Wikipedia Trail: From Charles Island to plastic flamingos

Charles Island - Suspected to be the site where Captain Kidd may have buried treasure in addition to the treasure he left at Gardiners Island. If so, it was never found. The island is a sanctuary for rare birds in the summer, so the best times to visit are spring and fall. You can walk to the island via a slippery, dangerous sand bar, or take a boat. The sandbar floods twice a day, so you can get stuck there.

Floreana Island - Formerly called Charles Island, named after Kind Charles II. One of the Galapagos Islands, where Charles Darwin did his infamous study of finches and how their beak size determined survival depending on the food source and competition.

(Photo from my personal collection. Flamingos at OKC Zoo.)

Flamingo - a "flame colored" bird that lives on Floreana Island. There are four species of flamingos in the United States. It isn't understood why they stand on one leg.

Plastic Flamingo - The official bird of Madison, WI. I am not kidding. One of the most popular lawn ornaments in the U.S. 

(Photo by James Lee)

Famous Last Words: Chasing the Sun

(Photo from my personal collection, Sunrise 9/5)

I'm working in a mostly shady spot in the backyard right now because it's such a beautiful day. I am getting so much done out here! I may have to make this my regular workplace on nice mornings. I'm actually out here because my husband is cleaning up an old couch to take to his office. It's right by my desk where I was trying to read for another class, and he kept spraying febreeze on it. My allergies have been crazy the past week or two, so after a second round of that I could no longer breathe. I took some allergy medicine and escaped to the backyard! He's also playing video games, which is fine, but I was having trouble concentrating.

I enjoyed reading Cupid and Psyche this week, it was a really fun story, but I found it hard to think of how to write my own story from it. I finally just made myself start writing Wednesday while my daughter was in her class at OCCC. It's nice and quiet in the art building there, and I seem to write better there than at home. It was also fun to look at a few of my classmates' stories this week. I like how we all seem to come up with completely different things, even if we base them on the same stories.

My internship hasn't started yet and probably won't for another week at least. It's both good and nerve racking. I've had a lot of anxiety this week, and none of it was for rational reasons. I've done things to relieve some of it, so I feel much better, but there were some nights I just didn't sleep because I couldn't turn off the anxious thoughts. We haven't started in the lab yet, either. I suppose in some ways this is good, because I'm taking my GRE this coming Friday, and I've had more time than I would have to study. I'm going to have to fit in as much study time as I can this week. I definitely don't feel ready. Can't wait for it to be over with.

My husband's birthday was this week, so we did a little celebrating. Nothing too big, but there was cake, which is never bad, only bad for me. I need to get serious and make time to eat better and exercise more. I'm doing a photo challenge on Instagram this month, haven't done one in a long time. I actually made time to catch the end of sunrise Tuesday morning after dropping my daughter at school, and that was super nice. I used to attend as many sunrises and sunsets (with my camera in tow) as I possibly could, but it's been awhile since I've made the time for it.

That's about it for now. I'm looking forward to doing the week 5 assignments this coming week. Writing my introduction for my storybook is going to be interesting!

Reading Notes: More Lupin, Goemon, Kidd

The Mysterious Traveller - Lupin is in a train car with the wife of the director of the penitentiary service. Another man busts into the train car, and the woman is anxious and afraid. Her husband told her Lupin was on the train and she is sure it's him. The real Lupin dozes off and the other man attacks, gagging and tying his hands. He takes his wallet and the women's jewels and waits for the train to arrive. When it goes through a tunnel and slows for construction, he leaps from the train. Lupin gets the women to agree to pretend they know each other to convince the police to start looking for the escaped "Lupin" right away. He offers to go with them to help capture him.  After a long chase they split up in the woods, and Lupin catches the man, who turns out to be assassin Pierre Onfrey. he takes back his things and leaves the man incapacitated with the women's things nearby, and leaves. The newspapers say that "Arsene Lupin effected the arrest of Pierre Onfrey", and was responsible for the woman's things being returned.

The Way of The Ninja - Goemon - considered Japan's greatest thief in history. No teacher would admit to him being their student. Many claim he was born in the home of the ninja's, the Iga Province. Used ninja techniques to steal from others. Some think he was a samurai and became a thief after his father's assassination. Liked by commoners, compared to Robin Hood - stole from rich, gave to poor. 16the cen Edo era - huge class differences. Either super rich or a peasant, Goemon wanted to "iron out" the differences.

A respectful history of Ishikawa Goemon XIII - 20th cen, classic anime character - foe-turned-friend and long-time ally of master thief Arsene Lupin the third - 13th generation descendant of the legendary 16th century samurai-turned-bandit of the same name. his personal emotional pull between the nobility and dignity of the samurai and the stealth and banditry skills of the ninja is, I think, what originally drew him to the Lupin gang. Goemon's loyalty to Lupin is so strong that he withstands the most grueling torture rather than give any information on him to rivals.

The legend of the forty seven ronin is connected to Goemon as well.

(Photo from Spookhouse)

Charles Island: Connecticut's Buried Treasure Hunting Grounds -

Captain William Kidd, is known to have stopped along the Connecticut coast in Milford in 1699, shortly before he was captured in Boston, (later he was transported to England and hung for piracy in London). It's well documented that Kidd had a full cargo of booty in his ship when he stopped in Milford and that he buried treasure before leaving Long Island Sound at Gardiners Island. What's not known is if he buried all his treasure at Gardiners Island. Later, Kidd would claim that the treasure found was only part of his stash and that if he was not executed he would lead authorities to the rest and give it to the English Crown.
Connecticut tradition holds that before he sailed out of Milford he buried much of his treasure on Charles Island. Over the years many have tried to locate the treasure but according to local lore Captain Kidd's ghost protects it and the stash is haunted.
The island is often accessible from the main land at low tide via a half mile sandbar
the sandbar is flooded twice a day and the crossing window is usually brief and sometimes does not occur at all, a fact which has left many would be pirate hunters temporarily marooned on the island over the years. Silver Sands Park officials also warn that the sandbar is slippery and dangerous to cross on foot and advise boating to the island instead
The island is designated a Natural Area Preserve for the local bird population of herons and egrets and the Department of Environmental Protection prohibits visitors on the island for much of the summer, so schedule your treasure hunting expedition for the fall or spring.

Note: If I end up visiting my mom in CT for spring break, I am totally going to look for treasure here! 

I think it would be fun for Skull's story to involve either looking for or burying treasure at the beach.

Week 4 Story: Behind the Mask

(Photo from Pinterest)

When Lady Ann entered the castle by accident, she had no idea she would become the thief called Panther. Even less clear was that she would end up falling head over heals for the leader of the Phantom Thieves, Joker. Ann had never fit in at school in Japan. She was foreign and beautiful with long, blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Everyone made the assumption that she was stuck up and thought she was better than everyone. Other than Shiho who had made friends with her and was the only person who never seemed to care about Ann’s appearance, she was friendless.

She had followed two boys towards the school, and accidentally ended up somewhere else. A castle? She didn’t understand the half of what was going on, but the volleyball coach who had been harassing Ann and Shiho, Kamoshida, was there. He was decked out in a pair of pink boxers, a royal looking robe and a crown, and ordering a bunch of shadow monsters to kill her. Ann had been so confused, but eventually her anger got the best of her and the spirit of rebellion within her released her persona, Carmen. That was how Ann had become a member of the Phantom Thieves, along with the two boys she had followed there. She was certain the blonde one was Ryuji. He talked like a fool and had the same build and mannerisms. Ann didn’t really consider him a friend, but they had gone to middle school together, so she was well aware of how be sounded and behaved. For some reason, they were using code names. Ryuji was known in this world as Skull, the weird cat-looking thing was Mona, and the leader was called Joker.

They all had on masks and costumes, so it was difficult to tell who Joker really was. He wasn’t someone too familiar. But he was beautiful and charismatic. The way he held himself confidently, how he athletically leaped from the chandeliers, and how gracefully he flipped his body into action when fighting the shadows. It was all perfection in Ann’s eyes. She wanted badly to know who he was.

When they took a break in a safe room, she playfully tried to raise his mask. She just wanted a peek at what else was behind there, other than those piercing grey eyes. But his hand shot out, preventing her from removing the mask, accompanied by a quiet but firm “no”.

As they continued to explore the castle, watching Joker slink through the shadows was enticing. Each time she got a glance at him in the light, Ann couldn’t keep her eyes off of the way he moved, perplexed at who he could be. Ryuji had no friends, at least not since the track team had been disbanded. Mona kept engaging her in conversation, giving her lessons about the world, but Ann couldn’t stay focused on the cat.

When the group was finally too tired to continue for the day, they exited the Metaverse. She was shocked to find herself back in normal clothing, standing beside Ryuji, an actual kitty cat, and that new transfer student that sat behind her in homeroom. “Wait, seriously?! Kurusu, right? The transfer student?”

“Akira,” he replied with a soft smile. “Do you like coffee?” he asked. ‘I live above a cafe.” He took her arm and they began walking.

“Ugh!” Ryuji called after them. “Coffee is so bitter! Guess I’ll catch you at school tomorrow!”

The cat ran at their heels, trying desperately to keep up. “Slow down, Akira! I live at the cafe, too, Lady Ann! I can’t wait to show you our room!”

(Photo by Autumn-Sacura)

Author’s Note:

This story is based on Cupid and Psyche by Apuleius. In the original, Psyche is not allowed to see what her husband looks like. Her jealous sisters talk her into peeking at him while he sleeps. She is afraid he might be some sort of monster and plans to kill him, but she instead finds the handsome Cupid asleep in her bed. He wakes, and his mother Venus is angry when she finds out about his involvement with the beautiful mortal girl she hates. Venus makes Psyche complete impossible tasks and still won’t allow her to be with Cupid. In the end, Jupiter allows them to marry and forces Venus to accept it. For my retelling, I have again used characters from the game Persona 5. When Ann accidentally stumbles into the Metaverse, the others are wearing costumes and masks. She’s quick to figure out who Ryuji is, but Joker is more of a mystery until they return to the real world. I thought it would be fun to play with that, keeping her in the dark for awhile.


"Cupid and Psyche" from The Golden Ass by Apuleius. Web Source.

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche Part B

(Photo by Waterhouse)

Venus and the Goddesses - A seagull tells Venus that Cupid is in love with Psyche. She is furious and threatens to adopt a slave boy and give him Cupid's wings and bow. She's mostly upset because she thinks everyone is laughing at her. She sets off to seek revenge on him. She runs into Juno and Ceres, asks them to find Psyche. They defended Cupid, and told her he hadn't done anything different that Venus herself had in the past.

Psyche's Prayer - Psyche searches for Cupid. She enters a temple, and Ceres finds her there. Psyche cries and prays at her feet, asking her to let her hide there until Venus calms down. Ceres says she is too close to Venus to help her. Psyche finds another temple and prays, Juno hears her and says she also can't go against Venus.

Venus and Mercury - Psyche tries to think of another way, Venus searches the heavens. She sends Mercury with a message that anyone who finds Psyche will be given a reward of kisses from Venus. Psyche approaches Venus' door, and her servant Familiarity captures her.

Venus and Psyche - Venus drags Psyche around by her ear, gives her to Anxiety and Sorrow to be punished. Venus tells her the marriage wasn't legal, so her child will be illegitimate if she even lets her have the baby. Venus beats her up, then combines a bunch of grains and lentils in a pile, tells Psyche to sort them by the evening.

Psyche's Task - Venus returns and Psyche has completed the task. She says it wasn't her own doing, it was Cupid's, gives her bread and goes to bed. Cupid was locked in his room. In the morning, Venus gives her a new tasks, to bring a piece of golden fleece from the sheep by the river. Psyche jumps off a cliff into the river to escape, a reed in the river tells her to hide until afternoon, because the sheep's wool is hot and the are agitated and will bite. It tells her that if she waits until they calm down, she'll be able to find wool stuck to the trees. Venus isn't impressed and assigns her a 3rd task, to collect water from the heart of a stream that feeds into the river Styx.

The Third Task - The heart of the stream was surrounded by an impassable rock wall and serpents. Jupiter's royal eagle was there, and had helped Cupid before, snatched the vial from Psyche and filled it for her.

The Jar of Beauty - Venus still isn't impressed, tells her to plunge the jar into the underworld and ask Proserpine to fill it with enough beauty to last a day. Psyche tries to throw herself off a tower to get to the underworld, the tower tells her how to get to a portal, and to bring 2 barley cakes soaked in honeyed wine and 2 coins. It tells her the steps to take and things to not do to get to the underworld. It also tells her to not look in the jar of divine beauty. She accomplishes her task, then decides she would be a fool to not take at least a drop of the beauty for herself in order to please Cupid.

The Sleep of the Dead - Psyche opens the jar which is filled with Stygian sleep. Cupid sneaks out his window to find Psyche, and wipes the sleep from her eyes. He tells her that her curiosity almost ruined everything again, and sends her to give the jar to Venus. Cupid flies to heaven to see Jupiter, who says he will help despite all the awful things Cupid has done to him.

The Wedding Feast - Jupiter gathers the gods and tells them that the best way to take away Cupid's immaturity to to let him marry Psyche. Jupiter gives Psyche a cup of ambrosia to make her immortal and she and Cupid are wed. Their child is born after, a daughter named Pleasure.
Lucius and the Robbers - The old woman finished telling the young girl the story, and the robbers returned, loading up their loot and taking it home. The donkey hurt its hoof and they debated putting it down. 

The Escape - the donkey gets free, but the old woman catches his ropes. The donkey dragged her along. The young girl twisted the rope out of the old woman's hands, mounted the donkey, and they escaped. She prays to Fortune to help her get home to her family and her lover.

Notes: I'm still mulling over how to turn this into a retelling. I still think Ann will make a good Psyche, but haven't decided which part of the story I want to tell. I think Akira (Joker) would have to be Cupid as he seems to put a love spell on everyone he meets. 

"Cupid and Psyche" from The Golden Ass by Apuleius. Web Source. 

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche Part A

(Photo by Reji)

Her Dream - the young woman tells the old woman that she dreamed she was snatched by thieves the day before her wedding to her childhood friend that she loves dearly. One of the thieves threw a rock that killed her fiancee as they kidnap her. She woke up terrified. The old woman told her that dreams during the day don't come true, and that nightmares usually mean the opposite will happen.

Psyche's Beauty - the old woman tells the young woman a story. A king and queen, 3 beautiful daughter's, the youngest the most beautiful. People gathered around and revered her as if she were the goddess Venus. It was rumored that Venus had begun appearing among mortals, and the people thought it was the girl, so they showered her with flowers when she walked outside. This made Venus angry; she vows to make the girl regret her beauty. She summoned her son Cupid who had been going around ruining people's marriages and shows him Psyche and asks him to make her fall in love with the most wretched of men. 

The Oracle of Apollo - Psyche had been admired by all like a statue, but no one wished to marry her. Her two sisters became engaged easily. Psyche was left alone and sad. Her father asked the oracle of Apollo to find her a husband. The oracle told him to lead his daughter to the mountain for her fatal marriage. The prophecy made her parents sad. Her wedding was more like a funeral procession. Psyhce tells them to stop crying and waiting, that they should have cried for her the day her name became associated with Venus, and to take her to the cliff to meet her husband. The town's people and her parents left her at the top of the cliff. A wind carried her down to the bottom. 

The Magical Palace - Psyche woke by aa exquisite palace that must belong to a god. She entered the palace, surprised that none of the treasures were locked up. A voice told her that everything there was hers, and to make herself comfortable. Food and nectar appeared at the table when she sat, without servants to carry them. 

The Mysterious Husband - Psyche went to bed, afraid because she was all alone in a strange place. Her husband came to her in the night (in the dark so she can't see what he looks like) to consummate the marriage. One night he tells her that her sisters will come to the cliff top and to not answer or look in their direction or it will cause him great pain. She cried and begged him to let her see her sisters. He said she could, and could give them gold and treasure, but that she couldn't allow them to persuade her to investigate his appearance. She told him she loved him and even Cupid couldn't compare to him. 

The Jealousy of Psyche's Sisters - When her sisters come crying on the cliff, Psyche runs out of the palace to let them know she's there and they don't need to cry for her. She summons the wind to carry them down to her, and shows them the palace. They became envious of her riches and wanted to know who her husband was. To keep her promise, Psyche made up a description of a handsome man who was a hunter. She gave them gold and jewelry to distract them, but they were jealous and angry that they didn't have a life like hers. She sends them away on a breeze and they decide to not tell their parents she's alive, and to find a way to get back at her for her arrogance. 

Psyche's Husband Warns Her - The sisters hid her gifts and plotted to murder her. Her husband warns her that she is in danger and they are plotting by tempting her to see what he looks like. He reminds her that if she does, she'll never see him again. He tells her if she keeps their secret, they will have a child. She becomes pregnant, and her husband warns her that the sisters are coming. She again pledges her loyalty to him, and asks him to let her see her sisters.

Fears and Doubts - The sisters come and pretend to flatter her, they tell her if the baby takes after its father it will be a Cupid. They ask questions about her husband. She makes up . new story about him, gives them more gifts and sends them away. The sisters realize that she may not know what he looks like, so he must be a god, and may give birth to a deity. They go back and tell her that her husband is a serpent, reminding her of the oracle's prophecy. They tell her that he'll devour her after she has the baby. She admits that she has never seen her husband's features and asks them to help her.They give her a blade and a plan to sneak out of bed, turn on an oil lamp and sever his head. They promise to come help her escape with his treasures afterwards.

Psyche's Husband Revealed - Psyche implements the plan and reveals her husband to find handsome Cupid asleep in the bed. He tells her that he disobeyed his mother by shooting himself with one of his own arrows and falling in love with her, instead of making a wretched creature love her. He tells her he will get revenge on her sisters, and punishes her by leaving.

Psyche's Despair - Psyche goes to the river and Pan happens to be there. He tries to soothe her by telling her instead of suicide she should pray to Cupid. She goes to see one of her sisters and tells her what happened, but adds that he said he was going to embrace the sister and threw her out of the palace. The sister immediately makes up a story to tell her husband, goes to the cliffs and tells Cupid she is there to be his wife. She falls to her death. Psyche tells the other sister the same story, and she has the same fate.

Notes for me: The Beautiful Lady Ann (Panther) as Psyche. I haven't really worked all the details yet. I think I need to do reading B before I'll know where my story needs to go. 

"Cupid and Psyche" from The Golden Ass by Apuleius. Web Source.