Nope. You’ve been making it up, ALL ALONG. You have no further credibility.
Anybody want some pancakes?
OK, my mother’s machine ate what I wrote, so I shall try again.
I had a wonderful time. I don’t know if I managed to show Steve why I think Dopers are so great, but since he didn’t run away screaming, there may be hope for him yet. Mebbe I can even get him to register…
Dave and Ginger, thank you so much for hosting this shindig! It’s very brave of you to let such a motley crew know where you live - you’re braver than I!!
RTF, I shan’t forget the mark of the cheesy poofs! I shall have my revenge! You won’t know when or how, but you shall feel my wrath, oh yes!
Zappo, what can I say - you continue to crack me up! Can’t wait till our paths cross again.
And at the risk of offending the rest of the attendees, I’m quitting here. But it was a delight to meet and re-meet all of you. Conversation was as varied and warped as I’d hoped, the laughs were many, and I’m looking forward to seeing the pics - you photographers did shoot from my skinny side, right?
Nor can I, sweetie. As for cracking you up, all I can do is shake my head and think that you must be easily amused. 
But I’m still PO’d at Rue for telling you that I snore! Sheesh. A fella’s got have some secrets so the wimmins can think he’s mysterious.
Zap,
International Man of Mystery
Oh, you’re a mystery all right, Zap.
It was great seeing alla yiz, your kids are all adorable, seriously, those who have them, and of course I always enjoy spending time with folks who recognize my Firesign Theatre and Buckaroo Banzai references.
Bill is back in FL now, and I 'spect he will be along with his own update soon enough.
What can I add? Precious little that hasn’t already been said. It was great seeing all of you again, and a big thank-you to Dave and Ginger for hosting this shindig, and spending the big bucks to order up such excellent weather.
It was great to finally meet Steve, FCM’s long-suffering (one has to assume ;)) spouse. And despite how glad I am for Geobabe that she and Bill will soon be together full-time, I’m bummed that she won’t be around here except on special occasions. I guess I’m going to have to get on LJ just to stalk her.
TruePisces and Verrain, it was a pleasure to spend so much time talking with you two. Hamadryad and Tark, we now believe you really do have kids, and you’re obviously doing something right in raising them. (I know - you gave them up for adoption years ago, on the condition that you could borrow them back for occasions like this. ;))
I know I’m leaving out a bunch of people too, for which I apologize. But feel free to flame me anyway. 
Aw, man, RT, I go to all the good trouble to stomp on your toe and I don’t even get a mention? Obviously I’m going to have to try something more drastic next time, like a good, hard, spanking. 
Sounds good to me - I’d love to give you a good, hard spanking, Lucretia! Ya sure it’s OK with Bluesman?
I don’t know how I forgot to mention you - your making yourself comfortable on my lap definitely brightened up my day, and it was a very good day even before that. I think I can forgive your stepping on my already-abused toe. 
He didn’t just tell me you snored. The actual quote was “Don’t sleep with Zap - he snores!” I was reluctant to pursue it any further…
I wish I had been able to go, but, alas, I and the bf had other commitments. Would been nice to meet more dopers (especially JayJay just to give him a big ol’ bearhug)
Well, it’s your loss, bay-bee!
no no no no, sheesh!
What I meant was I was reluctant to pursue Rue’s comment further - like how he knew about your snoring…
Forget it. I don’t wanna talk about it. Just leave me alone. I can’t take any more abuse. <sigh>
Oh yeah, and all that stuff Steve said about batteries were lies. Honestly! You can’t trust him! Before I met him, he was driving trucks into the cars of nice little ladies!!! You heard him - he admitted it!
I just wanted to let Fairy Chat Mom know that I ate canteloupe for breakfast and watermelon for lunch today.
Oh, gobear, I gave jayjay a couple of big hugs. While I ain’t no bear (lack of bodyhair and bodymass prevent that), I’d like to think that I gave it the old homosexual try;)
Oh, and for all those of you who were jealous or whatever of my seemingly endless energy: I am about as sore today as I was yesterday, when it hurt to:
walk
talk
sit
breathe
shop for food
That’s right … the moment I started to say “OW” it hurt MORE. I think my body is officially Not Young now.
Beautiful place you guys have there, Dave and Ginger, perfect for that outdoor entertaining! Sorry we had to bolt “early”, but I had a great time with all ya’ll. I learned my lap is comfy, cheese poofs come in industrial sized barrels, the Air Force has a neat tradition of coins, and children will try to cook anything. Glad to see everyone. We TRIED to see Sara, too, but did not know where the B&N was. 
First, I want to thank Dave & Gingy for throwing one heck of a party and having us all down. It really WAS an incredible weekend.
Verrain and I left Jersey at around 1, making a brief stop for hard cider before heading down the turnpike. We got to Dave & Ginger’s about 3:00.
Punha almost managed to pull me from the ground with the tackle hug he delivered. (My only fear was dropping the bag of cider from it!) I gave my hugs all the way around, Verrain and I put the cooler with the pasta salad and the bean salad in the kitchen, and then everyone headed out to sit under the big shade tree. I don’t think there’s anyone I didn’t have SOME kind of conversation with. And a lot happened through-out the time I was there, so here are a few highlights for me…
[ul]
[li]Finally meeting FCM. She’s as fantastic in person as she is on the boards. Great sense of humor and a wonderful lady. I wish she and her husband had been able to stay a little longer.[/li]
[li]Being told I was a hottie. Still don’t believe it, but Rich says I have to because I now have independant verification.[/li]
[li]Punha giving rib-breaking hugs. Every time I see him, it reminds me why I wish he lived closer.[/li]
[li]Looking with envy, once again, at Lucretia’s hair. Missing mine being that length. Knowing that, one day, it will be again.[/li]
[li]Throwing out Rocky lines to the group. (Of course, it all started when someone started singing “Dammit, Janet” and I had to finish up with “I wanna screw” just when everyone ELSE went quiet!)[/li]
[li]Eating a S’more of Gingy’s and telling Hama that I feel special now 'cause I’m one of the few who can say I’ve had Gingy slober now.[/li]
[li]Airman Doors boosting my ego once again by telling me that I could start up another Flirt Academy thread and have it be successful without a problem. (Because I’m a legend, or so he says. I’m still not 100% sure I believe him.)[/li]
[li]Finding out that Verrain and Airman Doors are kindred spirits in the cartoon-mania. It was fun listening to the two of them go back and forth with quotes from different shows.[/li]
[li]Having the TV Theme Song Sing-along around the campfire. It was scary. I liked it.[/li]
[li]Getting a better pic of my tat for Hama’s tattoo page. [/li]
[li]Listening to Hama’s fantastic limericks. She is the Queen when it comes to 'em.[/li]
[li]Remembering with every conversation, every laugh, and every hug why I’m glad to be a Doper.[/li][/ul]
Honestly, I had one of the best times I’ve had in far, far too long. It was great seeing everyone I’d not had a chance to see in too long, and meeting those I’d never met before. I can’t wait to do it again. And I like these smaller, more laid-back settings much better than the big “drink until we drop” fests that we usually have in NY. It seemed like I had a chance to get to know people better, talk to everyone more and, more importantly, actually hear what everyone was saying. In some ways, I wish Verrain and I hadn’t left so early. Sounds like things went on with a lot of fun long after we left.
I wish I could have weekends like this every weekend.
Rich is right. Especially now since you have another independent source of verification.
Zap!
Damn! Sounds like I missed the most fun parts. TV theme sing-along?
I shoulda brought my C-PAP and taken Dave up on the offer to crash…
jayjay (wishing he’d thought of it…)
OK, I know all of you who attended haven’t been able to sleep wondering about this…
Steve got the job! Pending the drug test results (absolutely no worries about that) and employment verification, he’ll probably start in July. Looks like he’ll be living at the Anchorage Marina in Canton - he and my youngest sister will practically be neighbors. So begins two years of living apart, two years of long drives up and down I-95 for conjugal visits, two years of single parenting. Plus two years of maybe being in town for occasional other DopeFests! So there’s that.
And now, having read all the fun that happened after we left, I know for future parties, I won’t be the first to leave. I love sing-alongs!!!
Congrats, Steve!!! :):)
AWWWWWWWWWWWRIGHT Steve!
Congratulations! I, for one, am looking forward to seeing both of you at more of these shindigs. Like the one at my place on October 5th.