Thursday Thirteen

1. Mercury is in retrograde in Leo. I am not exactly sure what this means, to be honest. But it has become something convenient to blame things on. Computer not working? Mercury's in retrograde. Lost something? Mercury's in retrograde.

2. We watched Bohemian Rhapsody on HBO the other night. That's the story of Freddie Mercury, who died in 1991. He was the lead singer for Queen. I thought it was a tragic story. The movie began and ended with the Live Aid Concert in 1985, which I remember. I wonder if as a world we're even able to do something like that today, have a big concert to raise money to help one another.

3. Mercury is my ruling planet since I'm Gemini. I'm not sure what that means, either.

4. I have a sibling, but we're not twins. However, we do have a lot of weird stuff in common. For example, I recently learned that, like me, my brother likes to keep an abundance of toilet paper on hand. I have no idea why this matters to us, it's not like we can't go to the store and purchase more.

5. Gemini was also the name of a NASA space program. Gemini started in 1961 and ran through 1966. The Gemini spacecraft carried two crew members and there were 10 launches that went two people circling the earth. It was the foundation for the Apollo missions.

6. Gemini is represented by the twins Castor and Pollux in mythology. Pollux is immortal; allegedly when his twin died, he asked Zeus to put them together up in the heavens. Hence the constellation.

7. They also were with Jason and the Argonauts, so they were adventurers. They were also the brothers to Helen of Troy.

8. Geminis in astrology often have dual or mixed personalities. I fit that category. My Gemini husband, though, is pretty solid and not as changeable as his wife.

9. Mercury used to be used in thermometers. We were told a long time ago to rid ourselves of those and go to digital, but I trust my mercury thermometer much more than a digital one. Yes, I still have the old fashioned kind and still use it. I have a digital one as one but, you know, batteries. Why do we do away with things that don't need energy, like a mercury thermometer?

10. Mercury is also called quicksilver. It's supposed to be toxic, which is why I suppose they no longer sell the old-fashioned thermometers.

11. Mercury was once used as healing medicine. At one time it was used to treat syphilis (I think the brother of Prince Albert on the PBS show Victoria underwent this treatment.).

12. Geminis are supposed to be good communicators.

13. Here is one version of my horoscope for today (from tarot.com): 7.11.19: Your tongue is sharp and a message delivered in the intensity of the moment might backfire later. You could also be the recipient of someone else’s pointed words today, and may begin contemplating how to defend yourself. In the midst of this splintery situation, use your pen as a sword and compose your thoughts first before you hit send. Take extra time to reread and revise so you can clarify your feelings. Communicate what needs to be said without creating collateral damage. Kindness is never wasted.


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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 612th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.