MONDAY MUSINGS: ALL'S THE WORLD IS A STAGE

MONDAY MUSINGS reflect a wonderful weekend ending enjoy- ing LifeQuest's Improv Class's production of Lady Susan by Jane Austen. The seating in the round was filled for the Sunday matinee.

Lady Susan was actually published after Austen died in 1871. The story revolves around a flirtatious, scheming widow (played by friend Anne (center) who has been kicked out of her friend's house for flirting with the married man of the house. Shameless! She ends up on the estate of her brother-in-law (played by my junior high buddy Alan) and sets her sights on his 17-year-old son, trying to marry off her own daughter and ends up with a wealthy husband of her own. Thank goodness the play is cleverly told through letters as the actors are all senior citizens and the director's disclaimer " to be  aware that the actors ages may not always correspond with characters portrayed." Wink, wink...

What a hoot it was, and another example that "All's the World's a Stage." 

Well done to these thespian LifeQuesters in the Improv class, and to their instructor and director, Wayne Chapman.

FOTO FRIDAY: DANCE AS IF NOONE IS WATCHING

 

FOTO FRIDAY gives a big shout-out to Tim, Anne's hubby for catching this moment of joy of us dancing as if no one is watching...  That's the best way to dance!

Last week's FOTO FRIDAY: GEORGIA ON MY MIND

TBT: FALL IN THE END OF THE RAINBOW VALLEY 2014

TBT: 2014 Fall in the End of the Rainbow Valley
For 20 years Natureman and I were so fortunate to share and marvel at the most beautiful sights without ever leaving home...  We never took any of it for granted... 

I washed the dishes with this fall view:

The chicken coop on the left where I encountered more than fresh eggs and chickens inside; add those unwanted guests, i.e., opossums, raccoons, a snake, and even a white weasel. On the right: The Tractor, a 1952 Ford, which helped clear and grade our one-mile road besides pulling/hauling a lot of stuff. Next to it was the pile of 9 cords of wood, which would be used for heating our home, the 1890s barn, which housed our goats and barn cats with 100 bales of hay in its loft, and the stunning, ever-changing valley's hillside... 

MIDWEEK MUSINGS: DEATH BY CANDY ?

My initial thought of what I'd write about today changed within a matter of a minute so that other topic can just wait for another MIDWEEK MUSINGS.

Tuesday is one of my catch-up days as I don't have any classes that I need to be at a certain time. I had a couple of errands in mind, and it is that first one where today's topic changed. I needed small snack Ziploc bags to package a chocolate trail mix treat I had made for a Halloween luncheon I was attending. 

 After living in the middle of nowhere for 20 years,  folks know I avoid going to the supermarket as much as possible. Anyhoo, I have my system of navigating the Kroger parking lot since I hate going up and down lanes looking for a spot close to the door. Instead of turning early, I wait to turn down the next-to-last aisle even though speed bumps are along the road until the turn. I made my turn and proceeded cautiously. It's easy for folks to back up without really looking both ways, right?  I saw a couple of open spots ahead when, out of the corner of my eye, a grey flash made me brake hard. Someone was speeding diagonally through the lanes via open parking spaces. The driver didn't even hesitate after almost hitting me.  I pulled into one of the open spots and sat there dumbfounded for a bit.  As I headed to the store door, I turned to see where the person had parked. That silver car was right in front of a chiropractor's door, but the driver hadn't emerged right away. My brain gave the driver a minute of grace, poor thing's in pain... But when I glanced back, a lanky blonde emerged, swishing her ponytail as she headed to the nail salon door. 

The grocery store mission had those mini snack bags on a top shelf and the search for a taller employee ensued. It gave me time to cool down. The decision was made to not let this incident go.

After making the purchase, you know me, I headed to the nail salon. The only customer was a 50-ish blonde sitting with her work binders at the pedicure chair. I introduced myself as the person she almost hit cutting through the parking lot. She spewed indignation,  " You mean you came all the way over here to tell me that?" " Yes, I did, because I wasn't sure you realized that you could have caused a terrible accident, and instead of criticizing me, perhaps there should be some remorse/ recognition of your wrongdoing." 

"Oh, "she blurted out unapologetically,"I'm sorry." 

Who knew that needing those baggies would prove that candy can kill us?

MONDAY MUSINGS: ARKANSAS GEMS

 Arkansas is known as the 'Diamond State' but there are other gems like our Jazz scene. I was fortunate to have enjoyed some of these gems at an Evening of Jazz, a fundraiser planned to benefit both Jericho Way and Opportunity House under the umbrella of DEPAUL ARKANSAS.

Jericho Way is for people experiencing homelessness in Central Arkansas. About 150 people/day have served meals,  the use of showers, laundry facility, a clothing closet (where I brought my Dad's clothing), phones and computers, case management, and housing placement. 

Jericho Way lives up to his name as a safe place where people can find care, as it has also expanded into housing with a"13 houses campaign placing homeless into refurbished homes where tenants pay 30 % of their income. 

We were treated to music by highly acclaimed state musicians including The Rodney Block Collective, American Idol alum Nia Renée, saxophonist Grady Nichols, and Pattern Blu with classic jazz.

Kudos to two of our community members who were named 2026 Chatillon Award Honorees: City Board Director Kathy Webb and Kevin Howard from the Dept. of Housing and Neighborhood                                         Programs.

What a delightful evening filled with donations of good music, food & drink. People doing good. 

Thanks to all those who donated to help homeless folks have a brighter future. Arkansas's best gem are all those who help make our state a better place to live.

tUESDAY tUNES:TIMELESS THE WORLD OVER

tUESDAY tUNES is a song that seems timeless like Engelbert Humperdinck's Quando Quando sung here by the duo of Cece Trương and Tuấn Dũng in a band Poppy Hills Musique in Viet Nam.

Quando Quando

FOTO FRIDAY: GEORGIA's ON MY MIND

 

FOTO FRIDAY: Meet Georgia, my newest foster. If you have been hankering a loving dog, this gal's the one for you. 

She's a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix minus the ridgeback, but you still get a beautiful marking on her chest.

Georgia's very observant and a great lover of nature, whether she is in the backyard/on a walk- she stops, looks, and listens... 

Update: Contact The Buford Project Rescue at

847-846-8134 if interested .If you are wanting a dog (s) in your area please check with your local Rescues. There is an abundance of dogs needing a loving home.

Last week's FOTO FRIDAY was SHELTER OF PEACE

TBT: KYLIE 'S 17

TBT: 17 years ago today I was blessed to share a first grandchild, Kylie, with Natureman, a guy who had raised 2 boys. His first comment was about how pink she was!

Although she is a bonus grandchild, I'm so proud of all her endeavors. She is a good student, loves music, participates in theater and learning how to play the electric guitar. Most importantly, she is kind, giving and helpful. Her inner beauty adds to her natural beauty.

Happy 17th, Kylie, your Zayde would be so proud of the young woman you have become!

MIDWEEK MUSINGS:GIFT GIVING

 MIDWEEK MUSINGS this week is about gift-giving. Some folks as I have previously discussed are great gift-givers.  They know exactly what someone would love. but if you are not one of those,  do you wait until you see/ hear about a desire/ is money the answer? It is pretty impersonal. But what they do with it, is up to the receiver.

Have you noticed how newlyweds-to-be sometimes do away with gift registry and just ask for cash/signing up for different parts of their honeymoon? i.e., dinner on the beach, an excursion - ziplining/ whatever. How do you feel about that? I think it's pretty gutsy, but it is what they want. The bottom line is the final decision is yours. as to what you give...

So what's prompting all this is that yesterday I received a call about an offer I had made to gift money for a specific item I saw a need.  It would/ could be custom-made. The board discussed it, and decided they were not interested. Not a problem. It's their job to decide. 

But what they did need, get ready for this- was a new lectern. I had to stifle my laugh. Oh Lordy, you know that's a very touchy subject here in Arkansas...

"The lectern for Governor Sanders, who served as press secretary for former President Donald Trump and has been widely viewed as a potential candidate to be his running mate, has drawn attention ranging from late night host Jimmy Kimmel to The New York Times.

The blue and wood-paneled lectern was bought last June with a state credit card for $19,029.25 from an events company in Virginia. The Republican Party of Arkansas reimbursed the state for the purchase on Sept. 14, and Sanders’ office has called the use of the state credit card an accounting error. Sanders’ office said it received the lectern in August."

Yeah, I think I'll pass on donating a lectern...

tUESDAY tUNES:: SILENCE

tUESDAY  tUNES comes in a different note today. The music of silence.  WOW. Listen to silence... a photo can sing a 1000 notes

Back story:Well, I woke up at about 2:45am and thought about photographing the Moon-Jupiter occultation but figured (a.) it was probably foggy and (b.) the moon was probably too low and behind our bluff.

After dreaming that got up and caught the end of the occultation, I got up and got the occultation. (At least the end of it.)

I first hiked across the yard to only realize that the moon was still behind the trees. Ufda! I then ran to the car, threw the camera, tripod and myself into said car and zoomed down the driveway and over to our neighbor's sod farm (Thank you for the clear view Bill and Mandi!).

I rapidly deployed the tripod and camera to just catch Jupiter re-emerging from the shadow-side of the moon. You can not only see Jupiter but it's four Galilean moons.

They are called the Galilean moons because Galileo was the first to spot the four major moons of Jupiter back in 1610. Today we know Jupiter has at least 115 moons!

Note: The image was taken with high dynamic range settings in-camera, then post-processed using advanced software. Is it "AI"? Sort of, but it was not manipulated to add Jupiter's moons, etc. It was used to reduce noise, sharpen the image and help bring up the dynamic range. Advanced hardware, software or AI? You can be the judge. 

Thank you Alan Stankevitz for providing the sound of silence.

MONDAY MUSINGS: RUBBING SHOULDERS

MONDAY MUSINGS reminds of one of Natureman's favorite phrases, one which we enjoyed immensely:'rubbing shoulders.' 

Community events do just that- they allow us to rub shoulders with folks we normally wouldn't. This past weekend I sat at 2 very different tables: one at the Turkish Fest and a couple hours later just blocks away at the Greek Fest. For the last couple of years, both festivals have shared the same weekend.

The grill and fryers were working overtime, and the emanating smells made one hungry. The desserts were all so tempting too. Fortunately, I could split choices so I could sample more. 

Our first table was with young families with gorgeous dark-eyed and curly-haired toddlers speaking their native tongues. Our second table at the Greek Fest was English-speaking, and I had hot Greek donuts to share. One gal was originally from California and her Bostonian rock band partner is performing in Pine Bluff. Their Asian-American friends had a toddler. 

This is what the United States is, not a melting pot but a salad with all different backgrounds rubbing shoulders at a community event. 

FOTO FRIDAY: SHELTER OF PEACE

 

FOTO FRIDAY:  When I discovered my most recent couchsurfer was Jewish, I decided a great place to add to our sightseeing stops was my Temple's sukkah.  What a lovely addition! I'm assuming the Sunday School students made it...

TBT: BELLE D LA MISSISSSIPPI. AKA JEWEL

 TBT 2018 was a tough choice today as it obviously is a good week in a lot of years. Below meet Jewel also known as Belle D' la Mississippi. "October has finally arrived.  5 months ago I completed the mannequin floor lamp which will be auctioned off at the Light Up a Life fundraiser for Downs Syndrome in Winona , Minnesota on the 18th of this month. All the mannequins to be auctioned off that evening will be on display in Winona, Mine will be at Home and Community Options on 3rd street  in the front windows until the 17th. Come support a good cause at Winona National Bank on the 18th. 

Many thanks to all who donated their "Jewels" to make Jewel the girl she is today. This pic is called Got Your Back!

A Winona resident bought her and Jewel thank goodness will be living in her Master Bath close to water!

tUESDAY tUNES: DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT A THING

If this tUESDAY tUNES by Stevie Wonder doesn't get you moving , I don't know what will...  because Max Chambers version of Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing would make even Stevie Wonder proud...

You know the drill - if there's an ad, just press skip at the end of it... it'll be worth it. If you're not into this young man's performance after 60 seconds, let me know. This is from the Voice Knockouts.

Max hails from Shreveport, Louisiana and is 15. Can you imagine what his future will look like?

Listen up.

DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT A THING

MONDAY MUSINGS: DON'T LET THE GRASS GROW UNDER YOUR FEET

MONDAY MUSINGS reflect how full the month of September can be even in retirement. I am not one to generally let the grass grow under my feet, but it must have been on Miracle Gro this month... Where did September go?

Usually, there are stretches where activities are in short supply and one yearns for something to do. This past weekend was not one of those- First time back at the Greenhouse helping organize and sanitize plant containers, a mitzvah challah dropoff followed by taco lunch with a friend,  services both Friday night and Saturday eating meals in the Sukkah helping another friend celebrate her new 8th decade, catching the first half August Wilson's 2 1/2 hour play Gem of the Ocean with Alan, a junior high bud of mine playing Mr Selig, the peddler, a quick yummy dinner, an excellent high school production of Radium Girls (Kudos to all the aspiring young thespians), a Korean miniseries

topped off with an unexpected couchsurfer Bostonian Angelina, who had just finished a mountain climbing competition (placed 3rd-see pic) in Horseshoe Canyon, only to discover her plane back North was cancelled...

What a great weekend!

 

Thank goodness I got that grass mowed on Thursday!

FOTO FRIDAY: OCHO

 

FOTO FRIDAY: When my daughter was little, OCHO was her favorite Spanish number. 

My favorite Canadian couchsurfer treated me to his favorite cookie recipe.  The batch makes 4 cookies but it decided to make 3.

Who knew his baking could evoke this special yummy memory?

 Last week's FOTO FRIDAY was:REFRAMED

TBT: CENTRAL

TBT: Yesterday was a monumental day back in 1957. Read on to understand its importance back then. Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site is a must-see when you come to visit.

September 23, 1957

On this day 62 years ago, four African American journalists - reporters Alex Wilson of the Memphis Tri-State Defender, James Hicks of the Amsterdam News, Moses J, Newsom of the Afro-American newspapers and photographer Earl Davy of Little Rock - were attacked outside Central High School after providing cover for the Little Rock Nine to enter through a side entrance under police escort. 

Shortly after the attack near the school, Alex Wilson wrote about what happened to him on the morning and the choice he made that day:

"The disgraceful incident... occurred about 8:20 a.m. Monday, near the 16th and Park Street entrance of Central High. 

I parked my car about two blocks from the intersection. Newsom and I were in front with Hicks and Davy following, when we began the long, apprehensive walk. 

We had firsthand knowledge of where the nine stout-hearted Negro students were to enter; and we set off at a fast clip to be on hand when they arrived at the campus entrance.

About midway of the final block, we picked up a tail of two whites. They made no comment. We kept moving forward. 

A crowd of about one hundred faced the school (away from us), waiting for the nine students to appear. 

Then, someone in the crowd of whites spotted us advancing. 

Suddenly, the angry eyes of the entire pack were upon us. We moved forward to within ten feet of the mob.  Two men spread their arms in eagle fashion. One shouted: "'You'll not pass!"

I tried to move to the left of the mob, but my efforts were thwarted. I made a half-turn left from the sidewalk and went over to a Little Rock policeman, who was standing mid-center of the street. 

"What is your business?" he asked. I presented my press card. He took his time checking it. Then he said: "You'd better leave. Go on across the sidewalk" (away from the mob at my heels). 

I followed his suggestion. After taking several steps, I looked back. The officer was near the opposite sidewalk, leaving the angry pack to track me. 

The mob struck. I saw Davy being roughed up. Hicks and Newsom were retreating from kicks and blows. I stopped momentarily, as the boots and jeers behind me increased. 

Strangely, the vision of Elizabeth Eckford, one of the nine students, flashed before me as she with dignity strode through a jeering, hooting gauntlet of segregationists several days ago. Maybe, too, my training as a U.S. Marine in World War II and my experience as a war correspondent in Korea, and work on the Emmett Till case [a young African American boy who was lynched in Money, Mississippi, for whistling at a white woman] influenced my decision during that moment of crisis.

I decided not to run. If I were to be beaten, I'd take it walking if I could - not running."

Special thanks to Facing History and Ourselves (the Wilson article) and Indiana University Archives (Wilson photos taken by Will Counts).

U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service s

MIDWEEK MUSINGS: IMAGINE

 MIDWEEK MUSINGS  bring with it a breath of relief as the Jewish new year has granted a reprieve even in the weather yesterday. I really felt my load was lighter after bouncing back and forth for services at both the Temple and the Synagogue on the Day of Repentance for this day of reflection. 

We certainly don't have to wait for these 24 hours to start the mental cleansing, but it is indeed a welcome respite to do nothing else. I am fortunate to have holiday memories with both of these congregations. The haunting music of the cello/ violin at Temple touch one's inner core as do the ancient melodies of the ancient chanting at the Synagogue. 

One needs time to do nothing mundane but do what Jews have done for 5787 years and that is to pray. Pray to be a better person and to make this world a better place. We start with ourselves and hopefully our actions can be received by those who will also pass it on... 

Topping my prayers I have also added-

May the day not be distant o Lord, when we no longer have to have security guards present at our houses of worship... 

tUESDAY tUNES : QUEEN OF ROCK 'N ROLL :INSPIRATION OF THE KINGS

As far as deciding upon a tUESDAY tUNES  choosing the artist was a no-brainer, as it had to be Sister Rosetta Tharpe who I was introduced to at last weekend's play, Marie and Rosetta. 

See yesterday's blog entry if you missed it. 

Now which tune to pick? It might have to be more than one.

STRANGE THINGS HAPPENING EVERY DAY

Here's a compilation of some of her work

COMPILATION

MONDAY MUSINGS A SERENDIPITOUS ENCOUNTER

 MONDAY MUSINGS is about me walking into the Fine Arts Center theater expecting a movie screen; instead the stage was both our seating and a funeral home backdrop. My ticket for Marie & Rosetta was the best surprise ever- a powerful musical of the duo of Marie and Rosetta written byGeorge Brant. The setting is a Mississippi funeral home.

Before the play began, the folks next to me shared photos of visiting Cotton Plant, Arkansas, where Rosetta was born. I'll be...  

The play focuses on
1946 when Rosetta and Marie had their first rehearsal before they went out on the road together as a duo.  biographical dialogue and music made me want to know more.

 Rosetta was known as Sister Rosetta Tharpe, raised in the church singing gospel music with her Mama. Her mother was a traveling evangelist who played the mandolin and she had Rosetta singing and playing the guitar by 4 years old and performing with her by 6. By 38, Rosetta became the first gospel singer to get a major label with Decca. She sped up gospel songs with jazz and blues and tore them up on her electric guitar. 

Chuck Berry said his whole career was one long Sister Rosetta Tharpe impersonation. Others like Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Eric Clapton and Keith Richards all credit their music to her. Wow.  She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

Marie and Rosetta will have another performance Sept 25 at 7.

You don't want to miss it. What a phenomenal performance!

FOTO FRIDAY:REFRAMED

FOTO FRIDAY: REFRAMED as in seeing something from a different perspective can be mentally refreshing... And a thrift store find did just that in the physical sense... 

A framed print of two young girls by a piano said, "Take me home." Yet, it wasn't the print that made the sale but its exquisite framing. I knew exactly which of my paintings needed reframing.

Background: 35 years ago, my watercolor instructor Selma Blackburn taught me about underpainting. For subject matter, I used the dancing statues in the old courtyard of the Little Rock Art Museum. Some of you may remember them. 

Anyhow,  zoom in to see the matting...

*Big shout-out to Mike for helping move the wire hanger and supervising its hanging.

Last week's FOTO FRIDAY was SPECIAL HOLIDAY STUFFED ONIONS, which did freeze well and received rave reviews.

tBT: 2012 NEW YEAR

TBT: 2012 It's a family affair in Little Rock 2012 with cousins for Rosh Hashonah 5775 if this is now 5787.

(L to R) 

Front row Lori (30) Steven (25)

Back row Noah, Becky and Max, the dog  

with my folks in our family home on Grant.

Missing cousins due to college were Matt at Northeastern and Elliot at Missou.

(Don't you just love that my Dad is wearing his sperm shirt?)

MIDWEEK MUSINGS:THE SPICE OF LIFE

 It's time for the LifeQuest fall classes and Monday was my first class and I joined 14 other seniors in a one-time special 3-hour glass fusion workshop...  The best part of these classes is not just the subject matter but meeting new folks with similar interests...

LifeQuest is for seniors 52+ to participate in a variety of classes ranging from board games to lectures, discussion groups or more active classes like getting out of our chairs.

This quarter I also enrolled in another workshop on AI & Scamming besides 8-week classes in German Art, Intro to the World of Tea, Masters of NonFiction: Montaigne and Thoreau, Sips through Time and Line Dancing. I hope to also slip into some Photo Sharing classes & Obit Writing!

LifeQuest recognizes socialization is so important for seniors and one is never done learning embodying what I hold dear:  DIVERSITY is the spice of life...

tUESDAY tUNES: WHAT YOU WON'T DO FOR LOVE

Today, an old tune came across my feed... You know, one of those that evokes a different era and makes you wonder why they don't make them like they used to... both the melody and the lyrics.

How many of the songs written today will last this long?

Here's Bobby Caldwell's  WHAT YOU WON'T DO FOR LOVE

MONDAY MUSING: HANDICAPPED

 MONDAY MUSING left me shaking my head as I couldn't let another example of being inconsiderate go. But before I snapped the pic, I thought don't think the worst case scenario.

You see, there were two open parking spots next to where I parked three spots down from an allotted HANDICAP parking space.

What drew my attention was that the car that pulled in the handicap spot was a Domino's delivery person's car. It hit me as a good Friday Foto pic. 

A couple of thoughts: First, they'll be quick if it's a delivery. But why take up the spot unnecessarily? Just pull up in front of the store and run it in. Then, I thought perhaps the delivery person was indeed handicapped and I shouldn't pass judgment so quickly.

As I zoomed in to take the pic before I walked into the store. The delivery gal got out, no pizza in hand. Oh, she wasn't happy to see me taking her pic. She started yelling for me to mind my own business with more than a couple of expletives and continued cussing me out into the store.  

I don't understand why folks nowadays are so inconsiderate... What if it was one of their family members/friends that needed that spot on another 100-degree day? Seriously, I think folks can be handicapped in many ways, don't you?

FOTO FRIDAY: A SPECIAL FRIDAY

FOTO FRIDAY: Every holiday I attempt a new recipe and this one makes me well up because it's made with large onions and today is a day filled with both happy and sad tears...

As the recipe suggested, I rolled them with a yummy rice stuffing ahead of time and froze them...

Hopefully they will turn into this...

We shall see! Either way, I hope it's good!

Last week's ESCAPED ECLIPSE

TBT: NEW YEAR BLESSING 2016

 TBT This lunar calendar year is 5787 but this New Year blessing from a decade ago couldn't be more poignant;

yet we must hope for love and compassion, hope and healing.

NEW YEAR BLESSING

May this be a year of Peace.

MIDWEEK MUSINGS: POSTAL

I'm going postal for MIDWEEK MUSINGS this week but maybe not the way you are assuming. You see, the Historic Society offered another of their interesting public tours last Friday, and this one was downtown at 600 W Capitol, home to the Depression-era limestone Greek Revival  edifice of the 1932 post office and courthouse.

The Post Office stayed in the building's lobby until the mid 90's and one can still see the wall of individual embossed mailboxes and original counter.  In 2003 it was renamed for Judge Richard Arnold who sat on the 8th circuit. Although it's purely a courthouse now the name still says Post Office and Courthouse.

The courthouse is one of the State's 3 eastern Courthouses.Anybody entering the premises must leave their phones with security as no cameras are allowed in the building. 

We were divided into 3 groups to visit 3 different courtrooms in on the 1st and 4th floors in both the old and new structures. In the original large courtroom, the architectural features are the same as in every state. Now the jurors have computer screens to view from their seats! The bar footrests were obviously for much taller folks than me. (LOL)

The courtroom were the Little Rock 9 was tried has been moved down to the first floor to make it more accessible to visitors. 

Landmark cases included :

1957: Federal supremacy over school desegregation with the Little Rock 9 being admitted to Central after Governor Faubus sent in the National Guard ( Cooper vs Aaron). 

1969: Judge Henley rules the entire Arkansas prison system unconstitutional  (Holt v. Sarver)  First time whole state prison struck down under the 8th amendment.

1982 Judge Overton struck down state's creation- science law,   McLean v Arkansas Board of Education, declaring creation science wasn't science at all.

mid 90'sJudge Howard Jr presided over Whitewater Trials of the M/M McDougal with President Clinton giving video testimony.

Some other inter tidbits were family members amidst the Judges. 

Judge Thomas Clark Trimble III and daughter federal Judges: ElsiJane Trimble Roy, first woman onn the federal bench in Arkansas. She even sat in his old courtroom.

Father -Son pair Jams Maxwell Moody and son James Maxwell Moody Jr.  who took the seat in 2014 and is still there

tUESDAY tUNES :FEMINISM

For this Tuesday not only am I doubling the tune but tripling it in memory of the pioneers of Feminism.

I have chosen three but how about you add your suggestions and we can make a mighty fine list.

As I indicated in yesterday's title:

I  AM WOMAN Helen Reddy 1972

RESPECT  Aretha Franklin 

AIN'T YOUR MOMMAJennifer Lopez 2016

MONDAY MUSINGS : A TRIBUTE TO A WOMAN WHO ROARED...

MONDAY MUSINGS are a result of my emotions running high this past weekend after seeing Gloria Steinem's posthumous interview Famous Last Words on Netflix. Filmed in February 2025, Steinem knew it would only be viewed after her passing and Netflix kept true to its word, releasing this documentary last week, September 3rd, the day after her death at the age of 92.

It's especially times like this I miss not being able to talk to my Natureman, who I always claimed was a much better feminist than I. It wasn't only our age difference; I will also blame some of it on being raised in the South.

Steinem was the journalist who took the disjointed women's movement to a national conversation.  During 1972, my senior year of high school, she became the co-founder of Ms Magazine, the first magazine owned and run by women, replacing recipes and fashion tips with writings re: equal pay, abortion, and domestic violence. 

Steinem also helped create the National Political Women's Caucus, advocating for more women being elected, leading reproductive rights discussions, and the Equal Rights Amendment. 

What I didn't know was that, ironically at age 22  (1957), after graduating from Smith College, she found herself pregnant en route to India. Her then fiancé, a man 22 years her senior, didn't know about the pregnancy. It didn't dawn on her that France where she headed to seek an abortion, was an impossibility as it was a Catholic nation. Her solution awaited her in England, where a doctor told her not to reveal his name and to do what she wanted with her life.

My two most favorite messages from the documentary were:

-The great thing about a movement is you have each other.

-She who fights for authenticity and compassion is happier.

Ms Steinem was a force, and she got the last word as the interviewer even left the room. He would have to wait, like the rest of us, to hear her final message.

Rest in peace, Gloria. You had a life well lived, and we women have a better life thanks to you and other women who spoke up...

FOTO FRIDAY: AND IT WASN'T A TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART

FOTO FRIDAY: Although many folks caught a glimpse of  the eclipse, I wasn't one of them, 

But I did catch a very interesting sky that evening, wouldn't you agree? 

Last week was SEER SUCKER WINNER

TBT: RETIREMENT

TBT: RETIREMENT 10 years and this sentiment has not changed... Being retired, some days seem busier than when I received a monthly paycheck.  I, of course, do miss many things about being with my students but there's definitely one thing I don't miss.

For all my teacher friends: I have to admit that I do not miss orientation meetings/ any meetings for that matter!

Welcome back to the classroom. Have a great year!

MIDWEEK MUSINGS:TECH HELP NEEDED

MIDWEEK MUSINGS has me bemusing this past MONDAY MUSING as I had been searching for a solution for the lost DRAFT  tab. Actually, abracadabra poof, walking into the Apple Store fixed it. Seriously, the gent who assigns folks tech helpers after telling me I'd have an hour wait,  helped me.

I opened up my laptop's email and explained what I couldn't find. Apparently, there was a little faint arrow (I didn't see it before) that had condensed the folders and upon clicking opened the list; down a dozen or so titles was the word DRAFTS.  OMG. Problem solved. 

Then, I was also referred to Walmart for a new cell screen protector and watch batteries for my dead I-tags. Let me tell you I felt so accomplished at day's end.

Now, if only I had a tech person at home who could tell me how to replace my favorite daily online jigsaw puzzle since its availability on FB games was eliminated as of September 1st in addition to a notification re: Libre Office going defunct after the next  OS update. WHAT????

Does anybody have a teenager to lend? And I did say lend...

HELP!

tUESDAY tUNES: BOONE STEALS HEARTS

Back in 2021, I watched an American Idol audition with a 19-year-old kid from Monroe, Washington. Benson Boone was his name and if alliteration matters, his name certainly worked with his boyish charm, The innocence of youth won over Katy Perry (one of the judges)... But actually, Boone ended up being an American Idol dropout. He went his own way with his music and on to gain fame on TikTok with over a million fans.

Fast forward 4 years and Boone's The Wanted Man world tour from his recently released  American Heart album took it to arena-sized venues, Tickets sold out in 9 seconds. Is he the male Taylor Swift? He definitely has a worldwide following.

Through a last-minute invite last Saturday, I got to go see Boone do his famous flip, with an audience spanning the gamut of ages, with Grandmas like me, Moms with their tweens (and younger), along with all ages joining the sing-alongs wearing all types of get-ups... Some putting a lot of thought of what they wore to this concert and others not so much... We got an eye full.

Boone's lyrics and musicality speak for themselves as my 9-year-old granddaughter chose this one as her favorite for me to use:

BEAUTIFUL THINGS. I'm sure you've heard parts of it !

* A bonus listen is SORRY I'M HERE FOR SOMEONE ELSE  as it was one of my Jazzercise tunes.  Wink, wink...

MONDAY MUSINGS::UP'DATES

MONDAY MUSINGS: ' 'UP'DATES is not talking about my online dating experiences. That's a story for another day. I am talking about the most recent update on my Mac that has me fit to be tied. I thought I'd throw in an ' ancient idiom' since I am feeling pretty prehistoric after this past week.

This past 'update' has me dumbfounded on one of its 'improvements.' Where in the heck did the email draft feature go? Poof, it just disappeared. I discovered this after being interrupted numerous times while trying to finish a list on an email. There used to a subcategory entitled 'drafts' to reopen unfinished mail, but it has vanished.  POOF. Who was the genius that deemed this change necessary?

I have no clue where they stuck this feature, and I'm not the only one. When I searched help, there were numerous other folks just as perplexed. AND not one answer/ suggestion... GRRRRRR.

Fingers crossed that the Apple store will be able to help ... 

for me