by Kaley Lyon, FHSU
DENVER — Monday was the first day of business for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, as delegates from across the nation gathered in Mile-High City.

As expected, Hays resident and national delegate Shala Mills had a busy day.

After an early breakfast and picking up her credentials, she was off to the "Big Tent" near the Pepsi Center, where hundreds of bloggers and media outlets will gather this week.

"That was a lot of fun — very interesting," Mills said.

Mills and her husband, Darrell Hamlin, both are credentialed bloggers, and have been sharing their experiences on Everyday Citizen, a blog headed by Hays resident Pam Pohly.

"We heard a lot about how blogging has grown exponentially over the past few presidential elections," Mills said. "It was just a very crowded room."

There were also continual panel forums in the tent, where Mills sat in on a discussion with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Mills also has had the opportunity to become acquainted with Democrats from all over the nation.

The Kansas delegation is housed in the same hotel as the North Carolina delegation and in close proximity to the Washington delegation.

Monday evening, Mills was heading to the Pepsi Center for the nightly program — keynote speaker was First Lady hopeful Michelle Obama.