“Nations Triathlon done in 3:08 (Olympic). Now, about that milkshake…” — Politico‘s Patrick Gavin, who completed Sunday’s triathlon. Our own Peter Ogburn also finished the race. His time was six minutes ahead of Gavin’s.

Journo declares she’s not pregnant!

“Tornado has passed. Thank the Lord. I am headed to grocery store. I am nesting (did I just say that). I’ll explain later. NO not Preggers!” — Essence and theGrio columnist Sophia Nelson.

Editor gets socked in face by dog

“Playing with Fergus just now, he punched me in the face. Lesson: Great Danes have a hell of a right cross. Also, #shiner.” — New York magazine’s National Affairs Editor John Heilemann.

Reading between the lines

“Whenever a newspaper announces a major redesign sell its stock short. Redesign is the last refuge of a desperate management.” — Barron‘s Washington Editor James McTague.

The “optics” of Mitt and Ann on MTP

“I am sorry, but this thing about Ann Romney joining Mitt on MTP is just plain weird.” — The optics are horrible- makes him look weak.” — Quinn & Gillespie’s Jim Manley, a former longtime Democratic Senate aide. “Wasn’t it just ystd that Ann Romney was refusing to answer tough political questions? I hope to god mtp won’t let her get away with that.” A follower agreed, asking,”Why can’t the chickenshit go on MTP by himself to actually answer some substantive policy questions? Uses Ann for protection.” MTP Executive Producer Betsy Fischer Martin tried to make it sound all nicey nice, and replied directly to Manley: “We had a long sitdown with Mitt solo this morning. Mrs. Romney joined for a short convo Friday on the Bus! Glad they did it.”

Pundit faces disappointing donut issue at airport

“Seriously, who eats cold donuts? It’s 5:21 am! I can’t stand cold donuts. Don’t know why donut joints at airports don’t have microwaves.” — CNN Contributor Roland Martin over the weekend.

And other traveling journos see glass half empty

“They forced me to check my bag. I assume they’ll lose it. I don’t really need those clothes anyway.” — The Washington Examiner‘s David Freddoso.

“That brief moment of disappointment when you step off the moving walkway and you’re slow again.” – The Takeaway‘s Washington radio correspondent Todd Zwillich.

Homeward Bound

“I miss my kids so much that I can’t wait till I hear them whine.#thatwontlast” — The Hill‘s Managing Editor Bob Cusack after two weeks of convention coverage.

VandeHei on Maher

“Politico’s VandeHei claims Dems just as big liars as Repubs–classic Politico–and Maher and Katrina call bullshit.” — The Nation‘s Greg Mitchell in reference to Politico Exec. Editor Jim VandeHei’s Friday evening appearance on HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher.”

The Birthday Boy

“Yeah, so I’m 25 years old today. Weird. I feel old.” — The Daily Caller‘s Matthew Boyle on Sunday. Happy Birthday Boyle!

Boybander refers to self as “libtard”

“Typical of libtard MSM to expect Team Romney to be able to explain their guy’s pre-existing conditions plan before bragging about it on TV.” — Slate‘s economics writer Matt Yglesias in a moment of liberal irony.

A new ridiculous Twitter vocabulary word from JMART

“So how many more sports bars will chicago send obama to tween now and elex day? Thinking 1x per wk.” — Politico‘s Senior Political Reporter Jonathan Martin whose apparently tween a rock and hard place when it comes to writing on Twitter.

A long and stormy night complete with sewage

• “On Adams Mill Road during storm, water, presumably sewage, was shooting into the air from under a displaced manhole cover labeled ‘sewer.’” — National Journal Senate reporter Dan Friedman. A storm blew through D.C. Saturday afternoon, leaving many without electricity.
• “Effing bloody hell. I’ve been through earthquakes forest fires urban riots. #Enough w these#incompetence-driven disasters #OrganizingNow” — Chronicle of Higher Education and author Amy Alexander.
• “CRAZY WEATHER:Traffic signs, cones blown across Rt. 110. HEAVY downpours. STRONG winds.” — TV reporter Mike Conneen.

 Peter Ogburn contributed to this report.

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Atlantic Media Political Director Ron Brownstein (shown above) uttered profound words Thursday night at National Journal’s swank party at the Watergate Hotel’s University Room, where a host of NJ scribes convened to strut their stuff for bookers.

“The bar is open, the most important words in politics,” Brownstein announced. After speaking for a little while, he remarked, “I feel like sitting here I’ve already completed more consecutive words than on “Hardball” without interruption.”

The party was intended for bookers to see potential on-air talent, so the joke of the night was that NJ reporters were “available”, like Sen-elect Scott Brown’s daughters.

Sitting in a row on stools, several scribes had a chance to introduce themselves and talk briefly about what he or she does on a daily basis.

At one point talk turned to the state of the Democratic Party in Congress. CongressDaily’s Erin McPike said a “forensic examination” was going on. The Hotline’s Editor-in-Chief Amy Walter chimed in, “More like a colonoscopy.” And Brownstein: “More like an autopsy.”

The parade of introductions continued:

NJ finance reporter Bill Swindell: “I’m paid to follow Barney Frank around.”

CongressDaily health care reporter Anna Edney: “It does feel like the last year of my life has gone down the drain with this race in Massachusetts.”

In attendance besides NJ people? CNN’s Sam Feist, CBS News Bureau Chief Chris Isham, Christine Delargy, Early Show senior producer Kerri Forrest, Tammy Haddad, who helped organize the event, Hilary Rosen, and producers for CNN’s Larry King.

The party was swarming with NJ scribes from CongressDaily and The Hotline such as The Hotline’s TV Editor Abby Livingston and Wake Up Call’s Maura O’Brien. Additionally, there was Hotline Executive Editor John-Mercurio, U.S. House reporter Rich Cohen, Reid Wilson, Marilyn Werber Serafini, Dan Friedman, Darren Goode, Shane Harris, Margaret Kriz Hobson, John Maggs, Tim Sahd and David Wasserman. In addition, NJ’s Spokesman David Miller and executive assistant Meredith Nettles.

No one from FNC or MSNBC showed, which was noteworthy considering they book so many guests.

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