FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Gail]

We have been enjoying the company of various friends who are making their way west, almost as though they are cowboys of yore, to the Tucson gem and mineral show. It is an annual pilgrimage that starts our excitement about our own journey there.
In just a short while we will also be there to enjoy the great minerals, see our good friends and meet new ones, and enjoy many social events.
I will be taking my trusty Nikon D90 with me, so don't be surprised if I aim it at you if you attend.
So, setting the stage for my very time intense passion for sharing our experiences at this most wonderful venue. I hope to see many of you there.
Cheers,
Gail Spann

[Pete Modreski]

Hope you have a great time at the show, Gail! (As I'm sure you will.) And that you come back with some incredible new specimens too!

[chris]

Hi Gail,

Looking forward the cowgirl's report. Have fun in Tucson

Christophe

[Jordi Fabre]

Yupiiiii ;-)

[Gail]

We are on our way to Tucson! Jim and I woke at three a.m. and were out the door at four a.m. Met up with others so we could caravan for the 16 hour drive.
Heading through this huge state we have just passed a massive wind turbine farm. I have three cameras with me so will have lots of photo ops.
We are taking two hour driving times, that way we don't get too tired.

[Tobi]

THE GAIL REPORT - YEEEEEEE-HAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)

[Gail]

We arrived in Tucson in the evening only to find out that we had forgotten to book the extra night. We had come early to be sure to have a few pieces in the exhibit at the University of Arizona and just simply didn't think about adding to the reservation. We were tired after 16 hours of driving, needless to say.
NO one had a room.
I thought of the one person who could make things happen, so I dialed Diana Weinrich. BAM! we were not only set up with a room but we were invited to dinner too!
Woke up on Thursday morning and packed our things back in the car and went off to meet our MAD member friends, Don and Laura Aaron at the Westward Look.
We saw so many people we know just at breakfast!
Dave Wilber, the Larsons, Bruce Oreck and many others.
After breakfast we managed to visit with many of the dealers as they had set up or were just finishing setting up and paid our respects, bought a few beautiful pieces. At one point I looked up to see our dear JORDI as he is now displaying with our son at the Look!
How very nice it was to visit and to chat about so much!!!

[Gail]

Finally, I have internet access!!! I can load photos.

[Gail]

...

[Gail]

...I cannot seem to post anything from the room I am staying in and have tried to load photos. I cannot even add text although I am online. So am using my phone to add this message. The photos of the University of Arizona event are great and also of congresswoman Gabby Gifford. She had been shot a couple of years ago right down the street from here. Turns out she collects wulfenite.

[Gail]

Let's see if this works....

[Gail]

Well, this has been so tough, I cannot get on with the local wifi, and neither can many others. Seems the system is overloaded and the hotel said it had a problem. I have tried everything and finally used the hot spot on my phone. I attempted to load photos over 50 times, with the intermittent wifi, but to no avail. So this will have to suffice.

Jim and I are just loving Tucson this time of year, it's hot one day and darn cold the next. Palm trees and snow caps in the same photo. But we have run into SO many friends and are enjoying the usual debates of prices, who is new to collecting and what fun it is to see what everyone is buying.

So this is a group of photos of Thursday, Feb 7. Enjoy!

[Gail]

...So nice to be able to share photos!

[Gail]

...

[Gail]

We were heading over to the University of Arizona to see the exhibit of minerals from China. Jim and I had put a few pieces in. Many dignitaries were there and we loved watching everyone enjoy the minerals. Kudos to Rob Lavinsky for putting this together.

[Carles Curto]

Malachite looks more beautiful than Jordi.

[Don Lum]

Gail,

I am sorry that you are having technical difficulties but am enjoying what you have sent.

Hope things get better with the Wi-Fi.

Regards

[Gail]

Thanks Don, will buy a hot spot Verizon device tomorrow.

[Gail]

This event was a great success, lots of folks came to the University to enjoy good food and to meet many Chinese dignitaries. Gabby Giffords and Bruce Oreck were there, and reps from various US government officials and the mayor of Tucson.

[Gail]

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