An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Archive for Just Cuz
An FYI From AFA
Historical Trivia
Some of these, I know are true. Others? Well, whatever. Just thought it was interesting. 
Did you know the saying “God willing and the Creeks don’t rise” was in reference to the Creek Indians and not a body of water? It was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. He was a politician and Indian diplomat.
While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington . In his response, he was said to write, “God willing and the Creeks don’t rise.” Because he capitalized the word “Creeks” it is deduced that he was referring to the Creek Indian tribe and not a body of water.
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In George Washington’s days, there were no cameras. One’s image was either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted. Arms and legs are ‘limbs,’ therefore painting them would cost the buyer more. Hence the expression, ‘Okay, but it’ll cost you an arm and a leg.’
(Artists know hands and arms are more difficult to paint)
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As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year (May and October) Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of lice and
bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could afford good wigs made from wool. They couldn’t wash the wigs, so to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the term ‘big wig.. ‘
Today we often use the term ‘here comes the Big Wig’
because someone appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.
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In the late 1700′s, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair. Commonly, a long wide board folded down from the wall, and was used for dining. The ‘head of the household’ always sat in the chair while everyone else ate sitting on the floor. Occasionally a guest, who was usually a man, would be invited to sit in this chair during a meal. To sit in the chair meant you were important and in charge. They called the one sitting in the chair the ‘chair man.’ Today in business, we use the expression or title ‘Chairman’ or ‘Chairman of the Board.’
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Personal hygiene left much room for improvement. As a result, many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women would spread bee’s wax over their facial skin to smooth out their complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to stare at another woman’s face she was told, ‘mind your own bee’s wax.’ Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence the term ‘crack a smile’. In addition, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would melt . . . Therefore, the expression ‘losing face.’
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Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front. A proper and dignified woman, as in ‘straight laced’ wore a tightly tied lace.
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Common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the ‘Ace of Spades..’ To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead. Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren’t ‘playing with a full deck.’
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Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people considered important. Since there were no telephones, TV’s or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns, pubs, and bars.
They were told to ‘go sip some Ale and listen to people’s conversations and political concerns’. Many assistants were dispatched at different times. ‘You go sip here’ and ‘You go sip there.’ The two words ‘go sip’ were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and, thus we have the term ‘gossip.’
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At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and quart-sized containers. A bar maid’s job was to keep an eye on the customers and keep the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention and remember who was drinking in ‘pints’ and who was drinking in ‘quarts,’ hence the phrase ‘minding your ‘P’s and Q’s’.
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One more: bet you didn’t know this!
In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon. However, how to prevent them from rolling about the deck? The best storage method devised was a square-based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem…how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate called a ‘Monkey’ with 16 round indentations. However, if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make ‘Brass Monkeys.’ Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannonballs would come right off the monkey; Thus, it was quite literally, ‘Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.’ (All this time, you thought that was an improper expression, didn’t you.)
Shared by Jerry.
Gosh! I’m SO Excited!
You’ll never guess! A long lost relative, or something, from…. lemme see…. Nigeria? left me a substantial amount of money. Is that cool or whut? And just think, all I have to do is provide (urgently):
1. Your full personal details, names etc.
2. Your full banking details, where you wish your fund to be wired.
3. Your total contract/inheritance)–please indicate if your payment is for contract or inheritance.
4. Total amount expected
5. Copy of your international passport or driver’s license
6. Your Occupation
Yep…I need to get right on that! I wouldn’t want Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Honorable Minister for Finance, Federal Republic of Nigeria to be upset with me!
/snark
Hank Jr
Birth Verses
Ecclesiastes 11:5 As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.
Proverbs 11:5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
Just Cuz!
Today was a good day! Not because there hasn’t been any pain, cuz there has (damp and chilly…UGH!), but because the Mr and I drove down to Corinth, MS….just cuz! It’s the first time in a very LONG time we’ve gone anywhere when there was no doctors involved. Corinth is my heart doc, Jackson, TN is his oncologist and my bone doc. So anytime we’ve gone out to lunch or some such, there was usually a doctor involved. Not today!
We decided to head down, and have lunch at The Generals’ Quarters. My friend Charlotte, and her husband Chef Luke, run the place and we hadn’t seen them in a while, so why not? Apparently, anytime I tell Charlotte we are coming, she isn’t there. I was starting to get suspicious. Heh. No, not really. We found out she was over at the animal shelter, and thought after eating an excellent lunch, and doing a wee bit of shopping, we’d head over and chat with her for a bit. Oh…that was a BIG mistake! But I stayed strong! I didn’t whine. I was tough! We did NOT bring home any cats!!
Oh, but lemme tell ya……it was hard! HARD!!!! Walking out and not bringing that beautiful little 2 year old fluffy silver feline? sigh… Or the kitten that was all of maybe 2 months and very affectionate? *shakes head* Logic tells me that 4 is way more than enough, but….. Oh well.
Today was a terrific day, other than that! And now, I’m tuckered!
53%
Shared by Jerry.
Majestic!
You may have seen this before, but I just think it’s SO cool, had to share it…again!
‘Challenger’ is his name (in honor of the lost space shuttle crew) & is cared for by the non-profit American Eagle Foundation (AEF).
He’s a ‘human-socialized’ bird accidentally raised by the people who rescued Him – after being blown from a wild Louisiana nest in a storm as a baby in the late 1980′s. Declared ‘non-releasable’ by federal and state wildlife Authorities, he was trained by the AEF to perform educational free-flight demonstrations at high profile public events.
He’s the first Bald Eagle in U.S. History that learned to free-fly into Stadiums, arenas and ballrooms during the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. The celebrity eagle has appeared at numerous major sporting events like the World Series, Pro-Bowl, All-Star game, BCS National Championship, Fiesta Bowl, Men’s Final Four, etc.
This eagle named Challenger has also flown before 4 U.S. Presidents!
Shared by the Mr.
Update On The Homefront
Well, I haven’t given an update for a while, have I. Well, I figured folks would know I was still around since now and then, there has been a post or two going up.
My progress from the TKR is going forward. I found a lady who wanted to get rid of her bike that goes nowhere, nice one too….digital stuff…and practically brand new, so that has been my mostly every day rehab at home. 
I found out that if I use my Daily Bible reading, it comes out to 3.5 miles, so, I’m getting those 2 birds at the same time. Works out great! I am having some issues with the weather though. UGH! If my barometer goes off like this at 52 degrees, what is it going to be like at 32, or 22? *shakes head* I’m fairly sure I’ll survive, but I won’t be happy. grrrrr Likely, the Mr will find many things to keep him occupied and out of the “whining” room. Heh.
Now, for the REALLY good news. The doc has pronounced the Mr in remission. How do I know? I saw it on his FB status! *mumbling under breath at Mr* Nope, he didn’t tell me. He says he thought he did, but no…I’m pretty sure I would have remembered something like that, don’t you? HUMPH! MEN! He does have to go for some test or other in January, and they decided not to cut on his liver. Yep. I’m confused. But that’s ok, that word “remission” makes it all worth it.
So, that’s where we stand for the moment. All the prayers and encouragement has been a God send for both of us. We sincerely appreciate all of y’all!
FYI
Today had been one of those days. Didn’t have anything to say, so I didn’t say it. Not to mention there’s that extremely annoying muscle pain. Pfft! I got m’self one of those exercise type bikes, and have been doing 3 miles a day. Ya think that might have something to do with the muscle pain? Naw….couldn’t be. Heh.
But, as I said, I just don’t have anything to say. The world is still going to hell in a hand basket, and nothing I say today would change that. I’d rather have my nose buried in a good book….a great escape. So, that’s what I’ve been doing, and am going back to la la land. 
Smart Venetians
Because there are no mosques in Venice, the Government has allowed
So far 543 have drowned.
GOD BLESS THOSE ITALIANS!
Shared by the Mr.
Lovin’ Hank Jr!
Ol’ Broad & Dr Dimples
Welp, I went to see the doc this morning. I actually got some answers. Whoo hoo! I’m not crazy about the answers, now at least now I know.
Evidently, through the many years that my knee was deteriorating, my bones and muscles were totally out of alignment. Now that I have this new fangled gadget stuck between the leg and thigh bones, my muscles and the bone are trying to realign to where they are suppose to be. Hence…. the excruciating pain! Oh yay me! sigh….
He did reassure me that over time, the pain WILL decrease, but probably not until after winter. *shakes head* Not only am I getting old, I’m falling apart, and turning into a bloomin’ barometer. Who’s bright idea was that? Pfft!
Oh, not to worry, I’ll figure it all out eventually. I just hope I don’t lose a lot ROM in the meantime. And ya know, the way he made it sound, I might have to get the Mr to start digging that hole now! UGH! At least he did give some muscle relaxers for that particular ailment. They BETTER work!
Oh yeah…. one piece of good news! I had a whole 2 minutes morning, totally pain free! First time in, like, forever! It’s a start.
O/T: I noticed when driving over to Selmer that the cotton was all sprouted, white bolls all over the place. That Gershwin song, Summertime, popped into my head. I got to thinkin’. Cotton doesn’t get high during the summer. It’s not ready for picking until the fall, so how come the song says that? Totally irrelevant. Just wondering. 
3 Months Out
Ok, it’s been 3 months, and 3 days since my surgery. I’ve done everything that is required to ensure all will go well. So, I really wish someone would explain to me why I am now having so much more pain that I was a month ago! “Everything is fine” and “This is normal” just ain’t cuttin’ it for me!
One of the rehab guys said it has something to do with the nerves, and it will go away eventually. Eventually? Jeeez. With cold weather coming, I don’t think I’m gonna survive, cuz the doc told me, “You’re going to be really unhappy this first winter.” I’m already unhappy. And grumpy too, even though I’m trying not to be.
It feels like I have bones splitting and muscles being yanked, twisted and tied in knots, from thigh to ankle. I figured by now, I’d be able to stop taking the pain killers. Honestly, they don’t really kill much of anything, but they do take a bit of the edge off. Still, it would be so much better for me if I didn’t still need them.
They did say the pain would decrease after I finished with the rehab. Well, Friday was my last day, so maybe……??? sigh… Really tired of missing church because of all this!
I’m such a baby. 
FYI
I have not fallen off the planet. Just been otherwise engaged for the last couple of days. Should be back to normal shortly. Well, normal for me.
