The trip to Washington DC for the 2007 Milblog Conference was a smashing success.  Susan, a PGR friend joined me on the trip.  We arrived on Thursday night in Manassas, Va.  Susan had collected money from her work to buy some entertainment items for wounded soldiers at Walter Reed.  I had collected DVDs and CDs from various sources.  But on Thursday night we went out to spend the money Susan had collected.  I was surprised how many great deals we found quickly on new and used DVDs.  Anyway the Walter Reed visit is another posting.  Friday we drove into Arlington, got to the hotel and I hadn’t even gotten out of the car and some woman came up to my window saying TONI!!!!  It was Deb from Yankee Mom.  They were just leaving the hotel to get something to eat.  Susan and I got checked in, caught the Metro to the Holocaust Museum.  We were so lucky, I think we got to the museum before the big tour buses arrived.  Had about a 20 minute wait for a 12:15 tour.  Unfortunately we had to kind of hurry so we could be back to the hotel by 3pm.  We needed to meet the PGR couple (Ann & Ted) by 4pm for our visit to Walter Reed. 

One of the odd pieces of information I learned from the visit to the Holocaust Museum….I watched this short documentary on the 1936 Olympics which were held in Germany with Adolph Hitler as the host.  So there was much controversy on whether the US Team should be in attendance.  Most major news outlets in the US were against the US Team competing.  However there were two major newspapers in favor and this is what I found interesting……..they were the Los Angeles Times and the Minneapolis Star & Tribune!  Ah, yes, the Red Star hasn’t changed much in all these years.  There isn’t a dictator or tyrant they don’t love, adore and promote. 

Susan and I missed most of the cocktail reception on Friday evening since we were at Walter Reed.  We did get there at the end though.  Here’s a couple photos from the reception:

Carren & myself

Greta, me and Deb (and then walking off on the right is Theresa)

On Saturday morning the conference began with a video message from President Bush to the milblog conference.

I was going to post photos of the panels and panelists but if you want great roundup of links, photos and what was said then I suggest you go to Gateway Pundit who also has video.  Go here ,here, here and here.

Do check out what Robert Stokely had to say at Gateway Pundit.  What a wonderful man, it was such a pleasure to meet him in person.

After the conference many gathered at the bar.  I had a chance to talk with Andi’s hubbie (actually I probably talked his ear off!).  I was looking for a cup of coffee towards the end of the conference and ran into Consul-at-Arms!  Had no idea he was going to be there.  That was a pleasant surprise.  It was also wonderful to get a hug from Sgt. Hook who will deploying again in the near future.

Me, Carla and Mrs. G.

Of course there’s one of my favorite young Army wives - and that’s Sarah.

If you’ve never gone out to dinner with Chuck this is a sample of what goes on….
B

Never a dull moment!

Update - May 8th

Got this photo from SK Diva and couldn’t resist posting it.  It’s Greta and I posing for JP Borda the creator of the Beef Jerky Wars, he got sent lots of boobas (I think it was boobas - they’re a goofy looking doll) and of course Milblogging.com.  JP was supposed to be a focal figure at the 2007 Milblog Conference, his lame excuse for not attending?  He’s training to get deployed again.  Oh yeah, right……

It was great to see everyone and hear what was said with the panels along with the questions.  Wish I’d gotten a photo of myself and Rachelle, Sammy (Joan), Andi (who was very busy) but did get to say hi to Dadmanly, just found out American Soldier was there with his Mrs AS and I didn’t get to meet them and now I’m wondering who else was there that I didn’t meet! 

Disclaimer:  I’m already apologizing to those I forgot to mention, by the end of dinner Saturday night I was so tired it was back to the hotel and bed to get ready for the long drive home on Sunday.

Here’s the link from Andi’s World to What they’re saying (about the 2007 Milblog Conference) from attendees at the conference.

Technorati Tags: 2007 Milblog Conference, photos