Okay, so, the Exterior clearly now reveals that I'm the Lazy Holiday Decorator. *Smiles* I decided, all Pumpkins will remain, real and faux. And I just added some Christmas Wreaths, Balls and Garlands, Done Son!!! *LOL she drops the Mic on Exterior Decorating completed in less than 10 Minutes!* I'm Happy with the results and it was the least amount of no Work involved, which, is my current Styling Sensibility these days. I'm keeping it Simple, it Works for me now. I have the Help of other Generations and if they wanna do more they can, so long as they take it down and put it away too. *LOL and Winks*
We had such a Full Day Yesterday and until our Social Security Checks and my Pension hit, hopefully on time this Month {???}, it's in Stall/Hold Mode financially now. It's about half our income and hasn't been on time since this Administration took Office, since, they've pretty much wrecked the Federal Government, which then Negatively impacts County and State function as well, it's a Dominoes Effect, like a House of Cards falling in upon itself and going down. If they're on Time they should hit around the 17th, so, we'll see.
There is some Grocery Shopping I want to do but don't need to do right now and it can wait. We're not sure Mando will get his Food Stamps or not... or on time either. But, I have enuf of our Food bought that him contributing is just extra to ensure it can provide enuf for a large household of this size. Otherwise, just more Water in the Beans. *LOL* The Son isn't getting Unemployment, he got Screwed out of that by a Sleazy Employer, as I mentioned in a previous Post. His Car also isn't in great Working Condition and now he has no funds to keep it piping along or to make Payments on one and trade it in.
The Daughter and Mando have been doing little Side Hustle Jobs to keep his Car on the Road and bringing something in to contribute. She's got a Housekeeping Job in Chandler on Tuesday. It should have been Monday but I'm Working Monday and Wednesday Nights filling in for Co-Workers, so those Dates were booked for my Work Commitments. Mando will pick Princess T up from Work on Tuesday, since we'll still be way over in Chandler. Her Mom's Gig will be Working until 4:00 p.m., Princess T gets off Work at 3:30 p.m. and I Work Nights starting at 5:00 p.m.. So, we have to logistically coordinate who can do what and when. The Daughter has permanent Driving Restrictions and Princess T doesn't Drive yet. City Buses aren't reliable nor Safe. It can become complicated to get everyone where they need to be.
Uber and Lyfts aren't vetted well enuf I'd put a Single Young Female in one not knowing who the Drivers are. And those Driverless Cabs by Waymo have been doing all kinds of illegal maneuvers around stopped School Buses, stalling on Railroad Tracks when Trains are coming, and had Passengers trapped inside! Those Driverless Vehicles make me nervous and malfunction too often to be Safe. Yes, Drivers do stupid and illegal shit too, but you can prosecute a careless or irresponsible Driver. This is why I don't like AI, and surveys show most Young People don't like AI either. But, we wont' go deep into those Weeds on this Post.
My OCD Kicked In when I saw that flat side of that front Wreath when I downloaded this Image... so, I fixed it immediately and took another Pix... better now, huh? *LMAO* Having OCD Impulses and Urges is hard coz you can't ignore the little things and trifles that wouldn't bother anyone else. In my Corporate Lives it made me lots of Money and Promotions tho', to focus and immediately zoom in on anything that isn't exactly Right or glaringly stands out to me and everyone else misses completely, so it ain't all Bad. *Winks*
That Side probably got a little flat being Stored in The RV Garage Mahal against something else and just needed fluffing out again. I am a Wreath Lover and pick them up anytime the Chazzas have a good one or After Season when they go on Markdown Sales. I have Wreaths for every Season and Holiday. All of my Wreaths were Scores like that, Retail a nice Wreath could otherwise set you back quite a lot and the ones made from Real Pine Boughs, in Arizona, are expensive, just don't last, Dry Out too quick and become a Fire Hazard. They smell Divine, and in a Colder Climate might be worth Investing in Seasonally, but, not here. I do have Real Grapevine Wreaths tho'. And you can do Real Succulent Wreaths with Living Succulents or Air Plants here successfully.
I had my Air Plant Obsession Phase when we lived at The Villa McManse, long time Dear Readers might recall my Phase? *LOL and Winks* I had them fucking everywhere, but, tho' they allegedly survive on Air, they are more complex to keep Alive than that really. I was only moderately successful in that endeavor and don't like Killing any Living thing even accidentally and unintentionally. So, we did go Grocery Shopping coz Mando's Food Stamps did hit and they made a List of what to pick up and what we were low on. We went to the Discount Grocer coz I had a $10 Off Coupon from last time we were there. I didn't know they give you an additional $20 Discount if you're paying with Food Stamp Assistance... so that really helped a lot to stretch what it gets.
As a Single Man he doesn't qualify for that much, but, he's ineligible to Work due to the progression of his Cancer so he isn't on the Work Requirements for Single Adult Males. Before we got Home The Man wasn't feeling well at all, so we immediately took his Blood Pressure and this time it was dangerously LOW instead of dangerously High like before. So, he's on Bedrest again and why I don't like to drag him along becoz tho' he wants to come along, he's often not Well enuf to right now. It's not that I'm being Mean, it's just not Wise to have him getting ill in the middle of whatever you are doing, whether Recreational or needing to get done.
When we pulled up the Guys got him to Bed and took his BP, while The Daughter and I unloaded the Banana Boxes full of Groceries. I saw that she hadn't liked my Lazy Holiday Decorating Outside on the Front Porch at all so had redone it. *LMAO* She took away all the faux Pumpkins, and put out a small Christmas Tree instead. I put Three of the Pumpkins back but let her take the rest away to Storage. Then, she Tweaked her own Decor and Decorated the little Tree too. *Smiles* I THINK she's Done now? *LOL*
It does look nice and she's happier with it, so I don't care that she changed it up right after I did it. *Smiles* She's having Fun being in Charge of Decorating for Holidays now, she's foregone so many Holidays with being Homeless and also being in a whole other Country for most of her Adult Life now. She said she forgot how much she'd missed and also how much better things are now she's a Recovering Addict and has been Clean for more Years than ever, over 3 now, after having been on Drugs since her Teens, it's a huge shift to be Clean and not Using and in The Life. Being SMI is Forever, but abusing Prescription Meds or Illegal Street Drugs doesn't have to be.
Anyway, other than Grocery Shopping it was a Day of not having to do much else. I did take The Man to "Cracker Barrel" for a late Luncheon coz he was reluctant to eat all day and you can't MAKE him eat. But, he sure does like "Cracker Barrel" and I knew I could get at least half of a Meal from there down him, which, he did eat half of his Beef Pot Roast we both had and it's always very good.
They didn't have the big Fireplace burning, but every Christmas Season we try to stop by a CB at least once coz they always Decorate so nicely for the Holidays. They have such a great Collection of Antiques Decorating their Restaurants too. My Friend Brett used to Sell Antiques to Cracker Barrel Restaurants, especially Signage, Yard Long Photos, and Antique Pictures in the Antique Frames. He once Sold them a Taxidermy Bear.
A Blast from Holidays Past of The Daughter and I when she was a very Young Teenager, probably around Age 14-15. I'm not trying to look Cool with my Shades, before I had Lasik done on both Eyes I was Legally Blind and had Glasses with Lenses as thick as Mister Magoo or the Bottom of Coke Bottles!!! So, I'd get the Tinted Lenses so they didn't look so fucking goofy. *Smiles* Below is The Daughter and my Mom during the Holidays way back then too. They were very close, she being my Parents first Biological Grandchild. My Parents embraced every Grandchild and Great-Grandchild whether Biologically Connected or not tho'.
Our Family has never used the terms Stepchild, Stepdad, Stepmom, ever. In fact, we've had Kiddos "Adopt" us and call us Mom, Dad, Grandma, Nanna, or Grandpa and we "Adopted" Aunties and Uncles, or Surrogate Grandparents, Cousins, Nieces & Nephews, while growing up, who were Friends of our Family too. People never really knew they weren't actually Relatives. *LOL* And we'll never tell. *Winks* People are on a Need To Know basis about it and they DON'T Need To Know. Below is a Blast from Holidays Past of me, my Friend whose now Dying of Cancer, and my Welsh Uncle {now Deceased}, when we were in Las Vegas at a Drag Show. My Uncle isn't fat, he was just that Big a Guy, 6'4" and even in his 70's was stronger than most Stud Muffins in their 20's. He lived to be 90 and was still Strong as an Ox even then, my Cousin, his Youngest Son, said... and I fully Believe it and don't Doubt it.
I've also sprinkled in Holiday Season Pixs of various Industry Friends of mine that I've known for Years. I have an Orbit of Fantastic Friends and feel very fortunate to know my Real Life ones, both in my Inner Circle, and what I call Situation Friendships of Common Interests we bonded with and kept us close for Years, along with Friends from the Blogging Community as well. The book of Faces helped me re-connect with long lost Friends and catch up, so I don't mind the few Social Media sites I use and have helped us stay Connected with people no matter where we are or how scattered now across the Country or the Globe.
Below are the Santa Pixs one of the Granddaughters Back East sent of her Kiddos. She's the Oldest Daughter of our Oldest Daughter and she said her Middle Child HATED Santa until this Year. So, this is the first time that one cooperated for the Santa Photo Shoot. Yay and LOL! She doesn't look Thrilled, but, she is in the Pix and I guess that's all you can Hope for and Ask for, when they don't like ole' Santa Clause, Right? *Smiles* The little Brother doesn't mind The Fat Man, but, none of them actually looks like he's their Favorite Holiday Figure either. We don't Care that he allegedly brings us them Toys we get!!! *Bwahaha* And my aren't we RED in that Pix, that's a LOT of Red going on!!! It almost hurts the Eyes!!! *LOL*
In fact, there's so much RED going on that I didn't even notice that the Oldest Great-Granddaughter had Bailed for Pix No. Two! Peace Out!!! *LMAO* She is getting to that tipping Age of skepticism that The Fat Guy is Legit and For Real?! *Shhhhh, she may Believe just a little while longer? Or not say anything so as not to spoil it for the Younger Siblings?* I think a Mrs. Santa made it more inviting a Photo Shoot for the Kiddos, otherwise, mebbe they wouldn't have been as cooperative? Elves generally aren't Helpful if they have Fear of Santa. *Smiles* But, this one is a Fine looking Santa, I must say. I had very skeptical Kiddos and so were the G-Kid Force I Raised, so you had to Scour and Scout out the most Legit looking Santa for them to be Game for a Photo with him. No fake Beard/Mustache, no Padding. Kids usually think The Man is Santa out of Uniform at this time of the Year and get excited if they still Believe.
For Years he'd have small Candy Canes in his Pocket to hand out in case they called him Santa and waved like Hell to him or wanted to come up and Hug him or Talk to him during the Season. Any Old portly Guy with long Whitish Beard and long Hair is potentially Santa to most Kids of a certain Age that Believes. I checked the FB of all Events and it seems "Highland Yard Vintage" won't be doing any more Events until just before Spring, which is really odd. I thought they'd do more Weekends before Christmas actually coz they did have a big Event Schedule in November for it, but, none at all in December! "Sweet Salvage" has one more Event for the Month of December at their usual 3rd Thursday of the Month for 4 Days on Dec. 18th-21st, which is pretty close to Christmas and may still have that Holiday's Theme?
One of my Industry Friends used to be a Hairdresser before she was a Designer, so she's been Dying Deer Mounts Black with Human Hair Dye and I'd Love to own one. They look so Real that the 1st one she did I thought was some kind of anomalous Rarity of Nature. It's a real Labor of Love and takes her an incredibly long time and she Sells them for not much more than you'd pay for a regular Deer Mount. This was the one she had this Month at the Event, it was around $525, so not within my meager Budget of right now... but, someday. She always Sells them during the one Show they are on Display, and she only does One at a time coz it takes her so long to Dye one of them.
I haven't even downloaded all the Images I took with my Old School Camera yet of our Adventures, so, those Pixs will be in Future Posts. I don't know that I'll have many more Adventures before Christmas that will be Holiday related or not? I don't even know how I Closed Out this Pay Period, which ended on Saturday Night, with Sunday still being part of the last Holiday Sale we'll be having before Christmas... and started the New Pay Period. Friday was not Strong Sales even with the Sale, for me anyway, so I'm Hopeful Saturday was and Closed Out the Pay Period Strong, I Worked a lot of Hours covering for Co-Workers to offset some Rent. And this 2-Week Pay Period I've also got Days I'm Working that are already Scheduled to cover for People they KNOW won't be covering their Shifts. Call-Ins during the Holidays or people just not showing up at all, are sadly chronic now tho', so I highly suspect they'll call me and ask if I'll Cover more.
Depends really how I feel and what I'm doing or not doing, whether I'll accept or decline last Minute requests to fill-in for someone who didn't give them any prior notice. If they did more for those of us Working at the Holidays, like they used to, I'd accept more, but, they don't. So... I'm not giving up Holiday Days with Family to bail them out of people not showing up. I like spending time with certain Co-Workers who are fellow Vendors and Paid Staff there, and during Holidays it can be nice, like spending time with anyone you like during Holidays. But sometimes I confess that don't have it in me to be Working part-time on Call AND Caregiving full-time. Then ask the Kiddos to Cover for me with Dad/Grandpa so I can pull Shifts at the Antique Mall. I have to consider them and their Time too.
They've never said they wouldn't watch him for me, but I know sometimes he can be difficult, or even unlovely, and highly uncooperative, for any or all of them when I'm absent. Usually by Sundown he gets more agitated with me too and snappy with his Tone, but he knows I'll come right back at him, and they won't, out of reverential Respect for their Elders. So he pushes the boundaries further with the Kids and Grandkids when they're in Charge. Princess T is the one most likely not to put up with any of his nonsense and come right back at him, she's a chip off the Ole' Block and can be a Nurse Ratchet when Caregiving... often it's said she can be like a Mini Me. *Winks*
So he will behave better for her in my absence, but, she Adores her Grandpa and it saddens her too much, to make her assume too much responsibility when he's deteriorated and cannot Mood Regulate. She doesn't wanna be The Heavy, she wants to be his Little Princess, as it should be. I'm worried that if he continues going backwards in Time with the Dementia, if he gets to where his Memory can't recall anything prior to 2005, he won't know who she is anymore? If he goes beyond 2000 he won't remember the Young Prince. It will take going backwards before 1989 not to remember Our Adult Kiddos and me. The Young Prince has been tracking his Grandpa's Memory Care and Memories and says he seems to be somewhere around 2016 right now... or thereabouts.
I know with my Mom and Dementia, she went back somewhere between 1957 and 1959 coz she forgot who my Brother was and he was Born in 1960... but, she remembered she had me, her Daughter. She Died before she forgot who I was too. She did think my Brother was her own Brother tho', so my Brother played along and pretended he was our Welsh Uncle, for her sake. But, I know it hurt him that she didn't think she even had a Son, he'd been her Baby and her Favorite Child all his Life. It might have been easier if she'd remembered him and forgot me coz she and I had a long History of sparring and he was The Golden Child. I'd of liked it to have ended that way for my Younger Brother and could have accepted her forgetting who I was or thinking I was someone else.
She remembered our Dad, but didn't remember he'd Died a Decade earlier, so that was a hard one for her to be told again, even tho' they'd Divorced, she didn't recall that either, so we didn't mention it. And she didn't remember hardly any English in the end, coz it was her 2nd language, and nobody spoke or understood Welsh, so, it was so hard for her, she may as well have been non-verbal coz she couldn't communicate with anyone really anymore. I knew some Welsh, not enuf tho' and the Staff thought she was speaking gibberish. I had to tell them it was her Language and that Wales was an actual Country in Great Britain, with their own Language, Ethnicity, Customs and Indigenous Culture, that the English tried in vain to eradicate for Hundreds of Years in North and South Wales, and couldn't. Mom was from North Wales. Above is her when she was in her Eighties, her Skin still smooth and flawless.
There is a difference in Language of those from North and South Wales, mostly vocabulary, accents and some pronunciation. But, it's all the same Language Cymraeg. Most speakers can understand each other, North Wales being Gog and South Wales being Hwntw. Northern pronunciation is more complicated, but not necessarily harder to understand. The South has historically had more funding than the North so geographical beef between the North and South has more to do with Politics and how England's Rule discriminated more against the areas that held strongly to their Language and Culture more. Both North and South disliked England and the English tho'. If you wanted to Trigger my Mom, mistake her Ethnicity and ask if she was English!? She didn't mind you mistaking her for being Australian or from any other Foreign Country, just don't ever say you thought she was English and from England! *LOL*
I remember my Kids taking my Welsh Uncle for "Show and Tell" to Grade School once {Yes, they did}... and some of the Kids asked him if he was English and he said NO so firmly they asked, "Oh, don't you LIKE the English?" And he told a bunch of 3rd Graders, in jest, "Yes, we Like to EAT them!" OMG, I had to tell these Kids, who Believed it and were wide Eyed, that he was just Joking with them, the Welsh don't Eat the English!!! I thought the Teacher was gonna have the Vapors, even tho', they'd all, Kids and the Teacher, have a lot of trouble understanding his English, so a lot was Thankfully lost in translation. *Whew* The Man never could understand hardly anything my Uncle ever said, even Eleven Years worth of Visits. So, I'd translate and my Uncle got used to it. *Ha ha ha* And if my Mom reverted to Welsh, you knew she was MAD and couldn't remember English becoz she was so Mad. So, we picked up some of the Welsh derogatory and swear words, natch. *Smiles*
*******
Merry Christmas from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian
.JPG)
No comments:
Post a Comment