International visitors for Tomatopalooza 2008...
 

... please post here! :D

I'm all booked, flights organised, deposit paid! I'll be touching down in Raleigh on July 20th, staying with Craig and Sue Lehoullier. I'm lucky because I got in first, hahahaha ;) Following T'palooza I depart on 28th to go to Honolulu for a couple days on my way back to Australia. And I'll need to start seedlings almost immediately I get back home, certainly no later than the end of the first week in August!

Soooooo...... how many Tomatovillians will I get to meet, eh? Jennifer, any chance of you coming down to T'palooza? I'm sorry I just couldn't squeeze in Canada. My around-the-world ticket allowed me 26,000 km, and I came in at 25,993 (or 25,995 something like that) so I just made it 8)

Anyone coming over from the UK or Europe? Lets meet at T'palooza 2008! Carolyn, feel like venturing south and meeting up with all your favourite tomato people? :lol: (Seriously!)

Patrina

Dear heart, I was already thinking about it or SSE's annual camp-out. Now I'm going to get serious about checking details.

Me
with hugs

Guess I better get to updating the web site!

July 26th it is!
Location is still to be determined (I believe).
Time 1~4ish pm.

Let's just hope we get enough rain to have a decent crop this
year... (However funny enough, of the few days it rained last summer, Tomatopalooza[tm] V was one of them!)

Lee

As far as I know we have been invited back to the Efland farm...Jimmy??? Is that your understanding???

Carolyn, feel like venturing south and meeting up with all your favourite tomato people? :lol: (Seriously!)


****

Oh how I feel like it Patrina, but it isn't going to happen. After the two months in the wheelchair last summer after the femur fracture when the right new hip went in that right leg where I severed all four of the quad muscles just has not returned to the the function and strength it had before, and that's function with only 3/4 quads functional.

Its' so bad that I was scared to even go out and drive my car last Fall. I have to put the walker in the back seat and then handwalk to the driver's door and reverse the process when leaving the car and it's the hand walking along the car that's now scary.

Getting to the Albany airport is not easy for me at all and negotiating airports and transfers, even with those scooter things they have at airports is not something I feel I can do.

So home I must stay, unfortunately, although I think you know how much I'd love to be there. BTW, I'm not even allowed to use my walker on my lawn, and that's yet another problem re all lawns. Sigh.

Carolyn, me and many European members will be happy to see all this crazy tomato party via a web-camera ;)

I think Phreddy and his wife should come.

Carolyn, could you travel by car comfortably? I'm willing to swing by and get you if you're willing and able. And any OT or PSW-type stuff necessary would be old hat for me, as you know. Just a thought, but there's no need to decide now.

Jennifer

Tomatopalooza '08? I'm getting excited about it already, and will consider it to be quite the pleasure and honor to spend the day hanging out with Patrina and anyone else who can attend.

Another fun tomato gathering in store, for sure!

I'm planning on being there. I also want to spend some time visiting some other places (Heritage Farm in Iowa for one). Haven't booked or even looked at flights or accommodation, but there's plenty of time still.
How far from anywhere is the venue?

[quote=tomatoaddict;84510]I think Phreddy and his wife should come.[/quote]
Wow! Is this an all expences paid trip, Terry? You Americans are so generous but I don't think that it would be possible this year but thanks so much for the offer.

I was unable to make it in 2007 but I have already marked my calander! I'm lucky enough to live in the great state of NC so it's not a far drive for me.

I have it on my calendar and hope nothing comes in the way of attending. I would love to meet some of my TV friends. :)

For those people who are coming in from distant lands (Australia, Canada, Texas, Massachusetts, Georgia, Michigan, etc) - please try to schedule your trip to leave a free day on either end. Once Sue and I get a handle of who will be around when, we would like to have you to our house for a meal. (we can put Patrina to work on the kitchen!!!!....). We are really looking forward to the event! Now if we will get some rain so that we can actually grow some tomatoes this year!

[quote=nctomatoman;85391]For those people who are coming in from distant lands (Australia, Canada, Texas, Massachusetts, Georgia, Michigan, etc) - please try to schedule your trip to leave a free day on either end. Once Sue and I get a handle of who will be around when, we would like to have you to our house for a meal. (we can put Patrina to work on the kitchen!!!!....). We are really looking forward to the event! Now if we will get some rain so that we can actually grow some tomatoes this year![/quote]

You betcha!! :lol: I love playing around in the kitchen, and by the way (if I recall correctly) Raymondo is a pretty decent chef ;) Dobbed you in Raymondo, hehehe


PP

As probably the only one of you who has spent time in the kitchen with Patrina. Yipppeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just don't ask her to use a recipe or repeat anything exactly. And expect HEAT.

Hugs n hugs, dear heart. If I come, I'll bring those beers and cider. Will ask for head counts later as I know Craig is also a bit fond of a good brew. Paperwork needed, no doubt.

Ray?? And Michael coming too??? With Rosalina???
The camp-out option fades into oblivion....

Jennifer, telling tales out of schoo.....the kitchen

OK, I feel I need to contribute something to this mini-Tomatoville meeting as well. I'm gonna send some traditional mixes of spices from Caucases (former Soviet Union) to use at the kitchen by Patrina and Jennifer to cook something unusual for all of attenders. We can make agree to cook a special Russian dish with tomatoes and other veggies as well ;)

Jenifer-Rosalina will be coming also. Now I have to protect my calendar so nothing gets put on it.

Checking things out for July 26th. And I hope it is at the same wonderful location as last year. :)

Should we try to get in Friday night, or Friday morning? And leaving Monday morning?

I am going. I would not miss it. My Mom is coming from Florida to watch my kids:goofy::goofy:

[quote]I am going. I would not miss it. My Mom is coming from Florida to watch my kids[/quote]:goofy:

Whooo hoooo!!!!! I'm going too Rena. We will have so much fun. Maybe if we speak with a French accent, Craig will invite us to the international dinner.:lol::lol: Oui, Oui

[quote=tomatoaddict;85467]:goofy:

Whooo hoooo!!!!! I'm going too Rena. We will have so much fun. Maybe if we speak with a French accent, Craig will invite us to the international dinner.:lol::lol: Oui, Oui[/quote]

:D:D:D And some wine:yes::yes:

Andrey, what a super idea! You'll be there with us for our international dinner in spirit (and seasonings) ;) Jennifer, come hell or high water, this is a meeting we'll never forget, and Carolyn, I'd be willing to bet that people would navigate hell and high water in order to make it possible to meet your needs.... please just keep it in the back of your mind for a wee bit?

Michael, I can't wait to meet you and Rosa - I'm very excited, having shared seeds and having received such helpful advice in the past... it will be an honour :yes:

I am so looking forward to meeting all of you T'villians - please come if you can!

Patrina

Sounds like a blast, wish I didn't live so far away, I love a good PARTY!

Yes, Patrina, this is my target. I'll try to organize my part in spring and hope to have good debates about a special tomato dish from former USSR ;)

For those who are travelling and are seeking hotels - this is to give guidance for good options, based on where some stayed last year...and just to share a few suggestions.

So, Mischka, Suze, Feldon and Rena - where did you end up staying last year, and did would you recommend it again?

If we do indeed have the event in Efland, as we did last year, it will be a bit of a drive if you wish to be near the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area. I noted that there is a Hampton Inn in Mebane, which is close to Efland - but further from the Raleigh area.

Another option is to look for a Hampton Inn in the Raleigh or Chapel Hill area (if you Google Hampton Inn, there are lots) - the reason I mention them is that we've found them to be the most reliable chain when we travel.

Anyway, I know that Michael wanted to start pondering where to stay, and others probably are as well = so let the discussion begin!

We stayed in north Cary, NC, in a hotel right off of I-40 on Page Rd., which is just west of the Raleigh-Durham airport. We were approximately 20 miles (30 minutes) from Efland. By Texas standards, that's practically next door!

I found it to be very convenient to Efland. I would assume we can take 540 around Durham to get to your place, while avoiding traffic. I'm pretty good with navigation as long as I've got a map. ;)

I left TP and drove until I could not take the whining any longer and just found a place. I do like Hampton Inns and I also like Doubletrees. I will research this and report back.:yes:
I am soooo Excited!!

feldon30, I used to live in Cary, NC. It's a very nice place. My DH actually said earlier today that since I love tomatoes so much he was going to take me to tomatopalooza this year (he had wanted it to be a surprise but didn't think he could pull it off - and what he doesn't know is that I had already planned to drag him out there :)).

I was planning on staying in Raleigh itself. How far is that from the venue?

**Note to self: Get a map ... and a plane ticket!