This weekend we attended a variety of inaugural events. We were very excited to celebrate our first inauguration in DC. I wanted to share some photos to give a sense of what it was like in DC. The atmosphere was one of complete excitement and jubilation. The historical nature of the event really seemed to bring people together, and Republicans and Democrats alike came out to celebrate and experience history. It was unlike anything I've ever experienced in my life. P has tons for footage on his blog. I have to say though while it was exciting--it was a long, cold, exhausting weekend and by the last ball on Tuesday, I was ready for bed! If you're interested click on the photo album below to take a look at some of the highlights.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Inugural Fever to Inugural Burnout
This is my first inauguration in DC. Well, sort of-- we lived in Alexandria during the 2005 inauguration, but we hadn't lived here long and did not have tickets to anything, and we didn't really understand how it all the logistics worked. So I went to the metro, realized how crowded it was and came home.
Given this year, we live in DC (within walking distance of the Capitol) and the historical nature of the event. We've decided to jump in with both feet. As of yesterday we had an astounding line up of events:
Saturday: Whistlestop Tour in Baltimore (we will be in Baltimore anyway)
Sunday: Free Concert on the Mall; Iowa Delegation Inaugural Dinner
Monday: Virgina Inaugural Ball
Tuesday: Parade Viewing Party from private offices on Pennsylvania Ave, the Iowa Delegations Inaugural Reception, The Midwestern States Official Ball, and the American Indian Ball
I went from being excited to having burnout over the course of this week. We're now told that for each of these events we'll need to be there anywhere from 2 hours to upwards of 8 hours in advance to get through Secret Service Security (the security is unprecedented, as there are an estimated 2-5 million people that will descend on DC) and we'll all have to go through metal detectors. It's going to make the airport look like a walk in the park. The traffic and road closures are expected to wreak so much havoc that the Members of Congress who live a little further out are sleeping in their offices Monday night, because they won't be able to get into the District in time on Tuesday.
As I continue to get updates on security protocol, crowds, and road closures I'm getting more and more discouraged. I've already decided I'm not going to any of the public events listed above only ones that I have a ticket for and I'm about two minutes away from just watching it all on TV!!!
Given this year, we live in DC (within walking distance of the Capitol) and the historical nature of the event. We've decided to jump in with both feet. As of yesterday we had an astounding line up of events:
Saturday: Whistlestop Tour in Baltimore (we will be in Baltimore anyway)
Sunday: Free Concert on the Mall; Iowa Delegation Inaugural Dinner
Monday: Virgina Inaugural Ball
Tuesday: Parade Viewing Party from private offices on Pennsylvania Ave, the Iowa Delegations Inaugural Reception, The Midwestern States Official Ball, and the American Indian Ball
I went from being excited to having burnout over the course of this week. We're now told that for each of these events we'll need to be there anywhere from 2 hours to upwards of 8 hours in advance to get through Secret Service Security (the security is unprecedented, as there are an estimated 2-5 million people that will descend on DC) and we'll all have to go through metal detectors. It's going to make the airport look like a walk in the park. The traffic and road closures are expected to wreak so much havoc that the Members of Congress who live a little further out are sleeping in their offices Monday night, because they won't be able to get into the District in time on Tuesday.
As I continue to get updates on security protocol, crowds, and road closures I'm getting more and more discouraged. I've already decided I'm not going to any of the public events listed above only ones that I have a ticket for and I'm about two minutes away from just watching it all on TV!!!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
More Inaugural Chaos Expected
Look at this map of the latest secured area for the inauguration. Our house is only outside of it by 3 blocks! And it encompasses my place of work. Wow--I can't imagine what DC is going to be like on inauguration weekend. BTW, for those of you who live in the area I just heard on NPR that parts of the 66E will be closed as will parts of the 395N on inauguration day.
Monday, January 5, 2009
It's happening already!!!
So today was my first day back at work after being out sick for over a week. I'm still sick, and would have stayed home had I not already been a week behind in work and Congress is back tomorrow, so I convinced my darling husband to chauffeur me to work this morning instead of my usual morning walk. Traffic was a nightmare! We live near Obama transition headquarters, which normally causes traffic problems, but now every road around it is shut down in anticipation of the inauguration. I work a few blocks away from the White House (and the Hay-Adams Hotel --where the Obama's are staying) and have to pass it on my way to work, all the streets around the White House are closed. Traffic nightmare!
Then, this afternoon I had a meeting on the Senate side of the Hill, my cab took forever to get to the Hill because of all the road closures, and we couldn't get near the Senate side because the roads were closed there in anticipation of an Obama motorcade. The President-Elect is on the Hill today. So fearing I would be late for my meeting, I got out of the taxi, and ran my flu-riddled-sneezing-coughing-hacking disaster of a body up Capitol Hill--in 3 inch heels no less. I had the bad luck of hitting the Capitol the same time Obama's motorcade got there. They even stopped all pedestrian movement! FOILED!!! Blah. I was 20 minutes late to my meeting. I can't even imagine what life is going to be like here during the inauguration.
Then, this afternoon I had a meeting on the Senate side of the Hill, my cab took forever to get to the Hill because of all the road closures, and we couldn't get near the Senate side because the roads were closed there in anticipation of an Obama motorcade. The President-Elect is on the Hill today. So fearing I would be late for my meeting, I got out of the taxi, and ran my flu-riddled-sneezing-coughing-hacking disaster of a body up Capitol Hill--in 3 inch heels no less. I had the bad luck of hitting the Capitol the same time Obama's motorcade got there. They even stopped all pedestrian movement! FOILED!!! Blah. I was 20 minutes late to my meeting. I can't even imagine what life is going to be like here during the inauguration.
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