Since Chuck let the cat out of the bag and told everyone I'm older than dirt and changed Adam's diaper --  :) I'm qualified to give the real scoop on this convention -- right????

As usual, it was dull... no one had a darn thing to say to each other - after all we were all strangers - what could we have in common? We just sat around starring at each other...  And if you believe that one , send me your credit card number -- have I got a deal for you.... ;)

Think I was hugging (and checking out buns) before I got my suitcase out of the truck (Svenn and Bente were in the parking lot). Sent my bag to the room (never got there till about 1 in the morning (after Chuck and I closed the bar). Jimi and Ruth were "boring" as usual but Jimi has such a cute tookus that I overlooked it  :-* (For those who are new -- I LOVE Jimi and Ruth).

While we were enjoying a nice quiet dinner, who shows up but Chuckles! The only thing he did to redeem himslef was to bring Tony along, so we let him join us. Then his beautiful daughters showed up (one thing the old goat did right in his life) and they are delightful.

After dinner we all retreated to the bar for an "after dinner drink" (yeah right) and some socializing. I think someone posted some "socializing" pictures (don't believe everything you think you see!).

Friday was a day of meetings, socializing, trip to the O2 factory, socializing, eating, did I mention socializing(?) and more socializing. One thing I've noticed since I met my first Clusterhead - it's hard to keep up with all the conversations at once. Some of "us" diehards remained up until after midnight when Dr. Peter arrived and met him. That was a real treat and he is a delightful man. But he posed a question (well actually two questions....) when was the Kip scale first introduced? and when did we first start referring to our headaches as "hits"? Research time... DJ (after a "late night sesssion with his trusty computer) found that the Kip scales was introduced on May 19, 1999, but I never heard if he found the "hit" question. That one should keep some of you "researchers" up for a few hours. :-/  After they turned the lights on in the bar, the security guard told us we had to go to bed now.....

Saturday dawned EARLY! Breakfast and meetings. Somehow during breaks we "found" things to talk about with each other (imagine that). Me, I stayed very close to Chuckles (he had the nicest set up on his O2 tank and it actually wasn't Chuck himself I was in love with, but his O2 tank with that cute little BLUE mask (Mine wasn't hooked up at the time and his was always by his side - so was I - by his side that is).

Elaine and I found ourselves alone in the bar sometime Saturday afternoon and got to reminissing about the first OUCH convention (the garage one) and got to counting up the years since that one. Next year will mark the 10th anniversary of that fateful trip to Rochester. We decided we're going to bid on convention for next year and hold it in Drummer's garage. Only a couple of minor problems we found. We don't know where Drummer is and don't know if he still owns the garage (did I forget to mention there "might" have been a "little" alcohol involved in these plans? :) ). Anyhow there was a tear or two shed - I think we're the ony two left from the old garage gang, but we were laughing thru the tears as we remembered the stuff that went on there (four of us were chronic and getting hit pretty bad and none of us had ever seen another person get hit - eye opening to say the least!).

After the banquet Saturday night we all retreated back to the bar (imagine that) and everyone was trying to get everything in that hadn't been said in the past few days. Some were leaving early and trying to say "goodbye" (that's the hardest part of conventions).  Ya'll know that I'm about the tuffest old broad around here, but I think I held on to a few people a little longer than was necessary just to say so long (probably got my watch caught in their shirt or something :) ) but I certainly wasn't crying - the smoke was just thick in the damn bar....

Well, as usual, the security guard came in after they turned the lights on and told us we had to go to bed, so we left. I rode up the elevator with Tony and Chuckles and for some reason kept pushing the wrong damn buttons and kept hugging (and squeezing buns) everytime the doors opened on the "wrong" floor. Took us about an hour to get me "home" and say "goodnight" (wouldn't give Chuckles the satisfaction of saying goodbye).

Sunday morning, I was going to leave early, but sat out in front with my bags sitting there waiting to put them in the truck -- just talking and not wanting to leave. Finally got off about noon, but went out to visit an old friend (Clusterhead who's not around the board anymore,but one I keep in touch with) and stayed with her till almost dark - great visit and didn't want to leave there either.

Got lost leaving Dallas (ok I get lost in my driveway). Almost ended up in OK (Mike you don't know how close you came to having me knocking on your door), but finally got on the right road and got home waaay later than I'd planned.

So now I'm back at the farm and wishing I was back with all you idiots. If Elaine and I can find Drummer -- C ya in his Garage next year!!

Hugs BD

Damn I was drunk, cause I want to have the convention in Atlanta.
That damn carport was to hot ! But the smoking arrangements were good. Don't forget Todd and Drummer they are still around, just because we don't see them doesn't mean they are gone. DeeJ  was a big part of the first mini convention, he was on the phone with us the whole time. Without DeeJ none of it would be possible.
We miss Kip and Judy and that was were tears come in, but I am sure they were watching from above.
I enjoy our time together Barbara it was nice remembering old friends that have left foot prints in our hearts. You and Drummer were the first two to touch me when I had a cluster.
O.U.C.H sure has come a long ways since 1999. New blood has been great for O.U.C.H ! Just look how far they have taken O.U.C.H. for us all. Each every person member BOD, President that has served O.U.C.H. holds a special place in my heart .