This is one of the top places in DC to met and greet in Washington. Thanks to Charlie Firestone we we're able to get a room for our happy hour. Prior to the happy hour we hosted we had a meeting with ... From Verizon and Blair Levin from ... This meeting was all about the technical policies and net neutrality. Blair is the leading expect in FCC policy, having worked for the FCC and being the person that helped to write the regulations for the latest version of
the Communications bill. It was fascinating to hear his ideas and the problems that government facing in defining the regulations. Blair makes a very good case to define the process by which regulation and disputes will be resolved rather than defining the regulation for each piece/part of the Internet. He believe that regulation could be very restrictive and that it is likely to stifle innovation.
After the talk we went to our happy hour party and enjoyed some lovely food (salmon, ham, vegetables, cheese, crackers, bread, fruit and more) and wine.
A number of people from our meetings that week came to join us. This allowed us to get to know these people in more detail and to get a deeper understanding of their views and ideas. We also took the opportunity to wish Kelly a very happy birthday, which we all sang in tune while the birthday cake arrived. Kelly blew out the candles and a few small speeches took place.
After the Cosmos Club we did a bus tour of the monuments, first stop was the cathedral ... Which was one of the biggest churches I had ever seen. After this we stopped at a quaint wine store in Georgetown pick up some beer, wine and champagne to really kiosk the party off. After this we stopped at the Georgetown Cup Cake shop, which was closed, but Mary negotiated a couple of boxes of cup cakes and the tour was back on again.
After the talk we went to our happy hour party and enjoyed some lovely food (salmon, ham, vegetables, cheese, crackers, bread, fruit and more) and wine.
A number of people from our meetings that week came to join us. This allowed us to get to know these people in more detail and to get a deeper understanding of their views and ideas. We also took the opportunity to wish Kelly a very happy birthday, which we all sang in tune while the birthday cake arrived. Kelly blew out the candles and a few small speeches took place. After the Cosmos Club we did a bus tour of the monuments, first stop was the cathedral ... Which was one of the biggest churches I had ever seen. After this we stopped at a quaint wine store in Georgetown pick up some beer, wine and champagne to really kiosk the party off. After this we stopped at the Georgetown Cup Cake shop, which was closed, but Mary negotiated a couple of boxes of cup cakes and the tour was back on again.
First stop was the Lincoln Memorial, which is fabulous. From here you see straight up the Mall to the Washington memorial and if you stand to the side you can see capital lined up behind the Washington monument. I climbed the steps and read the words and then i stop and stood where Martin Luther king made his speech. A magical moment!
Next we walk off to the left and to the Vietnam memorial, a subtle monument with the list of all those that died in that war. I walked much of this on my own and I was over come with sadness at how many lives were lost. This is a war that I have read and watched a lot about and this memorial brought home the real cost of the war.
Next was the Korean memorial, which is a short walk from the Vietnam memorial at the other side of the Lincoln Monument. This was an era place, with statues of men that look like ghost come out from the trees and walking, combat style through the soft under growth! Seeing this at night is probably best as it gives you a true sense of how it might be for the soldiers as the patrol lonely place at night and how the ghosts of those that died may still patrol those foreign lands looking for peace.
Everyone relaxed and unwound and over the course of the evening we managed to fit in a round of Jameson to warm our hearts.
By the time we were done it had started to rain and the walk home that would sober us up was changed to a cab ride. Once in the hotel it was time to re-hydrate and thanks to Alejandro we managed to get some munchies (the nicest pizza ever) in.
Next was the Korean memorial, which is a short walk from the Vietnam memorial at the other side of the Lincoln Monument. This was an era place, with statues of men that look like ghost come out from the trees and walking, combat style through the soft under growth! Seeing this at night is probably best as it gives you a true sense of how it might be for the soldiers as the patrol lonely place at night and how the ghosts of those that died may still patrol those foreign lands looking for peace. 
After these monuments we got back on the bus and had major monument moment, we needed a rest room. The bus headed at high speed and in high spirits to the FDR monument where we were assured of relief. When the bus stopped there was a fight to get out the door and a quick march to find restrooms.
Soon we were back on the road and driving back down the Mall to the world war II monument and up towards the white house. We finished up about 10:30 at the hotel, with a plan to go out together.
We coerced the driver to take us to an Irish pub called Fado (meaning long ago) where we settled in for an hour or two of discussion and relaxation. I had a couple of pints of Guinness, served by a Galway man who slagged me off for not drinking Murphys (which was not available in this establishment :).
By the time we were done it had started to rain and the walk home that would sober us up was changed to a cab ride. Once in the hotel it was time to re-hydrate and thanks to Alejandro we managed to get some munchies (the nicest pizza ever) in.
No comments:
Post a Comment