We'll be posting photos of our D.C. experience during the inaugural festivities right here, beginning Monday night!

Check back daily as new photos will be posted regularly!






And don't forget, Barack Obama commemorative Inaugural Puzzles are in stock now at Phoenix Games!












Monday, January 19th, 2009


The many long, long lines at every Congressional office building to pick up your tickets for your seats... If you were lucky enough to be ticketed. We were!
 

D.C.'s finest are everywhere and out in force, as are the National Guard and other military branches. There were even two stationed inside McDonald's.


News Van Row. To the left of this photo- MSNBC's broadcast stage.


Loved this shot of the Washington Monument so much the last time I was in D.C., I had to recreate it in digital.


Staying true to the Colbert motif, taking a picture of someone taking a picture of Stephen Colbert's photo hanging in the National Portrait Gallery.


Behind- the Washington Monument. Waaaay off in the distance- the Capitol building, where the swearing in ceremony will be taking place. This will be a sea of people tomorrow morning. Good thing they trucked in the JumboTrons, seen to the right of that white trailer dead center of the pic.


How the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery sums up Bush's legacy.


The entrance to the Pentagon Memorial, in recognition of those who perished within it's walls on September 11, 2001.


Pentagon Memorial, entrance including flag.


The list of names and birthdates of the Pentagon's fallen.


Just one section of the names. It contains the name of the youngest victim, her sister and her dad. Dana was just 3 years old.


These lit structures are benches; one for each victim.


The light in the lower left corner illuminates a plaque showing the year of birth for each of the victims' benches located directly across from it, stretching in a straight line from the plaque to the Pentagon. Each row is a different year of birth. Best we could decipher, male victims' benches faced one direction, females the other.


Dana Falkenberg had her plaque, and her row, all to herself.

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009


Inauguration morning, after waiting for almost two hours to get through the masses of people and security. This was after Metro stations were closed down, due to a train striking a person waiting on the platform, which forced us and thousands of others out of the stations and onto the streets to walk the rest of the way.


Once in, security was even stronger than the day before.


This is the view you get when you receive tickets from your Congressman. We could still hear the speech though... mostly, when the speakers weren't cutting out. The swearing in took place just beyond that street lamp.













People were willing to do all sorts of things to catch a glimpse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They even climbed through barriers to sit atop national treasures.
































Faces in the crowd...

 

 














Experiencing history, each in their own way...


















 











Sharing a moment together in our collective history...





















 












Some still too young to yet fully absorb what they've been a part of...




















 

 

 

 

Some so proud to finally see a dream realized...





















 







A moment shared between generations. An experience to last a lifetime...



























 
For some, perhaps THE experience of a lifetime...

 








New friendships forged from a shared experience; a shared moment in time...

























As the now former President departs, the crowd went wild with cheers, dancing and singing, contrasting the heavy round of boos they gave him earlier as he entered the stage.


The freeway that runs under the Capitol was shut down to traffic, but opened wide for pedestrians. With Metro shut down yet again for another train hit, this was the only route open for those wanting to cross the parade route to get to the north side of the city.


More military presence north of the Capitol. If you were worried something could happen this day, our armed forces, police, National Guard and others quickly put your mind at ease; and they were all so friendly, even while on constant vigil.


Perhaps the other man of the day; taking the political risks necessary to make this day possible. Plus, he had one of the best seats on the mall.


Lincoln's view to history, complete with a frozen reflecting pool.


The reflection of the Washington monument against a backdrop of Vietnam's fallen soldiers.



Wednesday, January 21st, 2009

Rest day in New York, followed by a sightseeing day in New York City on Thursday.

See you all on Friday!