Boots on the Ground, Hearts on Their Sleeves

If anybody is wondering: Where are the young idealists? Where are the people willing to devote themselves to causes larger than themselves? They are in uniform in Iraq, straddling the divide between insanity and order.

Read the rest in the NYTimes.


Another Christmas Carol for your collection of songs you know by heart.

Winter Wonderland

Sleigh bells ring
Are you listening
In the lane
Snow is glistening
A beautiful sight
We're happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland

Gone away is the bluebird
Here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song
As we go along
Walking in a winter wonderland

In the meadow
We can build a snowman
Then pretend
That he is Parson Brown
He'll say: Are you married?
We'll say: No man
But you can do the job
When you're in town

Later on
We'll conspire
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid
The plans that we've made
Walking in a winter wonderland

In the meadow
We can build a snowman
And pretend
That he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun
With mister snowman
Until the alligators knock him down

When it snows
Ain't it thrilling
Though your nose gets a chilling
We'll frolic and play
The Eskimo way
Walking in a winter wonderland

Walking in a winter wonderland
Walking in a winter wonderland

Dick Smith - Felix Bernard

Rain Rain

It's wet and cold and I would love to stay in bed, but off to work I go.

But not before teaching you a Christmas Carol. Stick with me and you'll know by heart 25 carols on Christmas. Learn all the verses and sing with gusto.

O Come, All Ye Faithful
[Tune: Adeste Fideles, English, 1751]

O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him,
Born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God
In the highest; Refrain

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing; Refrain

[Latin, 18th cent.]

Wisdom of the Blogosphere

There are such incredibly intelligent, creative, inspiring people you can run into on the net. It's really amazing. There are a whole lot of people I'd like to invite over for pasta, ice cream and wine, if they're ever in Sacramento.

The AlphaPatriot has some fab photos of the President's Thanksgiving in Iraq
Wizbang is going to have a contest
The Dynamist found out why Japanese women are not getting married
John Galt's SO tells about Thanksgiving in London
Sheila writes about Edna St. Vincent Millay, one of my favorite poets.

Afternoon on a hill

I will be the gladdest thing
Under the sun,
I will touch a hundred flowers
And not pick one.

I will look at cliffs and clouds
With quiet eyes,
Watch the wind bow down the grass,
And the grass rise.

And when lights begin to show
Up from the town,
I will mark which must be mine
And then start down.

Singles and the GOP

I'd like to help the George W. Bush campaign craft a message for adult singles. In California, which has an extremely high percentage of never married, no children voters, reaching this constituency could have an impact. And with Condoleeza Rice, President Bush employs the most prominent single woman ever in government.

This group is squeezed between the parties. They pay a higher share in taxes so are opposed to many spending initiatives. They are not motivated by pitches that focus on children or families.

For example, when someone in California complains that the bond proposal suggested by Governor Schwarzenegger to pay off the debt he's inherited from the spendthrift Dems will have to be paid off by "my children and my grandchildren" I say good - at least it's not going to be paid off by me!

I think the debate over "gay marriage" may further alienate straight singles. It certainly is not in my interest to increase the number of people who claim financial & status benefits from their companies and the government at my expense.

I believe that in our Bear Flag League there are some other singles. Do you think we can help organize something?

Bush has 10 times the number of internet supporters as Hopeless Dean.


So there!

Master and Commander

This is the ultimate chick movie. Sentimental, Romantic with a Hero who has a double dose of testoserone. If you see this movie with your man, you are going to want to have sex after. (perhaps pretending that he is Russell Crowe).

It starts out a little graphic, and you might want to cover your eyes. but as the movie progresses you're at sea with an honorable, brave, kind & courageous Captain, who loves God, Country & Crew. He's the hero movies use to always have, not the tortured, conflicted anti-heroes we get now.

I don't know any man who wouldn't love this film. And if there are some out there, I don't want to know them.

Go See it Now!

Holiday Home Tour

This is the very best Sacramento Christmas event. In the heart of the Fabulous Forties, where Governor Reagan once lived and where Governor Schwarzenegger may soon live, the Sacred Heart Catholic School hosts a tour of 6 homes decorated for Christmas. We've been featured on HGTV and in Sunset Magazine. Worth driving from the bay area or the valley. It takes place December 5,6 & 7. Tickets are $25 per person ($20 in advance)

Arnold makes Sacramento home

In just a few days, Arnold and his family have learned about Sacramento's good life and people. Miller's Time reports that Arnold went to a Kings game and received a standing O. The Bee says that Maria and their oldest daughter met with Sacramento's finest philanthopist, Father Dan Madigan. They're on the hunt for the best places to eat, like the Esquire Grill (Stacey and I highly recommend the crab cakes) and where to hang their hats.

I've been invited to a welcome luncheon for Maria next month, and instructed to bring a business card of a biz I'd recommend so that Maria can "fill her Sacramento rolodex". I'm thinking Corti Brothers, Tosh for Hair, Cafe Bernardo, the Ivy House, Le Jardin. Still contemplating -- anyone have suggestions?

We Will Prevail
"The regime of Saddam Hussein is gone forever."

BY GEORGE W. BUSH
Friday, November 28, 2003 12:01 a.m. EST


BAGHDAD, Iraq--Thank you. I was just looking for a warm meal somewhere. Thank you for inviting me to dinner. Gen. Sanchez, thank you, sir, for your kind invitation and your strong leadership. Ambassador Bremer, thank you for your steadfast belief in freedom and peace. I want to thank the members of the Governing Council who are here, pleased you are joining us on our nation's great holiday, it's a chance to give thanks to the Almighty for the many blessings we receive.

I'm particularly proud to be with the First Armored Division, the Second ACR, the 82nd Airborne. I can't think of a finer group of folks to have Thanksgiving dinner with than you all. We're proud of you. Today, Americans are gathering with their loved ones to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives. And this year we are especially thankful for the courage and the sacrifice of those who defend us, the men and women of the United States military.

I bring a message on behalf of America: We thank you for your service, we're proud of you, and America stands solidly behind you. Together, you and I have taken an oath to defend our country. You're honoring that oath. The United States military is doing a fantastic job. You are defeating the terrorists here in Iraq, so that we don't have to face them in our own country. You're defeating Saddam's henchmen, so that the people of Iraq can live in peace and freedom.





By helping the Iraqi people become free, you're helping change a troubled and violent part of the world. By helping to build a peaceful and democratic country in the heart of the Middle East, you are defending the American people from danger and we are grateful.
You're engaged in a difficult mission. Those who attack our coalition forces and kill innocent Iraqis are testing our will. They hope we will run. We did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq, pay a bitter cost in casualties, defeat a brutal dictator and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins.

We will prevail. We will win because our cause is just. We will win because we will stay on the offensive. And we will win because you're part of the finest military ever assembled. And we will prevail because the Iraqis want their freedom.

Every day you see firsthand the commitment to sacrifice that the Iraqi people are making to secure their own freedom. I have a message for the Iraqi people: You have an opportunity to seize the moment and rebuild your great country, based on human dignity and freedom. The regime of Saddam Hussein is gone forever.

The United States and our coalition will help you, help you build a peaceful country so that your children can have a bright future. We'll help you find and bring to justice the people who terrorized you for years and are still killing innocent Iraqis. We will stay until the job is done. I'm confident we will succeed, because you, the Iraqi people, will show the world that you're not only courageous, but that you can govern yourself wisely and justly.





On this Thanksgiving, our nation remembers the men and women of our military, your friends and comrades who paid the ultimate price for our security and freedom. We ask for God's blessings on their families, their loved ones and their friends, and we pray for your safety and your strength, as you continue to defend America and to spread freedom.
Each one of you has answered a great call, participating in an historic moment in world history. You live by a code of honor, of service to your nation, with the safety and the security of your fellow citizens. Our military is full of the finest people on the face of the earth. I'm proud to be your commander in chief. I bring greetings from America. May God bless you all.


--thanks to the Opinion Journal for posting this so quick.

Surprizing Us All

I watched FoxNews last night, but they (and I) missed President Bush's secret surprize trip to Iraq. I love a man who can keep a secret.


Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

We Gather Together

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,
Sing praises to his name: He forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom devine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!

We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,
And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
Amen