Detailed account of convention

Tuesday 6:41 PM Denver time

Hi all,

Right now I have escaped the wildness of the DNC Convention and found my way (by light rail) back to our hotel room.

Made the decision to watch Hillary's speech from the privacy of my own room.

Yesterday (Monday) was an incredible day.

Semi early breakfast at our hotel in the ballroom with other PA convention goers..
Spent most of the morning waiting to participate in a "Delegate Lottery". Must be in the Yale Room before 11 AM....place your name in a cardboard box, someone pulls the names of however many passes are available for that day.
Somehow the PA Dems came up with an additional four passes that they gave away (another lottery) at 2 PM. Playing the lottery spoke for most of the day. I did not receive a pass  (By the way, the method of communication with the PA Dems is text messaging.

John and I took the light rail into Denver. Our hotel is about 15 miles away from the Pepsi Center (Where the convention is being held). Lots of walking... The Convention Center is about 15 blocks from the Pepsi Center......

We attended a party sponsored by Tico Industries. To be honest, I do not know the political "whose who" . I do know the Governor and he was there. John and I had our picture taken with the Governor. On our way into the party John was asked to give an interview to a reporter from the New York Times. Let us know if you hear anything...

Jackie and Mark Singel sat at our table. (Former Lt Gov of PA and former candidate for Governor) Didn't feel so bad when Mark told us that wife Jackie was unable to be credentialed to get into the Pepsi Center. Jackie and I decided to go to the Convention Center and watch the Convention on the big screens ..... Mark left the Pepsi Center in time to join us at the Convention Center to hear Michelle Obama's speech. The three of us took the light rail back to our hotel.
By the way, Michelle Obama's speech was the best speech I have ever heard from the wife of a presidential candidate......

It was a long day...........but John was so pumped that after the convention we went downstairs for a drink to discuss his dnc convention experience.

A big concert at the Coor Stadium following the convention....Willie Nelson....
Guess what? John and I declined...... It is official, we are the old folks

TUESDAY

Up early for breakfast. Delegates are credentialed every day. If you misplace your credentials they are not replaced for that day.

Breakfast in the big ballroom.. Governor Rendell speaks again..
Bob Casey speaks...
Jack Wagner speaks
Chris Matthews is in the room.
Heard later that Chris Matthews is courting PA as he has thoughts of running for Senator......replacing Arlen Specter... (You heard it here first- hehehehe )
(And a good source too....A woman that spoke with Chris and asked him directly... Chris told her it was under consideration).

Okay..........Margery Margolis Wazinsky (sp cannot be correct but am sure you all know who I am talking about)... was at the breakfast. Promise that I will get the correct spelling when I get home).

John and I had our picture taken with Margery .... Had a choice, Chris Matthews or Margery Margolis........ Really true...........We chose Margery...

Following breakfast John and I took the bus to downtown Denver. A bus filled with democrats....A good thing  County Commissioners/Non Profit Execs.. Politicians from everywhere... Interesting conversations...

Attended another hospitality party sponsored by AT & T held on the 38th floor of a magnificent building with a panoramic view of Denver .... More good food. (Do you get the feeling that we are eating a lot?).... Governor Rendell thanked AT & T for inviting us........ and gave a nice little speech... More goodies from AT & T 

Following the luncheon we were invited to attend several caucuses. The Dem Women's Caucus....Veterans..etc.etc. It was at this time that John and I decided that this should also be a vacation... so................we skipped the Women's Caucus.... and walked the streets of Denver.

What an experience. Dem delegates everywhere. The streets are filled with democrats... Everyone wearing their Dem credentials around their necks cannot be missed. Protesters everywhere..
One really scary sight .... Groups of riot police, dressed in black, wearing facial shields that look like huge welders masks. (only bigger). They walk the streets two and sometimes three abreast...........and approximately 15 to 20 police long .... That is a very unsettling sight... They march in cadence.......... Taking up the sidewalk... Creepy better describes the sight...

Simply love all of the buses that proudly display the Hybrid announcement...and... lots of Prius taxi cabs......

Walked John to the entrance of the Pepsi Center......The Pepsi Center is surrounded by fencing.........John said that from yesterday until today, the entrance has been changed. Makes sense............... Security is very tight...

I remained and sat at the gate for a time checking and replying to emails before I made my way back to the Light Rail Station to catch the rail back to our hotel. As I said earlier, decided that I wanted to watch Hillary in private.

The light rail train was filled. People standing in the stepwell holding on to whatever they could as the train stopped and started. I asked a woman standing next to me if it was like this everyday... She replied "No".... The City of Denver closed off streets and parking lots (to become bike rentals and concession stands)..The woman told me that people were told that they must use the light rail.

Have some very interesting pictures...

It is time for me to sign off.........

If you voted for John to serve as delegate... I would like to thank you one and all...
This is truly a privilege........and an incredible life experience....

Love, ,Colleen