Glass Ceilings and Glass Walls

So we have officially broken through a glass ceiling, right? I know I'm a couple of weeks late on this but... yay! President-elect Obama! And I was lucky enough to be in perhaps the most Obama-happy city on celebration night. Believe it or not, there was more energy in Union Square on election night than when the G-men won the superbowl this past year. 

My question is... what's the catch? There must be something wrong with this perfect man (other than his obvious lack of being white, which is SO last century). He's attractive, articulate, brilliant, and seems to really have a pulse on what most of America wants for the country. So is he the next Kennedy? He even has the most gorgeously perfect and well-behaved young family... just like Mr. John F. Kennedy himself (though Michelle Obama will not be sporting the next Givenche any time soon). 

So if Obama is the next Kennedy, then that means we will all love him despite his many shortcomings. Bay of Pigs / Marilyn Monroe anyone? Everyone loved to worship the Kennedys, but in a sort of childhood dollhouse way. 

We love the Obamas, but I do not think we should dub him the second coming of the Messiah until he actually begins to fix things. So far he has done a lot of talking... criticizing this, saying he wants to fix that. But with every criticism, every weekly podcast urging support for his great ideas... the pressure continues to mount. and mount. and mount.

So I guess the real question is, how great does Obama have to be to meet everyone's expectations? At this point, to be considered good, doesn't he have to be really, really great? Given this handicap, I guess we've got another glass ceiling on our hands.

So as for the glass walls... well, I just walked into one in the library. Not my proudest moment, I know. But it's all part of my charm... 

Bette Midler knows how to rock.

We expect the unexpected on Halloween in NYC, right (especially if you attend the Christopher Street parade)! - But we all know it will probably involve cross-dressing, nudity, drunkenness, and cops... whether real or just in costume (like the creepy old man who hit on me last night). Well, I at least hope he was not a real cop. 

But I don't think anyone ever expects Bette Midler, stain removal kits, organic cookbooks, and the Waldorf=Astoria. This is what happens when you have friends in high places (interning at Walt Disney, that is). 

So as it turns out, Bette Midler knows how to rock. And I hear Gloria Estefan is not too shabby either. After the ritzy Halloween dinner party for the super VIPs (they forgot to put my name on the list), we had free passes to a chic after party in the grand ballroom at the Waldorf. Lots of costumes... but maybe a few too many Hank Paulsons. Open bar all night, live DJ and gambling. 

An overall great night with great friends, free booze, and fun costumes. And the gift bag? A stain removal kit and an organic cookbook: Come to the Table: The Slow Food Way of Living. 

... because it's normal to hand out cookbooks on Halloween. Not bad, Bette, not bad.