Of the Day After St. Paddy's Day~~~

Hello Darklings,

Well Doyle is still in bed nursing a "green beer" hangover, he'll be fine by this evening, tea and crackers will do him some good as well as Alka Seltzer but only after the fizzing has gone down.

I suggested that he sleep with a sleep mask and ear plugs and I have a bucket next to the bed for just in case he doesn't make it to the porcelain god's throne.  Oh well it's only once a year, and he always plans on taking the day after off.  I also disconnected the phone in the bedroom so it won't bother him.

We had a great time, corned beef and cabbage and I with gas during the night, sometimes so bad it startled Belladonna and Weiner Dog.  Yes Darklings Elder Goths do suffer occasionally from gas.

The green beer flowed, the songs were sung, the green was worn, and I was kissed a lot, especially by one young gentleman who was saying a lot of "blarney" to me, and worshiped at my feet, well actually he eventually passed out at my feet, but at least my shoes were spared any embarrassment.

I do picture a lot of headaches and people calling in sick today, fortunately not from my work, which means I will pass the day balancing the check book, paying bills, giving the dogs their twice daily walk.  Doing a couple loads of laundry.  And ordering Won Ton soup for my sick boy upstairs.

I've been catching up on the news and people are asking what is up in Napa?  In the space of less than 3 days there have been either found or newly shot no less than 5 different bodies, it seems as if there is some sort of epidemic of Murder in the Air. 

But one of my more metaphysical friends has said that as we get close to Spring there always seems to be an increase in sudden death's, as if the forgotten Ancient Gods demand it.  I'm more inclined to just say coincidence, but I do have to say that every year around this time it always seems to happen.

Fortunately I recorded last night "iZombie" my sister who decided to have a quiet evening told me this morning as she came over for coffee and eggs, before her first client, that it was quiet good, it quickly galloped into how she became a zombie, her visions how they work, solving a case, and the possibility that someone is really trying to create a zombie apocalypse.  The mixture of people making the core group of investigators appear to be very good.  Sis thinks it will be our Summer guilty pleasure and just fun Goth enough.  Well I'll watch it when I take a break, but Sis is usually pretty right about something like this.  So we'll see.

In the mean time my Dynamic Duo are demanding their morning walk and I need the exercise, so I'll just get my hat and my sun glasses and off we go.

Later Darklings

Of Heat exhaustion and "Poizin" wine~~~~~~

Hello Darklings,

Well if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area I hope you survived yesterday!

It was very warm, up into the 80's in my area.  Poor Belladonna and Winerdog, just laid down on the screened back porch and slept, and I don't blame them.  I put out extra bowls of water for them and I also put out water for the birds, I have several rock style bird baths, they're fountains really but with the drought I turned off the pumps except to occasionally make sure the piping is not plugged, but I filled it with water.

Not only did the birds enjoy it but a few squirrels as well, poor things,  in my front yard I put in the shade several plastic bowls of water because we do have cats in the neighborhood as well.

I didn't dare go out unless I was well covered and even then not until towards early evening, with long sleeves, SPF 75 sunscreen and a wide brim hat.  Nothing is going to burn my pale skin.

I told one sun worshipper "My Face, My Skin, My Hat, My Health!!"   you can have all the melanoma you want, but not for me.

So I bought Ice Cream for dessert as it slow cooked in the slow cooker, I had stew meat I had to use up, but coupled with a nice salad, and steamed rice on the side it was good, topped with berries, have you ever put raspberries on top of chocolate ice cream?  I love it, even though it turns my tongue purple.

And then I turned on the drip system in the evening to water my plants,  if this heat is anything we may have an intensely hot summer and I keep praying for rain.

I had to pass on the St. Patrick's Parade in the city but I did promise Doyle that I would go out with him to his favorite dinner for corn beef and Green Beer, but I'm only going to have a small beer, some one has to be sober to drive and Doyle always takes the day after St. Patricks' Day as a vacation day.  The Green Beer gets to him.

Well for fun Sis and I did a DNA test to see what our ethnic back grounds are, and I agreed with a lot of it, but we could not figure out why we were 2 percent Irish, but now we can honestly say "KISS ME!! I'M IRISH!!!"  

My brother and his family are still getting things settled into their new/old home.  The drapes and curtains were perfect!  Quiet a few things that they had at their old home has been donated, as not needed, redundant, out grown etc.

My sister in law hopes to be able to do something to tame her garden a bit, she did hire a gardener to mow the front and back lawns, and do some weeding as well as hacking back some bougainvillea that had seriously overgrown in the back yard, and much to their surprise discovered an old playhouse made out of wood underneath the growth. Melissa said it's large enough to be a small artists studio, but it does need work, re-doing it's roof, evicting the spiders and mice and some foundation work and painting.  My brother said the first thing will be the roof to secure the interior.   What it will eventually be used for they don't know but preserving it will be important.

Today I'm glad that the weather was mild and it may cool down a bit Oh if only that HIGH would move so the LOW can bring in much needed rain. 

I did a bit of grocery shopping today and discovered a lovely little Japanese type dollar store called Dieso,  all sort of things that one can use, I did pickup an apron that is water resistant and a couple of bags of Japanese gummy candies, it was fun going through and looking but I wish I had more time, I guess I'll have to go back.

But while I was in the market I came across of bottle of zinfandel called "Poizin"  from the Armida winery out of Sebastopol.

It is according to it label-----

A lush, delicious and "serious" wine but in a fun package! The nose is fruit driven with fresh plum, bing cherry, spicy peppercorn and zinberry. The mouth feel is soft with a hint of milk chocolate, sweet oak, and a long vanilla finish. The deep color and firm structure are enhanced by the addition of the Petite Sirah and the firm tannins softened by moderate oak. Enjoy this POIZIN with caution; it is The Wine to Die for!

 

So I bought two bottles out of curiosity and we had one bottle earlier this afternoon with lunch and they are right it is THE WINE TO DIE FOR!!   So I promised Doyle and Sis that I would go back tomorrow and stock up to add to the cellar.  

 

It is a delicious wine to have with a good expensive stake, the kind that you'd think Dracula could sink his teeth into or Bitchy Joan Collins of "Dynasty" fame would enjoy while planning her next devious move.

 

I do love it when I come across something to add to my cellar, and I'm going to check out their other white wine called "Antidote" it promises to be interesting.

 

And now I must go and check on dinner.

 

Later Darklings

 

 

                Sometimes it's hard to chose the right vintage.

Of Updates on the "Mystery of Vera West" and other things~~~~

Hello Darklings,

Well this is going to be a little bit of a short post.

I very recently updated a few things on my Page "The Mystery of Vera West", granted it's not much but a few things came to light, so I incorporated it into my initial essay so its a bit different from when I first posted it.

I presented to Doyle what I found and he wisely told me that given the sloppy recorded keeping in the early to mid-20th century, taking into account fires, water damage etc. that could explain such gaps, and even movie studio's back in the day never thought that their records of their films and such were of any value, so much may have been tossed out.

Granted I'll accept that, but one would think that there would be something.  Now a days its much harder to hide one's pass, but then I do love a mystery.  Doyle did like what I did present, so many options for a mystery writer.   And to bring in the Black Dahlia as well.....

I have been busy, getting the curtains and drapes over to my sister-in-laws house, the curtains and drapes look lovely Chris and Coralline will be so surprised when they come over during the weekend.

We did have a bit of a busy weekend,  First thing in the early morning we went to the White Elephant Sale and we were lucky and found a number of useful things, it's a good thing we took two vehicles, Doyle's van as well as my Brother's was very useful, it did take two trips however, well three really, we kept finding stuff and then unpacking it was  like Christmas in a way even though we knew what we got, but seeing the surprise on everyone else's faces was so much fun.

Then using public transportation to get to China Town for the Chinese New years parade, the children loved it, all the pageantry and the huge dragon, and the Lion dancers, by the time we got home we were exhausted, as a matter of fact once we got into Oakland we called a cab and advised them how many passengers, and a large cab with jump seats showed up so we took it to my house, and Doyle handsomely tipped the cabbie.  The children fell asleep, so my brother and sister in law went home and we had the children sleep at my house and the next day we all went out for breakfast, banana and blueberry pancakes at our favorite café. 

I know, it doesn't sound so Goth like, but true Elder Goths enjoy the enjoyment of living, much like the Hispanic Days of the Dead, we look at it right in the eye and laugh and enjoy things, for we don't own it, we only borrow it for a brief time and then we have to let it go, but to at least leave good memories for those we leave behind.  That is what a real Elder Goth does.

And now I have to go, I have to work this afternoon and must catch my bus.

Later Darklings.

And why not something Sweet for today.

Of Curtains and hearing loss~~~

Hello Darklings,

Well the last few days have been busy but I have good things to give to my sister-in-law.  Thanks to a Friend of mine who specialized in vintage things and restoration, I was able to have the drapes for my nieces bedroom cleaned and restored with new backing and was able to find curtains with a very close match to the original pattern.

With the drapes for my nephews room she was able to find the same drapes in near perfect condition and put new sun resistant backing to them and was also able to find curtains to match as well.

I think the children will be pleased.  I know my sister-in-law will. 

At least we don't have to worry about the other curtains in the lower half of the house or the master bedroom as the elderly lady had taken care of that a few years ago, so now it will be selecting something appropriate for the Twins bedroom,  my brother said know those boys it would be best to not get anything too expensive, after they've grown up and leave the house then something better can be done. 

My brother and sister-in-law want to go and check out a few charity shops for a few things for the "club room" aka Victorian man-cave, so between the three of us and Chris and Coralline we are going hunting, we may find something and then again maybe not,  I've suggested the White Elephant Sale for starters, so we will hit that first---up early and exhausting, but may get lucky.

The twins will stay with Doyle and Brian, I pity them ---not the twins, Doyle and Brian. 

My sister has taken the train to Sacramento to visit her children up there, and they plan on driving down on Sunday and will be visiting for a week, fortunately between Sis's house and mine we'll be able to accommodate them,  it will be nice to see those nieces and nephews from Sis's side of the family it's been awhile. 

It's a working visit really,  checking out a few colleges here for the oldest boy, and my sister's son is going to be going to some sort of conference held in the city.  So they plan on taking care of several things at one time.   All in all a good thing.

Well I do have a hearing loss, I've not been in very loud environments, but in my early days I use to go to clubs that were loud and working in the city, on some of the commutes I have been and still am now subjected to loud sounds, and given my age (detestable word) some hearing loss is to be expected but it seems that it's tonal and directional as well as pitch.   Certain environments such as restaurants with hard walls and no softening are hard for me to hear like a Starbucks or Peets, the sound just bounces, outdoors in a softer area is fine.  Most movie theaters are fine. 

But in watching T.V. I'll need some assistance, so possibly a set of earphones plugs into the audio to help me, just have to make sure no one trips over the cords,  crowded places are also back and anyone or a group of people that "cross-talk" will have me lose the conversation.  People talking to me but are walking away I cannot hear, all conversations must be face to face.  I'm not ready for a hearing aid yet, but knowing about this I can compensate for. 

Being out in the woods, or a park is fine, I can hear the birds even the hummingbird when it squeaks, but it's area's with hard reflecting walls that makes it very hard to hear. 

But I've been told that there are times when hearing aids don't work in certain conditions, but my doctor is fairly certain that I'm not going to go seriously deaf as I've been over the years doing my best to protect my hearing, but that it would be more age related. 

Oh the vulgarities of old age.  But I refuse to give up or give in, I know what I can do and if I have to ask someone to repeat themselves it's because they do not know how to enunciate.  Because I certainly do understand very clearly what Sam and Dean Winchester are saying as well as Icabode Crane on Sleepy Hollow, but some of these actors ---forget it----it's all mash potatoes to me.

Oh well, now I must go, the timer went off on the oven, and I have pound cake baking.

Later Darklings.

Of Spock is gone~~~~~

Dear Darklings,

I'm sure most of you have heard that Leonard Nimoy aka "Spock"  passed away this morning at the age of 83.

I and my siblings grew up with Star Trek, even my parents enjoyed it, we even had discussions at the kitchen table about what each episode meant, what lesson was to be learned, even the "Trouble With Tribbles" my favorite in it's own silly way showed that something good comes out of disaster.

One of my favorite quotes was "The more complex the mind, the greater the need for the simplicity of play."

Of the original core members, only Sulu, Kirk, Uhura, Chekov and I think one other Yeoman Rand survive.

It's like losing a family member, you don't see them often but its a joy when they "drop in" and when you hear they are gone, a void is left in your life.

He had been dealing with his illness for a long time but his final tweet posted last Sunday was the most heartbreaking and with a lot of truth in it.

"A life is like a garden.  Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in Memory."

LLAP (Live Long and Prosper)

His last words are one's to live by.

Live Long and may your legacy prosper Mr. Spock.

Later Darklings

Of Finally catching Up!~~~~

Hello Darklings!!!

Well it's been almost a month since I last posted, just busy, busy, busy.

I had Coralline and her brother Chris over the three day weekend so their parents could have a nice Valentine's Day celebration, just relaxing and doing what they want to do.

Coralline and I spent the day over in San Francisco window shopping, and I took her to Nordstrom's for a treat and showed her the huge stain glass ceiling, the look on her face was priceless, she felt the same way I did many years ago when I saw that same ceiling and the store was called "The City of Paris" and with it's rotunda shape it does have that Parisian feeling.

Over in Oakland there's a building there that's call The Rotunda but it use to be years ago a 5 story department store I think it was called Kahn's and all 5 floors were open to the rotunda ceiling until they closed off the 5th floor for large ticket items.  But before it emulated the City of Paris and Capwell's, shopping in those stores felt like luxury and I wanted Coralline to have that type of experience  and we did.

Doyle took Chris to his S.F. office to pick up some paper work and Chris got a first hand look at what Doyle does, but also keeping privacy in tact.   Then they went to a couple of antique shops to look for things for his home office and to a computer and office supply store.

Chris kept asking Doyle all kinds of questions throughout dinner, I felt amused about his questions and Doyle did his best to answer them.

Sunday we went down to Niles and took in the shops there, enjoyed pizza and generally had fun.  Doyle found a set of book ends from the 1930's and they looked like falcon's, Doyle had to buy them.  

We didn't have to worry about the twins as their Mother's brother took them to some sort of ball game and had them for the weekend.

Sunday evening their parents came to pick Chris and Coralline up and as I understand it do more unpacking the next day.

I've been given the task of having the drapes in Coralline's room cleaned and re-backed and find curtains to match the old one's that just about fell apart in her room.  Chris's room needs new drapes as those and their curtains are falling apart so I took a sample to a friend of mine who specializes in this type of thing and in a few weeks new and re-made drapes and curtains will be in their rooms, much to my sister-in-law's relief.

The twin's room is very plain and didn't have any curtains or drapes at all, so plain sheers will do and some heavy drapes to cut down any chill from the windows as their room is on the North side of the house.

Then Ash Wednesday services in the morning followed by a Mammogram later in the day, Oh I DO hate the squeezing!!!   But I got a letter saying everything is just fine, so happy me.

And between all of that putting together all my paperwork for my Tax preparer, and I finally got that submitted yesterday,  a lot to do as it's not only my income but the trust on the house as well,  I know H and R Block is very good, but this is specialized. 

I'm not worried about how soon my refund will come, just that it shows up, then I'll put it into my savings account and decide what I want to do with it later.

Well my plumb, cherry and other fruit trees are starting to bloom or leaf out, and Sis wants to go to China Town for some of the events there for the New Years.  I think it would be exciting. 

So we'll make plans.

I've been called in a day here and a day there to work, some staff people have been coming down with colds and bad allergies, so far (knock on wood) I've been fine, but when I went to see my Doctor sweet lady that she is,  she said at my age I need to have a pneumonia booster shoot and she called it in to the Injection clinic  so I blithely went down there to get it and was not happy to see the size of the needle and said so.

Well the Nurse said that it all depends on what kind of solution the medication is suspended in, Insulin for example can be in a water soluble solution so a much thinner needle, but things like Flu and pneumonia are suspended in a thicker solution so a thicker needle.  So I submitted myself to the inevitable and it HURT!!  And I did NOT get a lollipop!  Pooh!

But it was afterwards that really put me down for the count,  the injection site got feverish, it hurt like heck for several days afterwards, I had to use an ice pack, the following day I developed flu like symptoms like horrible chills and went to bed waking up several times sweating and still shaking with the chills, had to change my night gown twice, and stayed in bed for another day or two.  My "get-up and go" got up and went.

And I found out I'm to get a 2nd one next year to complete the series, Oh Lovely!   I'm finally much better but it took nearly a week to get over this.  Maybe I'm more sensitive to the shot, and I read in the information sheet, that this is given to infants and seniors and that the infant maybe "fussy" afterwards.   FUSSY!!!   They would be down right miserable!! 

But as my sensible sister is wont to point out, its much better than having pneumonia and possible death, so not feeling well for a few days is a small price to pay.   So Buck Up Bunky!!

I could cheerfully at times do an ax murder on my younger sister, but reality and the haz-mat laws prevent that.

So today it's laundry, walking the dynamic duo, and making lists of things to do, Doyle is in the city, my sister is seeing clients, Brian went into work for meeting and training session on a new system, and I am going to make a chicken avocado salad for lunch with extra for Sis when she comes over for her lunch (it's so nice our houses are right next door to each other) and do some sorting among my vintage things.

I think I'll order a new lipstick from Besame and see about some new nylons.

Later Darklings

Of a Lost Little Dog~~~~

Dear Darklings,

I have a very soft spot for animals, especially dogs, kitties are nice too but I'm more of a dog person although I have had a cat make its home under my front porch and I fed it for a while until another lady decided to adopt it, for which I'm glad.

But dogs have always been my weakness.

Today I nearly had another one, but it turned out well, I had just come home after I picked up my sister's room-mate Brian at the dentist, he had gotten there fine but was going to need a lift home as it was an extraction.

So I was guiding Brian up the steps of my house so he could lie down and rest when a little black dog came wandering up my walkway, Brian saw it first and asked "Whose dog is that?"  Well I certainly didn't know.

I said to the little guy "Hello Baby, whose little guy do you belong to?"  and the little thing came trotting up to me happy to hear a friendly voice and face, I knew she belonged to someone as she had a body harness on instead of a collar and there were tags attached. 

We got the little 4 legged stranger into the house and into the kitchen, my dynamic duo were at the sitters so I didn't have to worry about them, keeping her in the kitchen I jotted down the phone numbers and her name.  I called one number but no answer so I called the second one which was a cell phone, and asked the lady if she owned a little black dog with the name of Pansy, well she screamed and asked me where the dog is and I said with me.

Pansy had gotten out of the back yard because her husband had forgotten to latch the gate and the owner was looking all over for her, I asked her where she was and it turned out she was only 5 blocks from me so I gave her directions and my phone number in case she got lost.

In ten minutes they were reunited, but she looked frazzled, clipping a leash on to Pansy's harness, I asked the lady to come into the kitchen for a cup of tea or coffee, she was surprised to see Brian resting on the couch in the family parlor but I explained why.

Pansy had been adopted from a local shelter and the lady had her for only two months, loves the dog but her husband just doesn't understand that how he use to do things and being forgetful about the gate just isn't going to work. 

Her two children are very good about it, making double sure that it's locked, but her husband is a bit careless,  I gave suggestions about how to handle the situation and also to give him an ultimatum if he loses the dog he sleeps in the garage until it's found, and suggested that since it was his fault that the dog got loose today that he has to sleep in the garage tonight, because any pet is a child and a dog especially is like a toddler that doesn't have an idea what kind of danger it can get into. 

She liked the idea especially since it was her husband's idea to go ahead and adopt a dog, so I told her "You have to train your husband and tell him he has to be a responsible parent and tell the children what his carelessness did.  It could have ended tragically, so the children need to be in the know that their Father is not being a good doggie parent."   And she liked that as well.

I told her about my parents and for a while we had a dog until we discovered Dad's allergies but the dog went to one of my grandparents and lived with them for a long time, but during the time we had the dog it had developed some sort of rash, and Dad liked the dog, even called it "daddy's little girl" and spoiled it, but when it came down with the rash all Dad did was put Petro carb salve on it but it wasn't getting better.

Mom took things in hand and took the dog to the vet, for 8 weeks, once a week Mom took the dog to the Vet and the Vet tried different things, the poor dog had to wear what we called "the cone of shame" to prevent it from biting its self finally in the last 3 weeks the rash healed up, the Vet hit on the right medication  and strength to cure it.

On that final day both Mom and Dad went to the Vet, when the Vet came into the examining room he was surprised to see both my Mom and my Dad, Mom pointed to my Dad and said "Daddy", then she pointed to the dog "Daddy's Little Girl"  and then  she pointed to herself and said "But it's Mommy who brings her to the Vet."    The Vet laugh and understood.

But two months later after nearly a year of Dad suffering from horrible allergies we discovered that he was allergic to pet dander, dog, cat, hamster it didn't matter, unless it was a gold fish we couldn't have furry pet. 

But Dad talked to his parents and they said they'd love to have "Little Girl" and every other Sunday, alternating between Mom's parents and Dad's we got to see her and play, Dad would sneeze and itch a little but took his allergy meds, then when we got home he'd quickly strip out of his clothes and put them in the washing machine and take a quick shower while Mom got fresh P.J's for him  and it worked.  My Grandparents had her for 14 years until she passed away in her sleep. 

She was a great joy for them, as Grandpa said the little thing kept him on his toes giving him a twice daily exercise going for walks, one time the dog woke my grandparents up with her barking, it seems that someone was trying to break into their house but Little Girl's barking scared them away as my grandparents called the police.   The police did catch the would be robbers.

So with that the Lady said she would make sure her husband understood that he needed to be responsible and would also micro-chip Pansy as well. Then she realized that my home was the "Spooky House" the kids love to come to for Halloween, so I took her on a tour of it.  She has a much smaller Victorian what some would call lower middle-class homes but she liked some of the idea's and I gave her suggestions and my card and told her to call me any time she needed advise.

Feeling revived she left and I turned to my patient, who was snoring on my couch so carefully putting a towel under his cheek to catch any drool I let him sleep and called Doyle to get Wor Won Ton Soup from our favorite Chinese place and make it dinner for 4. 

Right now Brian is still asleep, Sis is here, kicking off her shoes and Doyle just called to say he's got dinner and to set the table.

So now to gently wake Brian up and warn him to let the broth cool down a bit.

Later Darklings