Sunday, July 12, 1998

We had another absolutely, positively gorgeous day. <g>

My main responsibility (assigned to me by Ruth) was to make sure everyone wrote something for the Nora scrapbook. Oh, and to make sure we got on the road by 12 so that we wouldn't be late for our date with Nora. <g>

We said for everyone to meet @ 11:30 ... cuz you know women ... ;-)

The caravan started off for Boonsboro. We picked up Ruth (who did a little biz on the side w/Wendy --- who wanted a TTP t-shirt) ... and then headed for the Bavarian Inn.

Can we say gorgeous? As you enter Sheperdstown going across the bridge, you see the BI on the right side of the river --- with a FAB shot of the Potomac.

We took over a gazebo & promptly started to sign t-shirts for the BB/Ns who had to leave right away after dinner. Oh, Sis & Judy (I think it was Judy!) & I asked a housekeeper if we could look inside one of the rooms.

Uh ... can we say gorgeous?! Immediately off to the left is a jacuzzi ... after you pass through a short entryway ... there you have the bedroom which also is like a suite. There's a fireplace. Couch. Canopy bed. A balcony overlooking the shore of the Potomac.

<sigh>

We need to save our pennies so that we can invade this place next year!

About 1:30, Nora arrived. So we headed in to the BI ... a pretty fancy German restaurant ... they had pictures on the wall of all the dignitaries who visited (but none of Nora! Puh-lease!) ...

We had a room <g> ... inside there were 5 tables set-up for us. We really should have split ourselves up better because the NJ BB/Ns gravitated to one table ... the Champagne BB/Ns to another ... next year <g>

Wym, Debby, & Nancy had the pleasure of sitting with Nora for the dinner.

I had the lovely company of Vicky, Edith, & Ruth. The main part of our conversation dealt with Edith being Arlene's boss! Wow! Two BB/Ns working for two other BB/Ns!

I ordered this fabulous chicken dinner ... Chicken princess ... it was a chicken breast dipped in egg batter & grilled that way. Positively the best!

While we were waiting for our food, we played photographers ... pictures were being snapped from all angles in the room.

After we finished the main course (or was it before we started?) ... we gave Nora her scrapbook (I know it was after a smoke break! ;-) ... Nancy gave a short, impromptu speech ... Nora glanced through the book --- laughing in delight @ all of the familiar faces ...

After the main course, the Bavarian Inn folks did something pretty damn sneaky for a restaurant. They brought in a platter with what the deserts would LOOK LIKE to entice us into ordering them.

We're weak.

What can we say?

I had this stuff in a cool dish ... reminded me a little of pudding. I can't remember the name. So I don't do details w/food & clothes!

We also moved around a bit so that others could have the pleasure of Nora's company. I know that Edith & Debbie moved ... I cannot remember the third. You'll have to pry details out of them for what was discussed. <g>

While we were doing desert, Debbie's dh, Bob, came in. Our eyes lit up! We had a photographer! <VBG>

After we rolled out of the BI, we decided to do the photo shoot w/the the river in the background. Picture about 19 BB/Ns --- almost every one of them w/a camera --- in the HOT HOT HOT sun --- and Bob snapping up to 3 pictures per camera (we're BB/Ns ... we get what we want! ;-)

Through it all, Bob was a great sport. Thanks!

Then it was time for the first round of goodbyes & hugs as Jaci, Debbie & family, Carolyn/Wendy, and the NJ BB/Ns (Edith, Arlene, & Vicky) had to leave. :-(

As we made our way toward the parking lot & Nora's hot hunter green Beamer (it was too dusty to talk her into posing on the hood like we did w/Carolyn! ;-) ... we continued to snap pictures & talk Nora's ears off! <G>

Finally, w/Nora, we did our last round of hugs & wished her well as she whisked off.

Then it was time to take care of bodily functions! When I came outside, MORE PHOTOS were being taken! We must have spent another hour taking pictures of one another in small groups.

Time to head back to Boonsboro. We decided that all of these pictures wore us out, so we stopped @ the Famous Creamery (((oooooo la la!))) ... I had a Rocky Mountain waffle cone (or something like that). Great stuff.

Then it was time for goodbyes to Ruth ... :-(

The caravan then started back to Frederick.

I was sooooooooooo tired, but I tried to keep up with the rest. At first, we considered seeing the X-File movie ... but then it was decided that we should hit the UBS & then Ruby Tuesdays --- where we had lunch w/Nora last year.

In the UBS, I found Nora's first edition Montana Sky in hb <g> ... I already had it, but it was a third edition! So I'll give that one to my buddy, Tiffini, who was first hooked on Nora by reading Montana Sky. (I know ... I'm so sweet! ;-)

This is also where I saw Janet Evanovich's advance reading copy (ARC) of Three to Get Deadly --- being sold for $25!!!!! ====:-O

Of course, the ARC is clearly marked --- NOT for RESALE.

We then rolled down the hill to Ruby Tuesdays. I was so stuffed I really didn't know what to eat. I decided on the salad bar & this huge stuffed baked potato (I couldn't finish!).

After we finished refueling, we headed back to the hotel for a round of T-shirt signings ... our last chance to gossip LIVE & IN PERSON ...