Have the most happiest day of all(I swiped that from Andy Williams Christmas which I have already heard a million times and its not even Christmas yet) 50 years and now you are as fine as wine.  Happy Birthday, Connie!

And while I never saw "pork pie" on a menu in France, I saw it EVERYWHERE in England......how did this get to be a French Canadian specialty?

     Many years ago, my husband and I drove over to Old Orchard Beach.  A sign outside a restaurant said we welcome Canadians and to ask about the pork of the day.  Must be some kind of regional thing.  I would ask some of my friends of French Canadian ancestry but there seems to be a little sensitivity.  There was a lot of discrimination and names like "chinook" and "frog" were common epithets.  I believe that Josette would have faced discrimination because she was Catholic and French.  I could just see Aunt Abigail spitting out the word papist and idolater.  Of coarse,  DC would have found that too hot to handle in the late 60s but it sure would have added another layer to Josette's misery.  She would have had no friends in the village, no priest, and be belittled by her husband's family for her beliefs not to mention her future children being raised as strict Calvinists.(no music, no dancing, no card playing but I guess sex was okay or no more Collins heirs.)

PS.  Raineypark,
Let me know how MB's Salmon pie recipe turns out.  If its good you can pass it on to me.  I probably will end up eating it alone since no one else in my family likes fish of any kind.     

     I think the Collins family is used to bad cuisine.  There is a scene in 1795 where Natalie Dupres complains about the cooking(the cook would not use wine when cooking the fish  because it was against her religion).
     Some of the dishes Mrs. Johnson would have been familiar with are"Chinese Pie" a dish made with elbow macaroni, canned tomatoes, and corn and who knows what, Salmon Pie and Pork Pie which I am informed by the locals are French Canadian dishes, American chop suey(similar to Chinese pie) and whoppie pies.  I hope I have not spoiled anyones appetite but I can see why Roger would go to Boston and bring home recipes for Mrs. Johnson to try.

Happy Birthday, Maria Merriweather.  Now get cook'in and have a great day.

   I live in Maine and the night of the eclipse was very cold and clear.  When the moon was fully covered it was a soft glowing orange. I was nagging my husband to get out his telescope but he didn't.  I am sorry you missed it, Vlad.  I thought it was beautiful.

Happy Birthday, John_in_SC!

In the early years I thought I'd died and gone to "Old Horror Movies Heaven".  Now,I can't remember the last time a classic horror film like the original "The Mummy" showed up there....even during the month of October. 

     Before our local cable company put Sci-fi in its line-up, I filled out surveys and wrote letters asking for the Sci-fi channel.  I erroneously thought Sci-fi would show old science fiction and horror movies of the 50's.   While I have enjoyed having Dark Shadows, the channel has been a disappointment.
     I do not currently get Soapnet but discovered it is available through an upgrade in service.  If Soapnet becomes the next outlet to carry Dark Shadow,  I would be grateful if those who get Soapnet would keep us all informed.

     This was such a hard question to answer.  I agree so much with Cassandra Blair but had to go with the tragic newly cursed Barnabas.  He gave insight into why Barnabas should be pitied rather than condemned outright.  He transforms from a decent man who cared about Ben and Vicki Winters to the quick descent  into the selfish, evil vampire.  Of course, this lets the show continue as we watch Barnabas' character slowly become rehabilitated.