FAN: Still A Fan - Roadtrip

I went on a field trip today with Stroke's 5th grade class. I actually volunteered to go. We left at 7 am and got back around 7:30 pm. I had 3 girls in my group and I couldn't have asked for better girls to lead around. They were quiet and respectful and still had boatloads of fun.

We started off at the Capital in Harrisburg, PA. I had no idea how nice this building was. If you have never been there or taken the tour, I highly recommend it. The artwork in the dome is really something to see. Having a tour guide point things out made the dome that much better. I could tell the kids really didn't appreciate how intricate it was or how expansive - but the parents simply couldn't believe it. I could have spent 30 more minutes just walking around it and looking in every nook and crannie. Cranny? Crannie. Who knows?

We saw the Representative's room and again was blown away by the architecture and art. The marble that made up the room was mined in France and the mine was shut down after filling the order for the room. The paintings were very detailed here as well. A Representative who knows Still A Stroke's teacher met us there and told us a little about the room. From there we went to the Senate's room. While still nice, I thought the Representative's room was a bit more stately. We left there and went to the state Supreme Court. Really nice paintings there and one of the 200 grandfather clocks in the building.

After leaving there we went to the Governor's mansion. We got to see his office and dining room and a few other rooms in the hizzy. I also got to answer two questions that the kids didn't know the answers to. There was a grandfather clock there and Harrisburg was spelled Harrisburgh on it. The guide said the "H" was dropped on several PA burgh's at the same time but one kept it.....did the kids know? No....I wish Stroke knew but she didn't so I spoke up and said "of course the great city of Pittsburgh". I also knew the mine that sent an oil lamp to the governor after the 9 for 9 rescue. Quecreek. How couldn't I know....Still A Dad freakin lives right around there.

I have Ed Rendell's pic on here for a reason. I'm not a fan as you know which way I sway and I worked for the city as a consultant while he was in office here. I heard a lot of chatter about the career politician and such but I just didn't always agree with the politics and he seemed like a bully from what you read. I actually rode in an elevator with him once while he was mayor and shook his hand and said "hello". A few years later I rode the train into the city while Mrs Fan was on jury duty and I no longer worked there just to hang out for the day. I went to an old lunch haunt where I used to (cough) place bets (cough) on football as well. I had a great rapport with the owners over 5 years of eating there and I wanted to say "Hi". When I got there Ed was talking to them. He had an office there as the head of Democratic party. This time I actually spoke to him as well asking about a girl I used to know who quit her job to go work for his campaign as he wasn't the governor yet. He told me he spoke to her recently and really liked her and that she was really sharp. He was very friendly and had the ability to make me feel like I knew him, but I am always cautious of that trait in people who want something from me...my vote!

Well today he scored more points from me but I'll still never vote for him. The entire 5th grade was split into 4 groups as we toured the mansion. We were last and were put in a holding tank outside by Barney Fife and Andy. As the first 2 groups came out they told us they got to meet the Governor. We toured the building and were told we had to be quiet near the end of one hallway as he was hosting the Div II Champ Men's BB Team inside.....from IUP. "Booooooo". Ok, so I went to CUP. We used to own them back in the day when I was there at hoops. I was there while Kenny Toomer and Ric Hill were blowing up. Ric used to come to our house parties. Anyway, the ballroom door was cracked open and we got a peak at the Gov at the head table. Kids were waving but he was engaged in conversation. We went out to tour the garden and one mom was upset that other classes met him and ours did not. She was Hell bent on her daughter saying Hi to the Governor.

We walked past a gardener and she asked him if he had any pull to get Ed to come outside to say hello. He said he would go tell the butler. At that moment, the governor and IUP's team came out to tour the garden as well. The went in a different direction and line up for a picture. The butler walked up to Rendell, told him about our class and Ed waved us over. He was very gracious, thanked us for coming, introduced us to the IUP team and us to them. Talked a little about our home town which he knows very well and then made small talk for a few minutes. Our guide said something to him and he commented on the groups outstanding behavior. The guide did tell us parents how well behaved our kids were and that she really appreciated it as not all groups are. Ed even told the kids how much he liked their uniforms and wondered why all the kids didnt have on the optional shorts.

I posted the pic above because that's how I remembered Ed from our meeting at lunch. Comb Over Hello? A little pudgy. Sloppy dress a little. Today he was tan, thinner and wearing a very very sharp suit and tie. I have to say he looked way better today than I remembered him. Also, while entertaining the team he really didn't have to have us over but he did and didn't blow us off at all. He made the kids feel welcome and I appreciated that. Good job, Ed, but you still don't have my vote.

Afterwards, we went to Hershey for the 4D movie and tour but I am so tired from the trip that I have to cut that part short. It suffices to say that my group was so good I treated them out of my pocket to $4.25 milkshakes which made us all bloated for the ride home!