Day 1 goes something like this: flying from Ontario to Sacramento, then driving to the capital where they do their own rehearsal lasting about an hour (everyone else has to go through the whole long, boring rehearsal), getting some lunch, taking a nap (this year Rick actually used this time to exercise), then going to the banquet for the victims' families, returning to the hotel to sit in the bar for the evening cocktails (which is when Rick leaves early while the rest get a bit tipsy), and getting to bed around 11:00pm.
Day 2: Waking up and meeting at the breakfast buffet (one of Rick's favorite meals of the trip), going back to their rooms to change into their uniforms, heading to the capital around 10:00, waiting and warming up in one of the most beautiful courtrooms I have ever seen at the state Supreme Court building, coming out onto the steps of the courthouse just in time to play "Taps"(all this is before 1:00pm), now for the good stuff: they return to their hotel to change and head out to a fabulous restaurant, Chops, where they sit around eating, drinking and "schmoozing" with the "higher-ups" for an enormously long amount of time. Once lunch is over it's time to head back to the hotel to change and get ready for dinner. Around 7:00 they head out to Chevy's on the river (the most amazing setting of any Chevy's I've ever been to) where they eat and drink some more. After dinner it's time to return to the hotel and do a little more "schmoozing" in the cocktail lounge before heading up to bed - since we aren't drinkers, I never cease to be amazed at how much money people throw away on drinks.
Day 3: Meeting once again, for the breakfast buffet, returning to the room to pack up, then leaving for home where they arrive around 1:00pm (and getting a full day's pay, too).
As you can see, it's about 4 or 5 hours of real work while much more time is spent in restaurants. Not a bad few days of "work" if you ask me. I have gone with Rick twice and really enjoyed the first time, but I don't get into spending HOURS at the same restaurant watching people go from stone-cold sober to plastered. Rick doesn't have a choice, but I was able to opt out this year.
Warming up in the courthouse
The 21 gun salute plays as soon a "Taps" ends
Rick on the steps of the courthouse playing "Taps"
Rick, Mike, and Chris
The guys were excited to trade up from a minivan to a hummer - a much more macho ride!
Rick, the designated driver
Rick with Mike and Mary Jean Crouch outside at Chevy's
1 comment:
Rick, such a hard, hard life! A hummer!!! It sounds like you ate and ate and ate and ate some more!
Post a Comment