SWAC Daughter's first two pins bought at the GOP National Convention.... They sold out fast.Photos by SWAC Girl
Showing posts with label 2008 Republican National Convention. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2008 Republican National Convention. Show all posts
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sarah Palin ... "Hottest VP from the coolest state"
SWAC Daughter's first two pins bought at the GOP National Convention.... They sold out fast.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Photos 2: GOP convention floor
Virginia delegation
Fred & Ann Anderson with VA delegation
Virginia delegation
Virginia delegation
Photos by SWAC Girl
Photos 1: GOP convention floor
Virginia delegation
Virginia delegation
Colorado alternates who were seated in front of Virginia alternates.
Virginia delegation
Virginia delegation
Brettis - Chesterfield delegate
The spark plug of the Colorado delegation. I got her email address to send the numerous photos of her group since they were sitting in front of us and were in many of my photos. She was a joy to be with ... a live-wire who encouraged others to get up and celebrate!
Photos by SWAC Girl
Airports, Fox News, Trixie, SWAC Daughter....
SWAC Daughter & Trixie at Fox News store in Minneapolis Airport. We shared a taxi from Minneapolis to the airport because our flights, both on U.S. Airways, were only an hour apart. Trixie was leaving first.
Last chance to buy 2008 Official Convention Gear! These shops were throughout the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul and in the Mall of America as well as the airport. They were pretty much sold out by the end of the week.
Last look at the Minneapolis skyline from the airport. We enjoyed our stay in the city and the friendliness of the folks there.
Trixie was supposed to be on this airplane heading to Detroit on her way to Roanoke. SWAC Daughter and I were leaving an hour later heading to Charlotte on our way to Richmond. I took this photo to email to Trixie of her plane preparing to leave Minneapolis ...
SWAC Daughter & Trixie in Charlotte Airport.
... so imagine our surprise when her plane left and, shortly afterwards, she showed up in our waiting area! She had volunteered to be bumped from her overbooked flight (in exchange for a future trip) and was on our flight to Charlotte. We traveled together to Charlotte where we found a late-night snack before going our separate ways.
Good traveling with you, Trix!
Photos by SWAC Girl
Bob McDonnell at GOP Convention
During last week's Republican National Convention in Saint Paul, Atty. General Bob McDonnell representated Virginia as a delegate with Virginia's delegation. Even with his broken jaw, he was seen all over the place throughout the convention.Broken jaw story: Bob was in New Orleans during a mission trip to build a Habitat for Humanity house. After a long day of work, while playing basketball with his 16-year-old twin sons in the evening, he slammed sideways into a post and cracked his jaw ... but he did not know he had cracked his jaw until two weeks later when it was discovered and his jaws were wired together by doctors making eating, talking, and laughing difficult for him.
Nevertheless, he kept a busy schedule during the convention and in the photos above he is visiting with the Virginia alternates in the seats behind the Virginia delegation on the floor.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Photos by SWAC Girl
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Convention speech: Sarah's teleprompter went out ... but she kept going
Sarah Palin proved she can think fast under pressure when the teleprompter went kapooey during the Republican National Convention on the night she was to give her all-important speech to Republicans and America.
In front of an estimated 40 million viewers last Wednesday night, Sarah kept her cool and kept on going ... and no one was the wiser ... except the delegates on the floor, that is, who could see the teleprompter and knew what was happening.
With a rumpled hard copy of her remarks that someone handed her at the last minute ("Oh, by the way, your teleprompter isn't working and here's copy of your speech"), she stepped on stage under the adoring eyes of 45,000 spectators in the Xcel Energy Center, waved to the cheering crowd, enjoyed the applause, and then began speaking as if nothing was going on.
The world had no idea because she didn't let on. That's the mark of someone who can think under pressure.
In front of an estimated 40 million viewers last Wednesday night, Sarah kept her cool and kept on going ... and no one was the wiser ... except the delegates on the floor, that is, who could see the teleprompter and knew what was happening.
With a rumpled hard copy of her remarks that someone handed her at the last minute ("Oh, by the way, your teleprompter isn't working and here's copy of your speech"), she stepped on stage under the adoring eyes of 45,000 spectators in the Xcel Energy Center, waved to the cheering crowd, enjoyed the applause, and then began speaking as if nothing was going on.
The world had no idea because she didn't let on. That's the mark of someone who can think under pressure.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Mall of America
Restaurants were located throughout the Mall.
Light rail station went underground at the Mall of America and emptied passengers at the door.
Okay. I'll admit it. I have a new-found respect for the Mall of America. I'm not a shopper and have made fun of it for years ... "Who in their right mind needs that much shopping?"
But after visiting ... reluctantly, I must admit, SWAC Daughter dragged me there ... I now see a need for this gigantic, four-story shopping/entertainment complex.
Chris Saxman told me he had visited Minneapolis in January one year when it was 40 below zero. That mall was full of moms and children the day we visited, and remembering when my kids were young and it was too cold to go to the playground, I suddenly realized that, when it was 40 below, life did not come to a standstill.
The light rail runs directly to the Mall, unloading passengers underground. No need to be in the weather; just exit and enter the shopping center with the kids. There are tons of food places with everything from McDonald's to upscale dining, and there is plenty of entertainment for kids with lots of tables for moms to sit nearby and watch.
The amusement park offers rides for all ages. Legoland offers entertainment for all ages. The undersea aquarium offers entertainment for all ages. There is enough to do that kids would not get bored visiting throughout the long winter.
Shopping offers four levels of every kind of store you can think of. SWAC Daughter indulged herself in a Coach purse. I indulged myself in a $2 GOP Convention pin. Like I said ... I'm not a shopper. A $20 purse from Target is fine with me.
The light rail was inexpensive -- $1.50 per person from our hotel in downtown Minneapolis to the Mall in Bloomington which is about 15-20 miles out of town. We got to see the Twins' stadium, too, but it was raining and I didn't get a photo.
That's another thing: it was rainy and the mall was full of moms and kids who could not be outdoors otherwise.
Yep. I have a newfound respect for the Mall of America.
Photos by SWAC Girl
Boing! McCain convention bounce substantial over Obama
The Dems are trying to play it down but it is out there for all to see ... the GOP's bounce coming out of their convention in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. All polls are showing John McCain pulling ahead, and now a new USA Today poll is out ... and it's huge!
Among registered voters, McCain is 50% over Obama's 46%. That is an 11% swing because McCain was down 7% going into the GOP Convention.
Among voters most likely to vote, McCain now leads Obama 54%-44%. The 50% ceiling has been broken by the Republicans with enthusiasm building and supporters coming on board.
Among registered voters, McCain is 50% over Obama's 46%. That is an 11% swing because McCain was down 7% going into the GOP Convention.
Among voters most likely to vote, McCain now leads Obama 54%-44%. The 50% ceiling has been broken by the Republicans with enthusiasm building and supporters coming on board.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
A note to friends who tried to contact me last week....
Our week at the Republican National Convention was extremely busy as they had us on the go everyday from breakfast at 8 a.m. until after the convention ended at 10:30 or later each evening.
Anyone who knows me knows I try to respond to each and every email, phone message, and text message I receive so if you tried to contact me last week and haven't heard from me, there's a good reason. I am wading through hundreds of emails, and my cell phone's voice mail was full because I didn't have cell service out there, only text messaging. Many of you texted me which was good. There were also comments left for various blog posts so they have now been posted.
Thanks for staying in touch. I truly appreciate it.
Anyone who knows me knows I try to respond to each and every email, phone message, and text message I receive so if you tried to contact me last week and haven't heard from me, there's a good reason. I am wading through hundreds of emails, and my cell phone's voice mail was full because I didn't have cell service out there, only text messaging. Many of you texted me which was good. There were also comments left for various blog posts so they have now been posted.
Thanks for staying in touch. I truly appreciate it.
The Virginia delegation photo....
The Radisson University Hotel, located in the middle of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, had a banner out front that welcomed the Virginia Delegation and the Virgin Islands Delegation.On Wednesday morning a group photo was taken in front of the banner of all the delegates as we scrunched and squished together to get over 100 people in the photo to much joking and jostling and laughter. The group got along well together and we were together the entire week from breakfast to convention closing each evening.
Thanks to all who worked hard to make it a success.
Photo by SWAC Girl
"Mr. Chairman, my name is Chris Saxman..."
With the words, "Mr. Chairman, my name is Chris Saxman from Staunton, Virginia," Delegate Saxman took front and center on the national stage to make a motion that the Republican National Convention be closed, "sine die," thus bringing to an end the 2008 convention.
It was a little piece of information he had shared with me the previous weekend on condition I didn't blog about it. "Loose lips sink ships," so they say. Not only did I not blog it, SWAC Daughter didn't even know until she saw him on the giant Tron which was an exciting moment for her.
Del. Saxman is the Virginia co-chair of the McCain-Palin campaign.
Home to the Shenandoah Valley....
Blue Ridge Mountains as seen from I-64 on Saturday.
SWAC Daughter and I made the final leg of our journey home from the GOP Convention Saturday as we drove from Richmond to Augusta County. It was pouring rain in Richmond as Tropical Storm Hanna passed through but we ran out of precipitation west of Richmond and dealt only with overcast skies and gusty winds.
The most noticeable thing when we turned into our driveway was the green grass ... grass that had been brown when we left a week earlier. It had benefitted from Hurricane Gustav's rain and everything was, once again, a lush green. Temps last night were in the 50s so we know we're back home.
Today will be a chance to spend with family, relax, and catch up on local news. I will be posting photos of the convention throughout the week ... I have hundreds to sort through.
It is good to be home in Virginia.
Photo by SWAC Girl
More photos from Target luncheon at The Foshay in downtown Minneapolis
Jim Gilmore with Bill and Chris Saxman.
Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling.
Congressman Eric Cantor addressed luncheon attendees.
Del. Chris Saxman and Tom Foley, chair of 1st District.
Fred and Ann Anderson.
Kathy Terry and Trixie Averill.
Fred Anderson, 6th District Chair.
Jenna and Trixie.
AFP's Ben Marchi and Jenna.
Previous post: Target luncheon at The Foshay in downtown Minneapolis
Photos by SWAC Girl
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