Dead time in Ohio

Whatever possessed me to think accompanying Kayti and Rex to the Ohio "hamvention" would be a fun time? I should know better -- I went to the Missouri one last year, as those of you who look at my old blog know.

Rex has pressed me into service putting together kits for his display at the informal vendor's night tonight. I had other plans! What about them?

We stayed in Niagara Falls, Canada, our first night out. As anyone could have predicted, Customs pulled us aside so as to question Rex closely about his van full of suspicious-looking electronic parts. It was freezing out, and the agents made us stand outside while they investigated.

I'm always amazed at how serious Customs agents are. I know, they have to be, they are protecting their country. I'm not complaining. It's just that people like Rex think they are so innocuous that they can joke around with Customs agents. All that does is make the agents more suspicious.

The first one saw Kayti and asked, "Doesn't she go to school?" and then, "Why ISN'T she in school?" like we were kidnappers or something. Well, I suppose we could be. Although we might be a bit more selective if we were kidnappers. Kidding! Honest!

The hotel we stayed at charged us $10 for parking and there was a bottle of water on the desk in our room with a sign saying, "Enjoy this water if you like! Only $4.50!" We were afraid to do anything for fear we'd get charged. In fact, the next day at the falls, I bought a coffee & two hot chocolates at Tim Horton's, and when the woman asked if I wanted a carry tray, I said no, because I figured I'd have to leave a deposit.

Now we're in Ohio, and it looks just like Missouri. The trouble with these conventions is that they're all held in hotels near a lot of shopping centers. It's very generic. Everything looks exactly the same as everywhere else. These ham people don't care.

Meanwhile, back in Maine, our housesitter is threatening to take our puppy and run away to Alaska. He just loves her! I think he told Rex this morning that he'd be happy if we'd stay away for another week or two.

Tell me again why I came here for a good time!