Yep, that was at the BBQ joint on Kirby in Houston called Goode Company. It was pouring down raining! 
I remember the rain, too. And many a flooded underpass!
My 25th is Nov 24 this year.
I found the books a few years earlier in a used book store.
Not anywhere close, even including my pre-account lurker status, but wanted to say a big “thank you” too all the long-timers (and everyone else, natch’) who have made this community an ongoing thing for decades now. I raise a metaphorical 
to all of you, and a spare 
for the OP’s anniversary!
I joined in Dec '01. I remember reading the 9/11 thread from work as it was all happening, but apparently I didn’t join for another few months.
I missed out on my 25th back in December. But to be fair, a lot of that time was spent not even lurking 
My 25th is at the end of next month. Of course, there are a few AOLers still around, and they are the OG members. (Well, unless you include the alt.fan.cecil-adams and misc.facts.straight-dope groups–I think that’s what they were called.)
I read about the first plane of 9/11 on the Dope, too! I went to the break room and watched it all on TV. Everyone was crying. It was devastating.
I have no idea when I first joined, but I have proof it had to have been in 1999 or earlier:
I found the column in an under-ground newspaper in Chicago. Was on the boards a little bit on AOL; signed up when they moved off. Wasn’t as active as some (most), but stopped for a number of years because the boards were too damned busy. Came back pre-COVID with a new logon.
I remember that name!
I’m only 06, so y’all have some time on me. I think I first joined to talk about the TV show “Heroes.”
Did you go by Dolo Rebo for a bit?
July 13th 1999…what a long strange trip it’s been.
My join date is October 22, 2001. My membership number is 18558.,
Some people called me that as a nickname, probably in the MMP posts. That’s where I got my current handle! At one point I took a straw poll to change my handle. I picked Dolores Reborn. That got shortened to Dolo Rebo, and eventually just Rebo. It might have been @swampbear who started with Rebo. Do y’all know I have Rebo on my personalized license plate? And that’s what I go by when I play pub trivia, and pub Texas Hold 'Em.
This place has been part of my life for a long, long time. I appreciate all the love given to me over the years, through all the good times and bad times. Thank you all! 
My goodness - I joined on Aug 3 1999. 
Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun?!
(And I believe my first post was about the excellent song ‘Ode to Billie Joe’ by Bobbie Gentry.)
Today is my 22nd anniversary. So many posts, so much useless information.
The left ear lines up with the light pole. It first glance I thought it was a giant roly-poly bug because of the ‘antennas’. 
No, pard, that’s one o’ them thar Longhorn ‘Dillos, famous in song and story.
Sometime back around 2007-8, we were living in Florida and dropped by a friend’s house where she was having a yard sale. I bought a nice wooden box that had some pompous slogan on the lid but no other identification. I keep soldering tools in it. Years later, we had moved to Houston and stumbled into Goode Company BBQ for lunch and, lo and behold, there were a whole mess of those boxes; they’re for shipping Goode Company pies. And, of course, my first reaction was Oh no, the barbecue called to me from halfway across the country! I have no choice but to consume beef and/or pork! At least that was what I told myself then and I’m sticking to it.
I must listen to different songs & stories than you do. The question is are my songs & stories an upgrade or a downgrade vs. what you listen to?
Coming up on my 23rd.
Joined Jul 12, 2002