July 2nd Show
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On today's show:
July!
Full Menu Recipe Bonus!
July Cleaning: Two Week Master Plan
Moxify Yourself!
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All About The 4th of July...
Happy Birthday America!
Joseph J. Ellis’s book titled “Revolutionary Summer: The Birth of American Independence,” here are some truths about July 4th that may be news to you.
American independence from Great Britain was not decided on July 4th.
Actually, the Continental Congress voted on July 2, 1776 to declare independence. On the night of July 2nd, the Pennsylvania Evening Post published the statement: “This day the Continental Congress declared the United Colonies Free and Independent States.” John Adams thought July 2 was going to be the day future Americans celebrated, or so he said in a letter to his wife, Abigail Adams: John Adams believed that July 2nd was the correct date on which to celebrate the birth of American independence, and would reportedly turn down invitations to appear at July 4th events in protest. But July 4th is the day that an edited version of the Declaration of Independence was ratified by Congress, and that's the date that appears on the copies that were distributed to the soon-to-be states.
Ellis makes the case that that Adams “liked to claim that the resolution of May 15 was the real declaration of independence and that Jefferson’s more famous declaration six weeks later was a merely ceremonial afterthought.” The resolution of May 15, which was actually approved on May 12, was a formal call for the colonies to write new state constitutions that would “replace the colonial constitutions. On May 15, Adams added a preface that placed the resolution in the context of the historical march to independence.
Americans didn’t first celebrate independence until July 8, when Philadelphia threw a big party, including a parade and the firing of guns. The army under George Washington, then camped near New York City, heard the news July 9 and celebrated then. Georgia got the word August 10th. And the British in London found out on August 30th.
Though both Jefferson and Adams later claimed the signing ceremony took place on July 4th, David McCullough wrote in his biography of John Adams:
“No such scene, with all the delegates present, ever occurred at Philadelphia.”
In fact, most delegates signed the document on August 2nd, when a clean copy was finally produced by Timothy Matlack, assistant to the secretary of Congress; some waited even later to sign, and the names on the document were made public only in January 1777.
On July 4, 1826, Adams, the second president, and Jefferson, the third president, both died, exactly 50 years after the adoption of Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence. The country took it as a sign of American divinity. James Monroe, our fifth president, died on July 4, 1831. And Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president, was born on July 4, 1872.
CELEBRATE
*At noon, a “Salute to the Union” is fired, each Independence Day, by any capable military base. This is a salute of one gun for each state in the United States. *
In 2009, New York City hosted the largest fireworks display in the country. *
Held since 1785, the Bristol Fourth of July Parade in Bristol, Rhode Island is the oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in the United States. *
HISTORY
July 4, 1777 – The First Anniversary – Bristol, Rhode Island, fired thirteen gunshots in salute: once at morning and once again at evening. Philadelphia hosted an official dinner for the Continental Congress, toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews, and fireworks. Ships were decorated with red, white and blue bunting.
July 4, 1778 – General George Washington gave his soldiers a double ration of rum and an artillery salute. On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, ambassadors John Adams and Benjamin Franklin hosted a dinner for their fellow Americans in Paris, France.
July 4, 1781 – The Massachusetts General Court became the first state legislature to recognize July 4 as a state celebration.
July 4, 1791 – The first recorded use of the name “Independence Day” occurred.
July 4, 1870 – The United States Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal employees.
July 4, 1938 – The United States Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday.
Click here for Life with Moxie's
4th of July Menu
July Cleaning Idea: Laundry Room
The Washer
Run white vinegar through the washer. This will sanitize the inside and clear away soap scum.
The Dryer
Empty the lint trap. Wipe off fuzz with a damp cloth or a used fabric-softener sheet. Or wet your hands and run your fingers over the mesh screen to scoop up the lint. Fabric softener can cause a waxy buildup on the screen, so wash it out in a sink or vacuum it.
Wipe the interior walls of the dryer. Use a cloth dampened with dishwashing liquid and warm water. Scrub any linty residue around the trap opening with an old toothbrush, if necessary.
Both Appliances
Wipe down the outside of each appliance. Clean the fronts, sides, and tops using a cloth dampened with a few drops of dishwashing liquid or all-purpose cleaner.
The Sink
Wash with cleaner and a cloth. Then shine the faucet with a microfiber cloth.
The Countertops
Clean the surfaces, shelving, and bins. Wipe them down with a cloth and cleaner, and then do the same with the cabinet fronts.
The Floor
Mop or vacuum. Start from the farthest corner of the room and work toward the door, from left to right. Launder rugs, if possible, or vacuum them. Run a dust mop underneath the washer and the dryer, if it fits. Airborne lint can get kicked underneath the appliances and create a fire hazard if it piles up.
The Dryer Hose
Run an extendable duster around the inside of the dryer hose. Or vacuum it with a crevice attachment. Either method will clear away the lint that accumulates on the walls of the hose.
The Backs of the Washer and Dryer
Clean behind the appliances. On a low setting, with a brush attachment, vacuum the backs of the washing machine and the dryer and the flooring underneath. To reach behind the units, move the machines using appliance wheels or casters (available at hardware stores). Be careful not to stretch the dryer hose. If the hose looks too short, disconnect it first.
The Vents
Using a brush attachment, vacuum the vents on a high setting. Dust and lint, particularly in this room, can clog the vents, reducing airflow in the room. Wipe the vents’ grates with a damp cloth.
The Windows
Clean glass and wipe down window frame.
The Iron
Clean mineral deposits and spray-starch buildup. Make a paste of baking soda and water, apply it to a cloth, and wipe down the iron. Circle the holes on the soleplate with cotton swabs.
Moxify yourself!
Gaining MOXIE means getting yourself to a place where you BELIEVE that you have the ability to control the course of your life. It's the least you can do for yourself as this is YOUR life! Its time to stop giving your excuses more power than your dreams!
Write a mission statement for yourself
We have no hope of getting our Moxie back if we don't even know why we are doing it! Create a Mission statement for yourself, read it every day. With every decision you make, if it doesn't align with your mission then don't do it! BAM!
“I make choices and have thoughts that support my looking good, feeling good and improving my financial stability.”
Take control of your day
We often use "too busy" as an excuse, mostly for being disorganized. I'd like to see us incredibly productive, organized with plenty of time because we are in control of it. No need for excuses, if you don't want/need to do something then don't.
Take control of the food
If you are not willing to invest in you, why would anyone else? Until we are clear in our understanding of our incredible worth, we cannot harness our power. Be incredibly mindful of what you are providing your body as fuel, because if it's not real food, it's not fuel. If you cannot find time to invest in your health then you will eventually be forced to find time for your illness.
Learn to say no
Nothing zaps our time or energy faster than being obligated out of our own dysfunctional politeness. Not knowing how to say no commits you to fulfilling the goals of others instead of your own. If you're not dying to say yes, then it's a no.
Learn to cook
Because you'll make better choices, it's relaxing and forces you to focus, you'll save a TON of money, you'll meet your family again, everyone’s behavior will improve better their diet will be better and its a very sexy skill.
Happy Birthday America!
