Amy and I grabbed sandwiches for lunch today from the cafe at the Great Hall of the National Building Museum. I made a mobile mosaic of this impressive space a couple years ago.

As is typical on weekdays when school is in session, there were groups of kids on field trips gathered in clumps on the expansive carpeted floor. The laughter of children enhances the soothing sound of the water fountain in the center of the hall.

While it's free for everyone to access the building today (with an optional $5 donation), in a week, it will cost $795 each for those walking this same carpet to attend the "Commander 'n Chief's" Inaugural Ball--one of 17 around the city.

The Big W will likely step between two of the massive italian renniassance columns (pics 1-4), across the tiled mosaic of the 1901 presidential seal (pic 5), and into a cheering crowd who have paid handsomely in many ways for the privledge.

I would like to one day see what a privately-funded $40 million-dollar party like this looks like, but even with televised coverage, I think I'll be off enjoying the sweet sound of a child laughing.

- mike lee - washington, dc