Therapeutic Mud Bath...NOT!

I took the girls to the hills to spend Spring Break with their grandparents. Things got a little sticky on the way up. I got stuck in mud. My mom and the kids radioed for help and the fire department towed me out (okay, yes my dad is the fire department).

Sign The McCain FEC Complaint Letter

John McCain's campaign spending is breaking the law. He elected for public funding when his campaign was having trouble. But now that he is the presumptive nominee, he is, by his campaign's own admission, around $4 million over his legal spending limit.

I just did my part to stop McCain from breaking the law by signing the official FEC complaint against him.

Please help out by adding your name here:

Sign Petition

Thanks!

This Actually Makes More Sense Than The American Presidential Elections

The Morally Gifted…Never a Short Cut to Raising a Child

Older Child: Mom, are you sure we are going the right way?

Mom: Trust me; I’m just taking a short cut.

Younger Child: This doesn’t look like a short cut.

Mom: What does it look like?

Older Child: The wrong way.

Mom: Have a little faith girls, this is just the back way; I know where I am going.

Older Child: What did that sign say?

Mom: Well, it said that the road is closed unless you live down this road, then you can go this way. Sometimes you just have to take the road less traveled.

Older Child: Yeah, closed roads tend to be less traveled plus we don’t live down this road so the sign doesn't apply to us. (ahhh, what would I do without captain obvious?)

Younger Child: Are we almost there? Is this still the short way?

Mom: Really, it will be fine; I’ll just go around this barricade.

Older Child: Mom, you are going to get us arrested.

Mom: They don’t arrest kids. Don’t be so dramatic. (okay, she might get this from me)

Younger Child: Nobody else is going this way.

Older Child: They are going to put us in hand cuffs when they arrest us.

Mom: It’s just a detour. Relax, we are almost there.

Older Child: Oh, no mom, the road is turning to dirt. You have to turn around.

Mom: Just a little road work here, nothing we haven’t seen before, not exactly time to break out the four wheel drive.

Older Child: Mom no, turn around, please!

Mom: One more barricade to drive around and we are home free girls.

Younger Child: Wahoo…this is fun!

Older Child: Well mom, how does it feel? Do you think it really is a short cut when you take your children through a crime scene?

When Life Lays an Easter Egg...

Make Egg Salad! Sitting in my fridge today were 36 brightly dyed Easter eggs. Not wanting them to go to waste, and not particularly wanting to serve hard boiled eggs for every meal for the next 3 days, I decided to make roast chicken, fruit and walnut, egg salad. How can something be so simple to make and taste so yummy?

Tonight I went to the gym for my first real post-bronchitis workout. Thanks to Fran and Todd for the inspiration today. I had originally planned to hit the pavement with Fran this afternoon but what do you know…it started to snow. For a moment I thought I was saved by the little white flakes but then I got the “just do it” email from Todd and decided I was out of excuses.

There were 7 people at Bally's tonight.

1. Parachute Man – Wearing the parachute pants that sing “Can’t Touch This” that would even embarrass Mc Hammer. I wanted to grab him by the wife beater and say “I haven’t wanted to touch that since 1987 now take off those damn pants for goodness sakes you look like a moron!”

2. Paula Barbella – Taking up valuable he-man space in the free weight room wearing a leotard and lifting those little itsy bitsy 2.5 lb. barbells. She’s going to stand there and do 9,000 reps but you know she couldn’t do one chin up if you were dangling a chicken wing in front of her.

3. Yo Adrian – This is that guy that has his hands all taped up to lift weights just in case he feels the need to break out into shadow boxing. He also likes to grunt when he lifts letting you participate in his microtrauma. He grunts when he grabs the bar, grunts when he picks it up, grunts as he lifts it, grunts as he puts it down. Every time he grunts I think he might be trying to shadow box my ass and so I duck. Only Lou Ferrigno could ignore the grunting. (sorry that was mean). On top of it all, he has no concept of concentric and eccentric lifting and jerks his weight around with every grunt.

4. The Doublmint Twins – This is the team up. You know, where two guys lift together and spot each other. Awe how nice. One guy loads while the other guy lays down on the bench spitting into his palms, preparing for the lift. After the first rep, they equally share the weight, where the guy spotting is actually lifting 200 lbs and the guy on the bench is pressing 200 lbs. Stop telling your friends that you bench 400 lbs. you dorks!

5. Gluteus Maximillian – “Hello, I am Max and I have laaarrrge round buttocks.” I’ve never actually seen the equipment that produces this ass but I am staying clear away from this man and any equipment he uses. No enhancements needed in this area thank you very much.

6. Schweaty Balls – No not Alec Baldwin…I should be so lucky. No, this is the guy that is using the nautilus machine next to me and has racked up the same weight as me, yet, to my shock and horror, he is dripping with sweat. Come on dude, have you seen my pectoralis major? Not exactly Schwarzenegger. You should not be sweating like that and you really shouldn’t be looking at me either you scrawny little pervert.

7. Boy Toy and His Girlfriend – “Hmmm, honey, should we go to a party tonight or workout at the gym?” “Both you say?” Let’s workout in our jeans so we’ll be all ready for the party as soon as we’ve completed our togetherness workout. Oh, and please tell me when my crack is showing so that I can hike my jeans back up to the lower part of my ass to meet my boxer shorts. This boy is just begging me to give him a wedgie.

Okay, what else do I have to tell you before my Easter break…oh, oh, yes, I know. I get adult time with my husband next week. Yes, it’s actually spring break for the girls and I'm taking them to the hills to spend time with grandma and papa at the cabin. I get to spend 4 whole days with my man, alone! Wahoo! What will we ever do with our time?

You Know the V-8 Commercials?

Imagine me smacking this guy on the side of the head! (and then on the other side, and then right between his eyes)



And then imagine yourself voting Obama 08 so that we never have to deal with an administration that is worried about their own course more than the people's course!

On The Money!!!

This is sooooo me! Click Read My VisualDNA to find out why!

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Searching

Shuffling the streets
Peeking into the eyes of everyone we meet
Hoping a soul mate this path does beat
Yet only the sound of our own two feet

As they echo the empty sound
Of sad souls dying to be found
Heavy hearts too broken to resound
Too weak to feel the chest beat pound

And pound that thought if only one
Of how my life might come undone
At the rising of the sun
That bet the moon the sky and won

So sits alone and hangs her head
No rays of happiness does she spread
The moon he wanders up ahead
Lost his destiny sun to tread

With cries of mourning day and night
Never stopping in their flight
Neither one does sky invite
To betroth with love and solemn plight

And so it goes we search the land
For hearts and souls to understand
Our longing for bended knee and outstretched hand
To ring the finger in golden band

©2008-Michelle Hix

We The People

When I hear the words, "We The People", when I see the words "We The People", I always start to sing "We The People"...Remember the School House Rock song??? I'm a HUGE HUGE FAN! It's the only reason I can recite the preamble to our constitution and to be honest, 25 years ago was the foundation for my beginning to understand how and who formed America and how we declared our independence from England. Throughout the years, School House Rock was there to teach me about diversity, government, and sufferage, along with grammar, math and science and today I can sing all the songs word for word! I kid you not!

The beauty of "We The People" is that it is followed by "In Order To Form a More Perfect Union." A more perfect union. That was the goal of our founding fathers when they sat down to write the United States Constitution. I think our founding fathers understood that forming a more perfect union is a never-ending, always changing, process.

Barack Obama is the only candidate that can bridge gaps in this nation and begin to bridge gaps internationally. He's the only candidate that understands that forming a more perfect union is a road that probably never ends. While the other candidates are practicing their long DIVISION, he's practicing long VISION. (yes, I made that one up).

In the following speech he just delivered this morning, he explains his relationship with his pastor. And really, to me, it doesn't matter that it is his pastor. It matters to everyone against him, but to me he could be speaking about anyone who has a different experience, a different pain, or a different struggle than myself. Obama is the only candidate that can take a person's divisive statements (such as Wright's), condemn the words without condemning the man, and bridge the gap and call for unity between parties involved. Don't we want this man leading our county in the same manner? I do.

And if you'd rather read his words instead of watching, here's the speech.

A More Perfect Union Speech

Ummm....I'm Confused...

Are We Missing a Society? Where Do They Go When They Don't Last?

Why My Husband Gets To Look at Porn for a Year

Tonight's conversation went like this...

Me: Standing at his desk with hands on hips, right eyebrow raised and head tilted

Hubby: Whut? (with the "I've done nothing wrong" look on his face)

Me: (picking up his new calendar to inspect it) Ahem! Real nice hon...classy...a Sports Illustrated daily calendar? How is this a necessary office item?

Hubby: Babe, it's March. It was either that one or a Rush Limbaugh one.

Me: Good point. Where should we hang it?

Mid-Life Restructuring

How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrid, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young. It will never be older than this particular day of June. . . . If it was only the other way! If it was I who were to be always young, and the picture that were to grow old! For this–for this–I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give!
Oscar Wilde

Welcome one and all to my mid-life crisis. You’ve been living it with me now since last November…bet you didn’t even know it did you?

I’m 37. Whew! Let me say that again…I’m 37. Slap. Slap. I’m 37? Why yes...yes I am.


Wake up before you die
Live before you sleep again
Rise and shine to yourself
Cease to being a guest in your own skin

©2008-Michelle Hix

“Old”, “horrid”, and “dreadful”. Those feelings and fear of aging have been disguised and gift wrapped all these years and tied with a pretty bow. It was such a nice package. But during the last couple of years, I have started to open the package and those feeling crept out. Wow, I was soooo not expecting this to happen at 37, 47 or even 97.. I would never be the type to have a mid-life crisis. Seriously! It has my friends baffled. They think I’m kidding. Since when did I ever second guess myself? My life? My worth? Never! Until I untied that pretty bow and peeked into the box.

Carl Jung identified 5 main phases of midlife:
• Accommodation (meeting others' expectations - actually, this takes place in the first part of life, but is the context in which midlife processes take place)
• Separation (rejecting the accommodated self)
• Liminality (a period of uncertainty, where life seems directionless and meanders)
• Reintegration (working out 'who I am' and becoming comfortable with that identity)
• Individuation (facing up to and accepting the undesirable aspects of our own character)

I feel like I am somewhere in between Reintegration and Individuation. But for me, Individuation seems to have come first. Some years ago, I started becoming acutely aware of the things about myself that I did not like. I started to think about the types of people and situations that bring out the personality traits in me that I would describe as ugly, monstrous and unworthy. I quickly realized that I was not going to get rid of these personality traits. Sorry, no can do. They are in me. They are a part of me. But in getting to know myself better, I was able to recognize and label my feelings and behaviors as such and embrace them for what they are…a part of me. Knowing these things about myself has helped me nurture the sides of myself that I do want to share with others more; creativity, humor, kindness, honesty. Hopefully, the ugly parts don’t rear their heads too often any more.

So what about “old”, “horrid”, and “dreadful”? Why is it that in the western world we are so fixated on youthfulness? I would really like to embrace this next epoch with vigor. I don’t want to see aging as a horrid event that must be put off or ignored. I don’t want to dread it. I suppose that is where the Reintegration comes in. Finding out truly who I am. Not what I do for a living or who my friends are but finding out who I really am at the very core of my existence and letting that person drive the next age.

I have a feeling I will be growing through this for years to come. Chances are, I’m not going to find me a young hottie on the side, buy a new sports car, or quit my job, but I am going to go through moments of questioning the validity of choices I’ve made and feelings of discontent with who I am. I think I’m okay with this.

This would all be a lot easier if I could just look extremely hot during the process!

I wanted to take a moment to thank my blog friends for seeing me through some tough times:

Poetikat – Thank you for being one step ahead of me and for schooling me on menopause and the lifecycle of diapers for young and old.

Elise – Thank you for reminding me that it’s okay to give your past a second chance.

Cocaine Princess – Thanks for showing me that although I might have been worthy of a tiny bathing suit at one time in my life, I no longer look like you in a bikini and the sooner I embrace the one-piece the better.

Shemley – Thanks for being you…a young and brilliant man who inhales life in it’s wholeness and realness RIGHT NOW.

Graham – Learning the story of your own mid-life adventures and awakening is inspiring.

Jeff – You are like a visitor from my past. With every post you remind me of what being youthful is all about.

Chris – Knowing you reminds me that there was a time in my life when my greatest problem involved “finding a new place to party.” Thanks for reminding me to not take life too seriously.

Organized Doodles (Rick) – Visiting you gives me the inspiration to keep doing the things I love, just because I love them.

Jen – What can I say…you are my posse of one in crime. We have a lot in common…sorry, not sure that’s a good thing for you.

Damama – You are that person, you know the one who makes lemonade out of lemons? That’s you. You’ve taken life by the horns, thrown out the bs, and rode off into the sunset! I have no idea what any of that means. But you do it well.

Mental Poo – Well, I’m sure I don’t know why I visit your blog other than to laugh until my guts hurt. It’s my therapy. Oh, and of course to offer a silent prayer for your lovely wife Mrs. Saint Mental Poo.

Sweets – You give such an insight to what it’s like for us mothers to be able to love our children more than ourselves.

Angel – Being able to identify with your relationship struggles with your son has helped me to know that writing about it is surviving it.

Hayley – My sweet darling Hayley. Just starting out. You are such a good wife. I love that about you.

It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.

There are people who put their dreams in a little box and say, "Yes, I've got dreams, of course I've got dreams." Then they put the box away and bring it out once in awhile to look in it, and yep, they're still there.
Erma Bombeck

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
John Lennon

Judge For Yourself - Okey Doke?

This is great.




2002 - That's when Barack Obama made this speech...he called it...here it is retold through the voices of his supporters.

What's With The Babies?

Seems like everytime someone takes a picture of me, I'm holding a baby. A friend took this pic of Mark and I at Christmas.

Yes!

I finally did it today... broke 70!
71 words

Speedtest

Some Grass, Some Roots, a Barn and a Tie

Today was the Adams County Democratic Convention and Assembly. Quite an interesting process. They say that the whole thing is very "grass roots" but when you meet with 1,000 other people in a barn, well, it can't get more grass roots than that. We met in the exhibit hall which is basically like a really really big barn. With over 1,000 delegates elected at the caucus that attended today, we had a great turn out.

The most exciting part of the day was the announcement of our preference poll for the presidential nomination. Obama received 497 votes. Hillary received 497 votes. I kid you not! What are the chances?

I expected the day to be pretty uneventful but luckily for my people watching enjoyment, Adams County has some delegates that were possibly just reintroduced back into society from under the rock they've been living and so I was quite entertained.

They Say You Get Better With Practice...

...but I took this typing test about 12 times...this was the best I could do! Damama got 71!!!



69 words

Speed test

68 words

Speed test

67 words

Speedtest

No More Mr. Tough Guy (I mean gal)

I'm officially sick! Felt it coming on Monday at work...the achy joints, goosebumps on top of goosebumps at the slightest hint of a breeze, and loss of appetite (which is rare...maybe I'm dieing.) Tuesday, I almost stayed in bed all day except for the fact that I got up early, got the kids showered and ready for school, and then drove them to school while still in my pajamas and my hair looking like Don King's (you know you want my life) because the carpool canceled (fine day for a cancellation huh?) By the time I got back home, the last thing I really wanted to do was just lay in bed staring at the ceiling but I could feel my body begging me NOT to clean house so off to bed I went...at least until the kids needed to get picked up early from school for their dentist appointment, after which we barely made it to swimming by the skin of our teeth and then rushed home to fix leftovers for dinner so that I could run back out for a meeting at school. I got home at 9:30 pm. For the life of me, I can't understand why I don't feel rested?!?!?!?! Today was pretty much more of the same, however, my fever is gone so I am feeling a little better, just a little worn out. I had another meeting at the school scheduled for tonight but just found out it is cancelled (dancing on top of my desk as I type).

If Killing a Puppy Is That Easy...

Can you imagine what this man/soldier will do/has done to the Iraqi people during a time when he is supposed to be helping the Iraqis achieve stability and security? Is this what we are calling our renewed effort to reduce the violence? Is this how we help the Iraqis defend and govern themselves?

Apparently this soldier was recently married in 2008...to his wife I say, "run for the hills." Honey if you don't think you are next, think again. He would throw your ass over that cliff as soon as you gained an extra five pounds. You've married a winner. His mother must be so proud.

How much of this man's insanity and torturous ways are a result of how he grew up and how much is the result of what he has seen in war? Who knows? But he needs to come home right now to minimize the damage he is personally going to cause. Unfortunately, he is serving next to courageous, intelligent, compassionate soldiers who won't kick his ass.

I've listed some links to the video in case it doesn't work...althoug I think they all link to youtube so maybe it doesn't help. I imagine they've been put up and taken down several times so I will list a few just in case.

You can be a puppy killer in the military (just as long as you are not gay right?)


http://view.break.com/463231 - Watch more free videos

http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/43462/9fb16ab3/us_soldaat_gooit_puppy.html

http://aspcacommunity.ning.com/video/video/show?id=658300:Video:200190

http://my.break.com/content/view.aspx?ContentID=463231

http://www.belowtopsecret.com/forum/thread338873/pg1

Derrick For Vice President! - I Love This Kid!

First Video - Reporter does a little mental racial stereotyping and heads for Derrick...ahhh, but he was no match for Derrick Ashong! Elise click here if you can't see the video (ha ha).




Second Video - Derrick's response to the hype his first video was getting. Elise, ckick here if you can't see the video.



Third Video - Derrick's Open Mic Challenge Has Just Started on Youtube. For more information, go to Take Back The Mic. And of course, if the video doesn't load...click here if you can't see the video.

Free Speech and The Freedom to Write About the Dumbasses Who Use The First Amendment to Bore Us to Tears

Max Karson, the crappy non-news journalist who writes for The Campus Press at The University of Colorado has done it again. Being out of the limelight for too many days, he knew he must stir up some controversy…I can almost hear him screaming “hey everybody, look at me, look at me.” What a frickin baby!

Yes, we bloggers love the first amendment…as do journalists. But hopefully, when we write, there is some intent behind what we say. That’s the one thing I can’t ever find in Max Karson…intent…something of value…worthy of my eyes and ears.

For those who haven’t followed the stories, Max Karson is an editor at The Campus Press who can’t seem to keep his mouth shut for five minutes. Hey, all fine and dandy if I gave a crap about what he has to say right?

I think this boy was picked on one too many times in grade school. Here are some of the damaging opinions and statements he makes about the Asian community at CU in a recent article that some dismiss as “satire”

"If It's The War The Asians Want, It's The War They'll Get."

"Now I know that Asians are not just 'a product of their environment' and their rudeness is not a 'cultural misunderstanding.' They hate us all. And I say it's time we started hating them back. That's right -- no more 'tolerance.' No more 'cultural sensitivity.' No more 'Mr. Pretend-I'm-Not-Racist.' It's time for war."

He then goes on to describe in detail, a plan for Asian Reformation that is anything but satire yet screams hate and prejudice.

Karson is the same student who had been arrested and suspended from school after allegedly making comments that sounded sympathetic to the Virginia Tech gunman last year. CU police Commander Brad Wiesley said Karson made comments about understanding how someone could kill 32 people during a class he was attending. Karson said he was "angry about all kinds of things, from the fluorescent light bulbs to the unpainted walls, and it made him angry enough to kill people," multiple witnesses told police, according to a police report. Another CU student told reported that Karson said, "Anybody who walks around here and says that they don't think about killing 32 people is lying."

Um NO….People don’t walk around thinking or needing to kill 32 people Max unless they have serious mental issues.

In summary, satire is just not Max’s genre. The sooner he realizes it, the sooner we can all get back to the real news…you know, The K-fed vs. Britney saga?

Cool Words - A 4x4 Meme

Poetikat tagged me for a 4x4 meme. I ended up changing the rules a bit and well, here it is...words that are cool, four at a time!

Favorite Words – 4x4

People with Cool Names
Elvis
Joey Buttafucco
Immaculee Ilibageeza
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Cool Words that Describe Feeling
Antagonistic
Nonplussed
Melancholy
Sabotaged

Places with Cool Names
Galapagos
Rancho Cucamonga
Saskatchewan
Wagga Wagga

Words that Feel Cool in Your Mouth
Ubiquitous
Acquiesce
Quintessential
Soliloquy

So Much To Satirize...So Little Jon

I wish Jon Stewart could just follow the candidates around at the debates and make follow up comments after they and the media speak. Wouldn't it just make everything more bearable?

My Burrito's Too Bootylicious For Ya Babe!

Yesterday Mark and I had planned to go to the garden and home show in Denver. But plans changed and oldest child is out of town so younger child and I decided to hop on over to the new burrito place for a late lunch. The new burrito place, which shall remain nameless for now, has only been open for 2 days. Here's what's on the menu at the burrito place.

1. baby burrito
2. mama burrito
3. big daddy burrito
4. chips

I order the bay leaf chicken burrito and ask for lots of hot salsa since the chicken contains no spice whatsoever. As the confused burrito chick, who, by the way, has clearly spent an inconsequential amount of time bathing this week, concentrates on making my burrito, I see the look of confusion switch to horror as she places what we are calling "chicken" on my tortilla. Now the look on my face is starting to match the look on her face. And what happened next is no laughing matter. What happened next is the reason I have spent the better part of the last 25 years having to talk myself into being a meat eater. What happened next is

Burrito chick: (yelling to the manager in that "fire, fire" voice) Steve!!!!!!! Come here!

Steve the manager: This is where I would insert Steve's brilliant comment, except he never came running when she yelled for him.

Me: (oh dear God just finish the burrito already and quit playing with it)

Burrito chick: (leaves burrito station and runs to the back room, then returns with a new happier look on her face and plucks two chunky things off my burrito and tosses them in the trash.) Then says "what else would you like on your burrito today?"

Me: Um....okay...no...um...I'm sorry...what...um....yeah...what did you just throw away?

Burrito chick: (in a really pleasant I just wiped my butt with your burrito voice) Oh, thaaaaat? Oh that was just a tail. (silly me right?)

Me: Oh, just a tail? Okay...um...yeah...right...who's tail?

Burrito chick: The chicken's tail. (silly me again) Sometimes the whole back end gets chopped up in there on accident. (oopsy daisy) Did you want me to start over with a fresh tortilla?

Me: WTF????????????????
Me: WTF????????????????
Me: WTF????????????????

Me: Um...yes...yeeeaaaahhhh...start over would ya...oh and let's go for the other chicken...the one over there...it looks like the tail is much more ground up in that one.

Burrito chick: Ooohhh, good idea (in the "anything for the customer" voice)

Now, while this is happening, the girl in line behind me, horrified as well, has her "anything but the chicken" burrito planned out. But then she lets her mom order the "tail" special!!!! Some daughter!

Now, I know what you are thinking...why didn't I leave and go to Subway? I guess I just didn't have the heart to tell my daughter the truth and so we enjoyed our bootylicious burritos and left.

Interrupted

An alphabet poem

Awakened.
Blood curdling sounds.
Choking on life.
Death interrupted.
Evocative hopelessness.
Failed mortality.
Gasping for air.
Horrific reality.
Immobilized by fear.
Judicious plan gone wrong.
Killing this dash proves difficult.
Linger in the pain.
Moments of clarity.
Needle my plan.
Opening the wounds.
Poking fun at my heart that still beats.
Questions still unanswered.
Retry!
Step into the darkness once again.
Tailor the plan to perfection.
Undertaker waits patiently.
Virulent means embraced.
Welcome to the soiree.
Xanthous flesh turns pale.
Yore seems the days I escape.
Zip code change request finally granted.

©2008-Michelle Hix

No Flippin Way! - - - Warning...Men...Don't Even Attempt To Read This Post

According to my Health Magazine that I am reading right now, and according to Biotech researchers at Arizona-based Medistem Laboratories, menstrual blood contains adult stem cells that could potentially be used to treat disease. They say that you now have the option to bank your blood in a deep freeze...just like they do with the umbilical cord storage. While this is fundamentally a really cool idea, I think I'll hold off on jumping into that one. But shall my readers be interested in making a deposit, you can find more info at http://www.celle.com/.

Speaking of blood...in a couple of months I am going to switch over from donating whole blood to an automated donation process where they remove your blood, separate and take the plasma/platelets that they need and replace what they don't back in your body through the iv. It's often a long process depending on your blood count (2 hours) but mine seems to be on the high side so Bonfils tells me it might only take me about 70-85 minutes. If I understand the process correctly, since they are not taking the whole blood then you can donate it every two weeks instead of every 56 days. Donating through the automated process is obviously more time consuming for people but it is crucial for cancer patients recipients.

Want To Do Something Totally Romantic For Your Spouse???

Tomorrow, Wednesday February 20th, there is going to be a total lunar eclipse! Why not pick up a bottle of your favorite wine on your way home from work and be prepared to watch the fantastic colors of the eclipse with your man/gal (yes, I'm easily pleased). For my friends in South Africa, I think your eclipse is visible Thursday.

(Times listed in MST)

When: 6:43-10:09 p.m. with total eclipse starting at 8:01 and lasting about 50 minutes

Maximum Eclipse Beauty is around 8:26
Partial Phase Begins at 6:43 pm
Total Phase Begins at 8:01 pm
Total Phase Ends at 8:51 pm
Partial Phase Ends at 10:09 pm

Isn't that just the most romantic thing you can do on a Wednesday night? It will be so amazing! It is so cool right at that point of the total eclipse when the sun starts to ooze out around the earth to get a peek at the moon.

Oh, and also cool will be Saturn which is going to be real close to the moon and I think we will be able to see the rings. Is that neat or what? I'm serious...this is cool...I mean, maybe its the two glasses of wine I've had this evening...but I don't think so...I think its just the fact that I'm a lunatic. Get it?... Lunatic? ha ha

Repost - In Honor of President's Day

I wrote this last year...thought it was appropriate for President's Day (and now you know why I'm never bored).

Presidential Poesy

First in the hearts of his countrymen
Our nation was led by George Washington

Next in line was a Harvard Grad
John Adams was also John Quincy’s dad

Thomas Jefferson was number three
Independence he declared made our country free

To be the author of the Bill of Rights
It took James Madison many fights

James Monroe and his doctrine
Made foreign interference a has-been

John Quincy Adams, a diplomat of sorts
Also an attorney working the Boston courts

Contracting small pox as a prisoner early in life
Andrew Jackson illegitimately married his wife

Speaking Dutch first was Martin Van Buren
He was also called “Little Magician”

William Henry Harrison’s claim to fame
Longest inaugural address, shortest term…it was a numbers game

“His Accidency” John Tyler then acceded
But his political agenda was quite unheeded

James K. Polk believed in Manifest Destiny
Securing the largest expansion called the Oregon Territory

Zachary Taylor was “Old Rough and Ready”
His sudden death left the administration unsteady

Not much changed with Millard Fillmore
He divided the parties and apart they tore

Franklin Pierce’s reputation was not the best
Permanently discrediting certain manifest

James Buchan was a “dough face”
Directly involved with the Dred Scott Case

Not yet equal rights but at least liberation
Abe Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation

As Vice Pres Andrew Johnson gave a rambling speech
And later as President he was impeached

Ulysses S. Grant made Christmas a holiday
And his face you’ll see if fifty dollars is your pay

A dark horse nominee and a republican
Rutherford B. Hayes signed a bill for rights of women

Although James Garfield’s assassination could not be prevented
A metal detector to find the bullet was invented

Was he Canadian or natural born in the states?
Chester A. Arthur’s eligibility was never proven in debates

Serving two non-consecutive terms was Grover Cleveland
Opposing women’s suffrage movement should have got him canned

Centennial president Benjamin Harrison
Was none other than William Henry’s grandson

Grover Cleveland served as president again
This time our nation faced economic depression

William McKinley was shot and got gangrene
Couldn’t find the bullet without the new x-ray machine

Theodore Roosevelt took the stand
Speaking softly with a big stick in hand

Jurist William Howard Taft known for trust-busting
Breaking up 90 trusts, no monopolizing

Known for keeping us out of war
Woodrow Wilson served two terms of four

The Ohio Gang had their hands in the cash drawer
Kept Warren G. Harding walking the floor

Calvin Coolidge’s style was laissez-faire
Some called him “Silent Cal” for no hot air

Herbert Hoover was a Quaker
During his term he was a dam maker

FDR his terms were four
Rocked the White House with Eleanor

Dropping atomic bombs was Harry S. Truman
He said, “If you can't stand the heat, you better get out of the kitchen”

Dwight D. Eisenhower supported Brown v. Board of Ed.
No way our schools should be segregated!

John F. Kennedy his whole life cool
Even voted “most likely to be President” by his high school

After Kennedy was assassinated came LBJ
Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson led the way

Faced with being impeached Richard Nixon had to resign
He’s remembered for Watergate, wiretapping and crime

With two assassination attempts but still alive
Gerald R. Ford was the butt of jokes on Saturday Night Live

Jimmy Carter opposed the death penalty
One of the first to address the rights regarding homosexuality

The Iran-Contra Affair was publicized
Ronald Regan the movie star was criticized

George H. W. Bush we knew might fail
But making it worse was his mate Dan Quayle

William Clinton was one of those guys
We loved him dearly despite his lies

George W. Bush came from Texas
Soon his term will come to pass

©2008-Michelle Hix

10 Things You'll Never Hear Me Say - A Meme

Kat's new Meme challenge is 10 Things You'll Never Hear Me Say...here's mine...

1. I’m bored.

2. I think I’ll get another tattoo.

3. “no” (I’m working on this though)

4. I can’t find anything I need at Costco.

5. I’m just not in the mood for Starbucks today.

6. Honey, do you need help organizing the garage?

7. The history channel is overrated, let’s watch reality tv tonight.

8. That book sounds good but I’ll wait for the movie to come out.

9. It sucks to wake up every morning to look at those snow capped mountains.

10. I can’t meet you out for Margaritas and Mexican food, I have laundry to do.

Let's see...I'll tag Elise, Graham, and Jen!

Happy Valentine's Day

Thanks for all the well wishes, kind thoughts and inspiration lately. I feel blessed to be part of this little community we have going here!

Love
Michelle

We Said It Wednesday

Find out who said what, why, when and where this week...all right here!

A word of warning for anybody else that is contemplating trying this themeselves.

People who know me, know that I have no fear when it comes to speaking out.

I felt a wave of hysteria erupt as I realised my mistake.

There's something to admire about a guy that has the courage to wear a "Mile High Club" t-shirt in a formal family photo.

Introducing….Inertia Girl!!!

So I did my little stint of jail time.

I pop one in my mouth, suck on it for a couple of minutes and then start chomping on it.

I poo’d a little. (tears of laughter rolling down my face as I type this)

I can’t actually give you that, I will offend people.

so, like the rest of the world, i resign myself that there is nothing much i can personally do to change the world, except maybe sign a petition here or there or stick a bumper sticker on my car... (Sweets, you are brilliant and have already changed the world with your sons...keep it up.)

The fall is now dried up, trickling like some sort of wee flow.

It's not difficult, a man only needs to be:

I was starving and I was like a madwoman as the time was creeping up to 9pm because of course...

Ok, here I go...

The Lucifer Effect

Philip Zimbardo is an American psychologist and a professor emeritus at Stanford University. He wrote The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil and recently gave a lecture at the World Affairs Council of Northern California. I was very excited to watch his lecture after reading about his past experiments and studies...particularily his Stanford Prison Experiment and the Milgrim Experiment (not his but relevant and that of his friend's). His lecture, How Good People Turn Evil, is over an hour long but very thought-provoking. If you want to watch it, make sure you have time for all of it. It's gripping, even through the Q&A at the end. Warning: The video footage includes graphic pictures of Abu Graib. If you can stomach the photos (if you can't, listen and close your eyes) then you should watch because he explains how these soldiers, otherwise good moral people, were sent off to an immoral war and seduced to commit the atrocities that we saw at Abu Graib. It actually explains a lot about human nature, good and evil, power and authority.

Note: When I talk about the atrocities, please don't get me wrong. I support our troops. But I don't support the way the war is going. Saddam and Osama are responsible for mass murder and genocide and in no way am I attempting to explain THEIR evil.

Click to see Lecture Video (sorry, could not embed due to an unclosed tag that I couldn't find and fix myself)

Links
The Situationist (includes his lecture and his interview on Colbert)
FORA.tv
Milgrim Experiment
Professor Zimbardo's Website
Lucifer Effect Website

For Pam and Lynda!

Pam and Lynda are my new readers. They've known my kids since they were just babies and our kids have attended the same school for 6 years. You never knew my kids could rock did you? This video was filmed about a year ago at my parents' cabin. The lead singer is their Papa. Since the video was shot, we now have a set of real drums (although C rocks the 5 gallon pails and the spatulas just fine) and M has a nice red electric guitar. Here's the Youtube link in case the video doesn't load Generation Rock Band

Colbert Helps Us Get To "Know a Lobbyist"

Okay, for all my Candadian friends and friends abroad who may not be familiar with Colbert or Comedy Central...Stephen Colbert is an comedian, satirist, actor, and writer known for his ironic style, particularly in his portrayal of uninformed opinion leaders and deadpan comedic delivery. I think I watched this four times this morning.



If this video doesn't load, try the Youtube version here.

Lisa Nova Makes Me Laugh

Superdooper Phat Tuesday

How cool is it that not only is it going to be Super Tuesday but also Fat Tuesday on February 5th? And what does that mean? Well, I suppose it might mean that the primary process is almost over...or it could mean that Lent is just about to start. It all comes down to food for me! Either I am going to embrace my Catholic upbringing and gorge on a King Cake to celebrate Fat Tuesday or I'm going to get all American on your ass and slice me some apple pie to celebrate Super Tuesday before I go to the caucus and exercise my 19th amendment right thank you very much Susan B. Anthony!

To join the party (now when I say party I mean like balloons and hootin and hollerin', not like "political party") all you have to do is copy down one of these recipes and serve it up real nice to the family. They'll love ya for it!

If this apple pie looks good, click here for this recipe!

And now for the King Cake recipe!

Louisiana-to-Denver King Cake
Originally posted in The Denver Post

(by the way, this recipe leaves out the baby! Don't forget to squish the baby in there somplace...the kids love that part!)

Tested at high altitude. From Sheryl Butterfield, makes 2 cakes. No matter how big the cake is, it is to be cut into pieces to fit the size of the crowd. That said, each of these cakes can feed between 12 and 14 because it's so rich.

Ingredients
1 package active dry yeast

1/4 cup lukewarm water

1/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter, divided

1 cup milk, scalded

3 eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon or ground mace

4 to 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided

TOPPING
3/4 cup sugar, divided into 1/4 cups

Green, yellow and purple food coloring

1 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Water

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in lukewarm water. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine remaining sugar, salt, 1/4 cup butter (in chunks), and scalded milk. Mix with electric mixer on low speed until well-blended. Cool to lukewarm. Beat in 2 eggs. Add yeast mixture, vanilla extract, cinnamon and 3 cups flour. Mix until smooth. Stir in remaining flour (1 cup) by hand. Add up to a half- cup more if sticky. Cover with a damp towel and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.

On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a square 1/3-inch thick. Dot with half the remaining butter and fold in half. Repeat. Roll again into a rectangle 1/3-inch thick and repeat folding process. Place in greased bowl, cover with towel and let stand 25 minutes. Refrigerate for 2 hours.

Remove from refrigerator and roll onto lightly floured surface into a rectangle 1/3-inch thick. Cut rectangle into 12 1-inch strips.

Braid strips in sets of 3; pinch together 2 braids to form an oval, then the other 2 braids to form another oval, making 2 cakes.

Place ovals on heavy baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Cover with a towel and allow to rise until slightly less than doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes.
Beat remaining egg and brush on cakes. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until golden; let cool.

While cake is baking, make topping: Color each 1/4 cup sugar with a couple of drops of food coloring and set aside. Combine powdered sugar, vanilla and enough water to form a paste. Spread icing on cake tops using a butter knife. Before the icing dries, sprinkle three colors of sugar in bands alternately around cake tops.

This Is My 200th Post

And I don't have anything profound to post! Blogger told me I was at 199 this morning and I panicked...what am I supposed to do for my 200th post? So I'm wasting my 200th post by telling you it is my 200th post. It seems the only appropriate thing to do. I just can't deal with the pressure. I will leave you with this little excerpt of a conversation the kids and I had...

Little Sisters...Can't Live With Them, Can't Duct Tape Their Mouths Shut

Big Sis: Mom, I think I have a pimple.
Mom: Yes, maybe you do have some little tiny bumps.
Big Sis: Look, they are right here on my chin.
Mom: Yes, I can see them. You're getting older and big girls sometimes have little blemishes.

Okay, stop here...what's worse than having a pimple when you are 11? Answer: Having a little sister tell you that you wish it was only a pimple!

(Enter little sis...)

Little sis: Those aren't pimples. You're probably growing a beard!!!!

It's So Cool to be a Girl!

Especially in the 80's...

Piano Music

Piano Music by Eric Weinstein

Had lunch with a girlfriend yesterday that I haven't seen since my baby shower 12 years ago...what a blast catching up! Her husband is a talented piano player. She gave me one of his cd's yesterday and I've been listeing to it in the car. Feel free to check it out...

Farewell John Edwards...

May his platform of addressing economic injustices for the 35 million Americans living in poverty live on (or impregnate) in the hearts of those who have power! (we could argue who has power in America but I digress)

We Said It Wednesday

Find out who said what, why, when and where this week...all right here!

I pranced around the kitchen in a red embroidered black suspender belt and stocking set complete with a matching red bra and thong.

But Manolos won’t help if you need a stiff drink!

Oh, after they drop a load of babies, they are ready to get pregnant again within hours...HOURS!

i've been a little naughty!!

Hhmmm... I don’t do the whole housework slash laundry slash budgeting thing very well, but I did lose weight and I started focusing a little on wearing matching clothes and make-up and such... teehee!

Warm and hot.

There was no vegetable penetration.

Rumors are swirling this is going to be one very messy, divorce.

He hated me and he hated you,

My Dad didn't think I was his child, so he refused to come to the hospital.

I now refuse to go to Lowe’s on Tuesdays for fear I’ll find him there waiting with flowers and moonshine in hand, and that drunk snaggletoothed donkey grin plastered hopefully across his grizzled old face!

I would play a drinking game…you know the one…where you take a drink every time he mentions 9/11, but I’m afraid of alcohol poisoning.

There were moments where I wished I could climb in there myself.

Grateful for the distraction after approximately 7 minutes of working which translates into 2 minutes of writing I answer the call to hear a voice that I had not heard for 2 years.

AND THEN, it hit me!

The Story of Stuff

During an enlightening evening of making homemade potstickers with the neighbors, discussing politics, vacationing, work and "stuff", someone threw out this link...very interesting...see for yourself.

The Story of Stuff

Extraction - Production - Distribution - Consumption - Disposal

I Am Guilty!

The Moon at Sunrise - Believe it or Not

The moon waiting patiently for the sun to come up so he can retire.

Perspective

The letter came by US Mail. Unlike the ordinary methods of communication I utilize daily like email, text messaging and instant messaging, this letter was hand delivered to the physical mailbox that sits on my manicured lawn in front of my house. As I walked across the lawn to the mailbox I thought about my husband. If he could have witnessed me actually checking the mail in this manner, this deliberate act of cutting across the lawn instead of using the sidewalk, there would have been a discussion about how I was smashing the grass or stunting its potential spring growth. I say “discussion” as if the conversation could have the ability to be two sided but in reality the discussion would consist of him asking “do you have to walk across the lawn?” and me ineffectively rolling my eyes to add drama to the situation…because that’s what I do. But, hubby wasn’t around to see the cataclysmic tragedy of my cute little feet dancing across the lawn sooooo…cut across I did like the rebel that I am!

Upon opening the mailbox I immediately notice the junk mail that we are still receiving despite paying for a junk mail removal system. After wading through the advertisements and the bills, I come to a letter, hand addressed to me. I recognize the return address and with a smile on my face, I throw all the other mail back in the mailbox and skip back across the lawn to my front door, enter the house and plop down in my office chair excited to read a hand written letter.

By the time I have read this letter, I am aware as I usually am, that I am probably not the first or the only one to have read it. I can’t be sure of this, but I always assume that the letters written by prison inmates are read by someone before they are allowed to seal the envelope.

You are probably wondering if I get a lot of mail from prison, if I am one of those women who have low self esteem and find it gratifying to have men with tarnished backgrounds sending me letters asking me for photos of myself. Well I’m not one of those women so keep reading.

I’ll admit that I do have a friend on the “inside.” He has been there for a few years and could quite possibly be there for many more depending on his appeal process. He was my friend prior to going to prison so if you could please resist the temptation to picture me standing outside the prison clinging desperately to the electronic chain link fence pining over a convict who wants a prison marriage ceremony, I would really appreciate it. And now that we have cleared that up…lets move on.

The letter starts in the usual way, catching me up on his daily routine and the only two things he is allowed to do all week that is enjoyable (pray and play music). He fills me in on who has written and who he’d like to hear from because writing letters is a way to not only help him keep his sanity, but it helps pass the “time.” He thoughtfully asks questions about my family and remarks on my last correspondence to him. That’s usually the bulk of our letters…when you sit in a little room for most of your day, you don’t create much to talk about. This is understandable, so I try to keep him entertained with my writing (sad as it may be) and life on the “outside.”

But today as I sit thinking about my reply to him, I can’t help but think of something he said to me in his letter last week and more importantly, the things he has not said to me in all of his letters over the years. What he said was this - “all in all, I can’t complain.” In my head I am thinking “REALLY???...You sit, eat, sleep, and poop in a tiny room 24/7, writing with God knows what since they probably don’t let you have a pen for fear that you pen yourself or someone else to death, knowing that you have been convicted of a crime that you are innocent of and you really can’t complain?” But he doesn’t complain. Instead he uses his time to build his friendships and his relationship with God and sends letter after letter without one complaint. He's gracious and thoughtful and punctual with his writing. And although he is human afterall and nobody would fault him for moaning a bit, he chooses not to.

And so as I sat at my computer today, grumbling about the fact that I am having some computer issues and bellyaching about what to cook for dinner; I stop for a moment to allow some perspective to pass through my thoughts. I pause to appreciate that I have a computer (or three) and a dinner that I will not be serving up on some sort of safety tray with dull, non-threatening utensils. My life, with all its flaws, I wouldn’t give up for anything.

I Have A Dream, 1963

Hi Friends...If you've never listened to the whole speech, here it is in its entirety. It's beautiful. His words will fill your soul and restore your faith in humanity. As I read and listen, I am saddened and proud, depending on how I look at it, by the fact that if you replace the word "negro" with gay or handicap or woman or senior citizen, you can hear Martin Luther King, Jr.'s voice speaking for the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for ALL.
Thanks for being here...Michelle



"I HAVE A DREAM" (1963)
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But 100 years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men - yes, black men as well as white men - would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check that has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and security of justice. We have also come to his hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end but a beginning. Those who hoped that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "for whites only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no we are not satisfied and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. I say to you today my friends - so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification - one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day, this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning "My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my father's died, land of the Pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!"

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi - from every mountainside.

Let freedom ring. And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring - when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children - black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics - will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Distribution statement: Accepted as part of the Douglass Archives of American Public Address (http://douglass.speech.nwu.edu) on May 26, 1999. Prepared by D. Oetting (http://nonce.com/oetting).

Permission is hereby granted to download, reprint, and/or otherwise redistribute this file, provided this distribution statement is included and appropriate point of origin credit is given to the preparer and Douglass.

Also, if you are interested in reading more..."I've Been to the Mountaintop" and "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" both by MLK, Jr.