Compared to GKG and peterpony, I did nothing. Poor Joe was always on the phone planning the next thing - he really went beyond the call of duty to create this wknd, and it was AMAZING.
I don't think I was the only one who got worn out from the wknd.
And Friday, John volunteered his place and sdfun provided all those veggies and cheese platters. All I did was bring some wine and other items, one of them being pizzas, which I didn't even make (read: heat up). John tried to show me how to use the oven but gave up, eagerly handing the job over to sdfun's guest, Jack, who, thankfully, became pizza chef for the nite. Shall we just say I am good at delegation
And peterpony (I know there is an extra n or h in there somewhere, but I like peterpony better) was the righthand man everybody wants to have. He took care of alot of the details and was there handing out the dinner tickets when we all came into the bar on Sat nite, making us feel very well taken care of.
Saturday's dinner was the best. The day was clear, sunny, warm and beautiful, and I'm sure it was hard for some to tear themselves away from the Jacuzzi for dinner, but it was sooo worth it. Yes, Joe, we were surprised the food was so good. For the price, which was so inexpensive, I guess we thought it wouldn't be that great. It was beyond great, try unbelievable + 2 glasses of wine! And, I can't believe we were the first ones to do a group dinner there - what a find!
As for VJs mini-seminar. How perfect! He was so informative and he gave us the best handouts. It was so cool. And the timing was perfect, like a dinner show, although, it was actually during the salad course. I remember because the whole time I was thinking about him missing out on salad, which was very sad because even the mixed greens were great with a fresh, tangy, incredibly flavorful dressing.
I still feel bad about the extended 4-hr tour on Sunday, at least for the gay guys. They could have been doing the gay hotel tour ... Anyway, I didn't have time to wash the sand out of my hair, and I was tired from driving for 6 hrs, but I am sooo glad I showed up for that nite's dinner. And, thank goodness the group waited for us "hikers" because it was the most delightful dinner. I loved my seatmates, especially mjmsf with those gorgeous clear green eyes, and flybynight is about as entertaining as any dinnermate one could hope to have - imagine watching porn and realizing it was shot in your hotel room, right there on the bed you're lying on! And that was just one of his stories
One of the Jeff's and mjmsf's roommate completed the group. What a happy, positive, entertaining lot! We shared a great bottle of wine, our food, stories, scoops, gossip, and then desert. Perfect, a great finale to the wknd
A note - Sat nite, the food at the Villa was much better, I thought, but Sunday nite's Shame on the Moon can't be missed just for the attitude. The bottom of the menu had a disclaimer that threatened a "change fee". If one didn't trust the chef, who it seemed, according to the disclaimer, had gone to much trouble to create each and every item on the menu, if anything was requested beyond ordering an item exactly as it was presented, a maximum extra fee would be charged. This kept us chuckling all evening.
Oh, and the MacGuyver of the group turned out to be LAXGambit, who, along with the most positive, happy and engaging attitude, and puka shells, brought along this little credit card that turned out to be a digital camera! The shots he took of us on the runway and behind the Aqua Caliente Airport sign are classic - thanks!
Also, thanks to Scratch and his guests for being the best possible first guests a person could hope to have at their party. I hadn't met any of the FTers who were coming to the Fri nite party and I was so relieved to see such nicely pressed, sweet, polite, good-looking boys. Sigh of relief! Then, very big smile. Thank you boys
I was just thinking that I don't want to forget anyone because so many made such an impact. For those that have never met them -
Foady - Cute, Delightful, Outgoing and Smells Good (Clinique Destiny, was it?)
catwood - the Belle of the Ball
izzik - Warm and Friendly
gfowler - my New Friend, showed up with a '94 Markham (thanks!)
umguy - SMMMMart, THE Go-To Guy
and, of course,
jock DAAdy & ILuvParis - If I was as Witty, I wouldn't be as Nice, but they are - I love them!
[This message has been edited by lisamcgu (edited Jan 24, 2004).]