Happy new year!

I know it's been more than three weeks since my last post, but I really felt I needed to write something today.

A lot has happened since it became 2009. I spent New Year's Day in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where I visited the No. 1 Borders store and got plenty of use out of my new purple coat.

It's been a big week, starting on Sunday, when I went to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, where Alexa Ray Joel was putting on a free concert. I'd never seen her live, and free is a fair price, so I got in my car, drove 10 miles and prayed for a good parking spot (which I quickly found). Sure, there was a line to get into the cramped Hard Rock Cafe, but I got in (right under the wire) and settled in a chair right next to the restrooms.

The show was great. Less than an hour, but packed with energy (even during slow songs). Alexa Ray really seemed to be enjoying herself and the crowd, many of which had just come from her father's concert (which was not free and I didn't attend).

After the show, those who wanted to 'say hi' to Alexa formed a line. Somehow, I ended up in the front of it (thanks, unnamed English guy!) and within moments was face to face with the daughter of legends. She was really sweet. We chatted for several minutes, occasionally interrupted by well-wishers from her dad's crew. She told me how nervous she was because of all the people who were coming straight from her dad's show with high expectations of her. I told her how great her show was, and told her that I wasn't even at her dad's show (for the very first time in 20 years). We took a picture, she signed a head shot (using her dad's trademark 'cheers' salutation) and I was on my way. Yes, it was totally worth staying up past my bedtime.

Yesterday was Monday. Other than being a little tired from the night before, it was nothing special. The main event was today: Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States.

A little before noon, about 20 co-workers gathered in the conference room to watch the ceremony. We saw Rick Warren give the invocation, a quartet of musicians play "Air and Simple Gifts" as arranged by John Williams, Joe Biden take the oath as vice president while resting his left hand on an impossibly large bible and Aretha Franklin's hat sing "My Country 'Tis of Thee" to the world. (OK, maybe that was an exaggeration; but her hat was really huge. I bet the people all the way at the Washington Monument could see it.)

When it was time for the main event, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. was to administer the oath to Barack Hussein Obama. (Yeah, he said it.) I don't know who messed up first, but it wasn't all that pretty. Someone should have done a run-through. Still, the oath was valid -- even without the oath, Obama was president as of noon, Eastern time -- and the crowd roared.

The inaugural address was wonderful. When it was over, there was such a feeling of hope in the conference room. And then, we all returned to our desks. I did catch a glimpse of Elizabeth Alexander reciting her inaugural poem, but I wasn't all that impressed.

I've mostly stayed away from the coverage this evening, as too much can be overwhelming. But, I am proud of my country today.

I don't know how anything else this year will top today, but I hope to be back here next month.