Best Example of No Matter How Hard You Try, Stuff Happens
With thousands of people exiting the Pepsi Center on foot on Day 3, a huge, squished rat was in the middle of Auraria Parkway.

Worst Example of Staged Drama
Hillary's entrance on the floor during roll call, after New Mexico yielded to Illinois and Illinois yielded to New York.

Also, it was the Best Example of Staged Drama, although Obama's appearance at the end of Day 3 came in a close second.

Best Cheerleader
Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer roused the crowd on Day 2 prepping for Hillary. Without pompons.

Worst Lighting
For the Everybody Hold Up Your Signs photo ops, one floodlight shone directly in my eyes. I thought Democrats were against torture. (Both Days 1 and 2.)

Best Pointless Sign
Day 1, a couple people going up the Pepsi Center escalator held signs saying "Diplomatic Corps." Was that to keep the dignitaries together like a school group, find lost diplomats, or make sure the group they were riding with didn't get a ticket?

Worst Stage Voice
Day 3, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid won. I asked the guy next to me "How can he keep Senators in line with a voice like that?" He responded, "He doesn't. He sounds like he'd be a good grandpa, though."

Best Freebie
Google (in the Blogger's Big Tent on Wazee) offered a little smoothie, which was welcome on the long, hot walk to the Pepsi Center. (Days 2 and 3)

Worst Encounter with Broadcast Media
The woman (was I supposed to know who she was?) pushing past me on the escalator, followed by a man-slave carrying her garment bag. (Day 1)

Worst Encounter with Alternative Media
Also on Day 1, a guy asked me on the escalator (I went up and down a lot trying to figure out where I was allowed to sit) "Do you know where you're going?"

Me: No, do you?

Guy: Why would I ask you if I did?

Me: Maybe I looked confused and you wanted to help me out?

Guy: Why would I share information with you? Knowledge is power.

Best Media Center
Microsoft's Specialty Media Lounge, where everybody was nice. Plus, box lunches, outlets and comfy chairs.

Worst Ticket Design
Floor Tickets for one level of seats were the same color as the next level, just two shades darker.

Best Press Briefing Question
"How are you going to drop balloons at Invesco Field?" (No, I didn't ask it.)

Worst Press Briefing Phrase
"She'll give a tick-tock on that." Apparently, people say this. People also call the bathroom a potty after their kids are grown.

Best Twilight Zone Train Ride Ever
Day 3, riders discussed someone shooting a gun on a light rail full of delegates and an oil office building where security escorted executives to lunch, protecting them from environmental protesters. Then the driver announced Lincoln Station was closed. Didn't we do this Day 2?

Crossing the bridge from County Line, I thought the "Stop the War" sign guy walking ahead opened a shaken soda can. He was projectile vomiting. When I finally got to the lot, an empty tin of Copenhagen lay nearby and someone had spit tobacco on my car. That stuff was new.