Hello again Darklings,
I'm taking a break, the maid service has come and swept through taking care of the hall, upstairs and maids room and bathrooms, Friday they'll be here to do the main floor rooms, expensive but worth it. It is a good thing my Great-Aunts trust provides for that service otherwise I'd have my hands full.
Laundry done and folded (yes how boring), meat loaf prepared, in the Refrigerator and waiting to be popped into the oven, and I've made the Pumpkin Crunch dessert. The service staff smelled it and wanted the receipe and were surprised how easy to make, once cooled I cut a little section out for samples, just perfect.
And so my Darklings, I'll share that receipe with you, I may even make a 2nd one.
PUMPKIN CRUNCH
1 15 oz. can pumpkin
1 12 oz. can evaporated milk
1 1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Combine all the ingredients listed above and pour into a greaced 9 x 13 inch pan
1 yellow cake mix
1 cup melted butter
Sprinkle cake mix on top of pumpkin mixture and then pour the melted butter on top
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes
Allow to cool, cut and serve, can top with whipped cream I prefer to use real whipping cream not cool whip but I'm old-fashioned that way.
I still have my tiny apartment stove for now, BUT----yes Darklings I've ordered a wonderful stove, it looks old fashioned, but it's modern, it will be delivered and then I'll have a professional make sure it's properly installed and calibrated.
And speaking of calibration, it does pay to check to see if your oven is working at the correct temperature, so with the coming winter and you'll be doing a lot of baking I'm sure, have a professional stove repair person come out and make sure your oven and pilots are calibrated to the correct degree.
Now to take Belladonna for her walk. Enjoy!
Later Darklings
Monday, October 14, 2013
Of Monday, Aviator cocktails, and a possible BART strike~~~
Hello and Good Morning Darklings,
Yes, Moi up early in the A.M. who would have thought. But it seems that when I wake up although the clock says 7 a.m. it Does feel like 6 a.m. I will be so glad when Daylight Savings Time is over. Of course Belladonna did not want to leave her nice warm bed, I still have her in her sweater and she was under her bed covers (yes doggie bed covers) so I have not forced her, she'll get up when she wants to.
I am so glad I do not work on Mondays and Fridays anymore, I've been following the news and people thought that BART unions were going to strike today, but not----at least for 24 hours. This whole thing is so silly and the public is fed up with the unions holding out, it seems anything to do with transportation is not sitting well with the general public.
BART management has given their best and final offer, which is more than before, and BART unions are acting coy hinting its still not enough, but from what I can detect between the verbage, I think the unions are wary of public opinion right now, the public is not on their side....AND there is a move up in Sacramento to design and pass a bill preventing state wide any kind of transit strike, I do believe that New York and at least two other states have a simular bill.
Both Unions and Management do not want that kind of bill, but I have a feeling it will pass, anything that interfers with the economy, creates chaos and grid lock now a days is not looked upon favorably. So BART and possibly AC Transit Unions may have shot themselves in the foot. Well that is what happens if you become too greedy.
Doyle and Sis have left for their respective offices early today, Doyle muttering about doing background checks, and Sis saying she'll be glad to have her house done so she can get out of her lease on her office. And I will be making dinner. Good Old Fashion Monday Meatloaf. But I came across a dessert called Pumpkin Crunch, such a good alternative to pumpkin pie. So I'll be a housefrau today, which is good, my maid service is coming in today.
And meal planning, bill paying all those wonderful mundane things to do.
Last night Doyle made Aviator cocktails, they have a sky blue color, and it is not made with Blue curaco but Creme de Violete very hard to get I understand but Doyle has his sources, it is a cocktail from the 1920's and such a floral taste almost refreshing----now Doyle said if one uses Palma Violetes or another liquor it tastes different, but he wanted to try this, I fell in love with it, now there are a lot of receipes out there but the original is best to follow.
I asked Doyle why he wanted to try it and he reminded me of an earlier episode of "The Blacklist" where James Spader's character introduces the heroine to the Aviator cocktail---this is sort of a Hannibal character but with a slight difference, unfortunately it runs the same time as "Castle" so we record it and watch it on Tuesday right after the 6 p.m. news, I find Spader's character devious, a manipulative, but why is his character getting rid of those he's done business with and who are very evil? What is his motive? It is far more enjoyable than "Revenge" which is just a fancy Soap Opera, and "Scandal" is fine but I am not intrigued by that program as much.
What we have found is that if there are programs that run at the same time we Tivo them and then watch them during "blank spots" in the regular T.V. programing---"Blank Spots" being programs we're not interested in, since we try to have dinner at 6 p.m. if possible, one blank spot is the 7 to 8 p.m. slot. and on weekends it can extend to the 8 to 9 p.m. slot as well.
And I must confess I've become hooked on "The Good Wife" now the plot line is getting very interesting, before it bored me, but Sis liked it. But now we have "Sleepy Hollow" "Bones", "The Originals" and our favorites, "Castle", "Blue Bloods", "Supernatural", "Big Bang Theory", "NCIS" "NCIS-LA", "CSI", "Criminal Minds", "Person of Interest", sorry but "Elementary" has lost me, "Hawaii 50" is still interesting but I don't think it will survive this season. We've been checking in on "Vampire Diaries" Sis watches it because of some of her younger clients, but its still too juvenile for me, although I think the Damon character is interesting, he reminds me of a young man I dated many years ago, always acting like a bad boy, but secretly had a good heart and did kind and helpful things for people without their knowing it. Same green eyes--mmmmmm.
But what has Happened to "Hannibal" and "Nikita" I didn't hear of them being cancelled. Unless "Hannibal" is one of those 13 weeks mid-season runs. Doyle insists that we buy the series "Foyle's War" I agree I enjoy the degree of research into the history of that program and its set design.
But now I understand there are still a few more programs to premier, oh decisions, decisions.
Now I must go, Belladonna finally rose from her bed and has done her thing and is barking at the squirrels, I guess I'll have to go and referee and the Maid Service will be here in the next half-hour, and I still have to get the inside of the house decorated for Halloween, not that I have to do much, just to get out a few things and plan the menu for the party.
Later Darklings
Yes, Moi up early in the A.M. who would have thought. But it seems that when I wake up although the clock says 7 a.m. it Does feel like 6 a.m. I will be so glad when Daylight Savings Time is over. Of course Belladonna did not want to leave her nice warm bed, I still have her in her sweater and she was under her bed covers (yes doggie bed covers) so I have not forced her, she'll get up when she wants to.
I am so glad I do not work on Mondays and Fridays anymore, I've been following the news and people thought that BART unions were going to strike today, but not----at least for 24 hours. This whole thing is so silly and the public is fed up with the unions holding out, it seems anything to do with transportation is not sitting well with the general public.
BART management has given their best and final offer, which is more than before, and BART unions are acting coy hinting its still not enough, but from what I can detect between the verbage, I think the unions are wary of public opinion right now, the public is not on their side....AND there is a move up in Sacramento to design and pass a bill preventing state wide any kind of transit strike, I do believe that New York and at least two other states have a simular bill.
Both Unions and Management do not want that kind of bill, but I have a feeling it will pass, anything that interfers with the economy, creates chaos and grid lock now a days is not looked upon favorably. So BART and possibly AC Transit Unions may have shot themselves in the foot. Well that is what happens if you become too greedy.
Doyle and Sis have left for their respective offices early today, Doyle muttering about doing background checks, and Sis saying she'll be glad to have her house done so she can get out of her lease on her office. And I will be making dinner. Good Old Fashion Monday Meatloaf. But I came across a dessert called Pumpkin Crunch, such a good alternative to pumpkin pie. So I'll be a housefrau today, which is good, my maid service is coming in today.
And meal planning, bill paying all those wonderful mundane things to do.
Last night Doyle made Aviator cocktails, they have a sky blue color, and it is not made with Blue curaco but Creme de Violete very hard to get I understand but Doyle has his sources, it is a cocktail from the 1920's and such a floral taste almost refreshing----now Doyle said if one uses Palma Violetes or another liquor it tastes different, but he wanted to try this, I fell in love with it, now there are a lot of receipes out there but the original is best to follow.
I asked Doyle why he wanted to try it and he reminded me of an earlier episode of "The Blacklist" where James Spader's character introduces the heroine to the Aviator cocktail---this is sort of a Hannibal character but with a slight difference, unfortunately it runs the same time as "Castle" so we record it and watch it on Tuesday right after the 6 p.m. news, I find Spader's character devious, a manipulative, but why is his character getting rid of those he's done business with and who are very evil? What is his motive? It is far more enjoyable than "Revenge" which is just a fancy Soap Opera, and "Scandal" is fine but I am not intrigued by that program as much.
What we have found is that if there are programs that run at the same time we Tivo them and then watch them during "blank spots" in the regular T.V. programing---"Blank Spots" being programs we're not interested in, since we try to have dinner at 6 p.m. if possible, one blank spot is the 7 to 8 p.m. slot. and on weekends it can extend to the 8 to 9 p.m. slot as well.
And I must confess I've become hooked on "The Good Wife" now the plot line is getting very interesting, before it bored me, but Sis liked it. But now we have "Sleepy Hollow" "Bones", "The Originals" and our favorites, "Castle", "Blue Bloods", "Supernatural", "Big Bang Theory", "NCIS" "NCIS-LA", "CSI", "Criminal Minds", "Person of Interest", sorry but "Elementary" has lost me, "Hawaii 50" is still interesting but I don't think it will survive this season. We've been checking in on "Vampire Diaries" Sis watches it because of some of her younger clients, but its still too juvenile for me, although I think the Damon character is interesting, he reminds me of a young man I dated many years ago, always acting like a bad boy, but secretly had a good heart and did kind and helpful things for people without their knowing it. Same green eyes--mmmmmm.
But what has Happened to "Hannibal" and "Nikita" I didn't hear of them being cancelled. Unless "Hannibal" is one of those 13 weeks mid-season runs. Doyle insists that we buy the series "Foyle's War" I agree I enjoy the degree of research into the history of that program and its set design.
But now I understand there are still a few more programs to premier, oh decisions, decisions.
Now I must go, Belladonna finally rose from her bed and has done her thing and is barking at the squirrels, I guess I'll have to go and referee and the Maid Service will be here in the next half-hour, and I still have to get the inside of the house decorated for Halloween, not that I have to do much, just to get out a few things and plan the menu for the party.
Later Darklings
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Of the Sunny Sunday Aftermath~~~~
Hello Darklings,
Yes Undergroundfortea, it did turn out to be a very fun and exhausting day. But as they say many hands make light work.
The brunch food was mostly for everyone who didn't have a chance for breakfast and were going to skip a late lunch, as a matter of fact, everyone had indulged so much on the bagels, donuts and fruit that lunch was un-necessary.
But in a matter of a few hours the weeds and brambles were cleared out and dumped into the dumpster and its full, full, full! It's a good thing we were able to close the lid, well the boys helped by jumping up an down on it, we put a tarp over everything and that way it avoided getting brambles in their clothes and it packed down nicely.
Hidden under all of that we found a dozen head stones for various pets, and it seems that my Great Aunt had a very low stone boundary wall marking the area, standing about 18 inches high, but it couldn't be seen very well, and with some dirt removed we've found a couple of steps that led to the area, so we now have a clearly defined area, and my brother and Doyle are thinking of going in the next few weeks to Urban Ore or another salvage place to find old style metal fencing and re-making the area, the boys are now into it as well, but from their point of view as a goulish delight. Oh well, whatever it takes.
It's a good thing my brother knows something about concret work and such since he handled a lot of the remodeling on his house, he's hoping to use that as a way of absolution towards Coralline and it will be a good thing for the boys to learn.
Once the hard work was done we all retired into the greenhouse where it was warm to relax and talk, the children enjoying the Koi, everyone else enjoying a beer or wine and what was left of the food, then bit by bit my friends had to leave, I did give them standing invitations to come to my Halloween party.
Then Monica shoved the boys into the down stairs shower to get cleaned up, with their Father monitoring them and us "girls" upstairs getting cleaned up, the idea of dinner seemed too much for everyone so we decided to see if there was going to be food at the Haunted House instead. If not then we'd find a late night burger place like "In n' Out" for dinner.
I know Darklings, how mundane! But do you know how hard it is to find a late night fast food place around here, that is not a night club?
When I was much younger locations of such places were spread by word of mouth for the "Nighthawks" those who 'fly by night', some locations were pretty dicey, and finding an all night grocery store or drug store was even rarer, very hard for those who live the vampire lifestyle, oh in San Francisco there were places but on the East Bay side much harder.
Now there are places that are almost 24/7 but you still need a directory for some services. I have a friend who has a skin condition which forces her to practically be a vampire, she has to take vitamin D because she has to avoid the sun as much as possible. The very early morning hours and at twilight she's fine, but full sun is a problem. When she had a doctor or dental appointment she had to wear special clothing to shield her, now she has a dentist who has evening hours, can have her pills delivered by mail, she can go as early as possible for blood tests, but scheduling a doctor's appointment sometimes can be hard, but if she can be the last paticent of the day it works.
Now there are many stores open late or 24/7 and she can find evening entertainment. She works part-time at night and is also on disablity because her condition limits her to the types of jobs and work she can do. Sometimes a government agency tries to kick her off their rolls but she has a lawyer and two doctors plus photos that show how horribly she can burn. But for the last 5 years they've stopped trying to do that, it seems that other people have shown up with that condition.
One would not think so, given how flawless her complexion is but I've seen her have accidents.
The Pirates of Emerson Haunted Houses were soooo much FUN! and so very crowded but the boys were in their element and Coralline and her parents were enjoying themselves, Doyle, Sis and I had a hard time keeping up, so we made arrangements to meet periodically. I cannot tell you what we saw only to say that if you are in Pleasanton, Calif. go and see, checkout their web site for hours and days and cost.
I can only say it was like a 6 ring circus. Everyone came home exhausted, and slept like rocks, the boys (aka the three stoogies) slept in their sleeping bags on padded mats on the floor of the maids room while their Dad slept in the twin size bed (his perogative), Coralline and her Mom shared Coralline's double bed, and we all slept the sleep of the just, and we had breakfast out, Sis and I were not going to cook for that young ravenous crew. But everyone had a wonderful time.
And we saw them off and came home to sleep some more. It's a good thing we put stew in the crock pot, such a handy item.
I woke up from my nap to find Doyle had left the house, but left a message that he'd be back soon, and he did with Creme de Violete and Bulldog gin, plus lemons, saying he was going to make all of us "Aviator' cocktails---time for a dash of the 1920's said he. I think I'll have to get into my silk lounge pajama's after dinner to sip this. I'll give you my opinion of it in another post.
Later Darklings
Yes Undergroundfortea, it did turn out to be a very fun and exhausting day. But as they say many hands make light work.
The brunch food was mostly for everyone who didn't have a chance for breakfast and were going to skip a late lunch, as a matter of fact, everyone had indulged so much on the bagels, donuts and fruit that lunch was un-necessary.
But in a matter of a few hours the weeds and brambles were cleared out and dumped into the dumpster and its full, full, full! It's a good thing we were able to close the lid, well the boys helped by jumping up an down on it, we put a tarp over everything and that way it avoided getting brambles in their clothes and it packed down nicely.
Hidden under all of that we found a dozen head stones for various pets, and it seems that my Great Aunt had a very low stone boundary wall marking the area, standing about 18 inches high, but it couldn't be seen very well, and with some dirt removed we've found a couple of steps that led to the area, so we now have a clearly defined area, and my brother and Doyle are thinking of going in the next few weeks to Urban Ore or another salvage place to find old style metal fencing and re-making the area, the boys are now into it as well, but from their point of view as a goulish delight. Oh well, whatever it takes.
It's a good thing my brother knows something about concret work and such since he handled a lot of the remodeling on his house, he's hoping to use that as a way of absolution towards Coralline and it will be a good thing for the boys to learn.
Once the hard work was done we all retired into the greenhouse where it was warm to relax and talk, the children enjoying the Koi, everyone else enjoying a beer or wine and what was left of the food, then bit by bit my friends had to leave, I did give them standing invitations to come to my Halloween party.
Then Monica shoved the boys into the down stairs shower to get cleaned up, with their Father monitoring them and us "girls" upstairs getting cleaned up, the idea of dinner seemed too much for everyone so we decided to see if there was going to be food at the Haunted House instead. If not then we'd find a late night burger place like "In n' Out" for dinner.
I know Darklings, how mundane! But do you know how hard it is to find a late night fast food place around here, that is not a night club?
When I was much younger locations of such places were spread by word of mouth for the "Nighthawks" those who 'fly by night', some locations were pretty dicey, and finding an all night grocery store or drug store was even rarer, very hard for those who live the vampire lifestyle, oh in San Francisco there were places but on the East Bay side much harder.
Now there are places that are almost 24/7 but you still need a directory for some services. I have a friend who has a skin condition which forces her to practically be a vampire, she has to take vitamin D because she has to avoid the sun as much as possible. The very early morning hours and at twilight she's fine, but full sun is a problem. When she had a doctor or dental appointment she had to wear special clothing to shield her, now she has a dentist who has evening hours, can have her pills delivered by mail, she can go as early as possible for blood tests, but scheduling a doctor's appointment sometimes can be hard, but if she can be the last paticent of the day it works.
Now there are many stores open late or 24/7 and she can find evening entertainment. She works part-time at night and is also on disablity because her condition limits her to the types of jobs and work she can do. Sometimes a government agency tries to kick her off their rolls but she has a lawyer and two doctors plus photos that show how horribly she can burn. But for the last 5 years they've stopped trying to do that, it seems that other people have shown up with that condition.
One would not think so, given how flawless her complexion is but I've seen her have accidents.
The Pirates of Emerson Haunted Houses were soooo much FUN! and so very crowded but the boys were in their element and Coralline and her parents were enjoying themselves, Doyle, Sis and I had a hard time keeping up, so we made arrangements to meet periodically. I cannot tell you what we saw only to say that if you are in Pleasanton, Calif. go and see, checkout their web site for hours and days and cost.
I can only say it was like a 6 ring circus. Everyone came home exhausted, and slept like rocks, the boys (aka the three stoogies) slept in their sleeping bags on padded mats on the floor of the maids room while their Dad slept in the twin size bed (his perogative), Coralline and her Mom shared Coralline's double bed, and we all slept the sleep of the just, and we had breakfast out, Sis and I were not going to cook for that young ravenous crew. But everyone had a wonderful time.
And we saw them off and came home to sleep some more. It's a good thing we put stew in the crock pot, such a handy item.
I woke up from my nap to find Doyle had left the house, but left a message that he'd be back soon, and he did with Creme de Violete and Bulldog gin, plus lemons, saying he was going to make all of us "Aviator' cocktails---time for a dash of the 1920's said he. I think I'll have to get into my silk lounge pajama's after dinner to sip this. I'll give you my opinion of it in another post.
Later Darklings
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Of Saturday, chilly Saturday~~~~
Hello Darklings,
Yes I've been up early and wearing warm clothing, even Belladonna is wearing her warm sweater, (with the skulls on it).
Some friends of mine are arriving and setting up coffee and tea pots and noshes (donuts, bagels etc).
We are doing a brunch followed by late lunch yard clean up. I had our waste company drop off a dumpster designed for yard waste, (no dirt or sod), so we can clean up and prepare the garden for winter. My gardener does a good job, but we are looking at completely clearing out all the weeds and brambles from the pet cemetery area as well as any hidden rotting debrie.
My Brother and sister-in-law will be arriving with the Clan in just a few minutes. They are bringing a change of clothing so we can go to the Pirates of Emmerson haunted house this evening, so I think we'll order Pizza for dinner and my Brother asked if the they can all camp out inside my home for the night, not wanting to do a long drive home.
So I said the boys and their father could sleep in the "maids' room" down stairs, Coralline and her Mother could sleep in Coralline's room.
A bit of a Sleep over, the halloween decorations are up and in latter part of next week Doyle and I will be in Old Town Sacramento staying at the Delta King, our mini-vacation...I'm looking forward to that.
Must go, people are arriving.
Later Darklings
Yes I've been up early and wearing warm clothing, even Belladonna is wearing her warm sweater, (with the skulls on it).
Some friends of mine are arriving and setting up coffee and tea pots and noshes (donuts, bagels etc).
We are doing a brunch followed by late lunch yard clean up. I had our waste company drop off a dumpster designed for yard waste, (no dirt or sod), so we can clean up and prepare the garden for winter. My gardener does a good job, but we are looking at completely clearing out all the weeds and brambles from the pet cemetery area as well as any hidden rotting debrie.
My Brother and sister-in-law will be arriving with the Clan in just a few minutes. They are bringing a change of clothing so we can go to the Pirates of Emmerson haunted house this evening, so I think we'll order Pizza for dinner and my Brother asked if the they can all camp out inside my home for the night, not wanting to do a long drive home.
So I said the boys and their father could sleep in the "maids' room" down stairs, Coralline and her Mother could sleep in Coralline's room.
A bit of a Sleep over, the halloween decorations are up and in latter part of next week Doyle and I will be in Old Town Sacramento staying at the Delta King, our mini-vacation...I'm looking forward to that.
Must go, people are arriving.
Later Darklings
 |
| It's so hard to keep a good cemetery neat and spooky. |
Monday, October 7, 2013
Of a Family intervention and "Rear Window"~~~
Hello Darklings,
First seeing Hitchcock's "Rear Window" on the full size screen is just wonderful, you can see all the little nuances that Hitchcock was injecting into the movie, I could almost determine what material Grace Kelly's green and off white suit was made from (either a linen or a nubby worsted silk) and to see clearly the patterns on the materials, the subtle expressions on the actors. If any of you Darklings has a theater that shows classic films you Must see Hitchock's films on the big screen.
The last time I saw one of his films this way was "North by Northwest", the part when Cary Grant in a drunken stupor is trying to drive down the road way becomes harrowing, and when the bi-plane attacks him is far more frightening. I can understand now why some people have to have those big screen plasma t.v.'s I just don't want it to dominate my room and my life.
And why oh why can't young ladies and actressess model their gowns the way Grace Kelly modeled in the movie, Edith Head's creations. They way they stand and pose now a days is horrible and not gracefull at all.
This week Doyle wants to see John Wayne in "The Searchers" well why not, he humors me so I should humor him.
Now the Sunday family intervention....Well Darklings, we had the boys (including my brother) sit down in the living room and they were informed that as part of their punishment they could not see either the Raiders or 49er's games or anything else that day that was sports orientened.....trust me it was very painful for them, espeically my brother, it could not even be recorded.
First Coralline in a very well thought out and carefully written speech sited her grievances, the torments she'd been through, how unhappy and miserable her brother's with their father's silent permission has made her life miserable, her mother had to listen to that as well as Coralline said that because of the overwhelming demands of the boys her mother became an accomplise by not laying down the law. This included vacations, weekends, holidays, and even evenings when there was no homework.
Then Coralline's mother spoke, she acknowledge her complicity without using parental guidance or acting as mediator between everyone, but also told her husband and sons what she was very upset with and angry with them.
Sis and I then spoke and told them how much Coralline desires to come to my house and be with us because of all the misery that her brothers with the unknowing assistance of their father has put her through and that if they continue it would lead to Coralline cutting her brothers out of her life forever and that the testoserone attitude has got to stop because Coralline's needs were Not being met because everything was given over to the boys, including the biggest boy, our brother. It has to stop because they were BULLIES, and they were bullying their own sister, and it makes them unfit for society.
All 4 of us said there has to be boundaries, and those boundaries and compromises were not being met, if they want an all male house hold, Coralline and her Mother were going to move out and come live with me. There would be a divorce (I know that sounds drastic but Coralline's Mother had to wake them all up)
Sis and I said we would back up Monica our sister-in-law.
Monica said to the boys they got only a taste of their own medicine which they had be treating Coralline to for nearly 7 years, even invading her personal santurary her own bedroom which they Knew was off limits, so how did they like being invaded. One of the twins said they didn't know Coralline could handle a snake and Coralline said if she could have gotten a real trantula she would have, it is no problem to handle one safely.
That made them open their eyes about what Coralline could do, even my brother admitted it had been getting out of hand, but it is now at an end, no more pranks or jokes, no more teasing, no more making things miserable for their sister.
Now rules are in place and if anyone brakes those rules and this included my brother, there would be a serious reprisal, there is also going to be compromises, it's not going to be all sports but other things and if it was something that the boys really were not going to enjoy (like the ballet) then it would be something for Coralline and her Mother or her Aunts would do together. The boys could do chores.
Coralline said she really hated sports, all sports, she saw no sense to guys butting their heads, or long dragging times waiting for someone to hit a ball, even basket ball or ice hockey, it didn't make sense just to be violent and agreesive, espeically after the serious beating of one fan and the death of another.
She said she could understand competition like high jump, pole vaulting, and such but to her it did not engage her mind and her mind found it boring to watch, she preferred something which she could learn from, and as an example we all watched a Nova program about the newly revealed secrets of Stonehenge, which did get the boys talking and Coralline being the expert filled them in, Sis and I even said that one could see Saturn last night, Doyle had brought his telescope which he has used for survalence and we had an excellent view of Saturn through it.
The boys kept taking turns trying to see it and it became more immediate to them, something that was only in books or films now became real. (Amazing what a planet with rings can do).
Coralline even pointed out using a pin point flash light the Big Dipper, and Orion.
My brother told us that from now on he's going to take the kids to places were they will all be interested in and less sports, espeically after Monica said she was afraid of them getting seriously injured and pointed out numerous articles about sports injuries to young teens and pre-teens.
She also pointed out that the cost of tickets, parking, food etc. was becoming too expensive and the boys espeically the oldest were going to need braces, which is an expensive situation and it is as she said 'a need to be done' not a 'want' to fulfill personal desires. She also pointed out other things in which the cost to do or maintain has gone up and they were going to have to do some serious cut backs.
The money aspect did hit home with our brother.
My brother said that he would like the boys to be in good shape, Monica said there were other things that could be done that didn't necessairly involve butting heads or climbing rocks and gave a list.
Coralline likes swimming and ballet excerises, she does not like performing on stage though and she enjoys hikes through historic areas and forests etc as long as it is not a forced march.
My brother could see swimming and hiking for the boys---no ballet though, historic places that are open and right now State run would be very good.
But one of the things we all will be doing next weekend is going to the Haunted houses of the Pirates of Emerson, it will be expensive but it will be fun for all. I'll just have to wear tennis shoes and jeans. I mean 6 yes Darklings, 6 haunted houses I could really like that.
All in all reviewing what happened last night I felt went very well, it was a shock to the boys, but they did admit they did not want any more snakes or expecting a live spider, and the oldest doesn't want his bed to collapse again, not that they ever did that bed collapsing to Coralline but they did discover that she can be very serious and devious in her "revenge" tatics. Coralline said that she is still keeping her bedroom locked, she doesn't trust them yet and she is putting together a list of devious plots if they should ever do anything again----with her Mother's permission.
By the way the garter snake was returned safe and sound to its owner a neighborhood boy who owns several snakes, he loaned it to Coralline, I think he's got a little crush on her, because she did ask if we could bring him with us to the Haunted Houses.
Later Darklings.
First seeing Hitchcock's "Rear Window" on the full size screen is just wonderful, you can see all the little nuances that Hitchcock was injecting into the movie, I could almost determine what material Grace Kelly's green and off white suit was made from (either a linen or a nubby worsted silk) and to see clearly the patterns on the materials, the subtle expressions on the actors. If any of you Darklings has a theater that shows classic films you Must see Hitchock's films on the big screen.
The last time I saw one of his films this way was "North by Northwest", the part when Cary Grant in a drunken stupor is trying to drive down the road way becomes harrowing, and when the bi-plane attacks him is far more frightening. I can understand now why some people have to have those big screen plasma t.v.'s I just don't want it to dominate my room and my life.
And why oh why can't young ladies and actressess model their gowns the way Grace Kelly modeled in the movie, Edith Head's creations. They way they stand and pose now a days is horrible and not gracefull at all.
This week Doyle wants to see John Wayne in "The Searchers" well why not, he humors me so I should humor him.
Now the Sunday family intervention....Well Darklings, we had the boys (including my brother) sit down in the living room and they were informed that as part of their punishment they could not see either the Raiders or 49er's games or anything else that day that was sports orientened.....trust me it was very painful for them, espeically my brother, it could not even be recorded.
First Coralline in a very well thought out and carefully written speech sited her grievances, the torments she'd been through, how unhappy and miserable her brother's with their father's silent permission has made her life miserable, her mother had to listen to that as well as Coralline said that because of the overwhelming demands of the boys her mother became an accomplise by not laying down the law. This included vacations, weekends, holidays, and even evenings when there was no homework.
Then Coralline's mother spoke, she acknowledge her complicity without using parental guidance or acting as mediator between everyone, but also told her husband and sons what she was very upset with and angry with them.
Sis and I then spoke and told them how much Coralline desires to come to my house and be with us because of all the misery that her brothers with the unknowing assistance of their father has put her through and that if they continue it would lead to Coralline cutting her brothers out of her life forever and that the testoserone attitude has got to stop because Coralline's needs were Not being met because everything was given over to the boys, including the biggest boy, our brother. It has to stop because they were BULLIES, and they were bullying their own sister, and it makes them unfit for society.
All 4 of us said there has to be boundaries, and those boundaries and compromises were not being met, if they want an all male house hold, Coralline and her Mother were going to move out and come live with me. There would be a divorce (I know that sounds drastic but Coralline's Mother had to wake them all up)
Sis and I said we would back up Monica our sister-in-law.
Monica said to the boys they got only a taste of their own medicine which they had be treating Coralline to for nearly 7 years, even invading her personal santurary her own bedroom which they Knew was off limits, so how did they like being invaded. One of the twins said they didn't know Coralline could handle a snake and Coralline said if she could have gotten a real trantula she would have, it is no problem to handle one safely.
That made them open their eyes about what Coralline could do, even my brother admitted it had been getting out of hand, but it is now at an end, no more pranks or jokes, no more teasing, no more making things miserable for their sister.
Now rules are in place and if anyone brakes those rules and this included my brother, there would be a serious reprisal, there is also going to be compromises, it's not going to be all sports but other things and if it was something that the boys really were not going to enjoy (like the ballet) then it would be something for Coralline and her Mother or her Aunts would do together. The boys could do chores.
Coralline said she really hated sports, all sports, she saw no sense to guys butting their heads, or long dragging times waiting for someone to hit a ball, even basket ball or ice hockey, it didn't make sense just to be violent and agreesive, espeically after the serious beating of one fan and the death of another.
She said she could understand competition like high jump, pole vaulting, and such but to her it did not engage her mind and her mind found it boring to watch, she preferred something which she could learn from, and as an example we all watched a Nova program about the newly revealed secrets of Stonehenge, which did get the boys talking and Coralline being the expert filled them in, Sis and I even said that one could see Saturn last night, Doyle had brought his telescope which he has used for survalence and we had an excellent view of Saturn through it.
The boys kept taking turns trying to see it and it became more immediate to them, something that was only in books or films now became real. (Amazing what a planet with rings can do).
Coralline even pointed out using a pin point flash light the Big Dipper, and Orion.
My brother told us that from now on he's going to take the kids to places were they will all be interested in and less sports, espeically after Monica said she was afraid of them getting seriously injured and pointed out numerous articles about sports injuries to young teens and pre-teens.
She also pointed out that the cost of tickets, parking, food etc. was becoming too expensive and the boys espeically the oldest were going to need braces, which is an expensive situation and it is as she said 'a need to be done' not a 'want' to fulfill personal desires. She also pointed out other things in which the cost to do or maintain has gone up and they were going to have to do some serious cut backs.
The money aspect did hit home with our brother.
My brother said that he would like the boys to be in good shape, Monica said there were other things that could be done that didn't necessairly involve butting heads or climbing rocks and gave a list.
Coralline likes swimming and ballet excerises, she does not like performing on stage though and she enjoys hikes through historic areas and forests etc as long as it is not a forced march.
My brother could see swimming and hiking for the boys---no ballet though, historic places that are open and right now State run would be very good.
But one of the things we all will be doing next weekend is going to the Haunted houses of the Pirates of Emerson, it will be expensive but it will be fun for all. I'll just have to wear tennis shoes and jeans. I mean 6 yes Darklings, 6 haunted houses I could really like that.
All in all reviewing what happened last night I felt went very well, it was a shock to the boys, but they did admit they did not want any more snakes or expecting a live spider, and the oldest doesn't want his bed to collapse again, not that they ever did that bed collapsing to Coralline but they did discover that she can be very serious and devious in her "revenge" tatics. Coralline said that she is still keeping her bedroom locked, she doesn't trust them yet and she is putting together a list of devious plots if they should ever do anything again----with her Mother's permission.
By the way the garter snake was returned safe and sound to its owner a neighborhood boy who owns several snakes, he loaned it to Coralline, I think he's got a little crush on her, because she did ask if we could bring him with us to the Haunted Houses.
Later Darklings.
 |
| Yes, the Boys have found out that little Coralline can be very, Very, VERY Fierce. |
Friday, October 4, 2013
Of "Thank You's" all around~~~~~
Dear Darklings,
Coralline sends to each and everyone of you her "Thank You's" I had fun talking to her last night and the "Three Stoogies" have been very quiet....she says almost too quiet....I advised her to alert her Mother.
Of course with the oldest boy he's still feeling some discomfort from the extractions, but now he can gross out the kids at school by showing the extracted teeth, he say's he's going to make them into some sort of pendants.
Funny that is exactly what I did when mine were removed.
Coralline is preparing for any kind of possible retaliation but her Mother told me that won't happen, now that the boys have had a taste of their own medicine.
Coralline has gone one better, she tied the boys pants into knots, and did a running base stitch into their underwear so when they wanted to get dressed they couldn't put their underpants on. They had to rip the stitches out and untie the knots, which made them late for school and they got detention missing a school game they wanted to go to.
They complained to their parents but fortunately BOTH of them were unsympathetic to their woes, even my brother is now on board saying to his sons that he's let them get away with it for too long, now they know how mean their tricks are.
But my brother wanted to know how did Coralline get the courage to handle a garter snake---he forgot about his sisters (Sis and Moi) learning about it from our Dad. We've been giving our little niece a few pointers ;-) (wink, wink)
And the little sign that I posted on my last post has become Coralline's motto, but she said she's going to hold off for now, we did warn her to not let it get out of hand.
So Sunday we are all getting together---and none of the boys---including my brother is going to wiggle off this hook.
Later Darklings
Coralline sends to each and everyone of you her "Thank You's" I had fun talking to her last night and the "Three Stoogies" have been very quiet....she says almost too quiet....I advised her to alert her Mother.
Of course with the oldest boy he's still feeling some discomfort from the extractions, but now he can gross out the kids at school by showing the extracted teeth, he say's he's going to make them into some sort of pendants.
Funny that is exactly what I did when mine were removed.
Coralline is preparing for any kind of possible retaliation but her Mother told me that won't happen, now that the boys have had a taste of their own medicine.
Coralline has gone one better, she tied the boys pants into knots, and did a running base stitch into their underwear so when they wanted to get dressed they couldn't put their underpants on. They had to rip the stitches out and untie the knots, which made them late for school and they got detention missing a school game they wanted to go to.
They complained to their parents but fortunately BOTH of them were unsympathetic to their woes, even my brother is now on board saying to his sons that he's let them get away with it for too long, now they know how mean their tricks are.
But my brother wanted to know how did Coralline get the courage to handle a garter snake---he forgot about his sisters (Sis and Moi) learning about it from our Dad. We've been giving our little niece a few pointers ;-) (wink, wink)
And the little sign that I posted on my last post has become Coralline's motto, but she said she's going to hold off for now, we did warn her to not let it get out of hand.
So Sunday we are all getting together---and none of the boys---including my brother is going to wiggle off this hook.
Later Darklings
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Of "Coralline" getting revenge~~~~
Hello Darklings,
I'm sure you must have read where my niece "Coralline" has complained of being tormented by her brothers aka "The Three Stoogies", well her oldest brother (he's older than she by a year) had his wisdom teeth removed today.
Needless to say he is not feeling at all comfortable, my sister-in-law called to inform me that "Coralline" has had the fun of having revenge on him, such as removing the slats from his bed with only the thinnest boards holding it in place so when her brother flopped upon it his bed collapsed, like one sees in the movies.
Then when he tried to get into his bed she short-sheeted him, when he moaned to his mother about the bed she said to have him and his brothers fix it, and make his own bed. Needless to say they all moaned about it but my sister-in-law said that it was to teach them a lesson to stop over harrasing and invading their sisters room and making life miserable for them.
Coralline's younger brothers (also known as the twins) did not escape, not only did she short sheet those as well, she found a garter snake and put it in one of the brothers bed and a life-like fake spider in the other's bed.
The intervention will happen, but my sister-in-law said it was nice for the boys to get a taste of their own medicine.
The oldest boy will be feeling better in a day or two, and then next he will have to bear the embarresment of braces.
"What goes around----comes around" and they are learning it all too well.
Later Darklings
I'm sure you must have read where my niece "Coralline" has complained of being tormented by her brothers aka "The Three Stoogies", well her oldest brother (he's older than she by a year) had his wisdom teeth removed today.
Needless to say he is not feeling at all comfortable, my sister-in-law called to inform me that "Coralline" has had the fun of having revenge on him, such as removing the slats from his bed with only the thinnest boards holding it in place so when her brother flopped upon it his bed collapsed, like one sees in the movies.
Then when he tried to get into his bed she short-sheeted him, when he moaned to his mother about the bed she said to have him and his brothers fix it, and make his own bed. Needless to say they all moaned about it but my sister-in-law said that it was to teach them a lesson to stop over harrasing and invading their sisters room and making life miserable for them.
Coralline's younger brothers (also known as the twins) did not escape, not only did she short sheet those as well, she found a garter snake and put it in one of the brothers bed and a life-like fake spider in the other's bed.
The intervention will happen, but my sister-in-law said it was nice for the boys to get a taste of their own medicine.
The oldest boy will be feeling better in a day or two, and then next he will have to bear the embarresment of braces.
"What goes around----comes around" and they are learning it all too well.
Later Darklings
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