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!
2 comments:
Yay! I've been waiting in breathless anticipation for a first-person account of all the excitement.
By the way, those links to the shirts you made don't work. I will need a photo or a description.
Now why don't you go yell at those college hooligans to get off yer lawn, ya big sell out!
*me shaking fist at hooligans and trying to shoo them away with a broom*
I will try to figure out pics. They are damn cool.
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