So.....I got it! My assignment! Can you believe it? The Balls! As I checked in for training last night with 4,999 other people, I couldn't believe I was handed a pink ticket which designated me for the Balls.
Now mind you, 98% of the assignments are outdoors, so none are that fantastic but in the realm of the 15,000 assignments, it's pretty cool! A lot of people were unhappy (why do I have to be outside? I have to be there at 5am? etc. etc.) You know what, people? You gotta be pretty special to even see the parade so don't complain. You wanted to volunteer, so volunteer!
I am going to be an innaugural ball ticket checker/greeter! There are 6 official balls being held at the convention center (that really sucks, cause the ball I actually went to back in the Clinton time was at the Mayflower, much nicer venue)
Of course ticket checkers are stationed at the "perimeter" which is a couple blocks from the door.....all I can hope is that it is above freezing. What I heard today on the radio was that Reagan's innaugural in 1980 was the warmest at 55 degrees and then the next one in 1984 was the coldest at -2 degrees~~
yikes.
The training last night was hilarious.....80,000 people applied to volunteer and they took 15,000. Last night's training had 5,000 people at it! The people who did the overview etc were really super, great organization, schedules, detail and jokes and history. If Obama's government is going to be made up of people like this, can't wait for our new government!
As the guy was going over the schedule of the 4 days, he was very detailed: 11am the Obamas head for the car, 11:15 arrive at the Capital, 11:20 emerge onto the platform etc.....11:45 speech, 12pm shake hands and head back in and through to the other side of the Capital, 12:10 Bush departs on Marine One......we were all kind of in a daze, having come from work, tired, not REALLY paying attention to this long schedule....but at that last item, there was a pause,
and someone yelled "woohoo!" and the room realized what had been said and everyone started cheering and laughing!
Anyway, we will see what the weather is like that day, I may back out at the last minute. My shift is supposed to be 4pm to 1am! I've got my red hat and badge and chose a job where I'll hang out with the FBI and cops so I figured it'd be the most fun. We get dinner at least and maybe will see some cool people!
Posts
