Gerrymandering

I do not take political sides. Democrats, Republicans, and Independents all have a place in our election system. Everyone should vote for what they think is best for the country, not for party or family biases.

There is a lot of news about gerrymandering in some states. That is not new. In the State of New Jersey in 1797, women could vote. Aghast!

In 1790, New Jersey changed their constitution. It said,:No person shall be entitled to vote in any other township or precinct than that in which he or SHE doth actually reside at the time of the election. But they did have to be property owners, and women could not own property. At marriage, the property went to the husbands. 

Then, in 1797, the wording in the Constitution was changed again. This time, it became that property owners no longer needed "clear estate," or clear ownership of their property.  Women in the state went to the polls and voted!!!

The following year, the women voted to block a Republican candidate. The local newspaper wrote this,

 "Although reinforced by the petticoat band

The Republican valor they could not withstand

And of their disasters in triumph we'll sing

For the petticoat faction's a dangerous thing."

 In 1807, the New Jersey constitution was revised again to limit the vote to white male taxpayers (Sorry to say it was the Republicans).

In 1870, the Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution stated that African Americans could vote.

However, it wasn't until 1920 that the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was ratified, and all women could vote throughout the country. 

My take from this snippet of our history is: watch the gerrymandering in your state so you are included.

                                                 Widow's Peak

Many years ago, I was in college. ( an aside point-)At this point, if I were teaching, a sweet child would spurt out, "Were you alive when Lincoln was President?" 

I would say," No, I missed him by a few years."

Now, to go back to college days. My grandmother, no, she wasn't alive when Mr. Lincoln was either, she wanted a picture of me. She asked me to reveal my Widow's Peak by brushing my hair sideways.

Perhaps you're not familiar with a widow's peak?  It is estimated that one out of three people have one.  It's a typical hairline featuring a v-shaped point on the forehead.

If you are as curious as I am about trivia that is not needed, this is why it is called a widow's peak.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, English widows in mourning for their husbands' deaths wore pointed hoods that formed a V-shape point on the forehead.

If you're unsure if you have one, check in a mirror. If you don't, don't worry. I've never heard of non-widow's peak people being discriminated against. 

                                                                     *          *          *

I am recovering from a broken hip. So, I have watched too much TV.

Do any of you watch the program Dr. Pimple Popper? The title turns me off. I can't imagine spending time watching someone getting their pimples popped. They may need to have it done, but on TV? They must be paid a lot of money. Please let me know if you watch it and if you find it worthwhile. If I receive a lot of positive feedback, I'll try it.

                                                              *           *           *

During this downtime, I also see a lot of commercials.

Have you seen the emu wearing a yellow shirt and a man wearing a yellow shirt who says he is a duck? They are selling insurance. I would not look into any insurance company that has an emu and a man (duck) as a representative.  But I know I am odd. Do you have insurance based on commercials like these?

Another commercial that has me wondering. Does my smeller, my nose, work? The commercial has clothes coming out of the dryer, and they smell. The solution is to buy another product in a plastic bottle to add to the wash.

I take my clothes out of the dryer, and they seem fine. I use Arm and Hammer Laundry Soap in the cardboard box, not the plastic bottle. Cardboard can be recycled. I do add Twenty Mule Team Borax to the wash (also in a cardboard box), mainly because my mother and grandmother did. I figured what worked back then would work now. If we run into each other, smell my clothes, and let me know if they are odorous.

                                                             *          *          *

So long as I'm spouting off, I wonder if I'm the only one who does not like to watch couples argue. It is supposed to be the real life of someone getting out of prison, marrying or living with someone, and finding they have issues and not bliss. I know the TV is only showing the worst instances, but why would I want to sit and watch two people argue, badmouth, and swear at each other? There is enough misery in this world, at least in my opinion, which doesn't count for much, without seeing it on TV. I would much rather read a book. 

Well, enough sounding off from me. Please let me know if you disagree or agree. Do you have something you'd like to share? Send it to my email.  pstinson23@comcast.net

Celebrating July Fourth

                                       July Fourth Celebrating

Soon we will be celebrating the birth of our nation. It is a time to learn about and honor all those who made our democracy possible.

We are all familiar with George Washington and the men we refer to as our founding fathers. However, there were many we do not think about. Let's take a look at two of the lesser-known

Anna Marie Lane lived in Virginia with her husband. When he enlisted in the Continental Army, she dressed like a man and fought alongside her husband from 1776 to 1781. After the war, she was awarded a pension for her heroic actions during the Battle of Germantown. 

Margaret Corbin (also known as Molly Pitcher) was a camp follower after her husband enlisted in the army. She and the other wives cooked, cleaned, and cared for the wounded. 

Molly would bring water to the front line for the soldiers and to cool the cannons. While she was delivering water to the men at the Battle of Fort Washington in 1776,.her husband was killed while manning a cannon. She took his place operating the artillery until she was wounded. Later, she became the first woman to receive an army pension.

Some women served as spies for the Continental Army, warning George Washington and other leaders of British plans.

Some were Mary Ludwig Hays, Deborah Sampson, and Mercy Otis Warren, to name a few. 

Let's stop during our celebrations and thank all the people past and present, known and unknown, who have served our country with honor, integrity, sacrifice, and love. 

patriots. 

OLd Moms

 

                     Grandmas Are Old Moms.

Old moms talk on a plastic play phone with their grandchild for half an hour, listening to the little one describe the scary dream from the night prior, including spaceships and monsters.

Old moms always have band-aids to put on invisible wounds and kisses to make them better.

They will give their grandchildren a "little nibble" a half hour before a meal to "time them over" so they don't starve, and every meal at their house always includes dessert.

Old moms don't pay too much attention to "bedtime" and often read one more story, chat, or snuggle a little longer.

Old moms have lots of room for pictures in their purses, and as they show others these pictures, they ramble on about the cuteness, smartness, perfection, and " one-of-a-kindness" of the one pictured.

Old moms always have the time to listen to a joke, laugh, and slap their knees like it's the funniest joke they've ever heard. When a grandchild goes to the store and climbs up on a platform next to a mannequin, knocks the mannequin's arm off, and stares at it with amazement and wonder, the old mom is not at all embarrassed or tempted to discipline, but instead chuckles and grabs her phone to take a picture. 

Old moms sit for hours building architectural wonders and replicas of castles out of blocks and "eat" all culinary creations made for her out of Play-Dough. 

When asking a potty-training grandchild how things went in the bathroom and if any help was needed, old moms try to remain stoic. They listen to a description of the big one that occurred. 

Old moms get tired a lot, just like regular moms, but they always find the time to nap.

When the tears come, no matter how old the grandchild or how great the infraction, the old mom will always take time to listen, sympathize, and comfort. She will hug and encourage and share words of wisdom she has learned during all the years before she was an old mom. She will let the grandchild know that everything always will turn out just right. Mostly, she will pray that God will make good on her old mom's promise.

With any luck, all moms will someday get to experience all the joy of being an old mom, and then they will realize that all the trials and angst of being a mom were part of God's blessing for them and that all the tears and sleepless nights were so TOTALLY WORTH IT!

Written by an old mom, Margaret Campbell.

Famous Lovers

                               

  Lovers

February is a month of love with Valentine's Day,  cupids, candy, and flowers.

Romeo and Juliet is a famous love story by Shakespeare, but it is fiction.

Who were these two historical figures? What do we know about them?

Ladies First-Cleopatra:

She was Cleopatra the VII, but we drop off the Roman Numberal and know her as Cleopatra, the ruler of Egypt. She was a co-regent  ( at 18) with her brother PtolemyIII (age 10). As was the custom at the time, Cleopatra and her brother married and ruled together. He died while swimming in the Nile River. She married her next bother, Ptolemy XIV. After Rome took over Egypt, Cleopatra went to Rome to have an affair with Julius Caesar. They had a child whom she named Caesarion. Caesar did not recognize the boy as his son.  Cleopatra asked Julius Ceasar to kill her brother in Egypt, which he did. She returned to Egypt and ruled with her son under the Roman Empire. 

Some ancient scholars wrote that Cleopatra was an expert in botany and pharmacology. She was attractive, intelligent, and cultured, speaking several languages. She was the ruler of Egypt and commanded over 200 ships. 

Second-Mark Anthony

 He was the right-hand general in Julius Caesar's army. Julius Caesar was assassinated by Brutus and Cassius. Mark Anthony and Octavian, Caesar's nephew, defeated the assassins and their forces. Octavian and Anthony formed an alliance to take over Caesar's rule. Octavian took over Italy and other western territories, and Anthony was in charge of the eastern domains of the Roman Republic, which included Egypt.

Anthony summoned Cleopatra to Tarsus in 41 B.C. Anthony was married to Fulvia and had two children. They were Marcus Antonius Antylllus and Lullus Antonius.Fulvia knew of Mark Anthony's romance with Cleopatra. Fulvia died, and Cleopatra and Anthony had twins Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene II.  Later, they had a son named Ptolemy Philadelphus. However, Mark Anthony's relationship with Octavian was rocky, so he married Octavian's sister, Octavia. This did not stop him from playing dice games and hunting with Cleopatra. She also conspired with Mark Anthony to kill her sister ArsinoeIV.

The daughter, Cleopatra Selene II , later married a ruler in the northern African Territories

Some ancient scholars contend Mark Anthony and Cleopatra did marry in Egypt, but this was not recognized in Rome, where he was considered to be the husband of Octavia.

Together:

Now, Mark Anthony was the Queen of Egypt's consort, which gave him dominion over Egypt's power. The flooding of the Nile made Egypt a great source of wheat, and Egypt's trading routes across the Indian Ocean brought in the riches of black spices, incense, silks, and gems. Egypt's bringing stability in the East helped Anthony maintain control. 

And Cleopatra gained from her affair (or, some say, marriage). Mark Anthony ordered King Herod of Judea to collect an annual tribute of 200 talents from the king of Nabataea and give it to Cleopatra. King Herod the Great had to grant Cleopatra the Dead Sea bitumen deposits. The bitumen was used for caulking ships and baskets and for embalming mummies. Mark Anthony also ordered King Herod to grant agricultural land near Jericho, which produced harvests of date palms. He also gifted to her areas noted for timber production used for building ships.

When Mark Anthony divorced Octavian's sister, Octavia, it infuriated Octavian, who now was called Caesar Augustus. Caesar knew the Senate would not approve a war against Mark Anthony, so he declared war against Cleopatra.

She supplied Mark Anthony with 200 talents from the royal treasury, food, ships, and other supplies to fight Octavian. 

Octavian won at the Battle of Actium and annexed Egypt. Cleopatra and Mark Anthony fled to Alexandria, and Ocativian followed. Mark Anthony killed himself with a sword, and Cleopatra had a poisonous snake bite her. Some scholars contend she used poison rather than a snake.  

Her son, Caesarion, whom she had with Julius Caesar, was killed by Octavian Augustus. Octavian was Augustus Caesar, the ruler of all his territory, including Mark Anthony's and Egypt. 

Mark Anthony and Cleopatra's love affair was used for political advantage and to strengthen their power. But it all fell apart when Otavian had enough after his sister getting divorced.

This famous love affair proved to be disastrous for them and the way they are remembered in history; however, it unified the powers of Rome. 

                                                                 Star Crossed Lovers

                            (Was it love or was it politics or both?)

February Days Day 3-10

                     February is a Busy Month of Celebrations

There are many, many celebrations and observations for February. I chose a few from the 3rd through the 10th to highlight.

February 3 has

Doggy Date Night (?)

Elmo's Birthday

Feed the Birds Day  (This I can do)

National Carrot Cake Day (I hope to get a slice. Yum)

National Cordova Ice Worm Day (?)

National Missing Person's Day

National Ssickie Day 

February 4th has

Create a Vacuum Day (How?)

Rosa Parks Day (celebrated in California and Missouri)

Western Monarch Day ( Is this for butterflies or people?)

World Nutella Day

 February 6th has:

National Chopsticks Day (I have some so I can use them.)

National Lame Duck Day (Does it mean politics or a real lame duck?)

National Frozen Yogurt Day (Yum!)

National Optimist Day (Fun!)

National Valentine Shopping Reminder Day (Humm, Guess who wanted this day?)

Pay a Compliment Day (Agree)

Time to Talk Day (Easy)

February 7th has:

Bubble Gum Day

National Fettuccine Alfredo Day 

Give Kids a Smile Day

National Periodic Table Day (This must be important. My niece, Lily, memorized it in 3rd or 4th grade. Just for fun.)

National Send a Card to a Friend Day

Number Day (?)

Wave All Your Fingers At Your Neighbors Day

Laugh and Get Rich Day

National Kite Flying Day

National Molasses Bar Day (It comes in bars?)

Propose Day (A busy day for men and women.)

February 9th has:

Chocolate Day

National Bagel and Lox Day

National Cut the Cord Day

National Pizza Day (This I can get behind.)

National Toothache Day (Why! I'm not celebrating this one.)       

Read in the Bathtub Day ( I can't. I've showers, not bathtubs. But I can read many other places.)

February 10th has:

All the News That's Fit to Print Day

International Cribbage Day

National Clean Out Your Computer Day

National Cream Cheese Brownie Day

National Flannel Day ( Feb. can be cold.)

Oatmeal Monday Day (What if the 10th isn't a Monday?)

Sick of Food Waste Day

Valentismas Day (I don't know what this is.)

World Pulses Day (?)

Thes a few Days for February. Will you honor by celebrating any of these momenteous events. 

More Days ahead.  Have fun and read, read, and read. That is the most fun. 

Reading, and not in a bathtub. 

February Days

You Choose Celebrations in February!

In the past, I have posted about Black History, Valentines, and Groundhogs. But there is so much more to celebrate.

 Here is a list of Holidays and Observances for February 1st.

Change Your Password Day

Medjool Date Day

Decorating With Candy Day

National Hemp Day

First Day of Black History Month

National Homemade Soup Day

Ice Cream For Breakfast Day (sad I missed out on this)

National Stuffed Mushroom Day

International Pisco Sour Day

National Thank A Mail Carrier Day

National Baked Alaska Day

National Sweater Day

National Dark Chocolate Day

National Wicker Day

National Get Up Day  (I did do this)

Quacker Day

National Freedom Day

National Serpent Day (Glad I missed this, but it does fit for the New Lunar Year)

Torture Abolition Day

Robinson Crusoe Day

Transit Equity Day

Spunky Old Broads Day (I wonder if it would include me)

USO Day

Take Your Child To the Library Day

World Cancer Day

World Hijab Day

Now On To February 2nd. Now you can prepare to celebrate.

Global School Play Day

2 FA Day

National Chocolate Fondue Day (This sounds good to me)

AYN Rand Day (?)                                      

National Girls and Women in Sports Day

Candlemas Day

National Signing Day

Crepe Day (I love crepes)

World Read Aloud Day (I can do this)

I read aloud to my dog. However, he is not brown.

Groundhog Day (I covered this in a previous posting)

Marmot Day (I'm told marmots taste delicious. Haven't tried it)

National Brown Dog Day  (What about the other colors?)

National Catchers Day

National Hedgehog Day

National River Day

National Sled Dog Day

National Tater Tot Day ( I could celebrate this happily)

Record of a Sneeze Day (Is there a record of sneezes?)

Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day

Scout Sunday

Self-Renewal Day

World Wetlands Day

This is all for now. More will be posted another time.  Celebrating in February sounds exhausting.