Guess who's coming for lunch tomorow Feb 19

Yeah, they let the printing contract to the lowest bidder who was, unfortunately, in Taiwan and the invitations were shipped UPS standard (routed via Alaska) and were help up in customs as a suspicious package. Not to worry, they'll be here by Friday and they have Canada Post letter carriers all set up to deliver each invitation personally for 53 cents a piece. They've calculated the savings to taxpayers at $248.00!

Working at the airport ...

I wonder if watching AirForce 1 (land etc.) counts as my goodie for the cost of the event ?

Well Obama has come and gone. Amazing visit overall. AirForce1 landed on time. Canada's Governor General, Michaele Jean had a long chat with our esteemed guest then he was off to Parliament for a long discussion with our Prime Minister Stephen Harper, followed by a great press conference. As usual Obama pulled 2 escapades; 1.- he walked around the BEAST (limousine) to go and wave to those who lined-up as early as 4:30am to get as close as they could to the barricades. 2.- Then as the convoy was supposed to leave to return to the airport it was decided to go by the Bytown market to pick-up Maple Cookies, a silk scarf and a snow globe. It must have been a logistic nightmare, but he pulled it off, even managed to stop and pose for impromptu pictures (Sorry no! Mark was not behind the camera) Then back to the airport to meet and greet Ottawa's American embassy employees and their families.

Obama loves Canada and its people were ecstatic to meet him.

ps Only 1 arrest thru the whole day, a teenager tried to jump the barricades rather than go thru the long process of accessing Parliament hill by the single available gate. Sorry no terrorists