Today in Queen Bess's Life

Tomb Effigy of Queen Elizabeth I

Elizabeth passed away on this day in 1603.  Her cause of death has never been determined, but common speculation is that she died due to blood poisoning -- perhaps from years of application of the white makeup on her face called Venetian Ceruse.  The concoction was made up white lead and vinegar.  Considering we don't want our children in homes with lead paint these days, it certainly seems probable that this was the cause of the great queen's death.

In my romantic mind, I love the legend that her last word was  "Robin" -- in reference to her longtime lover, Robert Dudley. She could have never married Dudley without severe political consequences.  Alas, her death was likely much less romantic as it is also speculated that she was in a deep sleep for a few days before she finally expired.

Today in Queen Bess's Life

On this day in 1554, Elizabeth was imprisoned in the Tower of London for her suspected involvement in the Wyatt Rebellion.  Led by Sir Thomas Wyatt, the intent was to displace Elizabeth's half sister, Mary, from the throne and replace her with Elizabeth.  Their beef with Mary?  That she was Roman Catholic and set to marry the very Roman Catholic Prince Phillip of Spain.  It was the desire of the rebels to retain the Protestant rule started by Mary and Elizabeth's father, Henry VIII.

It was assumed that Elizabeth was complicit in the plot -- thus her incarceration.

Upon her arrival by boat at the Tower (the very place her mother was beheaded), Elizabeth said:

Famous Spinster Birthday -- Queen Latifah

"I was taught from a young age that many people would treat me as a second-class citizen because I was African-American and because I was female."  -- Queen Latifah

Born:  March 18, 1970

Are you a fucking bear or something?

Hello all!  Obviously, surgery put me on a forced hiatus -- except for the posts that I wrote ahead of time and then scheduled for dates.  Sorry to reveal the wizard behind the curtain.

I'm crabby this morning.  Why?  Because of my upstairs neighbors.  I realize that I am part of the problem because I have no patience with other people.  Any apartment I've lived in has resulted in a feud with either my upstairs or downstairs counterpart.  I can't stand my current upstairs neighbors. I haven't been able to stand them since they moved in almost two years ago.

When they first moved in, it was a mother, her eight(ish) year old son, and her 'fiance'.  The fiance used to sit on the balcony smoking and talking very loudly on his cell phone.  I'm assuming he was a fiance because he would often yell at her about, "Why would I want to marry you if you don't know how to clean a house?"  His phone conversations were to his lawyer and some person that he must've gotten into a physical altercation with because he'd call the person and say shit like, "I could get into a lot of trouble for calling you because it would would considered threatening my victim, but you should know that if you testify against me, I'm going to get you."