June 2006 Archives

This is the second half of last week's list. See you next Thursday!

1. melolagnia is the amorous feeling inspired by music
2. nanophilia is the attraction to short people
3. obsolagnium is the lack of sexual desire that accompanies old age
4. oculoplania is letting one's eyes wander while assessing someone's charm
5. parthenolagnia is the desire to make love to virgins
6. scopolagnia is the pleasure gained by a voyeur
7. sphallolalia is flirtatious talk that leads nowhere
8. syndyasmia is the proper term for an open marriage in which either partner may live with other people
9. vesthibitionism is the flirtatious display of undergarments by a woman
10. virvestitism is a preference of some women to wear mens clothing
11. ximelolagnia is the desire to look a women who cross their legs
12. tibialoconcupiscent is having a lascivious interest in watching a women put on stockings
13. thygatrilagnia is having an incestuous desire for one's daughter

Little Town on the Prairie

The Ingalls family headed into the unsettled territory of South Dakota as Pa had secured a job building the railroad. He moved his family into the Surveyor's house by the shores of Silver Lake. The house no longer rest on the shores of that lake. It was moved into the town of De Smet and made into a museum and gift shop.

Inside of the house are many items from the time period Laura and her family called it home. It wasn't a very large house, and I recall in the book that eventually Ma took on borders who were coming into the area. It would have been very crowded to fit the Ingalls family into this home, let alone take in more tenants!

The Original Homestead

On the homestead site is another museum with more interpretive displayed. There is a look out tower in which you can see off in the distance the Big Slough. As I stood at the historical marker of the homestead site, I tried to image the scene that Laura had described of Pa mowing the grass out in the Slough, or looking toward the direction of town and seeing Alamanzo's buggy come toward the homestead.

After Laura Married

Mary and Ma Ingalls lived in the home for many years following Pa's death. I believe they took in the occasional border to help pay for their living expenses. Some items on display that I wish I could have photographed (no photography was allowed) included an item that Mary had crocheted, plus a pattern book of thread crochet that had been owned by Carrie! I still wish I could get a copy of that pattern book Carrie owned!

Next Week's Stop

Links to other Monday Memories

Why this list? I love words and as I was exploring through rare word dictionaries, I realized that our language contains descriptions for many peculiar sexual behaviors, which means that at some point in human history, people have engaged in all sorts of various practices.

As I progress in my graduate studies of marriage and family therapy, human sexuality is a major theme that we address, as many couples have issues, needs, complaints, and desires around sex in their relationship. Who knows? I may even go into sex therapy! LOL!

1. adelphepothia, adelphirexia, and adelphithymia. These words mean incestuous desire for one's sister, nephew and niece, respectively.
2. apodyopsis is the act of mentally undressing someone, which may incite gymnophoria the sensation that someone is mentally undressing you.
3. basorexia is an overwhelming desire to neck or kiss.
4. cheiloproclitic means being attracted to a person's lips.
5. cingulomania is the desire to hold someone in your arms.
6. colposinquanonia is the act of estimating a woman's beauty based on her chest
7. cyesolagnia is being attracted to pregnant women
8. cypripareuniaphile is a person who loves prostitutes
9. gamomania is the urge to make extravagant wedding proposals.
10. grapholagnia is the urge to stare at obscene pictures.
11. dishabillophobia is the fear of undressing in front of someone; an ecdysiophileis a person who likes to visit strip joints or watch people strip.
12. gynotikolobomassophilia is having a proclivity for nibbling on women's earlobes
13. korophilia is being attracted to young men or boys
14. lavacultophilia is having the desire to stare at someone in a bathing suit
15. lygerastia is the condition of one who is only amorous when the lights are out.

Blue Earth, Minnesota

My fascination with the Jolly Green Giant no doubt is steeped in my childhood memories of the TV commercials featuring little Sprout and the big giant always "Ho-ho-ho"-ing at the end in time with the famous jingle. Plus, by visiting the said statue of Mr. Jolly Green, I could discover what is underneath his tunic! Is he crotchless and smooth like a Ken doll, or did they make him anatomically correct?

We arrived in Blue Earth in the late afternoon/early evening. We freshened up and then walked to see the Giant, as our hotel was within walking distance. I almost ran and skipped up to the Giant, I was that thrilled to be in the presence of his green majesty!

To find out what is underneath the Giant's tunic, simply click on the image of him!

Walnut Grove, Minnesota

The location that Laura and her family lived on the banks of Plum Creek in an earthen dug out is marked by a large sign. The creek has changed course over the last century and washed away the original dug out that the Ingalls family called home for awhile. Currently, the portion of Plum Creek that is identified as being historic is part of a private farm and residence. As for other remains of the Ingalls being in Walnut Grove, such as a house or building, do not exist.

The city has a small but interesting museum containing photographs of some of the real people that Laura mentions in the book On the Banks of Plum Creek, including Rev. Alden and Nellie Oleson. There was an interesting display about locust plagues and how frequently a problem they were until modern chemicalization. (If you recall in the book the family lost a crop to a locust cloud.)

The town of Walnut Grove is just a wide spot on the prairie road. The wind blew hard and strong during our visit to the town. I recall asking one of the local clerks if it is always so windy, and she replied, "Yes, that's the prairie for you!" I don't think I could tolerate living with wind that takes your breath away.

Pipestone & Petroglyphs

The second site we found was Pipestone National Monument. Here the local Native Americans had quarries to extract the pipestone from the earth to carve pipes, animals, and other assorted items. The park contained paved trails that followed a small river and led us to a view of a very beautiful waterfall that wasn't very tall. The trail went to the top of the falls and you could peer down onto them.

The pipestone quarries in the park are still functioning and local tribes dig out pieces of the rock to make pipes both for use in their ceremonies and to sell to tourists.

What was interesting about the town of Pipestone is that many of the buildings were made from the abundant pipestone and so the main street had lots and lots of red and pink exteriors which was totally cool to see.

Not Your Typical Dutch Windmill

Next we headed into South Dakota which will be covered over the next two Monday Memories.

Links to other Monday Memories

1. He weighs about 17 pounds
2. He once tried to take a shower with me and a bath, but on separate occasions. Both times he got very wet!
3. He is either the reincarnation of a Buddhist monk or a serial killer.
4. He drinks his water from the kitchen faucet.
5. His pasttimes include: spying on the world, trying to escape, and attacking the laundry.
6. He once posed with the late Katharine Hepburn (see below).
7. He likes it when I refer to him as The Prince of Darkness.
8. He has been known to crawl into the cupboard and lurk among the Hamburger Helper..
9. He is a member of Postcrossing and he has his own Gmail account and web page.
10. I'm pretty sure he is writing his manifesto and has diabolical plans to take over the world.
11. He is more evil than Ivory soap is pure.
12. The only time he solicits affection is when we eat at the dining room table. His routine is to lay down beside me and threaten to dip his tail into my plate of food and then circle around my plate like a buzzard.
13. He shamelessly begs for tummy rubs from absolute strangers, granted that they are cat people.

It's More Than Cornfields

On our way out of Iowa to Minnesota we decided to check out one of the points of interest on our map labeled "Roseman Covered Bridge". We both like covered bridges, waterfalls, and lighthouses and will stop to see one if it is labeled. Also nearby on the map the birthplace of John Wayne was noted. So we could experience two points of interest in almost one stop.

As we traveled the arrow-straight roads between fields we passed a sign noting we were entering Madison County. I thought I'd be clever and make a joke: "Ha!" I said, "We're visiting the bridge of Madison County!" I didn't make any connections until we arrived at the Roseman Bridge and discovered that there was a gift shop. We had stumbled upon THE Bridges of Madison County! The friendly clerk at the shop sold us a map of the bridges we must see.

I hadn't read the book or seen the movie so I had no idea what the fuss was all about. All I knew was that I like historical structures and found that our unexpected adventure through the Iowa countryside was one of those special gifts that I will never forget!

Inside each of the bridges people would offer up their piece of graffitti. There were no signs saying not to, and I think this is one case in which it made sense for people to leave their mark, for it often told of their story which brought them there. Many had purposefully travelled to see the bridges as the story/movie touched them deeply. Others, like us, stumbled upon the bridges. People came as far away as Japan and Europe. We didn't leave our mark because I didn't have a Sharpie pen, but if I did I wouldn't have. I didn't feel like leaving my mark behind.

We decided we'd have lunch in the town of Winterset and check out the birthplace of John Wayne. At that time I had never seen a John Wayne movie before. They charged an admission fee to enter into the house, but going inside the gift shop was free of charge. We took some pictures outside of the house and I observed with wide eyes the feelings that John Wayne invoked in the numerous men who were at the house. The story I told myself is that his house was their Mecca. It's not often that men get emotional in public and teary-eyed. I wondered what awesome power this man held and represented to them that made them overcome their inhibitions and give such a public display of feeling.

The town of Winterset had a true town square and we drove around it looking for a place to have lunch. Being we had no idea I turned on my sense of locating a decent place to eat. I spied the Northside Cafe and thought to myself, "That will do just fine." We went inside and I realized I had made a good choice. During our meal we wondered why people were taking pictures of the exterior and then coming inside to snap more photos. So Pooky asked the waitiress and she gave us a look that said, "You don't know?" then proceeded to explain to us that this was the actual filming location used in the movie. Clint Eastwood himself sat at the bar and ate food! Oh, well not having seen the movie this was lost on us.

Having filled our sense of adventure and wonderment, along with our stomachs, we resumed our travel north to Minnesota where we had plans to discover what is beneath the Golly Green Giant's tunic and discover Walnut Grove.

Links to other Monday Memories

I began my own wedding officiant business on March 1, 2004. Since then I have had the honor of joining over 60 couples in matrimony. This list is about some of the stuff I've experienced and learned about weddings and the whole process of conducting the ceremony. It's the month of June, the supposed biggest month for weddings, but based on my experience, I've performed more weddings in September and October than in the spring months.

1. A wedding script can be put together in a matter of days. I put my first ceremony together in just 4 days.
2. Grooms cry just as much and as often as brides, and get just as nervous, but a groom is more likely to calm his nerves with Dutch courage.
3. I coach my couples to make their first married kiss incredibly long so that everyone can get a picture of it, as well as to savor that first smooch as husband and wife.
4. I also coach the couple to repeat their vows back to each other, not to me. I'm already married!
5. My personal belief is, everyone has the right to marry, so I've married men in prison, couples with significant age differences, brides already expecting, a couple of handfastings, and have done one commitment ceremony for a same sex couple. The only special interest group I will not marry would be Satanists just because I would laugh hysterically if I had to say "Lord Satan" or "The Prince of Darkness" somewhere in the ceremony.
6. My thoughts on pre-marital counseling is that it isn't necessary. Nothing can prepare you for the experience of marriage but marriage itself.
7. Most of the weddings I've performed have taken place in the couple's home, or the home of a family member or friend.
8. Technically and legally I can use the title of Reverend, but I only use it professionally in regard to my business.
9. I was ordained by the Universal Life Church. The majority of wedding officiants in business within my state and nation-wide have been ordained through this church.
10. Each state has laws regulating marriage—not only who may marry whom, but who can perform the ceremony, and in Idaho, they say the minimum that the officiant should be paid. I find these laws to be very interest, if not funny.
11. I started my business because of my own frustrating experiences in finding an officiant and the fees that were charged. I've found a niche in the market catering to elopements, small weddings, and that portion of the population who is under served.
12. The guiding principle that I apply in regard to how I conduct myself personally and professionally as a wedding officiant is based upon the concept of the Shekinah, which to me means God's spirit at work in the world.
13. Though I am a "reverend" there is no one organized religion currently practiced that I align myself with. All of them share the same basic fundamental message of love, and exist to guide seekers to the Truth. However, the ancient practice of cat worship by the Egyptians is so much a reflection of my soul that I have been known to lamented that we don't have temples honoring the Goddess Bast.

Rocky Ridge Farm

Within a matter of hours I was transported back in time, engrossed in Laura's story of the Big Woods. Making the story all the more exciting and appealing was the fact that Laura was a real person, not someone created by a clever mind.

I read about how Ma made cheese, her own soap, how Pa built a smokehouse to cure the meat he had hunted himself. The fact that going to town was such an important life event that I started to reflect on my own life and ponder what living must have been like prior to modern industrial times.

I watched the Little House show on TV, enjoying the entertainment value of it, but realized that Michael Landon took a lot of liberties with the Little House books. When I got into my teens, my admiration for the LIW stories didn't end. I found a biography of Laura and came upon the book On the Way Home which is a diary of Laura's recounting their journey from De Smet to their final home in Mansfield, Missouri. Turns out Laura took liberties with her own life as well, which is why her book are regarded as historical fiction and not autobiography.

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to see the real places that Laura called home. It was a bit of a pipe dream to think I'd actually visit Walnut Grove, De Smet, and Mansfield. Then when we moved from Pennsylvania to Washington the chance to make these trips came about and I seized the chance!

When the Wilders settle into Mansfield they bought a farm and built the white house known as Rocky Ridge Farm. When Rose, their daughter, grew up, she became a noted writer and with her earnings decided to built her parents a modern home. She bought the entire house from a Sears catalog!

Photography inside either home wasn't permitted, and I wish I could have snapped some pictures of the crocheted doilies that Laura had made. Almanzo's woodworking talents were also displayed with the hand crafted furniture he created.

It was with great excitement and antipication that we left the farm and journeyed to our next stop, the state of Iowa.

Missouri is an interesting state. The winding state highways are lettered instead of numbered, so there were these interesting and confusing signs of "A" "BB" and "Z". Fireworks of all kinds are legal and they were openly sold at giant gas stations. We went inside one and not only could you buy bulk roman candles, but cartons of cigarettes as well as fuel. Yes, lighters and matches were everywhere to boot. Made me think it was all a major explosion waiting to happen!

The Great Turtle Migration of Missouri

Next week the great adventure continues in Iowa where we discover the birth places of John Wayne, Glen Miller, and stumble upon the Bridges of Madison County

Links to other Monday Memories

This list came about because recently I learned (I've been out of the music loop since the mid 1990s) that my warbling hero of my adolescence, Morrissey, has revealed that he is no longer celibate. I regard this as just another sign of how the fabric of space-time has increasingly frayed, and I'm pretty certain that someone has grabbed on to one of these frayed edges and is pulling.

It got me to thinking of noted people who died virgins. Isaac Newton is understandable—after all, he invented calculus—the least sexiest subject there is. As for Adolf Hitler being on the list...it figures. As the saying goes, "Celibacy is not hereditary."

1. Isaac Newton, gravity and calculus are his gifts to humanity
2. Nikola Tesla, electrical genius and caregiver to pigeons
3. John Harvey Kellogg, he gave the world corn flakes
4. Leonardo da Vinci, numerous contributions to humanity including possibly a code
5. Adolf Hitler, bona fide evil
6. Anne and Emily Brontë, wrote books so high school and college students learn how to write term papers
7. Lewis Carroll, took a lot of laudanum and wrote a story and gave us the words of brillig, snark and jabberwocky
8. Anna Freud, psychoanalyst and daughter of Sigmund
9. George Bernard Shaw, noted vegetarian and playwright
10. Emily Dickinson, recluse and poet
11. Immanuel Kant, philosopher extraordinaire
12. Florence Nightingale, nursing pioneer
13. Jane Austen, novelist

Questions are arising in my comments about how is it known that these people died as virgins. It's a combination of them saying that they were, or by their known biographical history. Such as, Emily Dickinson may not have directly said she was a virgin but it is known that she lived a very reclusive life and no one has been linked to her romantically or sexually.

As for Hitler and his late-life mistress Eva Braun, there is debate as to whether or not they consumated their relationship. What we do know is Hitler's sexual history as conveyed through a near-incestuous relationship he had with his niece, which may be indicative of his sexual habits/preferences in general. I had watched the tail-end of a show on the History Channel about Hitler's personal physician who claimed that Hitler had syphilis. Yet, nothing is conclusive because the test that the physician used can produce false positives and wasn't reliable or accurate.