BREAKING NEWS: Michelle and Barack Obama Sighting

What made this sighting special was not actually seeing Barack and Michelle Obama. It was seeing and hearing the PEOPLE! The joy, the excitement, the tears, the screams, the families - you will see it all here.

Mark positioned himself at the end of the barricade. He was able to get this coveted photo of the presidential limousine. I mainly concentrated on the crowd.

The first video shows the crowds' reaction at 1:30 when Michelle Obama's motorcade went by they first thought it President-elect Obama.



Second is the crowd's excitement 8 minutes later when it was clear the motorcade was coming our way. He is in the second limousine, which Mark and the secret service referred to as the "BEAST." Obama is in the backseat. The entire experience lasted 38 seconds.



For the folks there - they will remember seeing American's first black president on the eve on his inauguration on MLK Day for the rest of their lives. Who would have ever thought THIS was possible? The man with the strange name. Obviously, this explains Dr. King's Dream because I am seeing it too.

After the motorcade rolled down the hill, it began snowing again.

BREAKING NEWS: TRACKING OBAMA!!!

We got a call at 12:30 from a unnamed source that Barack and Michelle Obama were making an MLK Day appearance at Calvin Coolidge High School. Mark and I immediately hailed a cab and used the GPS to find the location.


FOUND IT!

We arrived on 5th Street NW and Sheridan to find about 200 local residents and out-of-towners outside the school. People were eager to just catch a possible glimpse of him. The Washington D.C. police interacted well with the crowd and everyone appreciated their kindness.

Vendors Part 2 - Obamarama

The number of vendors doubled in the neighborhood today. I remember when I was going up, both of my grandmothers had dishes with pictures of Dr. Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy hanging on their walls next to photos of grandkids and other family members. King and Kennedy were held in such reverence by my grandmothers that it seemed as if they were part of our family.
There's no doubt Obama has earned a spot on the family wall.

What Obama item would you hang on the wall next to King and Kennedy? Here are more photos of the available items being sold on the street.

BY THE WAY! We paid $30 for an Obama watch. Both hands moved at the same time. Not a good choice.

The Cab Story - Obama Saves the Night

Saturday night, I attempted to hail a cab to get back to the house. For some strange reason, not ONE cab would pick me up. A woman from Ohio was operating a souvenir stand behind me erupted into laughter. She said I needed Obama to stop a cab for me. I thought she was kidding until I saw a vision of Barack Obama standing next to her. He walked out into the street and hailed a cab for me. We took this picture with her camera before I left. Here is a picture of the picture on her camera. I will post the real one when she emails me. Is there anything Obama can't do? Truth be told, this person who got the cab for me is an Obama impersonator from Brooklyn, New York. He disappeared into the Velvet Lounge where people inside who were watching from the window applauded him.

The vendors

U Street is lined with eager entrepreneurs who are selling all types of Obama memorabilia. I bought several hats and a scarf. Mark bought a Michelle Obama button because today is her birthday. You might get a kick out of the pictures and video showing you many of the items you can buy.

Saturday Night

My friends live in Obamarama central on the historic U Street corridor.

They live next to the National Theater and Ben's Chili Bowl. You will recognize it as the popular D.C. restaurant where Obama had a hot dog. It has become a HUGE tourist attraction. Next door, the National Theater was hosting a celebrity packed event for the Tom Joyner Morning Show.

10 Things I Need to Find While I Am Here

1. Obama cookies
2. The new downtown D.C. TD Bank
3. Beyonce
4. Inauguration Ball Tickets
5. Obama sushi
6. Condoleeza Rice
7. Hand Warmers
8. Oprah
9. A gadget that gives you unlimited access to the internet anywhere in the world.
10. An instruction manual for Twitter

Any other suggestions?