Well ... I, too, made record time (for me) coming from Frederick (where we ate supper). Chances are it's because there's very little traffic after 10 P.M.! :-)
I absolutely, positively hate the last day because it means saying, "Goodbye."
Brief synopsis of the day ... more details & pictures to follow ...
I think I woke up around 9:30 ... after waiting for Ottis & Sis to get done with the bathroom, I shower & dress for the brunch. Since I'm a wash & wear kind of gal, it doesn't take me long. <g>
Bon, I did try to take some shots of the hotel's hallways & the fire hose. Kinda hard to get that slanted/inebriated look, though. ;-)
Around 11:30, we started to gather in the tap room. That's where we were hanging out at night. Nora arrived more quickly than expect. <VBG> We knew she had house guests the previous evening, so we weren't sure what time to expect her. The brunch included breakfast & lunch items; you could pick & choose. There also was some great soft serve ice cream.
After finishing eating, it was time to "entertain" Nora. Judy (aka Spunkdunc) had written a song to Madonna's "Material Girl." It's a HOOT! In the next ADWOFF, we'll post the story behind it & the lyrics. Anyway, Judy passed out the lyrics, and soon the Broads & Brats were serenading Nora. <VBG> Then we tried to do Wym's song from last year, The Noraholic Song. Unfortunately, though, we tried to perform it w/out benefit of drink--so it just didn't get pulled off. :-( (BTW, I don't sing--RE: my cat, Charlie, YOWLS at me whenever I sing!) I was pretty bummed out that we couldn't make Wym's song work because it's truly great--especially the BOOM BOOM BOOM part.
Slightly before one, Lloyd, our favorite bartender, showed up. Nora arranged to have several bottles of champagne available. She did a brief toast to the Broads & Brats.
Before we knew it, we had to start saying "Good-bye" to our first BB/N--Katie. She had to catch the Amtrak to get back to the airport. We quickly gathered together for a group photo op that includes all the BB/Ns & Nora--plus, 3 out of the four Brats.
:-)
After mingling for a bit, we then started taking individual photo ops w/Nora ... and group shots--like the Jersey Broads & Nora ... the Brats & Nora ... etc. Especially with the BB/Ns who had to be hitting the road. :-(
Then we moved outside. Before I forget, the day had dawned w/beautiful blue skies and reasonable temps. It was sheer heaven. :-)
We once again corralled Nora for some photo ops (she becomes the most photographed person on the planet during TTP weekend ;-). After we finished, we then stood around & talk & gabbed & gossiped. We then threw a couple of questions from the Book of Questions at Nora.
We launched into a discussion about Wicca, Tarot cards, palm reading, and--ERIN? You better RUN & HIDE--Ouija Boards. Ms. Nora has definite opinions about them--so methinks you better run & hide because she's gonna bust you!
Around 3, it was time to bid farewell to Nora. As always, everyone gets a hug. :-)
We then started to wind down. More broads had to leave. :-( Soon we had just Judy, Debbie, the Two Jeans, two of the Brats, Tracey, Sis, Anonymous Diane, Nancy, Ottis, Wym, & me. The latter bunch of us went upstairs & crashed. Nora just wears us out. ;-)
Around 5, after I woke from a catnap, I moseyed downstairs to get Elaine Fox's The Impostor ... I wanted to kill some time while the others decided what they wanted to do. :-) Outside, I ran into Judy & her dh, Brian. They were sitting, enjoying the spectacular view. Debbie came up & asked me what our plans were. I said that I had NO clue! LOL
I then told Judy that I had to be heading upstairs, thus, I had to say good-bye. Send some strong positive vibes her way ... she has a couple potential job offers ... and she has a prospective agent checking out a manuscript ... I'd love to be attending a Judy signing in the near future. <g>
I then checked out the Two Jeans' digs. Whew! They are in the Annex portion of the Hilltop--a separate structure from the main building. It is newer--rooms look a little more up-to-date, although JB & Jean's room had some unique features. ;-)
Since the Two Jeans are coming up to TBID on Monday <VBG>, I didn't have to say "final" goodbyes. Debbie, however, came in. I did have to tell her good-bye.
I then climbed the steps of the Hilltop one last time. The gang still hadn't decided what they wanted to do. One idea was to head for Frederick & eat @ Spargos--it's kind of a BB/N tradition. The one problem, though, is that Brian & Debbie informed us that Highway 340 heading out of Harpers Ferry was backed up BIG TIME!
We continued to act like slugs for a while longer & then decided that the back up had to have cleared up. <snort>
I was the lead car, and as soon as I saw the back-up, I pulled into the Visitor's Area parking lot. We had to come up with Plan B because the car I was driving--the Lance-mobile--starts to overeat when it idles too much. There was NO WAY I could sit in traffic with it.
Thus, the decided plan was to go the round-about back way to Frederick--via Sheperdstown, Sharpsburg, Boonsboro <g>, & then Frederick. Because Sis had driven the road between Harpers Ferry & Sheperdstown, I told her she was the lead vehicle. <gulp> This led to a couple BB/N moments since the Diane-mobile couldn't always remember the twists & turns necessary to get to Frederick!
We had to do several pullovers ... and Sis showed us a very interesting way to merge into another branch of the Interstate. ====:-O
But we finally reached Pargos in one piece ... only to find that we'd have to wait (it's after 8!) for a table for 7. LOL
After finishing our meals, it was time for Tracey & me to head home. :-(
I hate good-byes.
Sue
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