Life Is Not Bubble Wrapped

 These days folks can become Hostile for no apparent reason and it always kinda blindsides me when it happens and you were just being Kind or trying to be a Good Samaritan towards them.  I had gone to the Antique Mall late to drop off my Crate of Inventory.  The Man gave me a small Grocery List of things we were out of to pick up at "Sprouts" on my way Home.  There's Two Locations, one right by the Antique Mall and one near our Home, so I hit both of them coz they mark down a lot later at Night before Closing and I get some great Deals.  Plus they now offer a Frequent Shopper Cash Credit too, which Today was $4 Off my total Order to use or Save, so I used it.

So, I'm leaving Location No. 2, which is by our Home, and there's not many folks there coz it's about 45 Minutes before Closing.  So I'm parked right by the Front Door and about Three empty Spaces away on my Passenger Side is another Car.  A very Elderly Lady who was dressed like a Mennonite was going to the Vehicle, but had parked her full Cart of Groceries right beside MY Passenger Door.  Which was Strange, but I don't try to presume what's going on in People's Heads and why they do what they do?  She easily has about $150 worth in the Cart, along with some of her Personal Items.  I watched her putz around a bit in her Back Seat and then get into her Driver's Seat and close the Door like she was gonna drive away and forget her Cart of Groceries way over by my Truck, totally unattended, she's not paying attention to it at all!?!

So as her Door was Closing I yelled out, "Hey, Darlin', don't forget your Groceries...", and pointed to her Cart near my Vehicle.  She Opens her Door, steps out, and instead of Thanking me, or acknowledging a gesture done in Kindness, she wags her Finger at me in a scolding manner and Yells out, "Don't tell me what to do!!!"  I was taken aback, not the Reaction I expected at all.  I had no Words, so, just Smiled, got in my Truck and left.  I don't know if she got her Cart of Groceries and Personal Effects or not, and didn't Care then either.  I could give a shit, let her leave them.  There was nobody else around so it HAD to be her Cart of Groceries and stuff!  

What I should have done, since she was being an Old Biddie and ratchet Asshole, was wait and see if she just drove off and left it all, then I would have just put it in my Truck and left.  *LOL*  But, I'm not that Person.  I'm getting Older and Forgetful, so I'd want someone to remind me if it looked like I was forgetting something I'd just Bought, especially a lot of what I'd just Bought.  Again, no Good Deed goes Unpunished lately.  *Sigh and an Eye Roll*  I did get some good Deals at both Locations, different Deals, each seems to have their own Manager's Specials and what they're marking down to get rid of.

Crazy Ed was Working at the Mall and it had been very busy for a Tuesday, so he was telling me how Surprised he was about that.  He works a Double Shift on Tuesdays and said between 1:00-2:00 p.m. it was slammed and he was on his 3rd Page, we List what we help folks with in the way of Floor Assists, Go-Backs, and Case Openings.  Another Vendor was there who lives part of the Year in Montana, he's down here now for the Winter and was talking to Ed and I about how he hears that Minimalism is allegedly Dead now.  I didn't know that had fallen out of Favor.  So, not sure I Believe him or he gets his info from Reliable Sources?  *LOL*

Especially when he's telling Ed, whose a Purist of Antiquities and Specializes in Antique Furniture, that Antique Furniture is making a Comeback!!?   Huh?!  Yeah, that didn't seem likely, especially when then he shows us some Antique Furniture he'd just Bought for Resale purposes and it's Dark Wood Victorian Era piece that is a Vanity plus Chest Of Drawers on tiny Roller Wheels, that I don't think has Trended in my entire Lifetime, let alone AGAIN.  *Smiles*  He was bragging he'd ONLY Paid $200 for it, which, is probably only what you MIGHT get for it at our Antique Mall, IF YOU'RE LUCKY and it Sells at all?  I see them in Chazzas all the time for around $25. 

  And he's telling us he thinks he could get $1,500 for it?!  Good Luck with that and I Hope it all Works out... but... that might be a Hard Sell IMO.  I like Quirky Old Ornate Furniture from that Era, but even I wouldn't pay more than $50 for it.  And would Hope to Score it for less, coz I know they aren't a Quick Turn for whoever is Selling them.  I've even seen some like it Curbside on Bulk Garbage Day when some Old Timer has Died and their Family don't even bother to Donate the Antique Furniture nobody in the Family wants or values.  It's a Shame, but, I see it far too often to think it's Coming Back Strong in Favor or Demand.  *LOL*

Eddie agreed with me and said if he had the Piece he'd only be asking $200 for it Resale coz some Customer would try to Negotiate Down from that and make a lower Offer or it would sit and take up Space too long.  We're paying about $5 a Square Foot Rent now, so you can't have large pieces taking up Valuable Retail Space waiting for that End of the Rainbow Customer who'll pay Top Dollar or some Price you threw against the Wall delusional, using outdated information, and Hoping it will stick.   Ed knows "Montana" better than I do, he's a nice Guy, but, I think he talks a lot of nonsense about the Industry.  Not only about where it's At, but, where it's Going.  Seems to me like he's still stuck in the 1980's.  I didn't piss on his Picnic, but I think Dude was on Planet Wishful Thinking, so, I said nothing in response.  *LOL*

Listen, if someone is happily Existing in their Alternate Reality, that clearly isn't tethered to Reality at all, what CAN you say, really?  If I don't even know them very well, I don't really Care enuf to debate any of it with them actually.   Dude was delighted with his Antique Purchase that he felt he'd gotten a good Deal on, so I do Hope he Loves it enuf to Keep it for himself if and when it doesn't Sell?  Or, his Fantasy Customer Buys it from him at the inflated Price and is Happy to spend that much on it too?   It's all Subjective really, something is only ever really Worth what someone else is willing to Pay for it.  And to each their own, there's something out there for everyone's Taste, or lack thereof.  *Smiles*  I've been known to be Tasteless, but if I dig something, I don't Care if it's in Good Taste or not.  Some Tasteless Tacky Kitsch I totally Love.  *Winks*

The Man's Memory is quite selective these days.  He remembered I'd promised to make French Toast last Night with some Japanese Milk Bread I'd picked up at "Sprouts", for Breakfast this Morning... I'd completely forgotten.  *LOL*  So, he reminded me, what happened to you making that French Toast?  I guess he's Jonesin' for it?  So, I made the French Toast with the Japanese Milk Bread, which we were trying for the first time and were very impressed with.  It's more expensive but worth it IMO, light, fluffy and airy, slightly Sweet, but, filling and is sliced Thick like Texas Toast.  Bread wasn't a common Japanese Food until British influence and this was the Japanese take on making it apparently.  It's like a Brioche but lighter, not as dense, I'd definitely Buy it again.

I Wish I hadn't of gotten glare off the Glass of the Lights when I Photographed this beautiful Art Nude that my Friend Big Kenny had For Sale.  It's called "Honey" by Leo Jansen {1970}.  In hindsight I Wish I'd also bought it, but I think it was out of the range of Budget that day probably and why I didn't?   Coz it is a Print and not an Original Oil by a well known Mid-Century Artist.  I don't have any more Wall Space in the Main House for more Art and have been Selling a lot of what I already have too anyway.   I Love Art and have a lot of it.  Reselling it is quite Subjective and Personal for each Buyer of it tho'.  So it can be a Hard Sell sometimes due to that Individual Taste of what Buyers just Like and what they don't.  This Painting was devoid of those glare/light spots on and around her Face, those are reflections from the overhead Lighting, along with glare from the Flash of my Camera near the Price Tag.

This Vendor had Kewpie-Palooza going on, never seen such a large Collection For Sale in one Booth before.   This Vendor had the Good Stuff but a steep Price Point on everything so I've never bought anything from her.  But, she is in a better Curated Antique Mall where the right Demographic comes in to pay what she's asking.  She would be hard pressed to Sell anything at those Prices in the West Valley tho'.  It's all about Location, Location, Location... it always is with any kind of Real Estate.  I'm waiting right now for my Eye Appointment, it's at 10:30 a.m. and not far from the House, so not a long commute to get to, fortunately.   So I won't have to leave the house too early to get to it and be in Traffic.  Lately Traffic has been so bad that commutes are taking forever.  Typical in Winter when Visitors/Tourists, and Snow Birds who live here part of the Year, flock to Arizona.

The International Visitors are staying away, all of them.  Due to Donnie Two Dolls ridiculous Policies, he's Killed the Tourism and Hospitality Industries.  Which creates Hardships for those Communities that rely on it Economically and for Employment.   And now our Global Reputation is so soiled and we've broken Trust with everyone Globally, they don't want to come here or do business with us anyway and I don't blame them.  What he's doing is Bad Business and everyone knows he can't be Trusted, Lies habitually, unapologetically Corrupt, and is unhinged Mentally.  But, his recent visit to the Midwest, there were the predictable devoted White Bread Clapping Cult Monkeys behind him.  

Clapping like Hell and visibly encouraging every vile thing he said and buying into his Lies and Fabrications that are so absurd and unbelievable, it defies all Intelligent Logic.  But, it was Iowa... in a Suburb of Des Moines, so, predictable Cult Demographic of Die Hard predominantly White MAGA Cult Monkeys.  And of coarse he isn't terrorizing the Streets of Des Moines or their Suburbs with ICE, so they'll keep on being Cult Monkeys until it's THEM that his Secret Police are Terrorizing, Murdering and Abusing too.  He did flip-flop yet again and throw a few disposable Loyalist Hench Folk under the Bus, like Gregory Bovino, when he saw the level of Outrage of the latest Assassination in the Streets of the VA ICU Nurse.  

To be sure Bovino belongs under the Bus, and will be the latest Sacrificial Lamb of the Regime now, to try to Politically take the Temperature down some.  Any of them could be his next Sacrifice, they should all know this by now, he Cares only about his own Ass, not theirs, they're all disposable.  Only fealty to him matters, he's their Master and they're his willing voluntary Slaves/Serfs, so they deserve all that is coming to them, all of them.  He has more turnover than any Prez in History, and none of them were Qualified or not Corrupted to begin with and they knew it, so, it was a Nepo Hire and being rid of all of them would be a Bonus actually to the American People.  The Bromance Factor for the Men gets them in.  And the Women have to Look like Grotesquely Altered, but Attractive to him enough, Plastic Barbie Dolls, who are subservient, flattering and passive, to get the Job... and mebbe crawl under him as well.   Ewwwwww.

I got a News Feed on my FB Page to avoid doing our Grocery Shopping at any of the Westside Food City Grocers, which is a Popular Hispanic Grocery Chain, coz ICE was in the Parking Lot abducting Shoppers!!!  Don't even tell me it's about arresting the "Worst of the Worst Criminals" when you're picking folks out at random who are doing their Grocery Shopping based on merely their appearance!   I get nervous anytime Princess T is out with her Boyfriend, coz they're Two Young Hispanic Americans and could now be Targeted at random, just becoz of that and for no other reason whatsoever.  And that's Nerve racking and should never be happening in America in 2026, Terrorizing entire Communities and even Targeting American Citizens with no Criminal Record whatsoever.

I think this Administration and the Prez in particular better Walk Back fast their recent comments about being against the 2nd Amendment tho'.  They got the Gun Enthusiasts all riled up and frothy now, including the NRA.  To me THAT could be the tipping Point, coz Americans do Love the Guns and any Threat of taking them away or saying they shouldn't have them will swing the Far Right into a complete About Face and Tailspin, even within The Cult.  I'd bet Money that damned near every MAGA Member whose devout owns at least some Guns and probably has pixs of them with their Firearms on their Social Media sites... and mebbe their Photo Christmas Cards too?  *Winks and Laughs*  

And of coarse this Administration is selective about Who they don't want bringing Guns to the Streets or Protests.   They had no problem with Kyle Rittenhouse coming from another State, across State Lines with an Assault Rifle, in his Hands, to a Protest, specifically to Murder People... and he did.  And they Acquitted him for it.   The VA ICU Nurse never Touched his Gun, we can see that from every Angle, and ICE had taken it from his Holster before drilling him like Swiss Cheese with a flurry of Bullets, Ten Shots by the Official Count.  Many of which were done at Close Range and then from at a Distance, like they were Shooting using his Body as Target Practice!!!  Who they're Recruiting are some Sick Motherfuckers.  It's not so much about the lack of Training, which is evident, but of the lack of Character and lack of Humanity of the Recruits.

 I think the Local Police said they've taken over 900 Guns off the Streets of their City without any of their Officers firing a single Shot and definitely not intentionally hellbent on Assassinating Law Abiding Citizens exercising their 1st and 2nd Amendment Rights Lawfully.   ICE Shooting Three Citizens, killing Two in less than 17 Days, is Telling.   I think Alex Pretti's Family should do like Emmett Till's Mother did in 1955 and bravely have an Open Casket Funeral.  Along with National Picture Press Release of the Victim's Condition, of what was done to their Son too by Hateful, Evil and Biased Extremists.   I'm sure it ain't Pretty.  Point blank Executions and Lynchings never are.  Nor are systematic Campaigns of Terror, which this is now too.  These are not isolated Acts of Violence, they are intentional and Ordered by this Administration and carried out by his Secret Police Goons merely posing as Immigration Enforcement.  

 And every American should have to SEE the Condition of that Victim's Body in Death.  Just to make it fucking Crystal Clear what's happening and needs to immediately be Stopped and Condemned by ALL... not just some of us... but ALL of us, in Unity.   Renee Good's Wife should perhaps have had an Open Casket with Press Photos released too, for the same reason, of the close range Execution of being shot in the Face.  And that should air on every Station every Day until this is all put to an abrupt Halt and turned around to decency and Sanity, regardless of anyone's Politics or Religious leanings.  This isn't about Politics, it's about Decency, Order, Restraint of Law Enforcement to be following the Laws, and basic fucking Decency with Humanity being restored to America.

My Eye Appointment went very well, no changes from last Year, no Diabetic damage to my Eyes, everything was good.  He said especially for my Age my Eyesight is quite good, so the Ole' Lasik I had done Years ago is holding apparently.  They had to dilate my Eyes tho' doing the myriad of Tests they do Annually, so luckily a Mall is close by to wander around in for a couple Hours since driving was hard, even with the fake Sunglasses they give you to wear.  I'm still dilated but not as intensely, will stay out of the glare of the Sun for a while, a shame coz it's a glorious Sunny Warm Day and 72 Degrees Outside.  But, I don't wanna Drive 'til my Eyes aren't dilated.

The Mall was just sad, hardly anyone there, the Indoor Malls are failing miserably now and all the Anchor Stores have pulled out of this one, so now only small Urban Boutiques remain.  Nothing someone Middle Aged or a Senior would come to shop for, all geared towards Urban Youths.  A plethora of small Baseball Cap Shops, Shoe Shops, Urban Street Wear Boutiques, and Bodegas.   They do still have a small "Hot Top" and a small "Spencer's" there and both had big Sales.   Buy a marked down popular Brand T-Shirt and get a 2nd one for $1.  So, I got myself a Liquid Blue Brand "Grateful Dead" Tie Dye and an Anime T-Shirt for Princess T that says Bad Habits {will give her for Valentine's Day}.

Also got some Naughty Pink, Red and White Valentine's Sucks Dicks Candies for her that are shaped like little Penises.  *Ha ha ha*  I know she'll think that's hilarious.   And since Rusty has been helping her look at Used Cars, I felt the Sexy Anime Cutie by a Sports Car was perfect Graphics for a Valentine's Day Tee and I can tell her I got her a Car too.  *LOL*  We have Twisted Humor like that in this Family.  The heavily Tattooed and heavily Pierced Young Sales Clerk gave me an extra Discount, only charging me for the less Expensive Tee and giving me the other more Expensive one for a Buck... Plus a Military Discount, Bless him.  He had a multi-colored Dyed Mohawk and looked like he could be in a British Punk Rock Band from the 70's, coz he resembled Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols.  *Smiles* 

 He was telling me his Girlfriend works for a Florist, so they always wait 'til later to celebrate Valentine's Day coz she's too busy on that Day.  As I'm sure every Florist would be.   Plus, he said he treats her like every Day is Valentine's Day and she does the same for him... awwwwww.  He looked Hard and quite Grunge, but clearly is a Romantic at Heart, you can never tell by Appearances.   He Loved both the Shirts I was buying and got a kick out of the Candies I was buying for the Grown Granddaughter.  He said I must be a Fun Gramma... I said, well, I like to think so.  *Winks*   I do like "Spencer's" and "Hot Topic" Stores and am usually the Oldest Shopper in there.  *LOL*  I've spent a Fortune on the Two Generations I've Raised shopping for them at both Stores.  I Sell a lot of Secondhand Specialty Tees from their Shops in our Showroom, they Sell very well.

I went ahead and gave Princess T her Shirt & Candy, she said I'd completely forgotten that I'd gotten her an Anime Figurine she wanted for Valentine's Day.  Oh well.  One of the Benefits she has of having forgetful Grandparents. *LOL*  She liked the Shirt and thought the Candy was Funny.   She was telling me some of the Hispanic Ladies from Work have 'disappeared' and she really is worried about them in case they got abducted by ICE?  They've been roaming the Streets of the Metro Phoenix Area lately and we're all getting News Feeds on our Social Media of places to avoid coz they've been spotted there.  Since they're just abducting, disappearing and shooting to Kill anybody now, nobody is Safe so long as they're in your City or Town.

The Day has stayed Glorious, but I'm still sore from falling off my Truck so I haven't felt like doing much that is Physical yet, the delayed soreness made me realize how hard I landed.  But, no Bruising at all, just Sore and I don't think I Broke anything either.  I got an Emergency Call from The Young Prince, he was Emotionally distraught coz Allen is out of control and not Safe to be around.  So much so that Allen's Stepdad and Maternal Grandpa, both Good Men, are bumping up our Grandson's departure, paying for him to fly out this Weekend earlier and they Promised to ensure his Things get to Arizona too.  I Believe them both to be Men of their Word.  And The Grandson mailed some of his more cherished items just to ensure they DO get here.  He'll put smalls that have Sentiment and Value to him in his Carry on Luggage and a Suitcase he'll Fly out with.

That's all we can do at this juncture, he said Allen threatened to set his possessions on Fire and he's not sure he wouldn't do something vindictive like that.   I feel Allen's Family know how he is, they've known him all his Life and had been Estranged from him for Years, this is likely Why, he's not Emotionally nor Mentally Stable at times and cannot control his Angry Outbursts.  Some people with Autism that is severe enuf can be like that and quite Physical, and he's a Big Man and very Strong even when he's not going Mental.   I think he got discharged from the Military due to his condition actually.  Anyway, I'll count the Days until I can retrieve The Young Prince from the Airport and know he's Safely here.  I told him I know it's hard, but his things can be replaced, he can't be.  Any DV Situation has to be gotten away from ASAP.

So, the Call was very Stressful to me but I have to stay measured and completely Calm and Stoic anytime I get those kinds of Call from a Loved One in Crisis, that's Why they Call me first.  Coz they know I can keep it together and hold it down no matter what the Call involves and they Need that during times of intense Crisis.   On the Inside I'm in turmoil tho', I just don't Show it on the Exterior, my Voice, or my Actions.  The more intense something is, the Calmer appearing I am on the Exterior and I don't let Emotions Cloud my Judgment or Actions.  There's not much I can do all the way in Arizona.  I encouraged him, since he called me JUST as I was arriving at my Eye Appointment so we couldn't talk at length, to call his Mom and his Grandpa next, and he did.  I knew they could Talk him Down and offer Advice and Comfort on what he should do until he can fly out here.  He told them and I he had Mailed some things already to arrive here by USPS.

His previous Visit was to see if he should even come back to Arizona or not?  But after spending time with his Dad, with us, he decided he could coexist with us harmoniously, it takes Work, on his part, coz he is a full blown Schizophrenic.  But, so is his Mom and she's managed to Live here now for a few Years without major incidents that would preclude making her leave.   I think he could do it too, I really do, he has a good Support System with Family, both ours and his Dad's Side as well.  And he knows Metro Phoenix and has Friends here he's known almost all his Life.  They have always accepted him as he is.   Coming back permanently he can reconnect to everyone who truly Cares about him and have a more stable supportive Environment than he presently has there.   The Relationship with Allen has gone Toxic and would only get worse and escalate, which, isn't Safe.

I told him don't worry about bringing much of his Clothing coz we have enuf of mine he wears all the time anyway and he likes.  So, we can Share Wardrobe until he does either get his Things if Allen's Family do send it here, or get new replacement Wardrobe.   He's more concerned about his Art and Sentimental Items he's been Gifted with over the Years and mean a lot to him.  I Wish he had left it all here for Safekeeping, but, he was now Married and I didn't want to infer that he couldn't Trust his Husband while moving to a whole other State where he'd absolutely know no-one and be totally dependent upon his Spouse.  Where ever you place your dependency ultimately Controls you, that's just a Fact my Dad always instilled in us growing up.   So, exercise Care and Caution about what and who you are dependent upon, always.

  

Okay, so enuf of the Bad News.  At least I had Good News about my Eyes for another Year.  *Winks*   I had forgotten how many Tests they run at the Annual Exam, it is thorough, especially when you have Diabetes, which is a Disease that can and often does damage your Eyes and your Vision.  He was pleased my A1C is in the 6's and said that is Stable enuf it shouldn't cause damage.   I'm also losing Weight and The Man's VA Nurse Remi even mentioned how much she's seen that I've Lost since she's been coming.  I've noticed it too and why I had to get rid of so many of my Pants, they were too big now and didn't fit anymore and were falling off me.   I was looking back at Photo Archives, and saw I'd Lost the 61 Lbs. before in about 2008, but by 2012 I was at my heaviest ever in spite of trying to manage the Diabetes.  So it's been a long Journey to stabilize the Diabetes while keeping a Health Weight Loss too.

I had forgotten how Fat I was in 2012 in fact and was like OMG, it was Out of Control!!!   But so was the Diabetes and Specialists they sent me to were unable to get it under Control even if I religiously did everything they told me to and took whatever Meds they prescribed at the time.  It wasn't 'til I began seeing my PA, who is my Primary, that she got everything up under Control and she's only a Physician's Assistant, but knew more than all the Diabetic Specialists combined that I'd ever seen.  This is why I'm concerned she's transferring to a Location across the City, I'm conflicted on whether to follow her to that Location to keep me on as a Patient even tho' it's a very long Commute?  The Office she's moving from is so close by, but, will the replacement Doc for her be as Good?   Plus, she's also the Doc for The Daughter and Princess T and they both like her too.  Big decisions to make. 

Anyway, I had another Young Man stop me Today and tell me he Loved my Outfit.  I'm always Surprised when a Young Man stops and says that to me since I'm Old and I don't expect them to even Notice Old People, let alone offer a Sincere Compliment about how we look!  *LOL*  Especially if it's a Handsome Young Man, which it almost always is, I float away practically from being Complimented out of the Blue.  *Ha ha ha*  When you're Young and Hawt... you may Expect a Good Looking Stud Muffin to pay you a compliment and be used to it if you're a Cutie in damned near anything you wear or how you look Daily... us Geriatrics, don't Expect it at all!!!  *Smiles*  In fact, I've had many Seniors tell me they feel Invisible to Society sometimes... and that is a Sad commentary of our Society, that any Old Person would feel Not Seen or Acknowledged. 

Princess T and The Daughter always Laugh when I seem Surprised when they're with me and I'm the one getting the Compliment from the Young Guys who walk up to us and just randomly Compliment me on what I'm Wearing or my Hair.  Tho' Princess T does get complimented a lot, usually by other Young Women actually, who aren't as afraid as the Young Guys to approach her and say it Sincerely, Fan Girling her.  I think Young Men feel that she might find it Creepy, embarrassing, or too bold?   And anyway, The Daughter and Princess T say, well, Mom/Gramma, you might be the Least Invisible Female on the Planet actually?   They mean that in only the Best way... I think???    *Bwahahahahhaa*

So, I got my Compliment for The Day from a Cute Young White Boy in Hospital Scrubs, who really apparently Liked what I was wearing enuf to approach me and tell me.  *LOL*   And the Day before was the Young Biker Dude who liked my Hair and stopped to talk about Dreadlocks.  *Winks, I'm Batting 100% this Week on the Rando Compliments from Young Guys, whoop whoop!  Ha ha ha ha*   I guess it feels Safe to Compliment an Old Lady, you're not gonna get Shot Down or have her think you're trying to Pick her Up or Flirt.  *LOL*   My Mom always Lied about her Age in the other direction, adding 10 Years to her Actual Age coz she said it Ensured a Sincere Compliment about how Amazing she then looked.  *Bwahahaha and Winks*

This is a Nostalgic Look Back at the Enormous Hallways of The Villa McManse which had Alcoves galore, Covent Arches, and Coffered Ceilings.   I did quite Love the Santa Barbara Tuscan Architecture of that Home and probably Why the Builder originally Sold them for over a Million on the Build before the Luxury Home Market Crashed and never recovered.   Our Old Villa is still only worth about $585,000 all these Years later and we Bought it for only $375,000 in the Summer of 2015, when it had Cost the Original Buyer when it was Built in 2009, over a Million.   So, Original Buyers of those Luxury Homes there are still deeply underwater with Negative Equity and a Builder that went Chapter 11 Bankrupt.  Even those with the 3-Story 7,000+ Square Foot McManses are only Selling for around $840,000 now.   

This Home now has a Value of around $778,000-$800,000 by comparison.  So we've doubled our Equity since 2020 when we Bought it.  There's Two comparable Properties currently For Sale in our Community and are Listed for $800,000.   And that's the starting Point for Mini Farms here now, some have Sold recently for over a Million coz they're a Rare Agricultural Zoned Residential Find in the City.  But, the Market is Soft right now so Sellers are having a difficult time finding Buyers for even the once desired Properties.   And Developers are overbuilding IMO, glutting the Market with expensive yet poorly built New Homes and sprawling hideous Subdivision Hells of Cookie Cutter Homes that aren't very Special in any way.

They are threatening another Government Shutdown and the last one didn't accomplish a damned thing and this one wouldn't either, since ICE is separately Funded thru 2029 anyway, so wouldn't be impacted at all.  I just don't think it's the way to go to improve what most of us are so opposed to, angry about, and want eradicated, that is creating all this Chaos and Political Fuckery from the Far Right and a Criminal Regime.  I don't think it will Serve the People nor the Left to do another Shutdown on "Principal" and Create hardships to those who aren't at all responsible for any of this, such as Federal Workers and Air Traffic Controllers.  Who suffered enuf last Shutdown and it ended up being a Pointless Sacrificial punishment only for those Individuals, due to ineffective Politics and Posturing.

I thought about going in to the Antique Mall again Tonight coz I Priced a whole Banana Box filled with Fresh Merch to take into Inventory.  But, I'm tried and not enthused to make a run there after 7:00 p.m. now, so will probably wait for Morning instead.   I try to avoid being seen there when Management are present coz they usually ask me if I'll cover a Shift for someone without a lot of advance notice and tho' comping some Rent would be beneficial a little, it's not beneficial a lot really.  Plus, I'm expecting The Grandson this Weekend if everything goes as planned and he arrives on a Flight a few days earlier than expected.   Initially he expected February 2nd, so it's not a lot early, he'd of arrived on Monday then anyway... now it will be either Saturday or Sunday from what he told us Today.   The Weekend is when a lot of folks don't show up coz they know it's busier and so they don't Honor their commitment.

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Life indeed is not Bubble Wrapped... Dawn... The Bohemian