CHICAGO- Can you really be a regular guy and lead a normal, low-key life when you're going to be the next president of the United States? Barack Obama hopes so, and he is doing his best to prove it - at least in the first week since winning the presidential election.
Obama and his family know their lives will change drastically when they move into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in January, so they are enjoying the last few months of "normalcy" before entering the fishbowl of the White House.
He seemed slightly taken aback on Friday when he walked into his first news conference as president-elect and a room full of reporters stood as he entered. "Wow," said Obama who had been accustomed to reporters balancing computers on their laps as they asked questions on the campaign trail.
Though security has been strengthened since Obama became president-elect, with a few more streets blocked off around his Chicago house and more police officers in his motorcade, the 47-year-old is trying to go about his regular business.
In the past few days he dined in a downtown restaurant with his wife, Michelle, enjoyed an unprecedented number of nights in a row in his own bed and followed a daily workout regime.
For his Saturday night dinner date with his wife, Obama's motorcade was as unobtrusive as a dozen cars snaking their way through downtown could be. Police rang their sirens only a few times and for most of the ride they did not use their flashing lights.
The Obamas even went to their daughters' school this week for a parent-teacher conference, which had to be postponed because of the gruelling presidential campaign. They looked like any other parents, conferring as they left the school, except for the fact that Michelle Obama was carrying flowers that had apparently been given to her inside, and the two got into separate motorcades.
One constant that Obama has required is regular exercise. Even after staying up until almost 2am on election night, he went to the gym early on Wednesday before a day of meetings.
On Sunday morning - a day he says he likes to start by making breakfast with Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha - the president-elect got up early and headed to the gym in a nearby apartment complex owned by a good friend.
Residents in the complex have grown used to seeing him work out beside them. One man standing in line at a local cafe said he has been on the stair-climbing machine near Obama as he worked out. He said security inside the gym has been increased and now secret service agents are asking gym-goers not to take photos. - (Reuters)