Entry date: January 28, 2009
As Grace Slick said at Woodstock - it's a new dawn.
Last week was filled with the Inauguration of our new president, starting with the concert that HBO aired Sunday night. I got to see most of it until my cable company stopped the feed in the middle of James Taylor "Shower the People" so I missed U2 but I saw some highlights of their set the next day.
I remembered just now that I had gone out on the Obama campaign trail last year. It was the first time I'd done anything like that. My friend Dan was asked by one of Obama's consultants to sell the official Obama T-shirts at a couple of places where he was scheduled to speak. Dan offered me some money to come along and help, and it sounded like a fun adventure so off I went.
Turned out to be just like an episode of "The Apprentice." The assigned task: sell as many t-shirts as you can at a venue where Obama was speaking. We didn't have any authority to go inside so we had to scope out a spot outside. As soon as we arrived at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, we saw a table out front with an awning over top and a whole bunch of t-shirts for sale. We didn't even have a table, let alone an awning for above it. Plus, these people had already gotten the best spot, right out front.
So we drove around the back and found Students for Obama with a bull horn chanting "We're fired up, we're ready to go, fired up, ready to go" over and over. We decided to plop ourselves next to them and get in on some of their energy. Sales were a steady slow as people walked in the rear entrance. Then, without warning, Obama himself came outside to say hello to the fifty or so people standing around our area. He made a little speech and shook some hands, waved a bit, and then went back in to give his real speech to the hundreds gathered inside.
Little did I know back then, on March 31, 2008 that I had just seen our next President in the flesh and breathed the same air.
Photo by Cyndy Drue
Spent a week in Florida in the beginning of January near Palm Beach. Got caught up on all the award - nominated films - Benjamin Button, Slumdog Millionaire, Wrestler, Gran Torino and Marley and Me. I think my favorite was Gran Torino. Saw Doubt and Milk before I left. Found a sports bar filled with Eagles and Giants fans to watch the Eagles win their last game of the season. Also got to play some tennis, and attend a preview party of the Art Fair, the big suaree of the season down there. Robert Indiana's new sculpture of the word HOPE, fashioned like his famous LOVE statue was on display. Nice! Of course, spending time with my laptop is always fun.
Photo of me by Chris on his iMac via photo booth. I like the Andy Warholesque quality.
Need something nice for a Valentine's Day gift? Check out my sister Susan's jewelry on the website I helped create!
All photos copyright 2008 Cyndy Drue