Hangin' with the Prez in DC!

This past weekend, I got an awesome opportunity to travel around our nation's capital as the personal escort and photographer for President George W. Bush. I guess he follows my blog, and when he heard I'd be in the DC area for a Kidology To Go seminar, he asked me if I wouldn't mind coming a day early and walkin' around with him and shootin' some new 'man of the people' promo shots for him. Of course, I was flattered to be invited by THE President of these Great United States of America to be his escort and personal photographer, so I happily agreed. I'm hoping that many of these images will soon be seen in school text books, on the news, and in official promotional materials for George W... if so, you can say you saw them first HERE, on pastorkarl.com!

COMPLETE GEORGE W. BUSH GALLERY

Welcome to those of you who met me (and George)
in DC and are looking for you picture!

Here is a sampling of the pictures I took of "W" our day around town together: (more in the COMPLETE GEORGE W. BUSH GALLERY)

George with his signature "Thumbs Up" at Lincoln Memorial,

Washington Monument in the background.

We made quite a scene. Every time I was shooting his picture,
lots of other people were snapping pictures too.
(but only mine are official!)

I was very pleased that George often took time away
from our busy photo tour to visit with the children.

George even stopped to thank some DC policemen
for their hard work protecting our Great Nation.

Here is George at the Washington Monument with
Lincoln Memorial now in the background.
(long walk? no, we had special secret service escort,
but I can't reveal his name - on pain of death)

Here George shows his house. We did get approached by a
White House guard - but it was (fortunately) only
because you aren't allowed to put a tripod on the sidewalk.
(but in the street is ok - it is a pedestrian only street)

After awhile we were having trouble with the crowds all
wanting to get close to the man, shake his hand,
pose for a picture with him, etc. so we got this shirt
for him at a sidewalk vendor for only $2!

(gotta love supply and demand alive and well in DC!)

With this shirt on, no one bothered "W" any more!

Here is George in a more relaxed pose at the awesome
(and sobering) World War II Memorial.

I asked the president if he would mind posing for a pic by
the memorial for my home state, Illinois, and he was
more than happy to accomodate me.

Next we met a bunch of Illinois kids who wanted to pose.
George was so friendly to the kids, and told them all
that he was proof that anyone can be president someday.

We wrapped up our tour with a relaxing walk toward the
Jefferson Memorial. Here "W" takes a break to
ponder his legacy, I suppose.

I was excited to snap this candid of today's president
in a reflective mood next to one of our history's greatest thinkers.

We ended our day with a trip to Baja Fresh. I was so
excited to learn the George's favorite restaurant is the
same as mine. (though the one near me in Chicago closed)

I know I should have gotten a picture of
me WITH the president, but I was too
focused on getting good candids of him.

At the end of the day, I was so honored when George
gave me a lift back to meet some friends of mine.

He was even gracous enough to pose for a picture with
Kim Bobb, who was in town as well to co-teach the
Kidology To Go seminar with me and....

with Pastor Todd McKeever, one of our Kidology CP Team
pastors and the host of the event. Then George had to get
back to oficial business, and I got on with the rest of my trip.

But I gotta say, getting to hang with DA MAN for a whole day, was an experience I will never forget! (especially being quickly surrounded and then searched by Federal agents at one point , but you'll have to ask me about that in person - can't put that on the blog! But, they did eventually release me and allow me and George to continue on our way! Whew!!)

DONT MISS THE
COMPLETE GEORGE W. BUSH GALLERY