With the cancellation of many of Monday's events and speakers, I woke up not expecting a day like it unfolded to be. I started off with a hearty breakfast at the Holiday Inn in downtown Minneapolis, where the North Carolina delegates are staying. It seems that I lucked out because I sat down by an ABC 11 reporter to my right and the youngest delegate from North Carolina to my left. I engaged in the conversation by listening and contributing. By the end of breakfast, the ABC reporter wanted to interview the young delegate as well as me. I accepted.

During my interview on camera, WRAL showed up with a camera, and we repeated a similar interview with them. Before the other North Carolina students and I left, we all received credentials for every day at the convention. Suh-weet!

The bus was a half-hour late picking us up from the hotel, but we arrived just in time at Augsburg College for a panel discussion with three former members of Congress: Reps. Mickey Edwards (R-Okla.), Lawrence J. DeNardis (R-Conn.) and Steve T. Kuykendall (R-Calif.). That was interesting.

Lunch was hosted by the Young Republicans and the Public Interest Research Group's New Voter Project at Hard Rock Cafe. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee spoke. He sneaked out the kitchen to avoid pictures, but I thought ahead and met him at the back door. I win again.

Protesters infested the streets. Hundreds surrounded us cheering "Shame on you. Shame on you..." as we approached the convention. Then... "Here come the cavalry!" A fleet of riot police on horseback galloped into the street to save us. The protesters knew what to do. They formed a human chain across the street that led to the convention. If we were going to get to the convention, we had to pass through this wall. The riot police formed a V-shaped formation and we were told to get into the center. Then, the horses broke the chain of humans. But the protesters were ready. They sat down. The horses walked over them, and so did we. I am alive.

As I have stated before, many speeches for Monday were canceled due to a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. These included the following: President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Laura Bush was the only one of these who ended up being present Monday and speaking. After the convention recessed until Tuesday, she and Mrs. McCain were interviewed by FOX News and I, once again, positioned myself between the two interviewees and showed my face on television. Mimi and Pop (my grandparents) saw me.

After their interview, a hundred people wanted a picture, but the Secret Service surrounded the VIPs. Haha, yeah right. I used my skills to twist between a ginormous body guard and gracefully flowed my upper left appendage around Mrs. Bush's shoulder. Cheese...great picture.