Countdown to Inauguration

In just a little over an hour, Merced and I will be boarding our Southwest Airlines flight to Houston and then on to Baltimore to attend the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. Incredibly exciting. He and Joe Biden and their families are on an Amtrak train between Philadelphia and Baltimore right now. It may even be the same train route Joe Biden has taken from Delaware to the Capitol for the last 30+ years.

Our daughter is en route to Washington from Seattle and has already had several airline mishaps. Her flight departure was delayed due to mechanical problems. Since she is flying US Airways just two days after the emergency landing in the Hudson River, I guess they are not taking any chances. She missed her connection in Denver and has been switched to an United Airlines flight to Washington Dulles.

I will do my best to post observations and thoughts over the next few days. On Sunday, we will be standing in line to pick up inaugural ball tickets for the Southern Regional Ball on Tuesday night. Tomorrow afternoon, we will be trying to go to the "We are the One" celebration at the Lincoln Memorial. Tomorrow night is the Latino Gala at Union Station. Monday will be more standing in line for tickets to the actual inauguration swearing-in ceremony. Monday evening, we are going to the Obama Leadership Council reception hosted by the Texas members and then to the Black Tie & Boots inaugural ball hosted by the Texas State Society. Tuesday is the big day -- gates open at 8:00 am for the inauguration ceremony that does not actually start until 11:30 am. They are presently anticipating an estimated crowd on the Mall between 1.5 and 2.5 million people. The current weather forecast is for snow flurries and temperatures in the upper 20's or lower 30's. Tuesday afternoon is the inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, and Tuesday night is the official inaugural ball with a visit from President Obama and the First Lady. Wednesday will be up at dawn to pick up a rent car and head to Philadelphia for the flight back home.

Will check in later.