The Gum Tree for 2005 February 1

It has been difficult to write because of all the activities that we have been cramming into our schedules. Friday we came here to Washington D.C., and it being my birthday, we went to cheesecake factory. I do love that place. I got the white chocolate rasberry truffle cheesecake. Sunday was a day to go to the monuments. We saw the new WW2 memorial, and went with a friend to the vietnam war memorial to etch his uncle's name from the stone. Then it was meetings, meetings, meetings. Today was spent with Congressman Matheson, as well as Senators Orrin Hatch, and Bob Bennet. Hatch was on the Senate floor earlier speaking on the confirmation of A.G. Alberto Gonzales. While we were in his office, he had to go and watch, on the senate Closed Circuit TV, his good friend Teddy Kennedy give his speech so that he could go back on the floor and "rip him" or something like that. We also saw the president pass by in his motorcade. It must have been about 12 motorcycle policemen, three identical bulletproof limos, and about eight large Vans filled with Secret Service guys, an armored special forces truck, an ambulance, and three Washington D.C. police cars. It took about 2 min for all of them to pass by. Tommorrow we will tour the Capital building before we finish up with meetings and fly home before the State of the Union address. Louise is having a good time as well.