"_____ Snipes Mosley"

Currently, our unborn son is known as Rigaberto or "Tito". Hopefully, he will have one of the following first names soon:

• Carter
• Graham
• Archer
• Cameron
• Jackson
• Davis
• Carson
• Wilson

Europe Trip Pictures

LONDON

Above: Windsor, Stonehenge

Above: Bath, London

PARIS

Above: Orsay, Eiffel Tower

Above: Versailles, Louvre

ROME

Above: Vatican, Pantheon

Above: Colloseum, Forum

To see more pictures, click here to go to our Snapfish Photo Album

Vetoed Baby Names

From Nancy's List

• Paxon
• Snow
• Cotton
• Brown
• Zen
• Blythe
• Madigan
  

From Mark's Counterlist

• Dark
• VII (Pronounced "Seven")
• Hominy
• Templeton
• Epitomy
• Puddle
• Londry
  

American History Baseball Cards

Patrick Henry (1775) - "Mr. President, it is natural for man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it...Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

Ratification of the Constitution (1788) - "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this; you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself." James Madison, The Federalist No. 51

Frederick Douglass (1852) - "What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shout of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanks-givings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy - a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour."

Nineteenth Amendment (1920) - "The preamble of the federal constitution says: 'We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America.' It was we, the people, not we, the white male citizens, nor yet we the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed this Union. And we formed it, not to give the blessings or liberty, but to secure them; not to the half of ourselves and the half of our posterity, but to the whole people - women as well as men. And it is downright mockery to talk to women of their enjoyment of the blessings of liberty while they are denied the use of the only means of securing them provided by this democratic-republican government - the ballot. " Susan B. Anthony in 1872

George & Ira Gershwin (1930) - "Days can be sunny, with never a sigh; Don't need what money can buy. Birds in the tree sing their dayful of song, Why shouldn't we sing along? I'm chipper all the day, happy with my lot. How do I get that way? Look at what I got: I got rhythm, I got music, I got my girl, Who could ask for anything more? I got daisies in green pastures, I got my girl, Who could ask for anything more? Ol' Man Trouble, I don't mind him. You won't find him 'round my door. I got starlight, I got sweet dreams, I got my girl, who could ask for anything more?"

V-J Day (1945) - "The enemy has recently used a most cruel explosive. The frequent killing of innocents and the effect of destitution it entails are incalculable. Should we continue fighting in the war it would cause not only the complete Annihilation of our nation, but also the destruction of the human civilization. With this in mind, how should I save billions of our subjects and their posterity, and atone ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors?...As for the bearing of the wounds of war, the tragedies of war, and the welfare of those who lost their families and careers, it is the object of our profound solicitude. From today hereafter, the Empire will endure excruciating hardships. I am keenly aware of the feelings of my subjects, but in accordance to the dictates of fate, I am willing to endure the unendurable, tolerate the intolerable, for peace to last thousands of generations." Emperor Hirohito

Barack Obama (2009) - "Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint...To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."

My Favorite Playlist

We have over 4500 songs on our iPod, 750 of which are by Bob Dylan and what seems like a couple hundred by Johnny Cash when it's set to shuffle. It also contains Russian pronunciations for Stravinsky's Les Noces, as well as a whole album of traditional songs played by the "stalagpipe" organ at Luray Caverns. I love having our entire music library in my purse at all times, but it can make it difficult to search for the songs I want to hear most often when I'm driving. There are some whole albums I listen to on a regular basis, like the Soundtrack from Once, but I really love to mix it up. And as you can imagine, I love to make playlists. I've got playlists of old mixed tapes and CDs, as well as new ones like "Songs About the 50 States" and "Songs From House, M.D." Here is the best of the best:

• Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
• The Only Living Boy in New York - Simon and Garfunkel
• I Wonder - Chris Isaak
• Shenandoah - Hayley Westerna
• I'm in Love with a Girl - Big Star
• Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver
• Secret Heart - Feist
• Dreams - The Cranberries
• Iowa (Traveling Ill) - Dar Williams
• Passing Afternoon - Iron & Wine
• Find the River - REM
• The Nearness of You - Norah Jones
• Fields of Gold - Sting
• Wise Up - Aimee Mann
• The Water is Wide - James Taylor
• I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll - Gillian Welch
• The Beauty in Ugly - Jason Mraz
• Nanci - Toad the Wet Sprocket
• Our Town - Iris DeMent
• As You Turn to Go - The 6ths
• When You Say Nothing At All - Allison Krauss & Union Station
• Yellow - Coldplay
• Mr. Tambourine Man - Bob Dylan
• New Slang - The Shins
• It's Not Easy Being Green - Kermit the Frog
  

And the winner is...

• Cutest stick figures - Mark
• Most pajamas - Nancy
• Least helpful in making the bed - Dobby
• Dedication to European vacation planning - Nancy
• Most likely to engage in Kleenex shanangans - Tie between Dobby and Nancy
• Biggest couch potato - Nancy
• Consistency in blogging - Mark
• Best ears - Dobby
• Worst typist - Tie between Mark and Dobby
• Master of American history crossword puzzles - Nancy
• Most Valuable Player - Mark
• Sassiest - Nancy
• Achievement in paper grading procrastination - Tie between Mark and Nancy
  
  
  

25 Things You May or May Not Want to Know About Me

1. This past summer, I was obsessed with Facebook for a couple of weeks. Then school started back and I've only checked it a few times since then. I wanted to spend some time on it today, and discovered the 25 Things list.


2. Sometimes I fall asleep watching Colbert on Comedy Central and end up sleeping on the couch all night. Then, around 3-4 in the morning I start to have dreams about Girls Gone Wild.
   
3. My dog, Dobby, licks me all the live long day. I must have bacon coming out of my pores, which is odd, since I’m a vegetarian. It must be the peanut butter.
   
4. I’m afraid of falling, but not afraid of heights. Flying? No problem. Climbing down a ladder? Panic attack. When I was in high school (before I knew my limits), I got stuck in various places and had to get people to help me down. For example: in a pueblo in New Mexico on a trip with my family, at the top of the Statue of Liberty on a chorus trip, and (most embarrassingly) on a bunk bed during a trip with my youth group.
   
5. I didn’t start coloring my hair because I was going gray, but because I’ve always wanted red hair. I usually choose neutral colors for everything but now I have a dark red bedroom, cell phone, and purse. Of course, now I am going gray.
   
6. Ironically, I was a huge Carolina basketball fan until I started college and lost interest in basketball. Oh, it’s ironic because I want to Carolina and lived right next to the Dean Dome. This drives my sister crazy, who still calls to invite me to watch big games on her big screen and I say, “Oh? I didn’t know they were playing.” This relieves my husband, who went to State and hates Carolina. It’s nothing against basketball or Carolina, which is still my favorite team – I just don’t care anything at all about sports. I enjoy Wimbledon every couple of years, but that’s about it.
   
7. I have a Journalism degree with a focus in Visual Communication. The only things I use this degree for anymore are making fake baseball cards for my husband’s baseball card blog and taking pictures of my nieces/nephew and dog.
   
8. I have an “I Want to Believe” poster behind my desk at school just like the poster behind Mulder’s desk in the X-Files.
   
9. Sometimes I get really obsessed with something for a day or two - I don’t eat or sleep or shower. It usually happens during the summer when school is out and I get bored. One July I spent two days shopping for my Halloween costume. Eventually, I’m going to post a list of these little obsessions on my blog for posterity.
   
10. I own more pajamas than regular street clothes.
    
11. I thought U.S. History would be my least favorite subject to teach, but this is the first semester in five years I’m not teaching it and I kinda miss it. Apparently, I’ve grown attached to Gilded Age political cartoons, Imperialism report cards, and Great Depression bingo. But I never miss teaching World History to average ninth graders who can barely read and write and don’t even find WWII interesting, much less the Dynastic Cycle or the Enlightenment.
    
12. After I read Bridget Jones’ Diary, I thought in a witty British accent for two days.
    
13. The library near our house sucks, but I still love going there and looking through books for hours. I bring home a whole bag of books that I may or may not read, but it doesn’t matter because they are free. Even $14 in late fees is cheaper than buying one book.
    
14. We get Molly Maid to come clean our house once a month. It’s not so we can get a break from cleaning ourselves, it’s so it gets cleaned at all.
    
15. There are these roasted red pepper hummus and pretzel chip snack packs in the prepackaged salad and fruit section at our Super Target. I love them with all my heart. Some weeks they aren’t in stock, and when they are there they don’t have enough for me to buy in advance. I can get the big package of hummus and the big box of pretzels, but I need the portion control and convenience of the snack pack.
    
16. I’m terrible at checking my email, voicemail, and calendar. Sometimes I forget to check them for several days in a row.
    
17. I heart Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy/Angel, Firefly, and now Dollhouse. I’ll even read comic books if he writes them. I wasn’t sure about this new show (not crazy about Eliza Dushku’s acting), but I wasn’t sure about Firefly at first either and ended up adoring it. He’s certainly earned my trust.
    
18. I misplucked my left eyebrow two years ago and it's never grown back.
    
19. Gandhi is my hero. Ever since the ninth grade when I watched the movie at home alone on a Friday night. When it was over, I rewound it and watched all three hours over again. Then I checked his autobiography out from the library and read it cover to cover. A couple of years ago I got a Gandhi plush doll for my birthday!
    
20. A few years ago I joined the NC Master Chorale in Raleigh. I hadn’t sung (other than in my car) for about ten years. We sing with the NC Symphony several times a season, as well as the Carolina Ballet. If we ever sing Carmina Burana with the ballet again, I’ll advertise. No tutus. And even though it’s in Medieval Latin, its all about temptation and sex.
    
21. My first few years of teaching, I used to wake up in dread every morning. I would actually be happy when I got sick so I could stay home.
    
22. I have these book/journals called This Book Will Change Your Life and This Book Will Change Your Life Again by Benrik. Each day is a different set of directions and a place for you to write notes about the experience. Easy: “Today, decide what you’d prefer to be reincarnated as.” Intermediate: “Today, make your own super fresh pair of jeans and wear them proudly.” Advanced: “Today, topple a dictator using only the internet.”
    
23. I haven’t been to church in almost ten years. I never miss it, even though I grew up voluntarily going 3-4 times a week.
    
24. I wanted to go to Wake Forest for college but couldn’t afford it, so I went to Carolina. I wanted to go to Carolina to get my masters in education but ended up going to Wake Forest instead because it was free, thanks to a fellowship program and very generous friends who let me stay with them.
    
25. Today is my birthday. Technically, though, it’s not for another three years. I wrote this list instead of grading papers. Now I'm going to go eat Indian food with my family!

Bonus: I am a compulsive message editor. I read emails five or six times before I send them, and sometimes I even read them again from my Sent box. This is the third time I've updated this list today.