Proclamation of President Abraham Lincoln
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
What's the point?
So my friend and I were walking around UCF today noticing all the so-called art pieces...not intentionally trying to find them, more like stumbling upon these...creative...things...and we both decided there is ABSOLUTELY no point in trying to understand why they exist. We stood, sat and endured the "brutal frigid temperatures" of Florida trying to come up with some sort of logical explanation for these objects to be so strategically placed around campus.
Some had signs, which we read, that told us absolutely nothing. He and I honestly tried to give the artist the benefit of the doubt and came up with some pretty moving and deeply touching insights, the pieces spoke to us...
... ok so I lied, we definitely didn't try that hard, most of the time we pondered for about 2.5 seconds and moved on...unless of course there was a sign attached and stayed for 5 seconds. Although we did learn that one of the pieces was loaned to UCF...which makes it all the more fantastic that someone decided it was worth having and thus borrowed it from someone else. Why?
Really, there's no reason for the artist to have spent so many hours on these things because, yeah maybe it helped them express themselves, but don't you actually want others to understand what you're expressing? Unless, of course, the point ALL the artists, who created the UCF pieces, was to impart confusion. Because, if indeed, that was their goal...well...congratulations, you all succeeded!
Some had signs, which we read, that told us absolutely nothing. He and I honestly tried to give the artist the benefit of the doubt and came up with some pretty moving and deeply touching insights, the pieces spoke to us...
... ok so I lied, we definitely didn't try that hard, most of the time we pondered for about 2.5 seconds and moved on...unless of course there was a sign attached and stayed for 5 seconds. Although we did learn that one of the pieces was loaned to UCF...which makes it all the more fantastic that someone decided it was worth having and thus borrowed it from someone else. Why?
Really, there's no reason for the artist to have spent so many hours on these things because, yeah maybe it helped them express themselves, but don't you actually want others to understand what you're expressing? Unless, of course, the point ALL the artists, who created the UCF pieces, was to impart confusion. Because, if indeed, that was their goal...well...congratulations, you all succeeded!
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Christmas = loveeee && lifeeee
My lovely sister has just informed me that there are 10 Sundays until Christmas! Isn't that crazy?! Seriously.
*Title provided is in the language of high school MySpace-ing. So if you don't understand, it's ok. Ask a high schooler who has a MySpace and I guarantee they will be able to translate it for you. :)
*Title provided is in the language of high school MySpace-ing. So if you don't understand, it's ok. Ask a high schooler who has a MySpace and I guarantee they will be able to translate it for you. :)
Friday, October 13, 2006
"...there's a somebody I'm longing to see; I hope that he, turns out to be; someone who'll watch over me..."
My "Adore List" is back! :) And since it has been five months since I last touched it, here's a recap, each one is linked back to the original post, so the list can truly be appreciated:
1. Apples & Peanut Butter
2. Bumble bees
3. Scrabble
Nothing puts a smile on my face like a good croon song. Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Michael Buble, Harry Connick Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Julie London, Norah Jones...are some of the voices I love who set the jazz/swing music mood. They lift my spirits when I am gloomy or sad, relax my nerves after a long day or moment of frustration and cause a smile to grace my face. If I'm upset, the mellow tones of Norah's Jazz piano de-stress my mind. And like sunshine on a cloudy day, the unrequited lover's cry of Frankie, Nat, Ella, Julie, Michael and Harry break through my gloom.
I was in Starbucks a few months ago trying to write a paper when it happened. Frankie's voice sang through the store. I stopped, there was no way I could ignore him and write when he was singing to me. So like a dork, I sat there smiling and swaying to the lovely music until the song ended and reality hit me that I probably should get back to that paper... it was one of the best random study breaks I've experienced. :)
I can't help but dance, when I hear the sassy Swing. The loud brass, crazy lyrics and snappy beat draw me in. I love the crystal clear way the voices sound and the syncopated rhythm. My college freshman year I took a few swing dancing lessons. Man that was fun! Friday a group of us would go and learn a few steps, then later that night dance. There were some good dancers...especially when our instructors started the Lindy! But sadly, I stopped dancing after that semester...and now don't really have anyone to dance with...maybe someday I'll get back into it.
Another bonus of swing/jazz music I adore reveals itself around the end of the year. Magic happens when you take any of these musicians and add the Christmas season. The harmony of sound and holiday spirit create the perfect combination, to make my day, utterly and wonderfully splendid. :)
1. Apples & Peanut Butter
2. Bumble bees
3. Scrabble
Nothing puts a smile on my face like a good croon song. Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Michael Buble, Harry Connick Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Julie London, Norah Jones...are some of the voices I love who set the jazz/swing music mood. They lift my spirits when I am gloomy or sad, relax my nerves after a long day or moment of frustration and cause a smile to grace my face. If I'm upset, the mellow tones of Norah's Jazz piano de-stress my mind. And like sunshine on a cloudy day, the unrequited lover's cry of Frankie, Nat, Ella, Julie, Michael and Harry break through my gloom.
I was in Starbucks a few months ago trying to write a paper when it happened. Frankie's voice sang through the store. I stopped, there was no way I could ignore him and write when he was singing to me. So like a dork, I sat there smiling and swaying to the lovely music until the song ended and reality hit me that I probably should get back to that paper... it was one of the best random study breaks I've experienced. :)
I can't help but dance, when I hear the sassy Swing. The loud brass, crazy lyrics and snappy beat draw me in. I love the crystal clear way the voices sound and the syncopated rhythm. My college freshman year I took a few swing dancing lessons. Man that was fun! Friday a group of us would go and learn a few steps, then later that night dance. There were some good dancers...especially when our instructors started the Lindy! But sadly, I stopped dancing after that semester...and now don't really have anyone to dance with...maybe someday I'll get back into it.
Another bonus of swing/jazz music I adore reveals itself around the end of the year. Magic happens when you take any of these musicians and add the Christmas season. The harmony of sound and holiday spirit create the perfect combination, to make my day, utterly and wonderfully splendid. :)
