Bacon’s Tales of Terror

Welcome back my friends to Bacon’s Tales of Terror on this 13th of the month.

Today, I want to talk about superstitions – that’s great for a 13th posting isn’t it?  Snorts.

Did you know that back in the day, breathing ‘in’ was interpreted as breathing in life while sneezing was interpreted as a swift exit of your essence or soul.  If your soul left your body through a sneeze then you would die without your soul.  This was the basis for further superstitions about sneezing throughout the centuries.

Do you tell people that sneeze, “God Bless You?”  This is actually a practice that is practiced all over the world and dates back to February 16, 590 AD.  Pope Gregory the Great decreed that prayers must be said to fight against a deadly plague in Italy at that time.  The plague was associated to be fatal by those who sneezed.  Telling someone, “God Bless You”, after they sneezed would protect people from the effects of the plague.

Saying, “God Bless You” can also be linked to around 1665 during the black plague in Europe.  Violent sneezing with the black plague was the sign of the end of the disease and death was certain to follow.  The pope made it a law so those that sneezed would be blessed due to their soon-to-be death.  It was also during this time that cover one’s mouth with their hand or cloth was put into place in order to stop the spread of further diseases.

In 17th century England if someone sneezed, people around them would remove their hats, curtsy or bow and wish them, “God Bless You”.  In the 1800’s in England, this poem came out:

Sneeze on Monday – sneeze for danger.  

Sneeze on Tuesday – kiss a stranger.  

Sneeze on Wednesday – sneeze for a letter.  

Sneeze on Thursday – something better.  

Sneeze on Friday – sneeze for woe.  

Sneeze on Saturday – a journey to go.  

Sneeze on Sunday – your safety seek – for Satan will have you for the rest of the week!

There is good luck also associated with sneezing:  if you sneeze between noon and midnight; if the family cat sneezes; if two people sneeze at the same time; if you sneeze twice in a row; or if you turn your head right when you sneezed.

But there’s also bad luck associated with sneezing:  if you sneeze in the morning while getting dressed; if you turn your head left while sneezing; if you sneeze three times in a row and someone is talking bad about you while sneezing four times is the sign of a cold.

 

Contributions to the Psychic Library on this information on sneezing superstitious.

 

Facts and Funnies about Mom’s Smart Car Albert

This is Albert.  Albert is mom’s Smart car.  I know. I know.  Mom’s names her cars.  She’s weird like that – snorts.  In this picture, it almost looks like Albert is smiling.  And you know what is worse than mommy naming her cars?  She and dad talk to Albert like a person.  I think that’s just weird.  But hey, she loves her little car.  Have you made the connection yet with mom and her love of small things?  Look at me, I’m small too.  Weird or what huh?

Mom has had Albert for a couple of years now and she loves him as much today as she did when she bought him.  She gets jokes about him every day from friends, family and co-workers.  I thought I would take this time to tell you some myths and facts about Albert.

#1 – Mom has a wicked sense of humor, if you haven’t caught on to that by now – snorts.  Since it is a Smart Car, she named it Albert.  You know after Albert Einstein.  This is a FACT.

#2 – Albert is a gas powered Smart Fortwo Passion.  He is only three cylinders and does great on gas.  Mom fills up about once a month for around $25.00.  This is a FACT. 

#3 – Oil changes are every 10,000 miles!  This is a FACT.  When you get your oil changed, mom ‘resets’ her calculator in the car, it counts down from 10,000 to let her know when it’s time for the next oil change.  She averages getting it changed around once a year.

 #4 – You can go shopping in it.  This is a FACT.  Mommy has been grocery shopping and put over $200.00 worth of groceries in the back of it with no problems!  And, the back is a perfect place for me to hang out when we are driving all around town.

#5 – Having a Smart car is like being in a club.  This is a FACT.  When mommy passes another Smart car, it’s like they’re old friends.  They honk horns and wave at each.  It’s embarrassing when I’m in the car – snorts.

#6 – Yes it is true.  Mommy took Albert to the car wash one weekend with daddy.  It was one of those drive thru places.  They got stuck in the middle because Albert didn’t weigh enough for the track to pick him up.  They learned their lesson on this one – snorts

These are just a few comments mommy has heard about Albert.  I’m not sure which one I feel sorrier for – mommy or Albert – snorts

“Where is the wind up key on that toy?”  This is actually a funny thing because there is a part that you can order to attach to the back of the car to look like a wind up toy.  Mommy has really thought about it.

“Hey, I tripped over your car in the parking lot.”

When there’s a big storm outside and mommy is at work, they will tell her, “Hey, you better go tie down your car, it’s going to get blown away”. OR “You need to put floaties on that car, a storm is a coming.”

“Hey, it looks like they installed a new speed bump in the parking lot.  Oh no, my bad.  It’s just your car.”

“Where do you buy your tires?  Lawn mower section of Home Depot?”

“You know why they named it Smart Car?  Because Golf Cart was already taken.”

“Better make sure a bird doesn’t take a crap on it.  It will total it out.”

“You need to wash your car?  I’ll throw a cup of water on it for you.”