Happy Constitution Day

(from the Library of Congress:)

WE, the PEOPLE of the UNITED STATES, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

ARTICLE I.
Sect. 1. ALL legislative powers, herein grated, shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Sect. 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second year by all the people of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous branch of the State Legislature.

No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

Representatives and direct taxes shall be appointed among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to the respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxes, three fifths of all other persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each State shall have at least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New-Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantation one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New-Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North-Carolina five, South-Carolina five, and Georgia three.

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.

The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other officers, and shall have the sole power of impeachment.

Sect. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote.

Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year; so that one third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen, by resignation or otherwise, during the recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such vacancies.

No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.
The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a President pro tempore, in a the absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the United States.

The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall by on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United State is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside; and no person shall be convicted without the concurence of two thirds of the members present.

Judgement, in cases of impeachment, shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honour, trust or profit, under the United States; but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgement and punishment, according to law.

Sect. 4. The times, places and manner, of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time, by law, make or alter such regulations, except as to the place of choosing Senators.

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

Sect. 5. Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualification, of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties, as each House may provide.

Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member.

Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgment require secresy; and the yeas and nays of the members of either House on any question shall, at the desire of one fifth of those present, be entered on the journal.

Neither House, during the session of Congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

Sect. 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other place.

No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been encreased, during such time; and no person holding any officer under the United States shall be a member of either House, during his continuance in office.

Sect. 7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments, as on other bills.

Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senates shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President of the United States; if he approve; he shall sign it; but if not, he shall return it, with his objections, to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a law. But in all such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each House respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law.

Every order, resolution or vote, to which the concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the same shall take effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be re-passed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill.

Sect. 8. The Congress shall have power To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defence and general welfare of the United States; but all duties; imposts and excises, shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes;

To establish an uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies, throughout the United States;

To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures;

To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States;

To establish post-offices and post-roads;

To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries;

To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court;

To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas and offences against the law of nations;

To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water;

To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years;

To provide and maintain a navy;

To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces;

To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

To exercise exclusive legislation, in all cases whatsoever, over such district (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the Legislature of the State in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock-yards, and other needful buildings;--and,

To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States,or in any department or officer thereof.

Sect. 9. The migration or importation of such persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight; but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person.

The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it.

No bill of attainder, or ex post facto law, shall be passed.

No capitation or other direct tax shall be laid, unless in proportion to the sensus or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.

No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any State. No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or revenue to the ports of one State over those of another: Nor shall vessels bound to or from one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties, in another.

No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law; and a regular statement and account of the receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published from time to time.

No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no person holding any office of profit or trust under them shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office or title, or any kind whatever from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

Sect. 10. No State shall enter into any treaty, alliance or confederation; grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin money; emit bills of credit; make any thing but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility.

No State shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any imposts or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing its inspection laws; and the new produce of all duties and imposts, laid by any State, on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the treasury of the United States; and all such laws shall be subject to the revision and controul of the Congress. No State shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty of tonnage, keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any agreement or compact with another State, or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay.

ARTICLE II.
Sec. 1. The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of four years, and, together with the Vice-President, chosen for the same term, be elected as follows.

Each State shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a number of Electors, equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress; but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.

The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves. And they shall make a list of all the persons voted for, and of the number of votes for each; which list they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such majority, and have an equal number of votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately choose by ballot one of them for President; and if no person have a majority, then from the five highest on the list the said House shall in like manner choose a President. But in choosing the President the votes shall be taken by States, the representation from each State having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two thirds of the States, and a majority of all the States shall be necessary to a choice. In every case, after the choice of the President, the person having the greatest number of votes of the Electors, shall be the Vice-President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal votes, the Senate shall choose from them by ballot the Vice-President.

The Congress may determine the time of choosing the Electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes; which day shall be the same throughout the United States.

No person, except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office, who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States.

In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President; and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation, or inability, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

The President shall, at stated times, receive for his services a compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that period any other emolument from the United States, or any of them.

Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the following oath or affirmation:


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"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States; and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend, the Constitution of the United States."

Sect. 2. The President shall be Commander in Chief of the army and navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States; he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.

He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers, and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other offices of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law. But the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers as they think proper in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments.

The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions, which shall expire at the end of their next session.

Sect. 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United States.

Sect. 4. The President, Vice-President, and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office, on impeachment for and conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

ARTICLE III.
Sect. 1. The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such Inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and Inferior Courts, shall hold their offices during good behaviour; and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.

Sect. 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority; to all cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers, and Consuls; to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; to controversies to which the United States shall be a party; to controversies between two or more States, between a State and citizen of another State, between citizens of different States, between citizens of the same State claiming lands under grants of different States, and between a State, or the citizens thereof, and foreign States, citizens or subjects.

In all cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and consuls, and those in which a State shall be party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions and under such regulations as the Congress shall make.

The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury; and such trial shall be held in the State where the said crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed.

Sect. 3. Treason, against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason, unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on consession in open court.

The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture, except during the life of the person attainted.

ARTICLE IV.
Sect. 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each State to the public acts, records and judicial proceedings, of every other State. And the Congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records and proceedings, shall be proved, and the effect thereof.

Sect. 2. The citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states.

A person, charged in any State with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice, and be found in another State, shall, on demand of the executive authority of the State form which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having jurisdiction of the crime.

No person, held to service or labour in one State, under the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labour; but shall be delivered up, on claim of the party to whom such service or labour may be due.

Sect. 3. New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed to erected within the jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the junction of two or more States, or parts of States, without the consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned, as well as of the Congress.

The Congress shall have power to dispose of an make all needful rules and regulations, respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed, as to prejudice any claims of the United States, or of any particular State.

Sect. 4. The United States shall guarantee, to every State in this Union, a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion; and, on application of the Legislature, or of the Executive, (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic violence.

ARTICLE V.
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution; or, on the application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention, for proposing amendments; which, in either case, shall be valid, to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislature of three fourths of the several States, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress: Provided, that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses, in the ninth section of the first article; and that no State, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.

ARTICLE VI.
All debts contracted, and engagements entered into, before the adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.

This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the Judges in every State, shall be bound thereby; any thing in the constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, under the United States.

ARTICLE VII.
The ratification of the Conventions of Nine States shall be sufficient for the establishment of this constitution, between the States so ratifying the same.

Done in Convention, by the unanimous consent of the States present, the seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the twelfth. In witness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names.

GEORGE WASHINGTON, President, (and Deputy from Virginia.
New-Hampshire. John Langdon, Nicholas Gilman.
Massachusetts. Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King.
Connecticut. William Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman.
New-York. Alexander Hamilton.
New-Jersey. William Livingston, David Brearley, William Paterson, Jonathan Dayton.
Pennsylvania. Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robert Morris, George Clymer, Thomas Fitzsimons, Jared Ingersoll, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris.
Delaware. George Read, Gunning Bedford, jun. John Dickenson, Richard Bassett, Jacob Broom.
Maryland. James M'Henry, Daniel of St. Tho. Jenifer, Daniel Carrol.
Virginia. John Blair, James Madison, jun.
North-Carolina. William Blount, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson.
South-Carolina. John Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler.
Georgia. William Few, Abraham Baldwin.

Attest,..........WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretary.

IN CONVENTION, Monday, September 17th, 1787.

PRESENT,

The States of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Mr. Hamilton from New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia.

Resolved,
THAT the preceding Constitution be laid before the United States in Congress assembled, and that it is the opinion of this Convention, that it should afterwards be submitted to a Convention of Delegates, chosen in each State by the People thereof, under the recommendation of its Legislature, for their assent and ratification; and that each Convention assenting to and ratifying the same, should give notice thereof to the United States in Congress assembled.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Convention, That as soon as the Conventions of Nine States shall have ratified this Constitution, the United States in Congress assembled should fix a day on which Electors should be appointed by the States which shall have ratified the same, and a day on which the Electors should assemble to vote for the President, and the time and place for commencing proceedings under this Constitution: That after such publication the Electors should be appointed, and the Senators and Representatives elected: That the Electors should meet on the day fixed for the election of the President, and should transmit their votes, certified, signed, sealed and directed, as the Constitution requires, to the Secretary of the United States in congress assembled: That the Senators and Representatives should convene at the time and place assigned: That the Senators should appoint a President of the Senate, for the sole purpose of receiving, opening and counting the votes for President; and that, after he shall be chose, the Congress, together with the President, should without delay proceed to execute this Constitution.

By the unanimous order of the Convention,
GEORGE WASHINGTON, President.
..........WILLIAM JACKSON, Sec'ry.

In Convention, Sept 17, 1787.

SIR,

WE have now the honour to submit to the consideration of the United States in Congress in Congress assembled, that Constitution which has appeared to us the most adviseable.

The friends of our country have long seen and desired, that the power of making war, peace and treaties, that of levying money and regulating commerce, and the correspondent executive and judicial authorities, should be fully and effectually vested in the general government of the Union; but the impropriety of delegating such extensive trust to one body of men is evident.--Hence results the necessity of a different organization.

It is obviously impracticable, in the federal government of these States, to secure all rights of independent sovereignty to each, and yet provide for the interest and safety of all. Individuals entering into society must give up a share of liberty to preserve the rest. The magnitude of the sacrifice must depend as well on situation and circumstance, as on the object to be obtained. It is at all times difficult to draw with precision the line between those rights which must be surrendered, and those which may be reserved, and on the present occasion this difficulty was increased by a difference among the several states as to their situation, extent, habits and particular interests.

In all our deliberations on this subject, we kept steadily in our view that which appears to us the greatest interest of every true American, the consolidation of our Union, in which are involved our prosperity, felicity, safety, perhaps our national existence. This important consideration, seriously and deeply impressed on our minds, led each State in the Convention to be less rigid on points of inferior magnitude, than might have been otherwise expected; and thus the constitution, which we now present, is the result of a spirit of amity, and of that mutual deference and concession which the peculiarity of our political situation rendered indispensible.

That it will meet the full and entire approbation of every State is not perhaps to be expected, but each will doubtless consider, that had her interests been alone consulted, the consequences might have been particularly disagreeable or injurious to others; that it is liable to as few exceptions as could reasonably have been expected, we hope and believe; that it may promote the lasting welfare of that country so dear to us all, and secure her freedom and happiness, is our most ardent wish.

With great respect, we have the honour to be, Sir, your Excellency's most obedient and humble Servants,
GEORGE WASHINGTON, President.

By unanimous Order of the Convention.

His Excellency the President of Congress.

UNITED STATES in Congress Assembled.
Friday, September 28, 1787.

Present, New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia, and from Maryland Mr. Ross. Congress having received the report of the Convention lately assembled in Philadelphia,

Resolved, unanimously, That the said report, with the resolutions and letter accompanying the same, be transmitted to the several Legislatures, in order to be submitted to a Convention of Delegates, chosen in each State by the People thereof, in conformity to the resolves of the Convention made and provided in that case.
CHARLES THOMSON, Sec'ry.

State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations.

In GENERAL ASSEMBLY, October Session, 1787.

IT is Voted and Resolved, That the Report of the Convention, lately held at Philadelphia, proposing a new Constitution for the United States of America, be printed as soon as may be: That the following Number of Copies be sent to the several Town-Clerks in the State, to be distributed among the Inhabitants, that the Freemen may have an Opportunity of forming their Sentiments of the said proposed Constitution,to wit: For Newport 10, Portsmouth 25, Middletown 15, New-Shoreham 15, Jamestown 16, Tiverton 40, Little-Compton 36, Providence 10, Smithfield 75, Scituate 55, Foster 55, Glocester 60, Cumberland 40, Cranston 50, Johnston 30, North-Providence 20, Westerly 31, North-Kingstown 50, South-Kingstown 100, Charlestown 25, Richmond 25, Exeter 31, Hopkinton 30, Bristol 20, Warren 10, Barrington 10, Warwick 56, East-Greenwich 25, West-Greenwich 22, and Coventry 30.

A true Copy:
Witness, HENRY WARD, Sec'ry.

PROVIDENCE: Printed by JOHN CARTER.

What's going on....

Well, it is about 20 minutes until 9 on a Sunday night and I’ve been at the law library for about two hours with nothing to show for it except a couple hours wasted surfing the net. Before I head home, I thought I might make a post for those few faithful readers out there….

Well, law school is pretty much what I expected. Read, brief cases, and then, maybe if you can get a word in edge wise in a 90 person class, talk about them in class. Repeat. The work load is still pretty light or it might just be me. Some of my peers, especially those who haven’t worked before (straight from undergrad) have started to complain regarding the reading load, but so far I haven’t noticed. This isn’t half as much work as a real job and, at least, the subject matter is interesting.

Tomorrow the undergrads start class. It should changed the vibe on campus and probably create lines at the Starbuck across the street from the law school. I already feel old; I can’t imagine how I’ll feel with these teenagers about? The freshmen class was born in 1988, 1988!!

I took a walk on campus today before coming to the library. One thing about a private school versus a public school, we have better gardeners. Judging from my jogging path around UW, I’m not even sure that UW can even afford grounds staff anymore. The vegetation on their campus is all dry and dying. It doesn’t look like they even bother planting flowers anymore. SU, however, has oodles and oodles of plants and flowers on campus. It’s all very pretty. I’m looking forward to the foliage change. Some of the trees have started to turn with the recent cool down we’ve had, the fringes of the leaves have started to lighten as if they are being lit from inside. On my walk, I also noticed that the building across from the chapel (I think it’s the business school?) has what appears to be a huge, Chihuly chandelier. It might not be a Chihuly, though, as it isn’t listed on his website. However, his website only gives the locations of public installations and since SU is a private university I imagine it wouldn’t be listed. I might go over one day and have a closer look.

The bathroom remodel is almost done. However, as noted in my previous post, the electrician did not actually install the plugs and switches. While most of the plugs and switches aren’t a problem to install, the bathroom switches and plug present a puzzle and I can’t figure out how he wired it. I think I’m might have to call back the electrician and have him come do it. It hopefully won’t be more than an hour or two of work. The kitchen is on deck next. We have finally gotten the wood floor guy to agree on a date to come refinish the floors, so we have about a week and a half to get the old tile off of them. My dad gave me a tip he saw on the tv of freezing the tile with dry ice, and then it will break off, glue and all, from the floor beneath. I’m assuming it can’t be that easy, but I’ll give it a try.

In other new, I hope to have more discipline about reading up on current events. Lately, I’ve been so disconnected from what’s happening outside the walls of my own home and that of the law school. I hope to blog some more on current events, but I’m just not informed enough about anything going on right now (I guess I could turn this into a law blog, but I doubt people want to read my thoughts on adverse possession or the tort of battery).

Anyway, thanks for reading.

Reviews

Blogging, when paired with the google search engine, can bring to bear some odd results. For example, this blog was, for a few days, in the top five returns for a search involving "cheerleading", "football", and "lockers". Quite a few people followed the link to my page from this search. I can picture some sixteen year old girl's dissapointment when, after scouring the internet for locker decorating ideas, only found my random thoughts discussing if cheerleading is good or bad for young girls. (Yes, I choose to believe that a cheerleader was actually looking for locker decorating ideas rather than the more likely scenario of a horny, balding, middle-aged man looking for porn involving cheerleaders, football players and lockers...I call this choice selective naivetiy).

Anyway, in light of this search phenomenon, I thought I would populate this blog with some useful information that someone might actually be looking for on the net, service reviews of contractors. (It is difficult finding contractors and there is seldom any information on line, however, there are two review sites that I know of: Judy Book and Angie's List. I would suggest checking out these sites as well as this post, if you are actually in the market for contractors).

The Reviews:

CV Electric

Job: Our 1920's home had several electrical problems, namely most of the house was on an archiac fuse box (over fused bytheway) that had been supplemented overtime with more fuses and circuit breakers. We hired CV electric to replace the old fuse boxes and circuit breakers with a modern electrical panel. We also had them prepare our house for a service upgrade (120 V to 200V) and add some plugs/switches in the kitchen and bath.

How we found them: CV electric was a referral from our Realator. She had used them on her home and told us that the company was really good with older homes. We had found another electrician via Judy's Book, but we decided to go with CV electric because we liked the owner (Chris Valentino). The two price quotes we got were very similar but Chris was very personable and actually returned phone calls! (returning phone calls is a rarity in the contractor business, if you find someone who does, it's a big plus). [Chris does most of his work for a general contractor (Jackson Remodeling) who were are looking at for a sismic retrofit. Jackson Remodeling, however, doesn't seem to thrilled with the project and we probably won't go with them. Why give your money to someone who doesn't want it?]

Performance Review: Overall, we were very pleased with the work Chris did. They showed up on time and worked steadily throught the day. The work appears meticulous (they've even labled the actual wires, not just the panel) and it was done for less than we had expected to pay. We will most likely be calling him back when we expand the kitchen and build a second floor on the home. The only oddity (and there is always something) is that they didn't install the switches or the plugs. Chris said he would come back and do that after we've finished all the sheetrocking, painting, etc...but that's seem like a hassle to have to call him back and schedule two week in advance. It's not a big deal as installing switches and plugs is something I can do, it just seemed strange that it wasn't done. For all I know, however, this might just be industy practice.


O'Brien Plumbing

Job: Our house consisted of old iron and glavanized pipes that needed to be replaced. We hired a plumber to install copper pipes from our main water valve into the house. He repiped for the kitchen and the upstairs bath.

How we found them: My wife had looked up several plumber's names in the phonebook and online then gave them to me to call. I went online to research the first name on the list (I can't remember what that company was called). When I went to that company's website, they had an article from the Seattle PI reviewing local plumbers and rated them as the number 2 plumber in the region. The article, gave the number 1 rating to O'Brien plumbing. Anyway, I left a message for the company my wife had found and also called O'Brien plumbing. The first company never called me back, but O'Brien did.

Performance Review: We were pretty pleased with the job. The plubming looks good and he made some good recommendations, such as; replacing some iron drains we were just going to leave in. (It was a good suggestion, after he pulled out the drain pipe he found that it was nearly rotten and could have broke, flooding our basement.) The only oddity with him was that he only worked half days and thus the project took five days, he would work from 9 or 10 until noon or so. We would have preferred that he worked nearly a full day and thus cut the number of day he was working on the project. But, he got the job done, and we always had water after he left, so it wasn't the big of an inconvience to have him there that long. Again, we spent less then we had expected and we will most likely use him again in the future.


That's it, all the other work we've done ourselves. We have ordered windows from an establishment called ProCraft. So far, they've been great partners in the selling but they have yet to be install the window, so we'll let you know. We also have experience with some of the speciality tile stores, I might review them if I get a request.

New Year, Same Dissapointment

Every year, with the return of fall, comes the same dissapointment with Idaho football. It wouldn't be as bad if there wasn't the damn marketing coming out of the school towards the alumni, "This year, it will be better", "This year, we have Erickson", "This year, we won't suck as bad".

And every year, the season starts out with a glimmer of hope. Last year we stayed close to WSU in the opener and lost a squeker in the second game to UNLV. This, along with the marketing hype, led us alumni to believe that we might have a chance against UW. UW was awful, it hadn't won since the start of the 2004 season. In our hearts we knew we were bad but not as bad as we had been, right? There was hope and optimism in Husky stadium that we could actually beat these former national champions. That hope was quashed as the huskies gave us a complete thumping. We left the dawg house with our tail between our legs and went off to another season of failure.

This year, our season began with a close game with Michigan State, close enough to reaffirm the marketing campaing and the knowledge of Erikson's return; this year we might be winners. But, alas, the second game against WSU reminded us that we are still the Vandals, the bottom dwellers of Div - IA football.

I still have hope though. This might be a wake up call, a call to arms, and Erickson might be the one to marshall the boys into action. Or, Erickson, might just be trying to weasel his way to the panties of some PAC 10 school? Only time will tell.

I think the lossess are tougher on people of my age than other Alumni. When I was in school the Vandals weren't a bad team. We had a winning record, we were beating Bosie state, and we had back to back wins over cross boarder rival Washington State. In fact, we had won a bowl game shortly after our introduction to Div I football. It all ended when Coach Tormey bailed on the team to take the head coaching job at Nevada. Nevada?

We asked ourselves that same question, whey would someone jump from one smallish state school to another. It's not like he left Idaho for Washington, or Arizona, or Colorado, or Michigan, or some other winning "player" in Div I. Instead, he left for Nevada where he truly felt that he could start his way up the career ladder (nevermind that it was the same rung he was already standing on at Idaho). Anyway, it turned out to be a dumb move, just as we thought it was, and the poor bastard is know an assistant coach (that's a demotion from head coach, by the way, despite the location) at Washington.

We hired an untested alumni, Cable, to take the regins of the program and he proceeded to run the team into the ground. Why, at that time, we just didn't give the job to Kramer, the U of Montana coach, who was a Div II national champion and really, really wanted the Idaho job, I don't know...

So, here' to another season. My only wish for the season is that we are prepared for BSU (I'll be in Moscow for the game), after several years of having to go to Boise for the game the Broncos finally have to come up to Moscow, and it would fitting justice if we could win over them at home.

To Keg or Not to Keg....

For the past two Thursday since the start of school, there have been invites to a law school kegger every Friday night. Nothing makes me feel older than when the cute, young blond looks over to me and asks, "are you going?” It shouldn't, I could go, I wouldn’t be that out of place...I'm not that much older than this group whose ages run from 22-40+, and where the average age is supposedly 27. But, I’m not much in the mood for keggers anymore. My idea of a good time is getting together with friends at one of our homes, having a bbq, watching their kids play in the backyard, and having a beer or two. For some reason the notion of standing around a hot, smoky house while watching twenty somethings grind against one another doesn't have the appeal that it used to....(I attribute the loss of appeal to my wife, I'm pretty sure she is against me grinding on anything, except for her that is...)

Anyway, my grade back from the Crim Law class I took during the summer. It was an A. One of our professors gave us the advice of not sharing how we did; there is no upside to telling people how you did for either you or them. I'm taking that advice, but it's difficult, everyone asks and they all want to compare notes. All I will say is that I did okay, better than expected, and then I change the subject. I'm trying not to let on that I'm currently sitting atop the forced curve. Now, if I can stay humble and not get cocky....

The bathroom remodel is coming along. I think we'll finish it off this weekend and I'll publish photos of what it looks like. After that, it's on to the kitchen. The kitchen shouldn’t be quite as big of a problem; all we are doing is changing out the cabinets, refurbishing the floors, and getting new appliances. There won't be any structural changes and I'm not doing any major construction (aside from patching a largish hole in the wet wall).

Anyway...I might post twice today, I’m thinking of writing reviews of the contractors I've used just in case someone might be trying to googling them and see how they were....

Rah - Rah

Cheerleading - yes, that the topic today, cheerleading.

I must admit that I've never given cheerleaders much thought (aside from the hours I spent fantasizing about them during puberty, but I wouldn't actually characterize that activity as thought). I was on the track team, I was a swimmer, and played water polo, and at either polo matches or track meets there are no cheerleaders. To me they were an elite and remote group that I had little day to day contact with who went to football games and spend time decorating the lockers of my friends, and thus, for the most part, they were out of sight and out of mind. My only real relationship with a cheerleader was a short lived romantic one in college. The cheerleader, apparently, was on the rebound and only dated me long enough to reestablish her self-esteem after being dumped by the guy who she was certain she was going to marry. (I actually became good friends with the guy [who is M.D. now] who dumped her, I actually like him much better than her, but thatÂ’s a different story). Thus I havenÂ’t given the "sport" of cheerleading nor it's participants more than a passing thought in the past decade or so.

Today, however, I saw a documentary on cheerleading and it started out by asking if cheerleading was an empowering activity that teaches young women how to be athletic, participate in teams, compete, and become social (popular?); or is merely an activity that sexualizes them early, teaches them that they exist in order to be supportive of men engaged in real activity (football, basketball, etc...), and is damaging to there future self image.

As I was watching, I started asking myself if I had a daughter would I want her to be a cheerleader. My niece is entering those fragile teen years and is going to bjoiningng her jr. high squad and is all bubbly about the notion of it. Her mom, who was in drill team herself, is excited too and is happily scurrying about trying to get her to practice and to all the related social events the girls throw for themselves. She is apparently happy, and if I had a daughter who wanted to do this, to gain this happiness, what would I say?

I don't think I would flat out deny her, but I think I would do everything to dissuade her from joining. Although the documentary seemed to come down on the positive aspects of cheerleading, I don't think it's the healthiest thing a young woman can do. I would encourage my daughter to play on the basketball team, to play lacrosse, to swim, to do anything other than cheer. There are many activities that would teach her to be strong, athletic, and social aside from cheering on the football team.

The main reason that I wouldn't want my daughter engaged is that cheering is an activity that starts with the premise of putting women into a subservient, supportive role. Despite all the talk of competition and trying to win at certain cheerleading events, the primary job of the squad is to support other teams (mostly men - I don't remember how many time the cheerleading squad shows up at the women's basketball games, do you?) doing the primary sport. They spend hours devising way to encourage other, this manifest itself in action like decorating the football players lockers, baking cookies for the basketball team, painting there bodies with the number of there favorite players, all very actions of someone subservient and committed to anotherÂ’s success at winning some event. I want my daughter to be engaged in that actual objective, playing in the game, trying to win, not supporting others from the sidelines.

It is also over sexualized. While I acknowledge that women are sexual beings that should have power over how others view them and who should be able to use this power to their advantage, I don't really think that is they type of sexual empowerment that cheerleaders learn. Instead, they are given short skirt and tight tops then told to go out and prance around, all in order to give the males encouragement on the field of battle. They might learn that their mere physicality is valuable, that it is their prime asset. I don't think this is the type of sexuality I want my daughter to have, a womenÂ’s sexuality isnÂ’t her prime asset; it just isnÂ’t a true message.

This is somewhat moot, given that I don't have a daughter, but the documentary did give me something to think about when, as I type this, thousands of girls are returning to school and a few might just be asking their dads this very question, "Dad, can I join the cheerleading squad?"

Mike McGavick Probably Just Lost My Vote...

As a moderate democrat I was open to Mike McGavick's campaign. I personally believe there should be a healthy churn in our elected officials, and I am not opposed to voting republican to keep new ideas coming out of Washington.

But, over the course of his campaign, he has been racking up mistakes and faux paus that have finally reached my personal tipping point. His first mistake was his whole hearted embrace of GWBush early in his campaign, but hey, Bush was popular at that point, so why wouldn't he try to ride someone's coattails? I was willing to overlook it because it didn't seem out of place for a someone to suck up to the leader of their party. Nevertheless, strike one Mike.

The second instance was his comments about Seattle while campaigning in Eastern Washington. I like to read N. Idaho and E. Washington blogs because that is where I am from. I like the people, the values, the lifestyle, and someday hope to return. From reading these blogs though, I have ascertained a definite level of vitriol from our eastern neighbors toward those of us in the Puget Sound area. This vitriol runs deep despite the fact that they must certainly know that the wealth from Seattle and King County paves their roads, buys goods from their farms, and subsidized their schools. There is never any acknowledgement on the Eastern side of the state of the contribution of King County to the state, there is only resentment over King Counties voting tendencies. Therefore, it is clear that he was merely pandering to the receptive crowd. Although clearly a right of passage in politics, it was still disappointing and I expected more from him. Strike two.

The last incident is what has probably pushed him out of consideration for my vote. It's a radio ad that attacks Sen. Cantwell for not supporting the vote to make the deduction that we get to make for our sales tax, when paying federal income taxes, permanent. While it is true she did vote against the bill containing the provision, it is false to characterize her as against the measure. I know that politician like to spin this game of asking why is someone for something but votes against it, but that a disingenuous stance given they know how the system works. It was Sen. Cantwell who led a bipartisan group in the attempt to get the deduction permanent. In truth, it was the republicans who opposed the measure and the tax break. For all the republican parties talk of being anti-tax, when they had the chance to give everyone in Washington and 12 other states a tax break they balked. Why was the republican leadership against this effort? I don't know. Perhaps they don't like a sweeping tax cut that is available to everyone; gay, straight, married, single, rich or poor. Given what they seem to endorse lately, the republicans seem only to like to give tax cuts to exclusive classes of people, such as: investors, people who stand to inherit vast sums of money, or to families with children. The state tax exemption must have been to inclusive for their liking.

Regardless, it was the republicans who contorted this bill and Mike M. knows it, he knows what Sen Cantwell position on the issue, but he playing a political game that works because it few people stop to think of how bills get passed and how the thing work in DC.

I guess that was has finally turned me off. I wanted someone new, I was looking forward to the notion that an citizen, a successful businessman, would be committed to this county and want to serve. However, I also want someone who is running because they have values and stand for something. But these three instances show someone who has simply tried to latch on to his parties leadership's buttcheeks, who panders to crowds, and blurs the facts a little just to win a vote. In the end, he has already met the definition of a politician who will say or do anything to win a vote. If he's already cut out of politician cloth before even being elected, than what will he turn into if he's send to D.C. A person like that is not what I want this Washington to send to the other Washington.

So, my vote is up for grabs, anyone interested?

This last incident coupled with

Shiver...

It turned cold here in Seattle. The weatherman assures us that it will warm back up by the weekend, that summer isn't over. I know he's lying. Sure, it will get warmer, but there is something on the cool breeze, something that seems to tease the green leaves and flowers, taunting them, letting them know that the heat is escaping, running to the other half of the planet for another season, and soon the living plants will have to sleep for the winter. So, I will simply pull out one of my fleece vests and wait for summer to return.

The changing of the season also cements my transition back to a student. Law School has begun and we are all hustling from class to class, we spend our time in the library or huddled around cups of coffee talking about cases we've read, it's an exciting time for sure. In a couple of weeks the undergrads come back to school, I'm eager to see how their presence will change the atmosphere here, if at all.

Deep in my belly is a lingering desire to be in Moscow. I most closely associate the fall to Idaho, more than any other season. When the greenery starts to fall off the trees, the scent of the cold air mingled with the odor of decaying leaves brings me back to memories of walking around the Moscow campus, having a beer in the fraternity house watching the people go up and down the street outside, and going to football games. I wonder if I will even begin to associate fall with this new school, with it's smells and events, or if part of my heart will always be staked out by Idaho.

But what of the last four year and all the season inbetween. In truth, I barely remember the last four or five year of work. It is sad, I know, which is what prompted me to go back to school, I didn't want to wake up in 30 years and wonder where my life had gone to.

Anyway, I'll try to post again soon, perhaps give some commentary on current events (when was the last time I read the paper, a week ago?) and some updates on the house. For anyone reading, thanks for stopping by.

Grit, Grime and Plaster

I've been very busy lately working on our house remodel. So much so, that I've completely lost touch with most things including: blogging, reading the paper, talking to people, bathing... To tell the truth, lately I've been getting all my current events from the Today Show, egads!!! Hopefully things will settle into more of a pattern soon, it's back to law school next week where I can talk to people other than my dog and my drill. It should offset the loneliness on the home front, the wife left for a couple of weeks in Europe with her mother and sister and left me here to study and finish the bathroom. Hope she sends a post card or two...

Anyway, here a few shots of what I've been up to.

Where it started, note the tile work and green tub.

Here it is after the plaster, lath, and about a half day of my life has been removed. Note the green tub is still biding it's time.

In this shot I'm introducing the iron green monster to my friend, the hammer, say hi hammer.

This what was left after leaving hammer, his bigger brother sledge, the green iron tub monster, and my latent aggression alone for half an hour.

Into the green iron tub's old slot, a nice new jetted tub.

Whew...

Glad that's over, my first law school exam is under my belt and I'm on my way. I so glad the SU allows 1Ls to take one class early and get at least one class of experience with briefs, studying law, and taking an exam before having to dive in full time. For those that didn't take the opportunity, you have my sympathy, it would be tough diving into a full class load in addition to learning how to brief and have to take all your tests with out any expectations. At least those who took the summer class had an ability to figure out what worked and what didn't in studying the law, an thus far I've found that what you did as an undergrad isn't probably not going to work anymore.

A couple of updates..I feel ancient. Sure, there are people who are older than my, in fact the average age at the law school is suppose to be just a year younger than my own age. BUT, a lot of people are on the traditional track (four year undergrad and then straight to law school) which mean they were born in 1984, '84! In addition to that, they have facebook. What is facebook, for those of you who went to school circa '00, it's an online directory of people in your schools network that give you picture of people, there dislikes, likes, their freaky peccadilloes, and various what not you weren't suppose to know about people until you were married. When I was going to school you had to actually talk to people to find out what they liked, know you just have to narrow your search criteria to someone who matches you and sent out an email. Time changes, I'm still trying to determine if this is for the better or worse?

In other news, I'm spending the next few days between the start of fall term to work on our remodel. Here's a few pic for those of you who peruse the new looking to titillating pictures of plaster, paint, and powertools (yes, the dirty 3 p's of home improvement...Here you go you dirty contractors, you.)

(SORRY...HAVING PROBLEMS POSTING PHOTOS...YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT)

Almost There....

By this time tomorrow night I will have my first law school exam under my belt. I think I'm ready, although there are some lingering doubts. I'll spend tomorrow in the library brushing up, practicing an essay or two, making sure I have my cases ready to cite...etc. If you are reading this, please send me a good thought or two, it might help.

In other news, my parents packed-up and drove to Pocatello yesterday. It was sad talking to my mom, she sounded depressed. It was her choice to move though, I'm sure she'll get better once they are settled.

The dog has developed a slobber problem, this morning we woke up and the bed was just soaked where she had been sleeping. She has a vet appointment tomorrow morning just to make sure she hasn't ingested some sort of poison or something. Other than the drool, she is okay, still is hyper and has an appetite.

Well, I should go over a few more subjects before going home (I'm at the library).

Too Much for a Sunday Morning

I am a Mel Gibson fan, from the cheeky Mad Max films to his directing debut in Man Without a Face, etc...but apparently he's a nut. I have yet to see the Passion, namely because I'm afraid it would be like watching a train wreck, gruesome but you can't look away. All I know is that he is a good movie maker, he's an evangelical, and he's a nut.

I think this is why many of us are a bit weary of evangelical. I have a suspicion if you poured a little vodka in the punch bowl at the next campaign for Christ seminar, that a good number of them would start spouting the same garbage the Mel did, staggering around blaming the Jews and other heathen for ruining what could be paradise on earth. Do they hate the Jews, do they hate Muslims, do they secretly just opine for Christ to comeback and throw down with all these heathens that they have to live with? I know a lot of them support Israel, but I have a suspicion that they only support the state because they view it as a key linchpin in there doomsday wetdream.

I might be a little sore regarding this issue given the recent event where some man (Muslim I believe) walked into the Jewish league here in Seattle and just started firing, blaming the Jews for the wars in the Middle East and all other ills. This bloodshed and hate only serves to drive me, and I assume people like me, away from organized religion. If these religious fanatics, be it Muslims, Christian, or Jews, really thought about the teaching of their prophets, do truly believe that they would want to drive away people from religion because the followers are violent nuts?

Of course, perhaps religion is the answer? If we all embraced the same god would all killing and hate stop? Sure, if we all succumb to the same mindset what would there to be to fight over? But who wants that? Just every dominate religion out there, I suppose. Conform or die seems to be the new message, the radical Muslims believe they'll kill us now if we don't conform, the radical Christians believe you'll burn forever later if you don't conform, it's all very violent and punitive system.

This is it!

Today is the last day of my HR career. It's been interesting, but not very fulfilling. I am planning to write a longer post, perhaps an article, about why I'm leaving? I was telling a consultant acquaintance, who currently has a cover article in current issue of the Harvard Business Review, the story of why I was leaving HR and he suggested I turn it into an article and try to get it published. Sounds kind of far fetched, but the idea is intriguing.

Anyway, I am disappointed by the profession. As a young b-school undergrad I had high hopes, I has assumed the employee were important and those position tasked with getting the most out of employees would be a value add to their organization. They aren't, not usually at least. I think the profession bears a lot of blame for it's ineffectiveness, but so does management. Regardless, I'm out.

I need to pack up my cubicle and delete the personal stuff off my laptop and get a few more things out the door before heading off to this new challenge. It's a little intimidating for sure. I've got a good thing here. My wife keeps reminding that I make a lot of money for what is apparently very little effort and that I won't find that in law (I might make a lot of money but it will only be with a lot of effort). But, I'm bored and I don't like being able to excel without trying, this is not making me happy and I doubt it ever will. People have low expectation of HR, it's easier to astound when the bar is so low, some may want that environment but I do not. She says I'm nuts and that most people would love to me in my shoes, but she supports me anyway and will let me do what I want in order to be happy (besides, she concedes, that she finds it easier to picture me as a lawyer than an HR guy anyway).

It is tough leaving my coworkers. Management has been great to me and I feel a little sheepish leaving them (I gave them three months notice but they have yet to find anyone qualified) short. I’ll miss several people that I really like, we spend a lot of time together, and it'll be tough leaving them behind. I've left other jobs with the intention to stay in touch, but it's never quite the same when I contact old coworkers, everyone moves on.

Well, I suppose I should get back to work. I am wasting my employer's money, they don't pay me to blog, and I really should get back to my job (for the last few hours of it, at least).

This Just In...

The State Supreme court ruled on our DOMA law and found that it didn't violate our state constitution. Before starting law school I would have been pissed off right now. I was one who was certain that our constitution had to allow for the protection of the rights of homosexuals to engage in the same legal arrangements that are legal for the majority, how could it stand for this blatant discrimination? Having friends who are homosexual and knowing them as I do, I can say that I find it repugnant that the state can deny them a legal relationship that has been essential to the happiness I share with my wife.

However, after a short time in school, I have already changed my mind on this issue. I agree with the ruling! I still think it's morally repugnant to deny homosexuals the right to marry with all the duties and benefits provided, but I don't think it's illegal anymore. States have the right to establish due process and via laws deny certain activities if the people (voters) so choose and if they are justified in some fashion. Sometimes, the people (voters) make mistakes (ala our President), but in a democracy they have the legal right to collectively make them. Although specifically dealing with homosexual sodomy, there are two national cases:Bowers, which was later overturned by Lawrence, that help might you understand the current trend in the courts. While the SCOTUS overturned Bowers with Lawrence, I think the legal argument presented by the majority was rather weak in term of law but great on the aspirational side, especially when compared to Scalia's dissent (I just shivered in acknowledging my agreement with Scalia). States do have this right, they have the right to create laws that they believe are to the benefit of their society. That said, it should become a legislative debate to determine what is in the best interest of society, it is not that realm of the courts.

I think this is homophobias last gasp though. In the end, I believe the society will determine that is better to demonstrate respect, love, and equality and embrace non traditional families than to fear imagined culturalbogeymenn. I think that progressive states like NYC, WA, and CA; upon realizing that the laws do not automatically afford marriage to gays, will have to become proactive. Just as there is nothing preventing States form banning gay marriage, there is nothing preventing them from making it legal. This is something to be solved in legislature, no matter how slow the process.

However, on the national front, I think thatO'ConnorrÂ’s concurrence, but with dissent as to the analysis in Lawrence, does point out a key flaw that homophobes have in regards to the US Constitution and why they desperately want a banning amendment passed. The US Cont's equal protection clause is difficult to get around for them, I think if there are more cases brought in front of SCOTUS on these grounds they'll eventually have to rule gay marriage bans contrary to the US Constitution. In other words, drop the due process attack because you'll loose, the key is go after equal protection.

Hanging In There...

Just an update, I am still among the living...

I've been pretty busy as I am both prepping for my Crim Law final and, since this is my last week of work, trying to wrap things up on the professional front. Normally, I would be staying late trying to get some projects out the door so my manager isn't screwed (I really do like the guy, he's been very good to me), but with this test to prep for I can't stay late or work through lunch (these time are devoted to study). Thus, I think I'll leave a lot unresolved which is unlike me, grrr..(the grrr is my online expression of frustation). Things should open up next week after the test, though.

I have two weeks before the start of the fall quarter and I'm hoping to get some work done on our home projects, we have the plumber and the electrician coming soon so I need to work tearing down the lath & plaster and taking out the fixtures in the bathroom to expose the pipes. I'll try to post some pics of the progress (and the mess) given that the internet is a visual medium and so many of the kids today don't want to read...just show us some pics already!

In other news, there is another life changing event happening this week in addition to leaving my career. My parents move this weekend. I feel a little like a bastard child given that I'm the only one not coming over to help them move. My brother and sister are coming up from Pocatello and my other brother is driving down from Sandpoint to help them pack-up into the moving vans. My parents understand my absence, of course, they know that I have to stay and study for the exam, but still...it's tough when you can't be there to help and say goodbye. Despite my guilt I'm sure my oldest brother will somehow try to make me feel bad for not being a better son and being there to help, every Christmas from now on he'll bring it up. Despite that fact that I'm nearing 30 and he's pushing 40 he still talks to me like I am an 8 year old (wonder if that will ever end).

Well, I'm just rambling and I have a lot of work to do, so bye for now. Thanks for reading.

Hey, Am I alone in here...

It's a nice day in Seattle, climbing toward 90 and sunny. When the weather is like this on a Friday, my place of employement emptys likes an ice cold bottle of beer into my tummy. At lunch, the cafeteria was nearly empty save for the food staff. I should have been tipped off by the fact that someone brought his boat and had it taking up two spaces in the lot this morning when I arrived, wonder what time that employee took off?

Anyway, this four building campus feels strange when it’s this empty in the middle of a workday. I listen hard but can't hear anyone else typing, the phones are silent, and a single person hasn’t walked past my cube in hours. I'm alone with the air conditioning vibrating in the building's HVAC system and the electricity coursing through my computer monitor and the banks of fluorescent lights overhead. Outside my window, the sky is blue and the leaves of the trees are shiny like little pieces of green glass reflecting back the sun. I think I'll finish up now, I hear my backyard calling...

I might not be posting much this upcoming week (as if I was ever that prolific in the first place) due to the fact that I'm preparing for my first law exam ever!

Happy Birthday (if somewhat belated)

Our baby turned a year old on July 12!! And yes, we are those type of people who have no children and therefore treat our pets like they were kids, and what of it...



This pic was out on my parent's boat over the Fourth of July weekend. She's a Boston Terrier, for those of you not up on your AKC breeds. Here's a little trivia for ya, the Boston Terrier was the first breed to orginiate in the USA. It was also the number one breed in the 20-30's, sort of the labrador of the depression era. Thus, our dog is very popular amongst the older crowd. Every time we are out with her, we usually encounter a senior citizen who had a Boston as a child, or their parents had one, etc...

Most of the dog I had growing up were larger breed with the exception of a Daschund. Currently, my sister has two black labs, my mom has giant boxer, and my brother in law has a yellow lab, so I am a little partial to bigger breeds, however, I am going to admit that I think the Boston should make a comeback as America's number 1 breed, they are smart, cute (just look at the pics) and just great little dogs.

Here's few more shots.

On Christ, Buddha, Law School and my own feeling inadequacy.

Recently, on HBO, there was a discussion about feeling comfortable in your own skin, and that this was a benefit of growing older. I must still be young because I admit to not quite feeling comfortable in my own skin yet, namely this caused by a nagging suspicion that things could always be better. I'm jealous of those who are content with what they have and what they are. There is something deeply spiritual about being content, whether it is the Buddhist who has succeeded in purging themselves of desire, or the Christian who has given themselves up to the satisfaction the comes from knowing that what they have is what god desires them to have; both outlooks lead to the same calm contentment that I can only dream of. The irony in this statement, of course, is that I desire something that possession of would negate my desire of it!

What prompted this recent plunge into synaptic circles of jealousy and desire? A brief jog that I took through the U of Washington campus, that's what.

To start out with, for those of you who have never been to the UW before, the main campus is situated on a hillside in Seattle; the campus extends from the top of a fairly decent sized hill all the way down to the shores of Lake Washington. It is comprised of acres upon acres of green grass, tall pine trees, and esoteric looking brick buildings in which students design computer programs, learn medicine, and write English papers. The campus was designed, coincidentally, by the same team who designed the U of Idaho's campus (my alma mater) a hundred (give or take) years ago, and it always remind me of my home turf except for fact that it is bigger and grander (of course, when the UW student body is 50,000 vs. Idaho's 12,000 - it has too be). Idaho has a great campus. I was told once, by one of my Fraternity’s traveling consultants, that Idaho was one of the prettiest campuses he had been to in his travels across the country. It is better, by far, than her rivals of WSU or BSU, but to be truthful I know that Idaho's campus is only a slight version of the grander UW campus that is essentially a giant park by the lake.


On a north-west edge of campus is the Gates Law building, a recently constructed building built by a donation by Bill Gate’s father, a graduate of UW law and a founding partner in the mega NW firm of Preston, Gates and Ellis. The structure is home the UW law school (for those of you blind to the obvious) and is a testimony to the might of the law school (if not a tad bit extravagant, dare I say audacious). It was this massive edifice that stirred up my feelings (is it plural?) of jealousy.

I had applied to UW law but was denied, I wanted to be in that damn big edifice but they wouldn't let me in. I shouldn't feel ashamed, according to the schools statistics the admitted rate was only 20% (2 out of 10). I was admitted to a fine law school in its own right, Seattle U. A feat in itself, I suppose, as SU admitted rate is only 23-25%, which is still pretty low when compared to other schools such as Gonzaga and Idaho who have admitted rates in the 30%s. On paper, there is no reason for me to feel that I am any less of a person now than if I had been admitted to UW. The Seattle U bar passage rate is nearly identical to UW (both are nearly 10% better than either of the other regional schools like Gonzaga or the U of Idaho), the employment of grads for SU is even better than that of UW, SU has the number 1 writing program in the nation, and finally, it was SU that took 2nd place in the moot court competition to Harvard last year, not UW, Yale, or Stanford, but SU!! But, still, deep down I know that UW is the more prestigious school and because of that I have a little burning ball of desire in my belly that I have yet to quash.

So what is it that causes desire? I went on a walk around the SU campus the other day to ponder that question. In it's own way, the campus is extremely beautiful. It sits on Capitol Hill not far from downtown. The city bustles beyond it’s perimeter and the campus is truly an oasis in the hustle of the city, beautiful but humble in the Jesuit tradition. It is nice, truly nice, so why do I feel as though it is inadequate when compared to the UW. Is it just from an objective sense that the market value of the land and the buildings of SU must be less the UW, that the history and tradition is minor is comparison to UW as well? Does any of this really matter; is true value of the Seattle University less because of smaller campus market value? Both studies of Christ and the Buddha would say no, it just makes it different.


I can’t help to think that one of the wisdoms of age is learning to appreciate things in the abstract. To learn that a whole pie isn’t necessarily better than one piece of pie if you truly stop to appreciate the slice you are given, so to speak.

I don't really have a conclusion to this post. If I had, than I would be a much better man than I am. If only I could figure out what causes desire and quash it with a simple trip to blogger.com. Therefore, I will leave this open ended as it’s certain to be a question I’ll come back to.

Hey, My Pepsi tastes like Coke!!

The above story about a conspiracy to sell Coke's trade secrets is pretty interesting and opens up several topics for discussion: 1) The decency of Pepsi to protect the notion of fair trade and alert Coke to the plot and 2) Why you should never trust executive admins.

The Last 4th of July

Picture from a great collection on flickr, please click link to view other fantastic shots of Cd'A

My parents have decided to move away from my hometown to be closer to my brother and sister. They've sold the house and are packing things up. This weekend, we're going home one last time to make sure that I haven’t forgotten some trinket of my youth that I might still want before they pack up and dispose of the contents of my childhood bedroom..

It's going to be a strange, melancholy 4th of July. I imagine there will be lots of long pauses in the random rooms as I try to simultaneously remember events that occurred there and freeze the room in my mind's eye so I won't forget tomorrow what my home looked like.

Beyond this, I wonder if I'll ever really make it back to Coeur d'Alene after this weekend in any meaningful way. Sure, I have in-laws in Spokane and a brother in Sandpoint that will bring me near to Coeur d'Alene, but will Coeur d'Alene merely become another town I pass thru on my way to Sandpoint, a place for a hamburger at Huddies or a coffee at Java before moving on? Will I merely look out the window at the lake and shrug and think, I used to live here; didn't I? Will my relationship to the town become be diluted to an occasional round of golf? When will I stop thinking that Coeur d'Alene is my home?

Already, I suppose. I’m fully integrated into Seattle now. I am accustomed to the traffic and the rain, whenever I leave Seattle and head back to Idaho I am cognizant of how dry and empty the state seems. Yet, there is still something about Idaho that still calls to me. Is it the geography, the people, or something else; a feeling of familiarity, perhaps? I suppose when this familiarity fades over time spent away from Cd'A, then will it become just another pretty town with a nice lake and gorgeous forests, a place that I once knew, I place that called home.

A Great Effort by the U of I:

This came in the Friday letter from the U of Idaho, this is a great idea.

A Name Change?

I'm thinking about changing the title of the blog, seems that WordForge, is pretty common and used by some established sites already. If I do set up a new blog under a different name I'll establish a link to it here so if you keep coming here you can still track me down.

Ideal Parenting?

We took a trip to Boise over the weekend for a wedding and to see some college friends. The question invariably comes up each time we are there, could we actually move here someday? We love the summer heat and sun in Boise, but are a bit shy about the winter wind and snow. Yet, we have so many friends there it is still creates a temptation to move. After all, couldn't the warmth of friendship keep us warm?

Wow, wasn't that a load of cheezy/hallmarkesque/crap? I'm sure if we moved we would end up the couch every Friday and Saturday night, just like we do now, so I'm not about to trade the beautiful Emerald city for Boise. Come on, we've got lakes, trees, ocean's, mountains, forest, orcas, dolphins, octopuses, shopping, great bars (okay, Boise has a few good bars too), better looking co-eds, professional sports team, opera/symphony/theater, traffic, and democrats. Frasier, Gray Anatomy – all hit shows were based in Seattle and not Boise, wonder why? Because nobody would watch a show about Boise!

Regardless, and back to the point of this post, down there I was able to observe the parenting skills of a friend of mine. I must confess that I have sort of a man jealousy thing with this guy. He kind-of looks like me, only more handsome, he's an engineer, has a beautiful-sweet wife, a great home, he’s eloquent, and has a beautiful daughter (approx 2-3 yrs old, I can’t remember). The two of them have they type of parenting skills that I hope to emulate someday (here is where I'm tying back to the title of the post, if you have gotten this far and been thinking, great insight about Boise but W.T.F. does this have to do with parenting, here you go…). I have witnessed a lot of parenting styles, some of which are: Type A: adore your children to no end and give them anything they ask for., Type B: Overreact to everything your child does as if every mistake they make is ruining themselves and/or the world, Type C: Ignore your children because your attention is focused on booze, pot, sex, shopping, soccer, or anything other thing besides your children, and so forth. I'm even seen parents who are mixed, for example, I have a friend whose best friend is a type A: ie adores his children without end and is at their beck and call. They demand he fetches. His wife is a type B who overreacts to everything. They spill milk she starts praying to Jesus while berating their cup holding skills. The trouble is, these kids don't know which way is up. Mom yells, dad cajoles, and the results are meretricious kids who I can't stand to be around (whiner who start to cry if you look at them and make direct eye contact, see unconfident losers in the future anyone?).

Anyway, back to my friend’s approach. It's called balance. He and his wife have made a conscious effort to maintain their personal identify and people, a couple, and then as parents; as they say, "We are more than our children". Too often I think people with kids loose their identity and can only think of themselves as parents. Everything become invested in how the children turn out, they never achieved anything significant so they put all their hopes/dream into their children. They give up friends, vacations, anything as an excuse to be with their children. My friends are more than happy to drop the kid off with its grandparent and take of for the weekend or get a babysitter for a night at the bar. Second, they do love their child and show affection, but they also make a concentrated effort to not try to make her happy all the time. They have a, god forbid, a parent-child relationship rather than a servant-master relationship that I often see (often evidenced by these parental questions to children: “Is there anything I can get you baby?”, “Can I get you that?”, “How much blood does mommy have to bleed before you stop crying?” Etc...)

In summary: love your children, tell them you love them, show them you love them, but don't: coddle, placate, berate

something to tide you over

Sorry for not posting for so long, I've been tied up with life. Although, I'm not sure who I'm apologizing to, I don't think anyone reads this thing except for me.

Anywho, I've been planning a longer post about my perceptions on the HR profession. I've had a lot of people ask me, now that I've told my employer I'm leaving for law school, why I am giving up my current career. I have some thoughts on the subject and should put them down somewhere before I forget them.

Until then, I saw this article in the times today. Seems that the S. Baptists might pull out of public school. Thank God, is all I have to say. I'm glad to see this bunch go, this group seems more of a distraction than anything else. The drawback I see is that there will be group of people only educated with what they beleive...won't they be fun to work with when they enter the laborforce.

One year older...

Today is my birthday so I thought I would recap the year's highlights..

1) Went to Australia
2) Sold my first house, bought a second.
3) Decided to go to law school, applied, and now admitted
4) My dad has a heartattack.
5) Started training for a marathon.

Doesn't look like much, but the decision to go to law school is about to completely change my life. On deck for this year.

1) Complete my first year of law school
2) Work on the remodel, fix the foundation, redo the bathroom/kitchen in our grand new home.
3) Quit my HR career

Again, doesn't seem like much, no big trips or super huge goals aside from chipping away at our remodel. I'm sure that school will consume most of my time.

The Danger of ambivalence

In a recent column in the SeattleTime's, Danny Westneat describes the homecoming for a soldier returning from Iraq. In short, there was none. He arrived without fanfare, without protest, to nothing.

The war, which now has lasted longer than the Korean conflict and soon (this fall) will have a duration longer than our military involvement in WWII, has drifted to the status of: "out of sight, out of mind." We've put ourselves into this mindset because we don’t have another choice. Most Americans believe the war is a mistake, so they can't bring themselves to celebrate everything military. But at the same time, they understand that we can't leave without sacrificing hundreds of innocent Iraqis and allowing terrorists to grow more powerful, so they aren't going to protest either.

While I don't fault the general populous for turning away from the war and the giant problem it presents, I do fault the President and the Congress for failing to debate or come up with a plan. This "stay the course until something better happens" doesn't even fit the definition of a plan.

Perhaps, however, I'm too critical. There have been some positive devlopments and it appears that the new gov't of Iraq is at least attempting to take some control. However, as someone who remembers what it was like to have his brother serve overseas in the first gulf war and see his mother pine for his return (and why do we say the first gulf war, are we expecting there to be several more?), to tell our troops that in 18 months Iraq might be capable of supporting itself and we'll just have to wait and see, doesn't seem like a very good answer to our troops.

This is Totally Cool

Ahh...it's always nice to see two worlds I love come together. Techno gadgets and running. The article says that it will compatible for the Nano but I'm hoping it will work on the video as well.

Apathy + Lack of Discipline = Wasting My Time

I have always prided myself as being disciplined. I'm not talking about the kind of discipline that allows you to forgo eating for thirty days and then light yourself on fire, but the "better than average" discipline that allows you to force yourself to exercise, work late, and still be happy. Whatever success I have achieved, be it in school or my professional life, has not been due to any intelligence advantage but instead to my ability to determine what I want, what needs to be done to achieve it, and stay focused until I get it.

That said, lately I have been a pile of unproductive mush. I guess it is related to the fact that I'm going to law school and have thus written off my career. I no longer have any desire to please my managers or show off how nifty my work or mind is. Normally, I could compensate for my lack on interest in my job by just staying disciplined and on-task and still turn out an great work product. But I'm not even doing that now, I generally turn out one or two things per week and what I do produce is getting pretty sloppy both intellectually and in content.

No one seem to notice though, my manager still praises me and I'm being recruited by other departments, and this is making my guilt slacker status grow.

Not sure what the point of this post was, other than to vent. Thanks for reading.

Under Contruction

Hi, I'm playing with some formatting stuff...please forgive the dust.

Odd

Does anyone else find it odd that the spellcheck on blogger does not recognize the words "blog", "blogging", or "blogger" as actual words and always give you other suggestions?

Why is it difficult for me to find the time, but time never has a problem finding me?

I've been busy lately with work and preparing for school...At least that's my excuses for not posting. I have lots of idea for posts while I'm at work, the gym, or sitting in my car but I never have the energy to sit down and regurgitate out the text for the blog. Often, I forget what my idea were so when I do get a chance to sit down and blog I spent most of the available time trying to force myself to remember what I had thought was so clever days before.

These were a few of the things I was planning on blogging about but, alas, the moment has passed.
1) Last week attendance of the Seattle U Graduation and the FP speech about reflection and quiet time, it resonated with me and I should try to write down my thought.
2) The spring visit day and my trepidation with law school.
3) I finally saw the Stephen Colbert piece and laughed my ass off.

We are at War People!

We shouldn't be surprised by this action, putting a current Military officer in charge of our intelligence community is in line with his previous actions of urspuring war powers that have never been used in the modern age and generally treating the press and congress like a kitty box. Clearly, this administration believes that the United States is in the war of it's life and needs to take drastic (albeit Draconian) measures that are seemingly in contradiction to the democratic core of our nation.

But why hasn't this urgency, this knowelege of how dire the war issues is, translated to the American people to justify his actions (Bush has tried scaring us enough, why hasn't it stuck). We continue to live our lives much the same, we continue to consume crap from Walmart, the economy continues to burn hot on expensive fuel, and we sleep peacefully in our beds hopped up on Ambien and Percoset. This war is not costing Middle America anything. It is consuming our military son and daughters, but that toll is carried mostly by the poor, not the middle classes. The pain of the military and the poor has yet to pierces the heart of Middle America.

Then again, althought the President says we are at war, and we see the images of the battles and our casualties strewn about on the sandy soil of Iraq, the war is still difficult to comprehend. Yes, we were attacked by a terroist group. But for a nation that understands that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line this war seems difficult to fathom. Instead of going from point A (a safe America) to point B (a safe America w/ defeated terroism), Bush has taken us to point J and promises that it will work in getting us to point B, albeit through Iraq and stirring up the whole mideast in the process.

I don't see his vision, I don't agree with these war powers, the degredation of the consitution's power of the executive branch, or the burden that poor have been asked to give with the blood of their youth, but I do hope he can and that it truly the best course for us all.

Pseudo Celeb

While picking up my manager from Boston's Logan International airport I had a minor celeb sighting. I was waiting in one of those generic airport chairs by the baggage claim watching videos on my IPOD when down the escalator came, Ann Coulter



She was in a long white coat and jeans, behind her was a man who was a few inches shorter than she and wearing a beard. I assume he was her handler or something like a mgr or assistant, not sure what type of job he had. I didn't watch them much as I wasn't certain that it was her until she stopped a few feet in front of my before heading back up the escalator (which had stopped for some reason). Later, a throng of people from a flight from DC came down to baggage claim, so I assuem she had been on the flight from DC and had been let off early.

That's pretty much it. Not very exciting...not like I saw the president or something, but still, it beats a blog entry about my cubicle! (Disclaimer: I may be way off base here, perhaps it was just some blonde in the airport. It's not like she was ranting about democrats or something!)

Boston

I had to go to Andover, MA for a work meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. Given that I had never been to Boston before, I decided to leave a day early and spend Monday looking around one of our nation's oldest cities.

It was a pretty good day for sightseeing. The sky was clear and the sun was out. A strong breeze was blowing off the ocean, which made for cooler day. I woke up early, around six or so, and drove the rental car from Andover to Boston. I found a parking lot in the theater district a block from Boston Commons and started my tour from there.

I made my way to a Starbucks on campus of Emerson College (where Jay Leno went) for breakfast (as long as Starbucks in around I'm never far from home) and then onto the Boston Common, a city park that was orginally set aside for cattle grazing in the 1600's (it used to be part of the shoreline!). It was here where the British troops camped the night of April 18, in the morning they set sail across the river and onto Lexington where the shot that was heard around the world occurred.




After looking through the commons and the public garden I started out on the freedom trail, a red line of paint and sometimes bricks, that moves through downtown to key locations in our nation's history. The most profound stops on the tour are the cemeteries where many of the men and women that were instrumental in our nation's foundation are buried. It was a powerful feeling to be standing over the graves of men of honor and valor, who risked their lives to establish our government and ensure our say in how our lives would be governed...It made me feel sad for our current leadership and the caliber of men who lead us now.



I left the freedom trail and went back toward the commons and the area around the Prudential tower and into the BackBay neighborhood (formerly a marsh/bay but filled in with tons and tons of gravel to make most of the city (the first and largest public works project in the United states whose tradition continues in the big dig).

I made my way to Massachusetts Ave and crossed over the Harvard bridge counting the smoots along the way towards the campus of MIT. I was surprised by MIT, I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't what I found. All the kids looked smart, I could not imagine their SAT scores, but the campus was only on par with our local Jr Colleges (albeit a super nice jr college with kids that are way smarter than yours...)




After MIT, I made my way up the Charles river to the Harvard Campus. Although I am somewhat successful, I have been a decent corporate drone who has managed to come up through the pay ranks and will soon be a lawyer, but within the hallowed walls of our nations oldest and most prestigious school I felt unworthy. Yet, the kids looked just as I had looked, fairly normal I suppose. What took my breath away was that there were so many kids who actually had thought they could go to Harvard, had applied, and were now studying there. I'm not faulting my parents, but they were not college educated and did little to promote higher education or encourage us to stretch ourselves beyond what the teachers asked for, therefore I had not inkling that I could have ever gone to place such as this. I guess there's always enough time to pressure my kids and live vicariously through them, sure they'll live in their own personal hell but one day they'll thank me!!!

On Hiatus

Whew-haven't posted for a long time due to a cold that still is lingering and a recent trip to Boston. I'm working on a post re: Boston that will involve pictures and recent updates on the house....