Barack Obama Sworn in as 44th President of the United States

I've been jealous of everyone in D.C. for days, but watching the Inauguration on television didn't rob me of any excitement about this historic event. After all, I did have the best seats in the house, no pun intended.

Barack's daughters looked gorgeous, Michelle was wearing the right color, although the jury is still out on her frock, Barack looks ready to dive into his new gig, and the energy of the crowd is uplifting. Yes we can, yes we did, and yes we are!

With emotions running high, a record-setting crowd bearing witness and an unprecedented number of former presidents �" Carter, Bush, Clinton and Bush �" looking on together on the Capitol Steps, Barack Obama placed his right hand on Abraham Lincoln's Bible on Tuesday and stirringly affirmed: "I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear that I will execute the office President of the United States faithfully."

In his much-anticipated inaugural address, Obama thanked his predecessor "for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition," then quickly got down to the business at hand.

"That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood," he said. "Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age."

You can read the full transcript of President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address here.