It feels good to see a President use the internet to reach out to the people who he represents.  Heck, it feels good to have a President reach out AT ALL!  Now that’s CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN.

And for a good laugh CLICK HERE for a video of an R&B star’s awkward moment at the Youth Inaugural Ball. (This ish is HILARIOUS!!!!!)

Have a good day,

TRAVERS  

So thanks to the people at BET, I got press credentials to attend the Youth Inaugural Ball last Tuesday, which was one of the balls that the President and First Lady attended.  Watch the video above to hear what the President had to say to the young people gathered.

And CLICK HERE to watch a video of the President and First Lady getting their dance on!  (You GOTTA see this!)

Enjoy, 

TRAVERS   

January 20, 2009

Washington, D.C. 

January 20, 2009

Dear Babies,

I don’t know your names, and we are yet to meet, but I just want you to know this one thing—your daddy was there. I was there at the exact moment that the world changed forever. 

By the time you read this, it may be hard for you to imagine me as anything but your “old man,” but as I write to you I am a 22-year-old recent college graduate who lives in New York City, and is currently in Washington , D.C.  I may be young right now, but I’ve already seen a lot in my lifetime.  I have witnessed the horror of the World Trade Center attacks, the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, and the dawn of a new millennium.  I remember the beginning of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the funeral of Pope John Paul II, and what the internet was like before YouTube and Facebook .  In my personal life I’ve experienced many triumphs and joys, and have also had my share of failures and sadness.  But I never expected to see what I saw on Tuesday, January 20, 2009—the day that the world changed forever.

You see, that was the day that President-elect Barack Obama became President Barack Obama.  That was the day that he and his beautiful wife Michelle and their lovely daughters Sasha and Malia walked onto that platform on the United States Capitol to accept their victory, the world’s victory.  On this day at 12 noon, the world stood still in amazement, and then erupted in cheers of hope and elation. 

Growing up in my small hometown of Quitman, Texas, people would always say, “Travers, you’re going to be President one day.”  Now, don’t get your hopes up, because I have no desire to hold that position. But it wasn’t until today, the day that the world changed forever, that I truly believed—without any doubts, without any reservations—that I could.

So as I reflect on this exciting day, the image that is the most vivid to me is not that of President Obama with his hand on the Bible, or even the new First Lady standing by his side.   I am thinking of those two beautiful little black girls proudly looking at their father.

And I am visualizing that one day that could be you.

With love, your daddy,

Travers

22 years old

Tuesday, January 20

Washington, D.C. 

Happy Inauguration Day!  Check out the video above for a sneak peek of the BET “Yes We Will Ball” that will be airing tonight at 8:00 p.m. on BET.

 And CLICK HERE for more exclusive photos.

TRAVERS  

Sunday, January 18

Washington, D.C. 

When I got to D.C. on Saturday I stayed with some family members, so I didn’t check-in to my hotel until Sunday.  Let me just tell you, BET h-o-o-k-e-d me UP!!!!!!!!

Check out the video above for a tour of my hotel room at the Fairfax Embassy Row  .

CLICK HERE to see more pics of the room… including some that I can’t show you on this blog. (Don’t tell my mama. Lol!)

Well we’re movin’ on up…to the WHITE HOUSE,

TRAVERS 

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Washington, D.C. 

Road to the Inauguration: Union Station from ThisAMThisPM on Vimeo.

What’s up YOU(th) VOTErs!!  So, I made it to D.C. on the afternoon of Saturday, January 17 around 6:00 p.m.  I was supposed to be getting in town at 2:45, but because my train was behind President Obama’s Whistle-Stop Tour train, it took a LOT longer to get there.  (But hey, since it was Obama who was the cause of the delay I couldn’t even be mad about it! Lol!)

So when my train finally pulled into D.C.’s Union Station, I encountered by what seemed like 1,000 people who were packed into the building with hopes of catching a glimpse of the President-elect and his family as they deboarded from their train.

Check out my video above to see just a few of the people who where there, and fast forward to the 43 second mark to hear what one lady had to say about who’s on the top of her V.I.P. list.  (You better believe I DIED laughing when I heard her say that!)  And even having to wait in line for an hour and a half to get a taxi, didn’t ruin my mood. (Probably because I was too cold to think about how long I’d been out there).  I was content knowing that I was in Washington, D.C., preparing to see history unfold before my eyes.

CLICK HERE to read about my experience with “Obama Chicken.” (And trust, it was a hot a$$ mess! LOL!)

The fun is just getting started,

 TRAVERS

At Madame Tussauds’ Wax Museum in Amsterdam, President-elect Obama has already moved in…and President Bush has already been kicked to the curb.  The display at the museum shows Barack Obama smiling proudly as he looks out the window at poor George W. who has been thrown out of the Whitehouse on some Beyonce “Irreplaceable” video ish.

THIS IS HILARIOUS!!!

Create a caption for this photo and leave it in the comments section. I can’t wait to see what you guys come up with.

CLICK HERE for more photos of Bush’s early departure from the Whitehouse. 

ONLY 4 DAYS until this is a reality,

TRAVERS

Ladies and Gentlemen, in just 5 DAYS this will be the face of our great country!  Yesterday this OFFICIAL photo of our 44th President was released by the upcoming administration.  And in the forward-thinking manner that characterizes Obama, this is the FIRST digital presidential photo EVER!  It seems like this guy makes history even when he’s not trying to.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what words come to mind when you see this one?

Let me know.

TRAVERS

CLICK HERE and HERE for more photos of the Prez-elect and the future First Lady!

If you want to know what real love looks like, look above.  In May of 1996, photographer Mariana Cook visited the Obamas, as part of a project she was doing on couples in America, when they were just 4 years into their marriage and more than a decade before they were the President-elect and the future First Lady. 

The photo shows an authenticity in their relationship that proves that the affectionate way in which we have become used to them interacting is more than just a scheme to win an election—it’s real.

CLICK HERE to read what Barack and Michelle had to say about each other in 1996.

Aren’t they lovely? Wouldn’t you like to have what the Obamas have in each other? And why do I feel like listening to some Musiq Soulchild all of a sudden? (Lol.)

Hit me up to break it down.

TRAVERS

I’m about to hook y’all up with some valuable information.

Are you still trying to figure out a way to make it to Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration?  Well if you’ve got a way with words, you might just be able to write your way to the Inauguration!  The Presidential Inauguration Committee is sponsoring the “Your Ticket to History” Essay Contest where they’re asking people to answer this question: “What does this inauguration mean to you?”  

The contest is open to anyone 18 and older and is limited to residents of the 50 states and D.C.  The deadline for all entries to be submitted is 11:59 pm. EST on January 8, 2009. 

Ten winners will be chosen based on the strength of their essays, and each of them will receive tickets for themselves and one guest to attend the January 20 swearing-in of Obama, the Inaugural Parade, and one of the “official” inaugural balls.  On top of that, the winners and their guest will also receive airline tickets and hotel accommodations for two nights.

CLICK HERE to enter the essay contest!!! 

This is a GREAT opportunity for you to witness history, so don’t let it pass you by!! (Click here for more information about the contest!)

Now that I’ve hooked you up, please do me a favor and CLICK HERE to vote for me to attend the inauguration! Maybe we’ll see each other there!

As always, I got you covered, 

TRAVERS

VOTE TRAVERS TO COVER THE INAUGURATION!!!!