It's all over 'crept for the clean up, and other than the worst, but inevitable, fear being realized - the nomination of the (really nasty name expunged) dude - all went well. Since our Powers-that-be at work eventually decided to give us all the week of the convention off, I didn't have to go anywhere near the place, and missed seeing firsthand that the police were polite and helpful, the protestors never got wicked nasty ( though some of the signs I saw in TV coverage were pretty revolting.) and the city looked great! All the possible nasty scenarios that Cleveland policemen who work downtown with us were predicting ... It just didn't happen.

Several friends got stupid large chunks of money for renting their houses for the duration. There are a good number of civic improvements that will continue to grace the town in the wake of this event.

Yeah, there were some logistics to getting around, one side of town to the other, with road closures, but they were well advertised in advance, no surprises. The parade for the Cavaliers a couple weeks back did more damage with over ambitious fans climbing things that shouldn't be climbed, and required more street cleanup.

It is such a relief to have Cleveland come out of this looking like a great city. Shame about the nominee, but we can't be held responsible for that. Perhaps now we can stop being a put-down punchline town for every comic. We, the city, made no mistakes.

Alleluia. Amen.

Joanne in a spiffed up, urbane trendy world class Cleveland