Happy 259th Birthday, James Madison!

Celebrating my favorite university's name sake with some trivia.

How tall was James Madison?
James Madison was 5’ 4”. In the 1812 election, he beat De Witt Clinton who was 6’3.” Shorter presidential candidates have only won 39% of the time against their opponents.

And as a follow up, which US president was the second shortest? Hint: There are two.
The next two shortest presidents are Benjamin Harrison and Martin Van Buren who both stood at 5’ 6.”

Not only was James Madison incredibly smart, he was a trendsetter in his own right. What fashion statement did Madison make that was a first for the US presidents?
He was the first president to wear long trousers! All the previous presidents wore knee breeches.

You can take that to the bank! On which form of currency did James Madison’s likeness appear? Bonus: How much was the currency worth?
James Madison appeared on the five-thousand dollar bill, which is no longer in circulation.

As Secretary of State, Madison essentially ‘wrote the check’ for the Lewis and Clark expedition. What did they name after him?
In 1805, three tributaries of the Missouri River were named after President Jefferson, Secretary of State Madison, and Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. A picture of Madison River in Montana.

James Madison was in many ways a president of firsts. What was he the first Congressman to do?
He was the first former Congressman to be elected President of the United States. Side note: At 29, he was the youngest member of the Continental Congress.

Madison and Jefferson were political allies and friends. What Virginia institution did James Madison help Thomas Jefferson found?
He helped found the University of Virginia and served on its Board of Visitors for 17 years. Madison served as the Rector of UVA for 10 years upon Jefferson’s death in 1826.

Final fact: Madison had a pet macaw, which is pretty baller.

So enjoy James Madison Day, everyone! The Father of The Constitution deserves to be celebrated :)

Whiskey in the Jar

Sometimes I can't even believe the ridiculous life I lead!

On a whim, I called up the Strathmore box office Tuesday to cash in my free tix on any 2009-2010 show. I had no plans for St. Patrick's Day and I def needed to celebrate my Irish heritage (1/8th) in some way so I decided to see the Celtic Tenors. What a great decision.

My tickets were box seats (!) and I even gained admittance to the Comcast Lounge in the lower promenade. A glass of Merlot, some finger foods, a bit of mingling and I was good to go. The concert had a great mix of music from opera, to Eric Clapton, to contemporary Irish songs and traditional Irish folksongs. The tenors handled each genre superbly and effortlessly.

Obviously they sang a stunning redition of Danny Boy, which ironically was written by an Englishman who never stepped foot in Ireland, but the song that stood out the most to me was an a capella rendition of Shenandoah. The simplicity and purity of the harmonies captured the true essence of that song; it was beautiful. Annnnnd the Irish drinking song, Whiskey in a Jar, was a huge audience pleaser :)

After the concert, I went back to the VIP lounge where champagne and desserts were served. The Celtic Tenors and their musical director joined the reception and I got to meet all of them- such genuine, humble and down to earth guys! PS. Their accents were so cute! Got some CDs signed and now I'm set for a truly Irish playlist for the office on Wednesday.

Anyone down for a trip to Ireland?

Italy Memories

First blog post. Yay! This morning the weather was so beautiful! It reminded me of my morning walks to class in Firenze:

A light morning chill kisses the body as the warmth of the sun permeates the piazza. Vendors set up shop among throngs of ‘ciao bella’ as female silhouettes catch the eyes of hopeful young men. Women in chic Italian fashion ride their bikes through the curvy streets. Older men with a genuine look of content and happiness gather for an espresso before an honest day’s work. Water from the morning street cleaning puddle on well-traveled stones and sparkle with the prospect of another day in la vita bella.

Manco l'Italia.