From Charlotte, North Carolina -
While Democratic delegates cheered the start of their convention, joining in a chant of "Four more years," the event itself was taking on familiar tones with alternately silly and serious moments occurring almost simultaneously.
"I chug-a-lugged it down as fast as I could!" said a proud delegate to a security aide guarding one of the entrances to the Time Warner arena, making it clear that she was observing the rule that you could only drink water inside during the convention.
As for the convention hall, it is definitely smaller than the arena for Republicans last week in Tampa, with many delegations in the seats that rise up from the stadium floor.
"We're getting a larger venue next time," was the quote making the rounds from a senior Democratic official.
Just like in Tampa, it was a jarring juxtaposition as you watched lawmakers and delegates walk past signs with gigantic lettering that said things like "BUY SEASON TICKETS."
The trip to and from the arena from the media work space in the Charlotte Convention Center isn't too bad - you can walk the couple of blocks, or take a short ride on the city's light rail system.
Unfortunately, each time I have gone somewhere in recent days, storm clouds have been overhead, as my Tuesday trip to the arena came as lightning flashed and thunder rumbled overhead and the rain soaked everyone to the bone.
Luckily my cotton summer suits dry quickly, unlike some of my colleagues who insist on wearing wool in this warm and humid area.
"You're a grizzled vet," said one of my friends who was wearing a soaked woolen tweed jacket that shouldn't make it out of his closet until at least Thanksgiving or Christmas at the earliest.
Among the big names I saw in the halls yesterday was 1988 Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis, who keeps coming to these conventions even though many in the party would probably rather he fade away - forever.
There was also a parade of lawmakers working the hallways, many with their trusted Capitol Hill aides trailing behind, almost like we were all back in D.C. instead of on the road in Charlotte.
One of the funniest scenes was the umbrella graveyard at the entrance to the convention center, where people had to drop their umbrellas before going through security to get to the arena.
As for security, we had the expected series of changes on day one of the convention, as suddenly things you had been doing for several days were not allowed any more.
Around 5:30 am, I was heading to my parking garage spot - but couldn't turn left on to that street; the police officer said "No left turns here anymore."
So, I maneuvered around so I could go straight across that street without any hassles.
While waiting patiently at the light, then I watched the same officer wave through three different cars - where I had just been stopped from turning left - as all of them went to park in the garage where I was heading.
Later in the morning, I went by the Florida delegation meeting, and then stopped off at a sandwich shop that I had found on Sunday - at the time, it was the only place open and had been doing a lot of business.
The manager and I got into a discussion of why he had stayed open, and how it had been very good for business, since most other food places had closed down.
"Why wouldn't I stay open?" he asked with a big smile.
Meanwhile it was gridlock on the streets of Uptown (what we would call downtown) Charlotte, as some workers tried to carry on with their lives as usual, despite the hoopla surrounding the convention.
As for my hotel room - there is hot water, there is a new shower curtain and there don't seem to be any crickets.
When I asked one of my colleagues about her hotel, she immediately focused on the positive.
"Well," she said with mock excitement, "it is right next to a strip club."
Finally, the big question being asked of Democratic delegates was about the GOP riff on Ronald Reagan from 1980, when he asked voters, "are you better off than you were four years ago?"
Well, four years ago at the Democratic convention, I was sitting out in a makeshift tent in the parking lot, with a handful of overflowing porta-johns that were supposed to serve hundreds of journalists.
The only food until 2 pm was a corn dog cart.
This time, I have all the bathrooms anyone could ask for, and all kinds of food options inside.
So, am I better off than I was four years ago? Well, honestly - I sure could use a corn dog.
