It's been quite a day, hasn't it?

I still can't quite believe it, but there it is - President Barack Obama.

I've been glued to the tv most of the day - I think I've watched more tv today than I have in the last two years all put together! The four mile long stretch of Americans that braved the cold and filled the mall as far as the eye could see was incredible, almost one and a half million people strong. Even though I'm glad I wasn't in that frozen, packed crowd, there's still a twinge of envy for those that got to see it in person.

Some of my favorite moments from the ceremony were the beautiful music that accompanied the very moment the presidency transferred from old to new, Obama's humanity and humor during the somewhat fumbled oath, and his ambitious, forthright vision for the future in his inaugural speech. Reverend Lowery's benediction was great, almost making up for Rick Warren's blandly irritating invocation. I liked Elizabeth Alexander's poem in print, but her delivery was unfortunately stilted. And Aretha was, well, Aretha.

One moment that caught me off guard was the huge weight that lifted as we watched George Bush finally, FINALLY leaving Washington. I literally gasped, as if surfacing from too long underwater. If I never see him or Dick "Mr. Potter" Cheney again, it will be too soon.

But for now it's time to turn off the tv, go to sleep and in the morning go back to the real world. Tomorrow is a new day. A brand new day.