Inauguration Day!

Yes, I do have the capacity to be hyperbolic. But today is the second happiest day of my life, trumped only by my wedding day to Chuck!

I have always been an unabashed patriot. From the time I was a little kid, the Founding Fathers have inspired and shaped my values. Growing up during the violent, tumultuous and painful 1960s and 1970s, this day has been a long time coming.

We debated going to Washington D.C. for the Inauguration. Part of me still wishes we had decided to go. But being able to watch it all from the warmth and comfort of our home definitely has it’s advantages!

I’ll be updating this post throughout the day. I’ll time stamp them in the same order blog posts run: most recent at the top.

To keep up with what other folks are saying, go to the Twitter search page and click on the tag: #inaug09. (Thanks to Dan Kennedy over at Media Nation for the heads up on that.)

: : Updates:

11:07 p.m.: Forgive me, but seeing the footage from this morning, of then Vice President Dick Cheney being wheeled out of The White House, all I could think of was mean old Mr. Potter from "It’s A Wonderful Life". Does that make President Obama, George Bailey? Yup. That works!

10:01 p.m.: President Obama hit all the right notes at the Commander In Chief Ball. He spoke to the military service personnel in the hall and as well as via satellite with some Illinois service people stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan. A very moving (and surprisingly humorous!) point in the evening.

8:33 p.m.: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are looking fabulous at The Neighborhood Ball! I believe they are dancing to “At Last”, a la Etta James, sung by Beyonce!

4:54 p.m.: I can’t help but feel relief that the Obamas and the Bidens are now ensconced in the reviewing stand and watching the parade in safety.

4:34 p.m.: After a brief return to the limousine, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, once again walked the parade route - as did Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden. Such youth, vigor, excitement and promise overflows today!

4:04 p.m.: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are out of the limousine and walking down the parade route, waving to the cheering crowds!

3:42 p.m.: Big shout out and an acknowledgement of enduring gratitude to the members of The United States Secret Service.

3:33 p.m.: It happened earlier today, but it’s still very cool to click on the link to The White House and see the new Obama-Biden administration firmly in place.

3:25 p.m.: President and Mrs. Obama are in the new limousine (nicknamed: “The Beast”). The parade is about to begin.

3:10 p.m.: Our thoughts are with Senator Ted Kennedy and Senator Robert Byrd, both of whom needed medical attention at the Congressional Luncheon in honor of President Obama and Vice President Biden. Holding them in our hearts...

12:45 p.m.: We have a new administration: President Barack Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden! It was a wonderful ceremony. From the prayers to the poem, from the swearing ins to the inaugural speech, all the right notes were struck. More later...

11:45 a.m.: I am loving the pomp and circumstance! Barack Obama is being introduced. This is real. It’s really going to happen. I am overwhelmed with happiness...

11:41 a.m.: Joe Biden was introduced and the crowd went wild. Barack Obama is about to emerge. How can he look so calm, cool and collected? Well, that’s part of why we elected him!

11:34 a.m.: Unfortunately, the crowd just booed and sang the “Hey, Hey Goodbye” song when current President Bush's image came on the screens. Not a good moment.

11:26 a.m.: Malia and Sasha Obama just arrived with the First Grandmother, Mrs. Marian Robinson. There seems to be a continuity of theme with Malia, Sasha and their Mom each having a ribbon as belt on their outfits.

11:22 a.m.: The crowd is roaring it’s approval as the Clintons are introduced. Meanwhile, the moving vans are at The White House...

11:17 a.m.: O.K., I’m not too keen on the color of Michelle Obama’s outfit, but I love the overall look of it. Style points to the first President Bush and his wife Barbara for their matching purple scarves. Yes there is a touch of “we’re headed to the big game - Boo Yah” about it, but I still like it.

11:08 a.m.: I wish I had a bank of televisions up on the wall to take it all in. I keep alternating between CSPAN and MSNBC.

11:01 a.m.: The current and future Presidents, Vice Presidents, First Ladies and Second Ladies are arriving at the Capitol for the Inauguration. The sun is shining. The people in the crowds are waving small American flags and smiling, smiling, smiling!

10:45 a.m.: I remain impressed by how cordial and smooth the whole transition of power is here in the United States. Seeing Michelle Obama with Laura Bush and Barack Obama with George Bush, after coffee at The White House, it is slightly surreal and quite wonderful!