Melody's Marvelous Meet Up Adventure: NYC '08

The Journey:

 
My journey to New York began at 8:00 CST on Thursday January 31st.  Not only was I awake far earlier than I prefer to be, it was pouring rain.  Soon after getting on the interstate I found backed up traffic.  It was raining so hard that I couldn’t change lanes.  

 
The eastbound exit to I-20 was backed up for at least a mile.  There was no one on the westbound exit, where I needed to go, but the stopped cars were blocking my path.  After a short detour I was headed for Texas!

 
I had to stop off at McDonald’s to make sure I started my morning right!  Nothing like a Sausage McMuffin to get you going.

 
About an hour later I found myself in the parking lot of the tiniest airport I had ever seen.  I still don’t know why it was the cheaper option, but I’m not going to complain.  This is a picture of the entire parking lot.  That’s short term as well as long term.

 
Inside is just as impressive.  There is basically a hallway and then two gates.  Each gate has its on little security line.  It opens just before boarding time and then it closes until its time for the next flight.  

 
The Fun Part:

 
After a delayed departure and a missed connection, I was finally in New York!  I took a short cab ride from Laguardia to the hotel and hopped the elevator to the 6th floor.  When the elevator door opened I was greated by a familiar face.  I wasn’t sure who it was but the “Oh! Melody!” said with an Irish accent gave him away.  At this point I have to say I don’t know why Derek is so camera shy, he is very good looking and the few pictures I had seen before did him no justice.  When I stepped off the elevator I saw he was with Frank, who I would have recognized from a mile away.   I was the last to arrive that night, so when I got to the room I was greated with a bit of an overwhelming group.  Here I was, straight from flying all day, and I opened the door to Tom, Vitaly, Liz, Shana, Bethany, and Alex.  I greated everyone and then collapsed on the bed for a moment before changing clothes to go out for dinner.  After dinner it was time for drinks at a bar filled with baseball memorabilia.  

 
This was before Derek got used to having his picture taken every five minutes, he looks a little surprised.

Alex (Alex Pallix), Derek (Barca Boy), Shana (Synnove)

 

Vitaly (Jill's Tit), Frank (Smartazboy)

 

Derek, Shana, Tom (Tom9d)

 

Alex, Natalie (Jase's lovely wife), Jase, Derek, Shana

 

Tom, me, Vitaly

 As the night went on most got tired and left the bar in sets of two or so.  Eventually it was just Vitaly, Tom, and I left to hold down the bar.  I got a second wind and the three of us closed the place down.  Looking back on that night I get a warm, fuzzy feeling.  I think I honestly felt more at home at that table full of people I had never met before than I would if I called up some of my oldest friends.  Things could not have been better.

 
I awoke early on Friday to snow and a room full of morning people.  I somehow managed to get out of bed around nine or so, I think.  Now I’m trying to remember what we did on Friday.  I know it rained ALL DAY and I spent the majority of it pretty wet.  Oh yeah, we had lunch at a mexican restaurant and wandered around the city.  We went to the Strand book store, of which I really should have taken pictures.  It was massive and entirely overwhelming.  I spent a lot of time walking and talking with Bethany.  After a long, wet day it was time for the long anticipated Friday night dinner.

 
Tom met us all at the hotel and we hopped on the subway and headed for Brother Jimmy’s.  On our way I looked up and saw Alex’s adorable face smiling at me and waving.  She somehow managed to not only get on the same train as us, but also the same car.  What are the odds?  At the resaurant we took up a large table and waited for the others to trickle in.  We were soon met by Richard, Mark, Caleb, his friend... well we’ll just call him Guy, Jase, and Glamhoth.  (Yes, glamhoth is the only person I referred to by his username,  I don’t know why.  I called him Kevin at least once, but everytime I went to say something to him, glamhoth was what came out of my mouth.)  Dinner was filled with great conversation, TONS of food, and the beginning of the thread notebook.  I’m sure many of you  have seen mention of the thread notebook by now and are wondering what the hell we are on about.  Don’t worry, it will be posted.  I was going to post it in this thread, but it would then be two miles long rather than just one.  I decided it needs its very own thread in GD.

 

From the left and going around the table: Mark (Mark Grover), Tom, me, Bethany (Mexicreatin), Alex, Kevin (glamhoth a.k.a. McLovin), Liz (Mr_Hash), Derek, Richard (Wickerkat), Frank, Shana, Caleb (thirstygerbil)

 

Me and Tom

 

Bethany and Alex

 

Jase (looking quite hot if I may say so) Mark and Tom's hair.

 

Shana and Caleb

 
Rob (anxious pheonix) showed up toward the end of dinner and we followed his lead to find a bar.  He took us to a place on St. Marks that was cool, but a little too loud and too small for the 15 or so of us.  Some folks stayed there and the rest of us followed Tom to a place in Union Square.  After a bit it was time for the long awaited arrival of Bess and Angela.  Tom, Derek, and I walked toward the train station and were met by Bess running across the street and nearly tackling us with a group hug.  A much more reserved greatin from Angie followed closely behind.  

 
The rest of the group eventually met up with us and Vitaly showed up at some point.  It was a very different dynamic than the night before, but every bit as enjoyable.  I got to talk to Richard one on one for the first time which was nice.  He is really nothing like I expected.  I knew he was a nice, friendly guy, but I expected a much more reserved person. He was good looking, charming, and completely comfortable in himself and his surroundings.  Another person who was not what I expected was glamhoth.  Before the rest of the group met us and the bar was still quiet I made a few attempts at conversation with him.  I was sitting at the bar and he was standing a few feet in front of me.  I asked him a few questions and I couldn’t hear a single one of his answers.  Derek was standing sort of between us and repeated the answers to me at an audible level.  Here is the guy who I think is one of the funniest on the cult and I can’t get him to talk loud enough that I can here him!  I’m sure he was really cool, but I don’t know cause he wouldn’t speak up!  As the night went on Bethany started to come out of her shell more and more, that girl cracks me up.  Throughout the trip we spent a good bit of time together and I have to say she is awesome.  Her attitude and sense of humor surprised me and made her one of my favorite people ever. 

I love this picture of Richard.

Liz, Angela (succotash_moon) Shana and Caleb

Vitaly Firsting the thread notebook, even though it was about twelve pages in...

Vitaly marked Bethany as his territory with part of his beer label.

The handshaking contest.  This went on forever.  I have no idea what it was all about.

apparently my aim at this point was not so great.  Sorry Alex!

I don't think I have a single picture of Vitaly where he is not making a stupid face

 
I’m not sure who left the bar when, but at about 4:30am it was time to get back to the hotel.  Tom got Bethany, Frank and I a cab and he, Vitaly and Alex took the train.  Drank Funk tried to take the train with them to escort Alex back to her hotel, but we had to send Tom after him as he surely never would have made it back.

 
Saturday morning came too quickly and it was soon afternoon and time to meet Clara.  Bethany and I straggled behind a bit and met up with the group standing outside ot the lovely hummus place that was big enough for about half of our group.  Clara was quiet and did indeed look a bit scared.  She says she wasn’t, but I couldn’t blame her if she was.  Sixteen years old and expecting to meet a few culties for lunch, but she is instead met with a dozen of them, that has to be overwhelming.  

Bethany and I saw this performer in the subway station, I gave her a dollar and she did a little ballerina bow for me.

 

Marks hand, glamhoth, Clara (adelheid) Alex and Liz

 I had planned to go to the Met straight from lunch and Angie decided to come with me.  Neither of us were hungry so we ducked out a bit early and headed toward the park.  As we were walking down Broadway the craziest thing happened.  I was about to cross the street when I heard, “Did you go to SCAD?”  I turned around and was met by this guy Anthony.  He was a nude model at SCAD for years and I drew him many many times.  Small world, huh?

 
Angie and I had a nice walk through Central Park and I got to talk to her more than I had up to that point.  She is really cool and down to earth.  She also didn't seem to be bothered by my occasional rambling spells, to which I subjected her several times over the course of the trip.  Shortly after getting to the Met we had to leave because I was sick.  The rest of my day was spent between the bed and the bathroom.  Shana, Bess, and Derek brought me water, propel, and medicine and Momma Bess checked my forehead and told me I had a fever.  She and I watched a movie while everyone else went out.  I slept a lot. 

 
We had breakfast Sunday morning at a diner down the street, it was Derek's first diner!  I only had dry toast, I still wasn't feeling well, but I was better by that afternoon/evening, thank god.  I won't go into detail, but that 24 hours SUCKED. 

I managed to get back to the Met for a few hours, I didn't get to see a lot, but I did get to do some sketching.  Here is a quick sketch I did:

Sunday night was pizza and beer.  Oh, and I think there was something important happening on tv.  A lot of people where watching it and yelling, they seemed really into it.  I'm not sure what it was, but when it ended everyone was happy and hugging each other.

Alex, Frank, and Bess (essga11)

The thread notebook prevails

The bar had buckets of High Life, this made me happy.  There was a surprising lack of Miller products in New York, this made me sad.

Everyone was pretty beat by the end of the night.  Somehow Derek, Frank, Vitaly and I managed to stay out pretty late.  Eventually Frank and Vitaly head off in search of food and Derek and I headed back to the hotel.  They soon showed up with hot dogs

Frank danced with his.

 
Monday most people left, but I extended my stay because of the sick day I failed.  I met Alissa (myshotgunface) outside the subway station in Union Square. We had a few beers and went back to the hotel to grab Angie and went out for pizza.  Vitaly showed up and we had some beers.  Alissa didn't stay long but it was really great to meet her.  She is just like I expected, except taller.  Much taller.  She couldn't stay long and I forgot to get pictures.  FAIL!  Angie, Vitaly and I played some darts.  For some reason, by this point I had reverted to calling them moonie and JT and I have no idea why.  Moonie won the first game and I barely won the next two.  I made her promise me she will buy some darts and start playing, that one is a natural.  Oh, POIDH you say?

poidh indeed.

It was a pretty chill night and we were all exhausted.  After the bar we went back to the hotel and chilled for a bit.  In no time it was time to say goodnight.  VItaly and I shared one last smoke on the fire escape before he headed home.

The next morning Angie left early for the train station.  I got up and got ready to go and then headed to Tom's office to give him some stuff he left in our room way back on Friday.  He was dressed up all fancy, I wanted to take a picture, but I didn't.  He looked sharp as razor wire!  I took a quick walk around Time Square and then I headed for the airport.  Thirty-two hours later I managed to make it home.

 
I don't think I need to tell everyone how amazing everyone was individually.  It has all been said.  Just know that I love these people to death and I hope to stay friends with many of them for a very long time.  If you actually read this entire thing you get a cookie.   There will be a quiz for proof of reading, offer not valid  in Canada, Europe, or... any state other than Louisiana.

 
If that wasn't enough pictures for you, see the rest
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiper/sets/72157603871915772/
:THE END:

Awesome job! Again, totally jealous I couldn't/didn't make it out. And you buys let a girl beat you at Cricket?!?! For shame.

I changed it back to the original title i had in mind.

And notice I included usernames just for you!  well, just so I didn't have to hear you bitch  ;-)

It's probably not as pretty as it was, but it should be a little better now.

I lurved it mel. I'm glad all of yous had fun. And that sketch was GREAT, but everyone already knows how you draw so not a surprise...

AND I read all of it. Go me.

[br]Don't cry.  I was a great post.  Have some hugs from me to make you feel better...[br][br]

...and imagining this makes me feel pretty good too.[br][br]

Dave

Great thread Melody. Its good to relive some of those crazy maments. WORD!

Gawd...I look fat.  Oh, well...lol.

man, that was priceless.

 woah!

a truly awesome thread and looooaads of great photos

It's House M.D. !!

Haha, I love how you segue into it, that pic of the McMuffin is the opening I wasn't expecting.

Aww, yeah. This was great. Man, I so don't recall dancing with my hotdog. I must have enjoyed it if I danced with it. I only dance when I'm drunk and happy. So I'm guessing I was both that night.

Oh man, Richard is so much better looking than Hugh Laurie.  Come on!

And yes, Frank, you were quite drunk.   And even a bit giddy.

I love all your photos, Melody.  I wish I had snapped as many as you did. 

Great thread - you captured some truly great moments of the meet up.

 I wasn't that quiet, everybody stop calling me quiet!!!

Yeah the whole thing was cool. It would have been coller had Clara not been so quiet though.

 Well your FACE is quiet.  WHEN I PUNCH IT.

Hahaha. DiNING Room.

 With you, it's more like.... Daineeng wroom.  Gosh that was so bizarre!  I listen for that in movies now, the way you freakish Citizens of the United States of America say words.  It makes me want to die, I have to force myself to stop listening so carefully otherwise I can't watch anymore.  You should all talk more like Derek!

Quoted for truth?

 What the heck!  I added the "awesomely" so it wouldn't sound full of hate or something, 'cause that's not cool.  I mean, it was an awesome way to say dining room.  But now I just look crazy.  What's going on, Drupal?  Droopy drew?

nicE!!

Glamhoth looks unimpressed with that meatball thing.

Ha, thanks. I still managed to find a way to bitch, though.

Also, forgot to mention it, but that sketch is really cool. It kind of makes me sad that I gave up sketching when I graduated. Maybe I'll pick it up again now that I've got more time on my hands.

That was my goal for the meetup. To look like I found everything horribly disappointing.  I was hoping that by the end of the meetup everyone would decide I was a prick without ever having to say anything.

In those first few pictures of me I look way drunker than I am. Well maybe not, but my eyes are all messed up because I was fighting some bug and my eyes were tearing and I kept rubbing them and it makes me look worse. I really like that picture of Vitaly and me where he is cuddling up on my shoulder.

half -win 

great thread melody, and that's a TERRIBLE picture of me, good lord - but thanks for the kind words

good to know you were impressed with my height melody haha... i love that you thought i was short before you met me

its not that I thought you were short, its just that I didn't realize you were quite so tall.  There is a difference!  And you should stand up straight!

I genuinely did think you were short until this thread, for some reason.

Me too.  I guess Shotgun gives off the SHORT vibe...... 

Naw, I knew she was a giant. I mean that in the nicest way possible. Also I can make fun, cuz she's my lil sis.

haha the short vibe, sweet.

I thought the same exact thing as soon as I saw this picture.funny.