Womb with a view.

First of all, seeing all the past Presidents together was a kick. Why wouldn't they ever get together? Our new President is so smart. Perhaps they can schedule the next breakfast meeting when you know W.ho is at the ranch writing his book (a funny enough story on its own).

So, tonight. Larry King Live, Jimmy Carter as guest. They showed a clip of some recent event where Old George Bush relayed this story: "We thought we were being sneaky and sending a decoy limousine out but as we came around a corner I saw the ugliest, angriest woman I had ever seen. Now, I don't know why the Secret Service let her get so close to the car, but she came right up to my window and held a sign 'Stay out of my womb!' Hey, NO PROBLEM, lady!"

Then Bill Clinton gets up: "See, I could never tell that joke. Could you imagine the field day you all would have with that one."

On our way to the National Portrait Gallery.

Okay, maybe not "our" way. But he is on his way. Shepard Fairey's collaged poster of his original portrait was hung in the National Portrait Gallery last Tuesday. This street artist, in this place. It's really amazing. This image was reproduced in so many different ways throughout the campaign, and beyond, and really became a defining image of the future president. Heck, it's on our minivan. I only saw one version that was completely tasteless (thanks, bro) but everyone else really seemed to have fun with it.

So, of course when a dear friend passed along a website, I embraced ombamaicon immediately! Even though I may be able to manipulate Photoshop and get an image somewhat like this, maybe, possibly, here is this amazing tool that does it in seconds! Voila! I'm an icon!

"Mom, you just look really weird."

Go to your room...

On the road to somewhere, surely.

Can we use that phrase yet? "On the road to nowhere." "The bridge to nowhere." Can we use that without harming ourself thinking of SP, who is now just really a celebrity in her own mind. Oh, wait, she gets the last laugh with her bizillion dollar book deal. Sigh.

So with 20+ minutes on the torture-mill-to-nowhere this morning, I had time to think about the goings on over the weekend. "I really don't like princesses anymore, Mom." Thank God. We had tried to paint princesses in a positive light -- they're strong! they're powerful! they can rule a whole kingdom with one arm tied behind their back!

Okay, so no princesses. However, G did mention that she will send me many drawings from college. Every day. Awesome! But, oh, wait. Our President's weekly address (have you been to the newly redesigned White House web site? It's fabulous!) promises to "triple the number of fellowships in science to help spur the next generation of innovation."

That's great! Let's be a scientist! And really and truly she was the one over the weekend that got out the science "experience" (that's too cute to correct) book and did her own experiment creating her own lava lamp. Now that's innovative, right? And a lot of artists I know also have a keen interest in science (thanks for the role model, Leonardo).

But let's not forget the "innovation" part of all of this. There's the key. There's your path to take, your road to follow.

Creatives, the world is yours for the taking.

...and wear comfortable shoes.

I've been holding my breath again. I know what's happening today, but until just a few minutes ago I realized I was holding my breath like I was all day on November 4. It's time to exhale. It's time to smile. It's time to start putting things into place. It's time to wrap up in a warm blanket and park it in front of the television for an amazing day. Unless you are going to the event itself...then hopefully you heeded the very astute recommendations. "Those attending the Inauguration are advised to dress warm and wear comfortable shoes."

From the looks of it, these people could be stark naked and not give a flip. It's go day.

there's hope for us all yet

Mom. Mom. Mom...

They should really call them "sits." You don't stand, you sit.

Mark my words, I think C is going to save us all. Maybe next time I'll pay attention the first time he calls me...

Due to the current economic condition, we are cancelling all fun.

So we get our "Monday Memo" yesterday from our kids' school. Blah, blah, yeah, yeah, WHAT???? "We have chosen to eliminate the table decorating contest for this year." What in the hell are they talking about???!!! So we have this annual trivia night for our elementary school and it's our biggest fundraiser so it's a big deal. Part of the deal has always been you have a theme for your table of 8 participants. You decorate your table, or eliminate your table and sit around a faux campfire; you dress up in interesting outfits or costumes and it's fun and kooky and silly and crazy. Because, come on, like it's really about the trivia. So here we are two years ago -- Deal or No Deal -- right? We get one of our handsome men to dress like a gorgeous woman and it's a hit. Studio 54 walked around last year with mirrors and razor blades and....powdered sugar or whatever. It's just all, again, silly because why the heck not?! And now we're just supposed to come and sit around and listen to trivial stuff and, oh, now we'll have more time to look at all the auction items and bid and bid and bid and donate lots of money to the school! You know, with all those savings from not decorating your table. Wait. Donate? Lots of money? "Due to the current economic situation, we expect donations this year to be down from previous years." What's that you say? You're right! The economy stinks. Completely in the crapper. There's no way I can run around and bid and bid and bid and spend money I don't have! What if I lose my job? What if I'm already unemployed? Thank god you reminded me. After I call to cancel cable, I guess I'll stay home that night and have a can of soup and watch 30 Rock.....now that's fun.

nice in nine

So the feature article in today's "Week in Review" section of The New York Times is titled "Play Nice." So, here we go again with one of our family themes for oh-nine. The question posed is will Barack invoke the "let's all play nice together" theme in his inaugural address. But the point is -- all presidents in recent history, at least, have promised that very thing. And is that what we want from our agent of change? I guess we could be nice about it, but could we please kick it? Already some of the choices at the inauguration itself seems too....well....nice. We fervent supporters are not really actually all that tolerant of the "other one"s. However, since we have managed to bring the political process up close and personal with our children, I guess we'll have to....be....nice. I hope we can.

no whine in 09

Over the break, after Christmas had come and gone, we were brainstorming our mottos for the next year. I wonder why, but the very first one thrown out there was "No Whine in '09." Are you getting a sense for a common sound in our home? A "pest" we'd like "exterminated?" The other one, which also makes a nice logo, is "Nice in Nine." That's very...nice...but not as punchy. So a week or so goes by, it's dinnertime, and C says, "Mom, I thought you said NO WINE IN 09!!!" Which is, most definitely, not what I said.

the eighth day of nine

drive kids to school, pick up husband from auto repair shop, drive to grocery store, secure groceries and prescriptions, drive home, put away perishables, check email, change clothes for the Y, drive to Y, work out, drive to the galleria, find great sale at the gap and get friend's birthday present, go to anthropologie where you originally wanted to buy friend's birthday present, see really wonderful things that you wish you could buy, glad you found something for your friend somewhere else cha-ching, drive to target, secure lots of home goods, drive to whole foods, secure some organic food, drive home, put away perishables, bring in all bags from target, check email, create ad for client, send pdf to client, drop off husband at auto repair shop, drive to pick up kids from school, bring home one extra friend, fight urge to take nap, make dinner for everyone else, drive to pick up one birthday friend, drive to pick up another birthday friend, drive to pick up third friend, drive to restaurant, have a wonderful three hours of cava, tapas and laughs, drive friends home, put on pjs, blog for the first time in over a year.