Of some changes in my Job~~~~

And Darklings,

This is a good thing that is happening,  ever since I went back to work I've been talking to the "powers that be" about what I'm able to do and what I may not be able to do.  I did have some minor problems with my back, nothing major but enough to know that if I went back full time I could re-injure it and be out for some time to heal.

My Boss has been thinking that it would be good to in essence promote one of my co-workers who worked "below me" but has the same qualities that I have and to have him doing what I do full time with me in a back up, consultant position.

In talking this over I would need to retire and then they hire me back as a consultant working in tandem with David, yes David who has been bringing me coffee.  Frankly I am in total agreement about this, to be retired but still active but turning over the "heavy lifting" (mental) to someone extremely qualified.   This would leave the lower position open to be filled with a new hire.

Now it seems like there would be two "supervisors" and I know the long time staffers would turn to me, but by also saying "Let's bring David into this and see what he says" will let them know that he is taking "point" on the work.

David says that he'd love to be able to work Saturday mornings then off Saturday afternoon, all day Sunday off, and then come in Monday afternoon that way hour wise he'd have two days off, Monday is still covered and then I'd come in Tuesday thru Thursday to help with the back log, if he has to be at a meeting and something comes up I can contact him and cover, since the bulk of the back log is during the middle of the week which is when meetings get scheduled (unfortunately).

Later on when I decide to fully leave, he'd switch to working Monday through Friday and I'd be "On Call" to cover sick and vacation days---with coming in on days when there is training so I can be up to par with the rest of the staff.  

We've been looking over the medical and dental programs for me and I'll be covered for that.   In a way I am happy with these choices and plans, I've noticed that things in my life have been shifting in a way, so maybe the accident was, in the long run a happy event.

David has been concerned that it would seem that he is usurping me, but for sometime I felt that he is the best qualified, his ideas are innovative, checking out-side the box, he works well with everyone and listens to others if they have an excellent idea, he never rejects anything out of hand and has a steady focus on things and inspires the others.   I had quietly ask other staff members how'd they feel if David took over and they were happy with the idea.  So I know I can make these changes with good conscience.

So when I talked to him about this he said he knew he still has a lot to learn, there were things that would arise only occasionally and he'd want to be sure how to take care of it properly, so with having me on hand until I went to just "on call" status relieved his mind.

So we will make these shifts Starting on Sept 16 and still have plenty of time for adjustments should BART decide to go on Strike in October.

I am soooo looking forward to this.   And now I must gather my things,  I'm working until 3 p.m. today and I am going to enjoy this coming weekend.

Later Darklings



Feeling happy with the thought of "turning over the reigns"



Of "High Ho, High Ho it's back to work I go...." ~~~~

Dear Darklings,

I am home from work today, only because my Boss asked me since I worked from 10 to 7 yesterday, when it should have only been from 10 to 2.  Why?  We had a major backlog and it was all hands on deck, some of it was in what I do so I couldn't leave because it was important to have the work done.

Needless to say I was exhausted, my Boss took me home so I wouldn't have to endure the stress of communiting.  Good thing he lives in Berkely, so he said since I worked in essence a double shift to take today off and rest, which I'm doing gleefully---Why?  Because the delivery of the new washer and dryer is TODAY!!!  Hooray!!!  Caloo, Calay!!!

And with the slow cooker processing dinner (it's beef stew with lots of veggies, and rice, I know Darklings, how mundane---but its comfort food time)  I don't have to worry.

I had one of you Darklings ask me why my legal situation was processed so quickly since many take months to deal with.  Well it was a series of things, one of course is we had a lot of proof to back our claim, two---there were camera's that video taped the event, three---the defendants wife wanted this settled quickly.

Yes Darklings it was the third reason that things moved so quickly.  My lawyer filled us in over our celebration dinner.   The Missus controls that house hold, maybe that is why the defendant drinks, and she didn't want anything to in any way embarress her social standing  also they were planning to leave in a few weeks on some sort of expensive vacation to Europe and nothing was going to stop her.    There are times when a "hard-headed, determined woman" can be a blessing.

According to my lawyer, the wife sized things up very quickly, assessing damage control etc. and came to a decision, which was "give the plaintiff what she wants within reason and quickly"  and even she was glad that the AA stipulation was in there.   If that had not happened the whole mess could have dragged out for months.   One thanks the powers that be for blessings.

And I found out what was all that yelling the other day, it seems that our elderly neighbors crazy son, went "off the rails" cut the phone line of our other neighbor with a garden shears, and then proceeded to cut down our other neighbor's plantings.  It was a disaster, well our neighbor had a metal baseball bat and batted the shears out of "crazys" hands while the wife called 911 on her cell phone since their land line was dead.  And then Crazy and our neighbor were rolling on the ground and Crazy was punching him.  A good thing that Doyle and another man were able to restrain Crazy till the police came.  Then Crazy said that our neighbor beat him up. 

Well our neighbor went to ER to get checked out, Crazy was taken to jail for a 72 hour psychiatric watch and our neighbor is going to press charges against Crazy, but it may be Crazy's elderly parents who may have to make good on the replacement costs of the plants, damage to the phone line and any medical costs that our neighbos insurance doesn't cover.   Doyle pleaded with the elderly parents to NOT bail their son out and let him stay in jail until the trial, it would be safer for everyone.   But parents are parents and its their son, frankly I do not see anything good coming out of this situation.   

Since we have a land line as well (my insistence) we're going to have someone put metal sheeting around the wires to make sure if Crazy does get out that he doesn't cut our lines as well. 

I saw Crazy a few weeks ago and he has that look that the shooter of the Arizona theatre and the one that shot and killed those school children have,  if you see too much white at the bottom of the eyes its a "signal" that something is going off in a not good way in that persons mind.  And it was coupled with an expression of extreme hatred, it ripped off this man in waves.  I've only seen this a few times in person and each time my assessment of the person was correct, paranoid schizophrenic and a mental ticking time-bomb.   If he is determined to do harm, nothing will stop this person.

Doyle is going to take steps at both my property and my sisters to make sure access by him is not going to be easy and that we will be alerted.

And speaking of my sister, she is moving forward to have work done on her house, we're going to have her "house guest" with us for a week or so while her home is being throughly fumigated.  Oh well what is one more guest, it will make for some interesting repartee.

Must go, the washer and dryer are here.

Later Darklings

Of washing machines and television programs~~~

Well My Darklings,




This proved to be a most interesting expedition into laundry investigation. It maybe wise to have one’s man along and sometimes it can also be frustrating.



I was perfectly fine with going to Sears to see what they had, but Doyle, bless him wanted to check several other stores but when I asked several key questions on things like repair and delivery well they just could not provide me with “the goods”.



Finally after having a late lunch I persuaded Doyle to go to Sears, but first I had to compliment him on his “due diligence” in looking into this and offered a compromise if Sears could not provide what I was looking for.



Well they had a very nice selection and I zeroed into the Maytag’s’, of course Doyle wanted all sorts of “whistles and bells” and I was more into basic’s. Which of course had us pushing and pulling, we had to let the sales person know we were going to discuss this and would come back to him so he would not be tied up with us if there was another customer.



Finally I told Doyle “Darling, we are not washing the clothing of the Mona Lisa, we are talking sheets, towels, underwear, and other washable items, as long as it can do that I’m happy!” Doyle eventually saw the wisdom of my logic and so we selected a very nice machine in basic white, I don’t need other colors.



And we were able to find a comparable gas dryer as well. So out came the charge card (my insurance money for the replacement of them will go to the bill), arrangements were made on the delivery and installation, warranties were prepared as well as repair warranties as long as it’s a Sears purchase Sears will repair it with almost nothing out of my pocket, we even bought a new toaster (it can do bagels and muffins as well) the old one died this morning. Well when you see it go up in smoke you know it died.



I called my sister to see if she would be available to accept delivery in case neither Doyle nor I got home in time and she said she would.



Now Sis and I are waiting for Doyle to bring home Chinese take out, she was busy with her reports and I was too tired to even think about dinner, so Doyle being the gentleman that he is has gone out to find dinner.



I will get my things prepared to get ready for work tomorrow, in a way I’m looking forward to it but in another I’m sort of liking the idea of being at home, but I am concerned about being out of “the Loop” of things, of becoming to narrow in my outlook and such, of well I guess, of losing my edge.



How I feel after a month will determine my next course of action, with the weather so nice I feel a certain yearning to travel, but that will have to be on hold for now.



I’ve had a chance to see the last two episodes of “Grimm” before they took their summer sabbatical, I like it, its sort of quirky in a “Supernatural” sort of way before “Supernatural” got too serious, (but I still like the program Jensen Ackles reminds me of a younger Doyle but he has dark blond hair)



“Hannibal” is so bizarre but part of the problem is I came into the program when it was already at 8 episodes so without that back ground information it’s a little bizarre, I’m still trying to figure out Hannibal’s motives, he’s manipulating people and in some ways exacting revenge, but is he placing the “hero” in danger? I’ve got to see the first 7 episodes to really understand his motive.



I’ve just started a new program called “Motive” and you really have to watch for all the little clues, I’m not sure if this program is going to have “legs” but it is interesting. Doyle watched the first installment of “Brooklyn D.A.” he sort of likes it, but I felt it sort of weak, but then it was only the first program and well see how that goes.



Hmmm there’s a loud noise outside someone’s yelling, and it’s making Belladonna bark, we’ll have to investigate.



Later Darklings

Of more updates and a mummified head in a reycling center~~~

Hello My Darklings,



Well I have to say I was almost all Day at work, just to see what has been done and what is happening currently.
Louise, bless her, came early to my home and we took public transportation just as if I was going to work as usual.


I’m very happy; with e-mail and teleconference calls and regular phone calls from staff to check in with me, things have been going very smoothly. But just being at work even for only less than 8 hours I found myself exhausted. And concerned, because sometimes I put in longer hours, I talked to my Director and we think that it would be best to ease me back into it by my doing Half Days, come in at 9:30 or 10 a.m. and leaving at 2 or 2:30 p.m. I did suggest that perhaps I could come in at 8 a.m. and leave at 1 or 2 since I am more spry in the morning so we’ll try the latter for a while.


My Director also suggested having me consider retirement and then be hired as a half-time independent contractor setting my own hours, I’m more than vested for retirement, and it would not interfere with retirement by my part time work. I said lets see how things go for me at this time and I’ll keep those suggestions in mind if I feel I cannot handle a full work load. My colleagues are terrified at even the idea of me retiring but I said it’s only under future consideration.


Frankly Darklings, I’m getting bored at home, I love the thrill of the commute, the challenges that work brings, the inter-action with my co-workers and finding answers to things.


During the Lunch Hour we decided to order out and have the lunch brought to us, I insisted with Louise that she have lunch with us, but she suggested that she take a bit of a walk around the area and eat out and do a bit of shopping and would be back on an agreed upon time. This worked out perfectly for us.


During our Lunch I and my colleagues discussed the various events that were happening.


A Christian gentleman offered a burial plot to bury the deceased Boston Bomber, but the Bombers family still fears grave desecration, and are even thinking of having him cremated and returning to Russia with the Ashes, if the ashes can be brought into Russia since that country and many others in Europe has a policy of not returning the bodies of terrorists back to the families and instead burying them in unmarked graves to prevent them from becoming martyrs. The US does not have that policy, Canada is facing the same situation, now since this has become international, both Russia, the US and Canada are being faced about matters of this sort that would be very hard to resolve (so says one Russian lawyer who had dealt with this sort of thing). We can only see what will happen.


It seems that the tragic deaths of the ladies who died in the Limo fire have touched one of my staff who knew her. According to further news reports, the Limo fire is considered very strange to have happened, and no answers as to cause has been found. Usually in most car fires it would happen in the front in the engine compartment, but from the back trunk area is almost unheard of. The only way that could happen is in a very violent collision which in this case did not happen.


And in Limo’s, since their maintenance and care is important to keep them functioning in a safe manner, such a fire is almost unheard of. This is going to be very interesting to hear the results of this investigation. Although I do feel that perhaps re-designing future Limos should be considered.


Every one was very happy about the discovery and rescue of the 3 women who had been held captive for over 10 years by this one man. That one of the women had the courage to take a chance to get help and that Mr. Charles Ramsey heard her cries for help is a miracle, there is the possibility that many years earlier there may have been a 4th victim, who disappeared, the police will look further. The suspect held these women in the basement of his home and he had 2 brothers living with him and yet those two were not charged with aiding and abetting I find strange, I can’t help but suspect that they may have known but were too cowardly to act. The most important thing is that the 6 year old girl who was born to one of the captive women had been carefully home schooled and possibly escaped becoming a victim of that man’s future actions.


My sister believes that the psychological aspect of that case is going to be carefully studied.


On a more interesting note, the chief of police of Oakland, CA has stepped down at his own request, claiming health issues, right on the day that the report of what the Oakland police department should do to decrease crime in that city was to be presented to the people. Frankly it is my opinion that anything the Chief of Police wanted to do was ‘shot down’ by the Mayor, and he was tired of being sabotaged by her. And only a 6 page report? Considering the problems that Oakland has I would have suspected a weightier presentation.


Several citizen groups believe the real reason the Chief stepped down was “Politics”. I agree.


I was also sad to hear that one of my favorite places for a late night bite had a fire. Merritt Bakery has been in business and a fixture in Oakland since the 1950’s, I remember Mom and Dad taking us there from time to time as a special treat. I was sad to hear that they had a horrible fire; I can only hope that they will be able to rebuild and continue to stay in business. The cause of the fire to yet be determined.


And now for something very bizarre and macabre----

A mummified head was found at an Oakland recycling center yesterday, I’m sure that freaked out the staff there. Cadaver dogs were brought in to try and find the rest of the remains, but beyond the head not much was found. Police say that the victim died sometime ago and may have been a homicide. Police will try to identify the Head of the victim using dental records. I hope that will be possible unless the victim was an illegal immigrant, if that is the case identification may be useless. I’m sure that a variation of this event will appear on a CSI T.V. episode in the future. Re-cycling human remains, well, to make an observation that does save the cost of a funeral.


My sister and I are grateful that Doyle installed a superb alarm system in my home, sensor lights on the grounds, and camera systems that work even in the dark, of course having good fences help. My great-aunts house was never burgled, but now day’s crooks are becoming more desperate even going so far as to try and break in while people are home. He is even worried when I am home alone, but I do have my gun and I know how to shoot it and I am aware of the laws about home invasion and the “Castle Laws”.

But one day when I was leaving the house, a woman was walking down the street, she looked a little out of place, more like a lady of the streets if you know what I mean, she saw me and was a bit startled then she said “Excus’ me, but yo liv heara?” (I’m writing this as I heard her speech) and I replied that yes I do.

She then asked “arn yu ‘fraid of the spooks?” “Spooks?” I asked, she said “ya eveone knows tha place haunted” her eyes were wide. So I thought I’d have some fun and tease her a bit so I said “Well, you’re right. It is haunted, so is the house next door.” Referring to the house that my sister was eventually going to buy.

“People died in both houses, why there is even a graveyard in the back of mine, with gravestones.” I informed the young woman. She asked me if the ‘spooks’ bothered me and I said not much, but if anyone with evil in their heart comes on the property, the spooks do not like it. I told her that several times people had tried to buy the house next door but the ‘spooks’ chased them out. (If you read my previous posts you’ll know how we found out why that happened)


The woman’s eyes got very, very wide and I gave her my best wicked smile and said “That’s why I have to be very careful living here; it’s not good to get the spirits angry.” And just then the cat that use to sleep under my porch showed up and hissed at the woman (I could not have planned that if I tried). The woman jumped back a bit and the cat went on, perhaps looking for a mouse, so I used the cat’s actions and said “I think one of the ‘spooks’ is unhappy, the cat looked possessed.”


The young woman walked away quickly and said as she was leaving “Lady yu crazy livin’ dare!!!” She almost ran away. And I was having fun trying not to laugh out loud.

Well I do have to say that after the end of yesterday, I was glad to return home, my back didn’t twinge but I was tired. Louise was happy though, she found some gifts for some family members whose birthdays are coming up. I suggested to Louise that since she was with me for all day Wednesday to take Friday off to have time for the Mother’s Day preparations. She was very happy about that, and I hope she has a nice Mother’s Day.

Coralline will be spending it with her Mom and her mother’s two grandma’s My brother’s treat.

Sis and I are going to spend our at a Spa and enjoy hedonistic delights. Doyle will be home and he is going to enjoy peace and quiet and indulge Belladonna.


So to all you Darklings Have a Happy Mother’s Day.


Later Darklings