Commuting Conversations

My roommate Jenn drives me into work most mornings. Which is great for a lot of reasons, one being the interesting conversations on completely random subjects that we always seem to have. Today it was bands that Mormons like at a disproportionately higher rate than the general population.

Here is our list. Do you have any that you would like to add?

• Jurassic Five
• Aquabats
• Weezer
• Guster
• Barenaked Ladies
• The Postal Service
• Beck
  

Obama Nation

I figured before President Obama's honeymoon phase ends, I need to post about my experience at his inauguration. It truly was one of the most memorable events of my lifetime.

Sunday afternoon:

We went to the Inauguration kickoff concert that was on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Because it was free we had to get their early and stood for four hours waiting for the concert to begin along with hundreds of thousands of other people. We made friends with our Brazilian and Canadian neighbors and even though we were fairly close to the memorial we couldn't see the stage because there was a podium for VIPS that had been built in front of it. We rocked out to Bruce Springsteen, Mary J. Blige, U2, Beyonce, Garth Brooks, Stevie Wonder, Will i. am and many many others. One of my favorite moments was during the invocation, the speakers weren't on and after waiting four hours for this concert we were not about to let a technical glitch keep us from enjoying it. Various chants broke out in the crowd, like "We can't hear" and "We want sound" etc continued until the crowds parted and a sound tech guy made his way to the front and to chants of "Yes, you can", yes he did and the crowd was ecstatic.
At the time, this seemed like a lot of people. Multiply this by about seven, and that's what we were dealing with at the inauguration.
I wore five layers, that's why I'm smiling.
We were exhausted after the concert. Luckily Jenn (new roommate), had a room at the Willard, about three blocks from the National Mall where we crashed on her king size bed and watched a re-run of the concert.
View from the Willard in the Day
And at night (Photo credits go to Andy)

Tuesday:

We decided it would be smart to stay at Jenn's hotel room Monday night to avoid the crowds on the metro Tuesday morning. Seems really logically considering that her hotel is only a mile and a half walk to the capitol building. I received two standing tickets to the inauguration and we figured if we left at 7:00 a.m. we could walk and get in line by 7:30 and then even if it took us three hours to get through security we'd still have an hour to get our spot. Boy were we wrong. It took about two and a half hours to walk that mile and a half. Due to gridlock like this:

and this:
Even though all road were closed off to traffic, there were so many people and not a lot of direction or authority telling us where to go. I felt really bad because later I read that a lot of people didn't end up making through security even though they had tickets and had arrived very early. I would have been disappointed if it were me, but I live here. These are people who had spent a considerable amount of money on plane tickets, hotels etc to be here for this moment and instead they were stuck in tunnels or on roads like those pictured above. Read here.
Third and final crowd we had to make our way through. This was supposed to be some sort of line, but it was more like this mass of thousands of people going through a funnel. We got really lucky and did make it through a half hour before the ceremony started. But at 11:30, when everything started, it was obvious that not everyone was going to get in, I could see thousands of people still stuck outside the gate. Then I looked over, heard screaming and just saw a flood of people running towards us. It was like the red sea had parted and people were running everywhere. In the moment I thought that was a really bad idea, but no one got hurt, and most of the people did have tickets, so I'm glad they decided to jump the barricades.
I'm somewhere in that mass of people by the reflecting pool. Despite the disorder, crowds, cold I was shocked at how well behaved everyone was. It was obvious they were just so happy to be there. A lot of times the crowd would get antsy and people would start pushing a little and then someone would say "Hey, it's Barack Obama's day, let's show some respect" or "What would Barack Obama do" or just start chanting "Yes, we can" and miraculously this would calm the crowd. Man, this guy has some high expectations to live up to. I really think though for all the millions of people there was maybe only 1/1000 that was grumpy, pretty good stats on any given day and especially considering the circumstances. Watching the inauguration was incredible, the only thing that really disappointed me was when everyone booed President Bush, that was really bad taste. Whether or not your agree with his policies, you have to show respect for someone who has spent eight years serving their country and still holds the office of President. There are things that I disagree with and I'm glad Barack Obama was elected President, but you still have to respect current and former Presidents.

Parade:

Next it was back to the Willard for a buffet lunch and to watch the parade from Jenn's room again. We had an eighth floor view of Pennsylvania avenue, it was absolutely perfect. Although that parade lasted so long. I felt bad for everyone who was after the Presidential motorcade because the spectators had to be there by 7 o'clock in the morning to claim their seats so by the time the parade was ending (7 pm) there was really no one left watching.



Not a great picture. It's through the window, but that is the Presidential Motorcade.
We were like little kids gathered around the window

Inaugural Ball:

Jenn scored us tickets to the Michigan inaugural ball. It was at the American history smithsonian, which was an awesome venue. We had a great time dressing up and we pretty much dominated the dance floor.


They had some great live bands
Dominic and Kathy. The saxophonist from one of the bands was obsessed with Kathy. He was taking pictures of her from the stage.
Half the crew at the Willard on our way to the ball.

It was an epic weekend, I wish I had more pictures from the ball, but I'm still waiting to get them.

And so this is Christmas

Best part of my day? The anticipation of sleeping under the Christmas tree. Every night in December Katherine and I are sleeping under the tree. Sometimes we read Christmas stories, sometimes we watch Christmas movies, sometimes we talk about Christmas traditions, but no matter what we do it's always magical. I recommend this tradition to all.

A performer?

This website analyzes the content of your blog and uses that information to determine your personality type.

Here is this blog's profile

ESFP: The Performer

The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don't like to plan ahead - they are always in risk of exhausting themselves.

The enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation - qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.

Accurate? I think the second paragraph is pretty spot on and the first paragraph is hit and miss, but it's entertaining nonetheless.

The ultimate resume

I have spent this weekend at home in Utah spending quality time with my family before Bradley leaves on his mission to The Marshall Islands. Highlights have included dinner at the Himalayan kitchen with Camille and Kristjan, the Meadows Hot Pots, impromptu dance parties in the kitchen to this song, trying to beat my dad at ping pong and tennis, watching the office, napping, thanksgiving dinner, meeting our foreign exchange student from Thailand Auz, and much more. But the best part may have just happened today when I was going through my old boxes in my parents basement and came across my resume. A resume applying for the position of ETERNAL COMPANION. Yes, that's what you do when you are 14 years old in your Mia Maid class, sigh. I love that the only two areas of qualification that we needed were spiritual and homemaking. So I thought I would post this gem so we can all laugh together.

You'll see from this resume that I'm obviously qualified. I have no idea why thirteen years later I am still single.

Resume

Position: Eternal Companion

Qualifications:

Spiritual:
- Mormon
- I enjoy studying the scriptures
- I have a testimony

Homemaking:

-I can make raman, macaroni, toast and most other ready made foods
- I can make bead necklaces
- I can vacuum and clean the kitchen, but I don't enjoy it

Other preparations I'm making:
- I am trying to live worthy by following the prophets
- I am getting ready to go on a mission

Talents, Hobbies, Interests:
- Collect buttons
- I am a tap dancer

My favorite time of the year

There are so many reasons why fall is my favorite time of the year. Just look at the view from out my bedroom window and that alone should help you understand why.

There are other reasons though. Like this one.
Des, Scotty and their new baby Kai visited me on a spontaneous road trip. I love them and I love it when my worlds collide. Only those two would take a six week old baby cross country or on a bike ride.

The beauty of democracy
Staci, Leanna and I on the day I got the closest I've been to President Bush at an arrival ceremony for the President of Ghana. Whether you agree or disagree with his policies, respect is due to the office of President and it was a delight to hear him speak.
This is the closest I got to President-Elect Obama when I heard him speak at the Woodrow Wilson Center in September. When I left the speech there were hundreds of people outside the Wilson Center trying to catch a glimpse of him coming out. It has been so exciting to be in D.C. during this historic election and you can also agree or disagree with his policies, but there is something to be said for a politician who has inspired a new generation to care about politics and remind us that despite the difficulties our nation currently faces the American dream is alive and well.
November also marks my birthday. I celebrated last week in style. Joe and Courtney planned an amazing party. A "birthday off" that included a cake off, punch off and poetry off. This party was the best I've had since my sixteenth birthday party at classic skating.
Birthdays are always a good excuse to make your favorite people feel obligated to hang out with you. Here are some of my current and former DC roommates and favorite girls.
I think my face in this picture describes better than words how I've felt this week. Again, thanks to all those who helped make this birthday a great one.

Dedications

Dedicated to DJN: Yes, I spent my Friday night working on a puzzle and no I'm not at all ashamed. 1000 pieces, 7 friends, 7 pm - 2 am. And isn't that a good looking bengal tiger?

Dedicated to my cat obsessed friends. Sonks, Joe John, and J Mill.
Dedicated to Tuesday, October 28. A beautiful night where five friends had free dinner here and then watched with thousands of other spectators the parade of drag queens who descend dupont circle for the annual high heel race. And these aren't two random drag queens, these two are actually friends of mine.