ANA Discussion Forum
AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: Raydean on October 12, 2007, 02:58:30 pm
-
November 17th at 2:00 pm is the day and time. I've narrowed it down to two possible Restaurants.
The Olympia area has many really good places to eat, but I tried to keep it close to I-5, a place with close ample parking, willing to work with us and not put us in a meeting room at an additional hourly rate. Both of these restaurants are on the North side of Olympia, with an exit of each other, both right off the freeway and easy to find.
The 2 final choices are The Ram, and The Rock Restaurants.
The Ram has a fireside room that is semi private where we could be seated to reduce surrounding noise. But it is semi private and there would be carryover noise. On the plus side this is a slower time of day so noise would be less. The menu is varied, in fact you can check it out at www.theram.com Lacey, Washington would be the site we're considering
A minus here is that the most a table could seat would be 8 people. So we couldn't sit as a group at one long table. I was told by the manager that this would not be possible.
I got the feeling that they'd like us to keep the total length of time at around 90 minutes.
The Rock Wood Fired Pizza
Again this restaurant has ample parkin, probably be a little less expensive then The Ram, They are willing to reduce in level the backround music and will arrange tables to suit our needs. I was most impressed with them from the start as they were very interested in working with us. They have a long table that would sit all of us and are willing to arrange other tables to suit us. The menu is pizza, sandwiches, salads. The website address is www.therockwfp.com I think this would be alittle more casual and I didn't get the feeling that we'd be on a time limit. It really sounds like a casual, but fun place.
I think Kathleen (Gennysmom) has been to both places and I'm hoping she'll chime in here with her reviews.
So please post as to how many might be comming on the 17th of Nov. @ 2:00PM and if you have a preference in restaurants.
I look forward to meeting all of you
Hugs
Raydean
PS Before going on her cruise i spoke to Dana regarding the above choices and both were fine with her.
,
-
Oh, fabulous, you even asked the Rock about turning down the background noise! Very cool.
that was my only worry about the Rock, although we are between normal meal times, so I'm sure that will help. I'd much prefer the Rock, it's my favorite pizza place, and they also have sandwiches, burgers, calzones, salads and a FABULOUS hot artichoke dip. Ram is just OK to me, would do in a pinch, but obviously the Rock in my experience has much better customer service. While I don't live by that one, I have been to it 3 times and there's a ton of parking next to it (don't park in front where the theater is) and it seems to be a little quieter than the ones near me. Haven't been to the Ram there, but they're all the same...noisy and you can't move the tables around like you can at the Rock. Their pizza is thin and wood fired, and the red sauce is pretty much crushed tomatoes of the best flavor.
Now I'm going to have to go there for dinner tonight, my mouth is watering!
I'm in, you know that...will be there with mom the chauffer!!!!
Hope to see lots of people there!!!!
-
I'll be there..... either place is fine with me. Just want to spend time with my AN family ;D 2 p.m. is a great time.... should be less people there at that time.
Margaret
-
I vote Rock Wood Fired Pizza - based entirely on what others are saying, I've never been there. Nov. 17th 2:00 pm works for me, I will be there. Any other Portland or Vancouver residents up for it?
Steve
-
I think a more relaxed place and one's that more willing to work with us sounds better ...aka The Rock .... don't you think? Keep sending you' all's feedback, especially if you have a strong opinion. Thanks so much, Raydean, for doing all the research on this, and just let us know sometime in next 3-4 days which you've confirmed. I can get online a little, but it's expensive here on the cruise ship, so I really appreciate your follow through.
It feels pretty "Star Wars" to be online while floating across the Pacific (DEFINITELY the better ocean !!! we SWALLOW the Atlantic on that score!), looking out the window as the waves go by. I'm so lucky to be able to take a cruise.
Can't wait til November 17th. I'll check in again soon. Hey, my hubby had an idea - that we should have a "contest" amongst ourselves to name our group..... start thinking......
Hugs,
Dana
-
If any of you were wondering, I really did go to my Rock on Friday and it was durn tasty! :D See what you did!!!!!!!
-
Ok the list of attendees so far includes
Gennysmom Kathleen and Carol
Marg Margaret
sgerrard Steve
Dana Dana and Hubby
Room for lots more!!!!
I am hoping that others in the Portland, Vancouver, SW Washington and Greater Seattle area can attend. Maybe some car pools can be arranged to assist with the transportation issues. I can tell you that theres something special about being in a room with other ANer's. it's hard to put into words. but there's an immediate connection, a bond. Without a word being spoken you know that these people understand. It's really a great opportunity to meet others, share some stories, laughter and good food with friends. Hope to see you all there!!
Hugs
Raydean
-
Nan's out of town right now, and I just talked to Bethany, and I think they're both in too.
-
I should be able to be there with my husband (Caroline and Chris). I have no ski patrol duties that day and it will be my 1st free Saturday in a while.
-
The no Ski Patrol duties has changed - I have to be somewhere else on the 17th. I wish I could have made it.
Caroline
-
Oh rats Caroline :( ! I will miss meeting you . Maybe another time.
Margaret
-
I'm really looking forward to the get together.... (maybe it's because I will be mostly through parent/teacher conferences by then :D )
Margaret
-
marg - I flew up (from CA) to the Seattle brunch last year and had an amazing time meeting and chatting with my AN family. We had a very special visitor from the land down under ;D the one and only Laz (larry).
Have a wonderful time!!!
Cheryl
-
Dont know if I can make it. I will try my best.
-
I'll be working next Saturday, this is my weekend off. I hope y'all have a great time, and one of these times I might make it. ;D
Mark
-
Are we still on for next week?
Steve
-
Patrol event got canceled so I can come after all.
-
Just arrived back home from a few days vacation and will turn this back over to Dana. I'll call tomorrow and confirm everything and post directions.
Hope everyone can make it.
Raydean
-
Raydean,
I heard a rumor that you were wine tasting in the Silcon Valley with a famous Italain/Swiss famous photographer LOL who is not used to driiving on the right side of the road...
:D
Cheers,
4
-
Hi 4
Boy you have good sources, the rumor is correct. I had a wonderful time in the South bay area hanging around with the famous Swiss/Italian photographer otherwise known as Lorenzo. Lo and Sheila is every bit as nice in person as he is on this forum. They are a really fun, caring couple with a wonderful sense of humor. Oh my goodness the stories that was told about Ireland. I haven't laughed so much in a long time. We did do a wine tasting, saw some of the Napa wineries, ran around Palo Alto together. Palo Alto has a bunch of small interesting stores and restaurants which gave us alot of time to visit. Only problem was time went by to quickly!! Sometime in the future we will definitely do this again!!!!
Now I'm looking forward to our get together and meeting you and everyone else. I think Dana will be posting an update soon. Sure hope you all in the Oregon/Washington area will consider coming this Saturday. It's always a good time when we're able to get together.
Hugs
Raydean
-
Hi Raydean,
Looks like I need to add one more person to the get together....my husband will be coming with me to Olympia. How many of us will there be anyway? I'm sure looking forward to seeing all who can make it ;D
Margaret
-
OK - we're "on" for our get together this coming Saturday. A big round of applause for Raydean for making the arrangements!!!
Saturday, November 17th
2 pm
Rock Wood Fire Pizza & Spirits aka The Rock
5400 Martin Way East
Lacey, WA (just north of Olympia)
360-412-0300
Our contact person is Vernon.
Take EXIT 109 and go East
It's right next to the movie theater, lots of parking
You can find menu and map at: www.therockwfp.com/main.htm
Or do a search on www. mapquest.com
But it's easy to find.
If I read everyone's posts correctly, attendees so far are:
Raydean (Raydean)
Dana (Dana)
Sharon (a non-computer AN friend of Dana's from Hoquiam)
Steve (sgerrard)
Caroline (rezski)
Kathleen & Carol (gennysmom)
Margaret (Marg)
Mark (MarkH)
possibly,
Nan (nannettesea)
Kathleen (kmstruder)
Bethany (redgrl)
Let me know if you won't be able to come (boo-hoo) or if you have any questions.
Can't wait!
See you there.
Hugs,
Dana
-
My Husband Chris will be attending as well.
Caroline
-
I'm back and alive as well after all the fun driving!!!! Lo has all the photos, of course, but hope to have one or two for the weekend to share! Lots of laughs, great food and wine. Planning the Ireland trip already!
Can't wait to see everyone on Saturday!!!!
Kathleen
-
I'm on the list but I'll be at work. (after my MRI. I posted in the NF2 thread) ;D
Mark
-
It was great to meet everyone!!!! My picture turned out very fuzzy, so Marg if you could give it a try, or send me your photo to post...or Dana, if yours is good....if not, I can post the fuzzy one and people can interpret it....like a Monet only not!
Great time guys, can't wait to do it again!!!! For all you southies, we're talking about going to Marg's town of Longview next.
4 cm, you were missed! Next time!
Kathleen
-
Oh you fellow PNW ANA’ers I missed you too!
...However we had surprise sunshine yesterday (not in the forecast) and I did get outside with my kids as they cleared trails in the woods on our farm (I just walked no clearing – as I try to be a good patient) … however by 4 pm I was totally baked (had not even gone in the car anywhere and just the quiet woods) and had to lay down – so I think I made a good choice to stay home yesterday.
Initially when I saw the PNW gathering post …I informed the Greater Portland area people, I knew of on the forum, and only just realized (the day after) that Jackie was unaware of the get together. I feel terrible about this as I sent a group e-mail once I saw the posting to “Marg, Linny,... (and I thought Jackie.) Only now (checking my out box) I see I forgot to add her name. ( I was not even at 3 months post op- so I hope I am forgiven… post craniotomy wonky head AN fatigue thing…)
Jackie and I both got ANA notices in the mail (you know the kind that comes in an envelope with a stamp)… People who actually register with the ANA get these notices… and other goodies in the snail mail.
https://secure.baxinternet.com/~anausa/membership_donate.html
Portland, Oregon
Local Support Group
When:
Saturday, December 8 2007
1:00 PM
Where
Providence St. Vincent Hospital
Second Floor, Conference Room 4
9205 SW Barnes Road
Portland OR 97225
Topic: Tai Chi
Members of the Taoist Society of Portland will demonstrate Tai Chi as a means for maintaining and improving balance.
For Information Contact :
Jerry Harris (503) 292-4268
Friends, family members and interested persons are welcome!
We hope you can join us for education, information, support and networking.
I am planning to go since this is much closer to me and I can actually drive myself to this one.
Maybe at this one I can meet some of you in real person (vs virtual person)…
Longview get-to-gether sounds great! Much more doable for me too …
Oh please DO post photos – even if only Monet impressions …
Cheers,
4
-
I got that invite from Jerry as well, so at last I will get to meet 4! I will see all you Tri-Met people on the 8th. :D
Steve
-
Saturday was so much fun. As I told Raydean, it did my heart good. There was lots of AN "musical chairs" as we moved around to talk to different people, with the hearing ear on the correct side of course! I've sent a photo to Kathleen so hopefuly she can post it.
We seemed to have all camps represented - wait and watch, various microsurgeries, GK, CK... so it was interesting to compare notes. In particular, Marg and I were saying how we'd both done a "T" chart to help us decide what to do, but came up with different decisions: she really wanted it OUT, whereas I really didn't want physical surgery. Just 'shows to go you.'
Mostly, though, it was just wonderful to meet so many fightin' folks - beautiful blond Kathleen whose face got tired as time went on, her wonderful mom Carol (designated driver), feisty Marg who teaches 2nd grade and has great stories, her husband (oops I forget his name), calm Steve with his wonderful smile, pretty Bethany with her charming and lively little boy Max (or Maxwell, if you ask him!), beautiful dark-haired Nan pushing through obstacles, 'support-mom' Raydean exuberant and independent, and still-on-the-ski-patrol Caroline and her husband Chris.
Love,
Dana
-
Finally gave up on frappr and moved on to photobucket, so here it is!!! To set it up....obviously I tell really bad jokes as everyone kept their face still as mine is all screwed up from telling the joke. But since my photo came out Monet style, here it is, freaky face Gennysmom and all.....
(http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff290/kstuder445/therocklunch.jpg?t=1195495933)
left to right: Caroline, Nan, Dana, Marg, Me, Raydean, Bethany, Maxwell and Steve
-
I suppose it's a great example for all you out there wondering what synkenisis is. That would be why my AN eye is closed.
-
I'm confused... name the two women in the front ... and then I can figure it all out.
4
-
Marg is in purple and wearing a vest, I'm next to her in a tan shirt Center front)
back row Left to right
Caroline, Nan, Dana, Kathleen, Bethany and Max, Steve
Camera shy and missing from the picture is Carol, (Kathleen's mom) Caroline's husband and Marg's husband
Hope this helps
Hugs
raydean
-
GREAT PICTURE EVERYBODY LOOKS GREAT.
Nice to see who you talk to on the other end. Sorry I could not make it. My transmission is being fixed in my durango. NO FUN :-[
I'm glad everybody had a great time. I hope to meet everybody at the next get together.
Mindy
-
Yes, we all had a great time and hope that next time we can even have a bigger group. I talked to the others about a get together after the holidays in Longview- and they said they would come this far south. I know that several from the Portland area wanted to come ... but it was too far (except for 'super Steve' of course who was able to be with us :)) I will talk to the people here in Longview, who own a hotel and ask about using a 'side room' my family has done this for birthday and anniversary parties in the past and not had to pay for the room ( I think because we had enough people in our group who ordered lunch). Anyway, it will give us something else to look forward to in bleak January.
It was so nice to see some of the people from the forum .... it was well worth the drive to meet some of my AN family...and I'm hoping to go to the Portland get together on Dec. 8th to meet more of you.. Greg (my husband - who took most of the pictures for us) really enjoyed meeting all the people too .
I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving..... one of the things I am most thankful for is all of you.
Margaret
-
It was great meeting all of you. I was not the only one who thought a summer picnic would be great and easier to hear in a quiet place. I get so much more info in face to face meetings as I navigate through this AN journey. Learning how we have each come to different tratment choices helps me to understand how to make the best choice for my situation.
Caroline ;D
-
I finally felt like a true member of ANA when Nan and I switched seats, so our good ears were facing each other. :D
It was great to meet everyone, I only wish I could have talked more with everyone, but just keeping up with one on each side and one across was plenty. A quiet picnic next summer - coast, mountain, both? - sounds like a good idea.
Happy Holidays to all.
Steve
-
I'm glad y'all had a good time. I had my head and neck MRI Saturday morning (spine was Friday night) and went to work 'till I left with a killer headache. Meeting in Longview sounds good even if it is a drive for me. (Not really, I work there) Maybe this time I can make it. ;D
Mark
-
I'm glad everyone had a great time at the lunch! I hope I can attend the next get together.
Sue in Vancouver
-
Sue,
not far away from you...
Portland, Oregon
Local Support Group
When:
Saturday, December 8 2007
1:00 PM
Where
Providence St. Vincent Hospital
Second Floor, Conference Room 4
9205 SW Barnes Road
Portland OR 97225
Topic: Tai Chi
Members of the Taoist Society of Portland will demonstrate Tai Chi as a means for maintaining and improving balance.
For Information Contact :
Jerry Harris (503) 292-4268
Friends, family members and interested persons are welcome!
We hope you can join us for education, information, support and networking.
You are only just over the bridge...
Maybe see you there...??
4
-
Maybe I can try to make it for this one in Portland
eve
-
Looks like you all had a fantastic time... thrilled to hear this! :) You all will catch up to the "best" (east) coast yet... mebbe! ;)
Phyl
-
oooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Phyl! Let's not start!!! :-*
Dana
-
Hey Phil,
Haven't you heard..... West is Best :D
..... ok - I think it is a tie for best ......... as Dorothy said in OZ "there's no place like home"
Margaret