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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;The Penny Lady®, post: 1455896, member: 16948&quot;]Thursday opened with a bang!&nbsp; The show had RECORD attendance for a&nbsp; Thursday, and every dealer I spoke with said they were busy most of the&nbsp; day, and everyone was very pleased with the turn out and all the&nbsp; business being transacted – including me!</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02136.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02137.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>PCGS was also quite busy during the entire show</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02139.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Now that I own the trademark for The Penny Lady® I had a few hats made&nbsp; that include the little ® after my company name (not sure you can see it&nbsp; in the photo).&nbsp; I tried to get my guy helpers to wear my new company&nbsp; hats, but for some reason they were quite adamant against the idea!</p><p><br /></p><p>However, my friend Cindy (Logan McKechnie’s daughter of VAMS &amp; More)&nbsp; didn’t mind wearing my hat at all (it didn’t hurt that it also came&nbsp; with a glass of wine!)</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120601-02167.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>I took a few minutes later in the day to check out PCGS’s very&nbsp; interesting exhibits that including the inverted Jenny airplane stamp,&nbsp; some of wonderful Babe Ruth memorabilia, very old cigarette packets, and&nbsp; a couple cancelled dies</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02143.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02144.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02146.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02145.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02140.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02147.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120601-02169.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120601-02170.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120601-02168.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/Untitled.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Notice the highly sophisticated coin stand that this rare coin sits on!</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120601-02173.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120601-02174.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>This dealer had an interesting display of small jars of gold and silver for sale</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120601-02166.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>And this is the pirate ship where the kids’ gather for the treasure hunt on Saturday</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120601-02165.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>I usually travel home each night after dinner, but since my hubby was in&nbsp; Mexico for the Baja 500 this weekend, I decided to stay in Long Beach&nbsp; at the Hyatt.&nbsp; So when I was checking in, I ran into a couple other&nbsp; notables!</p><p><br /></p><p>Don Willis and David Hall</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02151.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02152.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>The Hyatt Long Beach is certainly a beautiful hotel, and I had an amazing view of the Aquarium and the harbor from my room.</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120602-02188.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120602-02189.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>After the show closed on Thursday, I joined a large group of dealers at&nbsp; Naples Rib Company which I understand is a Thursday night tradition at&nbsp; the Long Beach show.&nbsp; WOW, they were the best ribs and brisket I’ve ever&nbsp; had!&nbsp; And the entire room was filled with coin dealers!</p><p><br /></p><p>There was so much food that I only ate 1/4 of this plate, and had another 1/4 for lunch the next day, and gave the rest away!</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02159.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02158.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Me and another one of my favorite people – Patrick of Grass Valley Coins</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02156.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02154.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02155.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>A sculpture outside Naple’s Rib</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02160.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>After dinner, a few of us headed over to St. Pepper’s Dueling Piano bar&nbsp; right across from the convention center.&nbsp; Since my belly were still&nbsp; quite full from dinner, I only had one drink – but boy, was it tasty – I&nbsp; sure missed having Guinness!&nbsp; </p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02164.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Even though we didn’t end up staying all that long, it sure was a lot of fun!&nbsp; </p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02162.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120531-02161.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Friday started out more slowly but soon picked up and the show was&nbsp; buzzing again.&nbsp; I was soon very busy both buying and selling coins,&nbsp; answering collector questions, offering advice on the coins they would&nbsp; bring me, or giving appraisals on their treasures.&nbsp; I do enjoy this part&nbsp; of being a dealer – chatting with people about pennies.&nbsp; Even with the&nbsp; odd and sometimes unclear questions, I am grateful that I get to be a&nbsp; part of this world! </p><p><br /></p><p>On Friday after the show, we went over to one of my very favorite chain&nbsp; restaurants, PF Changs, which is just across the street from the&nbsp; convention center.&nbsp; On my way over, I took some pictures of the&nbsp; convention center and the area around it.&nbsp; The Long Beach Convention&nbsp; Center is one of the most beautiful convention centers I’ve been to and&nbsp; is surrounded by an equally beautiful harbor.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120601-02178.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120601-02176.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120601-02177.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120601-02180.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120601-02181.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120601-02182.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120601-02183.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120601-02184.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>And I couldn’t resist having a tasty Mai Tai at PF Changs!</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120601-02185.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>After dinner, a few of us drove over to Hawaiian Gardens Casino to play&nbsp; some poker.&nbsp; I happened to take this picture of the sign outside the&nbsp; casino and one of the security guards came up to me and told me I wasn’t&nbsp; allowed to take pictures at the casino.&nbsp; I was a little confused and&nbsp; told him I was outside the casino, not inside, but he said we couldn’t&nbsp; take photos anywhere on the casino premises.&nbsp; I had to chuckle because&nbsp; to me, I thought that would be pretty hard to enforce but I guess they&nbsp; have their rules!</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120602-02186.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Saturday started out very quietly but gradually picked up speed and the&nbsp; room was once more a buzz.&nbsp; I had a very pleasant surprise on Saturday –&nbsp; Bill Tate, an old attorney friend from my 17 years as a paralegal at&nbsp; Morrison &amp; Foerster (MoFo), stopped by my table with his adorable&nbsp; son, Will.&nbsp; I didn’t even know Bill was a collector all the years I&nbsp; worked at MoFo, but then a couple years ago he came to the Long Beach&nbsp; show to fill some holes in his penny collection.&nbsp; We were both “closet&nbsp; coin nerds” and didn’t even know it!</p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120602-02197.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>One thing I noticed at this show - other than dealer forum members, I&nbsp; didn’t see many other forum members.&nbsp; MJ didn’t even stop by my table so&nbsp; I could take his picture for my report – dang, I seriously must be&nbsp; losing my charm!&nbsp; I’ll have to work on that!!</p><p><br /></p><p>Mike/Illini did stop by my table a couple times and it’s always a&nbsp; pleasure chatting with him.&nbsp; And then on Saturday he came by with a new&nbsp; little treasure.&nbsp; He had just one PCGS’s grading contest and his prize&nbsp; was this $20 gold piece!</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120602-02202.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq139/thepennylady/LongBeach-Lakewood-20120602-02204.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Soon, once again, it was time to wind down, pack up everything, load the&nbsp; car and travel back home.&nbsp; I was very glad I didn’t have far to go but&nbsp; it does seem like this show in particular always ends too quickly.&nbsp; I&nbsp; thoroughly enjoy the Long Beach show and am very glad to know that Taryn&nbsp; and PCGS are working very hard to keep it alive and to make it even&nbsp; better.&nbsp; In my opinion, they are to be greatly commended as they did an&nbsp; excellent job with this show!&nbsp; Thank you to Taryn and all of the PCGS&nbsp; staff![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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