Everyone has a story from last night...here's mine
4YearGraduate
2,945 Posts
So after feeling exhausted from following the race so closely, calling people, convincing, arguing and just being to attached to the election on a minute to minute basis to the point that i was a ball of stress on the election day, I was able to convince my pregnant and ready to bust wife to get a babysitter for our one year old and hit the town to celebrate. It was one of the few times we had been out alone since he was born but we couldn't wait to get out to the victory party to celebrate the monumental occasion. As I was driving home from picking up my son from day care, Penn fell. While I was in the shower getting ready Ohio was called and Dole lost. By the time we were on our way the results were coming in and we drove in silence and almost speechless from san pedro to century city for the party. As we turned right on Olympic, the the radio dipped to static for a second and then went live to a different announcer and he said the news. As we pulled around the corner into the traffic in front of the party, A car of elderly people pulled next time to us stone faced.. I solemnly raised my fist out the window and began honking and they started crying. As we pulled up to the parking lot to park for the party I could see what looked like about 5000 people in line trying to get into the hotel, and there were newstrucks and helicopters, etc. The guy in front of the parking structure told us we were welcome to park but the fire marshall was shutting the door and no one else would be let in. I told my wife and her friend to jump out and get in line and as soon as they did I McCain started delivering his concession speech. b,121b,121I felt this sense of urgency, I had to get out and celebrate. We parked and ran outside only to find them at the end of a VERY long line that was indeed not moving. Just then a volunteer started walking the crowd to tell them that no one else was getting in and that they should disperse. Two police helicopters were circling overhead with spotlights down and then cop cars started showing up and blocking off the street. The cops looked shook and though I really wanted to celebrate with everyone the situation looked futile and i was worried about my pregnant wife so after a few minutes we reluctantly decided to head home before it got to crazy outside. I needed to hear the speech. We began walking back acroos the very wide street that was being blocked off (ave. of the stars) and back to the hotel underground parking where my car was. We got lost trying to find the right elevator to go down to our parking structure and ended up in this weird empty hallway. b, 21b, 21Two girls came around the corner and said - "Are you guys looking for the secret tunnel too?" I said "huh?, nah, we are looking for the staircase down to our car but what's up with the tunnel?" They told us that they were lost but that a security guard had told them that there was a secret tunnel from this building, underneath avenue of the stars to the hotel basement where the gala was. I looked around and saw a janitor sweeping a hallway and he directed us to the secret service tunnel which was in the cut, unguarded and completely empty. We ran down the tunnel and when we got to the end, dipped through a fire door and not only popped out in the hotel but in the gala ballroom overflow waiting area, behind the bar! I grabbed a beer and within a few minutes we had made our way into the main area... 2 minutes later the Obama spoke.b,121b,121Secret Tunnel door:b,121img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/3005728599_af1f6edaf6_b.jpg"1b,121b,121Popped out behind the unmanned bar with the lady:b,121img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/3005440809_66885cb384_b.jpg"1b,121b,121Made it in to the main ballroom right when the speech started:b,121img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/3006278442_cabce8874b_b.jpg"1b,121b,121Chillsb,121img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2218/3006291970_a8d3607515_b.jpg"1b,121b,121img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/3005458881_81eb1bbe1b_b.jpg"1b,121b,121img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3052/3005469027_6955d440fc_b.jpg"1b,121b,121Tearsb,121img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/3005488809_f6210785fb_b.jpg"1b,121b,121img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3290/3005508501_9fe5a979e8_b.jpg"1b,121b,121img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/3006354684_1be1b64e02_b.jpg"1b,121b,121PARTY! The homey Ztrip rockin' it with Shepard b,121img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/3005575353_3891771d2b_b.jpg"1b,121b,121img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3185/3005662419_bd6e66ecb7_b.jpg"1b,121b,121img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/3006525578_4014787c59_b.jpg"1b,121b,121Impromptu dance battleb,121img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3153/3005630469_16360a6314_b.jpg"1b,121b,121Behind the scenes, people talking, overcome with emotion.b,121img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3217/3005705055_67e29401e3_b.jpg"1b,121b,121Strut in action. PROPS!b,121img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/3006544224_bba4ca631e_b.jpg"1b,121b,121Windows to the walls:b,121img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/3005711721_daecf1c2a0_b.jpg"1b,121b,121b,121b,121b,121b,121b,121b,121b,121b,121b,121b,121b,121b,121b,121b,121b,121b,121A new day in america. REJOICE!b,121img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3055/3005719049_ebf7f891ea_b.jpg"1
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