I am still in Maryland. Kaz and I leave for Costa Rica on Friday morning (January 23). I've uploaded a picture of Janet just for fun. I'll miss her while I am away, as she and Dave are staying here while Kaz and I head south.



Happy Inauguration Day! I awoke to the sound of helicopters and small planes flying overhead every 15-20 minutes. I don't know if they are security for the Inauguration, or the rich and famous dropping in for today's festivities, but in any case, what an exciting day it is to be on the edge of Washington, DC.



Dave went downtown Sunday to see the inaugural concert "with 350,000 of his closest friends," he says. Some of Janet's classmates were backup singers for Bruce Springsteen and others. They say it was just an amazing experience. Dave says everyone was walking in the streets, like a big celebratory parade, and they were all smiling and happy and hopeful about the new administration. For the past week, people around here have hardly been able to talk about anything else.

I wonder what the country will be like when Kaz and I return in June?