OFA Alumni Volunteer Meetup at the Lincoln Memorial

                I have gone to the Organizing for Action (OFA) alumni volunteer meetup at the Lincoln Memorial. I am very happy to be in an elite class. Also I am glad to switch out of the Cleveland fashion week t-shirt for the Ann Taylor blouse because it’s a more formal event. I feel slightly underdress when I see black men in suits show up. I am very glad to be photographed. Most importantly, I am grateful to not sit down because I’m tall and in the front. I highly doubt that those ladies would’ve told a man that. Yes, I’m defiant but hey that’s the same character trait that has given me the Vote Corps slot. I am no slouch.

                I see myself as others there back in the same place four years later. I am going to do the work to ensure this. I guarantee. Check out my video!

Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat (aka How I Avoided the Ticketmaster Disaster and Purchased Inaugural Parade and Ball Tickets)

This Obama Inaugural/Ticketmaster ticket debacle is one for the record books!  First, I received an email from the Presidential Inauguration Committee (PIC) saying that the ticket link would come today, January 7^th. Then I receive an email saying that the link was available Sunday night.  The site crashed immediately.  I was using Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Apple Safari web browsers simultaneously one point.  After receiving several 503 service unavailable frames, I thought about using my Blackberry.  My smartphone was faster.  I reached the screen where it said ‘sold out’ first on my Blackberry.  As a 2009 Western Inaugural Ball attendee, both PIC and Ticketmaster flubbed this one badly!

            During the downtime, I participated in the Twitter discovery/complaint process recounting my tales of woe.  During this time I learned from someone who worked at the PIC that the early email was a mistake, the PIC Ticketmaster phone number was unavailable by 10pm due to people calling in and that after 2 hours some woman purchased inaugural ball tickets.  Reading that I tried the link again only this time using both devices.  After refreshing the screens ad nauseam the inaugural parade tickets emerged (the ball still said ‘sold out’ for the time being).  Rationalizing that half a loaf (parade) was better than no loaf (no ticket), I acquiesced and selected the 10^th street and E street NW route ticket.  First, I selected the UPS option but after remembering that I picked up my 2009 ticket through will call deselected the UPS (paying $5 for will call versus $23 for delivery was a contributing factor).  Doing that cost me 3 minutes because the system was dragging at a snail’s pace.  Ticketmaster gave me 18 minutes to complete the process and since it took me nearly the entire time period to pay!

            No sooner did I finish my parade ticket purchase, did the inaugural ball tickets became available.  Once again throughout the process, the screen was either freeze or my ticket would disappear saying ‘sold out’.  As a right-handed person, I never used my left hand to type that much in my life! I bought the ball ticket using my Blackberry. I felt truly accomplished right after that because after 3 hours I was victorious!

            That entire inaugural ticket exercise snafu was the exact opposite from 2009 and it wasn’t because there were 10 balls versus 2 this time.  I didn’t have to deal with Ticketmaster.  PIC administered the tickets directly streamlining the process.  The system didn’t crash and they were free instead of costing $65 ($60 ticket + $5 will-call fee). However, unlike so many other people, I refused to be frustrated by the process and banged it out while helping others along the way. I tweeted my progress to be on Twitter telling them that I was still getting parade tickets until 12 midnight.  Also I learned from someone who previously worked with the Obama administration that there would be some more tickets released this Thursday.  She was credible because she contacted me when I participated in Vote Corps.  Regardless, I was happy that this mess was over with (for me) and that I can get my inaugural gown.

All in A Day's Work

            I awake early on my final day of vacation because I have to give my Mommy the final First Lady Michelle Obama Cuyahoga Community College visit.  I would’ve given it to her yesterday but my father said that he would get back to me.  Since I have to pack and request a late check-in, getting up early isn’t the worst thing in the world.    

I scheduled my downtown Cleveland Obama volunteering gig before leaving DC.  I arrived in Cleveland on Thursday and entered data promptly at Friday noon.  Though I was too sick to volunteer Saturday, the field organizer reserved two Michelle Obama tickets for me for Sunday pick-up.  I went to the office and met a man returning from Cleveland after living in DC.  We bonded immediately.  Speaking to him motivated me to return even part-time regardless of what the haters might say about my hometown! Since I missed the Public Square and knowing that it would be another 15 minutes I walked back to the hotel giddy with excitement!  My Mommy was the first person I called.  She said that she would pick up her ticket this evening.  Afterward I called my father who told me that he’d respond in 30 minutes, the same time that my mother was supposed to arrive.  She got her ticket in the middle of the monsoon returning home.  I called my father who told me that my brother had his car.  I was done because deep down inside I thought about giving both tickets to my mother and avoiding all of this.  When he asked me how I managed to obtain the tickets, I told him that I was a part of Vote Corps, received data entry training in Virginia and signed up for the Cleveland volunteering myself.  Dad said that he was impressed with me.  I beamed with pride!

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my Cleveland trip even though I was sick the first three days forcing me to miss most of my alumni events.  I did attend the Homecoming tailgate obtaining a Viking towel and two t-shirts (My headache slowed me down.  I missed the last size large t-shirt).

I met up with Stacey, one of my Western Reserve Historical Society former coworkers.  It had been 10 years. I was happy that we made it so far. She worked at the hotel since 2007.  The hospitality industry required a lot of special skills and the hotel I stayed at was a Hilton so it wasn’t bottom of the barrel.  I’ve been here in DC since 2006.  For the first six years I worked as an Economist.  Now I’m a Program Analyst.  It was very good to see that Stacey was doing okay.  Later I ate breakfast at the Ritz Carlton Cleveland.  This was the first time that I dined at Muse, I had the breakfast quesadilla containing turkey sausage.  It was so good that I didn’t need the salsa or sour cream!   

Sunday’s highlight was the Browns recorded their first win a 34-24 defeat of the much-hated Cincy Bengals.  In week 2 when they lost to them in Cincinnati, I knew Cleveland would win at home.  What I didn’t know was that I had to wait until week 5 for a win!  In tribute of the Brownies win, I wear my orange cashmere sweater on board the plane back to DC.

As soon as I exited the plane, I waited eons for my luggage.  It shouldn’t had taken that long especially since it was only an hour flight.  National airport knew we were coming.  I hailed a cab home scheduling a PJ Clarke’s lunch reservation.  I scarfed down a burger with sautéed mushrooms and Vermont cheddar cheese.  I truly needed that meal after all of the travel.  

Upon getting situated, I started emailing DC and VA offices for volunteering positions.  I contacted the VA state Vote Corps office contact.  I told her that I just returned today from volunteering in Cleveland, Ohio. After completing the survey (which she said was mandatory. The Ohio Vote Corps said no such thing!), I received another email.  Luckily, the Arlington field organizer called me.  We chatted and agreed to start tomorrow evening before the second debate.  After finalizing my VA slot, the DC field organizer replied.  I am in heavy demand! And that’s just the way I like it!

Adventures in Voter Training

I’m here training at an Obama 2012 office and am the only data training participant bringing her own laptop.  This is crazy because I RSVP on My.barackobama.com and read the instructions.  Though it is an ad-hoc environment but still be prepared! When I tell them that I volunteered for Obama since 2008 they all wooed. I’m learning that the canvassing have daily quotas. I’ve asked our trainer about getting my Votebuilder account transferred to Ohio when I return home in October.  I’m calling the organizer about it because I will be ready!  Also I’ve learned during my first training that the campaign has virtual phone bank allowing me to feed in Excel spreadsheet.

One of the people stays over because I tell the data instructor that I’ve registered online.  Moocher!  Anyway, I am glad that I’m taking this training because I want to do data mining.  Lack of laptops seem to be problematic.  Hello, people how do you register for data training but not bring a laptop? C’mon people get it together!  In addition, I will speak with the organizer and sign up for a weekend event.  I’ll do this to gauge whether or not I want to sign up for Obama’s Vote Corps (It must exclusive because not even our leader knows about it.  When I mention it she gives a blank stare!  Hey, I guess I do get something since I start registering in 2008.  Early adopter status!).  Next is the 201 intermediate data training class.

Seeing the 201 data training sheet, I don’t know what the fuss about taking both classes the same night is all about?  The office must be used to Luddites because I can go through a 14-page brochure. We are learning how to become a data captain.  This position lets me oversee events and people.  I know that I can do this and will email the organizer about using my VA username on my DC and OH campaigns because I don’t want to open three different accounts.  Finally, though I’ve asked a lady for restaurant reviews, I’ve just remembered that Scandal comes on at 10pm and I will be front and center to learn who Quinn really is.