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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Hobo, post: 391631, member: 11521&quot;]<b>Sunday 6/29/08</b></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Session II ANA Book Sale was this morning. I arrived very early and was first in line but found out that the #1 spot was auctioned off at Orientation the day before. I was #2 and #1 apparently grabbed the good stuff before I was allowed in. It was semi-slim pickings but I did pick up a number of books. One is titled The Neighborhood Mint and is about the Dahlonega Mint. I grew up in GA and the Dahlonega Mint holds a special interest for me. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Session II classes began at 1 PM. My Digital Photography course looks like it may be a bit more basic than I had hoped but I think I will pick up enough good tips to make it worthwhile. Our class of 11 includes complete photography novices, a semi-professional coin photographer and everything in between. I think it&#039;s a good mix and I like the instructor.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>After class I attended an art exhibit where some ANA members displayed their works. I thought there was going to be a display of coins or paper made from dies made in a Session I engraving class but I didn&#039;t find it if it existed. To be honest I didn&#039;t make it much past the wine station and a Hobo carver named Joe Paonessa who claims to be &quot;The World&#039;s Greatest Left-Handed Hobo Nickel Carver&quot;. Joe&#039;s work is very good and I bought one of his nickels. I happened to have 5 Hobo nickels in my pocket so I showed him the better ones. He thought I made out very well on my Crude Hobo and also thought I got a bargain on the Hobo I bought yesterday (which I think is a Below Average but he thought may be Average). He really liked my modern Hobo carved by Owen Covert. (He said he may be distantly related to Owen. Imagine having 2 Hobo nickel carvers in the same family.) </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I met a guy today that happens to be in my photography course. He is Retired Navy. He was in a car accident several years ago and is 100% disabled. He can walk only a few steps and uses a motorized wheelchair. Our photography class had to be moved to accomodate him. (The funny thing is I followed him to class and he led me to the location the class was moved <i>from</i>. He had no problem going to the location that had to be changed to accomodate him.) </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Hearing his life story it appears that if he didn&#039;t have bad luck he wouldn&#039;t have any luck at all. He suffers from the effects of Agent Orange. He has been the victim of identity theft. He is diasbled from the car accident and requires 4 hours of in-home care every day. A few years ago he discovered coin collecting and has immersed himself in the hobby. Recently his care giver stole a box of coins (valued at 6 figures) he had packaged ready to send to ICG. Two weeks later his home was burglarized and more coins were stolen. (Think these cases are related? The care giver, her boyfriend and the coin dealer who bought the stolen coins have been arrested.)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>He told me he suffers from depression has not left his home in 11 years. I can understand why. He left his home for the first time to come to Summer Seminar. He was here last week taking Basic Grading and totally enjoyed it. When we were talking about coins before class I noticed a sparkle in his eye where before there had been only sadness. I told him that coin collecting seems to be excellent therapy for him. I think his experience at Summer Seminar would make a great human interest story and I plan to recommend an article be written featuring him in the Numismatist.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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