Laura feels our economic pain. 21 receptions this month...

[Bluebear]

....The first lady made a brief appearance. "She came down the steps at 5:30 (p.m.) and stood at the stairs and gave a gracious welcome to all the artists," Richardson said. "She didn't mingle with the crowd. There were a lot of us. I think she has 21 receptions to attend this month.

"This was my first time to the White House, so I was really impressed," said Richardson, who attended with his wife, Deborah Lovelace Richardson, a glass artist.

"Everyone was so nice, and the staff was so efficient. Everything went like clockwork," Richardson said.

The reception included a buffet in the State Dining Room of lobster salad, smoked salmon, shrimp, lamb chops, country ham, roasted beef tenderloin and cheesy stone-ground grits on "fancy silverware and china plates," he said. Desserts included coconut cake, gingerbread cake, pumpkin pie, a yule log, pecan pie, red velvet cupcakes, strawberries with chocolate dipping sauce, and cookies depicting Barney, Miss Beazley and Kitty, the first pets.

"We brought home souvenirs — some of the cat and dog cookies," Richardson said. "We're going to preserve them, like we're some wide-eyed tourists."

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?storyID=83712

AND LOOK WHO IS BEING FLOWN IN TO ENTERTAIN! . . .

December 6, 2008

Adam Strube and Carl Ruck from Binghamton, NY

Allegro Foundation from Charlotte, NC

Mary Millben and Kyle Creekpaum from Arlington, VA

Landon Little Singers and Junior Bearitones from Bethesda, MD

The 4 Bows from Mooresville, NC

Asian American Music Society from Rockville, MD

Mackenzie Melemed from Paxton, MA

Texas State University Chamber Orchestra from San Marcos, TX

December 9, 2008

Ariella Sophia Nounna-Holton from The Lakes, NV

Variety, The Children's Charity of St. Louis from St. Louis, MO

Grace Christian Middle School Choir from Bowie, MD

Vocal Tapestry from Fairmont, WV

Linda Rice Productions from Bodega Bay, CA

Marble Falls High School Chorale from Marble Falls, TX

Adrianna Sgarlata from Fairfax, VA

Blue and Grey Chorus from Inwood, WV

December 11, 2008

St. Andrew's Choral Scholars from Middletown, DE

Albin C. Whitworth from Lexington, KY

The Heights Men's Chorus from Potomac, MD

Anne Marie Gunther from Salt Lake City, UT

First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir from Midland, TX

Timothy P. McKee from Reston, VA

The National Presbyterian School Chorus from Washington, DC

Richard Williams and Dana Lux from Baton Rouge, LA

December 13, 2008

Lake Highland Academy Singers from Orlando, FL

Angela Ballard from Iron Station, NC

Barrington Madrigal Singers from Barrington, IL

Michael Puglia and James Ruck from Fair Lawn, NJ

University of North Carolina at Asheville Chamber Singers from Asheville, NC

Princeton Area Homeschool Choir from Belle Mead, NJ

December 15, 2008

Yale Scott, Matthew Wendel, and Deanna Ballard from Washington, DC

California University of Pennsylvania Choir from California, PA

Gabrielle Monachino from Pittsford, NY

Fletcher High School Vocal Ensemble from Neptune Beach, FL

The Conn-Men from Storrs, CT

December 17, 2008

Voices of Mobile from Mobile, AL

The Alabama Boychoir from Tuscaloosa, AL

The Branson School from Ross, CA

Ramtones from Mobile, AL

Incarnate Word High School Madrigal Singers from San Antonio, TX

Glenn Draper Singers from Signal Mountain, TN

Prince George's Choral Society from Upper Marlboro, MD

The Gary Bonner Singers from Glendora, CA

Top of the Seventh from Washington, DC

Hyde Park Baptist from Austin, TX

Kim Cannon Music Ministries from Navarre, FL

December 22, 2008

The Canterbury Carollers from Villa Park, IL

Women's Ensemble of Kingwood United Methodist Church from Kingwood, TX

Bensing Family Strings from Ephrata, PA

Salem Madrigals from Virginia Beach, VA

David Osborne from Henderson, NV

The Master's Touch Chorale from Manlius, NY

Sneak Preview from Iron Station, NC

Vienna-Falls Chorus from Fairfax Station, VA

Elliot Shackelford from Atlanta, GA

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/12/20081203-2.html

[LisaM]

1. I have no problem with my tax money supporting the arts

In fact, I think if more of it DID go to supporting the arts, the country would be in better shape.

[Bluebear]

2. Support the arts by funding local theatre, orchestras, musuems.

Not flying in entertainment for a lame duck monkey.

[LisaM]

5. I DO support my local arts. I subscribe to multiple theaters.

This tradition was started by Jackie Kennedy. Do you want Laura to scratch it? Would you want Michelle Obama to stop it? I wouldn't.

[Bluebear]

6. I obviously wasn't referring to your personal donations :)

[Ioo]

3. It is part of the job. Not an economic thing... What do you want them to do?

[Bluebear]

4. Oh iI don't know, tone it down a notch for once?

[Zywiec]

7. Yeah, and I'm sure the Obamas sit around eating mac and cheese

so they can feel the economic pain.


:eyes:

[Bluebear]

8. Right, because there's nothing between mac and cheese and lobster & tenderloin

:eyes:

[Zywiec]

9. So there will no longer be lobster and tenderloin at the White House?

What would you propose they serve?

[Bluebear]

11. Hey you're cool with it, fine, it was just an aside.

Doesn't need some long argument :)

[Captain Hilts]

10. And Michelle O will have to do the same. Non-issue. nt

[Bluebear]

12. Oh, OK Mookie. EVERYBODY, PLEASE CONSIDER THIS THREAD CLOSED.

It's a non-issue.

[Captain Hilts]

13. It seems silly, but the same stuff went on during the Depression. nt

[Taverner]

14. Nothing wrong with saying good bye in style

My only complaint is they didn't do it sooner....

[louis-t]

15. Wow, they emptied the treasury, but want to empty the pantry

on the way out, too. Plus. Also.