Subject: Re: Thanks so much
From: Christopher Edley <[email-masked]>
To: "Podesta, Mary" <[email-masked]>
Cc: Maria Echaveste <[email-masked]>, John Podesta <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 10:53:09 -0700

I'm someone who -- for reasons that must have to do with a past life -- 
feels a lift in my heart, almost literally, when I look at the ocean or 
go sailing.  Fresh water doesn't do it for me, perhaps because there's 
no salt water smell. Even Lake Tahoe seemed like an astonishingly 
gorgeous, scary-giant postcard, rather than something I was really /at.  
/Even when standing on the beach. 

BUT the mountains, the pine trees -- what Mary describes!  This was the 
first time in 25 years I've felt that same lift without looking at the 
sea.  It was really something.  Can't thank you guys enough.

Disappointed Mae opted for the Ivy League, but can't argue she made a 
mistake! And, more generally, California's dysfunction has now replaced 
earthquakes, terrorist/North Korean WMDs, and Boalt's capital campaign 
as my biggest day-to-day source of anxiety.  We may have to move 
somewhere else.  Manitoba. Maui. Majorca. Whatever.

PS: We promise to do better by Gabe this coming year.  We know he's 
prone to idleness, delinquency, and general troublesomeness.  So we'll 
help out as best we can. I particularly worry that whenever I pass him 
in the hall he is surrounded by women, and smiling.  It suggests a 
certain lack of academic focus and serious purpose. But don't worry.

Podesta, Mary wrote:
>
> Maria,
>
>  
>
> Glad you enjoyed it.  I love it up there.  I love the smell of pine 
> needles and the blue, blue sky and golden quality of the sunlight.  
> Even walking out of the Safeway and seeing the mountains and tall 
> pines in front of me takes my breath away every time.  You definitely 
> should come up again on your own and when we are there.  Our next trip 
> as a family will be for two weeks around July 25 to August 8.  I'll 
> let you know as soon as we have definite dates.  And  don't worry 
> about the cards.  We've got more.
>
>  
>
> Mary
>
>  
>
> *From:* Maria Echaveste [mailto:[email-masked]]
> *Sent:* Tuesday, May 26, 2009 11:04 PM
> *To:* Podesta, Mary; John Podesta
> *Cc:* Christopher Edley
> *Subject:* Thanks so much
>
>  
>
> Dear Mary and John---thanks so much for the use of the condo in 
> Truckee this weekend.  Christopher and I (and the children) enjoyed it 
> immensely..  We couldn't believe that we'd been here 5 years and this 
> was the first time we had ever been in the Sierra or seen Lake Tahoe 
> or Donner Lake---It was so beautiful.  The Northwoods pool was not 
> open yet, but Elias and I tried playing tennis for awhile which was 
> fun, as was the hike.  The instructions were quite clear, so we hope 
> you find everything okay.  We left the dirty sheets and towels in the 
> first bathroom, and we put fresh linens on the beds.  WE did open the 
> battlestar galactic, first season DVD---I'm afraid I'm a fan and had 
> never seen the beginning.  Now it looks like my 8 year old son is 
> becoming another sci fi fan---Hope you enjoy the two bottles of wine 
> we left.  See you soon---and we definitely want to come up again.  
> (PS, Christopher packed the pinochle pack of cards thinking they were 
> ours---should we give them to Gabe?)  When are you guys going to be 
> out here?  Maria
>
>  
>
>  */MARIA ECHAVESTE/*
>
> Partner
>
> NVG, LLC
>
> 1100 17th St., NW,  Suite 902
>
> Washington, DC 20036
>
> 202.778.0740
>
> 510.848.1181 (Berkeley Office)
>
>  
>
>  
>

-- 
Christopher Edley, Jr.
Dean and Orrick Professor of Law
Boalt Hall, U.C. Berkeley