Post Inaugural Report.

This shot from the washington post is great- Click the link and you can zoom in and around the entire scene. LINK.

Aaron and I were ticket holders- what this means is that we were officially closer to the capitol than most. What this also means is that though we were closer, we weren’t alone. Some 240,000 tickets were given out. The allocated space reportedly had a capacity of 300,000.

Still- it was tight. I think really because folks just shoved their way (ever so nicely) as close as they could possibly get- Which happened to be in front of me. *shrug*

Here are our tickets- and map (for the curious). 

We stood in another long line to retrieve these from The Rayburn House (Offices for the House of Representatives). It was “meet your congressman day” or something- and that is what we did.  

So worth the wait.

We were in the silver section just beyond the reflecting pool- on the right- toward the front- with a 6 foot five inch guy standing in front of us. No joke. Thanks guy.

My commemorative Obama cookie.

Two more Obama Land Links-

one 

and

two.

Ascension.

2.5 million humans flooded D.C. today.

Not one arrest.

There was a whole lotta happiness and spontaneous cheering- packed trains and metro stations- as one collective mass of people moved slowly- inching toward the capitol, smiling the whole way. 

Two smilers- Katie and Seth.

My sweet friends- Thank you. 

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox 

Go here for more inaugural coverage. And here too.

All New.

 

Things are growing thick here in the nation’s capitol- in more ways than one.

Lots of lines. Lots of humans.

Lots of Obama buttons and t-shirts and cookies and hats… Obama condoms (serious), Obama bespangled hoodies- Obama commemorative water bottles (being sold at the 7-eleven)….. Obama Flags and color copied pictures (“only one dollar!”)- Paintings and sketches too- all depicting the man in various ways- Obama The Man, Obama The Bad Ass-  Obama The Savior….

America is in LOVE. And In such an American way.

And it is ok.

It is really amazing.

The reality of experiencing an event- (as we are) unfolds in such a strange way. When history is allowed to escape the page- and the television and the museums there is a surreal quality to it.

It is just so unreal- 

until it isn’t…

Aaron and I crammed into the crowd on the Mall Saturday to be a part of some history- there was a concert. Obama was there. I think it was to be shown on HBO. Reports on the actual  size of the crowd have ranged from 400,000 to 750,000 people. Hard to say.

 

There were a lot of us.

We made it about half way up toward the Lincoln Memorial along the side of the reflecting pool. We watched the Jumbo Tron to see the real life figures out there on the steps.. eyes darting back and forth from the real Stevie Wonder to the Jumbo Tron screen version. Or Jack Black –  Or The Coug.

Every body sang- “Pink Houses”. Everybody.

 

And the five or so people we were immediately crammed into – well, we shared the experience- we joked and sang and filled each other in on who was up there on the stage (“Oh- that’s Josh Grobin…”  *Aaron and Leigh grimace*….).

I had some thoughts that day-

pressed into strangers- singing American Pie with Garth Brooks (who by the way got to sing three- 3!!, yes THREE songs- don’t get it- Stevie Wonder got ONE):

Really it was one thought that seemed to surface- again and again.

You see,

I can’t help but believe that there has been a sort of shift in consciousness. I don’t mean in the magical misty dew drop way- but 

-more in the Paradigm Shift sort of way. 

Perhaps these days have been a signal or a sign of enlightenment for many? for few? I don’t know. But something has happened whatever IT is. 

I stood at the Jefferson Memorial tonight and his words carved into the stone seemed to capture the essence of such a shift:

“I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.” 

                                                                     -Thomas Jefferson

 

 We Advance. 

 

 

 

D.C. – Part 1.

 

Lincoln Life Masks (National Portrait Gallery). 

FDR hand detail- (National Portrait Gallery).

JFK- (National Portrait Gallery).

I am crushing Aaron (National Portrait Gallery).

Seth N’ Abe.

His name was Mudd.

 

For more- go here….

And here too….

Tomorrow- Today.

Headed to D.C. early tomorrow for what is sure to be inaugural madness…. 

The last time I was in D.C. was on a reeeeeeeally long lay over- flying from Costa Rica. My friends Katie and Seth picked me up and we toured the capital city in the middle of the night. The monuments stood still- illuminated, looming while we seemed to be the only people out on the streets. The experience was surreal to say the least.

I am excited to see D.C. in the daylight…..

AND for some real, live #44!!!!  (I love these shots!).

Amazing times…really.

Amazing.

Lessons In Origami.

Sadako Sasaki was 2 years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. She lived close to the site and would later die from radiation poisoning at the age of 12.

Sadako believed that if she folded 1000 origami cranes, she wouldn’t die. (You see, the story of the crane is important in Japanese culture- symbolizing loyalty, grace and beauty and it is thought that if one were to fold 1000 cranes the person will be granted their greatest wish).

Sadako’s story has found it’s way around the globe- acting as a call to end such horrors.

 

         *Currently children from all over the world fold and send cranes to be strung on the Sadako memorial in Hiroshima**************

As an assignment for class I am building a lesson plan around this story. (This is already a developed project- which I think is very potent and relevant) ……

I am attracted to the multi disciplinary possibilities in teaching this to middle school aged children. The subject matter is dark yes- but I believe that the culture of violence children are exposed to – or rather immersed in often times has no face- and the idea of consequence or empathy is lost.

This lesson integrates art, social studies, history…. and teaches leadership- as the children will eventually be expected to teach the story and the origami folding to their fellow students.

-Ewan and I are origami novices. Just started- three days ago.

xo.

More Lambchop

Album Art

Aaron has been amassing quite the record collection. It is getting pretty serious. I completely understand. He is on a quest.

I have been a fan of vinyl since the tender age of 14 when I stumbled upon the McKolay clan’s left overs at my Grandma’s house (mother of 15)…. that year was where my journey began.

Although my quest is a lil’ different these days.

I am in it for the album art.

I have been particularly blown away by the weird stuff the sexual revolution birthed. 

Check it out:

Even the Classical records got a little pervy…

Styk sent this one in:

This stuff= great.

A Tale of Five Cities.

I made it to and from Michigan. 

It was a nightmare of epic proportions getting home to see my family. Success can be attributed to a few turns of good luck (seriously).

The PNW at the time of my departure was under a blanket (more like 4 down comforters) of snow. The area was crippled. Flights were delayed, cancelled and rebooked (after hours on the phone- on hold- waiting for the re accommodation that would eventually be delayed and then again cancelled).

The madness of trying to get a new flight was really seated in the phone situation. Getting through just  wasn’t happening. I would call- and the voice recording would say “We are unable to take your call-

goodbye.”

“GOOD- bye”

Over and over again-

sometimes a man’s voice-

other times a woman’s.

Sometimes an apologetic tone- “We’re sorry…” 

Every time infuriating. 

I know, I know it is futile to freak about such things- and I kept my cool for as long as I could.

I thought about driving to the airport to talk to a human. That didn’t work. Zero visability and slick roads made THIS MICHIGAN girl turn a- round.

It was bad.

After 500 calls and 5 rebooked flights I finally had one that I thought would go.

PDX- SEA-DTW.

Aaron was gonna have to come and get me. My sweet, sweet boyfriend.

The problem with this itinerary was that Seattle was just as bad off in this winter-wonder land as Portland. My strategy was to get to the larger airport- more possibilities etc. I was nervous about the fact that I would have to spend the day in Seattle with my Detroit flight departing in the evening (almost certain not to go as things get icier after the sun goes down).

The Portland Airport was a mess. 8 hour lines, people screaming- sad, lost souls.

I had thankfully printed my boarding pass.

Though my flight had been cancelled in the 38 minutes it took for my pal Ricky and I to get his car out of the snow (THANK GOD FOR RICK!) and down the road to the airport- because I had printed a boarding pass (remember this fellow travelers) I was allowed to go through security and have my flight re accommodated at the gate.

Lucky break #1.

While the poor sad mass of stranded people were standing in their 8 hour lines I made my way through security-

effortlessly.

And in 30 seconds.

Some guy (trying to get home to Phoenix) and I shared a moment of disbelief/ excitement…. both of us blown away by the lack of line- really the absolute non-existence of line. 

We two lucky saps made our way quietly toward our gates.

I was rebooked on a 6pm flight and set on a 12:00 pm standby fight to get to Seattle.

The level of camaraderie among the passengers on the other side of the gate was amazing- everyone sharing stories of how they got to the airport and how the hell they planned and hoped to get to where they needed to be for Christmas. 

Every single standby passenger got a seat that day on the 12:00 flight.

When the plane took off the entire cabin began to cheer and laugh and clap.

So-

I get to Seattle not knowing if I will have a chance to leave (the possibility of finding flights to Detroit or Traverse City= slim to none, already full)- and find the Northwest concourse. I stand in a line which is two people deep upon my arrival.

The gentleman reviews my itinerary and I ask about any other flights available.

He announces that there is a Minneapolis flight with the ultimate destination of Traverse City.

Lucky break #2.

I of course freak out.  He lets me know that the time to make the Traverse City flight is slim- there is a good chance I wont make it and there are no other flights out of Minneapolis that night, or even the next day to either Traverse City or Detroit.

I decided to go for it.

If I got stuck in Minneapolis my chances of getting home were still better than sitting in Seattle. And Aaron has a pal in Minneapolis (I like Ryno -woulda been fine).

PLUS

Minneapolis knows snow, and cold, and ice.

Better chances.

The flight was literally boarding as I arrived at the gate.

I found my seat. The flight didn’t lift for another hour and a half. Each minute of delay cut into the time I had to make my next connection.

I decided to just trust that things were going to be fine. An adventure.

Shrug it off.

And I did.

When the plane finally was really in the air- another cabin full of people started clapping and cheering.

Turns out- as our friendly captain explained- that this flight was never supposed to happen. The plane and the crew had been working to fly troops home and was to be ferried -well, somewhere- not sure where-

but!!! instead Northwest chose to employ it and them to get our sorry butts home.

By the time we landed in Minneapolis I knew I wasn’t going to make the Traverse City connection. I called Aaron to let him know and he told me that the Traverse City flight had been delayed. 

HOLY CRRRRRRRRAP!

I looked at a flight attendant and she reassured me that the T.C. flight knew we had been delayed and that they were probably holding for me – for a bit.

So- I stand up ready to go. I wait for the doors to be opened.

We all wait for the doors to be opened.

We wait for 20 minutes for the damn doors to be opened.

Turns out they just didn’t have anybody available to push the button- ya know to load up the walkway thing and get it to the door.

Hummmphhhhhfffffffffffffffffff.

Yeah.

I finally get off the danged plane and flag down one of those carts and this guy hauls ass through the nearly deserted airport.

He dumps me off at my empty gate. I walk up to the window and see my plane. It is still on the ground! 

But the doors are closed and there is no one there to give a shit.

I start to walk away when a woman arrives and I yell (in a nice way, desperate- but nice)- 

“No, no, no- please, please, please- that is my plane!!!!! Can you just open the doors? Please?”

      ”Sorry- the doors are already closed. I tried to wait for you but it was too long…”

“But…that’s my plane….”

The gate agent was nice but firm- nothing she could do. So I watched my plane take off as she searched for the next flight.

Nothing to Traverse City (tonight or tomorrow).

Nothing to Detroit (same thing).

I almost whisper in assumed futility “what about Grand Rapids”.

“Well”, says the gate agent…. “7 am.”

She and I laughed!

She got me a room!

And I- in a state of deep relief made my way to the shuttle headed for the Holiday Inn.

Two and a half Guinness later I crashed. 

Early morning. The flight is gonna go. We are on the tarmac getting de-iced. The captain comes over the speaker to announce that the plane’s engine needs a jump.

Huh. Well. 

An hour and half later and several seriously jarring plane shakes- the plane

took

off….

FALSE ALARM! NO MORE DELAYS! 

No- You don’t have to sleep in a corner covered by your coat on a weird mat (there was a lot of this- come to think of it where did they get the mats)!!!!!

SWEEEET JESUS!

*So- that is the story.

*It ends happily. 

Michigan weather was scary too.

This held up my boyfriend a bit.

But he made it.

We made it.

It was a lovely if hard fought for- Holiday.  

SHHHHHHEEEEEEESH.