In Chicago, the Mayor has declared today “Talk Like Shakespeare Day.”

We here at 7 West are always up for “Talk Like a [Fill in Your Silly Idea Here]” Day.

Suggestions from the official Talk Like Shakespeare site include:

Instead of you or y’all, say thou.

When in doubt, add the letters “eth” to the end of verbs (he runneth, he trippeth, he falleth).

Verse for lovers, prose for ruffians, songs for clowns.

Or just try iambic pentameter.

At last weekend’s Farm Team conference, Democratic pollster Celinda Lake shared some interesting data. Among married men, 71 percent say they vote the same way as their spouse. But among married women, only 48 percent say they do.

She calls this the “Sure, honey” syndrome!

It was one of those emails you hate to receive. “Our friend, X, has been diagnosed with breast cancer.”

Then the email, sent by the World’s Greatest Friend Nancy, went on to ask each recipient to sign up to bring at least one dinner to help the family as their mom fights the Chemo Wars.

I looked over the list and was struck by the realization that nearly everyone on it had brought meals to me when I was fighting my battle with cancer. And that was over 16 years ago.

So, with a grateful heart and a sense that some things do come full circle, I delivered my first meal tonight. And I told my friend, “I actually know that the women on your support team are v-e-r-y good at this. You relax and do what the doctor tells you to. I can guarantee they will do everything they can to get you well.”

I am headed to the dedication of a new home for homeless persons who have struggled with mental illness. It will be named Gartlan House, in honor of the late Sen. Joe Gartlan.

I cannot think of a finer tribute to a man who dedicated his professional life to fighting for persons with mental illness. New Hope Housing, where Joe’s wife Fredona served on the board for many years, is honoring his contributions with this designation.

There’s apparently a barn-burner of a Senate primary in Kentucky. One of the two contenders, Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Daniel Mongiardo, is bashing his opponent, Attorney General Jack Conway because Conway  went to–well, just take a guess.

Nope – it’s not Cuba.
It’s not North Vietnam.

Mongiardo is lathered up because his opponent went to

Duke.

As Dave Barry used to say, “I swear I am not making this up.”

Of course, UK fans might still be smarting from Christian Laettner’s last-second shot in the Duke vs. UK game back in the 1992 NCAA Tournament. In a close race . . .

Barred from appearing at DAR Constitution Hall, Marian Anderson sang for 75,000 people from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

Her voice echoed for 70 years:

Virginians are hurting. This year, thousands of people have lost their jobs. They didn’t do anything wrong. But the economic tsunami has caused layoffs, plant closings, and the complete shut-down of Virginia employers.

So yesterday, Governor Kaine proposed a solution that would provide $125 million in benefits for these jobless Virginians. The Governor’s amendments would have extended unemployment coverage to some part-time workers and to those who are training for high-demand jobs.

But, living up to their reputation as the Party of No, the Republicans in the House killed the measure. The ostensible reason: the extended coverage would drive up the unemployment premiums for employers.

And they were right. The proposed changes might increase premium costs.

By five dollars.

A year.

I don’t know a single worker who wouldn’t gladly pay that small amount to provide coverage for others who lose their jobs. But ideology trumped common sense. And Virginia left $125 million–which could have provided a lot of help for a lot of people who really need it–on the table.

Yesssss!

The President’s Online Town Meeting was bigger and had a lot more production values. But mine was earlier.

Two years ago, I launched a project (Listening to America’s Next Generation) to engage today’s online generation in an electronic version of an old-fashioned town meeting. It’s because of that experience that I think the President’s new initiative is something our democracy needs.

Ask voters what’s on their minds and they’ll tell you. The President heard, rather famously, about marijuana legalization. He also got questions that should probably have been posed to a local school board (“Mr President What are you going to do about local public schools cutting enrichment programs (arts, science, PE) due to the budget issues? While we need to increase our education levels, yet we see less dollars for schools. Thanks Sunnyvale_mom”)

In my web dialogue, questions ranged from the really local (“Is it possible to increase frequency of bus routes in the area? Alternatively, does the cost outwiegh the benefit of increasing bus routes in the Route 1/Fort Hunt/Mount Vernon Area?”) to the global (“The state should examine a way to provide universal health care.”)

These online town meetings will never replace other media events. But they sure are a great way to talk with–and, more important, listen to–voters.

Recently, Bob talked about the important Delegate responsibility of serving as wallpaper. Today, I’m undertaking another of the less-well-known parts of the job.

I’m intentionally risking making a fool of myself in public.

We get asked to do all sorts of things in the name of civic involvement. We throw out pitches on Opening Day. (My entire school career was pre-Title IX. What can I say? I throw like a girl.) We act as auctioneers for charitable events. We wear silly hats. (Not me–“Don’t Put On the Hat” is still my motto.)

But tonight is my annual Lenten excursion into total public humility. I’m going to be conducting a high school band.

It’s a concert called “March Madness,” and madness it is. A variety of local luminaries sign up to direct the West Potomac High School band in a concert featuring marches. Mostly, it goes well. But there was one ghastly time when the guest conductor brought down the baton and . . . nothing happened.

Most of the concert attendees are there because their kids play in the band. A few, I figure, are there to see if any similar catastrophe will occur–sorta like the folks who go to a hockey game hoping a fight will break out.

But the concert raises lots of money for music scholarships. Which is why I’ll be bringing down the baton–and hopefully conducting a spirited march.

If you’re interested in helping with the scholarship part, March Madness is at West Potomac High School, 7:30.