Bart Strikes and "going back in time"~~~

Hello Sweet Things,

Well it is a good thing I didn't have to go into work today, I had been planning on using BART but they are now on strike, so I'll have to make other arrangements and at least AC Transit is post-poning their strike for 7 days.

I did have a chance to talk to work and much of what I can do I can tele-communte, but I feel sorry for those who relied on BART as their only means of getting around.   This strike is going to hurt economically, and I really do not have any sympathy for this Union.  There is a point where one can become too greedy.

And I think they have, it is far more than their alleged "safety issues", I sincerly wish that someone at the State Capitol would come up with a law like they have in New York where public transportation cannot strike, but remain at the bargaining table, with a mediator making the final decision.

They have really shot themselves in the foot.

Joe and I are planning on going back to the Pirates of Emerson Haunted house event this weekend, but tonight there is a Vintage Fashion Fair, and Joe is going with me, it should be fun.

We may travel in vintage clothing in one of the vintage cars, at least we can arrive in style, I wonder if it will be foggy where we're going?  What 'ghosts' will show up, drifting like lost souls through lost locals, wandering in the night.

Of late I've taken up writing and I've been going to a creative writing class, but it seems that each assignment that the teacher gives I always seem to write it like it was a noir novel.  Joe teases me and says that I am "out of time, out of sync"  that I really belong in the fog filled nights of 30's-40's San Francisco.

He's right, I've noticed that most of my clothing has changed to reflect that period, I've even been wearing hats, nylons and such even to go shopping or to the movies or running errands, I've taken to driving one of the old cars more than my modern car.  Most of our DVD's are old Film Noirs, but Joe likes them as well.

He went to a police auction where old office equipment is being sold and he bidded on and won an old oak desk that has a file drawer on one side and on the other you bring out a flat top on a hinge and have mounted a manuel typewriter, it also had a drawer for pens, paperclips and such.   He's going to have it re-finished and we're going to this place that sells refurbished typewriters, he wants to buy a Royal.

Our housing situation just may work out,  we've found a house not far from my place, and it has a wonderful view of the City from the upstairs bedroom windows, plenty of space, I could convert one of the bedrooms to my home office and Joe would have his man cave as well, plenty of room for guests.  My current home is paid for now, I could rent it out for more than enough for taxes and up-keep. 

We've gone over the numbers, even had a financial analyst go over it as well just so we didn't have star-dust in our eyes to be sure, and it looks solid.   Another big step.

Now I must go, Heather is here and I promised her we'd go to the store to buy candy for Halloween and have coffee, she's got big decisions to make as well.

Kisses Sweet Things.

I'm still on the prowl~~~~

Hello Sweet Things,

Oh yes, I'm still on the prowl, although marriage has taken up some of my time, it has not completely domesticated me.   Oh no.

After our little mini-vacation in the Santa Cruz mountains with the coyotes, (so very interesting), work has been keeping me very busy, even though now I'm a free lance contractor, but things have not been dull, other people with children taking vacations, a crisis here and there, the idiotic BART strike and now the possible threat of one.

Its enough to tick me off, and my Joe knows exactly what I need to do to let off steam, just shoot 500 rounds or so at a target or two or three and I'm back to my ususal loveable self.

In the next couple of weeks we're planning to take a trip up north to the wine country as well as a side trip to my country place, to check on things, make sure its ready for the winter,  I didn't have a chance to go there at all this Summer so I missed out on a number of things up there, but my caretakers and the historical society group have been keeping me posted,  I intend to be gone for 3 weeks just enjoying the delights that Fall can bring.

That's not to say that I've not been enjoying myself around here, I have, Mom and Dad came up for a couple of weeks and stayed at our house, taking the bus and being tourists, Joe was their guide while I was at work, and we'd get together for dinner in the evenings, even having fun playing Mexican Train Dominos,  Mom is deadly at that,  took them to the local Flea Markets and antique shops Mom of course was the big buyer and Dad looking Dapper in his Fedora and period tie and clothes, he has totally gotten into the Retro thing,  I asked him about his co-workers what do they think of it and he said that it has inspired a few of them to do Gatsby parties and dances,  seems to make the work place happier.

I know Sweet Things, how domestic, but its FUN and that is what is important.

No Joe and I have not given up on the Gun Shows but if some idiotic law makers have their way the Gun Shows may disappear if that bill passes in Sacramento.

But we did go to one this last weekend,  Joe spotted a well-balanced .38 police speical, antique, but in beautiful shape and I made arrangements to purchase a 1905 Smith and Wesson, .38 nickle plating, engraved, genuine pearl handle with a serious history provenance.  The ammo lines were unbeliveably long, and I do mean long going down one of the corridors,  at first I thought it was the food line but that only had 3 people,   so the food line would cross the ammon line and everyone knew which was which.

We were laughing at the Zombie ammo boxes and bought a couple of t-shirts that declared we were Zombie hunters, well if one can't laugh at one's self who can you laugh at.

Joe spotted something that he felt we needed on the fireplace mantel, a clock, hand made in wood, with a special secret compartment.  He bought it, I like it.  And we bought one for Mom and Dad to take down to them at Christmas.

Mom and Sis are coming back the middle of this week and are planning to go to the Vintage Expo in the City I'll be going with them, we're going both days, and Joe will join us on the 2nd day,  Then Tuesday we'll see them off to go home, they are taking the train which I think is good for Mom and Dad.

Joe is still working on one of the vintage cars but he's making arrangements with a friend of his to buy a building to store the cars in, I know which one it is, it has living arrangements upstairs so his friend can live up there, I asked Joe what sort of mis-chief is he getting into and it seems they will buy old cars, restore them and then sell them, a hobby that will pay for itself.  And he acknowledged that we really don't have enough room for what we want to do.  I said as long as the building is fire safe I have no objections.

We've joined a few organizations like the ART Deco Society, the Film Noir Society and we're looking into other things that we can enjoy our Retro-ness, we still play pool, Joe would also like to join SASS, but I fear that the things we enjoy will force us out of my home because of space constraints and I do not wish to lose my San Francisco view.   I've talked this over with Joe and he agrees, even he enjoys the view and doesn't want to lose it, so we'll also be doing a bit of house hunting, but I'm not going to give up my home here, I may rent it out for more income.   But I told Joe if he's buying a building and we eventually decided to buy another house we'll have to look into our fiances to make sure we're not setting ourselves up for a fiancial problem and he agrees to that as well.

I still enjoy my streets of San Francisco, but I do wish the rains would come to wash them down.  The Fog is returning and I'll be happier when these things they referr to as racing yachts leave the Bay.

I've been over the new bridge and although the ride is smoother I look over at the old bridge and feel a certain nostalgia for it, its grittiness, its workman looks,  they say that pieces of the old bridge will be sold as momentoes and I want a piece of it.  Joe has gone on the walkway of the new bridge and taken pictures of the old one for memories, its like an old, old friend who will eventually fade away, parts of its original use have disappeared over the years, and in a way I mourn its end, the new bridge is too sleek for me, too space age, its over all design reflects the Western span and the Golden Gate, but its not the same, I don't feel a connectedness to it.   It doesn't fit my Noir feelings.

I guess I can't explain it any better than that.

Now I need to go,  and take the Transbay bus to work,  I'm working till late tonight, fortunately Joe will pick me up so I don't have to risk the streets, Joe says there are too many crazy people loose now, maybe they are the Zombies that people are worried about.

Kisses Sweet Things

It will never rain on my parade~~~~~

Hello Sweet Things,

The entire Film Noir Festival was marvelous fun, Joe had a chance to come with me a few times to see a few of the films, even though he's retired from the police force his new work keeps him busy, so when he can't come I'd ask Yoshie or Janet they love Noir films as well.   Yoshie of course likes the one's where the setting takes place in San Francisco's China Town although those are rare.  

She has slimed down so much ever since she started her health program with her doctor and she has so much energy, that I had to ask her if she was taking anything, "Nope" she said "Just vitamins and Iron, nothing to over stimulate my heart"   she looked so good in a Chinese Dress that you'd expect the Dragon Lady from "Terry and the Pirates" to wear and her Mother helped her with her hair so she'd looked right out of a '40's noir film all deadly and fantastic.

Joe enjoyed looking like Alan Ladd from "This Gun For Hire"  and me?  Well who do you think?

We missed the Gun Show at the Cow Palace but we hope to hit it in April, I am looking forward to it.   And the Vintage Fashion Show in March at the Concours, but for now both Yoshi and I are looking forward to the Chinese New Years Festival and Parade and this time her husband can come, she is so happy that he doesn't have to do all that traveling overseas for a while.  So it will be a real family affair.

The year of the Snake, I wonder what it will bring?

I'm planning to also go and see my country home tomorrow for the weekend, it will be nice to go during the week instead of making plans for a weekend, Hal and Josie have been keeping the place up real well and with the Agricultural School there has been a few new animals added to the barn, Josie said that the place is more alive now than it has been in a long time and already some bookings have come in for weddings, so those times are now blocked out.  But one of the prospective couples want to spend their first night in one of the bedrooms, Josie told them that the house is not a bed and breakfast but they said that it didn't matter, they just knew they'd be too tired to drive especially on the roads since the roads are twisty and most of the wedding party was going to be staying in the nearby hotel.   So I'm going to be meeting them this weekend to discuss this and make it clear that it is an exception and not the rule.  Although I do understand their precautions.

And when I get back it will be time for me to put my tax papers together what a bore, but it needs be done.
Just a few hours ago I met some volunteers who are working to have people attend a City Council meeting in my town to discuss what will be done with the new open space, it use to be a rail line and yard but now it will be turned into open space, what a wonderful idea considering that it seems that every bit of open space is being crowded with McMansions, with tiny or no yards.   I'm not going to be able to attend but there is an on line link to the city for input or suggestions.   I'm certainly going to give my 2 cents worth.

The weather seems to want to warm up slightly, but not much in the way of rain, I've already seen birds that only come when they are migrating,  it's too early for a hummingbird feeder, but maybe I should put one out.

Oh this Diva is becoming such a home body, but there I times I go out on my balcony and look across the bay to my City, and I feel an almost throaty growl within me, I made it my energy says, I made it, I'm in a position to call the shots, I have an independent income, I have my own work schedule and am my own person.  I can walk the City Streets and know I was not defeated by it, not by anything, I made my choices and I feel good, what good I could and can do I have and will do, what pleasure I find with family, friends, lover, I find and feel happy,  there have been ups and downs, but somehow I sense that all is not done yet, there is still something around the corner.  What it is I don't know, but I am going to meet it with eyes wide open and see what there is to see.   And that feeling is Wonderful.

Kisses Sweet Things

Decisions~~~

Hello Sweet Things,

I am taking a short breather after a very hectic early morning.

Joe and I had a very serious talk last night, and he's decided to put in to retire from the force, right now he's going to see a financial advisor to see about his projected retirement income, then he will see what he needs to do to line up things.

He has had it, Frank and his friends have persuaded him to take that step and I have to agree, and with the decisions made by the City Council last night it appears to be the best thing.

I am relieved for his sake, but I am also concerned about his future, what does he want to do with the rest of his life? Well he hasn't been letting the grass grow under him, while I've been at work he's been making phone calls, and there is several positions open half time where I have my country house, and except for the distance it would be perfect. I can go up there and he can come down here as our schedules permit and he can live at my country place. He said he wants to try his hand at milking goats. ***big smile***

I think the slightly slower pace would be good for him, away from all these pressures, and getting involved in a more small town feeling. That's not to say there aren't problems up there too, there are, but of a more manageable sort.

Now I must go, I have a meeting in 30 minutes and I want to go over my notes again.

Kisses Sweet Things