Author Topic: Mike W. Annette, Kaz and Mikey. Lunch was delightful! (Read 5360 times)

Jerry · « **on:** January 30, 2008, 05:25:47 PM »

We really do have exceptional people here. Mikey planned and made it happen. We all took photos and they will be posted soon. Oh yeah the ladies were lovely!

happyoutsidegirl · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2008, 05:38:44 PM »

oh boy so glad to hear it went well!

Can't wait to hear qnd see more!!!!!

Mikey · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2008, 06:07:16 PM »

Yes, it was a delightful visit with Kaz. After picking her up at the Queen Victoria, a Huge ship, we followed the suggestion of Jerry and drove over to Long Beach and had lunch at a nice restaurant right on the waterfront with the Queen Mary in the background. I forget the name of the restaurant.... It was funny listening to Kaz tell us how concerned her parents were with her having lunch with several strange Americans that she had never met. We're all ponders, how dangerous can we be

Here's a photo of Kaz with the QM in the background. I was shooting into the sun so it came out darker than I wish.

And here we are just eating and talking:

In this shot, that's Annette (miguynmkoi) on the far left, next is Jerry, then MikeW and on the far right of course is our guest, Kaz.

Kaz left us with T-shirt memorabilia and a beautiful tea set from Harrods and Jerry gave her an AP T-shirt. Thanks Kaz for honoring us with your visit and allowing us to spend time with you.

I sure Kaz would love to hear from you guys. Go to her blog and leave a comment because she will be at sea for a few more months: http://karen123.wordpress.com/

EagleEye · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2008, 06:58:16 PM »

That is just so great that you were able to pull this off and have luch with Kaz.

Ponders from around the world getting together..........fantastic!

And her cruise-------hard to even know what to say about that other than WOW!!!!!

Steve

happyoutsidegirl · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2008, 07:00:59 PM »

Wow! thanks Mikey. Great shots! (off topic quickly) Now that I have high speed I got to visit you web garden site! Fantastic. I am trying to go along and see everyones sites now. It's great!

Bonnie · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2008, 07:10:39 PM »

Great pix all.. need to see an updated one of Mikey though!

Sandye · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2008, 08:54:02 PM »

What fun!

I didn't know you guys/gals were planning that!

Thanks for the pictures, Mikey.

I'm off to check out Kaz's blog.

Mikey · « **Reply #7 on:** January 30, 2008, 09:12:47 PM »

Kaz told a great story. Some of you may know that Kaz lives in a historic home, some 500 years old!. On ship she had a discussion with an American woman about their homes and the American woman said her home was very old, built in the 1930s. Kaz was polite and didn't one-up her

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #8 on:** January 30, 2008, 10:04:30 PM »

Thank you Mike(y) for planning the wonderful and relaxing event today. I equally enjoyed meeting the other Ponders too!
Jerry is quite the character and delightful (sorry your jokes didn't evoke the proper reactions from me - I work with engineers and contractors). With Kaz and Mike W, British accents were flying all over and a bit contagious, eh Jerry

We lunched in Long Beach, next to the renewed Pike, at Gladstone's out on the terrace overlooking the bay and the Queen Mary! We dined like we were in England on Fish'n'Chips and tea (California style- iced). Kaz brought the beautiful sunshine on her way from Mexico we SoCal residents have missed lately due to the rain storms the past 2 weeks
Kaz told us of her experience on the Ship and the people she has met and the anxiety of meeting 4 strangers in a faraway uncivilized land.

I don't blame ya!
Thank you Kaz for our souvenir Queen Victoria T-Shirts. It definitely was our pleasure and a privilege to meet you on your journey around the world. At least you know of 4 American serial killers....I mean nice American Ponders, to revisit if you ever come back out our way again.

We hope Kaz left us with a better image of Americans.....

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #9 on:** January 30, 2008, 10:08:09 PM »

Jerry, I missed giving you a big hug when you left for your audition. I guess I'll save it for the next time we meet! I owe you for the AP T-shirt I requested.

Jerry · « **Reply #10 on:** January 30, 2008, 10:38:49 PM »

I am back to having difficulty in posting photos no matter what size. It seems to be an intermittent thing. I will post this message and try to edit-modify.
All the above comments are accurate. I have a rain check on the hug Annette!

Jerry · « **Reply #11 on:** January 30, 2008, 10:45:49 PM »

MORE
INEXPLICABLY 640 NOW WORKS FINE!
Thanks for the event Mikey.
The audition went well. I think I was an "8" well, maybe a "7"
and oh yes Mikey got Kaz the tee

happyoutsidegirl · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2008, 04:01:55 AM »

I'm so glad all of you had a great time! sure wish I could of been there too!

whis4ey · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2008, 04:31:29 AM »

Great to hear that you guys looked after Kaz so well

Terrific to see the pics

Esther · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2008, 06:13:20 AM »

Bunch of lucky bums.

-Greg- · « **Reply #15 on:** January 31, 2008, 08:12:39 AM »

Looks like you guys had a great time! Along with great weather as well! It is great to see the "good" side of the internet connecting people together.

Greg

Mikey · « **Reply #16 on:** January 31, 2008, 08:41:47 AM »

Hey Greg. I apologize for forgetting to reach out to you as well and include with the encouragement to come out and meet Kaz. I was trying to remember who the SoCal APers were and I missed you, sorry. I'm sure you knew you were included even though I forgot to mention you and I realize you would have had a long drive in from Palm Springs plus having to take time off of work.

Ooops, I just remembered I also forgot Tammi who I believe lives in the Ventura area...

Kaz's parents were apparently quite worried about her taking off with some "strangers". I made a comment on her blog this morning that starts off implying that we got Kaz so drunk that she fell down and hurt her head.

I then tell the truth saying I was just kidding

Lynda · « **Reply #17 on:** January 31, 2008, 08:56:06 AM »

Looks like a grand time was had by all, and it's wonderful to this displaced former Long Beach City employee that you spent some time at the Pike - a project that I was quite involved in before my retirement. Gladstones was a great choice! Thanks for the people pics, as well as showing this homesick gal the view of her City!

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #18 on:** January 31, 2008, 09:16:04 AM »

Quote

It is great to see the "good" side of the internet connecting people together.

You have no idea Greg the grief and checks I went through when my family and friends found out what I was going to meet people off the internet. All we had in common before Kaz came into town, and as Kaz mentioned to her family and friends; "We have ponds."

On the local CBS news last night I saw a report of the Queen Victoria Cruise around the World in town. They filmed the opulence of the ship and the reporter we saw outside doing her report was on KCAL9. Check it out! http://cbs2.com/video/?id=58473@kcbs.dayport.com Sorry about the advert (remember that one Mike?). I can say I know one of those lucky travelers.

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #19 on:** January 31, 2008, 09:23:33 AM »

We had beautiful weather for treat with Kaz. I hope we were able to impress KAz with our sunny SoCal weather.

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #20 on:** January 31, 2008, 09:38:32 AM »

Quote

Great pix all.. need to see an updated one of Mikey though!

As you wish, Bonnie!

Mikey · « **Reply #21 on:** January 31, 2008, 09:53:22 AM »

Lynda: You did an excellent job rehabilitating the Pike area! Thanks.

Annette: Thanks for sharing that link. I put it on Kaz's blog.

That's our Jerry! Always has his arms around the pretty ladies.

-Greg- · « **Reply #22 on:** January 31, 2008, 03:59:46 PM »

Mikey, no problem at all!! If we were not busy at work right now I would had asked if I could have joined everyone. Annette, I can imagine the questions you must have received, however, as Jerry knows, in our line of work meeting strangers is half of the fun! Again, I am glad you guys got to get together, it looked like a lot of fun!!

Greg

MikeW · « **Reply #23 on:** January 31, 2008, 06:28:29 PM »

As has been said, a good time was had. Thank you to Mikey for putting it together.

Kaz has a wicked sense of humour - thus it was a day of laughter in the sunsine, and when you consider it was midweek in winter, then life aint that bad!

Cheers,

Mike

jclements · « **Reply #24 on:** January 31, 2008, 06:55:59 PM »

What a blast! I should have made more of an effort to visit Kaz when she came to Florida (and I still lived there)!

Mikey · « **Reply #25 on:** January 31, 2008, 08:13:12 PM »

I think it would have been more difficult Jessica because as I recall Kaz was with family during that trip. On this trip she was traveling solo.

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #26 on:** February 01, 2008, 12:18:40 PM »

Just caught this off Kaz's blogsite -

Quote

Mike… you are a rascal… my parents would have had a heart attack when they read the first part of your post!!! Nothing would surprise them though… I’ve been more than a handful for them over the past 40 odd years… so why change now!!! I shall treasure the memory of yesterday and am so glad that I didn’t pass up on the opportunity to meet you guys (despite the obvious risks – ).

Annette, Mike’s beard was noted and exaggerated stories of my abduction have been rife amongst the passengers… this is what happens I guess, when there’s nothing much else to worry about onboard! It was incredibly kind of you to taxi us about yesterday… there was only that one scary moment when we drifted into a neighbourhood where all homes had iron bars protecting the windows and doors, but I assumed you had a gun in the glove box – right (I have a box of Kleenex tissues in mine!!!)? Many thanks for the tips on Hong Kong – please stay tuned in!

In case Kaz reads this: I only carry a screwdriver my glove box. It's useful for keeping the car doors on their hinges!

But did you notice how fast I drove in a 25 mph zone?!

And don't say we didn't give you the Grand Tour.

Jerry · « **Reply #27 on:** February 01, 2008, 04:48:23 PM »

I had business in Long Beach today, so took the Wife along. Had lunch at Gladstone's! Had the same food too. It was excellent, but it was COLD and OVERCAST. Kaz timed it right.
I will try to attach 2 photos. the second one is thru the car windscreen (he he Kaz) on the way home. It is part of the Long BEach skyline

happyoutsidegirl · « **Reply #28 on:** February 01, 2008, 04:55:31 PM »

What a sweet heart you are Jerry. I'll bet your wife loved it. and shes so pretty!

CoolShades · « **Reply #29 on:** February 01, 2008, 05:06:55 PM »

Sounds like everyone had a grand time. BTW So Cal sounds good when you are in the cold. However, our weather is warming up...can it be too long before we climb back into the ponds?

Gary