Literally!

I’ve just returned from Netroots Nation, the annual progressive bloggers’ conference. And I don’t know if I need to adjust the settings on my camera, or what, because in most of the pictures I took, people’s skin has a distinctly red or orange cast. One thing I’m sure of, though, is that my lighting designer, hairstylist and make-up artist are all FIRED! 😉

The conference T-shirt I’m wearing here actually looks nice in person — I don’t usually wear orange, but this is an okay shade. Well, you’ll just have to take my word for it. 🙂

As you know, my profession is music, not politics, but I attend this event each year for two main reasons:

• To hang out in person with my online friends
• To participate in the music-making for an Interfaith Worship Service, which we hold every year — even though most of the attendees are still sleeping it off after the wild partying of the 3 previous evenings. (Not that we refrain from participating in that, as I chronicled last year!)

As a side benefit, I get to attend panel discussions on the hot topics of the day, and hear speeches by some big names in politics. This year’s headliners included Bill Clinton, Howard Dean and Valerie Jarrett.

I don’t usually brave the crowds to get a handshake or photo with the various VIP’s in attendance, but I did go to Dr. Dean’s book signing, because I thought a signed book would make a nice present for McDoc. It was fun to chat with him a bit; I asked him what advice he’d give McDoc about getting through residency with his sanity intact. His answer in a nutshell: “Don’t hang out with other doctors during your off hours!” 😀 (And no, he didn’t scream, not even once. He’s quite personable and, as they say ’round here, wicked smaht. I’d love to have him as a dinner party guest.)

Back story to the picture above: I was able to sweet-talk the hotel staff into unlocking this piano so that I could rehearse for the interfaith service with the Prophecy Street Singers, as I’ve dubbed us. (Photo credit for the non-orange-y pics: snorfbat, who also plays a mean banjo!) The service itself took place in a conference room with a rented keyboard; more about that little adventure later — stay tuned! 🙂