I thoroughly enjoyed yesterday's inauguration. I followed most of the ramp up on the radio, then switched over to CNN.com and when my stream couldn't keep up, I joined my colleagues in the conference room where everyone was watching it on a big projection screen. It brought back memories to the last time we all sat around at work glued to the TV; it was September 11 almost eight years, and an eternity, ago.The pageantry of the whole event was interesting and probably really not all that dissimilar from a coronation in a Monarchy. I enjoyed Obama's speech; with his subtle yet distinct rebuke of policies of past administrations and with his stress of our responsibilities (rather than of our perceived rights). Not quite as explicit as Kenedy's "what you can do for your country" yet invoking the same idea. And while it may have gotten lost amidst all the prayer and god-invoking, it was great to hear him list non-believers as members of America's patchwork heritage. Overall, he continued with the themes he consistently ran his candidacy on and what he expanded on in "The Audacity of Hope".
My favorite part wasn't the speeches and performances, but rather the people assembled on the mall. A kaleidoscope of faces representing all areas and walks of the country. While seeing the energized young was great, the really touching part for me were the old people of color; the Tuskegee Airmen, the aging Civil Rights fighters and all those who clearly could remember when they would "not have been served in a local restaurant". I'm very happy for them and for the rest of the country.
And so I'm thrilled that we, once again, have an adult in the White House. I'm glad that my daughters will picture Obama when they hear the word "president". And I hope that he'll live up to the expectations that people are placing upon him.
It seems that both my girls grew a lot in the two weeks I was without them. We had a couple of nice "firsts" yesterday.
First, we went on a wonderful hike with the O's and their dogs to the Turkey Creek Trail by Emma Long park. I had gone to the park a week ago with Homer and Rose to check it out for strollerability. It turns out that a section of the trail loop is too rocky and steep, even for a jogging stroller; so we decided to dust off the baby backpack and hike it on foot.
Simone very much enjoyed being high up in the backpack. She didn't make any fuss and spent the walk looking around or taking a nap. I think she likes it better than the stroller. I was a little worried how Magda would cooperate -- she's usually been in her jogging stroller on most of our hikes, since we like to go at a pretty good clip. She did great, though. Obviously, we were moving more slowly, but she walked (and ran) the whole 2.5 miles without once asking for a lift (at least I didn't hear her asking). It's great that Nolan doesn't go much faster than her and that they like hanging out together. Still, I expected some whining (I would have) but there was none! We wrapped up our outing with some Amy's Ice cream and lots of praise for her big-girl walk.
Then for dinner, we set up Simone in Magda's high-chair and she sat upright (more or less) and kept herself occupied while the rest of us ate! It's nice having everyone sitting at the table, though Magda is missing "her" high-chair.
The last "first" wasn't as nice. During the hike I started sneezing and ended up going early to bad doped up on Benadril. Today I found out that the cedar pollen count is through the roof -- so it looks like I've joined the local cedar-fever sufferers. Bummer.
First, we went on a wonderful hike with the O's and their dogs to the Turkey Creek Trail by Emma Long park. I had gone to the park a week ago with Homer and Rose to check it out for strollerability. It turns out that a section of the trail loop is too rocky and steep, even for a jogging stroller; so we decided to dust off the baby backpack and hike it on foot.
Simone very much enjoyed being high up in the backpack. She didn't make any fuss and spent the walk looking around or taking a nap. I think she likes it better than the stroller. I was a little worried how Magda would cooperate -- she's usually been in her jogging stroller on most of our hikes, since we like to go at a pretty good clip. She did great, though. Obviously, we were moving more slowly, but she walked (and ran) the whole 2.5 miles without once asking for a lift (at least I didn't hear her asking). It's great that Nolan doesn't go much faster than her and that they like hanging out together. Still, I expected some whining (I would have) but there was none! We wrapped up our outing with some Amy's Ice cream and lots of praise for her big-girl walk.
Then for dinner, we set up Simone in Magda's high-chair and she sat upright (more or less) and kept herself occupied while the rest of us ate! It's nice having everyone sitting at the table, though Magda is missing "her" high-chair.
The last "first" wasn't as nice. During the hike I started sneezing and ended up going early to bad doped up on Benadril. Today I found out that the cedar pollen count is through the roof -- so it looks like I've joined the local cedar-fever sufferers. Bummer.
One of the things I got Magda for Christmas was The Golden Rule book, a beautifully illustrated book for children in which a grandfather talks with his grandson about treating others how we ourselves would like to be treated.
Magda was getting into it and we were coming up with scenarios where you could apply the Golden Rule. For example, "we should share our cookie because we like it when other share their cookies with us".
Later we were were playing Mario Kart on the Wii and she noted that bumping each other off the road was violating the Golden Rule. Hmm, but it's so much fun! We decided that the rule wouldn't apply in this sense. So for us the Golden Rule is now a little longer: "Do onto other as you would them do onto you -- except in Mario Kart"
My favorite story about the Golden Rule is that of Rabbi Hillel who, when asked for a succinct summary of the Jewish religion said "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow: this is the whole Law; the rest is the explanation".
Magda was getting into it and we were coming up with scenarios where you could apply the Golden Rule. For example, "we should share our cookie because we like it when other share their cookies with us".
Later we were were playing Mario Kart on the Wii and she noted that bumping each other off the road was violating the Golden Rule. Hmm, but it's so much fun! We decided that the rule wouldn't apply in this sense. So for us the Golden Rule is now a little longer: "Do onto other as you would them do onto you -- except in Mario Kart"
My favorite story about the Golden Rule is that of Rabbi Hillel who, when asked for a succinct summary of the Jewish religion said "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow: this is the whole Law; the rest is the explanation".
