The concert on the national mall was on of the most amazing experiences I have had here. I was surprised by the amount of people. I got there 3 hours early and the lines of viewers were already snaking around. Police, National Guardsmen and volunteers made things run smoothly, but I felt like we were cattle being herded onto the mall. They had to make sure we turned on all electronics before entering as well. Once the performance started, I could not believe that our president-elect was there along with the family and the vice president-elect. The caliber of speakers was amazing my favorites being Jamie Fox and Denzel Washington. My favorite performer was U2, but Garth Brooks sure got the crowd excited. I thought Beyonce would play a bigger role, and I was disappointed in the 1 minute song to end the show. Although it was very cold and I had been standing for close to 6 hours, the concert was more than I could imagine.

Yesterday, I got to meet Anderson Cooper while wandering around the National Mall! We had decided to stay further back away from the Lincoln Memorial because of the crowds that were there for the concert, but meeting Anderson Cooper was so worth it. The crowd who wanted to take pictures with him was getting larger by the second, so I'm glad I was able to actually take one with him before he went to go do his broadcast. I was really nervous around him, though. I must say-he really is as attractive in person as he is on television!

I had wanted to go to the American History Museum all week, but I finally got the chance to go on Sunday. I really wish I had gone last week, as the museum was so crowded. All the crowds made it really difficult to get around and appreciate all the exhibits that the museum had to offer. The crowds of tourists that flocked in within the last couple days made it hell to get around the city on foot and on the metro. We had to walk about 10 blocks just to get to a metro station that didn't have any lines to get on. I know it'll all be worth it tomorrow, though!

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Wow!!! I waited for 41/2 hours in the office of Alabama Representative Robert Aderholt, who represents the district that I am from in Alabama, waiting for them to do a lottery drawing for the few tickets that were not picked up. They put all the names in a hat and drew out 5 names. I was drawn 3rd. I was given 1 ticket, and they put my name back in the hat for a chance to get a 2nd ticket. In the 2nd drawing my name was drawn 2nd. I received 2 tickets. The odds were not good for even 1 ticket much less to get drawn twice. It was meant to be. I gave the extra ticket to Erika Zehm, who had been there waiting with me all afternoon. We danced and skipped all the way back to our apartment to try to rest up for the big day. - Julie Norris

• Today I had to take a deep breath and get away for a bit from the hustle and bustle of DC during inauguration. I went to Rockville, the second largest city in Maryland to visit an old friend and his family from highschool. It was nice to have a homecooked meal and good company. I got to missing my children and husband being around Darren and his, but can't deny the excitement that is bubbling up inside of me. a week ago I was a novice at riding the metro, this week I shake my head at the people that stand statue still on the left while I rushed to meet my train. We are all meeting up in our lobby at 3:30 to get on metro by 4:00am, the first train of the day. I doubt I will be able to sleep, I am so excited to see this changing of the guard. Several people asked today if I was going to the inauguration, where I was from ecetera, and I in turn asked them about their trip to DC. Again the atmosphere is one of pride, hope and promise of good things to come for our country. I am a glass half full kind of girl, and I truly believe this is a change our country and Americans will grow and prosper from. God bless America!

The snow flurries are over and I am back in D.C. Prince Frederick is a lovely town.

Watching Martin Luther King JR give his "Dream" speech today on CNN with my granddaughters sitting next to me was wonderful. Casey, the 12 year old, grabbed her notebook about half way through and started drawing on it. A half hour later she handed me a drawing of MLK: To Grandma Vikki From Casey Davis (granddaughter). She pointed to a quote she had included, "I drew this because I know what he said means a lot to you. Look, I even wrote 'Free at last, free at last, thank God in heaven we're free at last'."