2013 Obama Inauguration: Four More Years

Got up this morning at 4:30AM, getting about 5 hours of sleep, to watch the 2013 Inauguration Parade! It's a once in a lifetime experience, so might as well take advantage of living in DC during an election! Walked about 2 miles in the cold 30 degree weather to wait at the entrance to the National Mall. They told the public that the gates would open at 6:30AM to go into the Mall area and we got there at 6:00AM. Just our luck, they opened the gates at 8:00AM so that left us standing in the cold, in a crowd for 2 hours. We saw the sky go from pitch black to sunny. Finally the gates opened and we trickled in VERY SLOWLY and claimed a spot in the front right along side Pennsylvania Ave (the Parade route). 3 more hours until the Swearing In Ceremony begins and 6 more hours until the Parade starts! The sun went away and it was FREEZING!!!!! They started the Ceremony on time and then they went to eat lunch. The Parade was supposed to start at 2:30PM but it didn't start until 3:30PM! The speakers kept playing the same songs over and over. It was driving the State Trooper in front of us nuts. He was fun. Obama passed us in a car! And then half a block down he decides to get out! We tried to run after him but it was too crowded and there was a barricade  It was still pretty awesome to witness a piece of history and actually see these influential figures in person!