h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Do you know of any other researchers in our area? FwT suggested that I should try to start a researchers group. And did you get the little message I left you at Lil's about my upcoming trip to Columbia? If you are busy then, perhaps we could set up a date in the future, see if there are any other researchers within driving distance and have a mini-meet of our own. Or in this case it would be a micro-meet. there's a guy in Kansas named Jr. And I met two teenagers from Nebraska.
H

Hypatia,

No, I didn't get your other post about your upcoming trip to Columbia. Date and time?

I'm usually available after 4:30pm on weekdays, and weekends are always times to schedule fun stuff like this. Think any of the others are close enough to want to get together?

Post again soon. I'll answer.

B4[lurking]

B4,
I'll be attending a workshop in Columbia at the Holiday Inn on Feb. 19 and 20. I'll be at the Holiday Inn. It's the MLNC workshop on digitization. Anyway, I thought that if you and your wife are free we could have dinner on the 19th which is a Wednesday. We can get acquainted and maybe come up with a practical way to start a regional; group. What do you think?

H

Hypatia,

I'll let my wife know this is available. Back in touch soon to let you know we'll be there.

B4uknowit

Hypatia,

Would Frank be able to come along? I'd like to extend my best to him on his recovery and get to know both of you.

B4uknowitwe'llhaveacrowd

I'll see if he wants to go, but I doubt it. I've never been able to get him to go to any workshops or meetings with me. A wman from here is going with me. She's the President of our Friends of the library group.
H

Hypatia,

Okay, I finally got the chance to discuss this with my wife, and she's cool with us taking some time to be adults and having some adult conversation (sans children), even if it's only for an evening. Which of the Holiday Inn locations will you be at in Columbia? Holiday Inn Select at 2200 I-70 Dr. SW, or Holiday Inn Express at 801 Keene St.? We can make it to either of the two easily, as we used to live in Columbia. Also, any preference of dining locations? So much to choose from; at the Hotel or somewhere downtown?

Post back,
B4ugethere

Holiday Inn Select. As to restaurants......I don't have a real preference. I'm fairly easy to feed. Is there someplace you and Angie Mae have been wanting to try? Or someplace you really enjoy?

The only thing that has me worried is the "adult conversation" part. If you don't act silly, how will I know it's really you?

H

Hypatia,

For my wife's sake (and that of your friend), I'll try to mind my manners. Wisecracks, asides, jocularity, wit, and other forms of mild reverie are still acceptable in this day and age. Boisterousness, rudeness, loud comments aimed at the Maitre d', and swinging from the chandeliers are frowned upon. I THINK I can tell the difference.
cyaB4uknowit


P.S. Have you wrangled Frank into coming along, or is he still of a mind to 'mind the store while you're gone'?

Well, he doesn't want to make a trip right now. Says it's because he still isn't feeling well. Which of course is true. But he would have found an excuse anyway. It's a guy thing. He's still uncomfortable with being retired and staying at home while I go off to work. And he really hates the whole "and this is Sue's husband" bit. It was ok when the shoe was on the other foot, of course. He's proud of me and what I've accomplished for the city and the library, but he's a little resentful at the same time.

Having said all that...he's a great guy and I hope you'll get to meet him someday.

H

Okay, Hypatia, here are the broad strokes so far:

You and your Friend will be at the Holiday Inn Select at 2200 I70 Drive Southwest (just off I70 at Stadium at the 124 Exit) from 19-20 Feb 2003. AngieMae and I will meet with you both on 19 Feb (no kids in tow--whew!) in the early evening hours (?) so we can spend some time dining and regaling each other with slices of life.

Some possible dining options are:
Les Bourgeois @ Rocheport, overlooking the MO River
[excellent fare, great service, immaculate facility, 2 exits W of Stadium]
Boone Tavern & Restaurant @ 811 E Walnut
[wonderful ambience, good food, great service, in the heart of Downtown next to Courthouse]
Village Wine & Cheese @ 9th & Broadway
[up-scale food, casual atmosphere, wonderful hosts, wine galore!, exquisite desserts, imports and local delicacies for purchase]

These are just some of our favorites. Other spur-of-the-minute options are on "Restaurant Row", just across from the Hotel.

Let us know what time to meet you both and we'll go from there. Where at the Hotel should we link up? How do we recognize y'all? I'll be the short with the happy lady on his arm.

B4wedine

I'll check with my friend and see if she has a preference, because I don't have. Is Oscar's still open? It used to have good food.

Well, I'm short and round and Eileen is tall and thin. I suppose I could take a stove pipe hat or a crown to wear. Or I could stand on a table and sing sea shanties exactly at the given hour.

B4, I'm afraid I won't be able to attend the MLNC workship next week after all. Frank had a dreadful night last night. I thought I was going to have to take him back to the hospital. Anyway, I wouldn't have a moment's rest if I left him alone. So, my friend is going to do the workshop without me.

But, I definitely wantot meet you and AngieMae one of these days. Frank is bound to start feeling better before long.

Did you hear about the Midwest Researchers group? Apparently they've had one all along. I saw something about it in the Post. They're having a meet in Chicago in May. Which is impossible for me, but I thought you might be interested.

Hypatia,

First: Watch over Frank. That's a good thing. I'll keep him in prayer from here. He'll rebound; you'll see. God bless you both.

Second: Sorry you can't make it, but under the circumstances, first things first. We'll link up another time. We head over to St Louis on a fairly regular basis to visit our two boys (young men now) who are working and going to college there. That might work out, as well.

Third: I know we won't make Chicago in May; catching up with the MidWest group later in the year would be easier for us.

Finally: Thanks for all the suggestions for 'good reads'. My 14-yr-old told me she'd read some of the ones you'd mentioned, and we also determined to try the others. Her reading is one of her better skills, though I could wish for an improvement in spelling and grammar. Seems to be the norm, now that e-mail has such immediacy without the onus of an English Lit teacher standing over your shoulder, scolding you when you mess up.

All the best for you both,
B4

Hi B4

It looks like I am absolutely positively going to be in Columbia the first week of June. Our Missouri Public Library Directors group meets twice a year...June and December. The December meeting is always at the Lake of the Ozarks. The June one floats around the state.

Anyway, I've warned Frank that I need to attend this one, since I missed the December one. I'm travelling with the director of the Joplin Public Library, so I won't have my car. But if you and AngieMae are free and don't mind coming to the motel, I would enjoy meeting both of you.

We'll leave here on Wednesday afternoon,which will put us in Columbia before dark, stay Wednesday and Thursday night, then head back south on Friday afternoon. We will be at the Ramada Inn on Vandiver. The Thursday afternoon meetings always run long, but I should be back at the hotel by 7. I've never stayed at the Ramada there, so I don't know what kind of restaurant or drinking hole they have.

So, if you can come...wonderful. And if you can't, we'll try it another time.

B4uhitmewitharubberchicken

Hypatia