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Mall and Parade? Oh yeah.

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

So, it was inauguration day.  That morning I had breakfast with the LGBA marching band. It was a buffet and tasted great. It was also the final time I was likely to see many of the band members for awhile.  After the buffet, Tim and the other band members got on a bus and set off to get through government security and then on their way to marching in the inaugural parade.  Meanwhile, I went to the Ballston subway station.  There was quite a hullabaloo in the news about over-crowded subway cars and subway platforms that were way over packed.  I experienced none of this.  I found a subway train that said “not in service” but was picking up people and transporting them.  The platform was nearly empty.

BUT

Not all was perfect.  The subway was still delayed by previous over-packed subways and over-packed platforms.  I eventually left the subway one stop after foggy bottom.  As I left the station, the streets were FILLED with people.  I picked up a hot chocolate from a vendor and headed for the Mall.  My initial plan was to go and take pictures of all the monuments with millions of people in front of them.  Many streets were barricaded so we were like cattle being forced to go in certain directions.  I made it to the mall but swiftly discovered my initial plan would be impossible.  There were too many people to even get through to the monuments.  I was near the Washington Monument so I took pictures and I could see the Lincoln and Vietnam Memorial and took a few pictures of that.  So, I waded in to possibly hear the “swearing in” of Obama.  This also seemed nearly impossible.  The mall was sectioned off into cattle-like fields so all I could do was “moo” about while seeking a possible view of the Jumbo-tron.
Not likely.
So,
I decided to go see if I could get into the parade.  I walked against the teeming multitudes to make it eventually to one of the gates to the parade.  This was quite a hike.  I made it to 10th and Pennsylvania Ave eventually but before-hand, I waited in the crush of people at the gate for 4 hours.  It was TIGHT!  Tim called me during the wait and I couldn’t even reach into my pocket to answer the phone.  One woman was facing the wrong way while waiting and she explained she hadn’t touched the ground for 10 feet.  At one point, I had to go over a concrete barrier to make it further toward the gate in the crush.  I stood on it.  Some people handed me their cameras so I could take pictures for them.  The crush was actually a lot of fun.  At one point I saw a bottle of Jack Daniels being passed around in the crowd.  It was quickly emptied.  A couple of good things about the crush.  I was warm.  I met the people around me since I was practically “on” them.  One woman, I was “on” her back, as she was trying to get over the concrete barrier, turned around.  We were face to face about 2 inches apart.
She said “Hi.  I don’t think we have been properly introduced.  My name is Joy.”
I laughed and said “Hi, my name is Dan.”
We both laughed because we had been almost more than invading each others personal space for quite some time.  We were practically kissing. I met many other fun people while in the crush.  It was one of the highlights of my day. Eventually, I made it into the parade area.  The security was very similar to airport security but I didn’t have to take off my coat or shoes.

The parade was delayed.

This was announced by a couple of radio announcers stationed near me.  They would eventually announce general facts about each marching band or float or “presentation” as they went by. Then the parade started.  There were many people and I was warm again from the crush trying to be able to see Obama as he went by.  First there were a couple of VIPs in cars which we barely saw.  We knew the new President was coming eventually.  I said to another person waiting near me.  We will know when he is coming by the screams of the crowd.  That is how it happened too.  We heard the crowd roaring and then “saw” him.  The crowd all stood on their tip-toes and put their cameras and cellphones in the air for a picture.  I really didn’t see him, I put my camera up, snapped 3 pictures in what I thought was his general direction.  I lucked out. After he and Michelle and the Bidens passed.  About 7/10ths of the crowd left.  It was cold.

The parade was very good.  Each marching band started playing their tunes near where I was standing and I almost got to hear each one. I took pictures but it soon became too dark to take good pictures so I waited for the LGBA Marching Band to come by.  After about 3 to 4 hours, I saw them.  It was dark by then.  I tried to take pictures.  I couldn’t.  They were just as good if not better than many of the other Marching Bands.

“YEEEAAA!!” I yelled.  I even screamed “CAN YOU HEAR ME??”
One band member said later that she could.

After that, I was cold enough to want to leave so I quickly got on the subway and back to the last stop on the Orange Line heading West.
There I waited for awhile so Tim could come and pick me up.  We then went with several other band members to dinner and drinks at Champs.
What a great day.

Cheers to all and Congratulations LGBA Marching Band for marching in your first inaugural parade.

Dan

Doesn’t anyone like Potato Salad?

Friday, January 30th, 2009

Open letter to LGBA Band-members who marched in the inauguration parade:

(Sung to the tune of Rudolph the Rednose -Reindeer)

You know music and marching, instructions and Lisa.
bullhorns and cold feet, sore muscles and warm tents.

BUT DO YOU RECAAALLLLL…..
ANY BACKROUND DISASTERS AT AAALLLL.
I am one of your Band Aides.
Tryin’ to make ends meeeeet.

trying to find the suuuggaaar
so every drop of coffee is sweet.

Is there per-chance hot water?
Anyone seen trash bags?

I can’t find any tables
and the LGBA sign’s in need.

Running my muscles sore so you
won’t fall into pot holes.

Jackie we know you are great
won’t you please give me a break.

Making lines in the car lot
with little more than hope and care.

If you remember your lost lunch salads…
They’re still in the church Fridgidaaaiiiirrre.
—————————————————–End song.

Hello all!!!

Dan here with an update on all the background stuff you DIDN’T and WEREN’T SUPPOSED to see.

Scene 1: Photo limitations.  Sunday afternoon and Tim and I had just entered the parking lot.
Of course, it is now time to begin the photo-fest.  Someone hands me a camera.
Snap,Snap,Snap…oh, by the way, don’t take photos of ANYTHING nearby other than a plain parking lot and a street with little of interest on it.
We are SURROUNDED..almost..by really cool buildings.
As a Band Aide, it eventually becomes my job to tell everyone coming into the parking lot where they can’t take pictures.

Scene 2:  The minister is blocked in.  Okay, now to the consolidation of cars in the parking lot.  Okay.  The lot is now packed tight.  Oh gosh, the minister just pulled up and told me his car is one of the first ones parked..and behind another car which needs to be moved.
You all probably remember my shout about someones car needing to be moved (by the way, notice that without a bullhorn, I have a voice that “naturally carries” 🙂  Okay, car moved.

Scene 3: Woe in the parking lot. The Band-Aides now got the job of making lines on the parking lot every 10 meters….with chalk we can’t find.  Tape.  Rope.  aaaannnd The Drum-major mace which was exactly 3 feet long according to the 11 inch piece of paper we used to measure it.  Of course, once all of the band members lined up, we knew our work was in vain.  You were going to head out and march the grounds.

Scene 4: Cue the broken LGBA sign.  The pole in it snapped.  Some of us head out to Home Depot for 12ft of conduit pipe, which would be cut into 3 pieces.

Scene 5: Band members marching, Band Aides on the run.  Must…..run….to….every possible pot hole you may trip on or into.  We point, stand in, make faces at these holes so you notice them (and us, some of us adore attention) during your 28 inch stride and concentration.
Actually, all this was a lot of fun so don’t get me wrong…
The next day was MORE fun.

Scene 6: Coffee deficit.  First thing the next day, we waited outside for awhile and got in the church late.  OH YEAH, the coffee took 1/2 hour to percolate…Hot water took less time.  Eventually things started heating up.  Good cookies though….

Scene 7: Recycling and trash issues. Next on the agenda was breaking down boxes and taking out the trash and dealing with recycling…what? NO recycling?…eventually we found out they did recycle but the boxes still made it to the dumpster.  We filled the dumpster twice and more.
Some of us went to pick up lunch.

Scene 8: Lunchroom set up.  We had 4 tables with 12 seats to a table.  Hmmmm, 48 table seats….177 people.  DISASTER READY TO HAPPEN.  At the last minute, I fOUND TABLES!!!    Fantastic!  Disaster averted..almost.

Scene 9: Doesn’t anyone like potato salad?  Okay, you all remember me going around and asking if anyone wanted the extra potato salad some people didn’t want.  Next I knew, I was handed MORE…AND MORE.  Then add cole-slaw.  I had a few takers for macaroni salad..which I handed them double the amount they asked for.  A few wanted some cole-slaw as well.
I eventually just left 25 containers of mostly potato salads in the fridge in the church.  It is probably still there.:)

Scene 10: Trash Mountain.  Lunch had barely started and some had just finished their lunch, and the trash was a mountain.  There was a secondary bag which was also full.  The upstairs trash was nearly full.  Ummm, are their any more trashbags anywhere……..no.  Oh yeah, to consolidate and condense the trash, I eventually sat some of the bags so they would be compact enough to tie shut.
Then one of us Band Aides found more trash bags but they were smaller.  She held open these bags for you…Thank you, Thank you, I don’t know your name but Thank you.

Scene 11: Mystery of the dumpster.  IT’S GONE!!!  Lunch is now over.  There are bags and bags of trash.  We go out with them to the dumpster…and it is gone!  Okay, the front security gate will take it and the dumpster magically reappears later.

Scene 12: Cue the broken LGBA sign…AGAIN!  Oh yeah.  It sags at the joints because of the cold.  The sign must be rigidly straight (unlike the rest of us).  So on to Homo Depot.

Scene 13: Hell to Home Depot.  That’s right.  We went to a Home Depot that required us to cross Washington DC proper.  Right in the middle of the city.  About 2 hours later, we were back.
At least we cured the sign issue.  One pole with another pole that fits into it. No chance of a break or a bend.

Scene 14:  A bus named Frigidaire.  Yep, no heat on the bus from Fairfax to the morning breakfast. As a Band Aide, I’m glad I didn’t have to deal with this one.

That’s it from a Band Aides point of view.  I actually had a really fantastic time being a Band Aide.  It was all a lot of fun!  These instances were far from unpleasant.  They made the trip.
I was glad that few to none of you even knew any of this happened.  You were all great!  Thank you to my fellow Band Aides!

My next blog will be about me making it to both the Mall and the Parade.

Cheers,
Dan

One of our LGBA Members is a Star

Sunday, January 25th, 2009
Ian Harwood, a member of the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, who marched with LGBA in the Inaugural Parade, is one of three people featured in a Life/Style Television special.  It's pretty cool, and can be viewed in four parts ... [Continue reading this entry]

Photos from our Inauguration Trip

Saturday, January 24th, 2009

Tim and Dan in Washington, D.C. LGBA Rehearsal for Obama Inaugural Parade Originally uploaded by TimDan2. I've posted photos from our D.C. trip here: [Continue reading this entry]

A Brand New Day, Indeed!

Saturday, January 24th, 2009

Yes We Did!

Friday, January 23rd, 2009
The Lesbian and Gay Band Association marched in President Barack Obama's Inaugural Parade, and I was a part of it!  It was an amazing experience! Dan and I are now home; we got back to the Twin Cities yesterday afternoon.  I ... [Continue reading this entry]

Rehearsal in DC – Day 2

Monday, January 19th, 2009
I'll make this quick because I'm tired, and we need to get up at 5 am.  We just got back from another long, but excellent, rehearsal, and tomorrow's parade day!  I can't wait!  After rehearsal Dan and I took the ... [Continue reading this entry]

Travel to PA, then DC for First Rehearsal

Sunday, January 18th, 2009
We're heading east on I-94 in Wisconsin approaching Madison at about 9:15 am. We just filled up the tank, changed CDs in the six-changer (yea, I know, it's old school, but works OK) and cleaned the windows. Also, ... [Continue reading this entry]

Inauguration Bound 2

Friday, January 16th, 2009
I was going to add to the previous post, but I couldn't quickly figure out how to turn off the center alignment.  I'm sure I could have figured it out eventually in the code, but I'm too tired right now ... [Continue reading this entry]

Inauguration Bound

Friday, January 16th, 2009
I'm hoping to expand this post if I have time later today, but the following quote was on next week's "Faculty Facts" at the school where I work, and I thought it was appropriate given the inauguration of our new ... [Continue reading this entry]