Day 8 - A DAY ON THE FARM

Welcome to Jackson, Mississippi. Capitol Dome at sunset; Catfish at the Catfish Farm; Catfish statue at entrance of the research center.

Day 8 was a day at the farm! We started with a meeting with the Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi. After meeting with the Mayor, our class got onto a bus and traveled to a catfish farm. Mississippi has several different areas of agriculture. However, one of the largest commodities in the state is Catfish farms.

We started the tour with a quick bite of fired catfish, slaw, fries and sweet ice tea. After lunch, we toured the fields of the catfish farms and went through a processing plant to see how catfish is prepared. This was an unbelievable experience.

Tomorrow, we travel to New Orleans!

Regan...Good luck in your game tomorrow. Get a base hit and try your best!

Love y'all,

Ottster!

DAY 6 & 7 - RECEPTION & TRAVEL DAY

The first picture is the seal of the President of the U.S., located just inside the West Wing entrance. The picture of the produce was one of several displays we used during our reception. This display your daddy put together. The last picture is 400 bags of groceries that were handed out at the reception. All the bags were filled with products from California

Days 6 & 7 were very busy! Yesterday, the class met with several congressional staff members that will be working on this year's farm legislation. After the breakfast, the class went to the Old Executive Office building where we met with White House staff regarding several agricultural issues. After the meeting, the class had to rush back to Capitol Hill where we prepared several hundred bags filled with California produce.

After the reception, I had the opportunity to visit the West Wing of the White House. This is the portion of the White House where President Bush's office if located (also known as the oval office). I also toured the Rose Garden and saw several famous rooms including the Cabinet room and the Roosevelt room.

After getting some sleep, the class woke up and rushed to the Hill for the final time, meeting with seven congressmen, including the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives. After the meetings, it was a long day of traveling.

We left the hotel and drove to Baltimore where we caught a plane to Houston, Texas. From there, we flew and are currently in Jackson, Mississippi. We should have a big day tomorrow and I will be able to give you an inside scoop about how the catch Cat Fish!

Over half - way through the trip. Only four days left before daddy comes home! Give yourself a big hug and squeeze mommy for me. Love ya &

God Bless,

Ottster

DAY 5 - LEADERSHIP & THE SUPREME COURT

Daddy in front of the U.S. Supreme Court; next is the "War College", last picture is the plaque outside one of the main halls of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.




Hi Kids!

What a day! Started with breakfast with several staffers from Congress that are working very hard to pass the 2007 farm bill. After breakfast, our class toured the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (also known as the War College). This campus trains men and women who will be future representatives to other countries for the U.S. as well as future Generals and Admirals. While taking the tour, President Bush helicopter (Marine 1) flew right over our head. Awesome sight!

After the War College, the highlight of the day came. Justice Scalia met with our class. What can I say, brilliant. Most unbelievable experience! I learned more in 45 minutes than three years of political science classes! All I can say is WOW!

We finished the night with two plays at the Kennedy Center. The Kennedy Center is a giant performing arts center where plays, concerts and other performing arts take place. Right before the plays, we had the opportunity to see the President's helicopter again, fly right by the Kennedy Center (WOW, twice in one day!)

Looking forward to another exciting day tomorrow.

Miss you three very much. Keeping taking care of mommy while daddy is gone.

God Bless,

Ottster

DAY 4 - EMBASSY AND FUN TIME

These pictures include a German fighter used in WWII, a picture of the Japan Embassy sign, President Lincoln's hat and a picture of three airplanes (Spirit of St. Louis, Space Ship One and the X-2).

Hi Mommy, Regan & Jordan!

Good day today! After waking up and showing up to our class meeting 10 minutes late (alarm did not go off, we were ready to begin the day!

Kicked off with a visit at the Chinese Embassy. It looks like we will be going to China, Korea and Japan for our international trip next year! This will be a fun trip and we will learn a lot about other countries and people.

After the meeting with the Chinese, we had lunch with several people that work on Capitol Hill. These people are called lobbyist and work very hard to represent their friends issues and positions on several items that are voted on in the legislature.

After lunch, our class visited the Japan embassy. This is the country that Uncle Tim is moving to this week. It is an island smaller than California with over 120 million people living in the country. Also, the island has a very large volcano known as Mount Fiji.

After our visit, our class had time to go and visit Washington D.C. on our own. Several of my classmates, including myself, toured the Air and Space Museum. This museum had some really neat items. I go to see Kermit the Frog, Abraham Lincoln's hat, and several airplanes that have shaped air and space flight .

Until tomorrow, I love you very much,

God Bless,

Ottster

Day 3 - Gettysburg & Capitol Tour

The first three pictures were taken at Gettysburg. The two pictures of the cannon were taken on the "Southern Side" of the front lines. The next picture is of Little Round Top, the pivotal point in the battle. The next two pictures are the capitol building (remember from yesterday's pics?) The first one is the dome from outside...the second is the top of the dome inside.

Third day was...WOW! Begun the early 6:30 am day with a briefing about the famous battle of Gettysburg. Next, the class took a 90-minute bus ride to Gettysburg Pennsylvania. Aside from a little patches of snow still left on the ground and a chilly breeze from time to time...the weather was perfect.

During the tour, we went through all three days of the battle. In fact, we drove by the "Wheatfield" battle portion of Gettysburg where one of our relatives fought during the battle. After a packed morning and afternoon, we rode back to the hotel, changed and rushed quickly uphill to the capitol building where we had dinner with Congressmen Costa and Radanovich. After dinner, we had a tour of the capitol building and got to go on the floor of the House of Representatives. (Remember the song, "I'm just a bill"?)

It was a great day and I can't wait to take you kids some day!!

Hope all is well, lots of hugs and kisses!

God Bless,

Ottster

DAY 2 - TRAVEL DAY TO D.C.

(From left top) Iwo Jima Memorial; Looking from Jefferson Memorial (bottom) The Capitol at Night

Hi Kids!

Day two was a busy travel day. First, an early flight beginning from LAX (L.A.) to ORD (Chicago). No problem on the flight. Next after about an hour of down time we caught our next flight into Reagan National Airport - Washington D.C.

After a quick metro ride we had dinner as a group...well half of the 22 of us due to the fact that the northern group was stuck in SFO (San Francisco) until 5:00pm (only 12 hours late). In short, the other half of our class will not arrive until 2 am tomorrow. Should be interesting for the northern half since our first class is scheduled for 6:45 am. Praise the Lord that there is a Starbucks right next door to the hotel.

After checking into the hotel and dinner we went on a Washington D.C. night tour. During the tour we saw the U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, Lincoln, Vietnam, WWII, Korean, and Iwo Jima memorial. We also went by the Supreme Court, National Archives, Kennedy Center, the Reagan Building and the White House.

Tomorrow our class will be visiting Gettysburg where a great battle of the American Civil War was fought. After the tour we will drive back to D.C. and we will have dinner with a congressman and take a tour of the U.S. Capitol (see the picture above).

Hope all is well back in California. Don't make too many changes to the house while daddy is gone! Until tomorrow,

God Bless,

Ottster

Arrived in Los Angeles - Day 1

Well...the journey has begun. I touched down in Los Angeles this afternoon. So far, I have checked into the hotel and I am waiting for several of the class to join me.

The flight went find. The only problem I have had so far is figuring out this computer. Well, hopefully by the end of day 12, I will be a master !).

Tomorrow, early tomorrow, we fly to Chicago and then into Reagan National Airport, Washington D.C. According to the weather channel, wet and chilly. Wonderful me forgot an umbrella. I guess this means I get to buy another one and add it to my "I forgot my umbrella" collection at home.

Hotel is pretty good, It has the necessities...food, t.v. for march madness and a free wireless connection (yea)!

Well, time to get some munchies...until next message.

Hi Regan & Jordan, listen to your mom! Love you!

Ottster!

New Computer

Just got my new computer!!!!

My daughter is beating me at March Maddness

The Pretty Princess is ahead of her dad, she picks by colors and mascots. It will be a long 3 weeks!