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Buhwahaha! Way to go Dolly! Love the image.

I am so glad you brought up the idea of an impromptu “Inauguration Ball.”

Months ago, I spent literally hours searching hotels for rooms available during the Inauguration. Then, there were options. Now- probably not so much. Yes- HRC’s supporters will cancel their rooms, followed by a tsunami of deplorables booking the now available rooms.

There might still be a way to book a large block of rooms, it’s just that they might have to be a good distance from DC, or divided up over a few hotels/motels.

I stayed about two blocks from the Capitol Bldg., for both of GWB’s Inaugurations, and it was truly a gratifying experience.

The first time, the room was booked months in advance.

The second time, I winged it, and called in from the side of the Interstate, as I was driving into DC, and got a room by sheer luck, in the same hotel as before.

I just wanted to throw that out there for contemplation.

By being so close-in to ground zero, I was able to stand on the Capitol lawn for both inaugurations. I also caught both inauguration parades. Also, I toured the White House twice, and visited both, my congressman’s office, and my senator’s office. Plus, I attended the Senate chambers during session, and tried- to no avail, to get into a Senate confirmation hearing. Also, I visited several museums. OK- there’s that- the argument for being close.

I am hitting the road shortly, to drive to AZ, from CA, to vote, so I am going to keep this short. I’ll chime in on the idea of taking a room further out, much further out, from the center of DC, later. Same with the proposition of meeting at a different date.

I just wanted to tell you about one experience I had that will stay with me for the rest of my life that was incredible.

One of my companions and I, went to the National Park Service bldg. to get tickets to tour the White House, the day after the Inauguration. We got up at 4am, so as to be at the front of the line, knowing that the limited number of entry tickets would go fast. We got there before 5am, to discover a long line building up, and ended up being about 50th in line. Only 3,000 tickets were going to be issued. A winter storm had hit, dumping a few inches of icy snow on the ground, and the cold front had dropped the temperature drastically, with biting winds adding to the bitter conditions.

Fast forward- we got our tickets and left the bldg. deciding to walk back to our hotel about a mile away from the NPS.

We found that Pennsylvania Ave. was still closed down, and city workers were just beginning to reopen the street by reinstalling stop lights, and un-welding (by grinding) the manhole covers.

The sun began to rise (first light) and the sky cleared off, permitting the sun’s rays to strike the Capitol bldg. It was a stunning sight to behold, and here we were walking down the center of Pennsylvania Ave., where just hours before, the newly inaugurated POTUS had driven, on his way to the reviewing stand, next to the White House.

We were the only people walking at that hour, and save for the workers, had the entire street to ourselves. We walked right down the middle of the street, making a beeline for the Capitol Bldg., passing many of the alphabet agencies, to include, (now) Trump’s recently refurbished hotel, which at that time, was the US Post Office.

We could only do such a thing once every four years, and even then, there are only so many hours in the day, that the street remains closed, allowing for access by pedestrians. Of note- Pennsylvania Ave., is reopened as soon as possible, permitting traffic flow, by at the latest, mid-afternoon.

Being close in, gives one options that cannot be matched otherwise. WOOT! WOOT!

GO TRUMP GO!