2012 Midwest MoM

[MacTheWolf (imported)]

We're thankful that red nuns are now made of studier stuff. Glad you weren't badly hurt, sister. and yes, you might want to film future meals at your house

[Danya (imported)]

I'm relieved to hear that Sister K was not seriously hurt. It's a good thing the Princess was there to get Sister to the ER.

__________________________________________________ _

Sister K: After all these years, you still think I'm normal?

[Riverwind (imported)]

It was a great MOM, several new people, and the food, new stories, great food, old friends, the food, oh yes and did I say FOOD. I am sure I gained several pounds over the last few days but what a great time. Thanks for all of you that came from such a great distance and of course our wish that you get back home safe and sound.

I look forward to seeing you all at the next MOM.

River

[george2u2 (imported)]

No we didn't look like we expected. Of course I have that problem when I look in the mirror.. Some of us are in Advanced stages of geezerhood.

[MacTheWolf (imported)]

No we didn't look like we expected. Of course I have that problem when I look in the mirror.. Some of us are in Advanced stages of geezerhood.

My gawd, George, you're 62, you are an old geezer - LOL

[kristoff]

message received earlier. Eric is home safe after 10 hour road trip at 215 AM

[loveableleopardy (imported)]

Should I be offended? I've been here since Wednesday, and not one naked body or orgy.

You've got to be kidding me. You mean to say that Eunuch lifestyle people actually have an interest in thingys outside of the downstairs department?



Nice to read of so many of you enjoying yourselves at the family (because this place can be like a loving family) gathering.

[janekane (imported)]

Well, I made it back to the Eastern shore of Wisconsin (the Western shore is your choice of Lake Superior, the St. Croix river (not the River) or the Mississippi River (also not the River).

The River asked me whether I wanted more pancakes. Yes I did want more. Only, I forgot to bring my Saturnalia feather, so I could make room for them. Only that would have wasted the ones I already ate, and they were far too good to waste, so I waisted them (had to loosen my belt, and even then, deemed packing more pancakes into my already-stretched stomach might be medically counter-indicated.

The pancakes that I could get in were worth the trip to the MoM and then some. Then there were those cheeseburgers. Real Wisconsin Cheese. Super-yum!

All the folks I met last year were back, and a bunch more that were not able to come last year.

Pardon my understatement, I had a great time at the MoM.

And I wish those who could not come had been able to come.

I am already working on my travel budget for next year. It will be bigger than it was this year. Gonna fix the truck cab air conditioning before the next MoM.

Next year, I plan to do my third MoM.

To meet, in person, people who actually understand. Beautiful, indeed! Yes!

[Paolo]

I actually got home early, my ride was at the airport waiting, even!

Last year, my "grand-god-daughter" was being born and I was stranded there for like six or so hours!

We had a good tailwind this year, too, I guess. I only got to watch 2 epi's of "Batman" on the laptop.

I was happy to see all the new faces as well. I do hope that they post here to let us know how they liked it.

There was the cave, food, the cheese shoppe, the (reading) book store, food, trips to the grocery, dinner at the Convent, dinner at the Hog Troth, dinner at Flamin' Daves, and I think I gained five pounds! Also, all the pretty green corn and grass and trees. Did I mention food? My blood sugar got up to 142 one day - a high number for me.

Came home to a panicked dog who thought I'd deserted him, the usual desert and dust, Grandpa bitching, and a wilted garden that needed a bit of harvesting. The tiny bit of rain the other night was the only thing that saved it.

That, and it took me three hours to sort my mess and put all my junk away! If Gem, Talula's roommate, hadn't graciously done my laundry, I'd be still be busy!

All in all, it was a good time, and we found out what a small world it really is!

Who'd have guessed that I was connected to an EA member, coming to the MOM, whom I didn't even know, and was separated from him by only two degrees?!

[Riverwind (imported)]

I am happy to hear you guys arrived home safe and sound.

It was a good week, started Wednesday and finished after breakfast this morning, we had biscuits and gravy.

River

[MacTheWolf (imported)]

I am happy to hear you guys arrived home safe and sound.

It was a good week, started Wednesday and finished after breakfast this morning, we had biscuits and gravy.

River

What! No pancakes?

[MacTheWolf (imported)]

There was the cave, food, the cheese shoppe, the (reading) book store, food, trips to the grocery, dinner at the Convent, dinner at the Hog Troth, dinner at Flamin' Daves, and I think I gained five pounds! Also, all the pretty green corn and grass and trees. Did I mention food? My blood sugar got up to 142 one day - a high number for me.

Came home to a panicked dog who thought I'd deserted him, the usual desert and dust, Grandpa bitching, and a wilted garden that needed a bit of harvesting. The tiny bit of rain the other night was the only thing that saved it.

That, and it took me three hours to sort my mess and put all my junk away! If Gem, Talula's roommate, hadn't graciously done my laundry, I'd be still be busy!

All in all, it was a good time, and we found out what a small world it really is!

Who'd have guessed that I was connected to an EA member, coming to the MOM, whom I didn't even know, and was separated from him by only two degrees?!

Would I still like the serving wenches at the Hog Troth?

[BossTamsin (imported)]

Glad to hear everyone had a great time at the 2012 event. So, when does the planning thread for 2013 open?

[Cainanite (imported)]

I just walked in my door, a few minutes ago. Both cats are alive and very pissed off at me. I am being yowled at this very moment. I'd give them hugs, but they have not forgiven me yet.

My plane left late, as it was delayed waiting for late passengers. I arrived in Seattle late, then it took almost an hour before my bags were finally spit out onto the luggage carousel. As I left the airport at nearly 6:00 pm, I got stuck in rush hour traffic. What should have been a quick 45 minute drive through downtown, took 1 1/2 hours to get out of town. Border security was also delayed by about a half an hour.

Despite ALL of that, I barely managed to catch the vary last ferry to the island. I was the second to last car loaded on. After the car behind me, they shut down for the night. Had a burger on the ferry, and from there the last leg of my trip was uneventful.

I am home. I will sleep very soon. My bed is calling.

Now I need to start planning for next year's MoM. It was such an incredible experience, and the people were SO amazing.

I felt like a small brown sparrow among the flamingos. I don't mean anyone was flamboyant... much. I mean they all have such interesting stories and life experiences, I felt inadequate. I'm normally very self conscious, and this was the same. The big difference is how accepting and genuinely great everyone was to me. For the first time I really felt I belonged, even if I still felt awkward and plain. I was fighting back tears as I left.

janekane, I'm a little hurt you didn't tell me when you were leaving. I wanted to give you a big hug before you left. When my car was ready to leave, your truck had already departed. I'm sorry I didn't get to see you off properly. Now I HAVE to come back next year, so we can do this emotional ritual correctly, and to my satisfaction.

Anyway, I will return to MoM. I need to.

What I really need is sleep. More later.

[janekane (imported)]

Cainanite, I make mistakes because I am alive, and plan on making mistakes for the rest of my life. When you left River's place, announcing that you needed to get ready to return to:

O Canada!

Our home and native land!

True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,

The True North, strong and free!

From far and wide, O Canada,

We stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

and walked out the door to get your things collected at talula's and gem's place, you did not offer a hug to me.

The MoM was a gentle and kind event; it was also wonderfully and intensely precious.

Me sorry. Me magna sorry. Me summa sorry. Me ultima sorry. After you departed from River's place, and, more than an hour later, I got ready to head back home, I glanced over toward talula's and gem's place and my brain's interpretation of what I saw informed me, (only, I am guessing now that it mis-informed me) that you had departed from the mothership before I did.

I wonder if this will work; I never tried doing this sort of thing before:

http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/hug/big-hug.gif

Farley, our orange tabby (catonality much like the Garfield comic strip character) seems to have forgiven me for going to the MoM. He finally let me get to sleep, after I gave him enough attention, around midnight.

You had not left before I did, and I made a mistake in interpreting what I saw when I looked over at talula's and gem's place? I apologize for my mistake.

Now, it is, methinks, your turn to acknowledge being mistaken?

Were I to make a judgment (something I hope I never actually do), I would have to judge any sense you may have about being an unequal among peers to be a forgivable blunder on your part.

[Cainanite (imported)]

See. We need to work on this human ritual thing.

When I left River's to get ready, my intention was to return once I was packed up (it is a short walk) and perform my goodbye ritual, as in the end of The Wizard of Oz ("And you, Lion. You were always the bravest of us all." ) I should have announced that intention. I was also unaware that you yourself had planned to leave so soon. I neglected to ask. I suppose I foolishly made the assumption that you would stop by Talula's and give him your farewell, so I might have a warning if such occurred. If you already had, I must have missed it, or forgotten you'd already done it.

We'll get this correct next year. We just need practice.

[george2u2 (imported)]

Meandering through Wyoming.

Next sight after I get fuel, is South Pass City, It's been rebuilt and has old geezers who put on displays or demonstrations of how things were in the 1880's

For those who missed Mom, my most magnificent memory wasn't so much the people as it was Talula's fat cat.

I thought I have had fat cats before. Have you seen road kill all bloated up. Krister the cat is that fat and still alive. It lays down next to a bowl of kitty treats and just fishes out a paw full into a waiting mouth the side of the bowl.

When I get home Huckabee the cat will corner me on the toilet, until I fill his bowl. He knows it works every time.

Barkley the dog will start howling an un dog like hurt whimper until I give him some attention, and won't calm down until he struts around the block on a leash.

I will have to get some grapes for the chickens, they will peck them out of my hand and chase each other to get what the other has.

I'm convinced that these animals are smarter than me, see how well I'm trained?

[JesusA]

The annual MoM is always one of the best events of the year. I always look forward to spending time with a great group of people. There's invariably good food and sparkling conversation (as well as the two fattest cats in North America trying to garner attention from anything that moves).

This year had four new visitors to the group, each of whom added greatly to the fun of the event. I'm already looking forward to next year's MoM - August of 2013.....

Start setting aside your pennies to be part of the fun.

(\__/)

(=°:°=)

(")__(")

As I drove up the road toward home, my cat heard the sound of my car. I could see him racing across the field that's up the hill from the house. He flopped over on his back for me to scratch his belly before I could even get out of my car. He insisted on having my full attention for about 10 minutes before I could grab my suitcase and go inside to see my wife. Today he's been in my office all day - alternately sleeping and demanding more attention.

[Riverwind (imported)]

Cats are wonderful, so aloof and yet when they feel ignored so fragile. Both my pets have not let me out of there site.

Glad to hear everybody made it back home OK.

River

[MacTheWolf (imported)]

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

I received my complimentary MOM gift today - my own replacement Blow-Up-Sheep.

Thanks especiially to talula

By the way Tal, did you ever hear of that old Klingon expression about "a dish served cold" ROTFLMFAO