From Rael as things begin...

"Keep your eyes peeled for news coverage of the Swearing-In: VIPs said
to attend include Steven Speilberg, John Cusack and the "Governator"
himself.

You may have seen coverage of a star studded concert on the Lincoln
Memorial this weekend that featured Beyonce, Bruce Springstein, Jay-Z
and Stevie Wonder. HBO may have obtained airing rights if I'm not
mistaken.

In her last live stand up before the inauguration ceremony, Ann Curry
stands among spectators who wave as we Americans have a tendency to do
when on live television. A man holds an "Arrest Bush" protest sign as
the camera man subtly moves to get him out of frame.

The clouds are high and wispy, and planes are flying low over the
Potomac, in preparation for landing at Reagan National Airport. Two
days ago, when driving through Virginia a helicopter gracefully moved
overhead, flying low enough for my eyes to see the text, "The United
States of America" on its green side. My fellow adventurer and I joked
it was President Bush taking one last joy ride, speculating the big,
hovering "bird" was Marine One.

Marine One's occasional presence in the District is a welcome one, and
for me it never gets old. Washington DC has areas of restricted
airspace, meaning there's a high likelihood you're dealing with a VIP
when you look up to spy a chopper above you downtown.

Ooohhh, the motorcade is now passing down the road, and if you watch
the footage, the first road they turn on is where I'll take lunch
walks (as mentioned previously in earlier blogs). How exciting to put
a place and a time to such a historic event."

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