September 28, 2006
SMOCKING!....On a somewhat lighter note, I'd like to point out that my wife is on the front page our local newspaper today. "On Saturday she will take a vow to uphold the SAGA oath 'to preserve and foster the art of smocking and related needlework.'" Hooray!
—Kevin Drum 3:34 PM
Permalink
| Trackbacks
| Comments (58)
You have to swear an oath to become the President of SAGA?
Now that's someone who takes their hobby seriously.
Posted by: Nicholas Beaudrot on September 28, 2006 at 3:42 PM | PERMALINK
"needlework" will not be considered torture...
soon...
Posted by: g.w.b. on September 28, 2006 at 3:42 PM | PERMALINK
Congrats, Marian!
Posted by: RT on September 28, 2006 at 3:47 PM | PERMALINK
Don't mock my smock or I'll clean your clock!
Posted by: Hobbes on September 28, 2006 at 3:53 PM | PERMALINK
When they snapped the photo, you signed a piece of paper that said they could sell copies of your wife's face for $20?
Do you at least get a cut?
Posted by: Dave of Maryland on September 28, 2006 at 3:59 PM | PERMALINK
I'd be more interested if it were "smacking."
Posted by: gab on September 28, 2006 at 4:03 PM | PERMALINK
"President Drum."
I like the sound of that.
On another light note, my son, a grad student in chemistry, had a bit of an accident with a borane on Tuesday.
Photos here...
--
HRlaughed
Posted by: HRlaughed on September 28, 2006 at 4:08 PM | PERMALINK
As long as she adds signing statements to any new by-laws, she won't have to worry about upholding that pledge.
Posted by: Vladi G on September 28, 2006 at 4:15 PM | PERMALINK
See, now this is how Democrats begin their rise back to power.
Posted by: Alek Hidell on September 28, 2006 at 4:24 PM | PERMALINK
Sure. But the SAGA Vice President, Diedre Cheney, is the real power behind the smockers.
Posted by: tbogg on September 28, 2006 at 4:34 PM | PERMALINK
Should I be ashamed that I don't know what smocking is?
Posted by: grytpype on September 28, 2006 at 4:34 PM | PERMALINK
That's not Kevin's wife. Wtf? Back in the Calpundit days I remember a picture of her, a classic SoCal pretty girl.
Posted by: paradox on September 28, 2006 at 4:35 PM | PERMALINK
From whatissmocking.com:
"English Smocking is embroidery on pleats that have been pleated before smocking. North American Smocking (for lack of a better name) forms the pleats while you embroider."
Posted by: grytpype on September 28, 2006 at 4:36 PM | PERMALINK
I'm guessing the person named Marian Drum in the story (not the person pictured in the photo) is Kevin's wife. All you people just want to suck up to Kevin without actually reading about smocking!
(I have a smocked top on right now. Can any of y'all say the same?)
Posted by: shortstop on September 28, 2006 at 4:44 PM | PERMALINK
I appologize in advance - but when I read the title of this post, Steve Allen rang in my ears "Schmock!! Schmock!!!" and I just dated myself.
Posted by: Global Citizen on September 28, 2006 at 4:49 PM | PERMALINK
Here, gryptype. A picture's worth...something.
This is me wearing the top. Hee. Oddly enough, though, that does look a lot like my top.
Posted by: shortstop on September 28, 2006 at 4:51 PM | PERMALINK
(I have a smocked top on right now. Can any of y'all say the same?)
Actually, shortstop, I'm disappointed to learn that you have a top on at all.
Posted by: Alek Hidell on September 28, 2006 at 4:51 PM | PERMALINK
Thank you for not smocking.
Posted by: bob on September 28, 2006 at 4:57 PM | PERMALINK
A suggestion for Kevin:
There is a function on this comment board that prevents a given address from commenting more than once in a given period of time. I think this is set to about three minutes.
I believe your comment board would look less like a bowl of Loonie Soup if you extended this time period. Maybe fifteen minutes, or even half an hour.
Just mentioning it.
Posted by: bear on September 28, 2006 at 4:59 PM | PERMALINK
Congratulations Mrs. Political Animal!
Posted by: Miles on September 28, 2006 at 5:01 PM | PERMALINK
Oh, I didn't mean this particular thread, since it's supposed to be kind of fun. Just picked the most recent thread to post.
Posted by: bear on September 28, 2006 at 5:04 PM | PERMALINK
Thanks for clarifying, bear. You might have waited until 5:14 or 5:29 to do so, though.
Just teasing.
Posted by: shortstop on September 28, 2006 at 5:13 PM | PERMALINK
Alek: For shame. And me old enough to be your wife.
Posted by: shortstop on September 28, 2006 at 5:20 PM | PERMALINK
Yeah we may be dicks...but the Smocking Arts Guild of America are pussies...
Posted by: Spotswoode on September 28, 2006 at 5:22 PM | PERMALINK
For the title of this post I would have gone with "Smock Alert."
Posted by: Tom on September 28, 2006 at 5:43 PM | PERMALINK
you must be very proud Kevin. Now you'll have to play the First Husband!
Posted by: Michele on September 28, 2006 at 6:16 PM | PERMALINK
Michele: Well, first husband-elect, anyway. Marian doesn't actually become president of SAGA for another year. You can't rush into these things, you know.
And while she might not have gotten her picture in the paper, the quilt hanging on the wall behind Nancy is one that Marian made. But I helped hang it!
Posted by: Kevin Drum on September 28, 2006 at 6:33 PM | PERMALINK
Liberals are such cowards. They'd rather smock than fight for freedom.
Posted by: Al on September 28, 2006 at 6:41 PM | PERMALINK
(I have a smocked top on right now. Can any of y'all say the same?)
No. In all honesty, I can't say I am.
congrats to Mrs. Drum!
Posted by: Edo on September 28, 2006 at 7:08 PM | PERMALINK
I'm smocked, smocked to find that needlework is going on here!
Posted by: aces on September 28, 2006 at 7:21 PM | PERMALINK
if kevin can post catpics on fridays, regular
readers ought to be able to boast of their
greatest needlework accomplishments on thursdays:
i once sewed a pair of cargo pockets ( for things
like a 5x8 yellow pad, swiss army knife,.....)on
a pair of old blue jeans
Posted by: wschneid25 on September 28, 2006 at 7:56 PM | PERMALINK
Congrats to the Lady Drum. I'm not sure what smocking is, but it sounds very benign! Is there a smocking banquet at some point in the year?
Posted by: fred on September 28, 2006 at 7:57 PM | PERMALINK
Smocktacular
Posted by: Aaron on September 28, 2006 at 7:58 PM | PERMALINK
I have a smocked top on right now. Can any of y'all say the same?
No, but I can say that I have actually smocked. Can you? About 45 years ago I made a smocked dress for my little niece, and it took many months to make it. I haven't done any smocking since, but I think I'll give it another try now that I'm retired and have the time.
Congrats to Mrs. Drum. What a lovely activity.
Posted by: Emily on September 28, 2006 at 8:07 PM | PERMALINK
I've always thought of smocking as a very old fashioned activity. I've never thought of using it on handbags. Looks lovely!
Posted by: Battlepanda on September 28, 2006 at 8:20 PM | PERMALINK
The tone of this thread is entirely too smocking and frivolous for a widely-read political blog.
Bob
Posted by: rmck1 on September 28, 2006 at 8:36 PM | PERMALINK
Now if we had the smocking gun we could make a smockumentary.
Something between Michael Moore, Christopher Guest and the Crying of Smock 49.
Posted by: cld on September 28, 2006 at 8:40 PM | PERMALINK
Good for her, Kevin. Congratulations.
Posted by: sportsfan79 on September 28, 2006 at 9:07 PM | PERMALINK
Emily: No, but I can say that I have actually smocked. Can you?
I cannot. Gobsmocked, I bow to you.
Posted by: shortstop on September 28, 2006 at 9:44 PM | PERMALINK
OMG, Kevin actually deleted spam on this thread.
Heh, maybe Thomas was right and he *did* clean out some troll posts at the top of the other thread.
Scary thought, that.
Thomas being right, not Kevin sweeping up a li'l.
Bob
Posted by: rmck1 on September 28, 2006 at 9:54 PM | PERMALINK
When the fundies take over completely, she will have a thriving business making burkhas.
Posted by: Michael7843853 G-O in 08! on September 28, 2006 at 9:54 PM | PERMALINK
Thanks for clarifying, bear. You might have waited until 5:14 or 5:29 to do so, though.
I noticed that little irony after I'd done it. Guess I'm a bear of very little brain.
Posted by: bear on September 28, 2006 at 10:11 PM | PERMALINK
Kevin Drum >"...to preserve and foster the art of smocking and related needlework..."
Congrats !
And a hearty smock, smock from Fern University to all
(only Steve Allen fans will understand...)
"In the future, we will all drive standing up. In the future, love will be taught on television and by listening to pop songs." - Talking Heads
Posted by: daCascadian on September 28, 2006 at 10:24 PM | PERMALINK
Cool!
Posted by: Mazurka on September 28, 2006 at 11:11 PM | PERMALINK
Don't see any pictures... what's the point, if there's no pictures?
Posted by: Leslie Horwinkle on September 29, 2006 at 12:01 AM | PERMALINK
Gobsmocked, I bow to you.
Made me laugh, shortstop. No need to bow, though -- we should save the bowing and scraping for whatever happens when we all get incarcerated for speaking out against the policies of our petulant boy king.
Posted by: Emily on September 29, 2006 at 12:57 AM | PERMALINK
I thought I was the last woman in America to smock. Did some about 20-25 years ago--beautiful smocked nightgowns, with lattice patterning. About 15 years ago, picked it up again. this time doing picture smocking on rompers for the babies of my friends--a carousel on one, sailboats on another, a farm scene with cows and barn on another, even the opening bars of Brahms lullaby. Never thought I'd be writing about this on the comments of a political blog.
Posted by: njprogressive on September 29, 2006 at 5:37 AM | PERMALINK
Mocking smocking? What a bunch of smock alecs.
But Kevin, this smocks my day.
Posted by: smocky pants on September 29, 2006 at 7:24 AM | PERMALINK
My "Maud Gonne" daughter has gone (gonne) fabric/sewing/smocking/knitting crazy these last few years.
Thread is the new pasta, so to speak.
Posted by: Jeffrey Davis on September 29, 2006 at 9:31 AM | PERMALINK
Shortstop,
(I have a smocked top on right now. Can any of y'all say the same?)
No, but I am wearing my "Safe & Sober" t-shirt which I got for participating in a mock crash for a local high school.
Unlike some of the commenters here (and you know who YOU are) I'm a real person who volunteers real time and money locally to make this world a better place for my kids and myself.
Posted by: Tripp on September 29, 2006 at 11:45 AM | PERMALINK
No, but I am wearing my "Safe & Sober" t-shirt which I got for participating in a mock crash for a local high school.
We'd be more impressed, Tripper, if that had been a smock crash.
Seriously, thank you for your commitment to community.
Posted by: shortstop on September 29, 2006 at 12:13 PM | PERMALINK
My first thought when I glanced at the post was that you were making fun of someone's spelling of "smoking" - come to think of it, probably all of the other times I've read the word "smocking" in the past 30 years or so was as a typo that I had to mentally translate into something else.
Posted by: CaliforniaDrySherry on September 29, 2006 at 2:31 PM | PERMALINK
Yeah.. but can she knit?
Cool. Congrats!
Posted by: ac on September 29, 2006 at 5:43 PM | PERMALINK
My mother smocked a few dresses for my sister and me when we were little. The fact that I still remember them today must mean something. Maybe it's that they were not only beautiful, but that they were a work of love. That goes a long way towards creating good and lasting memories. I'm sure my mother did make every stitch with love, but she also must have taken great pleasure in the act of creation itself. There is something so calming and satifying about making something with your own hands. I think I'll take out my crossstitch for the long winter nights ahead. Thanks for the nudge, Marian, and congratulations.
Posted by: Jcc on September 29, 2006 at 8:03 PM | PERMALINK