Daily Diary: 1.19.12 (Part 1)
by Catherine R. Staat
Leadership Group Meets:
Our leadership group spent the day in Frankfort for our State Government class. We started at the Commonwealth of Kentucky Executive Mansion.
Normally, visitors enter the building this way…
Not us! Being the “special” people we are, we decided to come through the side gate. You know…the Governor’s entrance. I can only imagine what the guards watching the security cameras thought as we approached – those crazy people from Casey County! 
As you can imagine, the gate was locked. Blaine proceeds through the side, on the grass, like he knows exactly where he is going. I was prepared to walk around the entire property and enter through the front walk – like everyone else is supposed to! But oh no!
Growing up, I was taught never to walk on someone’s lawn and to always, always, ALWAYS use the walkway provided. So, here I am, walking on the well manicured lawn of the Governor’s mansion like we own the place.
The guards surprisingly opened the gate. All of us were laughing at our obvious faux pas and waving at the hidden cameras as we sheepishly entered through the Governor’s gate and hopped over the sign (chain linked) telling visitors to go around the front entrance. The Governor was getting ready to go somewhere that morning – his car was waiting for him along with security - that entrance that no one is supposed to see the comings and goings of the Governor and First Lady. Oh my! What a way to start the day!
I thought for sure the tour guide (waiting inside) was going to smack our hands for coming through the wrong side. You have to know this woman as I have had the pleasure of her “tour” through the mansion on several occasions. There are rules that she sternly reminds you of before entering – no gum, no touching, stay on the carpet, etc. I could see her as the type that if she finds you chewing gum, she will make you spit it out in her hand reiterating the rules you obviously chose to ignore.
I need to back up a bit. We left Liberty at 8:15 am – coffee’d up – arriving around 9:45 am and by that time (along with our adventure on the Governor’s lawn) we were in dire need of the facilities if you know what I mean.
Our stern guide informed us that ”we” passed the building with the ”public” bathrooms on the way in and should have used them before entering. This would have been nice to know beforehand. We didn’t see any signs telling us this. Course, we totally ignored the sign for the Governor’s entrance only. Sheesh! Nobody reads these days!
This went over well with the ladies in our group who where close to dancing as we congregated into the ballroom. Our guide was not pleased. However, it was four women against one. We won but not without hearing her displeasure and constant checking of her watch. I will say that we all got back on the dot of 10 am which is when our tour was to begin. The clock in the hallway started to chime and I couldn’t help but smile. Despite all the fuss and mention – we were right on time.
Knowing Blaine, I knew he was going to give the guide a hard time due to her rather serious exterior - joking with her, asking questions (she doesn’t like to be sidetracked from her script – her words not mine) and finally getting her to break into a smile. That’s my guy! You can be in the worst mood ever and he can always get you to laugh.
I can’t fault the tour guide. Having worked in positions that deal with the public – you do have to set a precedence. Not only do people not read but they don’t listen. However, she is representing the home and those who reside within and everyone leaves with the impression she presents.
On with the show…err…I mean…tour!
The Ballroom
The Receiving Room
The artwork & sculptures change from time to time to showcase artisans from Kentucky. The work, currently on display, features the work of Kentucky artists that created the Governor’s awards for the arts from 1993 through last year.
The Dining Hall – this table seats 22 comfortably.
Fruit Bowl made from the U. S. S. Kentucky
The Hallway…
Another silver bowl from the U. S. S. Kentucky
The crew from Casey County!
Next: Lunch with State Representative Terry Mills and a tour of the Capital.
[...] Continued From Part 1: [...]
Just to set the record straight, I have gone to and from the Gov. Mansion before from the side gate; it was never closed before. The only reason I then decided to cut across the grounds (next to the Gov. Mansion I might add, not the Gov. mansion grounds themselves) was because the alternative would have been to backtrack and walk around almost a1/8 of a mile (I kid you not) and our group had already let me know they were cold. Finally, if the side entrance was not the way to enter, then why were the restrooms that we were apparently supposed to use right next to the side gate? In the end, we didn’t get arrested, no grass was harmed during the visit, and our group was spared from excessive exposure to the cold. Now that’s what I call Leadership!
Meanwhile, all of our profiles are on the “watch” list at the mansion!
Well yeah, that. But still . . .