Text Books

For any of you that are still in school or know someone who is, I highly recommend using www.sellbackyourbook.com instead of going to your school bookstore. Carl and I have a stack of books that we never sold back because we knew we'd only get a few bucks anyways, but we kept them during our move because I found this site. We recently went to the site and typed in the ISBNs, and we're getting $237!!!! And they even pay for the shipping!! That is absolutely unheard of in the selling back of textbooks world. So keep it in mind the next time you or someone you know has a textbook to get rid of. Its definitely worth the few minutes it takes to type in the ISBN.

One of my favorite experiences of our trip was the "We Are One" Inauguration Concert on Sunday. There were tons of performers including James Taylor, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Bon Jovi, Shakira, Beyonce, and many more. The best by far was Garth Brooks, which really caught me by surprise. He is most definitely my least favorite country singer, but he put on an incredible show. He was quite the entertainer, singing "bye bye Mrs. American pie" and "shout", invoking the entire crowd (500,000 people) to throw their hands in the air and sing along. The most moving part of the experience for me was that the entertainers didn't sing their own songs, they sang songs that every single person in attendance, from children to the elderly, Asians to African Americans, knew the words to. It was really awesome to look around and see such a diverse group of people all singing together and having an amazing time. Everything about the concert from the singing crowd, the diverse group of people, and the group of entertainers that spanned genres really reflected the overlying theme "We Are One", and I thought it was beautiful.

Inauguration

Yesterday was by far the most memorable day of my life, and for many, many reasons. I'm in DC with my cousin Robin, and when I say that we're exhausted I mean it. As an example, we're still lying in our hotel bed, and its 4:15 pm.

Our day yesterday began at 3:15 am, kind of. Really it began at 9 am on Monday morning because we went to the Black Tie and Boots Texas Ball Monday night, got in at 2, lied down at 2:15, and set the alarm for 3. I really don't think I ever fell asleep in those short 45 minutes because I was so worried about missing the alarm. We left for the subway station at 4 am, and made it downtown around 5, at which time the metro station was already unbelievably packed. We got to the Mall (the strip of land between the capital and the Lincoln Memorial) at about 530 and remained in 1 spot until 1. The temp was in the low 20s, it was still dark for about 2 hours, and there were an estimated 1.8 million people in the Mall alone. When I say we were crowded it is an understatement. We were packed in so tight you were constantly squished between people and being pushed around from side to side. It was definitely a test of our balancing skills, and today we feel like 85 year old ladies. We were chaparoning a group of 17 high school seniors, and at one point while it was still dark, 2 of the girls needed to go to the bathroom. A short while later Robin gets a call that they were stuck and people would not let them back to our spot. So Robin, being the kind-hearted soul that she is, decided to go find them and escort them back. Well that, my friends, was no small task. She literally had to push, shove, bribe, and crawl over people to get to them. And then do the same to get back. I felt so horrible for her. But she finally made it.

Eventually the clock struck noon and the ceremonies began. Some time around 630 that morning I was quite certain I would never see 12 noon, but by the grace of God we made it. Once the inauguration began our lives got much better. It was very exciting, and most memorable. We have a great video of the crowd after Obama took his oath. Almost everyone on the mall had flags, and after his oath we were in a sea of waving flags and cheers. It was really incredible.

But needless to say, Robin and I both agreed that we would never do anything like that again. We are so excited to have been there, but next time will be perfectly happy to watch everything from the sidelines. I have great pics from the ball and other places that I will post later.

I cannot believe we're leaving for Hawaii in 3 weeks!!!! Carl and I were talking yesterday about how that's a super hard thing to grasp. It really has not sunk in for us yet, but every once in a while we get unbelievably excited. Our plan is to rent an ohana house for a month so we can have a place to go when we get there. Then we'll have plenty of time to look around and find the perfect place. An ohana house is very common in Hawaii. Ohana means family, and most people have a 1 bed/1 bath detached apartment on their property. Some choose to rent it out. The only thing is that most of them don't have a kitchen. But we'll be fine without a kitchen for a few weeks.
Actually, I've already found the perfect place, but I doubt it will be available when we get there. Check it out:
http://honolulu.craigslist.org/big/apa/994266640.html
And here's where Carl wants to live. And I'm not kidding.
http://honolulu.craigslist.org/big/apa/990453581.html

Papaw

Carl's papaw is in the ICU right now, and I want to encourage all of you to keep him in your hearts and prayers. He's an amazing man, and we can't wait to see him feeling better. He's been in Intensive Care for 15 days now, and Carl has had quite a few opportunities to visit him there. Today was my first, and to say it was emotionally overwhelming would be an understatement. In the few short years I've known Papaw I haven't had as many visits with him as I'd have liked, but none the less, each one has been nothing short of entertaining. His use of sarcasm will keep you laughing for weeks. Every time we leave him Carl and I remind each other for days of all the funny things Papaw said.
It was terribly sad to see him in the condition he's in today, but even with all he's experiencing he was able to give us the same smile you see below when he saw us this morning.
Carl has really been a pillar of strength for me over the last year since my Papa died, and he was for me again today after our visit with Papaw. He has an amazing ability to keep me centered and focused on faith rather than reeling with thoughts and negative emotions. I thank God every day for putting us together, and I feel so blessed to share my life with him.