noglider 

Well, I didn't warn anyone. I didn't even warn KonAaronSnake. He (Aaron) and his fiancée Lori came over on Saturday. By the time they got here, Bianchigirl was already here. We had a nice time over tea, oranges, and shortbread (cookies). Lori's head spun a bit when we gossipped about bikeforums characters and bike tech stuff, but she's learning a lot.

It reminded me about the movie Diner, where a fiancée has to pass a rigorous exam about football to determine if the wedding will take place. Lori is studying well, and she enjoys riding her LeMond bicycle already.

Bianchigirl had to leave early because of a so-called prior engagement. I suspect it was a hot date, because she was quite dressed to kill.

Aaron and Lori had dinner at one of my TWO local Ethiopian restaurants.

Oh, I also bought a bike off Bianchigirl. She offered to buy a set of wheels off me, and I can't, for the life of me, remember why I turned her down. I'll be contacting her again.

I also had to tune up a neighbor's bike, which I did after Bianchigirl arrived. She stood around and watched while I did it. Then I delivered it after dinner. It turns out she and I know a few people in common from the bike biz in Boston.

Nice to see you all!

Bianchigirl revealed that she's one of the hall monitors here. She cruises all the sections. We all agree that C&V is the nicest, most generous group on bikeforums!

scozim 

Sounds like fun - especially the Ethiopian food part.

KonAaron Snake 

The food was great...but I did learn I don't care for Kitfo (raw beef). The company was even better. I also learned to release the brakes before the quick release skewers.

Lori had a lot of fun by the way and she really is picking things up.

23skidoo

Umm, did this really happen? Where are the pics!!

Walfredo

Always nice to hear the interwebs aren't just a place for men to meet other men NTTAWT, but that's what happens in the golf forums. Especially good to hear couples and moderators were involved in the real life meetings. Well done.

noglider 

You gotta see that movie, if you haven't. It's a guy flick but the outline of the story is that of a chick flick. It's totally about guys. It's a must-see. I've seen it many times, and there aren't many movies I like to see over.

khatfull

Ethiopian...that's a cuisine I haven't have the pleasure of trying...I've been partial to Indian lately, any parallels?

Sounds like a good time...talking about bikes is always a great activity

jimmuller 

Are you gonna' eat the rest of that roast beef sandwich?

Bianchigirll 

Hello Everyone yes the meeting actually took place. I actually forgot my camera so I couldn't take any pics. Tom and his wife Carol(? I am terrible at names, esp if I don't stand and chat with you for a few min) were great host.

lets see just to prove I was there Tom lives in a Victorian house with a 'swoopy' roof and has two handsome and graceful greyhounds. Tom has a great little workshop but like most of us is overflowing with "projects" and could use a nanny to keep it organized.

Aron and Lori are great as well and I did try and schmoose that Scapin out of Aron. it was great to actually meet up with BFrs esp C&Vers at that.

Tom does have a nice pair of wheels I was impressed with and offered to purchase at a slightly lowball price (what he admitted he paid for them) then I countered with a slightly higher offer. perhaps we will swapp something for them one day.

I am looking forward to meeting other BFrs and circumstances permitt. I regret that I can't attend the upcoming PA/NJ.

BTW to set the record straight, a few friends and I meet once a month and have a nice dinner and go out for a few cocktails. it was not a hot date as suggested but we do glitz up a bit. never know when husband to be #5 will come along *giggle*

noglider 

I took pictures of the Trek 830, so I'll post them. That's all the proof I have.

Keith, Ethiopia is isolated by mountains from the rest of Africa, so its culture, including its cuisine, evolved separately. It was along a trade route, so it has a lot of Asian and middle eastern spices, so if you like Indian food, you'll like Ethiopian food. And they share the tradition with India of eating with your hands only. As one South Indian said, "Eating food with a fork is like making love through an interpreter."

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Did you guys have a chance to go for a ride? Saturday was nice if you were willing to ignore the threatening clouds....Tom's neighborhood is really cool.

What a funny coincidence...I was about 10 miles from you guys on a "Let's see where this road goes" saturday afternoon ride.

khatfull

<lecherous old man mode on>

To heck with the Trek pics...

"Bianchigirl had to leave early because of a so-called prior engagement. I suspect it was a hot date, because she was quite dressed to kill."

</lecherous old man mode off>



(those are smileys which means my intention is to be funny and witty and there's no disrespect intended...but if you're going to mention "dressed to kill"... Hey, someone had to do it...)

noglider 

We didn't go for a ride. Aaron and Lori and I had planned to. But it was cold and damp and nasty. Lori said no. bianchigirl wasn't prepared, as I said. So it made the most sense to stay and shoot the breeze.

I'm just speculating at why she was so dressed. She didn't mention anything but a prior engagement.

scozim 

I have two adopted Ethiopian children and we enjoy the food immensely. My wife has gotten quite good at making it and it's always a treat to eat out when we go to Seattle.

khatfull

Well dangit....it took me a while to find a good Indian place here in Minneapolis/St. Paul...now I have yet another cuisine search! Thanks guys!

rhm

No worries, you're going to love it. Ethiopian food is worth going out of your way for.

USAZorro

Hey Shin, you see this? We're going to need a food theme. I nominate we do not go with Anasazi cuisine.

Sounds like you guys had fun. Had I known about this, I could have dropped in also. I had to take boxes to Secaucus, and was within a couple miles of noglider's house while traversing I-78.

Eating food with hands? French onion soup would be painful and messy. Steak - barbaric. I'll go with "it's situationally appropriate".

EjustE

khatfull, in the olden days there was a great Ethiopian Restaurant on the West Bank of MPLS, very close to the U library and a couple of miles walk from the Dome. Cannot remember the name, but it had great food. You might want to check to see whether it is still around.

KonAaron Snake 

I absolutely love Ethiopian..especially the beef and lamb tibs. There are some similarities to Indian...and also some to Greek...but it really is its own thing. The whole eating with your hands thing appeals to my inner 7 year old...who is usually very outer.

I need to have some folks over...the only person who has thus far seen my bikes in person is nikkorod.

bigbossman 

I've done it, more than once. Tearing into a steak (especially a bone-in rib-eye) with just your teeth and hands is........ cathartic.

khatfull

I must agree, and your choice of cuts is impeccable! Only thing better is tearing into the bones from a prime rib/rib roast, especially when cut to leave a decent slab 'o meat on the bone

pastorbobnlnh 

When it happens, not a far drive to NH. I'll give a great C&V discounted wedding service (or trade for parts), and can provide the vintage tandem to ride off to the local inn after the ceremony!

Sounds like a fun day. Tom--- coming to VT this summer? I was riding up that way this past Tuesday and had a great ride. Even joined the pace line of the local LBS team for the last 5 miles! That was fun!

noglider 

Vermont in the summer is nice, though I haven't done that since, uh, 1976. I was thinking of going to that bike swap this weekend in NH but decided today that I won't. I have low-end stuff to sell and really should not buy anything more than I already have.

KonAaron Snake 

If you gave me the Ultegra Cross Check you'd have more room :-)

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Thats a great bike, Isn't it?

Did you see the Fuji with the Gold Rims? (seriously tom, if you sell that thing let me know!)