Communities everyone has known everyone else forever so they're not as receptive to Newcomers of any kind.   And those with Alternative Lifestyles and who are 'different' know it's gonna probably be harder to make meaningful Connections in some Communities.  Depends how Closed Minded or Biased they might be?  He said a lot of MAGA live there too and you see the Signs on the Lawns or Banners hanging from their Eaves... long after the Election.

It's pretty Cold right now so I'm gonna wait 'til it Warms Up, it's supposed to get to 86 and be nice all day tho' so that's perfect for Walking the Garden and taking Pixs.  But right now I'm not even sure it's 60 degrees so too Chilly for me at the moment and I want Rush Hour to be over too, even tho' it's Saturday, some of the Freeways is Closed for Repairs this Weekend, which always mucks things up for traversing the City.  We already have the Snow Birds and other Tourists here so it's thick Traffic all the time now.  And, I'm guessing the Event will be well attended at the Gardens, the Holiday Events usually are well received.  I don't know if another Restaurant took over "Gertrude's" Building?  I will miss that Fine Dining they had and my Friends I've known for Years there, including the Manageress.  They had recently Remodeled so it was very Strange how it Closed so suddenly in May.  I was there and talked with her and Staff, nobody said anything, as if they might not have known?

 

The only explanation Online by The Gardens was that the "Partnership" had ended.  Which sounded more like they may have not renewed the Lease on the Building?  I just will never know now since I don't have Shared Contact Information with the People I knew who Worked for "Gertrude's", it has just always been there for about 13 Years.  Hause Restaurant Group owned the Restaurant and may have decided to end the Partnership, and go on to their next Culinary Chapter, so, it's just hard to say which entity decided the long Partnership was over?   I just found it Strange how sudden it was coz May 16th was the earliest I could find anything Online talking of the Closure and it was a Wrap by May 31st!!!   

The last visit I had to The Gardens and the Restaurant was in May and they weren't saying anything to anyone, it looked like Business as usual to me and to the Guests.  The Restaurant was very packed, as it always was, many times you needed Reservations, but I always got in coz the People there knew I was a Regular.  I just felt they would have whispered something to me Privately or seemed morose it was Closing?  And why would any Tenant pay for expensive Remodeling knowing they'd be having to Close not long thereafter, it just didn't make sense to me.  Anyway, another Mystery of the Times I guess, so many Mysteries and Unknowns happening... everything now seeming Subject to Change Without Notice.   I miss everything that used to be, I really do, and I'm not adverse to Change... I embrace any Positive Change and Progressions of Society... but most Change hasn't been so Positive, or Progressive, and a lot of it has been so Negative.

I won't go down that Dark Path this Morning tho', I feel very Uplifted Today and it's the 25th in Real Time as I'm creating this Post and I'm excited to be attending another Autumnal Event.  Halloween is closing in so fast, as is Dia de los Muertos, that it will soon be over and I'll be Sad about that.  I languish in this Season and squeeze everything I can out of it.  *Smiles*  All of November will still be devoted to Autumn and readying for Thanksgiving, we still have a Turkey in the Freezer and I just bought some Stuffing... we have everything else on hand that we'll need.  Typically we've gone out to eat some Thanksgivings, but right now everyone's Economic Situations dictate making the Dinner at Home, and we have a House full to feed, so, eating out would have been expensive.  Plus "Boston Markets" Closed all their locations and "Cracker Barrel" has been practically the only place offering a Thanksgiving Dinner, and accommodating a large Family is hard at Restaurants when they're super busy.  Your wait is way longer for a Table.

I really just want a more relaxed Thanksgiving and the Kiddos now know how to Cook a Turkey and the first one they ever did turned out so good it gave them confidence to do another.  So most of the Work won't be mine, the Kids have taken over and The Young Prince plans to stay for Thanksgiving now too and he's an excellent Cook and likes to Cook, so can help his Mom with it.   The Son's Employer almost always gives them a Turkey at Thanksgiving, and even serves their Employees a big Thanksgiving Feast, so we'll have a replacement Turkey when we used the one in the Freezer and will save the newer one for Christmas.  The Antique Mall used to do a Thanksgiving Dinner for Vendors but they haven't now for a few Years.  They suspended Hosting Vendor Breakfasts and a Vendor Christmas Party too, they do nothing for us now.  And thus, they don't have good Vendor retention, constant exodus now, there's no bond, before it was like a 'Family'.  I miss that too.

When they used to do a lot for Vendors to promote Unity, AND Sales were very Good as well, then they go to doing nothing and Sales are very Bad, it's a stark contrast.  The Rents increased a lot, so it's not as if they aren't making more Money, they just aren't spending as much of the increased Profits on their Vendors, the Advertising of the Mall, nothing, so a lot of Vendors have felt a lot of Benefits erode over the Years of being there.  Some have gone to other Antique Malls, some New Ones are Opening and I'm going to check them out.  I don't anticipate moving and establishing a new Relationship, it would be a lot of Work and not as close by, so I just don't know yet what Plans I'll have?  I like the East Valley Big Antique Mall Best, but none of their Spaces are as large as what I have and it's too far for me to do Business there as a Vendor. 

 I like the Owner, Mike, and feels he has his Finger on the Pulse of the Industry and runs a nice place that attracts the right Demographic of Shoppers for the Industry.  He can Talk Shop with the best of them about Antiques, Vintage and Collectibles, our Management can't.   I don't know how you can run a Business you have Zero Interest in the Industry of it?   If I had no Knowledge about Antiques, I probably wouldn't Own an Antique Mall.  I suspect the Grandfather who founded it did have such an Interest, but his Heirs clearly do not, but, it was a successful Business to just Inherit and after he Died things really changed, but, not for the better IMO.   The Son said his Employer is the same, the Original Owner knew everything about Custom Quality Cabinetry and built the Business from the Ground up. 

 He Sold it when he Retired, the New Owner wasn't as knowledgeable and didn't run it as well, so The Son felt he was Stressed Out and it may have even led to his demise prematurely?  I think it was more about the making of Money off it than what they were Producing?  Then he Died suddenly and his Widow, just likes spending Money recklessly on herself, no Interest in the Business itself and no knowledge about running it.  So, things aren't the same, and tho' he's almost got his 5 Years in, The Son knows he won't stay with this Company now, he feels it could be Going Down if she doesn't Sell it to someone else who may be able to get it back to where it should be?   But, I don't see that happening a lot, what I do see, I don't like at all and it's happening a LOT now.

  A lot of Investors now are Buying up Businesses they know nothing about and don't Need to coz, the Buyout is merely to Asset Strip it.  Buy it, Dismantle it, Sell it's parts in the: "Buy, Strip and Flip Model" that is destroying so many once profitable Businesses you see Closing now.  The Goal being to Profit from the Sale of the Individual Assets rather than from the continued Operation of the Business as a whole.   The Investor or Company making the acquisition usually considers it undervalued or underperforming so Selling the Assets off piecemeal they have no conscience about, nor about it's Employees.  They'll make their Profit, and that's all they Care about, not about destroying Businesses and putting People out of Work who relied on it for a Living.   And a Leveraged Buyout is Financed primarily thru Debt.  And with Takeovers they can be Friendly, Hostile, Backflips or Reverse.

So, I'm back from The Desert Botanical Gardens.  The Son was gonna take his Girlfriend and her Kids too, coz I could have gotten them all in on my Membership Passes, she's back from the Rez now.  But, he couldn't get hold of her in time and I needed to go early, as it turns out I'm glad he didn't coz I'd hyped up "Strange Gardens" as being a Kid Friendly Halloween Event like it's always been and still is advertised of being Online.  Well, it wasn't at all what I thought it was an their advertising had hinted of it being, showing Carved Pumpkins, Ray Villafane Style, at the Entrance, which, the Entrance had that.  And I Photographed that.  But the rest of the Exhibit certainly was, in a Word, STRANGE!!!

Now, I'm not opposed to Quirky Art Exhibits, been to a few in my Day and I'm a self professed Weirdo, but this was the Far Side of Weird even for me!!!   I wasn't even sure what I was seeing or why?  They had these big Screens set up showing fast Time Lapse Images of Subdivisions being built!!!   WTF?!   Or of just the Desert at Night, but a single area in Time Lapse that nothing much actually happens, so it's just rather strobe looking.  They even had Two New Buildings built with all these Screens with the same Exhibit and those Screens everywhere, on the Walls staggered, laying flat on the Floor, on the Ceiling, mostly showing the same fast Time Lapse Images at once, Weird.  Strange.  I don't "Get It"?

So, that was a Wash, but, on the way in I'd noticed that "Gertrude's" Restaurant still had the name up and would be Opening at 10:30 a.m. so I pulled a Docent aside, an Older Man quite happy to Spill the Tea about it.   In a hushed Stage Whisper Voice no less.   *Winks*  He was adorable and said that the Owner was doing more of The Garden's Catering and it was requiring more of their Staff to handle the Event Catering.  Which was leaving them short staffed in the Restaurant and bougee Diners began complaining of waits... as bougee pretentious folk are inclined to do even tho' the waits were not that long in reality, I ate there all the time.  If it's busy, you expect to wait for a Table and to place and receive your Order, come on!!!

So, since their Lease was ending anyway they just didn't renew it and let another Famous Chef take it over, while they retained the Catering of the Events.   Thus retaining the Name, but he changed the whole Menu and also now Runs the Small Outdoor Cafe further into the Garden, which he completely changed the whole Menu of too.  The Docent said he hadn't eaten there yet coz the Menu wasn't his preference, but they had it posted and I could take a look and if I ate there could tell him what I thought?   Well, that wasn't gonna happen after I perused the Menu.  Limited to Street Food like Tacos, Elote and Burgers but with Price Points in the Stratosphere of $22-$46 a Meal!!!  I don't Care what's in a Taco or on a Burger, I ain't paying that for it!!!

They also didn't have my Prickly Pear Iced Tea anymore, not even in the Gift Shop now For Sale, dammit!!!   While walking the Garden, since I'd renewed my Membership when I entered so I was gonna enjoy just being there, I checked out the Patio Cafe', same fucking Menu, overpriced Tacos and Burgers... fuuuuuck!   And, the Pumpkin Patch was Closed and rather than catering to Families, it seemed the Weekend was catering to Pet Parents and everyone and their Mother had their Dogs with them.  Taking Pixs at the Entrance Vignette with their Dogs and such.  I thought it Strange that the Pumpkin Patch, which had Advertised a Free Pumpkin for every Kid under 12 wasn't Open.   It said, "Closed for Private Event", but, no Event was going on.

 So I checked Online to find out why?  Turns out, that is an EVENING Event for the Weekend?!  WHAT, for Kids under 12... Why, Why Host it at damned near their Bedtime rather than during the Day?!   The Gardens have Adult Evening Events which makes sense, I've attended some, it's Spooky as fuck at Night, my Mom and I didn't even like it, Kids definitely would be put off and mebbe even Scared and Freaked Out at Night with Desert around them and the Nocturnal Critters that then are active and rustling around!!!    While there a Young Adult Man with his Two Dogs seemed to be following me a LOT, so I finally stopped and turned around.  He looked embarrassed and said, "Sorry I seem to be following behind you so much, but, you Smell so good I was just inhaling deeply and enjoying the Fragrance you're wearing!"  *LOL, my Nag Champa Essential Oil, I get that a lot.*   We both Laughed, coz, it was Funny for an Older Woman to be Aroma Stalked by a Young Guy.  *Winks*  So, anyway, I was Hungry so left early and went to "Snooze".

Our usual little Green Eyed Waitress asked where The Man was?  *Smiles*  And, Good News, they brought back the Old Menu, which they had done away with last time we were there.  So, now all our Old Favs were back, including my Bella Bella Benedict option, yay!!!  Putting some New Items on a Menu is good, but changing an entire Menu, NOT good.  They must have had Complaints and lost Business with the Changes... coz last time with the New Menu it was almost empty.  Now the Old Menu was back, it was packed again and busy.   I stopped at "Whole Foods" which is in the same Outdoor Mall there and did some Shopping before heading Home.  Somewhere along the way I lost my Wristwatch, must have slipped off?!   Didn't notice when it did.  This Pix is blurry coz I had to use Zoom Lens since the Pumpkin Patch area was Closed 'til Evening.

But, the Great-Grandkids back East got to pick out their Pumpkins at Patches and the one at the Bottom here also got his 1st Haircut.   I'm glad I don't have little ones now coz the Events for them around locally seems rather sparse compared to how it used to be for Kids leading to and right up to Halloween.   Even tho' it was a Lovely Day to Walk the Gardens, it was disappointing and too many Dogs so you had to watch that you weren't walking into a Puddle of Dog Piss.  And some Dogs were more Polite and well Trained than others that would just run up on you if their Leashes were long enuf and jump, trip, or put their Nose up your Butt or in your Crotch!!  Which, Dogs will do coz they're Dogs, if an Owner isn't properly Handling them.  They had little Baggies for Owners to pick up Poop, and Water Stations for the Dogs, most Dogs were Sweet and Well Behaved, there was just so many.  The Pet Parents were all mingling with their Fur Babies so it was very well Received and Attended, clearly.

I like Dogs and I like Kids, but if there are too many of either anywhere, swarming around, it's just not Zen enough for my Recreational or Dining Time I'm taking for myself.  *Smiles*   Rant over.  It was still an enjoyable Morning albeit a disappointing one, since my expectations and reality didn't meld at all.  *Le Sigh*   Princess T had a tough day at Work too, she said her Boss was picky and testy Today and she's covering the Position of a Girl they Fired, so it's not even her Job to be doing what she's doing, so she didn't like being criticized about the work she was doing, to the best of her abilities to do it.  She actually felt she did it Right, she explained why, but they felt otherwise.  They had her QCing Inventory and if something is stained it's to go in Recycled and not piled to be put out on the Sales Floor.  Four items were stained, she pulled them, and her Boss said she was tossing "Good" Inventory.

He asked what was Wrong with the pieces, she showed the Stains, he still insisted they were Fine, so, she was upset AND confused.  How can you QC properly if told don't put anything stained or soiled to be put out on the Sales Floor, then make exceptions for some items stained or soiled?  I agree.  Granted, it's Management's prerogative to override any of it but that's on them, not on someone of her Pay Grade whose following the Rules they set up for what has to go to Recycle and not be Sold.   So, for the rest of the Shift she felt like she wasn't sure what to pull and what to put thru, in case she'd get in trouble again either way?  So, she vented to me about it on the way Home, then she felt better.  *Smiles* 

  I told her that since it's NOT her Position, to put anything soiled or stained in a little pile and ask someone whose a Superior to make the decision about it and tell them why that's apparently necessary so no soiled and stained but "Good" Merch gets put into Recycle that would then get her reprimanded again.  If you make your Staff confused with conflicting orders, then it's your Job as Supervisor to clarify and sort that shit out so they aren't put in a spot that is impossible for them to know what is the Right thing for them to do... or NOT?!   Anyway, I know my Grandchild is a perfectionist about her Work, so she's not sloppy or careless.   And found it offensive that she got in trouble in front of everyone, which embarrassed and humiliated her, for doing nothing Wrong.  She already has Social Anxieties, so that upset her a LOT.

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May your Memories of your Dearly Departed be Sweet ones... Dawn... The Bohemian