Just your usual Friday afternoon at the White House.....

[DFW]

Well, OK, maybe not. A rather diverse group of people, from government workers, overseas volunteers in crisis areas and supporters from all over the place are invited every year to holiday receptions at the White House. This year, I was one of them. We were all invited to bring a guest. I asked my wife, but she said it would be crazy to run all the way over to America for 2 or 3 days, especially ten days before we'd be turning right around and going all the way back to America again. As I stay with my brother in Virginia when I'm in DC, I asked if he wanted to go, and he said sure. So I/we went.

There was a very informative session in the morning across the street at the EEOB with some White House strategy heads, and we were not only invited, but encouraged to take their emails and offer suggestions, as they realized that they were in a Washington bubble, and needed input from outside to get a better picture. ACA was the main topic, but there others as well. Then, in the early afternoon, we went through a battery of security checks, and were then let into the White House's east wing.

The pics are of miserable quality because we were asked in an email not to bring cameras. My brother took these with his phone. Idiots that we were, EVERYONE BUT the two of us brought cameras:

The Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Indian Treaty Room (fro the morning session):
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A piece of a White House carpet:
[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

The Daily Show's Aasif Mandvi and a tiny portion of the incredible buffet
[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

A portrait of Ben Franklin:
[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

The White House gingerbread house:
[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

JFK portrait:
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Bill Clinton portrait:
[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

Hillary portrait:
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My brother and me under the portrait of George Washington:
[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

Our very gracious hosts:
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I chatted for a while with a pretty woman I didn't know, but everyone else DID seem to know and wanted their picture taken with her. It turns out she is an actress of some fame (how the hell was I supposed to know?). Her name is Jurnee Smollett-Bell and no, I did not get my picture taken with her!

PBO said we were welcome to take examples of the paper napkins, but to please not take any of the silverware or china, as he didn't own the house, and it was "only a rental."

[madfloridian]

1. Great pic of you and your brother, DFW.

Hope all is well with you.

[DFW]

3. As well as can be expected, I guess, thanks!

Too many miles, too little sleep, same old, same old. This schedule is going to kill me before my time, but at least I won't die of boredom.

[madfloridian]

5. Are you in the US for long?

Nice you got to go to the WH...glad you enjoyed it.

Oops I see you addressed that in the 1st couple of paragraphs, sort of. Guess it pays to read.

[DFW]

7. I'm already no longer in the US!

I only flew over for the WH thing and spent an extra day to relax in Virginia with my brother and his wife. I left Thursday, was at the WH on Friday, and was already back in the Rheinland by Monday morning. I'm already in Brussels, have to run down to France tomorrow for a few hours, and hope to spend tomorrow night back in Germany. We'll be heading back over to the States (all four of us) on the 26th, and be staying for 10 days to a month, except for my elder daughter, who lives there full time.

[madfloridian]

9. Jeez, no wonder you are tired.

I did read your first couple of paragraphs finally...pays to read. I was too busy enjoying the pictures. Have a great time wherever you are during the holidays.

[DFW]

10. All over the map as usual. Düsseldorf one day. Charleston, SC the next day......

We traditionally (as in the last ten years) spend Christmas day in Germany, as my wife's mom is the last surviving parent/grandparent, and our girls (especially the one living in New York) don't get to see her much. Then we head off to Renaissance Weekend, which goes from December 28th to Jan. 1, and that's in Charleston. From there, we head off to NYC and then scatter to the four winds. The four of us won't be together in one place again until July.

[KoKo]

16. Wonderful read!

Last edited Thu Dec 19, 2013, 10:08 AM - Edit history (1)

Charleston, SC is my Hometown! Lovely City.Charleston stole the Renaissance Weekends from Hilton Head Island...just down the road.

Renaissance Weekends with Bill and Hillary were the start of the DLC and quite a THING!

Love Hilton Head Island...and, of course Charleston. Sadly we are having some cool weather but hopefully it will break. Make sure you can get out to Kiawah Island. It's a treat.

Thanks for your post! Wish you and family well for the rest of the trip!

[DFW]

22. My first Renaissance was the last one at Hilton Head

Frankly, I didn't see much of it, and thus didn't get much of an impression of it. It has been in Charleston ever since, and we love Charleston. I'm sort of post-DLC, so I never got a whiff of that. I know that Clinton met half his future cabinet at Renaissance before becoming president, and judging from the candlepower at those things, I'm not surprised. They are heady events. I had to give a short speech for the closing one January First after breakfast, and got a glowing compliment on it from none other than Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Talk about a moment I'll treasure forever!

I'll put Kiawah Island on my "to do" list--along with the Great Barrier Reef, New Zealand, Kamchatka, the Maldives and a few other deserving places I've never been to!

[madrchsod]

2. cool....!!

[DFW]

4. It was the old "offer you can't refuse" trick..... n/t

[Blue_Tires]

6. Wait a minute...How did you crash this party, and why wasn't I along for the ride?

[DFW]

8. It is entirely your fault.

When my wife said she wasn't interested, you should have spoken up when you had the chance. I didn't HAVE to drag my brother along. I just ran out of volunteers.

[freshwest]

11. Thanks, I feel like I was there. Could you xp this in the BOG? We'd love the pics and story there:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1102

Please do post there, it would be a great Christmas present. Even from a cellphone, those are awesome pictures. BTW, did get a sight of the first dogs?



Hope that you and the whole family have a great holiday and you and your lovely wife are in the best of health through the next year. And you are the younger brother, aren't you?

And isn't it a compliment that they haven't found anyone to replace you in your position with your linguistic talents... So you'll have to live forever!

P. S. I'm reading something again, you know what it is. My vision is failing badly, but I have a big appointment next month to see if they can save it. Take care, D!

[DFW]

12. OK, this is a done deal

The dogs weren't there. They would have probably broken loose and had a field day at the buffet, and I wouldn't have blamed them one bit!

It's sort of a compliment, but I could still use the rest more than I could use the compliment at this point!

If what you're reading has to do with a romance between a mid-19th century French woman and a 21st century wine nerd who is getting "Dear Abby" advice from Thomas Jefferson, then yes, I know what you're reading. I hope it is as good the second time around, and I REALLY hope your eyesight is preserved to the point where I can uncross my fingers!

[freshwest]

13. Yes, the time travelling epic with all the mystery! It's a great read, I have just had troubles with

things not going right with my usual strengths.

It's a second read, but it's much harder this time around. I have to review to discuss it in an intelligent manner to give it all the respect it deserves.

I'm busy with a lot of things with my health I would rather not be taking time on. Not world shaking things like you, but big enough to shake mine!

And it likely is a good thing the dogs weren't loose, and that all the guests behaved and didn't take any of the rentals! That is the usual modesty from the Obamas.

How strange it must be to live in a place that is part museum, with the deciders of so much of history and public relations. I think this awareness of time and history comes through in all that you share with us.

Thanks for the intimate look, I've always felt greatly gifted by your missives of your visits there and reports and pictures.

P. S. That book is definitely written from a man's point of view, not a negative one, and it took me a while to get into the flow of it. The hero of the adventure is a thinker who slowly reveals his sensibilities, and is a quiet man of action.

Thank your brother for the pix!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

14. My dear DFW!

This is a wonderful story, and I love the pictures!

Thanks for letting us come along for the ride.



Get some rest, OK?

[NBachers]

15. DFW, I always enjoy how you take us along on your journeys. Thanks for keeping us in the loop.

I enjoyed the picture of Hillary; it's always nice to see President Obama up close and personal, but Michelle just totally captivates me.

[DFW]

23. Michelle IS captivating

The couple of times I have met her, it has only been for a few seconds, but she has a warm, very genuine voice, and a soft but firm handshake. She absolutely has a kind of magic to her.

[rosesaylavee]

17. You're just living right DFW

Thanks for the fun post!

[DFW]

24. I have two stents that say I'm living wrong

But if it's a shorter ride than some, it won't have been boring.

[winter is coming]

18. Nice pics. Is that the carpet W was so fixated on? n/t

[pacalo]

19. K&R!

Thanks for sharing, DFW!

[DFW]

25. Thanks for looking

And for "joining us!"

[CFLDem]

20. Really awesome!

Thanks for sharing!

[angstlessk]

21. WOW, DFW, I had no idea you were famous...

Are you with or without the beard in the photo of you and your brother?

Love all the photos...and you are one hard working person!!!!!!!!!!

[DFW]

26. I had no idea I was famous either

Are you sure you're not mixing me up with someone else? I'm not extraordinary, I just have some extraordinary friends, that's all.

BTW--my brother hasn't worn a beard for years now, so by default, I guess that leaves...............

[angstlessk]

28. So you are the distinguished man with the beard...

Your brother is also cute

[DFW]

29. Well, to set the record straight

My brother is good-looking, my wife is beautiful, and I'm along for the ride.

But thanks all the same!

[HereSince1628]

27. Interesting architecture in the Indian treaty room

probably would never see the inside of it outside such a picture.

[DFW]

30. Here's a tip for you that 99% of America doesn't know about

If you get to D.C., go through the Jefferson building of the Library of Congress. The architecture in there will absolutely blow you away.

While everyone else is being ushered through the Capitol and the museums, go get mesmerized by the Jefferson building. A friend of mine who used to be a House member from Louisiana got me a private tour, which most people don't get, but the regular tours through there are usually small affairs anyway. This is a "don't miss" that almost everyone misses.

[HereSince1628]

31. Thanks for sharing that...I'm sure many DUers and family will visit DC

and it's great to be able to have a 'must see' experience away from the crowds.

[DFW]

32. It is eye candy, and you don't have to be a scholar to appreciate it

This is just an appetizer:

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[HereSince1628]

33. Reminds me of the grand staircases in the Hermitage Museum

That CLEARLY needs to be privatized so that it's value can be realized.

[DFW]

34. I am ashamed to say I have not yet been to the Hermitage

It's only a 3 hour (or less!) flight form here, but we haven't yet found the time to make the trip. We will, we will.

[kickysnana]

35. If you were from the midwest I would not have been surprised that you didn't bring a camera

after being asking not to. Score one for TX somebody there has to start following rules again. LOL.

[DFW]

36. There were still over 3 million of us that voted for Obama last year.

Yes, there were more that voted against us, but three million is still a formidable bloc of people that don't necessarily fit a stereotype that seems to have been attached to us by the outside. After all, not all of Connecticut is like Glenn Beck and Ann Coulter, either.

[Cooley Hurd]

37. I think the EEOB (formerly the War Dept) is my favorite building in DC!

Excellent pics, DFW!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[DFW]

38. The EEOB was impressive, but.......

For me, it's still the Jefferson building at the Library of Congress that blows me away. The White House is no second rate piece of architecture, either.