and charming, and even a bit fresh too....haha

gypp....who are you....can't seem to remember anything about apples??

Sounds like my Thai paper fans are a big hit... I'll have to see what new goodies I can pick up in Bangkok and Chiang Mai for next year! I'm sure I'll always be looking and planning ahead for BOS from now on!!!

Carol

It was delightful to chat and meet several of you.

I agree that Bob and Andy could not have been nicer. Maybe thogh they'll take some charm lessons in the next year so that they'll be able to do better next time round.

Thanks to Karen, Fodor's Katie, Carol, lcuy, and anyone else I've forgotten for helping to fill the goodie bags. Thanks to the staff at Sidney's for doing a great job. Even the omelette guy did his best, with not exactly the world's best set-up.

For those who were not at the dinner, here is the surprising, although (obviously) highly deserved front page new paper story on Gpanda being chosen as <b>James Bond! </b> http://photo-url.com/JamesBond

OK, enough about Gpanda--the eternal birthday flame is flickering to fade....:-)

<b> Important Question For Dogster.</b>

Dogster, please note a picture in Bob's album titled &quot;Patricia Loves the Dogster&quot; (#55)

My question to you is: &quot;What's a girl got to do to get a rise (a figure of speech only) from the Dogster?&quot; I embraced you, whispered sweet nothings in your ear, I even straighted your speedo and offered you a drink with an umbrella. An <i>umbrella</i> for God's sake!

What did I get in response from the Dogster? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. You sat there, smiling wryly, keeping you countenance to yourself, observing your adoring fans from your seat of honor.

Hummm, seems Dogster has a consistant pattern....sitting there, smiling wryly, keeping his countenance to himself.

Ah, Dogster. I tried.

Where's &quot;Jimmy&quot; when I need him?

Old dogs takes a lot of encouragement to get them excited.

I would just like to say a few things. First of all, I have no idea how New Englanders got reputations as taciturn types. A more welcoming group of Americans I could not possibly imagine, which is why I fly out for these GTGs every year from the midwest. To say a good time was had by all is indeed an understatement. Karen, the cookies were delish! Andy's wife can only take us in small doses, and I can't blame her, so while she did attend the dinner at Skipjack's, she wisely skipped brunch.

I would like it NOTED FOR THE RECORD, please, that the &quot;European board&quot; people did not &quot;segregate&quot; at the same table this year, but were represented at each table! We are accused of being somewhat clanish, but this year we broke the mold.

The stories told were utterly delightful. Katie, last year and this Bob and Andy have asked each of us to stand and share a travel story. The one Laurieco told last year was the most outstanding and probably oft-repeated, but there are stories that are touching, amusing, and outrageous. Rizzuto this year was succinct but possibly most original. Because of a serious illness and surgery last year, my voice no longer &quot;projects&quot;, so Nikki has literally functioned as my &quot;mouthpiece&quot;, and I am grateful.

Last thing I want to tell folks is that your Borders gift cards are good at the local Borders store of your choice, or at Borders.com, which re-launched as an independent website in June. (They'd had their own site in the late '90's and then entered into an agreement with Amazon, which ended earlier this year, so Borders.com is an independent entity now.)

And Dogster, I think you and Andy must be brothers, the way he goes on about you. Andy gave a ride back to Cambridge to Mimi and me Friday night and you sat in the back seat between us.

Things were indeed festive at the gathering in Mimi's garden on Saturday afternoon, and I stayed into the evening when Mimi played on her CD player the soundtrack to &quot;Vicky Christina Barcelona&quot; and the two of us danced away!

Best to all, and already looking forward to next year,
BC

Oh Boston - you have made me laugh. I've come up with 20 great replies - but they're all too filthy to post.

Knowing the Dogster as I do, I'd imagine he was probably completely out of it and incapable of response. He's learnt that if he sits and looks wise people actually think he IS.

Until he opens his mouth to speak.
Then, in that state, he veers wildly between sage and buffoon, words tumbling out of him like pooh from a goose. So thats why he was quiet, I reckon.. he just didn't want you to know how wasted he was.

And, after his secret tryst with Patricia, well, perhaps his err.. batteries needed charging. Which is a process that seems to be taking a lot longer these days...

I AM finding myself strangely excited by the thought of you adjusting my Speedo, tho'...

dogster, i think she liked it too!!

<i>And, (Boston) after his secret tryst with Patricia, well, perhaps his err.. batteries needed charging. Which is a process that seems to be taking a lot longer these days... </i>

Ah, but Dogster.... Boston and Patricia are indeed one and the same. But you are a busy man and competition is steep. Besides, how can one compete with the Ukrainian chamber-maids from your &quot;great stumble forward?&quot;

don't be shy, dogster, post away!!!

The pictures are wonderful! It sounds as if you all had a great time.

This was by far the best Boston GTG yet! Eric and I had such a great time. Thanks to Andy &amp; Beth, and an extra special thanks to Bob and Karen for the wonderful lunch at their house on Friday. Eric and I drove to Bob and Karen's on Friday and arrived at noon. Karen had a lovely lunch prepared. After that, Bob took Eric and I on a tour of Boston that was absolutely wonderful. This was our fourth year attending the GTG but the first time we actually stepped foot in Boston proper! The weather was fabulous.

The cocktails and nibbles hour at B &amp; K's was wonderful as was the dinner at Skipjack's. The festivities the next day were as good as ever, with great conversation and stories from fellow Fodorites.

It was so great to see everyone again and to meet some new people as well. These GTG's just keep getting better and better. I really look forward to them. Thanks to everyone who came and made this such a success!

Patricia (Boston Harbor),

The name of the place outside of Aman is Jerash. Make sure you get there. I'll see if I can get some pictures up for you, provided I can find them!

Is it just me, or is anyone else still trying out to figure out what those spoons in the goodie bags are for?

A budding romance?

Patricia's Bond piece reminds us all of a Fodorite truism. We all have fertile imaginations and wasy too much time on our hands. I note that while I did play Rugby my British accent leaves a lot to be desired.

Nikki, those spoons are ideal for feeding baby food to babies - at least that's what Jeane and I think they will be good for.

Nikki
They are called coffee spoons. But I guess you could serve sugar from a bowl with one of them as well. They are from the weekend market in Bangkok.
Carol

Patricia, Great to see you again. Jeane says that you offered to share the name and/or street addresses of a couple of art galleries in Hanoi that you enjoyed. Please post here or e-mail me. Thanks.

Gpanda, I can help a little with the British accent but the rest is up to you. Start slugging back a few martinis and your accent will be shaken and slurred!