Change is so sweet

I thought I was done blogging about my adventure in DC but I couldn't
resist one last post. I bought these chocolate Obama lollipops at the
Baltimore airport but I got the last two--my three children will have
to share.

Inauguration Parade

Because of crowds, visitors to DC pretty much had to decide whether they were going to try to see some of the Inaugural Parade or be on the mall for the Inauguration Ceremony. Since we had tickets to the Ceremony, we forewent the parade. After the poetry recitation and benediction, we were able to walk quickly and easily to Union Station. We bought a few souveniers:


And then we were on a train outbound within minutes. Unbelievably we were back to Kathy's house before 2 p.m. We decided to go to a restaurant for some lunch and to watch some of the parade. The balloons say "01.20.2009 Obama's First Day".

We are now watching the end of the parade at home and are about to nap before going to Kathy's sister's for dinner. We leave for home tomorrow morning. I hope you enjoyed the blogging. And I hope that we all heed President Obama's words "that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace."

Witness to History

It's cliche to say, but we really felt that we were part of an unbelievable historic moment. This was during the inaugural address. If you enlarge the photo, you can see President Obama speaking at the podium:

More photos at the swearing-in

Here are some more photos from the swearing-in ceremony. This was during all the entrances. Note Hillary and Bill on the Jumbotron:


I couldn't see the podium because I am too short. I watched the Jumbotron, but Andy watched the podium. Here is the oath:

We tried to see how far down the mall the crowds stretched. My camera couldn't really record it. (See the Washington Monument; I think the crowds extended beyond that even.)

Here are the crowds on the Jumbotron:

Snipers

If you enlarge this picture and look at the roof of this building, you can see a sniper on the roof of one of the office buildings next to the Capitol.

Military on Constitution Avenue

As mentioned earlier our tickets were "yellow" in the standing section. You can see that the entrance was right at Constitution Avenue here. As we came through, we saw members of the military lined up all the way down Constitution Avenue for as far as the eye could see and I got this great shot of them.

Waiting for the swearing-in

So we left the ball last night a little after 1 a.m. When we got to the Metro station and were waiting for a train, there was a spontaneous eruption of "Obama! Obama!" chants with the post-party crowds. We got home to Maryland at 2 a.m. and planned to rise at 6 a.m. so we only got 4 hours of sleep. We had a pretty uneventful trip into the city on the Metro (given what we were expecting from news reports). We did, however, have a long wait to get through security (blogged about earlier). There was one point that got really crowded. A claustrophobe would have been having a very tough time. But for the most part, the crowd was civil and polite to each other with little pushing and shoving. Here is another photo from the wait (the sign in the background was from a labor union):

Amy & Kathy at the ball

Meeting up with Don & Donna at the ball

We were so grateful to meet up with friends Don and Donna last night at the ball. And bless them for saving seats for us at their dinner table. It took us an hour and half just to get into the ball (and we didn't even go through security). We realized after we got in that Obama wouldn't be showing up at this ball because there was no security to get in. Here we are with Don and Donna from AU:

Reflection

We are now back at Kathy's (and back to a laptop where I can upload pictures from my camera as opposed to my iPhone). Therefore I will be adding some photos out of chronological order, but that will add to what we've experienced thus far.

Great view!

We should be able to see the oath and address live just to the right
of the tree. If not we've got a jumbotron right in front of us. Music
is playing. Senators just filed in.

We're in!!

We are very close to the front on the far stage right side.

Sent from my iPhone

Almost in!

Making our way to the Capitol

Senator Franken

Okay Ed, is this better? Al Franken just walled thru our group. We
said congratulations.

Sent from my iPhone

America the Beautiful

I am in a solid mass of people. The crowd at the intersection of C St.
NW and 1st St. NW just broke out into America the Beautiful.

Sent from my iPhone

Hope we get in

We are in a line that stretches for blocks and blocks--perhaps a mile.
Waiting to get through security.

Sent from my iPhone

Yellow tickets

It's a beautiful day in DC. We have yellow tickets which are near the
front but still standing.

Inside the Metro

We are still a couple of stops away from the center of the city but
there is no more room on this train.

Waiting for the metro at 7 am

Ball update

It's 11:30 and people are still coming in. It is bedlam in here.
Fortunately Don and Donna (friends from AU) saved us seats at their
table because they were here for dinner. I will post a picture of all
of us later (my iPhone doesn't take usable photos in this dim light).
We realized shortly after we got in that the prez-to-be would not be
joining us as there was no security coming in. We did get to dance one
swing dance.

Sent from my iPhone

Lines

We are waiting in a huge line to get into the ball. It is good
practice for tomorrow. Sen. Burros's niece's husband is in line with
us. And a bagpiper. Everyone is in a very jovial mood.

Andy's having duck

Cheers to Obama!

My sister

I wish my sister could be here with me. She became politically active and aware long before I did, protesting for human rights at marches to close the School of the Americas back when I was busy having babies. Because of her I became committed to most of the principles of the Democratic Party, particularly those related to social justice. She and I have done a lot of campaigning together over the years and I know she'll be celebrating back in Chicago. In addition to sharing a passion for Barack Obama, we share clothes. Well, actually the sharing is kind of one way, and, of course, I am wearing one of her dresses to the ball we are going to tonight. She is excited that at least her dress will be here, even if she isn't!
We only have tickets to the Gala part of the Illinois State Society Ball (not the dinner) so we are going to a restaurant beforehand.

Hotel Kathy

Kathy probably could have rented her house out for thousands of dollars, but she is invited us instead (for free!). Look what was on our pillow in the guest room:


Matching his'n'her Obama socks! And a copy of the Washington Post. If you look closer you will see that it is the November 5, 2008 edition from the day after the election for us to keep.

Metro fare card

These are the commemorative fare cards for the DC subway system.

Our host

Our friend Kathy is such a wonderful host. We've visited her in DC
several times and she has a tradition of picking us up at the airport
and having something for us to eat in the car. Here are the still-warm
pastries she brought.

Obama for sale

I think I will be able to buy anything with Obama's name or picture on
it while I am here. I thought I would see more people wearing Obama
stuff but I've actually seen more Steelers gear which must irritate
Baltimorians. But around me every conversation is about the Big Event.

BWI

The Baltimore airport is all decked out. Here's what the counters look
like at the American Airlines gates. Just waiting for Andy and Kathy.
Sorry the iPhone photos are not the best.

At the airport

Got up at five this morning. I'm waiting to board my flight to
Baltimore. There is an AU alum on my flight that I recognize from the
library. At the cinnabon they were selling Obama shirts but I already
have one on.

Sent from my iPhone

The Inauguration of Inauguration Vacation

Andy and I fly into Baltimore on separate flights around noon on Monday and will be met by our good friend and host Kathy. Kathy used to work with us in Minnesota, but she lives outside DC in Maryland now. Kids, dog, and everything else should be safe and secure at home thanks to Emily and Dominik. We are going to the Illinois Inaugural Ball sponsored by the Illinois State Society on Monday evening. We just found out yesterday that we have tickets to the inauguration itself (the swearing-in ceremony) thanks to Andy's brother Thomas and his friend, Sam. We return home Wednesday.

My plan is to post using Kathy's computer when we are at her house. When we are out and about I will post via email messages from my iPhone. I have successfully tested doing that from here, even including pictures as attachments. I have no idea how possible it will be from DC with thousands of other cell phone users trying to send messages. When we are at the Capitol I may be able unable to include pictures or even send messages at all.