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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet"

"The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable — and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come!
"It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, “Peace! Peace!” — but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"
Patrick Henry – March 23, 1775 to the Virginia House of Burgesses at St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia


And let us not forget the shout from outside the window that broke the silence following Henry's impassioned speech: 
"Let me be buried on this spot!" 


Edward Carrington, an ordinary American

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

A Letter to My Husband

Dear Husband:

I grossly underestimated the volume of work you do around the house. Not only that, the boys miss you and so do I.  The laundry pile is taller than The Professor and the bed hasn't been made once since you left. Then again, I am usually in it so that might explain things. (The bed, not the laundry pile. There is no explanation for the laundry pile.)

I know you are busy saving the free world from certain doom and destruction and all that stuff, but please hurry home soon. I feel terrible that you are sleeping in the woods while I enjoy this huge bed all by myself.

Sincerely,

Your ever loving wife

Sunday, March 07, 2010

A Quick Study in Human Behavior

Scene: It's after dinner. I am at my computer, feeling sorry for myself because I have a head in my ribs and tiny feet dancing on my bladder and keep asking Mr. Amazing Man, "When will this ever end????"

Captain Knuckle wanders in, hands in pockets, slouching like only a teenaged boy who is bored on Sunday evening can be.

Me: Hey, son. How are you?
Son: Good. Sort of. (Which interpreted means: I won't let him play Medal of Honor on the Wii right now so he is moping around hoping I will change my mind.)
Me: Oh. Are you bored?
Son: Yes. Wait - NO! I am definitely not bored.

See, he has learned that when he tells me he is bored, I have a list of about 10 things he can do to get "un-bored" in a hurry. This list includes things like doing laundry, cleaning the litter box, scrubbing walls, etc., etc. I think you get the idea.

He is such a smart boy. It only took him 13 1/2 years to figure out to never tell Mom that he is bored. I can always find more productive ways to spend his time if he isn't careful.


Like emptying the dishwasher.

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Methinks I Need to Work on My People Skills


I asked Captain Knuckle to fetch me some ice cream from the upright freezer in the garage. This is what he brought me.

In case you can't read a 13-year old boy's Sanskrit, this is what it says:

"No authorization to open if you are not a slightly angry pregnant mother."