<<And...ME??? On the floor???
Never!!! >>

Really Kal? I beg to differ:

http://tinyurl.com/6bcpbc

Enjoy all!

If anyone wants high-quality copies of the group photos, just email me and I'll send them to you.

Ncounty - how did you so competently disappear in the group photos??

LI - I heard some sirens on I-80 up here also. Maybe they were all escorting Kal back to Placer County...

LOL!! Toedtoes - your GTG photos are so funny!! Too bad I couldn't make it over. It looked like so much fun. I'll have to catch Faina in Sacto.

MY

Hey toeds..I bet..no doubt the CHP wanted to make sure Kal got home without causing an accident, you think?

Love your photos! What a terrific group of fantastic Fodorites. And yes ncounty..where are you? You pulled a toedtoes trick evidently, lol!

Hello MichelleY, I wish you could have been with us. Hope your vineyards are doing well.

I hope by this time Patrick and Lee are on their plane! Hours of a delayed flight is not fun.

Thanks for posting the photos toedtoes..and yes..I would love high quality when you have time dear friend!

I think it was more the SF, Vacaville and Sacramento police wanted him out of their jurisdictions.

I'll send them as soon as I'm back on the other computer.

Kal,
You're a splitting image of Joe Walsh of the Eagles.

Glad everyone had such a good time.

Thank you toedtoes for posting the pictures. Sure looked like you all had fun. And thank you all for toasting Diablo.

One question though. Can someone tell me whats the deal with the lobster?

Tom

During our <gasp> visit to Fisherman's Wharf, we saw the sourdough lobster and thought it was cute. So we bought it and brought it to the party. I named it Tom after you - since you couldn't be here, Tom the Lobster was.

Some shots looked like SNL!!!

What great photos, Toedtoes! I wish I could have made that cruise as well.....looks beautiful.

I think I am the shadow behind heavens in one photo and behind P_M in another. I am not as "competent" as you though, dear Toedtoes!

It was a fantastic trip for me....meeting everyone and what a glorious weekend in SF! The weather couldn't have been better.

After the events as outlined so well by LoveItaly, we got a good night's rest and were up at dawn. Cat and I went for a walk to explore North Beach. We stopped at a lovely sidewalk cafe called La Boulangerie (?) and shared an almond croissant and had coffee at an outdoor cafe table. It felt like we were in Paris, or Italy.

We then explored the back streets of North Beach and found some amazing quaint shops that were just opening up. We made our way to Pat's cafe and joined the rest of the group for breakfast. I had to leave a bit early because I wanted to explore the Marina district and had limited time to get that done.

I ended up walking all the way from our hotel in North Beach up the crookedest street of Lombard and then through Cow Hollow/Union Street. I really wanted to have lunch at Betelnut but they weren't opening for half an hour so I journeyed on and got to Chestnut St. in the Marina district. It was all so fantastic. Gorgeous restaurants, one more inviting than the last and fashionable boutiques. I ended up lunching at a place called the Squat and Gobble and enjoyed a Cappellini Puttanesca. I couldn't help eavesdropping on a terse conversation between two young women sitting next to me, the likes of which I've never heard before! They were having a brutally honest discussion of their friendship with the boxing gloves taken off. "the reason I don't want to be your friend isn't just because of one thing; there are so many. You are so negative and self-centered, you never listen to anybody".....OMG. It is hard to keep a poised poker face and not just jump into their conversation and start refereeing.

After exploring the rest of the area, I hopped on a bus (30) and headed back to North beach. Did some shopping and bought lovely knits from boutique stores. I then headed for the airport but hadn't calculated how bad the traffic would be. The bus ride took waaay longer than I thought and I knew I was in trouble. I hustled to get to the Bart station at Montgomery as quickly as I could and was so relieved to get to the platform and see the sign saying next train to SFO in 1 minute. I just made it with 1 minute!!! boy that was close.

patrick- so sorry to hear about your delay; I hope you are not too exhausted when you get home.

I am SOOOOOO jealous--while the wedding we attended was a wonderful and joyous event--I couldn't help but keep looking out across the Bay (from Jack London Square) and thinking "What a great night to be in the City!). Then, the cousin of one of the brides sat next to us and proclaimed "We rode the ferry over and it was wonderful"--arrgh. Then, thinking we had selected the perfect "easy get-a-way" table, we were corraled by another cousin, who apparently was "off their meds"--hell for another hour. By now, Mr. TrvlMaven is giving me the "I gave up Chinese food with "strangers" in the City for THIS?? looks and I know the penance may last for weeks. Oy--finally an opening and by now I realized I gave my friend a moment of joy when I congratulated her (in our two minutes of conversation)--and will have to wait for the next GTG.

Good morning TrvlMaven. I sure thought of you while at the GTG and wished that you two could have been with us. It was truly a beautiful GTG.

Why do two events always have to be held at the same time? That has often happened to me.

We will look forward to meeting you at the next GTG. So tell your dear husband to "forgive" you lol.

Thanks for sharing the pictures!! It looks like you all had a fabulous time!!!!

Toedtoes your pictures are wonderful. I particularly liked the ones on your Bay cruise. You have an excellent eye.

We are so glad we finally decided to attend an SF GTG. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Additionally, we've never met a nicer group of people, who just happen to all post on Fodor's. What a privilege to be part of it!

I was so glad you two decided to attend the GTG Givovanna! I am sorry we didn't get to visit more but nonetheless it was so wonderful meeting you and you husband and getting better acquainted! And I was relieved when we arrived in our taxi to see the huge parking garage right next to the restaurant. I had worried for you two about the parking situation.

Thanks for the slide show, toedtoes, it is really great. I've already forwarded it to all of Lee's relatives in the Bay area we met with who are still questioning who all these "strangers" are we were meeting from the internet!

Our flight ended up 4 hours delayed, with a switch of plane from a 757 to a 767 configured for international flights. Lee and I had luckily reserved the two bulkhead seats (instead of three), front row of coach that has lots of legroom. When they reticketed us for the different configuration in the Admiral's Club, the gal put is in our own little compartment. I think they use it for the pilots to nap in on international flights. It's next to the galley between the two sections of coach. We had about 7 feet between front and back partitions and it even had a curtain you could close off the compartment if you wanted. Our seats reclined completely with extendable legrests -- like older Business Class seats. We joked about never having a private suite on an airline before. We even had our own little movie screen.

But we arrived in Miami at 12:30 this morning instead of the original 8:30 PM. Luckily we had a room at the LaQuinta airport which we only did to get the 11 days of free parking -- but we welcomed having it last night as it was 2 AM when we finally fell into bed (although we were still on California time -- only 11 PM in theory). We slept till 10:30 this morning, then drove home. Lee sadly missed his waffle at the LaQuinta free breakfast, which was long over by the time we got going.

But what a wonderful 10 days we had in Tahoe and SF. And the Fodorite gathering(s) really were a highlight.

Wow, Patrick, you really lucked out with those seats. I know exactly which ones you're talking about... they're blocked off for the FAs on transatlantic flights so that they can rest. Yes, with recline PLUS leg rest.

When the FA came with beverage service, she knocked on our partition and said "Room Service".

We were busily eating our Chinese Chicken Noodle Salads from Guava and Java.

Welcome home Patrick! I am so glad you and Lee had special seats for your delayed flight! Will email you. But tell Lee's relatives that you were not with strangers my dear, you two were with good friends.

Glad you all had a great time, and I'm sorry I had to miss it.