Only 4 Obama-Look Out Below! (Part 1)

I am going to write a short entry series dedicated to the 44th President of the United States, Mr. Barack Obama. All of these entries are the experiences that I willingly subjected myself to in the name of the Ever-So-Poplar & Historic Inauguration. The situations brought out a range of emotions. Sometimes I cried. Other times I was shaken up. Overall, I had to laugh (to keep from crying)...Nevertheless, I wouldn't trade my time in DC for nothing. Hopefully, you too can get a bit of a laugh at my expense.

On Inauguration Day, it was cold. I was prepared but standing in one location for hours and hours eventually cooled my toe warmers. As a result, my lower legs were pretty much frozen solid by the time Mr. Obama took the oath of office. The crowds on this day were absolutely astounding. I had to get a picture, and some kind gentlemen offered to help me and my friend get up on a large cement partition to capture the spectacle. Let's just say that it was a challenge to maintain a steady foundation when one cannot feel their feet.

Once my friend hopped up on the partition to join me, she inadvertantly sent me back into the crowd! Fortunately, the men below were on alert. I know it had to look like a serious mess cause I couldn't do much to brace my fall. Not to be deterred from the ultimate goal, my male supporters coaxed me back to returning to the partition to get some images of a lifetime. It was worth it fall and all--Only 4 Obama! (image coming soon)

The Early Bird Is At the Head of the Line

I have to be frank. I really want to sleep in today. It is MLK Day and I have to brave the cold to get my tickets to the swearing-in ceremony. My original plan was to be posted out front of the Cannon Building by 8 a.m. Unfortunately, it just isn't really possible.

My last entry was written in the midst of a dense haze of utter sleepiness so I had to get in a few extra minutes. Afer securing my tickets, I want to eat breakfast, do a Service Day project, get a nap, eat again and then begin preparing for the Illinois Society Gala tonight...

What time did Porter and I get to the Capitol? At 9:30! Crowds of people were everywhere. Porter saw that one door was admitting people much quicker so we took our place in front of two gentlemen from Florida. Although we were not at the head of the line, we were way ahead of the other 235,000 people!

To pass the time, Porter and I began snapping pictures and making jokes. Why not? How often do you get to pick-up swearing-in tickets. One thing is for sure we are going to revise our arrival plans for the Inauguration Ceremony. It was apparent in people's faces that they were surprised that the lines were so long before the 10:00 a.m. designated pick-up time.

Lines and cold weather are going to be our BFFs this weekend so I might as well make peace with it and enjoy the adventure!

(Image on the way)

Are You Headed In the Right Direction?

I have been missing for a couple of days, but I have a good excuse. I have been feverishly preparing to go to DC for the Inauguration. Between workouts and cold weather planning, my compass has been focused on heading north.

Now that I am settled in Dupont Circle with my long time travel partner (Porter), it became readily apparent today that this is a weekend where people will be required to know where they are heading.

Around 3:30 a.m. this morning, I was driving the first leg of our nine hour road trip. It so happened and a car seemed to be heading in the wrong direction on the highway. Upon further inspection, the car made a sharp turn and moved to the side of the interstate. It became quickly apparent that the front end of the car was smashed in and smoking. Intoxicated perhaps? Sleep at the wheel? We were not certain, but we made sure to notify the authorities to ensure that this driver was able to receive some assistance to get going in the right direction.

Less than seven hours later, I found myself scrambling on the streets of our nation's capitol trying to determine an alternate route to my mapquest instructions. It appears that the road closures are occuring a little earlier...Eventually, patience and lots of good fortune prevailed as we found our way to our Dupont Circle hotel.

Not even this small hiccup could cause us to skip out on yet another opportunity. Standing in a sea of hundreds of thousands of people, my friend and I listened to an array of artists share the history of individuals who, representing the interests of the common good, seized their chance to move our country in the right direction.

My weekend in DC has just begun. Who knows how many more times I will get turned around? One thing is for sure. We each have the chance to conduct small acts to move the needle. Take the opportunity tomorrow to participate in National Service Day. As this past election has shown, every individual when acting for a collective cause can take us farther North!

A Little Extra Goes A Long Way

Would you like to make some more money? Do you desire to make the team? Is your desire to get back to your fighting weight?

Whether we want to admit it aloud or not, we all have goals. I happened to be working on one specific goal in training this morning. A new year has brought a few new changes in my training routine.

A more intense routine brings with it an ever increasing desire to savor those 15 second rests in between drills. No such luck. In 08', I had a squat stance during these rest periods. It served two purposes. I could keep stretching my knee while getting a good breather so I could hit it again.

Today, there was several public vetos of my rest posture. "Get up Qiana!" (My friends will tell you that I am not a fan of public reprimands.) "Get up Qiana!" (I am just trying to catch my breath responsibly and without bending over.) "Get up Qiana!" (My knee is still a little tight because of the cooler weather.)

All of these silent thoughts were meaningless because I didn't want to hear my name being called again. Also, I knew, if I sucked it up and created a new habit of keeping a standing posture during these intense workouts, that it would pay off in the 88th minute of a hard game.

For the last two years, I have heard one of my trainers say that the details add up.

Take a look at your goals for this year. Figure out what extra small steps you can take and do them. You will be amazed at how these little actions will carry you a long way!