Of the Dog Days of Summer, Open House and Vampire Cowboys~~~~

Hello Darklings,

Well it is the “Dog Days of Summer”,  and we’ve been having heat with monsoon humidity and now it’s just warm with a breeze.

But during our heat wave both Belladonna and Weiner Dog, were panting even with the fan on them and water close at hand with ice cubes in it.    Everything with the humidity felt sticky,  so cool cotton, and large sun hats were needed.

I haven’t been posting much of late, getting called in to cover for staffers, but now with vacation almost over and parents buying clothes and supplies for their children things are creeping back to normal.

We had a grass fire up in the hills and sad to note that it was arson caused,  the smoke made breathing difficult, I was sneezing a lot, fortunately Cal-Fire got it knocked down quickly, but still it’s frightening.

My brother and family have come back from their long vacation up north staying mostly coast side to take advantage of the cooler weather, but up in Canada there was a million acre fire burn and in one phone call from them it was difficult to breath at one point so the drove closer to the coast where the ocean breeze helped.

They’re back now, getting uniforms, going to appointments, getting school schedules, but they plan on going south for the weekend to the Beach Board walk in Santa Cruz, get in some of that old-fashion Summer-time fun.   But the children promised to go no further than up to their knees because there might be sharks coming closer inland.

I showed the children what I’ve been able to get for their lockers and in school supplies, My brother reimbursed me, but Christopher was happy with what he can do to organize his locker and Coralline was thrilled I was able to find the same things in Gold as well as the battery operated chandelier to light up the interior of her locker.   

Coralline is getting around a lot better with the compression cross-brace but she has to ice her ankle every night, it still swells up from time to time.   She and Christopher are looking forward to this school year, to see how things will go, but the twins are not looking forward to it, moaning that they can’t have fun and instead are going to be doing the dreaded homework.  

I’m feeling a bit sad today,  one of our long time neighbors are selling their house and going to move to Idaho, to a small town that has what they are looking for low crime, good schools, good after-school programs for the grandchildren,  affordable, good medical and a quaintness that has been lost in big city living.    Their son and daughter in law and their two children had been living with them for over a year, they had to leave their apartment because the rent went up and they couldn’t find an affordable place to live.   The Grandparents were fed-up with the craziness happening in this state and when Anthem-Blue Cross said it was leaving the state they too felt it was time to get out of town.

So today was open house for their property, so many people looking but one thing that is a bit off-putting for the house is that it does not have off-street parking, the new owner would have to park their car(s) on the street, so I’ll see who will be willing to buy the house, but I heard it had a sale price of nearly ¾’s of a million dollars, that nearly made me faint.   But it also told me that I’d have to plan my estate very carefully to see who will get my Great-Aunt’s home.

Our neighbors Crazy Son is home again, and for the last few months had been behaving himself, taking his medication,  but last week he went off the rails again ranting and carrying on, at 1 in the morning.  I called the Police because he was disturbing the peace and his sister was having a hard time with him.  The police took care of him, taking him in for evaluation.

I talked to the sister and she said her Father wanted him home thinking he’d be fine, so he was discharged,  Lovely I thought.   So we’ll see if he has to go back into the care facility.

At the end of September if I can I think I’ll do another wine tour but just a week I think,  I want to be home in October to decorate for Halloween.

But I have been discouraged at not finding more Gothic things.

Although last night on TV on Svengoolie he showed a vampire western---yes Dear Darklings a Vampire Western,   it was called “Curse of the Undead” 1959, with Eric Fleming (of Rawhide)  and Michael Pate as the  gun fighting vampire.    I have to say that the plot line was good as well as the acting there was nothing “cheesy” about it.   It did what “Billy the Kid Vs Dracula” (1966) couldn’t do.   Michael Pate even made the cowboy vampire seem both to be pitied and yet feared.  And he had a great line "Oh the dead don't bother me, it's the living that gives me trouble".

I’m not sure if I have it among my collection of vampire movies, but if not then I’m going to get a copy.  Who thought a cowboy Western Vampire movie could be so Gothic.  But this one is.

And now Sis has come by with dinner for us, take out Chinese, yes when you don’t feel like cooking but don’t mind driving take out Chinese is the way to go.

Later Darklings

                                                                      

I just found out I can buy a reprint of this poster,  I think I will and have it framed.

Of More Spooky Movie Viewing~~~~

Dear Darklings,

I had to run errands out to Berkely well up into the hills, this is where a long time friend now lives and I have to admit although beautiful (and her house is georgeous built in the 1930's)   I think I'm happy being a "flatlander".

The streets are very narrow so narrow that the cars have to partly park on the sidewalks to be sure Fire Trucks can get by.   And twisty, and steep.   I'm glad my modern car is an automatic if I drove my vintage car I would have burned out the clutch!

But looking at all of that I was reminded of the horrifying and tragic Oakland Hills Fire that killed 29 people and I don't even want to get into the the loss of homes.  

I asked her about her choice and she said "It's perfect!"  all I could do was inwardly shudder.

But the reason why I was visiting her is I found among things my sister and I were going through in the old attic were news clippings of things my friend had done, as well as some trophies and photographs.   I called her and she said bring them by.

We chatted and had coffee and mini-cakes (got the recipe for them) and generally got caught up.  

Driving home I decided to take the "land routes" home no freeway for me, as I was going past the Paramount Theater my eyes got as round as saucers and I said "Yipppieeeeee!!!!"   The last week of October is going to be fabulous for me, first Dracula at the Alameda Theater and then "Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstine"  at the Paramount!!!   On Oct. 30th!!!!

I talked to my sister and we agreed if we can get everything ready in advance by 5 p.m Friday with only doing food touch ups on Saturday Oct 31 we are going to the Paramount!!!!

Oh Yes Darklings it is a comedy, but SUCH FUN!!! 

And I have never seen this one on the Big Screen, I'm certainly NOT going to pass that Up!   Would You???   Of Course Not!!!

I mean who says Elder Goths can't have fun?!  Not me!

And I have a cartoon clipping to share with you, and at this time of the year Yes it is perfect!

Later Darklings

Of "Dracula"~~~~

Hello My Darklings,

Halloween is going to be wonderful this year----at least for me.   A local movie theater is going to show  the 1931 "Dracula" on the Big Screen!!!!!!!!!   at the end of October!!!    To finally see it properly on the Big Screen!  To get an idea of what kind of impact it really made to movie audiences!!! Oh Darklings I swoon at the thought!

And then----and Then!!!  The next week as part of this Theater's classic movie series they are going to show the First James Bond Film "Dr. No" at the beginning of November, just in time when the New James Bond movie "Specter" will be released.   

OH BE STILL MY BEATING HEART!!!!   It is almost an overload for this Elder Goth.

And what theater will be showing this film???  Well if you live in the San Francisco East Bay Area it's----The Historic Alameda Movie Theater in Alameda.   Yes Darklings I have revealed it's location.

But for those lovely Goths who read my blog and live around here do NOT miss this. 

O.K. yes by today's standards it's corny, it's hokey, but you have to remember it's the Great-Grand Daddy of Gothicness and Vampires.

And if you have a theater near you that will show good clean prints of this film, encourage them to do it!!!    

Oh by still my trembling, beating heart!!!!!  Now if they will show Dracula's Daughter on the Big Screen like I saw it sooooo many many years ago!! 

Later Darklings!!  I must refresh myself!

of Still on Jury Duty, it's freezing here, a new T.V. station and storms in Australia~~~

Hello Darklings,

I'm still waiting to see if I will be on the Jury panel, the two lawyers are so slow in choosing and picking and it is FREEZING here.  No rain but Freezing cold.

Granted we are in April and not expected to be really warm but this is too much.

The only good thing is that I can get to the court house by Bus, but if I want to avoid standing forever in the long line for screening I need to get there early before the Judge steps to the bench other wise latecomers have to wait outside the court room until the Judge says O.K.

The weatherman is threatening drizzel, but have not seen anything yet, at least my cisterns are full enough that I can water my plants but the lawn will have to suffer I'm afraid.  Well it's hardy enough.

On the dinner front, thank goodness for crock pots, Chinese take out and my Sister, Doyle takes care of Belladonna and Wiener Dog sees that they get to their baby sitter.

I wish I could talk about this trial but I am bound not to, even though I have not be sworn in as a Juror, prospective jurors are bound by this as well, until either sworn in where they have to remain under the code of silence or are dismissed when they can freely talk about the case.

It was interesting because how this all started out is first the Judge is explaining to us that in the U.S. we go by the presumption of innocent until proven guilty, but in many other countries it is guilty until they can prove they are innocent.  Obviously in a country that goes by that formula you had better have a good lawyer to prove your innocence--   Even the judges and juries in those countries think you are guilty so you much convince them you are innocent.   I find that very twisted, it's like you are already convicted before you even say a word.

Doyle couldn't sleep Saturday night after we watched Svengoulie's presentation of "Jungle Captive" and I can understand even I felt a little restless but managed to fall asleep.

So he decided to channel surf and discovered a new station off of the antenna  here locally its 2.3 and it's called "Marquee Movies!" and that's all they show is movies, and very late Saturday night to Sunday morning they show Film Noir---he found out they were going to show "The Line Up" 1958 so decided to record it so I could see it, and he stayed up to watch "Riot in Cell Block 11".

They show films from the 1930's to the early 1980's  all different types, their web site is www.moviestvnetwork.com/   at least I hope I have the link right.  I love it our own little batch of Film Noir to enjoy.  Something for the darkness of the soul.

My friend down in Austrailia e-mailed me saying that they are having the worse storm in Sydney history for the last 100 years, floods, Dams over flowing, Ferries not able to travel, things being knocked over so far 3 people dead and over 600 displaced.  She's fine in her area but she counted 6 umbrellas' so far rolling down her street. 

Well now Sis says dinner is ready so time to relax and then watch a guilty pleasure "iZombie".  Who says Zombies can't be fun.

Later Darklings

Of a fun yet exhausting Weekend~~~~~

Hello Darklings,

Well I am taking a short sit down after a very hectic weekend.

Sis and I have our menu all planned out for the Halloween party and we decided to purchase some of the items we would need yesterday, and it is now on the pantry shelves, much of what we will need will be made Thursday, the Brain molds, the Heart Mold and the Zombie Hand mold, a lot of the appetizers will be made and refrigerated to be baked on Friday, cookies and such.

But a lot will be part of our frozen wares as well.  Sis and I have "cleared the decks" for Thursday and Friday, no work, nothing, Sis has a colleague who will handle emergencies if need be.

Doyle has put Grim out today with the help of the children well mostly my oldest Nephew who is now becoming quite the young man.  Coralline made sure Grim's "gown" fitted just right and with the testing today of the fog machine it looks wonderful.

Friday night Sis, Doyle and I had a wonderful time at the Friends Book sale, I found some wonderful mysteries including a completely updated Jack the Ripper Reference work,  Doyle nosed around the biographies and Sis with any reference works she could use, she did find a 1950's text book on the Sociology of Death that she found interesting, so we went home with our treasures to read and decide if to keep or re-donate. 

Saturday we did shopping and we were later happily invaded by my Brother and his family, Sis and I had not really expected them so we took the easy way out pulled out the menu for Papa Murphy's take and bake Pizza, and called in our selections, good thing my O'Keefe and Merritt stove has two ovens, Doyle and my brother were able to distract the two younger boys by having them go with them to walk the dog's and Coralline and her brother told us about what they had seen the other weekend, Coralline was completely fascinated by the Skulls exhibit and her older brother said he wished he could have gone but he didn't want to miss the Blue Angles since it was Fleet week,  but then I became terrified I knew the World Series was on did they want to watch it at my home?

Well Doyle came to the rescue on that with his spare T.V. set up in the spare Maid's room, and although I know my sister in law was not interested I was surprised to see that my oldest nephew was not so interested either and chose to stay with us asking about questions in regards to monsters and such since Halloween was getting to be so close, on further questioning it was more how did the idea of Monsters came about, oh that did lead into a long and convoluted talk on the development of Horror Literature, from storytellers to Fairytales to the Twilight series which my nephew pronounced as "dumb".  But then my sister suggested that maybe I should write that as one of my link pages, a simplified version of where we get our ghosts and goulies, since I was an English major in college.

Well nothing is ever simple, but I think I'll give it a go, in time.

Doyle came quickly into the family parlor to set the recording to record (are you ready for this Darklings?)  "Wonder Woman"   I think he has a crush on Linda Carter.  He didn't want to miss it.

So with my sister in law and I and Coralline and her brother in tow we went to get the pizza's and then pop them into the oven,  when we got back I happened to mention that Svengoolie was showing "Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein"  the twins pleaded to stay and watch it,  so with the children spread out on blankets on the rugs in the family parlor and the adults sitting comfortably and Belladonna and Weiner Dog begging for pizza bones and popcorn (no popcorn I warned the children)
we settled in to watch one of my favorite and yet funny films.

This movie did signal the end of the Golden Age of Universal monsters by the 1950's it turned to Science Fiction with monsters from outer space and such.  The children enjoyed it but it became very late and both Doyle and my brother had been drinking beer and my sister in law wine so, I said they could not drive home.  With the boys and their Dad camped in the maid's room and my sister in law and Coralline in the bedroom we always set aside for Coralline they stayed over night.

Today they helped Doyle put up the jumping spider and Grim and a few more lights, fed them breakfast and lunch, (thank goodness for dishwashers although my sister in law insisted on taking care of the pots and pans)  we bade them a happy good bye and to see them on Halloween.

Now for dinner, well there is still plenty of left over pizza,  so we'll heat that up and Sis is making wilted spinach salad, Doyle is watching Wonder Woman, and tonight we'll relax and watch Good Wife, CSI and record "the man from UNCLE". 

I will post those articles I found and I think later on I will attempt to write a short concept about Horror Literature---at least my take on it.

Later Darklings

Of "Frankenstein", Halloween Party Planning, and a crazy day~~~~~

Hello My Darklings!

How crazy was it?  Well you spend 3 hours on a phone telling someone they are sane and the world is not out to get you.

Another cousin of mine, I seriously believe she needs to see someone other than family I think is going into a form of menopausal paranoia, her husband called me at home yesterday, while I was in the middle of balancing my check book and I still had a report to write out for work, to plead with me to speak to my cousin.

I made the mistake of doing so and at least I had her on speaker phone that way her shrieking voice would not damage my eardrum.  I know I'm sounding unkind, but I am not a psychiatrist nor physician, but she does need help.

I finally was able to get through to her that she is going through menopause, and it can cause in its worse possible way a form of paranoia, I had no idea if it is related to hormones but she really needs to seek medical help.  I was able to separate her physical symptoms from her mental, I told her to write down in two columns one labeled as thoughts or mental and the other labeled as physical feelings or sensations.  That way I told her she could present her case to her doctor and she would be able to seek what sort of treatment would be needed, I was able to convince her that she maybe directed to another doctor as well as this could be affecting her on several levels.

She finally calmed down, but I was exhausted, I had her put her husband on the phone gave him a quick run down of what to do and that he better call her doctor and say that its an emergency.

That was yesterday, today I got a follow up phone call and it was decided to hospitalize her to get her symptoms both physical and mental under control,  he saw her today and she was alert and said she felt better, but still suffered from the hot flashes, so he went out and bought a fan for her to keep her cool, the nursing staff did not complain, anything to help.

But I was behind on doing things so I set aside my check book and instead worked on my report. So in the long run although my evening was ruined (I had planned a quiet evening) at least my cousin is getting the help she needs.

Never a dull moment in my house.   But it did exhaust me mentally and physically.

Ahhh but Tuesday evening was very special, my Cousin Louise treated me to seeing "Frankenstein" with Boris Karloff on the Big Screen at one of our local movie theatre's.

What a difference!!!  It was completely restored will all the scenes that had been removed, cleaned up visually and the sound.  And seeing it on the big screen you finally understand the impact this movie must have made back in 1931, one scene where the monster comes in backwards now makes complete sense, seeing that face and those eyes close up larger than large it really looked like something come up from the dead. 

And little details that you miss watching it on Television you see on the screen, I could have seen it several times and still find something new.  And Karloff, his interpretation of the Monster, a killing brute but one to pity.  He kills Fritz because Fritz tormented him, he killed the Doctor because the Doctor was going to end his life, but little Maria was a mistake, he thought she was as pretty as the flowers and would float, his reaction was like that of an animal being terrified by its mistake.  And in the end him shrieking in fear of the fire. I felt sorry for the Monster, granted he went after Frankenstein's bride but there was an animal reason behind that.

I came away from seeing that movie with a totally different outlook of it.

Oh Darklings if you have a movie theatre that is willing  to show those restored classics then by all means do see them. 

Next week it's "Night of the Living Dead"  I do not know if I'll be able to go, but I hope so.

Now tonight Sis and I are going to plan our menu for the party, I already know what is being brought and what we have in the way of drink and sodas, so now we'll see what else we'll need and then Shopping for paper plates and napkins and such to at least cut down on the dish washing.  We most likely will do that on Saturday as tomorrow there is a Book Sale to go to and I'm looking forward to that. 

We've brought out all the Halloween serving platters, punch bowls, Jell-O molds (yes Darklings Brains, hands and hearts) decanters and such.  They are on the main dinning table waiting to be filled and laid out.  The decanters will be on special tables with drip pans to catch any droplets.

Lot's of toilet paper is ready to be used both upstairs and down stairs.  Music is going to be selected to play quietly under the noise of the party, Then much later in the evening after all of the trick or treaters cease coming to the house, I have a magician friend who will hold a "séance" in the Library, I had him come to the house asking him to plan on setting up his backdrop as if he were to do it and I would pay him for his time, so I could see what would work.  We worked on an area where it would be perfect for him and his assistant to set  up his props and staging he brought a DVD showing his full séance show and we discussed what would work and what won't.  What time he would need to be at the house to set up and I said that since he's my friend to simply mingle among the guests and to be sure he and his assistant ate as well.  And I would make sure the Library would be off limits to allow them to set up with out fear of anything being disturbed.

So besides food and drink and DVD's for the children we will have a magical séance.  Most of the time I don't have that but this time I will, because it's on a Friday.  And I do hope it doesn't rain.

So now I'm going to check the crock pot, stew again but it's easy to make, and then the rice.

Later Darklings

Well look who arrived early for the party!!

Of updates and articles~~~~

Hello Darklings,

Well this is going to have to be a short post, I'm at work right now.

My cousin called me and asked if I'd be interested in going to the movies and I said of course, so since she is working just 5 blocks from me she'll pick me up and we'll go to the movies and then have a late dinner afterwards, her treat.

Well I'm all for that, but what movie I haven't a clue, the "Ouija" movie won't be out until Friday, and there isn't any other that I'm interested in, I hope its not a weepy movie I've had enough weepy in my life and she knows it.  So we'll see.

I have also come across some interesting pictures and articles which I will post over the next few days.  One about Mourning clothing which should be interesting.

I recorded Coast to Coast last night Judika Illes was on the latter half so I had fun listening to it while I was commuting to work, I have not finished it yet but a very interesting person.

I love Coast to Coast radio, but it comes on so late that I have to record any interesting program and listen to it while I'm commuting.  They have ghost hunters, UFO spotters, vampires, exorcists and other persons from the odd side of life. 

If you've never heard of it look it up on Google Coast to Coast Radio, when I have time I'll put up a link.

Must Go.

Later Darklings

You never know what's out there in the night, in the dark.

Of being lazy (well not really)~~~

Hello My Darklings,

I know I have not posted in over a week!!!  Well with the rains and thunderstorm, and work, and allergies things have been a bit crazy. 

And if I were to try and put it all in one post---well then I'd get serious typers cramp, its sort of like writer's cramp but the fingers sort of freeze up.

I think the most difficult thing was the thunderstorm, poor Sis was visiting a friend and noted that the sound of thunder was getting closer and closer to her friends house and even her friend remarked about it when suddenly, both of them felt a tremendous pressure on their heads, and the neck hairs started to stand up.

Sis said she felt a tingling along her arms and then suddenly POW!!! KA-BOOM!!! Both Sis and her friend felt as if a house had exploded, so they dashed out into the rain to see if their was a fire but instead what they saw was car windows smashed, chucks of a tree a redwood tree all over the place, some houses had their windows smashed or cracked and a 80 foot redwood tree was reduced to 25 feet and splinters.

Police and Fire showed up and fortunately no injuries but a number of nervous people.

The house had some damaged to the roof line, but no one there was injured.

When I came home from work, well I have to confess I was enjoying the rain and saw some lighting but I had no idea that it struck close to my sisters and her friend.   But as I said when I came home from work, there she was and her friend (and her friend had an overnight bag), but they both looked white as sheets, my sister offered the hospitality of my home to her friend, which I didn't mind considering the situation.

But the next day we had to go back to see the damage and it was jaw-dropping, the power of nature, how it just destroyed that tree, and people picking up pieces of the wood as souvenirs of this event, even I picked up a piece.  And yet it didn't catch on fire.

The theory is that enough electricity had built up and considering that the redwood tree was the lone tall object in the neighborhood it became the flashpoint, but since wood is not a very good conductor it simply exploded.  Thank goodness it wasn't a flag pole that could have been worse.

Sis's friend felt better to stay back in her house, but Sis decided to stay with her to help her check everything just in case and then took a taxi home. 

And this all took place just the day before April Fool's day, well it was no April Fool that's for sure.

Tuesday evening Doyle wanted to go to this Magic Auction he said one of his friends was selling things---Magic Auction???  Well what is this? I thought. 

And what it was was a Flea Market and Auction for magicians either professional or amateur, and I found it very amusing and delightful, strange things that look bizarre suddenly under the magician's hand become something very extraordinary, and entertaining. 

Our "friends",  the haunted couple were there as well looking at things, they told me they had been to the sight of the exploding redwood tree and picked up a few pieces of wood as well,  "the grain of the wood is so unusual I found a piece that appears to have a face in it"  she said and waxed on the idea's of how to incorporate it into an art piece.

I did manage to buy two things, a wand that looks like a Harry Potter Wand and the tip lights up, and a book about a female magician Adelaide Herrmann, she performed from the late 1880's to about 1930 and I found it fascinating as it was unusual for a woman to be performing a magic stage show.

We stayed and watched the Auction and saw different things being bided on including a tiger cage and a very large trunk.  Some of the biding was slow and some became a bit spirited.  And then it was over, so after saying good by to Doyle's friend, we left going out into the chilly rain and deciding whether to stop someplace for coffee or go straight home. 

We decided on the latter as Sis was with the dogs, and enjoyed a nice slice of hot apple pie with decaff coffee, after all we did need our sleep. 

And we took in during the week, a classic movie "The Third Man" with Orson Wells, so noir and the chase in the sewer tunnels in a way you wish Harry Lime did make it but then it was better he was caught,  I do hope we can go to some of the other films, we did skip "The Way We Were" I'm sorry Darklings, but in my personal opinion it is a, in the words of my brother, "a sappy movie", when I saw it ages ago I did not have any sympathy for the characters, and I still don't although some people love it, its not my kind of movie.

But there are others coming and I am looking forward to it.  There was other things I got caught up in between work, the rain, home projects and such that its a miracle I found time to post this.  But I managed.

And now I'm planning the Easter Dinner, I do hope it doesn't rain that day, but if it does Well That's Life as Frank Sinatra said.

Later Darklings

Of Rain, Disasters and miracles~~~~~

Dear Darklings,

Well we are finally getting some rain, how much of it will make a dent in our drought I don't know, but it feels so good to have it raining here in the Bay Area and Snowing in the Mountains.

At work when I looked out the window I enjoyed seeing it coming down wetting the streets, making grey and mysterious at certain points, of course cars driving fast and splashing rain water on people was not welcomed, but fortunately I had my trench coat and umbrella, and was prepared.

In the evening when the rain was coming down I spent time just looking out the living room window just mesmerized by it, feeling a certain sort of relaxation hearing it.  That lovely coziness that it brings.   Spring rain is different from Winter rain, its not as gloomy and when you step outside in the morning the air has such a fresh feeling.

Of course Belladonna and Weiner Dog beg to differ, "Its wets Mummy, ours tummys gets wets, no likes" but of course demands to go potty wins out.

And it seems that with the rain it has made my garden start to grow wild, the old damaged rose bushes that were moved seem to be doing well, and the new one's planted are flourishing, I'm happy to say.  So now it will be raining on and off through next week, are we going to have rain next month?  I really don't know, I hope so.

I got a phone call last night from our "haunted couple" yes it was they at the S.F. Opera House sale, she was looking for things to incorporate into various art works, she seems to be working on several art projects at the same time depending on where the mood takes her.  We've been invited to dinner tomorrow evening, which should prove to be interesting.  Doyle had to beg off, he's on assignment, so it will be Sis and I, I wonder what will develop?

Of late the news has been grim, the lost of that Malaysian Airplane with all passengers and crew, has developed into a major mystery, why did it go so off course?  Was there emotional problems between either the Pilot or Co-Pilot, why was the black box and transponder turned off?  Did one or the other kill their fellow crew member,  Doyle and I thought at first it was a terrorist act, but no one owned up to it, then I began thinking it crashed by accident, then I began thinking was it a suicide act?  If so why take over 200 lives with you?   To do that is insane. 

Sis has thoughts on that, and said it would not be unusual for someone in a certain frame of mind to do it that way.   Its heart breaking for the surviving family members.

And then that horrendous mud slide in Washington State killing possibly over a hundred people.  One family, by a miracle, was not home but when they returned discovered that their aunt who lived next door had died, they also thought their pet dog a Labrador had died but was discovered to have survived, with only a few cuts, very muddy and very hungry.  Even a 4 year old boy was discovered alive in all that cold wet mud.

But what really had my jaw dropping was seeing on the news that construction worker who was trapped on a balcony edge of a raging apartment building fire, he looked like he was going to get caught by the flames but the fire department managed to get a ladder to him and pull him off just before the upper part of the building collapsed.

It's on You Tube listed as Houston Apartment fire rescue, the original video was done by Karen Jones, all I can say it was a miracle.  

And its the 2nd large major building fire of a building under construction, within weeks of the one in S.F. and the Houston one.  My jaw just dropped to the ground at how close a call it was.

And now the crisis in the Ukraine,  I don't trust Putkin, its all leading to something worse or he wants something and is maneuvering for it.

I have not been posting as much as I would like of late but work both at work and at home has been keeping me very busy.   And I have to admit I'm having fun as well, a friend of mine Diane and I went to see "Young Frankenstein" playing at a local movie theater, part of their classic film series.

It was fun, funny and interesting at the same time, you see on the big screen all these little visual images that one misses when viewing it on Television.  Little details, that add to the story.  I understand that its Mel Brooks favorite film, I can understand why, it incorporates all the elements of the first 3 Frankenstein movies and it had all the equipment used in the original as well.  And I had not realized that the Frankenstein monster in this film had a zipper in his neck or that the Doctor had a thimble on his finger after he sewed the "Abby Normal" brain into his creation.  These are details one just does not catch.

I told Doyle this and his remark was "We need a bigger TV Screen"  Excuse me, I ask him.  And where are we going to put it?   Well, he says,  there's always my future "man-cave".  I gave him The Look, where he quickly decided to go to the kitchen to make us a cup of tea.  Smart move.

Now Easter is coming---whether its going to rain or not depends on, of course, the weather.  And that then will decide where to have Easter Dinner, my Brother asked if I care to have it at my home, and I have no problem with that, but, fortunately his dear wife said that the burden of cooking the entire dinner should not fall exclusively on my shoulders, so she will come over to help out, so between the 3 of us (Sis, sis-in-law, myself) we should be able to do a very nice dinner.

The children are too old for Easter Egg Hunts, but Coralline wants to come over early and my brother will distract the boys for a few hours while we get things ready. 

I posted in a much earlier post about how Gothic the Easter Season is.  With the fasting, and sacrificing and such.  I'm sure you Darklings can find it.  Sis would like to go to the special late night Easter Eve services, if we can find a church that is offering it.  I would love to, it is Gothic Ritual at its highest.

Now I must go, I promised to meet Sis at the Claremont for an early dinner.

Later Darklings

Of "White Elephant Sales", Lent and a busy week~~~~

Hello My Darklings,

My goodness its been over a week since I last posted.   Well I confess work has kept me busy, both at my job and at home, so much so that I barely had a chance to even look over my blog.

We have been having rain, hooray!!!  But it still isn't enough to call off the call that we are in drought conditions, but my cisterns for the garden are getting nicely filled up, so with careful watering I think most of it not all my rooted plants will survive the coming summer.

So what mischief have I been getting into since last I posted???  Well just enough but not too much.

Sis, Doyle and I got up early to grab a good parking space for the Oakland Museums White Elephant Sale, with a folding stool we each took turns holding a place in line, while having hot coffee and donuts going back and forth between Doyles van and our holding spot, and yes it did rain and it was chilly.  But it was worth it,
Doyle found some things for his future "man-cave" so his man-cave can look like an old 1940's detective's office, we are eventually going to Urban Ore to find the approprate door as well.  Sis found a wonderful 1950's desk lamp that looks like a UFO flying disk,  and I found some wonderful vintage costume jewerly as well as a few hand bags, once I snared those I went to help Doyle and Sis.  Just wonderful selections, but you have to know what you are looking for and be prepared to move it right away, some people come with U-Haul Trucks, I did reconize several vintage clothing dealers, they pretty much know what they want and don't have to worry about sizes more about condition.   But Ohhh getting up so early in the morning, in the cold and the rain.  You have to be made of stern stuff.

We later grabed lunch then dropped Sis off at her house so she could meet with her contractor, then Doyle and I went to the Nursery to find some rose bushes, I have to admit it is a little late in the season but I found several in deep dark reds,  I was surprised to see a "Mr. Lincoln" but I wanted it and a couple of lovely climbing roses, which I'll use to help outline the gate way between my yard and my sisters yard.

Such Luck too.   Sunday I just rested and puttered around the house, Doyle treated us to dinner that evening.  Then my work week started and it has been insane, or as some young people would say "we've been slammed",  of course it didn't help that a person was found dead on the BART tracks late Tuesday night which affected my communte to work Wednesday but fortunately the "Powers that Be" were understanding provided that I stayed late to make up the time,  I compromise and told them "It's Ash Wednesday, I'm going to church, I'll make it up on Thursday"  and of course they gave in.

Tuesday if one is at Mardi Grah was "Fat Tuesday" and Doyle and I celebrated in our own way, we went to see a classic movie presentation "A Fistful of Dollars" with Clint Eastwood,  I have never seen the movie on the big screen, and such a difference!!!  It has greater impact visually which adds to the story line, the concept of the struggle for power in a small town where neither side is good, and the one in the middle that destroys the two factions is not really good either, but can be an emblem of rough justice.   The contrast of the two mothers is also very revealing.  Afterwards Doyle and I had to have a glass of wine at one of the local places with a bit of "bar food" and discuss seeing this film on the big screen.

But getting back to the person found dead on the BART tracks, not much is being told about this except that it's being investigated, but what is it about people and either BART or Train Tracks, of late there have been a lot of deaths in regards to this, and from what I've read it's just plain stupidity, not paying attention. 

Well I did stay late on Thursday and today I had a dental appointment this morning and all is well with my teeth.  The rain for now has stopped and the sun is shining, the plum trees are blooming, there are birds coming around, I've seen robins and blue jays, even humming birds, Sis and I have put out our humming bird feeders in locations where cats can't get to them.   And the squirrels are playing "chicken" with the cars and some of them are losing.

And no Darklings I did not watch the Oscars, I really didn't have any interest in it.

So now we are into Lent, Sis and I observe Lent with food restritions, I'm giving up wine and chocolate, no meat on Fridays,  and I'm taking next week off, Spring cleaning,  I'm having the drapes, curtains cleaned, the rugs have to be done a special way,  the cleaning service is going to be giving me a big bill after this is over, cleaning the stove and oven, and getting rid of things that we've bought and we'll never use. 

But it will feel good.

Later Darklings

Of Fire and Wine, the Munster House and Food paired with movies~~~~

I know Darklings, what a strange combination.

But at the moment I have those things upper most in my mind.

First let me speak of wine,  yesterday evening a friend of mine came by to drop off a surprise present to me.  In was in "thanks" for a favor I had been able to do for him, I told him it was not necessary to give a gift, but he was very appreciative and because of this favor it had helped him immensely.

And what was the gift?  Two bottles of wine "Bewitched" Pinoe Noir 2010 (very hard to find right now) and "Bewitched" Chardonay,  these wines come wrapped in a 'bewitching' wrapper which includes suggestions as to what meals to pair the wines with.   I had the Pinoe Noir last year and found it very flavorful and wonderfully complex 4 out of 5 stars in my book.  I've not had the Chardonay but we will.   My friend also gave me a bottle of "Curious Beasts" Red, he knows I am intrigued by wines with bizarre names, and to have it in my Apothecaria (wine celler) on display and waiting would intrigue any curious person.

After giving his gifts we made arrangements to have dinner sometime soon before he leaves town on business.  It's good to have friends like that.

Since I know that the Pinon Noir is hard to find, if I like the Bewitched Chardonay and the Curious Beast I will stock up.   Doyle misses the Beer that was served with the Elvira label although I did keep the six pack and empty bottles and have them on display in the Apothecaria as part of the "dead and gone".

On a side note,  the family in Texas (I believe they are the McKee family) that build a duplicate of the Munster house will be having their annual Munster halloween tour, one weekend only, to raise money for charity,  I mean a family going through all 70 espisodes of the Munsters, hunting photo's, counting steps to get an idea of size, is very dedicated, they even have a "Spot" under the stair case.   I wish we could go and take a tour but alas not to be, at least this year, who know about next.   I will include a link for it for those who may have the chance.

And now about the fires, at last notice the Yosemite Rim Fire is about 80 percent contained and they may have it completely out by the end of this month.   Already conservationists are moving in to see what can be done to prevent irrosion,  Yosemite itself has been spared, but it was very devestating.

And speaking of devestation, we have our own local wildfire on Mt. Diablo, approx 30 miles east of us, the fire started accidently, a spark from a chain from a tow truck, that is how dry everything is, they are calling it the Morgan fire because it began on Morgan road,  people have evacuated their homes, moved their animals including horses out of the area, for some people near the community of Clayton, they only had a few minutes, for one man he had time to grab his wallet and keys and drive out.   Some people driving to Walnut Creek at night said that the mountain looked like a valcano,  I've included some shots of it.

At this time I've heard that it's 45 percent contained but the air quaility is affected.

Everything all around is so tinder dry and flamable, even around our own homes,  I've had my gardener make sure to remove all the dry brush from those flowers that have withered, and I am concerned about the firewood that I have stacked to the rear of the property, all it would take is some evil person sneaking in and doing malicious mischief.   I'm glad Doyle put in those sensor lights and motion camera's.

Our only concern is our local 'crazy person' but he's been quiet lately, rumor has it that family members are looking into ways to have him removed and put into a sort of half-way house.  As I understand it, the father is not in very good health and its too much for the Mother to care for him,  family members have been coming over to help out, even staying the night, everyone rotating, I'm glad that the mother has such a positive supportive family.  And considering how the family members saw how our Crazy was acting out to the point that it required 6 police officers, they know they have to do something.  That is why I'm holding off on the Restraining Order. 

Doyle went out and purchased several skeletons from Spirit, he's really getting into the "spirit" of Halloween, he has ideas for less frightening displays, I'm not going to stop him.  I've done my own personal shopping and bought a new pair of fangs,  and tonight after dinner I'm going to put on Revlon's "Devil's Lure"  I'm so glad I bought two bottles when I had the chance.  I also have a gloss by Revlon called "Forbidden" so I am prepared and looking forward towards Halloween.

And now the timer on the crock pot has gone off,  I'm cooking something very mundane,  Beef Stew, to be served over rice,  a simple salad with ice berg lettuce and pomogrante dressing,  Doyle will chose the wine, but for desert, mango sherbert with dried cranberries or vanilla ice cream with a topping of preserved apricot haves with their syrup, to be followed by one possibly two Noir Films and coffee.  And what would go with Beef Stew?  Hmmm "The House on 92nd street" and "Calling Northside 777".

Doyle thinks we should pair our movies with food, for example if we have spagettie we should watch a spagettie Western afterwards,  if it's chilli then "Blazing Saddles",  if it's steak then a "James Bond" film or other spy movies.  Do you see what I'm getting at Darklings.

So what would go with Pizza and jug red wine or milk shake (ewu what a combination) well I'm thinking "Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs" or "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken"---no that should be with chicken wings.  Well you get the idea.

But still even I like the idea of pair food with a movie, one does have to get creative, and speaking of creative  I am soooo looking forward to the T.V. primer of "Sleepy Hollow"  the idea of it sends darkish shivers up and down my spine.  Hmmmm I wonder what food would go with that?  Something I'll have to think upon.

Later Darklings

This is the fire on the rim of Mt. Diablo