I have to say that I am shocked and appalled at the number of people who are behaving so viciously and illogically in response to the verdict of 'not guilty' in the Casey Anthony murder trial. I watched most of the ACTUAL TRIAL and am completely disgusted with the media, particularly people like douche bag, drama queen Nancy Grace, who did nothing more than inflame the public with a lynch mob mentality, stretch the truth and inject their own opinions rather than behaving like the unbiased journalistic professionals they are supposed to be. I'm dismayed that some of my friends and acquaintances who obviously have limited knowledge concerning the law or how the American justice system works have followed the media circus instead of following the actual evidence and have drawn inaccurate conclusions based on speculation rather than solid evidence. For clarification, I hold a certificate as a trained paralegal though it isn't a profession that I choose to practice but I do understand the justice system, the law, the trail of evidence and what is involved in legal research, and again, my opinions are based on observance of the ACTUAL TRIAL and the evidence presented in the trial not on the biased nonsense that was constantly spouted on HLN.
The facts are that the state had no physical evidence to connect Casey Anthony to her daughter's murder, in fact, they could not even prove that Caylee Anthony was, in fact, murdered at all. There was absolutely no evidence of physical trauma to the child's skeletal remains to suggest that there had ever been any child abuse inflicted upon her, nor were there any witnesses that could testify that she had ever suffered from child abuse in any form. There was no evidence to suggest that chloroform had ever been used on the child and there was no evidence that the duct tape was actually on the child before she died, and the tape actually belonged to and was linked only to George Anthony, not Casey. The cause of death, as determined by autopsy, is 'unknown,' therefore, they cannot prove whether she was killed or died accidentally. The only link to premeditation came from computer searches on 'chloroform' and a few other suspicious search terms on the FAMILY computer that everyone in that house had access to, and again, there was no evidence that chloroform was ever used, nor was chloroform or any ingredients contained in chloroform ever found in Casey Anthony's possession. Only one hair was found in the trunk of the car which could have belonged to anyone on the maternal side of the Anthony family and the accuracy of scientific tests on that hair were in question. Also, her parents had access to the car. George and Cindy Anthony's credibility was in serious doubt after the prosecution proved that Cindy was at work when she testified to making the computer searches on chloroform, and George Anthony's mistress testified in open court that she had an affair with him which he denied. Witnesses that testified about the computer searches and witnesses that testified about forensic pathology and anthropology were brought into question as well, and their theories were either disproven or cast with doubt. Knowing all of this, how can anyone possibly believe that there was inadequate reasonable doubt for a not guilty verdict? The state did not prove it's case!
The jury in the Casey Anthony murder trial was sequestered for the entire length of the trial so they were not allowed to talk to anyone or discuss the trial; even with each other, they had no access to social media, computers, television or newspapers so they were protected from the ridiculous media coverage that was more speculation than truth, therefore, they did not suffer from the delusions that the media seems to have inflicted on so many people who didn't watch the ACTUAL TRIAL and attempt to weigh the evidence fairly and without prejudice and then follow the law in determining the verdict which is the job of a jury member. One of the jurors is a man who specializes in IT work so he could easily have deciphered that the computer evidence was sketchy at best. There was a cook and chef that have likely been exposed to the process of rotting food which could have cast doubt on the validity of the smell of decomposition in the car as opposed to the smell of rotting garbage which was actually found in the car. At least two jurors have ties to law enforcement, one works with child welfare and one is a counselor. All of them brought something to the process and all of them were chosen by BOTH sides and they were REQUIRED to follow the law in their determination.
Let me just clarify that in my personal opinion and based on the evidence presented at trial, I do believe that Casey Anthony is responsible for her daughter's death because she failed to protect her and keep her safe which resulted in her death, but I do not believe that she actually took Caylee Anthony's life out of some warped desire to be free of her so that she could party. That's a bizarre theory because it was well proven that Caylee's grandmother worshipped her and would have taken responsibility for her without question if Casey had wanted to walk away and do as she pleased for the rest of her life as any loving grandmother would. Murder would not have been necessary in order for Casey to free herself from her daughter and every witness that knew them said that Casey had a very good relationship with Caylee and was a good mother. There is absolutely no motive! Let me also say that as a grandmother, there is absolutely no way that I would have allowed my daughter to keep my grandchild from me for 31 days without seeing her, especially considering that the child lived in the home of the grandparents so the fact that they did not contact police before an entire month had passed leads me to believe that they are involved in some sinister way in covering up what really happened to Caylee but I do believe it was an accident that spiraled out of control. The point is, the grandparents are just as responsible for waiting so long and going on with their lives as Casey is. They may not have been out partying like Casey was, but that's what Casey did normally in her life and her parents went on doing what they normally do.
You also have to consider that in the defense team's opening statements, they made the accusation that George Anthony had been sexually abusing Casey since she was a small child and that Caylee had drowned in the family pool and George found her and started screaming at Casey that it was her fault and that her mother would never forgive her and that she would go to prison for the rest of her life. It was suggested that George said that he would take care of it and told Casey not to say anything to anyone because there was a danger that either George or Casey's brother, Lee, could have been the father of the child and that was not something they wanted to come out. George Anthony was a detective, a trained law enforcement officer who knew how to hide evidence, who understood the devastating effect that decomposition has on evidence and who could have made sure that there wasn't much left of Caylee to examine by the time she was found. He also understood that if DNA proved that he was the father of his granddaughter, he could be facing prison himself. The defense didn't prove any of these things definitively, and both George and Lee were excluded as Caylee's biological father, but the defense planted the seed in the mind of the jurors that Casey Anthony was an abused child who became a pathological liar as a result of the abuse and it created reasonable doubt. No one knows if this is true or not, but it is a possibility and the jury had to consider it because it was put out there and no one knows what that would do to a person. Being a liar does not make a person a murderer.
For anyone who has had any actual experience with the American justice system, or even for those of you who watch courtroom drama on prime time television, you know that the prosecution will do or say anything just for a conviction. They often lose sight of the real issue of who killed the victim and their only interest becomes in convicting the person they 'think' did it. They have no real interest in justice, but rather in a conviction rate that boosts their careers and if it happens to be a high profile case, all the better. The defense is not obligated to prove anything as everyone in the United States is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and it is the burden of the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
A jury's responsibility is to weigh the evidence and follow the law in order to reach a verdict and in my opinion, that's what the jury did in the Casey Anthony trial. I'm truly appalled at how many people I've seen make comments about wanting this young woman dead for a crime that could not be proven based on solid evidence. I'm disgusted with the media attacks and speculative evidence they have used to launch those attacks and I'm disgusted with all the people who are basing their opinions on television shows such as 'Nancy Grace' rather than on the actual evidence as presented at trial. If they didn't care enough about this trial to watch the ACTUAL TRIAL, then they are sadly misinformed and I'm ashamed to even know people like this. As American citizens, we all have an inalienable right to a trial by jury but when the general public doesn't trust the judgment of the jury system and allows the media to bias their opinions to the point of wishing death on someone who has been judged to be innocent of the crime for which they are accused, then there is no justice and those people are every bit as bad as they claim the defendant in this case is. Casey Anthony has been convicted in the media and most people only hear the garbage spouted on the evening news which interjects the opinions of reporters into their minds, causing them to misconstrue hearsay and speculation as actual evidence. She will NEVER have a normal life again because she will always be thought of as a child killer no matter where she goes or what she does. She won't be able to go out partying ever again, she won't be able to get a job, she won't be able to walk down the street or go shopping or do anything that normal people do, no one will ever trust her again or believe in her again. She will live her life out in fear and in her own private hellish prison with the majority of the world hating her and wanting her to die because they don't have a clue what she has lived through or what the truth really is and the saddest thing is that most of the people that I've seen that so adamantly want her to die, claim to be 'Christians' and I find that very disturbing!
I've never been a person to take the path of least resistance and I've never cared how many people disagree with my opinions and I've never been shy about expressing my opinions. I am proud to say that I never base my opinions on popular belief or just to 'fit in' and I only express my opinion in terms as strong as this after much research and factual evidence has been presented to convince me as an intelligent, reasonable adult, of the truth. NO ONE would put themselves through the hate-filled media circus that this case created from the time Caylee was reported missing if they were truly guilty of killing their own child and callously disposing of her body in a swamp after raising and loving her for almost three years. Casey would have cracked long ago and confessed if she had truly done that just to avoid the hell that she and her family were put through but she stood firm about not killing Caylee even though she knew that the entire world hated her and wanted her dead and that it would be necessary to tear her family apart and expose them to allegations that they will never live down. I don't think there is any doubt that she was responsible for the child's death and was a party in covering it up or that she lied to authorities but the state was so focused on a first degree murder charge and getting the death penalty that they over-charged her and lost almost completely. This case could not be judged based on personal experiences or in comparison with other high profile cases and it certainly could not be judged based on media hype! Shame on those of you who judged her based on anything but the actual evidence as presented in the trial and shame on the prosecution for being so greedy for power and attention that they charged her incorrectly and blew the case. I hope that none of you ever face a situation in your own lives where justice becomes impossible to obtain due to circumstantial evidence, hearsay and speculation, whether it be in a court of law or in your own personal life.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
~Independence Day~
Independence Day
Independence Day is the national holiday of the United States of America commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
At the time of the signing the US consisted of 13 colonies under the rule of England's King George III. There was growing unrest in the colonies concerning the taxes that had to be paid to England. This was commonly referred to as "Taxation without Representation" as the colonists did not have any representation in the English Parliament and had no say in what went on. As the unrest grew in the colonies, King George sent extra troops to help control any rebellion. In 1774 the 13 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia Pennsylvania to form the First Continental Congress. The delegates were unhappy with England, but were not yet ready to declare war.
In April 1775 as the King's troops advanced on Concord Massachusetts Paul Revere would sound the alarm that "The British are coming, the British are coming" as he rode his horse through the late night streets.
The battle of Concord and its "shot heard round the world" would mark the unofficial beginning of the colonies war for Independence.
The following May the colonies again sent delegates to the Second Continental Congress. For almost a year the congress tried to work out its differences with England, again without formally declaring war.
By June 1776 their efforts had become hopeless and a committee was formed to compose a formal declaration of independence. Headed by Thomas Jefferson, the committee included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston and Roger Sherman. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the first draft which was presented to the congress on June 28. After various changes a vote was taken late in the afternoon of July 4th. Of the 13 colonies, 9 voted in favor of the Declaration, 2 - Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted No, Delaware undecided and New York abstained.
To make it official John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence. It is said that John Hancock signed his name "with a great flourish" so "King George can read that without spectacles!."
The following day copies of the Declaration were distributed. The first newspaper to print the Declaration was the Pennsylvania Evening Post on July 6, 1776. On July 8th the Declaration had its first public reading in Philadelphia's Independence Square. Twice that day the Declaration was read to cheering crowds and pealing church bells. Even the bell in Independence Hall was rung. The "Province Bell" would later be renamed "Liberty Bell" after its inscription -
Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof
And although the signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, the 4th of July has been accepted as the official anniversary of United States independence. The first Independence Day celebration took place the following year - July 4 1777. By the early 1800s the traditions of parades, picnics, and fireworks were established as the way to celebrate America's birthday. And although fireworks have been banned in most places because of their danger, most towns and cities usually have big firework displays for all to see and enjoy.
~I hope all of my family and friends have a safe and happy 4th of July weekend~
Independence Day is the national holiday of the United States of America commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
At the time of the signing the US consisted of 13 colonies under the rule of England's King George III. There was growing unrest in the colonies concerning the taxes that had to be paid to England. This was commonly referred to as "Taxation without Representation" as the colonists did not have any representation in the English Parliament and had no say in what went on. As the unrest grew in the colonies, King George sent extra troops to help control any rebellion. In 1774 the 13 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia Pennsylvania to form the First Continental Congress. The delegates were unhappy with England, but were not yet ready to declare war.
In April 1775 as the King's troops advanced on Concord Massachusetts Paul Revere would sound the alarm that "The British are coming, the British are coming" as he rode his horse through the late night streets.
The battle of Concord and its "shot heard round the world" would mark the unofficial beginning of the colonies war for Independence.
The following May the colonies again sent delegates to the Second Continental Congress. For almost a year the congress tried to work out its differences with England, again without formally declaring war.
By June 1776 their efforts had become hopeless and a committee was formed to compose a formal declaration of independence. Headed by Thomas Jefferson, the committee included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston and Roger Sherman. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the first draft which was presented to the congress on June 28. After various changes a vote was taken late in the afternoon of July 4th. Of the 13 colonies, 9 voted in favor of the Declaration, 2 - Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted No, Delaware undecided and New York abstained.
To make it official John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence. It is said that John Hancock signed his name "with a great flourish" so "King George can read that without spectacles!."
The following day copies of the Declaration were distributed. The first newspaper to print the Declaration was the Pennsylvania Evening Post on July 6, 1776. On July 8th the Declaration had its first public reading in Philadelphia's Independence Square. Twice that day the Declaration was read to cheering crowds and pealing church bells. Even the bell in Independence Hall was rung. The "Province Bell" would later be renamed "Liberty Bell" after its inscription -
Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof
And although the signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, the 4th of July has been accepted as the official anniversary of United States independence. The first Independence Day celebration took place the following year - July 4 1777. By the early 1800s the traditions of parades, picnics, and fireworks were established as the way to celebrate America's birthday. And although fireworks have been banned in most places because of their danger, most towns and cities usually have big firework displays for all to see and enjoy.
~I hope all of my family and friends have a safe and happy 4th of July weekend~
Monday, June 20, 2011
~Summer Solstice Lore~
Summer Solstice Lore
June 21 marks the Summer Solstice, the day of the year when the sun reaches the Tropic of Cancer, its highest point in the Northern Hemisphere. The summer solstice is also the longest day of the year for those of us living north of the Equator.
Modern calendars refer to this day as the first day of summer, though ancient reckoning actually viewed May 1 as the beginning of summer, and the Solstice as “Midsummer,” the halfway point of the season. Because the Solstice marks not only the Sun’s greatest potency, but also the turning point at which the length of days begins to wane, this older viewpoint does make sense. After all, most Americans consider Memorial Day to be the unofficial start of summer, and Labor Day the unofficial end. Both days fall about three weeks earlier than the astronomical dates that mark the passage of the seasons.
Because summer is a great time for a party, Midsummer has long been a time of revelry. The early church capitalized on this by creating the feast of St. John the Baptist on June 24, six months before Christmas, to coincide with Midsummer (according to the Gospel of Luke, John the Baptist was born six months before his cousin, Jesus). Many of the traditional festivities associated with St. John’s feast day were held the night before, on June 23, or St. John’s Eve.
Perhaps more than any other day of the year, except Christmas, St. John’s Eve is full of lore. Throughout the world, this night has traditionally been celebrated by lighting massive bonfires, accompanied by music, signing, and dancing. In fact, in Ireland, St. John’s Eve is still known as “Bonfire Night,” and its history stretches back even further than Christianity in Ireland. At one time, Bonfire Night honored Áine, the Celtic goddess of love and fertility.
St. John’s Eve bonfires were believed to have magical, protective qualities, and many rituals sprang up around them. Jumping through the fire was said to bring good luck. Farmers often drove their cattle through the flames or walked in circles around their sheep, carrying torches lit from the bonfire. In certain areas of Ireland, some people still believe that if you hold a pebble in your hand while circling a Midsummer bonfire, any wish will be granted. Simply whisper the wish before casting the stone into the fire.
Others believed that the ashes from a Midsummer bonfire would ensure fertility for their crops. Common practices included mixing the ashes with the seeds while planting or spreading them over the fields.
Not surprisingly, given the wealth of other lore surrounding the day, the ancient Celts also believed St. John’s Eve was a prime day for faerie activity, second only to Halloween. Anyone who wanted to see one of the wee folk would gather fern spores at the stroke of midnight and rub it onto their eyelids. One had to be careful, though, because the crafty faeries often led unwary humans astray, getting them utterly lost, even in familiar territory. This condition was known as being “pixie-led,” and could be safeguarded against by turning your clothing inside out, or carrying a small a few leaves of rue, a strong-smelling evergreen, in your pocket.
June 21 marks the Summer Solstice, the day of the year when the sun reaches the Tropic of Cancer, its highest point in the Northern Hemisphere. The summer solstice is also the longest day of the year for those of us living north of the Equator.
Modern calendars refer to this day as the first day of summer, though ancient reckoning actually viewed May 1 as the beginning of summer, and the Solstice as “Midsummer,” the halfway point of the season. Because the Solstice marks not only the Sun’s greatest potency, but also the turning point at which the length of days begins to wane, this older viewpoint does make sense. After all, most Americans consider Memorial Day to be the unofficial start of summer, and Labor Day the unofficial end. Both days fall about three weeks earlier than the astronomical dates that mark the passage of the seasons.
Because summer is a great time for a party, Midsummer has long been a time of revelry. The early church capitalized on this by creating the feast of St. John the Baptist on June 24, six months before Christmas, to coincide with Midsummer (according to the Gospel of Luke, John the Baptist was born six months before his cousin, Jesus). Many of the traditional festivities associated with St. John’s feast day were held the night before, on June 23, or St. John’s Eve.
Perhaps more than any other day of the year, except Christmas, St. John’s Eve is full of lore. Throughout the world, this night has traditionally been celebrated by lighting massive bonfires, accompanied by music, signing, and dancing. In fact, in Ireland, St. John’s Eve is still known as “Bonfire Night,” and its history stretches back even further than Christianity in Ireland. At one time, Bonfire Night honored Áine, the Celtic goddess of love and fertility.
St. John’s Eve bonfires were believed to have magical, protective qualities, and many rituals sprang up around them. Jumping through the fire was said to bring good luck. Farmers often drove their cattle through the flames or walked in circles around their sheep, carrying torches lit from the bonfire. In certain areas of Ireland, some people still believe that if you hold a pebble in your hand while circling a Midsummer bonfire, any wish will be granted. Simply whisper the wish before casting the stone into the fire.
Others believed that the ashes from a Midsummer bonfire would ensure fertility for their crops. Common practices included mixing the ashes with the seeds while planting or spreading them over the fields.
Not surprisingly, given the wealth of other lore surrounding the day, the ancient Celts also believed St. John’s Eve was a prime day for faerie activity, second only to Halloween. Anyone who wanted to see one of the wee folk would gather fern spores at the stroke of midnight and rub it onto their eyelids. One had to be careful, though, because the crafty faeries often led unwary humans astray, getting them utterly lost, even in familiar territory. This condition was known as being “pixie-led,” and could be safeguarded against by turning your clothing inside out, or carrying a small a few leaves of rue, a strong-smelling evergreen, in your pocket.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
~100 Helpful Kitchen Tips~
100 Kitchen Tips
1. Peel ginger with a teaspoon. Just scrape with the concave part of the spoon facing the ginger.
2. Don't confuse a knife steel with a knife sharpener. The sharpener sharpens; the steel only maintains the edge between sharpenings. (The steel looks like a thick, rough skewer.) Does your knife need sharpening? Slash the edge of a sheet of paper. A sharp knife will cut cleanly; a duller one will tear.
3. To get more juice from a lemon, heat it in the microwave for 10 seconds, roll it on your work surface, then squeeze.
4. Use a vegetable peeler to make chocolate shavings. For firmer, larger shavings, warm the chocolate briefly in the microwave.
5. Cut the mess when chopping canned tomatoes. Use scissors to cut them in the can or in a measuring cup.
6. Shake buttermilk before using it.
7. For smooth mashed potatoes, push them through a food ricer while hot, then blend in a mixture of hot milk and butter. A food mill or electric beater will also work. Do not use a food processor unless you enjoy eating glue.
8. Eggs are easier to peel if you put them under cold running water right after taking them off the stove. Once they are cool, roll and crackle them on the counter. Strip the peel under cold running water. Start at the wide end where the air pocket is. The fresher the egg, the harder it is to peel neatly.
9. To avoid clumping, freeze berries, meatballs and the like on a baking sheet. Then transfer them to zip-lock bags.
10. Freeze tomato or tamarind paste by the tablespoon in ice cube trays. You can also do this with stock if you require small amounts. When the cubes are firm, put them into zip-lock bags.
11. Measuring properly is crucial for successful baking. Use dry measures (stand-alone cups in specific sizes) for flour and sugar. Use standard measuring cups for liquids. Do not use dry measures as scoops. Scoop flour, for example, into the cup with a large spoon, then use a knife to level off the top.
12. To chop leafy herbs such as basil or mint, stack the leaves, roll them into a cigar, then shred. Then mince if desired.
13. Create a fountain to rinse rice. Put rice in a medium bowl. Set the bowl atop a small pan. Position and tilt the bowl so that water will run in one side and flow out the other. Run the water slowly. Rinse until the water in the bowl runs clear. Swish the rice occasionally.
14. To peel a garlic clove, rap it sharply but lightly with the side of a knife. The papery peel will separate from the flesh.
15. There's no need to laboriously strip the leaves from cilantro or parsley. Just mince the leaves with their tender stems. Before chopping, make sure the herbs are washed and dried.
16. Here's a low-tech way to test the doneness of roast turkey or chicken. Poke a metal skewer into the flesh and carefully touch the tip to your hand or cheek. If it's very hot, the meat is done. (Just don't burn yourself.) This method always makes me laugh. It was passed on to me by my mother-in-law, who learned to cook without a lot of kitchen gadgets.
17. Stash leftover vegetables in the freezer. Mixing and matching, add frozen veggies to stock, simmer until very tender, then purée for healthful soups.
18. Use refrigerated or frozen leftover potatoes, boiled, baked or mashed, to make creamy soups without cream. Add the spuds to simmering vegetables in stock, then purée.
19. Don’t discard the leaves on a celery stalk. They add great flavour.
20. Before adding toppings to a pizza crust, condition the dough with a light brushing of olive oil. This barrier helps prevent sogginess.
21. Spray a spoon or measuring cup with oil before measuring honey, molasses or corn, cane and maple syrups. They will slip out easily. Running hot water over the spoon or cup also works, but not as well.
22. Indent the centre of a burger patty 1/4 to 1/2 inch. During grilling, ground beef tends to swell in the middle. The indent helps keep a burger level and promotes even cooking.
23. Cream whips better when cold.
24. Rinse your hands frequently in very cold water when rolling chocolate truffles or working hands-on with chocolate.
25. Roll matzo balls with damp hands.
26. Wet hands work for meatballs, too. So does oiling your palms.
27. To trim asparagus, hold the spear in one hand with your thumb near the centre, toward the base. With the fingers of the other hand, gently bend the base. The spear will snap at the spot where tender meets tough. You needn’t peel asparagus stems, though some people prefer to peel thick ones. (By the way, thicker spears of asparagus are not inferior.)
28. Preheat your skillet before drizzling in the oil. This makes meat or other foods less likely to stick.
29. Don't have a juicer? Use sturdy tongs to extract juice from a halved lemon or lime.
30. A deep, narrow asparagus pot with a removable steamer basket is good for boiling cans of sweetened, condensed milk for dulce de leche. It also works nicely for corn.
31. To pit an olive, rap it sharply with the side of a heavy knife. Or roll a rolling pin over some olives with just enough pressure to make the pits pop out.
32. Toss blueberries (especially frozen ones) lightly with flour before baking them in a loaf or cake. This helps prevents them from staining the surrounding dough. (Use some of the flour from the recipe instead of adding extra.)
33. Line a baking pan with a parchment-paper sling that hangs over the sides to help you lift out sticky loaves, brownies or bars after they have cooled.
34. How do you know when to stop adding dustings of flour to bread dough while kneading? It's good when it sticks to the counter yet pulls away cleanly when you tug on it.
35. Cook's Illustrated magazine feeds tipoholics very well. For instance, to slice a tomato evenly, it suggests pricking one side with the tines of a fork, then using the prick marks as a cutting guide.
36. To make chocolate chip cookies that look magazine picture-perfect, don’t fold all your chips into the batter. Arrange some on top of the cookies before popping them in the oven.
37. Mince garlic with salt. It will jump around less and be easier to chop into a paste if desired.
38. Instead of cutting cold butter into bits for pastry dough, grate it in the large holes of a box grater.
39. To keep shortening super-cold and firm for pastry dough, freeze it.
40. To cut a cake into even layers, saw through it with dental floss or sewing thread held tautly in both hands.
41. Help prevent meringue from weeping by spreading it on while the filling is hot. Spread it all the way to the edges to seal in the filling.
42. Instead of messing around trying to oil the barbecue grate, lightly coat the outside of your meat or burger patty with oil.
43. Egg whites whip better when at room temperature. For maximum fluff, start with a dry bowl without a speck of fat in it. Some people even wipe the bowl with vinegar.
44. Cold eggs are easier to separate.
45. Need to cut or shave meat thin? Firm it up in the freezer.
46. Cook meat slightly underdone, then let it sit, tented with foil. The temperature will rise and it will continue to cook briefly.
47. Some people slice the rounded dome off the bottom layer of a cake to make a level base. A better way: place the bottom layer upside down. This gives you a flat surface, plus you preserve more cake and don't have to brush away so many crumbs that otherwise get mixed in with the icing.
48. Before frosting a cake, line your platter with two sheets of waxed paper that overlap in the middle, or with four strips arranged in a square. Put the cake on top. After frosting, pull out the paper and, voilà, clean platter.
49. Meat will be moister if you let it sit before cutting. This allows the juices to redistribute and re-absorb.
50. Oiling the holes of a grater makes semi-soft cheese less likely to stick and squash. So does putting the cheese in the freezer for 15 minutes before shredding.
51. To grill onions, skewer thick slices like lollipops.
52. Use a permanent marker to draw various widths at the edge of your cutting board. That way, you can assess the diameter of a rum ball or tomato slice or whatever without pulling out a tape measure.
53. To catch the juices when cutting meat, use a board with a built-in "moat" around the edges. Or place a regular cutting board in a rimmed baking sheet.
54.To prevent a soggy pie crust, brush dough with egg white, bake five minutes to set, then cool, fill and bake.
55. To revive a crusty bun, wrap it in a damp paper towel and microwave about 30 seconds. Eat it warm. This works for hard baguettes, too.
56. Clean your spice grinder by using a pastry brush as a broom.
57. Citrus zest is not citrus rind. Zest is the thin, shiny, waxy coating on the rind. The white spongy material beneath it is bitter.
58. Citrus flavour lies in the oils in the zest, while the tang is in the juice. If you don't like the texture of zest, strain it out of a mixture, but don't omit it.
59. Has your yeast dough risen enough? Poke it with your finger. If the dent doesn't immediately spring back, it's good to go.
60. It’s hard to detect the ripeness of a pear. Press the top near the stem. It should have a bit of give.
61. Keep a refrigerated roll of cookie dough round by storing it inside a cardboard tube from a roll of paper towelling or toilet paper.
62. It's easier to peel an onion if you cut a light slit from top to bottom, then pull sideways.
63. Cooking with wine is not an excuse to dump your swill. Don't cook with wine you wouldn't want to drink. I like to match the nationality of the wine to the dish. Example: try a barbera or sangiovese in Italian ragu.
64. Baking soda tenderizes chickpeas. For hummus, bring canned chickpeas to a boil in their liquid with a teaspoon of baking soda, then drain and rinse before proceeding with your recipe. You can also add a bit of baking soda to your falafel mixture.
65. For a burst of flavour, chop and use cilantro roots instead of discarding them. They take the heat better than the leaves, so they're good in stews.
66. Don't stock whole milk? Substitute skim milk, replacing three tablespoons per cup with the same amount of melted, unsalted butter.
67. To kick-start a baked potato, prick holes in it, pop it in the microwave for three minutes on high power, then finish it in a 425F oven 25 to 30 minutes.
68. Some books tell you to seed a tomato by cutting and squeezing it. But the tomato gets mangled. I prefer to cut along the equator, then use my thumbs to gouge out seed pockets.
69. You need cold hands when working with dough for pie crusts or biscuits. Before you begin, run your hands under very cold water and dry them thoroughly.
70. To cut chicken legs and other joints, first slice the flesh to expose the bone. That way, you can see where you're going.
71. Are your stir-fries missing that Chinese restaurant texture? The Chinese use a technique called velveting to make their chicken, shrimp and pork shiny, slippery and tender. The meat sits about half an hour in a mixture of cornstarch, egg whites, seasonings and cooking wine or sherry. Then it is blanched in oil or, more healthfully, boiling water before being drained and used in stir-fries.
72. Pushing puréed food through a fine-mesh strainer is my least favourite chore. Pushing and stirring with a heavy whisk makes the job go faster.
73. Coconut cream is sold in Asian grocery stores. If you can't find any, get a can of non-premium coconut milk that has separated into liquid at the bottom and thick cream at the top. Scoop the cream.
74. To discourage cheesecake from cracking as it cools, run a thin spatula around the edge.
75. To thicken gravies and sauces without lumps, put cold water and flour in a jar or plastic tub with a tight lid, shake until smooth, then whisk in.
76. After mixing pancake batter, let it sit for five minutes before cooking. This allows the flour to suck up moisture and makes the pancakes fluffier.
77. To keep pancakes warm while cooking in batches, put them on a rack on a baking sheet and place them in a preheated 200F oven.
78. Fish tends to fall apart when you turn it, especially when grilling. So why turn it? It's usually thin and cooks fast.
79. Keep a toothbrush sink-side to scrub a garlic press, the small holes in a box grater or other kitchen tools with hard-to-reach crevices.
80. Spray the paper liners of muffin cups with vegetable spray. Less of your muffin will stick to the paper.
81. Use a disher to fill muffin cups. A disher is a scoop with a spring-loaded attachment that sweeps around the inside of the cup.
82. You can liberate the arils, or fruity kernels, from a pomegranate without dyeing everything red. Working in a large bowl of water, strip the peel and break the fruit into sections. Push arils off with your fingers into the water. The arils sink to the bottom and most of the waxy white membranes float to the top.
83. Clay clings stubbornly between the layers of a leek. Trim the leek, slit it lengthwise and wash between the layers with cold running water. Or chop the leeks and swish them vigorously in a sink full of cold water; the dirt will fall to the bottom.
84. Rub a wooden cutting board with mineral oil rather than vegetable oil. The latter tends to go rancid.
85. Nuts tend to sink in cakes and loaves. To help prevent this, toast them or toss them in a bit of flour from the recipe before adding them to the batter.
86. Dip the back of a wooden spoon into your custard. It's ready when you can draw a thick line that holds its shape. If it's not cooked enough, the line will not hold. If it's overcooked, it will show small chunks.
87. Here’s the tidy way to cut a bell pepper: slice off the rounded ends, cut vertically along the middle piece from top to bottom, then roll out like a tube while running a knife along the interior to scrape away seeds and veins. You’ll be left with a rectangular piece you can cut into neat strips or cubes. Save the rounded ends for chopping.
88. The optimal temperature for a baked cake is 195F. For a yeast bread, it's about 210F.
89. Sometimes you need to cool a cake or loaf upside down without squashing it. Balance the pan upside down on the rim of a large bowl.
90. Hot oil in a skillet is ready when it starts to shimmer and the surface no longer looks smooth. Oil that smokes is too hot. At the "smoke point," oil breaks down and begins to release nasty compounds.
91. Lots of sugar and a bit of alcohol keep ices and ice cream creamy rather than granular. (That’s why Popsicles are so sweet.)
92. Washing fruit in advance hastens decomposition. Wash it just before eating or cooking.
93. For extra corny flavour, toss some husks in with the ears of corn in boiling water.
94. When lining a strainer with cheesecloth, wet the cloth first so it sticks and holds its position.
95. Blanching (a quick dip in boiling water, followed by a cold water bath) is the traditional way to loosen and peel the skins of tomatoes, peaches and the like. Buy a serrated vegetable peeler instead; it's faster and easier. You can even peel a bell pepper with this gadget.
96. Allow 10 minutes of cooking time for every inch of a fish fillet or fish steak, measured at its thickest point. Salmon and tuna are exceptions; they should be cooked less to prevent dryness.
97. To seed a cucumber, halve it lengthwise and scrape a teaspoon through the centre.
98. You don't need to cut the ends off green beans. Snap off the stems by hand and leave the cute little squiggle at the other end.
99. Rub your fingers on stainless steel under running water to remove persistent onion and garlic odours. Bars of stainless-steel "soap" are even made for this purpose.
100. You can disinfect wet, cellulose kitchen sponges in the microwave. Zap them on high power for two to four minutes.
1. Peel ginger with a teaspoon. Just scrape with the concave part of the spoon facing the ginger.
2. Don't confuse a knife steel with a knife sharpener. The sharpener sharpens; the steel only maintains the edge between sharpenings. (The steel looks like a thick, rough skewer.) Does your knife need sharpening? Slash the edge of a sheet of paper. A sharp knife will cut cleanly; a duller one will tear.
3. To get more juice from a lemon, heat it in the microwave for 10 seconds, roll it on your work surface, then squeeze.
4. Use a vegetable peeler to make chocolate shavings. For firmer, larger shavings, warm the chocolate briefly in the microwave.
5. Cut the mess when chopping canned tomatoes. Use scissors to cut them in the can or in a measuring cup.
6. Shake buttermilk before using it.
7. For smooth mashed potatoes, push them through a food ricer while hot, then blend in a mixture of hot milk and butter. A food mill or electric beater will also work. Do not use a food processor unless you enjoy eating glue.
8. Eggs are easier to peel if you put them under cold running water right after taking them off the stove. Once they are cool, roll and crackle them on the counter. Strip the peel under cold running water. Start at the wide end where the air pocket is. The fresher the egg, the harder it is to peel neatly.
9. To avoid clumping, freeze berries, meatballs and the like on a baking sheet. Then transfer them to zip-lock bags.
10. Freeze tomato or tamarind paste by the tablespoon in ice cube trays. You can also do this with stock if you require small amounts. When the cubes are firm, put them into zip-lock bags.
11. Measuring properly is crucial for successful baking. Use dry measures (stand-alone cups in specific sizes) for flour and sugar. Use standard measuring cups for liquids. Do not use dry measures as scoops. Scoop flour, for example, into the cup with a large spoon, then use a knife to level off the top.
12. To chop leafy herbs such as basil or mint, stack the leaves, roll them into a cigar, then shred. Then mince if desired.
13. Create a fountain to rinse rice. Put rice in a medium bowl. Set the bowl atop a small pan. Position and tilt the bowl so that water will run in one side and flow out the other. Run the water slowly. Rinse until the water in the bowl runs clear. Swish the rice occasionally.
14. To peel a garlic clove, rap it sharply but lightly with the side of a knife. The papery peel will separate from the flesh.
15. There's no need to laboriously strip the leaves from cilantro or parsley. Just mince the leaves with their tender stems. Before chopping, make sure the herbs are washed and dried.
16. Here's a low-tech way to test the doneness of roast turkey or chicken. Poke a metal skewer into the flesh and carefully touch the tip to your hand or cheek. If it's very hot, the meat is done. (Just don't burn yourself.) This method always makes me laugh. It was passed on to me by my mother-in-law, who learned to cook without a lot of kitchen gadgets.
17. Stash leftover vegetables in the freezer. Mixing and matching, add frozen veggies to stock, simmer until very tender, then purée for healthful soups.
18. Use refrigerated or frozen leftover potatoes, boiled, baked or mashed, to make creamy soups without cream. Add the spuds to simmering vegetables in stock, then purée.
19. Don’t discard the leaves on a celery stalk. They add great flavour.
20. Before adding toppings to a pizza crust, condition the dough with a light brushing of olive oil. This barrier helps prevent sogginess.
21. Spray a spoon or measuring cup with oil before measuring honey, molasses or corn, cane and maple syrups. They will slip out easily. Running hot water over the spoon or cup also works, but not as well.
22. Indent the centre of a burger patty 1/4 to 1/2 inch. During grilling, ground beef tends to swell in the middle. The indent helps keep a burger level and promotes even cooking.
23. Cream whips better when cold.
24. Rinse your hands frequently in very cold water when rolling chocolate truffles or working hands-on with chocolate.
25. Roll matzo balls with damp hands.
26. Wet hands work for meatballs, too. So does oiling your palms.
27. To trim asparagus, hold the spear in one hand with your thumb near the centre, toward the base. With the fingers of the other hand, gently bend the base. The spear will snap at the spot where tender meets tough. You needn’t peel asparagus stems, though some people prefer to peel thick ones. (By the way, thicker spears of asparagus are not inferior.)
28. Preheat your skillet before drizzling in the oil. This makes meat or other foods less likely to stick.
29. Don't have a juicer? Use sturdy tongs to extract juice from a halved lemon or lime.
30. A deep, narrow asparagus pot with a removable steamer basket is good for boiling cans of sweetened, condensed milk for dulce de leche. It also works nicely for corn.
31. To pit an olive, rap it sharply with the side of a heavy knife. Or roll a rolling pin over some olives with just enough pressure to make the pits pop out.
32. Toss blueberries (especially frozen ones) lightly with flour before baking them in a loaf or cake. This helps prevents them from staining the surrounding dough. (Use some of the flour from the recipe instead of adding extra.)
33. Line a baking pan with a parchment-paper sling that hangs over the sides to help you lift out sticky loaves, brownies or bars after they have cooled.
34. How do you know when to stop adding dustings of flour to bread dough while kneading? It's good when it sticks to the counter yet pulls away cleanly when you tug on it.
35. Cook's Illustrated magazine feeds tipoholics very well. For instance, to slice a tomato evenly, it suggests pricking one side with the tines of a fork, then using the prick marks as a cutting guide.
36. To make chocolate chip cookies that look magazine picture-perfect, don’t fold all your chips into the batter. Arrange some on top of the cookies before popping them in the oven.
37. Mince garlic with salt. It will jump around less and be easier to chop into a paste if desired.
38. Instead of cutting cold butter into bits for pastry dough, grate it in the large holes of a box grater.
39. To keep shortening super-cold and firm for pastry dough, freeze it.
40. To cut a cake into even layers, saw through it with dental floss or sewing thread held tautly in both hands.
41. Help prevent meringue from weeping by spreading it on while the filling is hot. Spread it all the way to the edges to seal in the filling.
42. Instead of messing around trying to oil the barbecue grate, lightly coat the outside of your meat or burger patty with oil.
43. Egg whites whip better when at room temperature. For maximum fluff, start with a dry bowl without a speck of fat in it. Some people even wipe the bowl with vinegar.
44. Cold eggs are easier to separate.
45. Need to cut or shave meat thin? Firm it up in the freezer.
46. Cook meat slightly underdone, then let it sit, tented with foil. The temperature will rise and it will continue to cook briefly.
47. Some people slice the rounded dome off the bottom layer of a cake to make a level base. A better way: place the bottom layer upside down. This gives you a flat surface, plus you preserve more cake and don't have to brush away so many crumbs that otherwise get mixed in with the icing.
48. Before frosting a cake, line your platter with two sheets of waxed paper that overlap in the middle, or with four strips arranged in a square. Put the cake on top. After frosting, pull out the paper and, voilà, clean platter.
49. Meat will be moister if you let it sit before cutting. This allows the juices to redistribute and re-absorb.
50. Oiling the holes of a grater makes semi-soft cheese less likely to stick and squash. So does putting the cheese in the freezer for 15 minutes before shredding.
51. To grill onions, skewer thick slices like lollipops.
52. Use a permanent marker to draw various widths at the edge of your cutting board. That way, you can assess the diameter of a rum ball or tomato slice or whatever without pulling out a tape measure.
53. To catch the juices when cutting meat, use a board with a built-in "moat" around the edges. Or place a regular cutting board in a rimmed baking sheet.
54.To prevent a soggy pie crust, brush dough with egg white, bake five minutes to set, then cool, fill and bake.
55. To revive a crusty bun, wrap it in a damp paper towel and microwave about 30 seconds. Eat it warm. This works for hard baguettes, too.
56. Clean your spice grinder by using a pastry brush as a broom.
57. Citrus zest is not citrus rind. Zest is the thin, shiny, waxy coating on the rind. The white spongy material beneath it is bitter.
58. Citrus flavour lies in the oils in the zest, while the tang is in the juice. If you don't like the texture of zest, strain it out of a mixture, but don't omit it.
59. Has your yeast dough risen enough? Poke it with your finger. If the dent doesn't immediately spring back, it's good to go.
60. It’s hard to detect the ripeness of a pear. Press the top near the stem. It should have a bit of give.
61. Keep a refrigerated roll of cookie dough round by storing it inside a cardboard tube from a roll of paper towelling or toilet paper.
62. It's easier to peel an onion if you cut a light slit from top to bottom, then pull sideways.
63. Cooking with wine is not an excuse to dump your swill. Don't cook with wine you wouldn't want to drink. I like to match the nationality of the wine to the dish. Example: try a barbera or sangiovese in Italian ragu.
64. Baking soda tenderizes chickpeas. For hummus, bring canned chickpeas to a boil in their liquid with a teaspoon of baking soda, then drain and rinse before proceeding with your recipe. You can also add a bit of baking soda to your falafel mixture.
65. For a burst of flavour, chop and use cilantro roots instead of discarding them. They take the heat better than the leaves, so they're good in stews.
66. Don't stock whole milk? Substitute skim milk, replacing three tablespoons per cup with the same amount of melted, unsalted butter.
67. To kick-start a baked potato, prick holes in it, pop it in the microwave for three minutes on high power, then finish it in a 425F oven 25 to 30 minutes.
68. Some books tell you to seed a tomato by cutting and squeezing it. But the tomato gets mangled. I prefer to cut along the equator, then use my thumbs to gouge out seed pockets.
69. You need cold hands when working with dough for pie crusts or biscuits. Before you begin, run your hands under very cold water and dry them thoroughly.
70. To cut chicken legs and other joints, first slice the flesh to expose the bone. That way, you can see where you're going.
71. Are your stir-fries missing that Chinese restaurant texture? The Chinese use a technique called velveting to make their chicken, shrimp and pork shiny, slippery and tender. The meat sits about half an hour in a mixture of cornstarch, egg whites, seasonings and cooking wine or sherry. Then it is blanched in oil or, more healthfully, boiling water before being drained and used in stir-fries.
72. Pushing puréed food through a fine-mesh strainer is my least favourite chore. Pushing and stirring with a heavy whisk makes the job go faster.
73. Coconut cream is sold in Asian grocery stores. If you can't find any, get a can of non-premium coconut milk that has separated into liquid at the bottom and thick cream at the top. Scoop the cream.
74. To discourage cheesecake from cracking as it cools, run a thin spatula around the edge.
75. To thicken gravies and sauces without lumps, put cold water and flour in a jar or plastic tub with a tight lid, shake until smooth, then whisk in.
76. After mixing pancake batter, let it sit for five minutes before cooking. This allows the flour to suck up moisture and makes the pancakes fluffier.
77. To keep pancakes warm while cooking in batches, put them on a rack on a baking sheet and place them in a preheated 200F oven.
78. Fish tends to fall apart when you turn it, especially when grilling. So why turn it? It's usually thin and cooks fast.
79. Keep a toothbrush sink-side to scrub a garlic press, the small holes in a box grater or other kitchen tools with hard-to-reach crevices.
80. Spray the paper liners of muffin cups with vegetable spray. Less of your muffin will stick to the paper.
81. Use a disher to fill muffin cups. A disher is a scoop with a spring-loaded attachment that sweeps around the inside of the cup.
82. You can liberate the arils, or fruity kernels, from a pomegranate without dyeing everything red. Working in a large bowl of water, strip the peel and break the fruit into sections. Push arils off with your fingers into the water. The arils sink to the bottom and most of the waxy white membranes float to the top.
83. Clay clings stubbornly between the layers of a leek. Trim the leek, slit it lengthwise and wash between the layers with cold running water. Or chop the leeks and swish them vigorously in a sink full of cold water; the dirt will fall to the bottom.
84. Rub a wooden cutting board with mineral oil rather than vegetable oil. The latter tends to go rancid.
85. Nuts tend to sink in cakes and loaves. To help prevent this, toast them or toss them in a bit of flour from the recipe before adding them to the batter.
86. Dip the back of a wooden spoon into your custard. It's ready when you can draw a thick line that holds its shape. If it's not cooked enough, the line will not hold. If it's overcooked, it will show small chunks.
87. Here’s the tidy way to cut a bell pepper: slice off the rounded ends, cut vertically along the middle piece from top to bottom, then roll out like a tube while running a knife along the interior to scrape away seeds and veins. You’ll be left with a rectangular piece you can cut into neat strips or cubes. Save the rounded ends for chopping.
88. The optimal temperature for a baked cake is 195F. For a yeast bread, it's about 210F.
89. Sometimes you need to cool a cake or loaf upside down without squashing it. Balance the pan upside down on the rim of a large bowl.
90. Hot oil in a skillet is ready when it starts to shimmer and the surface no longer looks smooth. Oil that smokes is too hot. At the "smoke point," oil breaks down and begins to release nasty compounds.
91. Lots of sugar and a bit of alcohol keep ices and ice cream creamy rather than granular. (That’s why Popsicles are so sweet.)
92. Washing fruit in advance hastens decomposition. Wash it just before eating or cooking.
93. For extra corny flavour, toss some husks in with the ears of corn in boiling water.
94. When lining a strainer with cheesecloth, wet the cloth first so it sticks and holds its position.
95. Blanching (a quick dip in boiling water, followed by a cold water bath) is the traditional way to loosen and peel the skins of tomatoes, peaches and the like. Buy a serrated vegetable peeler instead; it's faster and easier. You can even peel a bell pepper with this gadget.
96. Allow 10 minutes of cooking time for every inch of a fish fillet or fish steak, measured at its thickest point. Salmon and tuna are exceptions; they should be cooked less to prevent dryness.
97. To seed a cucumber, halve it lengthwise and scrape a teaspoon through the centre.
98. You don't need to cut the ends off green beans. Snap off the stems by hand and leave the cute little squiggle at the other end.
99. Rub your fingers on stainless steel under running water to remove persistent onion and garlic odours. Bars of stainless-steel "soap" are even made for this purpose.
100. You can disinfect wet, cellulose kitchen sponges in the microwave. Zap them on high power for two to four minutes.
Friday, May 13, 2011
~Friday the 13th~
The history behind Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th is widely considered the unluckiest day of the year. But why?
We all have a dose of friggatriskaidekaphobia - or the fear of Friday the 13th. People have for centuries. In fact, the original thought behind why the date is so unlucky can be traced back to 1700 B.C. The number 13 has always been regarded as doomed. The ancient Babylon's Code of Hammurabi omits the number 13 in its list of laws. Many tall buildings still to this day do not have a 13th floor.
The number is not the only thing with a negative connotation. Fridays, in general, have had a heavy cloud hanging over them for decades. Friday has been considered an unlucky day at least since the 14th century's The Canterbury Tales, and many other professions have regarded Friday as an unlucky day to undertake journeys or begin new projects. Black Friday has been associated with stock market crashes and other disasters since the 1800s.
What about the tie to Friday specifically? Another theory given by author Charles Panati, one of the leading authorities on the subject of "Origins," maintains that the superstition can be traced back to ancient myth. In Norse mythology, Friday is named for Frigga, the free-spirited goddess of love and fertility. When Norse and Germanic tribes converted to Christianity, Frigga was banished in shame to a mountaintop and labeled a witch. It was believed that every Friday, the spiteful goddess convened a meeting with eleven other witches, plus the devil — a gathering of thirteen — and plotted ill turns of fate for the coming week. For many centuries in Scandinavia, Friday was known as "Witches' Sabbath."
Another theory as to why Friday the 13th has a bad rap is due to a monastic military order in Jerusalem in 1307. The Knights Templar became extraordinarily powerful and wealthy with their order to protect Christian pilgrims during the Crusades. According to one expert, King Philip was threatened by that power and eager to acquire their wealth, so he secretly ordered the mass arrest of all the Knights Templar in France on Friday, October 13, 1307 - Friday the 13th.
Jesus also died on a Friday and there were 13 people at the Last Supper. That is not the only calamitous event in the Bible that occurred on a Friday. Eve offered a devilish apple to Adam on a Friday. The Great Flood started on a Friday. The confusion at the Tower of Babel also happened on a Friday.
A further theory goes back to a combination of Paganism, Christianity, and the Battle of Hastings. For many, the number 13 was considered a lucky number (such as 13 lunar cycles each year), but with the efforts of Christianity attempting to degrade all things Pagan, they promoted 13 as an unlucky number, with Friday thus also being considered a bad day of the week. However, on Friday the 13th of October 1066, the decision was made by King Harold II to go to battle on Saturday Oct. 14, rather than allow his troops a day of rest (despite his army having made a long and arduous march from a battle near York just 3 weeks earlier).
Thirteen is so unlucky, in fact, that in 1881 an organization called the Thirteen Club attempted to improve the number's reputation. At the first meeting, the members (all 13 of them) walked under ladders to enter a room covered with spilled salt. The club lasted for many years and grew to more than 400 members, including five U.S. Presidents: Chester Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.
It is estimated that millions of dollars in revenue is lost every year on Friday the 13th because so many people refuse to fly, drive or leave the house on this unlucky day!
Here are other superstitions that many people observe:
Don't walk under a ladder
Don't let a black cat cross your path
If you break a mirror, you'll have seven years bad luck
Don't open an umbrella indoors
Step on a crack and you'll break your mother's back
It's bad luck to sing or sleep at the table
A bird that comes in through a window is bad luck
Don't refuse a kiss under mistletoe
Don't chase someone with a broom
Don't drop a dishcloth
Only get out of bed on the same side that you got in bed
Don't rock an empty rocking chair
Don't wear an opal unless it's your birthstone
Don't smell dandelions, otherwise you'll wet the bed
Don't give someone a wallet without money in it
Friday the 13th is widely considered the unluckiest day of the year. But why?
We all have a dose of friggatriskaidekaphobia - or the fear of Friday the 13th. People have for centuries. In fact, the original thought behind why the date is so unlucky can be traced back to 1700 B.C. The number 13 has always been regarded as doomed. The ancient Babylon's Code of Hammurabi omits the number 13 in its list of laws. Many tall buildings still to this day do not have a 13th floor.
The number is not the only thing with a negative connotation. Fridays, in general, have had a heavy cloud hanging over them for decades. Friday has been considered an unlucky day at least since the 14th century's The Canterbury Tales, and many other professions have regarded Friday as an unlucky day to undertake journeys or begin new projects. Black Friday has been associated with stock market crashes and other disasters since the 1800s.
What about the tie to Friday specifically? Another theory given by author Charles Panati, one of the leading authorities on the subject of "Origins," maintains that the superstition can be traced back to ancient myth. In Norse mythology, Friday is named for Frigga, the free-spirited goddess of love and fertility. When Norse and Germanic tribes converted to Christianity, Frigga was banished in shame to a mountaintop and labeled a witch. It was believed that every Friday, the spiteful goddess convened a meeting with eleven other witches, plus the devil — a gathering of thirteen — and plotted ill turns of fate for the coming week. For many centuries in Scandinavia, Friday was known as "Witches' Sabbath."
Another theory as to why Friday the 13th has a bad rap is due to a monastic military order in Jerusalem in 1307. The Knights Templar became extraordinarily powerful and wealthy with their order to protect Christian pilgrims during the Crusades. According to one expert, King Philip was threatened by that power and eager to acquire their wealth, so he secretly ordered the mass arrest of all the Knights Templar in France on Friday, October 13, 1307 - Friday the 13th.
Jesus also died on a Friday and there were 13 people at the Last Supper. That is not the only calamitous event in the Bible that occurred on a Friday. Eve offered a devilish apple to Adam on a Friday. The Great Flood started on a Friday. The confusion at the Tower of Babel also happened on a Friday.
A further theory goes back to a combination of Paganism, Christianity, and the Battle of Hastings. For many, the number 13 was considered a lucky number (such as 13 lunar cycles each year), but with the efforts of Christianity attempting to degrade all things Pagan, they promoted 13 as an unlucky number, with Friday thus also being considered a bad day of the week. However, on Friday the 13th of October 1066, the decision was made by King Harold II to go to battle on Saturday Oct. 14, rather than allow his troops a day of rest (despite his army having made a long and arduous march from a battle near York just 3 weeks earlier).
Thirteen is so unlucky, in fact, that in 1881 an organization called the Thirteen Club attempted to improve the number's reputation. At the first meeting, the members (all 13 of them) walked under ladders to enter a room covered with spilled salt. The club lasted for many years and grew to more than 400 members, including five U.S. Presidents: Chester Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.
It is estimated that millions of dollars in revenue is lost every year on Friday the 13th because so many people refuse to fly, drive or leave the house on this unlucky day!
Here are other superstitions that many people observe:
Don't walk under a ladder
Don't let a black cat cross your path
If you break a mirror, you'll have seven years bad luck
Don't open an umbrella indoors
Step on a crack and you'll break your mother's back
It's bad luck to sing or sleep at the table
A bird that comes in through a window is bad luck
Don't refuse a kiss under mistletoe
Don't chase someone with a broom
Don't drop a dishcloth
Only get out of bed on the same side that you got in bed
Don't rock an empty rocking chair
Don't wear an opal unless it's your birthstone
Don't smell dandelions, otherwise you'll wet the bed
Don't give someone a wallet without money in it
Monday, May 9, 2011
~The Secret Language of Fairy Tales~
The Secret Language of Fairy Tales
Fairy tales. We have known these stories since we were young, likely so young we cannot remember the first time we heard them. Every one of us grew up aware that it was the wolf in Red Riding Hood's bed; that the house of food in the forest had an evil witch inside; that Cinderella was the true heir to the prince's affection; that Sleeping Beauty would awaken when her true love turned up. These stories did more than entertain us; they were our constant companions. They helped us define who we were. They molded us into the person we would someday become.
We call them Grimm's Fairy Tales. But the brothers Grimm themselves did not create these tales, as some people I have encountered believe. Those two scholarly German brothers collected the stories in the Black Forest as the Eighteenth turned to the Nineteenth Century, labeling them not Fairy Tales but "Household Tales." The brothers Grimm were not even the first to collect these tales. Indeed, these stories had been collected in many forms by French, Italian, English, and German folklore collectors, with names like Bechstein, Perrault, and Basile, for many centuries. And they were not always the pretty tales we saw in movies or heard from our school books. These tales were often dark, creepy, and perverse.
Why have these tales survived when so many other ancient things have fallen away? I believe it is because, beneath the creepiness (did you know that in the original tale the dwarfs fight over whose bed Snow White will sleep in?), the darkness (in the original tale the princess does not kiss the frog, but squashes him against the wall), or the perversity (in the original Sleeping Beauty, Talia is raped by the King in her sleep and wakes to find she has given birth to twins), there is a secret language of myth, symbolism, and enchantment. This secret language has spoken to us for centuries, drawing each generation of new listeners into its mysteries, resonating with each listener's deepest sense of self. It has, I think, kept these stories alive.
Let's look at a couple of well-known tales, and see if we can discover the mythic and symbolic landscape beneath the pretty story. We'll start with a familiar one: The Frog Prince, collected by the Grimms as Iron Hans.
In this tale, a princess is in the habit of going into the forest with a golden ball to play at the edge of a certain well, situated in a grove of lime trees. Sitting at the water's edge she throws the ball into the air, catching it each time. But this time the golden ball falls into the deep well. The girl cries, and a frog crawls up from the depths, offering that if she will allow the creature to eat at her table and sleep in her bed, the frog will dive into the well and fetch her ball. The princess agrees to the bargain.
The frog keeps his word, bringing the golden ball up from the depths of the murky well. But the girl does not keep her promise. She leaves the frog high and dry, so to speak, returning home for dinner without the slimy amphibian.
That evening, the frog shows up at the palace, demanding to be seated right beside the princess at dinner. The girl tells King Dad of her promise, and His Royal Dadness tells her a promise made must be kept. The frog shares her food, and prepares to snuggle into bed with the girl. But the princess is not having any of it. She picks up the frog and throws him against the wall, squishing him like a bug. From the oozing guts comes the handsome prince we all remember emerging at this point in the story. His servant, Iron Hans, pulls up in a coach to take Prince Gooey and Princess Bratty away.
There is a familiarity to this story, deeper than the simple awareness that we have all heard the tale as children. It is very similar to a mythic tale that goes back fifteen centuries or more: the tale of Persephone and Hades. In that myth, Hades, lord of the Underworld, sees Persephone bathing and falls in love with her. He takes her to his kingdom in the lifeless Underworld. To enter there she must divest herself of all of her clothing and jewelery, and once there, she lives in a world of death. In the end she is told she may return to the sunlit world of earth if she has not eaten anything in the Underworld. But Persephone has eaten six pomegranate seeds, so she must live in Hades' land six months of the year (winter), and return to our world for six months where she may make all life grow (summer).
In The Frog Prince, the princess is life and light, as we see by her possession of a golden ball, the sun. This ball of the sun makes food grow, as we see by the lime trees that grow around our lovely, but maybe a little badly behaved, princess. But as it must do in winter, the sun enters darkness (the winter solstice, the longest night of the year) by falling into the murky well. Enter the Lord of the Underworld, the frog, who will brave the darkness of the Underworld to retrieve the golden sun ball (so that winter may end and summer return). But like the Winter God, Hades, the frog wishes to be reborn with the sun as the girl's husband and consort, eating at her table and sleeping in her bed (as a husband would).
To be reborn, all things must die. So the princess, in a fit of brattiness, kills the frog by thrusting him against the golden wall of the golden castle. Squish! Now the frog may be reborn as the handsome sun God, Apollo (or Lugh, or Robin Goodfellow, depending on where you get your mythic information).
The servant, Iron Hans, has had metal bands placed around his heart so that this organ did not break with sadness when his master, the prince, was a frog. Now as Hans leads the prince and princess home, the iron bands crack and break. This sounds odd, but it represents the bounds of the soil breaking so that, in the sun of summer, food plants may grow from within the earth (just like those limes).
Okay, you say. I'm catching on to the whole mythic language thing. Let's examine another tale, that of Cinderella.
You will remember that Cinderella's mother dies when she is quite young, and her father remarries a woman with two daughters, the dreaded stepsisters who torment Cinderella and turn her into their house maid. You may also remember that word arrives that the prince will hold a ball, to which the step sisters have been invited.
Now you may remember, and perhaps this is your favorite part, that a fairy arrives to give Cinderella a lovely gown, and a coach made of a pumpkin, with footmen made of frogs and mice. Sorry, that never happened. In the Grimm's tale, it all goes down quite differently: Cinderella plants a hazel tree on her mother's grave, and waters it with her tears. A magical bird takes up residence in the tree, and gives Cinderella her clothes and shoes for the ball, a party that lasts three nights. Each of the first two nights Cinderella runs off before the prince can ask who she might be. In the end the prince lays tar on the palace steps to catch Cinderella by the shoe, as it were, and so the quest to find the maid who fits the slipper begins (in this case, not glass, but a gold slipper).
There are a dozen magical and mythic elements of this tale, from the enchanted bird to the fixation with Cinderella's shoes and feet, which are symbolic of her sexuality and blossoming womanhood. But we'll just focus on one element here: the hazel planted by our heroine at her mother's grave.
In Celtic lore Hazel is the tree of wisdom. The hazel nut imbues one with great wisdom and magic. This is why in the legend of the Irish hero Finn McCool, Finn is sent by a hermit to catch the salmon who lives in a pool beneath the Hazel tree, and cook the fish so that the hermit may take the first bite, giving him wisdom greater than any other human. But while cooking the salmon, Finn burns his thumb. Instinctively he puts it in his mouth, getting the first taste of the salmon, and all the wisdom. We hope the hermit at least got a tasty dinner out of it.
For Cinderella, the trial of losing her mother and having to become a woman on her own despite the efforts of her step sisters to usurp her place as rightful heir to her father's wealth and attention, is seen in the guidance of the Hazel tree. Growing on her mother's grave, we feel that Cinderella is not alone in the world: her mother guides her through the tree's wisdom, and provides for the girl through the enchanted bird that lives in the Hazel's branches.
As children and even as adults, we often feel that life is unjust, that we are entitled to things we cannot have, or must struggle for. The Hazel tree represents the wisdom we achieve in this struggle, however hard it may be. It also represents the guidance we receive from that which is greater than us, whether that is through faith, through magic, or through knowledge. Cinderella grows and matures enough to thwart her stepmother and stepsisters, securing her rightful place as wife of the prince. She uses her wisdom (the tree), her budding womanhood (represented by her shoes—ball slippers worn not by a servant child, but by an elegant woman), and her feet (representing her beauty; her stepsisters must each cut off a part of their feet to fit the slipper, marring their beauty while Cinderella fits the slipper perfectly, displaying to the prince her beauty and grace). We learn to prove ourselves through our wisdom and aptitude, securing our own rightful place in our world.
Fairy tales are an amazing body of lore, myth, enchantment, and symbol. Armed with a little knowledge of folklore, symbolism, and mythology, these tales become a labyrinth that one can wander into more and more deeply, taking from them the true magic, meaning, and enchantment. As you read each tale, in its original, you develop an understanding of this secret, mythic language. And in the right frame of mind, one can enjoy the creepiness, darkness, and perversity as well.
Story by: Kenny Klein
The Llewelyn Journal
Fairy tales. We have known these stories since we were young, likely so young we cannot remember the first time we heard them. Every one of us grew up aware that it was the wolf in Red Riding Hood's bed; that the house of food in the forest had an evil witch inside; that Cinderella was the true heir to the prince's affection; that Sleeping Beauty would awaken when her true love turned up. These stories did more than entertain us; they were our constant companions. They helped us define who we were. They molded us into the person we would someday become.
We call them Grimm's Fairy Tales. But the brothers Grimm themselves did not create these tales, as some people I have encountered believe. Those two scholarly German brothers collected the stories in the Black Forest as the Eighteenth turned to the Nineteenth Century, labeling them not Fairy Tales but "Household Tales." The brothers Grimm were not even the first to collect these tales. Indeed, these stories had been collected in many forms by French, Italian, English, and German folklore collectors, with names like Bechstein, Perrault, and Basile, for many centuries. And they were not always the pretty tales we saw in movies or heard from our school books. These tales were often dark, creepy, and perverse.
Why have these tales survived when so many other ancient things have fallen away? I believe it is because, beneath the creepiness (did you know that in the original tale the dwarfs fight over whose bed Snow White will sleep in?), the darkness (in the original tale the princess does not kiss the frog, but squashes him against the wall), or the perversity (in the original Sleeping Beauty, Talia is raped by the King in her sleep and wakes to find she has given birth to twins), there is a secret language of myth, symbolism, and enchantment. This secret language has spoken to us for centuries, drawing each generation of new listeners into its mysteries, resonating with each listener's deepest sense of self. It has, I think, kept these stories alive.
Let's look at a couple of well-known tales, and see if we can discover the mythic and symbolic landscape beneath the pretty story. We'll start with a familiar one: The Frog Prince, collected by the Grimms as Iron Hans.
In this tale, a princess is in the habit of going into the forest with a golden ball to play at the edge of a certain well, situated in a grove of lime trees. Sitting at the water's edge she throws the ball into the air, catching it each time. But this time the golden ball falls into the deep well. The girl cries, and a frog crawls up from the depths, offering that if she will allow the creature to eat at her table and sleep in her bed, the frog will dive into the well and fetch her ball. The princess agrees to the bargain.
The frog keeps his word, bringing the golden ball up from the depths of the murky well. But the girl does not keep her promise. She leaves the frog high and dry, so to speak, returning home for dinner without the slimy amphibian.
That evening, the frog shows up at the palace, demanding to be seated right beside the princess at dinner. The girl tells King Dad of her promise, and His Royal Dadness tells her a promise made must be kept. The frog shares her food, and prepares to snuggle into bed with the girl. But the princess is not having any of it. She picks up the frog and throws him against the wall, squishing him like a bug. From the oozing guts comes the handsome prince we all remember emerging at this point in the story. His servant, Iron Hans, pulls up in a coach to take Prince Gooey and Princess Bratty away.
There is a familiarity to this story, deeper than the simple awareness that we have all heard the tale as children. It is very similar to a mythic tale that goes back fifteen centuries or more: the tale of Persephone and Hades. In that myth, Hades, lord of the Underworld, sees Persephone bathing and falls in love with her. He takes her to his kingdom in the lifeless Underworld. To enter there she must divest herself of all of her clothing and jewelery, and once there, she lives in a world of death. In the end she is told she may return to the sunlit world of earth if she has not eaten anything in the Underworld. But Persephone has eaten six pomegranate seeds, so she must live in Hades' land six months of the year (winter), and return to our world for six months where she may make all life grow (summer).
In The Frog Prince, the princess is life and light, as we see by her possession of a golden ball, the sun. This ball of the sun makes food grow, as we see by the lime trees that grow around our lovely, but maybe a little badly behaved, princess. But as it must do in winter, the sun enters darkness (the winter solstice, the longest night of the year) by falling into the murky well. Enter the Lord of the Underworld, the frog, who will brave the darkness of the Underworld to retrieve the golden sun ball (so that winter may end and summer return). But like the Winter God, Hades, the frog wishes to be reborn with the sun as the girl's husband and consort, eating at her table and sleeping in her bed (as a husband would).
To be reborn, all things must die. So the princess, in a fit of brattiness, kills the frog by thrusting him against the golden wall of the golden castle. Squish! Now the frog may be reborn as the handsome sun God, Apollo (or Lugh, or Robin Goodfellow, depending on where you get your mythic information).
The servant, Iron Hans, has had metal bands placed around his heart so that this organ did not break with sadness when his master, the prince, was a frog. Now as Hans leads the prince and princess home, the iron bands crack and break. This sounds odd, but it represents the bounds of the soil breaking so that, in the sun of summer, food plants may grow from within the earth (just like those limes).
Okay, you say. I'm catching on to the whole mythic language thing. Let's examine another tale, that of Cinderella.
You will remember that Cinderella's mother dies when she is quite young, and her father remarries a woman with two daughters, the dreaded stepsisters who torment Cinderella and turn her into their house maid. You may also remember that word arrives that the prince will hold a ball, to which the step sisters have been invited.
Now you may remember, and perhaps this is your favorite part, that a fairy arrives to give Cinderella a lovely gown, and a coach made of a pumpkin, with footmen made of frogs and mice. Sorry, that never happened. In the Grimm's tale, it all goes down quite differently: Cinderella plants a hazel tree on her mother's grave, and waters it with her tears. A magical bird takes up residence in the tree, and gives Cinderella her clothes and shoes for the ball, a party that lasts three nights. Each of the first two nights Cinderella runs off before the prince can ask who she might be. In the end the prince lays tar on the palace steps to catch Cinderella by the shoe, as it were, and so the quest to find the maid who fits the slipper begins (in this case, not glass, but a gold slipper).
There are a dozen magical and mythic elements of this tale, from the enchanted bird to the fixation with Cinderella's shoes and feet, which are symbolic of her sexuality and blossoming womanhood. But we'll just focus on one element here: the hazel planted by our heroine at her mother's grave.
In Celtic lore Hazel is the tree of wisdom. The hazel nut imbues one with great wisdom and magic. This is why in the legend of the Irish hero Finn McCool, Finn is sent by a hermit to catch the salmon who lives in a pool beneath the Hazel tree, and cook the fish so that the hermit may take the first bite, giving him wisdom greater than any other human. But while cooking the salmon, Finn burns his thumb. Instinctively he puts it in his mouth, getting the first taste of the salmon, and all the wisdom. We hope the hermit at least got a tasty dinner out of it.
For Cinderella, the trial of losing her mother and having to become a woman on her own despite the efforts of her step sisters to usurp her place as rightful heir to her father's wealth and attention, is seen in the guidance of the Hazel tree. Growing on her mother's grave, we feel that Cinderella is not alone in the world: her mother guides her through the tree's wisdom, and provides for the girl through the enchanted bird that lives in the Hazel's branches.
As children and even as adults, we often feel that life is unjust, that we are entitled to things we cannot have, or must struggle for. The Hazel tree represents the wisdom we achieve in this struggle, however hard it may be. It also represents the guidance we receive from that which is greater than us, whether that is through faith, through magic, or through knowledge. Cinderella grows and matures enough to thwart her stepmother and stepsisters, securing her rightful place as wife of the prince. She uses her wisdom (the tree), her budding womanhood (represented by her shoes—ball slippers worn not by a servant child, but by an elegant woman), and her feet (representing her beauty; her stepsisters must each cut off a part of their feet to fit the slipper, marring their beauty while Cinderella fits the slipper perfectly, displaying to the prince her beauty and grace). We learn to prove ourselves through our wisdom and aptitude, securing our own rightful place in our world.
Fairy tales are an amazing body of lore, myth, enchantment, and symbol. Armed with a little knowledge of folklore, symbolism, and mythology, these tales become a labyrinth that one can wander into more and more deeply, taking from them the true magic, meaning, and enchantment. As you read each tale, in its original, you develop an understanding of this secret, mythic language. And in the right frame of mind, one can enjoy the creepiness, darkness, and perversity as well.
Story by: Kenny Klein
The Llewelyn Journal
Monday, May 2, 2011
~Feeling Small~
On December 1, 2010, the world population according to the US Census Bureau was 6,884,909,953.
Do you ever stop to consider how small we are as individuals? How many people there are in the world, in all the different countries and cities and towns? How many different cultures, opinions, interests, beliefs, and religions there are? Have you ever gazed at the mountains or the ocean or the moon and considered just how small you really are in the scope of things?
Have you ever thought about how you could lose yourself in the sheer crush of people in New York City, London, Paris or Bangkok? Have you ever considered how wild and untamed the Serengetti is or how beautiful and serene the rainforests are or how big the ocean is? Have you ever considered the tribes of Africa, the people of the Orient, the Eskimos or the people of the Middle East and thought about how different your life is from theirs? Have you ever been amazed at the wonders of our world or the awesome beauty of nature? Does it make you feel small?
Have you ever considered what happens to us when we die and wondered if our souls go on to a place called heaven or if we cross over to a different dimension that may be even bigger than where we are now? Do we keep coming back to this place to learn new lessons so our souls can grow and perfect themselves or do we stay in 'heaven' with a superior being that we call God and live in a golden castle, or maybe we go to a dark place of fire and brimstone to suffer for all eternity for the terrible things we've done? Have you ever wondered why you are here and what kind of impact you are supposed to make in this world? Do you feel small?
Do you ever stop to consider how small we are as individuals? How many people there are in the world, in all the different countries and cities and towns? How many different cultures, opinions, interests, beliefs, and religions there are? Have you ever gazed at the mountains or the ocean or the moon and considered just how small you really are in the scope of things?
Have you ever thought about how you could lose yourself in the sheer crush of people in New York City, London, Paris or Bangkok? Have you ever considered how wild and untamed the Serengetti is or how beautiful and serene the rainforests are or how big the ocean is? Have you ever considered the tribes of Africa, the people of the Orient, the Eskimos or the people of the Middle East and thought about how different your life is from theirs? Have you ever been amazed at the wonders of our world or the awesome beauty of nature? Does it make you feel small?
Have you ever considered what happens to us when we die and wondered if our souls go on to a place called heaven or if we cross over to a different dimension that may be even bigger than where we are now? Do we keep coming back to this place to learn new lessons so our souls can grow and perfect themselves or do we stay in 'heaven' with a superior being that we call God and live in a golden castle, or maybe we go to a dark place of fire and brimstone to suffer for all eternity for the terrible things we've done? Have you ever wondered why you are here and what kind of impact you are supposed to make in this world? Do you feel small?
Sunday, May 1, 2011
~Bounce Dryer Sheets~
Amazing Bounce Dryer Sheets
It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them.
It also repels mice.. spread them around foundation areas, or in trailers,
cars that are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your vehicle.
It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too
often.
Repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors
during mosquito season.
Eliminates static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.
Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your
television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to
keep dust from resettling.
Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with
a sheet of Bounce.
Freshen the air in your home. Place an
individual sheet of Bounce in a
drawer or hang in the closet.
Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.
Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded
needle through sheet of Bounce
before beginning to sew.
Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual>sheet of Bounce inside empty
luggage before storing.
Freshen the air in your car. Place a sheet of
Bounce under the front seat.
Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a
sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The
anti-static agent apparently
weakens the bond Between the food.
Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet
of Bounce at the bottom of
the wastebasket.
Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet
of Bounce will magnetically
attract all the loose hairs.
Eliminate static electricity from Venetian
blinds. Wipe the blinds with a
sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.
Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering.
A used sheet of Bounce will
collect sawdust like a tack cloth.
Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an
individual sheet of Bounce at
the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.
Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of
Bounce in your shoes or
sneakers overnight.
Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket
to keep the bees away.
Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent
before folding and storing
them Keeps them smelling fresh.
And now that you know, print and keep on file or
pass it around!
It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them.
It also repels mice.. spread them around foundation areas, or in trailers,
cars that are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your vehicle.
It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too
often.
Repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors
during mosquito season.
Eliminates static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.
Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your
television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to
keep dust from resettling.
Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with
a sheet of Bounce.
Freshen the air in your home. Place an
individual sheet of Bounce in a
drawer or hang in the closet.
Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.
Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded
needle through sheet of Bounce
before beginning to sew.
Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual>sheet of Bounce inside empty
luggage before storing.
Freshen the air in your car. Place a sheet of
Bounce under the front seat.
Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a
sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The
anti-static agent apparently
weakens the bond Between the food.
Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet
of Bounce at the bottom of
the wastebasket.
Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet
of Bounce will magnetically
attract all the loose hairs.
Eliminate static electricity from Venetian
blinds. Wipe the blinds with a
sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.
Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering.
A used sheet of Bounce will
collect sawdust like a tack cloth.
Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an
individual sheet of Bounce at
the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.
Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of
Bounce in your shoes or
sneakers overnight.
Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket
to keep the bees away.
Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent
before folding and storing
them Keeps them smelling fresh.
And now that you know, print and keep on file or
pass it around!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
~How To Buy Fresh Bread~
Did you know that bread is delivered fresh to the stores five days a week? Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. And each day has a different color twist tie. They are:
Monday - Blue
Tuesday - Green
Thursday - Red
Friday - White
Saturday - Yellow
I thought this was interesting. I looked in the grocery store and the bread wrappers do have different colored twist ties, and even the ones with the plastic clips have different colors. You learn something new everyday!!
So today being Thursday, I wanted a red twist tie - not white which is Friday (almost a week old?)
The colors go alphabetically Blue - Green - Red - White -Yellow, Monday thru Saturday. Very easy to remember.
Monday - Blue
Tuesday - Green
Thursday - Red
Friday - White
Saturday - Yellow
I thought this was interesting. I looked in the grocery store and the bread wrappers do have different colored twist ties, and even the ones with the plastic clips have different colors. You learn something new everyday!!
So today being Thursday, I wanted a red twist tie - not white which is Friday (almost a week old?)
The colors go alphabetically Blue - Green - Red - White -Yellow, Monday thru Saturday. Very easy to remember.
Friday, April 15, 2011
~Easter Lore~
Easter Lore
The Word “Easter”
Centuries before Christ, the pagan tribes of Europe worshipped a beautiful goddess of spring named Eostre (EE-ah-tra). Festivals celebrating the end of winter and the birth of spring were held in her honor at the end of March, the time of the vernal equinox. Some historians believe the word Easter is a variation of her name. Others see a connection between Easter and the rising of the sun in the east.
Easter Eggs
The egg has been called nature’s most perfect container. It also is the world’s most popular secular symbol for Easter. In all cultures, the egg symbolizes the beginning of life or the universe. A Latin proverb says, “All life comes from an egg.” Eggs were dyed and eaten during spring festivals in ancient Egypt, Persia, Greece and Rome and colored eggs were given as gifts to celebrate the coming of spring. These cultures regarded the egg as an emblem of the universe, the work of the supreme divinity, the germination of life. Christians of the Near East adopted this tradition and the egg became a religious symbol – it represented the tomb from which Jesus broke forth. The various customs associated with Easter eggs were not recorded in Western Europe until the 15th century. Speculation is that missionaries or knights of the Crusades were responsible for bringing the tradition of coloring eggs westward. In medieval times, eggs often were colored red to symbolize the blood of Christ. More than 1 billion Easter eggs are hunted in the United States each year in parks, back yards, and on the White House lawn. Chocolate or candy eggs emerged in the late 1800s. Plastic Easter eggs made their debut in the early 1960s. More than 100 million plastic eggs are purchased for Easter.
Easter Bunny
The Easter bunny has its origins in pre-Christian fertility lore. Hares and rabbits served as symbols of abundant new life in the spring season. It really is a hare – not a rabbit – that symbolizes Easter. From antiquity hares have been a symbol for the moon, and the first full moon after the vernal equinox determines the date for Easter. Hares are born with their eyes open, while rabbits are born blind. The hare was thought never to blink or close its eyes, and it is a nocturnal creature, like the moon. The hare also carries it's young a month before giving birth – like the changing moon erupting into fullness monthly. According to one legend, the Easter bunny was originally a large, handsome bird with a broken wing belonging to the goddess Eostre. One day she magically changed her pet bird into a hare and gave him the ability to run very fast because she was sad that he could no longer fly. Because the Easter bunny is still a bird at heart, he continues to build a straw nest and fill it with eggs.
Legend of the Easter Lily
The lily is a symbol of purity because of its whiteness and delicacy of form. It also symbolizes innocence and the radiance of the Lord’s risen life. It is called the Easter lily because the flowers bloom in early spring, around Easter time.
The Bermuda, or white trumpet lily was brought to the United States from Bermuda in the 1880s by Mrs. Thomas P. Sargent of Philadelphia, Pa., and it has become the mainstay of Easter floral arrangements and church decorations.
Hot Cross Buns
One of the oldest Good Friday customs is eating hot cross buns. These small sweet buns, marked with a cross of white icing, may have originated in pre-Christian times. Early Egyptians, Greeks and Romans marked their loaves of bread with symbols to honor their gods and goddesses. Many superstitions grew out of this custom – a cross bun kept from one Good Friday to the next was thought to bring luck, the buns were supposed to serve as a charm against shipwreck, and hanging a bun over the chimneypiece ensured that all bread baked there would be perfect. Another belief was that eating hot cross buns on Good Friday served to protect the home from fire.
Dogwood Tree/Cross
As one legend goes, at the time of Christ’s crucifixion, the dogwood tree was as tall as the oak and other forest trees. Its wood was so strong and firm that it was chosen for the cross. The tree was very distressed to be used for such a purpose and Jesus understood. He told the tree, “Because of your regret and pity for my suffering, I promise this: never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used for a cross. Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted, and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross. And in the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints. And in the center of the flower, brown with rust and stained with blood, will be a crown of thorns – so that all who see it will remember it was upon a dogwood tree that I was crucified, and this tree shall not be mutilated nor destroyed, but cherished and protected as a reminder of my agony and death upon the cross.”
Easter Parade and Wearing New Clothes
In the early church, those who were baptized at the Easter Vigil dressed in white robes and wore the robes during Easter week as a symbol of their new life in Christ. People who had been baptized in previous years wore new clothes to indicate their sharing in the new life. New clothes at Easter became a symbol of Easter grace. In Europe during the Middle Ages, people in their new clothes would take a long walk after mass, which has evolved into the tradition of Easter Parades. An American belief is that good luck can be ensured for the year by wearing three new things on Easter Sunday.
Easter Sunrise Service
The Easter custom of the sunrise religious service was brought to America by Protestant immigrants from Moravia who held the first such service in Bethlehem, Pa., in 1741. Origins of the early morning time stem from a passage in the Bible from the book of Luke: “…but on the first day of the week, at early dawn” women visited Jesus’ tomb and found it empty. Sunrise services also may be related to the Easter fires held on hilltops in continuation of the New Year fires – a worldwide observance in antiquity. Those rites were performed at the vernal equinox, welcoming the sun and its great power to bring new life to the world. The famous sunrise service on Mount Rubidoux in California was first held in 1909. Reportedly Theodore Roosevelt and philanthropist Jacob Riis organized the service. One of the best-known sunrise services is at the Hollywood Bowl, which began in 1921.
Easter Weather Superstitions
If it rains on Easter Sunday, it will rain the following seven Sundays. A white Christmas will bring a green Easter, and a green Christmas will bring a white Easter
The Word “Easter”
Centuries before Christ, the pagan tribes of Europe worshipped a beautiful goddess of spring named Eostre (EE-ah-tra). Festivals celebrating the end of winter and the birth of spring were held in her honor at the end of March, the time of the vernal equinox. Some historians believe the word Easter is a variation of her name. Others see a connection between Easter and the rising of the sun in the east.
Easter Eggs
The egg has been called nature’s most perfect container. It also is the world’s most popular secular symbol for Easter. In all cultures, the egg symbolizes the beginning of life or the universe. A Latin proverb says, “All life comes from an egg.” Eggs were dyed and eaten during spring festivals in ancient Egypt, Persia, Greece and Rome and colored eggs were given as gifts to celebrate the coming of spring. These cultures regarded the egg as an emblem of the universe, the work of the supreme divinity, the germination of life. Christians of the Near East adopted this tradition and the egg became a religious symbol – it represented the tomb from which Jesus broke forth. The various customs associated with Easter eggs were not recorded in Western Europe until the 15th century. Speculation is that missionaries or knights of the Crusades were responsible for bringing the tradition of coloring eggs westward. In medieval times, eggs often were colored red to symbolize the blood of Christ. More than 1 billion Easter eggs are hunted in the United States each year in parks, back yards, and on the White House lawn. Chocolate or candy eggs emerged in the late 1800s. Plastic Easter eggs made their debut in the early 1960s. More than 100 million plastic eggs are purchased for Easter.
Easter Bunny
The Easter bunny has its origins in pre-Christian fertility lore. Hares and rabbits served as symbols of abundant new life in the spring season. It really is a hare – not a rabbit – that symbolizes Easter. From antiquity hares have been a symbol for the moon, and the first full moon after the vernal equinox determines the date for Easter. Hares are born with their eyes open, while rabbits are born blind. The hare was thought never to blink or close its eyes, and it is a nocturnal creature, like the moon. The hare also carries it's young a month before giving birth – like the changing moon erupting into fullness monthly. According to one legend, the Easter bunny was originally a large, handsome bird with a broken wing belonging to the goddess Eostre. One day she magically changed her pet bird into a hare and gave him the ability to run very fast because she was sad that he could no longer fly. Because the Easter bunny is still a bird at heart, he continues to build a straw nest and fill it with eggs.
Legend of the Easter Lily
The lily is a symbol of purity because of its whiteness and delicacy of form. It also symbolizes innocence and the radiance of the Lord’s risen life. It is called the Easter lily because the flowers bloom in early spring, around Easter time.
The Bermuda, or white trumpet lily was brought to the United States from Bermuda in the 1880s by Mrs. Thomas P. Sargent of Philadelphia, Pa., and it has become the mainstay of Easter floral arrangements and church decorations.
Hot Cross Buns
One of the oldest Good Friday customs is eating hot cross buns. These small sweet buns, marked with a cross of white icing, may have originated in pre-Christian times. Early Egyptians, Greeks and Romans marked their loaves of bread with symbols to honor their gods and goddesses. Many superstitions grew out of this custom – a cross bun kept from one Good Friday to the next was thought to bring luck, the buns were supposed to serve as a charm against shipwreck, and hanging a bun over the chimneypiece ensured that all bread baked there would be perfect. Another belief was that eating hot cross buns on Good Friday served to protect the home from fire.
Dogwood Tree/Cross
As one legend goes, at the time of Christ’s crucifixion, the dogwood tree was as tall as the oak and other forest trees. Its wood was so strong and firm that it was chosen for the cross. The tree was very distressed to be used for such a purpose and Jesus understood. He told the tree, “Because of your regret and pity for my suffering, I promise this: never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used for a cross. Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted, and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross. And in the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints. And in the center of the flower, brown with rust and stained with blood, will be a crown of thorns – so that all who see it will remember it was upon a dogwood tree that I was crucified, and this tree shall not be mutilated nor destroyed, but cherished and protected as a reminder of my agony and death upon the cross.”
Easter Parade and Wearing New Clothes
In the early church, those who were baptized at the Easter Vigil dressed in white robes and wore the robes during Easter week as a symbol of their new life in Christ. People who had been baptized in previous years wore new clothes to indicate their sharing in the new life. New clothes at Easter became a symbol of Easter grace. In Europe during the Middle Ages, people in their new clothes would take a long walk after mass, which has evolved into the tradition of Easter Parades. An American belief is that good luck can be ensured for the year by wearing three new things on Easter Sunday.
Easter Sunrise Service
The Easter custom of the sunrise religious service was brought to America by Protestant immigrants from Moravia who held the first such service in Bethlehem, Pa., in 1741. Origins of the early morning time stem from a passage in the Bible from the book of Luke: “…but on the first day of the week, at early dawn” women visited Jesus’ tomb and found it empty. Sunrise services also may be related to the Easter fires held on hilltops in continuation of the New Year fires – a worldwide observance in antiquity. Those rites were performed at the vernal equinox, welcoming the sun and its great power to bring new life to the world. The famous sunrise service on Mount Rubidoux in California was first held in 1909. Reportedly Theodore Roosevelt and philanthropist Jacob Riis organized the service. One of the best-known sunrise services is at the Hollywood Bowl, which began in 1921.
Easter Weather Superstitions
If it rains on Easter Sunday, it will rain the following seven Sundays. A white Christmas will bring a green Easter, and a green Christmas will bring a white Easter
Friday, April 1, 2011
April Fool's Day
The history of April Fool's Day or All Fool's Day is uncertain, but the current thinking is that it began around 1582 in France with the reform of the calendar under Charles IX. The Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved from March 25 - April 1 (new year's week) to January 1. Communication traveled slowly in those days and some people were only informed of the change several years later. Still others, who were more rebellious refused to acknowledge the change and continued to celebrate on the last day of the former celebration, April 1. These people were labeled "fools" by the general populace, were subject to ridicule and sent on "fool errands," sent invitations to nonexistent parties and had other practical jokes played upon them. The butts of these pranks became known as a "poisson d'avril" or "April fish" because a young naive fish is easily caught. In addition, one common practice was to hook a paper fish on the back of someone as a joke. This harassment evolved over time and a custom of prank-playing continue on the first day of April. This tradition eventually spread elsewhere like to Britain and Scotland in the 18th century and was introduced to the American colonies by the English and the French. Because of this spread to other countries, April Fool's Day has taken on an international flavor with each country celebrating the holiday in its own way.
In Scotland, for instance, April Fool's Day is devoted to spoofs involving the buttocks and as such is called Taily Day. The butts of these jokes are known as April 'Gowk', another name for cuckoo bird. The origins of the "Kick Me" sign can be traced back to the Scottish observance.
In England, jokes are played only in the morning. Fools are called 'gobs' or 'gobby' and the victim of a joke is called a 'noodle.' It was considered bad luck to play a practical joke on someone after noon.
In Rome, the holiday is known as Festival of Hilaria, celebrating the resurrection of the God, Attis, it is on March 25 and is also referred to as "Roman Laughing Day."
In Portugal, April Fool's Day falls on the Sunday and Monday before lent. In this celebration, many people throw flour at their friends.
The Huli Festival is celebrated on March 31 in India. People play jokes on one another and smear colors on one another celebrating the arrival of Spring.
So, no matter where you happen to be in the world on April 1, don't be surprised if April fools fall playfully upon you.
In Scotland, for instance, April Fool's Day is devoted to spoofs involving the buttocks and as such is called Taily Day. The butts of these jokes are known as April 'Gowk', another name for cuckoo bird. The origins of the "Kick Me" sign can be traced back to the Scottish observance.
In England, jokes are played only in the morning. Fools are called 'gobs' or 'gobby' and the victim of a joke is called a 'noodle.' It was considered bad luck to play a practical joke on someone after noon.
In Rome, the holiday is known as Festival of Hilaria, celebrating the resurrection of the God, Attis, it is on March 25 and is also referred to as "Roman Laughing Day."
In Portugal, April Fool's Day falls on the Sunday and Monday before lent. In this celebration, many people throw flour at their friends.
The Huli Festival is celebrated on March 31 in India. People play jokes on one another and smear colors on one another celebrating the arrival of Spring.
So, no matter where you happen to be in the world on April 1, don't be surprised if April fools fall playfully upon you.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Redneck
The idea that the term 'redneck' originated from laborers and farmers who had sun burnt or red necks is a myth! The term actually originated during the American coal mining wars of the 1920's among the people of the Appalachian Mountain region. Union workers were losing their jobs during this time because joining a worker's union was then thought to be communist and even treasonous, so a war broke out between Union and non-union coal miners. When the union and non-union workers fought, the non-union workers wore white arm bands and the union workers wore red bandanas around their necks so the term for a union worker then became 'redneck.' Nascar, which is now one of the most popular spectator sports in America, orignated from stock car races held by the same group of 'rednecks' which is why it is still, to this day, called a 'redneck' sport. (I saw this on the History Channel and thought it was interesting, especially since my grandchildren asked me just the other day what a redneck was and I didn't know the correct answer! Now I do!)
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The Borrowed Days of March
When March comes in like a lion it goes out like a lamb.
So many mists in March, so many frosts in May.
April borrows three days from March and they are all ill.
A wet March, a wet Spring.
As it rains in March so it rains in June.
March winds and April showers
Bring forth May flowers.
A dry March and a wet May
Fill barns and bays with corn and hay.
When your bones hurt a storm is coming.
If it rains on Easter Sunday, it will rain every Sunday for seven weeks.
When bees stay close to the hive rain is close by.
Count the cricket chirps to tell the temperature.
Moss dry, sunny sky; moss wet, rain you'll get.
So many mists in March, so many frosts in May.
April borrows three days from March and they are all ill.
A wet March, a wet Spring.
As it rains in March so it rains in June.
March winds and April showers
Bring forth May flowers.
A dry March and a wet May
Fill barns and bays with corn and hay.
When your bones hurt a storm is coming.
If it rains on Easter Sunday, it will rain every Sunday for seven weeks.
When bees stay close to the hive rain is close by.
Count the cricket chirps to tell the temperature.
Moss dry, sunny sky; moss wet, rain you'll get.
Friday, January 15, 2010
My daughter, Christina, told me today that Simon Cowell believes that after a person turns 50 they can pretty much get away with saying ANYTHING! Think I'll test that theory!
These are some of the things I'd like to say!
To my doctors:
I'm pretty sure you got your medical degree from an online college founded by Dr. Doolittle!
Look it up in the dictionary or watch a few episodes of Grey's Anatomy!
You NEED your patient's previous medical records!!
You're an idiot!
To my mechanic:
In order to hear the noise, you must start the car.
In order to feel the vibration, you must drive the car.
I wouldn't drive an hour to bring the car to you if there were nothing wrong with it!
You're an idiot!
To the cashier and bag boy/girl at the grocery store:
I'm the customer so speak to me and not to each other!
Do not put canned goods and bananas in the same bag!
Stay in school!
You're both idiots!
To the people at the liquor store:
Having a cop stand at your front door during business hours does not encourage more sales.
There is no substitute for Bailey's Irish Cream.
Thank you for requesting my ID for so many years after I was legal.
You're working at a liquor store where you stand a good chance of getting robbed and killed so you're obviously an idiot!
To the United States Government and all its branches:
You're all idiots!
These are some of the things I'd like to say!
To my doctors:
I'm pretty sure you got your medical degree from an online college founded by Dr. Doolittle!
Look it up in the dictionary or watch a few episodes of Grey's Anatomy!
You NEED your patient's previous medical records!!
You're an idiot!
To my mechanic:
In order to hear the noise, you must start the car.
In order to feel the vibration, you must drive the car.
I wouldn't drive an hour to bring the car to you if there were nothing wrong with it!
You're an idiot!
To the cashier and bag boy/girl at the grocery store:
I'm the customer so speak to me and not to each other!
Do not put canned goods and bananas in the same bag!
Stay in school!
You're both idiots!
To the people at the liquor store:
Having a cop stand at your front door during business hours does not encourage more sales.
There is no substitute for Bailey's Irish Cream.
Thank you for requesting my ID for so many years after I was legal.
You're working at a liquor store where you stand a good chance of getting robbed and killed so you're obviously an idiot!
To the United States Government and all its branches:
You're all idiots!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
I've fallen and I can't get up!
My daughter has been encouraging me to write a blog and I decided today was a good day to start. I've never been very good at journaling and I tend to edit everything I write to pieces but here goes.
Choosing a subject for my first blog is difficult since so much has happened in my life that I could write about but I've decided to just start with today and how I was awakened this morning.
I was plagued with dreams all night so I didn't sleep well, but for anyone who knows me, that is nothing new as I rarely sleep well. Crazy, jumbled dreams about crazy, jumbled things woke me up many times through the night, including one about my husband falling out of bed and scaring me half to death! In my dream, I heard a loud crash that propelled me out of bed in a panic when I heard Terry moan. I didn't see him so I ran around to his side of our big bed but couldn't find him on the floor and I woke up searching frantically for him. This dream woke me up twice after having been awakened by a dream about a bookcase falling on my grandson, Jackson, and one about my step-daughter, Adrianne falling down the stairs and one about my daughter, Christina, falling off of a horse of all things. It was all quite irritating because I have so much trouble going back to sleep.
At 7:20 a.m. I sat straight up in bed after hearing a huge crash and I couldn't figure out if I was still dreaming or if it was real but I was pretty sure a bomb had hit the house. I heard my husband moan so I called out to him but he's very hard of hearing so I didn't really expect a response. I realized that I wasn't dreaming anymore but my dreams about him falling out of the bed were still fresh in my mind so I jumped out of bed and ran around to his side to see an empty floor though I could still hear him moaning in pain. I yelled his name and heard him say, 'I fell down the stairs!' The stairs in our house are right on the other side of the wall behind the head of our bed and Terry is a really big guy so the crash was very loud.
I ran out of our room and down the hall where I found him lying at the bottom of the stairs. I asked all the normal questions: "Are you okay? Are you hurt? Do you need an ambulance?" (yes, the last question almost made me snicker because the people in his family, excluding Terry, call an ambulance at the drop of a hat whereas someone in my family would have to be dying and unconscious to actually get in an ambulance). Even in my concern, I couldn't help but think of that old T.V. commercial about the emergency medical button and the little old lady that says, 'I've fallen and I can't get up!' He fell on his back on about the fifth step up and I guess he slid the rest of the way down and crumpled at the bottom.
Adrianne was in the car waiting for him to take her to school and he had run upstairs to get his glasses and had fallen in his haste to get back down the stairs and out to the car. I tried to help him up, but again, he's very large so I ended up having to stand back and watch him get to his feet on his own. He seems to be okay though his neck and upper back are sore but there is no bruising or swelling. I tried to get him to let me take him to the doctor for an x-ray but he refused and said if he is still sore tomorrow he will go get one.
As soon as I'm sure he's okay, I'm sure I'll find more humor in this incident, but right now I'm a little worried about him and hoping he isn't in too much pain. He took Adrianne to school, went back to bed for a couple of hours then went on about his day, picking up medicine for his mother and going to work, so hopefully he's alright. I'm pretty sure he's ready to rip the carpet off the stairs since this is the third time he's fallen on them but I think he just needs to slow down and hold onto the rail.
Choosing a subject for my first blog is difficult since so much has happened in my life that I could write about but I've decided to just start with today and how I was awakened this morning.
I was plagued with dreams all night so I didn't sleep well, but for anyone who knows me, that is nothing new as I rarely sleep well. Crazy, jumbled dreams about crazy, jumbled things woke me up many times through the night, including one about my husband falling out of bed and scaring me half to death! In my dream, I heard a loud crash that propelled me out of bed in a panic when I heard Terry moan. I didn't see him so I ran around to his side of our big bed but couldn't find him on the floor and I woke up searching frantically for him. This dream woke me up twice after having been awakened by a dream about a bookcase falling on my grandson, Jackson, and one about my step-daughter, Adrianne falling down the stairs and one about my daughter, Christina, falling off of a horse of all things. It was all quite irritating because I have so much trouble going back to sleep.
At 7:20 a.m. I sat straight up in bed after hearing a huge crash and I couldn't figure out if I was still dreaming or if it was real but I was pretty sure a bomb had hit the house. I heard my husband moan so I called out to him but he's very hard of hearing so I didn't really expect a response. I realized that I wasn't dreaming anymore but my dreams about him falling out of the bed were still fresh in my mind so I jumped out of bed and ran around to his side to see an empty floor though I could still hear him moaning in pain. I yelled his name and heard him say, 'I fell down the stairs!' The stairs in our house are right on the other side of the wall behind the head of our bed and Terry is a really big guy so the crash was very loud.
I ran out of our room and down the hall where I found him lying at the bottom of the stairs. I asked all the normal questions: "Are you okay? Are you hurt? Do you need an ambulance?" (yes, the last question almost made me snicker because the people in his family, excluding Terry, call an ambulance at the drop of a hat whereas someone in my family would have to be dying and unconscious to actually get in an ambulance). Even in my concern, I couldn't help but think of that old T.V. commercial about the emergency medical button and the little old lady that says, 'I've fallen and I can't get up!' He fell on his back on about the fifth step up and I guess he slid the rest of the way down and crumpled at the bottom.
Adrianne was in the car waiting for him to take her to school and he had run upstairs to get his glasses and had fallen in his haste to get back down the stairs and out to the car. I tried to help him up, but again, he's very large so I ended up having to stand back and watch him get to his feet on his own. He seems to be okay though his neck and upper back are sore but there is no bruising or swelling. I tried to get him to let me take him to the doctor for an x-ray but he refused and said if he is still sore tomorrow he will go get one.
As soon as I'm sure he's okay, I'm sure I'll find more humor in this incident, but right now I'm a little worried about him and hoping he isn't in too much pain. He took Adrianne to school, went back to bed for a couple of hours then went on about his day, picking up medicine for his mother and going to work, so hopefully he's alright. I'm pretty sure he's ready to rip the carpet off the stairs since this is the third time he's fallen on them but I think he just needs to slow down and hold onto the rail.
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