Midwest MoM 2014

[Riverwind (imported)]

Thank you for the reply about the earthquake.

I have talked to I think just about everybody that attended the MOM event and it sounds like it was a great party. The thing that always happens is the new members, meaning the people who come for the first time, they come with an anticipated perception of what it will be like and leave realizing they were totally wrong.

The MOM event is a group of like minded people who come together for food fun and fellowship. This is the first one I have ever missed but I have in my budget that I will be there next year. So if I can get there from Hawaii, if you live closer you can make it happen too. If you have never been than make plans for that trip, you will never regret it.

River

[Paolo]

I arrived home around 5PM EST, all's well here.

Dogs were ecstatic to see me, kids next door were ecstatic to get paid for taking care of Snoopy while I was gone.

Now on to the laundry.

THANKS and much love to Talula and Gemm, our hosts, for opening his home and providing food and entertainment and gifts of a homemade nature.

MANY thanks to Jesus, for making this trip possible for a lot of us by getting things arranged and hauling our dead asses around in his rental van!

More thanks to Kristoff, for being there and being such a great friend and tour guide, as well as opening his home for the annual cookout to launch the show. We were also graced by the presence of the Princess (nun's roomie) who even had dessert with us!

As many special thanks to Uncle Flo and Daughter, for all the stress relief they provided in time of need!

And finally, thanks to all the good friends who showed up and shared in our good time, which is what made it such a good time.

I will post more later to publicly answer some questions I've had in email and IM's, but this is not the thread for it.

Thank you all.

[MacTheWolf (imported)]

I'm glad everyone had a good time, BTW, who is snoopy?

[kristoff]

I'm glad everyone had a good time, BTW, who is snoopy?

Snoopy is an obese beagle that lives with grandpa and paolo. He requires much attention and care.

[Paolo]

Yeah, he's still mad at me, too. No problems, I bought him some no-sugar vanilla ice cream for later.

[Losethem (imported)]

I did not attend the MOM, but I did hear about things. I generally do not take exception to anything that anyone who runs this site does, but this time I find I need to speak out.

I'm going to say what I say below as someone who also runs a site and from the view of how I think all users would want to be treated regardless of if they are in my good graces or not. I'm not purposely trying to fan the flames of any incident, or support or admonish anything that may or may not have happened. However I find what was said in the single post, closed thread, troubling as I feel those things should have been kept between the parties involved instead of aired on the public message boards. The person the comments are targeted at is not here to defend themselves. That is doubly troubling to me.

My rules for running a website are simple, at least as far as what I'm seeing happen with that post:

Rule #1 - Never, ever, discuss my interactions with users, positive or negative, in public. Those should be kept private and confidential. In this case, a moderator here is not doing that and as a long-term user of this forum (and a long-time supporter) I find that troubling. This is a personal interaction between you and the person in question and not something that should be aired to the broader membership of the site. This is chilling to me because it makes me wonder what happens if I run afoul of one of the admins here? What are you going to say about me?

Rule #2 - See rule #1.

Personally, I think the EA would be best served if that particular thread disappeared. Permanently. I know Paolo is better than that.

Again, I'm confining these comments to that post, and that post only. I'm not condemning, or speaking negatively about any other thing, or other admins of the EA. I think that post is made in the passions of the moment, and when you go back and look at it, I'm hoping you may agree, at least in part, with much of what I'm saying here.

I think you guys generally do a good job, but a post like that is chilling to me as a user of the site. I really do hope it disappears.

--LT

[Paolo]

The problem was the rumor mill, LT.

I appreciate your input, but I believe the rumor mill would, in the long run, be even more detrimental.

In this case, this also goes beyond the message board and into the realm of real life, in-person interactions.

With as important as I believe this site is, I think it best that any rumors be put to rest - and this is the only way I see to do it.

[tugon (imported)]

Damn I wish I could have been at this years MoM. I am a big fan of Talula's pottery. I am a proud owner of a piece of his artistry. Sadly I missed seeing a fake Rolex yet again.

When I was in Boy Scouts we had a game where we would ask someone if they had a sleeping bag. When they said yes we would smack them in the crotch and say we woke it up for you. I had planned on playing this trick on someone I doubt is a eunuch. No nuts no pain.

Oh my when did I become a hateful bitch?

[Losethem (imported)]

Rumors are just that - rumors.

My concern is was it addressing one persons view or the actual facts? It could be the truth, it could be something else, but what I took it as is one side of a story and I have no way to determine what the truth is. I could believe you, I could believe the other person. I simply thought that the post was something done in the passion of the moment and not really relevant to the good functioning of the site. Generally I have no issue with either party involved, but I simply felt the post was in bad taste compared to the normal high standards of the site.

This is the last I'll say about it.

--LT

[nvrgag44 (imported)]

The thing that always happens is the new members, meaning the people who come for the first time, they come with an anticipated perception of what it will be like and leave realizing they were totally wrong.

River

I was a great time at MOM last year but couldn't make it this year because of several reconstruction projects going on in anticipation of putting our home of over 40 years on the market and the visit of relatives who now live overseas. I would have loved to be there again this year. I didn't know what to expect last year but knowing it was at someone's residence I figured it wasn't going to be some sort of freak show. I've only known one eunuch in my life and came hoping to learn more about the "lifestyle" (for lack of a better term). I'm a naturally inquisitive guy and like learning about all sorts of things. Everyone seemed to be in a festive mood and I actually heard very little discussion about eunuchs although Uncle Flo opened up more than anyone at one point and I learned quite a bit while sitting across the table from him listening and asking questions. I was a complete stranger when I arrived but didn't feel like one when I left on Sunday. Especially not a hungry one because there was more than enough food and CA wine (thanks Jesus) for everyone.

Your remark intrigues me. I don't know for sure but I think I may have been the only first timer there last year. What is the "anticipated perception" that others are totally wrong about and did I give you or anyone else that impression last year?

[Riverwind (imported)]

Actually there were three first timers, like you said, you thought it would be a freak show and its anything but, just great food, conversation, family.

River

[Wolf-Pup (imported)]

Any new EA site related news to come out of MOM this year? Changes proposed and the like?

[nvrgag44 (imported)]

Actually there were three first timers, like you said, you thought it would be a freak show and its anything but, just great food, conversation, family.

River

Please re-read what I wrote, "

I didn't know what to expect last year but knowing it was at someone's residence I figured it wasn't going to be some sort of freak show.

"

[Riverwind (imported)]

Your right I did miss read your post.

I missed the MOM this year, first one I have missed. I will be at the MOM next year as its the best week of fun you can have.

River

[Kangan2008 (imported)]

I was going to post some photos, but the Archive won't let me. D'oh!

[Slammr (imported)]

I was going to post some photos, but the Archive won't let me. D'oh!

Please don't post pictures of the members that attended the MOM without getting their permission first. Whereas some have been posted before, they have been only available to those attending and to a few select others.

[Paolo]

Glad you saw this, Slammr.

Yes, for those who took pictures, please only share them with those who were there.

Now, if it's a generic scene, like the river or state fair animals, that's fine - so long as none of the attendees are in it.

[MacTheWolf (imported)]

I finally got my MOM card. I think it went via Hawaii n- LOL

Even Ken signed it - gee whiz