Well, it's that time.

Time to load the little bit of unsold merchandise into boxes. Time to take down all the signage, roll it up and put it into their tubes. Time to load up the pallets and wrap them in clingy plastic for their trek back to Connecticut.

Time to say good-bye to the ARRL 2007 National Convention and Huntsville Hamfest.

I had a blast. True, it was not exactly the weekend I had planned or expected, but I really did have a lot of fun. I got to meet new people (lots of new people!), renew old friendships and make new friends. I got to know a couple of people better, and even made plans to meet up with others in a few weeks when they come to town.

That's what Amateur Radio is all about - friends. Whether we only meet them on the air, have an "eyeball QSO" or see these people on a regular basis, we are all friends. It's one of the many magical parts about ham radio (don't get me started on my "magic box" speech because I will never stop). We are more than just a call sign. Sounds corny, I know, but I really believe this.

I'll try for a couple more entries in the next day or so - right now I'm sitting in the Huntsville Airport waiting for my flight to Atlanta to connect to Hartford - but I might just recover from this weekend. Sleep was futile at the hotel (have you ever heard of "too fluffy" pillows?), so I am tired.

But I wouldn't change a thing.

All the major vendors are here. We've seen Icom, Yaesu, Ten-Tec, MFJ, Kenwood, Gigaparts and others way too numerous to mention.

The hamfest closes in two hours, give or take. Crowds are starting to thin, but there's still a lively group of people here at the all-air-conditioned Von Braun Center.

On Saturday night, 17 ARRL staffers ventured forth out of the air-conditioning and went to dinner at Mason's Pub in beautiful somewhat-downtown Huntsville. And yes, a good time was definitely had by all.

Our party was so large, they split our table between two waitresses. Of course, the waitress my side had was absolutely ummmmmm, horrible. The other waitress, waiting on what turned out to be her fourth table ever, was wonderful. Even so, we had a blast. I am so glad I went out with this great group instead of the DX Dinner (really a no brainer, since my DX dinner "date" had to beg off).

At the table next to us, another large group, a guy proposed to his girlfriend - luckily, she accepted!

After the dinner, we trouped back to the hotel. Most of us went to the Wouff-Hong ceremony. Last night, I was initiated (indoctrinated?) into the mystical and glorious way of the Wouff-Hong. We had a lot of fun - almost 100 people joined me in this fun tradition of Amateur Radio history. I would post pictures or tell you all about the secret handshake and password, but then bad things would befall.

And we can't have *that* happen, now can we?

:-)

Last night, just after the Convention and Hamfest closed down, the ARRL Alabama Section held a reception for its retiring Director, Frank Butler, W4RH (or as ARRL West Gulf Division Director Coy Day, N5OK, says, W-4-Red-Hot).

ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, presented Frank with a plaque, thanking him for his 50 years of elected service to the ARRL. Frank was definitely in his element, meeting and greeting all those who came to show their respect for this man who has helped make ARRL into the organization that it is today.

Frank will certainly be missed come January (and beyond) when the ARRL Board of Directors comes to Hartford. But I have a feeling we won't get rid of Frank *that* easily.

:-)