Boredom And Blogging ~ And Dia de los Muertos ~ Part II

 I got bored with my Tan Blog Background and went Darker.   I can always go back if I get Negative Feedback from Dear Readers.  I used to have the best Vintage Wallpaper Graphics as my Blog Wallpaper, Loved it so much.  But after several Years it went away and subsequent "enhancements" Blogger has made over the Years just make it so I don't mess with Settings and changing things much anymore.  Too much can go Wrong and get screwed up when you're Tech Challenged like Yours Truly and I don't want to run damage control behind myself.  *Smiles*  Plus, for some odd reason the Wallpapers that you can auto choose, don't load like they should with Graphics you really like, just a single Solid Color and I don't know Why and never figured it out?

Blog Friend Shirley was saying she's been Locked Out of my site for Weeks now and doesn't know Why, neither do I since I haven't changed anything that should Block any Dear Readers.  I haven't activated any Screening for who shows up, it's Public and anyone should be able to access the Blog.  Only obvious Spam Comments are sent to Spam Comment Land and I take a look, delete them if they truly are Spam/Trolls/Bots, Un-Spam them if they're legit Commenters.  Sometimes someone gets thrown into Spam, only via their Comments, I know not Why that happens either, especially if they're regular Dear Readers and have often left Comments before.  I even allow Anonymous Comments coz I know on my Cellphone I have to Comment as "Anonymous" and then Sign the Comment as me. 

So, anyway, other than a Color Background and Font Color Change, everything remains the same at Bohemian Valhalla Blog.  *Smiles*  I just felt 'Darker' and so the Charcoal Background with White Font seemed more apropos.  *Winks*   I happen to like it better than the Tan, but I do prefer the Neutral Non-Colors over the Colorful Wallpapers they had as Options.   I would of coarse prefer a Graphics Wallpaper that is either Vintage, Benign Neglect, or very Bohemian.  Remembering how to even change my Blog Banner is so far in the distant Blog Past tho' that I don't wanna re-learn how, too lazy, I'm a lazy Blogger, what can I say.  If it ain't broke I am not tempted to fix it.

The Son got me to watching a NetFlix Mini Series called "Black Rabbit" starring Jude Law and Jason Bateman, it has 8 Episodes.  I haven't seen Jude in anything for a very long time.   I'm also binge watching a Special Effects/Make-up Contest based out of London called "Glow Up", where aspiring Make-Up Artists compete in Colorful Challenges.   It's been on for Six Seasons but this is the first Season I've ever seen it.  It reminds me how much Edgier Fashion Wise the Europeans are compared to America.  I have lived in Europe and their Fashion and Music to me was way Edgier and more appealing to me.  I remember when I moved back to America and came to Phoenix in 1974, my Fashion Sense was very Bohemian European and people here looked at me like I'd come from another Planet.

It reminded me of how people thought about Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin's Fashion Sense, which, was very much like mine back in my Young Hippie Days.   Swinging London Fashion was I think what they called it, and Jimi fit in much better in Europe, I'm sure of it, than he did here in America.  He was not only dressing to be Uncommon, but to suit himself and his own personal Aesthetic, being completely Authentic to Self.   He Believed some Clothes restricted your Personality, I agree completely... Style from Electric Ladyland.   It's not for everyone and it's not meant to be, why be Pedestrian, Cut & Paste, or Basic when you can be Extra, it's so much more interesting, liberated and Fun.

  I liked Exotic Fabrics with lots of Handwork, especially Velvet with Hand Embroidery, I wore a lot of Velvet Hand Embroidered Caftan Tops from India and Dashikis from Africa.  I liked the outrageous Jackets like Jimi often wore and I had several of my own.  My Kids and The G-Kid Force still Joke if they see anything reminiscent of Jimi or Janis' Style and say, "Mom/Gramma would totally still wear that...", with no Inhibitions, and they'd be Right.  I still do. *Winks* So funny to me that The Man, by comparison, was not allowed, growing up, to express himself with Fashion or Style, the Mormons being pretty Uptight about Fashion and Conformity.   Which is probably Why, by the time I met him and he'd been well Traveled and in the Military for so long and having to wear a Uniform, on his own Time he had Swagger when he dressed. 

 Finally able to express himself and not have his Personality as restricted.  He was a Sharp Dressed Man when he was in the Clubs DJing and being their Bouncer.  Now of coarse he wears just Demin or Carhartt Shorts, Baseball Caps and T-Shirts, which is Fine.  You should have seen Pixs of him in the days when he was Undercover and infiltrated Outlaw Biker Gangs, he looked the part totally!!!  He still looks fierce in Biker Sunglasses and a Leather Vest... he still likes them, but doesn't wear them so much... he could still look like an Old Outlaw Biker tho', easily.  *Ha ha ha*  He did semi-joke that with this corrupt Regime in Power, any of us might have to become and be considered ruthless Outlaws for our own protection and well being of our Families, he could be Right?  

I'm having Fun pulling my Dia de los Muertos Imagery out of my Photo Archives for these couple of Posts dedicated to the Holy Days it encompasses.  In Real Time it's only the 26th coz I'm several Pre-Written yet Unpublished Posts ahead still.   So, I have about a Week before the actual Celebration where I'll be taking 2025 Pixs of it and of Halloween Night.   Only Five Days left in Real Time before it's Halloween and then the Dia de los Muertos Celebration is November 1-2, which falls on a Weekend so The Desert Botanical Gardens did said they'll devote that Weekend to the Celebration of it.  I'll definitely attend, I always do, it used to Host more days displaying the Art, the Ofrendas, but now it's just a Weekend.  And one Year they didn't do it at all, so I always check Online first to see what Special Events they ARE Hosting there?  Like I said, their "Strange Garden" Event was just Strange and quite disappointing.

 

I was thinking of going to The Gym this fine Sunday Morning but I'm very sore and had done a lot of Walking Yesterday, which qualifies as a Workout too.  If I'm too sore I don't push it coz the last thing I want is to risk injury and strain that would sideline me from usual activity levels.  The point is to become healthier not injured or compromised of your usual activity levels due to doing too much.  I'm very active for a Senior so I know I've never been a sedentary sort of Older Person at all.  I was still Raising Grandchildren when most of my Peers had long since quit doing that level of intense Activity that Children require.  *Smiles*  I was trying to keep up with Children my Grandkids Ages plus their Peers much Younger Parents that were the Ages of my own Adult Kids or even Younger Adults than that who were also Raising Children.  You ran in different Circles than your Retired Senior Friends when you still have Young Children at Home and in tow all of the time.

Even now, I'm mostly hanging out with my Granddaughter, whose 20, and my Adult Kids in their 30's-40's, and their Friends.  I'm not running with those in their 60's-80's like most of my Peers are.  I do know some Seniors in Real Life, mostly at the Antique Mall who are other Vendors. But what they're doing, other than Selling in an Antique Mall, is so different than what I'm doing, that we just don't do stuff together at all in our Social Lives.  In their Personal Lives they all just live with either an Elderly Spouse or Alone too, big difference than me living with 3 Generations of Family together under one roof.  So, the Older folks we know don't come over for visits as often as the Young folks we know who are over all of the time and Socialize more.  For most Young Friends this is like a second Home too, and I swear they just end up like part of the Family they're here so much.  *LOL*  They don't even visit their own Parents or Grandparents, or extended Family, as often as they visit with us and come over for Meals and Activities.  *Smiles*

I don't mind coz they pitch in while here, always bring Food with them if they're joining us for a BBQ or Gathering, help with Cooking and Cleanup, provide Socialization we wouldn't normally have, so, there's no Down Side to their visits.  Being a full time unpaid Caregiver would otherwise be Isolating as Hell if it were just The Man and I.   We'd only be seeing his Weekly VA Nurse on Tuesdays for as long as she is able to come if it were just the Two of us here.   I do take The Man out 2-3 Times a Week to get his exercise and Sunlight exposure, but, he likes to do that in Natural Settings where it's really just the Two of us and random sparse Peopling of anyone we'd happen to meet while doing our Environmental Cleanup.  He can handle that level of Casual Socialization with a complete Stranger who we'll likely rarely see again.  Tho' people do remember us more than we remember them, Oddly, we're memorable folks I guess?   The Kids are like, "Well, how many Old People even LOOK like you Mom/Gramma?  Of coarse they remember you."    *LOL*

The Man tends to wear the Old Career Veterans "Uniform" of a Military Logo Baseball Cap and Military Logo T-Shirt, long Beard, and letting their Hair grow long.  *Winks*   When Princess T was a Toddler she could not Identify for sure her Grandpa from any other Old Veteran that looked so much like him, it was hilarious!!!   She called him her "Honey" and would yell out to any Old White Veterans with a White Beard, "Honey! Honey!!  There's my Honey!"  *LOL*   It's funny to me coz one of my Mom's Favorite Stories about me as a Toddler was that my Military Dad was deployed so much that she didn't realize the main thing I recognized about Dad was that he wore a Military Uniform and had Dark Skin.  

 So, when I was Two we were at the Train Station waiting for my Dad to come Home from a Deployment and a Black Man in Uniform exited the Train and I ran up to him so excited, grabbed him by the Leg hugging him and gushing, "Daddy! Daddy!"   Mom said that poor Young Guy's Face was Priceless of the shock that this little swarthy yet Blonde Toddler thought he was her Daddy!!!   She said all he could muster was, "She's NOT mine, I swear!"  *Bwahahahaha*   Dad finally exited the same Train and then the Guy realized how I Identified Dad, Dark Skin and Uniform, and my Parents and the Guy Laughed about it and my confusion, that every Dark Guy in a Military Uniform wasn't Daddy.  But, as Mom pointed out, any Native American in Uniform probably WAS my Daddy, coz my Dad seemed to be the only Indigenous Soldier everywhere we went.  Tho' my Dads Brother and my Paternal Cousins were in the Military, you still didn't see many Native American GI's.  Until I was an Adult and saw a Navajo GI at Luke AFB here in Arizona that everyone called, of coarse, "Chief".  *Smiles*

In WWII Arizona enlisted a lot of the Navajo to be Code Talkers and at every Veteran's Day Parade in Phoenix those still living come down from the Rez to be Honored in the Parade.   There are only Two still Alive Today, Peter MacDonald and Thomas H. Begay. {See Below}  They were both Fine Handsome Looking Young Soldiers in their day.  I remember how Handsome my Dad looked in his Military Uniform.  And how Proud I always was and have been of his Service to his Country, in spite of the discrimination and segregation he always faced even while Serving.  Originally there were 534 American Indian Code Talkers in WWII, the larges Group being the over 400 Navajo Marines who Served in the Pacific.  Most of the Comanche Code Talkers were Serving in the European Theater of Operation.  But over 14 Tribal Nations participated in the Program.  The initial Group numbered only 29 Navajo Men, until the American Military realized how effective and valuable their contribution was as our Secret Weapon of WWII.  Their Code was never broken and only 13 Died in Combat.

  

I Share some of this important History before it can be disappeared and Whitewashed, or falsely re-written, by this vile Administration that is trying desperately to eliminate all contributions made by Americans of Color and of American Women from our History.   It's not just Cis Gender White Males who've made important contributions to the History of our Country.  And so we may have to resort to Verbally passing along important History like both of my Parents Cultures were used to doing and preserved their History that way by Word of Mouth for Centuries.  It is still an effective way of relaying History to our Future Generations so that it isn't Lost and cannot be eliminated effectively by any vile and corrupt Regime trying to do so.  I have verbally relayed our History of all our Ancestors, the Welsh ones and the Native American ones in Stories to my Children and Grandchildren, as they were thus passed along to me by my Elders.

It's not exactly 'New' that History and Accuracy has been suppressed or eliminated handily by Governments, any of them.   My Dad always found it quite ironic that the U.S. Federal Government only "Recognized" certain Indigenous Tribes, and refused to "Recognize" others as being Indigenous Peoples so they could deny them Land and compensations of any kind.   To this Day there are a minimum of at least 400 Native American Tribes that are Non-Federally Recognized!!!  They did not receive Recognition thru Treaties and some were even terminated when the Government now refuses to Recognize their Status, for any reason they deem fit to not restore Status.   The 1950's-1970's saw the U.S. Government terminate Relationship with over 100 Tribes, which then removed their Special Legal Status as being considered Indigenous!  

So, all of the discrimination remaining, but none of the benefits Tribes would Legally receive!   I foresee this vile Administration trying to do away with all Federal Funds, Grants and Services to create hardship Socially and Economically on all Tribal Nations.  There are currently 574 Federally Recognized Tribes.   My Dad's direct Ancestry are among the East Coast Non-Federally Recognized Tribes and most were herded out West and intermarried with Federally Recognized Tribes in those Regions in and around Oklahoma, primarily the Cherokee Nation.  So, most of my Cousins are Federally Recognized due to the intermarriage of their Ancestors.  But my Dad Married a European, so he nor us were ever Federally Recognized as Indians... which is just the irony of some of the tainted History of our Nation never taught or discussed.  

 And probably also why Ancestry dot com labeled me as 21% Other Of Undetermined Origin?   *Bwahahahaha*  That Origin is likely Indigenous yet Unrecognized as such by our Government.  *LMAO*  Both of my Dad's Parents were Indigenous and likely also considered Half-Breeds of their day.   Which, Oddly, was considered "White by Law", but, not REALLY, since, they were still treated like Indians and most still lived on Reservations and not Off Rez and were not going to be welcome nor assimilated into American Society ever in their Day.   Kind of like the "One Drop Rule" most Americans of Black Ancestry faced.  It does put  you in sort of an awkward Cultural Limbo of sorts sometimes, depending on how Dark or how Light you happened to turn out?  *LOL*  I have always been considered White by my Dad's Family and Indian by my Mom's Family.  And that's Okay coz I have a Family that on Mom's Side was very accepting of my Dad... not so much on my Dad's Side.  And I understand, I look White Enough to have avoided a lot of the discrimination and bias, not always, but, mostly.

  

History Lesson for Today now over, we'll Move On.  *Winks*  Now for some Food Porn, since, it's always Necessary and a nice Fluff Top Break from Serious Stuff, Right?  *Winks*   I took these in the Bakery Section of "Whole Foods" while I was there, their newly Remodeled Bakery Section is open now.   We're BBQing Two kinds of Bun Length Hotdogs and Two kinds of Hamburgers this Afternoon and I have some Bakery Items and Deli Potato Salads, Two kinds.  My Finale' of "Halloween Wars" is on Tonight.  The Guys will be the Grill Masters of cooking it all since I did the Shopping for it all.  *Smiles*  "Safeway" had Sodas and The Man's Peach Teas on Sale, so that's where we got everything. Instead of going to The Gym we went and did Environmental Cleanup and got some more River Rocks.  It worked out that kink I had in my Shoulder Blade that had been painful for a few Days, so, it turned out being the Right Thing to do for it. 

Tomorrow Princess T has her Dental Appt. which I'm taking her to and The Man has his VA Doc Appt. which The Daughter and Mando are taking him to.  He'd scheduled his Appt. on top of hers, within 15 Minutes of hers, so no way I could do both.   This is why I don't like him making his own Appts. when they call to set them up, he never looks at the Calendar to ensure we don't already have something on that day which would conflict with whatever Appointment he's agreeing to!!!  Rather than change it, in case he wouldn't be able to get in to the VA again in a timely manner, which is common, Mando and The Daughter said they'd take him.  *Whew*  They've never been with him to an Appt. so that should be Interesting.  *Winks*  

Now they'll see what I go thru with him at Appointments.   He rarely tells his Docs anything Truthful or even Accurate, so you have to keep him Honest at them and be Accurate FOR him, which is my advice to them.  He'll Argue it all, but the Docs usually know now his Brain is a bit scrambled and Believe the Family version.  Dr. Kline is very Kind about it with The Man, I'm sure he sees a lot of Old Disabled Veterans who have either Emotional or Mental Health and Brain Damage Issues, involving Physical and Emotional Trauma from their Years of Service related Injuries and what they've been thru.  He himself Served on Battlefields in Vietnam and other Theaters of Operations, he's an Older Doctor with a thick Yiddish Accent, whose also seen a lot of Action during Wartime.  We just Love Dr. Kline and am so glad he's The Man's Doctor.

And doesn't this Juice I had at "Snooze" look Refreshing?  And, it was, and was called "The Rejuvenator".   It's a hydrating Drink made from Pear, Lemon, Ginseng, Agave, Prickly Pear and Coconut Water, rimmed with Himalayan Pink Sea Salt, very tasty and balances Electrolytes and aids in Hydration while providing a boost in Energy, at about 180 Calories.  I switch from either ordering this or other Energy Drink Juicing they provide on the Menu, or the Lavender Coffee Latte.  Below was my Breakfast there, the Bacon But Different hadn't arrived at the Table yet, but, I had that too.  I'd worked up quite an Appetite walking the Gardens for a couple Hours, and it ended up lasting me 'til Dinnertime actually.    

  

The Bella Bella Benny is on the Left and was the one they'd taken off the Menu for a while and reintroduced by Popular Demand to.  The one on the Right is the Habanero Pork Belly Benny, I chose the Benny Duo where you can choose Two different Bennies for a small Upcharge on just the Pork Belly One, worth it.  Usually it comes with Hashbrowns but I substitute Fruit at no extra charge to reduce my Carb intake due to being a Diabetic.  Also, with being on Ozempic, my Appetite is suppressed so too many Carbs fills me up too full and I end up not being able to eat it all.  I don't like wasting Food so I'd rather Order something I know I can polish off if I know I'm not going straight Home and it would sit in the Truck when it's Hot Outside. 

One of our Lifelong Friends is making Dia de los Muertos Altar Candles for her departed Family Members.   Her Uncle Art on the Far Left, and her Grandpa Albert, on the Far Right, were Lifelong Friends of ours when we all lived in the Old Barrio in South Central Avondale.   So our Kids knew them all their lives and are still Friends with all of their Generation they grew up with from there.   Art was the Brother of another of our Lifelong Friends, Dino, and his Wife Yolanda, who are still Alive.   So few of our Old Friends are still among the Living tho' now, we're some of the last of our Generation still Piping along.   So, their Kids often come to visit us now we're back in close proximity to the Old Neighborhood.  We owned Two Properties in the Old South Central Avondale Neighborhood, one being the Historic Home.  I do miss both Old Neighborhoods, we visit them when we can.  This Neighborhood is outside of the Historic Barrio, but, just a few Miles Northeast of it.  In a more affluent area of higher end Homes, and our Community has Acreages.

Our Community is what I'd call a Vintage one, since it's been here since the early 1960's.   So all the Homes in the Mini Farm Community are Custom Homes on Acreage, no Two Homes are alike, and used to be quite Rural and nobody around them back then.  But, fairly high end Residential more expensive Subdivisions eventually built up around them, and Businesses/Commercial/some Industrial too.  So now it's all part of Urban Sprawl and the Metro Area, so no longer Rural at all.  I don't mind since now it's the best of both Worlds, yet in a lower Crime Rate area than our Historic Home was or our other South Central Home was.  As you get Older, even if you know a lot of people in your Community who are decent law abiding folks, you don't wanna have to Deal with the Criminal Element People or Gangs in a higher Crime Rate area, which, do exist.  Police response is just better in more affluent Neighborhoods with lower Crime Rates.

The Daughter took over the BBQ of everything and was Grill Master, since her Brother and Boyfriend had to work on The Son's Car again.  They're limping that POS along since he can't afford another one, so pretty soon the whole damned Engine will be rebuilt with new parts.  *Le Sigh*  She'd never done BBQ before so asked me to Supervise her, but, she did really good and the food turned out great.  That gave her confidence that she can Grill too.  *Smiles*  We all sat and watched Marathon Semi-Finals and Finale's of Food Network Halloween Competitions.   The Winners of "Halloween War" was my favorite Team and deserving of the Win, but the runner-up who took 2nd place had been an Underdog thru the whole Show and had a Pumpkin Carver who was almost my Age and it was her 1st time there.  The Cake Artist also was her 1st time and she was an exceptional Artist from Guyana originally.  Only their Sugar Artist was a Veteran of the Show.

I think every Team on the Show this Season was really so good that Judging was difficult, mostly smallest of details eliminated Teams really. I enjoyed the whole Evening of Binge Watching The Food Network Shows.   A whole Day of ignoring The News and what Fuckery might be coming out of the White House was Needed, it's all so much, too much, far too depressing to process every day.  Oh how I Wish that Kamala had Won.   So that all of this could have been avoided and he would have probably Died or been put in Long Term Care, in almost virtual obscurity during her Term.  And his Sycophant Cabal of People might have also dispersed in Four more Years of a Normal Functional and Sane Presidency?  So much could then have been avoided and not threatened our Democracy or harmed the American People and our Allies.  *Le Sigh*  Sometimes Bad History, the Wrong Side of History for a Nation, is just allowed to play out tho', and so, here we now are.  It makes me beyond Sad and Angry that Americans who Voted him in again caused this.

During my BIL's Visit we were careful NOT to bring up Politics coz he's Old and MAGA, but tho' I'm sure he's still quite Team tRump, coz he'd never admit he was Wrong, he also was more subdued about NOT bringing it up either, which isn't like him.  He liked to blame Biden for everything and now that Side just can't, their Guy has to Own what's going Sideways now, Biden isn't the President anymore, so the Fuckery of the Day is Square on the Retrumplican Party now.  Denial will only take the Cultists so far before what IS hurting THEM is obviously their own Choices and not someone else's Fault to Blame it on.  He defaulted to saying he's so Old and near the End of his Life now, that it doesn't matter anymore, the Politics!  

 But I told him only that it DOES matter to his Child, his Grandchildren, and all Future Generations of us all.  So, it's reckless and irresponsible for any of us to fuck the World or the Nation and the Future up, for them to have to run any Damage Control behind.  Native American Cultures Believe you do not Inherit the Earth from your Ancestors, you Borrow it from our Children, for at least Seven Generations.   This is precisely why most Indigenous Cultures around the World did not leave a harmful Footprint on the Earth for Hundreds, if not Thousands of Years, of being on any Land they occupied exclusively.   Modern Societies tend to look at that as being Primitive or Uncivilized, but it was Ecologically in Harmony with Mother Earth and Nature, all of it that we Share this Planet with, that should be acknowledged.   We Witnessed during COVID how Nature rebounded so quickly and was back in Natural Balance, during Humanity's Trial Period of being Sidelined.

I don't think Humanity Learned much from that tho', they should have, but, most didn't at all.  Anyway, Mando had to take The Son to Work coz they didn't get the Car Repaired in time, they worked on it all Day tho'.  A New Part they'd gotten from Auto Zone was faulty, it's Metal and the Metal broke into pieces!!!   So, they took it back and had to have it replaced and do all that Work all over again!!!   The Metal on that part was so faulty it was literally crumbling and could have caused an Accident had it fallen to bits on the Freeway, Thankfully it didn't, but it crumbled in their Hands when they removed it!  *Whew*  I swear the Fabrication of Parts is declining so much it's scary how shoddy the Workmanship is that could cause harm or even Death!!!  I don't know where these Car Parts are made, but the Quality is shit.

Princess T came Home from Rusty's with Two Carved Pumpkins into Jack O'Lanterns, so she'd talked him into doing that with her at his House this Year.  *LOL*  She either talks her Gay Boy Posse or any current Boyfriend into doing the Carving of the Jack O'Lanterns, not sure these Young Men would still be doing that kind of thing otherwise, unless they had Children, which, none of them do.  *Smiles*   I thought she'd make her Brother do it with her since The Young Prince enjoys such things too still and Carved One of his own last Halloween at his Home in New Mexico.  At once time, since he likes Sculpting and is so good as a Sculptor, he thought he'd wanna try his Hand at Professional Pumpkin Carving.   But, he found the Medium of Carving Vegetables quite different than Sculpting with Clay or other Food that is malleable.  As an Artist I found the same with Oil Painting, it wasn't a Medium I had the Skill for.   I could Draw with any other Product, just not make great Art with Oil Paints.

Of coarse she wants me to Photograph her Jack O'Lanterns, which she sat on the Front Porch Vignette, when the Sun comes up.  It's still Dark Outside at 5:00 a.m. when she rolled in, Rusty drops her off on his way in to Work on a Monday.  She doesn't Work on Sunday or Monday, so usually goes over his House on Saturday Afternoon after she gets off Work.   So far things are still working out for him at his Dad's Home, so I don't know what's going on with the Mom and Sisters moving in and his Dad moving out of that Property?  I know all the Male Roommates left that his Dad was Renting Rooms to, in preparation for his Ex and Younger Kids to move there and Rent out the other Home they own that she and the Kids lived in.  Why she's Renting out the Home she occupied is a Mystery and cocked up the good arrangement his Dad had set up to pay for everything with his Son and Male Roommates helping with Costs?

Princess T said she thinks the Mom doesn't Work, and only the Oldest of the Sisters Works and moved out to live with her Boyfriend.   The Younger Sisters are still in School and don't Work.   The Dad Works and probably pays for everything for both Properties?   Rusty Works long Hours and pays a LOT to Rent his Room from his Dad, a Grand a Month, but, it's less than half of what Rents Cost Locally.  Anyway, she said the only Positive is that the House the Guys live in has never been Cleaner and she likes that a lot, coz the Guys were all messy and it looked like a Bachelor Pad or Frat House.  *LOL*  Princess T would not go over to visit unless the Aunts... or the Mom... came over first to help clean it up to presentable Standards.  *Bwahahaha* 

 My Granddaughter certainly wasn't doing it like she was some unpaid Maid Service, that's for damned sure.   She gives her Boyfriend a hard time all the time about being a messy Man and relying too much on his Female Relatives to do all the Housework.  That doesn't Fly with our Grandchild from a Matriarchal Society Upbringing.  *Winks*   I'm sure Glad he took one for the Team by Carving her Pumpkins with her that he Bought for her tho', I'm not into Pumpkin Carving at all and just leave my Real Ones Natural and whole.  Mostly coz I Buy the Heirloom Varieties I like best and they're not Ideal for Carving Jack O'Lanterns, we know this from Experience.  *Eye Roll*  It used to be that the Traditional Orange Plain Pumpkins were Cheaper than Heirloom, now the Price Point is usually comparable.  And I still prefer the Varieties of Unusual Heirloom Pumpkins best of all.

 

I could immediately tell this was Rusty's Jack O'Lantern and wondered, where's his Lid?  Well, he Carved it in such a way it didn't fit on top anymore without falling inside so I had to set it back up on top skew wiffy so it would stay up there without falling thru!   And sorry my blurry Nighttime shots of these are inferior, I am not waiting 'til Daylight to wrap up this Post.  *LOL*  I'll for sure take better Pixs in the Daylight for another Post tho'.  I just had to go out there with The Man and do our Obligatory ewwing and awwing of them for her to be Satisfied that we just Loved and fully Appreciated the results of their handiwork and contribution to the Halloween Vignette out front.  *Winks*   I do like the Shadows the Images threw off at Night even tho' the Clarity was bad.  More of a Creep Factor going on with the Pixs.

And the Cat Jack O'Lantern was of coarse hers, coz she usually Carves a Cat, and this Year I think Hello Kitty was her Inspiration?   And also, I knew she would pick the Pumpkin with the Best Stem and clearly Rusty didn't Care about his Stem like we do.  *Bwahahahaha*   Tho' he did pick a Pumpkin with a good Shape too.   I don't know where they went to Buy them, pretty sure she insisted they go Pumpkin Shopping, but, whether that was Grocery Store or Pumpkin Patch, I haven't asked yet.  I will on the way in to the Dentist this Morning.   She's used to being up at 5:00 a.m. for Workdays so she'd already Slept enuf at his House before coming back Home and being dropped off.  I tend to rise Earlier now too that I take her to Work on her Workdays, it's hard for me to Sleep In now actually. 

*******

May the rest of Autumn go well for you my Friends, now this Holiday is a Wrap... Dawn... The Bohemian

Dia de los Muertos ~ Part I

 By time time this Publishes it will already be November and the Celebration of Dia de los Muertos for the next Couple Days.  But, in Real Time it's the 24th of October and The Son has a Four Day Weekend. Since they Closed his Shop on Thursday and Friday, nobody is happy about it, coz they won't get Paid Leave, but, it's better than being Laid Off.  They had Mandatory Overtime when busy, now they're not busy. At least living here at Home he doesn't have to fret about making Rent or buying Groceries, as he would if he had an expensive Apartment and didn't get a full Paycheck.  At least he'll be Home when his Uncle arrives, as will The Young Prince be here, so, my BIL will get to see the whole Family.  That hasn't happened in Years, I don't think he's seen The Daughter for over 20 Years, she was Princess T's Age last time she saw her Paternal Uncle, now her Daughter is that Age.  And The Young Prince was a Teenager last time he saw this Uncle, he's 25 now.

We're awaiting his arrival this Morning, he was in Wickenburg last Night which is only a couple Hour Drive from Metro Phoenix.  But, he's never been to this Home before so I do Hope the directions given he can find it.  We have easy directions off Two Freeways living here, so it's easier to find than our other previous Properties were and he found them easily.  But, then again, he wasn't 80 back then either.  *Smiles*  I thought he might be using his GPS on his Phone, but, apparently not, he needed directions the Old School way, Bless him.  If he gets a bit Lost we can go get him and guide him in.  I suspect he'll find us tho' since he gets himself to Texas from Alaska every Year.  *Winks*  He did say he stopped and visited some Relatives while in Utah, where most of their Family still live.

He got to see their Aunt Mary, whose the Sister of their Dad, who had something like 10 Siblings and only a few of the Youngest of the 11 Kids their Paternal Gramma had are still Alive.  Granted, their Grandma had Kids spanning a wide Age range, one of their Uncles is Younger than The Man is!   My Paternal Gramma was like that too and had 11 Kids spanning wide Age range, she had been Married Off at Age 13.  Now that would be unspeakable, but in their Generation and especially Tribal Cultures, it was the Norm.  Even one of my Paternal Cousins, whose my Age, was Married and had her first Child at Age 13 on the Rez!!!  And in Hispanic Culture a lot of Girls are Married and have Kids by Age 15.  In White Culture that would be considered some Hillbilly shit.   To me any Girl or Boy under 18 is still a Child.

Anyway, I'm glad he got to visit with their Aunt Mary, I think she and their Uncle Tommy, the one Younger than my Husband, are the only Paternal Aunt/Uncle still Living out of the original 11 Kids their Paternal Grandparents had.  This Brother, and The Man, only ever Fathered a Single Daughter, which, in Mormon Culture was very unusual to have a Small Family and not want a slew of Children.  One of their Sisters, the Youngest Sibling, has 7 Kids.   And the other Sister, who was Older than The Man but Younger than the Older Brother, had 5.  She is deceased now.  Their Younger Brother has 3 Sons, so he kept a reasonable sized Family too, all the Sons did.  Of coarse The Man Raised the Children I brought into our Marriage, and then the Grandkids we also Raised, so, he's Technically had a Big Family of Kids, his, mine and The Daughter's.  *LOL*

I only have the One Younger Brother, I think my Parents would have had a very large Family, but my Mom suffered a lot of Infant Mortality with having Multiple Births often.  In those Days, depending on where you Lived, Twins and Triplets often didn't make it.  My Mom had Two Sets of Twin Boys, and Two Sets of Triplet Boys, and one Single Birth Boy, that didn't make it.  I was actually her 10th Child and only Girl.  My Brother was actually her 13th Child and almost didn't make it, only 3 Lbs. at Birth and no Incubators at the Hospital he was Born in Overseas.  I always said he was Unlucky in Life {which he was often} coz of being the Number 13th Child.  I'm big on Numerology.  *LOL*  She lost Twin Boys between having me and my Brother.  The Man was a Twin, his Twin Sister Died at Birth. 

 Infant Mortality was still high in our Day really.  Moreso in our Parent's Day.  My Dad lost 3 Brothers in Childhood.  My Mom said her Mother lost a set of Twins at Birth too.  On Mom's side of the Family Multiple Births were common, especially Twins.  I was worried each time I got preggy that I'd have Twins or Triplets for that reason!   The Family History wasn't good for the Multiples Surviving.   The Daughter also Miscarried One Child, but had 5 Children Born Healthy.  Both of my Pregnancies luckily were healthy big Babies, all over 8 Lbs. and The Son weighed in at close to 11 Lbs., and Yes, I had him Naturally and with no Pain Meds, Ouch! 

 At the time of his Birth I only Weighed 128 Lbs. so the Docs were astounded I rather easily gave Birth to a Samoan Sized Baby!  Compared to the other Newborns, he looked 3 Months Old already and actually like a little Samoan Baby in Size & Complexion!  *LOL*   I had a Doc ask me if my Husband was Samoan?  Not that I knew of, but, he was Adopted and never discovered who his Birth Father was, so, who knows for sure?  *Bwahahaha*  We always Guessed my Ex was half Italian {Bio Mom was Italian}, and probably half Indigenous/Hispanic, perhaps of Yaqui Ancestry?  Even tho' my Ex could grow Facial Hair, Indigenous people always thought he was a Tribal Mixed Race Person, and likely, he probably was.  He sure behaved like one on the Fire Water, that's for sure, and was a raging, yet high functional Alcoholic!  I think he was drunk all of the time but didn't even Act or seem drunk all of the time.  But, definitely Crazy all of the time!!!

Now, that said, I'm Crazy all of the time too, so clearly it wasn't gonna last, or one of us would have surely Killed the other. I'm more of a Planner, so, I'd say his Spontaneity would have to be swift and very accurate if he tried to take me Out, or he'd of had to Keep One Eye Open and Watch his Back otherwise Forever and Ever.  *Winks*   And so I got our Marriage Annulled shortly after our Son was Born, he was only 6 Weeks Old when I said Enough, Peace Out.  The Marriage lasted shorter than the Pregnancy... but, since a Kid was involved they called it a Divorce and not an Annulment Legally.   I probably Dated him longer than I was Married to him, I cut my Losses quickly in any Situation that's a Loser or going Down.   And as my Dad Sagely Advised me about it when I consulted him, "If the Horse is Dead... get off."  *Bwahahaha*   I sure do Miss my Dad's Wisdom and brief analogies of Life Situations.  *Smiles and Winks*

My Mom really Liked my Ex tho' and felt he was damaged goods long before I got him.  She said his Aura and Essence had a very Negative impact on his whole Life and his Destiny, it was unavoidable for him to have a tragic Outcome.   She told me it wasn't Personal, he would have a tragic Destiny and mine wasn't Tied to his, she had Predicted much of what happened to him Post-Divorce actually, so, she also felt Divorcing him was best for the Kids and I.   Mom was eerily accurate in Predicting shit about People and was never Wrong about it, she Read People like a Book and it Scared a lot of folks coz they equated it with Witchcraft.  She had a Vision about my Ex, told me about it, and it came to Pass, he spent 27 Years in Maximum Security Prison and she'd Predicted fairly accurately what led him to that Destiny.  He'd been out of my Life by then for several Years and I'd Remarried The Man.

I got the whole Pool Area parameter around the Pool Decking now outlined with Wishing Stones we Collected.  I had more of them than I thought we did so we still have a lot left to line along the Bock Wall and West Side of The RV Garage Mahal that encloses the Pool.   I want to put Wishing Stone Rock Rings around our Baby Palm Trees we've now got growing Poolside.  I want more Palms and we've been finding Baby ones around Old Palm Groves out near Agricultural Fields.  Our Palms have also Seeded some Baby Palms that we're nurturing.  We don't need as much Open Pasture as the previous Owner did who probably had Horses or Livestock that grazed it.  We will only have Chickens that The Daughter is Adopting from an Elderly Friend who has to get rid of his Flock, Selling their Mini Farm and going in to Senior Living now.

My BIL arrived and stayed 'til about 3:00 p.m., so, he didn't get so see Princess T, she was Working late 'til 4:00 Today and he's got a long drive still to Texas.  He looked great and is 76, not 80, so we were Laughing about that, he's only 3 Years Older than The Man, it was their Older Sister that would have been 80 if she hadn't Died recently.  He's in good Health, compared to both Younger Brothers, he got the Good Hair Genes too and isn't losing his like his Younger Brothers or their Dad did.  He looks exactly like their Dad tho', it was like my FIL Cloned his Oldest Son.  As you can see us Old Folk really suck at Selfies.  *LMAO*  "Is this how it Works?", we're all saying and then didn't have the dexterity to hold it out there and push the right Button on the Phone, even when giving it to the one with the longest reach.  *Smiles*   We had so much Fun during this visit, he bought everyone Pizza and we sat Poolside for most of the time, he said our Property is like a Staycation.  He Loved our New Place.

He said when he gets back to Texas his Daughter and SIL are Trading Homes with him coz they're building a newer bigger Home nearby.  The Home they have is 5 Houses down from his Winter Home on the same Street, but theirs has a Pool and better View unobstructed of a Park.  So, they're swapping Homes and he's giving them his and they'll Rent it out and let him just live in theirs.  They'll live in their New Custom Home they're Building.  He doesn't know why they're building such a big House with 5 Bedrooms and 3 Bathrooms coz their Oldest Child is a Senior in High School and the other one is a Sophomore in High School already.  They said coz when he has to, they want him to move in with them.  He said he's not ready for that yet, but I'm so glad to hear they are thinking about and looking out for him now he's a Widower.  I'd been worried they weren't.

I think he really enjoyed the Visit and so did we.  He seems much more relaxed now and didn't realize how stressed out he'd been looking after his ailing Wife for so many Years as she deteriorated.  He said he tried to put her in a Nursing Home when it got to be too much but had to bring her Home due to them not taking good Care of her.  He said it was costing a fortune for her to be neglected and he said he could do a better job at Home even without Staff, I agree, usually you do provide more Caring Caregiving of your own than Strangers do or would, at any Price.  He couldn't stand to see her in a Care Facility and worrying all the time about the level of Care she was or wasn't receiving.  She said she wanted to come Home and just Die there, and that's what they did in the End.  It was hard on him tho', and I can see the Weight lifted now, his whole countenance and personality has a Lightness to it without all that Stress and Strain of Full Time Caregiving.   And... he can take better Care of himself now.

We should have taken the Pixs earlier when The Young Prince was present, but so busy visiting and having Lunch Poolside that we only remembered to get Pixs just before he needed to leave.  By then Mando and The Young Prince weren't there and Princess T wasn't Home from Work, so, no Group Shot unfortunately.   I Hope he can make it back for another Visit on his way back to Alaska in the Spring?  He's fixing up his Property there but said he Sold his Properties in Wyoming, Virginia and Florida, since, the Real Estate Markets were booming in all those areas and he could get a huge Equity Profit off of them all.  He said a lot of Billionaires are moving to Wyoming and he Sold his Property there to one.  He said they used to go to Jackson Hole to Buy Real Estate but now are Buying up in smaller Communities.   

  

He's putting all his Profits now, from anything he Sells, including his Roth Dividends, into Gold Coins.  Gold is now up to $4,126 an Ounce!!!   He buys the smaller Gold Coins so he can Sell less at a time if he wants to cash out on the Gold.  He's buying Silver now too coz he can double his Money easily, Gold isn't doubling, but, is still a great Investment right now.   Silver is at $48 an Ounce.    He said he decided to liquidate most of his Real Estate Investments coz it's a hassle to Rent, even tho' Rental Income was a nice Passive Income Flow, Tenants could be problematic and from a distance, he just didn't wanna Deal with that anymore.  He Sold his huge House in Healy, Alaska that had it's own Runway, a Wealthy Family bought it.   He maintains an Old Rustic Cabin in a smaller Town in Alaska that he lives in all Spring & Summer that he bought from some Old Russian Homesteaders who built it.   It needed a lot of Work so that's been his Hobby, fixing it up.

He said the Kids are moving all his things from Storage now to their Old House they're swapping with him coz they already got Tenants for his Old House in Texas.  The Homes are not "Old", they were built about 15 Years ago, have an HOA and are in a very small Town in Texas that has less than 38,000 Population.   It's where his SIL Retired from the Military Career, coz the SIL was originally from Texas and wants to live there.  My BIL doesn't really Like Texas but said so long as his Kid and Grandkids live there he'll remain.  He Loves Alaska but said now all his Old Friends there have either Died or Moved away, so he doesn't feel he will stay there either eventually, no connection anymore.  He's lived in Alaska for more than 50 Years and Traveled the World.  

In a couple Weeks he's going to China with some Chinese Friends from Alaska.  The Husband is a Chinese National and his Wife a Chinese American, they're taking him to China with them coz they want him to see it and he wants to go, it's been on his Bucket List.   The funny thing to me is that the Husband, who was Born in China, has an American First Name {mebbe he chose to take an American Name as some Immigrants choose to do?}... and his American Born Wife has a Chinese First Name of Ming.  *LOL*   Anyway, the Husband is going back to China for Business, he has an American Business but still does Business in his Home Country, so he'll go first and then send for his Wife and my BIL to join him.   My BIL said he wouldn't go to someplace like China unless he was going with Friends who know the Country and speak the Language, or, he'd feel Lost and vulnerable.  I agree.  Great that his Friends are asking him to go with them.  He's excited about the Trip.

He's excited about swapping Homes with his Daughter/SIL too, he likes their House better, they've done more improvements to it, it's a better Location in the Subdivision, is larger, and they are setting it up for him with all his things before he arrives.   He did say the Forrest used to be the Scenery behind that Home but the City cut all the Trees down to make a Park and displaced all the Natural Wildlife, which, he was sad to see.  But, he says a lot of Residents use the Park and nobody used the Forrest.  Of coarse the Animals did and my BIL is a huge Conservationist.  He's an avid Hunter too, but when it's not Hunting Season he would often take his Grandkids into the Forrest and feed Wildlife with them.  He said most of the Deer around those parts were used to Humans and would come eat out of your Hand.  Now they're all displaced, due to Human Encroachment, and it's a shame.  I agree it is.

 He said he no longer decorates for Halloween or Christmas, but goes to his Neighbors to hand out Candy to the Trick-Or-Treaters now and sits with them, combining Candy.  He leaves the Porch Light Off at his House but wants to still buy Candy to hand out to the Neighborhood Children.  He said he and the Neighbors just make a Sociable Night of it while handing out the Candy.  He used to go all out when his Grandkids were little, but now they're almost Grown, there's no Point, especially now he's Alone.   He said Holidays now are like every other Day and I suppose if  you don't have Family living with you, that's understandable.  Plus, his Wife was the one who enjoyed Decorating for Holidays, and I'm the one who does here... and The Daughter... the rest of them aren't Holiday Decorators at all.  *LOL*   My BIL does Like Antiques and said he's got a lot of Stuff and his Daughter keeps telling him to get rid of most of it coz she doesn't wanna Inherit it and have to dispose of it all.  So, he's begun to Downsize now in Earnest, for her sake. 

Her Husband Retired as a very high ranking Military Officer, so they're financially good, he doesn't have to worry about that, but, since she's an Only Child she will Inherit his entire Estate of coarse.   And she's Older than our Kids, so, she's Retired, as is her Husband, and they just don't want the hassle of having to downsize her Dad's possessions if he can do it while still Alive and benefit from the proceeds.   He said the Issue for him is that he'd rather Donate all the Household stuff and be done with it in one fell swoop rather than the hassle of Selling it or trying to.   But, for now it still holds a lot of Memories of his Wife, who hasn't been Gone that long yet and I understand, she bought most of what they have in their Home and Feathered their Nest, so it has her Essence and he wants that still, to retain it for now.

I was talking to The Young Prince and he said there is definitely going to be a Divorce, he just can't keep trying reconciliations that aren't Working for either one of them.   His Great-Uncle told him he was Sorry to hear that, he hadn't met Allen, but knows they have only been Married a few Years.  The Young Prince asked if he could stay thru Thanksgiving and I said that's Fine.  Originally he was only staying thru Halloween, but the Phone Calls with Allen have been tense and he just doesn't want the Holidays spoiled that he enjoys most.  He's not one to enjoy Christmas like he does Halloween and Thanksgiving.   Halloween is always Fun Times and Thanksgiving for us is always about Family and being Thankful, so he thoroughly enjoys those Holidays around us.  If he wanted to stay thru Christmas it's Fine too actually, we don't Care.  He told his Great-Uncle if all his Stuff wasn't still in New Mexico, he doubts he'd even go back.  That speaks volumes.

They don't Own a lot, but, most of what he has is his Art, which he's very Attached to coz it's meaningful to him, or what we've bought for him over the Years, which is Sentimental to him.   Allen is very much The Minimalist like The Son, so I'd venture to Guess that both Men could pick up and move their Worldly Possessions in the back Seat of their Cars and be totally Packed in less than an Hour.  *LOL*   Anyway, I could tell things aren't great but hadn't gotten into discussing it with him until he's ready to spill the Tea about everything.  I know he doesn't wanna Worry me about any of his Personal Troubles and wants to handle his own Business.   But, Relationship Problems can be so draining and so complex that it takes a heavy toll on anyone going thru that. 

The Above pix was taken when I was wearing a lot of Turquoise Blue and other bright Jewel Tones for a previous Year's Dia de los Muertos Procession I attended.   Which when you have Grey Eyes, that are very Pale, they will reflect certain Colors like Blues and Greens, and seem to change your Eye Color dramatically.   The Young Prince's Green Eyes do the same, if he wears Neutrals like Browns, his Eyes look Amber or Green-Hazel.   I don't know that I'll Paint my Face like a Sugar Skull Girl this Year, I can't do it as well anymore.   I used to be able to do Face Paint really well and now I don't have a steady Hand or as keen Eyesight as I used to for such things that require Detailed Work.  I'd probably look like a Hot Mess or that I let a Great-Grandchild whose a Toddler do it for me.  *LOL*

And speaking of those Munchkins, here's the Middle Granddaughter's Brood and I noticed she has a Brace on her Hand so gotta ask her whatssup with that?  She's a Nurse, and a Single Parent now, so can't afford a jacked up Hand!   They were out in the Pumpkin Patch picking out their Pumpkins for Halloween.  I haven't visited a Pumpkin Patch now the Kiddos are all Older.   That one that lasted from last Halloween is finally starting to dry out, but, not Rot, it's just losing it's Color now, but, it's gonna last thru Two Halloweens, can't beat that!!!   Especially how Hot it's been and that it's sat out on the Porch for over a Year now!!!  The Daughter and Mando brought a small nice shaped Orange Standard Pumpkin a Friend of theirs grew on his Mini Farm, so we have 3 Real Ones and a slew of Faux Ones out on the Front Porch.

The BIL Loved what we'd done for Halloween here and said it really got him in the Spirit of the Season.   He thinks I should Sell more from Home, but, I told him only Trusted Industry Friends by Invitation Only are Welcome to, I don't want Random folks coming to our Home to Buy anything.  He understands, he said it's a good thing his Alaskan Property is so remote or he'd worry about Theft or Squatters while he's gone.  His Texas Property is so close to his Daughter and Family they keep an Eye on it when he's gone and maintain it for him.   He splits his time 50-50 between Texas and Alaska now that his Wife has Died.  He prefers Alaska but said he's too Old now for Winters there.  And he no longer flies his own Plane now, tho' he still could.  He Sold his Plane and hasn't considered yet whether to Buy a new one and Fly again or not?  I understand, one of The Daughter's Elderly Friends flies a lot but said as you get to a certain Age you consider the safety factors of still flying.

The BIL says Cantwell, Alaska, where his Cabin is, only has a permanent Population of 121 People.   There's only 8 places to stay if you're not a Resident, so, we won't ever be visiting him there.  *LOL*   He doesn't mind living so remote coz he was a Mountain Man for most of his Adult Life and didn't live close to Civilization.  He started his own River Rafting Business outside of Denali Park and had a big Homestead there where he built a small Cabin first and then the Huge Home that was like a Ski Lodge and had it's own Runway and smaller Cabins he Rented out in Season when Tourists came for a Wilderness Adventure.   When The Man was Well enuf he'd go up there for 6 Months and help his Brother out with the Wilderness Tours and make sure the Tours were Safe and no Tourists got eaten by Predators.  *LOL*   Seriously, it could happen. 

 My BIL also Retired from Working the Big Mines in the Huge Mining Operations up there, which are good paying Union Jobs.  He knows that The Son worked Gravel Pits here in Arizona and wanted him to come up there to Work the heavy Equipment, coz he knows how, but, The Son was never interested.  Like Arizona Mining Operations, where you're Mining for anything, the Hours are brutally long, usually 16 Hours a Day, and usually 6-7 Days a Week, you don't have a Life.  The Son isn't that interested in making a lot of Money and just Sleeping and Working nonstop for his whole Life until Retirement.    Anyway, the Mines are always Hiring, here and in Alaska, but, he turns down the constant Offers.   And I can't say that I blame him at all.  

I have a Female Friend at the Antique Mall, Rocky {Rochelle}, whose Elderly and Worked the Mines in Alaska, she got Wealthy doing it coz she said there was no place to spend it there.  So she spent over 35 Years just Saving what she Earned.  *Bwahaha* Yeah, she goes on endless Cruises now, but... her entire Adult Youth and Prime Years of Life were spent Working and doing nothing else in Alaska.   And now her Husband is too sickly to go on any of the Cruises with her so she goes Alone... I dunno, I'd of rather of done Fun things with him when they were able to and Younger.  But, that's me.   In fact, she goes on so many Cruises now that she almost seems Bored by it.  And with nobody to Share the Experiences with, I can understand why the Thrill is Gone.  She doesn't even talk about the Cruises now when she gets back, it's become banal to her I guess?

 

I do think I'm going to try to get to The Desert Botanical Gardens Today.  They have "Strange Garden" going on so I think it will include some Pumpkin Art.  I charged my Camera's Battery up, since it had gone Dead while my BIL was visiting so with my Old School Camera I only got Two Pixs of him with it... dammit!   Hadn't realized I'd let the Battery drain that much, but, I have taken a lot of Halloween inspired Pixs.  I may ask The Young Prince if he wants to go with me, it's too much Walking for The Man and The Daughter won't wanna go without Mando and I can only take One Guest.  The Son probably wouldn't be interested, so, it's hard to know which Family Member might enjoy it... or not?  *LOL*  It's my Jam, not necessarily theirs to spend Hours walking around a Garden looking at Pumpkin Art.  *Winks*  The Man thinks I should just go by myself to maximize my enjoyment, he's probably Right?  *Ha ha ha*

But, the Young Prince Loves, Lives and Breathes Art, so, I dunno, it might be something he'd really enjoy so I will ask if he gets up in time to go?   He's seemed quite tense since having those Phone Calls with Allen and needs something enjoyable to get his Mind off his Relationship Troubles.  He spent a few days with a Friend, and that was Helpful, for him to Connect again with Positive People he's Friends with in Arizona.  In New Mexico he said it's almost impossible for him to make Friends in Clovis, very Homophobic Community and he's 'New' there.  With some smaller Communities everyone has known everyone else forever so they're not as receptive to Newcomers of any kind.   And those with Alternative Lifestyles and who are 'different' know it's gonna probably be harder to make meaningful Connections in some Communities.  Depends how Closed Minded or Biased they might be?  He said a lot of MAGA live there too and you see the Signs on the Lawns or Banners hanging from their Eaves... long after the Election.

It's pretty Cold right now so I'm gonna wait 'til it Warms Up, it's supposed to get to 86 and be nice all day tho' so that's perfect for Walking the Garden and taking Pixs.  But right now I'm not even sure it's 60 degrees so too Chilly for me at the moment and I want Rush Hour to be over too, even tho' it's Saturday, some of the Freeways is Closed for Repairs this Weekend, which always mucks things up for traversing the City.  We already have the Snow Birds and other Tourists here so it's thick Traffic all the time now.  And, I'm guessing the Event will be well attended at the Gardens, the Holiday Events usually are well received.  I don't know if another Restaurant took over "Gertrude's" Building?  I will miss that Fine Dining they had and my Friends I've known for Years there, including the Manageress.  They had recently Remodeled so it was very Strange how it Closed so suddenly in May.  I was there and talked with her and Staff, nobody said anything, as if they might not have known?

 

The only explanation Online by The Gardens was that the "Partnership" had ended.  Which sounded more like they may have not renewed the Lease on the Building?  I just will never know now since I don't have Shared Contact Information with the People I knew who Worked for "Gertrude's", it has just always been there for about 13 Years.  Hause Restaurant Group owned the Restaurant and may have decided to end the Partnership, and go on to their next Culinary Chapter, so, it's just hard to say which entity decided the long Partnership was over?   I just found it Strange how sudden it was coz May 16th was the earliest I could find anything Online talking of the Closure and it was a Wrap by May 31st!!!   

The last visit I had to The Gardens and the Restaurant was in May and they weren't saying anything to anyone, it looked like Business as usual to me and to the Guests.  The Restaurant was very packed, as it always was, many times you needed Reservations, but I always got in coz the People there knew I was a Regular.  I just felt they would have whispered something to me Privately or seemed morose it was Closing?  And why would any Tenant pay for expensive Remodeling knowing they'd be having to Close not long thereafter, it just didn't make sense to me.  Anyway, another Mystery of the Times I guess, so many Mysteries and Unknowns happening... everything now seeming Subject to Change Without Notice.   I miss everything that used to be, I really do, and I'm not adverse to Change... I embrace any Positive Change and Progressions of Society... but most Change hasn't been so Positive, or Progressive, and a lot of it has been so Negative.

I won't go down that Dark Path this Morning tho', I feel very Uplifted Today and it's the 25th in Real Time as I'm creating this Post and I'm excited to be attending another Autumnal Event.  Halloween is closing in so fast, as is Dia de los Muertos, that it will soon be over and I'll be Sad about that.  I languish in this Season and squeeze everything I can out of it.  *Smiles*  All of November will still be devoted to Autumn and readying for Thanksgiving, we still have a Turkey in the Freezer and I just bought some Stuffing... we have everything else on hand that we'll need.  Typically we've gone out to eat some Thanksgivings, but right now everyone's Economic Situations dictate making the Dinner at Home, and we have a House full to feed, so, eating out would have been expensive.  Plus "Boston Markets" Closed all their locations and "Cracker Barrel" has been practically the only place offering a Thanksgiving Dinner, and accommodating a large Family is hard at Restaurants when they're super busy.  Your wait is way longer for a Table.

I really just want a more relaxed Thanksgiving and the Kiddos now know how to Cook a Turkey and the first one they ever did turned out so good it gave them confidence to do another.  So most of the Work won't be mine, the Kids have taken over and The Young Prince plans to stay for Thanksgiving now too and he's an excellent Cook and likes to Cook, so can help his Mom with it.   The Son's Employer almost always gives them a Turkey at Thanksgiving, and even serves their Employees a big Thanksgiving Feast, so we'll have a replacement Turkey when we used the one in the Freezer and will save the newer one for Christmas.  The Antique Mall used to do a Thanksgiving Dinner for Vendors but they haven't now for a few Years.  They suspended Hosting Vendor Breakfasts and a Vendor Christmas Party too, they do nothing for us now.  And thus, they don't have good Vendor retention, constant exodus now, there's no bond, before it was like a 'Family'.  I miss that too.

When they used to do a lot for Vendors to promote Unity, AND Sales were very Good as well, then they go to doing nothing and Sales are very Bad, it's a stark contrast.  The Rents increased a lot, so it's not as if they aren't making more Money, they just aren't spending as much of the increased Profits on their Vendors, the Advertising of the Mall, nothing, so a lot of Vendors have felt a lot of Benefits erode over the Years of being there.  Some have gone to other Antique Malls, some New Ones are Opening and I'm going to check them out.  I don't anticipate moving and establishing a new Relationship, it would be a lot of Work and not as close by, so I just don't know yet what Plans I'll have?  I like the East Valley Big Antique Mall Best, but none of their Spaces are as large as what I have and it's too far for me to do Business there as a Vendor. 

 I like the Owner, Mike, and feels he has his Finger on the Pulse of the Industry and runs a nice place that attracts the right Demographic of Shoppers for the Industry.  He can Talk Shop with the best of them about Antiques, Vintage and Collectibles, our Management can't.   I don't know how you can run a Business you have Zero Interest in the Industry of it?   If I had no Knowledge about Antiques, I probably wouldn't Own an Antique Mall.  I suspect the Grandfather who founded it did have such an Interest, but his Heirs clearly do not, but, it was a successful Business to just Inherit and after he Died things really changed, but, not for the better IMO.   The Son said his Employer is the same, the Original Owner knew everything about Custom Quality Cabinetry and built the Business from the Ground up. 

 He Sold it when he Retired, the New Owner wasn't as knowledgeable and didn't run it as well, so The Son felt he was Stressed Out and it may have even led to his demise prematurely?  I think it was more about the making of Money off it than what they were Producing?  Then he Died suddenly and his Widow, just likes spending Money recklessly on herself, no Interest in the Business itself and no knowledge about running it.  So, things aren't the same, and tho' he's almost got his 5 Years in, The Son knows he won't stay with this Company now, he feels it could be Going Down if she doesn't Sell it to someone else who may be able to get it back to where it should be?   But, I don't see that happening a lot, what I do see, I don't like at all and it's happening a LOT now.

  A lot of Investors now are Buying up Businesses they know nothing about and don't Need to coz, the Buyout is merely to Asset Strip it.  Buy it, Dismantle it, Sell it's parts in the: "Buy, Strip and Flip Model" that is destroying so many once profitable Businesses you see Closing now.  The Goal being to Profit from the Sale of the Individual Assets rather than from the continued Operation of the Business as a whole.   The Investor or Company making the acquisition usually considers it undervalued or underperforming so Selling the Assets off piecemeal they have no conscience about, nor about it's Employees.  They'll make their Profit, and that's all they Care about, not about destroying Businesses and putting People out of Work who relied on it for a Living.   And a Leveraged Buyout is Financed primarily thru Debt.  And with Takeovers they can be Friendly, Hostile, Backflips or Reverse.

So, I'm back from The Desert Botanical Gardens.  The Son was gonna take his Girlfriend and her Kids too, coz I could have gotten them all in on my Membership Passes, she's back from the Rez now.  But, he couldn't get hold of her in time and I needed to go early, as it turns out I'm glad he didn't coz I'd hyped up "Strange Gardens" as being a Kid Friendly Halloween Event like it's always been and still is advertised of being Online.  Well, it wasn't at all what I thought it was an their advertising had hinted of it being, showing Carved Pumpkins, Ray Villafane Style, at the Entrance, which, the Entrance had that.  And I Photographed that.  But the rest of the Exhibit certainly was, in a Word, STRANGE!!!

Now, I'm not opposed to Quirky Art Exhibits, been to a few in my Day and I'm a self professed Weirdo, but this was the Far Side of Weird even for me!!!   I wasn't even sure what I was seeing or why?  They had these big Screens set up showing fast Time Lapse Images of Subdivisions being built!!!   WTF?!   Or of just the Desert at Night, but a single area in Time Lapse that nothing much actually happens, so it's just rather strobe looking.  They even had Two New Buildings built with all these Screens with the same Exhibit and those Screens everywhere, on the Walls staggered, laying flat on the Floor, on the Ceiling, mostly showing the same fast Time Lapse Images at once, Weird.  Strange.  I don't "Get It"?

So, that was a Wash, but, on the way in I'd noticed that "Gertrude's" Restaurant still had the name up and would be Opening at 10:30 a.m. so I pulled a Docent aside, an Older Man quite happy to Spill the Tea about it.   In a hushed Stage Whisper Voice no less.   *Winks*  He was adorable and said that the Owner was doing more of The Garden's Catering and it was requiring more of their Staff to handle the Event Catering.  Which was leaving them short staffed in the Restaurant and bougee Diners began complaining of waits... as bougee pretentious folk are inclined to do even tho' the waits were not that long in reality, I ate there all the time.  If it's busy, you expect to wait for a Table and to place and receive your Order, come on!!!

So, since their Lease was ending anyway they just didn't renew it and let another Famous Chef take it over, while they retained the Catering of the Events.   Thus retaining the Name, but he changed the whole Menu and also now Runs the Small Outdoor Cafe further into the Garden, which he completely changed the whole Menu of too.  The Docent said he hadn't eaten there yet coz the Menu wasn't his preference, but they had it posted and I could take a look and if I ate there could tell him what I thought?   Well, that wasn't gonna happen after I perused the Menu.  Limited to Street Food like Tacos, Elote and Burgers but with Price Points in the Stratosphere of $22-$46 a Meal!!!  I don't Care what's in a Taco or on a Burger, I ain't paying that for it!!!

They also didn't have my Prickly Pear Iced Tea anymore, not even in the Gift Shop now For Sale, dammit!!!   While walking the Garden, since I'd renewed my Membership when I entered so I was gonna enjoy just being there, I checked out the Patio Cafe', same fucking Menu, overpriced Tacos and Burgers... fuuuuuck!   And, the Pumpkin Patch was Closed and rather than catering to Families, it seemed the Weekend was catering to Pet Parents and everyone and their Mother had their Dogs with them.  Taking Pixs at the Entrance Vignette with their Dogs and such.  I thought it Strange that the Pumpkin Patch, which had Advertised a Free Pumpkin for every Kid under 12 wasn't Open.   It said, "Closed for Private Event", but, no Event was going on.

 So I checked Online to find out why?  Turns out, that is an EVENING Event for the Weekend?!  WHAT, for Kids under 12... Why, Why Host it at damned near their Bedtime rather than during the Day?!   The Gardens have Adult Evening Events which makes sense, I've attended some, it's Spooky as fuck at Night, my Mom and I didn't even like it, Kids definitely would be put off and mebbe even Scared and Freaked Out at Night with Desert around them and the Nocturnal Critters that then are active and rustling around!!!    While there a Young Adult Man with his Two Dogs seemed to be following me a LOT, so I finally stopped and turned around.  He looked embarrassed and said, "Sorry I seem to be following behind you so much, but, you Smell so good I was just inhaling deeply and enjoying the Fragrance you're wearing!"  *LOL, my Nag Champa Essential Oil, I get that a lot.*   We both Laughed, coz, it was Funny for an Older Woman to be Aroma Stalked by a Young Guy.  *Winks*  So, anyway, I was Hungry so left early and went to "Snooze".

Our usual little Green Eyed Waitress asked where The Man was?  *Smiles*  And, Good News, they brought back the Old Menu, which they had done away with last time we were there.  So, now all our Old Favs were back, including my Bella Bella Benedict option, yay!!!  Putting some New Items on a Menu is good, but changing an entire Menu, NOT good.  They must have had Complaints and lost Business with the Changes... coz last time with the New Menu it was almost empty.  Now the Old Menu was back, it was packed again and busy.   I stopped at "Whole Foods" which is in the same Outdoor Mall there and did some Shopping before heading Home.  Somewhere along the way I lost my Wristwatch, must have slipped off?!   Didn't notice when it did.  This Pix is blurry coz I had to use Zoom Lens since the Pumpkin Patch area was Closed 'til Evening.

But, the Great-Grandkids back East got to pick out their Pumpkins at Patches and the one at the Bottom here also got his 1st Haircut.   I'm glad I don't have little ones now coz the Events for them around locally seems rather sparse compared to how it used to be for Kids leading to and right up to Halloween.   Even tho' it was a Lovely Day to Walk the Gardens, it was disappointing and too many Dogs so you had to watch that you weren't walking into a Puddle of Dog Piss.  And some Dogs were more Polite and well Trained than others that would just run up on you if their Leashes were long enuf and jump, trip, or put their Nose up your Butt or in your Crotch!!  Which, Dogs will do coz they're Dogs, if an Owner isn't properly Handling them.  They had little Baggies for Owners to pick up Poop, and Water Stations for the Dogs, most Dogs were Sweet and Well Behaved, there was just so many.  The Pet Parents were all mingling with their Fur Babies so it was very well Received and Attended, clearly.

I like Dogs and I like Kids, but if there are too many of either anywhere, swarming around, it's just not Zen enough for my Recreational or Dining Time I'm taking for myself.  *Smiles*   Rant over.  It was still an enjoyable Morning albeit a disappointing one, since my expectations and reality didn't meld at all.  *Le Sigh*   Princess T had a tough day at Work too, she said her Boss was picky and testy Today and she's covering the Position of a Girl they Fired, so it's not even her Job to be doing what she's doing, so she didn't like being criticized about the work she was doing, to the best of her abilities to do it.  She actually felt she did it Right, she explained why, but they felt otherwise.  They had her QCing Inventory and if something is stained it's to go in Recycled and not piled to be put out on the Sales Floor.  Four items were stained, she pulled them, and her Boss said she was tossing "Good" Inventory.

He asked what was Wrong with the pieces, she showed the Stains, he still insisted they were Fine, so, she was upset AND confused.  How can you QC properly if told don't put anything stained or soiled to be put out on the Sales Floor, then make exceptions for some items stained or soiled?  I agree.  Granted, it's Management's prerogative to override any of it but that's on them, not on someone of her Pay Grade whose following the Rules they set up for what has to go to Recycle and not be Sold.   So, for the rest of the Shift she felt like she wasn't sure what to pull and what to put thru, in case she'd get in trouble again either way?  So, she vented to me about it on the way Home, then she felt better.  *Smiles* 

  I told her that since it's NOT her Position, to put anything soiled or stained in a little pile and ask someone whose a Superior to make the decision about it and tell them why that's apparently necessary so no soiled and stained but "Good" Merch gets put into Recycle that would then get her reprimanded again.  If you make your Staff confused with conflicting orders, then it's your Job as Supervisor to clarify and sort that shit out so they aren't put in a spot that is impossible for them to know what is the Right thing for them to do... or NOT?!   Anyway, I know my Grandchild is a perfectionist about her Work, so she's not sloppy or careless.   And found it offensive that she got in trouble in front of everyone, which embarrassed and humiliated her, for doing nothing Wrong.  She already has Social Anxieties, so that upset her a LOT.

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May your Memories of your Dearly Departed be Sweet ones... Dawn... The Bohemian