Beating Burnout ~ For Packrats Only

 

I actually did some work in The RV Garage Mahal last Night around Sundown, it was so pleasant that the temps in there were ideal.  I'm feeling a bit guilty that I've neglected helping The Daughter with the Project, becoz I should have.  Having some burnout with it all has plagued me tho' and she knows it so has told me not to push myself to do it if I'm not in the right Head Space to.  She's probably right, you're not that effective if you're in the wrong Head Space to do anything.  Beating Burnout is a challenge tho'.  I was most effective at tackling it during Pandemic Lockdown, go figure!  Being a captive audience actually was beneficial to me not escaping or avoiding what I needed to do and didn't want to be doing.  So, I faced the Gauntlet.  *Smiles*

Sometimes, if I can be doing anything else besides tackling it, I do something else otherwise.  *Le Sigh*   And I really do need to make decisions in there about stuff, she's doing all the work and organization, but leaves the decision making up to me, coz it's my stuff.  I haven't really even done an Editing & Purging or Downsizing Blog Post in a long time.  I'm sure there are some Dear Readers also struggling with this task, I know I'm not the Lone Ranger.  When picking Princess T up from Work I bought a Book in their Book section called for packrats only and deals with how to clean up, clean out and dejunk your life forever.  Well, that's a mighty big claim, that last piece... but... whatever... for Two Bucks, I'll bite.   *LOL*

I'm not an avid Reader, most of my Book Hoard is Visual.  I have a multitude of Cookbooks and just becoz they have great Visuals doesn't mean I Cook.  So, having a Self Help Book for Downsizing and Decluttering is no guarantee it will be any more effective either.  *Winks*  But, what intrigued me about it was the Author delved into the barriers people like me face when dealing with their Packrat tendencies.  So, I felt, it could be Helpful?  Believe it or not the Show HOARDERS was very Helpful to me at times.  Even tho' I couldn't relate to the type of Hoarding most of the profiled Subjects were doing, the Therapists and Organizers comments did help me too.

One time on the Show they did have a Collector who had The Good Stuff, but, Too Much of it.  That was the only Subject I definitely could relate to, becoz it's not as if Hoarders like us can't throw out actual Trash and what is worthless, we easily can and do.  I can go thru even Wardrobe and everyday household Objects and Purge them ruthlessly, efficiently and quite often, keeping only what I wear, fits or need.   But when you've Collected The Good Stuff with actual Value, it's not like you're gonna just throw it away or Donate it in bulk, that would be foolishness.  If you had Too Much Money, would you just throw it away or Donate the majority of it, or know how much is Just Enough and not Too Much?  I think not.  So, The Good Stuff Hoards is like that dilemma.

I do Donate what other folks could use and isn't throw away items, so I do make a lot of Donations during this Project.   And anything not worth Donating or is Trash is quickly thrown out.  But when it comes to the Valuables, I'm trying to Purge those by Profiting off the Sale of them mostly and that too is a Process.  It is Labor intensive and why I have Rental Space in an Antique Mall.  Where I'll be Working Tonight to fill in for someone actually, so I have the whole Back Seat of my Truck filled with Inventory to bring in that I spent most of Tuesday pricing.  I'm bringing in some higher dollar Collectible Antiques this time.  Those of a genre that rarely gets Stolen, since, Theft has been problematic and I'm tired of being ripped off, especially of expensive Merch.   But I don't like the Violation of being Victimized at all, period.

It's annoying enuf when inexpensive Smalls get Shoplifted, but when any expensive Merch goes missing and probably walked off unpaid for, I'm fuming.  We do what we can in the way of Loss Prevention, but, you can only do so much.  A determined Thief will always find a way.   And it annoys me all the more to know some other fellow Vendors are Stealing from the rest of us.   That one Bitch, Vendor #46, who got caught Red Handed Stealing from me, I wonder how many other Stores she Shoplifts from and how much of her Inventory is Hot and she's Stolen?   She Rents a LOT of Space at the Antique Mall, so they haven't banned her or bounced her, and they should.  But, she probably Rents more Space than anyone else right now, so I know they won't.  She has good Quality Merch, so when she Shoplifts it's not the Cheap stuff either.

My Hope has always been that if she's a true Klepto or Professional Shoplifter, one day she'll be doing Time for the Crimes.  I heard she's a Retired School Librarian and I wouldn't want someone like her around my impressionable Children, since, she can't be Trusted and is a shameless Thief.   She's also a huge MAGA Devotee and Sells most of the MAGA Merch at our Mall, so why does that also not Surprise me that she'd be drawn to openly Support other Career Criminals who rip Honest People off?   Birds of a Feather.   I keep my Eyes on her all the time and put her on blast constantly, here and in Real Life.  I wouldn't even be Surprised if it was her that has Stolen something like the NAVY Jersey, she's that brazen about ripping off other Vendors and doing it more than once to the same Vendors.  Like I said, it's known she's Stolen from me Twice now that I KNOW of for certain.  So, she's put herself in my Crosshairs.

I happen to have a Pix of The Thief, she's the busted looking dour and sour one on the Left, the other Two Ladies are Friends of mine, sadly the one in the Middle passed away last Year.  They are exceptional people and it shows in their Radiant countenances.  Miss Five Finger Discount's shows what and who she is in her countenance, no Words needed.   And yeah, I'll put that Bitch on Blast on Social Media becoz she's a Thief and I've confronted her about it publicly anyway.  In fact, the last expensive thing she got caught red handed Stealing from me she had to bring back or I would have pressed charges if she hadn't.  And I confronted her in front of the Manager until she confessed to what she'd done.  I said she had the choice of bringing it back, catching charges, or, we could settle it in the Parking Lot.  She chose to bring the Mannequin she Stole from me back.  The KISS Collectible she Stole from us we couldn't prove beyond a reasonable doubt, but The Grandson and I identified it and told Management she'd taken it and switched Tags to one of hers.   But, she Sold it quickly or took it out of Inventory when she knew we could Prove it.

Anyway, the challenge will be to find adequate Space to put all this new Merch, since, I've maxed out my available Space pretty well now.  I do Sell quite a lot of Smalls every Pay Period.  But, they don't clear out and free up a lot of Space even if you Sell an abundance of them.  I did discover that if I put an oversized Squishmallow on Top of our Locked Case, it Sells right away.  So, I'm replacing one Today that got Sold from up there recently.  Princess T had Purged a lot of her Collection and some of them take up a lot of Space, but, are a Quick Turn, the Kids Love and Collect them.  The problem I'm having now, her Mother gets attached to what her Daughter is getting rid of, so, it rarely ends up in the Antique Mall For Sale... dammit!  It's all now Hoarded over in the Art Studio Space and in the 5th Wheel now!  Yeah, the Apples didn't fall far from The Tree... me... *Le Sigh*

I was talking to The Niece last Night and she doesn't know when The Young Prince expects her to go get him and bring him back to Arizona.  He hasn't had much contact with her and he should be giving her some timeline by now.   I've sent him a PM telling him she said he hasn't had much contact with her and she needs a timeline to be able to afford her Bus Fares.  I plan to reimburse her for that too, so both she and I need to know somewhat in advance when that expense and outlay is expected?   I've still got to do my Taxes, but my Social Security and County Pensions are being more delayed every Month that this Regime has been in Office!  So, I'm always nervous whether I'll get them at all, and even when I do, I have no idea when, it's never on time anymore.  I have to check Online Daily now to see when I get actually Paid and then can pay Bills that I use my Income for!  It's nerve racking and I know the Ketamine King is fucking with our Earned Income now.

He Imagines the Money we Paid into Social Security and our Pensions is some kind of Ponzi Scheme.  Which makes me aware he doesn't even know what a Ponzi Scheme actually even is!   Among other things he's totally ignorant and clueless about, but is being put in charge of.  For someone allegedly so brilliant and a Genius, and the wealthiest Man in the World, I'm pretty astounded at how much he doesn't know and is completely ignorant or uneducated about!   That's Curious indeed and leaves me with way more Questions than Answers.   Most of what DOGE has been transparent about and reported, has been erroneous, grossly exaggerated or downright Lies so far.  And, they haven't been transparent about most of what they're doing, it's all concealed and nobody knows.  So, if there's that many errors in the small amount they're disclosing, how bad is it what they're fucking up and not revealing or required to have disclosure of?  Things we Need to know.

I don't like Secrets and Mysteries when someone I don't know or Trust has access to my Money and is messing with it.  That's the Security of my Family and what we've Earned thru our Hard Work.   So I don't want some entitled acting arrogant insatiably greedy Billionaire presuming to make decisions about what isn't his and is ours.  Don't mess with my Money and put my Family at Risk or in jeopardy, or you'll be my sworn Enemy.   And I think most decent, hard working and Honest Americans feel strongly that way.  I don't think anyone is adequately representing us right now so we better be looking out for ourselves and having our own Backs and each others.   Sadly, Americans are so divided right now and so much divisiveness has been sown by Bad Actors on purpose, to keep us opposed and not united, that we've made ourselves more vulnerable and easier to exploit and manipulate.  Divide and Conquer.

Tomorrow is one of my favorite Events, the Theme this Month will be "You're Home", which, is a brand new Theme they've never had before, so don't know what genre of Merch will dominate?   So, I scoped out the Social Media Sneak Peeks.   The only Object I really liked is Below and something too big so I wouldn't be a Player, I don't Buy big Furniture anymore, no place for it.   But, it's definitely something I'd of bought when I did have the Room and would have use for it, and it's Black... so... you know.  *Winks*   This Weekend is also the kickoff of another Event at another Venue with the Theme of "Garden, Pails & Fairy Tales".  I didn't see anything on Social Media I'd need or buy, but it's got so much Spring Eye Candy going on that I'll probably attend both Events anyway to just be Inspired and do something that has Positive Energy for the kickoff of the Season of renewal and rebirth.

And of coarse I'll be Pathological Picture Taking for plenty of Blog Fodder while at any Event I'm covering.   I have missed some others that had Opening Day earlier in the Month, while we were going thru our Personal Crisis and had to prioritize all of that.   Now that things have settled down I can do some Recreational stuff now that Uplifts and Buoys the Spirit.   And don't we all need Uplifting and some Spirit Buoying right about now?  *Winks*   I have been doing some more Self Care and plan to increase it, since, I feel the results of making it a priority.  There's a lot going on and it depletes us, draining us of our Energy, especially Positive Energies.  I think otherwise people can despair and get seriously depressed if they aren't balancing their Head Space when it's off kilter.

I sent the documentation and Complaint off to the AG's Office Today, we'll see what their Investigation turns up about that Lender's practices which are highly suspect?   It's bothersome to me that Predatory Lending isn't shut down entirely by the Government as a Criminal Activity and Enterprise.  Anyway, it's done now and we'll see what happens, if anything?   Even if all that happens is they re-apply my first Payment on that Loan correctly, it will have to be enough.   I went in to the Antique Mall earlier, when I went to make the Copies to send to the AG, becoz I realized I couldn't leave for Work early, due to having to pick The Granddaughter up from Work by 3:30-4:00 p.m., I have to be in Work by 5:00 p.m., so I wouldn't have had Time to do what I needed to otherwise before my Shift.  

As it was it took me an Hour to put everything into Inventory in both the Showroom and the Locked Case and tidy everything else up.  I'd had pretty Strong Sales for the first few Days of this Pay Period and it was very busy for a Wednesday Morning too.  I'd Sold a lot of Shirts, but, still no Word from Management on Investigating the missing NAVY Jersey.  I'd asked them to review Security Tapes of the Camera that is covering the Entrance to my Showroom.   They've not responded to my formal inquiry to review Security Footage from around the Date it was missing to know who came in and out or if any of them had the Shirt visible leaving the Showroom?  I know they scrub the Security Tapes and Tape over them, so my concern is they'll delay until they can say the Tapes are scrubbed?  That's happened before even when Thieves are caught on Tape doing their dirty deeds.  

I had about $300 missing once of Inventory and caught the Thieves on Tape, I asked Management for a Copy of Stills identifying the Shoplifters so I could press Charges.  They never supplied my Stills and scrubbed the Evidence, which really pissed me off since they'd caught a Crime in progress on the Tapes and it was good Footage of the Faces of the Thieves too, which would have been Helpful when filing a Police Report.  Anyway, I suspect strongly that if the footage showed another Vendor they don't want high Drama about being caught Stealing, like it did that time my Mannequin was Stolen, so we knew which Vendor it was responsible, it would be handy to scrub the Evidence.   Coz if it was that same Vendor, for sure I'd be pressing Charges this time and testifying that she's done it before, but brought the Stolen Merch back when we had Evidence... so, I was urged by Management then to forgive the offense, and I did.  I regret that I did actually.

Anyway, if Stolen Objects are returned voluntarily by who Stole them, I'm not sure they'd suffer any consequences anyway?   It happens so seldom, I would think, so the Courts are backlogged with Thieves who never voluntarily returned what they Stole.   I got that Stolen Merch back and though upset about it, it was recovered so I didn't suffer an actual Loss that time.   But, I knew it was her 2nd time Targeting us and no telling how many more Vendors she's ripped off or skimmed from the Mall in other ways?   I've heard that some Vendors have been known to do their "Shopping" in the Lost And Found, Claiming items that were never theirs, but, they said were.  There's not a way to verify that on an item that ends up in Lost And Found really, so nobody disputes it.   But, I've heard other Vendors say certain Vendors are Claiming a lot from Lost And Found often, so it's highly Suspect... and probably is.

I've heard that the Mall just throws it away if it's not Claimed anyway within a certain amount of time... and, in the Past they were known to give it to certain Vendors if not Claimed.   I always felt it should be Donated to a Charity if not Claimed, which would be a more responsible way to Deal with it.  Anyway, not my Policies, so, whatever...   I recently looked in the Lost And Found Closet to see if the NAVY Jersey or all those Action Hero Comic Books and their Lucite Display happened to be in there?  They weren't, but a Small of mine was in there that I hadn't even realized was MIA, so I was able to recover that and put it back into Inventory.   I try to check the Lost And Found quarterly, most of the time nothing of mine has been in there, but every so often there is.  If I'm not sure something is mine I won't Claim it.

*******

Blessings, Love and Light from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

How Was I A Carefree Nomad For So Long?

 

Our Manager called me on Monday to make sure I can still work on Wednesday Night, I told him that since The Man is Home and doing well now, I can.   The Sale is over so it won't be that busy usually on a Wednesday Night and the comped Rent will be Helpful while Sales remain Soft.  I don't mind working at all, I just needed to know I could still do it and was recovered enough.  I feel that I am now and back up to speed to do most things I did prior to the stupid Stroke.  It did limit me at first, but not all that long when you consider it was only just before Christmas.   Three Months to recover after a Stroke is faster than I expected actually.  Even tho' it was scary not to know how long I'd have the effects of it or if they'd be temporary or permanent.

Both the Cardiologist and the Neurologist seemed quite pleased with my progress and didn't need to see me again for Six Months, which was a good Sign IMO.   And my Primary Physician also felt I was on track for a full recovery too.   I am gonna talk to her about Weight Loss assistance since the Cardiologist felt I might need to change the Trulicity with Ozempic to aide in that Goal.  I know if I can get down to 157-160 Lbs. the Diabetes just goes away, I've done it before.  Maintenance seems to be the trickier part to keep it off and not gain it back again.   My Metabolism after a Hysterectomy and Menopause has been quite haywire.   I don't think that's uncommon, but it is quite frustrating and annoying.  Getting in shape becomes more challenging as you grow older too.  So, I'd like to already be in shape as I'm Aging.

I have a bunch of good Quality Inventory to Price before Wednesday Night so I can take it in when I work that Night.   It's Quality and yet not the genre of Merch that gets Stolen, I'm having to consider that all the time now, unfortunately.  *Le Sigh*  No use bringing in too much Quality Merch that is expensive and have it just walking out the Doors unpaid for.  Security Measures just have not been as effective as they should be, which is why I am highly suspecting another Vendor is the culprit.  I could be Wrong, but, it's too consistent in hits to be a Shopper, it would bring attention to a Thief showing up regularly and stuff goes missing each time they're there, unless, they already Work there or have Space there.  That's my Theory and what my Spidey Senses tell me might be the problem.   We know of Vendors that are dishonest and have Stolen in the Past who are still there and Management hasn't Evicted them.

Anyway, I have my Locked Case crammed so full I can't put any more in there and some items are too large to put in there or Display there properly.   So, it is a dilemma for now.   I've done some things to inhibit Thieves and make it harder for them, that's all you can do.  I also keep leaning on Management and filing grievances and complaints when Theft is way up.   I'm sure I'm not the only one, if I've been Victimized and Targeted I'm quite sure others have also.  Many have more desirable Merch than I do and might even be having more problems actually.  I do know of at least one Male Vendor who had to take ALL of his specific Genre of Merch out of there coz too much was getting boosted and he was losing Hundreds of Dollars worth consistently.   Nobody whose a Small Business can sustain such Losses.   And I know the Costume Jewelry and Rock/Crystal Vendors get hit a lot and always have.  

Anyway, enough of that... I simply can't dwell upon it or what has already been taken or remains MIA.   I watched more of the last Season of LOST and must be very close to the End now... it only has 18 Episodes and I'm on Episode 13 now.   I couldn't tell ya how it's gonna End, it's been very complex all along so, no Spoiler Alerts, the 1st Three Seasons were easier to follow than the last Three.   It seems the Survivors must deal with Two possible Outcomes, that's all I've been able to fathom.  Depending on which Outcome is how their Lives will be.   I think the final Message will be confusing, it seems they didn't quite know how to Write an Ending, and prolonged more Seasons than they should have.  So I think I may be disappointed at the conclusion, I don't know everything will be resolved?  I'm preparing for that actually, the Writing definitely seemed more Lost than the core Characters.  *LOL*   But, I got too Invested in the core Characters to really care how bad it was getting.  *Smiles*

Above is my Food Porn from the Zoo Restaurant "Dillons", which was good even tho' they got the Order wrong.   The whole Order was supposed to be Grilled Blackened Fish AND Shrimp, but they battered and Fried the Shrimp.  It was still good but I would have preferred my Order to be what I asked for an had Grilled Blackened Shrimp instead.  I didn't eat the Chili, I brought that Home for The Man so he'd have Lunch when I got back.  I knew the St. Paddy's Day offerings wouldn't be ready until around 4:00 p.m..   He didn't end up eating any of that, his Appetite since the Congestive Heart Failure has been compromised still.   But the Kiddos, tho' they all whined and complained about Corned Beef and Cabbage, said it smelled so good they all gave it a go... and lo and behold, they all came back for seconds and Loved it, raving about how good it tasted!  *LOL*

I try to convince them all the time that every 7 Years every Cell of your Body has changed so try things again, it might be the Year your Tastes change about something you previously disliked... or liked.   I used to Hate Shrimp, now if it's the larger Shrimp I really enjoy it.  I used to Hate Brussels Sprouts, now if they're Grilled and Charred, I Love them.  I used to Hate Swiss Cheese, now I Like it just fine.   Anyway, this was a very fine Meal and inexpensive to feed both of us a Luncheon.   The Daughter has made us Breakfast of Oatmeal with Fruit and Toast that has Raspberry Jam on it.   Then we had the St. Patrick's Day Traditional Meal for Dinner.  We have only a little bit of that as Leftovers becoz we did have Company at Dinnertime and they joined us.  Everyone has been worried about The Man and so several came by to greet him back Home from the Hospital and see if we needed any Help.

And here's a couple Pixs of the Flamingo Enclosure by my Alfresco Dining Table on the Patio, I was seated right by them.   I liked my vantage point and the only thing about sitting so close is people coming to stand and take Photographs.  Some respect your Privacy and don't intrude too close to a Table with someone eating, others seem oblivious.   I get that people want to take Pixs, but be respectful of not getting too close to an occupied Table while doing it.   Especially those who have Children and just let them be unsupervised and do whatever they want in a Restaurant setting, where they're running around like Banshees, loud and disturbing other Patrons.  There is a respectful way to allow your Kiddos to see anything with a View and attracts them.  And, they should be Supervised and behaving appropriately at all times IMO.  When I'm Paying for something for my own Relaxation, Entertainment or Recreation I don't wanna have to Deal with you or your Feral Children.

 

It amazes me how many Parents and Grandparents think that it's "Cute" that their misbehaving Kiddos are making a Scene or out of Control in Public.  Word Up: NO, it's not Cute, nobody else thinks it's Cute either.  I don't blame the Child if it's very Young and the Adult is being irresponsible and has no control over the situation.   But with Older Kiddos, there's really no excuse.  Even if their Loved Ones aren't up to the Job, you're in Society, so at some point you Observe what is appropriate and acceptable Social Behavior and what is not... you're getting feedback and messaging all the time... so it then becomes a Choice.   I would find it hard to Believe you could coast thru Life being Socially Unacceptable and nobody has ever said anything to you about it or not had it impact you Negatively and with some consequence and a modicum of awareness.

Yes, some folks might be overly Polite, long suffering, or Quiet about a Public nuisance, but many of us aren't.  So at some point in your Life, if you're a Public nuisance, or a complete Asshole, you'll run into those like us who will let you know it and if you can't handle the Truth, or can only handle what you Want to Hear and not what you Need to Hear, oh well, sucks to be you then.   But at some juncture, you'll be confronted about what most of Society finds unacceptable and you're doing or being.  When I was at the Mediterranean Restaurant there was a large rude, loud Group together than came in at just the end of my Meal, Thankfully.  They had a Toddler Aged Son/Grandson with them, it was Three Generations of a Family, the kind you don't want to have to sit next to anywhere.  Well, they sat at the Table next to me on the Patio, I'd already had to Deal with the rude Grandfather at the Beverage Station, a total inconsiderate Asshole.

He blocked the Beverage Station for an inordinate amount of time just getting complimentary Ice and Water.  People who had Paid for their Drinks were stacking up behind him, patiently waiting.  He was oblivious and dicking around with about 8 Water Cups, taking far longer than it should ever take to get Ice and fucking Water!   Everyone was being overly Polite and long suffering, finally I just got right up on his Ass and shoved my Drink Cup around him to get my Ice and Paid Beverage.  He looked at me and I gave him the Death Stare... he walked off without taking any of the Cups of Ice and Water... and everyone else could then get their Paid For Drinks.   Smiling and Nodding at me that I'd cleared the way.  No telling how long Grandpa would have continued dicking around and holding everyone up... I wasn't gonna Time it, my Food was getting fucking Cold at my Table while waiting on him!!!

So then Granny had the Little Boy at their Table by herself while his Parents and other Young Adults were dicking around inside too, as indecisive and slow as Grandpa was.   So, the Toddler's Soup came to the Table before any of the rest of their Group even decided upon their Order at the Registers.  Apparently it was a Soup he was to Share with his Grandpa, they hadn't gotten a Child's Meal for the little Guy and clearly he was very Hungry and being made to wait to Eat too long.  So he got very fussy, he could see the Soup, wanted his Soup, Granny wouldn't give it to him, insisting he was going to be Sharing it with Grandpa and had to wait.  And so he'd have to wait 'til Grandpa finally sauntered to the fucking Table, which, was taking too long, so the little one went into hysterical meltdown.  Which was understandable.   Gramma was unmoved and withholding the Food from the Child and at some point it made me Mad, it was disruptive to all of us, and not fair to that hungry Child.

By then I was finished and leaving anyway, so I turned to his Granny, Smiled and calmly said, "Wow, he's really ready for his Soup and seems quite hungry... perhaps the Waiter could give you a small Bowl for his Portion he's Sharing with his Grandpa?"   He quit fussing and Smiled at me and I Smiled back and Granny looked pissed, but I'd been loud enuf to bring attention to her by other Patrons.  So I could tell she was now put on the Spot, seething and yet uncomfortable.  Withholding Food from a Toddler, who was hungry and melting down unnecessarily is just cruelty.  Due to being denied the Food he knew was at least partly his to be Eating and was right there, but being held just out of reach.  He had his little Hands reaching for it and saying Soup, Soup, over and over again.  Which to me is a torment he didn't deserve, Christ, the Kid was only about 2... and was creating an unnecessary Scene for everyone there to endure and Witness!   

How long did she expect a little one like that to patiently wait while the rest of the Adults in the Family dicked around long after the Kid had received what his Order was?!  They were still at the Register being indecisive and holding up everyone else trying to order.  It was Lunchtime busy too, folks were stacking up at the Registers behind this Family!  People on their Lunch Breaks were getting impatient with this Group, I was glad to be leaving not long after they had arrived, whew!  I don't know what's Wrong with some People... and why some days I'm just not up to Peopling... I knew I was Emotionally more Raw due to The Man's Medical Emergency, so, I just wanted a nice quiet, peaceful and uneventful Meal.  Didn't wanna deal with any Problem People or their Feral or Fussy Children.  *LOL*  The ones with Kids running around like Banshees and screaming shrilly at Restaurants, bumping into People and their Adults do and say nothing to Control them, are the worst, there were some of those there that day too.

The Quilt Square Post had been very well received, and Food Porn always is, I'll try to keep plenty of Eye Candy coming in Future Posts even if it's sometimes peppered with Rants.  *Winks*  We need some National Escapism right now and we do appreciate the Supportiveness of our International Friends who realize all Americans haven't gone over to a Political Dark Side of Evil Intent.  Honestly more than half of America is as horrified as the rest of our Friends abroad at the direction our Country has taken.   The problem is, not enough Voted against it and so now here we are!  I really never Imagined something like this in my Lifetime, since for all the Years I've been Alive we've enjoyed what Past Patriots made the Sacrifices to give us and the rest of the World.   When you think that for 80 Years, give or take, it's held, that's remarkable.  But, being it's been so long now, I suppose too many took it for Granted?

I had deleted and re-written this section of the Post since I'd gone very Dark myself and decided, No, I don't wanna go there.   Or at least not stay there after I did go there and then erased it.  *LOL*  Writing it felt good, re-reading it did not, so I didn't wanna burden Dear Readers with the weight of it.  That's the Beauty of Writing and Editing what you've Written, you get do-overs.  Life isn't that forgiving.  Nor that merciful usually.  Since I'm Working Tomorrow Night I decided I must gird myself Today to get busy with Pricing Inventory to bring in with me then.  I've been slack about so much, with The Daughter slogging away in The RV Garage Mahal, I've done naught in there myself.   I just haven't even had the desire to do anything but go in when she's asked me to critique what she's done in there.  It's transforming Beautifully and I don't wanna get in the way of that either.

But, I thought I'd join her more and partner with her in the endeavor and shamefully I have not.   I think I got burnout from too long of the doing of it myself, so when I finally got someone willing and able to assist, I passed the Baton on the Relay of it.  That's the only explanation I have that makes sense, coz I want it Done... I really, really, do, but I'm so ready for it to be Over, you know?  I want to be all moved in finally, all unpacked, all settled in, all downsized enough to feel I don't have to devote so much Time and Energy towards that endeavor anymore.  There have been Four successive Properties now I've started from Scratch on and I'm weary of it by now, a couple of Decades of that and  you're spent.  I don't know how I was such a carefree Nomad for so long, except that I had barely any Cargo then so Wanderlust could be indulged and enjoyed more.

I am to the place now where I never wanna hafta Move again... and if I did HAVE to, I wouldn't want any Cargo to drag along with me.  *LOL*  If I could do a Move, take everything and set it back up within Hours, I'd probably not mind Moving at all.   When you have a lot of Cargo, it just becomes logistically complex... and more expensive... and a LOT more Work.   But, dammit, I like my Cargo, I've spent a Lifetime in the accumulation of it.   And, more importantly, it's my Economic buffer rather than piles of Money, which is devaluing as we speak and being wiped out by various present factors.   Those with IRA's are distraught at the sudden losses, intentionally caused by a Heartless Elite Regime that doesn't Care if they destroy the Future or the Retirements people were gonna rely upon for their very Survival and to maintain their Independence or any Quality of Life.

Most of the Young didn't see a Future for themselves and now most of the Old don't either.   The Future does seem bleak and compromised now and I don't even have Words sometimes for how that leaves me feeling.  I am living in the Moment and realizing that is the best Space to try to just Hold.   I know being Mindful has been very overplayed these days, but we need to be in tune with Mindfulness right now.   Being Present and fully Engaged in The Moment, observing Thoughts and Feelings without judgment, can help us reduce Stress and improve our Focus.   Since I don't wanna be overly Stressed Out of having Negative Energy, I'm really Focusing on Mindfulness and being Grateful daily now.  Enjoying what we do have to be very Thankful for.  America, in spite of present Politics, has much abundance and good fortune that many around the World lack.  We've just taken it for Granted too long or been oblivious of even having it so much better than most of the World.

The Daughter, after suffering hardships and Problems of a Third World Kind for Two Decades, says she's much more appreciative now of how abundant America has it.   Even when I was Poor in America I had it better than most of the rest of the World.  I was always aware of that since we'd traveled the World.  And when I hear most Americans who Voted in this Orange Train Wreck complain about previous Administrations, I ask them how they had it SO BAD?  Enlighten me!  They are at a loss for an explanation, coz frankly, they didn't have it SO BAD at all.  In fact, most of them have had it pretty damned Good all their Lives if Truth be told.   I'm not saying they might not have had some challenges or Issues of Life, but overall, they enjoyed tremendous Privilege they take for Granted every day, Life is pretty good for all of them that I know.   None is living in abject Poverty, none has to worry about where their next Meal is coming from, none was Homeless.

You know who I never had heard a Complaint from, the folks who've Immigrated here from 3rd World Countries and REALLY suffered Hardships and Lack.   They see the America of abundant opportunities.  Even if and when they're being exploited by Americans who are getting Rich off the Backs of their hard and grossly underpaid Labor.   I've lived in lower income Neighborhoods, and I've once been Homeless and lived among them too.   Yet, I've never heard the bitching and complaining that I hear in Middle Class and Upper Class Neighborhoods, ever.  And that's a Truth I think is worth telling and reflecting upon.  Why is it that those who have it the best find the most to be Ungrateful for or it's just never Enough?   What was it that Uncle Joe or any previous competent President do that made Life so unbearably rough to Survive for the folks who have it pretty damned Good in Life?   I'll wait...   What was so Bad for them that it all must be blown up and destroyed, replaced with Fascism?  Again, I'll wait...

You know what it reminds me of?   Seeing a very Immature Small Child in a Store, who you can tell probably already has so many Toys they can't possibly Play with them all, and is pitching a fit and melting down coz their Parents won't give them another one!   Yet, I've seen Poor Children in the Low Income Neighborhoods I've lived in playing with Plastic Grocery Sacs stuffed together to make into Balls, Cans and Sticks, playing contentedly and not having Emotional Meltdowns that they have Nothing.   The Kiddo whose so spoiled they have Too Much is wanting MORE, the Kiddo with nothing isn't so preoccupied with what they don't have.   And most Americans who've complained so much and supported this Regime devoutly are often acting like those spoiled Children, wanting, wanting, wanting, even if Life is pretty damned Good for them... and wrecking everything in a Rage if they don't get MORE.  The Selfishness and Egos being insatiable, the "Othering" to blame their gripes upon is so that they don't have to be introspective.

I've heard some MAGA I know complain about past Administrations, who have more than one Vehicle, more than one Home, often Paid for, great Retirements, or great Careers, lacking nothing in this Lifetime.  But they complain incessantly and think everything this Regime is doing is still worth Supporting!  And everything is all about them all the fucking time.  I kid you not.  I do have a difficult time not challenging that level of being a Spoiled Privileged Adult who doesn't have a fucking Clue what Hardship really is at all.  Don't even try to Play the Victim with me, when Life has been so abundantly Blessed for you that most of the rest of the World could only Dream what it's like to be You for a Day!!!  And then have the absolute Gall to resent the Poor, the Oppressed, the Marginalized, those who struggle and strive to make a better Life for themselves too or just to fucking Exist and Survive each day.  Why begrudge them what little they have when you have so fucking much?  And presume to know what it's like to BE them!!!

Okay, decompressing now coz I'll otherwise be dropping so much profanity you'll think a Sailor is Writing this Post.  *Winks*  I do say Fuck a lot, for the sake of warning New Readers.  *LOL*   But when there's a lot of Fuckery going on, well, it is the right Word and there really hasn't been any adequate substitutes I can think of.  *Bwahahaha*   Above is some of the Faux Food, which I Photographed a lot of while at "Ivy & Sage" and for some reason not all my Pixs turned out to be worthy of using as Blog Fodder.   Okay, so I know the reason actually.  I had forgotten my New Gifted By Debra in Canada Camera here on my Desk while downloading previous Photos and only had my Old Camera in my Purse... dammit and Fuuuuck.  Well, it still Works and has room on the Memory Card, so I made do.  And, some Pixs just didn't turn out, but many did and they're used here, so it wasn't a Panicked Moment when I looked in my Bag and shit... no New Camera AND the Charge on my Cellphone was low too, so I didn't risk using that Camera too much instead!  *LOL*

The Daughter has been using my Phone since hers she gets from the State is still on the fritz with the leaky Battery.  So, until we take it in to see if it's fixable somewhere, or replaceable by the State, she often is on mine enuf it has a low charge.  I rarely use a Phone, it's mostly like Ornamentation for me.  *Winks*  But, she would go into horrible Withdrawal without one.  Oh, it wouldn't be Pretty, as the Young Generations just do now, it's some major Withdrawal they go thru.   Seriously, she kicked Dangerous Drugs all by herself without Rehab even, but, being without a Phone, the Withdrawal she claims would be much worse!   That's just how Addictive Modern Devices are my Friends, to those who Need that Fix, I kid you not!!!   *LOL*  On a Serious Note, Kiddos under the Age of about 15 shouldn't even be getting Addicted already or they're doomed to be Tech Junkies BAD.  There's even Tech Rehab now and I'm not even kidding about that, it's Addictive by Design.

I refused to let The G-Kid Force have a Phone until they were 15.   Becoz the Brain is still forming and Lord knows they already had Special Needs and I didn't wanna make them into Tech Junkies on top of that too!   Yes, their Friends and even other Adults thought I was the Mad one, but I could see what happened each time they even tried to disconnect their Kiddos from their Devices, Holy Mother of God, I've seen Drug Fiends not fall apart as quickly when they don't get a Fix.   And if you think I'm indulging in hyperbole, if you are questioning whether or not you're a Tech Addict, I challenge you to do without your Phone for a few Hours and see what happens... or if you can last a whole Day?   I rest my Case.  I can do without my Phone for Weeks, if it never rang I'd probably not use it hardly at all on any given day.  I certainly am not attached to it ... but, that said, I AM a Blog Addict.  Yep, I will go thru Blog Withdrawal.   And I Own that Addiction to it.  *Winks*

Since it is my Happy Space and where I come each Day to Relax and Unwind, to Connect to the World, I don't see it as a complete Negative tho'.   It's been a Wonderful Coping Mechanism and alleviated a lot of the Isolation Caregiving and the Issues of Life have imposed involuntarily upon me.  As most Addictions actually are, if us Addicts to anything were to be perfectly Honest about it.   Most Coping Mechanisms aren't entirely Healthy or Good for you, this is probably one of the less damaging ones I'd venture to Guess and is rather Co-Dependent, I ain't gonna Lie.  *LOL*   And definitely it's Cheaper than Therapy.  *Winks*  So, here we are, either Writing Blogs or Reading them, whaddya gonna do?  *Ha ha ha*   And I am excessive, as you clearly see by how long I go in the Sharing of Imagery and Words.  So, I'd be a horribly out of Control Addict of anything else I got Hooked on.  *Winks* 

Okay, so now on to the Dip Packets I Scored, and choosing my Three Favs for the Special Discount they gave for getting Three, was agonizing!  I kept changing my Mind and finally had to walk away with the Three I had after about 20 Minutes of indecisiveness.  *LOL*  I ended up with "Texas Caviar Mix", "Artichoke & Spinach Dip Mix" and "Spinach Dip Mix".    Yes, the "Feta Spinach Dip Mix" was a contender, but I put it back, not all the Kiddos likes Feta like I do.  We Love Spinach Dips tho' and I decided I wanted to try both that I got and see which of the Two we preferred?   There was being Spoiled for Choice tho', so, it was agonizing to decide and there were so many I picked up and then put back, changing my Mind to the point of absurdity. 

  I went with Savory Choices this time, tho' they had Sweet ones that Intrigued me to try, mebbe next time.   Like a "Strawberries & Cream Dip Mix", which I held onto for the longest time and then decided, but what would I dip into it or put it on?  So, Savory it was... I didn't hafta wonder about that.  *Smiles*   So I put it back and grabbed that "Spinach Dip Mix" you see behind it in the background.  *LOL*   I could have spent all Day looking at the Delightful Pixs on the Packets!  *Ha ha ha*   Decisions, Decisions, Decisions.   Since, you can't have it all, tho' I've been known to try.  *Winks*   LATER: I got everything price by 10:00 a.m. so we're gonna go do Environmental Cleanup since The Man is itching to get back to it.  He's feeling pretty good and we'll take it easy.  It's gonna be another nice day so it'll be good to be out in the fresh air and Nature, walking and doing something productive for the Environment and earns a few Bucks too, Win-Win.

  

When I was at the Wildlife Zoo Restaurant I noticed they're building another Big Indian Casino across the Street from it.  I didn't even know that was Tribal Land, they may have done a Trade for it?  The Casinos are only built on Tribal Lands and there have been Land Swaps in the past, rather than the usual Land Grabs where the Indigenous got no benefit to what was rightfully theirs.   This location will be quite near us and tho' we don't Gamble, they usually have nice Shows, Restaurants and Hotel Rooms as well.  It's about halfway built and a lot of Land around it is being developed too, in what used to be Vacant Land or Agricultural Land.   Lots of Resorts are being built close by where we live and that's always a Positive for Property Value, since, Location, Location and Location are the Three most important things in Real Estate.  We're situated Idyllically with the best of all Worlds. 

Today when I picked Princess T up from Work I Scored these Cat and Dog Veterinary Student Lab Specimen Anatomy Skeletons, which are Lifesize.  I was so Jazzed, as I've never seen these For Sale before and Online the Dog Sells for $399 and the Cat for $229, I paid less than $30 for Both, since it was Senior Day, so I got 30% off the already low price.  You know how I like Decorating with the Macabre like this... and getting about $600 worth of something this unusual for less than $30, Booyah!!!  The Manager and other Young People working there get a kick out of what they now know I like and Collect.  They tell Princess T that our Home must be Awesome.   Well, it's been called other Words.  *LOL and Winks*  Younger People Love our Home tho', without exception, especially Young Guys.  *Smiles*

We did do some Environmental Cleanup along the Roadside out near the AFB and there was a lot of Aluminum Cans discarded Roadside.  So, we didn't even do a very long stretch of Road to get quite a haul of Aluminum out of there.   There was an Irrigation Ditch on that side of the Road we did, which is always full of Water and it had so many Baby Fish in it!   Absolutely swarming with them, I don't know what Species, but it seems to be a prime Breeding Habitat for whatever it is.   The sad part is, as development happens they will eventually replace the Irrigation Ditches that are open to the Fresh Air and Plants that grow naturally alongside or in them, with Cement Pipes and cover them.  Which will eliminate the ability for this kind of Breeding Habitat for whatever has always used it.  This is why a lot of Plants and Wildlife are disappearing or their Numbers decline dramatically.

For now the Habitat is Safe becoz on that side of the Road is a large Commercial Plant Nursery and they won't be covering the Irrigation Ditch or putting in Sidewalks and such.  Probably they use the Irrigation Water for their Plants and Trees so need it open much like Agricultural Farms do.   It was Fun to see all the little Fish among the Aquatic Plants growing in the Ditch and to clean up the area around it all from what Litterbugs just toss out as they're Driving by.   We don't do actual Trash or Bottles, but we do all the Aluminum Cans discarded.   Sometimes Volunteers and Organizations who "Adopt" a particular stretch of Road or Street do the rest every so often to keep on top of it.   But, Littering is constant so it's never ending to clean up behind the Piggish People and the Environmentally Unconscious.  They don't Care how habitually irresponsible they are.

It was very Windy and Cold at first, but later in the Afternoon it got nice.  The Man had a good time and I took him to "Barros" where I had a slice of Pepperoni Pizza and he ordered the Ravioli.  Well, the Manager said the Ravioli took too long so he gave me a Free slice of Pepperoni Pizza, which was Sweet.  He saw that I'd long been finished and The Man was still patiently waiting for what he'd ordered.  *Smiles*  We weren't irritated, the Pizza by the Slice is Fresh N Ready, but other orders are made after you order them.  It was still a nice gesture of the Manager and a nice Surprise for me.   They also have a great Cactus Blossom Iced Tea that is really good.  The Man took about 20 Minutes to eat one piece of his Ravioli so we had to take the rest Home.  Since he's been out of Hospital I notice he is struggling a lot more to do some things and I'm not sure Why?  So, when we have his follow-up Appointment I'm gonna ask.   His confusion is magnified and it takes him a very long time to eat very little.  It is common with Dementia tho'.

 

It does make eating out challenging since he'll spend more time fussing with his food than eating it and you could end up being there forever to get a Meal down him while you're there.  So, mostly we take the majority of it to go after about an Hour, since, tick-tock, I can't sit there all day to get his Meal into him.  At Home he can take the whole day to eat it if he needs to.  There was only Four Ravioli, and since just the one took him over 20 Minutes to eat, we could have been there an Hour and a Half or more for him to eat all Four... and likely he'd quit before even eating that much.  Nutrition and Hygiene with him are challenging, you have to coax him into doing either, he can be resistant and stubborn about it.   I'm preparing him in advance to get a Haircut and Beard Trim... even tho' we go to a Friend's Salon whose done his Hair and Beard for Years, you still can't just spring it on him to have it done.

 

I never did get to the Antique Mall to drop off Inventory, so I will be doing it Tomorrow before Work.   I just didn't want to have The Man in tow trying to Work my Space, so it's best I do it when I'm going in to my Shift and unencumbered.   If he was Helpful it wouldn't bother me, but he's not and so I have to keep track of him while trying to do anything, or have Friends there keep track of him for me, which many of them do.  Everyone there knows he's not to Walk out the Door by himself and he's never actually tried to, Thankfully.   Sometimes when he can't locate me he panics a little and then someone who knows us will tell him to sit tight and they'll find me for him.   He likes to look around, sometimes he does okay doing that on his own, other times he gets anxious if he doesn't see me or gets confused about where I am.  It is a familiar place to him tho', so he's Calmer there and he does recognize people we've known a long time.

The Daughter is sending most of the Money she earned with the last Cleaning Job to her Daughters in Mexico to help the Oldest one out, whose finishing Raising her Younger Sister {the Middle one}.  The Youngest one is living with the Stepmom's Sister and Family, so we send Money to them too.   The Oldest one is still going to College and Working Full time, plus Modeling on the side, so she's a very busy 18 Year Old and has assumed big responsibilities at a tender Age after her Paternal Grandma Died.  She Inherited the Family Home and is living there with her one Sister, who is 17 and still in School.   The Oldest one has a long time Boyfriend who was her Childhood Sweetheart, so he helps out too.  All the Kids seem to be doing well since their Grandmother's Death and now that the Dad is imprisoned again they don't have to Deal with him.  They Love him, but it's best he's out of their Lives since his own Life is not in Order and he's making terrible choices that have major risks.  We don't need the Children Dealing with all of that.

Today was actually our 36th Anniversary, The Man didn't remember, but, he has significant Memory Care Issues about anything and everything, so, not surprised.  We were not planning anything anyway and he's never been one to make a big Deal out of Anniversaries, Birthdays or even Holidays actually, I'm more inclined to.  I keep track of even the Birthdays of all the Kids, Grandkids and Great-Grandkids, he doesn't even remember most of their Names, let alone when they were Born... and sometimes he doesn't recognize the ones he never sees in person.  *LOL*  There were some Cute ones of the Great-Granddaughter who just turned 3, he didn't recognize her at all, I had to assure him she was one of the Great-Grands and which Granddaughter's she was the Child of.

This is said Great-Granddaughter next to her Cake, she's a Clone of her Mama, the Oldest Granddaughter back East looked EXACTLY like this at the same Age.   This is her Middle Child and her 2nd Daughter.  This little one has an 80+ Year Old Lady's Name since she was the Namesake of a recently deceased Great-Great-Grandma on the Maternal Side of the Family.  It was the Name of The Man's Ex's Grandma and I didn't know that when our Granddaughter told us this Baby's Name when she was Born.  I told The Man, they sure Named the Baby an Old Lady Name, I wonder Why, I've never heard anyone under 80 Years Old with that Name?   He asked me what the Name was, then Laughed and said, Oh, that's my Ex's Gramma's Name, didn't she Die recently?!  *LOL and Ooops, Yeah, I felt Bad then for thinking and saying what I did, but at least it was just to The Man... whew!*    It is Sweet that they Cherished Great-Great-Granny enuf to Name the Child after her, but the Kid will have to live with that Old Lady Name that was popular in the 1920's.  *LOL*

Of coarse, The Young Prince's little Sister was named after a Strain of Marijuana, which was just as bad... nothing like making it evident your Parents were Potheads.  *LOL*   I remember telling The Daughter what her Son's Daddy had Named his Youngest Child and she Laughed and said, "That's messed up, like if I'd named one of my Daughters Crystal coz I liked and used Meth for Years!"   *Bwahahahahaha*  Yeah, we're totally twisted with our Dark Gallow's Humor like that... but, it was Funny and I Laughed my Ass off.   Since... Crystal is a popular and acceptable Name at least... but probably not a good Choice for your Baby if you were ever a Tweaker or even a Recovering Tweaker.   So she had a legit Point of thinking Naming his Kid Indica was messed up too. *LMAOROTF*  

I do recall when The Young Prince reluctantly told me his Little Sister's Name when she was Born, not sure if I knew what it meant... and... I did.    So, immediately said, "Isn't that the Name of..." and he cut me off and just rolled his Eyes saying, "Yeah... it is."  *LOL*  Of coarse his Little Brother also has a very Weird Name... so... Bobby is just Bobby and I guess Angie wasn't opposed to Names as unusual as Frank Zappa Named his Kids.  *LOL*   And, as I told The Young Prince, given his Dad's previous more serious Addiction History, which he's been Clean of for Years now Thankfully, "Well, at least he didn't Name her Snow."  *Winks... I know... I couldn't resist tho'.*  He did Laugh about that one tho', since, he is Old enuf to know when his Dad still had that Monkey on his Back before getting Clean for Heroin Addiction.

The Oldest Granddaughter back East is the proverbial Suburban Housewife and Soccer Mom tho'.   And it's humorous to me that she does so many of the things that the Suburban Moms around these parts do too, it's like they all have a Manual.   Like dressing the whole Family in matching Outfits for Family Photos, which, is mos def a Suburban Housewife Thing.   I think the closest I ever came to that was once we had a Family Pix done and everyone happened to all decide to wear something Black, but, we didn't Plan it out that way, it just happened and ended up being a very nice Family Pix that a Pro Photographer at my Church was taking of Families coz the Church was Publishing a Book of it's Members and Families.   The Pastor had paid for it to be done and Gifted every Family with one of the Books, and I Cherish it and the Photograph, it's one of the best and few Family Portraits we'd ever had taken.   Families could then order a Portrait Package if they wanted, and we did, coz it turned out so good and was a great price too.

So, tho' the Granddaughter LOVES to Stage these Photography Sessions, sometimes the Kiddos are not on Board, clearly.  So, the St. Patrick's Day one, they are not Thrilled and they are all not on Board and it had me Laughing so hard.  Coz I can just Imagine their Mama trying her best to get everyone to cooperate and they were just NOT having it... so this is the best they could get out of the Trio and its Priceless and looked like pandemonium!   The Girl's Countenances are worth 1,000 Words and says it all... and it looks as if they had to throw Popcorn at the Boy to get him to even look like he was paying attention and knew where he was.  *Bwahahahahaha*   OMG, I LOVE when the Pixs turn out like this, but I'm pretty sure the Granddaughter didn't have this Vision of how the St. Paddy's Day Photo Shoot was to go... since she'd taken such Care with the Matching Irish Themed Outfits and the Middle one looks like she's already trying to tear hers off and getting ready to pitch her Pot O'Gold at the Photographer?!   That One is full of Piss and Vinegar, as you can clearly see!!!  *LOL*

Not to be outdone by her Big Sister, the Younger Sister did manage to get her Youngest into the Act with a First St. Paddy's Day Photo Shoot immortalizing her very 1st one.   She gave up on the Boy, her Oldest, he is now so uncooperative for having his Photo taken at all that he's mostly a blur and you need a Freeze Frame to get him in Focus and have lightening fast reflexes.  *LOL*  Now that she's Single Parenting it and has a Demanding Career too, I doubt she has the Time or Energy like her Older Sister does to Stage these things.   And, she's also not the Suburban Housewife Type either.  *Smiles*   Anyway, this one's Named after a President... or at least that's what I thought when she was Born and I was wondering if she was RFK's Surname Namesake and they dug the Kennedy's or something?!   Mebbe it's a Popular Yuppie Name now, I dunno?   *LOL and Winks*   Anyway, she looks Happy to be there, so the Shoot turned out good and was a pleasant experience for all apparently.

One more precious one of this precious one...  I prefer these more Candid shots than the Staged Photo Shoots.   Where the Kiddos aren't probably being cooperative or enjoying being Photographed and it's much too contrived.   Yeah, we all did the Professional Photo Thing and sometimes they were okay, usually better than the School Mug Shots anyway... but the Candid ones, always the BEST ones IMO.   Depending on how many Kids you had or Raised, usually is dependent on how many Pixs of them you end up with.  *LOL*  Or how much Clothing they are, or aren't, wearing?!  *Bwahahahaha*  Listen, by the time I was Raising some Grandkids, they were lucky to be wearing Clothing that matched or that they didn't pick out themselves, or Clothing at all... or having their Hair did.  *Smiles*   So, Pixs of them when they were very little had some Interesting Wardrobe selections for sure that we Laugh about to this day!  Princess T particularly is like, "Why did you let me go out like that Gramma?"   And I'm like, "Becoz you chose it and I didn't Care."  *Bwahaha*

And The Young Prince began wanting to wear Girl Clothes sometimes, when he was about Two Year Old and I let him, I had no problem with it and it made him Happy.   He had a White Belt with big Colorful Leather Daisies attached to it all around and he Loved that thing!    And once he got a little Sister, he was often stealing her Wardrobe once they got Older, especially once he was in his Teens, stealing her Skirts and Corsets and borrowing my Make-Up.   By the time he was Buying his own Makeup they knew him at "Sephora" more than they knew me!  *Ha ha ha*   Finally I had to tell him to quit Stealing his Sister's Clothes, I'd just buy him his own Corsets and Skirts, and we'd go shopping at the Chazzas together for them.  When he was in Drag, even his Sister complained that he looked more Stunning in her Outfits and Makeup than she did!   He is one of the Pretty ones.  *LOL*

Now I got both Princess T and The Daughter swiping my stuff, even tho' The Young Prince isn't back yet to join them in swiping my stuff.  *LOL*  But, I gotta admit, they always all look better in it than I do and really I don't Care, Sharing is Caring, Right?  *Winks*   And, it's not as if I don't have an abundance of all stuff, Right?  *Bwahahahaha*   Usually it's not just "Borrowed" and they'll ask, Mom/Gramma, can I HAVE this?   And 99.9% of the time I say Yeah, Sure.   As it says below, in Life, Be Cheerful and Bring Joy my Friends...

And now I Learned to Play with and add some more Fonts... so my salutations will get busy... ha ha ha

*******

Happy Anniversary to me... Dawn... The Bohemian