Happy New Year.

Happy New Year!

Enjoy your evening everyone.

Please be safe.

Lyn 

Not a Z-file.

Hey there folks.  Short and sweet again, because I have lots of nothing to do in a hurry.

I cannot wait for tomorrow night.  Why? Buffalo wing heaven and some other stuff!  Glorious wings in different tones thanks to my father who has to accommodate the eclectic palates of us wing freaks.  So look for my post whining about how bad my mouth hurts, and how I have lost all senses except the 6th which should have given me the heads up on how much pain I would soon be in. (I am kidding...I am the wing Queen.*)

And for some amusement:

Control Z 
A member of Corel's technical support team received a call from a harried legal secretary with a problem.  Her company had just upgraded their software from WordPerfect 8.0 to WordPerfect 10, and she had an urgent technical question.  She said, "In WordPerfect 8, I would hit the tab key to get a tab.  What key do I hit in WordPerfect 10?"  The Tech support person sat in silence wondering if he had become the victim of a prank.  He tentatively answered, "The tab key?" and waited for the punch line. The response he got was not a joke.  "Oh, that worked!" the woman happily replied and hung up.  

Funny.  Not funny.  Who cares?!

We ring in the new year tomorrow and that is pretty freakin cool!

*I've only actually cried once, possibly twice due to the seriously sick hotness of the wings.


Sweet dreams all. 

Lyn

Twas the Night Before Christmas.

The REAL Night Before Christmas
(By Parents)


Twas the night before Christmas
when all through the house
I searched for the tools
to hand to my spouse.


Instructions were studied
and we were inspired,
in hopes we could manage
"Some Assembly Required."


The children were quiet (not asleep) in their beds,
while Dad and I faced the evening with dread:
a kitchen, two bikes, Barbie's townhouse to boot!
And now, thanks to Grandpa, a train with a toot!


We opened the boxes,
my heart skipped a beat—
let no parts be missing
or parts incomplete!


Too late for last-minute returns or replacement;
if we can't get it right, it goes straight to the basement!
When what to my worrying eyes should appear
but 50 sheets of directions, concise, but not clear,


With each part numbered and every slot named,
so if we failed, only we could be blamed.
More rapid than eagles the parts then fell out,
all over the carpet they were scattered about.


"Now bolt it! Now twist it! Attach it right there!
Slide on the seats, and staple the stair!
Hammer the shelves, and nail to the stand."
"Honey," said hubby, "you just glued my hand."


And then in a twinkling, I knew for a fact
that all the toy dealers had indeed made a pact
to keep parents busy all Christmas Eve night
with "assembly required" till morning's first light.


We spoke not a word, but kept bent at our work,
till our eyes, they went blurry; our fingers all hurt.
The coffee went cold and the night, it wore thin
before we attached the last rod and last pin.


Then laying the tools away in the chest,
we fell into bed for a well-deserved rest.
But I said to my husband just before I passed out,
"This will be the best Christmas, without any doubt.


Tomorrow we'll cheer, let the holiday ring,
and not run to the store for one single thing!
We did it! We did it! The toys are all set
for the perfect, most magical, Christmas, I bet!"


Then off to dreamland and sweet repose
I gratefully went, though I suppose
there's something to say for those self-deluded—
I'd forgotten that BATTERIES are never included!


Poem from here .


Sweet Dreams to all!!!!


Lyn

More Christmas Favorites

Another Christmas favorite of mine is Lou Monte's Dominick The Donkey, but whenever I hear that song I long to hear Pepino the Mouse. Both songs are amusing and fun so I posted both.

Enjoy!



This one was posted as part of a contest on YouTube, and I love my Johnny Depp so it's a two-for.



Sweet dreams all.

Lyn

Do you believe?

I was having some difficulty getting Zachary to go to bed tonight.  I normally would use the usual "just go to sleep" trick, but it seems he is getting a wee bit smarter.  So I had to call in the Clause Man.

Yes.  I resorted to calling actual buds (Thank you Eddie aka Daddy and crew). Let me tell you something...Mr. I-forgot-your-name-pretending-to-be-Santa you are the best kinda friend ever. I really appreciated the time you took to speak with my son. I know I have no problem anymore with the belief.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Me!

(Lyn is currently plucking the grey hairs out of her scalp for fun. Each strand is given a name in place of her sanity.  If you have any name suggestions please leave them in the comment section.)

Sweet Dreams.

Lyn

How many days left.. 9?

OK. So my Christmas tree is up.  The stockings are hung and the gifts are all wrapped and ready for giving.  I am so proud of myself. For the first time EVER I am done before Christmas Eve.  I even managed to make cookies, truffles, and bon bons last night. All I have to do now is kick back, relax, and enjoy the holiday.

Now I am off to work to help the frazzled Mom and Dads shop for their loved ones.

Have a sparkling day!

Lyn

14 days and counting down.

I know that working in the retail world I should shudder at the very thought of Christmas, but I really do enjoy it. Of course, every so often I get an insane person who thinks the world revolves around them, and why am I not bowing down before them and meeting all of their demands. I can say this with pride, and some of my friends who are reading this know exactly what I am saying.

I am locked and loaded with a smile! Kapow! Take that grumpy non-coupon holder who still wants the discount!

Oh. I am sorry. What was that last thing you said? Go to where? Nice!

And so I am going to leave you with a Christmas song that has absolutely nothing to do with the grumpy grinch.

It does make me giggle, and snort, and at times wallow in water.



Sweet Dreams.

Lyn

Goodbye Diane.

I don't know what I'd do without my morning dose of Good Morning America. I've been watching for almost five years now. I started watching when Zachary was born and I started with the early morning feedings. It then became part of my routine.



Well, I will still be watching each morning, but without Diane Sawyer. She is set to replace Charles Gibson on ABC World News. Farewell Diane. Maybe I'll start watching ABC World News now.

At the end of the show today they sang "Why do you Build me up Buttercup" by the Foundations. I was searching and came across this video, which of course is not serious at all. Great song. Silly video. Enjoy!



Take care.

Lyn

Happy Wednesday!

A Meme Tale: Lyn reflects on Christmas

Hello there everyone.  I hope all is well.  All smiles and lots of love here.


It has been a few days, but that's all because I was sucked in by the History channel.  I finally came to my senses last night, but somehow was drawn to the Animal Planet channel.   Please don't get the wrong impression here.  I love to read and watch movies if they are worth it.


It's the Christmas Season which means I get a bit stressed.  I battle the stress with humor.  Laughter defeats   all evil (well except the maniacle sort). 


Ahem. 


So Karen had this Christmas Meme that I thought might be fun and insightful.   Well I guess that would be on how I were to answer.  


Well let's see what happens shall we? 


Warning: The answers given may or may not be entirely true.  The author has an evil Hamster, an Oracle Cat, and the Wisen LintBball from which the child extracted a button.


Onward we go: 




1. Have you started your Christmas shopping?  Yes.  And I am so proud of myself this year.

2. Tell me about one of your special traditions.  Well it's not now, but when we were kids my Father would blast Alvin & the Chipmunks on Christmas morning.  I loved that! 


 3. When do you put up your Tree?   It's up and it is the sweetest tree ever.  It's not big at all, but Zach loves it.

4. Are you a Black Friday shopper? Hee...Haw....OOps yup. I'll take the sounding like a Jackass,  but I really enjoyed shopping that day.  

5. Do you Travel at Christmas or Stay home?   Stay home.  We do everything Christmas Eve with the extended family and Christmas day is all about the immediate...The kids mostly.

6. What is your funniest Christmas memory?  Thinking that I had bestested one of my girl friends on the empty box within a box within a box and she got me back with the over taped box within an overtaped box...

7. What is your favorite Christmas Movie of all time?  A Christmas Carol

8. Do you do your own Christmas baking?  Yes. Of course I do.   What’s your favorite treat?  Bon Bons

9. Fake or Real Tree?  Fake is the new real.  Lay off chopping the little ones please.  


10. What day does the actual panic set in to get it all done?  It doesn't.  I am good. I am pretty sure that members of my family are still wrapping.

11. Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?  Of course! I find little things to get for my boys.

12. What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas?When we do games.  Dominoes..Cards...Trivia.   Dominoes being the best!!

13. What Christmas craft do you like the best?  Cooking.

14. Christmas music? Yes or No, and if yes What is your favorite song?



15. When do you plan to finish all your shopping?  I am done.  I think. ;)

Do you want to play along?
Just simply copy and paste the questions into your blog, and then answer them.

 •When you post on your blog, please spread some Christmas Cheer, and leave a link back to the blogger who started the meme: Heather @ ( Top 10 Christmas) Heather would like any blogger to participate in this meme, so let her know if you do it.

When good Hamsters go bad.

Have you met my pet hamster yet?  I don't believe I formally introduced him.  His name is Bob.  I brought lovely Bob into our family as a way to teach my son Zach some responsibility (he feeds Bob & gives him treats with my help.) Awe. Isn't that cute?



Image from here.

That is as close as I can get to a picture of Bob.  I had one, but it was so blurry it looked like a rat behind bars. So this will have to do.

Bob, who had been the cutest, most adorable hammy ever, suddenly got a bit aggressive and big.  Holy crap!  How much is he actually eating?  Is Zach feeding him while I am not paying attention?  How many people in this house are giving him special treats? Weeeelllll.

Mister Bob was not too happy to find out that I was onto his game.  No more of that overindulgence for you.
Oops.  I guess I must have pissed him off, because he freaked out.  Not at first mind you. I got out of work two nights ago to him acting weird. It was very late and I was tired so I didn't really care that he was fussing.  I figured I'd sleep right through it.

Next morning I am getting Zach's clothes and what the hell is that running across the baseboard.  That little freak escaped. Bob was on the run.  FYI if you are new to this blog I have a cat named Zona.  The funny thing was that Bob was running for his life from corner to corner and room to room, while Ms. Zona yawned on my bed.  She is such a snob.  Don't get me wrong here.  She definitely would have swiped him up...If he had come within the 18" circumference of her personal space.

Let me get to the point here. This is how the Bobster was taken down.  After many failed attempts at being nice and humane I had to put the gloves on. Seriously. I have a pair of ski gloves with grip palm that I only bust out in extreme weather. (Did I tell you that Bob bites hard?)  So we trap Bob in the laundry room knowing the only possible escape route without eating through something.  Mom puts Ms. Zona in there and shuts all the doors. Wouldn't you know it Bob pops right out and, much to his dismay, is caught and returned to his home.

I was told by a few people today that he may be getting frustrated.  By which I mean he has no mate. Sorry Bob.  If you intend to get a mate you might want to ask Santa.  Right now I believe you are getting coal. This hardly upsets you because you eat anything given to you. Sigh.

The result of the Bob chase: Lyn being seriously pissed:expected.  Z-man finding the Santa stash: Ouch! Grandma giggling because...Well...It is seriously funny: Fantastic!  Bob the Hamster:: bringing me to my knees: I'd say priceless but well I don't have them and Hey where's da carrot you said I'd get..he..he.

Oh.  I see I am done here.  Isn't pleasant when we can just smile even though your butt hurts.  I think that calls for a song..

How about some Mercy!


Sweet Dreams.

Lyn

The Sleepy Duo.

Aren't they cute?

Got Meat!

Hey there everyone. While I was browsing some books the other day I came across one called This is why you're fat. by Jessica Amason & Richard Blakeley.   It is chock full of the world's most disgustingly fattening and at times frighteningly delicious food. I went to the website, which I have linked for you above, and had fun imagining who came up with this stuff.

Most of the food looks like the product of a night of too much partying, getting the munchies, and throwing together everything you'd crave in a year into one creation.

I had so many favorites to choose from, but one photo, in particular, took the prize home. I am a carnivore. If you put meat and potatoes in front of me I eat the meat first, and then go for the potatoes if I feel like it. Get a load of this sucker!

The Big Fat Ugly
A sandwich filled with four cheeseburgers, a double cheesesteak, a chicken cheesesteak, gyro meat, grilled chicken, bacon, sausage, mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers, chicken nuggets, mac n’ cheese bites, fried mushrooms, jalapeño poppers, pizza bites, onion rings, hash browns, American cheese, mayo, and ketchup on two rolls.
(Submitted by Zeefermadness via fatsandwichcompany)

Can you say gluttony ladies & gentlemen? I'd hate to be the significant other of the person who ate that and then went to bed. The gas produced from that bad boy could heat the house for an entire day mid-winter.

Hee hee!

Sweet dreams all.

Lyn

I hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving. I know I did. I even got some Christmas shopping done done on Friday. Yes. I braved the herds of bargain shoppers. I even thought it was fun.

I am watching an awesome movie right now and I was going to post a clip, but I thought it be more fun to share my favorite quote.

I think its really easy, but then again when I try to guess other people's quotes I always get it wrong or its on the tip of my tongue.

"I'm your Huckleberry"

I'm going back to my movie watching. I am kid free till tomorrow afternoon.

Sweet dreams all.

Lyn

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you.

I am going to have some fun the next couple of days. I am going to wear my jammies all day (with the exception of going to go see New Moon tomorrow. I'll put on a nice sweater. Hee Hee!).

And I have the huge cheesecake that I bought, and now have no where to bring it. Stuff happens and Godiva Chocolate is sinfully delicious. Oh. I am so sorry. I forgot to say that my cheesecake was a Godiva Double Chocolate from the Cheesecake Factory. No, I do not get paid to say that, but I do get to eat it. I have got to figure out how to share this monster.

My Thankful thoughts:

My Son "Z" being OK and now driving everyone up the wall.

My Mom & Dad for all they do for me and my boys.

My having the best job in the world. (It's true. If you love your job it is not work it's fun.)

My Son, Aaron, for wanting to serve his country like his Mom and Uncle's did.

My readers for reading and for not dumping me because I love anything and everything weird.

That last one brings me to a problem I have been struggling with. If you see changes you know thats me over enduldging on that GODIVA Double Chocolate Cheesecake. Yummy! I am going to have to hike more. Ohh. I need a new Camera. Incentive. Sweet!!!!!

Another double blast from my past is this You Tube Video. Anyone under 25 probably will not remember this unless the club they go to plays Old School.

Happy Thanksgiving to all and be kind to strangers.

I just got my heart jump started. Wow.

Oh my Words!

Do you know what it is I love about my friends? They rock! Well. The ones that actually take the time to see if I'm still breathing that is. Whoops. I said that out loud didn't I? Snort snort!! Look Mom. I made a funny. Yeah. I know. I'll stop now.

So. My friend G, (she is under the blogger protection program)*, sends me an e-mail to make me smile and of course send well wishes to Z-man. We had been talking about words and how they sound. No, I am not making this up. Words. They make funky vibrations in your mouth. They force you to use your tongue. Your brain has to wrap around the thought of certain syllables connecting with vowels, or the lack of either. Holy crap. I am starting to sound smart. I need to hush, or you readers may expect me to be grammatically correct and spell stuff and use punctuation and be serious about writing. Again with the inside joke. Sorry.

Ahem. I know that I have my fellow writers, creator's, and reader's that love the different, bizzare, and sometimes strange stuff we produce, or come in contact with. I love funny sounding words. So does G (She is so funny and wicked smart. She needs to start a blog.) Words..words..words. When we use them in our writing we try so hard to creatively use them in order to not be repetitive I repeat Repetitive. Sniff. Hee hee. The inside jokes again. Repeating. Oh for crying out loud. I'll stop.

All you word lovers will love this Dr. Demento video called Bulbous Bouffant.



If you really want go see the cartoon puppet version done by The Vestibules. Oh, what the hello. I will link you here.

Thank you for playing along. Notice I didn't try to sneak in any really fun wordy words? I am so
inimitable. Ha! Gotcha.

I hope you took a second, or 4 or so minutes to watch the educational video. Laughing hard I may have to pee.

Sweet dreams everyone.

Lyn

*A completely fictitous, but otherwise amusing agency created from the mushy glob located in my head.

Z-file: Surgery Sucks Serious Nads

If you are looking for a fluffy post go away. Nothing about Zach was fluffy and right. Everyone who told me "Oh. It's an easy operation. He goes in and comes out. He should be able to go home that day." Or "My child went in and had it done and came out wanting ice cream and we were out the door."

How about this: My son went in and shoved the surgeon out of the way...gave himself the anesthesia which he was impervious to, so he decided to gargle some ice water to numb himself, and then ripped his own Tonsils and Adenoids right out. He hawked up some blood but felt he was good to go and was ready for some Loaded Nacho's.

Of course I am kidding, but hopefully you get the frustration I have been dealing with. I had to call the Doc again tonight because he is not drinking or eating and he has been throwing up. So now its NO food at all and just water or pedialite. If he tosses his meds and water tonight its back to the ER. Bleh.

I have some pictures from the hospital. I stopped taking them for obvious reasons.







That's my baby boy. My Z-man! One day of surgery crumbled this Super-Spirited-Ultra-Positive-Ever-Smiling-Mama.

Hopefully he sleeps peacefully.

Sweet dreams to all.

Lyn

Good morning.

Blase over at My game...it's your move had this getting to know you "whatchamacallit" lists. I figured eh..I have nothing to gain or lose so what the heck!

I'm all about getting to know my Peeps. Please list your Favorites and Answers to the following-

1.Ice Cream Flavor~Cookies and cream, but I am lactose intolerant so I never eat it.
2. Color~Pink
3.Full-Course Dinner~Thanksgiving Dinner with all the fixings.
4. TV Show~Top Chef
5. Season of the Year~Summer
6. Day of the Week~Friday
7. Month of the Year~July
8. Room in your House~My room
9. Restaurant~None
10. Movie Actor~Johnny Depp
11. All-Time Movie~Breakfast Club
12. Political Affiliation~ :{ not saying
13. Manner of Relaxing~Sleeping
14. Book, and/or Author~Too many to pick one.
15. Comedian~Dane Cook
16. Excluding Mine...your Favorite Blog~
17. What were the circumstances that gave you the incentive to start a Blog? I wanted a creative outlet.
18. How many jobs have you been employed with since your first full-time job? More than 2
19. How many people do you personally know that has been laid-off of work? About 10
20. Your greatest Concern/Worry/Challenge~My son.
21. Music Artist/Band~Too many to pick one.
22. Your Motto in Life~Carpe diem!

There you have it. Some completely useless information about me. Frankly I loved the answers over at Blase's blog much better.

Zach update: We got home yesterday afternoon. It was a very tiring experience. Once we both got settled in and cleaned up we laid down for a while and managed to sleep clear through the night. I gave him more meds this morning and he went right back to bed. I think I may lay down again too.

Take care all.

Lyn

Zman heads to Surgery.

clip from here

I am packed, and ready. Mom took care of Z while I was at work tonight, so all is well. We are ready to board Captain!

I still have my heart in my throat. I have gotten different responses from my lovely customers,(seriously they ROCK), on what to expect and how their child and/or relative/s handled this procedure. I am getting the part that each child is different and responds as such with this. I also grasp that because of the age it may or may not make it good or bad for him.

Why then do you torture Mom & Dad & Grandparents with shrouded information and then unsure responses to questions I ask? Oh and why did I have to wait all day to get my info for tomorrow? Do you realize that I looked like an idiot speaking to your rep while a customer came over to say Hello. I had to tell said customer that I was on a personal call and was very sorry. You should have been the one apologizing, not me!

Don't even think about blaming us "Fantabulous" retail workers for anything less than extraordinary customer service. The only other option is to avoid "me" because I am a Happy plague. I smile and latch on like no tomorrow.

OK. One more time for good measure and in case anything goes wrong...Pray for Zachary and think about him tomorrow while you are having your breakfast or lunch. He is totally worth the couple of seconds and I want to stop eating my heart.



We (The Hernandez & Pronovost family) thank you for everything. Once again, please think of Z tomorrow.

Sweet dreams all.

Lyn & Family

My Bon Bombed.

Photo from here

Mmmmmm. Doesn't that look yummy? Good enough to eat right? That's nice, and I'm sure the chef who made them really appreciates your eye for delectable delights. My Bon Bons looked nothing like that. I was going to take pictures and post them so you could see how horrible they turned out, but then I realized that they sort of resembled poo droppings. Even though they look like chocolate blobs they still are mighty scrumptious.

OK. Back to the drawing board.

Lyn

And another thing.

I was reading some of my posts from when I first started this blog. I make it sound like it has been years, but sadly its not even a year yet.

I'm disturbed by my lack of diligence. I let my creative self slide into the shadows. What is my problem? I seriously do not need to be chasing my shadow around like Peter Pan. And even if I did who would catch it, and sew it back on me.

Here lies the problem. Adults have lost their Pan. No one sees the monsters in the closet, or creepy crawlies under the bed. Does this sound familiar "It's too dark."?
Why would you subject a child to total darkness knowing full well that they are petrified?

My solution to this is simple. Read to your children pleasant or inspiring stories before they go to sleep. If they wake from a nightmare, do not dismiss it as nothing. Give a hug and a kiss and speak softly until sleep returns.

I need to get my Jo back from Mo. This lady has been in a fog. I need to wake up.

Where the heck is the Frog when I need to kiss him. Phhhhphht!


Sweet dreams.

Lyn

Congratulations to my Baby Johnny Depp on his Sexiest Man Alive Win! Yumm.

Everything is thumbs up for Friday for Zach. If all goes well I might be able to bring him home that day. Then its 2 weeks recovery and off he goes! Thank you for the well wishes and prayers. He's going to be fine. Momma tends to overreact when it comes to her baby boy.

That's it for now. Have a great day!

Lyn

Every thought counts.

When you pray for everyone else who prays for you? Strike me down. Hit me with your best shot. I am tired. Pray for Zach. He's the one who needs it. His surgery is next Friday. I ask my blog friends as well as my FB friends to keep "Z" in their thoughts and prayers.

Amazing.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Theatrical Trailer #2

OK. So I finished the last book yesterday and was totally bummed out until I found out that the movie is coming in February. I knew it was coming, but I didn't realize how soon.

For those of you that don't know about Percy Jackson you really should read the books. The first book Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightening Thief, by Rick Riordan was a hot topic among the kids and of course I didn't pay attention at first because it was written for kids. Then I thought about Harry Potter and how at first I was against reading the books because I didn't want people to think I was, well hell if I remember what I was afraid of. Screw them I wanted to read everything I could get my hands on. I've always read weird crap and will continue to do so until my sight fails me. And then I'll get someone like Jenny aka Blaez to read to me because she is cool like that. Love you Jenny!

Where was I? Oh yeah. So I remembered that I started reading Harry Potter when book 3 had just come out and was completely addicted. It was pure torture having to wait for #4 Goblet of Fire. By #7 the Mail Carrier knew to just drive up & drop off my book before starting her route. I think she felt bad for me. There must be something really creepy about a grown adult sitting on a front porch whimpering and craning her neck every time a car passes by. Yeah I know I could have gotten my book at the store but it was more fun my way and it gave the neighbors something to talk about.

With Percy Jackson I didn't have to go through all of that. I was so late in the game that all five books were published and ready for purchase. And the amazing thing is that my non-book loving Teen "Double A" was the one to ask me to pick him up a copy. Ha! Go figure. Even Mom is on board. She bought the Audio for her car.

Blah. Blah. Blah. Why is this chic babbling about some dumb book? Well it's because I love mythology. Anyone who knows me knows that I crave knowledge, and the more "useless" it is the better it is. What I thought was awesome about Rick Riordan's books was that I finally "got" it. You know. I finally was able to understand some of the "myths" from back in the day. I love to share my little treasures so I hope you either read the books or at least pass on the information to someone who may fall in love like I did.

Before you leave please check out the Trailer. The Director, Chris Columbus, is the same guy who did Harry Potter's Sorcerer's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets. If you check out the Cast List you will see some familiar names. Wow. I am so excited!

Until next time.

Sweet dreams.

Lyn

Don't be shy. Check out the trailer!!!!



I love you all.

Peace!

Hecate & I hiss & growl...

Not saying anything bad. My word spreads, and I have to be cautious.



The Greek goddess Hecate reminds us of the importance of change, helping us to release the past, especially those things that are hindering our growth, and to accept change and transitions. She sometimes asks us to let go of what is familiar, safe, and secure and to travel to the scary places of the soul.

Oh, Yes I did go there. I had so much more to say, but I am enjoying the cream filled yumm of Twinkies. I Know I am going to get lip from some of my best girls/guys out there, but I stand my ground. I love you. Peace.

Have a nice day.

Guess Who?

Hey there everyone. I hope your weekend was wicked, wild, wacky, or just plain fun. Thank you for stopping by to visit. I love the company.

Until next time.

Sweet Dreams.

Lyn

A peek into my brain.

Whoops. Sorry if you came here for some enlightening message. I have nothing to share but this clip.



Freaks & Frights and Things that go bump in the night will return. I am continuing my search beyond the typical month of October. I have added some other interesting FFT's to my list and may have to change the title. Hmmm. We shall see.

Sweet dreams.

Lyn

PMS

TGIF: Happy hour special is Beetlejuice!

Cheers guys & gals. Happy weekend to you!



I feel the need for Jumbo Shrimp cocktail. Hmmmm. Now if I can get that delivered with some flowers attached to a handsome delivery man I am golden. Yes I am still dwelling on why men don't send flowers anymore. I guess it would help if I actually had a significant other to send them to me. Ah well. Someone send me flowers dammit!

Take care.

Lynee

The Banshee Myth.

Image from here.

As defined by Wikipedia: The Banshee (pronounced /ˈbænʃiː/, BAN-shee), from the Irish bean sídhe [bʲæn ˈʃiː] ("woman of the síde" or "woman of the fairy mounds") is a female spirit in Irish mythology, usually seen as an omen of death and a messenger from the Otherworld. Her Scottish counterpart is the bean shìth (also spelled bean-shìdh).

The aos sí (people of the mounds, people of peace) are variously believed to be the survivals of pre-Christian Gaelic deities, spirits of nature, or the ancestors. Some Theosophists and Celtic Christians have referred to the aos sí as "fallen angels". They are commonly referred to in English as "fairies", and the banshee can also be described as a "fairy woman".

I've heard stories about the Banshee many times throughout my life. Whether it was a campfire story, or a friends aunt trying to scare her niece and her little friends with a good old fashion ghost tale, it was mesmerizing. I loved the forewarning as much as the messengers themselves. Depending upon who was weaving the tale (and if said person had a bit too much wine at dinner) then the warning was delivered by any number of sources.

There is the clock that stops at the time of death, the bird that flies through the window or perches on the sill, candles that burn oddly or snuff out without external help such as a breeze, and numerous animals which includes the black dog or hound, but that's a story for a different post.

Even the Banshee has appeared in many forms of disguise. She can be a frighteningly ugly hag, or beautiful woman. Most Irish tales are of her in farming clothes and cloak with long hair, while Scotland lores are of a hag-like washer-woman (bean-nighe). The later could be seen washing the blood stained clothes of those about to die.

In Scotland, the "bean-nighe" or washing woman is seen by travelers around pools or fjords washing the shrouds of those who are about to die, singing a dirge or crying. The bean-nighe will tell for whom she is keening and also the fate of those travelers who would dare to ask her. The bean-nigh is thought to be the ghost of a woman who died in childbirth. The feminine gender of this grieving spirit is a theme found again in the exclusively Irish form of the "bean-si", or banshee. ~~ The Banshee, Celtic Death Messenger by C.Austin

Like her appearance, her trademark wail also varies with location and culture. There is the keening woman wail that is so piercing that it shatters glass (Hey, I can do that with my singing. Cool.). Southwest of Ireland the wail is considered to be somewhat of "low pleasant singing". There is also the reference of her sounding like "two boards being struck together", and my personal favorite, as "a thin, screeching sound somewhere between the wail of a woman and the moan of an owl". (The last one was commonly used by auntie-I-have-a-buzz-lets-freak-out-the-children.)

Why all the wailing and screeching you ask? Well, which version do you want? I'm going to go with the traditional Irish version. Both of my brothers married lovely Irish girls (I'd say lassies, but they'd kick my arse.) so it's fitting. That, and the threat of having to do every version of Banshee known to Mankind, therefore sucking the life out of my non-existent social life (I am an A-lister in my head), has me totally convinced one legend is enough for you folks.

Let's start with "keeners". I have heard of this regardless of the Banshee mythology it stems from. Did you ever go to a funeral or wake, and see the overly weepy woman ready to throw herself on the coffin? I have. Of course it was for real here not staged. There are cultures that believe your status in life was how many and how mournful your grievers were. So basically if you had the means, or "meads" back in the day, you could hire women to weep, wail, cry, sing, and pretty much create the illusion that you were of importance. They actually do this in some foreign countries still today. Hell. We do that here in the States whenever someone you have never heard of, or was two generations before you passes on.

The legendary Irish Banshee wails in close proximity to the home where the soon to be stricken lay. (Yes. I know the other tale of them wailing from a distance to a far removed relative who then makes the journey.)With assistance from my friend Answers.com

'The Banshee,' says D. R. McAnally [in his book Irish Wonders (1888)], 'is really a disembodied soul, that of one who in life was strongly attached to the family, or who had good reason to hate all its members. Thus, in different instances, the Banshee's song may be inspired by different motives. When the Banshee loves those she calls, the song is a low, soft chant giving notice, indeed, of the close proximity of the angel of death, but with a tenderness of tone that reassures the one destined to die and comforts the survivors; rather a welcome than a warning, and having in its tones a thrill of exultation, as though the messenger spirit were bringing glad tidings to him summoned to join the waiting throng of his ancest[o]rs.' To a doomed member of the family of the O'Reardons the Banshee generally appears in the form of a beautiful woman, 'and sings a song so sweetly solemn as to reconcile him to his approaching fate.' But if, during his lifetime, the Banshee was an enemy of the family, the cry is the scream of a fiend, howling with demoniac delight over the coming death agony of another of his foes.'

Wow. Lyn just keeps going & going. Whoops. That would be me.

I found this animated short while hunting today. Give it a click and take a peek. I thought it was cute, informative, and a good way to explain a Banshee without damaging a nieces friends mind.
The Banshee by Ed Bains.


Image from here.

The Banshee

"Who sits upon the heath forlorn,
With robe so free and tresses torn?
Anon she pours a harrowing strain,
And then she sits all mute again!
Now peals the wild funeral cry
And now... it sinks into a sigh."

Unknown

If you are looking for the post on Ghouls don't worry, I have them coming up soon. I thought for sure I wouldn't find much on the creepy cretins, but no, not them. They have oodles of sites, literature, and movies dedicated to them. So, I had to push them off a bit to give them some breathing room. Ha! I made a funny. Ghouls breathing. As if! Ahem. OK. See ya next time.

Sweet dreams.

Lyn

Something wicked this way comes.

"By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes."~ Act IV scene 1 of William Shakespeare's play Macbeth.

I shall return with the next up on my list of Freaks & Frights, and Things that go bump in the night. Tonight I will be covering Banshee's and Ghouls. For some reason they seem to go together. When I think of a Banshee I see a woman/feminine, and for the ghoul I picture a male/masculine.

It also helps that in my twisted thinking it goes with Girls rule and Boys drool. Hey! No making faces. My niece gave me Bunny slippers that have that saying on it. Sage advice I think.

OK. I am off for a bit to get some R&R (I am childless for a few hours).

I'll be back later with either an educational posting on the who, what, and where of both Freaks, or a wildly entertaining piece of drivel. Maybe...I'll mix it up to combine both. Ha! I am so funny. I wrote that as if I had 100 readers all perked and ready to absorb my nonsense (I am in love with my nonsense so don't judge.). This proves I am a dork.

I love me.

Until the next post. **Please feel free to read that line in Baritone**

Lyn

**Update 7:00 EST. I don't feel good. I am going to bed. I will continue tomorrow.**

The Mighty Arachnid: The Big Brown Spider that would not die!

Well I thought I could move on from my fear of spiders, but I guess not. On Monday morning I was straightening up my room and was reaching for a cushion. Something shifted as my hand approached and I instinctively recoiled. What was it? A huge ass brown spider. What is it with these suckers?

I didn't know what to do, because I knew if I walked away to get something to trap it with it would wander off, and I would be living in fear of it coming out while I was sleeping. Did I mention that it was huge? So I grabbed a can from my arsenal of sprays I had on a nearby counter. Remember when I had the flea problem? Well I had all sorts of sprays from all the fumigating and deodorizing.

Mr. Spider got Windexed, Liosoled, Ferbreezed, Flea sprayed, Bug killer doused, and for good measure Glade powder fresh blasted. You know what? That S.O.B. was still alive. So after screaming bloody murder half the neighborhood banged down my door and whisked me off to safety. Ha! Yeah right. More like, I woke everyone in the house up and my mother trapped the bugger in a cup with a plate while laughing her ass off at my sissy dance.

I don't know what kind of spider that one was, but I did figure out what the one I had photographed in the backyard was. The first photo is what I used to reference my photo and the second was taken by me this past Summer.


Photo from here


Photo by Lyn Hernandez

"Black and Yellow Argiope or "Garden Spider / Banana Spider"

A very large common spider in North America. Usually hangs in webs with its head facing the ground. It is brightly colored. Its venom is a neurotoxin similar to that of the black widow. However, its venom is not near as potent. Its bite causes local pain and redness with blisters forming. This bite usually resolves within 24 hours except for the bite mark."

The one in my room looked more like this:


Photo from here


Photo from here

Once again, I have no clue what kind of spider it was, but that's what it looked like. Those photos are of the Brown Recluse. I don't care what type of spider it is/was so long as it stays out of the house. Did I mention that it was HUGE!

Take care for now.

Lyn

Welcome to the Hotel California.

How is it that after years of listening to the Eagles I never knew the meaning of that friggin song? What song? I am talking about "Hotel California". Please tell me you know who the Eagles are, or that you are at least familiar with the song. I cannot have another "You don't bring me flowers" moment. For those of you new here, thank you for joining us, and I was referring to when no one had a clue who Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond was(This was in real life at work...Arrg.)

Lois and I were listening to an excerpt from Percy Jackson and The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan today. We were at the part where Percy, Annabeth, and Grover find the Lotus Hotel and Casino when we both said it's a trap.

I'm not going to get into the similarities between the two, but if Lois and I both caught on I'm sure others have. She is the one who said Hotel California. I was thinking the Shining. Kidding of course. The Shining was awesome, but the hotel was not inviting initially. Both the Eagles and Rick Riordan tapped into the creepily cordial world of hospitality.

I am all for top notch service, but if the price is to be stuck in a pimped out purgatory for all eternity, I am out. I now have several people banging their heads on walls wondering why. It's simple. I love life. I don't want to be holed up. The part where you can never leave pretty much seals the deal for me. I am not entering thank you very much!

Sadly, I know my son Aaron, who will be reading the book soon, would think it was Heaven, and wonder whether or not a real hotel like that one does actually exist. I am willing to bet that he will goog/bing the place. Sigh.

Just for Git and Shiggles I added the Lyrics. Well, because I like to do that. I want you to see my painful stupidity in not knowing the meaning of a remarkable song. Oh and then there is this wonderful video by Leon. I ask only that you do not have children present if you click the video. Violence leaves marks on our babies minds, and that's a BIG no-no.

OK. Enough of my banter.

Sweet dreams.

Lyn

The Eagles : Hotel California Lyrics
Songwriters: Felder, Don; Henley, Don; Frey, Glenn Lewis;

On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance, I saw shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night
There she stood in the doorway;
I heard the mission bell
And I was thinking to myself,
'This could be Heaven or this could be Hell'
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor,
I thought I heard them say...

Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year (Any time of year)
You can find it here

Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget

So I called up the Captain,
'Please bring me my wine'
He said, 'We haven't had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine'
And still those voices are calling from far away,
Wake you up in the middle of the night
Just to hear them say...

Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
They livin' it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise)
Bring your alibis

Mirrors on the ceiling,
The pink champagne on ice
And she said 'We are all just prisoners here, of our own device'
And in the master's chambers,
They gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives,
But they just can't kill the beast

Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
'Relax,' said the night man,
'We are programmed to receive.
You can check-out any time you like,
But you can never leave!'



The Eagles Hotel California Leon Style

Dave | MySpace Videos

Did ya like it?

Oh. Crap. I am supposed to be blopping (Popping in at blogs.)
Who makes this stuff up?

Love you all.

Peace.

Silence is Golden.

Mmmm...Mmmmm...Mmm. That's all I have to say.



Sweet dreams.

Lyn

El Chupacabra: Fact or Fiction

Good evening Guys and Gals. I skipped out on doing this post yesterday because of the pressing evil doll issue that would not get out of my head. Now that my brain has been drained of doll possession I am ready to move on. (OK. I am working on it at this point. Top Chef Las Vegas keeps distracting me. Oh, and I owe Karen a Meme that I got tagged on. Sorry Karen I will get it done soon.)

OK. Where was I? Oh. Welcome to the next installment of Freaks & Frights and Things that go bump in the night. Just a reminder, my investigations are purely for my own amusement and hopefully yours. Tonight's Freak is El Chupacabra. Hey. Get off the floor. You can roll around laughing after I am done. You over there. Step away from your mouse. OK. I promise to release you all after I am done.

El Chupacabra is by far one of the most exaggerated anomalies in my opinion. But what I say doesn't really matter in the big scheme of things. I just like to think it does. So onward I go.


Image from here

My Heritage is from Puerto Rico. According to my Father "El Chupacabra" is BS. His thoughts on this topic were that it had to be a wild dog. Interesting, considering that the photos/images that have been popping up have been dog like. He also said that I am wasting my time investigating something that doesn't exist. I love you Dad.


Image from here

Is it just me or does this next guy look like an ORK. For those of you who have not seen the Lord Of The Rings Trilogy that looks like an ORK.


Image from here

The Chupacabra is also known as a/the goat sucker. Depending on the version of what you have read it stands six feet tall and stands on two legs or is dog-like in appearance with fangs of a vampire. OK. So I gave the two extremes. I did warn you about this being for my own amusement.



Photo from here

If you just thought to yourself WTF join the club. I saw more photos of the same creature and let me tell you folks: It is not a dog! I am not saying that it is the chupacabra that everyone has been tracking, but it most certainly is not a dog.

The Skeptics Dictionary has a wonderful explanation for you all to ponder. I'd love to continue but I have to go protect the chickens, goats, dogs, cat, goldfish, turtle, birds, and hamster. Oh. Wait a second. Yeesh. What was I thinking. I don't own chickens or a goat. Sigh...

chupacabra

The chupacabra ("goat sucker") is an animal said to be unknown to science and systemically killing animals in places like Puerto Rico, Miami, Nicaragua, Chile, and Mexico. The creature's name originated with the discovery of some dead goats in Puerto Rico with puncture wounds in their necks and their blood allegedly drained. According to UFO Magazine (March/April 1996) there have been more than 2,000 reported cases of animal mutilations in Puerto Rico attributed to the chupacabra.

Puerto Rican authorities maintain that the deaths are due to attacks from groups of stray dogs or other exotic animals, such as the panther, illegally introduced in the island's territory. The director of Puerto Rico's Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services Division, Hector Garcia, has stated that there is nothing unusual or extraordinary about the cases they've observed. One veterinarian said "it could be a human being who belongs to a religious sect, even another animal. It could also be someone who wants to make fun out of the Puerto Rican people."

Like other creatures in the cryptozoologist's barnyard, the chupacabra has been variously described. Some witnesses have seen a small half-alien, half-dinosaur tailless vampire with quills running down its back; others have seen a panther like creature with a long snake-like tongue; still others have seen a hopping animal that leaves a trail of sulfuric stench. Some think it may be a type of dinosaur heretofore unknown. Some are convinced that the wounds on animals whose deaths have been attributed to the chupacabra indicate an alien presence. However, they do not attribute the "mutilations" to the aliens themselves, but to one of their pets or experiments gone awry. Such creatures are known as Anomalous Biological Entities [ABEs] in UFO circles.

Those who think the chupacabra is an ABE also believe that there is a massive government and mass media conspiracy to keep the truth hidden from the people, probably to prevent panic. This view is maintained despite the fact that the President of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives Agricultural Commission, Mr. Juan E. [Kike] Lopez, introduced a resolution asking for an official investigation to clarify the situation. Inside Edition sent a crew to Puerto Rico to investigate the ABE story. They allegedly ridiculed the Mayor of Canavanas, a witness to the chupacabra, and basically made fun of the whole idea.

Jorge Martin, a Puerto Rican journalist who describes himself as a "leading UFO researcher," reports that it has been brought to his attention that the U.S. and Puerto Rican governments have captured two of the creatures. Perhaps there will soon be a film on the ABE autopsy to rival the discredited alien autopsy film. Martin cautions us not to exclude other reasonable possibilities.

The ABEs can also be the product of highly sophisticated genetic manipulations by human agencies. A Chinese-Russian scientist by the name of Dr. Tsian Kanchen, has produced genetic manipulations which have created new species of electronically-crossed plant and animal organisms. Kanchen developed an electronic system whereby he can pick up the bioenergetic field of the DNA of living organisms and transfer it electronically to other living organisms. By these means he has created incredible new breeds of ducks/chickens, with physical characteristics of both species; goats/rabbits, and new breeds of plants such as corn/wheat, peanut/sunflower seeds and cucumber/watermelons. These are produced by linking the genetic data of different living organisms contained in their bioenergetic fields by means of ultra-high frequencies biological linking. If the Russians have created this technology, then without doubt the US and other powers have too. Therefore, it is quite possible that the "Chupacabras" or ABEs could have been developed by humans. [Martin]

Martin goes on to report that a chupacabra has been killed and blood tests have been done on the creature.

The genetic analysis so far has revealed that the blood is in no way compatible with human blood nor with any animal species known to science. The traces ratio of magnesium, phosphorous, calcium and potassium are incompatible with those of normal human blood, they are much too high. The albumen/glouline [RG ratio] was also incompatible. The ratios found do not allow the results of the analysis to be compatible with those of any known animal species.

At present, we can't place the sample with any earthly organism. Therefore it could well be the product of a highly sophisticated genetic manipulation, an organism alien to our own environment or perhaps extraterrestrial. [Martin]

I suppose Martin's work is what passes for responsible journalism on some planets in the universe. On the other hand, the sightings may not be all that accurate, the "mutilations" not all that strange, and the evidence for these bodies, autopsies and blood tests remains little more than speculation for the most part. However, one alleged chupacabra was killed in Nicaragua and was examined by scientists at the Autonomous National University of Nicaragua. When the scientists revealed that the carcass was that of a common dog, they were met with skepticism and derision. Nobody wants to read a story with the headline: Chupacabra turns out to be Chihuahua.

Once again I did not write that lovely piece. Kudos to The Skeptic's Dictionary on exceeding brilliance in their craft.

So this concludes tonights exploration of El Chupacabra. Somehow I have a hard time grasping the idea of the Taco Bell Dog being threatening. OK. I bite my tongue now.

Sweet dreams.

Lyn

P.S. Yo quiero taco bell!