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The picture here is from my cell phone. It's my view of the podium during the inauguration. The media were squeezed kind of to the side of the rotunda for the ceremony yesterday. TV cameras were in front, and I was around the corner behind them hugging the wall with other radio reporters. Every inch of space was used for chairs along the floor, while other people stood or sat on the stairs and on the balconies to catch a view. It was hot and crowded but the marble floor felt quite cool where I was sitting. All I really needed to do was plug into the sound system to record the speeches and music, so I didn't need to see everything. I heard it all very well in my headphones. But I would often slip around the corner and walk around to get a better idea of what everything looked like. After all, how can you report on something you can't really see? I saw dignitaries, officials, advocates and lawmakers. Family members were there too, even of new Lt Governor Greg Bell, even though he still has to be confirmed by the Senate. A lady sitting on a chair inches from where I was huddled with my equipment ran into Governor Herbert before everything began, and got his autograph on her program. Speaking of programs, I have a confession. Before the inauguration began, I couldn't find a spare program anywhere, nor could I find an official to give me any details about what was coming up. So I swiped a program off a chair marked "Reserved for Utah State Legislator." Hopefully that legislator was able to share with a neighbor.
