We'll get ya to talk, Beth!

TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY!!!!

oops

My lips are sealed.

Those lips won't be sealed for too long when we're all meeting/greeting each other, sipping a few drinks, and eating that great food, Beth!

That photo is too funny!

Sounds like fun, but that is the weekend that we are having our daughter Jessica's engagement party here in Naples. I have been busy as a bee baking for the event as well as hosting a Friday night dinner for 14 at our home. (Howies, our future son-in-law's family and some other friends and family) and then preparing an erev Yom Kippur dinner for Sunday, and a break the fast meal for Monday night. I really think that I am a total lunatic for taking this all one, but I am really excited about the party. So, have a drink on Mitch and I and know that we wish we were there.

Will raise a toast to you and Mitch, Bert and to your daughter's engagement.

Have fun. Loved meeting you both on MUSH and hope to cruise with you again in the future.

Hi Bert & Mitch,

Sorry you will be unable to join in. Hopefully, another opportunity will present itself soon to meet!

Mazel tov on your daughter's engagement! Wishing you and your family a very Happy and Healthy New Year, too!

Bert: Enjoyed seeing pixs of your pretty girls on Mush - Mitch and Jessica walking down the aisle will be beautiful pix - have fun at your dinner/holiday parties!! Joanna

All that effort, Bert, but I'm sure it'll be all worth it! It's such a stressful time - best wishes in all the preparations!

Masaki

Hi Masaki,

I saw that you posted to this thread and got excited, thinking you, Amanda and Marika would be joining us. Yes??? :)

Mazel Tov Bert and Mitch.

Denise - I wish! We have plans on visiting Washington D.C. at some point but alas, it will have to wait a date until Marika is old enough to appreciate it. :)

Masaki

You'll all be greatly missed, Masaki!

You all are going to have such a good time! If we hadn't been away 4 out of the last 5 weeks we'd strongly consider joining you all in DC!! (or maybe we could just crash Jessica's engagement party! I hear the word party and my ears just perk up!)

Nope....gotta stay home until WC or our pets will disown us!

We can always hope for a BIG surprise, Marcie!!!!!

Hope Tom G will do another "production" after this event! Does it have a name?

Hi Kathy,

We never did figure out a name for this gathering. I had suggested 701@7.

Any chance of you flying in for this? Sure would enjoy meeting you!

Sorry; a very good friend is celebrating a VERY special birthdy. Would love to meet you all and wish Marc and Arlene "Sayonara!"

Some other time, for sure, Kathy! Would be a pleasure to meet you!

Hi everyone. We're just about a week away from our dinner. I have reconfirmed our reservation at 701. The latest list we have includes 16 people. Are there any others?

Alan/Denise
Marc/Arlene
Tom/Mona
Frank/JoAnn
Beth/Randy
Jan/Carole/Barb
Crystal
Ray/Penny

Also, if there is any interest we can arrange a tour of the ABC News Washington bureau at a convenient time on Saturday. Please let me know. Thanks. Tom.

Tom, that is a wonderful offer. We would love to take the tour. We have no plans for day on Saturday so whatever time is convenient is fine with us.

Tom, one more reason I wish I could be there! I worked a century ago at the NYTimes DC bureau, but it was just a bunch of typewriters in a huge room. This would be very exciting!

WOW, Tom! AWESOME! That's such a generous and kind offer!

Alan and I had hoped to do some touring on Sat., but can work around your schedule. Please let us know what works best for all!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

Since Randy and I are driving in on Saturday, it would depend on the time. Not sure if we can work that in.

Tom:

How nice of you to make this opportunity available.

We'll be there...whenever.

Cheer! Ray & Penny

I'm glad there is some interest in the tour. We don't have to decide on the time right now. I was thinking about 3 pm. That would give everyone time to do things earlier in the day and still get back to their hotels to get ready for dinner. I'll be there all day so if someone prefers earlier we could do that too. Tom.

Olivia, any time your in town just let me know and you can visit.

"I'm glad there is some interest in the tour."

Tom, I never pass up on an offer for an "inside" tour! It is nice to have friends in "high Places"

Tom- that would be excellent. Since one of your broadcasting trucks were in town yesterday.

We can't check in until 3. Maybe earlier in the afternoon. Don't want to get in the way of the evening news crew.
That is an excellent activity for us to meet before dinner. A LCT field trip. :)
cheers

Hi Tom,

3:00 would work for us. It would give us time to visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum in the morning.

Anyone interested in going there with us?

Tom, where is the station located?

We're so looking forward to our D.C. trip! Thanks again, Tom, for making all these fantastic arrangements!

Tonya & I are a "go" for the dinner. We're looking forward to meeting everyone. Tom, the tour sounds great also.

The weather is great in DC this week. Hopefully this trend will continues for everyone's visit.

Denise,
If you go to that museum get your tickets ahead of time. We did that a few years ago- 3 of my girlfriends and it took us 3 hours. It is very powerful experience.

Jan

Great news, John. Looking forward to meeting you and Tonya next Saturday.

Great to hear that you will be joining us, John and Tonya!

Thanks, Jan, for the info on the museum. I will have to see if they're open that Saturday, as that Sat. is in the midst of the High Holy days.

Denise,

That building should be opened- since it is operated by the Smith?? We had to get our tickets online- maybe ticketmaster?? When we got there a ton of people were in line for the 1:00 time frame and we just went ahead of them. If you don't like small spaces- beware of the building. I had some problems up on the top floor.
They have to limit the amount of people on the floors due to the fire marshall.

see you all next Saturday.
Jan

Thanks, again, Jan. I will have to inquire of the Concierge about tickets. Did they allocate your visiting time? How long did it take you to go through the museum?

No problems with small spaces. We went through the Anne Frank House, we've climbed the stairs in the Statue of Liberty - all really small spaces.

SEE YOU ALL NEXT SATURDAY!!!!

Denise- yes we had assigned time to enter and even that was crowded. It took us about 3 hours to get through.
It is very moving as you go through- not much talk as you go from floor to floor.

Don't miss the spy museum . Last year we went through that and it was fun. I drove into city one Sat. morning and got tickets for 3 of us and when we came out about 11:00 a.m.- the line was around the block.

Thank you, Jan. Will contact the Concierge to get tix.

Denise, the Holocaust museum is certainly worth a visit. I wouldn't wait until you arrive in DC to ask the hotel concierge for tickets. I recommned you go to this website and buy the tickets now while they are still available for that date. You can pick the time you want to go rather than having to take what's left. Tom.

http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?organ_val=2257

Thanks, Tom. I think I will do that.

Are we on for 3:00 on Saturday? I'd like to figure out our Holocaust visit around the ABC tour. How far is the museum from ABC?

Thanks, again, Tom!!

Let's do the tour at 3 pm on Saturday. If it's too late for some we could do another group at 2 pm.

The ABC News bureau is located at 1717 DeSales St NW. It is right around the corner from the Mayflower Hotel. DeSales St is a one block street that runs between Connecticut Ave and 17th St, just north of L St.

It is within walking distance of the White House. The closest Metro stop is Faragut North on the Red line. The next closest stop is Faragut West on the Orange and Blue lines.

If you take a cab just ask the driver to take you to the ABC News Bureau on DeSales St around the corner from the Mayflower Hotel. They all know where it is.

I'll see most of you in the lobby at 3 pm. If anyone wants to come at 2 pm just let me know. Tom.