Subject: TAN: You're having a Social *where*? - A report from Toledo From: mamamoo@stax.net (Maggie) Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written.robert-jordan Organization: HopelessRomantics.com All right, I know, it's overdue, but I've had a hell of a week. I'm sure Drew, Kenn and Mark Loy are much better at the Social Report thing than I, but it seems they're waiting for me to go first, so here it is... -------------------------------- The Wheel of Darkfriend Socials turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to drinking stories, and even those are forgotten when the next Social comes around. In one Age, called the First Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose above the skyline of Toledo. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turnings of the Wheel. But it was *a* beginning... ...a beginning that was mighty chilly when Mark and I met Kenn at Central Union Station at 6AM, Saturday, January 30th, a full week before the official Social date. He wasn't expecting us, so the look on his face was priceless! Of course, for part of the week, we had to share him with Owens-Corning and Amy, but come Wednesday he was all ours, and the boys had Uncle Kenn to tease and torment, which they did without mercy. He is officially their favorite toy, I daresay he likes it a lot. I could say that he loves to be toyed with, but... We were antsy Thursday, when Drew and Noell were scheduled to arrive, having planned the Social for several months. Kenn wanted to meet them at the airport -- at 11:30 at night! Somehow, Mark and I managed to convince him that we should let them check in to their hotel first and decide what to do from there. Drew and Noell arrived at Chez Brazeau around 1AM, interrupting a game of Trivial Pursuit that Mark and Kenn were utterly killing me at. Saved! We chatted til about 3AM, making plans for the following morning's drive. We were taking the Social on the road to Indianapolis... Friday dawned bright and early. Drew and Noell arrived around 10AM and were promptly greeted by Ernie, who was in the midst of changing his clothes for the 500th time. He set about dumping laundry on the floor and talking to Drew. Noell and I made a quick dash to the grocery store, and returned to find that my living room was clean. It seems Drew managed to convince Ernie that throwing the laundry about was a Bad Thing. Quoth Drew: "I wondered if running the vacuum would have been too compulsive." Drew, darlin', you're hired! Chrissy arrived during breakfast to stay with the Monsters while we were away. (Drew didn't marry her while he was here, so it looks like David has a shot after all .) That taken care of, we gathered up our things and hit the road. The prospect of five hours in the car did not amuse any of us, but we figured Drew would get us there in one piece. Noell popped in a CD and we proceeded to sing all the way to Indy. Somewhere along the way, Kenn dropped his cigarettes to the floor and couldn't reach them. Kenn: "Maggie, I dropped my cigarettes! Could you reach between my legs..." Drew: "Smoke me, baby!" I'll give you a light, Drew... Miraculously enough, we made it to Indianapolis in just under four hours. We were supposed to meet Mark Loy at Mcdonald's, but Drew decided we would go find him on our own. Off we went, map in hand and music blasting. Kenn and I drooled over the houses in the area and Noell played Navigator. At one point we stopped and Drew startled us all by tearing up the map! Drew: "I hate maps. They're too big." *We* thought he was having a breakdown, the result of our mobile karaoke! We found the Loy's with a map segment, in a very lovely subdivision. We were early, it didn't appear anyone was home, so Drew took bets on yes or no. Kenn and I said no. Of course, Mark chose that moment to open the door, so we paid up. That's OK, Drew. You still have to give me the opportunity to win that $10 from your Starcraft match with David. I'm waiting... We were met at the door by both Mark and Deb, with assurances that little Eric would be joining us shortly, as well as Mark's daughter Jennifer. Deb set out to fetch Eric and Missy, Mark's energetic and adorable Border Collie, dragged us out back for a game of Frisbee. It seemed impossible that the last time we had all been together, in Chicago, was so long ago! Mark informed us that he and Deb had a nice dinner planned for us, and he set Kenn and Drew to tending the grill. Noell and I weren't sure about letting those two near a grill, but we stepped back and left them to their bonding rituals... We were joined at dinner by Deb, Eric and Jen, who, like her dear old dad, has a remarkable sense of humor. We tried valiantly to convince her to start posting, not sure if we succeeded though. Deb shared a bottle of expensive champagne with us, and we toasted the assembled company over an incredible feast: steak with all the trimmings. Many funny things were said by many around the table, but I'm hard pressed to remember them, it seems senility is setting in early! I'm sure the others can remember some, though. At dessert, Eric expounded on the merits of strawberries *without* cake, then treated us to his dancing skill. Young Master Eric has a fondness for stripping to the strains of "Bad to the Bone". Noell tipped him a buck. Mark, to Eric: "Do you remember anybody's names?" Eric: "Yes, but I don't wanna say." Mark: "Oh, come on, who?" Eric: "Drew." Mark: "How did you remember his name?" Eric: "Everyone keeps calling it!" Out of the mouths of babes... We retreated to the living room, beer, etc. in hand, and somehow managed to convince Drew to play his guitar for us. He played and sang for us for a couple hours, quite beautifully I might add. Thank you Drew, for making me smile! I really do want a recording of those songs! We did have to wonder about the song asking where to hide the body, though, and the Ballad of Rex had us in stitches. Drew needs to be persuaded to bring his guitar to Vegas, I think. Drew, in explaining his abilities: "I don't do covers." Kenn: "Why not? Afraid it will compromise your art?" Drew: (shrugging) "I never bothered to learn any." We sat up til the wee hours, around 3:30AM, I think, laughing and telling drinking stories. My favorite was Mark's tale of getting so far gone that he lay on his bathroom floor and couldn't move. Deb checked him...and stepped right over him to return to the guests! Noell: "You just left him there?" Deb: "I had to! We had company!" So many stories, so little memory or space to tell them... We rose early Saturday morning for the trip back to Toledo. Once again, Deb laid out an enormous feast for us. Completely out of context, Deb, at the refrigerator: "I *don't* swallow!" We hated to tear ourselves away, but there were others waiting in Toledo. With hugs all around and the assurances that we would get together again, we were off to the wilds of Ohio once more. In spite of getting a late start, we arrived only 20 minutes late to COSI. Drew and Noell went to park the car, while Kenn and I went to meet the rest of the crew. We really had no idea who we were looking for, but spotted three men sitting on a bench, scanning the crowd. I figured it had to be them, so I approached. Maggie: "Darkfriends"? Random Darkfriend: "Only you could get away with saying that to strangers in public!" Well, yeah... As it happens, the three Darkfriends on the bench were Steve Ginter, from Buffalo, NY, and lurkers Paul Householder and Curt Fisher, both students at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland. Drew and Noell joined us and it was at this point that I realized I had left my camera in the car. Dammit. Fortunately, Noell brought hers along and managed to get a few shots in COSI. We wandered about COSI, attending the lightning demonstration, splashing each other in Waterworks and goofing around with various science exhibits. Curt and Steve managed to kick each other in the phosphorescent room, but Kenn posed like a pro, with no injuries. At one point, we all jumped up on the oversized piano for a picture, the only one we have of our lurkers! Noell kept wandering off on us, I guess we were just too slow for her. As I had expected, we were like a bunch of little kids turned loose in the place. Who says you have to act your age? At 5PM, COSI kicked us out, over much moaning and groaning. We weren't done yet! No matter, we all headed off for Tony Packo's for Toledo's best Hungarian food! At Packo's, we were squeezed around two small tables, wondering if there would be room for Mark (my hubby) once he arrived. We placed our drink orders and waited. When the waitress returned with an enormous mug of beer for Drew, he promptly began to negotiate to keep the mug. He never did get it, instead winding up with a Labatt's glass. Martin the Magician performed at the table for us, I think everyone at his end of the table had him figured out, though. Mark arrived just after our dinners did, bearing balloons and a teddy bear for me...so much for remaining inconspicuous! Thank you, dear! I've no clue what was discussed at the other end of the table, but at my end we talked about the food, nagged Kenn and Drew about their smoking and heard Steve's tale of searching for my apartment the night before. Paul and Curt had to take their leave of us after dinner, pleading lab reports due and a long drive home. No amount of whining would sway then from their studies, so we bid them goodbye, and headed off ourselves to my apartment. Steve, Drew and Kenn busied themselves with making fun of my computer while Noell and I went off to fetch beer, etc., then we all gathered in the living room to watch movies. I won't tell you what we watched, I'll leave that to the others, since neither movie was my idea...both were fun, but potential blackmail material! Steve and I made pizza and Drew blessed us with Kahlua shakes made with my very own homemade chocolate ice cream. Bliss! Poor Mark watched us with a rather amused expression on his face, wondering what he had gotten himself into. At one point, Steve mentioned that he had brought along a couple swords. Noell: "Steve's gonna show me his sword!" We kindly refrained from comment. As the evening progressed we got sillier and sillier. Steve decided to try to find out what I looked like in "Nynaeve mode", and set about braiding my hair. I'm impressed. It didn't take him nearly as long as it takes some people! He also offered Noell a back rub, who rather gleefully accepted. Kenn: "Steve, you're a Warder Slut!" Regarding Noell's massage: "Noell likes it hard and fast!" Mark to Steve: "You're just looking for an excuse to touch her butt!" Maggie, to Steve: "Don't worry, I don't bite...very hard!" Kenn: "Don't spit that on the carpet!" Maggie: "I nearly spit it across the room!" Then we realized how bad that sounded... Kenn: "That is sooo *gay*!" Noell: "That's wet, Kenn. I'm sitting up now." Kenn, to Noell: "You're already pretty loose." Kenn, regarding an ad on TV: "Quayle 2K? That's a *big* bug!" Much more was said, but I'm only seeing this through an alcohol induced haze, forgive me if I've left any really great ones out, guys... Many pictures were taken, and we eventually called it a night around 3 or 4 AM. We bid Drew and Noell goodbye, as they were flying out the next day. We awoke the next morning to *snow*. Wonderful. I was worried that Steve would have trouble getting home, but he assured me that it was no big deal. Steve left us shortly after noon, and did arrive safely home. That left us once again with Kenn all to ourselves. Said Ernie, Sunday morning: "Where's Drew? I wanna play with Drew!" Kenn, being family, had a typical Sunday afternoon with us and survived yet another round of being beaten upon by Alex and Ernie. I was sad to see Kenn off at the train station at 3AM, yet another fun visit at an end. And thus ended the first Toledo DFS. My thanks to everyone who came and made it such fun! I can't wait to do it again! Pictures will be posted either Sunday or Monday and we'll wait for the Wheel to turn again... -- Maggie http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Agora/1374 UIN: 10248195 "The wheel weaves as the wheel wills, but that doesn't mean you can't try to grab onto one of the spokes and turn with all your might." --Kenn Cavness, on RASFWRJ.