First Day in Auburn

After getting in late to Fort Wayne, IN we got up early.  First thing we did was to go to breakfast.
While at breakfast we talked with David Anspach about AACA. David was concerned about issues with the AACA Museum. After two years it is still a hot topic.  The split from AACA was not nice.
We also talked to another group about our show in Mobile.  They were from Michigan.
Darrin and I headed early to the auction.  Today was all memorabilia.  All that stuff that went for to much money. R&M Auctions does a great job setting the stage to sell for a lot of money.  The cars are in the staging area with red carpet.  The stage is decorated to stand out with a regal feel.  The best of the best neon signs and metal signs lined the stage area.  The constant bidding of the auctioneers got you all excited about the item up for bid.

I enjoyed walking around the swap meet area talking to every one.  Darrin bought an old plastic oil can display for his garage. Later in the afternoon he bought a cabinet.  I bought a match box size pedal car.
I talked to many people about the Mobile show.  Inviting many vendors to our Mobile show.  We will see how many people show up.
The Zenith cars were arriving.  It was a great chance to get to talk with each of the owners and invite them to Mobile.  These cars are amazing.  The best of the best.  The top two of each Nationals is selected to participate in the completion.
Early afternoon Kelly Adams arrived.  We headed over to the Early Ford V8 Museum. The new wing had just opened.  The addition represented the World's Fair Rotunda on the outside.  Inside was a 1936 dealership showroom.  Every model of the 1936 was well represented.  They were still working out the final placement of memorabilia.  The grand for the museum opening was on May 10.
One of the things that I love about AACA is the many friends from all over the US. Darrin and I were invited to dinner with the "wives" of the Board of directors.  Dinner was at Casa Grille an Italian restaurant. We all enjoyed so of the best Italian food in the region. Thirty of us all took up one section of the restaurant.  We all had a great time reconnecting. Darrin spent time talking with Ralph Towner of the Suwannee River Region.  We plan to make a trip to see his shop very soon and move forward on Darrin's patent.

20 Years Later

I love to celebrate.  I love a get together.  I love family. I love friends.  But most of all I live my husband Darrin
For years I have told him we need to celebrate 20 years of marriage.  So that is what we are doing this week. 
First we fly out of the Downtown Mobile airport to Chicago.  We will then head to Auburn, IN for the Grand National.
This will be my first time to get to judge a Grand National.  I am excited to move up in the ranks of judging.  I have worked hard to be able to attend enough shows to reach this status.
The flight to Chicago was just short of two hours.  It was mostly a bumpy ride but wasn't to bad.  We landed on time and made our way to the rental car via a shuttle bus.
We picked up a car and headed to Auburn.  Ten minutes in we turned around and took the car back.  It did not want to run. It went into limp mode.
The new car runs just fine.  Traffic was backed up all the way through Chicago.  Darrin navigated to I-90 like a pro.  We are now settled in for a two and a half hour drive.  It did not get dark until 9:30. Most of the ride was in daylight. 
This 20 Year celebration is starting off with adventure and a lesson in going with the flow.  We arrived at our hotel to find that our rooms had been canceled. 
They found us a room and it was very tiny. Who care when all you will do is sleep.  But it was very tiny.