Inauguration on the Mall

This past weekend, I drove down to DC with my brother and a friend to go see Inauguration and the events leading up to it. The trip started in typical Julia fashion with a last-minute change in plans when we learned that there would be a concert on Sunday... so we jumped in the car a few hours later, driving down through the night and taking turns sleeping. We barely snuck out of New England before a snowstorm tore through, dumping 18 inches of fresh powder on top of the piles of snow already here.

We checked in with the family friend we were staying with and hopped on the bus from her house, chatting with a Georgetown student as we journeyed into the city (We bumped into him again on our way home, actually. It was amazing how many faces we saw multiple times amidst the crowds). The masses were gathering quickly on the mall and we found ourselves nearly a mile from the Lincoln memorial and stage, in front of a massive screen behind the reflecting pool. The crowd was electric. Not only was a historic moment on the brink of becoming reality; an all-star cast of American icons was present to welcome and celebrate it. The camaraderie in the crowd was beautiful as often surprising speakers and unexpected performers showed up, one after another, to offer their services to the celebration of our country and its hopeful new direction.

The next day we relaxed, recharging our batteries for another couple of big days and connecting with two friends in the area. Sarah Zahner, one of my fellow road-trippers from my first drive to Oregon, found us in the evening and joined us for the rest of our DC visit. We enjoyed the eccentric company of our host, Cynthia. She, a generation or two older than us, benefited (I think) from our youthful energy and decided to come downtown with us for Inauguration after all. Along the way, she told us stories of witnessing MLK’s famous speech decades before. We got an early start and crammed on a crowded bus, taking it as far as we could before the roads closed. The steady trickle of people quickly became a swollen crowd that poured onto the mall and surrounding areas, cheering and chatting happily despite the wind’s icy bite.

Inauguration was over in a blur- waves of cheers washed over and past us as the speech reached the ears of all. I am a bit of an Obama skeptic myself, concerned that there is no way this one man can live up to all expectations and titles that have been given him. The political world is one I tend to avoid in general. But I was very impressed with his inaugural address. It wasn’t just a conglomeration of previous sound bites or hollow promises. I felt his ability to inspire us into becoming greater, more responsible Americans more tangibly than I ever had before.

The journey to DC was well worth it, even though it included my first road-trip breakdown: two flat tires on the interstate at 1am that evening! We finally made it home safe and sound, for which I am thankful, as well as for having the chance to witness such a historic event.

- -Que viva el año nuevo!!!!

Hola amigos!! We just wanted to wish you all the best most awesomest super duper chevere 2009!!!! We´re sure this year will bring all of you wonderful people luck, hope, love, money and travel…..or at least it will for us! Haha let us explain… Here in Ecuador el año nuevo is filled with traditions that assure plenty of awe-inspiring things to come in the upcoming year. Here are some examples/a summary of our last day of 2008(which by the way was an excellent year)… The madness began as we were driving back to Lucia´s house from the airport. The roads, sidewalks and cars were covered with “Años Viejos”. Años Viejos are stuffed lifesized figurines that every family buys/makes to burn at midnight on the 31rst of December, “to destroy by fire” (haha looked that one up in word synonyms) all the bad things that have happened to you on the year…
Along our journey we also were stopped my sexy “widows” asking for money to burry their dead husbands, symbolic of the year that passed. The widows were simply cross dressers hoping to make an extra buck out of an old tradition. Haha and one of the skimpily dressed widows begged Hilde´s brother to stay with her…AWKWARD!

From there we went to Lucia´s house to prepare our costumes for the big party… Her mother had kindly bought us both a pair of yellow panties to bring us loads of money in the upcoming year (hope it works!). haha so on new years it is rather boring to picture everyone in their underwear….seems how everyone is wearing yellow hoping to win the lottery (or some are wearing red for love!) We quickly started thinking what we could wear to cover our cute (and hopefully lucky) panties! Hilde wanted to be the abominable snowman, but considering the weather… she would have cooked inside and been dead before the new year…. From there, we searched the closet and found a makeshift wonder woman outfit for Hilde, and out of a bag hidden in the back of her closet Luci found her UNITARD making her color woman!!!! (from Willamette dance concert… I think you might remember this skin tight painted beauty).
So with our yellow underwear and customs to jumpstart the new year we headed to the party with Luci’s lovely family. As we entered the party the dance floor was filled with characters from the past and the present. We rocked the floor for a couple of hours and then got ready to receive the New Year. We killed the music and listened on the radio to the same bellowing voiced guy who has counted down the new year for the past 50 years.
As the countdown began, everyone counted out 12 grapes, lit candles, grabbed suitcases and matches to light the fireworks, and headed outside. As the clock struck twelve, we lit the Año Viejo and jumped over as it burned asking for our dreams to come true. People then shoved the grapes in their mouths, one for every month and asking for wishes to be granted. The candles were lit to bring love, hope, and money for everyone. At the same time, people were running around with suitcases to guarantee travels in the next year. As fireworks exploded in the sky, everyone hugged each other thankful that they shared this night together and wishing a good year. Then we ate a lot, sang, and dance a bit more. When the family party ended at around 3 am, we decided to go to a nightclub with some more friends… as we walked into the nightclub we realized (too late) that were the only people still in costume. A couple of people asked Luci if she worked there and if that was why she was soooo dressed up and another man kindly asked to remove her wig while they were dancing… she of course declined.
We hope you understood all of that...it was a light night and we are still suffering the side effects...
Feliz año nuevo!!! We miss you all this much =================== and more...!

BESOS
Lucia y Hilde

Happy New Year!!!

Hey everyone!! Hope you all had a wonderful new year's eve party. I spent mine in Portland at the Freeman's, which was awesome! Took this video for Elsa, but thought you'd all really like to see it as well
Love, Dana