Since the topic of a Midwestern MLK weekend gathering has come up on another thread, I’m going to float a proposal.
You all know I’ll drive to Chicago, or Madison, or wherever you decide to meet, but then I have to leave by 5 or so on Saturday. In the interests of spending more time with you fun people, I’d like to mention some of the many benefits of having the next Midwest Moot at my house.
First, none of you have to work on Sunday. You can arrive Friday night or Saturday morning, stay over, and have a nice leisurely drive home Sunday afternoon.
Second, I have equipment and supplies to do most of the activities we discussed at the ladies gathering – candy making, candle making, paper making, -- crafts of all kinds. I also have a pottery wheel and a spinning wheel, if anyone’s interested in those.
Third, I have vast amounts of space. As I said on the other thread, we could have a Dungeons and Dragons game going in the living room and a quilting bee going in the dining room and not have to pick either of them up to have room to prepare meals. (edit -- not that I'm saying those have to be the activities. Just an illustration of the possible use of space ) I’ve also got three bedrooms with double beds for those couples or individuals that are not comfortable with sleeping bag in the living room style accommodations.
The disadvantages are that it’s a 4-6 hour drive for the rest of you, and there is nothing to do outside of the house within a 30 mile radius (excluding building snow forts and the like). But if you’re willing to risk it, I’d be happy to host.
I’ll even offer to plan supper from my Discworld cookbook.
[ February 22, 2004, 09:51 PM: Message edited by: dkw ]
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
hmm it is tempting, but I had a lunch outing with somone locally on either Saturday or Sunday. I didn't check my hotmail yesterday so I need to check that and see what she says before I do anything else as far as plans.
*whine* Steve hits the jackpot with his cushy state job for the next two months. First he gets MLK, then he gets Lincoln's Birthday (state of IL thing) and then he gets President's day too!
AJ
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
Ooh, that sounds nice. What part of Iowa are you in?
(Not that I could go, I have 4 hours of computer training at work on Saturday afternoon.)
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Central. As in, within about 30 miles of the exact center of the state.
Hey Banna -- you could get Chik-fil-A on the way!
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
hee hee... the thought did cross my mind! And I know you wouldn't mind me bringing the dogs Honestly while I'm sad about missing wenchcon, I was looking forward to a couple of relaxing weekends at home with no holiday chaos. There's actually a big dog show over in Des Moines that weekend too and I didn't enter it either. What about the weekend after, or maybe the weekend bridging January and February?
AJ
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
January 30-February 1 would actually be much better. I'd have to miss or re-schedule some stuff on MLK weeekend. (Not that I'm not willing to do that.)
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
I'm game for it -- I love Iowa. And I have friend I can visit in northern Missouri on the way up.
Which weekend? Make it a three-day one (one of those Monday holidays) and it will be all the better. (here at the bank we get all those fed holidays off).
Of course, I see through your ruse -- by having it at your place, we all get to attend church with you on Sunday morning!
But hey, I'm game for that too.
Farmgirl
Posted by Vána (Member # 3262) on :
For us, no weekend in January is going to work for actual travel, unfortunatly. Dan's working this weekend and next (MLK weekend), then we're going to visit his family in Indiana on the 23rd, and there's a orchestra concert on the 31st that we're going to.
Poo.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
If Dan were to come, he could stage a reading of some of his best erotica!
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Well poo.
Looking ahead to February, I'm guessing Valentines weekend is out, how's the 20-22nd? Or else I guess we'll have to file this for another time.
Farmgirl -- everyone is, of course, invited to church, but attendence is neither mandatory nor expected. You're welcome to sleep in if you'd rather. (Although if Vána comes I might try to hit her up for special music. Hmmm. . .)
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Okay, juxtiposing that last thought with Noemon's post was bad. Very bad.
[ January 09, 2004, 01:39 PM: Message edited by: dkw ]
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Valentine's weekend is out? But that's President's Day weekend! Shoot!
But Feb 21-22 works for me -- maybe I'll even be lucky and have my tax refund back by then and will actually have some "traveling money."
FG
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
To clarify, Noemon. There are two Dan's, who have both attended recent midwest clump gatherings. Vana's Dan is actually Lime. Dan_Raven is the other Dan who with his lovely wife went to India.
AJ
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
And neither one of them is going to read erotica in church!
Unless it's from The Song of Songs. That would be okay.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
I have no objections to traveling on Valentine's weekend. We virtually never go out then anyway because resturants are miserable. However it is possible others will have objections and I'm willing to capitulate to the will of the majority. I will have to leave Sunday afternoon (after listening to dkw preach) to travel back since I have to work on Monday, but I probably would drive out on a Friday evening if you don't mind waiting up for me.
I have no idea whether Steve will be coming or not. If he isn't coming I still might bring a dog or two so he doesn't get stuck taking care of all of them. I love the idea of a quilting bee. You should give all of us crafty types strips to work on for your mother's quilt! I'll bring my thimble! I bet we could make a sizable dent in the project, if you don't mind hands other than your own working on it!
AJ
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
::disappointed that dkw stole the joke I was kicking around with her Song of Songs comment::
Oh, yeah, I know Banna. I was just thinking that since Dan lives in MO (he does live in MO right? I'm thinking St. Louis), he could probably make it to an Iowa gathering fairly easily, barring timing conflicts.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
I am not AT ALL crafty. Not in the slightest. Have tried a little scrapbooking and I can almost do that, but that is the extent of my feminine craftiness.....
however, if you need wood cut, or your computer fixed, or your driveway shoveled while I'm there.... I can do that.
FG
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
btw, I forget where the progress of the back computer room was, when the hatrack ladies came to visit. Did we have the darker green faux finish on the walls? Anyway it is now finished! We had the ceiling fan installed yesterday and now have ample light, as well as my birthday present floor, and an awesome closet organization system, with more space than we really know what to do with. I would like to move some of my craft supplies into that closet as an interm solution. Steve already has all of the computer accesory stuff and his role playing books organized in the closet.
If anyone wants an awesome sturdy easy do-it-yourself closet system that does NOT involve wire racks (which I loathe) I highly reccommend www.easytrack.com I didn't buy it off the website though and was able to get it nearly half off during a New Year's sale at a sears hardware.
This weekend's goals, in addition to plenty of R&R, are to sort through filing stuff and figure out what should get pitched and what should go into the new closet and figuring out interim places for all of the junk in the blue room, so we can begin priming and fixing it up to be our library. We have decided on a parchment look with a leather faux finish for the library. It will give the richness of the leather texture without making that small room too dark like a burgundy leather would. The bookshelves are already dark enough. Once we get that room finished we are moving into it and working on the master which will be a blue-grey Ventian plaster.
AJ
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
FG, if you could bring your window cleaning equipment, dkw has some windows that are absolutely filthy. Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
::gets her strip washer and squeegee ready...::
FG
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Noemon, just how would you know that? ::checks bushes::
Banna, your new décor sounds lovely. As for a group project – I was thinking maybe a baby quilt for the Midwestern Hatracker-to-be.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
O_o
Stripping and erotic readings at dkw's?
Have we slipped into an alternate dimension? Posted by Vána (Member # 3262) on :
I haven't talked to Lime yet. But I don't see any particular reason (at this point, without my calendar here) to not come the weekend of the 13th or the weekend of the 20th. Can't do the last weekend of February, though.
Dana, are you serious about special music? I'd love to play for your service, if you really mean it!
[ January 09, 2004, 02:40 PM: Message edited by: Vána ]
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
*wishes she had a piano to practice on so that she could offer to accompany Vana if Vana wanted
I used to be a pretty decent accompanist, but the fingers are rusty.
AJ
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Vána, I would be thrilled.
Edit: The last weekend of February wouldn’t work for me, either.
(Unless any of you want to volunteer to help chaperone a UMYF ski trip . . . ?)
[ January 09, 2004, 02:54 PM: Message edited by: dkw ]
Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
I am in general feeling reticent and unable to even decide what I want for dinner let alone do or plan anything. However, I also know that it would be good for me to see people and would like to get together with you guys. I am hoping I will be more sociable soon. Either of those weekends in February would work for us as far as I know. Unless Tom tells me about some big Valentine's plans...I don't get President's day off and I DO get MLK day off and we don't have any plans, but unless someone lights a flame under my derriere, I don't think we'll be traveling.
The boys might go nuts, but a crafty day at Dana's sounds like just the ticket to me Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :
I play flute. Give me enough time to practice (haven't played seriously in years) and I could accompany Vána.
Except for WenchCon, I have nothing on my schedule for the upcoming months. And Valentine's weekend isn't a problem for me because I'm currently single.
Posted by Vána (Member # 3262) on :
D'oh! Okay, slight adjustment to our availablilty. Dan and I committed to being communion assistants for February, so we aren't available the 1st or 3rd Sunday. I'm pretty sure the 15th is the third Sunday, so that means that weekend is out. I can't play at dkw's church and serve communion at my church all at the same time! What does everyone think of the weekend of the 20th instead? Or, the weekend of the 6th, if that's better?
xnera, that could be cool - I don't have any duet music, though. Do you?
[ January 11, 2004, 02:11 PM: Message edited by: Vána ]
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
That would be so much fun!! If I had any way of getting there (maybe blacwolve, snowman and I can carpool) I'm completely game!!!
Where are you, btw, dkw?
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
I won’t be here on the 6th. I could just leave the backdoor unlocked, but how about we make it the weekend of the 20th instead.
Edit: I'm a bit north of Ames, IA.
[ January 11, 2004, 03:17 PM: Message edited by: dkw ]
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I think we need to tell Dan and Julie to stop making plans for their weekends on the weekends they're trying to get us together to do something.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
I completely agree. But for now, could we have a show of hands for who could make it on the weekend of the 20th?
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
*raises hand*
Steve was making noises like he might come. I guess he has decided that the people are ok even if he can't see why I spend quite so much time on hatrack!
AJ
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
Are there for sure plans yet? I'd love to come! I know I haven't been with Hatrack as long, but I'm fun, I promise! I live in Omaha, but have reliable transportation to anywhere, although, Chicago is a bit far and even right now, I can't afford a $70 plane ticket. But Iowa is good ( I guess!).
Posted by Vána (Member # 3262) on :
I know, I know! I'm sorry! *hides*
But, Dan and I are both good for the weekend of the 20th, promise - there's nothing on the calendar for that weekend! So if everyone else can make it, we'll put it on there and that'll be that!
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
Oh Vana, I'm just playing with you! Iowa is an.....um.....interesting state. But what you must realize, is that it is my job as a resident of Nebraska to make as much fun of Iowa as I can. You've been there, you know what I'm talking about! Iowa
[ January 12, 2004, 02:02 PM: Message edited by: Valentine014 ]
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Nebraska gets to make fun of Iowa? Who knew?
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
*lights a flame under Christy's derriere
I can go, I really can! Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Yay!
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
Um, Raia, Iowa is like 8 hours away. I don't think that's going to work at all.
Posted by Marek (Member # 5404) on :
Yeah, the midwest is a rather large place. Maybe there could be another mid west gathering a little further...um further, well I'm horrible at geography, but fruther in whatever directions either Bloomington Indiana, or Louisville Kentucky are from Iowa.
(I know Kentucky isn't usually counted as a midwestern state, but there is no Southern/Dixie Hatrack Gathering that I'm aware of, so I think Midwestern is the closest I'll find.)
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
quote: candy making candle making paper making pottery wheel spinning wheel
Gee, we sure do know how to party in the Midwest! Boy-howdy!
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Primal:
I believe one of your hobbies is bread baking, yes?
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Oops. *doesn't know geography* Umm, never mind then.
I guess it was "midwest" that started the little red lights. Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
*hand up*
I still plan to show up -- so someone can say I exist in RL.
Can I bring my daughter? (sophomore in high school) We like traveling together.
Farmgirl
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Underage persons are welcome if accompanied by parent or guardian.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
argh. I just realized the Chicago International Dog show is that weekend. (one of the biggest dog shows in the country next to westminster) This doesn't completely rule out going to Dana's because I haven't decided whether I want to enter or not. I was actually planning on doing obedience not Breed, so if I can find other obedience trials on nearby weekends I won't mind passing on it, quite as much.
AJ
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
I think I'm in luck! The week after there is an obedience trial nearby in Michigan and two weeks after there is actually an obedience trial a couple miles from my house.
It isn't entirely 100% sure though. Something might come up so I need to be at the International regardless.
AJ
Posted by Vána (Member # 3262) on :
I hope you can come, AJ!
Speaking of which, any of the Wisconson/N. Illinois people wanna carpool and/or caravan? Or is it just going to be me and Dan? Primal didn't commit, I don't think...CT? Would Rockford be very far out of the way? Tom and Christy, are you coming? xnera?
Dana, do you want me to play for sure? If so, I'll need to get some music to your pianist, probably. xnera, if you're coming, did you ever find any duet music that you want to try?
(Can you tell I'm overcompensating for having to miss WenchCon by throwing a lot of attention and energy into this trip to Iowa instead?)
(No need to answer that last question, actually. )
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Vána, if you’re willing I definitely want you to play. I hope you can find something with fairly easy accompaniment though, because one of the churches is still using a fill-in pianist and she’s not very confident.
Banna is the only one I know of who is directly on the way for you to carpool with (more accurately, you’re on her way), but your route joins up with the route from Madison in Dubuque. (Can you tell I’ve driven both of those a few times?) (Don’t answer that.)
Posted by Vána (Member # 3262) on :
Easy accompaniment. Check. I'll see keep that in mind while I'm looking through my music. Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Well, I play piano. Used to play for church quite a bit. I'm a little rusty now because my piano is not working, but I could brush up, and perhaps help out Vana. Depends on just how difficult the piano music is. But we would have some time Saturday to practice, probably. (What does Vana play?) (Or is she singing?)
Farmgirl
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Okay -- they aren't replying, so they don't believe me. Does it do any good to mention that when my kids were in junior high choir, I was the choir's accompanist? And for their solos at contest?
FG
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
I already mentioned accompanying Vana first Farmgirl! I guess we are both in the same boat when it comes to practicing though.
Though I'm more wishy washy about attending. But I could easily make a run to Rockford to practice with Vana too.
AJ
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Oh, sorry A.J.! I must have missed that part of your post!
I certainly wasn't trying to upstage. You go ahead.
(dkw is loving suddenly having all these musicians at her disposal..!)
FG
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
::sends secret note to Vána re: kidnapping Banna on the weekend of the 20th::
Ladies! There's no need to fight over it. One of you can accompany Vána and the other can accompany the congregational singing. Then I can give our fill-in pianist a week off! Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Ah I've pretty much decided I'm blowing off the International. If I enter Jake he'll go with handler instead of me anyway, and the other two aren't likely to be entered.
And recently I've been wanting to play the piano again. I could probably ask if I could practice at a nearby UMC church since it is for a good cause. <grin> One of my neighbors might have a piano for that matter too. *sigh* one of these days I'll get my own baby grand...
AJ
(I'd be happy to do the congregational singing instead too!)
AJ
[ January 14, 2004, 05:36 PM: Message edited by: BannaOj ]
Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :
Vána plays oboe. Easy for me to remember since my sister played oboe in high school.
If we can't find a nice oboe/flute duet then I will happily sing. I'm an alto. I've even done solos, but it's been a while, so I'm not sure I'd want to solo now.
Vána, if I have time in the next few days I'll look through my music (what little I have, that is). I am definitely up for carpooling. It would be fun!
Posted by Vána (Member # 3262) on :
Wow! This is fantastic!
Dana, how much can we play? Like, could xnera and I do a duet, and then also have an oboe solo? I haven't heard if she'd want to do a flute solo, and I'm certainly not trying to push anyone out, just looking for opportunities to play (since I get too few for my liking). But one could be an offeratory and one an anthem, or maybe just some prelude or postlude music. I'm not sure how your services are structured - I haven't been to a Methodist service before.
I'd be thrilled to have either of you accompany, Farmgirl and AJ - and if we get to do a duet and a solo, then one could do each!
I'm so excited - this is great!
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
If this keeps up I'll be able to count Hatrack as work time instead of break time!
Vána, the pianist would love a week off. She's been filling in since we lost our organist, and she really isn't comfortable with it. So you can have the prelude, offeratory, and postlude for sure. If you and xnera can figure out a flute-oboe duet, that would be great.
As far as singing goes, we have a now-and-then choir, but they'd be thrilled to have an extra voice or two, and they practice Sunday morning before the service. So xnera, you'd be welcome to sing with them.
So, now that Sunday's under control, anyone want to plan the rest of the gathering?
edit: stupid fingers can't spell "oboe."
[ January 15, 2004, 09:20 AM: Message edited by: dkw ]
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I was talking to Christy, and we're tentatively "in." I've got to admit that I'm a little bit squicky, myself, about taking vacation time so I can spend a weekend knitting and attending church, so I'm putting out an open plea to the geek contingent.
[ January 15, 2004, 10:26 AM: Message edited by: TomDavidson ]
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Ooo, are we learning to knit? Cool, I've never done that!
I would like to repeat, though, that if you don't want to attend church, that's fine. My feelings will not be hurt, and I'm sure Vána and Xnera will be happy to play their instruments on Saturday too. This houseparty is NOT a ploy to get anyone to church.
I am hoping for lots of game-playing and such as well as crafty stuff. If you like, Tom, you can be in charge of planning some "non-girly" activities. Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Well, do you have a piano at home? Because I know a lot of the devil's music. Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
No, but I have a hammer dulcimer -- it's like a piano but with a manual transmission.
I think I have an electronic keyboard somewhere, if I can either find the power cord or get new batteries for it.
[ January 15, 2004, 10:50 AM: Message edited by: dkw ]
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
*grin* It's all right. Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Do you, Lime, Steve and whoever else have enough RPGs in common that you could do a shorter storyline?
AJ
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
Can I come? I might be able to sneak out of Indiana on that Sat/Sun.
I won't sing or play any instruments.
I'd love to show anyone to knit or to crochet. I have lots of extra yarn, hooks, and lots of patterns. Lots of baby patterns, even.
Tom, you'd love crocheting. Really! Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Theca, of course!
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
*bump*
Just want to keep this on page one up until the weekend.
dkw, when you have a moment, could you privately e-mail me (address is in my profile)? I would like to be able to correspond with you via e-mail to get a few more details (location-wise) to start planning my trip, and figure out what time I need to leave here, etc. Are you expecting us to arrive on Saturday, or on Friday night?
Farmgirl
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
::begins to raise hand, realizes location, puts hand quickly down::
Seriously, people, it's almost as if you really don't want to meet me Scheduling everything for when I'm not going to be there and all. I will be with you in spirit, though the time difference might actually have me asleep. Maybe I can do one of those weird sleep-travelling things or something. How creepy would that be?
And that's enough out of me. We'll have to do another one sometime and I'll bring my pictures from Greece.
Have fun!
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Carrie, when's good for you? The rest of the Wisconsin clump is pretty mobile, and it's not like we're so far away that a get-together is difficult. It's visiting IOWA that's hard. Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
*bump again* !!
Man, things move down the thread list fast!
Only 31 days before the Midwest gathering.
I'm going to try to bring a digital camera and post up photos of our get-together to my web site, like Mac did for wenchcon. (although I'm sure ours will be much tamer). That is, if dkw will let me use her computer.
Farmgirl
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Of course you can use my computer – I have a slow dial-up connection though, so you probably won’t have time to post as many pictures as mac did.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
*bump, bidi, bump, bump...bump bump!!*
Do we have a list going of who all is planning to show up? What time is everyone planning to arrive?
(I know, I know, it is still 30 days off... to early to plan...)
Farmgirl
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
dkw --
I'm trying to help you log who might show up. But I'm not familiar with everyone enough to do a good job of this
with the ones with the question marks meaning I'm not sure if they are coming or not....
Farmgirl
Posted by Vána (Member # 3262) on :
My name's Julie! Though, I'll happily answer to Vána as well, of course.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Is Primal Curve/Pelandra/Glynn interested?
AJ
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
I have another way to keep track --
If by the day of the event they haven’t asked for my address and directions to my house I’m pretty sure they’re not coming.
Speaking of which – for you Wisconsin/Illinois types – would you rather go eight miles out of your way and back to stay on major highways, or drive 10 miles or so on county roads?
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
That depends on how you define "or so," Dana. I know country types who, insisting that it's only "ten miles or so," gave directions that actually took us over an hour and a half. Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Oh, it’s only ten miles. And it’s the route I take. The problem is, the street signs aren’t real visible, and there’s a few places where the road does a 90-degree curve and there’s another road that goes off at a tangent. Sometimes the road number stays with the curving road, sometimes it goes with the tangent (which is to say, straight ahead).
I can give you very explicit directs for that route, or I can tell you to stay on Hwy 20 until it hits Interstate 35. The Hwy route is exactly 16 miles longer. Your choice. Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Do the directions include "turn left at the big tree, then go 2.5 miles and turn on the nearest dirt road?
If there are actual street signs on the route even if they are hidden I should be ok.
AJ
Posted by Vána (Member # 3262) on :
Are we all (IL/WI people) going to carpool/caravan? Maybe in two sets, if there are some that want to leave before others of us would get back from church?
edit because finishing the thought is nice: I would personally take the extra 16 miles to have a nice, easy highway to drive on, but if I'm not driving, than I don't much care how we get there!
[ January 21, 2004, 05:11 PM: Message edited by: Vána ]
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
The only way I'd be able to come is by carpool. I am now sans vehicle and have no means of getting there (apart from bus.)
Still, I don't really see much that's drawing me to this. As a guy, I need more than needlework and amateur pottery as enticement.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
There will be other guys there -- won't there? Tom and Dan... who else? Come 'on -- we can think of some guy things for them.
FG
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
I suggested a mini-RPG earlier, they'd have to have their characters worked out ahead of time though.
I was just thinking about carpooling as well. I guess the logical divisons would be tom christy and ct and then xnera, dan vana and myself and steve(?) in my van.
AJ
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
::updated web table with new additions::
FG
Posted by Vána (Member # 3262) on :
Okay! I picked a piece with an easy piano part. So AJ, Farmgirl, you two have to fight over accompanying me, and I'll send you the music!
xnera, did you ever find any duet pieces? Are you still interested in playing a duet?
My mom tried to schedule a baby shower for my cousin on the weekend we're getting together! I told her to try to move it to the previous weekend - I sure hope she can! I don't want to have to miss the shower. Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Vana,
Go ahead and send it to AJ -- I think she is near you, so there is a better chance you two can get together and practice prior to the actual weekend.
Plus, I think she is a bit "less rusty" than I am at the keyboard.
FG
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Vana, would you have a place to practice? I wouldn't mind running to Rockford for an afternoon. I'd probably massacre it at the beginning but after an half hour or hour of practice I think I'd be passable.
AJ
Posted by Vána (Member # 3262) on :
Well, I have a key to the church, and we've got like six pianos in there. So, I'm sure if I call the office and clear it with them first, we'd be able to come in for an afternoon.
I think that's just a long way of saying yes.
Would you like me to mail you the music, then?
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
I'm thinking that I should just come out to Rockford and get it from you and practice on say Saturday afternoon. I don't see any good in mailing me the music unless I have a place to practice it.
Were you thinking a specific hymn or a classical arrangement? If so, what composer/arranger?
AJ
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Oh and I've asked Steve if he is interested in coming and he has been giving a positive type maybe. First time he hasn't run screaming from the room at the mention of Jatraqueros. <grin> He hasn't given a "hell no". I told him that we were unsure as to what the guys were going to do, and that didn't seem to bother him much either.
AJ
Posted by Vána (Member # 3262) on :
It's not a hymn, but I've forgotten now exactly which piece I picked (I looked at lots). I'll check when I get home and let you know.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
AJ --
Tell Steve that we picked HIM to be in charge of "whatever the guys do"
FG
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
The problem is that they are all "guys". Unfortunately 95% of the people who fall into the classification of "guys" have hooked up with a female who is their "social co-ordinator". This is a good thing because otherwise they would never get off their derriers and remain sitting in front of a technological marvel of their choosing, namely computer, TV, or playstation/sega/whatever. Hence "guys" start with negative interia and only the sexual allurements from the "social co-ordinator" can normally drag them out of their "cave" at all. Normally they do actually have a good time when removed from their "technology cave" but if they had to plan their own good time they would remain in said "cave"
AJ
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
*polite cough*
Ahem. SOME of us guys have fairly ambitious social calendars, thank you very much. Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
ok you are in the 5% then... but ONLY 5%!!!
AJ
Posted by Vána (Member # 3262) on :
AJ - the piece is called Sarabande, by Arcangelo Corelli.
What Saturdays might be good for you to come down? E-mail me, and we'll set something up. (Vana@critterpost.com)
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
this saturday would be ok I don't think I have anything pressing going on. I mean I could prime the blue bedroom but I'm working on the fine art of procrastination. Steve has it down to a science. The only problem would be weather, though I-90 is normally pretty clear. I'll e-mail you tomorrow from work.
AJ
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Only 23 more days!
I'm really looking forward to this! I need to get away for a weekend for a breather.
FG
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Looks like y'all and us SoCallers are both going to be gathered on the 22nd. Group phone call is a MUST; anyone want volunteer to set up video conferencing?
Unless y'all disband before 3-ish . . . (it's a 2-hour difference, right?)
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
not sure if middle-of-America Iowa has the technology for video conferencing just yet....
FG
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
It did last year, but I'm pretty sure my brother and SIL took the videophone with them when they moved to Omaha. Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
ack vana forgot to e-mail This weekend looks fine, what time to you want to get together?
AJ
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
dkw --
What do we need to bring with us? Sleeping bag, pillow??? etc? Bring our own food or drink to keep you from having to feed us all? Is there a restaurant in your town? (I love diners - it's my weakness)
Farmgirl
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Sleeping bag and pillow are a good idea. I'll let you all work out who (if anyone) gets the bedrooms.
I can handle meals, but if you want to bring favorite snack foods that would be good. And if you have very specific beverage preferences, you may have to bring your own. Note: there is no grocery store, and the gas station is only open 'til 10pm, so if you can't survive the night without a caffeine-free diet Dr. Pepper (or whatever) be sure to bring it along.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Is there a sam's on the way in? We could compile a shopping list and I could grab stuff on the way.(or before I leave for that matter) AJ
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
I'm bringing instant coffee.....
Farmgirl
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Good grief. I have coffee. And tea. And cocoa. I meant wierd stuff, not staples.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Should I bring weird stuff? I can probably track down some squeaky cheese curds, fried pickles, and Vernor's ginger ale.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Weird stuff is always good.
Do we have any special needs for meals? Vegetarians? Food allergies? Atkins?
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
My daughter and I are on Atkins. But we planned to cheat this entire weekend anyway -- after all, it is an R&R weekend. Won't hurt much to be off of it for 2-3 days.
Farmgirl
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
16 more days, dkw...
are you praying for good travel weather for us? Because we're about to get snowed into today, again, for the second time this week. Jeesh!
Maybe old man winter will have it all out of his system by the time Midwest Gathering dates draw near...
Farmgirl
Posted by Vána (Member # 3262) on :
Hi! I'm not sick anymore (sorta). So I'll start paying attention again.
AJ, I'll e-mail you after I hear from Dan if this Saturday is free (unless you know it's not on your end). The 14th's no good - we have plans. So, if it doesn't work out for this weekend...
Dana, can you get us a piano for an hour or two while we're there, but before Sunday? Even if AJ and I do get together this weekend, it'd be best to run through stuff at least a couple more times, and the non-church folks might want to hear it, too (you never know!).
I'm excited, this should be very fun!
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
My house is right next door to the church, so you can run over and practice whenever you want to.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Um, I'm not sure. A friend may be taking the train down from wisconsin this weekend to visit me. I'll let you know as soon as I know more.
AJ
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
If worse comes to worse I'll cloister myself late at night on Saturday and practice til the wee hours. That is if Dana's the only nearby neighbor.
AJ
Posted by Vána (Member # 3262) on :
I e-mailed you, AJ!
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
ack yeah, was meaning to post. I might be free tomorrow afternoon or evening. E-mail me your phone number again (if you didn't already) and I'll call you tonight!
AJ
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
I told my mom about this party and she volunteered to come down next week and help me clean my house.
I’d be insulted if her perception of my housekeeping abilities wasn’t so accurate. Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
so will we get to meet her?
AJ
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Not unless you're planning on coming a week early.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
C'mon, Dana! Keep her around! Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
My sister, on the other hand, is thinking of coming. Weather permitting.
Edit: I suppose I should invite my brother too. How many more RPG-loving male computer geeks do we need to balance the girly-stuff? I could have him bring friends.
[ February 06, 2004, 04:17 PM: Message edited by: dkw ]
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Well, I'd still like to know if My List of attendees is still the currently accurate one -- since I don't know half the people in the left-hand column....
Farmgirl
edit: still can't spell!
[ February 06, 2004, 04:45 PM: Message edited by: Farmgirl ]
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
It looks to me as though someone is missing from your list.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
DKW??? Don't do that! Don't just say that and not give me a clue as to who I have missed! Help me out here!!
Farmgirl
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Your daughter. Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
I added her.
FG
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
*bump*
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
*bump*
Vana are we getting together tonight? AJ
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
I will be in Winnipeg (Canada), though I will miss you all tremendously. (I will, however, have a hoot up there. )
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Hm. I think Sara is avoiding us. Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
:: <SIGH> taking CT off the list ::
FG
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Remove Steve as well. I expected him to flake as it got closer. I was suprised he agreed in the first place! So do I bring the puppies or not?
Also we need to figure out if we are carpooling.
xnera vana lime?
AJ
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Can I phone in?
I actually mapped out a route and then looked at the mileage and decided that it's too darned far to drive.
But I'd like to be there. I don't get to sleep on the floor nearly enough these days.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
All you had to do was drive to Kansas, Bob -- and ride the rest of the way with me! <wink>
Ah well, there's always Chicago.
Farmgirl
Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :
dkw, you got a TV that can accept RCA cables? If so, I'll bring my playstation and DDR.
BTW, I'm allergic to onions, nuts, mushrooms, and spinach.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
::crosses mushrooms stuffed with walnut-spinach pesto and roasted onions off the menu::
Xnera, there appear to be the requisite little pluggy things on the front of the TV.
I suppose Bob-by-phone is better than no Bob at all. Will you call us or shall we call you?
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
dkw,
my daughter wants to know if there will be any cute guys around.....
FG
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
Bob, I can attest to the fact that driving straight from Texas to Iowa is no picnic. The drive back is even worse. On the other hand, I did drive from Texas to Kansas City and then from Kansas City to Iowa once and that trip was great. BTW I have unlimited free minutes on my nextel cell phone for anyone who needs a phone IF nextel will work in the middle of Iowa.
I'm certain Raia decided not to come when she found out how far away Iowa is from her place.
I think I'm still coming. My real name is Julie, too. *glares at vana* I can bring crocheting and knitting patterns, supplies, and other stuff if anyone is interested. I can bring a glucometer if xnera still wants/needs her blood sugar checked.
I only eat spinach, mushrooms, and onions.
Kidding.
So when does this start? Are people arriving Friday or Saturday? What times, approximately? I think my drive will be very long. What's the name of a nearby town so I can figure out the distance on Yahoo maps?
Oh, and how dressy do people get for church there? Slacks ok, or is a skirt better? I've only been to Catholic masses in the past.
I just broke the news about my trip to Iowa to my parents the other day and I got a 15 minute lecture about the dangers of meeting folks from the internet. Got any online documentation of your job as a minister, Dana? Church website or something? It would make my mother relax. Maybe. I'm only 32 years old.
Haha, FG, my mom's voice went up an octave when she found out BOYS might be there.
[ February 14, 2004, 06:48 PM: Message edited by: Theca ]
Posted by Lime (Member # 1707) on :
I have some bad news.
Julie and I aren't going be able to attend this Hatrack gathering, either. I got laid off yesterday, and that more than halved our income. I'm going to be filing for unemployment on Monday, and already have a few leads to track down with resume in tow, but we're putting the brakes on any and all spending that we can... and unfortunately, that includes gas and food money for a trip to Iowa.
I'm really sorry, guys... I was really looking forward to this one since we couldn't afford WenchCon. I'm gonna be reading the report thread rather jealously when it shows up.
Have fun for us!
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Don't worry Theca - - I'm 42 years old, and MY mom still gave me crap about it! ("You're going to see who? and who is that?") <SIGH>
We are planning on leaving sometime Friday morning and arrive there Friday evening. Might make a very short stop to see some friends in upper Missouri on the way (they are only about 15 minutes off the highway). But I have to drive my son into his morning college class before we leave here.
I think I figured that it will be a 8 hour drive for us from here -- we used Radcliffe as the town destination when entering it into Rand McNally, so you should be able to figure it that way as well.
Oh no! Vana & Lime can't come??? No special music?!! It is awful that you lost your job -- I certainly hope something good opens up for you soon!
Farmgirl
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
((BTW Lime -- you aren't filing for unemployment on Monday -- it's a government holiday (President's Day) -- I doubt unemployment office will be open)))
FG
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
Aww, that's terrible. Good luck with the search.
If you carpool with someone who is going by there anyway, there will hardly BE any costs. You still have to eat whether you do it in Iowa or Illinois. What other costs would there be?
The thread has been so quiet lately I half assumed the weekend was going to be cancelled anyway. Are other people still going?
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
I've updated my LIST of people planning to come. There are a couple on there that I don't think are confirmed -- or at least we haven't heard from lately.
Farmgirl
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Lime, I'm sorry to hear that. Shoot.
Dana, I'll definitely call your place rather than vice versa.
But you know how you said "lose my number" after the last time I saw you????
Well, okay, you didn't actually say that, but it would've made a great story.
Anyway, it has been 2 harddrive disasters, one entire computer motherboard collapse, a PDA meltdown, and 2 cellphone "incidents" ago. Why didn't I just write your number on a napkin for crying out loud!
I'll e-mail you.
Bob
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Vana and Lime. I'm going anyway and I'll have to pay the gas anyway so I would love to have you come with me just for the company, because I really don't want to drive by myself. I go right past your place as it is. We can pack sandwiches and eat bologna!
AJ
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
And keep in mind that I always over prepare when it comes to food. We’ll send you home with the leftovers and you probably won’t have to go grocery shopping for a week!
Theca, you can go to iaumc.org and click on “directory” in the menu on the left. That will give you two directories – churches and professionals in ministry. Look under “Radcliffe” in the first or “Williams” in the second. And slacks are fine. We’re pretty casual.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
I've e-mailed contact info and directions.
Theca, I I'm not sure where you're coming from, but if you let me know which major highway you'll be traveling on I can send you specifics. Don't trust Yahoo maps or Mapquest if you're coming from northeast of here. They're very messed up.
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
I'm in South Bend. So I'll be passing by Chicago on 80, I suppose. I haven't looked it up yet.
Not sure of when I can leave, tho. It's a 7 hour drive by the map so that means it'll be what, a little over 6 hours? That's shorter than I thought. I would probably leave on Friday. But I see patients on Friday till 11:30, then have to finish paperwork, phone calls, any hospital work, and officially sign out to another doctor so that could all take hours. Of course, the time change helps, it is an hour earlier in Iowa than Indiana. So I don't know when I would get there.
Posted by Banna_Oj (Member # 6207) on :
Dana, would you reccommend the I-80 to I 35 route at all?
AJ
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Yes, it's fine. Unless you're picking up Vana and Lime, in which case it would be a little out of your way.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Hey, Dan....If it's gas and snack money you're worried about, I don't mind dropping $80 to get you two out to Iowa. If you don't want charity -- and having been laid off myself, I know what that's like -- I'd be happy to consider it an interest-free loan.
(And if you don't want to make AJ drive a little bit out of her way, consider riding with us; we actually go THROUGH Rockford, I believe.)
Either way, I think we'd all pitch in to get you here. And there's some self-interest in this for me, too; if you don't come, this thing is going to be an estrogen-fest.
[ February 15, 2004, 08:29 PM: Message edited by: TomDavidson ]
Posted by Lime (Member # 1707) on :
You guys are the sweetest and coolest people that I know.
Both Vána and I would love to come. AJ, if you would pick us up that would be wonderful beyond words.
Thank you!
Edit: I really appreciate the offer, Tom, but we're okay. If AJ doesn't mind too much, we'll grab a ride with her - dkw pointed out that AJ will be driving by herself, and it's always a good idea to have multiple people along when the territory is new.
[ February 15, 2004, 08:36 PM: Message edited by: Lime ]
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Yeah!
FG
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Yay!
Hwy 20 is all divided highway and 65 speed limit once you get into Iowa, so it's not really that much slower than taking I80. And 20 is only nine miles north of me, I80 is 50 miles south.
Posted by Banna_Oj (Member # 6207) on :
So how long did it take to drive to my place Dana?
I will have to leave after work on Friday so it will be a late night, another reason why it would be nice to have people in the car to talk to and maybe split up driving.
I might be able to get off an hour or so early but that is it.
AJ
Posted by Lime (Member # 1707) on :
Woohoo!
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Banna, I know it was just under 5 hours to Dan and Julie's. Can you figure it out from that?
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Well, you all can be praying for us that my tax refund will show up in my bank account before we leave for the gathering Friday.
This weekend we kind of got hit Boom! Boom! with some unexpected expenses that are really killing us this week, and making me think twice about the trip. My trusty Kirby (vacuum) broke and is going to run me $100 to fix it, and then my son had two prescriptions given to him yesterday that each ran over $100 -- and those were all unplanned expenses. (No, I didn't get the medical insurance policy that included prescription coverage, because we hadn't needed a single prescription in my household for the last 5-10 years!).
But we will do whatever it takes to get there.
Farmgirl
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Ok then it will be six total for me. It's about an hour to Rockford. Five from Dan and Julies wasn't as bad as I was thinking.
My plan at this point is to leave my house about 6pm (which is as soon as I can get off of work and get home) and head to Dan and Julie's.
This will put us in to Dana's at around midnight.
We should probably leave shortly after church on Sunday so that it doesn't get too late in getting home.
AJ
Posted by Vána (Member # 3262) on :
I'm so glad we get to come after all.
Theca - your name is Julie too?? My goodness. I hope we don't get too confused! (I'll happily answer to Jules or Vána (though even my husband can't pronounce that right) if it turns out to be an issue, which I doubt.)
heeheehee - double parenthetical!
I think I need a nap.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Dress for rain!
Forecast according to weather.com for that area of Iowa:
Fri Feb 20 Rain / Wind 38°/21° 60 % chance of rain
Sat Feb 21 Partly Cloudy 35°/21° 10 %
Sun Feb 22 Partly Cloudy 39°/22
a bit nippier than it will be here!
Farmgirl
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Hey this is kinda cool!
If you check all the threads, it looks like there is a good chance that besides the Midwest Hatrack Gathering this weekend, this is the SAME weekend as the Florida Ren. Fair hatrack gathering, the So. Cal group gathering, and now the Utah gathering.
Surely we can all find a time to get together (online or via phone) since we are having so many gatherings on the same weekend?
Farmgirl
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
The trouble is time zones. The SoCal Shinda is called for 1-ish. That's 3-ish your time -- so 3:30 or 4:00 by the time most of the SoCallers have arrived. And it sounds like many of you will have already hit the road for the return trip.
Utah is likely easier (depending on their schedule); but since the Floridians are RenFaire-ing, I wonder if that might complicate things.
OTOH, if we can manage it, it would be tres cool!
Posted by Lime (Member # 1707) on :
I can pronounce it right if I feel like it.
"Vána"
See?
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Well, I listened to the morning news yesterday and heard them say that crude oil really jumped on the markets, so I hurried to fill up my pickup.
And, as expected, gasoline prices are 20 per gallon higher today than they were yesterday when I filled.
But I will have to fill again at least once (easily) before the trip. I sure hope the price comes back down soon. They have poor timing for a price jump (is there ever a good time?)
Farmgirl
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Mom did come down last weekend to help me clean, but we got distracted, and so instead of doing traditional cleaning (vacuuming carpets, mopping the kitchen, etc) we cleaned out the garage. So there may still be cobwebs on the ceiling when you all arrive, but whoever gets here first can park inside!
She also brought this strange stuff that was supposed to get hard water stains out of the toilet bowl but ended up turning the toilet into a lavalamp. Except it didn’t light up.
And she brought two cases of Weinhard’s root beer! (I love my mommy.)
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
well I was posting this post when either my server or hatrack went down last evening.
Yesterday, I managed to squash my pinky finger between two compressed nitrogen gas cylinders. It swelled up pretty good. I've been icing it and can bend it but it is still painful. I'm not really typing with it. So, Farmgirl, I may have to put you on piano standby depending on how bad it is on Saturday because I have no idea how it will hold up to hitting piano keys.
AJ
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
::nervous shivers::
FG
Posted by Lime (Member # 1707) on :
Man Banna, that stinks. Vána and I will be glad to trade of the driving responsibilities if you would like to take a break every now and again.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
It isn't terribly black and blue or anything, but the impact was right on the middle knuckle which is why it is painful. I'm sure I'm going to take you up on the driving switch since we are going to be in the car for five hours!
btw, I know Dana has said I can bring the dogs in the past. The question is, do you think it is a good idea in this situation with the number of people? Is anyone allergic or would anyone just plain rather not have them around? They will behave themselves, because they are used to traveling and being around people, though I'm sure Jake will a bit obsessive compulsive and want to play fetch with his squeaky ball. They are afraid of cats, and won't bother any that happen to be around.
I've been debating on bringing them. On the one hand I know Steve would be glad to have them out of his hair, and that they will enjoy the trip as much as I will, but on the other hand I don't want to impose or make anyone uncomfortable either. I would bring their travel crates for them to sleep in and get them out from underfoot when necessary. But, if you don't want them please tell me, not everyone is a dog person. I'm not going to be offended either way.
AJ
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
I vote you bring them if no one is allergic!
(I love dogs -- I have five myself)
Farmgirl
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
On the other hand, I vote to NOT bring them. Not only am I mildly allergic, but I think you'll have a much more relaxing day -- and drive --without having to worry about the dogs.
Posted by Banna_Oj (Member # 6207) on :
Tom I won't bring them then, that is why I asked.
As far as the relaxing time and drive, one of my dogs is considerably more well traveled than I am. I have gone to several dog shows that are over a 6 hour drive away for a weekend with no problems whatsoever. I'd (personally) travel with them over a baby any day, since they curl up and go to sleep and don't cry <grin>.
AJ
Posted by Lavalamp (Member # 4337) on :
quote:She also brought this strange stuff that was supposed to get hard water stains out of the toilet bowl but ended up turning the toilet into a lavalamp.
quote:Except it didn’t light up.
I bet I can make it light up!
I wish I was joining you. I miss the Central Florida clump too. I'm feeling clumpless, and that's not a good thing for a Lavalamp to feel.
Posted by Banna_Oj (Member # 6207) on :
Lavalamp if you are feeling clumpless I think you just simply need to direct your focus inward and look inside yourself.
AJ
Posted by Lavalamp (Member # 4337) on :
<looks inside himself>
Wow! You're right!
My Gawd, I'm beautiful!!!
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
quote: I'm sure Jake will a bit obsessive compulsive and want to play fetch with his squeaky ball.
Ya think? You mean, you finally got him to play with that thing?
My fingers are still chapped from doggie drool, and the ball's ... squishiness ... is unforgettable.
Posted by Banna_Oj (Member # 6207) on :
Well you are going to be in Canada so it doesn't matter does it CT?
Btw if you get to watch a re-run of Westminster, the Cardigan Corgi you will see is Jake's nephew.
AJ
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
xnera, is garlic okay? It's related to onions -- is it different enough to confuse your allergy?
Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :
Garlic is fine as long as I don't, like, swim in it. I had garlic bread and a salad with garlic dressing for lunch yesterday, and it didn't bother me.
Hey, can I commandeer your kitchen sometime on Saturday to make truffles? I'm in the mood for some Heavenly Good Chocolate, but I don't have time to make them tomorrow. Besides, it's fun to make chocolate in a group. I can bring the chocolate, cocoa powder, and Kahlua along; I'd need to either borrow some butter, an egg, and whipping cream, or buy them somewhere out there (too long a trip to really travel with them). Also would need a double-boiler and some bowls.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
I think truffle-making would be an excellent plan. I'll add those items to my grocery list.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Which brings up the question of other activities. Which crafty things should I be digging out supplies for?
I've got stacks of games, but of course everyone is welcome to bring their own favorites.
Posted by Banna_Oj (Member # 6207) on :
Do you have scrabble? <grin>
*raises hand
My name is AJ and I'm addicted to Scrabble.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
I think the scrabble set my siblings and I jointly own is at my parents house. I could have ljw bring it, or you could bring yours.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
I'm a big fan of Trivial Pursuit and Cranium. Do you want me to bring them just in case?
Farmgirl
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Got 'em both.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
What about D&D? Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Uh . . . I think I've got a second edition player's manual somewhere.
::looks around wildly::
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
MMMMmmmmmm garlic truffles!
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Bob -- are you sure you don't want to join us this weekend? I mean -- I'm sure you're not doing anything else with your Saturday night...
FG
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
I'm going to have phone in my contribution to the whole thing...
I'm really sorry to miss it.
The board games especially. Ask Cor and Icarus. I'm the worst Scrabble player they've ever played with. And we're talking people who have two five year olds!!!
I've never played D&D. (no-one will let me )
I've never played Cranium.
BUT!!!
I kick butt at Trivial Pursuit. As long as someone else handles the sports questions.
Posted by Vána (Member # 3262) on :
We have LotR Monopoly. Haven't played it yet (Christmas present from my brother). Shall we bring it?
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Ooooo
I've love to see a Trivial Pursuit championship game between Bob_S and my oldest son (undefeated). That would be awesome..
But which version????Hmmmmmmmm
Farmgirl
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Not the Canadian!
I played the Canadian version with friends last Saturday. History was Canadian history. Politics was Canadian politics. I guessed Wayne Gretzky for every sports question. Wayne Gretzky was the answer once, but it was for the other side, and they missed it! Heh.
Our side won, but that's because we had someone to handle the sports questions, a mathemetician to handle the science questions, me to handle old movie questions, and a Canadian. Life is good. Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
::note to self -- never be on the same Trivial Pursuit team as Bob::
I don't know the sports questions either.
Vána, sure!
Posted by Banna_Oj (Member # 6207) on :
Vana could you re-email me directions to your house?
AJ
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Who's Wayne Gretzky?
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
::revised note to self -- if I ever am on the same Trivial Pursuit team as Bob, I answer the sports questions::
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
we need to bring sleeping bags right?
FG
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
At least some of you will need to bring sleeping bags.
Posted by Banna_Oj (Member # 6207) on :
Would you be offended if I brought an airbed? My back has been bugging me recently and I know our airbed is far better than the floor. It is queen size so I'm willing to share with someone. I'd just throw the sleeping bag on top of the airbed.
AJ
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
I'll be bringing a sleeping bag, and I don't want to share an airbed. FYI.
Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
We'll bring bedding and an airbed. I think I'm going to have to bring my menagerie of pillows, since I've been having trouble sleeping.
We're thinking about bringing some games as well: most likely Carcasonne, Chez Geek, D&D and a new card game Chamelion that we haven't tried.
Not sure about what crafty stuff to bring. Were we still going to teach Dana how to knit or crochet? I do have some knitting needles/crochet hooks.
Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :
I am bringing my playstation for Dance Dance Revolution. Probably Abe's Oddysee, too -- it's a pretty good game for a group. Will likely bring a board game or two. I was thinking Citadels, Acquire, and Ricochet Robot.
I am also bringing extra chocolately stuff that I have laying about the house, in case others want to try their hand at chocolate making.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
I have two guest rooms with actual beds as well. I'm thinking pregnant women get right of first refusal, after that you can flip for it or whatever.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Warning: the warm weather yesterday melted a lot of snow, and now there’s a giant mudhole in front of the house (and a small lake in the alley.) Parking in the driveway is definitely recommended. And if we get any more snow melt it’ll be a good idea to come through the church parking lot to get to the driveway, rather than the alley to the west of the house.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Dana, we're leaving around noon and should be there by six or so. If we're not there by seven, assume we're lost or dead. Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Okay, we are leaving right now! (9:34 central time). Be 8 hours driving time, but I'm sure there will be a few stops along the way. See you all tonight!
Farmgirl
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Anyone who gets here before six will be recruited for last minute emergency cleaning.
You are warned! Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Aaaaaaagh!
Funeral Director just called.
I may have to disapear into the office for a while tomorrow.
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
I'm headed out now!
Posted by Vána (Member # 3262) on :
xnera, bring chocolate - I've been so stressed, I just need it.
We'll bring our own bedding, so no worries about that.
Umm...we won't be there until way after six - I don't think AJ can even leave her place until about then. We'll be quiet, in case anyone's asleep when we get there (probably about midnight)!
Dana, that's too bad. AJ (or Farmgirl)and I can work around that, of course - as long as we still get some time to practice.
I'm so excited! This will be fun.
[ February 20, 2004, 03:27 PM: Message edited by: Vána ]
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Vana did you email directions to my yahoo addy? (I can't check it from work)
I'm going to be leaving work at about 4pm. I have one errand that I *have* to do, and I'm hoping I get that done before xnera arrives at my house.
Then we'll get on the road. I'll try to post something when we leave.
AJ
Posted by Vána (Member # 3262) on :
Dan sent them last night.
I'm so glad xnera's driving with us, too! Yay!
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Ah last night I was intoxicated, so I didn't do a lot of e-mail checking after about 5:30pm.
The good news is that getting drunk last night allowed me to finally end my insomnia and get a full nights sleep, so that I will be much more alert for this evening!
I kept hearing Pippin's "It comes in PINTs?" in my head last night, as I drank an entire bottle of wine in pint glasses! (Didn't feel like messing with our actual wine glasses.)
AJ
[ February 20, 2004, 04:13 PM: Message edited by: BannaOj ]
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Are y'all awake yet?
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
We're having a great time, Bob. (This is farmgirl posting on dkw's account)
Glad you called up -- and joined our game of Screen It via phone.
Dan and I are taking pics -- will post them up after the weekend.
FG
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
It sounded like a blast!!!
I'm so glad you all were able to get together.
I got to talk a little bit to Tom & Christy, FG, dkw and I really don't know WHO ELSE. But it sounded like a totally great get together.
I'm so envious.
I did know the answer to ONE question during that game. That was fun!
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
So, how was dkw's sermon?
Did the band play?
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Everyone but lj is gone, but they left things to remember them by. Perhaps I'll take an example from WenchCon and hold an auction.
I've got two pillows and one sock, up for bids. Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
How was the oboe/piano solo playing? We are sorry to have missed them. We made remarkable time home and are now settling back in and getting our own house back in order. Hope we didn't leave you with too much of a mess, dkw!
Dana was an excellent hostess and cooked us many wonderful meals. Everyone was much impressed by her rather large stock of excellent prohibition draft-head root beer. We drank it all weekend and she still has cases left! LJ was a pleasure to meet and a lot of fun to hang out with as well, although we hear that we've cost dkw a weekend in Minneapolis doing landscaping. Perhaps we could have another gathering to help her out
Farmgirl and her daughter ACTUALLY EXIST! We met them! Thanks for making the big drive!
We all got a chance to hold Bob as we talked with him. And darn my memory, there were quite a few lines while playing "Scene it" that just had to go in the out of context thread, but now I can't remember them!
Theca brought her knitting and although we didn't end up showing dkw, she did teach dkw's friend's daughter and gave me a couple of baby patterns that I'm going to have to try. She ended up finishing a pair of slippers as well as a gorgeous chenille purse.
Banna, Xnera, Lime and Vàna arrived bleary eyed and weather worn and we were very glad that they all decided to travel together. I think Banna even managed to get some sleep that night and seemed to recover well from her horrid week. Her poor little finger even held out for piano playing as well as seam ripping and finishing dkw's friends quilt!
Xnera, Vàna and I had fun with dkw's befu (??) ball and I think I may have to try to find one of those for myself.
Lime and Tom even managed to hold off most of the estrogen in the room and kept us playing board games instead of too many crafts.
All in all, it was a fun weekend and we hardly noticed we were in the middle of nowhere Thanks for having us!
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
LJ is a gem -- she finished cleaning up and washed all the bedding and towels while I was at the funeral visitation this afternoon.
I probably owe her at least two weeks of landscaping by now.
Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
*giggle* Sorry! We thought (Both Ends Face Up).
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Well, 480 miles and 9 1/2 hours later, we are home safe and sound!
Had beautiful weather after we crossed the Iowa state line on the way home -- was 66 degrees by the time we hit Kansas City. Amazing change!
I will try to post photos tomorrow -- do you want me to use this thread, or are we going to begin a new one to revamp the gathering?
DKW is simply the nicest person in the whole world. That's the best way to describe her. It was a wonderful weekend, and some much needed R&R for me. (well, not much rest with that group, but definately fun!)
And she gives WONDERFUL sermons. You should have heard her!
Farmgirl (and daughter)
[ February 23, 2004, 11:08 AM: Message edited by: Farmgirl ]
Posted by Banna_Oj (Member # 6207) on :
I'm home! (This means Lime and Vana are home and xnera should be home shortly.)
AJ
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
I'm home too. 464 miles in 7 hours and 15 minutes.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
I can set up an album on Madowl for ya'll if you want.
Julie, turn on your AIM!
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
It was really wonderful being held by all of you. Tom has very warm hands.
I'm glad everyone made it home safely.
Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :
And last one home is me.
Had a wonderful time. I got to play games and chitchat and make truffles (finished at the last minute) and spread the Firefly love. Definitely a good weekend. I am a very happy xnera.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
My old HP digital camera doesn't take very good shots, so hopefully Tom will post up some he took as well. PLEASE let me know if I misspelled anyone's screen name or other information.
It took me all morning to do this -- so this afternoon I will try to write my own "synopsis" of the weekend. Hope others will do that too!
Hugs to all -- I loved putting faces with names!
Farmgirl
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
JOURNAL ENTRY:
Food is one way to describe the weekend -- probably the best food we will have all year! You can tell dkw really loves to cook.
Friday night, my daughter and I arrived at dkw's after dark, but had no problem finding the place right off. Walked into a room of people I didn't know -- which included dkw, her sister LJ, her friend Sara and her kids.
Through the evening I got acquainted with Tom & Christy, and Theca. (BannaOJ, Vána & Lime, and Xnera didn't arrive until after we gave up and went to bed about 1 AM.)(am I forgetting someone here)?
Friday evening, dkw made us homemade pizzas, and homemade bread, and there was plenty of Chex mix available all hours throughout the weekend. And hot cider!
Saturday morning we were treated to four different kinds of quiche, the homemade bread, and kuchen. (YUM!) I think we finally got everyone in and out of the kitchen, and the shower, and fed, by -- oh, lunch time... <GRIN>
In the afternoon dkw and her sister laid out a wonderful buffet of deli meats and cheese, the homemade bread, and broccoli/cheese soup. It was wonderful
Someone (xnera?) brought french silk pie to share, and someone else brought several varieties of fudge!
There was lots of game - playing and talking. BannaOJ spent most of Saturday either practicing for Sunday's church service (piano) or helping with a quilt in need of repair. Theca crocheted -- constantly. It was amazing to watch how much she could get done in one weekend -- a crochetted purse, and pair of slippers, some kitchen potholders (or something like that). Her hands were always busy.
Had a lot of fun playing Scene It (which I suck at because I don't watch many movies), and passing Bob_S around. We talked about LOTS of 'out of context' comments, but none of us wrote them down, I don't think. Tom was really into games -- he was teaching us all games all the time. First thing each morning, he pulled out the games.
Saturday night, it was one of dkw's friend (I don't remember her name) rooting for Iowa State while I was rooting for University of Kansas in a TV basketball game (KU won in overtime). And we all watched two hours of Firefly.
Sunday morning we all had omelets; some of us played games, some of us went to church, some did both.
Vána did a wonderful job on her oboe solo, and BannaOJ on accompanying her. dkw gave an excellent sermon on the transfiguration -- even if she did wait until the last possible minute to finish writing it before heading out the door.
I can't tell you much about Sunday because as soon as the early service was over, we headed home in order to make good time. We found a wonderful little cafe in Decatur City, Iowa for lunch (I am a huge fan of diners -- look for them everywhere) where IvyGirl and I enjoyed a wonderful lunch and peanut-butter pie.
Going through Kansas City on the way home was much much better (Sunday afternoon) than it was on the way up Friday evening. My foot does get tired on long trips since I don't have cruise control. However, that wasn't as bad as that 45 minute construction delay through KC on the way up -- had to keep my foot on the clutch the whole time to crawl through at 2 mph -- my leg got a workout!
Still lots of snow in dkw's area -- pretty much piled everywhere.
Those of you who were there with me -- as you left the area and noticed all the pretty little farms all around that area of Iowa -- that is pretty much exactly like my area if you were to come here to Kansas. Except her area has rolling hills, and we are pretty flat (that's why we can do the pivot irrigation, and you didn't see much of it in that area). But overall, the rural area looks much the same -- and all those old two-story white farmhouses you saw everywhere -- they are pretty much identical to my house and my place.
Others attendees -- please post as well!
Lovely, lovely weekend. It was so great to meet everyone. I had a great time!
Farmgirl
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Great pics! I can't believe you even got my good side.
Thanks for the journal excerpt too! It's almost like not being jealous...
[ February 23, 2004, 02:47 PM: Message edited by: Bob_Scopatz ]
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
dkw does one of those pillows have a pillowcase made out of red t-shirt type material?
I can't find mine but I was too delirious last night to double check everywhere. It is a smaller pillow than average made out of the fun squish foam material.
AJ
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Two pillows and one sock, dkw? What about my road atlas? Are you keeping it?
(I realized I forgot it about half way home -- but I'll just buy me a new one. I love any excuse to buy a new road atlas)
Farmgirl
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Lime, myself, Vana and xnera had an eventful road trip back.
The road trip out to Dana's was simply stressful, due to bad weather conditions. I did all the driving out.
Lime did most of the driving back. I had a quarter tank of gas when we left Dana's. The plan was, that I drive us back out to Highway 20 since I was the one who did it on the way in, and we would pull off at a gas station and fuel up once it got a little lower.
The problem was the distinct LACK of gas stations anywhere remotely near the highway. The gauge was on E, when we pulled off to a town that was only 2 miles from the highway instead of 6 or 10 miles away. The problem being that this little town (I can't remember the name but we wrote it down.) DIDN'T HAVE A GAS STATION.
Apparently it has been the town scandal for the last two years because the guy that bought the local filling station was from "outside town" and he stripped it of parts and anything usable and shut it down to count it as a loss. It had been operating moderately profitably for years prior to that point. (but we found this out much later on)
There is a lettered sign on a semi-vacant building, that says FOR GAS ON WEEKENDS OR EVENINGS CALL: (and gives a phone number) We would have called the number but none of our cell phones worked that far from the highway. So Lime and I started knocking on doors to ask the locals if we could use their phone to call the number. Well even though many residences appeared to be lived in NO ONE was home. We must have knocked on four or five doors in different blocks of the town before we found this very nice elderly couple that was home.
She called her son-in-law, and he came with his key to the grain elevator gas tanks. The gas pump at the grain elevator was an experience in and of itself. Painted on the side was "Gasohol" You had to have a key to open the box above, where there were about 12 analog dial gauges each with a spot for a key. He put his key in order to make the gas pump. It was a decided blast to the past for us city folk. The price was $1.55 per gallon which is actually quite good! I paid him a few extra bucks (we had to pool our cash on hand together) He tried to give it back but I told him to do something nice for his in-laws.
Xnera wrote down the elderly couple's name and address and we are going to send them a thank you card. We were thinking of posting it on hatrack and having anyone who was interested send a "thank you for your random act of kindness to our friends" postcard. I have a feeling that they would enjoy it immensely getting cards from all parts of the country.
AJ
Adventure #2: Dubuque, SHAZAAM and the "Food Court" Anyone else who was with me feel free to tell the tale otherwise I'll get to it later.
AJ
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
AJ...that's a great story!!!
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
What a great story, AJ!!
That's how the gas situation is in our small town near my farm in Kansas. The only gas station in town closed long ago, so the only place to get gas is at the Co-op (grain elevator). Luckily, I have a co-op card that turns on the pumps when they aren't open, but for cash sales, you would have to call someone.
Glad you got to experience small-town midwest life!
Farmgirl
edit: when did I go over 1,000 posts?
[ February 23, 2004, 03:17 PM: Message edited by: Farmgirl ]
Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
Great photos Farmgirl! We have a few, which we'll link to later, but you have many more.
Does this mean that we're going to start seeing Ivygirl around here, or is the name just for fun?
Poor Banna and company! You did have quite an adventurous drive both there and back! Its quite a bit to Waterloo, and I don't even remember if there was a gas station in Radcliffe!
Iowa has rolling hills?! That was as flat a drive across highway 20 as from Chicago to Champaign, IL. We were so relieved to make it to the Mississippi Valley where we started to have landscape again. *smile* There is something comfortable about cropland, but I love forests and river valleys.
*is intrigued by the next food court saga*
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
No, probably IvyGirl won't be posting here -- but she lurks from time to time (or reads over my shoulder). IvyGirl is her e-mail name, so I just used it for the purposes of the anonymonity of the photos.
Farmgirl
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Adventure #2: Dubuque, SHAZAAM and the "Food Court"
Lime did the driving from our small town gas adventure on. I greatly appreciate this, though it did take him a little bit for him to get used to driving my "pregnant sea cow" of a mini-van. He used to drive one for deliveries though so I didn't have to explain most of the bells and whistles to him.
By the time we made it to Dubuque we were getting hungry and crabby. All of us were just a little bit out of sorts. We pulled into a Wendy's to get food. Wendy's normally accommodates ATM cards and we were all mostly out of cash after the Gas incident. Well the Wendy's in Dubuque DOESN'T take cards. Lime had already placed his order when we found this out.
Fortunately, there was a drive up ATM machine in the parking lot that was shared jointly between Wendy's and a US Bank. So Lime and I both dashed through the rain to use our ATM cards. We were amused we were walking up to a drive up. However our amusement rapidly disintegrated when the ATM machine told us it was out of cash. So we went over to the "brick and mortar" actual USBank building because normally there is a walkup ATM as well. Once again, NOT in Dubuque. We see another bank across the street, and I run in to tell xnera and Vana(who was in the bathroom) that we are driving over because we've had enough of walking in the rain.
Lime and I hop in my van (he was driving) and drive over to the other drive through ATM at the other bank. Our spirits sank further, though we couldn't help but laugh, when the ATM machine screen says "Welcome to the SHAZAAM banking system" or something close. However it did take both of our ATM cards, and only had a $1.00 surcharge. Lime now knows my ATM password since he was doing it through the driver's window, but I figure I don't really have anything to worry about since he doesn't know my Hatrack password <grin>. I flipped off the other bank as we drove back to the Wendy's, to make Mackillian proud.
Apparently Lime and I had similar thoughts running through our heads since we were both starving and crabby, in other words getting food into our digestive systems ASAP. However, across the street from the Wendy's was the local mall. While we had been acquiring cash, xnera and Vana had decided that they really didn't want to eat at Wendy's. (Their reasons were understandable and logical, since xnera had already eaten Wendy's twice recently, but made Lime and I more grumpy and out of sorts than we already were after the SHAZAAM adventure to get money.)
The local mall had a wing out that was labled, with a sign visible from the street as "Food Court". Lime claims that his last thought as we walked back into the Wendy's was "well at least it isn't the Food Court". Of course this was the logical place to go to for non-Wendy's food, or so you would think. I had my hopes up that there might even be a Chick-Fil-A. The mall was in most other ways quite busy for a sunday afternoon. However, when you walked into the food court it was dark, and akin to a tomb. Most of the slots for resturaunts were boarded up, with no apparent replacements there were no "coming soon" signs at all and several of the "space available" variety. There was one Aunt Anne's ish place that wasn't actually Aunt Anne's I don't think, but a wanna-be; there was a Chineese buffet where the food all looked days old, and ahh a Sbarro's. We flocked to the Sbarro's like moths to a light (and it was the most brightly lit) only to find that this particular Sbarro's had nothing available besides day-old looking pizza. No pasta, no breadsticks no nothing. We had pizza for lunch at Dana's.
At the end of the "food court" going into the rest of the mall there was a candy shop. After perusing the Mall directory, it was verified that there were indeed NO other spots for food in the entire mall. We went to the bathrooms, and headed back out, laughing because it was the only thing keeping us from crying or strangling each other.
A Burger King was spotted upon our departure from the mall. After a bit of delicate lane manuvering by Lime, we managed to end up in the Burger King parking lot. The Burger King was open, and we walked in, ordered our food and sat down to recover from the ordeal. Everyone was in much more cheerful dispositions after finally eating, and the rest of the trip from Dubuque to Rockford was uneventful.
No offense to dkw or her town which was delightful, but right now I belive myself, xnera, Vana and Lime, would all gladly sign any sort of Iowa Sucks! petition that was circulated.
AJ
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Had there been a Chik-Fil-A, it would've been closed. They are all closed on Sunday.
I'm glad you dodged that particular bullet as part of this adventure.
Actually, Iowa has been riding high ever since the caucuses. They need to be taken down a peg or two.
Posted by Lime (Member # 1707) on :
Chik-Fil-A would have been pretty cool - I've never been to one on account of the name. But now that I've got AJ's recommendation, I'll get to one next chance I have.
But only if I've lost some weight between now and then.
The weekend was fantastic. I can't thank everyone enough; it was exactly what Vána and I needed. We owe Dana and AJ lodging/free food and gas money, respectively, and I'm not gonna forget.
There were a lot of games and I'm glad I played 'em. I need to find more games to play that don't require a PC, anyway, and Munchkin, Chez Geek and Guillitine were all a blast to play. I also got a kick out of Aquire, but it'd be more difficult to play w/just two people.
Tom: I beat Karen at Ricochet Robots. I'm very proud of myself.
'Scene -It' was a lot of fun, but I felt that Bob's contributions to the visual questions of the game unbalanced things somewhat.
Thanks again for the great weekend!
Edit: Karen, thank you for letting me borrow your Firefly boxset. Just watched 'Our Mrs. Reynolds'... this is a great series.
[ February 23, 2004, 09:46 PM: Message edited by: Lime ]
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
I should have told you to get gas before you left Radcliffe – I know there isn’t anything on hwy 20. Sorry guys.
Banna: yes, the pillow you describe is one of the two I have. I’ll try to figure out how cheaply I can get it to you. Sarah and Abby thank you a million times more for helping fix and finish their quilt.
Farmgirl: found your atlas. It was in the dining room and I hadn’t done a complete sweep there yet. Would you like me to send it, or were you serious about getting a new one?
I still have one unclaimed pillow and a sock!
Posted by Banna_Oj (Member # 6207) on :
The pillow isn't that big of a deal. I didn't think I was going to get it but I was looking for an excuse to buy a smiliar pillow in a different brand. So maybe just next time we get together.
AJ
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
Gee, my drives were pretty boring, I guess.
I saw a great big sign along the interstate for a tattoo parlor in the next town. So, what, people are driving along the interstate in the middle of nowhere and decide to make a detour for a tattoo?! I mean, I was bored, but not THAT bored...
And there was a tollbooth in Illinois or Indiana that had some interesting signs. First they said to slow up for the tollbooth. Then they said don't use breaks, as this was in a quiet zone. Then they said to "check brakes". Then I paid the toll. I'm not sure how one is supposed to pay a toll without using brakes. And what does "check brakes" mean, anyway?
I had a lot of fun this weekend. I had a hard time adjusting to all the people at Dana's after my solitary 8 hour drive, but that quickly passed. Everyone was just how I imagined them, although I hadn't really much of an idea of what Farmgirl would be like and I thought that Vana would be shorter, for some reason.
I enjoyed all the conversations and the games, although I guess I watched a lot more games than I played. Farmgirl described the weekend food and activities pretty well. I really enjoyed the church service, especially the readings, sermon, and AJ's piano playing and Vana's oboe playing.
It WAS a great weekend.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
"Tom: I beat Karen at Ricochet Robots. I'm very proud of myself."
As well you should be. I'm very impressed.
Although this raises an intriguing possibility: that at some point during the weekend, the real Karen was replaced with an imposter.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
dkw -- don't worry about the atlas, really. I would cost more to send it than for me to just buy a new one. Perhaps I'll pick it up from you when we go to Chicago, if I still want it then.
I imagine the sock is my daughter's since she has the habit of leaving socks everywhere -- when I can get her to wear them at all. But I'm not going to worry about that either. I wouldn't even know if it was missing -- we have so many unmatched socks in my house.
Theca -- the sign about brakes at the toll booth is directed toward semi drivers, not you. Semi trucks have "jake brakes" that reverse the engine that are quite loud. Basically it was telling truckers to not use their jake brakes, but to use and check their regular service brakes (the brakes on the wheels, on both the tractor and the trailer brakes) instead.
I forgot to mention the swan! DKW took this apple and made some very precise and unique cuts with a paring knife, and *presto* made a beautiful "swan" centerpiece for the relish dish. I was in awe. All weekend I felt like I was on one of those cruise ships where they have endless supplies of wonderful food day and night. (I have never been on a cruise ship -- just heard about it).
It's not that I'm a food fanatic -- it is just that I really admire people who have talents that I don't. Like artists -- people who can put wonderful things down with pen and paper -- because I can't do that. And with food -- so many people (like dkw) can make it into an art form, while I have always viewed cooking as sort of a chore and necessity, and just functional. So I voice admiration for people with these talents.
And I found lots to admire this weekend in all of you -- Tom's vast knowledge of all sorts of subjects; Theca's crocheting skills; BannaOJ's skill in quilting; dkw's cooking; etc etc. Quite a bunch we have. I'm so sorry that none of you got to see my skills <wink> but there were no lawns to mow or gardens to tend or landscaping to do, or animals to care for, or cars to be repaired. But I really do have skills! (playing that alchemy game was NOT one of them).
Hugs to all, Farmgirl
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
I took a picture of the swan. Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
I ran over a goose on the way to work today.
Darn birds were standing the middle of the road right where there was a dark patch with no lighting.
Crud.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Yum! Roast goose for supper!
Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
I was gonna say that! But I didn't want to come across as too cruel and callous.
Thanks, Rivka - I get to have my cake and eat it too. Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
quote: I ran over a goose on the way to work today.
Not sure how this ended up in the Midwest Gathering thread, Bob.....but I guess I can see the remote swan/goose resemblence.
Thanks for your contribution!
FG
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Yeah...I saw the thing about the culinary swan and got all sad about killing a goose. I'd finally started to get over it, then the swan thing comes up.
There are birds massing outside my office window. What does that mean? They're all staring at me!!!
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :
Bob, be afraid, be very afraid. Have you ever seen the movie The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock? Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
Actually, familiarity with geese would give cause for concern in and of itself. Bob obviously hasn't had too much contact with geese or he wouldn't feel so bad.
At the best of times, they are aggressive, constantly pooping, ill-tempered, noisy flocks of feathered vermin.
Did I mention they are aggressive and ill-tempered?
Bob should be afraid. Bob should be very afraid.
[ February 24, 2004, 02:59 PM: Message edited by: sndrake ]
Posted by Banna_Oj (Member # 6207) on :
Actually I belive Bob saw an excerpt of "The Birds" by phone while Farmgirl was holding onto him at the Midwest clump gathering.
AJ
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
There were *tons* of geese that wandered around the campus where I went to seminary. One day during opening prayer for a class the woman leading the prayer went into a long, rambling thing about God “helping us to see ways to help people who are hungry and homeless, like maybe a way we could slaughter all the geese and use them to feed families who are hungry” . . . and on and on. The vegetarian members of the class were outraged, and even those of us who eat meat thought it was a pretty weird prayer. Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
It is so hard to stay in any sort of worship mode with long rambly prayers. I've heard some doozies in my time but nothing that tops your geese story!
AJ
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
The scary thought is that this was just the idea she figured was okay to share in public. She hadn't even gotten to what she wants to do with Animal Shelters and orphanages.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
So did everyone on Hatrack get a chance to see the PHOTOS of our gathering?
((actually, bumping some old threads in order to make certain other thread fall off the first page))
Farmgirl
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
that after shower picture of me is horrendous <grin>
AJ
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
btw dkw, I have been meaning to comment on your sermon. I don't think you used the exact same language in the second service, but I know you used the term "dazzling darkness" in the first service.
There is a Madeline L'Engle book, A Ring of Endless Light, that talks about that. It quotes some famous poet or philosopher using that term and the theme runs throughout the book. Did you think of all of that when you were writing your sermon? And if so, who was that poet because I should read more of him.
AJ
Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
Our Hatrack photos are finally up Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Tom -- what happened to that pic I saw you take of Karen with all the little RPG figurines in the foreground? I don't see that one up. I thought it would look real cool.
Farmgirl
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
For some reason, I always thought AJ was a brunette...
Shows how much I know!
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
AJ and I look like we could be sisters. o_O
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
There is in God, some say, a deep but dazzling darkness . . .
AJ, you're good. It was a deliberate allusion – the poem is "The Night" by Henry Vaughan.
It is a good thing that I have a sense of humor and was doing this: Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Added to my previous, The title “A Ring of Endless light” is from another Vaughan poem, ”The World”.
I saw eternity the other night, like a great ring of pure and endless light . . . Posted by Banna_Oj (Member # 6207) on :
Posted by Banna_Oj (Member # 6207) on :
I was planning on finding the book and looking it up, but my bookshelves are in such disarray at the moment it is hard to find stuff. I will be extremely happy when we get the library finished.
Though, right now with the weather being good we've started on the outside again.
AJ
Posted by IvyGirl (Member # 6252) on :
Hey everybody! I had a great time in Iowa, and enjoyed meeting everyone there! It was a lot of fun! I hope to see some more of you in Chicago later as well. It was good seeing all of you and learning about all the people my mother talks to all the time!
IvyGirl
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Ivygirl, hi! I enjoyed meeting you, and I hope you can join us online occasionally.
Posted by IvyGirl (Member # 6252) on :
Hey! Thanks! Well, hopefully I can pop in once in awhile, but I can't be around too much. Especially since I have to go to school again. Oh well. Plus I promised my mom I wouldn't be too nosy!
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) I’ve also got three bedrooms with double beds for those couples or individuals that are not comfortable with sleeping bag in the living room style accommodations. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Honestly while I'm sad about missing wenchcon, I was looking forward to a couple of relaxing weekends at home with no holiday chaos. There's actually a big dog show over in Des Moines that weekend too and I didn't enter it either. What about the weekend after, or maybe the weekend bridging January and February?![[Angst]](graemlins/angst.gif)
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I guess!).
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Iowa![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
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Except it didn’t light up. ![[Cool]](cool.gif)
(I love my mommy.)
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