Picture Time -- Don't Laugh!

OK, you can laugh. I did.

I know it looks like I wandered into the shot, but I promise I was actually supposed to be there. Interpret my expressions as you will.

Mourning John Spencer

The actor who plays Leo McGarry on TWW died Friday of a heart attack. NY Times has an obituary here. LA Times here.

These comments sum him and his effect on others the best, I think:

He was "one of those rare combinations of divinely gifted and incredibly generous," said Richard Schiff, who plays Toby Ziegler on the NBC series. "There are very few personal treasures that you put in your knapsack to carry with you for the rest of your life, and he's one of those," Schiff said.

"He was my brother; that is the most I can say," said Martin Sheen, who plays the president, when reached at home yesterday. "I just adored him. It's too big a hole."

When the cast of The West Wing received an ensemble award from the Screen Actors Guild in 2002, Spencer praised his colleagues at the ceremony. "I'm always better depending on who I'm dancing with," he said, "and these are the best partners I've ever had."

The Hill

OK, so let’s discuss the DC trip.

I went to the land of our Founding Fathers this past weekend in order to both celebrate my sister’s birthday [*coughTHIRTIETHcough*], and to attend the White House Christmas party with said [*cough30-year-oldcough*] sister. Both events? Very fun.

Here’s what was not fun, kids. While in our nation’s capital, I sure did lose my drivers license. And yes, it’s as obnoxious a thing to lose as you expect it is. And yes, I lost it after the party. So I got into the party just fine (more about that later, when I get the pics back), but the event that this loss threatened – besides, you know, getting back on the plane – was the upcoming West Wing tour that Jenny was planning to give me on Sunday.

So, to be clear: party on Thursday, lost ID on Friday, tour coming up on Sunday.

I think anyone reading this blog knows this about me already, but I’ll state it for the record: I enjoy an occasional viewing of a little show called The West Wing. So, you could safely say that this tour was, well, it was a significant aspect of the visit for me. So, we’re sitting around on Saturday, brainstorming about how to get my ass in that tour, and I am absolutely in tears. No, *sigh*, I’m so not kidding. Tears, y'all.

I’ve been watching the show for seven years, people. It’s a part of me.

So I get Jenn to call the security office, she gets a hold of a Secret Service sergeant and gives him the sitch. He tells her that because I was cleared for the party already, that’s what’s going to save me. [He also says to tell me that it's just a show and I should chill.] So, he promises to send an email to all the guard supervisors that I’m coming the next day and to let me in. And they do! I love that man.

Can I tell you what this experience was like? Imagine that you dearly love a television show based on the workings of the power hub of the country in which you live and you got the opportunity to visit this actual location. The place upon which every one of the 100+ episodes you’ve loved has been based? You get to go there, you get to see, and it has the added bonus of being one of the most culturally, socially, politically and historically significant buildings in said country. It felt something like that.

You want to know the best part? I totally got to stand behind the podium in the press room, on a step ladder, and pretend to be CJ. How cool is that?

As soon as I get pics, I’ll post them here.