Stop...

Think...

What were you doing exactly two years ago?
Were you staring at the television in horror? Were you crying? Were you trying to call someone you love? Were you wondering what next? Were you angry? scared? offended?
How do you feel now? Do you still look up when an airplane flies over? Do you look at people with "arabic" features differently? How often do you call that person you called 2 years ago? Are you still angry? scared? offended?
Did you stop at starbucks on your drive to work this morning? Do you have a faded plastic flag on your car? A yellowed flag from the newspaper in your window? Do you read the articles about the people who die every day from terrorism, gangs, drunk driving, neglect and realize that they are all the same kind of people? Why not?

I hate: People who buy a vehicle that gets 15 mpg, but get mad when taxes go up to pay for schools.
I love: People who volunteer at schools where they don't have children.
I wonder: How many people think about how hard it is to teach?
I hate: People who put up a flag on September 12, 2001 and left it there night and day, rain and shine, without looking at it, and treating it with respect.
I love: People who get up and put up a flag every day, or even every holiday, and did that even before 9-11.
I wonder: How many people think about what our flag stands for?
I hate: People who believe that war is the best way to solve a problem.
I love: People who believe that violence is always bad, but it's not always the worst option.
I wonder: How many people think about how many people they know who have been directly affected by war?
I hate: People who believe a "No War" or "Peace" sign in their front window will change something.
I love: People who put up their "No War" sign after writing to their congressmen.
I wonder: How many people know who their congressmen are?
I hate: People who believe that {Republican/Democrat/Black/White/Arabic/Vegetarian/Meat-Eater/Any other damn thing} = BAD!
I love: People who understand that it is people who are bad or good. But no-one is completely one or the other.
I wonder: How many people don't realize that no matter how hard they try not to, they will always pass judgements on others with not enough information. The trick is remembering to be willing to adjust that judgement.
I hate: Anyone who believes that anyone should "Keep their opinions to themselves" or "Just get out of the US" I love: People who defend people they disagree with.
I wonder: How many people realize that the opinion isn't what makes a person American or Un-American, but merely the right to voice an opinion.

There's a lot to hate in this world, but there's more (much more) to love, to cherish and to defend. Whether you believe the best way to defend it is in a uniform, or on a picket line, quietly or loudly; doesn't matter, just that you believe.
We still need to donate blood, call the people we love, comfort those who hurt, tell the people that defend us (whether from fire, crime, or war) that we respect them and are greatful to them, and live our lives with the simple goal of leaving the world better than we found it and not causing any harm we can avoid.

Remember

So, I'm another year older. I've realized that the 26th birthday doesn't signify anything in particular. 10 is double didgets, 13 is teenager, 16 is driving, 18 is voting, 21 is drinking, 25 is lower insurance and rental cars. Then you've got nothing till social security, that's another 30 years. Cripes. Oh well. It was a good weekend none the less. Life is routine. And that's good too.

Today's Quote: "Those who sacrifice liberty in the name of security deserve neither." Ben Franklin

Happy freakin' Birthday America. Yeah, I got a rant about that. But first...
It's been a busy week. They rewired my apartment, ruining a 27 day uptime for me, but I figure it's worth it since I now have 8 more outlets and switches for all the lights in the apartment, plus the celing fan in the living room is now switched seperately from its light. Sweet... But I might need some dimmer switches cause some of those new lights are bright.
Also, I'm officially working at The Goodman Theatre (recently named by Time Magazine as the Best Regional Theatre in the US) as Crew Cover on Bounce (the new Sondheim musical.) So I trained for followspot on Wednesday. and then ran followspot for the second show. Yipe. Was kind of a sink of swim sort of thing, but I think all things considered, with only 1 show to train, I did okay. Sunday I train on deck crew. Also fun. I'm pretty excited about the whole thing. After Sunday I'm on call so that should be a good time for all.

So anyway, there's a lot of people out there pissing and moaning about our current president. Yeah, he's kind of a putz, but he is doing his job. Seriously, violence is never a good solution to a problem, but sometimes it's the only solution that will work. Yes this country is too dependant on oil in general and foriegn oil in particular, but that's another rant for another day. Basically what I want to say today is this: When you bitch and moan about our leaders and our government, stop and remember that the very fact that you can bitch and moan about our government is part of what makes this country great. The fact that you can not only bitch in your own home safely, or on the streets, but the fact that you can do it in the newspapers and on TV and wherever the hell else you want and the worst thing that's going to happen to you is that someone else will tell you how they feel about you is what makes this country great. Don't like what's going on? Then say so... and remember to say so not only in the bar after a couple drinks, but every time there's an election. Representative democracy only works when the people actually tell their represntatives what they want. So keep raising your voice, and remeber why you can.

Well... So I only post like once a month... so what. Anyway, I got another job today. Crew cover for Bounce at The Goodman Theatre. Which means I'm a running crew sub. I'm pretty excited. At minimum I get paid to see the new Sondheim show. Plus I get to hang out at the Goodman. Sweet.
Can I just say how much I love grilling. Yep. Good food, cooked outside. How can you beat that?
And speaking of beatings. I've got another addition to the list of people who need them. Parents who dress their young daughters in clothes that say things like "Hottie." And when I say young, I'm talking like 10 years old. In a culture where women fight to not be considered as objects, what the hell are people doing dressing children in clothes that not only say "I'm an object" but have it emblazoned across their 10-year-old asses. These people should be beaten, forced to watch confessions of child molesters and then be beaten again. When you're 18 or older, legal, and able to make your own decisions, you can dress yourself however the hell you want. If you want to look like a whore, more power to you, but don't act offended if you get treated like a whore. If you wear a shirt that is tight and says "Hottie" you forfeit the right to be offended when men stare at you. But if you dress your children that way... you're clearly to stupid to have been allowed to have children in the first place. This has been a public service announcement from the You're Too Stupid to Breed Society.

Today's Link: Radio Paradise Current Book: Prey by Michael Crichton
Today's Quote: "Very quickly, all the smoke that had been locked into the transformers at the transformer factory was let out, and since all Electronics require captive smoke to work properly, they no longer functioned very well at all." From the Stagecraft Mailing List

I'm bringing back my link, book and quotes I think. So... my best friend is a pilot. As in he flys an airplane and gets paid for it. How cool is that. Apparently, The Best Wife In The Whole World©'s cousin is going to be taking lessons this summer to get a license as a private pilot. That's exciting. Have you ever flown in a plane with only two seats. It's amazing. I happen to love flying. British Air has good food. Southwest is fun (usually). But little planes are the best. The Best Wife In The Whole World© also want to take flying lessons. I think I'm vastly in favor of that. But we need to save money before then. If you want a classy web-site like this one, and want to help support her dreams of flight, let me know and I can set you up.
Don't know why I felt like talking about flying today, but since it's my page, I can do whatever the hell I want. The happy fun summer schedule starts soon at work. So the usual trade off should go into effect. We either have time or money but never both. Oh well.

Holy crap. This was quite the weekend. The Best Wife In The Wole World© and I were going to Minnesota for her cousin's wedding. Friday morning she went to get her Illinois Driver's License and plates. (She didn't get the plates yet, but that's a whole other story, that really isn't all that exciting.) Anyway, then we stopped for an oil change, what with the car being due and an 800 mile trip ahead of us. When we were getting the oil changed, the guy said, "Your engine is leaking gas. You should get that checked right away" So we did. The garage said "Um... your fuel lines need to be replaced, they're dumping gasoline directly onto your exhaust system." So... now we've got $550 worth of car repairs, $100 worth of car rental and all that other good stuff to come up with. Whee. Anyway. The wedding was beautiful there will be pictures soon. All in all (except for Friday) it was a good weekend.

esterday rocked. The Best Wife In The Whole World© and I got up and tuned up the bikes and went for a ride. It was a lot of fun. Then we came home, ate lunch and headed out again. We went to the Lincoln Park Zoo. (and the conservatory too) Saw some fun animals, including a baby monkey of some sort. Generally, we just enjoyed the weather and the fact that neither one of us had to work. Then we came home and had Thai food for dinner. Yum. Anyway... gotta clean up the house. My Mother-In-Law is coming up this afternoon with her sister on their way to Minnesota for a wedding. We're going too, but we're leaving Friday. Should be fun.