I am two blocks away from the local arena downtown. It’s rather nice and downtown is relatively nice and eclectic if you’re looking for food. It’s a small strip, but it’s about 10 blocks of restaurants of various kinds of food. I’m very lucky.

Today however, the orange man is coming to the arena. Nobody is in the office because there are road closures surrounding the arena, the level of anxiety in the area is through the roof and most people have opted to work from home today. I haven’t looked out the window recently, but leading up to his appearance, people have been lining up since yesterday afternoon and various groups of protesters have formed as well. The biggest being a tent across the street which the gas station owner must have sanctioned.

It’s amazing the polarization these past two years have seen. Even in this building where we have a dedicated parking garage with open/free access to the highway where we’d all but avoid any closures, protesters, supporters or cops, most have decided to stay home. Why? Are we so afraid of a little inconvenience? Or is it more because we’re so disgusted, embarrassed, afraid and nervous of supporters of the current administration?

I have tickets. They were free and I wanted to witness the mayhem. But so many have drilled it into my head that I would most certainly stand out and be hassled to some respect. I was also afraid, being so close to where I work, that someone would see me and mistake me for a supporter. So instead, I will forfeit my empty seat. As much as I’d like to think it would remain empty, at this point I’m sure coordinators ensure they’re filled by folks standing outside without a ticket.

Should I be this anxious and deterred to see my President speak? No matter how clinically insane, disturbed and morally incapacitated, I should not be afraid to see him speak in person if given the chance. This is what he has created. He has created this climate of vitriol and hate. Instead I will go to dinner with friends and enjoy a night out away from the mayhem. What the hell is happening? I am excited the Circus on Showtime has been renewed for another season as it gave me a serious and intelligent look into the actual ‘Circus’ and i’ve never been so informed in my life than I have been over the past two years. I have never looked forward to another election cycle in my life. It might be the first time I’ve looked forward to it, period.

No one is here. No one is getting any work done. Wouldn’t you think that showing up to work in the face of orange man would be the best way to protest? I guess not. This very liberal University has all but come to a standstill on a skeleton crew today because of it all. Let’s be honest, no one gets much done at home anyway. So here we are, admitting defeat in a way. The reach is far beyond the local economy, road closures and the cost of the additional police force. It’s quite sad.

Beware of the orange man.