Have any of you out there heard the R.E.M. song Final Straw? It was at least for a while free to download on the interweb. I found it on an album at work. It's about 911 and it's beautiful. Simply beautiful.

As I raise my head to broadcast my objection
As your latest triumph draws the final straw
Who died and lifted you up to perfection?
And what silenced me is written into law.

I can't believe where circumstance has thrown me
And I turn my head away
If I look I'm not sure that I could face you.
Not again. not today. not today.

If hatred makes a play on me tomorrow
And forgiveness takes a back seat to revenge
There's a hurt down deep that has not been corrected.
There's a voice in me that says you will not win.

And if I ignore the voice inside,
Raise a half glass to my home.
But it's there that I am most afraid,
And forgetting doesn't hold. it doesn't hold.

Now I don't believe and I never did

That two wrongs make a right.
If the world were filled with the likes of you
Then I'm putting up a fight. I'm putting up a fight.
Putting up a fight. make it right. make it right.
it right.

Now love cannot be called into question.
Forgiveness is the only hope I hold.
And love- love will be my strongest weapon.
I do believe that I am not alone.

For this fear will not destroy me.
And the tears that have been shed
It's knowing now where I am weakest
And the voice in my head. in my head.

Then I raise my voice up higher
And I look you in the eye
And I offer love with one condition.
With conviction, tell me why.
Tell me why.
Tell me why.
Look me in the eye.
Tell me why.

Not a whole lot is new with me. It was my mom's 53rd birthday yesterday. I got her a gift certificate to JoAnn's, a spice smelly candle, some blueberry chocolates, and a cd i entitled Peace, anger, and hope or something. It's got a lot of songs about protesting, loosing people, war, etc. A very excellent play list if i do say so myself. I felt kinda bad making it for her for her birthday. But she is, like many of us, completely obsessed with what's going on around the world. I did happen to find out that my cousin Eddy is home from Iraq for the first time. A break to "recover" until he heads out to Korea. I miss him. I mean, it's not like I ever see him, but damn, having a really cool cousin in a dangerous place risking his life everyday is sort of hard. I really really hope he can make it to my wedding, however, I highly highly doubt it, which makes me really really angry. Well, that's a tangent, but my mom's birthday was pretty cool. We wen't to Baraboo and ate at the Log Cabin restaurant, then drove through Devil's Lake to see the leaves. After we got home, my mom and I wen't to Cool Beans for some coffee, chai, and to play with our powerbooks. I saw my district trainer for HPB there, and my mom almost broke their door because it slid to the side, but she thought it pulled open. When she told the staff, the laughed and said, oh so *you're* the one who's been doing that!

Today, I slacked around, got a wonderfully cute package from amaranthyne, the biggest postcard anyone has ever seen from sarahtomic, nednefarious, firesinger, and Zara (a girl who I've never met but says she's my friend. I LOVE it when people do that!!!!!!!! I love you Zara whoever you are, you made my day!), and lastly, I recieved an awesome invite to Bïrd's art show on Dec. 2nd. which I'm totally going to btw, I just need to find a ride! I shall post the poster asap! Everybody must go! I ♥ you ultragreen!!!! And everybody else who send me stuff today!!!! Yay you all!

Ok, Im in a really lovey mood.

Lastly, and most importantly, to benpattonmusic: Everytime I listen to "To Get To The Other Side", I get goosebumps! They always get bad when you sing "why did the boy move away from his hometown" and just keep getting worse from there. You're really great! I really really love that whole album btw. I hope you don't mind, Im using "How 'Bout It" at my wedding reception.