A Nice Cookout

The semester at school is winding down, and we actually had time to catch our collective breath yesterday afternoon. We all loaded up and went to a local State park to have a cookout. The weather is warm, but neither the temperature nor the humidity were oppressive. Hubby did his usual fabulous job grilling the burgers and (turkey) franks. He heated a can of baked beans on the grill, too. It all tasted so good.  4/5 of us have had a bug that has hung on with annoying tenacity. A couple of us would get better then come back down with it all again. However, sneezing, coughing, finals and grading were all forgotten as we enjoyed our burgers and beans and the joy of each other's company. 

Spirograph

This has to have been one of my favorite "toys" ever. My parents weren't ones to get the latest toy just because I asked for it, but they did indulge me here by buying me a Spirograph set. It really was one of the most exciting things I remember receiving. The tricky part was getting the pins positioned in the paper and cardboard--the Spirograph today I'm sure doesn't have the pins. The company came out very quickly with a younger edition called "Spirotot."  Again, Moma and Daddy bought that one for me. It was much better suited for my age (probably 5 or 6). 

I still love coloring and drawing although the best I can do is to stay in the lines.

What were some of your favorite toys?

The Secret to Success in Dieting

The past couple of weeks, I have been trying to get some weight off. It is a battle I have fought unsuccessfully all my life. (note that the first three letters in DIET spell "DIE")  I have had a little encouragement but I hit a stopping point despite being disciplined with what I ate (no snacks, no seconds) and walking about 30 minutes every evening. I couldn't get past that point . . .  until . . .

To celebrate a promotion I have wanted for 22 years, we went to Longhorn's last night.  I had a SIGNIFICANT portion of this dessert. Guess what?  This morning, I dropped past that plateau phase!  

What might we take from this? Chocolate, ice cream and loaded baked potatoes are good for weight loss!

Ginger, The History Cat

As I sat at the table working through the Morison book, Ginger came and decided to take a little rest on my notes and index cards.  I never knew she had an interest in US Naval History.  I tried to move her, but that didn't work. I finally just gave up. She wouldn't get up until I did. Oh well, I have needed a research assistant a long time. Anchors Aweigh, Ginger!

And by the way, here is a question we won't be able to answer until we are in heaven, but why is it that cats want to lay on whatever you are doing, reading or writing?

I Still Laugh Out Loud . . .

In my 10th grade year, I was placed in Latin, but had wanted to take Spanish III.  Little did I know how Providential that scheduling  conflict would be.  Latin turned out to be life-changing in the long run and full of laughs in the short.  One of the Seniors in the class was Alice Ann Gregory. She was the funniest individual I have ever known.  Our teacher was the kind and long-suffering Betty Greene. I hope that when we meet in heaven I can tell her how much I loved her class and what it meant to me through the years. Mrs. Greene's good nature was never more evident than in her dealings with Alice Ann. I think Alice Ann chewed bubble gum every day of her life. Several times each week, throughout the year, Mrs. Greene would tell Alice Ann to spit our her gum; on each of the occasions, Alice Ann would respond by telling us all, "It's ASPERGUM, Ms. Greene."  Once in a while, Mrs. Greene would have enough and tell Alice Ann that she would in the future need a doctor's note for her to be able to chew the gum in class. Of course, no Doctor's note was ever forthcoming, but Alice Ann continued with her Rx gum!   I still laugh out loud at that (and am laughing as I type this). Oh dear . . . .

Hope your day is filled with pleasant thoughts . . . .

Off to Sea . . . .

This summer, I hope to spend quite a bit of time with Samuel Eliot Morison (1887-1976), one of our finest American historians. He was a true patriot who chronicled our past without the politically correct agenda that so often plagues the profession today. Although Morison wrote about a wide variety of historical topics surrounding the exploration and founding of America, he seemed to be most at home at sea-- his biographies of great men of the sea like Columbus and John Paul Jones won Morison Pulitzer Prizes and no doubt inspired more than one generation of young scholars.




In 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt (who fancied himself, along with Churchill, an old sea dog) commissioned Morison to write a multi-volume history of American Naval Operations in the War. Obviously, much of Morison's subject matter was at that time yet to be played out. Morison completed the magnificent 15-volume work in
 1962.

Our course on The Era of the World Wars cycles back around in the Fall. This is one of my favorite classes to teach, and I am so grateful that I am able to do so. I want to spend the summer reading as much of this series as I can. As a slow reader, I don't anticipate getting through all of the volumes, but I am going to give it a good shot. Young historians today don't understand the role of sea power in our founding and colonization and in the subsequent wars to maintain our independence. Hopefully, we can visit this great theme together through our look at the World Wars.

The Dana Girls

 I have decided to start a new collection (just what I need), and I think The Dana Girls may be just the ticket. They share the same "author" as the Nancy Drew series, "Carolyn Keene."  The Dana Girls series were published in two different series, the first from 1934-1968 and then from 1972-1979. The stories involve two orphaned sisters, Jean and Louise Dana.  They reside at the Starhurst School for girls.  The first in the series is By the Light of the Study Lamp.

My understanding is that this series was not quite as popular as the Nancy Drew books. There aren't as many of the editions out there in used book land as there are the Nancy and Hardy Boys series, but I think I have a good shot at collection them if I am careful and smart about how much I pay. I know that I will find the best buys (and the best seller) at Jennifer's "Vintage Series Books for Girls . . . and a Few Boys."   www.series-books.com   

I have a handful now in addition to the first installment:
The Secret at Lone Tree Cottage (1934)
In the Shadow of the Tower (1934)
The Mystery of the Locked Room (1938)
The Sierra Gold Mystery (1961).

Tomorrow is payday, and after making sure we have water and electricity for another month, I may just visit Jennifer's shop. This will be fun!