Here’s my late Halloween blog story.

Couldn’t sleep and stay asleep because of something I just “couldn’t put my finger on” regarding this whole mess that was repeatedly nagging me awake. Ever have those? Wake up as the dream is simultaneously fading away and you’re waking mind realizes it was important but….. it’s gone.

Figured I go downstairs and check on Liz and maybe finish off a Mountain Dew in the fridge before it lost it’s “fizz”. It’s early in the morning, probably around 0200hrs or so. No reason for slippers or formal clothing – the boxer DIY pajamas are fine, often over dressed actually. Anyway, I carefully make it down the first flight to the landing before I realize I forgot my headlamp with the dim red “night vision” illumination option which is great if you want to keep your “night eyes” ie, star gazing and having to figure out which lens is which, where are my reading glasses, what the hell was that outside…etc. but I digress. AC USB rechargeable batteries too saves PG&E and puts good light exactly where you need it, great product, but I digress.

SO anyway, forgot the lamp on the nightstand, no biggie, I know this house like the back of my hand and can do this in almost complete darkness. Not quite “complete darkness” because the soft green glow from the microwave and oven clock LEDs were casting some rather spooky patterns in some places that were crisscrossed with the shadows of various items on the L shaped island counter with Jen-air LGP stove top and exhaust fan…..and,…ahhh, I remember the cheap little plastic Walmart clock ticking and echoing on the great room walls, whose sound was bouncing back over to the north loft with the same decorative iron balusters as the L shaped stairs; where on this loft various other views of the San Joaquin Valley, foothills, and Mariposa mountains can be enjoyed; whose 17’ ceiling amplifies the sound next to the Lopi Endeavor wood burning stove (that for Liz and I keeps this 2,693sq ft arched European smooth hand troweled exterior stucco finish, which compliments this Spanish styled home nice and cozy; but of course it also sports a split HVAC Arco system which is composed of the lower unit which is … ….oooops, my bad. I was thinking about something else at the same time….. where was I?

Let’s see….so ahhhh, yeah, creepy green glows, shadows, sounds amplified…. so I know exactly where I’m going – I could do it blindfolded. Down the stairs, into dining room same lighting fixtures throughout, quite nice actually (to the great room where Liz spends much of her time now on her round mattress), but as I’m approaching Liz saying “you’re such a good girl” something suddenly grabs and tugs at my bare left foot, I almost stumbled and shook my foot to make it let go, but it wouldn’t WHAT THE ……???

AND THEN IF IT COULDN’T GET ANY MORE CREEPY —- right after this THING grabs me something else in a high pitched voice about 15-20′ away — that was very low to the ground, like a small animal with claws (I could hear the clicking on the floor as it approached) started screaming in a strange foreign language at me while this OTHER THING continued to hold on as I zig-zagged across the floor trying to loose it …..but it held on,….. OH MY GOD! WAS IT A TENTICLE FROM WHAT EVER WAS APPROACHING ARE THEY CONNECTED IN SOME WAY? or was it crying for help? attacking me?

I first thought, it sounded like an attempt at “help” but it kept coming towards me….it wouldn’t stop. Can’t adequately say it with words, fortunately I have an audio recording that is very close as to what I heard that morning, in the dark, in my own dinning room, as it clung to my leg and pursued me as I tried to escape it’s grasp. You tell me if it might stain your pajamas, or boxer shorts………

ANYONE HAVE ONE OF THESE?

If yes, I’d bet you can probably relate. IF no…. Nope, not a spy camera, microphone, laser, etc. it is a motion activated audible toy for visually impaired “best friends”, and/or just a fun toy for ANY PLAYFUL animal.

My best to you and yours, Lew

PS: Sorry for the late Halloween blog, but have been a little preoccupied within this owner designed and built….. OH YEAH! And the long tentacle holding my foot that appeared to be connected to the approaching voice of some animal…..it was attached to the noise….. a tangled ball of 550 military grade paracord that I got my left foot entangled in the dark, and what was it attached to? Yup, the other tangled section of that 550 was neatly holding that toy in a large basket of cord while sliding across the floor as I pulled it along trying to make it let go. lol

Get it? Go figure, huh?