Once In A Lifetime Experience

However. My Scott wanted to go to the Obama thing at the dome tonight. So, like any good girlfriend, I went along. I figured it would be really interesting, and a once in a lifetime kinda thing, so it was worth it.

Doors opened at 7, so we got there at about 6:40ish. Got a sweet parking spot and managed to find a door that only about 700 people knew about, so we pretty much walked right in. The set up was NOT what I was expecting. There was the stage on one of the long edges, and then a little 'inner circle' made of the little crowd control barriers (this was where the special people got to be), and then another little barrier where the press had cameras and things up on stands, and then there was the general public, left to roam free. We were some of the first through the door, so we got a spot right on the barrier of the 'general public' area (Scott is a big deal, but apparently not to Obama, haha). After people started flooding in, and I'd had a nice conversation with the lady next to me, who drove all the way from Jefferson City (2.5 hours) with her daughter, Scott decided it was too cramped, so we surrendered our position and went to the back.

I decided that since we'd sacrificed our sweet location, it was safe to pee. Had a great conversation in line with some ladies about knitting. I'd mentioned that security was shocking low (no one was searched at all) and that I wish I'd have brought my yarn! So, that was an excellent use of a 30 minute potty line. By this time, it was maybe 7:30ish. So, we wandered. I sat on the floor. We saw one of Scott's friends. I sat on the floor some more. Then I saw a lady with knitting needles and yarn and was infuriated that I didn't bring mine. So then I pouted about it. And sat on the floor some more.

This brings us to about 8:15, when a nameless hype man got up on stage and said something to the effect of "rabble rabble rabblerabble" - I was impressed. It was at this point I realized that I wasn't going to be able to understand anything that would be said, because we were in a hollow concrete stadium. The crowd was riled up. And nothing happened. Man got off the stage, and typical stadium music went back on.

About 30 minutes after, they moved a barrier, and people ran like the koi fish at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, when they see you have food. I thought it meant that Obama was going to walk through and do the 80s style 'run in' with the sweat band and high 5 everyone. But nothing happened. There was just more waiting.

Then at about 9:00, the lights dimmed and everyone got pumped. And nothing happened.

FINALLY, at 9:30ish, another unannounced person came onto the stage to rabble and I caught some of it. Then a person (who I *think* was Claire McCaskill)  came on and said some things I caught, and some more rabbling. Then there was a lot of cheering, and then we waited another 15 minutes for Obama to come on stage. Since I'm 5' 2" tall, there wasn't much for me to see, but I'd rate Obama's entrance very low on the excitement level. He could have run in 80s style, as I'd suggested earlier. He could have risen up from under the stage, Jesus style. Or, he could have been lowered from the ceiling wearing a cape and shooting fireworks, which would be classified as 'super rock star' style. But, he did none of these. I think he just walked up from the back.

But, there was cheering, and people were very excited, there was energy in the crowd.

When I've seen him on TV, Obama seemed too soft spoken, and timid. He was the only person out of his entourage that I could understand a good portion of. It was pretty interesting to hear some of him monologue. He said that people were bashing him for being hopeful and whimsical (this made me giggle, because when I hear the word 'whimsical' I think of Michael Jackson). Said that people were being 'hood winked' with rumors that he was muslim. I also giggled along with the crowd that a potential president had just said 'hood winked' to a crown of 20,000 people.

So, it was interesting. To summarize Obama's 45-ish minute speech, I'd say this:

"Obama is hopeful. And he wants change."

I would have liked to stay after and meet him. I pseudo regret that we didn't. I just had one big question for him, after all this talk of hope and change.

"You seem to be big on change. If you could change just *one* thing, what would it be?"

That is what I'd like to know from you, Senator Obama. So, if you have a few minutes, or are a big fan of my blog, as many Americans are, please drop me a line. I'd be interested to know.