Inauguration

SET...

As I walked into work yesterday, I passed by a friends cubicle. On her whiteboard was written "At home watching history in the making." I nodded and smiled in agreement. Yes indeed, Tuesday was truly a historic day - for African Americans, for all Americans, heck, even the World.

My boss then told my fellow co-workers and I (who were there at 7:45ish) that we could take a morning break and watch a little TV. To be truthful, I actually didn't care what she said, I was going to take that break anyways. But this way I wouldn't have to be one of the hundreds slowing down our poor, little, sad network - I could go to a sports bar instead. And I did.

At about 8:30 a few of us walked over to the sports bar/grill and took up the first few tables. Over the next 1/2 hour, we watched the crowds in DC, our leaders being sat so they could watch the swearing in, and the people dribbling in that sports bar until it was more crowded then I had ever seen. People were actually standing. Personally, I think the state should have set up a viewing party - considering it is part of the government. They should do it for every inauguration. The peaceful transfer of power is one of the greatest assets of our country. It's only patriotic for the State of California to show the inauguration for those who want to watch. Besides, like I said before, having all those people watching it on-line just slows the damn network so nobody can do any work even if they wanted to.

Rick Warren's inaugural invocation was interesting. At least the only people he offend were the atheists but he didn't really say anything too stupid or controversial. Then there was music. I never knew what people meant when they said music was "haunting." Most of you know I'm not much of a classical music fan and never got the point of music without drums. But I have to say, when the first notes of that quartet hit the air, I finally got the point. Maybe it was the cold, maybe it could have been Yo Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman playing (those were the only two I know from the quartet), maybe it was the day, but I swear I could hear those notes shivering in the air. That was probably the first piece of classical music I liked without having heard it before. Which is a lie, I knew the piece. I could sing along with out a problem, but still, there was something to it.

Finally, there was a oath, with few flubs (so much so they re-did the oath this evening, just to make sure) and a speech. Watching that was a sight to see. Two people at complete opposite ends of the spectrum. Roberts with conservative streak (that's putting it nicely) swearing in Obama who's going to do everything he can to make Roberts a minority on the Supreme Court. Obama probably wishes Roberts would retire real soon (of course, he probably has another 40 years on the court, so that's not going to work out). It's pretty cool that such a diverse set of participants could make such a thing occur.

President Obama's speech was wonderful. He hit all the important points and inspired me to work harder. Someone complained that it wasn't uplifting enough. We should have walked a way with a hop in our step he said, or something to that effect. Come on - don't people realize we are in the worst situation the world has been in years. Maybe even worse then the depression. Obama needed us to take responsibility for our country. We got rid of the jovial idiot and in his place we got someone who takes things seriously. And now we need to take things seriously. We can't just pretend everything is okay. I have no problem with a strong speech about what is needed. I walked away with a hop in my step because we finally have a leader.

GO

And he's done more leading in the past day then Bush did in his 8 years. Gitmo, ethics, Israel completes a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, putting science in it's rightful place, etc. What a difference a day makes. Life isn't good, but it sure is better. President Obama. What wonderful words. President Obama.