An open letter to Henry L. Green:
Thank you for forty wonderful years. I love you more today than I did yesterday and my love continues to grow. I wrote this for you.
Ode To My Love
Words can not bestow
The feelings of my heart
Yet, I know that my life
Stands still
Whenever we're apart.
I live, breathe, and grow
In the sunshine of your love.
Without you
My soul would wither,
Die, and blow away,
Crumbled to dust.
Life has little meaning
Without you, my love.
Your smile is like
A nourishing rain,
Refreshing and nurturing,
Bringing new life, growth,
And the warmth of love's burning flame.
Were I a real poet,
Truly in command,
I could lay out before you
That inner refrain
That would sing out
With joy and happiness-
Yet, in silence
I love you,
Forever more.
Original Poem by Celestine Green
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
A Century Ago
What a Difference a Century Makes...
In the summer of 1900:
The average life expectancy in the United
States was 47.
Only 14% of the homes in the United States had a bathtub.
Only 8% of the homes had a telephone.
A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost $11.
There were only 8,000 cars in the US and only 144 miles of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily
populated than California.
With a mere 1.4 million residents, California was only the 21st most
populated state in the Union.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.
The average wage in the US was 22 cents an hour.
The average US worker made between $200 and $400 per year.
More than 95% of all births in the United States took place at home.
90% of all US physicians had no college education. Instead, they attended medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and by the government as "substandard."
Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were 14 cents a dozen.
Coffee cost 15 cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month and used borax or egg
yolks for shampoo.
The five leading causes of death in the US were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. TB
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke
The American flag had 45 stars. Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii
and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet.
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada was 30. The remote desert community
was inhabited by only a handful of ranchers and their families.
Plutonium, insulin, and antibiotics hadn't been discovered yet.
Scotch tape, crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been
invented.
There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
One in 10 US adults couldn't read or write.
Only 6% of all Americans had graduated from high school.
Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at
corner drugstores. According to one pharmacist, "Heroin clears the
complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and the
bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health."
In the summer of 1900:
The average life expectancy in the United
States was 47.
Only 14% of the homes in the United States had a bathtub.
Only 8% of the homes had a telephone.
A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost $11.
There were only 8,000 cars in the US and only 144 miles of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily
populated than California.
With a mere 1.4 million residents, California was only the 21st most
populated state in the Union.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.
The average wage in the US was 22 cents an hour.
The average US worker made between $200 and $400 per year.
More than 95% of all births in the United States took place at home.
90% of all US physicians had no college education. Instead, they attended medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and by the government as "substandard."
Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were 14 cents a dozen.
Coffee cost 15 cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month and used borax or egg
yolks for shampoo.
The five leading causes of death in the US were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. TB
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke
The American flag had 45 stars. Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii
and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet.
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada was 30. The remote desert community
was inhabited by only a handful of ranchers and their families.
Plutonium, insulin, and antibiotics hadn't been discovered yet.
Scotch tape, crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been
invented.
There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
One in 10 US adults couldn't read or write.
Only 6% of all Americans had graduated from high school.
Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at
corner drugstores. According to one pharmacist, "Heroin clears the
complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and the
bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health."
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Bits and Pieces-My Treasure Chest
A treasure chest holds priceless articles for safekeeping. The contents could be glittering bright gold, sparkling dazzling jewels,or cool creamy pearls. Maybe the chest contains other great riches, e.g. precious artifacts or irreplaceable works of art. Each has tremendous value to the owner and usually requires a great deal of security to guard against theft.
This blog is my treasure chest and is somewhat different. The articles are just as precious, just as priceless, and just as valuable to the owner. While these items do not need to be secured, they are nevertheless irreplaceable. Sweet Nothings contains my thoughts, my views, my values, my joys and my disappointments. It allows me to share ideas on subjects I hold dear and various things I find interesting.
Since I'm an avid reader and writer of romance, I'll share memories from books I've read. They hold the fiery passion of love, the stormy whirlwind of romance and the full panorama of human emotions. Tucked away within its confines are boisterous laughter, quiet tears, piercing glances and breathless moments. You'll find unforgettable characters facing life's most difficult challenges, the turmoil of their pain and emotional growth, and the sweet satisfaction of gaining the love of a lifetime. There are exotic places, far away lands, journeys to the future, and episodes from the past. Endearing characters, gripping romances, and fast paced mysteries have taken me on many magical journeys. I'll share some of these personal treasures with you.
Come along for the ride and dig down in my treasure chest. Enjoy!
This blog is my treasure chest and is somewhat different. The articles are just as precious, just as priceless, and just as valuable to the owner. While these items do not need to be secured, they are nevertheless irreplaceable. Sweet Nothings contains my thoughts, my views, my values, my joys and my disappointments. It allows me to share ideas on subjects I hold dear and various things I find interesting.
Since I'm an avid reader and writer of romance, I'll share memories from books I've read. They hold the fiery passion of love, the stormy whirlwind of romance and the full panorama of human emotions. Tucked away within its confines are boisterous laughter, quiet tears, piercing glances and breathless moments. You'll find unforgettable characters facing life's most difficult challenges, the turmoil of their pain and emotional growth, and the sweet satisfaction of gaining the love of a lifetime. There are exotic places, far away lands, journeys to the future, and episodes from the past. Endearing characters, gripping romances, and fast paced mysteries have taken me on many magical journeys. I'll share some of these personal treasures with you.
Come along for the ride and dig down in my treasure chest. Enjoy!
Say It Again, Sam-Famous Movie Quotes
Do you recite popular movie quotes during casual conversation? Ready-made dialogue is there for the taking, providing a legion of material for any situation. That’s likely one reason so many famous movie quotes are included on today’s sitcoms and used by guests on talk shows. Here is a list of some of the most popular movie quotes of all time, along with a description of the movie scenes that inspired these quotes. Did any of your favorites make the list? Read on to find out!
“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” – Gone With the Wind
This line, number one on the American Film Institute’s Top 100 Movie Quotes, represents Rhett Butler’s final words to the selfish Scarlett O’Hara. They were married and had a daughter, but the death of the child made Rhett realize that their troubled relationship was beyond salvage. He packed to leave and Scarlett begged him to stay, asking, “Where will I go? What will I do?” Rhett then delivers the immortal line, making it clear to both himself and the audience that the relationship is irrevocably severed.
“Play it again, Sam.” – Casablanca
This is quite possibly one of the most famous movie misquotes of all time. In fact, this line never actually appears in the movie. The actual quote by character Ilsa Lund is, “Play it, Sam, for old time’s sake, play as time goes by.” Later, Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine says, “You played it for her, you can play it for me. If she can stand it, I can! Play it!” Ilsa’s correct line is listed on the American Film Institute’s 2005 list of Top 100 Movie Quotes.
“Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” – Dirty Dancing
This 1987 film follows the adventures of Frances “Baby” Houseman as she comes of age at a Catskills resort during the summer of 1963.
In the film’s climactic ending scene, Baby’s dance partner and lover, Johnny, who was fired due to their relationship, returns to the resort to perform the last dance of the season. He approaches Baby, seated at a corner table with her family in front. Johnny then delivers the famous line and brings Baby onstage to dance with him.
“If you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? ---- Carpe -- hear it? – Carpe, Carpe Diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.” – Dead Poets Society
Set in a conservative boy’s school in 1959, this award winning film inspires us to dare to follow our dreams. Robin Williams play English teacher John Keating.
“I am not going to sit on my ass as the events that affect me unfold to determine the course of my life. I’m going to take a stand. I’m going to defend it. Right or wrong, I’m going to defend it.” – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
This 1986 film follows the adventures of Ferris Bueller, his girlfriend Sloane Peterson and his best friend Cameron Frye as they skip school to spend the day exploring Chicago.
“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” – Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump won six Academy Awards for its portrayal of a mentally challenged man and his heroic impact on world events. Forrest takes the role of narrator, telling of his adventures to an ever-changing cast of characters who occupy the seat next to him at a bus stop. As he speaks of his next adventure, it unfolds onscreen. Throughout the film, Forrest quotes sayings that his mother taught him. One of the best loved of several memorable movie quotes in the film is this line.
* “Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night!” Screen legend Bette Davis uttered this famous line when she played Margo Channing in All About Eve. The classic 1950 film told the story of life in and around the theater. Davis plays an aging star who takes in an aspiring actress and fan.
* “Houston, we have a problem.” Tom Hanks plays real-life astronaut Jim Lovell in this 1995 film based on the dramatic story of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission.
* “Failure is not an option.” Ed Harris plays real-life NASA Flight Director Gene Kranz in the above-mentioned film, Apollo 13.
* “Find a truly original idea. It is the only way I will ever distinguish myself. It is the only way I will ever matter.” Russell Crowe said this famous line in the 2001 film A Beautiful Mind, that tells the story of mathematician genius (and Nobel Prize winner) John Nash.
* “You tell the men there are four ways of doing things on this ship: The right way, the wrong way, the Navy way, and my way. They do things my way, and we'll get along just fine.” Screen legend Humphrey Bogart said this famous line in his role as Lt. Commander Philip Francis Queeg in the 1954 film Caine Mutiny.
* Orson Welles said one word in Citizen Cane: “Rosebud.” The meaning of the word in the movie has been debated for years.
* “I know what you're thinking. Did he fire six shots or only five? Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I've kinda lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?” When the 1972 film Dirty Harry was released, many moviegoers quoted all or part of this quote by Clint Eastwood’s character Harry Callahan.
“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” – Gone With the Wind
This line, number one on the American Film Institute’s Top 100 Movie Quotes, represents Rhett Butler’s final words to the selfish Scarlett O’Hara. They were married and had a daughter, but the death of the child made Rhett realize that their troubled relationship was beyond salvage. He packed to leave and Scarlett begged him to stay, asking, “Where will I go? What will I do?” Rhett then delivers the immortal line, making it clear to both himself and the audience that the relationship is irrevocably severed.
“Play it again, Sam.” – Casablanca
This is quite possibly one of the most famous movie misquotes of all time. In fact, this line never actually appears in the movie. The actual quote by character Ilsa Lund is, “Play it, Sam, for old time’s sake, play as time goes by.” Later, Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine says, “You played it for her, you can play it for me. If she can stand it, I can! Play it!” Ilsa’s correct line is listed on the American Film Institute’s 2005 list of Top 100 Movie Quotes.
“Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” – Dirty Dancing
This 1987 film follows the adventures of Frances “Baby” Houseman as she comes of age at a Catskills resort during the summer of 1963.
In the film’s climactic ending scene, Baby’s dance partner and lover, Johnny, who was fired due to their relationship, returns to the resort to perform the last dance of the season. He approaches Baby, seated at a corner table with her family in front. Johnny then delivers the famous line and brings Baby onstage to dance with him.
“If you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? ---- Carpe -- hear it? – Carpe, Carpe Diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.” – Dead Poets Society
Set in a conservative boy’s school in 1959, this award winning film inspires us to dare to follow our dreams. Robin Williams play English teacher John Keating.
“I am not going to sit on my ass as the events that affect me unfold to determine the course of my life. I’m going to take a stand. I’m going to defend it. Right or wrong, I’m going to defend it.” – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
This 1986 film follows the adventures of Ferris Bueller, his girlfriend Sloane Peterson and his best friend Cameron Frye as they skip school to spend the day exploring Chicago.
“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” – Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump won six Academy Awards for its portrayal of a mentally challenged man and his heroic impact on world events. Forrest takes the role of narrator, telling of his adventures to an ever-changing cast of characters who occupy the seat next to him at a bus stop. As he speaks of his next adventure, it unfolds onscreen. Throughout the film, Forrest quotes sayings that his mother taught him. One of the best loved of several memorable movie quotes in the film is this line.
* “Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night!” Screen legend Bette Davis uttered this famous line when she played Margo Channing in All About Eve. The classic 1950 film told the story of life in and around the theater. Davis plays an aging star who takes in an aspiring actress and fan.
* “Houston, we have a problem.” Tom Hanks plays real-life astronaut Jim Lovell in this 1995 film based on the dramatic story of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission.
* “Failure is not an option.” Ed Harris plays real-life NASA Flight Director Gene Kranz in the above-mentioned film, Apollo 13.
* “Find a truly original idea. It is the only way I will ever distinguish myself. It is the only way I will ever matter.” Russell Crowe said this famous line in the 2001 film A Beautiful Mind, that tells the story of mathematician genius (and Nobel Prize winner) John Nash.
* “You tell the men there are four ways of doing things on this ship: The right way, the wrong way, the Navy way, and my way. They do things my way, and we'll get along just fine.” Screen legend Humphrey Bogart said this famous line in his role as Lt. Commander Philip Francis Queeg in the 1954 film Caine Mutiny.
* Orson Welles said one word in Citizen Cane: “Rosebud.” The meaning of the word in the movie has been debated for years.
* “I know what you're thinking. Did he fire six shots or only five? Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I've kinda lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?” When the 1972 film Dirty Harry was released, many moviegoers quoted all or part of this quote by Clint Eastwood’s character Harry Callahan.
Hollywood Heroes
What is a "hero"? Originally, a hero was a legendary figure, often divine, someone with extraordinary strength and supernatural powers. Heroes performed great deeds of bravery, travelled on exciting journeys and demonstrated great courage and gallantry.
As time went on, the hero was simply the male protagonist or male lead in the dramatic work, the man who's story is being told. Writers no longer limited themselves to the traditional hero, but wrote tales of ordinary men who could be less than admirable, a bit flawed as mere humans tend to be. An anti-hero emerged, no longer perfect, no longer the most noble of men.
Take a look at Hollywood's traditional heroes listed below:
Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson in "Titanic"
Will Smith as Muhammad Ali in "Ali"
Edward Norton as Bruce Banner in "The Incredible Hulk"
Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man in "Spider-Man"
Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark in "Iron Man"
Daniel Craig as James Bond in "Casino Royale"
Matt Damon as Jason Bourne in "The Bourne Identity"
Bruce Willis as James Cole in "12 Monkeys"
Ben Kingsley as Gandhi in "Gandhi"
Mel Gibson as William Wallace in "Braveheart"
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in "X-Men"
Russell Crowe as Maximus in "Gladiator"
Keanu Reeves as Neo in "The Matrix"
Christian Bale as Batman in "The Dark Knight"
Roger Moore as James Bond in "Live and Let Die"
Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in "Raiders of the Lost Ark"
Bruce Willis as Officer John McClaine in "Die Hard"
Christopher Reeves as Superman in "Superman"
Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator in "Terminator 2"
Denzel Washington as Malcolm X in "Malcolm X"
Famous First Lines
Famous First Lines
1. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. — Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2. The great fish moved silently through the night water, propelled by short sweeps of its crescent tail. — Jaws by Peter Benchley
3. Scarlett O'Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were.— Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
4. I was leaning against a bar in a speak-easy on Fifty-second Street, waiting for Nora to finish her Christmas shopping, when a girl got up from the table where she had been sitting with three other people and came over to me. — The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett
5. Indian summer is like a woman. Ripe, hotly passionate, but fickle, she comes and goes as she pleases so that one is never sure whether she will come at all, nor for how long she will stay. — Peyton Place by Grace Metalious
6. All happy families are alike but an unhappy family is unhappy after its own fashion. — Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
7. If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it. — The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
8. Sunday 1 January: 9 st (but post-Christmas), alcohol units 14 (but effectively covers 2 days as 4 hours of party was on New Year's Day), cigarettes 22, calories 5424. Noon. London: my flat. Ugh. The last thing on earth I feel physically, emotionally or mentally equipped to do is drive to Una and Geoffrey Alconbury's New Year's Day Turkey Curry Buffet in Grafton Underwood. — Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
9. In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since.— The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
10. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. — Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone by J. K. Rowling
1. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. — Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2. The great fish moved silently through the night water, propelled by short sweeps of its crescent tail. — Jaws by Peter Benchley
3. Scarlett O'Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were.— Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
4. I was leaning against a bar in a speak-easy on Fifty-second Street, waiting for Nora to finish her Christmas shopping, when a girl got up from the table where she had been sitting with three other people and came over to me. — The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett
5. Indian summer is like a woman. Ripe, hotly passionate, but fickle, she comes and goes as she pleases so that one is never sure whether she will come at all, nor for how long she will stay. — Peyton Place by Grace Metalious
6. All happy families are alike but an unhappy family is unhappy after its own fashion. — Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
7. If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it. — The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
8. Sunday 1 January: 9 st (but post-Christmas), alcohol units 14 (but effectively covers 2 days as 4 hours of party was on New Year's Day), cigarettes 22, calories 5424. Noon. London: my flat. Ugh. The last thing on earth I feel physically, emotionally or mentally equipped to do is drive to Una and Geoffrey Alconbury's New Year's Day Turkey Curry Buffet in Grafton Underwood. — Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
9. In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since.— The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
10. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. — Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone by J. K. Rowling
Oddities and Wonder
Oddities and Wonder: Things you were dying to know, but were afraid to ask!
Charles Dickens had to be facing north before he could write a word.
For the last 12 years of his life, Casanova was a librarian.
It took Noah Webster 36 years to write his first dictionary.
Jonathan Swift wrote a classic book called Gulliver's Travels that borders on science fiction. It was written before science fiction was what you called such books. In this book he wrote about two moons circling Mars. He described their size and speed of orbit. He did this one hundred years before they were described by astronomers.
The first book ever written on a typewriter was The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Mark Twain used a Remington in 1875.
Americans buy 57 books per second, approximately five million books a day. 125 new titles are published every day. It would take a shelf 78 miles long to hold all of one day's books.
Leo Tolstoy wrote a large book called War and Peace before computers and copying machines. His wife had to copy his manuscript by hand seven times.
Interestingly, William Shakespeare invented the word "hurry." The following words were invented by William Shakespeare: boredom, disgraceful, hostile, money's worth, obscene, puke, perplex, on purpose, shooting star, and sneak. Until his time, people had to have their conversations without these words. And speaking of Shakespeare, can you imagine John Wayne reciting Shakespeare? Well, he did one time, and won a Shakespeare contest.
If you stretched out all the shelves in the New York Public Library, they would extend eighty miles. The books most often requested at this library are about drugs, witchcraft, astrology and Shakespeare.
In the book, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, is one sentence that is 823 words long. When Vic wrote to his editor inquiring about their opinion of the manuscript, he wrote, "?" They answered, "!"
One out of every eight letters you read is the letter e. In 1939 an author named Ernest Vincent wrote a 50,000 word novel called Gadsby. The only thing unusual about the novel is that there is not a single letter e in the whole thing.
Charles Dickens had to be facing north before he could write a word.
For the last 12 years of his life, Casanova was a librarian.
It took Noah Webster 36 years to write his first dictionary.
Jonathan Swift wrote a classic book called Gulliver's Travels that borders on science fiction. It was written before science fiction was what you called such books. In this book he wrote about two moons circling Mars. He described their size and speed of orbit. He did this one hundred years before they were described by astronomers.
The first book ever written on a typewriter was The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Mark Twain used a Remington in 1875.
Americans buy 57 books per second, approximately five million books a day. 125 new titles are published every day. It would take a shelf 78 miles long to hold all of one day's books.
Leo Tolstoy wrote a large book called War and Peace before computers and copying machines. His wife had to copy his manuscript by hand seven times.
Interestingly, William Shakespeare invented the word "hurry." The following words were invented by William Shakespeare: boredom, disgraceful, hostile, money's worth, obscene, puke, perplex, on purpose, shooting star, and sneak. Until his time, people had to have their conversations without these words. And speaking of Shakespeare, can you imagine John Wayne reciting Shakespeare? Well, he did one time, and won a Shakespeare contest.
If you stretched out all the shelves in the New York Public Library, they would extend eighty miles. The books most often requested at this library are about drugs, witchcraft, astrology and Shakespeare.
In the book, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, is one sentence that is 823 words long. When Vic wrote to his editor inquiring about their opinion of the manuscript, he wrote, "?" They answered, "!"
One out of every eight letters you read is the letter e. In 1939 an author named Ernest Vincent wrote a 50,000 word novel called Gadsby. The only thing unusual about the novel is that there is not a single letter e in the whole thing.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Discovery in Old Age
Here's an old e-mail piece that I ran across in my files. It provided some food for thought. Enjoy!
God grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference.
Now that I'm 'older' (but refuse to grow up), here's what I've discovered:
I. started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.
2. My wild oats have turned into prunes and All Bran.
3. I finally got my head together; now my body is falling apart.
4. Funny, I don't remember being absent minded...
4. Funny, I don't remember being absent minded...
5. All reports are in; life is now officially unfair.
6. If all is not lost, where is it?
7. It is easier to get older than it is to get wiser.
8. Some days you're the dog; some days you're the hydrant.
9. I wish the buck stopped here; I sure could use a few...
10. Kids in the back seat cause accidents.
11. Accidents in the back seat cause kids.
12. It's hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere.
13. The only time the world beats a path to your door is when you're in the
bathroom.
14. If God wanted me to touch my toes, he would have put them on my knees.
15. When I'm finally holding all the cards, why does everyone decide to play chess?
16. It's not hard to meet expenses... they're everywhere.
17. The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.
18. These days, I spend a lot of time thinking about the hereafter ..
I go somewhere to get something and then wonder what I'm here after.
19. I AM UNABLE TO REMEMBER IF I HAVE MAILED THIS TO YOU OR NOT!
20. Funny, I don't remember being, . . . absent minded...
One Hundred Years Ago
The year is 1903 , one hundred years ago... what a difference a century
makes. Here are the U.S. statistics for 1903....
The average life expectancy in the U.S. was forty-seven.
Only 14 Percent of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars.
There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S. and only 144 miles of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California. With a mere 1.4 million residents, California was only the 21st most populous state in the Union.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.
The average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents an hour.!
The average U.S. worker made between $200 and $400 per year. A competent accountant could expect to earn $2,000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births in the U.S. took place at home.
Ninety percent of all U.S. physicians had no college education. Instead,
they attended medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press
and by the government as "substandard."
Sugar cost four cents a pound. Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen. Coffee
cost fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
Canada passed a law prohibiting poor people from entering the country for
any reason.
The five leading causes of death in the U.S. were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke
The American flag had 45 stars. Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii and
Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet.
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada was 30.
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented.
There were no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
One in ten U.S. adults couldn't read or write.
Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at
corner drugstores. According to one pharmacist, "Heroin clears the
complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and the
bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health."
Eighteen percent of households in the US had at least one full-time servant
or domestic.
There were only about 230 reported murders in the entire U.S.
Just think what it will be like in another 100 years. It boggles the mind.
makes. Here are the U.S. statistics for 1903....
The average life expectancy in the U.S. was forty-seven.
Only 14 Percent of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars.
There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S. and only 144 miles of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California. With a mere 1.4 million residents, California was only the 21st most populous state in the Union.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.
The average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents an hour.!
The average U.S. worker made between $200 and $400 per year. A competent accountant could expect to earn $2,000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births in the U.S. took place at home.
Ninety percent of all U.S. physicians had no college education. Instead,
they attended medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press
and by the government as "substandard."
Sugar cost four cents a pound. Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen. Coffee
cost fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
Canada passed a law prohibiting poor people from entering the country for
any reason.
The five leading causes of death in the U.S. were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke
The American flag had 45 stars. Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii and
Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet.
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada was 30.
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented.
There were no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
One in ten U.S. adults couldn't read or write.
Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at
corner drugstores. According to one pharmacist, "Heroin clears the
complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and the
bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health."
Eighteen percent of households in the US had at least one full-time servant
or domestic.
There were only about 230 reported murders in the entire U.S.
Just think what it will be like in another 100 years. It boggles the mind.
Yoda's Word of Wisdom
Words of Wisdom from a Galaxy Long Ago and Far, Far Away
By Celestine Green
Wherever you look, you can find great quotes to inspire, empower and motivate you to live the life of your dreams and become the person you’ve always wanted to be. Take a look at some of the dialogue from George Lucas’ Star Wars Saga. You’ll find excellent guidance and/or reinforcement for writers in the words of wisdom from a galaxy far, far away.
Remember when Jedi Master Yoda cautions his young charge, Luke Skywalker, about the demands involved in becoming a Jedi warrior. “A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind.”
Who better exemplifies a serious mindset and high level commitment than the dauntless writer? Both warrior and writer face great challenges in an effort to succeed in his or her chosen field. Every day we face worries about creativity, clarity, accuracy, readability, voice and style just to name a few demons that nip at our heels. Don’t mention mundane items like grammar, punctuation and spelling or margins, fonts, and format. Our bodies experience back pain and eye strain, while our minds tackle stress, fatigue, and burnout. All of these difficulties lay in wait to claim the unsuspecting writer wielding the mighty pen, just as the Jedi Knight uses his trusty light saber against the forces of evil. Despite these challenges, worries, and difficulties, we demonstrate our firm commitment to our craft by continuously returning to the battlefield of the blank page. We fight on until we finish the book of our heart. For most, writing ranks right up there with breathing, eating, and sleeping. It’s who we are and what we do.
“The dark side is quicker, easier, more seductive.” Just as Yoda warned his pupil about the temptations of the dark side of the Force that seduced the infamous Darth Vadar, so too should every writer guard against distraction and procrastination. Temptations abound for the gainfully occupied singularly focused writer. Did I hear you say e-mails or the INTERNET? Sometimes even cleaning the toilet looks more interesting than struggling with the next few words of descriptive narrative, the next crucial scene, or the remaining lines of dialogue. Beware of television, movie, or other forms of entertainment that beckon and seduce. Stay focused on your daily writing goals and the overall plan you developed to ensure success.
“I won’t fail you-I’m not afraid”. Luke Skywalker tells Yoda. In his wisdom, Yoda warns him. “Oh, you will be. You will be.”
No one said that writing is easy. First drafts are hard and rewrites are harder and more painful. During the process every writer experiences doubts. At one time or other, the mind gets foggy and writer’s block sets in. You may begin to feel that your writing isn’t any good and may become paralyzed with fear. Your inner critic may tell you that you’re a fraud. But, you are compelled to write and somehow you find a way to shake off those negative feelings and overcome your fears. Regardless of critics, rejection, naysayers and the like, you will write, rejoice when you’ve finished one project and move on to the next.
Yoda teaches Luke a lasting lesson with these words: “Do or not do. There is no try.”
Fearless newbies and veteran writers enter the field of battle each day. We struggle to develop that great hook, march undaunted through the sagging middle, forge our way forward until we stumble into the black moment, and finally reach “The End”. We stay focused in less than desirable environments, noisy rooms filled with chattering voices and endless activity. Fighting our way through a mine field of conflicting schedules and deadlines, pressing family needs, erratic work hours and overwhelming responsibilities, we pay a dear price in order to derive the great personal satisfaction from seeing our words in print.
Keep in mind Master Yoda’s assertion. “What will happen…is difficult to say. Always in motion is the future.” Take the future in your hands, heed the words of wisdom from that galaxy long ago and far, far away and keep writing.
By Celestine Green
Wherever you look, you can find great quotes to inspire, empower and motivate you to live the life of your dreams and become the person you’ve always wanted to be. Take a look at some of the dialogue from George Lucas’ Star Wars Saga. You’ll find excellent guidance and/or reinforcement for writers in the words of wisdom from a galaxy far, far away.
Remember when Jedi Master Yoda cautions his young charge, Luke Skywalker, about the demands involved in becoming a Jedi warrior. “A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind.”
Who better exemplifies a serious mindset and high level commitment than the dauntless writer? Both warrior and writer face great challenges in an effort to succeed in his or her chosen field. Every day we face worries about creativity, clarity, accuracy, readability, voice and style just to name a few demons that nip at our heels. Don’t mention mundane items like grammar, punctuation and spelling or margins, fonts, and format. Our bodies experience back pain and eye strain, while our minds tackle stress, fatigue, and burnout. All of these difficulties lay in wait to claim the unsuspecting writer wielding the mighty pen, just as the Jedi Knight uses his trusty light saber against the forces of evil. Despite these challenges, worries, and difficulties, we demonstrate our firm commitment to our craft by continuously returning to the battlefield of the blank page. We fight on until we finish the book of our heart. For most, writing ranks right up there with breathing, eating, and sleeping. It’s who we are and what we do.
“The dark side is quicker, easier, more seductive.” Just as Yoda warned his pupil about the temptations of the dark side of the Force that seduced the infamous Darth Vadar, so too should every writer guard against distraction and procrastination. Temptations abound for the gainfully occupied singularly focused writer. Did I hear you say e-mails or the INTERNET? Sometimes even cleaning the toilet looks more interesting than struggling with the next few words of descriptive narrative, the next crucial scene, or the remaining lines of dialogue. Beware of television, movie, or other forms of entertainment that beckon and seduce. Stay focused on your daily writing goals and the overall plan you developed to ensure success.
“I won’t fail you-I’m not afraid”. Luke Skywalker tells Yoda. In his wisdom, Yoda warns him. “Oh, you will be. You will be.”
No one said that writing is easy. First drafts are hard and rewrites are harder and more painful. During the process every writer experiences doubts. At one time or other, the mind gets foggy and writer’s block sets in. You may begin to feel that your writing isn’t any good and may become paralyzed with fear. Your inner critic may tell you that you’re a fraud. But, you are compelled to write and somehow you find a way to shake off those negative feelings and overcome your fears. Regardless of critics, rejection, naysayers and the like, you will write, rejoice when you’ve finished one project and move on to the next.
Yoda teaches Luke a lasting lesson with these words: “Do or not do. There is no try.”
Fearless newbies and veteran writers enter the field of battle each day. We struggle to develop that great hook, march undaunted through the sagging middle, forge our way forward until we stumble into the black moment, and finally reach “The End”. We stay focused in less than desirable environments, noisy rooms filled with chattering voices and endless activity. Fighting our way through a mine field of conflicting schedules and deadlines, pressing family needs, erratic work hours and overwhelming responsibilities, we pay a dear price in order to derive the great personal satisfaction from seeing our words in print.
Keep in mind Master Yoda’s assertion. “What will happen…is difficult to say. Always in motion is the future.” Take the future in your hands, heed the words of wisdom from that galaxy long ago and far, far away and keep writing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
