12:45: That was a great inaugural ceremony! I don’t think I’ve watched an entire one live since Clinton’s first inauguration. Back to work I go.   I just heard from my boyfriend, Stephen. He’s feeling sick, but is
still trying to make it. Right now, the plan is to meet at my office at 3 and start making the trek down towards DC.

12:34: The speech wasn’t too long. It was nice to finally hear his theme of personal responsibility we heard he was going to speak about.

On inaugural poet Elizabeth Alexander, co-worker Desiree said: “They should’ve just gotten Jill Scott.”

Most of the office has cleared out and gone back to work, but there are three of us still here. I’m digging Alexander’s poem, though, and their including a poet in the inaugural ceremony makes me love Obama
that much more.

12:23: So glad to hear him address Iraq and Afghanistan in his speech. Once the economy collapsed, that fell from the campaign forefront. Co-worker Noson (an Orthodox Jew) was excited to hear him address Israel.

Favorite thing he’s said so far: “For the world has changed and we must change with it.”

12:13 p.m.: I’m surprised [Obama] used his cotentious middle name in his oath, but glad nonetheless. My mother called me and screamed. I ran a victory lap around the office. That was nice of him to thank Bush for his service. We can’t figure out whether or not he’s reading from a teleprompter… it seems like it could be memorized.

My co-worker Desiree noted that she thinks this is the most nervous she’s seen him.

12:06 p.m. All we could think of during Biden’s oath was that he looked like he was about crack up. As a musician, I’m being personally enriched by John Williams’ composition “Air and Simple Gifts.” the only evidence in their performance that it’s ridiculously cold outside is the pair of fingerless gloves being worn by the pianist. How they aren’t freezing to death is a mystery to me.

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