My journey to Denver

This is going to be such a crazy adventure. A new city, new faces, and no idea what's going on. All I know is that my computer and I are headed to Denver for the convention... what happens from there, I have no clue.

Friday, August 22nd, we take a journey down to Wells, Maine in Rita's car. Trip's about two hours, and we'll stay at a friend's place- she's a Pagan journalist and generally an awesome person from all I've heard.

The next day, our journalist friend drives us to Logan Airport in Boston, where we catch a nonstop flight to Denver on United Airlines. Somehow this flight was cheaper than Jet Blue OR Southwest, and those guys had layovers (which are bad on Rita, who has issues walking). So we're getting into Denver wicked early, which gives us time to get settled in and check out the sights.

Rita's version of settling in is easy. She gets to check into some cushy hotel (a Hilton, I think- correct me if I'm wrong, Rita) by the Pepsi Center that has wi-fi access and is generally awesome. She's raised the money she needs to go, and luckily gets to split the cost with another delegate who rooms with her. They told me I couldn't stay in a delegate room, and if I did, the occupants would be thrown out. So on to Plan B I went.

I raised much less money. Rita got the Pagan community to back her up a bit, which rocks, because she couldn't afford this either. I had some good friends pitch in what they could, and I got most of what I need covered. I got my ticket, and started hunting CraigsList in Denver. Most of what I found was jerks who were taking advantage of the situation, and renting their nearby apartments for thousands of dollars for a week while they used the money to take vacations. I obviously wasn't affording that.

So I did what I do best: I posted a rant in their housing section, and got tons of replies! People offering me cheap room and board (like $50 a day) to patches of floor (free). I ended up getting in touch with a guy who lives in the area, and he offered me a couch. My payment for this is a french press coffeemaker (I have no idea why he chose this of all things).

In the meanwhile, this great thing called The Big Tent got started up by a major progressive blog, and a couple local organizations. They got tons of sponsors, too. It's a place for bloggers to get together and practice their trade. For $100 you get access to wi-fi, beer, food, chair massages, fruit smoothies, concerts, you name it. What they in essence did was make the event accessible for even those of us who can barely afford anything.

Basically I just wanted to give a public shoutout to all who made this possible. I at least got enough of the money to not max out on my credit card, and the generosity of others is how I'm making it to Denver. Thanks to all my donors, and to Zack in Denver, who's giving me that couch, and to Bobby Clark and the Big Tent people for coming up with such a great idea. You're all awesome.

And I can't wait for Denver!