tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post6623738783085069981..comments2024-01-12T11:26:35.176-05:00Comments on Working Stiffs: Knock WoodWorking Stiffshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270595837074553752noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-24920593928370429412011-01-27T20:44:23.835-05:002011-01-27T20:44:23.835-05:00Brenda, thanks so much for stopping by and for sha...Brenda, thanks so much for stopping by and for sharing those great stories!! I've never heard of "Sunday luck", but that tradition sounds very intriguing ... and a definite ploy by said relative to get out of taking the blame for recommending the wrong hair stylist! ;)<br /><br />My parents have a sweet black cat, too--Shadow. He's a darling! :)Kelli Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-91251309882567542002011-01-27T20:38:46.922-05:002011-01-27T20:38:46.922-05:00Somewhere I read that black cats are GOOD luck in ...Somewhere I read that black cats are GOOD luck in England. I LIKED that superstition as I have a sweet black cat. <br /><br />I thought it weird that my maternal grandmother wouldn't let me watch my parents driving off into the sunset when leaving me for a summer vacation since she said it was bad luck to watch them literally driving out of your view. Never heard that from anyone else. <br /><br />In re Sunday superstitions. The very relative who took me to have my hair done on a Sunday was the one who later said that the fact that that hairdresser TOTALLY RUINED my hair was Sunday luck. Didn't listen to HER hair advice again but had to wear a wig to recover from that round.<br /><br />Our cat proved it is bad luck to stand under a ladder because you can turn it over. <br /><br />BrendaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-70193325955531114542011-01-27T14:38:21.461-05:002011-01-27T14:38:21.461-05:00Right now, my powerful mind is suggesting that all...Right now, my powerful mind is suggesting that all Working Stiffs and their friends become successful authors. <br /><br />Make it happen!Ramonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00627775403015684868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-25057659727495595362011-01-27T12:44:03.058-05:002011-01-27T12:44:03.058-05:00Gina, that is one spooky superstition! Predicated ...Gina, that is one spooky superstition! Predicated on having a rocking chair in the house, of course, and also datable to whenever rocking chairs were invented. Cool!!<br /><br />Of course, people who pay to put curses on others are always impatient ... so although nature will eventually take care of their ill wishes (and their own lives), they want control, and they want it now. Patience, as they say, is a virtue! :)Kelli Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-85326029268190112472011-01-27T12:37:51.999-05:002011-01-27T12:37:51.999-05:00Hi, Sarah, and thanks!! :)
That whole "spine...Hi, Sarah, and thanks!! :)<br /><br />That whole "spine melting" thing is a bit scary ... I mean, I grew up with Bogey Man stories, but the threat of spine melting is a new (and fascinating) child-control method!! ;) Maybe it's a British thing.<br /><br />I think Ramona hit the nail on the head, too ... if only we could fully harness the power of our minds!!Kelli Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-44695568173293458522011-01-27T12:32:05.659-05:002011-01-27T12:32:05.659-05:00And I forgot to mention--I like The Pale Horse!! :...And I forgot to mention--I like The Pale Horse!! :)Kelli Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-82799842196979537742011-01-27T12:31:19.991-05:002011-01-27T12:31:19.991-05:00Hi, Jennie, my sweet!! :) Thanks for letting me ha...Hi, Jennie, my sweet!! :) Thanks for letting me hang out with y'all!! :)<br /><br />You bring up an interesting point. Is superstitious reaction an unconscious cultural habit? An irrational fear inculcated by societal exposure?<br /><br />The fact that a lot of us react as you do--not actually embracing superstition, but at the very least hesitating before crossing a bad luck symbol--shows how powerful it can be ...<br /><br />The one thing I never worry about, though, is a black cat. I refuse to associate any animal or living creature with bad luck. <br />Except for humans, of course ... :)Kelli Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-88148715477667019082011-01-27T12:25:41.719-05:002011-01-27T12:25:41.719-05:00Holly, I took an art history course from a woman w...Holly, I took an art history course from a woman who specialized in exactly what you're talking about--Vodou and the blending of Afro-Caribbean culture with Catholicism. It's absolutely fascinating!! I learned a lot--Art History was one of my undergraduate degrees--and I particularly liked the cult of Mami Wata.<br />Can't wait until we can talk more about this!!! :)Kelli Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-70786688546298892582011-01-27T11:55:40.891-05:002011-01-27T11:55:40.891-05:00Never let a rocking chair rock with no one sitting...Never let a rocking chair rock with no one sitting in it, or someone will die.<br /><br />That said, I've always found the most effective curse to be wishing someone dead. It always works, although it may take 60 or 70 years . . .Ginanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-55005330998422032022011-01-27T11:51:21.166-05:002011-01-27T11:51:21.166-05:00Hi Kelli, The Curse-Maker sounds like a good one. ...Hi Kelli, The Curse-Maker sounds like a good one. <br /><br />I remember my <i>ra</i>ther British mother-in-law-to-be commenting one Christmas as the kids gathered closely around the fire that they shouldn't get too close because their spines would melt. I laughed...but she was SERIOUS! <br /><br />I suppose that falls into the "old wives tale" category.<br /><br />I agree with Ramona about the power of suggestion-- What we truly believe (for better or worse) is often what happens...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-92097856182009710292011-01-27T11:48:45.711-05:002011-01-27T11:48:45.711-05:00Bente, I once opened an umbrella in the house just...Bente, I once opened an umbrella in the house just to see what would happen. The only thing that did is my mother had a fit.Joyce Tremelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00498392016497131719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-85799058146815159292011-01-27T11:34:22.912-05:002011-01-27T11:34:22.912-05:00Welcome back, darling! As always a pleasure to see...Welcome back, darling! As always a pleasure to see you! The Curse-Maker sounds awesome...<br /><br />I'm not superstitious. At all. That said, I knock on wood, shudder when a black cat crosses the road in front of me, never walk under ladders, feel a thrill of horror if someone breaks a mirror or opens an umbrella inside... and on and on and on. It's not because I really believe that anything bad will happen, it's just habit, I guess. <br /><br />Ramona's mention of the power of suggestion brought me in mind of my favorite Agatha Christie mystery, which also has to do with curses. The Pale Horse. Anyone else like that one?Jennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01442754671445893599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-46923614982424710582011-01-27T11:02:50.229-05:002011-01-27T11:02:50.229-05:00Thanks for stopping by, Ramona, and I agree--our m...Thanks for stopping by, Ramona, and I agree--our minds can be more powerful than science can explain!<br /><br />But now, of course, I want to hear about your voodoo dolls!!! :)Kelli Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-30460543841022356432011-01-27T11:02:02.729-05:002011-01-27T11:02:02.729-05:00I'm not superstitious, but I'm very intere...I'm not superstitious, but I'm very interested in the subject of curses and rituals and the ways humans appeal to God(s) for assistance, especially as it pertains to Vodun and other African religions. I'm also interested in the blending of Catholicism and African religion as it occurred in so many Western locations who imported slaves.Holly Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15402274799862881793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-76013027236355109582011-01-27T11:01:13.106-05:002011-01-27T11:01:13.106-05:00LOL--I knock on my own head when I need to, so you...LOL--I knock on my own head when I need to, so you're not alone, Karen!! :)<br /><br />And thank you for the kind comments--I hope you enjoy THE CURSE-MAKER!!Kelli Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-60157422051988186662011-01-27T10:59:38.973-05:002011-01-27T10:59:38.973-05:00Thanks so much for being the perfect hostess, Joyc...Thanks so much for being the perfect hostess, Joyce!! :)<br /><br />And this three wishes idea is fascinating!! I've never heard anything like it (hay trucks, yes, Catholic churches, no), but it's really cool, and hey--I might give it a try!! :)Kelli Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-62153599656114670002011-01-27T10:58:18.805-05:002011-01-27T10:58:18.805-05:00Thank you, Annette!! It's always fabulous to g...Thank you, Annette!! It's always fabulous to get to hang out with you guys! :)<br /><br />I LOVE the story--I can just picture your grandmother shaking her head. And it shows how closely intertwined religious practice and superstition can be ... the "no work on Sundays" and even Friday the 13th are examples!<br /><br />Thanks for having me over, sweetie!! :)Kelli Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05134057726661907735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-21419164073643893452011-01-27T10:02:30.979-05:002011-01-27T10:02:30.979-05:00I'm not superstitious, although I often talk a...I'm not superstitious, although I often talk about my voodoo dolls and how I use them, therapeutically. <br /><br />I think the power of suggestion can be a powerful weapon. Whether or not you actually believe in the curse, you weigh the risk and...yep, I'd return the slippers.<br /><br />Best of luck with the new book!Ramonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00627775403015684868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-75288854636019044412011-01-27T09:51:53.094-05:002011-01-27T09:51:53.094-05:00Waving back at Karen...Waving back at Karen...Joyce Tremelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00498392016497131719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-75747288155200834232011-01-27T09:17:45.566-05:002011-01-27T09:17:45.566-05:00Waving at Joyce!!
Kelli, I'm glad to be remin...Waving at Joyce!!<br /><br />Kelli, I'm glad to be reminded of your books; I've been meaning to look for them for ages. The subjects intrigue me, and I think will challenge the mind. Good luck with this new book.<br /><br />I'm not especially superstitious, but I do knock, or touch, wood whenever I say something or hear something that, if it came true would bring a pox on our house. Or something like that. Sometimes it isn't so easy to find actual wood, so I knock twice on my own noggin. <br /><br />Annette, CARCAR is an omen, for sure! FRUSTF is just silly.Karen in Ohionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-3703823206711565412011-01-27T08:00:04.386-05:002011-01-27T08:00:04.386-05:00Welcome back, Kelli!
Very interesting post. The ...Welcome back, Kelli! <br /><br />Very interesting post. The new book sounds fabulous!<br /><br />I'm really not superstitious. I don't have any lucky charms. (Not even the cereal.) The only thing I can think of that might be considered superstitious is something that carried over from my childhood--whenever you visit a new Catholic church you're supposed to make three wishes. I have no idea where that one came from, but I still do it!Joyce Tremelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00498392016497131719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33226151.post-87287845706089224722011-01-27T07:45:22.703-05:002011-01-27T07:45:22.703-05:00Welcome back to Working Stiffs, Kelli!
My favorit...Welcome back to Working Stiffs, Kelli!<br /><br />My favorite superstition story has to do with my grandparents. I remember my grandma chiding my grandfather for washing his '57 Chevy pickup truck on a Sunday. That same week, something happened (I forget what...this was DECADES ago) that resulted in the pickup's back window being broken out. Grandma waggled her finger and tsk-tsked, "I told you so!" Grandpap never ever washed a car or truck on a Sunday ever again.<br /><br />And my word verification just happens to be CARCAR. Is that an omen? ;-)Annettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02755947919433555176noreply@blogger.com