Check in if you are going to DC and what are your plans...

[goclark]

I am packing my bags and we leave on Thursday.

Watching the Weather Reports every hour.

Six of us rented a house in NW last summer and since I sprained my ankle, I'm not doing much walking, that's for sure.

But that's OK, I just want to BE THERE.
Several of my friends that live in DC are giving parties so we'll plan to celebrate.

On Saturday night we are going to a Cocktail Party at Bea Smith's restaurant at the Union Station.

I just want to soak it all in ~ even if I have to sit in the house, drink my champagne and Watch Barack.

I'll keep you posted

[MiniMe]

1. As of now, the weather forecast is about 38 degrees and sunny

Of course, that is a long range forecast and is subject to change.

[goclark]

2. I'm trying to pack now

I did live in the Mid West and was in touch with cold weather.

I.m trying to layer and not have to wear such a heavy coat that I can't walk in.

Have my hat with ear muffs and my gloves and all weather boots and scarfs.

Now they are saying maybe 2 million people. That is a lot but not anything like the 4 million they were talking about ~

Who else is going?

[MiniMe]

3. I'm here, but I'm not going

I'm going to be in front of my TV so I can actually see what is going on. I go into DC every day, I don't want to be there with the hordes.

[goclark]

4. The TV is looking better and better

with my bad ankle and my Senior status. : )

[goclark]

10. Since I can't sit next to Barack , TV is looking better and better

I'm also concerned about not having enough cash and trying to go to a ready teller.

I can just imagine the lines in the banks.

[LaydeeBug]

5. I'm near DC and not going ANYWHERE NEAR the place...

and, yep, I could have gone to the inaugural. There aren't enough parking spots. There aren't enough port a pots. They are NOT prepared for this. (Of course, I can't imagine what city could withstand a three million + influx for a day under the security parameters that must be met to keep any president safe.

I think this could turn into a mess.

[NeedleCast]

17. I'm with ya LaydeeBug

I live in Falls Church and friends from around the country keep asking if I'm going.

No way!

Bad things happen when you have that many people packed into an area. There will be protests, counter protests and people going just to cause general mayhem. There's no way to prepare for that level of population influx. People need to understand that in 2007, DC had 16.2 million tourist visitors. For this ONE weekend alone, we're expecting anywhere from 3 to 5 million. Even if it's just 3 million, you're roughly doubling the population of DC for four days and this would account for almost 20% of the totally yearly tourism in 2007.

Good luck to those of you coming to DC for this historic moment, but I'm afraid you're going to be rather miserable.

[LynneSin]

6. Woohoo - I'll be there

:woohoo:

I'm staying at a hotel just North of Layfayette park

:woohoo:

[goclark]

16. Isn't that near NW?

I always get mixed up in D.C.

I hope I can take a CAB on that Sunday to go to church.
Can I order a Cab ahead of time?

[NeedleCast]

18. You can...good luck

I don't think some of you realize just how many people are coming to DC.

Can you get a cab ahead of time? Yeah, if you had ordered on in September...

[goclark]

20. I totally understand

We have a car and my friends can drop me off on Sunday.

I also had a talk last night with Yellow Cab.
I went to their website and they were very nice.

They explained to me that their main problem was after Sunday.
They told me to call in on Sunday and they would pick me up.
That's what they said and I'm not naive, it may or may not happen.
: )

I have a back up with other friends as well that live in DC.
They have been sending me updates on emails and they will come to pick me up at the airport on Thursday.

My Sorority had a Anniversary Celebration in DC this summer. There were 39,000 sorority members there.

I am still hearing stories of the hurdles they had to jump with Metro, Bus Transportation etc.

[stuntcat]

7. I'm going, we'll be 6 people

We have four people coming to stay with us, 2 from Iowa and 2 from Georgia: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party:
2 with tickets and 4 just getting in the big crowd. I'm crossing my fingers for the buses and Metro to be moving, and for the weather to be clear.

I'm taking munchy bars and water and my camera

[goclark]

8. Let's get rhis party started~

I can't wait.

Keep checking the weather. I don't want to have a heavy coat to drag around.

[stuntcat]

9. oh the weather :o for realz!

I'd SO much rather wear a sweater-hoody than my big coat x( Maybe I can layer it and wear 4 long-sleeve shirts.

[arcadian]

19. Yeah, about that... We're gonna have to ask you to stay home.

D.C. can handle 5 million people, but 5,000,006? Yeah that's just a bit too much.

:rofl:

See ya there!!!

[kwassa]

11. we got one ticket and are waiting for #2

long story.

we live locally, which might be worse than actually staying downtown, because it is all about public transportation.

[goclark]

12. We're staying in NW ~ isn't it better to be in a hotel

downtown?

[kwassa]

13. of course, but we are too cheap to spend the money ....

[goclark]

14. I've heard that people have been put out of hotels

The hotel told them that they registered for the "wrong date" but that they would find them a hotel else where."

Hotel was 40 miles away.

[kwassa]

15. I've heard stories, too.

I live only 25 miles away.