Cattle Drive No. 2

Quite the scene at that glittering glass fortress known as the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on the Potomac River. Some 12,000 revelers at Texas' Black Tie & Boots gala inched their way, heel to toe, from ballroom to ballroom. They gridlocked the atria, logjammed the elevators, corraled by velvet ropes and giddyupped by frazzled event staffers, reports our colleague Dan Zak. In the main ballroom at 8:15 p.m., after the Texas Congressional delegation applauded themselves for their hard work, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas) had a few words: "Whenever Texans get together, we have fuhhnn," she said. Thank yew, senator.

Texas big: Two thousands pounds of beef tenderloin, 2,500 lbs of cheese, more than 70,000 bits of hors d'oeuvre, and six stages featuring two dozen bands. Celebrity lite: Denzel Washington took the stage to say some nice things about Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio and Marshall, Texas, where he directed "The Great Debaters."

"Don't drink too much, eat all you want, God bless you and happy new year," he told the crowd, which heaved toward him as he tried to exit the ballroom. A flock of Kilgore College Rangerettes, a dance drill team bedecked in white cowboy hats and white boots, managed to reach the actor for a photo.

"I look gross, but oh well," said Rangerette 1.

"Why's my head cut off?" said Rangerette 2.

"I was grabbing him!" gushed Rangerette 3, hyperventilating.