View allAll Photos Tagged BECOME
Despicably Rotten Scoundrel
My thanks to everyone who has helped me with ideas in writing this story. You all know of whom I speak.
The opening scene is a formal charity ball in Scotland, at the seaside town of Clachtoll.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Despicably Rotten Scoundrel
“I’m not really wicked, just written that way…!”
A pickpocketing female thief’s rather despicable and rotten tale told from her perspective….
“I’m not jealous, just an opportunist.”
^^^^^^^^^^
I do love a good old-fashioned charity ball.
It’s a place where rich twits, sorry, guests love to show off their finery, flaunting the fact they are wealthy enough to be invited to donate a bit of their easily earned, or given, cash. Also wealthy enough to be shorn of some of their wealth by other, shall we say, less proper manners.
Now, it’s true that there are mostly adults at these types of charity things.
But they also have a tendency to doll up their younger sons/daughters and bring them along to pretty much just display them. The poor dears are usually bored and desperate to be noticed. Which works to my advantage.
A bit of juicy, easy ripe pickings on the side with usually some surprisingly profitable results.
And then there are the parents and other adult guests, who once they have imbibed enough, become subtle and compliant enough for my fingers to do their task of acquiring their more valuable adornments
And I never thought of pickpocketing as right out stealing, preferably thinking of it as teaching a life lesson to those foolish enough, or young enough, to present a vulnerably easy target. And earn my living in the process.
But why the soliloquy one may ask?
Well, the last time I attended such a function I deliciously petted away a pair of pearl necklaces, a single and double strand, from two very different but equally gullible, charming quite young ladies who were attending a grown-up Ball for the first time. Their pearls fetched a surprising value.
One was in soft velvet the other was in sleek silk-covered chiffon. Both were easily woven into my web.
At the same affair, I also lifted an expensive diamond brooch from a wealthy lady as well as two fat leather wallets from a pair of tuxedo-wearing gentlemen.
But then I attracted nosey official notice and had to make a hasty exit. Blimey, a girl’s got to make a living.
And now here I was, a year later, standing across the street from yet another charity ball in Scotland. Smoking a leisurely cigarette as I watch the rich ladies' attire flowing down elegantly beneath furs and satin evening wraps of the mostly female guests pouring into the venue.
I spotted a group of younger ladies dressed elegantly in a collection of silks and satins, no wraps. They were off to the side smoking and chatting away amiably. They appeared to be an accepting lot, and I instinctively saw them as an acceptable way to camouflage my entrance.
I crossed the street and walked up behind them close enough to get a feel for the manner of conversation. They were all Scottish judging by their accents. Being Welsh myself I was hoping they would jump at the opportunity to talk with a newcomer to the area.
They were, and soon I was in with them thicke as thieves. Which was rather fitting.
The ball was in full swing by the time all of my adopted group decided to enter the establishment and I waltzed right in with them, easily escaping the notice of two security bulls who were keeping an eye on the entrance.
Once safely inside I made an excuse to leave them, promising them I’d catch up with them again. A promise I meant to keep for they were wearing some really lovely jewellery, and once they had drunk up a bit, should make them easy marks.
I licked my lips with anticipation over that future activity.
Once I broke away I circled the perimeter of the massive hall, watching the dancers in the middle. Looking out for an opportunity of any sort.
By the bar, a pair of young men were chattering away, and I pushed myself between them as I passed through. Easily lifting a gold watch from one of the tuxedoed pair.
I then spied with my little eye an elegant lady wearing taffeta, placing a solid gold compact inside her small pearl-handled white beaded clutch purse. I stood near bye, and as she bent down to adjust a strap on her high heel, I walked past and snatched the purse up, hiding it in my own larger purse.
I walked quickly off in another direction.
Then my heart stopped as I spied a young lady sitting at a table alone watching what I assumed were her guardians dancing.
What made it inviting was that no one was watching her.
In a chair next to her hung a luxurious sable, too valuable to trust in hat check.
Laying upon the chair was a small silvery clutch purse, worth quite a bit by my scrutiny. The girl was holding a purse of her own, a pretty, small satin number with rhinestones. Too expensive to pass up.
She was fidgety, either bored or needed to use the loo.
I walked up to her.
“Hello, luv.” I said as she looked up at me with a happy cherub face, glad to have someone to chat with.
“Aye Miss, halo. ” she answered with that darling soft accent that the young scot lassies all seem to have.
She was pretty, wearing a gold sequined blouse with long sleeves and a high collar. A long black skirt sleekly poured from her waist, held there by a gold belt with a large rhinestone clasp. Her long red hair was down hiding any jewels she may be wearing in her ears. Around her neck though, was a twisted strand silvery necklace with 5 real diamonds hanging down in a v shape at the necklace’s centre.
“You’re such a cutie I murmured reaching around and lifting her hair from her backside and running it through my fingers, eyeing her dazzling earrings set with real diamonds…and how they were set in her earlobes. They are old fashioned hinged clasped twins, valuable. My mouth drools over this discovery, for it could be child’s play to lift them.
She squirmed gleefully at my praise.
“Thank you, miss.”
I laid my hand on her shoulder, feeling the ultra-soft material of her blouse. I caressed my fingers along her sleeve.
“Your outfit is quite smashing Lass.”
With a woeful tone of voice she admitted:
“This was my sister's miss, I wanted a gown of my own, but papa said to wait till next year, and then I can wear real makeup!”
I petted her along the sleek backside of her blouse.
“You’ll look beautiful then I’m sure. As you look now, without makeup. And speaking of beauty, that darling purse you're holding is rather pretty. Is that your sister's also?
She shook her head no, the diamonds at her ears and throat erupting into frenzied sparkles. She held the purse up.
“Father Christmas brought it.”
I reached down and touched its exquisite satiny material.
“Very pretty. Something to take care of, especially tonight.”
Possessing the same curiosity of youth that needed me pearls last year, she bought into it, asking…
“Why tonight miss?”
I leaned in and explained.
“A lady had her purse stolen a little while ago, right from her table. The police are looking for him. You may want to put yours somewheres safe until he is caught. “
She looked at her purse worried, not sure what to make of what I had said.
I place my hand reassuringly on her elbow and pointed down to a purple silk-lined pocket of the sable.
“There miss, place it inside the pocket. No one will see it there.”
She obediently bent over to do so, while I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, petting the delicious gold-colored material that covered it.
I looked around making sure the coast was clear, saying to her….
“Oh, and the other purse as well.”
She reached over to the table and picked it up. My fingers moved into position. As she leaned over to put it inside I easily undid the simple hook and circle clasp of her necklace and pulled the dangling piece from around her throat and slipped it inside my pocket in a blink of an eye.
She turned and looked at me with wildly opened concerned eyes.
“Oh. I’m sure they will catch him soon. Then you can take it back out. But for now, your purse is safe, as well as your sister’s”
She shook her head, earrings again flicking an expensive dance. But nothing glimmered where her necklace had been.
“My sister is not here miss. . She’s in France. It’s just me ,mum and dad.”
I knelt between her and that chair that held the gorgeous sable cost.
“Oh, please point them out to me.”
With young obedience, she surveys the crowd.
As she searched, and as I watched her face, my hand was feeling along the rich sable, reaching inside the sable coats’ pocket and pulling out the two small purses, placing them into my own, now sitting on the floor.
Her still-searching eyes lit up and she said…
“There they are…”
She was pointing to a rather handsome couple. The father is in a dark black tux with a black satin vest. Her mum was sumptuous in a long black satin gown with rhinestone trimmings. She was displaying a rather delicious set of diamond jewellery. My fingers itched, but I had done enough here.
I squeeze her shoulder, rising, as she again was becoming mesmerized by watching the dancers. Her earrings were tempting me, and I will admit I tried forcing myself to pass them by, but…
“Must take my leave sweetie, charming to have met such a pretty girl.”
She answered, keeping her eyes on the dance floor.
“Thank you, miss.”
I went in front of her and knelt looking into her doe-like wide green eyes.
“I think you will look positively lovely next year in your gown. I think you should wear your hair up.”
She smiled at me as I lifted up her silky hair.
“Thank you miss, I’m looking ever so to it, hopefully, I can wear one like mums…”
As she said that, my fingers were expertly caressing off the jewels dangling freely from her earlobes with a very practiced stroking touch of my own.
With her earrings clutched in my hands, I told her I hoped she would, and looked towards her mother on the dance floor.
She looked also and as she was I plopped her earrings in my purse and took leave.
I then hurriedly made my way to the bar for a drink and a breather. I had meant to pace myself this evening and not repeat my mistake from a year ago.
I mulled over my drink, watching the crowd, admiring the pickings they wore or carried. The drink and my delicious thoughts took their effect and I realized I needed to urgently use the loo, sorry, powder my nose, as the wealthy ones would say.”
I headed inside the nearest one and found one empty stall remaining. It was then a large group of women came in and gathered around the sinks and side tables waiting their turn.
I exited and with practiced quickness, looked them over, eyeballing a few plump purses, and the rings and bracelets that adorned the wrists, fingers holding them. I focused on an ornate diamond clip worn in the blonde hair of a young lady dressed in black velvet, my fingers tingled. Licking my lips I yelled…
“Mouse, there’s a mouse in my stall!”
In the ensuing panic, I forced myself into their startled midst as I hurried to leave. Bumping into the velvet-gowned young lady, she tripped and started to fall, as it was playing out, my hand snaked up through her hair easily whisking out the startled young thing’s fancy diamond clip in the process.
I made the door and left. Marveling at how easy that score had been. The fact that the flashy hair clip had been the only jewel probably allowed to be worn by the young lady did not faze me a bit.
I walked around the outer rim of the room, basking in the clever way I had nicked that expensive diamond clip from the unwary young victim.
It was then, in a side alcove of couches and comfy chairs, I spotted the group I had come in with. Already going on with drink-induced chatting and giggling. All very touchy-feely and huggy
I was all in for a bit of that action, seeing a multitude of opportunities for my fingers to be employed with.
I grabbed a tray of drinks that was sitting waiting for one of the waiters.
Took it over where it was well received by this group of wealthy young ladies.
And soon was again in thicke with them, laughing and doing some touching of my own upon their softly, expensively, attired figures.
I easily lifted fat wallets from two unguarded evening purses, before deciding to up my game.
One of the ladies, Trish, dressed in a silk dress with a nice diamond drop pendant and an even nicer gem-filled bracelet was telling a story that I wasn’t paying any attention to. What I was paying attention to was the other 3 dames in the group. All three dolled up in satin gowns with some very nice jewelry set with gemstones that matched the colors of their sumptuous designer gowns.
We were all huddled very close together around Trish to listen in to her captivating gossiping story told in a whisper.
They were not watching me.
I was holding onto one of the listening broad's blue satin gloved hands, managing to slowly work off her cocktail ring, a large sapphire surrounded by diamonds.
As we all put hands to our mouths to gasp over a particularly juicy bit of Trish’s story I placed my hand up along the backside of another listener's sunset-red taffeta gown.
Reaching for her necklace I undid the clasp, then waited until another highlight of Trish’s story had us all leaning in closer before slipping the ruby set gold necklace from around my victim’s throat without missing a beat.
Trish finally reached the climax of her story and the ladies turned toward each other and started talking about it over.
I just smiled the said.
“Really. That’s quite a delicious story.”
Though I still had no clue about her babbling.
But as I said that I place my left hand on the diamond-clad wrist of her right hand, over her vulgarly pricy bracelet. She put her other hand on my chest. I swore she was coping a feel.
She chirped...
“Isn’t it a riot, really I cannot believe it happened.”
As she said that, looking earnestly for approval in my hazel eyes with her heavily mascaraed blue ones, I squeezed her wrist, undoing her diamond bracelet and lifting it into my palm.
Transferring the bracelet to my pocket. I picked up a drink and chatted with them for a good ten minutes.
I finally found an opportunity to bid them adieu.
I received hugs all around. As I hugged Trish, my fingers nimbly undid her pendant and I slipped it off as her friends began yet another conversation.
Trish was in a hurry to join in so I had a very easy time of it.
I headed back out the hallway, finally letting out my breath, to have a smoke and take a well-earned break as I decided what to do next.
This patch was proving a gold mine, but have I had my run?
That would be a big No, to my run of luck being over that evening!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
As I headed out I passed one of the rental guards. He looked bored. I noticed his open handcuffs attached to his belt.
I went up, acting tipsy, and placing my hand on his shoulder winked at him
“Happy to see you on the job.”
As I told him that my other hand lifted off his cuffs, mainly because I take a fancy to acquire anything shiny.
I then head out to the exit.
A man and lady are on the ground by the stairs smoking right under a ‘no smoking sign.
They did not appear to be a couple.
The male is wearing a fitted suit and what I considered a power tie, smoking a long thin cigar. I can tell he is wealthy by his silver Rolex and a fat wallet.
The man is randy ,obviously hitting on the girl. Not successfully I might add.
He eyes me with flirty interest.
I eyed the girl.
She was an early 20ish model of the type one would call mousey. Very tipsy and coy. I was surprised she wasn’t coming onto the bloke's advances.
Emilie, the girl, was wearing a fitted designer dress of gold satin with rhinestone trimmings. She was sporting a nice collection of expensive gold jewelry, pouring all along her body from ears, neck wrists, and hairpiece. She had no less than 5 cocktail rings that flashed rippling out along her fingers as she smoked.
I had the inkling, mainly by how she carried herself. that she may have been wearing gold jewelry this evening, but she also owned and could have been wearing diamonds. But gold did not interest me. Her diamonds would have.
So I found myself wishing our randy male fellow smoker would chase away the girl so I can relieve the git of his deliciously tempting expensive watch.
I pulled out one of my two lighters, the round one with no fuel, and unsuccessfully tried to lit my cigarette.
The male whose name was Sebastian, leaned over to light it for me and I nimbly picked his wallet.
The rental cop just then stuck his long nose outside the main door.
Looking down upon our small group he lectured
“‘Ere no. No doing that there. Take your business to the park yonder.”
He went back inside.
Sebastian sighed, giving us both a look. Sensing, incorrectly I might add, that neither of us are interested in him, he tossed the nub of his cigar and followed the guard inside.
Since I had just started my cigarette I crossed the street. The girl followed me, gaily chirping in my ear
“ That’s probably the only thing the guard is allowed to do, and thank you for saving me from that bore Sebastian. “
She pulled out a cigarette and asked if I had a light. I hesitated, then pulled out my square lighter and easily lit it. She guided my hand to her mouth. Her eyes were looking int mine, exploring. I felt her fingers subtlety caress my wrist.
It just may have been in gratitude, but that’s not what I read in her eyes.
Now I don’t lean that way, unless it’s to my benefit. Her gold jewelry now did appear to me to be one, a benefit I mean.
“Thank you she whispered coyly.”
Your welcome I said, taking up her hand and purring how pretty she looked this evening. Which was no lie, on several levels.
Yes. I dolled myself up pretty well she said. Her fingers wrapping around mine.
“I think you look lovely also..” she complimented me with a shyness I found almost as fetching as her gold necklace.
I had read the signs correctly, now if only I was right about everything I had deduced about her. My mind already wrapping around a plan.
I let her pull me to her. I could feel her perking breast’s running scintillating along my own through the thin material of my dress. Her breathing became deeper.
I responded by spitting out my cigarette and clasping my hands behind her and digging my fingers into her hinny.
She squealed with delight. Her own cigarette tumbling from her thicke red lips.
She went onto her tippy toes and planted a kiss upon my mouth. I responded by adding my tongue to the party.
She raised her knee up between my legs and began massaging my sweet spot sending prickly waves of pleasure through my entire being. Though my real center of pleasure lay upon her gold jewels and the way they were delightfully shimmering as she played along with my figure.
I raised my hands around her back. My leg went up as she stopped. Feeling it there she began to rub along it. Exciting herself.
Running my fingers to the back of her throat as all of my marks attention was on pleasuring herself, I had the pleasure of undoing the clasp of her three-strand gold necklace and lifting it from the front of her dress to behind her back and into my fist.
She whispered.
“There’s a playground up on the hill “
I answered, startled at how husky my voice was coming out
“ A playground, I like the sound of that. “
I let her lead, my hand wrapped around her silken waist. Holding tightly onto my prize.
^^^^^^^^**
Reaching the deserted playground,
We embraced, sucking and kissing passionately
I sat her on the bench. Had her lie down.
She giggled as my hands went up underneath her dress, and silk slip. I then discovered why she was giggling, she was not wearing panties.
My fingers delved inside past wet hairs and probed as she arched her back in ecstasy. She spread her dress open, revealing plump breasts striking inside her thin gold satin brocade patterned brassiere. She managed to undo it and flung it onto the grass. Then began to massage her naked breasts, rings sparkling, solid gold bracelets glinting. Her exposed breasts cooled in the misty air.
My free hand went up and joined in with her fun. Her rings were pleasingly digging into my flesh as I dig deeper into hers.
She was moaning with deep guttural primeval pleasure. Her whole figure is on electric, lava-hot fire.
Then shrieking so loudly it echoed, in a flash of seething back-arching ecstasy, she came….
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Later we sat on a bench smoking. She was basking in delight.
“So happy I met you…!” she said cheerfully.
I intentionally didn’t answer.
She looked up into my face.
“I know this is cliche but want to go to my flat?”
I looked at her, then looked over her remaining gold jewelry. It was calling out to just take me, as I answered her question...
“Gorgeous, simply Gorgeous. Oh I’m going to you flat Luv , but alone!”
She looked at me confused, trying to think through her horny drink-induced haze just what I was prattling on about.
I pulled the cuffs from my bag.
Going around behind her I raised her arms, she was totally pliable. Not really registered what I was holding. I pulled her arms behind the bench. Cuffing around one wrist, I cuffed the other end to a metal leg set in concrete.
As I looked into her eyes I saw they were starting to spin and sure enough, she passed out, for whatever reason, fear or just physically spent…
I checked her pulse, she wasn’t dead, just in a cold dead faint.
I began stripping the sully Lass of her remaining gold jewelry. Pulling out her earrings, undoing her hairpiece, and unfastening her many bracelets. Then methodically working away, I sucked off her rings. And finally, I unclasped a gold ankle bracelet.
Picking up her purse I found her address and the numbered key to her flat. I left her surprisingly mock designer purse on the bench. But emptied her wallet, discarding it on the ground.
As I checked her over for any missed valuables I thought of giving her a little more pleasure, but decided I was better off just letting her sleep it off.
Walking quickly out of the playground I cut to the opposite side of the park.
Hailing one of the parked cabs I gave him her address. Using her money to pay for it when we got there.
It was in a very posh neighborhood, I licked my lips wondering if I was right to be expecting diamonds somewhere inside her flat.
As I enter the block of flats I see a well-dressed man unlocking the door next to my victim's numbered door.
I say “Ello” and he jumps.
“Thought you were my wife.”
I had moved closer spying a fat wallet bulging from his pocket
I purr saying cheekily:
“No, wish I was, did you lose her now?
“Ah, here she is, found her now didn’t I.”
I turn. My eyes bugging out. I forgot all about lifting wallets as I saw his wife come inside, dazzling like some ornate overfilled display case at Tiffanies.
She was wearing a deep blue brocade patterned silk dress with flashy sapphire rhinestones adorning the neckline and waistline.
Her hazel eyes had been masterfully made up with black eyeliner and blue mascara. She looked like a picture actress from a Telly show.
She was wearing a stunning set of sparkling sapphire and diamond-encrusted jewellery. A full array, hanging from her ears, neck wrists, and fingers. One ring was especially flashy
Perched on her head was a short diamond studded tiara.
I had seen many tiaras this evening, but none this close to my already trembling fingers.
At the rather daringly low cut of her gown hung a very expensive sapphire/ diamond brooch successfully stealing away the prominence of the lady’s beautifully plump breasts.
She floats up to us.
They are both happily tipsy and introduce themselves as my new neighbor.
They both ask if I would like to join in for a nip, or a nightcap.
Bird in hand I thought. Let this one go.
I smile at the pretty pair
“Rain check please I need my beauty sleep.”
I give them both a hard look over, openly relishing the rich attire, and beckoning trimmings, of this clueless couple as they bid me farewell and go inside their flat
Then with those succulent imaginings, I use the key to my victim’s flat and go inside to rob the joint.
I waste no time, heading directly to the girls' bedroom where I knew the good stuff would be found.
Finding the bedrooms down a corridor, I go inside the master room and methodically begin with the contents in the drawers of a large oak wardrobe, feeling through satin, silk, and lacy undergarments. I find a velvet case holding some nice pearls and empty them into my purse. Then felt along some prickling soft dresses and gowns, being rewarded with finding a gold broach and diamond pin for my efforts.
Knowing there has to be more I check behind the many pictures on the walls.
Finding one, a painting of ‘Twelve Sunflowers by Vincent Van Gogh, set on a hinge that, when opened, exposed a wall safe. Expertly I place an ear to it as I work the tumblers, finding the combination quite easily.
Opening it I see several items. An old, loved Teddy Bear, a bundle of letters tied with ribbon on top of some photos, an oblong box that looked strikingly like the one I keep my vibrator in, and more importantly, three thin velvet-covered cases. Pulling out the largest case. I opened it.
My eyes opened wide, like a child who has been visited by Father Christmas. I had found her diamonds. A nice full collection of sparking “ice” that I quickly let slide into my purse. The others two cases contained evening jewellery also. One was a nicely ornate set of 24 Caret gold and the last was a set of glittery sapphires. I empty them all quickly.
Time enough later to drool over the nice haul I was taking.
I left the safe open and lifting my now very weighty purse, started to leave her bedroom to make my escape.
But then I spied it… and a naughty thought entered my head.
Sitting on a hook in a shadowy corner was a new dress, not yet taken in for a fitting. A short sleek black satin number with a sassy low-cut top, ribbed waistband, and above-the-knee hemline.
I go over and admire it. On a whim I slip off my dress, then undo my bra, to try it on.
Brilliant, it fits me like a hand in a glove.
Going back to the wardrobe, still wearing the dress, I pull out a small satchel and dump its contents on the floor.
I place my bulging purse inside, then neatly fold the dress I had been wearing and place it on top. Adding my bra also, relishing the feel of the material upon my naked breasts.
I also snatch up a pair of silver rhinestone-adorned high heels I had admired and place them inside also.
I headed out, more than satisfied with my evening’s haul, I had every intention of planning to call it a night.
But, as I was leaving the flat, I see my victim’s new neighbor, the man, as he is locking the door.
Putting the key in his pocket he turned and spots me standing there.
I gave him my best foxy smile, asking in my best new neighborly fashion
“We’re you off to in such a hurry luv everything, all right? Didja Lose your wife again?”
“So sorry”. he apologized in a high voice. not questioning why I was now back out in the hallway in a different dress, though his eyes went down to take a brief study of my breasts, then my legs gracefully sticking out from the dress’s shamefully high hemline.
He answered, obviously flustered on several levels.
“It’s a bother I need to go back to the restaurant, my wife left her bloody expensive purse there.”
A fish hooked, now to play him I thought as he walked up to me.
“Hope you not too long. And about that nightcap, knock on my door first when you get back luv.”
I reached down and began fingering his John Thomas, I gave it a good wank, finding the boy was already hard.
He was not displeased by my copping a feel, in the least.
He stuttered, before dashing off.
“I, I h’have 30 minutes to find a cab and get there before it closes.”
I smile. My hand was on his room key which I had lifted from his pocket.
^^^^^^^^^^
Flipping the keys in my hand, I went to the outside entrance and from a side, window saw the husband catch his cab.
“Bully,” I thought, that gives me 45 minutes, more than enough time.
I carefully walk down the deserted hallway and reach the flat of the friendly, wealthy, couple.
I carefully pry open the door and have a look and listen.
There is no one in the main room, which is unlit. It all appears to be the same layout, though opposite, as the flat I just burgled.
I carefully close and lock the door and slip into the shadows, my eyes adjusting, aware that I am running against the clock.
I hear movement from the area I know is the flats’ kitchen. Then the light clicks on. My objective, again, is the master bedroom’s wall safe. I’m hoping the Wife had had enough time to slip into something more comfortable and put her jewels away in the wall safe.
But I needed to take a look.
I took a peak in the kitchen. I could see her figure moving about. She was still wearing her gown…and jewels. I would have to deal with that later. But first the safe. From a reflection, I saw her Mascara was askew. They’ve been naughty tonight.
I move over to the small corridor off which lie the bedrooms. I see the master bedroom door is slightly open. Candlelight flickered out from the bottom, dancing along the polished oak wood floors.
Reaching the door to the master bedroom, I open it, slip inside, and lock the bedroom door behind me.
They have indeed just moved in. There were several traveling cases of various sizes. Shirts, trousers, and ties hung on a corner stand. In another corner, an oil Landscape painting was on the floor under the closed wall safe, waiting to be put up. Next to the safe was a large double tigerwood wardrobe.
I continue to quickly survey the rest of their room.
From the opposite side of the room, the candle was lit on a vanity reflected in the mirror. Something glittered. Shiny I thought.
I go over and see several 14k gold and silver necklaces, bangle bracelets, and rings all laid out in a heap inside an open case.
Suddenly I hear the door knob rattling
“Luv. Your back? You’ve got the chambre door looked”
“Chambre is it?” I thought. Pretty fancy for a flat. Even an upscale one like this.
Dropping the small satchel I go over to the door. Tapping on it I unlock it and stand by the wall so I will be behind the door as it opens.
The wife swished in, unknowingly talking to her still-absent husband in her heavy lowland Scottish accent.
“Guid lord laddie, sneaking about on myself are ya now? Well I….. umpph ?”
I had snuck out from behind the door, gripping her from behind, one hand on her mouth cutting off her sentence, the other pointing a finger in the small of her elegantly attired back like I was holding a pistol on her.
I hissed Into a diamond dangling ear.…
“Okay my pretty bird, this is not your husband, but a thief. You know what a thief does, now dontcha?”
She nodded weakly and I felt her figure go limp.
“Good, now not a sound out of you. Go and sit on that stool yonder,”
As I guided her, she went obediently to the oak vanity stool. As we passed a spot where more of her husband's ties hung, I whipped off a handful.
I pulled out the stool and she sat down facing the vanity mirror, giving her a clear sweeping view of the master bedroom behind her.
In the reflection of the mirror, she saw me, recognized who she thought I was(new neighbor), and looked at me with sad, large puppydog-like, questioning eyes.
I quickly, perhaps a bit roughly, pulled her hands behind her and tied them up using her husband's neckties. Then, using the same, I bound each ankle to the front legs of the stool.
“Now lady, where’s your husband?”
Tearfully she lied in a pleading tone…
“Not here, but he is coming back soon.”
Of course, I knew better, but I said…
“Then I’ll take my chances.”
She started to say more, but I cut her off by gagging her with a blue-striped Etonian Club tie that went well with her blue mascara.
Again in her ear, I whispered sternly.
“Going to be a good girl now, aren’t ya Lass?!”
She gave me a feeble nod yes.
I look down at the open case of day jewelry.
I reach in and begin scooping out the contents into the satchel as she watches and quivers in uneasy discomfort.
I knelt beside her.
“Okay my pretty one, time for you to take some weight off, time for me to trim your feathers.
She balked as I ran my fingers, intently, up along her gown, my fingers scintillating with the feel of its soft material.
Ignoring her muffled pleas I reached up and yanked out a long gem-studded pierced earring from each ear. I dropped them inside the satchel at my knees.
Then facing her, smiling with wicked intent, I unclamped her heavily jewel-laden necklace and let it slide down between her fear-perked breasts before reaching in deep and after a bit of fondling, finally fished out. I plopped it on top of her earrings, where it lay sparkling with intense fire.
I moved behind her, watching her watch me as I worked off her wide sparkling bracelets, dropping them onto the necklace, then I sucked off each of her rings, spitting them out into the growing pile inside the leather satchel. The last one, the big one I had admired, I left it in my mouth and looked at it in the mirror. My victim shuddered. I spit it out onto the glistening pile inside the satchel.
In the reflection of the mirror, I carefully watched her reaction, as I also watched my hands, snaking around feeling along her voluptuous bosom. I groped down along the pair of pert beauties, finally reaching down below her ample breasts, and unfastened the stunning brooch she had been so daringly wearing out, begging all evening to be stolen by any thief-minded observer.
And it was now mine!
I said as much to her, and she squirmed at my sneering words.
“Sweetie, you have probably no idea how much interest you generated amongst thieves like me when wearing a brooch like this out for an evening. I could barely pay attention to my dinner at the restaurant we were all at. I’m surprised you did not lose it earlier, but then, that’s my luck for tonight.”
I pocketed the brooch. This was too special to lose.
“Okay princess, now your precious crown..!”
I stood up and played with her hair, running my fingers through her silky locks I reached for her shimmering diamond-encrusted tiara and worked it out.
I placed it carefully in with the rest of my newly acquired jewelry collection.
Then I placed my head on top of her own and looking at her in the mirror pulled down her gag. I then said to my hapless prey.
“Let’s have the numbers to the safe pretty bird.”
She shook her head
“It’s empty. My jewels are still in the bank she pleaded.”
I cooed into her now naked ear.
“Liar, your eyes are a dead giveaway. “
I smiled at her reflection with a very pernicious look before continuing:
“But, even if your eyes were wrong, I’ll still be having a look won’t I now luv. I live to be looking at the insides of safes, empty or not. It’s a quirk of me own”
She shook her head no again.
I sighed. Redid her gag, picked up the delightfully 2/3rds full satchel carried it over to the safe.
Putting my ear against it and worked the tumblers. With the practice I had with the other flat’s safe, I had it opened in no time.
Inside was several healthy bundles of £ notes and five velvet-covered cases. I stuffed the notes into the satchel. Pulling out each case I opened them finding my eyes almost blinded by the assorted jewels they contained as the candle lite played over them. I would say that each case contained £75,000 worth of gems. A very nice haul.
As I emptied the last case I threw it on the blue satin cover of the king-sized bed and looked at my victim, thoroughly wilted down.
I said to her…
“What’s in there?”
Her eyes opened wide looking at the spot along the wall I was pointing to…
Chuckling I went to the double wardrobe I had been pointing to, and opened it, seeing a fine collection of my victim's clothing. Including gowns of every color and type of rich material. I looked them over, selecting a rather sleekly pretty one of blood-red satin with the diamond rhinestone trimmings that outlined the gown's bosom and waist, a design of the sort that always catches my eye.
Watching my hapless victim, I placed it against my figure as I looked at her, and then as I slid my fingers up and down its sensuously fine length, I admired myself in the mirror.
“Well my pretty one, it needs taking in, but I can make it work.”
I placed it gently inside the satchel, which I then closed up.
Then I thought pearls, they always have pearls?
Deviously I abruptly snapped out a question, though I suspected I knew the answer.
“Where are your pearls lady!”
She jumped at my sharp words, her eyes involuntarily dropping down to the shelves at the bottom of the wardrobe.
I knelt and began opening the shelves and once again found my fingers swimming through some rather luxurious silk and satin underthings.
Why these rich twit females think that places like their lingerie drawers make for an excellent place to hide their valuables will always be a mystery to me.
It was in the bottom drawer, underneath some long dress slips, where I found not one, but two cases that when opened I was pleased to see contained two sets of quite lovely pearls.
I held one necklace of pearls, a double strander, to my throat where it lay prettily down along my black satin dress just reaching my own delightfully perked naked breasts, and admired it in the mirror, seeing my victim slump down even more in despair.
I dropped the necklace into the satchel, quickly followed by the rest of the cases gleaming contents.
I then walked over with the satchel and standing above her lied to her reflection in the mirror...
“Okay pretty bird, lastly now, where’s the delicious evening purse I saw you with at the restaurant tonight?”
Wide-eyed she tried to tell me, words muffled by her gag, that she didn’t have it, forgotten it there hadn't she now.
I said to her, tweaking her chin:
“I believe you this time luv, ….Toodles..”
Then left her there, tied up in her bedroom.
^^^^^^^^^^
I headed down the hall and peeked out the outside door to the corridor.
Seeing it was empty I went out, locking the door behind me.
Going to the flat of my first victim I tossed the key inside and left the door unlocked.
Sighing with relief, I headed out.
^^^^^^
As I leave the complex of posh flats I see a cab coming down the street.
I quickly move into the shadows.
The cab pulls to the curb, and not surprisingly, my victim’s husband exited the cab.
I stay hidden in the shadows as he hurries past me unseen.
As he went inside the door, I slip from the shadows and jump in the back of the very same cab he had just exited, startling the driver who was a tad bit reluctant to take on another fare, that was until I waved a £50 note in his face.
I let out a deep breath as we drove off.
I was on pinpricks for the whole drive, though it was less than 9 kilometers away.
I had the driver drop me off at the hotel across from the one I was staying at this week.
I went inside, snuck out a side door, and when the coast was clear, crossed the street and walked into my hotel.
In my room, I picked up my already packed bags( a precaution I always take before leaving my room in case of the need for a quick getaway ), put on my leather jacket, and headed down to the front desk.
For during the ride here in the cab I reasoned to myself that tonight it would be a good idea to promptly check out of my hotel and take the first early morning train to…anywhere far away.
Which is exactly what I did.
So, on a roll of the dice so to speak, I took the train to my next adventure.
Her next Adventure:
“A Nefariously Rotten Scoundrel”
Fini
The area that was to become West Palm Beach was settled in the late 1870s and 1880s by a few hundred settlers who called the vicinity "Lake Worth Country." These settlers were a diverse community from different parts of the United States and the world. They included founding families such at the Potters and the Lainharts, who would go on to become leading members of the business community in the fledgling city. The first white settlers in Palm Beach County lived around Lake Worth, then an enclosed freshwater lake, named for Colonel William Jenkins Worth, who had fought in the Second Seminole War in Florida in 1842. Most settlers engaged in the growing of tropical fruits and vegetables for shipment the north via Lake Worth and the Indian River. By 1890, the U.S. Census counted over 200 people settled along Lake Worth in the vicinity of what would become West Palm Beach. The area at this time also boasted a hotel, the "Cocoanut House", a church, and a post office. The city was platted by Henry Flagler as a community to house the servants working in the two grand hotels on the neighboring island of Palm Beach, across Lake Worth in 1893, coinciding with the arrival of the Florida East Coast railroad. Flagler paid two area settlers, Captain Porter and Louie Hillhouse, a combined sum of $45,000 for the original town site, stretching from Clear Lake to Lake Worth.
On November 5, 1894, 78 people met at the "Calaboose" (the first jail and police station located at Clematis St. and Poinsettia, now Dixie Hwy.) and passed the motion to incorporate the Town of West Palm Beach in what was then Dade County (now Miami-Dade County). This made West Palm Beach the first incorporated municipality in Dade County and in South Florida. The town council quickly addressed the building codes and the tents and shanties were replaced by brick, brick veneer, and stone buildings. The city grew steadily during the 1890s and the first two decades of the 20th century, most residents were engaged in the tourist industry and related services or winter vegetable market and tropical fruit trade. In 1909, Palm Beach County was formed by the Florida State Legislature and West Palm Beach became the county seat. In 1916, a new neo-classical courthouse was opened, which has been painstakingly restored back to its original condition, and is now used as the local history museum.
The city grew rapidly in the 1920s as part of the Florida land boom. The population of West Palm Beach quadrupled from 1920 to 1927, and all kinds of businesses and public services grew along with it. Many of the city's landmark structures and preserved neighborhoods were constructed during this period. Originally, Flagler intended for his Florida East Coast Railway to have its terminus in West Palm, but after the area experienced a deep freeze, he chose to extend the railroad to Miami instead.
The land boom was already faltering when city was devastated by the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane. The Depression years of the 1930s were a quiet time for the area, which saw slight population growth and property values lower than during the 1920s. The city only recovered with the onset of World War II, which saw the construction of Palm Beach Air Force Base, which brought thousands of military personnel to the city. The base was vital to the allied war effort, as it provided an excellent training facility and had unparalleled access to North Africa for a North American city. Also during World War II, German U-Boats sank dozens of merchant ships and oil tankers just off the coast of West Palm Beach. Nearby Palm Beach was under black out conditions to minimize night visibility to German U-boats.
The 1950s saw another boom in population, partly due to the return of many soldiers and airmen who had served in the vicinity during the war. Also, the advent of air conditioning encouraged growth, as year-round living in a tropical climate became more acceptable to northerners. West Palm Beach became the one of the nation's fastest growing metropolitan areas during the 1950s; the city's borders spread west of Military Trail and south to Lake Clarke Shores. However, many of the city's residents still lived within a narrow six-block wide strip from the south to north end. The neighborhoods were strictly segregated between White and African-American populations, a legacy that the city still struggles with today. The primary shopping district remained downtown, centered around Clematis Street.
In the 1960s, Palm Beach County's first enclosed shopping mall, the Palm Beach Mall, and an indoor arena were completed. These projects led to a brief revival for the city, but in the 1970s and 1980s crime continued to be a serious issue and suburban sprawl continued to drain resources and business away from the old downtown area. By the early 1990s there were very high vacancy rates downtown, and serious levels of urban blight.
Since the 1990s, developments such as CityPlace and the preservation and renovation of 1920s architecture in the nightlife hub of Clematis Street have seen a downtown resurgence in the entertainment and shopping district. The city has also placed emphasis on neighborhood development and revitalization, in historic districts such as Northwood, Flamingo Park, and El Cid. Some neighborhoods still struggle with blight and crime, as well as lowered property values caused by the Great Recession, which hit the region particularly hard. Since the recovery, multiple new developments have been completed. The Palm Beach Mall, located at the Interstate 95/Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard interchange became abandoned as downtown revitalized - the very mall that initiated the original abandonment of the downtown. The mall was then redeveloped into the Palm Beach Fashion Outlets in February 2014. A station for All Aboard Florida, a high speed passenger rail service serving Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando, is under construction as of July 2015.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
Tughlakabad DIESELS Become History!!
As electrification is now complete in Jammu Tawi - Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway line, it's time to upgrade the traction from Diesel to Electric.
Ghaziabad (GZB) WAP-4 22564 Honouring 22462 S.M.V.D.Katra - New Delhi Shri Shakti A.C. Express skipping Rajpura through Loop Line of PF-2.
The area that was to become West Palm Beach was settled in the late 1870s and 1880s by a few hundred settlers who called the vicinity "Lake Worth Country." These settlers were a diverse community from different parts of the United States and the world. They included founding families such at the Potters and the Lainharts, who would go on to become leading members of the business community in the fledgling city. The first white settlers in Palm Beach County lived around Lake Worth, then an enclosed freshwater lake, named for Colonel William Jenkins Worth, who had fought in the Second Seminole War in Florida in 1842. Most settlers engaged in the growing of tropical fruits and vegetables for shipment the north via Lake Worth and the Indian River. By 1890, the U.S. Census counted over 200 people settled along Lake Worth in the vicinity of what would become West Palm Beach. The area at this time also boasted a hotel, the "Cocoanut House", a church, and a post office. The city was platted by Henry Flagler as a community to house the servants working in the two grand hotels on the neighboring island of Palm Beach, across Lake Worth in 1893, coinciding with the arrival of the Florida East Coast railroad. Flagler paid two area settlers, Captain Porter and Louie Hillhouse, a combined sum of $45,000 for the original town site, stretching from Clear Lake to Lake Worth.
On November 5, 1894, 78 people met at the "Calaboose" (the first jail and police station located at Clematis St. and Poinsettia, now Dixie Hwy.) and passed the motion to incorporate the Town of West Palm Beach in what was then Dade County (now Miami-Dade County). This made West Palm Beach the first incorporated municipality in Dade County and in South Florida. The town council quickly addressed the building codes and the tents and shanties were replaced by brick, brick veneer, and stone buildings. The city grew steadily during the 1890s and the first two decades of the 20th century, most residents were engaged in the tourist industry and related services or winter vegetable market and tropical fruit trade. In 1909, Palm Beach County was formed by the Florida State Legislature and West Palm Beach became the county seat. In 1916, a new neo-classical courthouse was opened, which has been painstakingly restored back to its original condition, and is now used as the local history museum.
The city grew rapidly in the 1920s as part of the Florida land boom. The population of West Palm Beach quadrupled from 1920 to 1927, and all kinds of businesses and public services grew along with it. Many of the city's landmark structures and preserved neighborhoods were constructed during this period. Originally, Flagler intended for his Florida East Coast Railway to have its terminus in West Palm, but after the area experienced a deep freeze, he chose to extend the railroad to Miami instead.
The land boom was already faltering when city was devastated by the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane. The Depression years of the 1930s were a quiet time for the area, which saw slight population growth and property values lower than during the 1920s. The city only recovered with the onset of World War II, which saw the construction of Palm Beach Air Force Base, which brought thousands of military personnel to the city. The base was vital to the allied war effort, as it provided an excellent training facility and had unparalleled access to North Africa for a North American city. Also during World War II, German U-Boats sank dozens of merchant ships and oil tankers just off the coast of West Palm Beach. Nearby Palm Beach was under black out conditions to minimize night visibility to German U-boats.
The 1950s saw another boom in population, partly due to the return of many soldiers and airmen who had served in the vicinity during the war. Also, the advent of air conditioning encouraged growth, as year-round living in a tropical climate became more acceptable to northerners. West Palm Beach became the one of the nation's fastest growing metropolitan areas during the 1950s; the city's borders spread west of Military Trail and south to Lake Clarke Shores. However, many of the city's residents still lived within a narrow six-block wide strip from the south to north end. The neighborhoods were strictly segregated between White and African-American populations, a legacy that the city still struggles with today. The primary shopping district remained downtown, centered around Clematis Street.
In the 1960s, Palm Beach County's first enclosed shopping mall, the Palm Beach Mall, and an indoor arena were completed. These projects led to a brief revival for the city, but in the 1970s and 1980s crime continued to be a serious issue and suburban sprawl continued to drain resources and business away from the old downtown area. By the early 1990s there were very high vacancy rates downtown, and serious levels of urban blight.
Since the 1990s, developments such as CityPlace and the preservation and renovation of 1920s architecture in the nightlife hub of Clematis Street have seen a downtown resurgence in the entertainment and shopping district. The city has also placed emphasis on neighborhood development and revitalization, in historic districts such as Northwood, Flamingo Park, and El Cid. Some neighborhoods still struggle with blight and crime, as well as lowered property values caused by the Great Recession, which hit the region particularly hard. Since the recovery, multiple new developments have been completed. The Palm Beach Mall, located at the Interstate 95/Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard interchange became abandoned as downtown revitalized - the very mall that initiated the original abandonment of the downtown. The mall was then redeveloped into the Palm Beach Fashion Outlets in February 2014. A station for All Aboard Florida, a high speed passenger rail service serving Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando, is under construction as of July 2015.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
Become a fan of my Facebook page www.facebook.com/pages/SeeItThroughMyLensCom-Photography-.... My website is www.SeeItThroughMyLens.com
What has become an annual event that just keeps on keeping on, is the Auto fest Spring car Nats held in Shepparton. Here is a link to the event organisers page, autofest.com.au/.
The event has been going for over 30 years, and for many there is no better way to spend the weekend than with like-minded people, as the entrants burn rubber with an excess of horsepower, that is thankfully quite obscene : )
There was and is everything from the go to woe, handling events, drifting, and of cause burn outs! Burnouts bouncing of the rev limiting, literally hitting the red line burnouts. How much rubber do they burn, enough so I can smell it from my house nearly a mile away : ) PS the smoke signals might be cultural appropriation, so some one should bring along a Pontiac and make it officially ok : P
Jack Danniels www.jackdaniels.com/en-au has a bar, so Tennessee is represented, although in the main part, not much American iron turns up at the event in comparison to the Australian contingent and Japanese cars.
V8s are the flavor, although you might be surprised like I was this year to see a Honda S2000 turn up, a pleasant inclusion, with one of the all-time great 4 bangers in it.
Black snot is a thing, that is if you can handle the close quarters action! You might like to take some year plugs, even then for about mile you will still be able to hear the cars at it.
As a car enthusiast I enjoy the day, friendly people getting their thing on, and having a great time.
PS. Make sure you drink lots of water, and keep hydrated!
Closeup of dried and withered flower seed head in the beginning of the winter season.
Olympus OM10
Zuiko Auto-Macro 50mm/3.5
Kodak Gold 200
Epson Perfection 2400
Buddhism in Laos is largely of the Theravada school. Nearly 60% of the Lao population is Buddhist of the Theravada school, though Buddhism in this country has become integrated with folk beliefs such as ancestor worship. Buddhism was based on the religious movement founded in the sixth century B.C. by Siddhartha , later known as the Buddha, who urged the world to relinquish the extremes of sensuality and self-mortification and follow the enlightened Middle Way...... The focus of this religion is on man, not gods; the assumption is that life is pain or suffering, which is a consequence of craving, and that suffering can end only if desire ceases. The end of suffering is the achievement of nirvana often defined as the absence of craving and therefore of suffering, sometimes as enlightenment. Like in most other Theravada nations, Buddhism in Laos is represented primarily by the presence of Buddhist monks, who serve as officiants on ceremonial occasions, as well as being responsible for preserving and conveying the teachings of the Buddha.
Every family expect for every young man to live as a monk for awhile (a week till single months) between school time and their working life.
Their lifestyle is shaped so as to support their spiritual practice, to live a simple and meditative life. In Thailand the buddhist are being more strict to the simple life than in Loas where monks even drink fruitshakes ;-)
Een groot deel van de Laostiaase bevolking, zo’n 60% is boeddhist. Men hangt het zogenaamde Teravada-boeddhisme. In het Theravada wordt meditatie benadrukt als een essentieel onderdeel van het pad naar verlichting, samen met moreel gedrag en wijsheid. Het brengen van een einde aan het lijden is het hoofddoel van het Theravada boeddhisme. De Boeddha legde verder een zeer gedetailleerde gedragscode voor de Monniken neer: de Vinaya. Over het algemeen worden monniken door de Boeddha aangemoedigd om wereldse aangelegenheden en passies achter zich te laten, zodat zij gemakkelijker in staat zijn een staat van vrede en wijsheid te bereiken, en sterke ongezonde emoties zoals haat, verlangen en lust te overwinnen. Een Monnik zoals hierboven in z'n oranje gewaad, kaalgeschoren en met sandalen aan de voeten is niet meer weg te denken uit het straatbeeld van Laos.
Er wordt van iedere jongeman verwacht, dat zij een poosje (van een week tot enkele maanden) als monnik leven. Zo tussen hun schooltijd en hun werkende leven in. Het wordt beschouwd als een overgangsrite en zij verwerven op die wijze aanzien voor zichzelf en hun familie.
Close up of statue
In 1925, Welsh architect Clough Williams-Ellis acquired the site which was to become Portmeirion. He had been searching for a suitable site for his proposed ideal village for several years and when he heard that the Aber Iâ estate near Penrhyndeudraeth was for sale, he did not hesitate to make an offer.
He wanted to show how a naturally beautiful location could be developed without spoiling it, and that one could actually enhance the natural background through sympathetic development. The Aber Iâ estate had everything he had hoped for as a site for his architectural experiment: steep cliffs overlooking a wide sandy estuary, woods, streams and a nucleus of old buildings.
But the history of Portmeirion started long before 1925. The construction of Castell Deudraeth was recorded in 1188 by Gerald of Wales, who wrote: "We crossed the Traeth mawr and the Traeth Bychan. These are two arms of the sea, one large and one small. Two stone castles have been built there recently. The one called Castell Deudraeth belongs to the sons of Cynan and is situated in the Eifionydd area, facing the northern Mountains."
Castell Deudraeth was referenced again by the 17th century philologist, geologist, natural historian and keeper of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, Edward Lhuyd in 1700. Lhuyd recorded the name as Aber Iâ, stating " The Castle of Aber Iâ yet stood in ruined form overlooking the south western extremity of the peninsula".
In 1861, Richard Richards wrote a description: "Neither man nor woman was there, only a number of foreign water-fowl on a tiny pond, and two monkeys, which by their cries evidently regarded me as an unwelcome intruder. The garden itself was a very fine one, the walls of which were netted all over with fruit trees...Aber Iâ, then, gentle reader, is a beautiful mansion on the shore of Traeth Bach, in Merionethshire."
When Williams-Ellis acquired the land in 1925 he wrote, "a neglected wilderness - long abandoned by those romantics who had realised the unique appeal and possibilities of this favoured promontory but who had been carried away by their grandiose landscaping...into sorrowful bankruptcy." Clough immediately changed the name from Aber Iâ (Glacial Estuary) to Portmeirion; Port because of the coastal location and Meirion as this is Welsh for Merioneth, the county in which it lay.
His first job was to extend and convert the old house on the shore into a grand hotel. The concept of a tightly grouped coastal village had already formed in Clough's mind some years before he found the perfect site and he had quite a well-defined vision for the village from the outset.
Portmeirion was built in two stages: from 1925 to 1939 the site was 'pegged-out' and its most distinctive buildings were erected. From 1954-76 he filled in the details. The second period was typically classical or Palladian in style in contrast to the Arts and Crafts style of his earlier work. Several buildings were salvaged from demolition sites, giving rise to Clough's description of the place as "a home for fallen buildings".
"An architect has strange pleasures," Clough wrote in 1924. "He will lie awake listening to the storm in the night and think how the rain is beating on his roofs, he will see the sun return and will think that it was for just such sunshine that his shadow-throwing mouldings were made."
The first article about Portmeirion appeared in The Architects' Journal (January 6 1926) with photographs of scale models and preliminary designs prepared by Clough to impress potential investors. In this article, John Rothenstein writes: "On the sea-coast of North Wales, quite near his own old home, Plas Brondanw, he has acquired what he believes to be an ideal site, and he is engaged upon plans and models for the laying out of an entire small township. The results of his scheme will be significant and should do much to shake the current notion that although houses must be designed with due care, towns may grow up by chance."
The Hotel Portmeirion officially opened for the Easter Weekend, on 2nd April 1926. The last building, the Tollgate, was built in Clough's 93rd year.
The area that was to become West Palm Beach was settled in the late 1870s and 1880s by a few hundred settlers who called the vicinity "Lake Worth Country." These settlers were a diverse community from different parts of the United States and the world. They included founding families such at the Potters and the Lainharts, who would go on to become leading members of the business community in the fledgling city. The first white settlers in Palm Beach County lived around Lake Worth, then an enclosed freshwater lake, named for Colonel William Jenkins Worth, who had fought in the Second Seminole War in Florida in 1842. Most settlers engaged in the growing of tropical fruits and vegetables for shipment the north via Lake Worth and the Indian River. By 1890, the U.S. Census counted over 200 people settled along Lake Worth in the vicinity of what would become West Palm Beach. The area at this time also boasted a hotel, the "Cocoanut House", a church, and a post office. The city was platted by Henry Flagler as a community to house the servants working in the two grand hotels on the neighboring island of Palm Beach, across Lake Worth in 1893, coinciding with the arrival of the Florida East Coast railroad. Flagler paid two area settlers, Captain Porter and Louie Hillhouse, a combined sum of $45,000 for the original town site, stretching from Clear Lake to Lake Worth.
On November 5, 1894, 78 people met at the "Calaboose" (the first jail and police station located at Clematis St. and Poinsettia, now Dixie Hwy.) and passed the motion to incorporate the Town of West Palm Beach in what was then Dade County (now Miami-Dade County). This made West Palm Beach the first incorporated municipality in Dade County and in South Florida. The town council quickly addressed the building codes and the tents and shanties were replaced by brick, brick veneer, and stone buildings. The city grew steadily during the 1890s and the first two decades of the 20th century, most residents were engaged in the tourist industry and related services or winter vegetable market and tropical fruit trade. In 1909, Palm Beach County was formed by the Florida State Legislature and West Palm Beach became the county seat. In 1916, a new neo-classical courthouse was opened, which has been painstakingly restored back to its original condition, and is now used as the local history museum.
The city grew rapidly in the 1920s as part of the Florida land boom. The population of West Palm Beach quadrupled from 1920 to 1927, and all kinds of businesses and public services grew along with it. Many of the city's landmark structures and preserved neighborhoods were constructed during this period. Originally, Flagler intended for his Florida East Coast Railway to have its terminus in West Palm, but after the area experienced a deep freeze, he chose to extend the railroad to Miami instead.
The land boom was already faltering when city was devastated by the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane. The Depression years of the 1930s were a quiet time for the area, which saw slight population growth and property values lower than during the 1920s. The city only recovered with the onset of World War II, which saw the construction of Palm Beach Air Force Base, which brought thousands of military personnel to the city. The base was vital to the allied war effort, as it provided an excellent training facility and had unparalleled access to North Africa for a North American city. Also during World War II, German U-Boats sank dozens of merchant ships and oil tankers just off the coast of West Palm Beach. Nearby Palm Beach was under black out conditions to minimize night visibility to German U-boats.
The 1950s saw another boom in population, partly due to the return of many soldiers and airmen who had served in the vicinity during the war. Also, the advent of air conditioning encouraged growth, as year-round living in a tropical climate became more acceptable to northerners. West Palm Beach became the one of the nation's fastest growing metropolitan areas during the 1950s; the city's borders spread west of Military Trail and south to Lake Clarke Shores. However, many of the city's residents still lived within a narrow six-block wide strip from the south to north end. The neighborhoods were strictly segregated between White and African-American populations, a legacy that the city still struggles with today. The primary shopping district remained downtown, centered around Clematis Street.
In the 1960s, Palm Beach County's first enclosed shopping mall, the Palm Beach Mall, and an indoor arena were completed. These projects led to a brief revival for the city, but in the 1970s and 1980s crime continued to be a serious issue and suburban sprawl continued to drain resources and business away from the old downtown area. By the early 1990s there were very high vacancy rates downtown, and serious levels of urban blight.
Since the 1990s, developments such as CityPlace and the preservation and renovation of 1920s architecture in the nightlife hub of Clematis Street have seen a downtown resurgence in the entertainment and shopping district. The city has also placed emphasis on neighborhood development and revitalization, in historic districts such as Northwood, Flamingo Park, and El Cid. Some neighborhoods still struggle with blight and crime, as well as lowered property values caused by the Great Recession, which hit the region particularly hard. Since the recovery, multiple new developments have been completed. The Palm Beach Mall, located at the Interstate 95/Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard interchange became abandoned as downtown revitalized - the very mall that initiated the original abandonment of the downtown. The mall was then redeveloped into the Palm Beach Fashion Outlets in February 2014. A station for All Aboard Florida, a high-speed passenger rail service serving Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando, is under construction as of July 2015.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
The area that was to become West Palm Beach was settled in the late 1870s and 1880s by a few hundred settlers who called the vicinity "Lake Worth Country." These settlers were a diverse community from different parts of the United States and the world. They included founding families such at the Potters and the Lainharts, who would go on to become leading members of the business community in the fledgling city. The first white settlers in Palm Beach County lived around Lake Worth, then an enclosed freshwater lake, named for Colonel William Jenkins Worth, who had fought in the Second Seminole War in Florida in 1842. Most settlers engaged in the growing of tropical fruits and vegetables for shipment the north via Lake Worth and the Indian River. By 1890, the U.S. Census counted over 200 people settled along Lake Worth in the vicinity of what would become West Palm Beach. The area at this time also boasted a hotel, the "Cocoanut House", a church, and a post office. The city was platted by Henry Flagler as a community to house the servants working in the two grand hotels on the neighboring island of Palm Beach, across Lake Worth in 1893, coinciding with the arrival of the Florida East Coast railroad. Flagler paid two area settlers, Captain Porter and Louie Hillhouse, a combined sum of $45,000 for the original town site, stretching from Clear Lake to Lake Worth.
On November 5, 1894, 78 people met at the "Calaboose" (the first jail and police station located at Clematis St. and Poinsettia, now Dixie Hwy.) and passed the motion to incorporate the Town of West Palm Beach in what was then Dade County (now Miami-Dade County). This made West Palm Beach the first incorporated municipality in Dade County and in South Florida. The town council quickly addressed the building codes and the tents and shanties were replaced by brick, brick veneer, and stone buildings. The city grew steadily during the 1890s and the first two decades of the 20th century, most residents were engaged in the tourist industry and related services or winter vegetable market and tropical fruit trade. In 1909, Palm Beach County was formed by the Florida State Legislature and West Palm Beach became the county seat. In 1916, a new neo-classical courthouse was opened, which has been painstakingly restored back to its original condition, and is now used as the local history museum.
The city grew rapidly in the 1920s as part of the Florida land boom. The population of West Palm Beach quadrupled from 1920 to 1927, and all kinds of businesses and public services grew along with it. Many of the city's landmark structures and preserved neighborhoods were constructed during this period. Originally, Flagler intended for his Florida East Coast Railway to have its terminus in West Palm, but after the area experienced a deep freeze, he chose to extend the railroad to Miami instead.
The land boom was already faltering when city was devastated by the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane. The Depression years of the 1930s were a quiet time for the area, which saw slight population growth and property values lower than during the 1920s. The city only recovered with the onset of World War II, which saw the construction of Palm Beach Air Force Base, which brought thousands of military personnel to the city. The base was vital to the allied war effort, as it provided an excellent training facility and had unparalleled access to North Africa for a North American city. Also during World War II, German U-Boats sank dozens of merchant ships and oil tankers just off the coast of West Palm Beach. Nearby Palm Beach was under black out conditions to minimize night visibility to German U-boats.
The 1950s saw another boom in population, partly due to the return of many soldiers and airmen who had served in the vicinity during the war. Also, the advent of air conditioning encouraged growth, as year-round living in a tropical climate became more acceptable to northerners. West Palm Beach became the one of the nation's fastest growing metropolitan areas during the 1950s; the city's borders spread west of Military Trail and south to Lake Clarke Shores. However, many of the city's residents still lived within a narrow six-block wide strip from the south to north end. The neighborhoods were strictly segregated between White and African-American populations, a legacy that the city still struggles with today. The primary shopping district remained downtown, centered around Clematis Street.
In the 1960s, Palm Beach County's first enclosed shopping mall, the Palm Beach Mall, and an indoor arena were completed. These projects led to a brief revival for the city, but in the 1970s and 1980s crime continued to be a serious issue and suburban sprawl continued to drain resources and business away from the old downtown area. By the early 1990s there were very high vacancy rates downtown, and serious levels of urban blight.
Since the 1990s, developments such as CityPlace and the preservation and renovation of 1920s architecture in the nightlife hub of Clematis Street have seen a downtown resurgence in the entertainment and shopping district. The city has also placed emphasis on neighborhood development and revitalization, in historic districts such as Northwood, Flamingo Park, and El Cid. Some neighborhoods still struggle with blight and crime, as well as lowered property values caused by the Great Recession, which hit the region particularly hard. Since the recovery, multiple new developments have been completed. The Palm Beach Mall, located at the Interstate 95/Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard interchange became abandoned as downtown revitalized - the very mall that initiated the original abandonment of the downtown. The mall was then redeveloped into the Palm Beach Fashion Outlets in February 2014. A station for All Aboard Florida, a high speed passenger rail service serving Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando, is under construction as of July 2015.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
In Oberschwaben, so auch an dem Fluss Iller, ist es Herbst geworden. Die letzten Blüten des Sommers, die Früchte des Herbstes und fallendes Laub begleiten uns am Illerstau Lautrach.
Der 147 Km lange Fluss Iller entsteht aus dem Zusammenfluss von Breitach, Stillach und Trettach bei Oberstdorf im Allgäu in Deutschland und mündet bei Ulm in die Donau.
In Upper Swabia, also on the river Iller, it has become autumn. The last flowers of summer, the fruits of autumn and the falling leaves accompany us at the Iller jam Lautrach.
The 147 km long River Iller originates from the confluence of Breitach, Stillach and Trettach near Oberstdorf in the Allgäu in Germany and flows into the Danube at Ulm.
Dans la Haute-Souabe, également sur la rivière Iller, il est devenu l'automne. Les dernières fleurs de l'été, les fruits de l'automne et la chute des feuilles nous accompagnent sur le stockage Iller Lautrach.
Le long fleuve de 147 km Iller provient de la confluence de la Breitach, Stillach et Trettach à Oberstdorf dans la région de l'Allgäu en Allemagne et se jette dans le Danube Ulm.
The translation from German to English with ImTranslator
Traduction de l'allemand en français avec ImTranslator
Was at it again this weekend, shooting random photos out the side window of a truck while racing down country highways. It's become a weird sort of ritual; reminiscent of conducting a seance in hopes of conjuring some sign from the spirit world. In this case the goal is to tap into whatever darkness exists just beyond the shoulder of the road. I've always imagined that great energy exists along the corridors formed by roads. So many people's energy being channeled over the exact same pathway for years on end. How could it not be? Happy people, sad people, sick people; grieving people, all sorts of emotions play out. It's not something you can readily discern while driving; I tend to feel it more while walking along roadways. And even more so if I simply stop and stand. I wonder at times if this energy is what I'm synching with during these completely random, point and shoot photo sessions. The compositions are totally happenstance; I decide when to press the shutter but the rest is up to fate. Yesterday's session yielded about 60 ho-hum shots, evocative of nothing. And then there was this frame; the last of the series. The proverbial dark one, I always seem to capture at least one of these. This one presents a lonely farmhouse with nothing overtly sinister, yet the entire image seems to say otherwise. The photo is flawed, but in a way that seems to enhance rather than detract. There's a motion blur in the foreground while the distant house is in focus. It's a weird effect that I actually also notice with my eyes while driving. Closeup objects blur while distant ones remain sharp. The photos conveys that perfectly. The image also captured the strangeness surrounding the mail and newspaper boxes. Tilted, crooked, and what in the world is that draping on the newspaper box? Had I an hour to spend here with full access to the property, I'm not sure I could have developed a better overall composition. Or one that conveyed the sinister feel of this one.
What has become an annual event that just keeps on keeping on, is the Auto fest Spring car Nats held in Shepparton. Here is a link to the event organisers page, autofest.com.au/.
The event has been going for over 30 years, and for many there is no better way to spend the weekend than with like-minded people, as the entrants burn rubber with an excess of horsepower, that is thankfully quite obscene : )
There was and is everything from the go to woe, handling events, drifting, and of cause burn outs! Burnouts bouncing of the rev limiting, literally hitting the red line burnouts. How much rubber do they burn, enough so I can smell it from my house nearly a mile away : ) PS the smoke signals might be cultural appropriation, so some one should bring along a Pontiac and make it officially ok : P
Jack Danniels www.jackdaniels.com/en-au has a bar, so Tennessee is represented, although in the main part, not much American iron turns up at the event in comparison to the Australian contingent and Japanese cars.
V8s are the flavor, although you might be surprised like I was this year to see a Honda S2000 turn up, a pleasant inclusion, with one of the all-time great 4 bangers in it.
Black snot is a thing, that is if you can handle the close quarters action! You might like to take some year plugs, even then for about mile you will still be able to hear the cars at it.
As a car enthusiast I enjoy the day, friendly people getting their thing on, and having a great time.
PS. Make sure you drink lots of water, and keep hydrated!
Becomes cloudy and unclear, besure to check your rear view mirror, for keeping sight of where you have been, may get you back on the right course again.
Remembering Lisa Gerrard & Michael Edwards
We all know who is at the North Pole and I believe he is getting ready to make a little trip :)
Remembering Gene Autry R.I.P.
In Search of Fall Colors in the Woods of Virginhia.
DSC_2859_19164
This was taken on the park Yesterday, it was cloudy but no rain
It has become regular trip to the park every Sunday morning with Daddy
and Grandma and me,
Been a while since I posted a photo of my Grandkids.
It's that time of year when life becomes crazy, with very early mornings, long days and the exciting search for birds. Yes, it's the time of Audubon Christmas Bird Counts.
Two days ago, on 27 December 2016, nine of us took part in the annual Sheep River/Priddis/Turner Valley Christmas Bird Count.
Our time was spent travelling by car, driving the backroads SW of the city and calling in at several farms. I took part in this Count last year but had missed it for a few years before that. I believe I had only ever done it once before (December 2007?), a few years ago, and that time I was with friends covering a different section of the count circle. I remember it as being very slow and extremely unrewarding, This time, like last year, our area was in the centre of the count circle and I'm so glad I decided to go again.
A great stop was at Rod Handfield's place. Some of us go there on botany trips and he always has the best mushrooms and other fungi growing in his forest in the fall. Rod and his wife have such a beautiful cabin there. A Gray Jay gave us a few photo opportunities, which was appreciated. Not the best lighting, but usually these birds are difficult to photograph, so it was nice to see one this close. Rod is always so delightfully hospitable!!
After two years, nearly 50,000 votes and thousands of public and expert comments, the Gray Jay is the bird that has finally been chosen as the National Bird of Canada. For all the reasons this bird was chosen, see the link below.
www.canadiangeographic.ca/article/meet-our-national-bird-...
www.calgaryherald.com/news/national/98hardy+intelligent+g...
Thanks so much, Donna, for driving half of us - so much appreciated! This also meant that we were lucky enough to see two tiny Northern Pygmy-owls after the Count, too. A beautiful sunny day really helped - not all that cold (for Alberta!). A lot of snow everywhere (almost 8"), but that was OK, as we did so little walking. A great day!
Yesterday, I had a nice, leisurely day, before having to set my alarms for 4:15 am this morning. I woke up after only an hour's sleep and, as my alarms were going to go off in another hour, I didn't dare risk going back to bed in case I slept right through all alarms. Never a good thing for a dreadful night owl who gets to bed around 2:00 am!
I will add the list of species seen, in a comment box below.
B-2670 Boeing 737-89L [30514] (Air China) Hong Kong Int~B 12/11/2005. Cancelled as WFU . Dismantled 02-2022 Kunming~B and roaded out 26-02-2022 to become a Instructional airframe at a unknown college in Xundian County~B
Erdogan's become the Islamist terrorist leader we knew he has always been, violently killing innocents and civilians. Is any nation or world organization going to step up and stop this!? America as leader of the Free World has been neutered by Trump, it's pathetic, corrupt, bought and paid for "leader". The U.S. could stop Turkey with a single phone call! Where is the Pentagon? Where are America's Generals of integrity? Where are America's Senators and Congressmen? Why hasn't NATO stripped Turkey of its membership in that organization? Why hasn't the EU stepped in? Germany? France? Britain? Has the entire civilized world become a group of feckless eunuchs? Perhaps it's time Israel stepped in, as an Israeli, I would support the risk. We cannot allow the genocide of the Kurds, while we still have beating hearts.
DOG LOVER.
.
There are two types of people who are animal lovers.
.
Type-1: (THE DOG PARENT)
1. Get a super expensive dog from a kennel.
2. Spend bucket loads of money on the dog.
3. Hire a trainer to teach the dog to sit nd shit
4. Click wonderful pictures of it in various cute angles
5. Post it on insta & other social platforms and become famous
6. Detest the strays.
7. Doesn't let his / her dog to even get near one, and if a stray innocently comes to play with your dog.. You say, 'Oh no you don't' and hit the stray with a rock.
8. Spend thousands on your dog food, but wouldn't spend 10 bucks for a biscuit packet when ur having tea outside to feed the strays.
9. If at all u decide to play with the strays.. U ll touch them with the tip of your finger, take bucket load of pics, rush back home to wash your hands.. Whereas u don't mind kissing ur dogs tongue which has been in every place of its body..
10. And u d call yourself a proud dog parent and a dog lover.
.
Type-2: (THE DOG LOVER)
1. You adopt a dog which is craving for love nd care.
2. You care for it, nurture it, feed it and love the poor lil thing.
3. You teach it by actually talking to it. And the dog actually starts understanding your language.
4. Click wonderful pictures of it in various cute angles
5. Post it on insta & other social platforms and become famous
6. You love any dog that passes by you.
7. You basically become their pide piper and they can really sense the love and they blindly follow you.
8. You feed them whenever and wherever with whatever you have
9. You play with the strays as if you are their master and give them the same love you give your dog.
10. Now the world calls you a dog lover!!
.
#beginnerphotographer #nightphotography #animalplanet #natgeo #nightlife #canon200Dii #canonphotography #doglover #dogsofinsta #straydogs #travel #travelphotography #travelblogger #adoptdontshop
The area that was to become West Palm Beach was settled in the late 1870s and 1880s by a few hundred settlers who called the vicinity "Lake Worth Country." These settlers were a diverse community from different parts of the United States and the world. They included founding families such at the Potters and the Lainharts, who would go on to become leading members of the business community in the fledgling city. The first white settlers in Palm Beach County lived around Lake Worth, then an enclosed freshwater lake, named for Colonel William Jenkins Worth, who had fought in the Second Seminole War in Florida in 1842. Most settlers engaged in the growing of tropical fruits and vegetables for shipment the north via Lake Worth and the Indian River. By 1890, the U.S. Census counted over 200 people settled along Lake Worth in the vicinity of what would become West Palm Beach. The area at this time also boasted a hotel, the "Cocoanut House", a church, and a post office. The city was platted by Henry Flagler as a community to house the servants working in the two grand hotels on the neighboring island of Palm Beach, across Lake Worth in 1893, coinciding with the arrival of the Florida East Coast railroad. Flagler paid two area settlers, Captain Porter and Louie Hillhouse, a combined sum of $45,000 for the original town site, stretching from Clear Lake to Lake Worth.
On November 5, 1894, 78 people met at the "Calaboose" (the first jail and police station located at Clematis St. and Poinsettia, now Dixie Hwy.) and passed the motion to incorporate the Town of West Palm Beach in what was then Dade County (now Miami-Dade County). This made West Palm Beach the first incorporated municipality in Dade County and in South Florida. The town council quickly addressed the building codes and the tents and shanties were replaced by brick, brick veneer, and stone buildings. The city grew steadily during the 1890s and the first two decades of the 20th century, most residents were engaged in the tourist industry and related services or winter vegetable market and tropical fruit trade. In 1909, Palm Beach County was formed by the Florida State Legislature and West Palm Beach became the county seat. In 1916, a new neo-classical courthouse was opened, which has been painstakingly restored back to its original condition, and is now used as the local history museum.
The city grew rapidly in the 1920s as part of the Florida land boom. The population of West Palm Beach quadrupled from 1920 to 1927, and all kinds of businesses and public services grew along with it. Many of the city's landmark structures and preserved neighborhoods were constructed during this period. Originally, Flagler intended for his Florida East Coast Railway to have its terminus in West Palm, but after the area experienced a deep freeze, he chose to extend the railroad to Miami instead.
The land boom was already faltering when city was devastated by the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane. The Depression years of the 1930s were a quiet time for the area, which saw slight population growth and property values lower than during the 1920s. The city only recovered with the onset of World War II, which saw the construction of Palm Beach Air Force Base, which brought thousands of military personnel to the city. The base was vital to the allied war effort, as it provided an excellent training facility and had unparalleled access to North Africa for a North American city. Also during World War II, German U-Boats sank dozens of merchant ships and oil tankers just off the coast of West Palm Beach. Nearby Palm Beach was under black out conditions to minimize night visibility to German U-boats.
The 1950s saw another boom in population, partly due to the return of many soldiers and airmen who had served in the vicinity during the war. Also, the advent of air conditioning encouraged growth, as year-round living in a tropical climate became more acceptable to northerners. West Palm Beach became the one of the nation's fastest growing metropolitan areas during the 1950s; the city's borders spread west of Military Trail and south to Lake Clarke Shores. However, many of the city's residents still lived within a narrow six-block wide strip from the south to north end. The neighborhoods were strictly segregated between White and African-American populations, a legacy that the city still struggles with today. The primary shopping district remained downtown, centered around Clematis Street.
In the 1960s, Palm Beach County's first enclosed shopping mall, the Palm Beach Mall, and an indoor arena were completed. These projects led to a brief revival for the city, but in the 1970s and 1980s crime continued to be a serious issue and suburban sprawl continued to drain resources and business away from the old downtown area. By the early 1990s there were very high vacancy rates downtown, and serious levels of urban blight.
Since the 1990s, developments such as CityPlace and the preservation and renovation of 1920s architecture in the nightlife hub of Clematis Street have seen a downtown resurgence in the entertainment and shopping district. The city has also placed emphasis on neighborhood development and revitalization, in historic districts such as Northwood, Flamingo Park, and El Cid. Some neighborhoods still struggle with blight and crime, as well as lowered property values caused by the Great Recession, which hit the region particularly hard. Since the recovery, multiple new developments have been completed. The Palm Beach Mall, located at the Interstate 95/Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard interchange became abandoned as downtown revitalized - the very mall that initiated the original abandonment of the downtown. The mall was then redeveloped into the Palm Beach Fashion Outlets in February 2014. A station for All Aboard Florida, a high-speed passenger rail service serving Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando, is under construction as of July 2015.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
December 13th,2009(sooc and in comments too)ON BLACK
wow does the quality of this picture look amazing or what? i think soo. anyways. I've come to this conclusion..i loathe the action of assuming. I don't like it when i do it, or when anyone does it. It never makes anything better, so why do it. People that think to much, tend to assume a lot, hehe that's an assumption because i'm sure not everyone who thinks a lot assumes. I really wish that action wasn't possible. I mean you never know what someone is thinking, so you really can't assume.
So today was chill. I made strawberry pancakes(i cut up real strawberries and put them in the batter yum) for lunch.. but extreme,haha, EPIC FAIL. you know why? i put wayyyyy to much baking powder. instead of 3 TEASPOONS i put 3 TABLESPOONS ahaha so my pancakes were uber big and puffy(pictures in comments). It's funny i've made pancakes from scratch and i've never done that, i was so hungry i didn't read the recipe ahah. also wheat flour tastes sooo different then white flour, and cane sugar tastes sooo different then ruglar sugar as well. It's probably because they are both healthier and in their natural state. the pancakes tasted soo cinnamony to me..though there was no cinnamon in them. I was getting a bit flustered and annoyed, and cooking never makes me angry or flustered, i'm quite patient with it. haha. so that was fun. My dad made and yummy spaghetti dinner, though i took out the meat in the meat sauce...they were making fun of me for that. jonel texted/called me. hehe my hibernating baby. so cute. we talked from 5:30pm-almost 8pm:D he is the greatest guy on the planet. the best, funniest, most understanding, great listener, sweet, unique, random, guy i've ever met. he's so laid back, down to earth, and chill..then at times crazy, wild and silly. he's also extremely beautiful, he's so accepting of me and i'm so crazy and silly and hyper on the phone, from lack of talking to him i get all hyper and crazy. it could just be because as the days pass by more and more i'm falling deeper in love with him. he's got me in a spell i sware. i was joking with him telling him"what if i moved back to florida?" *jonel's voice gets all excited*"are you going to?!!" "hehe do you want me too?" *jonel even more anticipated and excited then before*" are you going to?" haha him and adela really really want me to move back. Even though i miss florida like crazy, i don't want to move back, yet. Maybe in two years. idk i love california. though i miss my home even more. it's crazy when you live somewhere, you don't always appreciate it and what it has to offer but then when you move away, you see what it had, and you wish you appreciated it more. I miss florida a lot. It was my home for the past 8 years, and soooo much happened in that little time. My whole life went upside down then back up again in 8 years. It was incredible. though things happened that i didn't like..i will probably always call florida my home..more than chicago..maybe because i only spent a 11 years of my life in chicago and in those 11 years, i really can't remember much. The memories i do remember are vague, yet wonderful. I loved chicago but florida is more of my home now, it's more me. Chicago has changed a lot since i was there, and i don't like what it has become..regardless of no snow in florida i don't think i will ever go back to chicago. AHAH i so got off topic. Ah well. i'm sure you don't want to hear about jonel anyways. ok well i love you life, and jonel, and ee everything. i need to go make my lunch because i'm getting up at 5:45am(eep) to open tomorrow and i work until 3pm. how fun diddy fun. hope jonel passes his test tomorrow. hope everyone had a fun sunday. i know i did. and i love all you flickr friends. you say such nice things to me