The Once-Every-Four-Years Post (Starting Today)

In which we shall see: A frog, a history lesson, and woo-pitching.

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It's been a fun two weeks of blogging, and I'm excited that my half-month anniversary is being commemorated with AN EXTRA DAY. So cool! Thanks, Universe! (Or whatever governmental-scientist type - possibly Ancient Roman - decided there should be another day here every four years to balance out the calendar.)

Last night I had some really great pizza, got some excellent book recommendations, made a date with a younger man in three months (at which point he's legal), and saw the hilarity that is The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (the Musical). It was a good night.

Promise for the day: If I meet someone I might like to date, I WILL ask him out today. Evidently, it's allowed.

In the English speaking world, it is a tradition that women may propose marriage only on leap years. Supposedly, a 1288 law by Queen Margaret of Scotland (then age five and living in Norway), required that fines be levied if a marriage proposal was refused by the man; compensation ranged from a kiss to £1 to a silk gown, in order to soften the blow. Because men felt that put them at too great a risk, the tradition was in some places tightened to restricting female proposals to the modern leap day, 29 February. According to Felten: "A play from the turn of the 17th century, 'The Maydes Metamorphosis,' has it that 'this is leape year/women wear breeches.' A few hundred years later, breeches wouldn't do at all: Women looking to take advantage of their opportunity to pitch woo were expected to wear a scarlet petticoat -- fair warning, if you will." (Thank you , Wikipedia!)

"Pitch woo." How, exactly, does one pitch woo? Is it like a softball? I'm guessing there's definitely a wind-up involved...

Gentlemen, take cover (or, if you'd rather, make yourselves as visible as possible) - could be more surprises dropping on your heads today than just turtles!

Watch out for... whatever,

Cyd

Days I've gone without chocolate: 5

Stupid things I plan to NOT do today: 1

Plays I've seen this week: 2

Plays I'll be seeing next week: 4