Just your average Tuesday
March 2nd, 2010
except the little detail of meeting the President of the United States.
Small detail. I got to meet President Obama today during his visit to Savannah for the "White House to Main Street" tour.
The meeting was set up last week and I have been so anxious leading up to today. I played the conversation over and over in my mind last night, tossing and turning until one, and I woke up this morning fine tuning my moment with the leader of the free world.
We met at Meddin Studios which is a new facility here in town that offers state of the art equipment for all types of media recording and is run by one of the sharpest groups of young people I have ever met. Bobby is out in LA so we were minus one today and our group consisted of mom, Micheal and myself. We arrived an hour early, I'm always early as a rule. Today I was extra early. I made mom mad by rushing her but that's par for the course, me rushing her that is, momma runs on "Paula time". After a quick tour we were guided into a sound stage and basically farted around for an hour. We got to meet a lot of the secret service detail that had been sweeping the building for who know how many days and signed a few books and made several nervous bladder runs to the little boy's room. We got the word that the President was a few minutes away and after a quick mental rundown of the greatest three sentences a President has ever heard, I was ready. Then he walked in and I not only forgot the spiel but also the natural reaction of swallowing. I told Brooke it was such a heavy experience. Just, heavy. It's the President...right there, walking this way. Towards me. A large group of aides and security filed in behind him but the scope of my vision narrowed as he got closer. It was the three of us and the President for about five minutes of just natural visiting with each other.
It is few and far between that we have the opportunity to meet anyone that is the first at anything. Think about it. The first at something. Well, today I got to meet a first and it just about knocked me on my rear end. When President Obama entered the room it felt different and after he left it came back to normal.
It was heavy....and he signed a comic book, that was published before the election that chronicles his rise to be the first African American candidate of a major party, to my son Jack so it was also awesomely cool too.
A day never to be forgotten for sure.
Hey, anybody notice the 521 Media animation at the end of last weeks Home Movie? Go to http://www.5twentyone.com for details. More on that later...
That's it for this week. Thanks for checking back in.....
y'all do good things
-jamie
Jamie, I would have been (for lack of a better description) “star-struck” too….he does seem like he wants our country to be great, all politics aside. I bet it was a kick for him as well, after all, you are one half of 2 cool brothers! 
and the son of a Southern Icon! mmmuuuaahhh to all y’all!
Carla on March 02 2010
Hmm. . . Your ordinary Tuesday and mine are quite different.
Best wishes on the 521 venture! Lisa tweeted your site yesterday and I found it an interesting curve-ball.
Lt. Sanders on March 02 2010
Pretty cool, Mr Deen!!!!
deb m on March 02 2010
Hi Jamie,
That was an incredible experience, one you will tell your grandchildren one day!! Will your conversation be televised, if so, where can we find it? Hope that you can share some pictures, I know everyone would love to see them.
Have a great week!!!
Diane on March 02 2010
Jamie,
What a wonderful opportunity. Good for you. I loved when your Mama had Michelle on her show. She needs to be cookin’ for them. He came to Savannah now you all need to go to the White House!
I work for an organization that manages an award that is presented by the President every year. One year I said to a co-worker that had never attended the event that it would feel special and she would feel different. She thought I was being silly until they said, “Please stand, Ladies and Gentleman, the President of the United States” and then played Hail to the Chief as he entered the room. When they finished and we were all seated, she leaned over and whispered, “okay, that was something, I have chills.” It’s an honor, any way ya cut it.
Diane in MD on March 02 2010
Jamie, well it sounds like it was history in the making for ya….Just love the new Deen Bros. magazine…great recipes and pictures… everything looks simple to cook and better to eat.. ha ha Looked at the pictures from the cruise and has Uncle Bubba lost lots of himself….ha ha
keep up the great job and you keep doing good things(so that we all can share)
mary on March 03 2010
Jamie,
How exciting for you, Paula and Michael. I’m sure it’s a day you won’t forget. And I’m sure it’s a day the Lady and Sons Catering won’t forget either, what an amazing honor for all of you!
Congratulations on 521 Media, best of luck to you and Evan. I’ll follow you on twitter and itunes for all updates!
Have a great week.
Rose on March 03 2010
you were star truck to meet the Prez. Now you get it how many of your fans feel when they meet you!! i say *they* cause I havent met you Yet. its on my bucket list but i know i will be as star struck meeting you and Mama as you just were meeting the Prez. Hows that for comparison!
Got the new magazine today (TY Lisa for advising its location—WalMart) and it looks wonderful! im so glad there aint much y’all can mess up on..lol
Congrats on the famous meeting, laminate the comic book..lol have a great week!
thanks for the blog.. and link to 521.
Donna S on March 03 2010
Well, my Tuesday consisted of waking up at 4 am, working out for an hour, working 8 hours, driving to my second job and working another 4 hours, going home and cleaning the kitchen for 45 minutes (my husband is an awesome cook, but he uses every pot and pan and dish we own). So, who had a better Tuesday? I am very happy for you, “heavy” is a very descriptive word and I believe I understand what you are saying. It is my feeling the atmosphere will be “heavy” for me when I come to Savannah in May for the fundraiser. I got all mushy when I went to a book signing and stood in front of your Mom and Michael for the .3 seconds they allowed me to…...true story!
And since I’m turning this into “it’s all about me” I officially have my airfare, rental car and hotel for the trip to Savannah in May. I think my daughter is just as excited as I am. Can’t wait for May!
Congrats on hangin’ with the pres. What an exciting thing to be able to say!
Always,
Tracey
Tracey Lopez on March 03 2010
Hey Jamie,
After having a very tough day at work yesterday, I entered my local bookstore and much to my wonderful surprise, there was your new magazine. I think all my troubles and worries from the day were gone. Congrats on this new adventure. I love the magazine and can’t wait to try some of the recipes.
What a great honor to meet the President. Don’t worry about forgetting everything cause that is exactly the way I was when I met you and Bobby in Fairhope, AL. I was so nervous that everything in my mind went blank. But once I started talking to you, I relaxed and felt like I had known you forever. Thanks for that. That’s a day I will never forget as I am sure will be the same for you meeting the President. Hope everything is going well for you, as I’m sure it is. Have a great rest of the week and a great weekend. Tell Bobby HEY for me when he gets back from LA.
JOEY
“BLOG GIRL”
Joey Elizabeth Burns on March 03 2010
Hey Deen Bros!
Met you in Durham NC last fall for your “Take It Easy” book-signing. I’m the guy you both laughed at because of the things I said and Jamie called me “Sugar” and inscribed my cookbook so. Many thanks to you both for being so “open minded”.
Sorry this post is off subject. I’m a member of Paula’s online community but over the past few weeks, I’ve been unable to access it and post to the forum.
Anyways, long story short. I recently went to see George Straight, Reba McEntire and Lee Ann Womack in concert and had the honor and pleasure to meet both Lee Ann Womack and Reba backstage.
My point is, the subject of Paula Deen came up and Reba talked about how much she liked Paula Deen and enjoyed her TV show and Reba said she would love to be a guest on Paula’s show.
So…just wanted to give you a heads up and I sure hope ya’ll can work it out to have Reba a guest on Paula’s show. I think the two of them would be a hoot together and it would make for one helluva good show.
Thanks for your time.
Wayne aka “Sugar”
Wayne on March 03 2010
Hey Jamie!
What an experience that must have been! I know Paula was honored that he requested the restraunt. Bobby missed it..What’s gonna happen if he decides to marry Katy? Where will home be..?
Haven’t caught the magazine yet, but I will. I also checked out 521.
I hope to be coming back down in May. Y’all seem to be so dang busy, will there be a chance that y’all will be at the restraunt? I don’t think y’all are there that much anymore.?
Have a good week and hope to see y’all soon!
Sherri
SC
Sherri on March 04 2010
Jamie,
I never miss your moms show every afternoon. It’s even better when you and Bobby are on.
I live way up here in freezing Wisconsin. Just to see your mom’s beautiful home in savannah makes us all feel a little warmer.
I work with the mentally,and physically challenged, and disadvantaged people up here. I have my own business helping these folks get jobs,and find opportunities. I have a couple of questions I’m hoping you can help me with regarding the food business. Please e-mail me when you can. I know you are super busy, but when you geta chance, please contact me.
Thanks, and God Bless.
Jim J.
Jim J. on March 04 2010
Happy Anniversary to you and Brooke! Many Many More years together. Y’all set a fine example to couples everywhere.
God Bless
Donna S on March 05 2010
Well….........
A very Happy Anniversary to you and the lovely Brooke!
Love,
Deb M
Deb M on March 05 2010
Hey Jamie and Bobby!
I bought a copy of your magazine today and it’s great! It’s packed with so many great recipes and it has the same feel/layout as your cookbooks…love your cookbooks!
Much success to you, Jamie, and to Evan with 521 Media…very cool and very interesting new venture! Looking forward to hearing more about it.
Congratulations on meeting the president! It’s definitely an awesome story to tell for years to come and to have a signed comic book to go with the story, is the icing on a cake! I can totally relate about nerves getting in the way! I’m sure it will happen again, come May!
Wishing you and Brooke a happy anniversary!
Take care!!!
Marina on March 07 2010
Hey Jamie: How cool it must have been not only to meet our President, but to have a wonderful autographed keepsake for your Jack to treasure! What an awesome opportunity!
A week and half ago my girlfriend and I made a stopover in Savannah driving from Florida to Philadelphia. We specifically planned to have dinner at Lady and Sons and wanted to experience your fabulous recipes, firsthand. We were thrilled with the Sunday buffet and sincerely hope to return in the future. Best wishes for continued success!
Diane Baker Freeman on March 11 2010
Jamie's blog is where you'll find all the latest news and thoughts from Jamie Deen. He blogs a lot like he talks, kinda hard to follow at times. Feel free to leave a comment and join in on the discussion!
All content © 2011 Deen Bros Enterprises
“a quick mental rundown of the greatest three sentences a President has ever heard”
That made me LOL. LOVE the new mag!! Ad-free…That’s just cool. It’s like a cookbook, and Lord knows I just can’t have too many of those. =o]
Keep the good stuff flowing from the Deen empire. Y’all are the First Family of food.
April Dill on March 02 2010