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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;The Penny Lady®, post: 1315527, member: 16948&quot;]I landed in Houston Wednesday evening while the sun was going down.&nbsp; We had to sit on the tarmac for about half an hour since another plane was still parked at our gate, so I took some photos of the sun setting on Houston from the plane.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/IMG-20111130-01105.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/IMG-20111130-01104.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I ran into the Bruders at the airport so we shared a taxi to the convention center so we could unload our inventory at security before heading to our hotels.&nbsp; (It’s funny, because I also ran into the Bruders a couple weeks ago at the Baltimore airport – unplanned – and we shared a taxi then as well!)&nbsp; I’ve never stayed at an Embassy Suites hotel before and was nicely surprised to see that I had a full living room, kitchen, and separate bedroom – all for just lil ol me!&nbsp; </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111130-01106.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111130-01107.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Here is the view of the convention center from my room at night and in the morning</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111130-01108.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01110.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01111.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>After I got settled in my room, I went back over to the Hilton to meet some friends – the Hilton is right across from the convention center and next to a very pretty park that is already decorated with lights.</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111130-01109.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In the morning I walked over to the grocery store to pick up some supplies, including of course a nice bottle of wine!</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01130.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Here’s the park in the daytime</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/IMG-20111201-01112.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Then I headed over to the convention center which is HUGE!&nbsp; Set up was from 9am to 1pm. </p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01113.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01114.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Here is the Greater Houston Coin Club’s table – note their really cool table cover!</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01115.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>These guys at AOCS are the ones who created my copper Coin Card, and they are set up just up the aisle from me.&nbsp; Here is their pretty 1 oz. Christmas round, as well as their own Coin Card. </p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01116.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111202-01158.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>When the show opened, there were probably 50+ people waiting in line to get in.&nbsp; When I took this photo, the crowd of people were already entering and spreading out in different directions.</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01118.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Here are the PCGS and NGC tables which were both very busy on Thursday afternoon.</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01119.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01120.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>One of the first people to stop at my table was Al/HardTimes – a local from Texas – he wanted to make sure I tried some of their yummy Texas wine so he brought me this wonderful bottle of Malbec from Fredericksburg, Texas.&nbsp; I opened it to let it breathe for a couple hours, and Al and I shared a cup together!</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01121.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01123.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01122.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Several more forum members stopped by!</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Christian/CMerlo1</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01125.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Wade/FrankieFanatic (formerly MorganHunter2)</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01128.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Joe/JoeFro</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01129.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Edwin/Edix (who actually sang “Red Red Wine” so he could get one of my Coin Cards)!</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01131.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Glen Holsonbake/PonyExpress</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111202-01160.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Ray and the rest of the Houston Coin Club volunteers do a great job putting on this show.&nbsp; They are very friendly and accommodating to both dealers and collectors, they spend a lot of money on advertising including several large freeway billboards, and are always walking the floor interacting with the dealers.&nbsp; Here are a few of the volunteers.</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01132.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>They even put on a bbq dinner with live music for the dealers at the end of set up day.</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01134.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01133.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Even though I’ve heard the bbq dinner is very good, a few of us opted out and went to The Grove which is just across the street.&nbsp; The atmosphere there is wonderful, with hug open windows that look out on the park which had huge Christmas ball decorations and green floodlights.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01136.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> <img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01138.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> <img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01147.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Ron chose this absolutely wonderful bottle of 2008 Italian Ca’Marcanda wine, one of the best bottles of wine I’ve had!</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01145.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01144.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I also tried some quail for the first time – and it was actually very good!</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01139.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>After dinner, we headed over to Sambuca’s where we heard they had a band playing.&nbsp; </p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01151.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01152.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>There also was this interesting character (Charles) who apparently is a fixture at Sambuca’s</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01150.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Parked outside the club was this wonderful horse and buggy.</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01149.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111201-01153.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Here’s is what the bourse looked like around 11:30 on Friday.</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Houston-20111202-01159.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>As far as how the show is going, though it was quite busy yesterday with good attendance, and in spiteo f the tremendous amount of advertising the Greater Houston Coin Club does to promote this show, most dealers are reporting that sales are very slow.&nbsp; And so far, unfortunately, today is not much better, and attendance is down quite a bit today.&nbsp; Hopefully, things will pick up, but most dealers are not holding out much hope for huge sales at this show.&nbsp; But we’ll see as the day goes on.&nbsp; I’ll post more later![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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