So, you are no longer GT Virgins! Thanks for sharing and no doubt it was a great time with two great CF members.

Watch out! GT's can be addicting. It sounds like you guys had a great time! Thanks for sharing...Wait...no pictures?

I'm glad you found out how much fun it is to meet CFer's!

Pictures????

Nancy

Me too, I want pictures!

It sounds like a great time, so what did you have for dinner. Gifts?

C'mon, that's not enough information, LOL, we want to know everything.

Annie

Two people I want to meet! How lucky you both are! Yes, pictures and more information is needed!
Sherry

WooHoo! Aren't CF member get togethers a blast! Welcome to the club! LOL

Umm....photos are a requirement, however.

Linda

Hi! Well, I found out I Love a Get-Together! Karen and her husband are two of the hardest working people I think I know, who also like to play hard. I'm grateful they decided to come out and play with us! What she said about us goes doubly for them. It was delightful, and honestly, I didn't expect to enjoy it quite as much as I did. I know our husbands (who may have wondered about this) have probably learned to just trust us and go along for the ride!

OK, I have a confession. I may as well just fess up right here and now. I told Karen she couldn't take any pictures as I have some Native American blood and taking pictures steals my soul. In fact, I told her she could take one for her very own self, but I didn't want to see it. Anywhere! (That includes our very own World-Wide-Garden-Web.) So, even though she took a picture, I made her swear to let me keep my soul and not share it. You see, I prefer to remain ''The Mystery That Is Me''. You all are just going to have to meet me in real life. (Don't I know how to create anticipation? Well...Maybe Not!) I did get a picture of Karen and her husband, but of course I forgot my camera cable so I can't post anything until I get home. (That will be the end of March, so you're just gonna' have to wait!)

As far as gifts go, I also made her promise not to mention the contents, since I made four identical gift bags for the others I'm going to meet...so No Previews! I can tell you though that we received a bottle of ''almost local'' wine (which we drank at dinner and was surprisingly delicious, from Lubbock, TX), a bag of their home-grown Valencia peanuts, and caps from the Peanut Grower's Association which represents only one of the crops they farm. I'm set for sun while I'm in the southwest! I also received some hot tips about which variety of corn to plant (Ambrosia), and where to order the best seafood, with next-day-air service. I learned the pigment in lipstick has chilis in it, which I didn't know. The Best Part? That we might have another opportunity to have another GT on the way back! IN FACT, there is a possibility they might join David, Sally and I in Oklahoma City at the end of the month! (No pressure, but if you want to pressure them David and Sally, I just can't help that!)

I can't really talk about the food very much, because I think I was too excited! We did taste the local barbecue sauce which was made right there in McLean, Texas. It was good; sweet and tangy. I had ribs and a great old-fashioned salad which I loved. The brown bread they served with it was also good.

I promise to post pictures, and by then I will have met Donna (acdonna), David (lakeguy), and Sally (sally2). I had a near-miss with Lindac, as a surprise blizzard kept that from happening even though I know it will. This is the year of the GT for me! After such an auspicious beginning, Get Ready, 'cause ''Here I Come!''

Awwwwww. One big family!

Claire what a great story! I'm glad that you all had such a good time. I'm envious of all of these gatherings.

I can hardly wait. This will be my first CF meeting too.
Looking forward to seeing you at the end of the month.
Glad you had a good time Karen. I'm going to show this to my husband, since I'm trying to talk him into going too. He really doesn't understand virtual friends.
Donna

Donna, please tell your husband that ''virtual friends'' turn into ''real-life friends''...which I believe after this experience, are the best kind! I'm looking forward to it too, especially after my first/last experience. Just think...Another FIRST!

Donna, if it helps at all, my daughter Ashley has always referred to the forum members as my "imaginary friends", but she has met and loves several of them.

My husband Elery has also met several forum members and says that he hasn't met anyone who isn't nice, smart and easy to spend time with.

Definitely get your husband to go, some people may even become friends as "couples", as Sherry and Roger have become with Elery and I.

Annie

What fun! I love love love forum get togethers!

Kathy, you figured us out pretty good, but as we age we don't work or play nearly as hard as we used to! LOL

Donna, tell your DH to go. I promise he will have a good time. At first my DH said he wasn't sure if he would get to go and I said that was fine but I was going anyway. He never mentioned it again and he had a great time.

My DS and DDIL were the ones that thought we had taken leave of our senses. Meeting someone that you know nothing about and met on the internet is what my son called it. I told him it wasn't that way at all. It was a cooking forum friend. When we were driving home I called and told them we were fine, had a great time, hadn't been robbed or held at knife point. We had a good meal with good friends!

Kathy,I hope you all are having fun!

Sounds like y'all had a great evening! I agree, get togethers are so cool. Looking forward to meeting you and Sally at the end of the month Claire...DH's too.

You too Trixie....just a little pressure for now. : )

David

Well, it wasn't dinner, but I had breakfast with Kathy and David yesterday.
We had a great time and they really are very nice people.

My husband didn't go.... but one of my good friends did. She also had a great time.

I prepared a "local" goodie package for Kathy, but was a little worried -since it contains chile items. Hoping I didn't select items that were too hot. I was oh so glad, when David ordered the breakfast burrito - Carne - Christmas.
I thought- oh boy - these people know chile and like it! Thanks to Kathy for the wonderful goody bag. Can't say yet what is it in - but it is wonderful!

We talked and talked and talked. The time flew by.

It was my first CF meeting, but hopefully not my last. There is a possibility that I might have take a business trip to KC and if I do - Kathy will be the first one to know about it, so that we can get together again.

Thanks again Kathy. I hope you have a safe and wonderful trip home.
Donna

OK, so Kathy is making the CF rounds? LOL

David is a sweetheart, I can't imagine anyone not loving David.

So what's in the gift bag? Huh?

Annie

Annie,
We can't say whats in the bag yet, because Kathy is going to surprise some more people. We can't spoil the surprise. All I can say - it is wonderful.

Within a few days, I think Kathy will finish her trip and we can post a picture.
Donna

How fun! You guys are so lucky to live close enough to each other for a get together. Maybe one day I will make a trip crossing the border to meet some of you.

Al

Sadly, I had to cancel my meeting with Kathy and David because I got hit with the bug that's going around. I'm sitting here holed up with a pile of kleenex, chugging water, and feeling sorry for myself that I didn't get to join in on the fun. I hope to meet you one day, Kathy.

You live in Kansas City? I've heard that's a good place to find architectural salvage. Is that true? DH and I may make a trip up there sometime to poke around the salvage places if it's true. If we ever get to do that, I'll let you know and maybe we could meet up then. In the meantime, I'll continue to blow my nose and pout.

David and I got to talk, and plan to meet up sometime when DH and I are up in Tahlequah. Can we say float trip?

Sally

We were supposed to meet up with Kathy and David again today at Elk City and maybe go on to OKlahoma City and join the group but we had to cancel also.

I am in a hotel in Kearney, Nebraska. We left eary this morning and will head back home tomorro morning after DH picks up the planter he bought.

Donna, aren't Kathy and David the nicest and such fun people to get to know. We were looking forward to meeting them again. Kathy packs a great gift sack too, it put mine to shame. It was just over the top.

Sally, sorry to hear you didn't get to go and hope you are feeling better soon. Maybe we can plan something later.

Trixie, I just had my first one with Lowspark last week so I know how you feel. Had a great time. Sounds like you did too!

Donna and Kathy so glad you had a chance to meet the big guy! If I'd know I'd have told you to give him a hug from me!

Watch out ladies looks like you have the CF bug...you too Kyle!

Sweet gathering, with sweet, classy folks!

Sol

Just to clarify, David is Claire's DH. : )

Sounds like y'all had a great time Donna. This David likes a little spice too.

Sad to report that I missed Claire in OKC yesterday. A very BAD judgement call and assumption on my part. My Cell phone didn't help the situation at all. I could have made it down there but it was a bit late and Claire blew North as she put it. I still feel terrible about the whole thing and how it worked out.

We did finally talk a couple of times and I WILL meet her soon. I have some travel and business plans in her area over the next month or so.

David

Bummer David. I'm sorry you didn't get together.
It would be great if both of our business travel to KC was at the same time - we could have a great get together. I'll bring the chile!

Sally I hope you are feeling better.

Trixie - you are right. Kathy and David are great people and a whole lot of fun.

I look forward to meeting more CF members.
Donna

Well, here I am! Late to this party, as I got home last night. First things being first, we cleared out the dog crate, food and treats by packing them up and walking them over to different neighbors who knew Luna. (She had a lot of friends in the neighborhood.) Delivering news like this is hard, but right this minute I think the hardest is having such a quiet house. Packing up her favorite toys choked me up, but it's done.

Working my way backwards and starting with OKC, I regret we didn't get to meet David or Sally, but I'm anticipating there will be another opportunity. Having the extra time allowed us to blow on so I could visit my mother. We drove 4,603 miles in three weeks, so you might say it was a whirlwind (tornadic in places), and we were ready to get home.

Meeting Donna and her friend Debbie was fun. We met for breakfast in Albuquerque and I really enjoyed it. It's so nice to have the CF in common, and there were no awkward moments in the conversation. In fact, I'm finding it's so easy to talk to the CF in person, it's kind of hard to leave! I enjoyed every moment, and hope that with Donna, David and Sally, we have an opportunity to meet again. I feel pretty certain we'll see Karen (and Tom) somewhere at some point! (I think it must be easy to form a certain bond with the first people you meet.) I've tried for five GT's, and have managed two so far...The best thing is my New Year's resolution of meeting some of you is up and running! I'm loving it and at this point have TWO GT's under my belt and COUNTING. Thank you for your generosity in wanting to meet; it's so nice to feel a part of the CF in real life. I'll upload a few pictures when I can...

Aww, Kathy, it must have been hard to come home without Luna. I'm glad your neighbors are there to help you get through it, though.

I'm still sniffling, sneezing and stuffed up all at the same time, but not as bad as I was on Sat. and Sun. You and David and David are very glad I didn't share this nasty bug with you, but I'm definitely disappointed at the timing of getting sick. I've been looking forward to the weekend ever since we planned it. I'm glad you got that visit in with your Mother, though.

Sally

Thanks Sally.

Here's Karen, who is a real sweetheart. (Please forgive the quality of my pictures. One of these days, I'll figure it out. It wasn't this trip though.)

Here's Donna with her friend Debbie; Donna is in blue.

Here's Luna, who I keep looking for but isn't here. She was the only dog I'd ever met who would jump up out of the way when you said, ''Excuse me, Luna.'' RIP sweet girl. I miss you.

If you get a chance to meet Karen or Donna, you want to do it! You'll be glad you did.

OH...I almost forgot! Donna has a hot tip about keeping guacamole fresh that she swears by. I'll bet if you beg her, she'll share it. (It's a Good One, and who better to share it with than the Cooking Forum?) You're going to want to know this!