Usually I watch these debates at my desk while I either Web surf, blog along, or otherwise multi-task in confort and privacy, but this time I had to get all dressed up in my jacket and tie (and I wore a vested suit, since it was so chilly out).
The debate hosts provided us with a full open bar and some fabulous hors d'oevres to sustain us for the lengthy debate. As I walked into the firm, I entered the sunken lobby area where the hosts had laid out our repast. In the center, a round table was laden with about a dozen large white bowls of various dips, including guacamole, salsa, and hummus, but also more interesting and highly creative things like broccoli and goat cheese, sun dried tomato tapenade, spinach hummus, white bean puree with roasted red pepper, eggplant carbonata, and others. In the center of the table were colored tortilla chips, pita bread triangles, and toast. Running the length of the side wall of the room was a long table with slices of large sandwiches, crudités, more exotic meats such as mortadella and prosciutto, oversized cookies, and a huge American flag made of cupcakes frosted together as though it were one big cake. On the opposite wall was the bar, where bartenders poured premium liquors. In another corner of the room was a double table with several displays of French and Italian cheeses plus fresh and dried fruits, including some luscious fresh figs.
By the time the debates started, there were several hundred people present. We all crowded into the firm's conference center, where we watched on the big glass wall the equivalent of a small billboard sized television screen.
Everyone seemed quite pleased with the result of the debate, though I could tell that after an hour, attention spans began to wander. Maybe in the future, they'll have shorter debates, or at least consider some kind of mid-way intermission entertainment or break (perhaps the kids in Governor Palin's brother's third grade class could sing for us?).
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