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Dish with David
Lunch with LuJack
March 31,2001 |
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My adventure begins the day before the event. I drove to Baltimore to pick up my friend Dawn, who was nice enough to let me drag her to Pittsburgh. I was ready for a weekend away after a few incredibly busy weeks which included getting a new job and resigning from another. Dawn brought some CD's to listen to as we drove, and as we got closer, our energy made us giddy. We wound up laughing hysterically, listening to the "Best of Captain & Tenille" "My momma told me......That you better shop around.......uh huhhhhh....you better shop around!" |
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I also started to freak out as I realized I had a head to toe red rash across my whole body. I only packed a few clothes to wear, and as luck would NOT have it, I was going to wear a skirt on Saturday. So my weekend was partially spent in a Benadryl haze - which did not work. Of course this also laid heavy on my mind as I am on an immunosuppressive medication that makes me have trouble rebounding from illnesses. |
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We finally made it to the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott, checked into our room, and went to hang out at the bar. There we ran into several FOVI members. I always hate that inital anxiety I feel when I am meeting people. I get sooooo nervous and struggle to even go over to say hello. |
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Melissa was there and was eager to show her J Eddie Peck pictures from her dinner. The pics were a HOOT! Dinobear had taken a little bear for Eddie and he posed with it several times. Those pics were PRICELESS!!!
It was wonderful to see everyone including Colleen, Val, Iris, Andrea, Adriana, Charlene, Mary Lou, Dinobear, & Laurie. Laurie of course had some wonderful HUGE chocolate bars with Vincent on them. And her pics from her lunch with Adriana and Vincent were fabulous - She has very detailed pics of the inside of that dressing room. She must have spent lots of time in the dressing room. It was a delight to meet & get to know you Laurie (Since I KNOW you are reading this - my faithful reader LOL) |
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Mary Lou spoke of her move to Florida. She is going to be on the lookout for a job now so we will all keep our fingers crossed. Her son, "little" Matt has a "girl" friend. OUR little Matt just CAN'T be that old yet. I got a chuckle that when he went to a dance, Mary Lou asked "did you dance with any girls?" to which he pleaded "MOMMMMM, no one dances together." Takes me back to the 6th grade!! She also has a famous neighbor now.
Sandy Strider told us Nicholas was in the hospital to have a G/J tube placed for some feedings and had pulled thru the surgery well. I am sure we will all continue to keep this cutie pie in our thoughts & prayers. |
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We all later had dinner together and had a huge amount of laughs. We spoke of where people "thought" we were - it is amazing how we can say we are going to a conference or a convention to skirt the issue of going to a "soap event with a bunch of internet friends" I always laugh and feel comfort that I am not the only one who says "If you told me 2 years ago, that I would be away at a soap event, with a bunch of people I met on the net, I would have said "LOSER". Thank goodness my heart has been opened and enriched by the lives of all I have met. |
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Our service for dinner was unfortunately verrrrry slow but it gave us lots of time for stories & giggles. Colleen & I spoke of our families. How is it when I go away I can't stop talking about my hubby & daughter? She told us the story of how she met her hubby, Markus. (Imagine being in line for communion and seeing the man of your dreams.) I of course picked her brain about her kids and school since I am currently looking at schools for my daughter. After much conversation, we all eventually wound up talking about our different stories of meeting VI and how we met others of FOVI. |
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Later that evening, I hung out at the bar with janine. I was hoping to see Patti (ShyBeaver) come in as she had not arrived yet. Boy can janine be chatty! I just love her energy. I tried to have a Buttery Nipple in honor of RaisinKane but the bar had no Butterscotch Schnapps :-( so I had a few Cosmos instead. And then it was time for bed. I was restless all nite, still awaiting for Patti to arrive. |
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THE DAY ARRIVES |
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The next day arrives and I awaken famished. I ordered some French Toast with fruit that was out of this world from room service. I am quite certain I scared the Bellman who brought my food, as I was still in my jammies when I opened the door. It was then time to get ready, and the rash across my body had seemed to worsen through the nite. I told Dawn I hated the pink sweater I was going to wear, as I am a very muted color dresser. She made a very astute observation. I hate to wear bright pink because it makes me feel like I stick out in a crowd. How true! Chanel would hate my fashion sense as I always stick to safe colors like blacks & tans. Colors are just plain daring for me. |
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We go downstairs to the conference room early since I agreed to help with the setup and raffles/auction. When we signed in, we received a nice folder with a pic for an autograph, an upcoming SID, FOVI info, and Habitat for Humanity info. I put my nametag on my Tshirt (no makeup to hide this time) under my sweater. |
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I sold tickets for the raffle items which were mostly donated by local merchants - a spa weekend, a weekend getaway, a Pittsburgh afghan, a baseball signed by a Pittsburgh Pirate (who was it Laurie??) and the secret to EVERY woman's heart (NO girls, NOT VI) Godiva Chocolate. All the proceeds went directly to Habitat for Humanity. I attempted to get pics of people as I was selling tickets. |
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There were also some items for auction including 2 of Vincent's photographic work, Tshirts, photos, a script, a Libidizone flask, a soap sessions CD, and a Phone Call with the man himself. Last was a raffle to sit at the table with Vincent for the lunch. |
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Leslie England was manning the "sale" table which had various items the illustrious Sandy Strider had made including The 2000 Tea Tape, Decoupage boxes, magnets, and coffee mugs. Sandy also has quite an extensive list of VCR tapes of VI's various roles which are for sale. Now I have to say I absolutely love watching Leslie prior to a VI event. She gets sooo nervous, I just smile watching her. She is one fab lady! She is excited to go have her voice lesson with Vincent's voice coach in June. TWO hours long - WOW what fun she will have! |
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Is Janet ever going to get to Vincent's arrival? |
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