Diary Prequel Package — page 158

{ was respected food journalists and he "narrated" the meal that was served to us at a very elegant dinner on July 6 at Plato's restaurant hosted by Booz, Allan, Hamilton. They brought in a chef from Denver and provided a meal made only from local ingredients (lamb, vegetables, corn soup, etc.). We had long discussions and we flew back together from Aspen to Denver. He offered Chris and me use of his Boston Apartment when we come to Boston to visit Jenny. July 10-14, 2007 - Went to Genoa for my yearly review of the Gaslini Institute. It was the usual pleasant interactions with Lorenzo Moretta, Alain Fischer, and Sergio Romagnani (Committee members) as well as the people of Gaslini such as Gianni Melioli, Giovanni Rossi, Alessandro Moretta. Since I was not allowed to take the honorarium this year of any more, this might be my last time doing this. July 21 - 25, 2007 - Went to Sydney Australia with Chris, Megan and Alison to present the opening session plenary lecture on the topic of "HIV/AIDS in 2007: Much Accomplished, Much To Do". We had to turn around quickly and come home and thus cancel our plans for a mini-vacation in Australia together. Reason was that I had to return to DC to receive the National Medal of Science (see below). The trip was nonetheless very enjoyable notwithstanding the length of travel time. My talk went over very well, got much press and turned out to be the defining theme of the meeting that caught on with the press and the other speakers. July 27, 2007 - Received the National Medal of Science from the POTUS at a 1:50 PM White House ceremony in the East Room. Hot, sunny Washington day. I was one of 8 people who received the award for 2005 (yes 2005 - they are 2 years behind in awarding them). The POTUS was very nice with me. The Army Major who announced the names completely blew the pronunciation of my name despite having a phonetic crib in front of him. The POTUS laughed and when I went up to the podium to get the medal and shake his hand, he put his arm around me and whispered in my ear "Maybe this guy does not know what you name is, but I certainly do". There was a nice reception after. Condi Rice gave me a hug and kiss and joked about the mispronunciation of my name. We saw the POTUS leave from the WH lawn on Marine One Helicopter to spend the weekend at Camp David. In the evening we had an elegant dinner with many guests from government at the Ritz Carlton on 22nd and M Streets, N.W. Guests at my table were Elias Zerhouni and John Gallin together with Denise and Jack Scorce. Nice time. I felt rather humbled by the amazing accomplishments of the other awardees (mostly physicists and engineers). July 27 - August 30, 2007 - A number of relatively minor issues over the past 4 weeks. Had laparoscopic surgery for right indirect inguinal hernia on August 2 at Sibley Hospital by Dr. Martin Paul. Minor complications of 2 1⁄2 weeks of severe pain over the mesh that had developed a "seroma". It is fine now. Went to Seattle, WA to deliver opening session plenary lecture at the HIV/AIDS Vaccine 2007 meeting run by Larry Corey. Talk well received. Have been having very "scratchy" voice that has significantly interfered with my lecture since my Plenary in Sydney (when I first noticed it) in July. I had laryngoscopy by Dr. Michael Siegel. It