Hi all.  We are finally back from the Convention and our extended trip to Michigan.  We didn't make it to the Buffalo area or on to Vermont this time but intend to go back this fall.  We hope to find a small town that will welcome having the Museum there.
.
We checked out Holland, Michigan a bit as far as having next years convention there and it looks good so far...but NO definite decision has ben made.  Keep your eyes peeled for an announcement.
.
Now for my perspective on the Convention of 1999.  WOW!!!!  I worked the desk in the hospitality room upstairs all day Friday and till noon on Saturday.  There were times I didn't know which way to turn.  Thanks to all for being so patient.  I met some of the most wonderful people. More about them later.  :-)
.
Jen (Todd's wife) and Shelley from Hot Headz who showed up were so busy they finally had to shut the door to their room to get caught up on all the cars people had brought to them to do.  My pride and joy is the following car I had them do.
 
 

Isn't this the cutest thing you've ever seen?  We are very much looking forward to them being at next years convention.  I am getting the cars ready that I want done now.   I love the Hot Headz t-shirt Dennis bought me too.  Thanks for coming to Memphis ladies and we hope you are just as busy next year.  You will be if Dianne and Grayson (I am going to apologize in advance for spelling your name wrong Grayson.  Send me the correct spelling and I will change it) show up.  :-)
.
Then we have those special people who showed up at this years convention.  Once in a great while you meet some one and have an instant rapport with them.  That happened with Dianne and I.  She loves pink cars and ended up with two of my pink customs.  The girls both will be getting one of the pink Woody's and then I won't make any more of them.  All three of us really loved that one and are happy it has a good home.  She kept Jen and Shelley busy for hours.  And....she doesn't like Jeff Gordon.  She's as near to perfect as one can get.  :-)  I hope to see you next year as well as your husband Joe.
.
Then we have the people from the Cajun Hot Wheelers Club in Louisiana.  I know it wasn't the entire club that showed up but they certainly outnumbered most of the rest of us.  And you are the nicest people.  It was a pleasure to meet all of you.
.
Next we have Charlie.  Please get in touch with me about the orange Passion.  It was very nice to meet you and your grandson and Dennis wanted me to let me know he very much appreciated the time you spent talking with him.
.
And a special thank you to Stoneman and his Father for the Hot Seat on display.  Go to Stoneman's Quarry for the pictures.  It is extremely AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It was actually hanging on a peg too!  Unbelievable!!!!!!!  It is one of those things of which one cannot comprehend the scope unless one is there.  I hope to have it at next years convention too.  Way to go guys and excellent job Mr. Stone.
.
I would like to say hello to Preston and his fiancee as well as Pam and her son.  And a very special hello to Mr. and Mrs. Troy Landey.  Troy and Tammy were married on Friday night and spent their honeymoon at the Convention.  Talk about a dedicated collector and an understanding wife!  Congratulations to Troy and Tammy and we at CB's wish you many years of happiness together and maybe you can celebrate your silver anniversary with us.  Of course N and C will be running the show by then.
.
N and C had a great time at the Convention and wish to say hello to Red and Ginny.  Ah, Red and Ginny.  Wonderful people and N and C instantly loved them.  Another example of meeting people for the first time and having an instant rapport with them (although knowing them through email made them old friends).  Thanks much for the items you donated, the trades we made and the great prices on the cars you sold to me and others.  We hope you will be at the 3rd Annual Convention as well.  I promise N and C won't follow you around like puppy dogs next year.  And we may just have to make you staff members so we can put you to work next year without feeling guilty.  :-)
.
Then we have the only two civilians who have attended both Conventions that are not staff members - Larry Walker (the man who purchased Moses TH) and Jim Cross.  Larry really cleaned up with that Hot Wheels banner and got to have some fun with a TH at the same time.  Jim is a sweetheart and the Father of Stoneman's wife Fran.  If I would have been able to get away with it I would have taken him home with me.  He'd better watch out next year because we may just kidnap him and put him to work being a tour guide in the Museum.  Nah, he'd hate being surrounded by all those cars.  :-)
.
Thanks to Axle for working Axle's Wheel.  He is a great guy and raised enough money to keep us on the net for over a month.  He also donated some great items to the Museum and there will be pictures of those items on the notices page along with all the other items donated in the next couple of days.
.
We also raised money from the raffle (which I have not had a chance to count yet) and it looks like we will be around for a few more months.  Thanks to all who bought raffle tickets and to Red and Ginny for the raffle idea as well as donating the first items.  Red's donated white 59 Caddy in the 30th Anniversary package was a big hit.  The big hit with the kids though was the approximately 3 foot long plush Oscar Mayer Weinermobile donated by Axle.  N ended up with that and C won a 30th Anniversary Woody which she promptly opened up and played with (and I had to apply headlights to when we got home).  I am not sure who ended up with the Caddy...but I don't think anyone went away unhappy.  I am already collecting items for next years raffle as well as the auction.  Bought the first auction item myself in Michigan.  :-)
.
I have a special thank you to send to Mark Dubois.  He donated a bar of soap with a car implanted inside as well as a great banner for the Museum wall.  (Pics will be on the Notices page).  Mark is a great guy and we hope to see him again next year.  If you still have an extra of the Street Rods sets please get in touch with Stone or me.  I would like to have one to open for the Museum.
.
Now, last but not least we have the Stoneman.  He did an outstanding job and made this the most enjoyable Convention to date.  It will be very hard to follow in his shoes.  Thanks Stone for all the hard work and making it all come together to create an atmosphere everyone enjoyed. I talked to no one who was displeased with the time they spent at the Convention.  You did good guy.  And thanks to Stone's wife Fran and his daughter Heather.  They both put up with all the stuff Stone had to put up with as well as having put up with Stone over the last year.  :-)  You are all three very special people and Stone, you deserve all the credit for this Convention.  (Hey, I would have made you take the blame so its only fair you get the credit).  :-)  And N is so happy you found her dog Roxy.  She can't wait for him to get home.  :-)
.
So now we move on to next year.  This years Convention will help us set the standards for future Conventions.  I am already hard at work and next year you will be reading a thank you here to Dennis for putting up with me being a pain for the next year while I plan Convention 2000.  Already working on the convention cars.  Sorry, no hints.  :-)
.
But you know what my favorite part was?  Most of you treated these cars like toys.  You ripped them open and had Jen and Shelley applying decals till they dropped and some of you were even on the floor racing with N and C after they opened their cars.  You were serious only if looking for a very special car.  The rest of the time you were having nonstop fun.  Way to go Conventioneers.  I hope this same spirit invades next years convention.     Trish