Chickens... Children... And A Christmas Countdown

 

Your condolences for me being Sick were appreciated.  I still feel not 100% and basically lousy, but, I'll Soldier On and manage.  At least I don't SEEM to be getting Worse, so, there's THAT!  *Whew*  With being Sidelined with a Stomach Bug on Thursday it meant I'm trapped in my Bedroom near a Bathroom all day and can spend all my time Blogging at least.  *LOL and Winks*  The Daughter has Two Housecleaning Jobs, Tomorrow and Sunday, in Chandler, so I HAVE to feel good enuf to drive her there so she will earn some Money for Christmas.  She sends most of it to the Kiddos in Mexico, not only the Trio that are hers and all have Birthdays around Christmas, but their little Sister too, who isn't The Daughter's Child, but is the Younger Half Sister from their Dad's last Relationship.   

We try not to leave her out when we send Money, it wouldn't be fair or Right to.  All of Salvador's much Older Children by previous Relationships we don't, he Fathered way too many Children by various Women.  I only keep in touch with One of his Oldest Daughter's via FB.  She's a Lovely Young Woman and wanted to know all of her Younger Siblings, including all of The Daughter's Four Children by Salvador.  The Daughter had the longest Relationship with him and unlike the others, is the one who left him when she was getting her Life on Track and he wasn't.  She has some contact with him, I won't and don't, he's too messy with how he lives Life and courts Danger with Bad Actors.

The Young Prince's Dad hasn't walked in the Light, but by comparison, he got his Life mostly together and got Clean, so we have contact.  My Grandson likes his Dad's new Wife a lot and they've developed enuf Relationship now that he calls her his Stepmom, which was huge.  She's also good with his Two Younger Siblings, who Adore her, so, that's positive for Bobby's Kids, all Three of them.  Apparently she never had any Children so she's taken his Children under her Wing and enjoys them being around and they enjoy being around her.  That's all a Positive as far as I'm concerned.  I have yet to meet her and don't Need to as The Grandson is Grown, so I don't have to Vet who he is around for him, he can do that for himself now as a Grown Man.

 

The G-Kid Force always talk to me about anyone New they meet and are around, and weigh in on my opinions and take that into account.  Since both of them are now Grown, I appreciate they still do that but don't have to.   I didn't like that the New Stepmom of The Young Prince gave him a Tattoo, it looks good, but, still, I wasn't on Board and would have preferred he had gone to a renown Artist instead.   But, he's a Quirky Artist himself and has his own Aesthetic about Art and what he wants on his own Body, I can't run interference with that, it's his Body.  He's always marched to a different beat of his own Drummer, so, I can't say I was Surprised really, he'd told me in advance so I wouldn't be Freaked Out when he did it.  *LOL*

At least he said it wasn't as shocking as when he was merely joking, before his Adoption, that he was gonna have the Courts change his Name to Crimson Rose.  He said the look on my Face that Day was Priceless coz I told him {coz I didn't know it was a Joke}, that nobody would take him Seriously with a Tranny Stripper Stage Name like that, so, please Don't!!!  Then he said, "Psyche..." and I realized he wasn't serious, but was serious about changing his Name at Adoption, which, Legally the Kids could be allowed to do and surprisingly even without my consent.  I wasn't pleased their CPS Caseworker had Shared that Information with Minors without my Consent, but, they were Wards of the State at the time and the Adoption wasn't Finalized yet, so, the State did whatever they wanted to and I had no real input as a Custodial Kinship Placement. 

The State really exploits Custodial Kinship Placements coz Care and Support is all on your Dime, yet the State makes all Legal Decisions for the Children, including whether they can have necessary Surgeries, etcetera.  It sucked, and I was a Custodial Kinship Placement for 15 Years, pain in the Ass.  I was forced by The System to Adopt the Grandkids when Princess T was 10 and The Young Prince was 15, or they would Adopt them out to Strangers if reunification with Bio Parents isn't possible... and... it wasn't possible!!!  I'd had both of them since Birth tho', so that wasn't fucking happening, so I fought back for almost Three Years to Adopt them and make the State at least pay the Adoption Costs, coz it was an extremely complex Adoption, for MANY reasons. 

The Man wasn't allowed to Adopt due to being already a Vulnerable Adult needing full time Caregiving by me.  But Post-Adoption, now I was their Legal Parent and had more Authority like a Parent should have.   And that's important, you don't want Strangers in The System making important Life Decisions for your Children or your Grandchildren, or your Nieces and Nephews.  Some Strangers in The System made good decisions in the best interest of the Children and their Families, and many didn't, that's all I'm saying.  And, oddly, they pushed the Adoption thru as if I was a Single Woman, even using my Maiden Name, so the Poor Man thought, are we still Married Honey, or did they Annul our Marriage too?!  *LOL*  The Law can be really Interesting in how they get around complex issues to push things thru, let me just say.

And tho' The G-Kid Force still call me Gramma and call their Mother, Mom, they do Joke that now LEGALLY she's their Sister, and their Uncle is their Brother, and Grandpa is still Grandpa, and I'm their Mom... which all seems very Weird.  *Ha ha ha*   When we're doing anything and I'm asked if I'm Mom, I say Legally Yes I am, but I'm their Bio Grandma who Adopted them.  Otherwise you get confused looks if you just say Yes, you're Mom, and they're calling you Gramma.  *Bwahahaha*  There's probably enuf Adoptive Grandparents that really Society has accepted that many Grandparents have been Raising Grandchildren for Generations now and us "Big Mamas and Old Mamas" have been around a long time doing what we did Raising a 2nd Generation.  I just don't wanna hafta Raise any Great-Grandkids, that's all, I'm Done.  *Winks*

The Good Thing is, Princess T is the most responsible and fair of all the Kiddos and the most practical, so, she will handle our Estate if and when that Time comes, to ensure it's distributed equitably.  I pray the others will go along with her decisions without contest.  Coz it will be in their best interests to do so, she'll ensure everyone is well cared for and benefits, since, the others aren't Well and will need a Network of Support, probably for a Lifetime, she's well aware of that Fact.  Keeping it as a Family Compound and Selling Off all contents as they need or want to, will ensure a Safe Haven for all of them, for a Lifetime if necessary.  With the state of the Nation, that will be important and we're trying to set it up now to be self-sufficient and provide their own Nutrition off the Acreage.  The Guys will soon be building a Chicken Coop for some Chickens a Friend of theirs is giving us.

This is the Vision I had for the Chicken Coop, and Mando, along with The Son and The Daughter, feel confident they can easily build this on the Back Acreage.  Yes, if I'm gonna do something, it's getting done Right, no Ghetto Coops I told them, these will be some Spoiled Rotten Chickens who will have Luxury Accommodations and be Ethically Raised and Cared for, or, we're just not having them.  Mando can Build anything, so he wants to get to it as soon as he can while he's feeling Well enuf to complete it for us.  The Daughter thinks it will be Fun to Trick Out a Coop like this and add Value to the Property, which, it will, since this IS a Mini Farm and if you build anything Primo on the Acreage, Value is added.  She has Raised Chickens in Mexico, The Young Prince Raised Chickens in Washington State when living in a Hippie Commune Farm there, Mando has Raised Chickens and many of his Family still have Chickens.  The Hens will be my Girls.  *Winks*

I've been lurking around The Land of Blog too Today while I'm Sidelined all day long.  I had fallen behind in Blog Reads, Sorry, I like to try to keep up with everyone's Blogs that I Read regularly, even if I don't always Comment and interact.   Remember the Old Saying "Kilroy Was Here"?  I've thought of just leaving a "Dawn Was Here" in the Comments but it would just seem Weirder than I already am.  *LOL and Winks*  So, I resort to Lurking instead, being that Anonymous Reader for that Post I don't Comment on to let you know I WAS there.  I enjoy a lot of Blogs regularly and miss some of them that aren't around anymore.  Sometimes I see a Pinterest Pix I really like, such as the Chicken Coop Pixs I Cribbed for Blueprints the Kiddos can replicate ours like.  But, the Blog no longer exists, I wish it did, couldn't find "Shabby Chicks Farm" that at least One of the Photos was accredited to.  I'd of liked to have seen more of their Chickens and Creative Lodgings for their Livestock on their Farm.

Even "Shabby Chic" Creator Rachel Ashwell, doesn't maintain her Blog anymore, a lot of well known folks used to have Blogs and now they took them down or haven't made an entry for YEARS.  I liked when the Creator of "Magnolia Pearl", Robin Brown, Blogged and now she doesn't and took it all down.   Most still have Biz sites, but it's not quite the same as their Personal Blogs revealed about the Person behind the Line.  I enjoy someone's Back Story, and Life Story in the Present, and what their Hopes and Dreams are for the Future, it's inspiring and gives insight into that Individual beyond their Line or their Business.  Anyway, many Blogs bit the dust and Industry Blogs in particular went away completely, so you can't vicariously come along to Events, Picks, and Shows with them anymore, Nationally or Internationally. 

My Vendor Friend Michael at the Antique Mall, who is the Male Version of Me {Smiles}, had this Quartet of Orphaned Vintage Bling made into Christmas Trees.  Loved it, worked out a Deal with Michael, to be able to bring Home Two of them.   If I get some Cash as my Pressy for Christmas, I would like to pick up the other Two... we'll see.  Michael will always give me a 1st Cousin Deal when I Buy from him and I do the same, since, he's Bought from me for Years too.  We might as well Trade most of the time.  *Ha ha ha*   He had the one with the Doll Head priced too high for my liking, but the other Three were much Cheaper and when he Discounted that Price on the Two I was most Interested in, I hadda pull the Trigger and just get 'em.  *Smiles*  The above one is the only one of that Trio of less expensive ones I didn't Buy... yet... Hope nobody Scores it before I can get that one at least.  I don't think he'd knock enuf off the Doll Head one to make me Buy it???  But, we may Negotiate a Bundle Deal, since he knows I already Bought the Two???

I took Close-Ups of each of them and then Groupings of all of them.  So, the one Above is mine, and the Pix Below, each of them flanking the Doll Head one are the Two that I Bought last Night after my Shift and working something out with Michael.   He had put a LOT of this kind of thing in his Booths recently, so I do Wonder if he Scored someone's Altered Art Close-Out?  He's an Artist himself, and a Male Emergency Room Nurse, but his Art tends to be more Mantiques Style, so I doubt he'd do something this Girly himself?   But, he knows a lot of other Artists and he Sourced the BEST Merch IMO that we have in the Mall.  I call him Mister Clean as my Nickname for him coz he looks like the Iconic Mr. Clean Mascot of the Product Line.  The Animated Muscular Man with a Bald Head, White Eyebrows and an Earring goes back to 1958 and looks just like Michael.

Anyway, I didn't NEED to Buy anything for myself, but, if I don't Deserve it, who does?  *Winks*  I don't expect Pressies from anyone and I'm giving something to The Family {shush}, I already presented in advance to The G-Kid Force what those Two got, since, he was leaving to go back to New Mexico for Christmas and she wanted to Order her items herself and have me just cover the Cost, which, works for me.  *Smiles*  Her pressy was a couple of Anime Figures that were absolutely Adorable.  They usually come in Blind Boxes and you have to Hope to get the ones you desire.   But, Online, for an Upcharge, you get exactly the ones you desire so I told her to do that for the Two she was really Jonesin' for and I'd Buy them for her as the Christmas Pressy from Grandpa and I... so, she did.  Pixs Below: One is in a Dinosaur Outfit, the other a Bunny Outfit, Adorable Little Faces that portray an Attitude she relates to! *LOL*

 

I couldn't really describe these little Guys without Photographing them for you instead.  I can see why they Appeal to her as a more Mature yet still Childish Collectible that is HOT right now.  She's Sold Off her Childhood Collectibles and upgraded them to what her Age and Demographic now Collect, as Collectors just do as we keep Maturing.  To me the Upcharge is worth it and told her so, Blind Boxes are risky, you risk duplicates or spending Money on those you really didn't like so much or perhaps even want.  Some people do like the whole Blind Box concept and for Sellers it's great, people have to keep Buying to TRY to get a whole Collection or the ones they want if they only do it that way.  I like they offer Upcharge certainties Online tho'.  I pay more to get EXACTLY what I want or desire, I know she will too for the same reasons.  I gave her Brother Cash, that's what he wanted, right Size, right Color.  *LOL*

Pretty sure he had it spent before it cooled in his Hands?  He's like that, whereas his Sister is Thrifty and a Saver, like I was at her Age.  I always had Money Saved and my Family got Loans from me rather than from a Lending Institution.  *Ha ha ha*  They weren't therefore all that Surprised when I was wooed by a Corporate Executive Female VP Banker Friend of mine to come Work for her rather than for who I was Working for at the time.  I Worked alongside her Husband and she saw my Potential and said I was Wasting it in the Jewelry Business.  Tho' I knew a lot about that Industry and had Mentors there too,  I could make more Money Banking.  

 

Plus, she'd Mentor me to become one of the Youngest Executives, definitely one of the Youngest Female Execs, in the Industry before she Retired.  She accomplished that and helped me accomplish that, so it worked out as her Legacy and my 1st Corporate Career Life with a meteoric rise to the Top of the Food Chain.  *LOL*   I had entered the Jewelry Industry as a Teenager the same way actually, after High School I was working in Dept. Store Retail and an Older Woman named Maxine, high up in the Jewelry Business, saw my Potential and wooed me away from Retail in Department Stores and Mentored me in the Industry she had done very well in.  She became a cherished Friend and Mentor even tho' she was my Grandparent's Age.  

I'd entered the Dept. Store Industry the same way with Mentor Thelma, also a Grandmotherly Age who Mentored me 'til she knew Maxine would take me further.   Both Thelma and Maxine actually knew The Bank Exec, Mary Ann, too, and encouraged me to be Mentored by her now in an Industry I could make even more Money in.  And Mary Ann had been a Trailblazer in breaking Glass Ceilings for Female Executive Bankers... and I did.  My Dad had Schooled me to be taken under the Wing of other Powerful Matriarchal Mentors if I wanted to Learn more than I could ever get in a College Education that we couldn't afford.  He said Matriarchs have much to Teach a Young Woman and already had fought their way to the Top, so want a good Replacement for when they Retire, so they will Teach you all they know and already hand you over to their Cultivated Contacts.   

Dad was Right about all of that.  And it can Work for Young Men too, find the Guy with the Whitest Hair whose ready to Retire and have that Guy be your Mentor and Teach you all he knows, you'll do well in any Industry that Guy got to the Top of the Food Chain in and knows everything about.   I have also been a Mentor to other Young People who wanted me to Mentor them and Teach them all I knew before I took Retirement in my respective Corporate Lives.  I'll still Mentor any Young Person willing to Learn and Succeed, whose Ambitious enuf to do what it takes to attain their Career Goals, Hopes and Dreams.   

  

There is an Old Saying that is crass but True, it's not WHAT you Know that is most important, it's WHO you Know... or, for the ones who wouldn't cut it otherwise, WHO you Blow.  Females especially have to decide if they want to get ahead with a Mattress on their Backs or on their Knees, or by their own Accomplishments with PROPER Mentorship and not just Men who will Exploit and Use them for Sexual Favors.  And, even if you do everything Right as a Female, or a person of Color, or Gay, you also better do whatever it is better than any White Heterosexual Male too coz it's NOT a level playing field and never will be.  For Females, you better grow a Pair that is formidable enuf to go Toe to Toe with any Man, it's Helpful.  To have bigger Balls AND to Rack theirs if you have to and they become Adversaries rather than Allies.  I make a much better Friend than an Enemy.  *Smiles and Winks*

Yes, you'll be disrespected and resented by the Patriarchy due to Gender and especially becoz you're a Strong Woman, but, they will Learn to Fear you.  I'll take Fear over Respect any day.  *Winks*  If you disrespect me, be prepared to be in my Crosshairs tho', Take Downs were my Specialty and Good Sport.   The Man said that he found it interesting how much Fun I had squaring off with anyone who got in my way and taking them Down, especially if they underestimated me.  Bonus if they do, they never see you coming, Fair is Rare, and you can Fight a Skilled Adversary all Day long and never see them.   Also something Dad Taught me, he said the Apache were particularly Feared and Successful against much bigger Adversaries coz you'd Fight the Apache all Day long and NEVER See one.  *Ha ha ha*  I appreciated my Dad telling me I could do anything I set my Mind to, despite barriers based on Gender or Ethnicity.

I still remember Guidance Counselors in High School trying to sway Females away from Male dominated fields and on having a Family and supporting the Man in your Life in his Career as your Role.  Until about Age 30 I didn't want to Marry, it wasn't even a Goal on my List of things to do.  I did Marry the 1st time when I was 28, it was a huge Mistake that didn't care to repeat actually, tho' I met and Married The Man Three Years later when he asked me to.  But, I could see a Future with him, he wasn't intimidated by my Success or the fact it earned more than he did, even tho' he had a long and very Successful Military Career, it doesn't earn as much as Private Sector Jobs typically.  But, my Dad was Career Military and I have great Respect for all our Military and what they do and Sacrifice for the rest of us to enjoy our Freedom and feel Protected from Adversaries.  The problem now is the Enemy is from Within.

The Oldest Granddaughter in Mexico just send us a Pix of her and the Boyfriend, I joked, we only get an Eyeball each?!  *LMAOROTF*  This is her Childhood Sweetheart and I wouldn't be Surprised if he ends up being The One for her.  He's helping her Raise her Younger Sisters and ensure they'll be Okay, he's a good Guy from a good Family and a hard Worker, The Daughter likes and has met him.   She's hard Working and Smart, she's still going to College, Working Full Time AND Modeling on the Side, as well as helping get her Younger Sisters Raised since their Paternal Custodial Grandmother passed away at Age 90.  I'm sure they were all her Caregivers for the last Decade of St. Maria's Life, but she'd devoted her Life to them and they were her Everything.  Her Son was her only Child and she had him very late in life.  Her Husband was high up in Government and Assassinated when their Son was only 13, she never Remarried.  Almost all her Family are high up in Government too.

 

I'm glad to hear the Trio of Grandkids in Mexico seem to be doing mostly Okay on their own.  The Middle one is now living with her Boyfriend and his Mother, who will finish Raising her, she turns 18 in early January.  They're keeping her on the Straight and Narrow, since she's The Prodigal Child of the Three Girls there in Mexico.   She has significant Disabilities and so her choices aren't always the best, nor her Behavior.  She's the one who most looks like me but acts more like her Mama did at that Age, which was, a tough row to hoe for anyone Parenting a Child like that.  Below is that Grandchild and one taken with the New Boyfriend, who, The Daughter has Face Timed he and his Mom now so feels comfortable she's in good Hands with a decent Family who Care about her.  She's a good Kid but she has Challenges and a lot of significant Trauma, which, her Dad's poor choices and lifestyle are responsible for exposing his Kids to.

She is clearly wearing Dark Contact Lenses and Dyed her Hair Darker, she has Light Eyes like me and Blonde Hair Naturally.  But in Mexico, being Mixed Race and having an American Parent is difficult.  So, all Three of the Kiddos try to look more Hispanic to blend in and not stand out as the Children of an American.  Right now in Mexico, America isn't real popular, and for valid reasons that we're not popular with Canada, Europeans and other Allies around the World either.  This one has Dreams of coming to America to meet us, her Older Sister too, only the Youngest one has expressed any Interest in actually Living in America.  The Older Two, Mexico is their Birthplace and their Home, how they were Culturally Raised, and where they have the most Family and Friends, so it's understandable they would only come for Visits someday.  Well, if Immigration Issues EVER fucking get sorted out with letting anyone Visit America from Abroad?!  This Administration is Hell Bent on Isolationism of America and making Trouble with other Countries.  

The whole fiasco with Valenzuela, which, if they call it a War we've already committed War Crimes, and if they don't call it a War we've already committed Mass Murder, is just an atrocity committed by an American President and his Cabal of Vulgarians.  It's put our Military in a very precarious position of the first time being used specifically against Civilians and without a War even being Declared and Authorized by Congress.   I feel the Orders to Murder 'suspected' Traffickers of Drugs is Illegal.   And BTW Valenzuela isn't a major exporter of Drugs to America, not by a long shot, and Trafficking Drugs is not a Capital Offense even IF you go thru Due Process and ARE Convicted of the Crimes.  Then going back later to Murder Survivors of your first War Crime/Murder who were no longer any Threat and unarmed, stranded in the Water, IS against anything a Military Member is remotely Legally Ordered to do!!!  

Anyone who follows an Illegal Order is Subject to personal and Career consequences of doing so.    For those that might not recall such things as the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam, which was a United States War Crime of 1968, pretty much explains what happens to those Military Members involved in such atrocities, even during an actual War.  It's what ended up causing Public Backlash enuf so that just about all Vietnam Veterans suffered the stigma of being called and labeled "Baby Killers", it was not good and caused much Psychological damage and distress to Veterans and their Families.  And it won't be good for our Military if and when they receive backlash for Murdering or Abusing Civilians, either here or Abroad.  Especially being Ordered by a Draft Dodging Convicted Felon and Sex Offender, who was too Cowardly to Serve his Country and has shown nothing but contempt, disrespect, insults and disgust for Veterans and their Families, and our Sacrifices for Country.

It really irritates me that there is any Support for this Administration still, after all they've done, even tho' their Approval Rating is around 39%, that's still over a Quarter of Americans on Board, which is disgusting.   I don't understand People who Support and are enamored with Evil Vile Men, I just don't.  To me it exposes their Character as being seriously abhorrent too.   I distanced myself from anyone on the ReTrumplican Crazy Train, unless and until they debarked from it and came to their senses about how fucked up it all is and how they were Played, Conned, and Weaponized against their own fellow Americans and Believed a bunch of bullshit, embellishments and Lies, which they bought in to hook, line and sinker.  They were easy Prey to a Career Serial Predator.   I've Processed many a Criminal File of Convicted Career Serial Predators, they can never be rehabilitated and will always re-offend, not a matter of if, just when.

I took some Anti-D over-the-counter Meds which seem to be solving some of what's Wrong.  I haven't ran to the Bathroom in a few Hours and could keep down and retain some Food.  Tho', it was really hard to eat, even something I really like and was easy on the Stomach.  So, I haven't been able to eat much and only forcing myself to have enuf hydration so I won't become dehydrated, always a risk when you have a Stomach Bug and are Older.  Don't wanna end up Hospitalized right at the Holidays.  The Daughter had a call from her new AHCCCS assigned Healthcare Provider who wants to do a Home Visit on January 19th and she's agreed to it but already Paranoid and Freaking Out about it.  Being a Paranoid Schizophrenic and having D.I.D. she NEEDS active Healthcare, but getting her on Board with any of it is a challenge.  A Home Visit will be easier on me than coaxing her in to a Doc's Office or Agency to assess her... but, I Hope it goes well and doesn't Trigger her?

She is extremely Guarded and Suspicious of anyone she doesn't know and especially from any Agency she doesn't Trust.  Getting her Approved for her Medical Insurance provided by The State for the Indigent was a Process enough without added burdens imposed, like too many required Visits she may not want to endure.  I'm going to see what Mental Health Services she now Qualifies for, and Dental, since she really Needs both and has zero Income for to pay for any Services, since, she's not really Employable.  Just little Side Jobs provided by Friends isn't sustaining her by any stretch of the Imagination, but, it improves her Self-Esteem and Morale.  She doesn't want to burden her Elderly Ailing Parents, keeping her here is important for her and for us, if she thought she was a burden, she'd split and be Homeless again and vulnerable, I don't want that.  She spent way too many Years like that already, both here and in Mexico for Decades, almost all of her Adult Life in fact.

 

They're not gonna improve Mental Health Services in this Country, they aren't even trying to or interested in at all.   They aren't even improving the Medical System for the rest of us even.  They're making a bad situation even worse as the ACA is now being gutted and extensions expires at Year's End for literally Millions of Americans being left with either NO Insurance, or Insurance becoming unaffordable that many will have to drop and end up with NO Insurance.  This could collapse our Medical System since folks will still get Sick, Injured, have Medical Emergencies, and inability to pay it out of Pocket, since the Costs are always too high and can/do Bankrupt people every day, thru no fault of their own.   Every other 1st World Country does what America claims we can't do, provide Healthcare for it's Citizens... usually at No Cost on a National Healthcare System that Works and has for a long time in their Nations.  The Daughter even received better Healthcare in a 3rd World Country she wasn't a Citizen of. 

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Christmas Countdown... Dawn... The Bohemian