So, I'm packing the Showroom and Locked Case at the Antique Mall with larger Collectible and Vintage Toys now, coz that's what is Selling right before Christmas most. Princess T purged more of her Collection of them, she's good about her Downsizing, better than I am about Letting Go and Cashing In. *Smiles* I marked down about 80% of the Small Bagged Collectible Toys and so they're now Selling very well as Stocking Stuffers, I suspect. They were what we had most Loss Prevention Issues with so we just don't wanna Deal with it anymore. We would rather just Close them out at discounted price than have them walk out the door with the Five Finger Discount folks paying nothing and it being a total Loss and an aggravation of being violated by Thieves.
Retail, Toys are expensive, especially the popular Lines, and some Retired Lines of popular Toys can now only be had an an Antique Mall and people know that. Plus, a lot of Retailers aren't carrying the Pokemon, Anime and coveted Toys still being produced becoz of the Loss Prevention Issues in Big Box Stores being out of Control now. Any Line that Thieves are targeting, they just quit carrying altogether at the Major Retailers, not worth their while to. I've talked to Employees and Managers who say Theft is way up and the Moral Compass of Society as a Collective is mirrored by who they Voted into the White House. I agree, the fabric of American Society is displaying and representing a soiled Reputation Globally now from the Top on down.
You know how it is when you've fucked up your Reputation and now nobody Trusts you, thinks you have any Morality, Character, Integrity, Honor, or Honesty. These are things that some of us have Guarded and Protected, becoz it means something to us and about Who we really are. But, now it's obvious that some care not what Reputation they have as being Corrupt, Untrustworthy, lacking in Character, having no Moral Compass, being Liars and having no Respect for the Law or anyone they're Victimizing. These aren't even all the worst of the worst Criminals either. Most of these Retail Thieves now are Suburban Housewives and Working People of all Genders who have the Money to Buy what they're Stealing and somehow think it's Okay and not Criminally something they have to even worry about or be accountable for. Most do it with their Children or Vulnerable Adults in tow, as a 'Cover'!!!
It disgusts me enuf I will press Charges. Even tho' Police become part of the problem when they don't take these Thefts Seriously and catch an Attitude with the Victims of the Crimes coz you wanna press Charges! Sometimes they fail to even show up or apprehend the Perp when they're still there and could be arrested. Store Security often does a better Job than Local Law Enforcement when it comes to apprehension and taking it Seriously. Which is why many places now have the added expense of having to Hire their own Enforcement. Even some Chazzas now have Hired Security, I know The Granddaughters Store does... which is tragic that Thrift Stores now Need Security!!! Due to Theft AND Shopper Safety with Peace of Mind!!!
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Princess T tells me they have to get Security to escort some folks out of the Store daily, and we live in a nicer area. I can't even imagine how bad it gets in less than nicer areas people are trying to do Business and Shop at!? Anyway, the Moral Decline of America is evident and those of us who still have a Good Reputation and a Moral Compass in place, know that it's still Important. Nobody is called to Perfection, but it's not so hard to just try to be a good Human and the best version of yourself you can manage to be. I've fucked up before, you have too, but I don't intentionally fuck up all the damned time and think if you do, there's something not Right with you and it Needs to be addressed before it spirals out of Control, if it hasn't already.
When the 2nd half of my Shift flatlined I busied myself tidying up Vendor Spaces that were messy and taking some Pixs for Blog Fodder and to Promote some Vendor's Merch. This Vendor has a small Unlocked Case but always carries unusual Merch, this Bovine Jawbone, Mussel Shell Ball, and tiny Snowshoes made for a Visually Interesting little Vignette on one Shelf's Corner. At least I think those are Snowshoes for a Child? Not really sure what they were, but there were Two of them and they looked to me like Snowshoes and would be good for a Christmas Vignette displayed as Winter Gear. That Poor Bovine needed Dental Work, No? *LOL*
I did Buy a Fiesta Ware Mulberry Cereal/Salad Bowl to go with the last Mug I already had of that Color that needed a match-up to Keep. Mulberry being a now Retired short run hard Color to Source {only produced 2018-2024}. The Vendor knew it, and had a lot of Fiesta Ware, Clue that they know what they have, so I hadda stand tall on the price of it, but, had Store Credit to use against the Cost. The Vendor also had the Mug, I'd had mine For Sale and just pulled it once I found the matching Bowl I wanted in order to have it be a Keeper Set. It's the Set in the foreground of this Pix. For now they're a Cheerful Color Splash under the Colorful Decorated Christmas Tree. I like how it looks and it won't seem so much like a barren Christmas devoid of Gifts then. *LOL* The Mall does have the Sage Color of Bowl & Mug I'm contemplating Buying, it was Produced only 2015-2018 so I should just Buy it when I go in Tonight to Work.
The Man's VA Nurse comes Today and from now on she'll only come every Fortnight on a Tuesday instead of Weekly. We don't know how long they'll keep Approving Visits, but they did extend once already due to his steady decline being evident, in spite of doing everything we can to keep him piping along. Yes, it concerns me, I don't wanna lose him, yet also don't want his quality of life to diminish to a point it's tragic either. When the Mind or the Body completely goes, then life isn't much worth living. And if suffering is involved in any way then definitely I wouldn't want any Loved one suffering anything unbearable for them to have to endure just for the sake of still being alive. My Bestie's Youngest Daughter sent me Pixs of her Mom looking at her Exterior Christmas Lights. I wept when I saw these Pixs, but I know why her Daughter took them, her Mom always Loved looking at the Lights at Christmastime.
She's full time in Hospice now and has a Nurse, but her Daughter can take her out for little Special Outings like this, since it will be her last, she's been given 3-6 Months now. It breaks my Heart to see one of my Best Friends, whose been more like a Sister really to me, in this condition. She's Wheelchair bound now, needs Glasses, is on Oxygen, still Rockin' the Bald Look, but, a Shadow of her former Self and looks like Yes, she's Dying and has not much Time left now. She tried fighting it valiantly and now has accepted the Battle is almost over. I've Lost some Lifelong Friends in 2025 so it hasn't been the best Year to avoid significant profound Losses of those I deeply Care about and have known almost all of our Adult Lives, sometimes since we were not even Adults yet! We Share so much History and it leaves a huge Void when they're Gone.
The Grandson is having D.I.D. Issues and one of their more Diva-ish Alters emerged Named "Sloth", since, he has Seven Selves, and so Named them after the Seven Deadly Sins to differentiate them. Well, Sloth had emerged and strangely is the Tidy Alter who does clean up after themselves. I Thanked them for it and got a rather hostile response of Sloth identifying themself as the Alter they are, and that I'm not the Lazy One, and the "Others" don't appreciate me and I do it ALL! I'm Sloth but I can do things, when I choose to, it's not Laziness at all. Okay then. Clearly Sloth is one to go to the Mat with anyone in full on Diva Queen Mode, very Flamboyant and Dramatic Sloth is too, on the turn of a fucking Dime snaps at you, so, you tread lightly when Dealing with that One. Mostly he's Docile and Kind tho', more of a Danger to Self than to others.
So, I Thanked Sloth for doing their Dishes, since I'd had the Come To Jesus with all the household Offenders of the Dirty Dishes Crew. And told all that I'm nobody's Maid, nor is anyone else, clean up after yourselves or you only get to use the Paper Plates, Paper Bowls, Red throwaway Drink Cups and Plastic throwaway Utensils! Apparently that Message brought Sloth forth as the Dominant who Received said Message and is Mad now at their "Others" who don't "Do it All". But, tho' Tidier, is a more difficult Alter to interact with pleasantly. Even joking with Sloth lands like a Lead Balloon and gives you a Death Stare right into your very Soul... Sloth is probably the One in the Past whose been Arrested, caught Charges, fought with Cops, and sent to Mental Health, pretty Sure. Do I prefer a Cleaner Grandson... or the Messier Grandson whose easier to get along with and plays better with others... it's a toss up. But The Daughter says we Need Sloth to be around more often. *Smiles*
I had warned The Daughter that her Son was in a least Lovely Alter, just so that One doesn't Trigger One of her less Lovely Ones to come forth and Square Off, that would be very Bad. She's in a Good One right now and with the Heads Up could be able to Receive Gallows Dark Humor about how to approach Sloth if that One is who we're Dealing with for however long Sloth is Dominant? Could be all Day, for Days, or just Moments, you just never know. They can all Switch so often or so fast, depending upon Mental Health Stress Levels, that you can't always Keep Up with his Seven or her Four. It's a Lot of People, with different distinct Personalities, almost a Dirty Dozen, in only Two Bodies, to keep track of and Manage as a Caregiver, I ain't gonna Lie. But, I Blog about Mental Health a lot to Educate folks, Society has a lot of Prejudices and Stigmas Socially against this form of Disability of the Mind/Brain, and loads of misinformation and Myths about it, vilifying the entire Community.
The Young Prince has had elevated Stress as his Visit is coming to an End and he knows he has to go back to New Mexico and Deal with the pending Divorce and the Husband. It's Up, Down and Sideways a lot, so I can see why it's particularly Stressful and uncertain. Pretty SURE that Allen is Triggering a lot of D.I.D. Switches in his Husband, which is never gonna be Good, but, Allen is Bipolar and has pretty bad functional Autism, and they never know when to Stop or back off. The Social Cues are absent and so is their Social Filter, and he's way worse than The Son.
We Lived with Allen's Bipolar/Autism and it eventually got him kicked out of our Home when he went too Deep in my Waters and found out he wasn't near enuf a strong enuf Swimmer!!! The Man had taken a Swing at him and I wasn't Referee to that. So, I did go Postal and Scared everyone, so he hadda GO!!! Be Well and Be Gone, Love ya, but, we can not co-exist in my Household anymore in Peace or in Harmony, clearly, so make other Arrangements. You forgot what Lane you belong in and Crossed a Boundary you never should have with me. {Above Pix is my Friend Tracy's Dog helping with the Tree, hadda Crib that Adorable Image and Share it, Priceless Fur Baby Holiday Memories are the Best!}
But I digress... The Young Prince knows Allen is why they got kicked out of our Home and said it's happened before, Allen Needs to live Alone really to function optimally. Good Guy overall and hard working, generous, likeable, but has Anger Management Issues. And is too damned Big and Strong to have them and lose Control of himself and not Mood Regulate appropriately. And sadly, he went too Deep into The Young Prince's Waters eventually too, and found out that as Frail and Fabulous as his Husband appears, Allen wasn't near Big enuf or near Strong enuf to handle what was unleashed.
The Grandson confessed to me what happened and said he'd of been Arrested for sure, mebbe both of them would have, AGAIN. Coz Allen should have gone to an Emergency Room, but knew he'd initiated the conflict and escalated it to where his Husband had Mentally Snapped and gone very Dark, very Paranoid, very Schizophrenic. It can happen... if someone is SMI it's not Wise to 'Test' them or Provoke, Threaten, or try to lay Hands on them. And every person has a Right to defend themselves from someone whose Emotionally losing Control and posing a Threat. I told The Grandson he should never tolerate Verbal or Physical Abuse from anyone, ever. When Relationships become unsafe it's time to leave them. And that time has clearly come IMO.
The VA Nurse just left, The Man's Blood Pressure is still dangerously high even on all his Meds and not doing much of anything that should elevate it. He ate right, rested, but now is on Bed Rest for the rest of the Day, not much else we can do at this juncture. His Heart is just not in the best Shape anymore now. He felt Fine too, so we weren't expecting that he wasn't doing so well. This was his 1st BP Reading of the Morning and his 1st Sugar Levels Check, which, was high too even before eating anything. It's frustrating to do everything he should and still have shitty results. They called me at 2:30 to ask if I could fill in for someone who let them down at the last Minute for the Night Shift. Since The Man is on Bed Rest I agreed. I Work Tomorrow Night too and Mon-Wed will more than make up for the Owed Rent and Square me with the Mall, so, it's all Good.
Tempting to pick up these Altered Pressed Vintage Glass made into Mushrooms to Resell. But, it was only 30% Off Today and if they're still there on 50% Off Day Monday, I'll bite. *LOL* There's a Vendor at our Mall that only does this kind of Altered Art with Old Dishes and Old Glass, she's been there for Years and I guess it Sells??? *Shrugs* I did get a Beer Tap that I can make a Sixty Dollar Profit Margin on. People buy them for their Home Bars and some folks even Collect them, so, if I find any on The Cheap, I always Buy them for Resale. Some Vendors have Specialized in those too, it's a Niche Market that must do Okay??? *Shrugs again*
I thought about Pricing a few items to take in with me but I lack the Time to, or the Ambition to try to actually. I've got about 30 Minutes before I have to leave, so I made sure I ate Lunch first. I was late eating coz of the VA Nurse Visit which ran over since he wasn't doing well and she was very concerned about him, checking things at intervals, things weren't improving. But she said with Bed Rest he should level out and he seems to be doing better with the suggested Bedrest and compliant. I fed him before leaving since he hasn't wanted to Eat for the Kiddos. The Son had made Breakfast this Morning for us and his Dad wouldn't eat it, so I made an excuse to give him most of mine and he happily ate it. *Eye Roll* I knew I could just get something else and avoid Man Drama. *Winks*
He really liked that Turkey Vegetable Soup and we had some left that I kept simmering on Low all Night so it was even tastier Today than Yesterday actually. Everyone was having 2nds, I'd made a big batch so they could make Soup and Sammies for a couple Days. Sometimes when The Man won't eat and isn't cooperative about Meals, you can get a Soup down him, he likes Soups. And he likes my Homemade Soups and Chili so that's why I make it at least once or twice Weekly, easy, and, everyone happily eats it 'til it's gone, no waste and cheap to feed a big Family.
Work last Night was enjoyable coz I was Working with my Friends Crazy Ed and Patrick, plus the Paid Staff of Young folks who are Friends too. Another Vendor brought in Two Rescue Malamute Puppies, she said one of her Neighbors was just gonna take them to the Pound otherwise. Adorbs, a little Girl and her little Brother, so well behaved already and they're very Young. We all played with them and I took Pixs for this Post. It wasn't busy at all so was a very laid back Shift where you had time to play with Puppies. *LOL* They appreciated me filling in for Jackson again, he's been out a lot lately and that Shift was a not known previous Date he'd be out, so I Hope everything is okay with he and his Family? He and his Wife Jeri are nice people I've known a long time now, they've been Vendors for Years too.
I woke up to Two big healthy looking Italian Oregano Plants in my Kitchen that weren't there when I went to Bed at almost Midnight, so, have no idea which Kiddo brought them in or from where? I guess they're wanting Spaghetti with Homemade Sauce now? *LOL and Winks* Work had been so slow that I took Pixs too around The Mall for Social Media Promo and Blog Fodder. We have some New Vendors and they have some fresh looking Merch that's a nice addition to the Mall. I'm happy when Quality Vendors lease some New Space there and replace Crap Hawkers. Altho', the Crap Hawkers do quite well so that's what folks are diggin' now, what can I say? *Le Sigh and Eye Roll*
We have a New Vendor come in and Rent a Booth near my Showroom that brought in a bunch of Fabric and since "JoAnne's" went Bankrupt and Closed down nearby, that Vendor is doing quite well with Sales of those small Squares of Fabric folks make Quilts out of called Fat Quarters. One Customer came in and bought so much of it they must be serious Fabric Artists or Quilters? They probably spent a few Hundred Bucks on Fat Quarters and Old Cutter Quilts!!! I've done well Selling Vintage and Antique Quilts. I used to have a Collection and didn't use or Display them anymore so just kept my Victorian Crazy Quilts from the 1800's and Sold Off the rest. You just don't see as many Old Quilts that are For Sale so they Sold fast.
Becoz The Man had been on Bedrest all Day he's better this Morning and his Blood Pressure was Normal range again, whew!!! It had been so high on Tuesday I was afraid we'd end up with another Holiday Emergency and potential Hospitalization to Deal with. So, dodged a Bullet there Thanks to the VA Nurse coming regularly to monitor him Professionally. Like I said, she's skilled and Professionally Trained, I'm not. When he looks like he's doing good and says he isn't feeling unwell then we assume he's doing okay, but, clearly, sometimes he nor we know that he's really not but Symptoms aren't presenting that would alert us in time that things are crashing for him. He's always presented that way tho' so even his Specialists have missed it. He's had his Heart Attacks sometimes the Day he JUST went to a Doctor Visit and they said he was Fine!!!
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