Where To Begin . . . The Inauguration.

300 photos. I took 300 photos in the one week I was at the inauguration. Where in the world do I begin to explain the FUN I had? I've been home for 3 weeks and haven't been able to get myself to look at the photos. Why?? Because I didn't want to remember WHAT I'M MISSING living here in Laie.

Was that ragey enough?

Thought so.

I LOOOOOOVED D.C. Every single minute was a blast. So much so that I'll even include the last minute hula and tahitian numbers I had to dance in that statement. My sunless skin wrapped in a too small sarong won't even begin to ruin my perfect perfect memory of that wonderful, marvelous, hope that Tevita gets a job at the Smithsonian even if he doesn't want one there, city.

This photo was taken at the Lincoln Memorial "We Are One Inaugural Celebration." All the photos of the event were taken from the jumbo tron. We got there very early and were in the front but we were still VERY FAR from the stage. And with my camera being all jenky (just got reminded of that word from a tech nerd blog I follow), it was easiest to just take the photos from the screen.

Anyway, do we have THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST working for the American people now or what?? Plus, I love the First Lady and the VP's wife. Did you know that Jill Biden is back teaching her classes? She's the only Second Lady ever to hold a paying job while her husband is in office. We all know that Michelle Obama has degrees from Princeton and Harvard but did you know that Dr. Jill Biden had TWO Masters before she got her Doctorate? YES SHE DOES!

(Am I going to use an inordinate amount of loaded questions with capital-letter answers in this post to express my excitement? PROBABLY!).

Um . . . and how CUTE are these little girls? They are going to grow up to be great women. I'm excited for them and this country. Missed shot: Sasha was shading her face from all the heaters that were blowing on them! Too sweet. It was FREEZING that day so I'm sure organizers had those outside heaters on the Obama family full blast. Sasha wasn't havin' it. And her mom was totally trying to help her out. Sigh. Love the first family.

Starr, Me, and Talia. We stood for 4 hrs in the cold before the show began. To the hand and foot warmers I wore, thank you. You saved my life. I'll love you forever.

So I have 10 layers of sweaters and sweatshirts on under that jacket. And why does Talia get to look so cute with about 15 layers under her coat? I chalk it up to her living in DC and knowing how to front the Winter look. Starr is from So Cal and I'm from Hawaii. We both just wanted to be warm. . . which we weren't.

Until we saw . . .


Now I KNOW you wish you were there if for no other reason then to see Barack Obama and Bono Vox within the same hour. Internet, I have a hawt husband. You know I do. But this? This experience came in second to my wedding day. Scratch that. My wedding day was akin to standing in quick sand hoping some intuitive vulture circling above would throw me down a vile of acid just so I could end the heinousness of it all WITHOUT DELAY. Yeah, I would say the hour long show was EVEN BETTER than that day. (Thank goodness for my happy ending, right Ti? ;) )

U2 sang "Pride (In The Name of Love)". It made us cry. Made everyone around us cry, too. Here's the last verse from that song:

Early morning, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride

In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love...

The day before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and two days before the Inauguration of Barack Obama. Who wouldn't cry?


Here's Mary J. Blige singing "Lean On Me"

And here she is the night before.

I would've posted a photo of her without that glass, but I can't recall her not having it glued to her person the whole time she was on stage. Our strong and beautiful MJB was binge drinking. Plus, is it me or might she be wearing the same turtle neck on both days? She was wearing the same slacks for sure (no photo). I speculate that one of the greatest singers of my time did NOT change her clothes before singing for the first family. And I'm still a bit sad about that.

Speaking of drunk, who looks inebriated out of all the women below?? Two of us are LDS and none of us drink. Is it not ironic that the Bishop's wife is the only one lookin' juiced? And this my friends, is why there are very few photos of me posted on my blog.

Next week, I'll post more. Like how about some photos from the actual inauguration?? :) It's 1:51 and I'm about to pass out. Sauced from sleeplessness.