Cabela's adventure

Has anyone been to Cabela's? Its a playground for hunters with water features, guns, clothes, tools, camping stuff, shoes, and STUFFED ANIMALS. No, I don't mean Winnie the Pooh, but big, huge game hunted by the owner! From an elephant (I almost cried) to badgers and otters, and everything in between. Now, I thought I would be appalled, but this store is fun! The people are friendly and who woulda thought you could walk around in there for hours!!! I told Daniel we need to come back for date night and shoot some guns up in the practice range. They have kettle corn, snacks, and even a sandwich shop! This store is a BONANZA! I know Daniel was embarrassed b/c I HAD to start taking pictures, but I don't care - its a wonderland and I don't care who knows what I think. Several years ago when my tax money went to help build it, I was pissed off, but now, I can't wait to go again! And hell, I have to get my tax money's worth - all $75 of mine! We got our thermal underwear for DC and even glove liners - this place is just too much. I think I'm going to have a lunch group meet up there or something... Imagine, tea among the caribou or near the moose pond, or overlooking the stuffed, mounted antlered-animals perched high on the walls. Just hold me back, people...

How far can you walk in "kinda" Hiking Boots?

My mom bought me these shoes. They are kinda like low hiking boots. They're comfortable and they keep my feet warm, but I wonder what walking in them all day will be like. The soles give and there's plenty of room for me to wear 2 pairs of socks, I just wonder what they'll be like.

In other news, I can't find Crystal - the hair guru. This could ruin an entire trip! Just imagine, I am at the massive day of service event, and MICHELLE OBAMA (I just love her!) walks by. She is impressed with all the volunteers working and then spots my hair; a slight grimace comes over her face just as tons of people with cameras, including national photographers capture her disapproval of my hair. I am caught, in the national media with the FIRST LADY giving me the "don't come out here again with your hair like that" side-eye deluxe. This could be mortifying...

OK, seriously, Michelle Obama would probably not be so judgmental of someone working really hard, but who wants to be immortalized by even their own camera with insane hair? I'll just redouble my efforts tomorrow.

I don't mean to trivialize the importance of this historic occaision, but really, I know I'll be there. Beyond being there and not making a huge fool of myself, this should be about meeting people, having fun, and seeing old friends. There are people I have truly missed who will be in DC. Hi to Gigi, Lisa, Norman, Tish, and everyone else I'll be trying to make time for. Whether we're sitting/standing/riding together or don't even get to see each other on the National Mall - I'm glad to be sharing this experience with you all.

Laptop to DC?

I am thinking about taking my laptop to DC. But, this is my new Christmas Baby and I fear for her safety! I have named her Elsie and she must be safe at all times. There could be people trying to steal her from a hotel room or off my shoulder... But then again, I really need a laptop. How else will I communicate with you all? How will I know how to contact people? How will I live? I need Elsie!

I have just decided that Elsie should not miss this important moment in history. She will go to the inaugural week and you should all be grateful, because you'll get updates. Everyone together now...
THANK YOU, ELSIE.

Going to dinner and drinks.
Later people!

PS - For you mere mortals who didn't get it, Elsie=LC= Laptop Computer. Sheesh, my creativity is almost wasted sometimes!

Warm Clothes!

So, Daniel and I have been researching warm clothes and Daniel is a researching genius! There's all this warm stuff to wear that won't weight us down. I am completely in awe of the variety of warm/wicking/comfortable clothes made of spandex, etc... I still have one problem with stuff like UnderArmor... Men's clothes have a convenient little flap for ease of restroom use. Women have no such ease of use. We still have to pull down our whole getup and freeze off our ass and the "Penelope Pitstop" to use the restroom. HOW IS THIS FAIR? Can I get something with a full front-to-back zipper? I mean, even a half-way zipper would work. There must be an enterprising designer who can help me - I'll market it and we'll both get rich!!!

So anyway, my mom bought me hiking boots, which I need to go try on - hope they fit. If they do, I'm gonna wear those bad boys every day 'til the big day so they can be broken in and I don't have to tend to blisters or hurt feet. And I need Inaugural panties - plain panties won't do! I great, comfortable panties for miles of walking. OK, maybe I don't need them, I just want them, and no SHAMEKKA, I am not throwing them on the stage... What a tramp...

OK, its bedtime. Later, people!!!

The Basics

I have a hotel room, an Official guarantee of Inaugural tickets from my congressman, and plane tickets to Baltimore. What more do I need? Well, warm clothes, walking shoes, warm clothes, an extra camera battery, warm clothes, travel stuff, and warm clothes for starters! Hmm, this is going to be a little more complicated than I though. There are all those pesky Secret Service restrictions like no umbrellas or water bottles, and restrooms will be a difficult issue on the big day, and my face gets so cold in the winter, and what will all the cold weather do to my happy, bouncy curls? This will require lots of thinking...

So many problems, so little time to find solutions... WE ARE A WEEK OUT, PEOPLE! OK, i have to prioritize! I'll start tomorrow by calling my hair stylist, Crystal - she can fix any hair situation. Then I'll start to ponder the, wait...its 12:25. Bedtime! Later, people!!!

Welcome to Inaugural Erin!

I'm Erin and I am going to the Historic Presidential Inauguration of our 44th President, Barack Hussein Obama! It'll probably be cold and jam packed, but I don't care. I'll have layers of clothes, a camera in hand, and I'm dragging my boyfriend in tow. You get to know it all from the pre-planning to the exhausted return - just see what we do...