Evo's Show/People Report
Southwest Rubber Stamp Fall Fiesta
November 11, 2000 - Mesa, AZ
Sponsored by:
Great Southwest Rubber Stamp Events
PO Box 336
Mesa, AZ 85211-0336
ph/fax (408) 649-3566

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Heyyy, Folks...
Should've known this would be a good show because of all the "different" things that came our way on the trip. Should've known... and did, I think... before we ever got to our gate at the Tampa Airport.

On our trip from "landside" to "airside" at the Tampa Airport, our shuttle stopped. Now, when I say "stopped", I really mean "stopped". Shuttle crammed full of people, "stopped". Shuttle high up in the air, "stopped".

But... not to worry. The computerized voice in the shuttle advised us... "You have stopped short of the airside terminal. Do not panic. Maintenance has been alerted and is on its way." OK! I liked that, and so did the 50 people on the shuttle with Mr Evo and myself.

And... 10 minutes later, help did arrive. And... 5 minutes later, we were at airside. Thank you, Maintenance! Your name goes down in Evo's book for the person to call on any future emergencies. Without you, Maintenance... this would have been really scary.

I'm hesitant to report that Mr Evo's favorite bartender Rick saw us and had our favourite drinks sitting before us almost before we sat down at the bar. Now, THAT'S scary. And... the first thing he said was... "Been thinking of you... A Rubber Stamp Store just opened up near where I live, and every time I pass it, I think of you". Now, folks, is that impressive (or scary) or whut??? :{<>

We arrived at "airside" early and had an hour to kill with Rick. Mr Evo immediately struck up a conversation with the lady sitting next to him... she was a physical trainer for 4 girls' sports at the U of Ga plus was a professor of Anthropology. Whoa. I couldn't compete. I mean, for real! I can't talk sports talk... Mr Evo can, and with a flair! She was traveling on the same plane to Atlanta as us, soooo... I said to Rick... "Maybe I should change seats with her, 'cause she and Mr Evo speak the same language". Rick, knowing more about me than the average person, said... "Nawww. He can handle your snoring during your snoozes. Maybe if you changed seats, a stranger couldn't." One more reason I respect Rick. He gets right down to the nitty gritty of real life. :}>

We arrived in Phoenix as scheduled and were met by my sister Grace and her dear dh, Ernie. Amazingly... the same skycap that helped us with our 6 bins at the earlier Phoenix show was the same one that helped us this time. He was superb. He didn't mind taking our six 70 lb bins out to the parking lot and loading them on Ernie's trailer. Have I told you lately that I also luv skycaps? Well, I do.

There were 3 people immediately at our booth in Mesa as soon as the show opened... Cyndy C and Char W and Barbara M.

I've known Barb M on-line since 1996, at least, on MIRC chats and the RS list. I've wanted for soooooooo long to meet her in person, and this past weekend I finally got to do that. Barb, also known as "Rolln"... is one of the most beautiful rubber stampers I've ever met. It's funny... we meet people on-line and form a mental image of them. Barb surpassed any image I ever had of her. She's young, she's vibrant, she's beautiful and is fighting a physical battle that I can't even conceive of having to endure.

Barb? Thank you soooo much for your inspiration. I saw you and hugged you and felt your vibes and loving spirit and knew ... I had just hugged one of the truly special people in this world. Your vibrancy and love of life is unbelievable. Thank you for letting me know you in person, and... I know in my heart there are many years ahead of you. And, I thank the Universe for that. I'll see you next year in Mesa! Yes, we'll be back!

Cyndy and Char are fairly new in my life... and they, also... will remain! Cyndy rushed to me yelling, "Evo!", and gave one of the best bear hugs I've ever experienced! And, Char, ohhhh Char! Sooo sorry you were thrust immediately into handling sales in our booth that you weren't prepared for. I thought we had a demo'er for the show ... who didn't arrive... so I did the demo thingy. Poor Char and my sister Grace were thrust into the sales positions with little help from me, since I was demoing. Both Char and Grace were superb! And... you stampers were, also. You were soooo patient waiting in line to have your sales written up. Orchids to Char and to Grace and to You Stampers... you know who you are!

Orchids, also, to Barbara, the sponsor of the show. Her mother passed away unexpectedly a few days before the show, and I am in awe of her being at the show Saturday. That had to be super hard for her. ((((((((((Mega hugs to you, Barbara))))))))))))

OK, I warned you that this was a (long) report. How long have you known me? Have I ever lied to you???? :{<> This, for sure, is a (long) report.

Now. One more thingy about traveling to shows or anywhere! Be sure you bring familiar products with you, as in... shampoo, toothpaste, skin moisturizers, etc. And... be sure if you don't, you wear your glasses when you use these products! Some bottles look alike. How do I know? I don't.

Well, yes, actually, I do. Saturday morning of the show, I showered, I dressed, I fixed my face. Arizona is known for "dry heat", even though it was cool that weekend, so I slathered my face, neck and arms with skin moisturizer... and then spent 10 intense minutes doing the "make-up" thingy trying to make myself look 10 years younger than my actual 60 going quickly on 61 years.

I looked good! Then, I put on my glasses and tidied the vanity counter up... putting away the cosmetics...but, lo and behold... with my glasses on... the "skin moisturizer" was spelled... " conditioning shampoo" . Whoa. Heyyy, my face and arms felt good! Looked as good as probably they ever could, but... I knew... if I were caught in a rainstorm, I would float down the street in a flood of bubbles. And, the worst part was... it had actually rained in the Phoenix area the day before! Geez... re-wash, re-do make-up... :{/

OK, I know you would never, ever fall into the same scenario I did, but just in case... if you wear glasses...wear them when you prepare to "fix your face". It's a must. :{0

One more orchid to give out... Betsy P. You know what you did. When my sister Grace-who-in-reality-knows-nothing-about-stamping was trying to cope with the entire booth while I was giving my demo class ... you came, you saw, and you said to Grace ... "You look like you need help." And, you demoed and showed and helped for an hour. Tell me what you want, Betsy, and it's yours. For real. Well, except for my first or second born or Mr Evo or my sister Grace or her wonderful dh Ernie. Other than that, Betsy, what you want is truly yours!

This, to me, is what shows are about. People. We don't have another show to go to until the Grapevine, TX show... mid January, 2001. Whoa. We can handle that, yes, we can. I think. We're gonna try, anyway. I think Mr Evo and I are both half gypsy.

And, the sad part of this report is (because it is truly toooo long) ... I didn't get to tell you about the desert turning green since our last visit to AZ, or the birds that were still giving us a real live show on the hill behind Grace and Ernie's patio (whoops, sorry, I called it a porch in my last report), or the ground squirrel that invaded the bird house, or the Bose Radio in Ernie's vehicle that he cranked up high so I could hear every nuance of the Kingston Trio and Neil Diamond or... so many other wonderful happenings.

Thank you, Mesa, for being rubber stampers ... we loved being there. And, yes. We will be back.

Ellen :}> Evo