136 Avid Anglophile

Avid Anglophile

My anglophile tendencies have recently propelled into overdrive as movies and TV series have fed my obsession for anything pertaining to England.

I have always loved the literature and culture of our British friends, but in the last few weeks, various entertainment outlets have given fans like me an amazing amount of shows and movies to devour with great enthusiasm and feeling.

The series on Queen Victoria last year on PBS got my attention. I could never miss an episode and was so sad when it concluded. But to my delight season 2 began this January with even more intriguing and sensational plot twists. 

Of course, it is all based on history so there should not really be any surprises, but the drama never ceases to amaze me and pique my curiosity. I also read that there will be a season 3--yeah!

This series is described this way: “A teenager in 1837, Victoria is crowned queen and navigates the scandal, corruption, and political intrigues of the Court, according to PBS’s Masterpiece series. She soon rises to become the most powerful woman in the world. The spirited monarch was perhaps the first woman to have it all.”

If that wasn’t enough to keep me totally invested in these royal subjects, the series, “The Crown,” was brought to my attention. I didn’t think I could find it on TV. I have a remote I can talk to so I asked it and like magic, the series appeared. I’m into season 2 and can’t get enough of the series.

Netflix describes it as a drama that “follows the political rivalries and romance of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign and the events that shaped the second half of the 20th century.”

And it certainly fulfills that goal with twists and turns that keep the action moving, sometimes a little methodical but that is the British way. The civility is overwhelming but occasionally a spark of emotion comes through. 

This is usually from Princess Margaret, who keeps the royalty constantly in a state of surprise as her lifestyle is not so civil and proper.

Both of these series, portray the queens facing issues most women face--juggling husbands, work, children, and more. Of course, these are at such levels that most of us cannot comprehend but we do empathize with family and obligations.

Both series show how powerful women must maintain their control but appease the husbands who often feel left out and suffer feelings of unfulfillment.

Nevertheless, I can’t stop watching. There is something about the queens that draws me in and keeps me turning on the shows. I know how it ultimately turns out but it is fascinating how it all unfolds.

“The Crown” is especially interesting since the queen and prince are still serving in those roles. It makes one realize how the modern-day issues were prevalent in the early days and have somewhat been resolved in this century. Divorce looms heavily in many situations that would not be an issue today.

The gravity of the situations is also emphasized as the simplest of issues often are full of extenuating circumstances. Alas, the life of a queen is quite complicated==far more than wearing a crown and fancy gowns.

Also, in “Victoria,” a recent episode discussed the British troops in Afghanistan. One of the advisers urged bringing the troops home, but they suffered defeat before that happened. He went on to say the area was extremely rocky and hilly and the natives constantly fought among themselves. Sound familiar!!

In addition to these TV series, the movies have added to an Anglophile’s obsession--The Darkest Hour was released recently. This tells the story of the early days of World War II. “The fate of Western Europe hangs on the newly-appointed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who must decide whether to negotiate with Hitler or fight on against incredible odds,” according to a web link about the movie.

Of course, we all know how that decision affects the entire world, but the agonizing and difficult path followed to reach that conclusion is revealed with excellent acting and writing.

I urge all of you who share my love of all things English to watch when possible these series and movie. I have no idea why I am so obsessed this way, but I can never resist these types of shows. My husband tolerates my watching habits, and it is especially interesting since he is the one with English, Irish, and Scottish heritage while I have absolutely none. There is no accounting for taste.

He won’t even consider another trip to the United Kingdom. I have enjoyed every moment of my visits, but he has had enough. If you notice I am AWOL, then I may have slipped away to get more doses of English life!!

Anglophile Frances                   

135 Value of naps & update

The Value of Naps & Update on Readers

I was feeling a little guilty for regularly enjoying an afternoon nap. Although it isn't my fault--Tootsie, my Jack Russell pup, directs me to the chair most days right after lunch.


I start out reading a book or scrolling through my tablet, but before long we are both snoozing.

No guilt trip necessary--research says that naptime is good. Not only that but after lunch is best!

For most people a regular nap will increase alertness and may prevent heart attacks. Individuals who have trouble sleeping at night probably should avoid naps.

I don't follow all the napping advice. I don't sleep in a dark room or set an alarm. Naps should be under 30 minutes so the napper does not enter into deep sleep. If you feel very groggy upon waking from a nap, it probably means you have interrupted deep sleep. The best way to overcome the grogginess is to walk in the sunlight. Guess that won't work for rainy-day naps, which to me tend to extend too long.

A rubber duckie reader!

An update on reading figures

As you know, I collect statues of readers. My sister sent me two cute readers for Christmas:

 Then I found four readers when visiting some resale shops. And I did not buy a single one!

I am, however, keeping a virtual collection:

As I type, someone is snuggling beside me. Please excuse me for about 20 minutes.

Trishzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz              

134 Reflecting on 2017

Reflecting on 2017

Good grief! January is nearly halfway over. We haven’t even celebrated Christmas 2017. The grandchild had bronchitis, husband sick, etc., etc., etc. You may recall that our 2017 was highlighted with funerals, weddings, broken appliances, new furnace, rewired electricity, and leaks. Hoping for a nice, quiet, uneventful 2018. Maybe, maybe not. We shall see.

Also, regular readers know that I spend far too much time “surfing the web.” So, I checked many sites to see what 2017’s most popular “hits” were. Below are some highlights of last year that I found. Maybe you will know them all; most will know most of them. 

First, I was flabbergasted that if one simply types in “top stories of 2017,” the return is over 8 million results in .83 seconds (and we still have Hughes Net for our computer service!). 

Next, I read my favorite news sites; then, I chose a few random sites as well. [An aside: some popular press, including the Washington Post, showed the top 10 for each month and no cumulative list--those I eliminated in my unsophisticated analysis.] Third, I have listed for you the findings of respected news sites. Here’s hoping you enjoy skimming them and maybe learning about something or someone you missed. I did. How do “breaking news” stories not embed themselves in the neurons?

The Associated Press: 

1. Sexual Misconduct(the list is too long to iterate here) 

2. Trump’s First Year controversies (again, the list is long) 

3. Las Vegas Mass Shooting 

4. Hurricane Onslaughts – Harvey, Irma, and Maria 

5. North Korea (who has the biggest red button – my editorial remark) 

6. Trump/Russia Probe along with the fates of Comey, Mueller, and Flynn 

7. Obamacare--What Happens Next? 

8. Tax Overhaul – What does it mean for budget deficits, health care, and corporate taxes? 

9. Terror Attacks – from NYC to Istanbul, from Barcelona to England, and places worldwide
10. Islamic State – losses in Mosul, Iraq, and Raqqa, Syria, but continuing operations in Egypt and Afghanistan.

NPR: (note differing interests) 

1. Trump politics 

2. California’s iconic Sequoia Tunnel Tree felled by storm 

3. Radioactive Cloud particles over Europe--where did they come from? 

4. Republican Tax Overhaul and its effects 

5. Las Vegas Shooting

The New York Times:
1. Las Vegas Shooting 

2. Alabama Election--Jones defeats Moore 

3. Mayweather v. McGregor--10 rounds TKO 

4. Hurricanes 5. Judge Blocks Trump order on refugees 

5. Matt Lauer Firing (referencing many offenders before this announcement)

Google: Most popular searches for 2017 

1. Hurricanes 

2. Matt Lauer 

3. Tom Petty’s death (oops--I thought he was the race car driver! Duh!) 

4. Super Bowl 2017 

5. Las Vegas shooting 

6. Mayweather v McGregor fight 

7. Solar Eclipse (how quickly we forget--the only site choosing eclipse that I selected) 

8. Aaron Hernandez (had to look him up!!--guess not watching enough football and sports news) 

9. Fidget Spinners

So, now, dear readers, it’s on to 2018. Stay warm and stay well. 

Savvy Glenne            

133 Mind your language

Mind your language

Words fill our minds, capture our hearts, and help us reveal our innermost thoughts. But words don’t always mean the same thing to all people. The level of the words we use dictates how we are perceived whether good or bad.

“Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind,” said author Rudyard Kipling. I think this has a great deal of truth to it. How else do we feel loved or important?

Language is so valuable and important in everything we do and say. For the first time in my 70-some years, I have heard words coming from the leaders of our country that shock and dismay me, but that is another story.

Sometimes, it can be enjoyable to throw in a few $50 words to wow the people listening. They may have no idea what it means. Just make sure the meaning of the word is correct and is being used properly. There is nothing worse that misuse of a fancy word. Provenance is a good example and has a very specific use.

Some words come into vogue over time, but don’t stay too long or are content specific. This past year saw a plethora ($50 word) of vocabulary that may not make it to the end of 2018. These are not new words or phrases but have been used in excess to the point of ad nauseam. Examples include progressive, socialist, conservative, liberal, surveilled (which is a proper form but sounds strange), taxes, nuclear, fake, resigned, failing, tweets, probes, leaks, firings, fraud, voting, irregularities, etc. 

Expressions also will take us off guard, such as “take a knee.” For those who grew up Roman Catholic, this has special meaning. We take a knee when we enter the church and when we leave (genuflecting in and out of the pew), and also we kneel for more of the service than we either sit or stand, and we even kneeled for communion in my earlier years. We consider it respectful in the most reverent way.

On another level, four-letter words often put us in situations we often don’t want. These words take the conversation in a downward spiral nose dive very quickly, making it hard to recover or come back to a level field. The answer is don’t use them out loud. Maybe use them when we are alone or silently in the mind. Years of teaching school taught me to never let these words leave my lips. There would be “hell” to pay otherwise --- word is used intentionally here. Believe me, I use them, but I try to keep it clean around the grandkids or when I just meet someone.

Talking to grandkids is another level–-short sentences that be answered with grunts and groans – are about all we can manage in between messaging and photos on social media. If we can get them to look up briefly, we are doing well. A text message often gets the fastest reply.

Grown children are not much better at times. They are so busy that words have to be important and to the point. Be careful of word choice because it can be taken a different way than what is intended.

Degrees of meaning is also crucial. The best, top of the line, the only one are examples that can get us in trouble. To prove something is one of the above is very difficult and often subjective. I learned when I was reporting and editing to rarely use the absolutes. One of the first, one of the top (you get my drift) or something similar is much safer and more accurate.

Maybe I am being too cautious but it is extremely difficult to properly communicate using the American version of the English language. Try talking to someone from the United Kingdom -- meaning as well as pronunciation are almost like a foreign language.

My advice as we head into 2018 is to learn new words, use them sparingly, and be careful with phrasing thoughts, questions, and ideas. The person on the other side of the conversation may get an entirely different meaning than what is intended. A recent conversation with our six-year-old grandson brought joy to our hearts as he exclaimed that he didn’t have school the day after New Year’s so we could extend our visit one more day. That may not sound that exciting, but to us it was golden, and he had just the right words to convey a heartfelt message!

Frankly Frances