Sit Right Back and You'll Hear a Tale

I felt a bit like Julie McCoy, standing by the door waiting to greet the strangers for a short cruise that I hoped wouldn't turn into a three-hour-tour, if you know what I mean.

I will admit, I was very nervous. I chugged a vanilla latte in the hour before to calm my nerves.

Bringing together 14 strangers you met on the internet can be tricky.

I wanted the place to be centrally located and conducive to 14 talkative ladies. (at least i hoped they would talk)

I wanted the room we were in to be pretty, a nice place for my new friends to relax and feel at east.

I wanted the food to be delicious, and to look good too, because I knew that things like this happen when you get bloggers together:

As director of this cruise, I wanted it to be a good night--worth the drive on a rainy night.

My worries were for nothing.....

The room was awesome--we ended up being the only ones in there! The food was great.

But y'all...these women were just so incredibly fun. 


Smart, beautiful, articulate, funny ladies. I'm proud to know them all.

The only thing I would change (if I could) was to have a round table so that I could talk to everyone a little bit more! Its a good excuse to set up some coffee time get-togethers.

Oh! and I wish I had taken more pictures. Here are the ones I have:

This is right after CPQ helped June out with her Boost-Your-Yays straps. June looks so happy cause now her girls are secure.

Speaking of June--Mom, I know this is all you care about.

And let me tell you (and any of June's readers who hear her complain about her hair and such...) June is beautiful. Hair and all.  And she isn't even paying me to say that.)

I felt a little star-struck when she walked in...but then she stuck her tongue out and complained about cat hair on her tongue and I realized--Its June! And she's a real person! And then I could act normal.

This is K2 our faithful reader for the evening. She needs to start a blog. (that was my attempt at subtlety)

This is Janel from Dandeliondayz . Been reading her blog for a couple years now. It was so fun to meet her because I found her blog shortly after we had moved from NC to AZ. I never thought we would meet because I never expected we would be moving back...and here we are!

You know what I really loved about this evening? Getting to see a bit more of CPQ's life outside the blog. Several of her friends are bloggers that she brags about from time to time. I met her Knitting Whisperer of Bambino Bliss, who is lovely and has the sweetest speaking voice. I met the mother of Squishy Baby , the little one who makes CPQ drool. I met Tracey , and she is as witty and wise as CPQ has always said she is....I met New Every Morning and her mama The Seasoned-Sister ...who shared bites of their dinner, and were both beautiful gals...

I wish I could tell you about everybody individually, but its the first day of Fall Break here at the La Vida Academy and I need to go spend some time directing the people of my own Love Boat.

Let me just quickly say, that I am already formulating a Bloggers Christmas Party in my head.

How does December 12 sound?

Or should we do a Valentines party instead, when the holiday season isn't so full? February 13th?

To my Carolina Gals, thank you for making this night a great success!