Dan (Dacort) has reminded me that it has been a year since we got together for a party. :( Time not only flies, it takes a seat on the Concorde. It really was great to meet everybody face to face and talk about all sorts of things... cats, chocolate, families, origami, role-playing... (it was a sunny day, so nobody mentioned the weather). There were a few folks who couldn't make it and others who said "let's do it again", but fall passed into winter and melted into spring. So, what is the feeling? Would people here like to gather again over munchies and conversation? The next couple of weekends are booked and October 18th is my birthday (I usually spend it camping in Yosemite), but that leaves 4 possible weekends where we should have nice weather and maybe even flowers in the garden. Saturday or Sunday afternoon? Carolly

Bay area is that Sanfrancisco Basin? or the Baltimore Washington DC Chesapeak Bay area?

I am interested. It would be good to see everyone again. Either Saturday or Sunday works for me, but Saturday would probably be better. :) Jay

What Bay Area??

I'm assuming San Francisco Bay Area, is that correct?

Bay Area usually means San Francisco, but I could be wrong. Too far for me.

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I'd love to see you all again. Let me know when and how I can help, Carolly. Heck, I can even drag along my BBQ grill if needed. Or the infamous Karaoke equipment. :) Kate (you still have my phone # right?)

My work schedule should slow down in the next couple of weeks, so either day is fine with me. Ed

Great! There's an interest. :) To the lurkers: that is San Francisco Bay Area, sometimes also known as the Nine Counties. I consider anything within 75 miles to be local, but your mileage may vary. ;^) Kate... if you want to barbeque, I'll not step between a woman and her fire! (Besides, you're a MUCH better cook than I am.) I should have your phone number. (Actually, I'm overwhelmed at the thought that you'd pack a BBQ.) Jay... It will be good to see you again. :) Ed... I'm sorry that you missed last year's, so really hope that you can make it this time. I'd like to meet Genny and Marque, too. Carolly

Heh, you know me, Carolly, any excuse to sacrifice a couple ribs and a hamburger to the gods snicker (Besides, the new grill has wheels and fits nicely in the back of the mini-van - or I could just use the portable camping grill which fits in the trunk of my car wink) Just need to know what day and time. Kate (have grill, will travel)

It could be Hudson Bay, maybe. The first annual Polar Poser Party? Or not. :) I will try to make it again if I can, depending on the day.

Dan, Maybe you want to go lie on the ice with Polar Bares, but I'm going to have to draw the line... somewhere around 40 degrees. (Have you seen pictures of them hugging the ice on "hot" days?) Actually, I could see a Polar Poser Party as people trek up to Santa's hoping to get on his good list well before Christmas. "We are Santa's Elves" and all that. :) It would certainly be international! What day would be good? Part of why I'm throwing this out is so that folks can say if particular weekends are bad, or better than others... in hopes of being as convenient as possible. Also, how are you fixed for Rosemary? I've had to prune it back again, but it needs more trimming (it doesn't know that it is a desirable plant, and therefore grows like a weed) and if you make foccacia or minestrone, you might want some fresh herbs. The bay tree probably needs whacking back, too. :sigh: Carolly

Kate, Last night I checked my carefully archived IMs... and realized that they get cut off after 6 months. huh? If I didn't want to keep it, I wouldn't archive it! I barely rescued Dan Farr's phone number from 3-3-03, and have to worry now about what else I've lost. Anyway, I can't find your number in either email or IM archive, so can you IM me with it? The punster in me is thinking about a numbers game. Tracy brought punch last year... and that is from the Sanskrit word for "5" (if it has 5 ingrediants, it is a punch, anything else and it isn't). Shish-kebabs are from the Arabic word for "6", any other number of items on the skewers and it is only a kebab. Unfortunately Primate is from the Latin for "1" (actually first), but I don't think we can tuck any of those on the grill without dire consequences. (If you saw the wonderful Italian "Canterbury Tales" about 25 years ago, you may remember the scene with hot crossed buns.) OK, OK, I'll take my fevered headache and go lie down quietly. All kidding aside, grilling something would be splendid! Carolly

Sounds like fun, Carolly.....I will definately try and make this one (: genny

This weekend is bad for me. Thanks for the offer for the Rosemary, but I have one already. It started as a cute little sprig, and now it's trying to take over the entire back yard. The plant is being guarded by an enormous garden spider.

Large garden spider? Ack! I hope that he keeps aphids at bay, too! Hmm.. Kate and Pat both have gardens, but there may be somebody at the party who needs some herbs. If I'm going to host a party, I need to clear the path to the front door. The holly is being enthusiastic this year, too. Based upon feedback so far, it looks like the afternoon of Saturday October 11 might be the best. That is also far enough ahead that everybody interested can calendar it. :) Is that an OK day for most of you? Carolly

WHOOOOOOHOOOOO, I think I will be able to make this one (: I can't wait to meet you all, and if there is "ANYTHING" at all you want me to bring...........Just let me know. My custom is: I will bring something........so if you don't tell me what you want me to bring, I am going to bring "what-ever" anyways, weather you want it or not! (: I am really looking forward to this, and thank you so "Very" much for your hospitallity. genny

11th is good for me. Jim should be home from Houston by then so I can make him drive (evil chuckle).

Kate, Jim wouldn't want to miss it! A room full of weird and intelligent and interesting people talking about... "Where's the cat? I see 3 cat trees but no cat." "If you see the gazebo on the gnoll which do you shoot first? Or did the GM mean knoll, and how many hit points to a gazebo anyway???" "I didn't know you had a chocolate factory in the neighborhood!" "Well, yes, but if you set the wait state to an irregular number before configuring the bios..." "Security? An octopus couldn't get the lid off the jar and they are asking if the reaction agent is tamper-proof!" ;^) Besides, we'd miss him. Carolly

I take it back, he'll be returning from Phoenix that week, not Houston. Houston is this month and November. My bad. October is Phoenix. I'm sure he'll be glad for a chance to kick back and basically do nothing for an afternoon by that time. :) Kate

Oct. 11 sounds okay to me, too. :) Yesterday the spider was catching wasps and bees in its web. I think aphids wouldn't even be an appetizer for this thing. It has eyes bigger than most aphids I've seen. I won't go anywhere near it. - Dan

It's true, gang. The spider is very big. She was busy winding a nice fat bee up as a snack when I saw her last. :P I will make a nice Mexican layer dip and bring chips. Carolly, please let me know if I can do anything else. Can't wait to see everyone! :D

Tracy, And here I was wondering if the spawn of Ungoliant had fled to your backyard, and whether it was safe to mutter "attercop" in the neighborhood (not that ladies would normally use such language, but when faced with giant spiders, one is apt to say anything). Pity about the bee, though. We need the pollinators. Mexican layer dip sounds intriguing. With pith helmets and chips we shall happily dig into it. :) Carolly