The property manager of my house in Vegas sent me some pictures of the house, and I'm pleased that it appears as though the tenants are keeping things in good shape. However, this picture was a shock to me: There is not a single painting on the walls, but severed heads, yes . . . plenty of those! And that was my pretty room. Wow. Still, I'm glad they pay the rent; they don't have to agree with me in matters of decor or hunting.
On the review blog: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (film)
Another 4th has come and gone. We had family in town, and it was a lot of fun, despite Bennett and his cousin, Cole, taking on a toxic plant and learning the consequences, which thankfully only consisted of a couple of days of vomit and misery with no lasting effects. (It was almost darling to see them huddled together over the toilet trying not to hit each other's heads with vomit). It was too bad they were out of commission for two days, since they love spending time together, wreaking havoc and whatnot. Is this picture symbolic of their relationship?Call it tradition or call it masochism, but as I have done almost every year, I joined the throngs for the fireworks display at the Sun Bowl. This year, sadly, no speech from Independence Day was played to get the crowd into a patriotic frenzy under threat of fictional alien invasion, but I wasn't completely let down---I was again treated to the sound of Springsteen shouting "Born in the USA" as I watched the fireworks. Last year I noted that I didn't think the planners of the St. George fireworks show listened to the lyrics before putting this song on the line up. Yet it's been on the line up every year that I can remember, and I wonder, can they be that dense? This year I've got a new theory. I think it could be that they're brilliant, and maybe they really have caught what should be the spirit of the 4th of July. I've decided "Born in the USA" is an incredibly patriotic song. Yes, it's an angry song about war and the plight of veterans coming home, but this is a country that allows complaint and protest, and that is, perhaps, its noblest attribute. Sure, on the 4th we should spend some time being grateful to live here, humming "God Bless America," but we should also spend some time thinking about what mistakes we've made, how we can avoid repeating them, and what we can do to make this country better. Wouldn't it be swell if being born in the USA didn't ever have to mean being sent toting a gun to a foreign land? If patriotism is gratitude and love for one's country with a desire to make and keep it a good place to live, and if nationalism is the belief that one's country is better than anyone else's with a blind defense of the nation's mistakes, let's keep it patriotic. I worry that we indoctrinate our children with nationalism. Bennett came home from school after the "USA" unit telling me how America is the BEST. Dan remembers asking his mother, who spent many of her young years in France, what it was like to live in a country that wasn't free. He was shocked to learn that the USA isn't the only free country. Anyway, in case you've never really listened (or if you just want to watch the part where Bruce Springsteen shamelessly displays his well formed butt in a pair of blue jeans (what's more American?), I give you "Born in the USA" (I love The Boss even more than Meat Loaf):
And for your benefit, Stefani, Bennett's new favorite song---Bruce Stringbean and the S Street Band's version (though their "Born to Add" is actually better---you can also find Kermit singing "Dancin' in the Dark," complete with Piggy's stellar interpretation of Courtney Cox's role):
After the fireworks: And this is how we amuse ourselves in my family. Hey, Glitter Ball Table Hockey is the coolest game ever around 1:00 am:
These are two photos of Angie and me. One is a wedding photo and the other is a picture from a church dance in 2006. The church dance photo was selected because it's the only picture of the two of us we have since our wedding.
Angie and I met in AP European history in High School. I quickly developed a massive crush and asked her to Junior Prom. We didn't formally become an item until nearly seven years later, but we both carried torches for one another in the interim.
As you look at Angie, you can only see part of what enchanted me about her from the moment we met. Of course, I was drawn to her stunning beauty, but it was her wit, charm and delightful sense of humor that caused me to become obsessed with her, utterly unable to imagine my life without her. (Naturally, I write this with Angie looking over my shoulder.)
There is not a single painting on the walls, but severed heads, yes . . . plenty of those! And that was my pretty room. Wow. Still, I'm glad they pay the rent; they don't have to agree with me in matters of decor or hunting.
Another 4th has come and gone. We had family in town, and it was a lot of fun, despite Bennett and his cousin, Cole, taking on a toxic plant and learning the consequences, which thankfully only consisted of a couple of days of vomit and misery with no lasting effects. (It was almost darling to see them huddled together over the toilet trying not to hit each other's heads with vomit). It was too bad they were out of commission for two days, since they love spending time together, wreaking havoc and whatnot. Is this picture symbolic of their relationship?
Call it tradition or call it masochism, but as I have done almost every year, I joined the throngs for the fireworks display at the Sun Bowl. This year, sadly, no speech from Independence Day was played to get the crowd into a patriotic frenzy under threat of fictional alien invasion, but I wasn't completely let down---I was again treated to the sound of Springsteen shouting "Born in the USA" as I watched the fireworks. Last year I noted that I didn't think the planners of the St. George fireworks show listened to the lyrics before putting this song on the line up. Yet it's been on the line up every year that I can remember, and I wonder, can they be that dense? This year I've got a new theory. I think it could be that they're brilliant, and maybe they really have caught what should be the spirit of the 4th of July. I've decided "Born in the USA" is an incredibly patriotic song. Yes, it's an angry song about war and the plight of veterans coming home, but this is a country that allows complaint and protest, and that is, perhaps, its noblest attribute. Sure, on the 4th we should spend some time being grateful to live here, humming "God Bless America," but we should also spend some time thinking about what mistakes we've made, how we can avoid repeating them, and what we can do to make this country better. Wouldn't it be swell if being born in the USA didn't ever have to mean being sent toting a gun to a foreign land? If patriotism is gratitude and love for one's country with a desire to make and keep it a good place to live, and if nationalism is the belief that one's country is better than anyone else's with a blind defense of the nation's mistakes, let's keep it patriotic. I worry that we indoctrinate our children with nationalism. Bennett came home from school after the "USA" unit telling me how America is the BEST. Dan remembers asking his mother, who spent many of her young years in France, what it was like to live in a country that wasn't free. He was shocked to learn that the USA isn't the only free country. Anyway, in case you've never really listened (or if you just want to watch the part where Bruce Springsteen shamelessly displays his well formed butt in a pair of blue jeans (what's more American?), I give you "Born in the USA" (I love The Boss even more than Meat Loaf):
And this is how we amuse ourselves in my family. Hey, Glitter Ball Table Hockey is the coolest game ever around 1:00 am:
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