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archivedatl · 18 years ago

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AP web exclusive: All Time Low tour diary

Posted by Scott Heisel on 08-Dec-06 @ 04:43 PM

Last month, Baltimore pop-punkers All Time Low took to the road with Sugarcult for a series of shows on the West Coast. Here's some of what they saw, in words and pictures. Learn more at www.alltimelow.com.

#1------------------------------------------------------------ Ooohooo So last night we celebrated two awesome occasions...well 3 since matt's molars finally grew in...anyways yesterday was Haloween and our first night of our tour with Sugarcult. I must say, it is pretty strange touring with a band who I spent the better years of my middle school life watching on MTV. Regardless of where this band has been, it definetly didn't eff with their personalities. They were all super nice to us and each came up and introduced themselves. The show went pretty well but it wasn't a good judgement of our the whole tour is going to be because Sugarcult didn't even headline, the Eagles Of Death Metal did, and the tickets for $25 on Haloween night :) I'm sorry but I would never go to a show if those were the circumstances...I'd be out expanding my collection of holiday treats. Tonight the 'real' tour begins so we will see how it goes. We are playing Washington State University in Pullman Washington. We haven't done too many college shows, so this should be interesting...anyways before we got on the road a couple days ago we were couped up in Ben Harper's (formely of yellowcard, now in amber pacific) house/studio in long beach, CA working on our new CD :). We demoed some hot licks that were going to send over to our producer matt squire so that he can put in some input. I heard my blogs are going to be posted on the Alternative Press website for this tour, so if that's the case then...helll yeah! Well I just woke up from sleeping in the van so I am gonna walk out into the freezing streets of Pullman, WA crack my back and grab some Qudoba. Much Love, Jack --jbstar #2------------------------------------------------------------ Yoo dooodds, So I'm gonna update you guys on the passed couple shows...on Wednsday we played Washington State University. Those kids are freaking crazy! Everyone seemed to be having a good time and we made some awesome new friends. I cannot stress enough, how cool the Sugarcult guys are. Which is really cool because I have been listening to those guys since 6th grade! Anyways before we played, matt thought it would be a good idea to have a fork and knife fight backstage...yeah it turned pretty ugly and we should have some footage online soon enough. That night we partied at 'The Christmas House'. Lets just say that I'm pretty sure alex made out with a dog...I really miss Hit The Lights :( Anways...we played Seattle after the college show and it was offf the hoooook. Everyone in the room was dancing and it got pretty redic. As soon as we told them the alex/dog story they went nuts. We met up with the Pink Spiders that night. We were nervous about that because we've heard some stuff...but for real those guys are the shit. There all super nice and we have no complaints about them. We have yet to tour with a band who we don't get along with (fingers crossed). We also heard that we may be doing a few shows with Cobra Starship in Dec, if that happends that would be sick. I'll keep you guys updated. Someone made us a bucket of the craziest donuts ive ever seen at the portland show last night!! They were reallly good. Sorry for the lack of pics, I'll make sure my next post has more, its just hard to take good pics on a sidekick :). Talk to you guys soon!!Jacko #3------------------------------------------------------------ Yo Babaayyss, Last nights show was off the hook! I love playing at The Boardwalk in orangevale calii. The crowd was as wild as usual and a bunch of kids were singing along. A lot of the same kids who saw us there on the Amber Pacific tour came back. Its always cool to see so many familiar faces,,,cough cough hint hint nudge...you get the idea folks! The next couple shows should be interesting...reno and vegas. I wont be able to gamble but at least ill be able to look at a lot of lights. We all have family comming out, so that should be exciting. I havent seen my brother and sister in ages and i know their gonna be wasted so that means they will be even more friendly :) Also Meg n Dia join up in vegas which is sick, SO SIKED FOR THAT!!! We met them on warped and their super nice. anyways i think its time, i go to In and Out because after this tour im not going to be able to go back for a while :( im going to eat there everyday twice a day until we leave Arizona. Ive attached pics from our set on the Epitaph stage at this years Bamboozle Left and also some pics of our acoustic set the 2nd day! Thanks to everyone who watched us either/both days :) love you peace peace n a bottle o' hair grease, jack #4------------------------------------------------------------ Wow...vegas has to be one of the strangest places on this earth. First of all we showed up in Reno (shity city) only to find that only sugarcults crew was there and the show probably wasnt going on. We were welcomed by a hooker in a pink tanktop and no teeth asking if we had any shirts we could give her...Thankfully we have power windows and middle fingers. Thankfully zack was asleep or he might have took her up on some of her offers...he's getting desperate you know..just kidding! Anyways we decided to hang out with sugarcults crew for a little then start the drive to vegas early since it was 8 house. We got to go over the Hoover Damn which was sweet. It's seriously Vegas Vacation all over again! Anyways, we got to vegas around midnight and it was a fantastic site! My bro and sis were staying at the MGM so thats where i headed. Rian to the Excalibur, Alex and Matt to the Venecian and Zack to the Luxor. We all split up and hung out with our fam for the evening. My brother took me around vegas and boyyy was it interesting. I was approached by numerous drunk people. It was basically like an Ocean City, Maryland for older people. It's just a place for adults to drink, walk around drunk, act like teenagers and maybe gamble a bit here n' there. it was Akward to say the least. Anyways the next day was the show at the House Of Blues at Mandalay Bay...probably one of the nicest venues we have ever played. We introduced ourselves to the Meg n Dia folks and got to know our new tour mates as we shared a dressing room. We soon found they are awesome people and they share a love for getting wild! The show was pretty cool, and the crowd was big. It was weird though because the merch was not in the venue, it was in the cassino haha. Anyways Vegas was an experience we wont forget, and I cant wait till we go there again. I hope the next time we go, were 21...actually nevermind because that would be three years :)stay rad, Jack #5------------------------------------------------------------ Lame! Tonight was our last show on the Sugarcult Tour featuring The Pink Spiders and Meg n Dia :( Damone will be taking our place on this great lineup. I am jelous that they get to join up! Anyways we made some lifetime friends on this tour and it was a great experience for everyone. Every single show was amazing and the fans never let us down. Traveling to bumfuck arizona and hearing a couple hundred kids sing your song is the coolest feeling ever. Sugarcult was very warming towards us and their personalities suprised the shit out of me. they were such cool guys and even when zack was sick they made him soup and gave him Emergen-C. WHO DOES THAT !?!? Thats like something my mom does...so in a way Sugarcult are our parents. They actually reffered to us as their younger brothers on stage. At the last show of the tour in Little Rock, Arkansas us and Meg n Dia ran on stage during "Bouncing Off the Walls" and started bouncing around and took over Tim's Guitar n Mic, Marko's (my twin) guitar and Airens Bass. It was so fun to bro down with a band that ive been listening to since middle school haha. Alex also got to soundcheck with sugarcult at Texas AM College because tim was at the hospital taking care of his sickness (i think he had a nasty cold). It was so crazy to see alex soundcheck with a band who for the past few years have held a special spot on my ipod and in my cd player :) I attached a pic of him sound-checking for fun. At the end of the show we said our goodbyes and gave our hugs. This is'nt the end of these friendships though, only the beggining...now we head home to write a new cd. Catch us on the road in the northeast in december when we head out with Cobra Starship! Stay safe, Jack

#2006 #blog #Jack Barakat #text #alternative press #all time low #sugarcult tour

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papermoonloveslucy · 6 years ago

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LUCY on I’VE GOT A SECRET

1956 - 1966

“I've Got a Secret” is a panel game show derived from “What's My Line?.” Instead of celebrity panelists trying to determine a contestant's occupation, the panel tries to determine a contestant's ‘secret’; something that is unusual, amazing, embarrassing, or humorous. The show premiered on June 19, 1952 on CBS and ran until April 3, 1967. It began broadcasting in black and white, switching to color in 1966. From 1952 to 1960 the show was done at CBS Studio 59, formerly the Mansfield Theatre, now the Brooks Atkinson.

When “I’ve Got A Secret” first went on the air it was an immediate disaster, in part because producers Goodson-Todman tried too hard to differentiate it from “What’s My Line?” It had an awkward courtroom set in which the panelists would interrogate contestants seated in a witness box. After the first broadcast, Goodson ordered the set scrapped and a new one built which would mirror the “What's My Line?” set. One of the show’s two sponsors canceled so for the remainder of the first season the show only aired every other week, alternating with “Racket Squad.”

The show was originally hosted by radio and television personality Garry Moore. After several months of an ever-changing panel, game show host Bill Cullen, acerbic comedian Henry Morgan, TV hostess Faye Emerson, and actress Jayne Meadows became the four regular panelists. In 1958, Emerson left the show to star in a play and was replaced by actress Betsy Palmer. Later that year, Meadows relocated to the West Coast and was replaced by former Miss America Bess Myerson. Other comedians and celebrities appeared as guests on the panel when others were away. The announcer for most of the run was John Cannon.

Moore left the show after the 1963–64 season. When his comedy program “The Garry Moore Show” was canceled by the network, Moore chose to retire from television to travel the world with his wife. He was replaced by Steve Allen, who left his own syndicated talk show to take over the game.

A typical episode featured two regular contestant rounds followed by a celebrity guest round, occasionally followed by an additional regular round, if time permitted. “I've Got a Secret” was more informal than its sister show “What's My Line?” in most respects. The panel and host were generally on a first-name basis. The formal time limit on questioning was removed early in the show's run, and time limits were set more for entertainment. The men on the panel always wore informal suits or even sport jackets. The panel was introduced at the start of each episode by the host (as opposed to by each other, as on “What's My Line?”), sometimes with a series of descriptive puns, but generally without plugging their other projects.

“I've Got a Secret,” along with “What's My Line?” and “To Tell the Truth,” were canceled in a mass axing of CBS's remaining panel shows in 1967; the shows were financially successful but were not drawing good ratings. Between 1952 and 1967, “I've Got a Secret” ranked among the top 30 television shows for ten out of fifteen seasons, peaking at #5 during the 1957–58 season. The show was nominated for three Emmy Awards during the 1950s.

The first theme music used on the show from 1952 to 1961 was "Plink, Plank, Plunk!" by Leroy Anderson. The second theme, used from 1961 to 1962, was an upbeat arrangement of the "Theme from A Summer Place" by Max Steiner. The third theme, used from 1962 to 1967, was an upbeat march composed by the show's musical director Norman Paris and played by a live studio combo.

February 8, 1956 at 9:30pm

Directed by Frank Satenstein

The program is sponsored by Winston cigarettes. Because of this, host Garry Moore smokes continually throughout the program. Those contestants who stump the panel win a carton of Winstons and a cash prize [$80 in 1956].

Garry Moore (Host) says that Faye Emerson is on vacation and that Lucille Ball will be taking her place that evening. Unbeknownst to him (supposedly) Lucille Ball shadows Moore on his entrance, making funny faces behind his back. When he turns to introduce her they come face to face and scream. Moore mentions that Lucy is there to promote her film Forever Darling.

John Cannon (Announcer)

The Panel (left to right)

Bill Cullen hosted 23 shows in his lifetime and earned the nickname "Dean of Game Show Hosts". Aside from his hosting duties, he also appeared as a panelist / guest on many other game shows, including “To Tell The Truth,” a sister show to “I've Got a Secret.”

Jayne Meadows was an actress who was also quite a popular game show panelist, often beside her husband Steve Allen, whom she wed two years before this telecast. In 1970 she appeared on an episode of “Here's Lucy” (S3;E16). She is sister to “Honeymooners” star Audrey Meadows, who appeared with as Lucille Ball's sister on an episode of “Life With Lucy” (1987).

Henry Morgan (not to be confused with actor Harry Morgan) was a frequent guest panelist on three of the most popular prime-time game shows in the 1950s and '60's: "I've Got a Secret," What's My Line," and "To Tell the Truth."

Lucille Ball (Guest Panelist). Two days earlier, “I Love Lucy” broadcast “The Fox Hunt” (S5;E16) for the first time, part of the Ricardos and Mertzes trip to Europe. A few days after this appearance on “I've Got A Secret,” Ball returned to California to begin rehearsals for the classic episode “Lucy Gets a Paris Gown” (S5;E20), in which Lucy and Ethel are duped into wearing burlap bags as fashion. The episode was filmed on February 16, 1956 and aired a month later.

The Contestants

Bertha Pierce is from Olean, New York. Her secret is that she built the chairs that the panel is sitting on. Lucy is put on the spot when asked to go first. She notes that Olean is very close to her hometown of Jamestown. Lucy is startled by the buzzer of the timer. Jayne Meadows guesses the secret correctly.

Seymour J. Seymour is 96 years old and appears on the stage with a patch on his eye, using a cane. Moore says Seymour had a fall in the hotel the previous evening. His secret is that he saw John Wilkes Booth shoot President Lincoln on April 14, 1865. [Seymour passed away two months after the airing of the show.] At the time, Seymour was the last living witness to the shooting. Jayne Meadows guesses his secret and Moore gives Seymour the full prize of $80. Before the show, Seymour informed Moore that he does not smoke cigarettes, so he is given a can of Prince Albert pipe tobacco instead. [In other instances, the sponsor was not so amenable. Both Groucho Marx and Ernie Kovacs wanted to smoke their trademark cigars on the show, but Winston forbade it. In the case of Groucho, they eventually relented.]

Desi Arnaz (Guest Contestant) is introduced by his wife, reading a script written by the show that comically goes on...and on... and on. The panel leaves the stage while Moore and Arnaz discuss Forever Darling, which opens the next day at the Loewe's State in NYC. [Lucy and Desi expected the film to open at Radio City Music Hall, just like their last MGM feature The Long, Long Trailer. But the Music Hall declined to premiere the film. They did not expect it to be a blockbuster, which it was not.] Desi has planned to play a trick on his wife by telling everyone else on the panel his 'secret' and telling them to pass their turn to Lucy. Desi's secret is “I love Lucy.” When Bill Cullen disqualifies himself, Lucy is immediately suspicious. Lucy is totally confounded by being the only player and she and Desi devolve into good-natured husband and wife bickering. With a big smile of realization, Lucy finally gets it! Before they depart, Moore reads a wire from the Heart Fund, thanking Lucy and Desi for their time and energy on their behalf.

February 15, 1961 at 9:30pm

Directed by Franklin Heller

The program is sponsored by Bristol Myers' Bufferin. Doing a live pitch for the pain remedy, Garry Moore says that an in-store display features a mirror in which his face appears. The associate sponsor was Clairol.

The show begins with a cold open of Lucille Ball talking to the viewers: “My name is Lucille Ball and I've got a secret.”

Garry Moore (Host) notes that Bill Cullen is on vacation and introduces the panel, staring with Cullen's replacement, Johnny Carson.

John Cannon (Announcer)

The Panel (left to right)

Johnny Carson (Guest Panelist) did a dozen episodes of the game before assuming the hosting duties of “The Tonight Show” in October 1962. He played himself on a 1969 episode of “Here's Lucy” (S2;E11). Ball made many appearances on “The Tonight Show” during his tenure.

Betsy Palmer was an actress equally at home on Broadway, film and TV. She became known for her many appearances in regional theatre, particularly at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse. Later in her career she became famous for her role in the 1980 horror film Friday the 13th.

Bess Myerson was a former Miss American (1945). She was the pageant's first and only Jewish winner. Myerson was a panelist and talk show guest on many television programs.

The Contestants

The Smith Family – four children from Kenmore New York (Herman, Theresa, Mary Margaret, and Ralph) are introduced by Moore. Their secret is that they each have a twin backstage. The Smith Family consists of 13 children. Henry Morgan guesses the secret. Moore says the odds of such a thing happening are 40 million to one!

Pat Patterson from Washington DC sailed from there to Jacksonville, Florida... in a paper boat made of water-proof cardboard and wood supports. The trip took him six weeks. Patterson is a corrugated box manufacturer. The boat itself is on the stage. Moore is a boating enthusiast.

The panel is sent offstage while Moore introduces a filmed Clairol commercial: “Only her hairdresser knows for sure.” He then introduces Lucille Ball.

Lucille Ball (Guest) was then starring on Broadway in the new musical Wildcat, her only Broadway credit. Moore tells Lucy that her secret will be to get the panel to imitate her. The panel returns for the questioning. The word “EXCITED” appears on the screen to prompt Lucy. While Betsy Palmer is talking, the word turns to “HAPPY” and Lucy laughs out loud continually. The questioning turns to Henry Morgan and the word turns to “DIGNIFIED” then to “SAD” - Lucy reacts accordingly. During Bess Myerson's turn the word is “NERVOUS”. During Carson's turn, the word is “ROMANTIC” and then “TIPSY.” They play out the whole game even though someone gets it early. Moore later confesses that (for the first time ever) he cheated in order not to spoil the fun.

In closing, there is an extended filmed commercial for next week's sponsor, Winston Cigarettes. The announcer also reminds viewers that Bristol Myers also sponsors “Candid Camera” (consult your local listings).

March 8, 1965 at 8:00pm

Directed by Paul Alter

The program is sponsored by Toni Home Permanent.

Steve Allen (Host) was a humorist who starred in his own television show on another network five nights a week. More than thirty years later, Allen would guest star as himself on “Lucy Calls the President” (1977). Allen tells viewers that half the panel is on vacationing so his ‘better half’ (Jayne Meadows) and Lucy's ‘better half’ Gary Morton will be sitting in for the absent Bill Cullen and Bess Myerson.

John Cannon (Announcer)

The Panel (left to right)

Gary Morton was a comedian who wed Lucille Ball in 1961. He acted as Producer on “The Lucy Show” as well as making occasional on-camera appearances and doing voice-overs.

The Contestants

Marie Rhodes from Los Angeles is Marlon Brando's stand-in. Betsy Palmer guesses her secret. Her husband is his make-up man. She started on Mutiny on the Bounty, in order that she could be with her husband in Tahiti for the year it took to make the film. The most recent film where she stood in for Brando was Morituri, which she says will be released soon. Rhodes has also stood in for many other stars: Anna Magnani, Ben Grauer, Carol Williams, Judith Anderson, Patricia Owens, and others. Steve Allen is fixated on Ben Grauer.

Four Lieutenants in the US Armed Forces: Joe Amlong (Air Force), Billy Mills (Marines), William Stowe (Navy), and Lones Wigger Jr. (Army) enter. Allen declines to give their names at first. Their secret is that each has won a gold medal in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.

Lucille Ball (Guest) was then finishing her third season of “The Lucy Show.” At 9pm that evening, CBS broadcast “Lucy and Arthur Godfrey” (TLS S3;E23). The evening before, Lucy had appeared on “What's My Line?” She is introduced as the National Chairman for the Easter Seals campaign.

Before the show, questions were solicited for Lucille Ball. The panel is asked to answer as if they were Lucy. Lucy gives her response as well.

“Are you temperamental?” Henry Morgan says yes, but Lucy says no, but that she has flare-ups after long periods of frustration.

“Are you a natural redhead?” Jayne Meadows (also a bottle red head) and Lucy both say “of course!”

“Who has the final say at home?” Gary naturally says Lucy. Lucy says the only thing she has the final say on is whether the windows stay open or closed at night.

“Are you inherently witty or do you have to have a script?” Betsy Palmer tactfully replies that Lucy is inherently witty but that a good script helps. Lucy says she is not witty, and that she doesn't “think funny.”

“What is it like to be a millionaire?” Lucy seriously says she is not a millionaire, which Henry Morgan doubts. Lucy says that all her money goes into her business [Desilu Studios].

“Do you do your own cooking?” Jayne Meadows says that Lucy doesn't cook. Lucy says she can cook, but doesn't have time and often let's her husband Gary plan the meals. Gary adds that Lucy makes meatballs that taste like hockey pucks.

“Are you as funny offstage as you are on?” Gary Morton says that Lucy doesn't think she's funny – but she is.

“Why do you work so hard?” Jayne Meadows and Lucy agree that she works so hard because she loves it. She mentions “The Lucy Show.”

The program ends with the women sitting on the mens’ laps, even Henry and Betsy, the only two that are not husband and wife. Allen says that the young people will be pleased to know that next week Neil Sedaka will be the guest. As the final credits roll, the network announcer promotes “The Lucy Show” guest starring Arthur Godfrey coming up in a half hour's time.

Two weeks later Vivian Vance appeared on the “I’ve Got a Secret” (guest hosted by Steve Allen). Vivian purposely talked very fast because her ‘secret’ was that everything they said was being written down in short-hand backstage.

October 17, 1966 at 10:30pm

Directed by Paul Alter

The color telecast was sponsored by Westinghouse. [Note: No color prints were available for preview, so the photographs are in black and white.] The show is sponsored by Lucky Strike cigarettes. [Ironically, during the early years of “I Love Lucy” the show was sponsored by Philip Morris and the writers were prohibited from using the word “lucky.”]

The Panel (left to right)

Bess Myerson was a former Miss American (1945). She was the pageant's first and only Jewish winner. Myerson was a panelist and talk show guest on many television programs. Steve Allen reminds the viewers that she can also be seen on “Candid Camera.”

Bill Cullen hosted 23 shows in his lifetime and earned the nickname "Dean of Game Show Hosts." Aside from his hosting duties, he also appeared as a panelist / guest on many other game shows, including “To Tell The Truth,” a sister show to “I've Got a Secret.”

The Contestants

Rufus Harley (Contestant) is at first identified only as ‘Mr. X’. His secret is that he is a jazz musician who plays the bagpipes. No one guesses his secret. Harley also appeared on “To Tell the Truth” and in 1968 appeared on syndicated "What's My Line?" during its first week. He released two albums on Atlantic and plays “Feelin' Good” with his Jazz combo on the show. Fittingly, the background is a tartan plaid!

Howard Goodrich and his dog Fritz (Contestant) whose secret is that both he and his dog are wearing contact lenses. Henry Morgan asks Mr. Goodrich if HE has a tail. No one guesses the secret.

Lucille Ball (Guest). Earlier in the evening, CBS broadcast “Lucy Flies To London” (S5;E6) which was “The Lucy Show's” set-up for the following week's location-filmed special “Lucy in London.” Lucy promotes the special talking about her love for London, especially Carnaby Street, and the mod fashions.

To see if American people have taken to these garments, the show has given 100 audience members voting buttons to express their opinions. Three fashion models come out, while Lucy describes their outfits. [Despite the show being broadcast in color, Lucy still describes the vivid colors of the clothing, aware that not all viewers will be watching on a color television.]

Before asking the audience to vote, Steve Allen asks Lucy if she likes them. Lucy hesitates, but says “On some very young people, at some very special places, for a very short time.” Before finding out the result of the audience vote, Lucy guesses that just 35% of the audience will like them. The panel guesses that probably only 15% to 35% will. Allen surprisingly reveals that only 7% of the studio audience likes the mod fashions. [The clothing was supplied by Lord and Taylor.]

The second poll asks the female audience which of the three looks the audience favors. Lucy thinks 'B' will be the most popular, Betsy says 'A', Bill and Bess says 'C' and Henry agrees with Lucy that it is 'B'. The results show that 54% of the women liked 'A' – the pant suit; 10% prefer 'B' – the mini skirt; and 36% liked 'C' – the vinyl look.

The men are then polled and Lucy and the panel stick with their previous selections. Steve Allen likes 'C'. 54% of men liked 'C'; 40% liked 'A'; and only 6% chose 'B'.

Lucy asks a totally different question of the men; would their wives chose a brand new kitchen or a fur coat. Lucy says that 95% will go for the kitchen. The result says that 54% said their wives would want a new kitchen. Lucy says that if the women were asked, they would chose the kitchen.

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hamilficsfordays · 8 years ago

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Help--Chapter Two

Disclaimer: Yeah I don’t own Hamilton. This is also my first time writing M/M smut so... yeah.

Also posted on Ao3

Summary: Alexander returns home from vacation hoping to get his new financial plan to a vote in House. Before he can do that however, he must get approval from half of the President's cabinet which includes Attorney General John Laurens.

Pairing: Alexander Hamilton/John Laurens

Rating: M, for all kinds of smut

Words: 4102 (God, do I ever shut up?)

Askbox / Masterlist / Chapter One / Chapter Three

The family returned home to D.C. after seven weeks in upstate New York, just in time for Alexander to return to work after the senate recess had come to an end.

After a surprisingly rejuvenating vacation, he returned in high spirits and eager to work toward getting his latest financial plan approved by congress.

Backed by the bigwigs on Wall Street, the plan made great strides to limit regulations on large banks. Though it wasn’t exactly beneficial to the common public, it would keep the banks happy and was extremely likely get Washington re-elected in three years.

“Well I think I’ll say what we’re all thinking: this plan is garbage.” Thomas Jefferson wasted no time letting his opinion on Hamilton’s plan be known to the room of other cabinet members. He waved the thick document around, tossing on the table as if the notion of it being in his hands disgusted him.

It was their first cabinet meeting of the summer, each member having just returned from a long break.

The common theme of verbal disagreements between Jefferson and Hamilton was nothing new to their cabinet meetings, but today no one seemed eager to entertain the notion.

“Those are strong words coming from someone who knows nothing about finances.” Alex shot back, to the tune of audible groans from the rest of the room.

“If you knew anything about finances Hamilton, you wouldn’t keep bailing out the big banks in the hope that they’ll stay on your side come re-election.”

“Oh you’d know plenty about being bailed out considering Virginia went bankrupt under your control last year.”

“Jefferson, Hamilton, enough!” The President was quick to come between them, ceasing their argument in the hope that the cabinet would be able to get actual work done rather than their typical banter.

“Sir,” Jefferson continued anyway, pleading to Washington as he sat back down at the head of the table in the small room. “The people don’t need bank bailouts. What they need is a better global economy—”

“No, what they need is clean water in several counties in Michigan!” James Madison stood up near the far end of the table, the administrator of the EPA. “I think we should spend more time talking about our environmental crisis before we waste yet another meeting on these two bickering.”

“You know what, I agree.” Washington glanced around the room. “Who here has read Hamilton’s financial plan?”

Every hand in the room went up, some quicker than others.

“Who agrees with Jefferson that it could use some revisions before it gets submitted for review in House?”

Every hand in the room beside Hamilton’s went up, leaving him rather disgruntled with his peers.

“So it’s settled then. Hamilton, make some revisions. If you can get at least half of your fellow cabinet members to sign off on a revised version, we’ll bring it to House.”

Alexander sighed, frustrated with the result. “Fine.”

Using a pen so as to not touch the document, Jefferson pushed it across the table to Hamilton, who angrily grabbed it from him.

“Okay, Environmental Protection Agency… go.”

It was a upsetting car ride back to capitol hill, where Hamilton had already started making revisions to his financial plan. The plan was over five-hundred pages, which meant revisions would take the rest of the day.

Arriving back at his office, he was immediately greeted by his secretary, who sat at her desk typing an email response.

“Hey, cancel my lunch this afternoon.” he started, barely taking the time to greet her before stepping into his office.

“Oh, okay.” she stood up, quickly writing the note down on a small notepad before following him in.

“How did your cabinet meeting go?” she asked, cautiously.

“I have a lot of work to do.” was all he managed back, already re-opening the document on his computer to start revising. “In fact, cancel my entire afternoon.”

She nodded again, writing quickly.

Her yellow blouse fit comfortably, buttoned just high enough to leave a lasting impression. Paired with her gray skirt, nylons and heels, Alexander assumed she’d been taking fashion advice from her older sisters. She was young, only twenty-one, but she was undoubtedly the best person for the job.

“I’ll get right on that.” she stated, turning back to her desk. Her brown curls hung freely, moving with her as she made her way out.

“Oh, and Peggy?” he started, drawing her attention back.

“Yes?”

“Could you call Eliza and tell her I’ll be home late tonight? I’ll be working on this for a while.”

She nodded, a small smile. “Sure.”

“Great. Thank you.”

It had been nearly a week before Hamilton completed his revisions and got nearly half of his fellow cabinet members to sign off. He needed just one signature to split the difference, Attorney General John Laurens. Head of the Department of Justice, he was also typically moderate on a lot of his decisions. That gave Alexander confidence as he approached him on a Thursday afternoon, as his plan was in essence, moderate.

“Attorney General Laurens,” document in one hand, Alexander approached him in the cafeteria where he sat alone over a bowl of salad.

“Alexander,” he smiled, seemingly happy to see his colleague. “You can call me John.”

John was the only other person who often sported a ponytail or bun at their place of work, a silent bond. “What can I do for you?”

“I was actually hoping I could get you to sign off on the revisions to my financial plan. You’re the last signature I need. I assume you got all of my emails.”

“Oh…” Laurens paused, running a free hand through his ponytail. “Yeah I,” he hesitated, glancing around the large room for some kind of distraction. “Maybe you could get someone else to sign off.”

“What? No.” Alex flipped to the final page in the document where an assortment of signatures remained. “You’re the last person I approached about this.”

“The thing is…” he sighed. “I can’t really sign it.”

Alex could feel the color leaving his face. “What do you mean you can’t sign it?”

“Well… it’s not exactly a secret that a lot of criminal shit goes down on Wall St… and for the head of the Justice Department to sign off on something reducing regulations… it doesn’t look good.”

“John, it’s not just about reducing regulations!” the older man started, practically begging at this point. “There’s also—”

“I’m sorry Secretary Hamilton,” John used a formal title so as to distance himself further. “I can’t sign it.”

He stood up then, taking his tray of food and leaving Alex at the table by himself.

Arriving home that night, Alexander was greeted by his children, four out of five of them, all at once. They nearly tackled him to the ground once he stepped in the door, welcoming him back into their chaotic household. He greeted them each with a kiss on the forehead, briefly letting his work stress go in lieu of being a good father.

“Dad, look! We’re taking good care of him!” Philip, the oldest at age ten, pulled his father into the living room alongside his siblings: Angelica, eight; Alexander jr., six; and James Alexander, four. There, lying comfortably on a mat decorated with animated characters from a children’s tv show was Johnathan, their youngest son.

“Yes you are.” he carefully picked up the infant, cradling him in his arms. “I’m so proud of you all for taking such good care of your little brother.”

“How was work?” he heard Eliza ask from the kitchen.

He walked into the kitchen to greet her, kissing her briefly before handing the baby over to her. Darlene, their live-in maid, a middle-aged white woman, was leaning over the stove, preparing dinner for the family. “It was uh… lackluster.” he confessed, pulling his ponytail out and running and hand through his hair. “I hope your day was better than mine.”

“As good as a day with fifteen four year olds can be. I stopped every one of them from eating paint though, so I’d say it was definitely successful.”

“Hm,” he smiled, sitting at the bar on the far end of the kitchen, watching her as she cradled their son. “Sometimes I forget that you somehow manage to be the amazing teacher to fifteen toddlers by day and the amazing mother to five children by night.”

“Not to mention be your amazing wife.” she pointed out. “How could you forget?”

“Because I don’t deserve you.”

She giggled at the notion, pulling low neckline on her dress aside to attempt to breastfeed the infant. “You’re right. I could do way better. You’re lucky I even tolerate you.”

“Maybe you should marry Jefferson.” he tried, receiving an eye roll from his wife. “At least he could get half of the cabinet to sign off on revisions to a financial plan.”

“Oh, stop it. You’re way more productive than Secretary Jefferson and you know it. If you weren’t, John Church Hamilton wouldn’t have four siblings.”

“Besides the fact that I’m still indifferent to naming our son after your brother-in-law, if I’m so productive, why can’t I get enough signatures on my revision?”

“What?” she approached him then, carefully adjusting the infant in her arms so that he latched on. “I thought you only needed one more?”

“I did. Attorney General Laurens. I asked him today and he refused. He wouldn’t even let me defend it.”

“Isn’t he a moderate?”

“That’s what I thought too, but he didn’t budge. Without him this plan doesn’t leave my office let alone make it to a vote in house.” He sighed, frustrated. “I’m screwed.”

“Well, not necessarily.” she pointed out, eyes fixated on the baby in her arms. “You know better than anyone how convincing a decent blow job can be.”

Darlene glanced up from the stove, prompting Alex to leave the kitchen, taking Eliza with him.

“Easy on the sex talk, okay?” he started once they were alone in their bedroom. “You’re making it harder for Darlene to pretend not to know what’s going on.”

“She won’t talk.” Eliza insisted. “We pay her enough to keep quiet.”

“What were you saying about a blowjob?”

“Don’t you remember this summer? Our trip upstate with Angelica?”

He cringed. “Honestly, no.” He moved to the loveseat at the end of their bed, Eliza sitting beside him. “I was drunk through most of it. All that wine…”

“Well my sister does have a thing for good wine. You still don’t remember that first night? The three of us went out to the lake together?”

“Oh yeah, she wanted me to convince the President to back that EU legislation. I can’t believe I went through with that.”

“I can. Our plan was bullet proof. Not to mention, she was pretty convincing.”

“Plan?” He stared up at her, in disbelief. “You planned to do that?”

She shrugged. “It’s the twenty first century. Sometimes you need to do certain things to get a favor.”

“By that you mean sexual.” he confirmed. “You exchanged sex for a political favor.”

“You can do the same thing with Attorney General Laurens. In fact, you should. Time is ticking on the window for your plan to go to house.”

He paused, taken aback. “Are you suggesting I—”

“Yes, Alexander.” he interrupted. “I’m suggesting you sleep with him. I’m completely okay with it as long as you get what you need. Which in this case, is his signature. If it worked for Angelica, it can work for you.”

“What if he’s not interested?”

“Please,” she rolled her eyes. “You’re an attractive man in a position of power. How could he resist?”

“I…” he was at a loss of words. “I guess he can’t.”

“Exactly.” she stood up, heading towards the door. “Now, Darlene and I have things handled here at home. You need to focus on getting that signature, yes? Whatever it takes.”

“How do you know it’ll actually work though?” he pressed.

“What if it does?” she reminded him. “There’s only one way to find out.”

The next morning, Alexander stepped into his office, Peggy already there.

“Morning, Peggy.” he greeted her, stepping past her desk.

“You should totally take him to Komi.” she started. “I did some research. He used to hold fundraisers there back in his congressional days.”

Alex stopped, turning to face her. “Wait, what?”

“Attorney General Laurens.” she reminded him. “Eliza told me.”

He groaned and moved into his office, leaving a briefcase on his desk before sitting behind it. “I can’t believe she told you.”

“Can I help?” she asked, excited, running to catch up with him. She had to adjust her stockings every so slightly as she ran.

“Oh my God, Peggy, no!”

“Not like that! I just want to help you pique their interest. I’m so good at that!”

“Peggy, no one was supposed to know about this.” he insisted. “Not even you. I just want to make this as painless as possible. I’d rather you not get involved.”

“Fine.” she crossed her arms, glaring at him. “I lied. He hates Komi. His girlfriend apparently broke up with him there. Good luck finding out what he does like.”

With that, she stormed back to her desk outside his office.

He sat in silence for a moment, eventually seceding with a sigh.

“Okay fine, you can help.”

Peggy ran back in, her excited smile making a second appearance. “Good. His favorite restaurant is actually The Lafayette. I hope you like french food.”

That night, the two cabinet members stepped into the crowded restaurant together. It was busy even for a Tuesday, though they were sat almost immediately after Alexander slipped the maître d' a hundred.

“I hope this isn’t about me signing your plan, Secretary Hamilton.” John started once they were seated. “I know it was a little harsh, but—”

“Call me Alex, please.” he insisted. “It’s more of an apology. I felt bad about coming down so hard on you for not signing it.”

“Oh.” John seemed surprised by this, a slight smile on his face. “Well in that case, thanks.”

“Get whatever you want. The salary for being treasury secretary doesn’t disappoint.”

They both chuckled. The waitress came by eventually, taking their order.

“I can’t remember the last time a handsome man bought me dinner.” John quipped, halfway through a glass of wine. He pulled his ponytail out, letting the curls fall.

I can’t get him drunk. Alex thought to himself, adjusting his own ponytail. I’m not an asshole. He should be coherent enough to consent to whatever I’m offering.

“Easy on the wine, I’m using a business card.” he lied. “I don’t think the taxpayers would appreciate paying for this.”

“Oh shit, you’re right.” he wiped the corner of his mouth, setting the glass down.

It was an otherwise mellow dinner where the discussion ranged from work topics to their personal lives.

“How’s your girlfriend?” Alex asked, taking another bite of the lamb dish on his plate. Thanks to Peggy he already knew the answer, but still he pressed on. “Do you guys still live outside of town?”

John was quiet for a moment, staring down at his food. “Nah, we broke up.”

“Oh,” Alex managed his best shocked expression. “Shit, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, really.” he insisted. “We weren’t meant to be. I just… It’s been a while, you know? It’s hard not to feel...” he paused, taking the time to find the right word. “Lonely.”

“Yeah.” the older man nodded slowly, taking John’s hand across the table to comfort him. “I understand.”

John smiled again, managing a laugh. “Clearly you don’t. Didn’t you just have your fifth kid?”

Alex managed an awkward laugh in response before pulling his hand away. “Yeah I guess.”

As things came to a close, Alexander drove John back to capitol hill where his car remained in the parking lot.

They both sat in his car for a moment, silent.

“Thanks for dinner.” John finally said.

“Oh, please, it was my pleasure.”

More silence.

“Are you gonna be okay getting home?” he finally asked.

“I don’t uh… I don’t know.” John confessed, blushing.

“I could always drive you. You can take a cab in the morning.” Alex offered.

“I just don’t really want to be alone.”

Sensing the opportunity arise, Alexander carefully placed his hand on the thigh of his fellow cabinet member.

“If you need someone to be there,” he said, his voice nearly lowered to a whisper. “I don’t mind.”

After a brief moment of hesitation, John placed his hand on top of the other man’s.

Alex could feel his heart racing as he thought of where to go next, but his thoughts fled when John leaned in, pressing their lips together.

The older man kissed back, eager, hungry for more.

John pulled back suddenly, glancing at Alex. He could feel his hands shaking, anxious for what would happen next.

“Are you sure about this?” he managed through baited breath. Alex responded with another kiss, pulling the man closer to him.

The kissing became more heated, forcing the two men to maneuver themselves into the back seat if only to get closer.

John started reaching out for Alex’s belt, tugging for its release. Alex had to assist him in unbuckling the belt and unzipping his pants.

John’s hands were warm against his skin as he reached into his briefs. There, he was stroking the older man with heavy anticipation. Before Alex could react, John broke the kiss and moved his head down.

“Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.” Alex cursed, clutching the leather seating as John slid his tongue down the length of him.

He groaned as John took all of him in at once, running his hands through the younger man’s curls.

When Alex eventually came, John swallowed all of it. He surprised Alex by kissing him again.

“We should go to my place.” He offered, his lips moving to Alex’s neck. “There’s a lot more room there.”

“I-I’ll drive.” Alex managed in response, tucking himself back in as he moved back to the driver’s seat.

It took everything in Alexander not to crash as John gave him directions to his place. He could barely glance over at the other man, though the excitement was building as he began to realize that his plan might work out. That excitement resulted in a tight feeling below his belt, something that became rather difficult to hide as they pulled up into his driveway. John led him inside the house, showing him around briefly before pulling him into the bedroom. He slowly pulled out Alex’s ponytail, running his fingers through the shiny black hair before yanked at his tie, pulling him in for another soft kiss.

“In the bedside table.” John managed a few minutes later. Most of their clothes had been tossed aside at this point while Alex was still sporting a loose tie; his dress shirt completely unbuttoned.

Alex pulled open the small drawer and glanced inside curiously. There were a few papers scattered among a box of condoms. Beside it, a tube of lubricant.

“Did you find it?” John asked, staring up at the ceiling on his bed.

“Uh…” Panicked, Alex grabbed both the lubricant and a condom, unsure of what his co-worker meant. “Yeah.”

His head popped up, turning to look the older man with a smirk. “Any particular reason you brought a condom?”

“I uh… habit?” he tried, placing it back in the drawer. “I am married to a woman.”

John let out a hearty laugh. “You have five kids. Using a condom is not a habit for you.”

Alex managed to fake a laugh in response as he laid beside the other man.

“Don’t tell me I have to show you where to put it.” John quipped.

“Please, I’m not that inexperienced.”

“Well excuse me.” John turned over onto his stomach, winking at Alexander. “I stand corrected.”

Alex popped the tube open, carefully squeezing a fair amount into his hand before slowly caressing it over his length. He was semi-erect, nervous as he moved closer.

“For god’s sake Alex, fuck me! I have to get up at seven—”

“Okay, okay.” He got up, standing next to the bed as he pulled John’s hips closer, his ass inching toward Alexander.

He positioned himself in front of John’s entrance, holding his breath for a moment before he carefully moved in.

The younger man let out a harsh moan as Alex moved further, slipping in as far as he could go.

John fidgeted as he adjusted to the feeling of fullness.

“Don’t stop now.” he begged, attempting to move closer. “Just when things were getting good.”

Alex slowly pulled back groaning at the sensation before he pushed in again, trying to keep a slow rhythm.

“Shit,” John managed, reaching down to touch himself. “Not bad for a straight guy.”

“Who said anything about me being straight?” Alex managed between breaths.

His pace increased slightly as things became more comfortable. He reached around the younger man, jerking him with one hand as he pulled his hair with the other.

“Oh fuck Alex,”John moaned as he felt his hair being pulled. “Holy shit.”

“You like that?” Alex asked, feeling encouraged by John’s erect state.

“What do you think?”

He moved harder, faster, ignoring the tight feeling in his thighs or the discomfort in his wrist.

“Shit, I’m close…” John warned, though Alex was far from discouraged.

He moaned, biting his lip as he came, the remnants of which flew straight up and landed on his chest.

A few thrusts later and Alex came as well, falling forward, biting at John’s shoulder.

“Oh shit…” he managed, pulling out of him and landing on the bed beside him. He turned to John who seemed to have a satisfied smile on his face. He pulled Alex by the tie, leaning in for a kiss.

“Still think I’m straight?” he managed, slightly out of breath when John pulled back. The younger man laughed before leaning in to kiss him again.

For a while they laid there. John seemed to instinctively cuddle up to him, while Alex’s thoughts were preoccupied with his next step. He wasn’t sure how to approach the topic without it seeming like it was his plan all along.

It was, but he didn’t need John to know that.

“We should probably keep this on the down low.” John confessed. “You know, for work’s sake.”

“Yeah.” Alex nodded slowly. “That makes sense.”

“Speaking of, John sat up, glancing down at him. “This is probably the most fun I’ve had since Kayla broke up with me. Can I pay you back?”

“What do you mean?” he asked, innocently enough.

“You know that plan you needed half of the cabinet approval on?”

Alex nodded slowly, cautiously awaiting a response.

“If you can cut out that part about reducing regulations on off-shore accounts, I might be able to sign it for you.”

He shrugged. It was a win, but not the win he wanted. Still not a bad result considering he hadn’t even asked.

“Okay uh… let me just get dressed and I’ll go out to my car and get it for you.”

Alex did just that, pulling his briefs and pants back on and buttoning his dress shirt before he headed out in the cool night to his car, where the plan was stored away in his briefcase.

He retrieved it, returning inside to find a still naked John Laurens waiting in his living room with a pen.

He signed carefully before turning to give Alex another kiss.

“Thank you.”

“See you tomorrow.” John teased as the treasury secretary made his way out.

It was a short ride home, where he walked into a virtually silent house. The kids were all asleep as he walked into his bedroom, finding Eliza asleep as well.

His first instinct was to shower, which he did before slipping into a t-shirt and a fresh pair of underwear.

As he climbed into bed he managed to wake Eliza, who seemed happy to find him coming in at that hour.

“What happened?” she asked, leaning in to kiss him.

“Uh… it worked.” he confessed, blushing. “I got him to sign it.”

“I told you.” she smiled, kissing him a second time as a congratulations. “Imagine how much power you would have if you did that more often.”

“I mean, there's no way this kind of thing works with everyone.” he moved closer, resting his arm over her.

“There’s only one way to find out.”

#hamilton fanfiction #hamilton imagines #modern day au #lams fanfiction #lams fic

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marjoriestreetma-blog · 7 years ago

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palsprograms · 7 years ago

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Advocacy and inspiration from the words of Frank Stephens

We were so grateful to have Frank Stephens join our Leadership Summit as a guest speaker. Frank is an actor, a writer, and a self-advocate. His presentation inspired and motivated our PALS leaders to continue demonstrating acceptance and inclusion. We’re excited to share Frank’s powerful message in his own words with the rest of the PALS community:

Thank you, Jenni, and thank you President Obama Together, they make a great team, don’t they? Besides, I always enjoy hearing anyone talk about my favorite subject … me.

I am thrilled to be speaking to a group of people that is ready to look beyond themselves and consider what “inclusion” can mean to people who are regularly excluded from society.

As a member of the Board of Directors of Special Olympics Virginia, I have made it a point to listen to my fellow athletes, to know what matters most to them. I am certain that what matters most to us is being included in everything.

Often, people think that inclusion is something that happens, or more likely, does not happen in schools.

The truth is, real inclusion is something that happens in communities, and even more importantly, in people’s hearts.

You might be asking yourself, “What makes this little fellow an expert on inclusion?” Well, part of the answer is I am one of a group of people who are blessed to be 2.1 percent greater in every cell of our bodies than you mere common people.

Don’t worry, I am very accepting, very inclusive. I won’t think less of you just because I have more chromosomes than you do.

Seriously, I am here to talk to you about how a little bit of inclusion in society can change lives and expectations.

I’m here to ask you to think about how many lives are being wasted because we have prejudices that arise from race, religion, nationality, and disability. We have so much to give one another if we stop building walls to separate and start reaching out to include.

What makes me the expert? Nothing really, except I have lived an unexpected life. That extra chromosome I mentioned made lots of people think that my life would not amount to much.

Maybe some of you think that a life with Down syndrome is not likely to amount to very much. It is a very common belief. Let me share a little about myself with you and give you something to think about.

What I really want to talk about tonight are differences. I’m going to talk about differences so tiny that they fit inside a human cell. I’m going to talk about other differences that are so large they span a generation.

Just remember as I’m talking, that none of these differences is too small to matter or too large to be spanned by the hearts and dedication of people like you.

I will start with the set of differences that have led me to be a Special Olympics athlete and Global Messenger.

When my body was first forming, when the first two cells divided, each of them had one extra tiny, tiny piece of material called a chromosome.

People like me tend to be a little shorter because our arms and legs are shorter than most people’s. Our faces are usually a little bit flatter than most people’s because our cheekbones and noses don’t stick out from our faces as much.

All of that adds up to a person who is a little bit uncommon … in my case, uncommonly handsome.

What I want to talk about, tonight, is another kind of difference – the difference that people like you and organizations like Special Olympics, Best Buddies, and PALS have already made in the lives of people like me. I also want to talk about how much more we can do together.

Sometimes, I think our prejudices and fears make us forget how far we have already come.

So, I want to tell the story of what a difference a single generation has made. If I had been born when my Dad was born, things would have been very different. Here’s what it would have been like if I had been born in 1950.

I would have been sent to live in an institution. I would not have gone to school. I would not have learned to read or write.

I would have had little or no contact with common society. If I did have contact with common people just like you, we would both have been afraid of each other.

I would have received little or no health care. I probably would not have lived much past 20 to 25 years. Most of all, my life would have had little to inspire hopes and dreams.

None of that is exaggeration. That is what life looked like for someone with intellectual disabilities in the 1950s in America. It is what it still looks like in parts of the world.

Then along came Special Olympics in 1968 and everything began to change.

Most of all a miracle happened – we, people like you and I, learned not to be afraid of each other. Nothing has been the same since.

Okay, here comes the part where I tell you about my life and what a wonderful ride it is. If it sounds like I’m bragging … it’s because I am. But I don’t know how else to show you what’s possible now.

Okay, here goes. This is my life. I was born in a log cabin deep in the Ozark Mountains. Well, really I was born in a hospital in Fayetteville, Arkansas, but that log cabin thing sounds so presidential, don’t you think?

Seriously, so how has my life been different because of people who believed I should be included? Well, here goes:

I lived with my family. I went to school with everyone else. I learned to read and write.

I competed in sports wearing my school colors. Because of a single teacher who was ahead of his time, I was included in drama classes with the common kids. I acted in school plays. Several times, when there was no part that suited me, my friends wrote a part for me.

That inclusion, that sense that I belonged with everyone else made all the difference in my life.

I learned to communicate my thoughts and dreams. I learned to fight for the right to be treated like everyone else.

I became a spokesman for others with intellectual disabilities. I have spoken to crowds as large as 10,000 people. I have appeared on television and radio many, many times.

After political commentator Ann Coulter publicly referred to President Obama as a “retard,” I engaged in an internet debate with her that lasted for over two weeks and went “viral.” 3.2 million people followed me on the internet.

My story of those events appears in a book called Stand Up that won two book awards and became a best seller on Amazon.

At this moment, I need take a second to tell you a little story about assumptions and preconceptions.

When I was in middle school, I wanted to be included in a creative writing class, but the teachers didn’t think I could do that kind of work. In the years since I have worked hard, on my own and with my family, to learn to express my thoughts.

In the years since then I have been published several times in the New York Times, The Washington Post, The London Daily Mail and my pieces have been reprinted around the world.

I am especially proud that my writing is being used as part of a curriculum to teach creative writing in schools all over the country.

My point is a simple one: low expectations can be a bigger obstacle to success than disabilities. Every situation is different, but please just listen when your friends with intellectual disabilities express an interest in taking a risk.

Okay, back to my life story.

In 2012 the Canadian Broadcasting Company chose me, along with Malala Yousafzai, as one of the World’s Most Extraordinary Ordinary People. I have always thought that the best part is they started with the premise that I am ordinary.

I have been to the East Room of the White House, twice … and I didn’t have to jump the fence either time.

I was one of a dozen people honored at a White House Dinner. The President quoted me in his speech that night. Katy Perry was six feet away from me as she sang, “Baby, you are a firework.” She was sooooooo hot.

A couple of years ago, I auditioned for and won a lead role in a movie about bullying, forgiveness, and acceptance. That movie is called Touched by Grace.

Because of the movie, I got to walk the Red Carpet at the Emmy Awards show in Hollywood. The ladies were sooooooo hot.

By the way, I have never been as happy as I was the summer we shot the movie. It was incredibly hard work. A day of shooting usually lasted about 16 hours. It was hot. It was exhausting. It was repetitive. It was wonderful!!! Oh, yeah, and the actresses were soooooo hot.

Because of the movie, I signed a deal with one of Hollywood’s top Talent Agencies to pursue my acting career.

Last year, I was on a family vacation in California and my agent called to tell me I had a chance at a guest role on the Emmy-winning show, Born This Way.

Do I look happy up there?

I regularly speak to Congressional briefings on medical research and intellectual disability. Two years ago, when I was in Europe on vacation, I was asked to help lobby the British Parliament.

In October of last year, I was asked by the Global Down Syndrome Foundation to testify at a Senate Appropriations Committee about funding research into issues related to Down syndrome.

Some of you may have seen it. No one can ever predict what will catch the fancy of the internet. The video of my testimony did. It has been translated into dozens of languages and spread across the net. At last count, it has been seen by over 160 million people worldwide.

The most important lesson for me from that experience is that you never know when something you do will have an impact on the world. So, approach every opportunity as a chance to change the world for the better.

Seriously, so what is the point of all my bragging? I want to make the simple point that a life with Down syndrome can be as full and exciting as any other.

Look, I know my life is not typical or average. In fact, it has been magical, but it is also real. And it is not unique. I am not the only person with Down syndrome that has benefitted from a society that is willing to give us a chance.

There are so many others: like international model Madeline Stuart; musicians like Emmanuel Bishop; actors like Lauren Potter, Jamie Brewer, and the whole cast of Born This Way; and, entrepreneurs like restaurant owner Tim Harris, cookie queen Collette Divito, zoomba teacher Yulissa Arescurenaga, and fashion designer Ashley Deramus.

Those are good lives by anyone’s standards. We should not have to justify to anyone the extra-chromosome that makes us who we are.

But I must sound a note of caution that we still have a long way to go. We have promises to keep and miles to go before we sleep.

You still hear people who call one another “retard” as an insult.

There are people, like Nobel Prize winner Richard Dawkins, who think that people like me should be terminated before we are ever born, because he believes we bring more suffering than happiness into the world.

Do I look like I’m suffering?

There is another argument for terminating Down syndrome pregnancies. It is the “burden on society” argument.

Recently, an official of the Dutch Health Ministry defended the policy of encouraging the termination of Down syndrome pregnancies. He pointed out that, on average, an individual with Down syndrome cost the Dutch people 48 thousand Euros per year.

Wow, that sounds like a real burden, doesn’t it? But, how much of a burden is it really?

Because Down syndrome is rare, there are about one thousand, four hundred common people for every one of us with Down syndrome. That means, the financial burden we place on the rest of society is the cost of one cup of coffee per month.

Can you spare one cup of coffee a month, so that I can have a life?

Even if you don’t care about my life, surely you care about your own. It turns out that people like me are a medical gift to society. Our extra chromosome causes us to be virtually immune to soft-tissue cancer, but much more likely to get Alzheimers Disease.

That means the key to curing those diseases is somewhere on that extra chromosome. Studying our extra chromosomes will lead to those cures.

If I can be a writer, become a professional actor, and make millions of people think, imagine what this generation and the next will do. We must be brave enough as a society to let go of old prejudice. We must be brave enough to include.

Well, My Dad told me to always remember what an old country lawyer once told him about speaking to a group. “The mind can absorb only as much as the seat can endure.” Those chairs look pretty hard, so I think I should wrap up.

Let me say one last thing, real inclusion is not just about letting people with differences sit in the same classroom, or church pew. Real inclusion is reaching out to make everyone a part of the same experience. It’s letting everyone contribute what they can and learn to contribute more and more.

So, reach out. Bring new people into your life. Who knows, one day they might just introduce you to a President . . . or maybe even, Katy Perry.

Thank you.

#PALSLeadershipSummit2018 #PALSproud

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