It was considerably chillier Tuesday morning when we arrived at the Houston federal courthouse. I figured we would see more people here to see the opening statements, the first real day of the Enron trial.

We did not. In fact, it looked like fewer people, fewer citizens were here at least. Just as many reporters and photographers.

Several people yelled from their cars toward the pack of cameras surrounding Lay and his wife. One man hollered "Get a rope!" Another young woman rolled the window down in her MINI Cooper and said "Guilty!" I'm not sure if you could hear it off camera. I doubt Lay did.

It appeared to me the people were showing off more for the cameras rather than stating their true feelings. But it was interesting to see the reputation the two men now have.

Nevertheless, both men had smiles on their faces as they walked out of the Bank of America building next door to the federal courthouse and across the street. They seemed eager to begin this trial. Lay again walked out clinching his wife's hand. Skilling's wife has not been by his side. He routinely walks alongside his attorney, Daniel Petrocelli.

In court, once again, Judge Sim Lake started proceedings exactly on time. He said he would begin at 8:30. He arrived and called the court to order at 8:30:29. Make no mistake, Lake's reputation for punctuality is true. Within seconds, after thanking everyone for being here on time, the prosecution was given the floor and the trial was underway.