It was a pretty great day

I would love to say something heart-wrenchingly poignant about yesterday's inauguration. I would have loved to watch it with my family, too, but my husband was asleep, Donovan was playing Wii and Keegan was having "inauguration events" at school which included watching the events on TV without his mommy. They also said the Pledge of Allegience for the first time that day, and I admit I teared up as I heard the principle lead the kids over the intercom.

I did catch a bit on NPR on the way to work, then watched it haltingly on the web with some fairly unpolitical people. My employee had set up a Dreamweaver class that day and I figured that was one training that would be useful in any future career I may attempt. I am absolutely thrilled that we have a new president. I love the fact that when I asked Keegan why it was so special that Obama was our new president, he answered "because he is our first black president." Racism is in no way behind us, as much as some people think and many, many wish, and I want my privelaged white boys to understand and be pro-active in fighting racism. It was a little funny when I added that someday I hope we have our first female president, and our first Jewish president, he responded with "Is Obama Jewish?"

We partied later that evening in Mountain View to some rockin' bands in celebration. I forced my kids to come out and dance with me in the cold, and thanks to Guitar Hero they were absolutely mezmerized by the electric guitars. My son wants to be either a soccer coach, guitar player or a scientist when he grows up (little sad that the helicoptor pilot dream has died). I told him he could actually be all three of those, but better study to be a scientist.

So here's to hope and love and nixing the naysayers. I know Obama is not the messiah, he is not a miracle worker and problems will not be fixed in a day. But he is also not a communist as one commenter indicated on my CEOs blog, we will not sink into evil socialism and lose all our hard-earned money. I don't quite trust the whole stimulus package thing, but I do believe getting out of this war and changing our image from enemy to friend is the right path. I will do what I can to help myself, my family, and this country, with news of that coming soon.

And as a final note, I'm glad to hear my mom snagged some Obama shirts for the kids as I totally fell down on that job.

Candidate Descriptions by my Four Year Old

First a disclaimer, my kids are total Obama fans. They are even bigger fans of Grandpa who is, coincidentally, also an Obama fan, and might be dismayed to have heard one say "you can be Grandpa!" while pointing to a McCain mask in a costume isle.

They watched a little of the debate the other day and my mom was excited to hear how Donovan described Obama vs. McCain: "He's the one with the short hair." He actually shows us how short while saying this, too cute.

Just now I think he heard some blurb at the presidential race on TV. I am so bummed my husband has the camera so I couldn't get this on videotape.

Obama and McCain are going to race. Obama is going to be here (he runs
to the far end of the room) and McCain here (he goes back to the near
end). Obama is going to win. Obama runs like this (his patented slow
motion run/walk thing) and Obama runs like this (cartoon-type running, super
fast but not actually going anywhere, then manages to get half way across the
room, goes "pppt" and falls on the floor).

I sure hope his prediction comes true.