Who’s a dumb-ass cripple? Uh, yeah, that would be me.

First, the dumb-ass part:  I have mis-placed the transfer cable for my camera.

I took LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of photos, yesterday, and they’re all still on the device sitting, hatefully, to the left of me.

We might be able to jerry-rig a solution using a TomTom cable, but until we find that out, we’re basically just sitting here with lots of photos, and no one to see them.

Now, the cripple part:  I over-estimated my ability to overcome my disability for a full weekend.

Here’s how yesterday went down:  [I will add links as I get them - some folks have moved, others are new to me, though I'm not new to them, apparently, and I'm having massive brain flatulence today, so no one get offended, kthxbai...YOU WILL BE LINKED, EVENTUALLY.]

-Forrest and I arrive at America’s Center…I proceed to the Press Room, he goes to sign in as an NRA member.

-I run into Thirdpower in the press room (after getting the rundown from the nice gals in there), and shoot the shit for a while, mainly about how retarded the Brady Bunch is being on their Twitter page in response to the speakers at the convention.  (There was a comment made about there not being anything other than white faces in the crowd, but in the press room, there was a black dude two seat away…TP made the comment, “I keep trying to tell him he doesn’t exist, but he doesn’t believe me.”  Hah!)

-After receiving texts from Jay and Peter, I head to the Convention floor to assess the damage (i.e. look to see what I wanted to run around and get more info on, today).  Forrest meets us there, and by “us,” I mean a veritable smorgasbord of FANGIRL SQUEE.  I met AD, Mad Saint Jack, Old NFO, Jay (finally…jeez), DaddyBear, Dennis of Dragon Leatherworks, and Awelowynt.

-I run into Peter while on the floor, after a series of, “Are you here?  Where are you?” text messages, and we shoot the shit for a while and geek out at a few booths.

-I get a S&W M&P hat.  Why?  Because it was free.

-I buy a shirt from Springfield Armory, and get one free.  Why?  because the one I bought in 2008 is GONE, and I have no clue where it went.  Also, I love my XD, and I have no problem advertising it.

-After more text discussion, and a couple of phone calls, we head back up to the press room to plan dinner and pack up our stuff.

-We walk approximately 1/2-mile to the hotel where nearly everyone is staying (“…and here my troubles began”…), passing the restaurant where we were to eat on the way.

-Forrest and I decompress with Jay while he scoops Caleb on his own gun (I can’t say that didn’t make me giggle), and get ready for a loud dinner.

-Who’s sitting at the dinner table along with all of the other awesomeness we’d met earlier in the day?  OLEG!  I ran and gave him a hug, which I’m sure he both appreciated and was confused about, seeing as how it’s been nearly 3 years since I last saw him…heh.  Dennis and I talked about reviewing holsters (I will be doing that, soon), and I also found out about some of his network television projects, which are just awesome.  Watch NCIS on Tuesday night, and you’ll see Abby carrying around a custom-made product.

-After an absolutely delicious dinner at Angelo’s, we head back to the hotel to sit in the bar and be loud.  Phlemmy, MattG, and LawDog showed up just as we arrived (in fact, that’s why we left the restaurant when we did), and there was much *squee*-ing.

-…and then there was much drinking and photo-taking.  Oleg let me borrow a couple of his lenses, but I was tipsy, so while I got some good shots, I’m afraid I took many more mediocre ones.

-Phlemmy and I have some scandalous photos floating around of the two of us sharing some kind of awesome drink that has freakin’ POP ROCKS around the rim.  I don’t know what it was, but I want it.

-…and then MattG regaled me with a tale of woe regarding condoms.  Thanks, Matt.  Also, HIS HANDS ARE ENORMOUS.  As soon as I can get the photo off of my camera, I’m going to be posting it, here, but I have large hands for a girl (from my palm to the tip of my middle finger is over 7″ in length, and my hands are too large for most gun grips designed “for women” – I wear men’s size-L gloves because my thumbs are so long, and I’ve broken more than my fair share of surgical gloves by merely flexing my hand while wearing them), and Matt’s hand is easily twice the size of mine.  Seriously.

-THERE WAS SO MUCH AWESOME THE BAR COULD BARELY CONTAIN US.  I also can’t remember all of it, partially because I was tired and drinking, and partially because there was SO MUCH happening.

We all decided to retire for the night at around 1am, and a fellow gunnie (please see note about about links, sir) was nice enough to drive Forrest and me back to our parking garage (we managed to park right across the street from the convention, which was awesome), and after figuring out that yes, Virginia, there was an elevator, we reached the truck and discovered that the ticket booth was unmanned.  We’d been parked there for nearly 12 hours, so I had $12 in cash, ready to hand over for our freedom.  After a moment’s panic (wherein we assumed we’d have to call the emergency line and have someone let us out), it was discovered that, apparently for $1 in quarters, we could lift the gate and go free.  ONE DOLLAR.  For all-day parking.  BONUS.

We arrived home, got to bed around 3am, and today, I have discovered exactly where my limitations are, in terms of my physical issues.  I have no hangover (puh-lease – I take harder drugs than that for cramps), but from shoulders down my back, to my hips and through my calves to my toes, I am HURTING.  My mom offered to let me use her walking chair thing (it’s like a walker, with a seat, that you see older people using…you know what I mean) transport chair, but I figured I would just rest, today, so that I can be active and awesome tonight and tomorrow.

So today I am hanging with my family for a bit, and meeting up with the crowd at Tigin’s for dinner.  Afterward, we’re going to drag Jay kicking and screaming to Ted Drewe’s for some frozen custard, come hell or high water.

_____

As soon as I get photos off of my camera, I will make a post about the one person who actually accosted me for my “media” badge (after making sure I wasn’t trying to advertise anything…he was relieved and happy to find that I was “merely” a blogger), as well as some details about THE PEOPLE ZOMG, because this year has a great crowd.

I’m feeling a little sheepish today, because I over-estimated my ability to run around for an entire weekend, but I’m determined to not let it get in my way of having a good time.  Besides…the exhibit will still be open, tomorrow, and I can do my in-depth visiting of vendors, then.

Squeaky out.