WE ARE "CLINTONIANS"

The past 17 hours have been quite surreal. I don't think I've ever been on so many emotional highs and lows in a span of a day before. With a little urging from Caroline, the two of us set out to camp outside of Cody's a little past midnight yesterday. We had packed a picnic, blankets, and two trusty metal chairs. We got to Telegraph and Haste and actually realized we were fairly close to the front of the line. As I went through nostalgia of my days at Rochsdale, Caroline slept on the streets of Berkeley. She REALLY roughed it last night. I don't think you've truly experienced "Berkeley living" until you sleep on the floor. Unfortunately, I wasn't as gutsy... as I snuggled up against the cool of the metal chairs.

"Slick Willie" arrived right on time. Our spirits rose, until we realized that Cody's are f.ckwits and don't know how to run book-signings correctly. They had "sold" all their tickets through pre-sales, leaving no additional tickets to give out the day of, much against the wishes of Clinton's people. Caroline and I were one of the non-ticket holders. Our cushy position at the front of the line served no purpose as we watched hordes and hordes of ticketholders get in before us, accomodating people that got to the book-signing even AFTER Bill had arrived. Meanwhile, all the campers that endured the cold of the night stood watching.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I tried to get our line to rebel and just push our way through. Unfortunately, that didn't go over so well. Fearing that Bill would leave soon after he had signed books for a good 2.5 hours, Caroline and I started bumming around and asking ticketholders if they could "adopt" us and claim us as their guest. Apparently ONE ticket could get in TWO people and garner TWO signed books. (See how f.cked up the system is? And nobody knew about it 'til much too late!) So Caroline and I played the system. Unfortunately, ticketholders were very unfriendly and almost looked down upon us non-ticketholders. Just when we were ready to admit defeat, Lady Luck smiled down on us. Caroline managed to buddy up with a nice old man. Meanwhile, I finally found a buddy in a really tall man named Hal.

Caroline got through the line before me and came out really excited. Seeing at this point that I was at the front of the line, I was super excited. I would finally get my chance to meet my FAVORITE president (yes, Caleb, of ALL time). However, all was snatched away within seconds... THEY SHUT DOWN THE LINE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!!!

It was such a nightmare... as I stood there, tears welling in my eyes, ready to admit defeat for the 2nd time that day, I couldn't decide what I wanted to do more: blow up Cody's or crawl into bed for a good night's sleep. I guess the expression on my face gave me away. A nice police officer told me that I'd just might luck out and Bill would come out through the front of the store and sign some more books. I waited anxiously and true to Officer Odom's words, I saw Bill come down the stairs and head right in my direction.

I was right up against the barricade, and so I ended up becoming the 8th book he signed when he came out. This is what happened:

Me: Mr. President, I'm from Arkansas!!!!
Clinton: *turns to look at me* You are? Where?
Me: I was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas. You were Governor when I was born! *now speaking in super speed* Three years ago when you came, I wanted to see you speak, but I couldn't get tickets and so I was really sad.
Clinton: *smiles and signs my book*

Wow... and now I sleep...