A late afternoon conference in federal court in Newark left me in position to have dinner with the one and only Catman. We were finally able to get together, after my schedule had forced me to cancel a couple of earlier get-togethers in NYC over the last year or so.

I picked Mark up at Penn Station in Newark, just a few blocks from the federal courthouse where I got out of my conference at 4:50, and he arrived promptly at 5 pm as agreed earlier. We then proceeded directly to Fornos of Spain, a nearby restaurant in the Ironbound section of Newark.

We had great food, gazpacho and paella valenciana, and a nice bottle of chilean Cabernet Sauvignon (sorry, don't remember the winery). For dessert, I had a nice authentic tarta de almendras (almonds being very popular and plentiful in Spain), and Mark had a good dessert too.

I am afraid that I made Catman absolutely miserable at Fornos, though-----regaling him with tales of our trip to Spain this past summer. However, I couldn't help it as the authentic spanish cuisine brought back fond memories of Toledo, La Mancha, Jaen, Granada, Sevilla, Oropesa, Madrid, Rascafria, Mentrida and Segovia.

We had a great time talking travel, talking miles and points, and talking FlyerTalk. Mark and I are a couple of the old-timers on FT, and have been corresponding since the board began, but this was the first time we had the opportunity to meet.

Finally, the evening was topped off by handing the waiter our respective credit cards and splitting the bill, so that we would both get some of the miles! A good time was had by all. Thanks Catman.

Djlawman

If Catman doesn't watch his FlyerTalk social life he's going to turn into Fatman.

On Tuesday evening I had the pleasure of joining Catman and Kitty Hawk for dinner at Sparks in New York City for an out-of-town meeting of the S.T.I.F.F.S.*

*South Tucson International Frequent Flyer Socity

I dined with Catman, my friend Rudi and his wife at Fornos on Saturday, Feb 3 and it was a great meal indeed. Prior to dinner, we enjoyed appetizers and cocktails for about five hours at Continental's fabulous President's club at EWR. That was a real eye opener for this tired denizen of RCCs. What an incredible lounge; I almost switched loyalties right on the spot.

Thank you Brothers Djlawman, Larry U and Old Gold and sister Kitty Hawk! for some fabulous food and talk and enjoying our friendships and company.

Lawman: I was not upset about your tales of Espana. In fact you wet my appetite for going there (maybe someday a Do in Barcelona?) I always wnated to go and you describe things so well.

LarryU: Glad you enjoyed The unofficial East Coast Flyertalk Airline Club/Party center! I really like having TWO Airline Club members to bring my friends in the clubs of my two favorite airlines!

OldGold: I am trying so hard not to get fat but steak and Sam Adams are my weaknesses. But I have been on a workout program:

Cat chasing
Eddie the Cat lifting (21 pounds with 10 thrusts)
Bending to get Yaz out of the CLoset
Raising to get Eddie off the Kitchen Cabinets

It's teh Cat's MEOW workout program!

But seriously I love getting together with my FLyertalk FRIENDS in my favorite city and in the greatest state in the world, new Jersey (which has a big county called TEXAS as it's annex )

SO if you are in town and if I can come out then I can see you at the president's club or in the city or whatever.

Looking forward to the next mini NYC area meet.

But after we sipped a few scotches followed by scarfing down four 42 oz mugs of Sam Adams the prior night at Sage Brush, I think we were both looking a little CATatonic.

[This message has been edited by LarryU (edited 02-08-2001).]

Sage Brush - without me - SHAME on you!

You can never have enough steak http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum95/HTML/000858.html

Did somebody clone us? Gisela and Rudi (having been in Wengen on feb-3-2001)

LarryU posted 02-08-2001 12:28 PM I dined with Catman, my friend Rudi and his wife at Fornos on Saturday, Feb 3 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum95/HTML/000910.html

SO that what that strange looking spacecraft was hovering outside the chalet in the middle of the night!

I have heard many sightings of Wanderlust and me (CATMAN) all over the world.

It was probably a cloning machine!

Sorry for the confusion. You are my future friend Rudi but I was referring to my current friend Rudi, who hails from South Africa and now dwells in the darkest heart of Boonton, NJ.


[This message has been edited by LarryU (edited 02-09-2001).]

Kindly disregard the TEXAS remark by my friend FAT....er..CATman. He knoweth not what he say. Let's do shot's!!!

[This message has been edited by JAWS_II (edited 02-09-2001).]

there are TWO Rudis?

does the other one also give chocolate (the teuscher kind) to strangers?

No, but he pours a mean glass of mampoer, 190 proof South African whiskey. He and Catman scarfed theirs down in one gulp but I preferred to sip mine slowly so I can savor the, uh, taste. They made fun of me the whole time; however the grimace on their faces was classic; I wish I had a camera.