No Crutch About It

Last Sunday, Tommy, Steph and I were invited to one of the many Inaugural Balls, but this one in particular was quite special. It was the Disability Ball and one of the key performers was Bill Shannon. Now I know my two month stint last summer (foot issue) is in no way comparable to this, but I was lucky enough to figure out how to move all of two blocks, let alone defy gravity. It's incredible how beautiful Bill makes this look!

Stress Under Wraps

Happy Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day!

As a huge office supply junkie I am wholeheartedly celebrating this. No really, as a kid, while all the other little girls were begging for Barbie accessories, I grovelled to tag along with Mom on her trips to Staples.

And if I was ever separated from the cart on our Costco (Price Club at the time) trips, Mom would surely find me roaming the aisles of bulk highlighters and file systems. Lets be honest though, are you really surprised?

Little known facts: In 1957 two engineers. Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes started out trying to make plastic wallpaper. They did not succeed. What they ended with was the world’s most addicting invention, bubble wrap.

All are invited to participate to join in the Eight Annual Celebration of Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day by popping virtually of course!

I Just Can't Put My Finger On It...

Let me preface this by saying, until the jury decides one way or the other, Governor Rod Blagojevich is still innocent. But, if the allegations are true...what a crook.

The man tries to sell of Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder and now radio stations are competing for him to fill their time slots?

What valuable content could he possibly contribute to our air waves. Moreover in an industry where we are vying to keep our own, why him???

Blagojevich gets radio offer.
WLS, Chicago PD Bob Shomper says if Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich steps down, he'll have a job waiting at the Citadel talk station. Shomper says he'd put the embattled executive in the Sunday 12-2pm timeslot. Blagojevich's impeachment trial starts Monday.

Blagojevich gets second offer.
Embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has gotten a second radio job offer. Tribune's WGN, Chicago is offering to hire Blagojevich and wife Patti to host its currently-vacant weekday 1-4pm timeslot. PD Kevin Metheny says it would be "unseemly" to say how much they'll pay but promises it's a six-figure salary with benefits. He's also offering to throw in a logoed WGN Radio jogging suit.

Inauguration Weekend In A Nutshell

HIGH-FIVE INAUGURATION! - watch more funny videos

What Are You Drinking!?!

"What are you drinking, ew!"

That's usually the first response I get as I nurse my Naked Juice: Green Machine fruit juice cocktail.

I'll admit, it really does look like a cross between pond scum and monster vomit, but it is so tasty, and good for you!

So when I saw Catherine Banning, a main character from Thomas Crown Affair drinking it, I recognized it immediately. Yesterday, while trying to find the soundtrack for the movie I stumbled across this blog dedicated to TCA trivia and of course put my two cents in!

Happy Birthday Angela

I know this is late coming but Happy Birthday fellow Chez Copian!

For Angela's Bday we surprised her and took her to the new Brasserie Beck.

Having spent a month living on the Belgian border of France, the food couldn't have been a better cuisine memory. Nothing like a bowl of steamed mussels, frites (of course with multiple dipping sauces), lobster stew, a Belgian Brew, and finished with ...what else... a Belgian waffle. MMMMMM.

The Cutting Edge

My best guy friend Nick is a HUGE Hockey Fan so it was only appropriate that we take in a game while he's visiting the right coast. It was a night of firsts.

Reporting from the Verizon Center, in downtown DC, the Chez Copa stingers were not only were successful in finding parking, but we managed to slide into the press box with a mere 2 minutes to spare before the caps took the ice. (Jen early....what?!)

But from the looks of the stands, we weren't the only ones running late. Nick noted as he tried to muffle his cheers to fit in with the rest of the stoic press core, "If you look around, there are still plenty of open seats, but the game's technically sold out." Who can blame them though.

Like many Washingtonians, I was completely oblivious to this little treasure, which as of Friday boasted a 9 game winning streak. Thank goodness I had my own personal sportscaster (Nick) walking me through each of the plays, because those ice jockeys have some funky jargon, and I would have left just as clueless as when I arrived.

From the press box, I also noticed a huge gap between genders throughout the reporting staff. I, being the sole female, was railroaded on my way to the ladies by a sportscaster.

Clearly unaccustomed to a need for gender differentiated restrooms, he blasted right by me into the powder room. Standing outside the door, I waited until he was on his way out to ask if he noticed anything "out of sorts...you know ...like missing urinals etc." Rather than a shocked expression to what I thought must have been a mistake, he mumbled an unconvincing, "sorry," as he tossed out his paper towel.

Back on the ice, the real stars of the game were the Capital's Alex "THE GREAT" Ovechkin

slashing over 40 shots at Blue Jackets and the goaltender, Steve Mason  slapping them all away. Nick explained to me that on average, a goaltender fields half of that traffic.

After the game Nick and I took to the locker room to interview....well ....anybody, seeing as how I've never covered sports before and my expectations were low. Thankfully we were rushed into the press gaggle with (the half dressed) Mason.

When asked about his spot on record that broke the Caps winning streak, he said, " [my defense does] a great job for me; they're there for a reason."

Not too shabby

Yes I Am A Sore Loser

 

Well there goes that Chargers season. Next year boys, next year!

Happy Birthday Leah!

Starting It off With A Bang - ish

Sorry for the MIA status folks, lots happening this week. With Inauguration just around the corner, all my attention has been diverted to 1600 Penn updates. But a few fun updates, Angela and I have taken the 2009 Discovery Channel Health Challenge. 

We've been milking the free month of Bally's membership. I'm on Day 7 and kicking butt ya'll.

Don't want to jinx myself though. With a gazillion other New Years Resolutions I've made over the years (ie: washing off the night's mascara masterpiece before bed ha!) I actually want to keep this one! I've noticed if you tack an appointment at Elizabeth Arden’s Red Door spa for good behavior to the end, it becomes much easier to keep! I'll let you know in May how that works out.

I thought I would kick start the year off with a few other improvements, like cleaning out the ole closet and either donating the clothes I didn't wear any more or getting the busted ones hemmed to reenergize the wardrobe a little. I was off to a good start, but in the process I racked up $60 at the dry cleaners (the mending pile was a year old) and in the process of donating my clothes, I also donated my house keys. Woops! (Fear not I tracked them down last night!)

But the best Jen Richer update is the star appearance of Nick Murphree, one of my all time best friends since we were like 8. No, really we were instant best friends starting in 3rd grade. (I moved to a new school and he was one of the first new friends I made. I mean, who can resist the charms of a kid noticing that you and Jenny Craig share the same first name? I was serenaded in the hallways for years with her latest ad jingles, not in a taunting bully sort of way, totally endearing I swear. (Well, that’s how I remember it anyway.)

Well Nick has taken a long weekend and a long flight to elude his studies and hit up the DMV (well D and V mostly). First, stop, Caps game tonight. (He's a huge hockey wonk.)

Happy New Year!

It was a balmy 15 degrees with a wind chill of 2 but the ladies of chez copa teased their hair, lined their lips and donned their formal poofs (ski jackets) to ring in the new year at the Crystal City Sports Pub.

The highlight of the event, aside from the champagne disaster (EDITORS NOTE: Only orange juice and Chambord may be mixed with Champagne, flavored vodka is terrible.) was the 8th grade ritual: the dance circle, which inevitable becomes a showcase for your best lawn mover and shopping cart dance offs!

Made The Morning Reading List!

Alright... who blabbed.....

From the Fishbowl DC

Morning Reading List, 12.12.08

Eight years ago, the Supreme Court stopped the presidential recount in Florida, effectively making Republican George W. Bush the winner. Ed Koch is 84 today. Frank Sinatra was born on this day in 1915 (you hear that Doug and Peter?) You are downright pessimistic about the journalism job market. Today is the birthday of 630 WMAL's Chris Plante and Jen Richer. Ever want to know who owns MeetThePress.com? Slate contemplates "The State of the Cookie." DC Concierge provides a guide to "The DC Singles Scene." Defamer presents, "The Best Letterman Interviews of 2008." Lifehacker asks, "What's the Last Thing You Want to Hear After You've Been Laid Off?" And Slate contemplates "Layoff Spin." Check out today's White House Photo of the Day from Time. Today's "Angry Journalist" rant of the day: "The executive editor spends more time blogging and getting into comment section pissing matches than inspiring decent journalism."