I Always Love a List

1. I made this for dinner the other night. (Plenty of leftovers).
2. And made this for dessert.
3. Laughed my head off at this video.
4. Am obsessed with this book.
5. Loving this tv show -- will completely and utterly miss it when I return to Europe.
6. Currently am enjoying this historic district.
7. And cannot get enough of these bookshops: Givens and Inklings.

The House passed a bill today to allow bankruptcy judges to rewrite mortgages. The judges would have the authority not only to change the interest rates of the mortgages (questionably semi-reasonable) but also to change the principal (shockingly unbelievable). You can read more about it here. 

This bill frightens me to no end. The rule of law is out the door and the rule by the will of power has arrived if the Senate confirms this mess (read Neitzsche for more info).

{Caveat: in terms of the rule of law, this bill is not entirely distinguishable from everything else being passed by Congress.}

However, as one who has witnessed the arbitrary power of bankruptcy judges -- (not that I've had a problem with it previously -- sometimes people need to be told that they cannot purchase a car with a 24% interest rate while in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy -- and yes, people in bankruptcy have tried), but those who are debtors who have filed for bankruptcy voluntarily availed themselves to the mercies of the court. Sellers and lenders contracting with buyers did not avail themselves to the bankruptcy court.  Furthermore, it's not like I have all kinds of respect for all lenders these days. But, the principles of contract law will be thrown out the courtroom door and trampled on if judges can singlehandedly change terms of contract -- and that is something for which I have no respect and can't believe the American people will tolerate.

America is on a slippery, slippery slope. 

Which is why ......

I'm thinking of immigrating to Andorra. Who doesn't want to live on the border of France and Spain and pay no income taxes???

Turning Lemons into Lemonade

This past Tuesday Matt and I had to go to Alexandria, Virginia for yet another attempt at renewing our visas. The odds were against us: we had to leave at 6:30 in the morning to get to our appointment at 11 - we had also just had 10 inches of snow the day before - we are sick of dealing with this visa mess - and had to promptly return to Lynchburg that evening. Calculate the hours -- that would be somewhere between 7 and 8 hours in the car just for that measly passport/visa situation!

Instead of hating our scheduled Tuesday, we made sure we had a bit of fun by visiting Historic Alexandria. It's the cutest, quaintest little place you've ever been! (Shout out to Leslie for the official introduction last month! Because ... a trip in 9th grade to some church there doesn't quite count). 

Center of Historic Alexandria

Look at those lovely streets and my super cute husband!

I'm loving the adorableness of it all!

And possibly the best part of all: Lunch at La Madeleine. Note how there is something strawberry on each of the above plates: strawberry jam, strawberries on spinach salad, and strawberry crepes. Yum!

A Proper Post

The view from my Parent's Balcony

Look what we woke up to this morning!

At least they're great about clearing the streets!

Another GORGEOUS view from my parent's balcony. 

10 inches of snowy bliss!

LU Philosophy Club Presents:

"Progress and Corruption in the Commercial Age"

a lecture by Matthew B. Arbo

PhD Candidate at the University of Edinburgh

March 5 at 7pm 

Religion Hall

Hosted by Phi Sigma Tau, Zeta Chapter

Are You Jealous?

Lynchburg is fab. Second time around is even better than the first. Not only am I lunching with my mom at marvy places like Machu Pichu, a Peruvian restaurant, but I also am living only a short five minutes away from J.Crew headquarters. Bliss!  If I didn't already have five cold-weather coats, I could have scored an additional cute red one for the low, low price of $45. Can you even believe the prices? Now, don't get me wrong, not all garments are priced so low .... but still.... the hunt for the bargains is fun, too! Now only if I could find this dress for $45! 

* Picture Courtesy of Jcrew.com

Did You Know?

Did you know that governments may accept permanent religious monuments in public parks without violating the rights of others who are denied a chance to to have a different religious icon sharing park space? 

This rule of law was codified in Pleasant Grove City v. Summum, released from the Supreme Court just this morning, and was a unanimous decision. 

You can read the case here.