America the Beautiful…
January 31, 2009
One of my favorite blogs out there is Motherlode at the New York Times, by Lisa Belkin. She keeps it simple but seems to be able to weave significance, pop culture, and every day honesty into her posts. There are a few I’ve really liked recently about keeping kids home from school (or awake past bedtime) for significance sake. She did one back in November around summer’s highlights, including the conventions…
Seems the timing for doing the same thing with my little ones was upon us this month when we escaped the mayhem of the city and instead decided to stay home from school at Nana and PopPop’s house to witness our nation’s historic transfer of power, the Inauguration of Barack Obama. Being little, my munchkins preferred playing with their barbies and cars instead of listening to a swearing in, but I forced them to pose, flags in hand, in front of the TV so that I had something to remember and show them later. The best picture really ended up being when Aretha Franklin, big grey hat ‘n all, was about to sing.
Little Patriots
At Last….
January 20, 2009
Of course, that was the song today, the one they danced to over and over at the balls. But the real two words we’ve really been waiting to hear are those that reveal the name of the designer of Michelle Obama’s dress. I was wrong about when it would be revealed. We had to wait til today, tonight even, to hear: Jason Wu.
Not al all what I expected, but i thought she looked beautiful. This dress, by a young, relative newcoming to the fashion world, Wu, may be nothing like the sketches that have been circulating in Womens Wear Daily for the last month. However, it really managed to convey a sweetness, softness that contrasted her otherwise potentially powerful and strong features (her height, shiny/straight dark hair, toned arms). Already her spokesperson has said it is headed to the Smithsonian — hooray!!!!
Soft but powerful
I was equally struck and in probably more in awe of the gorgeous ensemble she wore all day today. The golden dress and matching coat just sparkled. In some ways, as Laura Bush did 4 years ago, choosing a color so neutral (not the traditional black/blue/red) helped her stand above the fray, stand out and look fantastic.
Our new First Lady shimmers in a gorgeous Isabel Toledo ensemble of matching sheath and coat
I love the way Robyn Givhan of the Post put it: “The easy shift between price points has captivated observers who are so accustomed to recent first ladies who have dressed in either pricey designer fashions by Seventh Avenue heavyweight Oscar de la Renta or nondescript blahness. Obama dresses the way contemporary women do, mixing J. Crew with the splurges in their closet. They combine pragmatism with polish. And for this inauguration, despite the dire shape of the economy, they also brought glamour.”
Pretty Woman…
January 15, 2009
As an impressionable 21 year old, way back in early 1992, I had my very first college PR internship in DC at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. As luck would have it, I arrived at the perfect time — the overhaul of the First Lady Exhibition. The most popular exhibition at the museum had the gowns, dresses, even jewelry of the nation’s First Ladies (not all wives, mind you) — I loved to stop and just admire it all — from Nancy Reagan’s red suit to Jackie O’s little pillbox hats. I even remember meeting then-First Lady Barbara Bush, ever gracious and funny. She joined us to cut the ribbon on this exhibition, which took a first step in looking beyond just the gowns to also showcase the important roles that each First Lady played in their leading man’s presidency and for the nation.
So, here we are at the dawn of a new presidency. A new opportunity for another very special woman to put her mark on the role of First Lady and present an important image not only to American daughters but to the world. What is one of the first ways she will do that — by choosing an inaugural gown. Maybe it sounds silly to speak in such symbolism, but I’ve taken a few cues from Robyn Givhan and heck, I’ve watched “The Devil Wears Prada” so i know the message that fashion sends!
So, I for one, have been watching with anticipation to see when we’ll get introduced (my money is on this Sunday the 18th) to the designer of and the gown itself that our incoming First Lady, Michelle Obama, will be wearing for the evening inauguration festivities here in Washington.
There has been so much written already about her style (or lack thereof, according to some). How she’s still figuring it out… how Mr. de la Renta, who’s enjoyed such promenence not only with Laura Bush, but with Cindy McCain, will likely not be the sylist of choice. As classic, stunning, and flawless are de la Renta’s creations, Michelle (we’re on a first name basis!) is more likely to take chances, try a variety of young up and coming designers — Maria Pinto of Chicago or even stick again with Narciso Rodriguez, who designed the election nightdress she wore.
Robyn Givhan, who will most likely be the one who gets the big news first, is already driving the discussion around what “The Dress” could look like. In Sunday’s edition of the Style section, Givhan announced the winners and entrants in the “Formalwear Design Contest” to design Michelle Obama’s gown. The winner…..a sleek deep green gown, symbolizing what else, “Hope, Optimism.”
By a budding fashion designer, Katie Ermelio, this dress is gorgeous, even if this is not what we see next week…
For the record, I have actually liked how Michelle Obama has taken chances with her fashion choices. Maybe she hasn’t always gotten it right, but she will bring some new names, styles and statements to the White House. I can’t wait to watch…..
Say it Isn’t So….
January 8, 2009
Little Connor James Neff died yesterday. Here is the story we received through email from my Aunt Norma Jean’s sister Nancy….
Connor is safely home with Jesus now. This morning when they took him off the respirator his lungs collapsed. That was the turning point. They took all the machines away, and Kelly held Connor on the rocking chair, and Jim knelt beside her, whispering to Connor. Bob and Pam and NJ and Larry (all grandparents) were there, and Connor’s heart stopped at about 11:20 this morning.
Bob and Pam are having lunch with NJ and Larry at their house. Jim and Kelly asked them to take all their things from the Ronald McDonald room, where they were staying, to their house before Jim and Kelly go there, and to put the baby things in the nursery and close the door. Norma Jean is expecting Jim and Kelly to come to their house this afternoon before they go home.
My heart aches for the parents going home to an empty nursery. Such wonderful expectations, and now such a different reality to deal with. Connor is safe, and we are sad.
so sad.
Born in the USA…..
January 7, 2009
It is always (in my book) fun, like today, to get a “Welcome Joey Scott Martian” or “Welcome Minerva Sue Flannigan” email in my inbox at work announcing that the Microsoft Public Sector family has been extended by one very tiny stockholder (read: employee’s child). In the United States we have the most incredible access to quality health care in the world. We take for granted healthy births. We expect them, many even schedule them, like a dinner reservation. That’s why when what happened to my cousin Jim and Kelly this week is so jarring. In short, amidst a very long labor with Kelly giving birth to their first child, their little boy’s heart rate took a nosedive while he was in the birth canal, and til an emergency C-section was performed, he was without oxygen for 11 minutes.
Little Connor James Neff. Perfect little boy, now barely able to move. What looks like almost certain brain damage has led to days with a cooling cap on, multiple seizures, just one session of opening his eyes, and life (so far) on a respirator. Jim and Kelly’s lives, while already being turned upside down by the addition of their first child, now hold the most unimaginable of circumstances. Right now, this is all we know. Whether and how Connor will develop and recover is in God’s hands. We pray unceasingly for the Neff family, for grace through trauma, for BIG miracles.
Intifada….
January 3, 2009
I am not an expert on the Middle East. But I have been there. In Jerusalem; in the West Bank. That alone doesn’t really give me any credibility. What it does give me is sympathy. For both sides, actually, in this current conflict around the Gaza strip. Because as much as we’d like to make it a cut and dry Hamas vs. Israeli conflict, it is and it isn’t.
For the most part, i agree with the Krauthammer AND Gerson editorials in today’s Washington Post — if there was ever directional moral clarity, it is clearly shining through this week. Hamas is a terrorist organization. Period. They put their own people, the Palestinian people, at risk of death, to further their own organizational ends. Contrast this disregard for Palestinian human life with the humane warnings of the impending strike, which the Israelis have given citizens of Gaza prior to the strikes this week. Apparently, and rightly so, Israel is fed up with having many of its citizens live in constant fear of missile attacks.
It is inconcevable to me that Hamas is in a position of power. Save Iran, most of the Arab states don’t know what to do with the situation from a positioning point of view. The cannot publicly support Hamas, yet they still seek many of the key goals to which the Palestinians have held strong for decades — land, access, sovereignty. Its incredibly unfortunate that some of the long term goals of the Palestinians — goals around access to Jerusalem, free flowing travel capacities, cannot even be on the table in this current discussion. How can they be when Hamas refuses to even recognize the right of Israel to exist?
When I visited Deheshu refugee camps in the West Bank and saw their suffering, when I stayed with Palestinian Christian’s in Bethlehem who couldn’t travel to work in the city – I saw first hand the true second-class citizen status they could not shake and under which they had to live, work and breath, day-in and day-out. However, until Hamas is no longer in power, how can we hope that things will improve? That Israelis living in the settlements within missile striking range of Gaza will be able to sleep at night? Any true cease fire must at least start here…
May God have mercy and spare more innocent lives of a people so desparate to live…..in peace…Right now, children on both sides of this conflict are growing up knowing only fear.
Black Coffee….
January 2, 2009
The past two days, in the middle of the afternoon, i could just not wake up… Felt lethargic, not sick, just sluggish. Then it dawned on me. i have not had my coffee. Now, i’m not particularly proud of the fact that i need that pick-me-up, but given that i make several coffees for myself every day, at home or at work, i know that’s what it was. Which leads me to the best news all season (aside from Christ’s coming of course), and that is this thing of beauty which arrived at the House of Klause….
The new IV drip.
THANK YOU RON LUSSO (aka Rob’s cousin)….Since Ron closed his big fat italian restaurant a few years ago and the espresso machine has been sitting in Uncle Cliff’s basement collecting dust, we have coveted (there i said it) the machine. Finally, at Thanksgiving, Rob visited the Boston Lusso crew and thanks to Robin and Dan, and their big *&% van, they brought it back for us! Rob set up it at the bar in the basement and hooked it into the water supply. Ching! Works like a dream…..
I think we’re actually saving money on Starbucks coffee because we’re making one espresso and Americano at a time.. vs. a whole pot of coffee that ends up getting “old” much too quickly in the lame pot in the kitchen…
Come on over for a cup o’ the best Joe in Virginia…..