Lars what a shame that there was a mixup with the location. I'm sure it's easy for something like that to happen when there are two Italian restaurants with similar sounding names. I'm looking forward to seeing the photos. Who was all there....Gina....Ellen...Diana....Jessy???

Of course if the get together were on a summer evening in Spain, you would probably be meeting for dinner at around 9:30 - 10:00 pm and it would go on until waaaay after midnight. LOL.

So good to hear that you finally met Sharon and Clive. I bet it was a great evening.

SharonCb

Yep, we were out late last night but it was so much fun and the conversation never lagged! The rest of us left the restaurant around 10:45 as Sharon and Clive roared off into the night blasting "Route 66"!
Sharon is an live wire--loads of fun and laughs,Clive is a great guy and both are "easy peasy" to be with! (inside joke)

Dan took quite a few photos of the group and the meal and I promise we'll post them sometime tonight. It was wonderful seeing everyone again and the meal was delicious. Thanks to Gina and Jessy for organizing everything, they did a great job!

Aside from Dan and I, the group consisted of Sharon and Clive, Lars and Kevin, Gina, Jessy, Diana and Scott!

What fun it was to meet those two crazy kids! Sharon is everything you think she is and even more. She was fun, fun, fun (that is, until Clive takes the T-bird away... which I doubt he will). It was a late evening... I didn't get home until after 11 and I was tired so no late-night posts for me.

I think my favorite memory of the evening was Clive taking off the top (the car's top. Keep it classy, people) and finding the right version of "Route 66" (holy sweet mother of pearl, they must be a little tired of that song... unless they have the Depeche Mode version somewhere on there) and us dancing and singing to it. But an even better image was when they both got into the car, the radio blaring, and waving to us as they sped off into the night. A really fun evening.

And of course I loved seeing the L.A. CF'ers, though most of us got together just last month... but good to see Scott, Ellen and Dan. It's been a while.

I'm making plans for my Toronto trip now. I already told Vicki we have to go and she wants to know when the best time to go would be so I think I've got her on board.

We still want to know if Clive has any friends he's visiting along the way... he can share Sharon's fans... I mean, friends.

Hooray, Diana, maybe we can all get together again in Canada!

Lars, you'd like Canada, I think.....

Wow, it sounds like great fun, Sharon and Clive are both wonderful so I'm not surprised it went so well

I'll never be able to hear "I get my kicks on Route 66" without thinking of Sharon and Clive and their amazing road trip. (grin)

And I'm watching for pictures!

Annie

Oh, and however Sharon looks in her pictures? She looks 900 times better in real life (not that the pictures are bad... she just looks amazing up close and personal). Girl can't get a good picture taken of her.

Diana, you took a great photo of Sharon, we'll post tonight!

Sounds like loads of fun. I've gotten a few e-mails from Sharon in last couple of days as we are firming up their time in Louisiana. They are getting closer to me. Wheeeeeee! I can't wait!

The L.A. all-stars met the Power Couple from Ontario last night for a stimulating dinner meet-up. Yes, Lars is right, we are like BFFs, like family. Sharon recognized all of us immediately and we recognized them too. Clive (Himself) jumped right in and became instant family without missing a beat.

They are such a cute and fun couple! Food was delicious but that's beside the point. I spanked Scott for being AWOL on the board so he promised to try and visit more often. Kev and Lars are going to move into their new home soon - exciting!

Ellen has been way busy with her fundraising and she looked great too. Dan was dashing and sweet as usual. Jessica bought fresh pita bread for everyone, and against Sharon's wishes for no surcies (no room in that little convertible), Diana and Ellen bought sweets for the traveling duo.

If it weren't a work night I'm sure we would have stayed at Il Forno until the wee hours, but alas, I started yawning and fading after Lars and Kevin took off.

The crazy kids are off to San Diego, then on through Arizona, New Mexico, then Texas, where they will meet with the South Texas contingent.

Thanks Jess for carpooling and picking up the Persian goodies for me.

Next time y'all!

Goodness, y'all are lucky you got home so early, when Sharon was here she made us all stay up until 4:00 in the morning and we had to get up at 7:00 to get to the train and the airport!

Ken and I are going to Toronto in September - anybody interested in descending upon Sharon and Clive en masse approx 9/20/21???? I haven't told (asked) her yet!

I forgot - Sharon and Clive got here on Sunday in time for a few hours strolling the beach, then experience a real California earthquake when they got back to their hotel. I think EJ arranged that, LOL!

(I am still recovering)

I have to admit just love the get-togethers! Everybody ought to come to LA, heh heh.

Woodie I would join you but I still have kids in school.

Gina you are welcome for the ride, thanks for listening to my inane babble keeping me awake on the road, LOL.

Sharon and Clive, Bon Voyage, it was wonderful meeting you. Toronto is on my short list of places to visit!

Sounds like a great evening y'all! Can't wait to see the pics. I wasn't sure what time they would be there but I guess they felt the earth move under their feet. LOL! Another first for Sharon and Clive I'm sure. I remember the Whittier quake when I was out there back in the eighties. Freaked me out big time...and it wasn't all that bad. Glad to hear Scott made the party....I've wondered what the heck he has been up to lately.

David

Jessica, I don't remember what we talked about I was so tired -- I only remember the GPS taking us down the dark side streets of Santa Monica with a million speed bumps and stop signs, LOL.

Awaiting pix!

It sounds like y'all had a great evening! I can't wait till this weekend when they come to Texas!

Sally

Well here we are in San Diego. What a gorgeous trip down thanks to the direction of Jessy and Gina.

Can't begin to tell you what a great time we both had. It was as if we had known everyone forever, which of course we have! By my calculations we spent about 3 1/2 hours over dinner with a moderate amount of yapping! LOL

Thanks to Dianna and Jessy and Ellen for the treats. Jessy we stopped at a "Ralph's" and got stuff to fill the Pita's ( which are delish!!) and had a nice picnic along the Pacific Coast, near Dana Point. Clive fell in love with the area and has decided we will rent a place somewhere near here next winter...Ok by me!

Dianna I will never forgive you for giving us those nuts...Clive's munching is making me a crazy person!

Ellen, I have claimed the chocolates for me but there seems to be some resistance to that!!!

Lars, we stopped at your shop this AM, the furniture is so gorgeous!!! We saw the chandelier and I am in awe!

Thanks again California, it was better than I ever could have imagined! The carpet is always out in Oakville/ Toronto for all of you...and Woodie too! LOL

Here we are courtesy of Clive's tripod! LOL

So glad you made it to the showroom! I think you're one of the first CFers to do that - after Fatlester/Rococogurl, but she and Rene (Bubbe) went to our New York showroom, I think.

I had a great time talking with Clive - he definitely is a live wire!! Kevin and a good time with Dan and him as well, and I had never met Dan before. Dan's a bit quite (like Kevin), compared to Clive and me. The food was good at the restaurant, although it took me a long time to eat it, since I couldn't talk and eat at the same time. Sharon and I finished last, and Sharon was dead last, which must mean she talks even more than I do!

I wonder if Sharon and Clive got out before our latest quake, which happened around 4:00 PM today. I was at work in Inglewood right on top of it today, and I was quite upset about it. I imagine they were on their way to San Diego by then, however.

Dana Point is nice, and it's very close to Crystal Cove, where Annie and I visited tidepools.

Good luck with the rest of your trip - I hope you get a chance to visit Marfa and perhaps Big Bend. There are a lot of interesting things to do in Marfa and a few nice places in Alpine as well, which should be high enough elevation to give you some cooler weather. Marfa has some very unusual museums and art galleries.

Lars

Great pic!

Woodie, I don't remember sleeping all that much that weekend...lololol!

David

Woodie and David... and Alexa if she checks in -- We heard that story last night. We didn't get no G-rated version either. Step away from the martinis y'all... and David, you don't remember sleeping much that weekend but the question is, do you remember that weekend?

And Annie? Toronto. August. Be there.

Photos from Dan's camera.

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Jessy insisted we take food photos in order to better share our meal with the CF!

1. Stunning Sharon
2. Diana, Gina and Ellen
3. Jessy hard at work figuring out the bill with Scott looking on.
4. 3 of the delicious desserts we all shared
5. Diana showing us the dessert she's coveting, but generously shared with the table
6. Sharon with her penne arribiata
7.Clive's angel hair pasta with seafood
6. Diana's rigatoni
8.my Mediterranean grilled halibut
9.Jessy's filet mignon

10. Veal Scallopine, the choice of Lars, Gina, Scott and Dan
    Unfortunately, Kevin's chicken was not very photogenic so you'll have to use your imagination!
    Great meal and great fun!

I agree that the first one of Sharon is stunning. What a lovely photo! And of course everyone looks just great.
Nice to see Scott again. Sorry I had forgotten that you had moved to that area. And that was ages ago too.

Food looks delicious. What a nice time you must have had all together.

Diana you mustn't lose any more weight. You're just right now. I hope you ate all that lovely dessert. We don't want you to fade away!

Thanks to Dan for taking such good pictures!

SharonCb

WOW! I can just imagine the great time you all had especially since I've been fortunate to meet with the LA CFers several times.

Sharon and Clive you look as though you are loving all the travel and meeting with friends. I'm just so sorry that our paths didn't cross in Santa Fe. How cool that you are thinking of coming back to CA in the winter.

I'm looking forward to reading about more of your adventures.

Lee

What great pictures of the food and the friends.Thanks for sharing your adventure,Clive and Sharon.

Shelley

Diana, I know there was a naked cowboy at some point and time...LOL! So, she spilled the beans forgetting that I have pics I could post. I'll keep my/our word for now and not post them Sharon! I'll never forget what I can remember.

Thanks for the pics Ellen/Dan! All y'all look great as does the food....not sure I would have shared my dessert.

EJ, love the infamous nails over the food pic!

Thanks again for sharing your evening with us!! I'll be waiting for the TX and LA reports in a few days.

David

Photo number 12 is of Kevin's meal (whether it was photogenic or not), which was ROTOLO ALLA BRACE, Breast of chicken stuffed with grilled zucchini, eggplant and mozzarella cheese and then rolled and sautéed with shitake mushrooms in Marsala wine sauce. Note that Ellen got a bit confused with how to count past 7! There are actually 12 photos in her post!

Kevin said he liked his meal very much, although the Brussels sprouts were tough. Mine were tough also, but I ate them anyway - they were the only thing that wasn't good. We had five desserts, which seemed the right amount for sharing, although I probably could have eaten a whole one. Clive and I ordered a chocolate raspberry torte. I'll have fond memories of this meal for a long time. Kevin loves the photo of Jessy with Scott.

Lars

Oh why can't I time my CA visits to coincide with get-togethers?? You guys look like you were having a ball. What a great looking group.

LOL, Lars, I was wondering how much Ellen drank, that 6 came after 7 and then 8 right after that. (grin) Too much fun.....

That IS a great picture of Sharon. Diana, you are gorgeous as ever and Scott, I don't see enough of you at all. Oh heck, everyone looks great, I miss you all!

Annie

I wondered if anyone would notice! This was the night after our dinner, my exhaustion came from finishing up an online auction at 10pm and a big fund raising event on Sunday night. Suffice it to say that this morning I couldn't drag myself out of bed until 9! But thanks to DH you had the photos posted, something I was incapable of doing on my own!

Wonderful photos of friends and food. Looks like everyone is having a great time. Sharon, lovely photo of you. Nice to see Diana and Scott again.

What a wonderful evening. We are looking forward to meeting Sharon and Clive in SA.

Brenda

Looks like a great time! Nice to SEE all of you..