A Tour of Casa Blanca

We're having friends over tomorrow night (Friends with kids. Friends who understand what it's like to miss New Year's Eve because they, like you, are so tired they go to bed at 10 and couldn't care less that a ball is dropping ANY where). So we're hosting a little fete, to ring in the New Year (think: dressy playgroup with booze).

Today we spent the afternoon at the White House, taking a tour with Aunty Cathy and her friend Brian. Nice chap. Tall. Doesn't get out much (sorry Brian, but you must be able to name ONE movie currently playing in theaters. Even this mother of a newborn can do that.) Cathy has a media pass that lets her get near-instant access to the Big House, and we were all delighted to ride her coattails. Maybe it was the weather, but the White House was empty. No lines. No one about. We had the run of the place, watching as they painstakingly took apart the chandeliers to clean each crystal in preparation for the Obama's occupation. It was fascinating. We followed the tour with brunch at the Old Ebbitt Grill. Then Cathy graciously dropped us in Old Town for a nice walk home. Did I mention the kids were with the nanny? We got four hours to ourselves. Awesome, relaxing, glorious guilt.