My friend Dave's show opens today at the Westward Look and I heard it was really buzzing. I visited a couple of days later and took some photos for everyone back home. I very much enjoy this show and always make time to visit friends and to see the spectacular things displayed.
And then, to wind up the day, Danny had his annual party at his Fine Minerals International Gem and Mineral Forum ( http://www.tucsonshowguide.com/tsg/shows/forum.cfm ) next to the Inn Suites. This is always a swinging good time and I always welcome the opportunity to visit to see some of the shows most extraordinary specimens.
Saturday 2/4 was an awesome day. We found a third Museum for the show in Michigan Tech's, A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum ( http://www.museum.mtu.edu/ ). George and Sue Robinson stopped in and made some fine selections and can now be added to our elite list of institutions proudly displaying Rat's Nest heulandites. This was a fun visit and later, another fun visit was had when Marty and Rose stopped in and stayed awhile finding treasure. It was very gratifying to hear their positive comments in regards to my room and its inventory and I thanked them overly I'm sure. :-)
A new friend that stopped by was Louis Dominique, the director of publication for the French mineral magazine, Le Regne Mineral ( http://www.chez.com/leregne/ ). Louis was very much interested in the heulandites and plans a small write up in an upcoming issue. Fingers crossed he'll use some of Jeff Scovil's photos too ( http://www.scovilphoto.com/services.htm )!
Also stopping by was Terry and the folks from Stone Market ( http://www.stone-m.com/top.shtml ). They had me smiling and hopping as they selected a wonderful assortment of goodies for their clients back in Japan. While they were there, they were also filming and interviewing both Mr. Nakamura and myself with regard to the specimens they were selecting. It was a fun chaotic time and I had a blast!
So many terrific people stopped by, it seemed like everyone was in Tucson and my face got tired from all the smiling. Among those who stopped by to visit was Jolyon and Ida of Mindat ( http://www.mindat.org/ , note their Tucson Show Report by scrolling down the page!). They and several others from Mindat stopped in and I really enjoyed these little impromptu gatherings.
With the days only seeming to get busier and busier, Sunday popped up quite quickly following the flurry that was Saturday. I'd been getting to bed around midnight or later each night and waking early and the show was its typical intense self. Hauling myself from bed, I showered and got myself presentable and took off for the Westward Look to have breakfast with Dave and his wife Kathy prior to my checking out the show. We had a wonderful meal there and I'd highly recommend the french toast, less the peanut butter, it's incredibly good! It was nice to sit and calmly visit, with the rush that things have been lately, it was a very enjoyable visit. Afterwards, I headed through the show and snapped off photos before heading back to the room. I'd stayed later then I'd planned, but I'd really enjoyed getting out.
When I got back and opened, I had sales almost immediately. That evening, they shut down Allan's room at the Executive Inn and I picked up my remaining stock and took another friend of mine, Dave, to share in one of our little Tucson traditions; dinner with the gang. Allan's bunch, and Jim the cop and I, we all met up at one of the local restaurants and had quite a time of it. Afterwards, I took Dave back to his room at the Executive Inn and we bs'ed a bit before I finally called it quits and headed back to the Inn Suites to crash, another fun day past
Over the next couple days, lots of folks showed up new in town, catching the last days of the Westward Look and waiting for the opening of the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society's 52nd annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show at the Tucson Convention Center ( http://www.tgms.org/2006.htm ) (TCC), the Main Show.
Wednesday the 8th and Paul pulled his rocks today to move over to the Main Show. That evening I enjoyed another wonderful dinner at Li'l Abner's. On Thursday, the Main Show opened and I along with most everyone else in town headed there for a look see. I came in early and walked with my Tucson Police Officer friend Jim and then visited with all of my friends, checking out the displays and the treasures as I went. After several hours I called it quits and headed back to the room, hoping for more new sales.
That afternoon, we landed our 4th and last Museum of this year's Tucson show, the Middle Tennessee State University Museum. What an awesome run! This brings our total Rat's Nest institutions list count to 20. Awesome! Later, I finalized a deal with Allan where we would give the display cases I'd picked up from Kristalle to Robert. It seems Robert could use a couple nice display cases and being as he's such a great guy, we all decided he should have them. This was a really neat thing to be able to do. Later that evening, Jim and I got together with our Australian friends Neal and Lyn, and Bob (who were wonderful this year, even going so far as to give me several flats of Australian rocks for the kids talks I do back home, thanks guys!). We were all hoping to get together with Allan's bunch the other day, but a miscommunication caboshed that whole deal. Tonight we were meeting at the El Corral ( http://www.elcorraltucson.com/ ) and while this was my first time there, this will definitely not be my last! Wonderful prime rib! We had a great evening and it ended all too soon, what a fun time we'd had.
Report continued . . . . . . .
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