Thursday’s Tale: The Legend of Chocolate

by Carol2 Comments
Today is World Chocolate Day! Or at least one of the Chocolate Days on the calendar. It's a bit confusing, but any excuse to eat chocolate works for me. I don't know if I've shared this story before or not. It's about how chocolate came to the world. Long ago, there lived a people called the Toltecas. They were related to the Aztecs. They were poor and hungry. Though they worked hard to find food, they didn’t know how to properly grow and cook it. As the gods looked down upon them, they wondered what to do. The god Quetzalcoatl decided to descend to the earth and teach the Toltecas about food. At first, the Toltecas were fearful. But, they began to see that this was no ordinary human. He seemed to have special powers. He had abilities that others could only dream about. They began to worship this superhuman. Immediately, the Toltecas set to work building a palace in the middle of their...
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The Witch Who Came in from the Cold: Season One by Lindsay Smith, Max Gladstone, Ian Tregillis, Cassandra Rose Clarke, and Michael Swanwick

by Carol4 Comments
The Witch Who Came in from the Cold was first published weekly on Serial Box, although I read the whole first season as a collection. That means no waiting, but I think I might subscribe for Season 2 next year and read an episode a week, since in theory that's the way it's designed to be read. This was a great mix of fantasy and espionage. Prague in the 1970s is in the midst of the Cold War, with spies from both sides keeping tabs on each other, trying to outwit each other, but there's another war going on too, a war between Ice and Fire, and your ally in one might be your enemy in the other. Secrets and more secrets, stakeouts and safe houses, clandestine meetings and backroom negotiations. This episode centered around a scientist who was defecting from Russia to the US, but he also has great value for the sorcerers. I like the world. It's based in reality and adds...
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Readers’ Workouts – 7/5

by Carol3 Comments
Here are my steps for the week. I didn't make my goal of 9,000 steps a day. If you're on fitbit, you can find me here.     I am totally blowing this summer. My current plan is to do cardio on Tuesday (60 mins), upper body on Wednesday, cardio on Thursday (60 mins), a total body workout on Friday, cardio on Saturday (60+ mins), and a core workout on Monday. I'm also trying to do a 10 minute-ish Pilates workout each day. I'm failing miserably at my plan though. Thursday - Walked dog. Friday - 20 push-ups, 30 sec plank. Saturday - Helped build horseshoe pits Sunday - Horseshoes. Monday - Walk with with the dog. I felt too miserable to do anything else; my allergies were just terrible. I usually listen to a book while I'm walking, jogging, whatever. This week I'm still listening to The Sudden Appearance of Hope by Claire North. 2016 miles: 240.5 How was your week? Better than mine? Readers’ Workouts is hosted by Joy at Joy’s Book Blog....
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Thursday’s Tale: President Zachary Taylor’s Death

by Carol3 Comments
So, the 4th of July is coming up and I don't really know any folktales that go with the occasion. If you know of any, let me know and I can use it next year. I did find an interesting story about President Zachary Taylor's death at History.com that has a July 4th connection. President Taylor began his Fourth of July in 1850 by attending an event at the Washington Monument. The day was oppressively hot, and Taylor cooled off by drinking copious amounts of ice water. After the event, Taylor reportedly returned to the White House, where he downed glasses of cold milk and ate vast quantities of green apples and cherries. The next day, complaining of severe intestinal cramps and diarrhea, Taylor was diagnosed with cholera morbus, or what today would be called gastroenteritis. It is also possible he may have contracted cholera, which occurred frequently during the summer months in hot, humid Washington during the 1800s, when sewage systems were primitive...
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Readers’ Workouts – 6/28

by Carol1 Comment
Here are my steps for the week. I didn't make my goal of 9,000 steps a day. I was so close on Sunday and Monday - I should have just took a quick walk down the road. If you're on fitbit, you can find me here. I earned a badge this week. My current plan is to do cardio on Tuesday (60 mins), upper body on Wednesday, cardio on Thursday (60 mins), a total body workout on Friday, cardio on Saturday (60+ mins), and a core workout on Monday. I'm also doing a 10 minute-ish Pilates workout each day. I did not do so well this week, but hopefully I'll get back on track. Wednesday - 20 min arms/shoulders. 10 minutes Pilates booty. Thursday - 65 mins elliptical. Walk with the dog. Saturday - Walk with the dog. Monday - Walk with with the dog. 35 mins Pilates. I usually listen to a book while I'm walking, jogging, whatever. This week I'm still listening to The Sudden Appearance of...
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Saturday Snapshot – 6/25

by Carol7 Comments
Last weekend, we stopped at the Newark Earthworks, the official prehistoric monument of Ohio. Actually, we visited the Great Circle Earthworks, a portion of the original structure. From the website: Built by people of the ancient Hopewell Culture between 100 B.C. and 500 A.D., this architectural wonder of ancient America was part cathedral, part cemetery and part astronomical observatory. The entire Newark Earthworks originally encompassed more than four square miles. Over the years, the growth of the city of Newark destroyed many of the Newark Earthworks, but three major segments survived because of the efforts of interested local citizens: Great Circle Earthworks: Formerly known as Moundbuilders State Memorial, the Great Circle Earthworks is nearly 1,200 feet in diameter and was likely used as a vast ceremonial center by its builders. The 8 feet (2.4 m) high walls surround a 5 feet (1.5 m) deep moat, except at the entrance where the dimensions are even greater and more impressive. Octagon Earthworks: Enclosing...
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