Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Of the Heat!!! The Unseasonable Heat!! ~~~~~~
Well Darklings,
We are having a blast of a heat wave, which I fear will give an indication of what we might get for Summer.
Thank goodness I wore light weight clothing, otherwise I'd be melting like the Wicked Witch without the bucket of water being tossed, although I might welcome it.
Even the thermostat here at work is not sure what its suppose to be temperature-wise, so I dragged out my mini-fan to help circulate the air. Ice herbal tea is the drink of choice today but someone made lavender lemonade and managed to bring in several large jugs of it, heavily iced. Delicious!!!
But this heat wave is threatening to remain for at least a few more days, we're somewhere in the 90's right now, at least it feels like that.
My sinuses are doing better thank goodness and whatever bug that hit me seems to be gone.
Doyle called me at work and informed me that he installed the "Magic Mesh", alright Darklings I'll explain. We have a heavy screen door on the back door of the house, but Belladonna and Weiner Dog insist on going out and going in and going out and going in, it got to be ridiculous doing that when we were at home.
Well Doyle happen to see a commercial on T.V. about this lightweight mesh screed that opens and closes using magnet's, if your hands are full you don't have to struggle and it keeps the flying bugs out, and if the Dogs want to do their in and out dance we don't have to deal with the screen door.
Doyle said it works, no sooner than he got it up then the dogs immediately got the idea and dashed out and dashed in, and out and in and out and in---Doyle thinks they are having a game with the magnets because the magnets do a clicking sound. Now when one of them has a chew toy or a ball and the other wants it they can run around the house and outside and back into the house and whatever their little hearts want.
Although one of them, Belladonna, slipped and fell into the ornamental pond, and Doyle had to give Belladonna an unplanned bath. Oh the indignity of it all!! She was not pleased.
At least Doyle has a few days off, but I am going to miss him at the end of this month, he's going back east to see his Grandson get married, his Grandson has done two tours of duty in the middle East and has been home for almost a year and has ask his girl friend of many years to marry him, it will be a simple wedding, she's 4 month's along, he just wants her to be secure. Doyle is happy for them and I'm happy for him.
I'll be unable to go, although I would have liked to but the timing is not right, I won't be able to reschedule my vacation until late June, I'm going to miss him but fortunately I can make arrangements to do things.
Right now I'm looking forward to seeing both the old Godzilla movie that will be playing in a local theatre and the New one to compare it with. Yes Darklings Godzilla is a secret indulgence, but this time the old one will be as it was originally released, not the Raymond Burr version, so we'll get to see it as originally scripted.
And now I have to sign off, I'm on my break and have to work until 6 tonight---we had a heavy case load and at least I'll be caught up. Doyle said we'll have Chinese---too hot to cook, I'm all for that.
Later Darklings
Monday, April 28, 2014
Of plans going astray~~~~
Hello My Darklings,
Well this will be a short post, for all my planning it came to nothing.
I came down with a serious "what the heck it was that I didn't even know". It seems that I was afflicted by the same "bug" that most of the staff at work got the week before.
I had headaches that were so bad the teeth in my upper jaw ached, my sinuses were running so bad that I went through a half dozen boxes of Kleenex until I could get some Dayquil, which helped, my stomach didn't want to keep anything down, ran a fever, and it felt, every time I tried to walk to the bathroom, that an elephant was sitting on my back.
Doyle said I looked like "Death warmed over", not a pretty sight, Sis kept asking me how I was feeling and I kept replying "Did anyone get the license number of that 18 wheel rig that ran over me?"----I felt so bad.
Finally the fever broke, I began to feel better, sinuses are more manageable, but I still feel tired.
I talked to my Boss and he agreed to shift my vacation to sick leave, something that he doesn't do very often but he didn't think I should lose my vacation after all the overtime I put in to cover everyone else, only to get sick.
I'm on my lunch right now, but at least Doyle will pick me up at the end of my day, I just could not face taking public transportation home.
Sis will cook dinner and Doyle will pamper me, but I know in a few days I'll have to pull my own weight as well.
There is talk by the weather man that things maybe heating up this week, frankly I could use a dose of warm weather to get the general ache out of my bones.
Sis watched on T.V. at her house the Canonization of the two Popes, and although I know each has their critics, that some feel that John-Paul II didn't do enough, I feel that he did go as far as he could go, now with Pope Francis I hope that he can take it further especially about the shame of those pedophile priests----we are in a new age, a new thought process, a new focus. I am hopeful.
Now I'm going to the staff room to heat up some Won-Ton Soup.
Later Darklings
Well this will be a short post, for all my planning it came to nothing.
I came down with a serious "what the heck it was that I didn't even know". It seems that I was afflicted by the same "bug" that most of the staff at work got the week before.
I had headaches that were so bad the teeth in my upper jaw ached, my sinuses were running so bad that I went through a half dozen boxes of Kleenex until I could get some Dayquil, which helped, my stomach didn't want to keep anything down, ran a fever, and it felt, every time I tried to walk to the bathroom, that an elephant was sitting on my back.
Doyle said I looked like "Death warmed over", not a pretty sight, Sis kept asking me how I was feeling and I kept replying "Did anyone get the license number of that 18 wheel rig that ran over me?"----I felt so bad.
Finally the fever broke, I began to feel better, sinuses are more manageable, but I still feel tired.
I talked to my Boss and he agreed to shift my vacation to sick leave, something that he doesn't do very often but he didn't think I should lose my vacation after all the overtime I put in to cover everyone else, only to get sick.
I'm on my lunch right now, but at least Doyle will pick me up at the end of my day, I just could not face taking public transportation home.
Sis will cook dinner and Doyle will pamper me, but I know in a few days I'll have to pull my own weight as well.
There is talk by the weather man that things maybe heating up this week, frankly I could use a dose of warm weather to get the general ache out of my bones.
Sis watched on T.V. at her house the Canonization of the two Popes, and although I know each has their critics, that some feel that John-Paul II didn't do enough, I feel that he did go as far as he could go, now with Pope Francis I hope that he can take it further especially about the shame of those pedophile priests----we are in a new age, a new thought process, a new focus. I am hopeful.
Now I'm going to the staff room to heat up some Won-Ton Soup.
Later Darklings
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Of Easter Sunday~~~~
Good Morning Darklings!!!
Well I sort of slept in this morning, but for a good reason.
Last night Doyle, Sis and I went to Easter Midnight services, something not done much, we had to hunt for a church that does that, as most people want to go to Sunrise Services.
But I find that there is something very medieval in going to a Midnight Service, the ritual, the awakening, the Priest calling out "Christ is Risen!" I posted it more at length in an earlier post from a year or two ago.
But then afterwards to fall back into bed feeling that all will be right with the world sort of feeling.
But Sis and I while waiting for Doyle to get the car and deal with the traffic jam in the church parking lot, could not help but overhear some people remarking that the first Full Moon after the Spring Equinox, which heralds when is Easter Sunday, was a Blood Moon, and they sounded worried.
Oh no, thought I, not amateur "doom sayers" Didn't need that. Still considering the timing it was strange.
But then I shook those thoughts off, as we drove home and into a nice comfortable bed.
Our Easter Dinner will be in the Early Evening, to allow for what ever plans my Brother has with the Boys. Coralline and her Mother have shown up, and we are all going to get into Doyle's Van to go to a crowded breakfast at a Coffee Shop that he likes, its a bit out of the way, but they serve wonderful pancakes, designed to hold you all day until dinner.
I am going to be feeling fat after today, but I'll have a week to diet, if need be. It is a bit over cast and chilly here, but I know that will burn off before noon.
Dinner really will be easy, a nice Ham to be served, usually if its just a small gathering I'd be serving Leg of Lamb, but with the Boy's, our elderly neighbor, my cousin and her friend, Sis's boarder Brian, and a couple of Doyle's friends, Ham seemed to be a better choice, and we can have sandwiches for lunch during the week.
And when we get back Coralline and her Mom will be helping out with things like getting the table set, and pulling down the large serving items.
I am so glad for my Stove, it will be able to handle it.
And now Doyle has the Van out front, so to gather my coat and purse and off we go, we're sneaking in Belladonna and Weiner Dog in their carry all's into the Coffee Shop, but I think the owner knows but turns a blind eye---He's a dog lover too.
Happy Easter My Darklings!!
Later
Well I sort of slept in this morning, but for a good reason.
Last night Doyle, Sis and I went to Easter Midnight services, something not done much, we had to hunt for a church that does that, as most people want to go to Sunrise Services.
But I find that there is something very medieval in going to a Midnight Service, the ritual, the awakening, the Priest calling out "Christ is Risen!" I posted it more at length in an earlier post from a year or two ago.
But then afterwards to fall back into bed feeling that all will be right with the world sort of feeling.
But Sis and I while waiting for Doyle to get the car and deal with the traffic jam in the church parking lot, could not help but overhear some people remarking that the first Full Moon after the Spring Equinox, which heralds when is Easter Sunday, was a Blood Moon, and they sounded worried.
Oh no, thought I, not amateur "doom sayers" Didn't need that. Still considering the timing it was strange.
But then I shook those thoughts off, as we drove home and into a nice comfortable bed.
Our Easter Dinner will be in the Early Evening, to allow for what ever plans my Brother has with the Boys. Coralline and her Mother have shown up, and we are all going to get into Doyle's Van to go to a crowded breakfast at a Coffee Shop that he likes, its a bit out of the way, but they serve wonderful pancakes, designed to hold you all day until dinner.
I am going to be feeling fat after today, but I'll have a week to diet, if need be. It is a bit over cast and chilly here, but I know that will burn off before noon.
Dinner really will be easy, a nice Ham to be served, usually if its just a small gathering I'd be serving Leg of Lamb, but with the Boy's, our elderly neighbor, my cousin and her friend, Sis's boarder Brian, and a couple of Doyle's friends, Ham seemed to be a better choice, and we can have sandwiches for lunch during the week.
And when we get back Coralline and her Mom will be helping out with things like getting the table set, and pulling down the large serving items.
I am so glad for my Stove, it will be able to handle it.
And now Doyle has the Van out front, so to gather my coat and purse and off we go, we're sneaking in Belladonna and Weiner Dog in their carry all's into the Coffee Shop, but I think the owner knows but turns a blind eye---He's a dog lover too.
Happy Easter My Darklings!!
Later
Friday, April 18, 2014
Of Easter, Blood Moons and exhausted!!~~~~~
Hello Darklings!
I am SO glad that I am taking next week off for vacation, frankly my Dears I need it!
Well I shouldn't be so bad about it, but things at work have been a bit crazy, people out ill with allergies, Easter Break so spending time with their children, and one of my co-workers being in a car accident, not too bad but has a broken leg and cracked ribs, so it is obvious we are short handed, long hours, working late, shouldn't be working so late, and Doyle being so lovely picking me up and driving us home.
I was seriously tempted to stay for a few days at a near by hotel but they are charging Holiday rates, no, no I'm not getting caught in that trap, cheaper to pay for gas.
But next week a number of people will be back, so there will be a certain amount of sanity. But I do think that last Monday night's blood moon might have affected some people. Doyle came to pick me up and was waiting for me, we had only a quarter of a block to walk to his car, when suddenly a naked man came running up to us, only wearing a smile and tennis shoes.
He was dancing back and forth mostly in front of me, and Doyle was ready to belt him one but instead I pointed at the man's pitiful wanger, laughed at him and said "Is that all you've got?" and proceeded to walked passed him as the smile on his face and his wanger fell.
Doyle still wanted to belt him one but I reminded him that it wasn't worth going to jail for punching out idiots, took his hand and made him walk to the car, leaving the naked fellow just standing there.
As we settled into the car I remarked "I hope he doesn't catch a cold", Doyle just gave me a look, and then laughed as we drove through the night lit streets of San Francisco, across the bridge and I looked at the skeletal remains of the old bridge highlighted by the rising almost full moon. As I looked at the metal work of that old work house I found myself sadly nostalgic for the old Beast, and as always, I mentally said "good night" to it, an old worn out faithful friend.
It was just past midnight when we got home and I looked up at the moon as it was going into eclipse, did I want to stay up late and see this astronomical wonder? Yes I thought, it would be one of those few times when the time was nearly right, so bundled up with a blanket and with a glass of dark red wine, I sipped and watched. Doyle decided to stay up with me and we used the moment to quietly talk about things, Wiener Dog and Belladonna were curled up in their daytime nap beds in the kitchen, they thought humans staying out side in the chill when there were nice warm beds inside, were being silly.
Then the Moon was in full eclipse, turning a copper color red of dried blood. How wondrous I thought, how mystical, how Gothic and a bit evil, I was almost tempted to howl but stopped as Doyle and I hear softly in the distance dogs doing mournful howls in the near silence, there was something almost agonizing about it, Primitive, primeval. I heard a soft growl at my feet and there was Weiner and Belladonna, doing low warning growls, and then the mournful sounds stopped, and our dogs stopped growling.
Doyle gave a bit of a shake of his shoulders and said quickly, "Let's go in, lock the door." The dogs were quick in the lead. Doyle locked and bolted the kitchen door as I put our glasses in the sink, then Doyle told me to go upstairs and he would re-check the windows and front door as well as the door that led into the basement, since the basement also had an outside door for convenience.
I did as he told, almost glad to get into the imagined safety of the bed, with both Weiner and Belladonna jointing me, and waited for Doyle. A few minutes later he entered and assured me that all was secure. As he turned out the light I asked him "What did you feel?" and he paused and then said "I really don't know but it didn't feel right" then he kissed me and said "Morning will look good".
And I woke up the next morning opening one eyeball to see the nose of Weiner dog in close up checking me out and being reassured when I said "I'm fine, I'm fine".
The good thing is that I could sleep in late and go in later in the morning, last nights' experience during the eclipse seemed un-real, but we did have an eclipse, as I went out to catch the bus into the City I ran into one of my neighbors who asked me if I too heard the dogs howling, at least it was not mine nor Doyle's imagination.
So with free moments I and Sis have been able to get the house ready, and this morning we did the final bit of shopping for the Easter Dinner and managed to go to Good Friday Services, a period of mourning and to remember those whom have gone on before, now I am relaxing and typing.
Sis will be back later she had an appointment with a client, Coralline called me last night to tell me she received your card Trisha, she hope you received yours, she knows of the "Easter Beagle" as her Dad has been teasing her about it, but she hopes you like the Easter Pickle.
Last night she told me a joke "What happens when you go out and plant Jelly beans in your Garden?" I told her I wasn't sure and she said "You'll get your hands dirty." And when you think about it, it is so true.
Doyle pleaded with me if we could skip the umpteenth showing on T.V. the "Ten Commandment's", and I said "Of course, no one can say 'Their God is God' like Yul Brenner, and that is the highlight of the movie, along with the parting of the Red Sea." But I also said I was not going to watch "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" no matter how much my Brother insists that it too is a religious movie.
And now at this moment, inside and outside the house is quiet, not a bird, not a car, no neighbors calling out to each other, silence, almost expectant silence. As if something is being anticipated.
Redemption?? Re-Birth?? Renewal?? I don't know, but I feel the need to go out into the garden and wait, I don't have these moments very often, but when they happen I take them and wait to see what will develop.
Later Darklings
I am SO glad that I am taking next week off for vacation, frankly my Dears I need it!
Well I shouldn't be so bad about it, but things at work have been a bit crazy, people out ill with allergies, Easter Break so spending time with their children, and one of my co-workers being in a car accident, not too bad but has a broken leg and cracked ribs, so it is obvious we are short handed, long hours, working late, shouldn't be working so late, and Doyle being so lovely picking me up and driving us home.
I was seriously tempted to stay for a few days at a near by hotel but they are charging Holiday rates, no, no I'm not getting caught in that trap, cheaper to pay for gas.
But next week a number of people will be back, so there will be a certain amount of sanity. But I do think that last Monday night's blood moon might have affected some people. Doyle came to pick me up and was waiting for me, we had only a quarter of a block to walk to his car, when suddenly a naked man came running up to us, only wearing a smile and tennis shoes.
He was dancing back and forth mostly in front of me, and Doyle was ready to belt him one but instead I pointed at the man's pitiful wanger, laughed at him and said "Is that all you've got?" and proceeded to walked passed him as the smile on his face and his wanger fell.
Doyle still wanted to belt him one but I reminded him that it wasn't worth going to jail for punching out idiots, took his hand and made him walk to the car, leaving the naked fellow just standing there.
As we settled into the car I remarked "I hope he doesn't catch a cold", Doyle just gave me a look, and then laughed as we drove through the night lit streets of San Francisco, across the bridge and I looked at the skeletal remains of the old bridge highlighted by the rising almost full moon. As I looked at the metal work of that old work house I found myself sadly nostalgic for the old Beast, and as always, I mentally said "good night" to it, an old worn out faithful friend.
It was just past midnight when we got home and I looked up at the moon as it was going into eclipse, did I want to stay up late and see this astronomical wonder? Yes I thought, it would be one of those few times when the time was nearly right, so bundled up with a blanket and with a glass of dark red wine, I sipped and watched. Doyle decided to stay up with me and we used the moment to quietly talk about things, Wiener Dog and Belladonna were curled up in their daytime nap beds in the kitchen, they thought humans staying out side in the chill when there were nice warm beds inside, were being silly.
Then the Moon was in full eclipse, turning a copper color red of dried blood. How wondrous I thought, how mystical, how Gothic and a bit evil, I was almost tempted to howl but stopped as Doyle and I hear softly in the distance dogs doing mournful howls in the near silence, there was something almost agonizing about it, Primitive, primeval. I heard a soft growl at my feet and there was Weiner and Belladonna, doing low warning growls, and then the mournful sounds stopped, and our dogs stopped growling.
Doyle gave a bit of a shake of his shoulders and said quickly, "Let's go in, lock the door." The dogs were quick in the lead. Doyle locked and bolted the kitchen door as I put our glasses in the sink, then Doyle told me to go upstairs and he would re-check the windows and front door as well as the door that led into the basement, since the basement also had an outside door for convenience.
I did as he told, almost glad to get into the imagined safety of the bed, with both Weiner and Belladonna jointing me, and waited for Doyle. A few minutes later he entered and assured me that all was secure. As he turned out the light I asked him "What did you feel?" and he paused and then said "I really don't know but it didn't feel right" then he kissed me and said "Morning will look good".
And I woke up the next morning opening one eyeball to see the nose of Weiner dog in close up checking me out and being reassured when I said "I'm fine, I'm fine".
The good thing is that I could sleep in late and go in later in the morning, last nights' experience during the eclipse seemed un-real, but we did have an eclipse, as I went out to catch the bus into the City I ran into one of my neighbors who asked me if I too heard the dogs howling, at least it was not mine nor Doyle's imagination.
So with free moments I and Sis have been able to get the house ready, and this morning we did the final bit of shopping for the Easter Dinner and managed to go to Good Friday Services, a period of mourning and to remember those whom have gone on before, now I am relaxing and typing.
Sis will be back later she had an appointment with a client, Coralline called me last night to tell me she received your card Trisha, she hope you received yours, she knows of the "Easter Beagle" as her Dad has been teasing her about it, but she hopes you like the Easter Pickle.
Last night she told me a joke "What happens when you go out and plant Jelly beans in your Garden?" I told her I wasn't sure and she said "You'll get your hands dirty." And when you think about it, it is so true.
Doyle pleaded with me if we could skip the umpteenth showing on T.V. the "Ten Commandment's", and I said "Of course, no one can say 'Their God is God' like Yul Brenner, and that is the highlight of the movie, along with the parting of the Red Sea." But I also said I was not going to watch "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" no matter how much my Brother insists that it too is a religious movie.
And now at this moment, inside and outside the house is quiet, not a bird, not a car, no neighbors calling out to each other, silence, almost expectant silence. As if something is being anticipated.
Redemption?? Re-Birth?? Renewal?? I don't know, but I feel the need to go out into the garden and wait, I don't have these moments very often, but when they happen I take them and wait to see what will develop.
Later Darklings
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Of being lazy (well not really)~~~
Hello My Darklings,
I know I have not posted in over a week!!! Well with the rains and thunderstorm, and work, and allergies things have been a bit crazy.
And if I were to try and put it all in one post---well then I'd get serious typers cramp, its sort of like writer's cramp but the fingers sort of freeze up.
I think the most difficult thing was the thunderstorm, poor Sis was visiting a friend and noted that the sound of thunder was getting closer and closer to her friends house and even her friend remarked about it when suddenly, both of them felt a tremendous pressure on their heads, and the neck hairs started to stand up.
Sis said she felt a tingling along her arms and then suddenly POW!!! KA-BOOM!!! Both Sis and her friend felt as if a house had exploded, so they dashed out into the rain to see if their was a fire but instead what they saw was car windows smashed, chucks of a tree a redwood tree all over the place, some houses had their windows smashed or cracked and a 80 foot redwood tree was reduced to 25 feet and splinters.
Police and Fire showed up and fortunately no injuries but a number of nervous people.
The house had some damaged to the roof line, but no one there was injured.
When I came home from work, well I have to confess I was enjoying the rain and saw some lighting but I had no idea that it struck close to my sisters and her friend. But as I said when I came home from work, there she was and her friend (and her friend had an overnight bag), but they both looked white as sheets, my sister offered the hospitality of my home to her friend, which I didn't mind considering the situation.
But the next day we had to go back to see the damage and it was jaw-dropping, the power of nature, how it just destroyed that tree, and people picking up pieces of the wood as souvenirs of this event, even I picked up a piece. And yet it didn't catch on fire.
The theory is that enough electricity had built up and considering that the redwood tree was the lone tall object in the neighborhood it became the flashpoint, but since wood is not a very good conductor it simply exploded. Thank goodness it wasn't a flag pole that could have been worse.
Sis's friend felt better to stay back in her house, but Sis decided to stay with her to help her check everything just in case and then took a taxi home.
And this all took place just the day before April Fool's day, well it was no April Fool that's for sure.
Tuesday evening Doyle wanted to go to this Magic Auction he said one of his friends was selling things---Magic Auction??? Well what is this? I thought.
And what it was was a Flea Market and Auction for magicians either professional or amateur, and I found it very amusing and delightful, strange things that look bizarre suddenly under the magician's hand become something very extraordinary, and entertaining.
Our "friends", the haunted couple were there as well looking at things, they told me they had been to the sight of the exploding redwood tree and picked up a few pieces of wood as well, "the grain of the wood is so unusual I found a piece that appears to have a face in it" she said and waxed on the idea's of how to incorporate it into an art piece.
I did manage to buy two things, a wand that looks like a Harry Potter Wand and the tip lights up, and a book about a female magician Adelaide Herrmann, she performed from the late 1880's to about 1930 and I found it fascinating as it was unusual for a woman to be performing a magic stage show.
We stayed and watched the Auction and saw different things being bided on including a tiger cage and a very large trunk. Some of the biding was slow and some became a bit spirited. And then it was over, so after saying good by to Doyle's friend, we left going out into the chilly rain and deciding whether to stop someplace for coffee or go straight home.
We decided on the latter as Sis was with the dogs, and enjoyed a nice slice of hot apple pie with decaff coffee, after all we did need our sleep.
And we took in during the week, a classic movie "The Third Man" with Orson Wells, so noir and the chase in the sewer tunnels in a way you wish Harry Lime did make it but then it was better he was caught, I do hope we can go to some of the other films, we did skip "The Way We Were" I'm sorry Darklings, but in my personal opinion it is a, in the words of my brother, "a sappy movie", when I saw it ages ago I did not have any sympathy for the characters, and I still don't although some people love it, its not my kind of movie.
But there are others coming and I am looking forward to it. There was other things I got caught up in between work, the rain, home projects and such that its a miracle I found time to post this. But I managed.
And now I'm planning the Easter Dinner, I do hope it doesn't rain that day, but if it does Well That's Life as Frank Sinatra said.
Later Darklings
I know I have not posted in over a week!!! Well with the rains and thunderstorm, and work, and allergies things have been a bit crazy.
And if I were to try and put it all in one post---well then I'd get serious typers cramp, its sort of like writer's cramp but the fingers sort of freeze up.
I think the most difficult thing was the thunderstorm, poor Sis was visiting a friend and noted that the sound of thunder was getting closer and closer to her friends house and even her friend remarked about it when suddenly, both of them felt a tremendous pressure on their heads, and the neck hairs started to stand up.
Sis said she felt a tingling along her arms and then suddenly POW!!! KA-BOOM!!! Both Sis and her friend felt as if a house had exploded, so they dashed out into the rain to see if their was a fire but instead what they saw was car windows smashed, chucks of a tree a redwood tree all over the place, some houses had their windows smashed or cracked and a 80 foot redwood tree was reduced to 25 feet and splinters.
Police and Fire showed up and fortunately no injuries but a number of nervous people.
The house had some damaged to the roof line, but no one there was injured.
When I came home from work, well I have to confess I was enjoying the rain and saw some lighting but I had no idea that it struck close to my sisters and her friend. But as I said when I came home from work, there she was and her friend (and her friend had an overnight bag), but they both looked white as sheets, my sister offered the hospitality of my home to her friend, which I didn't mind considering the situation.
But the next day we had to go back to see the damage and it was jaw-dropping, the power of nature, how it just destroyed that tree, and people picking up pieces of the wood as souvenirs of this event, even I picked up a piece. And yet it didn't catch on fire.
The theory is that enough electricity had built up and considering that the redwood tree was the lone tall object in the neighborhood it became the flashpoint, but since wood is not a very good conductor it simply exploded. Thank goodness it wasn't a flag pole that could have been worse.
Sis's friend felt better to stay back in her house, but Sis decided to stay with her to help her check everything just in case and then took a taxi home.
And this all took place just the day before April Fool's day, well it was no April Fool that's for sure.
Tuesday evening Doyle wanted to go to this Magic Auction he said one of his friends was selling things---Magic Auction??? Well what is this? I thought.
And what it was was a Flea Market and Auction for magicians either professional or amateur, and I found it very amusing and delightful, strange things that look bizarre suddenly under the magician's hand become something very extraordinary, and entertaining.
Our "friends", the haunted couple were there as well looking at things, they told me they had been to the sight of the exploding redwood tree and picked up a few pieces of wood as well, "the grain of the wood is so unusual I found a piece that appears to have a face in it" she said and waxed on the idea's of how to incorporate it into an art piece.
I did manage to buy two things, a wand that looks like a Harry Potter Wand and the tip lights up, and a book about a female magician Adelaide Herrmann, she performed from the late 1880's to about 1930 and I found it fascinating as it was unusual for a woman to be performing a magic stage show.
We stayed and watched the Auction and saw different things being bided on including a tiger cage and a very large trunk. Some of the biding was slow and some became a bit spirited. And then it was over, so after saying good by to Doyle's friend, we left going out into the chilly rain and deciding whether to stop someplace for coffee or go straight home.
We decided on the latter as Sis was with the dogs, and enjoyed a nice slice of hot apple pie with decaff coffee, after all we did need our sleep.
And we took in during the week, a classic movie "The Third Man" with Orson Wells, so noir and the chase in the sewer tunnels in a way you wish Harry Lime did make it but then it was better he was caught, I do hope we can go to some of the other films, we did skip "The Way We Were" I'm sorry Darklings, but in my personal opinion it is a, in the words of my brother, "a sappy movie", when I saw it ages ago I did not have any sympathy for the characters, and I still don't although some people love it, its not my kind of movie.
But there are others coming and I am looking forward to it. There was other things I got caught up in between work, the rain, home projects and such that its a miracle I found time to post this. But I managed.
And now I'm planning the Easter Dinner, I do hope it doesn't rain that day, but if it does Well That's Life as Frank Sinatra said.
Later Darklings
Friday, March 28, 2014
Of Rain, Disasters and miracles~~~~~
Dear Darklings,
Well we are finally getting some rain, how much of it will make a dent in our drought I don't know, but it feels so good to have it raining here in the Bay Area and Snowing in the Mountains.
At work when I looked out the window I enjoyed seeing it coming down wetting the streets, making grey and mysterious at certain points, of course cars driving fast and splashing rain water on people was not welcomed, but fortunately I had my trench coat and umbrella, and was prepared.
In the evening when the rain was coming down I spent time just looking out the living room window just mesmerized by it, feeling a certain sort of relaxation hearing it. That lovely coziness that it brings. Spring rain is different from Winter rain, its not as gloomy and when you step outside in the morning the air has such a fresh feeling.
Of course Belladonna and Weiner Dog beg to differ, "Its wets Mummy, ours tummys gets wets, no likes" but of course demands to go potty wins out.
And it seems that with the rain it has made my garden start to grow wild, the old damaged rose bushes that were moved seem to be doing well, and the new one's planted are flourishing, I'm happy to say. So now it will be raining on and off through next week, are we going to have rain next month? I really don't know, I hope so.
I got a phone call last night from our "haunted couple" yes it was they at the S.F. Opera House sale, she was looking for things to incorporate into various art works, she seems to be working on several art projects at the same time depending on where the mood takes her. We've been invited to dinner tomorrow evening, which should prove to be interesting. Doyle had to beg off, he's on assignment, so it will be Sis and I, I wonder what will develop?
Of late the news has been grim, the lost of that Malaysian Airplane with all passengers and crew, has developed into a major mystery, why did it go so off course? Was there emotional problems between either the Pilot or Co-Pilot, why was the black box and transponder turned off? Did one or the other kill their fellow crew member, Doyle and I thought at first it was a terrorist act, but no one owned up to it, then I began thinking it crashed by accident, then I began thinking was it a suicide act? If so why take over 200 lives with you? To do that is insane.
Sis has thoughts on that, and said it would not be unusual for someone in a certain frame of mind to do it that way. Its heart breaking for the surviving family members.
And then that horrendous mud slide in Washington State killing possibly over a hundred people. One family, by a miracle, was not home but when they returned discovered that their aunt who lived next door had died, they also thought their pet dog a Labrador had died but was discovered to have survived, with only a few cuts, very muddy and very hungry. Even a 4 year old boy was discovered alive in all that cold wet mud.
But what really had my jaw dropping was seeing on the news that construction worker who was trapped on a balcony edge of a raging apartment building fire, he looked like he was going to get caught by the flames but the fire department managed to get a ladder to him and pull him off just before the upper part of the building collapsed.
It's on You Tube listed as Houston Apartment fire rescue, the original video was done by Karen Jones, all I can say it was a miracle.
And its the 2nd large major building fire of a building under construction, within weeks of the one in S.F. and the Houston one. My jaw just dropped to the ground at how close a call it was.
And now the crisis in the Ukraine, I don't trust Putkin, its all leading to something worse or he wants something and is maneuvering for it.
I have not been posting as much as I would like of late but work both at work and at home has been keeping me very busy. And I have to admit I'm having fun as well, a friend of mine Diane and I went to see "Young Frankenstein" playing at a local movie theater, part of their classic film series.
It was fun, funny and interesting at the same time, you see on the big screen all these little visual images that one misses when viewing it on Television. Little details, that add to the story. I understand that its Mel Brooks favorite film, I can understand why, it incorporates all the elements of the first 3 Frankenstein movies and it had all the equipment used in the original as well. And I had not realized that the Frankenstein monster in this film had a zipper in his neck or that the Doctor had a thimble on his finger after he sewed the "Abby Normal" brain into his creation. These are details one just does not catch.
I told Doyle this and his remark was "We need a bigger TV Screen" Excuse me, I ask him. And where are we going to put it? Well, he says, there's always my future "man-cave". I gave him The Look, where he quickly decided to go to the kitchen to make us a cup of tea. Smart move.
Now Easter is coming---whether its going to rain or not depends on, of course, the weather. And that then will decide where to have Easter Dinner, my Brother asked if I care to have it at my home, and I have no problem with that, but, fortunately his dear wife said that the burden of cooking the entire dinner should not fall exclusively on my shoulders, so she will come over to help out, so between the 3 of us (Sis, sis-in-law, myself) we should be able to do a very nice dinner.
The children are too old for Easter Egg Hunts, but Coralline wants to come over early and my brother will distract the boys for a few hours while we get things ready.
I posted in a much earlier post about how Gothic the Easter Season is. With the fasting, and sacrificing and such. I'm sure you Darklings can find it. Sis would like to go to the special late night Easter Eve services, if we can find a church that is offering it. I would love to, it is Gothic Ritual at its highest.
Now I must go, I promised to meet Sis at the Claremont for an early dinner.
Later Darklings
Well we are finally getting some rain, how much of it will make a dent in our drought I don't know, but it feels so good to have it raining here in the Bay Area and Snowing in the Mountains.
At work when I looked out the window I enjoyed seeing it coming down wetting the streets, making grey and mysterious at certain points, of course cars driving fast and splashing rain water on people was not welcomed, but fortunately I had my trench coat and umbrella, and was prepared.
In the evening when the rain was coming down I spent time just looking out the living room window just mesmerized by it, feeling a certain sort of relaxation hearing it. That lovely coziness that it brings. Spring rain is different from Winter rain, its not as gloomy and when you step outside in the morning the air has such a fresh feeling.
Of course Belladonna and Weiner Dog beg to differ, "Its wets Mummy, ours tummys gets wets, no likes" but of course demands to go potty wins out.
And it seems that with the rain it has made my garden start to grow wild, the old damaged rose bushes that were moved seem to be doing well, and the new one's planted are flourishing, I'm happy to say. So now it will be raining on and off through next week, are we going to have rain next month? I really don't know, I hope so.
I got a phone call last night from our "haunted couple" yes it was they at the S.F. Opera House sale, she was looking for things to incorporate into various art works, she seems to be working on several art projects at the same time depending on where the mood takes her. We've been invited to dinner tomorrow evening, which should prove to be interesting. Doyle had to beg off, he's on assignment, so it will be Sis and I, I wonder what will develop?
Of late the news has been grim, the lost of that Malaysian Airplane with all passengers and crew, has developed into a major mystery, why did it go so off course? Was there emotional problems between either the Pilot or Co-Pilot, why was the black box and transponder turned off? Did one or the other kill their fellow crew member, Doyle and I thought at first it was a terrorist act, but no one owned up to it, then I began thinking it crashed by accident, then I began thinking was it a suicide act? If so why take over 200 lives with you? To do that is insane.
Sis has thoughts on that, and said it would not be unusual for someone in a certain frame of mind to do it that way. Its heart breaking for the surviving family members.
And then that horrendous mud slide in Washington State killing possibly over a hundred people. One family, by a miracle, was not home but when they returned discovered that their aunt who lived next door had died, they also thought their pet dog a Labrador had died but was discovered to have survived, with only a few cuts, very muddy and very hungry. Even a 4 year old boy was discovered alive in all that cold wet mud.
But what really had my jaw dropping was seeing on the news that construction worker who was trapped on a balcony edge of a raging apartment building fire, he looked like he was going to get caught by the flames but the fire department managed to get a ladder to him and pull him off just before the upper part of the building collapsed.
It's on You Tube listed as Houston Apartment fire rescue, the original video was done by Karen Jones, all I can say it was a miracle.
And its the 2nd large major building fire of a building under construction, within weeks of the one in S.F. and the Houston one. My jaw just dropped to the ground at how close a call it was.
And now the crisis in the Ukraine, I don't trust Putkin, its all leading to something worse or he wants something and is maneuvering for it.
I have not been posting as much as I would like of late but work both at work and at home has been keeping me very busy. And I have to admit I'm having fun as well, a friend of mine Diane and I went to see "Young Frankenstein" playing at a local movie theater, part of their classic film series.
It was fun, funny and interesting at the same time, you see on the big screen all these little visual images that one misses when viewing it on Television. Little details, that add to the story. I understand that its Mel Brooks favorite film, I can understand why, it incorporates all the elements of the first 3 Frankenstein movies and it had all the equipment used in the original as well. And I had not realized that the Frankenstein monster in this film had a zipper in his neck or that the Doctor had a thimble on his finger after he sewed the "Abby Normal" brain into his creation. These are details one just does not catch.
I told Doyle this and his remark was "We need a bigger TV Screen" Excuse me, I ask him. And where are we going to put it? Well, he says, there's always my future "man-cave". I gave him The Look, where he quickly decided to go to the kitchen to make us a cup of tea. Smart move.
Now Easter is coming---whether its going to rain or not depends on, of course, the weather. And that then will decide where to have Easter Dinner, my Brother asked if I care to have it at my home, and I have no problem with that, but, fortunately his dear wife said that the burden of cooking the entire dinner should not fall exclusively on my shoulders, so she will come over to help out, so between the 3 of us (Sis, sis-in-law, myself) we should be able to do a very nice dinner.
The children are too old for Easter Egg Hunts, but Coralline wants to come over early and my brother will distract the boys for a few hours while we get things ready.
I posted in a much earlier post about how Gothic the Easter Season is. With the fasting, and sacrificing and such. I'm sure you Darklings can find it. Sis would like to go to the special late night Easter Eve services, if we can find a church that is offering it. I would love to, it is Gothic Ritual at its highest.
Now I must go, I promised to meet Sis at the Claremont for an early dinner.
Later Darklings
Monday, March 24, 2014
Of a New Computer and "Oh My Goodness Gracious!!!!" ~~~~~~
Well Darklings,
It's done, the new computer is installed and up and running, as a matter of fact I'm typing on it right now.
There was a bit of a delay, the extra 4 GB's of RAM that we wanted kept getting mixed up, the factory kept sending the wrong part, but the IT man got it squared away, seems their computer inventory made a mistake by one number.
And OH MY GOODNESS!!! What a difference, an entire new learning curve, I'm afraid to do too much to it, I don't want to mess it up by making the mistake of downloading the wrong thing.
Maybe that's a sign of "old age" the brain can't handle to much input. But the screen is so "huge", I mean it fits my desk and everything but still it's like going from an old portable T.V. to a huge plasma screen.
And some things that were missing have come back.
Because of the delay I haven't been posting, so much has happened but too much to list, except to say that much of the work that needed to be done has been done, neighbor's Oak tree, trimmed and healthy, fence fixed, bushes planted, car tuned, drapes cleaned, new computer, but still have to tweak a couple of things on it, like getting it registered.
Did manage to go to the Vintage Fashion Expo, and I did find some wonderful things, but it was so sad to see it reduced in size, not as many vendors, just a few years ago it took up the entire Expo hall, now just 1/2 of it. I was told many vendors either have gone out of business or are doing it mostly on line and not traveling, the economy has affected many of them.
But we did go and have a late lunch at this place called "The Lab" in the historic Dog Patch area, parking was not easy, the S.F. Opera was also having their fund raising sale, it was unusual to see people dressed out of something out of the various Arabian Knights or Aladdin's Cave and some other very bizarre costumes.
We think we saw our "haunted couple" with what appeared to be armloads of things.
But "The Lab" had the most wonderful chocolate desserts to die for, a little goes a long way and their table nibbles just enough to kill the hunger although Doyle preferred steak and potatoes, he said to me "Elf Food?" I told him to expand his palate, if he was still hungry when we got home I'd scramble some eggs for him. But he was surprised finding himself filled up and even he went into delights over the chocolate
The entire neighborhood is one of the few locations that survived the 1906 earthquake and fire, many of the buildings went back to the 1880's and on Pacifica street some of these old homes on the back side had views of the wharf and the bay, not a beautiful view but still a view. Doyle said he hated to think of the cost of some of those old houses, and they were not fancy places either, but old 1880 buildings or square type houses for working class families.
Sunday Sis and I managed to do some shopping and then went over to our Brother's house for dinner.
Trisha, Coralline showed me the card and the Irish Blessing you sent, she had it put into a frame where she can see it, she was just so happy to get it and hopes you like the one she sent you.
She selects her cards all by herself, her Mother told me that when Coralline is selecting a card or two, she goes and gets a few things and then comes back to see how Coralline is doing.
Did anyone watch "The Good Wife" last night?? I was so surprised by the plot twist. And if you haven't seen it I'm not going to spoil what it was, but it does mean more growth and development for the show. I'll be interested in seeing how it goes.
Now I must go, Sis will be late getting in and I need to pop the meat loaf (yes how mundane) into the oven.
Later Darklings
It's done, the new computer is installed and up and running, as a matter of fact I'm typing on it right now.
There was a bit of a delay, the extra 4 GB's of RAM that we wanted kept getting mixed up, the factory kept sending the wrong part, but the IT man got it squared away, seems their computer inventory made a mistake by one number.
And OH MY GOODNESS!!! What a difference, an entire new learning curve, I'm afraid to do too much to it, I don't want to mess it up by making the mistake of downloading the wrong thing.
Maybe that's a sign of "old age" the brain can't handle to much input. But the screen is so "huge", I mean it fits my desk and everything but still it's like going from an old portable T.V. to a huge plasma screen.
And some things that were missing have come back.
Because of the delay I haven't been posting, so much has happened but too much to list, except to say that much of the work that needed to be done has been done, neighbor's Oak tree, trimmed and healthy, fence fixed, bushes planted, car tuned, drapes cleaned, new computer, but still have to tweak a couple of things on it, like getting it registered.
Did manage to go to the Vintage Fashion Expo, and I did find some wonderful things, but it was so sad to see it reduced in size, not as many vendors, just a few years ago it took up the entire Expo hall, now just 1/2 of it. I was told many vendors either have gone out of business or are doing it mostly on line and not traveling, the economy has affected many of them.
But we did go and have a late lunch at this place called "The Lab" in the historic Dog Patch area, parking was not easy, the S.F. Opera was also having their fund raising sale, it was unusual to see people dressed out of something out of the various Arabian Knights or Aladdin's Cave and some other very bizarre costumes.
We think we saw our "haunted couple" with what appeared to be armloads of things.
But "The Lab" had the most wonderful chocolate desserts to die for, a little goes a long way and their table nibbles just enough to kill the hunger although Doyle preferred steak and potatoes, he said to me "Elf Food?" I told him to expand his palate, if he was still hungry when we got home I'd scramble some eggs for him. But he was surprised finding himself filled up and even he went into delights over the chocolate
The entire neighborhood is one of the few locations that survived the 1906 earthquake and fire, many of the buildings went back to the 1880's and on Pacifica street some of these old homes on the back side had views of the wharf and the bay, not a beautiful view but still a view. Doyle said he hated to think of the cost of some of those old houses, and they were not fancy places either, but old 1880 buildings or square type houses for working class families.
Sunday Sis and I managed to do some shopping and then went over to our Brother's house for dinner.
Trisha, Coralline showed me the card and the Irish Blessing you sent, she had it put into a frame where she can see it, she was just so happy to get it and hopes you like the one she sent you.
She selects her cards all by herself, her Mother told me that when Coralline is selecting a card or two, she goes and gets a few things and then comes back to see how Coralline is doing.
Did anyone watch "The Good Wife" last night?? I was so surprised by the plot twist. And if you haven't seen it I'm not going to spoil what it was, but it does mean more growth and development for the show. I'll be interested in seeing how it goes.
Now I must go, Sis will be late getting in and I need to pop the meat loaf (yes how mundane) into the oven.
Later Darklings
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