Back in March:
From Henry Healy:
Hi TOD,
I got to meet with the President yesterday and I wanted to share with you this drawing that I presented him with. It’s a pencil drawing of the president in front of his ancestral home and the White House. It was by Brian Fogarty a school teacher from Co Tipperary now living in Galway.
Kind Regards,
Henry Healy
****
Henry with Brian
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This morning’s email:
Hi TOD,
I hope you are well. Remember the picture I sent you that I gave to the President in March? Well, the artist got a letter from the President thanking him for the portrait! I attach a copy of it for you and also a link to Brian’s Facebook page.
Kind Regards,
Henry
****
Thank you Henry – a lovely story!
****
Say hello to Brian in the comments:
The Obama Diary 
cool pic.
Hello there Amk!
How dare you post when I’m writing brilliance? {snark}
Top o’ the mornin’, Obots!
Expect more musical deliciousness for tonight’s night owl post.
I also have an essay running around in my head; I just need time to set it down.
FORWARD!
LL, your ‘top o’ the morning’ was spookily appropriate seeing as it’s an Irish-related post!!
Have you a crystal ball type thingie?
Ok, true story: I have a recurring dream where I’m creating balls of energy with my hands as in the above picture. Of course, when I try to smite my enemy, they usually fizzle out.
O……kay. Do these dreams happen most often after a few Martinis?
Now that you mention it…
I watched the Life of Pi again last night – and then dreamt about being attacked by deranged hummingbirds and sharing a car with a tiger and a hyena. I was worn out when I woke up.
It’s all those cheesy poofs you eat.
Could be!! I do find myself hallucinating after eating them, must check ingredients!
Send us some.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing Chips….What an honor.
To reiterate, Krystal Ball says Dems have to win Generic ballot by ten points to retake house because of redistricting.
That’s impossible, if true.
10 points? Before it was that Dems had to win by 8 points. I wish they’d make up their minds.
And 8 points is quite doable. That’s the margin by which Dems won in 2006.
Krystal Ball has been strange lately. If I remember correctly, generic ballot questions are highly unreliable with little validity. Each race is still local.
Well, they’re just trying to defeat us before we start by making it seem impossible. To hell with that. We work hard to get good candidates, we support them, we pound the street and work the phones, we fund raise. DO NOT LET them discourage you. The are expecting low turnout among Dems and are doing everything in their power to dampen enthusiasm, hence the relentless attacks on PBO. Let’s give them a big fat surprise.
Jackiegrumbacher, You hit the nail on the head. Thank you love. They will not distract us.HZ
Top 5!
Well howdy all you O’s!!!!! I’m late checkiing in on this great getting up day at the TOD corral. It’s finally so nice out, that I must take advantage of the weather while it lasts. Soooo, I’ll bid adieu to you until I get back to pixelatin’
Love this! I have house guests from the other coast and have about 100 TODs to catch up on later in the week. Just sneaking a peek now.
Get back to your house guests right now, Judith!
Thanks so much for bringing this here Chips.
Wow….what an honor for Brian.
Good job Brian!
I actually wrote to POTUS (and FLOTUS) for the first time not too long ago. As convenient as the email process is, there’s something exciting about actually sending something tangible to the White House. You know it’ll be looked at by a lot of people, and eventually may get to the Oval Office desk. 🙂
You know JamilaJP, if I saw this arrive in the door, I’d most probably faint!
My exact thought, Chips!
I’ve had a coupla of ’em and believe me your skips a beat or two.
If you can bear it, press briefing starting soon:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
I’d rather stick my finger in an electric wall socket, thank you very much. 🙂
Do NOT do that J!!!! 🙂
No problem! 🙂
Why Wikipedia is, in the end, a librarian’s friend. Did you know that today is “Law Day” in the US?
It’s also “Loyalty Day”.
So, two holidays which no one remembers to combat those scary Socialists.
Was aware of Law Day — while in high school, spent many an April preparing for Moot Court. I remember celebrating May Day in Elementary School. Today is my first hearing of Loyalty Day.
http://twitter.com/TheObamaDiary/status/329635803565281280
I wept when I read this. One of the most satisfying reads of the day. Also, chech out Tomasky’s response to Dowd’s.
Thanks Eve, will look it up now.
Should a New York Times Columnist Know What She’s Talking About?
by Michael Tomasky May 1, 2013 7:48 AM EDT
Apparently not. Dowd, apparently miffed by Obama’s remarks about Aaron Sorkin’s liberal fantasy at the correspondents’ dinner, which were obviously aimed at her, ….
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/05/01/should-a-new-york-times-columnist-know-what-she-s-talking-about.html
#TrustBarack – for more than a few good laughs!
Yes, and we all knew he was setting her up for that! What a stupid sucker she must be! HaHaHa – quietly played, and very well indeed, Mr. President! 😆 (dumb b*tch….)
Keep helping to go after Maureen Dowd, Chips, and I will send YOU more cheesy puffs.
Ooooooooh, the ultimate incentive!!!!!
Strictly to reward the fact that you have a bigger brain than Maureen Dowd!
Well, that’s not much of a flippin’ compliment J, this has a bigger brain than the Dowd thing:
I am dead, dead, dead. OMG…..turn me over, spank my ass ten times and call me Charlie because Pierce has killed me! I can’t. I just can’t. There are no more cans to give. 😆
UT, while I don’t want to disappoint Japa or Mr Dotster, I’m now on the verge of proposing marriage to Charlie. Will you be my best lady?
Hahahahah….yes Chiparoo and I’m dragging Charlie along.
UT, about that keyboard… LOL
Irish you say? Maidin Good!
OMG, this is such a great story and such AWESOME photos!! I can only imagine how incredibly thrilled Brian was to receive this sweet gesture. These stories of the kindness of citizens of the world toward our President Obama and his acknowledgment of them really choke me up. It’s very gratifying to experience the human touch when it can sometimes seem like our world has grown coarse and full of conflict. BRAVO to Brian and Henry for sharing it with us!!!!
Hi, there, meta! Totally agree. So heartwarming and magical, and I’m glad we “get it.” Wouldn’t you like to sit over lunch with President Obama some day, just so we can all gush to him about how much he’s been appreciated by so many of us IN THIS COUNTRY, not just everywhere else around the world, as well? I know I would. I’m sure he knows, but he’s like family, and I’d like to add my actual voice to it.
Thanks a mil. Very nice comments:)
Senator Toomey: GOPers Opposed Background Checks Because They Hate Obama.
So it is personal with them ?
Yep. Personal vindetta over the People. But I’m sure the media will find a way to fault Obama while GOP gets yet another free pass.
Well Toomey lifted the mask to reveal what we all knew was there. Pure unadulterated hatred and racism that literally knows no bounds. Doesn’t matter who dies, how much the economy collapses or how many suffer, as long as the R’s can hold tight to their hatred, they will do so.
Good Afternoon TOD Community. I Love this Post and Brian…..Great Job.
It Nice to Know People……Chips and for Cousin Henry, his cousin at the WH, Pres Obama….. 😉
Thanks:)
It is the vision of Global Love Day, to unite one and all in a celebration of love and compassion. They honor each May 1st as a symbolic day of unconditional love and call upon all people and all nations to gather together in the wisdom of peace and love.
Global Love Day is the universal recognition of our innate oneness through love. When we come from this limitless love we naturally and easily embrace ourselves and our fellow humanity. Opening our heart, we allow unconditional love to be our guide and compassion to be our gift to life.
Come celebrate with us by consciously focusing on love and what it means to you throughout this day. By practicing love in all areas of your life, you will find it easy to love unconditionally all year long.
WHAT CAN I DO TO PARTICIPATE???
Simply be love. Let the love within your heart be the focus of your awareness throughout the day. Allow yourself to be accepting, forgiving, peaceful, joyful and in harmony with yourself and all life around you. Just be!
Allow unconditional love to be your primary intention ♥
That means you MA!
https://twitter.com/Our4thEstate/status/329646558041735168
Thanks!
NYT Posted three have been taken into custody for the Boston Marathon bombings.
Italy has her 1st Cabinet Minister who is Black and the ugliness of Racism shows it’s ugly head. What is with some people. Other than the pigmentation, are All Not Human Beings?
Shame.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/italy-appoints-black-cabinet-minister-erupts-with-racism.php?ref=fpb
Well, you have to take into account that fascism never quite left Italy. A neo-fascist party was part of Berlusconi’s government for years. And Lazio, one of Rome’s two football clubs, has a rabid fascist fan base.
This is pretty awesome. Love the drawing.
Congrats again, Kay, for all of your recent achievements – with a gazillion more to come!
Thanks!! 🙂
Congratulations Kay. Very proud of you.
THank you Carol Mae!! 🙂
😉
CK ~ You continue to ROCK! How lucky for us all to have you in the world, and to watch how you will change it for the better! Much love to you, dear!
http://twitter.com/TheObamaDiary/status/329639488647200769
Good West Coast morning Chipaticks. I’m doing my civic Jury Duty today.
Love the portrait & the communique. Our President is a great human being! Thanks Henry & Brian!!
Ah, good luck with jury duty GGail, I hope it’s a short trial!
Thanks Chips!
Another good west coast morning to you Chips and TOD friends. I think Bill Plant’s expiration date has expired. 🙂
??? 😕
This was the tweet that nearly foiled the bin ladin raid. Someone tweeted that they could hear helicopters overhead and then a gunfight. It was the raid in progress. Hard to believe that was two years ago – but, then again, it also feels like a million years ago.
Oh, now I understand. I remember that.
bin Laden
Thanks. I wasn’t twittering them.
An amazing tweet, so historic – thank you LP.
TY Chips, I thought it was very apropos …btw you notice notifications are all spiffy now? They have time stamps, and font is bigger.
What’s your secret?
Have no idea! Just showed up a few hours ago. I think WP is bias against Wyoming!!!!
😦
http://twitter.com/TheObamaDiary/status/329638999113228290
It’s not a front for a wedding dress is it? 😳
http://twitter.com/TheObamaDiary/status/329647602050154496
So many of those people have moved on.
Thank goodness the two most important ones are still there holding our nation together. POTUS & VPOTUS.
So true!
http://twitter.com/TheObamaDiary/status/329648182629912576
I love how he took a picture of the mail on the floor at the door.. wonderful! Thank you Chips & Cousin Henry for keeping us up to date. And serious congratulations to Brian… what a beautiful drawing.. That is one of the very best likenesses I’ve seen depicted of President Obama.
Thanks, so glad that you like it:)
loved it.. worth framing 🙂
New post:
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/05/01/two-years-ago-2/
Okay. So. In a very brief note: VaHoo! WootHoot! Zowie! Badda-bing, badda-BOOM! MightyPamela has a fully healed right patella, and consent to LEAVE OFF CRUTCHES! Oh YEAH! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Am allowed to walk around the house with just the knee immobizing splint, as comfort dictates, and am to begin PT as soon as possible (need to figure out transport)… PT for both knee and shoulder, and may wean off splint as strength and endurance allow. No driving yet, no running up and down the stairs (what?), but on this bright and shiny MayDay, this all seems quite miraculous to me! I shall finish my celebratory pot of green tea and meander outside with my kitty. She will eat grass, I will not! Now, how do y’all like that news?! 😆 My heartfelt thanks to my TOD family and to mama Chipsticks for all the longterm loving kindness and support, and don’t forget encouragement, that is vital to us all!
Congratulations Mighty, Mighty, Mighty Pamela……..Yeah ❗
Congrats, MightyPamela! So happy for you.
Pamelaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!
Completely fantastic news, burn those crutches baby!!!!!
Thrilled for ya, ya Mighty bit of stuff!!!!
I love that news. Seems fast. You must be young! Take care.
Well done Mighty Pamela ~ happy May Day.. Happy healing day. Very glad you’re on the mend 🙂
Congrats Mighty P!
Thank you, everyone, again and again! You have me crying here with all this support and congratulations! A lot of the glory goes to y’all too! 🙂
Thanks for the lovely comments, the letter is with the framers, then it’s going up in my kitchen here on the west coast of Ireland. Thanks Mr. O:)
Brian, thank you SO much for commenting here, thrilled to hear from you! And congratulations on your beautiful drawing, and your thank you letter from the President. You have an amazing talent. Wishing you all the very best, thank you again.
Thank you. Be sure to like my FB page, I’ve a few more presidential pictures on there too:)
I join Chips in thanking you, Brian! So happy for you, and happy for us that you shared it!
Thanks a million, it feels pretty good alright:)
I am honored (one-quarter Irish, here) that you took the time to respond, Brian! I’d be honored if I weren’t one-quarter Irish, of course. Hope to hear great things about you again, in the future!
I’ll keep the updates coming on my FB page, will have a link on it next week or so to a Youtube vid I’m working on:)
Now you’re talking! Thank you, Brian!
Beautiful drawing Brian ~ thank you for sharing it with us via Cousin Henry, and huge Congratulations on your well deserved letter from POTUS.
Cheers, thank you:)
You are quite welcome.. Cheers to you!
Thanks for sharing Brian! What a wonderful keepsake to pass on to future generations. It must be such a great honor! Once again thanks for letting us live through you vicariously……many TOD’ers are mailing themselves letters, pretending it came from the WH!
Thank you, as soon as it’s framed I’ll post a picture on my FB page. I’ll certainly be treasuring it:)
Look forward to seeing it!
Thanks so much for the wonderful drawing Brian. It is indeed a work of art. I’m so glad Pres. Obama responded and loved your work. Wishing you the very best in life. 😀
Very sweet of you. Thanks so much, and the same to you:)
Brilliant Brian Patrick Fogarty! Your skill is worthy of becomng legend on a scale such as this! I imagine President Obama was beyond delighted as well ~ not only your depiction, but your kind and thoughtful gesture in making a gift for him! And we, we are blessed and delighted that we can capture it electronically to add to our own PBO collections! Thank you sir!
Very kind words, thank you so much:)
Hi Brian! Wonderful to hear that your beautiful sketch was warmly received at the White House. It truly is a gorgeous piece. What a thrill it must have been to receive that letter of thanks from the President! I look forward to seeing more of your work chronicling the amazing time in history that we share. All the best to you and rest of your lovely country.
Thank you so much. On my FB page I’ve actually a few drawings of other American presidents too, and a different one of Obama. Thanks for the praise, you’re very kind:)
That’s serious!
These young men are idiots. This act of lunacy will haunt them all their lives and taint everything they do. They were lucky enough to be in a good university with a bright future ahead of them and they blew it big time. For what? Add them to the collateral damage from the bombing, although these guys did it to themselves.