I'll have mine with cream: The origins of tea

I always start my day with a refreshing cuppa. For those of you non-British folks, that means a cup of tea. Now, I am an old-fashioned English gal and I prefer my black tea hot, with milk (cream) – no sugar. My mother didn’t let me have tea until I was a teenager. I felt ‘grown-up’ when I finally was allowed that first delicious cup. In the afternoons, I like to have a cup with a biscuit (cookies). My tea drinking is regular, regardless of the weather outside.

I think English people’s blood is part-tea. Tea and England are ingrained. One can hardly talk about one without the other.

Marleau's Marvelous Milepost and other hockey news

Patrick Marleau scored a huge goal in the San Jose Sharks' game against the Vancouver Canucks last night. The 37 year old Center activated the red lamp for #500 (19 for the season to date) in the first period. Ever so humble, Patrick credited his teammates for helping him to reach this point in his career. To help those of you who don't follow hockey, Marleau is the 45th player in NHL history to reach 500 goals and only the 17th player to accomplish the feat with same team. Pattie has been with the Sharks since being drafted from the minors at 18.

CALEXIT: a reality or a pipedream?

The loony liberals in California are at it again. A group of way-out there folks has actually filed a petition to put a measure on the 2018 ballot to start the process to have California succeed from the Union. Part of the group's process will be an appeal to the United Nations. They actually cite the election results as one of their reasons for the split. Give me a break!

Is this even feasible?

Let's start with the reality. A petition can't boot the Golden State from the United States of America. Only an act of Congress in the form of an amendment to the U.S. Constitution can do that.

The #IAM911 movement

You may have heard of it on on the the social media sites - or not. "In the Trenches" on Facebook, '#IAM911" on Twitter, or The Jabberlog web blog was started by a former dispatcher in support of 911 dispatchers. Why? This year the Federal OMB Division was contacted to change the job description of Public Safety Telecommunicators (911 Dispatchers) from office personnel to emergency. Currently, we are lumped in with tow and taxi dispatchers. APCO and NENA (the National Emergency Number Association) joined to petition the feds to get our classification changed to the same as law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel.

Houses of the Lord: Monasteries in England

In the year 300, an Egyptian called Antony decided to lead a life of prayer. He said goodbye to the village and his family and became a hermit. He was considered a monk by those who knew him. Others soon followed his example, swearing celibacy and devotion to the Christian God in 320 by establishing monasteries. The men and women followed renunciation (the act of giving up all the pleasures of regular living) as part of their daily regime. Monasteries spread through the Middle East and eventually to around the world. One man, St. Basil even wrote down general rules for the lifestyle. The Rule of St. Bail became the rule of thumb for monasteries after he died in 379. One of his rules stated that becoming a hermit was too self-centered. In his words:

“The solitary life has one aim, the service of the needs of the individual. But this is plainly in conflict with the law of love. Whose feet then wilt thou wash? Whom wilt thou care for?”