MATT DRISCOLL: FROM TACOMA EYES >>>
 
As I mentioned in this week’s issue of the Weekly Volcano, semi-famous Tacomans Leonard and Teddy Haggarty, along with Justin Peterson â€" one of my favorite bartenders of all time â€" will be up close and personal tomorrow in Washington, D.C. when Obama takes office. The three, thanks to the wild and inspiring story of Leonard Haggarty, are real life ticket holders to one of the most historic events our country has ever witnessed. Haggarty saw first hand the wrath of Katrina, and had a business wiped out by the destructive hurricane â€" an experience that led him to volunteer for Obama in five states over the course of the primary season and general election. As a Katrina survivor and a dedicated workhorse during the campaign, Leonard Haggarty had done his part to make tomorrow’s historic inauguration a reality. Congressman Adam Smith’s office was kind enough to reward Haggarty with three tickets to the big show. Naturally, he invited his brother, Teddy, and good friend, Peterson.

Throughout the course of tomorrow’s inauguration, and even before it (as evident by this post), the Weekly Volcano will be checking in with the Haggartys and Peterson to get a glimpse of the momentous occasion through Tacoma eyes.

After taking a red-eye flight to Philadelphia, this morning Leonard, Teddy and Justin needed to get to D.C. to pick up their tickets. Let the cryptic text message updates from Peterson’s phone start there…

1:18 p.m. Eastern: We are an hour out of D.C. Getting Red Bulls.

5:35 p.m. Eastern: Just got our tickets. Waited 3 hours. Time to party.

When asked about just making the 6 p.m. Eastern deadline for picking up tickets …

5:42 p.m. Eastern: I think they are extending the time because of the long lines.

2:05 a.m. Eastern: Crashing in a fancy hotel lobby after hitting up some Irish bars. It's better than the nap in the park earlier. It's about 18 degrees outside! We think we'll have to get in line in about three hours.

6:30 a.m. Eastern: Waiting in line. We've never seen a line this big. It's cold and everyone is in a great mood.

11:00 a.m. Eastern: Not getting in very easily. This is a mess.

11:30 a.m. Eastern: Jostle, jostle, jostle jostle.

Noon Eastern: A sudden calm.

12:15 p.m. Eastern: Crap. We didn't make it in. Chaos. Many people without tickets trying to get in.

12:22 p.m. Eastern: They shut the gates right in front of us. We have been waiting since 5 a.m. Sucks, but no Bush at least.

5:43 p.m. Eastern: We snapped some shots of the Obamas during the parade. Headed to Philly to eat a Philly sandwich, then board a plane for home.

UPDATE: We are back.
The good the bad and the ugly.
The bad and the ugly first.
We had tickets for the purple section,
We got in line at 5 a.m.  After waiting 7 hours in line, 20 degrees, no
bathrooms or food, we got within 20 feet of our entrance at 11:50 a.M. when they
shut the gate.  Although we were very close.  We did not actually see the
the Inauguration.

The good.  We met some incredible people and I was
able to get into the parade route (not easy at all) and
took the photo below.