How about a Southeast Pet Talk Gathering?

[Dixieland Dancer]

I like the idea of Washington DC. Perhaps we should have two different meetings one for the South East and one for the North East.

Just a suggestion!

[Former User]

And don't forget to take TONZ of pictures!

[thelmalu99]

Aly, so I guess I'll seeya in October!!

Jen, Thanks for the offer to pick me up on the way to the meeting! I'll definitely take you up on that. Unfortunately, I don't drive, so I can't help out there, but I can certainly help with the gas! Plus, it will give us plenty of time for a blabfest!

Laurie, It would be very cool if you could come to NY when Aly's here! We'll do lunch and cocktails, dahling! Maybe Jen can come down from Syracuse, too.
Sorry I missed the TX meeting; I was so looking forward to hanging out.

Logan, I'm a big talker, too, LOL! We will have to fight each other for air time!

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

I have been away for a few days and am having a hard time catching up. So, what is the verdict?

I think it would be nice to have one bog meeting, but it may be more realistic to have a Southeast and a Northeast.

If people want to have it in Georgia, I can start looking up palces that are pet friendly. We will need to set a date and get an approximate count of people.

Jackie, when I read about the possibility of you coming to Georgia, I almost did some cartwheels! I know that Logan, Candy, Sara, Mary, and Scott will be able to make it as well. I am also terribly excited at the thought of meeting Jenni.

There are other palces we can meet other than Atlanta. South Carolina isn't too far either and neither is Birmingham in AL. I am open to anything.

[Sara luvs her Tinky]

I'M IN THIS TIME THERE IS NO STOPPING ME!!!!! The hubby said that I couldn't go to the Texas meeting he said it is too far for me to travel alone I'm sure he was just lookin out for me............. anyway I know this is a VERY VERY VERY farfetched idea ...BUT... if the meeting place is Atlanta...... we could all go to Six Flags and break the ice on some scary rides But we do have a real nice zoo and Stone mtn is cool too and they are close by each other. We are planning on building an aquarium but I hope to meet you guys before it comes along. Tennessee has 2 cool aquariums and we could do some mountain stuff like horse back riding. But Washing DC sounds cool too.... can't wait till this all comes together!!!!!

[lbaker]

Sometimes $.02. are worth about half that, I think we're doing just fine.... Laurie

[Logan]

The planning is half the fun of it, isn't it? We're all getting to think about the fun things we can do. Please don't rain on our parade, Tutone. We're having a good time, just thinking about ideas and the fact that we will be able to make this a reality! Sounds like the Texas meeting was such a great success and some heavy planning went into that one.

I don't know about Six Flags....some people's faces might turn this color on roller coasters!! I personally love them, but I think a more laid back environment where we can talk and enjoy each other is probably the best idea. And I would LOVE to bring my dogs, but that may not be realistic, especially for Honey Homebody.

We've got plenty of time to decide what to do, but I'm glad we're starting early, so some of the people who have to travel farther can start making preliminary plans.

Isn't this fun??

[Karen]

Originally posted by tutone
OK, I'm going to chime in even though I will not be involved in any shape form or fashion, but here goes -

I don't quite understand why, if you are all wanting to get together to meet for the first time, why you are spending so much time on the "what to do" part of it. Beyond meals, what do you have to "do"? The idea would be to chat and mingle, wouldn't it?

And, even if you decide that "doing" something would help break the ice, why go to all this trouble to pick the perfect locale if the "to do" list is the zoo. Doesn't every major city have a zoo? How is that so special that it's a must?

The Texas folks were making fervent plans to go to a chain restaurant and a chain mall. With all the unique interesting places to see in the Dallas-Fort Worth area!

Maybe that's why you didn't have as big a turn out as you expected - the people who wanted to chat may have been afraid that would not be possible with the itinerary, and the people who had never been to the area may have yearned to see the sites that are particular to the area.

Sorry, just my $.02.

Hey, there - you weren't there, we were. We basically spent Friday getting to know each other, at our picnic dinner - complete with flying coleslaw ... all the "events" we planned invloved being together and walking around together.

It was nice to have a "focal point" animal place to go, which just added to the experience! And folks had time to see other things in the area, too! Let those who didn't come speak to their reasons, let's not speculate about others' reasons for going - or not going!

Plan away, folks!

[lynnestankard]

Once again - guess who wont be able to make it?!! Right on!
Should I begin to get really jealous right now and work up to 'flaming mad' or try and forget the whole thing!! As if!!

So I'll just sit here very quietly and read everything - with the odd UK explosion when things get too difficult!!

Lynne

[lynnestankard]

Thanks Chuck for trying to make me feel better - IT DIDN'T WORK!!!
I WANT TO GO!!!

Lynne

[wolflady]

Lynne, am I right in that you may be coming to the US for a visit sometime in....October??!! If so, we should arrange a PT meeting here on the West Coast somewhere during the time you'll be here!! I'm all up for that!

[AdoreMyDogs]

I was talking to a couple of different co-workers who couldn't have spoken highly enough about D.C.. I have never been and would REALLY like to go. My vote would be for the second PT meeting to be in Washington D.C.. I would be bringing my dogs, or at least Graham since Kersey has motion sickness, and I would be driving.

So that would be great for me. I know that we all have to agree, but I would love to see the capitol of this wonderful country. I would be game for either springtime or fall. I wilt in the extreme heat, and it's no fun to drive in the middle of the winter.

[AmberLee]

I was excited about the idea of a SE PT gathering, but when DC was suggested, my heart gave an excited bound! I am open to other locations, but would love to see DC again. (My first and only visit was in July 25 years ago and ... July isn't the best time for a visit there.) I'd like to chip in a vote for DC.

(Is it too early to vote on locations?)

[Karen]

The joy of a DC meeting would be that lots of things, like museums, and the National Zoo - are free! We pay for them with our taxes, so we don't have to pay again when we get there. Lbaker, Laurie, lives in that area, and reminded us of the "free" part when we were chatting in Texas last weekend

But there are so many places, so many people ... do let us know if something remotely concrete is decided!

[AdoreMyDogs]

When the voting starts, you can count me in for D.C.!

Spencer, I don't know....I don't have a kitty, but I have two kitty-friendly dogs...I don't think it would be safe for me to go to a place with adoptable cats of *****normal size****** unlike the big cats that you saw in TX If we do go there, someone blindfold me so I can't see any homeless kitty faces staring at me