WATCH OUT FOR THAT SHARP SHOOTER!

I know each time I blog, I generally invoke my pride in living in Philadelphia and today is no exception.

I woke up around 10 to the buzz of a few helicopters and decided I should go home to see my momma who just got back from India. I left around 11:30...to where I ran into the largest amount of police force I've ever seen at 30th St. Station. Walking in, I saw four policeman on horses...with horse shit all over the wee walkway island where I normally make my enterance to the station. There was also a lot of street vendors hawking Obama family portraits, Obama calandars, and copies of Obama speeches. A large amount of satellites on top of vans blocking the side enterance were also visible. My normal enterance to the station was blocked off however, as were the front enterance to the main terminal. There were more police manning those doors and signs pointing us away.

I myself was rather confused as to how I was going to get to the regional rail portion of the station if all the doors I knew of were blocked off. In my wandering, I saw a few of those bomb-sniffing dogs as well. And apparently there were 4 sharp-shooters on the roof of the station.

I was debating on whether I should stick around to see if Obama was planning on walking around or something (I mean, with all that police around, why not?) but I wasn't sure if he left already or not. So I figured, what the hell, I'll just catch the train.

Or at least try to. The train was a good 35 minutes late. So I congregated on the platform with a host of hippie-ish looking people who had Obama buttons and memorbailia all over them. Upon conversing with a few of them, I found out that they too had missed Obama, and only had a fleeting glimpse of what could have been his car. They were doing a peace march (against the war in Iraq) from city hall to the station, so I suppose, weren't even aiming on seeing him, but trying to force the media into paying some attention to the war.

The train platforms were disorganized with people who were offput by delayed trains. The platform dude informed us, that the R3 was the last train held back so that the Obama Express could start its voyage, but then perhaps out of deference or maybe even fatigue, the R3 decided that its brakes should not work. So I was at the station for a good hour and a half waiting for a train that they SAID would only take half an hour.

Upon my wait for the train, I eavesdropped on a conversation one of the hippier looking peace protesters was having with these two ladies who had actually gone to hear Obama speak. From what I could gather, you needed tickets to even hear him speak (wtf?) and that the entire Obama family was there (with Michelle in casual purple...for those of you who were wondering/care).

Gah! I always miss this guy! He was at Drexel and I missed him (although I did meet his VP...Biden's the man)! He had open appearances in Philly during the capagin and I missed him! He was at 30th, (WHICH IS DOWN THE STREET FROM WHERE I LIVE)and I missed him! And I can't go to the inauguration! Boo!

Whatever. As long as he doesn't mess his job up, I'm happy.

Anyway, I don't know why all that police force was necessary. I mean, I do, but come on! It's Philly! Everyone loves Obama (as seen on election nite)! Even if you don't, you'd better be smart and not express it or a brotha will beat your ass. Soundly.

Philadelphia never fails in providing excitement. All that needs to happen is for the Eagles to win the superbowl and for us to get a superhero (note: the philly phanatic is a mascot, not a superhero). If this happens, Phialdelphia can only be proclaimed as the best place to live, what with having so many crazy, happy ( and profusely drunk) citizens living in it.

PS. Drexel has already emailed everyone about the Eagles v. Cardinals game and how no criminal activity will be tolerated...like they already KNOW the Eagles will win.

Breakfast: Toast with butter and jelly and french vanilla coffee
lunch: naan-ish bread and chicken curry
dinner: ???

*mrs. gillies, sorry for taking your night, but I was excited about not seeing Obama! Hope you don't mind and do/don't do something exciting to blog about tomorrow!*