By request, a repost from GD: Just another Friday afternoon at the White House

Well, OK, maybe not. A rather diverse group of people, from government workers, overseas volunteers in crisis areas and supporters from all over the place are invited every year to holiday receptions at the White House. This year, I was one of them. We were all invited to bring a guest. I asked my wife, but she said it would be crazy to run all the way over to America for 2 or 3 days, especially ten days before we'd be turning right around and going all the way back to America again. As I stay with my brother in Virginia when I'm in DC, I asked if he wanted to go, and he said sure. So I/we went.

There was a very informative session in the morning across the street at the EEOB with some White House strategy heads, and we were not only invited, but encouraged to take their emails and offer suggestions, as they realized that they were in a Washington bubble, and needed input from outside to get a better picture. ACA was the main topic, but there others as well. Then, in the early afternoon, we went through a battery of security checks, and were then let into the White House's east wing.

The pics are of miserable quality because we were asked in an email not to bring cameras. My brother took these with his phone. Idiots that we were, EVERYONE BUT the two of us brought cameras:

The Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Indian Treaty Room (fro the morning session):
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A piece of a White House carpet:
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The Daily Show's Aasif Mandvi and a tiny portion of the incredible buffet
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A portrait of Ben Franklin:
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The White House gingerbread house:
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JFK portrait:
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Bill Clinton portrait:
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Hillary portrait:
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My brother and me under the portrait of George Washington:
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Our very gracious hosts:
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I chatted for a while with a pretty woman I didn't know, but everyone else DID seem to know and wanted their picture taken with her. It turns out she is an actress of some fame (how the hell was I supposed to know?). Her name is Jurnee Smollett-Bell and no, I did not get my picture taken with her!

PBO said we were welcome to take examples of the paper napkins, but to please not take any of the silverware or china, as he didn't own the house, and it was "only a rental."