Pre-departure excitement in Chicago

With college classes and work schedules in full gear, I admit it's been difficult to focus on what will be a once in lifetime experience for any journalism student. However now that I have finished packing and can put up my feet (while I still can), I feel prepared to feast my eyes and open my ears for a range of events that will bring in 44th president elect Barack Obama. Let the reporting begin.

In Chicago, people everywhere are talking about the inauguration. Tonight, during a shopping exursion in Lincoln Park, I met two of the 240,000 Americans lucky enough to receive free tickets to witness Obama's oath of office from their local Congress member. Both women were picking out a dress for the George Washington Ball, as they excitedly expressed traveling for one day on an Amtrak train was worth seeing two days of history. They'll be traveling with 20 other constituents from Representative John Fritchey's 11th district.

But you don't have to travel far to feel the excitement emerging from Chicago's hometown hero. Just visit your local subway station and you might hear this quartet singing "Barack's All Right."