Bloody Well, Who Stole The ShamRocks?

By now several people have christened toilets with green urine from all the Irish beer they drank, while others reading this are wondering if such is true; the answer-merely ask a Leprechaun when you find him beneath a rainbow protecting the pot of gold. Good Ol’ St. Patrick’s Day! If only every Holiday was akin! We would as cheerfully embrace African American History Month, drink many a brown beer, and christen toilets with ebony urine. Wear buttons and t-shirts that say, ‘Kiss me – I’m African-American’. Oh well, the ‘luck of Irish’. Yea, right! Surely it isn’t all about partying and beer, nah! This is a spectacular holiday filled with Irish symbols, folklore, blessings, songs, and food. And foremost; March 17 is in honor of a Saint. “In his sixteenth year, Patrick was carried off into captivity by Irish marauders and was sold as a slave… Admonished by an angel he after six years fled from his cruel master… his heart was set on devoting himself to the service of God… The fame of Patrick's marvelous power of miracles preceeded him” Catholic Encyclopedia“By the eighth century he had become the patron saint of Ireland… March 17, …is believed to be his death date” Wikipedia and is the is the feast day the Roman Catholic Church celebrate Saint Patrick. In fact, Pubs used to be closed on March 17.! “In 1780, General George Washington, who commanded soldiers of Irish descent in the Continental Army, allowed his troops a holiday on March 17. This event became known as The St. Patrick's Day Encampment of 1780. Today, Saint Patrick's Day is widely celebrated in America by Irish and non-Irish alike.” By drinking green beer and partying! Bloody well, who stole the shamrocks? I went to Wal-Mart to find one freakin’ shamrock, only to be overwhelmed by everything else Irish. Irish mugs, shots glasses, Irish sweatshirts and t-shirts… Okay, so the ‘Big Foot’ Chain Store Stompers of Ma and Pa Shops know how to market. Disappointedly, not finding a shamrock would have been bloody well, except Wally World has to always incorporate two holidays, as if they might miss some green. Only this time I think they went too far! St. Patrick’s Day and Easter! There adorned on the cold shelves were the delightful Easter products. Fluffy Easter Bunnies with their adorable floppy ears and cute noses. Charming Easter Baskets filled with yummy goodies! And Irish shot glasses… scattered amidst my Easter bliss! What could one expect when the Irish paraphernalia was only on the next isle! St. Patrick may not have indeed driven the snakes out of Ireland, but someone needs to drive them out of Wal-Mart! No shamrocks and now blaspheming Easter! May all their toilets be stained green beyond reconstruction! BTW: One more Irish folklore; rumor has it, on March 17 some could have been partying with the Smurfs and drinking blue beer! Let me know Readers if you find any truth to this:

“The original colour of St. Patrick's Day was not green, but blue. It wasn't until the 19th century that green became Ireland's national colour.”

March Month Marching Marvels Part One

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

“The public celebration of women's history in this country began in 1978 as "Women's History Week" in Sonoma County, California. The week including March 8, International Women's Day, was selected. In 1981, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Rep. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) co-sponsored a joint Congressional resolution proclaiming a national Women's History Week. In 1987, Congress expanded the celebration to a month, and March was declared Women's History Month.” infoplease

National Women's History Month 2007 Theme:

“Generations of Women Moving History Forward, is an expansion of the theme of the Houston Conference, “We Are Here to Move History Forward.” This theme recognizes the wisdom and tenacity of the generations of women who have come before us and those who will follow. Recognition of the historic anniversaries of 2007 presents special opportunities to acknowledge and celebrate the courage, determination, and steadfastness needed to move history forward.” .” National Women’s History Project

Mar. 2, 1904: Dr. Seuss' Birthday

The Lost Dr. Seuss Book: I Love My Job

I love my job, I love the pay.
I love it more and more each day.
I love my boss; he/she is the best.
I love his boss and all the rest.
I love my office and its location.
I hate to have to go on vacation.
I love my furniture, drab and gray,
And the paper that piles up every day.
I love my chair in my padded cell.
There's nothing else I love so well.
I love to work among my peers.
I love their leers and jeers and sneers.
I love my computer and its software;
I hug it often though it don't care.
I love each program and every file,
I try to understand once in a while.
I'm happy to be here, I am, I am;
I'm the happiest slave of my Uncle Sam.
I love this work; I love these chores.
I love the meetings with deadly bores.
I love my job-I'll say it again.
I even love these friendly men,
These men who've come to visit today
In lovely white coats to take me away.

Mar. 3, 1931: The Star-Spangled Banner, written by Francis Scott Key

At a time when our loved ones – Family, Friends, Co-Workers, Fellow Men and Women are away at War, May we remember and never forget this song:

The National Anthem of the United States of America

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?


On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!


And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!


Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!


March 11 DayLight Savings Time

Don’t Forget to Set The Clocks Ahead One Hour Tonight!

(part two of March Month Marching Marvels – next week – including green luck and the Easter Bunny! )

Celebrate Black History Month By Accentuating the Positives

Accentuating the Positives

“Originally established… 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African-American author and scholar, this event evolved into the establishment of February as Black History Month in 1976. This commemoration also has been referred to as African-American History Month. Both names are currently in use.

When Woodson established this… he realized the importance of providing a theme to focus the attention of the public. The intention never has been to dictate or limit the exploration of the Black experience, but to bring to the public's attention important developments that merit emphasis.

Since 1926,The Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History (ASALH) has established the national theme for the month long celebration. The National Theme for the celebration in the year 2007 is From Slavery to Freedom” (from US INFO)

From Slavery:
“Charleston, SC was the major point of entry for Africans brought to America in the eighteenth century. Approximately three out of four enslaved Africans came to America through this port city, which had a black majority by 1790. In 1808, the foreign slave trade was abolished, but American-born slaves continued to be bought and sold until the Civil War.” (from The Aiken-Rhett House )

1441
The first cargo of African slaves arrive in Lisbon with Antam Goncalves.
1690
February 7. The first South Carolina law relating solely to slavery is enacted.
1743
September 12. The Reverend Alexander Garden (d. 1773) opened a school for blacks in Charles Town. The purpose was to train them "in principles of Christianity and the fundamentals of education, to serve as schoolmasters to their people."
1773
A black Christian church opens in South Carolina, reflecting the rapid growth of Christianity, the "white man's religion," among American blacks.
1790 SC Federal Census
Slave 107,094
Free Black 1,801
1800 SC Federal Census
Slave 146,151
Free Black 3,18
1810 SC Federal Census
Slave 196,365
Free Black 4,554
1820 SC Federal Census
Slave 258,475
Free Black 6,826
1821
Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on Calhoun Street was closed in response to the Vesey insurrection. Reorganized in 1865, it became a focal point for black political activity.
1829
Daniel A. Payne, a free black, opens a school for black children in Charleston.
1840 SC Federal Census
Slave 327,038
Free Black 8,276
1860 SC Federal Census
Slaves 402,406
Free Blacks 9,914
1861-1865
The Civil War: An estimated 250,000 African Americans, some of whom were slaves, serve as soldiers.
May 13 Robert Smalls, a black pilot, with a black crew sailed in the Confederate steamer Planter out of Charleston and joined the Union Fleet.
November The first black regiment was mustered into service in South Carolina. The First Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers was commanded by Colonel Thomas W. Higginson, a white man from Massachusetts. During the war over 5,000 black South Carolinians joined the Union Army.
June 2 Harriet Tubman leads Union troops in a raid up only time a woman has led American troops in battle.
1865
St. Mark's Episcopal Church, organized by a black congregation, is established in Charleston.
November 13 The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery throughout the United States, is ratified.

(the above time-line is from Milestones in the History of Slavery)

For a more details on slavery in Charleston, SC, “Follow the African American Coastal Heritage trails and explore what our ancestors never imagined would become history” at The African American Coastal Trail

To Freedom:
“Both free and enslaved Africans helped shape Charleston’s economic and cultural life. Their agricultural knowledge is largely responsible for Charleston’s success. Ironwork, handmade sweetgrass baskets, she-crab soup and benne seed cookies are just a few of the well-known artistic and culinary contributions. Gullah, the Sea Island culture and language, continues to survive today.” (Charleston Area Convention and Visitor Bureau)

Serving Our Nation
2.4 million
Number of black military veterans in the United States in 2005. More military veterans are black than any other minority group.
(Source: 2005 American Community Survey. Data pertain to blacks of one race only.)

Education
80%
Among blacks age 25 and older, the proportion that had at least a high school diploma in 2005. In states such as Colorado, the proportion was even higher – 90 percent. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)
17%
Percentage of blacks age 25 and older who had a bachelor’s degree or more in 2005. In many states, the rate was higher. Twenty-six percent of blacks this age in Colorado, for instance, had this level of education. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)
1.1 million
Among blacks age 25 and older, the number who had an advanced degree in 2005 (e.g., master’s, Ph.D., M.D. or J.D.). Ten years earlier — in 1995 — only 677,000 blacks had this level of education.
2.3 million
Number of black college students in fall 2004. This was an increase of roughly 1 million from 15 years earlier. U.S. U.S. Census Bureau

Businesses
$88.6 billion
Revenues for black-owned businesses in 2002, up 24 percent from 1997. The number of black-owned businesses totaled 1.2 million in 2002, up by 45 percent since 1997. Black-owned firms accounted for 5 percent of all nonfarm businesses in the United States.
129,329
The number of black-owned firms in New York in 2002, which led all states. New York City alone had 98,080 such firms, which led all cities.
10,716
The number of black-owned firms operating in 2002 with receipts of $1 million or more. These firms accounted for 1 percent of the total number of black-owned firms in 2002 and 55 percent of their total receipts, or $49 billion.
969
The number of black-owned firms with 100 or more employees in 2002. Firms of this size accounted for 24 percent of the total revenue for black-owned employer firms in 2002, or $16 billion.

Homeowership – the American Dream
46%
Nationally, the percentage of black households who lived in owner-occupied homes. The rate was higher in certain states, such as Mississippi, where it reached 56 percent.
(Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

Jobs
26%
The percentage of blacks age 16 and older who work in management, professional and related occupations. There are 44,000 black physicians and surgeons, 79,400 postsecondary teachers, 45,200 lawyers, and 49,300 chief executives. (Sources: 2005 American Community Survey and Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2007, Table 602.)

For more information on the data in this section, see <http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/sb0200csblk.pdf>

Please note that this is the “18th year BellSouth has spearheaded the initiative, providing educators, parents, and visitors a method of identifying African-American role models for all youth, honoring notable African-American achievers with ties to South Carolina” at BellSouth in South Carolina.

Honorees like Marjorie Amos-Frazier, “The first woman to be elected to the Charleston County Council in 1974, she went on to even greater triumphs six years later when she was elected commissioner on the South Carolina Public Service Commission. Until that time, the commission had been a bastion of the state's white male legislators.”


On a personal note, I would like to add; born in Ohio –I had many African American Friends whom my Family and I would share in the enjoyment of playing together, dining, church attendance, school activities, picnics, sports, etc. As a child I never knew the world had racial lines. It wasn’t until about 1975, age 13 when we moved to Beaufort, SC and I attended the school Robert Smalls that I first heard the word ‘riot’. Isn't it sad my Readers that throughout history, humans - with all our knowledgeable intelligence have been far crueler to our own humankind, than any beast? Yet, thankfully the human race continues to persevere. Maybe because there are enough individuals, or communities, or positive efforts … to really make a difference! So lets just keep doing the best we can, rather as individuals or together - for the greater plan – and in the process let us never forget our roots, no matter where they began - for they were the seedlings of today’s many dreams come true.

"All men and women are born, live suffer and die; what distinguishes us one from another is our dreams, whether they be dreams about worldly or unworldly things, and what we do to make them come about... We do not choose to be born. We do not choose our parents. We do not choose our historical epoch, the country of our birth, or the immediate circumstances of our upbringing. We do not, most of us, choose to die; nor do we choose the time and conditions of our death. But within this realm of choicelessness, we do choose how we live."
by Joseph Epstein

Vanna White in Charleston SC, Who What Else!

“This month, South Carolinians are the lucky ones, asWheel of Fortune comes to Charleston for a series of show tapings to honor the home state of Vanna White. Vanna, born in North Myrtle Beach, has been one of South Carolina’s most famous faces since she joined Wheel of Fortune in 1982.” (Source: SouthCarolina Magazine)

Black History Month -- February 2007: Charleston’s African-American Heritage Honored:

“National Black History month has a special significance in Charleston, SC. The historical influence of African Americans in the South Carolina Lowcountry is reflected in the culture and customs that still resonate throughout the area…” (Charleston Area Convention and Visitor Bureau),ABC News 4

“The only tennis tournament offering the top junior players the opportunity to compete for a wildcard invitation into a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Tier I event will once again bring more than 400 regionally and nationally ranked juniors from 14 states (and Canada) to Charleston as SMASH Magazine presents the 6th annual SMASH Junior Cup on Daniel Island in Charleston, SC from February 23-26, 2007.” (Family Cirlce Cup)

Toy Soldier Show: 50 tables of new and antique toy soldiers, diorama supplies, and military books on sale and display. Sponsored by the South Carolina Military Miniatures Society. For more info call 795-8720:
Event Date Sat 3/3/07
Start Time 9:00 - 4:00
Location Patriots Pt Holiday Inn
Cost $3.00, children under 12 free accompanied by an adult
South Carolina Military Miniature Society)

Lynyrd Skynyrd & 38 Special show April 14th at the Ladson Fairgrounds!

From Charleston City Paper:
“SOUTHERN ROCK FEST, The DJs at Q104.5 FM sure sound excited about what they're promoting as the Southern Rock Weekend at the Exchange Park Fairgrounds in Ladson in mid-April. In fact, the event is part of the annual Heritage Motorcycle Rally, which runs from April 12-22. Co-sponsored by Rock 104.5, the festival's main music lineup features Spartanburg's Marshall Tucker Band on Sat. April 14, the legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd and '80s rockers .38 Special on Sun. April 15. The following weekend features modern country act Montgomery Gentry on Fri. April 20 and Illinois classic rock band REO Speedwagon, with support from Smashmouth, on Sat. April 21. Advance tickets for Marshall Tucker are available for $20, while advance tickets for Skynyrd are available for $30 (both at www.etix.com). Check out www.heritagemotorcyclerally.com and www.q1045.com for more.”

100th Birthday celebration for oldest woman on Wadmalaw Island SC - Sun 4/15/07, this event is given by her children and grandchildren.

Stay posted my Readers for more Binding Ink! Thanks for Reading!

What Is Noisette Blvd Harboring Now

Exit the former Navy base, recently erected Riverfront Park – turn right onto N. Hobson Ave following the sharp left curve, then immediately yield right onto Noisette Blvd. Rapidly approach the set speed limit of 30 mph, You will near the road laden train tracks and cross a trendy fishing bridge. But just before you make the final jagged left curve headed toward Virginia Ave., be sure to look on the left hand side and you will surely see what appears to be a wooden tunnel from Maryland turnpike or perhaps some strange wooden garden green house. Across the enclosed fence you’ll note some strange almost village lettering, losttrades.com. Curious? I was! So naturally I went to the website. At first I was like - what does an odd shaped wooden doohickey have to do with film making? “Lost Trades is a collection of adventure based individuals with common goals: to bring about positive social and environmental change by building examples of human creativity, expeditioning to places of extreme beauty and documenting these voyages on film.” I began to explore some more and learned that Lost Trades is based on three Brothers from Woodstock, Vermont where the Brothers grew up in the mountains of New England. Somehow with only craftsmanship in their blood, a dream, and determination they came to Charleston, SC. July 2, 1999 on the Stono River, apparently on the old “Burnt Oak Plantation”; 9,000 hours invested - the three Brothers manual built ALLURA. A 50 ft. catamaran, 16,000 lbs. comprised of Okume Mahogany plywood and Douglas Fir, needing only 4 ft. of water when sailing. Certified for 77 passengers, the Brothers sailed the ALLURA to the Caribbean and started a day charter business.

Today, on Noisette Blvd. here in Charleston, SC is part of their GREENHORN BOAT SHOP. It is their MOBILE BOAT SHOP that they are able to pack up the entire warehouse and relocate to other 'port cities and coastal areas around the world.' Hence, the odd shaped tunnel is merely a 'giant tent with removable metal poles and a large tarp cover'. At the Navy Base Revitalization Project on Noisette Blvd, Lost Trades is building a 55 ft. Searunner wooden catamaran. Lost Trades also have an interest in Viking ships, canoes, kayaks, and rowing vessels. They offer apprenticeship and international exchange programs. “We build the highest quality sailing catamarans in the world, with the lowest low-tech tools. A few circular saws, jigsaws, sanders, and drills are all we need to create the ultimate sailing machine out of wood.” The website Lost Trades is a must read for more information on their history, expeditions, films, how to apply for apprenticeship… Meanwhile’ I am continuing to enjoy my rides to and fro work, noting the oblong progress on the craftsmanship. Wondering what their research has found for the 'renewable material for use in marine grade plywood' such as 'Airheart' vs the tropical hardwood. So Readers, be sure to take a look at the progress next time you are in the area! BTW: With as much rain water as Noisette Blvd tends to harbor after every down pour, Lost Trades might want to get started on those canoes!

Noisette Blvd Trains Ringling Bros

Exit the former Navy base, recently erected Riverfront Park – turn right onto N. Hobson Ave following the sharp left curve, then immediately yield right onto Noisette Blvd. Rapidly approach the set speed limit of 30 mph and you will briefly see a train sitting on the right side of the tracks. Then suddenly traffic squelches to a halt as drivers note an almost cartoon caption sign – “caution 5 miles an hour– children at play’ –. As you near the road laden train tracks, the trains have almost reluctantly split, allowing traffic to cross the trendy fishing bridge. However, promptly caution for there atop the bridge stands another cartoonish sign “5 miles an hour– children at play’. Be aware my Dear Readers, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum/Bailey have come to town! That’s right, Ladies and Gentlemen Jan 31 - Feb 04 at the North Charleston Coliseum, The Greatest Show on Earth is in N. Charleston for our enjoyment! And on Noisette Blvd. sits their Circus bus and train! And I take great pleasure in my daily route to and fro work, noting the vehicles in front of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum/Bailey trains. Cars, trucks, motorcycles, taxis, … Knowing the Ringling Bros. and Barnum/Bailey Circus may be here to entertain the child in us all. However; for all the Ringling Bros. and Barnum/Bailey have always given us, it is nice to be reminded that behind the mask, the makeup, the tricks, treats, feats, and rings, they are people like you and I. People with Friends and Family visiting them. People visiting our town. People with kids. And so, seeing this on Noisette Blvd., has been for me, ‘the Greatest Show On Earth’.

"The dream is as much a part of the American culture as Ringling Bros. and Barnum/ Bailey itself: to run away and join the circus. For the human performers, animal stars, and crewmembers of the two unique editions of The Greatest Show On Earth, life on the road is the best life you could imagine!

The Red Unit and Blue Unit trains criss-cross the country 11 months out of the year, logging more than 25,000 miles as they bring America's Living National Treasure to millions of families in more than 90 cities! More than a mile long, each of the privately owned Ringling Bros. and Barnum/Bailey trains is an international melting pot of cultures and skills."
Ringling Bros. and Barnum/Bailey Trains

Laurels

.My excursion began unpretentiously, my task simple – to define the lovely Mountain Laurel.

Enacted by the General Assembly as the State Flower for Connecticut in 1907 and Pennsylvania in May 5, 1933 . Mountain Laurel was first mentioned in John Smith's "General History," in 1624 specimens were sent to Linnaeus, the famous botanist, by the Swedish explorer Peter Kalm in 1750.

Linnaeus gave it the name of Kalmia latifolia, honoring the name his correspondent and at the same time describing the "wide-leafed" characteristic of the plant. In addition to being called the "Mountain Laurel," the plant has also been spoken of as "Calico Bush" and "Spoonwood." State Flower

However; for such an attractive plant, there is controversy. It is said that the Delaware Indians used laurel for suicide. Bees even produce poisonous honey from its nectar. I have found little on the internet to support the Indians suicide and even greater debate surrounding this plant being poisonous to animals. The following excerpt may have claim to such diversities:

“Mountain laurel is a very poisonous narcotic plant, the leaves of which were at one time used by some native North American Indian tribes in order to commit suicide. Because of its toxicity, it is a remedy that is seldom used in modern herbalism,but the leaves have been used externally in herbal medicine and are a good remedy for many skin diseases and inflammation.

Known Hazards: The foliage is poisonous to animals[21, 65, 76]. The whole plant is highly toxic[222]. Cases of poisoning have occurred when livestock or game birds have been eaten after they have ingested this plant[238].” Plants For a Future

As I continued my pleasure trip into the mountains, I cut across the beaten path of curiosity to ponder laurel and found:

A Laurel is a 16-17 year old participant in the Young Women's program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The name came from the Old testament, a laurel is a type of tree that in many parables people leaned on. -Wikipedia

The Laurel was the third English gold coin with a value of twenty shillings or one pound produced during the reign of King James I. It was named after the laurel that the king is portrayed as wearing on his head, but it is considerably poorer in both quality and style than the sovereign and Unite which preceded it. The coin was produced during James I's third coinage (1619-1625), five different busts of the king being used in these years. All the coins were produced at the Tower Mint in London. The laurel weighed 140.5 grains or just under 0.3 troy ounce, less than the previous Unite but almost exactly the same as the Unite issued under Charles I. -Wikipedia

I was about to 'rest on my laurels' when I finally came across,“Mountain laurel bushes are sometimes confused with bay laurel trees (Laurus nobilis), the small Mediterranean trees prominent in history and literature. The ancient Greeks and Romans fashioned bay laurel tree’s leaves into wreaths, to be worn as crowns by the victors in sporting events and military campaigns. When you think of Julius Caesar, you probably picture him wearing just such a wreath.” Landscaping

Its name "bay"--from the Anglo-Saxon--also means "crown," Nicholas Culpepper testified in 1653 to its curative powers in his Herbal, "Neither witch nor devil, thunder nor lightning will hurt a man where a bay tree is." SOUP OF THE EVENING

The term "baccalaureate," means laurel berry, and refers to the ancient practice of honoring scholars and poets with garlands from the bay laurel tree. Wikipedia hence a farewell sermon to a graduating class at their commencement ceremonies or an academic degree conferred on someone who has successfully completed undergraduate studies

Triumphant athletes of ancient Greece were awarded laurel garlands and was given to winners at Olympic games since 776 BC Today, grand prix winners are bedecked with laurel wreaths

“Ever since, the foliage of bay laurel trees has been a symbol of victory. It is still used as such for the Olympics. We even have the expression, “to rest on one’s laurels,” meaning to be overly content with one’s past achievements. It is also this more famous laurel that is used as a flavoring agent in cooking, often referred to as “bay leaf.”

The Greek word for laurel is dhafni, named for the myth of the nymph Daphne, who was changed into a laurel tree by Gaea

“In Greco-Roman mythology the nymph, Daphne was transformed into a bay laurel tree, to save her from Apollo’s unwelcome advances. Apollo was chasing this daughter of the river-god, Peneus through the woods when the magical metamorphosis occurred. The tale of her transformation has been passed down to us by the Latin poet, Ovid -- in the appropriately titled, Metamorphoses. Edith Hamilton, in her Mythology, relates the tale to us in English with her usual charm:

“She felt his breath upon her neck, but there in front of her the trees opened and she saw her father’s river. She screamed to him, ‘Help me! Father, help me!’ At the words a dragging numbness came upon her, her feet seemed rooted in the earth she had been so swiftly speeding over. Bark was enclosing her; leaves were sprouting forth. She had been changed into a tree, a laurel.”

Again we are reminded, “Muntain laurel, is related to its namesake, the bay laurel tree only in name. Indeed, the common name for Kalmia latifolia derives from the fact that, when Europeans encountered it in the New World, it reminded them superficially of bay laurel trees. But while the foliage of bay laurel trees is used as a culinary herb, mountain laurel is poisonous!” Oh but the aroma and benefits of the wonderful bay leaf!:

Attributed Medicinal Properties
In the Middle Ages it was believed to induce abortions and to have many magical qualities. It was once used to keep moths away, owing to the leafs lauric acid content which gives it insecticidal properties. Bay leaf has many properties which make it useful for treating high blood sugar, migraine headaches, bacterial and fungal infections, and gastric ulcers. Bay leaves and berries have been used for their astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, emetic and stomachic properties. Bay Oil, or Oil of Bays (Oleum Lauri) is used in liniments for bruising and sprains. Bay leaf has been used as an herbal remedy for headaches. It contains compounds called parthenolides, which have proven useful in the treatment of migraines. Bay leaf has also been shown to help the body process insulin more efficiently, which leads to lower blood sugar levels.It has also been used to reduce the effects of stomach ulcers. Bay Leaf contains eugenol, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Bay leaf is also an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. Bay Leaf has also been used to treat rheumatism, amenorrhea, and colic. Encyclopedia of Spices.

My, what a journey with just a simple mountain laurel in mind. I have found history and wonders and hopefully left you - My Readers with lots to ponder

Unfinished Masterpiece

Serendipity incidences have adorned my life for many years. The one spectacular serendipity moment I will forever treasure most is about my Daughter Violet. I had reluctantly placed Violet up for adoption when she was 1 year and 7 months old. When she was 16 years old I had gotten a P. O. Box so she could always have an address to get in touch with me, no matter where I moved. Shortly afterwards, the junk mail started arriving. One in particular caught my eye, the usual Frisbee CD disk from AOL to join their internet service. I would have disregarded the canister, except the password on the front stunned me. To this day I still have that very piece of junk mail. The password printed on the label, “BRING VIOLET’. Five something years later my Daughter and I have been blessedly reunited and I still get letters from my Daughter at that P. O. Box! Now that my Dear Readers is pure Serendipity!

Other occurrences of serendipity I have yet to unravel the mysterious ‘rhyme and reason’ for them. However; the below is a true story of the most astonishing serendipity in my life to date:

I worked with this Lady, Jen. In the course of developing a Friendship with Jen, I learned she wrote poetry and had a wonderful blog site. In fact, Jen inspired me to start my own, hence; my blog site ‘Binding Ink’. One day Jen resigned from her job. I never knew much more about her after that. However; I knew she kept her other job as a Night Manager at a local Perkins Restaurant. Sadly, October 7, 2006 a former Perkins employee robbed the place - shot and killed Jen.

Then toward the end of November, just so happen I was searching for a new residence. I had made calls to several apartment complexes. One LandLady, said there may be an opening in January if the Tenants decide not to renew their lease. Then suddenly a few days later this LandLady called, stating a previous application did not go through and there was an immediate vacancy! I was happy, signed, sealed, approved, and started moving in Friday December 22. Saturday things in the apartment started going wrong. The curtains I hung fell down, this – that and the other. All the while, I kept getting this vibe to check the mailbox here. I was like, heck I just moved in; why would I want to check the freakin’ mailbox. Meanwhile; I also kept thinking how much my taste in decorating had changed for the better and how the writing vibes in this apartment were strong. Any how; about 4 pm Christmas Eve I was taking my last load of empty boxes out to the trash and decided to check the mailbox. I brought the mail into my apartment and when I saw whom the old junk mail was addressed to, I about fell on the floor! The junk mail was addressed to no other then, Jennifer Skurow. My old Friend, Co-Worker, Jen! Remember, I never got to know her that well, so I surely never knew where she lived. Of all the apartment possibilities in any town, what were the odds of over 2 months later I would be living in Jens’ old place? Serendipity.

Yes, it is ever so sorrowful, amongst those Family Members, Friends, Co-Workers, Blog Readers whom will miss Jen; gone also is Jen’s talent, her poetry, that may never be known. For when Dominic murdered Jen that dreadful night, he also left the ‘literary world’ with an unfinished masterpiece. However; my Dear Readers, amidst the ‘sick’ events in the world, amidst the chaos there are rainbows and snowmen. And so just maybe in spirit or atom particles of anonymities; maybe Jen is here to encourage people like myself to establish their writings, their talents before it’s too late.

Serendipity, a Universal symphony whose tune can be heard by the most tone deaf person.

Follow-up Posts:

JUSTICE for Jennifer Skurow (15 months to the date of Jennifer Skurow’s murder, the alleged murderer is now going to trial.)

JUSTICE for Jennifer Skurow Prevails (Heather Olinger from CountOn2 News online, Thursday, Jan 10, 2008 - 09:32 PM states; “… man guilty of murder and armed robbery, and sentenced him to life in prison….”)

Art of Listening

It seems to be a sick world. Rather one person or a group of people are doing something worse than the person before. Or someone is stricken ill, much worse than the other. It is a sick world.

Be Mothers killing their offspring like some innate, wild manly beast syndrome. Child molesters robbing fruit from the young before it is ripe. Mental Physical Child abuse – no excuse. Drug abuse, alcohol abuse, any reason as an excuse. Columbine High - Teenagers Gone Wild and We Don’t Know Why. Blame Syndrome guns, videos, parents, schools, manufactures, etc. anyone except our very own self. Crime is high – enjoy the tax free ride - free TV, free cable, three free meals, free pills, free medical, free dental, free education, etc. And what criminals haven’t already done to our society, others have done to us such as 9-11. Benefits, many murders are given the death penalty to die humanly for their gravely acts. Those without an immoral harden heart are at a disadvantage. In particular those people with illnesses, especially diseases without a cure such as cancer, aids… Sadly, these people die inhumanly. In the intervening time, these law abiding citizens must also bear atrocious unflavored m & m’s (medical and medicine cost) or do without. Yes, It is a sick world from the cradle to the grave.

However; sometimes life is merely a matter of perception. Is the world more good or bad? ‘Is the glass half full or half empty?’ For; in-between life and death, there is: serendipity, ironic, coincidence, and karma. Four words that merely seem to be complex, exchangeable synonyms. And due to individualism, the terms can be a matter of personal perception, personal choice on how you perceive them. As in, is disease a disease or dis-ease? For intellectual raison d'être, I will begin with my definition for these four words:

Serendipity: "the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely" Wikipedia

Ironic: when you say one thing but mean another; that what might be expected and what actually occurs

Coincidence: a matter of luck, a fluke; thinking about a song and then hearing it on the radio or thinking about a Friend and getting a phone call from that person

Karma: has to do with fate, personal belief

Oh, but the combination of ‘ick’ is a Universal symphony whose tune can be heard by the most tone deaf person; is the purest serendipity.

My belief is that essentially there is more to life than what our basic 6 senses are cognitively aware of. Again all this is just my conviction, and that is the Universe talks to us all. Note: one can call the Universe God, He, She or whatever. Yet, as certain as there is the wind for which we can not see, there is a voice-the voice of the Universe.

All one needs to do is understand the language. To each Country, Culture their own native tongue; foreign to many others. Any class of Aves-for every bird its’ own melody. Nature has ‘The Four Seasons’ language. Autumn paints its’ season in colorful leaves, Spring in fields of wild flowers, Winter in whiteness, Summer in heat. The Universe, a language all its’ own. The Universe is a voice that speaks a language based on sight. The HIF sight that is. Hindsight I-knew-it-all-along, Insight (intuition), Foresight (make provision for what may happen). “The hindsight into the past gave me new insight into the present reality that in turn provided me with a hopeful foresight into the future.” -Village Church

So no matter how 'sick' the world may seem at times. Remember for all the torrid rains there are rainbows. For all the avalanches there are snowmen. And through all the worldly chaos, the Universe does speak to us of its’ beauty, its' rhyme and reason, via 'serendipity, ironic, coincidence, and karma'. All we need to do is use the 'HIF' factor to figure out what the clues mean or where in life they lead. For this my Dear Readers is the true art of listening.

Celebrate New Year's Every Month of the Year!

"Why celebrate New Year's only once a year? It’s possible to celebrate New Year's every month of the year (101 New Year's Days each year!). Celebrate Sekhmet in January, Chinese New Year in January or February, Noruz in March, Baisakhi in April, Buddhist New Year in May, Runic New Year in June, Armenian New Year in July, Shenshai New Year in August, Rosh Hashanah in September, Samhain in October, Dipavali in November, and Papal States New Year in December. Please note that the New Year's listed below are for 2002. Many New Year's Days, especially religious ones such as the Chinese, Jewish, and Muslim, change from year to year. We have tried to be as accurate as possible. If you find any discrepancies, please email the International Special Events Registry.

Nothing requires we celebrate New Year's only once a year. Indeed, before 1752, Americans celebrated New Year's Day on March 25th (Lady Day according to the old Celtic religion and the Feast of the Annunciation according to the Christian religion). Great Britain and its colonies changed their New Year's celebrations to January 1st when they changed from the old Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar in 1751." Celebrate Today

Code Amber USB Flash drive Child ID

Code Amber now endorses, and is your source for, the Amber stick, the first and only fully portable Child Identification system.

The Amber stick (tm) is the next generation of Child Id software. It is
fully contained on a USB Flash drive so there is no software to download
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The software on the USB drive is password protected and the data is
completely encrypted to ensure your privacy. If the USB device is lost
the data is unreadable without the password which you set when you
first use the software (the password can be changed at anytime).

Simply plug the USB drive into your computer (all computers made in
the last 10 years have at least one USB port) and the software automatically
starts and prompts for the password. Enter your data and up to three
photographs of each child, pet or person you want to protect and done.
The Amber stick will hold information on up to 100 individuals.

If a child or person goes missing you simply hand the USB device to
the police officer and give them the password to the software. Almost
all police cars now have an onboard laptop computer which is connected
to the police station over a wireless network so the critical information
is available to the entire department within minutes. No more searching
for a photograph to scan or the need for the officer to take critical
descriptive information by hand.

Missing persons and Missing pets flyers can be printed at the click of
the mouse as well.

For more information on the Amber stick (tm), and to order through Code
Amber, please visit Code Amber

All sales help to fund the daily operation of Code Amber.

Volume discounts are available. Please contact us for details at
admin@codeamber.org