Malia bought me a pocket copy of the Tao Te Ching as a gift when she came back from New York. I’ve really enjoyed read­ing it, and I think it’s been in my back pocket almost every­day. Here’s one of my favorite sayings:

A great nation is like a great man:
When he makes a mis­take, he real­izes it.
Hav­ing real­ized it, he admits it.
Hav­ing admit­ted it, he cor­rects it.
He con­sid­ers those who point out his faults
as his most benev­o­lent teach­ers.
He thinks of his enemy
as the shadow that he him­self casts.

In addi­tion to read­ing, read­ing, and more read­ing, repair­ing my potato gun, and (alas) deliv­er­ing pizza, I’ve been get­ting known to have the abil­ity to throw a great party. So, after the Fire­cracker Jazz Band con­cert in Rogers Park in Tryon which was great, the after-party at my house did not dis­ap­point. Appear­ances were made by the Reese and his brother Mike of the band, as well as numer­ous attrac­tive women includ­ing, of course, Malia. Hope­fully before I move I can throw one more good party.