File under B for blind.

Hogwash?

The problem facing us is "will we have the stomach to fight?" After the laughter dies down, I have this sense of fear that sets in. Dick Cheney thinks it's all about our gumption. I can't believe any man this hellbent on painting obscure word pictures and avoiding saying I was wrong could still be respected. To those folks driving around with Bush/Cheney '04 stickers in their windows...can you tell me what he means, because I don't hear a direct answer to anything.

My band of brothers has a phrase we use to acknowledge when someone has shared something, a feeling/hope/desire/etc. with no confusion. A statement that gets to the essence of their truth without distractions. We say it's a clean statement. Dick Cheney was not clean in his "sharing."

John Stewart helps me find some comic relief in it, but it's the kind of comic relief that involves poor Yorick's skull in the punchline.

File under C for cute observations...

My son was explaining to me how he's tried to make friends with a new student in 2nd grade. He's feeling like the kid just doesn't want to be friends. "He didn't say anything when I said hi to him in the bathroom!"



From the other room on the toilet, my 4 yr old daughter says,"Maybe he didn't say hello because he was trying to concentrate."

Knock me out....

The britophile lay dormant within me for quite some time. I spent a few months in and around London, and fell in love with the city and its culture. Ok, a few of the people, too. I wish I had better access to the music now. It tweaked me in a wonderful way.

XMU, the college station on satellite radio is my window into the new and sometimes brilliant. I've been hit upside the head again. Lily Allen. She's given me another peek inside UK pop culture that had me laughing the first time I heard the track. Check out "Knock 'Em Out" and "Smile."

She's adorably chippy, quite crass, and the beats are ridiculous. It's undeniable. "Not in a million years.....!"

I-L-L...I-N-I!

We were gathering at my dad and step-mom's place for some post-holiday hang out. There's not a lot I can say on my end, but I've had some great talks while I've been here. Conversations some try to have beyond the grave, I've gotten to have now in the present. My heart is full. Thank you, God.

The other big news, and probably biggest news yet, is not about me at all. My brother Bill is getting engaged! He and his girlfriend Janice have decided to marry. They each have a daughter, and both seem excited about the idea as well. That'll be a journey too, but they are well-suited for it. So much excitement. A lot of love. And lots of food and drink this weekend, as well.

We froze ourselves getting a little outdoor time at the park. The house gets pretty small, so we needed to burn a little energy. Here's Papa and Evan.

Happy and cold.


Back in TN, we had friends come over on New Year's day to burn Christmas trees. Lots of fun, until we realized the food had been put downwind of the trees, so we had lots of ash on our buffet. Oops. Still one of my favorite things we do. A tradition that we'll probably continue for a long time.

I'm finding lots of gratitude for my friends & family today.