GaYBOR/Ybor City was quiet early today. Just like before a big storm about to hit. Small changes happened over night. New posters everywhere, strange street signs for the RNC, and people we didn’t know with Northern manners. The convention has been called off today because of the weather but there are still police & protesters. We rode the streetcar down to Channelside with 3 other people in the car. Along Meridian Street were dozens of private dark navy blue rail cars parked. There were police everywhere and placed every 20 ft. Three Cheers for our Tampa Chief of Police Jane Castor!!!! She must have given all the police a class on being nice & human courtesy!!! Many officers stopped us and asked if everything was OK? Did we need some water? Directions? Have a nice day. WOW WOW WOW.
The rain & cancellations killed everything. We only saw one small group of well behaved protesters. From the estimated 5,000-8,000 possible protesters arriving, they estimated a group of 125-150 marched. We made a stop into the Metro Bar & Grille for a beer. Friends Rich & Tripp joined us there. Then the sun came out. We were 1 block from Gaslight Park where all the police horses were collected. Mark grew up on a horse ranch & we are both animal lovers. It was quite beautiful. The horses were all smiling you could just hear them saying. “Cool green grass feels great on our feet!!! & What’s up with the funny police riot face shield we are wearing?” We didn’t know that the horses wear police badges on each side of their bridals.
Then we ran into Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn’s personal administrative staff. Can we say photo time. The temp in city hall is chilly we were told. Let’s hope the rest of the convention goes as good as Monday did. WOW this is a little creepy in a nice way.
Today don’t ask me why, but I checked our myspace page. There was a page from my friend Rex Maniscalco that passed away 3 years ago. Rex had started Rainbow in Sunshine Project, a collection of LGBT photos from the Tampa past. Rex was also a Gay political activist who would have been totally involved about having the the RNC here in Tampa. I clicked on his Rainbow in Sunshine Project & here is what came up http://www.myspace.com/rainbowinsunshine/photos (((HUGS)) to Rex on the other side
