What we heard and saw

1. Music from Yonder Mountain String Band, who worked to entertain a quarter-full stadium – and succeeded.

2. Speeches by veterans

3. Luis Gutierrez, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois, who addressed the "Latin American and immigrant community" and ended his speech in Spanish.

4. David Plouffe, Obama Campaign Manager, who talked about the upcoming "weekend for change" and 68 days before the election.

5. Ray Rivera, Obama State Director for Colorado

6. Jan Schakowsky, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois

7. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from California, who called Mile High to order.

8. Invocation offered by Rabbi David Saperstein

9. Presentation of Colors by Disabled American Veterans

10. Pledge of Allegiance led by Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson

11. Star Spangled Banner sung at 4:05 pm by Jennifer Hudson, who did as stirring a job with the national anthem as I've ever heard.

12. Video on the big screen

13. Elbra Wedgeworth, Chair of the Denver Host Committee, who charismatically talked about the city of Denver and the "New West."

14. Vice-Chairs of the Democratic National Committee

15. Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of Colorado, who linked the "Colorado Promise" to the "Promise of America".

16. Ed Perlmutter, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado, whose appearance generated a sincere round of applause and whose charisma leapt off the big screen.

17. John Salazar, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado

18. Diana DeGette, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado

Went to get nachos and jalapeños

Returned to find U.S. flags being distributed to everyone in our section

19. John Lewis, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia and civil rights activist, who described being with Dr. Martin Luther King, when he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech 45 years ago today.

20. Video on the big screen about Dr. King

21. Rev. Bernice King, daughter of Dr. King, followed by Martin Luther King, III, oldest son of Dr. King

Camera malfunction, which had to be fixed, immediately followed by a phone call from my uncle in New Jersey, who wanted to know where we were sitting, so he might see us, if the television cameras panned the audience (he was the one who originally encouraged me to try to get tickets to be here)

22. Music from will.i.am, who sang gospel-rap-R&B... It was a good performance.

23. A second round of remarks from Ray Rivera, Obama State Director for Colorado, who encouraged everyone to get out their cell phones and text something to someone (the DNC?). His remarks were accompanied by a U.S. map on the big screen, which was supposed to show the stadium's text messages in real time. The exercise must have been a better idea than it was a reality.

24. Video on the big screen

25. Music from Sheryl Crow, whose set included "Out Of Our Heads", a song inspired by the Dali Lama's speech on compassion, she said.

26. Video on the big screen about the importance of voter registration

27. Mark Udall, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado and a candidate for the U.S. Senate, whose opponent is the regressive Bob Schaffer. Udall wore a western string tie.

28. Tim Kaine, Governor of Virginia, who delivered a good speech for Obama. But, being a Virginia Tech alumni, I'll always remember hunching over my computer monitor to watch a grubby, streamed version of the speech Kaine gave at the Virginia Tech convocation following the 4/16 shootings. Nikki Giovanni is remembered at that convocation for reciting her healing poem "We Are Virginia Tech". Tim Kaine is remembered for the direct honesty of his own consoling speech (find it on YouTube to see what I mean).

29. Video on the big screen

30. Music from Stevie Wonder, whose performance of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" had all of the impact of a Motown original.

31. Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States, who compared Abraham Lincoln's experience in public office to that of Barack Obama. Both, Gore said, served eight years in Illinois state government and one term in Congress before assuming the Presidency. Later, Gore cited the African proverb, When you pray, move your feet".

32. Music from Michael McDonald, who sang one song: "America The Beautiful".

33. Video on the big screen

34. Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was the only speaker to mention the burden of national debt that's been accumulated under the Bush Administration. Eisenhower said, "[W]e have knowingly saddled our children and grandchildren with a staggering debt. This is a moral failing, not just a financial one."

35. Air Force Major General J. Scott Gration (Retired), accompanied by a huge slew of additional generals (including General Wesley Clark), who all stood behind Maj. Gen. Gration during his remarks

36. Joe Biden, Jr., member of the U.S. Senate from Delaware and Democratic nominee for Vice President

37. Roy Gross, member of Teamsters Local 299 in Michigan

38. Monica Early from Ohio, who became an Obama supporter after fact-checking a "scary e-mail" about Obama, which she received in January of this year.

39. Janet Lynn Monacco from Florida and Long Island, who described her challenges in running two pets shops and trying to obtain healthcare for her diabetes.

40. Teresa Asenap from Albuquerque, New Mexico, who spoke about education and how her illiterate grandmother helped her get hers. "Si, se puede", she said triumphantly at the end of her speech, reciting one of Obama's campaign slogans. 'Yes we can'.

41. Pamela Cash-Roper from North Carolina, who spoke about being a life-long Republican, until her husband and herself became ill, lost their jobs and their health insurance, and found themselves with bills they could not pay.

42. Barney Smith from Marion, Indiana, who spoke about loosing his job of 30 years, when it was moved to China. "We need a president who puts the Barney Smiths before the Smith Barneys."

43. Born In The USA by Bruce Springsteen broadcasted over the speakers

44. A third round of remarks from Ray Rivera, Obama State Director for Colorado

45. Richard Durbin, member of the U.S. Senate from Illinois (wasn't Colorado U.S. Senator Ken Salazar supposed to introduce Obama?)

46. Video on the big screen about Barack Obama's life

47. Barack Obama, member of the U.S. Senate from Illinois and Democratic nominee for President

48. Fireworks