Albanian culture has something it calls “besa”, which is concept that “obligates Albanians to provide shelter and safe passage for anyone seeking protection, particularly if there has been a promise to do so. Failure to act results in a loss of honor and standing. “It involves uncompromising protection of a guest, even at the point… Read more Besa is Best! How Albania Saved Thousands from the Holocaust
I admit to a certain fascination with female pirate captains who were just awesome levels of badass. So much so, I might write a book about it. If I do, I call dibs on Ladies Who Launch as the title. Seriously, I might write the book just because I have fallen deeply in love with… Read more Ladies Who Launch
One of the things I discuss in my book on Edward VI is whether or not there was likelihood that Arthur, Fitzroy, and Edward all received a mutated CRFT gene (inherited an atypical cystic fibrosis) from both parents. After a quick romp in the genealogy I am slightly surprised that royal babies weren’t born three… Read more Was everyone an offshoot of the Plantagenets??
As I have posted about recently, I am on the semi-recovery end from the mono I contracted in February. My family’s long-ago-scheduled trip to Disney World occurred the week before I got my diagnosis. When they heard about it, all those who had suffered with mono as adolescents or adults had one thing to say… Read more Making Mono Look Easy
My eldest daughter, Blossom, loves me to tell her stories of things I did when I was a little girl her age. When she turned ten years old yesterday, she asked me to tell her stories of what SHE was like as a little girl, since she was now a mature pre-woman in the double… Read more Back in the Day
I haven’t really “thought” about mono (AKA “glandular fever” in the United Kingdom) since I was a teen and some classmates got the “kissing disease” from playing spin the bottle when we were all in ninth grade. Mostly, I just sulked I wasn’t invited to the part where I could have caught proof of my… Read more Things I never knew about mononucleosis
Sorry I’ve not been posting on Facebook or my blog, but I’ve been unable to access the internet (other than sporadically) for more than a week. It was for a good cause; we took out little girls to Disney World and between the hectic activities and my non-functional tablet computer I wasn’t able to get… Read more Involuntary Hiatus
I have a guest post up over on Saints, Sisters, and Sluts regarding the ancient Israelite queen Jezebel and the feminine personification (or hypostasis) of God. This is not a topic that brings joy to my friends and relatives who have a more orthodox view on theology. In sharp contrast, I am fascinated by it… Read more Hagia Sophia
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times … Happily, I am able to share that The Jezebel Effect went to #1 in the category of Women in Politics on Amazon: That’s great, right? Yes! But then I saw my first review and sadness came for me. Someone has given me… Read more Good News / Bad News
First, let me give a BIG thank you to all those who have already bought my book, The Jezebel Effect. Now comes step two – begging for reviews. For those of you who are not authors, let me explain that books live or die by the reviews they receive. The more reviews, the better. In… Read more Abject and Pathetic Pleading