89% of my readers say your readers need therapy!
Sorry I missed the meeting, my battery died.
What do you mean "only two more days"?
Images courtesy of blog-blond.blogspot.com
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Deal With It
Today is day 26 of the 30 minus 2 days of writing hosted by Nicky and Mike of We Work For Cheese. Today's prompt is "Deal With It". Visit Nicky's post to see how the other poor schmucks in this challenge are dealing with it.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Fact or Fiction: The History of Blackbeard
Today is day 25 of the 30 minus 2 days of writing hosted by Nicky and Mike of We Work For Cheese. Today's prompt is "Fact or Fiction". Visit Nicky's post to see what the others are claiming as fact or decrying as fiction.
He was born Edward Teach in Bristol, England, but better known as Blackbeard, the most notorious pirate in all of history. He was a privateer for Queen Anne, before joining ranks with a crew of pirates which set his life of ruthless piracy and murder in motion. He captured a French vessel and renamed her Queen Anne's Revenge, although no longer associated with her Majesty. He became a pirate leader in his own right.
He eventually ended up in the small colonial town of Bath, NC, and lived in fine style after receiving a royal pardon from Governor Charles Eden. Remember this was before the Revolutionary war and we were still under British rule. He was welcomed by wealthy planters, and in return, entertained in his own home. Indeed, piracy was considered a fashionable vice during that era. He was only a threat at sea, and was, therefore, socially accepted.
Shortly after his arrival, he, the father of 13 children, married his 14th wife, and the Governor performed the ceremony. As he was already under the Governor's protection, this further suggests that they were friends, and gave credence to the existence of an underground passage way leading well away from the Governor's house. The tunnel would allow him to come and go without being seen, and also implicated the Governor in taking a share of his loot.
North Carolinians also benefited from Blackbeard, for while he terrorized all at sea, he brought a vast array of goods back to Bath which he sold at reasonable prices.
Proving just how villainous he was, though, when he wished to court the Governor's daughter, she refused him because he was engaged to another man. Blackbeard could not stand this rejection and so he murdered her fiance and cut off his hands before disposing of his body at sea. The girl pined away and died as was fashionable after a broken romance at that time.
Alas, he soon caught the attention of the wrong man, and the Governor of Virgina, Alexander Spotswood, sent soldiers and sailors to capture Blackbeard. On November 22, 1718, a group of sailors led by Lieutenant Robert Maynard, captured and killed the infamous pirate. He was beheaded and his head placed on the mast of Maynard's ship as a warning to other pirates of the fate that awaited them should they continue pirating.
Much of this is documented fact, but since he was the most notorious pirate to sail the high seas, he was also the subject of much speculation and talk became legend. Which is fact and which is fiction? You be the judge.
Sources: Text that was adapted from historian Robert E. Lee's Blackbeard the Pirate: A Reappraisal of His Life and Times. Winston-Salem: John Fl Blair, 1974, and Wikipedia.
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| Image Source: Wikipedia |
He eventually ended up in the small colonial town of Bath, NC, and lived in fine style after receiving a royal pardon from Governor Charles Eden. Remember this was before the Revolutionary war and we were still under British rule. He was welcomed by wealthy planters, and in return, entertained in his own home. Indeed, piracy was considered a fashionable vice during that era. He was only a threat at sea, and was, therefore, socially accepted.
Shortly after his arrival, he, the father of 13 children, married his 14th wife, and the Governor performed the ceremony. As he was already under the Governor's protection, this further suggests that they were friends, and gave credence to the existence of an underground passage way leading well away from the Governor's house. The tunnel would allow him to come and go without being seen, and also implicated the Governor in taking a share of his loot.
North Carolinians also benefited from Blackbeard, for while he terrorized all at sea, he brought a vast array of goods back to Bath which he sold at reasonable prices.
Proving just how villainous he was, though, when he wished to court the Governor's daughter, she refused him because he was engaged to another man. Blackbeard could not stand this rejection and so he murdered her fiance and cut off his hands before disposing of his body at sea. The girl pined away and died as was fashionable after a broken romance at that time.
Alas, he soon caught the attention of the wrong man, and the Governor of Virgina, Alexander Spotswood, sent soldiers and sailors to capture Blackbeard. On November 22, 1718, a group of sailors led by Lieutenant Robert Maynard, captured and killed the infamous pirate. He was beheaded and his head placed on the mast of Maynard's ship as a warning to other pirates of the fate that awaited them should they continue pirating.
Much of this is documented fact, but since he was the most notorious pirate to sail the high seas, he was also the subject of much speculation and talk became legend. Which is fact and which is fiction? You be the judge.
Sources: Text that was adapted from historian Robert E. Lee's Blackbeard the Pirate: A Reappraisal of His Life and Times. Winston-Salem: John Fl Blair, 1974, and Wikipedia.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
To Dance Or Not To Dance?
Today is day 24 of the 30 minus 2 days of writing hosted by Nicky and Mike of We Work For Cheese. Today's prompt is "Confucius". Visit Nicky's post to see what else Confucius says.
Ann had wanted to take dance lessons for years, but Carl refused, stating he had two left feet. That was just an excuse and she knew it, but she had a plan.
"Are you ready", he called, "we don't want miss our reservation". They had these reservations for weeks. Le Chateau was a hard restaurant to get into, but they wanted to do something special for Carl's birthday.
"I'm almost ready, you go start the car and I'll be right out." She had to get his birthday card which contained his gift.
They arrived at the restaurant and were seated at corner table next to the window. The view was gorgeous, overlooking the river, the multi-colored lights on the bridge twinkled, reflecting on the water.
"A bottle of your best Champagne, please." Carl beamed. He had always wanted to say that. It was his birthday and he was going all out. "Two steaks, medium rare, too please."
"Thank you, sir" said the waiter. "I will be right back with your Champagne".
"Carl" exclaimed Ann, "Do you have any idea how expensive that is?" She really didn't care, though, she was happy just watching him enjoy himself. God knows he works hard enough for it.
"This is fantastic. This has to be the best meal I've ever had, except for your cooking, of course", Carl said, quickly correcting his faux paux.
"OK," said Ann, smiling "now for the rest of your gift." She pulled a card from her purse and placed it in front of him.
"I thought we agreed that this dinner would be my birthday gift." He opened the card and he grinned from ear to ear. Inside was a receipt for 6 weeks of fencing lessons. "Oh Ann, this is so cool. Thank you!" Carl had been longing to learn fencing for years, ever since watching sword fight scenes in old movies. "Did you know I love you?" he asked teasingly.
Then he noticed something else in the card. It was a second receipt, for 6 weeks of dance lessons. Ann was very clever in her choice of fencing instructors. This particular one required students to demonstrate dance skills, stating that one can't fence properly with two left feet. Since Ann wanted to take dance lessons, and Carl wanted to learn fencing this was perfect. "Still love me?" she teased back.
But seeing the look of dismay on his face, Ann explained their policy. "Confucius say: Don't give sword to man who can't dance."
Ann had wanted to take dance lessons for years, but Carl refused, stating he had two left feet. That was just an excuse and she knew it, but she had a plan.
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| Image Source: wisze's photostream |
"I'm almost ready, you go start the car and I'll be right out." She had to get his birthday card which contained his gift.
They arrived at the restaurant and were seated at corner table next to the window. The view was gorgeous, overlooking the river, the multi-colored lights on the bridge twinkled, reflecting on the water.
"A bottle of your best Champagne, please." Carl beamed. He had always wanted to say that. It was his birthday and he was going all out. "Two steaks, medium rare, too please."
"Thank you, sir" said the waiter. "I will be right back with your Champagne".
"Carl" exclaimed Ann, "Do you have any idea how expensive that is?" She really didn't care, though, she was happy just watching him enjoy himself. God knows he works hard enough for it.
"This is fantastic. This has to be the best meal I've ever had, except for your cooking, of course", Carl said, quickly correcting his faux paux.
"OK," said Ann, smiling "now for the rest of your gift." She pulled a card from her purse and placed it in front of him.
"I thought we agreed that this dinner would be my birthday gift." He opened the card and he grinned from ear to ear. Inside was a receipt for 6 weeks of fencing lessons. "Oh Ann, this is so cool. Thank you!" Carl had been longing to learn fencing for years, ever since watching sword fight scenes in old movies. "Did you know I love you?" he asked teasingly.
Then he noticed something else in the card. It was a second receipt, for 6 weeks of dance lessons. Ann was very clever in her choice of fencing instructors. This particular one required students to demonstrate dance skills, stating that one can't fence properly with two left feet. Since Ann wanted to take dance lessons, and Carl wanted to learn fencing this was perfect. "Still love me?" she teased back.
But seeing the look of dismay on his face, Ann explained their policy. "Confucius say: Don't give sword to man who can't dance."
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Under the Weather, Again
Today is day 23 of the 30 minus 2 days of writing hosted by Nicky and Mike of We Work For Cheese. Today's prompt is "Absurd". Visit Nicky's post to read stories from the other participants.
This is a repost from several years ago, and it seemed fitting for today. You see I contracted yet another nasty bug, and am somewhat under the weather today, so the mere thought of manipulating words seems positively absurd.
With everyone waxing poetic about the beauty of fall, there is also a down side of this lovely season; it heralds the coming of the cold and flu season. When we fall prey to these nasties, we tend to say that we are "under the weather". Just this past weekend, I used that phrase myself and began to wonder of its origins.
The phrase "under the weather" dates back to the 1800s. When sailors would become seasick, they would be sent below deck to get away from the weather, thus literally being "under the weather". Author Donald Grant Mitchell was the first to use this phrase in his 1850 book Reveries of a Bachelor, and it has since been used for everything from being "ill" or "indisposed" to "financially embarrassed" or "drunk".
Some state that the correct term is "under the weather bow". The weather bow is the side of the boat being hardest hit by the nasty weather.
Also there is the belief that the weather can affect one's health, so a sick person is deemed to be "under the weather". From this theory, it stands to reason that the weather can also influence a person's mood, rendering them under the weather as well. This is documented as SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, which I touched on last fall in my post Just Another Monday.
We all know the steps to staying healthy during the cold and flu season, but here's a recap so we don't have say, "Sorry, I can't. I'm under the weather."
This is a repost from several years ago, and it seemed fitting for today. You see I contracted yet another nasty bug, and am somewhat under the weather today, so the mere thought of manipulating words seems positively absurd.
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| Ever wonder where the expression "under the weather" came from? |
The phrase "under the weather" dates back to the 1800s. When sailors would become seasick, they would be sent below deck to get away from the weather, thus literally being "under the weather". Author Donald Grant Mitchell was the first to use this phrase in his 1850 book Reveries of a Bachelor, and it has since been used for everything from being "ill" or "indisposed" to "financially embarrassed" or "drunk".
Some state that the correct term is "under the weather bow". The weather bow is the side of the boat being hardest hit by the nasty weather.
Also there is the belief that the weather can affect one's health, so a sick person is deemed to be "under the weather". From this theory, it stands to reason that the weather can also influence a person's mood, rendering them under the weather as well. This is documented as SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, which I touched on last fall in my post Just Another Monday.
We all know the steps to staying healthy during the cold and flu season, but here's a recap so we don't have say, "Sorry, I can't. I'm under the weather."
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water, or use hand sanitizer when you can't wash.
- Do not touch your face - nose, eyes, mouth - that is the germ's way into your system.
- Keep your distance from those are already sick.
- In turn, if you do get sick, stay home away from others.
- And of course, cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Sleepless
It is day 22 of the 30 minus 2 days of writing hosted by Nicky and Mike of We Work For Cheese. Today's prompt is "Compulsively". Visit Nicky's post to read stories from the other participants.
Alone in the dark
Compulsively counting sheep
Til dawn breaks the sky
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