The Bubble Bursts...

Ok everyone. I have really bad news. Today we started work and I had to sign an agreement saying I wouldn't post any pics or write any comments about the work that I'll be doing here. I was surprised and really bummed because that pretty much means that I can't keep this blog. I'm really grateful that you all have tuned in thus far. I still plan to take plenty of pictures and will be happy to share my experiences with family and friends when I return. I'm so sorry but there's nothing I can really do to work around these rules :(

Day 1

If this Day 1 of my trip is representative of the rest of my experience in Denver, I foresee a very exciting-if extremely...interesting...adventure. The crazy part of my day began when I finally reached Denver. The convention runners for NBC were supposed to receive a special low fare with a particular cab company on the trip from the airport to the hotel. Apparently, however, this rate was unfairly low for the cab drivers who were happy to voice their frustration with the situation. The first cab we tried to take blankly refused to take us to the hotel with the special rate. Our second cab driver, whose services we ended up using, apparently misunderstood our situation as we explained it to him. About halfway to the hotel, after we clarified exactly what our company had negotiated, he threatened to make us pay full price or drop us off downtown (about 10 miles away from our hotel). We finally gave in, fulling believing that the extra 10 bucks we would have to pay was better than being abandoned in the middle of the city. When we finally arrived, the cab driver offered us the prearranged special deal. After all that! We were all very grateful (and shocked)and left him a big tip.

Our hotel is pretty grungy. It's a suite-style room, but smells smoky, the closets have no hangers, and it ONLY CAME WITH ONE BIG BED. This would be fine if I were staying by myself or even someone I knew, but I'm rooming with a girl from Boston who I don't even know!(Granted, she seems very nice, but still...) Whatever. I figure, it's all part of the experience and so far I'm doing a pretty good job of taking it all in stride. That's pretty much it for today...Tomorrow's when the real action starts. I'll meet the other runners, get my job assignment for the convention and start working. Should be a fun day!

Just about one week away...

About half way through my "senior"* year of college, I decided that one of the (few) goals I had for the upcoming year post-graduation would be to participate in some way in the 2008 political election. That is, besides just voting. By January, it was already shaping up to be an interesting race on the Democrats' side so I started pursuing my options for getting involved. After some investigation- during which time I discovered a very helpful family connection in the world of broadcast journalism- I contacted NBC News about a position as a convention runner for the summer's DNC and RNC conventions. I got the job and now I'm just about a week away from leaving for the first of the two conventions in Denver. I'm told that while I'm working for NBC I'll have an assignment at each convention. I really have no idea what that'll entail, but I have it on good authority (thanks Kati) that my work will likely involve driving golf carts, which I'm pretty excited about...

So, after much urging from family and friends including my dentist, I've started this blog to serve as a journal for my experience. Now, I must add that in normal life, I'm pretty outspoken about my political views. I figure for the purpose of this blog and my full enjoyment of the work I'll be doing, though, I'll try my best to keep an open mind. I plan to post my observations- in both text and photos- to describe my experience to everyone who can't experience it with me.

Thanks in advance for joining me!

Cheers,

Lauren

*At UVA, "seniors" are called fourth years. Consider yourselves warned.