National Christmas Tree

Alternate Post Title: the ugliest Christmas tree in the free world.

Ashley, Dani, Susan and I after a sprint-paced walk to the Elipse.
Don't let the short one fool you she's fast.

This year there was a public raffle for tickets to attend the National Christmas Tree Lighting. I had no idea, but Dani and Ashley were hip to it and entered the raffle. Dani got the four tickets and invited us to join her. We met up with Susan to park at her work and, after a little mishap with the tickets, we walked at the pace of lightening to the Elipse wondering if we would make it on time. The first gate was already closed. We walked to the second gate and they told us to go to the third gate. This doesn't seem like a big deal but there were a couple blocks between gaits and it took a good amount of time to reach each one and we were running very late.

President Obama (l) where he actually was standing on the stage, note camera at max zoom (r) on the big screen so those of us in the standing area could see the stage.

We finally made it in and proceeded to the standing section. It was a fun atmosphere. Groups of college kids, families, some dressed up, some running around in the mud, all gathered to see the President light the tree. We didn't really care about seeing Obama, multiple times Susan said "I'm a Republican. Just wanted you to know that.", we were there and excited about seeing the ugliest Christmas tree in the free world lit up. Randy Jackson (of American Idol) did the introductions, there was a musical number from a former Idol, a prayer was offered, Obama gave a little speech (I was impressed when he eluded to the birth of Christ) and then he lit the tree.

The tree is in the far left corner. We were there. I have photographic evidence.

See it in the corner there? Lit. Same tacky decorations as last year. When are they going to let me decorate that tree? I could do such a better job. After that, there was more singing and then I am not sure what. It was cold, we couldn't actually see anything on the stage because we were so far away (we watched everything on the jumbotron) so we left shortly after Obama threw the switch. We went to The Lost Dog Cafe and met up with some friend for dinner. Yum.

Also I ran into Andrew Whelan at Lost Dog. What are the odds? That was pretty cool.