Fun has been had. Hec and JZ led a wonderful walking tour through Golden Gate park this morning. A friend of Sail's joined our group and made himself unobtrusively welcome. A Buffista in training, for sure. The park was gorgeous. Nilly was very impressed with the size of the immense eucalyptus trees, which she has in Israel, but much smaller, she reports. She and JZ checked out every statue in the park, and we threel agreed that one of the huge trees with twisted trunks that had a cavity between two root bases that ran up into the trunk needed a hobbit door.

The walk wound up at the home of the Zmayhem, where some of our number watched cartoons with Emmett, and some sat out on the back deck, surrounded by trees, birdsong, and the cheers of the staduim just across the street from the apartment house's front gate, and enjoying the breeze. We had a lovely and wide-ranging conversation concerning hair care and color, apartment gardens, and the excellence of the ginger snaps Hec passed around. JZ drove Ginger and Lee back to Deb's to help wipe down chairs and set up sun umbrellas for the Nilly-Q, and then most of the group walked back to Deb's while JZ chauffered Sail and me on a brief architechtural tour of San Francisco's houses before dropping us at Deb's.

The food was fabulous, and the company was superlative, groups forming and re-forming as everybody tried to talk to everybody else. Java, Katie B. and Deena arrived with beer-re-stock, not long after Consuela arrived bearing fabulous blueberry pie. MissEli and her DH were there, as well as Sparky and her DH. Nilly eddied from group to group, and conversation, good food and wine and other beverages left everyone sated and receptive for 'Suela's pie and Deb's heart-stoppingly fabulous chocolate decadence dessert.

It was a glorious afternoon, and it was with regret that I realized people were starting to leave. Many of us will go on the wine country tour tomorrow, driven by Deb and her mother-in-law, sfmarty. There is talk of gathering for dinner tomorrow night, which I hope really happens, as I'm not ready to say goodbye to the people I spent the marvelous day with today.

Having a wonderful time, Wish you were here!

Arg, I wish my email was sending things correctly- for the Boston leg of the Nilly tour, I will only be able to attend Tuesday's during-the-day fun. I'd love to go to dinner, but I've got to take the last train out of town and I'm afraid that dinner would cut it too close.

Pouts, then remembers that she gets to go at all. Whee!

Beverly, thank you again for providing such a marvelous and in-depth description of the gathering. I think what I especially love about tales of Buffista F2Fs is that they almost always include the topics of discussion. Because of course we want to know what you all talked about! It demonstrates once again that what we have in common, more than anything else, is simply the words that we share with each other.

yay! Beverley is going wine touring -- I wasn't sure and I haven't yet had much chance to say more than Hi!

Lilty, can you send me your arrival information so that we make sure we get you. My profile addy should work. If not, let me know here, and we'll figure something out.

DX, I'll email you after I check a train schedule, but I know I'll be coming into North Station Tuesday morning. I just got a call to hit the pub for a late drink, so I'll look it all up in an hour or so when I get back.

Yay!!!

What a day - I can't believe I actually had to say good-bye to Nilly. The Nilly-Q was wonderful, I don't think any of us wanted it to end. I finally had to bid farewell as CJ had hit max and was a tired little boy. Hec was amazing playing catch for hours on end, not just with both young boys but with Steph too.

It was so marvelous to meet Deena and get the added bonus of her fantastic bath bombs. My car smelled so wonderful on the drive home. Deena is a DOLL.

I loved meeting everyone, I wish words could do justice to the foamy-ness of this group. I am honored to be able to hang out here.

I am posting from the basement of a hotel in an earthquake zone. This would make me concerned except for the fact that I adore that Hec ended his last post with, "So to sum up: pie, beer, KristinT." I am too amused to be concerned with silly little things like earthquakes.

I had a lovely evening with everyone--only wish I had gotten there earlier! Tonight, Deb took Nilly, Bev, Ginger, and I out for a nighttime driving tour of San Francisco. There are not enough wonderful adjectives to describe this city.

And Nilly! Did I mention how absolutely wonderful Nilly is? Nilly in person is better than Nilly online, which is saying quite a bit. I adore Nilly.

It was so great seeing everyone tonight--familiar faces and new ones.

Unfortunately, sold out flights and a slight change of travel plans means I am going to have to miss out on wine country tomorrow. I'm catching a 5:30 flight to LA, so I'm hoping to meet up with everyone for brunch before I go...? Beth B, I'm looking at you!

cereal to add...

Things I hate: not having reliable access to a computer and/or complete contact info for people other than via computer.

Makes travel planning difficult.

Just FYI: I sent an email out to San Francisco and LAistas who I'd talked to about seeing before I head back to CT. No worries if it doesn't work out. Call my cell phone to make plans--I'll have it on me.

Note to Nora: I am a yes, exactly that on your timetable. Have you thoughts on when we should arrive on Monday?