Happy Halloween!

(Click to enlarge)

Just Call Me Glenda

...That's right, Glenda, as in "The Good Witch." Why, you ask? Well, I got asked to work a Hayride & Bonfire Event tomorrow night (Friday) that a local township (which I work for in the summer) is running. My summer boss, Mike, who works for the township year-round, needs someone to fill in as the Witch, and well, he thought of me. Now that I am sitting here pondering this, why did he think of me??

Actually, I know the answer to this question, well, because Mike told me...my job as "The Witch" will be to supervise the high school volunteers who will actually be doing the work at the event. And since this is basically what I do in the summer at my camp job (supervise high school-and-college-age staff) I guess I am qualified to be the Witch. I feel so honored!

On another happy, yet totally unrelated, note...I was supposed to have jury duty tomorrow too....and my service is not needed, so that means I don't have to go! You may now jump up and down for me!

Ahem...Why aren't you jumping??

Are You Superstitious?

Ahhh, yes, it's...

FRIDAY THE 13TH

Why do people go crazy on this day?...some will not fly or do any travel on Friday the 13th. In fact, I'm sure there are some that won't even leave their homes. Well, the reason for this behavior is very much rooted in superstitions.

I'll admit I have a few superstitions, but I don't think any are unreasonable. Growing up, I was told these superstitions as passed down from my great-grandmother on my mother's side. Maybe it's because she was Italian...maybe it's not...or, maybe it's because of the time period she grew up (early 1900s)...maybe it's not...I don't really know.

These superstitions were always passed along to me as I did something "superstitious." It's not like my mom sat me down and said, "Look, here are some superstitions you need to know." No, that's not how it happened...they were always said in context, seemingly more for historical value.

So, onto the examples of my family's passed-down superstitions...

• Putting a hat on the table is bad luck
• Putting shoes on the table is bad luck
• Opening an umbrella in the house is bad luck
• If you spill salt, make sure to throw some over your shoulder

And this one, an Italian superstition...well, it speaks for itself!! :

Apparently, if you are feeling overall tired, lousy, and worn-out, someone may have given you the "evil eye" or malocchio (in Italian). This is from someone you don't trust and who is jealous or envious of you. If you know someone that tends to be jealous or envious of you, when you are in their presence you are supposed to make the sign of the "horns" with your hand in your pocket (which is only the index and little fingers sticking out). This is said as "giving the horns", or fa i corna (in Italian)...it's supposed to keep the effects of the "evil eye" away. (Oh wait, there's more!) If you suspect that someone has given you the evil eye but are unsure, you can talk to someone who knows a certain saying or ritual to find out. (BUT, if you want to learn the ritual yourself, it can only be taught on Christmas Eve!) If this person yawns as they are doing the ritual for you, it means that someone has, in fact, given you the malocchio.

Now, how's that for a superstition?? I just heard about that one about a month or so ago and I was hysterical listening to my mom-mom, aunts, mother, and cousin telling all about it. I, however, did some research of my own and it is a real Italian superstition (not just an Italian-American superstition). Here's a site (roughly translated into English) that talks about the malocchio: Dialettando.com

To find out more about superstitions and Friday the 13th, check out the following links...and don't forget to tell me about some of your own superstitions!!

http://www.oldsuperstitions.com/bad_luck.html

http://www.netglimse.com/holidays/friday_the_13th/index.shtml

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/friday.html

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/13may_2004mn4.htm

http://skepdic.com/paraskevidekatriaphobia.html

http://urbanlegendsonline.com/

http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/columns/?article=fridaythe13th

Frogs Are Fun

You must try this...but please, don't send me any hate mail if you can't figure it out!


www.kyrene.org/schools/brisas/sunda/2nd_grade_computer_test.xls


(P.S. It's completely work-safe too)

A Second Home

I've been working on a new blog site for the BloggerBeta. Eventually this site will be upgraded as well. My new site is called Just Me From Here. It's function is not to replace this site. Say Anything will remain open, more as a public journal...more for updates on what I'm doing, news and headlines, interesting articles, song lyrics, books I'm reading, etc...basically, my random commentary (if that makes sense!).

Just Me From Here's function will be more as a photoblog or travelblog (did I just make up a new type of blog??). Anyway, the intention is to post pictures and observations of people, places, or things around the world. Visit the site...you'll get the idea!

So, now my friends, you have two sites to visit! I hope you enjoy my observations and will continue to send me your comments. It's nice to know that people are reading ;-)