Welcome to another week of madness we call life–hope the weekend was good to you….Had a great weekend…..visited

Spring Hammock Preserve

Winter Springs

We walked some paths and enjoyed the great day Saturday was in Central  Florida.

“Do I look like I give a damn?”
James Bond (Daniel Craig) after being asked if he would like his vodka martini shaken or stirred, Casino Royale (2006)

Liquor Bottle FISHER & FAIRBANKS Tall Antique from Bost… (262271347935) $6.20

Latest on next OUTLANDER season Which starts in 39 days:

https://www.yahoo.com/tv/39-outlander-39-season-2-what-we-know-1373752888188982.html

AND Sam Heughan on Jamie Fraser’s struggle:  http://www.fashionnstyle.com/articles/81014/20160224/outlander-season-2-spoilers-sam-heughan-teases-jamie-fraser-struggle-ptsd.htm

was there ever a show with more hot men?

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While I was getting ready to write this Jaws came on—Haven’t seen it in ages, kinda like not that again, but I let it stay on the channel and now I remember why this show was such a hit and why we were  hesitant to return to the water for long after the movie had moved from our consciousness to join our inherited and cultural taboos…hidden away in the back of our minds like a bad experience….to always (for some of us) taint our ocean dives and sojourns.   In societies like ours there are few family legends that hold in our mind….each generation become less connected with their past and more afloat in a hodgepodge of video games, super heroes and movies that seem to replace the taboos and legends of our cultural reality.  So I look at Jaws as one of those movies that plays on our cultural fears that are part of our human past—even though for most of us it has been many generations since as a society or people, have had to fight the creatures for our existence, there is still the tribe of mankind’s collective memory and Jaws plays to that deep seated shared fear of deep waters and things that go bump in the night.

“ET phone home.”
Gertie/Drew Barrymore in ET the Extra-terrestrial (1982)

While still a cult classic I see this movie as one of the early horror stories that set us up for all the vampires good and bad since.  When Bram Stoker wrote his book about an undead Count from a decaying castle in Transylvania who comes to England to  reek havoc on the unsuspecting inhabitants of a port city (he wrote and the city he set it all in was Whitby which is on the East coast over the York plains several miles from York and where we’re planning on visiting on my summer adventure),

Though the legends grow more outrageous and convoluted—from Barnabas Collins, the soap opera vampire (Dark Shadows) in the 60’s to the crazy legends and histories of Underworld’s legions of vampires and werewolves it is this movie (and it’s birthparent book) Dracula (with the bizarre Bela Lugosi) that brought  it all  prominence and rebirthed and kept live and contributed to our own pre-occupations with these darkness dwelling creatures that have gone from base evil to more currently everything from unjustly cursed beings and lovers to almost god-like evil incarnate creatures that drink our blood and doom us to a life of night dwelling blood drinking as well.

Vampire creatures have long been a staple in the dark stories and legend of most cultures and with these new books and movies everywhere we assure these legends that rather than dying out they become more potent and engraved in our society, which like the shark before appeals to our dark corners and scary, non-scientific places of our mind and spiritual being.

“Ever since I can remember I always wanted to be a gangster. To me that was better than being president of the United States. To be a gangster was to own the world.”
Henry Hill/Ray Liotta in Goodfellas (1990)

And now a big buck epic where we view the Russian Revolution and the love of one man, a doctor, for two women while the world he know is destroyed about him.

This movie gives us grand scope and yet brings us down from the huge revolution to the man—someone who is part of the hated society that the Communists wish to destroy and yet we see a lot of us in that man and a lot more good in him than in the revolution which is tearing apart a culture which while suppressive to those not in the ruling or at least the wealthy classes, is still a society that seems to us westerns to be the lesser of two evils.

Whether this confirms many in our own society’s fear of Communism or as is the case with many of us just a beautiful, love story set amid death and destruction it leaves a mark on our mind and a remembrance in our heart and makes some of us thankful that our own revolution did not take place at such destruction to our or our mother country’s society.

“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn!”
Rhett Butler/Clark Gable in Gone with the Wind (1939)

THE GODFATHER MOVIES:  AN ode to an American Institution, or how we learned to love the mob in three easy lessons—or rather two the #3 movie seriously sucked, but that’s my opinion—

These series of movies (and the ones that came after like Goodfellas–both movies by the way having inspired no end to pizza joints named for them) has placed the Mafia in our national consciousness and made them part of the American heritage for better or worse.  They have despite the violence of the movies and the obvious responsibilities of the main characters (Mainly Vito, Sonny and Michael Corleone) for this violence, become part of our icons for modern society and by doing so in some ways it would seem we have accepted the violence that the MOB has done, while maybe not being an actual forgiveness of same, as at least an understandable part of our ongoing necessity for certain parts of our society—kind of like how we took the Indian ‘s lands and now make movies (well did, these have kinda gone out of style) about our brave men and the wicked savages.

The Godfather is one of our early Anti-hero examples which seem to become more and more inclusive in our society till sometimes I believe that the Anti-hero has become the norm and the heroes of old  are outdated and  unacceptable to our modern and increasingly less interested in morals and obligation-owed society.

“Go ahead, make my day.”
Harry Callaghan/Clint Eastwood in Sudden Impact (1983)

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“I’ll be back.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator (1984)

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My Pictures today—main and first one from Chicago

Remainder–just odd retail affairs I took of which I took pictures.

Oh and the picture from the spring is mine as well.

Ok last one for the week—tomorrow I am meeting someone on a volunteer gig….how about you?

“Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.” – Golda Meir

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DIANA on kissing Sam!

‘Outlander’ Author Diana Gabaldon Explains Getting Caught Kissing Star Sam Heughan

Getting us through Droughtlander one Kiss at a time–here’s an oldie but goodie review of the wedding show:

http://www.tvguide.com/news/outlander-wedding-episode-1087251/

“I didn’t get there by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it.” – Estée Lauder

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So for my final today I thought I’d look into what makes someone successful….because despite what I have researched and showed you I still think that we woman  can be successful on our own in our own little sphere and though we may not ever become the president of anything—I am still the queen of my life and a success in that and so I am proud and happy with me…how about you?

 “Power’s not given to you. You have to take it.” – Beyoncé Knowles Carter

FIRST one of the things I find that works the best is passion—no not kissing Jamie Fraser or Sam Heughan but taking a deep interest and belief in the things that you do—if you are a nurse then you will need to have a passion for nursing in order to REALLY BE A SUCESS. …..

Actually this is a NO BRAINER—Why even get into something that doesn’t interest you that much.  So many people (not just women) take on something because other people think they should, or it’s “an obvious choice” and on and on ad nauseum and so they go through the job, or the marriage or the what ever and then wake up some day to see that they are bogged in a dismal sea of also ran…without that real interest, without the passion for it, you will at your very best get an honorable mention while others make a mark or even a name doing the same thing.

A passion makes the difference between a Harlequin novel and Gone with the Wind…..a passion makes the best movies, the best designs, the best plans…a passion also does something else—it makes your life worth living…it allows you see things in brighter colors, to experience sensations on receptive nerve ends rather than those dulled by acceptance and boredom….passion puts you head and shoulders above the crowd not only in business but in relationships, travel and life’s adventures….Try it—but warning it can become addictive.

You can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them.” – Shonda Rhimes

Set Goals—what do you want to do and how do you propose to do it….You don’t have to have every step down to begin with but say you want to rule the world…..obviously you’ll need a way to conquer it…..so how?

An Army—-cost a lot and hasn’t worked in the past ask Hannibal, Hitler—you know those guys

So what’ s the cheapest and requires a blood-less and army-less take over–how about tours or converts to your beliefs and ideas of world order (which you need to start writing immediately)….Jesus (no disrespect intended) did very well with this but at a great cost…so maybe that isn’t the path you want to take.

What about the internet–converting people to your beliefs one person at a time—you could plan a blog and what to put on it and how to direct it and…hey wait that’s my gig—-try something else.

But that is a very simplistic way of analyzing your direction and from there you make a plan and then refine it down more and more until you have your life’s, or maybe just the first few decades of it, worked out.

 “I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.” – Lucille Ball

You must assert yourself and even be aggressive to succeed.  No body is a success standing in the back of the room hiding from the lime light….as women, we especially have learned to care for ours, our children, our parents, our significant others,…its been ingrained in our very souls and often we allow those we care for to take the limelight so much that we feel uncomfortable in it…but to succeed in anything we can not take second place to anything.

I think that some of us confuse love and stepping back to be the same thing, which is not the case, men have been taught that succeeding is what they must do to care for their loved ones–we must take this attitude too in order to be successful at parenting as well as business, art, writing what ever we want to do or be.

Blowing your own horn is often not encouraged.  I was often told that I should not praise myself—yet if we do not compose and sing our own song how will someone else ever be able to learn it.   We do not have to be boorish, neither should we waste our time hiding our talents or ignoring our abilities…..Let it shine ladies and the light will get brighter,  hide it and it will diminish and may even eventually die out all together.

“If you don’t risk anything, you risk even more.” – Erica Jong

Keep FOLLOWING THAT PLAN—consistently follow your dreams and your plans—make that plan part of the map from your present  keeping you on the direction to your successful future….but remember it is not set in stone…..in fact while you have major directions set out, you may find that what you thought would help you to your goal isn’t proving to be as successful as you had anticipated and so readjustment or direction changes may happen on a regular basis as you move through the mine fields and obstacles of life.

The ability to make these changes, to recognize that something is unsuccessful and change directions to continue to work with your goal is important–standing firm even when it isn’t succeeding is a sure way to fail…the old we learn from our mistakes is so true, we just can’t let ourselves not admit that we are human and so make mistakes.  But we also must learn from those mistakes and make them part of the continuing direction of our success.

Oh and if that plan turns out not to be what you really want then try sifting through the pieces of it to help you make a new direction, a new place you want to be—we are not perfect, but the experience it took you to get to this point will stand you in a good position to see the new direction you need and are going to go.  It’s more important to admit  that what you thought was a direction was only a way to get to what you really were destined to go—not a mistake just building a base for the next step of your life.

 “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” – Dolly Parton

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“If you think taking care of yourself is selfish, change your mind. If you don’t, you’re simply ducking your responsibilities.” – Ann Richards

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and that my dears is the end.

TODAY WE CONTINUE WITH WOMEN AND WOMENLY SUBJECTS–oh my.

“You see a lot of smart guys with dumb women but you hardly ever see a smart woman with a dumb guy.” — Erica Jong

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These character pictures let you see the newest additions to Outlander as well as some of the Regulars (Claire, Jamie and Frank) in their Season 2 attire:

http://www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/outlander-season-2-new-portraits-7430628

and Diana on Kilts, Sex and Fans

http://www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/outlander-creator-diana-gabaldon-kilts-4083075

“I’ve been on so many blind dates, I should get a free dog.” — Wendy Liebman

I thought I’d look at women in Fiction today…I found an article in The Guardian ( http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jul/25/top-10-uncompromising-women-fiction) which presents a group of 10 uncompromising women: “From Hermione Granger to Scarlett O’Hara to Dolores Claiborne, the strongest protagonists are a law unto themselves”  An interesting group from a young wizard to a femme fatal to a really freaky lady it is a collection that I would not put together but then that’s why I’m not getting paid for my efforts.  Check out the site above for the full list and the reason for the picks.

Frankenstein (1818) by Mary Shelley (a woman writing fiction–who knew) has been called the first science fiction novel.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_speculative_fiction

CNN ALSO has a list on Woman–these they describe as fierce women http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/01/showbiz/favorite-fictional-heroines/ and their first example is Jo March–in Little Women—I remember reading Little Women when I was in my early teens (or younger) and loved the book with its great all woman cast (well there were some men, namely the neighbor Lawrence boy who was Jo’s partner in crime but who ends up with someone else).

Jo was the perfect Tom boy and defender and protector of her mother and sisters while her dad serves in the Civil War, she was fierce in a woman’s way—-OK you feminists I’m not putting down women….but so many of us have small spheres in which we shine and not the whole earth….Jo shone and made us realize that we could do the same and be important even if it wasn’t world renowned.

Oh by the way the second woman on their list said this:  “Books! And cleverness! There are more important things — friendship and bravery.”  Yep Hermione Granger again on CNN’s list.

“When women are depressed they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country.” — Elayne Boosler

When Huffington (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/samantha-hahn/9-of-literatures-most-bel_b_3824373.html#gallery/314589/8) did their list on most loved characters I didn’t find any body from Harry Potter, but I did find Mina Harker (from Dracula) and Nora Charles (from the Thin Man) and of course Polly Golightly (from Breakfast At Tiffany’s)–the slightly (maybe more) ditzy heroine who ends up alone in the book but with relationship with man and cat back to what ever is normal for her at the end of the movie.

Now I must admit that Holly annoyed me—I’m too level headed (well half of me at least) to understand or long abide her character and thus she must be wonderful for isn’t that what fiction is for–to stretch the mind and broaden the horizon.  I don’t like her, maybe because I know I can never be that free or irresponsible.   Women especially have had responsibility nailed to their foreheads–kind of like that old Scarlett A in Pilgrim New England–men are allowed to sow their wild oats, women are expected to be more practical and even with our enlightened times there is, I believe, still a standard for woman to be less like Holly and more like Mother Theresa: more responsible and the fact that Holly refuses (or is not able) to buckle down to this responsibility should be a (greater or lesser) guide for the rest of us.

Time Magazine tells us:  “…new data suggests that women in heterosexual partnerships may be just as burdened with household chores as ever — despite the strides we’ve made to improve our lot around the office.”  http://business.time.com/2012/06/28/more-women-are-in-the-workforce-so-why-are-we-still-doing-so-many-chores/  and that was 2012….and Variety pointed out last year, on-screen women are “the girlfriend, the mother or the wife. Their value is determined in relation to the people they bed, marry or birth.” http://time.com/money/4181386/oscar-nominations-womens-roles/  So it doesn’t look, at least I don’t think so, that we’ve change much over many years.

“Behind every successful man is a surprised woman.” — Maryon Pearson

Fortune Magazine (http://fortune.com/2013/11/21/25-most-powerful-female-tv-characters/) List Dora (the Explorer) as #25 in their list of powerful female characters.  It seems a bit sad to me that:   “Dora’s spunky (nonsexualized) image is ubiquitous, and she’s been hailed as one of woefully few positive female role models for young girls.”

I must confess that I have never seen Dora except on that commercial about the explorers coming to the North Pole  finding Dora and her monkey there already. But I find it very interesting that even in our children’s programs we have so little in the way of encouragement for our young women to become more than the status quo.

Circle of Moms:  “Sylvia H. recommends The Strictest School in the World by Howard Whitehouse. “The heroine is a girl who likes to build flying machines,” she says. She says it is a good read for moms to recommend to daughters looking for female inspiration in navigating life’s common rites of passage for teens.” http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Books-Role-Models-Girls-30739033#photo-30739069 They had me with building flying machines.

“In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man; if you want anything done, ask a woman.” — Margaret Thatcher

THELMA AND LOUISE BROUGHT US Two strong women who die rather than surrender their freedom.    In this movie:  An Arkansas waitress and a housewife shoot a rapist and take off in a ’66 Thunderbird.

In her essay “The Daughters of Thelma and Louise”, Jessica Enevold argues that the movie constitutes “an attack on conventional patterns of chauvinist male behavior toward females”. In addition, it “exposes the traditional stereotyping of male-female relationships” while rescripting the typical gender roles of the road movie genre.   and in an article commemorating the film’s 20th anniversary in 2011, Raina Lipsitz called it “the last great film about women” and said that it heralded the achievements of women that caused 1992 to become “the year of the woman”. However, she also claimed that women-themed films have since been losing ground. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelma_%26_Louise

I tend to agree the strong movie women of today are mostly cartoon characters and never approach anything or any one normal or present a goal attainable and the only current strong woman on the above list is Dora that is actually a creature of the current year or even 10 years— and I think she’s more on the girl category.

“I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career.” — Gloria Steinhem

Finally my favorite Fictional Woman:  Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser is a nurse, and a time-traveler who has lived both in the 20th century and the 18th century. While on a second honeymoon in Scotland with her husband, Frank Randall, Claire accidentally travels two hundred years into the past, where she meets and eventually marries Jamie Fraser. As the primary (and sole first-person) narrator of the Outlander series, Claire is compassionate but medically ruthless, with a quick tongue that tends to get her into trouble.   http://outlander.wikia.com/wiki/Claire_Fraser

Claire is a strong character who refuses to be pushed around and unlike a lot of characters in what is defined as “woman’s fiction” doesn’t stand around waiting to be rescued but rather takes care of her self and in fact when her husband is tortured and raped by a sadistic member of King George’s (Black Jack Randall) forces in Scotland she with the help of some of his clansmen and several Scottish cattle rescues him and gets him through the trauma’s aftermath—now that’s a different heroine and she’s been around since the 1990s too but most recently has came to the small screen to the delight of all of us who like being in charge of our own fate.

Oh and almost forgot this conversation with Jamie– her perspective bridegroom:

“Outlander:

Claire Randall: Well doesn’t it bother you that I’m not a virgin?
Jamie Fraser: No. So long it as it does not bother you that I am. I reckon one of us should ken what we’re doing.

“I’m not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know that I’m not dumb … and I also know that I’m not blonde.” — Dolly Parton

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“What would men be without women?
Scarce, sir .. mighty scarce.” — Mark Twain

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I got a lovely email from one of my subscribers:

In fact, they inspired me to create an extremely thorough and detailed post called Why Meditation’s Not the Best Way to Manage Stress (and What’s Better) because I felt the WebMD article did not go into enough detail on the role of emotional connection in reducing stress.

Here is the link in case you’d like to check it out.

I was so happy that she felt inspired by something I wrote….I know I have several subscribers but I’m not sure if they get anything from my ramblings or not.   Check her out at http://theconnectioncrafts.com

“If you don’t like being a doormat then get off the floor.” – Al Anon

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check out the shattered fantasies of OUTLANDER:

http://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/news/a33141/outlander-cast-globes-interview/

and a list of all the Characters from the first novel:  OUTLANDER:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Outlander_characters

Can I just pick the protection of his body part…..PLEASE

“A lot of people are afraid to say what they want. That’s why they don’t get what they want.” – Madonna

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So yesterday we looked at a few of the disadvantages that women had to deal with including career-wise and sexual….wasn’t a pretty picture…I’ll try for a bit more positive today.

“Destiny is a name often given in retrospect to choices that had dramatic consequences.” – J. K. Rowling

WOMEN in Entertainment like all other occupations don’t always get a fair shake but there are organizations like:  “Women in Film & Video of Washington, DC (WIFV) dedicated to advancing the career development and achievement for professionals working in all areas of screen-based media and related disciplines.”  http://www.wifv.org/  They even have a site where you can pledge to watch one woman made film a week for a year:  http://womeninfilm.org/52-films/

There’s only 2 films made by women nominated for the Oscars this year:  http://www.vulture.com/2016/02/conversation-mustang-director-denize-gamze-erguven.html but that’s something positive—I mean 2 is better than one or none right!

According to Forbes (for 2015):  Jennifer Lawrence may have been made famous by The Hunger Games, but she’s certainly not short of bread: The 25-year-old banked $52 million pre-tax over 12 months to be the best paid actress–$16.5 million more than second-ranked Scarlett Johansson, who earned $35.5 million.  http://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2015/08/20/the-worlds-highest-paid-actresses-2015-jennifer-lawrence-leads-with-52-million/#3eaf8c3f3820   And while that’s lower for both women as compared to #1 and 2 for men:   Robert Downey Jr.’s stratospheric $80 million payday is more than any other leading man on the planet….$50 million for Hong Kong hero Jackie Chan’s second place haul.  http://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2015/08/04/the-worlds-highest-paid-actors-2015-robert-downey-jr-leads-with-80-million-haul/#3fe321412298–it’s still a whole lot better than most of you –men and women–reading this brought in…so that’s a positive/right?

“The day will come when men will recognize woman as his peer, not only at the fireside, but in councils of the nation. Then, and not until then, will there be the perfect comradeship, the ideal union between the sexes that shall result in the highest development of the race.” – Susan B. Anthony

As we discussed yesterday woman have traditionally gone to service industries for instance as nurses rather than the higher paid doctor….it interest me that religion  is another area where woman are making slow, very slow progress.  Religion is renowned for its slow progress as it is so rooted in dogma and as we saw yesterday that dogma goes deep into a time eons ago when women were looked on as little more than baby machines, supported to provide sex, procreation, child care and household maintenance.   The fact that these same doctrines are used to dictate why women should and can not be leaders and most of all ministers in the church is very stifling.

But there has been progress:    Katharine Jefferts Schori was elected in 2006 as the first female Presiding Bishop in the history of the Episcopal Church and also the first female primate in the Anglican Communion.  While the Jehovah’s Witnesses consider qualified public baptism to represent the baptizand’s ordination, following which he or she is immediately considered an ordained minister, The majority of Witnesses actively preaching from door to door are female.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordination_of_women

In fact: Ordination of women has been taking place in an increasing number of Protestant churches during the 20th century.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordination_of_women_in_Protestant_churches  And they have an organization too: International:Association of Women Ministers which: promotes, encourages and celebrates women in ministry by providing a forum in which women ministers from all races, nations, and cultures can come together.    http://womenministers.org/site/welcome/

“I’ve come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that’s as unique as a fingerprint – and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you.” – Oprah Winfrey

  And there are some powerful women in sports:   Managing over 1,000 employees and helping drive an estimated $700 million in annual revenues, racing heiress Lesa France Kennedy…is CEO of International Speedway Corporation (ISC), Kennedy manages thirteen of America’s biggest race tracks, while also playing a key role in steering the multibillion-dollar juggernaut that is NASCAR as a member of its board of directors….Kennedy has spent more than three decades leading ISC’s expansion out of the South with the construction and acquisition of tracks in Illinois, New York, California and several other states.  http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonbelzer/2015/12/02/the-most-powerful-women-in-sports/#560053f42b2b

But to the participants in sports acceptance of woman,  by their male counterpart, isn’t a sure thing:   Alexander Arefyev (Russian Ski Team) told the newspaper Izvestia. “It’s a pretty difficult sport with a high risk of injury. If a man gets a serious injury, it’s still not fatal, but for women it could end much more seriously.”… Arefyev added: “Women have another purpose — to have children, to do housework, to create hearth and home.”  https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/how-much-do-sex-differences-matter-in-sports/2014/02/07/563b86a4-8ed9-11e3-b227-12a45d109e03_story.html    Hey didn’t I mention a similar theme in religion?

AND by the way with …the World Cup-champion U.S. women’s soccer team, Ronda Rousey and Serena Williams, 2015 was a winning year for women in sports.

“I want to do is because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.” – Amelia Earhart

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“Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, “She doesn’t have what it takes.” They will say, “Women don’t have what it takes.” – Clare Boothe Luce

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WELCOME to the Jungle….well we start another week and I’m recovering from 2 days of Yard Sale and a day of hair and nails—which is why you haven’t heard from me in awhile.

Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark place where it leads.
— Erica Jong

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Beardless now

what do Scottish Women like in a man?

http://www.scotsman.com/news/odd/over-half-of-scottish-women-like-clean-shaven-look-1-3924870

and who’s the worst Villian on TV–it’s down to 2 and one is on OUTLANDER

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/11/actualworst-round-one-vee-parker-vs-black-jack-randall/414406/

and beardless way back when:

Find out who you are and do it on purpose.
— Dolly Parton

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I watched a very idealized movie about Florence Nightingale today and it got me thinking about women and how they have been treated thru time.  How they were once on top of the world as the being who could re-produce other beings…but then the male found out he actually had contributed and we were totally screwed (in more ways than one) from then on.

The first women by Christian tradition was Eve of course and she was blamed for being that weak creature that gave in to the evil serpent (better known as the Devil) and led to the downfall of mankind as he was so bewitched by her that he too ate and they both were thrown of Eden Resort forever.

So I thought I’d look a bit further.  Hinduism feels that women were created to help her husband, give birth to his children and take care of them so that he can do something useful in life.  Ok so the religions of the world are all pretty much out of that men rule and women are at best procreative machines and helpful mates to at worst they caused the downfall of the entire race and thus are always considered a bit suspect.

Hope is a thing with feathers
That perches in the soul;
And sings the tune without words
And never stops at all.
— Emily Dickinson

So here we are—and though we insist that we roar and that we’ve came a long way–do we and have we really?

Welcome to Glastonbury in this and the main picture…I am also watching Elizabeth on the telly and anticipating my trip in May I thought I’d look at the effect that the invasion of the Romans on this little out of the way isle of Britain so long ago.  By the way though not all my personal pictures today are in Glastonbury, they are all taken in England.

“the vicissitudes of fortune, which spares neither man nor the proudest of his works, which buries empires and cities in a common grave.”
― Edward Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire    

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They clean up well

Look at the books and more–all things Outlander

http://libguides.nhclibrary.org/outlander

where do they keep finding these hot men?  Give me the address—I want to go there myself.

“It was an inflexible maxim of Roman discipline that good soldier should dread his own officers far more than the enemy”
― Edward Gibbon

So I thought I’d look on a pagan/then Christian Empire that goes with my movie, my future trip and my ramblings so far this week.

Britain was a tribal land, with different areas ruled by tribal chiefs–think Scottish Clan type gatherings prior to the Romans.  A land where farming was the main occupation, where wooden (and wattle) houses set on isolated farms  and warlords set behind wooden walls on top of hill forts and the people swore loyalty and thus gained his army’s protection of his tribal territory.

There was no central order, no major towns, even small villages were rare.  Kings despite what was said in Arthur legends and the like, were non-existent.  It was a rough and uncouth group of people with no real society joining them except some common blood and deities and of course the Druids.

Then came the Romans.  It all began with the successful invasion of Claudius’ in AD43 and would continue until around 400 years later–400 yeas that would change the island* forever.   Starting in the south where towns, the most notable being London, as well as lavish villas started to spring up.

*Well not really all the island for while Cornwall and Wales were conquered they never fully fell under the Roman influence at the fringe (the Celtic Triangle) of the island and thus survived with minimal Roman influence.  Scotland at the far north never suffered the Roman’s real rule and in fact the Romans built a wall to keep the Scots away and seemed happy not to have deal with the savage tribes of these climes.  And Ireland was never approached so as to leave these lands much heavier in the Celtic traditions than the main lands of Britain.

Ovid 43 BC – c.17 AD

“It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe that there are.”

So the conquerors came and moved the tribes to a central government under a Roman governor.  They brought towns and villas made of stone replacing the wood.  They built forts, granaries, grand villas and of course the Roman’s greatest vice: the bath (above is the Roman building that still stands in a city named for their function: Bath).

They created a working state from the feuding tribes of Britain; where all answered to the consistent laws of the land, and these former tribesmen even began taking Roman names, speaking Latin and to willingly become Roman citizens for they saw in this new order so much more than what they had before.

“Festina lente” – “Make haste slowly”. Roman Proverb

But there were issues:  Boudicca of the Iceni (one of those tribes we’ve talked about) took offense when Romans killed her chieftain husband and later flogged her and raped her daughters in AD60.  She went on to lead an outraged revolt destroying cities with many dead (some estimate as many as 70,000) and an entire legion routed.  The Romans regrouped and fought back with Boudicca dying in AD61 but whether she took her life with poison or was murdered we will probably never know.  She is still considered a symbol of British pride and power.

The Romans were defeated in Scotland in AD81, but won a victory in  83 somewhere along the north coast but they only had a fort half way built in the area when they were recalled.  They did maintain some forts in the south, but unlike their English cousins the northern tribes wanted no part of the Roman’s cities and laws and continued to resist with the Romans finally with drawling in AD 100 to farther south and leaving the land to the uncontrollable tribes.

Hadrian’s wall along the northern frontier was started in AD119 and was maintained until AD 139 when Antonine’s wall was stated north of the existing wall.  Completed in AD143 and stood till AD160’s when the uncontrollable tribes of the north decide to challenge the Romans again and the Romans retreated.

“Una salus victis nullam sperare salutem.”  – “The one well being of the defeated is to not hope for well being.”  By Virgil

By the late AD300s Britian was divided between two rulers and Roman troops were being withdrawn from the island to serve elsewhere even though as many of the Brits were Roman citizens they had a right to expect Roman troop protection and by AD406 the legions had gone as well as  Roman coinage which ruined the British economy and yet they still held loyalty to the empire.

Finally in AD410 the Brits request assistance against the barbarians that were coming in after the Roman with drawl.  The emperor’s reply was quick and final—not only would he not supply troops, which he insisted were busy else where, but that Britain was as far as Rome was concerned no longer part of the empire and they were on their own–the occupation was declared officially over, but it was a few years more before the entirety of the empire had completely withdrawn (about mid 4th century).

“a sword is never a killer, it is a tool in a killer’s hand”   Senneca

With the loss of the Romans and their financing,  the remaining British armies broke up, the villas sank into disrepair and many returned to farming.  Crafts and other knowledge died out—a few centuries later and much of what had been was shrouded in mystery and legend.

Vikings and Anglo Saxons invaded and claimed lands and ruled the people with a much less enlightened point of reference than the Romans.  Another power, not always peaceful its self stepped in as well–the Catholic church re-united the island with the rest of Europe and the Latin culture was maintained for many more years in monasteries and other religious institutions–it is noted that St. Patrick was of a Romanized British family, kidnapped and sold into slavery in Ireland by pirates.  After escaping home he entered the church and later returned to Ireland to bring the church to his former captors.

To this day Rome is still part of Britain–in the words spoken, the buildings that still stand and the history which is common to both peoples.  Much of their building styles (from pillars, to arches and much more) can be found in the modern British styles–even the idea of square houses can be traced back to their origins.  That and so much more have help build this modern country —more examples of how the past does form the way we are today.

Silent enim leges inter arma” – “Laws are silent in times of war” spoken by Cicero.

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“Multa ferunt anni venientes commoda secum, Multa recedentes adimiunt.” – “The years as they come bring many agreeable things with them; as they go, they take many away.”  Horace

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The pictures today that are mine…this ship and the main and all the rest are from Key West a pagan environment if I ever saw one and I saw Key West bunches.

Take St. Bridget for instance.  In THE WORLD OF DRUIDS, Green tells us that she was originally “the pagan Irish goddess…who later became a Christian saint (and)…she retained both her old festival (Feb. 1 Imbolc) and her responsibility for the dairy.”  So we see here another carry over from our past into our present where a goddess (Any sort of God, deity, or anything that is worshipped and is female. )  becomes a saint (a person acknowledged as holy or virtuous and typically regarded as being in heaven after death.)  Both are holy, just normally the 2nd it s actual person and not a heavenly being, at least prior to their demise.

I will eat disgusting things, but only those with long established culinary traditions.

Dana Goodyear

Then there’s the love fest just shortly gone by—I looked up Cupid and was referred to Amor.  A Roman “God of love.”  Which developed from the “Greek god Eros.”…..a winged youth with arrows,, bow and torch (ok that’s missing from our depiction).  And the name Cupid–“only applied by poets.”  So despite all the Catholic holy men with claims to the saint’s day there’s more than a little of our pagan past that has wiggled their way in or in this case his—the present culture–though he evidently left the torch in ancient Rome.   ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GODS (Jackson).

All my life, I have been a celebrant of Halloween. For me, it is the most important day of the year, the turning point in the old pagan calendar.

John Burnside

But it isn’t only ancient gods who raise their pagan head in our world.  The Black Madonna isn’t a black rapper–this form of the Christian Virgin is defined in the NEW BOOK OF GODDESSES & HEROINES (Mongham) She appears in multiple church paintngs and is thought to have had her roots in “healing goddesses of Europe” that date back to pre-Christian eras.  Some (as in Germany’s Our Lady of Altotting) have been altered by fire but others don’t have this excuse to fall back upon.  Most common in Slavic countries (but also found in Spain, Switzerland, France and Sicily) where the darkness is connected with the soil and thus are an emblem of fertility.  One of the most famous of these is in Poland (see above picture) which legend has it being painted by St. Luke in Jerusalem, but in fact dates to the 13 or 14th century and is felt to be done locally.  It does warrant a pilgrimage each year—even if it’s origins are more fertility believing Pole rather than Jewish close associate of Jesus.

The Christian fear of the pagan outlook has damaged the whole consciousness of man.

D. H. Lawrence

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In Germany, a new sect shall be born which shall renew ancient pagan times.

Nostradamus

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Featuring David Wiseman

www.da6dmusic.com

All personal pictures (and main) are from a gathering to hear his renderings on Sunday–St. Valentine’s.

“There sit the sainted sage, the bard divine, / The few, whom genius gave to shine / Through every unborn age, and undiscovered clime.” Thomas Gray

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where does Sam end…..

CHECK OUT SOME OUTLANDER CHARMS

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and Jamie begin?

The bard who would prosper must carry a book, Do his thinking in prose and wear A crimson cravat, a far-away look And a head of hexameter hair. Be thin in your thought and your body’ll be fat; If you wear your hair long you needn’t your hat.”   Ambrose Bierce

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This weekend I gathered for an adventure in music and camaraderie in a condo recreation room by a pool.  But what we participated in was an adventure in song that has traditions that go far back in our history not to mention our psyche.  Despite the fact that we were surrounded by the refinements of the 21st century we stepped back in time and seated ourselves along with our ancient ancestors in an enjoyment of a troubadour, a man who while he sells his music on CD’s has more in common with our past than many musicians can claim today.

“Oh! blame not the bard.” Thomas More

His name is David Wiseman

https://www.facebook.com/DavidAWisemanda6d/

and he is a minstrel, a poet, perhaps a Bard though a modern one which costs him the status of the ancient ones.

In the Dictionary of Celtic Mythology (Ellis):  “A bard was a class of poets known throughout the ancient Celtic world.  Bards, poets, and minstrels held a high position in Celtic society and were closely associated with the Druids.  ….’They sing sometime to the accompaniment of instruments resembling lyres, sometimes a eulogy and sometimes a satire.’ ”    It goes on to say that the bards “were highly trained and professional group…the repositories of…history, legend, chieftains and kings…under the patronage of chieftains and kings…Bardic schools flourished in historical Ireland…suppressed in the 17th c.”

     The bards sublime, / Whose distant footsteps echo / Through the corridors of Time.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

He comes from a long line of poets and musicians that left their mark through their recorded efforts

In THE DISCOVERY OF KING ARTHUR (ASHE) Bards are described as “prominent figures–entertainers certainly, but a great deal more than that, inheriting some of the Druids’ functions…the authorities on customs, precedents, pedigrees.  Their poems, sung to music, extolled their royal patrons and had what would today be called public relations value…”

Two bards, “two poets of lasting fame Taliesin and Aneirin…work survives today..claimed as the oldest poetry in any living language of Europe,,, though their Welsh is not modern….”

I had never gone to one of these small sessions and enjoyed it immensely —there was food and a brass container to put your own generosity.

And the generosity is all part of the tradition which Allen tells us about in LORDS OF BATTLE: THE WORLD OF THE CELTIC WARRIOR:  “Also in attendance at the feast were bards and poets who would demonstrate their own craft and learning.  They recounted the lineage, bravery and wealth of the host and his ancestors as well as the deeds of legendary heroes.  Their songs, however, could either praise or satirize, and fear of losing face in front of the guests encouraged the host to even greater acts of generosity.”

   “A Druid in training must be a bard before he is a priest, for music is one of the keys to the laws of the universe.” 

Marion Zimmer Bradley

SO since I’m basically Celtic then and since I’m basically a dreamer, a writer and a historian I sat there and realized the long connection in my soul–the tradition that probably few besides me realized.

“The Bards are singers and poets…artisians…it took years of practice in composition to become….(and having) the power…of satire and magic.”  DRUIDS PREACHERS OF IMMORTALITY (Ross)

Joan Delano Aiken

So I hope that Mr. Wiseman  is aware of the linage he is  a current representative of—a small yet important link in an ancient chain that makes up the underpinnings of our society.

“The Bards…had magic in their voices and utterances, and  the poets of later medieval Ireland saw them successors of the Druids and poets of early legends.”  Green’s THE WORLD OF THE DRUIDS

“Luck is a woman. She’s drawn to those that least deserve her.” ― Joe Abercrombie, Last Argument of Kings

From ancient time to medieval their spirits spread across time…coming to outposts where almost in isolation lived the occupants and with their entertainment preserving, education connection with not only the present world but a much more ancient one.  So through into our day and age we are connected everywhere, and though as a whole we seem to have lost our sense of ancestors and past–the connection of what has gone before…yet the bard, the singer, the man who entertains in these small places maintains that and keeps us whole.

Still doing the wonderful (and romantic) Heron Cay

of Mt. Dora https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG1dkTrup6Y

“I’m single because I was born that way.” – Mae West

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Honorable Mention

WINTER PARK WEDDING CHAPEL

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“Happy phony, romanticized, overly commercial, sucks to be single, pretend that it’s love, day!” – Unknown

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check out these beautiful behind the scenes Outlander shots

Behind the Scenes Photos (and Other Things) of ‘Outlander’ (December 2015)

 “Hearts will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable.” – The Wizard of Oz

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and for your adventure suggestion:

THE ADVENTURE COAST

Fishing and scalloping on the Gulf coast for tarpon, trout, cobia redfish, grouper and more…in shore there’s largemouth bass, bream and crappie.  And it offers one of the few places in Florida where you can snorkel or dive for bay scallops.

Paddling and Boating along the Gulf or on the Weeki Wachee River, miles of popular canoe and kayak trails ad local marinas.

Pine Island Beach (see above picture):  Family-friendly beach for sunbathing, swimming, and splendid sunsets.  It offers covered picnic tables, grills, outdoor shower and restrooms and an on site café.

“Instead of celebrating Valentine’s Day this year, I’m celebrating Discount Chocolate Monday.” – Unknown

So finally I’m addressing the crowd (speaking to my own particular choir so to speak as I’m in this other group) of others that don’t really fit into the holiday–we have no significant other—in fact a whole lot of us have no one in particular, significant or not, of the other sex (or same if you swing that way) in any way involved or interested in us even in a vague sort of way.  We have to buy our own candy and eat it while watching the Walking Dead–that reminds us of the few guys we have dated in the last 100 years.

The good news is that the holiday is on Sunday and lots of us spend Sundays at home getting ready for Monday so we don’t look so obviously unattached and unwanted, but in our heart we know we are dismal when it comes to the romance that the holiday is supposed to be.

“Being single is pretty good. It’s a nice sense of irresponsibility.” – Michael Douglas

First and probably easiest–you can pretend (well for us it pretty much is) its just another day.  It’s Sunday–so you can do your veg thing…no foot ball sorry those of you (including me– picked Denver this year) who enjoy it.   No NASCAR yet and basket ball bores me to tears.

If you’re one of those between relationship and not too jaded by the whole thing–in other words you:  Want a little romance…Watch a movie

Must Love Dogs is a fun rump thru dating after divorce and has a lot of computer dating fun.      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASWRj-8da9o

Go old school with Gone With the Wind and the story of the spoiled southern belle and the bad boy supreme set in the south,  before during and after the Civil War  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031381/

Do a classic:  Romeo & Juliet (not to mention everybody ends up without anybody so you don’t feel so all alone–in fact you’re still alive so you’re pretty positive)

There’s lots of versions with movies made in 1908, 1916, 1936, 1943, 1955, 1966.    I like 1968 with Oliva Hussey as Juliet, Leonard Whitney as Romeo and also staring Michael York who was hot in the 60’s.  Then we have 1976, 1982,  in 1996 Leonardo DeCaprio with Claire Danes played the lovers in a modern world with rival gang,  then again 2013 and finally in 2014 where Orlando Bloom along with Condola Rashad played in a mixed race take.  In addition there’s a cartoon made in 2006 Sealed With a Kiss–yeah featuring seals and other sea creatures and the classic 1961 musical West Side Story based on the concept to name a few.     http://my.xfinity.com/slideshow/entertainment-romeojuliet/

Or you can binge on Outlander–a romance(but with enough action that guys like it too) that takes place in Scotland– between a 1940’s married, British, nurse who accidently time travels through a stone circle to the 1770’s where she is put in danger by obviously “hiding something”.  She ends up marrying a Scottish fugitive (from the English), who is younger than she, very hot and who is something I’ve never seen in a fictional hero before. This is on Starz and you can pull it on demand or it’s available in two different disk collections that complete the first season…and that will put you  in time to start season 2 on April 9th.   http://www.starz.com/originals/outlander/featured

Or go out and do some grocery shopping and if any body asks about your Valentine’s – say “is it Valentine’s gee I forgot all about it.”

I never regret loving a stupid person in the past. At least he was lucky enough to experience the love I had for him. Too bad he wasted it!! I hate Valentine’s day!

Do something with a fiend(s)–misery loves company

In London you can reason it out:   “How Necessary is a Relationship?, The School of Life, London WC1N Swap the cherubs for chin-stroking as this lively workshop – led by therapist, writer and “men’s style expert” David Waters – ponders the value and relevance of coupledom in the 21st Century. Are we better off if we’re 1 + 1, or is single life more fulfilling and fun? Encounter everything from Greek mythology to grooming tips as you explore amour through art, literature, philosophy and psychoanalysis. It’s the intellectual’s approach to intimacy.”  http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/colette-bernhardt/valentines-day-alternative-events_b_2664638.html

In LA there’s anti-Valentine events:  Birds Cafe and Bar
Birds considers their party the original, as this year marks the 20th anniversary of the Hollywood staple’s anti-Valentine’s Day fete. Anyone who is not in love is welcome to come eat and drink on February 14. The space will be decorated with un-romantic decor and drink specials will be poured. Rumor has it that voo-doo dolls will be stuck with pins and lit on fire, naturally. And anyone needing to blow off some steam can take a swing at the male and female piñatas meant to symbolize ex boyfriends and girlfriends. 5925 Franklin Ave, Hollywood; (323) 465-0175, birdshollywood.com. http://www.laweekly.com/restaurants/8-anti-valentines-day-events-to-help-you-celebrate-your-freedom-5376516

You can also celebrate in Austin:  Valloween: Celebrate the day of love by pretending it’s an entirely different holiday — Halloween! Splash on some fake blood and angel wings and go as zombie Cupid to this costume party hosted by Space 12. For a $5 – $10 donation, Valloween offers free beer, live music and two (two!) DJs. Have some beers and forget it’s February. All proceeds benefit the Inside Books Project and Space 12.   http://austin.culturemap.com/news/city-life/02-08-12-15-34-valentines-day-events-for-people-who-hate-valentines-day/

Look around and I’m sure you’ll find something—or give your own.

Happy Consumer driven and trivial interpretation of love day.

BACK TO THE GRAIL-LESS/STONE FREE QUEST

FROM NOTTINGHAM TO YORK–DAY 5

Catch a train (9:34) to Grantham  ARRIVE 10:06

Change trains and leave for York (10:21)

Arrive 11:30 am

Check in at B&B

Then visit York Minster (the huge church is decorated with an unbelievable array of medieval stain glass–one section as big as a tennis court–one of the largest  in Europe)

Lunch at Ye Old Shambles (the Shambles is a preserved medieval section of the city with the old buildings complete with over hangs and narrow twisted streets holding new shops and pubs) Tavern

Then on to Monk Bar (what they call the gate houses on the wall–3 miles of which still stand about the city–part Roman and part medieval ORIGINS) where they have a Richard III Museum (think the king found in the parking lot recently—under it, not setting there in a car or anything like that.)

We’ll decide on dinner from what looks interesting.

“Happy phony, romanticized, overly commercial, sucks to be single, pretend that it’s love, day!”

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That awkward moment when you realize that Valentine’s day is approaching fast and the only one you love is your pet

Still doing my pictures of The Heron Cay http://www.heroncay.com/WEB-MD/0-heroncay-LV/NEW%20WEB%20SITE%20-%20Aug-2007/Internally%20LINKED%20PAGES!!/ROOMS/0%20-%20ALL%20NEW%20-%202010/ROOMS.html in Mt. Dora

If you need me, call me.
No matter where you are,
No matter how far.
Just call my name.
I’ll be there in a hurry.
On that you can depend
and never worry.

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

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Mentioning (Honorably):

CHRIS CARLSON

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Contemporary Deign–Primitive Spirit

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email:  Chris@chriscalsonstudio.com

You must remember this
A kiss is still a kiss
A sigh is just a sigh
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by

As Time Goes By

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check out Starz going Continental OUTLANDER

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Cherish is the word I use to describe
All the feeling that I have hiding here for you inside
You don’t know how many times I’ve wished that I had told you
You don’t know how many times I’ve wished that I could hold you
You don’t know how many times I’ve wished that I could
Mold you into someone who could
Cherish me as much as I cherish you

Cherish

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AND A POSSIBLE ADVENTURE:

HISTORIC PARKERSBURGH

Discover the fascinating birth of the oil and gas industry at the OIL & GAS MUSEUM 

See where the oil barons spent their new wealth at the largest historic district in W.VA :  The Julia-Ann Square Historic District   http://juliannsquare.org/   and don’t miss the 17-room (1859) plantation house The Henderson Hall (see first picture)   http://www.hendersonhallplantation.com/  or check out the brave men and woman of W.V. at Veterans Museum of Mid-Ohio Valley   http://www.livingappalachian.com/history_vetsmuseum.php

This thing called love,
I just can’t handle it
This thing called love,
I must get ’round to it
I ain’t ready
Crazy little thing called love

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

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So what do you plan to do with your loved one this big Sunday Love Fest…..Yeah besides that….Sorry just jealous….there’s of course the lovely dinner times in the fancy restaurant and the mandatory roses and all those good things….but anything different catch your fancy?

Listen, do you want to know a secret
Do you promise not to tell, woh, woh, woh
Closer, let me whisper in your ear
Say the words you long to hear
I’m in love with you, oo

Listen, Do You Want to Know a Secret

I personally like this recommendation for something different to do for the big day: ” On small pieces of paper, write down every kind of kiss that you can think of (examples: passionate, on the cheek, etc.). Then fill an inexpensive red felt bag with your “kisses” and give it to your spouse. Ask your spouse (in my blog this could be a date or whatever–I think this is a fun and potentially very sexy idea) to pull several pieces of paper from the felt bag, and then give your sweetheart whatever kind of kiss is described. ”  http://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/holidays/featured/valentines-day/25-valentines-day-ideas-for-couples

Wikipedi isn’t happy with just telling us what everything is but now they are telling us how to do everything–but this is a good idea for the couple or not who live together and have gotten tied down in the mundane:  For Co-habiting Couples they suggest:  “For one day put all your responsibilities out of your head and put (each other) at the top of the list. Think back to how things were when you first dated and try to recreate the thrill of initial romance when daily cares weren’t interfering the way they do now.”    http://www.wikihow.com/Plan-the-Perfect-Valentine’s-Day-for-Your-Husband

In Miami  there’s a Cupid Undie Run CupidsUndieRun.com.   Grab your running shoes, take off your clothes and head to Wynwood on Saturday for Cupid’s Undie Run which  raises funds for the Children’s Tumor Foundation, all while sprinting in your skivvies. This is the first time the nationwide Undie Run, which claims to be the world’s largest underwear run, comes to Miami.  This one is actually on Sat. the 13th….but by doing this run you’ll feel less guilty about eating out on Sunday.

Sugar pie, honey bunch
You know that I love you
I can’t help myself
I love you and nobody else

I Can’t Help Myself

UPDATE ON THE GRAIL-LESS STONE FREE QUEST

a FULL day in Nottingham—with a visit to the castle now art museum setting on top of a rock outcropping full of caves and mystery passages

Lunch at Ye Old Trip to Jerusalem— supposedly it is so named as it was an Inn when crusaders were heading south to join holy quests to yeah Jerusalem….I’ve arranged for a tour of the oldest part–the cellars which reportedly have an entrance to the caves.

Finish off the day taking a tour of the Galleries of Justice to see how crime and punishment was handled 100s of years ago in England.

Dinner at the Pelican Club

The time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love become a funeral pyre

Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire, yeah
You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn’t get much higher
Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire

Light My Fire