Just 4 days away now!!

We've got our tix for the Holocaust Museum set for 11:00AM Sat. We should have a decent amount of time to visit. ABC News Tour at 3:00PM. LCT dinner at 7:00PM. Saturday is going to be one awesome day!

I'm so glad that this gathering is coming together so beautifully! Even the weather is expected to be perfect!

Denise, Looks to be one great day: meeting new friends and seeing new places.

Sorry, I was out of town yesterday in Cincinnati and didn't have a chance to get on here.

Attire for 701 is country club casual.

Ray, you can take all the pictures you want. And the Hyatt near the Capitol is a nice hotel. I would just avoid walking around after dark. Use a taxi.

See you all in a few days. Tom.

Well, I hate to do this, but after much discussion we have decided not to go this weekend. I was already thinking I probably shouldn't spend the money (I'm trying to be in saving mode for FJORDS and PANDA), but I found out today that our condo trustees have decided to up our fees for next year and do a special assessment due on January 1. :mad:

I know you will all have a wonderful time, and I will be with you in spirit!!

Andrea:

Discretion is the better part of valor when it comes to one's pocketbook. We'll miss you but I wouldn't be surprised if we saw you prior to LAMB.

Cheers! Ray & Penny

BOOO :mecry: ~ HISS :mad:
Sorry you won't be able to join us, Andrea.

sorry to hear that Andrea, but understand. Maybe next time.

So sorry that you and Jerel will be unable to join us, Andrea. But, I can certainly understand why. Hopefully, another time!

Tom, thanks for posting 701's dress code. We prefer CCC and are happy we don't have to bring along dressier clothes.

I told Andrea today I was thinking last night - (forgetting Jerel was coming, maybe) WELL maybe Andrea and I can share a room and I can find last minute cheapie air into DC for Fri and Sat- leave Tony a note - "Hi Honey: Cats feed, plants watered, I am in DC back Sunday - thank heavens she was the voice of reason $$$$- BUT I was thinking about it - Joanna

Sure wish you were acting on it, Joanna! Many times, impulse wins out over reason! ;)

Andrea and Joanna, sorry that we won't be seeing you this weekend.

I decided to come to DC early to get over the jet lag. It was a beautiful day today in Arlington. All the sidewalk tables at the restaurants were full. This is the best time of the year.

See everyone on Saturday!!!!

Hi Marc,

I've been tracking the weather and it looks perfect! The one season we miss the most since moving from the East coast is the Fall. We picked a great time to visit!

Friday can't come soon enough for us to get on that plane! See everyone very, very soon!

Agree Marc, September is the best month of the year on the East Coast. People here today were at the beach, beautiful! Hope it continues~

"It was a beautiful day today in Arlington. All the sidewalk tables at the restaurants were full. This is the best time of the year."

Stop rubbing it in Marc - I wanted to see all of you rain or shine -

Joanna,

You could see us all in the sunshine and moonlight!

Andi, Doug, Gil and myself will be raising a glass to you guys on Saturday night. Have a great time.

Sorry to hear you aren't able to come Andrea. We shall be raising a glass to you.

We are down to 3 days for the big DC adventure. :)

New granddaddy, Randy showed up late last night after his first introduction to third granddaughter, Ella Briar. We are heading to Ocracoke in an hour. So see y'all at the ABC News station Saturday @ 3PM.

Safe travels, everyone.

To all of those visiting ABC News on Saturday, I need to get a list of names to our security guards. I think everyone is going at 3 pm except Ray and Penny who want to go at 2 pm.

Please send your names to me at giustot@comcast.net

Since Beth and Randy already may have left home, if anyone knows their names please email them.

See everyone on Saturday. I have told the restaurant we are now 20 for dinner. They will seat us at two tables for 10. Tom.

Tom - reservation is for 7pm right? Is it under your name? Is everyone meeting in the bar first? The ABC tour sounds great, but Frank will be glued to the TV watching Alabama, and nothing, I mean nothing will get him away. ROLL TIDE!!!

That's right JoAnn. Dinner reservation is at 7pm at 701 Pennsylvania Ave NW, under my name. Valet parking is on 7th street. Anyone who gets there early can wait at the bar.

If you and Frank want to visit ABC you can come anytime since you live in the erea. Tom.

Tom,

An email has been sent your way. You've arranged a wonderful opportunity for our touring of ABC as well as our dinner reservations! A very big THANK YOU to YOU!

Just got home from work. Laundry is going and the packing is underway! We leave for the airport tomorrow morning at 5:00AM. We expect to arrive in D.C. by 5:00PM. Going to be a long, but exciting day!

Hard to believe after planning all these months that our LCT gathering is now just about here! For all who are travelling - Safe travels! See you very, very soon!

And, congrats on the new grandchild, Randy!

Denise~ safe flight for you both in the morning.

See you all on Sat. at 3:00 (ABC studio) or 7:00 at 701. :)

We just today decided to "come into town" and spend the night, provided my Dad can keep Shelby for the night - which I don't expect to be a problem - so we have reservations at the JW Marriott for the night, its about a 6-7 block walk to 701, and on a plesant evening that should be nice - Frank of course has to be checked in by 3:00 so he doesn't miss the BAMA game, but thats fine and it will be so much better than driving I66 at 6:00 on a Saturday night. If we can't walk back, will get a cab!! :D This way we don't have to drive home!!

Can't wait to see you'all and meet those of you we don't know yet!! Safe travels to all!

Thanks. I've got everyone's names except for Randy, but that shouldn't be a problem. Everyone can make 3 pm so we'll do the tour then.

ABC News
1717 DeSales St NW
Washington, DC 20036

If you take a cab, it's right around the corner from the Mayflower Hotel. The closest Metro stops are Faragut North on the Red line and Faragut West on the Blue and Orange lines. DeSales street is a one block long street that runs between Connecticut Ave and 17th street, north of L street and south of M street.

Looking forward to seeing all of you. Tom.

We've decided to stay in town also. Didn't feel like driving back to Gaithersburg after dinner. It's supposed to be a beautiful day here in DC today & tomorrow with a small chance of rain on Sunday. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Yest. we visited Antietam Civil Ware site iln Maryland and had a most interesting tour of it. Then it was off to Washington, DC driving in a downpour. Ugh!

There is a firehouse across from the Hyatt built in 1916 and while taking photos outside they invited me in to take a look around. They had a 1936 fire engine on display which was quite nice.

Also walked four blocks to Union Station and it is all everyone says it is.

Off now to the FBI Bldg. and the Spy Museum. Back at lunch and then plan afternoon tour.

I lived here in 1963 so it's really cool to be back.

A beautiful day to tour.

See ya all soon.

Cheers! Ray

John - where are you staying? As posted we are at the Marriott, which I think is only a block from the Willard and about 6-7 blocks from the restaurant.

Ray - sounds like you are having a great time. Some storm last night huh? We haven't had a T storm like that for several months this summer. Too bad you were driving in it.

See everyone tomorrow.

What a storm last night!! The good news is that today is an absolutely beautiful day, and tomorrow is supposed to be the same.

We are staying at the Ritz Carlton on 22nd Street (we get a really good corporate rate there with a free upgrade to an Exec Suite!!) It's a little out of the way, but it's still within walking distance to ABC.

Glad the storm blew over, John. Hope tomorrow is just lovely for us. Stopped by the Ocracoke public library for a few minutes to check in with you all. We leave @ 3:30 today, overnight n Williamsburg and hit the D.C. area about noon tomorrow. See y'all at 3 at ABC-DC.

Tom, I am emailing you Randy's last name.

Ray,
You past right by the area that we live. You went to Antietam Battlefield off of I-70 Sharspburg exit and there are a ton of outlet shops at the I-70 exit.

Shall see you all tomorrow afternoon.
We are staying at the Manerial Oriental and using our Disney points- out of the walking distance of 701. Taking cabs.
Jan

Joann, I guess I shouldn't talk about the Gator victory at dinner tomorrow? :D

That was a wicked storm last night and it will be cold tonight. Tomorrow looks wonderful.

Going off to airport soon to pick up Arlene. We will see everyone tomorrow!

Funny Marc!! But you know if BAMA wins tomorrow, Frank will be talking about it!

Have a great time everyone!
We're having a Mini-LCT dinner in NYC at the same time you're having "The Big One" in D.C.

Y'all get to see ABC before your dinner - we'll be seeing the Picasso exhibit at the Whitney.

We just got back from having a wonderful dinner with Denise and Alan. We metro'd into the district and walked to the Willard. We met up and went to Ebbitt's Grill; the place was packed. As we hadn't seen them since VOF, it was great catching up.

I was amazed at how crowded that area of DC was tonight. In the past, when I had gone out in DC it had been to Georgetown, Dupont Circle, or Adams Morgan areas; I didn't think there was so much activity near the White House.

Looking forward to seeing the rest of the group tomorrow.

We're back from the tour of the ABC News studio--fascinating. Thank you Tom!!

Will see everyone in about an hour.

Gil, Arlene, Doug and I had a lovely NYC LCT get together in honor of the DC get together. We said a cheer to you all. Doug and I decided not to attend DC a few weeks ago because he is leaving on a business trip tomorrow. It was all for the best as we couldn't have left Maggie for an entire weekend in her condition. We were with you all in spirit.

Are you all still out :ohmy:

We had a great time!!!!

It was wonderful meeting again all that we had met before and it was even more wonderful meeting those we had yet to meet. The restaurant choice was excellent; good location, good food, and a separate alcove for 20 good friends. Although there is a rule (or should be a rule) prohibiting cameras where alcohol is served, I think pictures should be showing up today.

Marc, thanks so much for checking in with us. so glad it was a wonderful evening for all.

Nancy