Pickers And Purging

 

It's the 19th of Sept. in Real Time and I'm up to the 13th of October in Unpublished Posts that will hit now thru then.  *LOL*  I'm less inclined to Delete Posts I've completely forgotten about Writing and are just sitting out there Unpublished until much later, which is good.  When I was Publishing in Real Time I was often deleting half of the Posts I'd Written and so it was a lot of Wasted Time Creating them.  I enjoy Writing those that I Keep or Discard, but, loading all those Images got to be where the Issue was that bothered me if I didn't actually Publish said Post.  I couldn't then recall which Images had been Published and which had just been Trashed in a Post that never Published?  They'd still be in my Photo Archives, but the Memory Care Issues would be problematic in recalling, Shared yet, or not Shared yet?  *LOL*

I'm finally getting some Visual Blog Fodder with the Holidays fast approaching and taking loads of Seasonal Imagery to Share.  There hadn't been much going on before so I hadn't been doing anything, hadn't been really going anywhere, hadn't been Pathologically Picture Taking as usual.  Now I'm in high gear with soaking up all of the Seasonal Visuals of my Favorite Season, Autumn, and it's Holidays that are also my Favorites.  I enjoy Halloween tremendously and I like Thanksgiving too, coz I am Thankful for a lot in Life.  And reflecting upon that is important, you can't keep a Thankful Heart down.  And I don't take for Granted what we have and who we have in our lives.  I'm very Fortunate and I know this, each Day I Wake Up feeling Good about the Day ahead of me, until perhaps something happens that makes it NOT a Good Day.  But, the Possibilities are there for it to be a Good one.

I took The Man to a couple more of my fav spots on Saturday, but they didn't really do much for Halloween and I doubt they will be.  I did buy a couple of smalls for my Collection of what they were, that's it, not much I wanted to Buy.  Plus, Princess T's 21st Birthday is in a couple Days in Real Time so I want to be able to indulge her.  That's a Milestone one.  He had fun but got tired quickly coz he'd also done Friday out all day and Two days in a row was too much for him really.  It was enjoyable even if offerings and visuals were spartan.  My Friend Shelly had Killer Merch, but other than hers, most of my other Fav Vendors or Designers at those Two locations didn't have very much Inventory.  It made me wonder if they haven't had the time to stock yet, or if they're closing out and down?  I mean, it was really downsized and reduced to that point of wondering if they're staying in business or not?  I'll be Sad if they don't, but not Surprised.

Today I spent time getting things out that I am willing to Sell if and when Big Kenny comes over.  There's a lot I'm not willing to Sell, and a lot I have that I'm not willing to Sell at Picker Prices.  But, I got a huge Work Table filled to the brim with Good Quality Stuff I am willing to Sell at Wholesale Picker Prices that I know is Merch he usually likes.  I don't have Room for it at the moment at my Space at the Antique Mall and some of it is too high end for my Demographic there, but Kenny would have the Clientele for Buying it and recognizing Signed pieces by renown Artists that are Bronzes and Native American Ceremonial Pieces.  But, if he takes a Hard Pass on any or all of it, then that's fine too.  I know right now Pickers are having real trouble Sourcing things at Picker Prices so they'd have to Travel far and wide to find it anymore.  I spent a Lifetime getting what I have and I don't have any Need to Sell it for Wholesale offers on any of it if I don't want to.  It's a Favor to Industry Friends when and if I do.

I'm only letting go of what I decided on to offer up only becoz of my Grandchild's 21st Birthday, it'll all go towards her Celebration.  Otherwise, I wouldn't have even extended any Invitations right now to Industry Friends to come Buy anything.  I'm just not in the Mood to Negotiate a Wholesale Lot of things right now actually.  And, The RV Garage Mahal is not ready or easy to move thru, so it's not Opened for anyone to get into.   Coz now every Adult living here has all their Worldly Possessions Stored and crammed in there and I don't want anyone crashing or Pawing thru it all.  I know Pickers are Jonesin' to but they can't and have to accept that until we want to release more in bulk, it's just not gonna happen.  The Kiddos are more inclined to wanna Sell pieces Individually and get more for it, and I don't blame them, it's Money and more profitable to do it that way when you have Primo Merch accumulated over 50 Years.  You don't need to Sell it fast or all of it, if you're not Moving or someone hasn't Died yet.  *LOL*

I'm still enjoying a lot of what I have Attachments to even if it is Too Much.   And I Sell it as I Need the Money more than the Object's Desire I may still have for it.   If you're a Consummate Collector of The Good Stuff, you know what I mean.  You don't have to get rid of it at a Bargain Basement Price and you don't want to either, it would be foolishness to.  I've been doing this too long not to know what I've got and what it's worth.   Pickers do like a Honey Hole of someone who has a lot of what they want to Buy, but, is it For Sale?  That's the Real Question, and for most of us who've amassed a lot of it, it might not be For Sale, but, sometimes it can be Bought, you know what I mean?  But, you will have to show me enuf Cash to entice me to Sell it to you.  Even if I'd rather not Sell it, if you offer me enuf for it, I might change my Mind.  *Winks*  But, I know Pickers, and they'd prefer big Margins if they're Buying a lot.  And in Today's Market, that's not always possible anymore.  Nobody is naive about Value with the Internet at your disposal now.

And if someone tries to Lowball me I shut down immediately coz I don't think you're a Serious Buyer then.  Don't insult me with low Offers or we can't do Business.  I'll give you 1st Cousin Deals if I Like you and Respect your Hustle and what you do with it, and you've Bought a lot from me in the Past.  But now is the Present and things have changed considerably for what's still out there and Pickins are slim now for the Primo Items and you have to therefore Stand Tall to get them, IF you can even find someone willing to Sell it to you and leave Meat on the Bone for you to Make Money off it too.  Everyone Needs right now to Make Money.   So nobody is gonna Lose Money or take a Hosing just so you can make your Money off what they have.  I rather Sell to a Customer than a Picker, even if it takes a bit longer coz all I have on my Hands now is Time and I don't pay for Outside Storage like most Industry folks do, I never have.  You have to jack up your Prices if you're Paying for Monthly Storage of Inventory.

I never even wanna charge my Customers the End of the Rainbow Price or they aren't Repeat Customers.  I always give everyone a Deal and Fair Price and then we're all Happy with the exchange.  I enjoy The Thrill of the Hunt, but lately, I confess, Hunting is harder than it used to be and Prices, even at Chazzas, are higher than they used to be too.  Yard Sales now just have junk, and I don't do the Estate Sale Circuits coz most of the Industry Folks do who spend a lot for their Inventory coz they don't have a lot of it they've had for Decades coz most were never Collectors.  So, they have to continuously Buy in order to keep Selling.  I don't have to Buy another damned thing in this Lifetime in order to Resell it.  And what I'm Selling that I've already got I've had for so long I've enjoyed it for a Lifetime already and made my Money on the Buy a long, long, time ago.  Usually before anyone else placed Value on such things, and now all of a sudden, they do... so, Booyah!  *Ha ha ha*

I remember in the 70's thru 90's when folks would PAY ME to Haul away Architectural Salvage or just give it to me for Free!!!  And I've always had a Love of some things, like Antique Religious Artifacts and Art from various Religions.   So Collected it from all over Europe, Asia, the United States and Canada, ever since I was a Teenager.  So, a lot of it I've owned for over 50 Years and it was the really Good Stuff of that Genre.  I still Love it, I'm just now willing to Let Go of some of it coz I do have a lot and Buyers really dig it now and it's worth ever so much more than it was way back then.  Very few things I've Collected have Tanked in Value, so I've done Well with what I had an Eye for, it's only increased in Value over Time.  

 Sometimes it Peaked and fell in Value from it's Heyday, but, it's still worth far more than I'm into it for, so I'll still make Money if I Sell it now or in the Future.  And sometimes it's Value soars if suddenly what it is becomes Hot and Trends.   It's Served me better than Money in the Bank ever has.  Money is very volatile as an Investment Vehicle.  Inflation, the Economic Swings, and Time erodes it.  The Purchasing Power of it varies wildly.  What you could Buy for your Dollar Years ago won't Buy you as much now.  And the Stock Market and Trading has risks, often big ones if you want to really make fast Money and do it legally than the Insider Trading and Juicing of the Market the current Leadership is illegally doing to exploit The System and corrupt it in their Favor.  Even this Illegal War in Iran was to make him and his Demon Spawn Money... that's the ONLY Purpose of him starting it.  So he doesn't Care if he has no way to End it.  They've made a Killing off it already and Served themselves well.

I went to the Antique Mall and pulled some Native American pieces to show Kenny when he comes, he has Clients for it that are Serious Collectors of it.  I can always put them back into Inventory if he's not interested in anything I'm willing to Sell him at Picker Pricing so that Princess T has a nice 21st Birthday.  If he doesn't pull the trigger, no harm, no foul, I haven't extended Invitations for a long time and he had been needling me to allow him to come over and Buy some stuff for Months now so I thought, why not?   I don't Care if he Buys anything or not really, I can Sell it for more to someone who isn't in Resale, so, it's all Good either way.  This is just a Hobby to me, so I could Keep it all 'til I Die and not Care, let the Heirs Profit off the Sale of it as their Inheritance... they're Cool with that, or, we can get the Money now and have Good Times with it.  That's the Point and Purpose of doing it and it's enjoyable to us to only do it as a Sideline and Hobby.

I tidied up my Space at the Antique Mall, it was a bit messy, not too bad.  Some Shoppers are just messy and have terrible habits about how they manhandle Merchandise inconsiderately and irresponsibly that they don't Buy.  Throwing it on the Floor after looking at it, which, I don't understand, do they do such things at Home with their own stuff?  Perhaps they're nasty, messy, piggish and lazy at Home too, I dunno.  Perhaps they were never Raised Right, I dunno.  I just see a lot of tearing up at Retail Shops more than ever before, I've never behaved like that while Shopping!   What is Wrong with these People who Shop like this and wreck a Store in their wake?!  It's not just Feral Children, it's often every Age Group and Demographic responsible for the carnage.

So there's no excuse for such Bad Behavior and doing piggish shit with things you don't even own and aren't Buying.  If you wanna misuse or abuse it after Purchasing it, that's your prerogative, I don't Care AFTER you spend your Money on it, what you do with it!  Set it on Fire for all I Care if it's Yours!  But, if it's not Yours, and you have no Intention of Buying it, then you shouldn't even be handling it carelessly or recklessly, if at all.  Look with your Eyes instead of your Hands if you can't Behave appropriately with other People's stuff.

But Sellers can't Sell what you're abusing and Buyers don't want what they Buy being messed with by Feral Shoppers either, it drives Costs up for us all.  Loss Prevention is another Big Issue now, Theft is way up and it is NOT a Victimless Crime, there is no such thing as a Crime without Victims.   And you can't Trust a Thief or a Liar, if you're in either of those Camps, or both of those Camps, I don't want anything to do with you becoz you cannot be Trusted, period.   This President is both a Thief and a Liar, he's a Career Criminal, so he shouldn't be in a Position of Leadership coz he can't be Trusted.  He's not Law Abiding, nor does he have any Respect for the Rule of Law, or Shame about his extensively History of and Laundry List of extremely Serious Crimes dating back Decades.  He's gotten away with it and he'll keep doing it until he's stopped and suffers Consequences.  There is no Justice if there are no Consequences for Criminal Activity.

And an ICE Agent just shot another Civilian this time in Austin, Texas and even Faux News is beginning to slam how Deadly ICE is behaving now.  I don't think any rational American wants any Law Enforcement being Lawless and Recklessly shooting Civilians for any reasons and without proper Investigations and consequences if they broke the Law.  They aren't Above the Law just coz they have a Uniform, a Badge and a Gun.  They can't presume to be Judge, Jury and Executioner on American Streets and in our Communities.  That is neither Protecting the Public, Keeping us Safe, or Serving the Public appropriately.  It's terrorizing the Public instead and sowing Mistrust, lack of being able to Respect Law Enforcement coz it Stains the Reputation of the whole Agency if the Unfit or Poorly Trained ones are running amok and randomly Executing People, and it's causing Animosity towards all Law Enforcement Agencies. 

 I don't Trust ICE or want them in our Community, given all they're now doing, and I'm a Law Abiding Citizen.   They've already Murdered too many People with zero Accountability thus far.  They're denying Transparency to their Facilities to Community Leaders and Congress, so, what are they Hiding or Afraid to show us they're doing that we don't know about and is probably just as Illegal, Horrific, and Inhumane?!  I have Family Members of Color and I worry about them becoz they're Targeting not just Foreign Nationals, but some Americans too, even Killing them or putting them in Concentration Camps!  Even abducting Native Americans and not Honoring their Status as Indigenous People with Tribal Identification, who never Immigrated from anywhere else, they've always been here, this was and still is their Nation that Original Immigrants who landed on these Shores Stole from them!!!

I'm watching "Outrageous Pumpkins", which is another favorite Halloween Contest they have every Year pitting Pumpkin Carvers against one another.  Tonight will also be the 2nd Episode of this Year's Contest of "Halloween Wars", my all time favorite Halloween Show.  So, Today is Bliss for me coz starting at 5:00 p.m. 'til late in the Night are my Halloween Contest Shows.  Tomorrow Night is "Halloween Baking Championship" pitting Bakers against one another.  What I like best about "Halloween Wars" is they have Pumpkin Carvers, Bakers and Sugar Artists on each Team so all Three Talents of Artistry is combined and Teams compete for the Championship.   I have some favorite Artisans that have competed in several Seasons.

There's a new Show on called "A Very Haunted Renovation" on Tuesday Nights that I wanna watch.  They have to Eat, Sleep and Renovate a Historic allegedly Haunted Property as a Contest.  Sounds interesting and nothing stirs up Paranormal Activity more than Renovating a place that has Spirit.  We went thru that with Restoration Work at our Historic Haunted Home.  The House in the Show looks fantastic, I'd Love a Historic Home like that one, I'd risk the Haunting.  *LOL and Winks*  Plus, I've lived Happily for over 15 Years in a Historic Haunted Home before, it was a non-issue for me.  So long as there's no Malevolent Spirits, Elementals or Demonic Entities, I'm chill with Sharing Space with Spirit.  I think this new Show will be Fun.

"Halloween Wars" was excellent and The Niece and I watched it together, she's getting into it as much as I do, it's new to her tho', she hasn't been following it and I have from the very First Season.  I had taken The Young Prince to his Dad's this Afternoon coz his Younger Brother and Sister were gonna be there.  What I didn't know is that Bobby and his new Wife are already on the Outs and he kicked her out.  I don't know the Back Story but all Three of his Kids really liked her so they're feeling like they lost a New Mom.  Bobby's Relationships tend to Sour so it's a pattern with him not to have his Relationships work out for him, but, I also think he doesn't always choose Wisely who he might be compatible with either.  We all liked Angie, the Girlfriend he had after The Daughter and whose the Mother of his Two Younger Children.  I never met this one he actually Married, since, he never Married either of the Baby Mamas he's had.  But, all Three of his Kids really liked her, which spoke volumes to me, that she was great with his Kids.

I'm Sad for the Kids, coz, they'd formed a Positive Relationship with her and now... she's gone.  I'm not even gonna ask about what happened, it was hard for The Young Prince to even tell me how Sad it was that she was recently ex-communicado.  I don't think they knew, but I had already seen signs this might happen, so, no Surprise at all.  Better she leave early than later like Angie did, she and their Dad were together for many Years before breaking up.  The Daughter and Bobby were Childhood Sweethearts and knew each other since they were Tweens, but by their Teens and having their 1st Child, The Young Prince, way too Young and having Addictions and Mental Health Issues, it was doomed from the start to fail as a long-term Serious Relationship.  They actually are on Civil Terms with each other now with no animosities at all.  And his Younger Kiddos do Like The Daughter, she's like a Big impaired Kid herself and for littler Kids, that goes over well and unconditionally accepted.  *Smiles*

He got an Uber to get Home Tonight and did have a good time with his Siblings.  He and his Dad have had some tensions recently, on account of Sayde, and it's quite possible that might have interfered with his Marriage as well, I dunno... speculation on my part.  If he was being inappropriate with his Son's Girlfriend, it probably caused problems with his Son AND his Wife I highly suspect.  Bobby is a Player, and once a Player, always a Player.  And for our Grandson, he and Sayde have been Besties for Years before they ever hooked up.  Now that he's back with Allen, and the Relationship with a Woman didn't work out and he decided their Friendship was more Special and Functional, he and Sayde still go out as Just Friends now.  She always had a major Crush on him, I guess she imagined that perhaps they could be a Couple.  Allen's flings with a Woman didn't work out either apparently... so... enough of that experimentation with both he and The Young Prince trying Straight Life.  *Shrugs*

When I dropped The Young Prince off at his Dad's, it's right across the Street from the Oddities Shop "Curious Nature" so I stopped in and got some Pixs.  I picked up an inexpensive Bone Goddess Pendant and an inexpensive Rabbit's Foot Keychain that is mostly White with a hint of Light Brown.  Some of the Pixs didn't turn out great even tho' I used my Phone's Camera to take them all... well... dammit!  I'll see if I can clean them up enuf to use them?    I finished a Quick Purge of Merch to have Big Kenny consider, if he doesn't show up or want any of it then I'll Price it to put into the Showroom instead and get full price for it.  If Pickers get too fussy about what I'm offering then they know it's unlikely I'll waste my Time or theirs inviting them back even once I wade deeper and let go of more.  If you're expecting Picker Prices you can't be too fussy coz the Primo Stuff you have to Stand Tall on or people just won't Sell it to you anymore, they'll Sell it to a Serious Buyer willing to pay what they Ask.

I understand a good Picker wants your Best stuff, but, nobody has to Sell their Best stuff at a Bargain Price Point.   And I won't, ever.  I know what I have, what it's worth, and I been doing this a long time too.  *Smiles*  And lately, I'm more reluctant to Sell a bunch of stuff at once and take less for it just coz someone wants a lot of it.   If I choose and select even a Vanload you're getting a Favor and only becoz I know you really well to give you that much for what you can at the very least double your Money on.  Coz, I could double my Money on it too if I Sell it to Customers instead.  I just want my Downsizing to go a little faster than One Piece at a time to a bunch of different People coz that takes Time and Retail Space.  So, the Math has to Work for me every time I'm Selling anything.  If the Math Works for me, then I can make it Work for you too if you have the ready Cash and I'd rather have that right now than the stuff.  *Winks*

*******

Pickers & Purging, Oh My... Dawn... The Bohemian

Life Is So Complicated

 I am so into the Autumnal Vibe and Holiday Spirit now that I've attended my 1st Halloween Themed Event!  In Real Time it's the 10th of September and this should Publish around October 4th, which, by then the rest of you might have caught up with me and are then in the Autumnal Vibe and Holiday Spirit too?  *Winks and Laughs*  I start Early when it comes to the Fall/Winter Holidays and keep it all up Late.  In fact, in recent Years I haven't even bothered to take some of it down and put it away in Storage coz I just enjoy it being out.  When you have less Favorite anticipated Holidays in Front of you than Behind you, why not extend them and just revel in them much longer if it brings you Joy?  We NEED more Joy right now with the State of the World and our Country!

While at the Event I talked to a Young Couple standing in the Checkout Line behind me, he had a Shark's Jaw, a nice one, his only item.  He was waffling on spending the $50 on it even tho' his Wife/Girlfriend was saying, just get it Honey.  I encouraged him too by saying, you do know that's a good price for one that large, they're usually around $150?  He did know that, but being Young, and likely on a shoestring Budget, he felt it was overly indulgent and so had been hesitant to spend that much on himself.  He said he usually only attends for her, but didn't realize he'd see so much he'd dig too.  *LOL*  They were a Trendy White Couple, nice looking, lots of Tattoos and he had Gauges in his Ears.  They had a 10 Year Old Rescue Small Dog.

They'd only had her a Year, a Vet Friend had called them that they take their other Dogs to and said her Owner had been put into a Nursing Home.  The Woman's Son is a traveling Businessman and gave the Vet all the Money it would require to either put her Down or find her a nice Home to live out whatever Life she has left, he couldn't Keep her, but his Mother fretted over the Animal still, so he'd rather she go to a good Home so his Mom could have a Peace about their separation.  The Dog was Old and their Vet said he'd pull all her rotting Teeth for Free and make sure she was up on her Shots, if they'd take her so he wouldn't have to put her Down. 

 So, of coarse they did and said she's the Best Dog ever.  She sprung back to a Youthful Spirit once her Bad Teeth were all removed too, her little Tongue now hangs out adorably now she's Gummy.  She looked like a mixed Wire Hair Terrier, with Crazy Hair.  She gets Separation Anxiety now if the new Male Owner is out of her Sight, she's REALLY Clearly Bonded with him, but has Separation Anxiety Issues.  I'm sure she doesn't understand what happened to her long time Senior Owner... and doesn't Trust she won't lose another Human!   I'm not even a Dog Person but she just Won your Heart and was so well behaved and so Joyful to be out with her Humans doing something Special.  Her Joy was so evident, she was Glowing with Happy Energy!  Everyone around was falling in Love with her.

You meet some of the Nicest People standing in long Checkout Lines, so I never mind the Waiting.  This Couple were Darling, he has Cabinets of Curiosities so we had that in Common, Channeling our Inner Addams Family.  *Smiles*  He said it was great to meet someone else who appreciates that Aesthetic, most don't.  This is True, but I told him most will still be intrigued, curious and fascinated by his Collections, so he should still Share them, we do, and it never fails to spark Conversation with any Generation viewing and beholding it.   I get so many Compliments on my Home from everyone whose ever entered it even if it's not their Aesthetic or Vibe.  It's Different than anything they've ever seen and that Interests/Fascinates People regardless of what their own Personal Aesthetic may be.  It is a surefire Conversation Starter.  *LOL* 

 I told him about "Curious Nature", he'd never been, it would be a Store he'd Love.  He used to have a Bearded Dragon, so I told him about Alduin, my Grandson's Beardie who I looked after for a Year when he first moved to Washington State.  And also about his Chameleon, Ivara.  We had stimulating conversation, which was nice, I don't Socialize much anymore.  When our turn came up at the Checkout he said how Nice it had been Talking with me.  I enjoyed our visit too.   Made standing in a long Line go by fast actually and be pleasant, the Time flies by when you're interacting with people while Waiting.  And they usually comment on that fact, whereas just standing there being Anti-Social and ignoring one another is Boring and Tedious, people get upset and restless coz it's taking so long.  Some may even abandon their Purchase if they get too Irritated, so, Why ruin a great end to attending a Fun Event by leaving in a Mood?

   

  I already heard some of the Fancy Ladies grumbling and complaining there weren't enuf Cashiers.  There were, but, there were also a LOT of Customers Buying a lot of things.  But some of the Pretentious sorts want everything to be all about them all of the time and can't stand to be inconvenienced or not have folks fawning over them all of the time, feeling Entitled to preferential Treatment with VIP Status, and it shows.  That kind of Privilege is displayed where ever they are and go, and it's quite Unlovely, I never talk to anyone acting Pretentious and Uppity, we'd have nothing in common to talk about.  Now, you can have Wealth and abundant Success and I know loads of Wonderful Folks who do, who are Dear Friends.   So it's not about the Money, it's about the Attitude of those who have Privilege or Affluence, and have it make them Unlovely Humans to have to endure or barely tolerate.  Coz I am NOT tolerant of Pretentious Fucks at all.  I can more tolerantly Deal with someone being Ghetto and really Hood, than Uppity and Condescending.  *LOL*

I so enjoy Covering these Events on my FB Page and here on the Blog to Stimulate Trade for these Industry Friends and places I Value and Shop at.  So many are Closing and Quitting, due to the shitty Economic Situation, that I want to ensure some ride it out and prosper.  I Support Indie Businesses, Small Business, Artisans, Family Owned Business, Restaurants, which do run on narrow Margins to stay Open, even the bigger ones.  It's important to give them our Support in as many ways as we can.  This Antique Mall does more Seasonally than ours does.  They just have Vendors who get into the Spirit of every Holiday and Season, plus, their Management Stimulates Seasonal and Holiday Trade and has Events.  They also have a wonderful Restaurant there so you don't have to leave to eat.  Ours used to, they don't now, and so folks leave once they get hungry and then they rarely, if ever, come back after the Meal.

I'd say a good 60% of the Vendors in the Antique Mall had Halloween and Autumnal Merch out.  Which really melded well with having the Halloween Event out back in the "Highland Yard Vintage" section, which is a Warehouse also Owned by the Mall.   It was Closed for Summer due to the Heat coz it's a vast Warehouse Building difficult to Cool sufficiently.  It was still a bit too Hot even tho' usually September Temps start Cooling enuf to resume Opening it.  But, it was 107 Today at least, and that was very early on, around 10:00 a.m., so they had to have portable AC's brought in and it was still pretty Warm in there.  Folks didn't complain too much about that, it's Arizona, if you can't take the Heat, this ain't the place for you anyway.  *LOL* 

 I can't take the Cold, so would never consider spending a lot of time in a Cold Climate, I know how I am and what I can tolerate or not tolerate too well.  I like seeing Snow on Calendars and Christmas Cards... I don't have to Shovel Sunshine.  And that suits me fine along with having usually 10 Glorious Months of the Year of Great Weather.  I LOVED the Fabric on the Above and Below Fabric Pumpkins, but they were Styrofoam underneath and priced rather high I thought for inexpensive insides, so I Passed and just took Photos.  Had they been like most Fabric Pumpkins in construction and interior quality of what they are made of, I'd of felt it more worth it.  A pity coz I J'Adored that Denim Fabric with the distressing and they only had the Two like that.  The Fat Round Shorter one only a Dollar less than the Leaner Oblong Tall one.

When I go back on Sunday, if they're both still there, perhaps I'll reconsider and not waffle on the cost?  *LOL and Winks*  I have a figure in my Head of what I've usually been willing to pay for Fabric Pumpkins and these were higher than that Baseline I set for my Purchase of any more.   But, I noticed even in Chazzas, the Fabric Pumpkins have been Priced higher this Year, by a lot.  *Shrugs???*  I'm being super Budget conscious since all Essentials have escalated in Price, so Lord knows I won't overpay for what isn't an Essential now, I'll do without it.  And that is precisely why Businesses and Restaurants are really Struggling now.   When folks are Economically having a difficult time even affording Essentials, they sure as shit aren't spending on Non-Essentials.  And Inflation is ridiculous right now and we all know whose caused this Economic Crisis and Fuckery.  He may have Pretended to make everything more Affordable but he's never Delivered once Elected on the Promises he made to those who Believe his Lies.

He's said the Stupidest and Tone Deaf things ever like he "Loves The Inflation", like he doesn't REALLY know what the Word even Means and who even says that, really, or that it's a Hoax, when everyone knows they're experiencing it?  And that he never "Thinks about America's Financial Situation"!!!  Yikes, that's probably not a Lie, that's a Freudian Slip where he was actually for once telling the God's Honest Truth about himself!!!  And he says that High Costs and Inflation are a "Hoax" and Political "Con Job" pushed by Democrats!!!  What spills out of his Mouth, you can't make this shit up that falls out of that Fool's Mouth and the only "Con Job" going on is his.  People's Reality is what it is, only the most ignorant gullible Fools are experiencing Reality and Believing his fucking Fantasy at this point.  So, they're probably even less tethered to Reality than he is now!  Coz he's not experiencing any Hardship, he's Grifted and Stolen so much during both Presidencies, along with his Family and Cronies, that it Eclipses all the other Grifts and Thefts he's ever done and made him Richer than he's ever been in his Life!!!  The Long Con has Paid Dividends to him.

Anyway, I don't think or dwell upon the Political Shitshow and Fuckening too much or it messes with your Mental Health.  I want to not have my Joy or my Peace Stolen by a bunch of Fascists, Career Criminals and Pedophiles currently in Elected Positions all the way to the Top of our Food Chain in America.   Mebbe 30% of America is Okay with that kind of Leadership and can shamelessly Support it, but I never will be and I feel like that's being on the Right Side of History when it all plays out as it surely will.  May the consequences of being on the Wrong Side of History just have it's Karma catch up with every single one of them.   They will deserve however Karma chooses to Deal with all of them.   I will not have Pity for a single one of them, they had Free Will Choice on which Side to Stand on, and Freely chose Evil and Corrupt to Partner with and Support whoeheartedly.

The Son made a nice Spaghetti Sauce for Dinner in the Crockpot but fell Asleep before making the Pasta, coz he went to Work at 5:00 a.m. and it's 6:00 p.m. now.  So, his Sister is doing that so we can all Eat, and we'll let him Sleep and keep it Warmed up for him later when he Wakes.  His Mental Health lately has been very unraveled and not in a Good Head Space at all.  It's why he often overdoes it on the Drinking but it doesn't drown out his Demons, it kinda just Amplifies them and he's having Arguments with himself when Alone in his Room.  So I knew he'd been Unraveling a lot and we've talked about it.  He's trying to cut back on the Alcohol consumed and not Self-Medicate so much to try to Cope with his Mental Illness and how his Life has just played out, not to his satisfaction. 

 At 40 he's not where he felt he should be in Life after all his Hard Work, he's Worked Hard since he was 14 Years Old.  He's never Married, never had Bio Children of his own, thought his Careers would play out better, thought he'd Own a Home by now.  Have his Life together and not be Living in his Parent's Guest Bedroom with a Part Time Minimum Wage Job and no Vehicle!  Many Middle Aged Americans Feel commisseration of this plight actually, I speak to many of them.   The Niece whose coming from Texas to Live with us soon is feeling the same way in her Mid-40's.   She's a Tech Genius, Computer Programmer, used to doing well in her Career, now things have fallen apart in her Industry and many are finding AI replacing them.  Yang calls it The Great Replacement and Displacement, The Fuckening. 

 The Economy and all we've been going thru on Issues of Life Personally and Collectively, which just has been a lot, an onslaught of A FUCKING LOT, just take a Heavy Toll and he doesn't Cope as well as some of us with it.  I think being a Middle Aged Male he Feels like he should Head Up the Household now and knows he cannot.  He doesn't like that at my Advanced Age, I have to Keep it all Together and Hold it Down instead.  He Worries a lot about me, more than the others.  It Scares him even when I Shake or take a Fall... or don't feel 100%.  And what happened to Mando really hit him harder than he thought it would.  Guy with Stage 4 Cancer still Working like Hell at Charitable Jobs to Survive, knowing he's Dying, and just Riding his Bike while doing a Job and getting Murdered by some reckless, irresponsible Driver in a single Bad Decision that ruins the Lives of Two Families. 

 Struggling with Sobriety and having Driving Restrictions due to his Drinking, he's Glad he can't Drive.  He doesn't even want to until he's able to give up Alcohol and get Sober and KEEP Sober.  He got Clean from Drugs, but knows he's still a Substance Abuser and that causes Collateral Damage in Life, it just does.    So, he has to rely on me to Drive him anywhere, or Walk now, even to Work, and there's Shame in that for him.  He knows it's his Fault he's in that predicament.  Some stuff wasn't within his Control that happened, like what has happened in The Trades... 

But some of it he Owns his part in that has cocked Life up for him... and in some ways for us, when he can't Live Independently and relies heavily upon us again, as a Grown Man, it's Humbling and Humiliating for him so he beats himself up over it all of the time and gets inside his own Head too much, gets too Angry, Self-Destructs and Self Harms due to Self-Loathing.  It's not Healthy.  But if he sees Mental Health Professionals, they wanna put him on too much Medication... last time they had him on NINE... and it wasn't that Helpful with his Illnesses, but it interfered with Work, it was just overmedicating and ridiculous.  Life is so complicated...

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Happy Autumn from the Arizona Desert... may your Autumnal Vibes be Strong my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian

Tales From The Hood

 In Real Time it's a Sunday Afternoon and Irrigation is coming Tonight between 10:30 p.m. and Midnight, so, we'll be wading around doing it in the Dark.  Rob did us a favor, since our Weed Whacker went on the fritz and Maintained our Irrigation Ditch, cutting down any growth with his Weed Whacker, which, we appreciated.  It's his Cousin's Machine so he's not allowed to let anyone Borrow it so The Son had no way to do it and Manuel, our New Neighbor behind us who Shares that portion of Irrigation Ditch, hadn't done it either, but it had to get done before the Water comes.  Manuel's Family have either a small Pony or Donkey and it makes the funniest Noises.  I doubt it's a Horse, it sounds Smaller.

 The previous Owner had a Goat named Alfred who could yell Help like he was a Developmentally Disabled Human Male!  It was hilarious and would freak Guests out who didn't know it was just a Goat and not a Handicapped Person in Crisis.  *LOL*  We'd just yell out to Knock it Off Alfred, and then he would oblige.  Silly Old Billy Goat!  They can be Characters and their Vocal Range can be impressive. *Smiles*  Anyway, Alfred is now on an Inherited Mini Farm that is bigger and in Glendale that belonged to Laura's Elderly Parents who finally Passed in their Nineties, Laura herself was in her Mid-70's, her Boyfriend was in his 60's and did most of the Farm Work coz they had Livestock and grew things to eat.  Laura was an Old Hippie too and Gardened in the Nude.  But she had high Wooden Fencing around her Property so we only knew this when the Wind might blow a Gate Open.  *LOL*

I have to Work Tomorrow Night, I forgot that along with every Wednesday in September that I agreed to cover a Shift for my Friend Crazy Ed while he recovers from Neck Surgery, I agree to Work Labor Day Night too.  I think they're having a Weekend Holiday Sale so hopeful it stimulates Trade?  We'll see if it does and what kind of Sale they came up with?  Sometimes they just do something Silly like Double Points on Purchases, which, never stimulates Trade, folks don't Care about their Frequent Shopper Points so much until they're built up enuf already to Credit against the Purchase considerably.  Most don't even know they get Points if their Phone Number is on File and they give it with every Purchase to built up Points to use when it's Traded for Cash Value.  I just looked the Sale up and it's the Last Bash of Summer 3 Days and 15% Off everything purchases, so, that's mebbe gonna boost Sales.

Mando's Go-Fund-Me for his Funeral has generated 81% already, we Donated, so they only have a few Hundred to go to ensure the Family doesn't suffer the Hardship of paying for his Final Expenses, which is great that the Community responded immediately in such a generous way.   It was only put up this Morning in Real Time, by Tonight it will have covered the Costs.  That's what I Love about the Community we Live in and around, most people are Poor to Lower Middle Class or Retired on Average, nobody is particularly affluent, but they pull together and give what they have during Crisis.  And they help their Neighbors out in Life too.  One thing Mando always did was Help folks out, most of the Handyman Work he did if someone couldn't afford it or pay him, he'd do it for them anyway if the Need existed.  He'd never let me pay for anything he did on our Property either.  And he did a lot of Handyman Projects that you couldn't get Hired Help to bother with if it was a smaller job not profitable enough.

 

Above is some of our Fun Loving Customers and our Mall/Store Drone Shot early in the Morning facing South towards the Estrella Mountain Range in the Background.   To the East of our Mall is a LOWE'S Home Improvement Store.   And to the West, not attached to our Building tho', is a JC PENNEY'S.  Lots of other Shops and Restaurants to the North, East and West of our Mall in the same Parking Lot too. And a large Hospital just West of it, which is the one Princess T was Born at and The Man had his recent Heart Surgery at and I Recovered from my Stroke at.  Still some Raw Desert Lots undeveloped behind our Mall to the South.  Sometimes hard to Believe I've been there since they first Opened and had the very 1st Sale to another Vendor Friend before our Point Of Sale was even up and running!  Sold her a 1950-1960's Era Yellow Retro Kitchen Chair Stool with Stepladder built into it.

You see a lot of Red and other Colors of them, and now they make Repops of them, the Yellow is harder to find.  It looked like those seen Above that are Reproductions, mine was The Real Deal and my Vendor/Blog Friend Pamela knew this.  She's been following my Blog for Years before we ever met in Person when we both became Vendors when our Mall first Opened.  It wasn't even Opened yet and she had Rented a Showroom and I'd Rented a Booth nearby and was bringing in my Merch when I heard her call out my Blog Name!  *LOL*  She liked the Stool and asked if she could Buy it before we had the Grand Opening and I agreed.  Nice to meet a Blog Friend in Person too and it's as if we'd always known one another.   I'd had it since the early 1970's when I first had a Buttercup Yellow Kitchen and was in my Sunflowers Phase of Kitchen Decorating.  Pamela would have still been a Child back then, *LOL*but Loved Retro Styling with Bright Cheerful or Pastel Color Palettes.  We could always go Junquing Together coz our Aesthetics couldn't be more Opposite.  *Smiles*

A Storm is definitely brewing and building, I'm hoping it doesn't Scare Tyson too much coz he can't come inside, he'd be like a Big Bull in a China Shop Clumsy.  His Tail whipping around is enough to smash anything it hits to smithereens, it's like a Weapon and he gets too excited!   At their Home he's an Inside/Outside kind of Dog and spends more time Indoors, but Allen is a Minimalist and lives like most Young Men in their 20's, so it's more conducive to having a Big Dog.  I don't even want the Granddaughter's Inside Only Cat roaming the whole House.  Eli has to be closely Supervised when he's outside of her Room and he's such a scaredy Cat he doesn't like being outside of her Room anyway and only cautiously ventures out like he's being Hunted and could Die at any Moment.  *LOL*

For those of you who don't like Halloween, or don't like it making an Early Appearance, well, you're gonna either Love or Hate that I'm gonna roll some Christmas Retail Eye Candy Vignettes out too.  *LMAOROTF*  See, I don't mind the Holidays coming early and leaving late in the Retail Sector.  I find them to be nice Positive Escapism Visually and just the Atmosphere it brings that the Holidays themselves just impart that I enjoy so much.   And some of these Images aren't current and some are, but they're all Visually pleasing to me so I'm using them for current Blog Fodder Imagery since I'm not out there taking a lot of Pathological Picture Taking right now.  In fact, I'm not doing a lot of anything and I'm Strangely Okay with that.  I've been more of a Homebody than usual lately and it's suiting me just fine.

And becoz Vendor Friends of "Rusty Saturday" have the Cutest Vintage Tonka Type Cars and Trucks tricked out and Pimped for Christmas, it's always a Joy to Share some of what they do during the Holidays.  Sadly they have Downsized their Retail Spaces even more, they used to have their own Event and Brick & Mortar Store that I just LOVED and Shopped at often.  Other Vendor Friends Rented Space from them and set up their Pimped Pulls for Trunk Shows in front of the Business too.  Back then everyone had Pimped a Vintage Trailer or Airstream, which, you don't see so much anymore either.  I always wanted one to do that to also, but we needed something for Family to LIVE in on our Property so I had to Invest in the more Practical and larger expensive 5th Wheel instead.  Which cost me more than my Historic Home had!!!  Making me Wish, dammit, I should have just kept the Historic Home with it's 3 Back Cottages and Outbuildings to House Family in had I known it would come to all this.  Coz it was fucking Paid For and I LOVED it!!!  *LOL and Le Sigh*

Well, Hell, we can't know what the Future holds for us Years down the Road, so it was the Right thing to do at the time being it had been Vacant a Year and was constantly getting Broken Into and Vandalized.  The problem in Older Neighborhoods is that Vacant Buildings and Properties attract the Criminal Element and Police weren't taking it Seriously at all.  After Eleven Break-Ins and Vandalism in just a Year, I just had to put it up For Sale coz at the time I had no Family or Friends who needed a place to Live Locally and I didn't wanna Rent it to Randoms and become a Landlord either.  That's more Drama and a Headache that I didn't need at the time, whilst Working Full Time, trying to Adopt my Grandkids, and taking Care of a Husband who was recovering from his Catastrophic Accident and Traumatic Brain Injury.  It was already just a lot... and I decided to Cash Out on my Equity and have just the ridiculous Sized Villa McManse I'd just bought to move to,  in order to get the G-Kid Force Adopted, which was a lot of House and upkeep without Staff.  But a Wiser Investment at the time too.

When you can get a Million Dollar Listing for $370,000 on a VA Loan, with no Down Payment.  Cash Out on your Paid Off Primary Residence you are Vacating and The Adoption Board wouldn't Approve anyway coz it was Old and had Lead Paint... it made sense to strike while the Iron was Hot and the Luxury Real Estate Market was in the Shitter and Interest Rates were low.  The Villa McManse blew me away when I saw the Listing and Low Price, even tho' it had an HOA, which I knew from way back in my Corporate Executive Banking Days was The Devil, and it was Rural, I didn't intend to Keep it long.  Once the Adoption Finalized a few Years later I couldn't wait to flip it and Cash Out on that Equity and get our next Forever Home.  Which the Historic Home was Supposed to be and alas, could not be due to being Forced to Adopt due to Kinship Placement Laws and Reunification Laws of Wards Of The State changing drastically.   I had no Choice of The G-Kid Force would have involuntarily been put up for Adoption at Age 10 and 14!!!  Which is ridiculous and would have happened over my Dead Body!

  What do you think would happen to a pretty 10 Year Old Special Needs Girl and 14 Year Old Special Needs Gay Boy in a Foster or Adoption Situation... probably nothing good.  So that was never going to happen and I fought The System for Years... from the time she was 7 and he was 11 until I prevailed when they were 10 and 14 and the Adoption Finalized.  *Whew*  By then I no longer needed to impress the Adoption Board with a ridiculous Luxury Home, which was it's sole Purpose... and it was Time to now Sell and unload it.   And of coarse by then this Mini Farm was what was meant to be and checked off every Box on my extensive Wish List for a Forever Home, plus Interest Rates had dumped to 2% just before the Pandemic hit full force, so, Blood in the Streets again... perfect Buyer's Market for a High End Property that maxed out what VA Funding would lend on at the time on their Jumbo Loans for Veterans.  *Smiles and Winks*  

The Young Prince had already Moved Out before we Sold the McManse and moved to Washington State to join a Hippie Commune at Age 18.  Whaddya gonna do once they're Grown... they go off and Live Life.  Equity has in fact doubled since then on this Property in just a little more than 5 Years, so I can't Complain.  And, Luckily it is large enuf to be a Family Compound even tho' we NEVER expected everyone to move back Home again!!!  Life happens, shit happens... you Roll with it.  Allen is gonna help The Daughter and Princess T with Irrigation when it's done and the Gates need to be dropped.  The Son opened them coz the Ditch is filling up early and it's still 3 Hours before we're Scheduled, so, that's Odd and I think it means someone fucked up again Upstream on their Rotation and last time they did, they Flooded Downstream coz they hadn't taken on their Water Assigned.  Lotsa Newbies moving in as Properties go up For Sale.

 We can take on extra Water with our Property, but some Neighbors can't.  They don't have as much Pasture area coz some have larger Homes on their Lots and more Outbuildings like an RV Garage and a Bunkhouse or Casita Structure built on the Property too, or larger Pool and Recreational Area that doesn't need Irrigation Water.  Anyway, we're now prepared to take on the Water and turn on our Pump too once the Ditch is fully full.  Our Pump only serves the very Front Yard and East Side Yard, the rest of our Irrigated Property is just from our Four Gates to the Ditch being Open and Gravity Fed onto it.  The Gates are a Bitch to Open and Drop coz they're on the Ditch Side.  I'd like to change that eventually to them switched to the Interior Side to Lift and Drop coz then I don't have to Stand on a Fucking Plank to do it or go down into the Ditch to do it easier.  Couldn't go into the Ditch this time coz it had Water in it way too early already and that Mud gets like Quicksand once the Ditch fills up and the Water gets High quickly coz our Ditch is Deep and Wide.  

Some Properties only have narrow and shallow Ditches in Front of their Homes or up the Side if they're a Corner Property and get their Feed that way and those aren't Shared Irrigation Ditches so don't have to hold as much Water.  Those of us with Ditch Irrigation at the back of our Properties have larger Ditches coz they are Shared with whatever other Neighbor lives directly behind you.  You Share in Maintaining the Ditch and Hope your Neighbor does their Fair Share.  We've had good Neighbors so far Living behind us so it hasn't been problematic.  Tho', when they 1st Buy they may never have had experience with Irrigation so it takes a Minute for them to get into the hang of it and do it Right.  Neighbors who are more Seasoned do try to help out the Newbies tho'.  Anyway, The Son is too Tired and drank too much so his Sister and her Friend Steven are trying to get him in and put him to Bed.  He got the Gates Lifted and then fucking was laying like a Starfish in the Pasture, where, the Water will get Deep within the Hour!!!  He's gotta be up early to be in Work by 5:00 a.m..

He's not doing really well at cutting himself off at a normal amount of Alcohol, some days he does and other Days that are Stressful, he overdoes it.  Alcoholism is a terrible Addiction and a hard one to overcome and stay Sober from.  He did better giving up Dangerous Drugs and/or Cigarettes, without relapsing on the Drugs, has been Clean now for Years.  But that damned Fire Water is The Devil for both he and his Sister.  Tho' she never overdoes hers hardly ever, she's good at Moderating her consumption even tho' she does drink a lot and too early, she Nurses it thruout the Day and it takes the Edge off her Mental Illness so she's less Mental when she's had something to Drink.  So, choosing your Lesser Demon seems to work better for her than for her Brother.

And lately his Drinking has caused him problems, not at Work coz he never drinks before Work or under the influence, but, especially if he's at Friends Homes who Drink, and it's a bunch of Guys, things always get Crazy when everyone is under the influence.   I guess at Gypsy James gathering last Night some Guest brought a Younger Guy with him who was 25 and started a Fight.  Oy Vey, Gypsy James is Gypsy and Irish, so Fighting and Drinking is in his Blood, but he and The Son are now 40, so they prefer not to have to Deal with Young Guns who think they're Bad Asses and start something coz they had too much to Drink.  Well, it happened, didn't it?   And I'd said before he got together with The Guys, this isn't gonna End like a Crazy Weekend Bender that goes Sideways once everyone is Drinking is it?  No, Mom... Yeah, Right... 

 And so, The Son went to break up the Fight, even tho' he himself probably had too much to drink, and the Younger Guy hit him in the Eye he already had a Black Eye in from that Concert too close to the Mosh Pit Accident, and now damn near Closed it!!!   Fuuuuck, now, from what I was told, it was ON!!!  Oh, No!!!  I knew how that would End... not Well for the other Guy!  Unless he can go 20 Rounds or so, and Last Two Hours Fighting nonstop, is equally Mental, or flat can knock a Person Out Cold?  Which, I kinda doubted.  Sounded like some Random Immature Asshole trying to act Tough and Prove himself in front of a New Audience?   Were there Women there I Wondered?  But I didn't even ask... things can get Testosterone Heavy even if there aren't Females to try to Impress with whose got the Biggest Pair or is the Biggest Dick... *Mature Woman Huge Eye Roll*

Coz tho' The Son has never started a Fight in his Life, he will End one and you will get fucked up no matter how Young you are or Tough you think you are coz he simply will not Stop.  He can Fight for well over an Hour and a Half and most Guys can't Fight that long, even if they can Fight good.   And so when I had to pick him up Today I knew something was Up and he said not to get Mad when I saw his Eye, but someone Younger picked a Fight thinking they could kick Old Man Ass, and, he had to put that Guy Down.  Well, at least nobody called the Cops and from what I heard, the other Guy ended up looking way worse and should probably never underestimate his opponent when he picks a Fight with someone he don't know, regardless of their Age.  The Son used to do some MMA Fighting when he was in his 20's and he can take a hit and has a very high threshold for Pain, and has the Stamina of a Bull Ox.

  So, it didn't go well for the Young Troublemaker.  And I'm like, you're getting too Old for this shit Son... now you gotta go in to Work looking like this, WTF are you Thinking?!  You're being Groomed for an Upper Management Position, so don't act so Fucking Ghetto and Hood and Fuck that Opportunity up by looking like a Brawler!   And when he's hanging with his Old Boys From Da Hood, this kind of shit sometimes happens coz they are a Rough bunch and Age didn't make them any less Rough either.  And all of them are in the Trades where you can show up to the Job Sight looking like you had a Wild Weekend.  Some of the Crews he's worked with in the Trades are Hard Cases, many are Ex Felons, and the rest are Corn Fed Dudes who look like they could Fight a Bear and Win.  I don't know what the Young Guy does for a Living, but he bit off more than he could chew or swallow.

 So, pretty sure The Son drank too much Tonight coz he probably hurt like Hell and more Today from having been in a Fight with a 25 Year Old in their Prime.  *Eye Roll and Le Sigh, serves him right...*  Coz this wasn't a Boxing Gloves Fight, this was a straight up Street Fight with Bare Fists.  Think "Fight Club", and I'm sure it was Dinner and a Show for whoever was there coz anyone that knows Gypsy James or The Son, knows that if someone Starts something, they will not hesitate to Finish it.  And that it's gonna be one Helluva Fight too.  I wouldn't be Surprised if someone Video Recorded it and has put it on TikTok now.   That Young Guy will never be Welcome as a Plus One again I'm sure.  So, that was the Drama Of The Moment.  He's still in his Head about the Incident Tonight and is having trouble letting it go that some Random made Trouble on an Evening everyone just wanted to get together and have a good time.  Well, it happens.  You have to just realize the World is filled with Assholes and those looking for Trouble to Start.  You can't engage with them all, it's just not worth it.  *Christ on a Bike!*

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Just another Weekend of Tales From The Hood... Dawn... The Bohemian