Life's so funny!!

So many people come in and out of your life. It's always a bit sad when you think you've lost someone. No matter what the reason is, it appears that they are gone. Moved on. Whether it's temporary or permanent, it's still a feeling of loss.

Then, there are others who pop back into your life and you don't know how that happened. All of a sudden, after 30 years, they are back. It's rediscovery time, but you have a history.

Always, always, always, you have your family. Your family is there through it all. They are sometimes happy with you and sometimes not. But, they are always there. When I'm feeling lonely, I call my sister. She's there when no one else is.

I prided in my solo state, a loner, doing what I wanted when I wanted. Now, though, that I've tasted being with someone, I feel lonely again.

I have been busy and now that I have down time, I don't know what to do. I find myself playing games, wasting time. What a horrible thing, to waste time. As you'll never get it back.

How I want not to be lonely but it's hard. Alone in my place, alone with my computer, alone with my stuff... alone. Maybe I've become clingy, maybe I've become high maintenance. But I want to be with someone all the time and not alone, is that too much to ask? Maybe so and maybe I need to learn to be happy alone again.

After a very long time (possibly ever), I have someone to do things with and when he is gone, I feel this terrible lonliness. I like being the center of his world, and when I'm not, I feel a bit of jealousy, maybe. He changed my life and now needs to leave from time to time.

Honestly, the person I started writing about isn't the person I ended with. These Rose-colored glasses are a bit foggy right now, so I'm quite sure no one is following. That's ok. I needed to write.

What an election!!!

I have such a feeling of pride. What incredible barriers have been crushed during this election season.

I began supporting Hillary Clinton. I thought she would make an incredible president. She cracked that nasty glass ceiling. When she lost to Barack Obama, I was a bit sad but I am a Democrat first. So, I learned about him and supported him. He SHATTERED the minority barrier.

I worked hard on his campaign. I spent a week (volunteered) at the Democratic National Convention. I was an Election Judge during the primary and an Election Judge Supervisor during the election. I, like so many others, was consumed with this election. Not only did I need change, but I believed in this so much more than ever.

I lived abroad when Bush was in office and felt the uneasiness of the world. I, too, had some discrimination due to the color of my skin in my life. I, too, am a woman who believes that a woman can do WHATEVER a man can and sometimes even better. I needed change!

Well, we got it. What is the most amazing about all this is the incredible results. The Country needed change. The Country is moving in the right direction. We, most of us, can put aside the things that have wrongly been in our lives.

I work with Immigrants. I tell them welcome and we are glad they are here. This is a country of immigrants. That is what makes us so great. We have a governor in California who is an Immigrant. We have a President who is of color. We have a woman who ran for that office and got darn close. Don't we live in an amazing country??? Don't we have what everyone else wants?

I've always been proud to be American, but I truly am proud of my country now.

When I met you...

There was a time when I thought I'd rather be alone.

A time when I was happy in my own space.

A time when I wanted nothing more than casual relationships.

A time when I needed nothing more than caring for myself and family.

Then I met you...

I knew in an instant that I didn't want to be alone anymore...I wanted to be with you.

To share your space.

To have a lasting, meaningful relationship filled with love, passion and romance with you.

To care for you and let you care for me.

When I met you...

by Rose Schaefer

DNC Green Team Day 4

The final day of the DNC had the same buzz on the light rail. It was jammed as was the parking. I had to park even farther away than the day before. The people today were different. Most of them had come in with the golden ticket and were stressing to get to the shuttles by 2pm.

Once there, the Convention Center was clearing out. Not as many vendors nor people milling about. The volunteer check-in area was empty. I checked in and they asked if I wanted to stay at the Center since the others would be cleaning the Pepsi Center. No one was going into Invesco. We had heard this before. I was actually dragging and said I'd stay.

I headed over to the Wells Fargo Theatre and found my post. After the first hour, and not a single person came by, there was an announcement that the Viewing Party was cancelled and they would be closing the Convention Center. (Each evening, there had been a viewing party in the Theatre. One policeman told me that less than a hundred people showed up each night and it wasn't worth the manpower.)

So, I was released. I milled about a little, but downtown was vertually empty because everyone was heading to Invesco. So, without a golden ticket myself, I decided to head home to watch the historic event.

This was a bit of a letdown, I suppose, from the week. However, it has been a week and something I'll never forget. I've got more thoughts that I'll send out from time to time, as I'm sure that I will be thinking about this for a long time.

In the end what did I receive for the 32 hours or so that I donated? 3 box lunches, 3 buttons, 3 t-shirts and a bag. But, most importantly, priceless experience, knowledge and satisfaction that I've done something to help so many and the precious Earth.

As I was watching Obama on TV last night, I was extremely proud and knew what I had done this past week was not only for the good of Denver and the Earth, but for all of us. I am proud to have been part of this historic event but even more, to help Democrats get back the White House. We need a change!

Thanks for coming along with me. As I said, I will continue to write about this experience.

DNC Green Team - Day 3

Whew, I'm feeling this in my body today; I'm a bit tired and a little sore. Greening is hard work! Having said that, my soul is flying!!

At the beginning of Day 3, I was excited to get back there, even felt good enough to do a mile on the exercise machine before I left.

I got there in about the same manner as the day before (having trouble finding a place to park). On the train, I sat across from an out-of-towner and a local business guy.

The out-of-towner asked the local business guy questions about the light rail route, where he should get off and how to get to the Pepsi Center. Not surprisingly (or maybe so), the business guy couldn't answer any of the questions, saying that he usually doesn't take the light rail and is unfamiliar with the route. (Ding!) I then helped out the out-of-towner and got a sincere thank you.

This is so my point, people are being exposed to mass transit, thankfully. Maybe this business guy won't take it again, but maybe many more will. One step forward!

After we checked in, went through even more training, we were then divided to go to the Pepsi Center again. (I was worried that I'd be stationed at the Convention Center since I was at the Pepsi Center twice already.) At this point, we actually had our credentials and were ready to board the bus. If you'll remember, Day 1 took us nearly 3 hours to get to our post, Day 2 was 2 hours, and Day 3, 1 hour!

I sat next to one of the team leaders who was brought in from Seattle. She was amazed with Denver and asked tons of questions. It was great to brag about our city. We also talked about the volunteers and who was here to make a difference for others and who was here for their own agenda (getting into the convention). You can sure see who's in it for which reason.

When we arrived, I was assigned to the same media tent I was in the first day, but next to Bloomberg News. I was able to watch the nomination process while the interns were running errands for the writers.

Shortly after we were stationed, I took a water/bathroom break and decided to look around. As I was walking back, I was approached by the team leader. Feeling guilty about not being at my post, I quickly told her I was on a little break. She said, I have a proposition for you... I immediately told her I'd do whatever she needed. She then said the unbelievable, "How would you like to go in?" "Are you kidding? I'll stand by the bathroom to get in," I excitedly responded. She said someone had to leave and that I would be taking her post. My heart was fluttering!!! After thinking I was as close as I'd get, I couldn't believe my great fortune!

Well, I got the proper credentials and was escorted to my post. I was to the speaker's right on the 3rd level!!!!! I couldn't contain myself! Delegates, politicians and a few local people I know passed by my station. People thanked me for doing this and for my time. I was an intricate part of the DNC!!! Wow! There was a large screen TV in front of me and it was crowded with people that weren't able to get into the full arena. Although I wasn't able to really hear the speakers (I watched them later at home), I felt the energy. A whole arena filled with positive, hopeful, excited, energetic, enthusiastic people. Can you imagine the energy?

When the leader came by to give me a break, I refused. I was so grateful to be there that I didn't want to leave my post. I felt like I was the luckiest person in the world!

And, beyond all this, I was still educating people. A gentleman came up and asked which bin to put his container in. It was a compostable PLA 7 plastic, so it went in the compost bin. He asked why and I went into the whole thing...it is made of corn and compostable. He listened intently and then asked how I knew this. I explained that I'd been trained by the company doing this (more on them later). He told me that after all he had learned in the past few days, this information was the most important and interesting. I was gleaming! As a teacher, I always relish on teaching people new things!

At the end of an incredible evening, I broke down my station. I was proud that I had 3 compost bags, 2 recycle bags and 1/3 bag of landfill! Goal! I acquired several "Obama/Biden" signs and a half dozen American Flags; some new friends; insight as to who was there and why; how popular flip-flops are these days (more on shoes and fashion later); and how important my job really was.

I stepped into the Arena while crews were cleaning and breaking down for the move. Some media types were still milling around and doing their shows, and I stood there for a moment taking it all in. Even without the crowds, the energy lingered.

What a momentus occasion! I was there for Clinton, Kerry, Biden and even a surprise visit by Obama. The consensus when people were leaving was... "What a night!" And, I couldn't have said it better!

Stay tuned for the final day (although I don't know what can top this one).

DNC Convention Day 2

After a rough morning (standing and going through resources is exhausting work), I put on my freshly washed, green t-shirt and was off again. I had a little issue finding a place to park at the Alameda/Broadway light rail station but succeeded and got on the train.

Note here: the convention is doing a lot for this city, but one thing is that the trains are full. Yes, Delegates who have had to get hotels south of the city but also business people. Could this actually improve the way people think about mass transit? Will the trains continue to be full of commuters? We can only hope.

Outside the Convention Center, there were the usual vendors and police. Protesters are not allowed in those areas. The police are all in riot gear. The day before, we had talked to some of them. They are all in great spirits even though they are working 9am to midnight for the duration. They are carrying pounds of gear, including a big pack strapped to their leg and blue, plastic handcuffs. One friendly man in blue joked with us when we commented on his heavy load. He said each day they give them more to carry and he was considering going in naked to lessen his load. As I said, they're in good spirits (at least the ones whose jobs are to sit around the Convention Center).

At the volunteer entrance, there were maybe a hundred police being deployed to their various posts. It was quite a sight.

Once inside, the confusion seemed to be less. Day 2 of any event is usually less hectic (as a former convention organizer, I know this very well). I checked in and was told I was on the same team as the day before. Ok, this is good and bad. Good because I was not going to be at the Convention Center (slow in the evenings) but bad because I was in the media tent again. I did find out that none of us would be in the Pepsi Center (the Secret Service had chosen people to be in there for the Greening Team) and that each day the "rules" change. The Secret Service is running the show here. Depending on what they decide, everything changes daily.

While I was sitting and waiting for the start of the shift, I saw a fresh set of volunteers with a few familiar faces mixed in. We have a mandatory 2 shifts that each volunteer must do in order to even be on the team. (There are a few of us who are there for the whole week, though.)

After a much shorter process (one hour less than the day before), we were at the entrance of the Pepsi Center. We go through a "MAG" screening system. At the other end, we re-grouped. Everyone goes through this one or the other one near the CNN Grill. There are police with massive guns and dogs. There was a delegate with an outrageous hat that had to be dog sniffed. Working at the airport, this is a usual thing for me but others totally amaze me with what they think they can take in.

My post this time was in a different tent. I was around Washington Post, Newsweek, and other big names. Again, all written media with a few radio shows thrown in. I was at a very busy station and loved it. Doing this, I've realized so much. But here is where I realized how valuable and important what I'm doing is. So many people came up and put their things in and didn't know what could be composted. When they had to put something in landfill, they felt guilty! Some plastic cups cannot be recycled, and they said, "never again!" Even when they had to put their gum into the landfill bin. They also didn't know they could buy plastic ware or plates made from corn. My job there isn't to collect and sort trash... no it's much more than that! It's to educate others (and myself) about how we can save the Earth. So many people have thanked us for doing this.

If you ever feel good doing volunteer work, helping someone else and not yourself first, you can relate to what I'm about to say. I am always about others first (sometimes to my detriment) and I thrive on this feeling, but this is so different. This is saving the Earth... I can't describe it much more than that. You get it or you don't, I guess.

Anyway, when Hillary did her speech, we all huddled around the large screen TVs and watched. Media from different countries, volunteers and others alike. We had something in common, which was phenomenal. At the end of her speech, the group broke out in applause. It was like I was THERE!

After that, we cleaned out our stations and were released (sort of... everyone just disappeared). I then decided to walk with the Delegates out of the arena and down Speer to the Convention Center to get my train. What I saw and heard will be in another post (in the interest of keeping these short enough to read).

I got home earlier than the night before (after riding on a full train, again) and had to wash my shirt for another day!

Glad you're with me on this journey, stay tuned for Day 3!

DNC Greening Team, Day 1

As an excited, eager volunteer, I left home early for my 3pm shift.

We were given instructions at the orientation last weekend that we would only be able to take into the Pepsi Center a small fanny pack (yes, fanny pack) that they provided to us. We could only take an empty, clear water bottle to fill up at water stations and a cell phone. We would also be getting a new t-shirt (thank goodness because the one provided to us was a neon-green)and we would put the other one in our small fanny pack.

Ok, those of you who know me know that I am a bag lady. I carry everything and my bags are not small. I scaled down and managed.

I got to the park and ride on Alameda and Broadway, got my light rail ticket and was on my way! I got to the Convention Center about 1:30 (we were to be there one hour before our shift). What I saw was not surprising, nevertheless, amazing. The Convention Center is surrounded by cement barriers, vendors of all sorts, loads of special interest groups and heavily armed police.

I made my way to the volunteer entrance and got in. At that point, I signed in and got my new t-shirt. This one is an appropriate green one that has been provided by CocaCola, the sponsor of the Greening initiative at the DNC. I was told I was at the media tent. Yippee, at the Pepsi Center and not at the Convention Center. My hope!

At 2pm, we were then sent to even more training (this is the third training I'd received) on what is recyclable, compostable (the best... more on this later) and the very worst, landfill. We call our stations "resource recovery" stations, not recycling nor trash. In their words, nothing is trash.

At 3pm, we were divided into teams and taken outside to the "Blue Bear." We were then given our credentials, then walked two more blocks to get the shuttles. We crowded into a bus (many standing) for our 1 hour ride to the Pepsi Center. Ok, those of you who know Denver are saying, "huh?" Well, anyone here now knows the story. Downtown is crazy full of people. Cars everywhere and blockades where you normally could go. (This brings me to a funny contrast... green convention, but loads of cars... humm.) Anyway, we got to the Pepsi Center after 5pm.

Then, after going through security and even more training, we were shown the posts we were to (wo)man until 10pm. I got to my post outside the Congressional Quarterly newspaper at 5:45. My job is to educate and collect items. Education is key so that people will take with them the knowledge to recycle and compost at home.

I've got tons of observations that I'll summarize at the end, but will throw in snippets from time to time. The biggest is the presence of the media. As we know, thousands of media outlets are here. There are many in tents and some in hotels, but the biggest is CNN which has taken a whole building over. Now dubbed the "CNN Grill," complete with neon signs, is on the Pepsi Center perimeter and accessible only through security.

I was able to watch the speeches on the various TVs within the tent (and it was air-conditioned). We were given apples during the shift and were able to take a dinner break at the volunteer tent. A meal is provided as well as apples throughout the shift. Water stations are throughout the area as well as porta potties (no comment).

At 9:30, after Michelle Obama's speech, people started to leave. We were then asked to help with "the back of the house." They were bombarded with bags from the entire complex. All I can say is EVERYONE needs to do this once. Do you know what we throw away??? Do you know what is compostable? Do you know what happens when we dispose of organic material in landfills?? Lots more on this later.

Let's just say, we had rubber gloves on and we were working towards our goal of 98% recycle/compostable recovery.

One thing about volunteers. We (me included) were a bit frustrated about the wasted time. Many (not me, this time) were frustrated with the amount of training, and the fact we were going through people's trash. The ones who really care about why we are doing this were happy and excited. One volunteer I observed was so into this, she wouldn't let anyone put things in her bins. She put them in herself. Also, she was cleaning as much as she could for the recycle bin as not to contaminate it.

We all are doing this to be part of this historical event. However, this is even bigger for many of us. It's an opportunity to reduce this gargantuan carbon footprint this historic event is leaving in the World, and more importantly, my own city.

We can all learn from this (and the teacher in me is coming out) and I will pass on my lessons.

Stay tuned for day 2....