Of Heat waves and updates and insanity~~~~

Hello Darklings,

We have been having another bad heat wave, it has been up in the triple digits inland, like 109 in Redding and 105 in Concord.   I have been using the drip system on what plants I have, but only in the evening and at night.

I've even put up bird baths of water in the shady areas of the garden and even for humming birds,  I have this wonder sage bush called Autumn Sage and the hummingbirds love it,   exotic plants I have none, the heat would kill them.    So I switched to lavender, and other plants that can tolerate this heat, my roses are surviving, they've been getting grey water, as well as the Bay tree and the fruit trees, my water cisterns are dry, so I'm having a specialist check them out for cracks and such.

The heat was so bad that we slept outside on the screened in back porch, my brother has a similar porch on his house and has done the same thing, but he's not home enough for the children to camp out in it as they have been traveling hither and yon, to various historic spots in their RV, but mostly on the coast because of the heat,  both he and my sister in law took 6 weeks off for vacation for the children to enjoy.  And with Wi Fi at a number of the camp grounds they can stay in touch with their respective offices for just in case.

They will be back next week (I think) and in time to get the children ready for school, the twins don't want to think about it, Coraline and Christopher are sort of concerned and excited about it. The parents?  Well what do you think parents would do when school is back in session?   

The wild fires around the state is worrisome, especially when they are close to those historic towns in the Gold Country area.   It doesn't take much for something to happen, perhaps the coolest areas is Daley City and San Francisco, thank goodness the marine layer has come back in.   But for how long I'm not sure.

Poor Belladonna and Weinerdog,  it's so hot that we have to leave them either at a doggie day care or with my elderly neighbor if we have to go somewhere and can't take them.   What surprised me at my elderly neighbors house is she got a plastic pool that kiddies use and put water in it and has it in the shade and both dogs took to it to play in with their smaller tennis balls and chew toys (not cloth)  She told me that it was like watching children play.   Then in the evening when they've been picked up she uses the water to irrigate her herb garden.   That's how I got my Autumn Sage.

Of course the heat has made for insanity as well, our neighbors crazy son whom we call "Crazy" went off the rails again,  calling the police 3 times in 7 days is too much, but I thought we could not do a restraining order----BUT----if some of you remember when I talked about "Officer Cutie" (he's married folks ---darn!)  well he came out on the last call and said that there is such a thing called a "No Harassment" or "No Contact" order, this is used on stalkers and other non-close to family situations  I think some places call it a "Stay-Away" order,  and we do qualify to submit that,  whether it will be granted it up to the Judge, so we're going to get the paperwork and I need to get some of the copies of the Incident Reports put together, now it will depend upon if I want to do it myself or have my lawyer do it, but from what I've seen it's almost "do it yourself".   But at least now I have a "tool" that if granted, I can use. 

And if "Crazy" violates it, he will be arrested and I hope get put in a place where he'll get the help he needs.

Since the last incident things have been quiet, I hope it does, it almost seems to come in waves really, 6 to 8 weeks of quiet then 7 to 10 days of insanity.  I guess it takes that long for the "voices in his head" to get really loud.

And we are going to have a Blue Moon tomorrow night----my Grandmother use to call it a wishing moon, make a wish to banish a problem she'd say.    I think I'm going to do that.

Oh and Halloween is just 90 days away----Oh HAPPY, HAPPY, JOY, JOY!!!!

Unless we get a very serious El Nino---although that would put a kibosh on Halloween---again happy happy joy joy---we need WATER!!!

A friend of mine sent me this funny thing about if all 50 states were people in a bar what would they be like and what would they drink----I found it very funny,  I'll post it in my next post.

Oh and I KNOW what I want for Christmas----Dita Von Teese's latest book "You Beauty Mark"  it's coming out in December,  and I WANT a copy!!  Hint, Hint to Doyle (eye-wink)  Yes my Darklings, Dita is coming out with her own beauty book, if nothing else I want it for human interest factor to see what she says about things.   Of course we all have our own ways of maintaining our looks, for me it's to avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and use Neutragena Sun Block at SPF Factor 100, yes they do make it. And there are other things as well. 

But one factor is one's own DNA you cannot fight that, but you can try.

Who knows Darklings, even for the Glamour Goth you can always study the tips from the pro's.

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

Of King Fire Update, Al and the Dogs~~~

Good Morning Darklings,

Well there is the beginning of good news on the King Fire in the El dorado National Forest near Pollock Pines.

It is now 74% contained, the rain and very cool weather gave the fire fighters a good fighting chance,  Al and Doyle went back today to get a proper survey of his property damage and to make sure no one looted anything.  Duke and Gabby went with them, they simply refuse to let Al out of their sight.

And Al decided he will keep the dogs, He said to me this morning "Those guys are up there in years, it's hard for an older dog to get adopted, I owe them a stable home or to at least be with me"  and he sheepishly admitted that they slept with him on the bed last night, I said not to worry, sheets and bedspreads are always washable.

So he told me that he has to plan on what it will take to get his home fixed up again, and to see about planting grasses  in the area to prevent mud slides, he said he can't live in the house yet, but is thinking of moving one of his more restored trailers there and attach the water and sewer line to it and use small propane tanks for cooking and heating. 

I said take your time, you are no intrusion and it would be good for Doyle to not feel outnumbered by the women folk, as I called it.

And speaking of women folk, my niece and sister in law will be here any minute and then we are going along with my sister to the Spirit Store, to ogle the new Halloween goodies.  And grab a bite to eat. 

Coralline told me she is excited about it.  Well even as a grown up so am I.

Later Darklings

Of "I'm Back--- Did You Miss Me?"~~~~~

Hello Darklings,

Well I know it has been a while since I last posted, but I have to confess, work has been horrendous,  staff members coming down sick, not with the flu but with colds of all things, 3 days feeling yucky, sore throats, runny noses,  the good thing is everyone got their flu shots.  Which is a good thing, it is frightening to hear that just in the Bay Area alone 35 deaths were flu related and any age too.

Well I've been saving things and my thoughts to flash drive to post later and its a good thing, sort of like a diary and just saving it all up to post now.

We finally have rain coming in!!!  The cisterns and the well that I have to water the garden is filling up just nicely, for a while there I had to use the drip irrigation to connect to the city water system to water the garden and greenhouse, but with the rains I turned it off for now  and if the rains keep doing what they're doing for the remaining part of winter and through Spring we should be in decent shape, not great shape but decent shape.  We've had several mild storms with some good soakers up north which is good and heading towards the Sierra's to build up the snow pack.

I was so worried about the hills, tinder dry just waiting to burn, but now if all goes well that will be pushed back to October.   There is several more storms going to rolling in every few days which will give us and the ground a bit of a breather to soak up the water.

Well The Bronco's lost the Superbowl, there were howls of disappointment up and down the neighborhood, but I didn't hear it I and Sis were at the Film Noir Festival taking in the last series of films.  And I was concerned about Coralline she does not like sports so I made arrangements for her to spend the day with her friend Marissa at house, her parents were happy about that, Marissa is not into sports either, but her brother and Dad were going to an Uncle's house for the game, so Marissa, her Mom and Coralline had fun spending the day together going to Niles and checking out the antique shops, and having pizza at Bronco Billy's which had the t.v. set set to the game but that was fine they were in for the pizza.

Coralline told me all about it over the phone Monday early evening and I told her about the movies.  She had a wonderful day looking at all the vintage things, and even asked me about some of the things, I teased her and asked "Do you think I'm old?"  and she replied "No, you're a collectible a really neat keeper!"  She laughed and said that because of my expertise espeically with vintage things she just wants to know more and she said she'd love to go to the Film Noir Festival next year, I said I'd have to see next year what they are going to offer, I didn't want her to see anything that her Mother might object to, but with the confidence of youth she said she was pretty sure her Mom wouldn't mind  "Mom says you're pretty good at corrupting young minds" and I said I hoped he was rolling her eyes because mine were.  But we left that subject on a "we'll see" note.

Doyle is complaining, T.V. he says, is going to be boring all re-runs on account of the Olympics, I have to be honest Darklings, the last time I watched the Olympics was in 1984 the Summer Olympics, after that I said to myself that it was fine for them to compete, and there is a certain national feeling but I just could not get into it.  And that was that.  So I told Doyle to get out his James Bond DVD's and watch that.

The news has been mostly about the drought here in California now its about the rain and snow, then about the Olympics and any controversy surrounding it, and who won gold medals.  Oh what I wouldn't give for a good murder mystery.   The other thing is about Turkey restricting to the people internet access, hmmm that seems to explain why, when I look at my stats I was getting a lot of viewers from Turkey----What!!  Turkey wants to restrict viewers from reading my blog about silly, strange and mundane things??? How obsured!

It's not like I'm going to convert people, what could I convert them about?  I'm just an 'old woman' with a different lifestyle and family life---it's like a soap opera at times, with different characters and strange people and mundane people and events both plain and strange.  With situations developing, resolving and sometimes just left hanging because it is impossible to resolve.  I shop, I work, I read, and eat, I enjoy wine, and doing fun things.  I have good happen, and I have bad happen.  It's my life as boring or as interesting as people may feel it to be. 

Like yesterday, it was raining, love the rain, wet a little chilly but its here Thank Goodness, however out into the cold and wet we went, Sis, myself, Belladonna and Wiener Dog,  it was time for the Dogs' check up,  "oh no mummies, we's don' wan to go dey dos strange ting's like someting ups ma butts"  Yes my little doggie darlings they are checking your tempeture which was fine, teeth fine, weight fine, shots up to date, weight opps Belladonna is getting a little pudgy, she's been stealing Wiener's food, we'll have to watch that, and nails are now trimmed.    The doggie babies get some treats for being good, and a visit to the doggie store for food and necessities,  Wiener chewed his sleeping bed we found stuffing all over the place and Wiener was the one who did the "shame face"  Belladonna was just fine "Who me?"  she looks "Nope not me, I'se fine".

And we needed to take care of some shopping as usual, the dogs were fine in the car, but Sis and I had to take a walk around T.J. Max and see what they had,  well I could not resist a pair of Bandolino heel's tan with black patent leather toes and heels,  and they has Elizabeth Taylor's perfume "Passion" had to have that I ran out, and Sis found her favorite Coach Bag,  she was just stunned to find it, and I know her, she wears her purses out to almost nothing. Except the Coach all leather bag last almost forever,  I have a deep dark green one that is a classic and it still looks new. 

The clothing was pretty much mundane, but there were some cute coffee mugs that we bought, we seem to go through mugs, the fine china cups are just fine we never break those, but the everyday coffee mugs seem to get a beating,  Doyle is espeically clumsey in the morning, if we go two weeks without him accidently knocking over his mug and breaking it, its a miracle.   Most of the time I buy the cheap ones at Safeway in their housewares dept. and he knows they're for him.

And then the grocery shopping.  Friday night Sis, and I, while we were doing laundry, went over the pantry, freezer and refrigerator to see what needed to be purchased,  on large dry goods like toliet paper and paper towels we go to Cost Co, with 3 sometimes 4 or 5 people in the house we tend to go through that very quickly,  Sis has a Cost Co business membership so she buys on her account and I re-imburse her, oh but it can be dangerous shopping at Cost Co, all the sample bars, but its a good thing I have a large freezer, except for small things that are quickly perishable like bread, we stock up pretty well.  And for parties, well that is my go-to store. 

And my goodness, this last time all those wines they were offering, good thing we got there early, and each of us had a basket, not that there were many interesting offerings, but I did spot a few that I remembered from my Wine trip a few years ago and picked up a few bottles.

I know Darklings, an elder Goth going to a Cost Co store?  It really doesn't fit, but when one lives an interesting life one has to stock up so one does not have to spend much time doing mundane things, and on heavy shopping days like that well its either a slow cooker dinner or ordering Chinese and having it delivered.  

I am so glad for flash drives I can save my thoughts and add things later with just only a littile effort, so for our final event.

I know for many what we've and I have done does not appear to be interesting---well today it was for a little while,  Sis and I went to the Art Deco Annual Membership party, it's free to members, non members pay $15, no-host bar and nibbles and entertainment, vintage attire admired but not necessary, well Sis and I did go dressed vintage and for the few hours we were there enjoying the period music and talking to people we were having a lovely time,  Doyle has been busy with his work and had to pass on it, and it was good, at the lovely old Elk's Building in San Francisco right near Union Square, we got there early to take the tour and they had done some important renovations the building just looks beautiful, I'm so glad we went.

It's like making sure to set aside time to see classic movies at the Paramount theater, if one wants to live a Vintage and Gothic life, one has to make time for it and I'm glad we did, but sometimes things force us to slow down.

After being there a few hours Sis looked very peaked, I asked her if anything is wrong and she said she didn't feel well, she did look a bit feverish and not wanting to take a chance we just came home, and it was a good thing as she appears to have a cold.   So I'm going to order a couple of orders of Won Ton Soup mostly for her, and we'll go from there, I told her to not worry about her vintage clothing I'd take care of it  and I'd call her clients and see about rescheduling for her, at least for the whole week, I've taken a look at her book and she does have openings so we'll see who I can fit in for her. 

At least I have tomorrow off so I can do more catch up for her appointments, but I'll have to at least take care of two days worth tonight.  And Doyle has just come home, he picked up the dogs at our sitters for me, and is again complaining about the television doldrums,  Oh wait a minute!!  He is now waving in front of my nose several DVD's that we had purchased but never got a chance to see, Steve Martin in "Dead Men don't wear Plaid",  "Northside 777", and several others, I told him to dig through the Library of our DVD's and see what others we have.

And now I'm going to check on Sis and start the phone calling,  Chinese Resteraunt first. 

Later Darklings

Of the President's Speech and Belladonna got sick~~~

Hello My Darklings,

First I want to reasure you all that Belladonna is now doing just fine, a little tummy upset, but Doyle was worried.  Truthfully he was freaking out as the youngsters would say.

Last night Sis and I were at the Film Noir Festival, and they were showing the films from Germany, I'm almost overdosing on all of this, but we were having such fun meeting wonderful people, and the films are marvelous.  So many people wearing vintage style, but what both Sis and I noticed is that the ladies really do not know that you are suppose to wear a proper foundation garment to help make your clothing fit properly, and the hair,  none of the ladies understand that to help make the hair do what you want it to do, a proper cut and a good perm is essential. 

With my back I need to wear a long line bra that not only does what its suppose to do in the front **wink, wink** but also give a light support to my spine so I won't re-injure it.  It saves a lot of pain.  Sis thinks I should be a vintage Fashion Divanesta...I'm beginning to think so.

Although I am looking forward to the Vintage Fashion Expo in March, a sensory overload, that I will enjoy.

We left Doyle alone at home, he had to work late for the last few days so he's been baby sitting the "doggie gang of two" and being a bachelor for a few hours.

But last night when we got home, no Doyle, no dogs, just a note that Weiner Dog was with Brian and Doyle had taken Belladonna to the emergency Vet.  Called him on his cell and he told us that Belladonna is going to be fine, just indigestion and he'd be home with the little darling soon.

So Sis picked up Weiner Dog from Brian, who said he did enjoy the doggie company, and admitted that he had never seen such a little dog be so down cast without his doggie friend, then when Doyle came home with Belladonna he filled us in.

Doyle came home turned on the T.V. to catch the news,  only to discover that the President was on, he was on every important station, saying (according to Doyle) the usual Blah, Blah, Blah, so Doyle decided to make his own dinner, eggs scrambled with hot links sauseges, I won't touch it, not that I don't like it but its too peppery for me, and he added some cheese slices to it---calling it scrambled mess---Well it's his choice of foods, how he doesn't have high chloresterol and high blood pressure I'll never know, but he doesn't.

Well as he was scooping it out of the pan some of it landed on the floor and as you know Dogs consider anything on the floor theirs---Belladonna got the bulk of it, with Weiner Dog only getting a little egg.  Doyle cleaned up the floor and then proceeded to enjoy his dinner.  He was thinking of popping in a DVD while the President was flapping his gums (Doyle's words), when he realized that the dogs needed to be let out.

After washing dishes and cleaning up he went to chose a DVD when Belladonna started heaving, and everything came up including some strange things that didn't look like what Doyle cooked, Doyle became concerned that the dog might have eaten something poisonous out back, there had been a strange person hanging around the neighborhood lately and Doyle got very worried.

He took Weiner over to Brians, wrote a hasty note, collected what Belladonna threw up, bundled the dog and the "stuff" into his car and dashed to the emergency Vet, with Belladonna vomiting on his car rug and seat.

End result was that Belladonna's stomach cannot handle hot links and cheese, as a matter of fact, cheese, like chocolate and alcohol is not good for dogs, and the strange stuff was grasses that Belladonna ate to vomit.

The Vet gave the little thing a mild sedative to prevent more heaving, and to make sure she had plenty of water.   She had not been poisoned.  A costly bill for Doyle but he said it was worth it, and went outside to clean his car rug and seat, while Sis and I crooned over the little sick darling and Weiner Dog licked her ear in joy.  Brain saying that since he was up went out to help Doyle.

We were too wound up to go to bed and asked the men what they thought of what the President had to say.
Brian said that at least he talked about improving wages but was concerned that by increasing the minimum wage it may prompt businesses to let people go because business is really not all that great, what with cheap products coming from over seas.  Doyle said that is fine to increase the minimum wage but should also increase the jobs as well and not have large companies farm out jobs overseas, bring manufacturing and jobs in general back here.  He said he is sick and tired of having to call someone find out that they are overseas and their English is not all that good, he's had that happen too often.  Some of what he's said is true, we should be an exporter of goods not an importer, if we cannot make our own goods then we are in trouble.

Is there an answer?  I do not know, but I feel that when a person has to work two jobs just to make ends meet, something is wrong.  When there are 100 people vieing for the same job, something is wrong.  I feel that the answer is a combination of things, create more jobs here, stop farming them out, and yes increase the minimum wage, and look at what big corporations are harming, we have sustainable products and devices but they are not being put to use.  Why use corn to make an additive to oil, when other products work just as well---that is one example, we need to adapt.  Yes there is Climate change but it is largely cyclic although the human interference is not helping and only increases pollution, we need to adapt to these changes, like in 700 AD wheat grew in Greenland because the land was warmer than it is now, that is a cyclic change---but I know most people won't believe me.  They'll belive Al Gore the alleged father of the internet (as I snort in derision).

I'll leave that subject, and instead nag my Congress person.

I still have to laugh at Doyle's reaction that the president was on every station of importance.  Sis remarked to me "Remember when we were young and how upset we'd get that we couldn't watch our programs because the president was making a boring old speech?"   I think Jeff Foxworthy said it best----"The President's on!!!   He's on EVERY Station!!!!   We're Gonna miss FLIPPER!!!!"   (Flipper was a t.v. show about a smart Dolphin that did rescues like the Dog Lassie)

Oh I laugh at that thought, and then I reminded her the time she was staying with me in between one of her trips and we sat down to watch "Diagnosis Murder" with Dick Van Dyke, it was about a magician and murder and right in the middle of it the news cut to the slow speed chase by the police of O.J. Simpson in the white bronco, and he was threatening to shoot himself,  I said to her and asked her "And what did you say when that happened!!"   She at least had the courtesy to blush and admit that she yelled at the T.V. set saying  "So PULL the (G.D.) Trigger and get back to Diagnosis Murder!!"

She never lived that down....We are a sick minded group (not really)  

Brian looked at her and said "I never knew you could be so blood thirsty!"  Well both she and I we were trying to have a relaxing evening and just did not need to deal with that, it was in the police's hands as far as we were concern.   But we admitted that the News is like the Gladiator Games, lots of times it really isn't about reporting the news but having us watch a "train wreck" while its happening.  Although in that instance NOTHING happened.

And then Belladonna looked at us and gave a big yawn and sigh and settled into my arms to sleep.  For us it was a signal ---time for us to go to bed.

Tonight we'll be going to another viewing of Film Noir, now I just have to select which "Deadly Dame" outfit to wear tonight.

Later Darklings

Of dogs, gardens, unions and moving~~~~~

Good Morning Darklings,

A chilly nippy morning it is, even though the sun has come out to dry off the very wet dew.  Both Wiener Dog and Belladonna are wearing sweaters,  yes Sis has bought for Wiener a complement of sweaters, coats, rain coats and a t-shirt for the little guy.  No one has claimed him or asked for him, we've checked back with the Cemetery office, various shelters, the Vet and nothing. 

Sis took Wiener in for anothe check up and he's fit as a fiddle and he's about 6 months old, no microchip either, so Sis went the whole route, microchipping, other shots, nails trimmed, bought the right stuff for flea treatment, but he's fine right now, more food, and his own toys but he seems to like his blue wiener dog toy, he even takes it away from Belladonna if she should get too close,  I've seen them sleep together under the throw blanket.

With two dogs in the house we've had to purchase throws for the chairs and couches, then they can be whisked off for guests and parties.  But it will help preserve the fabric,  I was concerned about Wiener's chewing habits but he seems to be very good about that,  and with Belladonna's encouragment, he understands the signals to go out and do his duty.

My Gardener has finished re-enforceing the fence and it would be very hard for him to dig out and it prevents any run off of soil.  My contractor has put in the cement paths where the garden gates would be but has suggested that since my garden is so deep and the dogs are so small to install fencing with gates to separate the garden into sections, this way I can keep the dogs in my sight and prevent them from getting into an area where I can't see them.  His suggestion makes sense, currently Doyle has set up moveable metal fencing around the area that I refer to as a patio and it's very easy for anyone to clean up, so I think I'll select some period looking fencing with a gate and I think an archway to separate it from the rest of the garden.  I could even plant a climbing rose bush like "Cicel Brunner" to cover it.

And it's strange the other night when I mentioned it to Sis she became excited and showed me a photograph taken many years ago of the back of the house and it shows a wooden fence and a wooden covered gateway between the main garden and the patio area  from the 1920's, some how over the years it must have deteriorated and was removed, but this time it will be metal.  I showed this to Doyle and he said that we should check out Urban Ore and Omega Salvage, we could find what we're looking for there. 

More planning, more design.

Last night on the news we heard that the BART Strike problem is not over, although the BART trains are running, it seems that there is a problem in one of the area's of negotiations and management may want to go back to the bargaining table, the union has said if they do, they will strike.   Oh Wonderful!!!  Right at the beginning of the holiday shopping season! 

I've come to the conclusion that I really do hope that a law passes where transit unions cannot strike, because this is stupid, and economically harmful.  The Union will lose if this goes to the state capital.

At one time Unions were good in protecting workers rights, but now they've become greedy, one Union forced a situation where a large baking corperation had to close down and sell off its assests because the Union would not be reasonable, this put 2 thousand people out of work, Hostess cup cakes and Twinkies disappeared, as well as Home Pride Bread.  Well another company bought the cup cake and twinkie francise, and another is making Home Pride but that new bread does not taste the same, and even Twinkies (which I really can't stand) is not around like it use to be.

It appears this is what Unions are doing, taking everything to the brink to see if the owners or managers will blink, but what happens, the owners close up shop, sell everything and everyone is out of work.  Everyone loses,  if my Father was alive and he was a Union man, he would have been horrified at what the Unions are doing now, and they are NOT for the workers.

Well I'm done with that rant,  Louise is ready and we're going back to her new place to see how things are going, her friend says its ready to be moved in and will give Louise two weeks free rent, and start it on Dec. 1st for her, because she knows she'll be a good tennant.   So to read and sign the contract, take a measurement of the floor spaces and then to go and buy some things, first thing is a bed and matteress, I'll be loaning her a card table and chairs so she'll have a place to sit and eat,  I'm using Doyles van, he's using my car so that way we'll have plenty of space to carry things.  And we'll go to the storage unit that has the funrniture that neither I nor Sis want to see if there is anything Louise can use.  So much to do, so little Daylight to do it in and we still need to get some serious coffee in us.

Later Darklings



As I said, we do take our coffee SERIOUSLY.



Of Nostalgic thoughts and memories~~~~

THE DISTANCE THAT THE DEAD HAVE GONE,

DOES NOT AT FIRST APPEAR.

THEIR COMING BACK SEEMS POSSIBLE

FOR MANY AN ARDENT YEAR.

---Emily Dickinson 1830-1886

I know Darklings, what a strange sentiment to start a post, but it is true, at least for myself and my sister.

Over these last few weeks, my sister and I have been involved in remembering the dead, our parents, grandparents, and our oldest brother.

We’ve been reading letters and looking at photos. The letters from our Dad to Mom during World War II have this immediacy, not that it happened 60-70 years ago, instead they leap over time and boundaries and death.

To the point where we can almost sense that they just might walk through the door, Dad yelling “I’m home, does anybody care?!!” and us children running to him and hugging him, of course we care, home would not be home without his presence or Mom’s.

Sometimes he’d surprise us with a bag of candy purchased at the candy counter at Woolworth’s, and we had to share and if there was an odd number left over, well that went to Mom and Dad with Dad giving the greater number to Mom.

Sometimes comic books, one for each of us, and we’d rotate them, I still have all the “Classic’s Illustrated” issues, it was how I was introduced to the classic novels, until I could read them properly.

The modern graphic novels don’t have that style, and do not address the proper novel form.

Sis came across the old slide pictures, but we’re not sure where the projector is, and if the lamp in it works, but once it’s found we’ll test it out.

Yes Darklings, we saved everything from our parents and grandparent’s houses, the houses had to be sold to settle the estates, and we were pretty much scattered because of our jobs. But we put everything into storage, bit by bit we’d pull a few things out and decide what to do, when a box had been gone through we’d mark it and put it back in storage until it could me moved.

But now with my Great Aunt’s house and its space, we’ve been able to get a lot of things out of the storage units, and go through them more comfortably. Sis is going to use quite a bit of the furniture from our parents and grandparents in her house which is good, our brother didn’t need it as his wife had her own ideas of decoration and given how active the boys are it was considered best.

But looking over the photo’s, were we really that young, I ask. But I was so glad to miss the worst of the hairdo’s and clothing, neither I nor my sister could get into the paisley stuff or beads, and peace symbols, leather and fringe, it just seemed so tacky. And it was a good thing that we learned to sew, I could never imagine exposing my knees in mini-skirts, although they are nice looking knees, but I felt that when one flaunts too much, one is just “giving it away”.

But the Beatles---not too long ago, at one of the movie theaters they were showing “A Hard Day’s Night” and hearing that first cord of opening music, I found myself being transported back to being a teenager enjoying the infectious enthusiasm of those 4 boys from Liverpool.

The other night I heard Gary and the Pacemakers singing “Ferry on the Mersy” and the tempo and beat of the song had me floating to another time, when one didn’t have the worries that one has now, you were free floating like a bobbing cork on the ebb and flow of the make-believe river, and could take deep breaths of freedom.

But our parents and grandparent’s houses are gone, torn down, one a parking lot, the other a part of a large apartment complex, the neighborhoods have changed, its not the same, stores that were there run by Mom and Pop’s who knew our names, all gone, some torn down, some burnt down. They exist only in our minds and memories.

I think that is why I fight to keep my Great-Aunt’s house preserved and kept up, a bastion to another time, another era, a period of grace and elegance and a certain amount of stability.

I asked my sister when did things change for us, and she said “JFK’s assignation, Vietnam, Watergate, Woodstock, pot and protests, Patty Hearst’s kidnapping, children controlling adults.” Then she remarked “Our dream finally ended we grew up and faced reality when Dad then Mom died and we were in essence orphans, for our parents were the one’s that prevented us from seeing the grave our own mortality.”

She was right and we try to pass on and preserve that graciousness that unruly child/adults try to rip away.

There is really no such thing as progress, only change and sometimes time marches backwards in a strange way, the concept of light rail, echoes our trolley cars, people buying old pre-1965 cars, those who restore old things like typewriters and telephones, various historical preservation societies, and re-enactors, the concept of Retro design, community gardens an echo of the old Victory Gardens, being organic means growing and putting up your own food, re-cycling was like “metal for Victory”, getting points on your credit card was like Green Stamps and Blue Chip stamps, save up enough and you could get something and so on.

Oh this trip down memory lane can be fun, nostalgic and sad at the same time.

And for now, well Darklings I am feeling much better, but I still get a little weak and light headed, so although I’m over the worst of it, there is still some after effects, I’ve been able to go into work but just half days for now, next week I’ll be pulling full days some of the staff did come down ill in spite of precautions.

I’ve been so wanting to work on the stove, but Sis told me to take it easy, it will be there, but I do want to start tackling it at least a little bit this weekend. Just do a little at a time, once it is properly cleaned and working then the kitchen will be back in order the way it should be, and I’ll be very, very happy.

For now I look at Doyle asleep in his favorite chair, Wiener Dog curled up in a hidden nook of it, Belladonna curled up on the couch hidden under an inexpensive throw blanket to keep her warm, its in the low 50’s outside and nippy. Sis is re-mounting some of the photo’s that have come loose and labeling them, a good thing to do.

And now I’ve heard the timer go off, dinner is ready, Stew tonight, hearty and warm, Doyle brought home a loaf of French bread, Louise has just arrived home from work, I’m glad I’ve only put in a half day, and several of Sis’s clients cancelled, they too have the flu, so we were able to have the early evening to relax, and now time to fill our tummies.

Later Darklings

It is good to get together with people you love.

Of adjustments and adjustments~~~~

Well Darklings,

It is official the little fellow's name is going to be Wiener Dog or Wiener,  we were not sure of the correct spelling but now we know.

Dear Lucretia thank you for the suggestions, we suspected about the burrowing, my Gardener showed up and I talked to him about that and he said he could do it and recommended at least 6 in wide boards in 6 to 8 foot lengths, he's been wanting to build up the sides of the garden anyway to prevent run off, and we're going to have to add two gates with concret paths one between the garage driveway and the garden and the other between my garden and my sister's garden, not exactly planned but thinking about it very necessary, with the concret paths it might prevent Wiener from digging under the gates.

I had been thinking about doing that for the garden, just not quiet so soon, so my Gardener will be back in a day or two with the boards and braces and I've called my contractor and he's coming over tomorrow morning before I leave for work and we can discuss what will need to be done. 

And now not only do we have to make adjustments but so does Wiener. Sis and Doyle left for work today and Wiener was upset, at least I'm here and Belladonna plays with his ears to distract him by flipping them with her nose, she tries to take his toy and they seem to do a mock play about it, it seems to help.  I think having the two of them together is good for both of them, but I called my speical occasion dog sitter and ask if she could handle two dogs, she doesn't have a garden more of a patio all brick fence so I don't think Wiener can escape from there and she was pretty sure it would not be a problem.   So until the little fellow gets use to the routine this will be a bit stressing for him, thank goodness he has Belladonna to keep him calm.

To everyone, I agree why would anyone abandon a pet like that is just cruel and unthinkable, it is much easier to surrender a pet to a well maintained Animal Shelter it does not cost anything to do that and 99 percent of the time they are adopted only under very difficult circumstances are they put down.   But people don't think, if they throw away an old coffee maker, they'll "throw" away a pet and it is cruel.  People who do that have no compassion or a conscience, they are the ones that will abandon their elderly parents in an unhealthy care facility and not check on them, they can't be bothered. 

I think it was some sort of fate that led us to find Wiener Dog, because orginally we were going to have Belladonna with my sitter but I changed my mind at the last minute and it was a good thing.  It could have been days before the grounds keepers would have found him and we are getting very cold nights now, he could have starved or died from thirst.  

Belladonna takes a certain amount of possiveness about him, well she is older and he's just a pup, so its understandable.   But Wiener Dog----what a name.  Why not Max or Buddy or something like that?? But Doyle named him and the little thing responded, so the name stays.
Cousin Louise's new home is one of those happy circumstances, her friend is into vintage and bought this property some 30 years ago as an investment to prevent it from being torn down and a block of cheap looking apartments built instead, at least back then there were some far seeing people into historical preservation.   If one hunts one can find gems in the most unexpected places.

For example I have an aquaintance that has a 2 acre property up in the lower part of the hills, and it is surrounded by single family homes whose back yards back into this property, to get to it one goes down this one block street and encounters a huge wooden fence with a car wide gate, unlock the gate and you are in a different world as if one has gone back into the Victorian era, and yet in looking at the stucco houses on either side of the street leading to it one would never know its there, and oddity amonst normalicy.  Two whole acres??  Fortunately my friend makes good money and can afford the taxes, I believe because the place is so old and is historical I think they are seeking historical status to prevent it from being taken over by developers.  Some politician or some important person lived there.

Sis has come home much to the delight of Wiener, she's barely put down her purse and brief case and he's all over her.  She is going to change into her walking shoes and we are going to take both of them for a walk before dinner, it's been slow cooking in the crock pot, on such cold evenings beef stew with lots of hardy veggies over a bed of rice to soak up the juices seems in order.  Louise is out to dinner with a friend so it will be just us four Brian, Doyle, Sis and myself and the two little 4 legged children.

Then we'll relax and watch our favorite shows, Bones, Sleepy Hollow, Castle and I'm going to record The Blacklist, James Spader is just wonderful in it, he makes evil seem sort of friendly.  Oh that is twisted thinking.

And I have yet to let you know what we think of Cupcake's Red Velvet wine.....

Later Darklings

Even in Dark Times, one must look for the good things.

Of finding something abandoned, lost and found~~~

Well Darklings,

Today has turned out a bit different than we planned, we are home now from church but with a little situation, and its a good thing our cousin was able to help out.

We went to the cemetery as planned, visited the graves and put flowers out.  Belladonna was with us enjoying the change in location and scents, we trimmed some of the grass back, and made note to bring stone cleaner in the spring, the hard water can make the smooth surface of tombstones have that hard water streaks,  when Belladonna got very excited about something.

We thought oh she has seen a squirrel so Doyle took her leash to humor the little thing and went walking with her on the hunt as Sis and I finished things up.  We sat down for a minute to rest and Sis remarked to me how much Belladonna seems to keep everyone on their toes and we laughed about it.

Then we heard Doyle call us, we turned and saw he was still walking Belladonna who was hopping up and down towards something in his arms,  it turned out to be a very young dog, a black and tan Dashund.  No collar or anything, Doyle said he found the dog tied up with some string under a bush over near the fence of the cemetery, no one with it not even near by, Sis and I went to the spot and looked around for anyone but there was no one.  It looked dirty and cold.  Belladonna whined and kept looking at the dog but wagging her tail like "Look what I found Mummy".

I asked Doyle how did he find it and he said Belladonna led him to the little thing, I was concerned that maybe it had been abandon because it had Parvo, Doyle said one way to find out is to see if it refuses to drink water, so we put Belladonna's portable drinking bowl down and poured water in it and it drank and drank that we became concerned that it would make itself sick.  But it didn't seem to have Parvo.

What to do?  Sis said lets take the dog to my Vet and have it checked out and go from there, we stopped at the cemetery office to report the dog and gave our contact information if anyone reported to  them about it.
Then off to my Vet and hoping that we could be fitted in.

We were lucky the appointments were light and the Vet could see us.  We told her how we found the dog and we really didn't want to take it to a shelter but wanted to leave contact information, the Vet helped us, and checked the little thing out,  it needed a bath and flea treatment and it was about 5 months old.  So we left the little thing with the Vet and said we'd pick it up in a few hours and wait for the results.

The Vet must have done a rush on the tests,  we went back before the office closed and we were told no Parvo, but might need puppy shots to be on the safe side and appeared to be in good health, so out came my credit card but Sis said no it was going to be on her, so she paid for all the treatments, and made an appointment to bring the little thing in later this upcoming week for a further examination.

The cemetery office told us that on occasion people abandon their pets there and they have to call Animal Rescue to get them, mostly cats it appears and the Vet said she would contact several shelters to see if anyone reported a lost dog, but we all remarked that it was strange that someone would tie it to a bush, like as if it was abandon but there to be found by the caretakers.  But instead we found it.

The Vet had puppy food for it and suggested several brands that would be good, and it had been bathed and flea treated and we were told it took to bathing pretty good, but we think that it might have been too scared to do anything.  The Vet said that if we decide to keep the little thing to consider having him neutered, Doyle had a pained look on his face when that was mentioned,  I could understand his reaction, but we were in no hurry on that.

So then off to the pet store for a leash and collar and some more puppy food, its own bowls and a dog pillow also on Sis I said that she was putting up a lot of funds for a dog that we may not keep, and she looked at the little thing now in her arms and said to me "I beg to differ"  I only raised my eyebrows and began to realize we may have a new family member.  We put the new collar on the little thing as well as a matching leash and it immediately wagged its little tail and gave Sis a look like "I'm with you?  We're partner's right?"  and then we walked down the doggie toy section heading towards the check out counter when suddenly it grabbed this long blue squeeky dog toy it looked like a blue Wienner dog made out of terry cloth it was longer than the real dog and the little guy was not going to give it up, so with chew bones, dog bowls and bed, collar and leash and puppy food we marched to the counter.

Cousin Louise was home when we arrived and was as surprised as we were about the little guy and asked us the obvious "What's his name" and Doyle said "Wienner Dog" and we said "No" but he was firm. As we put the bowls in the kitchen he said "I prove it to you" and called out "Hey Wienner Dog" and the little thing came running in, found its food and it ate, so we surrendered.  Then we saw the time and asked Louise to watch both dogs while we were gone, she said she could.

And now we're home, because our schedule was mixed up Doyle has gone to  get our old standby Chinese".   Who 'Wienner Dog' is going to belong to I'm not sure but I am aware that they do suffer from back and hip problems, so we shall see, I don't think we'll get a call about someone missing a dog, and from the way its acting it seems to think its home carrying its toy in its mouth, Belladonna seems to have taken to him.  We think so too.

Later Darklings

Of Something completely Different----Belladonna my dog~~~~

Hello Darklings,

Well there was breaking news that the F.B.I. has two suspects, and they have pictures on their web site.

For those of you back East in the Boston Area especially, go to the F.B.I. website and see if you recognize these men.

And now for something different.....I was asked about my little dog Belladonna.

Well how I found Belladonna is posted on my April 1, 2012 posting under "An addition to the Family"

She is a black and tan Chaiuaua(a little Mexican dog) about 2 years old now, her tan markings give her eyebrows, a tan muzzle and legs.  At first you think she might be a really tiny Doberman.  But she's not.

She had been abandoned and on that post you'll read how I found her.   She has been a wonderful little companion, one would think she'd be a bit nippy as most can be, but she is not that way.   However she will let me know if she thinks there is an intruder at the door.

She loves my sister and Doyle and loves playing with Coralline.  Most of the time when I go to work I have an elderly neighbor take care of her, which is fine for both of them for the companionship.   But if my neighbor has plans or is ill then I or Doyle will take her to a Doggie Day care that we like.

She is sweet and silly, brave and scared, inquisitive and shy at the same time.  And I spoil her terribly, I look for sweaters and tee shirts that have skulls on them, and at Halloween I have fun looking for cute things for her to wear, nothing silly, but I did find a pair of devilish horns for her to wear and she does with good grace.

Doyle and I try to sneak her in with us if we can in her doggie tote bag, at a few of the places we like to dine at and she is very good.   But of course there are places we can't take her, so we make arrangements for her to be baby sat.  Most of the time it is my Sister but my neighbor has always been happy to do it.

She sleeps at the foot of my bed when Doyle is around, but when he's not she loves to snuggle next to me.

I've found that by using these tea tree wipes that I find at Pet Food Express it helps keep her clean between baths and I use the Advantex II for flea treatment.  It seems to work best.

I've never clipped her nails, I have the vet do that.  And how well does she get along with her vet and staff?, well she hasn't bitten him and he and his staff are very gentle with her.

The only time she gets very distressed is 4th of July when fireworks are set off,  we have to give her a pill to calm her down.  

You will find mentions of her here and there in my previous posts.  

For years I never did have a pet, my life and my hours did not make it easy to have one,  when I was a little girl we had a cat from time to time, but my Father always had sneezing fits when one was brought into the house, so having a pet was not a good thing, and my Father loved animals, if he took his medicine he could be around a cat or dog for a short amount of time but day in and day out, well it was not a good thing.

We did have a parakeet named "Pretty Boy" that my sister won at a church bazaar, who was a silly thing and made us laugh with its antics.   One time the bird tried to land on Dad's head and grabbed some hair instead and flipped over hanging upside down, it was a little painful for dad.

My Uncle Mannie was bald and one evening we had him over for dinner with Grandma, because we were all sitting at the kitchen table Pretty Boy started flapping his wings at his cage door demanding to be let out.

Mom didn't want to but Grandma and Uncle Mannie said it was o.k. so Pretty Boy joined us at the dinner table flying to my shoulder then to my sisters and then back to his cage.  Suddenly he took off flew around the room (we had the windows closed) and decided to land on my Uncle's bald head, two feet and his tail, well my Uncle's head was slippery and Pretty Boy slid off and landed with a thump on the floor, we all looked at the bird and he walked over to a corner and started muttering to himself in the corner occasionally looking over his feathered shoulder and wondering why he couldn't land on that spot. 

Grandma said that Pretty Boy was embarrassed and went over and coaxed him onto her finger, brought him to the table and gave him a bit of bread crust, and he seemed to be happy.  We all laughed at what had happened.  We had him for nearly 8 years then one morning Mother woke up and found him dead on the cage bottom, we never knew what happened as he was perky the night before.  But Dad said sometimes that happens like a stroke or heart attack.   He had a nice funeral with a rose bush planted on top of him.

We never did have another pet after that.  We all were busy with schooling and such and now I have Belladonna.   I hope to have her for a long, long time.

Later Darklings