Though a veteran of several Utah state conventions, I have never attended a national one. Thusly I am excited to deliver this report not from Washington, DC, but lovely Tampa, FL, which is anything but lovely right now.

Though the hurricane threatens us, my trip to Tampa was uneventful, except for sharing a flight with former presidential campaign and gangster-themed pizza magnate Herman Cain (who sat in first class) and the Josh Romney family (who sat in coach).

I am volunteering as a member of the communications team for this week and will spend long hours preparing and proofing documents for public release. The logistics that go into an event like this are so staggering that even just the communications effort alone itself dwarfs anything I’ve previously done.

Everyone is friendly, polite, dedicated and hardworking. This is important because the people I’m working alongside will be virtually all I see for the next four days. I thought the convention would be a good opportunity to hang out with my DC and Utah politico friends in our off hours. Hah! No such thing exists.

We have also been encouraged to be on extra good behavior while visiting the Sunshine State representing the party and our nominee. One colleague counseled us:

“What happens in Tampa … will be on the Internet forever.”

…and with that advice, I’m going to read my scriptures and go to bed.