There are perks....

I get so many reactions to the Air Force lifestyle we lead; "Don't you hate moving all the time?", "What if Scott gets deployed?", "Will you have to live overseas?" There are so many pros that outweigh the cons it makes it hard to imagine another way of life. In fact I told Scott just last night that I don't know what I'll do when he finally retires (granted we have 9 years to go!); I'm going to still want to move every 3 years!

Among the many positive things are the cool people we know around the world (I can say the world thing since we do now have friends in Korea - there's your shout out, Sara and James!). One of those is Mel, Scott's good friend from the Academy. We saw her and her husband just a few months ago and it was then that she invited us on a West Wing tour - you know, since she works there and all!

Just after we arrived in 2006 we went through all the red tape to get the usual White House tour and, although it was impressive to be there, it was a little underwhelming. Red Room, Blue Room, Green Room, and out the back door you go. Being very curious I'm always interested in what's behind the scenes. I'm much more interested in seeing the living quarters than the boring rooms lined with historic artwork. I mean, who didn't want to see Elvis's bathroom when they visited Graceland?!? I'm not afraid to admit it! Okay, I digress.

I say all that just to make the point that I was really excited about getting a West Wing tour that is not easily available to the general public. You for sure have to know someone to get in. Hence the perks of the military; had we not known Mel we would've just been looking through the gate like everyone else!

It took a while to schedule but we finally nailed it down to the 10th - just before tours really slow down (maybe stop) with the new administration. So, I lined up Kevin to watch Evan and we headed out on Saturday afternoon for the hour and a half trip to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

We met Mel and Adam just outside one of the entrance gates and proceeded through security. The first thing I noticed after walking through security was the storage of camera equipment just outside the entrance to the White House. Mel explained that these are cameras of the individual networks and they just leave them covered outside, since they are used so frequently.

The first area we toured was the Press Room. This is the room where press conferences are typically held. Having only seen this room on TV I was surprised by how small it actually is. There are 49 theater-like seats facing the podium, all designated for individual networks by a name plate on the base of the chair. The longer you've been a member of the White House press corps, the better your seat. Behind the seats are about eight stationary cameras for the camera crew. Unfortunately this is the only room where you can take pictures. You'll just have to take my word for it on the rest!

A view of the back of the Press Room

The podium at the front of the Press Room

Cheesing it up in front of the podium

After the press room we entered the lobby area. On each side of the foyer were two huge - and literally priceless - vases from the Ming Dynasty of China (that's like from the 1400's!!!). The main lobby was decorated with a few couches and chairs and a bookcase housing books of papers from some of the most recent administrations as well as some of Dubbya's favorite presidents (although I cannot remember who they were!). Also in the lobby was the clock from the HMS Resolute, an English ship which the US saved from thick ice in the Arctic in the 1800's. More to come on that....

Just past the lobby was the Roosevelt Room (named for Teddy), a large conference room used for formal meetings by the President and his staff. Of interest was the one chair in the middle of the table that was taller than all the rest; you guessed it, that one's designated for the Prez himself.

Lining all the hallways of the West Wing is priceless art selected by the President; in Bush's case it's a lot of Native American artwork by George Catlin. At the end of the hallway is another large conference room, the Cabinet Room. This is where the President meets with members of the Cabinet. On the back of each chair is a gold plate with the name of the cabinet member. At the end of the term, if the cabinet member is not chosen by the new administration, they have the option of purchasing the chair and those proceeds go to charity. Pretty cool. The Cabinet Room also has a large fireplace. Mel tells us that Bush brings back mesquite wood from Crawford to burn in the fireplace. Just some trivia if you're ever on Jeopardy!

And then - just around the curved hallway - the Oval Office. Since the President was not in residence the doors were open and we were able to peek just inside the doorway. The only way to describe it was amazing. Just standing there was overwhelming; I mean imagining what it must feel like to be the guy sitting behind that desk. I wonder if you sit there on your first day and think, "What am I doing here?" And speaking of the desk - the HMS Resolute I mentioned earlier - well, as a thank you for returning the ship to England, Queen Victoria had parts of it made into a desk, the desk used by all the US Presidents since.

On the right side of the office was another door, the door into the private office of the President (can you say Monica Lewinsky?!?) and to the left was a door that blended with the wall and had a peep hole. This is the door to the President's Aide. On every conference table and on the desk in the Oval Office is a small box with a button on top. The President can use this button to call the aide whenever he needs something. Can you imagine how long it takes to get used to that kind of treatment?

Through the windows of the Oval Office we could see the First Dogs, Miss Beasley and Barney hanging out in the Rose Garden. Because the dogs were in the garden, tours were not allowed access. Dang dogs!

We then headed downstairs to get a glimpse of the White House Mess, the dining area for staff. It was a small but very elegant area where senior White House staff have lunch meetings. Mel explained to us that the four military branches actually have specific roles in the White House; the Air Force of course is responsible for Air Force One, the Marines for Marine One, the Army for transportation and logistics on the ground, and the Navy for the food!

When you turn around from the dining room you are staring at the door of the - duhn, duhn, duhn - Situation Room. Of course we were not allowed in but we did get a quick peek when someone walked in (the staff there are 24/7!) and I winked at the camera perched above the entrance door! This is the intelligence management center for the White House and where the President conducts all secure communication. Way cool!

Probably one of the coolest parts of the tour, aside from the actual Oval Office, was the array of photographs of the President since he's been in office. Apparently because he will be leaving soon, these pictures were just changed out to really depict some of the highlights of Bush's time in office. There was one 11 x 14 after another of the President - from him at Ground Zero after 9/11, to throwing a first pitch at a baseball game, to him with his chainsaw on the ranch in Crawford. They really told the story of his last eight years and we were just amazed. As we exited, there were three new pictures on the wall, all of which were taken just in the last week. Two were of the five living Presidents, Bush Sr, Bush, Carter, Clinton and Obama, and one of Obama and Bush. A pretty cool way to end the tour...

Lastly, Mel pointed out the Blair House just across the street from the White House. This is where the incoming President resides five days before he's inaugurated and moves into the White House. So Obama will be staying here in a few days...

So, there's my long-winded version of the once-in-a-lifetime experience that was our West Wing tour. Thanks, Mel -