They just can't be THAT stupid. They must be reckless.

I was watching part of Valerie Plame Wilson's testimony to the House Oversight and Reform Committee today. Drawing largely on information gleaned from the various testimonies at the "Scooter" Libby perjury trial, the Democratic congressmen had a lot of questions.

One point of contention, explored by the Republican members, was whether or not Valerie Plame was a covert operative, and whether or not those in the White House who "outed" her would know. There seems to be some impression that she was working for the CIA but not covert. This is important, because if she was not covert, no crime was committed.

I took away these things:

Valerie Plame was covert. Exposing her position put her, and the people she came in contact with, into danger. Not only was she immediately removed from her position when the news was released, but the status was confirmed by the CIA for the committee.

The people in the White House who discussed her identity and leaked it to the press were either reckless or stupid. If they at least one person knew she was covert, then it was reckless and unpatriotic to out her, showing a disregard for all the lives endangered by her identity being revealed. It also shows a disregard for the men and women who spend their lives working for an organization dedicated for defending our freedom.

And if no one genuinely knew, then they were just plain stupid. Common sense dictates that someone working for the CIA is, at a minimum, likely to be covert. Surely with all the high security clearances floating around the White House, someone there should have been able to ask the question, "Is Valerie Plame covert, and will we be endangering lives by revealing her identity?"

Up until now, Ms. Plame has been quiet, allowing her husband, the former ambassador, to speak. But, before Congress, she was articulate, thoughtful, patriotic, and critical without being disrespectful. Which brings me to the final thing I took away:

The country lost an intelligent, highly-trained, valuable CIA operative because of petty politics. Lest we forget, Ms. Plame was a government employee. All those taxpayer dollars that went into her specialized training and allowed her to develop her knowledge and experience in other ways, were wasted.

The White House and the Republicans love to give lip service to patriotism. It has become apparent in the past few years that their definition of patriotism is, in reality, agreeing with the president. Members of this Administration are fond of using the phrase made well-known by its use on "The West Wing": "I serve at the pleasure of the President."

I just wonder -- how much pleasure did the President find in seeing Joseph Wilson and his wife derailed?

Selling Girl Scout Cookies

It's cookie time! And with two girls selling this year, it's more work for me.

Because, the reality is, cookie sales are ultimately the responsibility of the parents. It is up to a parent to organize, up to a parent to make certain the girls go out and sell, up to the parent to bring the order forms to work and collect orders, up to a parent to hand in the order form, up to the parent to make sure the money is collected and correct, and required of a parent to be present at the "site sales," the lucrative post-presale bonanza.

I spent Friday night with my 10-year-old standing outside a small market in a small tonwship, selling cookies to weary Friday night shoppers, and, later, people running in for beer. It was raining, cold (well, everything is relative, of course -- it was about 40), and breezy. I spent today with my first grader and two other squirrely (aren't all first graders wiggly?) Brownies in an entrance to a large chain supermarket, who had specifically requested that people only be asked on their way out to buy cookies.

Friday night we worked alone, so my daughter was credited with all the cookie sales. In spite of the cold and rain (although she WAS dressed for it in snowpants and boots, gloves and a hood), she told me at least twice through the two hours that she was enjoying herself. I enjoyed the time with her, watching her confidently solicit sales.

Today was pleasant, chatting with two moms, and watching the girls interact and miss sale after sale while squirreling around. When they are in first grade, it's a good thing the cookies sell themselves. However, eventually they got used to selling cookies, and the sound of three sweet voices asking in unison, "Would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?" is almost irresistible, and stopped a few people who wouldn't have otherwise. And it was a beautiful thing to hear adult women reminisce about selling cookies as girls, as they purchased a box because they were proud to have been a Scout.

Best of all, this year all the troops in the Totem Council are participating in Operation Cookie Drop, to get cookies to our troops. Not everyone wants to buy cookies, but several people always mention they'd love to buy some for service men and women. And this year they can.

Becoming a Theater Parent

My 5th grade daughter is performing in her elementary school's production of "Beauty and The Beast" at the end of the month. I am tickled that she is playing a lead.

She was disappointed not to get cast as Mrs. Potts. I was disappointed she wasn't cast as Belle. However, she was cast as Madame de la Grande Bouche, the Wardrobe, which is almost better, because she gets to be funny.

I was a theaterphile in high school, and a theater major (at least in the beginning) in college. While I spent time working "backstage," my favorite place was on stage.

But I can't be on stage, for one of my favorite shows, this time, so I am working on costumes and makeup. I am the only one on the makeup team with any stage makeup experience, so I have been giving advice. Basic stage makeup isn't rocket science, so I really only have to give the occasional tip to the competent, creative women who are doing the bulk of the work.

I have also been acting primarily in an advisory capacity on the costume team, as well. The show has a costume budget of $0, so the head costumer is incredibly resourceful, creative, and often spends her own money. But, mostly, she is great at "repurposing," as interior designers like to say. Of course, anyone in theater will tell you -- they're the original repurposers.

One day I spent the entire costume session fitting shoes. Another I spent writing names on tape and sticking them to skirts as the 20 "Gastonettes" (ie "Silly Girls"). I did do most of the alterations on my daughter's dress, but that's only half her costume.

Today, at the costume marathon in preparation for next week's costume check and photo day, I split my time between helping kids find their costumes and helping the final touches team brainstorm enchanted objects costume pieces. It started when they hung out with the costumers seeking inspiration for how to wear the plates. We had just found the best way for the doggy footstool to wear the cushion (created by an upholsterer) which gave them the starting point. They quickly figured it out (foamcore is just the best invention for costumes, isn't it?), and moved on to the challenge of dancing forks and spoons. I brainstormed quite a bit with them (I was in favor of hats), but the return of another final touches team member diverted us to the Wardrobe.

I had been thinking about the best way for the costume to fit, especially in relation to movement. The final concept is beautiful -- and that's just with dry erase marker on the board. Ironically, my dancing daughter won't be showing her beautiful moves dresssed as a wardrobe. But, of course, her dance training will help her dance in spite of a cumbersome costume.

Once finished with that, they returned to the spoon and fork challenge while I went off to wrangle Gastonettes, and when I returned it was in time to help hold things steady for the prototype. By the time I left with my daughter, we also had the tablecloth figured out, and the salt and pepper shakers. The costumes had already been put together, so the final touches were simple.

As a member of makeup, I was also able to take photos of some of the actors in costume to help figure out hair styles.

And now I have nothing to do, except figure out my daughter's makeup, until Saturday. But there are plenty of people right now painting and sewing like crazy getting ready for Saturday.

In praise of Stanko Milov

We in our family have become big fans of Stanko Milov, one of the principal dancers with the Pacific Northwest Ballet.

We saw him dance the Prince with the great Patricia Barker as adult Clara in "Nutcracker" in December, and were instantly smitten with his grace, power, storytelling, and elegance. And he is one of the few male dancers who can competently and equally partner Patricia Barker.

On Saturday night, we went to see Patricia Barker dance Odette/Odile in "Swan Lake" with Stanko Milov as her Prince Siegfried. What tipped the scales for us was that Stanko is partnering her in this, her final full-length ballet before retirement.

Last Sunday we met Stanko at the annual Pacific Northwest Ballet School's annual Winter Wonderland Ball. He taught the "folk" dance class, and we found him charming and congenial. He is also 6 ft. 5 in. tall, the same height as my dh. He and dh seemed to bond over this fact, and Stanko said, "You must come see me in "Swan Lake!"

We hemmed and hawed all week, and ran the risk of not getting tickets (Patricia Barker is only set to dance two performances, and we cannot, practically, attend her final performance next weekend), but when I called on Friday morning, when only singles were left, we were able to snag two sets of two seats in the best seats in the Hall -- Orchestra, director's preferred (and in the dead center of the section -- 14 rows from the stage), and the Dress Circle, second row center.

At this point, I have a confession to make. The one other time I saw "Swan Lake" I was bored and annoyed by it. I didn't consider a story about a failed love romantic, I had no sympathy for Prince Siegfried who I thought was selfish, and I thought most of the ballet was dan

cers showing how long they could hold difficult poses. I missed the storytelling completely. Thankfully, PNB's production is not in the least boring.

Patricia Barker was perfection, bringing to her dual roles an emotional, technical and interpretive maturity that in almost unmatched. This ballet is all about the women, and

at the center of it all is the prima ballerina; Patricia Barker surpasses the requirements of the role.

But into this ballet of women bursts Stanko Milov; tall, ripped, virile and desireable. From the moment he walks on stage in Act One, he is the focus. He "gets" his character, and gives the audience a young,

passionate young man who is not willing to settle for less than true love. He establishes and develops his character through the first act, so by the time he meets Odette in the second act, and falls in love, we feel like we know and understand him. Not a mere prop for the diva, but a partner in storytelling. When we walked out of the performance hall, we heard more people commenting on Stanko Milov than Patricia Barker. And that is saying something!

But his greatest charm is as a partner. He thoroughly understands that the male dancer must framework the female to her best advantage for the maximum impact, while still managing to be his character fully engaged in the moment. And he always deferred graciously and respectfully to Patricia Barker at the end of each pas de deux, allowing the audience to accolade her. Only when the applause was prolonged would he do a slight bow before acknowledging her again.

So while Seattle fans acclaim one of their favorite athletes, let us give praise to Stanko Milov, whose power, athleticism, grace, and talent have kept him out of the shadow of his most frequent partner, and at her side to equally accept the accolades and love.