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 in Real Time and I'm up to the 13th of October in Unpublished Posts that will hit now thru then.  *LOL*  I'm less inclined to Delete Posts I've completely forgotten about Writing and are just sitting out there Unpublished until much later, which is good.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

Peter Max & Bob Mackie... Losing Creative Genius Icons

 Well, on September 14th we Lost a couple of Creative Geniuses of our Time, both Peter Max {Age 88} and Bob Mackie {Age 87}.  I can't forget Peter's Iconic Posters from my Youth nor Bob's Creations for Cher that blew me away how Stylishly different he was at bold Sexy Fashion Design.  Losing Creative Icons who, Yes, have had long runs and become Legends in their own Time, but, gave us so much Creative Iconic Talent and Genius Creations that are so Memorable, so Unforgettable... so, it's a profound Loss all the same.  Well at least we still have Cher {80}.  And now back to our regular scheduled Postings about Local Events with this Season's Holiday Theme and Halloween Visuals. 

 

Princess T is taking some Vacation Days around her Birthday, which will be on the 22nd of September in Real Time.  So, Tomorrow, the 18th, she doesn't have to Work.  She couldn't get her actual Birthday Off, so decided to take Friday and Saturday before it Off, since, she never works on Sunday and Mondays.  That way she has Four Days Off and only has to take and use up Two Vacation Days.  It's her 21st Birthday so it's a Milestone one and a Big Deal, she'll be a full fledged Adult with all Adult Rights now.  I'm sure she and Rusty have things planned, his Birthday isn't far off either and neither is the 3 Year Anniversary of them being a Couple, so they usually combine it all.   They Buy extravagant Gifts for each other, he's a very Generous Soul and so is she.   

Since she has the Day Off I could Sleep In, but I don't know if The Son needs a Ride to Work and I may wanna go back to "Sweet Salvage" Halloween Event since I wouldn't have to Rush Home to pick anyone up for Work now.  That means I could have a more indulgent "Me Day" and so I might just take it.  The Man has been doing alright being here with just whatever Kiddos are here to keep an Eye on him.  He really isn't as mobile yet to drag around to Events and such and I don't know that he even wants to try or be interested in it anyway.  He knows it spoils it for me if I have to be in Full On Caregiver Mode to go do something I enjoy if he's in tow and I have to consider all of his limitations or that he's no longer enjoying himself at all and wants/needs to be taken Home.  It's just better he stay Home if he's not really up to any of it.  Yes, I'd like to be able to take him places, but sometimes it's no longer practical to... or even enjoyable for either of us if he can't be up to it.

 

I wanted to Read some of my Andrew Yang Book Tonight but my Eyes are acting up, with Diabetes it sometimes happens and especially when I'm Tired, which, I am.  I can Read easily what I'm Typing here, but the Font in most Books can be difficult when my Eyes aren't focusing correctly.  It doesn't happen often, but when it does, I just have to wait 'til it's not a problem.  My Eye Tests always have gone very well, so the Diabetes isn't causing permanent damage that the Disease can often cause.  I do have that beginning of a Cataract they didn't even tell me about at the Optometrist when they did my Annual Exam, coz I guess it was so early stage as to not be concerning enuf to mention?  My HUMANA Home Nurse visit did mention it tho' from their results received from the Exam, and what a Surprise that was to me, having not been told after my Eye Exam.  What about your Cataract she said, WHAT Cataract says I, they never said anything about one!  Fine way to find out completely by accident.  *Eye Roll*

Above is a portion of that French Designer's Space that I told you I just fell in Lust with how she'd Decorated it.  Especially since she'd apparently never Decorated for Halloween before and didn't know much about how it should even be done, given what she Sells that isn't typically of a Theme that lends itself to an American Holiday.  She's a Francophile and has French Antiquities directly from France mostly... so her Vibe and Aesthetic is very European and very French Country in a Charming Timeless way that I just Love and you don't see many Vendors or Designers in America even having.   I Loved the Festoon of Tattered Old Lampshades grouped one above another, the Old Leather Club Chair, the Old Fireplace Mantle and that Wonderful Old Wallpaper that does remind me of what you see in Europe.   I have an Antique Fireplace Mantle similar to this one and would like to find similar Wallpaper to hang behind it in The RV Garage Mahal where it is.  I have some Yard Longs too, and could replicate something like this with what I already have on hand.  It's Simple and yet I Love the Visual and Vibe of it.

Loved everything about her entire Space, so took probably more Pixs of it than any other Vignettes.  And spent a lot of time in it.  It just appealed to me, and all the other Friends there, whether Designers or Customers, immediately told me which Area made them think of me when they saw it, and it was hers!  They all know me so well!  *LOL*  They took one look at this Area and thought, that's SO DAWN!!!  And, truly it is.   I Hope this Vendor stays and does well, coz I do dig her Merchandise and her Aesthetic, and her Presentation of it Showcases it all so Beautifully and Skillfully.   It's not so easy to make something seem this Simple, Editorial and Effortless.  Anyway, it was a Joy to behold and I was only bummed that I could only Buy just the One thing from her.  There's was more I liked a LOT, but I was sticking to Budget and to Price Point per item.  Since most of hers is European and the Real Deal, it's not inexpensive, but it is Fair and harder to Source here in America.  Now with Tariff's, Imports are hammered in Cost... the Extortion of this Cabal of Vulgarians and Idiot Prez of our best Trading Partners and Allies, is Obscene and Criminal... it's all Illegal.

Anyway, I was Happy with my Modest Haul and it didn't bust the Budget but it did come right up to what I could afford to Spend.  I knew it likely would coz it was the Halloween Merch Month and Season of Retail Therapy I wait for all Year long.   And would be most Tempted by.  The rest of the Year and Seasons, not so much.  And frankly, if you don't Score most of it in September, or even before when they trot it out early in some Shops, by October, you can't even Hope to get any of the best of it.  Most places will Sell Out or the best Merch will be long gone and you missed your brief Window of Opportunity to Score the Primo Merch for Autumn and Halloween Decorating or Collecting.   I do plan to hit all of the other Antique Malls this Month to see what Seasonal Offerings and Displays they have up.  Some of the "Spirit Halloween" Stores aren't even Open yet, which is Late for them.  Online they tell you where they should be and yet they're still "Temporarily Closed".  The only One I've found Open yet is small and didn't have hardly anything like previous Year's Inventory, nor the Epic Displays... so, it was underwhelming and disappointing, I didn't Photograph hardly anything, or Buy a thing!

 

Five of their Listed Locations, most near us, have never Opened yet!  They have 15 Listed that are allegedly Open, but most of them aren't close by so I don't wanna drive all the way to those further away and find out, Nope, not actually Open... or, have a Sad underwhelming disappointing Location too?    There is One that is relatively close by so I may drive by it to see if it's actually operational?   Their Online Photos for each site are from previous Years, so you can't gauge what this Year will be like at all.  I noticed even the Big Box Stores that usually have a good array of Seasonal Merch, like TARGET, MICHAELS, WAL-MART... are leaner this Year, likely due to Tariffs and inflated Costs and Supply Chain and Import Issues, coz most mass produced Merch is Manufactured Abroad, not Made in America.   We haven't really been Producers in America for damned near as long as I've been Alive.  We're Consumers in this Country, Manufacturing is mostly done elsewhere, and even what might be Produced here gets their Supplies to make it from other Countries.  It's not like we're Manufacturing the Parts/Supplies either.  Which now begs for some Political Satire:

And I found out why The Daughter's good Friend Sergio in Mexico had his FB and Instagram Profiles taken down, I called him, coz I did have his Number after all.  Well, he said something Political they did not like so they both Banned him!   So, he's in FB and Instagram "Jail" so to speak, we Laughed about it, but he said it was very discriminatory and stupid, coz he didn't Post anything Extreme or Inappropriate at all.  Now, he's not a strongly Controversial Person, and anything I've seen him Posting is Truth to Power or Political Satire based on Factual Data.  Not made up Bullshit or Conspiracy Theory Low Information and Lies spawned by those in Power. He's lived in the U.S. for many Years and now lives in Mexico permanently in a Mansion on the Beach, he's a very Successful Mexican National, speaks perfect English, and Shares Political stuff similar to what I'd Share, nothing inappropriate whatsoever.  They are infringing on his Free Speech, which, he has every Right to express on Social Media, any more than anyone else does.

  So, I don't like that they're harshly Censoring those of us who are Moderates or Left Leaning, while allowing Extremist on the Far Right to Post any damned thing that is often very damaging, dangerous, incites violence, is false, Racist, Xenophobic, Homophobic, Misogynistic, Hateful, aligned with a known Hate Group, or Sexually Explicit in Nature and not Ban them at all.  It's very Selective Censorship trying to Silence the Voice of the Majority and let the Minority of Extreme Leaning MAGA Maniacs spew all the venom and vitriol that they want to with impunity, including this vile President and all of his Minions and Sycophants, his Cult Members and those he's showing Political Favor towards while not Representing the Majority of Americans at all.  Nor does he want to.  Anyway, I told Sergio I was relieved he's Fine and that it was just that, it was all so sudden it did cause concern until we could get hold of him some other way.  I'd just had an Instant Messenger FB Exchange with him at length just the Night before they took all his Social Media down and erased it all.  Very concerning that they can and will do that on their whims... and for no good reasons at all.

The Man went to Bed early, by 8:00 p.m., and The Niece wanted to come in and Hang Out here, but it's our Room, he's Retired for the Evening and I'm Blogging in here, so I said we would prefer to be left Alone right now.   Too Late for Hanging Out, and in our Family, most of us go to our Private Areas to Unwind at the End of each Day and don't really bother one another, she'll have to get used to that.   She was at Work all Day, so I'd thought she'd want to Wind Down too and just have some Private Time to herself as well?  I haven't yet figured out what her Normal Routine would be if she was somewhere else?   I do know she either spent all of Last Night, and definitely this Morning before she went to Work, in her Car again!!!  Rather than in the 5th Wheel, so, I don't think she realizes that Hanging Out in the Main House isn't something most of the Family even does in our Normal Routines.  Sometimes we'll watch a Movie or Socialize, but it's not all the time or every Day, that would be intrusive and exhausting to all of us. 

 The Daughter is probably the most inclined to wanna Socialize more than those of us who don't do a lot of Peopling.   She has a lot of Friends, but becoz she does, she doesn't like any One of them monopolizing her Time, she likes to spread out her interactions among various people and not feel smothered by contact with any One Person who demands so much of your Time they become Higher Maintenance than you're comfortable with.  That was one of the biggest Issues with Mando and her, and with her Friend Amber sometimes too.  She Cared about both of them, but they could be very monopolizing of her Time and get jealous of Time spent with many other people she knew and wanted to spend Time with.   But The G-Kid Force, The Man, The Son, and I, we're not wanting to spend inordinate amounts of time Peopling or Socializing.  We don't have a lot of people WE know over much, just every so often is Fine.  We enjoy them a few times a Month, but if it became a Daily occurrence, we'd have to set Boundaries.  Or you'd be wearing us out beyond our Comfort Level of "Togetherness".  *LOL*

I like to Blog, that's how I Relax when I'm not Caregiving or taking care of my Business of Maintaining our Household or Working Outside of the Home, or doing whatever it is I'm doing elsewhere.  So, when I come Home, and I've done everything I am Obligated to do for everyone, I like to have my Quiet Time not interrupted.  We have Shared Space, but everyone has their Private Spaces they can and do retreat to so that they aren't bothered and nobody is bothering them either.  That's what Works for us as a Collective, the Right Balance of Togetherness and Apartness.  Someone New might not yet get into the hang of it, so it will be a Transition for her and that could take her some Time to settle into comfortably too.  She's Lived Alone mostly and I imagine that could become Lonesome and now she's got all these Cohabitants that she wants to spend Quality Time with, so I do "Get It", only, there has to be a Balance to that.  Some Family are very Solitary and prefer their Apartness Time more than their Togetherness Time, even with Loved Ones, let alone anyone else.  *LOL*  It's not Personal, it's Preferences for how we Like and Prefer to spend our Time is all.

I remember when my Friend Lived with us for Six Months at The McManse, she wanted to spend a lot of Time Together coz she had always Lived Alone.  She didn't understand that we weren't all Together all of the time, I guess if she had Loved Ones Living Together, that would be her Expectation or perhaps their Lifestyle and Habits, it just was not ours.  We all Love one another but that doesn't mean we wanna spend every Waking Hour Together and have little to no Apartness Balancing out all that Togetherness.   Personally, we unanimously told her, that would feel Suffocating to us and we would not Like it.  We feel it would even cause eventual Conflict and Irritation.   You can spend too much Time with a person and then you don't necessarily have Quality Time anymore, just a Quantity of it that might not be so great or Wanted.

  I'd feel like I'd need to Escape if someone demanded that much of my Time and Energy, it would be fucking draining to me Emotionally, Mentally and Physically.  So, I'd say, hey, we can't be Friends anymore.  You just have higher expectations of the Relationship than I can accommodate or even tolerate.  *LOL*  For me, a little bit of most People can go a long way.   And that doesn't mean there's anything Wrong with them, it's just that small doses of People is enuf for me, even my Inner Circle.  They know I Like my Space, that I Love them all and would do anything for any of them, but, don't be up my Ass all the time or it Creeps me the Fuck Out!  That's why it was so hard to Raise a 2nd Generation way past the Prime of Raising smaller Kiddos coz they are very clingy and needy.  Princess T was like a Conjoined Twin to me and now she's Grown and comfortable with separation from me, it's Nice.  

We have Fun when we do anything Together, but she enjoys her Time Alone and her Privacy now as much as I do.  I'm Married to a Man who could be an actual Recluse, and that Works for us as a Couple.  He uses up all his Conversation by Morning usually.  *LOL*  He Likes my Presence, but we don't Need to be up each other's Asses all the time within the Home.  In fact, he likes being Left Alone as much as I do and so when we are Together it's more Quality Time than Quantity Time, which, is both of our Preferences.  *Smiles*  I can be a Talker when I am being Social, but, I can go Days without saying anything to anyone and be just Fine too.  I'm not always Chatty even at Work or around Friends.  Sometimes I am, sometimes I just Listen to what everyone else is Talking about. 

 I can get into Deep and Meaningful Discussions, or talk about frivolities, but, overall, I'd say Quiet Time is as Special to me as good Conversation is.  And, Heaven Forbid if someone becomes Boring to me, or becomes very Negative, Whiney or Complaining incessantly... the ADHD Kicks in and I Zone the Fuck Out and my Eyes Glaze Over!  They Lost me.  And, mostly, I don't Care. *LOL*  That's why Gossip never Appealed to me and I often overhear folks who just Smack Talk the entire Conversation they're having with each other, about everyone else they know!  And I'm thinking to myself, don't you have anything Positive to say or Nice to say?  And, if someone they know is the topic of so much unlovely Gossip, I don't know that I'd Trust those People not to Talk shit about everyone and anyone else, including me if I wasn't Present and they knew me.

  Everyone does Need to Vent about stuff, folks they know or Work with or are Related to, but if the WHOLE Conversation is just that... well... that's more than Enough and Too Much IMO.  Focus on some other stuff and you're letting those Live Rent Free in your Head perhaps too much if it's all you can Talk about most of the time.  Probably not Healthy.  When I was having my Crepes for Breakfast while waiting for the Event to Open, Two Women in the Booth in front of me were quite loud, so you couldn't help but overhear their entire Gossipy Conversation.  Apparently they'd Booked a Cruise, which, sounds like a Positive Thing to be looking forward to, Right?   Wrong!   They were going but there was apparently a 3rd "Friend" coming with them and they Trash Talked about this Woman for the entire Meal!   And I'm Thinking to myself, Why is she on the Cruise with you then?  Does she know your Sentiments, have you Talked about any of this with HER and not just with each other behind her Back?  I know if I say anything about anyone, I've usually Talked with them about it First.  It's only Right to.  You could hurt Feelings or Offend someone otherwise and sow Distrust.

Anyway, I didn't even know these Women but I felt Sorry for the 3rd Friend coz she's gonna be on a Cruise of a Lifetime with these Bitches and they talked so much shit about her, that if I were her, it would be better spent going on a Solo Cruise I think!  Yikes!   And Cruises aren't inexpensive, so... perhaps the Personalities don't Jive, but then, why would you Book a Vacation Together knowing this if you are Friends and should know each other's Habits and Personalities by now?  I have Friends I Adore, but I know there's certain things we'd NOT do Together, probably ever, and that's Okay, it wouldn't Work no matter how long we've been Friends or how Close we are.   Anyway, The Young Prince and Sayde just left to go out somewhere Together.  They both looked so Adorable I should have taken a Pix of them and didn't coz they were running Late to get to where ever it was Downtown.  Looked like a Club Scene coz they were both Dressed Up.  

 Plus, sometimes even when they look Fabulous and Fierce, perhaps they don't want Gramma Pathologically Picture Taking.  *Winks*  They appreciated I said they looked Adorable, and they did.  Each of them has a Unique Sense of Style that is quite similar and very Different, but they pull it off.   And they both like being authentic to themselves and having the confidence to do so unapologetically.  I'm sure they have their Tribe out there and have found the Niche places they can meet up with Kindred Spirits Downtown.  The one major Positive about living in a big Urban Metropolis is, everything goes and there's massive diversity and more tolerance than in smaller Communities that tend not to have as much diversity or much tolerance for anything or anyone not exactly like they happen to be.  Cheryl, who I was talking to and met in Line happened to mention that too.  

She and Hubby bought Property to Vacation at in Christopher Creek, which is a very lovely Scenic Area North of the State with lots of Pine Trees and higher Elevation for a different Climate.  They have a Cabin there and Love the Area, but not the People so much.  Becoz, also it's very Homogenously SMALL Town America and she said it's very "Conservative" in the Not-So-Good-Or-Welcoming way, that can be downright unsettling and feel unsafe, so she even quit going up there coz you have to be so Guarded.   She said her Husband sometimes is too Open and forthright about his personal Views that don't align with the Locals, and she Warns him, these People are really Different Honey, you have to be more Careful!!!   She said you can't be even mildly Liberal or Moderate of they think you're The Devil and an Enemy Of The State!!!   Okay, so we did Laugh, she didn't have to say it out Loud what we both knew she was Talking about and the general Politics of the Community and Area there in Rural Arizona, we know only too well.

She said had they Known the Demographic of the Community, they might not have Invested in Real Estate there to Vacation at.  But the Natural Beauty appealed to them for a Getaway from Urban Life a few Weeks out of the Year.  They Love the City, as we do, but on Vacays you might want more Natural Reclusive Scenic Serenity... sans any of the Weirdos and complication of the Bullshit that might Live there Full Time and be problematic tho'.  I understand, when we were House Shopping, we looked at Idyllic Areas we Loved the Topography of and the Real Estate of, but we didn't want another Situation like the vile Community the Villa McManse was in, couldn't Escape that Fresh Hell fast enuf even if the Home was Fabulous.  It becomes like a Gilded Cage to have a nice piece of Property and everyone around it is Hostile, Extreme or Unpleasant in their ways.

*******

Happy Autumn and Halloween from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian