Sunday, April 22, 2012

Chief Tatokainyanka,Engraved in History


I was visiting the Titanic exhibit with my friend Cindy Smith, when we came upon a display of currency. It is amazing to me that any artifacts are around 100 years later much less “paper” money. 

The array of bills was unbelievable. In 1912, any state chartered bank could issue paper money and Titanic carried a wide assortment.


Some of the items predated the civil war. I guess it was Yankee money, since Confederate funds were then defunct.


Cindy is a true cowgirl, and the one that caught her eye was a five dollar Silver certificate with an Indian head on the front. I was intrigued as well and decided to look it up.


These certificates were issued in 1899, to replace silver coins. I guess they were a bit lighter to carry around. The central figure is Tatokainyanka who was a Sioux Chief. Since Chief Tatokainyanka is kinda hard to say, he was called Chief Onepapa. 


Original Photo

He is famous for signing the “Treaty of Fort Laramie” in 1868. He traveled to Washington, DC to meet President Andrew Johnson where his picture was taken.










Redesigned Head Dress

The engraver for the bill drew in a Pawnee head dress instead, to better fit the space. Unfortunately, this is the only US paper money where an Indian is the focal point.  The Bills today can go for hundreds or thousands of dollars depending on the condition. Of course the ones from Titanic, are priceless. 



If you have a buck, you can pick up one of the new Native American Coins from the US Mint.


Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Welcome Spring


Welcome Spring

There are many signs that spring is here. Bees, pollen, cherry blossoms and dandelions.
I drove thru my neighborhood the other day admiring all the well-manicured lawns. Then I came upon one full of yellow dandelions.

It reminded me of my old house. I am not the best gardener, I’m not the outdoorsy type, I’d rather be inside reading a book or writing one. So my lawn was neglected. I was bustling my son Nicholas out of the house one day, and was shocked to see how over grown my yard had become. It was full of dandelions, they seemed to have sprung up overnight.

As I was pondering if they would just disappear with a good mowing, I heard a gasp from my son.
“Mom, look at the yard. It’s beautiful!”

So I did look again, and he was right. It was beautiful. The bright yellow blossoms, contrasting against the green of the grass.  I remember picking handfuls of them for bouquets as a child, I had just forgotten somehow. Needless to say, the blossoms stayed as long as they wanted.

It seems like growing up, you miss out on a lot. Like seeing the simple beauty in one of God’s creations. There is beauty all around us, sometimes we just forget to look.

If you would like to read more from Lynn, please visit: my website,  my BlogFacebookTwitterGoodreads or sign up for my Newsletter!

Monday, April 16, 2012

Win Coffee!




Coffee is an integral part of my life. I didn’t really start drinking coffee until I turned 30. Now I practically need an IV. I love the wide assortment of flavored creamers. Yummy!
So when I was offered a chance to share this wonderful prize…COFFEE!!! 
I jumped on it. Just go thru the Rafflecoppter below to enter. 
Good Luck, I’m off to grab a cup!







Blog it Forward is giving away a 165.97 Amazon Gift Card to one Lucky Winner!
The Giveaway will take place April 16 – May 6
Follow the Bloggers Sponsoring this great giveaway to win!
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Thursday, April 12, 2012

Titanic, May They be at Peace



April 15th marks the 100th Anniversary of the Titanic tragedy.

I first heard of Titanic when I was eleven. My teacher had a ticket to board the ship. However, they ended up canceling because her brother was ill.
Unfortunately, many were not so lucky.
I first met Titanic up close and personal in 2006. A traveling exhibit came to Atlanta, and I had to go see it. I was not disappointed. They had the original bell on display. The brass gleamed as if it was new, and I could picture the people waving from shore. I could hear the horns blaring and the bell ring as it pulled away from the port. Those on board did not realize that most would never see land again.
April 14th 2009, I had another chance to visit. This one was a bit different. During the exhibit at the Georgia Aquarium, they had a paranormal group do a walk through at night, and I was able to attend. No evidence was found that night. However, the objects whispered of better times. Times, before their owners departed.
Orlando, has a permanent exhibit. One with life size replicas, to make you relieve that night as time ticks away. The most moving part for me was standing on the deck. The air was brisk and cold and the night was pitch black. A chill ran down my spine as we were separated from our loved ones. Ladies and children first.
And today, Titanic is back in Atlanta. And once again, I was drawn to her story. The boilers gleamed in the darkness, and I imagined the fireman shoveling away, as they tried to give power to the massive ship. Even though they knew that death was upon them.
It was just enough. The band played on as the last life boat left. Terror filled the night, as the oars splashed in the frigid water, as they pulled away from the broken dream.
May they be at peace. 

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Cute Kittens!


Sorry no kittens here, just stark cold reality. Child Abuse is not a pretty thing, but please don't look away!
April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month
I really never thought about child abuse until a few years ago. I knew about it, of course. I just neverthought about it.  
Coming from a happy home with two parents who spoiled me rotten, I had no reason to think about it. I watched made for TV movies like David, about a boy who was set on fire by his father, and Sybil, a woman who blocked out her atrocious childhood by creating different personalities. Both were true stories, but somehow they didn’t seem real.
And then I met Kennesaw Taylor. Kennesaw is a boisterous guy, always in good spirits, and has a smile on his face. He writes about the south, and life in general. He has several humor books about how crazy is the new normal.
And you would have no idea about the horrors of his past unless you picked up his other book. The one without smiling faces, the one with the dark cover. The true one.
Informally Educated is the story of Kennesaw’s survival. He never has had an easy life, and it just kept getting worse and worse as he grew older. He was only eight years old when true evil entered his world. It would remain for six years until the evil was finally snuffed out.
Kennesaw’s recollections are vivid and horrifying. However, what is really disturbing, is the people who knew. The neighbors, the teachers, the police, and yes even his mother. The adults who knew that he and his siblings were being harmed, and looked the other way.
I was aghast. I was upset. I was mad!
And what does Kennesaw reply when I ask him about it? He just shrugs and says “That’s how it was back then”.
It was. And the sad thing is, that it still happens today. People still look away.

A poem about child abuse
By Kennesaw Taylor

Die Sweet Child

I’ve watched men die, held their hand, heard their final breath.
Men who had proved themselves; men who had passed their test.
I’ve watched men die who needed it, men who had no heart.
I see them in my dreams sometimes, but am glad I did my part.
The words I speak now are so damn true, most will not understand.
Sometimes you wish to die to avoid again, that awful hand.
I hope you cannot understand what it means to wish to die.
I understand oh too well and for those kids I cry.
I’m sad each time I hear the news that a child has lost its fight.
But I know in my heart of hearts that they will sleep in peace for the first time that night.
So die sweet child, one after one until the world does see.
That they must put a stop to what happened to you and me.




Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Aloha! From SeaWorld’s Makahiki Luau


Sunday, April 1, 2012

Titanic, The Ship of Dreams, 100 Years Later


re-posted from iseekissimmee.com

Roused from my bed, I made my way to the ship’s deck. The wood creaked beneath my feet as I stepped onto the planks. The chill from the night air wiped the last threads of sleep from my befuddled mind. People were milling about in all manors of dress. Murmurs ran through the crowd, as everyone tried to ascertain the reason for their situation. Then the news came, the unsinkable ship was sinking. As I looked out upon the still ocean, surrounded by nothing but stars, fear crept into my heart.
April 14, 2012 marks the 100th Anniversary of the Titanic disaster.  What better way to honor the fallen than to walk in their footsteps?  Titanic The Experience has full-size replicas of the Grand Staircase and several other rooms.
I have always been fascinated by the Titanic. Having read several books and visiting several other Titanic exhibits, I figured “Titanic the Experience” would be pretty much the same. I was wrong. It was better.
The Orlando attraction offers guided or self-tours through the exhibit.  I highly suggest waiting for a guide. The premise is: you are a first class passenger, and are treated as such. The guide was wonderful, the tour started out with excitement at the maiden voyage of the greatest ship ever built. Then it slowly turns to grim realization that you might not survive. Many froze to death from the frigid water, an iceberg is present so you can experience what 28 degree water feels like.
I was one of the lucky ones, Michael survived as well. Nicholas, well Nicholas wasn’t as lucky. He was lost along with 1516 others.
There was no gift shop on Titanic itself, but there is one at the attraction. You can purchase replicas of China and other amenities which were saved from the deep. They also offer a Titanic Dinner Show, which sounds wonderful, but was out of my budget. They do have a nice selection of books on the tragedy and I picked up a couple, as well as, a ceremonial pin depicting 100 years.
The guided tour took about an hour. I found the tour guide, and the sweet lady in the gift shop to be incredibly knowledgeable and willing to answer questions.
Titanic is going down as one of my favorite attractions!

If you would like to read more from Lynn, please visit: my website,  my BlogFacebookTwitterGoodreads or sign up for my Newsletter!