Of things slowly becoming Normal??? or Tornados in Boston???~~~~

Dear Darklings,

It has been ages since I've heard the weather being so bizarre here in the States.

Yesterday there were lighting strikes in Venice Beach, Ca. which killed one person and injured several others.   So unusual!!

And then this morning eastern time a Tornado in the Boston area, they never have tornados.  It tore apart homes, flooding and I believed someone got hurt.  Just so bizarre. (or was it Chicago---now I'm confused)

Of course we're dealing with wildfires in the Northwest and in California that is almost a given, but to have it start so early in the summer and one is especially close to Yosemite, threatening the community of El Portal.

Of course the weather man is describing how they get created and the drought and everything, but one of my friends came by today to see how I was doing and brought by a wonderful Lemon Blueberry bread or cake I don't know which but oh so scrumptious.  And she brought two of them,  and gave me a copy of the recipe.

My plumber was finishing up on getting my sink unclogged and working beautifully tried a slice and asked for a copy of the recipe as his wife bakes, so I made him a copy (thank you oh photocopy machine attached to my computer)

And YES Darklings my sink is finally unplugged, unclogged, unstagnated and running free, free, free!  Fortunately I had buckets for the plumber to use to catch the water, or sludge really, such gunk, I'd call it swamp water, it was horrible, so horrible I think even the swamps would not want it.. 

We took it to the farthest back part of the yard where it would not matter and dumped it there.  Then I ran some water on it to break it down. 

And it's cooling down here in the house finally, oh I'm keeping the fans on to circulate the air but at least we can sleep more comfortably now. 

My friend Lena said to me that the way the weather is going with lighting and tornados she was wondering if some evil sorcerer was doing something really awful.  Well she is very much into the occult and tarot and such, and loves exploring haunted houses and places, doing EVP recordings and such I've heard some of the recordings, and they disturb me a bit.

Anyway after my plumber left and I was happy, we had Lemonade and the Lemon Blueberry bread, the three of us, and discussed the whole situation, triple digits inland for us and 90's just south and north of us and we had reached a very high point in some parts where we live it did reach the 90's, and the drought does not make it any better.

Lena has friends in Arizona and they've been getting monsoon rains, and you have to be careful during that kind of weather because one minute your fine the next minute your car is floating down the street.  And lighting strikes all over, Lena told me that during this time the TV stations in Arizona compete for the best lighting photos. 

To each their own I say,  I remember some years ago, Mom and Dad wanted to sell off a bunch of stuff they didn't want nor needed anymore, so borrowing a neighbors van we loaded everything up the night before, and went to the old Flea Market that was held in an old Drive in Theatre, well lots of things sold even as we were unloading things, and Dad was glad all the large items sold quickly and we were putting out smaller stuff and it started to rain, in July a strange warm rain, I was feeling electricity dancing along my arms which frightened me.

Just then both Dad, Mom and I looked up towards these telephone poles that we just outside the fence of the drive-in and we saw lighting,  multiple lighting bolts dancing along the wires.

Dad said "That's it pack up!!" and we did and still selling things as we were packing up, we managed to get what was left into the van just and we were hit with a torrential down pour, just then we felt the prickling again and Dad said "Don't touch the doors or anything metal, keep your feet on the rubber pads"  we did and a good thing too.

I felt the hair on my head begin to stand up and a heavy pressure pressing down on me, suddenly everything went white in a blinding flash and a loud explosion, when I could see again I saw a ball of lighting moving quickly from metal stantion to stantion (those are those metal posts that held the speakers you mounted on your car window to hear the movie) and then it disappear under our van.

I heard Mom cry out "Jesus, Mary and Joseph!!!"   and then just as suddenly as the rains came it began to taper off.  People were moving quickly and other sellers were packing quickly as well. 

We knew there had been a lighting strike in the Drive-in but exactly where we didn't know, but we did see another strike further on in a large lot that was empty except for some old trees.

Then we heard sirens,  it was the fire department several people had been hurt by the strike fortunately we found out later not fatal.

It was a bit too much for all of us my Sister was saying "Can we go home??"  Dad said we would but we had to wait for it to clear out as much as possible because everyone was trying to leave at the same time, we did see a few fender benders between some old trucks, nothing that would stop them from working, even the truck owners acted like "It's o.k. let's get outta here".

It was good to get home after all that excitement, my brother who was staying with friends that day was mad having missed all the excitement---I thought he was nuts.  But that's younger brother's for you.

That old drive-in movie theatre is gone McMansions are sitting on that ground, but I'll never forget seeing the lighting dancing on the wires.

Later Darklings

Of feeling sleepy and a vacation idea~~~~~

Hello Darklings,

I feel so sleepy, the weather seems to have "sucked me dry" although it's cooler outside than inside the house, but I just feel and if I want to hibernate for years.

It has to be the weather or maybe the stresses I've been having.

I did get some good news, Mrs. plumber, my plumber's wife called and had two good pieces of information.

1. Her husband is doing fine, no infection, but they are going to keep him in the hospital for another day or two, but because of his type of work they are insisting he rest for 6 weeks.   Well I'm glad he's going to be well.

2. My plumber has a brother who is also a licensed plumber and said he could finish the job for him, he and I talked and he was apologetic, he's tied up finishing another job but will be able to take on mine next Monday. For some reason I heard a very faint rendition of the Lone Ranger theme, a plumbing hero is coming to the rescue. 


 Doyle recommended we use plastic forks and paper plates and cups, until the sink is fixed.

Well I told him not for the coffee and tea cups, I'm willing to drink wine out of a paper cup but not my coffee,  but Doyle has also suggested we get take out, and I agree, at least I won't have to tackle the pots and pans and then bail out the sink.

We can do it.   And we can deal with it.   But I cannot use the dish washer or washing machine until that connection is replaced.  Oh well.  Tomorrow---The Laundromat!!!

At least we can take baths and showers so all is not lost.

Doyle suggested that we eat outside in the back garden and take advantage of the breeze, for dinner, I certainly am all for that.

And he made a suggestion to me after he gets well----He said "How would you like to take a couple of days and stay in Bodega Bay where Hitchcock filmed "The Birds",  he showed me this web site for Bodega Bay Lodge.  Oh Darklings it looks so wonderful and romantic, dining, a spa, ocean views, nearby historic locations, a few wineries.

I was all for it, so now depending upon how well he'll be we'll go either end of September or Mid-October, for several days, take advantage of the spa, the wineries, seeing the historic sights and just relaxing as well.

My man with the beat up almost Bogart face, being romantic even with his medical problem.  What more could an elder Goth Female ask for.

Later Darklings

Of dealing with difficulties and taking time off~~~~

Well My Darklings,

My plumbing problem is still not solved, my plumber had to go to the hospital, it seems it was more than what appeared to be the flu.....it was appendicitis.

Fortunately he got to the hospital before anything burst and they operated quickly, but he is out of commission for the next 4 to 6 weeks, and I wouldn't even ask him to do any hard work. 

So I have to make other plans,  poor man, he and his wife didn't need this set back, but she told me that they have savings to tied them over while he recovers, to make up any difference that her wages couldn't cover.  And he has good medical insurance.

I'm taking time off from work right now, my boss said that I had just reached the maximum hours that I could work, early because of my covering for those on vacation.  So I need to be off work for 4 weeks.

I'm not worried, I've been saving most of that extra money anyway and my investments will give me anything extra that I need, not that I need much.  I'm pretty much covered.

And it gives me a chance to take care of some things here at home, like make sure Doyle doesn't strain himself, and seeing to the garden. 

The drought has been difficult on my garden, I've avoided replanting any flowers, and I've been using the soaker hose on my plants as it hardly wastes any water, I'm lucky in that I have both rain cisterns and well water for the garden, but I have to be careful with the water table. 

I do have a bird bath so at least the birds can have water, although I've seen squirrels climb up and drink out of it. 

I am glad that I had the work done and paid for before this time off, that is a big help.

My ghostly artistic couple came over last night for drinks and a few munchies, good thing to have the freezer and micro-wave oven.  I try to be prepared.

They've been in New York exhibiting her paintings and selling quiet a few, she said that there is quite a community that is interested in her works.  I told them about Sis going to the Horror Camping event, and they loved the concept, she told me that concept is giving her idea's for some paintings, they've even attended a séance or two while in New York, she was hoping to get some idea's for that.

I asked if they went to Lily Dale which is a summer resort for Spiritualists, they said they had, having gone there for readings and spent a couple of days listening to lectures and walking around the area.

I'd like someday to go there, but I have to see how things go.

My ghostly couple are thinking of holding a séance in their home sometime in the near future they asked if they could put me and Sis on their guest list and being interested in the bizarre and occult I said yes. 

I'm so glad that we entertained outside as the humidity was horrible in the house, it made me wish I had gone ahead and had my contractor do the screening in of the back porch, but the plumbing comes first. 

I feel so flat today, like the life has been sort of wrung out of me, maybe the weather, maybe dealing with the problems of the house, maybe dealing with Doyle's problem and lining up his next appointments. 

I'd wish for something exciting but frankly I think after the last few weeks I've had enough excitement, so maybe this is a good thing.

And now the dogs are demanding their walkies, hmmm one never knows what one will encounter on a walk, that should provide some amusement.

Later Darklings

Of mundane things and banging one's head against the wall~~~~

Well Darklings,

Did you ever have days where nothing seems to go quite right?

It seems I'm dealing with things like that. 

Doyle will be on the antibiotics for 6 weeks, nothing we can do about that, but it seems that the kitchen sink drain is not just a simple clog.

We found out that the kitchen drain is attached to a "Y" connector which is attached to the drain from the washing machine, we have been advised to not wash our clothing because the old "Y" connector is seriously clogged, and it does not have a "clean out trap"  LOVELY!!!

It's old cast iron, it will have to be replaced and my plumber has come down sick, I want him to do the work because he's given me very good work at very good rates. 

He came down with a fever and had the chills so bad, that we had him stop work,  I got him out of the basement where he promptly threw up.   Well Clorox Bleach took care of that. 

So Brian drove him home to the care of the plumber's wife and I followed in my car to bring Brian back.

I got a phone call later from Mrs. Plumber and it seems he has the flu, he'll be out of work for a week, and she had to call back other customers and re-direct them to someone else, but I want him to work on my situation as I have confidence in him.  She understood,  customer loyalty and all.

So I said I would live with it for the next week,   until he was back on his feet again.

So bucket and bail, and Laundromat time.

Sis does not have a washer and dryer yet, she's been too busy to buy them and she wants Maytag, so she'd been coming to my house to do her laundry, when I told her she said "It never rains, but it pours" but she was good enough to deal with it.

I know I may seem stubborn to wait on my plumber but he's done a lot of work for me, and had told me that we may need to look at a couple of connections to the sewer, I just didn't think it would happen so soon.

And he needs the work as well, his wife's hours at her job had been cut back so every dollar counts.

So I'm mentally banging my head, at how things are going.

At least Doyle is slowly improving, although we do have to line up a few appointments which I'll do next week,  once I see how things are going.

A friend of mine wants to take me to a magic show over in the City tonight, Doyle said to go, that I need a distraction since he's out of commission and we can't do anything else right now.

So back to the kitchen sink to bail out water and then water the trees way to the back.

My brother and his family are enjoying their RV they did a long shake down trip going North to the Avenue of the Giants, and he's been planning weekenders as well, this weekend they've gone to Monterey to camp on the beach.  He wants to go to Santa Cruz but avoid Highway 17 which is not kind to RV or vehicles pulling trailers, so he may take an alternative route with is longer but easier.

Next year they want to see historical sights, I think he mentioned something like the Grand Canyon,
that should be fun.  I know Coralline was excited about the idea.

She mentioned to me the other day how she noticed how the cost of housing was going up so high, that something like a "Gypsy Wagon" looks attractive to her.  She should me her travel journal and I was amazed at her observations, everything from the feel of the weather, to scents and sights and sounds, and her taking it all in.   And her thoughts on the places where they stayed, what was good about it and what was so-so.

I think this will help with her creativity in writing.  Now she asked her Mother if she could have a camera to take pictures.  Her Mother is thinking it over, so we'll see how that goes.

Well I've got dishes to wash and a sink to bail.

Later Darklings