Don’t worry – the money was fine.
I LOVE 94th Aero Squadron, but I’ll confess that I’ve never been there with my husband – all of my memories of that place are associated with the S.O. just before him . . . . It does tend to get a bit pricey there, but it’s fantastic.
Let me get my deck built and I’ll throw a party. I’m already planning one for Highlander’s birthday in August, and MajorMD and PUNditOK may come out for it, so I’ll keep you, er, posted.
I don’t know what I can add to what’s been said, except that this was really a fantastic group of people. I was the luckiest, I think, because I was seated in the middle and had reasonable access to almost everybody. I had handsome men on either side of me (Arnold to my left, Ursa Major to my right) and across as well (pricciar) (no I didn’t sit with my husband, I can talk to HIM anytime! ;)).
My family got up to CityWalk early and let the boys go to a movie, telling 'em to come to the restaurant and ask for the “Adams party” when they were finished. When they got there, I tossed Eldest Son a twenty and told him to take his brothers and wander around for a bit, and buy themselves a burger or something. It cost me another $20 in bribes to Eldest Son . . . .
We had five women (four redheads – RangerJeff and UncleBeer, eat your hearts out!) and ten men, plus the three boys. I don’t know that I can do justice to each of them. I have to tell you, Shayna is GORGEOUS, and so nice (actually, there’s nobody in this group who was not nice). I’m looking forward to having her up to the house to get to know her better. I didn’t get to talk much to Catrandom, as she was on the other side of my husband, who was on the other side of Ursa Major. I hope to have more a chance in the future there, too.
Arnold’s SO is just lovely, and so sweet! What a good sport – to allow herself to be dragged along into this crowd. And Rilchiam (the former GripGrrl, for those on the old board) is a hoot – we had a blast, and she drove me back to my house in her car so that I could get her there without TOO much trouble over directions. It’s interesting to hear her talk about her work in film production, too.
Cowboy Greg looks like somebody we know, but we can’t figure who. Hey Cowboy, we’re sorry you missed the trip back to the house, and hope you can make the next one! Same with jab – we’ll figure out transportation for you next time. And wow, that’s a cool secret you got, which everybody will know soon! 
Ruffian and her SO and I didn’t really have a chance to chat much. She is SO pretty – very striking. We tried to get together once before, in Pasadena, and somehow I didn’t make it to the right place, and this time we didn’t get a chance to talk, so we STILL have to work out a place for coffee, Laura!
I find it interesting that Arnold was concerned about being intimidated by my “strong personality,” since I was afraid of being intimidated by him – something about European men does that to me. Shame on my stereotypes – he’s wonderful, and he and his SO will make a perfect couple. I guess if I have hubby’s birthday party in early August they won’t be there, though, they have these other plans . . . .
Cheif struck me as both quiet and funny, an odd combination. Obviously a bright young man, and my boys sure enjoyed him. We kidded him and pricciar, 'cause they both got carded when they ordered a beer.
Johnny L.A. I didn’t get much chance to talk to – it was amazing when he walked up to the group standing outside the restaurant and it turned out that he and Cowboy Greg knew each other. JAB – I’m stealing that “it’s a small 'net” line of yours – I absolutely love it. It’s classic! I keep hearing about this sense of humor – wish he had come back to the house so we could have experienced more of it.
Pricciar – I think my boys would like me to adopt you as their brother, but dammit I am NOT old enough to be your mom! You guys should have seen him – Youngest Son in particular just plopped in Pat’s lap and stayed there. When a few of the group came back to my house for wine and conversation, Pat kept going from the “adults’” room (where he got to drink wine) to the “kids’” room, where he got to play videogames – or at least coach. Come back anytime!
Ursa Major and my hubby spent a lot of time doing teacher talk stuff, I think. He and I had some good laughs, too, over old stuff on the board, and memories of the former “PapaBear.” I do agree he’s not how I pictured him in my head (really, were ANY of us?) – I hadn’t really anticipated the “surfer” thing (but, catch this, a “surfer dude” who can make an intelligent and articulate paragraph!).
Just a whole bunch of fantastic people – not a troll in the bunch. And I KNOW I’m not doing justice to them all.
So let’s do it again, as everyone said, and SOON! Even if we can’t get the whole crowd together for a bit, we can do small groups (“okay everybody, time for breakout sessions!”).
Thanks for a grand time.
-Melin
Who is NOT Straight Dope Staff
Siamese attack puppet – California
Melin–I know several groovy coffee shops around the area. I’m sure we can hang again somewhere soon!