Hey everyone,

I know no one knows me yet, but if you are watching the Presidential Inauguation on Tuesday, look for my band!  We're the LGBA (Lesbian & Gay Band Association (of which I'm neither, but that's OK)) and we'll be wearing silver jackets and blue berets.

Cheers!

Amy

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"What's wrong with a little flirtation?"

That's fantastic, Amy!  What a thrill!  I will be working on Inauguration Day, but you can bet that the ol' VCR will be whirring! 

Looking forward to some post event comments from you.  I was lucky enough to be in Grant Park on Election Night (one of my cousins had an extra ticket), and while I was pretty far back, just being there was something that I will never forget.

Looking forward to a new era!

K.

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live simply - love generously - care deeply - speak kindly - leave the rest to God

Amy -- what an amazing experiece that must've been.  I can't wait to hear all about it!!  Wish I could've seen you live, but with the massive crowds expected and security, I was told we wouldn't be able to attend both the swearing in and the parade...please tell us all about it when you get back!

I just got back from DC.  The one thing I can tell you... it was FREAKING COLD. With windchill they were saying 14 degrees.  Not fun when you're playing an instrument with metal keys.  But we did it.  Somehow we managed to play the parade (although by the time we got going, most of the crowd had left).  Obama and family did stick around to watch and gave us a big smile.

 From a personal standpoint, I was more aware of the cameras on me than the President watching, but it's such a rush knowing that over a million people have their eyes and ears on you.  It's no wonder the guys enjoy performing so much!

If you missed it, the whole parade is on CSPAN.com.  My band is about an hour and a half in.  We're in silver jackets and blue berets.   Don't judge us on the musical quality though... the cold air does NASTY things to instruments... especially woodwinds. :-)

 Amy

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"What's wrong with a little flirtation?"

My old high school marching band, the Trumbull (CT) High School Golden Eagles, marched in the parade!  We were the only band from CT.

As if we weren't famous enough, just before Chirstmas, we were featured on Good Morning America to promote our appearance in the parade as well as our holiday coat drive.

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Half an hour of sunshine is worth a week of rain.

"Libraries have always been home to me. They have seemed not inhibiting, not scary, but veritable lighthouses of Utopian order and generosity amid the clutter and ignorance and selfishness of so much of the life that is lived in this world."

Robert Hughes
Time Magazine

They were in our contingent!  We shared a warming tent. :-D

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"What's wrong with a little flirtation?"

Saxygirlnyc, I saw the band during the CSPAN broadcast & thought you were fabulous! Although the weather may do hideous things to woodwinds (& strings – see the stories about the Yo Yo Ma performance being taped), it did them to all the bands. Weather is the great equalizer! Regardless, I thought your group was one of the better ones there, & the drum major was hilarious. As a fellow family member & a former marching band percussionist, I was really proud of the band.

 

By the way, the President often chatted with various dignitaries visiting the Presidential Inaugural stand, so he didn’t always watch the passing groups.  When you guys marched past, however, he watched. Congrats!

Awww thanks so much!  Someone told me that Michelle Obama was dancing around while we went by.  I didn't dare take a glance though.  The military told us that we were allowed to play and march and nothing else or we'd be shot by the snipers. :-) 

 It was such a fantastic experience.  I'm so glad I was able to be part of it.

 Talking about instruments and weather... one of my next big parades is in August in New Orleans!  Talk about extreme weather!

 Amy

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"What's wrong with a little flirtation?"

congrats!