Entries for April 13 - 1911 and 2011 (Aviatrix and Deficit)

Rita's Entry: Thursday, April 13, 1911
Went down for Harmony exam and lesson.  Not much lesson, of course.  So sorry I had been sick.  If I had played my concerto for him, would have had new piece.  Will have it next time.   Rah, Rah.

 
IN RITA'S DAY:  I think Rita was a pretty independent woman for her time, but of course there were women who were real trail blazers.  In the field of aviation Blance Stuart Scott (Betty) in 1911 sort of accidentally set the long distance flight record.  She took off from Mineola and flew around for 60 miles and returned to Mineola.  She isn't as well know as some early women aviators, maybe because she was not too stylish.  She wore lots of petticotts to keep warm and then tucked them into her boots, so she looked sort of "hippy" (see above).  Also in 1911 Harriet Quimby became the first American woman licensed pilot.  She was much more aware of publicity and created her own flying costume in "plum" (see picture of a reproduction of Quimby in museum).  But women weren't completely without controversy.  One named Helen Dutrieu, a Belgium, caused quite a stir because she flew without wearing corsets!  She didn't want the bone to poke at her!

TODAY:  Women are commerical pilots (but not until 1973) and are combat pilots (but not until 1993).  The big story today is the country reaching the federal deficit ceiling.  The deficit is at 14 trillion!  And yes, there was a deficit in 1911 of about 2 billion.

Judy's Entry: Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Not much doing.  Went to the library and bank.  Did laundry.  Picked out a paint color for my "deck room."  I'll be glad when the blue is gone.  Made a soup and am calling it "Uncle George's Soup"  after an Iowan great uncle who had a turkey farm.