Lest you think we only have cute photos

Here is a funny one with Cadie's hair gone static. I don't know what it is about our couch but it can shock you!
We have had cold weather and an ice storm so we have stayed mostly indoors. Nothing too exciting to report. I guess it is just a mellow monday.

Not sure who's smile that is...
But she sure has inherited Eric's gift of gab. I'll post a video when I can figure out how to get clips off the little tapes... Cadie has been gibber-gabbing all day long. She even tried to sing along while I played Guitar Hero (I think Smashing Pumpkins was her favorite). I really wonder what she is trying to tell me.

Allright, I've (Eric) hesitated to post any political philosophies here because I appreciate many of us have different thoughts about how things should work and, even more importantly, you'd rather see pictures of Cadie. So here's a warning, there are some brief political ramblings ahead. Stop now if you'd rather not read them. It won't hurt my feelings. We'll be back soon with some new photos of the little one. Here's my new favorite. E got her to pose so nicely!



So, as all of you know the presidential primaries are underway. Last week our region had their chance to vote (the Potomac Primaries). Many of you know of my long time interest in all things policy (you've probably been subjected to at least one of my soapbox moments). Having said that, I haven't ever been really enthusiastic about a presidential candidate before, but this time around there's a candidate I've been pretty excited about since first hearing him speak in 2004 (while we sat in a hotel in Frankfurt). That's the first time I remember feeling inspired by a politician to believe in something rather than simply against something or someone. Living here has really made this next election so much more real than before. Traveling to the monuments here and reading the words of former presidents like Lincoln, FDR, and Kennedy, I have been struck by the strength and inspiration of their words. The only time I've been close to feeling that from a politician at any level in my days is from Barrack Obama. Since first hearing him speak, we've read a lot about him, listened to a number of his speeches, and talked to some friends from his Senate district. And I'm still inspired.

What's prompting this post now, is that I attended a rally last week on the University of Maryland campus. It was awesome, despite being in a .5 mile long line for over 40 minutes on what was (until then) our coldest day of the year. Some 15,000 people attended - it was so great to see so many people so excited about playing a role in the political process. But the best part was the positive nature of the message, even though he's in a heated primary and looking toward the national election, his purpose was to articulate his message of hope and a new way of doing politics beyond the old stereotypes and divisiveness.

For all you Colbert fans
We stopped by the National Potrait Gallery last weekend to check out their new acquisition: Stephen Colbert's portrait. It was hanging in the entrway to the bathrooms just before the presidential portraits. There was a line of people waiting to get their picture taken with it. This is Eric's portrait face:

The gallery also had a hip hop art display and I really liked the graffiti walls. We've been to the portrait gallery before but between the Colbert joke and the hip hop display there was quite a different crowd there.
We also visited Ford's Theatre (closed for rennovation until 2009), the house where Lincoln died, and the Natural History Museum to check out their new Rastafari exhibit. Cadie did great in the baby carriers. She has been obsessed with sticking her tongue out lately and licked my sling until it was so soaked I could wring it out.

You've reached the winter of our discontent
No I'm not depressed - it's just a great line from Reality Bites. Flipping through the channels last weekend we happened to watch enough of this classic flick to ask two important questions.
1) Did Ben Stiller have some work done? (Do you remember that he plays the straight-laced yuppie boyfriend of Winona Rider?) He looks a bit different - especially the smile.
2) Why do girls always go for the grungy greasy slacker guys? I admit, I had a crush on Ethan Hawke in Realty Bites and Viggo's pretty hot in LoRings. I will even go so far as to say I'd take Han Solo over Luke. So what is the deal? Why did Winona pick the angry, jobless, starving rock musician over the successful, convertible-driving, smart-dressing executive?

Here is a picture of Cadie sucking her thumb and holding a toy while sleeping to make this post more interesting.