Washington, DC (USA)

[spent some of the day on the phone with Nicky, who was taking the kids to Meridian (for Spring Break) - later, got dressed up and went to the Metro - rode into the city (Gallery Place) and switched to Red Line - got off at Woodley Park and sat down at Cafe Paradiso, right across from the exit - I talked to the waitress while I waited for several other co-workers to arrive - had some limoncello (mmmm....) - once we had assembled the crew, we walked across the street to the Marriott Hotel (Wardman Park) and made our way into the Banquet Hall - prior to the Blue Jeans Ball (celebrating the work of the Capitol Area Food Bank), we ate appetizers and enjoyed an open bar - Mary, Jimmy, Kristin, Colby, Kelly, Drew and his girlfrend were with me until the banquet hall opened (roughly 1900L) - dinner was served by more than 20 local restaurants (sponsors of the food bank) - it was great to try all of their wares - Amy and her husband showed up later (with a camera) and our host (CEO, John) arrived with his family soon after - it was an honor to sit a table with our company logo, close to John's table - the silent auction used iPods with information that could be used to bid - later, there was a live auction with a lady who was an expert on the art of county fair style auctioneering - more than $350,000 was raised - it was a great evening - around 2130L, I made my way back to the Metro and headed home]