White House | Ann Leary, author of The Good House

First Ladies and other Wonders

May 15, 2009 by admin 39 Comments

I was just going through my photos and realized I left a lot of stuff out of my quick post about our White House tour, because I was in such a rush getting ready for the dinner last Saturday night.

First of all, Andrew, our Secret Service Agent/Tour Guide could have had a PhD in American history, he was so knowledgeable. Much of the most interesting information about the White House involves the First Ladies who lived there. For example, Andrew showed us a very large room that is now a parlor of some sort, but was originally the room where Abigail Adams, the first First Lady to reside in the White House, did all her own laundry. Also, Jacqueline Kennedy found that the White House archives and library were in appalling shape and she set up the archival system that is used today to catalog and protect the White House books, artwork and antiques.

Filed Under: Dogs, Cats, Horses, Husband, Red Carpet Diaries, Stuff I Did, Very Important Stuff Tagged With: dogs, Husband, White House

What Fun

May 10, 2009 by Ann Leary 51 Comments

Well, I had Denis take a photo for the blog before we left. Here it is:

I’m worried that it might have looked a little mumsy. It looked better when we were walking. That beautiful gold-covered python clutch is by Carlos Falchi. My friend John (Lake 53 here on the blog) works there and loaned me the clutch, which I loved.

Filed Under: Hags, Bats, etc, Husband, Red Carpet Diaries, Shameless Self-Promotion, Stuff I Did, Very Important Stuff Tagged With: red-carpet, White House

White House Tour

May 9, 2009 by Ann Leary 60 Comments

I don’t have time now to post all the photos and tell everything about our tour of the White House, but will entice you with a few highlights. First of all, to those who were wondering if that was a dog on the roof of the White House, no. They were gear bags, full of who-knows-what. Missile launchers or some such nonsense. Anyway, there ARE dogs protecting the first family and we met one named Tyson, whom I am madly in love with. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me start at the beginning of one of the most exciting afternoons of my life.

Filed Under: Husband, Red Carpet Diaries, Stuff I Did, Very Important Stuff Tagged With: dogs, White House

Up To The Rooftop, Step in Time!

May 9, 2009 by Ann Leary 22 Comments

I have now set up a permanent surveillance post on our terrace so I can keep an eye on the sexy sharpshooters. There were so many on the White House rooftop this morning that I almost expected them to burst into the chimney sweep song and dance number from Mary Poppins.

One of the airports is near downtown DC, and Denis and I are shocked at how close to the White House the planes are allowed to fly. We were standing in front of Lincoln Memorial yesterday and thought a plane was heading straight for us. This photo was taken from our hotel terrace, the building in photo is across the street from the White House.

Filed Under: Husband, Red Carpet Diaries, Stuff I Did, Very Important Stuff Tagged With: White House

Yoo Hoo! Sexy Sniper Guys! We’re Here!

May 8, 2009 by Ann Leary 24 Comments

Today Denis and I drove from NY to DC. I’ve never been to our nation’s capital before. I don’t think I’ve mentioned that. Denis has been to DC many times and has learned that driving is the best way. Four hours door to door. No security checks, no hassles. I made a playlist for the trip, we made a few coffee stops and rolled into the hotel at 2:00.
Rosemary, our amazing travel agent booked us a room in a beautiful and historical hotel with the very best view in DC. This is the view from our window. Yes, that’s Barry and Michelle’s house. We call them Barry and Michelle now. They don’t seem to mind.

Filed Under: Husband, Red Carpet Diaries, Stuff I Did, Very Important Stuff Tagged With: Husband, nature, sex, shame, White House

Dearest Readers

April 29, 2009 by Ann Leary 80 Comments

I am calling on you, once again, for advice. Denis and I are going to the White House Correspondent’s Dinner next weekend (in case you’ve missed my previous boasts about this.) I know that I claimed that I was going to wear the black dress that I wore to last year’s Emmys and the Golden Globes, but I have been talked out of it. The truth is, the dress is a little worn. There’s a stain. THE PRESIDENT WILL BE THERE, a friend finally had to shout at me.

Filed Under: Red Carpet Diaries Tagged With: fashion, White House

Him

April 5, 2009 by Ann Leary 17 Comments

Denis is getting lots of great press lately – in fact, he’s got so much exciting stuff going on, that I admit I’ve started to tune him out a little when he talks about it. He’s on tour, so when we speak, he’ll often start up with some exciting news about reviews in Entertainment Weekly or the New York Times or the Boston Globe and when he is finished, I have my chance to share my exciting news.

Filed Under: Husband Tagged With: dogs, Husband, White House

Sasha and Malia’s new Best Friends

November 6, 2008 by Ann Leary 5 Comments

I was thrilled to hear President-elect Obama (ahhhhhh…feels so good to even type it) promise his daughters a new puppy, but I hope he’ll consider a dog that might not find it as easy to be adopted as a cute puppy. Adult dogs are sometimes discriminated against when people are looking for new pets. I have taken the liberty of screening some of the many adoptable dogs available at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and these are my White House picks:
First, meet Missy. Is there anything more all-American than a black lab?

The girls are likely to want a beautiful dog, as all girls do, so I think that gorgeous Sophie might fit the bill:

Now, in the spirit of reconciliation, they might consider Maverick (I swear, his real name):

But my personal choice as the new First Dog is Andy. Does any dog exude the spirit of “Yes we can” like this eager fellow?

Filed Under: Dogs, Cats, Horses Tagged With: dogs, White House

HOPE

November 5, 2008 by Ann Leary 11 Comments

HOPE IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS
Emily Dickinson

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I ’ve heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Filed Under: Very Important Stuff Tagged With: poetry, White House

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