Inaugural Address
By President Barack Hussein Obama
My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you've bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.
I thank President Bush for his service to our nation -- (applause) -- as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often, the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we, the people, have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears and true to our founding documents.
So it has been; so it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly, our schools fail too many -- and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable, but no less profound, is a sapping of confidence across our land; a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America: They will be met. (Applause.)
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics. We remain a young nation. But in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness. (Applause.)
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted, for those that prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops, and settled the West, endured the lash of the whip, and plowed the hard earth. For us, they fought and died in places like Concord and Gettysburg, Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions, greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week, or last month, or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America. (Applause.)
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of our economy calls for action, bold and swift. And we will act, not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We'll restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions, who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short, for they have forgotten what this country has already done, what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage. What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them, that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply.
The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works -- whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account, to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day, because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched. But this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control. The nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity, on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart -- not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good. (Applause.)
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers -- (applause) -- our Founding Fathers, faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man -- a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience sake. (Applause.)
And so, to all the other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born, know that America is a friend of each nation, and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity. And we are ready to lead once more. (Applause.)
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with the sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort, even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we'll work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet.
We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense. And for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken -- you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you. (Applause.)
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. (Applause.)
To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist. (Applause.)
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders, nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the role that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who at this very hour patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages.
We honor them not only because they are the guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service -- a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves.
And yet at this moment, a moment that will define a generation, it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all. For as much as government can do, and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history.
What is demanded, then, is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition on the part of every American that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept, but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship. This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny. This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed, why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall; and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served in a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath. (Applause.)
So let us mark this day with remembrance of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At the moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words to be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
America: In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)
That's right, Sarah. husband really wants a dog, I want one in my heart but my head is screaming "Hell, no! One more being to take care of! One that demands walks and has vet bills and chews up the kid's toys and gets dog hair all over the couch!"
Nonetheless, I said we could go "meet" this girl this weekend. My resistance will probably be low.
Lb.. I would love to loan you our boys during the first part of March when I hope to be headed off to Brazil for a bit of sun. It cost us something like $40.00 a day to have them taken care of at our Vets Kennel. We have tried dog sitters and that didn't go well. We have tried other dog kennels and greatly rejoiced in the fact that our vet
was adding a kennel. So I tell the boys their off to see the Girls (all female staff). They actually pick up on the fact that is where their headed and drag me thru the front door. One thing we know is if there is anything goes wrong with them while were away the Vet will give prompt attention to their needs.
So be sure to add Kennel cost to your list of reasons if your not ready for a dog.
I want a wheaton terrier. They dont shed like most dogs. I shed enough for all of us. They also have curly shaggy hair. But, we arent getting a dog for a long while. We were looking into it, and had a kid instead. At least I didnt have to pay a breeder.
You will have to send us a picture on Sunday, or Monday, of you new puppy.
i saw this dog on the news the other day. they always have a puppy or a kitten and sometimes older pets who need adopting. his name was tango he was a shepherd mix. so cuuuuuuuute. lb you know me i am never home!
Sarah, my roommate wants a wheaton terrier too! They are super cute. Of course she keeps saying she wants a dog and then she goes and gets the kitty and here I am sneezing. And, like n_, seeing those pictures made my eyes water, AGAIN. So I'm sneezing and my eyes are watering and I'm generally ridiculous, like Stephen Colbert the other night....
On a completely unrelated note, I personally would like to keep Gitmo open ... after all, we need to have someplace to send terrorists like Rush Limbaugh. (Sorry, but jeepers I hate that guy. I needed to get that out....)
...but after a five week long travelling/drinking bender i'm pretty much axhausted...too many cosmopolitans, champagne, rum punch, and shots (of god only knows what)...here's hoping that 2009 is half as good as 2008
As a PM, I typically bring reports/presentation, schedules, spreadsheets, letters demanding payment, and anything else you supervised or represent management tasks.
Mystykal, I know I've seen that somewhere before but I can't recall where. Is there official music that goes with it, is does the music in my head as I read it belong to me only?
I just had lunch with a bunch of AIA women - we're having these networking lunches where we basically get together and talk shop. As I drove home I was thinking how some of these women, one in particular, make me feel so unaccomplished and sloppy by comparison - and suddenly I feel like I;m in high school again! It's not a problem, hell at 42 years old I'm more than confident and happy with myself; it's just funny how women are, I guess. Anyone wearing nicer boots than me is automatically a challenge. Do guys get like this? I guess I can answer that: yes.
Anyway, it was a fun lunch and now I have to have to have to get these cabinet plans done!
I suppose it IS how we are. I try not to hold myself to the "Super Woman" standard that gets so many women in trouble and down on themselves, but its hard.
House drove it home well when Wilson said to Cuddy, "If it were a man in your position he would have a wife, a nanny, a secretary, and an assistant to take care of him." How true. It's ok to ask for help and delegate things...and to not care if someone has "better boots" on today than you :-)
Actually, the dough is so far perfect. I am so excited about it. I have made many bread doughs, and this was the first time I understood the term Velvety. I wanted to snuggle with it, it was so soft. Its already doubled, so I punched it back down. Hopefully, it will be fantastic tonight. I tried this recipe once before, but it was years ago, and i had to do all the mixing and kneading by hand. I also didnt have a stone for my oven; I do now. I hope it turns out delicious. It makes 3 14-15" rounds, but true to roman standards, I'm doing it in rectangular form, 3 rectangles. I also bought some wine (barefoot) to go with it. Theres a story there too.
I'm in the check out line at walmart, and the lady asks for my id. Fair enough, I look under forty. But she keeps staring at the date, and me, and types it in, and then back at me. THe computer says everythings fine, but she's not so sure. So she asks me how old I am. I tell her 25 - trying to remember in my head if Im 25 or 24 - and then she says OK. But she doesn't really believe me. HA! Guess the only thing that would make that better is if I was 42.
OH, Liberty Bell, I forgot to mention, and maybe you know this already, but tomorow you can adopt your new shelter dog for free. Maybe this is why you're going tomorrow, or maybe its a sign.
"Beautiful people eat figs!" That is what Mrs B says. I always stop at this Giant Produce Store and get a box of fresh figs when I'm in the neighborhood....cause I know it is really the way to her heart.
I have a confession, and Snook, maybe you can help me with this...
I'm afraid to eat figs. No, not because of Belly of an Architect. I sat through a lecture one time, and the Fig Wasp was brought up. It was stated that the wasps we hatched in the figs, and the female never leaves. She waits there, in her fig, until a male shows up. He is much smalled, and can fit through the hole in the fig - the female cannot. He shows up, does his thing, and then dies. Then the female lays her eggs, and the cyle continues. Or some such thing.
So, I'm afraid to eat figs because I don't want to eat a wasp, at any stage. Is that crazy? Have you ever eaten a wasp? Are you sure that you havent eaten a wasp egg?
As far as I can tell, puddles' life has always been that of a winner, lottery or otherwise...
I'm having wine and making dinner. Tomorrow I get a rare night TO MYSELF, as my boys are going to the Monster Truck Jam. I will spend this rare night, of course, scared shitless, because of that boy who was killed at Monster Jam last week.
Thanks, Mystical, I know those better boots don't really matter - but I desire, I desire.....;-)
TK, I did get your email, but the internet at school has been extremely douchey lately so I'm having a hard time communicating while here. Which has been a lot lately. I'm preparing a blog post on it shortly.
Otherwise I'm pretty boring. Actually my latest distractions from work have been printing myself new business cards and looking at ZenniOptical for what pair of $8 glasses I might want after my trip to the eye doctor next week...
I'm wrapping up one of the most unproductive days of my career here. I think I picked up about five markups. It's not that I'm lazy; I just get easily distra... oh look, a shiny object!
Sarah, I grew up with a small fig orchard in our side yard. Or, more accurately, the remnants of what used to be a large fig orchard.
In any case, I ate a LOT of figs growing up. Would run around under the trees and pick ripe ones right off the ground, since you can't really reach 'em from the branch when you're little. If that ain't a recipe for insect ingestion, I don't know what is... and yet I've never, ever, not once seen any kind of bug inside a fig. It didn't even occur to me that they would like them.
So, eat away, and enjoy one of the most delicious fruits nature has to offer! They're GREAT in jams and cakes, too. Mmmm, fig cake...
I ran out of steam this afternoon and called in a raincheck for this evening's events. So now, after a much needed, I figured I'd stop in to say HI.
I've never eaten a fresh fig. Only fig I've ever had was in fig newtons. Sad I know.
LB - Yup... that pretty much sums up my entire thought process in a nutshell. I feel everyone I meet is more accomplished than I am. Hope you can enjoy your evening alone without worrying too much about your son and husband.
SH - you'll have to let us know how the pizza turns out. Hilarious story. I wonder if she was considering taking away your license or turning you in. I'm guessing Abram wasn't with you.
n_ loved the links. Damn those kids are cute.
Anyway, off to read. Have a wonderful evening all.
Hey ****melt, I just rediscovered all of the receipts that I incurred whilst on our drive across the country to move me out here. It took me on a short trip down memory lane. Also I enjoyed seeing how much money I once had. :o/
I was out with Lyndsay last night and I told her the story of how we found Hidden Valley. And what about them happy cows? God I crack myself up sometimes.
Thread Central
reminding 'me'..
LB, I thought your HUSBAND wanted the dog. Is he wearing you down?
By President Barack Hussein Obama
My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you've bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.
I thank President Bush for his service to our nation -- (applause) -- as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often, the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we, the people, have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears and true to our founding documents.
So it has been; so it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly, our schools fail too many -- and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable, but no less profound, is a sapping of confidence across our land; a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America: They will be met. (Applause.)
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics. We remain a young nation. But in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness. (Applause.)
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted, for those that prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops, and settled the West, endured the lash of the whip, and plowed the hard earth. For us, they fought and died in places like Concord and Gettysburg, Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions, greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week, or last month, or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America. (Applause.)
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of our economy calls for action, bold and swift. And we will act, not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We'll restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions, who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short, for they have forgotten what this country has already done, what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage. What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them, that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply.
The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works -- whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account, to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day, because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched. But this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control. The nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity, on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart -- not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good. (Applause.)
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers -- (applause) -- our Founding Fathers, faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man -- a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience sake. (Applause.)
And so, to all the other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born, know that America is a friend of each nation, and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity. And we are ready to lead once more. (Applause.)
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with the sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort, even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we'll work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet.
We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense. And for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken -- you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you. (Applause.)
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. (Applause.)
To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist. (Applause.)
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders, nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the role that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who at this very hour patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages.
We honor them not only because they are the guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service -- a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves.
And yet at this moment, a moment that will define a generation, it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all. For as much as government can do, and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history.
What is demanded, then, is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition on the part of every American that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept, but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship. This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny. This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed, why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall; and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served in a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath. (Applause.)
So let us mark this day with remembrance of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At the moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words to be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
America: In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)
That's right, Sarah. husband really wants a dog, I want one in my heart but my head is screaming "Hell, no! One more being to take care of! One that demands walks and has vet bills and chews up the kid's toys and gets dog hair all over the couch!"
Nonetheless, I said we could go "meet" this girl this weekend. My resistance will probably be low.
Lb.. I would love to loan you our boys during the first part of March when I hope to be headed off to Brazil for a bit of sun. It cost us something like $40.00 a day to have them taken care of at our Vets Kennel. We have tried dog sitters and that didn't go well. We have tried other dog kennels and greatly rejoiced in the fact that our vet
was adding a kennel. So I tell the boys their off to see the Girls (all female staff). They actually pick up on the fact that is where their headed and drag me thru the front door. One thing we know is if there is anything goes wrong with them while were away the Vet will give prompt attention to their needs.
So be sure to add Kennel cost to your list of reasons if your not ready for a dog.
I want a wheaton terrier. They dont shed like most dogs. I shed enough for all of us. They also have curly shaggy hair. But, we arent getting a dog for a long while. We were looking into it, and had a kid instead. At least I didnt have to pay a breeder.
You will have to send us a picture on Sunday, or Monday, of you new puppy.
Due to LB's posted gallery, my keyboard is now saturated with tears and snot. I'll have to let it dry before I post further.
biscuit needs a home!
vado you don't have a dog yet!
i saw this dog on the news the other day. they always have a puppy or a kitten and sometimes older pets who need adopting. his name was tango he was a shepherd mix. so cuuuuuuuute. lb you know me i am never home!
Sarah, my roommate wants a wheaton terrier too! They are super cute. Of course she keeps saying she wants a dog and then she goes and gets the kitty and here I am sneezing. And, like n_, seeing those pictures made my eyes water, AGAIN. So I'm sneezing and my eyes are watering and I'm generally ridiculous, like Stephen Colbert the other night....
On a completely unrelated note, I personally would like to keep Gitmo open ... after all, we need to have someplace to send terrorists like Rush Limbaugh. (Sorry, but jeepers I hate that guy. I needed to get that out....)
I was thinking the same thing DubK. Damn I'm tired today and my weekend is full to the brim with plans. OK time to hit the ground running.
HI ATECHNO!!!!!
Hi TC.
It is Friday.
I have a date tonight and plans to repaint my kitchen Sat.
Yeah!!!!
its friday - I brought mission figs to the office. For my enjoyment only. Well, I'd share with you people...
Thats kind of you Peri.
Its friday, and I'm off for groceries, and to make my own pizza dough - roman style. I like it best.
Who wants to cry some more?
Washington Post: Witnessing Barack Obama's Inauguration
Who wants to declare Malia and Sasha the cutest kids in the world?
Sasha and Malia Inauguration Photos: Most Adorable Moments
Sarah - please describe said culinary adventure. Please.
wK- did you get my email? you're a natural candidate...
TGIF!!!!!!!
hi everyone...I'm still alive. Hi ****melt.
I am trying to find an easier way to view archinect on my blackberry - but so far no luck. Any advise would be welcome.
Still providing emotional support - but checking in every now and then
I have the interview for the job on the 4th. What does a project manager bring to a job interview? I am such an architect
still alive...
...but after a five week long travelling/drinking bender i'm pretty much axhausted...too many cosmopolitans, champagne, rum punch, and shots (of god only knows what)...here's hoping that 2009 is half as good as 2008
happy 2009 all!
As a PM, I typically bring reports/presentation, schedules, spreadsheets, letters demanding payment, and anything else you supervised or represent management tasks.
good luck.
The shark talk reminded me of this:
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/terrigasm/Im_a_shark.jpg
Mystykal, I know I've seen that somewhere before but I can't recall where. Is there official music that goes with it, is does the music in my head as I read it belong to me only?
I just had lunch with a bunch of AIA women - we're having these networking lunches where we basically get together and talk shop. As I drove home I was thinking how some of these women, one in particular, make me feel so unaccomplished and sloppy by comparison - and suddenly I feel like I;m in high school again! It's not a problem, hell at 42 years old I'm more than confident and happy with myself; it's just funny how women are, I guess. Anyone wearing nicer boots than me is automatically a challenge. Do guys get like this? I guess I can answer that: yes.
Anyway, it was a fun lunch and now I have to have to have to get these cabinet plans done!
I suppose it IS how we are. I try not to hold myself to the "Super Woman" standard that gets so many women in trouble and down on themselves, but its hard.
House drove it home well when Wilson said to Cuddy, "If it were a man in your position he would have a wife, a nanny, a secretary, and an assistant to take care of him." How true. It's ok to ask for help and delegate things...and to not care if someone has "better boots" on today than you :-)
I'm Starting to think Puddles won a big powerball lottery, so now all he has to do is drink and hang with the beautiful people.
If so, then im jealous of puddles.
Actually, the dough is so far perfect. I am so excited about it. I have made many bread doughs, and this was the first time I understood the term Velvety. I wanted to snuggle with it, it was so soft. Its already doubled, so I punched it back down. Hopefully, it will be fantastic tonight. I tried this recipe once before, but it was years ago, and i had to do all the mixing and kneading by hand. I also didnt have a stone for my oven; I do now. I hope it turns out delicious. It makes 3 14-15" rounds, but true to roman standards, I'm doing it in rectangular form, 3 rectangles. I also bought some wine (barefoot) to go with it. Theres a story there too.
I'm in the check out line at walmart, and the lady asks for my id. Fair enough, I look under forty. But she keeps staring at the date, and me, and types it in, and then back at me. THe computer says everythings fine, but she's not so sure. So she asks me how old I am. I tell her 25 - trying to remember in my head if Im 25 or 24 - and then she says OK. But she doesn't really believe me. HA! Guess the only thing that would make that better is if I was 42.
Those aren't beautiful people, snook. They, like the cake, are a lie.
Lib - are you happy? Then dig it and dig it well, chickadee.
OH, Liberty Bell, I forgot to mention, and maybe you know this already, but tomorow you can adopt your new shelter dog for free. Maybe this is why you're going tomorrow, or maybe its a sign.
Well, Sarah - something tries to rise up on its own and THERE you are putting it back in its place, violently!
In other news - when am I heading over for dinner? I'll bring desert and cafe.
"Beautiful people eat figs!" That is what Mrs B says. I always stop at this Giant Produce Store and get a box of fresh figs when I'm in the neighborhood....cause I know it is really the way to her heart.
Peri, somebodies gotta do it, right? You make me laugh.
I have a confession, and Snook, maybe you can help me with this...
I'm afraid to eat figs. No, not because of Belly of an Architect. I sat through a lecture one time, and the Fig Wasp was brought up. It was stated that the wasps we hatched in the figs, and the female never leaves. She waits there, in her fig, until a male shows up. He is much smalled, and can fit through the hole in the fig - the female cannot. He shows up, does his thing, and then dies. Then the female lays her eggs, and the cyle continues. Or some such thing.
So, I'm afraid to eat figs because I don't want to eat a wasp, at any stage. Is that crazy? Have you ever eaten a wasp? Are you sure that you havent eaten a wasp egg?
I don't eat figs....they have cooties! I'm not a beautiful person either.
it's quarter past six & i'm just triying to kill some time as i sober up before leaving the office.
...so...
anybody have any thoughts they'd like to share????
i am in chicago,,,irving park to be exact...i took the bullet train!
never mind...ijust found out that string-emil has a fan club...and it's prett y sobering...yikes...
.i kind of feel like this guy deserves his own thread...wht do the rest of you think??
As far as I can tell, puddles' life has always been that of a winner, lottery or otherwise...
I'm having wine and making dinner. Tomorrow I get a rare night TO MYSELF, as my boys are going to the Monster Truck Jam. I will spend this rare night, of course, scared shitless, because of that boy who was killed at Monster Jam last week.
Thanks, Mystical, I know those better boots don't really matter - but I desire, I desire.....;-)
TK, I did get your email, but the internet at school has been extremely douchey lately so I'm having a hard time communicating while here. Which has been a lot lately. I'm preparing a blog post on it shortly.
Otherwise I'm pretty boring. Actually my latest distractions from work have been printing myself new business cards and looking at ZenniOptical for what pair of $8 glasses I might want after my trip to the eye doctor next week...
I'm wrapping up one of the most unproductive days of my career here. I think I picked up about five markups. It's not that I'm lazy; I just get easily distra... oh look, a shiny object!
Sarah, I grew up with a small fig orchard in our side yard. Or, more accurately, the remnants of what used to be a large fig orchard.
In any case, I ate a LOT of figs growing up. Would run around under the trees and pick ripe ones right off the ground, since you can't really reach 'em from the branch when you're little. If that ain't a recipe for insect ingestion, I don't know what is... and yet I've never, ever, not once seen any kind of bug inside a fig. It didn't even occur to me that they would like them.
So, eat away, and enjoy one of the most delicious fruits nature has to offer! They're GREAT in jams and cakes, too. Mmmm, fig cake...
mmm....fig newtons were our fav bed-time snack when we stayed at gramma's. haven't seen them here though.
when i was in grade school we all delighted in the possibility that bubbliscious was mad mostly of spider's eggs.
a bit of insect protein is probably good for you sarah. probably safer than all the rubbish that is hiding in most food today ;-)
I think I have a new name for my firm...do you think I will be sued"
Fig Newton Architects
yeah, so i MIGHT go to bed before 9pm on a friday. so what?!
I ran out of steam this afternoon and called in a raincheck for this evening's events. So now, after a much needed, I figured I'd stop in to say HI.
I've never eaten a fresh fig. Only fig I've ever had was in fig newtons. Sad I know.
LB - Yup... that pretty much sums up my entire thought process in a nutshell. I feel everyone I meet is more accomplished than I am. Hope you can enjoy your evening alone without worrying too much about your son and husband.
SH - you'll have to let us know how the pizza turns out. Hilarious story. I wonder if she was considering taking away your license or turning you in. I'm guessing Abram wasn't with you.
n_ loved the links. Damn those kids are cute.
Anyway, off to read. Have a wonderful evening all.
Hey ****melt, I just rediscovered all of the receipts that I incurred whilst on our drive across the country to move me out here. It took me on a short trip down memory lane. Also I enjoyed seeing how much money I once had. :o/
LOL!!!!
I was out with Lyndsay last night and I told her the story of how we found Hidden Valley. And what about them happy cows? God I crack myself up sometimes.
Oh and DubK - my offer still stands if/when you move anywhere again.
Me too **** me too, by the way I missed your many emails today - hope you were able to find a more appropriate answer to a bubbler
Back from dinner with the missus, and fancying a bottle of wine for bed.
techno, I was just recounting the moment I met you to a friend today. How fun that was. Hope you have a nice evening!
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