We are all familar with the sideways eight representing infinity. It has become popluar in tattoos and jewelry. So much so we refer to it as the ‘infinity symbol.’ But saying that is going the long way around the barn, the symbol acutally has a name lemniscate. So next time you want a tattoo or bracelet ask for the lemniscate.
Ben Mezrich writes books by looking at things most of society didn’t notice. His book on how Facebook starter The Accidental Billionaires or his one on how MIT ruled poker tables at casinos Bring Down The House made us aware of the stories we’d missed. When I heard he was taking on unexplained phenomena in a new book I went looking. He’s never part of the world he writes about but he gets to know it as an outsider then explains it to us, the other outsiders. I’ll admit I’m not an outsider on reading about and pondering the unexplained. So the things in The 37th Parallel didn’t shock or surprise me. This time I wanted to see how he treated the topic. In the end it was how he treated his subject that intrigued me more as a reader.
Our trip to Asheville was to see its world renowned house – Biltmore. However while there we enjoyed two other much smaller but just as lovely in their own way. The first one is North Lodge on Oakland. The second was the Smith McDowell House. (more…)
It’s no secret that I love animals. I think you get that with how I treat my cats and dogs as furry babies. Well my love also extends to horses. My living situation rarely allowed me to have one but didn’t stop my love of them. When I’d visit my paternal grandparents on the farm where my aunt had ponies and horses I always looked forward to interacting with them (both humans and equines).
This is my first and only pony, Dolly. She was old and cranky but I loved her and through my childhood memories, she loved me. Honestly, I don’t know what happened to her. I suspect that she got too old and too cranky to be a little girl’s leaning pony. Last I remember was Dad tending her feet and getting stung by a wasp. I’m sure that’s not the last time I’d seen her but for me it’s the last memory. I have many memories of riding from our house in town to go see her and go riding. I loved it.
When we were looking to move to the country I jokingly suggested getting a horse. Okay, mostly joking but a little hopeful. However Mike reminded me they are a big money pit and tie-down to travel. Sure we can board the cat and dog to take off on a cruise or to Italy but a horse – that’s a whole another issue. Also we didn’t get a place large enough. Though I still think maybe I’ll do English riding lessons but first I guess my foot has to heal fully from the break eh?
Money frees you from doing things you dislike. Since I dislike doing nearly everything, money is handy. ~Groucho Marx
Among my odd interests there is the one that finds organized crime intriguing. How those who are not concerned about laws make a business of breaking them. There are many types of crime organizations but when it comes to Whitey Bulger and his Winter Hill Gang of Boston working with FBI agents was unique. Then his being on the run for so long was also unprecedented. Needless to say I knew the story before we sat down to watch the movie. I was wary with Johnny Depp playing Whitey but… not as much as Benedict Cumberbatch playing the political office holding brother.
This beautiful lady is Sara. She’s my son’s fiancee. Yep, this month he popped the question to his long term girlfriend. The marriage is in a few years. I’m getting a wonderful daughter without all the mess of raising one. But that’s not why I’m congratulating her. I’m congratulating her for graduating college. She’s now a physical therapist going on to medical school! That she worked hard for and made it! We are all so proud.
I’m not gong to look back. We all know what’s back there – we just lived it. So here’s to moving forward. Here’s to better days, more kindness, less hate, more true talks, less spewing at others, happy good-byes, less sad one… Over all here’s to hope to move forward a bit more healthy, a lot more empathetic, and while offering a hand up to those who need help. 2017 We’re counting on you…
Welcome to Christmas 1992. This is the time we told my family that I was pregnant. I had morning sickness then and for the first four months of my pregnancy. So excuse the strained look. Oh and no we were having an ugly sweater part but we could have… For the record left to right – Mom, Me, Mike, and my maternal grandmother I called Nannie. It is at Nannie’s house and it is the obligatory photo with food before eating…
We’ve all done it. We’ve all stood looking at a map of a mall, amusement park, office complex and found the ‘you are here’ arrow. Except that arrow has a name and it’s not ‘you are here’ arrow.
Mary Louise Eklund 