Foodie Friday: Happy Friday the Thirteenth

Istiqlál (Independence), 9 Núr (Light), 171 BE - Friday, June 13, 2014 about 10:22 am Pacific Daylight Time

Happy Friday the Thirteenth or perhaps I should say have a lucky Friday the Thirteenth. There are lots of superstitions about Friday, food, and the number thirteen. Some of these superstitions are amusing and some of them cause a person to stare blankly into space shaking his or her head in astonishment.  One of the food superstitions that I grew up with concerned eating black eyed peas on New Year's Day.

Every year I remember Grandma fixing black eyed peas. On December 31, Grandma Mary put the black eyed peas to soak and then, on the morning of January 1, she would put them on to stove to cook. Before turning on the burner, she would add salt, a table spoon of white vinegar, and either pigs feet or fat back. The peas were always cooked by the time the family was ready to eat in the afternoon.

Another superstition I was brought up with concerned salt. If either my sibling or I inadvertently spilled the salt then Grandma or Grandpa would tell that person to throw a pinch of salt over his or her right shoulder. I remember seeing my grandparents and parents do the same thing when they spilled the salt.

A superstition my family never had to worry about was having thirteen guest at the dinner table. I doubt that we could have fit that many people at the table anyway because there was barely enough room for the eight people at our table much less thirteen. Still it is considered unlucky to have thirteen people at a dinner table or a dinner party.

Friday Thoughts on Friday the 13th

Istiqlál (Independence), 16 Jamál (Beauty), 168 BE – Friday, May 13, 2011 about 1:35 PM Pacific Time

It is Friday the 13th, which is supposed to be bad luck. I doubt that today is any unluckier then any other day of the week or any other Friday. It is a bright sunny day in Las Vegas and I am waiting for my mother to come home from the hospital. Since someone is bringing Mom home, I do not have to go after her. I am looking forward to having Mom in the house again.

I began this about 11:00 AM and someone interrupted me, so I am going to post what I have before I encounter another interruption.

Challenged Drivers in Las Vegas and Friday the Thirteenth

Istiqlál (Independence), 10 Qudrat (Power), 166 BE – Friday, November 13, 2009 about 3:10 PM Pacific Time

This is Friday, November 13; yes, it is Friday the Thirteenth. It is the last of three Friday the Thirteenths in 2009. I don't think there are any more or less challenged drivers on the streets of Las Vegas on Friday the Thirteenth then any other day of the week.

I encountered two challenged drivers today, which is one more then I normally encounter. I had to go pick up a bottle of meds this afternoon. I get my presumptions filled at the Food 4 Less pharmacy on Flamingo and Pacos. I was driving south on Eastern when I encounter my first challenged driver.

This person, I'm not sure if it was a man or woman so I can't gripe about male drivers. Any way this person suddenly decided to turn into my lane, fortunately the car behind me has as good a set of brakes as I did. I arrived at the Food 4 Less safely and got my prescription.

On the way back home I was going north on Eastern and encounter another challenged driver. This one seemed to think that the 45 miles per hour speed limit was the suggest speed rather then the posted speed. Anyway, what I'm getting at is that when driving in Las Vegas you need to be aware of the other cars as well as wearing your seat belt.

Happy Friday the Thirteenth

Istiqlál (Independence), 7 Mulk (Dominion), 166 BE – Friday, February 13, 2009 about 12:31 PM Pacific Time

Happy Friday the Thirteenth. All right, so Friday the Thirteenth isn't usually a time to wish someone happiness. However, this is the first of three Friday the Thirteenths in 2009 so maybe it's time to take a different view of the day.

There are three months in 2009 that begin on a Sunday. Any month that begins on a Sunday has a Friday the Thirteenth in it. Since this is the first Friday the Thirteenth in 2009 it's also Blame Someone Else Day. So you can blame your problems on someone else without feeling guilty today. This is the only day of the year that a person can do this. The rest of the year one has to take responsibility for his or her situation and actions, but today is different because one can officially blame someone else.

I don't know who comes up with some of these intriguing and weird holidays, but it has to be someone else. At least today, it's someone else's fault.

Months that begin on a Sundays

Jamál (Beauty), 14 Sultán (Sovereignty), 165 BE – Saturday, January 31, 2009 about 5:44 PM Pacific Time

It is after sunset in Las Vegas on Saturday, January 31, 2009. Tomorrow is Sunday, February 1 and February has a Friday the Thirteenth in it. When a month begins on a Sunday, it has a Friday the Thirteenth in it.

Friday the Thirteenth, itself does not bother or fascinate me. It is the idea that a number like thirteen can be unlucky. If you look at thirteen, it consists of two numbers a one and a three. The numeric root of 13 is 1 + 3, which equals four. If thirteen is unlucky, the logical conclusion is that four is unlucky as well, but four is not considered unlucky.

Looking at 13 another way, thirteen is composed of two odd numbers a one and a three. Odd numbers are supposed to be lucky. Yet when these two lucky numbers are put together, they make an unlucky number, which is thirteen.

These are just a few thoughts on the number thirteen before we enter the first of three months in 2009 that has a Friday the Thirteenth in it.