The big day
I really hated the sound of that alarm clock, that piercing, irritating
repeated beeping. After a second or two I slowly started realizing that
it was not just another day, it was the day.
I felt the movement in the bed as she reached for the clock and
then the beeping stopped allowing me to slip back towards tranquillity
again.
"Love you," I whispered.
"Excuse me, you were saying?" she said sarcastically.
"You heard me," I said a little louder yet trying not to strain my tired
voice.
"I didn't say I didn't fucking hear you, I asked you what you said.
Repeat it, louder. And try opening your eyes this time."
After a moment of contemplating the situation I forced myself to make an
effort and sat up, looking at her. Everything about her was beautiful
even in the morning. The way that curly almost black hair just touched
her shoulders. The casual pose she held sitting on the edge of the bed
in that worn Lakers T-shirt. I took her hand and pulled her a little
closer admiring her mischievous smile. She wanted to say something but
she waited for me to speak first. I kissed her hand repeatedly and
looking into her dark brown eyes I said slowly overenunciating each
word:
"I...love...you."
Her smile got wider as she replied.
"You better. Don't you dare flake on me now."
She lay down beside me and kissed me gently wrapping her arms around me.
I slid my hands inside her T-shirt running them up and down her back and
I said:
"We really don't have time for this."
"Absolutely not. How about the shower?"
And the shower it was, taking far too much of the time we did not have.
I stood shaving when she asked from the bedroom:
"Denny's or Jack in the box?"
"Which one is the most romantic?"
"Breakfast in bed!"
"OK, you got me. How about Big Bob's in Burbank?"
"You call Big Bob's romantic?"
"We're not making love there, we're eating."
"It's a drive, I'm hungry. I wanna eat now."
I looked at my reflection in the mirror, undergoing one of those mini
crises wondering if it was really me standing there. Was that really
what I looked like, who I was? That was my face, my body, and I would
spend the rest of my life confined within it. Even though I was quite
familiar with my own image, he seemed a little like a stranger.
"Well?" she said, and I suddenly snapped back into the present.
"Er, is Jack in the box drive-through fine?"
"Perfect."
"Perfect," I thought.
Anxious to turn professional, but unable to join the NHL because of its age restrictions, Gretzky signed with the Indianapolis Racers of the developing World Hockey Association in the fall of 1978 (“Wayne Gretzky Biography”). Not long after Gretzky arrived the franchise closed its doors and sold its young asset to the NHL's Edmonton Oilers. “In the fall of 1979, Gretzky embarked on his first full NHL season As he had at every other level, he quickly started to dominate the competition, racking up an astonishing 51 goals and 86 assists, on his way to winning the league's Hart Memorial Trophy, an award recognizing its most valuable player,” (“Wayne Gretzky Biography”). It was the first time in history a first-year player had ever been honored with the award. Gretzky went on to win the Hart Memorial Trophy nine more times over the span of his career. To this day, he still holds the record for the most times that specific award has been given to an individual (Getz). Wayne Gretzky was a leader, and although his character as a person cannot be measured by mere statistics, he sure has some outstanding
The Monroe Doctrine reflected the concerns and ambitions of a fledgling nation that was brave enough to declare its sovereignty on the world stage. The Doctrine, in stating that European powers ought not to intervene in America’s affairs, established the US as a world power, although one that had inadequate, hemispheric aspirations. However, these aspirations would extend, and in future years the Doctrine would substantiate its usefulness for interventionists, as well as protectionists. Being conceivably the most distinguishable and the most revered as regards principles of diplomacy, the doctrine’s influence on the popular imagination was so great that it described the limits of standard decisions on policy, in turn influencing the choice of preferences that US Presidents had for most of the last two centuries.
First we can begin with the early years of this legend. In the wonderful place of Brantford, Ontario, Canada a legend was born on January 26, 1961. Wayne was the oldest in his family, being born first having four other siblings. Wayne wasn’t the biggest human being around that’s why his father was discouraged. His father still had hope in Wayne becoming a hockey player. The first time Gretzky ever received his first pair of skates he was only three years old. Gretzky always was fascinated about skating. Gretzky skated at many places, mostly on the weekends these places including the Ninth River and at public rinks. Wayne’s father admired Wayne’s affection for skatin...
The Monroe Doctrine, written mostly by John Q. Adams, was a Monroe’s message delivered to Congress on December 2, 1823 (Boyer 247). It was the first significant statement regarding foreign policies and served mostly as a message to the n...
Before considering Professor X’s assertion that the Roosevelt Corollary actually corrupted the Monroe Doctrine’s “benevolent intent,” it is worth considering whether or not the Monroe Docterine was as benevolent as the unnamed professor seems to suggest. Professor X considers Monroe’s 1823 Doctrine an act of benevolence, in which an increasingly dominant world power generously extends protection over its continental neighbors. Yet the Professor ignores the inherently imperialistic subtext that is contained within the Doctrine, and thus his comparison of the Monroe Doctrine to the Roosevelt Corollary omits a fundamental aspect of America’s colonialist history.
Some of the most important achievements during James Monroe’s presidency were accomplished in the field of international affairs and foreign policies. A significant proclamation called “The Principles of 1823” when it was first addressed, had an ever-lasting effect on America’s foreign policies. It was merely a statement, because it did not get the United States any lands but rather got on the nerves of European colonizers. Yet a mere statement would never possess the immense political power to clear the obstacles for the United States for further domination down the road, and to establish the belief of “Americas for the Americans” (Hart, 101). The Monroe Doctrine, as President Polk coined this phrase some decades later, was definitely a legitimate response to international pressures at the time.
The Monroe Doctrine was one of the first declarations by the United States in terms of foreign policy. It established the United States position in world affairs by declaring what they believed were their rights and powers over the Americas. It was written by James Monroe and John Quincy Adams and delivered by President Monroe in his speech to congress on December 2, 1823 (Best, 2004, p.132).
What would students think if they went into school on a beautiful April day not knowing that it was their last; would they be terrified to attend school, or would they skip school? Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, two Columbine High School students, went to Columbine High School on April 20, 1999 and killed people’s lives. Columbine raises questions, such as, who were Dylan and Eric, what was their plan, how did they achieve their goal, and what was the aftermath of that horrific day?
This address set forth an American written policy on European intervention in the Western Hemisphere, and would soon become one of the foundations of United States policy in Latin America (Allison). President James Monroe made this declaration in his seventh annual address to the Congress of the United States on December 2, 1823. The Monroe Doctrine affirmed the two main policies of non-colonization and non-intervention (Monroe). These notable declarations asserted that European nations could no longer colonize the American continents, and that they should not interfere with the newly independent Spanish American republics (Bolivar). Monroe specifically warned European powers against attempting to impose a monarchy on independent American nations but added that the United States would not interfere in existing European colonies or in Europe itself (Monroe). Previous presidents, especially Thomas Jefferson, had vaguely hinted at these practices influencing Monroe’s decision (Jefferson). By separating Europe from American nations, Monroe was trying to preserve the existence of a distinct Western Hemisphere, and more specifically the United States’ interests in it (Monroe to Jefferson). He opposed the European political system of monarchy believing that no American nation should adopt it, and felt that its presence anywhere in the Western Hemisphere endangered the peace and safety of the still young United States. He also believed that the United States, alone, should complete the colonization of North America and that European nations in North American would restrict it (Erikson). Despite his strong assertions, however, Monroe did not suggest any means to assure the policy, and he knew the United States could not ensure it alone, so the debate of rallying for British support became a great debate Monroe’s
On December 2, 1823, President James Monroe articulated his seventh annual message to Congress. This message presented Americans with a statement that changed the way the Western Hemisphere would be view and how international affairs toward the new Latin colonies would be handle from this point forward. It addressed European nations in particular and stated that “the United States would not tolerate further colonization or puppet nations” The Monroe Doctrine was initially designed to protect the Latin colonies but later President Theodore Roosevelt extended the Doctrine to include the United States would be the policing powers of the Western Hemisphere, this became known as the Roosevelt Corollary. Roosevelt stated that the United States had a “morale mandate” to ensure that other nations used appropriate attitudes toward Latin America. Roosevelt felt strongly in about the conduct of other nations and further stated: “It is not that the United States feels and land hunger or entertains any projects as regards the other nations of the Western Hemisphere save such as are for their welfare. All that this country desires is to see the neighboring countries stable, orderly, and prosperous. Any country whose people conduct themselves well can count upon our hearty friendship. If a nation shows that it knows how to act with reasonable efficiency and decency in social and political matters, if it keeps order and pays its obligations, it need fear no interference from the United States. Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which results in a general loosening of the ties of civilized society, may in America, as elsewhere, ultimately require intervention by some civilized nation, and in the Western Hemisphere the adherence of the U...
The Monroe Doctrine was spoken by James Monroe in which he described the United States policy regarding the ongoing activities and boundaries of powers in the Western Hemisphere during the early 1800s. The doctrine set the benchmark for the United States position in all of the world affairs going on at the time. When establishing the Monroe Doctrine, James Monroe 's primary intention was to simply spread the word and inform European nations that the United States would not sit back and endure the abuse that foreign Monarchs had been laying on them since the beginning of the young nations start. Essentially, Monroe proclaimed that the United States would handle all affairs in the Western Hemisphere, while not getting involved in conflicts occurring in Europe. The Monroe Doctrine is a perfect example on how the United States poorly enhanced their relations with other countries. The Doctrine was an attack on British governmental powers that resulted in the United States finally standing up for themselves without caring about future repercussions. The Monroe Doctrine allowed the world to realize the United States was becoming a world power, while it was backed favorability by the American people. Doing so, it was seen as a major turning point in the move towards foreign policy in the United
The foreign policy that bears Monroe’s name, perhaps the most enduring to represent his legacies. It wasn’t known as the “Monroe Doctrine” until 30 years after the delivery. At the congress annual message in 1823, Monroe warned Europe and the rest of the world, to stay out of America's acquisition. The message holds a strong statement and is not to take lightly, it was the early U.S. policy.
And then I said it again, several times, very gently and slowly, and said it so often that he had to go and see, and he got it of course, and came in. He stopped short by the door.
This was the day of my big game, the day where we had to win this lacrosse game. If we didn’t win this game, we would get knocked out of the playoffs. If we didn’t beat Dedham, our season would be over.
It was a beautiful Saturday morning on January 6. The winter air was crisp and the view was amazing. The soft salty scent from the ocean filled the air. Off the balcony on the second story of the Long Beach Yacht Club I could see the light swells of the Pacific Ocean. The small crashing of waves added to the peaceful instrumental background sounds as the ceremony was about to begin. January 6, my wedding date, was a day that changed the rest of my life.