God.
Country.
Notre Dame.
And don't you forget it.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
9/12/08
Lesson of the day - Relying on unreliable people tends to lead to disappointment. When people at the last minute start hemming and hawing around, yeah. So I didn't go to Chicago today.
My brother and I are going to head for Indiana here in a few minutes, but we basically blew off everyone else potentially involved with the trip.
Tailgaiting in the rain --> Here I come!
My brother and I are going to head for Indiana here in a few minutes, but we basically blew off everyone else potentially involved with the trip.
Tailgaiting in the rain --> Here I come!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
9/11/08
Ahh yes, bumpy roads and rattling teeth. I must be home. The leftover hours from my 11 got me past Indianapolis this morning, then I slept like a baby for my two hours to complete the split. The trip across the two lane US-24 to Toledo went unusually quickly and here we are.
So, seven years eh? I don't have anything clever to add to what you'll already hear on every TV show and radio show today. I know that my sense of anger toward those animals hasn't waned over the past seven years though. In a sense, I guess that makes me an intolerant moron full of phony patriotism, at least according to what the people on TV tell me. I don't need to understand the savages. I don't need to appreciate their views. There are 30,000 Muslims in the town right next to me and they seem to be getting along just fine with America. The ones who would kill innocent people deserve whatever hell we can unleash upon them.
So as we look at the path that we as individuals in this country have followed, I suppose that there's no reason to be surprised. First we were all shocked and "together." Then we were "resolved." Then some years went by and we faded back into our usual way of life and did away with the pretense that more than half of us can ever agree on much of anything. I guess this part, twisted as it may sound, is the most impressive to me. It's not impressive that we still tend to think less of each other when we disagree. I would prefer that this was not the case. What impresses me is that thousands of people, day after day and without recognition for 364 days a year, have allowed us to be this way. I never go into a day wondering if this is the next 9/11. There's something to be said for that, and I don't suppose I'm quite able to find the words.
When I look at the world in which we live, it should be alarming that the NYPD does more to combat terrorism than most national governments do. Think about that one for a minute. In reality though, it's not surprising at all. When I read a recent poll that shows a minority of people outside our country believing that we were attacked by Al Qaeda seven years ago, I know all that I need to know. Against this background, you'll have to excuse me if I can't manage to give a rat's ass what the rest of the world thinks of our politics and our policies. On our worst day, we are immeasurably more blessed than anyone who has not been fortunate enough to live in the United States. A sincere thanks to all of you who have made this possible.
So, seven years eh? I don't have anything clever to add to what you'll already hear on every TV show and radio show today. I know that my sense of anger toward those animals hasn't waned over the past seven years though. In a sense, I guess that makes me an intolerant moron full of phony patriotism, at least according to what the people on TV tell me. I don't need to understand the savages. I don't need to appreciate their views. There are 30,000 Muslims in the town right next to me and they seem to be getting along just fine with America. The ones who would kill innocent people deserve whatever hell we can unleash upon them.
So as we look at the path that we as individuals in this country have followed, I suppose that there's no reason to be surprised. First we were all shocked and "together." Then we were "resolved." Then some years went by and we faded back into our usual way of life and did away with the pretense that more than half of us can ever agree on much of anything. I guess this part, twisted as it may sound, is the most impressive to me. It's not impressive that we still tend to think less of each other when we disagree. I would prefer that this was not the case. What impresses me is that thousands of people, day after day and without recognition for 364 days a year, have allowed us to be this way. I never go into a day wondering if this is the next 9/11. There's something to be said for that, and I don't suppose I'm quite able to find the words.
When I look at the world in which we live, it should be alarming that the NYPD does more to combat terrorism than most national governments do. Think about that one for a minute. In reality though, it's not surprising at all. When I read a recent poll that shows a minority of people outside our country believing that we were attacked by Al Qaeda seven years ago, I know all that I need to know. Against this background, you'll have to excuse me if I can't manage to give a rat's ass what the rest of the world thinks of our politics and our policies. On our worst day, we are immeasurably more blessed than anyone who has not been fortunate enough to live in the United States. A sincere thanks to all of you who have made this possible.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
9/10/08
Yeah, one of those days where you get a bunch of calls from people who really don't have much to say, but you are supposed to pretend to have a conversation for at least a few minutes. I don't know. It's nice I guess.
Most of today's drive was through rural terrain so the traffic was light. There was some kind of issue in Missouri that forced us off the highway for a few miles. Then the Illinois scales... I don't even know what was going on at the Illinois scales. By the time all was said and done, that was fifteen minutes that I'll never get back. When I got to Brazil, I heard SubWay calling my name. By the time I ate my sandwich and sat for a while, driving further tonight didn't sound so appealing.
I'll take my eight hours here and then clear Indy before the morning rush. Then another two hour break will get me plenty of hours to reach home base and that will be that.
In honor of that great moment in time at 10:10am on this date during our country's glorious bicentennial, I will quote two great philosophers - Mr. Preston and Mr. Logan. "Be excellent to each other, and party on dudes."
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