Monday, January 26, 2009

Inaugural Weecap

So I've now had almost a full week to decompress and gather my thoughts about last Tuesday's inauguration festivities and yet it still feels like anything I could possibly write here would be completely insufficient. On one hand I look at the images on the news of the National Mall filled to the brim and I think Oh my god I can't believe I was actually in that crowd! but then I also think that anything on television or the internet fails to capture the enormity of the occasion and the sheer joy that radiated from everyone who took part in it. As Steph said to me "Sounds like everyone had their love-thy-neighbor on." Everyone was courteous, friendly, exuberant and willing to stand for hours with as much personal space as a folded up newspaper in order to watch the president get sworn in a mile away on a gigantic jumbotron. I have to say that it was unlike anything I've ever experienced before to be in such a diverse group of people from all across the country all cheering for the same thing. (Yes, there were some boos for Bush like you all heard on tv- which I admit wasn't really keeping with the spirit of the day but come on. Like that really wasn't going to happen?) Anyway, even though we were a teeny dot out of of a couple million it was pretty amazing to share a piece of history with all those other dots scattered across the Capitol. Sure it was cold and crowded and we had to walk for miles and wait for hours but I have to say that if you're going to be a part of a mob of people, it certainly helps for it to be a happy mob. It's not so bad to be squished like a pancake when you and all your neighbors have smiles on your faces. Even the girls did a great job and I have to admit it was pretty rough to be a kid down there. I have no doubt that they will appreciate the a fact that they were there down the line and share this story with their friends. And thank god we didn't get stuck in that Purple Tunnel of Doom, right? That's way worse that having your kid need to poop right in the middle of everything.

That reminds me: Nobody had to use a port-a-potty that day! Success!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

The. Awesome.

Our spot at the Washington Memorial. The crowd stretched for a couple of miles.
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Taken by Jason

View of our Jumbotron and sea of people:

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Also taken by Jason

Me and Jason the day before the inauguration. Taken by Miss Juliana.
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Click on any of these pictures for our gallery. Stories to come later. So very tired now...

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Ava Lost Her First Tooth!

She only just turned five so I was not expecting it. I didn't even know it was loose. She came downstairs the other night with a toothy grin saying it just popped out so she put it under her pillow.

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For the record, the Tooth Fairy shelled out $2.25. Pretty steep, but it's her first one. I used to be happy with two quarters. Ah, inflation.



Tuesday, January 13, 2009

My Inauguration Day Outfit

Mine just came in the mail yesterday. Obama-corn!

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Monday, January 12, 2009

Stats

This morning I ran 6.2 miles in just under an hour! That's a full 10k and I ran it 5 whole minutes faster than I usually do. I don't know what got in to me but I won't question it. I'm thinking that my running goals this year will be to do at least one more 5K in addition to the Susan Komen race in September- plus sometime this summer I will do a 10k. Most gym days I tend to log between 5 1/2 to 6 miles but that's on a flat treadmill. Still, I'm pretty sure that if pressed I could do that distance in a real race. I just might not be as fast as I am on the machine. Now I just have to look up some races, put them on my calendar and stick to it. Sometimes I think back to when I had a hard time running for 2 minutes without stopping and I can't believe I'm talking about hour-long runs. Who knows, maybe a half-marathon is in my future...

Monday, January 5, 2009

See? Crafty!

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I finished my first project this morning. It's far from perfect- partly because I'm a beginner and partly because I'm fairly sure I'm using a pretty mediocre machine that is already partly broken, thanks to yours truly. It's all part of my ongoing battle with all things mechanical, electronic, or computerized. Anyhoo, here's hoping I get better and faster at it. I'm kind of mean when I'm sitting at the dining room yelling at machines and I want craftiness to make me happy...

Saturday, January 3, 2009

I Hereby Resolve to Be Crafty in Ought-Nine

Currently reading:


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I will be finally teaching myself to use the sewing machine that even Jason and Juliana know how to use. My first goal is to make skirts for the girls and me- possibly using recycled fabrics from old clothing. If 2008 was the year I became a runner, maybe in 2009 I can become a seamstress?