@PeteSouza: President Obama opens a Christmas gift from personal aide Ferial Govashiri today in the Oval Office
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President Barack Obama speaks to members of the media during his last news conference of the year in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House
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‘End of the year task. Signing bills.’ (Pete Souza)
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The First Family (The President, First Lady, Malia, Sasha, Marian Robinson – oh, and Bo and Sunny) leave for Hawaii
The Obama Diary 
Good evening, TOD!
Alycee for the win! Go Girl! 🙂
Just sat down to catch my breath, and the door was open… 😉
Hey, nicely done, Alycee! ⭐
Congrats Alycee 🙂
WOW WOW WOW … NW!!!!! Thank you!!
BTW, wonder what’s in the box with the Apple logo on the backside 😉
Maybe an Air.
🙂
Thanks, Bob.
Evening all
Me?
No–not you. Close, though.
Hey!
We do seem to have a few triplets running around here, tho!
Reposting from last thread:
#BackBarack …. or get out of the way 🙂
Bob, I’m eager to know how the women of the WHPC are going to respond to that jerk Ed Henry remarks. We shall see {{{{rubbing hands together with a big :D}}}}.
IN_DEED, RanMan!!!!!
Thank you soooooOOOooOOOooooOOOooooOOooooo much Nerdy – what a day!!!
Thanks so much, Chiparoo.
It was FANTASTIC!
April Ryan and Susan Malveaux can’t get over this – they’re on cloud 11 today! 🙂
LOL
I loooooooooove April, she’s outstanding and smart, but is never slow to give the President credit when he does amazing things – she’s fab!!
PS Helloooooo Hopefruit!!
Hiya Chips! She got the treatment from POTUS that she deserved, along with the other ladies. I missed the presser due to travel – but I saw the tweets as I landed, and was I thrilled! I will watch it for sure later this evening. 🙂
Same here Hopefruit, missed it live, so HUGELY grateful for Nerdy’s tweets before watching the damn it. Damn it, this fella’s good! 🙂
…not sure about the “outstanding and smart” part of your statement…
You don’t like her Theo?
the WHPC Men are so petty and full of privilege….it is ok when the men are called on day after day…but when women are given a front row seat they squawk…how pathetic is that
Exactly Prettyfoot, no objections at all, needless to say, when GWB only called on men.
indeed….
That was the reaction I was going to tweet earlier in response to someone tweeting little Eddie was displeased, then I decided not to waste my time. 😀
GE TODers!!!!
Nerdy is on a roll. Great round-up!
Thanks.
Thanks so much, Chips.
NW, thank you for all your effort today. You have done a fantastic, splendid and wonderful, job. Thanks again>>
Thank you so much, RanMan.
Like a boss, extraordinary president!
Hellooooo Mitt Romnesia!!!!
Well lookee-here! Just the fact Pres O is heading towards a real vacation has rejuvenated him already! You go, SIr! You absolutely deserve every moment of down time you will get.
Magnificent post Nerdy! Thank you!
Man, was this a week for the history books or what?
Now I must go back and finish reading the rest of that equally magnificent previous post.
You’re welcome, Dudette.
Wow! That was quite a crowd at the TOD entrance – FIVE of you rushing to make the flight!!!
QUINTUPLETS?? Yikes, better clean my reading glasses…
Yep, quite a crush; five villagers squeezed their way in at the same time! Fortunately no one got stepped on or pushed aside.
Sounds more like a stampede TOD 5 racing to be first.
I’m digging those boots FLOTUS is wearing. I see now why POTUS says it is hard to shop for FLOTUS when it comes to clothes, cause she has her own style and no one can shop for her. So POTUS here is a hint if you are buying clothes just give her the credit card.
I love the boots, the purse and the coat. awesome
OH! Fabulous and wonderful day! I am done with school, First Family off to Hawaii for a much deserved vacation…and little Ms. Sasha Obama has her mother’s great fashion sense:) She looks adorable! I hope this is the BESTEST vacation ever for them…
Be sure to check out @NerdyWonka’s twitter timeline — she definitely captured the essence of “the bear is loose.”
And since you’re on vacay, hopefully you’ll have time to savor:
Yo NerdyW, I love your close-ups and the way you make sure we get different views! 😉 😉 Gracias, young’un; you have quite a knack for the nuances!
Thanks, VC.
Don’t forget Christmas in Washington is showing on TNT this evening at 8PM ET
And FYI – this is the last year that TNT will be broadcasting this event. In 2015, Christmas in Washington will likely be aired on another network – yet to be determined. The show began in 1982 when it was aired on NBC. It then moved to TNT in 1999 where it has been through this year.
Thanks for the heads up setting DVR now!
Already scheduled to ne taped.
Close to perfect this tweet! 8 questions to the guys – ONE topic
Great pics. The President has such a wonderful grasp of tradition. I love that we get to see pics and short vid of First Family leaving the WH to go on vacation. To me, it truly marks the beginning of the holiday season. It is such a lovely gesture on the part of the First Family to give us this moment.
Just so I don’t think I’m too special – does everyone else have the ‘new’ response box to the right of the screen when someone answers you? What do you think of it so far?
VC, I know you mentioned this (yesterday?), but I don’t see what you are referring to. I never sign in via WP, usually bookmarks, sometimes email
When reading TOD – right hand side top – symbol that says you have a reply to your posts – symbol is the same – when you click it ahhhhhhhhhhhhh
Just saying that they have changed the format for responding when the ‘light’ comes on in the upper right corner of the screen, signaling that someone has responded to your comment.
Have to click it to see the new – awful – but all changes to WP in the past few months have been awful – when you are on a good thing – make it bad!
Okay, TS, so we are on a similar page. I don’t know why they think we need all this info to respond to someone else’s comment.
It seems I have “approved” you – I can also like you, trash you, spam you or edit you – not sure why one would edit someone else’s post – unless a GOPer on wiki changing the rules of science
Apparently you can’t edit someone else’s comment. That is the only choice I’ve clicked so far – as soon as I saw the new scenario, but I was told no. 😉
Shame that – could have had some fun!
😀 😀 Chips has definitely attracted like-minded troublemakers to this site!
Weirdo – WP has gone back to the original replies format??
Not yet for me! Maybe tomorrow? You are a day ahead, after all. 😉 😉
And this morning the new horror is back – sigh!
😀 It never left for me!
So, are you going shopping today or are your stores closed for Sunday?
Our stores close for Christmas Day & Good Friday – When I came to the US in 1978 – it was the first time I had seen stores open past 5.30pm! In those days shopping was 9am – 5.30 pm Mon to Fri and a half day on Saturday – We seem to have gone way too far in the opposite direction
It seems we have gone too far in everything, if you ask me! We have a couple of stores that are open all night closest to Christmas. I remember when there was a ‘fight’ over legislation to have stores open on Sundays, now that’s taken for granted. Only concession is that Sunday closing is ‘early’ (5pm). And yes, they are 99 % all closed Xmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Nerdy, Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! 🙂
You’re welcome, Alycee.
Will watch Tweety tonight, once it’s online.
Go April! (What’s with Twitter not “verifying” her account?)
I’m crying with laughter – what a load of nothing are the “front row”
Wah, Wah, Wah.
My thoughts exactly.
whiny white male members of the …
/fixt
He is on his way home…
Photo/Hawaii News Now
Awww, look at little Barack keeping eye out for swimmers’ safety.
Even at that age he was filled with empathy and caring.
Remarkable man, remarkable human.
HEADS UP: Christmas In Washington featuring the First Family begins now on TNT.
Time to party a little bit, eh?
Ooooowee! Funky onions! 🙂
Have a cocktail in hand, Sailor. Way ahead of you.
I’m there too LL. 😀
…all lit up like a Christmas tree… 😉
Not lit……..just a mellow fellow. 🙂
I posted Charles Brown “Merry Christmas, baby” —- Scroll up…
I saw it. See my response?
What a nice nap I had.
“So I hear that @EdHenry and @JonKarl et al are upset because @BarackObama passed over their hard hitting questions. :smiles, sips on drink:”
hahahahahahahahahahahahaha LL… you meanie. hahahahahahaha
Holy crap, I got stuck in moderation!
Mentioning Sen Paul & Rubio in the one sentence is a moderating offense 🙂
Apparently so!
I found you and freed you LL, but if you beat Stoke by a chunky margin on Monday, you’re going back in.
We shall, ma’am, we shall. :cackle:
I’ll be Stoked if you screw up. See what I did there?
ba-dum-CHING *rimshot*
It only means one thing……….you have finally arrived. Welcome to the club (current members me & Bobfr) 😀
Thanks for freeing me, Nerdy.
Merry Christmas to you, Mr. President, and to your beloved family. It gives me great pleasure and consolation to see you be on a real vacation from the muck in Washington D.C. to be with your family in sunny Hawaii.
^5.
This is PBO’s first Christmas vacation that he can truly kick off his shoes and join LL and Yardham in a nice cocktail for dinner, no GOP antics nipping at his heels.
Merry Christmas to the First Family, warm breezes and lush tropical flowers await.
The GOPers know they can no longer blame anyone other than themselves for the behavior of congress and lack of legislation. Suddenly they are very quiet!
Wow, Sasha is a fashion statement and she isn’t even trying. The shoes, the pants, the bag, the coat. I LOVE the coat – the design of the collar and hemline. But seriously, if you go to any celebrity website you won’t find one celebrity that has a better look than this. (And they all have stylists lol!)
I was born when President Truman was president. I remember Dwight Eisenhower and his public speeches and interactions with the press, and every president since then. No president, none, had the ability to speak with such intelligence and clarity in all my years, as our President Obama does now. We are all fortunate fortunate to be alive and witness a national and world leader of his wisdom and abilities. God bless him!
Hear hear! I was thinking the same thing, we are so fortunate to have him as our president.
Speaking of Truman and Eisenhower, I had a twitter conversation about him today, LOL (Stuart Stevens was #NoTermMitt’s top campaign strategist.)
*them* not him.
Amen, Bill R! I was also born when Truman had just become President after FDR died in office in fourth term. I agree 100% with your comment.
I just feel so relieved to know they are gone. Away, together, doggies to play with, and pray for the continued health for this family who gives so much to this country. How blessed are we?
Indeed. It’s such a toxic environment in Washington – it’ll be good for them to just relax together. Hope they have a very uneventful time!
I don’t care what anyone says, I like the BeeGees.
(One of my guilty pleasures, but don’t tell anyone)
Hedonist! 🙂
😆 I’ve been spotted! I dedicate the tune to you, Shipmate!
Anything but naked on a beach…..Sand tends to get in all the wrong places.
😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
That is NOT a guilty pleasure. It is an awesome song.
Yeah but, look at the hair!1!1
Well, the 70s were a fucked up decade.
Negative……Good times!
Admit it. You still have a white disco suit in your storage.
Naw. Bell bottoms and platform shoes! 😉
“those were the days my friend” – should see my early pictures of Mr 99 – too similar for thinking about
I do too. Loved to dance to them. (that ages me a lot) 🙂
Me, too!
I still have their record albums. yep I said records
Another hour of good listening.
Thank you for bringing this along, YA. I enjoyed listening while cooking and during dinner. ‘Bout lost it for some reason when Lisa came on singing Green The Whole Year ‘Round. It’s as if all my Irish Ancestors rose up in my Soul at once! Marvelous, for sure. Am pleased with the silence already surrounding PBO and family. As it should.
Indeed.
I always liked this one…have to listen to the end:)
Today’s presser was awesome!
Am I the only one that wonders what the heck do you get the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES of AMERICA for Christmas???
I mean, seriously, what do you get Barack Obama?
LOL. I was thinking the same thing about the first photo.
Although I’m sure that whatever the store bought gift in that box was very nice, PBO strikes me as one that would rather and greatly cherish something made especially for him by the gifter…
hair dye?
/runs
see amk…..
I was thinking the very same thing
Some traveling music for POTUS and FLOTUS
Damn, they were good.
My favorite, thanks LL!
Constantly impressed by the power of Twitter:
Thank you for sharing! The new stove I want is on sale. WAS going to gift myself; fortunately, it is a “want” not a “need.”
The Delfonics
And, yes, I love disco. #MusicOfMyYouth
Well, time for me to get back to work; my house looks like a Red Cross Disaster site and my grands and two daughter-in-laws arrive next Friday. The next week is going to be a whirlwind; tomorrow, Brunch at my cousin’s; Sunday, my teen group hosts a senior citizen luncheon; Monday, medical appointments; Tuesday, I have to decorate and set the tables as the Boro building will be closed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday… BTW, did I mention that this year, I’m cooking the meal — 109 RSVP’s and they are still coming in!!!! Yes, I’m INSANE!
Yes, I would say you are Insane. Lol. Seriously, I do hope that you have SOME help with the food prep. Breath deeply and enjoy every minute. Above all–stay healthy!!!!!!!!!!
I’m constantly revising the menu and I am going have a little help; my cousin in Jersey is cooking the greens ( she has a farmer friend), and I decided to do purchased mini desserts — my cousin/neighbor who is also ill, but wants to help will store them in her freeze and bring them to the party, plated and ready to serve. The party favors (I give everyone an angel ornament) have been tagged and wrapped since October. I’ll make it … Truthfully, after a year of so much sadness, illness, and loss, I’m really, really looking forward to seeing everyone for a happy occasion!
Happy Christmas and Merry New Year, Toddys.
What???
That was kinda the face Ed Henry had on him today 🙂
No snow at tod this year?
OMG, where are your powers of observation?!
what is snow ? 😎
VC will be along soon to *!!**!!ing explain 😆
friggin’ canooks, huh?
LOL.
Mercifully, VC is busy, probably ->
god must have had a reason to put the canadians where they are…. Mebbe, it was the goddess who did it.
PBO’s & PressSec’s New Year Resolution – Ignore the pasty faces in the front row.
Enjoy and be amazed at what a small World this is. Great story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=agwnwqCdwl8
Yardarm!!!!!!!!!!! No fair making me cry…
Well, I see I had some company. 🙂
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/19/a-tweet-or-two-193/
Once again hoping I do this correctly. This has always been one of my favorite Christmas carols. From a poem by Longfellow written with the Civil War as a backdrop, it reminds us not to give in to despair. This particular version, which I had never seen before, was done and dedicated to Newtown, CT. It is a little different than other versions I have heard and is, to me, particularly haunting. Watch all the way through.
Hello my Chips and TOD family. Another beautiful post by our wonderful Nerdy W. {{{{{{{{TY, Nerdy W.}}}}}}}} So elated for our President and our First Lady and family getting away to enjoy some beautiful time during this holiday season. Just a lot of love, prayers, and bells of joy for this entire time.
What a joy to be living during this great presidency. A complete honor!! I am so grateful to live during this presidency with my TOD family in this beautiful and delicious space that Chips created. {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ I love you, my beautiful Chips.}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}HZ