Veteran's Day In Real Time

 

While The Daughter did her House Cleaning Job in Chandler, The Man and I had a Mediterranean Luncheon and then went to IVY & SAGE which had completely different Christmas Decor Vignettes and Merch than last time I was there.  They must Sell so much that it's constantly morphing!  I did some Retail Therapy while there, bought one of their OOAK Fabric Art Snowmen and a Necklace.  It was between these Two Snowmen, Big Chill or Oscar, The Man liked one and I was preferring the other one slightly, so, that's the one I chose, but, it was hard to pick a Fav from these Two.  Can you Guess which I chose before scrolling down to the next Image?  *Winks*

Yep, Oscar Won out by a very narrow margin, even tho' The Man had preferred the Big Chill more.  Sometimes he doesn't know why I even bother to ask which he likes best if I'm gonna chose the opposite one anyway?  *LOL*  But, I was conflicted which to get, Big Chill was about Five Dollars less, which, wasn't enuf to make my decision upon based on Price.   And I liked that Oscar is holding a Christmas Tree and had a Metallic Gold Beanie and the Embroidered Nose.   The Man didn't say while he liked Big Chill more and didn't really Care which one I got.  *LOL*  I put some Lime N Da Coconut Jam back to not go over Budget when I decided to get him and the Necklace I bought.

My Necklace is pictured Below and was a very good price, so, I couldn't resist coz it was the only one the Vendor had like it.  I'd of also had Non-Buyer's Remorse had I not gotten it or the Snowman.   I've bought the OOAK Fabric Art from this Vendor for Years and never regret a Purchase from her, she and her Daughters make each one by Hand.  And they are such prolific Artisans that I can't Believe how much they Produce each Season, they must work like Hell on them all Year long for each Season.  They make their Creations for every Season and every Special Holiday.  I have a couple of their Winter Christmas Gnomes... and one of their Fabric Mushrooms.  I have one of their Creepy Halloween Dolls too.

This Necklace has Three strands and a LOT going on with the Accessories hanging from it like Charms.   So I couldn't Believe how inexpensive it was and snapped it right up.  It's just my Aesthetic and I wear my Accessories a lot all Year round.   And I must say, shopping there Today and taking Blog Fodder Imagery sure got me into the Christmas Spirit already becoz it was so Magically transporting you to that Holiday and Season, being immersed in it and surrounded by it was really enjoyable and Uplifting.   The Kid in me was mesmerized by it all.   And you can see why in the Pixs taken, which don't even do it justice for how it feels to actually be there, as if in Santa's Workshop of Original Creations.  I got a Pix of The Man there and he took one of me there.

And a Sublime coincidence is that my Friend there in Chandler that The Daughter Cleans for, and I met thru her being a Dear Reader of my Blog, was wearing the exact same SUBLIME Shirt that I was wearing!!!   What are the Odds?!  Astronomical, Right?  *LOL*   She said her Son hates the Shirt, hers is distressed and I have another SUBLIME Shirt that is distressed too, this one isn't, but hers was the exact Shirt in the exact Colors, so we looked like Twins.  *Smiles*  The Daughter hadn't realized it was the same Shirt I was wearing until I picked her up and she said she'd told my Friend Stephanie, now I KNOW where I'd seen that Shirt before, my Mom is wearing the exact same one!!!  *LOL*

The Man was a little Lost and disoriented this Day and following me closely like a Puppy.   He seemed to be a little bit confused and not knowing what to do, he sticks really, REALLY close to me when this happens to him.  Almost too Close, he's literally so close and up my Ass that if I turn around too quickly, literally I bump into him coz he's an Inch or so away!  *LOL*  He seemed to have a decent enuf time, he'd wanted to come but I could tell he was experiencing some Sensory Overload, mebbe it was too much Visual Stimulation with all the Decor and so much to look at.  Plus, there were a lot of people shopping and that always annoys him becoz some folks are so much in their own Bubble they don't pay attention that other people exist around them and act with consideration of that.

When I'm taking Pixs I try not to get Rando folks in Frame since I do plan to Post all of this to my Social Media sites, both here on the Blog and sometimes on The Book Of Faces as well.   Some folks will walk right in front of you or intentionally get in the way of you trying to Photograph something.  If they're behaving too rudely I will intentionally point the Camera AT them as if I'm going to just take the Pix anyway if they just hang around ridiculously long and in the way.  That usually gets them to quit pretending they don't notice you're trying to take a Photo.  Some will linger far too long pretending to look at things they're not at all really interested in and aren't Buying, just to be a nuisance to someone trying patiently to wait for them to get out of the way to take a Photo.  If someone truly seems to be interested in something I'll wait Patiently for them to Shop and wait my Turn.  But, with some folks you can tell they're just being inconsiderate self absorbed pretentious Assholes on purpose.

There are different ways to be "A Karen" and that's one of them.  The "Karen's" were out in force this day, they'll also be the ones to stand in the narrowest part of a Store and be on their Phones, not letting anyone by.  Then give you a snarky hard Look if you say Excuse Me when clearly they're either oblivious of the presence of anyone trying to get by them and can't, or intentionally being in the way and not caring that nobody can get thru while they chitchat on their devices.   It's just Rude and Inconsiderate and sometimes if they won't and don't move out of the way, after you've been both Patient and Polite about it, I'll just shove my way past them aggressively then to get by them... and DARE them to say a damned thing.  *Winks*   They never do... they may be Assholes, but, they don't seem to want to Die on that Hill either.  Wise Choice.  I got enuf restrained pent up Aggression that I just might unleash some of it otherwise.  *Ha ha ha and Winks*

The Man is more Polite, but he'll be swearing under his Breath when some Women, and it's ALWAYS a Woman, or more than one who are together, who are behaving like that.   And he just can't get past or they keep getting in the way as if on Purpose constantly, no matter how hard he's trying to handle it with diplomacy and consideration.  Being he's a Man, and a Gentleman at that, it frustrates him a lot, but he shows Manners in spite of them clearly having none.   I've hardly ever seen a Man acting like that when I'm Shopping.  In fact, most Men are overly Polite in those Settings and apologize if they happen to even accidentally get in the way, you may have a tight squeeze to pass one another, or they accidentally bump into you.  They are just as Polite and Considerate to The Man, being he's Old and wearing Military related Cap and T-Shirt.  They almost always Thank him for his Service too... and those who were also Military, say so and it's a Bond they Share regardless of their Ages.   But some Women just behave like total Bitches in Public settings.

Yes, Santa and Mrs. Claus would not have them on the "Nice" List.  *Winks*  They'd definitely be on their "Naughty" List me thinks.  *Winks some more*   Aren't the Mrs. and Santa Claus just Adorbs?!   Just look at Santa's little Bear Slippers!!!   There were a few Santa Dolls left but only One Mrs. Claus Doll left in Inventory.   Some of the Decor and Creations reminded me of either Willy Wonka or the Candyland Board Game.  {See Pixs Below}   So, if you wanted to re-create a very Pastel faux Edible Christmas Theme, many of these Creations would be Ideal.  If you have little Children, I'm certain they'd Adore that Theme for your Christmas Decor.   Tho' a lot of the faux Confections look so Realistic that a very Young Child might mistake them for being edible, so you'd have to watch them around it.  

I remember one Year my Younger Paternal Cousin, when she was only a Toddler, came to our Home and took a bite out of my Parent's Bowl of Wax Fruit!  Remember when Wax Fruit was a Thing?   Well, it looked so Real she didn't know it wasn't and my parents kept it with her little Bite Marks on it for Years afterwards, it was a Priceless Memory!   You should have seen the expression on her little Face when it dawned on her, NOT Real, what IS this?!  *Bwahahahhaa*   We looked after her when my Aunt, one of my Dad's Younger Sisters, was having Back Surgery at the Mayo Clinic.  Coz the Indian Hospital didn't have the Resources for such things in Oklahoma, so, she Traveled to the State we lived in and we looked after her Toddler Daughter for the Months it took her to Heal.  She was a Single Parent and wasn't allowed to lift anything heavy, and with a small Toddler, that's impossible for any Mama.   I was a Teen at the time and enjoyed having a Baby Cousin to help look after, she was an Adorable little Indian Baby!!!

So, everywhere we went with her, people were intrigued by her Ethnicity, coz many had never seen a Native American in that particular State, let alone an Indigenous Baby.   She had so much Hair it looked like a little Wig perched on her Head.  *LOL*  And the Darkest Black-Brown Eyes, like Princess T has.  It is said that Black isn't an Eye Color, but if your Iris is as Dark as your Pupil, I beg to differ and several of my Relatives had that Eye Color and their Eyes just Sparkle, especially mischievously.  *Smiles*  And speaking of mischievous, The Young Prince is expecting an Amazon Package to be delivered Today and it was hilarious to me that he asked me to bring it inside an set it in his Room if he's not Home to receive it, BUT, don't Open it Gramma, coz it's Sex Stuff!  *LMAOROTF*  

First of all, I don't open anyone else's Mail, but, I Texted him back, Okay then, Grandpa and I won't Open it and get Freaky with it.  *Bwahahahaha*  He'll get a Laugh out of that.  I'm glad tho' that my Adult Kids and Adult Grandkids aren't inhibited about telling me anything, we have good open communication like that.   I think far too many Young People keep Secrets from their Elders and anyone is only as Sick as the Secrets they have to keep IMO.  We're an Open Book Family and know we can discuss anything at all with one another, without condemnation or judgment, no Secrets are necessary.  I can help them with problems if they communicate they're experiencing any and I know what's going on in their lives, even the hard stuff to hear.  But, a 25 Year Old Grandchild receiving some Sex Stuff, not hard to hear, just funny that he thought I might Open it and be Pearl Clutching and aghast???!  *Bwahahhaa*

I remember when I found The Son's 'Playboy' Magazines when he was about 13-14 and cleaning his Room, and his MJ stash, I just put them back where I found them and didn't mention it.  Princess T keeps her 'Playboy' and 'Playgirl' Mags out in the Open in her Room, the difference a Generation makes.  *Smiles*  In fact, I've bought some for her as Gifts and Blog Friend Shirley sent her some great Vintage ones as Gifts too... so, we got to see Brad Pitt naked.  *Winks and LOL*  We didn't like how the Magazine got the Photos tho', didn't seem like Brad knew the Pixs were being taken by Paparazzi with a Zoom Lens when he was on Vacay somewhere.  That's not Cool and was a shitty thing to do IMO, had he Posed willingly, different story.  Brad always struck me as someone who'd do Nude Modeling with no inhibitions tho', I know Angelina did.

Anyway, speaking of Doorstep Deliveries I've been getting Live Feed algorithms lately of those exploding Decoy Packages people are setting up to thwart Porch Pirates and allowing to go viral from their RING Security Cameras to put the Thieves on National/International Blast too.  Brilliant Idea, they get Colored Dye all over them, and usually all over the interior or exterior of their Vehicles when it explodes.  I think it's a chalky Powder, but I Hope it's hard to wash off, and stains the shit out of them and their Vehicles, I really do.  Would be nice if it stains them for Months and Months like a Scarlet Letter and so the Public and Police know instantly whose responsible for Porch Piracy?   Its quite a flash bang kind of explosion too, so I Hope their Ears Ring for Days as well and many of them are knocked to the Ground violently by the percussion.  Good!   A nice uncomfortable itching agency should be also put in the exploding Powder.  *Winks*  Can you only tell that Thieves I have no Mercies for?

 

I tried to sneak a Chicken flavored sloppy wet Cat Food for Eli, he HATES Turkey or Chicken Flavor but I thought, well, lets try it again to see if he' changed his Mind or his Palate?  Nope, he hasn't, he was highly pissed off in fact, he only likes his Seafood Flavors and some of them more than others.  *LOL*   The Young Prince just announced he's back Home, so he can get his own delivery when it arrives.  *Smiles*  Mebbe he didn't Trust we now wouldn't open it out of curiosity of what kind of Sex Stuff?  *LMAOROTF*  We wouldn't, but, the thought tickles me all the same.  Pretty sure there's some stuff I know little to nothing about?  And probably don't want explained to me either?  *LOL*

I've got my Doc Appointment this Morning with my Primary, so have to leave for that one.   And then Tomorrow Afternoon I've got the one with the Specialist finally, so, we'll know more about what's Wrong with me?  LATER: My Primary Appt. went well, she doesn't want me doing so much heavy lifting, which, as a Caregiver of a 240 Lb. Man is difficult to avoid, he requires me to lift him often into a standing position or sitting position.  Plus, I have been doing too much lifting of Rocks for our Mosaic Project.  I can still lift about 100 lbs. but that doesn't mean I should.  So, my Shoulder Blade and Elbow on one Arm is very sore and having some numbness from overuse.  She wants me to ice it and rest it for a while.  I'm almost down to 200 lbs., she's increasing my Ozempic Dosage both for the Diabetes and to aid in the additional Weight Loss.

We both know that should I reach the Weight Goal of 157-160 Lbs. the Diabetes will just go away like it did before at that Goal Weight.  My Body seems to be able to function optimally, even with a faulty Pancreas I may have just been Born with, at that lower Weight.  I can attain that Weight but Maintaining it has proven to be more of a struggle over time.  We're gonna do it again tho' and this time I'm determined when I reach Goal I plan to stay at that Goal Weight come Hell or high Water.  *LOL*  She was disgusted that the Specialist's Office Lost Three of the Referrals and gave me such a runaround and long delay in being seen for the Ear.  She agrees, get the bump on my Head looked at too since I can't wear Hats due to it and that will protect my Ears and Head from Sun exposure if I can wear Hats again.

 

The Man was morose this Morning when he learned I couldn't take him to the Veteran's Day Parade, which is his hilite every Year, coz I'll be at my Specialist Appointment.  So, The Daughter and Mando said they'd take him.  I'm glad, I don't want him to miss it, I know how much he looks forward to it every Year.  And he gets a Free Luncheon at Appleby's too and I'll take him for that later in the Day when I get back from the Specialist Appt..  But, it's too important for me to re-schedule, it was delayed over 3 Weeks as it is, so, he had to come to an understanding that it had the Priority.  Sometimes, with the Dementia, he can't relate to what should be anyone's else's Priority, especially if he wants something, he thinks he should just be able to override everything else.  He was arguing with me about the Parade being in the Morning, and I'm like, I know, but my Appointment is at Noon, the Parade is at 11:00 and will run past Noon, so, I can't possibly go.   His concept of Time is shot to Hell.

He got agitated and a bit pissy about watching it on TV then, being quite Dramatic about it, but The Daughter and Mando stepped up and said they'd like to take him.  So, now he's Happy as a Clam at High Tide again.  *Whew*  He can be like a Child you have to say No to, and become quite Emotionally deregulated so easily now and be very Dramatic and have overblown reactions to things.  The Parade was a Trigger Point for him and I had completely forgotten which Day it would be when I was scheduling things for myself that were important.  It wouldn't have mattered to me anyway, I NEEDED to get in and get this seen to, even if I'm gonna be the only Adult in the Room when explaining that to him and getting pushback and an argumentative response.  I'm glad I have the Kiddos as my Backup now and can do things for him so I don't always have to.

 

I just Hope he behaves for them, coz sometimes he's a Handful, mostly Emotionally, since he cannot Mood regulate worth a shit now.  But, they should be Home from the Parade by about 2:00 p.m., which is well before Sundown when his Mood totally tanks.   And he really likes Mando so they get along well and Mando seems to know how to finesse him, and he is pretty good for The Daughter most of the time.  I wouldn't risk The Son trying to take him, he wouldn't behave for The Son or The Grandson worth a shit.  And Princess T won't take any mess from him, she's rather like a Mini Me as a Caregiver.  *Bwahahahaha*

We dropped the Young Prince off at his Dad's again, apparently he's getting along with the Dad's New Wife and she's trying very hard to form a relationship with his Dad's Kids, which is good.   We had to Cancel The Man's VA Nurse for Tomorrow since he'll be at the Veteran's Day Parade, she's re-scheduling later in the Week, so, he'll still get his Weekly Visit approved for him.   When we finished dropping the Grandson off we went to a Chinese Mandarin Buffet and they had the most Sublime little Bite Sized light as Air Coffee Cakes I've ever had, OMG they were so good and resembled Italian Tiramisu.  Our Chinese Waiter couldn't tell me what they were called, just that they are Coffee Flavor, and a most Divine Coffee Flavor.   I don't usually eat or like Desserts, but this one could be Addictive!!!  {See Pixs of them Below}

They had an enormous amount of Seafood Options and a whole Sushi Bar too.  I had the Lemongrass Sole and a little Seafood Bake in a Clam Shell.  The Man has Salmon, Prawns, Oysters, the little Seafood Bake in a Clam Shell, Crab.   I took a small Sampling of their Mongolian Beef, Korean BBQ Rib, and Kung Pao Chicken.  A small Spring Fried Eggroll, Corn Coblette and Two kinds of Mushrooms.   I didn't care for the Sauce of the Mushrooms on the Left Bowl so didn't eat them.  I try not to waste Food at a Buffet so that was all I didn't consume that I put on my Plates.

 

 They had the Asian Melon Jell-O I Love, Cherry Jell-O, and the Green is not Lime but some other Exotic Asian Flavor I wasn't familiar with but liked better than Lime Jell-O.   The rest was a selection of Fresh Fruits and a tiny Coconut Cookie shaped like a Star that tasted like a light yet dense Shortbread with a Coconut Gelee in the Center... I gave The Man that tiny bitesize Pineapple Cake, didn't care for it, he liked it.  They give Military Discount and so the Meal was inexpensive for what you got. 

The Son got Pizza and Breadsticks for Tonight.  I wasn't all that hungry coz that Chinese Buffet, tho' it had been practically all we'd eaten all Day, was still filling by Dinnertime for me.   It was very good but I had a hard time eating the small amount he brought to me to eat.  I didn't wanna seem ungrateful and decline eating a Dinner he'd bought and brought Home as a Surprise tho'.  And I knew The G-Kid Force would be happy about it, which they were.   Both The Young Prince and Princess T are fussy Eaters and don't eat very much, ever.  So, them being Happy about any Meal is rather rare.  *LOL*

 

Well, after over 40 Days the Government Shutdown MAY have a possibility of ending?  We'll see.  Things "promised" by the opposing side tho' I don't know they will Honor nor Deliver on tho', I don't Trust any of them and I don't know the Shutdown gained anything at all?   What did we GET out of it, the Public?   Except Pain and Suffering, Hardship and Political Posturing as usual.  I never see any Benefit to any Government Shutdown except to exact Pain to the American People, that's it, that's all it ever Serves.  And, shows how disconnected our Politicians actually are from the plight of everyday Americans they are supposed to be Serving and Representing.   The Politicians really just got a 7 Week PAID Vacation while the Government was not functional and the Millions of People were punished and suffered in various ways for well over a Month, as they were used merely as Political Pawns.

It's hard to live alongside anyone struggling with hopelessness and depression, who sees no Future and nothing Positive happening.  The Son really defines himself by his Work, he's Proud of the Work he's always done and has always done it with excellence.  It hasn't exactly benefitted him to be an exemplary Worker in Today's Workforce tho', it's rarely rewarded and no Companies have any Loyalties now to their Employees it seems.  So, being Unemployed right now has hit The Son very hard, he was already struggling with having to move back Home and not be able to afford his own place, or a better and more reliable Vehicle.  He's not the best with finances and would much rather have a Partner who manages the finances for them.  He'll turn over his whole Paycheck to someone whose better at Managing it, no Questions asked.  His Ex was good at financial stewardship so she managed their finances.  The Breakup with the current Girlfriend hit him hard too, as well as both of them becoming Unemployed at about the same time thru no fault of their own or their Work.

   

So, he's glum and moping around the House and being Negative a lot, The Young Prince even mentioned he's worried about his Uncle's Head Space.   He found an empty Beer Can in the Bathroom Shower and confronted his Uncle about it.   All the Kiddos Share the Guest Bathroom and only the Girls use our Master Bathroom to Shower in, but keep the Guest Bathroom tidy, cleaned and Styled.   The Young Prince queried about what his Uncle is gonna do when he runs out of Money if a Job doesn't come along before he exhausts his Savings.  I told The Grandson, well, you're assuming he has Savings, I think he wasn't very good at putting Money away actually, so, it should run out very quickly I suspect.  Especially when you're depressed, you don't make the best decisions on a consistent basis and may be more reckless about your habits, with no more fucks to give.

Talking about it just makes him feel worse and like he's going to be an epic Burden to the Family and a Failure.  He's always Worked, he's never been Unemployed very long, even when he was deep in his Addictions, he Worked.   I see that he doesn't quite know what to do with himself and he's not been Laid Off all that long yet.  He's moping around like a Lost Soul.  I don't know if he's applied for Unemployment and Nutritional Assistance yet, he should right away.  If he gets Hired somewhere then at least he has a buffer then before getting his 1st Paycheck, which, at most Employers, can be delayed a Couple Weeks.  His Car is Paid for so at least he only has to try to keep the POS running and gassed up, but, Gas is expensive in Arizona, some of the highest in the Nation coz we use California Refineries.   He's still buying Groceries and some of the Takeout he brings Home, like he did Tonight, so that he feels he's still contributing.  He's always given me Money Monthly too.

    

He knows his Sister and Nephew are Unemployable, Full Time Unpaid Caregiving make it so I can't really go back to Work, plus, my Age and Health aren't Ideal anymore to pull long Shifts now anyway.  The Man obviously can't Work, and his Niece is making Minimum Wage.  So, he was Earning the most at a Full Time Job of the whole Family, tho', our combined Retirements are good, since, both The Man and I had long and Successful Careers, and I managed our Finances and Investments well, Thank God!!!   But, of coarse there are concerns with this shitty Economy and Checks not always arriving on Time for our Pensions and The Man's Disability Income.  No telling what THIS Government is ever gonna do whether illegal or not.   They're too busy throwing lavish Gatsby Style Parties and Gilded Age Fantasies for themselves to worry about the rest of America and how we're faring.  And, they don't Care.  They aren't even Pretending to Care.  Let us Eat Cake and all that... 

The Young Prince has been busy Painting one of my Mannequins like this one Painted like a Saguaro Cactus that I've always admired at an East Side Antique Mall but is NFS.  It's a Display for Wild Zona Co. which specializes in Touristy Western Kitsch, Rocks and Souvenirs from Arizona.   I liked it and knew my Grandson could replicate it and probably even do a more Creative Artistic rendition of it with his own Spin on a Saguaro Female Mannequin.  I had one he'd begun doing Art on before they left for New Mexico, so all he had to do was have a Vision for what I wanted the Mannequin to look like, and, now he has one to put his Spin on.  I'm sure his will look even better, he said he wants his to look more 3-Dimensional.  

In Real Time it's Veteran's Day and The Parade, so the Kiddos are getting The Man prepared for it, I got him dressed and gave Mando instructions on the familiar part of the Parade Route that The Man always sits at.  He's more of a Creature Of Habit now with the Dementia than he even was with the TBI.  I told them how far he can Walk TO the Parade Route, so, where best to Park in the Historic Neighborhood next to it, no further than 3rd Avenue from Central.  They don't have Handicapped Parking for the Disabled Veterans, in fact, they don't have Downtown Parking at all for the Parade so you just Park in the Neighborhoods around it.  Residents are used to it and becoz it's for the Veterans, nobody is mean Spirited about you Parking in front of their Homes.  

Its a very nice and Beautiful Historic Inner City Neighborhood of smaller Homes on very large Lots that we Park in.  Mostly Owned by more affluent Yuppies these days.  They rarely come up For Sale... and when they do the Price Point per Square Foot is high, high, high!  That Prices Out any riff-raff moving in, so Buyers don't mind paying it.   Anyway, this will be the 1st Year that Princess T isn't joining her Grandpa for his Parade coz it fell on a Tuesday and she has to Work.  Had they Celebrated it by making it a long Weekend and doing it Yesterday, she has Mondays Off.   I had a Doctor Appt. then too so couldn't have gone either Day, first time ever I've not taken him, so he was upset about that Yesterday, less so Today.  Seems in good Spirits for the Kids to take my place, both The Son & The Daughter are going, Mando is Driving.  The Young Prince didn't want to go.  He was always opting in and out of going as a Teenager, it's Okay, he is fiercely Proud of his Grandpa's Service... and his Husband Allen's Service.  

 

But I think only the Gay Pride Parade is one he feels comfortable participating in.   Military Parades he thinks can hold some Toxic Masculinity among some of the Attendees and he's no Fan of that.  In fact, when he heard of the Group at the Mandarin Buffet and the Old Man who disrespected his Grandpa there, he was Surprised a Fight didn't break out.  And that his Grandpa didn't kick that Guy's Ass for implying he was a "Wannabe", OMG!!!   As if anyone whose NOT Served would be Wearing any Branch of the Service Cap and T-Shirt or the Medals attached to said Hat and NOT be Legit!!!   The Man has 3 Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, among numerous other distinguished Service Medals he's EARNED over 39 Years, nobody wears those who didn't fucking Earn them!!!   So he became VERY agitated and fixated on that Stupid Old Man.  I was SO relieved when they all left the Restaurant, all Three of 'em!

To me they looked like a Trio of Old Grizzly Bikers, Old, but probably a Decade Younger than The Man, so I didn't want a Fight to break out over insensitive rude Commends made towards him.  I hadn't heard them coz I was up getting my Food at the Buffet Tables.  But when I'd returned The Man had his Killer Face on so I was like, Oh Fuck, what just happened in my Absence?   Coz he was Death Staring that Trio at the Table behind us by about 10 Steps from our Table and I just knew they'd started something and were still Talking about it loud enuf that now I could hear them.  Fuuuuuuck!  They did seem to be intentionally provoking, and like The Young Prince always says, Toxic Masculinity in some Men can cause a multitude of Problems and Trouble.  

   

Who Needs it?   I'm a pretty Scrappy Old Woman but I don't provoke anyone ever and Dark Dawn didn't want to have to Square Off with a Tag Team to confront Three Old Stupid White Men in a Chinese Restaurant.  They looked like Poster Child MAGA Asshats looking to make Trouble.  I told him to just Ignore the Fools, but, he couldn't.  It really spoiled the first part of the Meal for him as he continued Staring them Down.  I thought if even One of them approached our Table, I only had a stupid 
Butter Knife available, they don't even have anything Glass to break to use as a Weapon.  *LOL*  The Man doesn't Need a Weapon, he was skillfully Trained to BE The Weapon, but, I want for his Killing of Men Days to be way behind him.  Plus, he's 73 Years Old and not in his Right Mind, so... that's not a good Combo to risk Going Off in a Mental Rage if Triggered.

And he's been Triggered in the fairly recent Past when he was in his late Fifties or so, and really hurt a Guy.   When some Thug in his 20's tried to Assault him at a Convenience Store while he was Pumping Gas in Da Hood.  He was wearing his Marine Corps. Shirt and Cap that Honors Disabled Veterans, like he does.  This Gangbanger looking Hispanic Man wanted to Talk Hard and Be Hard, kept Talking Smack about the Military and what Pussies they were, and then lunged at The Man unprovoked. Coz The Man had tried to hold his composure and just ignore the Trouble, the Guy took that as being an Easy Mark I guess, Old Disabled Marine, figuring he had the Upper Hand.  Mostly The Man had remained composed coz it was the Sabbath and he was going to be picking me up from Church nearby.  He could still Drive back then.  Not Cool as a Godly Man to have to really Hurt or Kill a Fool on a Sunday Morning.  *LOL* 

But, once that Fool came FOR him aggressively, he instinctively reacted.  When he picked us up his Knuckles were very Bloody, his Sunglasses were broken and and askew on his Face, he had someone's Blood all over his Shirt... and a small Mouse of a Bruise on his Cheek where the Guy had made contact first.  Ruh Roh, Honey, WHAT just happened?   We have to call the Police and the VA Psyche Doc right away he said, what just happened is on Security Surveillance over there at the Circle K.  *Gasp*   We did both, coz, what had transpired was he'd beat the Thug badly and put him right thru the Guy's Truck Windshield.

  He was pretty Sure the Guy would need to Drive himself to the nearest Emergency Room for Treatment and it would be Reported how injured he was.  He'll definitely have broken Facial Bones and needs a lot of Stiches, The Man said, and I had to stop myself from actually Neutralizing him, like I easily could have taken a Kill Maneuver to end that Fight and The Threat quickly, but didn't.  He was much Younger and Bigger, so I didn't know for sure I wouldn't have to or that the Guy didn't have a Weapon he'd pull?

The Police were Cool about the incident and I'm sure reviewed the Video Surveillance to see that it was self-defense and what could have been an unfair Fight of a Young Thug assaulting a Disabled Old Man.  I didn't wanna see the Video, it sounded graphic.  But, he'd picked the Wrong Disabled Old Man obviously to Square Off with.  And, the VA suggested The Man spend a few Days on the Psyche Ward coz it had caused an involuntary Flashback, he has Extreme PTSD and when he feels Threatened or at War, well, things can get very scary very fast Mentally for him.   We don't know that they ever found the Guy or not?  The Man said he'd hurt the Guy badly enuf he didn't intend to press Charges, Lesson now Learned by that Punk Fool as far as he was concerned.  He didn't hurt anything but his Knuckles and his Sunglasses, his Cheek was a little Bruised, so, we could Buy new Sunglasses and just forget about it.   They took a Report and it had been Breakfast and a Show for everyone at the Convenience Store and I was relieved he neither got really Hurt or had to Kill someone.  *Whew*

Now, at 73 and with TBI and Dementia, he could get really Hurt or if feeling Threatened enuf, Kill someone, I don't want either scenario becoz of some other Men's Toxic Masculinity.   But, to me, Three Guys picking on One Older Veteran, the Day before Veteran's Day, is a Punk Move any way you cut it.   The Man was disrespected in Psychologically harmful ways when he returned from Vietnam and it took him Years to get over how so many of the American Public treated those who had to Serve in that unpopular War.  It was disgraceful how they were treated and it was quite hurtful as well.  It's only in recent Years that anyone has even tried to make up for it by Thanking our Veterans for their Service and treating them with Respect. 

 That's why it's so harmful to the Military how this Draft Dodging Cowardly President wants to Misuse our Soldiers against the American Public in the Streets of America.  It will Poison the Public Attitude quickly towards those who Serve and have Served, and that's worrisome to us Military Families.  Both for the Public and their Safety on American Streets, and for our Military not to be put in such a precarious position by any American President whose unhinged with his Orders to them.   To all remain Safe and have Mutual Respect for one another as Americans.  Freedom was never Free, somebody Paid for it FOR you, remember and Honor that Fact and Truth.

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Thank You to all our Veterans and Active Duty Military and their Families... Dawn... The Bohemian