Saw Two other good NetFlix Movies "Wanted Man" {2024} Written, Directed and Starring Dolph Lundgren, it was an Action Thriller, I liked it. Dolph Lundgren has an IQ of 160, so he's a legit Genius in the Company of Einstein in Intelligence, and has a Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering and a Skilled Martial Artist too. And the other was "The Marksman" {2021} starring Liam Neeson, also, very good and an Action Thriller. We'd gone out earlier and done both Environmental Cleanup and finding more Stones for the Mosaic Project and to find unusual Stones like Wishing Stones for around the Pool, The Young Prince came with us. I did that rather than going to The Gym earlier.
But, at 6:00 p.m. I decided to go to The Gym and The Man wanted to tag along, and he Needs his Membership to keep active, so I brought him. That proved to be a mistake since he barely used anything and kept wandering off when I was using anything. Plus, the few things we could put him on to use, the Kryo Bed and the Hydro Therapy Bed, were stacked up with people even tho' The Gym wasn't otherwise busy. There were Two Middle Aged Asian Women and an Old White Man who were hogging Three of the Beds. Each is a 10 Minute or 15 Minute Session and then if there are people waiting, you should get off and let the next person use it. All Three of them spent about 40+ Minutes doing Session after Session!!!
The Two Asian Women didn't speak English so there was no communicating with them at all. I finally said something to The Man loudly about people overstaying their allotted time, so the Old White Guy finally got off his Machine and freed it up for someone waiting to use. It was ridiculous how rude and inconsiderate all Three People were being, the Machines tell you how long a Session you're allowed. It's only appropriate to do more than One Session if nobody else is waiting to use it. They only have Two Kryo Beds and Three Hydro Beds to use. And, since The Man kept wandering off I'd have to go get him even once I got a Turn. *Le Sigh* I did get to use each Bed Type for One Session eventually and the Sauna for 10 Minutes. But, it wasn't so Relaxing with him in tow and People being inconsiderate of the Machines.
I did get to talk to one of the Receptionists about what to do when our Insurance thru Medicare changes from United Healthcare to Humana. I'm glad I did coz she told me that I need to come in and talk to one of their Reps who Signs up Members coz she's not even sure if they take Humana... Splendid!!! Not only that, but she said on December 1st come in and cancel Membership with United coz otherwise, if they won't pick up Humana, we won't be Billed for the January Membership!!! You have to give 30 Day Notice to Cancel Membership apparently and I wouldn't have known that. So, good to know. I do know Online it claims they CAN accept any Silver Sneakers Provider, but it's subject to each Location's discretion.
Since we've been Members thru not only United Healthcare's Silver Sneakers Program, but, when we had Careers we were Members who Paid for our Membership, I don't know what sway that might have... or not? We've been Active thru our present Medicare Advantage Plan for Years now, so one would think switching Providers who still cover Membership there would not be such a big deal? Of coarse they try to Sell you on other Plans for Seniors that don't restrict Hours if you aren't on a Medicare Membership. But, why would we pay for Membership if our Plan covers Membership? The restrictions are a nuisance and Ageism, but, it's likely due to some flat rate Discount they give to Medicare for the amount of Members they cover? Anyway, they said if they won't cover us anymore they'll tell us which Gyms might.
They want to pretend to Honor Veterans and their Families. So the fact we've already been dropped involuntarily by United Healthcare, would be a double whammy if Lifetime wouldn't pick us up under the SAME Silver Sneakers Program. Just coz we HAD NO CHOICE but to go with another Medicare Advantage Provider who still does that Program for Seniors that they do accept! Why they'd take United and not Humana for the same Program is sketchy, unless the Fee Structure Contract they have with each is different? Online Silver Sneakers is allegedly the same Medicare Advantage Plan no matter which Provider is offering it and one of the Selling Points each Provider uses to have you to choose them over another.
I also got a letter from Humana saying I had to provide information about which Prescription Plan I have or they'd have to charge me Extra to meet Medicare Criteria of having a Prescription Plan. We have TriCare For Life, which is a Federal Program, so, you're not eligible for Medicare Part D Programs, which, is also a Federal Program... you can't have both. So, I filled out the Two Pages of damned required Paperwork and will Mail that back by the Deadline too. *Whew* What a Dog & Pony Show they're making Medicare Recipients go thru now, I didn't have to do all this when I first became eligible, so, apparently these are all New requirements?!
The Man didn't get the same Letter, but, he's the Veteran and I'm his Sponsored Dependent with TriCare. We chose the Humana Plan specifically for Military/Veteran Dependents, for me, so, it all seems redundant. But, to be in compliance I filled everything out and at least they provided a Postage Paid Envelope, which was good coz I'm out of Stamps until I can get our Social Security Payments, which, will be late due to the Due Date falling on a Weekend... and perhaps even due to the Government Closure backing things up, I dunno? No telling if we'll get it on time or not and I had to transfer some Money around to ensure I didn't get an Overdraft on the One Account. Our Life Insurance is on Auto Pay and would have Overdrawn the Account otherwise. It's like playing fucking Whack-A-Mole or Juggling Bowling Balls! Things aren't Merry or Bright in most of America right now.
I've been talking to other Antique Mall Vendor Friends about the Situation at BAAM Mall. Some of them are thinking of moving over to the Newer Malls, some already have but haven't given Notice yet on their Spaces at ours until they see how the others go? I just don't know, since, I have a Showroom at ours and most other Antique Malls only have much smaller Booths, so I'd have to seriously consolidate. The Showrooms are a better Deal per Square Foot than just a Booth, so, I may just stay put and ride out the shitty Economy for a while to see if things improve? Seems to me a shitty Economy will mean jumping around to different Locations might not be a Solution really? I make inquiries everywhere and all Vendors of all Shops tell me Sales are way down and they're struggling. Everywhere!!!
I'm still seeing Businesses closing down at an alarming Rate too, almost worse than during Pandemic in some areas. The more affluent East Valley has more Vacant Commercial Space than the West Valley, probably due to Rents being higher over there? It's the Season when you should be seeing crowded Stores and I'm just not even seeing that yet, will see if after Black Friday that changes? I know for us, finances have been tighter than ever due to not only Inflation, but that my Side Hustle for discretionary income beyond our Pensions/Disability Income is no longer a reliable Source of income. And, Earned Income is arriving Late for our Pensions/Disability Payments as well, due to the Government being in Chaos under this Administration and so many Federal Job cuts, so it's no longer Functional enough to even Pay you what they Owe you.
I highly Suspect this President and his Family, along with his Cabal of Vulgarians, may be Looting Federal Funds for themselves and we'll never know until all the Money is gone, coz all Guardrails, all Checks and Balances, are nonexistent now. Nobody really knows what Criminal Activities they're up to coz they've taken over every Branch of Govt. including the DOJ, including all the Courts, the FBI, Policing Agencies of all kinds, so what recourse would any Citizens really even have now? I was watching the News Coverage that had Politicians and Capitol Police who are being Threatened by this Regime and in fear of their Lives and the Lives of their Families and they say they cannot depend on the FBI or Police to Protect them, becoz it's all been Corrupted now so badly. He's made it clear that anyone who commits a Crime on his behalf, he'll Pardon, and he'll Indict all his perceived Enemies with bogus charges!!!
Now, if you get Indicted, even for a Crime you aren't Guilty of, you still have to Lawyer Up and spend your own Money to ensure you have the best Legal Representation. So, Imagine if you will that the President of the United States is the one going after you and has the entire Government's Resources at his disposal. That's akin to fighting a Deep Pocket Corporation in Court, they can literally tie things up for so long and make it so prohibitively expensive, you cannot possibly prevail before you go Bankrupt. And since he's also Threatening Law Firms that represent Clients he's going after, they too are fearful of being Bankrupted or Targeted for Revenge and Retribution!!! He's already going after ALL the FBI Agents, Judges, Witnesses and Attorneys who worked on Cases that involved him!!! He's operating exactly like a Cartel does.
And, clearly, some Americans are Okay with that coz they figure he'd never Turn on them... but, he will... and he does... and they'll find that out in due time. Marjorie Taylor Greene is finding that out right now coz she finally took a stand against him involving the Epstein Files and now she's on his Hit List too. And she was Uber MAGA that one, but, he finally crossed her Line in the Sand about Pedophile's being Protected... of which, I'm SURE he's one and that's why the big attempted Cover Up. Otherwise, if he had nothing to Hide, he'd have those Files released and Burn everyone on them involved. But, we don't really know YET how far up the Food Chain those Files go, we just know pretty high, coz a Prince of the Royal Family in England lost his Title due to being one involved for sure. He's still living in an opulent Estate like a Royal tho', so, the Brits Elite obviously Protect their own Sicko Pedos too, really.
Okay, for some levity and Escapism, above is an Interesting Sammie representative of a Thanksgiving Dinner Flavor Profile. The Bread is called Stuffing Bread, it had Turkey, Cranberry Walnut Relish, Herbed Mayo and Bacon, they've had it on the Menu this time of Year for 15 Years in a row but it was my 1st time having it. I bought some of the Stuffing Bread Loaf to bring Home to replicate the Sammie. We had some Turkey from the Deli of our Local Grocer when I'd gone Grocery Shopping. Sammies are an inexpensive way to feed a lot of people at Home... and we've got Seven here, so that's a lot of Mouths to Feed. Princess T had Treated Grandpa and I to this Luncheon, she's the only one with a Cache of Money Saved right now coz she hardly ever spends any of her Earnings, while furiously Saving for her 1st Car. And right now she's the only one with a Paying Job, tho' Minimum Wage, it's still a reliable regular Check coming in. *LOL and Le Sigh*
Everyone is Hanging On tho'... you do whatever you can and that has to be Enough. I'm hearing from some Blog Friends that they feel really Stressed Out and it's Negatively impacting their Health and Well Being. Pretty sure that's part of why The Man's Blood Pressure isn't stable? He has a Bad Heart, yeah, but he also knows I'm under immense Pressure right now to juggle everything and all the Balls are up in the Air at once, yet, my Blood Pressure is just Fine... he and his VA Nurse can't understand why? It should be over the Roof high, but, I tend to Work well under Pressure I guess, always have, probably always will. I can Vent here on the Ole' Blog but in Real Life I tend to Operate as if all is Well and we're Living The Dream.
When people randomly ask how I'm doing, in Real Life, that's always my response, "Living The Dream." Words are Powerful and I refuse to UTTER Negative ones... I may Type them Silently, but I won't give them Life with my actual Words Spoken. I am more than a bit Superstitious about the Spoken Word Manifesting something, so I always try to keep my Words Spoken Positive and not Negative. I don't wanna Manifest any Negative shit, we're already Dealing with enuf of The World's Negativity all of the time to be Manifesting any of our own IMO. I was Uplifted to see that The Oldest Daughter, her Oldest Daughter and Family, including the In-Laws, and their Kiddos, got to go to Disney World and send us all the Amazing Pixs of the Adventure there.
Our Oldest Daughter never had a MIL coz our SIL's Parents were Deceased when they Married. My understanding is he was a Caregiver of his Mom, who went Blind, in her final Years of Life. He's a Good Man, was a good Son, is a good Husband, a good Father and a good Grandfather now. Apparently this Oldest Granddaughter of the Trio of Granddaughters back East, has a Wonderful Husband and In-Laws too. They were High School Sweethearts and I don't even know if either of them ever Dated anyone else but each other when they were Young Teens? They bought a Historic Home in Pittsburgh and seem to be doing very well in Life, which makes me so Happy to see Young People prospering... so many Young folks aren't and the Average Age of First Time Home Ownership now is 40. They accomplished Buying their 1st Home while still in their late 30's.
Several of the other Adult Grandkids and Teen Grandkids are struggling, but doing their best, and that's all they can do. Life seems hard almost everywhere, our Grandkids in Mexico have much more of a struggle than we do on this side of the Border to make the Ends Meet, since their Paternal Grandma Died. The Oldest One is only 18 but still Working Two Jobs, going to College, and Raising her Two Younger Sisters, while Maintaining the Grandmother's Home they Inherited!!! It's a lot at that Tender Age. We help anytime we possibly can. Every time The Daughter gets any Work, however meager, since she's not Well enuf Mentally to be Employable at an actual Job, she sends more than Half her Earnings to Mexico to those Three Children of hers. I send whatever we can as well, even tho' I've still got their Two Older Siblings, and their Mom, living here with us right now. It's a lot of Family to help Support. But, Family is EVERYTHING and no Sacrifice is too Great for Family.
The Young Prince went thru every Crate in The She Shed to pull what he could use or wanted. And to assay what we have that can be Sold and perhaps be the Quickest Turn at the Antique Mall? It's a crap shoot what will Sell right now, it really is, even if you have your Finger on the Pulse, people don't seem to hardly be able to afford Essentials, let alone anything that is Non-Essential right now. He also got the Sitting Room in Order for me and is now working on the Dining Room for me. That was really Needed, anytime things fall behind he knows I'm not in the best Head Space and am probably somewhat Overwhelmed. I admit I have felt Overwhelmed more than usual, but I know Why, shit's been difficult for us all, and I'm the Matriarch of this Family, so I gotta Keep it Together and Hold it Down.
The Son got back from his Trip up North to the Rez with his Girlfriend and her Family, he said it's really Beautiful up in the Forests near there. He took some Pixs but hasn't downloaded them off his Phone yet, but showed me. He was Laughing at how Stoic her Son is again in all the Photos. That Kid is like the Old School Indigenous, my Native American Grandmother always looked Stoic and like she thought the Camera was Stealing a Part of her Soul if you took a Pix of her, so she rarely would allow you to. The Son said that his Girlfriend's Son is like that too, he is not pleased to ever has his Photograph taken and it shows in his countenance. He's a Serious Kid anyway, but a good Kid, and he seems to like The Son and they get along, both being Autistic, The Son understands those Challenges better than someone who doesn't have Autism.
While The Grandson was doing some light Shopping at Wal-Mart, coz Allen had sent him some Money, I looked at Christmas there. I can see why nobody is now Buying Vintage Blow Molds, which are expensive, when the New Ones are Cute and can be had for under Fifty Bucks each. In fact, they had some Reproductions of some of the Vintage Blow Molds, especially of Dr. Seuss Grinch Christmas Figures, for way under what the Original Vintage ones cost. With the Tariffs on Chinese Produced Merch, I'm Surprised some items made in China are still reasonable, they must have been Warehoused Stock Pre-Tariff, and pre-ordered way early for the Holidays, by the Mega Retailer Stores like Wal-Mart, is my best Guess? I rarely Shop at a Wal-Mart, but The Grandson said in Clovis, they're practically the only Game in Town... few other Options exist. And, in smaller places in New Mexico, it's all more expensive coz of no competition.
I would think Rural America is being hit harder than Urban America right now in every way. And, ironically, those tend to be the MAGA Voting Strongholds, those who his Policies are hurting the most. So, they Voted in their own Worst Interest and are now suffering the consequences. I can only now Imagine how much could have been completely avoided had only Kamala Won the Election? None of this would be playing out in the decline of America and the blatant Corruption, Illegal Administrative decisions clogging up our Courts, Nepotism, Militarization in our Streets, Murder of blowing up Boats in International Waters of SUSPECTED Drug Traffickers {which BTW is not a Capital Offense even if Convicted OF Drug Trafficking and given Due Process}, and Grifting/Looting going on by this Administration daily. It's all kinds of Fucked Up and Surreal what he's getting away with and doing!!!
Yet, I actually know some Peeps that are still among the 39% that Support him no matter what he does that is abhorrent, go figure!!! Yes, a 39% Approval Rating only less than a Year into any Presidential Administration is a Historically abysmal figure, but for this unhinged Senile Tyrant, I'm shocked it's even still that fucking high!!! What are those Supporters ON that any of it looks rational, not dangerous, beyond Corrupt, and seemingly still okay to them? Anyway, I gave up some time ago trying to figure any Die Hard MAGA out, coz there's just those in Society not capable of making decency a part of their Lives. Those that pretend to be 'Christians' yet show no Christlike Values, are the most hypocritical ones. And the Religious Far Right and Fundies really Love their Orange Jesus and Worship him, as if he's the 2nd Coming of Christ, it's creepy and Twisted as fuck!!!
Our Social Security Checks are late and it's a problem when we don't know when you'll receive them and they're not on time. I have Bills to pay out of that Money that I'm not sending out on time coz there's no Money to clear them. Plus, I need Gas in the Truck. We'll turn in some Aluminum Cans Today and I Work Tonight. But, I don't get Paid at the Antique Mall for working, I just get some comped Space Rent and Hope there's enough Sales to ensure I'll get a Check this time? For the past Three Paydays, I haven't and that's never happened since the Mall has been Open!!! Not only that, but I Owed the Mall so it was a Loss, not even breaking even, so, Costing me more as an expense. *Le Sigh* Not sure, if that keeps happening, that I won't just put Notice in, it's just a Month to Month Rental Agreement there.
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That would be a LOT of Work to close out the Showroom and Case, and then I'd have to figure out another Hustle to earn some extra to supplement Retirement, so I'm loathe to give in and do that. Anyway, for now we just keep on keeping on and Hope for the Best while preparing for the Worst and it seems that's how it's been since the Election installed this Maniac into Office. Nothing has Stability anymore and if our Healthcare Premiums Skyrocket at the 1st of the Year and there's more cuts to Medicare, that means even less income on top of Checks not arriving on time too. The Son hasn't received any Unemployment yet and doesn't even know if he'll get any? The Daughter's SNAP Application hasn't gone thru and Mando may Need to re-apply with the New Rules. He'd been Approved for a Year, but now they're saying everyone is going to Need to Re-Apply and Re-Qualify!!!
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Now, Imagine if you will, with all the Federal Cuts to the Workforce he's also made, every single SNAP Recipient in the whole fucking Country having to re-apply at the same time, plus any New folks applying for the 1st time! Just how long do you suppose it would take a reduced Workforce to wade thru that Bureaucratic Nightmare while folks can't afford to Buy their Food? As it is, when we were dropped from our Medicare Advantage Plan, it was around a 600,000 involuntary reduction all scrambling to sign up for alternative Medicare Advantage Plans, which put the Squeeze on that Industry all at once. And Online it is said that United Healthcare projects a 1 MILLION Member decrease by 2026 citing they needed to offset Medical Trends and Government Funding Decreases as the reason!!!
They're exiting certain Plans, like dumping our Senior Veterans and their Families, ie: Us, to mitigate the financial impact of these changes!!! So, Donnie Two Dolls is fucking over Veterans and their Families again. Right now it's sustainable only coz other Advantage Plans like Humana are picking us up when other Providers involuntarily dump us. But it does make you nervous that everything like this is subject to change without much if any notice. When I had my 1st Corporate Life running the Bankruptcy, Foreclosures and Collections Departments of Major Financial Institutions, Healthcare Costs is what wipes most Americans of any Demographic out quickest, always has. And, they're gutting the Healthcare Systems now without any replacement or improvement to them. Just a Decades Old "Concept Of A Plan". Meanwhile many Americans are gonna end up Uninsured coz they can't afford their Premiums.
That won't take long before it crashes the whole System. And, that is very concerning coz even the very Young can get really Sick or Hurt, and when you're Old, it's a Given. And when Food and Housing starts becoming even less affordable and most of what's Imported isn't being received, now you got an Unhealthy, Unhoused AND Hungry Population, not a good combo. Not a good Look for America either, compared to other 1st World Countries, we're used to seeing that in 3rd World Countries, with corrupt Elite having it all and everyone else having nothing, which is what they seem to be heading towards Wheels Off the Rails. They did a Special on South Africa last Night, to see if that whole White Genocide thing was Real. Well, it isn't of coarse, but, what is happening there is Crime Rate escalation, some of the worst in the World, due to inequality still existing and too much lack among a growing Population, while the Elite have it all. The disparity being Stark. That's where we're heading if we're not Careful.
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Hopeful things become Merrier and Brighter... but, not sure they will... Dawn... The Bohemian
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