[kristinn]

EAGLES UP !!!

[anymouse]

ping

[Senator Pardek]

It was great meeting you - had the time of my life!

[ForGod'sSake]

Just awesome! I don't know if you folks get tired of thank you's, but this was quite a production that seemed to come off almost flawlessly. I'll add my thanks to the list and a well done!

What or where is the video(?) I've read about several times that Sauropod put together???

FGS

[Jim Robinson]

Howdy everyone! We're home! What a great time we all had!! Congratulations Kristinn and all who worked so hard to make this event a great success! Thank you all very much!! Met a lot of wonderful old friends this week and a lot of them for the very first time! Loved every minute of our trip! Bravo to Gov Huckabee and Capitol Offense! What a great performance!!

[Ol' Sox]

My wife and I had a great time in Washington DC, both at the Inauguration and the Ball. It was like being in the movie "The Out of Towners" in a sense, because we kept having unexpected things happen to us!

For example, while riding the Marta train in to watch the parade, just as we pulled into Union Station, a well dressed gentleman waved some green tickets in front or us, and beseeched us to take these tickets to the Inauguration Ceremony. Not know the layout of DC at all and being a bit suspicious of strangers, I started to refuse, but the man looked me straight in the eye and said "You came all the way down here for the parade? If you've never seen this before, you HAVE to see it, its your duty!". I grabbed the tickets and we jumped off the train just as the door closed.

He was right. Despite the hour and a half waiting to get through security, we felt a deep sense of patriotic honor to witness the inauguration.

Then, trying to get to the American Sector, we worked our way down Pennsylvania Ave., snaking our way through a single file walkway that we probably shouldn't have been on. We found ourselves right in the middle of the ANSWER demonstration. They were as thick as underarm hair in front of the Canadian Embassy, and got right up in our faces, yelling and screaming. Now we are not used to people not respecting our personal space, and we come from a slightly gritty part of Connecticut. Lets just say that we know how to take care of ourselves. One jasper got a little too close to my wife and before I could lift a finger, she let him know that his future children's lives were at stake. A spark of sensibility showed in his eyes and he quickly backed off. You simply don't mess with a six foot Irish redhead (well, I do but thats none of your business :-).

Unable to reach the American Sector via Penns. Ave., we were routed up to D street, and then found ourselves in the middle of the Anarchist's little tantrum at 7th and D. I have pictures of the motorcycle cops riding in to the rescue and another contingent donning their riot attire. Looking at the size of the crowd waiting to get through security, and the police in riot gear approaching us down 7th, we decided that our presence was required elsewhere and we split. Wish we could have joined you at the parade.

We went back to our hotel and prepped for the ball. We shared our table and dinner with Marine Col Olsen and his wife Katia and Army LtC Jergensun and his wife Ann. Excellent company we had an excellent discussion on the history of the Muslim Caliphates with the LtC. Enjoyed the presentations, especially Sauropod's, and then danced the evening away. Had some dessert with some folks who had travelled in from Arkansas with the Governor, and closed the party.

Made our way back to the hotel around 1:00 a.m., knocked down a couple of Advil to dull my throbbing ankles, and slept until 9:30!! Introduced my wife to GRITS for breakfast and then took a leisurely ride home to Connecticut to gather our kids and batten down the hatches for the blizzard. And so, here I sit with a hot cup of tea, sidewalk and driveway shoveled out and glad to be home. Thanks, Kristinn and all the other freepers who contributed their time and effort. We had a great time!

[Shethink13]

My pics are here.

[tubebender]

Marking...

[TankerKC]

Kristinn: I'm finally back home (and back to my computer). I had a great time at the parade and the ball. Kudos to you!

[uncleshag]

As a relatively newbie to the world that is FReeper, I offer my humble remembrances of the day and night. Thanks to all for your hard work and continued blessings on Jim Robinson and FRee Republic!

Uncleshag's FReeper Ball Day Report#1

Uncleshag's FReeper Ball Evening Report#2

[Mustng959]

bookmark

[Chieftain]

FReeper Ball photos!

[SpookBrat]

Well, here are my pictures. I have to tell you all that our trip was very stressful and the Freeper Ball made the 1,600 mile round trip and all the money spent worth it. I'll treasure the memories made for the rest of my life. I'll be back in 4 years with friends and family.

I really, really appreciate how this party was so family friendly. My children, believe it or not, worked extremely hard along with their mother for the re-election of George Bush. They stood for hours (and hours and hours) on the streets with me, holding signs and my daughter went to headquarters with me to make phone calls. I was happy they could celebrate this victory with me and other conservatives. I just can't thank you enough for letting them be there.

My only criticism is the party wasn't long enough. I wanted to meet EVERYONE and I forgot to take so many pictures, I could just kick myself. Everyone looked lovely and I look forward to the next gathering. Victory 2008!

Not such a great picture but maybe you can spot the back of your head.

The band

Deadhead, I hope you don't mind I lightened your photo a bit so we could see Carolina (on the right of photo) better. Who is the woman at the left of the photo? I can't remember her name.

This is our beautiful Carolina's back on the right hand side dancing with her handsome husband. The kids are with me (two are mine).

One last dance before they send us home.

Who are these boys and their parents? The girls wanted to take them home as a souvenir. They were a lot of fun.

My sweet, wonderful friend Jen and her husband Matt. We always have a blast when we're together. (((NHH)))

Is this John? We thought he was tres, tres handsome. :)

The girl child and me

jayrsmith and his wife Brenda (right?)

Susan from California and DCBRYAN1

A handsome, lurking law student in Washington. Jen and I are going to find him a wife. I'm going to try to get him to register here and post with us. This guy has a great sense of humor...the kids recognize him as "Chris the Follower"...long story, had to be there. :)

[massadvj]

Here are a few of our shots from that day. I'm the one on the far right (where I am always most comfortable). That's my wife Joanne next to me. The other guy is Dr. Wes McDonald, author of "Russell Kirk and the Age of Ideology" and his wife Alice.

[Prov3456]

What a great time we had, and was had by all.

Thanks, Kristinn and all who worked so hard to make the W2 Inaugural Ball such a great success.

[visitor]

here's my online photo album - W2 DC INAUGURAL 2005

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4166479&a=31610008&pw=

we traveled by train - Amtak Cresent - from Atlanta to Union Station, stayed at the Navy Lodge in Maryland and had the best taxi driver for the 3 day, thanks for everything you and the DC Chapter did for all of us...rto

Tallahassee, FL