Siestas Are Necessary In Arizona

 I'm no Unpublished Posts ahead right now so I thought I better get busy!  I took a Nap after we got Home from The Man's Appointment and the Errands we ran afterwards, the Heat had made me feel Worn Out.  It was 110 by Ten in the Morning, so, I'm not just being a wimp, it's gonna be damned Record Breaking Hot by the Heat of the Day, which is around 3:00 in the Afternoon.  So, I am taking to the Bed to have my Siestas around that time these days this Summer.  Siestas are necessary in Arizona. *Smiles*

I read at least one Caregiver Blog regularly and it makes me Thankful I've got it easier than they do, Bless them.   Of coarse, she probably reads mine and thinks the same thing, isn't that the way it works?  *LOL*  I always see other Caregiver's situations and think to myself, Lord have Mercy, I couldn't do THAT!!!   But of coarse if that's your Hand Dealt, you just have to do that.  But, it brings some comfort  and gratefulness to realize some folks do have a more seemingly challenging Hand to Play in Life.  I've had it worse, so I know when it's somewhat easier than it was.

Since his near Death experience and Heart Surgery The Man has been on his very best behavior, so it's been easier.   By the time he has his 2nd Heart Surgery, he might be acting like a Saint, I dunno?  *Bwahahahaha*  He did promise Dr. Kline, and his Cardiologist Dr. Singh, that he's gonna do better, and he sounded convincing, so, we'll see?  *Winks*  He has to see Dr. Kline again in a Month and he didn't even Bitch about another appointment so soon, which, is unusual for him... he usually prefers Appointments to be YEARS apart.  *LOL*  Of coarse he'll see Dr. Singh in Surgery when they get it scheduled.  Above is one of the Granddaughters in Mexico with her Mexican Hairless Chihuahua, both Adorable, but, I'm highly Biased of coarse.

I got Gifted Three Gay Pride T-Shirts from my Dear Blog Friend Mistress Maddie, that he Designed, for the "No Kings Rally", and for me to Gift to The Grandsons.  And I guess the 3rd one was for Yours Truly coz I am rather Queen-ish myself, got the Tiaras, Crowns, Kingdom and everything.  *Winks*  Above was Maddie Hot Modeling it and when he was having the Contest to Win some, I thought something to the effect of Forget about the T-Shirt, how much for the Model?!    Bad, Bad, Gramma Dawn, I know, I'm incorrigible.  Or so The Family tell me, but, I've kept my Clothes on for Swimming on Mondays now, so as not to run off another Young Pool Boy.  Brad, the Hot 30-Something Pool Guy Owner of the Company appreciates that I'm sure, he had to Clean my Pool instead coz the Younger 20-Something Pool Boys wouldn't come anymore.   Keeping one's Clothes on is such a drag... *Winks and Bwahahaha* 

I really have not gotten into any Mischief lately, I swear!!!   Really it's too Hot to, it's been 110 this Day by 10:00 in the Morning and so by the Heat of the Day by 3:00 in the Afternoon it's likely to be ridiculous.   More of the Arizona Desert and Arizona's Wild Lovebird Pixs, which I can't take Credit for either Photo, they were Shared Pixs on Social Media Local sites and just too Lovely not to Share here too.   I can see why they call them "Love" Birds, look how affectionate they are to one another, Adorbs.   This Pair is Nesting in a Date Palm, they like the Palms of Arizona.  I bought more Lovebird Friendly Wild Bird Seeds for our Bird Feeding Station due to the ones I've seen in our Mini Farm Community lately.  Our Neighbors have Date Palms and we have other type of Palms on our Property too, the taller slender Trunk Mexican Fan Palms.  They're the towering Giants of the Palm World and I just Love that we have a couple on this Property that are over 40 Years Old and can reach 100 Feet Tall.

 Below is how my Pressy arrived from Maddie, so stinkin' Cute!!!   The Young Prince is Jazzed.  He said there's so many MAGA in Clovis that it's not even Safe to be Gay there, so he Hates it and misses all the Gay Pride Events he attended here.  He's like to Visit Amsterdam as the Idyllic Dream Vacay, it's No. One on his Bucket List and he was telling me of a Restaurant there called "The Alchemist" in Copenhagen, that takes Fine Dining to a new level and doesn't waste anything, so they have a Subsidiary Restaurant that then feeds the Homeless!   He told me to look it up Online and of coarse I did after our Call, and Cribbed some Images and I can see Why our Grandson would be infatuated with a place like that and the Artistic Alchemy of their Dishes!

Now, the next Five Pixs Below were Cribbed from that Danish Restaurant and tho' I have no Clue what I'd be eating, and it looks Crazy and Expensive, it would be an Experience, I'll give ya that!!!  *LOL*  I've eaten some Fear Factor Foods in my Day, but I think mostly these are made to just Look Fear Factor and are probably tasty and an exciting Flavor Profile concocted by Master Chefs of the highest Caliber?   I mean if you can make Food look like a real Eyeball, I bow down to your Culinary Genius and Artistic Talent, Okay!!!  So long as you're not feeding me Real Eyeballs, I'd try it, Yes, I would.   Anyway, The Young Prince has really investigated everything about going to Denmark one day, so I'm sure he'll eventually find a way there.  Culinary Art has always Intrigued him coz he's not only an Artist, but he Loves to prepare Food and has a very Refined Palate.  I have had Friends who are Master Chefs and Own Restaurants tell me he had a Mature and Refined Palate since he was a Child!

You can develop a Refined Palate, but I think he was just Born with one.  He was that Child that always noticed the subtle nuances of Flavor Profiles of any Food or Drink.   He perceived them and appreciated them since he was really Young.   Tastes, Textures and Aromas are something he always commented on when enjoying his Food or Drinks, even as a very Young Child.   And he literally Lives and Breathes Art.   Now, I'm no Culinary Jedi, so my Chili Tonight looks like the Food Below... ha ha ha... and, it usually turns out pretty good.  This one had Peppercorn Ground Beef and a Pork Sausage as the Protein, Four kinds of Beans, Seasoned Canned Zucchini with Tomato, Roasted Corn, a Mild Tomato Chili Starter from "Sprouts", a Bone Broth Base and Chili Spices.

Below was my Minestrone Soup from "Olive Garden" and I also had a Bowl of the Zuppa Toscana.   I always try a different Soup for my 2nd Bowl on the Endless Soup, Salad and Breadsticks we get.  The Man had the Chicken Gnocchi and then the Pasta e Fagioli.   He doesn't eat Salad so I got all of that to myself, also Pictured further Below since I'm absolutely desperate for Fresh Blog Fodder, as you can clearly tell.  *Smiles*   But, their Food is quite Editorial, and why I don't like most Fast Food Joints, their Food never looks appetizing like the Pictures of it do.  My Brother, the Professional Hollywood Photographer, told me it's coz most of the Fast Food Commercials don't use Real Food, it's all Faked or Overly-Styled Food so that it looks Perfect.  

He's been on Sets where they're doing it and told me some of the things they utilize to Fake the Look of the Real Food.  Quite Interesting and now I can't look at a Fast Food Commercial and not think about what it really is and not what it's portraying, Secrets only Food Photographers know.  *LOL*  The shocking Tricks Advertisers use to make Fake Food.   Now, some Fast Food Joints do make their Food Ordered look like their Pictures of what they offer, like "In-N-Out Burger", their Burgers always look Perfect, taste Perfect, and are some of the least expensive on the Fast Food Circuit still.   I think that's why any time of the day or night you go, it's crowded.  You can go to a Phoenix "In-N-Out" at 1:00 in the Morning and there's lines in the Drive-Thru and inside at the Registers.  *LOL*

And we all know this and can do a comparison of Ad Photo versus In Real Life what you get instead at the vast majority of Fast Food Joints.   Like the Above Example.   And often the Top of the Bun don't even look that good, appealing or appetizing, looks like someone sat on every McDonald's Burger I've ever seen and why I'd never order or eat one.  Often the Food looks mauled at some I never give my Business to for that very reason.   So, let's do some more for shits and grins, and to put popular Fast Food Chains on Blast, shall we?  *LOL and Snort*

 

Well, you get the gist, and why The Man and I are very Selective about where we Eat Out, coz if we're paying and being all Extra to Eat Out, I have higher expectations of how our Money is spent on Luxuries like Dining Out.   And as you know I Photograph my Food A LOT and so my Regular Haunts know this and make an Extra effort to go out of their way to make our Presentation look like a Commercial they're Filming, or as if they're Serving a Food Critic whose an Influencer.   The Young Prince finds it hilarious, coz often when we'd be Dining, if he was with me, The Chef and the Owner or Manager would even come out and talk to us!!!  *LOL*   I've not Photographed my Food with that expectation of being Treated Extra, but, I do promote every Business that does a good Job and give them Free Advertisement on my Social Media sites to Support Local Businesses I enjoy on The Regular.

 

At "The Olive Garden" we had the most Adorable and Attentive Young Male Waiter and he gave The Man a ridiculous amount of those After Dinner Chocolate Mints they hand out, like it was Halloween!   *Bwahahahhaa*  He could see all the Bruises up The Man's Arms and we saw him looking and said he'd just gotten out of Hospital and then had Lab Follow-Up at the VA down the Street, and is a Hard Stick.   The Young Man was about the Age of our Adult Grandsons and looked genuinely concerned, then brought all those Mints over, it was so Sweet and yet so Amusing too.   The Man is indeed a Hard Stick and so Bless Him, he always comes out of any Lab or Hospital looking like an Intravenous Drug User and Bruised all to Hell!!!  It does look pathetic and like he had more suffering than he had to.

  

And speaking of an Old Suffering Veteran, The Daughter thought she'd Cheer her Dad up with some Sic Visual unexpected Gallow's Humor.   So when she was at Roy's cleaning out his Storage for him, he gave her this Hunting Ensemble, and she has Zero Inhibitions, so she'd actually wear it anywhere.  So, she put it on and told her Dad she was ready now for any Recon he needed to do!!!   *Bwahahahaha*   And they posed for this Pix together, coz it was hilarious, I don't Care who you are, I didn't expect it and we Laughed so hard... she's a Riot like that, totally uninhibited, and will do anything Crazy for a good Laugh and to Cheer anyone up.   He's been rather Down and Needed it.   I didn't even know why Roy had this Ensemble, we didn't Ask... Bwahahahaha... coz Roy is an Old Hippie who looks like Tommy Chong, whose in his 70's now, and I don't Need to know how or especially Why he had this Outfit in his Storage!!?!!!!  But that shit was Funny!!!  *LMAOROTF*

But, Roy also gave her this Commercial/Industrial Food Cart too for me, which, I really appreciated being Gifted with.  She does Work for Roy and he pays her with Cash and whatever she wants that he has and is getting rid of.  And, Roy is a bit of a Hoarder of Cool Shit, so, it's been a blast to get some of his Stash/Cache of Cool Shit he's passing along and Letting Go of now he's clearing out his Property.   It had some Weathering and Rust on it but The Daughter cleaned it up for me and I'm diggin' it.  Too bad I don't have Room in the Main House Kitchen Area for it or I could utilize it for more Pantry items Storage.   Instead I'll probably use the Two Top Tiers for Books and the Bottom Tier to Display something in The RV Garage Mahal Space.

 

I was talking to The Young Prince and he's just not sure he can Hang there in Clovis long enuf to utilize their GED/College Grant Offer.  Things still aren't good and he feels he could be more help to us being here and cause less worries, which, is True.   I was especially concerned that he does not feel Clovis is a Safe Space for anyone of the LGBTQ+ Community becoz Homophobic people tend to dehumanize other Human Beings based on Sexuality, much like Racist people tend to dehumanize other Human Beings based on Race, and Anti-Semitics tend to dehumanize other Human Beings based on Religion, and Misogynists tend to dehumanize Women based on Gender... it's all Hatred based and potentially very dangerous becoz of the violence these people who dehumanize other people tends to promote and act upon.  I've never met any Extremist that doesn't cause me grave concerns about how they just are at their very core of their Fanaticism and Deep Biases.

Some of the Events and Shops that were Closed for Summer have decided to Open earlier and now have re-opened for August.  Yay!  And of coarse in early September the Halloween Themed Events kick off and those are my Favorite Shows/Events of all.   I Channel my inner Morticia Addams all Year long so that's my Season and when it kicks off early, I don't Mind at all.  *Winks*   I also see some Christmas making an early appearance at a lot of Shops, I don't Mind.   We need some Cheer with all the Political Heaviness and Economic Strains a Tanking Economy is causing a lot of Families.  So much is uncertain and in peril right now that it's a Breath of Fresh Air to have anything Uplifting and Celebratory that we can have a temporary Escape with.  At least that's how I Feel about it, since, everything else going on is so fucking Negative, deeply Concerning about America's Future and our Democracy holding, and a LOT to unpack and to process daily now.

I'm usually a Guarded Optimist, but, I do find it increasingly more difficult to be Optimistic, even Guardedly so.  I don't want to spiral into Pessimist tho', I want to remain Hopeful and Positive regardless of whatever else is going to shit around the Nation... and even Globally for that matter.   I don't know our Country will ever again have a Fair and Free Election with the Voice of the Voter being responsible for who Leads this Country forward?  It seems Politicians are now wanting to choose their Voter rather than the other way around and pretend like that's Politics as Usual and a Political War of sorts they're all willing to now wage.  I'm an Independent Moderate becoz I don't Trust either Major Party anymore, especially since 2016 I know I'd never Vote Republican or for anyone running on that Ticket again... and the Democrats have only gotten my Vote becoz of Donnie Two Dolls since 2016.  

In fact, in 2016, and often before that, I didn't even Vote Democrat, I Voted anyone who wasn't Partisan affiliated, thus throwing that Vote away.  I loathed having to Vote Blue No Matter Who.   And in Arizona they didn't allow Independents to even Vote in Primaries until quite recently and we make up about 60% of all Voters!   We've never had a viable Candidate of whom we could Vote for whose not Partisan, in History the Independent Candidates have been so few and never been in Power or taken Seriously enuf to Win.  I think Independent Non-Partisan Voters aren't appreciated by either Major Party, they just assume we HAVE to Vote for One of them and I think it's why a lot of Americans thus don't bother to Vote at all?   I know The Son said he Hates both Political Parties so he refuses to Vote and never has, he'd prefer they all be replaced and Partisan Politics just be eliminated altogether.  I can't say I disagree, given the mess we've ended up with.  It's made so many, especially the Young, feel Hopeless about a Future to look forward to for the Average Citizen.

Anyway, Politics now monopolizes the News and if it's not bad Political News it's horrific catastrophic Weather being covered, or some new mass Shooting.   The whole Gun Control Issue being as controversial as the Abortion Issue, Politics or Religion.   To pretend we haven't become a Gun Obsessed Nation is naive, I've traveled the World and nobody is Gun Obsessed like America is.  The Man is very Pro-Gun IF the Gun Owner is Responsible, Trained to use Weapons, and he's against Weapons of War being in the Hands of ordinary Civilians becoz if they're not at War, those Weapons were only Designed for Combat and to kill as many of the Enemy as possible.  They're not for Self-Defense or Hunting, so, there's really no logical reason to own one or Buy one.  If you're not in the Military and Issued one, Trained to use it, and defending your Country as Active Duty Personnel of one of the Armed Services Branches, it's probably not Safe for ordinary Citizens to even have such a Weapon, ever.   I just don't like Guns and have never owned one myself.

It's not even illegal Sales of Weapons that is always the problem, most of the time the Crimes that are most horrific are now being committed by Mental Whackos and Extremists for various Causes that obtained their Weapons Legally.  I'm Retired from one of the largest DA's Offices in the Nation, Gun Crimes kept rising exponentially since even before I Retired many Moons ago, and now, it's so common I think it's almost become routine to hear about the Mass Shootings, School Shootings, some American Citizen going on a rampage and committing Domestic Terrorism against other Citizens.   I don't think our biggest worry anymore is Foreign Terrorists, it's the Enemy within and Home Grown Killers of the Innocent.   And I'm weary of going down that Rabbit Hole as a Blog Topic to have to be addressed about things we shouldn't even be having to tolerate at all... not in our Politics and not in our everyday Lives being so Unsafe from other Citizens projecting their Anger or Hatred against one another or against a perceived "Enemy" of their own choosing.

I'm even starting to have Visions and Bad Dreams about things that haven't happened yet, but I'm sure are vivid enuf they could be Premonitions I wanna be Wrong about!!!   My Premonitions have rarely been inaccurate so it is unsettling to me.   I tell The Man about them sometimes becoz he knows how upset I get and asks Why?   But refrain more often from giving Life to any of it, and Oxygen to Evil, by speaking it out loud or Writing about the worst of it.   I don't particularly Care to document it and then say, "Well, told you so...", if there's nothing I can personally do to alter the course of any of it happening.  Usually a Premonition that can be altered if Warning is given and taken Seriously involves a limited number of people, often even just mebbe One you can Warn... a whole Nation... well, that's daunting, isn't it?   So, it all seems inevitable and like Watching a Train Wreck BEFORE it actually happens, but WILL happen, and you know it without a Shadow of a Doubt.  This is Why I guess I've always been somewhat of a Fatalist by Nature, I know some things are predetermined to happen, and they just do. 

I'd be difficult to be around if I spoke about it too often, becoz it's difficult enuf for me to have a Knowing of, without spreading that Knowing for other people to be Emotionally and Mentally burdened with.  I never Liked having accurate Premonitions, but, I have to say it's Saved my Life and the Life of some I could Forewarn, so, it hasn't all been Bad to have either.   My Mom had it and almost all of her immediate Family had it, so we just accepted it as our 'Normal' even tho' it mostly Scares other people and they think it's some kind of Witchcraft to have Gifts of Prophesy, some are Skeptics, others, when you Predict something will happen before it does, become Believers and then they're really rattled by you.  It's commonly misunderstood by those who don't have it, those who do Secretly have it, or Openly have it, know how it is, so they can relate and have a Point of Reference.   I don't know why everyone doesn't have it actually, it would probably be more Helpful, but, not always I guess for the things predetermined to play out as they just will anyway.

I have Insomnia again Tonight becoz I keep having recurrent Visions that just won't go away, and mostly come in my Sleep.  And, I just don't wanna be bothered by them again, but can't always Block them.  None of it is Good and I strongly feel is predetermined and will just happen, and so I don't even wanna Blog about it or Talk about it.  It's difficult enuf to wrap my own Head around and go on daily as if nothing will be Wrong, when, clearly it will be on an Epic Scale I've never seen in my own Lifetime.   I've seen a lot of Bad Things over almost Seven Decades of Trips around the Sun, but not at this level ever before.  It does Scare me and I don't Scare easily.   So, I try to Block it just so I don't have to Think about it or have it ruin every Day that I could try to be enjoying and have a semblance of Normalcy about them for now.   I get that sense of Urgency and almost a Panic looming ever closer tho', shaking it off won't be all that Helpful really.   America is in Serious Trouble tho' and far too many seem oblivious of that Fact.

Moving On in Topics, coz, I just HAVE to, don't I?   In order to stay Sane. *Le Sigh*   My Nanna and my Mom used to just tell me that to be Forewarned is to be Forearmed, so don't resent being Guided by your Visions given to you.  Those that don't Know have more likelihood of perishing.   That's not exactly comforting, but it is sadly True.  Anyway, back to the Fluff of Life to Balance things and remain Centered.  My Chili turned out so damned good this time there was one Serving as a Leftover.  *LOL*   I got a Can of something from "Sprouts" called Chili Starter, they had Mild and they had Medium, the Can is quite large, I bought one of each and used the Mild this time.  I shall be Buying it again now, it's $4.99 a Can but OMG it made a startling difference to a Chili Flavor Profile.  I think it will regardless of what other ingredients you wanna use in your Chili.  

 

 Everyone liked the combo of the Proteins I used this time too.  The Pork Sausage used was the second Mystery Meat nobody could identify, tho' they could tell what the Ground Peppered Beef was, but liked.  *Bwahahahaha*   Anyway, success of another good Chili creation everyone gave a hearty Thumbs Up to.   We always Rate 'em, and Honestly, I seem to make a different one each time becoz my Memory just isn't great enuf to replicate anything twice that I Create.  *Smiles*  I am not consistent with replicating any Art Form and never have been, so when it's really Good, well, it is likely to be a One Off so don't think you might ever get a replication of it.  *LOL*   When I used to Create Fabric Art for Clients that was my Pet Peeve, they'd see something I'd already Created once and want something exactly like it and that was never happening, not even with intention or for any amount of Money offered.

And even IF I could have done it, I doubt I'd of wanted to.  Coz replicating things isn't my Jam and would bore me to Tears.  To where I wouldn't wanna be churning out replications of the same damned thing over and over again, no matter how good it might have been.   I loathe mass produced items, even tho' I know it's necessary in some cases and for some things in order to make it available to everyone that wants or needs one.   It's practical for many things, like Cars, for example, otherwise, how could anyone fix or maintain one if every one was different?   But with any Art Form... consistency is also key, especially in Cuisine, so, I could never do it Professionally, is all I'm saying.  *Winks*  You'd come for that Chili you just LOVED and never get it again in this Kitchen.  *Bwahahahhaa*  It's what The Family have just come to expect when Yours Truly is making something to eat.

And I guess Dear Readers have come to expect in my Blog too, all you can really expect with consistency, is that I'll go Long.  *Bwahahaha*  And the rest, of the actual Content, or the Imagery, is a total crap shoot and Organically tied to my Stream of Consciousness at the time.  And that's a Rabbit Hole that when you fall down it, can be quite a Trip, or, so I'm told... *Smiles*   Let us just say that The Man has always said he could never reside or even Survive inside of MY Head Space... becoz it would make Alice's Wonderland seem not so Strange or Uncommon at all... *Winks*   And when he saw I was wearing my Alice In Wonderland Liquid Blue Shirt with Alice peeking over a Mushroom at a Hookah Smoking Caterpillar sitting on it, in a Field of Daffodils, he says, "That's how your World just LOOKS on any given Day to you, doesn't it?"   And... he's not Wrong...

*******

You learn to live in whatever World you're given and just learn to navigate it on this Journey that is Life... Dawn... The Bohemian

Restless, Incorrigible And Stir Crazy

 I Binge watched all of the "Leanne" Series and it was good for every Episode, great Comedic Writing, great Cast, you really fell in Love with the whole Family the Series had Created.  In so many ways it reminded me of "Roseanne" with the lead Actress being a fav Comedian that transitioned well into a Comedic Family Sitcom that was endearing and Iconic.  So, then I got hooked on another NetFlix Series I'm watching called "Building The Band" {2025} with Singer Hopefuls that pick each other to form a Band, sight unseen, based solely on Voice and whether they have any Chemistry after just talking to each other prior to ever seeing one another.  It's an Interesting concept and some of those Young People have some Chops!

It also has it's Drama made for TV, natch.  There were 50 Hopefuls and only Six Bands allowed to be formed.  Each Band had to have between Three to Five Members, and there were eliminations coz every Singer got 10 Votes for other Singers they thought they'd want to match up with and form a Band.  There's one Gal with a gorgeous Voice but is a ratchet cut Throat lil Bitch, so I knew right away she was gonna be Drama and a Headache, I doubt she's Band Match Material for anyone, but, she got chosen.  Anyway all Six Bands have been formed, only One is a Mixed Band, the other Five turned out as Boy Bands or Girl Bands, which was intentional on the part of most Singers who desired that Gender exclusivity.  

I already like the Mixed Band best, but, I don't know they will pull their personalities together enuf to make it Work?  They get along just fine, but seem to lack the confidence and unity of Purpose early on.  All Four of the Singers are so diverse, there's a Plus Sized Gal who wants to break the barrier on Looks, an Androgynous Guy that everyone assumed was a Gal and he's had that problem of Gender misidentification all his Life, a Boys 2 Men looking Guy, and a Rapper looking Guy... very different Mix, but some of the best Vocals.  The Ratchet Gal has a Girl Band Trio and she's so shallow I think the other Two now realize she joining up with them is a Mistake, tho', they do sound good together too and all are Hot and Lookers.

Another Girl Band is a Quartet of extremely Hot looking Gals, so with the good Vocals too, they are Visually and Talent Wise perfect to promote as a Band.   A Boy Band is a Quartet of Guys very diverse too, with Two Australians and Two Americans, good Voices, but a lot of Personality that will take a lot of Work to make cohesive into a Band I think, and, none of them can Dance and aren't receptive to learning to be well rounded Entertainers, very stiff, and sounding good and/or looking good is only part of Success.  The final Two Bands aren't memorable enuf that I can recall them already, so, that's not such a good Sign for them, is it?  {Spoiler Alert: One of those unmemorable Girl Band Trios actually Won and I was like WTF?  So Generic, didn't like most of their performances, with the exception of just One they did.  Ah well, so typical of these Competitions to chose Status Quo Garden Variety Generic to Market easily.}  One of the Guest Judges, Liam Payne, Died in October of 2024, he fell from a Hotel 3rd Floor Balcony while quite High on a Cocktail of Drugs in Brazil.

   I do think Ratchet Gal will try to sabotage other Bands and some of the Guys need to focus on their Music and not how Hot some of the Gal Band Members are, too much of a distraction.   The Winning Band makes some Big Money, but I do think Talent Scouts will be watching this to see who might make an excellent Solo Artist if their Band doesn't cut it?  Or, mebbe invite them to be part of an existing Band?   Some Contestants are very Young and some more Seasoned and Older, some already have Music Careers, some don't.   I'm enjoying the Series, which has 10 Episodes and I'm already halfway thru it.   The Six will be narrowed down to Three for the finals.   Some really good Singers never got picked for a Band coz they delayed cultivating Relationships and being strategic to be forming 'their' Band before Six got chosen, which automatically eliminated them.  Sidebar: My Salvage Victorian Red Door pictured above always makes me think of The Stones Song, but, I won't Paint it Black.  *LOL*

Okay, enuf about a TV Series you may or may not have seen or have any interest in either.  *LOL*  I've never been much into Boy Bands or Girl Bands, but, they are madly popular with the Young People so the Industry is always looking for the next Successfully formed one.  And I do like Music a LOT, so looking for someone new with Chops or Charisma is always a Joy to see fresh Talent in the Industry.   Teddy Swims is my fav 'New' Artist and he was in the Game many Years before getting his break, "Lose Control" is perhaps my fav newer Song.  And who knew a big Guy with Facial Tats could be so Sexy and have such Presence and Swagger on Stage?  *LOL*   Teddy will be in Concert in Phoenix Today, which in Real Time is August 3rd.  He and his Girlfriend just had a Baby Boy, they make a cute Couple.

Since finances will be tight during my Birthday Month, and it's so Hot, dammit, I'll probably be Home a lot and Fixating on needing to Blog about it so I don't get too restless and stir crazy.  *LOL*  We also don't know exactly when The Man's next Surgery will be Scheduled, I suspect, it will be soon, and we need to get all that behind us too so we can get on with Life and our usual Routines.  Right now everything is suspended for him, due to the badly remaining clogged Artery... and the need to have a full Recovery from Surgery No. One in order to have Surgery No. Two!   It's just a LOT.   I can tell that externally I seem stoic but internally not as Calm in my Spirit.   And that amps me up to where I'm very Manic or taking to the Bed, quite the Bipolar Mixed Episode Rollercoaster, due to present circumstances being a lot of pressure and added stress. 

I'm glad each of the Kiddos here at Home right now is in a Relationship that helps them move thru it all with their respective Partners as an Emotional Support System.  I know in part it's why The Young Prince doesn't want to drop back in to Arizona to be one more challenge for me to navigate right now.  He says he and Allen can share Space right now so don't worry about him, but I do worry about him coz I know that Marriage is kaput.  He at least has his Phone fixed now so we can talk anytime we need or want to and he's been on that new Medication for Schizophrenia that seems to be helping him be Present and Deal with interactions and engaging with other Humans.  *LOL*  Otherwise, he'd rather not.  *Smiles*  The last few Phone Calls he even initiated and stayed on the Phone longer than I could!  Just, WOW!  Usually with him it would be a 30 Second Call tops, not an Hour or more!!!

Of coarse I can't hang for an Hour on a Phone Call and he knows with my Adult ADHD I begin to Drift and have to hand the Phone over to another Family Member to wrap up the Call.  *LOL*   We all know each other's limitations really well by now, so don't personalize any of it.   I can Blog for Hours but that's coz there is no Human actual Connection until ya'll come to Visit and perhaps engage, then I don't have to be Present for that either and can respond when I'm up to it.  *LOL*   I Love The Land Of Blog for a variety of reasons, and how it Works for me personally to interact with other People successfully and expel my Stream of Consciousness about anything and everything is just a Daily Ritual now and a Joy.  A little bit of anyone can go a long way with me, and a little bit of me can go a long way with everyone too.  *Winks*  Hey, it's the Reality.  Blogs are small Doses of Just Enough to manage Socialization for me.

Caregiving can be very Isolating, but, even if I wasn't a Full Time Caregiver, quite Honestly, I don't really feel like I'd be a Socialite either.  Wait, can The Poor even be a Socialite, not sure?  *Bwahahaha*  I mean, most are associated with Wealth, Leisure, Prominence, their Presence in High Society and a Sophisticated Lifestyle... so... yeah, I couldn't be a Socialite... Nope... can't check off any of those fucking Boxes.  Nor would I WANT to, not my Tribe of Peeps.  *LMAOROTF*  Okay, so on a very Manic Day where I have Bipolar Delusions of Grandeur, perhaps I could pretend to Be one... as an Alter Ego Created just for Laughs and Wicked Fun, and to fuck with people to amuse myself!?   *Snort*  I know, the Adult Kids and Adult Grandkids claim I'm incorrigible like that, and, they could be Right???  *Winks*

I never picked up my paltry Check at The Antique Mall on Payday.  Which, I had Worked on Payday, but, I forgot it WAS even Payday, so ponced off after my Shift without asking for my Check.  We'd gotten The Man's Disability and Pension Checks on the First, so I didn't desperately Need the Crumbs that Check would have contributed to the Budget right now.   And our Social Security and my Pension Checks, if they're on time, come on or about the 16th of the Month.  Stock Dividends come Quarterly, and I think I'm due for one of those, which will be particularly Helpful this Month.  Luckily I'd already Bought my Birthday Pressy to Self last Month when I had some discretionary Income to Indulge myself for the turning of 68 Spins around the Sun.  It is a Magnolia Pearl Great Spirit Line Bag and showed up as big as Luggage, I thought it was Purse Size.  *LOL*

I'm absolutely Loving it, but the Family Tease me that it looks like I'm Moving or going on a Trip when I'm carrying something that large!  I could use it as a Gym Bag, I kid you not!  It's Mary Poppins Bag large and exceeded my expectations for it, coz Online, at Auction, I had assumed it to be much Smaller, so I got way more bang for my Bucks with it and the Seller had Negotiated her Price Down and contacted me to make ME an Offer I couldn't refuse.  So we did it more as an E-Bay Private Sale, which, I've done that quite often, you still go thru the Auction site, but Privately so you and the Seller can Negotiate your own Terms outside of Dealing with other potential Buyers.   The Family Joked that I'd probably "Claimed it in The Name Of Jesus" and so nobody else was getting it anyway and the Seller probably didn't even know Why she was offering it to me for so much less and Initiating that Negotiation with me before her Auction even ended on it?!  *Bwahahhaa*

Hey, I did that with a couple of Properties I liked when we were looking for one and then after "Claiming them in The Name Of Jesus", even tho' I was only a Backup Buyer originally... got offered them and then declined, coz I changed my Mind or had bought something else already!!!   The Young Prince said it was Evil of me to do that and make it so nobody else could really Buy it now coz my 'Claim' had Blocked their Sales going thru Spiritually... and then, have it so I didn't Buy it coz I'd decided on something else, he knows how I am.  *Bwahahahaha*  I said every Negotiation has a Window of Opportunity and Time Frame to Finalize it, so, not my fault.  If you Snooze, you fucking Lose... and so when I Want something, and a Seller cannot Perform on Time, then, I Move On... nothing Evil about that, even if I initially really Wanted it and 'Claimed' it.  Timing is everything for Successful Negotiations anyway.  *Winks*  And I Trust that any Door that Shuts, wasn't meant to be Stepped thru as your Destiny anyway.

I am a self-professed Fatalist, as was my Dad... Pre-Determination plays a big role in Life I truly think.   Yes, we're the Sum of our Choices, to some degree, but I do have a sense of Resignation and Acceptance of whatever happens.  I can have a Peace about it, so it doesn't make me Feel Powerless, but I do think it explains, to me at least, why sometimes bad things happen to even good people, thru no Fault of their own.  Fair is Rare in Life.  And some good things happen to bad people, that they never earned on their merit whatsoever, for whatever reasons, Grace was extended that they didn't really show they were deserving of or even appreciative of.  That's one of Life's particular Mysteries that as a deeply Spiritual Person, I can't otherwise make any Sense of whatsoever.  The Divine will have to explain it to me, for me to have any Understanding with my Mortal limited comprehension. 

 Coz, if I had a Universe, I wouldn't Run it like that... but I don't have a Universe, and whatever Divinity is Running it, can Run it as The Divine sees fit.  Coz, until I have a Universe, who am I to Question any of it?  And, let us be Real, if I had a Universe, pretty sure I'd fuck it up way more than any Divine Being could or would!!!  So, I don't think I'd want that weighty Responsibility.  *Bwahahahaha*  I'm not so Arrogant as to think I am Wiser than The Divine, I have often fucked up my tiny Life and Sphere of Influence from time to time with quite the flourish!!!  And I have yet to meet the Human Being whose Lived Perfectly, tho' some of the most Arrogant assume they have.  Very annoying, those Humans.  *Winks*   Yeah, we can't be Friends if you're under the delusion you are Perfection, I find that to be out of Touch with Reality.  And that detachment from Reality and/or the inability to handle The Truth, as we can see clearly since 2016 especially, is Off the Chain in Society these days!   Lord have Mercy... I just can't with folks like that!!!

My Brother was covering some more Events and Shared a lot of the Photography he took for the Participants.   I Loved the Two taken of this Horse so I'm Sharing them as Blog Fodder too.   You can tell that this one was really feelin' being in front of the Lens.  Hey, when you know you look that good, and being the Center of Attention, and it's your Moment, why wouldn't ya?  *Smiles*   My Brother is a Retired Professional Hollywood Photographer and used to Photograph a lot of Famous People and Models, but he's always had a soft spot for Photographing Animals and they seem to know it and sense it, so cooperate for him in front of the Lens.  He's gonna take the best Pixs of them they've ever had done.  *Winks*  He said the best thing about Animal Photography is they're a Natural and their Essence always shines thru becoz of that.   And like People, some like to be in front of the Lens and some do not, depending upon their Personality.

This was a Beautiful Animal and seems Chill around People and of being Photographed up close and personal.  Of coarse my Brother had Dozens of Photos of the Human Participants, it was the Heritage Museum, Boots, Bustles and Brew held on July 19th in Cali.  Phoenix dropped the Ball on Heritage Tourism and didn't Preserve enough of it's History or it's Natural Beauty, which was a rich one that could have had incredible long term Value to make it worth Preservation efforts.  But, short term Developer Greed prevailed and so now here we are.   Some States do better than others at Valuing their History and their Natural Areas and Wonders.  I've done my part to Preserve and Rescue what I can, for as much as I can and as long as I can.  I Hope that Legacy is evident enuf that Future Generations will then pick up the Baton and run the good race to continue, since, it is their Future to Protect and Preserve?

Well, I finished watching "Building The Band" and didn't agree with who they chose as the Winner, in fact, I'd of placed them 3rd, and my fav came in 2nd.  I think they chose a Girl Band Trio that is so similar to every other Girl Band Trio I've ever seen that it wasn't unique, not in sound or performance, good, but not great.  The Mixed Quartet of 2 Gals and 2 Guys that was my fav were so unique and made the audience and the Judges Emotional and shed Tears during several Songs.  I just never felt any Emotion evoked with the Winners, just another Pop Band that was pretty Generic IMO.  So, disappointing ending.   SZN4 had a strong connection with it's Audience and more consistently delivered in their performances, which were all Powerful, great Voices, great Chemistry from The Jump.  

I guess a lot of Viewers felt the same as me too and were disappointed in the Finale' Choice, by what I read Online after the Series was a Wrap.  Most Viewers felt the Mixed Band got robbed, I agree.  The Judges said the other Band had more 'growth', but the Band most Popular didn't need to grow, they started out strong and like Pros!  I think if the Audience had Chosen the Winner instead of the Three Judges, it would have had a different outcome.  I think anything 'different' from the Status Quo scares Marketing becoz they know what's Sold before and keep churning it out ad nauseum now just to make Money off the familiar and expected they feel they already have a ready made Audience for.  So, Yawn at the End... I almost knew they'd end up choosing who they chose, predictable and therefore boring.   I wouldn't watch another Season if they had one now.

Okay, so, other than the terribly disappointing ending of the last Episode, I had enjoyed most of the performances.   Not all of them tho'.  And the Band that Won had some duds, and some really good performances, but the consistency was never there.   I do Hope some of those Bands do stay together in spite of not Winning, coz some of them were superior to who Won in every way.  I only know who I'd buy the Music of, want to Listen to often, or go to a Concert of, but, Music, like any Art Form, is highly Subjective, isn't it?   Even Genre has a lot to do with what Sells and some of what Sells isn't my Taste.  Like I don't even see the Appeal of Taylor Swift at all.   Can't think of a single thing she's sung that is memorable to me or showcases that she has great chops like some of the Singers who really have Iconic and powerful Voices. 

  But, she's Branded herself brilliantly and that's a Skill too, which is Why she got so Rich and so Famous.  I think in part it's coz Young Girls can look at her and think, I could do that.  If they look at someone with chops, they know they couldn't, so it's not as relatable.   I've heard people I personally know who can Sing as good as, or better than, Taylor Swift.  But, I've never personally known someone whose got the chops of say, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand or Mariah Carey.  They got the iconic chops!!!   Same with a lot of Male Singers whose Voice is just Jaw dropping.  But, I gotta admit, I've liked Artists too who didn't have the greatest Voice, but were still easy to listen to, put out great Music, or put on a good performance.   Someone like Joe Cocker or Rod Stewart comes to Mind off the top of my Head. 

Okay, enuf of that disappointing ending of a Series Competition... Moving On.  *LOL*   Above is one of Princess T's Older Sisters in Mexico.  The only Older Sibling in Mexico that I have any Contact with at all, the rest really don't even have any Contact at all with their Paternal Side of the Family, so, I never even got to know their Names, Ages and such, just that he Fathered a lot of Children and had way too many Baby Mamas.  This isn't his Oldest Child, he also has some Twins and a couple of Kids the same Age but by different Women, so, yeah, Playa-Playa.  I don't have Contact with him anymore myself, tho' I did initially, his Choice in Life aren't Okay and so I want no Contact, he's not improved any and has caused a lot of Issues for Family, including his Children.  

Anyway, it's always good to get some Pixs of this Granddaughter and her Family, that's her Husband in the previous Pix with her, when they were considerably Younger, and now they have Two Beautiful Children, a Boy and a Younger Girl.  The little Girl looks SO much like Princess T did at the same Age {see Above Pix}... and this Sister and Princess T are the Siblings with the more Exotic Darker Eyes and Hair.  And she takes good Selfies and is very Photogenic, and still looks really good into her 30's and after having had a couple of Kiddos, she can still Rock a Bikini like the Girl from Ipanema.  *Smiles*   A couple of Princess T's Sisters Model in Mexico, this one does and the one a Year Younger than Princess T also does to help put herself thru College, along with Winning Academic Scholarships and Working Full Time too.   This Sister recently sent me a bunch of new Pixs I didn't yet have, so, I'm oversharing like Proud Grammas just do of Grandkids and Great-Grandkids.  *Winks*

I'm grateful for the Blog Fodder since I don't wanna just wander around the House photographing stuff.   Better to have good Family Photos to Share, more Meaningful.   She's such a Cutie Pie and from what The Daughter says, a really Sweet Girl.   The Daughter and her bonded during the Years that The Daughter was with her Ex there in Mexico, this Daughter of her Ex is only Nine Years Younger than she is, since her Ex is much Older, he just doesn't look it.  I know when I first met him my Mom and I thought The Daughter was robbing the Cradle!!!  *LOL*  Not that he was so much Older than The Daughter was and had Kids almost her Age!!!   We didn't even initially Believe how Old he really was, but, he really was.   I would like to meet this Granddaughter too one day, if visits to America and visits to Mexico become easier after we rid ourselves of this dreadful Administration.

Her Son doesn't like having his Pix taken so there were none of him this time, he's Grade School Age and looks a lot like his Dad, so he's a Handsome little Guy.   This Granddaughter also helped Saint Maria with the Three Younger Sisters, of The Daughter's Kids, when she could, so we appreciated that.   She did want to have them come live with her, but she doesn't live in their Region so the Girls didn't want to relocate that far where they didn't know anyone else and would have to change Schools and be apart from their Grandma when she was still living.   They took Care of their Grandma in her latter Years and were Devoted to her, as she had been to them.   The Middle one did go spend some Summer Vacations with this Big Sister, but would get Homesick and want to come Home.  I'm kinda sure they'd of felt the same way moving here to America, had we been able to arrange it and not have the Immigration Trouble.  So, perhaps it was for the best they had to remain where they know and feel is "Home" to them.

I don't know how often this Sister gets to go to their Region to visit?  Becoz she spent a lot of her Growing Up Years in Spain, going to University there, not in Mexico.   The Ex-SIL is of European Ancestry actually, his Dad was Spanish, his Ancestors from Spain and still has Relatives there, and his Mom {Saint Maria} was French Ancestry, but her Parents, over 100 Years ago, Immigrated to Mexico and were in the Government, still are in fact, so they are actually Europeans of Latino Origin.   They've just spent Generations now in Mexico and most have been Born there and most have Married people of Mexican Ancestry now.   With The Young Prince, the Paternal side has Puerto Rican Ancestry, so they're originally Island Nation Latinos.  So our extended Family has a lot of Ethnic Flavor going on.  *LOL and Winks*   I personally think Variety is the very Spice of Life and we're Enriched by it.

It would be so nice if Society just evolved to where we can Celebrate our differences instead of being divisive about them.  But, we're clearly not that Evolved as a Species yet and probably won't be in my Lifetime.   I always held out Hope we'd progress, evolve in Positive ways and not devolve in Negative ones... some people have tho'.    LATER: Since it was a Monday in Real Time and I can Sleep In that day since Princess T doesn't Work, I completely forgot that The Man had an early VA Doc Appointment with Dr. Kline!!!   The VA Clinic is all the way in Sun City so luckily it was The Man who remembered and rolled me out, who knew?!  *LOL*  Getting this Show on the Road takes time tho' and he was predictably forgetting everything else he'd need for this Appointment, including his New Med List we needed to get Approved, which was the reason for the whole Visit!  So, that made us late enuf we barely skidded in on time.  *Whew* 

Dr. Kline is an adorable Old Yiddish Doctor tho' and we just Love him, he's so funny and has a great rapport with his Veteran Clients and a Wicked sense of Humor.   It had been Two Years since The Man had been in to see him and he knows how stubborn my Old Man is and I said, Hi Dr. Kline it's been a Minute.  He responded by looking down at his Chart and saying, well, it's been a Couple Minutes now, hasn't it?  *LMAO*  But he then said, "Well I can't make an Old Marine do anything.", to which I responded, "Me neither...", and then we both laughed heartily, he doesn't judge, doesn't Preach, but he genuinely Cares about his Veterans very much and was a Combat Veteran Doctor himself on the Front Lines, last Tour, in Afghanistan, and he's not a Young Man, so I'm guessing he did it as a Volunteer to go over there Post-Retirement as a Civilian?  He also Served in Vietnam, so, like The Man, is in his 70's now too. 

He instantly approved The Man's new Meds and they'll be delivered to our Door, he renewed existing Meds for the Diabetes and said he may consider putting The Man on a Statin too, especially if his A1C isn't good again, so we also had Labs done for that reading.  And he wished him Well on the 2nd Heart Surgery.  I wanted to take The Man to one of our fav Thai Restaurants nearby "Tom Yum" and was shocked that they're Locked Out by their Landlord, so it's Closed!!!  I'm crestfallen, yet another fav Haunt now Closed due to the shitty Economy, Tariffs and Raised Rents, most probably.  They were always busy so I'm guessing Rents went up to where they couldn't afford them, judging by the Notice the Landlord Posted on the Door and the Lock-Out.  That happened to a "Subway" Sandwich Shop nearby too and they were always busy as well.  So, anyway, I took him to "Olive Garden" nearby instead and had the endless Soup, Salad & Breadsticks.  Tho' we both behaved on the Breadsticks, so hard.  *LOL and Le Sigh*

We went to "Trader Joe's" and the "Sprouts" nearby the Doc's Office too and got what we needed.   And we took a gander in the Sun City "Goodwill" as well, since I wanted to see their abundant Halloween Merch at that location.  Didn't get any Halloween, but got another large Glass Canister with a Bamboo Wooden Lid, a Wedgwood Ashtray sized Plate with the last Dead Pope on it, and Two Health Food Cookbooks.  My Mom Collected Wedgwood all her Adult Life so I always think of her when I see any at a Chazza and usually have a few small pieces I put on my Dia de los Muertos Altar in Honor of Mom, so this will be on this Year's Altar.  It was only Two Dollars, Online they're about Twenty Bucks.  When we got Home Mando had done the whole Yard again, Bless him.   I'm making Chili now in the Crockpot... coz it was 110 before 10:00 a.m. Today and will be Record Breaking Heat all Week, so once again I don't feel like heating up the Kitchen Cooking.  In Summer, the Crockpot is our Friend.

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Happy Summer Vibes from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian