** Security Alert ***

FYI, we have a court case pending at the end of June with 2 of the online trolls (not in this country) who helped impersonate me online & other harassment. They did so initially as a favor to a few someone we know in THIS country who wanted to keep themselves out of legal trouble here. These 2 are currently out on bail & we anticipated retaliation

On blogs, they began by "hitting" friends with impersonations (fake profiles), then me (6x) to make it look like it was me doing it. 

Today, a childhood friend was "hit" in just such a manner and impersonated and also privately sent strange text messages.

What happened today raised flags, but could be random. 

If anyone else receives anything strange, please let us know so we can add it to the documentation. 

Yes, the timing is odd considering discussion about the situation with my daughter & family, but we're chalking this up to random coincidence & observing for now. Thanks

PS The difference between "impersonation" and "hacking."

Impersonation =  Right-clicking on someone's picture and creating a fake profile with it.

Hacking = actually entering your account.

Mini-Vacation Bargain - Barren River Lake, Lucas, Kentucky :)

Ah, just home from a much-needed mini-vacay before Mark returns to work Monday - Barren River Lake Resort - a GREAT bargain! :)

The first bird pic is of a Sandhill crane, the second is a Cormorant:)

And much to Mark's dismay, there are no pictures of Bigfoot/Sasquatch lol (However, there were several concrete statues of him in the area?)

 A Sandhill crane...

A cormorant...

Our babies at the beach ... :)

Forgive my lack of makeup in these photos..

Lol - Mark's face when Speed Racer (Mark) starting to let me drive the boat...

#ShePersisted Part Deux :) Fantine, Belle Brezing and Susan Boyle :)

At first glance, those name may not appear to have much in common, but bear with me.

The impetus for this post is that on February 16th, The University of Kentucky will be showing the 1-hour documentary on Madam Belle Brezing.

Belle is one Lexington's most beloved historical figures, but it wasn't always that way. 

Remember Belle Watley, the red-haired Madam with the heart of gold who took pity on Scarlett in "Gone With the Wind" and drove her home from the party in her curtain-drawn carriage? 

She's based on Lexington Kentucky's Belle Brezing

 Though adored now, she was once considered Lexington's shame Her history will remind you a bit of Fantine from Les Miserables (forgive me if the details are off, the documentary will help) ...

Born illegitimately as Belle Cox, she barely knew her father, which of course was scandalous in the 1800s, so she adopted her stepfather's name of Brezing as cover. However, her mother and stepfather were reportedly abusive drug/alcohol addicts, which did not enhance her family's already tarnished reputation.

Knowing that due to her family's status, she would most likely never "marry well" (which was really the only choice women had at that time), combined with the fact her family was poor and that women were still prohibited from most types of jobs or business, she thus chose to quit school to become a maid for a wealthy family at the age of 14.

The family's son took a liking to Belle and soon thereafter, she found herself pregnant at age 16. Of course, she was released, the son denied being the father, and she was turned out into the street pregnant, knowing no one respectable would hire or marry her. Thus, she had no choice but to knock on a brothel door, asking if they were in need of a maid.

Her child, Daisy, unfortunately was mentally-challenged and needed special care and living in a brothel wasn't suitable regardless. Originally, she was cared for while working by a neighbor, but as Daisy needed more care, she needed to live permanently in a home for special needs children, so Belle went from maid of the brothel to becoming a lady of the evening to afford special care for her. 

Belle was highly intelligent and an avid reader and educated herself, learning to speak articulately and correctly. Thus, she worked her way up to becoming the business owner, the Madam - and not just any Madam - the most successful Madam east of the Mississippi

She dressed her ladies in the world's finest, dresses from Paris and Milan and if men abused the women, they were shown the door. She and staff entertained some of the most notable politicians, dignitaries, authors, opera singers, and business magnates in not only the country, but the world. 

Regardless, true to the movie, she could not travel by day without drawing curtains, so she mostly traveled at night in the same way.

She was also one of the most generous and charitable people in Lexington history; interestingly, a devout Catholic despite her profession.

In fact, she contributed heavily financially to building St. Joseph Hospital here in Lexington, anonymously initially, helping to personally care for the sick and wounded under a hooded cloak (also true to the movie) so as not to bring shame on the hospital.

And all the while, she spent every Sunday with her beloved Daisy at her special needs home, regardless of the jeers :)

Additionally, she had a collection of rare books from around the world which she also tried to donate in her name to UK, but they refused because of her reputation. Years later, she donated them anonymously and they accepted - so it's interesting they're honoring her now :)

Our favorite Lexington legend about her was that she was once dragged off to court for her business.

The judge inquired her whereabouts the prior evening and the nature of her business.

Belle replied, "Well judge? You oughtta know, you were there."

Case dismissed ;)

The flu epidemic and WWI crippled her business and brothels fell out of favor, so unfortunately, Belle died nearly penniless (and supposedly opium-addicted, though she previously had refused drugs), but at the age of 80 in 1940 :(

Despite her profession, Belle never missed a confession or mass, and thus was permitted by the Catholic church to be buried in a modest grave in Lexington's Catholic cemetery, "Calvary Cemetery," right across the street from the extraordinarily beautiful Lexington Cemetery.

Interestingly, visitors to the grave site note that the pillared gravestone directly behind her modest one says:

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." :)

Interest in Belle was revived in and around the 1970s and not only was more compassion shown towards her, but she was given a newfound respect, as a shrewd businesswomen who did the best she could with what life dealt her, and poor choices she made in her youth, but most importantly, that she retained her compassion for others despite all of it.

Thus, we once had a Belle Brezing stakes at Keeneland and a local beer named after her, and there is still a room at Lyndon House B&B named after her, a local play of her life gave sold-out performances in 2011, and in 2013, a local pub opened on Market Street called "Belle's Cocktail Lounge" in her honor.

As for me, despite net rumor, I never resorted to being a lady of the evening (not even close) - but there are a few other elements of her story I identify with.  In fact, all women seem to identify with her, in a way, much like Fantine - because there's something about her struggle as a single parent, the double-standard, and how women were viewed and treated in US history that resonates with all women, still today. 

In fact, she's sort of a heroine, here, because not only did she survive despite the nearly insurmountable odds - especially for women at that time - but for all that she able accomplish, despite the hand she was dealt, and she continued to give to others despite it.

So hats off to you, Ms. Belle - wish you could see how much Lexington loves you now - even Baptists! lol

Speaking of Fantine/Les Miserables, here's the exact moment Susan Boyle shocked the world with that voice, singing Fantine's song, "I Dreamed a Dream." 

 Despite her oddness, despite her appearance, despite her age and despite the ridicule - she persevered - and she won :)
 
Dedicated to all the women like Susan Boyle who just kept going. Triumph of the human spirit - which contrary to popular belief, includes the female spirit, too ;) #ShePersisted :) 

Still one of the most inspirational moments I have ever seen (especially what the judges say at the end) :) ...

Trump is About to Sign the E.O. Rolling Back Dodd-Frank (The Wall Street Reform/Consumer Protection Act)

 As I said last night, I wouldn't mention the attention hound that is Trump again unless he did something horrific that affected our daily lives again.  Well, this is it.  Press on both sides are reporting he's about to sign the EO to roll back regulations on the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform/Consumer Protection Act.

Love the quote - so Trump - you think the answer is to go back to the time before Obama signed Dodd-Frank - back to the banking mess we got ourselves into before Obama signed this bill in 2010 to stabilizing the economic fallout from unregulated unethical banking practice and bailouts that plunged millions of working  and middle-class Americans into poverty, lost jobs and bankruptcy? 

The economic meltdown that occurred after October 2008's stock market crash we didn't feel until 2009, Trump?

Here we go again.  Republicans screw up the economy and blame the next guy in office because we don't feel the fallout until then.


And we all sat right here and watched the congressional hearings on companies like Goldman Sachs, reading aloud their emails, which high-fived each other over getting the American public to invest in crap, knowing it would bankrupt them, but they'd make a quick buck. (Many Republicans are often very short-sighted - Trump is proof. Or they simply don't care about what happens to the every day American, as long as they, their shareholders and their families are safe.)


After learning what I did about Key Bank this morning (two posts below), I suspected this was coming - that's why I posted it ;)

What about Trump was draining the swamp and was all about small business growth, hmm?


Nope, as I told you, he was heavily invested in the swamp and he will continue to be - and this EO is proof. 

Wide awake yet, working and middle-class Republicans?

Because he's about to sign an EO that would roll back the one act that working and middle class Republicans and Democrats agreed upon in 2010, recognizing it was predominantly lack of regulation of unethical banking business practices that contributed most to our economic collapse, resulting in millions of hard-working Americans plunge into foreclosure, bankruptcy and job loss.

And you're okay with that, Americans?

And still, curiously no mention of the plan for new jobs or jobs coming back to the US.

Ready to admit you've been duped, yet, Trump voters?

Jeez, what's it gonna take - when YOU are bankrupt, laid off, or foreclosed upon (again, in some cases)? 

Well, the best you can hope for is that it will go down like it did last time - we won't FEEL it until the next president is in office and he/she will take the blame.

Love Obama or hate him, he signed this bipartisan Congressional bill - which everyone but CEOs and Wall Street agreed with, at the time -  which DID stabilize our economy and banking practice.

Dodd-Frank is the reason we are all more stable financially than we were then - and Trump is about to undo it because that's what his buddies want.

Old Mission Peninsula and Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City, Michigan :)

While here, I thought I'd post a few photos of our trip we made this past weekend,to Northern Michigan. (It was actually a necessary trip for Mark, but we managed to get in a few fun moments - forgive the photo quality, some were quickly-snapped cell phone pics :)

You should've seen my happy husband in his natural habitat, he was like a kid in a candy store! :)

Lighthouse Beach on Old Mission Peninsula, Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan - Traverse City, Michigan :)

Nope, that's not the ocean, that's Grand Traverse Bay, part of Lake Michigan.  Much like the ocean, it's super blue, but super clear, smaller waves and less things that could hurt you when you swim in it :)

Mark, apparently baptizing Brooke? ;)

The vineyards, cherry orchards and apple orchards of Old Mission Peninsula, with views of East and West Traverse Bay (Old Mission Peninsula separating the two) :)

Mari V Vineyards (Italianate/Tuscan Style with underground wine cellar).

Chateau Chantal Vineyard and Restaurant

Peninsula Grill -  Where my honey finally got his much-anticipated and beloved fried perch! :)

An appetizer of crab cakes with lime-corn salsa and avocado with a glass of Blackstar Chardonnay (local wine)...

I swear, he almost licked his plate of perch, when he'd finished, before I stopped him! lol

Though he knows it doesn't go with fish, Mark wanted to try the Mari V cabernet franc (local wine, see pic above).  He said the wine tasted nearly identical a Rothschild and therefore went with everything ;) (Methinks he was just on a battered-perch high ;))

For my entree, as I hadn't eaten all day, I had smoked spare ribs (smoked all day on site), with butternut squash and brussel sprouts with bacon - heaven!

Boardman River through Midtown, Traverse City, Michigan 

A pit stop on the way home of Mark's Alma Mater, Michigan State University - one of the few US universities that can boast both phenomenal football and basketball teams. (He must've brought them luck - The Spartans won against Notre Dame that day @ Notre Dame!)

My own Sparty in front of Spartan Stadium...

Spartan Mark in front of the Breslin Center (currently being renovated) and the Magic Johnson statue...

And this pic is one I snapped of one of the two things I'd never seen before, until this first trip to Michigan - a black squirrel! (I thought it was a skunk at first from a distance LOL).

What's the second thing I'd never seen, you ask?

I didn't get a pic, but the amount of men with an exact replica of Mitt Romney's hair :)

Lastly, a little video of the Sparty family in front of Beaumont Clock Tower, while chiming, at MSU - beautiful campus - I admit, much prettier than UK's campus :)