The long weekend is finally here people; time to rest, relax, and forget work for the nest (3) days. And oh yes, it’s time to fire up the grill. Let’s hope Cheney goes back into hiding and leaves the governing to those who respect the Rule of Law, both American and International, and seem to have things well in hand.

It's a Star Trek weekend! And oh yes, Happy Mothers Day to all of the deserving moms of Viewpoints!

Can you believe it, snow at the beginning of spring!!  Nonetheless, I will grill me and mine some St. Louis ribs today; slow cooked to perfection over 4.5 hours.  Let's hope the rain/snow/sleet combination holds off long enough for them to finish!  Who knows we might find time for some riveting reviews.  

Another weekend; my the month is going by fast, but I shant complain.  Perhaps this weekend I can get to some review writing.

Hey all, today I donned the mantel of Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional (MCITP): Enterprise Messaging Administrator on Exchange 2007; whew that was a mouthful!  I have spent a year pursuing this (3) exam certification and today I passed the last test after a week of cramming.  It was a very difficult test and I am mentally drained, so this weekend it's time to rest, rest, rest, and watch a few movies.  And oh yes, I might have a few minutes to spare to write a scathing review of Pizza Hut!  

Although winter seems to want to hold on interminably and the economy seems to sink to new lows minutely, the sun is shining brightly today, the sky is blue, the temperature mild, and even some bird have engaged in birdsong.  And the DOW is up 128 points!  Perhaps all is not gloom and doom after all.  Perhaps.

I am so glad the weekend is here; I am exhausted by the weeks less-than-rosy news and by my hectic schedule.  Nothing planned for the weekend but rest and relaxation; Yeah!! Is President Obama rocking the house or what!?! 

We are sliding into the long weekend; YES!!  And it's Valentine's Day weekend to boot, time to have fun with the wife.  Movies, dinner, and relaxing, and perhaps I'll light up the grill and brown some chicken.

The snow has melted from my patio and it's time to fire up the Weber!  Today its short ribs, bakes beans and coleslaw.   I am debating the cornbread.

 

And now comes the winter of my discontent; meaning that I am tired of winter already!!!  I will never be so happy to see Spring, sprung; the flowers awake, the lilies bloom, the birds sing, and sun shine, and the bees buzz and hum.  This has been a long tough white/gray winter and I will be glad to kick it and its partner cold, to the curb! 

The inauguration of the nation's 44th President is less than a week away, and the period finds my soul a kaleidoscope of mixed emotions.  I am happy, I am anxious (a rarity for me), I am contemplative, I am troubled, I am tired, and I am exasperated, yet exhilarated.  My soul embodies all of those emotions, but the one that rises to the top is pride.  I am proud that to be an American, not a just Black American-thought certainly my pride in hue and tenor of my skin never wavers-but an American, who at long last is fully able to partake in the America of Martin Luther King's imagining.  It is most fitting that the day after we celebrate that great man's birth, we inaugurate this nations first Black President! 

I feel as though my long, oft-times lonely and seemingly fruitless ideological believe in the Principles undergirding the founding of this great nation-as embodied in the Declaration of Independence and Federal Constitution-have been finally justified by that actions of the majority of my fellow citizens.  A broad spectrum of Americans from all walks of life elected Barak Obama to be our next leader because they saw past the color of his skin and embraced the content of his character.  Many, many, Black Americans never thought they would live to see this momentous day come to pass, but here it is upon us, and now even the world, yes the world, is holding it collective breath, placing its hopes on a renewed America-and all that purports- squarely upon the shoulder of this man of African and American decent.

The nation is going through the worst economic upheaval since The Great Depression thanks in no small measure to the lack of stewardship and leadership of the outgoing Republican Administration.  Now it is up to Obama to correct the course, to steer the ship of state back to calm, prosperous waters wherein the American Dream can once more flourish and be realized by all Americans without the scourge of corruption, or the ugliness of greed.  Of course I am mindful that he cannot do it alone, but he can and does provide the leadership, vision and wisdom necessary to see us through to a brighter tomorrow.

To quote James Taylor: "Let us turn our thoughts today to Martin Luther King, and recognize that there are ties between us, all men and women living on the Earth; ties of hope and love; sister and brotherhood."  Obama's Inauguration Day is our day, let all Americans rise to the occasion and throw off the shackles of partisanship, racism, trepidation, hatred, and doubt that may divide us and celebrate the coming of what we all (should) hope will be a new dawn for our nation and indeed the world!    

 

What is going on in Gaza, not good, or is that an understatement?  What is going on in Illinois with our not so esteemed governor, also not so good, or is that another understatement?  The economy; no one is safe; no one is left untouched or unscathed.  My 401(K): don't ask.  My life, not too bad overall, but let's hope 2009 holds in store for all of us a brighter morning and a soothing sunset...  

Happy New Year to all...!!!

I'm on vacation for the next two weeks; time to write some long put off reviews!

After an extended vacation it would appear as though the dreaded Chicago winter is back in full force.  If the last week, and tomorrow, is any indication of what is to come, we are in for a rough ride this winter.  I am not looking forward to those long commutes, but that is the price we pay for living in the land of Big Shoulders, graft, corruption, and the now infamous-and increasingly embarrassing-governor from hell, Rod Blagojevich.