Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou is an American autobiographer and poet who has been called “America’s most visible black female autobiographer” by scholar Joanne M. Braxton. She is best known for her series of six autobiographical volumes, which focus on her childhood and early adulthood experiences.

In April, Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older. And, there on television, she said it was “exciting”.

Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every day, like her breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first.

The audience laughed so hard they cried. She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words!

Maya Angelou said:

“I’ve learned that:

no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.”

that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.”

that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.”

that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life.'”

that life sometimes gives you a second chance.”

that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.”

that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.”

that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.”

that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.”

that I still have a lot to learn.”

that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

© 2010, Lekatt. All rights reserved.

Little Known Factoids by State for Fun

In Oklahoma, dogs must have a permit signed by the mayor in order to congregate on private property in groups of three or more.

In Minnesota, it is illegal to cross state lines with duck on your head.

It is illegal to walk down a street in Maine with your shoelaces untied.

In Los Angeles, it is unlawful to hunt for moths under a street light.

In Pennsylvania, it is illegal for a man to purchase alcohol without written consent from his wife.

In Alaska, it is illegal to look at a moose from the window of an aircraft or another flying vehicle. It is also illegal to push a live moose out of a moving aircraft.

In Nebraska, a parent can be arrested if his or her child can’t hold back a burp during a church service.

While in Alabama it is illegal to wear a false moustache which causes laughter in church.

In Idaho, a citizen is forbidden by law to give another citizen a box of candy that weights more than 50 lbs.

In Texas it is illegal to take more than three sips of beer at a time while standing.

In Huntington West Virginia, it’s legal to beat your wife so long as it’s done in public on a Sunday, and on the courthouse steps.

In Ohio, women are prohibited from wearing patent leather shoes in public.

In North Dakota, it is illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on.

By law, everybody in Vermont must take at least one bath a week.

A law in Kirkland, Illinois, forbids bees from flying over the town.

In Michigan, a man legally owns his wife’s hair.

In Iowa, it is illegal for a kiss to last more than five minutes.

It is illegal to carry an ice-cream cone in your pocket in Kentucky.

In Washington state, all lollipops are banned.

An unmarried woman may not parachute on Sunday in Florida.

No store in Providence, Rhode Island, is allowed to sell a toothbrush on Sunday. But they can sell toothpaste and mouthwash on the Sabbath.

In Atlanta Georgia, it is forbidden to dress a mannequin without first pulling down the window blinds. It is also illegal to tie a giraffe to a telephone pole or street lamp.

In Kansas, it is against the law to catch fish with your bare hands.

In Milwaukee, residents must keep pet elephants on a leash while walking them on public streets.

In Atwoodville, Connecticut, it is illegal to play Scrabble while waiting for a politician to speak.

In Muncie, Indiana, it is illegal to carry fishing tackle into a cemetery.

In New York, a fine of $25 may still be levied for flirting. This old law prohibits men from turning around on any city street and looking at a woman in that way. A second conviction for this offense requires the offender to wear a pair of racehorse blinders whenever he goes out.

It is illegal to gargle in public in Louisiana.

In Massachusetts, mourners at a wake may not eat more than three sandwiches.

And finally, don’t forget that you can be fined up to $500 in Chico, California for detonating a nuclear device within the city limits!

© 2010, Lekatt. All rights reserved.

Oklahoma Trivia

The bread twist tie was invented in Maysville, Oklahoma.

The shopping cart was invented in Ardmore, Oklahoma in 1936.

The nation’s first parking meter was installed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1935.

The first Girl Scout Cookie was sold in Muskogee, Oklahoma in 1917.

Cimarron County, located in the Oklahoma Panhandle, is the only county in the U.S. bordered by 4 separate states — Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Kansas.

The Oklahoma State Capital is the only capital in the U.S. with working oil wells on its grounds.

Boise City, Oklahoma, was the only city in the United States to be bombed during World War II. On Monday, July 5, 1943, at 12:30am, a B-17 Bomber based at Dalhart Army Air Base, Texas, dropped six practice bombs on the sleeping town, mistaking the city lights as target lights.

WKY Radio in Oklahoma City was the first radio station transmitting west of the Mississippi River.

The nation’s first “tornado warning” was issued March 25, 1948 in Oklahoma City minutes before a devastating tornado. Because of the warning, no lives were lost.

Oklahoma has the largest Native American population of any state in the U.S.

The name “Oklahoma” comes from two Choctaw words — okla meaning “people” and humma meaning “red.” So the name means, “Red People.” The name was approved in 1890.

Oklahoma has produced more astronauts than any other state.

Oklahoma has more man-made lakes than any other state (including Caddo County’s Fort Cobb Lake).

During the “Land Rush,” Oklahoma City and Guthrie went from vast, open prairie to cities of over 10,000 in a single day.

The nation’s first “Yield” traffic sign was erected in Tulsa on a trial basis.

The Pensacola Dam on Grand Lake is the longest multi-arched dam in the world at 6,565 feet.

The Port of Catoosa (just north of Tulsa) is the largest inland port in America.

The aerosol can was invented in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Per square mile, Oklahoma has more tornadoes than any other place in the world.

The highest wind speed ever recorded on earth was in Moore Oklahoma, on May 3, 1999 during the Oklahoma City F-5 tornado. Wind speed was clocked at 318 mph.

The Will Rogers World Airport, and the Wiley Post Airport are both named after two famous Oklahomans, both killed in the same airplane crash.

And Oklahoma Towns Offer It All —

Love the Summer?
Poolville, Oklahoma
Sunray, Oklahoma

Want Something To Eat?
Cookietown, Corn, Grainola, Hominy, Olive,
South Coffeeville, and Sweetwater, Oklahoma

Why Travel To Other Cities?
Cleveland, Orlando, Miami, Pittsburgh, Santa Fe, St. Louis,
Chattanooga, Peoria, Burbank, and Fargo, Oklahoma

Don’t Forget The Wildlife!
Bison, Buffalo, Deer Creek, Eagle,
Elk City, Fox, and Wolfe, Oklahoma

There’s A Town Named After A Number:
Forty-One, Oklahoma

And A Town Whose Letters Don’t Spell Anything:
IXL, Oklahoma

For The Sportsman
Fisherman’s Paradise, Oklahoma

We Have A City Named After Earth’s Only Satellite!
Moon, Oklahoma

And A City Named After Our State!
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Feeling A Bit Chilly?
Cold Springs, Snow, and Slick, Oklahoma

Oklahoma Is Full Of Love!
Bigheart, Lovedale, Loveland, Lovell, and Loyal, Oklahoma

The Presidents?
Adams, Carter, Clinton, Fillmore, Grant, Jefferson,
Johnson, Lincoln, Reagan, Roosevelt, Taft, Taylor,
Washington, and Wilson, Oklahoma

City Names To Make You Smile.
Bowlegs, Bugtussle, Bushyhead, Frogville, Hooker,
Loco, Slapout, Slaughterville, Broken Bow,
and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

And Regardless What Side You’re On.
Gay, and Straight, Oklahoma

© 2010, Lekatt. All rights reserved.

Invictus

This poem is a great confidence builder. It spurs you on in the midst of life’s battles. So I want to share it with you.

“Invictus” is a short poem by the English poet William Ernest Henley (1849–1903). It was written in 1875 and first published in 1888

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

© 2010, Lekatt. All rights reserved.

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