I watch the infomercials half for the entertainment value, half for the what were they thinking value. But sometimes, I find a real gem.
How about you? Any "but wait, there's more!" moments you couldn't resist?
Happy Reading,
Jennifer August
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Informercial anyone?
When my son was small, let's say between 3 and 10, he was an absolute maniac for infomercials. He got hooked on them while watching daytime tv with his grandfather. I would come home from work and hear something like "Mom, did you know that metal spring mattresses are not good to sleep on because the springs hit your pressure points, which makes you achy in the mornings?" or "It's the easiest cooking machine you'll ever need, Mom. It can cook, steam, boil, fry, practically anything you need. And if you call in the next seven minutes, they'll deduct one entire payment." etc., etc., etc. It was actually pretty funny although it did warp him on the whole bed thing. To this day (he's 17) he refuses to sleep on a spring mattress. Good grief.
But, I will say I, too, am a sucker for as seen on TV stuff. I love that my local drug store has an entire section devoted to that. I have purchased a few things like the Ped Egg (mom loves it), the Topsy-Turvy planter (did not work out so well for us) and the XPress 101 (Love it!). Some things crack me up like the Shake-Weight. Seriously, did no one ever stop and just WATCH that thing in action? How could you get through demonstrating that without laughing your ass off?
Some things are a huge surprise. The SodaStream is one. We are a huge soda family. As in, I should probably buy stock in Coca-Cola or Dr Pepper. I had the opportunity last weekend to test out the SodaStream in a real-life setting and holy smokes it rocks. Even if you take out the flavorings, the actual carbonating of tap water (TAP WATER!) is incredible. Add a little lemon extract and you've got a nice substitution for Perrier. But it also has lots of other flavors. We tried four and they were all awesome. I'm seriously leaning toward getting one.
I watch the infomercials half for the entertainment value, half for the what were they thinking value. But sometimes, I find a real gem.
How about you? Any "but wait, there's more!" moments you couldn't resist?
Happy Reading,
Jennifer August
I watch the infomercials half for the entertainment value, half for the what were they thinking value. But sometimes, I find a real gem.
How about you? Any "but wait, there's more!" moments you couldn't resist?
Happy Reading,
Jennifer August
Friday, April 29, 2011
Everybody Has An Idea
 |
| Every ? is an idea! |
The other night, while sitting in my kitchen at the dining room table, I’m mumbling out loud about how I need a subject for my blog. I'm blank at the moment. My husband who is preparing dinner, or rather sipping wine more than cooking, begins telling me about how he has this idea for the next NYT best selling romance novel. Not wanting to burst his bubble, I said, “Okay, tell me about your story idea.”
Well, my husband's a golfing addict (and he's good natured and won't mind me poking fun at him), and one of our sons works for an exclusive golf course in town (now this might embarrass him because he's still at that embarassable age), so you can guess what the Hero and Heroine do, in his mind.
"The Hero is the assistant pro," my husband went on, "and the Heroine is the exec assistant to one of the members. The head pro is the villain getting inside information regarding Wall Street and Washington and turning it over to foreign spies who are also somehow involved with Donald Trump!" And he goes on and on, but when I started asking him pertinent questions about goals, motivation, and conflict for the characters, he said, “I don’t care about the why stuff! You have to figure that out.”
"Exactly!" I said loudly.
 |
| Sometimes the ideas just don't come! But all you have to do is look around or announce you need a subject and boom, you've got the germ! |
I’d love to hear ideas from anyone who is willing to share. Let me know if you are willing to allow me to use them, or not. All I need is a germ of an idea and my mind can go running wild and that's how it begins. In fact, my brain is going crazy over a spark that someone shared with me this weekend. We'll see where that one leads...
 |
| Got any ideas? Come on, share :-) |
Happy Idea Listening.......and gathering.....
Wendy Treitel
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
ACCOUNTABILITY
We all know what that means, and we all hate it. Yes, that means someone, somewhere is keeping tabs on you. And as much as you might not like it, when it comes to writing it may be a necessary evil.
It is for me anyway.
The first of April I joined a group of writers in DARA to be more accountable for my writing. Since I had a request, I felt this was the best thing that could happen to me...and it has been, mostly.
I love the gals in my group. When I don’t do what I promise, they verbally kick my butt and tell me to get busy. When I whine, they tell me to keep on writing no matter what’s going on in life.
Needless to say, I would not be where I am, right now, today, without them peeking over my shoulder. While my critique partners keep my writing on the straight and narrow, my accountability buddies keep my fingers flying across the keyboard.
So, between my plotting group, which is an awesome bunch of five wonderful ladies with amazing brains that at times scare me, to my accountability group which keeps me typing away, on to my critique partners that amaze me every time we meet, I say thank you very much. I love you all, and I’d be so frozen with fear without you guys, I wouldn’t get a thing done.
So, it not only takes a village to raise a child, it takes a lot of creative people to write a book.
Write On!
Geri Foster
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Off The Grid - Adventures In Homelessness
Today we are delighted to welcome our guest, Russell Lighthall, to 4writers. Thanks for taking the time to be here today and share some of your exciting and often humorous experiences, Russell!
_____________________________________________________________________
Russell Lighthall spent his younger years moving all over the U.S. as the son of a Navy Chief, going to twelve different schools through High School. This solitary existence was always eased by his love of reading and guitar.
After graduating from Bellaire High in Houston, Texas he joined the U. S. Navy himself as a Communications Technician, receiving a Top Secret Clearance. After his discharge, he attended the University of Houston on the GI Bill, receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
After thirty years in the Paper and Printing Industry and raising two beautiful daughters, he finally decided it is now or never to devote his energy to his real love, writing. He is now currently working full time on a detective novel along with keeping a journal of his current travels which he intends to also turn into a non-fiction book.
____________________________________________________________________
Last year I decided that after working for 46 years, and having virtually nothing to show for it, it was time to re-evaluate my situation. In all fairness, my many marriages (all my exes live in Texas) may have had something to do with my struggles! But be that as it may, I still was not happy with going from being a "fair-haired wonder" to an older, less valuable worker. My only choice in recent times had been to work in "Call Centers" while waiting to get my retirement in two years. So I decided to retire a couple of years early, but without the income! I get a small annuity, but not enough to pay rent. My two daughters were off starting families of their own. So nothing was holding me in Texas.
I Googled California and Florida to find a good location. My main priorities were a place with 1) a large homeless population and 2) warm nights year round. I figured if there was a large group of homeless, the police would be more lenient. I looked at Key West first, having lived there 3 years as a child, but the police have been hassling the Homeless in Key West to protect the tourists. And Key West is not a very large island. So Fort Myers Beach, Florida won the prize...ME! With an average nightly temperature in the 50's and a large transient population, Ft Myers seemed at the very least a good place to start.
So I caught a Greyhound for Ft Myers, and rode for 38 hours to sunny South Florida. A 38 hour bus ride! I got car sick twice, slept maybe 6 hours on the whole trip. Next time I fly (or walk)! Please understand, I never even had camped out before except one time for two nights! So I had no idea what the heck I was doing!
I got to Fort Myers with a sleeping bag, a radio, a pillow, and not much else! I caught a Trolley to Ft Myers Beach and ended up at Bowditch Park, which was run by the county. I went deep into the park, found a secluded area, and collapsed into my sleeping bag. So started my Adventure in Homelessness.
Over the next few days I explored Ft Myers Beach, while sleeping in the evenings at Bowditch Park. I showered at the beach showers, soaping up fast and rinsing off before anyone noticed what I was doing. I had a few dollars left for food and to buy a Pup Tent and a cheap Bicycle. I met a couple who were bar-b-queing at the park who had the "homeless look", so walked up to them and I was right! Emrys and his wife Julie told me about a Chapel where I could shower Monday through Friday,and also get breakfast! Chapel By The Sea is a non-profit organization run totally by volunteers from the area churches with space at the Presbyterian Church of the same name. So the next morning I got on my bike and after getting lost I finally found the Chapel. The church people were totally welcoming and I was able to get cleaned up, get breakfast, and also a bag lunch. So Monday through Friday I was good.
A couple of Highlights of my journey so far...
After a week sleeping in Bowditch County Park, and being eaten up by gnats and mosquitoes, I was told by some other homeless people that I needed to move or the Police or Park Rangers were certain to soon find me, so I packed up my meager belongings and headed to the other end of Ft Myers Beach. Unfortunately, that night I got caught by the Rangers and was kicked out of Lover's Key. So I'm on the Beach Trolley next morning with nowhere to go and no idea what's next when Providence intervened! I was telling the Trolley Driver about getting tossed out and another passenger said, "I have an old Campsite I don't use any more. Come with me and I'll take you there." And that's how I met "Vodka Steve". (Note: almost every homeless male here has a nickname. I've met Vodka Steve, Vodka Sam, Hawk, Bronco, my neighbor Pork Chop, and at least a dozen guys called Cowboy, to mention just a few.) Vodka Steve took me off the beach and over the bridge off-island to some woods and actually gave me an old beat-up pup tent at his old campsite.
Now, 6 months down the road, I have three tents I have accumulated. I have two newer pup tents and a large tent for sleeping. After a week of sleeping in the open with just my sleeping bag when I first arrived in Ft Myers, Florida, I bought a small pup tent, then was given another small tent at a Veteran's Stand Down, a yearly function to help Homeless Veterans. I finally bought a six-man tent, (which is really a one-man, let's face it, but I could finally stand up inside!)
I have joined the Library, so have a place to charge my cell phone and also have gotten a small DVD player and a Walkman Radio! Pork Chop, my aforementioned neighbor, has been camping out for 5 years, and is a wealth of knowledge about surviving as a Homeless Citizen.
One more Highlight:
Last week was the first time I met the Lee County Police. At a few minutes after midnight I was sleeping in my large tent when I saw three flashlights shining through the tent. A voice said, "Lee County Police, please come out." I said, "Be right out." The voice said, "Do you have any deadly weapons in there?" I answered, "Just my Scuba knife," as I opened the front flap of my tent and emerged from within.
The flashlights shone directly in my face as I came out, so much so that I couldn't see anything. "The lights are blinding me," I said and they lowered them. There were three deputies standing looking around. The one who was taking the lead and obviously was in charge asked, "Are all three tents yours?" I said, "Yes, all three are mine." "Please open them so we can see what's in them," the officer said. I opened both pup tents, explaining that I keep my clothing in one and my food in the other. One of the officers laughed and said, "You sure are organized!"
Things loosened up after that. I figured the worst that would happen would be they would tell me to pack up and leave. That wouldn't be thrilling, but I can live with it. I volunteered my ID from Texas. After taking down my information, (which I imagine he ran through his computer when he got back to his police car) the cop in charge said "Have a nice night." And they left, just like that. The good news is that obviously they aren't looking to hassle the homeless. But the bad news is I can't delude myself that I'm safe just because I'm inside my tent. I no longer feel insulated from danger in my tent at night.
But overall my journey has been an interesting learning experience so far. I have a year left until I get my Social Security and move back home to Texas, and every day something new and interesting happens. I'm keeping a Journal of my "Adventures in Homelessness" and the main thing I've learned is this is nothing like I imagined it! There is so much more going on in the "Homeless Universe" to document, but that will have to wait.
I intend to compile all my notes into a book when I get back home next year, and who knows, this may soon be a Major Motion Picture, coming to your city!
Russell Lighthall
_____________________________________________________________________
Russell Lighthall spent his younger years moving all over the U.S. as the son of a Navy Chief, going to twelve different schools through High School. This solitary existence was always eased by his love of reading and guitar.
After graduating from Bellaire High in Houston, Texas he joined the U. S. Navy himself as a Communications Technician, receiving a Top Secret Clearance. After his discharge, he attended the University of Houston on the GI Bill, receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
After thirty years in the Paper and Printing Industry and raising two beautiful daughters, he finally decided it is now or never to devote his energy to his real love, writing. He is now currently working full time on a detective novel along with keeping a journal of his current travels which he intends to also turn into a non-fiction book.
____________________________________________________________________
Last year I decided that after working for 46 years, and having virtually nothing to show for it, it was time to re-evaluate my situation. In all fairness, my many marriages (all my exes live in Texas) may have had something to do with my struggles! But be that as it may, I still was not happy with going from being a "fair-haired wonder" to an older, less valuable worker. My only choice in recent times had been to work in "Call Centers" while waiting to get my retirement in two years. So I decided to retire a couple of years early, but without the income! I get a small annuity, but not enough to pay rent. My two daughters were off starting families of their own. So nothing was holding me in Texas.
I Googled California and Florida to find a good location. My main priorities were a place with 1) a large homeless population and 2) warm nights year round. I figured if there was a large group of homeless, the police would be more lenient. I looked at Key West first, having lived there 3 years as a child, but the police have been hassling the Homeless in Key West to protect the tourists. And Key West is not a very large island. So Fort Myers Beach, Florida won the prize...ME! With an average nightly temperature in the 50's and a large transient population, Ft Myers seemed at the very least a good place to start.
So I caught a Greyhound for Ft Myers, and rode for 38 hours to sunny South Florida. A 38 hour bus ride! I got car sick twice, slept maybe 6 hours on the whole trip. Next time I fly (or walk)! Please understand, I never even had camped out before except one time for two nights! So I had no idea what the heck I was doing!
I got to Fort Myers with a sleeping bag, a radio, a pillow, and not much else! I caught a Trolley to Ft Myers Beach and ended up at Bowditch Park, which was run by the county. I went deep into the park, found a secluded area, and collapsed into my sleeping bag. So started my Adventure in Homelessness.
Over the next few days I explored Ft Myers Beach, while sleeping in the evenings at Bowditch Park. I showered at the beach showers, soaping up fast and rinsing off before anyone noticed what I was doing. I had a few dollars left for food and to buy a Pup Tent and a cheap Bicycle. I met a couple who were bar-b-queing at the park who had the "homeless look", so walked up to them and I was right! Emrys and his wife Julie told me about a Chapel where I could shower Monday through Friday,and also get breakfast! Chapel By The Sea is a non-profit organization run totally by volunteers from the area churches with space at the Presbyterian Church of the same name. So the next morning I got on my bike and after getting lost I finally found the Chapel. The church people were totally welcoming and I was able to get cleaned up, get breakfast, and also a bag lunch. So Monday through Friday I was good.
A couple of Highlights of my journey so far...
After a week sleeping in Bowditch County Park, and being eaten up by gnats and mosquitoes, I was told by some other homeless people that I needed to move or the Police or Park Rangers were certain to soon find me, so I packed up my meager belongings and headed to the other end of Ft Myers Beach. Unfortunately, that night I got caught by the Rangers and was kicked out of Lover's Key. So I'm on the Beach Trolley next morning with nowhere to go and no idea what's next when Providence intervened! I was telling the Trolley Driver about getting tossed out and another passenger said, "I have an old Campsite I don't use any more. Come with me and I'll take you there." And that's how I met "Vodka Steve". (Note: almost every homeless male here has a nickname. I've met Vodka Steve, Vodka Sam, Hawk, Bronco, my neighbor Pork Chop, and at least a dozen guys called Cowboy, to mention just a few.) Vodka Steve took me off the beach and over the bridge off-island to some woods and actually gave me an old beat-up pup tent at his old campsite.
Now, 6 months down the road, I have three tents I have accumulated. I have two newer pup tents and a large tent for sleeping. After a week of sleeping in the open with just my sleeping bag when I first arrived in Ft Myers, Florida, I bought a small pup tent, then was given another small tent at a Veteran's Stand Down, a yearly function to help Homeless Veterans. I finally bought a six-man tent, (which is really a one-man, let's face it, but I could finally stand up inside!)
I have joined the Library, so have a place to charge my cell phone and also have gotten a small DVD player and a Walkman Radio! Pork Chop, my aforementioned neighbor, has been camping out for 5 years, and is a wealth of knowledge about surviving as a Homeless Citizen.
One more Highlight:
Last week was the first time I met the Lee County Police. At a few minutes after midnight I was sleeping in my large tent when I saw three flashlights shining through the tent. A voice said, "Lee County Police, please come out." I said, "Be right out." The voice said, "Do you have any deadly weapons in there?" I answered, "Just my Scuba knife," as I opened the front flap of my tent and emerged from within.
The flashlights shone directly in my face as I came out, so much so that I couldn't see anything. "The lights are blinding me," I said and they lowered them. There were three deputies standing looking around. The one who was taking the lead and obviously was in charge asked, "Are all three tents yours?" I said, "Yes, all three are mine." "Please open them so we can see what's in them," the officer said. I opened both pup tents, explaining that I keep my clothing in one and my food in the other. One of the officers laughed and said, "You sure are organized!"
Things loosened up after that. I figured the worst that would happen would be they would tell me to pack up and leave. That wouldn't be thrilling, but I can live with it. I volunteered my ID from Texas. After taking down my information, (which I imagine he ran through his computer when he got back to his police car) the cop in charge said "Have a nice night." And they left, just like that. The good news is that obviously they aren't looking to hassle the homeless. But the bad news is I can't delude myself that I'm safe just because I'm inside my tent. I no longer feel insulated from danger in my tent at night.
But overall my journey has been an interesting learning experience so far. I have a year left until I get my Social Security and move back home to Texas, and every day something new and interesting happens. I'm keeping a Journal of my "Adventures in Homelessness" and the main thing I've learned is this is nothing like I imagined it! There is so much more going on in the "Homeless Universe" to document, but that will have to wait.
I intend to compile all my notes into a book when I get back home next year, and who knows, this may soon be a Major Motion Picture, coming to your city!
Russell Lighthall
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Rambling Excuses
It’s the last week of April, a full third of the year gone. I find it amazing that it’s so late in the year. A lot of living has occurred in the last four months; a lot of writing, but not enough.
I’m a character writer and a very lucky one. Usually, my characters come forward and want to tell me their story (no, I’m not crazy-gifted)-all I have to do is write it-right? Wrong! So wrong.
I used to believe that, I was just telling the story as the character revealed it to me. Now, ever so many years later I know they give me the basis and it’s up to me to enhance, tweak and shape the manuscript into something readable. Something sellable. That is the goal; to write and sell and do it while I’m alive to enjoy the ride.
The current manuscript is proving difficult, I tell myself because it’s more challenging. The plot is more developed and the subplots-interesting. I tell myself it’s the best yet.
But, I’ve given the first three chapters to critique partners and they’ve read and commented on the manuscript. Both have asked me what I thought of their comments-I honestly don’t know. I’ve found more excuses to not open those documents than kids can think of when they forgot to do their homework. What if they hated it? What if the plot isn’t good enough? What if…?
I wonder if I’m the only one plagued with self-doubt so crippling that the fingers freeze on the mouse, can’t double click to open the document or if other more confident writers would just blow off the comments. Do I have the right stuff for this job? I don’t know, but I’m out of excuses so I guess it’s time. Past time maybe.
Life is good!
Ella
I’m a character writer and a very lucky one. Usually, my characters come forward and want to tell me their story (no, I’m not crazy-gifted)-all I have to do is write it-right? Wrong! So wrong.
I used to believe that, I was just telling the story as the character revealed it to me. Now, ever so many years later I know they give me the basis and it’s up to me to enhance, tweak and shape the manuscript into something readable. Something sellable. That is the goal; to write and sell and do it while I’m alive to enjoy the ride.
The current manuscript is proving difficult, I tell myself because it’s more challenging. The plot is more developed and the subplots-interesting. I tell myself it’s the best yet.
But, I’ve given the first three chapters to critique partners and they’ve read and commented on the manuscript. Both have asked me what I thought of their comments-I honestly don’t know. I’ve found more excuses to not open those documents than kids can think of when they forgot to do their homework. What if they hated it? What if the plot isn’t good enough? What if…?
I wonder if I’m the only one plagued with self-doubt so crippling that the fingers freeze on the mouse, can’t double click to open the document or if other more confident writers would just blow off the comments. Do I have the right stuff for this job? I don’t know, but I’m out of excuses so I guess it’s time. Past time maybe.
Life is good!
Ella
Friday, April 22, 2011
An ode to Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper, ah, how your sweetness does call to me. I crave Dr Pepper in the morning like most people drink coffee. We're both getting our caffeine fixes, just in different ways.
Last year for Lent I gave up Dr Pepper. It was very hard! In fact, it so traumatized me that this year I didn't give up anything.
Did you know there is a Dr Pepper museum in Waco, Texas? I've been and it's pretty cool. A girlfriend and I took a short road trip to tour the museum. It's a small, three story building filled with original pieces of furniture and store shelves from when the drink was invented in an apothecary store. Dr Pepper was originally invented as a cough medicine!
The second floor houses all sorts of vending machines, trucks and in-store displays.
My favorite part of the trip was the third floor where there were video kiosks scattered about the room. Each video showcased a decade of advertising from print to radio to television. I sang along with the old "I'm a Pepper, he's a Pepper, wouldn't you like to be a Pepper, too?" jingle and saw many others that I never knew existed. Very interesting to watch the progression of the brand through the years.
The one thing that hasn't changed is the sweet deliciousness. Nothing beats that first swig of Dr Pepper!
I'm a Pepper, are you?
Happy reading,
Jennifer August
Last year for Lent I gave up Dr Pepper. It was very hard! In fact, it so traumatized me that this year I didn't give up anything.
Did you know there is a Dr Pepper museum in Waco, Texas? I've been and it's pretty cool. A girlfriend and I took a short road trip to tour the museum. It's a small, three story building filled with original pieces of furniture and store shelves from when the drink was invented in an apothecary store. Dr Pepper was originally invented as a cough medicine!
The second floor houses all sorts of vending machines, trucks and in-store displays.
My favorite part of the trip was the third floor where there were video kiosks scattered about the room. Each video showcased a decade of advertising from print to radio to television. I sang along with the old "I'm a Pepper, he's a Pepper, wouldn't you like to be a Pepper, too?" jingle and saw many others that I never knew existed. Very interesting to watch the progression of the brand through the years.
The one thing that hasn't changed is the sweet deliciousness. Nothing beats that first swig of Dr Pepper!
I'm a Pepper, are you?
Happy reading,
Jennifer August
The Easter Calendar
__________________________________________________________
First I would like to say that my thoughts and prayers are with all of the people and families who have suffered because of the Texas Wildfires. I recently did a post on Possum Kingdom and am terribly saddened to know that so much of that area, and the poor animals living in the wild, has been destroyed by these fires. Please take a moment to pause and pray for everyone and everyhting involved in this devastating situation.
______________________________________________________________________
My birthday falls on Easter Sunday this year. While conversing with a coworker, I realized I couldn’t remember my birthday ever falling on Easter Sunday before. So of course I went to the internet to see if my birthday had indeed previously fallen on Easter or not. Check out this great link I found to the Astronomical Society of South Australia and a list of all of the dates for Easter for the years 1700 through 2299, along with loads of other useful and interesting info.
http://www.assa.org.au/edm.html
My birthday, April 24th, appears this year and not again until 2095, 84 years in between the times since my birth year (year date held hostage by it's owner pleading the 5th) my birthday falls on Easter Sunday. Then again in 2163, which is 68 years later and then 2231 which again is 68 years later. So I was right, I’ve never celebrated my birthday on Easter, not in this lifetime anyway - perhaps in another?
I vaguely recall hearing about the complicated dating method of the Easter Calendar in the past, but the information has obviously not remained in my brain and I’ve never associated the date with my own birthday before now. And the timing has definitely made me stop and think about many things.
I have to say I feel highly special to be celebrating my birthday on such a glorious day!
This link to the *Calendars Through The Ages website has loads of information and variety of interesting calendars for various religions and nationalities. Below I am quoting from their website an explanation of what Easter is and how Easter Sunday is dated. Please visit their website for so much more interesting information. * {Douma, Michael, curator. "The Christian Calendar-Easter" Calendars through the Ages. 2008. Institute for Dynamic Educational Development. 21, April, 2011.}
http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/calendar-christian-easter.html#anchor-golden-number
What is Easter?
In the Christian world, Easter (and the days immediately preceding it) is the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus in (approximately) C.E. 30.
When is Easter? (Short answer)Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the first full moon after vernal equinox.
When is Easter? (Long answer)The calculation of Easter is complicated because it is linked to (an inaccurate version of) the Hebrew calendar. Jesus was crucified immediately before the Jewish Passover, which is a celebration of the Exodus from Egypt under Moses. Celebration of Passover started on the 15th day of the (spring) month of Nisan. Jewish months start when the moon is new, therefore the 15th day of the month must be immediately after a full moon. It was therefore decided to make Easter Sunday the first Sunday after the first full moon after vernal equinox. Or more precisely: Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the "official" full moon on or after the "official" vernal equinox. The official vernal equinox is always 21 March. The official full moon may differ from the real full moon by one or two days. (Note, however, that historically, some countries have used the real (astronomical) full moon instead of the official one when calculating Easter. This was the case, for example, of the German Protestant states, which used the astronomical full moon in the years 1700-1776. A similar practice was used in Sweden in the years 1740-1844 and in Denmark in the 1700s.) The full moon that precedes Easter is called the Paschal full moon.
Two concepts play an important role when calculating the Paschal full moon: The Golden Number and the Epact. They are described in the following sections. The following sections give details about how to calculate the date for Easter. Note, however, that while the Julian calendar was in use, it was customary to use tables rather than calculations to determine Easter. The following sections do mention how to calculate Easter under the Julian calendar, but the reader should be aware that this is an attempt to express in formulas what was originally expressed in tables. The formulas can be taken as a good indication of when Easter was celebrated in the Western Church from approximately the 6th century.
What is the Golden Number?
Each year is associated with a Golden Number. Considering that the relationship between the moon’s phases and the days of the year repeats itself every 19 years (see astronomical basis for calendars), it is natural to associate a number between 1 and 19 with each year. This number is the so-called Golden Number. It is calculated thus:
Golden Number = (year mod 19)+1
In years which have the same Golden Number, the new moon will fall on (approximately) the same date. The Golden Number is sufficient to calculate the Paschal full moon in the Julian calendar.
How does one calculate Easter then?
Under the Julian calendar the method was simple. If you know the Golden Number of the year, you can find the Paschal full moon in this table: (Please see website for the table)
Wendy Treitel
First I would like to say that my thoughts and prayers are with all of the people and families who have suffered because of the Texas Wildfires. I recently did a post on Possum Kingdom and am terribly saddened to know that so much of that area, and the poor animals living in the wild, has been destroyed by these fires. Please take a moment to pause and pray for everyone and everyhting involved in this devastating situation.
______________________________________________________________________
 |
| Happy Birthday to Me! |
http://www.assa.org.au/edm.html
My birthday, April 24th, appears this year and not again until 2095, 84 years in between the times since my birth year (year date held hostage by it's owner pleading the 5th) my birthday falls on Easter Sunday. Then again in 2163, which is 68 years later and then 2231 which again is 68 years later. So I was right, I’ve never celebrated my birthday on Easter, not in this lifetime anyway - perhaps in another?
I vaguely recall hearing about the complicated dating method of the Easter Calendar in the past, but the information has obviously not remained in my brain and I’ve never associated the date with my own birthday before now. And the timing has definitely made me stop and think about many things.
I have to say I feel highly special to be celebrating my birthday on such a glorious day!
This link to the *Calendars Through The Ages website has loads of information and variety of interesting calendars for various religions and nationalities. Below I am quoting from their website an explanation of what Easter is and how Easter Sunday is dated. Please visit their website for so much more interesting information. * {Douma, Michael, curator. "The Christian Calendar-Easter" Calendars through the Ages. 2008. Institute for Dynamic Educational Development. 21, April, 2011.}
http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/calendar-christian-easter.html#anchor-golden-number
What is Easter?
When is Easter? (Short answer)Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the first full moon after vernal equinox.
When is Easter? (Long answer)The calculation of Easter is complicated because it is linked to (an inaccurate version of) the Hebrew calendar. Jesus was crucified immediately before the Jewish Passover, which is a celebration of the Exodus from Egypt under Moses. Celebration of Passover started on the 15th day of the (spring) month of Nisan. Jewish months start when the moon is new, therefore the 15th day of the month must be immediately after a full moon. It was therefore decided to make Easter Sunday the first Sunday after the first full moon after vernal equinox. Or more precisely: Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the "official" full moon on or after the "official" vernal equinox. The official vernal equinox is always 21 March. The official full moon may differ from the real full moon by one or two days. (Note, however, that historically, some countries have used the real (astronomical) full moon instead of the official one when calculating Easter. This was the case, for example, of the German Protestant states, which used the astronomical full moon in the years 1700-1776. A similar practice was used in Sweden in the years 1740-1844 and in Denmark in the 1700s.) The full moon that precedes Easter is called the Paschal full moon.
What is the Golden Number?
Each year is associated with a Golden Number. Considering that the relationship between the moon’s phases and the days of the year repeats itself every 19 years (see astronomical basis for calendars), it is natural to associate a number between 1 and 19 with each year. This number is the so-called Golden Number. It is calculated thus:
Golden Number = (year mod 19)+1
In years which have the same Golden Number, the new moon will fall on (approximately) the same date. The Golden Number is sufficient to calculate the Paschal full moon in the Julian calendar.
How does one calculate Easter then?
Under the Julian calendar the method was simple. If you know the Golden Number of the year, you can find the Paschal full moon in this table: (Please see website for the table)
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Can't have an Easter without Easter eggs and bunnies! |
Happy Birthday to all the April birthdayers
and especially to the April 24th, Easter Sunday, celebraters!
Wendy Treitel
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