Well, I’ve already spotted just about everybody in Rhode Island politics and related fields that I know that I know, and even a good portion of those whom I know that I’ll recognize. Curiously, as I pass by legislators, I find myself compulsively checking on my wallet.
As tends to happen, every natural instinct makes me inept at these things. For anecdote, I was about to say hello to URI President Robert Carothers (curious, as I am about his opinion of my doings since the era in which he wrote me a graduate school recommendation) when a familiar unionist face stopped me to chat. When I turned back around, Mr. Carothers was walking away, and I found myself chasing him. I turned around so as not to appear, well, stalkerish.
Perhaps the single greatest thing about blogging is that it gives me an excuse to do what I’m inclined to do anyway: Avoid schmoozing by sitting down at my table and talking to myself, only now I can type.




Etiquette question: Is it rude to blog during dinner? I guess if the politicians never stop scoping out the room, the bloggers can get away with doing their own thing. The show has yet to start.
Apart from the local celebs, Rep. Langevin is at the table immediately diagonal from me. Senator Whitehouse has been wandering around . Non-Senator Chafee bobbled by.
A handful of women dudded up in tight leather clothes — clearly looking to impress people who like for folks to try to impress them — have reminded me to shake my head that these people in state politics take themselves so seriously. Do the rabble-rousers always think thus of the powerful?
9:23 p.m.
Bob Kerr is not in attendance this evening because of a somewhat serious health issue on Wednesday night. I offer well wishes.
On a related note, Matt Jerzyk let me know that Bob Walsh — gubernatorial candidacy notwithstanding — is still not fully recovered, although the prognosis is good, I take it.
9:27 p.m.
Beginning the show on a down note, the opening song is “Everything’s Going to Hell Here in Rhode Island.”
9:47 p.m.
Mocking John DePetro, whom I saw earlier, with a song called “Throw the Wife Under the Bus”:

And making fun of the Cicilline Bros. with “Been Indicted”:

10:20 p.m.
Still here. Some humorous stuff, some local stuff over my head. I must say — and I think this is an annual quality — there’s something conspicuous about the heavy dose of scorn pointed toward WPRO. Conspicuity here indicative of jealousy, I’d suggest. On the other hand, with the particular attention paid to the governor, there is a bit of that “our side versus theirs” feel.
10:31 p.m.
Clearly, we in the East Bay aren’t doing our job. I don’t think we’ve earned one reference in this thing.
10:46 p.m.
What? Aren’t they supposed to have some sort of surprise special guest? What does this failure of expectations portend?
10:51 p.m.
It’s Congressman Barney Frank.
Boooo!
I was hoping that it was President Lincoln and Sarah Palin:

10:53 p.m.
It says something poignant about the state of Rhode Island that the super high-anticipation special guest at the big mucky-muck event of our state seems often to be a national politician from Massachusetts.