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First of all, WELCOME BACK to Saturday Top Comments! I have been advised that I need to do more writing, so besides What’s For Dinner and the very occasional regular diary, I’m going to try to revive Top Comments for Saturday.
So, as one of the four Top Commenters who were present at Netroots Nation, it’s time for my story. When I found out it was in Chicago, I KNEW I was going to be there. Last time I was able to go was NN14 in Detroit. Only a 5 hour drive away. I got good FREE parking near the hotel, and all was good.
Fast forward almost ten years later.
As a commuter from “The Region” I must take care to observe the train timetables. The South Shore Line is wonderful, but it operates with less frequency than say, the Red Line on the CTA. That said, the schedules are set and the trains are on time. .
So I planned my week as follows: Tuesday, I went in to see if there was extra volunteer help needed. And yes, yes there was. Tuesday was “The Badging”. That is, preparing all the badges for those who would soon descend on my fair city. Even including the three blocks from the train station to the hotel, preparing all the badges gave me quite the chair aerobics workout. But I wasn’t alone. We got the job done in good order. Then I went home.
Wednesday was the first “real shift” in the volunteer schedule. Because train schedule, I arrived hours before the shift was to start. I helped out by doing more badges, and helping others set up the Town Square part of NN. My scheduled shift was to help set up the NN booth. This year it was different. Instead of stuffing swag bags, we got the T shirts and swag bags ready. Visitors were encouraged to stop at all the booths, chat, network, and get swag. Following, thanks to Ed Tracey who organized, many of us met up for the C&J dinner. The place was wonderful and we had the BEST server. Wednesday was also tornado day in Chicago. Picture this: A crowded restaurant/pub type situation, when a couple hundred phones, in order, blare out warning sirens. I was reminded of a time last year at the Lyric Opera where, during an especially sensitive moment, everyone who hadn’t turned their phone off got a super loud Amber Alert. So please, turn your phones OFF at such times. Anyway, the dinner was such fun, and such good food. We became #TornadoClub. After the excitement, I took my leftovers and went home by train.
Thursday was a BIG day. First day of NN. I took the EARLY train (5:30am) into the city in preparation for my first volunteer shift at the registration desk. Once I knew the procedure, I was killing it. And thanks to my two previous days, I was the direction guru, pointing everyone to where they needed to go.
Because EARLY, after my shift, I went up to my room—yes, Thursday and Friday I stayed at the hotel because of the post keynote parties—and took a nap I needed to take. But Thursday’s keynote. WOW. So much positivity. Randi Weingarten—my Union President—Mayor Mondale Robinson. Mayor Brandon Johnson. MUSIC.
At the post keynote reception, such good vibes. I met and talked with a LOT of attendees. And everyone was such positive. It was like a family.
Speaking of family, I remarked to Brillig that even though I had not been to NN in like 10 years, there were people, and even Very Important People who recognized me and remembered me. That meant more than anyone could know. The response? “Of course. We’re FAMILY”.
I did not go to the post reception karaoke. Sleep was the order of the evening. But next year in Baltimore...I want a partner to do “Paradise By The Dashboard Light” with me. I know what I’m gonna do solo, but this is a bucket list item for me.
Friday. After my shift, I again went for a nap after walking around the hotel and environs. Again the keynote. Justin Jones. I can’t wait till he runs for President. And the surprise visit from the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Not a dry eye in the house.
Following the keynote, it was Pub Quiz Time, Baybeee! Our team captain, who has been to practically EVERY NN since Yearly Kos Chicago in 2007 had NEVER placed in a prize position. Welp, as Mr. McCarthy found out, 15th Time’s the Charm as we won Third Place! It would have been second, but I screwed up the tiebreaker. Yup, it was on me. But we still got a lot of swag. Here’s what I ended up going home with:
One of those beers is a home brewed barleywine. I’ll let you know how it was in the comments. After that, it was dinnertime. Other diarists have mentioned the Chicago chain Harold’s Chicken. It was good. Although I WAS disappointed they ran out of livers. And calamari. The place was jumping that night. Lots of locals, plus lots of NN people as well. We ended the evening at the hotel club “720”. Where we had been going to all week. So we knew the staff, and the staff knew us. Such wonderful service. We made them smile, they made us smile.
Saturday it was morning shift at the reg desk, then the final keynote. Y’all will have heard about what happened, so I won’t talk about it. But all else aside, a great panel led by Rep Omar (D-MN) and another by our own Markos. Then it was just wait for my train and home.
IF I can handle myself and my finances responsibly, I WILL be in Baltimore next year, reuinionizing with my already NN family, and making NEW family members.
And now, on to TOPS!
TOP COMMENTS
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down. Please remember that comment inclusion in Top Comments does not constitute support or endorsement by diarist, formatter, Top Comments writers or DailyKos. Questions, complaints or comments? Contact brillig.
User cohenzee highlights this insightful comment from Hugh Jim Bissel’s diary about small towns:
MindMatter gives us a nice rundown of why we are in the predicaments were are in. It is time for Democratic administrations to stop letting criminals get away with crimes just to avoid being seen as "political"
TOP MOJO
Top Mojo for yesterday, July 21, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on FAQing Top Mojo.
TOP PICTURES
Top Pictures for today, July 22. Click any picture to be taken to the full comment or picture. Thank you to the wonderful dKos staff who made it possible to continue this feature in memory of jotter!
