ANA Discussion Forum
AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: ppearl214 on May 18, 2011, 04:07:36 am
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Ok, just wanted to see how many of you have met AN'ers from the forums in other ways other than the Discussion Forums or ANA Support Groups/ANA symposiums....
Example...... many of you know that jcinma/Jane and myself host Discussion Forum brunches a couple of times/yr locally, to bring together AN'ers in a casual (ie: "fattening") environment....... but, have also met AN'ers in other wonderful ways.
Further example......
VERY first AN'er from forums that I met was CrazyKat/Paul, at Starbucks (eventually, we got booted out so they could close), moved to Dunkin Donuts. Here we were, at 8pm-ish, standing in the parking lot, reviewing each other's MRI's.
Flew to ATL on family visit. Had the wonderful chance to meet CindyJ and Brucifer (Man, do I miss him!) over lunch with my bloke!
Today, going to the headache dr and who will be there at her appt just before mine? SML/Scarlett and lovely husband Rich. Will either do coffee or lunch.
JoeF came locally to make one of his kayak purchases a few miles from where I live.... had the chance to do breakfast with him and my bloke.
Flew to the UK for my mother-in-law's milestone birthday.... lives in a tiny village approx 2 hrs outside London. Yep, met Forum AN'ers on that trip as well.
So, all in all, there has been terrific opps to meet other Forumites over time.... and it has brought me such joy to meet others so casually, to compare notes, share laughs/smiles/stories/hugglez. What a world of difference it has brought to meet to meet others that "walk in our shoes".
So....... have YOU had the chance to meet other AN'ers in ways you least expected and what kind of impact did it make on you to be able to meet others face to face? I recognize that some of you may live in areas that is difficult to meet others and hoping you do get to meet others soon.
Phyl
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Yes, I met Cindy J while in Florida on Vacation
Jo
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Yes, I met Cindy J while in Florida on Vacation
Jo
Jo,
Cindy's great, isn't she? :) Sorry I couldn't have joined you all. Just met up with SML/Scarlett and Rich at the dr's office... then found great place for burgers. Delightful lunch and was terrific to spend time with them!
Phyl
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Of course I have to answer this. I LOVE to meet my "fictious friends" from the Forum in real life. Aside from the many wonderful friends I met at the Chicago Symposium, I have been blessed to meet many more. All of this is a wonderful blessing for me, especially considering that I went 12 YEARS before I ever even spoke to another AN patient!! I have also talked to numerous people on the phone. I hope I don't leave anyone out:
Tim (Migoli?) came thru Amarillo on his way to Houston (before we moved). We had a wonderful dinner & the girlies loved him!! Dave & I were able to meet Cyrilee at the Symposium...hoping to see them sometime in the near future!
Met up with Brian (Pooter), Priscilla (msmaggie), Brenda (brendalu) & the guy that I can NEVER remember his name for lunch when we were in Houston for Christmas one year. Since I have moved here, sweet Ms Priscilla has been my own personal angel!! Aside from the time she came over to my in-laws (where we were temporarily living) to visit last summer, she came twice to help when we were moving into our house (& brought dinner) and then came running to my rescue a couple of weeks ago after my surgery!! We have done lunches other times too & are still looking for the times when we can REALLY get into some trouble!!!
Maureen (Moe) came to Texas a little over a month ago and I drove out to meet her. We had a wonderful visit!! It ended way too soon but I was leaving ;D town that weekend & couldn't go back - would have loved to watch her son dive! Hopefully, we get together again sometime, especially if/when she moves back to Texas!!
I am to meet with Dale (dalern) for dinner on June 6th and am so excited!
Was supposed to meet up with Donnalynn when I was in Canada last year but didn't work out (darn!). Thought we were going back this year but didn't make it. We're going to keep trying though!!
Seems like there should be more but I guess there were SO many at the Symposium...what great friends I've made thru this site! My friend started a Down syndrome support group in Amarillo - they call other DS people "cousins" b/c they all look somewhat alike. I think we are all cousins b/c we have so much in common...& some of us even have matching faces!!
K
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Phyl ~
I've met many ANers - including you - at the semi-annual brunch held at Maxwell's Toolhouse in Worcester, Massachusetts - but that's about it. We don't do much traveling and there are very few ANers in my state (Joe F. is an exception). We met Liz ('Lizard') and her husband at the October, 2009 AN brunch and had hoped to meet them locally (they live a few towns over) for lunch one day - but, as sometimes happens, we just never quite got around to it. I did run into a lady who had AN surgery about a decade before my diagnosis. We met her and her husband a year or so after my AN surgery at a marriage seminar our church was sponsoring. Unfortunately, she'd developed facial paralysis post-op and it was never really addressed or resolved. I almost felt guilty telling her about my good surgical & radiation outcome - but she seemed genuinely interested. I've seen her once since then, very briefly (leaving a mutual friend's home). That's the extent of my meeting fellow ANers outside of the ANA forums. However, I feel as if I've 'met' hundreds of AN patients over the past five years through these forums and I'm grateful to have been able to do so (and even help a few along the way). :)
Jim
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K and Jim,
Great to hear that you all enjoy beyond the forums! :)
Shame on me... I forgot Mark and his loverly wife, with whom I had dinner last year during a business trip to N. CA. Mark was my mentor here on the forums, as well as my guidance for Cyberknife. Shame on me for forgetting to note him and our dinner last year.
Phyl
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Yes.
I met Patrick and his wife last year when they came to Chicago on vacation.
I met Barb when I went to Seattle last August for business.
I met Anna Maria and her husband for dinner last July when I was in New Jersey for vacation. I met Wendy on a beach in New Jersey during that same vacation.
And, coincidentally, I'm meeting Dale tonight for dinner; she's in the Chicago area on a trip.
Jan
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Mei Mei and I met for lunch when she and her family visited Richmond back in February.
And my home is always hope for anyone here who wishes to stop by.
-Tod
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I only have met people who have been on here and then to the symposiums. Oh except for one WI lady who was on here long ago and we met when we were in Madison and she came to meet me. That was some time ago but we have remained friends. There some post symposium people who keep in good touch with. They are not on here anymore either. Plus 3 Iowa ANers who have got to meet. I still keep in touch with 2 plus one I haven't met. I have enjoyed getting to know other ANers and getting to be of help to new ones. I would long gone from here if it wasn't my having the NF2 and hopefully done with surgery! Cheryl R
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My wife and I were able to meet a few other AN patients at the Hospital before and after treatment.
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Haven't got to meet anyone in person, yet. BUT have many of new, great friends on Facebook. With FB, it is like they are so much closer and you get to know them even better on many aspects vs. just the 'tumor' stuff. Many of us have been great support for each other in many aspects in life....mostly being able to send many thoughts or pray for them or be happy, etc. with other events. Feels like I have actually met many of them and they are like some of my ole schoolmates or something ;)
Denise (MI)
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Ya know... I KNEW these forums would reach out far beyond what we write/share here.... and that special "kinships" are made, whether in person, on the phones, other sites, etc..... speaks volumes for what these forums do for us all! :)
Phyl
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I've only gotten to meet a few people at my brief visit to the Chicago symposium - but keep in touch with quite a few via the forum, Facebook, e-mails and phone calls.
I think you guys all need to make it a point to come to Virginia Beach!! ;D
Lori
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I am coming,Lori, I am...I promise!!
Some of my best buds & super support (not for AN but for my crazy life lately!) are from this wonderful group of people! You know who you are & I love you...wouldn't have made it lately without you!!
K ;D
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I've met Adrienne, and a couple of folks who don't come on here often, if at all, and then some that have...yardtick, and there may be a couple of more that i've met at Toronto support group meetings. I really want to go to next Tuesday's meeting but I'll be away on training so it won't workout. I do keep in contact with a few ANers from here on FB.
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Unfortunately, I haven't met anyone from the Forum yet. I haven't been back in the USA since 2007, just before surgery. If anyone happens to come to Germany let me know I only live 40 miles from the Frankfurt Airport.
Dan in Germany
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It was GREAT to meet Jan tonight and I'm so looking forward to meeting Kay in a couple of weeks! This forum has provided us with a way to meet friends we would otherwise not have found and also provides a tremendous amount of support from people who "get it"!!!
-Dale
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I have been very lucky to meet a number of you guys! Yes, and how great that the first was you, Phyl - it meant SO very much to me! Then, my good fortune just continued from there...I got to spend a whole day w/ Nancy (NL) as she gave us a wonderful tour of LA and she was such an awesome support to Brad, Mom and me while we were out there! Then, David joined us for the pre-op lunch at St. Vincent's, along w/ Nancy again...I could not have had a better send off to surgery! Then, I was able to meet up w/ Jo as we both happened to be in North Florida on vacation at the same time - just prior to her surgery. Have seen Amy a couple of times here in Atl, as well as Sue before and after her surgery here in Atl...sure I may be missing someone...and I hope to be able to meet even more of you as time goes on :D
cindy
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I was fortunate to meet many people in Chicago two summers ago, but have not had the good fortune of meeting anyone "in real life" yet.
I know that David, Nancy and Lainie have met a lot of folks out there in California, probably more than we can count.
I guess that makes them our trio of angels, to offset that other trio of more devilish personalities we all know but need not name.
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...to offset that other trio of more devilish personalities we all know but need not name.
You wouldn't be referencing J >:D - K >:D - L >:D by chance, would you? ;)
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My lips are sealed, Phyl. Feel free to infer anything you wish - I will neither confirm nor deny!
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Hey! I resemble that remark! ;)
For the record, the "J" and "K" portions are the real troublemakers. I do my best to keep them in line, but it's hard work!
L >:D
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The first forum-ites I met were when my husband ran the Boston marathon a couple of years ago and it was on the same weekend as the New England group brunch (Phyl, Jim, etc). I got to meet them plus Nancy, Bob (I don't think they're on the forum much any more) and Scarlett and Rich (PHYL - HOW ARE THEY?!) I picked up Laura (allegra) from where she was staying (she was running the Boston Marathon) and she went to the brunch with me. Since she was scheduled to have her surgery right after the marathon, it was good and encouraging for her to meet some AN'ers who had already been though it all. Since my husband will probably never qualify to run Boston again (nor will I) : ( well, i don't when i'll make it back up to the NE brunch, but would love to go again!
I met Tim (migoi) for about 10 minutes on the National Mall last year; he was in town watching his daughter graduate from the Naval Academy and they were in DC that day. My daughter was participating in a Memorial Day parade. We chatted on our cells and were able to find each other!
I met Lori last summer as well. My daughter was in VA Beach at a training for high school aged Naval Sea Cadets and Lori picked me up and we went to her house and then went to her husband's base and got an awesom tour of his aircraft carrier.
I found out Mei Mei lives not far away from me at all; maybe I can meet her soon!
I've never met Patrick but we've talked about biking and marathon running. I'm going to Texas later this summer and would love to meet some of the Texans (like Kay!)
If any of you come to the DC area, let me know! I'm actually in MD, but only a few miles from te DC line.
Keri
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NO WAY, KERI!!! You didn't tell me you were coming to Texas!! Have GIRLY van, will travel!!
Now, about that other little thing....I think EVERYBODY knows that I am the angelic one of the three (definitely the most naive!!)...it's Jan & Lori you have to watch out for...Sara, who bought you a drink & took your wonderful picture???
K ;D
*wishing for an angel smiley!!*
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Okay you social butterflies :D
I've met Kay as she mentioned and that's it! Yes, we will meet again when we move to TX in the winter. Hang in there, should only be about 5-10 years from now! ;D
Lori, when are you coming to visit your friend in Tacoma? (does she still live there?). That would make 2 forumites!
Plus there is the AN support group here in Tacoma, but those people aren't on the forum, except occasionally Barb from Seattle who is W &W
Sorry I missed you Jan when you were in Seattle! (I think I was gone...).
Maureen
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Moe, actually my friend is at Fort Irwin in CA now. But, one never knows where they'll wind up next - maybe back to your area.
In the mean time, if I hit the lottery, I'll do a world AN tour and visit everyone! ;D
Kay, since Jan doesn't seem to be chiming in just yet (must be actually working or something crazy!), lets throw her under the bus. It's ALL her fault. :P
Lori
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and lori is so angelic that she FORGOT THAT SHE MET ME!!!!! i leave a good impression, i suppose!
i've never been to one of the symposiums... waiting for an east coast meeting, i suppose.
kay, i have to go down to Corpus Christi later this summer. meet me in San Antonio at Casa Rio!! i will try to make it through houston... you know Texas, so EASY to just drive to this city or that city, only takes all day!
keri
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Keri,
I was saving that info for my grand finale! I didn't want everyone else to be jealous! Actually, it's probably because I feel like I've known you longer than this AN thing. And if it's not that - I've had brain surgery. I forget things sometimes! :P
Lori
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I went to Seattle for a lunch and met a bunch of people!! This was in 2006, I think, the summer after my GK. I met Kathleen and Larry from Australia who was on a West Coast vacation. We had quite a group, but I have forgotten who all was there now. We even talked with Phyl on the phone, as she was so happy for us and wanted to get in on the action!!
I got to know Lorenzo' via Internet, who lives in Ireland (but he is Italian) and when he and his lovely Sheila came last summer to the West Coast for an extended vacation, my husband and I were able to meet up with them and show them some things around Portland. We had so much fun. Lorenzo doesn't come on here much anymore.
I should go to a local support group one of these days, and I have been saying that from the beginning, but I haven't made it.
Cheers,
Sue in Vancouver, USA
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Sara, who bought you a drink & took your wonderful picture???
K ;D
*wishing for an angel smiley!!*
Sweet angelic Kaybo did!
I think there should be an angel smiley, too.
Just a reminder - the only names I listed were David, Nancy and Lainie. The rest is mere conjecture. Hee hee I feel like such a trouble-maker.
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Thank you Sara!!
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Kay, where did your picture go?
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I DON'T KNOW!! I have tried & tried to get it to work...so sad...I'm faceless!! :-[
also, all of the sudden, I don't get email notifications for PM's either!!
K :-[
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Hi guys! I have not personally met any of you but I feel like I have known so many of you for years and years. I will get to meet some at the symposium and I am so excited about that! None of my family can come (I am hoping one of them can drive over for dinner one night) so I will be solo but that is fine.
Hugs to all of you.....and I miss your face kaybo!
Kathy
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I will get to meet some at the symposium and I am so excited about that!......
Kathy, absolutely cannot wait to meet you in Cinci!!!!!! :) :)
K, pls make sure your picture is uploaded to a 3rd-party site like Photobucket, Kodak Gallery, etc... then capture the location's URL (copy/paste) and note in your Profile settings. Also double check your Profile setting for email notifications. If this continues, please let us know...... :-*
Phyl
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Kathy-
I thought about coming to the Symposium - just to meet YOU!! ::)
Phyl-
Have done all that...repeatedly...I have even gone back on different days... ???
K :)
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Phyl-
Have done all that...repeatedly...I have even gone back on different days... ???
K, you have PM.
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Kay, since Jan doesn't seem to be chiming in just yet (must be actually working or something crazy!), lets throw her under the bus. It's ALL her fault. :P
I've been lurking; just haven't had time to post. In the past 3 days I've been helping children write papers for school until the wee hours of the morning - and I helped one of them make 30 cookies that looked like frogs for a school project. Ah, the joys of motherhood ;D And to think that I originally hoped for triplets ::)
I was going to post last night, but was waiting to see if the world was going to end today. As far as I can tell it didn't, so here I am
I am extremely disappointed that I am not going to the syposium this year - first and foremost because I was anxious to meet Kathy M; I was also looking forward to seeing "old faces" (no insult intended) from the last symposium and hoping to meet a few new ones. Unfortunately it's just not something I can swing this year.
But there's always 2013 right? In Boston, right?? (Work on that one, Phyl)
And in 2013, we're going to rally all the oldies - like Pooter (BTW, where is Pooter???).
Jan >:D
PS - Virginia Beach sounds lovely; so does Texas. The trio will get together one of these days before the world ends!
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I have met Calimama right after I was first diagnosed - we lived but a few blocks from each other when I was still in Toronto. I stopped in a few times after her twins were born (her house was very close to the community pool!). It was great to meet someone who had walked (a very tough) path before me. I also had a chance to meet MK a few years ago when she passed through Toronto - again, great to meet people who have already made all the decisions. Gave me great peace for my own adventure of W&W.
Jan - I coach a triplet on a soccer team this season - this family has a 9 year old, 3 7 year olds and 1 5 year old ... I am a mom of four and I am in awe of parents of triplets (and FIVE kids!)
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KAY...you have a pic now :-) Good job!
KATHY...I have to say that if I were in your shoes and going to the symposium alone, I would feel totally comfortable about it THANKS to THIS FORUM!!! It is like you already know many and you can just be 'meeting up with friends' ;D Hopefully you have a great time!
Denise (MI)
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Phyl fixed it for me but not home & able to change my saying! Thanks Phyl!!
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I would love to meet everyone who is able to go to Cincinnati, and could do so if it were in August like last time. June is just not doable with all of our summer activities.
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Anybody from NJ out there?
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Jan. Pooter is ouit camping and cooking on the camping trips. Join us on facebook and you'll see!
Our end of the world wasn't till 6 pm. Our grandkids are here so have to protect them ! Mom and Dad are out for a day by themselves. We took the kids on a very long walk on a new trail that goes onto a bridge over a river that is a bike trail and walking path now. Grandma here never made it over the whole bridge as had to walk quite a ways to the bridge. The youngest is now napping and I had a rest too when we got back.
Cheryl R
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I looked it up and the bridge is 1/2 mile long and 13 stories high over the Des Moines river. It was a half mile from where we parked to the bridge. Part of a 25 mi biking trail. Anyone who comes to central Iowa would enjoy it. Keri would love it but not open when she was to Omaha. www.hightrestletrail.info They show the sculpture pieces over the bridge to commenrtate the mining area it was a very long time ago. Cheryl R
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Jan. Pooter is ouit camping and cooking on the camping trips. Join us on facebook and you'll see!
Our end of the world wasn't till 6 pm.
Have thought about Facebook, mainly to check up on my kids, but don't think I'll ever join. Just not for me; but never say never. Tell Pooter to come back here; I miss him :'(
So the world ends @ 6, huh? Well, it's currently 4:59 here so I guess I'll say my goodbyes now; been nice knowing you guys!
And, Phyl, when you mention to the powers that be that we want the symposium in Boston in 2013, tell them we want August, too. But not too late in August, can't interfere with school starting.
Jan
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...and Houston as a back up??? ::)
K ;D
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St. Louis?
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This is just a little something for Kaybo:
ᴑ
:)
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THANKS, Sara!! ???
K ;D
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I am so bummed not to meet Kay and Jan next month!! but, Chicago is one of our favorite places so maybe sometime this summer I could head that way for a long weekend (I hate not having much leave time!).
I am gonna try my best to get to a few symposiums when they are relatively close to Ohio so hopefully I will see Folsom eyeball to eyeball!
How do you guys hook up on Facebook? I am so behind in news!!!
Kathy
Ps. The sun is shining today! Hmmm mm....bike riding or geocaching? Maybe both!
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Kathy-
Are you already on FB?? If so, I can pm you my full name (if you don't have it) & then we can be "friends"!! After that, I can let other ANer's that are on there know!
K ;D
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Keri,
Where are you in MD? I will be in Annapolis in July for a couple of days for a wedding.
~Dale
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Not sure how I missed this whole thread until now ...... maybe because I was taking a nap?????
I, as well, met a whole bunch of Forum ANers at the Chicago Symposium. So neat to put faces to user names ..... in fact many of us put our user names on our name tags so people would know who we were. And now, more recently, I have included sharing on Facebook with AN friends.
As for other ANers, I know several others through our state support group, who have chosen not to participate in this forum (their big loss :(). It truly is like having a whole bunch of other relatives, who know exactly how we feel and we can share on a very personal level.
Clarice
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you get around Miss Dale!! ;D
K ;D
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And, Phyl, when you mention to the powers that be that we want the symposium in Boston in 2013, tell them we want August, too. But not too late in August, can't interfere with school starting.
working it... trust me... :)
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Dale -
Silver Spring... which is a big blob of a 'non incorporated town.' just north of DC. let me know when you're coming, esp if you get over DC way!
Keri
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Kathy M - and anyone else - would love to meet you if you get to Chicago.
Just let me know ;D
Jan
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I posted earlier, but my post disappeared ??? I met Kay (Kaybo) in Houston. We spent a wonderful evening together. It was like two long lost friends reconnecting. What a treat!
~Dale
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I posted earlier, but my post disappeared ??? I met Kay (Kaybo) in Houston. We spent a wonderful evening together. It was like two long lost friends reconnecting. What a treat!
~Dale
Dale,
She is something else! :) Agree about the friendship. Now, just have to meet you! (and a few more as well!)
Phyl
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It was AWESOME meeting Dale - I'm telling you, we are all cousins!! WE HAD SUCH A GREAT NIGHT!! I have a picture on my phone (- phyl, I may just email it to you??) to get up here - let me tell you now though - Dale looks much hotter than her little picture!! :o
K ;D
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Oh, if Dale is ok with it, pls email... would love to see the pics of you 2 meeting up.
It's always great to meet others from here when you can... and thrilled you all have had the opp to do so!
Phyl
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It would be great to have the photos up. I'm fine with it, Phyl. Also.....Kay looks FABULOUS!!!! She does not give herself enough credit. She's beautiful!
~Dale
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Dale,
Let me know when you're in MD. Do you have any time to hit any of the sights in DC?
I'm going to try to meet Kay when I head to TX at some point this summer.
Keri
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It would be great to have the photos up. I'm fine with it, Phyl. Also.....Kay looks FABULOUS!!!! She does not give herself enough credit. She's beautiful!
~Dale
I saw... I grinned... you 2 look absolutely marvelous!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to meet you, as well, one day. Have also met the Kaybo... will have to meet you as well! :)
Phyl
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So where is the pic Phyl?? ???
K ::)
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So where is the pic Phyl?? ???
K ::)
hold plz............ ;D
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best blondes in town
(http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd186/ppearlbaxter/DaleKay2.jpg)
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Not only are they the best looking blondes in town, they are incredibly sweet ones, as well! Certainly very supportive, helpful ones!!
Clarice
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Thank you Phyl!!!
I will say that I always thought (I don't know why) that Dale was a very TALL person...um, let's just say she and Lori could have a contest! I was bending at the knees and scrunched over in that pic!! Dale, your personality is certainly not lacking!! ;D
Clarice-
You are too kind...
K ;D
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Hey, not bad at all for a cell phone pic! Yeah, I heard I was running a race for "who's the shortest" with Lori! I'm just so verbal, that I seen like a TALL person! This is a great memory, and I hope to be repeated!
Hugs,
Dale
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well, Lori (met at symposium, but not at another gathering format) IS rather.... *coff* petite fleur >:D . Will have to meet Dale to see and compare.
Phyl
(Kay, glad to help)
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As previously noted, I've met Kay and Keri out in the world. Had a wonderful dinner with Kay and her family as I was passing through Amarillo. Wonderful family, as was expected considering the wonderfulness that is Kay.
Met Keri on the Washington Mall for a quick hug and a picture. That meeting is one of the reasons I like technology so much. Without the ability to coordinate through texting we would never have been able to find each other that day.
I've also met with several people through the willing to talk program.
..thanks for being..t
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Great pic of Dale and K! You two look beauutiful :)