"The Proposal Weekend: Part I"

10/09/2002

Friday:
I arrived at Hotel Otter and immediately see some of the NC crew outside. I hug Maeven and wave to everyone else. Once I find out which room Celly and I are in, I head upstairs for a long overdue (four WEEKS!) reunion with my honey. A little while later (not THAT little though!) we head down to the lobby to see who else has arrived.

Kate Montgomery rushes up and gives us hugs. I proceed outside to the porch area and chat with the NC contingent: Maeven, Melissa, Rose, John B., Angus and Chris. (ed note: I don't have any decent pics of any of them. I'll try to take some at CRF.) Everyone is talking about dinner so a plan is hit upon. Dave Lister, Maeven, Rose, Kate, Celly and I all decide to head to Mr. Wang's for some Chinese food. Of course we had to wait while Angus and Chris double fiended Celly. I guess they were warming up for the Faire day or something. If I had been thinking about anything but food, I would have taken advantage of the fact that there were four other women standing there whose necks were not occupied. Damnit.

I hadn't been to Mr. Wang's in a couple years. It had changed quite a bit. Tablecloths, new chairs and I think they redecorated the walls too. The food was plentiful but the stories and laughs were even moreso. We all had a good time relaxing and getting to know each other better.

A Mr. Wang's Snippet or How to make Kate believe anything:
Kate: I love the Cathy cartoon strip! She's so in touch with how women feel.
Gareth: Um, you know that strip is written by a man, right?
Kate: Really?
Dave: Yeah, it is.
Kate: Wow. He's really in touch with his feminine side then.
Gareth and Dave: BWAHAHAHAHA!
Kate: *THWAP!*

After dinner, Celly and Maeven got together in our room to finish hemming Celly's new Irish dress. I decided to pass on such domestic tranquility and go sit outside with a nice afer dinner cigar. While enjoying the summer evening, Todd and The Marcy drive up. Much rejoicing is had. That is until they try to check in. It seems somehow their reservation got changed from three nights to one. Needless to say, with the Army/Navy game and boat show in Annapolis the same weekend, there were no available rooms at the inn. Since Celly and I had a suite, I offered them the luxurious accommodations of our pullout couch. Apparantly I am the official pimp for The Homeless Marcy. (Marcy stayed with me for a few days when she first moved from Texas to Virginia three years ago.) I also took the opportunity to let her sneak a peak at the engagment ring that I was presenting to Celly the next day.

To Be Continued...