Sorry I haven't had a chance to post this yet, but we didn't get home until 1 a.m. this morning, and had to get up for work at 5 a.m. and then had to work, go vote, and then finally fix our camera software to upload a bunch of photos - oh, and then delete a quite a few photos that came out poorly.
So, Bi-Baby met me at my work in the Back Bay at 3:15 p.m. where we were originally going to go eat a nice meal, before heading over to the rally on the Waterfront. When she showed up, we both weren't hungry as we had each eaten lunch around noon, so opted for Cafe Mochas instead, and then hopped on the MBTA to make our way over to the rally to be one of the insane early people there. Riding the Silver Line there, the link was mobbed with Obama people. We all got off at the World Trade Center Stop and the mob of people on our car were apparently all together as they stormed off and then broke into the usual Obama chants. We weren't exactly sure where the rally was being held (although I knew almost exactly where the rally was; I just got the floor wrong in the end) so we decided we should follow these people. The mob was in front of us and went in the completely wrong direction. We initially started to follow them even though I was telling Bi-Baby that, "Hey, where the fuck are they going?"
The mob eventually stopped, and confusion ensued amongst them. We were far behind them as I kept saying they're going in the wrong direction. As they stopped and looked around, Bi-Baby and I turned around and headed toward the World Trade Center (where yes, that's where the rally was) and the fairly large mob followed us.
As it was, we were one floor above the hall where the rally was (anyone who knows the brand-new fantastic waterfront revitalization will know what I'm talking about with the different levels that involve streets and buildings. It's incredibly weird the first time you're there, but I've had quite a few jobs in the area, including the "revitalization" so I was more in the know than these people).
Anyhow we eventually make our way to Commonwealth Hall and enter with the mob of people. We end up in the middle of where the rally will take place, where they're only just starting to get things set up at about 4:00 p.m. (possibly a little earlier). We walk right past all the security who didn't flinch and we're all mingling about with now a pretty large group (now including an even larger group that had got there before we all arrived).
Now we're just hanging out, and upper Obama people start to break us up into groups of 15. As we start to space off what ever reason, Obama volunteers approach and start to tell us what our jobs as volunteers for the night are going to be. :o
Anyhow, we hang out there for about 5 minutes, and decide it's time to slink outta there. We go outside the doors to the Hall, and there are maybe 15 or so people hanging out in the lobby. So we take our cue from the people in the lobby and decide to hang out. We noticed that no one was occupying the spot in right in front of the doors we just exited so plopped down on the floor right there in front of the door so we would be the first ones in the door.
After sitting on the floor for about 15 minutes (and collecting stickers from people to plaster on ourselves) some person who was actually in charge, arrived and informed everyone that, "If you're not a volunteer you need to leave the lobby and go outside." Because of our position at the door, we ended up being the last ones kicked out, and ended up at the back of the line of the people who were in the lobby. Even so, when we made outside to form a line, there were only 6 people in line before the crowd in the lobby formed behind them, and Bi-Baby and I we're exactly number 27 and 28 in line.
Right away, number 26 in line, started chatting us up (as well as a couple who were number 24 and 25). She was a hot shit (who looked around 50 give or take) who's name was Shannon.
Right about now is when I broke out our camera to start documenting our night.
Here is the view at about 4:40 p.m. in front of us (maybe 4 people behind us now):
And here's both of us right after that pic (hey, I'm a picture whore, and I sometimes drag Bi-Baby along):
So we're just killing time and as people started to show up more and more, I decided to start documenting it as best I could:
It's starting to fill up, but it's still only about 5:00 p.m. at this point, and the sunlight is going away.
The Line started to fill up quickly, and within about 15 minutes, there were now about hundreds of people behind us. The sun was going down quickly and the the line was growing HUGH!!1!
At about 5:45ish I started to walk around and up on the bridge overhead to not only get a view, but take pix to document.
And at about 6:30 the line was insane now, and I couldn't tell where it ended. I went up on the bridge, and the line now stretched about a mile to the Rose Kennedy Greenway, and then turned around the corner. I could barely make out the view of the Greenway end of the line but took pix anyway. As such I'll post them anyway, even though you can't really see shit (To the naked eye, it looked a little more clearer).
After returning from the bridge, one of the many people/groups going up and down the line giving away stuff/selling stuff got me to accept a hat from the AARP. So I donned the crappy hat for yet another pic of me.
Now it was getting anxious, as it was apparent that the front part of the line was going to be entering soon (that means us!). Throughout our time in line some shitbag cumstains were trying to cut in line, and mingle near the doors so they could cut everyone that had been waiting for hours to get in. Shannon, whom I mentioned above took it upon herself to go up to the shitbags who were trying to cheat the system, and amazingly shamed/scared them all off. :woohoo:
So the moment finally came that they were going to start admitting people 75 at a time. Like I said, we were originally 27, and 28, but thanks to late comers joining up with front people, we were now in the 30's. So, we were still going to be in the first batch in the door. :woohoo:
So as security came up and counted down (so I know we were in the 30's) and stopped at 75, and told us all to enter. Our front portion of the line moved forward, and as soon as it got to myself and Bi-Baby they put the halt on us. I looked in the lobby and saw way over 100 people inside. Apparently, a bunch of those shitbag cumstains managed to cut in front of us. x(
So we waited a few minutes more now (and got fucked out of being the front and center, front row people) and finally got let in. Security was insane as it was Port Authority, State Police, TSA, and Secret Service. I got molested (quite heavily I might add, and he didn't even buy me dinner) for a good 5 minutes before getting let in.
Sooooooooooooo, we finally made it inside and tried to get to the front, but the entire length of the barricades we're now occupied, with the center in front of the stage 3 rows deep. So Bi-Baby and I went right to the left side of the stage (which was actually closer than the front, and a better view of Kerry, Kennedy, Patrick, Caroline Kennedy, and Lisa Wong, as their chairs were facing us) and were in the 2nd row there.
We steeled up to try and protect our spots, and at the same time made nice-nice with the people in front of us. There were 3 teachers from Maine who drove down for the rally (but as we found out, they got VIP tickets, and didn't have to show up as early as us, and also didn't have to wait in line, so they got the front row) and we had a great time with them. One of them was a 6'5" red head who was f'n hilarious. Really good peeps they were. :)
After about 30 minutes or so, I was trying to stand on my tippy toes to get a view of the crowd. I couldn't get a good assessment so I held the camera up and snapped this pic (about 8, maybe 8:10 at this point):
Yeah, so we had to kill time for 50 minutes now, making friends with random people, and totally making fun of the douchebags who decided to sit/lay on the floor reading books even though the crowd was quickly starting to swell, and became a total nuisance. They actually became annoyed that people were tripping/falling over them. (BTW, the worst offender, was a Hillary supporter for fuck's sake!)
So about 9 p.m. an acapella group came out and sang the national anthem (the group was from my college Alma Mater). They were followed by two of our Congressmen, Capuano and Delahunt (our congressman). Capuano gave an awesome speech and he got the crowd going. He then dissed Bill and let him have his shot at the mic. Before giving his speech, Delahunt started by saying rather softly, "fired up?"
The crowd reacted in kind, and he responded, "Fired Up!?"
The crowd again reacted in kind, and a bit louder.
He then bellowed, "FIRED UP!!!" and the crowd reacted with just as much vigor. :)
Here are some pix of our Congressmen:
They then said their good byes and stepped off the stage to shake hands all around. I got to shake our guy's hand, and told him, "We came from
his hometown for you." which he reacted warmly to and thanked me. :)
Then there was a break where the acapella group came out and entertained for a bit.
It was getting antsy and god damned hot, until finally the big show was about to start. First, a 3 generational family of women came out and each gave a short speech in favor of Obama. It started with an adorable 8 y.o. girl (whom we later learned was mentally and physically disabled) and ended with the grandmother who survived WW2 and the ensuing civil war in Greece. They were followed by what may have been the biggest let down, the first of the "big time" speakers, Lisa Wong. I'll leave her alone and just move on. You can see her in ensuing pics.
Now the big time started, as our lovely governor, Deval Patrick came out. :bounce:
He gave an incredible speech, and had many people swooning and shrieking. He's good like that.
Here are some pics of Governor Patrick:
He gave one of his usual, bring it home, fired up, feel good speeches, and then wrapped it up by introducing our true President, John Kerry. :patriot:
Kerry was incredible, and he actually managed to keep it somewhat short. :P
He also was able to incorporate some of Obama's themes and catch phrases into his usual cadence. It was wonderful, and I was excited to see my Senator. :loveya:
He apparently made Deval laugh, but as I didn't take the pic, I can't say what the joke was.
And above he's introducing our Senior Senator, and a special guest, Caroline Kennedy.
And now the Liberal Lion delivered his speech in typical Kennedy fashion. He was goose bumpy to me, but not as much as Bi-Baby (I'll Let her cue in her view on it if she wishes), and here are his pictures:
And here he's getting a standing ovation (He got several, but again, I didn't take the pic, so I can't say what point in his speech it was).
And now he's introducing the real Big Dog.
And finally, the man of the hour, Obama. My god, his speeches usually get me giddy, but being there live is such a different experience, and being that close makes it that more intense. He gave the usual stump he's been giving for about a week with about a good 20 minutes I haven't heard while watching his rallies on tv. Being that close to the stage made the moment that more intense, and aside from being tapped out from typing for so long and doing photo uploads/posting, I think the following pictures should be good enough (for now at least):
His stump went on for longer than I thought it would, but it was well worth it, even though we were both sweating to death by then (those fucking lights are torture), but it was so worth it.
There's many a story I/we have about the people we met there, but I either just didn't have a way to work them in here, or maybe they weren't important enough to mention? There was a very, flamboyant 22 y.o. black male next to us who was very vocal - especially whenever there was a pause during Obama's speech. He kept yelling out (yes, in an extremely flamboyant manner) every pause in the speech that the crowd was not chanting, "I see you Barack!"
And every time he did that (again, we were 10 feet away from them) Deval kept losing his shit and laughing. :rofl:
I had 2 good moments like that kid had: one was when the National Anthem was done, I screamed out, "play ball!"
That's an old one, but it made the whole crowd, and people on stage laugh so, I'll take it.
The other time, Obama was in his part of his stump about how the bad, mean Republicans will come after him and some say he won't fight. I screamed out, "Bring it!" during the pause and I got some laughs and a nod from BO.
That's about the end of my very long-winded review (even though, I left out so much to try and cram it down).
My only disappointment I'd say is that when Obama was done, he came down the "exit stairs" of the stage, which is exactly where we were standing, and I was waiting to shake his hand, as I had a new phrase for him, and if he paused for a moment I was going to throw him a joke, or maybe two.
Anyhow, my fingers are now very numb. I initially was ready to watch this at home, but Bi-Baby wanted to go to give one last chance to win her vote (which she wasn't going to give him), and I agreed to go along. As painful as the wait was (my legs and back!), I'm very grateful I went. I can honestly say this is one of the few events that I attended, that I will be forever grateful that I did.
And yes, he won Bi-Baby's vote last night. :)
I already decided recently that I would vote for him, but I'm still very excited that I went.
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