One Year Anniversary!

I can't believe it's been one year to the day that I started Mary's Modern Mishaps. I also can't believe it has been almost a month since my last post...mea culpa! I don't have a very good defense, but it is a very honest one and that is I have been B-U-S-Y! I will save the whole story for the end of this month recap, as my faithful readers most definitely deserve one. Today, I'd prefer to focus on the year that's gone by and the year that's to come.

So, there have been two major changes in my life since I started Mary's Modern Mishaps. The first, chronologically speaking, was getting laid off. The second was getting engaged. You've already heard about the engagement and, obviously, it made me as happy as a clam. You've heard a fair bit about my getting laid off too, as I broke the news with this post. The truth of the matter is, even now, nine months later, I am still so happy to have been laid off. Many people complain about their jobs, wish for (and actually need) better pay, and daydream about quitting. I can honestly tell you that no matter what my predicament in life, I have not had a single moment where I have said or thought, "I wish I were still at _____." or "It wasn't as bad as I thought."

The Origins Behind 9 Sports Team Names

I'm very pleased to introduce my fiance, Greg's, first post as a guest blogger. He suggested this clever topic for me and I suggested he write it instead...I'm not much the sports buff. Let us know if you'd like to hear more from Greg!

Of all the blog subjects you thought you would see on here, I'll bet that a sports post would not be near the top of your list. If you actually know Mary, you'll know that a sports themed post would be as likely as me competing on the uneven bars at the next Olympics. In the sports world, nicknames and mascots come from some awfully strange places. Here's a list of sports teams whose names have a connection with the Civil War.

Lets get the obvious ones out the way first...

It's Fat Tuesday!!!

I legitimately did not realize this was pretty much a week of holidays when I wrote my comment about how many holidays are in February yesterday. I guess the perk here is that I now have a bunch of topics to write about.

So, today is Fat Tuesday, also known as the day of the Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Mardi Gras actually translates to "fat Tuesday" in French. The story behind Mardi Gras is pretty interesting. Most people probably already know that Mardi Gras is the day before Ash Wednesday which signifies the start of Lent. If you aren't familiar with Lent, it represents the period where Jesus went into the desert for 40 days and nights and resisted the temptation of the devil. It is therefore acknowledged by Christians as a time of self discipline, usually in the form of "giving something up." I'll give you some more information on Lent tomorrow. Today has become something of a last hurrah before reflection and reserve of Lent.

Here are some of the origins of traditional Fat Tuesday celebrations:

Happy Presidents' Day!

Boy it's not until you start blogging about history that you realize how many holidays are in February! Anyway, first things first, I am back from Gettysburg and I had a lovely time. There will be more blogs on that this week. Two, all last month I was really hoping to hit my largest monthly audience to date, this month I'm behind in my goal of posts and managed to break that record as of this morning! The internet is a fickle creature. 

On to today's topic! One of my more minor pet peeves is how Presidents' Day is considered "George Washington and Abraham Lincoln Day" when it really is supposed to incorporate a whole bunch of presidents...you know, like all of them, even the one's you're not so crazy about. Initially, I was going to do a Top Ten list of Ten "Other" Awesome Presidents besides Washington and Lincoln, but I feel like I'm abusing my Top Ten List category lately. So, instead, I will present you with 44 bits of trivia about the Presidents of the United States...in order...because I am in the mood to be extra history-nerdy!

44 Bits of Trivia on the Presidents of the United States: 

In Order of Terms of Service

History Major Memes Round 2

A few weeks ago, I posted this blog which featured Meme Generator's "History Major Heraldic Beast". Last week, it officially became my most read blog to date. Normally, I'd be happy for such an event regardless, but I know people are searching for the following meme below, so next time Mary's Modern Mishaps is googled, the desired content will be found:

For the record, why it matters what anyone thinks I do is irrelevant to me. Also, if Society thinks History Majors are Confederate Reenactors posing on a tank...we really need some more history majors and more history jobs so those who DO major in history aren't standing on unemployment lines.

Also, what is a "Hard Science" Major?

Happy Valentine's Day! (A Day Late)

I know you were all just waiting for this post. What shall it be on? Oh, the options, the options! We can talk about all sorts of love history. We can talk about how St. Valentine's "romantic" cards were all sent when he was   basically on death row. I could throw a bone to all the bitter people and focus on the Valentine's Day Massacre. I think, however, I'll do a Top Ten List instead!

Top Ten Couples in History

What Would Lincoln Think?

Today is Abraham Lincoln's birthday. During his life, Lincoln was not considered the hero and cultural icon he is in 2012. During his political campaigns (which, by the way, before internet and television, were way, way more slandering and vicious than they are today) and his term as president, he was frequently compared to an ape or monkey, accused of being an uneducated backwoodsman.