We only had one school to hit today, but it was the biggest in the state. The University of Vermont, UVM, has about 10,000 students aparently. We got a late start this day, because we didn’t have to drive very far. UVM is in Burlington, which is only a 30 minute drive from Hardy’s. We lounged around a bit, got some breakfast, showered, and were out the door between 11 and 11:30.

Since UVM is such a big school we all (Dave, Alexis, Rio, & I) went together. It was just the four of us, but everyone insisted on taking two cars. Apparently no one likes my music, and they refused to ride in THABOAT. Heaven forbid I like more genres of music besides hardcore punk. So Dave, Alexis, and Rio went in one car, and I was left on my own. I offered to play their CD’s too, but nooo. Oh well. Time for more sappy cd then.

We got over to UVM a bit before noon. Luckily we found the student center right away. We had a table reserved for us outside of the cafeteria. As soon as we set up the table we were overrun. I figured we’d put two people at the table and two out by the library or elsewhere, but we needed 3-4 right there at the table just to keep up with everyone. I went right outside the entrance (it was another nice day(for me at least)), and I got people coming in. Dave, Alexis, and Rio worked the table.

For the next hour or two it was a great lunch rush. Most of our take we did during that time. Unlike the other schools I didn’t really meet any notable people, or have any notable experiences. It was just a steady stream of people that I’d pester to sign the card.

Actually, I take that back, there was one person who did stand out a bit. It was one of the staff of the cafeteria. She looked to be in her 30s, and was a strong supporter of us. She was helping us convince the students to help us out, and when they’d go through her line in the cafeteria she’d direct them to us. Later when her shift was over and her daughter came, she convinced her daughter to fill out one of the cards.

Beyond that though, it was a pretty unmemorable day. Lots of people, so we were busy the whole time. We put up flyers here and there advertising the drinking age debate on Tuesday. I wandered over to the library at one point, but there was a protest down there, plus there were like 4 tables out front advertising various, and totally unrelated causes. So between all that, it was damn well oversaturated. I walked back to the student center/cafeteria.

Everyone was hungry, and since the food on campus was all expensive we decided to send me off in search of fast food. Good idea. Everyone was doing a good job, and just were amazing to have this week, I bought lunch for everyone. I drove around a bit and finally found a Burger King. Then I stopped to get some more batteries for my camera and came back.

The cafeteria closed early on Friday, so after 2:30 it was dead. Rio and Alexis stayed at the table while Dave and I spread out around campus to get people walking around. Unlike Green Mountain though, it was a pretty large campus, so it was harder to chase people down or stand in choke points and wait for them. We still did alright, probably added another 40 between us.

By around 4-4:30 we decided to call it quits for the day. It was really slow plus Alexis/Rio wanted to get out early enough to take some pictures while there was still daylight out. The lunchlady told us Tuesday was their busiest day at the cafeteria, so maybe we’ll try back later. Alexis and Rio packed up the table, while I went in search of Dave. We all met back at the cars. While coming back I stopped to talk to an older woman, a professor perhaps, about the issue. She said she didn’t support it, but I challenged her on it. I showed her the graph of drunk driving deaths, I explained our position and such. She was very considerate and listened honestly to what I had to say. We talked for a bit, and while I didn’t ultimately convince her, she told me she was seriously considering it for the first time. She sounded genuine.

We met back at the cars and tallied up our total for the day. It was around 330. That’s pretty good. We drove over to the Ritz Camera shop out by the highway so Alexis/Rio could buy some disposable cameras so they could snap a few pictures before they left. While there I bought a card reader for my digital camera. I forgot my transfer cord, and the card reader Hardy has wasn’t the right size for my camera. The new one I bought was only 15 bucks, so that was pretty good.

We got back a bit after 5. It isn’t often I get to come back in daylight, so I got another good look at Grand Isle. We got back and relaxed. Rio and I played some video games some more. We are fairly well matched at Mortal Kombat. Bonnie made a great dinner of chicken, stuffing, and broccili. Very tender chicken.

We hung out some more, and then Hardy left on an errand for a bit. He had to take care of some stuff for his aunt and then pick up Jonathan, a new volunteer who is just coming up for the day. He was on Howard Dean’s website, and was talking about youth rights issues, and someone there directed him to Jay, and then the two of them got to talking, and Jonathan agreed to come over to Vermont to help out with the campaign. Awesome.

So, Hardy left, and we watched the news a bit. The Pope is dying. He has been sick and ailing for a while now, so this most recent bit of bad news I kinda shrugged off, figuring he’d keep going as in the past, but now everyone is saying this is the end. Its sad to see him go, because I think he has been an excellent Pope. But honestly I know its his time, and while I’m disappointed to see him go I’m not terribly upset over it. Moreso I’m just feeling weird because we are going to get a new Pope for the first time in my lifetime. Its not really a nervous feeling, but just the feeling of embarking on something totally new, something fresh and full of uncertainty. It’ll be cool if they pick someone from Africa or South America. Or the US (ha, not a chance). But yea, it’ll be sad to see John Paul go.

We played with the dog a bit, and then Bonnie and I got some directions for Rio & Alexis because they were about to leave. Rio has school again on Monday, and I think they have some family issues to take care of Saturday, so they needed to be back. They really wanted to stay longer, and I definitely would have loved to have them the whole two weeks if possible, but oh well. They were amazing to have for the days they were here, and they helped out a lot. I’m so pleased, and impressed, and thankful they came up. So many other people had pledged to come up, and had been planning on it for weeks, and ended up not coming up at all. So the fact that Alexis and Rio actually came up all the way from DC, and did so at the last minute with only a 2 day notice, that is all the more impressive and I am all the more grateful. They were a tremendous help, and I am sad to see them go. Its probably just going to be Dave and I (plus Jay, Hardy and Ken off and on) for all of next week, so the Horde has been cut in half.

We took some pictures, they packed up, and they left around 7:30. Dave and I started on entering in the UVM people we recruited. We got through a bunch, but I was distracted by doing other stuff online and talking to folks. We still have a lot to go though. Dave was having some trouble with the computer I guess cause he was getting really agitated.

After a bit Hardy came back with Jonathan. Jay was away at a tennis meet, so Jonathan up and take him back to the HQ for a few hours till Jay got back. So we all hung out. We were all kinda quiet. We talked a bit about youth rights, and how Jonathan found NYRA, and how the rest of us got involved and such. Then I showed Jonathan how to make buttons, and we all got started on that. We churned out quite a lot. Dave was cutting the paper, and Jonathan and I were making the buttons. Cathy called though, so I was pulled away from the action for a bit. She was in Philly seeing art.

After a bit Jay pulled up. He brought some energy to the house, I think we were all spent. He got pulled over by a cop on the way over though. He said there were 5 cars over by the bridge to Grand Isle. Every one had pulled someone over. Ah jeeze. The cop tried to accuse him of drunk driving. He accused Jay of speeding and swerving all over the road. Cops have tried to pull the same line on me before too. Bah. What I wouldn’t give for an honest cop now and then. They can make up stuff like that and pull over every car on the road. Just wonderful. They made Jay blow a breathalizer, and he blew .00, yet the cop still wasn’t satisfied and said he was still suspicious. Yea, whatever. He gave Jay a warning.

Jonathan went with Jay back to his house for the night, and Hardy, Dave & I went to sleep right away. It was like 12:30 or 1 when we got to bed.

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