Inauguration

Spent the weekend watching most of the inauguration coverage - so exciting. I've never really 'cared' much about the whole ceremony thing - we vote, we elect a new President, and sometime in January, he goes from President Elect to the actual President. No big deal. But this inauguration - with this President - is so different. So much joy, all across the country. It's just so inspiring.

I'm not expecting miracles. But I'm so thankful for the change. So grateful for new leadership.

We cleaned off the DVR so we'd have room to record all the festivities tomorrow. I'm wishing I wasn't too busy to take tomorrow off. Or better yet, wishing they'd make inauguration day a holiday. I guess they figure 1/2 the nation may not be celebrating? so why make it a holiday? But I'd love to stay home and watch everything tomorrow. We'll have to settle for taping it and watching when we get home, over the next few nights.

H. finished Driver's Ed - he was in class 4 hours Friday evening and all day Saturday, Sunday and today. It's intense and a jam-packed weekend, but he can now go to DMV and get his permit. J. took him driving in a vacant parking lot on Saturday and yesterday - just practicing turning and stopping, backing up a bit, parking, etc. The first time H. has been behind the wheel - he did great! Soon, we'll have another driver in the house. He'll have to do 50 hours behind the wheel with me or J., then pass his DMV driving test - can't get his license until 6 months after he passed the classes - so that makes the license part sometime in July, hopefully. H. is 'shopping' for a new car - actually, he wants a truck. And his idea of a 'small' truck is a Ford F150. NOT small. Not small by any definition of small. We are not promising he will acquire wheels but we are considering the possibility of buying an inexpensive, used vehicle to get him to and from school, around town, etc. As much as I'd rather just have 3 cars, it's pretty likely the 3rd car we have now will be going up to Chico starting this summer - and it is very nice to not have to transport kids and to have them be able to run errands, etc. We'll see.

Started working on taxes today - wow, really a 'head start' on that, considering we usually file on April 15th. We will probably still not send it in until then - 'cuz we're going to owe - we ALWAYS owe - and I'm not sending them our $$ until we absolutely have to. But I'm hoping to avoid the entire 'two days before the 15th of April panic' that we typically enjoy. Trying to be more proactive and stay on top of things more is sort of a resolution.

With that in mind, I'd better sign off. Cleaning crew comes tomorrow so there's lots of tidying up to do.

Enjoy this historic event! Congratulations, President Obama!