High On Hope-ium

 

Since the Election I admit I'm High on Hope-ium... Hope Renewed!  "First Watch" had a new item on their Fall Menu called Truffle Bacon & Brie Hash.  Made with creamy Brie & Monterey Jack Cheeses, diced hardwood smoked Bacon, house roasted Onions, Crimini Mushrooms in a Seasoned Potato Hash with Two Eggs any style, I chose Sunny Side Up, Lemon dressed Argula, fresh Herbs, Cracked Black Pepper and a drizzle of Truffle Honey.  It was Sublime, I'd definitely order it again, it was enuf to Share with The Man and still has some left for my own Leftovers the next Morning too.  I had it with my fav Gourmet Iced Coffee they serve {see Below}.  Afterwards I walked over to "Trader Joe's" which is in the same Parking Lot and got Steaks on Sale for Dinner later that Night.  They had a great price on New York Strip Steaks and Ribeye Steaks.  We were having Rusty over for Dinner and Princess T cooked it all for us with a side of Peas & Carrots.  So funny coz Rusty ate his Carrots and left the Peas and Princess T eats the Peas and leaves her Carrots.  *LOL*  She does an excellent job of cooking Steaks.

   

I've been wanting a smaller Tabletop Christmas Tree for this Christmas rather than putting up a Full Sized one.  But when I'd priced Retail ones they're too expensive.  But, when I went in to pick Princess T up from Work at SAVERS they had One lone Tabletop Christmas Tree that was perfect and affordable!  It was Pre-Lit, with it's own Stand and had adjustments to make the Lights either Multi-Colored, just White, or blinking and changing back and forth between Colored and White.  With my Military Discount, since it was Military Discount Day, I only paid $29.99 for it.  It is a very realistic looking Faux Tree with a mix of the Branches being rubberized PE Plastics Pine Needles that look and feel very Realistic and flat PET Strip Needles. {See each Below}  It looks like one of the more expensive Brand Trees... not as Realistic as Balsam Hill, but definitely a higher end Brand of Realism Trees.  It's about 4 ft. Tall.

 PET Strip Needles

PE Needles

I plugged it in at the Store to make sure it lit up and to check what the remote Control did with the Lights, I was impressed and Jazzed to find such a perfect used Tree in such excellent condition and works fine.  It didn't have a Box, but that's Okay, Storing this one will be easy since it's Tabletop Sized but large enuf to look good and Decorate easily with what I intend to have as my Neon Colors and Theme this Christmas.  I'm gonna keep the Vintage Asian Themed Card Table up in the Livingroom and put the Tree on it with a Vintage Christmas Tablecloth instead of a Tree Skirt.  I'll put some Vintage Tonka Trucks that have Christmas Trees in them that I Display every Christmas directly under the Tree.  Any Presents we decide to exchange will go under the Table.  I'll Photograph it around Thanksgiving when I set it up and after taking down Halloween and Autumn Decor in the Livingroom Area we'll have it in.  Sometimes we have the Tree up before Thanksgiving to take Thanksgiving Family Pixs near it.  Online and at Stores Trees similar were around $129.

When it's fluffed out nicely it will look and feel very realistic and I'll buy some Pine Scent and put some Pine Cones on it from our Real Pines out Front, to give more of the illusion it is Real.  You can see by the closeup that the Branches on it are quite authentic looking and even feel like real Pine Branches and even have subtle variegated shades of Green.  Right now as you can see it's sitting in our Dining Room area, which is still a Hot Mess that hasn't been addressed and won't be by Thanksgiving.  *LOL*  We'll probably have Thanksgiving Dinner at a Restaurant to save us the Work of Cooking a Dinner here and having the whole House in Order to Host it.  I'm just not in the Mood or having the Bandwidth to do that much Work Thanksgiving Day.  

Off and On, ever since the Year my Dad was Dying around Thanksgiving Day so we had to eat out that Year to be near the Hospice, we've switched between Eating Out for Thanksgiving or making the Dinner at Home.  "Cracker Barrel" does a nice Thanksgiving Dinner for around $21.95 a person.  "Boston Market" used to do a great Thanksgiving Dinner too but they went Chapter 11 and Closed all locations.  Usually all the Kiddos chip in for whatever it will cost whether we eat here or at a Restaurant, so it doesn't cost any of us that much and we can get together for the Meal even if everyone has other Plans too for later, we always eat Thanksgiving Dinner early, before 2:00 p.m..  Anyway, the Christmas Tree was not only an unexpected Find of the day, but the only Christmas Tree they had in the Store too!!!  It hadn't been there Yesterday so it must have just been put out on the Floor and recently Donated.  

I'm already getting Positive Messages and Congratulations from our Friends and Family abroad and Blog Friends of the International Community on the outcome of our Elections.  Globally I do Believe they also want a return to Sanity, since he's done so much damage, not just to the American Economy and Reputation, but Global Economy and Alliances we've had a long time with our best and staunchest Allies and Trading Partners all over the World.   While cozying up to our Enemies and Bad Actors... who are his Partners in Crime and Evil Deeds, mostly to enrich themselves, exact Cruelty and abuse Power.  I do think everyone Internationally who is decent, along with decent Americans, are so fed up with this whole Ordeal he's put us all through.  It was refreshing and gave renewed Hope that Goodness and Decency will prevail against Evil and Corruption.   The entire East Coast ousted all Republicans... the West Coast and Middle America should have also, but we came close enough to make a Bold Statement Nationally and Internationally.

The Weather was Glorious again Today on the 4th, too bad it hadn't been that way for the rest of the Arizona State Fair and Halloween Night.  But, I'll take good Weather while we have it.   There's still Flooding from the previous Storms, all our Rivers and most Dry Washes are dangerously running beyond capacity.  Several States around us have been Negatively impacted as well.  There have been Arizona Evacuations from some areas that are posing extreme dangers to Residents and might worsen.  So, we're keeping an Eye on the Weather Forecasts closely.  Sedona, Camp Verde, Cottonwood and Cornville here in Arizona have had Evacuations.   Prescott was hit hard, as was Winslow, Queen Valley, the Navajo, White Mountain Apache and San Carlos Apache Tribal Reservations.   Our Ranchland is up near the White Mountain Apache Reservation, outside of Concho and St. Johns, we have 38 Acres up there on High Ground but has a Creek running thru our Acreage, the both Towns have experienced Flooding from the larger Rivers.

 

I've tried to catch up on Blog Reads, I'd gotten way behind in some of my Fav Blogs, especially the more prolific Bloggers who Post almost Daily or Daily.  But, I picked out my chosen favs and stuck with it until I had caught up completely.  It was well worth spending the time to do that, I enjoy all my Sidebar Blogs and if I have some luxury of time, I also try to find a couple New Blogs to Read to see if they spark any interest in not only their Content, but also the personality of the Blogger.  I enjoy The Land Of Blog becoz it substitutes for not getting out much Socially anymore, which, I'm okay with NOT getting out much Socially anymore... so... there's THAT aspect of it too.  *LOL and Winks*  Sometimes lately I am having more contentment with Solitary Alone Time than with Peopling.  I'm having good interactions with Peopling, even with Strangers, I just don't Need it as much as I Need Quiet Time Alone right now.  Brief impersonal exchanges suit me best right now and are sufficient interactions... I know, it's Shallow, but Socially I don't intend to go Deep anyway, it would require too much Cultivating of the Relationships and I don't have it in me.

 

I liked seeing the strong turnout on Halloween Night in spite of the terrible inclement Weather, that was more than enuf Peopling for me.  That should tide me over until Thanksgiving actually.  *LOL*  Plus, starting on Nov. 13th in Real Time I'll be picking up that permanent Friday Night Shift commitment at the Antique Mall again.  I can't even remember who Works Friday Nights but I think at least one Friend does who I enjoy working alongside.  Most of the Paid Staff now are Newbie Kids and I don't bother to even know their Names anymore coz most of them will wash out and leave before I'd commit a Name to Memory anyway.  *LOL*  I miss the Paid Staff that I did know well and some of the few who remain don't always Work on a day I'm in there, so I don't see them that often anymore.   It's a constant rotation of New Faces, so much so that if someone has been there a Minute now they put them in Charge of the Night Shifts and running the Show.  Vendors too, lots of New Faces... some seem pleasant enuf... some might even last a Minute.  *LOL* 

So far our Showroom hasn't been too messy and I can keep on top of it if I go in just once a Week, whether with New Merch or just to tidy up before the Weekend, or a Holiday, which is always busier than Weekdays and Non-Holidays or Sale Days.  I haven't had to fill-in for anyone for a Minute too, everyone seems to be back from Illness, Surgeries or Vacays now.  It will be interesting Post Election to over hear what folks thought about it?   We do have some devout MAGA there and mostly tho', we have Normal Folks who aren't so extreme in their leanings, that began to really push back on the MAGAts hard... which, most of his Cult can't handle and get really Butt Hurt as if they're the Victims of any harsh Truths they are confronted with.  But, even Faux News had to concede about The Blue Tsunami and what it means.  And some of their more prominent MAGA Devotees like DeSantis in Florida.  When Voters speak so Loudly, they'd be Wise to fucking Listen and pay Attention if they want a Future at all in what they do and might be ousted from otherwise.  Most of them by following their Maniacal Messiah, Kissing the Ring and Bending the Knee in utter trembling Devotion, have committed Political Suicide.

 

Now, as an Anti-Partisan Moderate, I say, well, who Won better now be about what the People want and Voted them in for, be up to the Job of representing all of us and put Country over Party, the People over lining your own Pockets, or getting heady with Power too.  Don't overpromise and then underdeliver as well, nor put on any pretenses, you better be 100% Real or the Anger that fueled this Outcome may be directed your way next.  Coz the American People have Spoken Loudly, Historically even, and they are Feeling their Reality, no amount of Spin can change the Reality they're up against anymore and this Administration has caused.  And to be Fair, previous Administrations didn't fix a lot of what was very Wrong and I'd say Folks want a Fixer, someone with Solutions implemented and not just the same Old Problems being used as the Political Platform to Run on and then do much ado about nothing to Change. 

 I do Believe what led to MAGA ever coming into Power was Anger, turned to Rage, and a disillusionment that came to a Head with many who felt they'd been failed and forgotten, left behind, needed someone to shift Blame to as a Scapegoat for what wasn't going well for them.  So a Career Criminal and consummate Conman stepped in and tapped into that for his own Gain and formed a Cult of Personality for The Lost and tossed Red Meat Bait to them, which they hungrily devoured and wanted more of.  Forget that he did fuck nothing for them really, but use them and weaponize them, turning them against other Americans as 'The perceived Enemy'... and Immigrants... and any other handy Group to Target and Blame.  And the Long Con did Work for him and his Cronies and Cabal... it really has... and just Winning this Primary Election isn't the end of the Resistance that must remain Strong and Focused to protect America and what we should stand for as a Collective.

But a Weight has certainly been lifted some, and Hope renewed that we could be moving Forward in a Right and Healthier Direction finally.  That perhaps our Young People and Future Generations will actually have the chance of a Future, one they can possibly look forward to!?  *Whew*  Even some Hope I'll Run with and Celebrate as a Victory.  It helps to feel more Optimistic than Pessimistic for a change.  Usually I'm a Hopeless Optimist, but even having Guarded Optimism since 2016 and then again since 2024 has been very difficult to muster, too much went Wrong and it was a very slippery slope to the bottom, and worse, there seemed to be no bottom.  I'm not too many Posts Unpublished now so only about a Week ahead, and perhaps I'll get back soon to Posting in Real Time, we'll see what happens.  I haven't felt Motivated to do a lot of the Work, not at Home, not Blogging either.  I've wanted to just relax and do nothing a lot lately, which isn't a Bad thing, it's restorative and gives me some Breathing room to do nothing.  

Now that The Man is doing so well Physically with his Numbers and his Heart, the VA has suspended Nurse Remi's visits again, which is fine, they'll resume if necessary and needed.  If he has any Medical Emergency or Hospitalization, they'd resume and be covered, the VA has been good lately about providing Services to him, so no complaints from me right now about his level of Care he's receiving and Benefits he's Earned that he's actually getting without a lot of Hoop Jumping.  I'm Grateful when The System is working well for him and for us, becoz I know it can, it just doesn't always.  I want to get The Young Prince to the Finish Line with his SSI before even trying to help The Daughter apply for hers, I can't have too much going on all at once anymore, it's too exhaustive.  One thing at a time I can focus on better and probably have better results coz I can concentrate on it exclusively.

By Mid-Month "Sweet Salvage" will be having their Christmas Themed Event, which is one of the more popular ones and I thoroughly enjoy it.  By Mid-November I'm starting to get ready to move on towards Christmas and it's whole Atmosphere and Joy.  People who like Christmas as their favorite Holiday really get Into Christmas too.  So there's a lot of Extreme and extravagant Christmas Decorating I enjoy looking at that other folks have invested their time and talents in, and probably a fair amount of their Money, to Create the Magic of.  The Stores are already rolling it out heavily now and that's been enjoyable to immerse myself in now that my Fav Season and Holiday is coming to an enjoyable End.   With Thanksgiving around the corner that will be all about the Feast and Family Gathering to Celebrate it.  Doing our Traditions and Rituals.   As I said, we'll probably opt to Eat Out for Thanksgiving... if Budget Permits.  With the Holiday falling EOM it can be tight sometimes these days.

Here's the Thing tho', I'd be content and so would The Man, if Budget didn't permit Eating Out and we didn't feel like Cooking or springing for a whole Holiday Meal here either, to just have Turkey TV Dinners.  *LOL*  It's never been a Holiday we feel we have to spend a lot of Money on and most Years The Son's Employer provided the Turkey and sometimes I just bought a Ham to make both, if we didn't Eat Out.   "Golden Corral" and "Denny's" are Hosting Thanksgiving Meals for under Twenty Bucks and we might explore those options along with "Cracker Barrel", where we've had Thanksgiving Meals before.  The "Golden Corral" near us is a really nice one we've enjoyed the Buffet of and that way we can get Turkey AND Ham, plus a variety of Side Options for the Family... since some of them aren't Fans of Turkey or Ham.  Princess T would eat Spaghetti for Thanksgiving given a Choice.  *LOL*  The Niece should be in Texas Training for her New Job, her last Day at the one she has is Tomorrow, she's doing Gig Work up 'til she leaves to get fast Cash.   

It's a nice day Outside but Cold, 66 Degrees for us Desert Dwellers is too Chilly, we don't like it that much, I'd rather it remain in the 70's and not as damp.  My Bones ache in damp Weather and tho' we haven't had the catastrophic Storms again yet, it's really damp and Frost on the Pasture every Morning, a lot of Dew on the Grass once it Warms up some and melts the Frost.   So, I've been able to not have to put the A/C on or the Heater either, our Home has thick Burnt Adobe Brick walls, 10-12 inches thick, so it holds Heat or Cool nicely and not having either Heat or Cooling on for most of the Month should lower Utility Costs again, which have been soaring since they built so many damned Data Centers Locally.  They should be paying for their excessive usage of Water and Energy, not Residents.   We should also Tax the Hell out of them and spread that around the Communities they're compromising and probably Wrecking.  They need Moratoriums and to Halt the rapid expansion and development of AI before they lose total Control of the whole mess.  If they haven't already, and, I highly Suspect they HAVE already.

I thought about buying more of those adorable Pumpkin Tea Lights that use Batteries, but for some reason TARGET had only marked those down by 30% so I opted not to for now.  When everything else was 60%-90% Off there were other better Deals going on to Invest in instead and get yours while there was still some left.  Post Holiday Sales ain't what they used to be tho', coz mostly the Stores don't have much Inventory to begin with even before or during the Holiday, so very little, if any, left Post Holiday.  The Supply Chain Issues and Tariffs jacking pricing up, if they could even get the Merchandise at all, was evident.  And Diesel is still almost $7 a Gallon so Transport Costs are Sky High too for everything.  I don't Shop or Drive as much being Gas is still too high as well.  I Thought about doing something Today and just kept it as a Thought and not an Action.  *LOL and Le Sigh* 

 I'm still in my Jammies at 10:27 a.m. and just made The Man and I some French Toast for Brunch with Croissant Toast Bread and Vermont Maple Syrup with Powdered Sugar dusting.  That Croissant Toast Bread is a new Favorite Gourmet Bread.  I was having trouble finding Japanese Milk Bread, another Fav, this is just as nice but way cheaper too and it looks so pretty in presentation as well as tasting Sublime.  I'm going to buy it all the time now.  It makes French Toast very nicely and cooks up quickly, and holds the Egg well, coz it's so airy in consistency.  I like when I find a new Product that I now have as a New Favorite and can highly recommend.  This would be one of those Products.

Above a Great-Grandchild in her Halloween Costume and Below some teeny tiny Pumpkin Pies I got at "Trader Joe's", not only Adorable, but perfect portion size for The Man and I.  *LOL*  I finally got dressed, went out and did some Environmental Cleanup then went to the Recycle Center to Trade in my Haul of Aluminum Cans, I had 16 lbs. worth this day.  Some Cowboys from a Ranch had come in with Two Horse Trailers and Two Pickup Truck Beds FULL of Bags of Aluminum Cans!!!  OMG, they must be some heavy drinkers on that Ranch!!!  And from what I saw of their Clear Bags, they were Crushed Cans too!!!  That's a lot of Aluminum, I'd guess Hundreds of Pounds worth.  They had Three Young Guys in full Cowboy Gear offloading it all and they were still doing it long after I left and well before I even got there!!!  At least they Recycle it.

I also went back to a different TARGET and got more Halloween merch 60%-90% Off.  They had more selection at that one, I got another Eyeball Hyde & Eek Line Wreath for only $3, a lot of Halloween Paper Plates, Bags of Trail Mixes for 50 Cents and more Autumn Halloween BRACHS Mix for 24 Cents a Bag.  I finally got some of those little Pumpkin Shaped Battery Votive Lights 60% Off at this TARGET, so picked up about a Dozen more, they came Two to a Package.  I got some Halloween Cat Taco Holders that match the Halloween Cat Pizza Cutter I already had and the Halloween Cat Bag Clips I already had.  And I got a set of 4 Ghost Glow In The Dark Ornaments with different Faces on each Ghost.   It did get up to 80 Degrees Today, so Warmed up nicely thruout the Day, mostly being in the 70's most of the later Morning.  I felt better and more motivated to do things once I was out and about.  Often getting Dressed and out the Door is the hardest part.  *LOL*

I have a lot of Merch I should be Pricing to get ready to take in to the Antique Mall when I begin my Friday Night Shifts on the 13th.  Yes, my 1st Full Time Shift begins on Friday the 13th.  *LOL*  This Weekend, well the 6th thru the 9th, so it begins Tomorrow, is the Dia de los Muertos Celebration at the Desert Botanical Gardens and I plan to attend.  I may just go on Friday {Tomorrow} Morning becoz it will be less crowded than the Weekend.  Granted they won't have the Mercado or Procession until Saturday and Sunday, but I don't stay late anyway to catch the Procession anymore and haven't bought anything from the Mercado when the Priest that made the Retablo Altars quit Selling there a couple Years ago, I Collected his Art.  I want to see the Ofrenda, which, this Year they are putting Inside Webster Auditorium in the Historic Adobe Pueblo House, built in the 1930's.  Which will be much better than having it Outside like they did last Year, especially with the kind of Weather being so inclement and unpredictable now.

So, that's my itinerary for Tomorrow Morning after I drop the Grandchild off at Work at 7:00 a.m., I'll head right out to the Gardens and get there very early, while attendance is lightest.  It's a long drive so you always hit Rush Hour Morning Traffic heading into the City.  I may treat myself to Breakfast or Brunch after I leave the Gardens since I'll be way over in the East Central part of the City.  Last Year I took The Young Prince with me during the Dia de los Muertos Celebrations there and then we went to "Snooze" for Breakfast, it doesn't seem like a whole Year has passed since then, but it has.  Time is flying by at warp speed it seems.  I may ask Princess T if Rusty might pick her up after Work that Day so I don't have to rush back to this side of the City... and can just enjoy a "Me Day" without any obligations, we'll see.

  I still have a Fortune Teller Booth Costume I haven't yet Worn that I bought at a Chazza a few Years ago, like the one seen Below.   and I liked the Zoltar Arcade Machine Costume too that they had this Year, Two different Manufacturers of it, both were pretty expensive, even secondhand at Auction on E-Bay.  I like the second one best that goes almost down to the Floor and just looks better Quality if you're gonna spend around a Hundred Bucks on a Costume.  I Paid Six Bucks for my secondhand Fortune Teller Booth Costume.  I could dress up one of my Medical Cadaver Skeletons on a rolling Stand to put inside of it and put a Turban on the Skelly and some Gypsy Jewelry.  *Smiles*

Okay, so the Sweater Below had me LMAOROTF... Brilliant!  That would actually make a Cute Costume, but the Retired HOOTERS Costumes this Year also cracked me up {Seen further Below}, a lot of folks wore those as Adult Costumes.  I wouldn't mind Buying one of those Costumes myself, except that I don't attend Adult Masquerade Parties and when I'm handing out Candy to Children and Families, it would not be at all appropriate of coarse.  *LOL*

Today we're making Greek Gyros for Dinner, I bought all the Fixins for them at "Trader Joe's" the other day and the Gyro Meat Package they Sell there reheats in a Skiller in just a few Minutes, so it's a quick and easy Meal that everyone enjoys.  I just have to chop up the Persian Cucumbers, Onion and Grape Tomatoes, I bought the ready made Tzatziki.  After I pick Princess T up from Work is when I'll prepare it coz otherwise I never know when that Call is coming in since she's either Working over now or not getting full Hours, so I never know when she's getting off Work anymore.  Makes it hard for those Employees that don't have their own transportation and rely on Friends or Family to come get them when it could be anywhere from around Noon to 4:00 p.m. any given Day, that's a huge spread and interferes with our Schedules and what we need to do to be available for picking them up after Work.

 

The Family has decided we'll go to "Golden Corral" for Thanksgiving, the Buffet will offer more options for Family that aren't that keen on Traditional Thanksgiving fare and those of us who like it can have Ham and Turkey without having to choose just one or the other.  Plus, we're not big on leftovers and none of us wants the Work to Cook a Meal and the Cleanup, so this suits all of us best this Year and is affordable too.  Everyone can swing around $20 apiece.  We're thinking 1:00-2:00 for getting there and having an earlier Dinner.  And Princess T said Rusty can pick her up from Work Tomorrow so I can go to my Event at the Gardens and stay as long as I want to.

I was going to take The Man out Today but I just ran out of Steam after I got everything done I needed to, and he said it was Okay, we didn't have to.  *Whew*  Our Gyros turned out excellent, The Son wants me to buy what we need to make them again next time I go to "Trader Joe's" and he'll pay for it.   I have everything but the Gyro Meat still, so that's all I'll need to go buy and its only $4.99.   It was an inexpensive quick and tasty Meal that fed quite a few with plenty of the supplies left over to make more once I get more of the Gyro Meat.  The Package has 9 pieces and I really should have bought 2 Packages but didn't know how much was inside coz it's not a see-thru package.  Now I know, 18 pieces would go further to feed everyone and have enuf for seconds for those who wanted more than one Gyro Pita Pocket.

I've sorted out some of the Stuff I wanna Sell, and put it all in a Banana Box ready to Price, just not Today, don't have it in me to devote to something that Labor intensive right now.  Pricing always takes the most time and effort.  And is my least favorite thing to knuckle down to do.  I try to break doing it up into small increments of not so much time spent having to do it all at once.  Otherwise I might procrastinate on getting to it at all if I get mired down in the doing of it for Hours on end.  I've also got to spend some time foofing the Showroom and changing it around to Display some Christmas now and purging some stale Merch out of there to make room for fresh Merch.  I'd like to make more room in our Locked Case for our Pokemon Cards, perhaps a whole Shelf and just take out some of what isn't Selling as quickly to make room to do that.  Pokemon 

Sells and I've got so much of it at Home right now that I Sourced in bulk and haven't yet Priced.  That's Money and with Sales flat I need to cram in what's Hot and Sells.  

 

This is the 6th in Real Time and I'm going to The Dia de los Muertos Celebration at The Desert Botanical Gardens this Morning after I drop Princess T off at Work.  I'm drinking some "Portside" blend Coffee from "Seattle's Best" Brand.  The Discount Grocer has has an array of Gourmet Coffee Pods so I buy a vast selection every time I'm there to see which we prefer.  We've had some misses, but found some favs, this "Portside" blend of their Brand is nice, I'd buy this one again.  The Pods come usually 10 to a Box so if there's one we don't like I bring it in to the Antique Mall Break Room to Share.  They used to give us Free Coffee there before Pandemic, now they charge 50 Cents a Cup on the Honor System in the Break Room, using Pods and individual Cups now rather than a regular Carafe Shared.  Everything changed Post Pandemic.

  So, anyway some "Starbucks" Columbian Decaf and some "Starbucks" Pumpkin Spice blend may end up going to the Antique Mall as a Coffee Donation.  *LOL*  I also bought a "Bailey's Irish Cream" Coffee by the Liqueur Maker that I found to be bitter, so that one might be Donated as well.  It was a disappointment coz I like Bailey's Liqueur in Coffee, so thought the Coffee blend by them would be nicer.  And it was an expensive Brand I bought at a Specialty Store, so you can't assume anything will be good just coz it was expensive.  Anyway, most blends I've bought have been really good and some have been Pods of Hot Chocolate Flavors or Pods of Iced Coffee blends.  During Fall and Winter the Family revert to drinking Hot Drinks rather than Cold Drinks so it's appreciated I keep it stocked with varieties of choices by our Coffee Maker.  I have my Lavender blend by "Starbucks", I kind of overbought the flavor worried it would be a short lived Special Edition.  *LOL*

 

I can be a Hoarder of non-perishables that I like and can't be sure I can always find or are Ltd. Editions.  *Smiles*  Let us just say when Pandemic hit, or Supply Chain Issues happen, I wasn't worried too much about running out of anything Essential, coz I had Overstock.  I could have set up a little Resale Store in fact.  *Ha ha ha*   And I have Teas, Honeys and Jams for Days too.  *Winks*  I used to have an epic stash of Real Maple Syrups, but the Family is quickly blasting thru that cache'.  *Smiles*  I do get carried away sometime when something is on Sale or Discounted and I know it's something we always use, I buy as if I'm purchasing for an Army Platoon.  *LOL*   Well, we do have half a Battalion amount of folks here at Home, so, why not?  *Smiles*  The Niece is always astounded at how many Mouths I can feed and keep sustained on a Fixed Income, when in her Family they struggle if they live Alone to stretch finances, even when Working.  It's a "Gift" I have of making Money go far and Working a Hustle.  *LOL*

Plus, I explained to her that having a 'Tribal Mentality' means that you Share everything always with the Whole Tribe, and therefore, no One Member ever goes without, when the Whole contributes.  It would be called Socialism by a Capitalist Society, pretty sure, but, if done Right it works for the Good of All and no One Individual has it all when others are in Lack, and I don't see anything Wrong with that personally.  I'd rather everyone be Raised Up and not left behind or in Lack, than to have it all Hoarded Up for just myself greedily and be too stingy to Share my Abundance when I see Need.  My Dad never could fathom why so many American Families who had More than Enough had Loved Ones who didn't have Enough and yet wouldn't contribute to ensure they were covered. 

 He always sent a portion of his Income, his whole Life, back Home to the Reservation even tho' he never went back there to live, just to Visit.  That's 'Tribal Mentality' and I strongly ascribe to it.  He wasn't a Wealthy Man but he knew he had Enough.  And that some still on the Rez were struggling with Not Enough, extreme Lack, and not as much Opportunity as he had in the Military and in Retirement from the Military with a Pension.  Plus Dad worked even after receiving his 27 Year Lifetime Military Retirement Pension, my Dad worked 1-2 Jobs his whole Life until he could no more.  He couldn't wrap his Mind around the Concept of Retirement either, or Land "Ownership", he said they were not Indian ways and he really didn't Believe in them, he just Assimilated so that he would enjoy Quality of Life mostly FOR us Kids and our Mom.  He'd of been Content to live Tribally actually with very little possessions, just absolute Basic Necessities and Simplistically.  I know I COULD, coz I have in the Past, Successfully, but, I just don't WANT to anymore.  But if I HAD to, at least I know I EASILY COULD and have Contentment.  *Winks*

I think as a Society we've become so accustomed to abundance, excess, privilege, and Too Much, that we've become a very Spoiled Nation as a Collective, with First World Problems.  So we whine about trifles when most of the rest of the World wouldn't complain at all.  Nurse Remi and I have talked about it, since coming from Africa, she said even the Poorest in America have access to more than the majority in Africa.  The Daughter says the same about Mexico, having lived in the Slums there with no running Water or even Sanitation or Electricity at times, she said living in any Poor American Barrio is Luxurious by comparison.  She can and has lived Hard, so she said anything here is Luxurious to her now and she appreciates it all the more.  But, she said what they lacked in Mexico they made up for in the Sense of Community that is Lacking here in America.  Even the Poorest of the Poor in Mexico helped someone else in Need and Shared whatever they had, no matter how meager it was.  She said here someone can have Everything and Share Nothing... even when they see and are confronted with other Human Beings in Great Need.  I agree with that Assessment.

She's had Arguments with Americans who complain that their Taxes are providing Social Services to the most marginalized and vulnerable of Society.  Like Nutritional Assistance for the Hungry, Programs for Disadvantaged Children and Youths, Shelter for the Homeless, Medicine for the Sick... and she says, but you have Everything you Need, so why do you so much resent contributing something towards those in Need?  It's a valid Question, there's this assumption that anyone in Need must be Lazy or trying to rip you off of what you have worked for.  And that tired Old Trope has made for resentment of the Poor.  While we Subsidize the most Elite and Richest without squawking about it hardly at all... when they actually ARE the Parasitic ones who have no NEED but Take from the Working Class Americans every single Day.  But so many would blame the Welfare Single Mother or the Immigrant, more than some Billionaire receiving way more Taxpayer Subsidies at your Expense, it's tragically ironic.  If my Taxes are helping the Poor and the Needy I don't mind at all, but I don't want my Taxes making obscenely wealthy richer.  I have Enough to be Content and still be happily Charitable.  But, that's just me...

 

And here's the Down Low on it, even when I had Lack, I still Gave 10% of what I did have anyway in Faith.   Coz I know the Laws Of Reciprocity have never failed me or anyone else, whether they be a Spiritual Person or not.  Givers Gain, always, and I've never been able to Outgive God, ever.   I've tried, it's just not possible to.  I Challenge anyone to Try to, you won't be able to either, it's impossible.  If you're a Skeptic, that's Okay, rise to the Challenge then and get back to me with your results, I double Dare ya.  *Winks and Smiles*  At the very least, even as a Skeptic and Non-Believer, you'll become a Giver and help in some small way and have the Gain you'll surely Receive that I speak of.  I can see no downside to that even IF you claim I was Wrong about the Laws of Reciprocity... but, I know I'm NOT... so I still Challenge you if you've never been Philanthropic or Giving, to give it a Go and see Proof and Evidence that being a Giver will be Gain to you.

You know why a Parasite lives at all?  Becoz it has a Host, if a Parasitic Organism has no Host, it Dies and ceases to exist or reproduce!   Billionaires are Parasites, so, with no Hosts, they couldn't and wouldn't Survive or exist at all or reproduce.  Just sayin'.   And it's why they need and want to keep their Hosts deceived, they require us to even exist.  If you want to be the Host to Parasites, you will allow them to suck the Life Blood out of you willingly.  Just KNOW who the Parasites REALLY are, not who the Parasitic ones would have you Believe are instead... that's all.  Identifying a Parasite is in your Best Interest.   So quit Scapegoating whose NOT responsible for what's Wrong based solely on personal biases and not evidence or proof to verify accusations.  Technology is taking Jobs mostly, and Corporations opting for Machines rather than Hiring Humans, not Immigrants.  If you're being 'replaced' it will be by AI and your Company, probably not some Human who Immigrated and filled your slot, that's the Reality of it. 

So, LATER:  The Day was Glorious, perfect Weather for going to the Gardens after dropping Princess T off at work.  I got there slightly after 8:00 a.m., which was also perfect, the Crowds didn't descend until closer to Noon, so I had a lot of time with the place almost to myself, Peaceful, nobody in the way of my Photography.  When I got to the Ofrenda I was the only one there except when a News Crew came in to profile it.  I ducked out until they left, not wanting to be Interviewed or on TV.  *LOL*  Then I came back and still had it mostly to myself, with just a scant few other people.  The Ofrenda was spectacular and gladly inside, so nobody will have to worry about viewing it in unpredictable Weather.  I had Breakfast at their Cafe coz they have a Green Chili Pork Stew that is FANTASTIC!  Along with a Prickly Pear Iced Tea.

  My only Complaint would be that ever since Tarbell's took over the Cafe' and 'Gertrude's' Restaurant, Prices went way up and Drink sizes went way down in spite of costing a lot more.   But, the portion of the Green Chili Pork Stew was hearty and filling, not a bad price for how good it was either, I'd definitely order this again, it was Sublime!   And I got a tonnage of Blog Fodder Imagery now for many Posts to come, which is good coz I won't have a lot going on until the Christmas Themed Events Mid-Month.  But before I forget, at the Butterfly Exhibit which literally had over 1,800 Butterflies, they had several Field Trips of very Young Grade School Aged, Children.  Perhaps Kindergartners or First Graders judging by their size and inability to Calm Down or Focus, let alone listen to Directions and follow them.  *LOL and an Eye Roll*  The Teachers had no Control, neither did the Parent Chaperones, so it was bedlam with these Groups.  They were VERY Excited to be there, thus, in a large Group, they were a Hyper Handful of exuberant Energy and complete Inattention. *LOL*     

The Garden Staff were clear and took great pains about explaining they could not engage in Touching the Butterflies and why, but Kids were manhandling Butterflies to the point of Loving and Handling them to Damage and even Death.  I didn't see many Responsible Adults preventing this abuse of the Butterflies, which really bothered me when Kids are too Young to comply with important Rules in their Excitement or Disobedience to what they'd been told NOT to do, but did anyway. But should be Taught, and reminded, how to Respect Rules and Nature properly and Behave when around Wildlife or out in Public.  Otherwise they don't Learn early on and it only leads to Cruelty, whether Intentional or Unintentional, later on in Life.  You were practically tripping over Kids coz the Adults were mostly preoccupied visiting with one another or on their Phones rather than paying attention to the Kids they had on the Field Trip Outing. 

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We'll have much more in future Posts... Remain High on Hope-ium my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian