February's Journal

[February Fortescue]

The Slytherin newspaper, SerpenTimes, is due in about two weeks, 15 October.

I truly enjoy submitting to the paper! There are so many ways for everyone to get involved, too, if they're interested.

Want to earn an easy, easy 20 points? Click HERE for all the details.

Seriously. Send in 2 images that fit the theme. You can get them directly off the internet. Describe the images in a maximum of of 50 words.

This month's theme is “snake eyes.” What does this mean to you? Perspective? Bad luck? Tell us!

 

Hard to believe it's October! I'm getting ready to decorate and can't wait to show off my craft in Town Treats! I love it. It's an every year thing for me. I also think my friend Emily will be bowled over. Our enjoyment for this type of item is something we have in common.

I just wish I had more trick or treaters. Don't get me wrong – I love where I live, because it's so very peaceful and my dogs can whoof to their heart's content, but people don't bring their children here on Halloween. They prefer large neighborhoods with lots of houses. More candy in less time. Who can blame them?

Scales awarded

[February Fortescue]

One of the most common things I read in messages is, "I want to make some friends." Most of us do, I think.  That's a huge reason many people join HOL.

I'm wanting to start a new club to introduce Slytherins to others Slytherins and to help them find a Sidekick. You'd post your answers to some simple questions such as, hobbies, favorite movies and books, etc and I'd match you up, although anyone can message anyone else to become friends. There will also be lots of fun activities, as well as a special surprise to be announced later for everyone who joins 

Our club is ready! Click HERE 

Scales awarded

[February Fortescue]

Hello, Journal! I haven't posted in YOU in awhile. Sorry - my fault. 

I had a sense this would be an unusually challenging term for me personally. I had assumed it would be because of some upcoming surgeries and "the-virus-that-shall-not-be-named" but those seem pretty small in comparison to how it all turned out. I've vented to so many people (thank you to everyone who has listened!), and over and over again I keep receiving the same excellent advice - take care of yourself first! My bestie of nearly 15 years reminded me about airplane disasters. "Remember when the air mask comes down, you always focus on placing the mask over your own face first! Once you're taken care of, then you check on the people next to you. And not before that." 

I've been so grateful to my three Class Assistants: Aurelia West, Brianna Caedmon, and Emily Spencer. They've been so amazing in figuring out my crazy classes and getting the homework graded. Thank you guys so much!!

It's been a blast having three really good Promising Students in Slytherin   It's so much fun seeing what they can come up with, and I'm having a great time participating in their activity. I can't wait to see who steps up next and joins the Promising Student ranks! It's also great fun watching Louis Walles teach his first class! I'm so glad he's enjoying it!  

I can believe Read Along is almost over! I just posted this weeks tasks for The Battle of Hogwarts. Fred Weasley has just died. In a matter of weeks, no more Read Along. Seriously - after this week, there's only SIX chapters left. 😔 I'm grateful to have been part of it. 

Until next time.....

5 scales awarded

[February Fortescue]

I haven't written in my journal much at all. Sorry, journal!

Ever get that intuitive feeling that it's going to be a particularly challenging term and you should seek help before it begins? I did. I knew I had 3 oral surgeries coming up, and because I have Factor V Leiden and Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome I have to be on a blood thinner because of my body's tendency to form blood clots too easily, so any surgery is more riskier for me than average. I listened to my instinct and added 3 Class Assistants, and they have been such gifts and I'm so grateful for them. Thank you, Aurelia West, Brianna Caedmon, and Emily Spencer - you've made this term so much easier for me and I could not have survived it without you 💚

The surgeries are over, and I wish that's all the term had planned. But...no...Since mid-February:

We went without electricity for 5 days and I stayed with my mother and brother. Both are psychotic and one was off their meds. It was painful.

Massive flood. It missed making it inside my home by about 3 feet

My brother broke 2 ribs and had 2 transverse process fractures. I help care for him.

My brother and I both had UTI's. His was dangerous and caused bleeding 

A close friend, who was .my brother's best friend, lost his battle with Cancer. His son left the world less than 1 month later. He left behind a wife and 6 year old daughter.

All of this in less than 3 months. 

Right now, I am physically exhausted and have slept all week. But my energy levels are creeping back up and I'm beginning to feel almost normal again. The Real World seems to be settling down. 

I love HOL! This is a wonderful site with 4 distinct Houses and yet they get along. My dream is to have 4 strong houses, representative of the 4 Hogwarts Houses, and yet all 4 coming together in harmony. 

My goal was always to write for all the House newspapers, participate in all their activities, build up Slytherin and earn as many points as possible. I was heartbroken when I realized I had no chance of doing that right now. I've had to prioritize. 

I love to teach. Scoring points. Encouraging people.

Slythern is a wonderful House. They all are, each in their individual ways. And individuality is good. 

Currently listening to October Project's Where You Are and thinking of the love of my life, who passed in 2019 

Scales awarded

[February Fortescue]

I've been thinking about adding an aquarium. I haven't kept tropical fish in a couple of years.

I remember being in college, walking into my dorm room and being presented with a fully set up fish tank, placed on the kitchen table in front of the huge window. It was only 10 gallons, and yet it housed 2 angelfish, 1 silver dollar, 10 guppies, 1 betta, and 1 shark. She had added a filter and an air pump and a lid. 

We knew nothing about fish keeping, and most of them died fairly quickly. I had complained about shark because he kept biting the other fish. He didn't die - one day, he simply disappeared. She actually accused me of killing him.  I protested my innocence, but I could tell she didn't believe me 

Three days later, as we were cleaning, we discovered the shark. He was stuck to the bottom of a poster she had hanging on the door. 

None of the fish survived. We never bought any more.

Years later. I kept male bettas at different points. I wish I could say I  knew more about fish keeping, but the bettas at least had 3 gallon tanks, an air pump, and a filter. They lived alone 

I've been taking the time to educate myself, and I'm amazed at how little I've known about the hobby. I want guppies, angelfish, and a male betta,  and now that I know this would most likely require 3 separate tanks, I haven't decided which way to go! 

5 scales awarded

[February Fortescue]

I had an amazing time on vacation 💚

We did the usual things most people do on their camping trips: swimming, hiking, smores....

The place my brother and I visited is especially noted for its caves, and they offer tours of several of them. I am extremely claustrophobic and chose to not participate in any of those. One tour I'm told included tight spaces in some places, heights with no hand rails in others,  mud, water, a true adventure! Apparently the bat population is having issues and dying out because of white noise, which I didn't know about. 

The most enjoyable part was visiting friends, chit chatting, and eating smores by firelight. There were five dogs, including another poodle for Sherman to play with, so that was great fun. 

I just had to check HOL once a day. Would you believe the place was perfectly fine without me? hahahaha 

5 scales awarded

[February Fortescue]

I cannot believe another term has practically come to a close! It's been an exceptional one, I think. I survived my home life, and I'm still a Prefect. I adore our three Promising Students and know they'll continue do even more amazing things next term.  I've met some others who I really think are doing really, really well. 

Next term should be as busy as ever! My dear Prefect-in-Crime, Emily and I have made it our goal to continue supporting HOL and Slytherin and racking up points. I believe Aurelia and Hannah are in on this as well 😁

This is way off topic,, but currently my biggest decision is trying to decide between a 5 gallon tank with a Betta, a 20 gallon tank with Dalmation Mollies, or a 20 gallon tank with fancy Guppies.......

[February Fortescue]

Dear journal:

So sorry i haven't written in awhile. It's been an insanely painful and year. So very grateful I have so many wonderful friends who were willing to sit and simply listen or to read and respond to endless emails, messages, and texts. The ones on HOL know who you are, and you're a huge reason I survived the madness!

I learned alot about myself and life in the process. Life is an excellent teacher, and listening to others' perspectives made a world of difference in my outlook and how I process things. .And, mercifully, sometimes people whom you've behaved very poorly towards give you a second chance, within reasonable limits.  A grateful "thank you so much!" to them as well.

I've begun a new hobby: genealogy. So fascinating, and I have so many stories!

I've learned about a famous settler from here named Jenny Wiley. I'm a direct descendant of her sister. Her sister's husband had heard owls hooting during the day, and we all know owls don't hoot during the daytime, right?  He told Jenny Wiley that meant there were Indians in the area, and because Jenny's husband was away, she and her family should come and stay with his family., and she said she would shortly. Just as she was leaving, Indians came into her cabin and abducted her and her children. Turns out they had the wrong cabin: they were looking for the Harmon cabin, because Harmon was very violent towards the Cherokee and Shawnee. If Jenny had only listened to her brother in law (my direct ancestors!)

I think at the end of each entry, I'll post a funny image from Harry Potter.  If you are reading this, and if you participate in the current Slyth-o-Ween Week One, send me a message and I send you 10 beans.

Dumbledore's Got Style - click here

5 scales awarded

[February Fortescue]

Here's another story from my genealogical search.

Muggle Me is a descendant of Clan Lockhart 😄 I had no idea.

Rowling stated she chose the surname for Gilderoy Lockhart when she saw the name on a Scottish war memorial. She noted it's a well-known Scottish surname. This is quite true, I suppose. I'm not Scottish, though I'm American, so I'm guessing, but if I have my history correct,  Symon Locard (the original spelling of the name), 2nd of Lee (1300-1371), fought with Robert the Bruce in the wars  for Scottish independence, and did so well, he was knighted.

King Robert the Bruce's last wish was to have his heart buried in the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Sir James Douglas carried the heart in a locked silver casket on a chain around his neck, while Sir Symon Locard carried the key which unlocked the casket. Sir James was unexpectedly killed and Sir Symon managed to save the heart, but was able to continue on the the Holy Land, so he returned to Scotland with the heart and the bones of Sir James Douglas.  To commemorate the occasion, the name Locard was changed to Lockheart, and later shortened to Lockhart, and the family's coat of arms was updated to  include a heart with a fetterlock and the motto "Corda Serrata Pando" (I open locked hearts).

click here  and  click here

neither of these images are mine. Both belong to Clan Lockhart.

My great grandmother, for whom I was named, was named after her grandmother, and that lady's maiden name was Lockhart. The Lockhart's can trace their lineage all the way back to Sir Symon. It may be eight generations from myself, but it's still fun to think about, I suppose.

5 scales awarded

[February Fortescue]

I can't believe it's almost been a year since I posted here last! This year promises to be lots of fun. I get to take OWLs which I've always dreamed about doing. What could possibly be more fun? Such a rite of passage for fifth years, and there are so many of us this year! Sin was kind, as usual, to take my green-and-purple challenge and create a 5th year sig for me. The man is a master! I still ave my dogs from earlier posts, although we can pretend they are cats or snakes. I guess as long as i don't add a roommate as well. Fortunately my kitty loves dogs and my dogs love my kitty, so things are good there,  too. Until next month, I suppose.

[February Fortescue]

Is this month over yet? My muggle word has been insane! 🤪

First, I had my first Optometrist  appt with a new doctor. When I went into the main examining room to wait for the doc, I realized I had left something in another room, I discovered the door was locked and I couldn't get out! Super creepy.

Second,  after finishing up a busy day at the hospital following several of my brother's doctor's appointments, while exiting the hospital shuttle bus van, I get crushed by the van door! It's to the emergency room for me.  Fortunately, I was just bruised.

Third, we had a collision which totaled the 2022 car. More bruising. The other driver was fine and drove her car away. It was declared "no fault."

Fourth, the car company decided we had too many loans and could not get another car loan. So we're getting a true clunker and we live in an area with no public transportation.

But I'm an optimist. December will be a bit stressful, but next tear will be marvelous