Attention Everyone Who Reads This Thread!~~

The Shrinkin' Violets are planning a meet and we cordially invite you to attend!

When: Fri., May 16 - Mon., May 19

Where: Deep Creek Lake, in Western Maryland

Who: Anyone who'd like to come!!

What: Talking, drinking, spa treatments, talking, photo ops, not much sleeping, bonding, drinking, talking, fun, surprises... and more!

RSVP: ASAP to mdrai

For those who will be flying in to the Washington, DC, area... you have 3 choices for airports: BWI (outside Baltimore), Dulles (in Virginia), and Reagan National (in DC). I've listed these in order from best to worst... so try to get into BWI! You'll want your flight to ARRIVE on FRI, MAY 16, in the MORNING (by 11am - Noon)! You'll want your flight to DEPART on MON., MAY 19, in the EVENING (after 6pm). Why? Because it's about 1 hour from the airport to my house (our staging area)... then approx. 3 hours to the Lake. Please try to coordinate flights, so efficient pick-up, drop off can be organized!

If anyone wants to fly in on Thurs., May 15 or out Tues., May 20, I'll be happy to pick you up @ the airport AND you may stay here at my home.

Questions? PM me or post them here.

Again -- EVERYONE IS INVITED! The more the merrier!

For this second round of "rsvp'ing", so far I have (in no particular order & sorry if I've missed someone!!)...

1. me

2. Jennifur

3. Terridoodle

4. Judy

5. Kat

6. Pam

7. TracyK

8. Laura

Just a suggestion to throw out. We have a little jewel here in Northern Michigan. It's called Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island.

Mackinaw City Vacations, Lodging, Hotels, Accommodations and Attractions - Mackinac Area

http://www.mackinacisland.org/

Mackinac Island is where the movie Somewhere in Time was filmed. Mackinaw City has LOTS of shopping, a fort and a ferry service to Mackinac Island. There is a casino across the Mackinaw Bridge as well. There is an airport in Alpena and we could use my vehicles to get us to Mackinaw City 90 miles from me. It would be an 8 hour drive for Jennifer. Don't know about flight costs for others, but it's an idea.

3 things I am wanting in this trip...besides the obvious of meeting all of you would be...

warmth---not looking for something I have to bundle up with---it has yet to make it up to above zero here this morning!

activities---whether it be rafting, shopping, even gambling---just something we can do. I will love time with y'all, but I can only sit for so long, I need something to DO!

Other than that, it is the affordability of it, the ease of access---to the airport or whatever.

I do like the Texas idea---I know it would be warm!! That time of year in Colorado is iffy. I have been in that area of Colorado for a wedding on May 23rd, and had 18 inches of snow for an outdoor wedding!!! So while I can and would do that, we have to keep it in mind!!!

What is the weather that time of year in PA?

Mall of America could be fun....but we might get separated and never be heard from again!!!!

Jen---you can do it......you have motivation to do it!!! And lots of Purple power behind you!!!!

Terry---the TX thing you mentioned, any idea of costs involved?

We may have to do the blindfold----spin around---and pin a spot on a map!!!!

When we get together with our friends for our motorcycle trips, we begin in early spring, and write all our possible locations down on slip of paper, then each weekend we have free, we pull one from a hat! We resorted to that because we each wanted to go different directions all the time. This way we eventually get to them all, but it eliminated the back and forth!!

I understand that cost is an issue---we will do our best to keep in affordable yet safe and fun for everyone!!!

Kat

Judy, I just saw your link, we must have been posting at the same time. I was sold! Then saw a link to the Lilac Festival....

LOL, I am massively allergic, so I need to know as far in advance as possible if I am going to be around that many lilacs!!! I can use prescription meds for normal exposure, but for something that extreme---I take shots, for several weeks!

I breathed too much lilac at the fair a couple of years ago, and ended up in an ambulance! My Epi pen is all that saved me from being trached!

I take allergy meds anyway---and will work with it, I just need extra care---and to warn anyone with me about it!

But horse drawn carriages everywhere? How cool is that??

Kat

San antonio tx for me would be about 600 with airfair.

check out south west vacation packages. as long as I can do a direct flight it might help

and Yes I could drive to Michigan and looks nice.

NY PA area in may is nice but could go either way, not usually snow but it could be chilly or rainy.

I like the idea of rafting, fun outdoor adventures.

What about Mississippi... they have casino cruises... how much fun could that be... but don't know about cost

Mazie-- A "Show-Me-Girl". I live in Blue Springs, just right out of K.C.. So, what about the Branson area? All the hotels and shopping and shows. And there is even a lake there that we could go boating on.

These all sound good.

And you know when this all began, it began as a discussion about a cruise!!

One of the 3 day cruises, someone mentioned is how this all began I think!!!

That would work for me too.

If Clay happened to be in Branson, we may need something to scrape Judy loose with so we could bring her back with us!!!!

Kat

my vote is warmth and a short flight

yup kat... i wanted to do a cruise... and there are some out of MD and VA so I wouldn't have to fly....

LOL

yup kat... i wanted to do a cruise... and there are some out of MD and VA so I wouldn't have to fly....

LOL

I absolutely LOVE cruising and would do that in a heartbeat. Most of the 3 or 4 days cruises begin on a Monday though, I believe.

And I'll go ANYWHERE Clay Aiken is!! Have we thought of North Carolina?? :pray2:

I will post some cruise info shortly, i found a couple that leave on the 15 - 16 of May.

Maybe flights to fl will not be too bad and I can get a direct flight. or maybe leave from Norfolk VA. Let me research and i'll post

I'm not sure about NC never stopped just drove right to SC LOL

Laura, you are a southern belle.... any suggestions?

Kat and Suzie....Branson is GREAT.. GIRLS.. if you have not been there it is worth making plans for someday. But Clay who? There are tons of shows, attractions, shopping, Silver dollar city is a theme park... water parks, a motel there even has indoor waterpark (small) if it is cold when you go), an all night pool, sooo very many things to do and most are quite reasonably priced too. One hour drive from Springfield airport.. but I hear they are building one right there in Branson too.

I love going to Branson!

I wanna go everywhere!!

Kat

oh Suzie I din't even mention the lake... last time we went there, we rented a pontoon boat for the day, swimming sunning, lunch... just fabulas.

OH HELL........

I BELONG TO A RESORT IN BRANSON MO!

I could reserve IN YOUR NAME up to 4 cabins!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not as warm as TX though... and Branson is 4 hours from Kansas City INTL airport... you would have to fly into Springfield MO (HOME OF BRAD PITT) Springfield is 1 hour from Branson MO.....

Susie, MS_Jen, and myself it would be an easy drive (we do it ALL THE TIME)

I personally like the TX idea but if BRANSON IS A POSSIBILITY.... I would definately be able to go and I would even stay at Treasure Lake because it is so dang cheap!

Here is the website: (I have OWNERSHIP status in this park, so that means I can reserve and get everyone in)

Treasure Lake RV Resort, Treasure Lake Resort, Branson RV, RV Rentals, Branson Missouri