It begins.  The new world under the power of one influencial and innovative thinker.  I can’t be happier that Obama is in office - I had time to get away during my lunch break on the day of the inaguration and sneek into the TV room to watch highlights from the speech.  Sorry but a tear comes to my eye to think how far we have come in order to elect not only an African-American to the Presidential office but to elect someone with such great potential for greatness.  Living in Australia I have been bombarded with quesitons about how Bush could have possibly got re-elected.  Bush is hated in Australia, and is greatly hated overseas.  So many here and around the World are proud of America today for reaching out to someone that can really make a difference not just to America, but to everyone in the world.

The speech referring to “hard work by all” in “remaking America”, speaking of healthcare, education, and green power really will help us start to get up and take notice.  The “era of peace” also reminds us that this wartime must come to an end and we need to focus back on what America needs.

Who can still defend the Bush era knowing what we know now?  Some can’t see past their own “party lines” but with complete and utter economic crisis, war, and debt we can only know that the past 8 years has been a sham that has engulfed a Nation.  2 million people standing from the Whitehouse lawn to the Lincoln Memorial - 37.8 million watching as Obama addressed the Nation, it just can’t be a mistake that so many are looking for a new path.

I’ve been keeping up on what’s happening in Obama’s first days in office and I am amazed by some of the tasks he has already taken on, his promise to “deliver” is clear:

-  Obama issued executive orders to tighten ethics rules, enhance Freedom of Information Act rules and freeze the salaries of White House officials who earn more than $100,000

-  Moving quickly to reverse Bush administration policies on the treatment of terror suspects, President Barack Obama on Thursday signed an executive order to shut down secret CIA overseas prosons including the Guantanamo prison within one year.

I’m looking forwad to many changes in the coming year and I am amazed by some swift changes right out of the gate.  I couldn’t be more proud to be an American.

Go Obama, go!

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Mental Status: Been sick lately, still recovering.
Favourite thing this week: Celebrating Mum’s birthday this week with the family.
Book this week: Three to Get Ready by Janet Evanovich.
Happy Moment: Obama inagural speech.
Looking forward to next week: Week two on our diet, doing good total losses:  Lainey (5 kg), Birdie (3 kg).