A few more photos from last night’s celebration at the White House in Washington D.C. following an announcement from President Barack Obama that Osama Bin Laden had been killed.

What an end to an amazing weekend!

This morning started out as a very cold and dreary day, but ended with the announcement by President Barack Obama that Osama Bin Laden had been killed.

“For over two decades, bin Laden has been Al Qaeda’s leader and symbol,” the president said in a statement televised around the world. “The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat Al Qaeda. But his death does not mark the end of our effort. There’s no doubt that Al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad.”

So after reading the news on facebook and twitter and following the Presidential address, I grabbed my camera and headed over to the White House. A short trip in a cab and I was ready to join the mob of people already assembled near the White House.

People were already gathered from the gates and filling most of Lafayette Square. Here’s what the New York Times said about the event downtown:

The news touched off an extraordinary outpouring of emotion as crowds gathered outside the White House, in Times Square and at the Ground Zero site, waving American flags, cheering, shouting, laughing and chanting, “USA, USA!” In New York City, crowds sang the Star-Spangled Banner. Throughout downtown Washington, drivers honked horns deep into the night.

By the numbers:

• 4,400: Number of pictures taken
• 7,983: Miles traveled by plane
• 32: Subway rides in New York
• 9: Plane flights taken
• 4: Metro rides in Washington D.C.
• 2: Amtrak rides taken
• 1: Best year yet!

I told a friend earlier this year after being laid off from The State that 2010 would be “The Year of the Chip!” What I should have said is that it would be a “year of firsts.”

Not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined how great 2010 would turn out to be. The good news is, I’m only getting started and 2011 looks like it’s going to be even better!

The year of the firsts

Here’s what’s happened to make 2010 a year of firsts:

1. This is the first time since graduating from college that I have not worked for a newspaper. I was laid off in January 2010, along with numerous others, in a cost-saving-reduction plan (boo-hoo). Leaving The State was probably one of the best things that could have happened for my career. Presently, I’m employed at The South Carolina Policy Council, a non-profit, non-partisan think tank in downtown Columbia (another first!). Although I do miss working in the newspaper industry on occasion, it’s been very exciting and rewarding working for SCPC so far.



2. I took my first Amtrak ride this year. Originally, I planned on traveling from Charlotte to D.C., D.C. to New York and then New York back to D.C. I still have the ticket from NY to D.C. because I never went back. You can read my old post about the Amtrak ride here. Let’s just say Amtrak is not the most efficient way of traveling. It took us nearly 13 hours to get from Charlotte to D.C. If you can drive and don’t want to fly, just drive – it’s much quicker.



3. Speaking of New York, that’s another first. My first trip to the ‘Big Apple.’ I was in NYC from February until the middle of March before I returned home. Looking back, I could write an entire series on every aspect of New York, but let’s just sum it up in one word: Amazing! Living in New York for the short time that I was there was beyond my wildest dreams. Most movies and pictures I’ve seen don’t really do it justice. It’s something everyone needs to experience for themselves firsthand. One thing that amazed me most about New York is how many people live in the city. With population of 8 million over 468.9 sq miles of city compared to Columbia, SC which has a population of 129,333 and the city covers 133.8 sq miles. The density of New York mind-boggling. When I returned to Charlotte for the first time, it amazed me how much more “breathing room” there was. If I get the opportunity to return to New York or D.C. and spend a few years there, I will be going.



4. 2010 was also the first year I flew on a plane. Amazing right? I use be afraid to fly on a plane, but after my first few trips to and from New York, I was able to conquer those. Then after joining SCPC, I was flown out to Denver and up to Cleveland. Flying isn’t really that bad. I’m sure it’s worse now with TSA pat-downs, but I had no trouble going through the back scatter machine at the airport. The worst part about flying though is the layovers in airports. If you can, always fly direct it’s totally worth it!



5. Denver was my first trip out west. When I first arrived at the airport, I had no clue where we were. I expected Denver to be more mountainous, like Asheville’s airport. Instead, we just landed in a field and drove 30 minutes into town. Denver was amazing. The land in the Rocky Mountain National Forest is so open and vast! The temperature change from downtown Denver (90) to the top of RMNF (52) was a little drastic, something I wasn’t prepared for. While in Denver I also went to my first Major League Baseball game and a concert at Red Rocks.
6. I also went to Cleveland and visited the Great Lakes Brewing Company and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I wish I had more exciting things to say, but we were at a conference the entire time, so I didn’t really get to go out and explore, but I did learn a lot at the conference.

Washington D.C.

Gramercy Park NYC at night

Pier 59 in Chelsea, New York City

Snow in Gramercy Park

Georges State Park, Turtleback Falls

Lake Estes, Colorado

Sailing in Wilmington, NC

Signs of Fall in Bluefield, VA

Thanksgiving with the family, Wilmington NC

Winter Wonderland in Van Wyck, SC

The train steadily creeps along like a lumbering packaderm through the whitecaped foothills of North Carolina.

Snow covers the ground like a wet cold blanket as we travel through old mill villages that time has forgotten about. They remind me of my days as a child.

In the field to my right I see two whitetail deer grazing for foilage.

The train makes occasional stops, but never more than 10 minutes. The starting and stopping is what makes the trip 10 hours.

Over to the left are perfectly lined tree plots of pines, the tips of their needles sagging from the weight of snow.

Snaking along the side of the train is a small creek filled with muddy water the color of mocha.

Business class is much nicer than I expected, very few passengers, most are friendly. The higher prices keep most people back in coach. I fear I’ll be soon upgrading my other tickets to business as well.

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Small dots of rain line the window as we travel through Raleigh NC. A small red barn sits atop a snow covered hill.

We picked up more passengers in Raleigh, our most yet. About half of the seats are still empty as some passengers converse while others type away on their blackberries.

Talks of God, life, love and old times surround me, leaving me feeling comfortable with my new surroundings.

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The homeless stations under bridges have been abandoned because of the cold weather. Surely they’ll freeze to death if they stay. Most of their belongings fit into one or two bags, it makes you realize how many unnecessary things we surround ourselves with.

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A passenger asks a stewardess which side has the best view. “it’s all the same to me…trees…sometimes water.” Over time we have all dulled our senses to what life has to offer.

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I talked to plenty of people are from both NY and DC and live in NC/SC. Most said I’ll love it. One said “don’t look up.” I think what they mean is don’t stop and stare, keep moving.

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I checked out the coach section, you can really tell the difference. Most are working class adults and each seat is full. It reaffirms my decision to get a business seat.

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Some people are reading USA Today. Some out of desire, some because it’s free. You cam tell if their interested based on how long they stay on each page.

What the paper won’t tell them is the story of the “terror training” exercises that they’ll find when they arrive at Union Station in D.C.

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Now in Virigina the snow covered mountains nestle the small train cars like candy in a wrapper. We limber slowly alongside 195 as cars and trucks fly by.

We’ve reached Richmond. My destination is within reach. Conductor announces “smoking/fresh air break” No thanks, I’ll pass. I’d miss the signal and be stuck there.

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The train is moving extra slow through Virginia. We arrive at Union Station an hour late. 10 hours is too long for one train ride. I may have to rent a car to go back home.

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Union Station is nice but busy. I breeze right through on the way to the Red Line. Once on the Red Line, I stop in Gallery Place/Chinatown to meet old friends for dinner. I know I’ve reached D.C.

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Tomorrow begins a new day and a new journey.

I was in D.C. on business Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. While I was there, I got a chance to go around the mall and snap a few quick photos. Unfortunately, it’s suppose to snow up to two feet there!