A Memorable Trip to California
April/23/2008
It's been a long time since I've traveled through John Wayne Airport, located in Orange County, California, the site of Marathon's April Strategic Marketing Plan Workshop. While waiting for my luggage, I snapped several pictures of kids posing on the giant statue of "The Duke," who still ranks as my husband's all-time favorite Hollywood star.
I was eagerly anticipating my trip west, knowing that this workshop was sold out, but it wasn't until I arrived and met up with Bill Camacho, Marathon's vice president and fellow workshop staff member, who told me I was invited to the San Clemente home of his old friend Amy Lee and her fiancee Bob Modzelewski. Amy and Bill first met in New York City when both were employed by Madison Avenue advertising firms, and they have remained friends ever since. Amy and Bob recently moved into their new hilltop home with an absolutely breathtaking view of the valley below. The view was matched only by the exquisite art collection that graces the home's elegantly inviting interior. Here's a photo of Amy and Bob in their dining room, which features an exceptional carving of Buddhist deities, crafted entirely from various shades of jade.
Not only did Bill and I enjoy an evening of delightful conversation with Bob and Amy, we were treated to a delectable steak dinner, which Bob artfully prepared and elegantly served. Along with a dessert that featured the biggest and most beautiful strawberries I've ever seen, Bob and Amy served ice wine, a dessert wine produced from grapes that have been frozen while still on the wine and pressed from the frozen grapes before fermentation to create a concentrated sweet wine. I've never tasted ice wine before, and I'm absolutely crazy about it! By the end of the evening, I felt as though I had known Bob and Amy for years. I can only hope that our paths will cross again. What a wonderful couple they are!
I was eagerly anticipating my trip west, knowing that this workshop was sold out, but it wasn't until I arrived and met up with Bill Camacho, Marathon's vice president and fellow workshop staff member, who told me I was invited to the San Clemente home of his old friend Amy Lee and her fiancee Bob Modzelewski. Amy and Bill first met in New York City when both were employed by Madison Avenue advertising firms, and they have remained friends ever since. Amy and Bob recently moved into their new hilltop home with an absolutely breathtaking view of the valley below. The view was matched only by the exquisite art collection that graces the home's elegantly inviting interior. Here's a photo of Amy and Bob in their dining room, which features an exceptional carving of Buddhist deities, crafted entirely from various shades of jade.
Not only did Bill and I enjoy an evening of delightful conversation with Bob and Amy, we were treated to a delectable steak dinner, which Bob artfully prepared and elegantly served. Along with a dessert that featured the biggest and most beautiful strawberries I've ever seen, Bob and Amy served ice wine, a dessert wine produced from grapes that have been frozen while still on the wine and pressed from the frozen grapes before fermentation to create a concentrated sweet wine. I've never tasted ice wine before, and I'm absolutely crazy about it! By the end of the evening, I felt as though I had known Bob and Amy for years. I can only hope that our paths will cross again. What a wonderful couple they are!