Krackenstein

 

“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.”
~Napoleon Bonaparte 

 

I remember sitting my office, my jaw was on the floor, and Sidney, Giuliani and their lot, was on the TV wringing their hands and declaring that not only had the 2020 election been stolen, and the truth was all in the corrupted voting machines, and they could prove it! And not only could they prove it, but THE KRACKEN would be released and then all democrats would eat dirt! Okay, she didn't say that last part, but she did then gone on to declare that Hugo Chavez, the Clinton Foundation, and George Soros, among others, had facilitated it, by GUM! Well, today, almost 3 years later, Sidney Powell agreed to plead guilty, in exchange for what amounts to basically a slap on the wrist, as opposed to the possibility of spending perhaps as much 20 years behind bars. She will pay fines and restitution, deal with 6 years probation, write a letter of apology to the people of Georgia, and testify, truthfully, in relation to her fellow defendants. I kinda wish she would have gotten the book thrown at her, but still, this was a much nicer morning to wake up to, as opposed to yesterdays. October... I love you, you unpredictable little monster! 

Read all about it here.

Silly And Full Of Personality

 

“It looked like the world was

 covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon.”

 
  ~ Sarah Addison Allen,

  First Frost

 

 I love them so much. The Greater White-fronted geese are so fun and almost debonair. At least I think so. Mostly they are silly and full of personality. Oh my. It wouldn't be autumn without them! And right now, while I am completely stressed out, I am grateful for them.

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #28

 

“Tell me, O' Lovely Autumn,
how to wilt and change; come, show me
how to smile, while I say goodbye."

(Haiku)”
~Monika Ajay Kaul 

 

Just As The Earthquake Hit...

 

“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.”
 

~Ernest Benn 

 

Tomorrow, round three.

I'm gonna say it, Jim Jordan is a clown. Congress is nothing more that a clown show. I can even hear the music in my head.

(Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty

 

 “If you’re listening to this, congratulations! You survived Doomsday.
I’d like to apologize straightaway for any inconvenience the end of the world may have caused you. The earthquakes, rebellions, riots,tornadoes, floods, tsunamis, and of course the giant snake who swallowed the sun—I’m afraid most of that was our fault. Carter and I decided we should at least explain how it happened.” 

~ Rick Riordan, 

 The Serpent's Shadow  

 

So this happened...

 “A small, 4.8 quake, it was unlikely many other people in my town felt it. But alone in the house, I had shaken alongside the breaking earth, 1920s carnival glass looking on.” 

 ~Tania Runyan

   Making Peace With Paradise: an autobiography of a California girl

 

Okay, so this happened. While it was mild, it seemed to shake forever. It was centered in Isleton, which is on the delta between three small islands. It was 28 miles away from Stockton, and 10 miles deep. The San Francisco Chronicle says it was minute in duration. I didn't sleep well last night, so needless to say, I am rattled. I am in nervous laughing mode, which is why I went ahead and including that silly song from the 1970's disco era. I love that music anyway, so why not? I don't post enough videos. When I do, it's not usually music, and that's a shame. Maybe this turn of events will end up inspiring me to be more creative with Ellipsis. 

 

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #27

 

“Give me a land of boughs in leaf
A land of trees that stand;
Where trees are fallen there is grief;
I love no leafless land.” 

 
~A.E. Housman 

 

 

Ghost Cupcakes & Spider Soup

 

“What do Halloween creatures eat?
Hot spider soup with pumpkin meat
and toasted, no-salt, bat-wing chips,
served best with Transylvania dips.
A thistle-horehound salad mix
has added crunch from sun-dried ticks.
The plat du jour is hairy beast
fried crisp in grimy goblin grease.
Now, don’t forget dessert so sweet;
try puss-cream pie or candied feet!” 

~Richelle E. Goodrich,

   Being Bold: Quotes, Poetry, & Motivations for Every Day

I want to try all those dishes, and more. Maybe I will give it whirl this weekend. I have to make my monster bread too. I am really looking forward to that. I think it will a lot of fun and hubby and I always get a kick out of things like that! It's tricky though, as several worlds are currently colliding. The birds are returning. There are cheap movies coming up, and autumn drives through the county side. HALLOWEEN! Watching as many scary movies as possible. Leaf peeping...whew! And there is the ongoing tragedy in the Middle East, and Joe Biden's trip to Israel. It is such a tragic time, that I can't help but feel deeply sad inside.

 

There is still no Speaker of the House, which means for me that if there isn't a compromise on the debt ceiling, we could be facing the temporary closing, and shortened hours, of federal parks and reserves. The shutdown several years ago resulted in the inability to visit most of the parks under the Golden Gate National Recreational Area. Sigh. Just a few posts ago, I shared that I want to do it all this autumn, I want to taste it all. I want to see it all. Maybe I am asking too much, but any of it will do, as long as it eases some of my grief, and let's me catch my breath and forget how much I am hurting. And it would just be nice little time away from the scary goings on between Israel and Palestine.

 

 Lord, give me strength, and hear my prayers.

 

 

Sticks And Stones

 

“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”

 
~Albert Einstein 

 

Hundreds Killed. President Biden will arrive in Israel in a couple hours, to meet with Benjamin Netanyahu and to, I assume, try to lessen tensions. But with this event having taken place, I am not sure it will happen. Nothing is inevitable, but it seems like we are closer to catastrophe, than understanding and resolve.

 I pray for the president's safety.

 I pray that he can help make this stop.

 

 My faith is in him.

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #26

 

“There's an endless autumn in me,
scenting my thoughts like campfire smoke.” 

 
~Jarod K. Anderson

  Field Guide to the Haunted Forest

 

 

Angelique Bouchard, Of Collinsport Maine

 

"I set a curse upon you, Barnabas Collins! You wanted your Josette so much, well, you have her but not the way that you would have chosen. You will never rest, Barnabas! And you will never be able to love anyone for whoever loves you will die. That is my curse, and you will live with it through all eternity!"

 

~Angelique Bouchard

(Lara Parker)

Dark Shadows (TV)

 Angelique: Oh Barnabas. if we could simply begin again. Will you never forget?

 Barnabas: No, I will not.

 

Rest in peace, Lara Parker. I first came to know of Angelique Bouchard, Parker's signature role, when I was a child. My mother, sister and I would sit glued to our tv each weekday, to see the spooky goings on in Collinsport, the fictional town featured in the gothic daytime drama, Dark Shadows. The blend of romance, especially the love Angelique had for Barnabas Collins, and the horror, there were vampires, ghosts and werewolves after all, was pretty much equal, however, Lara Parker portrayed a character unequaled as the, over the top witch, Angelique Bouchard Collins. She scared the crap out of me, but I wished I could grow to be as beautiful as Lara Parker was. I loved horror, and the show gave me genuine nightmares, my sister too, and yet by today's standards the show was as low tech as it got. Still, who ever needed special affects to be scared? The scares Dark Shadows provided came from the story and the perfect, if not campy, acting.Who knew campy could give one nightmares?

 

 

 Dark Shadows debuted on June 27th, 1966, just 2 days before my 4th birthday. My mother and sister probably shouldn't have allowed me to watch it, but in truth, the rascal in me would have found a way. A prime-time version which aired in the 1990's, only made it a few episodes, despite being a decent and much more serious take, but I was there glued to every episode. In 2012 director Time Burton decided to take it to a more comedic slant, and again, I was there. The irony was great. The camp was great. And a few genuine spooky moments all came together to honor the original show, and still keep the history intact. I was getting another chance to see my friends again. Including Lara Parker. She, David Selby, Katherine Leigh Scott and Jonathon Frid all had cameos as party guests at Collinwood. It was fun. I had hoped for a sequel, but alas it was not to be.

 

David Selby and Lara Parker

( ABC TV movie, Night Of Dark Shadows)

 Oh my, I never read the novels Lara Parker wrote after the show went off the air, but I might just indulge a bit and purchase one. I would love to see what happened next in Collinsport. That is the sign of a great movie, show or actress, you always want to see more, and I always watched whatever Lara Parker was in. Kolchak: The Night Stalker. The Rockford Files. Race With The Devil. It was all good.The one that got away from me was, Save The Tiger, with Jack Lemmon. If I can finally find it, that will be next. She won't be playing a witch, but I am sure she will great. She always was. In fact, TCM is playing both te

 

 

Rest in gentle peace, Lara... and Angelique.

October 27th 1938 - October 12th 2023

Meanwhile...

 

“So I try to be mindful, at all times, of what a difference a small human gesture can make to people in need. What does it really cost to take a moment to look someone in the eye, to give him a hug, to let her know, I get it. You’re not alone?”

 
~Joe Biden,

  Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose

 

I am praying for President Biden, and Secretary of State Anthony Blinkan, and I am grateful for their bravery.President Biden will be the first American president to visit Israel during wartime.

 

“So I try to be mindful, at all times, of what a difference a small human gesture can make to people in need. What does it really cost to take a moment to look someone in the eye, to give him a hug, to let her know, I get it. You’re not alone?”

 
~Joe Biden,

  Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose

 

I am praying for President Biden, and I am grateful for his bravery. 

 

This is how a REAL president behaves.

 This is what it looks like to be a statesman!

 

 

Hey! Stuff A Sock In It Buddy!

 

Here We Go Again 

 

~~

 

"Mr. Trump’s free speech rights do not permit him

 to launch a pretrial smear campaign.”

 

~ Judge Tanya Chutkan 

Here we go again! The BIG FAT BABY, Trump, gets chance after chance and continues to post vile, racist bullshit like this. Today Judge Chutkin imposed limited gag order, but apparently it isn't enough to convince him to SHUT HIS USELESS ASS UP!

Sigh. Stand by for the inevitable updates.

Shadows

 

“That country where it is always turning late in the year. That country where the hills are fog and the rivers are mist; where noons go quickly, dusks and twilights linger, and midnights stay. That country composed in the main of cellars, sub-cellars, coal-bins, closets, attics, and pantries faced away from the sun. That country whose people are autumn people, thinking only autumn thoughts. Whose people passing at night on the empty walks sound like rain.”

 
~Ray Bradbury 

 

I decided to do two versions. I really liked the way the plant in the color version looked with the shadows across from it, but it was late in the day, and the color was not photographing very well. So two versions it is! Both have a vibe all their own, so I just suppose it depends on mood. At the moment I am leaning toward black and white. I am in a quiet mood. Not depressed, just quiet. I am a bit weary. With the brewing war in the Middle East, a difficult summer has carried it's cruelty into Autumn. I dunno, maybe that was why Autumn gave me the gift of beginning early. The Autumn sun was beginning in the first week of August. We found 2 Snow geese at the Cosumnes River, Desmond road, but they shouldn't have been there for a couple months or so. Just stuff like that. Shrug. But here we are. A cruel middle east, and me missing my niece and nephew so much I can barely breathe. God I feel old. I guess that's why the shadows appealed to me so much. In both color and black & white. Both versions definitely say Autumn to me.

I am okay. Just weary.

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #25

 

“No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace

 as I have seen in one autumnal face."

 ~John Donne,

  The Complete Poetry and Selected Prose

 The Autumnal   

 

 

 The were too lovely to photograph separately. 

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #24

 “I think the seasons complete me-
for once autumn comes
I can fall freely
along with every leave.
I do not have to bloom,
yet, I must die
in every delicate line of October.”

 
~Laura Chouette 

 

 

The Magical Autumn Sun

 

“Ah, Lovely October, as you usher in the season that awakens my soul, your awesome beauty compels my spirit to soar like an leaf caught in an autumn breeze and my heart to sing like a heavenly choir.”

 
~Peggy Toney Horton 

 

(via the NASA website)

Yesterday, an Annular solar eclipse took place. Fortunately, it's path came right over Northern California, so there was no way I was going to miss the show. I purchased a box of eclipse glasses, so hubby and I would be safe while viewing the stages. I basically found the sun, and then aimed my phones camera, the Samsung A53, in the general direction. Despite the light cloud cover, I managed a decent enough photo or two. I was happy with this one, and it garnered a few likes on Twitter, sorry I forget, X. It's always fun when folks appreciate something you do. I didn't get much sleep last night, and I had weird dreams, so I enjoyed having something fun to focus on. See, I told you the Autumn sun brings magical things.