The General Assembly convenes on the second Wednesday of the new year. This week, although we are not yet formally in session, we have meetings, all the time, in both Richmond and in our districts. (Look for us if you’re on I-95!)

Meanwhile, there has been another big move on 7 West. Brian Moran, who formerly had office 711, has moved across the row (to 703) to get an office with a Capitol view. (It’s Jack Reid’s old office, so we warned him about the possibility of live rounds in the backs of drawers.)

Bob is moving into Brian’s office (711) to get a corner view. And I am moving into his old office (712) to get more staff space. So stop by when you’re in Richmond to see the new office digs.

Well, Minnesota, actually.

But at last report, it is cold enough there for a sleigh and some reindeer.

Meanwhile, we wish you a Merry Christmas.

They like us! They really like us! (Or at least our smart growth.) 

I cannot explain it. But after some gentle haranguing from friends (including my co-blogger), I finally posted on Facebook.

It is wearing me out.

First, there’s the new vocabulary. “Friend” as a verb? (Do we also “enemy” people?) Luckily, when you have reached my advanced age, there aren’t so many people who want to “friend” you anyway. My age cohort has certainly mastered email, but we are frankly a little skeptical about this whole blogging/social networking thing. (Of course, we thought that about the Internet, too.)

But I am lucky enough to have friends from many generations, and many of them seem quite at ease with the Facebook phenomenon. So these folks are friending me. And posting things on my wall. And sending me messages through yet another inbox.

It is nice to be friended. But, OMG, I miss the days when if I wanted to communicate with people, I just called them up.

On a land line.

“. . . being the president’s spouse has to be very helpful for a future president. It’s like an eight-year ‘Take Your Daughter to Work Day.'”

Michael Kinsley, nevertheless proceeding to decide, “My candidate, at least at the moment, is Obama.”

From the Virginian Pilot editorial:

Jim Gilmore made it official this week, saying he refuses to let Mark Warner waltz into the U.S. Senate next year. In announcing his candidacy, Gilmore said he intends to run on his record. That may explain the frantic activity among some Republican leaders to find another nominee.

A reminder of why we liked West Wing so much:

The Norwegians are closing their consulate in Minneapolis.

This is not sitting well with the folks at Ingebritsen’s, an all-purpose Norwegian store on Lake Street. (I visit every time I am there — I am not so interested in the blood sausage, although there are several varieties available. Still, the food and folk art usually make their way into my luggage.)

However, Norwegians are still Norwegians. So they are mostly sulking in silence.

(ht: Talking Points Memo)

The Wednesday evening schedule on ESPN includes a game of more than passing interest to me.