![]() I’d like to welcome guest blogger Gwen Payne to rindabeach.com. If you’re an introvert who’s feeling stress, Gwen has a few ideas and links to help you feel more like yourself again. ![]() As introverts, we often find ourselves feeling drained and overwhelmed in social situations. While some may view this as a weakness, it is important to recognize that introversion is simply a personality trait, and one that can be an asset if we learn to embrace it. With self-care, we can ensure that our unique needs are met and that we can thrive in the world around us. 1. Find Quiet Spaces Whether it is a secluded room in your home or a nearby park, finding quiet spaces where you can recharge is essential for introverts. This allows us to step away from the noise and distractions of the world and focus on our thoughts and feelings. Make sure to schedule regular quiet time into your routine and prioritize it just like you would any other appointment. ![]() 2. Communicate Mindfully Introverts often struggle with communication, but it is important to remember that effective communication is key to building strong relationships. Instead of focusing on what you are going to say next, make an effort to truly listen to others and respond thoughtfully. This will help you build deeper connections with those around you and feel more comfortable in social situations. ![]() 3. Start a Fitness Routine Regular exercise has been shown to improve mood and reduce stress levels in introverts. Look for fitness activities that speak to your interests, whether it is yoga, hiking, or simply taking a walk in nature. Make it a priority to get moving every day, even if it is just for a few minutes. ![]() 4. Embrace Your Unique Nature One of the most important steps in building a self-care plan as an introvert is to embrace your unique personality trait. Instead of feeling ashamed or embarrassed by your need for quiet time, recognize it as a strength and find ways to celebrate it. This can include setting boundaries with others, saying no when you need to, and prioritizing alone time. ![]() 5. Prioritize Deeper Relationships While introverts may not have as many friends as extroverts, the relationships we do have tend to be deeper and more meaningful. Make sure to surround yourself with people who understand and appreciate your introverted nature and who support you in your self-care journey. Focus on building quality relationships rather than quantity. ![]() 6. Limit Alcohol Consumption Introverts are often more sensitive to external stimuli, and alcohol can intensify these effects, leading to feelings of overstimulation and anxiety. Therefore, moderating alcohol consumption can help introverts maintain a sense of calm and control in social situations. If you are an introvert struggling with drinking too much, cutting back on alcohol consumption can be a daunting challenge. However, it is important to acknowledge that professional help may be necessary to overcome addiction. Look for rehabilitation sites in your state. They can provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals seeking to cut back or stop their alcohol use. Before choosing a treatment facility, learn about their accreditations, certifications, and specific treatment programs available. If affordability is an issue, look for a rehab center that offers payment assistance. ![]() 7. Limit Time on Social Media Social media can be a valuable tool for staying connected with others, but it can also be overwhelming and draining for introverts. Set limits on your social media use and make an effort to disconnect regularly. This will allow you to focus on your own thoughts and feelings without being bombarded by the opinions of others. By following these tips, introverts can build a self-care plan that prioritizes mental health and wellness. Remember that self-care is not selfish, but rather a necessary part of living a happy and fulfilling life. By taking steps like building deeper relationships, limiting alcohol consumption, and starting a fitness routine, you will find that you have more energy and enthusiasm for the world around you. ![]() Gwen Payne is a stay-at-home mom with an entrepreneurial spirit. Over the years, she has mastered raising her two daughters while side hustling to success through small ventures based on her passions -- from dog walking to writing to e-commerce. With Invisiblemoms.com she hopes to show other stay-at-home parents how they can achieve their business-owning dreams. ![]() An Email: Have you ever gotten a message about something you’d done? That happened on Tuesday, the day after I shared Gwen Payne’s first two ideas. Jacob Bryant emailed that he saw them and found them helpful. Jacob also asked if I’d be interested in adding two links to Gwen’s post. They’re about mesothelioma. It’s a rare kind of cancer, but it doesn’t matter what kind you get. It can wreak havoc with your life. I checked his links, and I think his information about mental health and cancer could help you, or someone you know. - Mesothelioma and Mental Health – A guide to coping with a cancer diagnosis. - Mesothelioma – A guide to everything you should know about this disease.
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![]() What is the one thing you can’t buy? Love! Poets write about it. Songwriters sing about it. There’s nothing better than being loved, and there’s nothing worse than feeling unloved. I found three inspiring quotes about its power. #1. “He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much." That’s what I see when I look at this family. Their love for each other. I see their smiles, maybe even a giggle. It looks like life has treated them well. So who wrote it? It was Bessie Anderson Stanley. I couldn’t find any pictures, but I found a little information about her. Bessie was born in Newton, Iowa in 1879. She got married in 1900 and moved to Lincoln, Kansas. She died in 1952, when she was 73. ![]() In 1904 Brown Book Magazine wanted to know in 100 words or less, “What is success?” Bessie took a chance, and she won first prize, $250. If Bessie hadn’t entered that contest, we wouldn’t know anything about her. Bessie wasn’t a writer, but she won another prize. Some people thought her words were written by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Others, by Robert Louis Stevenson, and they’re both famous writers. Bessie wrote one piece for one contest. Today she has ten links to her quote on Google, and she’s credited with them too. Words, they can live forever! ![]() Sources: Quote: Daily Inspiration | Inspiring Quotes Information: Bessie Anderson Stanley - Wikipedia #2. “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Can you guess which picture shows hate? Did you pick the one that shows it in words – like pick apart, beat down, or assault? I’m glad I didn’t show it in action. Hate pushes me away, with only its words. And love, of course it’s shown in the last two photos. I couldn’t find one with just words, but who needs them when pictures work better? Love pulls people together. It doesn’t matter if they’re young or old, and, it pulls people away from hate. If you had to cross out a photo, I bet you’d pick the first one. It’s just plain mean! So who first said these words about love and hate? ![]() It was Martin Luther King Jr., and everyone knows his name! That’s because we celebrate his birthday on the third Monday in January. His real one, always January 15. Martin was a Baptist minister and a civil rights activist. He believed everyone should be treated according to the content of their character, not by the color of their skin. His words about love, they were part of a 1957 sermon for his Alabama church. Martin didn’t just talk the talk . . . he walked the walk. He believed in nonviolence, and he was inspired by his ministry, and by Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma changed life in India. His tool – peaceful protest. Martin is famous for his March on Washington D.C. in 1965. More than 250 million people came from all over the country to see him. It was the largest peaceful protest back then. And the name of his speech . . . I Have a Dream. His speech, beautiful! His words still shine 60 years later. They’ve even been turned into a children’s picture book. If you’d like to hear part of it, click on the link below, under sources. I was thrilled to read his words. They’ve shaped my life. It’s true . . . Love is all powerful, ![]() Sources: My Picture Book Link: Watch | Facebook Quote: Daily Inspiration | Inspiring Quotes Information: Martin Luther King Jr. - Wikipedia #3. “Above all do not forget your duty to love yourself.” I think that’s exactly what these photos show. Taking care of yourself is key. So is giving yourself time to think, time to breathe. When you love and care for yourself, it makes it easier to love and care for the people around you. So who wrote these words? ![]() It was Søren Aabye Kierkegaard. This is an unfinished sketch from the 1840’s. Søren was from Denmark, and he lived from 1813 – 1855. He was a man of thoughts – a theologian, philosopher, poet, social critic, and a religious author. He wrote about Christianity and morality, ethics and psychology. He believed in the value of the individual, and their view of reality. He believed people should make personal choices and commitments. He preferred those very real things to the abstract. This quote was written to a friend with a physical disability. Søren told him that even though he might feel different from others, he should still value and love himself, and so should we. ![]() If you copy someone’s work when you’re young, you’re called a copycat. You might get in trouble with your teacher. Maybe with the person you copied from, but it doesn’t hurt a lot. If you copy when you’re older, like in high school, you might get a bad grade. If you do it in college, it’s serious. The name even changes. It’s called plagarism. Not only will you get a bad grade, you might be kicked out of college. It might stay on your academic record, making it hard/impossible to get into another school. Part 1 - Meet Ed Sheeran: He’s a famous musician/songwriter, but he’s run into a couple of copyright issues. I did too, when I found these public domain pictures of Ed. I’m allowed to share them with you, but only if I acknowledge the photographer. If I don’t, I could get into trouble. I don’t like trouble, so I”ll paste their names below the pictures. It’s the right thing to do too, to give creators credit for their work. Look at both pictures. Which Ed looks older? If you said the first one, you’re right. It was taken in 2018 in Berlin. The second one is from a festival in 2014. Ed changed a lot, in those four years. Would you believe that it was in 2014 that Ed got into copyright problems. Why? What happened? Keep reading. My source: Link: Ed Sheeran wins Thinking Out Loud copyright case - BBC News In 2014 Ed was hit with a lawsuit over his hit, “Thinking Out Loud.” The children of Ed Townsend thought it was too close to their dad’s hit with Marvin Gaye. , “Let’s Get It On.” Ed Townsend’s children thought Ed Sheeran copied too much from their dad, and the kids sued Ed, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music for copyright infringement. The case wasn’t settled until May 4 of this year, 2023. Nine years is a long time to wait for a judgement. It’s also a long time to pay a lawyer. The heart of the case wraps around the chords and rhythms. Ed Sheeran’s lawyer says those elements are like the letters of the alphabet. They build words. In music those elements build songs. The other side says they don’t own the elements, but they own their father’s unique arrangement of them. ![]() Both sides in the litigation, must have had good points to keep the court case alive. Good pieces of evidence. So what tipped the scales for Ed Sheeran, all puns intended? 😊 He testified, with his guitar. He sang bits of his song and talked about the four chords he used to write it. He probably talked about the four chords in the other song, and how they were different. Ed talked about writing it in England with his friend Amy Wadge. He said he was inspired by his grandparents, and by a new someone he’d started seeing. Both sides used musicologists, people who study how music is put together. They use computers to help them analyze it. Ed Sheeran’s witness pointed out those same four-chords in question, they were found in a couple of songs written and produced before Marvin’s song came out in 1973. Marvin and Ed were never sued over those chords, and their hit came out 31 years before Ed Sheeran’s. During the trial Ed’s lawyer said, “These are basic musical building blocks that songwriters now and forever must be free to use, or all of us who love music will be poorer for it.” Ed Townsend’s children, Ed Sheeran’s, and children yet unborn will never hear that music, or write it either. Ed told reporters he’d quit singing and writing songs if he was found guilty. Thank goodness he wasn’t. His talent, his genius would have been lost, forever. Afterwards, Ed thanked the jurors, but he said he was also “frustrated that baseless claims like this are allowed to go to court at all.” He added, if the verdict had been guilty, “we might as well say goodbye to the creative freedom of songwriters.” Ed is not done with copyright lawsuits. There’s still one hanging over his head for “Thinking Out Loud.” David Pullman is an investment banker, and his company holds the copyright for the Marvin Gaye song too. He has the next lawsuit. I write for children, and I can see both sides of the issue. I’m just glad I don’t have to sit in judgement on this case, or any others. ![]() ![]() Part 2: Copyright, for Reading a Book: I started doing Saturday Reads in April of 2022. I was excited about sharing new books and authors with you. I’ve always been a reader, and one of my favorite things . . . reading out loud. This seemed perfect! A few months later a friend asked about Saturday Reads. I told her I read and record a picture book every Saturday. Then she asked if I had permission from the publisher. That’s when I got a sinking feeling. I hadn’t even thought about it, until she asked. Now, I was worried. Violating copyright is expensive, even if you do it by accident, and that’s exactly what I’d done. This is a copyright for a children’s book. It’s mine, so I have permission to share it with you. ![]() Copyright © 2019 by Rinda Beach. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written per-mission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below. The underlined part, those are the important words. I asked another writing friend about them. She’s also a small publisher. She said I could still do Saturday Reads, but only if I read part of the book. She explained that by recording it, a reader could get the book without buying it. That’s not fair to the publisher, or to the author/illustrator, and I’m one of those. I had no idea, but now I do, so I changed how I do Saturday Reads. Now I stop at/before the halfway point, when there’s a question about how the story ends. Then I tell curious readers to check out the book at their local library or book store. I still get to introduce new books and authors, but now it’s the right way. I’m grateful to both of my friends. One warned me about the danger, and the other showed me how to share books correctly. Part 3: Copyright and a Photo – How I Got Burned: ![]() It all started with a photo, but not this one. It’s public domain, so I’m safe to use it. The one I picked, it wasn’t. Back in the day when I was teaching, I took some tech classes, and they said it was alright to use Bing images. I thought that was still true when I started my blog in November of 2016. I was writing, but I wasn’t making money from my blog. WRONG! ![]() This isn’t the photo either, but the original one was of Donald Trump. It was taken back in August of 2017, back when there was a huge eclipse, and it was supposed to be the best one, for a long time. If you’d like to read what I wrote back then, here’s the link . . . http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/august-26th-2017 But now you won’t find anything about Donald Trump in that post. I’d written about how everyone, including Donald, Melania, and Barron went outside to see the eclipse. They had special glasses on, like everyone else across the country. I wrote about the First Family, and I had a picture of them too. That photo stayed up for half a year or more. Then one day I got an email from a law firm in Canada. They were representing a French newspaper/magazine. The email asked me to cease and desist. They wanted me to take down the picture, because of copyright. AND they wanted money, almost $200 for my mistake. ![]() I wanted to ignore it, but I couldn’t. They had me! They had a photo of the post, with the date, and the photo in question. I didn’t ask any more questions. They gave me a number to call, and I did. I spoke to a lawyer, and I told her my story . . . how I was a retired teacher and an unpublished writer, who wasn’t making any money from their photo, or from my website. I also told them I’d already taken the photo down, per their request. It wasn’t enough. I still had to pay a fine, just like you do when you get a speeding ticket. (You have to have a really good excuse to get out of it, like you’re having a baby.) I didn’t, but they took my situation into account. They cut my fine in half, and I learned how to find and use Public Domain pictures. I was scared to death for at least six months. I’d been using Bing photos for almost a year, but I lucked out. No one else contacted me, but, I learned my lesson, at least about photos. Now I never search Bing for them. I go to Pixabay or Wikipedia, and I follow their rules (like I did with the photos of Ed Sheeran). Copyright lawsuits are expensive. Ask Ed! Part 4: Copyright and My First Book: This was my first, and worst experience with copyright. I’d done all the work, gone through all the problems that go with writing and publishing a book. I’d lost and found three illustrators. That was the first time I was dead in the water. Then I’d found a friend who helped me with the illustration codes for IngramSparks, my printer. If he hadn’t figured it out, I would have been dead in the water again. That’s when the third one hit. I was meeting with a local business group in April. I wanted to spread the word that my book was coming out in May . . . Someone asked if I’d talked to Purdue. I looked at them, completely blank. She said Purdue had a foundation that owns the copyright to Neil Armstrong’s name and image. Later a friend said I look shell-shocked. I didn’t have a clue. I didn’t know what to do next, except cry. There’s always a silver lining, if you’re willing to look for it. I had a critique group that afternoon, and one of the members is a small Texas publisher. She looked up the copyright and showed it to me. (I couldn’t even find it.) Then I had to figure out what to do next. I’m a retired second grade teacher. I didn’t know anything about copyright back then, but I’ve always known how to ask questions. It’s one of my superpowers. So, I asked a friend, my daughter’s mother-in-law. She’s actually a copyright lawyer. How lucky was that?! I gave her a call. The next day she had the name of the contact at Purdue, and she had gathered information for me. She coached me on what to do, but she didn’t represent me . . . lawyers can’t work outside their own state lines. She helped me figure out what to say. Then she nudged me and got me moving. It took a month, but I finally got permission from Purdue. Why? How? Money! I negotiated a contract with them (I know . . . crazy . . . for a retired teacher to do). Someone told me this group of lawyers even represented Marilyn Monroe’s estate. OUCH! Lucky them, this time they were working with a retired teacher. Me. My lawyer friend showed me how to decide if an offer was fair, for me. The first one wasn’t. Every penny I earned, plus an extra nickel, went to Purdue. They had no idea, literally. We went back and forth a few times (I know . . . it still amazes me that I did it.), and we finally came to an agreement that worked for Purdue, and for me too. Thank Goodness! I didn’t set the publishing date, not until the contract was signed and dated. THEN, I could sell my book. It was the first time I learned writing is a business. If you can’t make money by selling a good or service, you can’t stay in business. According to the IRS, my business is considered a hobby. Why? I don’t make enough money to qualify. Entrepreneurship is NOT for the faint of heart. It’s for businesspeople who can produce goods and services at a reasonable price, pay for their expenses (people and materials) and make enough money to pay for their own expenses (their own wants and needs). If you can’t do that, you are a hobbyist, like me. This is my first book! It’s my best seller, and I still sell a few books, here and there. Not as many as I did in 2019, when it first came out. That was also the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. Perfect timing! This is my wind tunnel. I had to build one to write the book. If you can’t picture something, you can’t write about it. If you want to picture Neil’s, look at my fan. Then imagine his . . . He used the propeller, from a real airplane. Stove pipe encased it, so that every bit of wind went through his tunnel, just like it does in my tiny version. I’m thankful for my experiences with copyright. I learned over the years that what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. And smarter. Copyright protects me, and the things I create. It also protects my fellow creators and the work they produce. ![]() Meet the new King and Queen of the United Kingdom, as of 1PM today, May 6th, London time. This was their official portrait this morning. It’s from 2019 when they were titled Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall. Don’t worry, they still look pretty much the same. This is the first coronation since Elizabeth II in June of 1953. I wasn’t born yet, like most of the world, so this is the first coronation I’ve ever seen. I looked up the schedule last night. Click here to see what it said: Here's the Full Schedule for King Charles III’s Coronation | Time For the general public, the real enthusiasts, it all started at 6AM, London time. That’s when the viewing areas in central London opened up. Those early risers got a great view of the King’s procession. It passed by, twice. Me, I was fast asleep. That was 1AM, Tennessee time. This is the official invitation. I didn’t get one, but Wikipedia let me share this one with you. The guest list had 2200 names, but only 2,000 people fit inside the church, so planning started way back in September. The British government paid for this event, so they got to make the guest list. It included members of the royal family, representatives from the government, and both houses of Parliament. Representatives of the Commonwealth countries, foreign royalty, and heads of state got invitations too. Jill Biden represented the United States. All the invitations and RSVPs were done months ago, just like they are for a wedding. In March the holy oil was consecrated by Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. If you’re a Christian, this is where you go to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s fitting that the holy oil is consecrated there. ![]() And just like a wedding, there were practices for Coronation Day. On the morning and evening of April 17th and 18th the military did dress rehearsals for the two processions. No one does ceremony like the Brits. On the 19th the RAF (Royal Air Force) practiced their flypast, and finally on May 3 the King and Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, plus the Princess Royal (his sister) had their own practice inside the Abbey. Practice doesn’t make perfect, but it helps you know what you’re doing! Westminster Abbey actually closed on April 25th to tourists, and to its own congregation. It won’t reopen until Monday, May 8th. I bet the people at the abbey will be glad to see things get back to normal again. ![]() This photo is from Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding. I wanted a photo with people inside the abbey. This is the newest one I could find. Just like today’s coronation, there were 2000 people there to celebrate the wedding of Charles’ parents. For today’s coronation, guests had to arrive between 7:15 and 8:30AM. It sounds like going to an airport. They went through security first, before they entered the abbey. Then most of them waited 3 hours, or more, before the king finally arrived. I would have brought a book. If you’d like to find out who did/who didn’t attend, click the link from Time, and scan down their page. From 9 to 10:45AM, the guests had time to mingle and find their seats. That’s also when world leaders, British politicians, and international royals started to arrive. Lucky them! ![]() Meanwhile back at Buckingham Palace, there were other preparations going on. The men in the photograph are part of the Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Calvary. They’re called Life Guards. Too bad they don’t work at a pool! At 9:45AM they started getting into marching order. Their job – to escort the King’s Procession from the Palace to the Abbey. The parade will also include 200 members of the Armed Forces. No one moves until 10:20AM, or whenever Charles and Camilla arrive. I guess it takes time to get horses, and people, into position! The King and Queen left Buckingham Palace at 10:20AM. They were in a special procession that took them to Westminster Abbey. That’s where British monarchs have been crowned for over 900 years, since William the Conqueror in 1066. Both of these photos were taken during the procession today. Charles and Camilla were inside his mother’s Diamond Jubilee State Coach. It’s so modern it has air conditioning and electric windows, but, it still uses the traditional horses, 6 Windsor Greys, and the Household Calvary Mounted Regiment. I love British traditions! ![]() The king and queen were scheduled to arrive at 10:53 for the 11:00AM ceremony. Why? To give them time, in case they were late, or needed to catch their breath. They made it . . . with time to spare. Part 2 – The Coronation Ceremony from Start to Finish Charles, Camilla, and their attendants entered the abbey at 11AM in one procession. Another followed a little later. It carried the coronation regalia to the altar. You can see it in that first picture. Then the Archbishop of Canterbury led the recognition. Everyone knows Charles, but recognizing him, that’s tradition. He stood beside the Coronation Chair, in the second picture, for everyone to see. Then the Archbishop said, “Sirs, I here present unto you King Charles, your undoubted King. Wherefore all you who are come here this day to do your homage and service. Are you willing to do the same?” Notice his language, traditional. No one talks like this anymore. And the congregation answered, “God Save The King.” Note – Everyone said this, all weekend long. ![]() Next up, the oath, but first the Archbishop recognized the existence of other faiths and beliefs within the UK. That’s something new in the coronation. Then Charles promised to govern the UK and the Commonwealth, following the laws and justice set up in each nation. He finished by saying he’d maintain and protect the Christian church. Next Charles walked up to the altar, laid his hand on a Bible, and said, “The things which I have here promised, I will perform and keep. So help me God.” Then Charles kissed the Bible and signed a written copy of his oath. ![]() Charles was anointed with chrism oil. It’s a holy oil made from olives that were harvested from the Mount of Olives. Jesus went there to teach, and to pray. The chrism oil was also blessed in Jerusalem, back in March. Anointing a king is as old as the monarchy. Charles went behind a screen close to the altar. The Archbishop put oil on his hands, chest, and head using the coronation spoon. This is a private moment between a monarch, and the God who chose him. That’s why there are no pictures of it. ![]() The next part, the investiture. That’s when Charles got the regalia, the crown jewels, the things that only belong to a British monarch. They were taken from his mother at her funeral, then saved for today. Charles was handed the orb, the golden ball with the cross on top. Then both Sovereign’s Scepters. One is topped by a dove. The other with a Cross. Can you find them in the photo? And finally, the crowning. The St. Edward’s Crown is made of solid gold and is covered in 400 gemstones. WOW! When the Archbishop put it on Charles’ head, gun salutes were fired across the country, and now it’s official . . . Charles is the King of England. ![]() The enthronement was next. It’s almost anticlimactic, but after Charles was crowned, he moved from the coronation chair onto his throne. I couldn’t find one from Britain, except for the coronation chair. It’s been around since 1296. Fun fact – it’s covered in graffiti! I know . . . I saw it back in 2002 when my husband and I went to England. I couldn’t believe someday Charles would sit on this chair, 21 years later. Once Charles was enthroned, the Archbishop delivered a prayer for him. ![]() The enthronement was next. It’s almost anticlimactic, but after Charles was crowned, he moved from the coronation chair onto his throne. I couldn’t find one from Britain, except for the coronation chair. It’s been around since 1296. Fun fact – it’s covered in graffiti! I know . . . I saw it back in 2002 when my husband and I went to England. I couldn’t believe someday Charles would sit on this chair, 21 years later. Once Charles was enthroned, the Archbishop delivered a prayer for him. ![]() At long last, Charles was done, and it was Camilla’s turn. She was anointed with chrism oil. The only difference, she did it in front of the congregation, and that was a break from royal tradition. Every other king or queen was anointed behind a canopy or a screen. Camilla was invested too, but she only got the queen consort’s ring. BTW – Charles got a ring too . . . the sovereign’s ring. ![]() Then Camilla was crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown. That’s the first one, but it’s missing a little bling. Camilla added 3 Cullinan diamonds, that once belonged to her mother-in-law, Elizabeth II. The coronation part took about an hour, and the church service, another hour. Charles chose a shorter, more streamlined ceremony. His mother and grandfather’s were much longer, like 3 – 4 hours. Charles gave the St. Edward’s Crown back after the service, but he got a new one, the Imperial State crown. That’s the second one, and it looks good to me! Meet the newly coronated couple and their new carriage, the Gold State Coach. Oops, I mean the old one. It was made in 1760 for George III, you know the king that made America declare its independence. This carriage gets 8 Windsor Greys to pull it on the 1.3 mile route back to Buckingham Palace for the Coronation Procession. The streets were lined with 1000 loyal subjects. It was scheduled to leave Westminster Abbey at 1PM, and it included 5000 members of the UK’s Armed Forces, plus 400 from the Commonwealth and Overseas Territories. The Sovereign’s Bodyguards were there again, plus the Royal Watermen. This, was a very big deal! The first photo is the Royal couple on the balcony, just the two of them for the royal salute. It was scheduled for 1:45PM. It’s the only part I saw live on Saturday. I couldn’t figure out why all those soldiers were lined up on a field. It turns out they were in the garden (yard) for a salute, followed by three cheers from all those soldiers. Imagine a drill sergeant yelling, “Hip, hip.” And the 5000 answering, “Hooray,” times three. It was a very British moment. After the royal salute, it was time for my favorite part, and it wasn’t even on the schedule. It’s when the crowd approaches the palace, and the royal family joins the King and Queen on the balcony. They waved to the crowd, and the crowd roared back, like always. I think everyone loves it because we get a peek at the royal family, sharing a moment, with the country. From left to right do you see Prince William and his family? Next, the King’s 4 pages. One is William’s oldest, George. Can you find him? Hint - he’s looking down. Next of course, the King and Queen, and to her right are her 4 pages, 2 are her grandsons. Camilla’s sister is on the balcony, and finally on the right, Prince Edward and his family. It’s not the whole royal family, just the working ones. ![]() The Fly-past was scheduled for 2:15PM. I’m not sure what time it started, but it wasn’t the fly-past that was planned. It was scaled back from the 68 aircraft who were ready to represent the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and British Army. Even scaled back it was a crowd favorite with the helicopters and Red Arrow Team. Everyone knows about helicopters, but I’d never heard of the Red Arrows. I found this old photo, and I saw a clip of them tonight . . . a row of planes trailing blue, white, and red plumes. Magnificent! ![]() Thank goodness! I finally finished Day 1 of the Coronation. I don’t know how the royal family did it. It’s taken me four days to tell that story. Tomorrow – The Big Lunch and The Big Help – I hope, and I pray I can finish it in one last day! Part 3 – The Coronation Big Lunch, the Concert, and the Big Help Out May 7 at 12 PM was the official time for the big lunch, and it was a BIG success! More than 3000 street parties were scheduled across the country, like this one in London. It looks like fun! The official dish – Coronation quiche. If you’d like to try it, pick up some spinach, broad beans, cheese, and tarragon. ![]() The big idea came from Camilla’s charity, the Eden Project. The goal – much bigger than food. The charity tries to reduce loneliness and promote community spirit. I hope it worked, that people across the UK found a few new friends, and a way to get involved. At 3PM, ticket holders could head over to the East Lawn at Windsor Castle for its first ever concert. Free tickets went to 5000 lucky people who won them in a lottery. Volunteers for the King and Queen’s charities got them too. The coronation concert started at 7PM, and it looks incredible! The headliners were Take That, Lionel Ritchie, Andrea Bocelli, and Katy Perry. Add in performers like Paloma Faith, Nicole Scherzinger, and Sonam Kapoor. Stars like Tom Cruise, Sir Tom Jones, Ncuti Gatwa, Dame Joan Collins, and Bear Grylls appeared live on stage or via a TV screen. I almost forgot the Coronation Choir. They may not be professionals, but they were sensational. If you couldn’t make it to Windsor Castle, 57 locations across the country had big screen viewing, from Cardiff Castle in Wales to Belfast City Hall in Northern Ireland to Hyde Park in London. The coronation team gave away 10,000 tickets for the event. It sounds like it was a great weekend to spend in the UK. Monday, May 8 was a holiday across the UK. It was also The Big Help Out. The King and Queen partnered with The Scouts, the Royal Volunteer Service, and faith groups across the UK to help their local communities. What a lovely way to celebrate, and to encourage people to get involved. Congratulations to King Charles III, Queen Camilla, and the UK! Well done you! ![]() Sources: - Here's the Full Schedule for King Charles III’s Coronation | Time - Coronation of Charles III and Camilla - Wikipedia ![]() I’m a reader, and I’m always looking for great advice, for you and for me. I found this on Quora.com, and I saved it. It was written by Julie Gurner, who’s a Doctor of Psychology. She said these are the 10 pieces of life advice that she wished people would take. The source link: (29) Julie Gurner's answer to What life advice do people not take seriously enough? - Quora And the link to her Quora profile: (29) Julie Gurner - Quora ![]() 1. “Don’t Make Decisions When You’re Angry:” Julie has seen many people in her practice do this, and the results, they aren’t good. It’s easier said than done, but learning how to set aside anger will help you make better choices. When I’m super angry, I write a letter to myself. I go for a walk or talk to a friend. Find a way that helps you set aside your anger, for now. You’ll make better choices if you give yourself time to calm down. ![]() 2. “Be Yourself:” Julie said she’s seen people make choices they hate because they wanted to make someone happy. If you’re not true to yourself, you’re the one who’ll be miserable. Peer pressure is hard to handle at any age, but if you learn to ignore it, you’ll be happier. Don’t take a dance class because everyone’s doing it. Take it because you want to. I pick what I want to write, and I’m happy, finding the right words to tell that story. I refuse to spend my time writing what’s trending. Life is too short. ![]() 3. “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff:” Julie says to choose your battles. Pick the things that are worth fighting for, and let everything else go. I spent my life worrying about those little details. It didn’t make anything better. In fact it made them worse. Now that I’m older, I can let them go. I also learned there are some things I can’t control, like finding an agent. All I have is my best. Then I send out my work. I hope, and I pray. If you’re in the same boat, do your best. There is no more. Then let the chips fall where they may. They will anyway, and you’ll be happier. That’s always a good thing. ![]() 4. “Know Your Worth:” Julie said, when you value yourself, you don’t allow other people to bully you, and you’ll reap the rewards for the rest of your life. One of my strengths is knowing what I’m good at, and what I’m not. That helps me handle criticism. If you want to be a writer, it comes with the territory. You have to know how to handle it, and who to listen to. One of the best things I’ve learned, after a critique I look at the suggestions a day later. I have six critique partners that I trust, but it still comes down to what I think. If I agree with them, I’ll make the change. If I don’t, I’ll leave it as is, for now. If three people comment on something, then I have to change it. I want the writing to be just right, for you. ![]() 5. “It’s Okay to Ask for Help:” Julie worked with lots of people who wished they’d asked for help earlier, but couldn’t. They waited until the last minute, until things were ready to break down. That’s one of the best things I’ve learned as a writer. I work with a group of six. We read each other’s’ work every week. I send them my best writing, but I can’t see my own mistakes, and they can’t either. Asking for help means that you’re smart, that you’re ahead of the game. I used to tell my students the only dumb question, is the one you don’t ask. ![]() 6. “Who You Marry is One of the Most Important Decisions You’ll Make:” Julie said it was key to the rest of your life. You’ll see that person every day if you stay together. If you divorce, you’ll get rid of them, but you’ll live with emotional and financial damage. I’d look at this much earlier, when you learn to make friends. I watched, especially when my kids were in middle school. I was lucky . . . they found friends who built them up, who made good choices. When I met my husband, I was looking for someone who’d be my best friend for life. I’m blessed. We’ve been married for 38 years. I’ve been with him longer than any other person I know. I’m glad I made a good decision. ![]() 7. “Make Time for People You Love:” Julie said skipping out on parents and grandparents might not be a big deal today, but someday, it will be. No one is promised tomorrow. This is my biggest weakness. I always made sure I had time for work. I was a second-grade teacher, and I taught the way I wanted my kids’ teachers to teach. It’s one of the biggest regrets I have today, that I didn’t balance work and family better. Now that I’m on my second career, I’m working on that balance between work and family. It’s hard, but as I practice, I get better. You can too. ![]() 8. “The Best Time to Start is Now:” Julie’s advice, start working on your dreams today. Time passes too quickly. Don’t regret what you didn’t do . . . give it a try. If there’s something you’ve dreamed of, just do it. Give yourself permission to struggle. You might discover you hate it, or that you’re terrible at it. Sometimes that makes it easier to try something new. I’ve been writing since 2007, but I haven’t had super-success. I still don’t have an agent, but, I’ve had fun along the way. I’ve met a lot of great people, and, I’ve self-published three books. It’s true . . . nothing ventured, nothing gained. So try it, and see what happens. ![]() 9. “The Best Revenge is Living Well:” Julie says when you hold onto grudges, it just messes up your life. Her best quote, “anger is something you carry for someone else’s mistakes.” In the words of Frozen, let it go! I’ve spent my whole life struggling with those grudges. Julie is right . . . I carried the anger, not the person who hurt me. They had no idea. One even said I made it up. Since then, I’ve learned to forgive first, then let the anger go. When it bubbles up, I forgive again, and let it go, again. I’m not responsible for what the other person chooses to do. I can move on. I feel happier and healthier. I hope forgiveness/letting it go will help you too. ![]() 10. “Treat Others the Way You’d Want to be Treated:” Julie says that if everyone treated others like this, the world would be a better place. This is the Golden Rule from the Bible. It’s so simple to understand, but people get caught up in themselves. Then we forget about others. At least I do. Now I have a new goal . . . think about the people around me, then decide on the best course of action. Thinking before talking/doing is always a good thing, but hard. I googled natural resources, and this is what I found . . . materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain, or for your own personal advantage. I’ve never thought of people having natural resources, but I do, and you do too. As a teacher I used to talk to kids about the things they were good at, their gifts. Their talents. You could also call them natural resources. Here are some of mine. 1. My Background as a Reader and a Teacher: I’ve been reading books since I was a toddler. It was one of the things that helped me start writing. But now I read differently as a writer. I look at books for their characters, their plots, for the way they use words. I’ve always learned new ideas from books, and now they’re my writing mentors. I’m also a retired teacher. I taught reading, second grade, and inclusion. Those 33 years helped me begin writing. They’ve helped me find ideas that I think kids will like. They also taught me how to teach, and how to learn. I’ve applied those skills as a writer. I learn from the children’s books I read, from my critique partners, and from listening to my own words. Listening slows my brain down. It lets me hear my mistakes, then correct them. I always listen again – sometimes changes work. Sometimes they don’t. I keep working until I’m happy with the words. Then I move on. Now I’m working on something that I’m not allowed to revise. It’s a middle grade novel, with lots of chapters. I can’t go back because it’s a black hole that I can’t escape. I know – because I was in one with my ant book, for ten years. The only way forward is to write, run it by my critique partners, make notes on the manuscript, then move on to the next chapter. It’s working! I’m on chapter 5. Woohoo! And, I’m getting better at plotting those chapters! 2. Time: When I was teaching time was my most valuable resource. I never had enough, ever . . . for my classroom, or my family. I always felt torn between them. Then I started writing . . . I went to Germany to chaperone my high school son and his friends. I found a story I had to write, so I wrote on weekends and snow days, when I had time. Now I’m retired, and I can write all day, seven days a week. Would you believe I discovered there’s still not enough time? That there will never be enough? I try to use it effectively, but I learned again, my best is enough. Now I have five stories that are agent ready. I also have two I’m working on this year. Another two are sitting in my computer, waiting for me to return. When? When I feel ready to write them. I need to learn more about their plots and characters, and that’s sometime . . . in the future. 3. Organization: This is my key to everything, and teaching helped me embrace it. A friend wanted to plan out the units we’d teach from the first week until the last. I wasn’t sure, but I trusted her, and it worked! The best part – you can see connections across subjects, across disciplines, and, it keeps you moving, especially when you get stuck on a unit. When you’re a teacher, you also do lesson plans. That means this week, you’re thinking about next week . . . what you want to teach . . . what resources you need to gather. Organization made my classroom go round. This week you’re also following those plans you made last week, but if you know anything about plans, they never come out the way you imagine. Your class moves faster/slower than your plans. An experiment fails to work, even though you followed directions. One of the skills I learned as a teacher . . . roll with it. Somehow, everything works out in the long run. I’m glad I found ways to get organized when I was teaching. I use different systems now as a writer. Some take care of my blog/website. Others make sure I move forward with my WIP’s (Work in Progress). I have another to take care of submissions. I may never get that agent . . . that’s out of my control . . . but I’m going to give it a 100% Rinda Beach try, and that’s good enough for me. Your best is all you have to give. (It took me years to learn that.) 4. Revisions skills: Usually when I think of revision, I think of words and sentences, pages and paragraphs. I got a different kind of revision lesson today, and I almost forgot to write tonight’s blog. Remember that book I’m working on? That I’m not allowed to go back and revise? I just discovered a big boo-boo! I’d forgotten a character. Somehow in my timeline I didn’t see him. Guess what I did?! I went back to chapter 3 and made it chapter 4. The chapter I was working on became chapter 5, and now I have a new chapter 3, about Phillip Livingston. I’m so glad I found him! And the best part – I get to add Henry Laurens. If you check out The Books I’m reading for Research on my blog, you’ll see Henry. He’s pretty famous . . . he’s the only American who was ever imprisoned in the Tower of London. Have you guessed this story is set during the American Revolution? And the other good thing . . . I have chapter 5 already outlined. When I finish the new chapter 3, I’ll be ready to write 5. The prep work’s already done. Wahoo! 5. Imagination: I didn’t think I was creative when I started teaching, but I learned that I see the world differently. No one else sees it like me, and that effects how I put ideas together, as a teacher, and as a writer. The idea for Neil Armstrong’s Wind Tunnel Dream came out of that clear tub. It has a few pieces from the wind tunnel Neil built when he was 16. Thousands of people have seen them at the Armstrong Air and Space Museum, but I’m the only one who ever put them together, in a story. I was fascinated with those old parts. Neil made them into a wind tunnel that looked like the Wright Brothers’. But that didn’t make me want to write about them. It was his mother – she never checked the wind tunnel, not until it was finished. Me, I would have watched as Neil put each part together. We’re polar opposites, Neil’s mother and I . That captured my attention. It made me want to write his story. That’s what happens whenever I find a new idea to write about. Something catches my attention, and I have to check it out. I begin to weave characters and plot ideas together. Eventually a story takes shape, from my imagination, and from story magic. 6. Faith: I believe anything is possible – if I work hard, if I’m persistent, and if it’s meant to be. Back when I was looking for my first job as a teacher, I got a lot of no’s. I didn’t quit. I believed each door that closed, would lead me to the right one. It did! I believed it was possible to become a writer. I got a lot of no’s, but I found the right door, with Neil. It wasn’t easy, but every time I hit a roadblock, I found a way around it. Best of all I published it in time for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. It’s been five years, and I have three books out in the world, but I’m not done yet. I have more ideas, more stories to tell. This time I’m looking at traditional publishing. That means finding an agent. Here’s to knocking on a few more doors, and waiting to find the right one. Most people strive for perfection – the perfect wedding, the perfect vacation, the perfect you. Perfect, truly perfect is incredibly difficult to achieve. You could work your entire life, yet never reach it. I found three inspiring quotes about perfection to share with you. #1. Perfect is boring. Human is beautiful. Whoever said it, I think they’d agree these photos could illustrate their words. The first one is perfect, but it’s almost so perfect, that it’s dull and boring. The second picture draws your eye. It holds it. Look at the clothes, the body movements. They’re not perfect, but that’s what captures your eye. The second guy is being human, not a model. That’s why his photo is interesting. So, who said it? ![]() It was Tyra Banks. If you’ve never heard of her, she’s one of the world’s top models. If anyone wanted to be perfect, you’d think it’d be a model, but Tyra actually encourages young models to be themselves. To embrace what makes them special. What sets them apart, what makes them beautiful. Tyra wasn’t always successful. In middle school kids teased her about her looks. They thought of her as the ugly duckling. You know the one who became a swan? So did Tyra. Tyra started modeling at age 15. She failed repeatedly, but she didn’t quit. She was rejected by four agencies before LA Models signed her. Then she moved to Elite Model Management, one of the top agencies in the world. That would have been around 1989 when she turned 16. Tyra got involved in lots of different businesses over the years, from movies to music, television to teaching, cosmetics to writing. She continued to reinvent herself. You need to be brave to do that, ready to own your own mistakes. It’s the only way to grow. I haven’t read any of her books, but I love the title of the one she wrote with her mother in 2018. Its title . . . Perfect is Boring. I totally agree! ![]() Sources: - Quote: Daily Inspiration | Inspiring Quotes - Information: Tyra Banks - Wikipedia - Photo: By VOGUE Taiwan - 泰拉班克斯走秀摔倒才不怕:「多跌幾次」讓別人以為你是故意的!How Tyra Banks Would Handle Peter Kavinsky|拆解經典電影|Vogue Taiwan, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=95508569 #2. Love isn’t a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like 'struggle.' Whoever said this, might agree that these two babies show the opposite sides of perfect care. The first one is so happy. Clearly her parents love her dearly. The second baby looks like she’s in the middle of a meltdown, but that doesn’t mean she’s unloved. Her parents are probably struggling to figure out what she wants. When they do, she’ll be happy and content again. So, who said it? ![]() It was Fred Rogers. You know, Mister Rogers, the one with the neighborhood? Fred didn’t have the perfect childhood, but it doesn’t mean he wasn’t loved. His parents probably struggled with how to help him. Fred was shy, introverted, and overweight as a kid. He was also stuck at home because of asthma attacks. Would you believe he was bullied? Kids can be mean. How did Fred survive it? He created his own world in his bedroom. Later bits and pieces of that world became Mister Roger’s Neighborhood. Fred focused on a child’s developing psyche. On their feelings and the way they reasoned their way through problems, especially moral and ethical ones. His show modeled civility, tolerance, sharing, and self-worth. It handled hard things like the death of a pet, sibling rivalry, new babies, moving, and divorce. These are the problems of childhood, and I’m speaking as a retired second-grade teacher. They’re also the things families struggle with. I’m glad Fred was there to give us a helping hand. Another piece of Fred’s legacy showed up nine years after his death. It was a new show created from some of his characters . . . Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. It touches young children the same way Fred did. My grandchildren watch Daniel Tiger. They love him, and I love what he’s teaching them about feelings and reasoning. They’re the same things that Fred learned from his own experiences, then shared with his audience. ![]() #3. Perfection is overrated. Sometimes close enough is good enough. Whoever said this, might agree these photos fit their statements. The first one shows a beautiful river flowing through a city. It’s perfect now, but what if there’s too much rain, and it runs off into the river? It won’t stay perfect. Nothing does. The second one is all about how mistakes aren’t failures. Whenever you make one, you have the opportunity to learn, to improve your performance. Sometimes close enough is good enough, for now. So who said it? ![]() ![]() I’d like to welcome guest blogger Dylan Foster to rindabeach.com. He has some great ideas to help your children learn, beyond the classroom. Learning is everywhere, if you know how to look for it. Get a head start with Dylan’s ideas and the links that go with them. ![]() School is important, of course, but it’s not the only way for a child to learn. Whether you’re trying to help your child catch up in a subject where they are faltering or enriching their background for other reasons, there are plenty of fun ways to teach all kinds of things. Inviting neighborhood kids or letting them bring friends can set a fun tone, too. Here are some additional tips from Dylan Foster to help your children reach their full potential. ![]() Idea #1: Go Outdoors – Many learning activities can be done outdoors and combined with a fun game in the backyard or a nature walk in the park. If your child enjoys being active more than anything, the outdoor lessons will be particularly appreciated. It’s a good idea to do science experiments that are likely to make messes, such as making an erupting volcano, or studying soils, outside. The backyard is a great place to learn about rocks, trees, insects, constellations, weather, solar power, and so many other things. Many science lessons can be combined with art, too, such as learning about leaves and plants while making leaf rubbings with paint or pastels. ![]() Idea #2: Incorporate Your Child’s Interests – Think about subjects your child is already fascinated by, such as dinosaurs, dance, astronomy, or sculpture. Find ways to build lessons related to their interests, such as getting library books about the constellations to read aloud, or for small children, connecting the numbered dots to create pictures of sharks. Give your child opportunities to try new things and develop new hobbies and interests without a commitment upfront. Take kids on field trips to expose them to new places, subjects, and ideas. Visiting historic sites, art museums, or a candy factory can open up new worlds for young minds. A child needs to become aware of something before they can develop an interest in it, so offer to include them in your activities, whether as observers, helpers, or participants. ![]() Idea #3: Teach Leadership – Leadership is something that may not be on the curriculum at school, although children are always learning from observing the people around them. Whether an individual makes career choices that involve leadership or not, the skills involved can benefit people from all walks of life. Remember that your behavior probably teaches more lasting lessons than any structured learning plan, so think about modeling good communication, a positive attitude, problem-solving, and goal setting. Other ways you can teach leadership skills include games that require teamwork, negotiation, communication, and perseverance. The importance of integrity cannot be overstated. While you can talk about this endlessly, your child will probably learn more from being included in decision-making processes, seeing you tell the truth even when it’s awkward or difficult, and observing you treat others fairly. ![]() Something else to consider: if you find that you have a special knack for teaching, or you’d like to gain additional knowledge to pass on to your children, you could always go back to school. These days, you can get a bachelor of education through online study, which allows you a great deal of flexibility and can open a lot of doors, since teachers are currently in high demand. ![]() Children are learning much of the time that they are awake, whether actively or passively. They may not realize this, but it’s important that you do, so you can be sure to offer them opportunities to learn things that will enhance their lives. If they are absorbing information from watching TV or videos, take the time to make sure some of these “lessons” are constructive. You can create games, experiments, contests, and family activities that teach facts and concepts as well as behaviors. Many of the tasks of daily life can be made into field trips, such as visiting a professional bakery, a plant nursery, or a shoe repair shop. Vacation trips can include museums, art galleries, state and national parks, as well as historic sites. With a little bit of planning, you can offer them opportunities to expand their minds in all directions. Rinda Beach is an author, teacher, and speaker who’s here to help you live your dreams. Don’t hesitate to reach out! 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 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. Tomorrow – my thoughts about staying true to my school, to its coaches and players. Win or lose, I believe in loyalty. ![]() Sources: Photos: By http://www.7inchrecords.com/, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5030597 Search link: be true to your school - Search (bing.com) Information Sources: Be True to Your School - Wikipedia The Beach Boys - Wikipedia ![]() 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. 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. 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. 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. ![]() 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 Information Sources: Ryan Day (American football) - Wikipedia ![]() 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. The quote in the screenshot from CJ is, “I just have to eat it.” It’s about losing twice to Michigan, about never winning a Big 10 Championship. It makes me sad. It makes me wish he’d stay for one more year, for one more chance to beat Michigan, and to win that Big 10 Championship, but money talks. So does your body. It can be injured anytime during a season. I understand, and I wish CJ well, wherever he plays next year.
As for that team up north, I’d take Coach Day any day. Looking at Jim Harbaugh, he’s played OSU 7 times since he became coach. He’s won 2, lost 5, and choked in 2020 when he refused to play. Jim did go on to win the Big 10 Championship in 2021, but he lost to Georgia in the National Playoff. Last year, Coach Day won his Bowl Game. As for this year’s Bowl Season, I predict Michigan will go down in the National Championships. I think Georgia will reign supreme. As for Jim Harbaugh, I think he’ll head back to the NFL as soon as he can get himself out of Michigan. He almost made it last January, in 2021. And finally for my Buckeyes, I think Coach Day will review the tapes and work on plugging the holes. I predict another Bowl win for the New Year. My prescription for the future – find someone like Mike Vrabel to coach the linemen, offense and defense. Mike left in 2018 to go to the Tennessee Titans, and he left a hole that needs to be filled. There are 3 seasons at OSU – the regular season, the Michigan game, and the Bowl games. Coach Day needs to get a Bowl win this year. Then next year he must take out Michigan and do it in the Big House, their stadium. I believe in Coach Day, and in his team, but win or lose, I’m still a Buckeye. And I’ll be true to my school, its coach, and its team. Information Source: C. J. Stroud - Wikipedia ![]() If you haven’t been in a school the last week of October for a while, you might not have heard of Red Ribbon Week. It’s been around since 1985. It started as a tribute to a DEA Agent, and now it’s the largest and longest running drug awareness and prevention program in the United States. ![]() Part 1 – Its History: This is Enrique or Kiki Camarena. He was born in Mexico, and his family immigrated to California. Kiki served as a Marine. Later he joined his local police department and did undercover narcotics work for them. Kiki joined the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) when it opened in 1977, even though his mother told him not to. He said that he was only one person, but he wanted to make a difference. Kiki’s memory still matters, and I’m glad his story hasn’t been forgotten. Kiki left work on February 7, 1985 to have lunch with his wife. He never made it. He was kidnapped by five men from one of the Mexican drug cartels. They tortured him for his DEA work. His body was found a month later. My heart hurt back then for Kiki and his family. It still does. His friends and neighbors wanted to remember him. They wanted to join his fight against illegal drugs so they started wearing red ribbons. So did parents across the country. They wanted to stop the drugs and alcohol that hurt their children. They formed groups and took up the fight. They adopted the red ribbon as a symbol of Kiki’s sacrifice, and one by one they showed that one person can make a difference. The National Family Partnership (NFP) was one of those groups, and they sponsored the first National Red Ribbon Celebration in 1988. They’re doing it again this year. I remember Kiki’s story from the 1980’s. I remember taking part in Red Ribbon Week for most of my teaching career. I don’t remember when my school started, but I’m happy they’re celebrating it again this week. Part 2 – FAF Called Me: FAF, or Families Against Fentanyl, has been calling me to write about them since the summer, but I never found the right time. This has to be it, and I think Kiki Camarena would agree. He believed that one person could make a difference, and this might be my chance. All of my illustrations are screenshots from FAF’s website: Families Against Fentanyl. This one caught my eye. Fentanyl is the #1 cause of death for anyone aged 18 to 45. That’s my three kids. All three. I thought they were safe from drugs. Maybe not. Fentanyl is so sneaky. It’s sent over the Mexican border by the same cartels Kiki fought in 1985. It can be added to other pills, to other drugs. It’s so potent that a rookie policeman died three times in a drug bust, and he only caught its smell. He didn’t swallow. Thank goodness! He lived to tell. Now those same cartels are disguising fentanyl to look like candy. My best advice with pills/candy is to buy them from the store, even if you have to pay more. Your life is priceless, and you only get one shot. That’s it. When trick-or-treating this year, go to the houses of people you know. Don’t eat anything until you’re home, and your parents can look it over. This feels like when my kids were growing up, and people were adding razors to Halloween candy. AWFUL! Back then we took our kids to places we knew, and we checked their candy, just to be sure. Some people even took it to the hospital for an x-ray. They wanted to be safe, not sorry. I absolutely agree with FAF. We can, and we must stop this. One of the best ways you can help is by signing their petition. I thought if I’m going to write this post, I should sign. I’m #41,584. Their goal is 50,000 signatures. You’re welcome to sign up too, but the decision is yours to make. When I was scanning through FAF’s homepage, I ran across this headline. It’s shocking, that a chemical added to a pill, or something that looks like candy, could be a weapon of mass destruction, but the data is there. I paraphrased this sentence from FAF so I could wrap my brain around it. This year, either 2021, or so far in 2022, drug overdose deaths reached 100,000, and fentanyl accounted for 64% of those deaths. That means 64,000 people lost their lives because someone snuck fentanyl into their pill. My children are in that age range. It’s frightening . . . so I’m writing about it. This screenshot and the next one, are from FAF’s button, ‘Take Action.’ There are four bills that are waiting for Congress to vote on. All four deal with fentanyl. After the November election, my guess is that nothing will happen until January, and then new bills will have to be proposed, again. The next screenshot (below) shows a sentence from each bill. I like H.R. 8030 best – it requires action from the Department of Homeland Security. H.Res.1172 seems weak. It urges President Biden and the Department to do something. Require sounds stronger. I’m a writer. I love strong verbs! H.Res.1327 seems weak too. It expresses the sense that the House of Representatives should do something. Expresses? I’m a require kind of writer. I like H.R.9162 because it directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to do something. I like words that show action. If this is so deadly, I don’t want to urge or express. I want it done! I’d like to think Kiki would agree. ![]() Part 3 – This Year’s Red Ribbon Week Theme: Celebrate Life – Live Drug Free My old school always found one way each day to celebrate the theme. Here are ten ways I found to have fun, to celebrate life, drug-free this week, and the rest of the year. 1. Play with toys. 2. Get outside to play. To have fun. 3. Have fun in the water. 4. Find animal friends 5. Find human friends too. 6. Play sports. 7. Spend time with family. 8. Read a book. 9. Listen and play music. 10. Get creative with art. ![]() My Sources – Click and Learn More Red Ribbon Week - Wikipedia Kiki Camarena - Wikipedia 2022 Red Ribbon Week Theme | Celebrate Life. Live Drug Free. Families Against Fentany |
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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