Mr. Manners Comes to the Rescue

Someone heard the sweet cry of damsels in distress and he came swiftly, gallantly, astride his strong white stallion.  This knight in shining armor is James Henry II.  Thanks to my friend Sara Damelio, I was sent to this much needed website: http://www.gallantryguide.com/.  Henry’s book is being launched Wednesday but you can check out this site prior.  It’s all about the rules of being a mannered, civil, gallant, well poised, polite, chivalrous gentleman.

I’m distraught that I’m even going to admit this outside my inner circle, but here goes.  This last year I’ve been on some of the worst dates, purely because these men lacked simple manners.  It completely floored me.  Some displayed acts that left me wondering what barn they were raised in and others made comments on first dates which would send their mothers into a state of shock.  I even had gentlemen friends witness some of these behaviors that left them with their mouths hanging.  Sure, it was fodder for laughs later, but still, we all were wondering: Whatever happened to the “gentleman”?

After a few of these dates, a girlfriend told me, “You know, you’d be doing a lot of women a favor if you just bullet marked all of the ridiculously rude, insanely crazy things he did and said in an email and sent it to him.  But do it in a polite, yet matter of fact way. Say, XX, the reason why I will never go out with you again is for the following.  Then you just wish him luck and hope that he is smart enough to figure it out.  You aren’t doing it for him, you are doing it for the next female he encounters.”

“No, don’t do that,” my male friend countered.  “He’s old enough to know better. If he hasn’t figured it out now by now, he doesn’t want to.  That’s just who he is and it’s not your problem.”  I took the easy way out and chose to never talk to the antagonists again.

Henry thinks that the easy way out isn’t always best.  With his website, ladies, after the date from hell or even the one that leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth, you can anonymously let your knight in filthy armor know he’s just that yet in the most polite sense.  Not only can you send him what rule he broke or line he crossed so that he is educated for the next lady who enters his life, if he so requires, you can actually send him the entire book on etiquette and courtship.  All anonymously of course.

Thank you Mr. James Henry II, on behalf of the many disgruntled females on the planet (believe me, have you seen Facebook and all of the dating advice sites lately?) you are doing us all a favor. And I must say, it really makes one appreciate the REAL gentlemen in one’s life (including my brothers and my father).  And you know who you are.

Want to meet Mr. Henry to thank him in person?  Here’s the schedule:

Book release and signing event for The Laws of Love: A Guide to Gallantry, with Washington, DC writer and filmmaker James Henry

Wednesday, February 10th, 6-8pm @ ACKC Cocoa Bar
Saturday, February 13th, 5:30-7:30pm @ Reston Tasting Room,
Sunday, February 14th, 2:30-4:30pm @ Reston Tasting Room
Sunday, February 14th, 5:30-7:30pm @ Friendship Heights Tasting Room

ACKC Cocoa Bar: 1529 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20005. 202.387.2626
The Tasting Room Friendship Heights: Wisconsin Place (alley beside Bloomingdales in Friendship Heights), 5530A Western Ave. Chevy Chase, MD 20815
The Tasting Room Reston: Town Center, 1816 Library St. Reston, VA 20190
[Book, Wine & Chocolate Specials all Week]

Welcome Chris4Life

When I was young, if ever anything went wrong or I was disappointed with an outcome of a situation, my parents and elders would always look me in the eye and say, “Well, at least you have your health.”  I would think to myself crossly, “What does that mean?  Doesn’t everyone my age have her health?  Unhealthy people are those who smoke, eat bad food, and don’t exercise.  Then it just catches up to you when you are old.”  Even for years into my young adulthood, I still couldn’t comprehend not taking one’s good health as a part of everyday life. I mean, we are all pretty much “healthy” until we reach 70 or something, right? Then we start to see the downside of age and health.

No, not right, obviously.  The reality is completely quiet the opposite.  The very idea of children being terminally ill is purely heart wrenching.  The thought of losing a parent, sibling, child, or friend to a disease that wasn’t preventable is devastating.  But when you lose any of those people in your life to something that WAS preventable…well, how simply awful. Because, it was quite possibly preventable.

The reason why I write this post on health is two-fold. One purpose is to share with you a future post about my eye-opening experience I had during my Executive Physical with PartnerMD.  It was my first physical I’d had since probably 1998.  Yes, right. Wake up call. The second reason I write about health is that I’ve recently joined the newly formed Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation in an official partnership.

Colon cancer? Yes, COLON CANCER. Do those very words make you squirm in your seat?  Make you feel a bit uncomfortable?  It should. Then again, it shouldn’t.  There was a time that we were embarrassed to say “BREAST CANCER”.  Thank God those days have passed.  Heck, there was a time when the only type of cancer that was acceptable in any social conversation was “lung cancer” and that was because the Surgeon General was coming down hard on the tobacco industry and smokers.  Smokers were doing bad things to their bodies.  We could point fingers and shake them.  You will get lung cancer if you smoke.  The end.

Colon cancer is almost like this undercover, not talked about disease that is not only a killer, but possibly PREVENTABLE.  There’s a cancer that’s preventable? And stoppable?  That’s impossible.  Let’s talk about this.  And if the word COLON makes you feel weird, I’m sorry, but guess, what. You have one and you have to take care of it, so get over it.

First, I want to welcome the Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation.  Michael Sapienza, his family and the Board formed this non-profit in honor of his and his siblings’ mother, Christine Sapienza, who lost her battle to colon cancer this past year.  Their purpose is to raise money for the Lombardi Cancer Center and Georgetown University Hospital, where Chris spent her last years.  Chris4Life has praised the work, the staff, the doctors, and the facility for being there entirely for the Sapienza family during the treatment and care of Chris.

The foundation’s Mission is:
-To find a cure for colon cancer by funding and facilitating cutting edge research programs across the nation.
-To improve the lives of patients diagnosed with colon cancer by funding and developing programs to support patients and their caregivers.
-To increase awareness of the life-saving importance of early screening for colon cancer by using innovative strategies.

Its 4 Values are: Compassion, Empowerment, Perseverance, Life

I have personally learned an extensive amount about the colon and colon cancer over the past few months in working with Chris4Life.  Admittedly, when Mike first came to me, I was a bit squeamish about the topic.  He laughed when I leaned over at our meeting and whispered “colon” in the middle of our conversation, like it was profane.  That changed quickly after further conversations and research. I learned that it is never too early to start thinking about your colon and a healthy digestive system.  I learned that with early detection, colorectal cancer is preventable.  I learned that a lot of people have put off and continue to procrastinate getting a colonoscopy because they are scared of the procedure.  I learned that if you are diagnosed with colon cancer you can survive, but your chances of a long survival are slim. (By the way, a colonoscopy at 50 is imperative.  There are reasons why you should get one earlier, but this test can save your life because if there is a polyp found, it can be removed immediately.)  I learned that there is a brave young woman by the name of Jen Puglise who was diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer at the age of 30. She’s a mother, a wife and now 33 with basically no colon left, who is speaking out loudly about this disease.  I learned that my being embarrassed about talking about my colon is ridiculous and no one says that better than the frank and funny columnist Dave Barry.

Barry did an article recently on his own colonoscopy called A Journey into My Colon – - and Yours. in the Miami Herald.  His message (while hilarious) is loud and clear: Do NOT wait.  You are stupid if you wait after 50 to have this highly effective and low risk procedure: http://www.miamiherald.com/dave_barry/story/427603.html

There’s a lot you as a young person can do to maintain a healthy digestive system and colon, in fact you can’t turn on the tele without seeing Jamie Lee Curtis and her probiotic yogurt, but you can help by eating whole foods and drinking lots of pH balanced water (Fiji is the best in that category).  And by the way, may I just say for the record, I was horrified with the onslaught of advertisements for Doritos, Denny’s and Budweiser beer during the SuperBowl last night.  We are trying to get away from obesity, heart attacks, high cholesteral, clogged arteries and heart disease as a country, not run towards it.

Please take a moment to look over the Chris4Life Colon Cancer website.  I’ll be putting up videos and new messages on the Punch, Twitter, and Facebook, but you can join them in the fight against this cancer here:

Twitter http://twitter.com/chris4cure
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chris4Life-Colon-Cancer-Foundation/

If you have a friend or loved one who has a story to tell (or even you!) about colon cancer or good experience with the Lombardi Cancer Research Center, please contact Chris4Life.  The Foundation is holding its private launch event in March but they’d love to know about your story too.  http://chris4life.org/contact

On a side note, the founding members of the Board are extremely passionate, professional, goal oriented, determined and know how to get things done FAST.  They are an impressive group.  Believe me, I played devil’s advocate when first meeting with Mike months ago and was floored by his determination and steadfastness.  I guess you could say his mom has been the wind beneath his wings in creating the organization.

11th Annual International Wine & Food Festival on FOX 5

Thursday the 11th marks the 11th annual International Wine and Food Festival. FOX 5’s Holly Morris talks with the folks who run the Festival that will be held at the Reagan Building through Sunday the 14th (by the way, stick with the video, they lose Holly for second, but get her back… there’s good content about the food AND wine.

Real Help for Haiti

Years ago I watched the video of AOL Founder and Chairman Emeritus, philanthropist, West Point grad, Vietnam veteran, entrepreneur, diplomat, and so much more, James “Jim” V. Kimsey, on a 60 Minutes segment with Correspondent Scott Pelley.  I learned later that this was Scott Pelley’s first segment.  Kimsey was not only interviewed extensively, but the crew followed him to far away lands – far away to war torn, feared and uncertain lands.  No, this segment was not about the frightening world of the internet, e-commerce and online communication. This piece was a gritty in depth look at the world of missing persons buried in mass graves, particularly in Iraq.

Before 2003, when the piece was aired, the stark reality of mass graves was overwhelming. There were thousands upon thousands of full bodies, skeletons, and body parts that were heaped together and left to rot in the ground. They were buried and forgotten, at least by those who covered them up.  There were no funerals, no memorial services, no soldier knocking on the family’s door alerting it of the death of its son or daughter.  There were no individual graves with markers, only a mass of bodies thrown together and buried.  There was no respectful remembrance of who these people were, whom they left behind, who was missing them, who loved them, whom they loved, what they did in their lives.

Thankfully, with the help of the International Commission on Missing Persons, which Kimsey continues to Chair, and the advanced scientific technology of DNA tests, the golden key to answers so many families and loves ones were crying out to know, became a reality.  The 60 Minutes segment called “Answers From The Grave” brought goosebumps to many as well as tears to the eyes. While DNA tests don’t bring back the dead, it brings those who want to see the remains of loved ones and then respectfully bury them, answers. It brings closure.

Fast forward to 2010.  The horrific scene of Haiti post-earthquake has been forever emblazoned in our minds, as it should be.  While the ICMP has continued to do its work across the globe in turning mass graves into resting places for deceased individual human beings in war torn and areas destroyed by natural disasters, it has yet to enter this recent tragedy.  Kimsey, who also has the esteemed position of Chairman Emeritus of Refugees International (RI) and proudly remembers when he brought on beloved and revered past RI President Kenneth Bacon (who sadly passed away from brain cancer last summer-Dan Glickman is serving as current President), knew that he was in a position to help this devastated country.  It was simply through his history and involvement with these two important organizations with which he was extremely familiar, as well as his diplomatic knowledge of how Haiti and the Dominican Republic can work to a solution.

This weekend, he and the Head of Inter-American Development Bank, Luis Alberto Moreno, headed down to meet with Haitian President Rene’ Preval and the DR’s President, Leonel Fernández.  It was imperative for IDB to be there, as it continues to and will play a significant role in the financial restructuring of Haiti.  Refugees International could have a vital role because the people left to rebuild their lives on the island are by definition “refugees”.  In fact, climate refugees, because they are displaced from their homes as a result of a natural disaster.

Kimsey and Moreno have returned back to American soil after this quick and productive trip with a hopeful, yet extremely realistic and pragmatic outlook.  Much needs to be done, but with the possible swift and thorough work of well run organizations like ICMP and RI, the outlook appears to be better…at least better than before.

Read about the 60 Minutes segment and watch the video: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/26/60minutes/main585798.shtml

Learn more about ICMP: http://www.ic-mp.org/

Learn more about RI: http://www.refugeesinternational.org/

Tie One On

The Annual Pink Tie Party “Eat, Drink & Be Cherry” returns on March 11th from 6:30pm-9:30pm at the W Great Room lower level.  The “pink tie” cocktail attire event brings in funds to benefit our National Cherry Blossom Festival (granted it’s hard to think of blossoms after this weekend, but I promise, there will be a time with no snow) and truly celebrates all that is spring in Washington.

Join Host and Celebrated Chef Charlie Palmer who will be partnered up with returning Pink Tie Party Celebrity Chef Art Smith of Art and Soul (and Oprah’s former personal chef) for this food and libations event.

Twenty three of the city’s top restaurants will create dishes and concoct cocktails that are cherry inspired (this year, I heard that there will more savory to take in, as last year weighed heavily on the sweet) so bring your appetite and your wallet, because as usual, the Silent Auction will be something spectacular.

Some of the restaurants include: ADOUR, Michel Richard Citronelle, Plume, RIS, Mie N Yu, Poste Brasserie and much more.  Tickets are only $150 for General Admission but if you want to join the VIP reception with Charlie Palmer himself (foodies) those tickets are $250.

By the way, a special thanks goes to Mie N Yu for hosting friends and family of the Festival and Party last Thursday evening for the Launch event.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival will take place March 27th – April 11th.  Hope for a less windy festival this year, but we do look forward to see you wearing your Pink Tie.  Thank you to Shiseido and Mazza Gallerie for their sponsorship.

Please go to: http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/cms/index.php?id=951 for all details, sponsors, participating restaurants, Host Committee, and to purchase your tickets.

Pictured above: The Pink Tie Party in 2009 with Christina Wilkie and Kristin Guiter …note the pink tie cocktail attire

The Original and Only

When I saw the invite for the “Pre-Valentine’s Day Pajama Party” with hanky panky at the W for last Thursday night, I immediately blocked out the time on my calendar. I confess. I’m a huge hanky panky fan for several reasons.  First, they are super comfortable (their own tag line is “world’s most comfortable thong”). They come in hundreds of shades in every hue found in the rainbow.  Even the simple casual packaging is genius.  And finally, the instore marketing is identical to grocery store checkout last minute purchases (usually found in a fishbowl near the retail counter – hey, I could use another pair or 5 – and look at this adorable new color! I don’t have Burnt Sienna yet…).  But, as I learned early in my hp wearing life, a lot of my friends share the same adoration, which can become kind of a challenge during a vacation with the girls.  To this day, I’m still pulling out hp’s that have my initials penned on the tag.  Hmmm. Not sexy.

I can tell what is sexy (and the jam packed room of cupcake eating, champagne sipping female guests would agree) is if you have your hp’s personalized … with little crystals!  Yes. Brilliant I say.  So, hanky panky came down from the Big Apple and held its very first event in Washington while overlooking the White House.  Ladies and boys came out in full force drinking Pop Rocks Martinis, grabbing Jean-Georges sushi from butler served platters, biting into cupcakes, and waiting patiently as the hp team took the orders for hundreds of colorful Valentine’s Day lacey panties to be personalized. The only stipulation was there was a limit of 5 characters on the undies.

You could purchase a heart with a set of three, and even a red pair, folded to the shape of a rose (brilliant!).  hanky panky’s own John David Breen, who made the trip down for this event, which benefited Becky’s Fund, said (and I quote) the event was a “smashing success”.

I wonder if hanky panky will send a pair to FLOTUS …

(Pictured: Me and my “Punch” hanky panky’s and hu’s wear’s Toni Leinhardt)