Visit, Spend Your Money, Then Leave...

 Tourist Season is in swing with some Events going on, hence the Blog Post Title Hook.  *Winks*  I Wonder if BCG will want The Grandson to go to the Races with him?  *LOL*  I think BCG is on thin Ice with The Young Prince, they just don't have enuf in common I think to have it get any closer.   The Young Prince isn't looking for a close Relationship with anyone, which is Wise since he's getting out of a close Relationship that didn't work out so he needs that time to emotionally heal really.  Perhaps BCG will be fine with it being casual and more platonic... I just think if he's not fine with that... The Young Prince won't want to see him anymore so that he's not giving the wrong impression?  He's talked about it with me, for now the arrangement is fine... until it's not.

I think all my Kiddos tend to Share my Philosophy of being Nice to everyone while being Close to practically none of them.  We're okay with that but some folks aren't and want more in every Relationship they might establish.  Even tho' I have few close Inner Circle folks, I still feel all Friended Up, to the capacity that I even want to manage various Relationships and be Invested.  I just got a lot going on and I like my Solitude too much to clutter it up with lots of people making demands on my time or my energy I guess.  The Older I get the less Social I've become, it's Nice, but, not necessary and can be an Energy drain to me.

I skipped The Gym again Today, I thought about going, but after I did the whole 5th Wheel QC Thang, well, that was enuf for one Morning.  *LOL*  And The Young Prince is removing some things from The Art Studio Space that I said he could take out of there and put in The RV Garage Mahal instead.  I want him to have Space for his own Cargo he brought with him and wants to be surrounded by in the Space he's Occupying now.  And he's gonna Help me with The RV Garage Mahal, his Mom has been very Helpful in there too, so, combined, we may just get it Done sometime in 2026?   The 2025 ambitious Deadline came and went... it was an unrealistic one for what's left to be done.

I'd like a quicker Turn on what's in the Showroom and Locked Case so I can haul more Fresh Inventory in there to Sell Off, that would be most Helpful.  I have no shortage of Inventory I intend to Sell Off and rid myself of.  So, detaching from Stuff hasn't been the Primary Issue really, the detachment is going along swell.  It's the stagnant Economy and Fearfulness of the American Consumer that right now is a barrier to liquidating what I'm not Keeping of what I have.  The Downsizing can only go along at the pace you can dispose of things appropriately and Wisely.  I'm not just gonna give it all away as a Donation, tho' I have ramped up what's being Donated and not bothering to Sell.

I don't mind being Charitable, but, we could use the Money more.  And so I'd rather have the Money for necessities and essentials, to ease Budget strains now the Economy is out of Control and we have such Poor Leadership.  So, what I've Invested in over the Years does provide that income beyond a Fixed Retirement/Disability Income we live on now.  And have more Mouths to feed and Family living with us now than we expected to still be Supporting and Sharing Space with in our Old Age.  We have adapted, improvised, liquidated assets, so, it will work out some kind of way.  You just have to hang in there, keep Calm and Carry On, as they say on Coffee Mugs and Plaques.  *LOL and Winks*

I'm waffling on what to do this Morning that would be enjoyable and not like Work?   I could be Pricing Inventory, sure, but I have no room right now to bring it in so I just haven't wanted to exert the effort and time to do it and just have it laying around here Priced or packed into The She Shed.   I have enuf emptied out Vintage Milk Crates and Banana Boxes right now to put it all in there tho' and mebbe I should focus on that Project.  Of going thru every damned Crate already in there and Pricing it all too, so that when there's room at the Antique Mall, I just pick up a random Milk Crate or Banana Box and bring it in to unload?   I could be busied for Days doing that while the Weather is so nice but not searingly Hot yet.

I've talked myself into it now so after Breakfast, that's what's gonna be my focus then.  Sometimes Blogging does help me to Organize Thought and then put it into Action, rather than Wasting precious Time and Energy while getting nothing important actually Done or just Mindlessly doing what I want to just Recreationally do to fill Time... and Waste it really.  Even something enjoyable, isn't always productive, and then when I know I still had a lot I'm avoiding that could be productive, I can't help but feel I didn't use that Time very Wisely.  LATER: I did about an Hour and a Half of that before Tapping Out.  *LOL*

I just got a Letter of Denial from Princess T's Medicaid Provider, which is United Healthcare, that they won't pay for her Wisdom Teeth removal coz they're not "Diseased or Infected".  Jesus Christ on a Bike, so you have to wait for Disease or serious Infection rather than prescribed Preventative Maintenance that both her Pediatric Dentist and the Dental Surgeon highly Recommended be done, before the Insurance will cover the Procedure... ain't that fucking typical!?  I could Appeal the decision, but it will likely be pointless and she'll be 21 before I probably got a determination and we're not even sure her Medicaid will cover her after Age 21 or not, without re-applying?  She may be glad she doesn't have to have the Surgery, I dunno?

So, other than that everything is Swell.  *Bwahahaha*   I did get Two big Boxes to Donate done, so will drop them off when I pick her up from Work.  I got a small Milk Crate filled with things to Price and will do it while listening to "Soundscapes" on the TV in the Livingroom.  I'm trying to discern what would be a quick Turn and easy Sell since I have limited Space to cram any more in my Retail Spaces.  I know what's been Selling quickest so just concentrate on replacing that kind of Merch for now until things improve with the Retail Market.  IF things improve at all... it's really no certainty it will and won't worsen right now?  I'm trying to be Guardedly Optimistic for now.

The Young Prince is being dropped off by us at his Dad's in the City, and we're dropping The Son off to Donate Plasma again, so after we pick Princess T up from Work, I'll take The Man with the Guys, drop them off, then take him out somewhere nice to Eat and have a relaxing Afternoon out together.  I dropped the Donations off already, hit the General Dollar Store to get Essentials, Lucked Out and they had Charmin TP Mega Rolls there for a Buck each.  TP is so damned expensive now and we got a lot of Asses to wipe around here, so I bought all the single Rolls they had on their Dollar Aisle, which actually is still only a Dollar and hasn't been marked up to $1.25-$1.50 now. 

 They had Cat Food for Eli on Sale too, big Bags for $5, still Cheaper than Grocery Stores for it or Pet Stores.  I'm stocking up, just in case this War he started spirals...  I'd rather be prepared than unprepared, and stock up while I can still get some Deals on necessities/essentials.  I've got my Non-Perishables stockpiled like I have become a freakin' Doomsday Prepper now.  *LOL*  The Son was surveying it all, as was The Young Prince, and saying, "You're expecting things to go really Bad, aren't you Mom/Gramma?"  Well, Yeah, I am... I ain't gonna blow Sunshine up their Asses and tell them everything I think is gonna be Buttercups, Glitter, Rainbows and Unicorn Farts.  It's NOT.  It already isn't, and I suspect is gonna go really Bad.

Plus, a lot of what I picked up Today can't be had with the Nutritional Assistance that The Son and Young Prince have on their Cards.  You can't Buy any Non-Food, Laundry and Hygiene items.  So, that's on our Dime to supply until someone earns some Money besides Princess T, with her cut Hours and Minimum Wage Job.  I still don't know what will happen when we file our 2025 Taxes?  I've heard people say some Seniors they know got healthy Refunds, who have no Dependents they're still Supporting, so, mebbe we won't Owe, but I won't hold my Breath either.  The Stimulus Checks Donnie Two Dolls bragged were going to everyone, since he collected so much in Tariff Revenue, never materialized, just another Lie/Con.  And now he's gotta find Money for this War he started.  The 1st 100 Days of a War will cost the Taxpayers BILLIONS.

But he did finally fire the Puppy Killer Noem, it's about time, ICE is out of Control and they need to appoint someone who both knows what they're doing and is doing it humanely, legally and right.  Snicker, okay, so I'm being facetious, that's never happening with this Regime, it would be a stretch for it to be an expectation and not a Fantasy.  Who he appoints is likely gonna be Worse?  The backlash of Murdering American Citizens by ICE was  instant and huge, so this Administration, as vile and Evil as they are, knew they better Dial that back or they'd be dealing with Anarchy and be ousted.   Pretty sure everything she did was with his consent, but, he'll throw her under the Bus as doing it without his knowledge, let alone his consent.  And of coarse his Base will Believe any Bullshit he says, no matter how outrageous or doesn't pass any Smell Test or Fact Checking.

Anyway, in due time I Hope they all go Down, one by one or en mass, I don't Care, the sooner the better tho'.   The Country won't last Three more Years of this Fuckery, blatant Grifting, Cronyism, Criminality, and total Incompetence.   I started by daily routine now of drinking that Warmed Tea of Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother, Ceylon Cinnamon, Honey and Warm Water, I like the taste of it, it's pleasant, and we'll see how my Body responds to it's alleged Benefits?  You drink it thru a Straw, recommended so it's acidity doesn't harm the Tooth Enamel, it's not all that acidic tasting, but I'm following that recommendation nonetheless.  And I finally got my replaced HUMANA Insurance Card with the right Plan.  *Whew*  Tomorrow I'll bring it in for my Dentist and Primary Doc to Scan it and update my Insurance Information.

The Wind picked up fiercely and is blowing a Gale Force Wind, Cooled everything down from high 80s to the high 70's, so feels a lot Cooler and pleasant, but, very Windy.   I got a Milk Crate Priced of Inventory that I think should Sell very well.  And when I picked Princess T up they had Fiesta Ware Cereal Bowls in Two Sets of Four different Colors for only Five Bucks a Set of Four!!!   And they had Crystal Towers of various Stones in Bagged Lots for only Ten Bucks a Bag, Princess T and I split the contents coz she Collects Stone Towers and Orbs too.  There was One Stone Orb.   The Towers were the kind and size that at our Antique Mall Sell anywhere from $15-$40 each, and the Orb would Sell for over $20 too.  

The Daughter has another House Cleaning Job in Chandler on Sunday, so I'll be taking her there.   I don't know how much they're making to work on the Ranch Job, but the Housecleaning Jobs pay well so she doesn't pass them up.  And it's helping her self-esteem to find side work every so often even if she can't be Employable at regular Jobs due to her Condition.  Social Security already refunded me my Penalty Money too, which was pretty quick after my Appeal was accepted.  They actually paid me some Interest on it, which was unexpected.  Nice.  I took The Man out to eat at "The Old Spaghetti Factory" for Dinner after we dropped The Young Prince off at his Dad's Downtown.  The Manager came up and talked to us twice.  He said the Founder had come in Yesterday, he's 92 Years Old now and Founded the Restaurant Chain in 1969.  I Wish I could have met him.

He was using Architectural Salvage for Decor and Saving it in the late 60's and early 70's before anyone else was.  And it Inspired me to begin Rescuing it as they were tearing the Old Victorian Mansions down along Central Avenue in Phoenix in the 1970's and I was distraught every time I saw another one being razed.   Now those that remain are commanding big bucks, but so few remain, especially of the Victorian Era, and Phoenix used to have many.  Heritage Tourism would have been profitable if Phoenix had been Preservation Minded, becoz it once had a lot of History and fabulous Mansions, but, they weren't.   

 

I think Tomorrow I'll put my Inventory I've Priced into the Showroom and pick up my Check.  Pretty sure I have one, tho' I don't know how much it will be coz at the close of the last Pay Period I didn't ask, Sales were Mediocre.   I only Worked One Shift during that Pay Period too.  I haven't Worked any for this Pay Period yet.  Since I'm only On Call I never really know if I will or I won't.   The March Market at "Sweet Salvage" has a very different Theme I don't think they've ever had before... they're calling "Show & Tell".  It will run the 19th-22nd of March.  I told Princess T she doesn't have to have her Wisdom Teeth removed, she wasn't Sad about it.  *LOL*  But, we're waffling on whether or not we'll even go to the "Renaissance Festival"?  Matthew went and told her it wasn't very good this Year.  I know my Brother said the one in Cali isn't any good any more either, new Owner, won't allow Photography!!!

I talked to my Brother Today, he finally got his Insurance to Approve getting his defective Morphine Pump replaced, it's been malfunctioning for Months now and they didn't wanna replace it!  He Appealed that decision and finally prevailed.  *Whew*  He's also having some trouble with his Eyesight and his Specialists think he may have suffered a Mild Stroke?  So, he's having some Tests run both on his Eyes and his Brain to see if there's a Bleed?   He's got so many Health Issues that are quite Serious and even been designated Terminal, so it's been lots of Bad News for many Years now and Grim Prognosis, but he's still piping along.  He has a big Grim Reaper Tattoo on his Chest that says DNR.  *LOL*  Coz he's been on Life Support now 11 different times, had them pull the Plug each time, and come back!!!  He's like Lazarus at this point.  They don't even know why he's still Alive?!

 

He asked me what happened and I felt and saw after my Stroke, but his isn't Presenting the same way.  Which is probably why they aren't sure if he had one... or it's something else going on?  Anyway, I do Hope they figure out what's going on and if they can do anything for it, or not?  He's my Baby Brother and he's had Poor Health his entire Life, Bless him.  He started out Life being Born in an Overseas Hospital that had no Incubators and he only Weighed barely 3 Lbs. so they put him in a Bread Basket on a Radiator and didn't think he'd Live.  The tiny Blue Sweater with Pearl Buttons that my Welsh Nanna crocheted for him to be taken Home in I kept for Years on my 9" Baby Thumbelina Doll and it fit her and had been too big on him!!!   My Mom had lost 11 Baby Boys so she desperately wanted him to Survive, he was her 13th Child and only Surviving Son, I was her 10th Child and the only Girl and only Full Term Pregnancy.  She Lost Two Sets of Twins, Two Sets of Triplets, and a Single Still Born.

My Welsh Nanna also Lost a set of Twins after my Mom was Born.  So multiple Births had run in the Family on the Maternal Side and I'm sure glad it skipped my Generation!  *LOL*  I had very big Full Term Babies, The Son almost weighed 11 Lbs. at Birth and The Daughter weighed over 8 Lbs. and was my smallest.  And I was very small like Princess T, before ever becoming Pregnant my top Weight had been 98 Lbs..  I never Weighed over 100 until after I had Children.   And when The Son was Born so big, I only still weighed 128 Lbs. at the end of that Pregnancy, so the Docs were shocked I had such an enormous Baby, he looked like a little Sumo Wrestler.  *LOL*  I only Weighed 130 when The Man met me and I was over 30 then.   Princess T was Delighted when she finally hit 100 Lbs. recently.  Her Mama only ever broke 100 Lbs. after Age 40 and after having had Five Kids.  My Mom's Nickname was Olive Oyl, Popeye's Girlfriend, coz she was so Thin until her Hysterectomy in her 50's. 

All my Relatives on my Dad's whole side of the Family are very Tall and very Thin, they've stayed Thin their entire Lives tho', my Dad did too.  He probably weighed about the same his entire Adult Life and was 6'2".  My Brother is 6'4" and bigger tho', like the Men in my Mom's Family, who are all very Big Men and powerfully Built too.   Genetics is a fascinating thing and I always liked the Study of it and how Hereditary Factors are passed along in both Dominant and Recessive Genes.  I excelled in Science when I was in School, it was my Favorite Subject besides Art, which was an Elective and I was good at too... Science just fascinated me.  It fascinates The Young Prince as well, but he goes really Deep into it, further than I can comprehend.   I'm relatively intelligent but I doubt I'm any Genius.   I can be almost like an Idiot Savant at what I'm really good at, but dumb as shit about what I'm not.  *LOL*

I'm disappointed that a lot of my Fav Vendors no longer do FB or even Instagram anymore so you never know what's going on with them now.  Many have scaled way down in Retail Space too and a few quit altogether.   So, sometimes it's no longer worth making where they're at a destination since they've scaled down so much now, don't profile anything Online, and I'm not one to like wasting trips.  Lately some Events have made me reconsider whether I'll bother going anymore becoz they're a Shadow of what they once were.  If it's gonna look like a "Crate & Barrel" or "World Market", I can go there instead and Source the same things.   It's like the Restaurants that have taken all my Favorite things off the Menu, now, no reason to ever come back.

Some Restaurants re-introduced what they'd taken off the Menu, so I guess they had a lot of folks complain about it.  I don't mind the addition of a new item, or seasonal items, but when they change the whole Menu, and you've been going there for specific things and now they don't offer them and have changed everything, they could lose our business.  Your Regulars come back for a reason.   When they closed "Gertrude's" Restaurant at the Desert Botanical Gardens and replaced it with a Restaurant that's Selling Bougee overpriced Tacos and such, I haven't been back since to eat there now.  I go for the Gardens, then leave when I'm Hungry, before, I'd do the Gardens, Eat, then do more at the Gardens since I didn't have to leave to get a good Meal at a good Price Point.  The prices at the new Restaurant are way too expensive.

I miss the Fav Restaurants and Shops that had to Close, so few are left now and once vibrant areas of each City in the Metro Area seem now rather in a state of decline.   It's sad to see.  They're building more Warehouses now than they are Stores, so Industrial Areas are massive.  And Commercial Areas have a lot of Vacancies.  They're building too many massive Apartment Complexes now too coz few can afford to Buy a Home... and Honestly, few can afford the Rents either in spite of the overbuilding of Rentals.  It's NASCAR Weekend so all those folks will be in Town and we are close enuf to PIR to hear the Race Cars when they're running, it echoes off the Mountain Range they're right by.  I've never been but it brings a lot of Money into the Valley during the Races.  A lot of Race Fans now are the more affluent and not lower income folk it used to attract.  Tickets range from around $80-$1,000 is why.

 

You see a Sea of RV's when they're here coz many Racing Fans live in their RV's when they Travel to see the Races.  And PIR has a whole area of nothing but the RV Parking, so it looks like a little temporary City.  The Son has worked Security before for PIR and for Big Concerts, I don't know that he's applied for any of it this Year coz he lacks his own Transportation to get there and it's not Walking Distance or on a Bus Route.  Taking an UBER or LYFT is too expensive for any Temp Job.  We do a LOT of Environmental Cleanup during the Races coz a lot of the Attendees are piggish and the area around PIR is mostly a Nature Preserve and State Trust Lands of Natural Desert and where the Three Rivers converge that run thru the Valley.  The Salt, Gila and Agua Fria Rivers converge and why they call it The Tres Rios Preserve.  Our City used to be called Coldwater back when it was a Stage Stop coz of the Agua Fria by it in the Olden Days. 

Our Old Historic Home being one of the only remaining original Homes of back when it was a Stage Stop and about 20+ Years before it was incorporated and renamed Avondale in 1948.   Now we have a growing Population exploding and presently right around 92,000 and pressed up against Phoenix, Goodyear, Litchfield Park and Glendale Cities.  Metro Phoenix really is a big conglomeration of Cities now, you wouldn't know which City you're leaving or entering if it weren't for the Sign telling you it's the Border and you're now Entering ___________.  *LOL*  There's no in between like in a lot of other States I've lived in and few are still small enuf anymore in the Metro Phoenix Area to be called Towns now... they're Cities.  And Phoenix is now the 5th largest City in the Nation and growing rapidly while other Cities are losing people.  It's not sustainable.  So, we prefer you Visit, spend your Money, then leave.  And I don't mean that in a Bad way.  *Winks*

*******

Love Ya my Bloggy Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian