They're saying Bad Weather is moving in for the Weekend, so Halloween Night may be compromised by it... I'm Hoping not. We won't get the Kids coming for their Candy Door to Door if inclement Weather hits Halloween Night and I don't wanna be stuck with all that we bought to hand out! Plus we enjoy Halloween Night and won't sit out like usual and in our Costumes if it's Stormy out there!? All Body Parts Crossed it waits to Storm and Halloween Night won't be ruined due to inclement Weather? I have a Picachu Pokemon Onesie I'm wearing this Year, got it for less than Five Bucks at SAVERS. All the Staff/Co-Workers/Management of Princess T have requested I wear it in to the Store Today {Wednesday the 28th in Real Time}.
I Promised them I would, all Staff, including Princess T are in Costumes Daily now at Work up until October 31st. It's so Cute coz even Top Management is in Costumes. And some of her Co-Workers have had fantastic Costumes and Pro Quality Halloween Makeup on. They usually Host a Contest and the Employee who Wins gets rewarded Generously. So they all go all out with it to try to Win. *Smiles* Princess T doesn't expect to Win and I can see why, some of the Young Females this Year have Special Effects Makeup and Costume Talent, just, WOW! I should have asked them if I could take Pixs of them in Costume to use as Blog Fodder and Share. But some of the best have been Newbies that I don't know well enuf to put them on the spot to ask to take their Pixs. The ones I know well are like Grandkids to me and even call me Gramma or Nanna, so they would gladly pose for Pixs. *Smiles*
So, when I pick Princess T up from Work Today I'll be in Costume and a Picachu Onesie exactly like the Sixty Dollar one above, that I got for less than $5 and looks Brand New. It might even be New Old Stock coz they get a lot of Costume Donations from Big Halloween Outlet Stores every Year and many still have original Pricing on them. Anyway, won't I look Darling in this Onesie? *Winks, I will try to get a Pix taken of me in it for Blog Fodder... Smiles* The Son fell off the Sobriety Wagon hard last Night, he was doing all the Work around here for us and was angry at those who weren't and were making the mess and just take off leaving a mess... ie: His Sister, his Nephew, Allen and to some degree, The Niece.
None of them pick up after themselves appropriately and are messy. The Son is Tidy and Clean to an extreme, obsessively so. And The Man, Princess T, The Son and I clean up after ourselves as we go, which is easier, so it never backlogs that we have dirty Dishes, dirty Laundry, or make a mess for other people to have to run damage control behind us. I'm prone to "Clean Clutter" but I'm not a Dirty Bitch. And if you're Nasty and a Dirty Bitch or Bastard, I will tell you so to your Face, often and bluntly. It's NOT Okay. *LOL* Oh, if you have Delicate Feelings, they're gonna get Hurt around me if and when you're fucking up. *Smiles* And I extend some Grace that everybody fucks up, just don't do it too often and frustrate Grace, Okay? That's all I ask, coz I only have so much Grace or Mercy to go around, my Friends. So, whether you're Family or my Guest or Friend, you might use it all up. And our Relationship won't necessarily Spare you. I can and will tear you apart and devour you if that's what it takes to get you Serious about having your Ducks in a Row while here, coz this is my Sanctuary. *Winks*
I also abhor unclean Habits like leaving Dishes unwashed, let dirty Clothes pile up or use everything Clean before doing Laundry, leaving uneaten food or half finished beverages around the Home, Wasting Resources carelessly. If you're a lazy nasty Slob at your Home I don't fucking Care, I just will never visit you and expose myself to your folly. The Son was obsessing over the mess and wake left by the Oscars of this Communal Living Arrangement, he's the Felix of that equation. *Winks* When Odd Couple Pairings happen the Oscars seem oblivious to their Environment, but the Felixs among us do short circuit if things aren't in Order, Tidy or Clean. And the confrontations then are bound to happen between Residents, even if not fueled by Alcohol. It just gets Relationally Messier under any influence, that's all.
The Son and I don't like if someone lives like a Slob or expects other Members of the Household to Clean Up after them. We're not Maid Service or Staff and everyone is expected to take one for the Team every once in a while if and when a big Meal has been prepared and is now over. And especially if you prepared something only for yourself and left a Mess behind. He did all the Cooking, the Yard Work, ensuring his Dad and I were Okay and assisting me with his Dad... so he secretly got into his Alcohol Beverage Stash of Voodoo Rangers, when he began getting Angry about the lazier Slobs Sharing Space. Plus an Offender also got into his Sodas and drank all the Cold ones... and so he was Losing It! And Voodoo Rangers removed any Filters of what he was Thinking just falling then out of his Mouth. He wasn't Fighting with anyone who was a Serial Offender, but only becoz they were not here, which, was a good thing. Below is The Niece when she dyed her Blonde Hair to Black... and that makes her look identical to her Mom, who I Miss so much, we were Besties for Decades and she Died much too Young.
I knew he'd be stashing Drink, for his Mental Emergencies and Coping Mechanism to fall back on. Coz he was openly lamenting that he can't even Earn enuf to get his own place and not have to Deal with Living with those he'd rather just Love from a Distance. *Eye Roll.. but I am Sympathetic* He wasn't Clever enuf to cover his Tracks well enuf and I'd sniffed it all out, so, he got Busted. *Winks* That led to him getting upset after he prepared Dinner and fed everyone, coz nobody ever did clean up the Kitchen or do the Dishes and he got upset when I began to do it... again. He felt overwhelmed by responsibility and had a few too many. He feels particularly protective of his Dad and I now we're so Old. He wants to be a Present Help in our Old Age and to take some of the burden off me exclusively. Everyone had left already and were conspicuous by their absence, so it wasn't like I'd just wait for whenever they came back... perhaps Days or Weeks from now and leave it that way! Nasty, so I just did it to get it Done and have my Kitchen Clean and back in Order. It wasn't so much it was worth a Meltdown, but, he was having one about it.
I don't wanna attract Bugs by having unclean conditions in a Kitchen becoz those who didn't do their own Dishes or finish all their Food just left it laying around the Counters or in the Sink unwashed and then disappeared like Scotch Mist. The Man is Tidy, but it doesn't bother him to see things undone anymore now he's got Dementia... it's like he doesn't remember it's there or notice it even? But The Son does, his Autism plus OCD, and Bipolar Moods means he'll eventually Blow Up. And every time he went into that Kitchen after a couple Days of nobody picking up after themselves but he and I, he got Drunk and Angry about it. If he just drank a little of his Stash then I wouldn't ever have to say anything about it. But I don't allow drunkenness to go unchecked in my Home. If you get drunk, coz you're not Coping well for whatever reasons that you tried to drown it out with Alcohol, then you and I are gonna have us a Situation and you won't Like it very much. *Smiles*
Listen, I don't mind if a Grown Ass Adult wants a Drink... within Reason. You can be under the influence to a point, if you go past that point tho', we're not gonna get along, you and I. For many of you, perhaps you partake to Cope or Relax, or whatever, I won't Judge. We all have our ways of Coping that aren't the best, I'm not immune, I just don't Drink or Drug to Cope with the Issues Of Life. But I have my own not so great Coping Mechanisms. But, once you're an Alcoholic, it becomes a complicated Situation for you to Drink at all or Control. Sobriety would be your best case Scenario, IF you can not only Attain it, but Maintain it? He tries, he Succeeds until the time he suddenly doesn't anymore and falls off the Wagon again. He's often telling me, Mom, I don't think I can do all this and Cope with all this Sober. It is a lot, I ain't gonna Lie. If any of you had to join the Tribe, you'd have to find ways to Cope, for SURE. *Winks* He's been Clean from Drugs, Coping with The Asylum here and it's Residents Sober has been harder. He equates it to a Group Home or Rehab when you get a bunch of folks living together that all have Issues of Life to Learn to Live with in relative Harmony.
Princess T cleans up after herself and rarely even is in the common areas of the Home, so none of it was her mess, she rarely even beholds it. Sometimes just running damage control behind her naughty Cat is too much for her! Eli pissed on her Bed this time when he got Mad at her and she has half the Bed Displaying her Plush Collection, so all those had to get Laundered too! If anything isn't done immediately in her wake, it's in her own Room and nobody else has to Cope with it, look at it, clean it, she will do it herself. Eli was in Trouble yesterday for being Pissy Cat when he wants to punish his Human. So, she's not part of the Problem and can sometimes be part of the Solution if she sees her Uncle and I getting upset about the Oscars of the Household. She knew why her Uncle was floundering again. Rusty was over for Dinner that The Son cooked, but he was a Guest, we weren't asking him to do Housekeeping.
It's enuf he was my Savior on Saturday when the fucking Truck broke down and he came to the Rescue. *LOL* Above was the Pregnancy Pix The Daughter gave me when she was 8 Months Preggy with The Young Prince in 2000. You know, how Daughters or Granddaughters do to give to Moms and Grammas... but she did hers in the Gallow's Humor she knew I'd fully appreciate from my Wild Child. *Smiles*A Cop Friend Staged it for them, the Bow on her Ass wasn't there... added for later Image Modesty and Censorship, you know, lest The Facebook Police arrest us. *Winks and Laughs* Alas the Baby Bump wasn't too visible but I'd asked for a Pregnancy Pix of her near the Deliver Date of her 1st Child and she obliged and sent me this one. I don't think she took one with the other Four Pregnancies? And by then she was still getting Arrested or put in Psyche Wards every so often, even while Preggy... so the Staging Shot was Tongue in Cheek with what we were Dealing with for Reals all the time during that place in Time with her. It was a Wild Ride thru Teens, Twenties and most of her Thirties. *Winks* And she did Belong to The Streets.
But back to slovenly Housekeeping, Princess T doesn't like that her Boyfriend and his Family are like that too at their House about deferred Housekeeping, Cleanliness or Maintenance. She said they are Slobs, but they're all a Family of Slobs, so nobody seems to Care but her, coz she isn't one. She tells his whole Family they're Slobs too, so, only the Dad likes her coz at least he gets his House Clean when she comes over to be with her Boyfriend, his Son. *LOL* And she makes Rusty and his Tias {Aunts} come and Clean his Dad's Home before she will even come over... otherwise, she said they probably wouldn't even do it. It is a Bone of contention in their Relationship and she will NOT clean up after any Grown Ass Adult as if they're a Child, especially if it's a Man Child! Heaven Help the foolish Man who assumes she's gonna act like Unpaid Staff and not fight the Patriarchy and be downright vicious about it! *Smiles*
And she too gets upset when any of us has to clean up someone else's mess here at Home, or it wouldn't get done by whoever was the Offender. The Messier ones aren't always the Problem tho', so The Son has to Own what he does that isn't acceptable either, he's no Golden Child. And he can be the one that will upset me the most coz the others aren't so Autistic they can't read the fucking Room once I'm in it and I'm not Happy anymore. And when Mama ain't Happy, ain't Nobody gonna be Happy now!!! The Son knows no matter how Righteous his reaction is to Family Issues, or how legitimate his complaints, if he's not Sober, stay away from me or I will confront you about THAT Trigger to me. The Daughter can be spotless... or the complete opposite of it. The Young Prince and Allen are notoriously messy, but Allen will run damage control once he knows I'm upset about any of it. The Niece seems to be Moderately messy or sloppy in her Habits. But, she had to run damage control behind her Oscars in her Biological Family, especially her Dad, so they're way worse than her and she will Clean up if I say, Hey... get to it. It's not at MY Standard... and this is MY Kingdom. *Winks*
So, anyway, Housekeeping Issues knocked The Son right off the fucking Sobriety Wagon again... or mebbe it was his handy excuse to imbibe, I dunno? He passed out on the Floor of his Bedroom... and when he came to I told him he can't be getting hammered like that, so he better Dial it way the fuck back again, or... make other Living Arrangements. I said the same to the Messy Ones about their lack of any Domestic Goddess skills, don't risk being asked to leave and make other Arrangements becoz you're unclean or lazy about Housekeeping and cleaning up after yourself. Coz I will Snap about it, Count on that. The Son thinks all his Help should offset some Drinking, coz he does do a lot around here and I don't even have to ask him to, he just sees what needs doing and does it for me or with me. I do appreciate that, but I'd rather he be sober coz when he's not he will not get along and Play well with The Others, if you know what I mean? Alcohol makes even his Autistic lack of a Filter more broken and unfiltered. That leads to confrontations and lack of Harmony, it disturbs the Peace.
And you know how I feel about my Peace being disturbed or a Chaotic Environment disrupting my Zen where Dawn of the Light resides. *Winks* Or being around someone under the Influence, coz I can and will get very Mean with them as Dark Dawn. Once there is no longer Peace in Paradise is when I Mentally Unhinge and go on the Warpath with the Offenders, becoming and releasing Dark Dawn. I do know that having so many folks of Three Generations coexisting in any Space or Time is challenging, everyone has their Habits, their Personalities, their preferences of what upsets them or just doesn't. It would be naive to assume otherwise and so you take it one day at a time and Deal with each Issue or Situation as it arises and find Solutions to any Problems. I'm very Solutions Oriented and so is The Son, so I do get why he goes Mental and drinks to take The Edge off so that he can try not to Fixate so much and hold it all in unexpressed. People generally don't Change too much or live up to their Potentials. But, how you React to them is up under your Control.
Nobody can really afford having their own place except The Man and I right now. So they don't have alternatives, and we're often Tapped Out Financially now due to the shitty Economy, rising Costs, and our Poor Leadership in the White House doing nothing about it and actually Causing it. So to kick anyone here to the Curb for any reason would be to make them Homeless and likely a loss of Employment if they even have Work and an Income. Combining Resources and Sharing in the Work to keep this place Maintained takes us all right now, it really does, or the Ship goes down. I will not be the Captain of the Titanic, coz I have no desire to go Down with the Ship. *Winks* Yes, I can Swim and Tread Water if I HAD to, but, for how long? There are no Life Rafts. And the Coast Guard ain't coming to Rescue anyone either, even if you sent out an SOS. So, I just try to be a Fixer of each Daily Problem and find a Solution that makes it Work and keeps it all Afloat for the whole Crew. I don't wanna hafta start throwing People Overboard like Jetsam and Flotsam due to a Shipwreck or even just a leaky Boat taking on Water, you know? *LOL and Sighs*
So I've had to Solve similar Problems over and over again when they happen yet again. Rather like when I had my Corporate Lives, both of them, coz there were always Defaults and Bad Decisions others made in Banking to Clean Up and be the Fixer of the Bad or Delinquent Loans. To protect the Lender's Assets and protect their Investors as well from incurring Losses, or Mitigating them so it wasn't a total Loss. And at the DA's Office there would always be Crime that Members of any Society commits. People fuck up, it's just a Given. How much they fuck up and who fucks up is very random sometimes, intentional sometimes, unintentional other times... but things still get fucked up regardless of Intention. Becoz People are involved. We are a very flawed Species and aren't always in Purpose or Behaving to the best of our abilities. Some even lack the ability frankly to have sustained appropriate Behavior. Everyone in this Household is considered a Special Needs Person, so to expect complete compliance would be fucking delusional on my part. It's a Motley Crew here who aren't always Stable.
Each one of them is a particular Challenge in their own way at times. Other times they're an Asset and not a Liability, a mixed bag of folks and their Behaviors and forms of Disabilities impairing or impeding them. I'm one to always continuously Weigh Benefits and Assets versus Liabilities. It's what made me Successful in Corporate Lives and makes this Household Work too... otherwise it all wouldn't. Nobody here is all Good nor all Bad for the Tribe so to speak. *Smiles* It's almost gotta be all for one and one for all at this juncture becoz independently separated from the Herd here, they'd be picked off one by one out there on the American Serengeti. And they might not last long or have enuf resources available to ensure Survival out there. I know this and I don't want to have Casualties over some dirty Dishes, Wet Towels on the Floor of a Bathroom, or some dirty Laundry, you know? Some Hills just aren't worth anyone Dying on or for. *Le Sigh but Smiles*
And now for some Food Porn... eating good Food tends to be my Coping Mechanism, along with Retail Therapy. I could need an Intervention in the Latter, but it's still Cheaper than Therapy or going Insane and never being able to come back from that. *LOL* I've gone Off Rails completely once, went totally Mental with no more Fucks to give, it wasn't pretty. And since I'm told it took 7 Male Stud Muffin Police Officers to Restrain me and Involuntarily have me Committed, we don't wanna go THERE again. Just in case I don't ever come Back to Center from that, the next time? *Bwahahaha* At the VA they always Joke with me now if they should have VA Security on Standby? I mean, the Officers are always there, coz lots of Vets go Mental from time to time too, so I'm in Good Company. *LOL* But, since they're treating The Man wonderfully now and meeting him at his Point of Need, which means OUR Point of Need as a Family too, then I don't Need to have Security called on me. And all is Well. *Winks*
So, anyway, nothing on the Calendar now 'til Halloween is a Wrap, so that's great. I want to enjoy the balance of my favorite Holiday without any commitments to fulfill obligations that detract from it. I may even go to The Desert Botanical Gardens Today after taking the Grandchild to Work. And go to Historic Downtown Gilbert coz they have some of Pumpkin Carver Jedi Master Ray Villafane's work on Display. I've Cribbed some Pixs of it in advance and Sharing on this Post, but I do wanna see and experience it all in person. The Weather looks like it is holding for Today so I can go have some Recreational Down Time for myself Today.
It all requires too much Walking for The Man and I don't wanna be in Caregiver Mode either. We made Yesterday all about him and getting him to Appointments, have a nice Meal out Together, out into the Fresh Air, but he often didn't wanna get out of the Truck and be participatory. If I'm Walking around enjoying the Halloween Events and Decorations, I can't leave him in a Truck unattended. His Wheelchair solves his Mobility Issues but it's so heavy I hurt my Back lugging it in and out of the Truck. Also, The Man is more Content sitting in his Media Chair watching TV than going out to see Halloween Decorations around the City, that's my Jam not his so he doesn't really Care about experiencing it at all. I don't like dragging along anyone whose not enjoying it or into it, coz they'd rather not be there and I'd therefore rather they not be there too. *Bwahahahaha*
He had a nice Day Yesterday but was fading even doing much after his Appointment. And then by the time he gets to where he insists, I wanna stay in the Truck... well, that's a Wrap then. Coz I can't just leave him in there alone or force him to get out and participate in whatever else we're trying to do. That's when it becomes burdensome to me and if it's supposed to renew me and be a Respite Day or Mental Health Day for my own Sanity and Well Being, to get back to Center and feel restored... it won't when I've got an entourage in tow that I am the Caregiver of. It's similar to early Parenting when they're too little to be dragged around everywhere, so they become Cranky and difficult, have their Emotional Meltdowns if it's all too much for them or they're Tired, Hungry, need to use the Restroom every place you take them to. Well, The Man has reverted to similar behaviors. We might have just left a place that had nice Bathrooms he could have used, but he'll wait 'til we just left there and then say he urgently has to go! And then it's desperately seeking a Facility for him to use a Public Restroom before he has an Accident. Fun Times. *LOL*
I like the Above Pix of The Niece coz her expression in it, especially taken in Black and White, is exactly how I FEEL sometimes. No Words even necessary when your Face conveys so much without Speaking. *LOL* She and I Laugh that this is our "You've got to be Fucking kidding me????" Non-verbal Expression, without even Saying it out loud. *LMAOROTF* I've had numerous Days like that lately, and it needs no Words, sometimes I even waffle about Blogging about it. Tho' it does make for popular Post Content Reading. *Bwahahahaha* Seems Dear Readers LOVE those Posts most of all! Last Night I got an Offer on the Psychedelic Vintage Jeans I had in the Showroom. They only wanted 10% Off if I'd do it, and I did, coz I had a hefty Price Tag on them, Sixties Prints on Denim Jeans can command a hefty price tag. And I felt someone might wanna buy them even for a more authentic Hippie Costume for Halloween? I could have charged more and got it if the End Of The Rainbow Vintage Wardrobe Fanatic walked in Obsessed with them... but I like Quick Turns, so Price to Sell.
So, I had them front and center in the Showroom and they were only in there a couple Days before they Sold. I knew I had Priced them Right, to where whoever wanted them is getting a Deal even if they didn't try to barter/haggle it down. *Smiles* A 10% Discount was Fine. I'd never be that Size again so there was no use me Keeping them. Vintage Fashion Sells well and has great Margins, the Younger Generations are diggin' it again. *LOL* These were Loud, but Denim and in excellent shape/condition. So, now some Modern Hippie will be wearing/modeling them and I'm glad about that. Even if they're only being a Young Hippie as their Halloween Costume. They'll look Groovy if you're using Era Appropriate Slang for the Look and the Vintage Jeans. *Bwahahaha* I think Today's Slang would say 'Fire' or 'Lit'. *Smiles* Anyway, Princess T wouldn't wear them so I just decided to Sell and Cash Out on what I still like and would wear, as my preferred Aesthetic, if only I was still the Size I used to be back then. Which is never happening! *LOL*
I had some Insomnia and have been up now since 1:00 a.m., but, I had also gone to Bed way early too. Of coarse once I have to wake up to take a Kiddo to School I really have trouble laying down and going to Sleep again. And I'm still having Pain on my Right Side, so since it's lingering I've got to get it checked out to make sure it's not a Kidney Issue or another flare up of an Infection, which I had back in June and never was sure what the cause was? It's always something once you reach a certain Age. *Le Sigh* Anyway, I still may go to The Gardens this Morning but don't know I wanna fight Rush Hour Morning Traffic and it's Cold and in the 50's so I'd also like it to Warm up some before prancing around Outside. *Winks* I can't leave the House dressing for Colder Weather coz in the Desert, within Hours, it could then be 100 degrees. So just coz it's 59 right now doesn't mean I'd not need light Wardrobe by before Noon.
I Love these lil Pearl Tomatoes and may dry one out to harvest the Seeds to plant some myself and see if I can grow our own. I got that section of Gabion Wall to build an above Ground Garden with. The Kids just need to put it together for me and then we'll gather River Stones to put into it and get started on a stretch of Victory Garden in the Back Pasture Area against the Pool's Block surrounding Wall. I'm kind of excited about mapping out some Farming on our Property to replace just Pasture and make it more productive and sustainable for us. Now that I have the Younger Helpers I wanna take advantage of their enthusiasm to build it for me, or with me, and get it finally done. The Man knew it's why I wanted this Property, to grow a lot of our own Food since it is designated and Zoned Agricultural, so we get sufficient Irrigation Rights living here on a Mini Farm Property. But he's not done any Property Improvements since moving here, I've done all that's been done with the Help of the Kiddos and their Friends.
The Man liked the Idea of Owning a Mini Farm and how bucolic it is coz he isn't into Urban Living and would prefer to be Rural. Which isn't practical in our condition and at our Age, so that was never happening that I'd move into the Boonies during Retirement Years. *LOL and Winks* I don't wanna live in some bum fuck Rural area that has fewer amenities and is out in the middle of nowhere and near nothing or perhaps nobody. He has too many Medical needs and Emergencies to Survive Rural Living... we'd be Life Flighting his Ass out every so many Months at the rate he's had Emergency Medical Situations since we moved here. But in his Mind's Eye he'd like to live off the Grid and be a Recluse and away from everybody and everything. I'm Urban to my Core, sure, I adore Nature too, I just don't wanna rough it and live out in it as if we're Feral! *Smiles* Plus, I like doing things, being around other Humans, and having conveniences of it being 2026 and not 1876, you know? *LOL* I don't long for "The Good Ole' Days" that are Fantasy Based or a Look Back thru Rose Colored Glasses either.
Nothing is ever perfect at any Era in Time actually, but I have more to be Thankful for now than I did at any other point in my Life, that's for damned sure. The Good Ole' Days weren't Good for everyone, let us just say. Even that brief interaction with 80 Year Old Stranger Dorothy at the Restaurant, talking of our Shared Experiences Growing Up, being so similar, made me remember now for me is better than then was for her or I in the Past and Rear View Mirror. Now I can live anywhere I want to buy Real Estate, I don't have to enter any Back Doors or be refused Service at all, I'm certainly better off Economically than my Parents were and have vastly more Opportunities than they were ever afforded or could Dream of attaining. So, I'm not complaining about the Present not being as Good as my Past... it's Better. Dorothy said hers definitely is too, so Modern Problems don't even Phase her after all she's Lived thru, Dealt with and endured. Reminders like that are an Encouragement about the Future having some Promise if the Present holds more than the Past did for you.
Loved the above Meme... so ME!!! In fact, it came on MY Algorithm Feed, go figure! *Bwahahahahaha* Below's Imagery is Downtown Historic Gilbert all Tricked Out for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos. I will attempt to hit that area too along with The Desert Botanical Gardens. They do have the "Strange Gardens" Event there right now. LATER: Went to the Gardens, it was a nice Artsy Event with a Harvest Theme, I enjoyed it and the Weather was fabulous, around 83 but with a Breeze. It wasn't too crowded either so nobody Photo Bombed any of the Photos I wanted to take. The Gift Shop had all Halloween and Dia de los Muertos Merch half off. So I did buy 4 Colorful Felt Dia de los Muertos Sugar Skull Ornaments, a Dia de los Muertos Lollipop, a Dia de los Muertos Cross Body Bag, and some Prickly Pear Cactus Licorice Sticks.
The Cashier was an Elderly Volunteer/Docent who gave me an additional 10% Off, our Secret coz you shouldn't get it on the Sale items already marked down, but he said since I was buying so much... Bless him! *Smiles* He looked like he was 90 Years Old and was having trouble figuring out the Register and Thanked me profusely for my Patience while he figured it out. I was in no hurry and had no worries, I'd just gotten there and hit the Gift Shop first to see if they'd marked down the Holiday Merch and what they still might have left of it. I have Blog Fodder now for Days. *Smiles and Winks* I took them all with my Cellphone Camera to ensure Quality, my poor Old School Camera is hit and miss now on Quality of the Images... still Works and I like having the Memory Card. But I immediately Download my Phone's Pixs to The Book Of Faces and then Download them to my Photo Archives Folders here on the PC so I have them in a few different places. The Niece will be Teaching me how to transfer them all to a Memory Stick she bought me.
I didn't have the time to go to Downtown Gilbert but might this Weekend instead to see their Halloween Decorations that Ray Villafane did in their Historic District. They have some nice Restaurants down there to have Brunch at too. Today I had Brunch again at "Snooze" and this time had the Bella Bella Benedict, Spring Salad, Fresh Fruit, Bacon But Different and the Iced Lavender Latte'. Hardly anyone was there which was a Surprise, it's usually a wait to get a Table, so I may just have Timed it Right between Breakfast and Lunch. I also stopped in at "Whole Foods" took some Pixs of their Patisserie Offerings, which are always Beautifully Presented, and picked up mostly Baked Items like my Japanese Milk Bread which "Sprouts" quit carrying, some Croissant Bread, Almond Brittle Cookies, Coffee flavor and Salted Caramel flavor Macarons, and some Coconut Mango Specialty Probiotic Yogurt. Several people, Customers and Cashiers, complimented me on my Wardrobe and my Dreads. I sat and ate the Macarons in the Courtyard there beside "Whole Foods"... so relaxing, a really Restorative Day.
There's another Graphic combining the Two that came out but I've not been able to find it Online in my Size or at any Novelty Store either yet. {See Below} I do like mine better, crisper Graphics, but the other one I'd buy if I can find it in my Size. But I won't order anything smaller than an XXL. I don't mind wearing something baggy, but I don't want Shirts Skin tight or that run Small and won't fit at all or if washed and shrink, I can no longer wear it. Anyway, now except for Halloween Night and the Dia de los Muertos Celebration Nov. 1-3, there's no more Holiday Events to attend until Mid November when some will start Hosting their Christmas Themed Events. The Christmas Events are usually wonderfully presented too and inspirational for Decorating for the Holiday and Season. So I do look forward to the November and December Holiday Merch and how the better Stores will Showcase it and Vignette it. I don't buy much Christmas stuff tho', got enuf, and have even been purging some of that over the Years too. I have a Christmas Closet, a Walk-In one, in The Art Studio Space, with all our Christmas stuff Stored in it.
The Son made a delicious Alfredo Garlic Sauce Pasta Today for Dinner using one of the Sauces they Sell at his Dollar Store. I'm going to go buy more of it coz we all really liked the taste of it, creamy and very tasty. The new but used Round Crockpot I bought at SAVERS works really well and it's attractive looking too. I got such a good Deal on it so I didn't need to expend for a brand New one, they can be expensive at full Retail cost for a good brand. We like making Crockpot Meals becoz everyone rarely gets Home at the same time and with a Crockpot you can keep it Warmed, so everyone can eat whenever they need to or want to. And while it's cooking in a Crockpot you can be about doing anything else you want or need to do and don't even have to be around for it to turn out good.
I may take The Man out Today {the 29th and a Thursday in Real Time} since he stayed Home Yesterday and seemed glum about it. He wants to be in tow with me but then refuses to get out of the Truck most of the time, so it's awkward if I had destinations. I'm not one to aimlessly drive around and use up expensive Gas for nothing and never get out of the Vehicle, that's Mental. If I coax him out with his Walker so he feels secure about not falling, he often is like a Deer caught in the Headlights about his surrounding. I realize almost everything is becoming unfamiliar to him, often we get somewhere we've always been and gone to and he'll ask me Where we are? Or, Why are we here? Even if I spend considerable time preparing him for where we're going or what we're doing, he doesn't retain the information or knowledge and it's all looking unfamiliar to him.
When we're with people we know he sometimes asks me Who they are? The Niece is now living with us and he's known her since she was 7, she's 46, every time he sees her walking around the House now he asks me, Whose that? And if she hears him, she'll introduce herself again, for the umpteenth time and says, it's me, Brandy, Uncle Ron. Aunt Dawn invited me to come live with you Guys again and Help out, so I'll be around, let me know if you need anything, Okay? And he'll just say "Oh, Okay"... and she's used to it with her own Dad now having Dementia. So far he remembers who we all are, including he remembered The Young Prince and Allen, even tho' they'd been away a while again. As for any of the Kids, Grandkids and Great-Grandkids who don't live with us, he can't remember any of them, even our Oldest Daughter, who is his only Biological Child!
And I think that's why she never contacts her Dad anymore, he doesn't know Who he's even talking to, even if I remind him. So the conversation gets awkward really fast during any Phone Call. Since her Stepdad also has advanced Dementia and her Mom had to put him in Long-Term Care now, and Tony doesn't remember anyone but the Family Dog, I think it's really hard on her. When both your Dad and your Stepdad who Raised you don't even remember who you are, I would guess that's gotta be really rough. Especially since he does remember our Kiddos and The G-Kid Force here, but not her, so the biological Connection is just gone now completely for her. She's said her Name to him to prompt his Memory and he's said he doesn't have a Daughter Named Laurie Ann, his Daughter's Name is Talana... Ouch... coz he inherited my Kids when we Married, but now only recalls the ones he inherited, not his Biological Child. If The Daughter hears him say that to our Oldest Daughter she'll tell him, Dad, that's our Oldest Sister, she is the one who lives in Pittsburgh. Then he'll say "Oh"... but I can tell it means nothing really to him and isn't processing.
And since the Oldest Daughter rarely makes any contact and hasn't over the Years anyway, I never bother to have him Call except on her Birthday now, just to spare them both the awkwardness of the Situation. I'll talk to her and we've always gotten along, but she's not close to the Paternal Side at all and never has been, so it's Okay if it just tapers off to nothing really. She's a good Person but being close isn't important to her. I keep in touch with her Kids more and they with us more, now they're Grown and can initiate contact and want to, it's more meaningful anyway. When Brother-In-Law Bob was here he lamented that his Two Granddaughters, now one is in High School and one is in College, almost want nothing to do with him now and he used to be so close to them growing up. They used to run to him and he was everything, now he feels like an afterthought and they don't wanna spend any time around or with him. He lives only 5 Houses away on the same Street all Fall and Winter, but rarely sees them!
He teared up and I could tell it hurts him, especially now he's Lost his Wife and is Alone. I could tell how Lonesome he's becoming, Wandering like a Lost Soul visiting Relatives to have some sustained contact now. He really liked that during his Visit, our Kids and Grandkids made a big fuss of him and wanted to spend time talking with and being with him. They're like that tho', always have been delighted to spend time with their Elders. The Man brought some levity to his Big Brother lamenting that his Daughter and Two Grandchildren never wanna be around... saying, well, Bob, we can't get rid of ours, they keep coming back and wanting to move in with us, so we see them all the time whether we want to or not! *LOL* I think Bob was a little envious tho' and my Kiddos picked up on it and said Uncle Bob seemed Lonesome and so Lost and eager for companionship. The only thing Princess T got defensive about is that Bob, being the Big Older Bossier Brother, did say some snarky things about looking better than his Little Younger Brother! And that Ron was starting to look really Old and Busted! Oh Shit, she came out of the Bag in defense of her Beloved Grandpa!
After that she left the Room and Bob asked if she was Mad, I hadn't heard what he's said to The Man and her, so inquired if he'd said anything to upset her? He didn't think he had and The Man is used to the fierce Sibling Rivalry and harsh Teasing and Sarcasm they've always had. But, she thought it was mean and cruel, she said she didn't like how Uncle Bob had talked to her Grandpa and she departed so she wouldn't have Mean Words with him, which was Respectful and Wise of her. I have taught mine to Respect their Elders, even when they Disagree with them. After that she wouldn't even say Goodbye when he left so he had really pissed her off by saying something mean to her Grandpa and in front of her too, her Grandpa is Sickly and very Disabled, Uncle Bob has always enjoyed good Health and isn't Disabled, so, Yeah, enjoying Good Health and no Disability at Age 77, he does look fantastic. But if he'd had ill Health and extreme Disability, he might look Busted too, she said. She isn't Wrong.
And... he said one more thing that really irked her and she Shared... and has everything to do with his Religious Beliefs about Women. *Ruh Roh* Bob is staunch LDS, as is all the rest of The Man's Family. Princess T is now 21 and still Single and she never wants to have Children. She and her Boyfriend have been together almost 3 Years, so Bob said to her, "Why aren't you Married yet? You should be Married and having Children already!" She said she doesn't want to be Married or have Children. And he says, "Then what's the Point of you even being on this Earth then?" OMG, yeah, real Mormon Mentality, Marry Young and have as many Children as Possible as if you're simply here to be a Breeder. Mebbe it's why the LDS don't like the Gays either... not Breeders? *Bwahahahaha* She took Offense and didn't respond, she said it was a really ignorant and Sexist Misogynistic thing to say. I reminded her, well, Uncle Bob is a 77 Year Old Fundie White Man, what do you expect? *Insert hysterical Laughter then, when you don't "Take" the Offense, it falls Flat and has Zero Impact then. Winks*
And then she Laughed until Tears streamed down her Face, and said, "Oh Gramma, that's so True and so Funny... I almost Forgot! Coz Grandpa is nothing like THAT!" Which, he isn't, at all. He's not your Garden Variety Old White Man, who was Raised in an Extreme Religious Cultish Patriarchal Sexist Environment. The Man doesn't have a Misogynistic Bone in his Body and more aligns with how we are than how he grew up... I think we may have rubbed off on him... but I suspect he was always like he is. He's not Misogynistic, not Racist, not Xenophobic, not Sexist, not Homophobic, and he treats everyone the way he'd like to be treated, across the Board, with Dignity and Respect for all people. He's also kind to Animals. I did get the Pick of the Litter of the Men in his Family, for sure, even tho' his Younger Brother is a great Guy too, Wes is more like The Man too and I've always liked his Little Brother and never had clashes with Wes. Never had to.
Now, Bob, he and I have had some epic Battles over the Years. I've made him Cry before, so he's toned way done in deference to me coz he knows how I am, he's Older and Wiser now. *Smiles* If you don't want your Balls in a Vice, don't dare challenge me, coz I will rise to the occasion and have some Wicked Fun doing it too. *Winks* I remember when his Dear Wife, Carol, was still Alive, she told me she'd never seen Bob be Afraid of anyone before or Cry either... until he met me. *Bwahahahaha* His Brother had Warned him in Advance too, The Man told his Big Brother, don't ever piss her off or enter into Battle with her Bob, you will Lose eventually and send up the White Flag coz she'll go Mental and Old School Apache Geronimo on your Ass. And you'll be Fighting her all day long even when you never See her and it's exhausting!
She will be relentless to take you Down and know you've been Fought, she doesn't even Care if she Wins or Loses, she doesn't Like to Fight and won't ever Start one, but it will be like a Sport to her. So, if you initiate one, she will Finish you... so... just. don't. do. it!!!!!!!!!!! Bob didn't initially Believe that I guess, now he's a true Believer. And now we get along just Fine. *Winks and Laughs Maniacally* It was funny that Bob, after he pissed Princess T off, said that she reminded him of me when he first met me. And I told her that's why she had to Walk Away and not engage anymore if he HAD said or done something she didn't Like. And I was pretty sure he HAD and just didn't know it. *Winks* I know he didn't mean to, he says Offensive and inappropriate things sometimes out of pure ignorance actually, like a lot of Old White Men or Old White Women just do. And we've come to expect.
I remember when Andrase, who is Black and Pima Indian, told us about an Old White Couple he was installing Solar For in Sun City. They treated him so well, giving him Ice Tea and even Lunch. Charming as they could be, Sweet Old Couple, he really Liked them and he could tell they Liked him too. They didn't act Racist at all so he was sure they were not... but, what fell out of their Mouths then blindsided him, "You're one of the Good Ones." OMG... and they meant it as a fucking compliment, he said, he knew this, and pretended as if it was complimentary and not back handed, but only becoz they were so kind and sweet. But had no Words, coz they didn't even realize how Offensive and Insensitive that Statement was to a Black Man!!! Being in his 40's tho', he said, tho' you never get used to it, you come to realize it's just how it is with some folks. They're fucking Clueless about how what they say is interpreted and comes off as badly and will cause Offense if you 'Take' it as an Offense. Granted some folks are intentionally Offensive, and not "Taking" the Offense and ignoring ignorance and bias, bothers them all the more. *Winks*
Se la Vie... whaddya gonna do but try to get along in life with all kinds of People... Dawn... The Bohemian