Regular readers already know that I have had a medical procedure this past week, and will be taking some time off of blogging to recuperate. I hope to be back with regular entries here, and on my other blogs early next week. Thank you to all of our friends in the blogosphere for your kind words, and positive healing energies....they are appreciated.

I'm sorry, but this is going to be a very short blessing this week. All went well with the radiation drink on Thursday, but I'm pretty wiped out, and not up to typing too much today. For the regular readers who have said prayers, and well wishes THANK YOU, you are my blessing as I am on the road to recovery.

Thanks for visiting, and hope you are having a wonderful weekend, and week ahead!

Blog Your Blessings

Members of the Eccentric Club of London at their annual Friday the 13th lunch in 1936 – surrounded by objects that are connected with superstitions.

Friday the 13th has never bothered me in fact my own parents were married on a Friday the thirteenth, but they liked to break with tradition as a rule.

Whilst the day and/or number has never troubled me personally, it does cause some real issues for certain people suffering paraskevidekatriaphobia (say that three times fast) or a morbid, and irrational fear of Friday the 13th, as coined by Dr. Donald Dossey. According to a 2000 survey conducted by American Demographics 13% of Americans suffer this fear. Interesting coincidence with that number 13, and I sincerely hope that you gentle readers are not afflicted with this.

The history of where this fear originated seems lost within the mists of time itself, but here are a few theories put forward by others:

Christ is thought to have been crucified on a Friday, which was execution day among the Romans. Friday's were also traditionally execution day in Britain. The number 13 ties in as it was believed to bring bad luck because there were 13 people at The Last Supper.

People have suggested that Friday was the day God threw Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden, which would be a lucky guess as the concept of Friday hadn't been invented yet.

Thirteen is an unlucky or bad number in Norse mythology as well. Loki, the most mischievous of the Norse gods, went uninvited to a party for 12 at Valhalla, a banquet hall of the gods. And whilst there he caused the death of Balder, the god of light, joy, and reconciliation.

On Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France ordered the arrests of Jaques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templars and sixty of his senior knights in Paris. Thousands of others were arrested elsewhere in the country. After utilising torture techniques to force the Templars to "confess" to wrongdoing, most were eventually executed and sympathizers of the Templars condemned Friday the 13th as an evil day.

Chaucer alluded to Friday as a day on which bad things seemed to happen in the Canterbury Tales during the late 14th century, "And on a Friday fell all this mischance." Perhaps with the plight of the Templars in mind?

In my opinion it was probably a combination of all of the above, and much more that led to the superstition, and belief that Friday the 13th is somehow an unlucky day.

How do you feel about Friday the 13th? Will you be doing anything different today because of it? Or do you believe it to be a silly superstition only?

Further Reading:

A World Of Luck - Friday The 13th

Friday the 13th - Unlucky No. 13 combines Christian and pagan beliefs

Image credit: Getty Images

An old, uninhabited farmhouse near Owen Sound, Ontario. This photo was taken Sunday March 8th 2009. The house itself captured my imagination last summer when I saw it during a road trip to Sauble Beach.

Please note WW is now played all week.

For a list of other Wordless Wednesday participants please click here.

"Barbie dolls on a display celebrate Barbie's 50th anniversary during New York Fashion Week February 14, 2009. Models showed off twinkling outfits, tiaras and the black and white bathing suit the first Barbie wore in 1959."

Photo Credit: Xinhua/AFP Photo

Love her or hate her Mattel's iconic fashion doll has turned 50 years old today. Happy birthday Barbie!

The photo posted above was taken outside of our local flower shop that is down the street from where we live.

Today, my blessing is the beautiful, warm, and sunny weather we have been having over here in Southern Ontario for the last couple of days. Despite my body feeling like crap as I await the treatment for Graves Disease (only 5 more days) the lovely weather has put my mind into a much happier mood. Everywhere I look people tend to be in generally better spirits around my neighbourhood.

It looks like the snow, and extreme cold may finally be over, and Spring has sprung!

Thanks for visiting, and hope you are having a wonderful weekend, and week ahead!

Blog Your Blessings

Toronto Coat Of Arms

Toronto is the largest city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. It is located on the north-western shore of Lake Ontario. I was born, raised, and continue to live in Toronto, which I dearly love as it is truly a cosmopolitan city!

Wishing my home, and city a very happy 175th birthday today!

With the exception of the pyramids the funeral mask of Tutankhamen is probably the most easily recognizable, and identifiable images of ancient Egypt.

Please note WW is now played all week.

For a list of other Wordless Wednesday participants please click here.