Fourth of July Facts

1776: The Declaration of Independence is signed on July 4 in Philadelphia. Celebrations are held throughout the colonies and in New York City, where crowds topple a statue of King George III of England on his horse.

1808: Residents of Richmond, Va., decide that only liquor produced in the United States should be consumed at July Fourth celebrations. The resolution is a result of the tension between the United States and Great Britain that eventually leads to the War of 1812.

1911: William Howard Taft heads to Indianapolis, where he sits in a grandstand on July Fourth and watches two locomotives smash into each other at full throttle.

1942: Fireworks in most cities are canceled because of blackouts enforced during World War II.

2006: The space shuttle Discovery lifts off at Kennedy Space Center, marking the first launch on the Fourth of July.

James Heintze is also author of the new "The Fourth of July Encyclopedia," published by McFarland & Company Inc. and available at www.mcfarlandpub.com.

Happy Valentine's Day

Another edition of the weekly Thursday Thirteen.

Happy Valentine's Day all you guys and gals. Today is the day of LOVE! Yes! I have a darling husband that I love dearly and I could certainly start a list here telling you all the reasons why I love him... but, I'm thinking you probably won't find those reasons nearly as important as I do... so how about a love list that we can share?

I love blogging and let me count the ways...

13. My husband says that I'm a happier person when I'm blogging. See... it is good for you. It's good for your soul!

12. You get to find someone who shares similar interests, a sense of humor, and strike up a friendship... much like my blogging buddy - Susan at West of Mars.

11. You get to step on top of whatever soapbox you want and rant or rave or vent... and develop a fan base while doing it.

10. Nothing makes surfing the internet more enjoyable that popping on to someone's blog and seeing what they think on a topic.

9. Learn something new. Learn something new. Learn something new.

8. Get to know your multiple personalities and give them voice!

7. You get to be one with the force! Also known as the internet....

6. You know you love something when you can spend endless hours just admiring it... much like the blogosphere.

5. The Meme... You know it. You love it. You anxiously await it's weekly arrival!

4. I love site traffic. Yes. I like all those little clicks and I lovingly check my traffic meters at least two or three times a day.

3. I've gone to bed at night and as I've drifted off to sleep.. I've thought about the blog post I'd like to research and write... and post...

2. I've clicked on someone's blog and... *gasp* experienced blog envy!

1. Mostly, I love the feeling of community and the group of bloggers I've connected with.... Thank you for feeding my obsession. :) Have a lovely Valentine's!

Valentine's Special: 13 Moments from the History of Sex

Thursday Thirteen for 02/01/2007

Hello February, the month of loooooove! Several years ago I bought my husband a wonderful little book called Great Moments in Sex by Cheryl Rilly. It's a fabulous book filled with interesting tidbits. I also called up my mother and recommended that she buy it as a gift for my father. If you are looking for something a little different to get your Valentine, this might be a good option. Here are 13 moments from the book that I wanted to share with you.
*The content may be mature in nature or include mature terms - so if you know you shouldn't be reading it - please move along.

1. Circa 1850 B.C. Cervical caps, diaphragms, and jellies to prevent the little swimmers from doing their job are mentioned in the Egyptian Kahun Papyrus.

2. C 500 B.C. The Pythagoreans define sperm as a "clot of brain containing hot vapor within it." With every ejaculation, man loses more of his gray matter.

3. C. 1200 B.C. The custom of veiling a woman's face originates in Assyria. Only "respectable" women are allowed to do so. Failing to wear a veil or a woman of lesser rank wearing one both merit the same punishment: flogging.

4. C. 450 B.C. After centuries of being sequestered in the back of the house and shunned by men in general, Greek women begin their revolt against the men's club Greece has become. Taking a cue from the hetairai, women are educated and put more emphasis on their physical attributes than on their broodmare capabilities.

5. C 500 B.C. The hetairai of Greece take center stage. Known for their beauty and intelligence, many of them become famous. There's Clepsydra, given the name of a Greek hourglass because she's so much in demand that she uses it to time her sessions with lovers. The line forms at Cyrene's door because she knows 12 ways of having sex.

6. C. 50 Mark Antony is remembered for his liaison with Cleopatra. But before his marriage to the Queen of the Nile, Antony does enough romping to earn a reputation. His sex drive is so strong that he outdoes and scandalizes Caesar by keeping a harem of both sexes in Rome.

7. 77 In Natural History, Pliny sends out the alarm against menstruating women. Wine turns to vinegar, seed becomes sterile, and fruit falls from trees under which she stands. She'll blunt razors, rust metal, and take the polish off ivory and mirrors. With just one look, swarming bees die at once. (Yeah, even then they were scared of the PMS)

8. 1570 Chinese erotic art reaches a pinnacle with the production of printed color albums. Every elegant page is folded in an accordion pleat measuring about ten inches square and is accompanied by a poem to complement the picture.

9. 1722 Daniel Defoe's classic Moll Flanders is added to the list of immoral immortals.

10. 1844 Goodyear develops the vulcanization process for rubber and puts an end to animal-skin condoms.

11. 1966 Twiggy, the first fashion model to achieve international celebrity, drastically changes the ideal female body type. Gone are the curves of Marilyn Monroe.

12. Chocolate was once considered an aphrodisiac. Today there's proof that it may be true. The treat contains phenylethylamine, a stimulant that is similar to the chemicals released by the body during sex. The Aztecs allow only members of the court to drink the liquid because of the power it imparts.

13. Forget aphrodisiacs, love potions, and wishing on a star. If you really want to know whether you'll meet your true love, follow the Valentine's Day advice offered in Poor Robin's Almanac in 1729 - if you dare: "... In the Evening of Valentine's Day, do take two White Oak Leaves, and lay them across your Pillow, when you go to bed, putting on a clean Shift or Shirt, and turning it the wrong Side outwards, lay down and say these words aloud, Good Valentine be kind to me, in Dreams let me my true Love see. So carefully drawing your right Leg behind you, put it over your left Shoulder. In like manner put your left Leg behind you, laying it across your right Shoulder; and be sure take Care that the Soles of your Feet meet under your Chin. Then go to Sleep as soon as you can. And if you dream you see two Moons touching each other, you will certainly be marry'd very speedily, when you be a young Man, Maid or Widow."

Ok... I have no idea what kind of pretzel twisting they did in 1729 to come up with these crazy ideas.

Where has all the willpower gone?

Today marks the first day of a new year. Across the word people are starting their New Year's Resolutions. Of course, only 75% of those folks with resolutions will make it past the first week. Only 64% will make it past the first month.

The top resolutions tend to be about health, like I'll eat better or I'll diet or I'll stop smoking or I'll exercise on a regular basis. Then there are those resolutions like, I'll be a better friend, parent, spouse or I'll save money and get out of debt.

I've got my own resolutions for this year. I wonder if I'll be able to make it past the first week, the first month... I know that I'm not healthy. I know that I don't eat right. I know the ramifications of a poor diet. I know I'm at higher risk for diabetes, heart disease and cancer. I'm not stupid. I know that fast food is bad. I know I should drink more water. I know that just 15 minutes of cardio workout a day would do wonders for me...

Why haven't I attempted to change before? Why do we wait for a new year?

I think I know why. I lack the willpower to accomplish these goals. I know that I should do things differently. I feel guilt when I eat too much sugar or sit on the couch watching a rerun when I could be taking the dog for a walk or stretching.

For some things it seems I have endless amounts of dedication - my job, my children, my husband. I can accomplish much... but when it comes to myself, I just lose that ability to remain focused and on task.

So, I'm not going to wish that you lose those inches off your waistline. I'm not going to hope that you eat greens each day. I'm not going to hope that you become a better person.

I'm only going to wish that you have the willpower and dedication to stay true to your desires. If we are able to keep the willpower strong, then we'll be able to achieve our new resolutions.

My resolution this year is that I increase my willpower to give me the strength I need to meet my goals.

Happy New Year and Good Luck!

Even the clown prince celebrates Christmas.

The cookies are baked. The presents from mom and dad are wrapped... the count down has begun.

However, Boudreaux (aka the clown prince) got to celebrate a little early and got his present from the Pea Pie today around 1:00 this afternoon.

The Pea Pie, the clown prince and Ralph.

He really loves his new friend...

He loves him A LOT... in fact, Ralph suffered severe trauma after only a few hours of play and needed emergency surgery. We hope he survives the night!

Note the lovely PJ's on the Pea Pie? That's the Christmas Eve gift and she's anxiously waiting for dark time. She just knows Santa will be peeking in her window as soon as it's dark enough!

Happy Holidays

Admist the hustle and bustle of the holidays it is easy to let the positive energies go and get stuck on some of those less than pleasant negative ones, like depression, frustration, stress, etc.

This time of year is my favorite, for various reasons. I tend to experience each day with excitement and joy. This morning as my pea pie came inside crying from the bus stop, I immediately jumped up to find out what had caused her to come inside only moments from the bus. She sobbed and told me how the neighbor girls were calling her names and hitting her. I escorted my little one back outside, yelled across the cul de sac to the two little bra... err girls and then proceeded to walk over to their house. I then informed their mother of their behavior. I got home and was fuming. This is not the first time the neighbor girls have picked on my girls.

My girls have a few things that make them a little different from their classmates. My older has a genetic disorder that makes her more sensitive to even the most minor injury - and she's very slender and rather awkward in her movements. My younger daughter has ADD and she's been known to annoy even the most patient of friends. My girls are sensitive, my 9 year old cries when she watches many movies because she has a strong emotional connection not only with make believe characters, but with people in general. As their mother, I want to protect them. I don't want them to get hurt.

Where am I going with this you ask?

Well, quite frankly, life is rough. No one has it easy these days. It's easier to get angry than to accept a troubling situation and make peace with it. Some one is always being hurt. There is always something terrible happening, someone is always sick, someone is always struggling to make ends meet and somewhere, a school bully is picking on another kid. Why do we seem to focus on the troubles? When we can make change, when we can make something better... I'm all for it... but it seems to me we fascinate with the negative just so we can be fascinated by it. Sounds sad... doesn't it? It's life... society... our realm.

With the negative comes the positive. Right now, someone is discovering love; somewhere a baby is coming into this world surrounded by family and friends who love unconditionally; somewhere a person has mastered a skill and is experiencing the joy and satisfaction of self-accomplishment; somewhere someone is experiencing peace and contentment; somewhere a person's pain is ending; somewhere a family is sitting together and just enjoying the happiness of being with those they love; somewhere a person's life is being saved by a doctor, a friend, a police officer, a fireman, a priest.

I don't know what you believe in and honestly, I don't care. Whether you celebrate Chanukah, Kwanza, or Christmas; whether you believe in God, Jesus, Budha, Jehovah, Aliens or even if you believe there is no great being... We are here together and we do have the power to make our days brighter.

Don't let the negativity blind you from what is good and bright and wonderful. I wish you the happiest of holidays. May a smile lift your lips each day and a giggle of joy reach your ears.

Wish List goes on the Thursday 13!

Thirteen Things about Rashenbo #1
TT Edition #70 12/07/06

So, I've got a friend (yes! I have a friend! Woot! I know I've got at least one of em!) You've probably seen her comments on my lovely ramblings. She's got a great blog and every single Thursday without fail she has this little thing called the Thursday Thirteen. I tried to resist... really I did. You see the post... so you know I failed in my resisting. Here it is, I've joined the Thursday Thirteen jubilee! (Feel free to blame Susan.)

Since I decided to start the little Secret Santa (also known as the holiday gnome, wish fairy, or whatever floats your boat) I thought that I would make a wish list... the Thursday Thirteen is a list - so here we go!

1. I wish I knew how to make the codes work to actually place buttons side-by-side in my sidebar instead of paragraph spaces between them. I think it will dress up my site. I like to just sit here and stare at my blog sometimes when I don't want to do anything else. The unorganized button structure bugs my OCDness.

2. I wish I had mad musical skills like my friend (I've claimed him - so there's no point in his resisting) Crushing Krisis or my other friend, Susan. Unfortunately, I can't carry a tune in a bucket, keep a melody if my life depended on it, or remember anything about a beat. I can hear a song 3 times in a row and still not recognize it within the first 4 or 5 seconds. My husband likes to test my musical knowledge all the time. He says, "who sings this?". I like to respond with: "Michael Bolton", "Cyndi Lauper" (however she spelled it) or "Michael Jackson". He just loves when I do that :D Every now and then I get lucky - usually with Nickelback, Aerosmith, Metallica, The Beatles - folks like that :)

3. I wish I knew how to teach my daughter how to understand counting by twos.
4. I wish I had more patience.
5. I wish I was a teacher.

Here's why: She's six. She's in the first grade. She's got ADD. I counted by twos for about 15 minutes. I showed her how adding 2 each time is like a pattern. She even said, "it's a pattern!" Then I gave her a work sheet of numbers 1 - 50 and said, ok, count by 2 and color all the 2's blue. It was a worksheet she was supposed to do at school and the teacher sent it home so that we could try and get her to do it. After more time (about 30 minutes) talking about 2's... I drew pictures. I drew little math problems of 2 + 2 = 4 / 4+2 = 6, etc. I wrote the list of 2's up to #30 and had her look at it and read the numbers to me.

This is how the conversation went down after our "studying":
"Pea Pie, count by 2's and color them blue. Here is the crayon and here is the worksheet."
- - "What do I do?"
"Do you remember talking about 2's?"
- - "Yes."
"Can you count by 2's for me right now?"
- - "um... no."
"Why not?"
- - "I don't know how to count by 2's"
"Do you remember how we counted 2, 4, 6, 8"
- - "Yes."
"That's counting by twos. Find the 2s and color them blue."
- - "But there are more numbers than those ones."
"Yes. Yes there are. Can you find them for me?"
- - "Are they these ones" she points to 20, 21, 22, 23 and begins to color them all red.
= fast forward five minutes later *thud* *thud* *thud* That's my head hitting the table while she is rolling around on the floor crying about how bored she is, how she doesn't understand, and how she wants to go take a bath. Good lord - teaching children is hard work!

6. I wish my husband would send in our XBox 360 for repair so I can build up more gamer points! He can be a real slacker sometimes. :) I think our gamer profile is um, Snaggle Tuuth (A name with a real history here... we used to telnet into MUDS and then used Zmud to play text based rpg's and one of my hub's first characters was Snaggle. Then we moved to EQPC... we had the whole Tuuth family: Gappe, Sweete, Snaggle - etc. I've posted on where I got my handle. Snaggle is my husband's.)

7. I wish I had endless amounts of gift certificates to Borders, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble book stores! Mmmm, gift certificates... they are as good as donuts!

8. I wish I had a diet and exercise plan that I was actually able to follow!

9. I wish I had some new socks. I love socks. I like fuzzy ones and wool ones and knee high ones. I like ones with bright stripes. My favorites are a pair of red and whites... and then I've got this great pair with monkey faces on them... Right now I'm wearing black, white, and gray striped slipper socks with the grinch on them. What kind of socks are you wearing right now?

10. I wish I had a neat "Reviewed by Rashenbo" button that I could give to blogs I review.

11. I wish I had one of those new Civilizations games - they look neat.

12. I wish I knew what was going to happen on Heroes next... I want my own super power. Like a little magic cleaning fairy. I could squint my eyes real tight and then she'd appear and she'd dust, and vacumn, and do my dishes, and yes... she would even tackle the dreaded laundry...

13. What's a wish list without wishing for World Peas? I wish for world peas.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Judy 2. Susan 3. Courtney 4. Tug 5. Mikala 6. Mistress of the Dark 7. Lil Duck Duck
8. Debby 9. Jennifer 10. Colleen Gleason 11. Patent Princess 12. Goofy Girl 13. Janene

Ok, I had to grab this Mister Linky thingy because I'm too lazy to update my links :) And it looked neat on other folks blogs. I'm checking it out to see how I like it! :)

The List!

The Basic Idea
Some More Specifics

So, here are the participants who are hoping to get a visit from a secret santa, holiday gnome, wish fairy or other delightful spirit during the holiday time of year. Visit them, enjoy their list, decide if you want to make a *wish* come true. (I think I'll use the Thursday Thirteen as my prompt to list my wish list!)

Sock Girl - She's got an awesome little holiday gnome button. Maybe if you ask nicely she'll let you use it... or maybe it will be one of your wish items!

Never That Easy

Ice Cream Mama

Wopalockapino

Gabrielle

Secret Santa, Bloggin Style

So, now that the Nablopomo is over (and the prizes awarded - I didn't win any *bummer*) I'm back to reading my usual blogs. Writing Space is one of them and he nabbed this from someone named DQ's site (Update - he did give me the link and here it is) and I thought it was interesting and wanted to share it with you folks:

Step One
- Make a post (public, friendslocked, filtered...whatever you're comfortable with) to your blog. The post should contain your list of 10 holiday wishes. The wishes can be anything at all, from simple and fun ("I'd love a Hermione icon that's just for me") to medium ("I wish for _____ on DVD") to really big ("All I want for Christmas is a new car/computer/house/TV.") The important thing is, make sure these wishes are things you really, truly want.

- If you wish for real possible things, make sure you include some sort of contact info in your post, whether it's your address or just your email address where Santa (or one of his elves) could get in touch with you.

- Also, make sure you post some version of these guidelines in your blog, or link to this post (I'm going to try and get the original post from Writing Space so the kudos can go where they belong) so that the holiday joy will spread.

Step Two
- Surf around your friendslist (or friends of friends, or just random blogs) to see who has posted their list. And now here's the important part:

- If you see a wish you can grant, and it's in your heart to do so, make someone's wish come true. Sometimes someone's trash is another's treasure, and if you have a leather jacket you don't want or a gift certificate you won't use--or even know where you could get someone's dream purebred Basset Hound for free--do it.

You needn't spend money on these wishes unless you want to. The point isn't to put people out, it's to provide everyone a chance to be someone else's holiday elf--to spread the joy. Gifts can be made anonymously or not--it's your call.

There are no rules with this project, no guarantees, and no strings attached. Just...wish, and it might come true. Give, and you might receive. And you'll have the joy of knowing you made someone's holiday special.

(And now, you can make a list and stick it on your blog! Who knows, maybe a secret santa will be visiting you!)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I hope all of you had a wonderful turkey day with friends and family around.

Cheers to you!

Happy Halloween!!!!

Zombie Letters from e-zombie.com

Yes, it is that time again. Let the children go crazy and let the candy flow like mana from heaven!!!


Where was I yesterday, you ask? Let's just pretend that yesterday didn't happen. It was one of "those" Mondays!


Now, I thought I'd list a few fun Halloween links. There are far too many for my limited attention, so I'll just share a few.


For all things Halloween.
Want to read the Origin of Halloween?
Want to see a Halloween Blog?
Want to know where the Zombie Friends hang out?
Want to play the Simpsons Zombie Shoot Out?

I'll be escorting a zombie and a pirate (for the second year) this evening. What will you be escorting?

For my writer friends who haven't been over to Cobwebs of the Mind, it's a blog by Teddy Gross. He reviews other blogs (often by writers or about writing) and provides some very nice comments.

Happy Halloween! Have fun and be sure to frolic, but be safe!