TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2008: 3PM

After breakfast, Debbie, Jeremy and I decided to hit the Mall of America. Jeremy wanted to get an iPhone at the Apple store. We had lunch at Kokomos, a great spot to eat and checked out a number of shops in the mall. When we arrived at the hotel, Anderson Cooper of CNN was checking in. Anderson Cooper is an Emmy award winning journalist, author and television personality. He currently works as the primary anchor of Anderson Cooper 360. Cooper is the son of artist, designer, writer, and heiress Gloria Vanderbilt, granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt II of the prominent Vanderbilt Family.

Jeremy asked Cooper if he could get his photo with him- see above. Cooper said he had just gotten in from the Gulf region. Jeremy asked him how many people were evacuted and he said 1.9 million total and he indicated the levees are holding. He was very gracious and friendly and laughed when Jeremy said he had read his book after getting it at Half Price Books.

It's cloudy and rainy with temps in the mid 70s- great weather if you're an Okie used to triple digits in early September. Full night of festivities at the convention tonight.