Pacificon 2005 is now history. I had a wonderful time as usual. Thanks to all of the wonderful speakers and workers who helped make it happen. Plus a huge thank you to the clubs and companies that donated to the auction. Thanks to the Arizona ScQRPions, Houston QRP Group, QRP Maine, 4States QRP Group, Pacific Antennas, American Morse Keys, W6MMA Super Antennas, Song Kang, Sam Imai and Hendricks QRP kits for donations. Here in no particular order are my thoughts.

Meeting Thomas Kuehl for the first time and listening to his talk. If you host a qrp forum and want a great speaker, get this guy!!

Seeing Jim Duffey again. Dr. Megacycle is in fine form, and doing well. He did not turn down an offer of a beer all weekend.

Having tremendous help at the QRP Auction Saturday night. Kathy Long, Jan Davis and Vickie Tayloe saved my bacon many times during the event. We could not do it without them.

Seeing Alan Rowe, M0PUB win the NorCal 2030, serial #1, and offering to give it back, as he had already won one prize at the convention. The crowd would not let him, and he accepted it with a huge smile on his face.

Watching the reaction from the 3 Brits when Vern Wright, W6MMA and the owner of Super Antennas presented each of them with one of his new antennas. Vern also donated 2 antennas to the auction. It was great to see Vern again.

Listening to Dr. Megacycle give another presentation. Duffey is a great lecturer, and is fun to listen to, plus you always learn tons from him.

Seeing the speaker shirts and badges that Dean Davis did for us. Absolutely amazing work. Thanks Dean.

Having Dinner at the California Burger on Friday night and seeing the freeway look like a parking lot.

Getting nervous going the back way on an untraveled before shortcut. *It did work!!

Sitting at vendor night Friday night, and watching all of the qrpers visit with their friends. I thought fondly of Jim Cates, and how he would have been happy to see this continue.

Seeing the job that Mike Schettlar did on the NorCal Paddle kit that he bought from the Jim Cates auction last year. It was a fabulous job, and Jim would have approved.

Talking with Steve "Snort Resin" Smith.

Sitting in the audience watching and listening to the Alan Rowe, Steven Farthing and Jan Verduyne present the QRP2004 Transceiver. Seeing how pleased they were to have Dan Tayloe in the audience listening to their presentation. (Their rig uses the Tayloe Mixiing Scheme).

Reading the suggestions for the People's Choice speaker for next year's Pacificon.

Having dinner with Dr. Megacycle, Bob Okas, Dan and Vickie Tayloe Saturday night.

Having breakfast with Bob Cortez and Samarai Sam Imai Saturday morning.

Riding in the elevator with a bride on her way to her wedding and seeing how happy she was.

Being able to pronounce Jan Verduyne's name close to right.

Meeting and visiting with John Sullivan. Sharing stories with John about the BC QRP group, especially Joe and Derry.

Seeing and visiting with Lee Hutchins again at his miniature J38 key booth.

Talking with Doug Hauff, and seeing Doug's mother again.

Teasing Matt Kelly, age about 9, about going to sleep during the auction. Watching the look on his face when Ron Smith gave him a couple of kits to build. Watching the look on Ron Smith's face when he saw Matt's face.

Playing music with Bob Okas, Wayne McFee, Darrel Jones, Ron Smith and a couple of other guys who were singing with us.

Being brave enough to actually sing in public.

Playing my 83 year old banjo.

Seeing a couple of products in the vendor area and wondering how in the world that they charge that much money for that stuff.

Seeing Bob Tellefsen again.

Bidding against Mike Gipe and winning the bid on an LDG11 tuner.

Having fun at the auction.

Having an unbuilt 49er, NorCal 40A Club Kit, Cascade and NorCal 20 in the auction!!! Mentioning that Eric Swartz had worked 100 countries on his NorCal 40. Hearing Eric say that the NorCal 40 was the rig that sparked the creation of Elecraft.

Missing some of the usual attendees.

Having breakfast this morning with the HF Pack guys, and meetin Virgil of the HFPack Amp fame.

Teasing Darrel Swenson by calling him "Herb".

Watching Paul Maciel try to keep me in line at the auction. I kept wanting to give the items to the winning bidder before they paid!! Paul wouldn't let me.

Seeing Ralph Butler again and having the pleasure of introducing him to Thomas Kuehl.

Having another great working relationship with the Mt. Diablo Club and the fantastic cooperation that they give us.

Seeing the 2 HFER radios with "Herb" and Dr. Megacycle.

Running up to the room to grab my banjo when the guy came in the vendor room and announced that we had to evacuate the hotel because there was a fire. (It turned out to be a grease fire in the kitchen). No damage, just smoke. And not very much of that.

Seeing Bob Miller, but regretting that I didn't get a chance to visit with him.

Meeting an a new ARRL guy who is the operations manager and asking him why no QRP endorsement for DXCC. Hearing him give the standard ARRL company line about no way to prove power output. The guy has only been on the job 8 months, and he knows the company line well, grin.

Having lunch with James Bennett Saturday. Hot dog was ok, Chili was awful. Paul Harden would have died. NO seasoning at all in it.

Listening to the NorCal 2030 and the QRP2004 radios on one of Vern's antennas in front of the hotel after the forum Saturday.

Watching Ron Smith sell 3 NorCal keyer kits in the lobby Sunday morning.

Being able to be lucky enough to get to pick up Tom Kuehl at the Oakland airport and getting to visit with him 1 on 1 for 30 minutes both coming and going.

Watching the Oakland police write tickets at the airport. I saw 7 different officers giving tickets in 5 minutes.

Having to pay $6 to park for 1 hour and 10 minutes at the Oakland airport. Tom O'Brien needs to move from Boston to Oakland and run for city council.

Shaking hands with Paul Maciel and saying thanks for a great job at Pacificon 2005.