Our Oldest Daughter celebrated her 30th Wedding Anniversary recently, doesn't seem that much Time has passed. We don't hear from her hardly at all now, but Two of her Three Adult Kiddos are pretty interactive Online via FB, so I know what's going on and they Share loads of Pixs. The Youngest of the Trio of Granddaughters back East isn't real active on FB, she's still Single, no Kids, but has a long time Boyfriend. She and I used to be closest, she's got my Aesthetic and Interests, just doesn't use Social Media that much, nor does Princess T so it's not so unusual for some of the Younger Generations now to refrain from Social Media. But, since it's the primary form of contact for those who don't live near, I would like them to use it more so I know what's going on in their Lives from a distance. But they know what's going on in ours due to my FB Page... none of them are Bloggers or Readers of Blogs tho'.
I don't mind that few people I know in Real Life read or write Blogs anymore, some used to, they dropped out. It's a shame coz some had decent Blogs, some had good or even impressive loyal Followings, but, they quit, for whatever their reasons were. Many were Industry folk who dropped out of that too, for whatever their reasons were, it happens. In fact, when I went in to the Antique Mall Today while The Man was in his Cardiac Rehab, I noticed the Vacated Booths, a lot of them, and others that clearly are in process of Closing Out and bailing. Sales tanked this Pay Period, so, tho' a Strong showing last Pay Period, it's not consistent enuf to be sustainable for those not doing it merely as a Hobby or Downsizing their Possessions. If they're relying on the Income for it, they are floundering and thus, doing the Right thing by throwing in the Towel.
We're losing some of the Best Vendors with the Primo Merch tho', I was saddened to see some of the Best have left or are leaving again. The Crap Hawkers remain, coz they Sell Cheap Crap and folks buy Cheap Crap with consistency. And Quality or Merch of Value with less consistency. What can I say? It's the Sign of our Times I guess, can't say I Like it, but it is what is just is. And if you're Selling the Popular Stuff that folks Collect, you're doing alright right now, Pokemon is a prime example, anything Pokemon is Selling like crazy, I've Sold almost all of it I've brought in thus far, you can't go Wrong with it. I'm not opposed to Modern Collectibles that folks just dig, some endure, others are a brief Fad, Pokemon has endured and gets hotter all the time now. Our Son and our G-Kid Force always Collected it and still Love it. Princess T has a lot of the Pokemon Plush Characters she's Keeping and Displays in her Room.
I'll buy anything Quality Pokemon I find at a Chazza for her to Keep, or to Resell in our Locked Case and Showroom coz it's a No-Brainer Quick Turn and Profitable. It's helped keep the Rent Paid at the Antique Mall, what can I say? Rental Space is expensive, sometimes Vendors don't consider that aspect of Selling out of a Shop or Antique Mall. The overhead erodes your Margins considerably these days. And hardly anyone pays with Cash now so then you have the Fees when they use Credit or Debit, and Commission, and whatever you Paid for your Merch, so, you do have to factor that all in and decide if it's Profitable enuf for you... or not? Most Collectors didn't always consider Resale when they were Collecting whatever they were Passionate about, especially Serious Collectors. So, some didn't make their Money on the Buy. And sometimes something is an Investment only until it's NOT. What the Market bears is always shifting and changing with the Times, something is Hot until it's NOT. And Repops or Mass Produced items can be more Popular with Buyers than the Real Deal.
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I'm always Observing the Metamorphosis of the Industry and those who are Re-Inventing themselves to stay relevant in it and not have to Close Shop. Some are quite Clever and Brilliant about it and the Marketing and Showcasing of whatever they're hawking. I'm not working as hard at it as I should be, I haven't had the Time nor the Priority and Inclination to actually, which, could be why Sales aren't as Strong... but... mebbe not. I see some Excellent Vendors working Hard, providing the Best Inventory, Showcasing it Expertly, Pricing it well, and still not thriving, so you just never know. I can commiserate with how hard it's becoming as any Small Business Owner to keep going becoz all the Bailouts and preferential treatment goes to the Billionaire Corporations and Big Business, not the Small Industries, tho' they are the Backbone of America and probably employ at least half of the Workforce. The most profitable Big Companies get Corporate Welfare, preferential Tax structuring, and Taxpayer Subsidies while still being allowed to exploit their Workforce shamefully.
Do you know that a good percentile of our Active Duty Military are on Public Assistance Programs coz they can't afford some of the Cost of Living in places they are involuntarily deployed to Nationwide or Overseas in defense of our Nation and Democracy? That's shameful, but they have to move often, don't get to choose where to, often the Non-Military Spouses have to give up their Employment and Income in support of their Active Duty Spouse, and they don't always get Base Housing so have to live on the Economy where affordable Housing may not even exist. My Parents had to live in some substandard Housing during my Dad's long Military Career, and often we were considered among the Poor when Dad was still low ranking Enlisted. I got Rickets from malnutrition and food deficiencies at one point... when I was very Young and my Dad was a lowly A1C.
It is a fallacy that all Poor don't have Employment or are too Lazy to Work to Earn enough. Many work very hard, my Dad always worked Two Jobs all his Life to make the ends try to meet and give us Opportunities he never had. I know many folks with Degrees that are grossly Underemployed or even Unemployed for prolonged periods, coz there are no Jobs hiring them for what they earned those Degrees for. I know many Seniors still Working coz their Pensions and Social Security aren't enuf for just basic Essentials now or to afford their Medications and Medical Expenses that Medicare doesn't or won't cover. And if they get real Sickly or require Long Term Care, they're screwed. And if they are Aging but not yet eligible for Medicare, Social Security, or Retirement, and get real Sickly or Injured, or lose their Jobs/Careers, they're screwed. And the Safety Nets have been gutted now and are not there to catch most.
Just the DOGE cuts alone are said to be responsible for over 800,000 Deaths abroad from USAID being slashed by Elon. And over half a Million of those Deaths are Children!!! The Mortality Rates last Year are the worst in 35 Years, with 200,000 more Children Dying due to cuts in Services, which on average cost about $10 per Child to have retained those Services and prevented needless and preventable Deaths. That's a disgrace and unconscionable. Yet the World's 1st Trillionaire is responsible for it and refuses to acknowledge those Deaths are the Blood on his Hands and he's made the decision for those Cuts in Services that causes such staggering Mortality of Human Beings. If a Child isn't worth Ten Bucks to anyone, then they have simply lost their most basic Humanity and hardened their Hearts to a level they should be ashamed of. I've continually Sponsored 3rd World Children since I was only 13 Years Old and used my Babysitting Money and what I earned at my 1st Jobs at European Flea Markets to fund doing so. It's not so sacrificial. Small things done with great Love and Compassion make a difference.
When I was only 13 and decided to do that, my Parents encouraged me, mostly coz I worked a lot, Saved a lot, and even some of my Relatives on the Reservation had been Sponsored by this same Organization. So, Poor Children in America are included in Sponsorship, we have always had the Poor with us too, some living as if in a 3rd World Country, even in the Richest Country in the World. And I'm reminded of something I heard when a Tween that impacted me profoundly, of a Boy who ran along the Beach throwing stranded Starfish back into the Ocean. There were clearly too many for him to Save them all, so someone asked him why he even bothered, coz he couldn't possibly make a big Difference. And as he threw yet another back into the Ocean he simply said, well, it made a big Difference to THAT ONE. I have Sponsored mebbe a Dozen Children now, my current Sponsored Child is turning 13 soon. So I've made a big Difference in over a Dozen and their Families, just thru that Organization, a small thing done with great Love and consistency over Time still matters.
The Cycle of Poverty thru being able to continue Education and stay in School for the Sponsored Child, especially Girls, broke the Curse of Generational Poverty for them. The very 1st Child I Sponsored, Wilhelmina, became a Nurse. Another I Sponsored, Charro, became a Teacher. Theresa was able to stay in School and then support her Ailing Father, who was a Single Parent and became too ill to Work to support them, becoz her Mother and Younger Brother had Died, leaving just the Two of them. Her Brother had been The Son's Age, both were Infants at the time, it impacted me how much higher Infant Mortality was in many Communities where most Children never survive to Adulthood. Even my Dad lost Three Brothers to Child Mortality, Indigenous Children still have a higher Mortality Rate in America. Only the strongest and luckiest Survive to Maturity. Just some Inspiring Stories of what a Monthly Sponsorship provided that Changed Lives in a meaningful and often Profound way, altering their Future in Positive ways, probably for Generations to come. You can make a Difference, you have to just CHOOSE to.
I'm not in the Mood to re-read some of my Posts that are Publishing and have been sitting out there awaiting Publication, so excuse any typos or what isn't making sense. The partial Aphasia from the Stroke I had last December still sometimes has my Brain scrambled for Words I'm wanting to convey and what comes out in Speech or the Written Word. Those 'replacement' Words can be totally out of context, so it can be Funny coz I don't even realize I've said or written a completely different Word. *LOL* I see the Dark Humor in it probably only becoz I mostly came back Online in my Head recovering from the Stroke and the re-wiring is just a little crossed and not a lot crossed to where I can't successfully communicate. *Whew* Still no word coming from the Doc's Office, so, still in Limbo about the Physical 'Mass' Tests discovered that I didn't even know I had. I'd like to know what it is, the sooner the better. Not a Fan of vague diagnosis that has more Questions than Answers or could be in error. I'm Thankful they found it if it is something Wrong, coz I wouldn't have otherwise known at all... no alarming symptoms.
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I'm fatigued is all and let's face it, my Life, plus my Age = Fatigue. And may actually have nothing at all to do with what they think they've found? And I also wanna know what else I gotta go thru to be a lot more conclusive about what it is too? I can't Plan out much when there's a looming big ole' Question Mark with mebbe an Exclamation Point in my immediate Future!? I am trying to be proactive about getting things here at Home squared away in case I have some Down Time coming? The Son has been walking to Work when he has to be there by 5:00 a.m. so he doesn't have to Wake me that early. Otherwise he'd be getting me up around 4:30 a.m.. Even tho' I still have to be up by 5:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and 6:00 a.m. on Wed-Sat for Princess T to get to Work on time anyway. And, I'm slowly becoming a Morning Person now, who knew? That this Old Vampire Late Night Person would completely switch like that so late in Life?! *Ha ha ha*
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I watched a disturbing Documentary, well, most Documentaries are disturbing... anyway, this one had some parallels to something we went thru when The Young Prince was only 14 too... only, he didn't Die like the Lovely 14 Year Old Boy in the Documentary!!! But the parallels were chilling of Predatory Grown Men using Online Gaming to Groom underaged Youngsters to prey upon. Very long time Readers may even remember our situation when our Genius Grandson, at the Age of 14 was heavily into Gaming Online and meeting who he thought were other Kids his Age who were Gamers. Well, one was 18 and acting like this 18 Year Old in the Documentary, who was a Sexual Predator and utilizing Gaming to Target his Victims and Groom them for exploitation and nefarious purposes. Kids are Trusting, Naive and vulnerable, even if they're not Special Needs Kids, who are just more vulnerable than most and easier Prey.
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Unlike this Family in Gt. Britain in the Documentary, we were taken more seriously by Authorities, they weren't, the Authorities blew them off and thus their Child met up Secretly with this sick perverse Murderer and was horribly Killed. And I know how it is not to be taken Seriously by Authorities becoz the time before we weren't either. It was Miss Robin, our CPS Caseworker, who filed Complaints with and against our Local Police Dept. for how they handled that Episode of Sexual Minor Exploitation. Our Grandson is still traumatized by what happened to him as a very Young Tween at the hands of Sexual Predators much Older than him, you cannot undo the damage done to Children who are Victims of Predatory Adults who Targeted and exploited them. It's a very real Danger with Social Media since even Adults can be fooled by whose on the other end of a Computer or Cellphone.
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Children don't stand a chance. At the time our Grandson was exploited, he wasn't even allowed by us to own a Cellphone, but they used Computers at School and almost all other Kids had PC usage at Home and Cellphones. So, no matter how careful you are as a Parent, and I felt this Mom in the Documentary had been a vigilant Parent and tried to seek Help when she realized her Child could be in Danger, you can't insulate them from the whole World around them. The Documentary had more than one Case but that Case resonated with me coz we had a similar Experience but with a better Outcome Thankfully. Another Victim covered was also 14 and a Female who an Adult Male met Online and formed a 'Relationship' with. That ended up with DV and then escalated to Murder when she got Old enuf to finally realize he was dangerous and tried to end their Romance, that put her at grave risk. Trying to leave an abusive Relationship puts the Victim at high Risk actually for Murder.
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Becoz she was a Poor Hispanic Child from Compton, when she was Killed at only 19, her Family weren't taken Seriously and her Murder not covered. Women of Color don't receive the same attention as Victims. Everyone realizes Cases like Gabby Petito get huge Media coverage coz she was White, and had an Online presence, that piques the Interest of Society and "Values" her Life more. Anyway, for this DV Murder Case one of the Girl's Friends turned to Social Media in that Case via TikTok. Since Police were doing nothing to Solve it even tho' it should have been an Open and Closed Case coz the Boyfriend was a Prime Suspect, but, they never even picked him up to interview him. Due to the TikTok doing it's Thing and going Viral, it did eventually cause enuf Pressure on Authorities to catch the Perp and solve the Case.
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Becoz Internationally the Case blew up in their faces, a Tipster saw the Guy in Rosarito, Mexico {The Daughter lived there many Years}, Video Recorded him at a local Bar and sent it to the Family to give to Police. Mexican Authorities then Arrested and Extradited him to the U.S. for Prosecution. Otherwise she and her Family never would have received Justice or attention. Anyway, the Documentary was going over the Benefits and the Drawbacks and Dangers of Social Media, how it can be used for Good... and for Bad Purposes. It was called "Hash#Murder". I haven't watched all the Cases, those Two kind of Emotionally drained me. But it's a good Documentary to bring Awareness to the Public, especially Parents, and to Young People in particular, what can happen. I Worked many a File at the D.A.'s Office like those Cases, so I'm not Unaware, and perhaps why I never let my Grandkids use Social Media as early as most Families, or even own a Cellphone early. But, you can never be too Careful to Protect a Loved One from this World and who they'll meet in it.
I do watch a lot of Forensics and True Case File TV, kind of Force of Habit from being in Criminal Law for so many Years I guess. I like to see what has improved in catching Criminals, mostly in the way of Forensics Advancements and Improved Police Work at Solving Cases. Every Victim and their Families deserve Justice be Served. Pretending these things don't happen and trying to Sanitize Society and Dangers out there is not Helpful for your Safety or the Safety of your Loved Ones and Friends. People always assume it could never happen to them or someone they know, but, it does. I've had Friends who ended up Murder Victims or Victimized in other ways. I was a Victim as a Young Teen, some of my Family have been Victims of Crimes... it happens with more frequency than most people realize it does. And there is no such thing as a "Victimless Crime" either. Every Crime committed has Victims of said Crime. All Criminal Behavior should be Prosecuted and there should be consequences of engaging in Crimes. Nobody should be Above the Law or Devalued as a Victim of a Crime.
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Below, one of the Acai Tropical Mango & Fruit Bowls at "Robeks", which is a Juice Bar and I'm becoming rather addicted to. It has Acai Sorbet, Mango, Coconut, Strawberry, Banana, Bee Pollen and Honey... OMG, so refreshing on a really Hot day. Oddly, the location near us gives a Military Discount and the one really closer to the AFB doesn't! I could make these kinds of Bowls at Home, you can use Sorbet or Yogurt to make these Smoothie Bowls and they're visually so stunning as well as tasty. I had just gotten back from The Gym, too many Old Men hogging the Machines I use Today and not doing the 10 Minute Session on the Hydrotherapy Bed then getting off if there's people waiting to use it. So, I didn't get to use that, but did get my other intended stuff in during this visit. I'll just have to go earlier, if I get there around 7:00 a.m. I don't have that problem, but this was around 8:30 a.m. and it had more Old People, tho' not the Medicare Paid Crowd, which is restricted to after 9:30 a.m..
I had done some Environmental Cleanup earlier or I would have been there early enuf. But with it being 117 Yesterday and already 100 at 7:00 a.m., I knew if I wanted to do anything Outside, it had to be as early as possible. The Gym is at least Air Conditioned. I did some Grocery Shopping after The Gym and my Smoothie Bowl Breakfast, then took a short Nap once I got Home, until Noon. Then I took another one that last until Bedtime!!! I know, Crazy! But I'm needing that much Sleep so I'm taking it as I'm able to. I priced some Inventory to take in to the Showroom since The Man has his Cardiac Rehab on Wednesdays. Mostly Specialty and Band T-Shirts, which is what is Selling well. I have some that are Pokemon and Anime Graphics, which will be a Quick Turn. I do still have some Pokemon Cards to look up and Price, but that takes time to look each one up. They're the ones the G-Kid Force told me I should look up coz they have more Value and they've been Right so far, coz whatever I put on them is what I'm easily Selling them for out of our Locked Case.
At Home I've been in Reorganization Mode. I want to make things more Functional and Accessible. Right now some things aren't and could use improvement. Every so often I go thru this Mode, especially with Cabinets, Drawers and Pantry items. My Fridge, since it's New, is a thing of Beauty on the inside still and I'm striving to keep it that way. I just Love this new Fridge, even tho' paying it off is a crunch financially, coz I only have the 0% Interest Loan for a Year, so, wanna pay it off earlier than that coz those deferred Interest Loans are Predatory and I know this about them. But if you beat them at their own Game and use their Money at No Interest for several Months, it thwarts the Game they're running on Borrowers. I really despise the Banking and Credit Card Industries now, even tho' I'm a Retired Bank Executive, coz it's all become some Predatory and committing what used to be called Usury... and now somehow has become Legal for them to prey on Borrowers and Victimize them.
I still Love my Country, but a lot of the Practices now of who holds the Money in this Country is Criminal, and they're getting away with it which is what bothers me more than the Crimes themselves, and it really bothers me. Since my 2nd Corporate Life after Retiring from Banking, was the D.A.'s Office, I'm also very frustrated right now with our Criminal Justice System and how corrupt it's become as well. The Corruption across the Board now abounds in every aspect of our Society and we're quickly becoming Lawless and Rewarding those who are Criminals and Victimizing People. While Penalizing those who do the Right thing and even going after them to Intimidate them and try to Criminalize doing what's Right rather than what's Wrong. It's why all the Best and Brightest, the most Honest and Knowledgeable, are quitting those Careers in droves now, they don't wanna be a part of it and complicit. It is threatening our National Security and our Democracy holding up, a LOT, and we should be concerned about that.
Well, have a Coke and a Smile... as we ponder what we each can do to be part of the Resistance and a successful Activist against it all? We may not all be able to be Prominent Civil Rights Activists and Human Rights Leaders. But we each can do something to Resist and be part of the Solution, rather than part of the Problem, and make some Good Trouble. A lot of the Prominent ones of the past didn't intend to be Famous, they just were Passionate and Brave enuf to do what they could at their Point in Time, being on the Right Side of History and being Historically remembered and revered due to the profound Difference they made. Many others also made a Difference, they just didn't become as well known for it, but its just as Important to the Causes. We just Voted early in our Primaries and by Mail. Arizona's are a little complex coz they aren't totally Closed, everyone can Vote, but you have to "Identify" as something to get a Ballot. Which makes it not only confusing, but a different Ballot depending on what you Identify as. Which I think is some bullshit.
I don't want a "Political Identity", I just wanna see whose ALL running for Office and choose whoever is best up to the Job for Representing and Serving THE PEOPLE. Someone whose not up the Asses or in the Pockets of someone who was a Big Donor or so Partisan they put Party above Country and above the Good of ALL Americans. I don't even Care what you "Identify" as, be it Politically, Religiously, Sexually, Ethnically, Culturally, whatever... you deserve equal and fair Representation by your Government and your Leaders, Period. You deserve your Human Rights be Preserved and Honored, whether I agree with you or disagree with you, our diversity can be Respected and need not be vilified, persecuted or marginalized. These divisive times bother me becoz it's pitting Countryman against Countryman and is exploited and weaponized by the unscrupulous who are in Power and Manipulating those divisions among People, as a distraction to what Criminal activities they're doing to us ALL in the Victimization of America's Citizens as a Collective.
Stay Strong America and make a Positive Difference... Dawn... The Bohemian
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