I met a fellow BDer!!

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

And here we have captured Macalaure, Greenie, and B88 (all ordos) outside during our exceptionally ambianced werewolf game around the campfire. Please don't ask how many mosquito bites we got playing this...

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by Feanor of the Peredhil

And here we have captured Macalaure, Greenie, and B88 (all ordos) outside during our exceptionally ambianced werewolf game around the campfire. Please don't ask how many mosquito bites we got playing this...

Did you actually go camping or did you just have a campfire?
You have candles! I love candles. ^.^

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Rikae lit a small fire in the back part of their back yard and as we let the fire die, we put a circle of candles around it so we could still see each other's faces in the dark.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by Feanor of the Peredhil

Rikae lit a small fire in the back part of their back yard and as we let the fire die, we put a circle of candles around it so we could still see each other's faces in the dark.

That's wonderful.

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

The Finns, Diamond, Oddwen, and Joe (sorry, Joe, I didn't catch your Downer name! The curse of bad hearing, alas ) were gathered here in Wisconsin last night, a little tired but in good spirits. Nogrod and Company made it through Chicago without any real problems, and I give them credit for braving the Windy City in the midafternoon --not my cup of tea at all. We don't have any spectacular sights like Niagara to offer, but sometimes a good night's sleep is better than sight-seeing. Which happens with old fogies like me and my husband. They were all on their way to a picnic lunch before noon today -- wish I could've gone, but a thrice delayed appointment will not allow it. It was a true delight meeting my first Downers in the undead flesh, and I hope the rest of the Finns' long trip is spectacular. Hmm, if they'd been here on Monday, we could've shown them a real Midwest tornado, but they got to see a lot of the downed and snapped and uprooted trees. A lot like the ruin of Isengard, I'm sad to say.

[Mnemosyne]

Wow! Chicago in the afternoon on a weekday!...

[satansaloser2005]

Originally Posted by Ibrîniðilpathânezel

The Finns, Diamond, Oddwen, and Joe (sorry, Joe, I didn't catch your Downer name! The curse of bad hearing, alas ) were gathered here in Wisconsin last night, a little tired but in good spirits. Nogrod and Company made it through Chicago without any real problems, and I give them credit for braving the Windy City in the midafternoon --not my cup of tea at all. We don't have any spectacular sights like Niagara to offer, but sometimes a good night's sleep is better than sight-seeing. Which happens with old fogies like me and my husband. They were all on their way to a picnic lunch before noon today -- wish I could've gone, but a thrice delayed appointment will not allow it. It was a true delight meeting my first Downers in the undead flesh, and I hope the rest of the Finns' long trip is spectacular. Hmm, if they'd been here on Monday, we could've shown them a real Midwest tornado, but they got to see a lot of the downed and snapped and uprooted trees. A lot like the ruin of Isengard, I'm sad to say.

*cough* McCaber? *cough*

Also, fail on the weather. Fortunately it missed us here for the most part (at least in my part of Nebraska) but I heard some places had it really bad.

[Boromir88]

Originally Posted by Fea

When Boromir and Macalaure were their respective ducks and geese, it became a full contact sport!

Hahaha, right? When it was all the kids, I was careful not to sprint around and in some way accidentally run them over. When it was Mac, I didn't care, it became full speed, contact, sliding, diving, and tackling.

Now, where to begin? Plane arrived early, I think I sent a message to Nienna like "Where are you? *sad face*" But I didn't have to wait longer than 5 minutes. In Boston Mira first greeted me with a "Stop being a *beep*, carry my bag." In Ithaca, it was a solid hug, and a "You smell good." The vast difference was slightly disturbing.

I passed out for a bit, until Fea stopped to put on sun screen and then decide I should open my birthday present (my guesses at were epic fails). But who could have guessed Mr. Bacon vs. Monsieur Tofu action figures? I'm very fickle, one of the best presents of recent memory. I was legit like a 5 year old getting a new bike. I think it made Fea, Nienna, and Mira giggle but nauseated at the same time.

We arrive at Mac and Rikae's, my first comment heading around the corner was, "I hope it's not that ugly lime green house." All the artsy students in the truck yell THAT'S NOT LIME GREEN! IT'S PISTACIO!" It wasn't the pistacio [lime] green house though, it was the beautiful blue house across the street.

There's that first week period when student teaching that the kids are curious, but too nervous, as to the new person sitting at the teacher's desk watching everyone. I was the "new boy" and the girls curiousity overtook their nerves within an hour. They began putting all kinds of leaves on my head that supposedly described my personality. The descriptors I received over the weekend: evil, awkward, ugly, smelly, lazy, armpit, pickle. Oh and the combinations they would come up with. Favorite was probably "awkward ugly armpit pickle." I tried to convince them I was 40 and thus completely unfun, but they weren't buying it.

The teasing never became too much, it was all in good fun, and it clearly meant I was accepted and liked by this caring and lovable family. (As confirmed by the oldest one, who apparently told Fea, that I allowed them to steal my things and beat up on me. Two things that are rather common in all my relationships with girls ). It truly was a joy, at times it made me think about having kids myself...and then one of them would splash me with water.

More to come...like the Finns and receiving another fabulous gift, via Agan. My right arm being swollen from nationalistic mosquitos, and the most humorous tan lines you will ever see. Oh, can't forget getting through Canada with no passport, and the journey back into the US, either.