Quick Re-Cap

I told myself I'd try to catch everyone up with our "happenings."

So--
May: Moved (out of state)

June: Brief break from work, had family reunions in
California and in Idaho


















July: A Capitol Fourth, Bowling at the White House, West Wing & EEOB Tour


















August: Jill to SLC

September: 2008 Republican National Convention





















October: Moved (across town). Birthday!, and ...

...As most of you know I was pretty heavily involved in the 2008 Presidential race, helping raise money, coordinating events, and generally keeping things in order...

I spent the last 2 1/2 weeks of this election cycle out in the Denver, CO Metro area doing Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) work. Our crack team of HQ staff recruited several hundred volunteers to come and help out in Colorado -- some staying as little as a day or two, some staying a week or more. We always had 125-150 people in our group. I'd tell you what we did (aside from making sure they were housed, fed, and had a good time), but I don't want to reveal any GOP-GOTV secrets. ;-) Suffice it to say, we knocked thousands of doors, made tens of thousands of phone calls, held rallies, waved signs, and worked from the wee hours of the morning until all normal restaurants had closed. (Needless to say, we ate a lot of bar food for dinner, if we beat last call).

Three highlights from Colorado:
(1) Getting to know my co-workers. It was hard, crazy work, and we pretty much spent every waking moment together -- but we managed to have a lot of fun in the midst of the craziness. Everyone had a specific skill they brought to the table, and great things happened.



(2) The Rallies. Definitely a different group than we're used to checking in at our finance receptions, but extremely fulfilling to pack 5- 10,000 excited and boisterous people in a fairground stadium or in an airplane hangar. A big thanks to USSS and local law enforcement that helped make sure it was a safe environment.

One of our last big "moments" as a team happened at our final rally, as the Governor's plane touched down right in front of us and taxied up to greet us with a moving theme song bringing everyone to their feet and many to tears.



(3) The Veterans Tour.. I had the opportunity to do something new (Press Advance) on a two-day bus tour around the state, and the honor of spending those two days with true American heroes. Boy did they have stories to tell!


I spent those days with (pictured at right) Ed Mechenbier, Marty Evans, Gene Cernan, Charlie Plumb, Leslie Smith, and Al Zapanta (not pictured). I heard moving stories from those who spent time as POWs and descriptions of what it was like to be (the last man) on the moon.

We worked like crazy right up through Election Day 2008 ...