Did some Pilates today. Keep that back strong! Core strength!
1 Samuel - chapter 28 - This is where Saul has lost the battle with people and God. God abandoned him because he abandoned God. Saul wanted to get Samuel the prophet to advise him, but he was dead. So Saul went to Endor who was a medium and raised Samuel to talk to Saul. Samuel was mad being raised to come back and talk to Saul and told him there was nothing he could do, that Saul and his sons would be killed the following day. Too little too late Saul. tsk.
On this day:
1990 - I had the kindergarten Sunday School class. There were almost 20 on that first day. I had cleaned out a storage room that summer and some men from the church painted the room a bright yellow. A couple long tables and I was set to go. Aaron was helping me with my class that year, he was 13, too old for Sunday School but ok to help. He was so good. Nicole was in the class. Then I got home and my husband and our roommate Marty has left a horrible mess in the house. they misjudged my Christian forgiveness that day. But they did make dinner.
1919 - Alexander Graham Bell and Casey Baldwin's HD-4, a hydrofoil craft, set a world marine speed record. I didn't know Bell was into boat racing!
Parenting - Just saw a mom going by pushing a baby buggy. She had her head locked on her phone and shoulder. It made me think of how babies LOVE the sound of their mothers voice and will listen with rapt attention. I hope her conversation was infant appropriate. I wonder if she even thinks about that. I fear for tomorrows children.
Book Club - You keep reading. When I'm done I will tell you my books name so you can read it.
Damascus Syria - Looks like we might be getting into some serious situations here. Lets check the history again.
With the arrival of the Seljuq Turks in the late 11th century, Damascus again became the capital of independent states. It was ruled by Abu Sa'id Taj ad-Dawla Tutush I starting in 1079 and he was succeeded by his son Abu Nasr Duqaq in 1095. The Seljuqs established a court in Damascus and a systematic reversal of Shia inroads in the city. The city also saw an expansion of religious life through private endowments financing religious institutions (madrasas) and hospitals (maristans). Damascus soon became one of the most important centers of propagating Islamic thought in the Muslim world. After Duqaq's death in 1104, his mentor (atabeg), Toghtekin, took control of Damascus and the Burid line of the Seljuq dynasty. Under Duqaq and Toghtekin, Damascus experienced stability, elevated status and a revived role in commerce. In addition, the city's Sunni majority enjoyed being a part of the larger Sunni framework effectively governed by various Turkic dynasties who in turn were under the moral authority of the Baghdad-based Abbasids.[34]It mentions the reversal of Shia and the larger Sunni framework. Apparently these two groups have been at odds for a long time.
Enjoy the day! Make it memorable!
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Monday, September 8, 2014
September 8, 2014 Monday Full harvest moon
Went up north for the weekend. It was wonderful! Get away when you can.
Today I started the week with Boot Camp. I figured I would get my heart started , and I did.
Mark Chapter 4 - This is talking about the Sower. It was meant to tell the disciples a story about sharing the Gospel, without non believers understanding it. I'm not sure why He didn't want everyone to understand the story, but I understood that some people take the seed of the Gospel and grow it in people that want to hear it. You might want to look into why it is so important to some of us and not others.
On this day:
1981 - Dick, a guy that I worked with at the picture frame company, broke his knee and was off 6 to 8 weeks. Most of the people that worked there were long timers and Dick was one of them. He was what we called the joiner. The mitred sections of frames were cut to size and layed out for Dick and he would drill the nail holes and glue and nail the section together. I don't remember who filled in for him, I do remember going to his house to see him and his wife Rose while he was off. We probably worked together for 20 years, but I can't tell you an awful lot about him. I have become a more caring and nurturing person, but the way I was back then, I'm surprised I did visit him. I wish that we considered how important each of these people are, if not to each other, then their families. Too soon old too late smart. For sure I never shared any seeds of faith with him. Too bad.
1892 - An early version of "The Pledge of Allegiance" appeared in "The Youth's Companion." Do they say it in school everyday now or not?
Parenting - Spent a great weekend with my daughter at a really dear friends place up north. I couldn't have been happier. The bonus was my mother also got to spend the weekend with her favorite child, my brother. Win/win!
Book Club - shut down in favor of writing a book.
Damascus Syria - Lets get caught up on more of this interesting history:
The Shia Fatimids gained control in 970, inflaming hostilities between them and the Sunni Arabs of the city who frequently revolted. A Turk, Alptakin drove out the Fatimids five years later, and through diplomacy, prevented the Byzantines from attempting to annex the city. However, by 977, the Fatimids under Caliph al-Aziz, wrested back control of the city and tamed Sunni dissidents. The Arab geographer, al-Muqaddasi, visited Damascus in 985, remarking that the architecture and infrastructure of the city was "magnificent", but living conditions were awful. Under al-Aziz, the city saw a brief period of stability that ended with the reign of al-Hakim (996–1021). In 998, Hundreds of Damascene leaders were rounded up and executed by him for incitement. Three years after al-Hakim's mysterious disappearance, the Arab tribes of southern Syria formed an alliance to stage a massive rebellion against the Fatimids, but they were crushed by the Fatimid Turkish governor of Syria and Palestine, Anushtakin al-Duzbari, in 1029. This victory gave the latter mastery over Syria, displeasing his Fatimid overlords, but gaining the admiration of Damascus' citizens. He was exiled by Fatimid authorities to Aleppo where he died in 1041.[32] From that date to 1063, there are no known records of the city's history. By then, Damascus lacked a city administration, had an enfeebled economy, and a greatly reduced population.[33]
Enjoy the day! Make it memorable!
Today I started the week with Boot Camp. I figured I would get my heart started , and I did.
Mark Chapter 4 - This is talking about the Sower. It was meant to tell the disciples a story about sharing the Gospel, without non believers understanding it. I'm not sure why He didn't want everyone to understand the story, but I understood that some people take the seed of the Gospel and grow it in people that want to hear it. You might want to look into why it is so important to some of us and not others.
On this day:
1981 - Dick, a guy that I worked with at the picture frame company, broke his knee and was off 6 to 8 weeks. Most of the people that worked there were long timers and Dick was one of them. He was what we called the joiner. The mitred sections of frames were cut to size and layed out for Dick and he would drill the nail holes and glue and nail the section together. I don't remember who filled in for him, I do remember going to his house to see him and his wife Rose while he was off. We probably worked together for 20 years, but I can't tell you an awful lot about him. I have become a more caring and nurturing person, but the way I was back then, I'm surprised I did visit him. I wish that we considered how important each of these people are, if not to each other, then their families. Too soon old too late smart. For sure I never shared any seeds of faith with him. Too bad.
1892 - An early version of "The Pledge of Allegiance" appeared in "The Youth's Companion." Do they say it in school everyday now or not?
Parenting - Spent a great weekend with my daughter at a really dear friends place up north. I couldn't have been happier. The bonus was my mother also got to spend the weekend with her favorite child, my brother. Win/win!
Book Club - shut down in favor of writing a book.
Damascus Syria - Lets get caught up on more of this interesting history:
The Shia Fatimids gained control in 970, inflaming hostilities between them and the Sunni Arabs of the city who frequently revolted. A Turk, Alptakin drove out the Fatimids five years later, and through diplomacy, prevented the Byzantines from attempting to annex the city. However, by 977, the Fatimids under Caliph al-Aziz, wrested back control of the city and tamed Sunni dissidents. The Arab geographer, al-Muqaddasi, visited Damascus in 985, remarking that the architecture and infrastructure of the city was "magnificent", but living conditions were awful. Under al-Aziz, the city saw a brief period of stability that ended with the reign of al-Hakim (996–1021). In 998, Hundreds of Damascene leaders were rounded up and executed by him for incitement. Three years after al-Hakim's mysterious disappearance, the Arab tribes of southern Syria formed an alliance to stage a massive rebellion against the Fatimids, but they were crushed by the Fatimid Turkish governor of Syria and Palestine, Anushtakin al-Duzbari, in 1029. This victory gave the latter mastery over Syria, displeasing his Fatimid overlords, but gaining the admiration of Damascus' citizens. He was exiled by Fatimid authorities to Aleppo where he died in 1041.[32] From that date to 1063, there are no known records of the city's history. By then, Damascus lacked a city administration, had an enfeebled economy, and a greatly reduced population.[33]
Enjoy the day! Make it memorable!
Friday, September 5, 2014
September 5, 2014 Friday
Very hot in my house, a/c down. Went for a walk, it was glorious. Nice breeze.
James chapter 4 - Living for God is the title, but I think God lives for us too, even more. Be confident in your faith and trust in God, He will care for you here and in the life to come.
On this day:
1975 - I had been dating Pete for 3 years. We had a terrible relationship, but neither of us could give it up. On this day for the last 3 years it would be - Pete called and hung up on me, or I called Pete and hung up. Why we do that to ourselves I have no idea, but I think it has something to do with laundry. On all of these days while I was battling with him, I would have to do laundry. You can figure that out, I can't. Fighting with Pete and doing laundry seemed to go hand in hand.
1698 - Russia's Peter the Great imposed a tax on beards. Okay, this makes as much sense as that Pete I had around that had a full red beard and was Russian.
Parenting - Pete, as a matter of fact had an interesting parentage. His mother and grandmother that were very Russian, who lived next door to each other while he was growing up, fought over him. They both vied for his attention and he knew how to play it. It finally got so bad that they would not talk to each other. They both made me promise that if they died I would not let the other come to their funeral. Honest. Tell you about that another time.
Damascus: I really think this is interesting.
After most of the Syrian countryside was conquered by the Rashidun Caliphate during the reign of Caliph Umar, Damascus itself was conquered by the Muslim-Arab general Khalid ibn al-Walid in September–August 635 CE. His army had previously attempted to capture the city in April 634, but without success.[22] With Damascus now in Muslim-Arab hands, the Byzantines, alarmed at the loss of their most prestigious city in the Near East, had decided to wrest back control of it. Under Emperor Heraclius, the Byzantines fielded an army superior to that of the Rashidun in manpower. They advanced into southern Syria during the spring of 636 and consequently Khalid ibn al-Walid's forces withdrew from Damascus to prepare for renewed confrontation.[23] In August, the two powers met along the Yarmouk River where they a fought a major battle which ended in a decisive Muslim victory, solidifying the latter's rule in Syria and Palestine.[24]
While the Muslims administered the city, the population of Damascus remained mostly Christian—Eastern Orthodox and Monophysite—with a growing community of Muslims from Mecca, Medina, and the Syrian Desert.[25] The governor assigned to the city which had been chosen as the capital of Islamic Syria was Mu'awiya I. After the death of Caliph Ali in 661, Mu'awiya was chosen as the caliph of the expanding Islamic empire. Because of the vast amounts of assets his clan, the Ummayads, owned in the city and because of its traditional economic and social links with the Hijaz as well as the Christian Arab tribes of the region, Mu'awiya established Damascus as the capital of the entire Caliphate.[26] With the ascension of Caliph Abd al-Malik in 685, an Islamic coinage system was introduced and all of the surplus revenue of the Caliphate's provinces were forwarded to the treasury of Damascus. Arabic was also established as the official language, giving the Muslim minority of the city an advantage over the Aramaic-speaking Christians in administrative affairs.[27] It is critical to note that, at the time Damascus was conquered by the Muslims, the majority of Arabs were either pagans or Christians. Damascus itself was predominantly Aramaic with Arab speaking people.
Enjoy the day! Make it memorable!
James chapter 4 - Living for God is the title, but I think God lives for us too, even more. Be confident in your faith and trust in God, He will care for you here and in the life to come.
On this day:
1975 - I had been dating Pete for 3 years. We had a terrible relationship, but neither of us could give it up. On this day for the last 3 years it would be - Pete called and hung up on me, or I called Pete and hung up. Why we do that to ourselves I have no idea, but I think it has something to do with laundry. On all of these days while I was battling with him, I would have to do laundry. You can figure that out, I can't. Fighting with Pete and doing laundry seemed to go hand in hand.
1698 - Russia's Peter the Great imposed a tax on beards. Okay, this makes as much sense as that Pete I had around that had a full red beard and was Russian.
Parenting - Pete, as a matter of fact had an interesting parentage. His mother and grandmother that were very Russian, who lived next door to each other while he was growing up, fought over him. They both vied for his attention and he knew how to play it. It finally got so bad that they would not talk to each other. They both made me promise that if they died I would not let the other come to their funeral. Honest. Tell you about that another time.
Damascus: I really think this is interesting.
Islamic Arab era[edit]
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Courtyard of the Umayyad Mosque
While the Muslims administered the city, the population of Damascus remained mostly Christian—Eastern Orthodox and Monophysite—with a growing community of Muslims from Mecca, Medina, and the Syrian Desert.[25] The governor assigned to the city which had been chosen as the capital of Islamic Syria was Mu'awiya I. After the death of Caliph Ali in 661, Mu'awiya was chosen as the caliph of the expanding Islamic empire. Because of the vast amounts of assets his clan, the Ummayads, owned in the city and because of its traditional economic and social links with the Hijaz as well as the Christian Arab tribes of the region, Mu'awiya established Damascus as the capital of the entire Caliphate.[26] With the ascension of Caliph Abd al-Malik in 685, an Islamic coinage system was introduced and all of the surplus revenue of the Caliphate's provinces were forwarded to the treasury of Damascus. Arabic was also established as the official language, giving the Muslim minority of the city an advantage over the Aramaic-speaking Christians in administrative affairs.[27] It is critical to note that, at the time Damascus was conquered by the Muslims, the majority of Arabs were either pagans or Christians. Damascus itself was predominantly Aramaic with Arab speaking people.
Enjoy the day! Make it memorable!
Thursday, September 4, 2014
September 4, 2014 Thursday
Pilates this morning. Rolling like a ball is not as strenuous as the seal. No video available.
Proverbs Chapter 22 - This reading is about have a good name, or a good reputation. If we say we are Christians, taking Christ's name, we should reflect Him in a good way to others. Thankfully He is forgiving.
On this day:
2011 - Everytime I look at this year when I was in the hospital 4 times, I am reminded of all the wonderful friends I have that visited me and prayed for me. Thank you to all my dear friends and family!
1609 - English navigator Henry Hudson began exploring the island of Manhattan. Wrong Island for shopping and a play?
Parenting - My neighbors boys are in those teen years. They are both great boys and I love to help out when I can. I know what its like to be a single mom running here and there and balancing work. Daniel came over after school yesterday and unloaded all his misgivings of his first classes in middle school. He talked steady for an hour or more, of course I encouraged him. I told his Mom later if when she asked what happened at school today, I could tell her. Because they usually say, nothing.
Damascus Syria - History is immense!
Damascus was conquered by Alexander the Great. After the death of Alexander in 323 BC, Damascus became the site of a struggle between the Seleucid and Ptolemaic empires. The control of the city passed frequently from one empire to the other. Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander's generals, made Antioch the capital of his vast empire, which led to the decline of Damascus' importance compared with new Seleucid cities such as Latakia in the north. Later, Demetrius III Philopator rebuilt the city according to the Greek hippodamian system and renamed it "Demetrias".[21]
In 64 BC, the Roman general Pompey annexed the western part of Syria. The Romans occupied Damascus and subsequently incorporated it into the league of ten cities known as the Decapolis because it was considered such an important center of Greco-Roman culture. According to the New Testament, Saint Paul was on the road to Damascus when he received a vision of Jesus.
Damascus became a metropolis by the beginning of the 2nd century and in 222 it was upgraded to a colonia by the Emperor Septimius Severus. During the Pax Romana, Damascus and the Roman province of Syria in general began to prosper. Damascus's importance as a caravan city was evident with the trade routes from southern Arabia, Palmyra, Petra, and the silk routes from China all converging on it. The city satisfied the Roman demands for eastern luxuries.[citation needed]
Little remains of the architecture of the Romans, but the town planning of the old city did have a lasting effect. The Roman architects brought together the Greek and Aramaean foundations of the city and fused them into a new layout measuring approximately 1,500 by 750 meters (4,920 by 2,460 ft), surrounded by a city wall. The city wall contained seven gates, but only the eastern gate (Bab Sharqi) remains from the Roman period. Roman Damascus lies mostly at depths of up to five meters (16.4 ft) below the modern city.
The old borough of Bab Tuma was developed at the end of the Roman/Byzantine era by the local Eastern Orthodox community. According to the Acts of the Apostles, Saint Paul and Saint Thomas both lived in that neighborhood. Roman Catholic historians also consider Bab Tuma to be the birthplace of several Popes such as John V and Gregory III. Kind of long but worth reading!
Enjoy the day! Make it memorable!
Proverbs Chapter 22 - This reading is about have a good name, or a good reputation. If we say we are Christians, taking Christ's name, we should reflect Him in a good way to others. Thankfully He is forgiving.
On this day:
2011 - Everytime I look at this year when I was in the hospital 4 times, I am reminded of all the wonderful friends I have that visited me and prayed for me. Thank you to all my dear friends and family!
1609 - English navigator Henry Hudson began exploring the island of Manhattan. Wrong Island for shopping and a play?
Parenting - My neighbors boys are in those teen years. They are both great boys and I love to help out when I can. I know what its like to be a single mom running here and there and balancing work. Daniel came over after school yesterday and unloaded all his misgivings of his first classes in middle school. He talked steady for an hour or more, of course I encouraged him. I told his Mom later if when she asked what happened at school today, I could tell her. Because they usually say, nothing.
Damascus Syria - History is immense!
Antiquity[edit]
In 64 BC, the Roman general Pompey annexed the western part of Syria. The Romans occupied Damascus and subsequently incorporated it into the league of ten cities known as the Decapolis because it was considered such an important center of Greco-Roman culture. According to the New Testament, Saint Paul was on the road to Damascus when he received a vision of Jesus.
Damascus became a metropolis by the beginning of the 2nd century and in 222 it was upgraded to a colonia by the Emperor Septimius Severus. During the Pax Romana, Damascus and the Roman province of Syria in general began to prosper. Damascus's importance as a caravan city was evident with the trade routes from southern Arabia, Palmyra, Petra, and the silk routes from China all converging on it. The city satisfied the Roman demands for eastern luxuries.[citation needed]
Little remains of the architecture of the Romans, but the town planning of the old city did have a lasting effect. The Roman architects brought together the Greek and Aramaean foundations of the city and fused them into a new layout measuring approximately 1,500 by 750 meters (4,920 by 2,460 ft), surrounded by a city wall. The city wall contained seven gates, but only the eastern gate (Bab Sharqi) remains from the Roman period. Roman Damascus lies mostly at depths of up to five meters (16.4 ft) below the modern city.
The old borough of Bab Tuma was developed at the end of the Roman/Byzantine era by the local Eastern Orthodox community. According to the Acts of the Apostles, Saint Paul and Saint Thomas both lived in that neighborhood. Roman Catholic historians also consider Bab Tuma to be the birthplace of several Popes such as John V and Gregory III. Kind of long but worth reading!
Enjoy the day! Make it memorable!
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
September 3, 2014 Wednesday
Abs and Arms this morning. I don't know what keeps me on track with exercise. I think it is mostly when I don't I can feel a huge loss of energy during the day. Even a walk around the block can perk me up. So don't think you will be tired and not able to accomplish anything if you work out, it is exactly the opposite.
Lamentations chapter 3 - Great is thy Faithfulness. God's faithfulness to us, to you. No matter if you have dropped off in paying Him attention, He is always there for you. "Morning by morning new mercies I see". That hymm will be in my head all day. Every dawn is a new promise of God's faithfulness to you.
On this day;
2008 - I worked and then cut the lawn and worked in the yard. When I am out in my yard it is an open invitation to my neighbors. They come and we sit and talk, have a beer and just be neighborly.
It was a problem getting anything done when I worked, but now, I can get it done while they are at work, well most of them. I hear that it is unusual to have this friendship with neighbors, todays people don't like to be that involved. They have high fences, get out of their car in the garage, go in the house, that has the a/c on with windows closed and seldom speak to anyone. When they cut the lawn they have head phones on listening to music. My neighbors are all ages, not just elderly, so it isn't a generational thing. I think its a shame. Now with social media we are completely isolated from each other. Not me, someone at your front door? Might be me.
1838 - Frederick Douglass boarded a train in Maryland on his way to freedom from being a slave. Now we are a slave to our electronics.
Parenting - Talked to Aaron and Lisa yesterday about back to school days. Matthew started 2nd grade and Anthony will be starting 2nd year of preschool. Martina is too little to start anything. I hear the parents saying, where does the time go? Can't believe he is in 2nd grade. I hate to tell them it is a down hill slope, going faster all the time. Enjoy every moment of it.
Damascus Syria - Lots to learn here:
Damascus is not documented as an important city until the arrival of the Aramaeans, Semitic people from Mesopotamia, in the 11th century BC. By the start of the first millennium BC, several Aramaic kingdoms were formed, as Aramaeans abandoned their nomadic lifestyle and formed federated tribal states. One of these kingdoms was Aram-Damascus, centered on its capital Damascus.[16] The Aramaeans who entered the city without battle, adopted the name "Dimashqu" for their new home. Noticing the agricultural potential of the still-undeveloped and sparsely populated area,[17] they established the water distribution system of Damascus by constructing canals and tunnels which maximized the efficiency of the river Barada. The same network was later improved by the Romans and the Umayyads, and still forms the basis of the water system of the old part of the city today.[18] The Aramaeans initially turned Damascus into an outpost of a loose federation of Aramaean tribes, known as Aram-Zobah, based in the Beqaa Valley.[17]
The city would gain preeminence in southern Syria when Ezron, the claimant to Aram-Zobah's throne who was denied kingship of the federation, fled Beqaa and captured Damascus by force in 965 BC. Ezron overthrew the city's tribal governor and founded the independent entity of Aram-Damascus. As this new state expanded south, it prevented the Kingdom of Israel from spreading north and the two kingdoms soon clashed as they both sought to dominate trading hegemony in the east.[17] Under Ezron's grandson, Ben-Hadad I (880–841 BC), and his successor Hazael, Damascus annexed Bashan (modern-day Hauran region), and went on the offensive with Israel. This conflict continued until the early 8th century BC when Ben-Hadad II was captured by Israel after unsuccessfully besieging Samaria. As a result, he granted Israel trading rights in Damascus.[19]
Another possible reason for the treaty between Aram-Damascus and Israel was the common threat of the Neo-Assyrian Empire which was attempting to expand into the Mediterranean coast. In 853 BC, King Hadadezer of Damascus led a Levantine coalition, that included forces from the northern Aram-Hamath kingdom and troops supplied by King Ahab of Israel, in the Battle of Qarqar against the Neo-Assyrian army. Aram-Damascus came out victorious, temporarily preventing the Assyrians from encroaching into Syria. However, after Hadadzezer was killed by his successor, Hazael, the Levantine alliance collapsed. Aram-Damascus attempted to invade Israel, but was interrupted by the renewed Assyrian invasion. Hazael ordered a retreat to the walled part of Damascus while the Assyrians plundered the remainder of the kingdom. Unable to enter the city, they declared their supremacy in the Hauran and Beqa'a valleys.[19]
By the 8th century BC, Damascus was practically engulfed by the Assyrians and entered a dark age. Nonetheless, it remained the economic and cultural center of the Near East as well as the Arameaen resistance. In 727, a revolt took place in the city, but was put down by Assyrian forces. After Assyria went on a wide-scale campaign of quelling revolts throughout Syria, Damascus became totally subjugated by their rule. A positive effect of this was stability for the city and benefits from the spice and incense trade with Arabia. However, Assyrian authority was dwindling by 609–605 BC, and Syria-Palestine was falling into the orbit of Pharaoh Necho II's Egypt. In 572, all of Syria had been conquered by the Neo-Babylonians, but the status of Damascus under Babylon is relatively unknown.[20]Wow this was all BC time history. AND they were still at war! I'm thinking there is no hope for this region. I should read further before making that conclusion.
Enjoy the day! Make it memorable! Happy Birthday Grandma RIP
Lamentations chapter 3 - Great is thy Faithfulness. God's faithfulness to us, to you. No matter if you have dropped off in paying Him attention, He is always there for you. "Morning by morning new mercies I see". That hymm will be in my head all day. Every dawn is a new promise of God's faithfulness to you.
On this day;
2008 - I worked and then cut the lawn and worked in the yard. When I am out in my yard it is an open invitation to my neighbors. They come and we sit and talk, have a beer and just be neighborly.
It was a problem getting anything done when I worked, but now, I can get it done while they are at work, well most of them. I hear that it is unusual to have this friendship with neighbors, todays people don't like to be that involved. They have high fences, get out of their car in the garage, go in the house, that has the a/c on with windows closed and seldom speak to anyone. When they cut the lawn they have head phones on listening to music. My neighbors are all ages, not just elderly, so it isn't a generational thing. I think its a shame. Now with social media we are completely isolated from each other. Not me, someone at your front door? Might be me.
1838 - Frederick Douglass boarded a train in Maryland on his way to freedom from being a slave. Now we are a slave to our electronics.
Parenting - Talked to Aaron and Lisa yesterday about back to school days. Matthew started 2nd grade and Anthony will be starting 2nd year of preschool. Martina is too little to start anything. I hear the parents saying, where does the time go? Can't believe he is in 2nd grade. I hate to tell them it is a down hill slope, going faster all the time. Enjoy every moment of it.
Damascus Syria - Lots to learn here:
Aram-Damascus[edit]
Main article: Aram-Damascus
Annotated view of Damascus and surroundings from space.[15]
The city would gain preeminence in southern Syria when Ezron, the claimant to Aram-Zobah's throne who was denied kingship of the federation, fled Beqaa and captured Damascus by force in 965 BC. Ezron overthrew the city's tribal governor and founded the independent entity of Aram-Damascus. As this new state expanded south, it prevented the Kingdom of Israel from spreading north and the two kingdoms soon clashed as they both sought to dominate trading hegemony in the east.[17] Under Ezron's grandson, Ben-Hadad I (880–841 BC), and his successor Hazael, Damascus annexed Bashan (modern-day Hauran region), and went on the offensive with Israel. This conflict continued until the early 8th century BC when Ben-Hadad II was captured by Israel after unsuccessfully besieging Samaria. As a result, he granted Israel trading rights in Damascus.[19]
Another possible reason for the treaty between Aram-Damascus and Israel was the common threat of the Neo-Assyrian Empire which was attempting to expand into the Mediterranean coast. In 853 BC, King Hadadezer of Damascus led a Levantine coalition, that included forces from the northern Aram-Hamath kingdom and troops supplied by King Ahab of Israel, in the Battle of Qarqar against the Neo-Assyrian army. Aram-Damascus came out victorious, temporarily preventing the Assyrians from encroaching into Syria. However, after Hadadzezer was killed by his successor, Hazael, the Levantine alliance collapsed. Aram-Damascus attempted to invade Israel, but was interrupted by the renewed Assyrian invasion. Hazael ordered a retreat to the walled part of Damascus while the Assyrians plundered the remainder of the kingdom. Unable to enter the city, they declared their supremacy in the Hauran and Beqa'a valleys.[19]
By the 8th century BC, Damascus was practically engulfed by the Assyrians and entered a dark age. Nonetheless, it remained the economic and cultural center of the Near East as well as the Arameaen resistance. In 727, a revolt took place in the city, but was put down by Assyrian forces. After Assyria went on a wide-scale campaign of quelling revolts throughout Syria, Damascus became totally subjugated by their rule. A positive effect of this was stability for the city and benefits from the spice and incense trade with Arabia. However, Assyrian authority was dwindling by 609–605 BC, and Syria-Palestine was falling into the orbit of Pharaoh Necho II's Egypt. In 572, all of Syria had been conquered by the Neo-Babylonians, but the status of Damascus under Babylon is relatively unknown.[20]Wow this was all BC time history. AND they were still at war! I'm thinking there is no hope for this region. I should read further before making that conclusion.
Enjoy the day! Make it memorable! Happy Birthday Grandma RIP
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
September 2, 2014 Tuesday
Kathy and I did some aerobics this morning. Wake up the body, get the week started. Sometime even a lame workout is moving and stretching and better then nothing.
John chapter 3 - On denying the Incarnation. Many will announce themselves as prophets but if they don't believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, they are false prophets. Our faith is based in our belief that God came down to earth in His son Jesus Christ to forgive and save us from our sin.
On this day:
1999 - A young man from church was selling Cutco knives so I said he could come over and practice on me. I did and still have a set of Cutco steak knives that I received for a wedding gift in 1968. They are good cutlery. Anyway he came over at 5 and spent 2 1/2 hours doing his demo. I didn't buy any, they are very expensive, but obviously good product if I still have and use them. Have you ever been suckered into one of these? I have more then once.
1961 - The U.S.S.R. resumed nuclear weapons testing. Test ban treaty negotiations had failed with the U.S. and Britain when the three nations could not agree upon the nature and frequency of on-site inspections. And today Putin reminds us that he does have nuclear arms, still.
Parenting - Back to school day for most. My neighbor has two boys, one in middle school and one in high school starting back. It is a day I thing most of us remember, either our first days back or our kids first day back. There are mixed feelings of sadness over summer being gone and the anticipation of seeing friends again and a bigger range of activities. Nicole was always happy to get back to school I think. Only one time that I was able to send Aaron back the first day, and I had to drive to Clinton Twp to do it. Kathy and Rick were on a European vacation and Aaron was starting a new school. I had already taken him there so he could find his class and the bathroom to be more comfortable. He was always a trooper.
Book Club - dropping this section for the time. Watch for my new book..... no name yet.
Damascus Syria - Oldest city of substance in the world.
Damascus was part of the ancient province of Amurru in the Hyksos Kingdom, from 1720 to 1570 BC.[11] Some of the earliest Egyptian records are from the 1350 BC Amarna letters, when Damascus-(called Dimasqu) was ruled by king Biryawaza. The Damascus region, as well as the rest of Syria, became a battleground circa 1260 BC, between the Hittites from the north and the Egyptians from the south,[12] ending with a signed treaty between Hattusili and Ramesses II where the former handed over control of the Damascus area to Ramesses II in 1259 BC.[12] The arrival of the Sea Peoples, around 1200 BC, marked the end of the Bronze Age in the region and brought about new development of warfare.[13] Damascus was only the peripheral part of this picture which mostly affected the larger population centers of ancient Syria. However, these events had contributed to the development of Damascus as a new influential center that emerged with the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age.[13]
Damascus is mentioned in Genesis 14:15 as existing at the time of the War of the Kings.[14] According to the 1st-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus in his twenty-one volume Antiquities of the Jews, Damascus (along with Trachonitis), was founded by Uz, the son of Aram. Elsewhere,[where?] he stated:
Enjoy the day! Make it memorable!
John chapter 3 - On denying the Incarnation. Many will announce themselves as prophets but if they don't believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, they are false prophets. Our faith is based in our belief that God came down to earth in His son Jesus Christ to forgive and save us from our sin.
On this day:
1999 - A young man from church was selling Cutco knives so I said he could come over and practice on me. I did and still have a set of Cutco steak knives that I received for a wedding gift in 1968. They are good cutlery. Anyway he came over at 5 and spent 2 1/2 hours doing his demo. I didn't buy any, they are very expensive, but obviously good product if I still have and use them. Have you ever been suckered into one of these? I have more then once.
1961 - The U.S.S.R. resumed nuclear weapons testing. Test ban treaty negotiations had failed with the U.S. and Britain when the three nations could not agree upon the nature and frequency of on-site inspections. And today Putin reminds us that he does have nuclear arms, still.
Parenting - Back to school day for most. My neighbor has two boys, one in middle school and one in high school starting back. It is a day I thing most of us remember, either our first days back or our kids first day back. There are mixed feelings of sadness over summer being gone and the anticipation of seeing friends again and a bigger range of activities. Nicole was always happy to get back to school I think. Only one time that I was able to send Aaron back the first day, and I had to drive to Clinton Twp to do it. Kathy and Rick were on a European vacation and Aaron was starting a new school. I had already taken him there so he could find his class and the bathroom to be more comfortable. He was always a trooper.
Book Club - dropping this section for the time. Watch for my new book..... no name yet.
Damascus Syria - Oldest city of substance in the world.
Early settlement[edit]
Carbon-14 dating at Tell Ramad, on the outskirts of Damascus, suggests that the site may have been occupied since the second half of the seventh millennium BC, possibly around 6300 BC.[9] However, evidence of settlement in the wider Barada basin dating back to 9000 BC exists, although no large-scale settlement was present within Damascus walls until the second millennium BC.[10]Damascus was part of the ancient province of Amurru in the Hyksos Kingdom, from 1720 to 1570 BC.[11] Some of the earliest Egyptian records are from the 1350 BC Amarna letters, when Damascus-(called Dimasqu) was ruled by king Biryawaza. The Damascus region, as well as the rest of Syria, became a battleground circa 1260 BC, between the Hittites from the north and the Egyptians from the south,[12] ending with a signed treaty between Hattusili and Ramesses II where the former handed over control of the Damascus area to Ramesses II in 1259 BC.[12] The arrival of the Sea Peoples, around 1200 BC, marked the end of the Bronze Age in the region and brought about new development of warfare.[13] Damascus was only the peripheral part of this picture which mostly affected the larger population centers of ancient Syria. However, these events had contributed to the development of Damascus as a new influential center that emerged with the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age.[13]
Damascus is mentioned in Genesis 14:15 as existing at the time of the War of the Kings.[14] According to the 1st-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus in his twenty-one volume Antiquities of the Jews, Damascus (along with Trachonitis), was founded by Uz, the son of Aram. Elsewhere,[where?] he stated:
Nicolaus of Damascus, in the fourth book of his History, says thus: "Abraham reigned at Damascus, being a foreigner, who came with an army out of the land above Babylon, called the land of the Chaldeans: but, after a long time, he got him up, and removed from that country also, with his people, and went into the land then called the land of Canaan, but now the land of Judea, and this when his posterity were become a multitude; as to which posterity of his, we relate their history in another work. Now the name of Abraham is even still famous in the country of Damascus; and there is shown a village named from him, The Habitation of Abraham. Now this place has history!!
Enjoy the day! Make it memorable!
Monday, September 1, 2014
September 1, 2014 Monday Labor Day
Too much holiday, taking the day off from my labors.
1 John chapter 3 - John reminding us that Jesus laid down His life to show His love for us. Surely we can consider the needs of those around us in return.
On this day:
1998 - Took Nicole and Craig and Frank to Middle school for 1/2 first day. Now that I am retired and have nothing to get back to, I miss those days of driving half the kids in the neighborhood to school. I was always on my way to work so it wasn't inconvenient and I liked to just listen to the conversation between the kids, you can learn a lot listening.
1998 - The movie "Titanic" went on sale across North America.
1998 - Mark McGwire (St. Louis Cardinals) hit his 56th and 57th homeruns to set a new National League record. He would eventually reach a total of 70 for the season on September 27.
1998 - Vietnam released 5,000 prisoners, including political dissidents, on National Day. wow this was a big day elsewhere in the news!
Parenting - Had a BBQ here yesterday with my travelers group that travels on line, we finished up Cairo with kebabs. Nicole had invited her friend Jamie and his wife Liz over and Jamie's two little boys. The boys come here quite often so are familiar with all the things they are allowed to play with, like Grandma's wheelchair and her walker on wheels. They are 7 and 3 so anything on wheels works. The other toys are some plastic guns that shoot sponge darts, they are toys that Jamie and Nicole and Craig played with 25 years ago. Looking out the window to my yard I can see those darts all over the place. Some things don't change.
Book Club - Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon. I was going to finish up this book yesterday but was too busy, will put it to rest today. I am taking a break from reading here to put a good effort into finishing the book I am writing.
Damascus Syria - We have moved here today from Cairo. Not a big cultural change, but maybe interesting to see why this country is in such terrible shape today. Let's start with history:
Damascus (Arabic: دمشق Dimashq Syrian Arabic pronunciation: [dɪˈmɪʃeʔ]) is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo. Commonly known in Syria as ash-Sham (Arabic: الشام ash-Shām) and nicknamed as the City of Jasmine (Arabic: مدينة الياسمين Madīnat al-Yāsmīn). In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major cultural and religious center of the Levant. The city has an estimated population of 1,711,000 (2009 est.).[1]
Located in southwestern Syria, Damascus is the center of a large metropolitan area of 2.6 million people (2004).[3] Geographically embedded on the eastern foothills of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range 80 kilometres (50 mi) inland from the eastern shore of the Mediterranean on a plateau 680 metres (2,230 ft) above sea-level, Damascus experiences a semi-arid climate due to the rain shadow effect. The Barada River flows through Damascus.
First settled in the second millennium BC, it was chosen as the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate from 661 to 750. After the victory of the Abbasid dynasty, the seat of Islamic power was moved to Baghdad. Damascus saw a political decline throughout the Abbasid era, only to regain significant importance in the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods. During Ottoman rule, the city decayed completely while maintaining a certain cultural prestige. Today, it is the seat of the central government and all of the government ministries.
1 John chapter 3 - John reminding us that Jesus laid down His life to show His love for us. Surely we can consider the needs of those around us in return.
On this day:
1998 - Took Nicole and Craig and Frank to Middle school for 1/2 first day. Now that I am retired and have nothing to get back to, I miss those days of driving half the kids in the neighborhood to school. I was always on my way to work so it wasn't inconvenient and I liked to just listen to the conversation between the kids, you can learn a lot listening.
1998 - The movie "Titanic" went on sale across North America.
1998 - Mark McGwire (St. Louis Cardinals) hit his 56th and 57th homeruns to set a new National League record. He would eventually reach a total of 70 for the season on September 27.
1998 - Vietnam released 5,000 prisoners, including political dissidents, on National Day. wow this was a big day elsewhere in the news!
Parenting - Had a BBQ here yesterday with my travelers group that travels on line, we finished up Cairo with kebabs. Nicole had invited her friend Jamie and his wife Liz over and Jamie's two little boys. The boys come here quite often so are familiar with all the things they are allowed to play with, like Grandma's wheelchair and her walker on wheels. They are 7 and 3 so anything on wheels works. The other toys are some plastic guns that shoot sponge darts, they are toys that Jamie and Nicole and Craig played with 25 years ago. Looking out the window to my yard I can see those darts all over the place. Some things don't change.
Book Club - Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon. I was going to finish up this book yesterday but was too busy, will put it to rest today. I am taking a break from reading here to put a good effort into finishing the book I am writing.
Damascus Syria - We have moved here today from Cairo. Not a big cultural change, but maybe interesting to see why this country is in such terrible shape today. Let's start with history:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Damascus دمشق | |
|---|---|
 View of Damascus from Mount Qassioun | |
| Nickname(s): City of Jasmin | |
 
Damascus
| |
| Coordinates: 33°30′47″N 36°17′31″E / 33.51306°N 36.29194°E | |
| Country | Syria |
| Governorates | Damascus Governorate, Capital City |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Bishr Al Sabban |
| Area | |
| • City | 105 km2 (41 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 77 km2 (30 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 680 m (2,230 ft) |
| Population (2009 est.[1]) | |
| • City | 1,711,000 |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Area code(s) | Country code: 963, City code: 11 |
| Demonym | Damascene |
| Website | Damascus Governorate |
| Sources: Damascus city area[2] | |
| Official name: Ancient City of Damascus | |
Located in southwestern Syria, Damascus is the center of a large metropolitan area of 2.6 million people (2004).[3] Geographically embedded on the eastern foothills of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range 80 kilometres (50 mi) inland from the eastern shore of the Mediterranean on a plateau 680 metres (2,230 ft) above sea-level, Damascus experiences a semi-arid climate due to the rain shadow effect. The Barada River flows through Damascus.
First settled in the second millennium BC, it was chosen as the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate from 661 to 750. After the victory of the Abbasid dynasty, the seat of Islamic power was moved to Baghdad. Damascus saw a political decline throughout the Abbasid era, only to regain significant importance in the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods. During Ottoman rule, the city decayed completely while maintaining a certain cultural prestige. Today, it is the seat of the central government and all of the government ministries.
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