Starting the New Year 2013~~~

Hello  Sweet Things,

This Diva is getting very tired of the cold, cold weather, I didn't think I would need such a heavy parka here in the Bay Area but Mother Nature is making me a liar.

I went to my first gun show of the season and could barely move around; although there were some gentlemen who would place a hand on my back and I'd turn and look them in the eye, I loved how they'd get so apologetic.  

As a matter of fact everyone was very polite, even if it was crowded.  Sales of Ammo flying out the door, and people discussing the various weapons, WOMEN asking about personal weapons for self defence and BUYING them!

And everyone just---well excuse the word---Pissed Off at Obama and Biden.  

Much of the talk was more about enforcing the laws that are currently in place; that more new laws will Not keep the guns out of criminal hands,  but making the legal gun owners more responsible about the guns they have,  gun safes of all kinds were being pushed,  more training and being aware of the laws, such as if your house is broken into and you are not home and your gun is stolen reporting that immediately.

But with a gun safe bolted to the ground that will be a deterrent, as well as having a home alarm system.

Many people were concerned that Obama will do what Hitler did, leaving the people defenseless against a corrupt government.   And don't tell me it's not corrupt, if Di-Fi can have her own personal weapon and a CCW plus armed guards then I want the same for myself.

There is a  push for more safety training and the NRA signing up people at such a rapid rate made my head spin. I even renewed by membership.  

Yes Sweet Things I am a card carrying member of the NRA.   And I spotted a few darling weapons I'm considering for future purchase.   I am also seriously looking into a CCW.  Joe would like me to have one.

The reason?  Well I am now a consultant to my former firm,  I get paid more, but I have to buy my own health and dental insurance but I can set my hours as well.  My income from fees and investments is more than enough for all my needs.   The fees that my country house brings in for parties and weddings go right into the maintenance of the house and it's taxes and insurance.  I do not keep any money from that so I do not profit from it, but my historic country house does.  A special fund is set up and over seen by myself and my care takers.

But sometimes I have to work late and Joe is worried for my safety which I can understand. 

Joe is now retired, and he was glad to get out of the police force, the insanity there was too much for a reasonable man,  the special consultant that they called in is being resisted by the Police Union and Joe says that the man has produced results in other cities.  To resist what is known to work would make any turn arounds' useless.

Joe is going to start in a few weeks for a private investigation firm, its something he's been planning for a while, of course he will keep his contacts with the police departments, he has many friends, but he's pretty sure that he will be looking into a few missing person cases.   He can only hope they will turn out well but usually they don't.

Heather and her parents have finished moving into Lillian's home, they have kept most of Lillian's furniture since they had to sell off most of theirs, and their future is looking much brighter for them, Heather's folks now have full time jobs and although they are earning less than before its more than enough especially with health benefits.  Heather is still going to college but her art work is still reflecting the loss she feels for her great grandmother.  The little beast "Baby" has become totally devoted to Heather and is doing well.

So are my Folks, Dad should be retiring but he's continuing to work, says he's decided to retire at 70 instead unless he feels the need to retire earlier.  Mom's business is slow now after the holidays, but she has an early spring wedding so she's working on the dresses for the bride and the Maid of Honor, totally 1930's style.

I am off this morning so I'll be leaving in about an hour to the office, I'm putting in a half day since most of them will be at an all morning meeting. 

I'm enjoying this new routine, but still trying to wrap my mind around it as well as dealing with the freezing cold.   I'm glad we didn't have any spare the air days for the holidays, having a fire in the family fireplace was very comforting.

And now looking at the clock I must finish getting my things together before I go out the door.

So Sweet Things, I and everyone are doing well as we start this new year of 2013.  We shall see how it develops.

Kisses Sweet Things

Gun Shows~~~An American Freedom~~~

Hello Sweet Things,

I love flash drives, I can type up something and then save it to down load later, which is one of these times, I’m typing this opening paragraph from work, because I’m waiting for a meeting to start which has been delayed for the next 20 minutes. It is very cool and over cast here in the city, which is not unusual because it is now Fall but for what our weather people are saying and sometime I think they really don’t know what the weather is going to be.

Once again our weather people here in California are saying that we are having a heat wave.

We are, but it is a strange one. The more you go inland, the closer to triple digits you get, but here on the coast it is like a mild, cool summer and here it is the Fall Equinox! Such paradoxes for this area.

I want to do a brief mention of Fram’s blog “The Great American Gun Show”. I have to agree, gun shows are as American as God, Mom, Apple Pie and your dog. It is the only place were I have been able to see antique’s, collectables, security devices, classes in training for self defense, the latest in camping equipment, Rod and Gun Clubs, and survival equipment, (which is a bit different from just camping equipment).

Let me explain----you go to a County Fair, also an American institution, and you see the latest wizzy things to make one’s life easier, more fun, things for the home, places to go to, unusual exhibits like the six legged cow, little strange collectable bric-a-brac, and foods that you never find in the usual fast food joint’s like funnel cakes, frozen bananas’ and Big Bad Bubba’s Bar-B-Que with turkey drumsticks that could choke the Hound of the Baskervilles.

(By the way did I ever tell you that I love an old-fashioned county fair?)

A Gun Show is much the same thing, equivalent to a Boat and Camping show, an Antiques Show, a Harvest Festival (have you tried the Teriyaki jerky?), a Gem-Mineral-Jewelry Show, a Military Collectibles Show, a Coin and Knife Show; it is all of these all rolled up into one big ball, the only thing missing is the “All Alaskan Pig Races” (and you will have to Google that one just to find out what that is).

But there is an advantage, that it is under one very large roof. You meet the nicest, friendliest, politest people, who are more than willing to share their opinions based on their experiences. For example I was at a gun show in Antioch, I took a lunch break and enjoying one of spiciest hot dogs I’ve ever come across, seating was tight, but a few nice gentlemen scooted over to give me a seat. As I was about to bite into my dog the man next to me saw the ring I was wearing, an old Navajo ring that I knew to be at least 50 years old.

He asked me where I had purchased it and I told him the history behind the ring. He said that he found one exactly the same style in the bottom of an old junk box at an estate sale. He was fixing to cut it and use it as a concho on his holster, but after seeing mine changed his mind and instead will keep it as is. It’s moments like that that can make life so interesting. I seldom have it at the more traditional, very upscale antique shows, where people are more interested in showing off that they can afford to buy such expensive things, but at a Gun Show everyone is more down to earth, and especially with the old timers, who strongly believe in the “Code of the West”.

Gun Shows should be preserved; with the exception of an old-fashion county fair it is one of the few places where it is a great equalizer, where everyone is on the same level, based upon their experience, and where one is willing to learn more. I love them and am working hard to preserve them, because the minute we become a too pacifist society, that is the moment we, as a society lose our freedom and to quote Charlton Heston as he held up his rifle “From my cold dead hand” for that is only when I will give up my guns and my 2nd Amendment rights.

Of Shopping, Reporters, Guns shows and Poker~~~But mostly shopping

Well Sweet Things once again we experienced a heat wave last week, a very muggy one at that, but our weather persons predicted that it would cool down a little by Sunday with some dry lighting----HAH!!

Not only did we have the lighting we also had some serious showers, which would have spoiled an outdoor wedding for one couple that was planning to be married on the beach near my home, but ever resourceful Lillian came to the rescue and called a few favors and before you knew it up went some of the neighbors e-z up shades that fend off all but the most worst droplets and it was one very happy, laughing couple ---yes Sweet Things, I was among the rescuers with an e-z up shade. At least the vows were held at 11 a.m. and everyone was off to the reception which was moved indoors just in case.

I have to admit life with Lillian as a neighbor is never dull and that is one of many reasons why I love her.

Last Friday I got home early from work which gave Lillian and me to finally do the curtain and drape shopping that needed to be done to replace the ones that were destroyed earlier this year.

I’m sure some of you are thinking “well it took long enough”, to be honest it didn’t feel very high on my priority list because of the work that had to be done in my own home, the floors were refinished, the walls painted and for an accent one of them wall papered, my couch redone, a chair and a few end tables replaced, and bit by bit the lamps, I even got a new area rug, it wasn’t until I had all of that that my thoughts turned towards the curtains and drapes.

And my lawyer neighbor whose tree it was that started my re-decorating has been as good as his word about paying the bills, what the insurances didn’t cover he did. How rare to find that quality in a person.

Well I did baby sit for him and his wife their two little ones while they went out for an anniversary dinner 4 weeks ago. And very good children too, dinner early and instead of asking for a movie, they wanted to play a board game, Scrabble Junior, so I asked if Lillian could come over and be a 4^th player, it made for an interesting evening, we all laughed so much getting into friendly debates about the legitimacy of a word. We did have to lay down some rules; abbreviations such as “TMI”, “OMG”, “ROTFLMAO”, “BFF”, “IMHO” etc. did not count.

But late Friday night in a fit of energy I totally stripped out the bathroom and gave it a very through cleaning and Saturday (after the wedding event) Lillian and I went to see what we could find at IKEA or Bed, Bath and Beyond. Frankly I adore the things at BB and B but I knew Lillian wanted to see what IKEA had so I indulged her; we even swung by Target as well.

Yes Sweet Things it was an orgy of shopping, we even went into the City last Sunday to see what the shops in Union Square had to offer. Sometimes one has to do that.

Today I went to the Cow Palace again for their Gun Show, and I enjoyed myself completely. I saw a lot of nice people, and a lot of nice guns, this time quiet a few antiques and collectibles, and surprisingly a lot of survival things. I have a feeling that this might be a future trend. (Along with another heat wave)

I just hope that the idiot legislatures don’t put a crimp into that by passing that stupid legislation banning Gun Shops at the Cow Palace. It’s only a “feel good” legislation which will promptly go to court and be another waste of the tax payer’s money.

I’d written to my Senator and Assembly person protesting about it and urging them to vote no, as if these idiots would listen to common sense

.

Now it’s before the Governator, and I have written to him as well, I hope he veto’s it.

If he doesn’t it will come up for a lawsuit by the NRA.

If I didn’t love the Bay Area so much or parts of California in general I’d move to another state. Hmmmm I really don’t see why I can’t anyway, there’s property in Nevada near Carson City that looks good or Arizona.

Oh wouldn’t that be rich, buying a place say in Tombstone, Arizona.

Ahhh but it is a question of visiting the family as well. This is something I’m going to have to think upon for future, owning the property and having it pay for itself is important, but it needs to be in an area that I’m going to like and have that special “something” that makes it special to me.

Arrggggh!!! See what happens when one goes Shopping!!! Decisions, decisions!!!

And more shopping this week, well I have my tennis shoes on and Lillian and I will make the most of it. Yes Sweet Things, I still have vacation time to use up, because the last couple of years I barely used my vacation I was asked by Corporate to use it up this year to get back to into sync with what I would normally have---***sigh*** well there is an advantage with being connected to work from home so I can take time off and keep tabs as well.

So I’ve taken this week off to finish redecorating my house, it’s not dark like it use to be reflecting at the time what I was emotionally going through, now it’s more fun, I’m looking for pieces that look like it was from the stylish 40’s and 50’s sort of an art Moderne without going into those extreme Picasso styles. Clean lines that could also support Art Deco as well if I wanted to.

Yesterday I saw a desk with matching chair at this Antique Coop here in town with clean curved lines, the drawers dove tailed and pulled smoothly, with even a drawer for a file to hold current files, in a light blond wood. I was pleased that it barely had any scratches on the surface so I bought it for my at home office, but it’s not going to hold my computer, that is going to be on another work table, no I want this one to be clear for me to do other paper work.

But Lillian, who was with me, drew my attention to this typewriter that was displayed on top of it, I hadn’t noticed it before because my attention was taken up with the desk, but when I saw the provenance on the typewriter I could understand why there were tears in Lillian’s’ eyes.

The typewriter, a reporter’s lap top portable Remington belongs to a long time news reporter, Everett Johannes. Lillian introduced me to Everett when I first moved into town, he was semi-retired then from the local paper, still writing local color pieces.

He, along with former Mayor Terry LaCroix was at the Tahoe Apartments when a navy Jet crashed into them in 1971, resulting in a huge disaster, Everett was the first reporter at the scene that was how he met Lillian, she lived across the street and he asked to use her phone so he could call the story in.

The story about this event can be found at www.alamedastories.org under “Front Line Mayor” as a digital story.

I noticed that Everett always called Lillian “Joan” and although he was told my real name he started called me “Ava”. I found out from Lillian that he was a real film buff always preferring the old films when stars were stars, so he had a habit of addressing the Ladies by nick names of the female stars that they might have resembled. A flattering bit of style and also a way for him to not have to remember the real names.

So from time to time the three of us would get together for drinks and dinner, and he told me about the town back in the days when it was a real town with real characters. He had been a reporter since his high school days, he never thought of any other career, he worked for a number of large newspapers, but eventually came back to his home town started working for the local newspaper and settled in.

He always found something interesting and he told me that this town was never boring, he was right. The last 18 months he didn’t come out of his apartment because of a disfiguring growth, a type of goiter that was impossible to operate on because of his age, from time to time he would call me and I always returned his calls and we had nice chats on the phone.

He died earlier this year in his mid-eighties, I and Lillian attended his memorial service, he never married, and left his estate to his younger brother and this was his typewriter. It was in beautiful condition, he took loving care of it

.

I asked the shop owner since the desk that I bought was just recently displayed in the window, if he wouldn’t mind continuing to display it until he got in another desk to preserve the vignette of the display, the owner agreed. I didn’t have the heart to break up the display at this time, but instead I found a hat in the shop of the type that Everett wore and draped it over one corner of the upright cover of the typewriter, as if Everett just returned from covering a story and in his haste put his hat there as a convience, the shop owner liked it, it gave immediacy to the scene.

No Sweet Things, I don’t think I’ll buy the typewriter as much as I’m tempted to, but I’m going to take a picture of it for my memories. I just hope someone will buy it who will appreciate it.

So now Sweet Things, I’m going to join Lillian, Joe and Frank and few other friends at her place for an outdoor buffalo wings and other goodies Poker Night. All proceeds to go to charity. We write out a check to the charity and we receive in return that amount in chips, the winners with the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd highest amounts will receive prizes

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I think it’s going to be a long night and a very warm one.

Kisses Sweet Things.

An Addendum to Meg Whitman~~~~

A "Girl" can always re-think things too, Sweet Things.

I had a chance---before my headache takes over---to find Meg Whitman's stance on Gun Rights---she is pro-2nd amendment, but for the Assault Weapons Ban and a restriction on handguns, and this is from an article that appeared in SFGate's article in February of this year.

I am going to research this further, but I have a feeling that she is willing to listen to any reasonable argument and I think she may follow President Obama's lead in letting the renewal on the AWB go and focus on current laws.

I know she does not want businesses to die or leave California.

So this is a campaign that I am going to watch very, very closely and see what further comments she may make on gun rights.

I still am for her at this time, because there is a much bigger issue here.

So we shall see----

Must go Sweet Things, I need an aspirin.