Ok, so it wasn't the blow out that Dallas had but our mini-fest this past weekend at Joy's and Jst2law's house was GREAT! We've got a few pics to share but I don't know where to host them on the web nor how to post them here, so any help would be appreciated.
I was able to spend the weekend with 3 of my favorite people...Joy, Jst, and Venice Joy and Jst get my vote for the most hospitable and gracious hosts. I don't think I've ever felt more comfortable at someone else's home before...course, having the beautiful Gulf beach and the hot tub (oh, the hot tub!) right outside the back door sure helped the relaxation levels! LOL
In addition to the previous people mentioned, I met LittleToe, Robdar and Drue...what a group of nice people. I can't remember laughing as hard nor as often as I did this weekend, although they did try (and basically succeeded) to fry my brain with all of the philosophical/spiritual/new age/ethical/intellectual/all-other-'al's-you-can-imagine conversations Lots of deep thinkers in the group! And I've learned that whenever Jst2laws begins a conversation with: "So Dana, let me ask you a question" I need to be prepared to kick the brain into high gear and plan on spending anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours trying to keep up with the very well read and highly complex brain that lurks behind that kind, mild mannered and bearded face I really enjoyed those conversations! Talk about mind expanding LOL Oh and thanks for the ride...it was GREAT and you didn't scare me once! (It was more like the entire time! )
Joy2bfree...what can I say? I met her for the first time at the march in NY and felt like I'd known her for years. What a lovely, kind, and warm person with a surprisingly raunchy sense of humor Heheheheh, my favorite kind. I'm going to start a pool to see who can guess what "naughty" show she insisted that I watch (I'm thinking that maybe I should be offended since she told me she felt I needed to watch it coz I might learn something ). I feel so honored that I not only didn't get kicked out of the house but that I even got an invitation to come back again, although I'm a little confused coz she said I could come back in July but then I heard her whispering to Venice that they would be away all summer?? Huh. Seriously though (remember Jst, I told you that the 5% you could believe would be prefaced with some version of 'seriously', 'to be honest', etc?? LOL), thank you both so much for the efforts you made and the hospitality you extended...say, what's your schedule look like for the next 6 months?? ) You guys have a really lovely family and I feel honored to be counted as a friend. Love ya
Venice...well, to know her is to love her. What a brilliant and humorous person she is!!! I've spent time with Ven in the past but it wasn't until this trip that I realized how knowledgeable and SMART this girl is! She can run circles around me without even trying. And what a wicked sense of humor. She had me in stitches before we ever left my house and it continued non-stop till she left to go home this morning. You know how sometimes you're friends with someone and you just know they'll be friends for life? Yeah, well....(mushy stuff edited) 'nuff said. I love you girl, you're a beautiful person inside and out. (But dude, we gotta do something about the amount of trivia you carry around in your head! )
LittleToe...what can I say? Very nice guy and a perfect gentleman. I told him that I was a bit worried he might be flaky coz of that whole Christian thing he has going on but honestly, I don't think I've ever met a Christian who was as tolerant and laid back as this guy. Whatever it is that he's doing seems to be working, he struck me as being very much at peace with himself. Overall impressions: laughs easily and often, truly deep thinker, a very kind and easy to be with person. I had a great time meeting you LT and I hope you make it back to the States in April (Oh, and I never thought a man in a skirt could look so....er...um...)
(((((((Robyn))))))) special hugs to you my dear. You are a deeply sensitive yet strong woman and one of the best roommates I've ever had (We smokers MUST stick together! We're a vanishing breed ) I really enjoyed meeting you and talking and it was great to finally put a face and actual person with the poster who has touched me emotionally many times. Keep in touch with me, ok?? I do care
Then there was Drue...curious thing about Drue. I met him when I first started posting at this site almost 2 years ago and I remember being impressed with his intellect and maturity but then he kind of faded away and I didn't see him anymore. It was great to meet him in person. I was able to catch a faint glimpse of a radically different yet completely valid perspective on life and I thank him for it. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to make him uncomfortable, but I gotta tell ya *Dude* (LOL) you're seriously ok in my book. I really enjoyed your quiet and subtle humor and I think that life has great things in store for you.
There was so much that happened over the weekend...so many conversations that I wish I could remember forever but that are already slipping away from me (shoulda had a recorder). I hope that the others who were present will post some of their thoughts/experiences. I only have one final thing to say and that is that I REALLY WAS LOOKING FOR MY PURSE!!!!!!!!!
Dana
P.S. Ok, so there wasn't one final thing....here's another thought. You can put your confidence in science, theocracy, paganism, New Ageism...basically, any of the theories (or any combination of them) that exist, but to me what it's all about is human interaction and relationships. Thank you ALL for enriching my life. ~Off to play mindless video games and sleep to try and recover from all of the intellectual stimulation~
