![]() This was my September read. I picked it because I loved the movie, and I was curious about what was true and what was made-up. Most of the movie matched up with the book, but the book took the reader on a longer journey from childhood to adulting. The biggest difference, the scene where JD has to drive home from Yale to save his mother. She has nowhere to go; has relapsed on drugs. When he arrives, he spreads her bill across his credit cards. JD is a poor college kid who drove all night to get there. Then he turns around and drives back the next day. It’s dramatic, and I still remember that scene two years later. The truth, JD already graduated. He’s married and living in Cincinnati. He drove an hour to Middletown because the cheap motel doesn’t accept credit cards over the phone. Then he drove home again. That’s flat, almost boring. As a writer, I stretch true stories to make them fit the reader. Hollywood does the same in movies. That’s why I’m curious when movies are based on reality, what’s true, and what’s fictionalized. The best part of this book – it’s part autobiography, part history of Appalachia and the rust belt. It also deals with groups and sociology. With the effects of poverty on him and the people around him. Part 2 – Hillbilly History: Meet Jed and Granny Clampett from the Beverly Hillbillies. It was a TV show that ran for eleven years when I was growing up. The Clampetts were from the Ozarks. J.D.’s family and mine were from the hills of Kentucky and Tennessee. They moved to Beverly Hills. The two of us, to Ohio. ![]() What we all have in common is the word ‘hillbilly,’ and how people look at that word. Hollywood and their writers think we’re all hicks from the sticks. OOPS, I mean poor people from rural mountain areas. That we’re not as educated, or as smart. We dress in old beat-up clothes and cling to God and our guns. Well yes, some of that’s true, but it’s also a stereotype. J.D.’s parents and my mother’s family left the hills for a better life up north. A lot of hillbillies did. He went to Middletown; my mom to Wapakoneta. Two of my aunts married and moved to Michigan in the 50’s. An uncle moved to Indiana. My family had our struggles, but nothing like J.D.’s And my two uncles who stayed, they had less opportunity, but over the years their families prospered too. They’re some of my favorite people – with humor, kind-hearts, and common sense. Part 3 – Autobiographies: J.D.’s story is unusual. ![]() He went through a childhood of poverty, drugs, and abuse. Then onto the Marines, The Ohio State University, and Yale. From there he became a successful lawyer, entrepreneur, and Senator. Now he’s the Vice President Elect. So how did he do it? His Superpower – his grandmother. She may have had the mouth of a sailor, but she believed in J.D. and pushed him to be his best. My story is more common. I grew up working/middle class. I didn’t have any of J.D.’s struggles. I was a good student, did most things well. I graduated from OSU too, but I took a more ordinary path – teacher, wife, mother, now writer. Nothing extraordinary. J.D. only had his grandmother, but I had a whole family supporting and pushing me to be my best. The most influential – my father. He didn’t have to yell or spank me. He’d express disappointment. I’d be crushed and push to do better. 98% of the time I did. Thanks, Dad, and thanks to J.D.’s grandmother! Part 4 – Sociology: I never expected to read this autobiography and find examples that a sociologist could use to explain social behavior, relationships, or even interactions. But I did, and they’re fascinating! I picked a few examples to share, the ones that really resonated with me. One of the first sections I picked was even footnoted. It said the “disturbing aspect of hillbillies was their racialness.” Huh?! When you read on, you discover hillbillies are white, the same ‘color’ as the powerful at local, state, and national levels. The odd thing, hillbillies share many of the same characteristics as southern blacks. That was written about the great migration north, after the depression. My relatives came during the 1950s. By the time J.D. was a kid, it still showed up in Sunday rehab sessions with his mother. Another example came from two books J.D. mentioned. Both of them were written by sociologists about black people in the inner city. The first, The Truly Disadvantaged by William Julius Wilson. It struck a nerve, and he almost wrote Wilson how it described Middletown. The second book, Losing Ground by Charles Murray. He wrote about how our government encourages “social decay through the welfare state.” He wasn’t writing about hillbillies, but it fit J.D.s family. My family wouldn’t fit in with his, but we wouldn’t fit in with the families at Yale either. J.D. wrote about the interview process he went through before his second year. It’s called the Fall Interview Program. He described it as “a marathon week of dinners, cocktail hours, hospitality suite visits, and interviews.” That week wasn’t about grades or resumes. It was a social test – to see if you could belong, hold your own in the boardroom, and connect with future clients. Incredibly, knowing how to use eight pieces of silverware is important😊 J.D. said he learned about social capital then, how to tap into social networks and use them to succeed. That’s something I’m still learning. Part 5 – Understanding Poverty: I didn’t grow up in poverty or in wealth either. I’m a middle-class kid, so some of the things J.D. wrote opened my eyes. He noted how state laws define families, but not in a good way. In hillbilly, black, and Hispanic families, relatives like grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles are important, but sometimes they’re overlooked in foster care placement. Imagine if J.D. lost contact with his grandma. I don’t think he’d have gotten to Yale, or become the vice president elect. J.D. also wrote about payday lenders. I thought they were scum for taking advantage of poor people. But J.D. said they got him a three-day loan. He paid a few dollars in interest, instead of a HUGE overdraft fee. His moral, it shocked me . . . “Powerful people sometimes do things to help people like me (J.D.) without really understanding people like me.” Imagine my horror – thinking back on how I tried to help kids and did the opposite because I didn’t understand them, OUCH! The final example came after J.D. graduated. He volunteered to adopt a needy kid for Christmas. I’ve done that so many times, and now I wonder how I did. Good intentions aren’t enough. J.D.s list included pajamas and a toy guitar. He didn’t buy either. Why not? Because poor people don’t wear PJs. They use jeans and underwear. As for the guitar, someone yelled at him to stop playing an electric keyboard. So what did J.D. buy? Some clothes, a fake cell phone, and fire trucks. Things he would have wanted as a kid. I wish I could share more of Hillbilly Elegy. There’s so much wisdom in its pages. I recommend it, whether you’re Republican, Democrat, or an Independent. ![]() Amazon’s Description: Hillbilly Elegy recounts J.D. Vance's powerful origin story... From a former marine and Yale Law School graduate now serving as a U.S. Senator from Ohio and the Republican Vice Presidential candidate for the 2024 election, an incisive account of growing up in a poor Rust Belt town that offers a broader, probing look at the struggles of America's white working class. Hillbilly Elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis—that of white working-class Americans. The disintegration of this group, a process that has been slowly occurring now for more than forty years, has been reported with growing frequency and alarm, but has never before been written about as searingly from the inside. J. D. Vance tells the true story of what a social, regional, and class decline feels like when you were born with it hung around your neck. The Vance family story begins hopefully in postwar America. J. D.'s grandparents were "dirt poor and in love," and moved north from Kentucky's Appalachia region to Ohio in the hopes of escaping the dreadful poverty around them. They raised a middle-class family, and eventually one of their grandchildren would graduate from Yale Law School, a conventional marker of success in achieving generational upward mobility. But as the family saga of Hillbilly Elegy plays out, we learn that J.D.'s grandparents, aunt, uncle, and, most of all, his mother struggled profoundly with the demands of their new middle-class life, never fully escaping the legacy of abuse, alcoholism, poverty, and trauma so characteristic of their part of America. With piercing honesty, Vance shows how he himself still carries around the demons of his chaotic family history. A deeply moving memoir, with its share of humor and vividly colorful figures, Hillbilly Elegy is the story of how upward mobility really feels. And it is an urgent and troubling meditation on the loss of the American dream for a large segment of this country.
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![]() I’d like to welcome my next guest blogger, Kylie Eckerd. She emailed me with an idea for a post last March. It didn’t fit you, my audience. In my videos, I always say that I write for kids, their parents, and teachers. That’s what I told Kylie. She accepted it, said she’d keep her eyes open, and at the end of October she sent me this idea. I said perfect! So here’s her new post, just for you . . . Creative Ways to Launch and Grow a Business from Home For stay-at-home moms, the idea of starting a business can be a powerful way to achieve financial independence while staying connected to family life. Today’s flexible digital landscape offers an array of options that align with different skills, interests, and time commitments, allowing moms to transform ideas into thriving ventures. This guide dives into realistic, achievable strategies, highlighting ways for stay-at-home moms to build and expand their own businesses successfully, all from the comfort of home. 1. Business Ideas to Consider There are a variety of business ideas that align well with the needs of stay-at-home moms looking for flexibility and growth potential. For those skilled in organization or communication, virtual assistance can be a rewarding option, helping entrepreneurs or small businesses manage tasks like scheduling, email handling, and customer service. Moms with expertise in specific subjects can explore online tutoring or create courses in their field, allowing them to share knowledge while setting their own hours. Additionally, freelance writing, social media management, or digital marketing offer creative pathways that cater to a remote lifestyle. 2. Ecommerce Presents a Wealth of Possibilities Exploring digital products is another flexible and profitable business opportunity for stay-at-home moms. Ecommerce platforms offer user-friendly interfaces to create and sell digital goods like ebooks, online courses, and digital art, without the hassle of managing inventory. These platforms often include features such as customizable storefronts and email marketing tools, ensuring your products are appealing and secure. By leveraging these solutions, you can reach a global audience and grow your business from home. 3. Consider a Scalable Business Model Adopting a scalable business model is crucial for growth. This approach allows you to expand operations without compromising quality or efficiency. By leveraging cloud computing and automation tools, you can manage increased workloads seamlessly. Employing a flexible workforce, such as freelancers, enables you to adjust team size according to demand, optimizing costs and resources. A scalable model supports sustainable growth and positions your business to capture larger market shares. 4. Forming an LLC is a Smart Move Creating a limited liability company (LLC) is a wise decision for your business, as it protects your personal assets from any business-related liabilities. This means that if your business faces financial challenges or legal issues, your personal finances remain untouched. An LLC also boosts your business’s credibility, making it more attractive to potential clients and investors. While hiring a lawyer to set up an LLC can be expensive, you can avoid these costs by filing the paperwork yourself or using a formation service. Just be sure to review potential services to find the best one for your needs. 5. Mastering Time Management Balancing family duties with business goals requires effective time management. By using techniques like time blocking and setting daily intentions, you can create a schedule that accommodates both personal and professional tasks. For example, allocate specific hours for family activities and business projects to ensure neither is overlooked. Additionally, delegating household chores and declining unnecessary commitments can free up valuable time for your business endeavors. These strategies can transform your hectic schedule into a more manageable and productive routine. 6. Separate Personal and Business Finances Maintaining a clear distinction between personal and business finances is essential for tracking your business’s financial health. This separation helps ensure compliance with tax regulations, reducing the risk of audits and penalties. It also enhances your business’s credibility, projecting a professional image to clients and investors. Keeping finances distinct allows for better financial planning and decision-making, laying a solid foundation for growth. 7. Why Intellectual Property Matters for Home-Based Entrepreneurs Protecting your business’s intellectual property (IP) is vital for maintaining a competitive edge. IP protection, including trademarks, copyrights, and patents, grants you exclusive rights to your creations, preventing unauthorized use. For instance, a trademark can help distinguish your brand, fostering customer loyalty. Understanding and utilizing these protections can enhance your business’s value and attract potential investors, contributing to your venture’s growth. Starting and growing a successful business from home allows stay-at-home moms to blend personal goals with professional fulfillment. By choosing a path that aligns with your strengths and aspirations, you can find the right balance between family life and entrepreneurship, creating opportunities that not only generate income but also foster personal growth and independence. With determination and the right tools, the potential for success is just a few steps away. ![]() Kylie Eckerd is the creator of Live Passive. She makes the most of her gig economy income by investing in developing passive income streams and loves helping others find ways to improve their lives. She created Live Passive because she believes that financial independence is key to true happiness. Kylie also enjoys dancing, spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and reading. Dive into the world of storytelling by booking an inspiring author visit with Rinda Beach
for your school today! Stay connected and never miss a new adventure. Thanks, Kylie, for the plug😊 Does your map of the United States look like this? Mine too! That’s why when I found some really eye-opening ones, I had to share a few of them with you. To see a few more, click this link: 19 Eye-Opening Maps Of America That May Surprise You (onlyinyourstate.com) Map #1 – The Fifty States of Television: I’m from Ohio. Can you find it on the map? It’s labeled Family Ties, the most popular TV show ever set in the Buckeye state. It ran on NBC from 1982-1989. I watched it at the height of its popularity but never knew it was about an Ohio family who lived in Columbus, the state capital. Can you find your state on the map? If not, look up at the regular one, then scan back down and find it on this one. Good luck! Map #2 – The Most Popular NFL Teams Across the USA: Can you find Ohio on this map? It has four colors and four favorite teams. That’s because popularity is broken down by county. Can you name all four teams? A yellow one’s on the eastern edge of the state. They’re the Pittsburgh Steelers from Pennsylvania. There’s a brown one whose fans are found only in northern Ohio. Its name, its perfect! The Cleveland Browns! The Cincinnati Bengals own the southern part of the state, but they also have fans in Indiana and Kentucky. You’ll have to look for the fourth team on Ohio’s western border. It’s a teeny tiny bit of blue that’s surrounded by three other colors. It stands for the Indianapolis Colts from Indiana, of course! What about your state? Does it have one favorite team, or does it have to share? Here’s to fall football, the NFL, and yours! Map #3 – The Most Popular Boy’s Names of 2013: Can you tell from a glance what name Americans picked for their baby boys in 2013? If you guessed Liam, you’re right! Ohio picked it too. Did your state pick Liam, or did they pick one of the other favorites? There are eight other names that were popular in 2013. Can you find all of them too? PS – Are you curious what the Top Ten names for 2024could be? Or do you wonder if any of the names are the same? I hope so. . . because I’m always curious, and I looked them up! 1. Liam 2. Noah 3. Oliver 4. James 5. Elijah 6. Mateo 7. Theodore 8. Henry 9. Lucas 10, William Source: Top 1,000 Baby Boy Names in the U.S. 2024 Map #4 – The Most Popular Girl’s Names of 2013: How about baby girl names? What was America’s favorite? If you guessed Emma, you’re right, and Ohio picked it too! Woohoo! Did your state pick Emma, or one of the other names? This time there were only five. Can you find all of them too? PS – Are you curious about the Top Ten names for 2024, or if some of the names stayed the same? I was too! 1. Olivia 2. Emma 3. Charlotte 4. Amelia 5. Sophia 6. Mia 7. Isabella 8. Ava 9. Evelyn 10, Luna Source: Top 1,000 Baby Girl Names in the U.S. 2024 Map #5 – Dogs vs Cats: Did the data bar throw you off? I love how it makes it easy to see where dog lovers and cat lovers live, but I wish I knew what the > 1.25x meant. But, if I understand the key correctly, Ohio is a deep green state, so we have more cats per household than dogs. How many more, I have no idea. Did you catch that cat lovers live in the north and dog lovers in the south? Except for Florida. There’s always an exception to every rule! What about your state, who rules? Cats, or dogs? Map #6 – Your State’s Most Iconic Fast Food Chain: Look at all those great places! Each one represents something special about each state. I’m glad I can find so many of them in Ohio . . . It is the heart of it all! Speaking of Ohio, did you find our iconic food chain, Wendy’s? Dave Thomas founded the first one in 1969 in Columbus, and he named it after his daughter, Wendy. Almost sixty years later, it still has the freshest burgers in the country! That’s because they never use frozen meat. Ever! Can you find your state’s iconic fast-food chain on the map? Here’s hoping I can check it out in Ohio too! Next up – one last eye-opening map! Map #7 – A Distorted Look at the USA: What? How? Why? This is what the US would look like, if the country was divided up according to each state’s population. Look at New Jersey/NJ – It’s HUGE! It grew, and it grew, and it pushed New York off to the side. But don’t worry! New York/NY pushed Pennsylvania/PA, Ohio/OH, and Michigan/MI out of the way too. The link to this series of maps didn’t mention the electoral college, but I thought of it immediately. We have an election coming up. THANK GOODNESS for the electoral college. All my life I’ve heard that it’s useless, but, if you look at this map, you can see why it’s important. If the big states like Florida/FL, New York/NY, and California/CA got together and picked a president, most of the rest of the states wouldn’t matter. Not fair; not nice! If you can’t believe the way the population can shrink states, take a look at Map 13. It shows the parts of the country where no one lives. Then look at Map 19. It shows the counties where half the country lives. Between the two of them, they explain a lot about why this map looks the way it does, and why the electoral college is so important. Here’s the link again, in case you’d like to take a look. Link: 19 Eye-Opening Maps Of America That May Surprise You (onlyinyourstate.com) BTW – if you want to find your state on Maps 13 and 19, you need to have an idea where geographically, your state fits in the country. That’s a little tricky, and for this last map, you only need to know the abbreviation for your state. These three books took me on a tour of Ancient Egypt this summer. Now I’d like to introduce you to a few members of Egyptian royalty that played key roles in the plot, and to the three amulets that made time travel possible for the Joneses. If you'd like to read about each book, click on this link: Rinda Beach - Blog - Rinda Beach PS - I checked with the author after I finished this post to make sure I kept the facts straight between the real royals, and her middle grade novels. She’s an Egyptologist, and I did! Best of all, I picked the best pictures of the royal family. YAY! An Ancient Egyptian Family Tree of the Joneses Meet their relatives in the order they appeared in this series. #1 – Princess Meritaten: Meet the Princess who plays a starring role in the series about the Joneses. Her name – Meritaten. This is a bust of the real princess from ancient Egypt. ![]() In the story Meritaten is the most talented magician the royal family has produced in centuries. Her time travel spell brings Jagger and Aria Jones back to ancient Egypt. The first thing Aria does is rename the princess. Tatia is easier on the tongue. And Tatia, the first thing she does is tell the teenagers they’re related. Saving the royals will save them too. It’s the only way Jagger and Aria can go home again. An evil general is killing the royal family one by one. When they’re dead and gone, he’ll make himself pharaoh. Her sister Meketaten/Mek, is the first target. In a fascinating twist – Tatia knows she can’t save her sister in this life, but she can in the next. With the help of two American teenagers. Photo from - Meritaten - Wikipedia #2 – Her Royal Sisters: Meet Meritaten’s family. Start on the left . . . under the canopy is Meketaten, the princess who’s dying. In this painting she’s dead. Her father is next, Pharaoh Akhenaten, and her mother, Nefertiti. If I understood the painting’s description, they’re all saying goodbye to Mek. Behind them, her sisters in order of birth – Meritaten, Ankhesenpaaten, and Neferneferuaten Tasherit. Look at the next set of pictures to see two sisters who were too little to attend the funeral. You will only see her younger siblings in one scene from Book 1 – as children playing in a courtyard. They’re unnamed, except for Tut. That’s because he’s the only name Jagger and Aria would recognize. Ankhesenpaaten will return in Book 3, as royal wife to her brother, King Tut. (Scan down if you’d like to take a peek now.) Photo from: Meketaten - Wikipedia These two paintings show Meritaten’s youngest sisters. You’ve already met one of them. The first image shows all three. From left to right, starting with the youngest - Setepenre, then Neferneferure, and Neferneferuaten Tasherit who you’ve already met. The youngest two die in Book 1, thanks to the wicked general. I think Setepenre dies first, then Neferneferure. The second image is of Neferneferure, and Neferneferuaten Tasherit. They look a lot alike in the painting, and so do their names. Did you notice – the youngest two, the ones that die first, that their names don’t end in ‘aten.” Photos from: Neferneferuaten Tasherit - Wikipedia Tomorrow – My guess for why ‘aten’ was dropped from the last two names. #3 – Her Parents: Meet Meritaten’s parents. Her father, the Pharaoh Akhenaten. Her mother, renowned beauty, and Great Royal Wife, Nefertiti. You can see both busts in museums. Her father is in Egypt, and her mother’s in Germany. They’re barely mentioned in Book 1, but they’re both alive. Akhenaten is still ruling the country. This is the point in history when pharaoh makes a wrong turn. How? Why? Akhenaten has thrown away all the gods, but one – the Aten. That’s the sun god. If you’d like to see him, scan down to King Tut. The Aten is shone in front of his throne. By Book 2, Meritaten’s parents are both dead. Her little sisters and husband too. Look below to find out who she married. Meritaten is the new pharaoh, but she’s dying too. Read the story and find out how she saves Egypt. It’s incredible! Remember, its author is an Egyptologist. Her story is part fantasy and part historical fiction. All three books make for a fun, yet historic journey! Photo Sources: Link: Akhenaten - Wikipedia & Link: Nefertiti - Wikipedia ![]() #3 – Her Brother AND Husband: EWWW! If you looked at Meritaten’s other brother by another mother, Tut, he had to marry his half-sister. Meritaten did too. When Book 2 picks up, her parents are already dead. Her brother Smenkhkare became the next pharaoh, and she became his great royal wife. This image is thought to be them; although some people believe they’re Tutankhamun and Ankesenamun. The story picks up with Meritaten as pharaoh. Egypt is dying, and so is her family, all because of the Aten. The other gods have all disappeared. Book 2 is how Meritaten saves her country, meets the founder of the next dynasty, P Soup, and disappears. Scan down to meet him. Photo Source: Smenkhkare - Wikipedia #4 - A Future Pharaoh: Look below for Paramessu. He enters the story as a teen in Book 2. Aria gave him a nickname – P Soup – as in #1 on the toilet. Gross! Through another strange twist of writing magic, he’s related to the Joneses, on their father’s side. P Soup is alo a future pharaoh, but many years in the future. And don’t worry! P Soup’s back in Book 3. The real Paramessu is chosen as pharaoh because he has a son, and a grandson. The first image is a stone carving of his head. It’s from a statue of him as a scribe. Later when he became pharaoh, his name changed to Ramesses I. The second image is a relief, a scene that was carved into a chapel built by his son, Seti I, the next pharaoh. Neither Seti nor his son were born princes. The grandson, Ramesses II or Ramesses the Great, was one of Egypt’s most successful pharaohs. Photos from - Ramesses I - Wikipedia #5 Her Brother & Future Pharaoh: Look below to meet Tutankhamun. He’s the youngest brother of Princess Meritaten, the main character of the Jagger Jones series. In Book 1, he’s a child, in one tiny scene. By Book 3, he’s become Pharaoh, but he never enters the story. King Tut became Pharoah when he was 8. He reigned for about 10 years, until he was 18. The first image is Tut on his throne. The Aten, the Sun God, is pictured above him. BTW – the Aten is the villain that connects all three books. The second image (above now) is Tutankhamun getting flowers from his half-sister Ankhesenamun. She’s also his wife. Evidently Egyptian Pharaohs married their sisters, half ones too. Maybe that’s why this dynasty ended with Tut. Look below for two more images of Tutankhamun. The first, his funeral mask, a golden one! The second, a painted wooden figure of him. Scientists think Tutankhamun used it as a mannequin for his clothes. Photos from - Ankhesenamun - Wikipedia Photos from - Tutankhamun - Wikipedia #6 - Her Grandmother: This is Meritaten and Tutankhamun’s grandmother. Her name, Tiye. She was a force to be reckoned with. She outlived her husband, her son, and most of her grandchildren. Tiye enters the story because she has the seneb (cane) and the magical power to use it. She brings back Jagger, Aria, and her granddaughter Meritaten (Tatia) from Chicago. These are two different busts of Tiye. Phots from: Tiye - Wikipedia #7 - And the Amulets: The three amulets from Jagger Jones – the ankh, wedja, and seneb. Put them together, and they’re a blessing that means, “May you have life, prosperity, and health.” I never really thought about them, as amulets or symbols, but I did when I put this post together. BTW, amulets were designed as an ornament or small piece of jewelry that was supposed to protect you against evil, danger, and/or disease. Note from Malayna, the author: I chose these three signs because of the blessing (life, prosperity, health ... or possibly: be alive, be prosperous, be healthy). The books are sort of roughly organized around the themes. The Ankh: Book 1s title – Jagger Jones & the Mummy’s Ankh. The mummy with the ankh is a princess. She’s still alive, but she’s dying in this life and in the next one. Her older sister, Tatia, borrows it to bring Jagger back to ancient Egypt. Aria is an unexpected bonus. Tatia can’t save her sister in this life, but she hopes to save her in the afterlife. Note from Malayna: For example, the first book is about life -- Meketaten is dying but I shifted focus to more ancient Egyptian notions of death. They can't save her life, but might save her afterlife. An ankh has a T shape, like our capital T, but with a droplet on top. The first image shows it as a hieroglyphic, part of Egyptian picture writing. The ankh stands for life. The second image is an ankh medallion. Source: Ankh - Wikipedia Note from Malayna: Great job, Rinda! You did awesome. Only one thing to flag. The wedja (prosperity) sign and the wedjat (horus eye) sign are different. (confusing, for sure!) Wedja means something like "to be whole." OOPS! I thought it was the plural. Not! But I’m leaving it in because I really love that eye 😊 So although the wedjat (horus eye) symbol is a more powerful and common symbol, the title of book two is the wedja symbol, less common or powerful but used in the blessing I'm fond of. Hope that helps. It does. Thank you, Malayna! The Wedja: Book 2s title – Aria Jones & the Guardian’s Wedja. The wedja belongs to Tatia, who’s now pharaoh of Egypt. She uses it to bring Aria and Jagger back because she’s dying, and so is her family. Note from Malayna: The second book has the family in financial straits, and it ends with more prosperity for them. Remember this isn't the wedja, but I think it's still interesting to read! The first image is the left wedjat eye. It’s the symbol for the Eye of Horus. Horus is an Egyptian god, and there’s a whole story about how both his eyes were torn out. OUCH! That’s why wedjas stand for healing, well-being, and protection. The second one’s an amulet that once belonged to King Tut. The Eye of Horus is near the top. Underneath is a disk and crescent that represent the moon. Source: Eye of Horus - Wikipedia To learn more of the wedja’s story: Wedjat Symbol (Eye of Horus) - History And Meaning - Symbols Archive
The Seneb: Book 3s title – The Joneses & the Princess’s Seneb. The seneb belongs to the youngest living princess, but she gave it to her grandmother for safekeeping. Grandma uses it to bring back the three Joneses . . . Jagger, Aria, and her oldest granddaughter, Tatia. Note from Malayna: And the final book deals a bit with family health. I had trouble finding anything about senebs. I found a person named Seneb who was a dwarf. He lived an unusually healthy life. Another Seneb was a scribe, but neither of those made sense. The first image is the only way I could find seneb – as part of the phrase ‘ankh, wedja, seneb.’ It looks like a cane with a handle that’s way too long. And the wedja, it’s totally different from yesterday’s. The second image is a real pendant. You can buy it on the internet, but I never found a seneb amulet all by itself. As a hieroglyph, seneb means sound, well, or healthy. Source: Ankh wedja seneb - Wikipedia Pendant Source: Brass Ankh Udja Seneb amulet | immortal-art-studios (immortalartstudios.com) ![]() This Time Reading - Finished July, 2024 I finished Jagger Jones sometime last July, but I don’t remember when. I first read this book back in 2019 when it was published. I was in a debut group with the author, Malayna Evans. I was thrilled to meet a real Egyptologist. Of course, she wrote about her favorite subject, and the setting, two of her favorite places – Egypt and the south side of Chicago. And, her two kids inspired the main characters, Jagger and Aria Jones. Aren’t they cool facts to know?! I know very little about Egypt, but historical fiction is a fun way to meet Pharoah’s royal family, to visit the pyramids. Add in the historical detail about what they wore and ate, and it’s a great way to learn history! And the plot – imagine having a real Egyptian princess call and ask you for help. That’s the heart of the story. I reviewed Jagger back in 2019. Here’s the link to the review on My Reads. I also posted it on Amazon and Goodreads. Link: Rinda Beach - Beach Reads - Rinda Beach ![]() This Time Reading – Finished August, 2024 I finished Aria Jones sometime in August. The main characters from Book 1 are back – Jagger, Aria, and the princess. Book 2 begins with a field trip to a Chicago Museum. Waiting for Aria, two statues, who were once bodyguards to Egyptian royalty. When one of the statues drops a bracelet into Aria’s hand, she recognizes the message. Within the hour Aria and Jagger are back in ancient Egypt. This time the stakes are higher. The princess is dying, and so is her family. Even worse the Gods have stopped talking, and no one knows why. Get ready for an Egyptian adventure! Take a trip to the Pyramids of Giza. Meet a few mummies and puzzle out a riddle from the Sphinx. Here’s the link to my 2020 review on My Reads. Link: Rinda Beach - Beach Reads - Rinda Beach ![]() I’ve watched and waited for this book since 2020, and I stumbled onto it this summer. How did I miss it? I didn’t see it on social media, and I follow Malayna on Facebook, Instagram, and X. It’s one of the reasons authors like me have newsletters for readers like you to subscribe to. I reached out to Malayna, and here’s the scoop . . . The Joneses came out in 2021. Back then we were still dealing with Covid, and book sales plummeted. Mine, Malayna’s, and a lot of other authors I know. Malayna’s publisher saw what was happening and offered to return her manuscript. She self-published it on Amazon. This really is Book 3, but Malayna couldn’t sell it that way . . . The other two books were published by Month9Books, so she created Goddess Books, just for The Joneses. I hope this post helps fans of Book 1 and 2 find them. Fingers crossed – it works! Would you believe I gave The Joneses their only review? If you’d like to read it on My Reads, click on the link below. One of the best things you can do for your favorite author – write a book review! Link: https://www.rindabeach.com/my-reads/review-of-the-joneses-the-princesss-seneb To read about the real royals who make up this story, click on this link: Rinda Beach - Blog - Rinda Beach ![]() Finished June 24, 2024 Neferura is the plus one in this series. She’s not related to Jagger Jones, but they’re written by the same author . . . who happens to be an Egyptologist. There aren’t many stories of ancient Egypt, and this one is fascinating. Travel back to a world 1400 to 1500 years before Christ when the pyramids were built. The author paints a picture of Neferura’s life. From the food she ate, to her clothing, to her job as priestess. Add in political drama as Neferura battles the intrigues of her mother and half-brother. They’re fighting for wealth and power, and they don’t care who lives, or dies. The main characters are real. The author took the plot points from their lives and connected them into a novel. ![]() When I read historical fiction, I always wonder what’s true and what’s made up. This is a statue from the British Museum. The man is Senenmut, and he’s holding Princess Neferura. They’re both in this book, and they both lived in Ancient Egypt. The real Neferura was the daughter of two pharaohs. Her mother, Hatshepsut. Her father, Thutmose II. She didn’t become pharaoh, but she had some great opportunities. The back matter said Neferura was the wife of the god Amun. Her mother and grandmother were too. Her grandmother, Ahmose-Nefertari, is long dead, but her influence isn’t. It’s the spark that sets the plot in motion. The story focuses on how and why Neferura might have married her half-brother, Thutmose III. There’s no record of it, but there’s research that points that way. It centers on the fight to be in charge. In other words, politics as usual. Senenmut is also in the novel. His first job, ‘Steward of the God’s Wife.’ That’s Hatshepsut. She fights to become pharaoh in her own right. Senenmet’s next job, ‘Steward of the King’s Daughter. That’s Neferura. In the novel he’s her tutor and art patron, and he did have multiple statues made with a young Neferura. Sources: Neferure - Wikipedia & Senenmut - Wikipedia Meet Neferura’s mother, AKA Hatshepsut. She was an incredible woman in any age, but she ruled during her lifetime. She was the Great Royal Wife of Thutmose II, her half-brother. She went on to become regent when he died. Thutmose III was two years old, too young to rule. Eventually Hatshepsut made herself Pharoah. She wasn’t the first, but she was the most successful. When Thutmose came of age, they became equal pharaohs. I bet that went over well. NOT! The most unusual thing about Hatshepsut is that she’s a woman and a man in statues. That’s strange, but Neferura’s author said pharaohs are Horus the god, come to earth. No wonder she gave herself a beard. People will do almost anything to gain power, then to hold onto it. After she died, her statues were destroyed. Her monuments vandalized, and her achievements given away to other pharoahs. That was 20 years after her death, and Thutmose III was pharoah for most of that time. You’d think he would have done it sooner. Historians still wonder who did it and why. Was it Thutmose or his son Amenhotep II? Was it for ritual/religious reasons or hate? Either way, it didn’t work. Hatshepsut was the longest female ruler in Egypt, and, the most successful. Source: Hatshepsut - Wikipedia ![]() Meet Thutmose III. Hapshepsut was his stepmother, and aunt at the same time. In this story he’s positively evil, but deservedly so. That’s because Hapshepsut sent him off to the army as soon as she could get rid of him, and if he died, so much the better. But it is true –Thutmose really was the commander of Hapshepsut’s army. It’s also true that Thutmose had a Royal Wife named Satiah. She’s in the story, and her son was Thutmose’s first son and heir, Amenemhat. He died young and never got to become pharaoh. Source: Thutmose III - Wikipedia ![]() And the last major character is Satiah. She didn’t get a statue, but she’s on a painting in Thutmose’s tomb. Her father may/may not have been Ahmose Pen-Hekhebet, who has a minor role in this novel. And her son was Amenemhat. Some sources say he was Neferura’s son. This is that painting, from the tomb. On the top half, Thutmose III is in a boat with his mother, Iset. In the bottom half, start on the right. You’ll see Thutmose as a child with his mother represented as a tree. Behind them Thutmose is leading a family procession. Next in line is the King’s Wife, Meritre-Hatshepsut. Her son became the next pharaoh. Satiah comes next as a King’s Wife because her son died before he could become pharaoh. The third queen is another King’s Wife, Nebtu, and last in line is the King’s Daughter, Nefertari. Source: Satiah - Wikipedia ![]() Amazon’s Description: There are many paths to power. They all come with a price. Neferura, princess and high priestess of Kemet, knows her duty is to her people. When your mother is the great Pharaoh, it is hard to forget. But Neferura's unique position at court comes with high stakes for her country, especially when she's forced to serve her vile half-brother, a man determined to stop Neferura's potential rise. Peace, it seems, never lasts for women who wield power in the open. Especially when they cross a vengeful man. When Neferura overhears Thutmose's plot to end her mother's rule, she knows he must be stopped, no matter the cost. The discovery of a mysterious tattooed wisewoman and her shadowy network of spies offers an uneasy alliance. But the wisewoman wields more power than Neferura knew possible -- power with the potential to rival her own. Neferura must decide where her loyalties lie and how much she's willing to sacrifice to protect the people she loves before everything crumbles at the hands of a tyrant. ![]() I found the Pomodoro Technique in an email from Better Report. They send me practical advice/suggestions. This one was all about time management, whether it’s a task you’ve been putting off, or one you’re struggling to complete. All you need – a task and a timer. Mine – 2 chapters worth of revisions, 22 pages of text, with comments added along the side – altogether 25 pages to get through. Talk about intimidating! So I pulled out the Pomodoro Technique and tried it. I figured I didn’t have anything to lose. It worked, revision by revision, page by page. ![]() Part 1: Here are the steps I used from Better Reports. 1. Choose a task. 2. Set a timer for 25 minutes and only work on that task. 3. When the timer goes off, take a five-minute break. 4. Repeat the previous steps four times. 5. At the end of the fifth interval, take a longer 15-to-30-minute break. Source: What Is the Pomodoro Technique and How Does It Increase Productivity? - Better Report Part 2: Here are a few rules that Better Report said to use. 1. If you start a pomodoro, let the timer ring.” Don’t stop early. Use your time to review, reflect, or plan for the next one. 2. Stop when the timer goes off. Don’t go over time. 3. Set your timer for those 5-minute breaks after the first 4 Pomodoro's. 4. Do something different during those 5-minute breaks. If you’re on the computer, get up and get moving. If you’re cleaning, put your feet up and relax, but don’t get lost in your break. Return to your task when the timer goes off. ![]() Part 3: Here’s how I tailor those Pomodoros to fit me. 1. Sometimes I stop early before the 25-minute timer goes off, but only if there’s not enough time to start the next one. I’d rather start my break early and the next Pomodoro early too. 2. If the timer goes off and I need to finish a sentence or paragraph, I do that too. 3. I skip the timer if I’m reviewing something like a whole chapter. I don’t want to stop and start. I don’t worry about the time. This is about me and how I can best use MY time. 4. With my 5-minute breaks, usually I get up and walk. It makes it easier for me to reach my step goals. Sometimes I clean. I HATE cleaning, but I can do it for 5 minutes. 5. Sometimes I take my long break early. If I’m hungry, I stop and eat, even if I need to cook. I take the time I need. Balance is important, and so is taking care of myself. Source: What Is the Pomodoro Technique and How Does It Increase Productivity? - Better Report Part 4: Meet the Inventor of the Pomodoro Technique. His name, Francesco Grillo. It’s true! Francesco invented the Pomodoro technique in college. Imagine coming up with an idea that gives you a career, and an income for the rest of your life! Here are some ideas from his website that you might want to check into. You can find Francesco’s link below. Who has Francesco worked with? - Managers - Entrepreneurs - Researchers - Writers, designers, product developers, and other creative professionals - And, Teams of people Why does he think you should try the Pomodoro Technique? - Enhanced Focus and Concentration - Improved Time Management - Reduced Stress at Work - Enhanced Team Communication and Flexibility -Adaptable to You and Your Task Requirements How can the Pomodoro Technique help you? - “Learn to be gentle with yourself and develop a conscious relationship with time.” - “Turn time into an ally and use it to improve individual and team productivity.” ![]() To learn more about Francesco: About Francesco Cirillo To read more about the technique: Pomodoro® Technique - Time Management Method (pomodorotechnique.com) Would you believe I finished this book a few weeks ago? I was in the middle of two posts I wanted to write, but I loved this book so much I had to do something – so I reviewed it for My Reads. Here’s the link: Rinda Beach - Beach Reads - Rinda Beach ![]() I found two ideas I wanted to share, but I ran out of time. The good news – you can find them in this book. The first is in Chapter 6. Ben Thompson broke the Declaration into three parts. Look for the real words in italics and read what Ben said about each one. Then skip to Pick Your Poison, it’s near the end of chapter 7. Did you know there were four different kinds of cannon balls? Solid shot, Grapeshot, Shells, and the red-hot kind you picked up with tongs. Check them out and learn more about ammunition. Here is my third idea, and I enjoyed every minute of putting it together. Each chapter had a two-page bio. With twenty chapters, I got to write brief biographies about twenty patriots - from Ben Franklin to George Washington: from the Marquis de Lafayette to the real Molly Pitcher. The best part – finding surprising stories about each one, and hoping you find inspiration in them too! ![]() #1. Today if you say Sam Adams, people think beer. But he was actually terrible at it and lost all of his money in his family’s malthouse business The real Sam Adams was a much better patriot. He was red-hot about independence, from 1764 with the Stamp Act until tea was taxed in 1773. That’s when Sam Adams came up with a great idea. Perhaps you’ve heard of it . . . the Boston Tea Party. ![]() #2. John Hancock was a Boston businessman before he got into the patriot business. In April 1775 the redcoats put a target on his back. Sam Adams too. Luckily, a few spies were watching and sent word to Hancock, Adams, and the minutemen in Lexington and Concord. Most people know John was President of the Continental Congress, but they don’t know he was adopted by an aunt and uncle after his parents died. He inherited their business. PS – Have you ever had your signature called a John Hancock? That’s because when John signed the Declaration, he wrote SUPERSIZE, so that King George could see it without his glasses. ![]() #3. Have you ever heard of William Prescott? I hadn’t. His claim to fame – he commanded the army at the Battle of Bunker Hill, the first big battle of the Revolution. It all started the night of June 16, 1775, when William sent his troops out to build a fort. The problem – they built it on Breed’s, not Bunker Hill. They did it so quietly that the British discovered it the next morning when they woke up. It took 3 tries for the Redcoats to win the hill. That’s because William kept his cool, his men too. They watched and waited until the British got close enough . . . THEN they fired, at the officers. The British won, but they lost 1,100 men, dead or wounded. Half the men they started with. ![]() #4. Everyone knows George Washington. The general who beat King George and the British Empire. The first president who was wise enough to serve two terms, not three. But did you know he’s the only president who led an army during his term? It started with another tax. Farmers in western Pennsylvania rebelled over a whiskey tax. They took up arms. Washington led an army across the state, but he was able to end the rebellion peacefully without firing a shot. ![]() #5. Everyone knows John Adams too. Founding Father, member of the Continental Congress, the first Vice President, and second President. He only served one term thanks to his old buddy and Vice President, Thomas Jefferson. It’s funny how life works – Adams and Jefferson were good friends until Jefferson ran against him for the presidency. The former friends didn’t speak for years, but I’m glad they finally did. Adams was always one of the loudest voices in the room, but no one listened to his suggestion that the president should be known as . . . “His Highness, the President of the United States, and Protector of the Rights of the Same.” I’m glad everyone disagreed with him. ![]() #6. Everyone knows Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, but did you know he didn’t want to? Or that he thought John Adams should write it? I didn’t. According to the book, Adams said he was obnoxious, suspected, and unpopular. Jefferson was the opposite. He was also a Virginian AND a better writer. Thank goodness Adams got his way, and Jefferson did the writing! You’ve probably heard of Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase, but did you know it doubled the size of the country? That it became the states of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana? What a bargain! ![]() #7. I’d never heard of Lord Stirling until I read this book. Would you believe William Alexander found research showing he was the senior male descendant of the First Earl of Stirling in the late 1750s? The House of Lords never recognized him, but American soldiers did. Lord Stirling is best known for the Battle of Brooklyn in 1776. He and his men held off the British until the remnants of the Continental Army could escape. There were already twelve hundred casualties, but it would have been so much worse without him. Stirling surrendered to the British later that day. He wouldn’t live to see the end of the war, but his friend George Washington walked his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day. ![]() #8. Before James Monroe became our 5th president, he was a lieutenant in the Virginia Militia during the days of the American Revolution. Look for him in the painting of Washington crossing the Delaware. Monroe’s the one holding the American flag. When he landed on the other side, he was wounded by cannon fire at Trenton, New Jersey the day after Christmas. Later he’d fight in the Battles of New York, Brandywine, and Monmouth. ![]() #9. You’ve probably heard of the Marquis de Lafayette. Do you recognize his other seven names? Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roche Gilbert du Motier. The American Revolution followed Lafayette home to France. He named his only son George Washington. And when he died, his coffin was covered with dirt from Bunker Hill. That’s where the first major battle of the Revolution was fought near Boston, Massachusetts. ![]() #10. Meet one of the toughest commanders of the American Revolution, Daniel Morgan. I’d never heard of him either. Daniel commanded riflemen at the Battles of Quebec City, Saratoga, and Cowpens. He was taken prisoner at Quebec, but only after his men begged him to surrender. When he was released in 1777, he created Morgan’s Rangers, 500 men passed his test – hitting a life-size picture of a British officer from 100 yards. If you made the grade, you got a Pennsylvania long rifle. It was far more accurate than a British musket, but harder to load. Morgan and his Rangers made the victories at Saratoga and Cowpens possible. Fun Fact: Today’s Army Rangers can trace their roots back to him. ![]() #11. Meet Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin von Steuben – That’s a lot of names! He came from Prussia, in Germany. He claimed to be a baron, but he wasn’t. Ben Franklin misread his bio and thought he was a general. He wasn’t, and he didn’t speak English either. So, Ben sent him to the Continental Congress, who sent him onto Valley Forge. During the worst winter of the war, Von Steuben whipped Washington’s army into shape with all the finesse of a drill sergeant. He was asked to, and he finally wrote down his drills, in French. Alexander Hamilton and Nathanael Green translated them. Would you believe the American army used his instruction manual until 1814? ![]() #12. Everyone knows Benjamin Franklin – author, inventor, printer, scientist, postmaster, and politician. He signed the Declaration, the Peace Treaty that ended the war, and the Constitution, but did you know his son was a loyalist? That William was the royal governor of New Jersey? The father and son fought so violently over the war; they never spoke to each other again. Not after William was put into an American prison, nor after he emigrated to England after the war was over. War is a sad thing. ![]() #13. This is the real Mary Ludwig Hays, also known as Molly Pitcher. Mary was an assistant on a cannon crew. Her job – to pass canteens to the men sweating and working over the cannons. Her husband John loaded them. Mary also poured buckets of water over the red-hot barrels to cool them down so it wouldn’t overheat and quit working. Mary wouldn’t look this clean in battle. She’d be blackened by powder with bullets and cannon balls whizzing around. And if the men needed to rest, Mary loaded and fired the cannon herself. Would you believe she left the army in 1783 as a sergeant, with an army pension too?! She was a liberated woman before Women’s Liberation existed. ![]() #14. Only one Revolutionary general was called mad. Not angry-mad, but crazy-mad. His name – Mad Anthony Wayne. If there was an impossible battle to fight like Stony Point, New York, Washington sent Wayne, but he gave him the best trained, best supplied soldiers in the Continental Army. This battle was so impossible – Wayne asked a friend to take care of his wife and two children if he died. So impossible he asked for volunteers to run into the fort. The first one earned $500. The next four men, $100 each. And would you believe – Mad Anthony Wayne and his troops recaptured Stony Point? ![]() #15. Have you watched Turn? Or heard of the Culper Spy Ring? Then you might know Benjamin Tallmadge. General Washington needed to get reliable, accurate information out of New York City, the headquarters for the British. He picked Tallmadge in late 1778 to create a secret spy ring. It stayed active, successful, and hidden until 1783 when the Revolution ended. After the war, Tallmadge settled down and became a Connecticut postmaster and Congressman. ![]() #16. George Rogers Clark – I knew his name, but not his BIG accomplishment. He captured the Northwest territory from the British, basically on his own. His victories and diplomatic skills doubled the size of the original 13 colonies. That land later became the states of Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. I was shocked to learn Clark died poor, after doubling the size of our country. I bet you’ve heard of his brother and his friend, Lewis. They were the two men who traveled across the country with Sacajawea. She took them all the way to the Pacific Ocean. ![]() #17. John Paul Jones started life as a poor Scottish sailor, and he wound up becoming the Father of the US Navy. If you’d like to visit his tomb, go to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. If he had a brother from another mother, it would be Mad Anthony Wayne. They both fought impossible battles, and won. Wayne on land, and Jones at sea. ![]() #18. A woman, fought in the Revolution?! True! Deborah Sampson Gannett served as soldier Robert Shurtleff. She was wounded several times. She even dug out her own bullets to keep her identity secret. She’s one of the few women who earned a pension during the Revolutionary War. Her story is a tale of triumph. At age 5 her mother sent her off to live with friends. She bounced from house to house until she was 10. Then she was sold as an indentured servant. She spent the next 8 years working in the fields by day. At night she taught herself to read. Would you believe it was against the law for slaves and indentured servants to learn to read, and for someone to teach them? ![]() #19. Nathanael Green was one of George Washington’s most trusted generals. He commanded troops from Boston to the Carolinas, but he’s best known as the Commander of the Southern Campaign. Think of the battles in Georgia and the Carolinas. They led onto Yorktown and the end of the war. TWICE, he was asked to serve as Secretary of War, but he refused both times. He preferred to live a quiet life in retirement. No wonder, after all those years on the battlefield. ![]() #20. Alexander Hamilton is famous for his duel with Aaron Burr. It started when Hamilton wrote a few mean pieces in the newspaper. The big problem, Hamilton fired into the air like he was supposed to, but Burr didn’t. He shot Hamilton in the gut, killing him. Hamilton was more than a man who died in a duel. He was General Washington’s aide, and he commanded troops at the Battles of Trenton and Yorktown. Later he played a key role in developing and writing the Constitution, and he was our first Secretary of the Treasury. Sad – he’s not known for any of those things. Do you remember the Paris Summer Olympics? It seems like yesterday, yet so long ago. I checked, the closing ceremonies ended Sunday, August 11, 2024. ![]() This post isn’t about athletic events or the athletes who made the games special. It’s something that caught my eyes and ears when the games started, and it’s what I miss the most. The inspiration they gave me, and the insight only they could share. So what was it? The Olympic commercials! Four of them were SO good! They’re worth dusting off and spotlighting again. Why commercials? Because they boil a message down to 30 seconds, and you get it in sound, with images in living color. Commercials are an art form! Now - the first one I'm highlighting. It was actually the last one I noticed. Commercial #1 – Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes: Do you remember the song from Preschool and Kindergarten? I do! It was fun to sing, and even more fun to keep up with the motions. The faster, the better! The folks at FIGS brought it back to honor the medical crew that kept Team USA in the games. If you’d like to see and hear it again, with a few more verses written just for our athletes and their doctors, just google! I tried ‘summer olympic ad with head shoulder knees and toes.’ Look down, and you’ll see a link in blue, “Medical apparel brand FIGS…” Just click on it. Did you find the link in blue? (Now it’s above this line.) And if you clicked on it, you’ll find yourself on this page, with AdAge, then a blue rectangle and a hot pink one. You’re almost there! Scan down . . . Do you see what I see?! Then click and enjoy! BTW, this version has extra images that will make you appreciate that medical team. If you find yourself saying OUCH, me too! But if their work kept you in the game, then I’d say GOLD for them too! Next up - the commercial with the best use of athletic equipment . . . Commercial #2 – The One With the Best Use of Athletic Equipment: Do you remember a commercial that featured a few well-known athletes swinging, hitting, or shooting to the beat? They were swinging to Hollywood Swingin.’ If you don’t know the song, that’s OK. I didn’t recognize it either, and Kool and the Gang is still one of my favorite groups. BTW – their songs were popular in the 1980’s when I was young. Still not ringing a bell? The ad was for New Balance shoes so I googled/searched ‘new balance olympic ad.’ Look below, and you’ll see it in the search window. Now go down to New Balance TV Spot – it’s in blue, and it’s a link. Click and move down on this screen, yours too. When you clicked on New Balance, did you get this screen? Yay! You’re in the right place! Do you see the large gray box with the white triangle? That’s the video. Click on it, and enjoy! Then come back for one last question. OK, two questions! Do you like the commercial? I do! And did you notice that someone swings a racquet or shoots a basket on the beat? That’s when Kool and the Gang sing, “Hey, Hey, Hey?” That’s what impressed me . . . This ad is SO clever! To think of how to showcase those athletes, and do it to the beat of the song. Impressive! PS – I’m so old I didn’t recognize any of those athletes, but I bet you did. At least I’d heard of Coco Gauff, but I’ve never watched her play tennis. Up next – a classic song with a message about sportsmanship and a little bit of love Commercial #3 – The One about Love and Sportsmanship: Sound familiar? It used a classic song from 1969. I was 10 back then. As the music played, the video shows a kid watching an Olympic athlete take some kind of spill. Then the video flips to that child in a similar position. Guess what?! Both videos show great sportsmanship, and in today’s world, that’s an EXCELLENT thing! If you’d like to check it out, google/search ‘olympic ad put a little love sportsmanship.’ When you look at my search window, find Comcast . . . 2024Summer Olympics – it’s in blue, like always, and it’s a link. Click and move down my screen. Yours too. When you clicked, did you find yourself on this screen? Yay! Now click again, this time on the white triangle on top of that gray box of kids. Enjoy! I LOVE this commercial! PS – Before you go, look back at my search box. At the very bottom you’ll find one more link. It’s fantastic! It features sportsmanship . . . from the 2022 winter games. Best of all it will warm you up for 2026 and the next Winter Olympics. The last commercial, and it’s all about JOY Commercial #4 – The Last One– Celebrate JOY: Do you remember it? The whole ad featured JOY, except for the first three seconds. They’re about hard work and practice, and then . . . Release the JOY! It’s in the music, the athletes, and the fans who imitate them. So how can you find it? Google/search ‘olympic ad joy.’ Click, and you’ll see my search screen too. Then scan down for this link: Comcast . . . Summer Olympics: A Little… Click again, and you’ll see the next screen. Ta-Da! THAT face is pure joy, and it’s just the beginning! It makes me want to get up and sing and dance with everyone on this commercial. It’s fantastic, and it’s the perfect way to end this post . . . with JOY! I’ve never done as much research as I’ve done for this middle grade novel on the founding fathers. Every chapter is an adventure . . . And I never know what I’m going to uncover. ![]() Part 1 – How I Do The Research: I learned within the first 10 chapters that I need 3 different kinds of research for each one. First and most importantly, I look up the man who died. It’s your only chance to meet him. I need at least three sources of information about him. Then I cut and paste the sources together. If I find the same fact 3 times, I can use it. Less, I can’t. Even then I still need to decide which facts are important, and which ones to skip. ![]() Next, I research the death year from the American Revolution. I copy and paste everything, until I know what’s important. Finally, I look up what my main character, Charles Carroll of Carrollton was doing. I save everything he did that year. The same rules still apply – I need to know which facts I can verify, and which ones fit in the chapter. Note – I save all three kinds of research, after my first draft of the actual chapter. Then I paste the research in the order it fit in the chapter, with all the source links. The last and biggest part, that’s all the stuff that didn’t fit in, verified or not, with their source links too. It’s there, just in case. The first draft of a chapter is 10 pages or less. The research I use is usually 5-8 pages, and the rest, it’s what didn’t fit. The whole document is usually 30-40 pages altogether. Part 2 – Stuck on a Fire: The idea for this post came when I hit chapter 36. I was stuck for 2 days on the research, and I couldn’t move forward until I pieced it together. When I looked up tobacco planting in the 1790s, I discovered they burned the seed beds before they planted them. I couldn’t imagine setting a fire on purpose – I grew up with Smokey the Bear. And today kids are still taught NOT to set fires, and I was writing about setting one. WHOA! The first thing I looked up – controlled burns. The link: Controlled Burns on the Farm | Beginning Farmers I learned from Beginning Farmers that you wait for a calm day to start the burn. Go to the bottom of a hill with the wind blowing up the slope. Set your fire so the wind blows away from people and houses. Aim it towards things like creeks, dirt roads, or rock barriers. Those 4 ideas helped, but I still wasn’t ready to write. ![]() I also looked up this link: 13869 (ncpedia.org) It’s from North Carolina’s encyclopedia. The title – Tobacco Farming the Old Way. I copied the pages I needed, but I didn’t use them. Why? I already had that information, but it confirmed the facts I knew. I’ve never started a fire without matches so I found another source: Link: How to Start a Fire With Flint and Steel | The Art of Manliness I copied and saved the supplies I need for the chapter. I’ll get a piece of flint, steel, and a char cloth. They all have specific requirements to start a real fire, but I don’t need to do that. Only write about it. Next, I’ll find some tinder. That’s dry grass or bits of plants from last year. I also copied two pictures from that link. I had to remember what they looked like. If I can’t picture them, you won’t when you read the words. I couldn’t share my pictures. I wasn’t sure if they were copyrighted so I took a screenshot from the search engine. The second and fifth pictures are the ones that helped me start a fire of words for you. ![]() But I still couldn’t write, so I found a YouTube video. I watched it a few times and wrote down these notes: - fire burns slowly - hearing crackling - left behind black ash - edge of flame licked edge of field Then I could write my controlled fire scene in chapter 36. Charley sets the fire, watches it burn, and keeps it under control. I was thrilled! My critique partners said they could picture the fire, all from my words. As a writer, that’s as good as it gets! And the link: VN 000355 L65 CB283 16x9 3m30s 230620M (youtube.com) Part 3 – False Family Connections: Meet the four delegates from South Carolina who signed the Declaration of Independence. The first is Edward Rutledge from Chapter 38 of my middle grade novel. I thought I found a great angle – that he was the brother-in-law of the other three. Then I double checked my research. ![]() Edward Rutledge and Arthur Middleton WERE brothers-in-law. Edward married Arthur’s sister, Henrietta. He died on New Year’s Day in 1787. I knew that – Arthur died in Chapter 14. Henrietta Rutledge died in 1792, and Edward remarried. My source said he was related to the other men through his second wife, Mary Shubrick Everleigh. And that source: Edward Rutledge | Facts, Early Years, Life, Death, Military & Politics (revolutionary-war.net) ![]() Edward Rutledge died in January 23, 1800. Thomas Heyward was still alive, so I kept looking. Thomas married twice. His first wife, Elizabeth Matthews. The second, Elizabeth Savage. No Shubrick’s there, and Rutledge wasn’t mentioned, AT ALL. Here’s one of the sources I checked: Thomas Heyward, Jr. | Facts, Early Years, Life, Death & Politics (revolutionary-war.net) ![]() I thought I was done with Rutledge and his brothers-in-law, but I discovered there might have been a connection. I didn’t realize it until I did the research for this post. Thomas Lynch Jr. married a Paige Shubrick in 1772, but they took a ship to the West Indies in December of 1779. Their ship never arrived so they must have died at sea. It’s one of the saddest chapters I’ve written, because of their age/cause of death. Paige may have been Mary’s sister, but she and her husband died long before Mary married Rutledge. AND there was no mention of a connection on the site. I’m glad I never used the brother-in-law reference in Chapter 36. Here’s one of the sources I used: Thomas Lynch | Facts, Early Years, Life, Death & Politics (revolutionary-war.net) Part 4 – A Shocking Discovery: This is a painting of the Declaration of Independence, but it’s not the signing. The five men standing in the middle are the Committee of Five. They drafted the Declaration. I always thought the Continental Congress signed it on the Fourth of July. Nope! Only two men did – President John Hancock and Secretary Charles Thomson. But that wasn’t my shocking discovery. When I started writing Chapter 1 back in January of 2023, I knew the signing happened on August 2. And I thought all 56 men signed their names. Nope! Only 49, and THAT was my shocking discovery. ![]() Meet Matthew Thornton! In that first draft of Chapter 1, I knew he signed late. His name was last on the Declaration, not with the other 2 men from New Hampshire. Something happened, but I didn’t know the what – so I took my best guess. Simplest is always best – Matthew signed later in the week. Then I hit Chapter 38, this summer on June 25. I think I went into shock. My mind probably raced, trying to figure out what to do. Here’s what I saw that night. It stopped me cold! Source #1: Matthew Thornton | Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence (dsdi1776.com) ![]() Although Thornton was not present during the debates on independence or when 50 of the delegates signed the Declaration on August 2, he became one of six signers who did so in the following months…” ![]() “…was elected to the Continental Congress just in time to sign the Declaration of Independence…” ![]() “…signed the Declaration, several months after the official signing in July, one of six signers who were not actually present at the Congress when the Declaration was adopted…” Did you notice I color code my notes to help me ‘see’ my sources when I write? Later it helps when I go back to check something, like shocking discoveries! ![]() Within 30 minutes I texted and asked a critique partner if we could zoom the next day. She said yes. So I did some searching, and here’s what I learned . . . Link #1: The Declaration of Independence: A History | National Archives This one had 5. ![]() Among the later signers were Elbridge Gerry, Oliver Wolcott, Lewis Morris, Thomas McKean, and Matthew Thornton, who found that he had no room to sign with the other New Hampshire delegates. Link #2: Signers of the Declaration of Independence | Daughters of the American Revolution (dar.org) Had 2. ![]() 1. Matthew Thornton from New Hampshire Granted permission to sign. Arrived 3 months later. 2. Oliver Wolcott from Connecticut Signed after he returned to Congress in October. And here are the men who signed late: 1. Matthew Thornton - Arrived in Congress November 4. Probably signed in November. New Hampshire 2. Elbridge Gerry - Away on July 4; Returned to Congress September 2, 1776. Probably signed September 3. - Massachusetts 3. Oliver Wolcott - Returned October 1. Probably signed in October. Connecticut 4. Lewis Morris - Returned to Congress after August 2, before September 8. Likely signed in September - New York 5. George Wythe Returned to Congress after August 2, before September 14. Probably signed in September - Virginia 6. Richard Henry Lee Returned to Congress August 27, 1776. Probably signed in September - Virginia 7. Thomas McKean - Returned to Congress briefly in September,1776. Returned in January 1777. Signature is missing from Goddard Broadside, printed January. No one knows when he signed. Delaware ![]() And here’s my plan for going forward: 1. Go with 7 late signers. 2. Three names are mentioned in Chapter 1. Change/delete them and leave the rest alone. 3. Make notes on the 7 late signers on the chapters I’ve written, and on my timeline for the ones ahead. I found this image in one of my Facebook groups. Its name is Maslow Before Bloom, and it’s led by Bryan Pearlman. I saved it for almost a year, but after last week I knew its time had come. Former President Trump was shot on Saturday, July 13, and we still don’t have answers from the Secret Service about what happened. Its leader refuses to answer questions. I hope she’ll change her mind. The Republican Convention started on Monday, July 15, and the Democratic one is in August. In November we’ll be asked to pick leaders at the national, state, and local levels. It’s important to pick ones that are just right, and that’s why I’m doing this post. #1. Why do they serve? A traditional leader sees leadership as a rank to obtain. VS A servant leader sees as an opportunity to serve others. When you’re voting, who would you choose? Personally, I’d want someone who believes they’re serving their community at the local, state, or national level. If that’s true, how do you know if a candidate’s there for the rank or to serve you? Talk is cheap. Actions are precious, and there you go! Look at what they’ve achieved in the jobs they’ve held. If you like/dislike their actions, then you know what to do with your vote. Achievement isn’t a bad thing, especially if it’s tempered by service. Look at Olympic athletes and how they’re driven for gold. A fireman might strive for a promotion, but that doesn’t matter – as long as he does his job to the best of his ability. #2. How do they use power? A traditional leader uses power and control to drive performance. VS A servant leader shares power and control to drive engagement. When you’re voting, who would you choose? Or, if you could pick a boss, who would you rather work for? When I vote for someone, I want them to keep their promises, but I don’t want performance at all cost. Mine or anyone else’s. Sometimes on the way to a goal, things change. Sometimes we discover there’s an unexpected outcome that’s better than anything we imagined. I want a leader who can also drive engagement, but I don’t want performance to get lost in that engagement. It’s a pity when leaders forget about the target. If I could pick my own boss, I’d pick someone who could do both. When the principals had us teachers engaged, we performed at a higher level, and our kids did too. #3. How do they measure success? A traditional leader measures success through output. VS A servant leader measures success through growth and development. When you’re voting, who would you choose? Or, if you could pick a boss, who would you rather work for? Whether I’m voting or picking a boss, I want output, growth, and development. A good leader can encourage all three. And if they manage that, they ARE serving their community. Now that I’m my own boss, sometimes I focus TOO much on output. Then it comes at a price, and I must remember to pace myself. I need to look at my own growth and development. I need to nurture and build my own skills. If I do those things, I’LL reach my target, and perhaps, it will come out in a totally unexpected, and even better way! #4. How do they communicate? A traditional leader speaks. VS A servant leader listens. When you vote, who gets it? If you’re picking the boss, who do you want to work for? And if you are the boss, who do you want to be? Frankly, I want a leader who can talk, and listen. It should be a conversation between people who can share ideas and find the best way to get things done. Communication is the key to success. When it breaks down, so does everything else. It’s true in stories too. I listen to my characters. They tell me when I’m going wrong. How? I get stuck and can’t write the next line. I put myself in my character’s head. Then I think about how they’d answer or how they’d act, the story moves forward again. #5. What do they believe? A traditional leader believes it’s about them. VS A servant leader understands it’s not about them. When you vote, who gets it? If you’re picking the boss, who do you want to work for? And if you are the boss, who do you want to be? I think both kinds of leaders are missing something – US. Together, we’re a team, or we should be. The best leaders have a team around them. They listen to each other. They work toward a common goal, and they know two heads are better than one. Back in the day I taught my second graders that our class was a team. When we worked together, good things happened for everyone. In my writing business, I have a team of people I work with, and I’m growing because of them. |
AuthorWhen I write, I can only have one voice in my head, mine. A little noise is fine. But too much, or worse yet, WORDS, and I must change rooms or pull out headphones. Then I can write on! Categories
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