I'm still trying to make sense of everything that went on during my few days in D.C. Obviously I know a new president was sworn in and there was a parade.

So I wanted to look back through my notes and Twitter feed for the highlights and everything else.

I don't want to come off as the guy who got to cover a presidential inauguration and complained about everything (I'll stop talking about the cold), but I do want to say I walked a lot.

So much so that I wanted to see if I could map it out. The final verdict? Just over 7 miles in two days. Not terrible, but my feet may not agree with me:

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Monday:
- Now, just several days later, I am still wondering where you get a giant inflatable Bush to throw your shoes at? I don't think you just go down the party store and say "yeah, I'd like a moon bounce, some over the hill balloons and that giant inflatable President Bush in a flight suit. Yes, I'll pay cash."

- As far as the Shoebush.org crowd and their work, I was surprised they made it from DuPont Circle all the way to the north gate of the White House. The security was already starting to show its muscle around town, from National Guard troops on the street corners to cops everywhere else. But they made it to the gate, chucked the footwear, and luckily did not hit a police officer.
But again, I want to reiterate - not one shoe made it over the fence at the rally. It was probably 10 yards from the parade barrier to the gate. Interpret that as you will about the athleticism of protesters.

- That afternoon I made it over to the Cannon Office building for the Maine Mixer thrown by Democratic Reps. Michaud and Pingree. I thought I'd miss the whole affair, thanks to being stuck in traffic. Luckily things were still going strong and I found out why soon after getting there: a drawing for five pairs of tickets. The tension, oh the tension.

- So photographer Greg Rec and I, being the resourceful journalists that we are, camped out on a table in the hallway outside the room where the Maine Mixer was held. We both had things to file for the next day's paper and the website. Things were going smoothly and it was incredibly quiet in the halls. The jig was up after a few hours when a security officer told us they were shutting down the building, only we soon found we were trapped. All of the visitor and main staff entrances we could find were closed. Salvation came in a staffer, who we tailed to the basement and out a garage door to freedom.

-Following that adventure, Greg and I grabbed a bite to eat and on the way back took the Metro ... which was already packed in anticipation of the morning. People had blankets, comforters, and extra jackets ready to camp out where they could overnight. The trains were packed and at many of the stations the platforms were already overflowing. I did not take the Metro again.

Inauguration Day

- What is frightening? Being at a media checkpoint and having your laptop fail to turn on when Capitol Police ask you to start it, and a crowd is forming behind you.

- The press pen near the front row for the swearing-in ceremony was a scene in itself. For starters, I could not figure out the correspondents who were dressed to the nines. Since most of us would be outside for 5 - 6 hours, the suit, overcoat and Brooks Brothers scarf seemed like a bad choice. This may have been a generational thing. The younger correspondents, such as myself, eschewed fashion for warmth. Something else that struck me was the fact that all of us - the geeks in the press pen - were getting the same thing. Many of them were correspondents from far-flung papers, others for wire services. And since we were confined to our seating area, there was not much to report other than what was in front or around you. I kept wondering what was the point if we were all getting the same thing. It was too early to be thinking about media matters.

- Of course my trip was supposed to be different, thanks to the Live Blogging. As you could tell, that did not go according to plan. As was guessed, the wireless overload was inescapable. Most of the media folks around me couldn't get signals out to call their editors, or in my case, to file live blogs. My fallback, Twitter, also seemed to be reaching capacity as the swearing-in approached. It also probably didn't help because I was using my cell phone for that.

- Not only was the swearing-in fumbled by the chief justice, but the sound got funky around the same time. So not only were the words mixed up, you could also barely hear it. Conspiracy theorists can run with that one.

- Rev. Joseph Lowery's benediction was a hit with the crowd, especially when he wound up for the big finish: "Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around ... when yellow will be mellow ... when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen."

- As the crowds were herded away from the ticketed areas, many stopped when the Jumbotrons showed the Obamas sending off the Bushes on Marine One. The crowd waved (some shook their fists) as President Bush lifted away. Seemed like it was cathartic for some people.

- The crowds and the security had a quiet agreement to work together, I think. Make no mistake, the security apparatus in effect for the inauguration was imposing. I saw officers with automatic weapons, helicopter patrols (at night), Marines and National Guardsmen. But the security was not threatening in any way. On the flip side of that, people for the most part went along with it, they submitted themselves to searches without groaning and were herded in whichever way security wanted.

- Here's how my TV experience went - I went into a room, put in an earpiece and essentially looked into a camera and hoped I didn't make a fool of myself. I could not see what it all looked like, but had the whole business going on in my ear. (Also, judging from some of my feedback, I must have really looked tired. I did not hit the make-up room. I look terrible in blush.)

- Oh, the beautiful people were out in heavy numbers Tuesday night for the balls. But by most accounts, those before and after, it was a lot of hurry up and wait. You could tell on the streets too, as men in tuxes, women in gowns and furs, fought for cabs or walked in what looked like painful shoes, just to be at the balls.
Here's a fun fact: We were approved for credentials for the Eastern Ball. The plan was for me to (somehow) get suited/tuxed up and do some live blogging from the ball and interview what Mainers I could find. Unfortunately some snafus did that plan in. But it looks like a happy coincidence, because apparently the president and first lady didn't arrive after 1 a.m.

Wednesday

- So I ended up being the subject of not one but two interviews this trip, as the students from the Bonny Eagle High School Eagle Times newspaper ambushed me with questions about my job and the work I do at the paper. (OK, ambushed is not the right word.)

- Meeting up with the students from the Eagle Times was my first chance to be at The Newseum, and I have to say it was a little weird. While I liked it and would go back to spend more time in exhibits, I was struck by one thought over and over: Aren't museums dedicated to relics? We all know the news industry is fighting for its life right now, but in some ways is the Newseum a way of celebrating our demise? When does the "Extinction Watch" exhibit open?

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