Presumed to be awesome.

Barack Hussein Obama has now been our President for about 12 hours and 45 minutes. And it's been a DAMN GOOD 12 hours and 45 minutes!

I spent the day hanging out at annkiri's and watching all the inaugural goings on. I, unsurprisingly, cried like a baby during President Obama'a (*glee* I will NEVER get tired of writing that!!!) inaugural address. That man inspires me to do more, to be better, to do my part in creating the change that we all have banked our hope upon. I also especially loved the musical performance of John Williams' "Air and Special Gifts" and Joseph Lowery's poignant and funny benediction.

I called friends and family, and we gushed about the history we were watching unfold before us. I cried some more. I smiled when I saw those two beautiful girls walk out, all smiles and ease and charm. I furiously flipped channels so as to not miss a thing. I both fretted and rejoiced when they walked the parade route. I loved seeing the Obamas dance, and smile, and hold hands, and generally be wonderful with each other.

Other than obsessively watching all the inaugural coverage, I also spent the day whipping up some gumbo, which turned out delicious. Then annkiri, soylahtayplease, and I made a quick trip to Sugar Mama's for cupcakes, which we brought back to the house. Add a few bottles of wine, the recorded ceremony from earlier, and all the inaugural ball coverage and we had ourselves an Inauguration Party!!! It was, in so many ways, A VERY GOOD DAY.

- Rahm Emanuel has accepted the position as Obama's chief-of-staff. People, Josh Lyman just got promoted! My West Wing fantasy administration is becoming a reality and I couldn't be more pleased!!!

- Speaking of President Obama (Hee! That's never going to get old!), the transition website is up at change.gov.

- I've got a pot roast in the crock pot for dinner and my house smells delicious. Yum.

- I know I just got back from vacation. But still, I'm rather excited about a four day weekend! (Since the courts are closed on Tuesday, I made sure not to schedule any meetings for Monday, giving me four days off! Excellent!)

- Jerrod Niemann is putting together a new CD. You can hear a few of the songs he's been working on over at Judge Jerrod and the Hung Jury. If anyone wants any of the songs, let me know.

- Boys are confusing.

- wendy shared an awesome music mix today. "Change is Now," music spliced together with bits of Obama's speeches -- I love it! I'm too lazy to re-upload myself, though, so instead I'll link you to Wendy's entry here.

- My sheer joy over Barack Obama being our 44th President remains undiminished.

- I must have been carrying around a huge amount of internalized stress over the election, though, because last night, almost as soon as the results were known, I succumbed to feverish misery. Ugh. Seriously, I hadn't been that sick in a very long time. Thanks to Tylenol PM and the bottle of wine from earlier in the night, I finally did sleep and I thankfully woke feeling much better.

- The local election results here in Arizona are significantly less awesome than our national results. Arizona voters approved an amendment to our state constitution defining marriage as between only a man and a woman. This is not only institutionalized hatred, it's redundant hatred, as Arizona law already banned same sex marriage. I'm angry and disappointed, but sadly not surprised. Maricopa county voters also approved a fifth term for our jackass sheriff and another term for the most unreasonable county attorney I've ever had the displeasure to have to work with. *hates*

- I was also very sad to see that California voters approved Proposition 8. I'm convinced that ultimately the solution is going to be a federal equal protection challenge, and with Obama in the White House we may soon have the Court to which we can take such a challenge. *persistently remains hopeful* But, until that day, I wish we didn't have to trip over this kind of unreasonable hate and intolerance at every turn.

- And, to end on a positive note and because it bears repeating, BARACK OBAMA IS OUR PRESIDENT!!!!

( Yes We Can Video )