Mary, Queen of Scots

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On May 16, 1568, Mary, Queen of Scots made a desperate escape to England after her forces were defeated at the Battle of Langside. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of her downfall. What she hoped would be a refuge soon became a prison, ultimately leading to her execution in 1587.

Mary’s life was marked by political upheaval from the moment she was born. Crowned queen as an infant after the death of her father, King James V, her early years were spent away from Scotland. To secure an alliance between Scotland and France, she was sent to the French court, where she was raised in luxury and refinement. Her marriage to the Dauphin, Francis II, elevated her to Queen of France, but his early death forced her to return to Scotland in 1561—a land she barely knew.

Upon her arrival, Mary faced a deeply divided kingdom. Scotland had undergone a Protestant Reformation, and as a Catholic queen, she struggled to assert her authority over Protestant nobles and religious leaders. Despite her efforts to rule with tolerance, tensions between Catholic and Protestant factions led to increasing opposition. One of her most formidable adversaries was John Knox, the fiery Protestant reformer who openly challenged her reign.

Mary’s political struggles were compounded by her personal life. Her marriage to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, initially strengthened her claim to the English throne, but soon deteriorated into scandal. Darnley proved to be arrogant and unstable, and their relationship became tumultuous. His mysterious murder in 1567, widely believed to have been orchestrated by nobles, cast suspicion on Mary. Her subsequent marriage to James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, the man suspected of Darnley’s murder, led to an outcry from Scottish nobles and the public. Accused of conspiracy and unable to quell the rebellion, Mary was forced to abdicate in favor of her infant son, James VI.

The Battle of Langside: A Queen’s Last Stand

The Battle of Langside, fought on May 13, 1568, was a defining moment in Mary’s struggle to reclaim her throne. After escaping imprisonment at Lochleven Castle, she gathered a force of around 6,000 men, intending to march to Dumbarton Castle, a strategic stronghold.

However, her half-brother, James Stewart, Earl of Moray, who ruled as Regent for James VI, was prepared. Moray’s forces, though smaller in number (around 4,000 men), were strategically positioned and led by some of Scotland’s most experienced commanders.

Mary’s forces attempted to advance through Langside, a village south of Glasgow, but Moray’s army blocked their path. The battle was fierce but short-lived—lasting only about 45 minutes. Moray’s well-disciplined troops, supported by William Kirkcaldy of Grange, a skilled military strategist, outmaneuvered Mary’s forces. The Queen’s army suffered over 100 casualties, while Moray’s side lost only one soldier.

Defeated and with no safe refuge in Scotland, Mary fled south on that fateful day 457 years ago, seeking protection from her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England. Instead of receiving aid, she was imprisoned for nearly 19 years, ultimately leading to her execution in 1587. The Battle of Langside was not just a military defeat—it sealed Mary’s fate, forcing her into exile and captivity. After her execution, she left behind a legacy of political intrigue, tragic misfortune, and an enduring connection to Britain’s royal line.

Sources:

• Wikipedia
• Mary Queen of Scots History

Thursday Thirteen

Do you remember these items that I grew up with, most of which are now either gone or just shadows of themselves?

 

1. Did you look up numbers in telephone books, those thick directories that everyone had by the phone?

2. Was an 8-track tape player in your vehicle, along with those bulky tapes? They were the predecessors to cassettes.

3. How about those rotary dial phones? Your finger did the dialing. And you can slam that thing down very satisfactorily on a call gone wrong.

4. And then there were TV antennas (rabbit ears) that ultimately looked somewhat alien because there was tinfoil attached to them to try to get a clear picture. Do you remember adjusting them this way and that? And do you remember having to get up to change the channel on the television set?

5. Before there was Google, there was the World Book Encyclopedia, or Brittanica, as the case may be. That's where you went for all of your information. No typing in and clicking search. You had to at least know the alphabet and have some idea of how to find something.

6. Did you ever use a pay phone to call for a ride home? They used to be everywhere - in the stores, on the street corners. I wonder where Superman changes clothes these days?

7. Floppy disks were the storage method of choice in the early days of computers. They seemed high-tech at the time, especially when they went from the 5 1/4 inch to the 3.5-inch disks.

8. Did your first car have an ashtray and a cigarette lighter?

9. I used to roll carbon paper into a typewriter so I'd have a copy of my work. Do they even make that anymore?

10. My mother and grandmother collected S&H Green Stamps. I remember licking stamps and putting them in the books for whatever reward my mother wanted. There was a little catalog to pick things from, and she could get a toaster or a blender, stuff like that. I think they were no longer a thing by the time I married, though.

11. Did you attend the movies at the drive-in theater? I remember going to see many shows at them, most of which I was supposed to sleep through, but I watched through half-closed eyes. There are still some drive-in movie theaters, but they’re rare.

12. When it was raining outside, the gym teacher would pull out the reel-to-reel projector and show some film on health. Do you remember the flap-flap sound the film made when it broke?

13. I carried a metal lunchbox with a thermos occasionally, though I mostly bought my school lunches at the cafeteria. I seem to remember a Scooby Doo lunchbox, but maybe that was my brother's. Or possibly one that I coveted that belonged to someone else. (Which is another way of saying I don't really remember what was on my lunchbox.)

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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 907th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

I Think It Just Means I’m Human

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We almost all have feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, sadness, bewilderment, and low self-esteem, unless we’re suffering from a personality disorder like narcissism. And most of us want to be a good person.

Being a good person isn’t about being perfect. It’s about the choices we make every day, how we treat others, and how we handle challenges. If a person is kind, honest, and strives to do what’s right, that’s a strong sign of a decent human.

What other ways might we be good humans? How about these questions: Do you listen to others and show empathy? Do you take responsibility for your actions? Do you try to make the world around you a little better?

Hopefully, we all do that. But sometimes, we can be too hard on ourselves. Our perspectives might get skewed, or maybe they’ve been skewed by someone else. But one person’s viewpoint, including your own on a bad day, doesn’t define who you are.

For me, one of the biggest things is feeling heard. As a woman, it’s easy to feel voiceless in a patriarchal world, where male voices, especially white male voices, are often the ones that count. It’s painful when people don’t really hear us. It can make you feel invisible, like your feelings and experiences don’t matter.

But my perspective, everyone's really, is valid. All voices deserve to be heard.

Sometimes, people get so caught up in their own version of events that they don’t realize they’re shutting others out. That’s someone who may not be ready or willing to truly listen.

Feeling unheard can be isolating and exhausting. You can do your best and still feel like a ghost in the conversation. But that reflects more on the listener’s inability to see or acknowledge what’s being said than on the speaker.

All of our experiences, our emotions, our truths matter. Whether or not someone else chooses to recognize them doesn’t make them any less real.

When someone feels unheard, it’s natural to build walls to protect the self and try to control how one is perceived. When your perspective is constantly dismissed, it can make you second-guess yourself. That can lead to habits like over-apologizing and striving for perfection. But perfection? It's an impossible standard, and no one needs to earn their worth that way.

Sometimes, all we can do is strive to create a connection. Maybe we share knowledge, experiences, and interests in a meaningful way that feels safe. It’s like extending a hand without exposing the deepest parts of yourself. We offer something valuable without the weight of vulnerability.

We all need to build a life, a voice, and a community that is ours. We get to choose who is a part of that. We get to shape our own story. Maybe the most important family is the one we create: the people who support us, who hear us, who make life feel lighter instead of heavier.

There’s resilience in that. It takes strength to move forward, even if it’s in tiny increments, every day.

Sometimes the goal isn’t to fix everything. Sometimes we just need to create a moment of relief, a way to breathe a little easier. Even if the weight doesn’t fully lift, having something that helps, even just a little, is important.

Someone told me recently that when they look at me, they see someone who is thoughtful, who has endured difficult things without becoming cruel, who strives to understand herself and the world around her.

That, they said, is goodness.

I think it just means I’m human.

No Joy in Hacks

Spoilers for Hacks ahead. Maybe. You've been warned.

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My husband and I both loved the first three seasons of Hacks, which shows on MAX. The show is about an older female comedian Deborah Vance (played by Jean Smart) who takes on a young writer Ava Daniels (played by Hannah Einbinder), and how they work together to make Vance's career improve. Together they create a gateway to stardom.

Season 3 ended with Ava blackmailing Vance in order to get the head writer's job as Vance became the first female late night talk show host.

Season 4 has, in my opinion, been perfectly awful.

Oh, it's well acted, and I see accolades online about it, but I have not found anything funny about it. The hostility between the leads has been beyond the pale and so over the top as to be stomach churningly disgusting.

I do not find hate and bitterness funny. I find it sad.

The trampling of a relationship, even one that may be salvaged by the season's end, is nothing to laugh about. I appreciate a little tension as much as anyone, but not vile hatred.

The boss/underling dynamic is overwrought, and the supporting characters are, generally speaking, not helping anything one bit. I don't care about the agent and his co-agent woman, nor do I care about the HR lady who must keep Deborah and Ava from snapping at one another. I don't know the names of any of the other writers for the make-believe late-night show, nor do I care to know them. There has been no reason for me to care.

There have been good moments, and the acting is superb for what it is, but they have taken away what I liked about the show. I liked the relationship between Deborah and Ava, I liked that there was an older woman making friends with a younger woman, and that they both were trying to learn about each other's worlds. That was what I liked.

I don't like the constant sniping and bitchiness.

The show that just dropped offered a glimmer of hope that the last few episodes may turn things around a bit, but if the next episode isn't an improvement, I don't know that I will finish out the season.

Five Things

 

In solidarity with federal workers, I started listing 5 things I did last week every Monday. I don't know if they still have to do that, but I have kept it up since it's a quick way to get something on the blog for Monday. Since I don't have a regular job, it's a fairly mundane list.

1. Took care of house and husband.

2. Took relative to two different doctor appointments.

3. Ordered Mother's Day flowers

4. Wrote several poems.

5. Paid the bills.

Sunday Stealing

The Bathroom Meme

1. Do you shampoo once or lather, rinse and repeat?

A. I shampoo once.

2. Do you use conditioner a) daily, b) when you need it, c) never?

A. I use conditioner daily.

3. What's your shaving cream preference: foam or gel?

A. I use soap.

4. Is your toothbrush manual or electric?

A. It's battery powered. I am considering the purchase of an electric one.

5. Dental floss, soft picks, neither or both? 

A. I use both.

6. Do you use mouthwash a) daily, b) when you need it, c) never?

A. I use it daily.

7. Are there magazines in your bathroom?

A. There are magazines in one bathroom, none in the other.

8. Is there bar soap or liquid soap on your bathroom sink? 

A. Bar soap in one bathroom, liquid soap in the other.

9. What kind of soap is in your shower?

A. Bar soap and body wash.

10. Now for the most important question: does the toilet paper drape over or under?

A. It drapes over when I install it. My husband tends to put it without concern for the direction.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Mama Liked the Roses

Saturday 9: Mama Liked the Roses (1970)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Elvis tells us his mother loved tending the roses in the garden. Do you have a green thumb?

A. I don't do as much gardening as I once did, but I used to have a green thumb.

2) Mama would put the roses in a vase in the living room. Do you have cut flowers in your home right now?

A. I do not have cut flowers in my house. Because of my allergies, I don't do that. 

 

3) Elvis sings that he found Mama's rose petals pressed in the family Bible. Have you ever pressed petals in a book? If yes, what occasion were you commemorating?

A. I don't recall ever doing that. I might have pressed a 4-leaf clover in a book.

4) OK, so now we know Mama liked roses. What about you? Would you prefer white, pink, yellow or red roses?

A. I used to grow roses. We dug them up a few years ago and replaced the rose garden with rocks and potted plants. I loved the pink ones, and I had one that bloomed orange that I was partial to because it was personal to me.

5) Elvis' own mother, Gladys Presley, had a major impact on pop culture. When her son was 11, he asked for either a rifle or a bicycle for his birthday. She deemed the rifle too dangerous and the bike too expensive, and so he chose a guitar instead. The rest is history. Tell us about a special birthday gift from your youth.

A. I don't recall many special birthday gifts. We had cake and a small toy; most of our big gifts came at Christmas. But it seems to me I may have received store-bought blue jeans for my birthday when I was heading into the seventh grade. My mother made many of my clothes and I yearned for store-bought blue jeans. I still love blue jeans.

 

6) Abraham Lincoln credited his stepmother, Sarah, for her lasting influence on his life, saying she ignited his love of reading and learning. Tell us about a woman -- mother, stepmother, grandmother, aunt, Godmother, teacher, neighbor -- who changed your life for the better.

A. My mother-in-law changed my life for the better by giving birth to my husband. She raised him well and he turned out to be a wonderful, caring man. She's also pretty special in her own right and has been a good example to me of how to age gracefully.

7) Mother's Day is almost upon us. According to the National Restaurant Association, we like to eat out on this holiday, with revenue up more than 80% on Mother's Day weekend. When did you last dine at a restaurant? Was it a special occasion?

A. We ate out a few weeks ago. It was just an "I'm tired of eating the same things at the house, let's go out" occasion.

8) Candles are a big seller for Mother's Day, too. What's your favorite candle scent?

A. I only use unscented candles. They are hard to find.

9) Sam is celebrating Mother's Day with her mother's favorite, Hershey Bars. Would you prefer classic milk chocolate, dark chocolate or chocolate with almonds?

A. I would prefer milk chocolate, please.

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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 

Thursday Thirteen

 

Here is a list of some weird items you can buy online, links included.

1. Mini Hand Squirrel – Tiny vinyl squirrel finger covers that turn your hand into a bizarre woodland creature. Find it here.

2. Rubber Chicken Purse – Make a fashion statement that says, “Yes, I am clucking fabulous.” Bonus: doubles as an impromptu comedy prop. Check it out.

3. Toilet Timer – Give your bathroom philosopher friends a subtle nudge. Sand runs out in five minutes, but existential pondering is forever. See it here.

4. Bacon Strip Bandages – Heal your wounds while making everyone question whether you’ve cooked yourself. Not edible, but undeniably hilarious. Get them here.

5. Anatomy Swimsuit – Science meets beachwear! Impress your fellow swimmers while deeply confusing lifeguards. Take a look.

6. Cat Tongue Brush – Want to bond with your cat like a real feline parent? This brush lets you groom them by “licking” them. Results may include deep regret. Find it here.

7. Urinal Shot Glasses – Because nothing makes taking a shot more appealing than miniature plumbing fixtures. Cheers? Check them out.

8. Handerpants – Underwear for your hands. Because traditional gloves were too mainstream. Fashion crime or genius invention? You decide. See them here.

9. Hot Dog Soap – Nothing says “refreshing” like rubbing a soap bar shaped like a meaty snack all over yourself. Try explaining this to house guests. Get it here.

10. Human Face Stress Balls – Squish away stress with these unsettlingly realistic face-shaped stress balls. Perfect for lighthearted therapy or creeping out co-workers. Find them here.

11. Shrek Toothpaste Cap – Every morning, the mighty Shrek emerges to bless your dental hygiene journey. Because brushing should be an ogre-sized adventure. Check it out.

12. Baguette Pillow – The dream of cuddling a loaf of bread is finally a reality! Perfect for the carb enthusiast who refuses to sleep in anything less than full French bakery luxury. See it here.

13. Throw Throw Burrito – A dodgeball card game where soft burritos become projectiles. Finally, a reason to pelt your loved ones with food without starting a family feud. Get it here.

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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 906th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Joan of Arc on May 7, 1429

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I recently started watching a 5-part documentary series called Warrior Women on Amazon Prime. It is narrated by Lucy Lawless (who played Xena: Warrior Princess on the show of the same name). Her first story was about Joan of Arc. I've always been fascinated by this young woman, who somehow managed to lead armies into battle only to end up burned at the stake.

***

Imagine a city teetering on the edge of defeat, surrounded by enemies, its people losing hope. Enter Joan of Arc—a teenage peasant with an unshakable belief in her divine mission, clad in armor, leading an army into battle with unwavering conviction. What happened on May 7, 1429, was nothing less than extraordinary.

The Siege of Orléans: A Leader Like No Other

By the time Joan arrived at Orléans, the English siege had lasted over seven months. The city was starving, morale was crumbling, and surrender seemed inevitable. But Joan—just 17 years old, fiercely determined, and radiating an almost supernatural charisma—believed she was sent by God to drive the English out of France.

Though many doubted her, she refused to be dismissed. She convinced Charles VII, the hesitant French king, to let her lead an army—a decision that would change everything. This was not just about military strategy. This was about hope.

The Storming of Les Tourelles: Joan’s Defining Moment

On May 7, 1429, Joan led a daring assault on the English stronghold of Les Tourelles, a fortress guarding the entrance to Orléans. With her banner held high, she rallied troops like no other leader could. Her presence on the battlefield was electrifying, not just because she fought, but because she inspired.

As the battle raged, Joan was struck by an arrow, falling to the ground. Anyone else might have retreated, but Joan was not anyone else. She insisted on returning to the fight, despite the injury, charging forward with renewed determination. Her soldiers—previously disheartened—matched her energy, overwhelming the English forces.

By nightfall, the French claimed victory. The next day, the English abandoned their siege. Joan had not only won a battle—she had transformed the war.

Why This Day Mattered

Joan’s triumph at Orléans was not just a military success—it was a psychological victory for France. The tide of the Hundred Years’ War began to shift. Over the next few months, Joan continued to lead armies, paving the way for Charles VII’s coronation.

But her rise was meteoric—and dangerous. Her unwavering faith and unorthodox leadership made her both revered and feared. In 1431, she was captured and burned at the stake as a heretic. Yet even in death, she remained resolute, refusing to renounce her visions.

Centuries later, she was canonized as a saint.

Joan of Arc was not just a warrior—she was a visionary, a leader, and a woman who defied every expectation. Her sheer conviction, courage, and refusal to accept defeat made May 7, 1429, a day that changed history.

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More on the Courthouse Demolition

 

The brick buildings to the left will stay.

What's left of the structure as of Sunday.

The Botetourt County Courthouse demolition continues. The county plans to replace this building with a $30 million structure that will have two circuit court courtrooms and plenty of space for whatever else is needed, along with accessibility and safety features.

Anyway, that was the plan last time I saw it. Given the current administration's weird fixation on things that makes life a little easier for some folks, I can only assume that the locality will move forward with what was approved, even if accessibility features might be "woke" because apparently handicapped people don't need to use the courtroom or something.

This is what the new structure is supposed to look like:

This is what the old structure looked like (without the steeple):

I wrote about this a few weeks ago here, when the front was still in place. It is gone now. Soon this will be just a memory.

Also, if you're interested in seeing the construction as it happens, it can be viewed at fincastlecourthousecam.com. There's a live cam showing the process.

Governmental Neglect

A Critical Look at Systemic Neglect

Since January, the current administration has enacted sweeping budget cuts that disproportionately affect healthcare, food assistance, and other essential social programs. While these measures are often framed as "cost-saving" initiatives, their consequences raise ethical concerns about governance and the treatment of marginalized populations, particularly low-income and disabled folks.

The Impact of Healthcare Cuts

One of the most significant policy shifts has been the reduction in funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The administration has eliminated thousands of jobs within the agency, including positions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These cuts have led to the termination of health-tracking programs that monitor disease trends, environmental health risks, and public health emergencies. Without these programs, policymakers and healthcare providers lack critical data to address health disparities. Already the Covid-19 vaccinations for fall are at risk. How many will the newest strain kill?

Food Assistance and Economic Strain

The administration has also targeted food assistance programs, reducing funding for initiatives that support low-income families. These cuts disproportionately affect disabled individuals and those living in poverty, exacerbating food insecurity and economic instability. The justification for these reductions often centers on eliminating "wasteful spending," yet the long-term consequences may lead to increased healthcare costs and social unrest. I daresay the spending isn't wasteful to the mother trying to feed her children. Isn't the pro-life crowd in charge now?

A Systemic Pattern?

Some critics argue that these policy decisions reflect a broader ideological stance—one that prioritizes economic efficiency over human welfare. By systematically reducing support for vulnerable populations, the administration risks reinforcing social hierarchies that favor the elite while neglecting those deemed "unnecessary" or "unwanted." This approach raises ethical questions about governance and the role of public institutions in safeguarding citizens' well-being.

I would go so far as to say that the government is practicing a weird form of eugenics (trying to breed desirable qualities into people), as a type of "cleansing" of the kind of people that the oligarchy (or bro billionaires) find repugnant and unacceptable. After all, if they're dead, they can't breed. The government wants women to have more children, but I have the impression it's only the "right kind" of women they want to have those kids.

Conclusion

The current administration's approach to budget cuts is ill-advised, unwarranted, and unsound. I would much rather see a million dollars spent knowing there will be some loss to fraud than to end assistance entirely. The elimination of essential health and food assistance programs disproportionately affects marginalized communities, raising questions about the ethical implications of governance. As these policies unfold, it is crucial to examine their long-term impact and advocate for solutions that prioritize human dignity over economic expediency.

For further details on these policy changes, you can explore sources such as The Hill, Federal News Network, and The Conversation. Also check out HHS.gov for an outline on the official announcement regarding the transformation of HHS, including workforce reductions and policy shifts and HHS Fact Sheet, which details the restructuring plan, including budget cuts and consolidation of divisions.

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Five Things

 Five things I did last week -

1. Went to the grocery store.

2. Went to downtown Roanoke.

3. Visited the local farmers' market.

4. Saw my doctor.

5. Had the heat pump/air conditioner checked and serviced.

Sunday Stealing

Welcome to Sunday Stealing. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. Cheers to all of us thieves!

I can't trace back where these were stolen from. So sue me.

Time Travel

What were you doing . . . 

1. Twenty years ago?

A. Twenty years ago, in 2005, I would have been writing for the local newspaper and having a fine time of it, too. I so enjoyed that work. I loved dealing with all of the people, I liked investigating things, I enjoyed writing historical pieces and learning about how things used to be. I liked deadlines! I liked seeing my byline in the paper. I liked feeling like I was contributing to my community by ensuring folks knew what was going on around them. It was like teaching but without the pain of students and grades.

2. Ten years ago? 

A. Almost to the day, I was working on an involved article that made me miss the work I was doing in 2005, because by then the work had slowed down considerably with the influx of more internet and print editions of newspapers were dying.

3. Five years ago?

A. Five years ago, we were in lockdown from the Covid-19 pandemic, still. Thanks to this blog, I know that I was home, and my husband came home early and scared me so much that I threw a piece of bologna at him (apparently, I was in the midst of making a sandwich).

4. One year ago?

A. We saw the Northern Lights! They came all the way as far south as we are and then some. They weren't vibrant green, but they were red, and they were splendid.

5. Yesterday?

A.  We went to the farmers' market and bought a hanging basket. Then we watched it rain. Since we are in a drought, that was a happy occasion.

Bonus! What will you do tomorrow?

A. I'm taking a relative to have blood work done.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Georgia on My Mind

Saturday 9: Georgia on My Mind (1978)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) The lyrics refer to "an old sweet song." What old sweet song is a favorite of yours?

A. My grandmother used to sing "A Bicycle Built for Two" to me when I was sad, upset, or had skinned up something.

 

2) Composer Hoagy Carmichael said he was inspired by saxophonist Frankie Trumbauer to write a song about Georgia. In those days, bands traveled by bus and Frankie enjoyed rolling through Georgia. Hoagy recalled that Frankie even volunteered the first two words, "Georgia, Georgia ..." If we were to organize a Saturday 9 bus trip, where would you recommend we go for lovely scenery?

A. I would recommend a trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's not far from me and there are lovely views of the mountains.

 

3) This version of "Georgia on My Mind" was controversial before it was even recorded. Willie Nelson's label, Columbia, didn't see the point of their outlaw country star singing an old standard that was associated with Ray Charles and Ella Fitzgerald. Willie had the last laugh. This record was a hit and Willie won a Grammy. Tell us about a time when you were a success despite opposition.

A. I don't think anyone expected me to have much of a career as a writer. Maybe I didn't, to their way of thinking, but I have written and published literally thousands of articles over the last 40 years. You don't do that by luck. That takes perseverance and sweat equity. It might not be words bound up in a book, but it's an impressive collection of words all the same.

 

4) While it's at odds with his "outlaw" image, Willie was a popular and active high school student. He played three sports and was a member of Future Farmers of America. What school activities did you participate in during your teen years?

A. I was a member of the National Honor Society, I played in the band, and I was on the debate team for a time. 

 

5) Willie once worked as a tree trimmer, so clearly he didn't suffer from acrophobia. How about you? Do you have a fear of heights?

A. I don't have a fear of heights, per se, but I don't like elevators. I once went to visit someone in the hospital, and I got off the elevator and fainted. I guess that's as good a place as any for a fear to overcome you.

 

6) He wrote the lyrics to one of his biggest hits, "On the Road Again," during a flight, using the airplane barf bag as scrap paper. That was back in 1980. In 2025, do you handwrite onto note paper, or do you make all your "notes to self" digitally?

A. I make my notes on both, actually. Some reminders are digital, some are on a paper calendar.

7) In 1978, when Willie was singing "Georgia on My Mind," audiences were flocking to see the movie Grease. What's your favorite song from Grease?

A. "Hopelessly Devoted to You."

8) Also in 1978, Karina Smirnoff was born. After spending her early years in the Ukraine, she came to America and found success on Dancing with the Stars. Are you a DWTS fan?

A. I have never seen the show.

 

9) Random question: Do you ever carry a backpack?

A. Not since I finished college. I used to carry one to class all the time; it was a great way to keep my schoolbooks and my work for the newspaper separate. 

_______________

I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 

Thursday Thirteen

Beltane is an ancient Celtic festival celebrated on May 1, marking the transition from spring to summer. Traditionally, it was a fire festival, with large bonfires lit to honor the sun and encourage fertility, growth, and protection for the coming season. In early Irish customs, cattle were driven between two fires as a ritual to safeguard them from disease before they were sent to summer pastures.

The festival is deeply connected to nature and renewal, symbolizing the union of masculine and feminine energies, often represented by the Green Man and the May Queen. People would dance around the Maypole, weave floral crowns, and engage in joyous celebrations to welcome abundance and prosperity. Beltane was also believed to be a time when the veil between the human and supernatural worlds was thin, allowing fairies and spirits to roam freely.

Modern Pagan and Wiccan communities continue to celebrate Beltane with bonfires, feasts, and rituals that honor passion, creativity, and the life-giving forces of nature. It remains a vibrant and meaningful holiday for those who embrace the rhythms of the earth and the cycles of renewal.

Here are other things than have happened on May 1:

    1. 1006 – A supernova is observed by Chinese and Egyptian astronomers in the constellation Lupus.

    2. 1308 – Albert I, King of Germany, is assassinated by his nephew John of Swabia.

    3. 1328 – The Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton ends the Wars of Scottish Independence, recognizing Scotland as an independent state.

    4. 1753 – Carl Linnaeus publishes Species Plantarum, marking the formal start of plant taxonomy.

    5. 1924 – Iodized salt is first sold in the United States to combat iodine deficiency.

    6. 1931 – The Empire State Building is officially dedicated in New York City.

    7. 1941 – Citizen Kane, often considered the greatest film ever made, premieres in New York City.

    8. 1961 – The first major airplane hijacking in the U.S. occurs, forcing a flight to detour to Cuba.

    9. 1971 – Amtrak begins service in the United States.

    10. 1991 – Baseball player Rickey Henderson steals his 939th base, breaking the MLB record.

    11. 1999 – The body of British mountaineer George Mallory is discovered on Mount Everest, 75 years after his disappearance.

    12. 2004 – The European Union expands to include 10 new member states.

    13. 2011 – Pope John Paul II is beatified in Vatican City.

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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 905th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Parts of a Septic System

City folks use sewer lines which carry their waste from their toilets to a large filtration system.

Country folks use septic systems. It's basically a little mini filtration system that carries waste from the toilet to a tank.

Stuff percolates in the tank and the water oozes on out down lines, where it seeps into the ground and the soil somehow or another takes care of filtration.

Septic tanks need to be pumped out about every 3 to 5 years. The more people, the more pumping.

There are many different types of septic systems. There are conventional systems, pump systems, systems that require French drains, sand mound systems, and many others.

Anyway, here are some pictures of some things that go into septic systems:

This is a line.

Part of the distribution systems that makes
sure stuff gets where it needs to go.

This system required pumping, so this is
part of the pump housing/chamber.

Electrical stuff for the pump.

Hello down there!

The pump chambers before being covered up.

 

A Poem

The Eclipse at Crowgate Hill

The road vanished long ago.
Time here doesn't pass,
it unravels.

I followed the birds,
thinking they might remember
where home was,
but they only circled
and screamed.

A gate stands open
but I don't remember
coming through it.
Was I meant to leave
or meant to arrive?

The fence has fallen—
wire slack,
duty long abandoned.
The trees lean away from me,
their branches like warning hands.

The sun hangs wrong in the sky,
a smudge of fire
pressed through ash.

Everything looks
like something I once knew.
A fence.
A hill.
A silence so thick
it feels like breathing dust.

I think I’ve lost more than direction.
Names slip.
Faces blur.
Even my own shadow
has stopped trying to follow.

In the stillness,
something waits—
a fragment of warmth,
a sound I almost know,
humming in the dark like memory.

You once said hope
was a steady light,
but I’ve learned
it flickers
like a match in a storm—
sometimes lost,
sometimes hiding,
never quite gone.

If I keep walking,
maybe I’ll find it.
Or maybe I’ll become it—
the thing that stays behind,
after a voice stops singing,
as the birds rise
into a sky that no longer cares
if I was ever here.

(This poem was inspired by an image called "July 11th, 1991, in Chiapas, Mexico" // Photo by Antonio Turok)