TBWITWW and I watched Hotel Rwanda last night. It's been sitting here from Netflix for quite some time, but we just haven't been in the mood for anything quite that heavy. However, it was definately worth the wait. The story is, in some ways, similar to Schindler's List, but told with less of a "movie" feel. Where Schindler's List made it's point through sheer emotional barrage, Hotel Rwanda felt as if it simply told a story honestly, and quietly.

The story centers around Paul Rusesabagina, a manager at a 4 star hotel, who quietly saves over 1000 people in the middle of a genocidal war. He doesn't set out to save these people or to be a hero, he merely sets out to protect his family, but his concious allows him to include all of the people who have taken refuge in the hotel. While the west sent in troops to pull out the foriegn nationals, but leave those being massacared behind, the UN troops are spread thin (300 for the whole country) and under orders not to fire their weapons.

Watching this movie reminds me that although there are people that are willing to be heroes, sometimes without trying, most of us are simply bystanders in life. I'm not without guilt in this myself. Hotel Rwanda shows that guilt in us, and if that means we are more able to voice our outrage when this happens agian, the movie has done a good thing.

I have been married to TBWITWW for 1461 days now. (That's exactly 4 years).

We've been through poorer, worse, sickness... although we haven't been without a little richer, better, and health. I can honestly say, I've been through things over the last 4 years that I don't believe I would have survived without her by my side. While the "two become one" thing is a bit cliche, it's true. What joy I have is doubled, and the pain is halved. I'm a better person because of her. I'm a stronger person because of her, and I'm a more whole person because of her.

We've been through depths of pain together that I wouldn't wish on the person I hated most in the world. We've been through joy that there aren't words to describe. Ever time I've needed a hand to hold, I found hers already there. Every time I've needed a shoulder to cry on, hers was there with arms to hold me tight. Every time I've held a smile in my heart, I've found it echoed in her laughter.

They haven't been perfect years, but they've been our years. We've had fights, but we've learned from them. We've made poor decisions, but we've recognized them. She's the mother of my son, the love of my life, and the reason I carry on.

I tell her I love her every day. Today, I want to add to that.

Thank you Nicole. I would not be me without you. I love you!

Stolen from my brother:

1. Nicole E.
2. Geoff E.
3. Phil V.
4. Katie B.
5. Katie P.
6. Chris 0.
7. John E.
8. Diane D.
9. Todd D.
10. Steph 0.
11. Greg D.
12. Paula T.
13. Katrina H.

THE QUESTIONS:

1. How did you meet 13: at The Work.
2. What would you do if you NEVER met 6: Not have as good of taste in music, not have some of the best memories from college, and not have such a raging case of Giant-TV-Envy.
3. What would you do if 2 and 9 dated: Hide. Somebody would die. One of those irresistable force/immovable object personality things.
4. Did you ever like 8: I still like her. (Moreso now that she's not The Boss)
5. Would 1 and 5 be a good couple: No, I don't think so. But if they did get together, I could probably retire if I sold videos.
6. Is number 11 gay/lesbian: Not to my knowledge. If he was, he'd be fighting off guys with a stick.
7. Would you tell secrets to 4: Would, and have.
8. What is your first memory of 3: Not the first time we met, but one of the earliest memories is "The Lion King." If you don't know, I'm not telling.
9. Do you know any of 1’s family members: I am one of her family members. I know most of the rest of them too.
10. What’s 10’s favorite color? Uh oh. Red? Her kitchen is red.
11. What would you do if 9 just confessed he/she liked you: Get him another beer.
12. What language does number 3 speak? Generally, English.
13. Who is 8 going out with: #9
14. What grade is 12 in: Is the AARP a grade?
15. When did you last see 7: At his wedding!
16. What is 5’s favorite band: GTX Express
17. Would you ever date 3: Well, discounting the whole marriage thing, and sexual preference thing, it's still a no. I don't think I have the fortitude for that.
18. Is 1 hot: Well, on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is Mick Jagger, and 10 is the core of a white dwarf star, she'd be an infinity and a half.
19. Is 12 single: Nope.
20. Where the hell is question 20?21. Would you ever want to be in a serious relationship with 1: We try not to be too serious.
22. Where does 8 go to school: School for Sucka's maybe.
23. What’s 4’s best physical feature: Well, I could be tactful and PC and crap, but she's female, and like 90% of the females in the world, I'm going with the chest.
24. Are number 4 & 5 Best friends: I think they've met breifly once.
25. Is 7 a girl or boy: Man.
26. Who is number 5 in love with: Her husband, her cat, and her Tivo. Not sure of the order though.
27. What is your last memory of 7: The smile on his face as he looked at his new bride.
28. Have you ever hooked up with number 4: Uh... no.
29. What is the funniest memory of 1: That one time, when she did that thing.
30. What is your relationship with number 6: Very, very good friends.
31. How old is 13: 12? 13? 26?
32. How close are you with number 1: Slightly closer than I am to me.
33. Would you sleep with number 7: He's my dad.
34. What’s your favorite memory with 4: Trading book reviews.
35 Whos number 5 best friends with: Her cat, her husband and her tivo?
36. What’s your favorite thing about number 2: His writing, which he dosn't do enough of.
37. Is 5 a virgin: Nope.

Our food blog is back with a vengance. Check that bad boy out:

Something to Chew On

TBWITWW wants us to update it daily, so hopefully it'll be interesting.

Yeah, I'm on the ball. Finally upgraded to Wordpress 2.0 from 1.5. We'll see how it works. I installed Bad Behavior and Spam Karma 2 also. I also made a new sig image for forums.

That's all for today.

There are two dates that are more than simply entries on a calendar to Americans. July 4th and September 11th. Everything about our country is different because of those two dates. They define us and shape us are are inseperable from who we are as Americans. We are a country of individuals who believe that we can be individuals and be unified at the same time. It is that individuality that gives the unity its strength. And like the individuals that make up this country, America has made good choices and bad ones, done things that others admire and that others hate. We, as a people, have done what we thought was best and we have learned that sometimes what we thought was best, really wasn't. We've made desicions that we are proud of and decisions that we regret. In the end though, we are still Americans. The very fact that there is so much controversy, so many arguments, and so much disagreement is what makes us strong. We have the ability to discuss both sides of an issue. Sometimes those discussions become shouting matches, but we're still free to have them.

For a few moments, five years ago, all those voices were silent. For a few moments, someone took our most fundamental trait away from us. For just a moment, the voices that are our freedom, were silenced. But they came back, louder, stronger and more determined than ever. We still disagree, we still fight, we still believe a million different things. And we always will, simply because we can.

Thank a firefighter, thank a police officer, thank an EMT. Hug someone you love. And speak up for what you believe.

So, there are commercials for Sonic Drive-In restraunts on all the freakin time. They look good. They make me want to eat at Sonic. Their advertising is so good, it gives me an almost Harold & Kumar-like craving for Sonic. And yet... yet... the nearest Sonic is in Champaign.

120 Freakin Miles Away!

Damn you Sonic! This is beyond mere late-night-road-trip range. It is no good for sitting around watching TV and saying "Damn, I could go for some Sonic about now." This is like, take-vacation-time-and-get-a-hotel-room distance. Why do they taunt me?