Sacramento Travel Meeting - Saturday 5/18 @10 a.m.

Ah, man...really? Again? Didn't we just do this last month?!? OK...I'll be there ;-) I'll be on the " discuss their upcoming trips, reminisce about past trips, or just hang out and talk about travel" team (sigh).

Great! I'm on the way; just swing by and pick me up...

Eileen, I guess we will both have to be content this year to listen to the fun others will have in Europe. I'm leaving Saturday for a week at Lake Tahoe, but will be back in time for the meeting.

I gotta ask. How are you all liking the Bee's new editorial cartoonist? We miss him something awful up here!

Oh man, Doug ;-) (the cartoonist's name is 'Ohman') He's already stepping in it! I didn't even realize we had a new EC until he made the national news ;-) Our previous cartoonist died about a year ago, somewhat suddenly and before his 50th birthday, and I liked his work - whether or not I agreed with any conclusions made by him. Some of Ohman's work is almost like a comic book - that makes it fun, because most of what an editorial cartoonist is drawing usually isn't particularly funny. California provides plenty of fodder...And I can make out what he's drawn...my father-in-law has a small file folder full of clippings of cartoons that none of us can make head or tails of ("Is that Obama?" "No, I think it's a fish...or somethin'...or maybe the Israeli flag??? I dunno..."). I noticed a recent post from you on another thread...it's always good to hear from you :-)

Looking at a river cruise in Holland and a couple weeks in Bavaria. @ Eileen, don your lederhosen and nurse your limoncello while we talk shop..... & bring some recs for a good Pils! Loved cartoonist Rex Babin, RIP.

(Twilight Zone 'do-do-do-do, do-do-do-do...') We've been talking about DC, and I've been thinking about NYC, too... Andrea, just keep driving - my 'froat' feels much better, but the coughing has started, the froggy voice is most definitely here, and I feel like cr*p. Although you would enjoy the fact that I'll probably lose my voice in a day or so... Kitty, I can definitely talk about beer...unless I can't talk... Darcy, I stopped taking the Bee years ago because I grew quite weary of newsprint getting all over everything. The Bee is the worst! They've started limiting how much you can read online (without a subscription), but I can get around that...'cause I'm wily ;-)

Oh! after listening to you all talk about the Bee, now I really miss Sacramento.....and the Bee.

@Darcy - You can get the Bee online. :) @Eileen - we will be by to pick you up around 1:00. You'll have to sleep on the sofa bed. Oh, and you'll have to buy us (expensive) dinner and drinks daily. Still interested? I'm thinking we'll go to Cabo Wabo tonight. @David - Too funny. We're also talking about a NYC/DC trip in late September or early October. More likely we will travel the Pacific NW. Okay, who else is coming to the meeting?

I hope you are feeling better now Eileen. You wouldn't be happy here at Tahoe anyway. The weather is awful. Really, who wants to spend their days with sunny weather in the 70's? And the lake, how could it really be so blue? I think someone photoshopped it. ;-)

We will be there but have to leave early. It's a shame to only get to stay for 2 hours rather than our regular 4 hours. Time flys when you talk travel!

Susan, you'll need to bring a note... Andrea, shut up ;-) I think I'll survive this cr*p; I gave myself until yesterday (Day 9) before going to the doctor, and it was the first day that I could move around the house for a few minutes without crumpling. My body has been working so hard to fight this stuff off :-( I haven't even stepped outside since Sat the 4th. Poor me. I'm getting pasty. Like you could tell. My 'froat' is better, and even my lungs are clearing up; I'm even gonna try sleeping horizontally tonight! I'll never live without a recliner...they're lifesavers. At this rate, I think even my awful-sounding voice will sound better. Sorry that I probably won't be afflicted with laryngitis by Sat. :-) I'd like to thank my decongestants, my aspirin, Kleenex Ultra Soft, my husband, and ZzzQuil for their tireless support these last trying days. Also, I'd like to thank my kitties for their understanding ^..^ See ya Saturday!

New Location Alert! In case you haven't read the Denver Meeting thread lately (and seriously - why on earth would you? Heh-heh...), this month's meeting has been moved to Tuscany! Woo-hoo! Frank will be hosting any Panera group that shows up ;-)

I'm in.

I'm thinking we can charter a bus to take us to Tuscany...how 'bout meeting up at the bus in the Panera parking lot around noon on Friday? Don't forget your moneybelt and your sunblock...

Eileen, will this be some sort of 'magic' bus that will take us to Tuscany? Or just a bus to the airport, where I'm sure you have chartered a plane to take us to Italy? We will have to get an early start to get home from Tahoe in time to pack and get over to AAA for my IDP. Then we have to drive over to Panera and get there by noon. Geez...I guess I'll have to set my alarm. When we get to Tuscany, I'll drive. Who wants to call shotgun??

IDP, SchmIDP - you can use my DH's IDP; it's from 2011. Close enough. Actually, I've already arranged for Piero to drive...but you two can work it out. We might be better served if Piero mingles with the rest of us...And of course it's a 'magic bus' - it's The Tuscany Bus. Duh. SHOTGUN!!! Besides, that's where the cooler will be ;-) (don't read this, Monte)

OK - for those who didn't make the bus, there'll be a transporter portal available for late-comers. Please be at the address printed at the top of this thread for Panera... I look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow morning!

Ok, we just got the word about Tuscany! Our bags are packed and the St. Louis group will be waiting in the parking lot at 10:00 a.m. CST! Can't wait! So excited since this is a bus trip I don't have to worry about my bag fitting in the overhead compartment so I packed the "big one"! No laundry in the sink this time around!!! Thanks for the heads up, Eileen ;-D

OK guys, I'll be Tuscany in about 10 days. Will any of you still be there? We could meet up for a caffe.

Well, Nigel - Frank wouldn't even open the door (and we heard you in there, Frank...)! So...we spent the day in Chianti, drowning our sorrows taking in some 'cultural activities', then we came home. But if you ever need a Magic Bus to Tuscany, Piero's your guy ;-)

So sorry we missed you Nigel. If you send the Magic Bus for us, we would love to join you. Little known fact, the Magic Bus is really fast and when riding in it no jet lag is experienced, Have fun in Tuscany!!

If we are taking a bus to Tuscany, I just wanted to remind you guys to bring a wet suit....

Kat, that is what is so magical about the Magic Bus! You don't get wet, jet lagged or anything else that would be unpleasant. Just don't check your bag...