Tony Blair, Gerhard Schroder, and a few more European leaders... A one on one with the Russian Defense minister at a ministerial in Romania got me in trouble. He started the conversation and I answered. Rumsfeld was late to the room and someone had to be in the room with him. I was the only one available. We talked about Romania after I told him I had not been to Russia. He asked where I was from in the US and I said, Virginia. He said he liked the mountains as he had visited there a few times. Told me that he liked fly fishing out west in Wyoming too.

I have been with the State Dept for 22 years in communications and I end up sitting in rooms waiting for conferences to start. A lot of them like to talk to people they don't know. Three years at NATO HQ in Brussels, two years at the Embassy in Kabul, and one year in Baghdad...lots of people.

Lots of senators (McCain and Hillary probably the most famous or known). Didn't particularly like either in person. Cruz was a dick too. Pelosi was very nice. With what my dad has said about her it was surprising.

Lots of Representatives. Too many to remember. A few Secretaries of something or high-up administrators. None memorable.

Entertainers- SRV- was sort of sad as this was before he was sober and he was my guitar hero. BB King. Dwight Yoakum (I was his driver for a weekend when he played at wolf trap...he is a fantastic guy).

Russell Johnson, Dawn Wells, and Bob Denver (douche) also. Russell and Dawn were great. A few more minutes with the professor than Dawn but both were very kind with their time and very personable. It was one on one with both. I grew up loving Gilligans Island. Dawn joked with me and got me to answer Ginger or Maryanne. I tried to avoid but I eventually said both were my crush (true). Then she saw my redheaded wife when she came by and chuckled. My wife had no idea who she was. She didn't watch the show as a kid.

A bunch of athletes...none really memorable.

My favorite conversation from anyone remotely famous- Matt 'Guitar' Murphy. Thirty minutes of one on one stories, guitar talk, and him being interested in my family and what got me into music.

I will say that I avoid these situations these days. I am tired and just want to get my work done. Particularly with government officials. Unless I can get a challenge coin out of the deal. I have a collection of over 150 coins.