3 July …
Have you ever wondered why prostitutes are called “hookers”?
Well I have … and here’s another goody from Vidal’s “Lincoln”.
During the Civil War there was a Union General nicknamed “Fighting Joe” who had been a good General until during a bombardment “a shell hit a pillar of the porch in which he was standing, and the pillar had fallen on him, and he had been unconscious for hours. Once recovered he had given up drink and without drink there was, everyone said, no longer a “Fighting Joe” — but simply another incompetent Union General … whose headquarters … was like a brothel-casino. In fact, so addicted was the General … and his immediate staff to the flesh that the army of prostitutes…” became known by his name.
He was General Joseph Hooker of Massachusetts.
And now you know the rest of the story.
Amazing the things you learn by reading books.
P.S. There is a Hooker Creek Road south of Redding, CA. I’ve seen it when driving down I-5. Now I know the origin of its name … the General, not the ladies.
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Herb collecting caught me late this year. Re-becoming has thrown me a bit off schedule.
I was out in the courtyard (which is an entire other subject) and discovered the Allheal is in bloom. I now have a jarful in oil in the east window. There are some new-to-me uses such as drawing out infections and immune system boosting (for which I’ll need to make a tincture) which I’ll see to this year. And I took up some roots to try growing indoors.
I also have spearmint and lemon balm and comfrey and citronella and sage and lavender drying.
I’ll be starting the yarrow tincture as soon as I get some vodka.
The adults here aren’t interested in learning about or using herbs. But Paul is my buddy and a user of Boo-Boo Salve. So even if all I do isn’t useful, I am finding I still get a charge out of researching and using herbs.
Besides, it gives me something to do to keep busy. Oh well …
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A friend posted a “reading list” on Facebook last week. I am well into summer reading on the list before I even get properly started.
- A classic book … Slaughterhouse Five by Vonnegut
- A Canadian author … Louise Penny’s Gamache novels
- A History book … Lincoln by Vidal
- A Fact book … not yet, any suggestions?
- A Graphic novel … may not do this one, haven’t seen one worth my time since “Moby Dick” done in woodcuts which belonged to George
- The first book in a series … Binti by Okorafor
- Poetry … often and in many places, latest a collection by Native American poets
- One that your parent loved … neither parent was much of a reader and the book I once found in Mama’s cedar chest (“The Sheik”) is out of print
- A Newberry Award winner … I’ve put “Long way down” by Jason Reynolds on hold at the Library
- A Fantasy … too many to count but I can include “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes which I am currently reading, although it may count as a Classic in which case I’ll list the Atlantis trilogy
- A book recommended by a sibling … my sibling wasn’t a reader either
- A book by your favorite author … “favorite” is always the author I’m reading at the time … currently Margaret Coel
I’ll let you know how I do. How about you?
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I’m learning how to use my computer to watch movies. Last week I watched “The Lost City of Z (zed)” based on Percy Fawcett’s explorations in Amazonia during the early 20th century. Fascinating. A slew of unanswered and unresolved questions. Did he and his son find the city? Did they stay with the local peoples rather than return to England? If so, why? Did the Royal Geographical Society really try to find them, or did it write them off as loonies? How did they disappear so completely?
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Chickens are doing well … averaging 12 eggs a day from the 14 layers. The whites won’t begin laying until September. There are 12 of them so we will be able to count on at least a dozen a day during molt.
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As you know, incorrect use of language is a thorn in my eye. This was in a report I recently read on Facebook.
“… there still are some dirt roads out there and not all of them are paved yet.”
And another said “After giving birth, calves are routinely separated from their mothers, …”
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Weather has turned a bit to the chilly side with wind.
We’ve had a visitor in the backyard.
And the evenings have been spectacular with sunsets on the clouds … rosy.
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Yesterday was burnout for me. I didn’t sleep well (or much at all) monday night and so was useless all day tuesday. I was supposed to help pack lunches Tuesday morning, but I was asleep. I had finally given up and taken a sleeper at 0500. Spent most of the day very near a toilet.
My next few days will be well filled. I’ve signed up to do radio on the morning of the 4th for the events in downtown Mt Shasta. Then I’ll be doing Net Control from 2100 until 0200 on the evenings of the 4th and 5th. I will probably sleep most of the 6th although there will be a Hammond Landowners’ Association picnic at 1100 and a taiko concert in Dunsmuir at 1800. We shall see …
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Last saturday Mark and Kamille went to Davis for “The Consecration and Ordination of the Reverend Canon Megan McClure Traquair as Bishop in the Church of God and the Eighth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California.”
Note … here comes more about herbs … ‘tis the season.
Paul and I did something equally impressive while they were away. We went herb gathering (St John’s wort) and wildflower photographing.
The Shasta lilies are putting on quite a show this year.
They are such a treat. 
Shasta lilies grow ONLY near Mt Shasta,
and as Paul says “They have a really loud smell.”
Onthe banks of the reservoir there are several patches of the reeds used by the local indigenous peoples for basket making. I’m good at pine needle baskets, but never learned to make ones with reeds. Maybe that will be a project for next year.
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In closing this week, here’s a thought for the “dark” times …
“When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it’s time to step into the darkness of the unknown, one of two things shall happen … either you will be given something solid on which to stand or you will be taught to fly.” … Edward Teller
So …’til next week …