1999 NPC Jr. USA Review, 
-jabber style 
Intro


I hadn't been to the Jr. USA in quite a few years, so I was happy that my
schedule (quite hectic of late, hence -jabber's relative dormancy here) was
able to accommodate me in the Heart of the "Central Time Zone" South,
Birmingham, Alabama.  Not the greatest city I've ever been to, but it's
surrounded by hills and lovely suburbs to the south of downtown.  Much
hillier than my former hometown of Charlotte, NC, and much MUCH hillier than
my current hometown of Dallas, TX (not to mention hotter while I was there,
not just because of the show :-) ).

The host hotel was the Sheraton Birmingham, very nice accommodations, if not
a little sedate.  I was commenting how "quiet" the hotel (and the show,
especially the lobby) seemed compared to some recent more upper echelon
shows (Ms. I, NPC Nationals, etc.), but nonetheless, very nice just the
same.  The Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Concert Hall had good acoustics
(not to mention close seats and "lax" security :-) ) so I got that loud
music rock concert feeling at times (although the music could've been even
louder).

As I walked into the hotel, I was greeted by the sight of Kenny Kassel (who
was also the MC for the festivities - I hadn't known that at that time)
talking with a thick-looking Ericca Kern (who, to my "untrained" eye ( :-) )
looked thicker than at the Ms. I at the Expo there).  So, if I had any doubt
in my mind that I was in the right place, all doubt was removed then.