nina simone — feeling good

Birds flying high you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Reeds driftin on by you know how I feel

Its a new dawn
Its a new day
Its a new life
For me
And Im feeling good

Fish in the sea you know how I feel
River running free you know how I feel
Blossom in the tree you know how I feel

Its a new dawn
Its a new day
Its a new life
For me
And Im feeling good

Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, dont you know
Butterflies all havin fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
Thats what I mean

And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me

Stars when you shine you know how I feel
Scent of the pine you know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel

Its a new dawn
Its a new day
Its a new life
For me
And Im feeling good

for the ball: ixnayed the earrings and went for a big gold necklace instead. there was a matching bracelet, but i didn’t take a good pic of it. or a good pic of my face, apparently.

well, that was fun. glad it’s over, though.

necessary commentary:

how many times did i shed a tear over this weekend? at least 5 times.

1. when that quartet played ‘simple things.’ yo yo + izthak + the other two = perfection.
2. when obama took the oath. even john roberts couldn’t completely ruin it.
3. when obama talked about science (yeah science) and about restoring america’s standing in the world.
4. when the national anthem played (dude, i get emotional when i hear it at michigan football games …)
5. when i watched obama/michelle dance to beyonce the next morning. i love that song and i love beyonce.
6. endlessly looking at photo galleries that show people all over the world captivated by us.

“wtf?” you ask. “why are you getting misty eyed? you’re not even a big obamaniac.”
first off, i LOVE america. i love it as much as toby keith does, just not in a crazy way. we aren’t perfect, but we still rawk, and we are thismuch closer to sucking less. secondly, people are so happy, and despite my general negativity about everything, genuine happiness makes me cry. it’s why i went to the mall at the buttcrack of dawn — to soak up the positive energy. the euphoria lasted me until at least noon wednesday, which may be a record. OBAMA, YOU ARE A MIRACLE WORKER.

lastly, re: “at last”: unfortunately there isn’t a classic soul song that directly references the election of the first black president … but this is pretty much as close as we’re going to get. in fact, i’m posting lyrics so we all can soak up how perfect this song is:

At last, my love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song
Oh, yeah, at last
The skies above are blue
My heart was wrapped up in clovers
The night I looked at you
I found a dream that I could speak to
A dream that I can call my own
I found a thrill to rest my cheek to
A thrill that I have never known
Oh, yeah when you smile, you smile
Oh, and then the spell was cast
And here we are in heaven
For you are mine
At last

get it? at last WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO ISN’T A STINKY WHITE DUDE. i cry every time at the 2:45 mark.

ps. beyonce is perfect.

is joe lieberman.

only two people got booed by the huddled masses watching the inauguration in the freezing cold on the mall: president bush and lieberman. silence for cheney, mccain, most everyone else …

there are still some hard-core bushies, but i don’t think lieberman has a base like that. based on that logic, i deduce that lieberman is the most reviled person in the country. everyone hates a turncoat.

went to it.

so. many. people.

i took my own pics, but the nytimes one was better.

program notes:
craig said he got a little misty-eyed when bono did his thing. i was pretty moved by 700k people singing american pie together.

also, beyonce is beautiful.

i’m going w/ joel who lives with a woman who worked on obama’s florida campaign. all that means is that i’m going to the southern regional ball, which is quite possibly the one ball i’ll feel most uncomfortable at. i’m hoping to run into lots of southern belle types, and then assault them with my northern rage and cynicism.

i hear it’s a crowded, drunken mess, but obama and co. are guaranteed to be there for at least 5 minutes. can’t wait to bathe in his light.

more importantly, let’s talk about the dress and accessories. mama Go brought me one of her twice-worn designer gowns from michigan. it’s a black issey miyake (japanese. reppin the asians), and i believe it retailed for $2,000-3,000. why would anyone spend that much money on a dress? i dunno. mama Go paid $300 or so for it at the department store formerly known as hudsons, so whatevs.

mama Go was worried that the dress would be too long on me since 1) it was too long for her and 2) i’m shorter than her. however, b/c i’m “bigger boned” than mom, i filled the dress in a little better, and poof! not too long anymore. disaster averted.

and yes that’s a jean jacket. and no you likely will not convince me not to wear it.

also some words on this “photo shoot” i did of … myself. first, i probably took 100 or so photos. i’m vain and i’m ok w/ it. and you see that ridiculous light there? that’s a lamp w/ the lampshade off leaned against an ikea chair in an awkward attempt to create adequate lighting for a no-flash scenario with a really crappy point-and-shoot camera. i just wish i could have set up a better backdrop. my corkboard disaster zone of receipts and birthday cards screams “declasse.”

next, shoes are nicole miller from DSW in boston. they are the hotness, but i might fall and die in them. ::crosses fingers::

lastly, i need all your advice. accessories? at first i thought a fancy long necklace would be cool, then i thought maybe it would make the whole look too hippie dippy. but a short necklace might be a little too goth/boring (depending on its color) for my taste. i was thinking big gaudy earrings instead. help!

this is rare, and i am savoring it. the madness starts now. i have my camera w/ me at all times to watch tourists soak up the OBAMA emanating from our pristine, federally cleaned sidewalks. tomorrow is supposed to be arctic, and i imagine it’ll take me hours to get to work on the bus.

we’ll see how blog-alicious this weekend will be. there’s a chance i’ll be staying in/hiding out for much of it. i’m just too old for this.