Linear Memory Degeneration... Fun Times!

 I started feeling a little better but never got out of my Jammies all day and did take a Nap to feel more Rested.  I don't even know why I felt so run down, but I did so decided not to do a damned thing really.  I did do a little putting away of some stuff that was piled up by The Daughter in the Dining Room area, she had gathered it up from everywhere else and didn't quite know what I wanted done with it?   Half of it was For Sale, the other half could go back in The RV Garage Mahal coz it was mostly Halloween Decorations we'd taken down to just put away in Seasonal Storage areas.  Considering I had no Energy, I did a fair amount of putting stuff away and got that load of Towels Washed, Dried and put away too, that had sopped up the Flood Waters in The RV Garage Mahal.   It hasn't Stormed yet and it's now almost 6:00 p.m. and that's Surprising, I expected it to be a drearier day all day.

It never got over 61 Degrees tho', which, for us, is Cold and it was Wet, so, not a Pleasant Day either.   I've had some Old "American Pickers" Episodes on, back when it first started, it's Interesting to see what they used to Buy then and what they used to offer, compared to newer Episodes.   Back then they didn't do too well Nationally on their Picks, being unfamiliar with Western States compared to East Coast Pickin'.  I think back East, since it's Older and folks keep more of their Stuff, they were used to a lot of Stuff being piled up on Properties for Generations.  On the West Coast that isn't how most people Live.   And, what West Coast Folks Value is way different than what East Coast Folks Value.  I've lived on both Coasts, it's quite different on each, always has been, probably always will be.   I'm very Eclectic and see Value where a lot of folks don't, I know that.   

I did buy a Ham but we'll probably cook it before Thanksgiving and do the Turkey on Thanksgiving.  We still had a Turkey in the Freezer, so didn't have to worry if the Price was up on those.  Our Ham was on Sale so the Price was decent for it.  We're relying on the Kiddos to cook both, I'm not.  *LOL*   We have everything in the Pantry for Thanksgiving Dinner, so don't have to go out and Buy anything Special, except mebbe a couple Pies.  I'll Buy those closer to Thanksgiving and usually get at least one that is either Pumpkin or Sweet Potato... and the other one could be any type of Pie that looks good.  We're not big on Desserts but on a Holiday will eat a Pie or Two as a Collective.  The Man is the only one who could eat Pie regularly.  I never eat the Crust, don't like it.  And, I'd rather have a Tart than a Pie.  Above is Cookies made to look like a Pie.

 

Above is the Old Kilim turned into a Christmas Stocking, I got it at a really cheap Price.   And Below are a couple little Bottlebrush Trees in Old Milk Glass Cosmetic Containers and accessorized with Orphaned Vintage Bling, that I Bought from my Vendor Friend Mary.  I didn't Buy much, but I do like what we got in Smalls that were inexpensive.  The Man got a couple New Old Stock Vintage Fishing Lures for less than Two Bucks each.  One of the Vendors wanted to Buy the Purse I was carrying, which wasn't For Sale, but I know I have one like it at Home and she got my Number coz she'd like to come Buy from me, she's a Fabric Artist and Loved everything about my Style and Aesthetic.  She's partnered with my Friend Mary and now they Share Spaces at the Event and the Antique Mall, I Love her Vibe and think it will be mutually beneficial to both of us to cultivate a contact with one another.   She's Creating a lot of Cool stuff and I've got more Fabric for Art that she'll wanna Buy.

I have the same Issue most Collectors do tho', sometimes I'm in the Mood to Sell and sometimes I'm not.  I don't NEED to Sell any of it so I'm not desperate to Sell any of it.  Took me a Lifetime to Source and Buy it, so I don't expect to Liquidate it quickly and take Offers I am not willing to Sell it for.  Sometimes Pickers will offer enuf that you wanna Sell to them, sometimes they want to expand their Margins at your Expense, and I've been in the Industry long enuf myself that I know what I should get for everything and anything I have and what it can Sell for if I Sell it myself and Cash Out on the Best Margins.  So, to Sell it for less to a Picker, they have to be willing to stand Tall enuf to either Buy a lot from me or make reasonable Offers that make us both Money.  If they have to go out to many places in HOPES of finding things One piece at a time of The Good Stuff, like I did over the Years, it may take them a Lifetime too to Source it.   So if they expect to get a lot from me, don't try to lowball me or we're simply not doing business.

Sometimes we're wasting each other's Time otherwise.  I've Sold in bulk and I've Sold One piece at a time, it doesn't matter to me how much or how little I Sell actually.   I'll just Keep most of it if I can't get what I want for it and then let my Heirs profit from it later one when I'm gone.  They now know what most things Value is and that it can make them Money consistently if they're prudent about the Selling of it.  I don't think the Industry is what it was, but, those of us who have a lot of The Good Stuff know that it's also not out there on the Market so much anymore either to even GET for those that want it or desire it.    And anyone that knows a Collector knows that it was never about the Money for us primarily, even tho' it's all an Investment that can and usually does make us Money when we're ready and willing to Turn it into Cash.  

You might do it for a Living, but, that's not my Problem, that's the Pickers Problem to Turn a Profit.  If you've been Buying and Selling all your Life, Money is just an acknowledgement of a Picker's Appreciation of what you had the Skill and Eye for to accumulate.  We LIKE to Hunt for Stuff, and if it's not our Living, we're under no Pressures to Support ourselves in the Doing of it.   Our Corporate Lives Supported our Family, so our Collecting was and is our Hobby and our Passion, there's a difference.  I've always done a lot of Trading with other Collectors and Artisans mostly, I prefer a good Trade over the exchanging of just Cash.  If I got something you really want and you got something I really want, then Value isn't as important as the acquisition of what we both desire and want, that we can make happen for each other in a mutual exchange.

And if my Friends Specialize in something that I don't Specialize in but have, they're more than willing and able to find something I would really want in exchange for it.   I don't Collect Native American or Old West Objects per se, but I know enuf about each to have accumulated some Good Stuff and exchange it with my Industry Friends that Specialize in it and will find me something to Swap it with.  *Winks*  I like Weird, Wonderful and Quirky shit and my Industry Friends know that about me. So when they find an Oddity, they know I may want to Trade for it and will have something they really Want that we can Swap it for.  *Smiles*  My Dear Vendor Friend Dan {may he RIP} often exchanged really Primo Oddities for Native American Antiquities that I had.  He knew my Dad was Indigenous and that I have a lot of Native Relatives and Friends, so we know about Tribal Pieces, what's Ceremonial, and what was made for the Tourists.  My own Grandmother and Aunts made both, for Ceremonial Purposes and to Sell to Tourists or Sell to the Trading Posts.

Any Day Buying and any Day Selling is a Good Day as far as I'm concerned.   I ended up getting that Fiesta Ware Pitcher for $35.  The price range Online is all over the place, but most were way, way, higher than that, plus Postage.   I was comfortable with what I got it for since it's not something I Bought for Resale.   I've Sold more Fiesta Ware Disc Pitchers and Ball Pitchers than I've Kept.   I've always Sold mine for more than I Paid for this one and they rarely stay in Inventory very long before they Sell.    Below was the Ham that The Daughter cooked for Tonight.  We had Company so it will feed a Host of hungry folks.  *Smiles*  She watched an Online Tutorial on how to cook it and I thought it looked really pretty for some Food Porn Blog Fodder. *Winks* 

It's nice to have someone in the Family who enjoy Cooking and is good at it.  I've never been a Culinary Jedi, but The Man was an excellent Chef before his Brain Injury.  But now he's needing a lot of Supervision for safety sake so we don't let him Cook anymore and he's forgotten how to really.   I miss his Cooking, so our Daughter filling in for him is great.  She cooked it rather late so we're having a really late Supper.  It's a Spiral Cut Ham and I just Love a good Ham for Dinner and to make Sammies with later, or have for Breakfasts too.  The only one who can't eat Pork is The Young Prince, he's become allergic to Pork so doesn't eat it anymore.  He and his Sister developed considerable Food Allergies so there's a lot of things they can't eat and should avoid in their Diet.

 

Above is my Designer and Industry Friend Michelle, we like all the same things, so could have been Twins separated at Birth.  *LOL*  That's her Space behind her at "Sweet Salvage".   She Downsized some time ago so now has a Smaller Living Space and divested herself of a lot to Simplify Life at this Season of Life, so, that Inspires me.   If you see on the Christmas Tree Below that Michelle Decorated, those Ex-Votos Sacred Heart Garlands, I also Bought one of those off her and hung it on one of our Antique Fireplace Mantles in the Livingroom.   She was kinda Hopeful they wouldn't all Sell Out so she could keep one for herself to put on her own Tree at Home.  *LOL*  I should have Bought Two, but, it's pretty long so I thought the One would do... really Love it.

 

Today is our Oldest Daughter's Birthday, she lives in Pittsburgh and we haven't been back there since she got Married over a couple Decades ago.    Hard to Believe but she's turned 52!   I had to remind The Man so he'd give her a call right now.  He has a pretty good relationship with her but they don't talk very often as neither of them are Talkers, but she keeps in Touch with me more via Social Media.  I'm not a big Phone Talker either, but we said Hey just now and talked about the Great-Grandkids, she's a Gramma of Five now and has her Oldest Daughter's Son right now Babysitting him on her Birthday.  She said he's busy throwing the Dog's Toys at her.  *LOL*   She was saying her Oldest Daughter's Middle Child, the One that looks like a Clone of her Mama, is the Hellion.  I could tell just by looking at that One, that she's the Kiddo full of Piss and Vinegar.  *LMAO*

  Of coarse when The Man is talking to her she doesn't know that he makes things up so sometimes I have to let her know how much he's exaggerating or telling Stories.  He was telling her he has to do everything around here, rather than the Kiddos and I, which is the actual Truth that WE do everything, he does nothing really anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   WTF... Honey, since when do you do anything around here but watch TV?!   The Oldest Daughter was Believing that none of the rest of us do anything and are making him do it all, so I HAD to say something about it being a gross exaggeration and that it's mostly the Kids doing everything for us now that they've all moved back Home, which is the Truth.  And I don't even know why he makes things up, but he does it all the time now when he's talking to anyone.  None of it being True, so it's like he's living inside the Fantasy of his own Head Space now?!   And you never know what will fall out of his Mouth that is Untruthful?!  Coz he actually Believes his Lies now!  And he was never a Liar before his TBI and Dementia set in.

 The Kids do all the Yard Work now maintaining our Acreage, the Irrigation, Repairs that I'd have to Hire a Handyman to do otherwise, most of the Housekeeping, almost all of the Cooking.  Everyone does their own Laundry.  They're Helping me with Organizing and Selling in the big Edit and Purge.  So, I didn't want her thinking her Dad was having to do it ALL in his Condition and at his Age.  Mostly he does nothing all day long but watch his Shows and be waited on and taken Care of!   If I don't specifically tell him to Help with something he'd ignore the doing of it indefinitely.  He will do some Dishes now and again or fold Laundry, but mostly if I ASK him to Help with those things.  If the Kids weren't here living with us I'd be either doing it all or having to Hire someone to Help me.  So I do resent him telling the Lies of doing it all or that I'm not Selling things enough. 

 He knows we've had a Space at the Antique Mall for 13 Years now and have Sold more than we've Kept.  He seems to think you can get rid of a Lifetime of possessions in one fell swoop and it doesn't work like that.  

And, it's also how we've supplemented a Fixed Income that sometimes isn't enough if we didn't have that discretionary Income of what I'm Selling Off for a Profit.  Plus, I manage the Finances and have always been the one to Save and Invest Money.  When I met The Man he was so terrible at Finances that he didn't have anything to show for all the hard Work he'd done for all the Years before we met.  He'd never Owned his own Home, but mostly coz he'd Traveled so much in the Military constantly.  I'd owned a few Properties by the time I met him and was the one who convinced him to Invest in Real Estate.  He'd never even used his VA Loan before meeting me and didn't know how that even worked in his favor when Buying a Primary Residence.  

He's being a little more Truthful with her now on the Phone Call, coz he knows that The Son and I came out and kept him Honest on the Call. *Smiles*   I have to Call him Out on his Stories when they get too outrageous or disparaging about people and it's not True what he's made up.  The Son backed me up with his Sister and Joked that their Dad WORKS on keeping his Media Chairs warm.  *Winks and Laughs*   But The Young Prince has explained to me a Backwards Linear Event of Dementia and now it makes more sense.   He told me it's all True, but happened Years ago and his Memories are getting Mixed Up.  He said Grandpa will lose Memories in Annual Sequence, and at some point when his Memories are only prior to 2000, he won't remember who he and his Sister even are.   And, if his Linear Memory Degeneration goes back prior to 1989 he won't remember who I am either eventually, or the Kids he inherited when we got Married that I had previously.

 Now that makes Sense as to Why my Mom remembered me and not my Younger Brother before she Died of the final Stages of Dementia.  She'd Lost Memory prior to 1960 when he was Born, but not prior to 1957 when I was Born.  I had always wondered why she still remembered me before she Died, but not my Brother, who was actually her Favorite Child?  *Smiles*  She did think he was her Brother, coz my Brother and our Uncle looked similar.  Now it makes perfect sense to me and that The Man used to do all the Work at Home that the Kids do for him now, and on his Career, before his Brain Injury and that's where he's now at Memory Wise.   I'll know better what to expect and not get so upset with him, if I understand his Disease better and why he says and does what he does now.  And my Grandson is so Brilliant he can explain almost anything in a way, dumbed down for my benefits, LOL, that makes perfect sense to me now.

It's difficult to live in the World of Dementia as the Caregiver, sometimes I have to step back from it and give myself breaks.   His condition is now his Normal so he'll only worsen and I know that and need to prepare myself for not only his decline, but perhaps my own as well.  Cognitive decline is gonna happen, I have some limitations now that I recognize in myself.  The Man is less Aware of his decline.  And, I must say it's easier living with the Schizophrenics and Dealing with the manifestations of that Illness, than living with someone with Dementia and helping them manage that Illness with any measure of Success and mutual cooperation.  

 I guess it's coz I understand Mental Illness better since I've dealt with it literally all of my Life.   But, only my Mom has had Dementia that I dealt with before The Man also developed it.  And with Mom, when it got unsafe for her to live Alone, it didn't work out for my Brother or I to take her in and attempt to Care for her.  We had the best of Intentions but couldn't meet her at her Point of Need.   And you never wanna get upset with someone about an Illness they can't help and have no control over.  So, as a Full Time Caregiver I try to at least have a measure of Understanding about what I'm Dealing with on a daily basis so I can react appropriately to it.   And, Post Stroke for me has created some of my own Challenges for what it clearly did to my Brain, tho' I was fortunate to recover pretty well considering.

I did Source some more mini Cracker Jack Vintage Trolls at such a low price point I bought most of them the Vendor had Collected.  I think this had to be part of some personal Collection and I liked that there was diversity in Hair Color.   I like little Hoards like this, they don't take up much Space and they can be Fun to have.    The G-Kid Force have been going thru some of my Smalls Collections coz those tend to be their favorites and what they wouldn't want me to get rid of and Sell Off.  It's Interesting to me what they Cherish most of what I have and tend to have the fondest Memories of.  I have always let my Kids and Grandkids use and play with what I Collect.  When they got a bit Older they Decorated their Rooms with whatever I had and would change it up often using various Collectibles they liked best at the time.  Hence, why they asked me not to Sell Off all of the Fiesta Ware, they Loved it more than I realized they did.

 

I've got The Young Prince right now hunting for shit we need to find.  Sometimes we put stuff away and then can't remember it's there.  Right now I have him searching for the Seven to Nine Mrs. DASH Flavors that his Grandpa hid somewhere and now we can't find them.  He was supposed to use those instead of Salt, but he likes Salt and hides Salt Shakers so he can sneak more Salt than he's supposed to have due to his Hypertension.  *Le Sigh*  So, I really wanna locate those Mrs. DASH flavorings which I spent a lot of Money on and he never even used before he hid them so he didn't have to use them!!!  *Huge Sigh but LOL all the same, he's Sneaky like that sometimes when he doesn't wanna do something his Doctors told me he should do or has to do.*

And in looking for the Spices he's squirrelled away, The Grandson found other stuff he did the same and shouldn't have, like Old Meds he never took, so we're disposing of those responsibly too.  *Oy Vey*  Now he's not allowed to touch his own Meds coz he's no longer responsible enuf to administer them or even take them without intense supervision.  So, we have to ensure they're only in our possession and he doesn't have access, and a Family Member makes sure he's taking them and giving them to him directly to watch him take them.  It's not only forgetfulness on his part, he doesn't like having to take Meds and he has a lot of them he must take.  So, he's not always cooperative about it, but for now does comply.  I don't know how Long Term Care Staff ensure their Residents are complying?  We're not Medical Professionals but he's more cooperative with us than he would be with a Stranger at least.

The Young Prince was having Anxiety and a lot of intense Emotion about how much worse his Grandpa is than when he left and moved to New Mexico.  He's not seen the daily decline gradually, so it hits him harder to see the cumulative effect.   And how hard it is to not have this overwhelm you completely.   And why it's so important to have an actual VA Nurse coming to assist with him and see how he's doing and how we're Coping with how he's doing, coz, it's a LOT.  Processing it is often very Emotional and I tend not to show Emotions openly.   So, most of the Family can't tell when I'm feeling Emotional or overwhelmed by taking Care of Dad/Grandpa as he gets further gone in his Illnesses.  It's a lot of responsibility to give Family when someone gets ill enuf they should really be getting Professional Care.  

But, most Families cannot afford it.   I know my Mom's Long Term Care was Costing over $11,000 per Month once she required Long Term Care... and that was many Years ago now.  Her entire Income was around $650 a Month.   And even with very good Two Career Pensions, we don't even clear half that amount of what her Care was Costing every Month.  So, we had to sign her over as a Ward of the State in order for her to Qualify for her Care to be covered.  An agonizing decision to do and you had to liquidate every asset she had before they'd allow it.  So, if she'd still had a Spouse at the time, that Husband would have been left destitute due to the liquidation of everything to provide her to Qualify for Care nobody else could give her.   Dad had Died almost a Decade earlier and went right from a Hospital Room to a Hospice to Die, so he never required Long Term Care.  That's the only reason she was left with anything at all.  It's disturbing that is the Fate of most American Seniors and their Families.   Or, anyone with Chronic or Serious Illness or Disability.

*******

You just keep on keeping on... Dawn... The Bohemian

I Confess... Yes, I Guess You CAN Have Some Fun With AI

 

My Dear Readers all know that I do not like AI... but, I have to now Confess... Yes, I guess you CAN have some Fun with AI.  The Daughter, her Friends, and now many of my Friends are playing with AI Photo Shop Imagery of themselves where you can make and re-make yourself into Younger and Older Versions, Sexier Versions, well, all kinds of Versions of what you could look like with the Help and tweaking of your Image by Artificial Intelligence.  *LOL*   Granted, it's similar to what folks on Social Media have been doing for a long time now when they use Filters, only, better.  Many Moons from now on, anyone looking at your Old Photos won't really know that you never really looked like that at all without the Help of Filters and AI.  And, is that really harmful, since Pro Photographers have done that kind of thing for Years with Airbrushing, Makeup and such of Celebs and Models in their Pixs.

 

My Younger Brother is a Retired Hollywood Photographer whose taken Pixs of a lot of Models and a lot of Celebs, I remember him telling me Decades ago that nobody actually looks like those Pixs without some "Help".  *Smiles*  Yes, some folks are Naturally Gorgeous in Real Life, but Photography has always been a different kind of Reflection of you.  Some people are NOT Photogenic, others really are, without Help from Makeup, Airbrushing and such.  So, it's not always an accurate depiction of what they really looked like in Person anyway.   I remember my Brother telling me which Famous People always took great Pixs no matter what.   Which were difficult to Photograph becoz they needed "Help", either from not being particularly as Photogenic as they were in Real Life, or, just "Help" in general with Airbrushing, Lighting, Makeup and whatever other 'Magic' the Photographer or Studio could Create the Illusion of.

The Daughter sent me some of herself as seen and envisioned for Christmas AI Transformations, I really liked them and thought I'd Share them.  In so many ways it looked exactly like her Younger Self and how she looked in Real Life as a very Young Teen and Young Adult.  So, it wasn't such a stretch to see her just having Time erased.   The more Interesting one was the AI version of her Aged with the Older Hairstyle, depicting what she might appear like as a Senior one day.   Well, to be sure the Skin Tone they depict isn't Aged like Time would Age you Naturally... but, it was a more 'Mature' Look, to be sure.  I won't be around when she's a Senior, so it was nice to see what my Daughter might look similar to when she's my Age one day.

I know Bloggers who are using these kinds of AI Apps or whatever they are to help with Writing and such, which, if it's Helpful to improve something like your Writing, or having Fun with Photography, or Music, I do Confess that I've enjoyed the results.   Even tho' I'm still very cautious about the Negatives that AI will bring to Society, clearly, there are a lot of Positive it can bring to Society as well and I won't discount that fact.   And looking at these Images, I can definitely tell it's my Daughter, so it doesn't distort your Features so much that it doesn't look like you at all... just an Enhanced Version of you, if you will... and that can be a lot of Fun to see how you could be "Enhanced" via these new Technologies tweaking your Imagery and having harmless Fun with it, playing and Sharing the results.   And it was Interesting to see how many people I knew were doing this Photoshopping with AI and how Artificial Intelligence Envisioned them in very flattering attractive ways.

 

A lot of people can be found on Social Media and I can be more than a bit of a Lurker there on The Book Of Faces, I ain't gonna Lie.  *LOL*  I know it's easy to do it on any Social Media Platform including Blogs, where you can Lurk and nobody even knows you have been there and you can remain either completely Anonymous, or make meaningful Contact, your Choice.   And I thoroughly enjoyed all of the Images from The Daughter that she'd played this Game with.   She could even have AI show her what she'd look like as a Man compared to as a Woman... which, is both hilarious and Interesting enuf to be Curious about.   And, if you're Curious about what you might look like with different Hairstyles or Hair Colors, whallah, now you can get an Idea via AI generated Images of you with different Hairstyles and Hair Colors.

So, that's my brief flirt with applauding some of what AI can be Fun with and perhaps beneficial for, I still don't like it overall.  It blurs Reality and what isn't Real too much and we've already had way too much of that to where people can hardly tell the difference.  I can hardly tell some of AI from Reality, it's just already that good as to Fool even the most cynical of us who pride ourselves on discernment and spotting fakes.  Seriously, some of it I can't tell the difference and I'll admit that.   And now, done with The Fluff and on to Politics.   How about that budding Heat Seeking Bromance that went on in the Oval Office between Donnie Two Dolls and Mamdami?   They were Gaming each other like MoFo's!!!  *Eye Roll and LMAOROTF*

 OMG, I thought Donnie was gonna Kiss him or give him a Blow Job, he was so Enamored and Starry Eyes in the Guy's presence!!!  He went from calling him a Commie to practically sounding like Mao... it was fucking hilarious!   But, typical, tho' I can't stand Donnie, he has almost Feral Instincts about whose got Power and Charisma, and is Winning, something he wants desperately to always be close to and associated with.   And his is waning so he wants some of Mamdami's to rub off on him it seems, coz the Guy's Star is on the Rise and they're both Slick Social Media Whores telling Voters exactly what they wanna hear.  No matter if they could actually Deliver, so long as they get In, that's the Gaming of the Voters to get where they wanna Be.    Above is my Adorable Retro Vendor Friend Sarah, who Lives her Fav Nostalgic Era of Bygone Days 24-7 and 365.  Hers is an actual Photo, not Photoshopped with AI.

I made a huge Mason Jar of some Fresh Salsa last Night and it's halfway gone already.  *LOL*   It was a reward to the Kiddos for Decluttering the Rooms of the Main House they're working on that I'd upended again.  I try to do better each time we declutter the House, but over Time I backslide with the Bad Habit of dragging things in that shouldn't be in here and not keeping on top of it.  *Le Sigh*   It's one of my Personal Challenges that is ongoing and I'm a Work In Progress.  Except for doing Dishes, the Kiddos are being better at Housekeeping than me and keeping things in Order and Tidy.  So, they're a big Help to me.  Things tend to get cluttered when I'm not in a good Head Space, that's when I slip and let things pile up instead of Dealing with them as I go.

SAVERS keeps getting in the Cutest Inflatables and they get Sold almost immediately.  People do Decorate with these extensively, I'd think they take up a lot of Storage Space and would have to be kept Climate Controlled so as not to deteriorate, Rubber doesn't do well in an Extreme Hot Climate.  And, these are so fragile and could puncture so easily, and when deflated, just loot messy in a Yard until you inflate them each Evening.  I still prefer Blow Molds for Outdoor Decor for Christmas and Halloween, rather than the Inflatables.  They're Cute tho', and I do enjoy seeing them when they're blown up.   The number of them that get Donated is impressive, there seems to be a steady stream of them for Resale.

 

Today I'll probably take The Man to "Highland Yard Vintage" and "Merchant Square" for their Christmas Event this Weekend.  They're Hosting theirs every Weekend and do a spectacular job, making their Antique Mall a True Destination and Experience for the Holidays.  I Wish ours did almost anything to draw in the same amount of Customers as Trade Stimulating Tactics, but, they don't.  They don't even take advantage of Black Friday Crowds, which is foolishness and I've brought it up every Year for the past 13 Years, to no avail.  Proximity is my barrier to going anywhere else to Sell, I don't want or need long commutes in the City in order to hawk stuff I'm Purging from Home.  Not only the Time spent on the Road, but also the Cost of Gas would be a Factor.  And, with Full Time Caregiving you don't have a lot of flexibility either.

I'm sprinkling in Images taken at the Events now for this Post and Future ones, I have quite a lot of Blog Fodder Imagery right now.  It's barely in the 50's in Temp this Morning tho' so I'm hunkered Inside for now and not too keen on venturing out yet.  Their Mall and Event doesn't Open until 10:00 a.m., but, it's a very long commute to Chandler on the Far East Side from the Far West Side.  I try to keep straight which Images I've already Shared for this Post and others, it's rather like a Memory Care Match Game I play with myself to keep my Mind from going to Mush as I'm Aging.  *Winks*   I have a Method I use and sometimes it works out if I'm consistent with it.  *Smiles*  Keeping your Mind alert is a particular challenge as you're getting Older and you have to find out what keeps your Memory sharpest and Exercise it Daily in that way, just like Physical Exercise, Mental Exercise is crucial to stay in Shape.

Blogging is therefore beneficial to me in so many ways Mentally, Socially, Artistically, Creatively, Physically and Emotionally.   My Arthritic Hands get quite a Workout banging away at these Computer Keyboard Keys.  I wear the Letters right off my Keyboard and I can still Type faster than anyone I know.  The Kiddos and their Friends Love to just stand and watch how fast I can go, like it's Entertainment to them.  *LOL*  I can still lock up a System Typing too fast so I have to use a measure of control to slow my roll actually.   When I worked the Census as a Data Entry Employee they had to bump up the Keystrokes per Hour for those of us so fast we Crashed or Locked Up their System that couldn't keep up with us.  Sometimes I can stop Typing and the Computer is still Typing the Words I did and isn't finished with it yet!  *LOL*   

I exceed 120-165 Words per Minute with consistency and accuracy, by quite a lot actually. Tho' I haven't been Timed lately, I know I haven't slowed down with Age with that Speed or Accuracy.   It's why I was often asked to do some of the Major Crimes Transcriptionist Work by Bureau Chiefs at the DA's Office even tho' I hadn't been Hired as one.  I had good Data Entry and Audit Skills so that was my actual Job there, to enter everything from all the Bureaus Case Files into their Online System, while also doing QC of everything in those Files, making Corrections where necessary, before they got Archived.  It's habitual for me to spot Errors, "Fix" things that are Wrong or need Solutions, and be fast at doing that, so it was a good Fit for me to gravitate into that Field at a District Attorney's Office, when my Corporate Life in Banking led to Retiring.  I actually Liked being a Fixer.  The bigger the Problem that needed a Solution, the better the Challenge.

If I'm not Challenged then I can Bore way too easily and my ADHD and OCD can't handle anything being too slow or too messed up, I can't concentrate and focus if things are slow paced or a Hot Mess.  People who are slow paced or a Hot Mess and very Messy Relationally and Socially, drive me up the Wall.  *LOL*   When Chaos reigns I find it derails so much and causes too much tension, fear, mistakes and confusion, it's why a lot of Bad Actors like creating Chaos actually.  But even Bad Actors usually need their Fixers who get them out of the Trouble they will ultimately get themselves into.   Attorney, Michael Cohen, was Donnie Two Dolls Fixer for Years {2006-2018} and knows all the Dirt and Spilled a lot of Tea about it after he got thrown under the Bus and Served Time for his involvement in the President's Serious Crimes.   A good Fixer knows all the Fuck Ups, Problems and Cover Ups of any Employer.  I like hearing Michael Cohen out, nothing is more dangerous than a Burned Fixer.  *Winks*

John Gotti found that out when he Burned Sammy The Bull Gravano... whose still here... and John's not.   They've been Interviewing Sammy quite a bit lately, and other Serious OG Gangsters of The Mob, since, this Administration is being run quite like a Crime Family and Big Time Cartel.   And there's a slew of Bad Actors in the Shadows of ole' Donnie Two Dolls, Puppeteering their Front Man, you can be sure of that.  And Honestly, right now the Holidays are a nice Uplifting Distraction from all of the Fuckery, so I'm Grateful we're deep into the Holiday Season so I don't have to Think about it all of the time and can detach Mentally from it.   As someone who Naturally gravitates to Fixing, Being a Fixer, and Being Solutions Oriented, when I see serious Problems that deliberately aren't even pretending or trying to be Fixed, I know there's quite the Back Story that goes along with The Why of that.  I am a firm Believer of:  JUST FOLLOW THE MONEY.

Anyway, right now I'm Following the Events that are making our Holidays Fun, Uplifting and provide some much needed Escapism.  I keep Informed, but not Over-Informed, or it would wind me up too tight.  *LOL*   Besides, I'm supposed to be Retired and just Living The Dream, Right?  *Bwahahahaha*   And I only really have to 'Fix' anyone or anything that has become a Problem to me and mine directly now on an Up Close & Personal Basis.  Right now I don't have anything or anyone I have to go to Battle with, or be on the Warpath for, which is Nice, those that were Problematic recently, were Resolved satisfactorily, which, is how I likes it.  *Winks*   I usually will immediately confront a Problem to get Resolution, I don't avoid it and Dance around it.   Be it a Situation or a Person, and even tho' I don't like Confrontation as a Rule, or want to Escalate a "Situation", so I'll usually address it Calmly and with a Simple Statement at first: "Do WE have a Problem?"  It will be up to Who I'm Asking if we DO or we DON'T.  *Winks*  

 

Coz if I have a Problem and you're not part of the Solution, then you're part of said Problem and definitely now you're Involved, whether you likes it or not.  *Bwahahahaha*  How far up the Food Chain you are doesn't really matter to me, I'll start at the Top and Work my way Down preferably.   But, always the Top has the Minions they use as Canon Fodder in their Battles to protect themselves and save their own Asses.  It depends on if those Minions wanna be collateral damage or run it up the Food Chain to avoid being Casualties of that War?   You gotta really get Paid to wanna Fight that fucking hard for someone else's Ass and put yourself in that Position.  And be a Loyal Soldier, willing to Die or Go Down for The Cause, most folks aren't that Loyal actually, just so you know.  So, it's great to premise a Minion with the Choice to be your Ally or your Adversary, their Choice?  

 I make a great Ally.  Is it a Hill they're willing to Die on if you're definitely Coming for Someone, Anyone, doesn't matter to you how many Heads Roll and Scalps are Taken?  Most end up on my Side.  *Smiles*   And this is why you also don't fuck over your Allies, and America is gonna Learn this Lesson the Hard Way due to Donnie Two Dolls fucking over all our best Allies Globally and flirting with our Enemies.   I liken it to those Fools who mess with Bigger Devils than they realize pose them the most Danger and have more Power and Dominion than they can possibly handle or successfully manage or mitigate.   If you Sell your Soul to any Devil then Demonic Forces are Activated and that's some Powerful shit I'd never be Fool enuf to mess with.  Whether you're a skeptic or not, Evil is REAL and it exacts a heavy Price when you Partner with it and mess with it by flirting with it, even a little.  Recognize and Know your Devils in Life and in the Spirit Realm, and stay the fuck away from them.

So, MTG Resigned, she got Burned by the Devils in Life she flirted and messed with, supported and was a foolish very Loyal Soldier for.   And clearly she realized, fuck, can't handle or manage this!  In 48 Hours she realized she was now on a Hit List.  So, she is trying to mitigate now, like someone trying to Exit a Gang or a Mob, you're Lucky if they allow you to and Live to tell the Story later, once you're now a Liability.   When they tried to Hang Mike Pence during the Insurrection, it should have been her Cue and Clue THEN, but, some are slow on the uptake or already too far in deep and way over their Head.  I recognized her as someone feisty, but ignorant and poorly Educated, who got a little Heady when given some Power and Influence, so she forgot which Lane she was even supposed to Be in.  People can be Down for A Cause they truly Believe in and get misguided, weaponized and manipulated, some MAGA just were Rubes, others had Intention and knew exactly what they were Buying into and Supporting for Real.  You're 'Winning' til you're NOT. 

And one thing is definitely True about Cults, you KNOW you've Bought into one when you try to LEAVE.  *Winks*   What happens when you try to Leave is what will mos def define that it's a Cult.   And Cult Leaders are generally intolerant of and vicious with Defectors.  The same holds true for Gangs and Cartels, pretty much.  The biggest difference is that if you join a Gang or a Cartel you know it's one.   Cults can be much more deceptive and most people in them will deny they're even part of one, coz they really don't Believe they are a Cult.   Most MAGA will tell you they aren't in a Cult, even tho' clearly they are, and like all Cults, are in Denial about what it is they're having Cultlike Devotion to and an unhealthy Attachment and protective stance to the Cult Leader of it.  Most MAGA wouldn't defend their own Family like they defend their Cult Leader and excuse anything he says or does, no matter how outrageous, Mentally deranged, or dangerous... typical Cult Behaviors of the Leader of one and the Followers of one.

The Man and I did go to the East Valley for the Event, and had a really good time.  We stopped by "The Tipsy Egg" for Breakfast first, I had a Bennie on a Croissant, it was excellent. {See Below}  And, Yes, it tasted as good as it looks Editorially.  I've never had anything at that Restaurant that I didn't love.   This was the first time I'd tried that particular Bennie on the Menu.  I've had other Bennies there, this was one of my favs and I'd definitely order it again.  The Man had Biscuits and Gravy, he's not very experimental about trying something different and, he's become a very fussy eater since his Brain Injury.  So, getting him to even eat the food rather than play with it on his Plate is challenging enough.  He'll spend more time arranging it and moving it around incessantly than actually eating it.  So, Meals can take a long time and he'll almost never finish any Meal even if he's really liking it.  Now that he has some Dementia too, as well as the TBI, it's all the more challenging.   But he Loves going out to Eat and so it's a Recreational Pursuit we still enjoy doing Together.

 

Even when I was Skinny I was a Foodie, I grew up with a Dad who was a Master Chef so I was spoiled eating Five Star Cuisine my whole Life.  He also did Dietician Work and was Skinny his whole Life coz he said you can enjoy good Food without ever getting overweight if you eat the right Foods in the right amounts and keep your Body Healthy from Disease.  I was never overweight the entire time my Dad was Alive and I do Wish he'd been around to help me with the Weight Gain after having had the Hysterectomy and advised me as a Dietician on how best to manage the Hormonal Shift it caused?   Yes, I've been to Doctors, but, until recently with the Ozempic, and for the Year I spent a Fortune on Nutrisystem, it's been a losing Battle to lose the excess 61 Lbs. I gained after that necessary Surgery.   And it was necessary or I risked getting Cancer, the same Cancer my Mom had battled... she Won her Battle with it, but, I avoided it by getting the Hysterectomy instead.

The Surgeon warned me I would probably Gain about Sixty Pounds, and he was spot on about that fact.   None of my eating Habits changed but my Body sure as shit did on how it processed Food!!!   So, I had to change how I ate instead to try to figure that shit out now, which is really quite complicated.  On Nutrisystem I lost the entire 61 Lbs. and looked fantastic, felt fantastic, but, their Maintenance Program, which I also Paid for, didn't Work for me even tho' I followed it Religiously.  When I've been given instructions on Dietary changes I follow them Religiously and have tried damned near everything one can try to see if that might work long term and be Helpful?   I went Vegetarian for over Two Years, didn't Help, didn't lose any Weight being Vegetarian, none whatsoever!!!  I switched to Vegan for some time as well, since all Vegans I knew were frail and tiny people, I would have been the World's only Fat Vegan, I swear to God, so, chucked that Method.  It's a harsh way of Eating IMO and you lose Friends, not Weight. *LOL & Winks*

I have lost Weight on Ozempic, which I'm taking for Type II Diabetes, with the Bonus being Weight Loss.  I know some folks take it just for Weight Loss tho', I'm not one of them.  It Stabilizes the dreaded Diabetes and I haven't had too many adverse side effects from using it.  I wanted to get a Pix of me wearing my Sumo Santa Ugly Christmas Sweater... it took The Man and The Son several tries to even get ONE damned pix of me in Focus, WTF?   The Son can take Selfies perfectly all day long, but can't take a Focused one of someone standing in front of him!?   The Man, well, it's more understandable he'd struggle, yet, his was actually the best of about 20 they took, I Kid you not and it's the one I have Shared above.  *Le Sigh*   I got a lot of compliments, mostly from Young Men, on my Sumo Santa Sweater, which they said they Loved!

I woke up this Morning very Late, almost Noon before I rolled out of Bed, and, I don't feel too good, the Air seems thick after last Night's Storms.  We're having catastrophic Storms and that may be the New Normal even Post-Monsoon Season now?    I got a clean bill of Health but I just don't feel 100% right now so am taking it easy.  In spite of all the Sleep I do feel Tired still and short of Breath, so I think the Air Quality is shitty outside and I don't know it's Wise to go out into it Today?  I don't have chronic Respiratory problems, The Man has Severe COPD and he's struggling Today too.   I used to get Bronchitis this time of Year, so I try to Guard against that... and of coarse COVID is still around so we get our Boosters for that, Pneumonia, and The Flu every Season.  We got all our Shots early coz a lot of folks we knew who didn't get Immunizations were getting Sick. 

  The Anti-Vax Crowd is responsible for long gone Illnesses returning and becoming Epidemic.  Like Measles, gone for over 50 Years, which now is killing Un-Vaxxed Children again in America.  Arizona Children now are coming down with Measles in droves, it's just tragic as fuck!!!  And dangerous to all Children to be exposed to preventable Illnesses that can be Fatal or cause Harm.   I think any Parent whose Child Dies from a Preventable Illness should be up on Child Abuse and Neglect Charges, that's my controversial Opinion, coz Kiddos rely on having RESPONSIBLE Adults Raising and Protecting them.   I don't know how a Parent even Lives with themselves after their Child Dies from something that was entirely Preventable, had they only done the Right thing by that Child to Protect them?!  I guess their Guilt has to be enough punishment, coz I don't think they're being Prosecuted for it.   I processed enuf Dead and severely Harmed Child Cases in my 2nd Corporate Life to feel very Strongly about Child Abuse and Neglect or Sexual Predation of Children.

I'm currently doing a load of Towels coz we had to use so many to mop up The RV Garage Mahal floor when it flooded during the last Storm and Water seeped in due to Sideways hard Rain!   That Door Jamb is about 5 inches off the Ground, so it was only due to Sideways Rain that any came in under the Door, which has Weather Stripping that is Brand New!!!   The Day looks ominous outside again so I think we'll get another round of catastrophic Storms moving in and I don't know the Ground can absorb more Water in the intense amounts being dumped all at once?  It's concerning and we're doing what we can to rig our own Water Pumping Systems to pump any that breaches our Sandbags, out into the Pasture area.   We're fortunate we have ample Space to pump it to, most Residential Urban Properties do not and they're at higher risk of Flooding than the Mini Farms Community is.  My Pasture is as Green as if I lived in England now!  *LOL*

Since I'm feeling like crap I'm glad I'm not working any Shifts 'til early December to cover for people at the Antique Mall.  I got Four Night Shifts in early December and that's it 'til the end of the Year.   I don't think this Pay Period ended that well again, things are picking up somewhat, but still stagnant for the Holiday Season.  I don't know after Black Friday if things will improve or not Retail wise?   I'm Hopeful, but only Guardedly Optimistic.  I didn't bother with putting much Christmas Merch in there for Seasonal Inventory, I didn't have that much anyway.  But, while at the Event over in the East Valley, a couple of the Designers there asked for my Number to Buy from me directly and that's likely how I'll make more Money from here on out anyway, Selling to Industry Friends by Invitation and Appointment only in Private Sales, Cash.   A lot of things aren't For Sale but it doesn't mean they can't be Bought.  *Winks*

And, if I'm Cash strapped, it's nice to just be able to Sell Off something in a Quick Turn that I don't really need to keep if someone offers me the right price for it.   I can fall out of Love with things if the Price is Right, you know?  *Smiles*  And, I like Cultivating New Contacts with Industry and Creative folks and so I'm getting introduced to some that I really Love their Vibe and Aesthetic of, so we're Kindred Spirits.  Since I'm not really being particularly Creative right now I don't mind Selling Off Creative Supplies for the Artists and Fabricators who'll Create something Awesome with it.   The Thrill Of The Hunt is my Juice anyway so I'll just Source and Find more of what I know they're looking for and be the Middleman all day long, I don't mind at all, we'll all make Money and share in the Wealth of what the Value of it can be.

I was Jazzed that it didn't take me long to find the matching Fiesta Ware Bowl for my Sea Mist Green Fiesta Ware Mug, so that now I have a Set of a different Color that is complete for what I'm Keeping.  Now I only have to find a Shamrock Green Bowl for the Mug of the same Color and a Periwinkle Mug for the Bowl I have of the same Color.   I knew that the East Valley Vendors had a lot of Fiesta Ware, and they did, but not in exactly all the Colors or Pieces I was looking for.   Some Colors and Pieces you see a lot of, Mugs are plentiful but the Bowls, not so much, and specifically in the harder to Source Colors.  I did Score a Chartreuse Pitcher to go with the fav Color my Kids like best that I Kept.  I also kept a Teacup, Dinner and Salad Plate in Chartreuse, as well as the Mug and Bowl.   Sold Off all the other Teacups, Dinner and Salad Plates or Saucers, Sugar Bowl, Creamers, and Rarer Pieces I Owned before in various Colors.  I had a LOT of the Colors when we used Fiesta Ware daily. 

Hunting for Special Pieces if Fun so I don't plan to just be lazy and order them Online, if I can help it.   I don't wanna pay for Postage and risk of Breakage either.   You can complete anything you're looking for by Shopping Online, I know this, so, it's always an Option if you tire of The Thrill Of The Hunt and realize Sourcing something Locally has become futile.   And Retail Therapy is still Cheaper than Real Therapy... just like Blog Therapy is.  *Winks*   And so long as we're still having Fun with it, and the Budget to do it, why not indulge and utilize it as another Investment Vehicle to make more Money later on?   Becoz I don't think this Economy is Recovering anytime soon in our Lifetime, so, we might as well have other Streams of Income flowing in working our Hustles my Friends.  Coz this Government is not gonna do a damned thing for ya if you aren't already obscenely Rich and some American Oligarch that is fleecing America.

*******

Fuck the Establishment... Dawn... The Bohemian