January 2005

      January was a big month in Washington, DC. Our very own Denny Hastert was sworn in as Speaker of the US House of Representatives again. He has been a friend since I was an aide in the Illinois Legislature and he was a State Representative. Lots of old friends and met many new ones when out for his Swearing-In! Good to be with my friends Congressmen Johnson, LaHood, Weller, Biggert, Shimkus, Hyde, Kirk, & Manzullo.

     Also wished my former colleague Senator Obama well as I visited his reception and then paid respects to new US Congressman Dan Lipinski.

      A few days later, back to DC for the Inauguration of the President. I was out for George W’s first and Ronald Reagan’s first and I consider it a brush with world history to be there. Also had the opportunity to go to my favorite restaurant in Georgetown (Filomena Ristorante, Ph-202-337-2782, tell them Senator Dan Rutherford from Illinois sent you and ask for Enrique to be your waiter and say hello to Joe at the bar…he is a great Republican with 2 little kids growing up to help the future of America).

 Started the new year with 139,335 miles on my 2002 Pontiac Bonneville.

Dan receives the Friend of Agriculture Award from the Farm Bureau