Greetings, although I erroneously believed it to fall in January, a calendar that has come to my attention states that this February 15 is Lupercalia, the official Roman holiday for werewolves everywhere!

The werewolf priests of Lupercus (a tutelary god of Rome) used to rush through the streets howling, slavering, cracking whips and making mayhem. Women who were having difficulty conceiving, and men in search of a kinky good time, would offer their backsides to the lash of the sacred whip for fertility and/or fun.

I now think of a certain holiday celebrated by a chocoholic feeding frenzy on Feb. 14 as Lupercalia Eve.  Ah, I hear the wolves howling amorously in the distance...

Wolvishly,

Steve

I see Count Petofi as sexually omnivorous:  women, young men, unicorns ...

It would seem that Violet Welles, who created the good Count, was very well read in the more obscure byways of 1890s literature.  The Count always struck me as a cross between Oscar Wilde and Aleister Crowley.  I do love the stories about Lord Kitchener, the deliciously rolled-out epigrams, the homburg and cigars.  His fondness for Mozart always struck me as a tip of the hat to Christopher Isherwood's Mr. Norris.

Yes, DS could be surprisingly literate for a soap opera that was widely regarded as just the latest teeny-bopper craze...

Steve

I'll take Tim, minus the boxers-or-briefs (call me a purist).

Strumpet is definitely what Miss Emily Dickinson would call "a word to raise your hat to."  (if she bothered with such oddities as dangling prepositions, of course)

I for one cherish hearing Joan Collins refer to Heather Locklear's character on Dynasty as "that trollop, Sammy Jo!"

Steve

Well, the way I remember it is that the slaughtered 9 were gypsies Petofi had killed over the years.

Wasn't there dialogue where Magda said Count Petofi had been cured of being a werewolf by a gypsy witch and then refused to pay for the cure?  And in revenge, his hand, in which all his magical powers was concentrated, was chopped off.

I remember the Count reminiscing about how he slaughtered his pet unicorn one night when the moon was full.  It was one of the very few times he ever appeared to show something akin to a human emotion.

Anyhow, I think the 9 gypsies were slaughtered over a period of years.  There's a scene I do recall quite clearly where he was gloating to Aristede about that.

Gothick

Marsha, dahlink, this is your fuzzy sis way up in the frozen North (aka Boston!)  Ooh, you'd love it so much right now.  Lots of snow, lots of ice, lots of apple-checked men running around in layers.

I am so glad you had such a divoon birthday, you deserve nothing but the best, dear.  Mr. Denison asked you to give me his best birthday regards.  We had tea on Sunday and I read his cards.  Believe it or not, he got the Death card, AND the Lovers!  I told him the Death card meant getting rid of lots of unwanted crap from last year and the Lovers points to ... possibilities!  I felt just like Magda (well, not quite, but YOU know).

Somebody told me some new dirt about Diane the other day.  Something about a speeding ticket?  I honestly can't recall.  Where do you put the amount of trouble that girl gets herself into???

Well dear you are in my thoughts.  I am heading up North again on Wed. night for some cuddling with my French Canadian sweetie.  Miss you so much!

xoxoxo la Tufftress

Early birthday wishes to you, darling!  You are a bright star in our online firmament.

Steve

Poor Barbara Eden. It's good to see her looking so chipper and vital after the horrors she endured last year.  That woman is a real trooper.

I'm glad you were able to get such a lovely photo, Ringo. You actually look great in this, in my not-so-humble opinion.

*I* still dream of Grayson Hall.  I had a hysterically funny dream of her a couple of nights ago.  She was still alive, and hostessing a game show of the "Weakest Link" variety.  She was brilliant at it and had become a national figure as a result.

Steve

Aren't the preserves damson, or damson plums?

Help!  I need Raineypark to help remind me of Minerva's Little Book of Home Preserves and what she says about plums!

I LOVE MINERVA TRASK.

Gothy