Thursday, May 25, 2006

I have not been recording this type of thing of late even though I have gone to several of these, but I went tonight to the 18th Annual National Education & Leadership (NELA) Awards Gala at the Omni-Shoreham given by the Sons of Italy. I was the guest of Chuck Conconi (Washingtonian Magazine, formerly columnist for Washington Post) and his wife Janelle. At the Table were Ed Henry (CNN White House Correspondent), Lloyd Hand, Mike Petruzzelo (Managing Director of Qorvis Communications) and Mr. Thompson (?first name) African American billionare and his date Cheryl Lee (CEO of BET). Pres. Clinton and Hillery Clinton were guest speakers. Ran into the usual DC crowd – Sen Chris Dodd, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Franco Nuschese (Owner of Café Milano – who was also an awardee), etc. June 11 – 17, 2006 – Went to Tuscana with Chris and the girls for a few days and then went on to Genoa for the annual review of the Gaslini Institute. Wonderful time had by all. Stayed in an amazing converted farm house (to a villa) owned by a friend of Jim Huskey’s from the Embassy in Florence. The weather was amazing – warm and totally sunny during the day and cold at night requiring a fire in the fire-place and blankets in bed. Sunsets over the Tuscan hills with a glass of chianti was incredible.