Adventures with Hillary

This adventure started off like so many others...

With a text from Michelle.

Her: Hillary Clinton is in town on Wednesday.

Me: Details. I need details!

Her: U of W bookstore. I'll call and find out more.

Me: I'm in. Just figure it out. I'm in.

Now, here's the thing. I don't write political blogs. Oh, I have opinions. Lots of them. But, it just seems like a rats nest. And a way for a lot of people that I am related to to like me even less. Let's just say, when it comes to politics, this apple fell FAR from the tree(s).

But, to meet and shake hands and get an autographed book from a woman who could be the next president. Seriously? I'm in. And I'm gonna tell everyone.

We made plans. I'd leave the office a little early on Tuesday. Go to Michelle's house in Olympia, we'll hang out and then head out to the bookstore late at night or early in the morning. We had to be in line and wrist banded and security checked.

Well, most of those things happened in that order...

Solid night. Lost track of time.

Turns out that Olympia is like the Bermuda Triangle - I had no idea! I did go to her house. I did even sleep there. For a couple hours. And, I did wake up so hung over I thought I was going to die. Or maybe wishing. I can tell you waking up even slightly hung over underneath a skylight is a very unpleasant experience.

I think our plan was to go out for a couple hours.

I forgot the plan right around the 5th G & T. But, who's counting?

Interviewed while hungover - winning!

We made it out of the house blurry eyed but awake. The line wasn't too long - yet. Made the coffee run. It was Seattle, after all. And then. Well, then, we waited. And waited. And waited. We did get interviewed by the Seattle-Times - where I gave a very funny line about Bill Clinton needing hobbies once Hillary is in office. Because, seriously, I love him but he needs to be kept busy. It didn't translate well into print. Without tone and inflection, I'm not that funny.

At 9AM the line started to move. Slowly. It snaked through the bookstore. We were wrist banded and charged for the book. Which is genius, pretty much guarantees you'll return to get it and holds you to only one book.

We returned to Oly and napped, showered and got ready and then returned. Most people had just stayed there and thus had a pretty good position in line. We did not.

Instructions were given. Summed up to this: Keep the line moving, if someone tells you to do something, do it. And, no matter what, don't touch her.

Photos weren't allowed within three feet. Bummer because I was going to selfie the shit out of that deal. It's all good though, I'll do the walking away selfie with her in the background.

The tiny bit of turquoise back there? Hillary!

We started the security process. Started with friendly guys in khakis and polos. But, at the top of the stairs there was a line of what looked like former NFLers in suits. They were not friendly and they did not smile. At all.

We got a little freaked out when they took a guy down. Okay, we can handle this, we just do what they say.

At the top of the rope line people started taking pictures. The line was moving fast. People were violating the rules. And getting yelled at by large men in suits and guns. Do what they say! Please!? Crazy lady! They're going to take you down! Honestly, some of the people were so annoying that I would have been fine had the been taken down. But it would have probably slowed the line down. Ain't nobody got time for that.

In the end, we got our books signed. I did get that hand shake in - double handed - Bill Clinton style.


An awesome selfie with a future president? That didn't go so well. But, we can laugh about it now. Maybe.

I'll do the Matt selfie. With Hillary in the background. Shit.