NOTE: This blog was written on Thursday at the convention. Poor access to the Internet at my hotel, the Kansas delegation's hotel and Excel disallowed me from posting it until now.

9:30 a.m. Best Western Bandana Inn

I receive my courtesy wake up call at 6: 30 a.m., but my fabulous self does not wake up until after 9 a.m. I spend the morning updating my blog and trying to get my hotel’s Internet to work. I also use the down time to read what the major newspapers are saying about the convention.

I am disappointed to see an article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune blasting the Daily Show. The author of the article says the show uses sitcom style techniques, but it is not as well written as the good sitcoms, and that even the people on the street who are interviewed by the show’s correspondents are annoyed with the show.

The article makes me angry because everyone knows what the show is and what its about. If you have a problem with it, keep walking and refuse to do the interview. That simple. I am also mad because somehow this putz got tickets to the show, whereas I don’t think I will be able to, and I am a huge fan of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. Stop ruining the experience for the rest of us who are excited the show left New York for the week to tape in Minneapolis. If you don’t like the show, then don’t watch it.

Moving on.

2 p.m. The Westin- The KS GOP Delegate Hotel

A tribute to Bob Dole is being given at the hotel this afternoon. It’s rumored that John McCain might attend the event, and I am giddy. Maybe I will get to see every 2008 Republican candidate for president up close and personal this week!

The food at this event is awful too. I know you are not supposed to bite the hand that feeds you, and I have to admit, the hand I have been dealt at the RNC has been a fantastic one all around, but I need a meal of substance every once and awhile. Instead I settle for pita bread and a very salty white cheese dip that has some sort of bread crumbles in it. I also load up on fruit, a chicken skewer, a sugar cookie and a rice crispy .I top the meal off with an orange juice and club soda- no drinking at the open bar for me today. Unfortunately, I’m working.

The reception part of the tribute continues until about 4:30 p.m. when suddenly people standing to the left of me begin to clap and cameras begin to flash. People are quickly beginning to crowd around the doors to the left, so I take a risk and go around the bar to the right, hoping to catch the political icons that are walking in before they reach the stage.

My instincts are wrong, and I miss the opportunity to shake hands with Fred Thompson. McCain is nowhere in sight. Darn it!

My quick thinking does land me a spot on the floor in front of the reserved tables, however, which ends up paying off for me later.

Each person who speaks at the tribute stays at the podium for only a few minutes with the exception of Dole himself. They all recall their memories of working with him fondly, and by the end of the reception Dole has tears in his eyes. It’s hard to not be moved when the men speak. Dole is truly a great man, and no one can deny it.

I am surprised how funny he is though. When asked jokingly if his gift was a package of Viagra, I almost had a heart attack. As Kansas Republican Party Chairman Kris Kobach said at this mornings breakfast, the speech was more like a political themed comedy hour.

Read More about Dole’s speech here.

After the speech, the attendees who were lucky enough to be sitting near the stage are allowed to speak with Dole and their picture taken with the political legend. He is running out of time when I reach the front of the line, so I do not get to speak with him, but I am able to have my picture taken with him.

6:45 p.m. Excel Energy Center

Despite my late start, I am exhausted by the time I reach the convention. I try to drink a coffee, but its too late. As a result, I drift through Huckabee and Mitt Romney’s speeches. A fellow journalist drags me up from the media dungeon to the arena for Giuliani and Palin’s speeches, though.

I’m glad he did when we realize we’ll be able to sit where we can see the stage. The seats are still in the nosebleed section, but at least our seats have been upgraded.

The live stream cuts to a view of Bristol who is holding her baby brother. Why is she always holding the child! Why doesn’t her father hold the kid? It brings more attention to her and the fact that she is pregnant!

Both Giuliani and Palin’s speeches start off slow, and I feel like they are both bombs, until all of a sudden, about a third of the way through, a fire lights inside their hearts, or somewhere else, and it doesn’t go out.

Line after line, they attack Obama, and line after line they receive standing ovations of applause. What a massacre!

Here are some of my favorite lines from their speeches:

Giuliani: This is not a personal attack ... .it's a statement of fact - Barack Obama has never led anything. Nothing. Nada.

Tough times require strong leadership, and this is no time for on the job training.

So, our opponents want to reframe the debate. They would have you believe that this election is about 'change versus more of the same.' But that's really a false choice. Because "change" is not a destination ... just as "hope" is not a strategy.

For 4 days in Denver and for the past 18 months Democrats have been afraid to use the words "Islamic Terrorism." (Yes they did. They said “Barack Obama” countless times at the convention!)

Later, after discussing it with his 300 foreign policy advisors, he changed his position and suggested that the "the UN Security Council," could find a solution. Apparently, none of his 300 advisors told him that Russia has a veto on any UN action. Finally Obama put out a statement that looked ... well, it looked a lot like John McCain's. Here's some free advice: Sen. Obama, next time just call John McCain.

Palin: I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a "community organizer," except that you have actual responsibilities.

But here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion - I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country.

While I was at it, I got rid of a few things in the governor's office that I didn't believe our citizens should have to pay for. That luxury jet was over the top. I put it on eBay . . . And I thought we could muddle through without the governor's personal chef - although I've got to admit that sometimes my kids sure miss her.

Our opponents say, again and again, that drilling will not solve all of America's energy problems - as if we all didn't know that already.

We've all heard his dramatic speeches before devoted followers. And there is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate.

But when the cloud of rhetoric has passed ... when the roar of the crowd fades away ... when the stadium lights go out, and those Styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot - what exactly is our opponent's plan?

And though both Senator Obama and Senator Biden have been going on lately about how they are always, quote, "fighting for you," let us face the matter squarely. There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you ... in places where winning means survival and defeat means death ... and that man is John McCain.

After Palin's speech, McCain makes a "surprise" appearance and says, " Don't you think we made the right choice for Vice President?" By "we" who are you referring to, sir? Because if you are referring to us, the audience, "we" did not make this decision at ALL! In fact, "we" were not even consulted. "We" were surprised, actually. Stop pulling a Hillary. Next thing I know, Palin's going to be telling us it was "your" hard work who got the first woman vice president elected.