On This Day: President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama arrive at a Hanukkah reception at the White House, Dec 8, 2011
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MoooOOOooorning Early Birds!
08
Dec
13
158 Responses to “Early Bird Chat”
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The Obama Diary 
Fiiiiiirst!
Sheesh, I’m faster than the speed of sound 😎
You’re awesome!
Thanks Chips II, I know.
Morning Chips, here all by your lonesome. Here to keep your company. Happy Sunday!!
Well that photo is awesome – something about the color blue – it is my favorite color, my favorite dresses were blue – and all of the gorgeous people in our world are remembered when they wore blue – Mrs Obama is in front of them all.
Good evening 99ts!!!
GM Ms Chips – on the ball with 1st, 2nd, 3rd – and the time 🙂 11.47pm in my world
Gold, silver and bronze, 99ts, I’m weighed down by medals!
I love you so much. So I feel I can say this with the deepest sincerity:
🙄 Oh puleez! 🙄
🙂
😯 Are you belittling my achievement, Ms Doodlette?
On the contrary, I offer as much congratulations as this achievement deserves.
😆 Rascal!
IyamwhutIyam 😎
I have enough weight of my own to weigh me down – ribbons are the lighter option 🙂
Problem-solver extraordinaire!
Good Morning 99ts! 🙂
Hi Dudette – music player extraordinaire! – have a great day
Hello Chipses!!!!
Hey Layla. We gotta get in here to keep Chips from talking to herself. 🙂 🙂
I know…poor thing! LOL
Moooooorning Africa! I was having a fabulous conversation with myself, the mutual admiration was a joy!
Aaah, I see. Did Danny get you up early this a.m.? What mischief is in already?
Incredibly Africa, he’s not causing any mischief at the moment – but that’s only because he’s asleep.
Be quick then, hide your furniture!
Hmmm. The day is young.
Moooooooorning Layla!
Morning!! Now which one am I talking to
Both of us!!! 🙂
Is this the first time since you started this blog that you were first? Or the first time I have noticed you being first? How’s Danny and is it cold where you are?
Moooorning Carol, oh – I’m often first now, super speedy!
Good Morning Layla and Carol and Chips-adoodle! 🙂
Morning to one and all.
Morning Lynn. Wishing a happy Sunday.
Top of the morning to you, too, africa! I see Ms. Chips has sprouted multiple personalities this a.m. It’s gonna be a busy day!
I know. 🙂 🙂
🙂 Moooooorning Lynn!
Oops! You got me! I should have known at least one of the five or six of you would.
Good Morning Lynn and Africa
How’s the weather for everyone. In my little corner, it is cooooooooooooooooold. And I have to go out today do my charity work, picking fruits. Burrrrr.
veeeery cold here! Leaving for work in about 20 minutes! Wish I could wear my jammies…Oh well, scrubs it is!
Bundle up and have a nice day.
Good Morning Layla!
Free advice for today: Wear your jammies under the scrubs! Have a toasty day! 😀 😀 😀
Happy Sunday to everyone,
“Chips, you are Awesome” It’s not a figment of your imagination…you’re super-duper awesome and so much more!
The coverage provided here of Madiba has been magnificent. Thanks to all.
Mooooorning WilTal, thank you for agreeing with Chips II! You’re lovely, happy Sunday!!
Oh dear, The Three Faces of Chips. Let me say in advance of being introduced to Chips III, she’s awesome too! LOL
Totally agree WilTal, Chips III.
Happy Sunday WilTal!
I agree. She is awesome. Insufferably so! 😀
Sort of like another awesome one. 😀
Good morning Dudette,
Thank you and Happy Sunday to you too! Cloudy and damp in our neck of the woods today.
I few days from now, Mandela will be buried in a grave that will be visited by millions over the coming years. Perhaps there will eventually be some sort of marble something with names, dates, and maybe even a statue. Hundreds of tons of flowers and other tokes will constantly be laid and constantly be swept away. But what is the best memorial? It isn’t marble. It woulbe be to continue and build upon his work, to finish what he left unfinished, to find another person to follow in his footsteps. Indeed, if we could have an army of folks 3/4 as good, that would be better than any carved stone.
TY, Carol. Perfectly said.
Good morning, TOD! Blessed and happy day to all. Stay warm and surround yourself with love and peace. ‘Tis the season.
Well said Carol. And it’s up to us, individually, not just our leaders to carry on his work. Next year will be our big challenge. People will tell us that winning back the Congress is impossible. But we’ll keep forging on and working hard every day to make the impossible, possible.
{{{{{ CarolDuhart }}}}}
I just love Michelle’s holiday dresses!
The jewel toned color is really magnificent. Love it.
The blue toned dress is certainly lovely. But I also love the gold dress for the Inauguration, the gown for the India state dinner, and the assorted gowns she wears for state events. No one carries out bright colors like Michelle. And BTW, I’m glad she didn’t listen to any “advisors” who told her to “tone it down” for being the first African-American First Lady. These people would have had her in gray, twinsets and Lord and Taylor stuff and those atrocious “suits” I’ve seen Congresswomen wear.
My mother and grandmother thought the sun rises and sets on Lord and Taylor-LOL.
There’s a certain place for that stuff but Mrs. O is young and vibrant and she loves innovation. Her fashion choices reflect her pleasure in the new and the extraordinary. She has fun with clothes and it really has changed the fashion industry for the better.
I suspect the fashion industry (especially budding designers) heaved a sigh of relief when PBO was re-elected. Between FLOTUS (and now the girls) and even PBO, they’re covered on all ends. What would Miss Ann do for them? Who would buy or can even afford the dowdy over-priced stuff that she wears?
Totally agree Meta. I also appreciate that she gives the up-and-coming young designers recognition by wearing their clothes as well. She’s truly a class. act.
Don, I remember back in the day if you could afford L&T, you were saying something (a blast from the past).
Good Morning Carol, jackie, Don, meta and hopefruit!
Good morning Chips I, II and III and everyone. Today we’re expecting the first snow and ice of the season, which should cripple traffic for a while and fill the grocery stores. I still want to see the Christmas choral concert at our local college–they do a terrific job and everyone leaves feeling a little more of the Christmas spirit. Today could be a fateful day in the Ukraine and I’m concerned about what will happen when that idiot Yanukovych imposes marshal law. I hope the starry-eyed Putin adorers from last summer recognize what an evil influence Putin is on the countries around him, but doubt they can see anything beyond their Obama hatred.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-09/tens-of-thousands-of-pro-europe-protesters-rally-in-kiev/5143198
Pro-Europe protesters have flocked to Kiev’s Independence Square for a rally that organisers hoped would swell to one million people, piling pressure on Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich to turn back from seeking closer ties to Russia.
I thought this article on Politico was very illuminating. What it takes to move a President to an overseas state Funeral. The Obamas will attend a ceremony on Tuesday http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/obama-south-africa-nelson-mandela-100827.html?hp=f1
Good morning aamon. Logistical nightmare. I’m comforted know that the President surrounds himself with competent professionals.
This is going to be a massive undertaking for South Africa to pull off with all the dignitaries coming. An opportunity for them to shine though.
The headline was a little misleading. When I read the entire article, I learned that these plans have been worked on for months. This is an anticipated event, and the secret service and So. Afr’n government have been working on plans…..all that to say, yes, months of the usual work will be compressed into 72 hours. The article also stated that protocol is a big consideration…who goes where, when, how, with whom…..which is why protocol experts are paid well!
G’morning Chips and TOD!!
Moooooorning Hopefruit!
But, but, but but. PBO! Good Morning Hope!!
Gooooood mooooorrningggg, Chips, Danny O and TODville.
OMG, Chips, the post on PBO’s early days as a community organizer just BLEW ME AWAY. His vision, his goals, his heart and soul have been so consistently in alignment throughout the course of his life. How astonishingly lucky we are that his destiny met with ours. So proud of him and his ability to manage it all with uncommon grace.
And the posts on Mandela are also just superb. Thanks to you and all of the BTs for extraordinary passion and dedication to all the subjects presented in such a compelling way here at TODville. Pure excellence in the daily Rise & Shine posts as well. I’m so grateful to all of you who comment as well. Three cheers!!
Moooooorning Meta! Thrilled you enjoyed the old article, his consistency through life is completely mind-blowing!
MSM is cray, cray. That’s all.
We know the MSM don’t want to give any positive news concerning this Obama administration.
Jake Tapper (CNN) got defensive when I pointed this out to him yesterday. I asked him a question and still waiting for an answer.
Hello. I just love that picture of our President and First lady.
anniebella – so do it – it is awesome
Good Morning anniebella!
Good Morning Chips.
Yes he did, but it was not lost on us here at TOD! 🙂 🙂 Many people pointed out how he basically put the media pundits posing as “Liberals” fairly and squarely in their places. Ha!
Morning JER! That’s a hoot, love the Vine snips!
Good Morning JER!
Hello there Dudette.
You won’t believe it but this is our CarolMae folks 🙂
Aw. Sweet, lovely girl! 🙂
Why thank you, “blushing”, my cousin just sent me that. Her Aunt had it in a scrapbook. I don’t have photos of many of my family on digital so I thought I’d have a little fun. 😉
How sweet is that
Why thank you, “blushing”, my cousin just sent me that. Her Aunt had it in a scrapbook. I don’t have photos of many of my family on digital so I thought I’d have a little fun. 😉
I’m in the process of “downsizing” and digitizing all and any such things – it is a lovely way to keep the past in our lives – and your picture is a wonderful memory – smart Aunt!
Thanks. I thought you were sound asleep. But I might have misjudged the time reading early post. Is it a new day for you now?
It’s 7.30 am – I woke early – probably because I went to bed late 🙂
😉
It’s hard keeping you and AMK straight. You are about opposite. 😉
We are going to start in Jan. That’s the plan anyway.
Wow, Carol–such a lovely young woman!
Why thank you, “blushing”, my cousin just sent me that. Her Aunt had it in a scrapbook. I don’t have photos of many of my family on digital so I thought I’d have a little fun. 😉
CarolMaeWY, you are so beautiful!
Why thank you, “blushing”, my cousin just sent me that. Her Aunt had it in a scrapbook. I don’t have photos of many of my family on digital so I thought I’d have a little fun. 😉
Ran across this last night. Thought this morning’s “medal winner” might like it.
Some history I should know well – but had forgotten – so much that happened to end apartheid
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-08/springboks-all-blacks-nelson-mandela-rugby-union/5142950
Shockwaves go global, reach Mandela in prison
“Mandela said that when the game [rugby union] was cancelled, he said all the prisoners on Robben Island grabbed the doors of their cells and they rattled them right round the prison and it was like the sun came out,”
Good movie to watch: Invictus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invictus_(film)
Invictus is a 2009 biographical sports drama film directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. The story is based on the John Carlin book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation about the events in South Africa before and during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, which was hosted in that country following the dismantling of apartheid. Freeman and Damon play, respectively, South African President Nelson Mandela and François Pienaar, the captain of the South Africa rugby union team, the Springboks.[3]
Oy
Oooh, Africa, I would just love, love, love for the Virginia Republican party to announce this position publicly. Then I want to watch while all of Virginia’s seniors and soon-to be seniors tell them to take a long hike east to the Atlantic Ocean and keep walking. I encourage the entire Republican party from coast to coast to run on this position–you know they really want to.
I wanna play a game. How low can you go? Here, the temp is 24 degrees. Anyone lower?
In my world we measure temperature in Celsius – and its about 19C at the moment – so lower than 24 – but nowhere near as cold 🙂
You win, Carol. It’s a balmy 27 in PA.
Nineteen…and RISING! Yippee!
Lower than 19 (F)? Anyone? Lurkers can play too…
Our low in OKC Friday night was 8 degrees (F)…..last night was scheduled to be about 17. Our high yesterday was 21…..today supposed to zoom up to 28! We are NOT used to this…..but we are fortunate, our home is warm and cozy. In fact, we just had a new furnace installed two weeks ago…just in time. The old one was original to the house (1968) and was getting ready to either explode or expire!
good morning everyone… Carol, a year ago I was still living in ND- today in my little town there- it is minus -20 – which makes me very happy I’m now in Maryland where its a balmy 32 degrees !
At minus 20 you have no choice but to suffer cabin fever. The door freezes shut.
yep you’re right- I am not missing that kind of cold one bit 🙂
Good Sunday Morning sherijr! Brrrrr!
and a very good sunday morning back to you Dudette 🙂
Well CarolDuhart, we win at the moment. It is -10 here. I am off to church and then our family is going out to the woods to cut out Christmas tree. No wind today so it won’t be too bad. The high is suppose to be 5. It is cold.
I love these pictures of the First couple all dressed up. The best looking First couple ever! Off to church.
mt, brave folks! Here I’m looking at a list of church closings. To me, that’s something new. When I was a kid, churches stayed open even in bad weather. But back then. people lived in the same neighborhood as the church, and pastors/priests lived next to or above the church sanctuary. But when people moved out to the suburbs, the churches often were sold off or kept and folks would commute to church. When that happens, people have a harder time getting to a church when the weather is bad.
The congregations and buildings were smaller too, so you could heat some sanctuaries with a space heater for the ten or so folks who actually braved the cold to go. And there were a few members who lived next door and people looking for escape from the cold who might make for about ten people sitting in the front pew. But megachurches can’t open up for about 10 people-the costs of opening are too great for that. So we have church closings now.
I think mtmarilyn wins the how low can you go game! That’s one game I don’t want to win! Stay warm, Marilyn, and good luck finding the perfect tree!!!
I agree, carolyn, mtmarilyn wins for now… but we might have a reader from northern Alaska, and do we have anyone from Antartica or from that mountain in New Hampshire?
We were -17F in WY yesterday. I think we are above 0F today and the cars started. They needed help yesterday and we went to see Frozen, a very fun movie.
Do anyone know what day POTUS and FLOTUS will leave for South Africa?
Gotta be either tonight or sometime tomorrow, since the memorial service is Tuesday.
Don’t know but heard last night that the Bushes, Clintons and Jimmy Carter will join the President and First Lady. George H.W. Bush will not.
I heard that GWB and spouse will join the Obamas on AF1 en route to S.A. The Clintons and Jimmy Carter will attend but separately.
Hi jackie4O.
Yes. Interestingly someone posted yesterday that Carter’s not going on AF1.
He’s going separately as part of The Elders group (see info at the end of previous thread).
They are supposed to attend the Kennedy Center Honors tonight so I would imagine that they’re leaving either very late tonight or early tomorrow morning. We are ~7 hrs behind South Africa, and the flight is about 10.5 hrs!
My admiration for President Obama overflows.
You might have noticed, Peter Gabriel, one of my other pretend-husbands in the video introducing The Elders in the previous thread.
Ohhhh how I love him!
Rev. Al Speaking truth to power.
Nice!!!
Lets hope he doesn’t feel the need or won’t be subtly pressured by MTP to take cheap shots at PBO in the process.
Oh I wish that witch Peggy “Ronald Reagen” Noonan were there to hear Rev. Al.
GOP legacy:
Heading out now. Crazy busy day! Have a wonderful Sunday Everybody!
g’nite e1 – have a great day
G’Night! 🙂
Had to come back and post this…
I still have my John Lennon for President button….
… and this! 😀
Can we get a list somewhere? Let me check Reuters…
What bandwagon? I’m sure must of the talk is from the tv pundits, and MSM.
OK, then.
I think he is a very weak leader……he is always whining and running to American media…….
Netanyahu, one the right wing Republicans war lovers. He gets Israel in a mess and he will expect America to come to the rescue.
Agreed. Very.
OMG! Maybe the rumors of State Dept. asking about 50 hotel rooms in Jerusalem in January are true!!
Rise and Shine.
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/12/08/rise-and-shine-691/
Perusing the first 40 or so comments on the way down, it seems she-who-shall-not-be-named–again has been having a ball; full of herself several times over! Oh deah!
Happy Sunday Morning, Afternoon, &/ Evening-Night, TODvillage!
Morning Chips Chica! You have led the village off to a three-ri-fic start – THANK YOU! It is nice to see all three of yourselves were/are in a terrific mood! 😀 😀 😀