I had a great weekend with these good and truly wonderful folks. First I picked Ang up and swung around to pick up Mike and Lucy. Ang is just simply a very sweet and friendly, easy to talk to person who loves to travel. Mike and Lucy is a wonderfully delightful, friendly young couple who seem to share a joint visage of discovery together. We then headed off to the meeting hub, which was the statue of Roosevelt on horseback in front of the museum. Man, was Mike hyper! Even after driving all that way from Virginia to New Jersey he was still full of piss and vinegar, I was getting tired just watching him. A little while later Max turned up. A very easy-going, easy to get along with persona in a wonderfully bright and well-mannered young man, a breath of delightful freshness. Then came the Hulk!I mean BoomerehhhhJohn. Ang and myself had gone back to my Jeep for water at the parking garage. Upon returning we were told of this humongous man who called himself John had made his presence known. We were told to expect the earth to tremble when he came back to meet us. I quickly put my hand in my rear pocket to make sure my pepper spray was still there. A sweeter guy would be hard to meet. Indeed a big man, but a wonderful person at heart. Im proud to call these good people my friends. Once we all got together, we decided to have lunch. We walked one block west of the museum to check out all the eateries. We strolled along for a little while when we passed a cafand Max asked several of the customers if the food was good. All replied that it was. We then took a fast vote and decided to go in. We asked for a table for six. Well, few of us knew how to read the menu there. Nevertheless, we decided to stay and ordered some exotic dishor so we thoughtAng got away with the hamburger and I got away with a great tasting dish of sweet potato fries and crab cake sandwich. After lunch it was time to hit the museum. We decided to start from the top and work our way down, in particular to take in the most interesting of the exhibits. Granted, there were many side galleries with added admission fees which would have cost an additional arm and a leg but we stuck to the basic tour and still we didnt get to see it all. We took in part of the planetarium then decided to go for a walk through Central Park. The day had turned out wonderfully pleasant despite the foul weather forecast that had been broadcast for the previous 3 days! Makes one wonder where these people are broadcasting from. Johns brother was flying in from Florida that evening and he needed to rendezvous with him. Ang, Mike and Lucy hadnt checked in yet into their hotels and the day was quickly closing. Max went back downtown to Tribeca area of Manhattan (God I wish I was 18 again) and we said we would call him when we came back into the City for diner. With that, we broke to go our own separate ways at the end of the day. Mike was starting to crash from after his long journey and I for one could not blame him! He who had so much earlier been full of energy and anxious to seize the day had by now met his true opponent, weariness. We traveled back into the borough of Queens and managed to make Angs check in by using the facilities and traveled on to find the Miden party lodgings. I must of drove for well over an hour before it became clear to me where it was they were staying (its never been truer, so close, yet so far). Talk about being so near and yet so far! All the time, Mike was in the back seat counting sheep. Said he needed but a couple hours nap to get on with it. Poor guy, I surely understood his situation. While Mike grabbed a nap, the ladies and I decided to go somewhere close where we could get a bite to eat and wait out his nap. I took them to Forest Hills Queens where the famous tennis games are played and ended up in a great little Irish pub/restaurant. Ang has already related the story about the jubilant folks at the adjoining table and the threesome web site. After diner we went back and picked up Mike again and headed off to the Village off Bleecker Street in Manhattan. We walked around a bit visiting the famous Washington Monument made famous from the 60s and took in the Bohemian atmosphere before settling down at the world famous Bitter End bar/pub. Im sure my guests had no idea about the history of this place but I thought they would enjoy it and at least say, Ive been there!. The Bitter End As we walked in we decided to take seat at the back end of the club to enjoy the live Rock entertainment. The place was blasting with sound and we could hardly hear each other. It was still early by New York time and the place wouldnt start jumping until later. Besides, the lead guitarist was really good and his fingers never left his hand. A waitress came up and asked me what I wanted. Ang had gotten up to use the restroom and had told me she wanted a Heineken so I proceeded to order. I said: I want a Heineken, a Cores Light and a Jack Denials straight up! The waitress looked at me disbelieving and asked: what are you having? I repeated myself. She then turned to me and said: Why are you being so greedy? Man, did I laugh my ass off! Anyways, we stood there to take in the bands set then we decided to go home and rest for the next dayafter allI got home at 4:00 A.M.! Next day Angela surprised meI had remembered distinctly but apparently not distinctly enough telling her I would call when she would be most ready for calls, at 10:30 (check out time was 11:00 for her) and she was only 20 minutes from my placenot to worry. She called me at 10:25. Not thinking much of it, I went down and drove off to meet with her. When we did meet again, she said she had expected me to call her at 10:00 as per our prior arrangement, which I could have sworn was set for 10:30! But there she was beaming in a glorious morning happy face to be with someone she recognized. She said she had had a good nights sleep which I found amazing for a country girl staying right in front of a big New York City Avenue bustling with traffic! We then drove over and picked Mike and Lucy up at their hotel (I now knew exactly where this mysterious hotel was and was quite happy that it was a reputable establishment (all things concerned). Mike is like an old time war plane (sorry Mike to describe you like this but its my best analogy). You need to crank him up by first supplying him with ample fuel! Caffeine! Gotta get plenty of coffee into Mike before he starts to hum. Anyway, after fueling up, we decided to head to downtown Brooklyn (one of the oldest cites in New York now a borough and where I was born and raised). The first stipulation was to take in the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. As it turned out, we only managed to take in the garden. But we were happy with that. It was then time for all parties to find their way back home. A solemn moment when after such a great time with great people, it all has to disperse. A time that you wish could go on indefinitely but a time you know must come. Back to the hard grime and sweat. I would be remiss if I did not thank all these wonderful people who decided to come together and make a wonderful experience for themselves. To one and all, my Brycian friends, I thank you! Quest