Black Tie 3 - "Black Tie Optional - The Bradley Affair"

"Black Tie Optional" - That is what the invitation said. It was from the Bradley University Alumni Association, announcing a grand event in DC on June 6. As a Bradley Alum I was invited to a Black Tie dinner event at the NEWSEUM in DC to hear about the Bradley Renaissance Campaign, and I could bring a guest (guess who? My high school sweetheart, of course).

It was a fun event, on a beautiful evening, held in the seventh floor event room at the NEWSEUM, with a terrace overlooking the capitol building and much of downtown DC. Since black tie was optional, I went in a suit.

We heard about the great renovations that the Bradley campus will be undergoing. The guests of honor were three present and former congressman from Peoria who all graduated from Bradley. Bob Michel, a republican congressman from 1956 to 1994, was a 1948 Bradley grad. Ray Lahood, currently the Secretary of Transportation, was a republican congressman from 1994 to 2008, also a Bradley alum. Unfortunately, the Secretary was called away by the President and sent to Lebanon to observe the elections with Jimmy Carter. (Where are his priorities?) And Aaron Shock, 28, the current congressman, the first member of the House born in the 1980's, was a 2002 Bradley grad.

So Bradley grads have held the congressional seat representing the Peoria area for 52 years!

Anyway, it was a nice evening, fun to get an update on the university after all these years and meet others who shared the same experience.

Dan and Barb on the terrace of the NEWSEUM.

The dining room and table settings.

Go Braves!!

Black Tie 2 - The Collier Trophy

Well, we had the chance to go to another black tie gala event last week. This time it was the Collier Trophy Presentation Banquet. Once again (just like "Black Tie 1"), Dan's lawyer/lobbyist co-worker called them the "Geek Awards". "Everyone there are engineers" he says. So? What was his point?

The Robert J. Collier trophy is presented annually by the National Aeronautic Association "for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space vehicles". This trophy has been presented every year since 1911, and recipients include a long list of individuals and companies who were pioneers and giants of the aviation industry and space exploration. The Boeing Company has been a recipient at least six times. (To learn more about the NAA and the Collier Trophy, click here.)

This year the Collier Trophy was presented to CAST - the Commercial Aviation Safety Team. This is a public/private partnership comprised of representatives from every aspect of commercial aviation - from airlines to manufacturers to air traffic controllers. In existence for 10 years, CAST systematically analyzes the aviation system and makes improvements in equipment, procedures and training. Boeing has been an integral member of CAST since its inception. The NAA awarded the Collier Trophy to CAST "...for achieving an unprecedented safety level in U.S. commercial airlines operations by reducing risk of a fatal airline accident by 83%, resulting in two consecutive years with no commercial scheduled airline fatalities".

Dan is not a member of CAST, but as the Boeing Washington DC technical manager, he is associated with the those who are. Dan also helped coordinate the plans for the trophy presentation banquet for Boeing. So he and Barb were able to attend this gala event. It was a fun evening, very well done, and Barb got to meet a lot of people who Dan works with, both from Seattle and DC.

And now, to the pics:

We enjoy get dressed up .... and lookin' fine!

Beautiful settings - and a delicious meal!

With the Collier Trophy. Big, isn't it? The replicas presented to the winners is 18" tall.

As I said in Black Tie 1, to the long-time DC people, these events are not so exciting because they go to so many - it becomes old hat. I am happy to say that we have not reached that point yet.

Mom & Dad

Mom & Dad Z came to see us last month, for a week spanning over Memorial Day weekend. We had a wonderful time together and they were able to see some of the great sights of DC. Because it was Memorial Day, DC was pretty busy, but it really added to the excitement of the city. We are really glad they came!

Enjoying a beautiful May afternoon on our deck.

Atop the double-deck, open-air tour bus.

Mom and Dad see the White House for the first time.

Flag planting and wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknow Soldiers.

Soldiers from Fort Meyer plant flags at every one of the 300,000 graves for Memorial Day.

Mom and Barb at the Lincoln Memorial.

Dad at the Korean War Memorial.

At the gates of Mount Vernon, ready to see George Washington's famed plantation.

And enjoying the evenings with a rousing game of dominoes.

We loved having you hear! Y'all come back soon, y'here?

Black Tie 1

I am learning that Washington DC thrives on luncheons, fundraisers, galas, and black-tie dinners. One of the unexpected benefits of being here is getting to experience some of these high society affairs. (Talking to the long-timers here, it really isn't a benefit. They long ago had their fill of black-tie affairs but continue to attend because it goes with the territory.)

AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) is one of the worlds premier association for the advancement of air and space endeavors. Every year, for about 80 years, they present a number of awards for significant achievements in the field. (My co-worker, the lawyer/lobbyist, calls them the "Geek Awards".) Some of the awardees over the years have been the greatest names in the development of air (commercial and military)and space travel: Orville Wright, William Boeing, James Doolittle, Robert Goddard, Werner von Braun, and Donald Douglass are just a few of the people presented AIAA awards through the years.

In mid-May, AIAA held their annual "Awards Spotlight Gala" in DC. Boeing was a sponsor of the event and "bought" two tables at the event. One of the main Boeing people involved in AIAA is a man I know from Seattle, Dave Knowlen. Dave, knowing that I am working in DC now, invited Barb and I to attend the event with him. So we did. It was held at the beautiful at the Ronald Reagan Building on Pennsylvania Ave. (As it turned out, Dave was given the Distinguished Service award for his long involvement and significant contributions to AIAA.)

Here are a few pics from the evening:

Who's lookin' fine?

The ballroom of the Ronald Reagan Building

Congratulations, Dave!

Berkeley Plantation

We continue to be fascinated by the long and rich history in this area.

On the trip home from Williamsburg, we drove highway 5 along the James River, up river from the Jamestown settlement. It is a beautiful drive and we found that there are quite a few historic plantations along the river. We stopped and toured one called Berkeley Plantation. We spent time touring the buildings and the grounds to get a sense of the rich history of this particular plantation.

Berkeley was originally settled in 1619 but later abandoned after several savage attacks by Indians. Eventually the property was purchased by Benjamin Harrison V, who later became one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. His son, William Henry Harrison, one day to become the 9th president of the United States, was born and raised there. (William Henry was the grandfather of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president.) (Click any of those names to learn more about the Harrisons.)

During the Civil War, General McClellan encamped with 140,000 Union troops during the summer of 1862. The tune "TAPS" was written and first played during this encampment. President Lincoln visited the General twice that summer.

The plantation home was built in 1726. It has been beautifully kept and was wonderful to tour.

Only two of the outbuildings still remain. There are about 1,000 acres, many still farmed.

Other firsts claimed at Berkeley: the first official Thanksgiving on December 4, 1609, and the first bourbon whiskey distilled there in 1621.

To learn more about Berkeley, check out these links:

( http://www.berkeleyplantation.com/index.html ) ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley_plantation )

The history lesson is over.

Colonial Williamsburg

Well, if you ever want to feel like you have stepped into another place and time, visit Colonial Williamsburg. Once the capitol of Virginia between 1699-1780, the town has been restored to show people what life was like in colonial times, but more importantly to show us what America stands for and the battle raged for our freedom. We took the weekend of May 15-17 to visit Williamsburg and are SO glad we did!! The town has been restored, there are people dressed in period clothing, and there are re-enactments going on showing what was happening during the time of the Revolutionary War and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The Colonial Streets

Re-enactments

Letting off the cannons to celebrate the signing of the Declaration!!

Dan got into trouble!! We got caught in a "little" rain storm!

It was well worth the trip and we want to go back to see Jamestown!!

Mother's Day

As much as I am enjoying our adventure in DC, I always miss my kids .... some times more than others. Mother's Day was one of those times. We did talk to or Skype with each of them that day, which was wonderful. But, this being DC, I wanted to do something on Mother's Day that Dan and I hadn't done yet ..... go to the National Zoo.

I thought it might be a good way to spend a nice May afternoon, and perhaps forget for a while how I miss the kids. It didn't work out that way. See what I mean?

"Mom, Mom, feed me! I'm hungry!"

"Aww, Mom, I don't want to go out and get some exercise. I'm too tired."

"I don't want to sit up straight ... I'm comfortable like this."

"Mom Mom, look at this cool fort! How come they won't let me in?"

"I told you you could have a COUPLE of friends sleep over!"

"I can't take my eye off her or she will take off like a flash! I wish malls had fenced in play areas!"

"But, Mom, this is how ALL the kids wear their hair now!"

I love you, kids!