Saturday, May 29, 2010

Chicago Style

Big Guy was exhausted when he got back from his Cajun beach trip last night so we just did takeout last night: Lou Malnati deep dish pizza, ribs and Chicago style dogs.

Since we didn’t go out yesterday, I’ve been laying low. Even though  Little Bo is here, I kind of miss Raj and Little Mo. Raj had to stay back to help Ax-man find and erase any emails emanating from the Big White that might have inadvertently mentioned Representative Joe Sestak’s name. And I think he said something about having to insert a few too, maybe from President Clinton. I’m not sure what that’s all about, but Raj said he’s getting a big bonus for helping out. Must be special holiday pay.

Today Ikram is sending some new outfits over for Lady M’s consideration.  We haven’t quite decided on our summer look yet.

Here’s what Lady M wore at Thursday’s historic kickoff of the  Social Innovation fund – as if we need more social innovation around here:sortofasundressthingyWe seem to be working with drapey, swoopy tops this season, which - even with my reverse depth-imaging system set on high – really needs the help of a Wonderbra to give us something to drape and swoop. Or maybe we could just move the belt up an inch or so…?

brown and o

Do you recognize the dress from our first historic Great Britain trip last year? (now you know why we don’t have any full length photos of Thursday’s social innovation)

Note how we’ve updated the look: no teensy short sleeved sweater, no boob belt. Could this be the end of an era?

 

 

 

Geometric prints, which can disguise certain figure flaws, can also create optical illusions that make you woozy if not handled carefully.

dots

Here’s what we wore to the first ever historic Jewish American Heritage Month celebration at the Big White. Honestly, I sometimes think Smootie just makes things up as an excuse to throw a party. I don’t think this is an official holiday since it’s not on my hard drive.

For one thing, if they were serious about celebrating American Jewish Heritage month, don’t you think they would have done it before Toes was mysteriously called away on a secret mission to Israel ?

dots and corsage

Another nice drapey bodice, but the vintage Mylar mobile/corsage is a bit too reminiscent of wallpaper from the 80’s for my taste.

I’m not sure what the deal is with the dots and dashes motif we’ve got going here. Maybe we’re just practicing our Morse Code now that all our emails are going to be subject to subpoena.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Are We Having Fun Yet?

I can’t believe it – I’m in the Windy City with Lady M and the family!

Chicago skyline under the moonlight

Even little Bo. We’re blowing off Washington for the the whole Memorial Day Weekend. We’ll all be staying at the old family home, which Lady M said seems a little cramped now.

 leaving for the windy   We’re wearing stringy things again, but at least no brooches.

U.S. President Barack Obama (2nd L), first lady Michelle Obama (2nd R) and their daughters Sasha (L) and Malia (3rd L) depart Andrews Air Force Base for a weekend in Chicago May 27, 2010.I love how we all co-ordinate when we travel as a pack

I was a little surprised we weren’t going to be in town for the traditional Arlington Cemetery ceremony – we always used to go. But since Big Guy’s brain is in Israel for his son’s bar mitzvah, I guess we tried to wing it. Lady M said Big Guy was under a lot of stress and needed a little vacation. And I guess Toes told Big Guy it was ok for him to skip the tribute to the fallen heroes as long as he went up to West Point last weekend to remind them all that he’s the president and thus has absolute power over their lives. 

arlington

Actually, I was afraid it was Lady M who refused to go, because of all the mean things the Fox News Trolls said about her last appearance there to honor fallen heroes.

If you don’t remember it, let’s just say it came to be known as the ‘ammunition belt incident,’ and leave it at that.

Anyway, I’ll keep you posted on any interesting developments here on the shore of Lake Michigan. Maybe if we have enough bubbly I can even get back to you with some clarification on precisely who it was that did not offer Sestak a job, and why, even if they had, it had nothing to do with him dropping out of the PA senate race.

This is going to be fun. I just love a good whodunit.

are we having fun yetBig Guy’s game face aboard Air Force 1 en route to Chicago: Are we having fun yet?

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Sometimes Experience is More Important

I knew we would wear a print! But first, here’s an un-smudged shot of the hot pink number we wore for a hot morning at Wayne State University*.

pink onpink

A dirndl skirt! What a good idea. But, we did change clothes for lunch with the kids in the Kresge Court under the lovely Rivera mural at the Detroit Institute of Art. You probably think the wardrobe change was due to the heat and humidity we suffered through for Lady M’s 15 minute speech in the hot sun. Not so! Lady M, fashion icon that she is, just wanted to wear something derivative of all the great art that resides in the DIA.

You might think that’s a joke, but back in the good old 20th century, when Motown stood for something other than the former home of the former Big Three, the Autos made enough money to keep the whole country afloat. Local cultural institutions like the DIA were the beneficiaries of their largesse which they used it to acquire a great stash of art, some of it quite fine. Now I think they’re slowly  selling it off to pay the electricity bill. So you should go now, before it’s all gone.

print Modern, organic art print

 Vasarely_juil099fThez, by Victor Vasarely

Now, just a quick word about where we didn’t go while we were in Detroit: we didn’t go to disgraced former-mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s Get- Out-Of-Jail-Free party. It had to be cancelled, due to his unexpected re-incarceration. Up till a couple of years ago Kwame lived a charmed life: good schools, law degree, political career on a constant rising arc. Then, after acting stupidly by cheating on his wife, firing 2 cops who were snooping around allegations of impropriety and then authorizing the city to buy them off for $9 million for their illegal firing , he unfortunately also lied under oath and was convicted of a felony.

In order to “just move on” and “start the healing” the Judge let him off easy and he served only 90 days in Detroit’s version of Club-Fed, the county jail, before being released on probation. He was ordered to pay restitution to the city of $1 million (that’s a pretty good discount, considering the $9 million settlement he cost the city). But because Kwame, like Big Guy, was one of the anointed ones, he continued to live large – and Kwame is very,very large:

kwame cuffs

and only had $6 left for restitution. The judge wasn’t buying any of it, calling him deceitful and arrogant, and sent him back to the slammer - only this time it’s the state pen in Jackson. And, sad for Representative Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick, Kwame is her son: the one she used to call “the anointed one.” His daddy is also currently under investigation for bribery and fraud allegedly using his son’s position as mayor for personal gain.

Needless to say, being sent back to jail is a real buzz kill so last night’s after-glo party in Lady M’s honor with Spike Lee, Magic Johnson, Eric Holder, Robin Givhan and Kimberly Locke had to be cancelled.

Kwame didn’t kill Detroit single-handedly, he had decades of help from fellow Democrats. But he certainly did plunge it into a much deeper quagmire of entitlement, corruption and fiscal disaster. Will Detroit survive Kwame’s reign of narcissism?  Unclear at this point.

Detroit still has much worth saving, maybe current mayor Dave Bing – former Piston great and successful business owner can get the job done. ‘Cuz sometimes it’s better to actually know how to do something rather than just being anointed to do it.

old-main-wayne-state_thumb[2] *Old Main Hall, Wayne State University: Photo by John Cruz, Misplaced Focus

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Mentoring Detroit

Hoo-wee! Is it ever hot and muggy in MOtown today. Never-the-less, I’m committed to semi-live blogging Lady-M’s momentous mentoring event from Detroit. Tons of stars showed up: Michigan Guv Jenni Granholm and her first spouse Dan Mulhern-Granholm, Detroit Dems, John Conyers and Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (who’s had a bad few days – more on that later) and singer Kimberly Locke.

Had I bothered to check the weather forecast, I probably could have predicted that we’d choose our hot pink sleeveless, sheer bodice, body hugging sheath with signature pin for the event:

mo-2 

And I don’t know who was responsible for loading Lady M’s teleprompter, but I think they put the wrong speech in – not that anyone would notice. But this was supposed to be about mentoring, I thought. Yet the whole speech sounded more like a rally for the Youth Obama Corp(se). We talked about the importance of education, hard work, responsibility – up till then it could have been a young Republican’s rally. But then we veered into all of Big Guy’s old campaign slogans, where Lady M told the kids at Wayne State not to listen to anyone who told them that they can’t do something (as if they do these days anyway), just tell them “Yes We Can!” And later, she reminded them that “You are the ones we’ve been waiting for!” and to be sure to be responsible for themselves, but also for everyone else in the neighborhood, state, country and, indeed, around the world.

That sounds like an awesome amount of responsibility, but not as long as “big important people (like Lady M) are out there rooting for you.”

Then we wrapped up by an assurance for the youth guard that “We’ll keep working for you just as long as you keep working for us!” Umm, umm, umm!

The kids really liked the part of Lady M’s speech where she told them that Barack was not born President. She said he was no more gifted or skilled than any of them. That all they had to do to be president one day was to work really, really hard and have someone who will believe in, and back them. Unfortunately, we can’t tell you exactly who that is in Big Guy’s case, because they don’t want to come out from behind the curtain just yet.

Oh, and she also didn’t mention that the other thing they’ll be needin’ is a really good teleprompter.

Got to run now. We’re off to lunch at the Detroit Institute of Arts – where I understand they have a huge mural of the the depersonalization of the working man in industrial society by Diego Rivera done in 1932. Don’t tell me this city wasn’t visionary: imagine all those years ago knowing how popular Mexicans were going to be! Did I mention that Diego and his wife were also communists? They’re a lot more popular than they used to be too.

Better pictures later, the sun got in my reflectors, and the humidity is steaming up my live-streaming. Also more on the Kilpatrick’s Detroit dynasty.

Rippin’ Up the South Lawn

An interesting wardrobe selection for the big summer kickoff of our  ‘No Fat Child’s Behinds Games’ on the South Lawn. But at least there were no hula hoops or boob belts:

WASHINGTON - MAY 25:  First lady Michelle Obama works out with Washington area students on the South Lawn of the White House on May 25, 2010 in Washington, DC. The first lady kicked of the first in a series of South Lawn summer activities for kids.Walk like a duck, with a kangaroo pouch

I know it looks like we wore our luncheon top with our breakfast workout bottoms, but we were just re-purposing that lovely L’Wren lace sweater and Talbot’s blouse thingy. It really didn’t play as well as we’d hoped the first time around as ‘serious couture.’

townhall mtg childhood obesity 4-7

But this wasn’t about fashion (obviously). Here are some of the games we came up with to get those fat behinds moving while still having zoodles of fun:

bouncing ball

The giant blueberry mind-meld; also an excellent source of antioxidants 

  I need one of those basketsi need a basket weave too

marchin for obama corp  Marchin’ for the future Obama Youth Corp(se)

 chin ball Variation on the mind-meld: Blueberry chin crunches

 

tight work outsFunky chicken walk, tubs of KFC await at the finish line

 

 

 

evil eye lip workouts; without food – always tricky

 

 

 

 

 

Just wanted to get these posted, gotta run now: pre-boarding for Detroit now underway! Hope to do a little live blogging from Motown.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Revving Up for Motown

I  don’t want you worrying. Lady M is just fine. She’s fully recovered from the vapors, and is just busy deciding what to pack for our visit to Motown tomorrow. Gold? – probably a little too glitzy for the state with the worst unemployment rate in the country. Red? No, the auto’s are still drowning in red ink. White? Please. We’re going to Detroit, hello! Blue? Very Democratic, but do we really want to remind them of that right now?

 232x309 Was2945171

6175af96e1719b95f0be9f85d91f8d67

bomo halloween very scary I’m guessing were going with another print.

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Big Guy’s been busy celebrating every racial category identified on the Census form. Yesterday was Asian American and  Pacific Islander day. I just wanted to point out: that’s NOT the Reverend Jeremiah Wright. We’ve distanced ourselves from all racist-spewing, anti-semite commies – aside from the ones that we’ve already ensconced in the Big White.

U.S. President Barack Obama poses with (L-R) U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono and Rep. Judy Chu after speaking to participants of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month event in the East Room at the White House in Washington, May 24, 2010.Big Guy celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the East Room yesterday

Not invited to yesterday’s fete: Charles Djou who won a special election to fill the seat vacated by Democrat Neil Abercrombie. And you’d think he would have been, because a) he’s Asian American AND Pacific Islander and b) it’s a HISTORIC election in that he’s the first Republican in decades to be elected to the 1st Congressional District seat representing urban Honolulu – Big Guy’s hometown!

Republican Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou addresses his supporters, Saturday, May 22, 2009 in Honolulu. Djou defeated former U.S. Rep. Ed Case and Hawaii State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, both Democrats in a special election to fill the seat vacated by Democrat Neil Abercrombie who resigned from Congress to run for governor. He is the first Republican in decades to be elected to the 1st Congressional District seat representing urban Honolulu, President Barack Obama's hometown.

Although, with accessories like the ones he’s wearing, I’m guessing it’s just a matter of time before he’s on our official guest list.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Patronizing Imperials?

Or patronizing Imperials? You be the judge.

Granny Jan has accused Lady M (and Big Guy) of being Pat-ronizing. I think that might be a little harsh. What do you think?

US First Lady Michelle Obama (C) and Mexican first lady Margarita Zavala greet children during a lunch as they visit New Hampshire Elementary School in Silver Spring, Maryland on May 19, 2010.

Let’s see:

Patronize: “to behave in an offensively condescending manner.” Synonyms: condescend, arrogant, pretentious, snobbish, indulgently deign favor, treat as a child.

Are you kidding me? Lady M goes out of her way to keep it real. Do you think she likes to drop her “g’s,” sit with her legs apart, park her elbows on the table and pick at her teeth during dinner?

Eating ribs in public in Asheville

No. She does it so the peeps can see that she is so down with them. Patronizing indeed.  We work in soup kitchens, raise our own vegetables, build homes for Habitat, wear shorts to the Grand Canyon, eat ribs in North Carolina and bow to foreign heads of state. What else do you want from us?

“Patronizing,” for goodness sake! Where do these people get such notions?

Michelleobamalobsterhiresa2

via Atlas Shrugs

OK, on a scale of 1-10? No more than 5.5, I’d think.  And that’s not bad by Washington standards. Empress Nancy is so far off the charts we just call her 10-cubed.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Mentoring Detroit, One Child Left Behind After Another – Updated

UPDATE: trip off till Wednesday. Lady M still recovering from Ricky’s moles.

So, on Monday Lady M and I head to the Motor City, home of Big Guy’s car companies. We’ll be working with Governor Jenni Granholm’s hubby, First Gentleman Dan Mulhern. You can tell he’s one of those cutting edge, post-modern kind of spouses because he kept his maiden name.

Dan and Jenni at the First Historic State Dinner. Note: being a thoroughly modern man, Dan is carrying Jenni’s purse for her. Michigan is so cutting edge. Even Nancy Pelosi’s stud wouldn’t do that.

And when I say “working” I mean working. Lady M will be speaking at a forum focused on Detroit students held at Wayne State University (great photo of WSU’s Old Main Hall, by John Cruz). Since we’re going all the way to Detroit, it’s only fair that we focus on their students, although it appears the term “student” is only marginally applicable in this town.

old-main-wayne-state Old Main Hall, Wayne State University: Photo by John Cruz, Misplaced Focus

It seems that Detroit has now, officially, earned the title of the worst school system in both math and reading in the whole non-Mexican part of the United States. The whole school system is bankrupt and under the control of Emergency Financial Manager - you’re gonna love this - Bob Bobb! No, honest, that’s his real name.

metro-times-robert-bobb 

Bob was appointed by Jenni in 2009 in a last ditch effort to save the Detroit Public School system. He has been doing a terrific job, considering how little he has to work with, and the Republicans and Detroit parents love him. The Democrats and teachers hate him, have taken him to court several times already and call him names that would cause anyone else to be called a racist. So you can see, he’s on the wrong side of the issue.

But before I go too far and call for a private school voucher system to replace all state controlled re-education camps public schools, I’d better get back to why we’re here.

You’re going to be surprised when I tell you our mission has nothing to do with Detroit children’s fat behinds. No, we are here to join forces with Mr. Mulhern-Granholm, business, sports and other civic leaders to draw attention to the importance of mentoring.

The best part: there’s going to be a lunch afterwards.

Our Motown trip is the final leg (‘cause we can’t do this all year!) of Lady M’s ongoing mentoring outreach program which she began during “Women’s History Month. Last year, 28,536 Michigan children were helped by 19,578 mentors, which is many more children helped than murdered in Detroit. So honestly, it looks like our work is almost done here.

I hope we have time for hugs, the kids seem to get a kick out of that:

Michelle Obama Attends Cinco De Mayo Celebration iueZcrDDyJol

One thing I know for sure we won’t be doing is taking any more questions from second graders.

Because no matter how much you think you’ve done to get them prepared to ask the un-prepared questions - screw their heads on straight, give them a few clues -

headshot now think

sometimes you’re still surprised by how it comes out.

surprise

Don’t worry honey, your mom don’t need not stinkin’ papers. My husband will make sure of it.

HT: John Cruz, Misplaced Focus for Photo, Old Main Hall