Monday, March 18, 2024

It's Our Anniversary


 

The Sunday Night Shift was a bit of a Pain in the Ass, we had extra people on for the Sale, but the Extras spent a lot of time hiding out in the Break Room rather than working, so, they weren't Helpful.  I maintained my Calm tho' and stayed Zen regardless.  I'm not Management so that's thier shit to sort out.  It was busy until the last Hour, then abruptly, it flatlined, but, I had good Sales for the day, which is the 1st Day of the new Pay Period.  I've got to get my Truck in to be looked at by the Dealership to find out why the Check Engine Light is on, and since the Brake Light is also now on, I suspect a Brake Job is in order?  I have no idea what it all will cost, so will get an estimate first.  If I can't afford the repairs yet, I'll have to just not drive until I can.




Princess T can ask Timmy for rides to and from School, or she'll have to Walk, if I can't get repairs done yet.  The Son leaves for Work too early in the Morning to be any backup for me.  TJ had come over and said he's gonna work on the John Deere Tractor Mower since his Brother was unable to fix it.  I told him I can't pay any more for that right now, but he's gonna fix it anyway and try to get the Yard done for me.  It is a mess and quite overgrown with a lush Clover-like Ground Cover mostly, but it has Burs that carry it's Seeds, so we need to get it mowed down before those Pods mature and go hard. 




 It's actually called Bur Clover.  It improves Soil and is good quality forage to grazing Livestock, which is why it's prolific in the Mini Farm Community here.  Those who have Livestock would have it be good quality fresh Food for their Animals.  It's very pretty and fast growing, very Green and has pretty little Yellow Flowers, so, if it wasn't for the Burs it wouldn't be a pesky plant.   We haven't been able to mow our Pasture or Front Yard since the Killer Bee attacks, so, I really need for TJ to get the John Deere operational and mow it.  I thought he'd quit after his Two attacks by the Bees, apparently he felt bad and reconsidered after seeing how overgrown everything became.




To hire Landscapers to do a Property this large would cost more than I can afford on a regular basis.  I've even thought about getting some Goats to graze it down Naturally, but, I know nothing about tending Livestock and don't wanna be responsible for Living Things and their Care.  Even Chickens, tho' tempting, I decided not to get, tho' everyone whose Raised them tells me they're easy, they're still Alive, so, I just am hesitant.  I'd feel badly if they didn't do well or Predators got to them.  I'm not a Farmer or Rancher type of Gal, I just wanna grow some of our own Food here and have regular Gardens I know how to Care for.  We're fortunate we have great Neighbors who look out for us and we look out for them.




Back when TJ and Anna had no place to park their RV and live, we let them Live in our Driveway and Park it there for Two Years.  They did our Yardwork and Irrigation as a Thank You, since, we wouldn't take Money and had no problem with an RV in a part of the Property we weren't using anyway.  Their elderly Parents are our Next Door Neighbors and have become Friends, so it helped them be close by to help their Elders too.  So, even tho' they had to Sell the RV and move in with his Parents when they became ill, to provide Caregiving, he still feels like we took care of them so he wants to take care of some of what we need still.  I appreciate that, Anna is about the Age of The Daughter and TJ is slightly Younger than me, his Parents are in their 80's.




It sucks that everything needs attention and outlay all at once... so, some things may have to wait to get done when I have Saved up enuf to pay for it.   I'm not thinking whatever needs to be done will be inexpensive, it never is with Vehicles anymore.   But, you need one, the Public Transit System here is inadequate and often dangerous, a lot of large groups of Stick Up Kids ride the Buses and Victimize Passengers, especially on a Payday, so, it's not Safe as an alternative.  Even The Son had to stop using it after being targeted, they didn't get his Money, but only becoz he realized he was their Target, called me, and I met him at the next Stop, which foiled their Plan.  He had Coworkers who did get robbed and rolled tho'.  Often these sick Thug Punks video record their violent Crimes for kicks and put it on Social Media.




Anyway, other than that everything is Swell.  *Bwahaha*  If I end up being unable to go anywhere while I'm Saving Up for Vehicle Repairs, I'll just devote all the time to working on The RV Garage Mahal and sorting thru stuff to Sell, Donate and Keep.   The Weather has been iffy, so I have been reluctant to drag things out in the Open, lest the Weather become suddenly inclement.   Either it's nice but Windy, or torrentially Rainy and Cold... so, there's not been a break to work on things the way that I need and want to yet.   While it's not in the triple digit temps I'd really Hoped it would just remain Sunny and Clear, so that I could, but, Mother Nature is not cooperating.   I have so much still to do that it is often quite overwhelming and I tire out quickly.




But, things are messy that I'm working on and it's spread out everywhere right now.  Since, I've had to work inside and I've got a lot going on.   The Daughter unpacked most of her possessions and put them in the Art Studio Space and/or the 5th Wheel.  So, right now I've got her stuff and The Grandson's stuff in the Art Studio Space, which means, working in there around it is complicated.   I'm Hopeful that sometime in April the Grandsons might show up with a U-Haul and retrieve all their belongings, so at least I'll be rid of all that.  Then I can begin to organize that Space the way it will be most functional for me.  And Ideally, move The Daughter out into the 5th Wheel, or at least all of her stuff.  *Smiles*




This was my Tiered Fabricated piece I bought from "Rusty Saturday", below is the Cherub part of it on the First Tier that you can't see in the above pix angle.  Displays like this are very Useful to me and Display things nicely that I use often.   Our Anniversary is Tomorrow and I doubt that The Man remembers, so, it's okay that I'll be spending it trying to get the Truck estimated and hopefully repaired.   I'm only going to spend the Morning devoted to that, if the Estimate comes in too high I won't get it done, if it does come in affordable, I'll get done what we can afford to do now.   I don't get Paid until Friday and that Check might cover most of it, we HOPE?   Hard to tell, I know just getting 3 new Tires cost me over $800 this time around, Oil Changes are now over $100.  So, even preventative maintenance can pose financially imposing. 



It's why I'm focusing on Selling more and Merchandising it in an attractive way to draw in a Customer willing to spend more.  You can't really appeal to the Impulse Shopper easily, since they are too random in what they Buy and how much they spend.   I had some more Loss Prevention Issues, mostly due to Workers putting my Go-Backs of LPS Customers changed their Minds about, into my Showroom instead of back into the Locked Case where they should go, then, they get Stolen.  *Le Sigh*   So, even tho' Marked with a Case Number and not the Showroom Number on the Price Tags, I've now had Management make up some Stickers for each that says "LOCKED SHOWCASE" and I put #83 under that, in hopes it brings it more to the attention of inattentive, careless or lazy Workers where they should be putting it back!?




She's lost about $30 worth this Week of her LPS to Theft, due to being put back in the Showroom rather than back in the Locked Case, so, I did complain to Management about it.   I managed to put back some that didn't get Stolen, but, which were in the Showroom and not the Case where they belong.  So that saved not having Hundreds of Dollars worth potentially Stolen and not properly Secured.  *Whew*   I don't want any of those in the Showroom, but, you can't Control what Lazy or Careless and Inattentive Workers just do who aren't following the Rules or don't Care to do their Job right.   Yes, it's frustrating becoz you do pay for the added Security of a Locked Case and what you have in your Locked Case should go back into it once taken out of it and not Sold.




Anyway, you do what you can to thwart people who are dishonest, sometimes there are even Employees you can't Trust.   I keep my Eye on those I know are Shady Characters, even if Management doesn't.  Some Rent a lot of Space so Management doesn't wanna lose them, but, they're dishonest and some have been caught Stealing from other Vendors and should have been bounced immediately once they're known to be Thieves.  Getting Police to arrest Shoplifters lately has been an effort in futility, so, unless it's Grand Theft, not worth the effort, aggravation and trouble.  I think it's a mistake for Law Enforcement not to take Theft Seriously, it's not a Victimless Crime and if left unchecked, with no consequences, it spins out of Control.




States like Cali learned the hard way what happens when their Policing Force doesn't take ALL Crime Seriously, Businesses start Closing or pulling out and going elsewhere.  Jobs are lost, people don't feel Safe anymore, more Criminals move in or people turn to Crime in desperation and before you know it, the indigent and vulnerable Populations increase.   Population shifts soon follow, as an Exodus of those who can leave and were most beneficial to their Communities, do.  Property Values plummet.  It's a difficult and expensive proposition to attempt to reverse, better and far more economical to all Residents and the State, to not have it happen in the first place.   And it's not just an Urban Problem, I've Traveled enuf to see Deaths of entire Small Towns and Rural areas.  That's how Ghost Towns happened.




Once Abandoned, Communities decay and aren't enticing anyone to come back and re-invest in them.   Urban blight is already happening in many areas.  And the only ones who Love that are unscrupulous Investors and Developers who may even intentionally blight an area to scoop up Real Estate there Cheap, then Gentrify it and own enuf of it that they dictate to the City what they desire.  This is how Amazon mega Warehouses that are over 800,000 sf each spring up in depressed or disadvantaged areas and exploit the Communities they operate in.  Anyway... enuf of all that, now on to Positive Anniversary News!




Yes, it's our Anniversary and I began it with trepidation since I had to go straight to our Dealership with the Truck this Morning after dropping Princess T off at School.  The Diagnostics were gonna be $180 and I got to talking with a Delightful Young Man who Sells the New Vehicles and he was able to work out a Sweetheart Deal for me to just buy a new 2024 Nissan Frontier Truck with tons of Extras, extended Warranty and Four Years of Free Oil Changes for Zero out of Pocket expense, a great Dealer Floored Interest Rate, Gap Insurance and a very good Trade In allowance on my 2019 Nissan Frontier.   They really want Used Small Trucks becoz they have a high demand for them and had none in Stock, so, they were eager to get my Old Frontier.




The only regret I have is that I JUST had put $800 worth of Tires on it... dammit.  *LOL*   But, they let me keep my Bed Extender and I've got some Step Ups on Back Order that they will install when they come in, which was an expensive Extra they threw in too for us.  The 2024 is built higher than the 2019's were, so the Steps into the Vehicle are Helpful to us, I'm Short and Old, The Man is Disabled and Old, so, I liked that Feature and the Truck I chose didn't have it yet installed already.  There are so many New Features that are Stock on all New Trucks that they didn't even have in 2019, so, I'm impressed.   The Truck basically is a Smart Truck and does everything FOR you now.  *LOL*




The Frontiers don't come in a multitude of Colors, they only had them in a Deep Forrest Green, Two Greys {one Light Dove Grey, one Dark Gunmetal Grey}, White and a single Black one.   The Black one I liked best and it had the sprayed Bed Liner and the Paint Job wasn't an Upgrade added Cost like the Green/Greys were.  I didn't want another White one.    And, I wouldn't have had Hundreds or Thousands to put towards a repair on an Older Vehicle with 91,000 miles on it, so, this worked out perfectly for us.  I had been considering a Trade-In due to using the Old Nissan as a Work Truck and putting a lot of Miles on it.  I want a Truck to be easier on now, we don't drive as much, don't Travel anymore, and aren't Working, so, we can Baby this one.




This is about as Clean as it's ever gonna be, so, tho' I plan to keep myself more accountable about not cluttering up the inside and keeping it cleaner, right now it's been professionally Detailed.  *Winks*  They also filled up the Tank, and I'd driven my Old one in on Fumes.  *Ha ha ha*  So, with the price of Gas, well, that was a nice Bonus.   I had Equity in the Old one since I'd financed it during Pandemic at 0% so all payments had gone off Principal.   I was surprised what a good Rate I was still able to get from the Dealership financing me at 5%, since I have been a repeat Customer and this is the 3rd Vehicle in a row I've bought from them.  That is below all the National Rates right now, which range from 5.64%-15% or more, depending on your FICO Score.  I like that this Nissan Dealership doesn't dick around and waste your time or play games, they make purchasing a Vehicle easy, quick and treat you right. 



And their Service Department there is stellar too.  Some Dealerships are all about Sales and not about Customer Service, this one treats you right on both ends.   I like the Grey Interior, some of the other Colors were going for a Sporty Appeal to the Younger Consumers, with some Neon on the Seats, contrast Colored Stitching and such too on the Upholstery, and Unnecessary additions on the Paint Job Exteriors, I am not a Fan of that, not Necessary.  Mebbe if I was in my 20's that would be a Selling Point, but, we're not.  *LOL*   Tho' I can be very Extra about some things, Vehicles is not one of them, I like the Savings of going Basic on anything I don't really NEED and don't wanna pay Thousands Extra for.




So, this was a very nice Anniversary Pressy to ourselves and we'll easily remember the Date of it being Bought ON our Anniversary.  We were out of there in the New Truck in time for Brunch and they'd had Complimentary Gourmet Coffees there at the Dealership.  So, Breakfast for me had pretty much been flavored Cappuccinos and Espressos, compliments of Nissan.  *Bwahahaha*  After we were done, I took The Man to "Chipotle", we hadn't been there in a while, then we went to "Baskin Robbins" for Ice-Cream.  Then we did some Environmental Cleanup and turned in our Aluminum at the Recycle Center.  All the Guys working there saw we had a new Truck and gave us a Thumbs Up and laughed that we must be doing very well with Recycling our Cans.  *Winks and LMAO*



It is a nice Feeling to have a Brand New Vehicle and under Warranty for everything.  Once the Warranties expire is usually when things become uber expensive and start to go wrong anyway.   I need Vehicles to be reliable and safe, I don't want to end up stranded or without transportation.   I don't like to pour a lot of Money into an Older Vehicle with lotsa Miles on it, even if it's Paid Off. 

 


I had the Barbacoa at "Chipotle", it's a lot of food so this will do me for 2-3 Meals.   At "Baskin-Robbins" I tried one of their new Coffee flavors and my usual scoop of Pralines 'N Cream.   They were out of their new Flavor of the Month, which The Man wanted to try, it was some kind of Mexican Chocolate Brownie... he is a Chocaholic, so I think he would have liked it had they not Sold Out.   I do like their new Triple Mango, and preferred it over this new Coffee Flavor actually.  But, I do like to try some of the new Flavors that sound good to me.   We don't eat Desserts usually or Ice-Cream very often, so, this was an Anniversary Treat.

 


*******


So it was a very unexpectedly nice Anniversary after all... Dawn... The Bohemian

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Avoiding Drama And Headache People



 I just realized I got so damned excited to find a Tiny Hoard of those Antique Asian Lantern Christmas Bulbs, that I didn't even take a single pix of them at the Event in the Vignettes they were in!!!   I was too busy excitedly grabbing them up greedily to ensure nobody else got one!  *Bwahahaha*   How ridiculous is that?!  OMG, sometimes I'm too Funny when I spy something I Covet and have Lusted after for Years.  Like I said, they are notoriously hard to find.  So, probably in the last 40 Years I've only Scored Three of these, so, to find NINE at once, and for a ridiculously low price point each that I could afford to Buy them ALL and didn't have to choose, I got the Hummingbird Heart flutters!  *Winks* 




I'm working this whole Weekend due to the Big Sale we're having and my Sales broke a personal Record and we've still got a day left of the Pay Period!  We seem to be finally attracting a demographic that is Buying the better quality Merch again.  So, me pivoting for the New Showroom and Locked Case is probably the perfect Timing for changing things up.  To be sure they've been building Luxury Mega-Apartments galore to attract more Money to the West Valley and a huge Resort will be completed soon that is near the Big Stadium.   Both are close enuf to be seen from our Property, so our Real Estate is positioned in an area that is up and coming fast so Gentrification and development is everywhere.




I will always have a Love-Hate Relationship with Gentrification, since, the balance of it's Positive and Negative impacts is often delicate.   I do like the attraction of improvements to any Community, so long as it doesn't push the long time invested Residents out and serve only the most affluent new transplants and cave in to only their demands and whims.  I am concerned when they price out the Young Locals and Seniors, while considering Housing, Entertainment and Shopping only for Tourists, Snow Birds who reside here part time, and the most affluent permanent Residents.   The biggest complaint I hear now from Arizonans is that we're becoming like an East L.A. or West Chicago quickly and it's changing the distinctive Charm and unique Culture that Arizona once had.




This is that Punch Bowl I'm going to Display my Handmade Beaded Hippie Bracelets and Necklaces in for the New Showroom.  The Dozen Punch Cups I am just going to Sell separately, since, I only intend to Keep the Bowl as a Display Piece.  It's super heavy and I love the ornate Metal Stand.   Below is the Industrial Pipe I'm using for Display Racks I'll attach to the Wall, which is also quite heavy duty and I can hang Product off those Faucets.  It's the Look I'm going for and I'm going to be more Mindful about Display again.  I used to be very Mindful of it and about how I presented and Showcased our Merch, I knew I needed to get back to that attention to Detail.  It's important and even tho' it often seems that Customers could care Less, the demographic I want to attract probably do notice and care.  So, it's worth the extra effort and investment in better Displays.




Now the Pixs Below are my Pima Basket Dancer Wooden Ceremonial pieces.  The Family has asked me to Keep them rather than Sell them and since I don't know a lot about the Value, I had considered that anyway.  I've never seen any like this before but the Artist is known and Creates a lot of Traditional Art of their Tribe.  A Friend of ours is a Registered Pima Tribal Member, so I'm going to ask him if he can ask other Members about the Work, so I can find out more about it directly from the Tribal Sources.   Online I couldn't find anything about the Basket Dancer Kachinas, just about the Traditional Practice of Pima Basket Dancing it depicts.  They are quite large and there were Six of them, which, when put together, looks like the actual Dance being performed.




When I bought them I had Resale in Mind and didn't want to get Attached to them.  *LOL*   But, the Family really liked them and after our own Pow-Wow at Home about them, decided it would be some significant Tribal Art we should enjoy ourselves, Keep as an Investment, and Display with my other Native American Art and Ceremonial Pieces.  I have culled my Collections of it over the Years, but never had a desire to get rid of all of it, since, I feel a strong Connection to it and some of mine I Inherited from my Dad and was passed down in his Family.  Each Tribe has it's distinctive Traditions, Language, Culture and Art.  A lot of the Art Forms were dying out, as was the Languages and Traditions, so I'm glad when I see some of the Young People reconnecting to their Rich Heritage that Colonialism tried to stifle and wipe out. 

 



Anyway, Fraijo is usually Creating and Carving Traditional Kachinas, so, I've never seen the Hopi Basket Dancer Kachinas ever before.  And you know what they say, if you've never seen it before, Buy it or Shoot it.  *LOL*   Okay, so, couldn't resist the Dark Humor part of that Saying... but if you don't do either, nobody is likely to Believe you when you say you saw something nobody has seen before and you don't produce actual Proof/Evidence it Exists.  *Winks*   Anyone who knows more about these, fill me in, since, I know what I know and I don't know what I just don't know.  *Smiles*  I actually have a large Antique Humidor that could House these in a Display together.  




It's exciting to Source something Unique and at a good Price too.   I paid less than $90 for all of these.   They are all Hand-Carved Wood that is then Painted, even the Baskets, which are wafer thin.  I spent most of the Night Pricing Inventory I was gonna bring in for this Sale Weekend and Sell.  Mostly Vintage and Specialty T-Shirts, which are Selling Out so fast I can hardly keep up with the demand.  A good problem to have, my Old Showroom is packed with people every time I go in now.   It makes re-stocking tricky, since, I get claustrophobic if too many people are in a small Space with me.  *LOL*   So, The Man was assisting me Today, he was putting the Security Devices on the Merch and putting it on the Hangars for me.



I was Photographing some of them for Social Media and Blog Fodder, then bringing them in.  People were already Buying what I was just putting out and crowding up on me.  So, I was glad when I got it all done and could Exit Stage Left, until I come in Tonight for my Shift from 5-9 pm.   I had some Merch to put into the Locked Case too, since, I've been Selling a lot out of there too.  A lot of Race Fans are here right now since PIR {Phoenix International Raceway}, is having Races and we can hear the Race Cars from our Property, we're not very far away from that Venue either.   I took The Man out for Brunch, always an incentive for him to want to do some Work with me.  *Winks*




We went to "Wildflower Bread Company" and it was long lines waiting to order and almost no seating in the Restaurant or outside on the Patio.  We got a Table and I tried one of their new Breakfast Sammies that had Ham, Egg and Cheese on Ciabatta Rolls they make there. {All Food Porn is Pictured further Below.}  I also got some Irish Soda Bread with Currants and Carraway, I got the 2nd to the last one they had and the Lady sitting next to us got the last one they had.  *Whew*  They had the Traditional too, more of that, most is by Special Order, so I was just glad to be able to get a Loaf without Ordering it in advance.  I've got Corned Beef and Cabbage also cooking in the Crockpot.  

 



My Mom's Mother was Irish, and moved to North Wales and Married a Welshman who was Didi Kai.  My Gran-Gran was Raised by a Chinese Family, since his Mother was Widowed and had a Dozen Kids, so a Chinese Family she knew took in the Youngest Five and Raised them as if their own.  My Maternal Grandparents both had Colorful Histories and Interesting Heritages that were very different than average European Families.  My Irish Nanna had Blue Black Curly Hair and the most Beautiful Green Eyes, my Grandson, The Young Prince, has her Eyes.  She was an Entertainer, Sang Beautifully, Danced Professionally, Acted on Stage, played Instruments... her whole Family were like that in fact.




Becoz my Gran-Gran married outside of the Didi Kai Culture tho', which was frowned upon with most Gypsy Clans in those days, my Nanna was not close to any of his Family.  They strongly disapproved, just like my Dad's Family did when he Married outside of his Culture.  And so I never met any of them related to my Welsh Gran-Gran and it was rarely discussed about that side of the Family.   My Gran-Gran did take me to Chinatown where he grew up tho', he was very integrated into the Chinese Culture, due to the Dear Family who helped his Widowed Mom Raise half of her Kiddos.   I found it fascinating to hear the Stories my Grandparents told.  But, like my Dad's side, you never were quite sure how much was embellished to make it more Theatrical and Dramatic for Storytelling Purposes?  *LOL*




When you're a Kid you don't really Care, Children have the Wildest of Imaginations anyway, and so a good Story is just something you can take and run with on the Canvas of your own Imagination.   And retell to Future Generations, and nobody much Cares how much of it is accurate or was the Storyteller's version of it?  *Smiles*  Neither my Dad's Family nor my Mom's Family had Televisions so Storytelling was what Families did for Entertainment and the Elders usually told the Stories.   Later on I think my Nanna did finally get a TV when she was very Old, and for some reason had an infatuation with watching Golf, of all things!  *LOL*  I think my Native American Grandma went to someone else's Home that had Utilities, to watch a TV, and she had an infatuation with Soap Operas like General Hospital, from what my Parents told me.  *LOL* 

  


I know that neither sets of my Grandparents ever owned a Car... and neither did my Mom's Siblings.  We're very Spoiled when you consider what past Generations managed quite well to live without.   I myself didn't own a TV until I was in my late 20's.   And becoz I had never really had one for so long, I still don't watch it much and didn't miss not having something everyone else seemed to not be able to do without.  Princess T also rarely ever watches TV and neither do my Adult Children, since, we just didn't watch one hardly at all.  Now, The Man is a whole other Story, he can't LIVE without his TV Shows and seems Lost if the TV Cable goes out.  *LOL*   The Kiddos and I are always doing something and it's hard for us to sit thru TV Shows and do nothing for Hours on end.



There's a lot of Modern stuff I just don't have attachments to, Shoes being one of them, I go Barefoot a LOT and always have.  My Dad once told me he didn't own a pair of Shoes until he joined the Military as a Teenager.   He'd never seen a Doctor or a Dentist before he joined the Military either, he relied exclusively on Tribal remedies his entire Life actually.  I think during his 27 Year Military Career he missed only ONE DAY of Work, due to some Broken Ribs, and that was only half a Day while they taped him up and sent him back to Work!   I just never saw him be a sickly person until his Geriatric Years and I never heard him Complain about anything ever, or speak badly of anyone.   He and my Mom were very, very Superstitious tho', and  you couldn't mock their Superstitions or Talismans offered up for Protection, as it was Culturally significant to them both, so, they rigidly followed the do's and don'ts of them.



And now for some of my T-Shirts that I Photographed for Blog Fodder before putting them up in the Showroom For Sale.   Above is a Sailor Moon Tee {Which The Young Prince panicked and erroneously thought was his, he has one just like it apparently, LOL}, Below is a Hippie Inspired Tee.



A couple Images Below is a Snoop Dogg Tee, which is hilarious, but, sadly, not my Size, or I would have kept it... and below that is an Ouija Hoodie Crop Top Sweatshirt... a Marilyn Monroe does MJ Tee... and a Vintage Beatles Tee.   I had a large Box full of Tees and Sweatshirts, I didn't Photograph them all, not enuf Time to be that anal about it.  *LOL*   I had a Barrio Queen Sweatshirt, numerous Anime T-Shirts, and a Special Edition Star Wars T-Shirt among those I didn't Photograph.  I even had a 1970's Vintage Style T-Shirt that had a Jive Turkey on it. {Below} *LMAO, that brought back some fond Slang Memories of that Era* 

 



I know, I'm Dating myself, but, everything Retro is coming back around and the Young People are Loving it!!!   There are other Vendors doing Vintage and Specialty Wardrobe, but, most of them are carrying what they do.  I carry what I'd wear myself or comes directly out of the Wardrobe of our Family and is our Aesthetic and Style.   Princess T is the one that began Selling Wardrobe first and Customers kept requesting more, so, now we enjoy carrying it and Sourcing it if we've purged enuf out of our own Wardrobes.  *LOL*



I brought in some Tiny Foods to put into the Locked Case.  I have a lot of it but wouldn't put it in the Showroom since that has a high loss prevention issue and you'd have more stolen than bought.   People who make Dioramas or Dollhouses can't get enuf of those tiny Smalls and in Craft Stores they are outrageously priced.   And, some folks just Collect them, and I have for a long time, so, it was time to Purge some of the Cache' of it I had in Antique Typeset Cabinets or Vintage Canning Jars.  I'll even Photograph some of my Stash for this Post so you know what I've been Hoarding Up for Years... since... well, apparently I'm not a Well Woman like that.  *Bwahahaha*   Ooops, forgot to Photograph it, mebbe another time...



And, since The Man and I had our Taxes done Yesterday and ended up Owing even more than last Year, which seems to happen every fucking Year now since 2016... it was time to part with some Money Makers to recoup what Uncle Sugar drained out of us for 2023's Taxes.  *Le Sigh*  I've said it before, don't mind paying our Fair Share, but when Billionaires are Tax Evading and getting away with it for Decades with zero consequences, well, it just pisses me off that the IRS isn't going after the obscenely Rich not paying any Taxes at all.  The National Debt would be greatly reduced if the most affluent were paying even a fraction of the percentage the rest of us are Taxed... just sayin'.  So, yeah, getting Taxes done was depressing and costly... again.

  


On the way in to Work my Brake Light now went on along with the Check Engine Light, so, I'm not gonna be able to put off taking it in to the Dealership even tho' I can't afford repairs right now.  After having to Buy 3 new Tires, pay Taxes, pay for Repairs to the John Deere that's still not working, and expensive repairs on one of the Air Conditioning Units in less than 5 Weeks, I'm tapped out with major expenses.  *Le Sigh*  Ah, well, it's always something, I'll have to see what the estimate is and do whatever I can with it?   So, I went in to Work not in the best Head Space to deal with any Drama or further Headaches.   I knew it was gonna be busy and a Sale, so they'd have Extras, like me, that they would be calling in for added coverage, that would mean supply shortages of what we need for Working, like Customer Service Carts.  




Long time Readers might recall The Cart Dramas that can unfurl with certain Co-Workers who are prone to being Drama and a Headache.  I don't Work with Pain in the Ass People and Management knows this, but, I try very hard to get along and play well with others, so I do what I can to avoid potential confrontations, posturing or politics among the Problem People.   We all know who they are, and usually I just Opt Out of any Shift they're on.   This Saturday I'd commit to Working, I didn't know who'd be on Shift for the Sale or usually works a Saturday Night.  I just know the Slacker People tend to be uber cranky on busy days where they know they will actually have to work and put forth effort.  *Eye Roll*  I came in more than an Hour early to ensure I'd snag a Cart during Shift Change and ask someone working, in advance, if I could have theirs at 5:00 pm?




Well, wouldn't ya know it was the Pissy Posse of a few of the Problematic Females there working.  Awwww shit... and after I asked Three different ones if I could have their Cart at Shift Change, and they were "Holding" theirs for {fill in the Blank of someone not even there yet}, I went up to the Night Manager, a Friend of mine, and told her, sorry, but I'm going just Home. This Shift is gonna be Drama and a Headache and I can't deal with Cart Drama again or you'll have a Situation, so, it's best I just leave, and I'm perfectly Okay with that.  *Winks*   Well, some of the Guys on Shift, who are all Sweethearts, overhear the exchange.  They all know how I am about anyone that even Smells like Drama and a Headache, and nobody wants ME leaving on an Asses to Elbows busy Shift.  They'd rather have a Biddie Brigade one leave if somebody's gotta go.  *Bwahahaha*  So, they assure me they'll give up one of their Carts.  *Awww, Bless 'em, but, it'll Work for me, since, I didn't wanna go all Lucifer The Devil and nobody wants to see Dark Dawn unleashed on any Problem Person that Night. Winks*




I wouldn't want Dinner and a Show to play out, we were too busy for High Drama and it's a Bad Look for our Establishment.  I have Diabetic Neuropathy in my Extremities, so I can't balance Product without adequate supplies like the Carts tho', so, I just can't risk not having one during a whole busy Shift.  Plus, right now I got my injured Foot and need it for Balance.  Nor am I juggling shit when I don't have to, I have no problem leaving and ditching a Shift if there's not enuf supplies to go around and people begin fussing over what there is of it. 



 It's just not worth it to me, there's been Situations before and when someone gets Confrontational with me about it, well, it won't be a good day to be them, let us just say.   I want to be Professional, Chill and Maintain my Calm in any working environment, but, don't Test me with your Bullshit and being a Drama Queen, or be someone too difficult to Work with, in Retirement, I don't Need it and have Zero Tolerance for it.  No exceptions.




So, that's how the Shift started and all the Male Co-Workers on Shift that Night were Friends of mine I enjoy working alongside.  There was plenty of coverage if nobody quit, so, the Shift then went smoothly enuf and I just avoid a lot of contact with any Problem Person during a Shift where some of them are present.  I can be Cordial and Kind, to everyone, if they Behave towards me personally we won't have any problems, we don't have to Like each other, just do your Job and things will be copacetic.  *Winks*   The Men were complaining about the Biddie Brigade to me often during the Night, since, it can be a bit much to work with certain People and it annoys everyone to be pulling a Shift alongside the Problem People.   I don't mind hearing a Vent that is totally justified, I understand the frustration of it.




Sometimes you just can't rid yourselves of Staff who are a problem tho', not enuf coverage, so, it is what it just is and why I rarely accept a Shift unless I know whose On for it.  *LOL*   This time they'd really pleaded with me to take a Saturday Night Sale Shift, so I kinda 'knew' that the possibility of having to work with some Issues was very likely.  *Winks*  Disaster was averted tho' and we had enuf good Workers to make up for the ones that most would rather not have to work with if we can avoid doing so. 



 I think Management now tries to put any Problematic People that everyone else complains about, on the same Shift, Birds of a Feather and all that.  *Bwahahaha*   Actually, they tend to do Okay with each other since, similar Work Habits... but, it won't mean the most efficient or pleasant Shift for anyone not "Of Them", that's a fact.  *Eye Roll and LOL*  Folks who are a Pain in the Ass in their State of Being, well, rarely live up to any positive potential they might have.




One of the Older Gals I have a Nickname for, which is Submarine Lady, since, she is Retired Navy and actually did work on a Submarine.  She's the one that spread The Rona around the Mall during Pandemic by coming in when she knew she had it!   I caught it slightly thereafter having worked with her when she apparently was contagious.  We only found out after the fact, and since I almost Died with a bad Case of it, have tried not to spend time around the Woman, she's not responsible about staying Home when she's Sick and should.  And, she's a chronic Complainer and malcontent sort of Being, whose always saying she's not feeling Well, this Night was no exception. 




  So, I'm Civil, Cordial, but Honestly, she's the type of Person that can be a Black Cloud Person and her Energy is rarely anything but Negative, so, the less exposure, the better.  She thought she 'might' be having a Diabetic Episode, but no telling what ailed her this time, I wasn't taking any chances lest she have something contagious again?!   She whined thru most of the Shift and was wanting Sympathy and clearly wanting Attention, but, if you feel that bad, just go Home, Okay, better for everyone.  Nobody truly feeling Unwell is that much Help anyway.  I'm an Insulin Dependent Diabetic, and if she was having an Episode or hers isn't Stabilized, best she take Care of it appropriately. 




 She was going around dramatically begging everyone for Candy Bars and the Kindest ones were Buying her some or forfeiting theirs they brought.  Listen, GO HOME or bring your Medications if your condition is dire!!!   After shoving several Candy Bars down her Pie Hole, and she's a morbidly obese Woman, so me thinks her Dietary habits are partly responsible for her condition being out of Control... she still claimed unwellness, so then she was sitting down or resting a lot.  Hey, and The Rona is making it's rounds again and some people we know are getting it again, so I avoided her all Night, just in case.   Some people are Masking again, we got Boosted again, I just can't drag that shit Home to my Family or get it again.   The Man and Princess T never got it, and, I'd like to keep it that way.  The rest of us Survived it, but, aren't eager to get it again.




Our Customers that Night were stellar, no Problem Customers and we had so many Young People, it's great to see Young People excited to be at an Antique Mall.   It's enjoyable to hear about their Collections and what they're Passionate about.  It cues me in on what our Consumer Demographic is Into.   And as with all Collectors and those who have a Love of Old, they enjoy talking about what they are excited about and came there for.   Some have come back every day of our Three Day Sale and will be in again Tonight.  So, clearly it's not just about the Stuff, but also about being around Kindred Spirits.   We were so busy we didn't get out until much later than usual, the Line at the Registers stayed long and I broke a personal Record in Sales for a Two Week Pay Period... Booyah! About half the Shirts we'd brought in earlier in the day had already Sold.




In fact, I saw a pix of my Brother wearing the same RUSH Vintage Band Tour T-Shirt that I currently have For Sale... and The Young Prince called in a Panic thinking that Sailor Moon Shirt was his that I was Selling, coz, he has the same one!!!   *LOL*  I assured him I wasn't Selling Off his Stuff and it was one I'd Sourced just the other day at a Chazza, so, he was relieved.  *LOL*   I don't Sell anything of the Kiddos unless they ask me to or don't want it anymore and give it to me to Donate or Sell.  Tho' all of The Grandsons Worldly Possessions are still taking up Space in our Home, I haven't touched any of it and respect it's theirs and I'm just Storing it for them until they can come retrieve it when they get a place.  Adult Kids often do that, I think I've always had Stuff of our Adult Kiddos being Stored at our Properties.  *LOL and Eye Roll*




*******

Happy Spring my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian

A life touched by God always ends in touching others. - Erwin McManus

I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars. - Og Mandino (1923-1996)

For creativity to flourish one should try to look at everything as though it were being seen for the first or the last time. - Quote from "A Thousand Paths To Creativity" by David Baird

Is what I'm about to say an improvement on silence? ~ Galen Pearl