Wednesdays National Report

[LuckyLarry]

’ve has some major problems with air travel this year so off on my first driving road trip in many years. Monday drove from Jacksonville FL to Durham NC 6.5 hours stayed at my OBC friend Taylor’s house. Tuesday Taylor drives Durham to Atlantic City (A/C) 7.5 hours first stop the Convention Center then to the recommended White House Submarine’s for dinner I swear these subs weighed 5 pounds each. ACME Grocery store then Air B&B we are 20 minutes from the show. I could only eat 1/2 the sub, Spike arrives from way of Holland (business trip) Boston to Philadelphia then Lyft to A/C and can only eat 1/2 of my leftover 1/2 sub. This is my first trip to A/C and to be honest I was expecting the worse but I think it’s pretty nice.
Wednesday the first day of the show Taylor has a dealer badge I have to wait until VIP early entry we are at the venue around 9. I walked to Caesar’s thought I’d play some slots then over to Bally’s the casinos are nice but I couldn’t find a machine I liked was down $60 somehow got it back to $31 and cashed out -$29 I’d rather buy cards. Stopped at Starbucks on the walk back to the venue got my Super VIP. Saw some guy stacking autograph tickets and sold my sheet of 12 for his price $5 I have no interest and wish you could buy a VIP ticket without autographs first impression of the VIP “goodie” bags not great. Again A/C seems fine to me the walk between the casinos and the Convention Center is very nice. For lunch I ate the last 1/4 of that White House sub.
Saw many of my dealer friends friends and OBC friends. The show was busy aisle numbers clearly marked but individual tables numbers you have to check the dealers placard if they hung it up. Biggest purchase was four hits 1935 National Chicle football cards including 2 high numbers. Clean Sweep had a damaged #1 at $100 I offered $50 and sticking to my guns I got it for the $50. I managed to walk every aisle including the Breakers area. Saw Gary Vee he has a table and appears to be producing his own collectibles set 30 people lined up to purchase or just get his autograph i done know. Saw Card Collector 2 and Santiago Sports I watch there YouTube videos some there tables are busy. Did not see Roth Cards another YouTuber I watch and didn’t really see any YouTubers filming.
Bought a lot of non sports cards 1962 Topps Civil War News others too and I ended up spending around $1,300 if I needed the card and the price was right I bought it no going back. I did visit with several Net54 dealers. I have one deal on the table a rare non sports card will I pull the trigger at $550 probably lol.
Table for seven including OBC friend Glenn from Scotland at a BBQ place Wild Honey sounds like a strip club it was in one of the casinos Tropicana it was very nice.
Back to the Air B&B and lights out 11:30 now up at 6:30 I think the show opens at 8:30 or 9.
The venue is fine A/C much better than expected but as others have said you have to be smart anywhere you travel in todays world. I am having a heck of a good time so far and yes I am on vacation even though I am retired!
Larry