Lunch in Chicago; You're Invited

“SC here

I get to see my bro this weekend. Were going to have lunch in chicago at some greek place. This might be the last chance I see him before he ships off to the middle east :(”

“I'm leaving in 5 minutes, and I'm hungry!”

“To all you naysayers, WE DID IT!


It was very nice to meet you, ChicagoMark. Nice sign! We must do it again.”

“Pics?”

“hey, Ruby - now that you're back, check your MSN mail.”

“HA!

To all those nay-sayers out there that said it could ne be done. The first lunch TT meeting has taken place in the Windy City!

I started out at noon walking east down Randolph. I was a bit early so I stopped in to Borders and picked up a book.

I guess I did not realize how close I was because I walked right past Chicago Mark with his sign. I made a u-turn and started laughing when I read his sign. We talked a bit and waited for Ruby. Not 10 minutes later, we were ready to have lunch.

Ruby took charge and ordered first (a salad and a beverage) then proceeded to find us a seat. Mark orders and mozzarella and tomato sandwich and I followed up with a delectable turkey sanmich.

Ruby commandeered a table for us and we waited for our meal. The conversation ranged from Trail Talk to the bacon ring on my sandwich.

But seriously, we all had a good lunch talking about hiking, canoeing and a possible hike in the near future.

RUBY - Thanks for the bag!

Mark - It was a pleasure! Hope to see you again soon.

Mark's Wife - We are a pretty good group of people. Maybe you guys can make it over the West Virginia this summer for a group camping trip.”

“Nice TR, WK.

SlowPack, I just checked, but there's nothing. Try again?”

“Ruby - Take 2 is on its way.”

“Thanks, SlowPack!”

“I wish I had a picture when Wounded knee saw my sign. He was laughing so hard he about fell over! Thought I might have to pick him off the sidewalk. Before Wound (Knee saw the sign I got a few strange looks.)

Ruby and Wounded, it was great meeting you and talking about our outdoor adventures.

BTW, I just emailed my wife that I had lunch with you....I'm waiting for the phone to ring soon! lol”

“No phone call or message, yet!”

“Let's hope she comes home!”

“Oh, I think she will. But I better find my "cup." lol”

“I just called my wife--I couldn't stand the suspense. I won't be needing the "cup." lol”

“She OK or did she sound like my wife?

She would say something like, "You are suck a dork!"”

“What does it mean, "SUCK a dork?" lol!

She seemed okay.

Butt (sic) it was an hour before the end of her work day and I am making supper (which I usually do--this is not a kiss-up) and she liked the menu. I think I won't need my "cup."

Again, THANKS, to Wounded Knee and Ruby, for a high point in the day. It was great!”

“OOPS, I meant such a Dork.

She think that I am a major dork, but then again I am!”

“This actually happened???? I would've joined you if it wasn't for the fact that....oh, I don't know....I live and work 800 miles away.

I hope yous can make it out to West Virginia this summer. One of the reasons for moving the summer car-camping trip there is to make it more accessible to non-Northeasterners. And I gotta tell ya, if it's anything like New York was last year, it's gonna be a blast!
last edited: 2/10/05 7:02:36 PM”

“We did talk about the West Virginia trip. And I heard about last year's trip. Doing what I can to make it happen.”

“Yesterday, my wife found the sign I used for the Chicago lunch a few weeks ago. (Wounded Knee and Ruby had never met me.) My wife just held it up and looked at me.

I had some quick \'splaining to do.

Still laughing,
but still have the sign! :-)”

“Oh boy...

I hope all went well. Did you assure her that we're mostly normal?”

“Yeah. It went well, so far anyway. I did what I could to assure her that you were normal and were not going to kill me. (Did that after our lunch.) Can't wait 'til I tell her that I want to go on a trip with TTer's! :-)”

“just let her read this and she will be all better”

“lol - tell her that it'll be fiiiine. We all do it.”

“Ok, first of all....which one of the Chicago area TT's is NORMAL????”

“[b]ME!!!!![b]”

“Lol ok I'll give ya this one Mark!
Since we haven't met yet I can't say about you, but I have met those other two you have lunch with and I gotta tell ya......they are most definitely NOT normal!!!!
Funny as all heck yeah, but NOT normal....lmao

I used to think Hubcap was pretty normal but after reading the TR's from last weekend I'm not so sure about him anymore either!!! lol”

“There are plans for a TT Chicago lunch this Thursday, March 10.

Who's in?”

“What time is the lunch set for?”

“I'm in. I like 11:30am.

Is 'knees' bringing baby pictures?
last edited: 3/09/05 12:00:34 AM”

“ok, so who wants to start taking bets on which week this lunch will actually happen?


where's chili? Get the betting thread warmed up!”

“forgot to add, perseverance to the list of Ruby's attributes on Tree's railroad thread :)”

“This lunch thing would work out a whole lot better for me if y'all would move to DC. Chicago's just a bit too far for lunch.”

“Ha Ha Bison!

I am in. Friday is no good for me. Tell me where to be and when and I am there.”

“fuhgetabout DC, move the whole shindig to Denver.”

“I've never really visited the city but I have driven through on the skyway (is that what it's called?) at rush hour when the damn things bouncin' up and down. That's some scary #&%!$!”

“Soon, Roam, Soon.”

“Are you talking about the expressway that runs right past Bison?

The Skyway is a road that connects Indiana to South Chicago.

I know what you mean though. The road was built to withstand a mean earthquake, except we really don't experience them to much here.”

“Yeah, the one that's way up in the air that goes right past downtown I believe it's a section of I-90. I guess it's the flex built into it to withstand earthquakes that causes it to bounce in heavy traffic, still kinda unnerving though. And if I leave DC early in the morning I generally hit Chicago during the evening rush hour so that's when I'm on it.”

“11:30 tomorrow, Thursday the 10th, is good. I don't know if I can make it or not, but I will definitely show up if I am not using my machine. By 5:00 or so I will know my schedule.

Shall we go to the same place as before? The Corner Bakery on Randolph across from the Daley Center?

Wintersolstice, thanks! I like my attributes. ;)”

“I think the same place. Seems to be convenient. Corner Bakery on Randolph across from the Daley Center. Do I need my sign?


Will check back after 5pm, Ruby.”

“Why don't we congregate outside until all of our party arrive? We know what most of the participants look like. CnC will be a new face, but there generally aren't people standing in a group outside. We should be easy to find.”

“I will be there!”

“Pictures this time!”

“Really?

If I remember.”

“Yah, I wanna see how hot Ruby is see what you folks look like when you're not in hiking gear.”

“LOL!”

“LMAO


You will be sorely disappointed, I can assure you.”

“I just saw this thread. I'm in for lunch. It'll give me a chance to meet some of you.

How do I know who to look for?

I'm a short guy, high forehead, spikey hair, and a beard with a white coat.
last edited: 3/09/05 3:08:31 PM”

“I will be in a panda suit”