Went down to Annapolis, MD after work for the Young Democrats of Maryland Legislative Reception in the Miller Senate Office Building, Conference Center West. It was my first time in a state building ever and I didn't realize that I wasn't allowed to enter with sharp objects (legislators might hurt themselves?) so I had to run back to the car before we could get in, but the security guard was very friendly and didn't even make it feel like a search.

Once, Suzy and I realized that the dress code was somewhat more formal than our jeans and sweater/collared shirt attire. Inside I hooked up with Jayson Williams the President of the Baltimore County Young Democrats, who I had e-mailed earlier in the day to get more information about the event.

Jayson then introduced me to Dan Martin, also from Baltimore County. I mentioned to Dan that I was a little uncomfortable being there in jeans, and he explained that for most people in the room this was work attire, as most worked as either legislative assistants or lobbyists.

After I explained that I knew absolutely nobody else in the room, took me on the grand tour of people from Maryland District 8, including Mark Yost, Katherine Klausmeier's Legislative Director, and Wayne Definbaugh, one of the Democratic Candidates for the House of Delegates in Election 2006. I also met Joseph Ferraracci, a former District 8 Senator who I was embarassed not to recognize and who then showed me his senate ring as we talked a little about life in Parkville, MD.

Everybody got up for presentations a little after 19:00 and I found Wayne outside in the foyer of the Conference Center and talked about his thoughts on the upcoming election. He mentioned to me that Todd Schuler is also running, so at this point I have personally met three of the four folks who will be running for office in my district. Eric Bromwell, who was probably sitting just down the hall in the chamber for most of the Democrat's shindig remains one of my favorite legislators I've never met.

On the way home I missed the exit for I-97 and wound up taking Route 50 west to D.C., sitting in traffic for 30 minutes before heading up I-95 to Red Emma's, where we have come to crash for a few mintues and type up this blog entry. What a day!

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