Convention; Day 8 (D.C.)

I got up at seven again today to meet Jeff downstairs. I was really glad when he showed up unexpectedly carrying a Venti coffee for me. Things seemed to be in good order for an Urban Impact meeting and a Pastoral Care breakfast with Pastor Jack. Mike came down to check on a few things and make sure all the people were getting their stuff out of the ballroom; there would be more people showing up to setup for a Navy event at around noon. He had traded in his suit for shorts and sandals. His right ankle was wrapped up and he was eager to show off his bruises.

Jeff and I managed to hold up the ICFG Communications truck to stash a few banners and curtain rods. Then, when Mike recognized that the City Lights band was going to lead praise and worship next door to Pastor Jack’s prayer breakfast, with only a 2 ½” air-wall between them, he hurriedly recruited the hotel staff to swap the rooms. Jeff and I helped move tables and chairs and booklets and then we took a break for breakfast.

Once the final meetings of the Convention were ready to start, Mike suggested we all get some breakfast, so we headed up the escalator to the hotel restaurant. Jeff’s wife Heather came down to meet us and we all shared a leisurely buffet. After a few harassing phone calls, Stevie finally came down to join us. I went back to our hotel room after breakfast to check on Kari and, since things were kind of slow, I took a cat nap.

We wanted to get some sightseeing in, so we made some calls and found everyone waiting downstairs. Apparently, there were a few more items to be picked up. Mike, Jeff and Steve were lounging in the Cabinet Room, which had been used as the V.I.P. green room through the week. It had a private elevator and a private bathroom for use if/when President’s visit. We moved the rental furniture out of that room, into the courtyard/foyer and then Stevie and I set out to move the rented scissor lift back over to the loading dock level. After we moved the ramps into place, I drove the larger lift down and then scooted the ramps back into place for Stevie. Somehow, he managed to knock the smaller ramp down a step and it looked like he was going tipped the lift over. Fortunately, Steve kept driving and all was well.

About this time, Kari and I discovered Segway tours on the National Mall and wanted to go try ‘em out. We hopped in a rental minivan with Mike and Debbie, Jeff and Steve. They were going to drop us off at Capital Segway, but we hit bad traffic so we jumped out on a nearby curb. We grabbed a quick sandwich at Potbelly and then met up with our tour. We had a really great time cruising the mall; lot’s of other tourists looked at us longingly from the window of their tour buses. We saw the Old Executive Offices, the White House, the Capital and as much of the rest of the mall as possible in two hours. Our tour guide was really knowledgeable and friendly guy named Kyle. He’s a history student at GWU and had lots of unique tidbits to share. Apparently I pulled too many ‘advanced’ maneuvers and I wore the batter out too soon.

At about 5:30 we caught a cab to Georgetown to eat at Five Guys with Fullertons, Roys, Vails and Steve. I had no idea how big and messy their burgers would be when I ordered, but they were gooooood. After dinner we all met at Filmore school to see Emily perform in a dance and theater recital; she was really great. We had a quick pit-stop at the hotel, then we all met at Cosi for s’mores to celebrate! It was really great to hear Mike share about some of his struggles and his visions; an excellent conclusion to an exhilarating (and exhausting) week.