As names were added to the list, my concern grew. How will I ever fit that many people in here? How much toilet paper do you need for twelve people? If they get drunk and fall down, will they notice how dirty my floors are?
As the folder grew, 6 Flags was suggested. I wanted our out of state guests to see something of New York and suggested a comedy club. Jinxie came through, providing the tickets (the girl is annoyingly efficient). We began to think alike in a disturbing way.
Miss Tif: "Let's get goody bags and fill them up with mini cameras and junk food."
Jinx: "I already bought the bags, let's get the cameras!"
Miss Tif: "Let's serve something hot and spicy."
Jinx: "I'm making my chili!"
I can almost hear the music from Psycho when I think about it.
We hit BJs, buying up every food item that would fit in our basket.
Jinx and Miss Tif: "But what if someone doesn't eat that? Let's get ten different kinds just in case."
We quickly filled up my trunk and started on the back seat. And this was trip two of three, not including our individual trips to the grocery.
I recklessly invited Aleja to stay with me. Well, she likes me; she won't mind the mess. Lo and behold, there's a Mystery Guest coming too! Oh, and she's staying here and you don't really know her. I frantically beg my neighbor to help save me from utter humiliation. We fill up bags, move boxes, scrub, dust and generally stir things up. She shampoos my rug.
We are getting excited. I almost have to cancel because my mother is quite ill. My family and I decide that a sudden visit from me would just alarm her, so I decide to stay. Poor Jinxie has to suffer through a week or two of me being completely absentminded and goofier than usual. She is a saint!
On Wednesday night, Aleja and I finally meet up (couldn't she read my Aleja sign on a ripped piece of paper in ballpoint? *giggle*) and limp to the car, just arriving in time to meet Mystery Guest and Chrebet, who are giggling hysterically and eating Dairy Queen. Bless them, they brought some for us...dinner!
I had never really posted much with Chrebet or MG, so we were truly meeting for the first time. We were all exhausted, so the evening was kept pretty short. But even so, I discovered that Chrebet is a very funny sports lover, one-of-the-guys type of girl. I liked her outgoing nature, thick accent and broad smile. MG was LHAO, a sign of things to come. She wore a lovely peasant skirt and had soft curling hair. That night she was always laughing and obviously very excited to be here. We hit the sack at about 10:30 since I have to be up at 6:00 AM for work Thursday. The girls gave me a lovely little teddy bear, some tea and a china cup and saucer to help me relax. Boy, am I gonna need that! Later that night, good news: Mom is OK for the time being. The girls have brought me good luck.
Day 2 I head home to make a home-cooked meal for the girls. I knew they didn't have cash to burn, so we hung out and drove through town running errands. They told me about their day with Jinx in the city and I was so jealous! Ah well, after tomorrow, I'm free to play!
Day 3 (Friday) I rush from work to meet the crowd at the hotel. Mimi is there and looks just like her picture. Chrebet and Jack round out the group. Jack is very cute and get this, I thought he was shy! LOL Didn�t know anything about him. We eat a leisurely dinner and split up to get into the city. Aleja and MG are already in the city waiting for us with Jinx. I drive Mimi in and we pass by the bloody place twice before we see it. Thank goodness for cell phones!
We arrive in time to catch the tail end of a comedian and one more act. But we can't help but catch the spirit of the others, who are very excited! It is great to see Keith again and now I meet Jean for the first time. We head back to the hotel and to Bennigan's, where Jack starts to show his true colors...flirting outrageously but also being very sweet. (Yes, I was sucking up those compliments...it's been a long dry spell, folks!) It's rare that I meet someone as naughty as I am and I really enjoyed exchanging innuendoes with him.
Jinxie (I could sneeze and blow her across the room) sets to work on a humongous chocolate thing, with Jack eating maybe two bites. Jean is heard to say frequently, "Is that all we're going to talk about...sex?" I thought maybe she didn't like me so consoled myself by making jokes about, you guessed it, sex.
Jack manages to flirt with me, Jinxie and the waitress simultaneously without getting any of us annoyed. A real talent!
Saturday and I am finally a free woman! Up at an outrageous hour so I can go to the bank, walk the dog, prepare for this evening's party at my house and get sandwiches for 6 Flags. Bren and Helen arrive, after getting lost, and we run our errands together, then meet the others at the hotel. We're a bit late, but that's OK because it takes us bloody THREE HOURS to get there. Danged shore traffic! I announce that the Great Adventure is getting there!
We notice a sign that says 6 Flags Factory Outlet: is this where they sell defective shirts? Do they say 6 Fags Great Adventure? How much do you think I could get for them in Greenwich Village? Finally there and I realize with a sinking feeling that they probably expect me to go on rides! Puke-mobiles! The first ride they go on goes in a complete circle upside down in the air. Everyone getting off looks kind of sick and they don't look at all as if they're having fun. I veto that. Next is the log flume and that's easy. The girls are all angling to sit by Jack (fancy getting wet with him, ladies?) I sit in back knowing the fronters will get it worst when we splash!
Thankfully, Bren doesn't go on rides. I make everyone detour while I find a beer and we watch two enormous turtles while Jack flirts with Jinx. (The boy was busy, I tell you!) Mimi and Bren and I hang out while they go on the Viper, a particularly nasty looking roller coaster. Mimi dozes in the sun and I cover her with grass that I pull up despite the chains meant to keep me out of their beautifully landscaped areas. Ah well, someone has to be bad! She opens her eyes to discover that she is now a Chia Pet.
Jinx and I are ready to go when a few people announce that "We're closing this place down!" We sigh and decide to stick it out. It's late and there won't be time for the party at my house. What on earth will I do with all that food? Well, at least no one will see how messy the place is.
Jack drives at Nascar speed to get us home while I massage Jinxie, who has a headache. We head up to Jack and Chrebet's room with the whole gang and Jack gets his own massage, much to the interest of the nine onlookers. We then take pics of the young girls all on the bed with Jack! One day he will show these to his grandchildren!
Sunday arrives and I don't have to get up at six for once! I pack up again and load coolers to take some of the party food over to Jinx's for the bbq. I pack Sammie's bag cuz he is the mascot and is invited, even though Jinxie's cat hates him. We bring a catnip treat as a sign of goodwill.
Right off the bat, I meet Tracy. Her husband is a friend of Jinx's husband and she is not included in the men's draft party. I adopt her and she immediately charms our group with her warm smile and friendly personality. In seconds, Jack has his arm around her and is flirting with her! LOL Her hubby grows progressively unhappy with this, but Jack is drinking more and more and doesn't seem to notice! Earlier I had attacked Jack with my super soaker, wetting him in a most conspicuous place. Fortunately it dries before Tracy's husband sees it!
Jinx is running around being practical instead of joining the party. But somehow she turns up in time to critique my hamburger flipping and ask me to make a bratwurst for someone (ugh!). Just in time, Chrebet starts making drinks. Ummm, slushy mudslides. I've never had these and they're yummy. I finally start to relax.
Jack is now randomly hugging every woman in sight and pulling her onto his lap. He is happy.
Samson is scamming burgers, cheese, pasta and pepperoni off everyone possible.
I am secretly pulling all the dark Chex out of the mix and eating them.
I notice Jean trying to change the subject from sex, Aleja photographing everything (the ever-present Observer), Jack falling asleep underneath the girl of the moment, and Samson and Keith lying on the floor in the exact same position! Mel spends a good part of the evening outside and Chrebet hangs out by the darts. (Be nice to the bartender...she has good aim!) Bren announces that she and I will no longer talk exclusively about our dogs. She likes my wicked sense of humor and wants to be naughty with me. Chalk up another one for the dark side!
Birthdays are celebrated (Aleja and Bren) and Jack is given a special pair of light-up horns. We hug and kiss and Jack does some extra rubbing too I think, then it is good night and farewell.
In the morning, I cannot move. I have to go the bathroom but I can't getup. Too many days of sleeping on the sofabed together with lifting all that luggage and the coolers has done me in! I call into work ("My back is out") and join the crowd for one more day! Yeehah! I drive Aleja to the airport. Really hate to see her go. We have become such good friends since I joined MN and I love her just as much in person. I wish she would move in with me! I totally loved having her here! As she would say, "Cool!" We lose Mel and Keith and so have to say a quick goodbye, but I am sad as I drive away.
We meet the others (Keith, Mimi, Chrebet, Jean, Mel and Jinx) at Bennigan's-- can't get away from that place-- then rush off to Dairy Queen to satisfy another of Chrebet's urges. She is on the hunt for a banana split blizzard. She finds it! And they say there's nothing for New Yorkers in New Jersey!
This time it really is goodbye. Chrebet takes Mel to the airport, Mimi drives off towards home and Jinxie and I drive off to deliver Jean to the airport. She is assuring us over and over that she really doesn't talk much (LOL) for the entire ride! *snicker* She stops to buy a water bottle that is bigger than she is and amazingly fits it into her bag. I'm impressed. We chat amiably until it is time for her to go and I realize that I will miss her, even if we never talk about sex!
She is a big sweetheart and a very kind person. As she heads off with thoughts of a gathering in St. Louis and one in Sweden, we hope they won't outshine ours enough to make her forget us.
Finally, it's Jinxie and me. What a weekend! What are we gonna do with all this food? Can you believe she is trying to pawn some off on me? We are already talking about the next gathering with Laura who is in Italy. Next time, EVERYBODY EATS AT MY HOUSE. No excuses, ya hear?