First the gathering, then the swearing in and then the inaugural speech.
Memorable surely with many moving quotes of which my favourites were:
"Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths."
and just because it is minus 23 degrees tonight:
"In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."
Really things that make you go...hmmmmm.
I was quite stuck by the humour of in the Benediction by the Reverend Dr Joseph E Lowery toward the end of the ceremonies:
"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. "
What a day!
Well it was a long time goal but at last, I have taken a cooking class. Sure, it was for a style of cooking that I knew much of but I did learn a few new tricks. In this case,a recipte for shitake mushroom-nappa-onion pot-stickers (a fried dumpling actually). It was surprisingly easy and definitely delicious!
In the course of about 3.5-4 hours, Ms. Crowded House, her sister, Desi and I cooked up and ate fried dumplings, seared tuna, lobster-shrimp-veggie stir fry and mango-coconut pudding. 
The teared tuna "plate dressing" consisting of fresh snow peas shoots, sesame seeds, fried lotus root chips and a sesame oil-lime vinaigrette was certainly the most visually appealing and complemented the seared tuna divinely.
After consuming two glasses of Shiraz and slaving over a hot stove on one of the coldest nights of the year, it was joy to eat the fruits of our labours. Now perhaps, I'll tackle French cuisine.