October 30, 2003

  • It's been literally blowing hot and cold, as if it suddenly remembered it was late October; or maybe the Good Witch decided to right things just in time for her favorite night of the year.   It was so windy yesterday evening, Old Man Winter rattling the windows as if trying to break in, we had to light the three-day memorial candles, one in each bathroom, in case the electricity blew out.   It was just like the latin Day of the Dead.


    We should be studying for midterms--they ain't exactly gonna burn away, as much as our unexpected dose of super-reality might lead us to believe--but instead we've been cruising around in the steamy, sleepy warm car, shopping, checking out new housing developements in the North Bay.  Any excuse to cross the Golden Gate.   Brett's father wanted to get a firsthand look, so to speak, at what we call upscale homes up here.  Euro-traditional and Craftsman are definitely back, now split-level with three- or four-car tandem garages and central vacuuming, but the extravagant one-man castles are still on the small side for the almost million dollar asking price.  There's simply no buildable land around here unless you remodel or tear down.  Meanwhile, I guess you can console yourself making fake salt-dough bread and parafin cafe au laits.  (Gad, that sounded so stoned!)


    On the way back, after driving through McDonalds for lunch (we also stopped by Thad's, but they weren't home), we hit this really nifty bargain basement craft store, where we found the finishing touches for our costumes.  I'm full of ideas for Christmas, too.


    Then there was a lovely little nap in Greg's room before Mom got back from work and grocery shopping.   With the abrupt change in weather, you know we shouldn't miss our rest and relaxation.  Gotta remember to change the mattress pad before we leave; my  sales rep brother's so fussy.  The last time he was here, he had a conniption fit over an apparent worn spot on the arm of his antique leather easy chair, evident by a subtle change in sheen.   "I don't understand how such a thing could've happened," Greg complained, giving me a knowing look.  "Tina?!?"


    Tonight we're all invited to a special Autumn Festival dinner overlooking the Bay: assorted gourmet house sausages and black bread, or pork chops Calvados with potatoes Anna,  savory stuffed pumpkin, plus fresh caramel apple cake, dried Montmorency cherry and green apple pie, or Courvosier cheesecake for dessert are just some of the menu selections.  We're appeasing our growling stomachs with Jiffy Pop popcorn we made in the white marble fireplace, oyster crackers, and revamped canned cheddar cheese soup.  Fooling around with the new Halloween Tarot deck Brett bought us.  (I hope to polish up my fortune telling skills by tomorrow.)  Watching horror flicks on cable.   Getting into the holiday mood.  I can hardly wait.  Hope it doesn't rain again.