Air Force One, Again!

I know last week's post about Air Force One said that it was likely my last trip on AF1 for this administration but I lied. Apparently the WH likes to take trips every five days and currently there are only two of us covering the WH for my network. So it was my turn again already. When I first found out about the trip (I heard about it first since I'm the pool chair), I heard we were going to LA. Pretty cool I thought. Then I got assigned to the trip. Then I figured out that LA in this case stood for Louisiana, not Los Angeles. There's a world of difference between the two.

So this morning, we headed to Alexandria, LA for a few hours. I think we were actually on AF1 longer than we were actually on the ground but I'm not complaining. It was a very doable day! We had a 2 1/2 hour flight down there which included the part where we actually did work. Dana gaggled (that's our term for briefing off camera) for a few minutes which included a bit of news. When I went back to listen to my audio recorder, I realized that I hadn't actually pushed record! Doh!! Luckily I took really good notes and then when it came time to send an actual word-for-word quote, I just borrowed one of my wire colleague's transcription. It was a little like cheating on a high school test but with his permission and we weren't being graded on anything. And there's not a teacher. Anyway, I'll make double sure that I actually record the gaggle the next time!

Oh and just because apparently my life revolves around food.... we had chicken salad croissants and Greek salad, potato chips, and chocolate ice cream for the light lunch. And we watched "Best in Show".

The event we went all the way to Alexandria, LA for was a business roundtable that we went in to see exactly 4 minutes and 41 seconds of. Literally that is all the time we had at the event. It seems to me we could have done the same thing in Alexandria, VA but then I guess I wouldn't have had my second day in the past two weeks on AF1. POTUS talked about the economy and rescue plan and the bailout and how it all affects small businesses. There were a few new things he said but all in all it wasn't earth-shattering. I had to write up a report in a very short period of time and send it out to the hundreds and hundreds of people from the five networks that read my reports. Again this time, it was a good thing that I took great notes because this time most of what I heard on my audio recorder were camera flashes and people rustling papers. I was 0-2 in successful audio recorder experiences today!

Then we went right back to the airport and waited on AF1 while POTUS met with some families of fallen soldiers and Marines. He likes to do that on many of his trips and it's one of the things that the WH doesn't publicize but POTUS takes the time to do it. No matter what your political leanings, it's a cool thing that he does that.

And then it was just another 2 1/2 hour flight from Alexandria, LA back home to Alexandria, VA... well at least to Andrews AFB and then driving to Alexandria. For the record, we had jambalaya in a sourdough bread-bowl and key lime pie for the light supper. I don't think we hit the 12,000 calorie mark today but we probably came close! I diligently worked for approximately 45 minutes over the course of the day and the rest of the day I spent waiting and eating (even though we were only served two meals today!) I'm not going to lie, I am pretty beat this evening!! Oh, and the movie was some Woody Allen movie. Obviously I didn't pick it because I would have definitely picked "Baby Mama" over the movie that we saw.

Oh, today was officially a success because I loaded up on the Presidential M&Ms. I figured that the number of AF1 trips for this administration is waning so they should be giving the George Bush M&Ms away like crazy! I think I ended up with about ten boxes! E-bay here I come!!!