Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee plays the guitar with his band, Capitol Offense, at a party during the RNC-week festivities.

Alyssa Caplan
AC360° Staffer

It’s felt a little quiet at 360° the last couple of days. Not that it’s actually quiet. It's just that there's been so much noise the last couple of weeks, comparatively, it seems quiet.

As I sit at my desk, I wonder if, like me, journalists, politicians, and other conventioneers in offices across the country are looking longingly at the business cards they collected over the last couple of weeks, while pulling rogue streamers and pieces of confetti out of their pockets, muttering to themselves, “the party is over.”

The weird thing is, for anyone who worked at the conventions, (or even made a sport out of watching them and history in the making), it certainly wasn’t all fun and games. It was endless days, swollen feet, hoarse voices, looming fears of hurricanes, and weight gains or losses (depending upon stress coping style). I myself wasn’t technically working at the conventions, but used the time off as a sort of summer enrichment project. Some people follow Phish, I spent the last couple of weeks making my way from the DNC in Denver to the RNC in Minneapolis.

So while I figuratively pick the last flecks of glitter out of my hair, my thoughts turn to some of the characters I met along the way, some of the things my eyes saw…

-The back of Gayle King's (Oprah’s best friend) head. So close to Oprah people! So close, yet so far away.

-The Lobbyist who within seconds of introducing himself to me, informed me that he was a classically trained vocalist and started belting out Sinatra’s My Way (my song choice). Goes beautifully with Kanye’s Gold Digger blaring in the background might I add.

-The young and eager teenagers from Denmark sporting Obama pins wanting to know where they could continue to party. Yes, upon further questioning, they came all the way from Denmark to support Obama and participate in our little old political system – and according to them, their whole country is following this election with equal vigor.

-Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner casually holding court in the corner of a room, talking to various fans/friends.

-Rapper Fat Joe looking not so fat. I told him that. I think he might need to change his name to Phat Joe, or Average Joe. I didn’t tell him that part.

-Gov. Huckabee jamming out on his bass guitar with his band, Capitol Offense. There is something disarming about someone when they’re passionately playing an instrument. Instead of campaigning, maybe he should have just held concerts in key primary states.

-A young unassuming looking protest “bystander” being treated in the ER after being pepper sprayed, solemnly recounting that her curiosity really caught up with her this time.

-Country star Joe Nichols making a surprise guest appearance on stage with Gov. Huckabees band. I have no idea who Joe Nichols is, but the crowd went wild.

-Overflowing emotion in the form of tears, cheers, and passionate displays of patriotism from Dems and GOPs alike.

Here are a few more photos from Denver and Minneapolis:

Kanye West performing at ONE campaign party in Denver. 

Run in to Anderson on street. Discuss raise. Goes Brilliantly.

Ben Affleck pretending its not weird to have an audience gather just to watch you talk to other people.

Luke Russert and Jennifer Garner chatting at ONE campaign party.

Country singer Joe Nichols joining Gov. Huckabee's band for a song at a RNC party in Minneapolis.