The Stationary Haddock

"A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle." Widely attributed to feminist Gloria Steinem in the 1970's, this quote was met by the male response: "Yes, but who needs a stationary haddock?" According to the Stationary Haddock, the answer to that question is: "four animals, for starters!"

The Stationary Haddock, formerly The Shopping Diet Chick, is raising two dogs and two birds in Norfolk. She has been compared to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich: sweet and nutty.

Category: Culture

The Cursed Staircase

May 08

6:09 PM

My staircase has 13 steps. I know this because I ordered stair-treads and had to purchase 13 of them. Now I'm not superstitious, so it doesn't bother me, but isn't there some unwritten regulation somewhere that says staircases must not be built consisting of 13 steps- kind of like the omission of the 13th floor in hotel and office buildings? I always thought that deliberate act was odd, not to mention stupid. It's a superstition! I don't even know why the number 13 is considered unlucky- do you? Now, floor number 666- well, that's a different story (although some of you will make the argument that that's a superstition, too).

If anyone out there has 13 steps too, I'd like to know whether you count the final floor landing as "step #14". Do you think my contractor did it deliberately to curse me? O.k., I take that last question back. That's a really stupid thought.

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Hey Madwoman!

Submitted by Maria on Wed, 05/28/2008 at 7:54 pm.

Yes, please stay clear of the triple sixes. So whatever happened to that entity or whatever it was at your father's(?)/childhood(?) home? Didn't you have something demonic residing on some property somewhere?

Oops- so my history facts are off...

Submitted by Maria on Tue, 05/27/2008 at 8:53 am.

So here I was, thinking the Roman calendar was made 40 years after Christ's death. Actually, it was 46 years before His death. Then the Church revised it again in the 1500's. So was there a June 6, 0006? I'll have to do some more research- eek. Me hates to think.

Superstitious

Submitted by MadwomanBloggin on Sun, 05/25/2008 at 5:19 pm.

I'm not superstitious at all. I walk under ladders. I don't throw spilled salt over my shoulder. I'm not afraid of black cats crossing my path. And the 14th floor (if number 13 is not listed)on an elevator is still number 13.

My house is over 60 years old and I have 12 steps, 14 if you count the bottom and top landings.

As for the number (I won't write it here, but it's 3 of the same) I would try to stay away from that one.

$6.66

Submitted by Maria on Thu, 05/22/2008 at 1:24 pm.

I've bought extra stuff to avoid the $6.66, too! Gosh, I wonder how many people out there were born on June 6, 2006- but I guess that "O" between the last sixes acts as a buffer... And June 6, 1966- well, that has four sixes in it. So hmmm... what about June 6, 0006? Well, we know that the Roman calendar was established after that date (about 40 years afterward) so no one would have had to endure that horrible spawn-of-Satan birth date. See how God had that all worked out beforehand? Amazing.

Thanks...

Submitted by Maria on Thu, 05/22/2008 at 11:15 am.

you guys!!! I feel tons better about my staircase :) I happen to love the number 14- it's my dad's birthday number!

13!

Submitted by eeyore1978 on Thu, 05/22/2008 at 9:26 am.

I have 13 stairs in my house too. I never thought about it being bad luck but it never registered in my brain as bad luck either. But I will say that one time I went to Chick Fil-A and my total was $6.66 so I ordered something else just so it wouldn't be!

I agree...

Submitted by resq on Thu, 05/22/2008 at 7:49 am.

You may have 13 treads, but if you count the number of times you "step" up (or down) you will count 14 risers (steps). But if your contractor cut away part of the upper or lower floor to install a tread even with the floor, then you might have someone trying to hex you because you would now step up 13 risers. (that was just a little levity, of course your contractor was not trying to curse you with bad luck)

In that case....count the Risers Instead of the Treads..LOL

Submitted by contractorva on Wed, 05/21/2008 at 8:49 pm.

I can assure you there are many, many houses out there with 13 treads. There ARE 14 risers with 13 treads. You can call the upper floor/landing Tread #14 if you feel more comfortable. It will probably have a nosing & it is your house after all. When you are buying the treads, however it would be greatly to your advantage financially to only purchase 13, especially if they are hardwood (Oak etc.) Probably letting the contractor replacing the treads calculate the labor with 13 instead of 14 will be cheaper as well, since that is all he/she will be replacing. lol
Google this stuff if it helps....Rise & Run..stairway..tread. nosing. riser...stringer...slope..etc..probably tell you why you ended up with 13.

Lucky Number

Submitted by adifabio on Wed, 05/21/2008 at 8:39 pm.

Did you know that in Italy the number 13 is actually a lucky number? The only time the # 13 is considered unlucky is at the dinner, or lunch table... that's due to the last supper. You have Triskaidekaphobia, check this out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triskaidekaphobia