17 December 2005

Actor John Spencer died last night. I liked him on "West Wing" of course, but liked him even better because in an NPR interview a few years ago he talked about how much he liked the show I produced (and created). What a loss.

16 December 2005

Just met Donald Rumsfeld in the green room here in our Washington bureau. I was in there to talk to the hosts of my show, and literally ran into the man. He smiled, shook my hand and wished me a merry Christmas. Strange.

I should explain what a green room is...it's where guests and "talent" who are about to go on air hang out. There's a make up room in there and comfy couches and TVs and (non-alcoholic) drinks. The fun thing about green rooms is you never know who you are going to run into. My favorite memory: Henry Kissinger trying to pet the just-pardoned Thanksgiving turkey a few years back.

14 December 2005

A co-worker is a Mormon which provides us endless -- and completely inappropriate -- entertainment. ("Hey you're a Mormon, you MUST know the Osmonds.") Today she introduced us to a website that compiles lists of famous Mormons. It's facinating, and some of the entries are quite surprising. Who knew Gladys Knight was an LDS? No word on the religious affiliations of any of the "Pips."

14 December 2005

I did a good deed today. I helped get a refurbished computer to a disabled friend of the family (my partner's family) at an assisted living facility in Laurel, Maryland. A great non-profit in Columbia, Maryland called the Lazarus Foundation helped me out. I need to pick up and deliver the computer (and buy a USB port), but it will be well worth it to make someone's Christmas.