"She Took Down Wooten, She'll Take on Putin"

I remember the last time a vice presidential candidate was found in violation of state ethics laws twentysome days before the election.

Oh wait. 

Dear Secretary Paulsen

Dear Sir,

Just curious -- as long as we're doling out checks, there is a coat I like from J. Crew. It's on sale, and comes in a very fetching color. 

Thanks so much.

Love,

Claire

P.S. Can the U.S. take an ownership stake in my appearance, too?

Veeps: They're Just Like Us!

They can't resist a cute throw pillow!

They have to deal with awkward hugs! (Hey, handsy Uncle Jack...)

They ain't too cool for the safe belt!

They appreciate all God's creatures! (Except Blitzen.)

They express joy (especially when Gramps brings presents)!

Convention Olympics: Oratorical Gymnastics

To determine start value:

Base = 2

Points added: 

+1 for electeds

+2 for state-level

+3 for federal-level

+4 for celebrities

-1 for retireds

+2 for swing staters

+5 for (past) presidential candidates

+2 for keynote

+2 for Presidential nominee

+1 for Vice Presidential nominee

Execution Points:

+.5 for making you laugh

+.5 for goosebumps

+1.0 for tears 

+.25 for funny "7 houses" reference (each)

-.25 for not funny "7 houses" reference (each)

+.25 for Lieberman reference (each)

-.25 for mispronounciation (each)

-.25 for historical slip up (each)

-.25 for referring to a no-longer-existing country (each)

+.5 for best dressed of night (male and female)

-.25 for bad suit (F)/bad tie (M)

+1.0 for standing ovation

+.5 for good stage presence

-.5 for Nader-mocking

-.25 for mention of "change we can believe in" (each)

-.25 for 5+ uses of 'literally'

eloquence measured on a -3 to +3 scale (award a value)

N.B. everything doubled for Obama

Start Value + Execution Total = Total Points

Summer So Far

things that are good:

OLYMPICS

cupcakes 

milkshakes (toasted marshmallow is preferable)

frozen yogurt (no theme running here)

visits

sundresses

mail

a cool breeze

things to watch out for (and, if seen, avoid):

surprise assholes

athletes made of kryptonite 

bros

ADDENDUM: 

things that are extra and always good: alyson anne cohen

Good Stuff indeed

With Elizabeth gallivanting across the pond, I decided to take the time to blog on one of our (shared) favorite topics. Milkshakes. We have discovered epic milkshakes.

Spike of Top Chef fame (he wore the fedora and bungled frozen scallops) recently opened a restaurant in DC near the Hill called, aptly, Good Stuff Eatery. The place came highly recommended to me, and I was not steered wrong. The first time I went, with the recommender and other fellow interns, I enjoyed a Milky Way Malt, and shared some of Spike's fries, with herbs and various dipping sauces (including sriracha mayo, which was delicious). The Milky Way milkshake was excellent, but I was told that the Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake had the "wow factor." 

So, last night, I tried it. It was absolutely incredible. Topped with real toasted marshmallows, it was like summery goodness in a plastic cup. That is a truly lame sentence, I know. But I am picky about my milkshakes (as I am about most things), and it ranked high on my all time list.

The best part: Spike is pretty much always in the kitchen, happy to talk to customers (as are his parents, co-restaurateurs at Good Stuff). Which is good for fans of his and of the show's. And just kind of cool. If you're lucky, he'll flirt with you across the counter. 

Goodstuffeatery.com

the Gossip Girl Drinking Game

Take one sip:

• every time someone in the Humphrey household makes or makes reference to waffles
• every time there is a "two worlds" moment
• every time someone shows up to school in a chauffeured town car
• every time Chuck references a conquest
• every time someone directly addresses Papa Archibald as "the Captain"
• every time Blair wears bridal lingerie
• every time Serena plays victim in a situation she clearly caused
• every time the fact that Blair and Nate have been dating since kindergarten is mentioned
• every time Eleanor mentions Blair's weight/a bulimia reference is made

Take two sips:

• inappropriate Dan/Serena PDA
• every time Nate acts like a big pussy
• for every mention of Chuck's scarf
• every time parents are oddly complicit in their childrens' sex lives
• every time a reference is made to the Humphrey loft and its lack of doors/walls/someone pulls down the garage door
• every time Eleanor goes to Paris

Take three sips:

• every time Blair dismisses someone
• every time Vanessa or Jenny wears an item of clothing or jewelry she clearly cannot afford
• every time a reference to one of Lily's tattoos is made
• every time a Lincoln Hawk song plays in the background
• every time Cedric the Cabbage Patch doll is referenced

Finish the drink:

• when Nate looks like k.d. lang
• any time the answer to a question is "...because I'm Chuck Bass"
• any time Lily or Rufus refers to a song Rufus wrote about Lily
• any time someone makes a disparaging bar/bat mitvah joke