A few weeks back as part of our exclusive series covering the Bush Library renovations, I had the chance to watch Michael Baughman put up the Oval Office mural that will be viewed by thousands as they walk through the new museum. In fact, I've got a piece of the mural at my desk, the portion carved out for an outlet in the wall. If you're interested (and you're likely not), it's from the couch.

Little did I know that just weeks later, I'd be in the president's office again. This time, it wasn't a picture.

This afternoon, one of our photojournalists, Chris, and I travelled to Houston to interview Neil Bush, the middle of five children of George H. W. Bush. You'll see it sometime in the coming days on TV and here on the web channel.

The interview took place at the 41st president's Houston office. Mr. Bush has the run of a whole floor of the building he's in. It's really odd to walk into this place, one also occupied by local businesses, and to read on your average, everyday wall directory, "The Office of George Bush."

We arrived early, and after we went through the standard Secret Service sweep and set up our equipment prior to Neil's arrival, we were privileged to get a tour of the floor.

The interview itself took place in the president's conference room, but once you step outside its doors, you find a wall of medals, all shapes and sizes and colors, all nicely framed in glass cases. According to Linda, our tour guide and a loyal, right-hand woman to Bush 41 for 27 years, the awards represent the highest honors other nations can bestow on foreigners. A German honor is on the wall. Kazakhstan's award is also there, though there is no word on whether Borat had a say in awarding "George Walter Bush's" father. Nicaragua has two medals on the wall.

Then, there's England. The president is known as Sir George Bush in that nation, and a necklace representing his knighthood hangs on that wall, along with a medal. However, Linda says Mr. Bush's staff was told that "upon the president's demise" (British words, not hers), the necklace must be returned. Apparently, there are only so many knight necklaces to go around.

Down that hall is the president's office. At this point, he and the first lady are off on vacation. A small sign hanging from the door handle reads, "Gone to Maine."

As I theorized to those at the office, including Neil, the office is certainly not what one might think of if you said "presidential office," but it certainly is what one might think of if you said, "George Bush's office." Everyone agreed. It's very much den-like, what you'd expect from a retired 83-year-old, former leader of the free world or not. The room is very bright, off-white walls with big bay windows and an amazing view of the city of Houston. An alcove in the room features a couch and two big chairs around an ornate coffee table. Mr. Bush's desk (a simple one, at that) is off in the other corner.

I think what makes the room so cozy more than anything else is the huge amount of family pictures placed around the office. Yes, those pictured include successful businessmen, the governor of Florida and the current president of this nation, but let their professions go, and it's a grandpa, a grandma, four sons, one daughter, and a bunch of grandkids in those frames. On the president's desk is a yet-to-be-hung picture of the whole family (save for a couple members, I believe) when Bush 41 and Barbara had their 60th wedding anniversary party at the White House. For all their responsibilities, in all their fields, at all their ages, and it's one big, happy family above all else.

Probably my favorite picture: one of Jeb and George W. sitting in a White House press conference, each chuckling. Written above his sons' signatures: "To Dad -- The man who taught us to laugh."

The pictures really make the place, inside and out of the president's personal office. Throughout the floor are images from throughout the years. His daughter, Doro, can be seen christening her father's Navy ship, the image caught as the bottle breaks and the bubbly bursts. Mr. Bush leaning out of his blue and white Union Pacific engine stands prominent. Even a couple shots of 41 and Bill Clinton playing golf are hung around the place. Who would have thought that possible 10 years ago? Probably not the Bush staff, who has taken a liking to Clinton, though not as much as the Clinton staff has apparently taken a liking to Bush.

The rest of the floor is offices for the president's staff, which includes some 15 volunteers who, like our tour guide Linda, have been with Mr. Bush for years. Part of their job: they receive around 200 pieces of mail each week. Among the most received are military retirements and Eagle Scout notices. Each note gets a response. The president also gets a tremendous amount of speaking engagements. Unfortunately, there's only so much former president to go around.

As I said, you'll see my interview with Neil in the coming days. It's a very heartfelt conversation filled with loving, respectful words for a distinguished father from a proud son.

That dad has got a pretty nice office, one that I was pretty darn lucky to have hung out in briefly. Now if only 41 wasn't "gone to Maine..."