I'm starting this Post with no particular Topic to Write about but loads of Eye Candy still compliments of cribbing fabulous Imagery from "The One Legged Rooster" in Kansas City, Missouri. I'm kind of Obsessed right now with this Vendor and her spectacular showcasing of their Merchandise in their Vignettes. I'm salivating over how much of the Good Stuff I'd be Jonesin' for is available there that isn't available here. Never thought about visiting Missouri before, but judging by this, it would be a Junquers destination to add to the ole' Bucket List. Not that I'm crossing anything off the ole' Bucket List lately, and haven't been for some time now due to personal Crisis and Caregiving, but, I am adding to the List. And a Gal can still Dream can't she? *Smiles*
Some deep diving thru their Archives Photos gave me insight into what they do for the various Holidays and I'm really liking what I've seen, going quite a few Seasons back for a few Years worth of Imagery. It's all New to me even if it isn't to the Locals there who've enjoyed it for Years. Our Antique Malls and the Staging and Quality of Inventory here just isn't this good anymore, it used to be, it just isn't anymore. I miss that locally and can't really traverse the Country and indulge in Travel, so, I'm vicariously enjoying it all via Social Media sites. And getting Algorithm Feeds that they accurately predict I will be interested in, and relieve me of searching the Interweb for myself, which is handy, I ain't gonna Lie. I'd likely never have found or heard of this Vendor otherwise. And you know I'll Share whatever I find with my Dear Readers and for your enjoyment too. Promoting Small Businesses anywhere is what I enjoy doing.
I apologize for not being Pathologically Picture Taking myself, I do Wish I had something to offer to you, but, I don't. Been housebound a lot, been broke as Hell, dealing with back to back Family Emergencies and near Death Crisis with Loved Ones... it's consumed me. So, I'm very Grateful to find some wonderful Photography credited to whoever the Amazing Photographers were who Shared all of these Images Online. Hopefully if they have Online Sales, it might promote some of their Online Business? Free Advertising is always Welcome by any of us who aren't the Mega Corporations with unlimited Resources and Benefits made available to them that are denied to the Small Business sector. Costs are going to go up considerably so I'm bracing for it and Thankful for any Sales we still have. It is more Sacrificial to spend on Non-Essentials when Essentials skyrocket in cost.
I needed a few things to do some Deep Cleaning, so when I went to Buy it on Friday, I noticed that they only had a few of each item and it was identical, but had clearly arrived in Three different shipment batches. The Older Stock of it was priced at $1.29 for a Wooden Handle Bristle Brush, which is the one nearer the Back of the Display and I Bought. The one in the Middle was priced at $1.99. And the one in Front was priced at $2.19. Which only shows how incrementally the Stock items are increasing rapidly now with each new shipment of the same damned Product!!! I started looking at all their Inventory and noticed a similar Pattern, and you might start paying attention too! For that little inexpensive Brush it was almost a doubling of the Price in short order of just 3 different Shipments with a pretty high turnover of product in a Big Box Store usually known for decent prices and bargains. I made sure it rang up at the lower price on the Price Tag, it did.
I'm scaling back out of necessity and I think more Americans will have to even if they don't really want to. Yes, we still have 1st World Problems for the most part, unless you're the most disadvantaged of our Citizenry, which, does exist, and in larger numbers than ever before. I'm concerned we'll skid right past a Recession into a Depression actually when the whole House of Cards falls in on itself and America goes broke. From all the Corruption and staggering blatant Criminal activities going on at high levels to enrich themselves and liquidate America like they're just dismantling a Business they just took over, Bought and Asset Stripped to line their own Pockets with. And fuck everyone in it, they don't matter... coz if you've ever seen a Business Asset Stripped, every Single Employee and Partnership doing Business with that Business gets Fucked and discarded.
I feel like with this adjudicated Rapist President he's violating and victimizing America now, and all Americans he would be willing to Fuck over for his own pleasure and dismissive views of the average American. He consumes and uses people like they are merely objects for his use. He certainly thinks he's above everyone and above the Law, so far he's coasted thru Life able to have that belief becoz it's worked for him with no real consequences for doing so. And he's had his Sycophants that latched onto him regardless of how he treats them coz they are Power, Position and Money hungry too. And when a person is that Thirsty, well, they can't get enough ever. They know he'd throw them away when he's done with them, so they pander for as long as they can milk the whole time he hasn't lost interest or use in them. They will humiliate, debase and degrade themselves publicly, have you seen the Spectacles of faux flattery they bestow upon him constantly, being his Lackeys and his Bitches?! OMG, it's pathetic and sickening!!!
Anyway, enuf of that, I can't even go there this Morning. And it is the next Morning and I'm still in my Jammies coz I got to Sleep In since The Granddaughter took a couple days off in front of her usual Two days off. And I thought about going to The Desert Botanical Gardens to see the Springtime Blooms. But Weekends tend to be crowded or they have Special Invitation Only Events, so even Members get turned away. And it's too far to go and risk being turned away and using up expensive Gas driving across the City. Plus, the Restaurant that took over "Gertrude's" is too expensive and has a pretentious Menu of overpriced Burgers and Tacos, so I've not eaten at the Gardens now since last May when they Closed the Wonderful Restaurant they used to have there from as far back as I can remember. I knew the Manager and all her Staff and Loved their Food, it was a treat to eat there when I'm go to the Gardens. Now I'd have to leave to go eat.
They changed the Gift Shop too, I miss what they used to carry and I'd often Buy, especially the Local Gourmet Desert Food Items like Prickly Pear Teabags, Desert Jams/Jellies/Syrups/Candy, Cactus Blossom Scented Perfumes, Soaps, Lotions and Candles. They don't carry any of that anymore. And I really don't know what Demographic they think they're catering to now? It isn't mine, that's for sure, and with your Membership, part of the appeal is you got a Discount on Purchases, but if there's nothing you'd ever Purchase now, that's not an added Benefit anymore. I'm reconsidering even renewing my Membership, and I've been a Member since the early 2000's consecutively, only missing the Pandemic Years when it was Closed to the Public as a Non-Essential Business/Public Space. Now, with the changes, I haven't gone enuf times yet to make my Membership pay for itself. And I'm waffling on whether to try to go Today or not?
I looked up the Schedule of Events and saw they're having another Weekend catering to People with Dogs. The last time I went on a Dog Day, too many people didn't keep their Dogs up under control. And that's as annoying as someone who can't or won't keep their Kids up under control. Yes, they are required to have Leashes, but, a Dog without discipline will not know better than to be intrusive to a complete Strangers Space and I don't like a random Dog jumping at or on me, coming up and sniffing my Ass or wanting Attention when I'm not there to play with someone's Dog...or Kid. And tho' I like Kids and Dogs, when I'm having a Me Day I don't want to have to Deal with YOUR Kid or Dog, that's all. *Winks* I'm not even what I'd call a Dog Person, I like Cats, and I like them becoz of their aloof and independent Nature. When a Cat is around me it won't necessarily demand Attention, it really could care less about bothering you or you bothering it, and I prefer that. I prefer that in People too actually. *Bwahahahaha*
I don't wanna have to confront random folks whose Feral Child or Pet is not up under their control and has been invasive and intrusive to my Space or become a real Annoyance. And, let's face it, usually said Kid or Pet belongs to an equally annoying Adult Human who can't set Boundaries or follow protocol on appropriate Social Behavior in Polite Society, and that's where they get it from. If you don't have a Service Animal... a REAL one, not a Pet you just threw a Vest on and pretend is your Emotional Support or Service Animal, and has no actual Training to BE a Legally appropriate one, that you just wanna take everywhere, it's not Okay either. And we CAN tell the difference, everyone can. And those Dogs "In Training" we can tell the difference with too and how a Professional Handler Training them is appropriately doing so in Public. Yeah, I'm on a bender rant now since it's been revealed the whole fucking Weekend at the Gardens is Dog Day or Dog Weekend... dammit!
And Yes, it's MADLY Popular and attracts huge Crowds of Dog Lovers and so I see why the Gardens do Host it. And the Dog People get to meet and greet other Dog People and talk Dog, but not everyone there is a Dog Person or wants to be involved with participating in Doggy stuff. It is assumed if you're haplessly there on Dog Day tho', that you will be gushing over every Canine and are... which, that's Annoying too to me. If your Dog has now been allowed to get too close to me and is gleefully jumping up all over me and you're Smiling and saying, "Oh, he LIKES you!", rather than offering your Apologies, it's much like if you'd allowed your Innocent Child to do the same. I can't be Mad at the poor Animal that doesn't know any better and indeed, mebbe does LIKE me and so is being just aggressively Social when I'd rather it not be.
But, I will be Mad at you for Assuming I'm gonna respond favorably. And if it was a One Off that would be one thing, but on Dog Day at The Gardens, those incidents are everywhere coz, a lot of Dogs, some folks bring all their Dogs! It's Dog Palooza! And the Dogs are as excited to be there as if they were at Dog Disneyland, which is understandable from the Dog's perspective. One Adorable Dog I am drawn to would be enough for me in any given Day, even One Adorable Kid, but a slew of them, not so much at this Season of my Life. I've already Raised Two Generations of my own Kids... to Adulthood... I'm rather Done now. And I've been a Pet Owner my entire Life, both Dogs and Cats... and I never Assumed everyone should tolerate nor gush over my Kids or my Pets.
So, I kept them all up under control out of respect for that FACT. I wasn't oblivious and didn't take Offense if you didn't even Like Kids or Pets, you have a Right to. If you're diggin' my Kid or my Pet, great, but YOU get to initiate that interaction, it's not forced upon you by me involuntarily. I'm deciding by the Minute NOT to make the long Pilgrimage and trek out there coz... why tempt Fate and have a pleasant Day I look forward to, compromised??? Yeah, probably not the Ideal day to go, mebbe some Monday when I'm not playing Uber Gramma and giving Rides to and from Work for the Grandchild would be a better Day to attempt it? *Smiles* But, at least it gave me some Blog Fodder as a potentially controversial Topic that could alienate me from sensitive Dog Lovers, No? *Bwahahahahaha*
Listen, lots of folks HATE Cats and I'm a Cat Lover, but, so long as you don't hurt Cats, I'm Okay with you NOT bonding with them as a Species. I don't Hate Dogs, I Like them, I just don't want one anymore, ever. When Eli goes across the Rainbow to Cat Heaven I don't want another Cat either. I wouldn't have even gotten him and resisted replacing Miss Priss but Princess T, after a Year of No Cat, pleaded and brought Home Eli when Straight Anthony's Aunt became allergic and they had no Placement for him... and like a Sucka, well, now here we are and I mostly take Care of him, which, you Moms/Grammas know that almost always fucking happens, which is why we don't want another one that allegedly Belongs to another Family Member. *Le Sigh and Winks* There are days when Princess T is Over having Eli and I remind her, have a Kid or a Pet, it's for the rest of their Life or Yours, so, choose Wisely to have either!!! Coz they are NOT an Object, they're a Living Thing you now should have the Lifetime Responsibility of, period!!!
She doesn't want Kids and I can see Why, she barely has tolerance for a Pet who isn't a Saintly One, and he's not, he's a Rascal and punishes her constantly when he's Mad at her. *Bwahahahaha* So, a Kid doing that, it wouldn't go Well, since I can hear her scolding Eli all the time. No Eli, Stop Eli, look what you've done now Eli!!! *Bwahahahaha* I have told her, according to Jackson Galaxy, the Cat Whisperer and Feline Behaviorist, you cannot discipline a Cat, they do not understand Punishment as a Species. They only know you're Mad, that's all. And I'd agree with Jackson, I've owned a lot of Cats, they can be Trained, but not by Punishments, Cats are exclusively a Rewards Species of Animal. If you want a certain Behavior, Reward it, they understand the connection then. Punishment they just get confused and will usually get aggressive and fuck you up, coz a Cat will not tolerate something they do not Like. Unlike a Dog, they will react with your Anger, often with either Fear, which won't go Well for you or the Cat, or their own Defensive Stance.
Now, with Eli being a very large powerful aggressive Tomcat who will stalk and attack Humans for his own Amusement sometimes. Or being Territorial of his Space that is his Domain, you do have to get him to Respect you tho'. He is not what Shelters would even call a Pet Quality Cat and chances are, Anthony's Family found him as a Feral Kitten. I have his Respect, he has mine, we mutually agree that neither of us wants to Challenge the other and if we do, I might Win, so he's not chancing that at all and defers. He'll roll over, expose his Belly and look like he Gave Up if he even forgets himself and thinks he can Swim in my Waters, and all I gotta do is give him The Look. *Bwahahahaha* Anyone else besides his Girl, he will attack the moment they enter the Room coz he does need his Five Murderous Episodes a day to be Content, as is the way of Cats in their Nature. *Smiles* He's not that overly Friendly laid back Feline, some Breeds are, but he's not of that Tribe of Cat.
I remind his Girl, if you gave him up, he'd be as Unadoptable as the Adoption People told me your Brother was. And then we both Laugh, coz that's the Truth!!! Yes, Kids in The System required to be put up for Adoption, even out of Kinship long time Placement involuntarily, are Rates on a Scale of 1-4 of their Adoptability based on numerous factors such as Age, Race, Disability, History, Health, Behavior, Sexuality Identity etcetera. With a One being a Desired Child for Adoption, a 4 being the most Undesired Child for Adoption. When The G-Kid Force got "Rated" and Mandated they had to be put up for Adoption coz they couldn't be Reunified with Bio Parents, they pegged her at a 3, coz of Age, Race, Health Issues, Academic and Developmental Disability. So she knows she herself was deemed Hard To Place. Lucky for both of them I didn't want them taken from us and fought like Hell to allow us to Adopt them, but, they were Wards of the State, so I couldn't make that decision, an Adoption Board and Judges had to.
But when it came to her Brother, The Young Prince, I actually had the Adoption Board tell me, "Well, IF we had a Rating of 5!!!" *Bwahahaha, which is Sad, yet also Gallow's Humor Funny as Hell, definitely they'd never find Placement for him anywhere else but where he already was.* Eli would also be a 5, pretty sure. *Smiles* And so his Girl sympathizes with his plight of being a Beloved Cat by at least some of us, Okay, well Two of us anyway... but hardly anyone else would take his Ass in. *Smiles* I do Well with misfit People and Pets. If you are a really Fucked Up Human or Animal, chances are, we'll get along just Fine even if you can't or won't get along Fine with anyone else. I can't even tell you Why that is, I don't know? I was told, even by my Parents, that since I was a Toddler, I always got along fabulously with Misfit People and those folks that hardly anyone else Liked or would even be Afraid of, but they'd get along fabulously with me. And end up being part of my most Devoted Inner Circle in most Cases. Coz if you got a Ride or Die Friend like that, they are tough to Top.
I foolishly thought I'd just have a nice relaxing Saturday until I went to ask The Young Prince if he wanted Breakfast. Well, he wasn't Home but I made the Mistake of walking into his Space. Well, TRYING to walk into his Space, I couldn't see the Floor at all and it looked like a scene from Hoarders and in one of the Extreme Case ways! Immediate Anxiety and The Son came up behind me to ask if I'd need some Help making that at least Safe and Sanitary without losing my Shit completely? He'd been doing my Yardwork all Morning coz around the 5th Wheel had become overgrown with Weeds since nobody is occupying that Space right now. I'm Grateful for all his Help coz right now he's my only Present Help that isn't Working all Day at a Job/Career, so he can have the Time to. He likes to keep busy and productive, me too, but The Grandson's Space was overwhelming and shows how Mentally Ill and dysfunctional he really is.
We pulled out 6 Laundry Baskets full of Clothing off the Floor, I couldn't tell what might be Clean or Dirty, so it's all gonna be Laundered. It was very much what we just went thru in his Mother's Space in the 5th Wheel. Only, he didn't have anything among it that he shouldn't have, just inability to keep Clean and Organized without a lot of Help to do so. He always looks so well put together that it belies he can't keep his Personal Space immaculate like that too. He Showers daily and has been better at his personal Hygiene. But I pulled several Bowls and Utensils and empty Cans and empty Plastic Beverage Containers out of there, Snack Bags and general disarray. I do have to do The Come To Jesus Talk with him again. He does good for a while, then it snowballs again into what is total Chaos. There has to be clear Pathways for Safety and Fire Code reasons, so there's no Negotiating that Standard.
I haven't even done any of his Laundry, since, I have a Load of our own to do first. And, our Washer may be going on the fritz, so, there's that, it sometimes leaks now, not a lot, but, that's never a good thing. And I'm Done Todaying for Today and it's just past Noon. No going to The Gardens after spending a couple Hours wading thru the Grandson's Chaos, his level of SMI manifested in the condition of his Room. That's supposed to also be my Art Studio, but, Honestly, forget about that aspect and function of it completely. I can't even try to think of how I could make that function alongside his Issues now? And perhaps it just shouldn't. I don't have Time for Art, Recreation, having a Social Life, even Working on the Downsizing Project in Earnest, it's all consuming at this juncture to just Care for Loved Ones Full Time. Since Protracted Stagflation seems imminent tho', I may have even more Time here at Forever Boheme' to work it all out...
Well, I guess it could be worse... and it is for some Dear Souls... so we must keep perspective about it... Dawn... The Bohemian
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