Thursday Thirteen: Liverpool FC

1. Anfield was built in 1884 on land adjacent to  Stanley Park. It was originally used by Everton before the club moved to Goodison Park after a dispute over rent with Anfield owner John Houlding. Left with an empty ground, Houlding founded Liverpool in 1892 and the club has played at Anfield ever since.

2. Blue and white quartered shirts were used until 1894, when the club adopted the city's colour of red.

3.The city's symbol of the  liver bird was adopted as the club's badge in 1901, although it was not incorporated into the kit until 1955.

4. Liverpool continued to wear red shirts and white shorts until 1964, when manager Bill Shankly decided to change to an all red strip.Liverpool played in all red for the first time against Anderlecht, as Ian St. John recalled in his autobiography:

He [Shankly] thought the colour scheme would carry psychological impact—red for danger, red for power. He came into the dressing room one day and threw a pair of red shorts to Ronnie Yeats. "Get into those shorts and let's see how you look", he said. "Christ, Ronnie, you look awesome, terrifying. You look 7ft tall." "Why not go the whole hog, boss?" I suggested. "Why not wear red socks? Let's go out all in red." Shankly approved and an iconic kit was born. 

5.  100 spectators attended Liverpool's first match at Anfield.

6.  The song "You'll Never Walk Alone", originally from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel and later recorded by Liverpool musicians Gerry & The Pacemakers, is the club's anthem and has been sung by the Anfield crowd since the early 1960s.

7. Liverpool's longest-established rivalry is with fellow Merseyside and Liverpool-based team Everton, against whom the club contest the Merseyside derby. Their rivalry stems from Liverpool's formation and the dispute with Everton officials and the then owners of Anfield. Unlike other rivalries, there is no political, geographical or religious split between Liverpool and Everton.

8. Liverpool Football Club is a Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. The club has won five European Cups, three UEFA Cups, three UEFA Super Cups, 18 League titles, seven FA Cups, a record eight League Cups, and 15 FA Community Shields

9. My first Liverpool tattoo

10. Liverpool have had 21 full-time managers.

11. Brendan Rodgers led Liverpool in the 2013 - 2014 season to a surprise title challenge, however Liverpool ended the league season in second place, despite scoring 101 goals scored, the club's most since 1895.  He was the first Liverpool manager to win the LMA manager of the year award but he was also the first manager of the club not to win a major trophy in his first three years at the helm, and on 4th October 2015, he was sacked. On 8 October, he was replaced by former Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp. 

12. One of the most famous, and most quoted, coaches of Liverpool was Bill Shankley. Here are some of his quotes:

13. 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.'

 
*****
 
'If you are first you are first. If you are second you are nothing.'
 
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'Liverpool was made for me and I was made for Liverpool.'
 
*****
 
'The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don't know the game.'

Bonfire

Since working on renovations to the house we have had a HUGE pile of wood in the yard that needed to be burned at some point. We decided this weekend was a good time to burn it as there is still lots of snow in the yard and so there is less likely a chance of starting an accidental brush fire. The weather was good and Max got us prepared with a water station in case of emergency.

That's a big fire mama.

I love fires but this one was so hot we couldn't get anywhere near it. It did get rid of the pile of wood and we were able to clear another pile also so that was good. It worked out well but we couldn't roast marshmallows :(

Poem by Mary Oliver

The spirit 

   likes to dress up like this: 

     ten fingers, 

       ten toes,

shoulders, and all the rest 

   at night 

      in the black branches 

         in the morning

in the blue branches  

    of the world. 

       It could float, of course, 

          but would rather

plumb rough mattter. 

   Airy and shapeless thing, 

      it needs 

         the metaphor of the body,

lime and appetite, 

   the oceanic fluids; 

      it needs the body's world, 

        instinct

 and imagination 

   and the dark hug of time 

     sweetness 

       and tangibility

to be understood, 

   to be more than pure light 

      that burns 

         where no one is --

so it enters us -- 

    in the morning 

       shines from brute comfort 

          like a stitch of lightning;

and at night 

   lights up the deep and wondrous 

      drownings of the body 

         like a star.

random

1. Who did you spend at least two hours with today?

No one yet but my kids when I get home from work. 
2. What do you look forward to most in the next six weeks?

A week off at Easter with the Chitlins. 
3. Who was the last person you called?
Ama insurance adjuster 
4. What were you doing at 12am last night?
Sleeping 
5. Are your parents married/divorced?
Divorced 
6. When did you last see your mom?
A year ago 
7. What are you wearing right now?
My winter coat and a shirt CJ picked out for me last night. 
8. Where is your favorite place to be?
Sleeping 
9. Where is your least favorite place to be?
Right now I am struggling at work - I need to be busier! 
10. Where would you go if you could go anywhere?
Belize 
11. Where do you think you’ll be in 10 years?

I have no idea but I'll have 5 teenagers ! 

12. What was the last thing that really made you laugh?
Alana and the shredder 

13. What cities/towns/villages have you lived in?
Gweru, Sydney NS, Saskatoon SK, Edmonton AB, Everett WA, Provo UT, Ogden UT, Bellingham WA, Maple Valley WA, Oak Harbour WA, Brier WA...
14. Are you a social person?
I can be but it takes a lot of energy. 
15. Do you sleep alone?
Nope.

more random questions

1. When was the last time you cried? 

This summer 
2. Were you named after anyone? 

My mom

And my great grandmother 
3. Why are you so fickle when it comes to women? 

Haha - I don't think I am fickle 
4. What is your favorite lunchmeat?

Bacon ?   
5. Do you have kids? 

Yes I have five kids . 
6. If you were another person would you be friends with you? 

I hope so. 
7. Do you use sarcasm a lot? 

I used to use it all the time. I think now I don't use it much at all. 
8. Do you still have your tonsils?

Yes 

9. Would you bungee jump? 

I have and I would do it again - but I'll jump out of a plane first. 
10. What is your favorite cereal? ProNutro from South Africa
11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? 

Not usually but I wear Birkenstocks most of the year and they don't have laces 
12. Do you think you are strong enough to be with me? 

I don't know who this is referring to lol. 
13. What is your favorite ice cream? Vanilla, because I can't get coconut pineapple icecream from Lucki's in California.
14. What is the first thing you notice about people?I don't usually notice people. (i'm not kidding)
15. Red or pink?

Red 
16. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? 

My weight. 
17. Who do you mess with the most? 

Um.....I tease my brothers about their hair loss. 
18. What was the last thing you ate? 

Yogurt. 
19. What are you listening to right now? 

Amp radio from Calgary. 

20. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? 

A client. 
21. Why aren’t you living your dream?

I don't know exactly what my dream is . 
22. Last movie you watched? 

In the theater the last movie I watched was zootopia 
23. What did you dream about last night?

I dreamed I had two black kittens.   
24. What book are you reading? 

I am Currently not reading a book. 

25. Summer or winter? Anything but winter.
26. Hugs or kisses? Kisses
27. Do you have any special talents?

I don't think so. I do know a song for just about everything .   
28. What are they? Don't have any. 
29. What did you watch on TV last? 

Chicago PD 
30. What is your favorite sound? 

Silence 
31. Rolling Stones or The Beatles? The Beatles.

Thursday 13 : Saint Patricks Day

1. St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints. He was born in Roman Britain and when he was fourteen or so, he was captured by Irish pirates during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep.

2. St. Patrick's given name at birth was Maewyn Succat. When he became a priest, he changed his name to Patricius, from the Latin term meaning "father figure."

3. The very first St. Patrick's Day parade was not in Ireland. It was in Boston in 1737.

4. Erin go Bragh translates to "Ireland forever."

5. One of the longest-running and largest St Patrick's Day parades in North America occurs each year in  Montreal. The yearly celebration has been organised by the United Irish Societies of Montreal since 1929. The parade has been held yearly without interruption since 1824. St Patrick's Day itself, however, has been celebrated in Montreal since as far back as 1759 by Irish soldiers in the Montreal Garrison following the British conquest of New France.

6. The largest parade in the United States, held since 1762, is in New York City, and draws more than one million spectators each year.

7. The city of Chicago goes so far to celebrate that they dye their river green.

8. Green is associated with Saint Patrick's Day because it is the color of spring, of Ireland, and of the shamrock.

9. Green has not always been the color associated with St. Patrick and St. Patrick's Day.  The Order of St. Patrick, established in 1783, selected blue as its color because dark green was already taken. Green became popular with the 1798 Irish Rebellion when wearing a clover on a lapel became a sign.

10. On St Patrick's Day it is customary to wear shamrocks and/or green clothing or accessories (the "wearing of the green"). St Patrick is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity.

11. In 1948 President Truman became the first president to attend a St. Patrick’s Day parade.


12. St. Patrick is a hero in Ireland. And there are about 60 churches and cathedrals named for him in Ireland alone. One of the most famous cathedrals is St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. These grounds bear the mark of the place where St. Patrick baptized his converts

13. According to the most recent census data, 33.3 million U.S. residents claim Irish ancestry, which is seven times Ireland's total population.

Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated in more countries than any other national festival.

March 12 of 12

It is the 12 of the month again and so here are 12 photos which captured my day from almost beginning to end!
1. CJ loves animals and finds them at other peoples houses also!

2. Under the table is a safe place for toddlers to play when the number of people and feet in the house gets too high!

3. They love doing chores if it means they can drive the quad.

4. Friends arrive!!!

5. I get to hold sleeping babies :)

6. Getting pulled behind the quad.

7. Laughter

8. Too much fun.

9. CJ found an old ARGO and has plans for it.

10. He made me a sign for my car - no swears.

11. Bedtime with our pets.

12. night night

New glasses

I have had some trouble reading for a little while because the words were not focussed. I went and picked up a pair of glasses from the drug store which helped a little. Finally last month I had an eye exam and it was determined that I needed a pair of progressive lenses. It is the first time in my life I have had an eye exam where my vision was not perfect and I have to admit I was bummed out about the whole thing. Anyway. Here are my new progressive lenses which I was told to put on and not take off but I have only managed to wear them for one day since I got them - they give me a headache!
I suppose if I find a book I want to read Ill have to dig them out.

Thursday Thirteen: Quotes I love from books

My topic for this week is....  Quotes that I love from books. Here we go:

1. From "The Song of Kahunsha" by Anosh Irani

"To him, real prayer means sending a bright thought, like Thank you or I love you , to heaven. That is prayer. The moment you ask for something, the prayer room becomes a marketplace." p.9

2. From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khalid Hosseini

" She remembered Nana saying once that each snowflake was a sigh heaved by an aggrieved woman somewhere in the world. That all the sighs drifted up the sky, gathered into clouds, then broke into tiny pieces that fell silently on the people below. "As a reminder of how women like us suffer," She'd said. "How quietly we endure all that falls upon us." p.82

3. From 'The Birth House" by Ami McKay

"It's a disgusting mess we come through to be born, the sticky wet of blood and afterborth, mother wailing, child crying....the helpless soft spot at the top of it's head pulsing, waiting to be kissed. Our parents and teachers say it's a miracle, but it's not. It's going to happen no matter what, there's no choice in the matter. To my mind, a miracle is something that could go one way or the other. The fact that something happens when by all rights it shouldn't is what makes us take notice, it's what saints are made of, it takes the breath away. How a mother comes to love her child, caring at all for this thing that has made her heavy, lopsided and slow, this thing that makes her wish she were dead...that's the miracle." p.20

4. From " The Heretics Daughter" by Kathleen Kent

"And what finally of the tortures of a guilty soul? What concoction is there that can be chewed and swallowed and downed into the belly to force the poison of self recrimination back through the pores of the skin? In what organ in the body does it reside? A seeping wound can be bound. Salve can be added to a burn or swelling bubo. Poison can be drawn into a leech or a lance. But guilt is a ghost that takes the shape of the body it inhabits and consumes all that is tender within it's shell: brain, bowels, and heart. I cannot pluck it out like a splinter of glass or treat it with herbal brews."

5. From "Factotum" by D.M. Cornish

" Look at these pullings of long faces! How does knowing who you are make you any different? You have been you all this time; you will remain you for the long stretch of your life regardless of the reckonings in your thinking soils. The only alteration you have undergone is to simply have information to remedy your self-doubtings. Cease these snivels!"


6. From "Bloodhound" by Tamora Pierce

"Keep Breathing, Keep Learning."

7. From "The Truth of All Things" by Kieran Shields

"I never read the newspapers. Nothing but canned bleating. People read the newspapers to learn what is happening in the world. You couldn't find a lazier and more misdirected guide if you tried. Even when there is no deliberate deception, the accounts either wildly exaggerate or else completely underestimate the actual importance of the events described. No event can be accurately judged unless it is considered with adequate background and perspective, both of which newspapers ignore and the reading public distain." (p 205)

8. From "Revenge of the Vinyl Cafe" by Stuart McLean

"We do this thing. We open our hearts to the world around us. And the more we do that, the more we are bound to find ourselves one day standing in the kitchen of our life, surrounded by the ones we love, and feeling empty, and alone, and sad, and lost for words, because one of our loved ones, who should be there, is missing. Mother or father, brother or sister, wife or husband, or a dog or cat. It doesn't really matter. After a while each death feels like all the deaths, and you stand there like everyone else has stood there before you, while the big wind of sadness blows around and through you." (p. 239)

9. From "Alice In Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll

"I could tell you my adventures — beginning from this morning," said Alice a little timidly: "but it's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then." ~ from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

10. From Alice In Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll

"Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast. "

11. From "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)... There are just some kind of men who - who're so busy worrying about the next world they've never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.” 

12. From "The Little Prince" by  Antoine de Sait-Exupery.

“All men have stars, but they are not the same things for different people. For some, who are travelers, the stars are guides. For others they are no more than little lights in the sky. For others, who are scholars, they are problems... But all these stars are silent. You-You alone will have stars as no one else has them... In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars will be laughing when you look at the sky at night..You, only you, will have stars that can laugh! And when your sorrow is comforted (time soothes all sorrows) you will be content that you have known me... You will always be my friend. You will want to laugh with me. And you will sometimes open your window, so, for that pleasure... It will be as if, in place of the stars, I had given you a great number of little bells that knew how to laugh” 

13. And my favorite scripture of all time from the Book of Mormon, Mosiah Chapter 2, Verse 19. (I have to give a disclaimer that I am not an active Mormon, nor active in any religion,  nor do I read the book of Mormon any longer - but I still like this verse)

"O how you ought to thank your heavenly King!"