#Sheba said eat the rich

[nasuverse-most-breedable-tourney]

For every riddle you answer correctly. Sheba's technique increases in power (⁄ ⁄>⁄ ▽ ⁄<⁄ ⁄)

Romani/Solomon template by tumblr user kcciny

[rabbitcruiser]

National Pistachio Day 

National Pistachio Day is the time to celebrate this popular nut, which happens to be native to the Middle Eastern areas of the globe, including the areas that are now Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan and even southern Russia. It is thought that pistachio nuts date back pretty far into human history. In fact, they are believed to have been not only eaten by humans for at least 9000 years, but they have become an interesting part of some cultures and traditions!

Some historians have said that the famous hanging gardens of Babylon probably contained pistachio plants (which hang in groups similar to the way grapes do), some time around the year 700 BC. In fact, pistachios are only one of two nuts that are actually mentioned in the Old Testament portions of the Bible which are believed to have been assembled some time around 500 BC or so.

Pistachios are so special that, at one point, legend has it that the Queen of Sheba restricted the eating of pistachios to the royal court and forbade commoners to grow them!

It probably wasn’t until the 1st century AD that pistachios made their way to Europe as they travelled there with the Romans. Fast forward another several hundred years or so, and the pistachio was imported to the United States during the 1800s, at the request of various Americans who had roots in the Middle East. Finally, in the early 1900s, they became a popular snack food throughout the US and could be found almost everywhere, even in vending machines.

History of National Pistachio Day

For several decades, the producers and importers used red dye to hide flaws and try to make them more appealing to consumers. This dye had a tendency to leave red stains on the fingers (and sometimes faces) of the people who were eating them. Eventually, in the 1980s or so, the dye went by the wayside and now they are sold in their natural color.

The largest producer of pistachio nuts today is Iran. Actually, these little nuts are an indelible part of Iranian culture which is present at festivities, feasts, weddings and even funerals. Pistachios are also grown in other warmer areas of the world, including California, USA and Mediterranean Europe. It is believed that the Chinese are the largest consumers of this nut, and there has been a significant increase in popularity over the past several years here.

Pistachios are not just eaten as a snack, though. They are also used in various types of cooking. Their sweet flavour sometimes finds them used in desserts, such as the Lebanese dish baklava. It is also possible to sometimes find pistachio ice cream alongside more common flavours such as chocolate or strawberry.

Studies have even suggested that eating moderate amounts of pistachios can help keep the human heart healthy. They’re chock full of rich nutrients, particularly those that can lower the chance of cardiovascular disease.

So get ready for many different ways to appreciate and celebrate this nut on National Pistachio Day!

How to Celebrate National Pistachio Day

Take a cue from the cultural heritage of the pistachio and take the opportunity to celebrate with this nut in a whole variety of ways! Try out these ideas to get started:

Enjoy Eating Pistachios

An easy snack to take anywhere, just grab a bag of pistachios, crack open the shells and enjoy! Whether raw or roasted, in the shell or already shelled, the perfect way to honor this day is by enjoying a nutty treat.

Other ways to eat them include sprinkling some over a salad, grinding them up and using them in sauces, or chopping them and putting them on top of desserts such as ice cream, cakes or pastries.

Use Pistachios in Some Unique Recipes

Have fun in the kitchen by getting creative with pistachio recipes. Whether sweet or savory, these interesting and unique ideas for cooking and baking with this delicious nut will keep the family super happy:

Pistachio Crusted Salmon. This savory dish just couldn’t be more delicious! Chopped pistachios make a delightfully crunchy coating for this tender and flaky pink fish. Extra healthy and super delicious!

Asparagus, Goat Cheese and Pistachio Flatbread. Like a delicious personal pizza, pile the toppings on a piece of artisanal flatbread and turn it into a gourmet meal.

Cranberry Pistachio Chicken Salad Sandwich. Who says sandwiches have to be boring? Take chicken salad to a whole new level by adding dried cranberries and chopped pistachios.

Matcha Pistachio Popsicles. Make sweet summer treats healthier by making them with healthy matcha tea and delicious, crunchy pistachios.

Share Some Pistachios

What could be better than eating a delicious snack of pistachios alone? Well, sharing it, of course! Grab some snack size packs and pass them out to coworkers at the office, or bring some pastries made with pistachios to a gathering with friends and family. Better yet, take a friend out for a scoop of pistachio ice cream at a favorite ice cream shop or gelato stand. Delicious!

Learn More About Pistachios

Take this opportunity to get to know pistachios better and share the information with others! Start with these interesting facts about today’s favorite nut:

Pistachios are filled with nutritional benefits, including at least 30 different minerals, vitamins and phytonutrients. In addition, one 1 ounce serving of pistachios has six grams of protein–the same amount as an egg.

In China, pistachio nuts are considered to be the “happy nut” because the opening looks a lot like a smile. Because of this, they are often considered to be a symbol of good fortune and happiness, and are even given as gifts during the Chinese New Year.

While they originated in the Middle East, pistachios actually grow very well in the California climates, making the United States the second highest producer of pistachios in the world.

Pistachios are related to the mango fruit. They grow in clusters sort of like grapes and the nuts are surrounded by a hull that is fleshy. As the nuts ripen and the kernel grows, they almost always crack open.

Read Books Featuring Pistachios

While it might feel like a stretch to some, bookworms far and near can delight in National Pistachio Day as it gives them permission to curl up in a corner and enjoy a little light reading. Sure, most of them are kids’ fiction books, but that just means they’ll be a light read and easy to enjoy! Try out these for starters:

The Pistachio Prescription by Paula Danzinger. A teen coming of age fiction book that has been popular since the late 1970s, this tells the story of a girl who regularly takes solace in a bag full of pistachio nuts.

Princess Pistachio by Marie-Louise Gay. This series of children’s books for early readers features a young girl who is sure that she has been kidnapped and her real parents are a king and queen.

Probably Pistachio by Stuart J. Murphy. A great book for kids learning how to make educated predictions–along with a fun story.

Source

[frmartinshomiliesandreflections]

12th October >> Fr. Martin’s Gospel Reflections / Homilies on Luke 11:29-32 for Monday, Twenty Eighth Week in Ordinary Time: ‘There is something greater than Jonah here’.  

Monday, Twenty Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel (Except USA)

Luke 11:29-32

As Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be a sign

The crowds got even bigger, and Jesus addressed them:

‘This is a wicked generation; it is asking for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here.’

Gospel (USA)

Luke 11:29-32

This generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

Reflections (6)

(i) Monday, Twenty Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Many of Jesus’ contemporaries were slow to respond to Jesus’ presence and message; they were insisting on some dramatic sign. In contrast, Jesus reminds them, people from outside of Israel, pagans, responded to God’s messengers in the past, the Ninevites responded to the preaching of the prophet Jonah, and the Queen of Sheeba responded to the wisdom of Solomon. These pagans were more receptive to God’s presence in Israel than Jesus’ own contemporaries were, even though Jesus is greater than the prophet Jonah and greater than the wise man Solomon. He is the fulfilment of all the prophets and the wise men and women of Israel and, still, so many of his contemporaries are unmoved by him. Jesus has no inclination to perform some kind of overpowering sign for such people who have been so indifferent to all that God has already been doing through his ministry. When Jesus says that there is something greater than Solomon here and something greater than Jonah here, we can apply the word ‘here’ to wherever we happen to be today. By ‘here’ Jesus did not just mean his own place and time. ‘Here’ refers to the time and place of each one of us. The Lord is here, with us now, wherever we happen to find ourselves, and he is here as someone greater than all the prophets and wise people of Israel. Many of you are saddened at not being able to come to Mass these days, but the Lord remains ‘here’ with you in your own place, your own home, your own room. He is there in all his risen power, inviting you to draw strength from his presence, and to live from that strength. We may not always feel great in these Covid times, but today’s gospel reading reminds us that we are always in the presence of someone greater.

And/Or

(ii) Monday, Twenty Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

In this morning’s gospel reading, Jesus speaks of himself as greater than King Solomon and greater than the prophet Jonah. Indeed, Jesus was greater than all the spiritual leaders of Israel prior to him, whether they were priests, prophets or kings. In a way, Jesus is reminding his contemporaries just how fortunate they are to have witnessed his coming. In the previous chapter of Luke’s gospel, Jesus had said to his disciples, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it, to hear what you hear but did not hear it’. That same beatitude could be spoken to all of us. We have all lived to see and to hear someone greater than Solomon and greater than Jonah. Today’s gospel invites us to keep growing in our appreciation for the gift that God has given us in his Son, Jesus. We shown our appreciation of this gift most of all when we respond to Jesus as generously as the Queen of Sheba responded to King Solomon and as the people of Nineveh responded to the prophet Jonah. We show that we treasure the gift that is Jesus by placing him at the centre of our lives.

 And/Or

(iii) Monday, Twenty Eighth week in Ordinary Time

In this morning’s gospel reading, people come to Jesus looking for a sign. He replies that the signs they are looking for are actually there in front of their eyes if only they could see them. The people of Nineveh took Jonah more seriously than some of the people of Jesus’ generation were taking him, and, yet, there were far more powerful signs of God’s presence in the life of Jesus than in the life of Jonah.‘There is something greater than Jonah here’. The queen of Sheba took Solomon more seriously than some of the people of Jesus’ generation were taking him, and, yet, there were far more powerful signs of God’s presence in the life of Jesus than in the life of Solomon. ‘There is something greater than Solomon here’. In looking for some striking, spectacular, signs from Jesus, many of his contemporaries were missing the signs that were staring them in the face. In looking for the extraordinary, we too can miss the richness in the ordinary. In many ways Jesus was very ordinary. ‘Is not this the son of the carpenter?’ the people of Nazareth asked. When Jesus spoke about God’s kingdom, the ways of God, he did so in very ordinary terms, the sower going out to sow, the man robbed on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, the father whose son left home in a very selfish fashion, the weeds that grow among the field of wheat. These were scenes from ordinary life. Jesus was saying, the signs of God’s presence are to be found there in the ordinary stuff of life, for those who have eyes to see. This morning we pray for eyes to see the many signs of the Lord’s presence in our day to day lives.

 And/Or

 (iv) Monday, Twenty Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

This morning’s gospel reading suggests that many of Jesus’ contemporaries did not really appreciate him. They wanted to see some dramatic sign from him if they were to believe in him. ‘This is a wicked generation; it is asking for a sign’, he said. We will always have a hankering after the spectacular and the unusual when it comes to the life of faith. Yet, that is not normally the way that God seems to work. In many ways, there was something very ordinary about Jesus. ‘Is this not the carpenter’s son?’ the people of Nazareth asked. He was too ordinary for them to take him seriously. If Jesus did something really spectacular, that would make them sit up and take him seriously. That was the temptation Jesus had to battle with at the beginning of his ministry. Satan tempted him to do spectacular signs so as to win a following, turning stones into bread, throwing himself down from the pinnacle of the temple. This was not the way of Jesus. He revealed God in very ordinary ways, most of the time, sharing table with the excluded, feeding the hungry, caring for and healing the sick, feeding people’s spirits with his teaching, gathering a new kind of community about himself that brought together people who did not normally mix. For those who had eyes to see, someone greater than Solomon or Jonah was present. The Lord is present to us in very ordinary ways today too. He is alive where people are cared for and looked after, where the broken are healed, where the lonely are given companionship, where the spiritually and physically hungry are fed, where love endures even in the face of suffering and loss.

 And/Or

(v) Monday, Twenty Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

In the gospel reading, Jesus draws on the Jewish Scriptures to show how people from beyond Israel, pagans, were sometimes more responsive to God’s messengers than God’s own people were. The Queen of the South, who was a pagan, came to Jerusalem to hear the wisdom of Solomon. The people of the pagan city of Nineveh repented in response to the preaching of the prophet Jonah. Jesus declares that something greater than Solomon and greater than Jonah is here, and, yet, many of his contemporaries do not take him seriously. They come to him looking for some sign from him to prove his credentials. Jesus is indeed greater than Solomon and Jonah, greater than all the wise people and prophets of Israel, and he is here among us, today. He is not just ‘here’ to his contemporaries but ‘here’ to believers of every generation. The gospel reading challenges us never to take the wonder of our faith for granted. God became flesh in Jesus, not in Solomon or any of the prophets, and Jesus, God with us, has given us his flesh to eat and his blood to drink. Someone greater than Solomon and Jonah is ‘here’ in this Eucharist. Unlike the Queen of the South in the gospel reading, we don’t have to come from the ends of the earth to find him, because he has come from heaven to find us and to be with us where we are. The only response we can make to such a privilege is one of thanksgiving and the place where we give thanks above all is in the Eucharist. Saint Paul would remind us that such thanksgiving must flow over into our lives so that the life we live becomes an act of thanksgiving to God’s gracious love for us in Christ.

 And/Or

(vi) Monday, Twenty Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is exasperated with his contemporaries because they fail to take him seriously. They look for a sign from him, while being indifferent to all that he is offering them through his words and deeds. Jesus reminds his hearers that, in the Scriptures, the people of Nineveh took the prophet Jonah seriously and the Queen of the South took Solomon seriously. Yet, Jesus’ own contemporaries do not take him seriously, even though, as Jesus says, ‘there is something greater than Solomon here... there is something greater than Jonah here’. Jesus is indeed greater than Jonah and all the other prophets of Israel; he is greater than Solomon and all the other wise people that appeared in Israel since Solomon. Jesus is the Son of God; he is God in human form. There is such a richness and depth to Jesus’ identity that we never fully grasp him in this life. There is always more to Jesus than we can conceive. There is always something greater to him that we have not yet come to appreciate. In his letter to the Ephesians Paul speaks about the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, and yet he prays that we would come to know this love of Christ. This knowledge Paul prays for us to have is not just knowledge of the mind but of the heart. We are always on a journey towards this knowing the love of Christ because it is always greater than we imagine.

Fr. Martin Hogan.

[regencyresource]

( * &. ━ list of slang words from the 1920′s

presenting a long list of slang terms from the “roaring twenties" ! the age of mobsters and jazz ! the time of longing after married women and staring into green-lights to include in your literary ventures ! i claim no ownership for this list, it was sourced HERE.

A

Alderman: A man's pot-belly

Ameche: Telephone 

Ankle: (n) Woman; (v) To walk 

Ab-so-lute-ly: Affirmative, yes 

Absent treatment: Dancing with a timid partner 

Air tight: Very attractive 

Airedale: An unattractive man 

Alarm clock: A chaperone 

All wet: Incorrect 

And how!: I strongly agree! 

Applesauce: Flattery, nonsense, i.e.. "Aw, applesauce!" 

Attaboy!: Well done!; also, Attagirl! 

B

Babe: Woman 

Baby: A person, can be said to either a man or a woman 

Bangtails: Racehorses 

Barber: Talk 

Be on the nut: To be broke 

Bean-shooter: Gun 

Beef: Problem 

Bee's Knees: An extraordinary person, thing or idea

Beezer: Nose 

Behind the eight ball: In a difficult position, in a tight spot 

Bent Cars: Stolen cars 

Big Cheese, Big Shot: The boss, someone of importance and influence 

Big House: Jail 

Big One: Death 

Big Sleep: Death 

Bim: Woman 

Bindle: The bundle in which a hobo carries all his worldly possessions 

Bindle punk or bindle stiff: Chronic wanderers, migratory harvest workers, and lumber jacks

Bing: Jailhouse talk for solitary confinement 

Bird: Man 

Bit: Prison sentence 

Blip off: To kill 

Blow: Leave 

Blow one down: Kill someone 

Blower: Telephone 

Bluenose: A prude

Bo: Pal, buster, fellow 

Boiler: Car 

Boob: Dumb guy 

Boozehound: Drunkard 

Bop: To kill 

Box: A safe or a bar 

Box job: A safecracking 

Brace (somebody): Grab, shake up 

Bracelets: Handcuffs 

Break it up: Stop that, quit the nonsense 

Breeze: To leave, breeze off: get lost 

Broad: Woman 

Bruno: Tough guy, enforcer 

Bucket: Car 

Bulge, The: The advantage 

Bulls: Plainclothes railroad cops; uniformed police; prison guards 

Bum's rush, To get the: To be kicked out 

Bump: Kill 

Bump Gums: To talk about nothing worthwhile 

Bump off: Kill; also, bump-off: a killing 

Burn powder: Fire a gun 

Bus: Big car 

Butter-and-egg-man: The money man, the man with the bankroll, a yokel who comes to town to blow a big wad in nightclubs 

Button: Face, nose, end of jaw 

Button man: Professional killer 

Buttons: Police 

Butts: Cigarettes 

Buzz: Looks person up, comes to persons door 

Buzzer: Policeman's badge 

C

C: $100, a pair of Cs = $200 

Cabbage: Money 

Caboose: Jail 

Call copper: Inform the police 

Can: Jail, Car 

Can house: Bordello 

Can-opener: Safecracker who opens cheap safes 

Canary: Woman singer 

Carry a Torch: Suffering from an unrequited love

Case dough: Nest egg 

Cat: Man 

Cat's Meow: Something splendid or stylish 

Cat's Pajamas: Term of endearment as in "I think you are really really cool"

Century: $100 

Cheaters: Sunglasses 

Cheese it: Put things away, hide 

Chew: Eat 

Chicago lightning: Gunfire 

Chicago overcoat: Coffin 

Chick: Woman 

Chilled off: Killed 

Chin: Conversation; chinning: talking 

Chin music: Punch on the jaw 

Chinese squeeze: Grafting by skimming profits off the top 

Chippy: Woman of easy virtue 

Chisel: To swindle or cheat 

Chiv: Knife, "a stabbing or cutting weapon" 

Chopper squad: Men with machine guns 

Chump: Person marked for a con or a gullible person

Clammed: Close-mouthed (clammed up) 

Clean sneak: An escape with no clues left behind 

Clip joint: In some cases, a nightclub where the prices are high and the patrons are fleeced 

Clipped: Shot 

Close your head: Shut up 

Clout: Shoplifter 

Clubhouse: Police station 

Con: Confidence game, swindle 

Conk: Head 

Cool: To knock out 

Cooler: Jail 

Cop: Detective, even a private one 

Copped, to be: Grabbed by the cops 

Copper: Policeman 

Corn: Bourbon ("corn liquor") 

Crab: Figure out 

Crate: Car 

Croak: To kill 

Croaker: Doctor 

Crush: An infatuation 

Crushed out: Escaped (from jail) 

Cut down: Killed 

D

Daisy: None too masculine 

Dame: Woman 

Dance: To be hanged 

Dangle: Leave, get lost 

Daylight, as in "fill him with daylight": Put a hole in, by shooting or stabbing 

Deck, as in "deck of Luckies": Pack of cigarettes 

Derrick: Shoplifter 

Dib: Share (of the proceeds) 

Dick: Detective (usually qualified with "private" if not a policeman) 

Dingus: Thing 

Dip: Pickpocket 

Dip the bill: Have a drink 

Dish: Pretty woman 

Dive: A low-down, cheap sort of place 

Dizzy with a dame, To be: To be deeply in love with a woman 

Do the dance: To be hanged 

Dogs: Feet 

Dope fiend: Drug addict 

Dope peddler: Drug dealer 

Dough: Money 

Drift: Go, leave 

Drill: Shoot 

Drop a dime: Make a phone call, sometimes meaning to the police to inform on someone 

Droppers: Hired killers 

Drum: Speakeasy 

Dry-gulch: Knock out, hit on head after ambushing 

Duck soup: Easy, a piece of cake 

Dummerer: Someone who pretends to be deaf and/or dumb to appear a more deserving beggar 

Dump: Roadhouse, club; or, more generally, any place 

Dust out: Leave, depart 

E

Egg: Man 

Electric cure: Electrocution 

Elephant ears: Police 

F

Fade: Go away, get lost 

Fakeloo artist: Con man 

Fella: A man 

Fin: $5 bill 

Finder: Finger man 

Finger, Put the finger on: Identify 

Flaming Youth: Male counterpart to a flapper

Flapper: A stylish, brash young woman with short skirts and shorter hair

Flat Tire: A dull-witted or disappointing date

Flattie: Flatfoot, cop 

Flimflam: Swindle 

Flippers: Hands 

Flivver: A Ford automobile 

Flogger: Overcoat 

Flop: Go to bed or fallen through, not worked out 

Flophouse: A cheap transient hotel where a lot of men sleep in large rooms 

Fog: To shoot 

Frail: Woman 

Frau: Wife 

Fry: To be electrocuted 

Fuzz: Police 

G

Gal: Woman 

Gams: A Woman’s Legs 

Gasper: Cigarette 

Gat: Gun 

Get Sore: Get mad 

Getaway sticks: Legs 

Giggle juice: Liquor 

Giggle Water: Liquor 

Gin mill: Bar 

Glad rags: Fancy clothes 

Glaum: Steal 

Goofy: Crazy 

Goog: Black eye 

Goon: Thug 

Gooseberry lay: Stealing clothes from a clothesline 

Gowed-up: On dope, high 

Grab (a little) air: Put your hands up 

Graft: Con jobs or cut of the take 

Grand: $1000 

Grift: Confidence game, swindle 

Grifter: Con man 

Grilled: Questioned 

Gumshoe: Detective 

Gumshoeing: Detective work 

Gun for: Look for, be after 

Guns: Pickpockets, Hoodlums 

Guy: A man 

H

Hack: Taxi 

Half, a: 50 cents 

Hard: Tough 

Harlem Sunset: Some sort fatal injury caused by knife 

Hash House: A cheap restaurant 

Hatchet men: Killers, gunmen 

Have the Bees: To be rich 

Head doctors: Psychiatrists 

Heap: Car 

Heat: Police 

Heater: Gun 

Heebie-Jeebies: The jitters

Heeled: Carrying a gun 

High-Hat: To snub 

High Pillow: Person at the top, in charge 

Highbinders: Corrupt politician or functionary 

Hinky: Suspicious 

Hitting the pipe: Smoking opium 

Hitting on all eight: In good shape, going well 

Hock shop: Pawnshop 

Hogs: Engines 

Hombre: Man, fellow 

Hooch: Liquor 

Hood: Criminal 

Hoofer: Dancer

Hoosegow: Jail 

Horn: Telephone 

Hot: Stolen 

Hotsy-Totsy: Pleasing

House dick: House/hotel detective 

House peeper: House/hotel detective 

Hype: Shortchange artist 

I

Ice : Diamonds 

Ing-bing, as in to throw an: A fit 

Iron: A car 

J

Jack: Money 

Jalopy: An old car

Jam: Trouble, a tight spot 

Jane: A woman 

Java: Coffee 

Jaw: Talk 

Jerking a nod: Nodding 

Jingle-brained: Addled 

Jobbie: Man 

Joe: Coffee, as in "a cup of joe" 

Johns: Police 

Johnson brother: Criminal 

Joint: Place, as in "my joint" 

Juice: Interest on a loanshark's loan 

Jug: Jail 

Jump, The: A hanging 

K

Kale: Money 

Keen: Attractive or appealing

Kick off: Die 

Kiss: To punch 

Kisser: Mouth 

Kitten: Woman 

Knock off: Kill 

L

Lammed off: Ran away, escaped 

Large: $1,000; twenty large would be $20,000 

Law, the: The police 

Lead, "fill ya full of lead": the term used for bullets 

Lead poisoning: To be shot 

Lettuce: Folding money 

Lid: Hat 

Line: Insincere flattery

Lip: (Criminal) lawyer 

Looker: Pretty woman 

Look-out: Outside man 

Lousy with: To have lots of 

M

Mac: A man 

Made: Recognized 

Map: Face 

Marbles: Pearls 

Mark: Sucker, victim of swindle or fixed game 

Maroon: Person marked for a con or a gullible person

Meat wagon: Ambulance 

Mickey Finn: A drink drugged with knock-out drops 

Mill: Typewriter 

Mitt: Hand 

Mob: Gang (not necessarily Mafia) 

Mohaska: Gun 

Moll: Girlfriend 

Monicker: Name 

Mouthpiece: Lawyer 

Mugs: Men (especially refers to dumb ones) 

N

Nailed: Caught by the police 

Nevada gas: Cyanide 

Newshawk: Reporter 

Newsie: Newspaper vendor 

Nibble one: To have a drink 

Nicked: Stole 

Nippers: Handcuffs 

Noodle: Head 

Number: A person 

O

Off the track: Said about a person who becomes insanely violent 

Op: Detective 

Orphan paper: Bad checks 

Out on the roof: To drink a lot, to be drunk 

Oyster fruit: Pearls 

P

Packing Heat: Carrying a gun 

Pal: A man 

Palooka: Man, probably not very smart 

Pan: Face 

Paste: Punch 

Patsy: Person who is set up; fool, chump 

Paw: Hand 

Peaching: Informing 

Peeper: Detective 

Peepers: Eyes 

Pen: Penitentiary, jail 

Peterman: Safecracker who uses nitroglycerin 

Piece: Gun 

Pigeon: Stool-pigeon 

Pinch: An arrest, capture 

Pins: Legs 

Pipe: See or notice 

Pipes: Throat 

Plant: Someone on the scene but in hiding, Bury 

Plug: Shoot 

Plugs: People 

Poke: Bankroll, stake 

Pooped: Killed 

Pop: Kill 

Pro skirt: Prostitute 

Puffing: Mugging 

Pug: Pugilist, boxer 

Pump: Heart 

Pump metal: Shoot bullets 

Punk: Hood, thug 

Pushover: A person easily convinced of something

Puss: Face 

Put down: Drink 

Put the screws on: Question, get tough with 

R

Rags: Clothes 

Ranked: Observed, watched, given the once-over 

Rap: Criminal charge 

Rappers: Fakes, set-ups 

Rat: Inform 

Rate: To be good, to count for something 

Rats and mice: Dice, i.e. craps 

Rattler: Train 

Red-light: To eject from a car or train 

Redhot: Some sort of criminal 

Reefers: Marijuana cigarettes 

Rhino: Money 

Right: Adjective indicating quality 

Ringers: Fakes 

Ritzy: Elegant 

Rod: Gun 

Roscoe: Gun 

Rub-out: A killing 

Rube: Bumpkin, easy mark 

Rumble, the: The news 

S

Sap: A dumb guy 

Sap poison: Getting hit with a sap 

Savvy: Get me? Understand? 

Sawbuck: $10 bill (a double sawbuck is a $20 bill) 

Schnozzle: Nose 

Scram out: Leave 

Scratch: Money 

Scratcher: Forger 

Send over: Send to jail 

Shamus: (Private) detective 

Sharper: A swindler or sneaky person 

Sheba: A woman with sex appeal 

Sheik: A man with sex appeal 

Shells: Bullets 

Shiv: Knife 

Shylock: Loanshark 

Shyster: Lawyer 

Sing: Make a confession 

Sister: Woman 

Skate around: To be of easy virtue 

Skid rogue: A bum who can't be trusted 

Skirt: Woman 

Slant, Get a: Take a look 

Sleuth: Detective 

Slug: A bullet or to knock unconscious 

Smoked: Drunk 

Snap a cap: Shout 

Snatch: Kidnap 

Sneeze: Take 

Snitch: An informer, or to inform 

Snooper: Detective 

Speakeasy: An illicit bar selling bootleg liquor 

Spiffy: Looking elegant 

Soak: To pawn 

Sock: Punch 

Soup: Nitroglycerine 

Soup job: To crack a safe using nitroglycerine 

Spill: Talk, inform 

Spinach: Money 

Spitting: Talking 

Square: Honest 

Squeeze: A female companion or girlfriend

Squirt metal: Shoot bullets 

Step off: To be hanged 

Stiff: A corpse 

Sting: Culmination of a con game 

Stool-pigeon: Informer 

Stoolie: Stool-pigeon 

Stuck On: Having a crush on 

Sucker: Someone ripe for a grifter's scam 

Sugar: Money 

Swanky: Ritzy 

Swell: Wonderful 

T

Tail: Shadow or follow 

Take a powder: Leave 

Take on: Eat 

Take for a Ride: Drive off with someone in order to bump them off 

Take the air: Leave 

Take the bounce: To get kicked out 

Take the fall for: Accept punishment for 

That's the crop: That's all of it 

Three-spot: Three-year jail term 

Throw lead: Shoot bullets 

Ticket: P.I. license 

Tiger milk: Some sort of liquor 

Tighten the screws: Put pressure on somebody 

Tin: Badge 

Tip a few: To have a few drinks 

Tomato: Pretty woman 

Tooting the wrong ringer: Asking the wrong person 

Torpedoes: Gunmen 

Trap: Mouth 

Trigger man: Man whose job is to use a gun 

Trouble boys: Gangsters 

Twist: Woman 

Two bits: $25, or 25 cents 

U

Under glass: In jail 

W

Weak sister: A push-over 

Wear iron: Carry a gun 

Wise head: A smart person 

Wooden kimono: A coffin 

Wop: derogatory term for an Italian 

Worker, as in "She sizes up as a worker": A woman who takes a guy for his money 

Wrong gee: Not a good fellow 

Wrong number: Not a good fellow 

Y

Ya Follow: do you understand? 

Yap: Mouth 

Yard: $100 

Yegg: Safecracker who can only open cheap and easy safes 

Z

Zotzed: Killed

Zozzled: Drunk

[loveofyhwh]

January 13: Genesis 25–26; Matthew 7:13–29; Psalm 13; Proverbs 3:28–35

New Post has been published on https://loveofyhwh.com/january-13-genesis-25-26-matthew-713-29-psalm-13-proverbs-328-35/

January 13: Genesis 25–26; Matthew 7:13–29; Psalm 13; Proverbs 3:28–35

Old Testament:

Genesis 25–26

Genesis 25–26 (Listen)

Abraham’s Death and His Descendants

25 Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. 5 Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. 6 But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still living he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country.

7 These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life, 175 years. 8 Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. 9 Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, 10 the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife. 11 After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac his son. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi.

12 These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes. 17 (These are the years of the life of Ishmael: 137 years. He breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.) 18 They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria. He settledHebrew fell‘>1 over against all his kinsmen.

The Birth of Esau and Jacob

19 These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21 And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?”Or why do I live?‘>2 So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 And the LORD said to her,

  “Two nations are in your womb,     and two peoples from within youOr from birth‘>3 shall be divided;   the one shall be stronger than the other,     the older shall serve the younger.”

24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob.Jacob means He takes by the heel, or He cheats‘>4 Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Esau Sells His Birthright

29 Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.Edom sounds like the Hebrew for red‘>5) 31 Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” 32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

God’s Promise to Isaac

26 Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines. 2 And the LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. 4 I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, 5 because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”

Isaac and Abimelech

6 So Isaac settled in Gerar. 7 When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” for he feared to say, “My wife,” thinking, “lest the men of the place should kill me because of Rebekah,” because she was attractive in appearance. 8 When he had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out of a window and saw Isaac laughing withHebrew may suggest an intimate relationship‘>6 Rebekah his wife. 9 So Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Behold, she is your wife. How then could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac said to him, “Because I thought, ‘Lest I die because of her.’” 10 Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” 11 So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, “Whoever touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

12 And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The LORD blessed him, 13 and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy. 14 He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him. 15 (Now the Philistines had stopped and filled with earth all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father.) 16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”

17 So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. 18 And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names that his father had given them. 19 But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, 20 the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek,Esek means contention‘>7 because they contended with him. 21 Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that also, so he called its name Sitnah.Sitnah means enmity‘>8 22 And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth,Rehoboth means broad places, or room‘>9 saying, “For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

23 From there he went up to Beersheba. 24 And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.” 25 So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac’s servants dug a well.

26 When Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army, 27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28 They said, “We see plainly that the LORD has been with you. So we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD.” 30 So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths. And Isaac sent them on their way, and they departed from him in peace. 32 That same day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well that they had dug and said to him, “We have found water.” 33 He called it Shibah;Shibah sounds like the Hebrew for oath‘>10 therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.

34 When Esau was forty years old, he took Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite to be his wife, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite, 35 and they made life bitterHebrew they were bitterness of spirit‘>11 for Isaac and Rebekah.

Footnotes

[1] 25:18 Hebrew fell [2] 25:22 Or why do I live? [3] 25:23 Or from birth [4] 25:26 Jacob means He takes by the heel, or He cheats [5] 25:30 Edom sounds like the Hebrew for red [6] 26:8 Hebrew may suggest an intimate relationship [7] 26:20 Esek means contention [8] 26:21 Sitnah means enmity [9] 26:22 Rehoboth means broad places, or room [10] 26:33 Shibah sounds like the Hebrew for oath [11] 26:35 Hebrew they were bitterness of spirit

(ESV)

New Testament:

Matthew 7:13–29

Matthew 7:13–29 (Listen)

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easySome manuscripts For the way is wide and easy‘>1 that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

A Tree and Its Fruit

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

I Never Knew You

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Build Your House on the Rock

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

The Authority of Jesus

28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Footnotes

[1] 7:13 Some manuscripts For the way is wide and easy

(ESV)

Psalm:

Psalm 13

Psalm 13 (Listen)

How Long, O Lord?

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

13   How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?     How long will you hide your face from me? 2   How long must I take counsel in my soul     and have sorrow in my heart all the day?   How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 3   Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;     light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, 4   lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”     lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. 5   But I have trusted in your steadfast love;     my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 6   I will sing to the LORD,     because he has dealt bountifully with me.

(ESV)

Proverb:

Proverbs 3:28–35

Proverbs 3:28–35 (Listen)

28   Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,     tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you. 29   Do not plan evil against your neighbor,     who dwells trustingly beside you. 30   Do not contend with a man for no reason,     when he has done you no harm. 31   Do not envy a man of violence     and do not choose any of his ways, 32   for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD,     but the upright are in his confidence. 33   The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked,     but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. 34   Toward the scorners he is scornful,     but to the humble he gives favor.Or grace‘>1 35   The wise will inherit honor,     but fools getThe meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain‘>2 disgrace.

Footnotes

[1] 3:34 Or grace [2] 3:35 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain

(ESV)

[romancatholicreflections]

15th October >> Fr. Martin's Gospel Reflection on Luke 11:29-32 for Monday, Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time: 'There is something greater than Solomon here'.

Monday, Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time.

Gospel (Europe, Africa, New Zealand, Australia & Canada)

Luke 11:29-32

As Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be a sign

The crowds got even bigger, and Jesus addressed them:    ‘This is a wicked generation; it is asking for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here.’

Gospel (USA)

Luke 11:29-32

This generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

Reflections (6)

(i)  Monday, Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is exasperated with his contemporaries because they fail to take him seriously. They look for a sign from him, while being indifferent to all that he is offering them through his words and deeds. Jesus reminds his hearers that, in the Scriptures, the people of Nineveh took the prophet Jonah seriously and the Queen of the South took Solomon seriously. Yet, Jesus’ own contemporaries do not take him seriously, even though, as Jesus says, ‘there is something greater than Solomon here… there is something greater than Jonah here’. Jesus is indeed greater than Jonah and all the other prophets of Israel; he is greater than Solomon and all the other wise people that appeared in Israel since Solomon. Jesus is the Son of God; he is God in human form. There is such a richness and depth to Jesus’ identity that we never fully grasp him in this life. There is always more to Jesus than we can conceive. There is always something greater to him that we have not yet come to appreciate. In his letter to the Ephesians Paul speaks about the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, and yet he prays that we would come to know this love of Christ. This knowledge Paul prays for us to have is not just knowledge of the mind but of the heart. We are always on a journey towards this knowing the love of Christ because it is always greater than we imagine.

And/Or

(ii) Monday, Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

In this morning’s gospel reading, Jesus speaks of himself as greater than King Solomon and greater than the prophet Jonah. Indeed, Jesus was greater than all the spiritual leaders of Israel prior to him, whether they were priests, prophets or kings. In a way, Jesus is reminding his contemporaries just how fortunate they are to have witnessed his coming. In the previous chapter of Luke’s gospel, Jesus had said to his disciples, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it, to hear what you hear but did not hear it’. That same beatitude could be spoken to all of us. We have all lived to see and to hear someone greater than Solomon and greater than Jonah. Today’s gospel invites us to keep growing in our appreciation for the gift that God has given us in his Son, Jesus. We shown our appreciation of this gift most of all when we respond to Jesus as generously as the Queen of Sheba responded to King Solomon and as the people of Nineveh responded to the prophet Jonah. We show that we treasure the gift that is Jesus by placing him at the centre of our lives.

And/Or

(iii) Monday, Twenty-Eighth week in Ordinary Time

In this morning’s gospel reading, people come to Jesus looking for a sign. He replies that the signs they are looking for are actually there in front of their eyes if only they could see them. The people of Nineveh took Jonah more seriously than some of the people of Jesus’ generation were taking him, and, yet, there were far more powerful signs of God’s presence in the life of Jesus than in the life of Jonah.‘There is something greater than Jonah here’. The queen of Sheba took Solomon more seriously than some of the people of Jesus’ generation were taking him, and, yet, there were far more powerful signs of God’s presence in the life of Jesus than in the life of Solomon. ‘There is something greater than Solomon here’. In looking for some striking, spectacular, signs from Jesus, many of his contemporaries were missing the signs that were staring them in the face. In looking for the extraordinary, we too can miss the richness in the ordinary. In many ways Jesus was very ordinary. ‘Is not this the son of the carpenter?’ the people of Nazareth asked. When Jesus spoke about God’s kingdom, the ways of God, he did so in very ordinary terms, the sower going out to sow, the man robbed on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, the father whose son left home in a very selfish fashion, the weeds that grow among the field of wheat. These were scenes from ordinary life. Jesus was saying, the signs of God’s presence are to be found there in the ordinary stuff of life, for those who have eyes to see. This morning we pray for eyes to see the many signs of the Lord’s presence in our day to day lives.

And/Or

(iv) Monday, Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

This morning’s gospel reading suggests that many of Jesus’ contemporaries did not really appreciate him. They wanted to see some dramatic sign from him if they were to believe in him. ‘This is a wicked generation; it is asking for a sign’, he said. We will always have a hankering after the spectacular and the unusual when it comes to the life of faith. Yet, that is not normally the way that God seems to work. In many ways, there was something very ordinary about Jesus. ‘Is this not the carpenter’s son?’ the people of Nazareth asked. He was too ordinary for them to take him seriously. If Jesus did something really spectacular, that would make them sit up and take him seriously. That was the temptation Jesus had to battle with at the beginning of his ministry. Satan tempted him to do spectacular signs so as to win a following, turning stones into bread, throwing himself down from the pinnacle of the temple. This was not the way of Jesus. He revealed God in very ordinary ways, most of the time, sharing table with the excluded, feeding the hungry, caring for and healing the sick, feeding people’s spirits with his teaching, gathering a new kind of community about himself that brought together people who did not normally mix. For those who had eyes to see, someone greater than Solomon or Jonah was present. The Lord is present to us in very ordinary ways today too. He is alive where people are cared for and looked after, where the broken are healed, where the lonely are given companionship, where the spiritually and physically hungry are fed, where love endures even in the face of suffering and loss.

And/Or

(v) Monday, Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

In the gospel reading, Jesus draws on the Jewish Scriptures to show how people from beyond Israel, pagans, were sometimes more responsive to God’s messengers than God’s own people were. The Queen of the South, who was a pagan, came to Jerusalem to hear the wisdom of Solomon. The people of the pagan city of Nineveh repented in response to the preaching of the prophet Jonah. Jesus declares that something greater than Solomon and greater than Jonah is here, and, yet, many of his contemporaries do not take him seriously. They come to him looking for some sign from him to prove his credentials. Jesus is indeed greater than Solomon and Jonah, greater than all the wise people and prophets of Israel, and he is here among us, today. He is not just ‘here’ to his contemporaries but ‘here’ to believers of every generation. The gospel reading challenges us never to take the wonder of our faith for granted. God became flesh in Jesus, not in Solomon or any of the prophets, and Jesus, God with us, has given us his flesh to eat and his blood to drink. Someone greater than Solomon and Jonah is ‘here’ in this Eucharist. Unlike the Queen of the South in the gospel reading, we don’t have to come from the ends of the earth to find him, because he has come from heaven to find us and to be with us where we are. The only response we can make to such a privilege is one of thanksgiving and the place where we give thanks above all is in the Eucharist. Saint Paul would remind us that such thanksgiving must flow over into our lives so that the life we live becomes an act of thanksgiving to God’s gracious love for us in Christ.

And/Or

(vi) Monday, Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is exasperated with his contemporaries because they fail to take him seriously. They look for a sign from him, while being indifferent to all that he is offering them through his words and deeds. Jesus reminds his hearers that, in the Scriptures, the people of Nineveh took the prophet Jonah seriously and the Queen of the South took Solomon seriously. Yet, Jesus’ own contemporaries do not take him seriously, even though, as Jesus says, ‘there is something greater than Solomon here... there is something greater than Jonah here’. Jesus is indeed greater than Jonah and all the other prophets of Israel; he is greater than Solomon and all the other wise people that appeared in Israel since Solomon. Jesus is the Son of God; he is God in human form. There is such a richness and depth to Jesus’ identity that we never fully grasp him in this life. There is always more to Jesus than we can conceive. There is always something greater to him that we have not yet come to appreciate. In his letter to the Ephesians Paul speaks about the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, and yet he prays that we would come to know this love of Christ. This knowledge Paul prays for us to have is not just knowledge of the mind but of the heart. We are always on a journey towards this knowing the love of Christ because it is always greater than we imagine.

Fr. Martin Hogan, Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin, D03 AO62, Ireland.

Email: sjtbclontarf@eircom.net or  frmartinhogan@gmail.com

Parish Website: www.stjohnsclontarf.ie  Please join us via our webcam.

Twitter: @SJtBClontarfRC.

Facebook: St John the Baptist RC Parish, Clontarf.

Tumblr: Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin.

[travelingtheusa]

FLORIDA

2021 Feb 23 (Tue) – We went out for lunch today to Micanopy. It was a small, historic town with lots of antique shops.  We wanted to eat at a restaurant but it was closed so we went next door to Coffee & Cream where we enjoyed chicken salad sandwiches with rice and beans. After lunch, we walked up and down the main street wandering in some of the shops and reading the historic plaques describing the history of the town.  

     On the way back to the campground, we stopped at the post office to mail off some items and at a convenience store to pick up wine and get some lottery tickets.  Then we stopped at the Antique Emporium.  It was a large warehouse with 55 vendor shops inside.  There were so many items we used to use for sale.  There is no faster way to feel old than to walk through an antique shop and see your life’s belongings laid out and considered to be “old stuff.”

2021 Feb 22 (Mon) – We took our time closing up this morning. Bonnie and Sheba got to play outside and we chatted with Rich and Margaret for a while.  Then we packed up and left Hernando at 11:35 a.m.  The campground was just 40 miles away and we were here within an hour.  Ocala North RV Park is a very nice, very clean facility.  It is large and there were workers putting in new lights, a shuffle board, and a bocce ball court.  They are getting ready for a luau in two days.  The clerk who checked us in said the owner bought the rundown campground two years ago and has been working on renovating it.  He’s done an excellent job.

 2021 Feb 21 (Sun) – We all drove over to Matt & Michele’s today.  They were hosting a drone speed course event for their local club.  It was amazing to watch these little things zip around the yard, sounding like a bunch of angry bees.  We could watch the drones fly around the course and watch the TV screens to see what the pilots were seeing in their headsets.

     When we got back to the house, Margaret made roast beef sandwiches for us.  For dinner, she cooked baked clams and steaks.  We visited for a bit after dinner then returned to the rig to get ready for tomorrow’s move.

 2021 Feb 20 (Sat) – I did some laundry today.  Margaret was kind enough to let me use her washer and dryer. Matt & Michele came over for dinner and Margaret outdid herself, as usual.  I think she loves to cook and is glad to have people visit.  She not only made lots to eat, but packed us a take-home box.

2021 Feb 19 (Fri) – It started out cloudy, rained, then got really cool.  We had to switch to long sleeve shirts and pants as the day wore on.

     We drove to WalMart at 8 a.m. to get an oil change on the truck. There was a line of six cars in front of us waiting for service.  We checked in then went shopping where we spent almost $200 on items in the store. The damn oil change should be free considering we shopped while waiting and spent so much we would not have spent other wise.  Lol.

     We got back around 10:30 a.m. and Margaret & Rich took us to Matt & Michele’s house.  Paul and Margaret used to work with Matt at NYSDOT.  They were building their home and a drone speed course when we were here last January.  It is all finished now and everything is very nice.  The drone control center and speed course are quite the thing to see.

     We returned to the house and finished off Margaret’s egg salad. Later, we went to dinner at Crump’s Landing in Homasossa.  It had a large grass covered roof over a seated patio area.  There were plastic panels pinned in around the sides to keep it warm along with large gas heaters.  It was very nice and the food was good.  After dinner, Rich drove us over to Monkey Island.  It is a small island in the middle of the Homosassa River where a troupe of monkeys lives.  It was too dark to see anything but there is a house and a replica lighthouse on the island that is little more than a mound of dirt in the middle of the river. Guess the monkeys were asleep because we didn’t see any.  It was too dark anyway.

 2021 Feb 18 (Thu) – We packed up and left Tampa at 10:30 a.m. It was a little more than two hours to Hernando where we are staying in the driveway of friends, Margaret & Rich. We were here last January where we celebrated the New Year with them.  Margaret was waiting for our arrival with egg salad sandwiches.  We visited for a couple of hours.  Later, she made sausage and peppers heroes for dinner.

 2021 Feb 17 (Wed) – I went back to ENT doctor today.  First I had a hearing test with the audiologist then a follow-up with the ENT doctor.  I was told I have hearing loss in both ears and should go back to the VA for a re-evaluation on the hearing aids.  The doctor prescribed prednisone for 6 days and a Flonase.  Both are intended to reduce swelling and allow the fluid behind my ear to be reabsorbed.

    After the doctor, we dropped the prescription off to CVS then went to lunch at a Mexican restaurant.  After a stop at U-Haul for propane, we went back to CVS to pick up my prescriptions.

 2021 Feb 16 (Tue) – Johnny & Linda and Rick & Brenda came over for a barbecue.  It was chilly with an overcast sky and cool wind blowing.  At least it didn’t rain.  We had burgers, baked beans, potato salad, tossed salad and a chocolate cake to celebrate Brenda’s birthday.  We visited for almost 4 hours.  It was very enjoyable.  After they left, we took down the town and cleaned up.

 2021 Feb 15 (Mon) – I went to the ENT doctor today.  He wanted to follow up and see how my ear was doing after using the drops.  While the pain is gone, my ear still feels stuffed up.  The doctor believes that I have fluid behind my ear.  He asked me to come back for a hearing test.

     After the doctor, we stopped at Bonefish Grill for lunch.  The Bang Bang Shrimp is good every time! Then we stopped at Publix to pick up some groceries.  When we got back to the campground, Paul set up the covered tent for tomorrow’s barbecue.

2021 Feb 14 (Sun – Valentine’s Day) – We went to the Hard Rock Café & Casino for lunch.  Thought we’d enjoy a meal and a little gambling.  What an UNenjoyable experience!  The place is huge with several parking garages surrounding the main casino. We walked deep into the building before we found the café.  The food was OK but very expensive - $101!  After lunch, we went up to the second floor to the non-smoking lounge.  We searched for 10 and 25 cent machines.  That didn’t make any difference.  When you found a 25 cent machine, you had to bet a minimum of 30 credits – each credit being equal to 25 cents.  We both put $20 in a machine and after just 3 or 4 pushes of the button, we were broke.  It is nice when you can find a machine to play that will last a little while. After all, you look for entertainment for a while.  I don’t mind losing my money if the machine lets me play for an hour or so.  

     So, we went back down to the first floor and stopped in at a lounge for a cocktail and just enjoy the ambiance of the place.  We walked up to the plastic shield and waited for service. Two bartenders were making drinks and even though they came by us to get bottles off the shelf, no one said anything to us.  The bar was oval shaped and they were waiting on people on the other side of the bar. After about ten minutes, we spotted a waitress.  Paul asked if we could get service at a table.  She said yes so we sat at a small table and ordered our drinks.  I asked for a double shot of Bailey’s Irish Cream and Paul had a shot of 43.  My drink wasn’t more than an ounce.  In fact, I questioned her as to whether it was even a double as it looked like so little. The charge for my drink was $22. We left the casino feeling ripped off and very unsatisfied with our experience.  Sad.

2021 Feb 13 (Sat) – A fierce thunderstorm rolled through last night. The campground is full of puddles and squishy grass.  It rained off and on all day today.  There are more thunderstorms on the way over the next two or three days.

     At 11:30, we wandered over to the livestock barn to see what was going on with the little piggies. They were having some kind of contest.  A group of ten kids with pigs entered the ring. Each one had a long, thin switch that they used to continuously smack the pig on the right side of the face. Apparently, that is how they control the pig; with the switch and a stiff brush in their other hand.  It looked like a confusing melee to me.  The pigs walked all over the place and the kids followed, switching them in the face while trying to maintain eye contact with the judge.  A judge watched and selected two or three contestants.  They left the arena and entered cages on the side.  The rest of the contestants were dismissed and the selectees came back out, fist bumped the judge, then left, too.  Then, the next group of ten entered the ring.  We watched for about a half hour.  The animals were beautiful – strong, healthy looking beasts with ears that stood straight up and an energy to their trot. Some pigs were pink but more were other colors – chocolate brown, black with a pink band around their center, black with pink spots or pink with black splotches.   It must be more difficult than it looks.

 2021 Feb 12 (Fri) – We met Brenda & Rick for lunch at Portillo’s. The restaurant is famous in Chicago for its hot dogs and chocolate cake.  We sat outside and visited for almost two hours.  It was fun.

     Next door was a Walgreens.  After lunch, Paul and I went to find cards for our grandsons.  We addressed them, put in a few candy hearts, and mailed them off.

 2021 Feb 11 (Thu) – We went to Cracker Barrel for lunch.  We were appalled to see many tables with the dishes still sitting on them after diners have left.  The service was very slow.  We watched the hostess come in, haphazardly wipe off a table and then seat a couple there.  She definitely is not COVID protective.

     After lunch, we went to Lazydays which was right next door to the restaurant.  After buying a few supplies, we met with a salesman who took us to look at several rigs. We found two we liked and when we returned to the office, he worked hard to get us to buy one of the RVs.  He even brought in the boss to talk to us. Fortunately, he saw we weren’t looking to buy right now so he just chatted amiably with us then left. Good.  I didn’t feel like going through a high pressure sales pitch.  They offered to give us a trade in of $32,000 on our current rig.

     Campers are starting to come into the campground.  There will be a Swine Festival this weekend for the local kids club.

2021 Feb 10 (Wed) – Paul tested the charge on several stanchions and found high voltage running through the line.  I called the office and they sent an electrician over.  He said they have a fair coming up and run a higher voltage over the line.  With lots of people drawing power, it causes the voltage to drop.  Since we are the only camper here, the voltage is too high and they can’t reduce it.  It should be running around 128 but it’s over 133 and tripping the surge protector (which we thought was broken but was really doing its job).  So, we packed up and moved to the other side of the campground where they are not setting up for the fair.  The voltage seems to be OK over here.  There’s one other camper in this area.

     After the set up, we drove to MacDill Air Force Base.  We have tried to get reservations on that base a couple of times but they were always full.  They have over 400 spaces in their campground.  It was full and the sites were very close to each other.  We were just as glad we didn’t get in.  

     We then stopped at the commissary and picked up some groceries, then walked next door to the Class VI Package Store and picked up some wine.  

 2021 Feb 9 (Tue) – We drove to a laundromat to do some wash. They had a value card system in place. You have to put money on a card and put that into the washer and dryer.  It is a confusing system but we managed.  For two washers and two dryers, we spent $12.70.  That was high.

     While the clothes were doing their thing, we went to WalMart and picked up oil and DEF for the truck.  Paul asked about having an oil change done but the clerk said they didn’t have a lift big enough to fit the truck.  He told us to go to the WalMart in Valrico.

     We had lunch at Duke’s Brewhouse.  It was a relatively new place (as an evaluator said on Trip Advisor) but was not crowded.  The walls were covered with big screen TVs playing every kind of sports.  The Tamp Bay Buccaneers are big news after their win at the Superbowl this past weekend.  I had a Greek flatbread and Paul had a Caesar wrap.  The food was OK.

    The electric breaker kicked off twice.  Our surge protector usually takes two minutes to bring the electric back on.  It did it the first time but not the second.  Paul thinks the surge protector has bit the dust.  It is almost four years old.  That’s an awful short life.  Add to that the Jetpack that keeps giving us problems in accessing the Internet.  Ugh.

 2021 Feb 8 (Mon) – I found an ENT doctor and went to see him this morning.  He said I have a bacterial infection in my ear and prescribed ear drops.  He said to stop the Amoxicillin that the urgent care doctor prescribed.  I am supposed to go back to see the ENT doctor in a week.

     We then went to Smokey Bones for lunch.  The ribs were delicious!  Then I ran into CVS (which happened to be in a Target store) to get the ear drops.  I spent a good part of the day cancelling reservations and appointments back in New York. I was supposed to fly out today.

2021 Feb 7 (Sun) – We packed up and left Sarasota at 10 a.m. It was an hour and a half drive to the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa.  Sometimes I have to wonder about our timing.  The Superbowl is being played in Tampa tonight.  We always seem to arrive somewhere where something amazing or very big is going on – like a presidential rally or a big concert.

      When we arrived, we discovered we didn’t have an assigned site. The saleslady had acknowledged our reservation and promised to send us information before we arrived.  She didn’t do that.  The guard called someone who told them to just point us to the camping area and to pick a spot.  That’s what we did.  There are two RVs camped along the fence next to the interstate.  Having camped near the interstate before, we knew it would be too loud with the 24/7 traffic.  So we found a site on the other side of the field as far away from the road as we could get.

     After set up, we went out to get some lunch.  We were also going to do some laundry but my ear was hurting very badly.  I got a message from Southwest that I had to have a negative COVID test within 72 hours of arriving in NY.  On top of that, New York is getting another snowstorm today and another is scheduled for Thursday, all on top of a snowstorm they had a few days ago.  I decided to cancel my trip until I could get my ear repaired.  Maybe the COVID test will not be a requirement in another month with the vaccine out there.  We’ll see.

     My sister gave me a homeopathic treatment for my ear so we went to Sprouts Market where I picked up some ear drops.  It did help to alleviate some of the pressure in my ear.

 2021 Feb 6 (Sat) – We stayed in the trailer all day except to walk the dog.  The wind was blowing briskly but it was more balmy than cold.  Paul dumped the tanks this evening in readiness for our move tomorrow.

 2021 Feb 5 (Fri) – It was cool today.  Had to wear long pants, socks, and a jacket in the morning.  We ran several errands around town.  We went to Millie’s Restaurant for lunch.  It was a delightful little café decorated with a French motif.  I told Paul that I would like that wallpaper in our next house, wherever we settle down. Next stop was at Petco to pick up dry food for Bonnie.  In the same shopping center was a Total Wine where we picked up some wine, a cordial, and a margarita mix.  We stopped in a mall to look for sweat pants and jeans for me.  It was about 3/4s empty.  I guess COVID killed most of the stores.  There was a JC Penney’s where I found a pair of soft slacks, not sweats nor jeans.  We looked at cruise wear but decided to wait before buying any.

     After we got home and dropped off our purchases, we ran back out to a medical clinic.  My ear has been painful for a couple of days and I am getting some blood on a Q-tip. The doctor thinks I might have ruptured the ear drum and recommended that I see an ENT doctor.  She prescribed an antibiotic.  I think she should have cleaned the ear out with a topical antiseptic but she refused to do it.  I called back home to my cancer doctor to be sure there was no problem with an interaction with my chemo medication.  I stopped taking it yesterday.  A nurse called back and said there would be no problem with the two medications.

     When we got back, we fed the animals then went into the lodge for dinner and drinks. I still had my free drink to claim from the Queen of Hearts drawing.  The bar was full and service was very slow but we finally got our meal.  The Exalted Ruler came over to chat with us and Paul met a couple of people who were from4rrrr our hometown.  One man came over to sit with us and reminisce about the old town.

2021 Feb 4 (Thu) – I called my brother, Gregory, and made arrangements for dinner.  We met them at Longhorn Restaurant.  The meal was delicious!  Afterward, we went to Greg’s house to visit with him and Potsy for a while.  He had us laughing with his stories of doctors, nail guns, and children.  I love his sense of humor.

 2021 Feb 3 (Wed) – We pulled up stakes and drove 120 miles northwest to Sarasota.  We are camped on the side of an Elks Lodge.  There are 3 campers hooked up.  We got the only 50 amp site. We parked so another camper can fit between us and the motorcoach next to us.  The RV is due to come in tomorrow.

     We went out to pick up groceries and dog food, drop off postcards for mailing, and refuel.  We stopped at the Bayan Tree Chocolate & Café for lunch.  They had a display case with specialty chocolates right when you walked in.  We sat and ordered off the menu.  I got a quiche and Paul had a sandwich.  We took home chocolate chili for dinner.  It did not taste as good as it sounded.

     At 5 p.m. we went to the outdoor Tiki Bar behind our trailer for a drink.  Several people were in there with heaters and a fireplace all blazing away.  It was cold and everyone was in jackets.  We then went into the lodge to pay for our site. We sat at the bar and had a drink. It was Queen of Hearts night so we bought tickets for that as well as the 50-50 drawing.  I won a free drink.  We paid the bartender for our 4-night stay.

 2021 Feb 2 (Tue) – We drove the Loop Road this morning.  It was pretty cool.  It is a 40 mile road that loops through the Big Cypress National Preserve.  About 12 miles of it is hard packed gravel (unpaved).  It was in pretty good condition with few potholes.  It was a narrow, 2-lane road that wound through the Everglades. There were cypress trees and bushes lining both sides of the road and lots of water on either side.  We spotted 3 alligators and several egrets.

      When we came out on the main road, we drove to Everglades City to take an airboat ride.  We were an hour early, so we stopped at a deli on the Miccosukee Indian Reservation for lunch.  We bought a meatball hero, a bag of chips, and an iced tea.  We sat in the car and split the meal between us.  At 1 p.m. we drove to the meeting spot.  It was an entrance into the canal with no office building. Two airboats were sitting there, waiting for customers.  Our guide came over, introduced himself (CPT Ryan), and gave us paperwork to sign absolving them of all liability if we got hurt.  It was only the guide and the two of us on the boat.  We wore headsets so we could hear him speaking over the drone of the engine.  He drove us through the Everglades for better than an hour and a half regaling us with stories of his childhood and descriptions of the area with its wildlife, fauna, and flora.  We saw gators, great blue herons, egrets, vultures, and turtles.  It seemed like we went deep into the wild and untamed wilderness.  The water was so clean and pure looking.  Not at all what you would expect a swamp to be like.  We saw a couple of alligators and many kinds of birds and even a turtle.  I was hoping to catch sight of a python but our guide said they were hard to spot – usually only when a bird or gator has caught one.  What a great experience!

 2021 Feb 1 (Mon) – We packed up and headed out at 9:30 a.m.  It was 110 miles to the Big Cypress National Preserve where we are camped in the Midway Campground.  There are 32 campsites arranged around the perimeter of a large pond.  We have electric hookup only.  We dumped our tanks and filled the fresh water tank before pulling into our assigned site.  The camp host met us at the entrance, ran through a litany of rules, and wished us well. He warned us to beware of the wildlife. When I asked him what kind of wildlife they have here in the park, he said “Everything!”  Does he think they have a zoo in here?

     After set up and a quick lunch, we headed out to the visitor center. It was very small.  We watched a video about the ecosystem but it failed to explain how it all works together.  Outside the center was a wooden walkway that ran along a canal. There were many alligators in the water as well as different kinds of fish.  It was quite thrilling.

     We then drove to Everglades City.  It looked like it has been pretty much beat up over the years.  Almost all of the buildings were raised 10 or more feet off the ground.  Is that for storm surge or wildlife avoidance?  The city is laid out in a large grid.  The houses have large yards; they might each be on one or two acres apiece. The local museum was closed.  We stopped in a very old store-turned-museum and wandered around all the old stuff.  They had interesting signs up describing how various equipment/furniture/ appliances were used.  The Smallwood Store was built in 1906 on Chokoloskee Island.

     My hair is going through another kind of metamorphosis.  It seems to be losing its curl and is more coarse. I guess the change in chemo strength is doing something.  I made reservations for a flight back home next month for a PET Scan and checkup.  I am not looking forward to going back to New York in February.  It’s cold! And with the damn virus, they might make me take a COVID test.  Keep your fingers crossed I don’t have to do that.  I won’t go back then if they try to make me take that thing.  It is too painful.

2021 Jan 31 (Sun) – We went into the Elks lodge for brunch at 11:30 a.m.  The food was very good.  At 5:30 p.m. we drove to Marathon to meet Tim at the Sunset Grill.  We had dinner and watched the sun set. There were clouds in the sky so we did not get much color.  A gentleman sitting next to me got a very interesting looking appetizer. I asked him what it was and he said it was cheesecake spring rolls.  I asked him many questions about it.  What was that name again?  Did the waiter recommend it?  It is sweet or tart?  Is it supposed to be a dessert?  He said it was delicious and he couldn’t taste any cream cheese at all.  We finally got our hands on a menu and looked up the appetizer, hoping to find out what ingredients could be put into a cheesecake spring roll that would erase all taste of cream cheese.  What a laugh we had!!!  There was a cheesesteak spring roll on the menu.  The bar was crowded, he had misheard the waiter, and he never bothered to check it out on the menu.  We had quite a chuckle all night long as we ordered and ate our “cheesecake” spring rolls.

     There are the nastiest gnats around here.  Their bites sting and just keep itching.  Our legs and arms are covered with these small red blotches that won’t stop itching.  Ugh. Well, we have checked off the Florida Keys from our bucket list.  Time to move on.

2021 Jan 30 (Sat) – We had planned to take a glass bottom boat tour in Key Largo with Tim today.  He called to say that the weather for the day was bad for boat rides.  The wind is blowing pretty hard which would give us a rough ride.  So we cancelled that plan and arranged to meet Tim at Robbie’s Marina in Islamorada.  Every time we drive down the road, the marina is packed.  Apparently, they have lots of activities going on there and we wanted to see what they have. 

      We got there at 11:30 a.m.  There was a storyboard that told the story of Scarface.  The owner found a tarpon with its jaw badly torn and hanging.  He called a friend who sewed the jaw back in place.  The owner nursed the fish back to health and after six months, released it back into the wild.  Apparently, it liked the treatment because it continued to hang around the marina.  In addition, it brought friends back for handouts, too.  Today, you can pay $2.25 to walk out on the dock to look at the tarpons gathered around and you can buy a bucket of food for $4.00 to feed them.  The dock was crowded with people and pelicans looking to sample the food.  We skipped the melee and had lunch on the patio.  The margarita was terrible.  We told the waitress that and she brought another drink.  It was a little better but still not good.  The food was not that good either.

      Tim’s friend, Jimmy, joined us.  He and Tim met back up in New York working on the casino boat that went out of Freeport.  They have both moved down here to Florida.  Jimmy works for a pool company.  He was pretty funny.  Interestingly, Tim is talking about getting an RV.

      It was cloudy, windy, and cool all day long.  We went on to the patio at the Elks lodge at 6 p.m. to watch the sunset.  We were sure that with all the clouds, the sunset would be fantastic.  Unfortunately, the clouds were too thick and too low on the horizon.  There were no beautiful colors to see.  A couple sitting at a nearby table live next door to the lodge and came over to watch the sunset, too.  They peppered us with questions about RVs.  They were dressed in winter jackets, gloves and hats.  Guess they thought it was cold.

2021 Jan 29 (Fri) – We met Tim at the Florida Keys History & Discovery Center.  It is located on the property of the Islander Resort in their convention center.  It was small but interesting.  Tim and I got in free because we were veterans.  Paul got the senior rate.

      After the center, we went across the street to Lorelei for lunch.  We found a table in the sun out on the patio and enjoyed a delightful meal together.  After lunch, Paul and I stopped at Publix to pick up a few things.  We also stopped at the post office where I mailed off our passport renewals.  Let’s see how long it takes to get the new passports.

      Our mail arrived this afternoon.  I asked to have our mail forwarded 2 days ago.  UPS marked it as a 3 day shipment but it arrived in 2 days.  Unfortunately, the package was marked as one of two packages.  The tracking number for the second package says it is scheduled to arrive here at the Elks Lodge on Tuesday.  We leave on Monday.  The UPS driver said they could forward it to us.  Just leave the forwarding address with the camp host here.

      A cold front came in today.  The temperature dropped to a low of 59 degrees.  Lol.  The Floridians brought out their parkas, gloves, scarves, and hats. 

2021 Jan 28 (Thu) – We went to the laundromat this morning to wash clothes.  We sat in the truck while the clothes washed, then drove to a Mexican restaurant for lunch while they were in the dryer.

      I spent an hour putting together an annual report on finances for the SMART Nomads.  Later in the day at 4 p.m. there was a Zoom meeting with National Muster committee (I volunteered to chair the Administrative Team).  The meeting went on for about an hour. 

2021 Jan 27 (Wed) – We drove to Marathon and met Tim at his boat at 9:30 a.m.  Before we got there, we stopped at a nearby Walgreens to have passport pictures taken. He took us out on the dinghy to his dive boat then we rode out to the Sombrero Reef, the third largest reef in the world.  The water was such a beautiful green-blue color.  Tim said the water was not cold but I thought it was so I did not go in. Paul put on a weight belt and a belt to hold the breathing regulator in place.  Right after he jumped into the water with just his bathing suit, Tim promptly donned a wetsuit.  So much for the water not being cold!  Paul and Tim spent about an hour diving on the reef hookah style (as Tim calls it).  The 50’ hoses were attached to the oxygen tanks that stayed on the boat while they swam around the boat.  I looked over the sides and watched the colorful fish go crazy for crackers I threw in the water.

     After we got back, we transferred to the dinghy and rode to the Dockside Grill where we enjoyed a refreshing drink.  Then we returned to the dock and came back to the campground, stopping at Walgreens to pick up our pictures then at Winn Dixie to pick up a few groceries.

     At 6:45 p.m. we went into the Elks lodge for dinner and to play the Queen of Hearts.  The woman whose name was drawn did not choose the $900 Teaser.  She drew a card but it was not the Queen of Hearts.  So she won nothing.  Next week’s drawing will have a prize over $32,000.

 2021 Jan 26 (Tue) – We drove to the post office to make application to renew our passports.  The clerk told us to go online.  Turns out that all renewals have to be done by mail.  That means we have to go get our pictures taken somewhere.  Ugh.

     We went for breakfast at the Bitton Bistro.  Turned out to be a French café.  The owner, Michel, is from Morocco.  He was the only person working in the café and there were 3 tables taken and several people coming and going to buy pastries.  The food was good and we even bought pastries for tomorrow’s breakfast.

     We met Tim at the Crane Point Museum.  It is a 63 acre hammock.  A hammock in Florida is used in the southeastern United States for stands of trees, usually hardwood, that form an ecological island in a contrasting ecosystem.  Hammocks grow on elevated areas, often just a few inches high, surrounded by wetlands that are too wet to support them.  There were birds in a cage being cared for by rehabbers.  The group included pelicans, cormorants, owls, kestrels, egrets, herons, and an eagle.  A little further on was a pedicure pool.  People could take their shoes off and put their feet in the water. Little fish nibbled on the bottom of their feet.  Four people were sitting on the dock with their feet in the water.  They said it tickled.  We wandered through thick foliage with lots of roots sticking up in the pathway.  It was a rough hike through the trees.

     After the tour, we drove to the Overseas Pub & Grill and had lunch outside on the patio.  It had an Irish menu and I enjoyed shepherd’s pie.  Tim had corned beef stew and Paul just had a burger.

 2021 Jan 25 (Mon) – What an illuminating day it was!  We drove to Key West today.  It was 90 miles one way.  The road (US 1) passed over one island after another.  Each island is called a key and there are many keys (also called a cay).  The houses and buildings are painted in lovely pastel shades of pink, green, blue, peach, yellow and dove gray.  Some islands are very built up and others are sparse.  There are many boats and marinas along the way.  Key West was incredibly crowded.  The streets are narrow and the houses are tightly packed.  The entire place was so built up!  We had to wait on a long line just to get our picture taken at the 0 mile marker for the southernmost point in the Continental U.S. There were so many people in town and no parking that we couldn’t even tour the Truman Little White House or Hemingway’s Home.  It was very disappointing.  

     We did stop in at a Butterfly Conservancy.  That was delightful.  There were butterflies flying everywhere!  The docent told us they buy 300 egg sacks a week and release 15-30 new butterflies into the screen area every day.  There were also very colorful little birds flying around.

     We drove over to the Naval Air Station to check out the Sigsbee Campground.  Although they have almost 100 hookups, there were not many RVs camped there at all. We guess that only servicemen who are stationed at the base are allowed to camp there.  It was nice but the sites were tight.  We are just as glad that we never got in there.  

 2021 Jan 24 (Sun) – We drove to the Florida Keys History and Discovery Center in Islamorada but it was closed.  It is located in the Islander Resort and a guard at the gate told us they are only open Wednesday to Saturday.  That was disappointing.  

     We drove down the road to the Island Grill and had a meal outside on the beach.  Out table was a long table with two trees growing up through the table.  After lunch, we drove further south to Bud ‘n Mary’s Marina.  A friend of ours told us to go see the fish there.  There were loads of pelicans begging scraps from a fisherman cleaning the day’s catch.  In the water was a manatee, several very long fish (we think they were mackerel), and lots of minnows.  The water was a beautiful color.

     We stopped at the Hurricane Monument.  A carved granite marker stands on the side of the road in tribute to the people who lost their lives in a hurricane in 1935.  Next, we stopped at the History of Diving Museum.  It was a very informative place.  There were displays of deep sea diving gear, SCUBA gear, and underwater equipment.  Lots of storyboards told about the personalities that made breakthroughs in diving and contributed to the sport.  We enjoyed the museum very much.

 2021 Jan 23 (Sat) – We drove to the post office this morning to get pictures and submit paperwork to renew our passports.  We will be taking a cruise to Australia and New Zealand next year.  Following the cruise, we are planning to take a camper around Australia for 2 or 3 months. That’s when our current passports will expire.  We are renewing them now in order to avoid the possibility that our passports might expire before we get back home.  Unfortunately, the post office was closed.  So we went next door to the Made 2 Order café and had a late breakfast.

     After our meal, we drove to Islamorada to the Theater of the Sea.  It was fun.  We got on a tour that went to several stations.  First was the fish display.  There were sting rays, parrot fish, and nurse sharks in shallow pools. The guide described the fish and showed how they train the sharks.  Next to the display area was a wading pool where people could wade in the water with some of the fish.

     Next stop was at a glass enclosure that held two alligators; one female and one male.  We learned the females grow to about 6-8 feet and the males can grow up to 14 feet. Another enclosure held a crocodile where the guide explained the difference between the crocodilians.  

     After that was a stop at the turtle pools.  They had leatherbacks, loggerheads, and green sea turtles.  One turtle floated around the pool with a life vest on.  There was something wrong with its shell that prevented it from surfacing.  The vest helps it to be able to take a breath. These critters were so big!

     Then we went to 3 shows.  The first was where they had several parrots and macaws.  The emcee described the different types of exotic birds and where they come from.  Then we all went to a large pool where two dolphins performed tricks for the audience. Beside the pool were two small pools where people were swimming with the dolphins.  The place offered the opportunity to swim with dolphins, sting rays, and sharks, all for an additional fee.  The admission fee was pretty steep - $87 for the two of us and that was with a 10% discount!  After the dolphins, we went to another pool where they had sea lions perform tricks, too. And, again, there were people swimming with the sea lions in small pools near the main pool.

     The tour ended with a ride on a bottomless boat.  The boat had benches on the four sides of the boat with an opening in the center.  The two dolphins from the show came swimming by and popped up in the center of the boat and did tricks inside and on the side of the boat while we rode out and back on the lake.  The guide said the entire park is landlocked so they pump in over 11 million gallons of water every day.

     After the park, we drove to the “world famous” Lorelei Restaurant. It is a bar with a very large patio on three sides that sits right on the bay shore.  We found a table where Tim joined us.  He was meeting a friend who is in Florida on vacation.  The friend didn’t want to come to the table so he sat up in the walkway in his wheelchair watching the women go by. Joey was also there, sitting up on the walkway with a friend.  

 2021 Jan 22 (Fri) – We drove to Marathon today to see Tim and take a ride on his boat.  He actually has two boats.  One he lives on and the other is his dive boat.  He can take out groups of up to six people to dive on a nearby reef.  His son, Joey, was also there.  

     We parked the truck and got on the dive boat.  Tim drove from the dock to a nearby restaurant where we docked at the pier and had lunch on the patio.  After a couple of margaritas, we got back on the boat and rode out into the ocean.  We parked (can you park a boat?) out near the 7 mile bridge and watched the sunset. Sadly, there were no clouds in the sky so the sunset was pretty bland.  You have to have clouds in the sky in order to have a beautiful sunset or sunrise.

     We returned to the marina where Tim anchored his dive boat and we transferred to a little dinghy for a ride back to the dock.  It was tight and a little nerve racking but we did it without incident.  It was a good day.

     When we got back to the lodge, I went in and asked if they had any leftovers.  It was prime rib night and I thought I could get some of the leftover food.  It turned out they had plenty left and we wound up sitting down to dinner at 8:30 p.m.  Ugh.  That is SO late to eat a heavy meal.  We brought most of the meal back to the RV.

2021 Jan 21 (Thu) – After the motorhome next to us left, we readjusted our position in the campsite.  We fit much better now.  We have no TV stations over the air.  Paul had to put the satellite dish up on the roof but it is working fine.

     My brother, Tim, came over this morning.  We were stuck in the campground because I was waiting for UPS to deliver my medicine (I have to sign for it).  At 1 p.m. I called UPS and asked to pick up the package at their office tomorrow. The clerk I spoke with (sounding like she was in India) arranged it.  We then went out to lunch at Tower of Pizza. Tim said it is the closest thing to New York pizza outside of New York. It was OK.  

     We returned to the campground and sat down by the water.  A truck pulled up with a 100 gallon tank on the back. The driver put a hose in the water, turned on a generator, and began pumping water into the tank.  It turns out that he sells salt water to aquariums for their collections.  Who would have thought you could make a career out of that?  A UPS truck pulled up and, low and behold, my medication and our forwarded mail were both on the truck.  Luckily, we were here so I could sign for my medicine.  

     There was a beautiful sunset tonight.  Tim, who lives on his boat in Marathon (an island further south in the Keys), says the sunsets seem to go on for hours down here.  The water is incredibly clear.  We walked out on a pier they have here at the lodge.  There are little needle nose gars swimming in the water.  They blend in with the water and algae so much that it is difficult to see them.  I could not spot any dolphins or manatees.

 2021 Jan 20 (Wed) – We are in The Keys!  We packed up and left South Bay at 9 a.m. and drove 3 hours to Tavernier.  We are camped at an Elks Lodge on Overseas Highway.  The lodge is right on the water.  The Keys is on a narrow strip of land flanked by the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other.  The sites are very tight.  We got into our assigned site (# 13) but we could adjust a little.     The motor home next to us will be leaving tomorrow and we will readjust our position after they leave and before the next RV gets here.

      We went into the lodge at 6 p.m. for dinner.  They had a Queens of Hearts drawing at 7:30 p.m.  That was a hoot.  The prize is over $31,000.  The reason the prize has grown so big is that they have a Teaser.  Tonight’s Teaser is $900.  If your ticket gets drawn, you get to turn a card over.  If you turn a Queen of Hearts, you win the entire pot (+$31,000). You can opt to take the Teaser ($900) and they still turn a card over.  If it’s the Queen of Hearts, you win nothing and they start a new game. Twenty-seven cards have been turned over so far.  The winner took the Teaser and the card that was turned over was a Queen of Diamonds. The game is still on.  The next drawing will be next Wednesday.

     I got a series of reservations from the Newburgh KOA for our caravan this summer.  The costs were all above our budgeted amount.  I called and spoke with the manager of the campground.  She explained that she had to just get something into the system to hold our sites.  The price adjustments will come later and not to worry.

 2021 Jan 19 (Tue) – We drove into West Palm Beach today. After a quick lunch at Zaxby’s, we took a ride on the Diva Duck boat.  There were just 8 adults and 2 children on the boat.  It was a weird sensation to go from the road into the water. The woman narrating the tour was very good and had lots of tongue-in-cheek jokes about ducks.

     After our pleasant afternoon, we stopped at PetSmart to get some dog food then Publix for a few groceries.  Paul filled up the truck and I bought lottery tickets hoping to hit the more than $800 million jackpot.  

2021 Jan 16-18 (Sat, Sun, Mon) – We stayed in the campground.  This was a holiday weekend and we were staying away from the crowds.  The folks with the chicken on a leash left today. I wanted to get a picture of it but I missed out.  Oh, well. The weather has been cool; lows in the 40s and highs in the 60s.  Hopefully, it will be warmer down in the Keys.

2021 Jan 15 (Fri) – We drove to Palm Beach today.  Palm Beach was named for the coconut groves that were once common along Lake Worth.  The only remaining coconut grove in Palm Beach is on the Flagler estate.

     First stop was at the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum.  What an amazing place!  Another example of the opulence of the nouveau rich of the 1800s.  Flagler’s family immigrated from Germany to New York. Flagler left home at 14 to look for his fortune.  He found it when he joined up with John D. Rockefeller and Samuel Andrews to form Standard Oil Co.  He made millions (billions in today’s money).  In 1902, he built Whitehall as a winter retreat and visited there for 12 years until he died.  His wife died 4 years later and left their estate to a niece.  She then turned it over to private investors when it became too expensive to keep and they turned the mansion into a grand hotel.  In 1959, the investors had gone broke and the building was going to be torn down.  A great granddaughter bought the property and turned it into a museum in 1960.

     There were more than 75 rooms in the home.  Much of the original furniture, as well as furniture from the period, are in the rooms.  Each room is grander than the next.  It was amazing!  In the back of the home was another building housing Flagler’s personal rail car.  He built a rail line that connected Jacksonville to the Keys.  Flagler is credited with building up Florida and making it a major attraction for tourism and agriculture.

     Across the water behind the estate was a marina that housed several yachts. One of them was a small ocean liner with beautiful lines.  Ah, what the money people spend their dollars on.

     After the museum, we drove into town and had lunch at Almond.  It turned out they also have a restaurant in Manhattan and Bridgehampton back in New York.  We sat on the patio and watched all the rich cars drive by.  I’ve never seen so many high end vehicles – Tesla, Mercedes, Bentley, Ducati, etc. – in one place.  Parking is restricted to two hours and while we were eating, two of the wait staff ran out to move their cars so they wouldn’t be ticketed.  Our lunch was excellent but we paid for it.  It was almost $100 (tip included).  Whew!

     Next was a drive around town.  We wound up on Ocean Drive and drove past Mar-a-lago, President Trump’s Florida home.  It’s a strange arrangement.  The road cuts through the middle of the estate with the club on one side and the pool on the other side next to the ocean.  There was a very large American flag standing on the lawn in front of the club. We couldn’t see the entire building as there was a 6’ hedge in front of the place.  Most of them have 15-20 foot high hedges in front of their properties. I guess that’s more attractive than fences and certainly more private.  Each home we drove past was more opulent than the next.  This is definitely the place to come if you want to ogle the rich and famous.  

     When we got back to the campground, we could see that most campsites have been filled up.  It’s the weekend.  The folks next to us have a chicken.  They tie a rope to its foot and the rooster just hangs around.  He likes to be high so they put him on the handlebars of their bicycle or up on a 6’ ladder.   I’ve seen some crazy things during our travels but a chicken on a leash is a new one for me.  Lol.

 2021 Jan 14 (Thu) – We stayed in the campground all day.  I did work on the Nomads newsletter as well as the New York Caravan.  Paul worked on finding us campgrounds to stay in.  After he found a site in Tampa, I called Southwest and made a reservation to fly to New York next month.

 2021 Jan 13 (Wed) – We asked the office to move to a site further away from the road.  It must be a main truck route as it was noisy all night long.  We got moved from 85 to 151.  It’s marked as a handicapped site but the picnic table is located on the wrong side of the rig.  Regardless, it is much quieter over here.

     After our move, we drove into town to get propane and fuel.  We drove through Clewiston and stopped at the Chamber of Commerce & Museum.  It was small and not well laid out.  The CoC offers a Sugarland Tour which we very much wanted to take.  It is four hours learning about all the sugar cane farms in the area.  Unfortunately, tours are suspended until September because of the coronavirus.

     We drove through South Bay.  There were many slum areas, dilapidated houses, and closed stores. This town is suffering greatly. Trip Advisor listed only one restaurant in the entire town – Subway.

 2021 Jan 12 (Tue) – We packed up and left Cocoa at 9:50 a.m. and arrived at the South Bay RV Campground at 1:30 p.m.  We ran into traffic going through the Palm Beach area.  The campground is owned by the county.  It is neat, clean, and well laid out. Unfortunately, it is right by a major truck route and quite noisy.  We only got a 30-amp site while there are 50-amp sites open.  The campground is about 90% full.  It sits at the base of a levee.  There is a lake and creek on the property with signs warning of alligators. Check-in was online as they are keeping everything contactless.  There is nothing to do in South Bay.  This is the kind of campground you come to when you want to get away from it all.

 2021 Jan 11 (Mon) – We went to the Brevard Zoo today.  Paul thought it was very nice.  Not too big and all the animals were out and visible. We had to make a reservation online as they are limiting the number of people in the zoo at any one time.  There were lots of animals from Australia and Africa. It was about a two hour tour.

     We stopped at the Melbourne Seafood Grill for lunch.  I had a crab cake and Paul enjoyed clams.  Then we got some fuel in preparation for tomorrow’s move. When we got back to the campground, we did some wash.  Sheba brought some hairballs last night while laying on our bed so we had to wash the sheets and bedspread.  It’s time to take the flannel sheets off the bed anyway.  We are headed into southern Florida where the weather is sure to be warmer (we sure hope so!).

 2021 Jan 10 (Sun) – We did laundry today.  It seemed like Sunday was wash day for a lot of people in the campground and we got the last two machines.

     We met George & Linda at El Leoncita for dinner.  The food, margaritas, and company were all good.

 2021 Jan 9 (Sat) – We drove back to Merritt Island and picked up Denise with her dog, Levi, then drove to Cocoa to George & Linda’s. George made dough balls to go fishing with his grandson, Ryan.  Their son, Neil, came over and we all went down to the lake.  Ryan, Neil, George, and Paul fished while Linda, Denise, and I went for a drive around the neighborhood.  It was cool with a brisk breeze blowing.

     No fish caught, we returned to the house and George grilled up some burgers and hot dogs.  After visiting, we returned to Merritt Island to drop off Denise, then back to the campground.  Sheba ran out of the door when we got back at 8 p.m. and it took a bit of effort to get her back inside because it was dark and we couldn’t see.

2021 Jan 8 (Fri) – We went out to pick up food for Bonnie.  The vet recommended that we only give her one protein source.  Rather than mixing up beef and chicken, we should only feed her chicken.  We also have to make sure her dry food is chicken as well as her treats.

      Next door was a WalMart.  We ran in to pick up a few things.  While at George & Linda’s the other day, I noted she was cooking with a Blue Diamond pan.  We got to talking about different kinds of pans.  I have been thinking about getting rid of my Teflon pans for a while.  So while we were at WalMart today, I picked up 3 new fry pans and a Dutch oven.  I also picked up a roasting pan and a small baking pan with rack.   After we came home, I spent time rearranging the cabinet and getting rid of the old pots and pans in favor of the new ones.

     The day was very windy today.  Sheba didn’t spend more than a few minutes outside before looking to come back in.  It was just too breezy.  She sure loves her new toy.  

 2021 Jan 7 (Thu) – We stayed around the campground for the day. Paul ran out briefly to pick up some hardware to fix the silverware drawer.  It was not working smoothly and he had to replace the hardware slide. The drawer works very nicely now.

     At 8:30 p.m., we went out to watch the Space-X launch.  It was delayed for a little bit but the rocket finally took off at 9:15 p.m.  It was so quiet but very bright.  The launch was successful and they were able to capture the booster rocket.

 2021 Jan 6 (Wed) – We went over to George & Linda’s for dinner tonight.  They grilled chicken and Brussel sprouts.  We enjoyed the food with margaritas.

     I pulled out the NY Caravan file today to see what actions I have to take. I contacted one campground to confirm our arrival.  After some discussion, the owner decided that they could not support our caravan.  We have too many large rigs.  It was with some disappointment I found another campground. The next one is $11 more per night. That will certainly put a dent in our budget.

 2021 Jan 5 (Tue) – We packed up and left KARS RV Park at 10:30 a.m. Since the drive was only 27 miles, we waited until near checkout time before leaving.  We had to stop and dump the tanks first.  It was a good day to leave as a bunch of Fish & Wildlife trucks pulled up in the field across from us this morning.  It looked like a manhunt was underway.  I called the office only to find out they are doing a controlled burn around the property today.

     It was 50 minutes to Patrick Space Force Base in Cocoa.  We checked in with the camp host.  She said we were lucky.  That someone just left a very nice spot (they have a first-come, first served policy for campsites).  The site looks out at the river without a camper in front of our site. It’s OK.  The camp host told us this is a historic stay.  They just changed the name from Patrick Air Force Base to Patrick Space Force Base last month.  It’s a nice campground but a little tight.  We have full hookups with 50 amp service.  

     We went out for dinner to Grill’s Seafood Restaurant.  It was right on the water and we sat out on the deck. It was enclosed in glass so it felt like the inside but with all the view of the outside.

2021 Jan 4 (Mon) – We took Bonnie to the vet this morning.  We might have inadvertently solved the problem on our own though.  Bonnie has been doing a lot of barking and appeared to be very hungry.  She has been suffering urine infections off and on for two years now.  She’s been through a variety of antibiotics but the UTI always returned.  We remembered a friend who used the same pro-digest we give Bonnie.  She said she stopped giving it to her dogs because they had renal issues.  We stopped giving all extra stuff to Bonnie – the pro-digest, multivitamin, glucosamine, and fish oil.  We’ve just been giving her the liver medicine and regular food.  She’s also been getting lots of extra treats. Interestingly, Bonnie has calmed down. She’s not doing the excessive barking or restless moving around.  Maybe the antibiotic she was on and the pro-digest disagreed with each other.

     At any rate, the vet’s office only allowed one of us in so Paul sat out in the car.  After hearing of Bonnie’s story, the vet recommended that we give her only one protein source.  We feed her Hill’s Science Diet (approved by the vet association) but mix it up between beef and chicken.  The vet said that a dog’s system has to do a reset every time the protein source changes. Her long standing issue with diarrhea could be related to the changes in protein.  She suggested we give her only one protein for three weeks and see how her system reacts.

     The vet took some blood and found that Bonnie’s thyroid level is low. So now she is on a thyroid medication. She needs to go back for a recheck in two weeks.  We’ll see about that.

     When we got back to the campground, we did the laundry.  There were two washers and two dryers in the laundry building when I looked in last week.  Today, there was only one washing machine.  We only did the whites.

     A Falcon 9 Space-X launch was planned to take place between 8:30 and 12:30 tonight.  We rode down to the waterfront, set out our chairs, and waited to see the launch. The sky was clear and the stars were so bright with no moon to fade out the stars.  It was so cold; in the 40s.  We waited 20 minutes, trying to find out online if the launch was going to be live streamed.  People finally started posting on Facebook that the launch was rescheduled for January 7. That was disappointing.  We are in such a perfect place to watch a launch, right across the river from the NASA launch site.

 2021 Jan 3 (Sun) – We drove over George & Linda’s this morning. She made hash with the leftover corn beef.  That and eggs with toast was scrumptious.  The mimosas were a nice touch.  Denise (George’s sister) and her little dog, Levi, joined us.  After our meal, we sat out on the patio around their fire pit and had a nice visit.

     On the way back to the campground, we stopped for lunch at Kelsey’s Pizzeria.  We’ve seen a number of them around and wanted to try them.  We couldn’t eat in their store.  They instructed us to go next door to Harry & Jack’s, a bar and grill. They had indoor and outdoor seating. None of the wait staff wore masks. There were 3 tables occupied near us when we sat next to the bar.  The first group left and the waitress haphazardly wiped the table but didn’t touch the seats.  The other two tables vacated and neither of them was wiped down at all.  We got our pizza.  It wasn’t New York.

     After lunch, I stopped in at Supercuts next door and got my hair cut. The woman did a terrible job.  The good thing about it is that my hair will grow back in.  

 2021 Jan 2 (Sat) – Another day in the campground.  The weather has turned cold.   We went over George & Linda’s for dinner.  She made reubens with corned beef and sauerkraut on rye bread.  It was so good.  We are invited over for breakfast tomorrow where Linda will make corned beef hash with the leftovers.  After dinner, we watched a movie with Liam Neeson.  It was awful.  It certainly wasn’t his usual genre as a kick-ass fighter.  I think the name of the movie was “The Other Man.”  Don’t watch it!

 2021 Jan 1 (Fri-New Year’s Day) -  We stayed in the campground all day.   Our church had a Zoom meeting at 1 p.m.  We would normally have a potluck meal on New Year’s Day but no one’s getting together in groups this year.  There were about 20 of us online.  It was confusing to me with everyone talking over each other.  But it was good to see all our friends.  The call lasted about an hour.

2020 Dec 31 (Thu-New Year’s Eve) – We met George & Linda at the pier by Doc’s Bait House near their old condo.  We were going for a boat ride on the Banana River and lunch down river.  Unfortunately, as soon as we got past the bridge, the wind was whipping up the water and waves were splashing over the boat, getting us all wet.  It was too rough to go boating so we returned to the dock and pulled the boat out of the water then followed George back to his shop. We met their dog and checked out their new Renegade Class C RV.  They bought it in July and it still smells new.  After putting away the boat, we went to Fishlips for lunch down by Port Canaveral.  The meal was good but pretty expensive.

     After lunch, Paul and I drove to Patrick Air Force base to check out the campground.  Most of the gates into the base are closed and you have to drive a couple of miles around the runway to get to the campground.  They are also pretty full but there are still a few empty spaces. We will look to move there next week.

     We returned to the campground and spent a quiet night watching TV.  We turned in at 9 p.m.  How’s that for celebrating the new year?  I think we are officially “old fogies.”

 2020 Dec 30 (Wed) – We ran some errands today – picked up groceries and got some propane.  George & Linda drove over to the campground and we chatted for about an hour then drove to Denise’s house.  We picked her up and drove to Carrabba’s for an early dinner.  We all sat out on the patio and enjoyed margaritas and a good meal.

 2020 Dec 29 (Tue) – We packed up and left Mayport Naval Station at 9:30 a.m.  It was 160 miles south to Merritt Island where we are camped at the NASA owned property KARS RV Park.  We have been here twice before.  It is pretty full now; almost every campsite is occupied.  We have a site way in back behind the storage area nowhere near the water. They continue to improve the campground.

2020 Dec 28 (Mon) – We drove into St. Augustine for lunch. Our meal was at the Florida Cracker in the old historic town.  St. Augustine was settled in 1565 and is said to be the oldest city in the United States. It has been under six flags over the years – Spain, Italy, France, England, Colonial America, and the U.S. (I think).  It is an interesting tour.  There were many people out and about, too many without masks.  Traffic coming into town was all backed up.  We walked around for a while then left.  We stopped at the post office on the way back to mail off a package and got fuel for tomorrow’s move.

 2020 Dec 27 (Sun) – We dialed into the virtual service at our church this morning.  It appears that the minister contracted the coronavirus and was quarantined for two weeks. That must be why they stopped having in-person services last week.

     We took down our Christmas decorations today.  I thought we were leaving tomorrow, Monday, but we are leaving on December 29.  That’s actually on Tuesday.

 2020 Dec 26 (Sat) – We drove into town and had lunch at North Beach Fish Camp.  It was a seafood place.  I had a cod dish and Paul enjoyed crab claws.  On the way back to the campground, we stopped at Publix to pick up a few groceries.

     The weather is pretty cold today.  The temperatures have dropped into the thirties and there is a freeze warning for the area tonight.  We’ll have to remember to disconnect the hose before going to bed.  At least the wind has died down.

     The vet called to say that Bonnie’s urine sample had come back normal.  The antibiotic has done its job.

2020 Dec 25 (Fri – Christmas Day) – It was very cold this morning but warmed quickly to the 50s.  The wind was blowing strongly.  Last night’s storm left many homes without electric and the news showed streets and homes where trees fell onto them.  It was a very destructive storm.

     We went to the Oasis Galley on base at 3 p.m. for a holiday meal.  It was supposed to be $9.20 per person but the guy just waved us through when we arrived.  I don’t know if it was because he was having problems with the register or that it was almost time to close the mess hall (dinner was being served from 1 to 4 p.m.  At any rate, we got a great meal for free.  There was salad, shrimp cocktail, turkey, dressing, steak, mac & cheese, cranberry sauce, corn, kale, green beans, biscuits, eggnog, coffee, tea, and a variety of pies.  We brought our pumpkin pie back to the trailer and had it later with coffee.  

 2020 Dec 24 (Thu) – We dropped a urine sample from Bonnie off at the vet’s office this morning.  Then we went to breakfast at Another Broken Egg.  They have such good and unusual selections.  We both enjoyed our meal very much.  We sat out on the patio with a lot of other people.  

      After breakfast (more like brunch), we drove to General RV to pick up our new loungers.  The shipment never came in so we bought the floor sample.  The saleslady we dealt with was out today.  The person we dealt with today must have thought we were really stupid.  She said they never had new furniture to order and we were always going to get the floor sample.  Then she said the saleslady we first dealt with (Brandi) tried to order it but it wasn’t available.  I then asked for a discount on the cost of the furniture since we had to take used furniture rather than get it new.  She tried to tell us that the sample was only on the floor for 4 days.  We sat in it over a week ago so that wasn’t true. Brandi had told us it was out for several weeks.  In addition, the floor sample was still sitting on the floor.  It was not sanitized and packed up for us.  The woman tried to mumble that she couldn’t have sanitized it earlier because people would have still sat on it.  Paul told her no one could sit on it if it was disassembled and she tried to tell him they would have.  It was one of the most aggravating hours we have ever spent. The woman was either incompetent or an out-and-out liar.  At any rate, we waited while they sanitized and took the furniture apart (2 chairs with a center console).  She refused to give us any plastic to wrap up the furniture so it wouldn’t get dirty in back of the truck.  We did get a refund of almost $200.

                                               the old furniture

                                                   the new furniture

      Paul then drove into downtown Jacksonville.  Since it was Christmas eve, he figured a lot of the stores and offices would be closed.  He was right. It reminded me of when we went to Phoenix and arrived on a weekend.  It was like a ghost town.  We stopped at the St. Johns River Riverwalk and strolled along the waterfront.  There were a few people out but not many.

      The day started out very nice but turned nasty late in the afternoon.  Severe thunderstorms rolled through and there were warnings of tornadoes in the county.  The temperatures dropped drastically and the prediction was for iguanas falling out of trees tomorrow (lol. Temps are supposed to be freezing)

 2020 Dec 23 (Wed) – We did some laundry today.  Since the machines are free, we are taking advantage of the benefit.  Someone got annoyed we weren’t right there when our wash finished and they took our laundry out.  They put it on top of the dryers.  We put our stuff in the dryers and made sure to come back before it was done.

     We went out for lunch at Cracker Barrel today.  The food was good and they were doing a brisk business.  It’s hard to believe there’s a pandemic out there. After lunch, we stopped at a liquor store to pick up some Bailey’s Irish Cream.  It’s for Christmas day.

 2020 Dec 22 (Tue) – The day was cold and blustery.  We stayed in all day.

 2020 Dec 21 (Mon) – We ran some errands today.  Went food shopping at WalMart, picked up dog food at PetCo, got some fuel at a very sloooooooow pump (took a half hour to fill the gas tank), and dropped off an envelope at the post office.

     At sunset, we drove over to the southeast side of the base to see the Christmas Star.  Not since 1600 (400 years ago) has Saturn and Jupiter been aligned next to each other. They are so close that they look like a big star in the sky.  This great conjunction is referred to as the Christmas Star.  I think it’s because it’s happening during Christmas week.  We saw nothing.  Maybe it was hidden behind some low clouds on the horizon.  We’ll try again tomorrow night.

     I volunteered to put together a cookbook for SMART as a fundraiser. Paul was looking through our church cookbook one day and brought up the suggestion that we should do it for our travel club.  I pitched the suggestion, went through lots of questions and hesitations, and finally got the go ahead today.  Hope I don’t regret the offer.

2020 Dec 19&20 (Sat & Sun) – We stayed in the campground this weekend.  We dialed into the church for a virtual service on Sunday morning.  We had some initial trouble getting the live broadcast but it turned out to be a problem at their end, not ours.

 2020 Dec 18 (Fri) – We ran out to get propane this morning. The weather has been cold (it was 37 degrees this morning) and the heat has been running almost constantly.  We ran out of propane two nights ago (luckily, we have a second tank to switch to when one goes empty).  The place we first stopped at was out of order and we struggled to find another place.  The refill was finally achieved.

     Karen called today.  She is a travel agent and we are working with to arrange a cruise to Australia in 2022. We have tentatively decided on a Holland America 15-day cruise to Australia/New Zealand in January 2022. We also spoke with her about arranging a campervan trip around Australia following the cruise.  We plan to take two months to travel around Australia after the cruise.  She’s looking into it.

     We returned to the campground and hunkered down for the day. I sure hope it gets warmer soon. This is Florida!!!!

 2020 Dec 17 (Thu) – We drove into St. Augustine this afternoon. It took us over a half hour to find a parking space.  We finally wound up parking in a church parking lot for $10.  Then we walked into town and came upon the Lightner Museum. It is in the former Alcazar Hotel which was built from Henry Flagler in 1888.  One half of the 5-story building houses government offices and the other half features the museum collection.  The building was stunning and the hotel must have been amazing! The collections were from the 1800 and 1900s.  There were pottery, crystal, and glass artifacts; furniture; paintings; sculptures; and more.  A stuffed lion was on display that was a gift to Winston Churchill.  The lion was placed in the London Zoo and sired over 40 cubs before being stuffed.  I don’t know how it wound up in a museum in Florida.

     At 5 p.m. we went to dinner at Harry’s Seafood Grill.  It was a New Orleans style restaurant.  The waiter was very animated and made the meal enjoyable. He said he was originally from Queens and worked in Melville.  I had rice and beans with sausage and Paul had a scampi dish.

     We walked down to the marina and took the Night of Lights boat tour. It was a boring ride back and forth in front of lighted store fronts in the freezing cold.  The captain was absolutely silent.  Most tours of this kind would have had a dialogue about the area. He should have described some of the landmarks or talked about the history of the marina or told the story about St. Augustine.  Aside from his mandatory safety briefing (which was 75% unintelligible), he said nothing during the entire ride.  We were supposed to get complimentary coffee or tea but they didn’t have that either. We didn’t think the boat tour was worth the expense.

 2020 Dec 16 (Wed) – It rained for most of the day today.  It was cool and miserable.  I called the office today and was able to extend here at Mayport for another 3 nights until January 1st.  Hopefully, that will be all we need to take care of Bonnie’s issue.

2020 Dec 15 (Tue) – We went food shopping at Winn Dixie to get groceries for the week.  Then we went to Bono’s Pit BBQ.  We bought a rack of ribs and brought it back for dinner.  Yesterday and today have been blustery and the temperatures have been in the low 50s in the morning.  The wind was blowing so hard today that you had to be sure to hold the door when you got out of the car or the RV.  There were white caps and big splashing waves out in the river.  We swear that the winds were gusting to 50 mph.

 2020 Dec 14 (Mon) – We went furniture shopping today.  After wandering through several stores, we finally arrived at General RV and paid for two lounge chairs.  The clerk said she thought she could get it in by Friday, Monday at the latest.  If it doesn’t come in, then they will give us the floor sample.  We have to call on Friday so they’ll have time to sanitize the floor sample if it doesn’t look like the new chairs will come in on time.

     After paying for the chairs, we stopped at Taco Bell for lunch. Yuck!  They no longer have the taco salad.  Now it’s bowls.  I got a chicken quesadilla and Paul got chalupas.  My meal was very skimpy and too spicy.  I won’t get that again!

     The vet called to say that Bonnie has a bacterial infection and needs to go on antibiotics.  We turned around and drove to his office to get the medication.  After ten days, we have to give another urine sample.  The time period will be close to when we are scheduled to leave.  Since we don’t have a reservation for the next campground, I called the office at Mayport to see if we could extend for a few days.  The clerk said they have no vacancies.  We have to call back every day to check on availability.  Ugh.

 2020 Dec 13 (Sun) – We went to lunch at Seaglass, a restaurant on base.  We were the only two diners in the place.  It looks like it would be really nice on a Friday night with folks gathered around the bar and socializing.  That won’t happen for a while, if ever again.  I had avocado toast and Paul had chorizo hash.  It was good.  We returned to the campground and let the animals play outside.  Sheba is fascinated with the geckos crawling on the palm trees.

 2020 Dec 12 (Sat) – The day was rainy and overcast.  We just hung around the campground all day.

 2020 Dec 11 (Fri) – We went out for lunch today at Colhane’s Irish Pub.  The food was very good.  I had my usual – shepherd pie and Paul enjoyed potato soup and a salad.  He’s down to 208 lbs.  His goal is in sight and he’s very focused.  We came back and let the fur babies have time outside.

     The vet called today.  Aside from slightly elevated liver enzymes, he really doesn’t see anything in Bonnie’s bloodwork to indicate a problem.  He is going to do a culture on the urine sample we left.  He’ll call back in a couple of days.

 2020 Dec 10 (Thu) – Paul offered to take me out for breakfast this morning.  That’s very funny since he lost his credit card and we had to invalidate it.  Now, I’m the only one with a credit card. After the breakfast that he treated me to (that I paid for), we went to Winn Dixie for groceries (I splurged on a lottery ticket), then to PetCo for dog food, and last to the post office to mail off a letter.

     On the way back, we drove into the Village of Mayport.  It is a small fishing village with a ferry port.  There weren’t many businesses at all.  When we got back on base, we drove around the docks looking at all the big Navy ships.  There were about a dozen ships tied up to the piers.

     We took Bonnie to the vet this afternoon. In the last two or three months, she has started this kind of barking routine.  She gives a bark, waits about ten seconds, then barks again.  She keeps this up until we are moved to do something. It’s either feed her, walk her, or pet her.  She goes out for a walk about every 1-1/2 to 2 hours and has a bowel movement almost time. That’s many more than she used to have (which was two – one following breakfast and one following dinner).  The doc took blood and promised to call us tomorrow.

2020 Dec 9 (Wed) – We stayed in today and spent the time putting up and decorating our Christmas tree.  The season is here!

 2020 Dec 8 (Tue) – We went to the post office to mail off the claim form to New York.  It will be interesting to see how much is due to my mother (who passed away in 2009). My sister, Susan, had filled out a claim in 2010 for money due to my mother.  The five of us each wound up getting $20 (she was due $100).  This time around will probably be $2.50 each. Mom didn’t have much to her name when she died.  I can’t imagine what this money is from.

     We stopped for lunch at the Hangar Bay Café.  It was a small place run by an African American retired Navy guy with an Asian wife.  The menu had a lot of ramen on it.  Paul got pork ramen and I ordered fried chicken.  The food was good.  The gentleman didn’t want to talk about his service.  Even though there was an 11x13 picture of him in dress uniform on the wall, he kept avoiding my questions about his time in the Navy.

     The commissary and PX are both off-post.  We stopped in there to get a few things.  You have to show ID at the register at the commissary and at the entrance at the PX to ensure you are military.  When we got back to the base, we drove around the housing area.  There is a second campground (called Osprey Cove) on base.  It is not on the water but cloistered among spreading trees with lots of Spanish moss. It is very lovely and intended for long-term stays.

 2020 Dec 7 (Mon) – We packed up and left Kings Bay Subbase at 11 a.m. It was much later than we normally move out but the drive was only an hour to the next campground.  We ran out to the post office before we left so I could mail another registered letter to a lawyer used to sell Travis & Sam’s house. We’ve had serious issues with him and have had to make a formal complaint to the Judicial Review Board.

     We arrived at Mayport Naval Station, Pelican Roost RV Park a little after noon.  They gave us the option of choosing one of several sites.  We elected to take a space at the end of the aisle on a curve. We can get a somewhat obscure look at the ocean.  We stayed here last December.  The ships sail right past the campground on their way out of and into the port.  They blow their horns to say hello and goodbye.

     We went out to the bank to get a paper notarized. I was cruising around the internet and put in Unclaimed Funds in New York State.  Surprise, surprise!  My mother’s name came up.  The website doesn’t tell how much is owed, just there is some money due.  I printed out the form and filled in the required information.  I will mail it out tomorrow.

[bubblegum-snowdrop]

This is probably Not Great but I wrote it anywayyyyy

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･♢･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

He always came back.

In truth, Viola didn’t want him to. The angel named Michael, with six wings of pure white that contrasted against his dark skin, decorated in white silks and gold jewellery as he came down from the skies above. The clouds always parted for him, the sun always shining down as he held out his hand to her. His smile was always gentle, his voice warm, every day making the same offer as she tended to the white roses in her garden.

“My child, are you ready for humanity to rise again?”

Every time, she would brush a bit of her rich, black hair behind her ear, her powder blue eyes never meeting his. Viola could never look at Michael. He shone too brightly, and part of her feared that the sight would burn her- even as he always assured her it wouldn’t. Her eyes would instead focus on the freckles dotted across her fair skin, and she would always shake her head. She’d say the exact same phrase, without fail.

“No. Not yet.”

He would frown, and reluctantly leave. Some days, he would come to appreciate her garden, always complimenting her pride and joy- the roses. ‘They’ve always been my favourite flower,��� He would say, and Viola would thank him. But he would always return to the sky, leaving her behind. She’d go back to the garden, collecting the vegetables and fruit that needed to be harvested, before she would return to the little cottage she had built all on her own. It was the same each day. Sometimes, Viola would try to avoid Michael, heading into the forest to collect berries. She would always say it was for a pie, some other treat, or that ‘I just wanted something different’. She would never admit to trying to hide from an archangel. But, one day before he left, Michael asked her a question. A small smile on her face, Viola had given him a fresh orange from her garden- still never looking at him. He was quiet, but then he spoke up instead of departing to heaven like always.

“My child… why do you always reject my offer to restore humanity?” He asked, “Aren’t you lonely here?”

Viola had shaken her head.

“I am no lonelier now than I was before, Michael.”

“But surely, you must want some company.” Michael had insisted.

Viola still shook her head no, “The only ones I want to spend my time with are already gone.”

He had left after that, just like every other day. Viola didn’t finish her gardening. Instead, she had picked up a wicker basket, and filled it with apples. She used them to make a pie; but she did not eat it. She let it sit on the table, five places prepared with plates, forks and knives, waiting for someone to arrive. No one came. Viola stayed in her room that night, without dinner. She simply spent time with her cat, an old girl named Sheba.

As always, Michael returned the next day. This time, however he did not some alone- while he descended from the skies, up from the ground with a ring of violet flame rose another man. Initially, his form had been incomprehensible darkness, eternally shifting, always watching. But with a snap, the strange mass took on the form of a man. He looked almost like any other person, aside from his eerily bright violet eyes and the pitch black ram’s horns from his head, with short hair of fiery red.

It reminded Viola of someone, but she didn’t say a word of it.

“Who are you, and why are you here?” Viola had asked, noticing the a Michael looked slightly uncomfortable standing beside him, “Michael, who have you brought with you?”

“You could say I’m the devil.” The mysterious man said, taking a few strides towards her, “You humans call me by many names, but Lucifer would be the one I tend to prefer.”

Michael quickly stepped forward, standing by Viola’s side with three of his songs enveloping her in an almost protective manner, “He means no harm, my child, but you have no need to fear- I am always watching over you.”

“There is no need. If he kills me, then he kills me. I don’t care if I die or not.” Viola stated, walking away from them both and taking a seat at the nearby table in her garden, this one surrounded by lavender. The angel and the devil glanced at one another, taking a seat across from her. Michael’s eyes- a lush, rich shade of green, like that of polished emerald- were filled with concern. Lucifer’s were with intrigue.

“My child, please… you cannot truly mean that.” Michael said, “You”ver been given this chance at life- and furthermore, a chance to bring humanity back. Once you feel this world is ready, humans will return. So why do you eternally reject it?”

Viola looked down at her hands. Her eyes didn’t move from there, not even for a single moment.

“There is no purpose in it.”

Both of the divine beings looks utterly flabbergasted, yet, the human was still unfazed. But the look in her eyes was not empty- not like before, where whenever Michael looked at her, it seemed hollow. Every feeling seeming to be somehow dulled. This one, however, was the only one that wasn’t. Tears slipped from from those pale blue eyes of hers, falling down to her delicate hands. She was crying, but made no sound. She didn’t even tremble or shake- no sobbing, no weeping, only tears. It was as if that were all she had left.

“My existence, here… it has little purpose. I garden. I cook. I live each day as I must, but truly, what purpose is there in that? I have my dear Sheba, but I will outlive my own cat. Then what do I do? Spend the rest of my days here, alone? Wait until I wither away? Heart far too shattered to even hope it will one day be repaired?” Viola said, for the first time since she met Michael, looking at him directly in the eye.

“I had children, Michael, Lucifer. Three, beautiful ones. My daughter was the eldest, and then, I had two sons. A husband as well.” She said, voice barely above a whisper, “They were the only ones that ever mattered to me. When the end came, I was out in this same garden. I was preparing to make an apple pie. Edward was hunting, with our eldest son. My daughter and youngest son were playing in the river nearby. Not one of those children was yet eighteen- did you know that? Not one. They were the most precious beings in my life. My husband was the love of my life. My children were my world. The last day I had with them was the same was every other day.”

Neither of them dared to interrupt her. Viola’s hands were starting to tremble.

“I brought in my basket of apples. I made that pie, and I set in on the table. A treat, for everyone. They all loved that apple pie.” She recalled, “Then, I opened the door, calling for them to come home. It was time to come get the pie while it was still warm, I’d said. But no one came running. I waited for hours. The pie went cold.”

The air was heavy. Not even the birds sang, or wind blew. It was sunny out, yet the sky still seemed darker than before.

“I searched for them. There was not a single trace of my family. Not until I saw it… in the river, at first. I saw my little Eliza’s favourite hair ribbon. Then, a little ways away, I saw my baby’s tiger’s eye ring. The same one his grandfather gave him at birth, the exact one he never took off. You will never understand the terror I felt as I ran into the woods, carrying that ribbon and that ring, looking for my husband and eldest son.”

She was crying harder, yet, her voice did not waver.

“Instead, I found the same hunting rifle my husband always used. A little ways ahead, I found my son’s cap. I took them home, and I wandered for days, looking for any other sign of them. I called on the phone. There was no one to answer. I looked on the TV- every show had stopped playing, the news stations were empty. There was no sound of the radio. Sheba was the only one there. Everyone was gone.”

Lucifer reached out, slowly, across the table. He took Viola’s hand, and he spoke softly.

“That, my dear, is what I am here for. That lord up there… He wants to restart the world, but as the only survivor, you have to give the word. It’s the rules, the way of things. Like a contract that can’t be broken,” Lucifer explained, “But if you’re longing for those you love, then I can bring them back to you.”

Viola’s head snapped towards him, eyes going wide.

“What…?”

“Your family. I can return them to you.” Lucifer said, a contract conjuring in his other hand which he pushed closer to her- placing a black, feather pen on top. “All you have to do is agree to these terms.”

Slowly, Viola let go of Lucifer’s hand. Picking up the pen and the paper, she slowly started to read- but even still, she dared to ask.

“What terms?”

Michael seemed to light up a little, seeming to think she was at last about to agree, “They’re quite simple, my child. You finally give the word to restart humanity- the world is born anew, with new faces, new people. The mistakes of the past forgotten and forgiven. In return… instead of joining us in heaven, you and your family will have your places right here. You will live your full, happy lives in peace, before at last rejoining with us once you die.”

“I’ll take care of negotiations, but I can promise you that you will be with your family again. As much as Michael doesn’t trust me, I abide by my contracts. Sign the dotted line…” Lucifer urged, carefully watching Viola’s every move, “…and it will all be as it once was.”

Silence. She appeared to think about it for a moment, but then…

“No.”

Both of them looked beyond shocked. Michael stood up from the table as Viola ripped the contract in half, placing it on the table and throwing away the pen.

“No? Why no?!”

Calmly, Viola rise from her seat, pushing in her chair. She picked a few of the lavender, befire walking to another flower bush. She went around, picking a great many flowers before returning to the table. Slowly, she started to weave flower crowns, incorporating the lavender into one and two white roses into the other.

“How many times as your god done this? How many times has he made a ‘mistake’, and then wiped the Earth clean of life? I may be the only survivor, but I was not the only one harmed. What kind of god creates all these people, all these living creatures, and then once things don’t go his way- he simply kills them all, leaving only one behind to ‘prepare’ this world for the next wave?” Viola asked, carefully placing the lavender flower crown on Lucifer’s head, “I refuse to believe I am the only one. As much as I love and miss my family, what does that make of me if I let such a wretched cycle repeat again and again for a brief life of happiness? Even if I did agree to it, I know I will eternally see that same day that everything I cared about was stolen from me. The damage has been done, and I will never in my life be the ‘Viola’ from before. I am the widow. I am the one who’s children you murdered.”

She placed the flower crown with white roses on Michael’s head, the angel still frozen with shock. This wasn’t supposed to happen- this never happened. But the more he thought of it… was that really what He had been doing all this time? Had he really been playing a part in something so wretched, so cruel because he thought it was right…? How could a creature of virtue, like him, have a hand in something that Viola so easily made sound so selfish?

“I do not blame you for this, Michael. I’m sorry I’m forcing you to fail your mission.” She said, “And… it pains me to say this, but you are no longer welcome in my garden. I do not ever wish to see you again, or any other angel, for that matter.”

She took a step back, both the angel and the devil watching her closely.

“But, I have a purpose now. That purpose is just to live. To live until I die, so this cycle will be broken.” Viola stated, walking over to her apple tree. She picked a the brightest, most beautiful red apple she saw, and handed it to Michael. “There will never again be anyone trapped in a situation like mine. Even if it means I will never see my family, and burn for standing my ground.”

Michael didn’t say anything. But Lucifer began to laugh- standing up from his chair, he pat Viola’s shoulder, an amused smirk on his face.

“You’re a brave one, standing up to your creator and his little servant like that… I must commend you for that.” He remarked, “It seems like your plan backfired, Michael. Finding our what she wanted just ruined your chances… I really must be going. Maybe I’ll visit this little garden again sometime, my dear.”

Violet flames consumed the demon, and just like that, he was gone. Michael was still unsure what to do, but before Viola could leave, he called out to her.

“My child, please!” He said grabbing her wrist before she could walk away, “You don’t have to do this! I… I will try and persuade Him not to do this again. I’ll make sure it’s the last time. Please… once you do this, there is no going back.”

Michael pulled her into a hug, all six of his pure, white wings wrapping around her.

“I know you are a good person, my child. I don’t want you to be doomed to hellfire… I do want you to see them again.”

Slowly, Viola returned the hug. She stayed there for just a moment, befire she gently pushed the man away.

“I’m sorry, Michael. If I am sentence to hellfire for standing for what I believe in, then so be it. Goodbye.”

She walked a few paces away, but then, she paused.

“I will miss you. But please, never come back here.”

With those parting words, Viola returned to her house, locking the door and closing the blinds. Michael sold there for a moment, the flower crown she had made on his head, the perfect, bright red apple in his hands. Small, iridescent droplets collided with it’s flawless skin- small flowers blooming when the liquid hit the ground.

“…I will miss you too, Viola.”

With that, Michael flew away from the garden for the very last time.

Humanity has been wiped out except for you, who managed to eke out a meager existence by yourself. Every day, an angel visits you and asks if you’re ready for humanity to return. Every day, you respond, “No, not yet.” Today is different. Today, the angel brought the Devil with them.

[sundayeveningthoughts]

The Talk in Three Phases: Part 2 — Black is Beautiful

Sunday Evening Thoughts 

February 16, 2020

Dear Rachel and Paul,

                                                     Black is Beautiful

I am dark but desirable,

     O daughters of Jerusalem,

like tents of Kedar,

     like Solomon’s curtains.

Do not look on me for being dark,

     for the sun has glared on me,

My mother’s sons were incensed with me, 

     they made me a keeper of the vineyards.

     My own vineyard I have not kept.

Tell me, whom I love so,

     where you pasture your flock at noon,

lest I go straying 

     after the flocks of your companions.

—If you do not know, O fairest of women,

     go out in the tracks of the sheep,

and graze your goats

     by the shepherd's shelters.

Song of Songs 1:5-8 (Translation by Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary)

       It has been a difficult three weeks deciding which texts from the Song of Songs to analyze in detail. It is very easy to choose libidinous texts like “Your eyes are like doves,” or “Your hair is like a herd of goats,” or “Your teeth like a flock of matched ewes” (that will get you a date!). But in the current trend if you said to anybody other than your girlfriend, “Your two breasts are like two fawns” or “Your lips nectar” or “Your robes the scent of Lebanon,” you will probably get arrested. On the other hand, if she says, “Let my lover come to his garden and eat his fruit,” I interpret that as a “Yes!”

       Remember the author of Song of Songs takes each person and has the other describe the physical characteristics of the other in pastoral nature-terms from the top of their head to the bottom of their feet, and yes, every body part. But I’ll leave that for you to play with…  the text, the text... no pun intended!

       Full disclosure: Very little of the exegesis I am providing is my original thought. 99% of it comes from Robert Alter, Professor of Hebrew Languages at U. of California, Berkeley, and author of The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary; 50% comes from Michael Coogan, Professor of the Semitic Library, Harvard University, and author of God and Sex: What the Bible Really Says; and 45% from Jennifer Wright Knust, Professor of Religious Studies at Duke University, and author of Unprotected Texts: The Bible’s Surprising Contradictions about Sex and Desire. How does it add to more than a 100%? Because by-and-large, all three agree on the meaning behind the texts in Song of Songs.

       Song of Songs 1:5-8 is fascinating. So let’s start…

       “I am dark but desirable” opens this section with an interesting disclaimer. Is it a protest or an attribute? The ancient beauty of black women like Cleopatra, Nefertiti, and the Queen of Sheba are well known. Historians disagree on the “blackness” of each of these women, but all are historically known as being beautiful, strong, black women. 

       Still, why the conjunction “but”? Why is darkness viewed as less desirable? It is interesting that even today in many parts of the world the darker a woman is, the lower the social class she is thought to be associated with. But, before we judge people in countries that subscribe to that notion, Michelle Alexander points out in her book The New Jim Crow that Americans are in many ways worse, because we legalize it into our way of life by legislating exorbitant fees and jail time for petty traffic violations in Southern American cities that keep black Americans impoverished. This happened to a black, female Thinker here in Hampton Roads. Nevertheless, the female protagonist in Song of Songs confidently thinks of herself as “hot”!

       “O daughters of Jerusalem” or in popular vernacular, “Listen you rich, white, city bitches, don’t think of yourself better than me.” Sorry for the aggressive tone, but I’m trying to be honest to the text. This is interesting in a couple of ways: Not only is she defending herself of her phenotypic characteristic, but she is also supporting the rural, agrarian view v. the city slickers. Why is this important? When I asked a Thinker who works in the Middle East, what is the real cause behind the civil war in Syria, they said that it is very much an economic battle of city v. rural, manufacturer v. farmer, or in reality, who controls the prices of goods. When farmers in Syria tried to raise their prices, Assad (the government) rejected buying it for their asking price. This led to the collapse of the rural economy. Assad then offered to buy farm goods at a guaranteed price to which the farmers agreed, but then raised the prices of fertilizers and other necessary farming manufactured goods to grow and produce the raw farm goods or food. This led to more protests of farmers, which then started to spread to suburban dwellers, because farmers could not pay for their purchases, which led to protests in the cities. And before you know it, the farmer, the small business person, and lastly, the poor city dwellers are being bombed by Assad with the help of both Russia and the U.S., all the while ISIS grows as an apocalyptic response to the societal problems created by greed, or in biblical terms the “daughters of Jerusalem.”

       Welcome to the real world today! … and in ancient times!

       “Like tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon” refers again to darkness, blackness. She is as black as the tents of Kedar. Kedar is a nomadic, dark skinned, Arab tribe which to this day, Arab Bedouins make their tents out of black goat's hair. And according to Alter, the root of Kedar q-d-r is the same root for black or darkness in Hebrew, thus a play on words which is lost on most of us. “The curtains of Solomon” were certainly viewed as cloth of royalty and beauty. Thus again, a playful poetic image, “she is as black and rough (in a feminist sense) as the tent of nomads, but as beautiful and exquisite as the finest fabrics of Solomon’s.” Alter also notes there are some sexual insinuations in this too. She can be as aggressive in bed as necessary to achieve her own sexual satisfaction, but can be as gentle as necessary for him to achieve his too. In this last sense, a poetic juxtaposition of parallel images. 

       “Do not look on me for being dark, for the sun has glared on me, my mother’s sons were incensed with me, they made me a keeper of the vineyards. My own vineyard I have not kept.” Again the female protagonist cries out for equal justice. She is black because she is made that way. And although her brother’s were incensed — “incensed” has the same root as “sun glaring,” thus again a Hebrew play on words referring to things being burned or blackened. She responds that they want to keep her locked up and maintain her virginity, but she responds she is her own self and has not kept her “vineyard.” Of course in an economic sense, they want her to work for them, thus she cannot be free economically to be self-fulfilled financially. 

       “Tell me, whom I love so, where you pasture your flock at noon, lest I go straying after the flocks of your companions” is a little tease on her part. “‘Hey babe, what are you doing this afternoon?’ she inquires with a shy smile. ‘A woman has certain needs too that must be fulfilled,’ she jests, ‘or should I call one of your friends?’ she says rhetorically.” Note the nature words used - pasture, flocks, attending sheep, creating images of pastoral scenes used in European art of the 1800’s and 1900’s through the American pastorals of the mid-20th century. 

       (Andrew Wyeth’s “Christina’s World” shows a pastoral scene of an unfulfilled woman longing for more.) 

       “If you do not know, O fairest of women, go out in the tracks of the sheep, and graze your goats by the shepherd's shelters,” he now speaks, playing along with her game. He also compliments her on her beauty “O fairest of women.” If she feels at all intimidated because of her darkness, rest assured, he likes it. Black is beautiful! 

       My favorite part of our visit to India last year, besides the actual wedding, was our visit to rural India. One of the things we saw were these little 6’ x 10’ lean-tos (shepherd shelters) with a straw roof that all farmers used in the late afternoon for shade from the hot sun and to store some extra products, as the temperature often approaches 112* F in the summer. One can easily see those lean-tos as a rendezvous for a young couple deeply in love with little chance of being caught in an afternoon by frolicing in the hay. 

 (Mom at a farmer’s hut in rural Chennai, India.) 

       This was our conversation when we were in rural India!

“Oh fairest of women… go out by the shepherd’s shelter..,” I encouraged. (1:8)

To which Mom said, “While the king was on his couch, my nard gave off its scent.” (1:12)

Yes, yes, I thought, it’s going to be a good day. What else should I say? I know, “O you are fair, my lover… our bed is verdant, too.” (1:16)

Mom responded, “Like a quince tree among the trees of the forest, so my lover among the forest. In its shade I delighted to sit, and its fruit was sweet to my taste.” (2:3)

“Look, Solomon’s bed!” she proclaimed. (3:7)

“What a stud I am!” I boastfully thought. (Extra biblical text not found in the Hebrew Bible)

       Why are such graphic, sexual physical descriptions found in the Bible? Because it is precisely the most natural, most human characteristic we possess. Unfortunately, in my opinion, my church — the Catholic Church — still doesn’t get it. Natural human behavior is clothed in pious (and often sanctimonious) language from celibate priests with negative connotations of sin and hell. I don’t know, perhaps they still want to maintain control of the people like in the Middle Ages, but unfortunately for them, today the people are smarter than the priests. Fortunately, I think Pope Francis is starting to “get it.” After all, “who am I to judge” (Pope Francis in a 2013 interview on his book, Mercy).

Have a good week…

Love,

Dad

P.S. Songs of strong, black women are found often in hip-hop, especially from female singers. Tupac is a complex figure. On the one hand, he was often involved in violent situations, and on the other, many of his songs preach against many social injustices. Here is one about the wonderful role of strong, black women. 

Crank it up!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYaR6LOnkak

Little somethin' for my godson Elijah and a little girl named Corinne

Some say the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice

I say the darker the flesh then the deeper the roots

I give a holler to my sisters on welfare

Tupac cares, if don't nobody else care

And uh, I know they like to beat ya down a lot

When you come around the block brothas clown a lot

But please don't cry, dry your eyes, never let up

Forgive but don't forget, girl keep your head up

And when he tells you you ain't nuttin' don't believe him

And if he can't learn to love you, you should leave him

'Cause sista you don't need him

And I ain't tryin' to gas ya up, I just call 'em how I see 'em

You know it makes me unhappy (What's that)

When brothas make babies, and leave a young mother to be a pappy

And since we all came from a woman

Got our name from a woman and our game from a woman

I wonder why we take from our women

Why we rape our women, do we hate our women?

I think it's time to kill for our women

Time to heal our women, be real to our women

And if we don't we'll have a race of babies

That will hate the ladies, that make the babies

And since a man can't make one

He has no right to tell a woman when and where to create one

So will the real men get up

I know you're fed up ladies, but keep your head up

Keep ya head up, ooh, child, things are gonna get easier

Keep ya head up, ooh, child, things'll get brighter

Keep ya head up, ooh, child, things are gonna get easier

Keep ya head up, ooh, child, things'll get brighter

Aiyyo, I remember Marvin Gaye, used to sing to me

He had me feelin' like black was tha thing to be

And suddenly tha ghetto didn't seem so tough

And though we had it rough, we always had enough

I huffed and puffed about my curfew and broke the rules

Ran with the local crew, and had a smoke or two

And I realize momma really paid the price

She nearly gave her life, to raise me right

And all I had to give her was my pipe dream

Of how I'd rock the mic, and make it to tha bright screen

I'm tryin' to make a dollar out of fifteen cents

It's hard to be legit and still pay your rent

And in the end it seems I'm headin' for tha pen

I try and find my friends, but they're blowin' in the wind

Last night my buddy lost his whole family

It's gonna take the man in me to conquer this insanity

It seems tha rain'll never let up

I try to keep my head up, and still keep from gettin' wet up

You know it's funny when it rains it pours

They got money for wars, but can't feed the poor

Said it ain't no hope for the youth and the truth is

It ain't no hope for tha future

And then they wonder why we crazy

I blame my mother, for turning my brother into a crack baby

We ain't meant to survive, 'cause it's a setup

And even though you're fed up

Huh, ya got to keep your head up

Keep ya head up, ooh, child, things are gonna get easier

Keep ya head up, ooh, child, things'll get brighter

Keep ya head up, ooh, child, things are gonna get easier

Keep ya head up, ooh, child, things'll get brighter

And uh

To all the ladies havin' babies on they own

I know it's kinda rough and you're feelin' all alone

Daddy's long gone and he left you by ya lonesome

Thank the Lord for my kids, even if nobody else want 'em

'Cause I think we can make it, in fact, I'm sure

And if you fall, stand tall and comeback for more

'Cause ain't nothin' worse than when your son

Wants to kno' why his daddy don't love him no mo'

You can't complain you was dealt this

Hell of a hand without a man, feelin' helpless

Because there's too many things for you to deal with

Dying inside, but outside you're looking fearless

While the tears, is rollin' down your cheeks

Ya steady hopin' things don't all down this week

'Cause if it did, you couldn't take it, and don't blame me

I was given this world I didn't make it

And now my son's gettin' older and older and cold

From havin' the world on his shoulders

While the rich kids is drivin' Benz

I'm still tryin' to hold on to my survivin' friends

And it's crazy, it seems it'll never let up, but

[rabbitcruiser]

National Pistachio Day 

National Pistachio Day is the time to celebrate this popular nut, which happens to be native to the Middle Eastern areas of the globe, including the areas that are now Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan and even southern Russia. It is thought that pistachio nuts date back pretty far into human history. In fact, they are believed to have been not only eaten by humans for at least 9000 years, but they have become an interesting part of some cultures and traditions!

Some historians have said that the famous hanging gardens of Babylon probably contained pistachio plants (which hang in groups similar to the way grapes do), some time around the year 700 BC. In fact, pistachios are only one of two nuts that are actually mentioned in the Old Testament portions of the Bible which are believed to have been assembled some time around 500 BC or so.

Pistachios are so special that, at one point, legend has it that the Queen of Sheba restricted the eating of pistachios to the royal court and forbade commoners to grow them!

It probably wasn’t until the 1st century AD that pistachios made their way to Europe as they travelled there with the Romans. Fast forward another several hundred years or so, and the pistachio was imported to the United States during the 1800s, at the request of various Americans who had roots in the Middle East. Finally, in the early 1900s, they became a popular snack food throughout the US and could be found almost everywhere, even in vending machines.

History of National Pistachio Day

For several decades, the producers and importers used red dye to hide flaws and try to make them more appealing to consumers. This dye had a tendency to leave red stains on the fingers (and sometimes faces) of the people who were eating them. Eventually, in the 1980s or so, the dye went by the wayside and now they are sold in their natural color.

The largest producer of pistachio nuts today is Iran. Actually, these little nuts are an indelible part of Iranian culture which is present at festivities, feasts, weddings and even funerals. Pistachios are also grown in other warmer areas of the world, including California, USA and Mediterranean Europe. It is believed that the Chinese are the largest consumers of this nut, and there has been a significant increase in popularity over the past several years here.

Pistachios are not just eaten as a snack, though. They are also used in various types of cooking. Their sweet flavour sometimes finds them used in desserts, such as the Lebanese dish baklava. It is also possible to sometimes find pistachio ice cream alongside more common flavours such as chocolate or strawberry.

Studies have even suggested that eating moderate amounts of pistachios can help keep the human heart healthy. They’re chock full of rich nutrients, particularly those that can lower the chance of cardiovascular disease.

So get ready for many different ways to appreciate and celebrate this nut on National Pistachio Day!

How to Celebrate National Pistachio Day

Take a cue from the cultural heritage of the pistachio and take the opportunity to celebrate with this nut in a whole variety of ways! Try out these ideas to get started:

Enjoy Eating Pistachios

An easy snack to take anywhere, just grab a bag of pistachios, crack open the shells and enjoy! Whether raw or roasted, in the shell or already shelled, the perfect way to honor this day is by enjoying a nutty treat.

Other ways to eat them include sprinkling some over a salad, grinding them up and using them in sauces, or chopping them and putting them on top of desserts such as ice cream, cakes or pastries.

Use Pistachios in Some Unique Recipes

Have fun in the kitchen by getting creative with pistachio recipes. Whether sweet or savory, these interesting and unique ideas for cooking and baking with this delicious nut will keep the family super happy:

Pistachio Crusted Salmon. This savory dish just couldn’t be more delicious! Chopped pistachios make a delightfully crunchy coating for this tender and flaky pink fish. Extra healthy and super delicious!

Asparagus, Goat Cheese and Pistachio Flatbread. Like a delicious personal pizza, pile the toppings on a piece of artisanal flatbread and turn it into a gourmet meal.

Cranberry Pistachio Chicken Salad Sandwich. Who says sandwiches have to be boring? Take chicken salad to a whole new level by adding dried cranberries and chopped pistachios.

Matcha Pistachio Popsicles. Make sweet summer treats healthier by making them with healthy matcha tea and delicious, crunchy pistachios.

Share Some Pistachios

What could be better than eating a delicious snack of pistachios alone? Well, sharing it, of course! Grab some snack size packs and pass them out to coworkers at the office, or bring some pastries made with pistachios to a gathering with friends and family. Better yet, take a friend out for a scoop of pistachio ice cream at a favorite ice cream shop or gelato stand. Delicious!

Learn More About Pistachios

Take this opportunity to get to know pistachios better and share the information with others! Start with these interesting facts about today’s favorite nut:

Pistachios are filled with nutritional benefits, including at least 30 different minerals, vitamins and phytonutrients. In addition, one 1 ounce serving of pistachios has six grams of protein–the same amount as an egg.

In China, pistachio nuts are considered to be the “happy nut” because the opening looks a lot like a smile. Because of this, they are often considered to be a symbol of good fortune and happiness, and are even given as gifts during the Chinese New Year.

While they originated in the Middle East, pistachios actually grow very well in the California climates, making the United States the second highest producer of pistachios in the world.

Pistachios are related to the mango fruit. They grow in clusters sort of like grapes and the nuts are surrounded by a hull that is fleshy. As the nuts ripen and the kernel grows, they almost always crack open.

Read Books Featuring Pistachios

While it might feel like a stretch to some, bookworms far and near can delight in National Pistachio Day as it gives them permission to curl up in a corner and enjoy a little light reading. Sure, most of them are kids’ fiction books, but that just means they’ll be a light read and easy to enjoy! Try out these for starters:

The Pistachio Prescription by Paula Danzinger. A teen coming of age fiction book that has been popular since the late 1970s, this tells the story of a girl who regularly takes solace in a bag full of pistachio nuts.

Princess Pistachio by Marie-Louise Gay. This series of children’s books for early readers features a young girl who is sure that she has been kidnapped and her real parents are a king and queen.

Probably Pistachio by Stuart J. Murphy. A great book for kids learning how to make educated predictions–along with a fun story.

Source

[birchleo1-blog]

The 1894 Aspell & Co. Building - 151 Hudson Street

On July 1, 1823 Helen Lispenard Stewart was married to James Watson Webb in the mansion of her father, Alexander L. Stewart.  The three-and-a-half story Federal-style mansion sat at the southwest corner of Hudson and Hubert Streets.  Directly behind it was a two-story brick stable.

By the outbreak of the Civil War the days of wealthy homeowners and fashionable gatherings in the neighborhood were nearly a memory.

As late as 1937 altered houses similar to the Stewart mansion survived along Hudson Street one block south.  from the collection of the New York Public Library

By the 1890's the Stewart mansion had become a seedy rooming house, occupied by dockworkers and other rowdies.  Among those was longshoreman William Goonan and his wife, and William Cleary, another dockworker.

On Saturday night, March 24, 1894 Cleary began drinking.  It would be the last time the roughneck got drunk.  At around 1:00 in the morning he was in Goonan's room and the two got into a vicious fight after Cleary claimed "that he was the best man along the docks."

According to The Evening World, "Goonan disputed Cleary's claim and the two men clinched.  They rolled out of the room into the hallway and down a flight of stairs.  On the landing below a big pool of blood tells that a fearful fight took place there."

Roused by the noisy affray, a boy ran from the house and called Policeman Schoenfield.  When the officer arrived he found Cleary stabbed in the face and neck and Goonan with a knife in his fist.  The Evening World reported "Goonan, who was also badly beaten in the fight, was committed to the Tombs without bail."

The old mansion was soon gone.  It had been purchased a year earlier, on April 14, 1893, by Joseph H. Bearns, who owned several properties in the area.  The principal in the liquor importing firm Joseph H. Bearns & Co., he had hired architect Julius Kastner to design a five-story loft building on the opposite corner of the block, at No. 10 Hubert Street, two years earlier.  In fact, the two had worked on similar projects since the 1880's.  They would collaborate again for No. 151 Hudson Street.

Kastner's completed structure was similar to several of his other designs for Bearns.  A handsome, industrial take on Romanesque Revival, it was faced in yellow Roman brick and trimmed in brownstone and red sandstone.  Designed in four parts separated by brownstone cornices, it exhibited expected husky Romanesque Revival elements like undressed bandcourses, lusty medieval-style carvings, arched openings at the top floor.  But Kastner softened the  design with the use of bullnosed bricks which rounded the corners.  While he could have saved Bearns money with terra cotta decorations, he opted for carved ornaments throughout and executed the complex cornice in stone.

The rounded edges soften the overall appearance of the building.  Note the spiraled corner detailing of the top floor.  The stone elements that drip like stalactites from the cornice are somewhat hidden today behind metal sheathing. 

As the building rose, Aspell & Co. was operating from Nos. 314-316 Greenwich Street.  The wholesale grocery dealers embarked on an unusual marketing scheme that year.  It opened a new department that offered certain items at wholesale prices to individual shoppers--a savings of up to 50 percent.

An advertisement on August 19, 1894 promised the housekeeper that on top of the savings, she could have "the goods delivered free of charge in or out of the city" (foreshadowing by more than a century retail giants like Amazon).  There was "a full line of staple and fancy groceries and wines, etc., also table delicacies suitable for city, country or seaside use."

New-York Tribune, November 13, 1895 (copyright expired)

Before the turn of the century Aspell & Co. had moved into No. 151 Hudson Street.  It shared the building with the Cincinnati-based S. A. Sloman Co.  Samuel A Sloman had made a drastic change to his family's business a few years earlier--from trading in furs to the manufacture of liquor.

Since the mid-1890's he marketed his Diamond Wedding Whiskey as a remedy rather than an intoxicant.  His ads promised it "invigorates feeble constitutions, renews life and arrests disease."  Others said it restored "power and suppleness to the muscles, warmth and richness for the blood."

This ad promised the whiskey was "invaluable to nursing mothers."  original resource unknown

Apparently the military bought into the restorative powers of Diamond Wedding Whiskey, for in 1900 both S. A. Sloman & Co. and Aspell & Co. were bidding on contracts with the U.S. Navy.

Three years later the directors of Aspell & Company agreed to dissolve the corporation.  It was replaced at No. 151 Hudson Street by Wm. A. Leggett & Co., wholesale grocers and dealers in condensed milk.  William Leggett had established his company in 1870.

In January 1908 Joseph H. Bearns leased the entire building to Bennett, Day & Co. "for a long term of years."  Wm. A. Leggett & Co. was allowed to stay on as a sub-tenant.

There was no long a Bennett in Bennett, Day & Co.  The wholesale grocery business was owned by husband-and-wife partners Henry Mason Day and Emily Garnett Day.  The Virginians had come to New York in 1874 and opened a dried fruit and nut business.  The New-York Tribune noted decades later that for "many years [Day] imported whole crops of fruits from Brazil and other countries and disposed of them to wholesalers in this country."

The Days were prosperous and maintained a summer home in Greenwich, Connecticut, where Henry moored his yacht.  But Henry's health had begun failing by the time his company leased the Hudson Street building.  He had essentially retired in 1903, spending most of his time in Europe, California and Florida because of his ill health.  On January 18 1909, a year after signing the lease, he died at the age of 58.

About the time of Day's death William A. Leggett suffered an attack of bronchitis.  His condition did not improve and a year later, in September 1910, he succumbed at the age of 81.

Kastner's attention to detail included delightful miniature Romanesque Revival columns incorporated into the upper portion of the cast iron storefront.

Although his death brought an end to Wm. A. Leggett & Co.; Bennett, Day & Co. continued under the control of Emily Day and her son, Lee Garnett Day.  Lee was, perhaps, less interested in the wholesale grocery business than in adventure.

On December 25, 1914 The New York Times noted that he had graduated from Yale University in 1911 and "has hunted big game from India, and recently returned from a trip of five months' exploration in Brazil."  The purpose of the article was to announce he was setting off on yet another expedition, this time "to explore unknown parts of the South American jungles under the auspices of the American Museum of Natural History and the Field Museum of Chicago."  Day personally managed and financed the extensive undertaking.

Day told the reporter "Not a specimen of the mammal or of bird life has ever been obtained there.  Should we be successful in getting specimens some of them at least should prove to be of value to the collections of the museums because of their rarity."

Bennett, Day & Co. remained at No. 151 through 1917, before moving to No. 165 Hudson Street.  That year Simon W. Greenbaum & Co. was incorporated by Simon and his brother, H. M. Greenbaum, and J. Socoloff to import and export peas and beans."  In February 1918 the firm leased the Hudson Street building.

The Produce District edged up against the wholesale shoe district.  As the years passed shoe merchants pushed out the grocery dealers in some areas of Tribeca.   When Simon W. Greenbaum & Co. signed the lease on No. 151, the O'Sullivan Heel Company was operating from nearby No. 131 Hudson Street.  By 1922 they had taken over the Greenbaum lease.

Founded by James and Humphrey O'Sullivan in August 1899, the firm manufactured replacement heels for men's shoes.  It marketed its rubber heels as being less jarring than the more common leather versions.  An advertisement in 1922 explained "One of the chief causes of fatigue is the strain of standing--the jar of walking on hard floors and pavements."  The hard leather heels gave no relief and "ordinary rubber heels are little better."  But as in the Goldilocks story, O'Sullivan's Safety Cushion Heels "combine just the right toughness for long hard wear with the greatest amount of springiness."

The Evening World, June 12, 1922 (copyright expired)

In 1908 author William Richard Cutter wrote "Countless imitators, in all countries, have paid their sincerest flattery, by their unscrupulous attempts to foist upon the public, their imitations of rubber heels, and the inevitable results, that none have been, as yet, successful, each claiming for his own to be as good as the 'O'Sullivan'--'The Standard'--the yard stick of the rubber heel industry."

O'Sullivan Rubber Co. was still in the building in 1950 when the Bearns estate sold No. 151 "to an investor," as reported by The Times on March 1.  The article noted that it was the last of Bearns's many properties to be sold and that the "sale was the first involving the property in fifty-seven years."

At the time the Tribeca renaissance was still a few decades away.  The first signs of change would come in 1980 when the ground floor became home to Sheba, an Ethiopian restaurant.  The New York Times food critic Mimi Sheraton approved, saying "Huge napkin-size crepes are the eating implements in which are wrapped curried stews such as the doro watt, and minchet abesh wott.  Kitfo, a raw ground beef specialty is a personal favorite."

Sheba made way for Thai House Cafe in early 1987.  Six months after its opening New York Magazine said "This is food you'd expect to find in a Thai home, carefully cooked and tamely spiced."  The restaurant remained in the space at least through 1991.

In the meantime the building had experienced cinematic exposure when it posed as the Hotel Broslin in the 1982 film Basket Case.  A large neon sign was hung from the fire escape for the outside shots of the fictitious hotel.

Although a Certificate of Occupancy for the commodious loft dwellings at No. 151 was not officially rendered until 2010; the building had become residential decades earlier.  In 1992 Birnbaum's New York, written by Stephen and Alexandra Mayes Birnbaum noted "Only the most urban personalities tend to live in TriBeCa--Harvey Keitel, Robert De Niro, and Martin Scorsese are among the pack who have lived in converted lofts at 151 Hudson Street."

The building stretches back to No. 2 Hubert Street, where the Stewarts' two-story stables once stood.

Meticulously restored, the facade of Julius Hastner's 1894 structure is essentially unchanged.  Its three-color design stands out among its neighbors in the constantly-evolving Tribeca neighborhood.

photographs by the author

Source: http://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-1894-aspell-co-building-151-hudson.html

[dailybiblelessons]

Wednesday: Reflection on the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Revised Common Lectionary Proper 12 Roman Catholic Proper 17

Complementary Hebrew Scripture from The Writings: Proverbs 1:1-7, 20-33

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel

For learning about wisdom and instruction,  for understanding words of insight, for gaining instruction in wise dealing,  righteousness, justice, and equity; to teach shrewdness to the simple,  knowledge and prudence to the young— let the wise also hear and gain in learning,  and the discerning acquire skill, to understand a proverb and a figure,  the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;  fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Wisdom cries out in the street;  in the squares she raises her voice. At the busiest corner she cries out;  at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing  and fools hate knowledge? Give heed to my reproof; I will pour out my thoughts to you;  I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused,  have stretched out my hand and no one heeded, and because you have ignored all my counsel  and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity;  I will mock when panic strikes you, when panic strikes you like a storm,  and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,  when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;  they will seek me diligently, but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge  and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel,  and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way  and be sated with their own devices. For waywardness kills the simple,  and the complacency of fools destroys them; but those who listen to me will be secure  and will live at ease, without dread of disaster.”

Semi-continuous Hebrew Scripture from the Torah: Genesis 46:2-47:12

God spoke to Israel in visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again; and Joseph's own hand shall close your eyes.”

Then Jacob set out from Beer-sheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. They also took their livestock and the goods that they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and they came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters; all his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.

Now these are the names of the Israelites, Jacob and his offspring, who came to Egypt. Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and the children of Reuben: [Here follow a long paragraph with Jacob's sons and grandsons listed.]

Israel sent Judah ahead to Joseph to lead the way before him into Goshen. When they came to the land of Goshen, Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to meet his father Israel in Goshen. He presented himself to him, fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. Israel said to Joseph, “I can die now, having seen for myself that you are still alive.” Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. The men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.’ When Pharaoh calls you, and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our ancestors’– in order that you may settle in the land of Goshen, because all shepherds are abhorrent to the Egyptians.”

So Joseph went and told Pharaoh, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan; they are now in the land of Goshen.” From among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our ancestors were.” They said to Pharaoh, “We have come to reside as aliens in the land; for there is no pasture for your servants' flocks because the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now, we ask you, let your servants settle in the land of Goshen.” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best part of the land; let them live in the land of Goshen; and if you know that there are capable men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.”

Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob, and presented him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the years of your life?” Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my earthly sojourn are one hundred thirty; few and hard have been the years of my life. They do not compare with the years of the life of my ancestors during their long sojourn.” Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. Joseph settled his father and his brothers, and granted them a holding in the land of Egypt, in the best part of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had instructed. And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their dependents.

Complementary Psalm 119:121-129

I have done what is just and right;  do not leave me to my oppressors. Guarantee your servant's well-being;  do not let the godless oppress me. My eyes fail from watching for your salvation,  and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise. Deal with your servant  according to your steadfast love,  and teach me your statutes. I am your servant;  give me understanding,  so that I may know your decrees. It is time for the Lord to act,  for your law has been broken. Truly I love your commandments more than gold,  more than fine gold. Truly I direct my steps by all your precepts;  I hate every false way.

Your decrees are wonderful;  therefore my soul keeps them.

Semi-continuous Psalm 65:8-13

Those who live at earth's farthest bounds are awed by your signs;  you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.

You visit the earth and water it,  you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water;  you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it. You water its furrows abundantly,  settling its ridges, softening it with showers,  and blessing its growth. You crown the year with your bounty;  your wagon tracks overflow with richness. The pastures of the wilderness overflow,  the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,  the valleys deck themselves with grain,  they shout and sing together for joy.

New Testament Gospel Lesson: Mark 4:30-34

This parable is also told in Matthew 13:31-32 and Luke 13:18-19.

Jesus also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

Year A Ordinary 17, RCL Proper 12, Catholic Proper 17 Wednesday

Bible verses from The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All right reserved. Selections from Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright 1985 by the Consultation on Common Texts. Image Credit: Mustard seeds by Dsaikia2015 (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons. This image is used under the Creative Commons Share Alike License 4.0(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)],

[loveofyhwh]

August 19: Job 5–6; Colossians 1:21–2:5; Psalm 45; Proverbs 21:27

New Post has been published on https://loveofyhwh.com/august-19-job-5-6-colossians-121-25-psalm-45-proverbs-2127/

August 19: Job 5–6; Colossians 1:21–2:5; Psalm 45; Proverbs 21:27

Old Testament:

Job 5–6

Job 5–6 (Listen)

5   “Call now; is there anyone who will answer you?     To which of the holy ones will you turn? 2   Surely vexation kills the fool,     and jealousy slays the simple. 3   I have seen the fool taking root,     but suddenly I cursed his dwelling. 4   His children are far from safety;     they are crushed in the gate,     and there is no one to deliver them. 5   The hungry eat his harvest,     and he takes it even out of thorns,The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain‘>1     and the thirsty pantAquila, Symmachus, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew could be read as and the snare pants‘>2 after hisHebrew their‘>3 wealth. 6   For affliction does not come from the dust,     nor does trouble sprout from the ground, 7   but man is born to trouble     as the sparks fly upward. 8   “As for me, I would seek God,     and to God would I commit my cause, 9   who does great things and unsearchable,     marvelous things without number: 10   he gives rain on the earth     and sends waters on the fields; 11   he sets on high those who are lowly,     and those who mourn are lifted to safety. 12   He frustrates the devices of the crafty,     so that their hands achieve no success. 13   He catches the wise in their own craftiness,     and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end. 14   They meet with darkness in the daytime     and grope at noonday as in the night. 15   But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth     and from the hand of the mighty. 16   So the poor have hope,     and injustice shuts her mouth. 17   “Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves;     therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty. 18   For he wounds, but he binds up;     he shatters, but his hands heal. 19   He will deliver you from six troubles;     in seven no evilOr disaster‘>4 shall touch you. 20   In famine he will redeem you from death,     and in war from the power of the sword. 21   You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue,     and shall not fear destruction when it comes. 22   At destruction and famine you shall laugh,     and shall not fear the beasts of the earth. 23   For you shall be in league with the stones of the field,     and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you. 24   You shall know that your tent is at peace,     and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing. 25   You shall know also that your offspring shall be many,     and your descendants as the grass of the earth. 26   You shall come to your grave in ripe old age,     like a sheaf gathered up in its season. 27   Behold, this we have searched out; it is true.     Hear, and know it for your good.”Hebrew for yourself‘>5

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just

6 Then Job answered and said:

2   “Oh that my vexation were weighed,     and all my calamity laid in the balances! 3   For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea;     therefore my words have been rash. 4   For the arrows of the Almighty are in me;     my spirit drinks their poison;     the terrors of God are arrayed against me. 5   Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass,     or the ox low over his fodder? 6   Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt,     or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow?The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain‘>6 7   My appetite refuses to touch them;     they are as food that is loathsome to me.The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain‘>7 8   “Oh that I might have my request,     and that God would fulfill my hope, 9   that it would please God to crush me,     that he would let loose his hand and cut me off! 10   This would be my comfort;     I would even exultThe meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain‘>8 in pain unsparing,     for I have not denied the words of the Holy One. 11   What is my strength, that I should wait?     And what is my end, that I should be patient? 12   Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze? 13   Have I any help in me,     when resource is driven from me? 14   “He who withholdsSyriac, Vulgate (compare Targum); the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain‘>9 kindness from a friend     forsakes the fear of the Almighty. 15   My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed,     as torrential streams that pass away, 16   which are dark with ice,     and where the snow hides itself. 17   When they melt, they disappear;     when it is hot, they vanish from their place. 18   The caravans turn aside from their course;     they go up into the waste and perish. 19   The caravans of Tema look,     the travelers of Sheba hope. 20   They are ashamed because they were confident;     they come there and are disappointed. 21   For you have now become nothing;     you see my calamity and are afraid. 22   Have I said, ‘Make me a gift’?     Or, ‘From your wealth offer a bribe for me’? 23   Or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’?     Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless’? 24   “Teach me, and I will be silent;     make me understand how I have gone astray. 25   How forceful are upright words!     But what does reproof from you reprove? 26   Do you think that you can reprove words,     when the speech of a despairing man is wind? 27   You would even cast lots over the fatherless,     and bargain over your friend. 28   “But now, be pleased to look at me,     for I will not lie to your face. 29   Please turn; let no injustice be done.     Turn now; my vindication is at stake. 30   Is there any injustice on my tongue?     Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity?

Footnotes

[1] 5:5 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [2] 5:5 Aquila, Symmachus, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew could be read as and the snare pants [3] 5:5 Hebrew their [4] 5:19 Or disaster [5] 5:27 Hebrew for yourself [6] 6:6 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain [7] 6:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [8] 6:10 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain [9] 6:14 Syriac, Vulgate (compare Targum); the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain

(ESV)

New Testament:

Colossians 1:21–2:5

Colossians 1:21–2:5 (Listen)

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creationOr to every creature‘>1 under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Paul’s Ministry to the Church

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Footnotes

[1] 1:23 Or to every creature

(ESV)

Psalm:

Psalm 45

Psalm 45 (Listen)

Your Throne, O God, Is Forever

To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A MaskilProbably a musical or liturgical term‘>1 of the Sons of Korah; a love song.

45   My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;     I address my verses to the king;     my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. 2   You are the most handsome of the sons of men;     grace is poured upon your lips;     therefore God has blessed you forever. 3   Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,     in your splendor and majesty! 4   In your majesty ride out victoriously     for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;     let your right hand teach you awesome deeds! 5   Your arrows are sharp     in the heart of the king’s enemies;     the peoples fall under you. 6   Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.     The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; 7     you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.   Therefore God, your God, has anointed you     with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; 8     your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.   From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad; 9     daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;     at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir. 10   Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear:     forget your people and your father’s house, 11     and the king will desire your beauty.   Since he is your lord, bow to him. 12     The peopleHebrew daughter‘>2 of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,     the richest of the people.Or The daughter of Tyre is here with gifts, the richest of people seek your favor‘>3 13   All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold. 14     In many-colored robes she is led to the king,     with her virgin companions following behind her. 15   With joy and gladness they are led along     as they enter the palace of the king. 16   In place of your fathers shall be your sons;     you will make them princes in all the earth. 17   I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;     therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.

Footnotes

[1] 45:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [2] 45:12 Hebrew daughter [3] 45:12 Or The daughter of Tyre is here with gifts, the richest of people seek your favor

(ESV)

Proverb:

Proverbs 21:27

Proverbs 21:27 (Listen)

27   The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;     how much more when he brings it with evil intent.

(ESV)

[dailyofficereadings]

Daily Office Readings February 10, 2020 at 11:00PM

Psalm 78

Psalm 78

God’s Goodness and Israel’s Ingratitude

A Maskil of Asaph.

1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, 3 things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

5 He established a decree in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach to their children; 6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and rise up and tell them to their children, 7 so that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; 8 and that they should not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

9 The Ephraimites, armed with[a] the bow, turned back on the day of battle. 10 They did not keep God’s covenant, but refused to walk according to his law. 11 They forgot what he had done, and the miracles that he had shown them. 12 In the sight of their ancestors he worked marvels in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan. 13 He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. 14 In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all night long with a fiery light. 15 He split rocks open in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. 16 He made streams come out of the rock, and caused waters to flow down like rivers.

17 Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. 18 They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. 19 They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness? 20 Even though he struck the rock so that water gushed out and torrents overflowed, can he also give bread, or provide meat for his people?”

21 Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of rage; a fire was kindled against Jacob, his anger mounted against Israel, 22 because they had no faith in God, and did not trust his saving power. 23 Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven; 24 he rained down on them manna to eat, and gave them the grain of heaven. 25 Mortals ate of the bread of angels; he sent them food in abundance. 26 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind; 27 he rained flesh upon them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas; 28 he let them fall within their camp, all around their dwellings. 29 And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved. 30 But before they had satisfied their craving, while the food was still in their mouths, 31 the anger of God rose against them and he killed the strongest of them, and laid low the flower of Israel.

32 In spite of all this they still sinned; they did not believe in his wonders. 33 So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror. 34 When he killed them, they sought for him; they repented and sought God earnestly. 35 They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer. 36 But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. 37 Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not true to his covenant. 38 Yet he, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them; often he restrained his anger, and did not stir up all his wrath. 39 He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and does not come again. 40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the desert! 41 They tested God again and again, and provoked the Holy One of Israel. 42 They did not keep in mind his power, or the day when he redeemed them from the foe; 43 when he displayed his signs in Egypt, and his miracles in the fields of Zoan. 44 He turned their rivers to blood, so that they could not drink of their streams. 45 He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them. 46 He gave their crops to the caterpillar, and the fruit of their labor to the locust. 47 He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamores with frost. 48 He gave over their cattle to the hail, and their flocks to thunderbolts. 49 He let loose on them his fierce anger, wrath, indignation, and distress, a company of destroying angels. 50 He made a path for his anger; he did not spare them from death, but gave their lives over to the plague. 51 He struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the first issue of their strength in the tents of Ham. 52 Then he led out his people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. 53 He led them in safety, so that they were not afraid; but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. 54 And he brought them to his holy hill, to the mountain that his right hand had won. 55 He drove out nations before them; he apportioned them for a possession and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.

56 Yet they tested the Most High God, and rebelled against him. They did not observe his decrees, 57 but turned away and were faithless like their ancestors; they twisted like a treacherous bow. 58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols. 59 When God heard, he was full of wrath, and he utterly rejected Israel. 60 He abandoned his dwelling at Shiloh, the tent where he dwelt among mortals, 61 and delivered his power to captivity, his glory to the hand of the foe. 62 He gave his people to the sword, and vented his wrath on his heritage. 63 Fire devoured their young men, and their girls had no marriage song. 64 Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation. 65 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a warrior shouting because of wine. 66 He put his adversaries to rout; he put them to everlasting disgrace.

67 He rejected the tent of Joseph, he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim; 68 but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves. 69 He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth, which he has founded forever. 70 He chose his servant David, and took him from the sheepfolds; 71 from tending the nursing ewes he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel, his inheritance. 72 With upright heart he tended them, and guided them with skillful hand.

Footnotes:

Psalm 78:9 Heb armed with shooting

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Genesis 26:1-6

Isaac and Abimelech

26 Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar, to King Abimelech of the Philistines. 2 The Lord appeared to Isaac[a] and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; settle in the land that I shall show you. 3 Reside in this land as an alien, and I will be with you, and will bless you; for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will fulfill the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven, and will give to your offspring all these lands; and all the nations of the earth shall gain blessing for themselves through your offspring, 5 because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”

6 So Isaac settled in Gerar.

Footnotes:

Genesis 26:2 Heb him

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Genesis 26:12-33

12 Isaac sowed seed in that land, and in the same year reaped a hundredfold. The Lord blessed him, 13 and the man became rich; he prospered more and more until he became very wealthy. 14 He had possessions of flocks and herds, and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him. 15 (Now the Philistines had stopped up and filled with earth all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham.) 16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us; you have become too powerful for us.”

17 So Isaac departed from there and camped in the valley of Gerar and settled there. 18 Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham; for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the names that his father had given them. 19 But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, 20 the herders of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herders, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the well Esek,[a] because they contended with him. 21 Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also; so he called it Sitnah.[b] 22 He moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he called it Rehoboth,[c] saying, “Now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

23 From there he went up to Beer-sheba. 24 And that very night the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you and make your offspring numerous for my servant Abraham’s sake.” 25 So he built an altar there, called on the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac’s servants dug a well.

26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army. 27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28 They said, “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you; so we say, let there be an oath between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you 29 so that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.” 30 So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths; and Isaac set them on their way, and they departed from him in peace. 32 That same day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well that they had dug, and said to him, “We have found water!” 33 He called it Shibah;[d] therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba[e] to this day.

Footnotes:

Genesis 26:20 That is Contention

Genesis 26:21 That is Enmity

Genesis 26:22 That is Broad places or Room

Genesis 26:33 A word resembling the word for oath

Genesis 26:33 That is Well of the oath or Well of seven

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Hebrews 13:17-25

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing—for that would be harmful to you.

18 Pray for us; we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you very soon.

Benediction

20 Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us[a] that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Exhortation and Greetings

22 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,[b] bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been set free; and if he comes in time, he will be with me when I see you. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings. 25 Grace be with all of you.[c]

Footnotes:

Hebrews 13:21 Other ancient authorities read you

Hebrews 13:22 Gk brothers

Hebrews 13:25 Other ancient authorities add Amen

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

John 7:53-8:11

The Woman Caught in Adultery

[[53 Then each of them went home, 8 1 while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground.[a] 9 When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, sir.”[b] And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”]][c]

Footnotes:

John 8:8 Other ancient authorities add the sins of each of them

John 8:11 Or Lord

John 8:11 The most ancient authorities lack 7.53—8.11; other authorities add the passage here or after 7.36 or after 21.25 or after Luke 21.38, with variations of text; some mark the passage as doubtful.

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

[tanach-929]

#275: Shmuel/Samuel 2 Chapter 12

929 chapter link: http://www.929.org.il/lang/en/page/275

Mechon Mamre link: https://www.mechon-mamre.org/e/et/et08b12.htm

1 And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him: 'There were two men in one city: the one rich, and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds; 3 but the poor man had nothing save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and reared; and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own morsel, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. 4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.' 5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan: 'As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this deserveth to die; 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.' {S} 7 And Nathan said to David: 'Thou art the man. {S} Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 8 and I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that were too little, then would I add unto thee so much more. 9 Wherefore hast thou despised the word of the LORD, to do that which is evil in My sight? Uriah the Hittite thou hast smitten with the sword, and his wife thou hast taken to be thy wife, and him thou hast slain with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10 Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from thy house; because thou hast despised Me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. {S} 11 Thus saith the LORD: Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For thou didst it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.' {S} 13 And David said unto Nathan: 'I have sinned against the LORD.' {S} And Nathan said unto David: 'The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast greatly blasphemed the enemies of the LORD, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.' 15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bore unto David, and it was very sick. 16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and as often as he went in, he lay all night upon the earth. 17 And the elders of his house arose, and stood beside him, to raise him up from the earth; but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. 18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said: 'Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke unto him, and he hearkened not unto our voice; how then shall we tell him that the child is dead, so that he do himself some harm?' 19 But when David saw that his servants whispered together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said unto his servants: 'Is the child dead?' And they said: 'He is dead.' 20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel; and he came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped; then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. 21 Then said his servants unto him: 'What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.' 22 And he said: 'While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said: Who knoweth whether the LORD will not be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.' 24 And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her; and she bore a son, and called his name Solomon. And the LORD loved him; 25 and He sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he called his name Jedidiah, for the LORD'S sake. {P}

26 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. 27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said: 'I have fought against Rabbah, yea, I have taken the city of waters. 28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it; lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.' 29 And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it. 30 And he took the crown of Malcam from off his head; and the weight thereof was a talent of gold, and in it were precious stones; and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much. 31 And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln; and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem. {P}

Have any thoughts, opinions, feelings or insights on this chapter?  Please share!

[travelingtheusa]

NEW MEXICO

7 Feb 2019 (Thu) – We went into town and toured the Luna Mimbres Museum.  It was three stories contained in a former armory.  There were lots of different collections donated by residents of the town.  After the museum, we went to lunch at the Rise & Shine Café.  It was run by an Amish couple.  I had chicken salad and Paul had a cordon bleu sandwich.  The white chicken chili was delicious and we got a quart to take home.  We made a quick stop at the post office to mail off a package and then picked up propane. We ran out of propane during the night and Paul had to go out at 2:30 a.m. in the subzero temperatures to switch tanks.  We started packing up and getting ready for our move into Arizona tomorrow.

 6 Feb 2019 (Wed) – We hiked the Jasper Trail in the campground this morning.  It was supposed to be a 0.6 mile hike but when we got back, my Fitbit said I had walked almost 1.7 miles.  

    We drove to City of Rocks State Park to see what the campground was like.  We had contemplated camping there before we decided to come to Rockhound State Park.  It was quite interesting.  There were large boulders dispersed around the campground in piles that resembled a careless child’s abandoned toys.  Campers were tucked in here and there among the rocks and trees.  Only six sites had electric and water hookups; the rest was dry camping.  We chose wisely by going to Rockhound.

    After the park, we drove on into Silver City (about 60 miles from our campground).  Mining is still going on and we drove past a huge tailings pile that was miles long.  The historic part of Silver City is very old western looking with narrow streets.  We had lunch at a place called Tapas Tree Grill. It was expensive and we didn’t think the food was all that good.  While we were eating, the wind picked up and snow flurries were driven along the road and sidewalks.  We watched through the window and felt glad to be inside.

    Next stop was at the Silver City Museum. It was located in a home that was built in 1861.  When the owner’s bank failed in 1863, the family moved to California.  Various things took place in the house after that – it was a boarding house, a fire department, housing for fire department volunteers, etc. It was finally turned into a museum about 50 years ago.  There were a lot of story boards located in each room that described the history of the area in general and Silver City in particular.  It was an interesting place.

    The drive back to the campground was over an hour.  We spotted a Moose campground and stopped to look around it.  We drove over to the Elks Lodge but were disappointed to find no campground there.  As we came down the road to Rockhound State Park, we turned at a road marked “Spring Canyon.”  I had read an information sign by Jasper Trail that said Persian Ibex had been brought to the area as a gift.  There are now 200-500 ibex in the area.  We hoped to catch a glimpse of them.  We drove down a winding road with a 19% grade (at one point) only to come upon a gate stating the park was closed.  They should put a sign back at the beginning of the roadway before getting to that point. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like if we had been towing a trailer!  The sign said the park was open Wed-Sun.  Guess we’ll drive over there tomorrow.  

 5 Feb 2019 (Tue) – We ran to the commissary at 8:00 a.m. to pick up some groceries but it didn’t open until 9:00 a.m. So we went to McDonald’s and had breakfast.  With still 40 minutes to go until 9 a.m., we decided to just pick up a case of water at the Express Stop.  We then packed up the RV and left for Deming, NM.  The drive was just two hours.  Paul and I both suffered sour stomachs.  Guess the food at the reservation wasn’t as good as it should have been.

    We arrived at the Rockhound State Park where we were met by the camp host on his golf cart.  He said there were only two sites that fit us.  We backed into a site and hooked up.  We had to add blocks under the front jacks as the ground slopes down a little.  This is one of the nicest campgrounds we have ever stayed at (we were here in 2015). The sites are spacious.  The campground is nestled at the base of the Florida Mountains.  There are two trails that wander into the landscape where you walk among a rich variety of desert flora and fauna.  The cacti are the healthiest I think I have ever seen.  At night, the stars in the sky stand out clearly and you can look down on the town below and watch the twinkling lights.  The park authorities allow people to wander around the mountains and valleys searching for rocks and minerals.  Many people come up for the day with their rock hammers and buckets. You are allowed to collect up to 15 pounds of rocks.  

4 Feb 2019 (Mon) – We went to the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino on the Mescalero-Apache Homelands. It was a long drive into the mountains with some snow remaining in the cooler areas.  The casino was pretty.  They built a dam and a beautiful blue lake sat in front of the inn.  Big windows gave visitors a panoramic view of the lake and mountains.  We had lunch in the Broken Arrow Taproom.  The food was OK.  We each played $20 in the slots.  As usual, I made the obligatory deposit to the slot demons.  Paul, on the other hand, was able to collect $96.02.  That’s the way we like to play – spend some time and walk away without it costing anything.  Between lunch and gambling, we spent about $5.

    We drove back (it was over an hour) to the campground, quickly fed the animals, grabbed Bonnie, and headed over to White Sands National for the sunset stroll with a park ranger.  The sky was mostly clouded so we did not get a great sunset.  There was about a group of 30 people and 3 dogs who followed the ranger through the dunes, stopping at various points to hear him explain something about the history and geography of the area.  Surprisingly, there is water just a foot below the surface that helps to keep the sand dunes in place.

3 Feb 2019 (Sun) – We drove into town today to see the historic area.  It turned out to be two blocks of old, dilapidated buildings.  There are poor areas and not-so-poor areas around Alamogordo but no really wealthy area.  We had lunch at Can’t Stop Smoking BBQ.  They were running a special today for Super Bowl so we got a rack of ribs along with garlic potatoes and Italian green beans.  The meal was good and there was enough to take home for left-overs.

    After lunch, we drove around for a while just looking the town over.  When we got back on base, we drove around there giving it a look over, too. The base is huge.  They have fighter jets here and there is a test squadron over on the edge of the airbase.  

    We enjoyed our left-overs while watching the Super Bowl tonight.

 2 Feb 2019 (Sat) – When we woke this morning, there was a very thick fog in the area.  It slowly burned off so that  by the time we left at 9:45 a.m., most of it had lifted.  It was about three hours to Alamogordo.  As we drove through miles and miles of vast desert landscape, suddenly a snow covered peak appeared in the distance.  As we drew closer, a mountain range began to grow larger.  Soon we were driving through the mountains.  We climbed to 8,700 feet over winding roadways.  As we came around a mountain top, the area before us opened up and White Sands was visible off in the distance as a white streak in the brown desert.  It really stands out!

    We pulled into Holloman AFB FamCamp around 1:00 p.m.  There are three rows of 12 campsites with a decent amount of space between them.  A posted sign told incoming campers to check in with the camp host before setting up.  There was a sign on the camp host’s door saying he was off duty and to fill out the registration paperwork in the laundry.  We picked a site, set up, then filled out the form in the laundry.  They only take check or cash.  I wrote a check and dropped the envelope in a locked box.

    Sheba was really chomping at the bit to go out so we gave her outside time.  She has been spending a lot of time in the last month confined to the trailer because of lack of space or heavy traffic.  She really enjoyed exploring this campsite.  

 1 Feb 2019 (Fri) – Aaaahhh.  The smell of petroleum in the morning. NOT!  We walked out of the RV this morning and almost gagged on the overwhelming smell of petroleum in the air.  Texas and New Mexico are both extracting oil from the Permian Basin. We looked at a map of the area and it was covered with thousands of little white dots; each dot representing an oil well. How can there be anything left in the ground with all those wells?  Geologists say there are enough reserves in the basin to last 100 years.  The sheer volume of wells above ground and reserves in the ground are just mind boggling.

    We drove to Carlsbad Caverns today. This was our third time visiting the caverns.  Paul was there with his family when he was a young boy and remembers a cafeteria down in the cavern where they ate lunch.  I first visited Carlsbad in 2005 when I deployed to El Paso before shipping out to Iraq.  We both were here 3-1/2 years ago in 2015, and now we were back again.  We walked in at the natural entrance which was one mile of winding, descending walkway.  There was nobody around.  It was so still and there was a kind of reverence as we passed fantastic formations of stalagmites, stalactites, columns, bacon, popcorn, and soda straws (I think somebody was hungry when they named these speleothems).  Several times, we had the eerie feeling that they had closed the place (it would have been funny except that that has happened to us before).  

    When we reached the bottom of the entrance, we then walked the 1-1/4 mile walk around the Big Room.  It was so much fun naming the formations and exploring the vast space underground.  This was the best cave experience.  Even though we have been to Carlsbad Caverns before, there have been years of exploring dozens of caves over the years.  We can now appreciate how phenomenal this cave is.  It should be a bucket list item for everyone.

    After spending three hours at the caverns, we drove into Carlsbad and had lunch at the Red Chimney BBQ.  The food was excellent!  We packed up our leftovers and headed home, stopping to get fuel at a station.  It’s funny. We are deep in oil country and the cost of fuel is higher than it was deep in Texas.  The average price around here for diesel fuel is between $2.83 and $2.99.

31 Jan 2019 (Thu) – We pulled up stakes, left Seminole, TX, and drove to Artesia in New Mexico.  The drive was just two hours.  We drove past a HUGE oil field.  It was almost like someone had practiced a scorched earth policy.  There were oil pumps and derricks for as far as the eye could see.  The smell of petroleum was so strong that you could actually taste it on your tongue. We did not recognize any of the names of the companies operating along the way.  They must extract the oil and then sell it to the manufacturers whose names we know (i.e., Exxon, Mobile).

    We arrived at Artesia RV Park just before noon.  The campground is next to a very large orchard with huge trees.  The trees are bare and many have been cut back a lot. We think it might be pistachio trees. It’s just a guess.  The campground is nicely laid out with a good amount of room between campsites.  There are many oil workers in here, too.  

    After set up, we drove into town for lunch and to run errands.  Our meal was at La Fonda Restaurant.  It was Mexican fare and margaritas made from agave wine (guess they don’t have a liquor license).  It was a very sweet drink.  After lunch, we bought propane, got fuel, picked up groceries, and mailed off postcards.