“Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States…” Part 2 of 2

Click here for part 1 of this post.

Tuesday morning, SoHo Crush woke me up around 7:30 to catch the 8:30 hotel shuttle to the Metro.  Luckily, we had gotten day passes the night before on our way into the District, and it was a good 10 minute wait in line for the ticket machines (because no one could figure them out).  Before we left the hotel, we saw that CNN was showing a metro station across town that looked more like voting booths in November with the long lines, but when we arrived at our stop, we didn’t see much of a crowd.  Until we got on the train platform.

And this was the second-to-last stop on the line.

It was rumored that trains were running on a rush-hour schedule, and after about 5 or 10 minutes, a train came.  Too bad it was full.  When a train stopped the opposite direction, I joked with SoHo Crush that we should take it to the end of the line and catch a inbound train before it filled up.

There was a display that was supposed to show when the next train was coming, but it was blank.  Bad sign.  After about 15 minutes, another inbound train came.  Full.  At that point, most of the people around us were talking about catching a train to the end of the line, especially after a local told us that the trains bounce back when they get to the end of the line (i.e., one doesn't have to disembark at the end of the line as one has to do in NYC).  It was another good 15 or 20 minutes before an outbound train arrived, and SoHo and I managed to get a seat.

What should have taken less than a half hour took… well, it took forever with all the delays and people trying to squeeze on the full train.  Then the closest Metro stop was a good 10 minute walk to anywhere relevant.  SoHo Crush had bought tickets to the ceremony from some random guy online, and the entrance for our section was on the other side of the Mall.  SoHo started to lose hope, but we kept on trudging.  

As we approached the gate, we were surrounded by a bunch of teenagers all wearing the same jackets (a marching band maybe?).  They and everyone around us started stampeding the Mall.  We surmised that security had given up guarding that gate and just let everyone in at that point. 

I’m not sure what was going on in the ceremony as we approached the Mall because I was struggling with my iPhone to put up my out-of-office message up for work.  But by the time we got settled near the reflecting pool, they had gotten to my favorite party of the ceremony.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States…”

Everyone gets all excited for Obama and starts to cheer.

“...George Bush.”

Everyone boos.  Honestly, I found the booing in poor taste.  It made Democrats look classless, but I think the fact that it was such a let down kind of pushed people’s buttons.  It certainly made me chuckle. 

A few other choice moments during the ceremony:

• Rick Warren’s Invocation prayer quote: "when we fail to treat our fellow Human Beings and all the earth with the respect they deserve, forgive us." *cough* prop 8 *cough*

• The woman talking on her cell phone during the Invocation (it’s a prayer, lady)

• Aretha Franklin’s “God Save the Queen” “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”, when the background singers spaz out with “ring ring ring ring ring ring” (2:11 in the above video).  

• Obama messing up his oath (okay, okay, it wasn't really his fault)

• The guy that sounded like he was about to die on the microphone after Obama’s address

• The dumb adventurous white people who walked on the iced over reflecting pool

Did anybody else notice how they just conveniently dropped the 6/8 meter in favor of 4/4 in the above arrangement towards the end? (Then again, if it started in 6/8, it'd be going to 2/4... or if it started in 3/4 it'd be going to 4/4... gotta be consistent with those 8th note or quarter note beats!) Weird.

The whole ceremony had an electricity and energy that radiated through the crowd.  We were all freezing, but it didn’t matter because we had Hope to keep us warm (often in the form of crack-to-activate warming packs and blinged out Obama sweaters and hats, all sold by street vendors).  Smiles and well wishes all around. 

As we left the Capitol grounds, we literally spent about 3 hours trying to find somewhere to eat.  It involved taking a bus (they don’t accept the same cards as the Metro trains) and the Metro across town to Dupont Circle.  Washington was so not ready. 

A couple of fun things I saw as we walked though the city:

That'll come in handy in case the phrase 'Ivy League Crew' becomes hackneyed.  Or turns into a rap posse.

We barely had time to fit in a disco nap (and a quickie) before we had to get ready for the HRC Out for Equality event, which started at 7.  Supposedly, all the roads would be clear by 7, so we figured a cab would be no hassle.  However, it literally took us an hour and a half to get to the venue because our cabbie had to maneuver around half the District to get within 4 blocks of the place.  It was freezing outside, but we ditched and walked past the traffic. 

The dress for the event was “formal or festive” according to the website.  SoHo Crush was so worried that we’d be the only ones in jeans, and he was kind of right. 

It was all gay penguins. 

Well, not all.  And we loved this lesbian’s tie! 

She actually hosts Tuesday night Karaoke at Metropolitan, and she was super drunk nice.

It was a really nicely done event, and I’m not just talking about the open bar.  We loved the buffet (including sushi, oyster shooters [above], and these amazing duck crêpe things). 

Surprise, surprise: none of the gays wanted beer.  The bartender said it had all been sitting there since they unloaded it at 5:30.  SoHo Crush said they should donate it to the DC Eagle.

Cyndi Lauper performed, which was cool.

And so did Melissa Ethridge (with no band… an interesting choice).  Also cool.  Unfortunately, the combination of people crowding around the stage and my ability to aim with super zoom on (did I mention it was open bar?) impaired my aiming ability.  

But the highlight of my night happened when I looked over my shoulder and saw Douglas Spearman (the professor from Noah’s Arc)!  I charged over and barged in between his friends. 

“Hi, could I bug you to take a picture with me?”

“Of course!” he said, smiling and getting into position.  Oh my god, his arm is around my waist!  Through smiling teeth, “What’s you’re name?”

“D. Kareem.  What’s yours?”  Doh!  At the time I really didn’t know his name, but I should have faked like I did. 

“Doug.  Nice to meet you.”

“All my friends and I loved the movie.  We’re all planning to learn that vogue you guys did.”

Laughing, “Oh, god!  Please stop!”

“Thank you, Doug.”

“Have a good night.”

This picture really doesn’t do him justice, and neither does the screen.  I found him stunningly attractive in person. 

And I like this picture because it looks like he wants me.  Anyone notice how he and SoHo Crush are wearing similar jackets?

The party ended around midnight, so at 11:45, SoHo Crush and I got our coats and cabbed it over to the after party.  And by cabbed it over, I mean our cab driver decided that he would drop us off 3 blocks from Town before we realized where we were.  You really can't win with getting around in DC.

Cindy made an appearance.  I had Hpnotiq.  They didn’t play “Single Ladies”.  We went home.  Again, it took over an hour to get a cab (it didn’t help that we were wasted). 

On the way back to NYC on Wednesday, we stopped at a rest stop, and I decided I wanted to eat. 

I wasn’t embarrassed until I saw the line. 

Sorry, Mom; I am that kind of black.  Did I mention I had a Red Bull and showed up for a half day of work?  Yeah.

I was in Harlem when Barack was elected.  Check it out here.

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