I just got back from a business trip to Portland Oregon last night. During the trip I was able to squeeze in mere 12 hours worth of hobbying (including my first overnight) with four different and wonderful Portland providers. Initially, it was not easy to get providers to see me. Portland has an eccie page, but it is very rarely used and only 5 or 6 provider are listed there (despite there being close to 70-90 portland providers). My initial posts went unanswered there. TER and p411 are also fairly uncommon, and most local (nontraveling) providers I spoke with were unfamiliar with them.
So I had to resort to signing onto their hobby site, TNAboard.com. There I was a relative newby with no provider reviews and no local references. THANK GOODNESS FOR THE PROVIDERS OF NEW ORLEANS WHO SERVED AS REFERENCES FOR ME. I only know about Nikki Tylor being contacted, and I have already sent her my deepest thanks. If other local providers were also contacted by those Portland ladies, THANK YOU. That also goes for TylerTotts from Atlanta and Amelia from the defunct VCC agency. I am in debt to all of you for getting the ball rolling over there. Once I posted my first review, the flood gates opened, and I was in hobby bliss.
Thanks again to all of you for your help in making this one of the best business trips I have taken (up there with Amsterdam). It is good to be home, and I now will have to see some local ladies. I now return you to your regularly scheduled program.
milton riley