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The Obamas are getting ready to move into the White House. The First Family, complete with mother-in-law, are attempting to keep it real. Here are two fascinating articles in that vein. The first from the Baltimore Sun details what the Obama's and their decorator Michael Smith are doing to the top two floors of the White House, the private residence, to make it feel more like home. The Obama daughters Sasha (7) and Malia (10) will be sleeping in bedrooms that have been used by many other presidential children. They will be living on the top two floors of a house that features a bottom two floors that are part museum. The Obamas do have the vast warehouse of old presidential furniture to choose from, as well as the national galleries and museums to resource for Art. According to the Sun, Michelle Obama and Mr. Smith said in a joint statement this week that, "...they want to promote new perspectives from 20th-century American artists and designers while using affordable brands and products." The president-elect, for his part, is expected to install the first couple of basketball nets and rims at the White House.

The second article from the San Francisco Chronicle is about what the Obamas will eat in the White House. It is up to the Obamas who is the White House chef, and despite offers of assistance from luminaries like Chez Panisse founder and slow food guru Alice Waters and Gourmet magazine top editor Ruth Reich, the Obamas are keeping on the White House executive chef, Cristeta Comerford. The Obamas reportedly like Comerford, who has worked in the White House since the Clinton administration, because she is a mother who cooks for her own family. The Chronicle's story includes wonderful anecdotes from the former White House chef who watched Chelsea Clinton evolve from a thirteen year old Kraft Mac-n-Cheese out of the box girl to the vegan woman who went off to Stanford.

The article also reveals that George Bush II requested no soup, no salads, no greens and no "wet fish" on the White House menu. Which explains a lot, eat a bad diet and you will have a poor foundation for living and decision-making.

Labels: 2008's President, Pop Culture