Monday, April 7, 2014

True Heroes A to Z: F, For a Fabulous...

ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!

But first, the A to Z.

True heroes are all around us, in our every day lives, but some people stand out. During this A-Z Challenge I hope to share several of my real life heroes, and invite you to share yours in the comments.

ranklin, Benjamin. This is one of my favorite people in ALL OF TIME. Seriously, the guy had a sense of humor, he was brilliant, and he was a bit of a ladies man--even as common or unattractive as he may have been. What's not to love?

When paying for school proved impossible, he started a library to fuel his love for reading and education (even though he never graduated). He became the publisher of a newspaper and started as a writer under a pen name (YES, I totally love this guy,) to write controversial columns that would move the U.S. toward becoming an independent country. Not only did it sell papers (he was a brilliant business man), but it lit a spark.

I wish you and I could take a tour of his house. This guy was constantly innovating, creating little conveniences through contraptions such as bifocal glasses, the beginnings of a modern oven, an odometer, and the lightning rod. That's just the beginning of the list, but that's not what I'm going to rave about.

His biggest contribution in my mind is the service he provided in the founding of the United States. That alone would be a reason for me to love him, but his diplomatic mission to France is probably what saved this country in the middle of the War of Independence. It's because of him the French became our allies (and don't think I've forgotten the importance of that assistance my French friends).

One of the reasons I adore Franklin is because of his focus on building a strong character, and cultivating it in those around him. Here are 13 values he worked to perfect through his life:
  1. "Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."
  2. "Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation."
  3. "Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time."
  4. "Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve."
  5. "Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing."
  6. "Industry. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions."
  7. "Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly."
  8. "Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty."
  9. "Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve."
  10. "Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation."
  11. "Tranquility. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable."
  12. "Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation."
  13. "Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates."
I would totally love to sit down to lunch one day with this guy.




Announcement time!!!
Book 2 in the Maiden of Time trilogy will be released October 13, 2014! To help celebrate this announcement, MOONLESS (book 1) is $1.99--but only for a short time. Grab your copy now.


Who do you admire most in history? Do you like Benjamin Franklin? Who is your favorite founding father? (If you're American.)

141 comments:

  1. Wow, those are some great words to live by!

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  2. What an amazing man! I knew Benjamin Franklin was a great man, but I had no idea the extent of his beliefs and values that line up so well with my own.

    I'm a little partial to Thomas Jefferson, mostly because he was a fellow Virginian and I grew up learning about him. I've visited his home in Monticello, and I know what an amazing man he was as well.

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    1. I can see you Jefferson bias, but Franklin is more my style. ;)

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  3. Totally agree - a great man. I visited his house a few years back and I bought a book with all the things he said about frugality and business. It's brilliant. A good choice, Crystal :)

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    1. So jealous. I would love to visit his house. I will one day, soon, hopefully.

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  4. I would love to be able to travel back in time and have a conversation with him. Wouldn't that be awesome??

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    1. Seriously awesome. Like "I might give up cheese for the opportunity" kind of awesome. Well, maybe not quite...

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  5. 13 values... He's definitely someone we should all emulate.

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  6. I didn't know some of those facts about BF. It's nice to hear he had a tough time paying for college, too. LOL Congrats on your next release. Awesomesauce!

    Sheri at Writer's Alley

    Home of Rebel Writer CREED 2014
    Mighty Minion Bureau Team #atozchallenge

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    1. I love that we can be great and be educated without a formal institution to validate us.

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  7. Ben Franklin was a powerhouse of ideas. :) I love little tidbits like this. It really gives you a glimpse into the man he was. What an inspiration. Thanks for sharing. Congrats on the release too!

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  8. Wonderful values to aspire to -- Franklin was excellent proof that you can be both a man of character AND a ladies' man. ;)

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  9. Sweet! Congrats on your next book. And you couldn't have picked a better hero for today. :)

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  10. He really was an amazing man. History is not boring! Congrats on the new release. And I have a "cheese drawer" in my frig that is overflowing and never allowed to be empty. (Just read your sidebar.)

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    1. ME TOO!!! My cheese drawer is never big enough though. One day we aspire to have a whole "cheese box" in the garage, completely dedicated to cheese. =)

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  11. Congratulations on your upcoming release!
    Franklin was a great inventor. Just glad we didn't take his suggestion of the turkey as our American symbol.

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    1. Yeah...that would have been kind of lame--but he had great reasoning behind it.

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  12. Yay for an official release date!! Very exciting. :)

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  13. Just how many ladies did he have? Was he an old-style playa'? I would've never guessed that about him.

    Woot! Soulless has a release date!

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    1. Oh yeah. Like when he was in France, all the women were fawning over him.

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  14. I have always admired the creativity of Benjamin Franklin's mind. Thanks for a little more insight into the man and his ideas.

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  15. He is a favorite of mine as well. We could sure use his wisdom today.

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    1. Indeed we could. I can only imagine how he'd bang his head against the desk after seeing what's become of our modern day America.

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  16. Congrats on your release date! Your post reminded me that I did a project on Benjamin Franklin in third grade--even dressed up like him!

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    1. You dressed up like him? Where are the pictures? =D

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  17. Yay!!! Congrats on your release. I was so excited that you had an announcement, I cheated and skipped down. Going to read about Benjamin Franklin now.

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    1. You're enthusiasm gave me a huge grin. Thank you!

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  18. Franklin certainly was an amazing man, someone we all could learn a thing or two from. Off to check out this Moonless of which you speak!

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    1. Of which I speak probably too often, but I can't help it. I love it.

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  19. Franklin had a beautiful mind! Love his rules to live by!

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  20. I never knew he started a library because he couldn't afford schooling and wanted to feed his love of reading. Now I respect him more than I already did. Thanks for such great information.
    Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com

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  21. Ben Franklin was a cool guy, a real Renaissance man. I also love how he was left-handed.

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    1. Definitely. Just one more thing to make him stand out.

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  22. I love Benjamin Franklin! More people need to follow his 13 values.

    Soulless has a release date? Yay!!! I just got Moonless so I'm happy to know I have plenty of time to catch up before Soulless comes out. :)

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    1. Sure it feels like plenty of time, but it will be here before you blink. Or is that before I blink?

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  23. Congratulations on the release date for Souless! As for founding fathers I'm partial to Alexander Hamilton. Part of that may be because he was born in the Caribbean and grew up on St. Croix in the US Virgin Island. But he was also, young, brilliant and Washington's trusted friend and secretary.

    My favorite Benjamin Franklin quote is two words, "Fart proudly."

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  24. Our founding fathers were such a great collection of excellent men. We don't give them (or France!) enough credit for our current state. I have to give major kudos to George Washington. He was offered a kingdom and all the power that would come from being a king and he turned it down. These were some truly amazing men and we were blessed to have them.

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  25. His quotes are still good today. A lot I haven't heard. Thanks for them. Its hard to choose a founding father as a fave, but I can certainly choose a woman (amongst many women) who should be in that category. Abigail Adams. I read the bio years ago and am aching to pick it up again.
    Katy Did

    Life's Ride In Between

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    1. I know! She was such a trooper. That poor woman.

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  26. First Licoln, now Franklin? Stop it, it's too awesome:) I love his Farmer's Almanac, such great sayings. "Fish and guests start to stink after three days."

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    1. What? You want me to stop? *batting eyes* WELL TOO BAD. =)

      LOL. Love that saying.

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  27. Hamilton and Jefferson are my favorite founding fathers, but close third is Franklin for all the reasons you've laid out here. :)

    Yay Soulless!!

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    1. They're both pretty awesome too. I just think I'd mesh, personality wise, most with Franklin.

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  28. Imitate Jesus and Socrates. :)

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  29. Loved reading all about Benjamin Franklin. This was awesome! ♥

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  30. "Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates." - this one is my favorite. :)

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  31. With the wonderful way he lived his life, I can see how he was a ladies man. The mind is sexy.
    Nana Prah

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    1. Agreed. That's most the reason I married my man.

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  32. Enjoyed reading this informative piece

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  33. Those are some great values to live by! I strongly believe in 'moderation' of everything. Extremes can never be good.
    Sania @ Fragile words

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  34. I truly admire Ben as well. I admire George Washington for not only his service to his country, but also because he had the opportunity to be a King and turned it down for the benefit of his countrymen.

    Good luck with you writing career!

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    1. Yeah...check out the "G" post, eh? (Great minds think alike.)

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  35. He was also one of the best ambassadors for the new U.S. when he was in France. He had a knack for doing a lot, by not seeming to do anything.

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  36. Excellent E post. It seems everything Franklin said was worthy of preserving for an eternity. Nice work.

    xoRobyn


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  37. Amazing man. The last one, "imitate Jesus and Socrates" was unexpected. I'd never envision that combination of people in a sentence.

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  38. What a fantastic insight on dear ol' Benjamin Franklin. Really amazing and I love his quotes.

    Congrats on having a release date! Woohoo!!! :D

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  39. Loving the 13 character traits. Being conscientious in regards to yourself and others is so vital. Congratulations on the forthcoming release!

    The Immarcescible Word

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  40. Yeah, but he's also the reason we have such a morning person focused society, so I would have to have a few words with him about that.
    Probably not nice words.

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    1. Leave it to you... I rather would like to be a morning person. I used to be. Until I quit sleeping.

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  41. Congratulations on the release of your next book!! Exciting!

    I LOVE this guy! He's a genius. ^_^ This is why he's on the 100 dollar bill. His quotes and Mark Twain's are some of my favorites.

    I also heard he was quite fond of the ladies. Lol!

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    1. Yes, or they were quite fond of him. I mean, all those amazing quotables? He must have had some epic lines.

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  42. Hey, congrats on your upcoming book release! Not trying to rush it, though because it's in OCTOBER and spring hasn't even arrived yet and I want to savour this summer!

    That being said, I have no idea who I'd pick as a favourite in history... I'd hate to pick just one and have the rest be jealous and mad at me. Wait a minute ... they're dead ...

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    1. What? It's been spring in Florida for months. ;)

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  43. Congrats on your release date!! If there's anything I can do to help spread the word, let me know :) And I love your choice today--Benjamin Franklin was an amazing guy!

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    1. Thanks so much, Meradeth. I'm reading your latest right now. 5 chapters in and aching to get back to it. That's how I'll be rewarding myself tonight. =)

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  44. wow! those 13 values are sure something.

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  45. Congrats on Soulless! And thanks for the heads up on the sale. Sounds like it's time I got Moonless loaded onto the Kindle.

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  46. I do love Franklin, too; always have! If everyone followed his 13 values, can you imagine what an amazing society we would have?

    And, congratulations, Crystal!!!! That's so exciting!!

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    1. It would truly be an amazing society. What has happened to our morals, eh?

      Thanks, Liz!

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  47. He really was a man of many talents. Kind of hard to picture him as a ladies man - but maybe he wow'd them with his clean living! :) Congratulations on the book!

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    1. I think it was his wits. He's a very witty fellow. =)

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  48. You've done a great job spotlighting why Benjamin Franklin is such a great person. I read about him as a kid.

    And congrats on your book!

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    1. I should have read about him as a kid. I wish I had, but I fell in love with him at a much older stage in life.

      Thanks, Natalie!

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  49. I love Ben Franklin! I have a quote from him hanging on my wall that says "either write something worth reading or do something worth writing". He probably should have been president at some point. ;)

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    1. I love that one! He had the opportunity to become president at one point, but he didn't want it. He said he was too old and too feeble. I think it was his humble way of backing out.

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  50. I'm ashamed to say I'd forgotten France fought on America's side in the war. Thanks for all the enlightening info. Franklin was an amazing man. :)

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    1. I think most Americans have forgotten, but where did the Statue of Liberty come from, right?

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  51. He was a pretty amazing man Crystal, thank you for choosing him so we could learn more :)

    I want to thank you so much for you comment, I have tried two different sleeping pills prescribed by my doctor (no luck), she hasn't given up, I am working close with her. Hopefully we can find something that will work soon :)

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    1. Fingers crossed for you. You know how much I empathize.

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  52. I think any of the founding fathers would be interesting to meet. Maybe all them at once, take them out for lunch and just chat.

    ~Patricia Lynne~
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, YA Author

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    1. I think I'd be overwhelmed by that much awesomeness. I'd have to do a one on one with each.

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  53. Ben Franklin is one cool dude. I got to see to see the house he lived in in London while being all diplomatic and stuff.

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  54. Thanks for highlighting him, I learnt more about him from your post.

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  55. Excellent choice! He's one of my favorites too. Such a smart guy. He probably liked cheese.

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    1. He DEFINITELY liked cheese, no questions asked. =)

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  56. Crystal: I'm with you when it comes to Ben. He was a visionary in just about any field you could name: political, social, scientific... He didn't seem to see any limits to what might be possible, and so he just transcended them. Thanks for your post!

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    1. And he was the liaison that enabled the founding fathers to come together and actually agree on a constitution. He was definitely epic.

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  57. What fantastic news! 13 is a very lucky number. ;) And October is my favorite month! I'd have lunch with Ben Franklin too. Such a wise man.

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  58. A year or so ago, there was a show on the History Channel called something like "10 Things You Don't Know About..." One episode was all about Benjamin Franklin. You might be interested in checking that out.

    (Oh, found the link... http://www.history.com/shows/10-things-you-dont-know-about At this time that episode is on the front page. Scroll down to the bottom.)

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    1. Ooh! Going to have to check that out. Thanks, Liz.

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  59. Franklin does sound like a great guy. Thanks for the wonderful post.

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  60. Franklin's role in the creation of America with its amazing constitution can never be forgotten, or downplayed.

    I would love to visit Philadelphia and walk its streets with you (and my gr-daughters).

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  61. Franklin is a great pick for F. He is definitely one I'd like to travel back in time to share a meal with. Congrats on the release date!

    Hope you’re having fun with the A to Z challenge,
    Jocelyn

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  62. Awesome book news.

    Franklin fascinates me. Such a great mind.

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  63. Whoo hoo on the book news. Ben is one of the main reasons I love to teach 5th grade. It's so cool to introduce him to the students every year.

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  64. Congrats on the book!
    I love the list of Franklin's virtues.

    Yvonne

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  65. I like those values. :-)

    Congrats on the release date of your book!

    Stefani @ Dreams of Nyssa

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  66. Lunch! I want to go back in time and touch him. I love that he believed in Chastity which is sadly getting a bad name in this generation. Also that his first virtue involves not being a drunk, yup, this man is smart, awesome and the perfect role model/inspiration. I knew about him contributing to America as it is today and his inventing but I didn't know a lot about his virtues. Thanks for sharing and I really loved that part. Definitely don't do anything to dullness and I'm inspired to really clean my room tomorrow.

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    1. He's so full of wisdom I wish we could capture his thoughts in an infinite magic eight ball. =)

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  67. I had no idea the man had so many depths. I'm afraid being British I know very little about the founding fathers of the US - my history lessons at school were full of blood thirsty Tudors and the trenches of WW1 :). I think my fav significant leader of our little island has to be Elizabeth I - she was so very strong in the face of almost insurmountable odds and men trying to make her a pawn.
    Tasha
    Tasha's Thinkings - AtoZ (Vampires)
    FB3X - AtoZ (Erotic Drabbles)

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    1. Understandable. I love Elizabeth too. She was such a strong woman.

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  68. Wow, I never knew all these things about Benjamin Franklin before!

    And what exciting news! October seems so far away, but it will likely be here before any of us know it, heh...

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    1. I KNOW! Do you have your Halloween costume ready yet? ;)

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    2. LOL, I plan ahead for many things, but that's not one of them. :P

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  69. Congratulations, Crystal on your upcoming New Book!

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  70. Well done, Crystal!
    Franklin is definitely someone to emulate.

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  71. Congrats on the release date! :)

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Hit me with your cheese!