OK, I'm startin' to get a little excited . . .

Okay, I'm starting to pack. Making the list:

*Camera and charger/cell phone & charger
*WCAF Binder with tickets & badge
*Sticky roller
*Cherry juice
*Knee pillow
*Tax ID# and resale letter (Do I need to bring business checks, or will credit card do? Just in case I find something I can't live without....like, say, a Seal press)
*Business cards - mine
*Business card holder book - yours
*Near-empty suitcase for bring-homes
*Reading glasses, notebook & pen & highlighter
*Jellybeans
.
.
.
What am I forgetting??
Trade & Bank References Sheet (Credit Sheet) for opening accounts with new suppliers.
Good walkikng shoes.
 
Make sure you have your account numbers with your existing vendors. That's really all you need. When ordering from them, the need is obvious, when opening a new account, trust me, with two account references (just the account #s) or a credit card, they'll be glad to take your money. They won't need your first born.

Remember -- their job is to part your money from you! They'll make it as easy as they can on you!


Also,
DON"T TAKE ANYTHING OF VALUE! There are safes in the rooms, use them if you must bring something! DON'T LEAVE laptops, cell phones, jewelry, or ANYTHING of value unlocked anywhere!

In my many years of going to Vegas, I have lost two watches (off my wrist!) and one laptop. My associates have lost more. It's a VERY fun city, but it does attracts some not nice people.
 
*Tums - check.....Aleve - check

*Walking shoes - bought 2 new pair yesterday (even though they're new, these particular ones have the Ahhhh-factor the minute you put them on!)

*Doing the Vendor Account # list today - I remembered and added that after I posted my list - thanks!

Cliff - I don't have anything of value, so that's easy! Ha! Unless you consider my titanium hips, and they'd have to steal me....and then they'd bring me back! Good advice though.
 
One of these days, hotels will get smart.. and start installing safes that are the size of the mini-bar that in no longer in the rooms.

IE: safe lockers for laptops, cameras etc.

as for having to bring all that info... that is the one thing that I liked at PMA/PPFA.. you swipe your ID card, and it has all of your info that the vendor needs right now. You can open a new account in 20 seconds flat or less. I watched it happen.

With Frank's, we can open you as a credit card account in about 72 seconds... and don't need the references......
 
I like my walking shoes the way I like my airline pilots....

*Walking shoes - bought 2 new pair yesterday (even though they're new, these particular ones have the Ahhhh-factor the minute you put them on!)

Caution, Val! Also take an OLD pair of comfortable walking shoes, just in case.

The Ahhhh-factor can become an Ouch-factor after a long day. I learned that the hard way. Those shoes seemed to fit perfectly and felt like friendly old house slippers at first. But later, I realized that the shape of the toe-box pinched the little toe just a little bit. By the end of the second day, I had to give them up.

I like my walking shoes the way I like my airline pilots and my doctors -- with a little gray around the temples, and a lot of direct experience. All of them just get better with age.
 
I buy these same shoes every 4-6 months. $50 walking shoes that go on sale for $17. Exact same shoe. When my feet start hurting, I know it's time to watch the ads at Big5. My normal day on my feet is abt 12 hours. I have one new pair on now and they feel wonderful!! Yesterday my feet were killing me in the old shoes. Same model.

Some shoes, with my problem feet, don't get better with age. Slippers, on the other hand.....ahhhhh!
 
One day, a very shrewd vendor will give free, really comfortable shoes / clogs/ flip-flops, whatever, that are perfectly suitable for shows a la WCAF.

Imagine the lines, coverage and free advertising such a shrewd vendor will have!

OK, maybe not free, but say, $5, because the "shoes" will have the shrewd vendor's logo on them!
 
I'd love to wear Crocks, Baer, the colors are great, and everyone says how comfortable they are, but they're too wide for my scrawny feet...I slide around in them. Or do they make them in 7-1/2 Boney?
 
How much tiny-er than my wife's 6A are you?

And, the first 20-30 hours that you wear them, the plasticizers that are proprietary to Crocs, are reforming the shoe to fit your feet.. then it wears out and you have YOUR shoe... which is why the Crocs it bought before the broken left foot.. fit very tight on the left. Gotta throw them out.

But the "Reds" match my 13EEE left and 12D right just fine.:D

They also just came out with a new version that has a softer sole for people with planters fasciatus. Is this a great company or what?:thumbsup:
 
6A? Hmmmm........I'm gonna check it out. Want the PURPLE ones!!
 
Hey Val... I'm going to be in the Shadowbox Lecture with you Sunday morning. And then again on Monday in a couple of the same classes (Wizard Univ and Bob Carters class). I hope to see ya Sunday also at the Buffet.

AGAIN, I am really EXCITED. Yippie.
 
Okay, it's time to start posting photos, everybody.

I really don't want to have to stand up in class and say

HI ! I'M VAL AND I'M A GRUMBLER!"..........but I will.

So, here's me wearing my first Wizard-mat
Smile.jpg
 
I did, once! Except it was brunette. About a hundred years ago!! See? Good thing I posted that picture, or you'd've never found me, huh?

NEXT??
 
Entertainment

Is anyone going to some of the fabulous Las Vegas shows? Two years ago we saw the "Beatles" - it was money well spent! One year we went to the "Dueling Pianos" in New York (it's a bar; go early..it fills fast) - I LOVE those places!!

This year my birthday present was a pair of tickets to the Celine Dion concert for next week. I understand her show is superb.

Sure wish Il Divo was in town!!

For those going to the Paris Buffet (my favorite) - if you like crepes, leave room to splurge! Last year, they were still 'the best'!!

Enjoy.......I'll be looking for your ribbons - bras, straps, hats, empty wallets - whatever you are adorned with, I'll have a suspicion you are a winning GRUMBLER!!
 
P.S. I still wish that there was a Grumbler Breakfast!!...perhaps set up in a room so that we could all mingle. It should even have Hitchhikers and PPFA'ers! Does anyone else like that idea? Or are ALL of you night owls??
 
Last year I bumped into a lot of grumblers at breakfast downstairs in the Hilton. THe problem with breakfast is everyone's trying to prep for what's going on for the day and schedules at the beginning of the day tend to be hectic.

I saw most people in line at the "coffee bar" near the lobby?
 
Half the line at the breakfast place in the hilton is usually framers. It's a great place to meet other folks. Andy and I will be there every morning, about an hour before the show opens.
 
The "Diner" you guys are refering to is the Paridise Cafe.

The Buffet is also open and the line is usually a lot shorter at 7am.

But then, as I found out... neither had a line at 6am. Which is what you would need Sherry, because 2 1/2 hours of gabbing is just NOT enough when it comes to Grumblers..... as Rob found out...

Which is why the Chinese dinner is not going to be that same "speed dating" of past years. AND no whining about how 'you have to teach class in the morning'..... so do we.:p

A side tip, for those who like their prime rib.. the Steak House is nice and quiet and low light and all that..... but the same rib (shared kitchen), plus tatter, and salad that will run you $50, is about $14 in the Paridise... and the place is quiet in the evening. The dead people laying about in the booths are usually vendors on Wed. night. :D
 
That's IT! The Paradise Cafe! Good memory Baer. I knew it was something Cafe!!

I don't think we've done the buffet for breakfast - good idea; and yes, I'll start as early as I can!!

Thanks for the info re: prime rib. You've got ALL the scoop!! You'd think you'd been there before, or somethin' like that! ;)
 
GRUMBLER I.D. PICTURES! CALLING ALL GRUMBLERS....I.D. PHOTOS!

C'mon you guys, don't make me be the only one with my mug posted here......I want to be able to find you too!!

...............................NEXT??
 
OK, you wanna photo . . . here it is. It's a little on the "official side" but it's all I have right now.

No drooling!!:)

Jerry S.
 

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Yep, just as I thought.....a Framer disguised as a police officer!

Nice mug shot, Jerry!
 
photo

OK Val, here is a link to a photo.....from 2003. There is a recent staff pic on the main page--I'm in the front middle, Jeff is behind me.

In the News Photo

Home page photo

Kirstie
 
Oh brother.....I pictured you more like this:
bear_sitting_up.jpg
 
And she better be coming along to meet the whole family...:D

Val, behave yourself... just remember you are never to big or too old to be turned over someones knee.
 
"OK, I'm startin' to get a little excited . . . "




Being that we decided not to go this year, as we spent all we could on new tech last year, I am startin' to ge a little jealous.

New though, that I better not go, so as to control my spending.

Hope you all have a great time and looking forward to hearing all about it.

Will no doubt be lonely around here.
 
We will make sure to post daily-highlights of the show.

We won't go into other stuff and details like how we got all liquored up, food orgies we attended and other assorted debaucheries. We will keep it professional....:p

We just want to keep you all up to date with the events in Sin City.
 
"OK, I'm startin' to get a little excited . . . "




Being that we decided not to go this year, as we spent all we could on new tech last year, I am startin' to get a little jealous.

New though, that I better not go, so as to control my spending.

Hope you all have a great time and looking forward to hearing all about it.

Will no doubt be lonely around here.


I knew, that that was knew and not New.....you know
 
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