"...she inexplicably mails me a cactus every Valentine's Day, and I'm like, thanks a heap Coyote Ugly, your cactus-gram stings worse than your abandon

In the same vein - may I introduce this hilarious gift-faux-pas, the laughable gifts our First Family chose to exchange with our closest ally.

Hey Obama - did you not think you needed a Chief of Protocol? Couldn't find one without tax issues? Enjoy.

Obama's Blockbuster Gift for Brown: 25 DVDs

While the British prime minister presented Obama with uniquely historical gifts symbolizing America's relationship with England, the president gave Brown a set of movies.

FOXNews.com

Friday, March 06, 2009

Mar. 3: President Obama is seen alongside British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (Reuters)

Let's hope he's a Star Wars fan.

President Obama on Thursday gave British Prime Minister Gordon Brown a set of 25 classic American movies to mark his historic visit to the White House.

Brown, the first European leader to visit Obama since his Jan. 20 inauguration, was presented with a "special collector's box" of DVDs during his two-day visit to Washington.

Downing Street, which reportedly tried to keep the present a secret, declined to say what movies were included in the set.

"One reason for the secrecy might be that the gift seems markedly less generous and thoughtful than the presents taken to Washington by the Prime Minister," London's Evening Standard newspaper reported.

The Daily Mail, however, reported the movie set included ET, Star Wars and The Wizard of Oz and was produced by the American Film Institute on "special request" from the White House.

Brown, who is not known to be a movie buff, gave the president and his children several uniquely historical gifts.

The first of which is a pen holder fashioned from the oak timber of HMS Gannet, a Navy vessel that served on anti-slavery missions off Africa.

Another treasure given to Obama is a framed commissioning paper for the HMS Resolute, a Royal Navy ship that came to symbolize British-American goodwill when it was rescued by the U.S. from icebergs and given to Queen Victoria. It is the sister ship of the HMS Gannet.

Finally, Brown gave Obama a first edition of Martin Gilbert's seven-volume biography of Winston Churchill, whose World War II partnership with President Franklin Roosevelt symbolized the U.S.-Anglo alliance.

For Sasha and Malia, Sarah Brown, the Prime Minister's wife, gave each an outfit from Topshop, a British chain of clothing stores, and selected six children's books by British authors which have yet to be published in the U.S.

In return, First Lady Michelle Obama presented the prime minister's two boys with toy helicopters modeled after Marine One.

Obama was so touched by the gifts, he called Brown on board his plane on Thursday to thank him. The call was placed after Brown addressed a joint meeting of Congress, the White House said. The two reportedly spoke for 10 minutes.

The White House later issued a press briefing to put on record how much Obama appreciated the gifts.

"The pen set is being displayed on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office and the books are in the President's personal study adjoining the Oval Office," the White House said in a statement.

During Brown's first trip to America in the summer of 2007, he was given a fur-trimmed brown leather bomber jacket by President George W. Bush.

The prime minister's reaction to the DVD set is not known.

Interesting study on childhood reading and house orderliness

From Slate...I confess I find their science and life sections addicting.

Essentially it finds a link between an orderly house and reading ability, even when socioeconomic status is controlled for. Personally, I believe the theory that you don't get to the nice cuddly reading sessions unless you can do the basics like have a clear couch or chair on which to cuddle.

:-)

Snaps to my own Mom always had a lot of books around and had an organized house -- I hope to be a mere shadow of that someday.

1L Bridal Shower

I helped a few girls throw a group bridal shower for three other first-year students who are getting married this spring. We had it in our reading room at the law school, but I tried to doll it up best I could, going for the easy red/pink theme since we were so close to V-Day.

I think these Martha Stewart pom-poms worked out better as hats than decorations... although I have seen them pulled off at other showers.

Great food - Kirsten made some awesome hummus!

TP dressing with the brides.

Everything's amazing and nobody's happy...

Check out this video clip of Conan and Louis CK and that my bud Julianne sent me..it is pretty funny and true how easy it is to be annoyed by the pretty fantastic way we live now.

Winter 1 - Ratelles O

So...maybe there are benefits to renting...except for that even if a pipe freezes in a stairwell and floods only your apartment and you have to move all of you furniture and live like an eccentric antique dealer for a week...and the carpet is fixed and you don't have to pay for it...but you have to endure air hanger-like turbine fans in your 500 square foot apartment for days on end...and you have to keep you doors open for the cords so you end up heating the whole neighborhood...and a month later...still no bathroom flooring.

Grrrr......

Like I said -- Winter won this battle.

Christmas 2008 Wrap-up

Stonefall covered in snow - it was the most I have ever seen up there over the break.


San Diego Temple

Lindsay and I in front of the temple waiting for Melanie and Dan.

Just the window display in a cute little boutique on Del Mar. It made me think of my Mom.

Me, Ali and Lindz at Mel and Dan's wedding (why we were in San Diego).


My sisters and I out on the mountain at Schweitzer.


Trey and Michael snowplowing the driveway after we couldn't make it up. We just love the driveway at Stonefall.

All dressed up for the Omniture Holiday Party at the Grand America. Thanks for the dress Mom!
Hannah and I at the Jets/Chargers game in Seattle.

Michael flys...well..sort of

I would be a liar if I didn't admit I harbored some healthy skepticism when we visited the iFly place at the Saloman in Ogden. I believed that Jenna and Kellen (Griffitts) would do great, because honestly, what don't they do well athletically in their family? But I thought that Brad, and alternatively Mike, the big boys might struggle. Perhaps its because I did indoor skydiving with my fam in Vegas and I remember the way the building shook and waled when they upped the fan to get my Dad off the ground. My Dad, who is not a featherweight, but who still looks up to my hubbie.

So you can imagine I had some doubts about the Ogden flying contraption and their ability to blast my quasi-300 lb. spouse into orbit.

I was wrong. He flew. Apparently, the center has newer technology (apparently some engineering grad has found a way to bluff his way into the coolest project ever) and uses a combination of a sucking-in and blowing-out turbine to create the necessary body lift. It was a lot of fun to watch, and I am pretty sure Mike enjoyed it too. For you viewing pleasure...




P.S. My favorite part is the cheeks...our children have no chance.

I am now officially into law school finals--my first one is Wednesday, which is probably why I am blogging to postpone my going over my torts skeleton. Wish me luck, hope, good karma, whatever, I'm not picky at this point. Intentional infliction of emotional distress anyone?