Getting ready to see the King Tut exhibit at the Children's Museum in Indianapolis.

National FFA Convention - the beginning

Our trip to Indianapolis was uneventful. This means we got to Sacramento Airport on time. Parking was a breeze. The shuttle to the terminal let me know that my suitcase isn’t the biggest one made. There were no lines…for anything. There could have not been less stress for Loretta’s first airplane ride. She is a quiet girl so what she was feeling inside we may never know. The take-off gave the usually stomach jumping feel. Loretta wisely described it as “just like a ride at Disneyland.” Oh if Bruce could only see it that way.

On the flight to Chicago we had plenty of time to convert Loretta’s CD’s (see brought them all) to mp3 for her new phone. Until my battery died, of course, but we got 11 done. She was pleased. We easily reached our connecting flight in Indy and met our first traveling FFA members from other states. Of course California is the best and Loretta was the only one in a uniform. We always stand out when we are from California. (She has yet to be asked if she lives on the beach)

We started our National FFA Convention Trip with a beautiful sunrise…at 8:00 in the morning? Seems like the sun rises earlier at our house. Street signs aren’t near as informative here and so we had some downtown residential drive time before we found our parking garage in downtown Indianapolis. Once we found it we realized we are in golden because this garage is central to everything. The people here are sooo nice!

We have been having multitudes of jacket sightings. We have yet to see Delaware and Alaska, but we think all of the other states are covered. We visited the shopping mall first (of course) and then the Trade Show. Convention is so amazing. The amount of things and place one doesn’t know about is really brought home here. We hooked up with Chico FFA and, after lunch and the parade, we headed to the first opening session to see Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs fame. I won’t elaborate on his performance, but just let me say that he may be the rescuer for Careet Technical Education. Wow!

We finished the evening with a Toby Keith concert. I went without any enthusiasm and my opinion of him has changed. He is a very good performer and put on an excellent show!

After the show we sat at Denny’s for over an hour without getting our food so we finally got into bed about 2 am.

So then off today (Thursday) for our history adventure and tour of Eastern Indiana.

So we are now sitting in the Conseco Field House where the Indy Pacers play waiting for our first session and Mike Rowe.

Uniformed waiters to expose country folk to the culture of a big city. And the food! Wow!

More to come later. Having fun and great weather.

Loretta and I are sitting at an upscale restaurant, Harry an Izzy's, ordering a Blue Jacket special for $10. There is nothing like cloth table cloths and <more>

We just landed in Chicago! Now an hour until our next flight.

Flying out tomorrow to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. Should be fun!