Day 1: Denver vignettes

Some thoughts from the first day in Denver, as the convention gets set to begin tomorrow:

• Checking in for DNC credentials at the Sheraton ... there was a somewhat familiar face in front of me. Okay, a somewhat familiar hairstyle, since I saw her from the back. It was none other than the lovely and talented Jane Hamsher of Firedoglake, whom I met at Eschacon last March. She introduced me to Jeralyn of TalkLeft, who was funny and peripatetic and kinda bouncing off the walls. In other words, cool.


• Celebrity encounters for today (besides Jane and Jeralyn): Howard Dean and Ted Turner, both downtown in or near Larimer Square.


• I don't have an exact count, but walking around downtown today, I believe I saw at least as many Hillary T-shirts and buttons as I did Obama ones. I know, anecdotal evidence ...


• I may have seen Obama's motorcade go by this afternoon. It was about five vehicles long, so not a huge entourage, but what struck me was the Suburban-load of law enforcement officers (I don't know what agency) in full body armor.


• The Big Tent isn't nearly as big as I expected. It is, however, warmer than I'd like.


• The altitude doesn't seem to bother me much at all. The dryness, however, does.


• Certain mainstream media personnel seem rather offended by the entire notion of blogging.


• I haven't seen a lot of giveaways as yet, in terms of buttons, stickers, etc. There is an "Official DNC Store," though, that will sell you DNC caps for $25 or golf shirts for $50. And they already have several Obama/Biden '08 items. Must be the money ...

Pictures coming up, although I may wait till morning to post them because I'm exhausted. Thanks for being patient.