Having a Ball

There were no fewer than ten inaugural balls last night, capping off the festivities as Barack Obama was sworn in as our 44th President. There was the Home States Ball , the Commander in Chief Ball and the Youth Ball just to name a few. Pretty soon it will be almost like the BCS with so many Balls representing different parts of the country and groups. In order to save taxpayer money, they could even go after title sponsors like the college bowl games. The Neighborhood Ball, Built by the Home Depot has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

Even with the current variety, there were a few events that did NOT make the Society pages this morning.

The I Ball sponsored by Apple-the place to see and be seen for the Me Generation

The National Enquirer Sleaze Ball, sponsored by Legalzoom.com and hosted jointly by members of the ABA and media types

The Dodge Ball-a bailout affair for UAW officials featuring a Hemi-powered revolving dance floor

The Helluva Good Cheese Ball known for its great spread at the buffet table


The Spit Ball by Listerine-attended by many famous athletes and hosted by a certain Baltimore Ravens defensive back

By now I can hear the collective groaning. I know I've missed a few. Post your ideas, I know I'm not the only punster in this family!

Start Spreading the News

From his half-itinerant life also, he was a kind of travelling gazette, carrying the whole budget of local gossip from house to house, so that his appearance was always greeted with satisfaction.

Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

It wasn't until I was in High School and read Washington Irving's classic that I knew the origin of the phrase 'traveling gazette.' I thought my grandfather had originated it, for it was his description of the neighbor ladies who stopped by to chat. "That Helen is a real traveling gazette," he'd say as he shook his head leaving the kitchen where my grandmother was sipping coffee with one of their neighbors, often gossiping about the happenings on their block or years later in their high rise apartment complex.

So I always thought it would be the perfect title for a blog-carrying the gossip--in this case news (maybe even some ramblings and rants!)--from house to house via the internet. I'm not sure that Irving or poor Ichabod could have envisioned it quite like this! At any rate, it will be an opportunity to share what is going on, gossip and otherwise, from my half-itinerant life with friends and family who live, work and play about the globe.

As a new year begins, I think of all I have wanted to say for all these years but have never seemed to find the time to put down on paper or hard drive. This blog will be that voice. Let's hope my appearance will still be greeted by others with satisfaction!