Started 1/22                                                                  Finished 2/4
The more Mary Poppins books I read (I’m on #3), the more I realize how very British it is. The movie reflects more of Walt Disney than P.L. Travers. Plus, readers get to travel back to Britain of 1943, almost a century ago. This one opens with an explanation about Guy Fawkes Day.

In 1605 people were upset with King James I and Parliament. They came up with the Gunpowder Plot. It was discovered and stopped on November 5, 1605. Guy Fawkes was one of its leaders, and he was executed. Today Britain celebrates him in fireworks. King James – forgotten.

P.L. wrote her first author’s note for this book. She explained that Guy Fawkes Day stopped in 1939 – because of World War II. You can’t have fireworks when the enemy’s dropping bombs. In 1943 when Pamela published this book, she wrote that someday, it would be celebrated again, and it has been, ever since World War II ended. Chapter 1 begins on Guy Fawkes Day.

This is my favorite book, so far. Pamela pulled out all the stops. She wrote about the things she loved, like stars and folk tales. Each chapter is a gem of a story. Britain was depressed and gloomy in 1943. Guy Fawkes fireworks – banished – for four years. No end in sight. There’s nothing like a book to brighten life, for readers and writers. If you’re feeling gloomy in 2023, my suggestion – try this book.  

Amazon’s Description:
From the moment Mary Poppins arrives at Number Seventeen Cherry-Tree Lane, everyday life at the Banks house is forever changed. This classic series tells the story of the world's most beloved nanny, who brings enchantment and excitement with her everywhere she goes. Featuring the charming original cover art by Mary Shepard, these new editions are sure to delight readers of all ages.
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Mary Poppins reappears just in time! According to her tape measure, Jane and Michael have grown "Worse and Worse" since she went away. But the children won't have time to be naughty with all that Mary has planned for them. A visit to Mr. Twigley’s music box-filled attic, an encounter with the Marble Boy, and a ride on Miss Calico’s enchanted candy canes are all part of an average day out with everyone's favorite nanny.​

Started 1/5                                                                               Finished 1/22
I love P.L. Travers and her work! She wrote the original Mary Poppins in 1934, and this one in 1935. Her Mary isn’t sugary sweet like Walt Disney’s. She’s more like Minerva McGonagall from Harry Potter. Strict and firm. Someone who sets limits. Mary Poppins is also wise like Albus Dumbledore, but she has a bit of a temper.

When Mary returns, Jane and Michael get to go on more fantastic outings. You can read all ten, including when the kids meet Mr. Turvy. It’s a little like meeting Uncle Albert, except everyone is upside down, like they are on this book cover.
Later they meet the balloon lady. She has balloons, and balloons. The magic happens when you find the right one, with your name on it. Find it, and you’ll sail up, up, and away.

Mary always knows when she’ll leave . . . this time after the locket breaks. Jane and Michael never dreamed it would happen on a merry-go-round, but this one lifts into the sky and becomes a star.

​Amazon’s Description:
By P.L. Travers, the author featured in the movie Saving Mr. Banks.

From the moment Mary Poppins arrives at Number Seventeen Cherry-Tree Lane, everyday life at the Banks house is forever changed. This classic series tells the story of the world's most beloved nanny, who brings enchantment and excitement with her everywhere she goes. Featuring the charming original cover art by Mary Shepard, these new editions are sure to delight readers of all ages.

   Pulled down from the clouds at the end of a kite string, Mary Poppins is back. In Mary’s care, the Banks children meet the King of the Castle and the Dirty Rascal, visit the upside-down world of Mr. Turvy and his bride, Miss Topsy, and spend a breathless afternoon above the park, dangling from a clutch of balloons. Surprises are sure to pop up when Mary Poppins is around!

Started 12/28                                                                               Finished 1/3
I just finished the original MARY POPPINS. Pamela Lyndon Travers saw it published back in 1934 and updated in 1997.

Pamela’s MARY is different from Disney’s, and I like it better. I didn’t believe it, but I read it twice. Her character isn’t half as sweet, but kids didn’t care. Disney’s wife read it to their daughters at bedtime, and they convinced their dad to make it into a movie. It took him 20 years to convince Pamela.

Pamela’s MARY is less sweet, more realistic. It’s richer, and deeper than Walt’s, like dark chocolate. Her fantasy is as imaginative as J.K. Rawlings, but different. Pamela’s is based in her childhood, on the myths and fairy tales she grew up reading in Edwardian Australia, around 1906.

I wish I’d discovered Pamela’s MARY when I was a kid. I would have eaten them up. In fact, after I finish her biography, again, my next read will be Pamela’s MARY, #2.

PS – if you’re curious how Pamela’s book is different from Disney’s movie, click on this link . . . Rinda Beach - Blog - Rinda Beach

​Amazon’s Description (From Back Cover:
From the moment Mary Poppins arrives at Number Seventeen Cherry-Tree Lane, everyday life at the Banks house is forever changed.

It all starts when Mary Poppins is blown by the east wind onto the doorstep of the Banks house. She becomes a most unusual nanny to Jane, Michael, and the twins. Who else but Mary Poppins can slide up banisters, pull an entire armchair out of an empty carpetbag, and make a dose of medicine taste like delicious lime-juice cordial? A day with Mary Poppins is a day of magic and make-believe come to life!

This post started because I felt a call to read a picture book aboutt Dr. King’s dream. His speech was written and delivered in 1963, when I was 4 years old. I felt a mixture of happy and sad as I reread it. Happy that so much has changed since 1963, and sad because our nation feels so divided on racial lines today. 
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Part 1 – Martin’s Dream – I can’t recite his speech, but I’m glad I returned the ebook  . . . Someone already checked it out.. I went back and listend to my video-reading so I could give you an accurate summary of the details I recorded.

Martin gave this speech on August 28, 1963. He said, paraphrasing, that even though we’re facing difficulties today and tomorrow, that he had a dream that was rooted in the history of our country. He dreamed that we’d rise up and live the words of our creed, that all men are created equal.

Martin had a dream that the sons of Georgia, slave and slave owner could sit down together in brotherhood. That in the sweltering heat of injustice and oppression of 1960 Mississippi, that it could become a place of peace and justice.

Then my favorite part, that his four little kids could grow up in a land where they’re judged by the content of their character, not on the color of their skin. The page I stopped on showed a circle of children, black and white, having fun, and they weren’t thinking about skin color. They were too busy being kids.

I don’t remember the rest of the speech, but there’s a huge section about letting freedom ring, Martin named some of those places . . .  from the Atlantic to the Pacific, to the great plains and so many more.
I got an email today, with a quote from Dr. King. I hope it resonates with you . . . “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.  If you’d like to read the quote, and a little bit more about Martin, here’s the link: Daily Inspiration | Inspiring Quotes.
 
Part 2 – Reaching Out For Your Dreams:  One idea is to picture your dreams. What do you want to do? Next imagine the things you can do to make it come true. What steps do you need to take? This is a project I did with my second graders to honor Dr. King. It also helps them envision their dreams. It came from my friend, Rose, and it looks something like this . . . But with a picture of your dream below the clouds.

Here are two models. There are more steps, but it’s a start to get kids thinking. Adults too!

​My first dream was to become a teacher . . . 

​I went to college and studied teaching.
I worked with kids and teachers in my methods classes.
I subbed and found my way into my first job.
 
Here's a picture of me teaching . . . 

​​My dream now – to find an agent.

​First I’ll listen to my critique partners to polish my work.
Next I’ll submit to agents, using their guidelines.
Finally I’ll track my submissions to decide when to move on, and when to send nudges.
PS – I’ll also keep writing new stories.
 
Here’s me writing . . . 

​​Part 3 – What are Your Dreams . . . And How Can You Reach Them?  I shared mine in Part 2. Dreams can change and grow over time. Mine did. What are yours today? I thought back to the days when I was teaching second grade. Here are some of the dreams my students had. I picked the ones that seem to be true all these years later. 

​My second graders loved sports, from football to dance. You could pick a sport you’re playing now, or one that pops up in the future. The most important thing – that your dream fits you, and what you want out of life.

You should also think about the things you’re good at. Maybe it’s singing or playing an instrument. Maybe it’s writing or drawing. You can do them for fun, but if you’re really good, it can become your job. Then it will earn you the money for the things you want and need. 

​How? You have your goal. Now think about how to get there. What do you need? Practice, a teacher, opportunities to play? All of these things can be part of your plan, but there are lots of other ways to make your dreams come true.

Do you like to work with your hands, with real things? You can make a good living, AND you don’t need to go to college, but you still need to figure out how to get there.
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Do you need training, to find someplace to practice your skills? One of the best things to do before you invest in training, is to try out/volunteer in places where you can test-drive your dream. Who wants to spend time and money on something you don’t like?!

Have you thought of working in medicine or in outer space? You’ll have to invest more time and money before you can get your first paycheck.
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I’d definitely test-drive those jobs before investing either time or money in college. It’s expensive. To figure out your plan, what kinds of things do you need to know, to be able to do, or to study before you can get accepted into that college?

There are so many more hobbies and careers to get involved in. Take your time! Enjoy the journey. Try out the things you’re interested in. That way you’ll know whether you’re a good fit for them, or not. Feel free to use my goals and steps to get there. If they fail or succeed, please let me know! I love finding out when I’ve been helpful.
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PS – Don’t be afraid of failing. If you don’t fit, it’s your brain’s way of saying this path isn’t right for you. Would you believe I’ve learned more from my failures than from my successes?! It’s true!

Scene 1 – Mary Poppins Arrives

The Movie – Katie Nana quits. Jane and Michael run away, but a constable brings them home. Mr. Banks writes an advertisement for a nanny, and so do the kids. Mr. Banks rips theirs up and throws it into the fireplace

The Book - The only thing that’s the same – Katie Nana quits. There was an advertisement, but Mr. Banks told his wife to write it. The other details – all from Disney.
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​Scene 2 – Mary Poppins Gets the Job

The Movie – A line of nannies arrive outside #17, but the wind sweeps them away. Mary descends from the clouds with her umbrella and the torn-up advertisement. She convinces Mr. Banks that he wants her for the job. She heads up to the nursery to clean up, armed with that spoonful of sugar.
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The Book – Both Mary’s flew in from the east, holding onto a carpet bag and umbrella. There was a spoon in each, but Disney used sugar. In the book each child took a spoonful from the bottle. Each one looked and tasted different . . . they were made special for Jane, Michael, and the twins. BTW – I didn’t know there were twins in the book, and we’re still in chapter 1.

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Scene 3 – Through the Chalk Drawing

The Movie – Mary and the kids meet Bert on a walk. They admire his drawings and wind up in one. They stroll through the park, take a carousel ride, and join a horse race. It ends when a storm washes the drawing away.

The Book - We made it into Chapter 2. That’s where Mary and Bert enter a chalk drawing. No kids allowed! The adults have tea, a carousel ride, but no horse race. 

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​Scene 4 – A Pair of Outings

The Movie – In the first one the kids meet Bert’s Uncle Albert. He’s laughing so hard, he winds up on the ceiling. It’s so infectious that everyone else joins him for tea, jokes, and tears of laughter!

Mr. Banks is annoyed by all this cheerfulness, so Mary talks him into bringing the kids to work. At bedtime she tells them about tuppence for the Bird Woman, but when Mr. Dawes tries to take their money, it starts a run on the bank.

The Book – Finally, Chapter 3! There is tea on the ceiling, but it’s with Mary’s Uncle Albert. The laughing gas – it’s only there because it’s Friday AND his birthday. The kids were included, but not Bert. There’s much less drama, but so much fun!

As for the Bird Woman, she comes in much later, in Chapter 7. The kids were supposed to meet their father for tea, but that didn’t happen. Instead they met the bird woman. The book is calmer, sweeter, and fun.

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Scene 5 – Run Aways, and Bank Trouble

The Movie – Jane and Michael run away. They’re lost in the back alleys of London until Bert finds them. He’s also a chimneysweep. He and his friends escort the kids home, with a little song and dance.

Mr. and Mrs. Banks return home and send the chimneysweeps away. That’s when Mr. Banks gets a call. He’s in trouble. Michael gives his father the tuppence, and Bert advises Mr. Banks to spend time with his kids before they’re grown.

The Book – The kids never ran away, or even made it to the bank. This is pure Disney.

​

Scene 6 – Mr. Banks Loses his Job

The Movie – Mr. Banks is fired, and he loses it – singing, joking, and laughing. Even trying to say . . . ready . . . 
supercalifragilisticexpealidocious. He heads home happy, and the boss who fired him, finally gets the joke.

The Book – All Disney. The bank is barely mentioned in the book.

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Scene 7 – The Wind Changes

The Movie – When the wind changes, Mary must leave. Mr. Banks fixes the kite and takes the family out for a flight. That’s when another banker gives Mr. Banks his job, plus a promotion. Mary flies away, and Bert tells her to come back soon.

The Book – It ends when Mary leaves. She told the kids she’d stay until the wind changed. They’re worried she’ll never return, but Mary leaves them with a note saying au revore. That’s French for – to meet again.

PS – Mary Poppins keeps her promise and returns for another book, with more adventures.
 
​

​
​Chapter 5 features The Dancing Cow. She’s very ladylike until the night she feels the urge to dance. She can’t seem to stop – to eat, to care for her baby, or even to sleep. Her solution – she runs, I mean dances all the way to the king to ask for advice. That’s where someone finally notices a star that’s stuck on her horn. To get rid of it, she’ll have to jump over the moon. Did it work? You’ll have to read chapter 5 yourself.
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PS - Was she that famous cow, the one who jumped over the moon? Pamela never said 😊

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Chapter 6 is titled Bad Tuesday. It starts one morning when Michael wakes up with a ball of energy inside him. It makes him say/do naughty things, to his brother and sisters. To his parents, even Mary Poppins. She sends him ahead to pick up something golden, a compass. When he hands it over, it takes them to the four corners of the globe. They meet four incredible animals before heading home. You’d think the naughty energy would disappear. Not! Michael tries to get the compass that night, but it turns into a nightmare that finally ends his bad Tuesday.

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Chapter 10 is titled Full Moon. Michael wants to know what happens at the zoo when there’s a full moon. That night Mary Poppins disappears, and Jane and Michael get tickets. When they arrive, the animals are roaming around, and people are locked into cages. That’s just one of the incredible things they see. The kids are sure it was  a dream, until they see Mary wearing something from the zoo.

Next up – after I reread P.L. Travers’ biography – I’ll post how she was like Pamela in Saving Mr. Banks, how she was like Mary Poppins, and other discoveries I make along the way. ​

Part 1 – Watching Mr. Banks: It was Christmas evening, and I finally controlled the remote . . . everyone else was going to bed. I was searching the Disney channel for a movie, and that’s when SAVING MR. BANKS called out to me. I’d seen it before, but I picked it over the other Christmas movies. Maybe because I’d been watching them since Halloween.

My husband actually stayed up and watched half of it. He’d never seen it before, but somehow it drew him in. Maybe because we both grew up with Disney. Back then we watched Walt every Sunday night. Going to his movies was a real treat.

Maybe he stayed because it took us behind the scenes of the movie we loved as kids. MARY POPPINS was magical! It stirred your imagination. It took you places you  could never go, like into a chalk drawing. Watching MR. BANKS was like peeling back the curtains and discovering the truth, just like Dorothy did in the Wizard of Oz.

The first time I watched SAVING MR. BANKS, I focused on Mary Poppins and how her movie was born. I was fascinated! But this time, I went deeper. I noticed details I missed before.
​

Part 2 – The Details I Caught – The Second Time Around: I was so focused the first time on how MARY POPPINS was born, that I didn’t really notice it was just one half of SAVING MR. BANKS. There are two! They take place decades apart, but Mary connects them. She makes them whole. This illustration from an Amazon review helped me picture how they connect.

The first story is at the top, the one from the early 60’s. It’s about Walt Disney and Pamela Travers. I didn’t know she fought to keep Mary out of Walt’s hands. It took him over 20 years to get the rights for her book.

The second story is about a girl and her father. It’s at the bottom. It took place around 1906, and it’s Pamela’s story. Of her childhood, of how much she loved her father, in spite of his flaws.

Connecting Walt and Pamela – MARY POPPINS. I didn’t realize until I watched it this time, that Mary helped Pamela make sense of her childhood, by writing about it. No wonder Pamela was so protective of her. I’d do the same for any of my characters!

I loved Mary Poppins when I was 5. Now I love her even more, but I’m curious. The longer I watched Mr. Banks, the more I wanted to know about the first Mary. And the real Pamela. After the movie was over, I searched for the first version of MARY POPPINS, not the picture book. That’s the movie version. I wanted Pamela’s real story, the original, the one that made Walt chase it for 20 years so he could make it into a movie.

I also wanted to learn more about the real P.L. Travers. I write, so I know stories often begin with the truth. Then they’re stretched and changed to make better stories. So I ordered Pamela’s biography. I’ll let you know what I discover.

The book I started tonight – MARY POPPINS. I’ll let you know what I think – how it’s like the movie version and SAVING MR. BANKS. Then, how it’s different. If you'd like to click and go, here you go . . .
Rinda Beach - Blog - Rinda Beach

Amazon’s Description:
Saving Mr. Banks is a fascinating look at the circuitous "collaborative" process Walt Disney, his creative team, and author P.L. Travers engaged in in bringing the character Mary Poppins to life on the big screen in the early 1960s. This touching, funny film is really two stories nicely tied up in one appealing package. The first story is of P.L. Travers's childhood in Australia in the early 1900s. This story starts out idyllically enough, emphasizing her father's immense love for his children and his uncanny ability to make everything fun and exciting, but it's one that has a darker side that ends up shaping the adult that Travers eventually becomes. The other story is of the adult P.L. Travers. A proper Englishwoman completely set in her ways, she grudgingly embarks on a trip from England to Los Angeles to discuss the possibility of turning her highly successful book Mary Poppins into a Disney motion picture. Walt Disney has a vested personal interest in the project, but Travers and the Disney team clash on virtually every level and their interactions run the gamut from perplexing to infuriating and downright funny. The juxtaposition of the two stories is quite masterful, with the stories continually intertwining and each shedding light on the other to create a cohesive film that is highly engaging and emotionally poignant. The casting of Tom Hanks as Disney and Emma Thompson as Travers is inspired: they are absolutely perfect in their roles. Perhaps the most intriguing thing about this film is that Saving Mr. Banks creates a whole new perspective from which to view the beloved original Mary Poppins. (Ages 10 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

10-16-202  I bought this book back in early September. I shop whenever I’m watching an OSU football game. It’s a superstition, but it makes me feel like I’m doing my part to help the Buckeyes win.

September 3rd was their opening game against Notre Dame. I probably started shopping early in the 1st quarter, when Notre Dame scored first. At half-time they led, by 3 points.

OSU came back in the second half, scoring 2 touchdowns. It worked! I shopped, bought this book, and Notre Dame stopped scoring. I didn’t buy anything else, but I kept screen-shopping, just in case.

I read the 1st chapter later in September, and I discovered this is an unusual book . . . Each chapter has a set of trivia questions, followed by multiple-choice answers, and the explanation for those answers.

        Next Game Day Saturday, October 22nd, I’ll share how I did on chapter 1, and what I learned. 

Amazon’s Description:
Do you think you’re the ultimate superfan of the Ohio State Buckeyes? Do you have a friend who bleeds scarlet and gray? Do you want to learn about the history of your favorite Big Ten school’s football program?

Even if those questions don’t apply to you, The Ultimate Ohio State Buckeyes Trivia Book is the best book for learning about the Buckeyes and their history. This trivia book is packed with interesting facts about Ohio State football from cover to cover, taking you from the playing fields of Columbus to the being drafted into the National Football League.

In this book, you’ll discover the answers to such questions as:

• When did Ohio State win its first national title?
• Who holds the Ohio State record for career rushing touchdowns?
• Who was the first coach to lead the Buckeyes to an unbeaten season?
• Who was the first Ohio State player to be chosen in the 1st round of the NFL Draft?
• What was Les Horvath studying before he went on to win the Heisman Trophy?
  
  

Whether you are an Ohio State fanatic hungry for more information about the team, a Big Ten superfan craving knowledge about the teams in the league, or just someone who enjoys learning new, interesting facts, this book is right up your alley. You will not be disappointed in discovering the world of the Ohio State University Buckeyes, so just crack open the book, sit back, relax, and enjoy the wave of knowledge.

                             Game Day Saturday, October 22nd - Chapter 1 - How I did, and what I learned. 

Chapter 1: Origins & History Time: Welcome to University Hall! It was the first building to be built on campus in 1873, It was reconstructed in 1976, a year before I became a Buckeye. I started at the Lima Branch in 1977, and I went to the Main Campus in 1979.
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I thought I bled scarlet and grey, but I guess, not as much as I thought . . . On the first quiz I got 5 right, out of 20. JUST FIVE! I couldn’t believe it, but, the questions were really hard. I picked three to share with you.

                         #2 Ohio State’s first football game was played in May.  True or False?
True, and I got it right. It was a lucky guess! I looked up the reason behind the answer – the book didn’t explain why. The reason – They started trying to form a team in 1886, but it took until 1890. The very first OSU game was played on May 3, 1890 on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. There’s even a historical marker there to celebrate that very first game!
                                            Source: Ohio State Buckeyes football - Wikipedia

                 #17 Michigan is the only team to beat Ohio State more than 20 times.  True or False?
False. I got it right, but I misunderstood the question. I thought Michigan won LESS than 20 times. I was SO wrong! The teams met the first time October 16, 1897. The team up north (Michigan) won 34 to 0.

OSU and Michigan played 117 times so far. Michigan won 59 times. OSU 51, and there have been 7 ties. My favorite fact – OSU dominated this century. Michigan won in 2003, 2011, and last year, 2021. THREE TIMES! Woohoo! This year . . . yet to be played.
                                                Source: Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry - Wikipedia

                               #18 What charm do Ohio State players receive for a win over Michigan?
                                    A. Gold “W”        B. Silver jersey        C. Gold buckeye        D. Gold pants       
                                             The answer – D! I missed it because C sounded better.

Here’s how the tradition started . . . from Michigan’s early domination, from 1897 to 1933. They won 22 times. OSU 6 times, and 2 ties.      

In 1934 OSU hired Francis Schmidt as head coach. When the local media got a chance to ask about that team up north, Schmidt said, “They put their pants on one leg at a time, just like the rest of us.”
That’s when two Columbus businessmen formed the ‘Gold Pants Club.’ They created gold lapel pins, shaped like football pants. Each player and coach on that winning team gets a gold pin, engraved with their initials, game date, and the score.

The first year, 1934, Schmidt’s team won 34 – 0. OSU kept winning! They beat Michigan for the next four years. Talk about motivation! Here’s to gold pants in 2022!
                                             Source: Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry - Wikipedia

                                 Game Day Saturday, October 22nd - Chapter 2 - How I did, and what I learned. 

Chapter 2: The Numbers Game:  I knew I was going down when I realized they were jersey numbers. I never paid attention to those. I was shocked! I got 7 right out of 20, TWO more than last week, but it was only lucky guessing.

This chapter was all about name dropping, and I thought I knew a bunch. Just 14, HALF! Like Archie Griffin, the Bosa Brothers, and Eddie George. But there were 14 I didn’t know, at all, like Kirk Herbstreet, you know the football commentator. YIKES!

Here’s this week’s Pick 3 – Three questions with three great answers . . . 
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                           #6 Which number did the Bosa brothers wear while terrorizing opposing
                                                       backfields for Ohio State?     94     96     97     98   
The answer – C! I picked B, a pure guess. Their dad John wore #97 when he played for the Miami Dolphins. Joey picked up his dad’s number from 2013 – 2015. Then Nick took over the family tradition from 2016 – 2018. For six years #97 led the way. It attacked and sacked quarterbacks across the Big Ten, and beyond.

      #19 Ohio State’s school colors of scarlet and gray predate the football program. True False?
True. One right! I can’t imagine OSU without scarlet and gray. They’ve been Buckeye colors since 1878. A team of three students picked them out. They thought it was a “pleasing combination,” and no one else used them. That first game – May 3, 1890!

                                          #20 What color are the buckeye decals given out to players during
                                 the season for big plays and consistency?     Black     Green     White     Scarlet
The answer – B! I guessed C. I thought the decals were mostly white, with black outlines. No other colors, but I was wrong again, but maybe I’m remembering the old ones. Today they’re the size of a quarter, with GREEN leaves.

I also thought they were a part of OSU tradition. Not! They first appeared on helmets in 1968 because the athletic trainer suggested it. Why? Ernie Biggs never explained, but everyone agreed they were the perfect motivator for college football players. After all, who wouldn’t want a helmet loaded with stickers?!

I didn’t know OSU coaches used them differently. For example – Woody Hayes, the first to get the decals, handed them out for big plays, or for consistency on the field. Later Jim Tressel used them to award groups of players. Everyone got a Buckeye for a win. A pair, if it was a Big Ten win. His units on the field would get one for an explosive play. The defense got them for three-and-outs . . . That’s when the other team tried three times for a first down, failed to get it, so they had to give the ball back to the Buckeye offense.

PS – #10 is one of those special numbers. It wasn’t in the book, but it belonged to Troy Smith. He won the 2006 Heisman Trophy. In 2014 OSU changed procedures. It didn’t retire his number, but it enshrined his jersey at the stadium to honor Troy’s Heisman, and good old #10 is still in circulation. Someday, someone else will wear it.
 
​Sources: 
Photo – By Fernando Martello, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91173769
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Information – Ohio State Buckeyes football - Wikipedia
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 – The Ultimate Ohio State Buckeyes Trivia Book: A Collection of Amazing Trivia Quizzes and Fun Facts for Die-Hard Buckeye Fans

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                              Game Day Saturday, November 3 - Chapter 3 - How I did, and what I learned. 

Chapter 3: Calling the Signals: I thought I might do a little better this time – today was all about quarterbacks. They’re the commanding officer on the offensive line. I did! I jumped into double digits . . . barely . . . 11 out of 20. Still failing, but it beats a 5 or a 7 😊

I recognize all of these quarterbacks from my days as a student, until now. Except for Les Horvath. He played QB for one year. It figures . . . in 1944. I wasn’t even born yet. I recognized 11 names in today’s quiz, but there were 9 I didn’t know. The big one I forgot – Joe Germaine – the QB from 1996-1998. Go figure!

Here’s my Pick 3 for this week – Three questions with three great answers . . . 

                               #1.  Cardale Jones easily holds the record for most wins without a loss
                 as an Ohio State starting quarterback, with how many victories?     9     11     13     14

The answer – B, 11 wins. I guessed 14, too high. I remember Cardale. He’s one of the most unusual quarterbacks in OSU history. He was the 3rd string QB who won the national championship. HOW?

Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett were both injured. Cardale led the Buckeyes to the Big 10 Championship, the national semifinals, AND The National Championship! It was the first year for the REAL one, with three games between the top 4 teams. Alabama, who lost, said OSU didn’t belong in the semifinals. Guess who was wrong?!

Dr. Pepper even made a commercial based on the 3rd string quarterback who won the national championship. It was an incredible year for OSU, and Cardale!

                #22. Which of these quarterbacks did NOT win 30 games as the Buckeyes’ starter?
                       A. J.T. Barrett       B. Cornelius Greene       C. Braxton Miller       D. Bobby Hoying

The answer – C, Braxton Miller. I got it right – I guessed! I thought the others hit 30 games. I was SO glad it wasn’t Cornelius Greene. He’s one of the first quarterbacks I remember. I’d never heard his story, until today. Maybe I was too young, too protected to hear about it.

I didn’t realize he was OSU’s first black starting quarterback, and that a lot of people in 1973 didn’t like it. Cornelius got 50 letters a week from the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and other similar groups. People even called his dorm room with death threats. It all stopped when Cornelius led the Buckeyes to a 56-7 win in the first game of the season, against Minnesota. Cornelius finished his OSU career with 2000 passing and rushing yards. He won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Big 10 MVP (most valuable player).
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BTW – he didn’t have a chance at the Heisman. His roommate, Archie Griffin won it, in 1974 and 75. He’s still the only college player to win it, TWICE. Bam! He was a Buckeye! And so was Cornelius!

          #9.  Dwayne Haskins is responsible for all but one of the 400-yard passing performances
                                            in Ohio State history. Who is responsible for the other one?
                                       A. Troy Smith   B. J.T. Barrett   C. Art Schlichter   D. Cardale Jones

The answer – C, Art Schlichter. I got it right – It was a good guess, but Art was a very talented player, with a back story that’s better than I thought.

George Chaump was the first Buckeye coach to spot Art in high school. He showed Woody Hayes a couple reels of film, then got him to go to a game. Woody was sold, but Art was ready to sign up with Michigan. OOPS! I mean that team up North. But Woody got Art. HOW?

Woody promised that he’d start as a freshman, and that the Buckeyes would open up the offense for him. That they’d even let him pass the ball. Timing is everything! Woody made that promise the day before Bo Schembechler was scheduled for a visit. When Art’s dad told him about the promise, Bo stormed out shouting that Woody would never keep it.

He did. Art started as a freshman, and I was a sophomore. I couldn’t believe Woody actually started a freshman. OSU is so deep in talent. How could a freshman become the starting QB? I don’t think anyone has started another one since, until last year, with C.J. Stroud in 2021. 

BTW – I’d never heard of Kirk Herbstreit. Here’s his story . . . Kirk only started one year as QB, in 1992. It was nothing to write home about so he decided to take a corporate sales job with a nice salary, and matching perks. Then a Columbus radio station offered him much, much less, with no benefits. The job – to do an afternoon talk show and sideline gameday reports for the Buckeyes.

Kirk took it! Two years later ESPN2 hired him to make sideline reports. The rest – is history. In 1996 he made it all the way to College Gameday. Not bad! And it beats a sales job!


                                Game Day Saturday, November12 - Chapter 4 - How I did, and what I learned. 

​​Chapter 4: Between the Tackles: I got 11 right last week, but I slipped back to 5 again. It figures . . . this week was about running backs, records and awards. I never paid attention to those things. I watched the plays, the touchdowns, and wins. The important things!

​When I was looking for running backs, I found this screenshot. I recognized everyone, except Jim Otis. He started in 1967 – when I was 8. I recognized 9 players on the quiz, but I was clueless with 13.  
Here’s my Pick 3 for this week – Three questions, and three great answers . . .


                                 #5. Eddie George and Ezekiel Elliott are tied in the record books with
                            the most 200-yard games for the Buckeyes, with how many?     5     4     3     2

The answer – A . . . 5 games. I guessed 4, too low. Both Eddie and Ezekiel had five games with over 200 yards, but no one dreamed Eddie could do that when he arrived. He was a BIG guy!

OSU was the only school that gave Eddie a chance to run. The others thought he should be a linebacker. Everything looked good until the first game with Illinois. That’s when he fumbled, TWICE, on the 5-yard line. Fans were furious! They said he should transfer! That Eddie wasn’t running back material.

Eddie persevered. Three years later he set a record against Illinois. He ended the season with 1927 yards rushing (a school record). He missed the single-season touchdown record by one. He also brought home every award a running back could win, including the Heisman Trophy. Way to go, Eddie George!


                     #13. What was Les Horvath’s career high for rushing yards in a game, set during
               his Heisman-winning 1944 season?      114 yards       128 yards       141 yards     157 yards

                 And the answer – C . . . 141 yards. I guessed too high – 157. Close doesn’t count in trivia.
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The funny thing about that 1944 season . . . Les wasn’t supposed to play. He retired from football in 1942 after winning the national title. He started dental school in 1943. But in 1944 the coach asked Les to come back for one last season. Why? There weren’t enough players. They were off fighting in World War II.
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The NCAA made players like Les eligible to play. And coach promised Les could skip practice AND fly to games, so he didn’t miss out on his dental work. Thanks to the war and the NCAA, Les rushed for 924 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. He was also OSU’s first Heisman winner, thanks to one last, unexpected season. 
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      17. Which of these Ohio State running backs was NOT a three-time first-team All-American?  
                             A. Lew Hinchman    B. Howard Cassidy     C. Chic Harley    D. Archie Griffin
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And the answer – B . . . Howard Cassidy. I guessed wrong. I was torn between Lew Hinchman and Chic Harley because I didn’t know them. I picked Lew, wrong.  He was a first team All-American from 1930-1932, but he’s not well known. Everyone knows Archie Griffin. He’s the only player to win the Heisman twice, in college football history.
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Meet Chic Harley, the first OSU superstar. He played during the 1916 and 17 seasons, but skipped out in 1918. He enlisted as a soldier in World War 1. It ended so Chic came back in 1919 and won first team All-American again, for the third time.
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I didn’t know Chic was so popular that he put OSU football on the map. He was also the driving force behind building the Shoe. It used to be called the ‘House that Harley Built,’ but the important thing . . . it’s where the Buckeyes play!
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Sources: The Ultimate Ohio State Buckeyes Trivia Book

-  QB/HB Lew Hinchman (3-time All-American) | BuckeyePlanet
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-   Ohio Stadium - Wikipedia

​-  Howard Cassady - Wikipedia

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​                              Game Day Saturday, November 12 - Chapter 5 - How I did, and what I learned. 
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Chapter 5: Catching the Ball: I caught 5 answers, the same as last week. It figures – I’ve never been good at catching anything. And the answers I did manage to catch – the true and false kind. YIKES!

As for name recognition, I knew 7 . . . but not the other 14. AND worst of all, none of the book’s answers resonated with me.  
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      So for this week’s Pick 3 – Three True & False Questions – And my research into their answers. 
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                                           #2. Only five Ohio State receivers have gone over 1,000
                                                 receiving yards in a season.      A. True     B. False

The answer – A . . . True. I said false. I was sure there had to be more than 5. So here are the FIVE best receivers in OSU history . . .
                                                                In 1998 David Boston made 85 catches for 1435 yards.
                                                                In 1995 Terry Glenn only made 64 catches. He gained 1411 yards.
                                                                In 1986 Cris Carter caught 69 passes for 1127 yards.
                                                                In 2002 Michael Jenkins caught 61 passes for 1076 yards
                                      And finally in 2018 Parris Campbell joined the group with 82 catches for 1006 yards. 

Source: Parris Campbell Becomes Fifth Ohio State Receiver With 1,000 Yards Receiving in a Single Season | Eleven Warriors

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                                      #13. No Ohio State receiver has ever won the Biletnikoff Award ​for the
                                                        best wide receiver in the country.     A. True     B. False

                          And the answer – B . . . False. I knew it! At least one Buckeye had to win. REALLY!

But it turns out only ONE Buckeye did, Terry Glenn. He won in 1995, the 2nd year the award was given out, and he’s THE only finalist from OSU, ever. You have to be one of the top-three vote-getters to be a finalist. No one else broke through – not David Boston. Not Michael Jenkins. Not even Parris Campbell. It’s hard to believe with all the talented wide receivers that no other Buckeye ever got a nod. Unbelievable!

Source: After Ohio State football’s Biletnikoff Award snub, can Jaxon Smith-Njigba break the drought in 2022? - cleveland.com
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​                                               #19. Ohio State has NOT had a receiver with 200 receiving yards
                                                     in a game in the twenty-first century.      A. True     B. False
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And the answer – B . . . False. It had to be false. Surely SOME Buckeye had to have over 200 yards receiving in a game, since the year 2000. Surely!

In OSU history there have only been four 200-yard receiving games, ever. SOME Buckeye did, since the year 2000 – and it was Jaxon Smith Njigba – twice, last year.

That means OSU is up to six games with 200 receiving yards, but I couldn’t find the other receivers. I looked for almost an hour, sorry. My guess is that Terry Glenn had one of those games, maybe two, but I have no idea on the others. Maybe a super-fan will comment and share those answers with all of us.
 
Source: Jaxon Smith-Njigba Breaks Rose Bowl Receiving Record as OSU Tops Utah in Thriller | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report
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​                              Game Day Saturday, November 26 - Chapter 6 - How I did, and what I learned. 

​Chapter 6: Trench Warfare:  I pictured the trenches of World War I when I read the title, but these are on the football field. The kind that the offensive and defensive linemen fight over. Today was the first game the OSU linemen failed, especially in the 2nd half, and it was against that Team Up North, but Coach Day and his assistants will analyze and tighten those lines. Come Bowl time, they’ll be ready. I have a feeling, Michigan won’t. They won, and they feel confident. They’re in for a brawl in the National Championships, and I’m not sure that they can handle it.
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I thought lineman. Then uh-oh, but I got the same score as I did last week . . . not worse! I got 5 answers right again – 3 weeks in a row. I didn’t do as well on True/False, but I actually got some multiple-choice answers right. Sometimes good guesses pay off.

As for name recognition, I knew 12 linemen, more than last week, but there were way more names I didn’t know . . . 26. Ouch!
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Here are this week’s Pick 3, but think of them as a Pick 5. The first three questions are all about the same person, and I got 2 right. Woohoo!
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Game Day Saturday, December 31st  - Chapter 7 - How I did, and what I learned. 
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Chapter 7: No Air Zone: I had no idea who this chapter was about. I had to finish the questions and answers first. No Air Zone – those are the players who break up passes or make interceptions – the defensive backs.  When I found the picture below, I wasn’t sure who was trying to catch the ball, and who was trying to intercept or break it up. 

I figured I’d do worse this time . . . no one remembers the defense, but I lucked out with a few good guesses. Eight, WOOHOO!

I did about the same on name recognition. I knew 10 but failed on the other 16.

Here are this week’s Pick 3. Sorry, they turned into a Pick 8. The first 3 questions are about one defensive back, and the other 5 are about another.

                                 8.  Which Ohio State defensive back is one of the namesakes for the
                                         Big Ten’s award for the best defensive back of the season?
                                    A. Shawn Springs    B. Mike Doss   3. Dick LeBeau   4.  Jack Tatum

And the answer . . . Jack Tatum. I got it right! YAY! Good guess! I knew it wasn’t Shawn Springs. He came to OSU much later.
 
                            11. Who was Ohio State’s first first-team All-American as a defensive back?
                                   A. Jack Tatum   B. Ted Provost   C. Arnie Chonko   D. Mike Sensibaugh  

I missed it! I guessed Jack, but it was Arnie. I would have NEVER guessed him . . .  I didn’t know his name.
 
                                13. In which season was Jack Tatum named the national defensive player
                             of the year and unanimous All-American?   A. 1971   B. 1970   C. 1969   D. 1968

                                                  Yay! I got it right! I picked the middle answer, 1970.

And Jack Tatum . . . he came to Columbus as a running back, at least that’s what Woody Hayes had planned. Then Lou Holtz took a peek. He talked Woody into turning Jack into a defensive back. Jack was fearsome. Lou put him in to challenge the other team’s top receiver. To do linebacker duty too. It worked!

Jack was first team All-Big Ten for 3 straight years. Then an All-American in 1969 and 1970. He was the national defensive player in 1970. In fact the Big Ten’s defensive back of the year award is named after Jack. What a pity – he has to share it with Charles Woodson, from that Team Up North. Blech!

The End of the Season:  December 31st was the last game for my Buckeyes. They lost in the run-up to the National Championships. They played #1 Georgia, and I dreaded this evening after the Michigan game, but they showed up, BIG TIME! They led twice during the game, and if they’d scored a field goal in those last 8 seconds, they would have won. AND, they deserved it! WOW! What a game, for Georgia, and for my Buckeyes!
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I’ll see you next year for the last five chapters of OSU Football Trivia. BAM! Here’s to those Buckeyes!

Started 12/15                                       Finished 12/28
I started another book first but quickly changed my mind . . . I wanted something different, something Christmassy, and there’s no one better at it than Debbie Macomber.

The best part – I wound up with two stories! I’ve read them before, and they’re both Hallmark’s kind of story . . . full of kindness and good cheer. (They turned three of Debbie’s Mrs. Miracle books into movies.)

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS is Cassie’s story. She’s 34 and believes finding the perfect husband is now, or never. To increase her odds, she finds a matchmaker. His fee – $30,000 . . . OUCH! But if he can’t find the most ‘suitable’ match, she’ll get her money back. But first, Cassie has 3 task to complete. You’ll have to read to find out if she makes the perfect match.

CAN THIS BE CHRISTMAS asks what might happen, if you were stuck in small town New Hampshire, without food, family, or even a Christmas tree. It looks like the worst Christmas ever, until a simple act of kindness gets everyone to look beyond what was lost, to find a silver lining. This is a Debbie Macomber story, so you’re guaranteed a happy ending, even if you’re reading it in January😊

Amazon’s Description (From Back Cover):
Christmas perfect? For Cassie Beaumont, it’s meeting her perfect match. Cassie, at thirty-three, wants a husband and kids, and so far, nothing’s worked. Not blind dates, not the Internet and certainly not leaving love to chance. What’s left? A professional matchmaker. He’s Simon Dodson, and he’s very choosy about the clients he takes on. Cassie finds Simon a difficult, acerbic know-it-all, and she’s astonished when he accepts her as a client. Claiming he has her perfect mate in mind, Simon assigns her three tasks to complete before she meets him. Three tasks that are all about Christmas: being a charity bell ringer, dressing up as Santa’s elf at a children’s party and preparing a traditional turkey dinner for her neighbors (whom she happens to dislike). Despite a number of comical mishaps, Cassie does it all—and she’s finally ready to meet her match. But just like the perfect Christmas gift, he turns out to be a wonderful surprise! What would the holidays be without a Christmas story from Debbie Macomber? --This text refers to an alternate kindle edition edition.

This book on Kindle (from a review) contains recipes and then another book, "Can This Be Christmas?" which was a delightful surprise. It is about individuals on a train on their way home for Christmas. They had been diverted from their plane schedules because of a huge snowstorm in Maine on their way to Boston to make connections. Each is going to a different location; each has a story. Their stories and how they handle the breakdown of the tracks and spend the night in a train station makes the interesting tale. It is fascinating in both these books to discover how people grow in maturity from the disappointments of life. A very good read.

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Started 12/7                                  Finished 12/15
I bought this book for one reason – the name of the main character – Rinda! I’ve never seen my name on anything in a store. EVER! They have regular names, like Alex. When I saw Rinda in the description. I bought it! I had to!

The experience – unexpected! At first I thought someone was calling me, but they weren’t. They were calling for Princess Rinda of Balinore. It took a few chapters before Rinda felt like a book character. Not me!

The description also said it was inspired by an old folktale – by King Thrushbeard. I’d never heard of him before, but the Scarecrow King reminds me of another story – Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. Both of them have women with sharp tongues, and control issues.

And the theme of The Scarecrow King? Rinda learns to trust others, but more importantly – she learns to trust and value herself. 

​Amazon’s Description:
Princess Rinda of Balinore knows of only one way to get her cold father’s attention – to be an obnoxious, spoiled princess. When she finds out that the king plan to marrying her off to a far-flung nobleman, she puts on her best bratty show in front of the entire court. But Rinda’s plan backfires, and she soon finds herself married to the most ineligible man ever. Her new husband is monastery raised, poor as dirt, and a traveling minstrel.

A very, very bad traveling minstrel. But Alek isn’t what he seems like on the surface, and neither is Rinda. She won’t take this marriage lying down, and schemes to find herself a new husband – a king. But as she and Alek travel together, they learn that not only are appearances deceiving, but goals can change in the blink of an eye, and love can get in the way of the strongest plans…

                   The Scarecrow King is a romantic retelling of the King Thrushbeard fairy tale.
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Started 11/29                                       Finished 12/7
I love historical fiction when it’s well done, like this book. I’d never heard of the Armenian Genocide, and I wondered why the author picked Sandcastle Girls for its title. It’s a reference to the ones Elizabeth Endicott built as a child on the Boston shoreline. The sandcastles reappear later in the Syrian Desert. Using them helps to tell this tragedy, without traumatizing the reader.

There are three main storylines running through it, but they’re easy to follow. Elizabeth is the heroine. She’s there to assist her father with his charity work. To use her nursing skills to help the Armenian refugees.

Armen Petrosian escaped the genocide, and now he builds railroad lines for the Ottoman Turks. They murdered his family, but he’s willing to work for them. His hope – to find out what happened to his first wife and their infant daughter.

Armen and Elizabeth’s granddaughter, Laura, discovers the answer long after her grandparents’ death, and it isn’t pretty. She spots a woman’s photo in an exhibit. Her name – Karine Petrosian. Could they be related? Laura finds out from the letters and journals her grandmother had hidden away. It’s the beginning of a journey back in time to 1915 Aleppo, Syria to learn the truth.

PS – I love when posts link together. When Armen gives up on finding his wife and daughter, he joins the Anzac soldiers fighting the Turks in Egypt. If you’d like to learn more about the Anzacs, check out this link: http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/meet-the-anzacs-then-discover-who-they-were

Amazon’s Description:
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the bestselling author of The Flight Attendant, here is a sweeping historical love story that probes the depths of love, family, and secrets amid the Armenian Genocide during WWI.

When Elizabeth Endicott arrives in Aleppo, Syria, she has a diploma from Mount Holyoke, a crash course in nursing, and only the most basic grasp of the Armenian language. It’s 1915, and Elizabeth has volunteered to help deliver food and medical aid to refugees of the Armenian Genocide during the First World War. There she meets Armen, a young Armenian engineer who has already lost his wife and infant daughter. After leaving Aleppo and traveling into Egypt to join the British Army, he begins to write Elizabeth letters, realizing that he has fallen in love with the wealthy young American.
 
Years later, their American granddaughter, Laura, embarks on a journey back through her family’s history, uncovering a story of love, loss—and a wrenching secret that has been buried for generations.

Do you ever need a laugh? I do, so Funny Editor.com sends me at least one a day, usually more. The best part – trying to figure out the answer. I usually miss, but I love trying. Here’s today’s joke . . . can you guess the answer?

​And the answer is . . . 
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​I didn’t think of Disney, the happiest place on earth, but I did think of taking the perfect Christmas picture. It used to stress me out, especially when my kids were toddlers.

Click the link below if you want to look at the answer. You’ll also find more jokes, and, you can subscribe to funnyeditor.com.

PS – I found this one using the categories button, under family. I wonder what category I’ll pick tomorrow . . . I’ll let you know then 😊
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                     Link: Where can you find the most stressed-out parents? (funnyeditor.com)
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​Times Square!
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I didn’t think of times, like multiplication. Or square either, like the shape, or 22 (two squared.) In math a number that’s squared is multiplied by itself. 22 equals 2x2, and that’s 4.

All I could think of was pie, not the kind you eat – the math kind, “Pi.” They’re pronounced the same, but pi’s a symbol that looks like this . . . "π". If you want to calculate pi, divide the circumference of a circle by its diameter. The answer is never-ending, but math teachers round it up to 3.14.

I’m glad the funny editor picked the other Times Square, the block in New York City. I have two pictures of it. The first is from a regular night. The second is New Year’s Eve. That’s when people from all over the US come together to celebrate. They watch the ball drop. It marks the beginning of the new year.
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Click the link below if you want to look at the answer. I found it in Categories, under education.
                           Link: Where do math teachers like to go on vacation? (funnyeditor.com)
​                                                                              Now, to find Joke #3😊


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Long distance made me think fuel. Cars run on gasoline. Reindeer –  on food. I couldn’t make it punny, but the funny editor did – with long distance runners.

It’s a great play on words . . . with the runners . . . those things on the bottom. They run through the snow on a regular sled, but they run through the air for Santa.

There are also runners – the kind that pull the sleigh. Santa uses reindeer for his. Click the link below if you want to look at the answer, and, more jokes. I found this one in Categories, under holiday.
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​Link: Why does Santa's sled get such good mileage? (funnyeditor.com)   
PS – I already picked Joke #4 for tomorrow 😊 From the same category 😊


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I love the Funny Editor.com answers. I didn’t have a thing for this one, and their answer is a 3-way word play. Think ‘suit.’ It has 2 meanings that fit – suit as in the one Santa’s wearing. The other suit is when something matches or fits you. Example – chocolate suits me! It really does!
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The real answer is completely different from suit, in how it looks, and sounds. Soot rhymes with foot. It’s the smoke pouring out of the chimney, the black powder inside it, and the ashes in the fireplace. I don’t know how Santa’s ‘suit’ stays clean with all that ‘soot.’

Click the link below if you want to find this joke and a few more. This one was in Categories, under holiday.

                 Link: Why does Santa Claus go down the chimney on Christmas Eve? (funnyeditor.com)

Started 11/20                                      Finished 11/29
This could be the first book in a new series! It has great characters and an interesting premise. Claire is a librarian from Texas whose fiancee walks out on her at their weddding rehearsal. Claire takes her honeymoon to New York anyway and discovers the presence of magic. She even winds up helping to decide who will rule the wizards of New York. There’s a guy, a cute one of course. I can’t give away the ending, but I can tell you that Claire’s research skills come in handy. Would you believe there’s a magical library inside the Main one in New York? You know the one with the lions? If this becomes a series, I’ll be waiting and watching for the next book, Fingers crossed!
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Amazon’s Description:
The wedding was cancelled, but the honeymoon is pure magic

Left at the altar, Claire Jennings wasn’t going to let a cancelled wedding get in the way of her honeymoon trip to New York City, especially since she’d already paid for it. But a chance encounter and a good deed send her vacation in an entirely unexpected direction, drawing her into a side of the city that tourists don’t see—and neither do most New Yorkers.

After she meets a handsome stranger in a hotel bar, she finds herself in a social whirlwind, invited to glamourous parties in impossible venues and included in excursions right out of a movie. She soon learns that she’s become the accidental keeper of something every magical person in New York wants—a source of great power. It’s giving her abilities she never dreamed were possible, but it’s also made her a target.
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If she ever wants to go back to her normal life where she isn’t constantly hunted by wizards, Claire will have to rescue an enchanted prince, find a way to navigate this magical world, figure out who the good guys and bad guys are, and mediate a centuries-old dispute. And all before her flight home.
A new contemporary fantasy with a touch of romance from the author of Enchanted, Inc.

Started 11/14                                                 Finished 11/20
Shanna Swendson is one of my favorite authors, and I’m working my way through her Lucky Lexie series. I just finished book 5, and I have 2 to go. No magic, but plenty of ghosts, and a murder to solve.

What I love most about her writing – is how fun it is to read. Imagine – a ghost hunter coming into the newspaper office to get the scoop on the haunted hotel, but she doesn’t see the ghost that’s standing right in front of her. I wish I’d written that scene! Or my other favorite ghostbusters – the Spooky Squad. Shanna wrote them just like something out of the Scooby Doo cartoons. Maybe I do need to try writing a mystery, just for the fun of it!

The first time I read one, I can never, ever solve it. If it were real life, I’d be dead😊. The best part about reading a mystery again – you can follow the clues right to the criminal, even when they point at someone else. Here’s to my next Lucky Lexie adventure!
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Amazon’s Description:
It’s the event someone’s dying to attend . . .The grand-opening party at a new bed-and-breakfast in a vintage farmhouse that’s supposedly haunted poses quite the dilemma for Lexie Lincoln. Most of the other guests are noted ghost hunters, and since Lexie actually can see ghosts, she’ll know whether they’re frauds and whether the inn really is haunted. But showing what she knows or honestly reporting on what she sees and hears would make her sound like a tabloid reporter rather than a serious journalist.

Ghosts become the least of Lexie’s concerns when a flash flood blocks the road out and then one of the guests is found dead. Someone in the inn has to be a killer. If they don’t figure out who, there could be more victims. It’s up to Lexie to enlist the aid of the resident ghosts to break the case and save them all, but that may mean revealing her secret talent to the rest of the world. Or is an angry ghost the real threat?

Started 10/13                                          Finished 11/14
I read this book every couple of years because its elements fascinate me. How many books have you read that begin with a dedication to your banker, who explained the ins/outs of ATMs for your plot? Add in another dedication – a quote from Isaiah about the Son of Morning falling from heaven, AKA Lucifer.  And the story hasn’t even started yet!

The main characters – Grace from 1996 and Niall of Scotland from 1307. How could they connect? Through the Foundation of Evil. Grace thought she was working for an archaeology group, until it destroyed her family. That’s when she learned the truth, that the Foundation was after nothing less than the treasure chest of the Knights Templar. Niall became its Guardian after the order’s destruction on Friday October 13th, 1307. And that was just the beginning of the book!

Some chapters like #9 are so intriguing . . . “The Foundation hadn’t had good luck with the past two Republican presidents, or the Democratic one before them. Their luck had changed four years earlier.” The two Republicans . . . Ronald Reagan and George Bush the elder. The Democrat . . . Jimmy Carter. And when did the Foundation’s luck change? In 1992 when Bill Clinton was elected president.

Another quote from chapter 9 . . . War was so gauche, so much effort for so little gain. The time had passed when nations could be won; now war meant little but destruction. Real power lay in money . . . and whoever controlled the money controlled the world as well as the puppets who stood onstage, in the limelight, and pretended to be the ones in power.”

There may still be war in the Ukraine. But social media and the press control the conversation, and they’re pushing for a new world order, not middle-class values. It seems more true today in 2022, than when this book was published back in 2009.

Chapter 26, puts the religious theme back into focus . . . “The fact that mortal man cannot understand God, that we must not say a thing is impossible, because all things are possible to Him, and our understanding too paltry. God is not limited by our imagination or our small minds. The Church makes rules and says they come from God, but they come only from man and his attempt to interpret God.”

And that brings the reader back to the main characters and their drive for a happy ending. This is a romance after all, and, a brilliant book! (Warning - this is an open-door novel. I skip pages that are too graphic for me.)

Amazon’s Description:
New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard captivates readers in the deeply romantic tale of a contemporary woman who unravels an extraordinary mystery from the past—by living it.

A scholar specializing in ancient manuscripts, Grace St. John never imagined that a cache of old documents she discovered was the missing link to a lost Celtic treasure. But as soon as she deciphers the legend of the Knights of the Templar -- long fabled to hold the key to unlimited power -- Grace becomes the target of a ruthless killer bent on abusing the coveted force. Determined to stop him, Grace needs the help of a warrior bound by duty to uphold the Templar's secret for all eternity. But to find him -- and to save herself -- she must go back in time . . . to fourteenth-century Scotland . . . and to Black Niall, a fierce man of dark fury and raw, unbridled desire. . . .

Have you heard of the song, Be True to Your School? Or the Beach Boys? No? You can click on this link, keep reading, or do both. I suggest both 😊          Link: be true to your school - Search (bing.com
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​Be True to Your School is a song by the Beach Boys, and it came out in October of  1963. I was 4, but I still remember it. The Beach Boys were popular in the 60’s and later in the 70’s when I was in high school. They were known for their ‘California sound.’ It was all about surfing, cars, and girls. You know, teenage stuff. In the 60’s California was the place to be. My parents considered moving, but didn’t.

This song started playing in my head after the OSU/Michigan game. My team, The Ohio State University, lost, and the internet articles were awful. Everyone loves the thrill of victory, but no one wants anything to do with the agony of defeat. It’s not fun, but it’s important to know how to win, and how to lose. Maybe that’s why this song started circling through my head.

So where did it come from? From Brian Wilson and Mike Love, two of the original Beach Boys. I knew that, but I didn’t know the melody was the University of Wisconsin’s fight song, ‘On Wisconsin.’ But the Wilson brothers, Brian, Carl, and Dennis weren’t channeling Wisconsin. They were using their high school fight song. Hawthorne High School in California uses the same melody, different words. As for the Beach Boys, their lyrics were all about staying true to your school, to your girl, the important things in life. I love positive messages, the kind that make you want to be a better you. Loyalty is a good thing.

BTW – the cover photo (below) is for their single, not the album. If you’re younger than me, songs back then were played on record players. They were vinyl disks, 7 inches in diameter. The ‘A’ side had Be True to Your School, the hit side. On the ‘B’side was In My Room. It was actually a hit, but not as big.
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Tomorrow – my thoughts about staying true to my school, to its coaches and players. Win or lose, I believe in loyalty.
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​                                             Sources:
Photos: By http://www.7inchrecords.com/, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5030597
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Search link:  be true to your school - Search (bing.com)
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Information Sources:
Be True to Your School - Wikipedia
The Beach Boys - Wikipedia


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Part 2 – The School:  I’ve been true to my school since the 70’s. I’m a Buckeye first, last, and always. Win or lose, I’m a Buckeye. They’re words, but I’m a writer, and words are important to me.

I’m also loyal. If The Ohio State University is playing football, then I’m cheering them on. If we’re into Bowl Season, then I’m all about the Big 10. I’ll root for them, for their coach, and their players. Shucks, I’ll even root for Michigan, but only if it’s a Bowl Game.
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There are 3 seasons at OSU – the first11 games, then Michigan, and last, a Bowl. Win at least 2 of them, and you’ll keep your job.
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Here are the last two OSU coaches, Ryan Day and Urban Meyer. After OSU lost The Big Game on Saturday, people wanted Ryan fired, and Urban to be rehired. My guess – probably the same ones. The history of the two coaches is linked,

Here’s how . . . In 2018 when people were calling for Urban to be fired, he was placed on administrative leave for three games while the university investigated him. Urban was cleared, and he returned to finish the season. But those people, they were still calling for him to be fired. Not me. I’m loyal.
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The coach during those 3 games – Ryan Day. He won all 3. I backed him then, and I backed Urban’s return. Some people didn’t, and they got their way. Urban retired after the 2019 Rose Bowl. I was glad because I thought Urban stepped away for health reasons. He looked like he was in pain during most of the season. 
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The next head coach – Ryan Day. I was glad to see him back. I thought he deserved the job. And his record since then . . .  In 2019 Ryan had a  12 – 0 regular season, the first one since 2013. His team won the Big 10 Championship. They made it to the National Playoff but lost to Clemson. Coach Day was named the Dave McClain Coach of the Year, AND he beat Michigan.

2020 was a weird year. That’s when Covid almost stopped college football. The Buckeyes played 4 games and won them all. The 5th game, Coach Day missed . . . he had Covid . . . but his team still won. As for Michigan, they refused to play, they said because of Covid. We Buckeyes didn’t buy it. We thought Michigan choked and wanted to stop us from making the National Championships. But the Big 10 council said let OSU play. We won the Big 10, then beat Clemson in the National Playoffs. It was so satisfying after losing in 2019, but the year ended with a loss to Alabama. Disappointing, but being the #2 football team in the nation – not so bad!

2021 was interesting . . . Coach Day started freshman CJ Stroud at quarterback. I couldn’t believe it! I haven’t seen a freshman in that position since Art Schlichter when I was in college. I also couldn’t believe how Coach Day helped him grow. The Buckeyes lost 2 games that season, early in the year against Oregon, and that final awful game. I knew eventually Michigan had to win, but it was glorious, from 2011- 2020. And the good news – we beat Utah in the Rose Bowl. Michigan – lost BIG time in the National Championships to Georgia.

This year, 2022 was great, until Saturday. That’s the day Coach Day lost to Michigan, again, 2 years in a row. I didn’t know he bragged that he’d “hang 100 on them” in 2021 . It wasn’t wise, and it fired up those Wolverines, 2 years in a row. But looking at his record, even with 2 losses to Michigan, I’d keep Coach Day. Look at all those great regular seasons, plus 2 Bowl wins.

Photo Sources:
Ryan Day: By CFB ON FOX - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kelObbmNiQ, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113990115

Urban Meyer: By CFB ON FOX - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kelObbmNiQ, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113990179
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Information Sources: Ryan Day (American football) - Wikipedia
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Part 3 – The Team:  I’ve been true to my school and its team since the 70’s. No player wins in isolation, or loses that  way either. Great plays, and mistakes are part of the game. I believe in that old adage – it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game. 

​As for CJ Stroud, he took a lot of shots over the weekend for losing The Big Game, two years in a row. I didn’t blame CJ last year. He was a freshman and still learning. The only other freshman to win the starting quarterback position was Art Schlichter. It was unimaginable to start a freshman then, unless they’re super-talented. It still is.

CJ has grown a ton over the last 2 years, thanks to Coach Day and his staff. He is so good that this is probably his last season at OSU. He’s planning on going into the NFL draft.
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