More dinner pics

Tom Hanks, listening to Joe Biden and below; The Man!

Faith Hill sang beautifully, but the lighting was crap during the performance. Rahm Emmanuel looking Serious.

Outdoors at the Inauguration

So once we were in, we were free to roam... and this is where the janitor told us to go! (left)


A few folks in the park...




I think the people in red were the boys choir. Oh, and below it's Forrest Whittaker, who was out in the grand stand with the rest of us!









The Capitol is so beautiful! To the right, the view when standing on the chair, which was not really popular with the people in the picture.

pictures from the Mid-Atlantic Ball and the Powell dinner.

Barack Obama speaks about Colin Powell.

Ariana Huffington and Rita Wilsom (Mrs Tom Hanks)













Pretty table decorations that most took with them when the dinner was over, including me. (left)
Don and Lisa Wagner, who sat at our table. Very nice people!











The black Jenny Packham dress, properly displayed. It's so gorgeous! Husband and Aunt Susan. (left)

And the fantastic coral dress, which I wore for the ball. Above with my sister-in-law, who should be credited for the eleb snaps, as she took my camera and ran! Thanks!

Various pictures

Very pretty grey, silk dress to the left, and Barbie below!


















Sheath dress girl turned around last minute.
The crinoline was gorgeous, you really can't tell from this picture.












And a stunning red dress, which was rather boring from the front.

Time to go home

We're at the airport, a little worse for wear but not too bad
considering the martinis we had at the Ritz, following the Ball. Had
an early wake up text which meant we could have breakfast before
heading to the airport. The bread at the Marriot us awful, should you
ever gong yourself there!

Both check in and security was a breeze and we jokingly said that
president Obama is already making it better. I'm pretty sure I'll
sleep really well on the plane.
I can't wait to see the children!

Not so impressive

Plastic glasses, drink tickets and Sly & Family Stone. What is this?
High School Prom?

Bus to the ball

Why waste money on taxis, when you can get the bus.
Not the DvF, as you may have guessed... More Jenny!

Inauguration

It's done. He's in. Thank God!
We left after breakfast this morning and walked the 19 blocks down to the park toghether with thousands of others, streaming like lemmings down every avenue and street corner, with a common goal to see and be part of a historic moment. You can't really see it, but the street we were walking down - as I said, one of many - was filled with people as far as the eye could see. And as before, it was all orderly, calm and happy. Everybody were wrapped up good and a lot of people were carrying blankets!

We came down pretty much where we were on Sunday, the Lincoln Memorial and it wasn't too crowded. By the statues/monument of the North American continent a lot of people were sleeping (!) on the ground, wrapped in foil or pastel coloured fleece blankets. Not sure why they bothered, as they could have easily gotten a better place closer to the Capitol.
Anyway, this is when it started getting a little packed. Most were waslking at a good pace and with purpose but it is a rather long way first up to the Washington Monument - we did not walk on the mall as we didn't want to get stuck on the grass - and then up passed the Smithsonian. By then we were wondering if we'd be able to get in. There were just _so_ many people.!

There were several roadblocks that you had to either squeeze through or climb over and the lemming-feeling got even stronger. There were several lines forming, when people with different tickets tried to find the right entrance to the Grand Stand. The people with blue tickets were rather severely short changed, as their entrences had been closed off early and thousands were left to go watch somewhere else... We managed to find the right way and found ourselves at the Entrance and Security check point by 10.40, which I think was pretty impressive. Once in, it was easy! It was also really nice to get inside for a bit and use the toilet! Funny thing was that we were sent through the storage room as it was a short cut to the other elevators! Then a final security check - just like the ones at the airports! - and we were there.

Hallelujah!

The view behind us was stunning... the sea of people all the way back across the mall, steaming in the cold sunshine. However, the people closest to the fence were happier when we did not stand on our chairs to see better, as that blocked their view. And instead of that turning into a "well, I'm gonna stand beacuse that's better for me"'stand off, every body sat down nicely!

we were in Section 12, which was smack bang in the middle, about 150 yards away from the stand and it was possible to make out little people up there, but not really who it was. We had a screen to watch too - sort of behind a tree, good thing it's winter so no leaves! - so when it was time for Obama to make his speech, you knew it was him, that little figure up there by the pulpit.

What a day!

It was bloody freezing, but it didn't matter. We chatted with the people around us, in front a rather cantankerous old lady, who after a while became a little happier. Her great aunt came from Sweden and moved to Minnesota and had taught her Swedish drinking songs. Typical! Behind us, we had a former member of Congress in Oklahoma and former Quarterback. Funny thing with that was that the old lady in front had taught the young congress man a long time ago... It is a small world.

At 11.30 the dignitaries started arriving and both Carter, Clintons and Al Gore got huge applause. Bush Sr got polite applause but wow, you should have heard - and you probably did, on tv - the crowd when "Dubbya" was announced. The boos were viscious! Not very nice, I thought. Yes, he was a terible president and good riddance and all that, but he's not evil. He did not do badly on purpose and does not deserve that, at that time. What happened to winning graciously? Or is that just losing?

Then he was there. And the crowd went totally wild. No sitting down then. And it wasn't cold. Aretha, in her very unique hat - that you could spot from miles away! - sang her heart ou and we stood silently as Joe Biden was sworn in as the Vice President.

"One down, one to go" mumbled the lady in front of us and the big Indian with his braid all the way down his back laughed. We waited patiently as Yo Yo-Ma and others played a beautiful piece, that we on our little row decided would have been more suitable for a summer's day and a nice rousing march would have been better!

Finally it was time for the Big Moment. And as you all saw, it went well, even though he stumbled a little on the words. After the anthem was sung,m we started shuffeling towards the exit and I spotted Forrest Whittaker. AND took a picture! Ha!

I'll have to add that later, as I have maxed out on this posting.

The exit march included a few small obstacles like benches, chairs, road blocks, plastic fencing and stubbourn members of the audience who just would not be moved just yet! Once out of the park, it was a pretty easy and quick! walk to Union Station, where we had been invited to have some hot food and drinks to warm up before braving the 22 block walk home.

There you have it.

It's time to pack, shower, get dressed up and go to the ball. We have decided to only go to one ball, since the logistics of getting from one to another is just oo much of a hassle in a town where all roads are closed, Metro is full, taxis banned and weather not quite permitting for walking around in black tie...

I'll probably not be able to post any more until I get back to London, as the mobile posting has been a little iffy and our flight is at 9am tomorrow morning and night time blogging was not a great experience!

So, I'll see you later!

Post-inaugural fare.

Never has tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwhiches tasted so good!

Gotta eat first

We're dressed in all the warm clothes we have and all the papers and
tickets and stuff to be admitted on to the grand stand.
But first: breakfast. Fruit salad, English muffin, bagel w lox and
capers, scrambled eggs, bacon, cheese blintz -whatever that us - and a
waffle with whipped cream and jam. Coffee and OJ. J is having an omelet.

Bi-Partisan Dinner

Tonight's event were the bi-partisan dinner and our particular one was in honour of General Colin Powell, a truly remarkable man.
Even more remarkable were the fact that he was there and spoke. And Joe Biden. Again. Twice in a day... !
And then came Obama. And spoke. About Colin Powell.
We were in the same room and it's totally unreal.
Tomorrow he will be on those steps and with his hand on Lincoln's bible, will be sworn in as the 44th president.
And we've been in the same room!
There were a bunch of people there, of course... Tom Hanks and that-little-guy-from-West Wing who I recognized, plus a bunch of political celebs that I know by face but not by name.
I wore the black Jenny Packham and got a lot of compliments - even got the name out in the ladies, where there was a lot of comparisons happening. I was a little nervous about stepping on the hem and ruining the dress, but I made it back to the hotel without incident.

Sorry that there are no pics today - we have technincal issues, but as soon as we're back in London, they will be added.

Early day tomorrow. We need to leave the hotel at 8.30 for an hour long walk to the Memorial and then I think the ceremony starts at 11.30. And just after noon tomorrow, Bush is moving out!
And I still don't have mittens!

Dinner

No battery left so I'll have to leave the reporting for later. #

Georgetown

Nice!
#

¡Ay caramba!

Lunch.

Not so regular Joe

Joe Biden has been a senator for 36 years. Tomorrow he will be sworn
in as Vice President.
The New York Times have called him "The best prepared Vice President
in history".
He is a soft spoken man, actually. And very inclusive. Very smooth.
I wish the lighting was better in here.
I also really need to use the bathroom!

Another day, another breakfast

Jetlag is a bitch, so when the phone rings at 2.30 am it's hard to get
back to sleep. It's an early start again. A finance commitee breakfast
and rumour has it Joe Biden will come to speak.
On NBC this morning they were showing scenes from yesterday's concert
and the speeches. I didn't see us in the crowd of 450.000...
They were also talking about security. The female chief of police said
that after this interview, she was swearing in another 4000 officers.
The mood is still elated but calm and orderly and I believe it'll stay
that way, at least for today.

Creamed spinach

We're at dinner with aunt Susan. It's a classic steak house and the
food is great but there is just do much of it. I'm so tired from jet
lag that I can barely keep my eyes open.

Concert in the park

The lack of wifi hotspots make the blogging erratic and the spellings a bit creative. I hope you can deal. Right now we have a little break at the hotel room, so I get to use the computer!
The concert was so cool! I'm sorry the pictures suck and that I you weren't there! The speeches, the artists, the sheer force of the thousands who were there. Yes, it was cold. Yes, it was tedious to stand there for 1,5h wating for it to start. Yes, the hot dog was less than great but did anybody care? No. The feeling of quiet and determined happiness was there just as earlier in the day.
So much was fantastic, but the funniest part was the gigantic screens where the closed caption offered some unintentional enterntainment. Underling Con instead of Under Lincoln, as well as Hirer and Hirer instead of higher and higher.
There were some stone pillars and when you stood on them, you could see the whole mall and the reflecting pool and the memorial at the other end. Everybody climbed up to take a picture and everybody said "Oh..wow!"



I'm going to have to come back to this concert but while it's fresh in my mind I'll mention Jamie Foxx's speech, which was by far the most personal and relaxed. Mary J. Blige singing Lean on me and Garth Brooks, who really got the audience going with American Pie and Shout. I could have lived without U2, but I'm aware that#s total blasphemy, so I'll be gracious and say that Edge rocks! John Mellencamp had most fun on stage and seeing and hearing Stevie Wonder a true treat. We were dancing, singing, hootin' and tootin' but even though we could see the stage from the comfort of a lesser vip section, I think they may have had more fun on the mall!

The president elect's speech was moving and I think inspiring. Just being there was inspiring. Is inspriring. The battery is running out so I'll sign off, return on the Phone and now go out to more martinis and steaks...

Familiar View

It's pretty cold here in the park but who cares! I do wish I had
sorted out the mitten situation, though.
Later.
Now I make do with LittleHotties.

Adoration

You can't really see Ms King in the photo, since the iPhone doesn't
have a
zoom but you can see the guy at the electric piano. He isn't playing,
he's just sitting there staring at her. It's rather cute.

Joy

We're at the IFC Welcome Breakfast and the joy is on the faces.
"Everybody's so nice!" says one woman from Wisconsin at our table.
"They were even nice at the airport!"
The Dartmouth College Gospel Choir are singing about a brand new day
with BeBe Winans and there are tears being dried off. Or not.
As the total sap I am, I'm glad my doctor told me not to wear make up,
as it would've been long gone by now.

Senator Dick Durbin (S-IL) spoke of the bloodless battle of power and
of a week of healing. It's easy to believe it'll last, however unlikely.

The audience is diverse in age, race and dress sence but we're all
wearing really warm boots for this afternoon's concert! I can also
tell you that BeBe is wearing a wine coloured velvet suit.

Scrap project

We got our official papers and they are beautiful. Though we are here
be have an envelope full of tickets... We're pinching ourselves. It's
amazing to be here and possibly the consierge can sort out pressing
our clothes. It's 3 in the morning for us and in 6 hours it's the next
event.

I love oysters

And these were the best ones in
many years. The Palm is opening in London, our waiter tells us. April.
We look forward to it.

Random security check

I believe there is a note on my file with US immigration, since I'm
without fail called for "random security checks".
It usually means I get to take my shoes off twice, as well as having
my luggage thoroughly checked and it's a pain when travelling with a
slew of children. Today, I only had to show my passport one extra time!
We're waiting to board and they are showing Obama's speech from
Philly. I'm watching the people around me watch him. There's a lot of
hope on their faces.

If you're gonna leave me...

Can I come too?

My future's so bright..

...I gotta wear shades.
My eyes are still a little light sensitive from yesterday's surgery but boy-oh-boy is this the coolest thing ever! I have 20-20 vision and it wasn't half as scary as I thought. Highly recommend it, even though the smell of burning flesh is rather off-putting! It was also rather uncomfortable last night, looking rather stupid when the nice mani-pedi lady came, sitting in the dusky kitchen with sun glasses on. A small prize to pay, as well as the freaky plastic eye covers to wear at night or the ban on make up. For a bit.
So my toes are blue, my nails are "natural", my hair is mega short and mum is on the plane. We have thermal socks, hand warmers and thanks to Cei, a good web site to find out where we're going, if the 4lb information pack isn't enough.
Also looking forward to ball hopping with my sister-in-law and aunt Susan!

Keep your fingers crossed

I'm in the waiting room at the eye clinic and feeling a little
apprehensive. Not necessarily in a bad way.

My main concern is that I'm not allowed to rub my eyes for 2 weeks.
It'll be like with the famous polar bears!
You know, the ones your not meant to think about.

Sorry, I'm rambling but my other option is... My ten.