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Tuesday, January 20
Ms. Nelson Goes to Washington, Part 3
by
Linda Thieman
on Tue 20 Jan 2009 09:21 PM CST
Ms. Nelson Goes to Washington, Part 3
by Trish Nelson
Today was a truly amazing day. The crowds were unbelievably huge, but well behaved and everyone was happy. The sense of joy and celebration carried the day even through long lines, cold temperatures, and standing for hours. Despite hardships, people were without exception gracious, patient, and cordial.
 The crowd waved good-bye and cheered as Bush's helicopter flew overhead, and sang na-na, hey-hey, good-bye. Our silver-ticket co-travellers barely made it through security. They were thrilled with their spots, even though they were so far away they really could not see anything on the stage.
The other three of us with blue tickets ended up watching from the Hubert Humphrey Building. It was hard to hear through the loud speakers and we heard that the jumbotrons were slightly behind the live sound, so a band of twenty or so huddled around a radio and listened to Obama's speech.
 Time ran out on the Blue gate "line" (really a crowd rumored to be an actual line)... and we did not make it through the Security screening in time for the start of the program, but we were still happy. We were there. We stood with our fellow Americans and witnessed the end of the Bush years and the beginning of this new day for America.
After the swearing-in we headed for the Dirksen Senate Office Bldg. for the Iowa gathering where we commisserated with other purple and orange ticket-holders who did not make it in. We were told Jesse Jackson didn't make it in either, and a host of others (we had actually seen Jesse Jackson earlier as he passed through our "line" (crowd) on the way to his "line" (crowd).
 At the Iowa event, Senators Harkin and Grassley made an appearance with Congressmen Braley, Boswell and Loebsack. They all said a few words. Some technical problems uploading photos, but we'll have some later of the Iowa delegation.
When we got to the Iowa event, we talked to some Iowa Citians with purple tickets who said they waited in the tunnel for over three hours, but didn't make it in.
Ms. Nelson Goes to Washington, Part 2
by
Linda Thieman
on Tue 20 Jan 2009 09:11 AM CST
Ms. Nelson Goes to Washington, Part 2
by Trish Nelson
Here's a shot we took while walking around DC yesterday. The excitement in the city is amazing. Everyone is smiling, happy. We fell asleep last night ten floors up from horns honking and helicopters flying over. We had security in our hotel that would not let anyone on the elevator unless they had a room key. We're pumped for today.
Trish, Ellen, Arron et al.
Iowans at the Inauguration - Live Report from DC
by
Trish Nelson
on Tue 20 Jan 2009 05:00 AM CST
Inauguration Day! President Barack Obama - Live Report from Iowans in DC
 Five hundred thousand people gathered on the mall in front of the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday, more people than have attended any inauguration.
Today, inauguration day, our group of seven will be at our access gate (we're in the silver (actually, it's the blue! see below...), tickets in hand, by 8:00 a.m. Dressed in comfortable shoes, mufflers, mittens and hats, we will stand with a milllion of our fellow and sister Americans and witness history. We may have to watch it on a Jumbotron, but that is okay. We're here. To us, the meaning is two-fold - ushering in the hope and promise that this new president offers, but it is more than that. It is the end, finally, of the Bush administration. We made it!!
But I digress... No computers are allowed in the secure area, so live-blogging of the actual inauguration ceremony will be a bit delayed. After the swearing in, there is a reception for all Iowans visiting DC at the Dirksen Senate Office Building from 2-4, so that's where we will head next on foot. The entire Iowa delegation minus Steve King will be there.
Even though our hotel is within walking distance, due to the crowds and the inaugural parade, we will be unable to make it back to our hotel before heading to Dirksen. We have already been officially informed that those with tickets for the inauguration will have virtually no chance to also witness the parade.
Hotel rooms are a little pricey around here - our group is occupying two rooms - history on a budget. Many thanks from the rest of us to Ellen Ballas, who had the foresight and took the initiative to reserve rooms last February when they were still relatively cheap.
Well, it's time to queue up for the last leg of our journey to this defining moment. Hope you will check back later for more live-blogging direct from our nation's capitol.
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