Oui, oui, le resistance!

I saw protesters today! Alive and kicking protesters!!! I couldn't believe it! And here in Eagan... home of our Republican governor! I thought, how French! Protesting is like a national sport in France and ranks right behind soccer. Oh la la!

They were protesting the proposal of sending 21,500 more troops over to Iraq. I was so proud of my little Minnesotans! I thought one of them was standing at the off ramp on 35E, but after getting closer and reading the man's sign, I realized he was just a drifter looking to work for food or something. The light was green so I didn't stop to throw some change at him, but like I would have actually done that had the light been red.

I didn't watch the President's speech, but I certainly read about it in the New York Times and Washington Post. It's amazing how many people are not pleased with the troop surge as well as extending current soldiers' tour of duty. Not only the protesters I saw today, but also our governor Timmy and many other Republicans serving in our nation's capital don't approve of the new plan. Personally I think Bush-whacker's admittance to not sending more troops initially and pretty much admitting we are losing is way over due and it comes too late.

"... Senator Chuck Hagel, Republican of Nebraska, said the president’s policy was “very, very dangerous." DUH.

And when he was speaking to Condoleeza Rice: "Matter of fact, I have to say, Madame Secretary, that I think this speech given last night by this president represents the most dangerous policy blunder in this country since Vietnam, if it’s carried out,” said Mr. Hagel, who was seriously wounded in Vietnam. “I will resist it.”

Oy vey. This is enough to make my head spin. I was reading the Star Tribune online this morning and they interviewed the family of a friend of a friend as they were watching the President's speech last night. Their son, Ryan, is fighting in Iraq leading special convoys. He was supposed to go to Iraq and serve as a medic, but was assigned to lead convoys due to his knack for spotting roadside bombs. Scary. He was supposed to come home in March from his year long tour of duty, but now his tour has been extended for an unknown period of time. I have met Ryan's twin brother, Eric, a few times over the years, and Eric is getting married in the fall, and there is a good chance that his best man and brother won't be home for it.

I said before that I didn't watch the speech, and that was due to the fact that A.) I didn't really want to since most news stations already gave a run down of what he was going to talk about; and B.) I was watching the movie "Steel Magnolias" instead. I love that movie. Makes me cry every time! Plus I'd much rather watch a sappy dramedy about six southern belles, who at one point describe their gay-dar as any man named Nick, Steve, or Randy who has track lighting installed in their house.

Gassy

I just got gas for $1.95 per gallon. I haven't seen gas prices that low in who knows how long. I filled up for a mere $25! I couldn't believe it! What a wonderful day for gas prices. Let's hope they continue to get lower.

Has this ever happened to you?

1.) You know when you are standing in a large retail chain – like, I dunno, Target, we’ll say – looking at knives with your best friend, and a middle aged woman behind you rips off the biggest fart you have ever heard? No? You’ve never experienced that same situation before? Well, it happened to Rachel and I this weekend at the Target in Roseville.

Do you notice that it seems to fall dead silent at the exact moment you hear a fart, burp, or someone briefly talking loudly about the topics of sex or genitals in public? It seems like all of a sudden that is the one and only thing you hear in the entire world.

Rachel and I heard this woman fart, and I’m pretty sure it scared the culprit more than it did us. We immediately had to halt all discussions about which santoku knife that Rachel should buy, and run two aisles down and begin laughing hysterically for 10 minutes.

I’m sure the woman was mortified, but it provided unlimited entertainment for us.

2.) You know when you’re in Banana Republic and you see four young kids sitting on the floor around an ottoman and they’re making their pieces of candy have sex with each other? No? Haven’t been in that situation either? Again… happened to Rachel and I this weekend too.

Banana Republic is usually a fairly quiet store except for the music playing overhead, so naturally the first thing we hear when we walk in are moaning and other sexual sounds. We walk further towards the back of the store and we see four small kids sitting on the floor banging pieces of M&M’s together (kind of like when you made Ken and Barbie kiss each other when you were a kid… basically smashing their faces together) while making sex noises and giggling. And no, this wasn’t my interpretation of the situation, it is definitely what they were imitating. I heard one of them say, “now make these ones “do it” together!”

Wow. Kids these days!

Annie, Annie! Are you ok?!

Annie, Annie!!! You're in labor!!!

Fashion where you least expect it...

LOL:

"We are talking full shrubs here, not mangy soul patches, the kind of beards that gay bears once seemed to be the only ones to flaunt (the better to attract each other at bars and roundups like the annual Bearapalooza or the Furball in Canada). "

Go here to read the full article.

I carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me (i carry it inmy heart) i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true) and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root, and the bud of the bud, and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

~ e.e. cummings

Hello 2007

I have successfully started on one of my resolutions for this year - working out. *Applause, Applause, Courtsey, Blow Kisses* I did the elliptical machine yesterday afternoon for 15 minutes without stopping... I know! Great, huh?

I was managing a pretty consistent pace for the first 8 minutes, but then I felt like I was dying and I could really feel the burn in my chest. They say that burning sensation is an indicator that the exercise is working and you're burning fat, but I am pretty sure the burning isn't supposed to be happening in your chest AND it was only my first time exercising in who knows how long, so I'm sure I wasn't supposed to be experiencing that. My eyes were also burning but that is because I was sweating so much and it was getting in my eyes (plus I could see my reflection in the window, tummy jiggling and all which I am sure contributed to the burning). I'm sure I looked like a big old mess afterward, but I didn't care... I am on my way to getting in shape!

After that finished, I did a little stretching and some abdominal work back in the apartment. I really think I will be able to stick with exercising. I shall always keep a mental image of an Abercrombie model in my head and hope that some day I can look like that. Yes, I shouldn't be so focused on how my body looks, but it'll help me keep motivated to lose a little weight so my family will stop rubbing my stomach every time they see me and saying "Buddah Belly".

Verbatim

"It would be like a ghetto NASCAR."

Mistah F.A.B.

Now, I don't think the event this quote is associated with would be the smartest thing to do.

Resolutions

I was trying to think of a New Years resolution that I could make (and actually follow through with) this year. So, I have managed to come up with some pretty sensible ones:

1. Start a 401K. I know, I know. I don't have one yet, let the lectures begin. In all honesty, I haven't had the extra funds each paycheck to contribute to one, so maybe I can manage to put like $20 in each month. It's a start, right?

2. Open a savings account. No lectures on this either! I used to have one but closed it out and used the money to buy my first car... haven't had the funds to start one since then. My bank requires I need at least $300 in there at all times (or else they charge me $5 a day), so that is what is holding me back at the moment. But when I get my tax returns back, a large majority of that money will be used to open a savings account.

3. Lose some weight. This is pretty generic, but my metabolism has slowed way down since college and I'd like to shed some of my tummy pudge and maybe even get my abs to show. I know they are buried deep in there somewhere.

4. "Harsher punishment for parole violators, Stan................ and world peace!" Ok, so this one was a joke, but 10 points to whoever can name the movie this is from!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Happy Birthday, Blog!

I am a horrible Dad to my blog... I frequently neglect it, forget to feed it, and miss its school plays... and apparently I almost forget when its birthday is... BUT luckily, I remembered before it was too late!!!

So - HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLOG! You officially turn 1 today!

Thank God I remembered or else someone might have called social services on my ass.

I'd also like to send out a big MERRY CHRISTMAS/HANNUKAH/KWANZAA (however you spell it) to everyone!!!

I will try to fix you

This is a rendition of Coldplay's "Fix You" as sung by the Young at Heart chorus. I found this video on Scott's blog.

The YouTube video description says this clip is "from a documentary shown on Channel 4 in the UK called Young at Heart, the name of the New England octogenarian chorus line. The performer here is Fred Mittle, who suffers from congestive heart failure. This song was intended to be a duet between Fred and another chorus member, Bob Salvini. Sadly, Bob died of a heart attack and it was left to Fred to carry the song on his own."

I thought this was an amazing and moving video. It really adds emotional weight to an already intensely powerful song when it is placed in this sort of context. It makes you take a step back and realize how much you wish you could try to fix certain problems plaguing the ones you love - whether health or emotional.

I's lerned lotz at skool

This is the most hilarious post I have read in a long time.

I'm thinking of starting an organization a la P.E.T.A. because of this subject... except call it something like "People for the Ethical Treatment of Audiences: Dedicated to eliminating the exposure of idiotic celebrity ramblings to audiences nationwide". It's like the really dumb popular girl in high school trying to validate herself with something that is CLEARLY not meant to even get a "Check Plus" in a first grade spelling test. The sad thing is - a first grader could probably write something far more cohesive and intellectual than Ms. Lohan.

Way to go, Lance!

Another celebrity power couple has taken a trip to Splitsville. Oh, wait, did I say power couple? I meant Lance finally kicked Reichen to the curb... probably after he realized that the Third Reich was just using him to advance his own career and "celebrity status", if he even ever had a celebrity status after all the buzz about winning the Amazing Race died down. Well, unless you consider Reich's ground-breaking performance as the bartender at Chez Rouge on Days of Our Lives a big status booster, then whatever. He didn't even have any lines.

Lance needs the freedom to play the field... be a manwhore! He did just come out after all, and the Third Reich was his first relationship... so he needs to experience what this gay world has to offer. It's Lance Bass for Pete's sake! He could get anyone he wants at this point. He is no longer viewed as the awkward looking former N'Sync-er with a fat face who is probably gay. He is now viewed as the aesthetically pleasing, slimmed down in the facial region, hot-to-trot millionaire and former N'Sync-er.

So, you go boy! Way to get rid of Reichen! That relationship made me more uncomforatble than seeing Britney's cooter as she was getting out of Paris's car.

Sicky

Doesn't this make you a little sad? It makes me a little sad. My poor nephew is sick and this is the picture my sister sent me on my phone... I just want to hug the little guy!

Muscled McPiercedpenis would have been better...

Chad: What's your name?

Buff Stripper w/ 13 piercings: Diesel.

Chad: Of course it is...

Brass Rail - Saturday night - Chad's 35th birthday outing.

Bobby K

I went and saw "Bobby" last night. It was a pretty good movie, with an incredibly intense ending that left somewhat of an impact on me. During the last few moments of the film, the audio from a speech Robert F. Kennedy gave was played. I found it to be a very intriguing speech, and from time to time I think we need to be reminded of the great Americans of the past who spoke words of deep passion and relevance - - especially when my 18 year old niece leans over to me and asks who the movie is about and if "that guy" dies or not.

Robert F. Kennedy on the Mindless Menace of Violence, April 5, 1968:

This is a time of shame and sorrow. It is not a day for politics. I have saved this one opportunity, my only event of today, to speak briefly to you about the mindless menace of violence in America which again stains our land and every one of our lives.

It is not the concern of any one race. The victims of the violence are black and white, rich and poor, young and old, famous and unknown. They are, most important of all, human beings whom other human beings loved and needed. No one - no matter where he lives or what he does - can be certain who will suffer from some senseless act of bloodshed. And yet it goes on and on and on in this country of ours.

Why? What has violence ever accomplished? What has it ever created? No martyr's cause has ever been stilled by an assassin's bullet.

No wrongs have ever been righted by riots and civil disorders. A sniper is only a coward, not a hero; and an uncontrolled, uncontrollable mob is only the voice of madness, not the voice of reason.

Whenever any American's life is taken by another American unnecessarily - whether it is done in the name of the law or in the defiance of the law, by one man or a gang, in cold blood or in passion, in an attack of violence or in response to violence - whenever we tear at the fabric of the life which another man has painfully and clumsily woven for himself and his children, the whole nation is degraded.

"Among free men," said Abraham Lincoln, "there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet; and those who take such appeal are sure to lost their cause and pay the costs."

Yet we seemingly tolerate a rising level of violence that ignores our common humanity and our claims to civilization alike. We calmly accept newspaper reports of civilian slaughter in far-off lands. We glorify killing on movie and television screens and call it entertainment. We make it easy for men of all shades of sanity to acquire whatever weapons and ammunition they desire.

Too often we honor swagger and bluster and wielders of force; too often we excuse those who are willing to build their own lives on the shattered dreams of others. Some Americans who preach non-violence abroad fail to practice it here at home. Some who accuse others of inciting riots have by their own conduct invited them.

Some look for scapegoats, others look for conspiracies, but this much is clear: violence breeds violence, repression brings retaliation, and only a cleansing of our whole society can remove this sickness from our soul.

For there is another kind of violence, slower but just as deadly destructive as the shot or the bomb in the night. This is the violence of institutions; indifference and inaction and slow decay. This is the violence that afflicts the poor, that poisons relations between men because their skin has different colors. This is the slow destruction of a child by hunger, and schools without books and homes without heat in the winter.

This is the breaking of a man's spirit by denying him the chance to stand as a father and as a man among other men. And this too afflicts us all.

I have not come here to propose a set of specific remedies nor is there a single set. For a broad and adequate outline we know what must be done. When you teach a man to hate and fear his brother, when you teach that he is a lesser man because of his color or his beliefs or the policies he pursues, when you teach that those who differ from you threaten your freedom or your job or your family, then you also learn to confront others not as fellow citizens but as enemies, to be met not with cooperation but with conquest; to be subjugated and mastered.

We learn, at the last, to look at our brothers as aliens, men with whom we share a city, but not a community; men bound to us in common dwelling, but not in common effort. We learn to share only a common fear, only a common desire to retreat from each other, only a common impulse to meet disagreement with force. For all this, there are no final answers.

Yet we know what we must do. It is to achieve true justice among our fellow citizens. The question is not what programs we should seek to enact. The question is whether we can find in our own midst and in our own hearts that leadership of humane purpose that will recognize the terrible truths of our existence.

We must admit the vanity of our false distinctions among men and learn to find our own advancement in the search for the advancement of others. We must admit in ourselves that our own children's future cannot be built on the misfortunes of others. We must recognize that this short life can neither be ennobled or enriched by hatred or revenge.

Our lives on this planet are too short and the work to be done too great to let this spirit flourish any longer in our land. Of course we cannot vanquish it with a program, nor with a resolution.

But we can perhaps remember, if only for a time, that those who live with us are our brothers, that they share with us the same short moment of life; that they seek, as do we, nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and in happiness, winning what satisfaction and fulfillment they can.

Surely, this bond of common faith, this bond of common goal, can begin to teach us something. Surely, we can learn, at least, to look at those around us as fellow men, and surely we can begin to work a little harder to bind up the wounds among us and to become in our own hearts brothers and countrymen once again.

Let us be glad...

Let us be grateful!
Let us rejoicify that goodness could subdue
The wicked workings of you-know-who...

17 Days until...

And Chicago!

Who's excited?!

Crayon High Society

I went to Target last night to buy my 2 year old nephew a birthday present. I decided to get him some markers and crayons since he LOVES to color. He'll make you sit down next to him, patting the chair, gesturing for you to sit down next to him and color along side him - and he does not let you get up until he says you're done coloring. He can be quite the authoritative little bugger sometimes.

As I was standing in the crayon aisle of Target, I was overwhelmed with the different amounts and colors of crayons you can get nowadays. Mauvelous, Macaroni and Cheese, Mango Tango, Inch Worm. These are just a few of the colors they have now. They even have a 150 count crayon package with all of their colors neatly arranged in a round plastic tote that spins around for your convenience while selecting a color.

I remember the time when your elementary school status depended on the amount of crayons you had. The hot commodity was the coveted 64 count box of Crayola's WITH the built in crayon sharpener in the back of the box. You would have to keep a pretty close eye on who was borrowing your crayons and practically obtain collateral from your peers until they gave your crayon back, lest you don't get that crayon back or they try and fool you by giving you the wrong color back. Your Crayola's could make you or break you back then.

I decided on a happy medium for my nephew's present - I got him the 96 count box of Crayola's WITH the crayon sharpener in the back. I figured this should be enough crayons to last him a while until he eats them all like any other normal kid.

P.S. And I'm sure everyone remembers the episode of Mr. Rogers when he tours the Crayola factory and showed us how crayons were made. That was such a sweet episode.

Rummy, Out!

Finally, after 6 years he's gone... finito... auf wiedersehen... au revoir... don't let the door hit your butt on the way out!

A Good Day

It is certainly turning out to be a productive day in my book. I am man - hear me roar!

1. I applied for a job with the Minnesota Senate Counsel today, which makes that the 5th job I've applied for in general over the last week and a half.

2. I called my bank about a discrepancy on my account. The not-so-intelligent/let's-take-an-hour-and-a-half-to-serve-the-food restaurant in Wisconsin I ate at on Sunday over charged my check card by $25.54! Now that is a lot of money for poor folk like myself... luckily Beverly at US Bank saw that and didn't let it post to my account. Thanks Bev! You're a real peach!

That's all for now. Maybe the productivity will continue through the afternoon if I'm lucky.