More of the Crowd Chanting

Barack Obama

Other pictures

Notice the snipers.

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter








Colorado Congresswoman Diana DeGette



Al Gore

Standing Ovation for Gore

Video Clip of Exiting the Stadium

The Convention

(That is a picture I took last night after I figured out the panoramic setting on my camera!)

For those of you who watched the convention last night, you can imagine how amazing it was to actually BE there. (And yes, the fireworks WERE real!) There were a couple of people asking to buy tickets while we were in line, but we had the impression 99% of everyone who was there wouldn't have traded it for the world! It was so amazing to be a part of the excitement. I wish I could re-create it for all of you!

We left the house about 1:45, parked about 2 miles from the stadium and walked. On the way, we walked through a legalize pot demonstration at La Alma park (with free music on a truck I had seen the night before: Party for the People). There were TONS of freewheelin bicyclists which made me regret not getting a couple of bikes for us! I mean, really: what were we thinking?!

Anywhoo, we arrived near the stadium around 2:30--we got IN to the stadium 2 hours later and I think we were LUCKY. Here is what the line looked like when we arrived:


AND, it wrapped around. We weren't even in the parking lot at this point. Once there, the corrals wrapped around. It seemed interminable. But, we made it!

It was hot. And all the vendors were selling BUTTONS. FOOLS! They would have made a FORTUNE on water! But, once we got in to the parking lot, Coke gave out free water (and encouraged recycling with some catchy slogan like, "that bottle's not done"--I can't remember, I was about to pass out by the time we got to them).

The general atmosphere was that everyone was so happy to be there. There wasn't the usual complaining about lines or heat or anything in the crowd. (Ok, except for me, but I am an old lady)

Here is Dave and me with our cool passes:


(tilted one way, you saw just a flag; tilted the other, you saw Barack Obama in front of the flag)

We were in the way top level, but with the jumbo trons, I couldn't complain. (Plus, we were maybe 20 feet from where they shot off the fireworks! Thrilling!)

The early speeches were eh.

The music was great! will.i.am and John Legend came out and sang just the regular version of Yes We Can (considering Dave and I spent almost an entire evening watching the video over and over, I think they could have done an extended remix and gotten the crowd more involved.) Sheryl Crow played 3 songs I think--I liked that she played "A Change Will Do You Good". Stevie Wonder played a couple of songs including "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" which he dedicated to the Obamas. Michael MacDonald played "America the Beautiful" which was good... except that he asked us to sing along (which, as you know, I was ready to do) to his "jazzy" version, making it stilted and awkward ("Aaaaaaaa-merica. Aaaaaaaaa-merica...")

The speeches geared up with Bill Richardson. I guess I haven't seen him make many speeches, but his was very good. Then Al Gore. Man! I do not remember HIM being such a great speaker! He really was inspiring. I also thought the retired general did great as well as the 6 regular people who got to join Barack backstage.

And then, the main event. Well, you saw it. I will have to see it on tv to really see it considering I was taking pictures, screaming and/or crying most of the time. In fact, I have a video featuring my lungs. (I still have my voice!) I may post that at some point, but it's LONG.

Here is the stadium after the big show:

Our Ts

Mine has a quote from Michelle: "I've seen people who are hungry to be unified around some basic common issues, and it's made me proud."

















Dave's: "I face this challenge with
profound humility and
knowledge of
my own
limitations, but
I also face it
with
limitless faith
in the capacity of
the American people." (FRONT)

"America, this is our moment. This is our time, our time to turn the page on the policies of the past, our time to bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face, our time to offer a new direction for this country that we love. The journey will be difficult. The road will be long." (BACK)

Catching you up on the DNC Action!

Sorry! I had hoped to blog from my phone and have pictures to upload from my camera daily, but 1. I don't yet know how to blog from my phone and 2. Dave lost the battery charger to my camera!
BUT--he has been taking video and I should be able to post clips eventually.

Day 1 - Mon eve I met Dave downtown. Well, actually, I was walking along 16th Street Mall when I saw a TON of SWAT police jump off a huge RV of some sort and set up barricades. There were a ton of gawkers, so I inquired of one what had happened. He animatedly told me that the police were setting up private areas to interrogate and beat protesters but that all the people with cameras weren't going to let that happen. Me: "okaaaay" The real story was that some Recreate '68 protesters got out of hand. Apparently some pepper spray/devices were used. I know I am going to sound all establishment here, but the protestors really annoyed me. They all looked like young college kids who have probably done alright thanks to said establishment up to this point in their lives and are just looking for trouble. Dave thinks I have totally sold out.

That being said, I do find all the police both impressive and frightening. Dave had been at the Pepsi Center when I called to tell him about the police, so he came down my way and we met up. At one point, the police shouted something and, what with my bad back, I about panicked realizing I wouldn't EXACTLY be able to get out of the way if they had to chase some protesters down. Good thing Dave is strong and could carry me--HA!

Dave had already spotted the following: Vernon Jordan, Bill O'Reilly and Arianna Huffington. Dave is A LOT better at political-celebrity spotting than I. We headed back donw 16th and saw these awesome, AWESOME street performers--one guy rapping and a woman singing along with drums. We also saw a LOT of people. We ended up at the Martini Ranch to see Michelle Obama speak and everyone there was totally enraptured by the tvs. The bartenders even gave us a shot--an Obama Bomber--once she was done and we toasted the next President of the United States. Then Dave and I went back to the Pepsi Center to watch everyone pour out. That's when we saw Morgan Spurlock, Madeline Albright... maybe someone else--I will check the reel.

Also, I had made these shirts for Dave (Dave's) and me (mine) and a woman from NPR news stopped us to take our picture and asked our names, so keep your eyes peeled! (On their website, not on the radio)

After that, we started walking home. We first went by the Performing Arts Center where they were having some sort of soiree in the Sewell Ballroom, but that's up high, so we couldn't really see anything. But there was an outdoor concert on the lawn below (where the dancers statues are). Unfortunately, it was a PRIVATE outdoor concert, sponsored by the funding committee of the DNC (read: guests = big donors). The Goo Goo Dolls were playing, but we couldn't get the security people to spill the beans on who else was there.

So we continued walking home, but not before local anchor Ed Greene passed us on a bike. He even turned and waved when I said his name! (and didn't fall off like I feared).


We then stopped at Denver Diner for a bite to eat. It had been a long evening. There were a few tables of delegates, but it wasn't busy at all. I will be curious to know how the area businesses fare.

Okay. I need to focus on work. Will blog more about Day Two and Day Three (today!) later!

Why isn't Jenn on the TV?

I just keep WAITING to see J on the Democratic Convention coverage in Denver, and so far: nothin'. Those of you who have ever been at an event with J that is being taped/broadcast on a Jumbotron/not being broadcast anywhere probably can picture the "J Wave". She puts her arm over her head and waves as hard as she can so that she can see if there's movement on the monitor. J, if you are able to blog from the floor, please do that wave.

Actually, I don't think J is there. But I would be in the crowd outside at the very least if I still lived there. I'd be stalking Anderson Cooper. My guess: he'll show up at JR's at some point. Do we have a Denver volunteer to be a JR's correspondent? I have a shiny penny here that says we do *sing-songy*

Also, and on a completely unrelated note: remember when P was a part of this blog?

You know how sometimes things that are real seem like hoaxes because it's just too freakin' exciting?!

UPDATE: IT'S REAL!!! Dave just picked up our credentials!!! We're going to see Obama at Mile High!!!

THANK GOD I switched my flight to Chi!!!


I just got an e-mail that looks legit saying I can pick up my credentials to see Barack Obama's speech at Mile High next Thurs.

I called the Obama headquarters and the woman I spoke with confirmed.

*pee all over my chair and floor at work... and a little bit on the wall*

Barack and Michelle giving me a shout-out

Madonna wishing Elizabeth Taylor a Happy Birthday

Random, I know, but see D's prior post.

Remember that time...

GLADIATOR!

Things to do in Denver when you're Dem

This post is inspired by one found on Face the State

In it, the independent Colorado state and local politics news source laments outsiders (such as the Economist and NYT) trying to sum up what to do in Denver during the Convention and makes a few of its own suggestions.

To which, I would add:

1. Eat Uptown - 17th Ave between downtown and York is always hopping after work and through the late dinner hour (which seems to be around 7pm in Denver). Restaurants include Uptown Tavern, Steuben's, Hamburger Mary's, Las Delicias, Strings, and Pasquini's, to name a few. Further down, there are a handful more restaurants which are smaller, but close to the cool spots of St. mark's Coffee Shop and The Thin Man (bar). ALSO, smack in between is JR's (a gay bar, but SO fun who would notice) and the vegetarian mecca, Watercourse restaurant and bakery. 17th Ave is also dotted with other unique places like the Wrangler (another gay bar) and that breakfast place where the waiters serve you in drag...

2. Cruise Colfax - It's the Boulevard of Broken Dreams, people! As described by Jack Kerouac when he lived in Denver. While Colfax still has a seedy reputation, you can safely walk from Downtown eastward... until you get to La Cueva (which is the end of my personal experience walking along Colfax). Highlights are too numerous to mention here, but TRUST ME - the places you find on Colfax will be the ones you remember, whether it be the hip new places or the hip old places (broken up by the inbetween divey places). Also, Denver's own Tattered Cover bookstore is now on Colfax and definitely a place to visit. If you like books.

3. Shop and Bar-Hop Along Broadway - I am partial to Broadway because I live one block away. Broadway is home to the indepent theatre, the Mayan. During the day, you can check out Broadway's unique shops (my fave: Decade), the thrift stores (the new Goodwill is AWESOME, but don't forget BigLots and Arc (a little further down). There are numerous bars and pub crawls along Broadway are always a good time. The ones that come to mind (and, keep in mind, I am neither a big drinker nor a regular pub crawler): the Hornet, 3 Kings, Irish Rover and SoBo. There are also some really good restaurants (Mona's, Blue Bonnet) and some good dance clubs (Vinyl).

4. Don't Forget Lincoln - Which reminds me, Lincoln (the street I live on) is also very cool. Basically, Broadway south of 3rd Ave is the place to be; Lincoln north of 6th--got it? On Lincoln: DC10 bar and club (I have only been once, but I picture very pretty people there--all the servers wear '60s throwback stewardess outfits), Sutra (another lcub, but the bar attached seems to have good drink specials), the Church, Dazzle (a jazz club, even for those who aren't into jazz) and the Funky Buddha (think martinis and techno spun by a DJ, but also a great rooftop area). Plus, the Beauvallon (a residential development around 10th--you can't miss it) has a bunch of restaurants and bars. The one on the corner (of 11th, I think) is great--basically a gourmet take on comfort food (they have Rice Krispy treats on their dessert menu). Oh! and Le Central which is a truly affordable French restaurant.

So, I guess I would lump the places on Lincoln as more upscale than those on Broadway, but not by much.

Anyways, there is much, much more as I have only covered a few areas near where I have recently lived. I will have to post again!

Taxes!

An email is now circulating the Internet touting John McCain’s tax policy. Unfortunately, virtually every statement in that email is a simply not true. Folks are trying to hoodwink you, or scare you into voting against someone rather than for something.

Now look, we all know our country is in bad financial straits. We’ve got an enormous federal deficit…

…a plummeting housing market…

…skyrocketing oil prices…

…and an increasing disparity in wealth.

How did this happen?

Despite their claim of “understanding the economy,” economic growth under Republican presidents has been consistently poor.

Ever since the Reagan Revolution, they've used budget deficits to fund their “tax cuts”, effectively taxing future generations.

And who benefits? Let’s just say that income disparity increases every time a Republican inhabits the White House.

So what can we take away from all this?

In this election, the candidates’ tax policies are very different and very important. But they’re not very surprising or new.

As GOP standardbearer, John McCain wants to continue the Bush/Cheney policies. Though he used to be against tax cuts for the wealthy, he’s now for them. He also used to be against offshore drilling and subsidies to big oil companies, but now he’s for those too.

In contrast, Barack Obama would cut taxes for 95% of America’s households, eliminating the Bush/Cheney tax cuts for the rich. He would ensure a level-playing ground, and enforce a pay-as-you-go mandate within the federal government.

The net result…

According to a full report by the conservative Tax Policy Center…

• If your individual income is more than $250,000 (5% of us), McCain will cut your taxes a great deal.

• If your individual income is less than $100,000 (85% of us), Obama's tax policies will save you far more money.
  
  

• If you're in the remaining 10%... you're on your own.

See the graph below for an overview.

DNC Fever

If you have it too, go to http://www.demconvention.com/

If you don't, go to http://www.demconvention.com/

I think my feelings are one part love for Barack Obama, one part being a good Democrat, but TWO parts hometown pride. I love Denver ANYWAY, but everything they are doing to show the country its best side makes me even MORE proud of the city we call home.

Now that we're down to the last 2 weeks before the Convention, I think I will blog more about preparations. That means I will have to take my camera and waddle towards downtown... but it's my chance to show off Denver, too (and for the benefit of all of you who formerly lived in Colorado).

Annoyance of the Evening

The good news:

1. Our sink has water pressure again!  Two years ago, just after we took over our apt lease from P's brother, our sink exploded.  It leaked into the unit downstairs.  All of the pipes had to be replaced, along with the cabinet.  Our water pressure has been nonexistent ever since.
2. The sprayer also works!  That hasn't worked since BEFORE P's brother moved in (which was about a year before us).

The bad news:

1. As you can see, the cabinet that was installed in place of the old one (about two years ago) isn't an end cabinet.  It's a center cabinet.  Can you see the MDF that sticks out like a sore thumb?  Any suggestions on what we should do with it?  We thought about tiling it, but I think that might look weird.  We don't have any tools to cut a piece to fit the space, though Home Depot could probably cut us one.  Also, the cabinet doesn't match the rest of the cabinets.  The rest are white.
2. After replacing the cabinet, there was a VERY large gap between the new countertop and the existing drywall.  The "repairman" used spackle to try and fill the entire half-inch gap around the wall.  He then painted ONLY THE SPACKLED AREA with paint of an entirely different color than what was on the wall.  We ended up painting the entire kitchen as a result.  We like the orange.
3. The man who fixed our sink (this was the third attempt at doing so, btw) took two full nights.  I watched a DIY.com video, and it took the man in the video five minutes.  He bought the cheapest fixture possible.  Also, in process of fixing the water pressure, he managed to soak the entire bottom of our (relatively new) cabinet, get some substance on the lovely orange wall that won't come off, break something glass (we still haven't figured out what that is) and he switched the hot and cold lines.  So, the cold knob is hot, and hot is cold.  Neat, huh?!
4. Our cats have had to be locked up for 28 hours straight in my office.  As of last night, there were chemicals all over our kitchen from under the sink.  (Method, here we come!)  Also, they cut a very large hole in the side of the new cabinet when it was installed for the pipes to go through.  I am 100% positive that given the opportunity, Sheila would have been back there, lost forever in the bowels of our kitchen.
5. The original call to our landlord was because one of the ceramic knobs on our bathroom sink broke in P's hand.  He had to go to the emergency room to stop the bleeding.  They still haven't fixed that sink.

Tornado

So last night was the first time I have heard tornado sirens go off in the city.  If I don't ever hear them again, I'm ok with that.  My television viewing was interrupted five different times with warnings that got progressively more ominous.  First, severe weather was heading for "southern Cook County", then it was "moving closer to the city", until finally it was going to hit Montrose harbor (= not far from our place) in ten minutes.  

I've practiced panicking throughout my entire life, and I'm a pro at it.  I calmly got up and turned off the TV.  I then opened the window to confirm that all those sirens I was hearing were real (and presumably not caused by a slowly growing tumor in my head.  You all know I also have cancer panic, yes?).  Sure enough, they were real.  So then I closed the window, and casually walked to P's office.  He was inside practicing for a presentation.  

*soft knock* "Paul?  The TV just said that the storm is going to hit Montrose harbor soon, and I think I heard sirens." (See how I tempered my response to keep myself calm?  "I think I heard sirens.")

So P came out and gawked at the clouds for about five minutes.  While he was distracted, I casually loaded Sheila into her carrier.  I tried to get Cole in his carrier by myself, but he would have none of it.  By this time, P realized what I was doing and came to help.  That's when I really started to panic.  P normally laughs off my illogical fears, but we were clearly on the same page.  We finally got Cole loaded into his carrier, and then we headed down the back steps to the basement.  

The cats were instantly wet, and started yowling.  We were only in the basement for like five minutes.  Well, I should say I was only in the basement for five minutes.  P was gawking at the weather again.  When we got back upstairs, we quickly realized P had locked the back door (as if someone was going to rob us in the downpour).  I made him go around to the front.  

After we got inside, I refused to let the cats out of their carriers "just in case", but they were clearly traumatized.  When I finally let them out, I discovered that Cole had left a little surprise in his carrier.  I call it "squeeging" and it only happens when he's extremely scared.  He liquid poops on himself, and it smells like death.  So, I got to clean his carrier and give a scared cat a bath.

Also, I should note that we were the only people in our building to go to the basement.  We are on the third (top) floor.  Right below our unit is a family with a newborn baby.  Below them, a family with two kids.  And I know we weren't just overreacting, because a woman at work said a 100 year old tree in her yard put a giant hole through her roof when she was huddled in her basement with her family.  

Slate's Leave Barack Alone! video

Also, I thought this was pretty funny:

The DNC is in DENVER this year!

It's starting to get pretty exciting around here. For example, the recent issues of 5280 arrived in the mail:


Also, random parts of the city re getting prettied up. We were at City Park tonight and it's all sodded up and ready to impress.

I am hoping that a certain someone from the Mayor's office will show up to weed our front yard. What? Hickenlooper shoveled snow during the blizzard!

I was also trying to read up on all the protests. There will be an anti-immigration protest in Congress Park. As one blogger advertises it:

We've got some BIG NEWS for you -- the all-star lineup of speakers at the MASSIVE Anti-Illegal Immigration Rall Rally Against Illegal Immigration just got even BETTER!

We've just confirmed that Ambassador Alan Keyes, Congressman Bob Barr, and Reverend Chuck Baldwin -- all of them running for U.S. President -- will ALL be speaking at the day-long rally, RIGHT THERE near the Democrat National Convention!

Ummm... not exacttl "RIGHT THERE". But what REALLY cracked me up were the pictures of the noted speaker above which had THIS GUY lumped in:

Although, when I right-clicked it, I recognized the name as some outspoken opponent of immigration.

It's just... this is exactly what I picture when I read the excerpted piece above, what with it's strong anti-immigration (what? like, none at ALL?) stance and alternately CAPPED and UNDERLINED (or shall I say capped AND underlined) talking points.

Like, EXACTLY.

I'm a Banana Republic whore.

Seriously, I am. Easily 90% of my entire wardrobe is from BR. At the same time, I'm generally not a fan of Gap or Old Navy, which is interesting to me. I guess I like to spend a lot more on the clothes I buy, even though they are made in exactly the same place as the "lower end" items. Actually, I think it's that BR clothing is more tailored than the other two stores. But this really isn't the point of the post.

P's brother is getting married in three weeks. I've been asked to do a reading at the wedding, and so I feel as though I should wear a suit. I bought a suit a couple of years ago. I really don't wear suits that often, but it just so happened that I needed one for work recently. I pulled out my suit and put it on, and it no longer fits. I think the walking in Chicago has been good for me. I really need to have it taken in. But, even if I did have it taken in, I really do need a more tailored suit for my frame. I look like a little kid playing dress up. As if I needed MORE justification to shop at BR.

I have been eyeing several suits there. The problem: they tend not to have my size. A week or two ago, I went to BR specifically looking for a suit. They didn't have one pair of pants or one jacket in my size. So, at the recommendation of the store, I went online to look. I have BR's Luxe card. For those who don't know what that is, you're better off. Essentially what it means is, I spend FAR too much at the store in a single calendar year. In celebration of my poor spending habits, BR has awarded me a special shopper status. It's like BR platinum. I get VIP invites to special events (P and I went to a LUXE-only premier party -- yes, I said party -- at a BR in San Francisco*. At said event, we each got a goody bag for making a purchase. We also got complimentary appetizers and wine. There was even a DJ), free alterations, free shipping online, and I earn coupons for purchases more quickly than non-LUXE card holders. I have a $20 giftcard that has been burning a hole in my pocket, so I planned on using that to get a suit.

* We didn't go to SF FOR this party. We happened to be there visiting because I had a conference for work. I don't have that much of an addiction.

Last night, I added the brown pinstripe suit of my dreams to my cart on BR.com, and then thought, "oh what the hell, let's google 'banana republic coupon codes' and see what comes up". Turns out, there is private sale going on for friends and family of BR employees. Employees get ten invites through which participants receive 25% off their entire order. The problem is, I don't know any BR employees. After looking through 14 pages of google search results, I decided to check ebay to see if any employees were selling their discounts. Sure enough, many were! I bought a discount for $4. After applying it to my cart, I got a discount of $118, PLUS free shipping! You know you have a problem when you get high from getting a deal.

Now, I just wait patiently for my suit to arrive. I plan to stand around just like this in it:


I think I like the orange tie. And I DO still have my $20 coupon...