Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!

  After a late night Saturday, it was nice to sleep in and not have anything to do on Sunday. I was still out of the room by 10AM and dropped off in the shadow of the Washington Monument outside the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum/. 

Preparations are underway to add seats for the Inauguration out here as well.

 All I can say is the Museum is powerful and moving and everyone should make time to visit when in Washington. You are given a card that describes someone who actually went through the Holocaust as you enter the exhibits.

I walked the park in front of the Smithsonian on the way back to the Metro Station. 

 It was a short day today as I wanted to get back to do a bit of laundry and watch the Seahawks play the local, Washington Redskins. I stopped at a local market and picked up some good, amber beer and some delicious sushi and enjoyed seeing the Seahawks come from behind to win! go `Hawks!

  I just found out that Obama was on this base today as it is the landing pad for Marine One. I found this out after he had already left, but it was still neat to find out he was here.

Finally off base

We were set free today and I actually got off base. After our morning uniform inspection (again), we headed to the Metro station.
 We made our way through two transfers and three stops and got off just down the street from the US Capitol. We took a walking tour along the Inauguration Parade Route with stops at the Old Post Office and the White House along the way (with quick breaks for lunch and souvenir shopping).
 It was great to get off base and explore this amazing city. We all went as a group (all 43 of us) and there were times when we all wanted to get out of the group and explore on our own. Finally, a group of seven of us made it to the Occidental Grill and had a fantastic dinner and some great micro-brews. We are completely off tomorrow and may go to Mt. Vernon but will get back into D.C.
 As soon as I can find someone with a USB cable, I'll add some more pictures to this blog.

The Capitol is being set up for the inauguration (we are scheduled to work near the main steps!)

At the U.S. Navy Memorial

The media stands outside the White House for the Inaugural Paradr

The Presidential Review Box in front of the White House

In front of the White House

We went to Murphy's Pub in Alexandria before heading back to base.

Day 3

 There's a rumor going around that we might, actually have a slight idea of what we may be doing for the Inauguration...potentially. It turns out that we are slated to work on the Capitol steps! IF that turns out to be true, it's pretty amazing.
  We had a defensive driving course brought to us by AAA today in the off chance that we have to also become Executive Drivers as well as Official Ushers. At lunch, I snapped some pictures of the base and the sights.

The Washington Monument in the WAAAAY back

Marine One (not really, just the chopper)

"Marine One" landing 

"Marine One" on the tarmac

Another view

  Speaking of amazing, I thought Arizona had some amazing sunsets, but here in D.C. for the past two nights the skies here have been beautiful. They are what my mother used to call, "Mrs. Claus baking cookies" sunsets. They are very pink and very bright. Too bad I can't share the pictures with you (boo!). So far, the one thing I forgot was my USB connector for my camera to download pictures to the laptop. Looks like I may have to get one on base somewhere to share.
  Tomorrow we have another uniform inspection but then we are FINALLY leaving the base and taking a walking tour of D.C. I will fill you in tomorrow....see you then!

Day 1-Landed in D.C.

                                                               On the ground in D.C.

  Before I left, I started telling the kids that I was going to be gone in Washington, D.C. for a while to "help Obama." As our kids are aware of politics, they were very excited (at first) to hear of how the President would need me. "Will Michelle be there?" "Will John Boehner be there, too?" were examples of the questions I fielded from my kids. That soon changed the closer to today arrived. The night before, my son and I went to my friend's home to borrow some pins for one of my uniforms. As we were driving, he asked me, "You won't forget me when you go help Obama will you?" ----BOOM---- I thought my heart had been broken before, but wow. That is a question you hear only from your kid and it confirms you are a parent and that you love your kids for sure. "Of course not." I replied quickly. "We'll talk on the computer and on the phone and I'll send you presents." That worked.

  When I left this morning, I had to wake him up to tell him goodbye and try to coax him out of bed to have breakfast with him and his sister while Mommy showered. It took some effort, but he finally remembered I was leaving and jumped out of bed and went downstairs. It was a hectic morning, filled with tears and hugs and kisses, but I made it to the airport. As I was boarding the plane, and walking to my seat, I passed retiring U.S. Senator Jon Kyl who was sitting (surprisingly) in coach. I paid for GoGo in flight WiFi so we tried to Skype during the flight. It worked sporadically, but it made the kids happy. As we landed, I caught a glimpse of the U.S. Capitol and when we taxied, I snapped the view of the Jefferson and Washington Memorials before I deplaned.

  I am staying at Joint Base Anacostia/Bolling (JBAB) just across from all of the great sights of D.C. (I think...when I checked in, it was already dark). We (myself and the 49 other official ushers) find out tomorrow exactly what you all are paying for us to do.

  More details to follow tomorrow...see you then!

2013 Inauguration Blog

Watch this space for my (hopefully) daily blog on my participation in the 2013 Presidential Inauguration...