Book Review: Fall of Giants

It's been a very long time since I've read a book. Not sure why, maybe I was just waiting for a good recommendation or some extra free time. Well the extra free time finally come with my summer vacation to Minnesota. When we planned the trip a couple months ago, I decided it was time to get me a good summer book. I knew I wanted something epic, in the likes of Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. I also wanted something fictional yet in a historical setting. It was my cousin, Marc who gave me the perfect suggestion; The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett.

My cousin explained the premise to me. A fictional series set in the past 100 years of history. As a historical junkie this was exactly what I wanted. The first book, The Fall of Giants, covers WWI, the Russian Revolution, and the Womens Suffragette movement. The second book, Winter of the World, covers WWII, and the third book, Edge of Eternity covers the Cold War. I started book one about a month and a half ago, and was glued to the pages. Truth is as a history buff, I've never fully understood the complexities of WWI until now. In this book I got a full dose of the political and historical context of the event, and can gladly say it has been incredibly inspiring. So here without further ado is my book review of Ken Follett's Fall of Giants.

The Premise

The story begins at the prelude to WWI in Europe. There are multiple characters in the story from different cultures and backgrounds. There are five families in total (Welsh, British, German, American, and Russian) who play a part in the story. They are interwoven with one another throughout the historical context, making for an extremely dramatic plot. I've always felt this style of storytelling makes for the best most insightful drama.

The first story revolves around the working class Welsh characters. Billy Williams and his sister Ethel Williams. Both Billy and Ethel are key protagonists in the story as they grow out of their humble working class roots to become political leaders. Billy follows in his fathers footsteps as a coal-miner, who becomes a soldier in the war, and eventually a statesmen of the British Labor party. His sister, Ethel, has an affair with a British lord, which causes her to flee her hometown and move to London. It is there that Ethel establishes a new lifestyle as a journalist and a leading voice in the women suffragette movement. She too herself is able to climb the political ladder into becoming an elected member of the Labor party.

The second story consists of the antagonist to the Williams family is the wealthy conservative British aristocrat, Earl Fitzherbert. He has an affair with one of his servants, Ethel, who later becomes pregnant. Fitz refuses to leave his wife, Bea,  and requests that Ethel forever leave his presence  After Fitz wrongly treats Ethel, he proudly partakes in WWI as an officer. However once again he serves as a key antagonist to his own soldiers, specifically, Ethel's younger brother Billy. Fitz is wounded in war yet later continues his patriotic pride by opposing labor rights and the Bolshevik movement in Russia.

The third story revolves around Fitz's sister. Maud, a liberal and supporter of the suffragette movement. She later falls for a German diplomat, Walter von Ulrich. They both meet thru upper class association however are well aware that both their nations are headed towards war. They decide to get married before the war and keep it secret. Walter becomes an officer of the German army, while Maud becomes further involved in journalism and the suffragette movement. She even befriends her former servant Ethel in London. After the five years of war she is finally reunited with her German husband.

The fourth story is about a Russian factory worker named Grigori Peshkov, who has saved enough money to leave for America. However before he can board his boat, his younger brother, Lev, is wanted for murder and Grigori has no choice but to give his brother the ticket in order to escape. Grigori goes on to take care of Lev's girlfriend and child that he leaves behind. To make matters worse, Grigori is later conscripted to join the Russian army for WWI. Grigori then becomes a leader in the Bolshevik movement and plays a key role in the February and October Revolutions.

Meanwhile his brother Lev makes it to America and finds work in New York for a wealthy Russian mobster. He impregnates the daughter of his boss, and is forced to marry her. However he continues to live a careless life that leads him to constant trouble. After Lev's father-in-law discovers that he is having an affair he sends him to war, hoping that he will be killed. Instead Lev reunites with his brother Grigori offering him the money he owed him and insisting he come to America. Grigori declines and wishes his brother well. Upon his return to America, Lev kills his father-in-law in a domestic dispute. He rashly decides to take his father-in-law's spot as the boss and plans to illegal sell alcohol during the days of Prohibition.

The fifth story is about an American, Gus Dewar, who happens to be a political adviser to the president Woodrow Wilson. Gus plays a pivotal role among the British, German, and even Russian characters. During the war as Wilson's adviser he is key in seeking peace talks between the nations and keeping the US out of the conflict. However he later becomes key in obtaining the Zimmerman telegram and delivering it to a rebellious American journalist named Rosa. Gus uncharacteristically decides to serve in the army to strengthen his character. He later comes home to declare his love to Rosa and help Wilson with the establishment of the League of Nations.

The Characters  

Billy Williams (Welsh): He is the young crusading protagonist of this story. From the small coal-mining town of Aberowen, the Williams are a working class family. Billy's father is a well respected union leader and instills his Catholic moral principles into his children. In the first chapter we realize Billy's strength of character as his faith helps him thru a difficult situation. He later displays that strength thru leadership qualities in a coal-mining crisis and later at the bloody Battle of the Somme. Inspired by his rebellious sister, he becomes his own man, not afraid to challenge the authority. As a young man he becomes a political leader of the working class.

 Ethel Williams (Welsh): She is the rebellious elder daughter of the Williams family. She begins the story as an ambitious housekeeper for the wealthy estate of the Fitzherberts. However her story takes a turn when she falls for the lord of the house, Fitz, and becomes pregnant. She is later expelled from her job, disowned by her parents, and has no choice but to relocate to London. It is here that Ethel becomes political as a single working class mother. She becomes a key contributor to Maud's feminist newspaper and a voice in the suffragette movement. She marries a fellow political activist named Bernie and the two are able to rise to the top of their party.

Earl Fitzherbert (British): He is the wealthy lord of an estate, married to a Russian princess named Bea. He is young yet conservative in his principles and serves as a key antagonist in the story. He has a brief affair with his house servant Ethel, of which he makes her pregnant and fires her to keep it silent. He later proudly serves his nation in the war as an officer yet has continuous confrontations with his own soldiers including Ethel's younger brother, Billy. Even after the war he serves as a proponent to the rising voice of the political labor party. He also secretly leads a counterrevolutionary campaign against the Bolsheviks. Fitz's greatest character fault is his patriotic-conservatism and pride.

Maud Fitzherbet (British): She is the brother of Earl, and his political opposite as a liberal feminist. Her story is one of forbidden romance as she falls for the enemy, a German diplomat named Walter. Her and Walter are able to keep their marriage a secret throughout the war. She uses her resources to organize a suffragette newspaper, of which she becomes passionate about. She also becomes friends with her former houseservant, Ethel, and the two work together in leading the suffragette movement. After the war she is able to reunite with her defeated German husband, Walter and must make a decision on whether to stay or to follow she him. She romantically quotes a passage from the book of Ruth stating she "will goest where he goes, lodgest where he lodge, follow his God, follow his people, diest where he die, and be buried with him." She thus goes on to live with him in the fallen state of Germnay. It's a very romantic relationship.

Walter von Ulrich (German): He is a German noble diplomat and old friend to Fitz. His story comes into play however when he declares his love for Maud. Their relationship makes for an extremely difficult conflict as their nationalities are on the brink of war. They get married and hope to reunite again after the war. Unlike his conservative father Otto, Walter is a political centrist. He proudly serves his country during the war, yet hopes for a quick resolution. After the war he reluctantly takes part in the Treaty of Versailles. It is there that he is able to reunite with his long lost love, Maud. They agree to settle together in Germany.  

Grigori Peshkov (Russian): He is a Russian metalworker with intentions to leave his country for America. However he has terrible fortune when his younger brother Lev, of whom he takes care of, is wanted for murder. He must then give-up his ticket to his brother so that he can escape. Grigori's luck only gets worse when he must take care of his brother's girlfriend and child, and later becomes conscripted for the war. However it is at the war that Grigori's fortune takes a turn and he is able to join the Bolshevik movement. As a strong character he becomes a leader of the Revolution and eventually an officer of the newly established government. He marries his brother's ex-girlfriend and starts a family of his own with her. His fortune takes a turn for the positive halfway thru the book, however has us wondering at the end if he will prosper in the new Communist government.

Lev Peshkov (Russian): He is the younger brother of Grigori, a horse wrangler, and also quite the troublemaker. He impregnates a peasant named Katerina, yet kills an Imperial officer in a scuffle and must flee his nation. He first spends some time working in Wales then eventually arrives to America, always using his confident swagger to survive. It is in America that he finds work for a mob moss named Josef Vyalov and impregnates her daughter Olga. This works in Lev's favor as he is able to rise from peasant to a middle class business man. He continuously gets into trouble however and is later sent to the war by his father-in-law in hopes that he will be killed. It is here that he reunites with his brother Grigori and offers him the money he promised. After the war Lev returns to America, kills Josef in a domestic fight, and flees to Canada for a while. It is there that he come up with an idea to make a fortune during the Prohibition age.

Gus Dewar (American): He is the privileged son of an American senator and adviser to President Woodrow Wilson. He begins with a minimal role in Europe's war yet his character grows throughout the novel. He at first has a fling with Olga Vyalov yet is devastated when she must marry Lev instead. He then later begins to grow an attraction for an American journalist named Rosa Hellman, who happens to only have one eye. He delivers her the Zimmerman telegram that gets the US involved in war. Gus decides to join the war as an officer in order to strengthen his character. After the war he plays a crucial part in the Treaty of Versailles as well as helping president Wilson promote his League of Nations. He also romantically declares his love for Rosa Hellman.

Rosa Hellman (American): She is an extremely ambitious and rebellious journalist always on top of the developing stories at the White House. She is as pretty as she is intelligent, however her only major flaw is that one of her eyes is sealed. Nonetheless she becomes Gus' love interest and helps expose the Zimmerman telegram that gets the US to enter the war. She cares for Gus, yet feels she is below him and is surprised at the end of the story when Gus declares his love for her. 

Historical Look: Aftermath of WWI

Following the devastation caused by WWI, the territorial map of Europe changed significantly. Four Imperial thrones were ousted and replaced entirely by different governments. The dissolution of these four empires (Germany, Russia, Austro-Hungaria, and the Ottoman Empire) brought way to new nations. This post will give a detailed look at the terms put forth by the Treat of Versailles, that completely changed the territorial map of Europe.

The Big Four

At the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, there were many allied delegates present to discuss the peace treaty with Germany. While there were over 20 nations represented
at the committee, it was four nations in particular that led the discussion.Great Britain, France, Italy, and the United States were now the global superpowers. They were lead by Woodrow Wilson, David Lloyd George, Vittorio Emanuele Orlando, and Georges Clemenceau. 

Woodrow Wilson: 

As a member of the Democratic party he was elected president of the United States in 1912. In 1916 he was able to win re-election with a new campaign that he would keep us out of the war. However following the attack on the Lusitania and the Zimmerman Telegram he was able to win public opinion on joining the war. His idealism for a new world order became one of the backbones of the Peace Conference. 

David Lloyd George:    

He became prime minister of Great Britain in 1916 representing the British Labor Party during their war effort against Germany. He was somewhat of a moderate caught between conservative and liberal coalitions. His intentions at the peace committee were for a pragmatic and fair resolution. He ultimately fell between Wilson's idealism and Clemenceau's desire for vengeance. 

Vitorrio Emannuele Orlando

He was elected prime minister of the Kingdom of Italy in 1917 and oversaw Italy's war effort against Austro-Hungary. He entered the peace conference with intentions to regain territory for his country. Italy was originally an ally of the Triple-Entente however switched to the Allies side in 1915 with a promise they would acquire more land. Orlando received heavy opposition however at the conference and was unable to get all the land they wanted. This eventually gave way to new Italian nationalism and the rise of Mussolini. 

Georges Clemenceau 

He served as prime minister of France from 1906 to 1909 and was elected once again in 1917. He oversaw France's government in the midst of the German bombardment and was keen to find a harsh resolution for the damage caused on their nation. His case was that the majority of the western front fighting took place in French territories. Clemenceau called for heavy reparations and disarmament on the German nation. He felt Wilson was too much of an idealist. In the end he was able to lead the committee however felt the treaty was still not harsh enough on the Germans.   

Wilson's 14-Points

The basis of the Treaty of Versailles came from US president Woodrow Wilson's 14 point plan for peace in Europe. Although many of the points were entirely overlooked in order to put harsh restrictions on Germany such as the heavy cost of reparations. 

1. Open diplomacy, peace-talks, and no more secret alliances
2. Freedom of navigation by the sea
3. Removal of economic barriers or blockades; equality of trade
4. Reduction of Militarism
5. Reduction of Imperialism
6. The Evacuation of all Russian territory in respect to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and their newly developed government
7. The evacuation of Belgium
8. The evacuation of France
9. The redistricting of Italy into a sovereign state
10. The dismantle of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and establishment of an Austrian and Hungarian sovereign state
11. The evacuation of the Balkan States of Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro 
12. The dismantle of the Ottoman Empire should establish a Turkish sovereign state
13. The formation of a Polish sovereign state
14. The formation of an international peace committee to be known as the League of Nations

Territorial Changes

German Empire.

As the primary culprit of WWI, Germany was faced with the harshest of penalties. They were forced to pay high reparations for the damage they caused. Their military might was also restricted to no more than 100,000 soldiers. They loss territory to Denmark, Czechoslovakia, Belgium, Poland, and France. This ultimately marked the end of the German Empire that had prospered across Europe since 1871.

With the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II, the state of Germany was in disarray. Following an unsuccessful communist Revolution, led by Rosa Luxembourg, the nation eventually established a new government. This became known as the Weimer Republic. While the government was successful in returning to order, many citizens were unsatisfied with the new German state. This eventually led to the rise of the Nazi Party. 

Austro-Hungarian Empire

The Austro-Hungarian Empire (that had stood since 1867) was forced to dismantle. The Hasbsburg dynasty went into exile and a wave of political revolutions spread the area until their new governments were established. The Kingdom of Hungary was established as a monarchy in 1920. Austria became a republic however continued to deal with division and civil war.

The empire lost territory to Italy and Romania in the south. They lost territory that was possessed by the north Slavs, which formed the newly independent Czechoslovakia. They lost territory to the southern Slavs, which formed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. And they also loss territory on their eastern borders to what became the newly established Polish Republic. 

Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire had been falling prior to the War and this defeat was it's final straw. As a consequence for their involvement in the war, Allied forces occupied their capital city of Constantinople. Smaller skirmishes and battles continued in the Middle East after WWI for territory. Greece and Armenia took advantage of the falling empire's disarray. By 1922 the Ottoman Empire (which first came to power back in 1299) had officially fallen and been replaced entirely by an independent Turkish state.  

Russian Empire

Although the Russian's were on the side of the Allies, they too lost much territory following the war. A big part of this was due to their recent revolution of overthrowing their tsar. Many of the Western leaders were afraid of Russia's new Communist Revolution and quickly came to the aid of counter-revolutions after WWI. The Civil War lasted until 1922, of which the newly formed Soviet government was able to squash any resistance. Nonetheless Russia lost territory on their western borders to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. They continued to challenge territory long after WWI and their Civil War disputing territories in Finland, Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.

League of Nations

The idea behind an international government had existed for some time yet after the devastation caused in World War I the timing could't be better. Woodrow Wilson presented his idea to Congress in his 14-Point plan, and it would later be adapted in the Treaty of Versailles. The committee consisted of 42 states upon it's inception. Quite shockingly however the US did not join the newly established league because the senate and congress voted against it. Wilson still went on to be honored for his involvement in forming the league and won the Noble Peace Price.

The first meeting took place in Paris, January 16th, 1920. The headquarters were later moved to the neutral state of Geneva, Switzerland. The utmost goal of the league was to avoid war through diplomatic assembly. If a nation were to have a complaint of another nation, the matter was to be  reviewed by the council to find a solution. Most of the cases resolved by the League of Nations were territorial disputes.

By the 1930s, the League had quickly began to lose it's effectiveness in the face of such political extremism. It was considered incompetent without the membership of the United States. Also one of it's greatest weaknesses was that it did not have an army to enforce it's international policies. By 1932, with the rise of Adolf Hitler and German nationalism, many nations refused to disarm in the fear of another war. The start of World War II ultimately proved how the League of Nations as a whole had failed. It was later replaced in 1945 by the United Nations, founded by 51 nations, of which this time the United States became it's key member. The committee stands to this day, based out of New York City, with a total of 193 members. 

Historical Look: World War I

It seems the historical event that was World War I has often been foreshadowed by the much larger event that followed in World War II. However one simple thing to consider when comparing the two is that before World War II came about, World War I was known as the Great War. That was because humanity had never experienced such a global war of mass destruction before. The turn of the century brought about a new age of technology, communication, and military warfare. This made for one of the bloodiest wars in human history, only later surpassed by World War II.

Thanks to my recent inspiration from the book Fall of Giants by Ken Follet, I'm going to give an in-depth study of the historical behemoth that was World War I. I've always enjoyed European history and have especially been fascinated by the events of World War II. Yet as a history enthusiast I've never quite had a solid grip on what World War I was all about. It's always struck me as a very complicated conflict. Therefore it seems long overdue that I make an effort to understand this prelude to the second world war. This post is merely a study for my own intentions. It is an unbiased review of the historical significance of WWI and it's aftermath.  

Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand

At the turn of the century there was a new balance of power throughout Europe. The Ottoman Empire was in decline and new alliances were formed among the great powers. One one side was the Triple Alliance (also known as the Central Powers) consisting of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Kingdom of Italy. On the other side were the allied powers consisting of the British Empire, the French Third Republic, and the Russian Empire. Each side had it's smaller affiliated nations and wanted more territorial and economic power. All it took was a minor spark to ignite the biggest war the world had ever known.

That spark came from a conflict in the Balkan regions between the Kingdom of Serbia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The tension between the neighbors arose mostly over territorial disputes over Bosnia which eventually lead the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913. Serbian nationalism began to grow throughout the Balkan region in opposition to the Austro-Hungarian's presence in the territory. On June 28th, 1914 the prince of the Austro-Hungarian empire Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophia were assassinated in the Bosnian city of Sarajevo. The attack was initiated by a Serbian secret military society known as the Black Hand. In response Austria-Hungary declared war the entire nation of Serbia. This triggered a domino effect of allies waging war on one another.


Germany's Schleifen Plan

In late July of 1914 the Austrian-Hungarian army began the first offensive campaign of World War I by invading Serbia. However they were quickly repelled and suffered decisive losses to the Serbian armies at the Battle of Cer and the Battle of Kolubara. The campaign continued for 4 years however, the entirety of the war.

Meanwhile Germany became the key player of the Central Powers' aggression. They initiated a swift offensive campaign, known as the Schleifen Plan, by invading Belgium and France. Led by generals Alexander von Kluck and Karl von Bulow the German armies easily lay siege to numerous cities in Belgium causing them to retreat. The Germans also razed and executed many civilians along their way in what has become known as the Rape of Belgium.

By late August the Germans met stronger resistance in northern France by French divisions who were aided by the support of the British armies. The French army were under the leadership of General Joseph Joffre while the British army was under the command of Sir John French. The first major standoffs were a the Battle of Charleroi, the Battle of the Frontiers, and the Battle of Mons, where the German armies crushed the resistance, causing the allies to retreat further south towards Paris.

Russia's Invasion 

Meanwhile on the Eastern front the massive Russian army of over a million, began it's invasion of East Prussia in August of 1914. The Germans did not expect the Russians to attack their eastern flank so quickly, and had to revert some of their forces from the west. The Russians were able to find early success against the Austrio-Hungarian armies in Polish territories. However by Aug 26th the German army, led by Paul van Hindenberg, were able to bring the invasion to a swift halt at the Battle of Tannenberg. This was a decisive victory in the east for the Germans and a devastating loss for the morale of the Russians.

Trench Warfare 

It seemed as if the Germans were going to easily plow thru France, that was until the allies made a fierce counterattack at the Battle of the Marne on Sept 5th, 1914. This was just on the outskirts of Paris, a city that France was not prepared to lose to the Germans. Their new slogan, "Thou Shall not Pass" raised the French morale to defend their great city.

The Battle of Marne  marked the 1st major victory for the allied forces. The Germans tried yet another offensive in October at the First Battle of the Ypres yet were unable to advance. This marked the beginning of an entrenched stalemate. Each side built their defenses with underground trenches and barb wire making it difficult to advance on one another. The zone between the trenches was referred to as no-man's land.

At the Second Battle of the Ypres in April 1915, the Germans introduced chemical warfare through the use of chlorine gas bombardments. This was successful in clearing the trenches however the Germans were unable to seize on the opportunity of pushing forward. The Allies eventually acquired gas-masks and countermeasures to the German's chemical attacks. The allies also developed deadly gases of their own such as the phosgene and mustard gases.

Both sides continued to change their tactics in order to make advances. Artillery bombardments would last for days at a time, before one side would make it's advance. The Germans also began incorporating submarine warfare to cut off the allies' supplies. This was also a very effective tactic. In Feb 1916 the Germans coordinated another offensive at the Battle of Verdun in hopes to surround the French army and find a different route to Paris. However once again the French soldiers under the leadership of Joseph Joffe were successful in defending the German's attack. This standoff lasted for 9 months.


The Eastern Front 

Following it's defeat against the Germans, the Russian's diverted their attention southward against the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman armies. They began to acheive success in Ukraine and Poland at the Battle of Galicia and Battle of the Vistula River. They also were able to retain control of their middle eastern territories and brought heavy casulities against the Ottoman armies at the Battle of Sarikimish.

However by 1915 the German forces came to the aid of the Austro-Hungarian forces and drove the Russians out of Poland. The following Russian offensives were held back, that is until the Brusilov Offensive of September 1916. This campaign led by Russian general Aleksei Brusilov successfully took control of the Ukraine region and drove the Central Powers back. By this time the Romanians had also joined the Russians against the Austro-Hungarian army.

Battle of Jutland 

In an attempt to cut off the British supply lines, the Germans put extra effort in opposing the mighty British Royal Navy. At the time the British grand fleet was untouchable and had put on a successful blockade of Germany at the start of the war. On May 31st 1916, the German Navy under the leadership of Reinhard Scheer sought to break this blockade and faced the British navy head on at the Battle of Jutland. Under the command of Admiral John Jellicoe the British navy were able to repel the German's advance. While the British lost more battleships and lives they were ultimately successful in retaining control of the English Channel.

From that point on the Germans switched their tactics primarily to unrestricted submarine warfare, which was against the rules of engagement. German U-boats attacked supply boats and battleships from underwater without any warning. It was in May 1915 when the German submarines sank an American passenger liner, the Lusitania. While the Germans insisted that it was an accident and would no longer target passenger lines, it was a major blow to the United States' neutrality.

Battle of the Somme

The war on the western front continued at a stalemate in France for nearly 2 years. The Germans maintained a defensive occupation of the northern territories while the Allied forces began offensive campaigns. One of the most bloody of these campaigns was the Battle of the Somme on July 1916. It saw the inclusion of aerial and tank assaults as a means to advance.

The British armies suffered devastating causalities in the face of German machine guns. After several months the allies succeeded in driving the Germans out of position, however the death toll was far too high to call it a victory and the stalemate continued.

Zimmerman Telegram

Throughout the conflict US president Woodrow Wilson was stern on his promise to the American people of not to get involved in Europe's War. However the first strike came in 1915 when the German subs sank the Lusitania killing 128 American citizens. Wilson demanded an end to the sinking of passenger ships and also tried to coordinate peace in Europe. However the final straw came in January 1917, when the British intercepted a German message to Mexico, persuading Mexico to wage war on America. Germany's thinking was that the US would enter the war regardless anyway, and may stand a better chance against them if they were engaged with Mexico.

Wilson saw this as the final straw of German aggression and presented it to the public to win support for entering the war. He promised the people this would be the war to end all wars, and that he would create an international peace committee after it was all over to avoid future conflicts such as this. On April 6th, 1917 the US congress declared war on Germany. Thousands of American soldiers began arriving in the British channel to reinforce the allies.

Russia Withdraws from War 

With the addition of the United States, it appeared the allies had the clear advantage, that was until the Russian army began to withdraw. Despite it's success after the Brusilov Offensive many of the peasant Russians had grown tired of the war and their tsar. By Feb 1917 the tsar was forced to abdicate and hand over the throne to a provisional government. However the Russians remained in the war. That was until a 2nd revolution came in October of 1917 this time led by the more extreme Bolshevik party. Under the leadership of Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky, a new decree was put in place to officially withdraw from the World War. This sudden change was great news for the German armies who no longer had to worry about the Eastern front and could put their entire focus on the Western Front.


Germany's Spring Offensive

With the Russians out of the war and the Americans entering the war, the Germans decided it was time for one final offensive. Under the leadership of Gen Erich Ludendorff the Germans plan was to divide the British and French forces before the American soldiers arrived. The first assault came in March of 1918 as the German armies pushed through Saint-Quentin with new stormtrooper tactics. By using the element of surprise German forces were able to regain forward position in France.

However one of the key turning points for Germany came at the 2nd Battle of the Marne in July 1918. French commander, Gen Ferdinand Foch assembled the allies new team of French, British, and American soldiers. Gen Douglas Haig led the British forces while General John J. Pershing lead the fresh American soldiers. The Germans initiated the attack for the city of Reims, however the tide quickly turned against them as the Allies began a major counter attack led by hundreds of tanks. The Germans were forced to retreat and so began the Allies final offensive.

The Hundred Days Offensive

Following their victory at the 2nd Battle of the Marne, the Allies began to push the Germans out of France. August 8th, 1918 marked their first offensive victory at the Battle of Amiens in north France. A few days later came the Second Battle of the Somme which was yet another Allied victory. Soon the Allies were pushing at the German's Hindenburg Line, their last occupied stronghold in France. The Germans knew they had loss the war by this point, yet were holding on for some sort of favorable treaty.

Meanwhile the other central powers had also began to capitulate in the autumn of 1918. Bulgaria was the first to accept defeat in September. In October the Ottoman Empire signed an armistice which marked an end to their long standing empire. The Austro-Hungarian army also became ineffective after being overrun by the Italian armies. On Nov 3rd they too signed an armistice.

The Hindenburg Line was heavily fortified and the Allies began the Meuse-Argonne Offensive lead by American General John J. Pershing. The fighting began on Sept 26th 1918 and lasted for a couple weeks until the Germans agreed upon an armistice. They had lost their territory, their supplies, their moral, and knew the war was over. The Kaiser of Germany was forced to step down and soon frenzy and revolution began to grip the streets of Germany.



End of War and Aftermath

Following the armistice a period of seven months of ceasefire was in place while the world leaders began to meet and discuss a proper peace treaty moving forward. President Woodrow Wilson famously proposed a 14-Point Plan, with the establishment of a League of Nations as vital. By June of 1919 the Allied delegates presented the Treaty of Versailles to the defeated Germans. The signing of the document brought an official end to World War I.

The terms of the treaty were extremely harsh on the Germans, blaming them for start of the entire conflict. It stripped territorial land from Germany that was acquired before and during the war. It brought down harsh military restrictions on the Germans in an effort to avoid re-escalation. It brought huge financial reparations against Germany to pay for all the damage they had caused. It required that Allied troops keep a presence in their homeland to maintain peace. And finally it made way for an international organization that would later become known as the League of Nations.

Despite all these efforts to create a new world of peace, the treaty only infuriated the Germans all the more. They grew angry at the world, yet also those within their country they deemed as traitors, specifically the Jews. Shortly after the German Revolution of 1919 was repelled, a Weimar Republic was put in place to rebuild Germany's economy. This was no easy task with the high cost of reparations, and only paved the way for new German nationalism and radicalism. This humiliated nation was in dire need of something to believe in, which brought way to the rise of the National Socialist Party under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. 

Other Interesting Facts about World War I

• It was the deadliest and most cost effective conflict of it's time
• The total number of deaths was more than 18 million (11 million soldiers, and 7 million civilians)
• The total number of wounded was over 22 million
• The Battle of Somme was the bloodiest causing over 1.2 million deaths
• Over 65 million soldiers partook in the war
• Over 40 countries partook in the war
• It was the first use of chemical warfare; causing 500,000 causalities
• The self-powered machine gun fired 600 rounds a minute 
• Artillery weapons caused 70% of the war's casualties
• One of the most infamous of these artillery weapons, was known as "Big Bertha". It's shells could fire over 9 miles.
• It was the first use of tanks introduced by the British; nearly 900 were used in operation
• It was the first use of planes with nearly 65,000 produced by both sides
• America's top pilot, Eddie Rickenbacker, downed 26 aircraft
• Germany's top pilot, Manfred von Richthofen (known as the Red Baron), downed 80 aircraft
• Germany also introduced the zeppelin to warfare, conducting aerial bombings
• Germany also introduced submarine warfare; sinking over 5,500 Allied ships
• Despite all the technological advancements, over 500,000 carrier pigeons were used to deliver messages
• On Christmas Eve 1914, British and German troops called for a ceasefire and played football and exchanged souvenirs in no-mans land.

Movie Masterpiece: Doctor Zhivago

Not sure exactly when was the 1st time I saw this film, but I imagine it was around my political days of 2008-2009. I was first intrigued by the Russian Revolution when I saw the film Reds. I later discovered that the film Doctor Zhivago was a classic novel by Boris Pasternak, and there had been a historical epic directed by David Lean in the 1960s. I always have enjoyed historical epics and have especially been interested by the topic of the Russian Revolution (Russian Revolution, Russian Civil War). The 1st time I watched this movie, I remember the story being very complex and the images were very raw, however I still loved it! I liked the lead character of Doctor Zhivago, the musical theme, and the historical setting of Russia during the Revolution.

Since Doctor Zhivago is an older film (1965), I think it makes for a more proper image of Russia in the 1910s and 1920s. While the film is in color, there are scenes of colorless images, depicting the harsh cold and political climate of Russia during it's revolution. There are also moments of grand scale filming, depicting the Russians involvement in World War I and later their Civil War. As well as incredible landscapes of urban and rural Russia.

The story centers on the young and good-hearted Doctor Zhivago whose life is swallowed by the political storm of the revolution. He begins as a good virtued man, a medical student married to his childhood friend, Tonya. However as the revolution unfolds, he finds his good virtue beginning to dissipate, no thanks to the attractive nurse he meets, Lara. Throughout the story Zhivago is pulled in all directions by the conflict of the Revolution, of which he continuously runs into Lara. The story makes for a very complex love story in the midst of such a politically unstable backdrop.


The Historical Setting

The story begins at the height of political tension in Moscow, Russia, in the year 1913. Dr. Zhivago is a medical student and witnesses a Bolshevik protest that is massacred by Russian Imperial soldiers. While bothered by the scene, he stays neutral and focuses on his medical practice and his passion for poetry. However the world around Zhivago continues to change and he is eventually conscripted to join the Russian Army at WWI. It is here that he meets and falls for Lara, who is searching for her husband. Zhivago witnesses the Russian soldier's frustration with the tsar. The war is the last straw for the political tension, and soon thousands of Russians begin to desert the pointless war. As the movie states this is the beginning of the revolution.

By 1917, while away at war Zhivago learns that the Tsar has stepped down and a new government has been formed. When he returns to his home and family in Moscow he discovers that their are new living provisions in place, in which multiple families share his home. He is also assigned to a new hospital in Moscow with higher hours. Yet Zhivago remains optimistic about the new state of his nation and adapts to the changes while continuing with his poetry.

However things only grow worse in the newly found state as starvation and sickness begin to spread. To make matters worse Zhivago's poems are condemned by the government and he must flee Moscow with his family. With the help of his brother, he is able to flee Moscow, and travel eastward to the Ural Mountains, on a long 11 day train ride which demonstrates a raw glimpse into the misery of the setting. In the town of Varykino Zhivago is able to live a satisfied life with his wife, child, and father in-law. That is until he runs into Lara, yet again and the two begin their love affair.

Zhivago is later forced to re-enlist for the army, this time to join the Red Army's military campaign against counterrevolutionaries. After 2 years of service he deserts the battlefront and discovers his wife and family have left Varykino. He then reunites with Lara, and they continue their love affair. That is until they discover that they are both in grave danger for different reasons. Lara goes into hiding in the far east regions while Zhivago eventually returns back to Moscow. He spends his last few years in great misery and dies of a heart attack.


The Characters: 

Doctor Yuri Zhivago: (played by Omar Shariff) He is the ideal optimist; a family man, a hard working doctor, a passionate poet, and a good citizen. Even as the revolution unfolds he supports it and does his part in adapting to the new system. However his greatest flaw is his passion, which unravels when he meets and has an affair with Lara. This characterization of Zhivago is an example how even the most moral and good hearted person can be broken by his surroundings. Had it not been for the Russian Revolution and his constant run-ins with the beautiful Lara, he could have lived a very prosperous life.

Lara Antipova: (played by Julie Christie) She is a peaceful kind devoted person, whose only flaw is her beauty. At the young age of 17 she is involved in a relationship with an older upper class man named Komarovsky. She later breaks away from him to marry a young revolutionary named Pasha. However Pasha's involvement with the Russian revolution destroys their marriage and leaves Lara alone. It is at this point that she is constantly drawn to Zhivago thru chance meetings as well as a growing desire for him.

Tonya Gromeko: (played by Geraldine Chaplin) She is the devoted loving wife of Zhivago who wants nothing more than to make him happy. She supports him through everything always true and faithful. Even after she discovers of the affair and is forced to leave Russia, she wishes him all the best luck and happiness in the world.

Pasha Antipov/ Streinikov: (played by Tom Courtenay) He is committed to the revolution more than anything, even his beautiful wife Lara. At a peaceful protest he is terribly scarred by the Imperial Cossacks which leads him to grow more extreme in his political views. During WWI he vanishes for a while of which Lara enlists as a nurse to go find him. He later reappears in the story as the ruthless commander known as Streinikov. He is later captured by the Red Army and kills himself on his way to his execution.

Victor Ipolitovich Komarovsky: (played by Rod Steiger) He is a well connected upper clansman involved in a relationship with the much younger Lara. He is a very complex character; wise yet wicked, cruel yet truly cares for Lara. He backs off when he discovers Lara's intentions to marry Pasha, however he warns her that his political idealism will lead to a life of unhappiness. He later comes to her aid at the end of the story after Pasha's death, and provides Lara protection in the far eastern regions of Russia.

Yevgraf Andreyevich Zhivago: (played by Alec Guinness) He is the pragmatic narrator of the story, the brother of Yuri. As a member of the Bolshevik party he joins the war to enlist men and strengthen their campaign against the tsar. After the revolution he becomes a CHEKA officer and helps his brother escape Moscow. Years after his brother's death Yevgraf interrogates a woman he believes to be Yuri and Lara's daughter. After he realizes she is their daughter lost as the far eastern region he offers to help her as only an uncle can.

The Filming and Score

After great success with the epic films The Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia, David Lean was chosen as the ideal director for this historical epic. Similar to the film Reds, the Soviet Union would not allow foreign productions into their country; especially since the work of Boris Pasternak was outlawed and considered anti-communist. Therefore much of this film was shot in other parts of Europe such as Spain and Finland to provide striking landscapes.

Lean's perspective of the story was displayed thru strong characterization and the use of expressions and symbolism. He went on to be nominated for best director however did not win. Tom Courtneay was also nominated for his portrayl of Pasha yet did not win. The film was nominated for 10 academy awards and won 5 in the categories of Art Direction, Cinematography, Adapted Screenplay, Costume Design, and Original Score. The famous theme song by Maurice Jarre has been quite iconic for the film. It's use of the balalaika is the embodiment of Russian culture.

Movie Masterpiece: Reds

It's amazing the inspiration that can come from reading a book, and I must say Ken Follett's Fall of Giants has re-ignited my passion for history and drama. The book takes place in Europe during WWI and the Russian Revolution, it's one of my favorite time periods and the book is full of great historical insight. As soon as I finish I'll have a full report on the book.

Being so caught up in this time period lately, I thought it would be quite fitting to watch one of my all time favorite films, Reds. It's a historical romantic drama about John Jack Reed, an American journalist and politician who covered the Russian Revolution and tried to replicate in the United States. The story also focuses on his romance with fellow journalist and feminist Louis Bryant.

I first fell in love with this film when I lived in Chicago in 2008. At that time I wanted nothing more than to be a writer and involved in some type of romantic political revolution. The story of love and passion was something I could greatly relate to and I found it to be masterfully done. Ever since I have always considered it in my top ten favorite's list, (Top 25 Movies, Reds) however I've yet to give it an in-depth study. This film by Warren Beatty is truly a cinematic masterpiece.

The Historical Setting

I strongly feel some of the best dramatic or romantic stories come out of historical period pieces. For example Titanic, Schindler's List, Braveheart, Gladiator, all favorites of mine where the story puts a character in a historical setting. I suppose what makes this recipe so successful is that it encapsulates the audience into a period that we have only known of from school or books. To witness the time period of the 1917 Russian Revolution from an American and a Russian perspective is a true treat.

Beatty begins his story in America, covering the relationship of John Jack Reed (played passionately by Beatty himself) and Louis Bryant (played just as passionately by Diane Keaton). They begin their love in New York City, living in the radical, liberal neighborhood of Greenwich Valley, surronded by many other like-minded liberals such as Emma Goldman, Eugene O'Neil, and Max Eastman. Louis and John develop a toxic relationship, wanting to be independent yet also unable to go on without the other.

In an effort to get away from John, Louis travels to Europe to cover the great war. She is later convinced by John to join him in Russia to cover the revolution. The two once again fall in love as they witness the event, and support one another's writing. When they return to the states they are convinced to make their relationship work this time.

However John's passion continues to get the better of him, as he is convinced to bring Communism to the United States and replicate Russia's revolution. As he tries to form a political party, he is splintered away from different factions of the left, yet also his wife. In an effort to strengthen his party he returns to Russia to get backing, however instead is enlisted to join their propaganda machine. Without any hope of leaving Russia, John joins their political campaign. He is blinded by his heartbreak from Louis, and is slowly driven into madness. Louis bravely enters Russia and the two reunite one last time before his death. It is Shakespearian at it's core; a very tragic yet extremely highly romantic finish.  


The Characters

John Jack Reed: (played by Warren Beaty) He wass an extremely passionate person, an intellectual and especially a romantic. As a graduate of Harvard he took a liberal open approach to his journalism and quickly became a rising voice in leftist politics. Writing for various magazines, such as the Masses, he took on freelance jobs covering political events and strikes. One of his first early breakthrough's came in covering the Mexican Revolution in 1913. He later went on to cover the start of World War I in Europe.

By 1915 he was a well known journalist and on a visit to his hometown of Portland, Oregon he met and fell in love with Louis Bryant. From them on the two practically became synonymous with each other. Reed supported president Woodrow Wilson however was against the war from the beginning. In 1917 he traveled to Russia to cover the Revolution and wrote one of his most famous works, Ten Days that Shook the World.

After returning to America, Reed found a greater passion for communism and wanted to establish a similar revolution in the United States. This however became his downfall as he began to lose sight of his true passion which was writing. The more involved he got with Russian politics the further he got away from his wife, which eventually led to his death in Russia. He was only 32 when he died of typhus.

Louis Bryant: (played by Diane Keaton) After studying journalism at the University of Oregon, she became active in the women's suffragette movement. It was in 1915 that she met John Jack Reed, and left her husband to join him in New York City. She became all the more progressive through her new liberal society and continued to write. Her coverage of the Russian Revolution brought her further success and she was able to use that as her platform on politics and female equality. She was an extremely free spirit, well ahead of her time. She had several other lovers outside of John, such as the playwright Eugene O'Neill. After John's death she contniued to write and lecture, got remarried, yet began to drink more and died early at the age of 50.  

Emma Goldman: (Played by Maureen Stapleton) She was a Jewish Russian anarchist who grew to fame in New York City in the late 1890s, writing about anarchism, feminism, and social issues. In 1892 she convinced her husband to assassinate the wealthy Henrick Frick Clay as a spark in their revolution. However the plot fell short and her husband was arrested. Meanwhile Goldman continued her movement through the early 1900s by inciting riots and violent discourse.

In 1901 she was later accused again of murder in the 3rd degree, this time of President McKinley. She was however found innocent in this case, In 1907 she began publishing her Mother Earth which became her platform for anarchism and female rights. She also began to promote birth control at this time. She got in further trouble during WWI when she encouraged citizens to oppose conscription. As a result she was arrest and later deported to Russia.

She was supportive of Russia's revolution at first, yet later began to oppose their harsh tactics. She later went on to Spain to support the rise of anarchism during the Spanish Civil War and died a few years later at the age of 70.    

Eugene O'Neill: (played by Jack Nicholson) He is often considered one the most significant American playwrights best known for his work, Long Day's Journey Into the Night. During the 1910s he became a good friend of John Jack Reed, as well as other liberal artists of the area. He also had a brief romantic affair with Louis.

Max Eastman: (played by Edward Hermann) During the 1910s Max was one of the lead figures in the American socialist movement of New York City. His publication of the Masses became one of the most popular platforms that advocated radical liberal agenda. John Jack Reed was a good friend of his, and also one of his best contributors to the magazine. Later in his life, after witnessing Stalin's terrible asssceneion to power, he became less supportive of communism and more supportive of the free market.

Grigory Zinoviev: (played by Jerzy Kosinski) He was one of top Bolshevik leaders, under Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin. He was the head of the Cominterm (Communist International) whose goal was to spread communism across the globe. Through use of propaganda he was able to spread the Bolshevik movement across eastern Europe and other parts of the globe. He was later executed during the political repression known as the Great Terror, in which Stalin took power and killed all those who opposed him, also including Trotsky.

The Score and Filming

Along with the historical setting, romantic story, and incredible acting came the brilliant directing of Warren Beaty. It was quite obvious that this was a personal project since he produced, wrote, directed, and starred in the project. The filming was a long drawn-out process shot in 5 different countries. Beatty was also obsessed with shooting many takes, which frustrated many of the actors. At the time he was dating his co-star Diane Keaton, and their emotional relationship made for a perfect on screen dynamic. Stephen Sondheim provided the score for the film, and his theme song, Goodbye for Now, has become quite iconic. I always enjoyed looping the film's DVD menu just to hear the theme song.

The film went on be nominated for 12 Academy Awards, of which 3 were won for Best Supporting Actress (Maureen Stapleton), Best Cinematography, and Best Directing (Warren Beatty). The film fell short in the Best Picture category to Chariots of Fire, however I'm glad Beatty got to win the best director award. This was clearly his magnum opus of a film and will always go down as a cinematic masterpiece. 

Random Summer Notes 2016

With finally a bit of free time on my hand, thanks to the Labor Day weekend, I thought it was fitting to update the ole blog with a summer recap. As per usual it was an eventful one, full of traditional events, new events, and topped off with a very memorable family vacation to Minnesota.

5th Season with Indy Indians

Last night I just finished my 5th season with the Indy Indians which is quite hard to believe. I still love the job, and am so grateful to have such an enjoyablee stress-free part time job in the summer time to keep me busy. I also enjoy the people there I work with, such as the game clock operator, Chris, who has become a good friend of mine the last couple years. It's basically as if I'm getting paid to watch baseball and I hope to have the job for many years to come.


International Sports Tournaments

This summer was loaded with great sports action, including 3 major international sports tournaments; the Copa America, The Euro Cup, and the Olympics. I won't go too much into detail on this, since it's all been covered thoroughly in this blog on my last 10 posts. I will emphasize however how much I enjoy international tournaments such as these. No sport compares to what soccer and the Olympics do on a world stage.


Dad's Retirement Party

One of the major events of the summer was dad's retirement party being hosted at the house in Kekionga. After 27 years working at St. John's New Haven dad worked his last day in early June. However before he could truly enjoy the retirement lifestyle he wanted to invite all his family and friends to celebrate with him. As per usual it was a big task of planning and organizing and was to be a 3 day summer bash.

I arrived on Thursday to help prepare for the party. I made my sangria and guava bread which was a big hit that weekend. On Friday afternoon some of the early arrivers began to show, and by evening time we surprised dad with his new pontoon and jet ski. That evening we had hamburgers and hot dogs.

The following day was the big party day, and practically my dad's whole family was there. Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. Even Geoff was there, who I hadn't seen in several years. I remember riding the jet ski for my first time ever that day. There was music and food aplenty. It wasn't like the old family parties of wild drunkenness, yet rather tame and overrun by children. My dad even got a playhouse for them which was a big hit.

On Sunday was the final wrap up day and some family showed up for breakfest and leftovers. I stayed until Monday morning to relax and help with the cleanup. The 3 day party was a total success, and my dad had properly begun his new lifestyle.

The following weekend Mom and Dad came to visit for their anniversary which was nice. We had a barbecue at my place, including some very good carne asada. We then went to an Indy Eleven game that night. It was a fun weekend having them visit.

Fitness and Health

This summer I slowed downed on the running and switched over to weightlifting. While I always try to do pushups and situps after my runs, I haven't seriously taken on weightlifting since my P90x phase in 2010. I was able to get a new routine going thanks to Philip who gave me his bench press and curling bar. Starting in mid July I began benching and curling on a routine basis. I reorganized my sun-room to turn it into a gym.

We also had our 8th annual triathlon on July 23rd, which was yet another success thanks to Andres' friends at the YMCA. We had over 20 people participate. I finished in the middle and was satisfied with my result as one of the older participants. After the race we drove back to Indy to celebrate Will's birthday.

Minnesota Vacation

Our big Sundberg vacation was 4 years in the making, after our memorable trip to New England. This time we wanted to include Philip, Shawnna, and the kids Benjamin and Will. At first our plan was to go to Canada but that was too expensive so we then changed to the Mackinac Islands, however Gabriel and Andres wanted something different, so we all agreed on a place we had never been to before; Minnesota.

I took the whole week off of work, which would be my first full week vacation since New England 2012. I was excited to get out of my routine for a while and to not worry about work. It would be the perfect end to the summer and new transition into the fall. I found us a good priced cabin off the large Mille Lacs Lake north of Minneapolis.

We left early Sunday Morning on August 14th. It was about a 10 hour drive from Fort Wayne, and we rented a large 12 passenger van. Of course we had to make many stops along the way for the children, as well as food breaks. Me and my dad took turns driving. We stopped at a Denny's for breakfest outside of Chicago which had the best jalapeno bacon I had ever tasted. We arrived at the cabin in the town of Isle, MN that evening and quickly went for a swim. The lake was enormous and the cabin was much more spacious that I had thought. We all watched the Olympics that evening after we got the car unpacked. I was glad the cabin had TV and we were able to watch the Olympics every night.

The first day there we relaxed all day, set up the hammock, went swimming, rafting, fishing, played board games, and I read my new book (The Fall of Giants-Ken Follet). We also had plenty of good food. The next day we got up early to visit the city of Minneapolis. We started at the Mall of America and went on some of the rides. Then we did some shopping and had lunch. Afterwards we caught the train to the city where we walked downtown for a bit. To be honest I wasn't all that impressed with Minneapolis, however I'm still glad we got to see it. We got home late that evening due to traffic.

The next day we relaxed again doing the same things as before. I got alot of reading done, and was really beginning to enjoy my new book. The next day we drove out to Duluth, MN which was about an hour north of where we were staying. Quite remarkable there happened to be a rare boat show that day off of Lake Superior, and thousands of people had come out to witness it. There were old galleons and pirates in costume along the coastline. We sat by the lakeside for some time, watching the boats and had a good lunch at a burger restaurant. Afterwards we stopped to visit the birthplace of Bob Dylan, which was cool to see.

We left that Friday on the long drive home, and this time Philip and dad took turns driving. We stopped at a nice family diner in Wisconsin and even got some Cheese Curds. I got alot of reading done and I remember Philip was able to stream the Olympics on his phone. We got home late that night around 11 or 12. The trip was a great escape from the usual, a perfect success of relaxation and family bonding. The next morning I drove back to Indy. After a week of vacation I was ready to get back to my life in Indy. However I still do miss the time I shared with my family. Saddly we don't get to do that as much as we use to.  


New Phases

It's been so long since I've read a book, and decided to tackle one this summer after talking with Laura at the retirement party. Marc was the one who recommended Ken Follett's century trilogy to me. It is a century long story of fictitious characters intertwined in the backdrop of the last century's major world events. This is my favorite type of movie and only makes it would make for an exciting book full of such great academic insight. I'm almost finished with Part 1- The Fall of Giants which is set in Europe during WW1. I'll have a full review to come.

The book has also inspired old interests of mine in historical events such as the Russian Revolution, WWI, the rise of feminism, and the rise of Communism. If I find time this fall I may do some further studies and postings on these intriguing topics.


Fall Outlook

Fall is always my favorite time of the year for so many reasons; football is back, the English Premier league is back, the weather is getting cooler, the elections are getting closer, the leaves are changing, etc. With a seasonal change I myself always try to make some changes.

I hope to continue exercising both running and lifting weights. I have the Baca Bolt next weekend and the Monumental Half in a couple months. I also have been trying to eat better, and eat less quantities. It's so hard to get rid of the Sundberg belly, especially as I get older, but I really am trying.

I want to stay busy with part time work on the side. Fortunately I have gotten off to a great start working for a voter registration project. I just started yesterday and today doing data entry and making phone calls. I job pays well and isn't too stressful which I like.

I also hope to stay social this fall and into the winter. I'm planning to go to an IU football game with Chris, maybe visit Marc and Laura in Nashville, and other outings as well. Hopefully with extra income from part time jobs, I can stay busy, stay active, and stay positive. As always the number one goal is to meet someone to fall for.