232 years ago this morning, George Washington and his Continental army won the Battle of Trenton, effectively turning the tide of the American Revolution and putting us on the road to independence.

From the last week of August to the last week of December, the year 1776 had been as dark a time as those devoted to the American cause had ever known -- indeed, as dark a time as any in the history of the country. And suddenly, miraculously it seemed, that had changed because of a small band of determined men and their leader.

A century later, Sir George Otto Trevelyan would write in a classic study of the American Revolution, "It may be doubted whether so small a number of men ever employed so short a space of time with greater and more lasting effects upon the history of the world."

(from pg 291 in 1776)

I couldn't be prouder to think that 232 years ago, bedraggled and freezing men were fighting to establish the wonderful country I now live in. And were paid $6 per month for the pleasure.

We owe them so much.

Posted by: Sarah at 05:38 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 190 words, total size 1 kb.

I think the secret to a good marriage is meta-knowledge.

During a class on cross-cultural communication, we read the book That's Not What I Meant! How Conversational Style Makes or Breaks Relationships. That book was probably the most useful thing I ever read in college; it changed my life. (And people say that all the time, that books changed their life, but usually they're being hyperbolic. I am super serial here.) What this book teaches you is how your metamessage -- the tone of your voice, the way you're standing -- conveys a stronger message than your words, and how men and women typically employ different metamessage strategies. Once you're able as a couple to talk about your metamessages and not just the words you've said, it opens up a whole different level of communication.

This meta-knowledge -- for example, that men listen to complaining to find solutions, while women complain to create a social bond -- is a crucial part of getting along. My husband and I hardly ever argue anymore after reading this book because we are able to step back and actually say nerdy things like, "Right now I am acting like a stupid woman. I know what I am saying is unreasonable, and that you want to try to fix the problem for me, but I don't need you to fix it, I just need you to listen and nod along with me as if you understand what in the hell I'm upset about. It's OK if you just pretend you understand, that works too." Understanding that your emotional systems work differently is a blessing for a relationship.

I am so glad I had to read this book.

Anyway, I thought about this today when I read SarahJ's description of dropping the bookcase on her foot. Now there's a couple with meta-knowledge! If you can fight with this sort of self-awareness, you have a great relationship, in my opinion. You still have a busted toe because you were being a damned woman, but at least you don't have a busted toe and a divorce, right?

Heh.

(Todays links, as usual, found via Conservative Grapevine, the coolest round-up on the internet.)

Posted by: Sarah at 04:20 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 366 words, total size 2 kb.

Wanna hear something humbling? Thomas Jefferson was 33 years old when he wrote the Declaration of Independence.

Posted by: Sarah at 09:45 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 31 words, total size 1 kb.

1 heck I am over mine.... crap, this is bad news. I cannot even seem to get laundry done and put away in a timely fashion.

Posted by: awtm at December 11, 2007 03:29 AM (LxlNZ)

2 hm... I guess I'm past it completely.. But then that sort of genius only happens very rarely. A Renaissance man like that would be so wonderful to see in a position of power again. So far.. Nope. LAW

Posted by: liberal army wife at December 11, 2007 02:13 PM (R+g0A)

3 Well, poo. I AM 33, and all I've managed is to get kicked off the Montel Show. Just doesn't have the same panache, does it?

Posted by: airforcewife at December 11, 2007 04:06 PM (mIbWn)

4 Similarly, though in a less intellectual vein, Alexander the Great was 25 when many of his conquests were finished. Hi from an old blogging friend, by the way.

Posted by: Leif Johnson at December 12, 2007 04:55 AM (DA7so)

Hide Comments | Add Comment