The Recap

I hate to say it, but I almost feel like I should open up with an apology. So many people to meet, so many times where conversation was cut short. Much danger in these recaps, too. You’re bound to leave someone out. So….

If I leave you out.

Lo siento!

Anyway, has anyone told Andi what a great idea the pre-conference cocktail party was? Minus the fact that you had to buy carnival tickets for beer. I was in the reception area a good hour before folks started trickling in…had to get the milbloggies prepped. You’d be amazed how quickly the room filled. I think everyone had the same “fashionably late” time in mind. Met Slab for the first time, what a great dude. I was kinda ticked that I didn’t get to chat with him more that evening, but it turns out we were able to hang out Saturday night. He’s a sharp guy, we’re lucky to have him on our side in this fight. And we’re even luckier to have him at OPFOR.

Met Ward Carroll at last year’s conference, but Charlie and I maybe got three words in with him before all three of us got pulled elsewhere. I’m not sure anyone took the time to thank him for filling in as MC of the event. What can I say? The guy is impressive. He wrote his speech down on a napkin at the local IHOP around 0730 on Saturday morning (thanks to Rich Lowe from Soldiers’ Angels for buying Ward and I breakfast, btw).

Hung out with Ward and Noah Shachtman and Army Girl at Carpool on Friday night, where Chuck entertained us with his shotgun skillz (or lack thereof) at some Deer Hunter bar game. (Ward’s roundup is here).

And that reminds me….Military.com, besides being our sponsor, has really been the leader in the field as far as promoting soldier journalism. Was most satisfied to see that they helped lead the way this year.

And USAA? Hell, could you have asked for better awards for the milbloggies? A digital camera, plaque, and a $1000 donation to Project Valour-IT? By the way, I made sure those donations all went under “Team Air Force” for the 2007 drive, so we’re $9000 ahead of the rest of you chumps.

Okay and speaking of the milbloggies. You guys know I screwed that up right? Mary Ann was supposed to get an award for her work with Soldiers’ Angels Germany, but for whatever reason I put the plaques behind the podium in a weird order and she was passed over.

I had a few back-slaps after the presentation….where I replied to the “great jobs” with “thanks, but I had to drink my way into it.” Folks laughed, but seriously. I had to drink my way into it. I think I was 5 beers deep by the time I got up to the podium, just buzzed enough to think I’m charming, just sober enough not to slur my way through the presentation.

Not sober enough to get it right, alas.

So….SORRY MARYANN. Couldn’t apologize enough to her afterwards, but she was very cool about it. Very cool about it. I get the feeling that Mary Ann doesn’t do her incredible work for shiny plaques and digital cameras. But it’s still nice to be recognized, y’know?

You know, for a fighter pilot…I don’t think I heard Lex talk about how great he was once. Not once. Are you sure you’re a flier Nep? Noteworthy though, he did trash the F14 on panel 3. I kinda gushed around him…..we’re pretty much all huge fans of his blog….it probably came off as “omg you.are.SO.awesome!” but y’know: I can always blame the beerrrrr.

I didn’t get enough time with Matt or Pinch, period. That sucked. We hung out quite a bit last year. I did get to meet Mrs. Pinch though, and heard the behind the scenes story on their much-publicized wedding.

Eagle1 of Eagle Speak was phenomenal. Both on the panel and in person. Very focused, smart fella. Someone wanted to meet him, forget who, and I couldn’t find the old sea dog in the crowd. So my advice: “LOOK FOR THE DUDE FROM THE GORTON FISHSTICKS BOX!”

Yes, I’m teasing. But with that neatly trimmed white navy beard and his official title of “Captain”….

Am I wrong?

The ladies….ohs, there was alot of you there was. But y’all:

ya’ll are pretty cool. Laurie and Maggie too, not sure where they ran off to.

Quick thought. How many DoD PAOs did we have show up? I know Deiss and the Pentagon Channell….and Kosovo Dad was supposed to show but couldn’t…was that it?

Tomorrow or tonight I’ll finish this up with the conference recap. I have to split this thing up….being home in Virginia is phenomenal, but I’ve been going full speed since I got here late Wednesday evening. So many people to see, so much beer to drink. So, part II tomorrow sometime.

Lots more to talk about.