From White Castle to the White House

You all saw ‘Harold and Kumar go to White Castle,’ right? If not, the movie’s premise is that two stoners want to get some White Castle hamburgers, but run into a series of set backs as they smoke their way across New Jersey. Anyways, the star actor, if you can call him that, is Kal Penn. I have nothing against Kal Penn, and he is a decent enough actor, but I was surprised to see that he had been killed off of his current show, House, as he committed suicide in the latest episode. Why would they kill off Kumar! It wasn’t until Monday that I found out…here we go.

In my time here in Washington, DC, I never though I would make it to Barry’s House. Of course I joke about my weekly basketball game with number 44, but in reality, I had never been closer than the gates on 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. I petitioned everyone with contacts over the course of my semester in DC to get me into the people’s house, as Obama likes to say. Finally, I met Megan. Megan is the White House field producer for the SPAN, and she and another co-worker watched a MSU tournament game with me at the bar. I half jokingly asked Megan to take me, as press. So, what did Megan do???? SHE GOT ME A PRESS PASS!!!! I have been to the Vatican, I have toured Spain, France, Israel, the ancient Roman ruins, I have visited the Greek Isles, the historic Acropolis, and more. But, I’ll be honest, and I don’t mean this to put down any of the other things or places I have seen, but, IT IS THE WHITE HOUSE!!!!! By far, one of the coolest things I have ever been able to do in my life! Let’s get to the story…

Monday, the day I finally made it to the White House, although not as president myself, was the day of the Annual White House Easter Egg Roll. Thousands of kids flooded the South Lawn (which is the softest grass I have ever been on) and rolled eggs across it. Fergie (of Pea fame), gave a concert (and later sang the national anthem for the Prez), and in walked…KUMAR! Yes, we are back to Kumar. Apparently, the reason he was ‘killed off’ of House was that he was offered a position as one of Obama’s advisers at the White House! CRAZY! He left his high-paying actor job, to serve the man. Let’s be honest, who wouldn’t! I’d do anything for Barry!

Back in FDR’s term, with his polio crippling him later on, he had a swimming pool installed at the White House. Rumors circulated that Kennedy often used it with a certain female named Marilyn. Anyways, the pool has since been drained, and it currently resides beneath the current press briefing room, which was built over the pool some time ago. Now, the pool houses the tech center for all of the cables and servers used by the TV networks. The pool’s walls, drains, gutters, and flooring is all still in place. Then, I was asked by a presser… “Do you want to sign it?” Like any good, classy restaurant, a la Crunchy’s, people who are privy to such a special place are able to sign the walls. I couldn’t not do it! To sign the White House pool?! To be forever marked on history?! So I took the sharpie that was extended to me and signed. I could have just signed anywhere, but I decided to leave a mark. I signed right above a certain General, maybe you’ve heard of him…David Petraeus? HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!?!?!?!?

For the rest of the day, I helped Megan with her work, took in a press brief with Robert Gibbs, and I swear I could see CJ Craig, and I even sat in Danny Concannon’s Seat! Sorry, I’m a West Wing nerd.

Most people don’t ever get to do something like that. I spent 10 hours hanging out at the White House. I was within 5 feet of Barack, Michele, and the kids. I could have reached out and touched Joe Biden, and Fergie. I could have had a White Castle burger at the White House with Kumar. How fortunate I am! I was within 20 feet of the Oval Office! I even had a secret service escort! Ok, not just me, all media have to have one to move about the grounds. THANK YOU, MEGAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And no, I did not see Bo. Bo is the new white house Portuguese Water dog that Sasha and Malia were promised on election night. The dog arrived the day after I was there.

I’ve been on the floor of the U.S. Capitol, I have been inside the White House, and now it’s time to go. There will be a very bitter sweet post coming soon about my last day of work, which was today. I’ll save the emotion for later.