Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Random Photos
Here are some more photos from the swearing-in ceremony. I mean, lets be honest, pictures are all anyone really cares about on a blog ;) Or perhaps it is the 10 hours stuck in Charlotte and a night in the Phoenix airport that can do it to you. On a side note I was sad to hear that the other bloggers had such awful times getting in to the swearing in ceremonies...I guess I was due to have an awful trip home.
Quick view of my view. The people sitting on the ground were from Colorado and Chicago.
Watergate… LewinskiGate… and Purple Gate
After waking at 6 am, I joined some friends and left to wait in line for inauguration. I had a purple ticket, and the purple ticket holders were shepherded into a long line in a tunnel. I spent four hours in the tunnel where it was very cold and crowded. My friends and I met many people in the tunnel, from places like Iowa, Ohio, California and Kansas. A few of them had even worked for the Obama campaign.
In line, we even met Tate Donovan (who played Jimmy Cooper on the OC, was the voice of Hercules in the Disney movie, and dated Jennifer Aniston). He took this picture with us and told us how he likes to snowboard in Utah.
We finally got out of the tunnel and basked in the light of the sun and in our hopes of finally getting in to the National Mall. These hopes were dashed when we saw that the purple gate entrance was closed. Because this gate was not well regulated, people had snuck in line and the section became full. After we were herded into another area, we thought we would finally get in to catch the last part of the ceremony. The crowd shouted "5,6,7,8 let us in the purple gate!" or chanted the Obama campaign phrase "Yes we can!" Then we heard the blasts of the 21-gun salute and we knew we were not getting in. Many people in the crowd were brought to tears because of disappointment.
On return to my apartment, I spoke with two friends who were upset because they had blue tickets and were not able to get in either. Some of my roommates had tickets and didn't get in either but listened to Obama's speech from an old radio that an elderly man had brought in case he didn't get in. At the conclusion of the ceremony, this man told my roommates to take advantage of the future and they felt very inspired from their experience. Two of my other roommates with purple tickets were able to get in even though they arrived two and a half hours after I did. Although I am disappointed I was not able to witness the inauguration ceremony, I am glad I could experience the emotion and chaos involved in the event and I feel a special bond with the thousands of other purple ticket holders unable to get inside.
January 20th, 2009
In spite of the disappointment of learning that we didn’t actually have tickets to the inauguration, we decided to make the best of it. The night of the 19th Julia and I left the hotel with provisions (blanket, scarves, hats, gloves, etc.) and walked down toward the Mall to get a good spot for the next day. When we got there, about 10 other UPIC students were already there so we joined them at the front gate of the public section. We then proceeded to get very close, very quickly – we built a “fort” out of random white cardboard boxes to block out the biting wind. Then we all started to sing songs and substitute words with Obama’s name…it was so funny and we all became fast friends.
I mostly sat with Marco, a boy from Mexico, Ann from Germany, David from Norway, and Will from France, studying in England. It was great to talk about European politics and get some outside perspectives on the American government and political system. After 15 hours of snuggling, complaining, shivering uncontrollably (it was arguably the COLDEST I have EVER been and I have freezer burn on my face to prove it!), singing sporadically, and yelling and chanting for occasional news cameras that came our way, we finally began to realize how many people were actually behind us and appreciate the fact that we the first row among millions. I must admit, I couldn’t actually distinguish figures on the stage from where I was, but I couldn’t have possibly gotten any closer without a ticket. Thank goodness for jumbotrons.
We suffered for another hour watching Representatives, Justices, Senators, Governors and spouses come onto the stage before we could begin to get excited about Obama coming out. I was disappointed in my fellow spectators when they began to boo George W. Bush as he came out. I may not be a huge fan of the policies of his administration, but I clapped for him and said a prayer of thanks that someone would be willing to devote years to the efforts of trying to keep our country safe.
It was amazing to hear Aretha Franklin sing live. Then, when Obama came out, I couldn’t cheer because I found that there was a lump in my throat. He looked very serious. I wondered how his family really felt about the sacrifice they were making – the next four to eight years are going to be hard not just on the nation but particularly on their family. I was prompted to say another silent prayer of thanks, and asked the Lord to bless this incredible man that he may have the strength, integrity, and guidance that will help him endure his inevitable future hardships. I know he isn't perfect and that many people will be disappointed when he can't solve all of our problems quickly - but nevertheless, I support him and have hope that his administration will make America a better place.
I noticed in that at one point in the oath, there were some stumbles in the wording but I couldn’t tell who had messed up – I later found out that Chief Justice John Roberts switched the word “faithfully” to the end of the sentence and it tripped Obama up a little. After he took the oath, the crowd went wild. It was amazing to look behind me and see millions of people standing in the freezing cold to cheer Obama on, even though most of us could only see him by jumbotron. Then Obama gave a speech which gave me goosebumps. It was silent as he spoke of the American dream and reminded us that we had a rocky road ahead – but that didn’t mean that his words weren’t as much about hope as they were about patience and caution. As he spoke, I looked around me and I wasn’t the only person with tears in my eyes – his message is one of hope to EVERYONE, and he didn’t come out as a Democrat or a a black man only, but as an American who came from humble beginnings and is now serving his country in the best way he can. I am so grateful to live in a nation that values democracy and that I have a voice in it as a woman and a citizen.
Getting out of the crowd was insane. I had to channel Obama-ness in order to keep from yelling at the people shoving me. Sweet Marco offered his arm to me when the crowds got too big and led me through them so we could walk back to our hotels together. It was about a 5 mile trip because so many roads were blocked off. Entire streets were packed with people and cars were sitting idle in the middle because no one, man or machine, could get through faster than a snail’s pace.
When I finally got back to the hotel, I stripped off my hot and dirt/grass covered clothes and ran to splash cool water on my windburned-face. I then proceeded to find a note from my roommate, who attended one session total and spent everyday in her pajamas in bed, ordering room service – didn’t go to Al Gore or Colin Powell, or any inaugural activities, for that matter – had gotten an early flight out of D.C. and left me an empty room until I had to leave the next morning. I wasn’t terribly disappointed – it was nice to finally have the room to myself. So, I got in bed almost immediately and fell asleep for a couple of hours.
I had mostly decided not to go to the UPIC Inaugural Gala Ball because it sounded like any other college dance – maybe only a little fancier – and I knew that no one important would be there. I was exhausted physically and emotionally, in pain, and needed some time to pack, journal, and contemplate what I had experienced that day. But after some texts from my conference friends, I made an executive decision over the drama queen in me to go and make the best of it. After all, I did have my homecoming dress altered before I came and then carted it with me to D.C. And how many times will I go to an event which rented out the National Air and Space Museum?
It was basically a fancy college dance. There was a live band, which was surprisingly good, but there wasn’t much of a dance floor so we spent most of the time looking at exhibits. We met a boy from Nevada who is studying in New York and hung out with him for the night – it’s funny how easily people make friends in situations like this. It turned out to be really fun, but by midnight I was glad to get back to the hotel and get my heels off.
I’m packed and ready to get back home! D.C. has been great and I love the energy of the city. I will never forget this experience and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be here at such a historical moment.
Thanks for letting me share this with you!
I mostly sat with Marco, a boy from Mexico, Ann from Germany, David from Norway, and Will from France, studying in England. It was great to talk about European politics and get some outside perspectives on the American government and political system. After 15 hours of snuggling, complaining, shivering uncontrollably (it was arguably the COLDEST I have EVER been and I have freezer burn on my face to prove it!), singing sporadically, and yelling and chanting for occasional news cameras that came our way, we finally began to realize how many people were actually behind us and appreciate the fact that we the first row among millions. I must admit, I couldn’t actually distinguish figures on the stage from where I was, but I couldn’t have possibly gotten any closer without a ticket. Thank goodness for jumbotrons.
We suffered for another hour watching Representatives, Justices, Senators, Governors and spouses come onto the stage before we could begin to get excited about Obama coming out. I was disappointed in my fellow spectators when they began to boo George W. Bush as he came out. I may not be a huge fan of the policies of his administration, but I clapped for him and said a prayer of thanks that someone would be willing to devote years to the efforts of trying to keep our country safe.
It was amazing to hear Aretha Franklin sing live. Then, when Obama came out, I couldn’t cheer because I found that there was a lump in my throat. He looked very serious. I wondered how his family really felt about the sacrifice they were making – the next four to eight years are going to be hard not just on the nation but particularly on their family. I was prompted to say another silent prayer of thanks, and asked the Lord to bless this incredible man that he may have the strength, integrity, and guidance that will help him endure his inevitable future hardships. I know he isn't perfect and that many people will be disappointed when he can't solve all of our problems quickly - but nevertheless, I support him and have hope that his administration will make America a better place.
I noticed in that at one point in the oath, there were some stumbles in the wording but I couldn’t tell who had messed up – I later found out that Chief Justice John Roberts switched the word “faithfully” to the end of the sentence and it tripped Obama up a little. After he took the oath, the crowd went wild. It was amazing to look behind me and see millions of people standing in the freezing cold to cheer Obama on, even though most of us could only see him by jumbotron. Then Obama gave a speech which gave me goosebumps. It was silent as he spoke of the American dream and reminded us that we had a rocky road ahead – but that didn’t mean that his words weren’t as much about hope as they were about patience and caution. As he spoke, I looked around me and I wasn’t the only person with tears in my eyes – his message is one of hope to EVERYONE, and he didn’t come out as a Democrat or a a black man only, but as an American who came from humble beginnings and is now serving his country in the best way he can. I am so grateful to live in a nation that values democracy and that I have a voice in it as a woman and a citizen.
Getting out of the crowd was insane. I had to channel Obama-ness in order to keep from yelling at the people shoving me. Sweet Marco offered his arm to me when the crowds got too big and led me through them so we could walk back to our hotels together. It was about a 5 mile trip because so many roads were blocked off. Entire streets were packed with people and cars were sitting idle in the middle because no one, man or machine, could get through faster than a snail’s pace.
When I finally got back to the hotel, I stripped off my hot and dirt/grass covered clothes and ran to splash cool water on my windburned-face. I then proceeded to find a note from my roommate, who attended one session total and spent everyday in her pajamas in bed, ordering room service – didn’t go to Al Gore or Colin Powell, or any inaugural activities, for that matter – had gotten an early flight out of D.C. and left me an empty room until I had to leave the next morning. I wasn’t terribly disappointed – it was nice to finally have the room to myself. So, I got in bed almost immediately and fell asleep for a couple of hours.
I had mostly decided not to go to the UPIC Inaugural Gala Ball because it sounded like any other college dance – maybe only a little fancier – and I knew that no one important would be there. I was exhausted physically and emotionally, in pain, and needed some time to pack, journal, and contemplate what I had experienced that day. But after some texts from my conference friends, I made an executive decision over the drama queen in me to go and make the best of it. After all, I did have my homecoming dress altered before I came and then carted it with me to D.C. And how many times will I go to an event which rented out the National Air and Space Museum?
It was basically a fancy college dance. There was a live band, which was surprisingly good, but there wasn’t much of a dance floor so we spent most of the time looking at exhibits. We met a boy from Nevada who is studying in New York and hung out with him for the night – it’s funny how easily people make friends in situations like this. It turned out to be really fun, but by midnight I was glad to get back to the hotel and get my heels off.
I’m packed and ready to get back home! D.C. has been great and I love the energy of the city. I will never forget this experience and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be here at such a historical moment.
Thanks for letting me share this with you!
January 19th, 2009
Another long day, but a short post…First we went to a few sessions, of which I attended one on Women and Politics by Kim Gandy, the director of the National Organization for Women, and Foreign Policy with Peter Beinart from the Council on Foreign Relations and Jonah Goldberg, an editor at the National Review. It was very interesting.
After that, we got on buses and traveled again to the University of Maryland to hear Al Gore speak to us. I was pretty close again, about 25 rows back from the podium. Much of his talk was on the future of our generation and what we can do to get involved in politics and protecting the environment. He said that my generation is the best renewable resource the world has. I didn’t think he was as good of a speaker as Colin Powell was, but it was still cool to hear from him.
I met a guy attending NYU who is originally from India – we had a great talk about my experience with India. There are so many people here – students from Ireland, South Africa, Canada, and France – those are only people I have met so far…I’m sure there are many more countries represented here. It reminds me that America, though struggling, truly is a world leader and that we must always treat others with respect because we are always being closely watched by other countries.
Tonight I’m going to get formal pictures taken, and then I’m meeting Julie for dinner in a “local spot.” After that I’m heading downtown on the Metro to check out the conditions for tomorrow morning. Let’s just say that we are going to be getting up VERY early and I will be hoping earnestly for a decent spot. The city is PACKED!
I’ll post tomorrow after the inaugural festivities!
After that, we got on buses and traveled again to the University of Maryland to hear Al Gore speak to us. I was pretty close again, about 25 rows back from the podium. Much of his talk was on the future of our generation and what we can do to get involved in politics and protecting the environment. He said that my generation is the best renewable resource the world has. I didn’t think he was as good of a speaker as Colin Powell was, but it was still cool to hear from him.
I met a guy attending NYU who is originally from India – we had a great talk about my experience with India. There are so many people here – students from Ireland, South Africa, Canada, and France – those are only people I have met so far…I’m sure there are many more countries represented here. It reminds me that America, though struggling, truly is a world leader and that we must always treat others with respect because we are always being closely watched by other countries.
Tonight I’m going to get formal pictures taken, and then I’m meeting Julie for dinner in a “local spot.” After that I’m heading downtown on the Metro to check out the conditions for tomorrow morning. Let’s just say that we are going to be getting up VERY early and I will be hoping earnestly for a decent spot. The city is PACKED!
I’ll post tomorrow after the inaugural festivities!
January 18th, 2009
I am only slightly tired today. After getting up at 4:15am, navigating crowds of thousands, and walking for around three hours total, to be honest, I am exhausted. The first thing on the agenda was going to hear Colin Powell speak at the University of Maryland. There were about 15,000 students in the auditorium (actually a converted fieldhouse) and I was lucky enough to sit on the fourth row – about thirty-forty feet away from him. He was actually a great speaker; he recounted his experience as a young black man training for the military in the South and gave advice on how to be a leader. He emphasized that a true leader recognizes that followers are more important than him/herself. Basically, a leader must put followers in the right place, give them the tools they need, and make his/her passion infectious enough to inspire. He also explained that he graduated from the Community College of New York with a 2.0 GPA and that he fails at something everyday, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still be successful. It made me think about how much pressure our generation puts on ourselves, and made me realize that if I leave my plans open while working hard, I will hopefully end up in the right place for me.
Some of my favorite one-liners from Powell:
“Live lives of moral and physical courage.”
“Maintain the highest standards of integrity and trust.”
“People don’t want to hear about the troubles you had in the past, they want to know what you are doing now and what you can do in the future.”
“You can do anything you want to as long as you’re willing to work hard and believe in yourself.”
After that, we rushed to a panel with Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala, both political correspondents for CNN and hosts of previous political debate shows. They talked, similarly to Luke Russert, on how the youth have made a difference in the recent election and political climate. They were both really funny and personable.
Favorite quotes:
Paul Begala, referring to George W. Bush: “Anybody can lose an election – it takes talent to lose a generation.”
Tucker Carlson: “Hillary Clinton is THE toughest person on the face of the earth.”
Following that, we attended a panel of Mary Matalin and James Carville, a married couple who simultaneously ran campaigns for presidential candidates against each other. It wasn’t as controversial as I would have liked – they are notorious for getting into arguments over politics, but they both said about the same thing as the other panelists – you don’t have to be perfect or find what you want to do immediately after school, but if you work hard and are willing to start from scratch, you can still do great things.
Right out of that panel discussion, we grabbed a box lunch to eat on the shuttle on our way to the Inaugural Opening Celebration. It was AWESOME. Ballpark guess: 750,000 people, at least. The concert was held on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, but the section by the reflecting pool was completely full when we got there. We started out by the Washington Monument and ended up much closer by the middle of the concert by continually following passing groups and filling in gaps. I’ve learned to be aggressive when it comes to events like this. ☺ I also think I may have been on MSNBC – they had a station set up and we walked right up behind it while they were on the air!
Tons of celebrities/performers were there, including Bono, Usher, Beyonce, Tom Hanks, Jack Black, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Josh Groban, Cheryl Crow, and Garth Brooks. And, of course, Joe Biden and OBAMA! I only really saw him on the jumbotron, but I could see his outline and heard his voice. It seems so unreal that I’m here, but I am definitely grateful for every minute of it. It was a huge crowd, but everyone acted like they were friends, dancing and singing together – we sang American Pie, Shout, and America the Beautiful together. It made me feel a part of something bigger – maybe the first time I really have felt like a part of a nation in a real way. I am meeting people from across the country who are hoping for the future and coming together to be the change we want to see in ourselves. It is truly inspiring. When Obama gave a short speech, I found myself wiping away a few tears because of the power of his words and the power of the belief in the people around me.
At the end of the concert, we began to walk back to the other side of the Mall, but caught up in the crowd and were basically swept up in the crush and shuffled shoulder-to-shoulder basically until after we were past the White House. I felt like I was in China again (only I wasn’t the tallest person there)! It was great. As we walked by the White House, the whole crowd started singing, “Hey, hey, hey, goodbye.” I joined in, but half-heartedly, because even though I am excited for a new administration to begin to change the mess we are in now, I still respect the work and agony that I am sure Bush has gone through these past eight years. It is a heavy responsibility, and I can’t say that I’m not grateful that it wasn’t me.
That’s all for now. Have a great Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! If there is one continual theme here right now, it is remembering the freedoms and rights that MLK fought for.
Some of my favorite one-liners from Powell:
“Live lives of moral and physical courage.”
“Maintain the highest standards of integrity and trust.”
“People don’t want to hear about the troubles you had in the past, they want to know what you are doing now and what you can do in the future.”
“You can do anything you want to as long as you’re willing to work hard and believe in yourself.”
After that, we rushed to a panel with Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala, both political correspondents for CNN and hosts of previous political debate shows. They talked, similarly to Luke Russert, on how the youth have made a difference in the recent election and political climate. They were both really funny and personable.
Favorite quotes:
Paul Begala, referring to George W. Bush: “Anybody can lose an election – it takes talent to lose a generation.”
Tucker Carlson: “Hillary Clinton is THE toughest person on the face of the earth.”
Following that, we attended a panel of Mary Matalin and James Carville, a married couple who simultaneously ran campaigns for presidential candidates against each other. It wasn’t as controversial as I would have liked – they are notorious for getting into arguments over politics, but they both said about the same thing as the other panelists – you don’t have to be perfect or find what you want to do immediately after school, but if you work hard and are willing to start from scratch, you can still do great things.
Right out of that panel discussion, we grabbed a box lunch to eat on the shuttle on our way to the Inaugural Opening Celebration. It was AWESOME. Ballpark guess: 750,000 people, at least. The concert was held on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, but the section by the reflecting pool was completely full when we got there. We started out by the Washington Monument and ended up much closer by the middle of the concert by continually following passing groups and filling in gaps. I’ve learned to be aggressive when it comes to events like this. ☺ I also think I may have been on MSNBC – they had a station set up and we walked right up behind it while they were on the air!
Tons of celebrities/performers were there, including Bono, Usher, Beyonce, Tom Hanks, Jack Black, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Josh Groban, Cheryl Crow, and Garth Brooks. And, of course, Joe Biden and OBAMA! I only really saw him on the jumbotron, but I could see his outline and heard his voice. It seems so unreal that I’m here, but I am definitely grateful for every minute of it. It was a huge crowd, but everyone acted like they were friends, dancing and singing together – we sang American Pie, Shout, and America the Beautiful together. It made me feel a part of something bigger – maybe the first time I really have felt like a part of a nation in a real way. I am meeting people from across the country who are hoping for the future and coming together to be the change we want to see in ourselves. It is truly inspiring. When Obama gave a short speech, I found myself wiping away a few tears because of the power of his words and the power of the belief in the people around me.
At the end of the concert, we began to walk back to the other side of the Mall, but caught up in the crowd and were basically swept up in the crush and shuffled shoulder-to-shoulder basically until after we were past the White House. I felt like I was in China again (only I wasn’t the tallest person there)! It was great. As we walked by the White House, the whole crowd started singing, “Hey, hey, hey, goodbye.” I joined in, but half-heartedly, because even though I am excited for a new administration to begin to change the mess we are in now, I still respect the work and agony that I am sure Bush has gone through these past eight years. It is a heavy responsibility, and I can’t say that I’m not grateful that it wasn’t me.
That’s all for now. Have a great Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! If there is one continual theme here right now, it is remembering the freedoms and rights that MLK fought for.
January 17th, 2009
Today was…interesting. I left about 9:30AM and met a few other students on my flight who were also attending the University Presidential Inaugural Conference. One girl, Julia, is from Montana, Kevin is from California, and Kate, a girl from the U who I haven’t ever met before. All were really smart and friendly – we were having an intellectual conversation about anarchy and communism about an hour into the flight.
Delta thankfully has TV available during their flights, so I took advantage and watched the Obama Express train on CNN. Obama has modeled his train trip after Lincoln’s trip to his inauguration, during which he made over 100 speeches in 70 cities over 12 days. Obama’s trip is only two days and he’s only making a couple of speeches, but as I watched how he took the time to walk out into crowds and shake hands, speak about ordinary people and call them heroes, and stand out on the back of the train in the freezing cold to wave to people standing along the tracks, I felt so blessed to be able to experience history this week.
On another interesting note, Governor Huntsman sat a few rows ahead of me, and Spike Lee, a famous director, was sitting in first class.
When we landed, I was reminded about how much I love D.C. It is such a beautiful place even in the bitter cold. From the plane we could see the Washington Monument; the Potomac had huge ice chunks floating in it and I wondered how on earth the founding fathers survived without central heating.
I got safely to the baggage claim and immediately experienced a sense of déjà-vu. It wasn’t until after I had been shuffled onto a bus and been told to be quiet to listen to instructions that I figured out what it was: I felt like I was on high school field trip. Oh well, right? I am counting on having a good experience and I know that I play a big part in how much I enjoy this. I’ve already made some friends and I’m obviously in the company of future leaders.
There are about 5,000 people enrolled in the University Presidential Inaugural Conference, spread out in about 6 hotels across D.C. I am staying in the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, the main hub of activities – thank heavens. The participants staying at other hotels either have to be shuttled in or walk.
My roommate, Jackie, is from Minnesota and was a McCain supporter so she isn’t too gung-ho about the inauguration… I held myself back from saying anything too snide. ☺
We had a mediocre dinner (I didn’t have a chance to get lunch so at that point I needed something substantial – which the dinner wasn’t) and then listened to a speech from Luke Russert, NBC correspondent and son of the late Tim Russert. He spoke on how youth have begun to change the face of politics and our role in the recent election. Then he talked about his own experiences and advised us to get involved and champion a cause, no matter what it is – whether we are black or white, homosexual or heterosexual, man or woman. I really enjoyed it.
My room is pretty nice and I have my own bed, so hopefully I can get a good night’s sleep. Well, as good a night’s sleep as I can get when I have to wake up at 4:30AM.
See you soon for the next installment of Caitlin’s Inaugural Adventure.
Delta thankfully has TV available during their flights, so I took advantage and watched the Obama Express train on CNN. Obama has modeled his train trip after Lincoln’s trip to his inauguration, during which he made over 100 speeches in 70 cities over 12 days. Obama’s trip is only two days and he’s only making a couple of speeches, but as I watched how he took the time to walk out into crowds and shake hands, speak about ordinary people and call them heroes, and stand out on the back of the train in the freezing cold to wave to people standing along the tracks, I felt so blessed to be able to experience history this week.
On another interesting note, Governor Huntsman sat a few rows ahead of me, and Spike Lee, a famous director, was sitting in first class.
When we landed, I was reminded about how much I love D.C. It is such a beautiful place even in the bitter cold. From the plane we could see the Washington Monument; the Potomac had huge ice chunks floating in it and I wondered how on earth the founding fathers survived without central heating.
I got safely to the baggage claim and immediately experienced a sense of déjà-vu. It wasn’t until after I had been shuffled onto a bus and been told to be quiet to listen to instructions that I figured out what it was: I felt like I was on high school field trip. Oh well, right? I am counting on having a good experience and I know that I play a big part in how much I enjoy this. I’ve already made some friends and I’m obviously in the company of future leaders.
There are about 5,000 people enrolled in the University Presidential Inaugural Conference, spread out in about 6 hotels across D.C. I am staying in the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, the main hub of activities – thank heavens. The participants staying at other hotels either have to be shuttled in or walk.
My roommate, Jackie, is from Minnesota and was a McCain supporter so she isn’t too gung-ho about the inauguration… I held myself back from saying anything too snide. ☺
We had a mediocre dinner (I didn’t have a chance to get lunch so at that point I needed something substantial – which the dinner wasn’t) and then listened to a speech from Luke Russert, NBC correspondent and son of the late Tim Russert. He spoke on how youth have begun to change the face of politics and our role in the recent election. Then he talked about his own experiences and advised us to get involved and champion a cause, no matter what it is – whether we are black or white, homosexual or heterosexual, man or woman. I really enjoyed it.
My room is pretty nice and I have my own bed, so hopefully I can get a good night’s sleep. Well, as good a night’s sleep as I can get when I have to wake up at 4:30AM.
See you soon for the next installment of Caitlin’s Inaugural Adventure.
Long Road Home leads to a Long Post
I knew that this trip was going far too well. I was supposed to fly out of Baltimore (BWI) this morning at 6:45. The friends I was staying with went to the Western Ball last night and didn't get back until fairly late. With my flight leaving so early, my friend offered to let me drive her car to the airport. The plan was I would park in the day parking, lock the keys in the car, and then she could come pick up the car later in the day with her second set of keys. I woke up before 4:30 AM to get to the airport on time.
The drive was great and I was a bit nostalgic driving past the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and the National Mall in the quiet of early morning, where hours before I had been a part of history. I couldn't believe that I had been a part of something so special. I arrived at BWI at around 5:30 AM so I had over an hour to check-in and get through security. I decided that the fair thing to do would be to leave some money in the car to pay for the parking and the gas that I had used. I tour off a blank portion of my printed itinerary and wrote a quick note of thanks and attached a twenty and the parking stub to the note. Then I hid the keys, locked the doors, and got out of the car. As soon as I stepped out, I went to reach for my wallet and to my horror it was not in my back pocket. Frantically, I searched my bag praying that my wallet had somehow found its way into it...but I knew that I had locked my wallet with my identification in the car.
There was an emergency call box nearby so I ran over to it and pushed the police button. (side note- I know this wasn't technically an emergency but one of the services listed on the box was locked keys so I figured it was appropriate!) A guy comes on and I tell him that I locked my keys in my car...which was true. I mean, I did lock the keys in the car but he didn't need to know that it was on purpose. The operator tells me that I need to call information not the emergency line. There was a button that I hadn't noticed before for information so I pushed that button and the new operator told me that he was going to have to contact the police. 10 minutes passed and I was starting to get real worried about missing my flight so I called information again to check to see if they had called the police or if I needed to push the other button again. They said the police should be by shortly.
The policeman showed up and it was kind of awkward explaining what all had happened and how the car wasn't mine but I needed to open it, but not to get the keys, just a wallet, which conveniently could not be seen by flashing a light in the window. I don't know if it was the desperation in my voice, the fear in my eyes, my youthful innocence, the fact that I pointed out the note and my torn itinerary, or that I could correctly identify the owner of the car, but the cop believed the story! Whoo hoo!
The cop called the locksmith and wished me well. It took another 10 minutes for the locksmith to arrive and about 5 minutes to open the door. With the car alarm blaring, I hurry and found the keys and turned off the alarm and the search was on. I could not find my wallet in any of the normal spaces it could have fallen into. At one point the thought crossed my mind that maybe it was in my bag and that was a horrific thought. I checked my bag again and nothing. Finally, I found the leather, bain of my existence, source of all my frustration wedged in the area between the drivers seat and the door. How it got there, no one knows for sure. Some say it was luck, others that I am cursed, but I am pretty sure it would be impossible to get it there again.
With my wallet and bag in tote, I hurried and re-locked the car with the keys inside (which was somewhat humorous to me in one of those so frustrated you laugh-type emotions) and I ran to catch the shuttle to the terminal. I had to go down one floor to catch the bus so I leaped down the flight of stairs, burst out the door, only to see the bus driving away. I think it was at this point I realized that one this was not my day, two BWI hates me, and three this was an awful ending to a great trip. the next shuttle came an eternity of six minutes later. I arrived in the terminal at 6:30...my flight was supposed to be leaving at 6:45. BOOOOOO!
I went up to the counter and said that I might have missed my flight, perhaps an understatement or naive hope but the lady smashed any wistful wishes and said, "Yep, you missed your flight." She was one of those great compassionate, helpful, concerned customer service reps...yeah right! After she dashed my hopes she said there was no open flights out of BWI. I asked if she could check and she gave me one of those you-want-me-to-do-what looks and I gave her the yes-I-want-you-to-and-I-want-a-smile-on-your-face-while-looking looks. We compromised and she looked up some flights and I gave up on the smile on her face. She found a flight out of Dulles (I was at BWI remember) for 5:00 pm (it was 6:30 AM) for the low-cost of $900 and some change. Whoa, that's more than twice what I paid for my entire round-trip! Not really an attractive alternative. I asked if I could fly stand-by she said no. I asked if I could be credited the cost for the remainder of my flights and she said that even though I was flying on her airline, my ticket was held by the airline that I flew in on, so no she could not give me a credit. To top it all off, she said, "There are other customers in line and I need to help them. You are going to have to think about what you want to do." I looked confused so she simplified, "You need to think about whether or not you want to take the 5:00 Dulles ticket and then get back to me."
I left and called home. That always seems to be the best solution to any problem I find myself in. My dad started looking up flights and I got in the line at the airline that supposedly held my ticket. My Dad found one flight for around $500 that left from BWI at 12:00 pm so that was better than the previous offer but still more than I had paid for my entire round trip previously. I got to the front of the line and this time, the customer service was much better. The guy treated me kindly and got me on standby all the way to Salt Lake for the whopping cost of $0, null, nada, zip. I made the flight from BWI to Charlotte but they were unable to get me on the earlier flight to Phoenix. So right now I am waiting in Charlotte for 2 and 1/2 hours, hoping I can get onto the next flight to Phoenix because I already have confirmed tickets from Phoenix to SLC. Here's to hoping I get home today!
(Sorry this post was so long to any and all of the readers of this blog!) -Cody
The drive was great and I was a bit nostalgic driving past the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and the National Mall in the quiet of early morning, where hours before I had been a part of history. I couldn't believe that I had been a part of something so special. I arrived at BWI at around 5:30 AM so I had over an hour to check-in and get through security. I decided that the fair thing to do would be to leave some money in the car to pay for the parking and the gas that I had used. I tour off a blank portion of my printed itinerary and wrote a quick note of thanks and attached a twenty and the parking stub to the note. Then I hid the keys, locked the doors, and got out of the car. As soon as I stepped out, I went to reach for my wallet and to my horror it was not in my back pocket. Frantically, I searched my bag praying that my wallet had somehow found its way into it...but I knew that I had locked my wallet with my identification in the car.
There was an emergency call box nearby so I ran over to it and pushed the police button. (side note- I know this wasn't technically an emergency but one of the services listed on the box was locked keys so I figured it was appropriate!) A guy comes on and I tell him that I locked my keys in my car...which was true. I mean, I did lock the keys in the car but he didn't need to know that it was on purpose. The operator tells me that I need to call information not the emergency line. There was a button that I hadn't noticed before for information so I pushed that button and the new operator told me that he was going to have to contact the police. 10 minutes passed and I was starting to get real worried about missing my flight so I called information again to check to see if they had called the police or if I needed to push the other button again. They said the police should be by shortly.
The policeman showed up and it was kind of awkward explaining what all had happened and how the car wasn't mine but I needed to open it, but not to get the keys, just a wallet, which conveniently could not be seen by flashing a light in the window. I don't know if it was the desperation in my voice, the fear in my eyes, my youthful innocence, the fact that I pointed out the note and my torn itinerary, or that I could correctly identify the owner of the car, but the cop believed the story! Whoo hoo!
The cop called the locksmith and wished me well. It took another 10 minutes for the locksmith to arrive and about 5 minutes to open the door. With the car alarm blaring, I hurry and found the keys and turned off the alarm and the search was on. I could not find my wallet in any of the normal spaces it could have fallen into. At one point the thought crossed my mind that maybe it was in my bag and that was a horrific thought. I checked my bag again and nothing. Finally, I found the leather, bain of my existence, source of all my frustration wedged in the area between the drivers seat and the door. How it got there, no one knows for sure. Some say it was luck, others that I am cursed, but I am pretty sure it would be impossible to get it there again.
With my wallet and bag in tote, I hurried and re-locked the car with the keys inside (which was somewhat humorous to me in one of those so frustrated you laugh-type emotions) and I ran to catch the shuttle to the terminal. I had to go down one floor to catch the bus so I leaped down the flight of stairs, burst out the door, only to see the bus driving away. I think it was at this point I realized that one this was not my day, two BWI hates me, and three this was an awful ending to a great trip. the next shuttle came an eternity of six minutes later. I arrived in the terminal at 6:30...my flight was supposed to be leaving at 6:45. BOOOOOO!
I went up to the counter and said that I might have missed my flight, perhaps an understatement or naive hope but the lady smashed any wistful wishes and said, "Yep, you missed your flight." She was one of those great compassionate, helpful, concerned customer service reps...yeah right! After she dashed my hopes she said there was no open flights out of BWI. I asked if she could check and she gave me one of those you-want-me-to-do-what looks and I gave her the yes-I-want-you-to-and-I-want-a-smile-on-your-face-while-looking looks. We compromised and she looked up some flights and I gave up on the smile on her face. She found a flight out of Dulles (I was at BWI remember) for 5:00 pm (it was 6:30 AM) for the low-cost of $900 and some change. Whoa, that's more than twice what I paid for my entire round-trip! Not really an attractive alternative. I asked if I could fly stand-by she said no. I asked if I could be credited the cost for the remainder of my flights and she said that even though I was flying on her airline, my ticket was held by the airline that I flew in on, so no she could not give me a credit. To top it all off, she said, "There are other customers in line and I need to help them. You are going to have to think about what you want to do." I looked confused so she simplified, "You need to think about whether or not you want to take the 5:00 Dulles ticket and then get back to me."
I left and called home. That always seems to be the best solution to any problem I find myself in. My dad started looking up flights and I got in the line at the airline that supposedly held my ticket. My Dad found one flight for around $500 that left from BWI at 12:00 pm so that was better than the previous offer but still more than I had paid for my entire round trip previously. I got to the front of the line and this time, the customer service was much better. The guy treated me kindly and got me on standby all the way to Salt Lake for the whopping cost of $0, null, nada, zip. I made the flight from BWI to Charlotte but they were unable to get me on the earlier flight to Phoenix. So right now I am waiting in Charlotte for 2 and 1/2 hours, hoping I can get onto the next flight to Phoenix because I already have confirmed tickets from Phoenix to SLC. Here's to hoping I get home today!
(Sorry this post was so long to any and all of the readers of this blog!) -Cody
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Spectacle
After getting up at 5:00 AM (we went to bed at 1:00 am) we made it to the Metro at about 5:40 to get in line for the swearing-in ceremony.
I've got a golden...or um Blue Ticket. Blue standing area here I come.
The site after making it off the Metro. It was breathtaking.
Phew!!! So glad that after standing in the cold for over three hours I made it to the right gate...Whoot!
The 7-layer bean dip security. I waited in line for about 3 and 1/2 hours before getting to this point. There were some who didn't make it through security in time for the inauguration to start.
Looking back towards the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial from my vantage point.
Wow, wow, wow. I don't think I have ever seen as many people in such a small space as I did today. Again, it was certainly a spectacle!
President Obama giving his Inaugural Address.
President George W. Bush flying away. A symbol of the peaceful transfer of power. One of the many reasons our country can be called great!Monday, January 19, 2009
The Blue Line
After a 5:00 am start, two layovers which involved literally running to catch my connecting flight in Charlotte, I arrived in D.C. at 6:00 pm local time. A friend picked me up at the Baltimore airport and we proceeded to see the sites that will host the inauguration festivities tomorrow. The highlight was walking along the "Blue Line" which shows the route the inaugural parade will take. The city was starting to get into secure mode so there were policemen and dump trucks (I am not quite sure what they are here for other than the fact that they are heavy...?) all over the place. There is definitely an excitement in the city and there were people dancing in the streets and Obama merchandise being peddled throughout the city.
- Cody
- CodySunday, January 18, 2009
Looking like a cold Inauguration
Well, I still haven't flown out- that will happen tomorrow morning, but I just checked out the weather and the high is predicted to be a blistering 30 degrees. Looks like I'm going to have to wear a bunch of layers...the key being warmth. I mean, it's not like you can dress to impress when you are freezing your toosh off! 
This was me last January in Washington, D.C. The weather wasn't too bad so lets hope it will be similar this year!
-Cody
Friday, January 16, 2009
SEE U IN D.C.
U of U students offer intimate glimpse into 2009 Presidential Inauguration
Jan. 16, 2009 – For those of us seeking a vicarious peek into the 2009 Presidential Inauguration, look no further than right here. Here you will find the inaugural impressions of two University of Utah students fortunate to attend the historic event.
Caitlin McDonald is a senior at the U who will graduate this spring with a bachelor’s degree in honors history and Asian studies. She is studying Mandarin Chinese and writing her thesis on widow suicide in China and India. McDonald was invited to attend the presidential inauguration through her membership in the Golden Key International Honor Society and will be participating in a four-day conference with other university students from around the world. She has supported President-elect Obama from the very beginning and is excited to witness history on January 20.
Cody Rogers is a Junior majoring in political science and minoring in ethnic studies and campaign management. He currently works in the office of Senator Bob Bennett as a staff assistant and received tickets to the inauguration through his office. Cody spent a semester interning in Senator Bennett's Washington, D.C. office and is involved with the Government Relations Board, Hinckley Journal of Politics Board, Public Interest Advocacy and Pi Sigma Alpha. He also provides tutoring assistance to immigrants to help them pass their citizenship tests.
Julie Engar recently graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in international studies and history. She is currently serving an internship in Washington, D.C. with the Republican Governors Association. Having obtained her ticket to attend the inauguration through Senator Orrin Hatch’s office, she is excited to attend the inauguration and experience such an historic and monumental moment.
Jan. 16, 2009 – For those of us seeking a vicarious peek into the 2009 Presidential Inauguration, look no further than right here. Here you will find the inaugural impressions of two University of Utah students fortunate to attend the historic event.
Caitlin McDonald is a senior at the U who will graduate this spring with a bachelor’s degree in honors history and Asian studies. She is studying Mandarin Chinese and writing her thesis on widow suicide in China and India. McDonald was invited to attend the presidential inauguration through her membership in the Golden Key International Honor Society and will be participating in a four-day conference with other university students from around the world. She has supported President-elect Obama from the very beginning and is excited to witness history on January 20.
Cody Rogers is a Junior majoring in political science and minoring in ethnic studies and campaign management. He currently works in the office of Senator Bob Bennett as a staff assistant and received tickets to the inauguration through his office. Cody spent a semester interning in Senator Bennett's Washington, D.C. office and is involved with the Government Relations Board, Hinckley Journal of Politics Board, Public Interest Advocacy and Pi Sigma Alpha. He also provides tutoring assistance to immigrants to help them pass their citizenship tests.
Julie Engar recently graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in international studies and history. She is currently serving an internship in Washington, D.C. with the Republican Governors Association. Having obtained her ticket to attend the inauguration through Senator Orrin Hatch’s office, she is excited to attend the inauguration and experience such an historic and monumental moment.
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