True Life Tuesday: Jim Thompson

James Harrison Wilson Thompson was born on March 21, 1906 in Greenville, Delaware. He was the youngest of 5 children born to Henry and Mary Wilson Thompson. His father was a wealthy textile merchant. His mother was the daughter of James Harrison Wilson, a noted Union general in the Civil War. Jim graduated from Princeton University in 1928. He did some post-graduate work at the University of Pennsylvania but did not finish due to his weakness in Calculus. From 1931-1940 he worked at Holden, McLaughlin & Associates in New York City. While there he designed homes for the east coast rich. 

In 1941 Thompson quit his job and enlisted in the Delaware National Guard. He was eventually transferred to Fort Monroe in Virginia. While there he met 2nd Lieutenant Edwin Fahey Black. Black encouraged him to join the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the precursor to the CIA. He served in the OSS during the height of World War II. He was sent to Thailand shortly after VJ Day to set up an OSS office in Bangkok. 

In 1946 he returned to American to request his discharge. He had fallen in love with Thailand and returned to the country once he was discharged. In 1948 he partnered with George Barrie to found the Thai Silk Company Limited. In 1951 the company provided the silk fabrics that were used in the film The King and I. This caused the company to prosper. Even with the increase in business Thompson was determined to keep the company cottage based. This allowed women to stay in their households while earning a living.

In 1958 he designed and started building a large mansion to display the many treasures he had collected. He had pieces from China, Belgium, Victorian England and Cambodia. He used parts of old country houses to construct the home. On March 26, 1967 he went for a walk in the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia. On the walk he disappeared and has never been found. Theories on his disappearance include him becoming lost, foul play and that he left to start a new life. He was declared dead in absentia by a Thai court in 1974. His mansion was turned into a museum. It named one of the top 5 places to visit in Bangkok by Trip Advisor in 2022.

Monday Musings

Another week begins and these are the things currently on my mind,

1) Last week was an extremely stressful and frustrating week at work. I think it maybe time for me to start looing for a new one.

2) Preston and I had a good time Friday at Huckleberry Railroad even though it was really hot. There was actually a crew filming a documentary on Michigan railroads for PBS. Assuming PBS is still around it should come out next year. It will be interesting to see if we make the final cut.

3) I have one more day off next week before the boys go back to school. I am wracking my brain trying to come up with something for us to do. I am leaning toward a movie or bowling.

Here are the pictures for the week.

On the training waiting to leave the station.

Cupcake aftermath.

Friday Funnies

I hope that everyone has a terrific weekend.

 

Three on Thursday

Another week is coming to an end and these are the things I am currently thankful for.

1) That i have tomorrow off so this is a long weekend for me.

2) That my extremely stressful work week is over. 

3) A fun day out tomorrow with the boys.

Hodgepodging It

Joining Joyce and the other Hodgepodgers today.

1. The midpoint of summer (believe it or not) is August 7th. Describe a perfect summer day. Have you had one this year?  

To me the perfect summer day involves sleeping in.Then I would have a lazy breakfast or brunch. Then I would then hang out by a pool or on a beach. I would take a nap and read a good book. Then I would have a nice dinner and dessert. Unfortunately I have not had this type of day this year and honestly I have not had one in a very long time. 

2. What's one thing you wish you knew before starting high school?  

That no matter how it may seem like everyone else has everything together we all struggle in some way.

3. What's something that bothers you if it's not done perfectly? 

If the towels are not folded exactly the way I want them to be. 

4. What's the most overrated food you're convinced people are just pretending to enjoy?  

Avocado toast

5. Wrapping it up this week with five fun this or thats...

personal stylist or personal chef? 

Chef

unlimited tacos or free pizza?

Pizza

bookshelf organization-by size or by genre? 

Size

ten minutes late or ten minutes early? 

I would prefer early since being late causes me a lot of anxiety. Unfortunately my husband and sons do not feel the same way.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I am getting sick of dealing with hubby's car. We took it in last Friday and the problem happened again over the weekend. We took it back in on Monday and have to pick it up tomorrow. It is derivable but there is still a part they are waiting on so we will have to take it in again. I wish we could get a new one but it just is not in the cards right now.

True Life Tuesday: The Toldeo War

For what it is worth I believe that Michigan ended up winning this war. In 1787 the Congress of Confederation enacted the Northwest Ordinance which created the Northwest Territory. Eventually the territory was supposed to be divided into no less than 3 and no more than 5 states. The boundary was declared to be "an east and west line drawn through the southerly extreme of Lake Michigan." This boundary was used in 1802 which is when Ohio began the process of becoming a state. At this time it was reported that Lake Michigan actually went further south than previously believed. This fact would lead to Ohio losing quite a bit of land. When creating the state constitution included a provision angling the boundary line. When Congress accepted the constitution this provision was included. 

When Congress created the Michigan Territory they disregarded the boundary line included in the Ohio constitution and used the original line. This meant that a part of Ohio now belonged to Michigan. The Ohio legislature asked Congress to take up the issues. In 1812 they approved a survey of the line but it was delayed by the War of 1812. In 1816 the boundary in the Ohio constitution was upheld. Michigan territorial, Lewis Cass, objected to the decision and commissioned a second survey which agreed with boundary used when the territory was created. The area in question was named the Toledo strip and was 5-8 miles wide. 

Michigan ended up occupying the strip setting up local governments, building roads and collecting taxes. The location of the strip was near rivers and the Great Lakes which made it economically significant. The area was also fertile with loam soil which made it excellent for agriculture. When Michigan was able to apply for statehood in 1833 Congress rejected the request because of the disputed area. Ohio refused to cede the area and petitioned other states to block Michigan's entrance as a state. In January 1835 Michigan territorial governor, Stevens T. Mason, called for a constitutional convention without the approval of Congress. On March 31, 1835 the an Ohio Militia arrived in Perrysburg, Ohio - about 10 miles southwest of Toledo. Governor Mason sent 1000 armed men to Toledo to prevent the Ohio militia from entering the area. 

President Andrew Jackson was desperate to avoid an armed conflict. Ohio was quickly becoming a political power and was often a swing state in presidential elections. On April3, 1835 Jackson sent Richard Rush of Pennsylvania and Benjamin Chew Howard of Maryland to arbitrate the issue. Ohio agreed to arbitrate but Michigan refused and prepared for conflict. On April 26, 1835 a group of surveyors were attacked by the Michigan militia in what was called the Battle of Phillips Corners. Michigan claimed that they did not fire on the surveyors but the incident increased tensions between the two parties. In May and June 1835 Michigan drafted a constitution but Congress refused to accept it. President Jackson also vowed to deny Michigan entry as a state unless the dispute was resolved. 

In August 1835 at the urging of the members of Congress from Ohio President Jackson removed Mason as the territorial governor of Michigan. He was replaced by John S. "Little Jack" Horner. Horner was extremely unpopular. Michigan residents actually burned him in effigy. In October 1835 Mason was reelected as governor. On June 15, 1836 President Jackson signed a bill allowing Michigan to become a state if the ceded the Toledo strip. As a concession Michigan would be given the western 3/4s of what is now the Upper Peninsula. This area was considered to be ill-suited for agriculture. In a special convention in Ann Arbor in September 1836 the offer was rejected. As 1836 continued Michigan was almost bankrupt due to the cost of the militia. At this time the federal government had a surplus that it was planning on distributing to the states. Since Michigan was a territory they would not be eligible to receive the payment. Another convention was convened in Ann Arbor was held on December 14, 1836 and Congress' terms were accepted. Many people felt that this convention was illegal and it became known as the Frostbitten Convention. On January 26, 1837 Michigan was admitted as the 26th state in the union. 

Monday Musings

As this first Monday of August comes to an end these are the things currently on my mind.

1)  The first day of school is 4 week from today. I do not feel ready for that yet.

2) My sugars are still getting better. My fasting are really good but my after meal numbers are still a bit high. I go back for a follow up on the 13th.

3) I am also feeling a lot better. The exhaustion and brain fog have pretty much gone. I am back to my normal levels of tiredness and fogginess.

Here are the pictures for the week.

Hanging out in the mesh bag we store the stuffies in.

Having fun at the food court with daddy.