8:14 am

I’m in Spotsylvania looking out this big window with a beautiful view of Lake Anna while TJ makes bacon and the rest of us try to get on the internet. It’s our second retreat with SpeakeasyDC’s teaching staff: Kevin Boggs, Stephanie Garibaldi, Meredith Maslich, Amy Couchoud, and Joe Price. Sadly, Adam Ruben couldn’t make it because he’s at a wedding, but he is here in spirit. We are all in the kitchen getting our coffee and trying to wake up (though Kevin started the morning singing “Good Morning, good mooooorning” from Singing in the Rain, so he’s apparently ready to take on the day).

I’m happy to be here.  It’s a nice opportunity for us to catch up and make plans for the new year.  Everyone arrived last night. TJ (right) made an amazing dinner with grilled chicken, homemade butternut squash soup and more delicious stuff. He’s our chef for the weekend. Over dinner, we went around the table to catch everyone up on all the projects we’ve been working on.  It was gratifying to hear how much people have been doing and how many successes everyone had to report. Read More