The Friday Five Good Things

 

Five good things that happened this week.

1. I took a class to better understand the Next of Kin box. A place to leave information for whoever is to handle your estate

2. Himself had been talking about going to Douglas Orchards to get Apple Cider Donuts. No donuts were available, but he had put the craving in my head. I bought some at the grocery store

3. Himself tuned the car radio to my favorite station when I took the car to my class.

4. Chatting with the Young One, she told me about getting an eggplant Parmigiana meal in her meal kit. She said she knew it would taste like sadness and not the eggplant Parmigiana that Himself and I make.

5. Today, would have been Ink's 28th birthday.

How was your week?

Throwback Thursday - Dracula

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Dracula

Andy Fish over at Fishwrap has posted a page from his upcoming graphic novel, Dracula. Andy's post reminded me of something that happened shortly after I was married.

During the late 70's, the vampire myth enjoyed a resurgence in pop culture with a remake of Dracula starring Frank Langella. Stephen King's novel Salem's Lot spun off a made for tv movie. I had seen both movies and thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Flash forward to the mid-80's. When I glanced through the TV Guide (yes, we actually had a small book to look through to choose our viewing pleasures back in the olden days) and saw Nosferatu was going to be on. I couldn't resist. I was home alone one night as Himself was teaching. Had nothing better to do, so I settled in. I thought it would be interesting to compare and contrast the Hollywood version with this different looking version of the myth. (I love horror films. Not the gratuitous slasher junk of today's features. But thrillers. The movies that give you the heebie-jeebies because you don't really see any gore or violence, but fill in the details from your own overactive, fertile imagination. I digress..)

In a dream, I told Nosferatu I thought he was incredibly ugly. I told him though Bela Lugosi as Dracula was charming and elegant, Frank Langella as Dracula was stunningly handsome. As you can imagine, Nosferatu took exception to my audacity and as dreams sometimes deteriorate into nightmares, Nosferatu began to chase me. My arms were pumping like steam engine pistons, and my chubby little legs were churning up the ground as fast as I could go. I glanced over my shoulder and could see Nosferatu gaining on me. I turned and ran full steam. Nosferatu reached his bony hand with its horrendously long fingernails and grazed my thigh. I squeezed my eyes shut and let out a high-pitched, blood curdling scream.

Then there was laughter. Gales and guffaws of someone busting a gut a with laughter. My legs were still churning. I was breathing heavily. Great gasps as I tried to fill my aching lungs with oxygen. My mouth, a gaping maw. I felt the blood pounding through my ears in time to my heart pounding in my chest. I felt my eyes, huge and round ballooning out of their sockets. I came to a dead stop on top of the bed. Himself sat on the edge of the bed. He was the source of the laughter.

"Ha.." he tried to speak, but words failed him as he was laughing so hard. "Ha, that..that is...is.. the funniest thing I've ever seen. You were dancing on the bed!" Another wave of laughter shook him.

At first, I was a little put out. To think my husband who was supposed to be my protector, my shield, my knight in shining armor was an unsympathetic clod! But no matter how fetching one looks standing in the middle of the bed and wearing a pale blue, Christian Dior nightshirt, the reality is one looks ridiculous running in place on the bed. And never miss an opportunity to keep your mouth shut. I sat on the bed and laughed with Himself.

I still think Nosferatu is one fugly dude. I'd take Bela Lugosi's charm and Frank Langella's dark looks any day and twice on Sunday over Nosferatu. I'd even gravitate towards the sparkly vampires of Twilight though I could do without the teen angst. On another tangent, I'm grateful that Stephenie Myer's vampire romance caught the imagination of The Young One. The Young One is not much of a reader. She burned through the pages of the series and is reading the entire series again.

Do horror movies make you dance on the bed?

Doodling for Stress Reduction

 

On Mondays via Zoom, I participate in a class where we spend  a half an hour doodling our stress away. 

The suggestion for this class was to trace a circle and fill it with wavy lines. You could add doodles in between the lines or words.

I was in a Halloween mood and also practicing the lettering from the Rennie Revisited class I took. I wrote out the Scottish prayer:

From ghoulies and ghosties and long leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night, good Lord deliver us.

T Stands for a Relaxing Cuppa

 

There's nothing better than a relaxing cup of tea after roaming the art galleries and viewing The Art of the Macabre, the spooky community art show now on view in the Higgins Education Wing of the Worcester Art Museum.

Monet and Me

 

are admiring a Halloween card sent by blogger buddy, Anne from Anne's Creative Cornucopia

Here's a better image of the card front. I love the Ghost font. Also, it looks like Anne's assistant, Teddy hijacked addressing the envelope and signing the card. He's styling himself as Theodore, The One and Only. He signed the card from Team T (HT and Minnie T) and Anne. As an after thought, he added "the cat". Teddy, you gave me a good laugh.

Anne, your card was a delightful surprise. Thanks for thinking of me.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Look at all the Widowmakers! Those are broken branches waiting to fall

Like this one that planted itself in the ground! I thought Himself had transplanted one of the pear trees

Bird feeder filled

Nuts and seeds scattered on the ground for the ground feeders

A stack of pumpkins and sperm ghost lights.

"Come let's stroll, stroll across the floor. Yeah, come let's stroll, stroll across the floor. Hey now, turn around, baby, let's stroll once more"

Bolger got relocated

Samwise charging up with the leaf blower attachment

Milkweed pods exploded

Some flowers still hanging on. A cosmos

and aster and a little cosmos

Sunlight on the Japanese maple makes the leaves look very red

A hydrangea head

Red leaves on the blueberry bush

Houdini. She followed me out to the front porch the other day. I didn't notice her until pulling out of the driveway. 

How does your garden grow?

Happy, Little, Time Waster

 

Walt Disney's First Silly Symphony - "The Skeleton Dance" (Public Domain) 

The Friday Five Good Things

 Five good things that happened this week.

1. I made a perfect pot roast in the crockpot which meant leftovers and no cooking for most of the week.

2. Two old ladies are going on the road again next month.

3. Enjoyable discussions in class.

4. I bought some cider K-Cups for Hot Apple Cider from the Keurig machine.

5. Teague and I went to a new lunch place and had awesome dessert

How was your week?

TBT Reprints from CJ's Whine and Cheeze

  In 2003, Ma had a stroke. Dad was her full time caregiver until he he had a car accident that totaled the car. So in 2006, I became their chauffeur among other jobs.

At the time, to deal with the stress of running two households and working, I kept a blog entitled CJ's Whine and Cheeze. Egged on by some friends who enjoyed the first read through, you'll see your part when it comes by.

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Resigned

We planned to visit the Weebles and repair the brick steps which are falling apart. Dad’s senior center glee club was having a concert. Not only were they giving the concert, but Dad is the Maestro, the group director. He asked me and Himself a minimum of 6 times if we would attend. Himself had the easy out as he would be mixing mortar, setting brick, uttering Horse’s Patoot, and making trips to the big orange home store. Truth be told, I don’t really want to listen to old folks sing show tunes or the top 40 hits from the days of their youth. I can’t stand show tunes.

I figured Ma wouldn’t want to go hear the old man sing. His singing is a source of irritation for her. Not necessarily the singing, but the fact he has an outside activity which doesn’t involve her. He’s also a lot more mobile, and he runs daily to the senior center while she is housebound.

I called to let them know we were coming and Himself would repair the stairs. I’d bring meals on wheels and provide shuttle service to and from the concert. As I suspected, Ma did not want to go.

When I hung up the phone, Himself was shaking his head. He didn’t say anything. I left him to the ballgame and went to putter around the house.

“Oh, no!” I cried running back to the bedroom.

He snickered. “You just figured it out, did ya?”

If I take the Maestro to his concert and stay, Ma is going to be very put out that I “do everything for him and nothing for her.” If I stay with Ma, the Maestro will be unhappy that no one went to his concert to show support. OPD at it's finest.

“How do I get myself into these things?!”

“You had parents.”

Deep sigh. You just have to resign yourself to the fact that some days you’re the pigeon and some days you’re the statue.

Inktober 2025

 

Prompts 16 - 20

The biggest blunder in this group is Artic. It looked better in my head than on paper.

T Stands for The Tea Catalog

 

The tea catalog arrived from Harney and Sons. Fun to flip through the catalog while sipping a cup of tea. So many different types of tea. Black, Green, White. Herbal, Flavored. I'm partial to English Breakfast and Earl Grey.

Do you have a favorite blend of tea?

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s blog to find out what the rest of the T gang is up to. If you want to play, include a beverage or beverage container in your post. Don’t forget to link your blog from Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s page.

Monet and Me

 

We didn't have the doodle class last week because of  Indigenous People's Day. The facilitator send a doodle for us to work on during the week. We finally got around to completing the assignment.

This was a very fun and relaxing doodle. Give it a try. Start with a circle, either freehand or with a template. Around the inside edge, draw half-circles, 3/4 circles and fill them in with concentric lines.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Looks like the squash got some protection during a frost warning

After much needed rain last week, the woods are showing a bit more color

The morning glories have passed, but the petunias are still hanging on.

How does your garden grow?

Happy, Little, Time Wasters

 Get comfy with your favorite beverage for this tutorial.

DIY Pockets for Junk Journals

Vintage Page Designs

The Friday Five Good Things

 

Five good things that happened this week.

1. Another enjoyable evening watching seasonal movies. This time: Dracula (1931) starring the incomparable Bela Lugosi.

2. The new front doors should be arriving  around the first of November

3. My favorite clerk, S,  was on the desk at the post office when I brought some cards in to mail. She even hand cancelled all of them

4. Another fun movie: The Creature from the Black Lagoon

5. Himself ordered a chicken, pepper, mushroom pizza from Santorini's in Millbury that turned out to be pretty good. A new to us pizza place.

How was your week?

TBT Reprints from CJ's Whine and Cheeze

 In 2003, Ma had a stroke. Dad was her full time caregiver until he he had a car accident that totaled the car. So in 2006, I became their chauffeur among other jobs.

At the time, to deal with the stress of running two households and working, I kept a blog entitled CJ's Whine and Cheeze. Egged on by some friends who enjoyed the first read through, you'll see your part when it comes by.

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Spontaneous Marketing

We were nearly out the door when Ma told Dad to get the cans for deposit. (Massachusetts has a nickel deposit on soda cans and bottles). Then she told him not to forget the five bottles for Roche Bros. (another supermarket on the other side of town).

I felt my blood begin to boil. “No, no, no, no, no. We are not going to stop at Roche Bros. for five bottles.”

“But we go right by.”

“No! You want to go to Market Basket, we’ll go to Market Basket, but we are not going to make stops along the way.”

“But the bottles!”

“Wait until you have ten, and then I’ll take you.”

Her eyes goggled at my disobedience. “I hope this never happens to you! I hope you never find yourself in a position where you can’t get help.”

I’m sure there was more to her tune. I only heard the small voice in my head whispering Peapod, peapod.

I can hear some tsking out there. “Shame on you for not stopping so the poor, old lady can get her deposit on a few bottles!”

You understand OPD is really an issue of control with a heaping helping of guilt tossed in for good measure. If I made the stop, I would be setting a new precedent. The one appointment/one outing rule would be forever changed. Stopping at Roche Bros. would mean another hour added to an already grueling task. First, there would be ten minutes at the bottle return, and then as long as we were there, let’s just check out the market specials. We’d still have the big shopping at Market Basket ahead of us. Nope, better to nip this kind of spontaneous marketing in the bud.

So we sailed right by Roche Bros. No comments were made. The shopping at Market Basket was whittled down to two hours. Ma and I tackled produce and Dad? Not sure what he was doing as he met up with us an hour or so later with three cans of baked beans in his cart.

Dad walked me to my car as I was leaving. I mentioned a future trip to Roche Bros. when he had gotten enough cans to make the trip worthwhile.

“What cans?”

“Ma said you had cans that had to be returned to Roche Bros.”

“I don’t have any cans for Roche Bros.”

I am so glad the Spontaneous Marketing Ruling was over ruled.

Inktober 2025

 

Prompts 11 - 15

T Stands for Halloween Mugs

 

New Halloween mugs, a treat for myself.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s blog to find out what the rest of the T gang is up to. If you want to play, include a beverage or beverage container in your post. Don’t forget to link your blog from Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s page.

Monet and Me

 

Monet adjusts and poses with the new Ink decoration for the studio

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Some pictures of the color still in the garden before a Nor'easter with heavy wind and rain blows all the leaves to the ground.

The Witch finally got a real broomstick

Yes, I can drive a stick

The Jack O'Lanterns

shine

as bright as the full moon.

Jack O'Lanterns and ghosties light the way

A Fall wreath I made.

How does your garden grow?

Happy, Little, Time Waster

 

Canon in D – Johann Pachelbel | Bouncing Notes

The Friday Five Good Things

 Five good things that happened this week.

1. We watched my favorite movie, The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951)

2. Himself put out some fun Halloween decorations

3. The Eldest treated me to a Starbuck's Chai Tea Latte with a mini scone.

4. One of my students was at a fair, saw a scented candle and thought of me. The candle was called Quill in Ink

5. Lunch with Teague at Dairy Queen. Even though it was chilly outside, I ordered a vanilla frappe (shake). So unlike me to have ice cream when the weather is cold, but it tasted so good. Maybe it was a last hurrah for Summer.

How was your week?

TBT Reprint from CJ's Whine and Cheeze

     In 2003, Ma had a stroke. Dad was her full time caregiver until he he had a car accident that totaled the car. So in 2006, I became their chauffeur among other jobs.

At the time, to deal with the stress of running two households and working, I kept a blog entitled CJ's Whine and Cheeze. Egged on by some friends who enjoyed the first read through, you'll see your part when it comes by.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Eggs

Over lunch with Himself, I mentioned my monthly excursion, fast approaching on the first of the month. The first of the month meant social security checks would be deposited in Weeble accounts. They would have access to the funds by the third of the month, and that would mean a trip to Mahket Basket, the high point of my month.

I mentioned we would have to find someone to repair the brick steps.

“Your dad told me he had the bricks. We’d just have to mix the mortar.”

“You know how to set brick?”

“I can try.”

I tried to block out the picture that came to mind. Horse’s patoot! and a mad dash to Home Depot as Ray’s is too far to travel. I smiled weakly.

“We can go next Sunday as it’s supposed to rain at the beginning of the week. Things should be dried out by next weekend.”

“I’ll give them a call to plan the shopping trip. Maybe let them know we’ll be out next Sunday.”

“No! Don’t do that. They’re like little kids. If something comes up, and we can’t make it, they’ll be disappointed, and there’ll be hell to pay.”

“There’s always hell to pay.”

“Let them be on a need to know basis, that way, there’ll be less.”

I called the Weebles to let them know I had Friday available for shopping. I actually had Wednesday open too, but Wednesday is the third of the month and every weeble for miles around would be at Mahket Basket. Dad answered the phone and told me his Senior Citizen Glee Club had a performance rehearsal on Friday. He couldn’t miss it, as he’s The Leader of the Band. I tried not to look to the heavens and sigh. Shopping would have to be on Wednesday.

I could feel a pain begin to form behind my left eye so I went to lie down.

The phone rang, and Himself answered. It was Dad. I chuckled as I heard Himself’s end of the conversation.

“Yeah. Un-huh. Yeah.”

Dad replaying the “She Called Me Stupid ” song for some sympathy.

I pulled the quilt over my head and snuggled into the pillow.

“Yeah. Ok. Well, don’t worry about that. I planned on stopping there on Friday, and I’ll mow the lawn. We’ll be there Sunday to take care of the stairs.”

So much for the need to know basis.

“Here, you can talk to Herself about that.”

“Your dad’s on the phone. He has a doctor’s appointment.”

I tried to pull the quilt higher over my head, but Himself managed to wedge the phone in.

“We have a doctor’s appointment on Thursday at 10:30”

“I told you I can’t take you there as I’m having my chipped tooth fixed and I’ve been waiting since December. Can’t one of your friends take you?”

“But, the doctor keeps us waiting and they’d have to wait!”

I rolled my eyes. Like I don’t wait?

“I’ll call the doctor on Monday and have the appointment changed to Wednesday.”

“No, Dad, I’ll have to take Ma to Mahket Basket on Wednesday. I can’t take you to the doctor too because she takes so freaking long at Mahket Basket. You won’t be finished in time for me to pick the Young One up from school. I can come back on Friday.”

“No, I have to lead my group.”

“Ok, well, can’t you call The Van to take you?”

“The what?”

“The Van.”

“What’s that?”

I roll my eyes. Dad has been with the Senior Center for close to 20 years. He has advised seniors on the services available to them.

“The Van. You give them 48 hours notice. Tell them where you want to go, and they will come to your house to pick you up. Take you where you need to go, and bring you home. It will cost both of you $2.” I didn’t mention each way as I wanted this to be a very attractive solution. “If you need physical assistance they will help you in and out of the van.”

“Well, I’ll have to check into that.”

You do that.

“I think I’ll call the doctor on Monday, cancel the appointment and reschedule for the following Monday. Can you come out on Monday.”

“Yes, Dad. Monday. Any Monday during the month of May is good. Make the appointment for 10:30 or 11AM.”

I crawled back in bed. Himself sat on the edge and rubbed my back.

“When you’re over there, give them a subliminal message. Peapod, Peapod, Peapod,” Himself whispered in my ear. [ed: Peapod is a grocery delivery service]

“The only way they would understand a subliminal message would be if someone slammed them upside the head with a two by four and yelled PEAPOD. Maybe we should move the two of them into Prissy’s house. She’d love the company.”

“There you go! You’d have all your eggs in one basket.”

“Only it wouldn’t work.”

“Why not?”

“We’d still have to drive 50 miles to do the shopping at Mhket Basket, and we’d have to take Prissy too”

Inktober 2025

 

This year, I'm using the Inktober challenge words to practice the Charles Rennie Mackintosh lettering I learned in the class with Kathy Milici.

I went ahead a couple of days so I could show one full column of words.

Lettering done with Micron Pigma pen .08

Tea Stands for An Elegant Afternoon

 

High Tea in England

Photo credit: Magdanarka/Shutterstock

A puzzle I completed from Jigsaw Explorer

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s blog to find out what the rest of the T gang is up to. If you want to play, include a beverage or beverage container in your post. Don’t forget to link your blog from Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s page.