This Thursday Thought Quote/picture really made me think — about my life’s past bridges and my future ones. Reflecting on the past has been interesting, both in a “Yes, that was the perfect thing to do” and in the “Boy, did I blow it!” sense. Take some quiet time to think about it. It’s actually cathartic.
Here’s a little-known fact about our founding father George Washington: he was heavily into booze. He owned one of the biggest distilleries of his time (in 1799, he was producing 11,000 gallons of whisky). That’s thanks to his farm manager, who urged him to use the rye and corn being grown on Washington’s plantation. Convinced, he built a huge (for those times), two-story, 2,250 square foot distillery. That distillery has since been rebuilt and is in operation today, seasonally, using the 18th century methods of mashing, fermenting, and distilling the grain to make alcohol. If you can’t get to Mount Vernon to visit in person, take a virtual tour at https://virtualtour.mountvernon.org.
A simple way to test the moisture of your soil is with a long bamboo skewer. Drive it into the soil, leaving the top inch or two exposed. Pull it out and you’ll be able to see whether you need to water by the moisture in the skewer.
[For more easy, money-saving, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. For a description of the book go to My Free Books).
Supposedly, the hang-up on getting large-scale use of totally self-driving cars is that manufacturers are working on getting the cars to anticipate and react to human behavior. Makes me wonder. If they succeed, does that mean we’ll see one car intentionally ramming another because it “thinks” that another car cut him off or is hogging the lane? After all, road-rage is obviously part of common human behavior.
At first reading, today’s Thursday Thought seems nonsensical, because we all feel that twinge of desire for revenge from time to time. On second thought, though, the way we handle that twinge makes a big difference to us.
I like books. Real, lick-a-finger-and-turn-a-page books. Most people I know prefer their hand-held device with words that appear thanks to cyber-space. Why my preference? Maybe this explains it.
Too many babies are born into a life of poverty, malnutrition, and illiteracy, then pass those conditions on to their children as their only possible legacy. We must do what we can to stop the cycle. Of course, we can donate to organizations that fight poverty, feed the hungry, and educate children. But we can also volunteer as baby-rockers in at-risk hospital nurseries; aides in limited-English-speaking classes; tutors for underachieving students or those locked away in Juvenile Hall. We can visit a museum, art gallery, zoo, tech museum, etc., taking with us a child of parents struggling to find jobs or working several jobs to meet the bills. We can invite a latch-key child to help make a batch of cookies or casserole, then send it home with the young cook to show off to the family. We can do…a million little things that will make a lasting impression on a young life, build his or her self-esteem, or teach a concept or a skill–all providing a step toward a better life for a child. End the cycle, one child at a time.
One more chore done–oil changed in Betsy. If you didn’t dump that motor oil onto the ground or into the sewers or drains, what would you save besides ground- and water-pollution? Each gallon of recycled oil can produce enough energy to watch 60 football games or dry your hair 216 times. So…RECYCLE THAT OIL!
[For more easy, money-saving, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/ view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. Or download a free copy from your favorite e-tailer.]
Create the Good! That’s the name of a website I just discovered. When I put in my zip code and and chose an interest, it gave me ideas for what I can do in my own area to volunteer a little or a lot of time, either with an organization or from my own home. I could select limiting factors, like family-friendly or (in my case) handicap accessible; the mileage range I’d be willing to travel–even the date range I’m available. It gave me some activities I’m not ready for (Co-Chair for Relay for Life), others that sounded interesting, and one I’m very equipped to do–talk with a person from China who needs someone to practice her English skills with.
This is a good idea. If you have the urge to give some of your time and talent to help others improve their lives, check out this AARP-sponsored website at http://createthegood.org.
Chocolate-lovers, celebrate! As today’s Thursday Thought quote points out, we NEED chocolate in our lives.
“Reminiscent of childhood memories, luxury, sweetness and sensuality, chocolate is more than just a food – it is therapy. ” — Christelle Le Ru