January 2009

  • Focus on Fashion Not Necessarily Favorable

    By mous on 1/26/09 10:01pm
    Add Comment

    Tuesday, January 27th
    10:45am

    Dear Diary,

    I’m beginning to worry that not enough media attention has been placed on my platform as the First Lady and who I am. It seems that most news stories focus just on my fashion sense, and while I pride myself on my sophisticated sense of style, I don’t think that it’s the first thing that should come to mind when people think of me. After all, I went to Princeton University, Haravard Law School, and a resume that is just as impressive as Barack’s.

    Yes, I like the fashion focus. But after watching CNN the other night, I’m beginning to realize that if I don’t do something about this public image, I could forever be known as the fashion-conscious First Lady. I would like to emphasize my more serious and intelligent side. But first and foremost, I want to make sure that Sasha and Malia are settled in the White House. They’ve been such troopers about having to move three times in only a few weeks. But now that I can take the time to make sure that they’ve acclimated to school, living in Washington D.C., and the White House, I want to do so.

    Read more >

  • With Advisors Set, Agenda is in the Making

    By mous on 1/26/09 12:44pm
    Add Comment

    Monday, January 26th 9:20am Dear Diary, As it has been almost a week since I moved into the White House, I've decided that it's time to more decisively start planning my agenda as the First Lady. I've already started setting the tone for my persona within the White House by just signing my emails as "Michelle.' I really feel that this keeps things on a personal basis and helps create a warming environment for the White House staff. I already know that I'd like to create a public program with a focus on turning around employment bias against minorities and creating tougher anti-discrimination laws. I know this will resonate well with the public, and these are issues that I feel very strongly about as well, so everybody wins! And when I create other public programs, I’ll be prepared. I’ve set up a team of very intelligent advisors. Not all of them have White House experience, but at least they’re more politically savvy than Laura Bush’s advisors.

    Read more >

  • Mom-In-Chief

    By mous on 1/25/09 11:28am
    1 Comment

    Sunday, January 25th
    3:05pm

    Dear Diary,

    A lot of people are getting down on me because of I’m talking about being a “Mom-in-Chief.” Sure there are those men and women who would prefer to see me as becoming just a career woman. But the truth is that I’m a mother too, and I’m not about to shirk my responsibilities as a mother just because I’m now put in a very public role. Also, although I would never voice this to the press, I am worried about Sasha and Malia. It will be very difficult for them to have to share their father with the world for so long.

    They’ve already missed out on so much of their father because of the campaign trail. While I hope that he’s able to schedule his meetings during the say and still come home and have the evening with his children, it may not be possible with the all of his responsibilities.

    Read more >

  • Frustrated by Republicans and Ty Dolls

    By mous on 1/23/09 4:28pm
    Add Comment

    Thursday, January 23rd
    7:00pm

    Dear Diary,

    I cannot believe that Glenn Thursh. He is out of control. The nerve of him to say that the 10th Democrat Barack should look out for is me is absolutely outlandish! Clearly I have Barack’s best interests in mind – I wouldn’t have campaigned for two years with him if I didn’t. But for him to say that I’m about to go down in my public standings AND that I’ll be dragging Barack with me is ridiculous. If anything, I’m simply on my way up. Yes, things are looking good for me. But I’ve got so much more ahead of me. And I’m an educated woman! I’m not going to just pull a John Roberts and mess things up.

    Read more >

  • Bush Girls Give MY Daughters Advice?!

    By mous on 1/22/09 5:43pm
    1 Comment

    Thursday, January 22nd
    9:30pm

    Dear Diary,

    You have got to be kidding me. The most troublesome children ever to live in the White House want to give MY kids advice? But the girls still wrote my daughters a letter, and to make sure that everyone knew about this act of goodwill (and demonstration of bad punctuation), they published it in the Wall Street Journal. I wish they had just written a memoir, not brought Sasha and Malia into the whole picture.

    I’ll admit it, some of the letter contained some good advice. Reminding the girls to continue to be who they are and have fun is all well and good. But I will not permit Sasha and Malia to become the White House troublemakers. Barack and I did not spend the last two years of our lives campaigning so that our daughters could ruin our good reputation.

    Although I did think it was funny when they talked about being so upset about seeing the SNL and printed caricatures of their dad. Fortunately, it would never happen to Barack in the same way since Barack is a smart man with a clean past.

    Read more >

  • Long (But Admittedly Fun) Day

    By mous on 1/21/09 9:15am
    Add Comment

    Wednesday, January 21st
    10:15am

    Dear Diary,

    Wow, what a day! Inauguration Day was incredible. Can’t hardly believe it all happened. We started the day with by going to church, then joining the Bushes and the Cheneys for coffee at the White House, which was pretty awkward. In her defense, Laura tried to make polite conversation, but Dick was sullen and George tried cracked some pretty inane jokes.

    But oh boy, it was such a cold day. I worried about the girls, but at least they were wearing their warmest (and cutest, in my opinion) winter coats. It was pretty obvious that the cold weather was hardest on the elderly, as seen by the Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd’s health complications. I hear they’re both doing much better, which is quite a relief. Just evidence of how cold it was, especially since we were outside for such long periods of time.

    I later heard from my mom that a lot of people were concerned when Barack and I got out of the car and were walking part of the way to the White House.

    Read more >

  • Inauguration Day is Here!

    By mous on 1/20/09 1:30am
    Add Comment

    Tuesday, January 20th
    6:30am

    Dear Diary,

    I am the First Lady of the United States. I am the First Lady of the United States. Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States.

    Wow, that feels good to write. So, today Barack and Joe are inaugurated. And I officially become the First Lady! After today, I’ll officially begin my plans to bring back the good reputation of the First Lady’s office. From fashion to foreign and domestic affairs, this First Lady’s going to be one to follow!

    Yours always,
    Michelle

    Read more >

  • Happy MLK Day!

    By mous on 1/19/09 2:05pm
    Add Comment

    Monday, January 19th
    9:15am

    Dear Diary,

    Happy Martin Luther King Day! Today is certainly a day to celebrate. Dr. King achieved so much during his short time on this earth, and our world is certainly a better place because of everything that he worked to change. His dream, that people of all colors will exist together in equality, has not been completely realized; but with Barack’s inauguration tomorrow, it is even closer to being realized. It truly is amazing that today we celebrate Dr. King’s birthday and tomorrow the Barack will become our next president. Yes, we have come so far, but we still have quite a ways to go.

    There has been so much racism, but I think that we all need to learn about it and study it, but move on when the time is right. I’m reminded of my freshman year roommate at Princeton, whose mother went to the Princeton board to try her another roommate because she didn’t want her daughter living with a black girl.

    Read more >

  • Thoughts from the Lincoln Memorial

    By mous on 1/18/09 8:50pm
    Add Comment

    Sunday, January 18th
    10:30pm

    Dear Diary,

    Yesterday was an amazing day at the Lincoln Memorial. We heard from so many wonderful speaker and performers, and I felt so honored to be there and take part in it all. However, though I’m almost certainly biased, I truly did feel that Barack stole the show. His speech was poignant, yet honest. Poetic, yet to the point. It was perfect. Even I couldn’t have written a better speech for the occasion.

    Barack started out discussing how this was the celebration of American renewal. He brought up the point that our people are facing many challenges right now, and that it may take a few months to many years to resolve the tasks we’re facing right now. But Barack even convinced me that we will endure, prevail, and that the dreams of our founders will live on. Gosh, it sounds like I’m quoting his speech! Well, I guess that’s just because Barack’s words are still resonating in my head.

    I loved when he began discussing the monuments around us, commemorating their inspirations for what they had done, but that the true inspiration are the American people.

    Read more >

  • Happy Birthday to Me!

    By mous on 1/16/09 10:05pm
    Add Comment

    Saturday, January 17th
    8:00 am

    Dear Diary,

    Today is my birthday! Happy birthday to me! I can hardly believe that today I am getting on the train for Washington D.C on my 45th birthday. Ten years ago, I would never have imagined that I would be celebrating my big day by getting on a train to become the First Lady. In all honesty, I would have figured that I would be getting on to become the President. Though I suppose that day has still yet to come… Nevertheless, I’m certainly looking forward to all the festivities over the rest of the weekend.

    We’re on our way to the Lincoln Memorial, taking the same route that Lincoln did in 1861. (Well, the final leg of the same journey.) It feels amazing to take the same historic journey that he once took. Once we get there, we’re going to make an unannounced stop at the Lincoln Memorial to look around and do some reflecting at such a historic monument. I know the girls want a chance to really take it in without so many people around.

    This is the best birthday present anyone could ask for. Unless, of course, I was the president.

    Read more >

  • Continuing to Miss the Point Entirely

    By mous on 1/12/09 9:48pm
    1 Comment

    Monday, January 12th
    11:30pm

    Dear Diary,

    After watching George W. Bush’s final news conference, I think it’s safe to say that the man is in complete denial. It is quite clear that he is so delusional that he actually thinks he did a good job while in office! Unbelievable.

    Highlights (if one can call them that) from the final news conference on January 12th include Bush’s statement that he inherited the economy. Well, look, our first recession didn’t begin until March 2001, two months after he took office. So to say that he “inherited a recession” is completely bogus! And that was nothing compared to the second recession that has hit, which has wiped out our economy. In truth, it will be my husband who has actually inherited a recession. But my biggest contention with Bush’s delusions with his own presidency is how he missed the point entirely in his reflection on Katrina.

    In discussing Hurricane Katrina, Bush admits that he could have done something differently. But he completely missed the point of why he failed Hurricane our country, and especially those living in New Orleans!

    Read more >

  • Back to a New School

    By mous on 1/11/09 2:17pm
    Add Comment

    Thursday, January 11th
    9:30am

    Dear Diary,

    Well, tomorrow marks the second week of school for the Sasha and Malia at Sidwell Friends. I think the girls like it there, though I know it hasn’t been exactly easy to come into this school being the daughters of the president. It’s hard enough for anyone to have to change schools in the middle of the year, let alone having to come in with such a prominent name. But these girls are such troopers, and they are really making the best of the situation. Not to mention, they’re already talking about all the friends they’re making, which is wonderful.

    It would have been easier for them to start their new school after having already moved into the Presidential guest house. It will be tough to have to deal with this new school, as well as move into their new home. But the kids are resilient, and I’m sure they’ll do a fine job adjusting.

    We released pictures of the girls saying goodbye to their father in our hotel room, as they were getting ready to attend their new school on their first day.

    Read more >

  • A White Housewarming Gift

    By mous on 1/9/09 10:15pm
    2 Comments

    Saturday, January 10th
    10:25am

    Dear Diary,

    I’m still trying to decide what I’m supposed to do with all this china Laura Bush just bought for the White House. A little housewarming gift is one thing. But $493,000 worth of china? Honestly, I don’t know why she would want to waste all this money. It’s not like the Bushes are leaving the White House in good standing. Does she feel like she has nothing to lose, and therefore can “afford” to spend all that money on plates. My god, our national debt has skyrocketed since her husband was awarded the office in 2000. Was it really that prudent to spend all that money on china? Maybe she’s trying to be nice by welcoming us to the White House with a housewarming gift. But I secretly think she wants people to admire her good taste in tableware. But please, honey, give me a break. If she’s trying to steal my thunder as someone with style, well then we all know which First Lady will be recognized for good taste. Not Mrs. Bush, that’s for sure. She can’t have that good of taste anyway – look who she married!

    Read more >

  • Focus on Fashion

    By mous on 1/9/09 2:33am
    Add Comment

    Friday, January 9th
    11:05am

    Dear Diary,

    Apparently, I’ve already begun to fulfill my second New Year’s Resolution – to become a fashion icon. Even the New York Times notes that it might be up to me to save the fashion industry during this recession.  Yikes! That’s a huge responsibility, but I guess if anyone’s up to the challenge, it’s me. They’ve recognized how much I’ve done already for the fashion industry. Much of it comes naturally, although the campaign advisors and I really made a point to dress to impress without the impressive prices that Sarah Palin boasted during her shopping spree at Neiman Marcus. Plus, I don’t just wear designer clothes. I wear what looks good. And if that means J. Crew and the GAP, then I’ll shop at J. Crew and the GAP.

    It’s nice to be viewed as such a role model. But then again, I’ll admit it – I’ve considered my fashion taste to be impeccable.

    Read more >

  • Resolutions for the New Year

    By mous on 1/8/09 9:01pm
    Add Comment

    Thursday, January 8th
    9:30pm

    Dear Diary,

    Three weeks have passed since my last entry, and I realize that I do miss writing in my diary. And as I am in need of an outlet in which I can vent privately, I have resolved to make my New Year’s Resolution a goal to write in my secret diary more. That, as well as beginning my legacy as the greatest First Lady to date. Well, the greatest First Lady since Eleanor Roosevelt. She was a delegate to the UN after all, among other achievements. Though perhaps I can still surpass her. She certainly had politics and social work on her side, but I’ve already started down the path of the fashionista. And when I start enacting my many service organizations, as well as the Michelle Obama Foundation (haven’t decided the focus of that, but will think more on that later), I will truly begin my legacy as the greatest First Lady. I do enjoy a good superlative, or a great one, as it were,

    But for now, my top three New Year’s Resolutions are as follows:

    Read more >

    1. Write in my diary more. Perhaps it is a selfish resolution, but everyone needs an outlet.