Thought for the Day: Wonderful things start to happen when you dream outside of your sleep. —Richard Wilkins
Common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards, but only applicable to the "Ace of Spades." To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead. Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren't "playing with a full deck."
I wonder where they got the terms dumber than a bag of hammers, one sandwich short of a picnic, not rowing with both oars in the water. I know there are more, but they escape me at the moment. I guess the list is endless.
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At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint- and quart-sized containers. A bar maid's job was to keep an eye on the customers and keep the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention and remember who was drinking in "pints" and who was drinking in "quarts," hence the term "minding your "Ps and Qs."
Ahhhh ... just tell people to mind their own damn business.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
History Lessons for Today
Thought for the Day: God understands our prayers even when we can't find the words to say them. ~ Anonymous
In days of old, personal hygiene left much room for improvement. As a result, many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women would spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to stare at another woman's face she was told, "mind your own bee's wax." Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence the term "crack a smile." In addition, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would melt . . . therefore, the expression "losing face."
********************
Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front. A proper and dignified woman as in "straight laced". . . wore a tightly tied lace.
In days of old, personal hygiene left much room for improvement. As a result, many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women would spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to stare at another woman's face she was told, "mind your own bee's wax." Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence the term "crack a smile." In addition, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would melt . . . therefore, the expression "losing face."
********************
Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front. A proper and dignified woman as in "straight laced". . . wore a tightly tied lace.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Another History Lesson
Thought for the Day: "Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced." — James Baldwin
In the late 1700s, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair. Commonly, a long, wide board folded down from the wall was used for dining. The "head of the household" always sat in the chair while everyone else ate sitting on the floor. Occasionally a guest, who was usually a man, would be invited to sit in this chair during a meal. To sit in the chair meant you were important and in charge. They called the one sitting in the chair the "chair man." Today in business, we use the expression or title "Chairman" or "Chairman of the Board."
Bet you didn't know that, did ya??
In the late 1700s, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair. Commonly, a long, wide board folded down from the wall was used for dining. The "head of the household" always sat in the chair while everyone else ate sitting on the floor. Occasionally a guest, who was usually a man, would be invited to sit in this chair during a meal. To sit in the chair meant you were important and in charge. They called the one sitting in the chair the "chair man." Today in business, we use the expression or title "Chairman" or "Chairman of the Board."
Bet you didn't know that, did ya??
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Kids and Drugs—How Times Have Changed!!
The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question:
"Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?"
I replied, "I had a drug problem when I was young ... I was drug to church on Sunday morning.
I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather. I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me. I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity. I was drug out to pull weeds in Mom's garden and flowerbeds. I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbours to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed. Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behaviour in everything I do, say, and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and if today's children had this kind of drug problem, the world would be a better place.
~author unknown~
God bless the parents who drugged us.
"Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?"
I replied, "I had a drug problem when I was young ... I was drug to church on Sunday morning.
I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather. I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me. I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity. I was drug out to pull weeds in Mom's garden and flowerbeds. I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbours to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed. Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behaviour in everything I do, say, and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and if today's children had this kind of drug problem, the world would be a better place.
~author unknown~
God bless the parents who drugged us.
Friday, March 16, 2007
More History Lessons
Thought for the day: The woman came out of a man's rib. Not from his feet to be walked on. Not from his head to be superior, but from the side to be equal. Under the arm to be protected, and next to the heart to be loved.
Yesterday, Keyboard asked me about the origin of another saying similar to "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey." It took some Googling, but this is what I found:
A local variant is "cold enough to freeze the nuts off a bridge," a supposedly true story from the early days of iron (not steel) bridges when the nuts of bridge bolts were alleged to have cracked in extreme cold.
Now... for another you may not know
Many years ago, personal hygiene left much room for improvement. As a result, many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women would spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to stare at another woman's face she was told, "mind your own bee's wax." Should the woman smiles, the wax would crack, hence the term "crack a smile." In addition, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would melt . . . therefore, the expression "losing face."
Yesterday, Keyboard asked me about the origin of another saying similar to "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey." It took some Googling, but this is what I found:
A local variant is "cold enough to freeze the nuts off a bridge," a supposedly true story from the early days of iron (not steel) bridges when the nuts of bridge bolts were alleged to have cracked in extreme cold.
Now... for another you may not know
Many years ago, personal hygiene left much room for improvement. As a result, many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women would spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to stare at another woman's face she was told, "mind your own bee's wax." Should the woman smiles, the wax would crack, hence the term "crack a smile." In addition, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would melt . . . therefore, the expression "losing face."
Thursday, March 15, 2007
History Lesson
Thought for the Day: Most worry is about things that can't be changed (the past), things that can't be controlled (the present), or things that might not happen (the future).
In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon. However, how to prevent them from rolling about the deck? The best storage method devised was a square-based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem ... how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate called a "Monkey" with 16 round indentations.
However, if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make "Brass Monkeys." Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannonballs would come right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite literally, "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey."
All this time, you thought that was an improper expression, didn't you??
In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon. However, how to prevent them from rolling about the deck? The best storage method devised was a square-based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem ... how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate called a "Monkey" with 16 round indentations.
However, if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make "Brass Monkeys." Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannonballs would come right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite literally, "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey."
All this time, you thought that was an improper expression, didn't you??
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Scary Time
Thought for Today: Ideals are like stars—you will not succeed in touching them with your hands; but like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them, you reach your destiny. ~ Carl Schurz
Last night I had a scary time. I have a condition known as IBS. It is not necessarily life threatening, but by times you might wish you would die. I have developed this condition due to surgery in 1992 and long-term stress, stemming from my past life. It can be controlled to a degree by diet and by watching my stress levels. Unfortunately, some days you just can't win, no matter what you do. It is a difficult condition to live with, and also has resulted in some major food sensitivities and diet restrictions. To say the least, it sucks hard.
However, last night I was awakened on more than one occasion with excruciating abdominal pain, like I have not experienced before. It is times like that when I find it scary that I sleep alone. I wasn't sure I could even get out of my bed, and trying to call to either of my children would have been futile. They would not have heard me. I managed to be able to take care of myself, but wasn't sure for a time. I thought I might end up going to the hospital, but I got it under control and was able to go back to bed.
After all that pain and lack of sleep, I feel like hell today. I am wiped out and feel like I have been repeatedly punched in the stomach. Lord, I hope there isn't a repeat performance tonight. I couldn't take that again. No more chili for me...the suspected culprit...no matter how good it tastes. Good thing I am working from home this week or I wouldn't be working at all today.
Last night I had a scary time. I have a condition known as IBS. It is not necessarily life threatening, but by times you might wish you would die. I have developed this condition due to surgery in 1992 and long-term stress, stemming from my past life. It can be controlled to a degree by diet and by watching my stress levels. Unfortunately, some days you just can't win, no matter what you do. It is a difficult condition to live with, and also has resulted in some major food sensitivities and diet restrictions. To say the least, it sucks hard.
However, last night I was awakened on more than one occasion with excruciating abdominal pain, like I have not experienced before. It is times like that when I find it scary that I sleep alone. I wasn't sure I could even get out of my bed, and trying to call to either of my children would have been futile. They would not have heard me. I managed to be able to take care of myself, but wasn't sure for a time. I thought I might end up going to the hospital, but I got it under control and was able to go back to bed.
After all that pain and lack of sleep, I feel like hell today. I am wiped out and feel like I have been repeatedly punched in the stomach. Lord, I hope there isn't a repeat performance tonight. I couldn't take that again. No more chili for me...the suspected culprit...no matter how good it tastes. Good thing I am working from home this week or I wouldn't be working at all today.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Thank You, Halifax!
Thought for the day: Tears are God's way of melting a heart frozen in grief.
Well, today the news is filled with controversy over a decision made by Nova Scotia and the municipal government. After winning the bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games, today Halifax reneged on their bid. Several county councillors left the room in disgust as the announcement was made, athletes are threatening to pull out of Nova Scotia, and the critics are offering kudos.
I'm not much of a sports fan. I like a few of them, but I'm not a fan. Never have been. But that has no bearing on how I feel about this decision. I think it will take a while for people to get over the shock, and we will, no doubt, get a bad reputation for this. However, I also offer my kudos for this decision. For the first time that I can recall in my life, I have just witnessed the government making a decision that is financially reponsible to its citizens. If these games would cost us more money than the revenue they could possibly pull in, then there is no question in my mind as to whether or not the decision was the right one to make. It definitely was. All I can say is, "Thank you Mayor Kelly for making a responsible decision about spending the taxpayers money." God only knows we pay far too much in taxes now. I'm glad to know that our money is not being thrown away. Kudos to Halifax!!!
Well, today the news is filled with controversy over a decision made by Nova Scotia and the municipal government. After winning the bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games, today Halifax reneged on their bid. Several county councillors left the room in disgust as the announcement was made, athletes are threatening to pull out of Nova Scotia, and the critics are offering kudos.
I'm not much of a sports fan. I like a few of them, but I'm not a fan. Never have been. But that has no bearing on how I feel about this decision. I think it will take a while for people to get over the shock, and we will, no doubt, get a bad reputation for this. However, I also offer my kudos for this decision. For the first time that I can recall in my life, I have just witnessed the government making a decision that is financially reponsible to its citizens. If these games would cost us more money than the revenue they could possibly pull in, then there is no question in my mind as to whether or not the decision was the right one to make. It definitely was. All I can say is, "Thank you Mayor Kelly for making a responsible decision about spending the taxpayers money." God only knows we pay far too much in taxes now. I'm glad to know that our money is not being thrown away. Kudos to Halifax!!!
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
I Miss Him Still
Today is the 4th anniversary of my father's death. It has been a day filled with memories and missing him and, yes, a few tears. I miss his smile, his corny jokes, his jovial nature and deep belly laugh, and I miss his bear hugs. Today was a day when I could have used all of those things.
I miss you Dad. I hope you are watching over me. I sure could use someone to do that for me. Some days I feel so alone and empty. I'll love you always Dad.
I miss you Dad. I hope you are watching over me. I sure could use someone to do that for me. Some days I feel so alone and empty. I'll love you always Dad.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Back to Work
Thought for the Day: Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled. [I see this thought as being the way it is and should be when you share your life with someone you love. I really want to share my life and experience these things...something I have never really had and have always wanted...I think I'm worth that...]
Today I went back to work after being off 6 working days. I always hate the first day back. It is so busy trying to sort things out and organize what is on my desk and trying to figure out where to start. It usually takes 1/2 to 3/4 of a day to get through the e-mails, the snail mail, and the constant line-up of people coming to my desk to ask questions they couldn't get answers for while I was away. It was 9:40 before the constant line-up stopped and actually 3 p.m. before I could get to the meat of my work where I really wanted and needed to be. It's looking like the next month is going to be filled with deadlines. I've already informed my boss that I may have to take a day or two here and there to work at home in order to appropriately meet deadlines. I have so many interruptions in the run of a day due to the nature of my work that I can't make much headway at all. The type of work I do needs a lot of concentration and a keen eye. It's hard to maintain that (sometimes near impossible) when you have constant interruptions.
To top it all off, construction has begun again. Last Thursday before I left, I was told to empty one of my cubicles into the other so it could be dismantled and/or moved a couple feet towards my other one while they rip down the wall behind me and open up the now unoccupied space and set it up for another of our divisions that is being moved into our building from up in the east part of town. Oh goody!! This means that my partially quiet spot will now be surrounded by other people. So much for the level of quiet I now enjoy. At least I still have a window. After 26 years of dedication, they better not try to take it away again.
It was fun one day recently when I suddenly noticed that my black shoes were becoming white. I looked in the corner and found the gyproc dust of the destruction behind the wall was coming in through the radiator, which was partially opened, and dumped into my cubicle. When I started having difficulty breathing and noticed the mess, they weren't long attending to it and sealing it off and cleaning up the mess. Both my cubicles were completely covered with gyproc dust. I was not impressed. Now with the destruction happening this weekend, if the air quality is not good, I will be working from home. In addition, the painting will be done at night, so the smell needs to be gone. Before they lay the new carpet, they will have to off-gas it first. There are many of us who are sensitive to chemical scents. Not a fun time.
So...here's hoping I can work at home during the messy construction phase.
Today I went back to work after being off 6 working days. I always hate the first day back. It is so busy trying to sort things out and organize what is on my desk and trying to figure out where to start. It usually takes 1/2 to 3/4 of a day to get through the e-mails, the snail mail, and the constant line-up of people coming to my desk to ask questions they couldn't get answers for while I was away. It was 9:40 before the constant line-up stopped and actually 3 p.m. before I could get to the meat of my work where I really wanted and needed to be. It's looking like the next month is going to be filled with deadlines. I've already informed my boss that I may have to take a day or two here and there to work at home in order to appropriately meet deadlines. I have so many interruptions in the run of a day due to the nature of my work that I can't make much headway at all. The type of work I do needs a lot of concentration and a keen eye. It's hard to maintain that (sometimes near impossible) when you have constant interruptions.
To top it all off, construction has begun again. Last Thursday before I left, I was told to empty one of my cubicles into the other so it could be dismantled and/or moved a couple feet towards my other one while they rip down the wall behind me and open up the now unoccupied space and set it up for another of our divisions that is being moved into our building from up in the east part of town. Oh goody!! This means that my partially quiet spot will now be surrounded by other people. So much for the level of quiet I now enjoy. At least I still have a window. After 26 years of dedication, they better not try to take it away again.
It was fun one day recently when I suddenly noticed that my black shoes were becoming white. I looked in the corner and found the gyproc dust of the destruction behind the wall was coming in through the radiator, which was partially opened, and dumped into my cubicle. When I started having difficulty breathing and noticed the mess, they weren't long attending to it and sealing it off and cleaning up the mess. Both my cubicles were completely covered with gyproc dust. I was not impressed. Now with the destruction happening this weekend, if the air quality is not good, I will be working from home. In addition, the painting will be done at night, so the smell needs to be gone. Before they lay the new carpet, they will have to off-gas it first. There are many of us who are sensitive to chemical scents. Not a fun time.
So...here's hoping I can work at home during the messy construction phase.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Eclipses
As I write this, we are in the midst of a lunar eclipse. As I look out my kitchen window, I can see the moon slowly disappear behind the shadow of Earth. The three heavenly bodies are becoming perfectly aligned. If you would like to read about this, there are a several sites on the Internet about it, such as this one.
I knew it was coming. My astrologer has been speaking of it for a couple weeks now. It will be followed by a solar eclipse on March 19. There are always two eclipses a short period of time apart. It is said that some ancient civilizations and the modern astrologers believe that the period between two eclipses opens a portal into a new world. A period of time when the impossible can become possible. So, let's see if something in your world that seemed impossible becomes possible between tonight and March 19. I wish you the best in achieving the impossible in your life. Wish me luck for mine.
I knew it was coming. My astrologer has been speaking of it for a couple weeks now. It will be followed by a solar eclipse on March 19. There are always two eclipses a short period of time apart. It is said that some ancient civilizations and the modern astrologers believe that the period between two eclipses opens a portal into a new world. A period of time when the impossible can become possible. So, let's see if something in your world that seemed impossible becomes possible between tonight and March 19. I wish you the best in achieving the impossible in your life. Wish me luck for mine.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
It Never Stops!!!
I have been on vacation since last Friday, and I have not stopped. As a home owner and single parent there is never a shortage of things to do, only a shortage of money to do them.
I've been busy cleaning up my house and tidying up my life. I'm culling things from the past that no longer have any meaning (other than negative ones) and getting rid of stuff I just don't want anymore. I've cleaned and I'm doing a few little things here and there to make things better around here.
I found a homemade cabinet downstairs that was left by the previous owners. Once I got a carpenter to remove the spikes that held it onto the 2 x 4 framing for a half-bath downstairs, it sat there for 4 months. This week, I painted it and bought some new knobs for it. Tomorrow or Saturday, it will take up residence in my bathroom. This house has 1.5 baths and neither of them have any storage other than under the vanity. It sucks hard. So, this will help a little in the main bath.
I bought a new dishwasher, which will be delivered tomorrow, and had the old one pulled out and disconnected so they can take it with them when the new one comes. You never know how much you miss one of those suckers until you don't have one for awhile. It's dreadful!
I also bought a new set of heavy duty shelving for my utility room. No tools required. Yeah! That room is totally out of control. If only my kids would get their own places, 2/3 of what is there would be gone!! Totally unruly. In fact, my daughter has stuff that belongs to her spread out in nearly every single room of my house. Definitely means she needs a place of her own.
Today I fixed the legs on my table there were too loose and tightened up the
frame on my futon to the best of my ability. Damn...the things I have to learn as a single Mom. Some aren't so hard, but many are things I'd rather not have to have the responsibility for doing. Some things, I've learned, I just don't have the know-how or physical strength to do. Boy...do I need a man to help me out around here!!! Hmmm...I can think of many other positive benefits to that too.
Laundry, meals, dishes, paperwork, tax returns...here I come...again. The work just never stops!!
I've been busy cleaning up my house and tidying up my life. I'm culling things from the past that no longer have any meaning (other than negative ones) and getting rid of stuff I just don't want anymore. I've cleaned and I'm doing a few little things here and there to make things better around here.
I found a homemade cabinet downstairs that was left by the previous owners. Once I got a carpenter to remove the spikes that held it onto the 2 x 4 framing for a half-bath downstairs, it sat there for 4 months. This week, I painted it and bought some new knobs for it. Tomorrow or Saturday, it will take up residence in my bathroom. This house has 1.5 baths and neither of them have any storage other than under the vanity. It sucks hard. So, this will help a little in the main bath.
I bought a new dishwasher, which will be delivered tomorrow, and had the old one pulled out and disconnected so they can take it with them when the new one comes. You never know how much you miss one of those suckers until you don't have one for awhile. It's dreadful!
I also bought a new set of heavy duty shelving for my utility room. No tools required. Yeah! That room is totally out of control. If only my kids would get their own places, 2/3 of what is there would be gone!! Totally unruly. In fact, my daughter has stuff that belongs to her spread out in nearly every single room of my house. Definitely means she needs a place of her own.
Today I fixed the legs on my table there were too loose and tightened up the
frame on my futon to the best of my ability. Damn...the things I have to learn as a single Mom. Some aren't so hard, but many are things I'd rather not have to have the responsibility for doing. Some things, I've learned, I just don't have the know-how or physical strength to do. Boy...do I need a man to help me out around here!!! Hmmm...I can think of many other positive benefits to that too.Laundry, meals, dishes, paperwork, tax returns...here I come...again. The work just never stops!!