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Chancellor Palpatine: “Must I remind the Senator from Malastare that negotiations are continuing with the separatists. Peace is our objective here… not war.” Dad Windu and I just spent a long weekend in our old hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, celebrating his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary with his brother and sisters and all their families. Despite all our differences religiously and politically (many of them are conservative in every way while we are right by leaning strongly left They rented out hotel rooms for us all in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, right in the middle of it all the ArtPrize festivities. We drove/flew in from all over – Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, and Vienna, Austria – and like a great amoeba we rolled together and apart and together and apart during the days, but we spent the evenings together (see the above paragraph). Our packages included massages, free drinks, sumptuous meals, valet parking, private dining areas, etc. And it was good. Very good. Too good. I love living in Des Moines, but there is something about a West Michigan autumn. The days are cool but not cold, the nights encourage the use of comforters and quilts, the sky is cloudless and brilliant blue while the tree – oh, the trees! – are a ridiculously perfect blend of colors. If you haven’t ever been to Michigan in the fall, you simply must carve out a week in mid- to late-September. I will apologize in advance for the state if the roads, however. They are uniformly deplorable. Luke Skywalker (via hologram): “As a token of my goodwill, I present to you a gift: these two droids.” Star Wars VI: A New Hope Yesterday was a special day, a glorious day – a SPA day (ok, a spa afternoon but still!). Dad Windu and Padawan Learner took pity on me and presented me with a gift certificate for a shoulder massage and some foot reflexology for mother’s day. It was much needed, much appreciated, and I may have become hooked. I sounded like a piece of aluminum foil was being crinkled up for the first time when she began working on my back. I, perhaps, should have had this done a long time ago. All those hours of work at shoulder level appear to have caught up with me. Lesson learned. As for the foot reflexology, it was so relaxing that I almost fell asleep while she rubbed warm oil into my parched skin and worked hot stones across the soles of my feet. Ahhhhh. Just thinking about it again makes me relaxed. Thankfully, she was very careful around the broken pinkie toe that is still mending. For the record, a broken pinkie toe is the best reason – ever – for having to wear flip-flops to work for a couple weeks in a row. “No! Stop, Chewie, stop! Chewie! Chewie this won’t help me! Hey! Save your strength. There’ll be another time. The Princess. You have to take care of her. You hear me? Huh?” – Han Solo, Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back I would like to take this moment (as I sit ignoring and being ignored by Dad Windu as we play with our new iPhones at Mullets) to tell you all how much I am enjoying my 3 day weekend. Not being on my feet – glorious. I am completely looking forward to doing this again next weekend. Bib: “Die Wanna Wanga!” Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi I just read about the new book, The Cult of LEGO Opening title scroll A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away… Star Wars IV: A New Hope My ancestors, and many of yours, fought for the right of people residing in the former American Colonies to live freely. EVEN MORE of you enjoy this right despite the fact that NONE of your ancestors fought in the American Revolution. These brave men and women, girls and boys struggled, lived in deprivation, did without, and made do. It was the original American way. They were maimed, traumatized, or died – not merely for conservatives, moderates or liberals, not only for native-born residents or those who choose to become naturalized citizens, not only for people that followed the One True Faith (or any faith for that matter) – but for those who longed to find a better way. They did not push a political agenda so much as claimed, wrestled for, and then ensured our right to self-government. Remember this the next time you’re tempted to claim your own ideals and goals as that which The Founding Fathers wanted. Remember too, that they did these things in large part for white, business- and land-owning males. The brave and idealistic men who put ink to paper and magazine to musket were not perfect; they did not have all the answers. We must continue to write, fight, argue and wrestle. Happy 4th of July, everyone. And yes, I am proud and pleased to be an American. I give special heartfelt thanks every year to Nathaniel, Ruth & Parmenas Dodd, Gamaliel & Susanna Crane, John & Lois Collis, Robert Bailey, and all the nameless others whom history has failed to remember. Furthermore, if you don’t like the thoughts I’ve just expressed, the claims I’ve made or the words I’ve used, let me remind you that this is America where I have every right – some might say every responsibility – to suggest you bugger off and go fuck yourself. I’m done playing nice with prejudice. |
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), we had a wonderful time seeing everyone, visiting all the ArtPrize 2012 exhibits, drinking far too much, eating even more, and possibly partaking in other vices. 
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