Yesterday night, I went to a giant schmoozefest and it was great.

CDT packed the place in honor of their 10 year anniversary. Senator Leahy, Congressman Goodlatte, and FTC Chair Deborah Platt-Majoras all spoke. Nearly everyone paid tribute to Ron Plesser, including the announcement of a public-private attorney fellowship being created in his name at CDT. What I most remember Ron for is the help that he and Leslie and others gave to my Mom when she was on the short list for a possible appointment to the 7th Circuit — ah the power of the former chairs of the ABA Individual Rights & Responsibilities Section.

I ran into a lot of old friends — many of my wonderful former CDT colleagues, the whole gang from the Internet Education Foundation, Jim Halpert (my first boss, back when I was a summer intern at PFAW), Leslie Harris (who was Jim’s boss back then), Jen Jacobsen, Elizabeth Frazee, John Podesta (I also saw Mark Agrast, but he was too far away and I didn’t see him again), David Eisner, Marv Johnson, Danny Weitzner. Somehow I’d missed the announcement that Jon Leibowitz was now an FTC Commissioner — and has been for almost a year. I didn’t see Paula Bruening or Aleck Johnson, or anyone from the ALA, which was sad, but it was SO crowded it’s not much of a surprise. But I wish I had — Paula and Aleck were the people I was most excited to see.

Here’s the whining part: Somehow, yesterday afternoon, I did something Bad to my back. It happened when I stood up, turned, and tripped over my bag, while talking to Walter, one of the movers. My lower back, which was cranky from my having been sleeping on the floor, is now pissed off and not going to take it any more.

I’ve been trying to be nice to it and taking painkillers, but I think I’m going to have to go to the doctor’s when I get back to Atlanta.