This is really fun!

I pulled myself out of bed at 5:20am, it was still dark...a sign fall is creeping on in minute by minute. Walking downtown was peaceful, as I finally headed out the door at 6:15am, I did see some of the preparation behind the scenes. Sheriff Department Buses idled quietly behind the state capital building, ready just in case. A few roadways were blocked, but it business as usual until I reached the 16th Street Mall. Then it was clear something big was waking up with the morning sun. If the last few days were about establishing a police presence, today was about the street merchant setting up shop, everywhere there was an open space.

I headed to the Big Tent and arrived on time to the first day excitement and chaos which quickly settled down. I was moved from compost to kitchen, there I "cut the cheese" with Johan from South Africa, who looked much like John Kennedy and now resides in Boulder, Dave who lived in New York, retired and lives in Santa Fe with his wife, who also volunteered and Mary, the Realtor from northwest Denver. We all talked about priorities for the party, what we would do and how much we enjoyed helping out in some small way.

If you have a moment, check out the agenda @ www.bigtentdenver.org. An impressive array of speakers awaits you as you check out the topics, which I found to be forward, exact and quite compelling. After I was switched back to compost detail, I made it up the speakers tent and heard these very eloquent experts:


Van Jones is the founder and president of Green For All
Dave McCurdy , president and CEO of The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers

Panel Discussion on reducing the gasoline usage in America, by actions such as filling vehicles' tires properly, getting engines tuned, replacing air filters and avoiding speeding. EcoDriving is dedicated to help all Americans learn how to take simple steps to increase their mileage and reduce their carbon footprint immediately. Green For All is dedicated to building an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty.

A familiar point was made that many of you might that maybe we should just give the money directly to people who need it. Van Jones spoke of the Vulture Culture, move from burning dead things to using living resources like wind and solar. Not a big fan of let's consider all sources of power, he likened that strategy to going to the doctor seeking treatment and being told you can have all treatments at the same time. He believes that anything that burns carbon has to go soon. Beware of dirty green tactics....those who say their green, but not...New

Celebrity sightings: Rev.Dr. Michael Beckwith, from movie/book: The Secret and Darryl Hannah,who looked great.

New Belgium Beer bought a bunch of the free bikes around town, so drink up! Love that Fat Tire Ale!!

The SWAT guys were flashing peace signs today much less tense. The protesters came in waves down the mall, but not a problem. Although, a friend said folks in her apartment complex had their tires slashed, if you had an SUV you had all four tires slashed.

I find I am drawn to the excitement, lingering downtown as long as I felt I could without totally ignoring the rest of my life. My intention is to spend as much time downtown as I can.

Look forward to hearing Ted Kennedy tonight, hope to see him on Wednesday at the disability forum.

There is so much discussion and information, access to everyone is secure and open. I know a few ladies who attended a forum on Women's issues with Nancy Pelossi, so access to folks is much greater than I expected. Speaking of access, at the Big Tent, I met Gerry, who is visually impaired and has his own business as a coffee roaster, the name of his Boulder based business, The Unseen Bean. Very cool.

Very cool times, still hope to have pictures up later.

Paradox lives and breathes in Denver

The city welcomed DNC delegates with tornadoes to the south and Bronco orange sunsets to the west. The protesters missed about 18,000 of their projected numbers, fears of violence with the 2,000 that did march brought out the military helicopters, gun doors open and national guard soldiers taking a long view. Nothing but peace to report at the moment. People of all kinds where smiling, driving with the windows down, two guys from California talked to me for a block, asking for directions and just smiling big and broad happy to be here.

The large contingency of officers, SWAT teams, medics on bikes all seemed to relax a bit today. Smiles could be seen peaking out from under motorcycle helmets, even the SWAT swagger seemed more toned down. Up near Civic Center Park on Colfax, under the plum trees by one of the state buildings, young semi-hippy men climbed trees to get the just ripe fruit throwing it down to the small crowd below. The numbers were small, but present mostly antiwar protesters.

The bars and restaurants seemed busier today, but not full. You could still find parking and a table near the front if you wanted it. That will most likely change later on tonight.

I head to the Big Tent at 7am. It is sponsored by: The Alliance for a Sustainable Colorado, Progess Now and Daily Koz, which has 600,000 hits per day. Google has a large presence there. It is non-partisan and we are there to be helpful and my particular job is on the green team, composting, I believe.

I have to say, I am unexpectedly drawn to the palpable excitement. It isn't just knowing history is in the making, it is feeling it. Wow.

Bye for now, have to be up and out by 6am.

Men in Black

This afternoon. after facilitating a board retreat for the Colorado Author's League, I headed downtown to my favorite little coffee shop on the 16th Street mall. There, my most favorite barista of all time was steaming coffee, stretching the milk precisely and expertly. Did you know that you stretch the milk to bring out the sweetness? When I looked at her behind the bar, I wasn't sure if the steam rising was just coming from the coffee or not. Perhaps, the milk wasn't the only thing being stretched.

Finding parking was not as difficult as expected, many stores were not filled with customers but were actually sporting handmade signs announcing large discounts on merchandise. I am sure large bands of heavily armored muscled men might have a some effect on impulse purchases, restaurants were steady, but not rushed. A few drunk kids found themselves escorted to the paddy wagon headed down to detox at Denver Health, where my friend Bert, the former Judo champion works and will be waiting tomorrow for a few more guests.

I wore my cute, colorful skirt, little heels and my giant silver peace necklace and just kind of held court as folks came by to share the latest rumors on protests and fears. Looking on the mall, I noticed the usual benches where folks typically gathered that were not anchored down had been removed, trash cans had been replaced with disposable cardboard boxes.

Probably the most disturbing moment happened when my African American friend handed me a brochure espousing that freedom for Negroes was a mistake and how Christians might want to rethink slavery....that was pretty darn weird among other adjectives I could use. Flyers were distributed by young and some times awkward men and women noting dates and times for protests.


While sipping my chai, talk of fear and hope floated in the air. It can be tempting to talk up the drama of the moment, excitement mixed with anxiety intoxicating, but in my opinion, discipline will be required of us not to feed the fear monster. My thought is to starve the beast and feed the future with hope and optimism, even in spite of or because of the men in black.