President Obama visited my favorite place in Del Ray this weekend, The Dairy Godmother. I usually go here multiple times per week during the summer, and its only a five minute walk from my house. Mark usually goes with me begrudgingly because the line is so long, so I’m not sure if the Obama visit (which will no doubt make the line very, very long) is going to make him eager to continue to accompany me.

Anyway, I think its very cool that Obama went here.

My favorite Dairy Godmother flavor? Caramel Heath Bar. Yum…

Happy Birthday, Diana.

I abolutely treasure you.

Hello again, Henricksons.

The family returns January 18.

As if the Inauguration isn’t enough excitement for this weekend, Big Love returns for its third season this Sunday night.

I attempted to snag the trailer from HBO’s Web site, but apparently Time/Warner doesn’t like anyone else promoting their shows.  That being said, the trailer looks really good.

I have high hopes for this season.  Season 2 was just so-so.  Some storylines were excellent, while others just fell flat.

Big Love premieres Sunday, January 18 at 9 p.m. EST.

Inauguration Countdown

Hello, 2009!

It’s really exciting being in D.C. during this moment in history.  The entire city is buzzing.  Yesterday my husband drove me to work (traffic was horrendous!) and we saw some of the construction/preparations going on at the National Mall:

A view of the Mall January 15, 2009.

Here you can kinda see the Capitol behind the scaffolding.

I have never seen so many portable toilets in all of my life! They look quite funny surrounding the Washington Monument.

This weekned I am going to try to do as many inaugural activities as possible. Sunday is the free concert at the Lincoln Memorial, Monday is Kate Clinton’s “Sage-ing of the White House.”  And, of course, Tuesday is the Big Day.

I remember when it was announced that Bush was the projected winner in 2000.  I felt defeated.  I was 19 and in my sophomore year of college, and had stayed up watching the returns with my dear, dear Republican friend, Katie.  After the networks called it for Bush, I called it a night.  I walked back to my dorm room and prepared for bed.  Then Katie called me and said, “They called it too early.  They’re not sure if Bush won Florida.”  My hope returned, briefly, until Katherine Harris certified the vote in December.  I remember thinking that the storm clouds were gathering, and that it was getting dark.  I was sad.

And now I sit here eight years later, typing this at my desk in the heart of Washington, D.C.   It feels good to be here to watch the sun come out again.

R.I.P., Tony Hillerman

Tony Hillerman passed away yesterday at the age of 83.

This surely holds special significance for many New Mexicans out there, as any list of famous New Mexicans is most certain to tout Neil Patrick Harris, Georgia O’Keefe and Tony Hillerman.

Hillerman died about a mile away from my parent’s house. He taught at the school where I earned my bachelor’s degree (and, last summer, got married). My father was one of his journalism students.

I forgot, until I was reminded of Hillerman today, how much art has been created in my home state.

Why McCain IS George Bush

Obama’s stellar response to McCain’s “best line of the debate.” He definitely deflates McCain’s tires with this:

Stumped again.

Seriously. She can’t name a newspaper. She can’t name a Supreme Court decision other than Roe vs. Wade. Can this woman answer any question? You’d think that after hearing Biden’s speeches since 1972 she’s be a little more well versed, as he sure as hell knows what he’s talking about:

more about “Palin, Biden On Roe V. Wade Video – C…“, posted with vodpod

B-B-B-Benny Disappoints

Best thing about the Ben Folds show in Washington, D.C. last night:  My front row seat.

Worst thing about the Ben Folds show in Washington, D.C. last night: The show.

Over the last six years I’ve seen Ben Folds perform more times than I can count.  Last night’s show at Constitution Hall was mediocre at best, and certainly my least favorite of his concerts.

A little background:  In July of this year, Folds leaked a “fake” version of his new album (to be released on Tuesday), Way to Normal.  The “fake” album and the “real” album share the same song titles, but the songs themselves are different in both music and lyrics.

Ben’s 16-song set last night was comprised entirely of songs from the “real” and “fake” albums.  After playing his last song, he thanked the audience for listening to the new tunes and reminded us that we were the first people to hear them (this was the first stop on the tour).

When Ben & Co. left the stage after playing for only a little over an hour, I was certain Act II was coming.  I considered the new album the first musical chapter of the night, with his back catalog being the next.  After all, there was nary a song the audience had known up until that point, and he hadn’t played anything solo yet (usually the band will leave him to the piano a la Tori’s Secret Time/Roadside Cafe/Piano Bar ).

Soon the lights go back down, everyone returns, and Ben plays Zac and Sara to thunderous applause (applause poor Constitution Hall hadn’t seen all evening).  Then Losing Lisa and Landed.  Then came Philosophy.  It was getting good.  Then came the slightly odd, spoken word-esqe Frown Song (fake one).  And that was it.  That was an encore, not a second act. Bam.  Over. Fin. 

I’m over the Not the Same/Army sing-a-longs.  But I think performing a new album that hasn’t been released yet (in its entirety) is simply holding the audience hostage.  If the audience was nice enough to sit there through two different versions of Way to Normal, it’s his duty to end the evening with more than 20 minutes of his other stuff.

Rant over.

Hi, Bob.

In honor of Bob Newhart’s birthday today, here is the link to the commencement address he gave at Catholic University in 1997.

Happy 79th, Bob.