The inauguration, and my head cold, on the same day no less.

So, in case you've been living in a cave the last few months, yesterday was inauguration day. A very exciting day in the Houghtaling household.

I thought I was going to have to work yesterday, because even though I write my own schedule, I neglected to give myself the day off. But as it turned out I had the day off anyway. I came down with a head cold on Monday, and by yesterday morning I felt like grade A certified crap. And, of course, I can't take cold meds, so I'm just waiting it out with hot tea and plain tylenol.

The upside is that I got to watch the inauguration live. And boy, oh boy, was it something. The crowds were out of this world, I think I heard a commentator say there were 2 million people on the Mall yesterday. I wish I could have been one of them, but even getting to watch it on TV was amazing.

The entire thing was inspiring and amazing, but I have some highlights I'd like to share.

1) Holy Hat Aretha! What was that about?

2) Those two daughters. What fantastic kids. They seem so well adjusted and positive, I hope that the next eight years (fingers crossed) give them wonderful opportunities to see amazing things and meet wonderful people.

3) The obvious connection that the Obamas have with one another and with their children. You could tell that Sasha and Malia were thrilled for their Dad yesterday, and excited for the future. And watching the coverage of the balls last night, not that I didn't think this already, it was so obvious that Barack and Michelle really love each other, that they are so close and connected. I just loved when Pres. Obama said to the crowd at the first ball "How beautiful is my wife", and then he twirled her around when they were dancing, and they danced like jr. high students with his arms around her waist.

4) That speech. Eloquent and inclusive, and yet a repudiation of the fear mongering, me-me-me message of the last eight years. I know that not everyone that reads this will agree with my assessment of the Bush years, nor my feeling about the future, but it is my blog, so you wont hurt my feelings if you skip to number five. I love that he called for personal responsibility, and hard work, and yet hope and inspiration. My favorite line was "We reject as false the choice between freedom and security". He held out his hands to the world and to every American, and said if you want a different world, a different life, this American government will help you get there. We want you to be happy and healthy and raise your children to hopeful and successful, and you are not alone in your struggle. And in a respectful, and yet firm way he said, George Bush, we reject what you have stood for, and we reject your choices, and we are striking out in a new direction. A direction that unites us under one flag, a direction that asks Americans to show true patriotism of sacrifice and hard work not the false patriotism of flag pins and bible thumping.

5) I can't get over the fact that we finally have a president who knows where we come from. A man who got a world class education because he sacrificed and worked hard, not because his trust fund could afford it. Someone who knows what it's like for single parents, and minorities, and people with crappy health insurance.

6) He wrote his own speech! A president who can write like that, I mean come on. (Again, I'm gonna indulge in a little Bush bashing here) The last president barely spoke the language, much less use it in an intelligent and eloquent way.

Well, that's my inauguration post for right now. I hope you all feel as good about the next four years as I do, but even if you don't I probably feel good ennough for us both. Best wishes to all of you, more later.