SELF-IMPOSED “RULES”

Posted on November 16, 2021November 17, 2021 by vlaw759

*Some people see external rules as a challenge!*

I don’t mean rules like fastening seatbelts, which are self-regulated laws. I mean personal rules of conduct.

Many “rules” somehow become engrained in one’s thinking/behavior, but are actually totally personal.

So where do self-imposed rules come from?

We notice what behaviors bring love and affection, and which result in punishment or rejection. Over time, we develop “rules” to maximize rewards and minimize punishments.

*Does open air trumpeting **ever** bring love and affection?*

(For an extended example of this, visit bbekercoaching.com and learn about the personal rule “Don’t Be A Sourpuss.”)

Some self-imposed rules are consciously adopted.

For example:

No more than three pieces of chocolate at a time.
Walk 10,000 steps a day.
No alcohol before 5:00PM.
At least one page of writing a day.
Talk with family at least once a week.
Never let them see you cry.

Many of us have internalized rules that could be voiced but seldom are.

The first time I was alone with my future father-in-law (a retired English professor and college dean), he said, “Tell me, what were the guiding principles by which you were reared?”

First I gasped. Then I paused. Then I said, “Your word is your bond. If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right. Finish what you start. If you don’t try, you can’t succeed. If at first you don’t succeed, try again. If you don’t succeed, at least you’ll know you gave it your best shot. Don’t threaten if you won’t or can’t follow through. Always be there for family. And, of course, The Golden Rule.”

Upon reflection, I realize that I’ve lived my life by those rules, even when I didn’t consciously call them to mind.

Virtually everyone has comparable rules, developed through childhood, plus rules about bedtime rituals, morning routines, getting dressed, etc. These are rules we follow because we’ve decided they are good for us.

Please note: sometimes what we think is a good rule might not be.

For example, Don’t argue in front of the children lest they be warped.

But how will they learn to disagree productively? Will they be gobsmacked when their parents announce that they are getting a divorce?

Many such rules are about what not to do.

Many rules relate to clothes, where unwritten rules/expectations demand dressing a certain way for work, but on weekends are pretty much irrelevant. Even so, one usually stays within the bounds of what one should wear as a person of a given age and gender. Why not wear hats or jewelry around the house?

Similarly, certain hobbies or activities may be passed over because one is of a certain age, or not the right ‘type’ of person for that. Think paintball, rollerskating, singing while walking around outside, learning to play a harmonica…

And then there are things one does not do simply because, somehow, it isn’t “right.” Think running the dishwasher when it’s only half full. Or leaving dirty dishes overnight. Sleeping in the same clothes worn all day, no matter how comfortable.

Never telling a lie is a rule for some people—and not easy to abide by.

Many self-imposed rules compel us to do things for no objective reason.

For example, these rules might compel us to put up and take down holiday decorations at particular times, in a particular order. Many people have rules around pet care and household chores.

Rule:
- Always load the dishwasher or dish drainer the same way.
- Always sort the laundry by color
  - Or fabric
  - Or wash temperature
  - Or not at all
  - Or depending on what one thinks works

And speaking of clothes: change socks and underwear every day. And clothes appropriate to the occasion: says who?

Even in this day and age, some people send only hand-written notes of thanks or condolence, and only send them by U.S. mail.

At this point, you might be thinking, “But there are reasons! That’s the best way!” By what standard? Much of this happens on a non-conscious level, until challenged—or until the pattern is disrupted.

*Always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.*

What about making the bed every day?
Or changing the towels once a week?
Always making the toilet paper unroll over the top of the roll rather than from under?
Hold the door for others?
Say “please” and “thank-you.”

All of these and more are “rules” for some people. In other cultures or times, any one of these could be impractical, irrelevant, or downright offensive.

The upside of self-imposed rules: they simplify your life and increase productivity.

Living by the rules is efficient.
- One doesn’t have spend time/energy making the same decision repeatedly.
Rules provide predictability.
Things done repeatedly require less effort.
Rules provide clarity about behavior.
Rules provide security, the knowledge that one is “doing it right.”
Rules reduce anxiety.
Rules help make sense of the world.

The down-side of self-imposed rules: breaking them has consequences.

Breaking rules is uncomfortable—and the extent of the discomfort reflects the importance of the rule.

Not keeping (or being able to keep) self-imposed rules can reflect on one’s feelings of self-worth and discipline.

On the other hand, sometimes keeping the rule(s) causes more trouble/damage than benefit. Sometimes keeping rules induces anxiety. Some researchers (e.g., see psych diary.com) suggest that perfectionists have more rules and adhere to them more closely. I’d suggest that the effort to comply with one’s rules can be stressful beyond the apparent importance of the behavior.

People differ in the number of self-imposed rules they have and their adherence to them. In the extreme, one might suffer from Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder. Think of Adrian Monk, “the defective detective” whose compulsions keep him from living anything like an ordinary life.

(N.B.: related to but different from phobias.)

Getting over self-imposed rules.

When rules become stressful, and/or interfere with living happily, something’s gotta give. Maybe someone people just realize they were unconsciously restricting themselves in certain ways, and choose to change the pattern.

Some of these rules are relatively easy to recognize and break, but others are much more elusive and potentially insidious.

Ultimately, the person must consciously break a rule and realize that no one exploded, small children did not die, and (probably) s/he didn’t even get negative feedback. Indeed, people close to/living with the rule keeper may express relief, approval, and/or appreciation!

BOTTOM LINE: Consider your own self-imposed rules and (if you’re a writer) those of your characters. Consider bringing the non-conscious to awareness.

HABITUALLY LATE

Posted on November 9, 2021November 9, 2021 by vlaw759

Virtually everyone is late sometimes. Flat tire, flight cancelled, wreck on the interstate, call from child’s daycare, slept through the alarm—it happens.

But some people are perpetually late – perhaps just a few minutes, but always. Why? There is no one answer, and therein lies the richness for writers.

Cultural

Some people grow up in a family, culture, or subculture where precise timing just isn’t considered important. For example, in Mexico being 30 to 60 minutes late is entirely acceptable. A Vietnamese friend refers to “elastic hours” — they stretch to fit as much as you need in them. In Morocco, it’s okay to be late by an hour or more—even a day!

This concept shows up linguistically in South Africa. Elements of multiple languages have made their way into modern slang, making time estimation especially difficult for visitors. “Right now” means pretty soon, probably. “Now” refers to something that will likely happen before too long… but not now. “Just now” is an indeterminate amount of time later: maybe in a few minutes, maybe next month, maybe never.

Ever showed up to a party ten minutes late and still been the first guest there? Understanding the variations in punctuality among communities can be crucial to avoiding social awkwardness. It’s even more vital for people working in the entertainment industry: you don’t want to schedule multiple gigs in a day if one of them is likely to start two or three hours late.

Status Statement

When where you’re from doesn’t line up with where you are, the likelihood of negative encounters—anything from awkwardness to hostility—skyrockets. In general, status is related to privilege, and that includes timeliness.

The CEO, president, or queen has more latitude; underlings, as a group, feel pressed to be present before their “betters.” Thus, people who are prompt may resent their habitually late peers or colleagues for “putting on airs.”

Said another way: they assume that tardiness is a passive way for a person to say that his/her time is more valuable than the time of others.

Mindset

According to therapist Philippa Perry (Jan. 1, 2020,theguardian.com), “The reason may be the opposite of arrogance. It could be that they don’t value themselves enough. If this is the case, might they be unable to see how others could possibly mind their non-appearance?”

Our perception of lateness—its importance and its meaning—is strongly influenced by setting. Different expectations apply at work versus in social settings. And just consider medical settings!

Perry also notes, “Late people often have a sunny outlook. They are unreasonably optimistic about how many things they can cram in and how long it takes to get from the office to the restaurant, say, especially if it is nearby.”

This is my personal bugaboo when walking: somehow I never build in enough time to chat with a neighbor, return for a mask, or whatever. I’m not late when driving!

Also according to Perry, “Lateness can also be caused when we have a reluctance to change gear – to end one activity and start another. We don’t like getting up, we put off going to bed. Stopping something we are absorbed in to do something else can be annoying. It takes willpower to carry out.”

Professional

One important area where tardiness can be detrimental is the workplace. So why be habitually late? One possibility is that, at some non-conscious level, that person is avoiding success.

Results of my dissertation research indicated that “fear of success” depended on whether a woman saw success in this situation, on this task, as consistent with her perception of appropriateness for women. More generally, if one expects negative responses from spouse, family, or social group if one is “too good,” that fear would undermine or depress performance.

For such people, lateness is probably one of many self-sabotaging behaviors. Perry reported on one client who fits this model. “When we unpicked what success would mean to her, she uncovered an old family belief that people with money were evil, bad people.” Then there are people who are just oblivious of or inaccurate about the passage of time.

And FYI, as we age we become less accurate in judging the passage of time, erring on the side of underestimating how much time has passed. Learning to overcome this handicap requires major effort. And a conscious determination to take the necessary steps, not just a generalized intention to try to do better.

Bottom Line: Habitual lateness has reasons and consequences. Consider how everything from self-perception to interpersonal relationships, tension, even disasters, might be related.

GHOSTS: NOT JUST AN OCTOBER THING

Posted on November 2, 2021November 5, 2021 by vlaw759

**The ghost of Banquo appears before Macbeth… so buy this extract!**

October is a month flooded with ghost images and stories. You might even know that what we call Halloween is rooted in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in—go figure!). The Celts lived about 2,000 years ago in what is now Ireland and northern France. Samhain was a time when people felt especially close to dead relatives and loved ones whose friendly spirits were welcomed for dinner, given treats, and provided with lit candles to help them find their way back to the spirit world.

Shortly after Halloween is Dios de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. In Hispanic culture, November 2nd is the day when the spirits of loved ones can return to the living world to visit with family and friends.

In late August or early September (depending on the lunar calendar), many Asian cultures celebrate the Ghost Festival or the Hungry Ghost Festival. During this week or month, depending on the country, celebrants not only honor their dearly departed but attempt to appease the spirits of the vengeful dead.

One can go online and find ghost stories galore, both ancient and modern.

But Are Ghosts Real?

**Blueskin the Ghost Pirate**, from Howard Pyle’s **Book of Pirates** (1901)

Lots of people think so!

On 11/27/21, People wrote that 63% of respondents “to a recent survey” said they believe in paranormal activity of some sort and 57% of Americans believe in ghosts specifically.
On 11/28/21, based on a different survey, USA Today said 40% of Americans believe in ghosts and 20% said they’ve seen one.
And according to an 11/28/21 article in The New York Times, a 1990 Gallup Poll reported 25% believed in ghosts.
- In their 2005 poll, 32% of respondents said they believed in ghosts.
- A 2019 IPSOS poll reported 46% of respondents were believers.

One might speculate about reasons for the apparent increase in the number of ghost believers over the decades.

Although these numbers are data, they are not proof!

But let’s back up a bit….

What Is a Ghost?

***A Soul Symbolized as an Angel*** *Muhammad ibn Muhammad Shakir Ruzmah-‘i Nathani*

Oxford Language defines ghost (noun) as “an apparition of a dead person which is believed to appear or become manifest to the living, typically as a nebulous image.” But is that what all those survey respondents believe in? Not necessarily.

Some people believe there are categories of ghosts: poltergeists, residual hauntings, intelligent spirits, or shadow people.

What’s the Evidence?

Elva Zona Heaster Shue, the Greenbrier Ghost
Elva Shue died in 1897, and the death was ruled to be of natural causes during childbirth. Mary Jane Heaster, Elva’s mother, later told a judge that the ghost of her daughter appeared before her to accuse her husband of murdering her. Elva’s body was exhumed, and signs of strangulation were found on the corpse. Erasmus Shue, Elva’s husband, was convicted of her murder

***Bloody Mary –*** *A Halloween greeting card, circa 1900, though the usual apparition is much more gruesome*

Actually, there is nothing that scientists agree is evidence in support of ghosts existence. Benjamin Radford, 6/19/21, posted “Are ghosts real?” on livescience.com, considering this question in depth that I have summarized here.

For one thing, there are no clear, definite, agreed upon criteria. The presence of a spirit might manifest as a vision, an unexplained sound or light, a dream appearance, even a change of temperature or a light breeze, a cold spot in a hallway, a door closing for no apparent reason, keys or other objects missing or moved—virtually any unexplained happening/perception.

Contrary evidence is often based on logic and the physical world as we know it. How can an ephemeral being pass through walls, for example, but also lift or move furniture? Why do ghosts appear clothed? If the spirits of the dead can communicate with the living, why don’t murder victims just tell someone who did it?

But perhaps the evidence just hasn’t been found yet.

**Do People—Many People—Just Need to Believe in Ghosts?**

*Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression showing the god **Dumuzid** being tortured in the Underworld by **galla** demons*

The belief that the dead remain with us in spirit is an ancient one, documented everywhere from the Bible to “Macbeth.” Many people are comforted by the belief that the spirits of dead loved ones look out for us, or support us in our times of need.

Some people do not accept that life as we live it is all there is to human existence. Consider the various religions that postulate life-after-death possibilities, whether those be reward/heaven vs. punishment/hell, reincarnation/rebirth, or something else.

For some, believing that spirits linger is a way of not accepting that a loved one is truly gone.
And for some, the need for closure/understanding might drive them to ghosts as an explanation of anything otherwise inexplicable.

BOTTOM LINE: The lack of scientific support for the reality of ghosts is unlikely to separate believers from their beliefs. The sheer variety of ways ghosts/spirits are thought to manifest themselves means one can always find experiential “evidence” that supports one’s belief.

**The Spirit of the Dead Keep Watch – Manao Tupapua**
*Paul Gauguin*

L. T. RYAN: EVEN BEST SELLERS AREN’T PERFECT

Posted on October 26, 2021October 27, 2021 by vlaw759

L. T. Ryan burst onto the publishing scene in 2012 with the first two books in the best selling Jack Noble series (now numbering 16). With his skills in marketing and technology, he was able to self-publish successfully through Amazon books. Ryan’s writing skills landed him spots on the best-seller lists for Amazon and USA Today.

The following year was even more productive. Ryan published nine more books in 2013, including five volumes in the Jack Noble series. Because he was able to control every step of the publication process, Ryan was able to ensure that all of his works are made available simultaneously in audiobook, eBook, and Kindle format as well as in print.

The Depth of Darkness, also published in 2013, is the first installment in the Mitch Tanner series. The other books in this series (so far!) are Into the Darkness and Deliver Us from Darkness.

The Depth of Darkness is my focus here because it is a great example of good and (in my opinion) bad writing—and thus could serve as a writing lesson to us all!

RELAX: No spoiler alerts needed here. Indeed, I hope you will read L.T. Ryan’s works and let me know what you think.

“L.T.” Ryan has lived in various points in the Appalachians, including Georgia and Virginia, with his wife, three daughters, and one slightly psychologically unbalanced, but lovable dog. He enjoys writing fast paced suspense thrillers. When not staring out the window while pretending to write, he enjoys reading, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and spending time with the ladies in his life.

The Good

There’s a lot of it.

His plot here is complicated, with lots of threads that weave together in a believable pattern at the end. It revolves around two elementary school children kidnapped from the playground during recess.

His characters are interesting, well-drawn, and consistent, including the relatively minor ones (for example, Mitch Tanner’s mother).

The two children, a really smart white girl and a black boy who suffers from asthma are best friends, perhaps initially based on both being outcasts. This cross-racial friendship is taken for granted/not a focal point for anyone, which I like. In addition, they are caring and protective of each other.

He avoids the stereotypes of the clingy, dependent female.

By and large, Ryan has created realistic children (even though occasionally the kidnapped girl seems resourceful beyond eight years old).

The interpersonal relationships appeal to me.

I like the balance between Tanner (who tends to be hot-headed and impulsive) and his partner, Sam (who supports Tanner while also providing a voice of reason/practicality.

Tanner and his pre-school daughter have a close, loving relationship—which is fresher than such a relationship between a father and a young son.

The sex scenes are handled well. I like that the sex is left to the reader’s imagination rather than being explicit to the point of causing one to wonder, “Could two people really do that?”

The Bad

Although the issues described below distracted me from the reading experience, I greatly enjoyed the book. In fact, I liked The Depth of Darkness so much that I read the entire Mitch Tanner series!

Verbal Distractions

The specific one I noticed most was using “at” unnecessarily, as in, “Where are you at?” If it were only one character, it could be a character note. When multiple characters say it, it’s an author note.

The other thing that made me grimace was telling things implicit in the action. For example, when Tanner took his sunglasses off his head and dropped them in front of his eyes “to keep the sun out of his eyes.” Sunglasses blocking bright sunlight is assumed. A reason to don sunglasses only needs to be mentioned when it’s something else, like hiding the emotion that might be revealed.

Other examples would be unlocking the door and then opening it, or describing how he kicked the door open, then reversed the action to kick it shut again.

Repetitious Actions

Mitch Tanner sweats—copiously and often. The reader gets many descriptions of how and with what he wipes the sweat from his brow. Also described often is the following relief of a blast of AC or cool air from the open refrigerator.

Tanner drinks beer and eats pizza so often one would think they are two of the basic food groups. So, okay. But everyone else seems to pick-up, order, make, or have pizza on hand, too. Why not cold chicken or leftover tuna salad sometimes?

Work calls in the night all seem to come at 2:00 or 2:30 in the morning.

Overall

I recommend L. T. Ryan, because of the “good” stuff mentioned above. Also, I’m a series junkie, and he has a lot of those out there. AND, I didn’t notice the “bad” stuff cited above in all his books (for example, the Rachel Hatch series).

In 2013, Ryan was a (relatively) inexperienced writer, and one would expect improvement with experience.

Bottom line: Your writing doesn’t have to be perfect to be worth reading, so keep at it.

L.T. Ryan’s Works

Jack Noble: Because Bear Logan and Jack Noble’s stories overlap so much, L.T. Ryan has suggested the following reading order to encompass both series.

The Prequels
- The Recruit
- The First Deception
The Early Years
- Noble Beginnings (Jack Noble 1)
- A Deadly Distance (Jack Noble 2)
- Bear Logan Series
- Thin Line (Jack Noble 3)
- End Game (Jack Noble 12)
  - A gap of over six years exists between Thin Line and Noble Intentions. End Game fills some of this gap.

The Noble Sagas
- Noble Intentions (Jack Noble 4)
- When Dead in Greece (Jack Noble 5)
- Noble Retribution (Jack Noble 6)
- Noble Betrayal (Jack Noble 7)
- Never Go Home (Jack Noble 8)
- Beyond Betrayal (Jack Clarissa)
- Noble Judgment (Jack Noble 9)
- Never Cry Mercy (Jack Noble 10)
- Deadline (Jack Noble 11)
- Noble Ultimatum (Jack Noble 13)
- Noble Legend (Jack Noble 14) – Pre-order

Rachel Hatch

Drift
Downburst
Fever Burn
Smoke Signal
Firewalk
Whitewater
Aftershock
Whirlwind

Blake Brier

Unmasked
Unleashed
Uncharted
Drawpoint
Contrail

Mitch Tanner

The Depth of Darkness
Into the Darkness
Deliver Us from Darkness

Cassie Quinn

Path of Bones
Whisper of Bones
Symphony of Bones
Etched in Shadow
Concealed in Shadow

Affliction Z

Patient Zero
Abandoned Hope
Descended in Blood
Fractured
- Part 1
- Part 2
Coming Soon: The Sickness of Ron Winters

SPINELESS? HEAVEN FORBID!

Posted on October 19, 2021October 19, 2021 by vlaw759

*Hmmm, I think I may have mixed up a few bits.*

I wrote about bones last week, but the spine deserves a starring role. For one thing, the spinal cord (along with the brain) control everything else in the body. The spine is the bony canal and transmission hub for the spinal cord. Scroll on through and find the parts most interesting to you!

*Skeleton of a 15th Century woman with severe scoliosis.*

Spine Facts

The spine is extremely flexible, allowing people to move in so many ways.
- It has more than 120 muscles attached.
- Over 100 joints allow for the spine’s extreme flexibility and range of movement.
- It can bend far enough back to make ⅔ of a circle.
- The spinal column includes approximately 220 individual ligaments.
  - These ligaments keep the vertebrae interconnected, which is paramount to keeping the spine (as well as the nerves it’s protecting within the spinal cord) stable.
- Cartilage in the spine can expand and contract.

Over one fourth of the spine’s total length is created from cartilage, the sponge-like substance that separates one vertebral disc from the next.
- Gravity can cause the cartilage to expand and contract. Sometimes when people go into space they come back taller!
- People are also taller in the morning than at night, because at night gravity has been pushing down on the spine all day.
- Exercise programs that emphasize good posture and strong torso muscles can reduce pressure on individual vertebral discs, increasing height.
- It is also why people “shrink” with age: the permanent compression of cartilage can shorten one’s height by two inches or more.

The spine has an exceptional memory.
- The spine remembers one’s usual posture.
- A habit of bad posture is difficult to change.
- But a spine will remember good posture, too, once it’s established.

Approximately 80% of Americans will suffer back pain in their lifetimes.
- Back pain is the number one reason that people miss work in the U.S.
- Back pain in also a leading cause behind disability claims in the United States.
- Most back pain, approximately 80%, doesn’t require medical treatment and typically subsides in one to two months.
- The most common cause of spinal cord trauma and resulting back pain in America is car accidents.
- Most back pain is experienced in the lower back.
  - This is because the lower back is constantly twisting and stretching.
- Some scientists believe that back pain is due to evolution, and in many ways is not preventable.
  - Homo sapiens never fully evolved to walk upright, but reproductive drive shifted away from species survival.

*This is what a baby’s skeleton looks like, right?*

Babies’ spines begin developing just two months after conception.
- The spine is the first bone to start to grow in utero.
- When we’re born, our spines consist of 33 individual vertebrae. As we age, some of these vertebrae fuse together.
- The five vertebrae composing our sacrum become one bone and the coccygeal vertebrae – which can vary from three to five bones – fuse together as one.
  - Thus, the tailbone is formed.

The spine is incredibly strong.
- It can hold hundreds of pounds / kilograms of weight.

Spine Functions

**And Some Surprising Effects on Our Daily Functioning**

*Teardrop fracture in cervical vertebrae*

Cervical Spine = 7 vertebrae. (FYI, humans and giraffes have the same number of vertebrae in their necks.)
- C1, is sometimes called Atlas. This is a reference to the Greek mythological Atlas who was burdened with carrying the world on top of his shoulders (much like the neck supports and carries the weight of the head). C1 is involved in blood supply to the head, pituitary gland, scalp, bones of the face, brain, inner and middle ear, and sympathetic nervous system. Possible symptoms of problems:
  - Headaches and migraines
  - Nervousness
  - Insomnia
  - Head colds
  - High blood pressure
  - Amnesia
  - Chronic tiredness
  - Dizziness
- C2: also called the Axis, involved with eyes, optic nerves, auditory nerves, sinuses, mastoid bones, tongue, and forehead. Possible symptoms of dysfunction:
  - Sinus trouble
  - Allergies
  - Pain around eyes
  - Earache
  - Fainting spells
  - Certain cases of blindness
  - Crossed eyes
  - Deafness
- C3: cheeks, outer ear, face bones, teeth, trifocal nerve
  - Neuralgia
  - Neuritis
  - Acne/pimples
  - Eczema
- C4: cheeks, outer ear, face bones, teeth, trifacial nerve
  - Hay fever
  - Runny nose
  - Hearing loss
  - Adenoids
- C5: vocal cords, neck glands, pharynx
  - Laryngitis
  - Hoarseness
  - Throat conditions such as sore throat or quinsy
- C6: neck muscles, shoulders, tonsils
  - Stiff neck (of course)
  - Pain in upper arm
  - Tonsilitis
  - Chronic cough or croup
- C7: thyroid gland, bursae in the shoulders, elbows
  - Bursitis
  - Colds
  - Thyroid conditions, which can relate to weight, fatigue, hair loss, cold hands and feet

Thoracic Spine = 12 vertebrae– the middle portion of the back
- T1: arms from the elbows down, including hands, wrists and fingers, esophagus and trachea
  - Asthma
  - Cough
  - Difficulty breathing
  - Shortness of breath
  - Pain in lower arms and hands
- T2: heart, including its valves and covering, coronary arteries
  - Functional heart conditions
  - Certain chest conditions
- T3: lungs, bronchial tubes, pleura, chest, breast tissue
  - Bronchitis
  - Pleurisy
  - Pneumonia
  - Congestion
  - Influenza
- T4: gallbladder, common duct
  - Gallbladder conditions (of course)
  - Jaundice
  - Shingles
- T5: liver, solar plexus, circulation (general)
  - Liver conditions
  - Fevers
  - Blood pressure problems
  - Poor circulation
  - Arthritis
- T6: stomach
  - Nervous stomach
  - Indigestion
  - Heartburn
  - Dyspepsia
  - Other stomach troubles
- T7: pancreas, duodenum
  - Ulcers
  - Gastritis
- T8: spleen
  - Lowered resistance
- T9: adrenal and suprarenal glands
  - Allergies
  - Hives
- T10: kidneys
  - Hardening of the arteries
  - Chronic tiredness
  - Nephritis
  - Pyelitis
  - Other kidney problems
- T11: kidneys, ureters
  - Acne
  - Pimples
  - Eczema
  - Boils
  - Other skin conditions
- T12: small intestines, lymph circulation
  - Rheumatism
  - Gas pains
  - Certain types of sterility

Lumbar Spine = 5 vertebrae – the lower back.
- L1: large intestines, inguinal rings
  - Constipation
  - Colitis
  - Dysentary
  - Diarrhea
  - Some ruptures or hernias
- L2: appendix, abdomen, upper leg
  - Cramps
  - Difficulty breathing
  - Minor varicose veins
- L3: sex organs, uterus, bladder, knees
  - Bladder troubles
  - Menstrual troubles/ pain/ irregularity
  - Miscarriages
  - Bed wetting
  - Impotence
  - “Change of life” symptoms
  - Many knee pains
- L4: prostate gland, muscles of the lower back, sciatic nerve
  - Sciatica
  - Lumbago
  - Painful or too frequent urination
  - Backaches
- L5: lower legs, ankles, feet
  - Poor circulation in the legs
  - Swollen ankles
  - Weak ankles and arches
  - Cold feet
  - Weakness in the legs
  - Leg cramps

Sacrum: hip bones, buttocks
- Spinal curvatures
- Sacroiliac conditions

Coccyx: rectum, anus
- Hemorrhoids
- Pruritus (itching)
- Pain at end of spine on sitting

*Scoliosis treatment via surgical implants*

The spine is truly fascinating! While its complexity interests us, that complexity is one reason so many different spinal conditions exist. If you’re suffering from back pain beyond occasional stiffness and muscle stress, it’s recommended you consult your physician to see if a visit to a spinal specialist or chiropractor is warranted.

Quotes about spines (literal, metaphorical, and figurative).

If you would seek health, look first to the spine.
— Socrates

You only really discover the strength of your spine when your back is against the wall.
— James Geary

My books are written with a strong chronological spine.
— Doris Kearns Goodwin

Life is so spine chillingly beautiful. — Amani Al-Khatahtbeh

You’re only as old as your spine is flexible.
— Joseph Pilates

Having a spine is overrated. If everybody squealed and ran away, there’d be no more wars. — Robert Anton Wilson

Bottom Line: Consider all the ways spinal injury or malfunction can complicate one’s life, from being paraplegic to urinary incontinence.

*Some people laugh at the concept of spines. And at bones in general.*

BEAUTIFUL BONES

Posted on October 12, 2021October 12, 2021 by vlaw759

*A bone doctor is called an orthopedist, but I think this might be a different type of “bone doctor.”*

We’ve all got bones. The average adult has 206 of them. Babies are born with 300 bones, but with age, tiny bones fuse together to form the larger bones of the skeletal system. So, when we think bones, we often think skeletons.

But Wait! There’s More!

Humans have had multiple uses for skeletal remains since prehistoric times.

Imagine sitting down to a meal of ground-up bone, served on a plate made of burned bones, while two musicians—one rattling two sawed-off ribs together and the other ominously shaking part of a horse’s skull—provide grim ambience in the dim candlelight. Off in the corner, an oracle shoves some bones into a fire in an effort to predict whether the crops you just fertilized with shattered bones will yield a hearty harvest.

Here, in one handy list, are several uses for bones besides propping up a body (not always human).

Bone arrowheads
Fish hooks
Jewelry
Drinking vessels
Musical instruments
- (“Bones” themselves [pairs of rib bones] but also parts of guitars, whistles, drums, harps, pianos, etc.)

Making Music

*The Bone Player* by William Sidney Mount

As an instrument, the bones have their roots in traditional Irish and Scottish music, and immigrants from those countries brought them to America, where they found a home in bluegrass and other folk genres. They’re similar to other clacking percussion instruments like the spoons, the Chinese paiban, and castanets.

The jawbone, meanwhile, is originally an African instrument that made its way to the Americas as a result of the slave trade. It’s usually the jawbone of a horse or another equine (like a donkey or zebra), that’s been stripped of all flesh and dried. Once it’s dry, the teeth become so loose they rattle around in their sockets.

Sensing the Supernatural

But it’s more than a simple rattle—fortune telling: scapulimancy and plastromancy. Relatives of augery, these involve writing questions on bones, heating them up until they crack, and then interpreting the cracks.

This form of divination was called scapulimancy when it was performed with the shoulder bone of an ox (the scapula). When the practitioner sought divine inspiration on the inside of a turtle shell (a plastron), it was called plastromancy.

Most commonly, inhabitants of Europe, western Asia, and North Africa most commonly inspected the bone after all flesh was scraped away – apyromantic. Practitioners who lived in North America and other parts of Asia more often used fire – pyromantic.

Bone China

Unlike true porcelain, which contains only minerals, the ceramic material known as bone china includes bone ash. It originated in England in the 1700s and for a long time, most, if not all, bone china was made there. The addition of bone ash makes the finished product stronger.

Fertilizer

Bone meal, as ground-up bones are called, has found its calling as plant fertilizer. It contains phosphorous and calcium, nutrients often leeched from the soil by common crops.

Gelatin and Glue

Most gelatin is made from the byproducts of the meat and leather industries, usually bones and skin. In its purest form, it’s 98 to 99 percent protein and is nearly tasteless and odorless. Its use dates back to the medieval era.

Gelatin ends up in obvious foods like gummies, but can also be used in a wide variety of ways to stabilize, thicken, and add texture to the things we eat. It’s also used to make modern film. Gelatin and animal glue are closely related, though use of the latter has largely disappeared, essentially eliminated by the invention of synthetic adhesives.

Bony Bits

Types of Bones

The dense, hard bone is called cortical bone. Cortical bones are primarily the “structure” bones.

The second type, trabecular bone, is soft and spongy. It’s often found inside large bones and in the pelvis, ribs, and skull. Though less dense than cortical bone, it’s quite hard and protective.

Inside the Bones

Bone marrow is a spongy substance found inside large bones like hips, pelvis, and femur. Bone marrow houses stem cells. Stem cells produce many of the body’s most important cells, including blood, brain, heart, and bone cells.

Bony Trivia

*Skeleton keys are not actually made of bone. Usually.*

There are 26 bones in the human foot.
The human hand, including the wrist, contains 54 bones.
The femur, or thighbone, is the longest and strongest bone of the human skeleton.
The stapes, in the middle ear, is the smallest and lightest bone of the human skeleton.
Arms are among the most commonly broken bones, accounting for almost half of all adults’ broken bones.
- The collarbone is the most commonly broken bone among children.

*Children definitely have more fun fixing broken bones*!

Bones heal themselves. When you fracture a bone, your body will go to work producing new bone cells and helping heal the break. A cast or brace just ensures the bone heals straight so you don’t have more problems in the future.

*Riding a skeleton horse is not at all comfortable.*

Bones are made up of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and other minerals, as well as the protein collagen.
Bones stop growing in length during puberty.
- Bone density and strength will change over the course of life, however.
The only bone in the human body not connected to another is the hyoid, a V-shaped bone located at the base of the tongue.
Bones are strong but teeth are stronger. The enamel on your teeth, which are considered part of your skeletal system, is actually stronger than bones. Enamel protects the delicate nerves and tissue inside your teeth. Inch for inch, your teeth can take more wear and tear than any of your other bones.

*Skeletal diagram by Leonardo da Vinci* *(extra points if you can read his labels!)*

Some people have 13 ribs. A 13th rib is rare — only 1 percent of people are born with it. In most people, this extra rib, called a cervical rib, can cause medical issues like neck pain. For that reason, people born with this extra rib often have it removed.
Humans are part of a group of creatures called vertebrates. That means our bones are covered by a system of tissue and skin. Only 10 percent of the world’s animals (humans included) are vertebrates.
It is possible for your muscles to contract so hard that they break your own bones. Tetanus cramps can cause the bone to snap under the pressure. More common are avulsion fractures, in which the muscle contracts so hard and so quickly that the tendon rips away and takes a chunk of bone with it.

Skeletal Forensics

*Was the victim male or female or centaur? Check wear on the hooves to determine age.*

We’ve all seen movies or TV shows in which a skeleton is used to tell whether the dead person was male or female. Here’s how.

*A skeleton’s ability to draw anatomical diagrams is a good indicator of fine motor control.*

A female’s skeleton is usually much smoother and less knobby than a male’s. A male’s skeleton is usually thicker, rougher, and appears more bumpy. This is simply because males have larger muscles and therefore their skeletons require stronger attachment sites.

Differences in bone mass and geometry give males greater skeletal integrity, which may contribute to the lower incidence of stress and thin-bone (osteoporotic) fractures in males.
A male’s skull is usually bigger and bumpier than a female’s. There are specific anatomical differences in frontal brow, eye orbits, lower jaw, and shape of chin.

*This skeleton would like to know why you’re staring so rudely at its pelvis.*

Examination of the pelvis is the easiest method to determine the sex of a skeleton. The female pelvis has a wider subpubic angle by 8-40 degrees, is rectangular (vs. triangular), and oval (vs. heart-shaped). The sacrum for females is shorter, broader and curved outward (vs. inward). All of this is to make childbirth easier. Women who have borne children have scars on the surface of their pelvis.

Bending the Bones

Don’t forget the joints! What would bones do without them? Not much.

*This skeleton is using its ellipsoidal joints to threaten its enemies*.

Joints are the place where two bones meet or connect.
Ligaments are short bands of tough fibrous connective tissue that function to connect one bone to another, forming the joint.
Tendons are made of elastic tissue and also play a key role in the functioning of joints. They connect muscle to bone.
A coating of another fibrous tissue called cartilage covers the bone surface and keeps the bones from rubbing directly against each other.

*Lucy, one of the oldest humanoid skeleton fossils*

Some joints move and some don’t. Joints in the skull don’t move. Synovial joints are movable joints. They make up most of the joints in the body and are located mostly in the limbs, where mobility is critical. They contain synovial fluid, which helps them to move freely.
Ball and socket joints, such as hip and shoulder joints, are the most mobile type of joint. They allow you to move your arms and legs in many different directions.
Ellipsoidal joints, such as the one at the base of the index finger, allow bending and extending.
Gliding joints are found between flat bones that are held together by ligaments. Some bones in the wrists and ankles move by gliding against each other.
Hinge joints are those in the knee and elbow. They enable movement similar to the way a hinged door moves.

Bone Problems

*Feathers and glitter are not problems at all!*

*I’m not sure what disease this is, but it looks painful.*

Bones provide the structure for our bodies. Each bone plays a role in the mechanics of body function, so if a bone is broken, none of the bones around it can function properly. Bones get little attention unless injured or diseased.

Bone diseases can make bones easy to break. Different kinds of bone problems:

Low bone density and osteoporosis, which make your bones weak and more likely to break
Osteogenesis imperfecta makes your bones brittle
Paget’s disease of bone makes them weak
Bones can also develop cancer and infections
Other bone diseases, which are caused by poor nutrition (e.g., rickets) genetics, or problems with the rate of bone growth or rebuilding
Hip dysplasia

*Extreme magnification of bone marrow looks like a fabulously abstract painting.*

The importance of bone health is highlighted in National Osteoporosis Month, which is annually in May.

*Raccoon skeletons are just as troublesome as fleshy raccoons.*

I, for one, think October should be National Bone Month. After all, it’s the month when we most often see and (for most often us) think about bones.

IT’S GOOD TO KNOW STUFF

Posted on October 5, 2021October 5, 2021 by vlaw759

*Except this. It’s never good to know what this is.*

Everything from scintillating cocktail conversation to realistic writing to acing tests depends on it!

Minerals

Quartz can scratch glass—easily. It’s one of the few minerals that can. But gem stones topaz and corundum (mainly ruby and sapphire) can mark glass, too, being between the hardness of quartz (7) and diamond (10, the hardest of all).

Of course, diamonds can cut glass, and can scratch virtually anything. Is there anyone out there who didn’t know that? I’ve often heard that in years gone by, women would authenticate their engagement ring stone by scratching a name or other inscription into window glass. Little did they know it might be quartz! Or zircon!

Zircon is the oldest mineral found on earth, and it’s the only natural gemstone that can imitate diamond (hardness up to 7.5). It can mark glass, too.

Out of Breath

The human body can function without air longer than you think. The current record for voluntarily going without oxygen is 11 minutes, 35 seconds for men and 8 minutes, 23 seconds for women.

As a point of comparison, the average person can hold his/her breath for 30-90 seconds. FYI, Japanese pearl divers don’t have super lungs; they hold their breath for about two minutes per dive. And, yes, people can train themselves for longer breathlessness.

Weather: It’s Everywhere!

*Russians never let snow get in their way.*

Chicago has more sports events cancelled because of weather than any other U.S. city—but I couldn’t confirm that just now.

Consider how weather could add tension to any sport that is played outdoors. Communities in regions prone to rain, snow, etc., residents tend to be more willing to play soccer in the rain or huddle around fire pits to watch an outdoor hockey game. Don’t forget heat and drought. And consider the implications of climate change.

Similar considerations apply for outdoor concerts, plays, and lectures. Some instruments (brass, certain woodwinds, a few percussion types, and [shockingly] harps) can be played in the rain or cold if they are properly prepared and cared for after. The heavy stage makeup actors wear to withstand sweat and theatrical weeping will also stand up to rain.

Death Valley is the hottest location in the U.S. (Marathoners have to bring extra shoes to replace all the pairs that will melt on the asphalt during the course of the race!)
Phoenix, AZ, is the hottest city in the U.S.
Fairbanks, Alaska is the coldest city in the whole country, but Grand Forks, ND, is the coldest in the continental U.S.
The Yukon is the coldest region in the U.S. (Most items have to be shipped in refrigerated trucks to prevent them freezing in transit!)

*It’s tough to get around when the snow is up to your belly.*

Mount Rainier has the most snowfall.
Syracuse, NY is the snowiest city in the continental U.S.

Mobile, AL, is the rainiest city in the continental U.S.
All 10 of the rainiest cities are along the southernmost border.

For all that Chicago is known as “The Windy City,” the windiest is actually Dodge City, Kansas. Indeed, Chicago doesn’t even make the top 10!

The difference between a hurricane and a typhoon is a matter of geography.
- In the North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific, it’s a hurricane.
- In the Northwest Pacific, it’s a typhoon.
- In the South Pacific, it’s called a tropical cyclone. In fact, all are tropical cyclones.
- The weakest of these are tropical depressions; the next level up are tropical storms.

$ and € and £ and ¥

The Value of a Dollar is actually the name of a great reference book.
- It gives the cost of goods and services as well as typical salaries/wages by year, starting in 1860 and still updated.

Gas in Bath County, Virginia, cost ten cents per gallon in 1935. Ham was ten cents a pound as well.

Over the last 20 years, U.S. annual inflation rate has varied between 0.1% (2015) and 3.8% (2008). The highest inflation rates, some in the thousands of percent, occur in third world and developing countries, including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Lebanon, and Argentina. Those who know these things blame the lack of a central bank, which allows for easier currency manipulation.

In 2020, Wichita Falls, TX was the city with the lowest cost of living. The four lowest cost-of-living cities were all in Texas. However, the lowest cost of living state is Mississippi.

Gender and Orientation

120 males are conceived for every 100 females, but only 105 males are born for every 100 females. Sometimes called “male fragility”, the fact is that at every age and stage, males are more likely to die than females, as well as having more behavioral and developmental disorders.

Physiologically, a newborn girl is 6 weeks ahead of a newborn boy. Females tolerate heat, cold, famine, and disease better than males. Speed and strength favor men, but endurance favors women.

In 1/1500 to 1/2000 births, the newborn’s genitalia are so noticeably atypical that a sexual differentiation expert must be called in. What used to be called hermaphroditic is now part of a larger category termed intersex: 1 in 100 newborns have bodies that are not standard male or female.

In the U.S., 58% of reported COVID deaths are male (per the CDC as of May 6). In England, Wales, and France, that figure is 60%. In Malaysia, it’s 78%.

Research lags sexual identification, but I was able to find that similar numbers of men and women in the U.S. identify as LGB (3.5%). (8.2% report having actually engaged in same-sex sexual behavior.)

Among LGB identifiers, a slight majority identify as bisexual, and the majority of those are women.

0.3% identify as transgender. Research in these areas is fraught with hurdles and problems.

Love and/or Marriage

*Divorce cakes seem to be growing in popularity. Maybe it’s just because everyone wants an excuse to eat cake!*

Predictions are that 40-50% of all marriages end in divorce. That number goes up to 60% of second marriages and 65% of third and fourth marriages.

About 6% of couples who married and divorced later remarried each other. 72% of those remarried couples stayed together.

*Henry VIII looks almost tame next to Glynn Wolfe.*

Glynn Wolfe (1908-1997) was a Baptist minister who seems to hold the record for the most monogamous marriages (29). The shortest lasted 19 days, the longest 11 years.

Britney Spears and Jason A. Alexander were married 55 hours. Long-time friends, they married on the spur of the moment in Las Vegas and agreed to an annulment just over two days later.

But wait! That’s still 1100 times longer than the record (which still holds, as best I could determine). In 2019, a couple in Kuwait probably set the bar for the shortest marriage on record: 3 minutes. Leaving the courthouse, the bride tripped and fell. Her new husband called her ‘stupid.” She returned to the judge who had just married them and demanded a divorce.

*Is there a different term for having multiple vampire wives?*

Vocabulary:
- A bigamist marries a second (third, etc.) spouse while still married to someone else.
- Polygamy is the culturally/legally accepted practice of one man having several wives.
- Polyandry is the same, only it’s one woman with multiple husbands.

Bones

The human skeleton renews approximately every 3 months.

Human infants are born with 6 cranial bones and 2 holes in their heads (called fontanelles). The fontanelles usually close up within the first two months.

In total, human infants are born with more than 300 bones. They fuse with age, resulting in adult bodies with only 206.

The hardest bone in the body is the mandible/jawbone.

Children develop both sets of teeth at the same time. Their baby teeth fall out as their permanent teeth grow downward.

The hands and feet have over half of all the bones in the human body: 27 per hand and 26 per foot.

The hyoid bone is the only bone in the human body not connected to another bone.

Ancient Egyptians (about 3000 years ago) developed the first functional prosthetic bone, a big toe.

Humans and other animals with internal bony skeletons are in the minority—only about 2% of animal species are endoskeletal.

*Some people have three or four or more skeletons in their bodies.*

The average number of skeletons in the human body is technically more than one. (Pregnant women skew the numbers ever so slightly.)

The femur is the longest bone in the human body, and one of the most researched in both human anatomy and forensic medicine.

Bottom Line: One of my greatest rewards for writing is learning new things. I want my facts to be right. Therefore, I do a lot of research—and therein lies the joy of coming across the unexpected. I recommend it!

Very Important Note: Be mindful of what you’re researching, where you’re researching, and what that research might look like to a stranger. Some topics will throw up a red flag in search engines or on monitorwd networks. You don’t want the FBI knocking on your door just because the explosion scene in your novel is chemically accurate!

HAPPY COFFEE DAY!

Posted on September 28, 2021July 16, 2023 by vlaw759

September 28th is National Coffee Day! It may be a fairly new holiday (started in 2015), but it’s becoming one of my favorites.

Whenever I find a big hole in my knowledge stash, I immediately try to fill it. Thus, when my husband and I were lingering over our breakfast coffee—Kenyan, one of our favorites—and, for no identifiable reason, I said, “Does coffee grow in the United States?”

Bingo! Something to find out about!

Being my husband of many years, he immediately knew that I meant the continental U.S., not Puerto Rico or Hawaii, but he didn’t know. The answer is “yes.” Coffee is grown in California now, though it is a newcomer to coffee production.

As it turns out, I found researching coffee fascinating. Although coffee is now grown worldwide, its roots trace back centuries to ancient coffee forests on the Ethiopian plateau.

According to legend, the goat herder Kaldi first discovered the potential of these beloved beans when he noticed that after eating them, his goats became energized and didn’t want to sleep. (I don’t know how anyone could tell the difference.) He took the beans to a monastery where the head monk made a drink from them, felt the energizing effects, and shared the drink with other monks. And then the word began to spread.

By the 15th century, coffee was being grown in the Yemeni district of Arabia.

By the 16th century it was known in Persia, Egypt, Syria, and Turkey.

By the 17th century, coffee had made its way to Europe and was becoming popular across the continent—which raises the question of how the British came to be/stay tea drinkers, but that’s another story.

The common breakfast drinks of the time—beer and wine—quickly lost ground. Though people probably didn’t realize it, boiling the water in coffee generally made it much safer to drink than water. Coffee-drinking workers were alert and energized, and the quality of their work was greatly improved. (The National Coffee Association suggests that this was a precursor to the modern office coffee service.)

Coffee was brought to New Amsterdam, later called New York, by the mid-1600s. However, the American preference for coffee didn’t come until after the famous/infamous Boston Tea Party, when the colonists revolted against the high tax imposed on tea by George III. A fuller history of coffee and lots more coffee info can be had at ncausa.com.

Suffice it to say, lots of wise and not-so-wise people have commented on coffee.

Louisa May Alcott, Little Women: “I’d rather take coffee than compliments just now.”

Thomas Jefferson: “Coffee – the favorite drink of the civilized world.”

Ronald Reagan: “I never drink coffee at lunch. I find it keeps me awake for the afternoon.”

T.S. Eliot: “I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.”

Anthony Trollope, The Warden: “What on earth could be more luxurious than a sofa, a book, and a cup of coffee?”

Vincent Van Gogh: “To do good work one must eat well, be well housed, have one’s fling from time to time, smoke one’s pipe, and drink one’s coffee in peace.”

Abraham Lincoln: “If this is coffee, please bring me some tea; but if this is tea, please bring me some coffee.”

Johann Sebastian Bach: “Without my morning coffee, I’m just like a dried-up piece of goat.” (FYI, he wrote a coffee cantata.)

Clark Gable: “I never laugh until I’ve had my coffee.”

Dave Barry: “It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity.”

One measure of coffee’s ubiquity is the sheer number of quotes available! If you search coffee quotes on line, you will find lists ranging from 30 to 117. Even discounting repetitions, that’s saying a lot about coffee.

I’m not a coffee addict, though there are such—people who get headaches if they don’t have their caffeine fix. In truth, other sources of caffeine can be just as addictive (think soda, tea, or chocolate) but coffee is the one most often acknowledged/recognized.

I typically drink only one cup of coffee a day, which some consider heretical, but even so, I have my preferences: start with roasted beans, grind, brew using a drip coffee maker. I drink it black, and prefer Kenyan or Tanzanian, sometimes Mocha or a darker roast.

In the U.S., coffee drinking is practically a cultural requirement, and as such, it’s everywhere, in many forms. Black, cream, sugar, foam, no foam, full caf, half-caf, decaf, soy latte, instant (ugh!)—people love their coffee a certain way and often will not budge on change it. I, on the other hand, like to change it up.

Coffee and coffee shops are a huge part of our social culture. Teenagers often start drinking it to keep up with late night homework and early morning bus schedules. Many people hang out in coffee shops to use the wifi or meet friends. Sending coworkers to fetch coffee or jumping the line at a kiosk is frequently a method of establishing or reinforcing workplace hierarchy. I know several parents who have special “coffee time” with their young children. (In every case I’ve heard of, the child drinks milk with maybe a teaspoon of coffee added.)

Believe it or not, some people are allergic to coffee or just really dislike it. In a country with (seemingly) coffee shops on every corner, what social implications might this have?

*With whiskey and cream, pretending to be Irish?*

And what about equipment? Grinder for freshly ground beans? Keurig for easy portioning? Where/when is it drunk? Made at home or purchased in a cafe? Milk or whipped cream or fancy syrup? SO many opportunities!

What’s your coffee habit? And how about your characters?

BETTER KNOW YOUR CHARACTER: JEWELRY

Posted on September 21, 2021September 21, 2021 by vlaw759

Very few people wear no jewelry at all, at any time. That said, men are more likely than women to be among those few. Where, when, and what type of adornment provide fertile ground.

Characters from different cultural backgrounds, time periods, and social classes are likely to view jewelry in ways that seem odd to outsiders.

So change it up!

Go Against Expectations

In June of 2020, I posted another blog about jewelry titled JEWELRY AS MORE THAN BEAUTIFICATION: IDENTIFICATION, INFORMATION, AFFILIATION, COMMUNICATION. Lots of good information there (I say, most humbly) but I won’t repeat it here.

In determining your characters’ jewelry profiles, start with “Why does this character wear (or not wear) jewelry?”

Uses of Jewelry

Jewelry is often viewed as a fashion accessory for complementing one’s clothes, especially for special occasions. With a bit of imagination, it can be so much more.

Research has shown that wearing jewelry can increase an individual’s self-esteem. Nursing home residents with memory loss were less unruly when they wore jewelry.

Not wearing jewelry when it is the norm can also attract attention, possibly criticism (such as removing a wedding ring before going out to drink).

Many wear jewelry as a symbol of femininity or masculinity. Think of the number of female athletes who wear jewelry while competing or even coaching. Think biker chains and skulls.

Jewelry has an obvious dollar value that can be a signifier, even if it is fake.

Showcase social status or wealth
Serve as an investment
Be a safety net for financial independence
- This is especially common among women, particularly in nomadic cultures

Jewelry can make a person feel confident and attractive.

Jewelry can have personal or sentimental value. It can be a powerful connection to loved ones and memories.

Many wear jewelry because, well, one likes how it looks.

Wearing jewelry can be a way to express oneself.

Red jewelry, for example, connotes vitality, courage, and confidence.
Anchor jewelry denotes stability, strength, steadfastness, and hope.
Hemp

A variety of jewelry pieces signify strength, courage, and hope. Some actually contain the word—in letters or Morse code.

The recorded sound wave of a loved one’s voice (or bark) can be etched onto the metal of a ring or pendant.

Others are symbolic like the Celtic tree of life, the Viking axe pendant, the Egyptian ankh, or the eagle ring. Still others could be more esoteric, like dragonfly earrings supporting the wearer to pursue dreams. These are often gifted or awarded to someone.

Jewelry for Healing or Health

One well-known example is the usual 7 stones in the chakra, used for reiki, healing, meditation, chakra balancing, or ritual:

Amethyst (Crown Chakra)
Carnelian (Sacral Chakra)
Yellow Jade (Solar Plexus)
Green Aventurine (Heart Chakra)
Lapis Lazuli (Throat Chakra)
Clear Crystal (Third-Eye Chakra)
Red Jasper (Root Chakra)

Virtually every stone is associated with physical and/or mental health in one way or another. Whole books have been written about. One good all-around reference for The Book of Stones: Who they are & What They Teach by Robert Simmons & Naisha Ahsian.

Particular Stones in Jewelry

First of all, think birthstones.

Although there is assumed to be a particular affinity with one’s birthstone, there is no hard evidence (that I found) that this is the case. One thing they all have in common is that they sparkle, especially in sunlight. Some wearers find the sparkle both beautiful and cheering.

In general, does your character prefer sparkly stones, opaque ones, or no stones?

As a general rule, sparkly stones are dressier as well as more expensive than opaque ones. Are these factors?
Opaque stones offer more variety, from jasper to turquoise to onyx.
- Color and pattern are primary considerations.

Turqupise: An Example of How a Stone Can Be Related to a Character

John is an undercover police officer, 6’4” tall, and he wears silver jewelry as a statement that he’s a rogue, and not to be intimidated. Depending on the role he’s playing, he sometimes goes more subtle, choosing a tie bar, cufflinks, or belt buckle.

When he delved into turquoise, he discovered the huge range of colors, including copper-turquoise in blue, green, purple, red/orange, and black.

Women find him handsome and say his jewelry just accentuates that he’s one of a kind. He once dated a woman who told him turquoise represents wisdom, tranquility, protection, good fortune, and hope, and that contemporary crystal experts celebrate it for its representation of wisdom, tranquility, and protection. John is skeptical of all that.

His preference for turquoise reflects his (distant) connection to Native American culture, even though he has no involvement with a tribe and was reared entirely within the Anglo world. However, his paternal great-grandfather was Navajo. John has a blue turquoise ring that belonged to his great-grandfather, and a green turquoise one made by his great-grandfather’s brother.

When those rings came to John, he was surprised to learn that Native Americans (the Hohokam and Anasazi peoples) first started mining and using turquoise around 200 B.C.E. They mined the famous Cerrillos and Burro Mountains of what is now New Mexico and, in Arizona, the Kingman and Morenci turquoise mines.

When John is deep in thought, he often turns his ring around and around. Depending on context, he can do this when problem solving, daydreaming, or planning. He is very disciplined not to do it when playing poker or being threatened.

Which Metal

Platinum
Gold
- White gold
- Yellow gold
- Red gold
Silver
Aluminum
Titanium
Stainless steel…

Not to mention the role of leather, cord, wood, hemp… But I’m not going there!

**When Not to Wear Jewelry**

Many professions require specific jewelry or no jewelry at all. This could be for safety considerations or to create a specific professional impression.

Most medical professionals cannot wear rings, bracelets, necklaces, or large earrings for health safety.
Jobs requiring heavy machinery, blades, or high temperatures (locksmith, chef, welder, etc.) generally prohibit wearing anything that dangles or hangs.

*Actors, dancers, and other stage performers may have to wear jewelry to match a costume or another performer.*

*Those working out of the spotlight, such as in the pit orchestra or in the flies usually wear no jewelry, at least nothing that catches the light*.

Raw food can also get caught in the settings of rings and bracelets, trapping bacteria and other contaminants in your jewelry and leading to possible skin irritation or contaminated food.
While at the beach, the sun, sand, and sharks (attracted to shiny objects) are three reasons why not to wear jewelry at the beach.

Whenever the activity might damage or wear-down the gem or the metal. This list is just a reminder. You can figure out the risks associated with each activity for yourself—except, maybe, sleeping!

Showering
Swimming
- Whether in the pool or at the beach
Exercising
Cleaning
Getting ready in the morning
Gardening
Cooking
Sleeping
Painting

Jewelry prongs/settings can wear down faster during sleep, especially if someone tosses and turns a lot. The prongs can also become bent out of shape if caught on a sheet or blanket, making the chances of accidentally losing a gemstone more likely.

Bottom line: Writers, tap the rich vein of jewelry and gemstones to add depth and detail to your work!

COLLECTING: A FINE OLD THING

Posted on September 14, 2021September 14, 2021 by vlaw759

According to Wikipedia, “Collecting is a practice with a very old cultural history. In Mesopotamia, collecting practices have been noted among royalty and elites as far back as the 3rd millennium BCE. … Collecting engravings and other prints by those whose means did not allow them to buy original works of art also goes back many centuries.”

Carl Jung—to drop a familiar name—suggested that the appeal of collecting is connected to hunting and gathering for early human survival.

Collections of art and antiquities often form the basis for museums or galleries/wings within museums. Donating such a collection is often an intentional or unintentional path to prestige, usually a wealth marker. Just look at James Smithson, who would have been just another wealthy Englishman if he hadn’t founded the Smithsonian Institution.

Sometimes these museum collections are the result of are generational family collections. The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures in Arizona began with a dollhouse passed down to founder Pat Arnell from her mother. The museum is now a series of exhibits arranged to transport the visitor to various times and places all over the world, like a time machine.

N.B. the difference between an antique and a collectible is age.

In general, antiques are at least 100 years old.
- The DMV classifies vehicles as antique when they are 25 years old.
Collectibles are “vintage,” meaning old but not that old.
Of course, everything old was once new, so…

A collection must be valued at least… ?

*A lot of Depression Glass collections started with free pieces of glassware in bags of flour.*

Neither age nor monetary value define collections for ordinary people. Virtually anything can be collected—and probably has been!

My mother collected salt and pepper shakers. My sister collected dolls. One aunt collected Swanky Swigs Kraft Pimento Cheese Jars, free when she bought the cheese for her son’s favorite lunch sandwich.

*Aunt Lena took pride in collecting them all and decades later used them as juice glasses.*

I’m probably the most varied collector I know. I started as a preschooler collecting “pretty” pebbles—and collecting them again after my mother dumped them back into the driveway. Then it was paper dolls.

As an adult I have several collections.

*Perhaps my jewelry collection could be measures by the branch.*

Carved wood Santas (>450)
Hundreds of cookbooks ranging from newly published to one from 1840
Depression Glass table service and flower vases
Mahjong sets approaching antiquity
Gold and cloisonné napkin rings
Mineral skulls as both shelf art and jewelry
Jewelry that can be measured only by the pound.

The general consensus among those who know me is that having grown up poor, as an adult objectively enough is never psychologically enough.

Why do people start collecting?

*Imelda Marcos’s shoe collection probably provides enough material for a dozen psychological studies.*

Collecting can reflect a fear of scarcity, or of discarding something and then later regretting it. No doubt many collections are connected to deep-seated personality or psychological issues.

This form of collecting can very easily cross the line into hoarding, a mental disorder connected with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Psychologists differentiate between collecting and hoarding in several ways.

*Pet hoarding is one of the most tragic forms of hoarding, both for the keeper and for the animals. The ASPCA has information and resources on how to help.*

Collectors tend to organize and display their collections.
- Hoarders are more likely to have so much that everything is piled together, often becoming crushed or ruined beneath other piles.
Collectors are specific about the items they collect and know the monetary value of items in their collections (if there is any monetary value).
- Hoarders may collect categories of items, but these categories are more likely to be vague, regardless of monetary value.
Collectors have a sense of pride in the uniqueness or size of their collections, creating displays to share with visitors and to preserve everything in the collection.
- Hoarding is often a source of shame, leading hoarders to attempt to downplay or hide their hoarded possessions from visitors.

*This photo of a collection of BDSM and fetish gear is one of the very few that is not X-rated!*

One might wonder about sex collections, those who own dildos in various sizes, shapes, and materials; fetishists who collect shoes, handcuffs, or leather. Collections of marble, glass, clay, and leather sex toys have been found in Roman ruins and Viking burials. This is certainly not a modern phenomenon. (There are actually books out there that talk about sex collectors, fyi.)

But surely many—most?—are not related to deep-seated needs or issues.

What explains collecting belly button fluff? At 22.1 grams, Graham Barker has the largest collection of belly button fluff. It’s his own fluff. He started the collection in 1984, and keeps a daily log of color, amount, and what towel he was using or clothes he was wearing that yielded the sample.

The fact that Mr. Barker has the largest collection implies that there are other people out there who collect belly button lint.

And what about the guy who keeps his ABC (already been chewed) nicotine gum balls to make one giant one?

Personally, I think a lot of collections begin by happenstance.

*Becky Martz shows off her collection with help from the Chiquita Banana Lady.*
*(Image from Chiquita.com)*

For example, that seems to be what happened for Becky Martz: in 1991 she noticed that label on the newly purchased Dole bananas (from Honduras) was different from the one already in her fruit bowl (from Guatemala), and voila, a collection of >21,000 banana stickers from around the world was begun.

What else would explain collections of

730 umbrella covers/sleeves
- There is a museum of umbrella covers in Maine.
Rubber door stoppers
Bars of soap

And some collections start as free-bees. Many people keep mementos of their travels in the form of free items with the location printed on them. These sometimes depend on quantity rather than variety:

*In case you’re curious, collecting matchbooks is technically known as “phillumeny.”*

Water bottle labels
“Do Not Disturb” hotel tags
Airline barf bags
Sugar packets
Drink coasters
Matchbook covers
Bottle caps
Seashells
Cigar bands

Pure whim?

Artificial Christmas trees
Pink hats
Coke memorabilia
Old cast iron cookware and utensils
Pens or pencils
Chicken/pig/cow memorabilia
Barbed wire
Bells

Examples I know of circumstances leading to collections:

A home brewer who collect beer glasses and steins
A woman who bought an historic home on a railroad track and started collecting train memorabilia
A firefighter who inherited her father’s and grandfather’s firefighting badges and helmets
A collection of 30,000 toenail clippings for medical research

Collecting socially

In Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and many Eastern European countries, there is a tradition of znachki – trading pins. During the end of the Imperial Era and throughout the time of the Soviet Union, people were given pins in commemoration, in celebration, as congratulations, to note achievements, and pretty much any other occasions. When meeting in public, people could ask about pins and medals worn as a way of breaking the ice. Pins were often traded and collected.

*A meeting of antique doll collectors hosted by DOLLS magazine.*

Disney parks and Olympic Games have similar customs of issuing commemorative pins to be collected and traded by strangers and friends.

Many hard-core collectors can also find societies and organizations of like-minded individuals. Dollhouse furniture, Star Wars memorabilia, and Pokemon cards all bring people together online or in swap meets to buy, sell, and trade to perfect their collections.

*Collecting Christmas cards is one of the most social collections imaginable.*

Bottom line: Whatever the source or start point, what might a collection add to your plot or character? You can go online to find about about these and innumerable other collectables and their collectors, associations, meetings, swaps, and collecting venues.