Lesson 616 – Fatti-Madi meets President Obama (again)

On Saturday Marc and I went to see President Obama as he made a campaign stop in Windham NH. I went as a member of the press and Marc was in the crowd taking pictures.

I don’t care you are, being near to the President of the United States is an awe inspiring experience. This is one powerful person and with him comes all the protection needed these days for one in his position. Even though this is New Hampshire where just a few years ago, you could go to someone’s house to meet this “new candidate, Barack Obama”, you can’t pretend that now he is President, there aren’t a few loons out there wanting to hurt him – if you don’t believe me just read the vitriol in the comments section following any news story on him. Hate can be a scary thing.

There were black suited Secret Service men (and women) galore. There were bomb sniffing Secret Service dogs (I spent some time behind the building watching a dog handler exercise his dog – I can’t even get my dog to come when I call him and this handler was doing sits, stays, and comes, like it was (literally) all in a day’s work. There were wands and equipment checks – all the kinds of things you expect these days. Initially women were even being told not to bring purses into the venue, but eventually they allowed purses because there is not a woman alive who is not going anywhere without her purse (what if someone needs a Kleenex?) – eventually, even the Secret Service recognized this. Don’t mess with a woman and her purse.

Which is why my getting Fatti-Madi into the auditorium is nothing short of Mission Impossible amazing. I mean I didn’t do anything illegal (hear that Secret Service?) it’s just that I didn’t really declare her. I have this great cloth bag that I stuffed Fatti-Madi into and when she’s in, no one can tell that a stuffed chicken is on board. It just kind of looks like the stuff a journalist brings

Oh sure, she was sniffed and wanded but as nothing set off alarms, she was allowed in.

I waited for the event to start before I even pulled her out. Technically there is nothing wrong with bringing a stuffed chicken to a Presidential event but sometimes those Secret Service people don’t have the best senses of humor.

I positioned myself in the risers that were set aside for video (major news agencies) and once the President got talking and all eyes were on him, I pulled Fatti-Madi out and started shooting (ahem, taking pictures.) I got a few comments from some of the other journalists:

“Is that a chicken?”

“We come to New Hampshire and someone brings a chicken, why not?”

But I was on a mission. No one bothered me, thank God, because although having a stuffed chicken is not a capital offense, if someone was having a bad day, I’m sure it could be. This is a photo that Marc took from his position at the event.

And this is the photo I took from mine.

We really are all of one flock.

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Lesson 615 – Quotable Chicks

Friday’s Quotes for the Chicks 

Found this little lovely at a thrift store last week.

Never lose a chance of saying a kind word.
William Thackeray

 

President Obama is in town (again, it’s political season in NH) and I’m going with Marc and Fatti Madi (will post any photos.)

It’s raining now but if the weather lets up, I’ll start on the Grand-mucking out, probably on Sunday.

I have to start organizing the older kids’ stuff for college, get rid of the things they didn’t use or used up, go through the clothing and figure out what’s needed and what needs to be replaced, you know – that mom-college-management thing that all moms do at this time of year.

Going to follow up on a wasp nest or two, and

I’m going to make a pie this weekend. Still not quite sure what kind, I’ll know what I’ll be making when I check out what looks good at the farm stand. Berries are a bit past season around here and right now, I’m leaning toward an apple-cranberry pie. Don’t worry, you’ll hear all the gory details next week. 🙂

Busy, busy, but really, would I want it any other way?

 

See you next week.

*

As always, happy weekend everyone, health and happiness (and safety) to your flock.

Lesson 611 – Quotable Chicks

Friday’s Quotes for the Chicks 

A family in harmony will prosper in everything.

CHINESE PROVERB

 

Although this looks like a chicken massacre, it’s actually a community dirt bath. Yup, like pigs to mud, chickens do love their dirt (especially on a hot day.)

I’ve been having a little bit of a problem with molting this summer. I blame the heat which has been absolutely brutal this year. Our worst affected is our Ms. Frizzle. Although she looks terrible, she is in good health and seems to be doing just fine.

Recently on Facebook, someone sent me this photo of a rooster having a rough week.

Looks like our little frizzle could certainly give him a run for his money.

See you next week.

*

As always, happy weekend everyone, health and happiness (and safety) to your flock.

Lesson 603 – Quotable Chicks

Friday’s Quotes for the Chicks 

 

For too long we’ve been told about “us” and “them.” Each and every election we see a new slate of arguments and ads telling us that “they” are the problem, not “us.” But there can be no “them” in America. There’s only us.

BILL CLINTON

I know I’ve been a little AWOL this week. Been a tad on the busy side with swim meets, interviews (yup, looking for a writing job) and events like seeing Bill Clinton endorse Gubernatorial Primary candidate Maggie Hassan in Nashua. The above photo was taken by Marc at the event, I just wanted to show you that we really were there. And guess what? So was Fatti-Madi. She hasn’t made a political appearance since her last sighting with President Obama, so this catch was particularly exciting.

Here is Addy holding Fatti-Madi in front of President Clinton (that’s why I included the top photo, so that you’d know it was definitely him but let’s face it, it’s pretty easy to recognize Bill in a crowd.) What’s incredible to me is that in this photo my daughter is 3 people away from a former President of the United States.

But then my kids have already met Bill before (have I told you about how cool it is to live in New Hampshire?)

Oh Wait, don’t want anyone to feel left out:

And lastly here is a picture of Fatti-Madi and Maggie Hassan who is currently running for Governor in New Hampshire. (in my defense I had forgotten that I had worn my sparkly Barbie rhinestone sunglasses and that’s why I’m sporting such exciting head gear.)

We were asked several times about “the chicken.” What did it mean? Why did we have it?

We have the chicken because we’re chicken people and that’s just how we roll. No reason on earth why you can’t have chickens and fun at the same time.

See you next week.

*

As always, happy weekend everyone, health and happiness (and safety) to your flock.

Lesson 505 – Quotable Chicks

Friday’s Quotes for the Chicks 

“This is the coolest thing ever.”
– Sue Lyons, Photographer

Yesterday, I got to cover the President’s visit to Nashua, NH  (just south of where I live.) I was also fortunate enough to have Sue Lyons there as a photographer. These are some of her terrific photos.

Hey, it was snowing, aint' nothing I can do about that hair (mine or Madi's)

[caption id=”attachment_4629″ align=”aligncenter” width=”535″ caption=”A nature picture of a chicken and an unclubbed baby seal.

Fatti-Madi and President Obama

Although I didn’t get President Obama to hold Madi (you wouldn’t believe how many secret service agents surround you when you are holding a stuffed chicken at a Presidental visit!) I did get a picture of Fatti-Madi at the event.

Fatti-Madi - and oh yeah, President Obama