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Topic: You should all be very jealous...

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bookzealot avatar
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Subject: You should all be very jealous...
Date Posted: 3/18/2010 9:18 PM ET
Member Since: 7/22/2009
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...because I got to meet two other HF forum members in person today!!! Yes, I did -- I met Kelly and Linda as well as their lovely daughter/granddaughter Jennifer (who is a graduate student at the University of Maryland). What was funny as we were setting this up were my daughter's comments: "Mom, how do you know they're who they say they are? You only know them through the internet. Make sure you meet them in a public place. They could be stalkers." Stalkers? on the HF forum? Really? But I have to admit it was reassuring to know that my daughter who is a Facebook fanatic apparently has heard her parents' warnings about the potential risks of online relationships (because, as those with teens know, so much good, reasonable, wise parental advice is inexplicably ignored).

Anyway, if Kelly and Linda were stalkers, they did an impressive and convincing imitation of very nice, warm, friendly, smart, fun women. AND to top it off, they brought me a WL book (The Adventures of Alianore Audley by Wainwright). So very thoughtful and so very much appreciated. AND all three generations were wearing their Thor amulets -- wow -- did I feel well-protected in their presence (stalkers or not)! Unfortunately, I did have to say good-bye after a couple hours of non-stop conversation but not before we visited the Hope Diamond and other gems, including jewelry worn by Marie Antoinette. (We had met at the Natural History Museum.)

So, you should all be emerald-color with envy that I met and spent time with three such terrific book-reading people -- Linda, Kelly, and Jennifer.

AND as if that weren't enough...  I then come home to find an Amazon package that contained the book that my daughter needed for school and one of my WL books (Treason by Whitford) that I ordered for the free shipping. (You all know how that works -- why pay $4 for shipping when adding a $15 book gets you free shipping?? Makes sense in the book-reader's universe, right?)

AND then, I find an email that Wolf Hall is now waiting for me at the library.

So, is that a red-letter day or what??:)



Last Edited on: 3/18/10 9:21 PM ET - Total times edited: 2
mimima avatar
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Date Posted: 3/18/2010 9:25 PM ET
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I am jealous! I'd have loved to been there! I'm so glad you enjoyed!

I-F-Letty avatar
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Date Posted: 3/18/2010 9:27 PM ET
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Your are so fortunate on so many levels!  It sounds like you had a lovely time!

bkydbirder avatar
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Date Posted: 3/18/2010 10:11 PM ET
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Glad that you had such a great time and a great day and great goodies. You can stop gloating now, Deb!!

 

So now, I wonder what Kelly and Linda have to say about their day!!;)



Last Edited on: 3/18/10 10:13 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
KellyP avatar
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Date Posted: 3/19/2010 12:33 AM ET
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Stop gloating? Oh, no! Now, it's my turn. Deb had told us what she was wearing, but I think we would have known her anywhere & quite without a description. Deb has that warm, friendly, maybe-you-could-be-someone-I would-like-to-know kind of expression that we would all exactly expect Deb to have.

And wait ... you will all get a huge roar out of this ... her children apparently tell her that she has no sense of humor at all. !!!  I mean, really! Can you believe it?!? I told her, "they (her children) have obviously not read any of your writing!" (I offer as Exhibit A one of our favorites: Deb's advice to Newbies: http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/topic.php?t=186454)

We did have a delightful time! The conversation was nonstop from one topic to another; with talk about books interspersed throughout. There are no words to describe how much fun Linda & I had ... a true highlight to our amazing trip to our nation's capital. Sometimem later after Deb had to leave us (after we had sniffed disparagingly at some of Cartier's gaudy settings of enormous emeralds, rubies, sapphires, yellow diamonds, etc. I mean, really, when an emerald gets so big that you can see flaws in it, who wants it?!?) I asked Linda, "Well, what did you think of Deb?" Mom immediately said, "Oh, I loved her!"

And so did I.

Hang in there, Kids, there will be a picture to follow.

New thought - as we (the HF Forum Ladies) travel from post ot post, we need to keep in mind where each of us are & make a concerted effort to meet face to face - it is absolutely worth the effort! So, I'll start. Who is coming to Oklahoma? I know a great steak place ... :P

Kelly



Last Edited on: 3/19/10 12:35 AM ET - Total times edited: 1
flchris avatar
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Date Posted: 3/19/2010 6:38 AM ET
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What a fun adventure you all had! We haven't planned our summer vacation, but Washington DC is on the short-list. Will add "visiting with Deb" in the "pro's" column.

 (Completely off-topic, "adventure" is one of my favorite words.  I learned to use it from my college-aged daughter and her best friend...any time anything slightly out of the ordinary happens to them, they will excitedly call home and say they "had an adventure".  It reminds me to still look at the world through the eyes of a 20-year-old, full of hope, excitement and adventure).

answerquest avatar
Date Posted: 3/19/2010 7:41 AM ET
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I'm so glad you all were able to get together. What a fun thing, and wish all of us could do it. But I do worry about Valli, ya know. Anyone who carries a wet noodle around could be a stalker.

Just sayin'.

misfit avatar
Date Posted: 3/19/2010 9:26 AM ET
Member Since: 7/15/2008
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What fun for all of you. The first time I met an online reading friend (she's in Gig Harbor and I'm in Kent so we chose a half way point) we nattered on for a good long hour or two. Mind you I'm not a typical natterer even with friends I've known for years. Just non-stop book talk. It continued the second time we met. Glad you ladies had a good time.

ALbookbugg avatar
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Date Posted: 3/19/2010 9:45 AM ET
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LOL, Genie! I don't carry the wet noddle with me all of the time, but I'd bring it if I were meeting you! Of course, in the right circumstances, I probably could turn into a stalker - if you had chocolate or a book I really wanted in your purse, I'd surely stalk. It's sad to say, but probably true.

I was actually in Texas (Houston) this week and wondered if any of you lived there. I should have waved at Christa as I was driving through LA.

I am green with envy at your great day! Now, which one of you would me most likely to assist me in smuggling out one of Marie Antoinette's jewels? Or, at least bail me out after I was caught? Those are the types of things I need to know about people before I meet them. ;-)

Somehow I doubt any of you will be at the very bottom of Alabama any time soon, but if you are, the Gulf Coast is beautiful, the antebellum mansions will make you feel as if you have stepped back in time, and everyone should see the great oaks dripping with moss at least once in their lives. Oh, and Bellingrath Gardens; a more gorgeous place doesn't exist. I live three miles from there and just a few more from the Gulf. ;-)

bookzealot avatar
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Date Posted: 3/19/2010 10:00 AM ET
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Yeah, I was gloating, wasn't I?;)

And, maybe I'll get to gloat even more if Christa comes to visit! (Unfortunately, Erika wasn't available to join us this time. But, though I have yet to meet her, I have no doubt that you can put her as a big plus on the list of reasons to visit DC.)

In the meantime, I'm thinking that a road trip to Oklahoma would be a great adventure....

bookzealot avatar
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Date Posted: 3/19/2010 10:09 AM ET
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Oh, Valli -- you're so right -- as the saying goes (more or less):  a good friend will come visit you in jail; an  HF friend will be in the cell with you saying, "Woohoo, wasn't that fun!"

bkydbirder avatar
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Date Posted: 3/19/2010 10:19 AM ET
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I can't imagine any of us having anything but fun if we got together, since this is a group of  really great people. And if any of you are looking to escape winters in the future, well, I'm down here in warm, wonderful, historic Tucson!!

summrsun16 avatar
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Date Posted: 3/19/2010 10:56 AM ET
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I am so sorry I couldn't come!  Of course I just had to make a doctor's appointment (no worries, just a routine check-up) for the same day at the very same time.  But I'm glad you guys had fun and Linda and Kelly, I hope you enjoyed your visit to DC!


And yes, extra incentive for anyone thinking of visiting DC, me and Deb live here!

mimima avatar
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Date Posted: 3/19/2010 12:56 PM ET
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I'm in Western Washington - a great place to visit (and Misfit, someday we should work out a meeting) 

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 3/19/2010 1:06 PM ET
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I'm evidence that internet friends can become good friends in "real life", too.   I have a group of 7 friends scattered all over the country--VA, MI, IL, IA, OR, UT, AZ--who get together once year at someone's house for a "girl's weekend away" (although it's been a while since all seven of us were at the same one--seems something interferes with someone or other, most years).  No hubbies or kids, just us.  We originally "met" on a Highlander board and wrote and/or beta read Highlander fanfic for each other. 

MichiganderHolly avatar
Date Posted: 3/19/2010 1:40 PM ET
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I'm way up here in Michigan but I live 10 minutes from Lake Michigan and we have a gorgeous 2 mile stretch of beach here.  I also happen to know 5 awesome used bookstores within an hour of where I live so if anyone ever wants to come be my shopping buddy....

 

ETA:  We need a map for the HF Forum like PBS has for books sent/recieved to map everyones location.



Last Edited on: 3/19/10 1:42 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
ssgilby avatar
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Date Posted: 3/19/2010 2:06 PM ET
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Guys, I am so jealous!  What a wonderful day for you all!  Yes, yes, yes, please post a pic ASAP!  We want to see all of your faces smiling together!

I know there are a few HF-ers here from MN and most of them are in the Twin Cities area. I'm out-state, but I could make a get-together.  Who are our Minnesota girls besides me, Letty, and Cheryl?  We should plan a get together!

I was bummed because DH recently went to AZ for a few days to visit some family.  I was supposed to go with, but we didn't have anyone to stay with our kids, so I stayed home. I could've cared less about hanging with DH's family and going golfing (boooooo-ring), but I was looking forward to lounging by my SIL's pool most of the day reading (while I had the house to myself), and I was going to contact my good bud Jeanne about getting together. I would've loved to have visited with her, and maybe checked out her house and all the "projects" her DH has her helping with all the time!  LOL!  Maybe next year, Jeanne!



Last Edited on: 3/19/10 2:11 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
I-F-Letty avatar
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Date Posted: 3/19/2010 2:22 PM ET
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Ruth (bigstone) isn't actually in Minnesota her post office is but she is right over the border in S.D.  I know she is coming to the cities soon to see her daughter.  Unfortunately I will be in N and S Carolina for two weeks and won't be able meet up.  Maybe we can work something out this summer I'd definitely be up for that.  Rochelle one of our newbies is also here in the cities.

 

edit spelling



Last Edited on: 3/19/10 3:32 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
shukween avatar
Date Posted: 3/19/2010 2:34 PM ET
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I'm jealous too! I'd adore meeting any of us. Besides, I'm still LMAO.....Linda....Kelly....stalkers.....he he he. I'm in the Charlotte NC area, any HF buddy has a free invitation if in the area.....and I live on a lake and have a boat, if that might sweeten the deal....he he he (full disclosure: I do have noodles, like Valli---but they're styrofoam and we float on them in the lake....) :)

bkydbirder avatar
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Date Posted: 3/19/2010 6:26 PM ET
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Aww Shelley, that would be absolutely wonderful if you can make it down here sometime. It is soooo different from Minnesota. I think you would get a kick out of it and of course, I would love to meet you in person!!

ssgilby avatar
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Date Posted: 3/23/2010 5:10 PM ET
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BTW, I for one am still waiting for a picture of you lovely ladies in your "get-together" glory! 

KellyP avatar
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Date Posted: 3/23/2010 11:44 PM ET
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Okay - this is somewhat much harder than I thought! I have compressed the picture down to a size of roughly 75 kb & thought I could just paste it right into my window. Arghhh !!! Help, clues, advice on posting a picture from my harddrive into a PBS post?
Kelly
 

 

answerquest avatar
Date Posted: 3/24/2010 7:57 AM ET
Member Since: 12/10/2005
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Kelly, I think you'll have to put it on an image server such as Photobucket. Unless you can make it small enough to fit in your sig line. I don't think you can copy it from your local drive to a post here at PBS.

KellyP avatar
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Date Posted: 3/24/2010 8:18 AM ET
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Well, durnit. Thanks for the help, Genie. I'll approach this little task from that direction.  Kelly

bookzealot avatar
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Date Posted: 3/24/2010 8:23 AM ET
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Well, Kelly, if you can't post your picture of the three of us, here's mine:

 

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