Random Question

Hello!  Is everyone getting ready for Christmas?  We are getting the downstairs part of our house painted this week, so I haven't been able to put the tree up yet, and I just can't wait!  It's my favorite season of the year!  Not the weather, mind you, just the jolly Christmas season.

But today, I have a quick question for you.  How do you pronounce the word Aunt?  Some people pronounce it ont.  Some people say ant.  Still others say ont-ee or anti.  I grew up my whole life saying ant.  I never called anyone anti, but my mom had an anti.  My husband's parents were British, so they pronounce it ont and ont-ee.  Thus, my question.  How do your pronounce the word for your parent's sister?

Now on we go to more delightful things!

And last, but not least, 

Don't forget to visit Happy Tuesday and Random Tuesday Thoughts!  Have a great week!

Sunday Synopsis - true crime

The Road Out of Hell: Sanford Clark and the True Story of the Wineville Murders by Anthony Flacco
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

You may have seen a Clint Eastwood movie called The Changeling. I have never seen it, but as I understand things, it covers the events in about half of this true crime story. The book is always better, though.

Sanford Clark was only 13 when his mother sent him from Canada to a chicken ranch near Los Angeles to live with his uncle Gordon Stewart Northcott. She may have known what she was getting him into since her own mother, which was also Stewart's mother, actively participated in some of Stewart's crimes and turned a blind eye to others.

From 1926 to 1928, Sanford Clark was tortured, sexually abused, beaten, and forced to participate in the murder of several young boys that Stewart lured to his farm for his own sick pleasure. He bore witness to Stewart's crimes (kidnapping, molestation, murder) and came out on the other side, heavily guilt-ridden. In fact, he spent most of the rest of his life trying to make up for his past even though as a boy who was held captive he had no choice but to participate in this hell that was forced on him or be killed himself.

This story is terrifying because these gruesome acts actually happened. I don't know how Sanford survived, but he did, unlike the kidnapped boys who were as young as 9 years old. Sanford got an education, served his country during WWI, got married, had children, and by all accounts was a respected father, husband, and member of the community. Not that the hell ever actually left him. There were dark hours and dark days. But he came out on the other side.

In this book, his son Jerry is a co-author and adds details that no one else would know about Sanford's life after the Wineville chicken coop murders except Sanford's son. It's an excellent and well-written true tale.

Interesting side note - Wineville changed its name in 1930 due to the negative publicity surrounding this case. It became known as Mira Loma.

View all my reviews

To Pot Luck or Not to Pot Luck

I hope your Thanksgiving was good!  Did you cook the entire meal?  Or did each person bring something?  I cooked chicken and dumplings for lunch, then our cousin cooked dinner: turkey with all the fixings.  It was ah-mazing!  No pot luck this year.

 I used to enjoy pot luck lunches and dinners.  I loved eating new dishes and trying all the different ways people can make potatoes or macaroni, and don't get me started on the variety of desserts!

But... I thought too hard about it.  I thought, "What if people play with their dogs who just rolled in the grass then don't wash their hands before they prepare the food?"  It happens!

And, "What if they let their cat on the kitchen counter to lick the bowl, or feed their sweet kitty pet food out of the same dish they are using to prepare the food without running it through the dishwasher first?"  It could happen.

Or, "What if they have roaches, ants, or other critters around the food preparation area?"  I shudder to think!

So, I will still eat pot luck if I actually KNOW the people providing food, but thankfully, I don't have to eat any more pot lucks at work, not that anyone ever forced me!  That big buffet of pot luck dishes is mighty tempting.  I'd have a hard time saying no despite my excessive thinking!  How about you?

And last, but not least.

Have a great week!  And don't forget to visit Happy Tuesday and Random Tuesday Thoughts.

Cyber Deals

 There are some great cyber-Monday deals going on at Amazon!  I've got my eye on gifts for my husband, sister, sons-in-law, and grandchildren. Take a look!

 

 Affiliate links - If you make a purchase through one of my links, I may receive a small compensation at no cost to you. Maybe. Someday. It could happen.

Best Amazon Deals for Wednesday 11/22

 These are some of Amazon's BEST deals that start this Wednesday, 11/22.

(Affiliate links-If you make a purchase from one of my links, I may get a small commission at no cost to you.)