Eve Out of The Garden

Mitt's Secret Service

2012-01-31T21:24:00.000-08:00

It's a good thing my sons got this photo op with Mitt Romney in 2007, because starting tomorrow he'll be flanked by Secret Service Agents.

All my kids take an avid interest in politics and current events. I think home schooling has had a hand in that.

I can't help but wonder how the security situation works when the Romneys go to church or the temple.
Maybe they assign the Mormon Secret Service guys to hover around. They kind of look like missionaries, but I think they pack something other than scriptures. When my son was serving his mission in Moldova (a former Soviet satellite) he was often mistaken for an American CIA agent.

Michelle Obama's $50,000 Lingerie Stimulus Package

2012-01-30T12:31:00.000-08:00

It's not the best time for Mrs. Obama to get caught in her knickers -- knickers as in fancy shmancy lingerie -- $50,000 dollars worth in one shopping spree. Now that's a stimulus package. Wow. Her budget for panties and bras would pay off my small business debt. I read the article to my hubby and he took a renewed interest in the first lady.

It was reported that New York closed down a section of Madison Avenue while First Lady, Michelle Obama and Queen of Qatar, Sheikha Mozah, shopped the high-end lingerie store -- Agent Provocateur -- provocative to be sure. The store advertises to have the "sexiest lingerie in the world". I've never heard of this exclusive store, but I've done my homework to keep abreast of the first lady's bra and pantie preferences.

The website for this lingerie sells $200 bras, $1500 corsets and $100 pasties. Yep, that's what I said, pasties -- those are little, very little in the way of a bra, as it only covers the nipples -- pasted on I presume. The online website has a model posed with horse halters, reins and a nice little whip. Now I'm all for keepin' the sex alive in your marriage, but not for $50,000.

No wonder they want to raise taxes. This must be the President's $50,000 stimulus.

Homemade Olive Oil & Beeswax Balm

2012-01-29T16:38:00.000-08:00

I use this as a rich creamy lotion -- beeswax, olive oil, avocado oil and walnut oil. So, yes it has more of an oily feel, but it absorbs quickly into your skin, leaving it soft and scented. It also works great as a lip balm. The beeswax melts into the oils and as it cools, the mixture becomes a creamy, buttery balm. Add an essential oil of rose or lavender and you have a sweet smelling body cream. It's super easy to make -- you melt it, mix it, and store it in a one pint jar. No mess.

Olive Oil Beeswax Balm

1 c. olive oil

1/4 c. walnut oil

1/4 c. avocado oil

1/2 c. beeswax

20 drops essential oil

Directions:

1. Combine oils and beeswax into a pint sized canning jar.

2. Put this jar into a saucepan and fill the saucepan with water until it comes 3/4 of the way up the canning jar, being careful not to get water into the oil mixture.

3. Put on the stove over medium/low heat. Heat and stir occasionally until melted.

4. Remove from stove. Add essential oil. Let cool to room temperature either by leaving out or quicken the process by putting into the refrigerator. During the cooling process, put a fork into the jar and stir vigorously every 15 minutes or so.

You may use all olive oil, or other oils such as almond oil. Avocado oil has been used for eczema and other skin ailments. It's high in unsaturated fats and vitamin E and edible, of course. Walnut oil is extracted from English Walnuts and is rich in omega-6 and omega-3 essential oils. This oil has also been used for finishing woodwork, especially surfaces that come in contact with food, as it is edible. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the highest grade olive oil and the least processed.

Newt Thinks His Affairs Make Him Better Than Romney

2012-01-26T09:55:00.000-08:00

The Newt says he's more "normal" than Mitt Romney because he's cheated on his wives and divorced them. If you only have sex with your wife, you just can't relate to people. It's Newt's explanation of why he got the Evangelical vote and the party of "family values". He said most "normal" people have had "sad moments" in their life, implying that Mitt hasn't had any sad moments, having stayed faithful to his wife. Sure, no sadness during his mission in France.

"So, I think in that sense, it may make me more normal than somebody who wanders around seeming perfect and maybe not understanding the human condition and the challenges of life for normal people." (Newt, CBN Interview)

"Weirdo Mitt Romney and the wife he doesn't cheat on because he's abnormal."

I'm glad I belong to a religion that encourages this kind of "abnormal" behavior, so I can "wander around" and not understand the challenges of life. Yea, I've never had any sad moments.

Found this one of Mitt and Ann:

No South Carolina Mob = No Demagogue

2012-01-25T08:54:00.000-08:00

I loved the debate without the noise and clamor of the audience to distract us from the real reason to watch a debate -- to hear the opinions of the candidates, without signals to applaud or boo. I share this post written by Z.H.--

dem·a·gogue: A political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.

There were no jeers. No cat calls. No carnival show. Newt didn't know what to do with the sober audience of Tampa, Florida. It was like watching a ring master with no circus clowns to distract the masses from the absurdity of his country circus show. The man who touted himself as the debate king who was challenging anyone with a pulse to a debate fight fell flat on his face tonight without his mob behind him to boo his rivals and applaud his immorality. The politics of envy and resentment held little sway without his South Carolina pep rally crowd...

Republicans should be very wary of an angry mob and even more cautious of a dubious demagogue who's rhetoric is contrary to conservatism and republicanism as we know it. There is a strong tradition in the Republican party that the GOP tent is vast and includes conservatives, independents, and a lot of dissatisfied Democrats...This isn't the angry white mans party that Gingrich portrays. It never was!

This is an election for the soul of America... click here to read more.

-- Z.H., guest post

Blast From the Past Bath

2012-01-23T21:48:00.000-08:00

I've never seen a bathtub like this, except in my childhood home. Yep, it's the same tub, circa 1950's -60's. Cast iron, enamel. In fact, I'm visiting my mom, and it still looks and works as good now as it did then. Sometimes the saying, "they don't make them like they used to" is true.

These flashbacks are almost like eating comfort food -- good memories when I was a young child, with little to worry about, and totally unaware of the world's problems.

When The Bible Belt Votes

2012-01-22T10:44:00.000-08:00

Instead of voting for the Mormon man, or the nice Catholic boy, the Bible-belt voted for an angry man (with his trophy wife standing beside), whom he won by cheating on his second wife, won by cheating on his first wife.

I can just see what the liberal media will do with Newt if he runs against Obama. Even I will feel ashamed to be a Republican.

RightSpeak.net

Feature Photo: H/T Scott Conroy of Real Clear Politics

Truth Gets His Pants On

2012-01-19T09:41:00.000-08:00

It is a great characteristic -- honesty. It covers a lot of territory. You can be trusted. A person that lies is never trustworthy. You never know a truth from a lie. In fact, lying damages not only the person for whom the untruth is told, but it damages the perpetrator as well. Both parties are damaged. But the person that lies is the more damaged.

In the tradition of the American Native tribes, "speaking with forked tongue" means lying, and a person found guilty of this was no longer considered worthy of trust. This phrase became popular in early America as well. If you spoke with straight tongue, you told the truth, forked tongue you lied.

One of the reasons a lie is so bad -- it gives people the opportunity to believe it or even question it, even after the truth replaces it.

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." Winston Churchill --

Images: Winston Churchill

Why Was I Put in This Situation?

2012-01-16T10:53:00.000-08:00

For my Hugh Nibley fans, I've updated my MP3 library. I have the rest of the Book of Mormon to upload and then three more talks to share with you, but I have added some files that were missing.

One of my favorite Nibley quotes -- "Why was I put in this situation?" It's from the video, Faith of an Observer when Nibley shares his World War II experiences. He was part of the military intelligence, assigned to the 101st Airborne Division -- the Screaming Eagles. On June 6, 1944, D-Day, he was selected to be one of the first few to hit the Utah Beach in Normandy. What an assignment of doom.

"I'll tell you if there was anything that puzzled me all the time I was there, I would say, 'What on earth am I doing here? Why was I put in this situation?' I felt I was just an observer. 'Why, am I being shown this awful stuff? I don't want to see it!' " (Hugh Nibley)

When life serves up some difficult experiences, I try to say that to myself, "Why was I put in this situation?" God must want me to learn something.

You can read about World War II experiences in "Sergeant Nibley Memories of an Unlikely Screaming Eagle." It's a really fun read, written by his son.

Complaints About Romney -- No Fire and Brimstone From Mormons

2012-01-13T08:19:00.000-08:00

Conservative columnist Jonah Goldberg says Mitt Romney "... seems more like a super-helpful manager at a rental car company than a fire-and-brimstone preacher." It was one of his criticisms. It seems like a good quality. Who doesn't appreciate a super-helpful manager? Who wants a fire-and-brimstone preacher? According to "Pollyanna", that's synonymous with Sunday sour stomach.

Unlike preachers like Billy Graham or Pat Robertson, Mormon leaders don't preach; they talk. Mormons don't have a paid clergy; bishops and stake presidents have other jobs to support their families. They may serve as a bishop for three years, a stake president for ten years, like Romney did, and then serve in the Primary, teaching kids, or in the nursery, babysitting 2-year olds.

There's no theological school where Mormons are taught to become orators. Mormons don't give sermons--they give talks. In fact, all members from age 3 and up give a talk about once a year. There's no clapping in a Mormon Chapel. It is quiet after members speak. We don't give fire-and-brimstone sermons. Frankly, that sort of thing would give me "sour stomach" too.

What would Jonah Goldberg say if Romney preached hell-fire and damnation?

Here's two examples -- A Mormon talk and an Evangelical Preacher --

President Thomas Monson:

Billy Graham, Evangelical Preacher:

Featured Image: Wikimedia

Christians Who Can't Vote for a Mormon

2012-01-11T22:08:00.000-08:00

A frenzied "Christian" man called a talk radio show and said he would never vote for a Mormon because they believe in some crazy things, like God lives on Kolob (not quite right), they believe you can progress to become like God (well, hopefully, but not in this lifetime), Lucifer and Jesus were brothers (well, that we do believe),and then he said, Mormons are "whacked." He said it several times, emphatically.

Jewish Radio commentator, Dennis Prager asked the frenzied man if he believed Jews will go to heaven. "Well, no," he said. Mormons? "No. Only Christians go to heaven."

Dennis pointed out that Christians can believe in some far-fetched stories -- Jesus died on the cross and then raised himself from the dead three days later. Jews don't believe that, but they believe that Moses parted the sea and God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac on an altar. Why can't Mormons or other religions have far-fetched stories as well?

I'm a Mormon and I can tell you that I could vote for a Christian, a Jew, a Muslim, a Buddhist...who shares my values. I also believe that good people of all faiths and walks of life, that live righteously to the best of their knowledge, will go to heaven. Mormons do not believe that only Mormons go to heaven. Babies and young children that die -- no matter what faith, go to the highest of heavens. We are much more inclusive. There are many mansions in heaven. There are many good people and God is the Father and God of these people.

Mormons do not attack other people for their beliefs -- we let them worship as they please. Sure, we share our beliefs, but we don't tell you you're going to hell if you don't believe it.

"We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may." (Joseph Smith, 11th Article of Faith)

At our church meetings, the presidential race isn't even mentioned, our leaders are very careful not to ever endorse a candidate. We actually keep politics and religion much further apart than our worried Christian friends.

German Lilli Doll Was First Barbie

2012-01-10T20:53:00.000-08:00

Barbie began as Lilli. Or, Lilli inspired Barbie. How ever you look at it, Barbie has a past that's linked to the Bild-Lilli Doll of Germany.

First Lilli was a comic, a pin-up girl, drawn by cartoonist, Reinhard Beuthien for the newspaper tabloid, Bild-Zeitung in Hamburg Germany.

Lilli was lookin' so smokin' hot that someone (most likely male) envisioned her in 3-D, in the form of a novelty doll. Lilli on paper became Lilli the doll, in sizes 7-1/2 inches and 12 inches, available in smoke shops and targeted for the male buyer, as kind of a gag gift. It was 1955, and no one knew that this sexy pin-up doll would ever find a place into a young girl's heart.

Three years after the first cartoon drawing, Max Weißbrodt, working for the O & M Hausser Toy Company in Germany, sculpted the Lilli doll model.

The Lilli doll had three new patents:

the head wasn't connected to the neck
the hair was part of a cutout scalp attached with a screw
the legs didn't sprawl open

Yep, that's right Miss Lilli kept her legs together, so there's some modesty for you. If you've ever had a Barbie doll, you know about those legs, they only do the splits -- one leg forward, one leg backward -- and it's difficult to pull them apart to get Barbie's pants on. My daughter used to get so infuriated with the whole process, that she angrily bit Barbie's toes in frustration. Her Barbies have permanent damage.

Image by Tinker*Tailor loves Lalka via Flickr

Lilli was made of rigid plastic, jointed arms and legs, molded eyelashes, earrings and "high-heel" feet. Her painted eyes were glancing to the side (she didn't look you straight in the face), high arched eyebrows, red painted pouty lips and red fingernails. Her shoes were painted on as well. She wore her blonde pony tail high up on her head with one curl slipping over her forehead.

Barbie was a knock-off Lilli doll. Ruth Handler bought the Lilli doll while traveling to Germany in 1956, returned home to the U.S. and with Mattel, fashioned the new doll -- named "Barbie," after her daughter, Barbara. She had a son too -- Ken. In 1959, the Barbie Doll debuted in New York City as the hot teen fashion doll. She had the same eyes, glancing sideways, but painted toenails and removable shoes.

1st Barbies:

1st Barbie face:

Image via Wikipedia

Ruth Handler, lookin' a little bit like an older Barbie, check out that make-up (she just needs to be looking sideways.)

Ruth and her husband, Elliot had a business making wooden picture frames in the 1940's. But the wooden scrapes became more profitable -- Elliot began to use them to make toys. Then, 1945, with close friend, Harold Mattson they formed a toy company -- Mattel -- Matt (for Mattson) and El (for Elliot). Then came to trip to Germany. The rest is history.

"The Little Rascals" -- Buckwheat Billie Thomas

2012-01-10T11:05:00.000-08:00

Billie Thomas is best remembered as "Buckwheat" in the TV series, "The Little Rascals" and "Our Gang". He was in the show from 1934 to its ending in 1944. He's another of the Rascals that had an untimely death at the age of 49 when he suffered a heart attack.

Born in Los Angeles, California, Thomas auditioned at the Hal Roach Studios at age three. His first episode was For Pete's Sake! But he wasn't playing the role of "Buckwheat" -- that was played by female child actress, Carlena (Matthew "Stymie" Beard's sister). Another young girl, Willie Mae Taylor played the role for three more episodes before Thomas took it over.

Image via Wikipedia

Billie Thomas became "Buckwheat" in the 1935 episode called, Mama's Little Pirate. But he continued to play the role as a girl. If you were ever confused about whether he was a little girl or a little boy, this may be the reason. He wore pigtails with bows, a large over-sized sweater and large over-sized floppy boots.

The Buckwheat character played by Thomas evolved into a boy after Stymie left the series in 1935. In the 1936, The Pinch Singer, Thomas was now a "he" not a "she". But his costume didn't change until the feature film, "General Spanky" when he began to wear overalls and lost the pig tails.

Buckwheat had a speech impediment as a child, which was part of the natural, real home feel to the series. Producer, Hal Roach had looked out his window at a bunch of kids in the street and was drawn to the comedy of it all. You might say it was one of the first attempts at reality shows. He liked to capture the kids at play.

At the age of 23 Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served for two years, receiving the National Defense Serve Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

After his service in the army, Thomas worked as a film lab technician with Technicolor Corporation. He used his skill in editing in stead of acting.

photo credits

Romney -- Contraception Working Fine

2012-01-09T18:58:00.000-08:00

I got quite a laugh at the Presidential Debates in New Hampshire when George Stephanopoulos kept quizzing Mitt Romney about contraception. He just wouldn't leave it alone. He kept going after Romney, hoping to get him to say he believed states should ban contraceptives. I thought Romney's response was on target when he said, "contraception -- it's working just fine, leave it alone."

Was that a question to get Romney to look like a stiff, uptight, controlling Republican Mormon -- or what? We believe in the sanctity of life, and marriage between a man and woman, but really, Mormons aren't going to tell you how many babies you should have, or what kind of contraceptive you should use. We stay out of your bedroom. That was ridiculous, and I can see why ABC pulled the plug on the debate and cut it short -- their moderators were looking awful.

When Romney turned to Ron Paul and referred to him as the Constitutionalist to address this question, I wanted him to add, "and the gynecologist." (a gynecologist who wants to be president still makes me laugh)

The Two Awakenings of Adam

2012-01-08T18:01:00.000-08:00

I am very curious about the two awakenings of Adam. It's almost like two births. What was Adam doing before he went down for the rib surgery?

Adam is formed, God "breaths into his nostrils the breath of life" and Adam awakens the first time -- he becomes a living soul. God goes about planting and watering the garden which is eastward in Eden and then He puts Adam in the garden and tells him to "dress and keep the garden", and informs him of which trees he can eat; God tells him "don't eat of the tree of good and evil".

Interestingly, Eve is not present to hear this "thou shalt not eat of it" in Genesis, Abraham or Moses.

It's not clear how much time passes (it's a different time anyway), or what Adam is doing, by himself in the garden. But God and Jehovah say that Adam has not an help meet. So, God forms the animals from the ground and brings them to Adam for naming. But still no suitable companion.

Which is not good for Adam to be running around alone, without his help meet. God informs Jehovah that they will cause a deep sleep to come over Adam and when he awakens again, he will not remember anything, he will be like a little child, and he will be known as Adam, not Michael. He will not remember that he had any part in the forming of the world. His memory will be wiped clean. Blitz. This is when our little rib surgery takes place -- while he is in this deep sleep. Adam wakes up this second time and finds a woman, and names her Eve, because she is the mother of all living. They go into the garden together. And I am guessing he no longer remembers what he named the animals. But we are given the counsel from God, that it's good for a man to leave his mother and father and cleave unto his wife.

So, there you have it, two births of Adam. Two awakenings. Maybe one is a birth and one is an awakening after a deep sleep that erases his memory.

There are some stories about what Adam may have been doing after that first awakening -- stories about Lilith. But that is for another day.

Earth created in 6 days. rest.

Mist comes up and waters it all.

Adam's First awakening: man formed from the dust a living soul, first flesh.

God plants a garden in Eden. with all the trees naturally growing.

God puts Adam in the garden.

God tells him he can eat, but forbids the one tree.

God says it is not good for man to be alone.

Animals get the breath of life. and Adam names them.

But no helpmeet. Adam hangs around the garden.

Deep sleep.

Rib surgery. Eve brought in.

Adam's second awakening: He awakens and finds Eve. It's good to leave mummy and daddy and cleave unto your wife.

Image

I went to the temple yesterday, where they review the creation, so that got me thinking.

Featured Image

Homemade Shea Butter & Avocado Oil Skin Cream

2012-01-04T16:36:00.000-08:00

We have some skin issues in our lineage -- eczema, is the source of irritation for two of my kids. They get it on the palms of their hands so bad that it cracks and bleeds. Interestingly, they never had it until they went to work. Something about handling a lot of products plus the stress of working must have brought it on. We have never found a cure, even when the best of the dermatologists have scraped and studied the stuff under a microscope.

My hubby dear has nightmares of his undiagnosed itchy skin problems that were so severe on his feet that he couldn't wear shoes. I think he had to wear socks and weirdo sandals to his "grammar school" and go home and soak his feet at lunchtime. Any little itch he gets, has to be treated with this homemade cream.

Sometimes eczema gets infected, sometimes it gets a mixture of flora and fauna. Sometimes it's tied to the fungi that affects athletes. So far, this little potion I mixed up is helping all of our skin ailments.

Homemade Shea Butter & Avocado Oil Skin Cream

2 Tbsp. Avocado Oil

4 oz. Shea Butter

2 Tbsp. Olive Oil

15 drops tea tree oil

Shea Butter Extraction Wikipedia

One of the main ingredients is shea butter -- a white or yellowish fat composed of five fatty acids. Shea butter is extracted from the inner seed of the shea fruit, which grows on the African Shea tree or shi tree (be careful blending that word together). The trees take about 15 years to start producing, but by 20 to 30 years they are in full production, which lasts for 200 years. Now that's a crop.

Here's some good points -- Shea butter has anti-inflammatory effects as well as anti-skin tumor properties (trials showed it inhibits skin cancers). And it's an antioxidant as well. And it's edible. It also blocks UV rays.

Shea Nuts Image

This African Shea butter is the yellow colored one, and feels a little bit grainy. Avocado oil has been used for eczema and other skin ailments. It's high in unsaturated fats and vitamin E. The trees are super easy to grow in Southern California. They fruit in just a couple years.

Avocado Tree Image

Olive Tree

Image via Wikipedia

Tea Tree oil is an essential oil from the Melaleuca tree, so you don't need much of this one. It has anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties.

Shea Butter & Avocado Oil Eczema Cream

2 Tbsp. Avocado Oil

4 oz. Shea Butter

2 Tbsp. Olive Oil

15 drops tea tree oil

Directions:
1. Measure the shea butter, avocado oil, and olive oil in a pyrex glass cup.
2. Place the glass in a saucepan filled with water.
3. Heat over the stove until the butter melts.
4. Remove from the heat, add the tea tree oil.
5. Pour into a container and put in the refrigerator to cool.

It stays firm even at room temp, so you can keep it on the counter.

"The Little Rascals" -- Spanky George MacFarland

2012-01-03T19:06:00.000-08:00

First he was "Buddy", then he was "Spanky". Although George MacFarland started his child career as a model for Hostess' Wonder Bread, he was best known as "Spanky" in the Hal Roach 1930's productions of "The Little Rascals" and "Our Gang".

"Spanky" George MacFarland, was the kid in "The Little Rascals" who used the catch phrase, "okey-dokey". He also had a little hand move where he would wave with his hand under his chin. He got many of his mannerisms while working with Laurel and Hardy -- like his eye rolling, putting his hands on his hips in exasperation and taking double takes. The child actor was working with Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in other short films with Hal Roach, besides "The Little Rascals".

He was another of the rascals that died early, at the age of 64 from a heart attack.

"I wouldn't take a million dollars for the experience...and I wouldn't take a penny to do it again. As a kid I had everything I wanted, we had a good life but when it was over....it was over." George MacFarland

Oh Wow. Oh Wow. Oh Wow.

2012-01-03T17:32:00.000-08:00

Image

Death comes unexpectedly for some. Expected for others. And for some -- they get a peek before they go. Did Steve Jobs see through the veil when he uttered his last words -- OH WOW, OH WOW, OH WOW?

There are those who explain these phenomena -- seeing your ancestors or your life in review -- as a firing of neurons, the brain shutting down.

My sister-in-law died unexpectedly. But many years before that day she had a near-death experience. While in childbirth, a c-section, she passed through the veil, across a river of water to meet family that had passed on. Later she discounted this event as something like carbon monoxide poisoning. She was firmly rooted in the here and now and very much agnostic or atheist.

When she died for good, she slipped off a cliff on the coast of Maine into the icy Atlantic Ocean. It was a New Year's Day, some years ago. She had been watching, with concern, her two teenagers surfing. At the funeral, one of her friends shared a dream she had that fateful night -- in the dream, she received a phone call from my sister-in-law apologizing for staying in that next life, saying, "it was just so green, I had to stay."

Hugh Nibley shared a near-death experience that convinced him of the reality of life after death. He said he felt as light as a feather and ready to learn about math. (Faith of an Observer)

Thomas Edison was recorded to have opened his eyes from a coma and exclaim "it's very beautiful over there." And then pass on.

My father-in-law, very much an atheist and scientist, went kicking all the way. When that veil opened for him, he fought it, "no, no, no."

According to Steve Jobs' sister, his final words, "were monosyllables, repeated three times. Before embarking, he’d looked at his sister Patty, then for a long time at his children, then at his life’s partner, Laurene, and then over their shoulders past them.

Steve’s final words were: OH WOW. OH WOW. OH WOW." (Mona Simpson, New York Times)

"The Little Rascals" Darla Hood

2012-01-03T16:25:00.000-08:00

Darla Hood was one of the Little Rascals that played the childhood love interest of Alfalfa. A couple of the other boys had their eyes on her as well (Butch and Waldo). She was in the series from 1935 to 1941, during which time the name, "The Little Rascals" was changed to "Our Gang" in 1938.

Born an only child in Oklahoma, her parents got her into singing and dancing at a young age. Her mom took her to the Hal Roach Studios in California for an audition when she was only three years old. Her first film part in the Rascals was in 1936, at age 4.

Darla went to high school at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, California, and organized a vocal group. She continued to sing in nightclubs and TV commercials up until her untimely death in 1979. She was organizing a Little Rascals Reunion for 1980, but never got to attend. After a minor surgery at a North Hollywood hospital, Darla Hood died suddenly from complications, at the age of 47.

History of New Year's and Feast of the Circumcision

2012-01-02T13:19:00.000-08:00

I was surprised to find out that circumcision was connected to our much celebrated, New Year's Day.

I was curious why the dark, wintry day of January 1st had become the celebrated New Year's Day and the beginning of a New Year. The Romans dedicated the 1st of January to the god Janus -- some kind of god of the gates or doors, a god with two faces, looking backward and looking forward. Then when Julius Caesar was murdered, the Senate voted to honor him on January 1.

Some countries celebrated the New Year in the Spring -- on the Spring Equinox and March 25th -- in celebration of the Annunciation of Jesus (when the Angel Gabriel informed Mary of her divine calling). Spring seems to be a more appropriate time to begin a new year.

England celebrated the new year on March 25 until they adopted the Gregorian Calendar in 1752. Pope Gregory (for whom the calendar is named) christened January 1st, as the beginning of a New Year -- the day of the Feast of the Circumcision. Assuming Christ was born on December 25th, he would have been circumcised on the 8th day following his birth, Jan. 1, according to Jewish custom and law. Yes, Mary and Joseph were Jewish, and Jesus would have been too.

Two-Faced Janus God

Luca Signorelli

Dominico Tintoretto

Peter Paul Rubens

Featured photo : Giovanni Bellini

Christians, Creeds and Mormons

2012-01-01T17:44:00.000-08:00

Christians are often offended that Mormons claim to be Christian.

I understand this. I am a Mormon, and I do not believe in the same Christian creed. In fact, Joseph Smith was very much against forming a Mormon Creed. For example, Joseph commented that Methodists of his day

"have creeds which a man must believe or be kicked out of their church. I want the liberty to believe as I please, it feels so good not to be tramelled."

Joseph felt that the creeds set limits, "and say 'hitherto shalt thou come & no further' -- which I cannot subscribe to."

He explained that the difference between the Christian sects and The Latter Day Saints was that the sectarians

"were all circumscribed by some peculiar creed, which deprived its members the privilege of believing anything not contained therein; whereas the Latter Day Saints had no creed, but are ready to believe all true principles that exist, as they are made manifest from time to time."

Mormons believe in all truth as it comes forward -- in the form of revelation and the discovery of ancient texts. "The Book of Mormon" and "The Pearl of Great Price" are ancient texts where we find truth.

The Mormon church is a lay church. Mormons rely on its members to fulfill the roles of Bishop, Stake President, Teacher, Deacon, Priest, Visiting Teacher, Relief Society President... It is actually more inclusive and gives each individual the responsibility to receive Heavenly guidance -- to teach, to guide, to lead your family -- but not for whole church, that's the responsibility of the Prophet. There has to be some order.

Most Christians follow the Nicene Creed, set in 325 A.D. They believe the Book of Revelation to be the last word of God through the Apostle John. Mormons believe that God speaks in all times. We believe in the Old Testament, the New Testament, but that's not all. When things like the Dead Sea Scrolls are found, Mormon scholars anxiously read them, finding greater light and knowledge. As I wrote in part 1, Mormon beliefs are more in-line with First Century Christians compared to those of the 4th Century and their Nicene Creed and Holy Trinity. But believe in Christ as our Savior -- we do.

References: Joseph Smith Rough Stone Rolling, Bushman, pg.285

History of The Rose Parade

2011-12-31T12:41:00.000-08:00

I grew up next door to Pasadena, California, home to the New Year's Day Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Football Game. I never went to either one, but my dad was known to saunter on over with his Nikon and take photos of the floats (and the girls waving) in the parade. I've seen the floats up-close, after the event -- an event in itself.

I'm not interested in parades at all. But, I have memories of waking up New Year's Day to the sound of the television extolling the beauties of flower-covered floats. To tell you the truth, I don't really get the whole parade thing. The night before, the streets in Pasadena are full of people holding their spot, sleeping right there on the sidewalk. Scalpers sell tickets and squatters have corners they sell to those who want a spot along the parade's path. It's a scene.

The Pasadena Valley Hunt Club started the Rose Parade in 1890. They wanted to entice New Yorkers and others from the snow to come out and enjoy the sunshine, flowers, oranges and sports of California. Back then, the sports included jousting, chariot races, foot races, polo and tug-of-war (all in all, not much different that today's football.) Before the games, contestants would decorate their chariots with flowers and parade around. That's how it all began. By 1894 they had marching bands and ostrich races as well as an elephant versus a camel race (the elephant won.)

Today it has become so elaborate that professionals are hired to design and build the floats and flowers are shipped in from anywhere in the world. I still don't get it -- the flowers eventually die, all that work gone.

The Grand Marshall of the Tournament of Roses in 2012 is J. R. Martinez. He has become known as the young U.S. Army Infantryman who survived 40 percent burns over his body when the Humvee he was driving in Iraq hit a landmine. While awaiting medical help, trapped in the vehicle, his sister, Anabel who had died when he was a child, appeared to him, giving him strength to stay alive. He has gone on to help others survive. He also appeared in Dancing with the Stars.

1890 Decorated Chariot

The Pasadena Hunt Club, 1890

Queen and Court 1911

Crowds at Parade, 1925

Pasadena Tournament of Roses 2012

Barbie's Secret Past

2011-12-28T18:24:00.000-08:00

The Barbie Doll has had quite a reputation. I remember standing in the aisle of a small toy store in Montrose, eagerly eyeing the much talked about doll in the black and white striped swimsuit. There were two dolls to choose from -- Blonde Barbie and Brunette Barbie. I recall being amused and perplexed that this doll was the center of attention. I don't think I was impressed, but I remember that first glimpse.

Barbie made her debut in 1959 in New York. I was five years old at the time, so I don't think I was visiting the toy store at that age. But, eventually I did get a blonde pony-tailed Barbie sometime thereafter. Too bad I don't have my original Barbie Doll. Bummer. Here's a quick peek of the original Barbie.

I have been curious about her real story, her real history. Barbie was based on a cartoon from the German Tabloid Newspaper, The Bild. (a paper of mostly pictures, 'bild' in German means picture.)

That makes sense since she looks more like a pin-up girl -- long legs, small feet, buxom with a small waist and pouty lips. For sure, a man dreamed this one up. She was named Lilli and she was a Sunday regular in the Hamburg Germany paper -- just filling up some extra space. Lilli reminds me of the red-headed Joan in the Mad Men TV Series. In fact, it's the same era, the 1950's and 1960's. It was post-war Germany. In 1953, the newspaper decided to market the femme-fatale cartoon in 3D -- as a doll. (That's for another post.)

The cartoonist was Reinhard Beuthian, who was commissioned to create a cartoon for the Bild-Zeitung. First he drew a baby; it was rejected; then he drew the bombshell babe, Lilli. She appeared in the paper on June 24, 1952 and was a big hit until her run ended on Jan 5, 1961.

One scene showed her sitting in a fortune teller's tent and asking -- "Can't you tell me the name and address of this rich and handsome man?"

To a policeman who told her that two-piece swimsuits are banned -- "Which piece do you want me to take off?"

To her boss -- "As you were angry when I was late this morning I will leave the office at five p.m. sharp!"

Thanks to my friend who translated these from German to English:

"If only I hadn't promised Hans "Do I prefer light reading?

that I would visit him every day The weight doesn't matter--I have the car outside."

during his illness--now he's faking

his third relapse."

"Hans always says, money doesn't make "I certainly didn't tell Brigitte too much about

you happy--but he doesn't even have that!" you--it wasn't even half of what I know about you!

"I don't want to be some amazing dame, "You were right--Broms Way is actually longer

it only means that I'm not allowed to do than I always thought."

what I think is fun."

"Lame that now, when I'm doing my spring

"When Rolf and I are of different opinions, cleaning, no salesman is here to demonstrate

I say that the smarter one should back down a vacuum."

--and then I have my way right away."

"No, Mr. Feidmann, that is not at all what "Please, Inge, quickly tell me something that I

I meant by 'Enjoying the outdoors.'" can be sad about-- Peter is coming right now

and he really knows how to comfort."

See all the original Cartoons of Lilli

Dung On a Twig or Mistletoe

2011-12-26T23:18:00.000-08:00

I had no idea we had decorated the Christmas Day dinner table with the product of bird dung on a twig. We sat around talking about the mistletoe I had picked the day before on my hike. Discussion evolved into the source of mistletoe -- Where does it grow, how does it grow way up there in the tree; is it really poisonous? Where are its roots?

Mistletoe is associated with the winter solstice, Christmas and New Years probably because it is an evergreen in the dead of winter, seen in barren trees that have lost their leaves. High up in the branches, if a ball of greenery is spotted, it is most likely mistletoe. The Druids and Celts were known to call this the celestial tree, it being rooted high up in the trees, near heaven -- a hope in the cycle of rebirth in the dark of winter.

An odd name, to be true, and it seems to be an Anglo Saxon word, meaning dung twig -- mistle tan -- mist meaning dung and tan for twig. For some mistletoe, birds do the planting -- by ingesting the white berries and pooping on a twig or branch. There you have it -- dung on a twig that grows into mistletoe or properly called, viscum album.

Mistletoe is a parasite, another not so lovely thing about this greenery on my table. Poop and a parasite. Oh, and also a symbol of male fertility.

Mistletoe has another way of reproducing that does not include birds and poop. The mature seed berry has a tight outer skin, whose contents is under high hydrostatic pressure. It explodes and the inner sticky seed is jettisoned out at speeds of up to 60 miles an hour and up to 30 feet, where it finds a new tree branch to land. Anciently, some cultures associated mistletoe with fertility. In Austria it was supposedly placed in a couples bed to encourage conception.

Expulsion of dwarf mistletoe seed

After it's flight through the air, the sticky seed just hangs out on the twig or branch and in about 6 weeks it germinates, sending out a sprout horizontally along the twig and pushing down into the branch to root and go further down into the middle of the tree to suck out it's water and nutrients. Then it incubates. It takes 3 to 5 years before green shoots and leaves are produced, which go on to produce the berries.

There are toxic compounds in it so keep it away from the kids, the pets, and I don't advise putting it under your pillow or on your dinner table.

Image via wikimedia

Image via Zenera

Further Reading: HortTech (Hort. Technology)
Dwarf Mistletoe (U.S. Dept of Agriculture)

What's Your Cup of Tree?

2011-12-24T14:46:00.000-08:00

We've always had a living Christmas tree -- a pine tree that's in a pot with dirt -- one of those kind you water and keep and eventually plant. We aren't tree-huggers, but we have a respect for the living.

When my kids were young they didn't know the difference between our smallish living Christmas tree and those big ones at the corner lot -- not until they were older when our eldest son, in his teens, well aware of the pride of a big tall tree, talked us into buying one of those cut-down, dying, giant ones.

We have our Christmas trees planted at almost every house we have lived -- whether we owned or rented. Our last home had three full-grown pines in the yard. (so sad to leave behind)

So many years I was glad we had that potted pine to bring into the house for Christmas. We've had a lot of years where we were low on money or out of work.

After a few years of keeping it alive outdoors in the pot we eventually plant it. However, one year, we had to dig it up, because we just didn't have the cash to buy a new one. Another year, broke again, our dear Jewish friends brought us our live Christmas tree.

Last year we bought a small one and kept it outdoors in a pot after Christmas. This year, it's in the house with blue lights.

This is our first little alive tree, in our studio apt. I'm looking great in my inside-out T-shirt, funky blanket from my Auntie Gin, and my Russian Blue Cat that was born in my closet. The mom cat ran away. The tree looks a little sad, what the heck, I do too.

Here's the front yard of our last home, with two of the Christmas trees planted in the background. The one on the left we used for many years before it got into the ground. The tall one on the right in the back, we used only once:

Same home, but the previous year:

This one is in the backyard in the corner. It was purchased for us from our Jewish friends. And that's my herb garden, in our last home.

This is inside, same home as above. It was pretty big even before it got in the ground:

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