A New York perspective on San Francisco| Fireworks | Successful Celebrity Couples - 7/8/07

[Smartmarriages]

- SAN FRANCISCO DATES GOOD FOR SOME

I worried about meeting over the July 4th holiday in 2008, but it turns out
there is always a silver lining.  It may be a bonus for states with an
extended school year.  Who knew??  And, must admit I'm delighted that so
many of you see the July 4th holiday as a bonus - easier to take off from
work and take advantage of this "conference excuse" to go to SF.

Also, want to tell you that when I was in SF I had the bureau help me check
out the best sites to view the fire works.  I'm told it will be spectacular
- fire works on the Bay with views of the Golden Gate bridge, Marin,
Alcatraz.  I walked to and from the fireworks viewing sites. I checked out
two routes - one more direct but over Nob Hill (steep) and another totally
flat route through China Town. Plan an hour. I also tried the wonderful SF
bus/trolley system to get to the best sites. Very easy though who knows how
crowded those will be. I PROMISE we'll end the conference early on Fri July
4th with plenty of time to buy a carryout picnic on San Francisco's famous
sourdough bread and stake out a good spot.

HOWEVER, and this will be the first of many warnings - it will be COLD.
We'll be down by the water with brisk winds coming in off the Pacific.  I
checked the weather report and on July 4th, 2007, the high was 69 and the
low 54 - then throw in the wind and fog!  Start planning now to pack a space
blanket on which to sit and another one to wrap up in plus a down jacket!
Or, that's my plan. SF isn't your usual July weather.  Beautiful, but can be
bracingly brisk.  
Diane  

A NEW YORK PERSPECTIVE ON THE JULY 4TH DATES:
> Hi Diane:
>  
> Thanks so much for the later dates next year for Smart Marriages!  I live in
> NYC and still have small kids in elementary school.  The school year does not
> end until the last days of June for most of NY state which has always made it
> difficult to attend the pre-conference institutes.  I know NY has had a
> smaller percentage of our population to attend than other states, and this may
> be the explanation.  So I hereby call on my fellow New Yorkers to spread the
> work and increase our turnout the San Francisco conference.
>  
> Absolutely loved Pat Love!!!!  Bought the Hot Monogamy curriculum and plan on
> using it!  Exploring Relationships and Marriage with Fragile Families and Hip
> Hop was also EXTREMELY and VITALLY IMPORTANT and exceptional!  It is rare that
> organizations acknowledge the influence that hip hop has on our relationships
> and how intricately woven it is into the fabric of our society.   Hip hop can
> be celebrated and utilized to help our relationships! 
> Tammy Greer Brown
> President/CEO 
> Celebrating Real Family Life

##################################
- SUCCESSFUL CELEBRITY COUPLES LIST

> Hi Diane, 
> We met briefly in Denver. I am the incoming Executive Director of the Columbus
> Marriage Coalition.  Have you (or are you aware of anyone else who has)
> compiled a list of public figures (politicians, actors, sports figures, etc.)
> who have long-lasting marriages and/or who are advocates for marriage? My wife
> saw an article in People magazine about Bon Jovi and it would be great to know
> others who have been married for a long time, to reach out and explore the
> possibility of bringing them to local events.
> Doug Bierl
> Executive Director
> Columbus Marriage Coalition
> Cell: (740) 972-3915
> bierl at columbusmarriage.org


I'll share this with the list and put you and your wife in charge of
updating it.  Please, everyone, send suggestions to Doug and then Doug will
send it to me to share.

Also, when you have questions it's good to start at the list serv archive.
We've discussed this list many times.  Of course, with so many thousands of
posts it gets harder and harder to find what you're looking for: a
http://lists101.his.com/pipermail/smartmarriages/

Successful couples
 
These listed are all first marriages. Should we include the divorced who
were/are in long remarriages (Ronnie and Nancy/Paul & Joanne/Christopher &
Dana Reeves)?  Of course, we could list all presidential marriages except
Ronnie and Nancy - divorce/remarriage were unheard of in presidential
couples until they broke that barrier. How about couples where the scandal
and infidelity are what we think of first, but they are working at it - for
better or worse: Bill & Camille Crosby, Bill & Hilary Clinton. Or they
persevered - or simply endured for political reasons - till death - like
Franklin and Eleanor, Jack and Jackie.     - diane
 
George and Martha Washington
John and Abigail Adams
Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln
Harry and Bess Truman
Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter
Bill and Hillary Clinton
Gerald and Betty Ford
George and Laura Bush
George and Barbara Bush
John & Elizabeth Edwards
Barack & Michelle Obama
Mitt & Ann Romney 
Mario and Matilda Cuomo
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver
Al and Tipper Gore
 
Walter and Betsy Cronkite (in 2007 married 66 years and both 91)
Charles and Anne Lindberg
Bill and Camille Cosby
Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee ­ a Hollywood marriage since 1948
Mel Gibson and Robyn, 7 kids
F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald
Mark Twain and wife, Olivia
George and Gracie Allen
James Carville and Mary Maitlin ­ (our poster couple for ³it's not about
differences but how you handle them.²)
Kevin Bacon & Kyra Sedgwick (married since 1988)
Tony Plana & Ada Maris (our keynoters 2007)
Michael Fox and wife (sickness and health)
Al Hunt and Judy Woodruff
Billy and Ruth Graham
Cokie and Steve Roberts
Kathleen and Chris Matthews (Hardball)
Albert and Victoria
 
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw
Ozzie and Harriet 
Bob & Dolores Hope 
Meryl Streep & Don Grummer
 
Adam and Eve
Cliff and Clair Huxtable
Archie and Edith Bunker
Homer and Marge Simpson
Fred and Wilma Flintstone
Tony and Camilla Soprano
Donald and Daisy
Dagwood and Blondie
Mickey and Minnie
Lady and the Tramp
Homer and Marge 
June and Ward Cleaver
Tarzan and Jane
Peg and Al Bundy
Ma and Pa Kettle
George and Mary Bailey (It's a Wonderful Life)
Me and Bobby McGee 
Lady and the Tramp
 
**************************
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12th Annual Smart Marriages Conference, Hilton San Francisco Hotel,
July 2 - 5, 2008  
Pre-Conference Training Institutes June 30-July 2
Post-Conference Training Institutes July 6

List your program and resources on the Directory of Classes at
http://www.smartmarriages.com

Order conference audio & video CD/DVD/MP3s: 800-241-7785 or
http://www.iPlaybackSmartMarriages.com

Coalition for Marriage, Family and Couples Education, LLC (CMFCE)
Diane Sollee, Director
5310 Belt Rd NW, Washington, DC 20015-1961
http://www.smartmarriages.com
202-362-3332

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