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G'day everyone, I have finally found some extra time to come in and thank everyone once again for making my stay such a good one while in Canada and the states. I am constantly being reminded of my venture so I guess it really wasnt a dream. Last week I recieved a kewl T-shirt from Sonny Franks "THANKYOU" sonny, The other week Steve Robinson sent me another really kewl striped model hot rod coupe, around xmas time Pat King sent me a "rubber ducky" . Isnt this letterhead stuff kewl.
I have met some great blokes and shielas (guys and gals), and once again it is all because of Steve Shortreed and Barb whom I also had the pleasure of meeting in Alabama. While up over I met a heap of kewl Canadian signies, Jeff Gilfix, Cosmic Ray,Dave fraser just to name a few Thanx for the good time guys. Also my buddy Mike Lavallee & Rhonda Price for putting up with me,these guys "rock". My other mate, RT who also looked after me well. RT gave me a really kewl gift, an American flag and the guys folded it for me too,(along with a who swag of gifts) Pat gave me a Rebel flag and I also have a few panels decorating my office from the Alabama meet to remind me as well. The point I'm trying to make is all because of this website, I have met alot of you guys which has been really just a dream. We are so far away and only get to read articles etc about what is going on up there and who is doing what. We know whats going on up there but it does seem many up there dont even know we exist.I think that is slowly changing. I want let you know your generosity was very appreciated, I just wish I had more time to do some more panels and also just yack about stuff.
Australia has an annual meet every year and over the past years we have had a few Americans attend, RT attended my meet in98, Jeff Devey & Empy made it to the 99 meet and rumor has it Mike Lavallee and Rhonda are coming this year. So... who else is gunna take the challenge and really travel to a meet down under and let us once again lay in on for yaz Aussie style. "can you survive a Australian letterhead meet?" hehehe
so, lets see some hands, who would like to come, who wouldnt like to and who are??
Katie will be taking notes so be good!!
I gotta go do some panels I promised
Cheers big ears!
Rod Tickle
-------------------- Rod from, EAST COAST AIRBRUSHING "Airbrush Art & Graphics" Nambour; Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Australia E.mail: rod@rodticklesigns.com Web: www.rodticklesigns.com
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Hi Rod......sounds like you had a blast! I wish I would have known you were in my area. I live not too terribly far from Mike and Rhonda. I could have bought you a cup of coffee or lunch.
Posts: 3729 | From: Seattle | Registered: Sep 1999
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Hi Cheryl, bummer I would of liked that a lot. I had the best coffee in Seatle too, Mike took me thru a couple drive thru coffee shops ( a first for me hehehe)
Maybe next time huh! ( If my wife lets me out again) hehehe. Everytime I go to the states a war breaks out. We had our honeymoon in California in 1991...Kuwait. I go to Canada to work then slip down to a meet in Alabama and Osama Binliner does his thing. Hmmm might be safer If I dont come back for your safety heheh
Cheers!
Rod
-------------------- Rod from, EAST COAST AIRBRUSHING "Airbrush Art & Graphics" Nambour; Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Australia E.mail: rod@rodticklesigns.com Web: www.rodticklesigns.com
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It was great meeting you Rod, and I'll have to say Thanks right back. I have my bullet hole samples sitting on the shelf right above my monitor. I have already done a few of my own, almost as good.
I don't know if I will ever be able to get down your way or not, but I wanted to go to Australia before I started painting signs. At least now, if I ever do get to go, I can visit a friend while I'm there.
-------------------- Don Hulsey Strokes by DON signs Utica, KY 270-275-9552 sbdsigns@aol.com
I've always been crazy... but it's kept me from going insane.
Posts: 2314 | From: Utica, KY U.S.A. | Registered: Jan 1999
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Hey Ticks ...it was good meeting you too. My budy R.T. told me all about you before you got here so I was pleasantly surprised to find you were not 10 feet tall and bullet proof!
Pat and I have our 20th anniversary in the fall...maybe if we have a really good summer (financially) we could celebrate it with a down under meet.
Got room for us in that pint sized country of yours?
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
Monte Jumper SIGNLanguage/Norman.Okla. jumpers@itlnet.net
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Sure monte come on down we gat room for ya. We'll have a jam here aswell as the meet if theres enough that wunna come down here to play.
"pint sized country?" this "little" Island is as big as the united states, but only have the population of New york. We also have all the "nasty spiders and snakes" you can handle but I'll get Steve erwin to come and baby sit them so ya dont get scared heheheh.
It was a pleasure meeting you and Pat , also everyone else at the meet. I had a Blast. Cheers!
Rod
-------------------- Rod from, EAST COAST AIRBRUSHING "Airbrush Art & Graphics" Nambour; Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Australia E.mail: rod@rodticklesigns.com Web: www.rodticklesigns.com
posted
"Australian International Letterhead Meeting 2002"
John and Paul Jordan from Jordan Sign Co in Sydney have put their hands up to host this one.
A combination of a Gold Workshop, taught by the master himself, first 20 odd who bookin for it get to play hands on.
Plus all the great activities we've come to expect from a meeting in Oz are planed for 2002
Pannel swaping, Pinstriping, Airbrushing, a Bus to attack (from the local church), all this and more!
The 20sumfin's of October is the rough date and south Sydney is the venue.
John and Paul are geting the info together for their meet as I type, so there will be heaps more details to post by middle of Feb!
John has traveled the world attending letterhead meets so he really knows what it takes to put on a great event... all that and finally hoping to meet up with Mike (spykee) too!
The kicker for you up-overs of course is the exchange rate, the min you land your money doubles!!! (and think of the tax deduction) hehehe
devo and I got to meet sum great folk when we had the joy of going to your place up north and with Rod, Darren, John, Paul and now Katie, I know we would all love to return the favour of your letterhead hospitality
So think seriously about 'Spring Downunder'
and Pat, we dont talk strange... we ARE strange!
cheers gail
-------------------- Gail & Dave Hervey Bay Qld Australia
gail@roadwarriorproducts.com.au
sumtimes ya just gota!
Posts: 794 | From: 552 O'Regans Creek Rd Toogoom Qld 4655 Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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Rod, Glad you got the shirt OK. Steve and Barb have truly created an international Letterhead meet here on a daily basis. I had the great fortune(?) to meet Gail and Dave at Terry Colley's meet in England last year, and we're also looking forward to Katie's trip here in March. If you guys are typical Aussies, I gotta get down under.
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4117 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Hey Ticks, I know exactly how you feel, I did a road trip a couple of years ago and had the pleasure to meet some very cool people from this website, and at the same time got to see a parts of my own country, that in some ways is a few countries within it's self.
Being of Mexican descent, it is a trip to go to different parts of the USA. I recently went to Havana, Cuba. Even though we (USA) are not allowed there. I blended in. But I remember on my way going to meet P-King, in the deep south, I felt like a big time minority. But once I got to McCalla I met Pat and his friends to be very cool folks. Hell, I even got a "spit in the eye"
I'd be very curious what Australia would be like? I was following Empy's trip and from all the photos, it looked like a very interesting place. I only know one person who lives there, and that's Bill Davidson, who recently went there, not sure which city he lives in. I did know a lady who went there name Ann Meske, from San Jose who went there a couple of times, She told me she loved it. Who knows maybe if I have a good year, I might go see what Australia is like. Do you see many people of Hispanic descent, if not I can deal with culture shock. We'll both think we have an accent...
-------------------- aka:Cisco the "Traveling Millennium Sign Artist" http://www.franciscovargas.com Fresno, CA 93703 559 252-0935 "to live life, is to love life, a sign of no life, is a sign of no love"...Cisco 12'98
Posts: 3576 | From: Fresno, Ca, the great USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Hi Cisco, yes mate, Australia is a very kewl place,(best country in the world, but i'm bias) come visit some time and see our untouched beauty for your self. The biggest thing I have noticed is that not many Americans know anything about australia at all, either that or they are just not interested, which is fine. Come and see australia but dont just go see Sydney like many do, come see as much as you can. Its a big place so you would need to do some serious planning but its worth it. Its like me trying to see all of america in three weeks say. Australia is roughly the same size as the united states with a population of something like 20 million (not real sure). we only have five states and two teritories, so you can drive for days in one direction and not cross the border (or.. you could get a faster car). we are surrounded by water and sharks but once on land we have the twenty most dangerous snakes and top ten of the bad boy spiders in the world to keep ya on your toes but in reallity ya hardly see any of them.Were no longer just a island full of drunken convicts, some of us are edumacated now and some towns have electricity so i've heard. I'm not quite so lucky as this puter is still the ol steam model but gets the job done. Like Gail said you double your money at the moment when ya land and airfares are cheep right now for you, and its probably the safest time ever to fly with all the security they now have. Its safe here too, if you wanted you could bomb us in a cesner, but thats not likely as it would waste too much drinking time.(we like our drink). So come on down some time, but if you need an excuse the annual letterhead is in Sydney on October the 25, 26 27 2002 at john jordons shop. (these are the dates John told me so I hope they are still correct)
Cheers!
Rod
* dont get me wrong.. I really dig the states, before you slam me, why do ya think I keep going there. Most my hobbies are american inspired as is my sign style, just sugesting a different holiday destination for yaz thats all. heheheh. Now get off ya butt and get a ticket.
-------------------- Rod from, EAST COAST AIRBRUSHING "Airbrush Art & Graphics" Nambour; Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Australia E.mail: rod@rodticklesigns.com Web: www.rodticklesigns.com
posted
yup Rod they are the dates that john gave me tooo but he & Paul are off on Norfolk playing golf at the moment so we can't check anything till they get back this meet is gunna be a blast and with it being in sydney means that folk coming in from up-over can easily head out from there to see lots more of our place like you said 'Come and see australia but dont just go see Sydney'
now what was that.... i luv a sun.... burntrey oops, i remember now i love a sunburnt country a land of sweeping plains of ragged mountian ranges of droughts and flooding rains la la la
and Cisco I think I've found your mate Bill he married Annie on july 4th last year in the blue mountians just west of sydney (bout and hour n a half drive) Bill has settled in real well and loves the place his new e-mail address is abdvdsn@planet.net.au
like tess said with 'only 20 million ppl' and most of em living in or near Sydney, its the place to head.... out of that is! hehehe
hey Rod, do they still call Adelaide the city of churches? i recon it'd have to be all that communion wine that makes folk from SA talk funny, not like us easterners.... we talk proper like eh!
cheers gail
-------------------- Gail & Dave Hervey Bay Qld Australia
gail@roadwarriorproducts.com.au
sumtimes ya just gota!
Posts: 794 | From: 552 O'Regans Creek Rd Toogoom Qld 4655 Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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Rod, Glad I got to meet you at the Duck Pond. Seeing your work was a really great! I met Gail,Devo,and John Jordan at Terry Colley's Meet in England. The Aussie meet will be outstanding with John Jordan being the host. Wouldn't have seen any of the country without Gail and Devo letting me tag along to Scotland with them. Looking forward to meeting Katie in March! Would really like to check Austraila out one day and visit all my Aussie friends. Judy
[ January 30, 2002: Message edited by: Judy Pate ]
-------------------- Judy Pate Signs By Judy Albany, Georgia USA 229-435-6824
Live simply...Love generously...Care deeply...Speak kindly...Leave the rest to God. Posts: 2623 | From: Albany,GA,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hey mates! I was in a book store the other day and was checking out this book of Australia and the islands close by. I didn't have much time to sit and read so I scanned thru the pictures. Man what a place! Looks like some very beautiful beaches, althought this book wasn't about the cities over there, but more of the rural area and the Aborigines. I did see another book and saw that BIG Red (Ayers) Rock Mountain in Ulura National Park. I was kind of curious who did all that neon on the Radio Telecsope. I love rain forests, you guys have quite a few. Wish I knew how to scuba diving, that Great Barrier Reef looks pretty inviting. Well I guess I could go on and on about your country and I'm sure I only touched a few things of what it's like. At this present time I really cannot confirm that I will be at this fabulous meet you guys are having later this year, but believe me you got me thinkin about it. To soon to say right now, but if I do, I'll post it here!!
-------------------- aka:Cisco the "Traveling Millennium Sign Artist" http://www.franciscovargas.com Fresno, CA 93703 559 252-0935 "to live life, is to love life, a sign of no life, is a sign of no love"...Cisco 12'98 Posts: 3576 | From: Fresno, Ca, the great USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Hi....er g'day Mate, Folks, I picked up Rod at the Int'l Airport in New Orleans Monday Sept. 10. One day before the the Terrorists Attacks. As I went in to meet him at the gate, I, of course, had to go through the metal detector. I didn't even think about it, but had carried my pocket knife with me (not a small one). They looked at it and let me right through. The next day I would have been cornered as a terrorist! Anyway, as we were sitting around the next morning drinking coffee I got a call from my Mom telling me to turn the TV to CNN. I did and Rod's wild trip to the states had only just begun. As we sat there watching the goings on both of us were in total shock. Him being from another country and not knowing his status as far as getting home was a lot of weight on both our minds. We did our best to try and keep everything as calm as possible back in Oz for him. Denise was calling and understandably concerned as were his 3 girls. All we could do was try and explain to them that we were OK and that we planned to remain that way. It's hard to imagine what was going through their minds wondering if they would ever see Rod again. I felt really bad that he had to be here during the worst days of our lives and not even sure, if or when, he could leave. Finally we made the Duck Soup Meet and after calling all over trying to confirm his flights, he found that he had a chance to get out as scheduled. Still we didn't know for sure he would make it. I think he was re-routed to about every major city in the midwest and northwest before being able to get into Canada and catch the flight to Sydney. He did make it as we all know and ...MAN......did it take a weight off of me to know he made it!! Glad you made it home Mate and I really appreciate the time you gave me when I came down to your meet. You guys took care of me and I hope I did as well for you. For all you out there that haven't made an Aussie Meet, it'll be the time of your life!! I WILL be back down there someday if there is anyway possible. The folks down there are genuinely friendly and seem to never meet a stranger. I highly recommend the Sydney Meet to anyone that can get there. You'll never regret it. See ya, R.T.
-------------------- R.T.Thomas,AirDesigns/Sign And Airbrush Studio rtart1@earthlink.net
Hattiesburg,MS 39401 Shop 601-584-1000 Cell 601-310-5901 Proud supporter of LETTERVILLE!
"Ahhhhhh.......Juicy Fruit." Posts: 547 | From: Hattiesburg,MS USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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