DENVER -- With the Democratic National Convention in Denver what we are facing include: clogged highways, downtown gridlock, security checks, protesters, gawkers, politicians, delayed workers and disgruntled residents.

What we need is a little love from everyone to get through the week without pulling out all our hair.

The convention is a great chance to show off the city we love to the in-town visitors and the thousands who will be watching on TV. But the potential for tempers to flare and for any situation to get out of hand is there and cannot be predicted. Some are fearful while others are optimistic that all will go smoothly as planned.

Residents can take steps to stay ahead of the game by doing as much preplanning as possible. Buy RTD fare early; study a map on alternate routes to work or the store; check with trash or other services to see if they will be operating on normal schedule.

Some delivery services like UPS, Fedex or the U.S. Mail may take a little longer than usual as they have to navigate around the convention as well. Pizza and other food delivery services may be much slower than normal.

The more time you spend finding ways around the DNC, the more time you will save while it is in full swing.

If you have a patience tip or suggestion just e-mail me at Jayson_luber@kmgh.com.