Date: Sat, 17 Feb 2001 10:05:43 -0500 (EST)
From: Sheena Beaverson <sbeavers@balloonhq.com>
To: balloon@balloonhq.com
Subject: the news from Austin

Good morning everyone,

Thought you all might like an update on TJAM 01 thus far.
Arriving on Thursday afternoon, it was amazing to see how 
many twisters had already arrived and set up camp in the
lobby.  By Thursday night, it was a zoo and it's been
that way ever since.  The jamming is fast and furious,
and the lobby and restaurant are full of figures,
even though folks from the computer seminar have been 
seen hauling away armloads lf balloons.

The whole thing kicked off officially last night with 
the welcome by T. Myers (first time, every time), a
salute to balloon-greatness by the audience with tons
of rocket/ screamer balloons, and the 2 minute fast 
figure contest.  With roughly 50 contestants, 14 categories, 
and performances in 3 different languages, the audience
had a hard time judging every entry while also attempting 
to take notes on the coolest part of each persons' act.

We saw the disgusting (flossing teeth, flossing toes, 
inflation by nose), the awe-inspring (a huge poodle, 
and a figure preserved by encasing it in duct tape)
some neat figures and new-one-liners, (old one-liners
too), balloon magic tricks, and a show-stealing entry
by Debbie Brown (all this while picking on T, of course).

Most people retired after the show to prepare for todays' 
classes, contest, banquet and midnight jam.   We'll try to
get some more pics uploaded if the connection holds.
Bye for now!

Sheena Beaverson
BalloonHQ.com