This week, I’m thinking about The White House. Ten years ago, on July 1st 2015, I was invited by my friend Amanda to be part of the first White House tour where they lifted the ban on photography. Even though I’d read the news about the demolition of the East Wing and seen the depressing photos, I hadn’t thought about it in terms of my visit there.
Yesterday, I got out of a meeting and was being alerted (and alerted and alerted) to the fact that Pete Souza posted photos from the event and there I am! (Go like my comment so Pete can notice and send me a print! I am only half kidding!)
look at that form! camera AND phone on hand!
she’s a professional!
in the photo on the left, you can see Pete’s arm and bag. right, the photo we were all taking. subjects: Sunny and Bo
Meeting Sunny and Bo was obviously a highlight. The former was being incredibly cute while the Bo looked on, clearly exasperated.
Because Amanda had a close connection at the WH, I was able to go behind the velvet rope to take this photo:
a photo of people taking photos - just like Pete!
yes, a bathroom selfie in The White House.
the wallpaper and my dress are clearly cousins.
pretty sure this is all gone?
also should I cut my hair short again?!
Not a part of the official tour, but I was able to visit the press room where I was able to run a press conference. It was all very official and legit.
time for one more question from you.
yes, you, imaginary journalist.
watched Obama board and fly off. we were warned about the winds that the helicopters created and how it would blow away our bags. they were not exaggerating.
also immortalized taking a selfie because
OF COURSE (also the selfie was only just okay)
This week in reading. . .
I once again got stuck on a book and had to set it aside, but then I breeeeeezed through Heart the Lover and enjoyed it so much. I will always read a Lily King! Also finished listening to The Heiress which was fun enough! I saw every twist and turn coming from a mile away, but that didn’t bother me.
This week in Good Hang with Amy Poehler. . .
Kate McKinnon was absolutely delightful as the guest this week. She became absolutely mesmerized by Amy’s eyes which was so amusing and second only to her talking about making out with Charles Barkley. Amy and I agree on not paying for YouTube - we WILL wait until the skip option comes up, thank you very much!
This week in TV. . .
Finished the new season of Nobody Want This and is it repetitive and frustrating? Yes. But is Adam Brody still so so dreamy? Also yes. And is their chemistry great? Also yes.
I finished The Diplomat and am bereft and I have some QUESTIONS about the mid-season time jump, should anyone want to discuss. (If I had to choose between being friends with Keri Russell or Amy Poehler, I would become catatonic)
This week in a gif. . .
This week in a newsletter. . .
Delia*s catalogues 4ever.
Emma Staub with the funniest piece of celebrity gossip.
This week. . .
SNAP benefits will expire on Saturday leaving an enormous portion of the country food insecure - approximately 40 million people qualify and use these benefits.
Call your local food pantry or food bank and ask what kind of support they need. Often they just need cash, or in some cases there is a strong need for specific items, like formula. Find your local community fridge. Donate to a mutual aid.
This week in google searches. . .
chicken pox vaccine history
talbot kids
umber pantone
This week in one good thing. . .
Restorative hangs with some of my absolute favorite people visiting from out of town.
This week in a quote. . .
“i made this banging mac and cheese recipe and the first thing you need to know: if you are over forty years old, two bites is enough. i mean, in the description the chef calls it a “dump and bake” but i would argue that the opposite is more apt and that your old colon will simply cease to function if you eat too much of this. the recipe is insanely easy (no making a roux!) especially if you (let’s be honest with each other) buy pre-shredded cheese. and i get it, the shredded kind is coated in asbestos or whatever, but i am not keen on roasting grated slivers of my fingertips on a random monday night.” - Samantha Irby (aka my hero)
This week in artsy stuff and photo things. . .
This photo booth museum is cute, but I would absolutely not wait in a line around the block.
Yorgos Lanthimos are not for me, but I liked reading about the designer behind his movie posters.
Marv and I are doing another round of Foto Chisme.
This new Kara Walker statue.
This week in last week’s most popular link. . .
Nobody Wants This in THR was the most clicked link on day one, but in the end culinary epitaphs won out. You all contain multitudes.
This week on the internet. . .
Read at your own risk: Ann Patchett writing about loss.
Love this list of short books to read in a single sitting. I had a spreadsheet going with some friends of all short books, it was very satisfying.
Does anyone have 3.3 million dollars to loan me?
This interview with Vanessa Grigoriadis of So Your Parents Are Old, a podcast which would stress me out too much to listen to.
me, on trend for 2025,
Leonor
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