No Time That's Free... But Gives The Illusion I Have Some

 

With this Post I just loaded some Images and thought I'd Write the content of it second.  Usually it's the other way around, I like to mix things up about Blogging.  *Smiles*  Like all these Unpublished Posts I'm now doing coz I'm trying to shorten then, and sometimes I'm even Succeeding... and sometimes I'm not.  *Winks*  Still, I Love Blogging and what I prefer to do in my Free Time.  Since, Caregiving is all the time really, which makes for spartan Free Time or Me Time.  And so with Blogging I'm here if The Man or the Family Needs me while I'm Free to Blog when I can squeeze it in to everything else.  Whallah, you see how much Blogging I squeeze in, I'm very Creative about managing No Time that's actually Free, but, gives the Illusion I have some.  *Bwahahaha*  I began with simple French Toast Food Porn, coz... Why Not?

This {Above} is my Co-Worker Friend, Ken, when he could still do Shifts.  He hasn't now for Years due to taking a Senior Fall that almost Killed him and certainly altered Life considerably.  From going from being a Big imposing Strong Senior, to Years of just Recovering from the effects of that Fall.  What did he do?  Well, for a while now, when he, myself and Crazy Ed Worked Tuesday Night Shifts Together, I'd told both Stubborn Old Men, hey, I know you're still Strong as Oxen, but should you be doing what you do anymore at your Ages?  It's high risk now, you should Stop with the moving of huge Objects all by yourselves. 

 I just had a Premonition that each of them would have it injure them terribly if they didn't concede.  Well, it did, with each of them, Ken way worse than Crazy Ed, tho' both have since required numerous corrective Surgeries for their Injuries caused by stubbornly fucking doing it still!   Ken took a Face Plant off of a Semi Flatbed and had to have all his Facial Bones Rebuilt and Arm Reconstructions from Breaking them too!  Now he's got 9 Stents in his Heart too... he's beating The Man's Record by 3 Stents so far!  *LOL, Sigh and an Eye Roll*  Above is Three of my Industry Friends, Cyndie, Michelle and Carol, with Rocker Alice Cooper.

I got all Nostalgic again whilst trawling my Photo Archives and dug up some I dredged up.  Above was The Young Prince as a Tween with his Grandpa, right around the time The Man got his Traumatic Brain Injury and Life then forever changed for us all on the turn of a Dime.  The Accident happened on The Young Prince's 13th Birthday, talk about Unlucky 13... and 2013 being a very Bad Year for us, Yikes and it really Sucked by early August and didn't get much better for Years and Years.  In fact, did it ever get better... I'm not sure I can say it did or has???  And now here we are Living The Dream, not the Dream I had, but, we're still Living it.  As is my New Mantra when asked how I'm doing???  *Smiles*

Above is The Son at his High School Graduation.  Since his Sister never could Graduate, coz like her Son, the Seriousness of her Mental Illness meant that by High School, The Educational System had given up on her and no Schools would accept her anymore, we were Proud he got to Graduate in spite of being deemed Special Needs.  Basically, America's School Systems and even their "Alternative" and "Special Education" Programs and School don't know how to handle, Educate, or meet Seriously Mentally Ill Students at their Point of Need and don't know what to do with them for Placement.   Doesn't matter if they have a Genius IQ and are like a Sponge about Learning either... they'd much rather have a Seriously Developmentally Disabled Student that doesn't even know they're there... coz that's far Easier for The System in place.  You can Warehouse Kids with certain Disabilities... or Demographics you don't Care about or Value, and call it an Education tho'.

  And if it's not just like a Respite Day Care for the Developmentally Disabled, even if they Learn nothing or don't know they're even there... your SMI Kid is just deemed a Problem Student and Misfit they don't want, there is no inclusion for most of them.  The Son beat the Odds, he's Bipolar, ADHD and Autistic, but he Graduated with Academic Honors and he was very Athletic, which, Schools Love a talented Athlete.  He was deemed "too aggressive" for Football... go figure, we thought that was a hoot!  But, if you gave him the Ball and told him to get it across the Goal Line, he took it literally, so, the other Team's Players in his way were probably gonna get hurt and end up in the ER, or be hanging on to him as he dragged them across the Goal Line. 

 It was comical, but, you don't want Kiddos getting hurt for a Game.  *LOL*   He's super Smart but a little bit of him goes a long way.  So, the School Years were Tough, we knew every Principal and Detention Teacher on a 1st Name Basis, so did our Bosses.  *Smiles*  He thought Detention was one of his Regular Classes and would introduce that Teacher on Parent/Teacher Day, a First for her.  But, it was one of his Regular Classes every day, to be Fair.  He enjoyed that Class in fact, whatever Punishment it was meant to be was Lost on him and he thought the "Assignments" were Fun!!!  Yeah, to say The System was not frustrated would be a Lie, but they let him continue and didn't oust him like they did his Older Sister and Nephew.  And Princess T too, she took longer to Graduate, and had a Recapture Class Graduation with the other Kiddos with Issues, but she managed to.  *Whew*  The Son now Jokes tho' that he was SO "Special", he didn't even know he was in a lot of Special Ed Classes!  But, most of his Friends were too, and so they were all oblivious it wasn't Normal Classes mixed in with Mainstream ones.  *Bwahahaha*

Above is me with my Dad's Older Brother, who'd come down from the Reservation in Oklahoma to Arizona to visit us in the early 1970's, and bring our Paternal Grandma, who rarely left the Rez, to see the 1st Home my Parents Owned.  Most of my Paternal Relatives didn't Believe in Land or Property Ownership, it's a Weird concept to a lot of Indigenous People that you Own what The Creator gave to all Sentient Beings to occupy, share and use.  So, my Dad doing it was a Big Deal I guess.  It took me a long time to convince my Dad to Buy Property, he never liked the idea, he only ever did it twice, and he didn't Care about Materialistic things at all.  Mom was Tasteful, Classy and Refined with Decor.  oUR Dad Loved Kitsch and Weird Tacky shit that even I, as a total Weirdo who Loves The Weird and The Wonderful, or Oddities, would go, Dad, WTF is THAT?!  *Bwahahaha*

My Brother and I, when disposing of Dad's things after he Passed, and he didn't Own much coz he was a True Minimalist, would Laugh at some of the Tackiness and say, here YOU take it, No, YOU take it!  I did take some to remember him by, coz it still makes me Smile that he Loved it and it's beyond Weird and Tacky.  The Kiddos will see it and say Mom/Gramma, that's some Weird shit... and I'll respond, Yeah, it was my Inheritance from your Grand-Dad.  And that Explains it all. *Smiles*  If he had something tho' and you had nothing, he'd gladly share whatever he had with you and felt that's how a Society should function.  He would often give out of his Lack and never think twice about it, coz his Needs were Simplistic and Basic.  Clearly I didn't get that from him... and inherited my Mom's European Muchness and Excess Genes.  *Bwahahaha*  Above, The Young Prince as a Tween again.

The only thing Dad went overboard on was Nature, be it Plants, Animals, Fish, Birds... his Home looked like a Jungle Menagerie.  And his Plants and Creatures thrived when he was Younger, he was like a Plant and Animal Whisperer, even Wild Things responded to him and the Relationship he inherently had with them.  He Bred Exotic Fish and Exotic Birds all my Life.  And Bred some Pedigree Dogs.  I got my Love of Nature and Plants from him for sure.  By the time he got Old and Sickly tho', he couldn't take Care of them all and Neglect began to be obvious to where I had to run an Intervention for his Sake and his Pets.   I think the hardest thing for him was not battling Cancer or Dying, he was Okay with all of that, but, giving up his Animals, becoz he could no longer take good enuf Care of them, since he couldn't even take good enuf Care of himself anymore.   He Bred Exotic Birds and Exotic Fish that few people had much Success with Breeding, and Pet Shops would eagerly Buy from him.  He Believed all Living Things have a Soul and Feelings, Humans just Project our Kinds upon them, or think coz their Kind is different, it's not legitimate.  Above is my Vendor Friend Cigar Hugh.

Above is one of the Granddaughters in Mexico, I Wish she hadn't put the Heart Emoji over her Face or the Phone in front of it tho'.   I think one of her Sisters was taking a Pix of her with their Phone, of her Taking a Selfie with her own Phone?  *LOL*  Modern Kids... *Ha ha ha*  And, she'd Dyed her Blonde Hair a Light Brown this time... sometimes they Dye their Blonde Hair Dark Shades to not look so Weta and Mixed Race.  The Three Younger Siblings of The G-Kid Force are Natural Blondes.  We, and Salvador's Family, do have some Recessive Genes in the Hereditary Woodpile.  *Winks*   Those of us who got the Recessive Genes Lottery doled out, tended to Hate it tho', coz we didn't look like the rest and so people would always ask you if you were Adopted?   And, worse, the Cultures you were Born into often didn't embrace you for looking so different and misfit.   So, it can have it's disadvantages Socially and it's advantages... a total crap shoot.  I remember as a Kid having some other Kids call me a Mutt.  Being referred to like a Mixed-Breed Dog I knew was not a compliment... but, I tended to like and even prefer Mutt Dogs, so I chose to take it as a Backhanded Compliment.  Those trying to Offend or Berate you HATE that!  *Winks and Laughs*

More of Friends of mine with Rocker Alice Cooper, this time Kim joined them.  He's such a nice Guy and his Wife is a Sweetheart too.  They often come to "Sweet Salvage" Events and to our Antique Mall, he used to have Spaces at our Locations.   Anyway, speaking of Music, The Son and his Friend Garrett are going to another Concert Tonight and this time he'll try not to get hurt or blacken his other Eye by getting too near the Mosh Pit.  *LOL*  Garrett comes all the way down from Casa Grande to go to these Events, he's from the Rez by there, I don't know if Garrett's Tribe is the Gila River Community or Tohono O'odham Nation tho'?  He and The Son have been Friends a long time, both being in The Trades, they have Worked together too.  When the whole ICE Threat became a Risk, all the Indigenous Workers left and went back to their Reservations coz ICE was picking up Indigenous and not recognizing their Tribal ID's as being "Legitimate American Citizenry", can you Believe that shit?!!!  They are the only Original American Citizenry, so WTF!!!

Since there were a lot of Immigrants in the Labor Force of all The Trades, everyone was concerned about ICE Raids.  And them just indiscriminately hauling folks off, even American Citizens, and Legal Immigrants with Work VISA's, without Due Process and putting them in those Concentration Camps or shipping them off to obscure Countries none of them are from!  The Orange Felon made Deals with scary Countries with Gulag Type Prisons and Death Camps, to House Deportees... like Liberia, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Congo, South Sudan, Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda!!!   None of who they're sending there are from any of those Countries and nobody will probably ever hear of them again or even be told where their Loved Ones were dumped by this Administration, probably For Profit, coz you damned sure know he's making Money off this some kind of way.  The Son is part Indigenous and Hispanic, so he said even as an American Citizen, he's not certain he wouldn't be Racially Profiled by ICE too and Targeted.

Anyway, I'm glad he and Garrett kept in Touch even after both of them left The Trades due to all the Fuckery going on, including, but not limited to Asset Strippers and Venture Capitalists, often Buying Up smaller Companies and doing what they just do, like Human Locusts.  The Son recently heard that the last Company he Worked for who laid everyone off who'd been there 5-35 Years, asked everyone to come back!!!  He said only the very Old Workers who had 35 Years in and couldn't find Jobs due to their Age, came back, all the Younger Guys the Company screwed over said Fuck You.   The Son actually just had his new Employer ask him if he'd consider a Management Position already?  I'd always told my Spawn, Work with Excellence, somebody always Notices.  And Cultivate your Contacts and be Mentored by the ones willing to pass the Mantle as they're ready to Retire, and have you be their Prodigy, it's a Free Education that can't be Bought.

  He told them he'd think it over, in order to consult me to see what I thought about it.  It's a Fortune 500 Company, so I told him to be a Contender and rise in the Ranks, since he's so New and they're already so impressed with his Work, he could go far and fast.  Meteoric rises happen, it did with me in my Banking Career, I have always had great Mentors.  I was an AVP running several Departments for Major Lenders before I was 23 Years Old.   I beat out Contenders for Positions that had more Degrees than a Thermometer and more Experience.  And back when it was a Good Ole' Boy Network in Banking of Old White Men wearing Power Ties, and Sexual Discrimination along with Sexual Harassment was problematic and rampant, but I'm a Problem Solver and a Ball Breaker, so I did just Fine.  Rack 'em and let The Games begin!!!  *LOL and Winks*

Our Roofer just came and put the Tarps on The RV Garage Mahal Roof where it was Needed, he'd been Asses to Elbows busy, which is what I suspected.  Our Roof wasn't nearly as damaged as many actually, and now it's Tarped I have more of a Peace about any subsequent Storms not making the Roof Leak into the Interior and damaging contents.  I just don't want the Insurance Company getting hinky if it leaked and damaged some Contents and then they said, well, we told you it was fine to get it Tarped, why didn't ya?  You know how they are, I don't Trust 'em and they'll find all kinds of slimy ways to get out of paying Claims and for Damages they should cover on a Claim.  I still haven't heard from the Insurance Co. or the Lender who totes our Note and the Checks will flow thru.  So, I gotta figure out how they'll distribute Funds and how much they're paying out for the Job?   Their Deductible is ridiculously high now, due to all the catastrophic Global Weather... you could almost get a new Roof for what they wanna charge you per Claim to file one!

So, Bill Gates has joined the ranks of those influential folks Warning about AI and making suggestions about what they Need to do and FAST.  I agreed with everything he said, but, whether the Industry or our Government will do it, well, I have my Doubts, strong Doubts.  I have just about finished my 1st Book by Andrew Yang, he Warned of similar things and has viable Solutions like Gates does, among others, mostly in the High Tech Industries and many who were instrumental in Creating AI.   I just finished talking to Princess T's main Boss about AI and concerns, he Shares them and said it was refreshing to talk to another Person who sees the Red Flags he's also noticing and nobody is talking about and seems oblivious about.  

 Princess T told him, my Gramma has often Warned of things in Advance, that people should have paid more attention to and didn't, and it always comes to pass as she Predicted it would.  I'm not Proud of that, I'd rather have Peace than be Right. Also, I'm not the only one who Notices... and Collectively I don't think we make up the bulk of Society either, we're a marginal amount statistically, so we're often not taken Seriously, until it's too late.  I don't like to just have to say "I told you so...", I just Wish more Attention was paid by more who could promote Positive Change and implement Preventative Measures.  Instead of just running massive damage control behind what they turned loose and went Sideways or Haywire and overtook everyone.  Pandora's Box is wide Open... so... we'll Deal with it now or later.

Above is The Son with Comedian Jeff Ross.   He said Jeff is a really Nice Guy, I get that Vibe about him when watching his Routines actually.  I didn't realize 'til reading Andrew Yang's Books how many of my Fav Celebs were also part of The Yang Gang like I was and wanted him to be President and were very instrumental in his Campaign.  Celebs like Dave Chappelle, Donald Glover, Tommy Chong, Gwyneth Paltrow, Norm Macdonald, John Leguizamo, Anita Baker and Nicholas Cage, Mark Cuban, and Tech Giants like Elon Musk, Sam Altman and Jack Dorsey.  In fact, Yang jokes that if Elon had done for him what he did for Donnie, he'd be President now... and he could be Right.  *Too Bad Elon didn't get behind the Right One to Buy the Presidency for, we'd of had a Positive Outcome instead of this running Shitshow of Corruption, Incompetency, Insanity and Fuckery.  Le Sigh*  Yang was very Vocal about Biden stepping down, he got backlash for it and for voicing that Kamala was the Wrong choice, but for reasons that made Sense, but nobody wanted to Listen and didn't wanna Primary viable replacements to give us Voters better options for a more Winnable Candidate.

I liked and Voted for Kamala, since, well, what was the alternative, Right?  It wasn't that I felt she wasn't competent, but, she didn't parlay well when Interviewed or Debating, was too closely identified with what folks didn't like about the Biden Administration and couldn't separate herself from that, she was a Woman, and Black... and I just KNEW that America was not ready for a Woman or another Minority to become President.   Donnie only got in coz of those who resented Obama ever being a President, the Audacity of a Minority President really Frosted a lot of White folks, I am firm on that Observation.  I mean the Guy just wearing a Tan Suit caused Selective Outrage for Chrissakes!!!  Compared to the current Prez's Laundry List of actual serious Criminal Activity, lack of a Moral Compass, depravity, Cognitive decline and absolute Lunacy, well, a Tan Suit Outrage just seems quite ridiculous, doesn't it?

  

Next Month will be all of the Halloween Themed Events and I can hardly wait, it's the time of Year I most look forward to.  The "Sweet Salvage" Halloween Event is Sept. 17-20, The "Highland Yard Vintage" Halloween Market Event is Sept. 10-20, and "Halloween Wars 2026" on TV kicks off on Sunday Sept. 13th.  I've got it all Calendared for next Month.  We tried a new BBQ Restaurant nearby, their Pulled Pork Sammie was Okay, I've had better, it was a bit mushy for my taste.  Their Sauces, all of them, I tried 4 different ones, were very good tho'.  And... their Corn Fritters and their Beans were exceptional.  In fact, I could make a whole meal out of the Corn Fritters and couldn't stop eating them, they are Sublime... I could become addicted to just that Side of theirs.

The place was called "Rollin' Smoke BBQ" and I'll be a Regular for those Corn Fritters and will try some of their other BBQ Meats.  The Pulled Pork might have worked better on a Hamburger Style Bun and them not putting a Sauce on it for Takeout, which then made the Bun soggy.  I do not like soggy Breads, the Texture is off-putting to me even if the Taste is fine.  This is why I do think I'm perhaps on an Autism Spectrum coz Textures and how things 'Feel' to me and Stimulate me on a Sensory Level, can matter a lot more than it seems to for most people.  Certain Noises, Pitches, Light, Textures, interruptions in Routines can be difficult for me.  And my Filter is often very not as functional as it probably should be Socially, and when something or someone bothers me I will hold up the Mirror to them and Amplify it to a degree I know makes many folks uncomfortable.  Due to my lack of a Filter if you want to Square Off with me and Go There.  You better have ALL your shit in Order if you presume to Call me Out on mine.  *Winks*

 

*******

Totally killin' it for unpublished Posts into the far Future... Dawn... The Bohemian

I Want What's Best... It Can Be A Tough Call

Additional Notation: Tomorrow's Post had an Addition about a recent Homicide Victim we know who was Killed on Sept. 2nd.  Unpublished Posts I Wrote then will give more details a fortnite from now.

 The Roofer didn't show up yet to put Tarps on The RV Garage Mahal damaged sections, it's only Mid-Afternoon, I just thought they'd wanna do it early before it was 119 Degrees!!!  {See Pix further Below of how Hot it got!}  And before Tonight's Thunderclouds coming in from the North dump more Rain that might make the damned Roof leak!?!   The whole Storm Damage Situation has me edgy coz it's already complicated and if there's more damage, or Heaven Forbid, the Roof Leaks before they Tarp it to protect Contents, it would be even more complicated.  I can't handle MORE complicated, it's complex enuf.  And if it gets too late I doubt they'll show up to do it in the Dark.

Anyway, the Kids loaded up all that Aloe Vera and put it in Banana Boxes to put out front of our Wall for anyone to take some if they want some for their Landscaping.  If not, bulk garbage will pick them up the 1st Monday of September.  I'd asked them to help me do that and they set right to doing it so I didn't even have to.  I'm kinda hoping someone wants some so not so much living Aloe will be wasted.  I don't like having to discard Living Plants.  But there's just so much of it, it's an older Plant so it had lots of 'pups', each can be made into a new Plant.  I just don't want or need Four Banana Boxes full of new Aloe Plants.  And apparently one of the Neighbors no longer wants or needs their 1970's Waterbed!  It's curbside for pickup!  Haven't seen one of those for YEARS... The Granddaughter had never seen one!   She wasn't Born yet when we got rid of ours.  *Bwahahahaha*

I ordered a couple of Books off E-Bay that I wanted and could get there for about half the cover cost or less.   They had the bottom Book at the Event but at full Price, and Hard Cover Books now at full Price are Crazy priced and no way I'd pay that much for a Decor Book!   The other Book a fellow Blogger who has an Obsession with Cookbooks that rivals mine, recommended, and I Scored it at a really low price from a Seller.  Both Books had Free Shipping, Bonus!  Any time I see a new Book I want, but don't like the Price of, I always go look it up on E-Bay to see the spread of what they're going for.  So many Book Sellers have a Buy-It-Now Feature to the Auction so you don't have to get Bid Up or miss being the Successful Bidder and have to wait and see, and most also offer Free Shipping.

I have this ALDO Purse and am Selling it in the Showroom, I don't have the Shoes.  If I did have the Set I could get a lot more.  I don't know the Line at all, but knew it wasn't a Cheap one, so when I found it at a Chazza, hadda get it.  Purses do Sell well there and I almost can't keep the ones I decide to Sell in Stock enuf.  For some reason Clothes and Accessories are what the spending Demographic there is demanding, and so... at least I don't mind Selling that coz I like Wardrobe and Accessories too.   And now it seems the Antique Malls are realizing how popular Specialty and Vintage Clothing and Accessories are.   The Demographic Shopping at Antique Malls now is clearly getting much Younger too, most of our Customers now are Teens thru those in their Early 30's.   And lots of Kids Love coming to the Antique Malls too, who knew?   I'm glad Younger Folks are diggin' it tho', I just Wish they'd buy more Antiques at an Antique Mall is all.  *LOL*

In case any Dear Readers are 'New', my Native American Skull Art Collection is by a Talented Yaqui Artist, Ben Molina, who went by The Creative Native.  I think Ben has since Passed Away and I just Wish I'd bought more of his Art, I have a Collection of it, but I would have liked to have gotten more and expanded it.  He was a Vendor at our Downtown Location for a lot of Years, but was an Older Man.  The Yaqui Tribe is from the Sonoran part of Mexico and parts of the Southwestern United States, Ben was an American Yaqui.   My Ex-Husband was very likely Yaqui on his Paternal Side, he was given up for Adoption as a Toddler.  The Yaqui successfully resisted full Spanish subjugation for Centuries, their Tribal Language is Yoem Noki, but many Speak Spanish and English.  They are an Indigenous People recognized as such in both Countries by both Mexico and The United States, so are a Federally Recognized Tribe here and most live in Southern Arizona.

I enjoyed my Tiramisu Cake that The Daughter had gotten me for my Birthday, we polished it off Today, it was one of the best Cakes I'd had in a long time.  I'm just not a Cake Person, but it was very light with a whipped Cream, not an Icing, and tasty Tiramisu flavor.  I didn't know that The Daughter has paid attention enuf to know I LOVE Tiramisu.  My Mom and I used to always get it for Dessert at a Fav Italian Restaurant Downtown, TUCCETTI'S, and sadly Closed down when the Owner Retired in 2006.  They used to have a Baked Spaghetti they were renown for. {See Below}  It was a very kitschy Atmosphere of Stereotypical Old Italian Restaurants, done Hollywood Style exaggerated Kitsch, with Checkered Tablecloths, hanging Plastic Grapes, Faux Brick Walls and the Exterior looking like an Italian Historic Villa in benign neglect covered with Ivy, but it was a Delightful place with good Food and I Loved the Kitsch and the Look inside and out, I still miss it.  Mom would flirt with the Studly Waiters and get Free Dessert... hence, the Shared Tiramisu.  *LOL*

{Food Porn Images Cribbed from Google}

I lament all of the great Restaurants and Shops we've Lost over the Years, too many to Name.   As long as some of us Remember them the Memories are kept Alive, soon, nobody will be left to remember them once they're that long gone and we are too.  There's a Nostalgia Page, well, more than one actually, on various Social Media Platforms that discuss "Remember When" of Old Haunts that are no more Locally.  Every once in a while I stop in to Read what Memories folks are Sharing there of places I always liked and fondly Remember too.  Every once in a while they recall a place even long Forgotten by me.   And many of them took Pixs, which I didn't back then coz I didn't always own a Camera, or even a TV... I do Wish I'd always owned a Camera, but I still don't watch much TV, so never felt deprived not having one.  And my Kids and Grandkids almost never watch TV either, The Man couldn't Live without one tho'.

Okay, speaking of Grandkids, the one in Pittsburgh that is turning 25 at the end of this Month, just buzzed her long Hair off in such a Freaky Style that even I was like... What... just WTF!?!   Now, to be sure, some of my Kids, Grandkids, and Nieces have had some Extreme Hairstyles over the Years... and I'm a Great-Gramma with Dreadlocks down to my Ass... so I don't usually stand in Judgment of anyone else's choice of Hair, it's their Hair.   But what this Granddaughter did to hers, it just looks Crazy to me and I thought, did she Go Off The Rails?  Is she Transitioning to Male?  I wasn't quite sure what to think even tho' she and The Young Prince are very much alike so usually whatever they do never Shocks me.  She's very Bold and Unconventional, never Cares what anyone thinks, and has Beautiful thick Hair that grows fast, she's a Pretty Girl... this is just not a Look I am fond of, let us just say.  *LOL*  I guess she got a LOT of flack from the immediate Family about it, so I said nothing and just held my Peace.  It's just Hair... and it's HER Hair.  If it's not permanent, it's not worth sweating when Kiddos do Odd shit.  *Smiles*

This Granddaughter doesn't do hardly any Selfies, and isn't in front of the Lens very much, but last Selfie I'd gotten from her before she went all Britney Spears, was the Pix directly Above.   So, it was quite an Extreme 'Makeover' to say the least.   And, in response to Family and Friends telling her she looked so Pretty with her Long Hair... she said she doesn't Care to Look Pretty.  And much prefers to look like a Lil Freak than to Look "Pretty".  Well, that Explains it then.  Coz that new Look isn't Flattering at all, even if you got a Nice Face.  And I'm thinking, well, if you DON'T wanna Look Pretty, that'll do it!!!  *LOL*  But, if she's really Happy with the way it Looks then I Support the decision.  Some folks feel some kind of Negative way about Dreadlocks too but I could give a flying fuck, so I do understand that with your Hair, you should wear it as you see fit... or, even go Bald or Shaved if that's what you prefer.  Some Gals do look Cute with Extreme Hairstyle, I think this one just looks Crazy to me, but I have seen some Gals with some really Crazy Cuts that look like someone cut their Hair out of Spite or as Punishment... a real Hack Job, and that's what it resembles to me.  Like someone went Mental while cutting your Hair.  *Ha ha ha*

The G-Kid Forces Younger Three Sisters in Mexico did a Selfie, I just Wish the Middle One had held the Camera lower so I could see her Face too.   They've all Dyed their Naturally Blonde Hair Dark, so they don't look so Weta and so Mixed Race.  Which makes Life harder for them if they do look too American or too European and not as Hispanic.  The one on the Left is the Youngest, the one on the Right is the Oldest... so they are The Daughter's No. 3, 4 and 5 of her Five Children.  The Young Prince is her Oldest and Princess T is Child No. 2.   The Prodigal Child, in the Center behind her Phone, has straightened her Life out now.  The Youngest has a Gorgeously Handsome New Boyfriend.  The Oldest just broke up with her Childhood Sweetheart, lost her Job, and had to drop out of College coz she couldn't afford the part of the Tuition now that she didn't Win a Scholarship covering... so it's been tough for her lately.  So her Younger Sisters have rallied around her to help out more.  She finished Raising them when the Paternal Custodial Gramma Died.

And this Great-Grandson, who is the Youngest Child of Three that our Oldest Granddaughter back East has, wanted a Man Bun and so now he has one.  When you're this little you can look Adorbs with any Style... and he's clearly Feelin' his Man Bun and looks Cute as Hell with it... but, I'm totally Biased of coarse.  *Winks*   It's quite possible one of his Older Sisters did it for him and not their Mama?  Perhaps the one sitting off to his Right?  She's been known to pick out his Outfits and everything. *Smiles*   And Below is the Middle Granddaughter Back East's Youngest Child, who is Sporting a Black Eye like The Son... I didn't even ask.   This Kid is already so rough and tumble and such a little Tomboy, that she could have been in a Cage Match at Daycare for all I know?  *Bwahahahahaha*   She's as Blonde as her Mama was at this Age, our SIL is of German Heritage and is a Platinum Blonde and so the Middle Granddaughter got his Coloring and Green Eyes, the Younger one got her Mom's Dark Coloring of Hair and Eyes. 

She's still Cute with a Shiner.  But, I used to Hate it when any of the Kiddos got Bruises or a Black Eye from just doing Kid stuff, coz folks look at you sideways like you have an abused Kiddo!  And to be sure, if a Child looks like they could be the Victim of abuse we should be on the lookout to protect and report it.   But I remember The Daughter always had Bruises on her Legs coz she lacked coordination as a Child and had long Legs like a Flamingo, so was very awkward... and The Son, well, he was so rough and tumble as a Child that he always looked like he needed an intervention!   The Granddaughter has said this Daughter of hers is full of Piss and Vinegar, and that Granddaughter was too, so the Apple didn't fall far from the Tree.  *Ha ha ha*  The Granddaughter, when she was about in 4th Grade, once covered herself in Silver Glitter Makeup at a Grade School Soccer Match to distract the other Players!  She was very Athletic, and our Daughter told us she was Shining brightly as the Sun hit her Glitter and practically blinding the other kids.  *LOL*

My Brother called me to say his Oldest Son was going to be in Cali on Business Yesterday and they made Plans to meet up at a Local all Night Restaurant for the short time he'd be in the L.A. area.  It's been about 20 Years since they met up last time, he and his 1st Wife Divorced when they were Teens so he hadn't had any Contact since that Son was Two Years Old, so about every 20 Years since, he's only seen him once.  The Younger Son he had similar contact with.  He and his 2nd Wife Divorced when that Son was 2 Years Old, he didn't see him again until his Son was Grown and managed to find him.  We've been unsuccessful at finding that Son again, I managed to find his Oldest Son and make Contact.  Telling him that his Dad may not have long to Live and has a very grim prognosis, so, if he wanted to see him again, might be best to arrange something while he can.

  So, he has, and I'm very happy to hear that, they've been Texting each other and I had a good telephone conversation with the Nephew, out of the Blue, coz he didn't even know he had an Aunt.  He knew nothing of our side of the Family.  He's 40 now and 3 Months Older than The Son.  He's Married with a Son and a Daughter, waited 'til he was 35 to Marry and is out of the Navy now.  He's a Disabled Veteran, so I think he may have sustained injuries in Combat, so I didn't ask.  My Brother said apparently his Son has been thru a lot while in the Military.  His Maternal Grandfather had been an Admiral in the Navy, tough Act to follow as a Grandson, I would imagine.  People probably knew of his Grandfather and if you have a Legendary Family Member, well, it can be a LOT to Live Up to.  He has a Civilian Job now, a Home on the East Coast near a Naval Base, seems to be doing okay for himself.   I told my Brother to take Pixs and I was assured he would.  Last Pix I have of my Nephew he was in his 20's and looked like a Young Jean-Claude Van Damme, no exaggeration or hyperbole! {See Below}  It' only One of Two Pixs I have of him as an Adult and only a scant few of him as a Child. 

My Nephew and my Ex-SIL look like Ghosts compared to our Family.  *LOL*   He and The Son were the same size even tho' 3 Months apart in Age coz The Son was an enormous Newborn, weighing in at just under 11 lbs..  {Yes, Ouch, I had him by Natural Birth and with no Painkillers. It's why I'm sitting at an Angle in the Above Pix, LOL, coz The Son was only 2 Days Old, my Nephew 3 Months Old.}  The Younger Son looks like a Fair Version of our Dad and I've only got Two Pixs of him as an Adult and Two of him as a Child also.  {See Below}   Both of his Son's have the Fairness of their Moms, both of my Brother's Wives were Platinum Blondes with Green Eyes.  His long time Lady he's been with now for over 30 Years is also a Green Eyed Blonde... he had a Type, for sure.  *LOL and Winks*   He and Marcie never had Kids together but he helped her Raise her Children, her Ex had been an Actor but wasn't very close with the Children.  A lot of Celebrities have complex Relationships with their Families, Fame can really do a number on Relationships.  And there can be quite the Back Story, which, my Brother said her Ex had quite the typical Back Story of Old Hollywood.  Back when a Gay Actor or Celebrity had to have the Publicity of a Straight appearing Life, which was usually a sham Cover Relationship.  He and her Ex get along fine, they're glad he's able to live his authentic Life now.  I don't even know his Identity tho', and it's not important who he is.

We'd heard that the Younger Son had been Adopted by a Stepfather so I don't know the Surname he goes by and thus have been unable to locate him.  The only reason I could locate the Older Son is his unusual First Name is Welsh Origin, coz our Dad's Surname, which was an Adopted one, is a very, very common one in America.   My Paternal Grandfather was a Foundling, so we know very little about his Origins, just that the Surname was taken from a Family that took him in and Raised him.  I guess that was a common practice to abandon Mixed Race Babies of unknown Parentage and found and cared for by others back in my Grandfather's Era.  Most Mixed Race Native American Children could have been put to Death otherwise, clear up to my Era actually by some Tribes.  So any that Survived at all, was Luck, even if they had to be abandoned to get a chance of not suffering Infanticide.  One Mixed Race Seminole Woman of my Age told of these things, mostly, it wasn't talked about or even common knowledge as a Practice.  It is some Dark History.  And of coarse Dark History is often Secretive and Hidden or they try to Erase it so nobody knows of it.

  My Dad knew very little about his Dad, he didn't remain with my Grandmother, tho' they had several Children and he took the Older ones and she kept the Younger ones, and he Died relatively Young apparently.  So a lot of our Paternal Family History is Word of Mouth, speculation at best, and perhaps some embellishments in the Generational Storytelling of Family History, I really don't know.  Made for some interesting Stories.  And my Mom's side had equally unusual interesting Stories since my Maternal Grandfather also was Adopted informally by a Chinese Family who took in he and his Four Younger Siblings to Raise, his Mother a Widow, uneducated, Romany Heritage, with 11 Kids, so she kept the Oldest Six and gave the Youngest Five to a Chinese Childless Couple that she knew.   So even on my Mom's side, the Family History was sketchy depending on who you discussed it with, and often not openly talked about, some Relatives wouldn't acknowledge what they didn't want known.  Especially the Roma part, due to persecution and prejudices that still exist Today and aren't a Romanticized version of the plight of those Cultures either.  

Proof of how fucking Hot Yesterday got.  The Roofers never showed up to put the Tarps up, but, I can't blame them, I wouldn't wanna be up on some Roof when it's 119 either, that's Crazy Hot!!!   It Fried most of my Potted Plants now, I don't think they'll make it even under the Shade of the Front Porch now?   Even the Rosemary is becoming brittle, and it's hard to kill Rosemary, but that kind of Heat is like setting the Plants inside an Oven and leaving them there without any Relief.  It's why I'm babying the Wild Birds and putting more Water and Food out for them than usual, they almost can't fly when the Air is that Temperature, no lift.  Planes often have to be Grounded too.   Luke AFB won't fly the Jets at a certain temperature on the Runway.   So, it was very quiet overhead all day too, no Air Traffic in the Skies that I heard or could see and the Temps were likely the reason Why. 

  Officially I don't know what they pretended the Temperature got to, it's always lower Officially than it really is almost anywhere in the Cities Unofficially.   So even the alleged Record Temperatures are inaccurate and misleading.  Officially I just looked, they claim it only got to 111.  *Eye Roll and I Call Out Bullshit*   This is what Google has to say about why that is:

The official temperature feels lower than what you experience because meteorologists measure true air temperature in the shade, floating four feet above grass in a ventilated box. When you stand outside, your body absorbs direct solar radiation and heat bouncing off nearby pavement, making it feel much hotter.

Well, gee, that would be becoz it FUCKING IS MUCH HOTTER!  *Eye Roll and Laughs at the absurdity of that explanation!*   "TRUE" Temperature being in the Shade floating 4 Feet above Grass in a Ventilated Box... give me a break, No, that's FALSE, not TRUE at all!   That's fucking absurd and ridiculous to roll out as the Official Temperature and Recorded in the History Books as remotely accurate and True!!!   *Bwahahahahahaha*

Can you only tell I'm up at a ridiculous Hour and more than a bit Ranty and Cranky?  *Smiles*  I went to Bed again at Toddler Time and so was up by 3:00 a.m., when it wasn't 119 Degrees anymore.  *LOL*  I do have to Work Tonight which means I'll have to stay up later, we'll see how I do with now having to work a 5-9 p.m. Shift at the Antique Mall?  I'm bringing in some Merch with me, knuckled down just a tad before Retiring Mid-Afternoon to go to Bed before it even got Dark, and did Price some Inventory.   So, I have Two 1998 Darth Maul New Old Stock Action Figures from Star Wars, a Red Fiesta Ware Coffee Mug, and that ALDO Purse ready to bring in.  Hey, it's something, can't Sell it sitting around in piles at Home... sometimes we can't even get it Sold sitting in piles at the Antique Mall!  *Bwahahahaha and Le Sigh*  I will look up some Pokemon Cards too and get a few of them ready to go.  I rifle thru them to see which ones I recall are the most Popular Characters and get them in first.  There are so many different Characters... Lord have Mercy!   And the Pokemon People are Bananas about their Favorites too!

The Man and I were beside a Bright Yellow expensive Sports Car that had Pokemon Stickers on the Windows and their Vanity License Plate read PIKACHU.  Now, that's a FAN!!!  *Bwahahahahahahaha*  Pretty sure that Guy spends a Fortune on his Pokemon Collection if he spent that much on an expensive Vehicle to Honor his favorite Pokemon Character, No?  *LMAOROTF*   And it was a Grown Man driving it, not a Teenager, and he had the Money obviously to afford a Car of that Stature... tho' it being bright Banana Yellow with Pokemon Stickers on the Windows did Cheapen the Look of it considerably IMO.  Having Money and having Taste/Class being Two separate things quite often.  *Ha ha ha*  I mean, look at Donnie Two Dolls gilding every damned thing coz he thinks it makes everything look 'Richer', No, Donnie... it makes everything look White Trashier and Gauche as fuck, so clearly all the Money in the World can't Buy you any Class or Taste.   And all the Money your Daddy had couldn't Buy you an Education either when you just have a Stupid Child.

Anyway, you can't Fix Stupid, so... they just remain that way for Life.  But, he is a Successful Consummate Conman and Career Criminal and he has made that Work for him, so, I'll give him that.  He's Learned how to Work The System to his Advantage and exploit a lot of People and Institutions, commit Fraud quite successfully, so it is a Skill he inherently possessed to make up for not being very Intellectual.  And clearly has passed along to his Demon Spawn as well... Chips off the Ole Block they all are.  But it's made them filthy Rich with a lot of Dark Money, and Money Buys Options and Power, which is what they Crave and attained.  And some really Admire that, staunchly Support that, and call it 'Success', and Voted it in, so now here America is.   And how Low can we go?  Not sure, I thought we had hit Rock Bottom, and couldn't go any Lower than we have, but I was Mistaken, the Abyss that is The Bottom of the depravity and overt Corruption seems limitless.  So, I stand Corrected, there is no Bottom they can't and won't sink to, along with their Base of Supporters just going along with it.

And after so many Years in my 2nd Career, I must say, nothing Surprises me anymore as to what some Humans are capable of.  I'm cynical and know they are capable of the most fucking atrocious, evil and depraved things you would have a very hard time Believing anyone could or would do.   And they live among us, you may even know some, we have to find ways to co-exist, and they often Breed and they often Vote, and there's evidence of that everywhere across our Nation.   The Dark Ugly Underbelly of Society that exists as a distinctive Demographic of Human Beings who you really have to watch closely for your own Safety and Well Being.  Coz they're out there and you don't always recognize who they even are or downplay what they may be capable of.  And even if identified and you do have recognition, some will still attempt to soften the impact of exposing themselves to that kind of Person, and let down their Guard around them.  I'd suggest you didn't.  Coz you do so at your own peril.

When I have Identified one of them, I am as Cautious as if I would be around any Apex Predator that only needs the slightest opportunity to make me or anyone else their Prey or just turn on you, coz it's their very Nature to.   I don't expect to be Friends with a Shark, a Snake, or any Devil in Human Form who has chosen to Serve a Dark Agenda or Follow a Dark Leader and do their bidding, no matter how depraved and abhorrent it would be.  If you underestimate what such folks are capable of, you could become their next Mark or Victim.  If you have some in your Circle and Orbit, even if you think you can Trust them, they could be your Judas and put you at Risk.   Once I can't Trust or Respect someone, I don't want them around me and mine.  

The Son and Daughter are doing the Yardwork coz Irrigation comes Tomorrow.  We had to go to the Gas Station at 7-Eleven to get Gas for the John Deere and The Son bought everyone McDonalds for Breakfast since it's right by the Convenience Store, and my Caramel Macchiato... plus he paid for the Mower Gas.  He'd drank too much again last Night and that was his way of apologizing to me, tho' he'd been no trouble, he knows if he's had too much to drink it upsets me.  He's attempting to moderate to keep it to 2-3 only, sometimes he even Succeeds.  I guess it's a Process when you're an Alcoholic, to reach a place where Sobriety will be possible... or at least not be plastered if you do drink?  I wouldn't know coz I don't partake.  If he could and would moderate the amount he drinks it wouldn't even bother me if he had to drink every day to Cope with his Mental Health Demons.  

He's sober when he Works and he's a hard Worker, so his drinking is always later after Work, unless it's a day off.   The Daughter is a functional Alcoholic in that she moderates her intake way better and hardly ever appears drunk even tho' she has more withdrawal of detoxing if she tries not to drink, than he does, which is Weird.  Plus, if she doesn't have a drink at all she is way more Schizophrenic, so, I'd rather she have her Two Drinks daily to keep On the Rails Mentally, rather than Wheels Off the Rails when sober.   Anyway, with everything everyone is up against these days and the Issues of Life being dealt with daily, I guess everyone has their own Coping Mechanisms, and not all are healthy ones.   The Man has been particularly Moody in that Dementia Fog they get in, to where they don't even know why they are hostile for no apparent reason anyone can fathom, not even them.   So he's harder to Manage the Caregiving of coz he gets irritable easily and even before Sundowners sets in now, he can be quite Unlovely and Unpleasant at times.  If Looks could Kill, we'd all be Dead now.

I'll confront him sometimes when he's just giving me that Look, even if the Kiddos won't, and counter it with my own "Crazy Eyes" the Kids speak of... and then he'll settle down.  Coz sometimes he's just Hard Staring at everyone in an Unsettling way that I do not like at all and I'll make him Aware that he's doing it and I don't fucking Like it, so knock it off!!!   My Mom would give folks that Look in the latter stages of her Dementia and becoz she became violent along with it, I'm Mindful that if he should ever turn violent, he has to Go, and I will force some VA Facility to take him to ensure everyone remains Safe.  I've Warned him that if he should ever become Unsafe, around me or the Children, is the only reason we'd consider other Placement, but, we'd prefer him to be at Home where he's Loved and properly Cared for.  So, quit with the Death Stares.   Since we don't know what's going on behind his Eyes and in his Poor damaged Brain, it's difficult to know how best to Deal with the progression of the Illness?  I know that it can get dicey as it progresses... and his particular Set of Skills could make him Deadly and Dangerous.  It keeps you on High Alert as the Caregiver.  I want what's best for him and for us all.  But, that can be a Tough Call.

*******

So, yet another Unpublished Post goes into the Queue... smiles... Dawn... The Bohemian