Of house maintenance, T.V. Shows and everything else~~~

Hello My Darklings,

I have been busy, I finally got the repairs and painting done to the house and I’ve commissioned someone to redo the lead work on the stain glass windows.

It was hard getting it done, we’d have dry days and then rain and then dry days and more rain but then we got a good break in the weather and I am so happy,  the windows will take a little longer because I have to put removable clear glass panes on hinges to be able to clean them but it will protect the stain glass from the weather.   And it will be worth it.

And my old job is keeping me busy, one of my former co-workers is out for some time it seems, for very aggressive cancer treatments, so I’ve been contracted to come back to work as a free-lance worker.  But it seems like I never left.

I only went in for a half day today, I said I needed a little time off, and I come home and I’m so tired that I can’t even lift my fingers to type.

However I’ve encountered some interesting young people and well I’d almost have to do an entire post on them,  I had never seen skin so pale on these young ladies that it sort of glows, and it puzzled me.  It’s almost as if they are imitating the looks of the actress on iZombie with ‘sparkling vampires’  we’re going to get together for lunch on Sunday, so it should prove to be interesting.

And speaking of interesting I had a chance to see “Blacklist” last night and it was a very emotionally reveling episode, I kept having the feeling that she was a ghost in a way, especially when she called him by name, and there still was a bit of humor when Reddington came in and showed that he had to ‘kill a kite’ that was threatening to murder them.   It was such a departure from their usual episodes which makes me feel the possibility of a few more unusual ones to sort of break out of the mold for the show.

And don’t get me going about “Lucifer”!!!   I Love the whole premise of this show and the ‘tongue in cheek’ humor with it, the last episode where Lucifer says “What is this about goats!  I don’t even like their cheese!”   And Tom Ellis!  Well I don’t know if he’s everyone’s type but if I was 30 years younger I’d rip off his clothes, throw him on my bed, tie him to my bedposts and have my wicked way with him!!  Heck I’d do it now!

But don’t tell Doyle.

My niece and nephews were happy to have a Spring Break and Easter dinner was a very nice and relaxed affair, but it seems that both Coralline and Christopher are doing extra assignments for their respective classes and the twins have discovered soccer.  And it seems that both my brother and sister in law are a lot happier with it as oppose to (I have to say it) American Football, at least as a semi-contact sport for the twins, in a way I can understand my sister in laws concern especially with head trauma, so hopefully this will work out much better.

And Coralline is concerned she is going to be a freshman in high school next school year, the 9^th grade, she feels she may need to put away childish things and I told her not everything, I feel sorry for her growing up is hard for her, it’s like 3 steps forward and 2 back but she has a few friends and she’s enjoying her ballet exercise classes, already I can see her moving far more gracefully,  I informed her that I’m getting tickets to see the San Francisco’s ballet production of “Onegin” I think I want her to see something besides the “Nutcracker”. 

Am I doing anything new to the garden? Well I’ve been having fun finding very dark plants and blubs with tulips and Irises but the heavy rains did pretty much drown most of the garden, so my gardener has been doing yeoman duty to get it ship shape, but we can’t do much with the plantings close to the house, because of the work being done on the house.   But my gardener suggested that we plant a climbing Jasmine at the back of the garden behind the pet cemetery, and have the scent drift through the yard especially at night.

And we’ve had a sad event happen,  Crazy’s son’s Mother passed away from lymphatic cancer, she was 81, poor thing.  But now Crazy goes to the hospital where she died and goes to the business office claiming that the hospital killed him mother, they put a restraining order on him.  So now he goes to the corner when the “fit” it upon him and yells to everyone to not go to “such and such hospital” because they kill you there,  his family have called the police to have them come and talk to him and then try to get him to take his meds.   I was very sad for the family Crazy’s sister came over to talk to me about what is happening to him, and now we don’t know what he’ll do, I suggested grinding up his medication and putting it into chocolate pudding like those pudding cups she said she’ll try tapioca because of those tapioca beads, easier to disguise I guess.   I hope it works for them.

And I can’t even keep up with all the strangeness that’s been happening here in the Bay Area, it’s been too much 4/20 with pot smoking, Chyna and Prince and Doris Rodgers passing away and now Earth Day.  I’m beginning to wonder what is normal or what passes for normal now a days.

My sister thinks we need a spa weekend, and she’s booking one at the Claremont Resort, yes a bit pricey but we are going to spend 4 days and 3 nights there, and just relax.   And I’m looking forward to it.   I’m hoping that at my old job they will bring in someone else to pick up part of the load, that way I won’t feel so tired.

I and my sister did have fun this last weekend at the Friends of the Library Book Sale, I found a number of music CD’s that I’ve been happy to get, and some really good murder mysteries, and an odd book titled “Spook: Science Tackles the After Life”  by Mary Roach, it’s a perfect companion to “Stiff: the curious life of human cadavers” and in perfect condition too.  Oddly enough over in the Fantasy section was a lot of Vampire Romances,  I picked up a few just to see what they are all about one is titled “Nocturne” and another is about the journals of Minna Harker, telling the Dracula story from her point of view. 

Sis of course found some interesting historical works including a book about Social etiquette circa 1900 which should be interesting for the both of us to read,  Doyle was having fun finding westerns.   Then afterwards we picked up dinner at our favorite Chinese restaurant.  My brother and sister in law were going to take the children on Saturday instead of Preview night avoid the frenzy says my brother, he just doesn’t know the art of the hunt for a good book find. 

And now the timer has gone off on the crock pot, dinner is ready, I just have to cook up the rice,  and we will relax Doyle and I with a bottle of wind called “Poizon”  I’ll let you know what I think of it. 

Later Darklings.  

                                    Oh he looks so Cute!!!    The dog is cute too.

Of the heat wave continuing and Update on the Hearing~~~~~

Hello Darklings,

Well as the wicked witch said in the "Wizard of Oz"  "I'm melting! Melting!!"   right now I consider her a kindred spirit.

It seems that Summer is going to go out with a final blast of Heat, it's up to triple digets in some areas,  our thermometer is saying 91 and I saw on the computer that it's 93 degrees out.   The fans are on, damp towels for the Dynamic Duo, I have the window air conditioner on in the down stairs spare room, and dash into it when its too warm for me or to at least do simple things like folding towels and such.

Doyle and I have been sleeping on the back screened porch at night with a portable T.V. and one of those HD antenna's, amazing what stations one gets.   Of course Doyle has to re-adjust it like the old-fashion rabbit ears, but it's such a time machine we're even getting games shows from the mid-1950's to to late 1970's like Tattle-Tales and To Tell the Truth.

My brother took his family to the historic Ghost Town of Columbia for the Labor Day weekend, it seems that place has a California Admission Day Parade, and does historical re-enactments as well.  From what the children told me it was very exciting and a lot of fun, but also very hot.   But I'm glad they went in their RV and it has air conditioning as well.  Both Coraline and Chris really like, well more excited about  the historical aspects of this latest trip. And their parents were willing to buy books about the area for their personal Library.   I'm glad.

Once this heat wave is over I think I'll be able to think more clearly about some articles I've come across that I think you Darklings will enjoy.

But now an update on the Court Hearing

I’m afraid I cannot wax in rhapsody  about the event as we got up at “Oh Lord” it’s “f’ing” early, but up we got, showered we got, dressed we got, the Dynamic Duo had a chance to go potty, Brian watched them and off we went.

 

I think because it’s a holiday weekend traffic was light, we got to the AlCo Parking lot just as it opened, found  parking, so we waited for 45 minutes in the Parking Lot, before we went to the Court House, passed through Security, got a cup of coffee, up to the third floor and waited. 

 

We were joined by other people who also had harassment court cases, a total of 52 cases and we were number 51 on the docket.  As it began to get crowded, Crazy  exited the Elevator and was shocked to see us, I looked straight at him with what I hoped was laser vision and he ducked his head down and tried to find a place to hide, going clear across the lobby and ducking behind a door.

 

So we finally got into the court room,  we sat close to the front while Crazy was in the back and watched and waited, and watched and waited and watched and waited, but during all that watching and waiting I was getting an idea of how this Judge works, he went through the list, found some of them paired, asked if there were any attorneys, I became concerned and got the Bailiffs attention and asked since I didn’t have an attorney to represent me did I have to go to the clerk and he said no just wait until called.

 

O.K. thought I, several cases were dismissed because neither parties showed, some he passed on to go back to later, some he granted a 3 year Restraining order (RO), some he couldn’t and explained why, He granted RO’s to those people who showed up but the opposing party didn’t show up.  But I noticed that a number of them went to see if they could be mediated, most did come to an agreement except two, and I noticed that even though the defendants complained about the TRO’s they wanted it dismissed because they claimed that THEY were the victims, when the plaintiff had a preponderance of evidence.   So the Judge would grant the RO’s to the plaintiff's leaving the defendants royally ticked off.

 

It was nearly 11 a.m. by the time the Judge got to us and he ordered that we talk to his legal team to discuss mediation.   I was not thrilled about that, not at all, I wanted it over and done with NOW!   

 

But as I listened and talk to the legal team I sensed there was a pattern to what the Judge was doing.    

Crazy was saying he had evidence that I was not the legal owner of the house, claiming to have paper work and he wanted to present it now, he was told that would have to wait, so he said he wanted to get evidence that we were calling him on his phone and harassing him and when could he present his evidence and get papers from ATT to show that we were harassing him, claiming that he's a victim.  I realized he was emulating the two previous cases, I guess hoping to have things turn out differently for him and then  he said to the other lawyer “I’m semi-literate, I don’t understand this.” 

 

The mediator was telling us how and what is done in mediation and I said “How can one mediate with a person who makes threats, attempts to assault us, vandalize and trespass on our property, makes false allegations,  calls us foul names (and I gave her examples) threatens to rape me, poison our dogs, and kill my Doyle?   Can you explain that?”  and Doyle said “How can you mediate with someone who is ‘bat-shit crazy’?”    

 

 And she (the mediator) said “Well sometimes we can make sense of why someone is bat-shit crazy.”  (I mentally rolled my eyes).

 

Then I began to see the pattern, when she was distracted by a question by one of the lawyers, I turned to Doyle and said “Let’s mediate, we show we are doing it in good faith, and Crazy shows he’s nuts, which he will,  it will look good with the Judge, because the lawyer said we can have the hearing if the mediation doesn’t work.  We can refute each of Crazy’s claims and he really doesn’t have proof.”   Doyle went along.

 

So when the lawyer turned to us I said immediately “O.K. we’ll go to mediation!”   This threw Crazy off balanced, I sensed that he realized in some deep recesses of his mind, I had suddenly taken charge and was calling the shots---so to speak---I knew we were being guided by the Judges Legal team, but I was the one making the decisions, and Crazy had no say in the matter which made him mad as hell and I didn't care!

Whatever Crazy had in his mind was not going to happen his way, I in essence had foiled him.

 

 So the first really free date is November 6 a Friday, but we were promised that the TRO will stay in place and will be extended to Nov. 6, I felt it was a win for us.  Even though it’s a delay it’s still a win, on certain levels.   I’ll get  my pictures that are now being developed to show clearly what we had to do to add to my evidence and it presents a positive image to the Judge.

 

We were told where to meet for mediation, and we would be the first on the docket.  So we went back to the court room, the Judge when he got through with another case, asked and the lawyer said we are going into mediation, the Judge was happy about that and said he would  have the clerk draw up the orders and I asked “We stay here to receive the paperwork from the Clerk?” and he said yes, but Crazy left immediately with a sort of growl in his throat that made the Bailiff take notice to be prepared.

 

We stayed, and stayed and stayed, finally the Judge ordered a 10 minute break, Doyle stood up and stretched his legs when he did that the Deputy Sheriff who is the Bailiff said to him “Are we having fun yet!” Doyle said to him “I was going to say that to you, I guess you’re a mind reader.”   So I left the two of them alone while I went to the bathroom, there was no sign of Crazy.   When I came back the Deputy aka Bailiff was heading to the main Lobby I said to him “Has my boyfriend been teasing you?”  He smiled and said “Nah!”

 

I was surprised that the Bailiff talked more casually with Doyle,  with everyone else it was more businesslike, I asked Doyle and he said he didn’t know why, but I suspected because Doyle still carries himself as if he were still a police officer because the Bailiff did ask him and Doyle did tell him.

 

So after the break, we waited and waited and waited for the clerk to bring our paperwork but she couldn’t find us on the docket list,  so she came to me and asked which case were we, I gave her the name and she looked and looked but couldn’t find us, so she asked me to look through the list, I scanned the list and found my name and pointed it out to her, she was happy and thanked me and went back to prepare the orders.

 

So we waited a little longer, then finally the assistant clerk came to us and we had to go into the foyer, she asked for Crazy and I said he left  an hour ago, is his paperwork to be mailed to him?  And she said no, if you leave the follow up paperwork is never mailed, if he was here he knows the date, but the way she said it, it seemed to imply that it was not be good for him to have left.   So she explained to me what the paperwork was about.  I asked if I could also bring more evidence and she said yes.  So I thanked her and Doyle and I left.   We had finished by 12:15 p.m. and I was developing a head-ache, Doyle was hungry and we were worried about the Dogs even though I know Brian would take good care of them.

 

The dogs were happy to see us  so we let them out as just as I was opening the back door I saw a squirrel bandito on the ground eating a walnut, the dogs both  went into full stalk mode, head down, body lowered, slowly moving down the steps, eyes intent, it was such a joy to see them in that mode, then the squirrel realized something was up and made a move but the dogs were pretty smart instead of chasing the squirrel they cut to the right to cut off the squirrels escape, a good move but not quite fast enough, the squirrel escaped within a hair’s whiskers.   Doyle and I praised them and were entranced by their hunting methods.

 

We had lunch and talked as we ate about what had happened,  I explained in more detail to Doyle why it was better to delay and go for mediation and reminded  him about the two cases earlier that had mediated but failed and the Judge granted the plaintiffs motion for an RO.   I said “That’s how the Judge plays, and I think that is how it will play with us. 

 

We still have the TRO and still have the upper hand”   Doyle agreed although he would have preferred that it be ended now, but I said “I think this Judge believes in giving things a chance, but he’s the same one who granted everything I asked for the TRO so I think we’re good.”  

 

Also I told him, if we had instead gone ahead, we would have been feeling not well because it would be past the lunch hour, and everyone would be tired, and it's the holiday weekend, this way we gain on several levels, we start fresh, the Judge is happy we'll try mediation, a lot can happen between now and November 6, Crazy could now get arrested if he violates the TRO.  So in the long run it's a win-win. 

 

 I told Doyle further “Crazy did not get the follow up paperwork, he was told the date, but he has no paperwork and they are not going to mail it to him to remind him”   Doyle looked at me and said “He may forget.”  “Maybe”  I said “but if he does show up we can refute any and all his allegations, we’re still ahead and if he refuses to any agreements, or still wants us out, that’s it, he’s done.”  

 

And since the  court date Crazy has been behaving himself, but we both know that may not last long, the voices in his head will start to whisper to him.  Unless he really does start taking his medication, which would be a blessing for his elderly parents.  

 

So now we look forward to Halloween and all the attending Joy around it.   We had gone to Home Depot to get a few things to do a few quick repairs and already there was Halloween things,  I became so excited seeing it.  But Doyle reminded me that we have a lot of things already so we do need to plan how we're going to display things outside and inside.  

 

Yes, I have to start planning now since Halloween is on a SATURDAY!!!   Oh My, I think I'll have to have some things catered, I'll talk to Sis about it tomorrow, in the air conditioned room.  

And now Doyle has returned with our favorite stand by dinner    CHINESE!!!

Later Darklings

 

Of a "TRO" the only way to "hog tie" a nut job~~~

Well Darklings,

Things are moving forward in dealing with "Crazy" across the street, I had informed his parents that he would be served with papers and a temporary restraining order, they said that was fine, they were afraid that they were losing control over him, so anything legal to keep him under control.

It  happened yesterday morning,  just as Doyle was coming back from his walk with the Dogs before going to his office,  Crazy Son was served at about 10:30 by a Sheriff’s Deputy who arrived in an unmarked car but with government plates,  he came out and was served just as Doyle came down our block with Belladonna and Wiener Dog.

I had heard a yell and being worried for Doyle I went to the front parlor window, and carefully looking out I saw Crazy being furious and I could hear him telling the deputy that we didn’t have the right to have papers served on him since he’d been living on the block for years, and we were only renters and other “lies”.   The deputy being very emphatic, pointing at our house and telling Crazy we had the right to call the police if Crazy did anything.  And just then I spotted Doyle walking down the block with the dogs and I thought “Oh Lord, thank goodness the deputy is there!”

The minute Crazy saw Doyle he pointed at Doyle and yelled out “There’s that Punk Now!”   The deputy tried to quiet Crazy down but Crazy yelled out “See Ya in Court, Punk!”   Doyle did not respond to him and knows we have the upper hand now. 

But the deputy had to work very hard to verbally restrain Crazy while Doyle came into the house with dogs in tow, then came  and asked what I saw and heard,  I asked him to hold off for a bit so I could carefully watch and listen to what was happening.  The Deputy was working very hard with Crazy really being emphatic with him, warning him, as the Serving Deputy is required to do, that should Crazy violate the Temporary Restraining Order he would be arrested.

Crazy was not happy and rolled the papers in his hand up, and then finally appeared to accept what the Deputy was saying,   turned and went into the side yard, just as the deputy turned away was when Crazy slammed the gate hard closed, even I heard it, the deputy quickly turned back to the gate to check things, but saw it was closed and then walked to his car.    So now we go about our business, he’s been served and warned.   So the next thing will be the Hearing, and we’ll see how that will go.  

But I am glad that this phase of it is over and done, it’s another step closer to having this situation in the process of being stabilized.   So Doyle and I prepared to go and do a few errands, I wanted to get some more postal boxes and go to the bank.

But before Doyle and I left to go to the bank, we saw a skanky buddy of  Crazy's ride up on his bike, the guy was tall and very lean, wearing a khaki ball cap, red long sleeve type of heavy t-shirt, and long khaki pants, he tried the gate but it was locked and then he got out a key, reached over the gate top to get to the padlock and unlocked the gate and let himself in.   That surprised us, so now does some of  Crazy’s “friends” have keys to that lock?  Because it was not a relative, of that we’re sure and we wondered if Crazy's parents knew that other people besides family had access to their property.   We didn’t know when the friend left, but the gate had been left ajar for most of the day.

That evening Doyle called Crazy's parents and told them what we had seen, no they were not aware that other people not family had duplicates to the lock on the gate, and they were going to take care of it, immediately.

This morning we heard a howl come from across the street, the father had bought a new lock the kind in which the label on the keys say "do not duplicate",  so the parents have a key, Crazy has a key (unfortunately), and two family members have keys and that is it!   Crazy's father called us to thank us for letting him know because some garden tools had gone missing and now they knew how and why and were putting a new padlock on the tool shed and keeping the only key and changing the locks on the doors to the house, so Crazy would have to knock on the doors to get the parents attention, no keys to Crazy for the house.  

So now we wait to go to the hearing in two weeks.   And I feel that things are beginning to come under control again.    For which I'm grateful.

And now to see when the Halloween decorations are coming out, Spirit has sent me new e-mail and I saw something so fabulous I have to get it, a 3 headed Cerberus that shoots out fog from their mouths,  I LOVE IT!!   MUST HAVE IT!!!

Later Darklings