Best Moments of Inauguration Day 2009

"I'm a lefty. Get used to it."  Obama

"I may not be able to dance but I sure like holding her!" Biden on dancing at a ball with his wife Jill.

"This man was born for this." Beyonce on Obama in tears after her performance. 

"Will.i.am will sing us A New Day and we're going to go see some balls!" Larry King getting to the nitty gritty of the night. (it could have been going to go to some balls but he slurred over it and I like my version better)

"I'd like to dance with the person who's brung me, who does everything I do, but she does it backwards, in heels." Obama trotting out the one-liner pony he rode to every ball. Mr. President, those in attendance at the balls may not see that you are recycling dialogue (though it is green of you) but those with CNN have seen you say that line at 9 balls. 

"we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around ... when yellow will be mellow ... when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right." Rev. Joseph Lowery infusing some rhymes into his benediction. This guy rocks. 

"The Fall Out Boys performed..." Usher reporting from the Youth Ball to Larry King, sounding very un-youthful. I guess you have a kid and you lose all touch with the young ones. 

I am going to bed right after the Tim Gunn interview with Larry King is over. I love that LK is staying up late and giving an entire segment to how Tim Gunn views the fashion of all Obamas. 

We've been waiting for this hour- history you're ours! (thanks, Hov!)

I am watching the Neighborhood Ball which my aunt told me the Obamas had for their campaign workers who were not able to get tickets to the swearing-in. She called me to switch the station right before Beyonce sang "At Last" for the Obamas' first dance. 

Scene:

Kate, in the kitchen fryin up some veggies crumbles with taco seasoning; cell phone rings. Auntie asks if I am busy watching TV (she knows me well)- no I am watching TV but not busy. Switch to channel 5- Neighborhood Ball, then she quickly says she'll talk to me later and I can tell she is already getting choked up. She rivals Alison in the quick to cry at happy/touching events. 

Beyonce is on a floating circular mini-stage and they first show her from the back. My first thought is DAMN that dress is unflattering. I think I said out loud that B was looking thicker.  

And then she starts singing and the Obamas start dancing and I just started crying. 

It was the most beautiful thing I have seen on TV.  You gotta see the video if you didn't catch it live. I'll post it when I find it.  And- LOVED Michelle's dress. Lady knows how to wear clothes. 

I feel spoiled that I only had two wait through 2 disappointing election nights and term starts (as disappointing as they were) before getting to tonight. I can't imagine how I would feel if it had been 5, or 15 inaugurations. 

Having a ball (or 10)

After my aunt's teary call I started watching the Neighborhood ball and while I am ECSTATIC about the day, the inauguration, the future, I have to share a few of the snarky comments I was entertaining myself with: 

So I was still basking in the moment of the Obamas' first dance as Stevie Wonder starts singing Signed, Sealed, Delivered with a cast of chanteuses.  I was into until Shakira jumps in and threw off the whole vibe. I like Shakira- she's got talent, but her uniqueness did not flow with the group they put her in. Ouch.  

Other thoughts on the ball: 

- Ray Romano? Really? He was actually kind of funny but I was quite surprised to see him walk out on stage to entertain the crowd.  Everybody loves him you know.  And this was the ball for everyone. 

- NICK CANON? Who let him in? He seems to be part-time emcee and part-time disc jockey.  He was probably Mariah's plus one. (edit: apparently he was the host of the night)

-Kate Walsh- her dress was AWFUL- and she used the phrase "extreme movement specialists" which is just ridiculous on every level. 

-Jay-Z performed in his new signature nerd glasses, which I am pretty sure he swiped from Kanye's closet last time they had a boys night in. But he can do no wrong in my book and I loved em with his tux- white vest and white bow tie. 

-Shakira did a harmonica solo during her solo performance-  made up for her arresting turn in the group number

-Kerry Washington looked like she had a root canal this morning and her face is still numb.

-In watching continuing coverage of the other balls I can tell you Obama is reusing lines at every ball.  And I bet they are getting sick of hearing At Last. Once Beyonce serenades you while trying to hold back her tears, the cd recording of the instrumental version really leaves something to be desired. 

- Jason Wu- dress designer for Michelle's ball gown called Anderson Cooper (how appropriate) to talk about the dress. Let me tell ya, he is a better designer than he is a speaker. He didn't know until tonight that she was wearing his dress. How amazing would that feel?

-Kanye on Anderson Cooper- performed at the Youth Ball. Opened for Barack and said this would be the only time he would be the opening act. Tongue in cheekly that is, cuz that's how he rolls.  

-Kanye says wow- George Bush is a human being and he hurts too. Too bad he couldn't do more at the end to help his legacy.  Is that a back-handed compliment or a front-handed insult?

I think that's enough live ball blogging for this year. I just want to know- what are Barack and Michelle saying to each other as they dance?

I, personally, wore pajamas.

Maybe it's the fact that I love Vogue but while watching the Inauguration, I found myself wondering: Who is Mrs. Obama wearing today? She looks fab. Well, God bless the internet for knowing all. This article accompanying the info (Isabel Toledo is the designer of the hour) is actually pretty interesting. In my humble, Voguephile opinion.

History through texting

Alli (at work): Are you watching?
Alison (forcing herself awake): Has it started?
Alli: Just.
Alison: Watching. I've never watched one of these before.
Alli: I watched in third grade for Bill Clinton.
Alison: Are you watching at school?
Alli: Yes. All the classrooms have it on.
Alison: I bet his kids are thinking, it's cold out and this is boring, we better get two damn puppies.
Alli: I was thinking that too.
Alison: Oh I'm going to cry.
Alli: I got a little teary. Good thing I'm in back. There are kids complaining about having to watch. Do you think I'd get in trouble for hitting them?
Alison: Nah...Did he memorize this? That's crazy.
Alli: Well he's probably waited for this forever. Our using a prompter...Prompter.
Alison: Oprah holding cue cards you mean.
Alli: Oh god, don't make me laugh I'm in class.

(13 min. later)
Alison: Finally! Oprah!

Congrats Mayor Kelly!

Reed Kelly, Clay Aiken's boyfriend, is in deed the son of past Saint Paul Mayor Randy Kelly. Thank you to Molly for her research in finding the official Randy Kelly bio that tied up all my loose ends.

Randy- you may have lost the election of Mayor of a democratic city to a more democratic democrat than you, but HEY! Your son is the first post-coming-out boyfriend of Mr. Clay Aiken!! I hope Saint Paul is proud- I sure am!

I smell a made for tv movie....


(p.s. I realize this may sound sarcastic but I do intend it to be sincere)
(p.p.s. I am mostly excited that Saint Paul jr. is on Broadway! Go Reed!)

Yes, We Can

Was Barack's answer when the Obama girls asked if they could get a puppy.

I remember hearing that the Obamas were getting a puppy after the election and I have been on the edge of my seat ever since. I wonder what kind of puppy they will get? I wonder what they will name it?? Just think- that puppy got name checked during the presidential acceptance speech for the 44th president of these united states. That puppy is going to be totally boss.

I will make sure to keep the blog updated with any further Obama puppy updates. I'll call it the OPU. Remember it.

What is this strange, pride-like feeling?

I haven't ever experienced this- it's like a joyful swelling of my heart. Forgive my ignorance but I am new here. I have never had the honor to vote for the president-elect of the US.

What a frackin' haul this was- but damn what a result. I am so excited to see what will happen with this leadership and I feel truly lucky to be here for this. Wow.

John McCain's concession speech (is that the right word? Like a concession stand?) was really good- he is pretty classy, my friends.

Sarah Palin's tears during McCain's speech- at first they were endearing and then just started to bug me. But I am not holding it against her.

Awaiting Franken/Coleman.

OOOH! Oprah and Steadman! GOTTA GO!!!!!!!!!!

Me Talk Political Today

“I look at these people and can't quite believe that they exist. Are they professional actors? I wonder. Or are they simply laymen who want a lot of attention? To put them in perspective, I think of being on an airplane. The flight attendant comes down the aisle with her food cart and, eventually, parks it beside my seat. "Can I interest you in the chicken?" she asks. "Or would you prefer the platter of shit with bits of broken glass in it? To be undecided in this election is to pause for a moment and then ask how the chicken is cooked."

- Author David Sedaris, on undecided voters


Love Him!

Hmmm.

Mick and I were finishing a movie so we only saw the last 2 minutes of Sarah Palin on SNL. We figured we could see the whole thing on internet anyway. What we saw was funny I guess, though moreso because it was Alec Baldwin. I have mixed feelings about her being on. I always thought it was kind of cool that for the most part the actors on SNL seem to be democratic but still give equal access to Republican candidates to make appearances and poke fun of themselves. I think what truly bothers me is that as a woman, I do not like her. I don't like her at all. I remember when Elizabeth Dole came to our college campus and my immediate feeling was, as a feminist, I don't endorse her because she's a woman--I don't endorse at all because I am a woman. It's the same way with Sarah Palin. Would it be cool if a woman become president or vice-president? Absolutely--if she was pro-woman. Dole wasn't. Palin certainly isn't.

Right after we finished the skit I went on-line and this was on Perez. It kind of confirmed for me why I was bothered she was on SNL. Men run for office all of the time. When a woman runs for office it's more significant--especially when she becomes the men she's running with. Truly I believe the fact that she would be vice president would bother me more then McCain being president, because in my mind, she is a betrayl to our gender.

Quote of the day

"If she wins, I'm done. I can't do that for four years. And by 'I'm done,' I mean I'm leaving Earth." Tina Fey on impersonating Sarah Palin.

Sarah Palin = Meg White

I am reckoning this will be the first of many theories- and boy is it a good one.

I was at work yesterday and was, for some reason I can't remember, trashing Meg White. I was expressing my frustration at her lack of drumming skills and had to tune out my coworker as he was explaining her symbolic role in the White Stripes.

As I was further expounding on her inabilities to perform the task for which she was selected I had a brilliant epiphany that Meg White IS the Sarah Palin of Rock. Let's journey this path together:
-Meg White- Woefully inexperienced for the position that gained her notoriety
- Sarah Palin- ditto

-Meg White- Most likely chosen for her looks and the quirkiness of her position
- Sarah Palin- yep

-Meg White- "Signature" Meg White style, making her easy to parody when the occasion arises.
-Sarah Palin- just ask Tina Fey

-Meg White- Her career would come to a screeching halt if Jack White dies, landing her in hard times
-Sarah Palin- Yes- and with John McCain it is more plausible and it would land us in hard times

-Meg White- Virtually unheard of until she was selected to sit behind someone with talent
-Sarah Palin- I think this one is obvious

I could go on, but I am sure you can see where this is going. Leave a comment if you have other supporting evidence.

Plus, I heard that Sarah Palin and John McCain are brother and sister- or wait, I think they were married.