Friday, November 13, 2009

PARASKEVIDEKATRIAPHOBIA



Better known as Fear of Friday the Thirteenth

Are you superstitious? Do you avoid walking under a ladder.....Won't open an umbrella in the house.....Shiver if a black cat should cross your path.....If you break a mirror believe you will have seven years bad luck....when your nose itches, believe you will soon kiss or be kissed by a fool....

If so, don't worry you have plenty of company. Fear of Friday the Thirteenth ranks right up there with other superstitions. It is closely related to the fear of the number '13', otherwise known as 'triskaidekaphobia'. Believe it or not the fear of the number 13 is one of the most widespread superstitions in the United States.

There is no consensus as to the origins of these fears.

Some believe it stems from the Christian religion and the Last Supper, where there were thirteen present including Jesus and Judas. Thus the superstition that 13 people seated at a table will result in the death of one of the diners. And Jesus was crucified on a Friday.





Others believe its origin is in the 'goddess legend' from Norse mythology. Frigga or Freya was the free-spirited goddess of love. In order to stop the worship of the Goddess Freya, she was banished to a mountain top with her beloved black cats, where she was kept a prisoner.


One night the Goddess called to the 12 Wyches (healing wise women/priestesses) by coercing the wind to carry her voice down the mountain. She called the women to gather with her spirit under the light of the full moon & sent her beloved black cats to carry her essence to the circle. The women, thrilled to be reunited with their Goddess, were dancing wildly about, when as the legend goes, the devil was enticed out of the darkness and joined them creating a circle of 13. After that Friday, which had been known as the day of the Goddess, became known as the Witches Sabbath.

Also, from Norse mythology, the story goes, that 12 gods were invited to a banquet at Valhalla. Loki, the god of mischief, was left off the guest list and crashed the party, bringing the number to 13. True to his nature, Loki, the trickster, fooled Hod, the blind god of winter to attack Balder the Good, who was a favorite of the gods. Hod took a spear of mistletoe offered by Loki & hurled it at Balder, killing him, causing all of Valhalla to grieve. Again, the unlucky number of guests at the party was 13.

Going further back in time, to the very beginning, some claim that Eve tempted Adam with that forbidden fruit on a Friday, and as we all know, were then kicked out of paradise.

Another theory is that the origin of the superstition was a secret order given by King Philip to have all the Knights Templar in France arrested on Friday, October 13, 1307. The raid resulted in the death of most of the Templars and those that were captured were turned over to the Church charged with blasphemy, tortured and executed.

Regardless of its origins, the fear of Friday the Thirteenth and the number thirteen remains to to this day.

Make of it what you will, but for today.....here's hoping you made it through the day with no mishaps.

146 comments:

Carol said...

Coreen, great post. I was hoping someone would do a post on this topic.

I didn't know anything about most of what you wrote and I'm glad I don't have that problem since I wouldn't want to have to write that disorder on my medical history form.

I've always thought of Friday the 13th as a lucky day. One reason it's lucky is that it is always on Friday and that's the last day of the work week. Yippee, TGIF!

If I hadn't already had my once in a great while trip to the casino, I might have gone tonight.

Solar said...

A great Friday the 13th. I have never gave it much thought; unless someone else brings it up. Actually the # 13 is one of my lucky numbers.

Even tho I like the prankster Loki; Im going to with Frigga or Freya the free-spirited goddess wychie women..

I know some of em, and they are alway's near by :-)) to cast the most wonderful spells; then Zap..you wake up with warts or something else...like a bump on a log..or turtle HA.! not only b/c it is all true..so I have been told anyway; but I want to learn that coercing the wine trick..gots to come in handy...

Carol said...

To which Goddess does this black cat belong? Is it Goddess Coreen?

Solar said...

dang, wine=wind

Solar said...

Wish, that I could learn me that coercing the wind thing; or find me one of those talking snakes....

Carol said...

Solar, wine might work even better.

Carol said...

I wouldn't know if any snakes can talk cuz I don't hang around long enough to attempt a conversation.

Coreen said...

Just got home, I had some time this p.m. & this
is what I came up with.

I am not superstitious, but have to admit that
I pause at some of those old wive's tales.

Carol, on the way home, I was thinking, oh no,
Solar is going to think he's in the middle of
a bunch of witchie women.....

And yes, goddess Coreen does have a demon cat,
my kit kit, who wandered into my yard 4 years ago, when she was about to have kittens, we rescued her, she had her kittens with the help
of a woman who rescues cats, & then she came to
live with me.

Carol said...

Chloe, thanks for the info on the flu and I do hope you can find a flu shot for little Emma.

Jan, I think that since the crab you found was a "Hermit" crab, it might not have spent much time with it's family anyway. It did get to do some traveling. And the fact that it didn't end up in your shell collection was pretty lucky.

Solar said...

"Carol, on the way home, I was thinking, oh no,
Solar is going to think he's in the middle of
a bunch of witchie women....."

THINK.!!

Anonymous said...

Coreen, Another very nice post. I didn't even realize it was Friday 13th, until I just read it.

Beautiful black cat - black shorthairs are my favorite. Once they've had kittens like that, they're the best pets. She looks so content that she's made it to the good life.

Carol, I was so surprised to read that you have always thought of Friday the 13th as a lucky day, because I have too. I thought I was the only one to think like that.

Then when I read the next post, I see that 13 is one of Solars lucky numbers. So there you have it. We all go against the norm.

ps I like that big '13' picture you found too, Coreen. It's so attention catching, and immediately made me curious.

Anonymous said...

I think this leads us into a good chance to discuss witchcraft, luck (and bad luck), superstition, and all related stuff this weekend. I may have to learn a little something about witches first - the good one's, that is.

One of the best Jack Nicholson movies I've ever seen was 'Witches of Eastwick'. I remember just being blown away by it. It was also the first time I ever saw Michelle Pfeiffer, and I couldn't believe what a great actress (and really beautiful) she was. Sure enough, she went on to become a big star. Susan Sarandon and Cher. What a cast, and they played great witches too. Wiches of Easwick

Carol said...

"Solar is going to think he's in the middle of
a bunch of witchie women....."

Oh Solar, you wouldn't have it any other way!

Anonymous said...

Jan, By the way, I didn't remember that Gwyneth Paltrow movie - I just searched around 'til I found it. I tried different word combination's. My memory is definitely not that good where movies are concerned. I often have trouble remembering what I saw last week. I've seen so many, they all just mush together in my mind (the part I have left, that is).

Anonymous said...

Carol, You never told us what you ate at your dinner last night.

Solar said...

Chloe,

This is a great subject. cos there is so much history to the Witches story....wanna hear a little bit...I have know a few of the not so good witches, and still have to eat, and drink some special foods in order to keep the spells at bay.

Coreen said...

Hi Chloe,

My Kit Kit, is a bit of a demon cat. She still
hides from just about anyone who comes to the
house, I think because she has a .22 shell casing in her rear left hind quarter,the vet
saw it when she had an x-ray. The perils of
being a cat outside, especially a black cat,
something she will never have to be again.

Witches of Eastwick-fun movie, and I'm a big
Cher fan. Moonstruck is one of my top 3 favorite movies of all time.

Ivy Green said...

...or what you're having tonight with your left-over ingredients...

Ivy Green said...

Fabulous post, Coreen.

Solar said...

know=known

Anonymous said...

Hi Coreen, It's so unbelievable that anyone could shoot a cat. I had a black cat shot that was shot with a 22 in the hind leg about 15 years, or so, ago. It took some tedious surgery to put that leg back together, but he was fine and lived until he was 17 years old. He was gone almost a week when he was shot, and drug himself home and up the stairs, and I remember I was never so happy to see someone in my life. His name was Buddy, and I still miss him.

I love my cats so much, they might as well be human.

That's a really nice life you've given yours Coreen. Contrary to what people say, they're very loyal and are well aware of what you do for them. There's no other animal quite like them. I honestly think their personality is closest to mine than any other animal too. (and I'm not talking about the witchy part Solar!).

Solar said...

Coreen

Same here, I really, really liked Moonstruck...I look for Cosmos' moon all of the time...I think that Cher is a better actress than a singer..hey don't start with me...I thought that she was a one hit wonder..but I liked her in the other ones that she did also.

Anonymous said...

".wanna hear a little bit.."

You better believe we want to hear about those witches Solar! And this is the day to tell those stories. I bet you did plenty to piss them off too.

Anonymous said...

Moonstruck was great - and so original. I love Cher's acting, and it was the first time I ever saw Nicolas Cage too. He was so quirky in that movie. Still is, just older.

Coreen said...

Well, anyone who knows me, knows in my house
cats' rule...if that's a problem then best not
visit.

Some might also say I have a cat's personality as well...

Coreen said...

Solar,

We all want to know more about those witches,
so have dinner & then spill the beans...

Solar said...

Chloe,

Relly like your witchy part.

Coreen, going ( lied that I don't ever watch tv- forgot)tell you that I also enjoy two men and a baby.. i put it on-the re-runs...just before bed...I found out that for me going to bed with a little hahah helps me sleep...

Anonymous said...

I'll be back to see if Solar shares those witch stories with us.

... a little later.

Coreen said...

Solar, as long as you keep looking for Cosmos
moon, you are in good shape, its when you stop
looking that one needs to worry.

But I do really like Cher's singing. She has some great songs, so I will ignore what you said about her singing, because well, you're wrong!

Coreen said...

Ivy, Thanks for the praise, but please we need some poetry to set the mood, if you woudl, especially if Solar is going to share some tales.

Carol said...

William Jefferson, the man with the cold cash here in La., was just sentenced to 13 years. I think that's what I heard. And on Friday the 13th. Not his lucky number.

Solar said...

Carol,

Thats good about Jefferson..wish they would go after all the other blood suckers...they give us vampires a bad name.

NO, no the things that I have to say about witches are all true history..not what you pinks are thinking..although there a cpl of those stories too...but that in the memory black box. with a pad lock.

Carol said...

Food last night was nothing to write home about.

No leftovers. Tonight I'm making my spicy grilled chicken on a crunchy flat tostada shell, covered with cut up red leaf lettuce, little grape tomatoes, salsa, spicy guacamole, cheese and whatever else I find that suites my fancy.

Ivy Green said...

"He is quiet and small, he is black
From his ears to the tip of his tail;
He can creep through the tiniest crack,
He can walk on the narrowest rail.
He can pick any card from a pack,
He is equally cunning with dice;
He is always deceiving you into believing
That he's only hunting for mice.
He can play any trick with a cork
Or a spoon and a bit of fish-paste;
If you look for a knife or a fork
And you think it is merely misplaced--
You have seen it one moment, and then it is gawn!
But you'll find it next week lying out on the lawn."

~ T.S. Eliot
(excerpt "Mr. Mistoffelees")

Ivy Green said...

Sounds like a good meal, Carol. Is that what you would have made last night if you had stayed home. Sorry last night meal was a bummer. Lousy food and no CEU's. You might need a reassessment of that commitment going forward.

Ivy Green said...

I will hate to run out on everyone tonight with such an intriguing topic, but alas... Hubs has tickets for another musical interlude. This evening's show is Bruce Hornsby.

Carol said...

And I had to wait for dinner. I told the people at my table pretty much the same thing that you said. They agreed. It is our monthly NP org. meeting so I pretty much have to go.

Coreen said...

Many thanks, Ivy. I almost forgot that poem...
It was a long time ago, I first heard it.

And we all said: Oh!
Well I never!
Did you ever
Know a Cat so clever
As Magical Mr. Mistoffelees!

Coreen said...

Carol,

Nice dinner choice, I am a 'big salad' girl
(Seinfeld episode)! My regular salad is red leaf lettuce, tomato, apple, olives, gorganzola
cheese & Marie's red wine or balsamic vinega dressing.

Carol said...

Coreen, I getting ready to chow down. Your salad sounds good. I can't eat any bottled dressings. I think I can taste preservatives. I make mine with that Good Season's Garlic Herb, using red wine vinegar and EVOO. Not for this dish though.

Solar said...

About 5 hundred thousand people were convicted of witchcraft and burned tot death in Europe be-tween the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries. Their crimes: A pact with the devil; journeys through the air over vast distances on broomsticks; (they are motorized now huh?)unlawful assembly at the sabbats; worship of the Devil; all kinds of things that they did with them, and the female devils.

Other more mundane charges were often added: killing cows, causing hailstorms; (carol) ruining the crops; stealing and eating babies. For no crime at all; many, many of them were killed for just flying through t he air to attend a sabbat.

Whey should a notion like this flying thru the air stuff could have become so popular in those day's??

Carol said...

Fairweather, the "Barefoot poet and dreamer who sings with the wind, loves words and cats and rain and storytelling" joined our blog today. Welcome Fairweather.

Fairweather has a couple of blogs:

Fairweather Lewis

Fairweather's Books & amp; Music at the Red Mud Inn

Carol said...

Did Ivy mention whether she enjoyed last nights concert? I had to go to Youtube to remember the guy doing the concert she's attending tonight. It's amazing just how much I don't know about music. I knew the songs but didn't know who the artist was. Shame on me. This swamp turtle is a little slow.

Carol said...

Little Mary turtle knew both of them.

Solar said...

Fair,

Hello. I have gone to your blog a few times, and like what you do with it..I just don't know that much about music.

I just read you Friday the 13th thread..very nice..and the house is fantastic..as a builder, i can tell you that-that house would be a challenge to build..I will continue to take a peek at your blog, like you say..."back to lurking"

ps i alway' like to read your comments at tm..

Solar said...

little Mary turtle should stick her head out of her shell a lit bit more....I won't snap...i promise...je je je

Anonymous said...

"who sings with the wind, loves words and cats and rain and storytelling"

I just love what that says about you Fair. Hope you'll tell us some stories here sometime.
I'm going to start visiting you blog more often too. I love that photo on 'The Haunted Lady' - a good read with what our thread here today.

Fair, I rarely sing with the wind, but I 'too' LOVE words, cats and rain. However, I'm a miserable story teller. Three out of five ain't bad, though.

Anonymous said...

"About 5 hundred thousand people were convicted of witchcraft and burned tot death in Europe be-tween the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries."

... that's pretty darn depressing Solar, isn't it. The world could be a pretty cruel, unjust place back then. And it's just another example of how the majority just hate it when others have different beliefs and behavior than them.

Anonymous said...

Carol, Fair (who told me a while back I could call her that) has a very interesting profile of herself on that first site you linked. She also has a contact address on it. Have you ever sent her an invitation to contribute? She may well be to busy to do so, but it would be fun if she could occasionally.

Solar said...

Chloe,

I was going to post a few more detail about how it all started but..I don't want to ruin the fun..maybe when it's starting to get a little stale..

I see that you went to Fairs blog....I knew that you would like the part that you quoted.

How is Emma? she all back to normal now?

Carol said...

We have 11 followers. Number 11 is a master number in Numerology and:

"The 11 is also known as the psychics number, it's highly intuitive and sensitive and it represents illumination and a channel to the higher self."

I like that and that we have 11 followers now.

The other day Rezdog linked an article about the significance of 11/11/09 on TM. That's where I found out that number 11 was a master number. This is another site that discusses the master numbers.

Spititual Numerology

Carol said...

Whoops, I that should be Spiritual Numerology not Spititual. Well maybe here it's appropriate.

Carol said...

I think I need to clean my cheaters or maybe Maggie spiked my cola.

Anonymous said...

Yes Solar, she's just about back to normal. Her energy level is becoming almost humorous. She like a container of boiling energy, reaching out in every direction, and never still. Man, I'd forgotten that they 'never' sit still at that age. Uncontrollable. And she's not walking yet. Heaven help us

Solar said...

Another thing that is interesting about the number 13:

Almost everybody thinks that there are only 3 dimensions...you can see them in art, in 3 d movies etc. there are 13 dimensions, according to science...

Anonymous said...

"I knew that you would like the part that you quoted."

It was almost poetic Solar. I really do love words, always have. They mean a lot more to me when they're written too. This is a great form of communication for me. How 'bout you?

Solar said...

In any of the 13 dimensions. anything is possible. Elvis sings in one maybe???

Anonymous said...

There are?

Anonymous said...

"I like that and that we have 11 followers now."

Wouldn't you rather it be 13?

Solar said...

Chloe,

Im kinda of clumsy with this written form of communication, not here, or at tM any more. That's why I lurked for so long before posting..

Anonymous said...

"I like that and that we have 11 followers now."

I have a real hard time wrapping my mind around that stuff. That anything like parallel universes.

Anonymous said...

oops, that was the wrong quote. I was referring to you post Solar. "In any of the 13 dimensions. anything is possible." That's what I was talking about in my last post.

Solar said...

I mean that im comfortable writing here, and at TM.

Anonymous said...

But do you prefer, or like the written form now?

Carol said...

I understand your communication perfectly Solar except when your talking way over my head.

Anonymous said...

"This swamp turtle is a little slow."

Never Carol. You're ahead of us all.

Coreen said...

"In any of the 13 dimensions. anything is possible. Elvis sings in one maybe???"

No, don't you know, Elvis is in Kalamazoo, Michigan.....

And Solar, why do you think flying thru the air
could have been so popular in those days?

Could it be because everything involves that
inter-dimensionial aspect you sometimes mention & time is just a part of it.

Carol said...

It would be nice if Rez would join us also and others. We need to get to 22 followers.

"The 22 is also known as the master builder. It is potentially the most successful number and it can turn the most ambitious dreams into reality."

Anonymous said...

"when your talking way over my head."

He does tend to do that sometimes.
Solar, I think the witch stuff you were discussing is interesting, and I didn't mean to stop you, by saying it's depressing. I just meant the way they treated them.

Carol said...

No Chloe, I couldn't even get up on the log yesterday. I needed a hand and none of us had one. We were all legs.

Solar said...

It's still a bit of a struggle and a challenge. Thats why I was pleasantly surprised by the way that Champ offered to advise me on it.

I do like it much better now; because im able to ask, and give better comments than before...my phrasing, and spelling, and crammer still has a lot to be desired..thinking in spanglish doesn't help....

Anonymous said...

I usually like odd numbers best. 23 is so much better than 22. 13 better than 12. etc. Only my opinion, obviously. Just sayin'.

Anonymous said...

Solar, Once you know the rules (as you do now), then it's appropriate to vary the way you use (or don't use) them. Many great writers have their own rules they use. As long as it's easy for others to read, you can write just about any way you want. That's part of what makes it all so interesting.

And most of the time, when some corrects their working or spelling in a later post, I never noticed the mistake in the first place. Our brains tend to correct it automatically when we're reading the comment.

Anonymous said...

I think you have learned to really organize your thoughts well though. That's always a big challenge, when discussing more intricate ideas and feelings. That's the whole purpose of punctuation, to make it easier for others to read and understand.

You're a very clear writer Solar.

Anonymous said...

I hope you guys brains deciphered some of the mistakes I just typed on those posts. I think I must be getting tired. (good excuse?)

Solar said...

my typing while standing also needs some woik...I can't sit for long,and keep walking as I talk on the phone...and it comes out...crammmer instead of grammar...but I think that you witchie's are getting so used to it...that you can guess very good at what im trying to convey...tanks,

Im going to post a little more about those witches..religion sorta gets in there also..but thats what they do..they are involved in everything..and not meant to talk anyone for or against anything...just some very interesting info.

Coreen,

Yes to both of your last post...but not the same...time is involved in everything tho...will have to organize my thoughts to give an adequate remark...

Carol said...

Even Bethy suggested that when perfect grammar is used, writing becomes more sterile and less interesting. She said it better than that.

Anonymous said...

"when perfect grammar is used, writing becomes more sterile and less interesting."

Well then, from now on that's my excuse. I'm just trying to be more interesting.

...mañana

Solar said...

I think that's part of why I like it here. We can talk about anything, and can be challenged or not in a very civil way. I do like the confrontation at TM at times..but it does feel like...give me an opening and I will show you where you are wrong...

I don't mind someone saying that wrong, or you have that wrong..and then telling me where I went wrong; but I don't like to be pushed, and push back hard...after it's done a few times...but it happens less and less now. IM ignored a lot, and that's ok too....

Solar said...

Carol,

Thanks.

Carol said...

For what Solar?

Solar said...

for this:

I understand your communication perfectly"

Carol said...

I don't always know when to put in a comma, I just throw one in when I take a breath.

Solar said...

PARASKEVIDEKATRIAPHOBIA

U have to be a lawyer or something to spell like this.!!!

Carol said...

Yep Solar. I kinda thought that maybe she had a few drinks before she typed that. Maybe a few dozen.

Carol said...

You know that lawyer happy hour.

rezdog said...

Ha! Carol, I saw your 6:44pst post. I lurk around here every so often just to see what you guys are up too, as I do on a few other blogs. So I thought I'd come out of the shadows and say hello, lol. Didn't you hear the flutes. I always told Pogo, like in the movies, when you hear the flute music start up, the Indians are about to come on screen.

TM gets a little too boring sometimes and too political. I like to enjoy myself and have a laugh.

Anyway I guess I'm the 12th man on the team.

rezdog said...

Maybe a 13th one will show themselves on the 13th.

Coreen said...

Hey guys, Not really, just proof read & spell check...

And actually its all Greek to me.....

Solar said...

Carol

We would have been great friends if we knew each other when growing up. Would have put....Jan... in a van, trk , or car and finished whatever adventure we were on. and then take her to the hospital..

Jan, just kidding.....I would have set your broken leg, a splint or something first..something to bite on for the pain too..before we finished.

sleep well all of you witchies; the moon is just right for a little ride first......

Carol said...

Rut rho, now we need 22. Hi Rez. You ought to be comfortable in the swamp. At least it should be in your DNA. It's on the Calcasieu river. Calcasieu..." comes from the Native American Atakapa language katkosh, for Eagle"

Solar said...

Rezman, great to see you here.!!

Carol said...

Rez, Solar has been dying to share his womens.

Carol said...

Solar, just pull up another log and Rez can sun awhile.

rezdog said...

Hi Solar and Carol, I'm signed up so I'll drop in every one in a while. I can't let the sol man have all these women to himself. :-)

Solar said...

No Im not. Just would like some male company once in a while...finders keepers and all that..Coreen...draw up some kind of papers.....

rezdog said...

As long as she's not from Philadelphia.

Solar said...

There goes the hood.!!! HA!..but nice to have you in the swamp..little bit diff..here are the rules....there aren't any.

that not im not was for Carol..im not sharing...and I don't want to see anyone whispering behind my front....im getting jealous already...mmmmm

Just kidding Rez....can use the company...

rezdog said...

Thx solar. I 'm okay just don't expect me to blog much. I just enjoy reading and commenting when something strikes me.

Carol said...

Sometimes we just all sit here and sun also Rez.

Carol said...

Sometimes I get a little bug in my shell and get a little too chatty.

rezdog said...

Plus I'm a couple or three hour behind most everyone so it's different, just like on TM. I don't come on until it's lunch for you guys and I'm up sometimes and going to bed as you all are getting up. It weird for us left coasters.

rezdog said...

Anyway I'm glad I surfaced tonite. But I gotta run for a few and see what dear wife's day was like. Later guys.

Hopefully more will surface and start sunning.

Carol said...

Jan, lives in NM and she is an hour behind us Rez. She'll come on when everyone else is asleep. She also has some Native American in her. I think she is 1/16 Cherokee. I think it's Cherokee. I could be mistaken.

I usually get up earlier or at least come here earlier and do my little monologue in the morning.

Carol said...

Well, we didn't stay intuitive and sensitive and channeled to a higher self for long, did we? I guess that is kinda hard to do while trying to balance on a log anyway.

Solar said...

Coreen, I meant two and a half men. I watch that comedy; re-runs at night sometimes..puts me to sleep after watching them..funny they are..kid needs some exercise tho.! nite again...hey who does that remind you of?

jan said...

As usual, here I am - late again. I wish I had joined sooner - Did go to work today - and worked on the baby quilt all afternoon.

Coreen, great post for today. my B'day is on the 13th - so have always felt it was my lucky number.

I have always found numbers very interesting - wonder if I was an accountant in a past life. I love any number with 3's in it.

I like witches too. We had a witch who taught with us. She has since left. She was very open that she is a witch - wore a pentagram around her neck.

Many of the witches burned were midwives. Back to men having a problem with women who don't stay home and bake.

jan said...

Chloe, I like odd numbers too - more interesting I think.

Solar, I am LOL but trying to figure out what you mean - why on earth would you put me in the trunk of a car - but take me to the hosp later - is that b/c I am the turtle with the crack in my shell???

I am glad however you are taking me on the adventure too. I love going on adventures - not enough adventures in recent years - I think.

jan said...

I am a lone wolf tomorrow night - hubby is going to Alamogordo to do a service sun morn. I am staying home with my canine friend. Will give me more time to get on here - maybe when someone else is on her too.
Well, nite all

Ivy Green said...

I am home from the show...Bruce Hornsby was fantastic...he really connected with the audience, including question-and-answer time, and taking requests shouted from the seats. He's very funny too...full of that self-effacing humor we "I" people love so much. lol

The Wailers were awesome last night as well. I never knew B-i-r-m-i-n-g-h-a-m-A-l-a-b-a-m-a could be sung to a reggae rhythm all to itself!

Two VERY DIFFERENT shows, the Wailers pulled every ounce of energy out of you to keep pace with them; Bruce was soothing and restorative.

I'm so glad to see more friends here from TM. I was actually thinking during the Bruce H. show to ask Fairweather if she knows the music...the very last song he did was a nostalgic one about a small town girl in Appalachian Virginia and "the road not taken." I wondered if she'd know the name of it. This will remind me to visit her site and ask her if she's not still lurking here.

P.S. We had the same seats for both performances - fourth row center - I love getting the energy that pours off the stage when you're that close.

jan said...

Carol, Yes I am part Cherokee - my dad's parents were both Cherokee - I think they were each 1/2 but they claimed to be less because at that time, if you had more Cherokee blood- you were not able to handle your own finances.

Ivy Green said...

Jan,
My favorite book, "Year of Wonders," includes characters who are "herbal women" and midwives - the village's only medical practitioners. Who do you think stood as the first accused when plague struck the village? Who do you think were hung as witches, thus leaving the quarantined village with no skilled healers when the people were most in need?

Solar said...

Jan,

Im back and peeking in again.

Yest the cracked shell in no reason for the other turtle to cancel the adventure floating down the river...plus; and this is a big plus..you you're self said that you were a little "Klutzy" prone to little accidents..well that fine, but not a shoe stopper...and I just wanted to say hello..Chloe, is use to me doing it like that. :-))

jan said...

Hi Ivy, Sounds like 2 great shows. I can't see you but you sound excited about both performances.

jan said...

Ivy, I am going to have to order that book from Amazon. It sounds like something I would like.

Solar said...

nite again. gots to stop this Chloe nite stuff; could get to be habit forming no?

jan said...

Solar, now I know what you were talking about - yes, I am super klutzy - but was always one of those people that didn't get hurt when I tripped and fell into something. Once I was running in the grass at an outdoor concert and stepped into a deep hole - I went rolling on the grass - I was shocked I didn't break a leg or ankle. I have always been lucky that way.

jan said...

Well, off to bed.

Carol said...

Ewww. After reading what Jan and Ivy wrote, I guess I'd better stop using those potions and spells on my inmates. I really don't like the heat and I think that being burned at the stake would really ruin one's day. Now I have burned a few steaks, but that's not the same.

Carol said...

It is really neat that we have increased both our Native American and our creative and cultured population here.

I need all the culture I can get out here in the swamp. I told you how little I know about music even though I do love it. With just the concerts that Ivy gets to go to I have learned the names of the people who do some of the songs I have liked.

And I do have some Native American in my past life experiences. I told you guys that I was one with the canoe from the very first time I ever stepped into one. All of us here must have some with our love of nature and love for nature symbolism.

Carol said...

Chloe mentioned yesterday that it would be a good day to discuss luck. This Prof Richard Wiseman studied the priciples of good and bad luck and he wrote a self-help book, The Luck Factor.

Here is a website that discusses those principles, but I'm not sure if the Prof has anything to do with this site. Can't find credits but it discusses the priciples"

The Luck Factor

Anonymous said...

" I love getting the energy that pours off the stage when you're that close."

Ivy, You make that sound so entertaining 'and' meaningful. Glad to hear you're enjoying the experience so much. Your husband sounds like a wonderful and interesting person.


"I just wanted to say hello..Chloe, is use to me doing it like that. :-))"

Indeed I am Solar.
Jan, Solar loves to joke around, and so do I, so sometimes when you hear us saying unusual things, it's all in fun. He's a very friendly, funny guy, and you can assume anything he says is friendly and funny toward you too.

Solar, I'm glad to see you're picking up my habit of not always 'completely' leaving when you leave. Sometimes you just can't help hearing one more thing you'd like to comment on, when you're just in the next room - and these walls are so thin!

Ha! Parting can be such sweet sorrow. (and besides, there's 'always' one more thing to say, we just don't think of it 'til we're gone):).


Rez! Hope to hear from you now and then, Jump in anytime, and remember what Carol says. Anything goes here!

Anonymous said...

Carol, I haven't read 'The luck factor' yet, but I do have my own theory on 'luck', and it's that we make our own, by putting ourselves into certain situations, as well as certain frames of mind.

I mean, you've said in the past there are no accidents (or was is coincidences that you said). Whichever, wouldn't luck fall into that category?

I'm going to read your link in a few minutes.

Anonymous said...

Carol, I just noticed we already have 123 posts. If we get gabby today, then someone may need to right another post on 'Luck'. Or, I guess we could just do one of our 'continuation' posts to extend the thread.

Anonymous said...

MG, right? write.

Carol said...

Mary turned me on to this video. It was on Today Show this morning. Will bring a tear to your eye. We're never alone when we have one of these best friends. Dog or cat. No matter how long I'm gone, all day or just an hour, Maggie is so excited to see me.

Coming back from war to your best friend

Carol said...

When I go feed Fiddler every morning, she is torn over whether she wants the food or the lovin more. It's dip down for a bite and come up for a pet.

jan said...

The dog video is amazing. Thanks for linking it. Brought tears to my eyes. I can't tell who is happier, the soldier or his dog.

jan said...

I have heard "there are no accidents" and I think that is from some Jungian stuff.

jan said...

" but I do have my own theory on 'luck', and it's that we make our own, by putting ourselves into certain situations, as well as certain frames of mind."

Chloe, some of the things you say, I feel like I have had the same thoughts. I completely agree. I remember when good things happened to me, I think I was in a positive frame of mind - and the opposite is true also - If I am in a negative frame of mind, that is when things don't go as well.

jan said...

I feel badly that I don't have any pics to post or something interesting to write for a post. This baby quilt is taking all my creative energy - and I have precious little to spare right now with fighting another viral infection. At least this one seems not as bad as the first one.

jan said...

I am off to fix me a healthy smoothie to fight this viral pox that is zapping my energy. I am putting everything healthy in it I can think of - low fat yoghurt, blueberries, banana, pineapple, & peanut butter.

Solar said...

Before 1000 a.d. no one was executed if a neighbor alleged y saw a witch with the Devil. People accused each other of being sorcerers or withces and of having super naturist powers to do evil. There was much speculation about certain women who could journey through the air and cover great distances at enormous speeds.

The authorities took little interest n systematically hunting down glitches and forcing them to confess their crimes. In fact, the Catholic Church originally insisted that there were no such thinks as witches flying through the air.

IN the year 100 a.d. it was forbidden to believe that such flights really took place; later, after 1480, it was forbidden to believe that they did not take place. In 1000 ad the Church officially maintained that the ride of the witches was an illusion produced by the Devil, Five hundred year later, the Church pontifically maintained that those who claimed that the ride wad merely an illusion were themselves in plague with he Devil. The older viewpoint was governed by a document call the Canon Episcopi.

Solar said...

I confronted a Real witch once.!!

Around 1989 or so; I found out that one of my sisters was having troubles collecting from a tenant that lived in one of her apartments.

As it turned out my sister was afraid of her b/c after this lady was living there for a while; she started to do weird things like burn things in her apratment and sing loud chants, she showed my sister her room of incantations; and spells..

She threatened my sister and my lack of bls brother in law with her spells, and with a knife..this pissed my off. I went to their apartment when my bro-n-law was at work...my sister knew that something was going to happen when I showed up.

I talked to her for a while..and told her that I would take care or it. Olivia my sister is a very, very religious person, and believes that this women was a real witch and working with the devil

I went up to the second floor, and knock..this lady of about 40 came to the door, and asked what the hell did I want..I explained to her my sisters position and gave her a chance to come clean.

This lady just laughed at me and started cursing me out..she was going to slap me..I grabbed her and tied her up with some rope that I had..and threw every thing in her apartment out of the balcony and onto the front yard...I grabbed her and put her out on the street. Told her that she had two hrs to come and get her things...she told me that she was going to cast a spell on me...I told her that I was already posses ed and din's give a crap..she said said that she would send people after me..I grabbed her and tied her up again, and called my nephew Robert..he is a crime detective in Chicago..he took her to the station and put the fear of the Lord in her..she picked up her stuff that I stacked in a corner of the yard....to this day I think of the spell that she put on me. She said that I would start to.........oh never mind...im sure that it must be just a coincidence???..

Mary said...

Solar,
Was that story above true? I am very gullible and believe everything. People have told me some pretty rediculous stories that I believed.

Solar said...

Jan,

Yep that was true..

Solar said...

This witch had my sister convinced that she was possessed. Olivia was looking for an exorcist to help her out..she was on medication at the time for a lot of things..and she prayed and prayed all day long..I told her that the devil had sent me to get rid of that witch and her stupid ideas..

I went to her house for at least three hours for the nest 3 weeks...talked and walked with her a lot...she needed to get out into t he fresh air, a walk, get exercise just like any other animal...she is still very religious and tell me, and other that god sent me to do what I did...she did not like what I had to say about that.!!

Solar said...

If IM boring you with this witchie stuff let me know; and I will stop.

Solar said...

You see the Church at first had nothing to worry about from these witches. The Devil m ade them do it...they were not burned; they were excommunicated . They others that attended the Sabbaths were tortured tho..they then gave up at least two other people that were there also.

This system ran smoothly for a while; there were some additional improvements.....refinements. Expenses were kept down by forcing the withes family to pay the bill for the services of the torturers and the executioners. They paid for everything; including the judges and the banquets that they had.

The Church first authorized the use of torture not against witches; but against members of illicit ecclesiastical (had to look that one up)organizations that were springing up all over the place....competition, or capitalism was going on; and the Church did not like this one little bit.

They were springing up all over Europe and threatening to break the monopoly that Rome held on tithes and sacraments. By the third century for example, the Albigensian s (also called Cathari) in southern France had developed into a powerful independent ecclesiastical body with its own clergy who met openly under the protection of dissident faction of the French nobility.

The Pope had to call for a holy war-the Albigensian Crusade-to preserve southern France for Christendom. The Albigensian s were eventually exterminated.

But many other heretical sects such as the Waldenses and the Vaudois took their place, to Combat these subversive m movements, the Church gradually created the Inquisition, a special paramilitary office whose sole function was to extirpate heresy.

Anonymous said...

Carol, We have a cold front coming in late Monday, so you'd better make sure your heaters are working ok and ready to go. One more hot day tomorrow though.

Actually, I think we're going to be a little cooler over this way than you will be there. I think Monday night is supposed to be 44 up where we are.

Carol said...

Evening folkes. Solar I've enjoyed reading your posts today. I haven't had anything to say. I'm having one of those rare apathy days. Don't know why, just have the blahs. Nothing I'm particularly passionate about today, not even food. Unfortunately that hasn't stopped me from eating.

Chloe, I checked the forecast and I see that it's supposed to get down to 45 Monday night and 47 Tuesday night. It was in the 40s one day this last week and I did OK with my limited heat.

Anonymous said...

Do you think it's the changing season Carol? I often have that feeling, on and off, throughout the winter. It usually disappears in the spring. Maybe you should go fishing tomorrow, while it's so warm out.

Well, I'm going to cuddle up with a book. See you tomorrow.

Solar said...

Anyway: The heretics went underground, formed clandestine cells, and held secret meeting. Finding that their efforts (the Church that is) didn't make a big diff. the church's inquisitors requested authorization to use torture to force heretics to confess and name their accomplices.

This authorization was granted in the middle of the thirteenth century by Pope Alexander IV.

while these other organizations were being tortured , the withces still enjoyed the protection of the Canon Episcopi.

witch was a crime not a heresy-since the sabbat was a figment of the imagination. But with the passing of time, papal inquisitors becam more and more disturbed by the lack of jurisdiction over witchcraft, they argued , was no longer what it used to be in the days of the Canon Episcopi.

A new and much more dangerous kind of witch had developed-a witch that actually could fly to sabbats. ( all bs). these sabbats were just like the secrete meeting of the other sects, only the rites were even more loathsome. If witches could be tortured like other heretics, their confessions would lead to the discovery (more money, and less competition no?) of a vast body of secret conspirators. At last Rome yielded.

a Pope named Innocent ( What a freekin name for a Pope huh-innocent my buttttt. oops not so big...my but :-)) issued a bill in 1484 that authorized full power of the inquisition to extirpate witches throughout Germany....

Stuff like this is why I like Anthropology much, much more than history books...they-the Anthropologist tell the true story of the riddles of culture..they don't lean left or right..just what they find.....

Solar said...

Don 1

Whatever you're doing...stop it-it's not healthy for you.!

I like string theory b/c it's all just the one, and we are the one. Just like there is only one sense: Touch. We touch vibrations with our eyes , ears, and all other senses in the air. Here:


While Vafa and Heckman’s work predicts there is a good likelihood of generating a stau particle, there is also a less likely possibility that a semi-stable neutral particle will be generated. If the particle proves neutral, it won’t manifest itself in a way that the LHC’s detectors would see. It could still be found, but indirectly. If the particle is created and escapes the accelerator, it would manifest as missing energy and could be located as scientists tally their experimental results.

Vafa and Heckman came up with their stau conclusion by winnowing the many possibilities in string theory. One difficulty of the theory, Vafa said, is its flexibility. String theory has hundreds of variables, which he described as “dials” that physicists can turn up and down to generate innumerable possible universes.

While that is interesting to theoreticians, Vafa said, it can also muddy the theoretical search for one universe: ours.

http://www.physorg.com/physics-news/physics/

Later, going for a beer, and a tequila, and find a dirty joke to post...maybe.

Vafa and Heckman devised two constraints that greatly narrowed the possible string universes. First, they assumed that gravity does not have to play a role in the unification of the other three forces. And second, they assumed that one property of string theory, called supersymmetry, is present at the energy levels generated by the LHC.

If string theory is correct, our universe is made up not of particles, as has been generally taught, but of tiny vibrating strings. The different vibrations manifest themselves as the familiar particles and forces that students learn about in physics class.

http://www.physorg.com/physics-news/physics/

Solar said...

A bear, a lion and a pig meet.

Bear says: "if I roar in the forest, the entire forest is shivering with fear."

Lion says: "if I roar in the jungle, the entire jungle is afraid of me."

Pig says: "big deal.... I only have to cough, and the entire planet shits itself."

jan said...

Just checking in to say hi. I have been working on the baby quilt most of the day. Got my old 1950 Singer sewing machine out to do some machine sewing on the quilt. Did not do so well in the beginning - had to work out some kinks after being in storage for 7-8 years. It is a dear machine though - after a while- it was just "whirring."

Good nite all.