Obama images (Obamages?)

So things have settled down a little bit and now Mr. Obama has been hard at work for several days. Like I have been saying, I think this has been a historic event, one that many many many people across America and around the world will remember and reflect back upon for the rest of their lives. However, as I also have been saying, he doesn't get a free pass from me and I am going to be liberal with criticisms when I feel they are merited.

Here are some cool images of our new Chief Executive:

First, the action figure (if you ever want something and you can't imagine that anyone would ever have created it, check Japan first.)

The inspirational leader:



Ready for al-Qaeda:


Now, more conventional shots from the Boston Globe -- More conventional, perhaps, but they are excellent and fascinating -- make sure to check the rest of them out!





Here are some of the famous shots from outer space 9example below).

Here's a good point: ...the GeoEye-1 satellite would be taking images of President Obama’s inauguration from 423 miles up — in space. This could only have worked on a clear day so clouds didn’t block the view. Good news: It was a clear day, and the pictures (above and below) look great.


You know, this guy just seems like he can not lose on the weather... Remember this yahoo who wanted everyone to pray for rain on the night of his DNC speech at Mile High Stadium? It couldn't have been a lovelier summer night. And I can tell you first hand that when he gave his acceptance speech in Grant Park Nov. 4th, it was fantastic weather in the Chicago area... a week later it was freezing.

Snow Pictures

Here's the baby in his snow. We watched Dr. Zhivago the other day, so now I call him "Comrade Gilbertovich" and when he goes out to poop I call it "being exiled to Siberia."


(Side note: If you get a chance to watch the commentary tracks on the Zhivago DVD, keep an eye (ear) out for Rod Steiger. OMFG, he kills! A dirty old man! As he describes the scene where his character is about to assault Lara, he says things like "Oh, you sly, sly Devil...." and (when he grabs Lara and starts to kiss her) "I Strike! Bwah hah hah hah hah!". He describes the instance where he tells director David Lean that he is going to fake-kiss Julie Christie and then get his desired surprised look from the actress by kissing her again (without her prior knowledge) and slipping her some tongue. He comments "But of course, you know I'd kiss her twice for free!")

Here are some shots of some X-mas lights that The ♥G♥ put up on our fence that got covered in last week's precipitation. I thought it was kind of cool how they glowed under the snow.

Now I Wanna Be Your Dog...

... That's what our new puppy Gilbert said to us yesterday! The ♥G♥ was so excited when we went to pick him up that she (we) locked the keys in the car. More on that later. But anyways, he's a baby St. Bernard and he's a good boy. He's getting along OK w/his feline siblings, but all parties involved (canine and feline) are still a bit hesitant to show their cards to each other just yet.

Here are the three children, taking a break from their busy schedules:

...and here's the new baby, a little bit worn out after his first day at home:

Pics From Our Trip to Monticello and Montpelier

Here are a few of the pics from our recent trip to Monticello and Montpelier, a sidetrip from our Washington trip.

Here's Monticello. The thing is, they don't allow photography inside the building. What bullshit! I read a great book a few years ago called Jefferson and Monticello, and I want to read it again now.

Here's Montpelier, home of one of Jefferson's neighbors, James Madison. (Actually, James Monroe is an even closer TJ neighbor, but we didn't have time to go to his house that day.) It's undergoing a little reno.

The inside is getting a makeover too. Below is the room in which Madison studied many of the political systems of different nations throughout history to determine which elements he wanted to include in the Constitution.

Archaeology is one of my interests (I helped on a dig waaaay up in the Rockies one summer). Here is a group methodically going through Madison's front lawn.

He had this kind of temple thing in his backyard. I thought this was a cool shot. Anyone know what kind of tree that is?