Hi Y'all,
Yes I really do exist. I just wanted to post my thoughts and pictures from TARcon. Pictures can be found at this link:
http://harley.smugmug.com/gallery/6784596_Rf8MH/1/436416588_X4pgoUnder dire threats from Peach I have edited her out of the pictures. But you might find a few other RFFers in the pics.
I arrived on the train around 10 am Friday and by 11:30 I was at Max Brenner's in Union Square drinking hot chocolate with a shot of Bailey’s. Yummmm. This was followed by a trip to Macy’s and B & H Photo.
After checking into our suite - Peach got us upgraded to a suite with a large terrace and views of the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building - we met several of the racers at a nail salon and we talked with them while they were getting their manis and pedis. Ken and Terence were there but Arthur was the only guy to get a pedicure. And he brought some glittery nail polish with him because he was afraid the nail salon wouldn't have any.
After having a tasty dinner of sushi and fish at Blue Fin in Times Square, Peach and I went to see Nick in The Fantasticks on Friday night. He has a wonderful singing voice and is a good actor. After the show was over, we had drinks (more Bailey's) with Nick, Monica (his fiancée), Starr, their parents, Toni, Dallas, Sarah, Mark and his wife Colleen, and Laurel (works wardrobe for Wicked). And Carol, PinkGodzilla, joined us too. Everyone was super nice and had many stories – Dallas said it was an hour before he realized the Amazing fanny pack was missing. He thinks it happened when the sound guys had to change his battery pack and in order to do so he had to remove the fanny pack. On another occasion, Starr left her passport in an airport bathroom and had already boarded the plane when she discovered it was missing. She ran back to the bathroom and it was still there.
I got to meet up with a high school classmate I hadn’t seen in 10 years. She coincidentally was in NYC the same weekend I was there. We played phone tag all day Friday and most of Saturday before meeting in the Tick Tock Saturday evening.
Peach and I were fortunate enough to be invited by the racers to attend some of the racer get-togethers they had over the weekend. Terence was very friendly, loved to hug everyone, and was not as whiny and needy as he seemed on the show. Anita and Arthur were so sweet. Anita had never been to NYC before and she was looking forward to doing some exploring. They were headed to the John Lennon Imagine memorial in Central Park the last time we saw them. They used the same backpacks for their trip to NYC that they used on TAR and their team # was still attached to the backpack. Ken and Tina were fun to hang out with and enjoyed sharing stories – during the finale, Tina thought there was only one tree to do the climb and jump; and that Nick and Starr were having to wait on her. It was only after she finished that she found out Nick and Starr were already done and had left. She feels like this cost them the game. And if you ever need someone to hail a taxi, Tina’s your girl – Ken, Tina, Toni, Peach, and I were all trying to get a taxi. Tina got a town car and I heard her scream, “Kennyyyyyy!” from halfway across Union Square. (Love you Tina) We all went running and piled in; with Peach getting the enviable position of being squeezed up against Kenny
We met everyone except Mark and Bill at a bar and danced until about 4 am. Toni had a great time and danced tirelessly. Starr and Sarah danced quite a bit as well. Dan went out on the dance floor but so many people rushed out with cameras that he just came right back off the floor.
Peach, Chateau, TARAsia Fan, and I had lunch with Mark at the Tick Tock on Sunday. He’s a very interesting guy and we talked about a lot of things including his serendipitous meeting with the author of a quote that is tattooed on his arm. He has a very curious and inquiring mind.
We met all the racers at Rockefeller Plaza so they could have a group picture taken in front of the Christmas tree. Many people recognized them and lots of people were taking pictures. After that we met for another lunch with Nick and Starr, Ken and Tina, Toni and Dallas, Mark and Bill, Anita and Arthur, and Aja. Chateau and TARAsia Fan had a chance to ask a lot of questions, and that group of racers likes to tell Race stories.
It was great to see everyone (and Chateau's jacket - what was that material? Shark skin? Silver lame?) at Stitch. I’m sorry there was such a low turnout, but hopefully May will bring a return to the usual attendance. I think my 70-yr-old Mom is going to come – she loves the show too.
CBS didn't even bring the weather guy out on the plaza on Monday morning (I don't blame them - I think the wind chill was eight). But several of us got together with Anita and Arthur, Terence and Sarah, and Anthony and Stephanie for breakfast at Carnegie Deli. It was delicious, but all too soon we had to say goodbye. I think everyone had a really great time.
Now see what y'all got started. I didn't post for almost a year and now you can't get me to shut up!
