Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Inorganization

We began the day in D.C. having no idea where our yellow press credentials would get us, thanks to the very informative inauguration websites. We began following directions to the Senate building after failing to get inside with the presidential media only. We had our gear checked here and wandered around the building looking for our entrance, ending up in the basement where a shuttle runs straight into The Capitol building.This was wrong. We went back upstairs where police wondered how we got into the Senator's office building...and were told we needed better credentials to get out...this was obviously wrong too. Then we were told to go to the House side. This involved traveling down D St. to the tunnel which would take us around to the west side. D St. is also where the purple ticketed inauguration goers were standing in line thus causing an elbow to elbow people jam for a good hour because they wouldn't let the "cutters" get to the other side of D to continue walking in the opposite direction and leave them with more space and comfort. After bumping into Jessie Jackson here, who had obviously been given poor directions as well, we were able to push through to the tunnel. Here they refused us entrance. After arguing we continued on where we found a second tunnel which was open to us and connected to the first one after the first 50 ft...So now we walk on the highway up to more entrances where we are refused access before stumbling upon white tents! We have our gear checked at this media entrance and once again walk to a basement where we are told that we don't have the right creds- they tell us to go to the botanical gardens. We go back upstairs and cant get out again. We ask where to go and explain that we had been told to go to the Senate, the House, the West front, and the botanical gardens. we are told to go back downstairs and demand to see the supervisor. Here we are told no again and Katie pretends to cry. The guy feels terrible and gives us directions to go down Independence to the Mall. So we walk and walk and walk down 7 blocks until some random officer lets us through a barricade without a baggage check. huh...


enjoy the photos...we really worked for them:)

4 comments:

Angeli Wright said...

A) I think that Jessie Jackson is the cause of confusion because when I was lost outside of the Pepsi Center in Denver for like 1/2 hour with no idea which way to go I ran into Jessie Jackson. I'll show you the pics sometime.

B) I really really wish that I could have seen Katie pretend to cry.

J. Chiou said...

You should have ran two miles with a 300. It would have made things exhilarating, plus you get your run in for the day.

Whitney Mae said...

I also would have liked to see Katie pretending to cry.

The photos were marvelous and much appreciated. I also liked your "Change" video. Much love :)

H.Engelson said...

I ran into Jesse Jackson when I was wondering around lost at Invesco too! Coincidentally it sounds like the people in charge there were as clueless as the people you had to deal with.

Damn democrats...

I miss you and would like to call you soon to hear more about your D.C. adventure.

Congrads on the pretty photos

I third the idea that I would have loved to see Katie fake cry. Maybe I will make her do a reenactment at MPPA.