Official A2K Gathering in Chicago, May 7th, 2006!

And for those that didn't make it, a picture to tide you over.



Don't worry better pictures will be here eventually.

Just wanna say I'm glad everybody had a great time. Boy, am I disappointed - I was really looking forward to seeing everyone ... but, whatchya gonna do? Despite my anticipation and plans, as the old joke goes, "and then the horse died" ... really.

Sorta ... I dunno ... empty, I guess ... here at Timberland right now, hard to realize she's really gone. Pretty much a big surprise; she was old, but not exceptionally so, and had seemed perfectly healthy, even getting into the arrival of Spring. Then in a matter of hours ... well, all I can say is "Damn!"

Anyhow, enough of that ... I wanna read all about The Gathering and see lotsa pictures.

Leave the bottle, Mike; I think Bill has had enough.

Sorry to hear about your horse, Timber. I tried, but no other bar would reject me. The "Red headed piano bar" rocked, so I didn't look too hard. I'm still missing my Brooklyn. I'm giving up, and will likely be busy for a bit... forgive me...

Why do these folks look so miserable?

That was taken before the strippers arrived.

And who are the folk in the picture???? I'm mystified.

I think I recognise Walter ... but the others?
I'd love to know who they are!

Sublime took that photo with his camera. Not everybody is visible.

Walter had just placed clues on the table about where he hid C.I. Occom Bill is leaning over to pick up a clue. Behind him, waiting for her turn is J-B.

Sitting immediately to Walter's right is Thomas who apparently thought the whole thing was funny. (Most of us were tense, realizing that C.I. may never be found. RJB is the other guy sitting on the couch.)

Thank you, wandeljw!

Indeed, Wandel. Ah, I would love to give RJB a big hug. <smile> Is that osso and Jes with their backs to the camera?

I don't think I was standing quite as close to Bill's backside as that picture appears

The two with their backs to the camera are Osso on the left and Eva on the right. The profile shot on the left is Mrs Yitwail sitting beside yitwail. Joe is reaching in for a pretzel. Did you all know that yitwail is pronounced 'Whitewhale'?

Special thanks to the yitwails for springing for the pizza, to Bill for the wine and to Sublime for the beer and the use of his place. It was great to get to talk to ehbeth on the phone.

We have a final adventure planned this morning and most of the folks will be heading back home. Fortunately for us we get to keep Thomas for another week. We have some special events planned with him this week so stay tuned.

Oh, and I realise that mac11's arms are at the far end of the couch on the left. Hopefully they are fully attached to the rest of her.

J.B. I can't see the Yitwails, and that doesn't look one thing like Eva. Yes, I knew that Yitwail meant Moby Dick. <smile>

Walter told me I don't look like me either

and you don't look one thing like Walter, either.

It was a delight and pleasure to meet all of my fellow A2Kers this weekend. I hope everyone had as good a time as I did and will go home and tell all their friends to come visit Chicago (extra tourist revenue is always appreciated). I'd post pictures, but then I didn't take any pictures, so that would be problematic.

Sorry I won't get to join everyone for the boat tour this morning, but some of us natives have to work, y'know. Safe journeys for all who are traveling today and tomorrow!

That pic's a nice little amuse-bouche.

Now, where are the rest of the missing bodies attached to the reaching in arms?

Yes, my hands are still attached allowing me to type this post.

I had a fabulous weekend and enjoyed meeting Eva, joefromchicago, Thomas, osso, Walter, rjb, c.i., O'Bill, sublime, J_B, yitwail, mrs. yitwail, and wandel. Good food (especially that stuffed crust sausage & mushroom pizza - wait til you see the pics!), good beer, great music, and excellent conversation. What else could you ask for? Well, other than more of you there for the party... We missed you, but talked about you endlessly, of course.

Gus, J_B's butter yellow sweater was the softest, silkiest thing you've ever not touched. You're sorry you missed that, I'm sure.

I had a painless trip home. In the taxi at 5:10, at the airport at 5:50, found an authentic Chicago hot dog , plane left early at 7:15 and landed even earlier at 9:30.

I hope the boat tour was fun today and that the sunshine is holding out.

Oh, that's joefromchitown in extreme profile on the far right. Wouldn't want him to feel left out.

mac,

I am so happy you arrived home safely. I had fun talking with you about our sweet friend, raggedyaggie.