2015 Meeting of Members Midwest area

[kristoff]

I have made my hotel reservations this afternoon. Have you? Early attendees usually arrive on Wednesday or Thursday before the MoM, which runs Friday through Sunday. This year it is on August 7, 8, and 9, 2015. Hope to see you there. If you have questions, send a PM to Talula, Kristoff, or Jesus. Or send a message to eakristoff@Hotmail dot com -- of course, take out the spaces and place a dot.

[JesusA]

Paolo and I now have our reservations as well. The MoM is always great fun. I hope that we'll have some new faces again this year.

[Riverwind (imported)]

Again I can not attend this year, I am babysitting for my friends who will be on the mainland taking a trip from California to Alaska.

I will of course give a call on the appointed Saturday.

River

[justdivorc (imported)]

Where is this being held this year?

[kristoff]

Where is this being held this year?

The Midwest MoM is being held in the vicinity of Minneapolis / St Paul, Minnesota, and nearby western Wisconsin, 7-9 August, although some people start showing up on the 5th or so.

[jacb1951 (imported)]

I live in Racine Wi i wouldn't exactly call 363 miles away in my vicinity. As much as i would like to make it the dates are wrong.

Just a suggestion. You might want to promote this more. This is the first i heard of it and i still don't know anything about it.

Other then meeting new friends with a common interest what else goes on ? BTW a web search on Midwest MoM brings up some unusual web links.

Maybe a link or two might help. Including any hotels that are sponsoring it. Maybe a price package ?

[Danya (imported)]

If my husband and I are still in the area by August, we will attend one or two of the festivities.

[nvrgag44 (imported)]

I couldn't make it last year but I was there in '13. As near as I could tell everyone had an enjoyable time. As a MoM virgin I was welcomed by all, made new friends and learned a lot. It's fun meeting the anonymous names and avatars and connecting them to real people. I now get an immediate mental picture and place a real name to all of them whenever I log in. August is still too far ahead for me to make plans but I'd sure like to be there. River lives in Hawaii now so there will be none of his pancakes but maybe Jesus will send a supply of terrific Napa Valley grapejuice and others will probably bring plenty of other good things to eat. Talula might bake an apple pie or two. If I'm able to attend I'll even stop for the apples again on the way up. Maybe they'll all go for dinner again at that nice place on the river. Pleasant memories.

[JesusA]

We're now down to about three months to go till the annual MoM. Time to get busy with planning for the event.

For those who are new to the Archive, the MoM is an annual gathering of the members here (ALL of you are invited). It's been held sometime in August for ten years with a few regulars and a rotating set of others who manage to join us when they can.

The kick-off event is always a BBQ at the convent (Kristoff's backyard) in northwest Minneapolis. This year it will be held on Thursday evening, August 6th. Danya and her husband live nearby. Uncle Flo and his wife a bit further away. Paolo and I always fly in for the event. There are generally several others who arrive in time to join us.

Friday has always been a day for exploring the local area. We've done group visits to the Mall of America (known locally as "The Mall of Death") and to nearby Wisconsin cheese factories and caves. The past two years have been a day at the Minnesota State Fair to sample the hundreds of varieties of "Minnesota-on-a-Stick" (skewered things you would never have imagined at a fair--grilled lamb testicles anyone?) with the bravest of us sampling Minnesota wines (some of which would make better drain cleaners). This year we will be too early for the fair, so we're looking for another interesting attraction.

Friday night (August 7th this year) we generally have dinner together at a local restaurant. For a few years we took over the "banquet room" at a local buffet and had every kid in the place hanging out the doors wondering why we were laughing so much and having such a good time. (Paolo and Kristoff going at each other with light sabers may have had something to do with it.) The past two years have been at a pleasant little place near the river with outstanding food and low prices. The locals haven't decided yet what our best option will be this year.

Saturday and Sunday, August 8th & 9th, will be a grand gathering at the Mother Ship (the home of Talula and Gem), just across the river into Wisconsin. (You can walk three blocks from their house to gaze across the river into Minnesota.)

Anyone who is interested in attending should write to Kristoff, Talula, or me to ask for times, locations/addresses, and motel recommendations. (The motel within walking distance of the Mother Ship has only 19 rooms, so early reservations are recommended.)

River gave detailed lessons to Talula on how to make the world's best pancakes. Tal, fortunately, was an excellent pupil. They're as good as the originals. Paolo will probably create another batch of his faux-potato, diabetic-friendly salad for the BBQ. As usual, I will be shipping a couple of cases of good California wines ahead for the events.

The goal is a good time to be had by all.

We hope to see more of you there this year....

[Riverwind (imported)]

I live in Racine Wi i wouldn't exactly call 363 miles away in my vicinity. As much as i would like to make it the dates are wrong.

Just a suggestion. You might want to promote this more. This is the first i heard of it and i still don't know anything about it.

Other then meeting new friends with a common interest what else goes on ? BTW a web search on Midwest MoM brings up some unusual web links.

Maybe a link or two might help. Including any hotels that are sponsoring it. Maybe a price package ?

Usually the first promotion for this event is in January, then every month or so it gets added to, it is not until about this time of the year that everything is finalized, but if you can't make it this year, we will do it again next year.

Yes I have tasted talula's pancakes and they taste just like mine. Yes Jesus he was a good student.

Again I will not be able to attend this year, as I do have a prior engagement plus its a long flight from the big island. I will make a call on that Saturday using my skype phone so we can do a face to face. If I can't be there it will be the next best thing.

For anybody who has not been and is thinking about it, GO you will not be sorry, it food and friendship, and food, and laughing and food and some good wines or beers or you favorite beverage and FOOD.

If you guys decide to go to the shipwreck again this year, somebody needs to get that half pound burger with the egg on top.

River

[jacb1951 (imported)]

thanks River & Jesus ( and all the others ) for the fine posts about this event. It does sound like something worth going to.

i wish i could make it this year but i already made most of my summer plans. And money is tight this year.

But i will consider it for next year.

I'm still learning this board as to what is allowed what isn't and what can be done and what can't.

So i have no idea about pics other then profile avatar

i can easily understand privacy issues on face pics.

But maybe if you do have a place for pics you guys could maybe take a few pics of this event. Just a thought.

BTW i'm a big breakfast person i can eat it anytime of day and i love pancakes.

[Riverwind (imported)]

Pictures are taken at the event however they are only for the people who attend, I am sure you will understand that. There is also a personals area that people can post pictures of themselves and such.

River

[nvrgag44 (imported)]

thanks River & Jesus ( and all the others ) for the fine posts about this event. It does sound like something worth going to.

i wish i could make it this year but i already made most of my summer plans. And money is tight this year.

But i will consider it for next year.

I'm still learning this board as to what is allowed what isn't and what can be done and what can't.

So i have no idea about pics other then profile avatar

i can easily understand privacy issues on face pics.

But maybe if you do have a place for pics you guys could maybe take a few pics of this event. Just a thought.

BTW i'm a big breakfast person i can eat it anytime of day and i love pancakes.

I can understand your apprehension. I didn't have any idea what to expect when I attended in '13 but it all went away in short order when I met everyone. I brought along a bag full of goodies and picked up fresh apples for Talula's pies on the way up. You mentioned taking pictures and River explained it well. I like keeping photographic memories of most everything and MoM was no exception. It's how I remember the names and faces that go along with all those avatars and pseudonyms. They are locked in my computer and the only other person that has ever seen them is my wife. I enjoyed myself, learned some new things and surely didn't go home hungry.

[kristoff]

Just wanted to give this a bump. Anyone who wishes to attend is welcome. Send a PM for details. August 7-9 Minneapolis/St Paul and western Wisconsin (very close by). Lots of food, fun, fellowship, interesting conversation, likely some pottery lessons, a cookout at the convent, we'll see what else we can come up with.... PM me, Talula or Jesus for more details, hotels, airport connections, driving info, etc.

[Kangan2008 (imported)]

I had a great time last year. Count me in!

[talula]

It is coming up soon! Can't wait for the fun and company!

[Riverwind (imported)]

I will try to call sometime Saturday afternoon, I will even set up a video call.

Sorry I can't be there, maybe next year.

Aloha from Hawai'i

River

[talula]

Those who have attended Midwest Mom in the past and have gone to the state fair, a list of newly added foods have been published. I am including a few of the more interesting sounding ones to demonstrate what we will fortunately miss this year.

Burger Dogs

Chilled Bread Pudding

Cowboy Bites

Cowboy Dave's Cluck & Moo

Deep fried ribs

Grandma Deb's Snicker bar salad

Hot tail

Indi Frites

Island slaw

Kimchi 'n' Curry Poutine

Limerick Stix

Mac & Cheese cupcake

Maple Bacon Funnel Cake

Meatloaf hash

Minnesota Wild Rice Benedict muffin

Salad Named Soo

Sausage Sister's Sriracha Sliders

Seafood Sliders

Spam burgers in 5 new flavors

Stuffed Italian Meatloaf On a stick

Up Nort Shoreman's lunch

Walleye stuffed mushrooms

This by no means is a complete list, rather just what sounded most interesting. You make partake and puke at your convenience (that Kimchi 'n' Curry Poutine will probably do about anyone in with one bite).

[Paolo]

God-dammit, no spam-burgers for us?!

You MUST get the recipe and prepare them for us.

http://forums.eunuch.org/images/smilies ... m.gifbaked beans and http://forums.eunuch.org/images/smilies ... amspam.gif

[Riverwind (imported)]

Here in the land that I have come to love they do have one thing that well two things that make me gag. Now I love the local food, "EAT LOCAL" but during WWII the GI's loved these Vienna Sausages, you know the ones I mean, they come in a little can, taste like shit well that and SPAM, its the cheapest meat you can get and comes in a dozen different flavors. The locals have Spam and eggs on Sundays, they love Spam sandwiches, you can get Spam in local restaurants, including big chains like IHOP.

Lets face it no mater were you live there is always something that you wonder WHY? its been that way every place I have lived. Here on the Big Island, you go to the store and there taking a 4 foot shelf, floor to ceiling is SPAM, with all the great food that is the islands, what the locals love most is SPAM.

aloha

River

PS Me, I can't get enough Ahi.

[Dave (imported)]

I was wondering when someone was going to talk about Hawaii and Spam.

[YodaNell (imported)]

I have envied those who attend this for years. I would have loved it to attend. I just cannot afford it. Perhaps next year if I get my permanent job. I hope those that do attend it will enjoy it.

[TheIncuse (imported)]

so for those of us that couldn't attend, how did things go ? Fun ensued ?

[JesusA]

so for those of us that couldn't attend, how did things go ? Fun ensued ?

Great fun ensued....as always. This year the annual BBQ at the Convent was held in the rain. Everyone clustered in the Good Nun's living room and kitchen for conversation, food, and fun. We had a field trip to Stockholm (Stockholm, Wisconsin, that is). There were visits to two local wineries, one of which produces excellent libations, the other of which was interesting. More rain fell on Sunday than I've seen in a year in California. I wish that I could have brought it home.

We'll pick up again next year in August with another grand time for all who can attend. We hope to see you there.

[A-1 (imported)]

shit! I missed another one...