"With malice toward none, with charity for all..."

If I was clever or resourceful enough, I'd turn the title of this post into a contest - some kind of clever around who can tell me who said it and a bonus for when it was said.  Alas, I am not, so I'll just tell you.

"With malice toward none, with charity for all..." was part of Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address.  He spoke these words Saturday, March 4, 1865, about six weeks before his assassination.

It is safe to say that I am currently captivated by Lincoln.  It's bordering on the obsessive.  I've read three incredible books about him and I am amazed by this humble, simple, and brilliant man.

I am in awe of his astute ability to assess the character of those around him and his nearly boundless ability to forgive and see through the bluster in which we often cloak ourselves.  It was that insight that allowed him to essentially save our nation.  This was dramatically illustrated in the book I just finished reading about the Lincoln presidency.  Team of Rivals by historian Doris Kearns Goodwin is an absolutely brilliant read.  It's not light reading.  It is engrossing and thought-provoking and worth every moment invested in it.  READ THIS BOOK!

I'm so obsessed with Lincoln and his life that I've decided we are going to take part of our Spring Break in Springfield, exploring the Lincoln Museum and the Library.  I am all kinds of excited. 

21 - Lucky 21!

I've made it a habit now here in the Den of noting significant occasions with their corresponding number and today is no different.

Today, Our Lady of BYU, our firstborn child, celebrates her 21st birthday.  This is a momentous day, to be sure.  Now, in Mormon culture, turning 21 doesn't have the same "Go drink legally!" implications as it does in our "Snooki/drunken whore" pop culture world, and for that, I'm grateful.

Unlike the parents of most reality TV show contestants, such as the aforementioned Snooki train wreck, I am so proud of my daughter.  She's pretty awesome.  She's doing a really good job of figuring out who she is and who she wants to become.  She surprises me with the depth of her devotion to the BYU Cougars.  She's a fierce, fierce fan!  She's got a sense of humor.  She makes us, her parents, very happy and like I said, we're really proud of her.

So, here's to you, on your 21st birthday, my daughter!  You're still my little girl.  Happy birthday.

Anti-V. D.

It's time for my annual position statement on Valentine's Day.  As the title of this post suggests, I'm against it.  I guess the title is subject to interpretation and just to be clear, in this case, "Anti-V. D." is a reflection of my feelings about Valentine's Day.  And for the record, I'm also against venereal disease as well as all other STD's, but I digress.

This image, which you may remember from my 2010 Valentine's Day post, continues to sum up my feelings about this day:

Manipulative and shallow.  That pretty much sums it up.  Let me be clear - just because I find this day ridiculous doesn't mean I don't love my wife.  I do.  I just don't need a consumer hijacked day to make me proclaim that love.  The stunningly patient and mighty fine SML knows how much I love her.  She's beyond amazing and I can't imagine my life without her.  She is the best.  She puts up with a lot and I am forever grateful for her patience, her love, and for making me want to be a better man each and every day.

And she still found it in her heart to make Mongolian Beef and Red Velvet Whoopie Pies tonight.  By all that's holy, how did I get so lucky?

Heading home

I used to do five-day trips, and even longer ones, like they were nothing.  Easy peasy.  Not so much anymore.  I am more than ready to get home and I'll be on a plane in a few hours, doing exactly that.

This has been a good trip but a long one.  And I've learned something...five years of winters, winters that have gotten progressively worse with each year, in Chicago has made me really uncomfortable in warmer weather.  As I was driving around Phoenix yesterday, the outside temperature was 72 or 73 degrees.  I had the A/C in the car blasting and I was sweating.  I was not wearing Chicago winter clothers.  I was dressed for the temperature but it was liking to kill me.  I thought it was hot.  What is wrong with me?  Or better yet, what has living in Chicago done to me?