Visit the White House

i’ve lived here almost a year and i just finally was able to get a tour (just the east wing stuff, nothing too exciting). Hopefully I’ll get to see the west wing one day.

As I am a UK citizen I don’t think this si going to happen, short of me marrying a politician in the States! But it’s something I’ve always wanted to do…. I was in DC in 2000 and had tickets to get into the WH but President Clinton closed it the day I was due to go for a conference with banking people….

Twice. Both times on the South Lawn and through the Rose Garden. On the last time they let out the North Lawn which is kind of rare. SS get all upset if you step on the grass. The North Lawn is where the the TV cameras are setup pointed towards the front door.

When we visited the White House, we were shuffled like cattle through a small section, definitely interesting but I know there are more interesting things to do while in DC. The highlight of one of our visits was looking out the window and seeing the secret service agents escorting the First Dog outside to do his duty. Great to know my tax dollars are hard at work.

We were just outside it, but I remember this weird guy that looked like he was in a trance, or possessed or something walking around the White House chanting “Salvation for Satan” in a droll mono-tone voice. And when my dad said “Salvation through Jesus” I swear he started preaching! It was one of the strangest things I think I’ve ever encountered. Apart from the “man with the can” in London, and the old hippie with a whole street lined with anti-war signs, bathing in his underwear in the middle of London.

It was alright, I went there with my aunt who works at CBS and got invited. It was pretty cool.

By the way, let’s start working on finding someone else to live there!!

Gerald Ford lived there at the time. (I was thinking it was Nixon, but my memory was off by a year!) I didn’t get to meet him. Someone my mother had worked with was on his staff, and we met up with him and he gave us a tour.

.... and I was on a Boy Scout trip. I don’t remember much about the tour. I do remember some Hari Krishnas panhandled us outside the White House. We said we didn’t have any money, just our jack knives. One of them asked me for my knife so he could cut flowers in the woods. Yeah, right.

My boyfriend (now hubby) and I took my little brother. We didn’t actually go inside because the line was so long (actually, I think this was before 9/11 even happened.) But it was neat just walking by and taking a picture…...