Two years ago tomorrow …..
Donna Dem:
So today I decided to take a half day off from work to finish my Christmas shopping. My cousin who is a shopaholic told me about a newer Mall near Baltimore that had a specialty store that I needed to make a purchase from.
So I leave work and swing by and pick her up and we head out to the Mall. Otherwise I would have been in the comfortable setting of my office when my phone rang at 5:04 EST.
I almost didn’t answer because I wasn’t familiar with the number but thought it was one of my sons calling from work since it was a DC exchange.
Now I was at the cash register when my phone rang and I answered it intending to tell whichever son this was that I would call them right back because I was at the checkout in the Mall. So I answer and a male voice asks if this is Donna S…….. and I respond hesitantly yes. He immediately says the most magical words that I have heard in my life. He says…..
“Hold for President Obama” and within a second I hear. “Hello Donna! Congratulations, you were the winner of the grassroots fundraising challenge!”
Now I drop the bags I had in my hand and said “OMG, it’s President Obama”. My cousin looks at me as if I have lost my mind and the cashier’s face is scrunched up looking at me as if to say, ‘what happened?’ I whisper to my cousin that it’s the real President Obama on my phone. The cashier goes crazy and all the cashiers rush over and my cousin is telling me that it can’t be. So I asked him to tell her it’s really him. Once she hears his voice she drops her bags and screams “OMG, IT’S THE PRESIDENT!” I’m laughing hysterically at this point. Y’all had to be there to see that scene in that store.
I get the phone back from my cousin and he says, “now you tell Jackie (my cousin) she can’t be hijacking your phone call”. He said, “you know Donna, I get this all the time. People never believe it’s me calling. I just don’t understand it.”
His sense of humor is off the chart. 
He thanks me for winning the grassroots challenge. He says he is grateful for all the work being done on his behalf. I thank him. I tell him how much I admire and appreciate all that he is doing for our country and that there are so many of us who “have his back”.
Then I told him about The Obama Diary, the wonderful space created to support him on a daily basis. I asked him to stop by someday. He said to tell you all that he is grateful for the support and that he loves you back and then he wished us all a Merry Christmas. I in turn wished him and his Family a Merry Christmas from both the OFA and TOD bloggers and then he was gone.
It was a magnificent Christmas present.
Thank you TOD for helping to make this possible!!!
****
We needed a smile today, this memory did the job …. greatest/funniest TOD night ever, waiting for Donna’s report!
White House.gov
Hello All..
Hiya Allison!
Congrats to Allison and to Donna for earning that phone call from President Obama two years ago. How delightful to re-live your excitement at this special honor! Thanks for re-posting, Chips!! It really cheered me on on such a sad anniversary day.
Ah, delighted it cheered you Judith, had same effect on me, such a lovely wonderful story.
Awesome.
LL!
*cough*snort*sniffle*
Chips!!
Are you feeling sorry for Arsenal LL, or have you a cold?
Delighted at Arsenal’s downfall, and yes, I’ve come down with another cold.
Yikes, you get waaaaay too many of the blighters LL. Do you take Vitamin C every day? I’m seriously tempting fate now, but since I started taking it regularly, I’ve had about one cold in the last 6/7 years.
And with that ….
I really need to start taking a multivitamin every day. And I haven’t had colds this close together in years. Quite annoying.
They’re just so draining, horrible things.
One thing that helped me was purging my diet of things that first gave me bloat then, as it turned out, apparently made me more susceptible to colds, coughs, etc. I’d never have believed it if told, but I’ve not had a cold in three years since doing that. For me it is wheat, eggs, dairy that had to go. Also lost a lot of weight without actually dieting. I KNOW it sounds la-la, but for me it’s a major triumph. Might want to do an elimination diet to see if there is something contributing to your ‘serial colds’.
One thing causing sequential colds is probably the fact that you read to children! Every teacher can tell you when they first start teaching, the colds seem to crowd in on each other. It takes a while to build immunity to all their little germs! However, it will happen. Kids love you and they breathe on you. They’re contagious before they show any symptoms.
Been there, experienced it!!!
*Kids love you and they breathe on you*
Sweet! Even if you end up with colds from ‘em.
Congrats Donna! Thanks Chips for the memories!!
I remember that call! :lol:
A completely hilarious night, we were pacing up and down waiting for news like a father waiting for the birth of his baby :lol:
We-ell…….not sure I can picture that….. :grin:
Okay< Chips Chica, this popped up on my screen as soon as I clicked on your answer light -
"Don't let the NSA see what you're doing or where you are. Use our VPN to …"
It disappeared before I could copy the rest. Are they warning me against you, do you think?
VeeeCeeeee!
Huh? That ad appeared here? Whaaaaat? Seriously???
Not there in the village! (Pay attention.) On my screen as a pop-up. If it appeared *there* I would be in no doubt that you were spying on me. I already have my suspicions as I’ve told you in the past (phone ringing just as I’m about to hit the podium; waiting hours for you to post R & S, only to have you doing so the second I rush to get food, etc. etc.) ;)
:lol: Pheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew! You had me worried VC - so, I’m not the only one spying on you??
Oh, so you’re not in cahoots with them? That’s a relief - working individually you both are more likely to miss the highlights of my life. :grin: Pheeeeew, is right!
:grin: |:grin: I’m going into hiding as I see several little eyes.
So very true, Chips :)
Has it really been two years already? Time flies on TOD!
Congrats on 1st, Allison.
Thank you for the ‘we needed a smile today,’ Chips!!!
I had just posted this on the bottom of the previous thread in hopes that it would lift everyone’s spirits a bit. What you will see are more than 200,000 Ukrainians singing their National Anthem (happened just an hour or so ago) at the #Maidan. (btw, the ‘anti-maidan’ demonstration that Yanukovych paid folk to attend - well, they came, took their money and food and left :) ).
#FORWARD Together
Yes We Can
WOW..what an electric atmosphere with that crowd! History in the making. Thanks Bob :)
What’s the latest on Ukraine, Bob? I’ve been out of pocket the past two days.
McCain went for a photo-op; lots of folk dissing him for it. Yanukovych & gang paid to ship folk from southern/eastern Ukraine to form an anti-maidan which has largely been a flop and source of much humor among the #euromaidan crowd. And, since the failed attempt to clear the #maidan - Wed night/Thurs morning - the resolve of those seeking the ouster of Yanukovych (long before the 2015 elections) has intensified. Apparently, another vote in Parliament is planned for this coming week. If you check my twitter TL, you’ll find tweets linking to some fairly decent reporting/analysis.
Cheers!
Chips, I know Mariah Carey is in that Billy Joel category for you, but she’s an Obot and I had to post this video of her speaking a little bit about her kids meeting the President and First Lady:
starts @2:25
Ha, all is forgiven itgurl!!!
HEH…I think Billy might be an Obot as well. And you are very forgiving, Chips. :)
Can’t believe you said the B word Hopefruit :shock:
Awww, thanks! LOL
I remember the night PBO called Donna Dem. Oh my how exciting that was! That’s right Mr. President, carry on with that phone call…as Donna said, we have your back Sir!! Never mind the media - they just want your attention.
Hahahaaha. I remember this. :D
I just got a notification from WordPress about my 3rd anniversary with them =O
Wow. I’ve been on TOD for 3 years. Time flies.
Haaaaaaaapy anniversary Collegekay!
Thanks Chips ^_^
I hope little Danny isn’t giving you trouble. :D
Not so little any more Collegekay - and he’s a whole BUNCH of trouble!!
Oh, I remember that wonderful night for Donna Dem. We were all waiting to hear all of the talk. What a beautiful time for our TOD family.
You know Chips, have I told you how much we all love you, respect, and trust you? Well, I am so blessed to say that we love you so much. As one of the seniors of our TOD family, Donna Dem and all of you have given my life a space that is so lovely because of what Chips has created here for all of us to participate in such a loving and respectful manner.
Donna Dem, you made my heart move with total love, respect and honor to know that you received that call and then shared with us all of your joy. Thank you for all that you continue to do to make our time on this journey to be such an honor and a complete joy. Memories, oh we have so many wonderful ones in our TOD family. TY, TY and TY all. ((((((((Lovingly)))))))HZ
Hellooooooo HZ, lovely to see you, hugs!!
Hello, My precious Chips!!!!! Hug my handsome Danny. Lots of hugs. Ok. HZ
that was so much fun! and yes we were “pacing” (as Chips says) waiting and waiting and then all the sudden! I remember doing a little screamy dancy hand shaky thing when I saw Donna got her call and I think I read the account twice and just hooted - it was so great and so funny. Great memory. Thanks Chips!
I can’t believe it was two years ago already! Huh - time flies!
Can’t believe it’s two years either Alice, seems like, oh, three months ago!
Thanks JO’B. That was fun. ;)
And John Kerry hasn’t forgotten his service in the Navy! Go, Navy!
That’s what brought a smile to my face.
Jacquelineoboomer, I just finished watching again Sec. John Kerry’s swearing-in-ceremony and his little grandson was so precious. Sec. Kerry’s speech is right on target with POB’s firm approach to bringing about peace.
Then I went and listened to President Obama’s second Inaugural Speech. He always speaks the truth of his core. I often listen to his speeches when the sounds of the people seem to forget what he has already stated.HZ
So nice to see a hilarious/surprising/heartwarming story on this mournful day.
Haven’t seen much online today (except for Chips’ tweets about the shameful NRA and RWNJs).
Because of my Twitter/Google problems (unreadable format, can’t view photos) even after reloading Chrome, I decided to reinstall Windows OS.
Now I think I infected my computer with a virus when I downloaded Google Chrome after the Windows reinstall — annoying “conduit” search engine hijacker. Not able to reinstall Windows OS from my CD now, even though I could thiis morning… still working through the issues.
Long story short, back to Internet Explorer for me, since Chrome is now useless.
Here’s my small tribute to #SandyHook, #Newtown. Baby Boomers will appreciate.
Ah flip Arapaho415, sorry to hear you’ve been having so much computer trouble, nothing more infuriating!
Nuns on the Bus!!!! Love it Jacqueline!
I cracked up that Sister Simone used the snarky word “Yeah.” When I was going to Catholic school, we weren’t allowed to use slang or to have nicknames.
#SoThisIsWhatChangeLooksLike #Yeah #CallMeJackie
:-) She’s a wonder, Jacqueline, what a wonderful woman!!
I’m glad to see that OFA is doing this today
9612019024804375566105
Obama’s fault!
HF. What is that number?
I’m wondering too Alice, I Googled it and was sent to FedEx package tracking :lol:
hmmm a mystery! :cool:
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm :lol:
A perfect post for a day such as this, Chiparoo.
I remember that day and waiting for the update from Donna. I had to run errands, was putting it off, finally completed them, came back and Donna still hadn’t told the story yet. We were all like nervous parents watching our kid ride a bicycle for the first time down the street.
When she finally gathered her thoughts, it was well worth the wait. :D
p.s. Man City 6 - 3 Arsenal. That’s what every child in the world is hoping Aston Villa does to Man United tomorrow.
p.p.s. Chelsea won their game. Gooooooo Chelsea! GOOOOOOO BLUES!
:lol: A perfect description of the night, it was a howl - and I still crack up at the scene at cash register, funniest thing EVER!
As for Aston Villa doing on to United what City did to Arse - dream on! Gulp.
Did we mention that effing EVERTON sits in fourth?
The more I look at it, the more that table looks upside down-ish - Newcastle and Southampton above United? Get outta here.
Man City OWNS the Etihad. Arsene’s Jedi mind tricks were no match.
Good Evening TODable TODers ;)
Call Me by the group, SKYY LINE is all I can think of once I was reminded of this FANTASTIC Donna Call Event with The POTUS ;)
Congratulations again, Donna.
Sorry to insert sad news on a happy thread but I thought this deserved attention. Here is the lovely girl who was the innocent shooting victim of the Co. school shooting yesterday, remains in critical condition, said to be suffering head trauma. 18 yr. old student shooter bought the gun legally Dec. 6 at a local retail outlet, seemingly for the purpose of hunting down and shooting his debate team faculty adviser who had disciplined him, not removed him from the team as previously reported. Too many perceived and petty grievances now settled with gun violence. Tragic and pathetic.
Thanks Dotster. She’s older than what they first said. She is so beautiful. I hope there is no lasting physical damage. The shooter was from a well-liked family in his neighborhood. His family was out of town with a very sick relative. It was a nice, well kept neighbor hood. It looked like his family lived in a condominium, one of many in the area. She was driven to the hospital very soon after she was shot so hopefully she will be okay. Denver has some of the best hospitals. The surgeons could have been to the hospital so she wouldn’t have to be moved. Unfortunately Denver area schools train for this on a very regular basis now. The kids and faculty knew exactly what to do. Refreshing to hear good local reporting for a change, not the drivel of MSN.
Sad that the media, the NRA, politicians and some parents are teaching their children that aggression and violence are the solution - when of course, they are the problem. Nelson Mandela lived to teach reconciliation and love - and the media sees his memory as a handshake and a selfie - it is the media who should be sued by those who suffer from gun violence - when did the first amendment allow anyone to preach so much hate, aggression and violence.
Thanks so much for reposting this great conversation Chips. This almost one year old is very Happy to read about it now. Gong rats to Donna for working so hard to get the honor.
Congrats Allison on being First!
It’s been nice to see the Christmas Cheer on the Header. 🎄
A pleasure Carol, a lovely memory on such a sad day.
Yes it is. Yesterday was a bummer too.
I missed The Snow when briefly displayed. My loss.
The Xmas Decorations are back, YES :!:
The 1st Couple paid a one year remembrance of the Newtown massacre. I thank them for their service.
So Jodi Kantor and Megyn Kelly got their dues? They thought that their voices were the ONLY ones until they got to hear from Millions who said N O, No.
Jodi Kantor just wanted some attention. Maybe she is not getting enough at home. You know with her family that is not normal.
yikes I gotta get ready for work BBL! :D
Here’s some beauty:
Unbeatable.
Breathtaking.
Natural Beauty at it’s very BEST.
Yes, and no extra charge!
xmas gifty ideas for your pets. Suggest beer bottle squeaky toy —indestructible?—-for Danny—-or the Humunga Lips fetch ball—-hilarious! Mr. dotster still teases me about the stylish knee high boots I bought for our little Yorkie because I felt sorry for him walking on the salted winter roads. He immediately shook them off. He hated them.
“Mr. dotster still teases me about the stylish knee high boots I bought for our little Yorkie because I felt sorry for him walking on the salted winter roads”
Dotster, noooooooo!!! :lol:
Off to that link RIGHT now!
They are flippin’ HILARIOUS!!! Do you think I could get the Cat DJ Scratching Deck for Danny??? :lol:
Go, Navy!
You beat Army, 34-7!
Books! Books! And more books! http://apps.npr.org/best-books-2013/
Like many of you, I remember THAT CALL to Donna and the sheer anxiety that all of us here at TOD just waiting to hear what he said! :) I must be getting old, because it seems like yesterday to me. I can still feel that excitement and the same joy that I initially felt for her, all over again. What a wonderful memory she/we get to keep.
So Mitch McConnell’s great DELAY tactics lost it’s power on Thursday night. Senate Republicans made the Dems keep the Senate Open….in session and by 11:00PM, TBGOPers stopped showing up to take the floor. Sen Booker at 3:00 AM EDT took to Tweeting to keep self busy while as a Jr senator on duty as the presiding senate president? That is :lol: :roll: :lol: wild.
So now the senate returns on Tuesday? That is so freaking Funny.
Hi Nena,
Actually, the Senate will be in session tomorrow and Monday. Here’s the current schedule:
Dec 15, ’13 9:00 AM
Categories Daily Summary
The Senate will convene at 1:00pm on Sunday, December 15, 2013. The Senate will meet for legislative business only. Majority Leader Reid is expected to file cloture on the House message to accompany H.J.Res.59, the bipartisan budget agreement and the House message to accompany H.R.3304, the Defense Authorization bill. There will be no roll call votes on Sunday.
The next roll call votes will be at 5:30pm on Monday, December 16th:
- Confirmation of the Patterson nomination
- Motion to invoke cloture on the Johnson nomination
- Confirmation of the Johnson nomination
- Additional procedural votes are possible. Senator Reid is expected to file additional cloture motions on several nominations.
http://democrats.senate.gov/2013/12/15/senate-floor-schedule-for-sunday-december-15-2013/
Hey, and Hi TODable Doc Bobfr ;)
Thanks for the information. When I came in, I was watching Dr. Maddow from last night’s show. That is where I got my earlier comments.
I trust your information 1001%. Thank you.
Always happy to help, Nena :)
I totally remember that! Donna’s description of the call was priceless!!
Surely someone here can help out with this:)
http://boingboing.net/2013/12/03/department-of-labor-seeks-bo.html
“To commemorate its 100th anniversary, the U.S. Department of Labor has launched Books that Shaped Work in America, an online project that explores work, workers and workplaces through literature, and aims to educates the public about the history, mission and resources of their Labor Department. People from all walks of life are being asked to recommend books that informed them about occupations and careers, and molded their views about work.”
LL is our TOD expert on books
Man in the Grey Flannel Suit, and The Jungle. It’s a wonder I’m a productive adult.
And with that, I’m off to bed. Stay frosty, may be back later.
So, you are traveling via airport for the holidays? Well, for goodness sakes, take your time on the escalator and hold on to the rails.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-25380089
Oldest living veterans, both 107-year-old Texans, meet for first time
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20131213-oldest-living-veterans-both-107-year-old-texans-swap-wwii-stories.ece
22,800,923
Per Wikipedia On BJ’s Politics:
Although Joel has donated money to Democratic candidates running for office,[65] he has never publicly affiliated himself with the Democratic Party. Although he isn’t known for publicly endorsing political candidates, he did play a benefit with Bruce Springsteen to raise money for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008.[66] He has also played at benefit concerts that have helped raise funds for political causes. However, Joel has said about musicians endorsing political candidates, “People who pay for your tickets, I don’t think they want to hear who you’re going to vote for and how you think they should vote.”[67]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Joel
/////
I am currently playing BJ’s Greatest Hits Album 1 & 2
Well known political leanings of entertainers can hurt at the box office - I have turned of a couple of TV shows forever - that I really liked - when I discovered the real people behind the shows. Better that people turn off because they don’t like the show/artist/singer than because of political views. It semms BJ well understands that.
ICYMI:
You may have already seen this :) - always the comedians who are honest about the pundits
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/borowitzreport/2013/12/childrens-letters-to-megyn-kelly.html
Lovely Christmas story, phone call from the President. Memory for a lifetime.
I may never get to use my laptop again, Danny’s discovered Too Cute Puppies:
I want to squeeze your dog:) :) I did notice though, that when the guy on the video said “No”…Danny didn’t flinch…SO cute!!
:lol: Danny has decided “NO!!!!!!!” means “oh, go on then!”
yeah, well….same thing at my house:) I just give mine The Look.
I try that DF, but I just get A Look back.
:) A work in progress!
Awwwww!!!! Sesame Street for dogs!!!
:lol: I think he wants to star in it Layla, he was calling agents today.
OHHHH goodie!!!!! ‘A Star is Born’
Danny is so well behaved.
The toy chicken and the other toy incidents were out of curiosity…..puppy experiments, you see……strength exercise, you know, boys will be boys playful adventures.
He’s much gentler with his new cuddly toy Nena …. but we’ll see how long that lasts!
Danny is adorable and is growing up fast.
You know Pam, every morning I come down to him, I think it’s a different dog - he seems to grow five inches every night :???:
Oh my, his leg is as big as the new toy. Wow.
I know Nena, it’s like a tree trunk.
OMG, Chips Danny is growing so fast.
COS, I had my suspicions from day one, but now I am 100% certain: one of his parents was a giraffe.
So cute!
I wish I could adopt every puppy that I lay eyes on. I am such a dog person. My step-mom just sent me the big portrait sized photos my childhood dogs (a black lab and a golden retriever) that were on the wall in the house where I grew up. They were my BFFs. It’s so nice to be able to see them again.
She also found some treasury bonds from my bar-mitzvah in 1987. Those should be worth close to double face value by now!
Locke, howling at your double-face-value treasury bonds :lol:
What a lovely keepsake to get now, a portrait to be treasured. Although ….. Danny (black Lab) will spend Christmas with his dog cousin (golden retriever), so the whole family is holding its breath ahead of their first meeting.
I took them into the credit union where I keep my money (both dollars!). The amazement that these bonds are “REALLY old” as expressed by the young lady in customer service was enough to set my wife off laughing at me and harassing me with old man cracks all day long.
Oooooh, you poor thing!! :lol: Although, if you have two dollars in the credit union, you’ve saved waaaaay more than me!!
I keep my money tied up in groceries. I feel more secure with a large stock of edible assets. Besides, I love to cook.
How old is Danny now? He looks like he’s still got a way to go growing into those paws.
Groceries sounds like a sensible investment, Locke!
Danny will be four months in about a week, I stare at those paws all day and say to myself: “Oooooooh my gaaaaaaaawd, he still has to grow in to them”. Gulp.
“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.” — Nelson Mandela
Bishop D. Tutu is now going to the burial of Madiba. The ANC had not invited him. Now he is going to be there.
RIP Madiba.
I’m glad for that.
This is a very cute video of a little girl using American Sign Language for her deaf parents at a Holiday Concert.
Not sure why the video isn’t showing. Worth watching, IMHO.
I remember that Donna Dem phone call…thanks for the memory, Chips.
A pleasure rikyrah, a lovely day!
I do too. I can’t believe that was two years ago!
So That Aussie, Hugh Jackman, is the Host of the TNT WH’s to be televised Christmas event next week? Surfing and saw him just now on TeaNN. The guy is just Handsome. The TeaNN’s presenter female was fumbling her words……that was funny.
YES WE CAN!
What a wonderful memory. I remember that night and all the days leading up to it. Those of us donating $1 or $2 dollars a day to get the the number of donations. It was fun to see one of our own win and then when she got the call it was so special. We are so blessed in this community. And to be alive to appreciate this President and his family.
Today has been a very special day. I was at a Christmas party this morning and we had our moment of silence at the same time they had it here in town. We were alittle later that the east coast. Now I am finishing decorating. Love the lights.
Kadir Nelson is an incredible artist!
The young artist is 1001% correct. That is how most people see and would continue to see Madiba.
Gandhi was killed. Yes, he saw India earn her independence. MLK saw Civil Rights Laws passed. Neither lived long enough to see the total fruition of their hard work.
But Madiba lived after the struggle and saw his beloved SAfrica under a democratic rule for nearly 20 yrs.
I’ll post this tweet which will surely guarantee the appearance of a new thread in 3 2 1 …. :)
Bob, I think Chips may be feeding Baby Danny!
:)
Oooooooops! :lol:
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/12/14/tomorrow-he-rests-in-peace/
hehehe - I do that all the time Bob - good way to get a new thread going
New post:
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/12/14/tomorrow-he-rests-in-peace/
Wow. I can’t believe that was TWO YEARS AGO!!! I remembered it when we found that Donna had won the challenge. THEN when she reported the phone call! WOWOWOW, I felt like President Obama called ME personally, especially since that would have been something that I would have done.
DonnaDem, I’m glad that you weren’t driving or in a movie theatre. I’m also glad that you were around people, because if it was me, I might have fainted.
wow!