Denver, Day Two

We had a successful--and exhausting--day. It started with the same line, this time in the hot sun, followed by a shuttle bus to the Pepsi Center and a hike from the bus stop to the Center itself. That whole process, from getting in the line until arriving at the destination, took two hours. But from there on in it was great fun, all the way to the long slog back to our apartment, after Hillary's speech.

We started with a Pepsi Center tour led by a very impressive young man named Travis who is Deputy CEO for Inside the Hall Operations (and therefore Theo's boss). We saw the insides of the whole show and heard about the very extensive build out done in a sports arena to make it ready for the Convention. When all is over, the place will have to be put back in the "same or better" shape for the fall sports season. The size and complexity of the operation is staggering. We have known for a long time what Theo's job is but came away from this in awe of what he's doing. Travis kept taking us into spaces, waving an arm and saying things like "this is the unassigned press room; another of Theo's responsibilities". (That's the picture of the relatively empty room--the tour was in the morning before things got lively.)

The tour even managed to find Theo in the middle of a meeting; he stopped very briefly to say hello.

Then we found seats in our assigned section and waited while the place filled up. We were given tickets for the staff box lunch, which was pleasant, but mostly we just sat and watched rehearsals with the hall slowly filling up. I was really struck by how big a part of an event like this is the press--they are everywhere, the big ones with huge staffs, the little with only a camera, pointing things out, talking--and, of course, changing the event with their presence.

One high point of the day (courtesy of Theo) was a visit to the "CNN Grill" where we got free drinks and wonderful junk food. That's me looking happy at the bar. As for the Convention itself, it's fascinating to see it all--television doesn't bother with the minor speakers, mayors from small towns and women who lost their health insurance. Even the "big" speakers come and go at such a pace that it's hard to keep up. Dennis Kucinich was very good, as was the Governor of Montana, a man named Schweitzer--lots of shouting with the crowd shouting back.

As the evening wore on we were given serial posters to wave: Strong America, Strong Middle Class, Renewing America's Promise, McCain More of the Same (smaller sign, this time in red) and even, to my surprise, Hillary. That was followed by Unity signs. All of the people around us, like those in the line in the morning, were interesting and pleasant. All in all it's an amazing experience.

Today we don;t have to be anywhere until the action starts--so will get credentials early afternoon and head out then. I'm not looking forward to the walk but wouldn't want to miss the roll call. That's real history.