oh, yes.

saturday, i did the choice march marshalling thing.
was initially frequently redirected by the po-lice, who had altered the route's course a few short hours before commencement.
i took pictures. including one i'm sure won't come out of a counter=protester wearing a shirt that said "intolerance is a beautiful thing".
there was writing on the back, but my hot pink shirt made it hard for me to sneak up and get close enough without the po-lice shooing me away.

(nevermind that my intial assignment was to re-direct the crowd from engaging in any sort of interaction with the antis. this was verbotten by new york's finest. it was almost comical being shoed to one spot only to be sent back to a different place.
in the end, i ended up getting cut off from my group because, while my back was turned in day dreaminingess, a barricade was erected.

sigh.

and then i burned my shoulders and tummy.

but the experience fucking rawked. people kept walking across the bridge for forever. and the rally was stellar.
and i didn't die. just almost.

also, apparently my roommate was there. i didn't see him, but he saw me.

i ended up skipping out on sunday's march/rally. 86+ weather with 86+% humidity does not bode well for my fragile cockamamie body. the only reason i survived saturday was i kept my body pumped with the free Venus Water. i worked sunday morn. and just recovered at home rather than venture into the crowds (crowds don't work for me, either). part of me regrets not going. but considering possible panic attack, definite migraine, and chance of arrest that, if discovered by my employer could land me without a job but without unemployment checks, i can't say i completely regret my decision.

i did land myself in one pro-kerry discussion that i disappeared from.
i'm ^^not sorry, but not being bush isn't enough of a reason to get my vote.

i'll probably add more to some of the above at a later date.

what i already knew was reinforced as i walked around at 5pm today

as i've already started to inform jadedjade
this city is so fucking dead.
all the businesses look sad and pathetic.
none of the restaurants and stores are making
their usual money.
the empire fucking state builidng had next to no wait.
i'm working in the middle of a ghost town.
the convention needs to be over so i can resume my regularly scheduled chaos.

i mean, for me, the last time the streets and sidewalks were this easily managed, was the day after the Blackout.
but then most of the stores were closed, too.

also, i think if it weren't for the protesters who've invaded this fine city, it'd be even more dead. i know this is proabably my own prejudice saying this but it's "their kind" who are more likely to buy from the halal street vendor a $4.00 plate of lamb and rice. they are less likely to sit around scared of the big, bad native new yorkers. i mean, am i wrong in thnking that the protesting type is more like to actually venture out and do shit?
sure, they may not have the same bank account, but it's what you do with what you have that matters.

and what is the thanks these economy supports get?
oh, yes. arrested.
and later to be blamed for budget deficits.

i need a new mayor.
and a new president.