POTUSes with the Motuses

Friends look at me differently after they see my collection of miniature presidential figurines for the first time. They call my name from the other room and ask, is this a civil war re-enactment? Are these action figures? What exactly is going on here? They knew I was a little nerdy, but this, this changes something. It's my dirty little secret. 


But I can explain. I'm history major with a love of American history and the presidents, which was handed down to me by my mother  -- she founded our town's historical museum for crying out loud. I also inherited her love of antique stores and quirky historical commemorative items. (My mom is using my upholsterer, and upon visiting her house he said, "It's very evident that you two are related. And you look alike too.")


So a couple of birthdays ago I became the proud owner of a set of The Presidents of the United States by Marx. The set wasn't in it's original packaging or anything, just piled into a ziplock baggy. Jefferson may have a broken arm and I think I may be missing Kennedy, but that never bothered me. Then this morning a friend sent me a link to Verrone.com, a company that picks up where Marx left off (Nixon.) They've also branched out to include presidential candidates, Supreme Court justices, VPs, and other notable Americans. Please, please, contain your excitement, you're going to break my blog. 


I immediately called my mom to tell her the good news, and something tells me there will be some tiny statesmen under the tree this year. But the real question is, am I ready to welcome W. into my home? I'm not sure enough time has passed.

The Finish Line

A quick update on my brother -- he completed the JFK Fifty in one piece, in less than ten hours. Some highlights of the adventure: 

• The temperature at the start of the race was 19 degrees.
  
• As such, all Clif Bars were frozen and inedible, and most runners had icicles hanging off some part of their hair and/or clothing.
• The race ended at a cemetary. No comment.

Congrats to my brother and his lovely, supportive, tolerant wife.

To the moon! Or through the woods...

President John F. Kennedy was never one to shy away from challenging the American people. He asked us what we could do for our country, and he asked us to go to the moon. In 1963 he asked Americans to challenge their physical fitness, and in doing so, inspire others to do the same.

This Saturday, for the 45th time, more than 1000 people will line up in Hagerstown, Maryland to run the JFK 50 Miler -- 50 miles on the Appalachian Trail.

One of the first people to cover the distance was the president's brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, in 17 hours. The current record for men's finishers in 5 hours and 46 minutes.

Following the race I will have a first hand account from my brother, who shares the 35th president's boldfaced disregard for what passes as impossible in this world. 

Hope the wind's at your back and the roots keep flat, brother.