I'm A Two-Timer!

Yep! The time has come for me to admit it. It happened this past weekend in Clearwater, FL. I was there for a work related convention called The Mobile Tech Expo. What a place for a winter convention. Sunny skies, warm weather and healthy attractive looking people running and cycling all over the place.

My trip to Clearwater was not quite as planned. I spent the first night on the road and arrived in town at 8:16 am after driving all night from Macon, GA. I did stop at a Pilot truck stop somewhere in GA for a two hour nap and a refueling of high octane Columbian coffee. Nonetheless, I was tired. Not wanting to miss anymore of the show...I showered, changed clothes, scarrfed down some hotel lobby breakfast and headed towards the convention center, which by the way sits on the bluest water I've seen in a while.

As I walked through the doors, I could see the place was already buzzing. Vendors pushing theirs goods and services. Attendees grabbing any free goodies they could get while trying to look interested in the products being pitched. Oh, an old friend there. Hey, an old fiend there. People I've known and/or worked with over the years were everywhere. The Carolina guys, which were mostly old DW techs, the 'Bama loner with quick wit but rough edges, the California boys with their permanent sun tans, the 13 Russians that now run Chicago (i think they're "connected") and the Canadians that speak fluent Greek (it's French, but Greek to everyone else). I spent the first few hours catching up, listening to stories, meeting new people and talking smack. NAPDRT.org (National Alliance of Paintless Dent Repair Techinicians) was there and had a very informative meeting that coincided with them signing up new and obviously intelligent techs.

It was interesting to see how DW and Dent Zone were being treated. They both have some decent people that work for them, but unfortunately the agenda of the corporations supersedes the very few good guys that work for them. Years of abusing opportunities, technicians and body shops along with driving prices down in the name of making a big profit "this time", has come back to haunt them. (Does anyone have a tissue?) sniff sniff

Oh, back to the Title. (Pun Intended) Like so many conventions, most of your time is spent socializing. I'm no different. But, given the opportunity to break up that monotny, I took it. So out of the crowd I stepped. In the back corner of the ballroom we were in, I stepped behind some ropes and then behind a car. Not too many people if any were watching. That's when I got a little nervous though. I knew someone was coming up behind me. All I heard was, "Let's get it going!" Damn, this was it. I hadn't come completely prepared, but was going to make do. Hell, this kind of opportuntiy doesn't present itself all the time. So, I reached down and took my tool by hand. It was hard and suprisingly warm. Perhaps from the Florida heat. I noticed the slight curve it had and I was pleased. I knew it would go in nice and without any struggle. I made a couple of quick adjustments in order to see as much as I could in every position I was about to put my body in. Then, I thought about Amy. What was she doing? What would she think about what I was about to do? Would she be emotional? Aughhh! I had to concentrate, I couldn't think about her, not now. So, I slid my left hand gently up until I found the groove I was looking for. It felt a little tight. Nice. The more fulcrum the better. With a little caressing, I was able to gently widen the slit enough to get my hard rod in a couple of inches. Two inches would never get the job done though. I needed to get inside a little more. At least another 8 inches. The spot I was shooting for was within my reach and I was determined to make it happen. Pressure and all. It was a weird and surreal experience. Knowing people were nearby, just out of earshot, possibly watching. Freaky. The moment was intense and I was in the zone. I was using my body and my hands to manipulate my shaft to hit the target and within a few minutes I was there. Oh, it was beautiful. I used gentle but firm pressure and with rythmic movement pushed over and over and over. Push, release. Push, relax. Push harder, hold, hold, ease up. As I worked it and worked it, I felt I was coming closer and closer to a succesful completion. It's always a bummer to start so strong only to have the little thing go south and blow a chance of a lifetime. I wasn't blowing anything on this day. Other people were, but not me. I'll admit, I stopped for a bit. I was nevous and tired. Perhaps from the effort I was exherting or perhaps from the lack of sleep, but I could tell I only needed a few more minutes. A little more body thrusts, some light tapping here and there and some moving in and out. Closer. Further. Closer closer. Further. Here it was. The end was coming. Push a little more....a little more. Move back. Take a final look. Stare. Another one. NO, two pusheszzzzz. DONE!

I had just started and finished my award winning dent repair. See, as part of The Mobile Tech Expo, we PDR technichians from around the world come to compete in the International Dent Olympics. Every year, from many different countries, PDR techs throw their hat in the ring (for a nominal fee) to see who might walk away with the first place trophy for the best dent repair of all.

As I stated in the title, I am now a two-timer. That's right. I came in first place at the 2005 Dent Olympics and now tied for first place at the 2007 Dent Olympics. Ironically, the guy I tied with is also a two-timer now. He won in 2006 too. So, as nervous as I was and with all the excitement and considering the outcome, it would have been nice to have Amy there to help celebrate.

By the way, the description of the above dent repair is just about as honest as I could be. Normally, I'd leave out most of the little details and it would sound something like this....
I walked up to the car, pulled out my tool, slid it down inside the door and with gentle pushes, gently massaged the dent back to it's original position. So, I hope you enjoyed reliving a very proud moment in my life. If you'd like to see me in action, be prepared to pay... and please have a dent in your car.

Now I know how Lance Armstrong must have felt after his second Tour de France win. (i say with a smirk)