Chantaclair's Parlor Ezine Vol 16

Chantaclair's Musings

August 2001

August 2001
I've often thought of August as the ‘lone’ month. There are no major holidays, nothing as far a celebrations or anything to make the month unique, other than . . . there are none. I got married in August, to make my own holiday. In reflecting on the uniqueness of the month, in the lack instead of the addition of something, my thoughts turned towards ourselves and our own individuality. I have been blessed with quite a few ‘talents’ that are easy to see. Performing, writing and the like. I can ‘show’ my talents on a stage, in a ‘talent show’ or in a display. Many times through the years as preparations for another ‘talent show’ were forming, I’d hear the whispers of ‘Oh, I'm not talented. I don't have anything to show.”
This always struck me hard. Why do so many feel that their talents are less than the more visible ones? I have friends who can not sing, but if you go to their house, they have a wonderful knack of arranging things purchased from garage sales and the like into a stunning show place. I have another friend who children just seem to gravitate to. Her smile and open arms always seems to be filled with a little being who trusts her implicitly. I have a daughter who always apologizes. It is a talent rare to be able to say, “I'm sorry” and mean it sincerely. My son can take apart any computer and put it back together again. Just ask anyone who has paid a computer repair bill if that is a talent!
Not all talents are easily paraded on a stage, but I do not know one single person, even many folks that I don't care for personally, who does not have some wonderful unique gift. The challenge then, I suppose, is to recognize it in ourselves and then magnify that gift(s) so that all can benefit. August inspires me to know, that in all things there is promise and joy. Create your own holiday in August. Make your own talent if one is not readily seen!

Tip for the Month

Sharpening scissors--- If scissors are dull, cut into sandpaper.

To remove scuff marks from shoes--- use nail polish remover on cotton ball. It wipes right off.

When you get those pre approved letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to 2nd mortgages and junk like that, most of them come with postage paid return envelopes, right?

Well, why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these
cool little envelopes! Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to American Express. Or a pizza
coupon to Citibank.
If you didn't get anything else that day, then just send them their
application back! Just make sure your name isn't on anything you send them.
Heck, you can send it back empty if you want to just to keep 'em guessing!
Let's turn this into a chain letter! Eventually, the banks and credit card
companies will begin getting all their junk back in the mail.
Let's let them know what it's like to get junk mail, and best of all ...
THEY'RE paying for it! Twice!
Let's help keep our postal service busy since they say e-mail is cutting
into their business, and that's why they need to increase postage again!
Send this to a friend or two or three... or fifty....
-- Thanks to FratsNotions

~. Your Money

By Jon Birger

The New J&J
Mention Johnson & Johnson to the average investor, and the name conjures images of Band-Aids and baby powder. . . . Indeed, Johnson & Johnson may well be the ultimate buy-and-hold stock. Says mutual fund manager Michael Holland: "My preferred holding period for a company like this is forever."

Dot Com's? YOUR MONEY

Humor

There were these two elderly people living in a Florida mobile home
park. He was a widower and she a widow. They had known one another for a
number of years. One evening there was a community supper in the activity
center. These two were at the same table, across from one another and as the
meal went on, he made a few admiring glances at her and finally gathered up
his courage to ask her, "Will you marry me?" After about six seconds of
'careful consideration,' she answered. "Yes. Yes, I will."
The meal ended and with a few more pleasant exchanges, they went to their respective
places.

Next morning, he was troubled. "Did she say 'yes' or did she say 'no'?" He
couldn't remember. Try as he would, he just could not recall. Not even a
faint memory. With trepidation, he went to the telephone and called her.
First, he explained to her that he didn't remember as well as he used to.
Then he reviewed the lovely evening past.

As he gained a little more courage, he then inquired of her, "When I asked
if you would marry me, did you say 'Yes' or did you say 'No'?" He was
delighted to hear her say,
"Why, I said, 'Yes, yes I will' and I meant it with all my heart."

Then she continued, "And I am so glad that you called, because I couldn't
remember who had asked me."

Thanks to a LOTH Sister for this smile. . .

Quick and Easy

Knock out Tuna Casserole
By Marsha Steed

If you like tuna and you like easy, you'll love this toss together dish, ready in 20 minutes.

3 Cups Uncle Ben’s Instant rice ( Yes, Uncle Ben’s is important. It doesn't get mushy. )
1 Can Albacore Tuna
1 Can Cream of anything Soup (white base; chicken, mushroom, potato)
1 Can chicken broth
1 Cup Water
1 cup of frozen petite peas ( Yes, it is important they are baby petite peas )
--Or any green or orange vegetable can be substituted. – broccoli, carrots, beans, mixed, whatever you have on hand. )
1 tsp. parsley
Fresh ground pepper ( I like the multi-colored pepper corns )

Mozzarella Cheese Sliced thin or grated.

9 x 13 glass or (www.pamperedchef.com) Stoneware casserole dish

Stir together soups and water with a wire whip.
Put rice in the bottom of the casserole dish.
Toss everything else into the dish but the cheese, stir.
Make sure all the rice is moistened.
Top with cheese and bake at 375 for about 15 minutes.

Options:
I like to sprinkle tortilla chip strips on top. Or something crunchy but my family doesn't like it, so I leave it out.
I also like ½ C slivered almonds tossed in, but again, my family doesn't.

Enjoy!

Thanks to www.Pamperedchef.com for their stoneware that makes everything easy
for a lady who doesn't like to cook!
( I can order anything for you, if you would like something you see on their site. )
The Pampered Chef

Quote for the Month

"It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters in the end." ~~Ursula K. LeGuin -

For Your Information

Augustus for 'August' ( Thanks to the Learning Network )_

After Julius Caeser's grandnephew Augustus defeated Mark Anthony and Cleopatra, and became emperor of Rome, the Roman Senate decided that he too should have a month named after him. ( July is after Julius ) The month Sextillus (sex = six) was chosen for Augustus, and the senate justified its actions in the following resolution:

Whereas the Emperor Augustus Caesar, in the month of Sextilis . . . thrice entered the city in triumph . . . and in the same month Egypt was brought under the authority of the Roman people, and in the same month an end was put to the civil wars; and whereas for these reasons the said month is, and has been, most fortunate to this empire, it is hereby decreed by the senate that the said month shall be called Augustus.

Not only did the Senate name a month after Augustus, but it decided that since Julius's month, July, had 31 days, Augustus's month should equal it: under the Julian calendar, the months alternated evenly between 30 and 31 days (with the exception of February), which made August 30 days long. So, instead of August having a mere 30 days, it was lengthened to 31, preventing anyone from claiming that Emperor Augustus was saddled with an inferior month.
And while we're at it...
To accommodate this change two other calendrical adjustments were necessary:

The extra day needed to inflate the importance of August was taken from February, which originally had 29 days
(30 in a leap year), and was now reduced to 28 days (29 in a leap year).

Since the months evenly alternated between 30 and 31 days, adding the extra day to August meant that July, August, and September would all have 31 days. So to avoid three long months in a row, the lengths of the last four months were switched around, giving us 30 days in September, April, June, and November.

Among Roman rulers, only Julius and Augustus permanently had months named after them—though this wasn't for lack of trying on the part of later emperors. For a time, May was changed to Claudius and the infamous Nero instituted Neronius for April. But these changes were ephemeral, and only Julius and Augustus have had two-millenia-worth of staying power.

For further reading: Calendar: Humanity's Epic Struggle to Determine a True and Accurate Year,
David Ewing Duncan (New York: Avon, 1998).

Book Review:

North To Freedom: ~ Anne Holm

My son and I just finished this book. It was wonderful to read aloud together.   It is about a young boy who escapes from a prison camp with some help. He learns about the world through experiencing it, and from remembering the few things ‘Johannas’ taught him in the camp. It is a delightful look through the eyes of a complete innocent. I found myself looking at my world differently after we would read chapters.
“I am David.” I found to be a profound statement. We each must sometime discover just who we are and what that means in the world.
"It is important not to give in to people who love violence and think they have the
                      right to take away another person's life and liberty. And if you don't let them
                      change what you think and believe, then you have won."

I was hoping that my own son ( who is 11 ) would also get some of the more subtle nudges and realize some of the things that David realized along his travels. Things like love and bravery, service and smiling.   Things we completely take for granted.   I’d recommend it to anyone.

Victorian Conundrumn
~

"The conundrum is one of the most favored forms of amusement for the social circle; the answer to this style of riddle generally contains a pun, and the merriment occasioned can be better imagined than described. "

~ Conundrums, Riddles, Puzzles and Games by Sarah J Cutter circa . 1896

I bought some fowls the other day,
One hundred dollars did I pay;
Each turkey did five dollars touch,
Each goose did bring but half as much;
While chickens, if it must be told,
For ten cents each were freely sold;
One hundred fowles in all had I,
Of each how many did I buy?

Click HERE for answers.

Highlighted Page

Watercolor Angels frame bar

Highlight Page from Chantaclair's Parlor

Musicals.htm- Musical's I've attended Live - brief reviews. Over 90!

Our new section this month is a short highlight on one of my own pages. Many of you have meandered through the Parlor on occasion, but missed some of the things I've offered. I thought it would be nice to just highlight some of the more obscure pages for your enjoyment..

Comments from Readers

~ Marsha, as always, this is an absolute delight to meander through and read. It is a stunning display of unique enlightenment, ideas and thoughts. I usually don't take the time to read anything I get through the email other than personal letters, an occasional funny or thought. But I always WANT to take the time, no mater how rushed, to enjoy your ezine. It is thought provoking, "more" (you give new intensity to normally nonchalant words) Thoughts to the importance of each month, of which I have shared with many. of course I am drawn in with your style and touch of Victorian elegance. - LH
Marsha,
I am simply honored, thrilled and overjoyed at seeing the graphics you've created with my angels and the incredible kind words about my artwork in this month's issue.
Keep up the excellent work - your inspirational site is just what we all need these days :-)
Luv, J. Ann
Love it. You are so creative and interesting. I enjoy your sense of humor and cute stories; especially enjoyed the quote "be glad for what you don't have" Wonder what that person had in mind! HA; I like your timely information and comments regarding our wonderful country; Your opening poem was fabulous. What can I say - I look forward to your monthly publication and read it all. Keep 'em coming - CG

Sponsor for the Month
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Thank you

Payless Shoe Source

Great end of Summer Sales!

Watercolor Angels frame bar

Photography:

I listened! It was suggested that a photography section would be fun. I'll put up some of my favorites, if you have one, feel free to submit it - Perhaps we'll even sponsor a contest.

This was taken in Dublin Ireland. I loved the Powerscourt Mansion Pond

Water Lilies

Click to see a larger Image

NEW - What Will be Coming in the Future of the Parlor

Guest Column: - Short thoughts on a monthly topic. Send in your ideas
Writers Block: - A Continuing Story
HTML tutor: Hints and tips
Contests: - Photography Poetry - Every other Month

Thank you to the few who wrote back Your ideas will be used in the coming months.