Jan Lewis:
- Encounter with the comedy waiter at Howard Johnson's - and subsequent spread of his comments throughout the group: You want cracker? (Not to mention the towel family.)
Meeting roommate Golda and having her demonstrate her hospital-corner technique in the first 5 minutes - it was no accident that we had the tidiest room! - The What Would Fanny/Mary Crawford game
- Finding fellow Boggle enthusiasts - including the incredible, undefeated Cheryl
MP2 viewing - who ever guessed it could be that much fun? I was particularly impressed by how immature we all were (including myself) when it came to cleaning off the TV screen... Laraine's Edmund and Mary balloon murder... Golda's chapeaus... Many hilarious audience comments All the meals, with special notice taken of the lemon bar dessert - Ladies Exhibition Evening - MANY fine moments:
- Deborah Jane's charming advice from Mr. Woodhouse
- Lover's Vows: Linda as Henry Crawford as Frederick, with her head glued to Kathleen as Maria as Agatha's bosom... Jen K swanning about in her toga (she really was adorable)... Linda Ann as Anhalt ("I am not DULL")... Linda Ann's socks in her trousers... Laurie C as Fanny, with voodoo doll... Myretta's fine rendition of perhaps the worst poem I have ever heard (also loved Debra R's "Vogon poetry" comment)... Cheryl's skillful adaptation and narration
- Cheryl's piano playing
- The Mr. Collins Song
- The Lydia Song
- The Ballad of Golda Allen - major kudos to Debra R and Carol! - I was just howling with laughter ("upon the isle of Staten") but also weirdly touched
- The Lady Catherine Song - was that lyric "you can't be trusted to run your life yourself"?
- Northanger Abbey viewing... it really is pretty bad, isn't it? Yet Golda is right, Mrs. Allen is great.
- Other wonderful moments too numerous to mention
- New friends I very much hope to meet again
Karen G:
- Shopping in Ocean Park
- Walking on the beach
- Hanging out and talking with so many pleasant people - trashing the trashy P&P sequel
- The food! Mmm, good.
- What would Fanny/Mary do? game
- Trip to Cape of Disappointment - not disappointing at all! with listening for singing on the slave ship and Debra R and Carol's impromptu concerts in the car as well as the beautiful scenery!
- Lady's Exhibition - singing and composing and I know not what! Mr. Woodhouse's advice.
- MP2 viewing - squirting the screen with "rain" and popping Edmunds!
- Lover's Vows - Everyone was a hoot!
- Mrs. Golda Allen Song
Laurie C:
- You pierce my. . .tire! Spent way too much time dallying with men in uniform on the way to Ocean Park – specifically tow truck guy and tire repair guy. Frazzled, but happy, upon arrival to see several of my all-time favorites hanging out at the registration table with ready hugs.
- Next great memory – that first meal! We were given a gorgeous dining area with ocean view. We knew it was guaranteed to be special when salad was served containing flowers and the main course was PORK! And the kitchen crew was attentive in reheating food for a few late arrivals. So kind. (I could relive each meal in its entirety, but I’ll spare you – contented sigh…)
- Took full advantage of using the men’s restroom – how often do I get to do that!?!
- Bear raiding the garbage shed each night, and seeing the carpenters building a bigger, more heavily fortified shed the next morning.
- Lovely walks down to the beach (and fine weather). A side trip with Darlene and Barbara Lynn into the oceanside forest – very eerie scenery, like the Blair Witch Project, but no naughty words.
- A book shopping spree with Barbara Lynn and Linda. Barb found some of the neatest old books with quaint illustrations, plus picked up a few Sayers books (Barb is a librarian and sure knows her stuff). Linda, prepared with a list, was a marvel of book shopping efficiency. She found a complete Oxford Classics set of JA’s works at a used book store, spent all of five minutes determining 1) should she afford them; 2) could she pack them; 3) where would they look best on her shelves at home. As for me, I couldn’t resist purchasing a book with the title “Death of a Hussy”, which seemed a good prop for my upcoming role as Fanny Price.
- The MP2 viewing – I had been horribly depressed about this adaptation, but the Pemberleans turned it into a raucous good time, so now I have some fabulous memories about the video. Just for the record, the hankies I provided said “MP2” in one corner and written on the other corner was “Never Renovate Jane”. For those of you who didn’t read that particular thread on the Ramble board, the NRJ slogan is a tribute to our own beloved Deborah “Never Renovate” Jane. Seemed appropriate for the Rozema video.
- ’m sure much will be said about Lover’s Vows, but just wanted to comment that I ended up with several bruises down one side of my body. My husband was curious about what violence I had endured at Ocean Park, but I pointed out that I merely take my acting seriously! Thanks to all for putting up with my antics. I’m sure that Fanny Price would not have giggled so much, nor had such a good time, but LaurieC was sorely in need of such respite.
- Did I already mention the food?
Linda:
- It was wonderful to see everyone again and to meet Barbara Lynn, Gillian, Jan Lewis, Linda Ann and Linda L.
- Just like last year, it was a relaxing and stress free weekend. The beach is sandy and the ocean is infinite!! Makes one feel very small and mortal.
- The Ladies Exhibition Night was hilarious. It is quite daunting to be in the company of so many talented women.
- The Retreat Center was lovely and the food!! really, really good!
- Must admit that the bear made me feel a bit uneasy.
- Lovers’ Vows!! What can one say? The actors were superb, especially Fanny! If movies were still silent, LaurieC could have a brilliant career. And, of course, Kathleen(elder) as Agatha (LindaL) making sure that Frederick’s head stayed on her breast ;-)
- Ocean Park and Long Beach had good Used Book stores. Got the entire set of The Oxford Illustrated Jane Austen at a fair price. As a bonus, the MP volume contained a lovely, aromatic Redwood cedar bookmark!
- Almost forgot! "Mr. Woodhouse's Advyce". So funny; so well done; such talent! It was so much fun to listen with those who understood. And, to top it off, my own CD to which I can listen anytime. Many thanks to Deborah Jane and her wonderful DH.
- My recommendation: start saving up your money for the 2003 meeting at Craigville. You will not be sorry.
Cheryl & Myretta:
- The New York Times Crossword puzzle and Cutthroat Boggle
- Fast forwarding to Alan Rickman's butt
- Linda singing the choir anthem she was missing on Sunday morning (complete with choreography)
- Catherine: "I've spent my life on Cape Disappointment"
- Linda's annual book-buying spree
- Mr. Woodhouse's Lament...
- Candace: "I generally buy my water pistol when I get there"
- "Darcy's not here right now"
- Edmund's small roll of socks
- Fanny stuffing her bra
- Mr. Rushworth's two and forty speeches
- Mrs. Golda Allen
- Jen K swanning through her role as Mary Crawford
- Lydia's Lament: "A whole campful of soldiers!"
- Slapping Edmund. Bursting Edmund.
- The Gardiners' song
- The food!
- The bear!