I have been working closely with a couple of ladies up there and when they said that the youngest member of our admin team was turning 15 I jumped on the chance to go. This was the perfect reason to motivate Dan to actually go somewhere. You know he’s been talking about traveling for quite some time now.
Before we got to our main destination we detoured to visit Mike, whom we met from Virginia Tech. (he was at the Oliver wedding). We had a late lunch with Mike and got all caught up on the news. He (and everyone else up there) had a fantastic garden. I think there was some show and tell going on over old cars shrouded in tarp; my eyes glazed over at that point. And they threw a few times with a knife at a piece of plywood. Showoffs. The man next door actually stopped to watch. Too funny when they’d miss and have to go hunting under the old car.
It wouldn’t do except I make Mike stand there, a deer in headlights, while I took his picture. He’s a good sport.
We left there and headed off for a weekend meeting with the Comycgyrl Collectibles store members. Comycgyrl, Comycliz, and birthday girl Jessie’s Closet. They actually have names – Lee, Liz, and Jessie, and Liz’s mom, also Liz. Our hotel was only 3 blocks from their house so it was very easy to get together. On Saturday morning we went to a huge flea market, where Dan bought me a cane. I’d hurt my hip getting into the van (so stupid) and bruised my rear, thanks for asking. Afterwards we had lunch at a really nice dinner. I think everyone was there, and we know there was really good food.
We went back to the hotel and rested up before returning for supper and an evening playing bowling on the Wii. I’d never done it before; Danny loved it. I’m hoping it’s on our Christmas list soon. Even Liz Sr. got up and did some. She’s in therapy after a stroke. It was good to see her moving so well.
On Sunday it rained off and on. The only reason it rained I guess, was because they had the birthday party at 2. One of their friends is an Indian, they call Chief. He and his wife were the first to arrive. I believe he’s an auctioneer. Most of the guest were somehow in the business of selling collectibles, either locally or online. Jessie is a ‘born picker,’ as Lee points out and she gets as much out of it all as the rest do!
They’d grilled pork and Liz, a real chef, made a great spread of good eats. They had even made 2 cakes for Jessie. Everyone ate and ate, then they played (we watched and took pictures) pin the nose on the clown. Last of all they broke out the balloons and everybody started puffing.
We stayed until Monday morning before heading about 90 minutes east. It was actually much longer; we got tangled up in those roads a couple of times. In NJ we met up with Mike and Elaine. Elaine runs the Embroidery Fashions Boutique online and Mike has Mikes Sporting Goods both online and locally. We had a great time talking about our ESN community site and eCrater, tossed a few ideas around and had a brain-storming session along with coffee and pie before we left. You know Danny and Mike got along great with a sporting goods store to discuss.
I got Dan to take a picture of Eccentric Thrifter and Embroidery Fashions Boutique before we left.
My next journey will be heading south and I’m making my visitation list now.
