meeting with the masses

Joy tells me a few weeks ago that she will be meeting up with a couple TravBuddies.  Do I want to come?

My response.....of course I do.

A few days later...I hear that we will be meeting up with a few Buddies.  Not bad, I had been wanting to meet up with Joy for a while now, since the OC meetup in February.  So know all I know is that there are 2 buddies from other countries and Alice to get together for some talking and eating.  A few days now after a few days....there are quite a few more buddies that are attending or at least have shown interest in coming.

This is getting good, the mini meetup is becoming a fairly large meetup and now everyone wants to know where are we meeting.  Alice comes to the rescue.

...the leads us to Rusty's. Thank you Alice.

The day of the event.

I got a late start.  It is now 6:30pm....I know for sure that it will take me at least an hour to get there.  I call Joy and let her now what's going on.  She tells me that she and some buddies have been there since the late afternoon and that Jeremy did not make it as well as Matt has already come and gone.  Great.  Two of my buddies.....that I will not get a chance to meet on this go round.  She also tells me that Eli is running late as well and that he hopes to be at the meet in about an hour to an hour and a half.  Cool I am not the only one running late.

After driving a little more.  I gave Eli a call.  He told me that he had been stuck in a lot of Los Angeles traffic (his 1st time in the LA area and all he knows so far is that LA has traffic that shouldn't be messed with and we need a better transportation system) and he is going to his hotel to check in before going to the meet.

  I offered to pick him up as he was taking a taxi to and from the meet.  He had an address and that was about it.  Somewhere off of Airport Blvd.  Well figuring that the meet was in Santa Monica...I headed out by the Santa Monica Airport....NO LUCK!  I stop at a gas station to get out of traffic and download GPS to my phone.

Wouldn't you know it! The GPS turn by turn directions does not work.  All I can get is a map of the location.  Oh no.  Eli has his room by the LAX airport.  Time to back track.

I get to the LAX airport area and find Eli.  We are on our way....

Just as we were getting into Santa Monica almost to reach the pier, we found ourselves in a detour.  So I went right just as the sign said I should.

...and then left and left once more.  We could see the pier and the parking, but how to get in?  I made a right on a street thinking it would take me down to the parking.  Yeah Right! I was now on PCH going towards Malibu.  How to turn around?  Just as we headed the right way, Joy gave a call to see what happened to me (She still did not know that I had Eli with me).  I told her that I was almost parked.   Finally a parking lot.  Turned in and got back on the street in the opposite direction.  Now finding the right parking lot....we headed to Rusty's.

Walking on the pier a few pics are shot and then to the venue.  At the door, the greeter tries to con Eli and I out of some money stating that they are having a band to play this evening.

  I didn't want to pay.  I told the greeter that our party had been inside for the last 10 hours and that we were going to join them.  He let us both in.

As we got in, there were lots of hugs and kisses and as all Meetups....instantly felt at home.  Walked the crowd and the introductions happened.  It was so great to meet everyone.  Until this time, I had only the opportunity to meet Joy and Tracy in person.

Eli and myself had ordered some food.  Not quite sure Eli was hungry or maybe his food was just not so good.  He had the chicken tenders.  I had the penne with chicken and shrimp.  I enjoyed my dinner or maybe I was just starved.....is that possible?  Mel said, my dinner needed more flavor.

  Finally we (Eli and myself) were not the last to arrive.....Jenn showed up and Dmitriy made it as well.

We continued to talk, get to know each other and of course take pictures.

The night winding down as the parking lot closes at midnight and then our cars subject to tow.  We left our home for the last few hours and decided to head over to Ma'Kai (faces the ocean)(a lounge, bar, dancefloor).  They card us all and we enter.  Finding our place next to the dance floor....and getting some dancing cocktails....the music okay, we dance and talk and photograph each other.  Actually, we should have been at a Karaoke Bar.....we were singing most of the songs too.

The evening was perfect.