"Tailgate" Picnic in Fresno, CA on 7-13-02 (pictures included)

7-14-02

[mtngrl@vrwc]

Yesterday in the 105 degree heat (which seemed cool in comparison to Friday's 109 degrees which was a scorcher) fifty FReepers and family got together at Woodward Park in Fresno, California for a "tailgate" picnic dinner and fun!

FReepers who attended were (in alphabetical order):

• Amerigomag
  
• BadJoe
  
• BobJ
  
• Brock
  
• COB1
  
• Chadsworth
  
• Clovis Skeptic (and his wife and daughter)
  
• Cool Guy
  
• CounterCounterCulture
  
• Diotima
  
• Diver Dave
  
• DoughtyOne (and his wife)
  
• FriendAnn
  
• Gracie1 (and her husband and son)
  
• Java Man
  
• Jim Robinson (and Sheila and Chris)
  
• JKPhoto
  
• John Robinson
  
• JustAmy (and her husband and son)
  
• Lager (and his daugher and granddaughter)
  
• Ladyinred
  
• Maccabee-AJB
  
• Mama_Bear
  
• Mtngrl@vrwc (and daughter)
  
• Notpoliticallycorewrecked (and her husband and two sons)
  
• Saundra Duffy
  
• Senorita (and her husband)
  
• SiFiPattie (and her dad and a family friend, Chris)
  
• Tami
  

I hope that I haven't left anybody out, but if I did, please forgive me AND SET ME STRAIGHT! LOL!

To sum it all up, we had a great time! A fabulous time! It couldn't have been better! We visited until the food was ready to eat, Saundra Duffy presented an award that was signed by Mike Briggs to Jim Robinson for his contributions to uniting conservatives and giving us a forum to discuss and promote our cause, we said the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer before eating, we had the most FANTASTIC meal imaginable, we played water games (hm...should I call it that?), and we played this "game" where we took turns telling a little about ourselves and then picking a slip of paper and talking about or doing what was written on it. After all of that, several door prizes were given away.

I am just summing up here you guys. The bottom line was that we had a blast! I hope that each and every one who was there will post some of their memories of what took place at our tailgate picnic yesterday.

A special thanks need to be given to JustAmy and Mama_Bear for their tireless efforts in coordinating the picnic. JKPhoto also has to be thanked for barbecuing the meat. It was perfect! I would like to thank Senorita for being in charge of the door prizes. I just know I am forgetting somebody...I hope not though!

I would like to also thank COB1 for coming here from Texas to be at our tailgate party! That's a long way to come to spend time with little old us! Several FReepers came from the Los Angeles area and from Modesto and San Jose too. You are all wonderful for making this special effort! THANKS!

[MinuteGal]

Oh, dear! I may never find out what a "tri-tip" is.

I know we don't have it in Florida. Closest I've come is playing a trifecta on a hot tip I got at the dog track.

Leni

[ohioWfan]

Great pictures!!! Thanks for the ping so I could experience the fun vicariously, mountaingirl!

btw, why isn't everybody sweating in that heat? :o)

[brat]

BTTT What a handsome bunch of party animals! LOL I see Gracie's son came armed and dangerous! LOL

[Budge]

GREAT photos! Thank you so much!

I see BadJoe brought The Chair! =o)

[Jim Robinson]

I think it cooled off a bit. On Friday, it hit 109 while we were FReeping. I think it probably did not get much over a hundred yesterday. Besides, we stayed in the cool shade most of the time and we had a nice breeze flowing through the picnic shelter.

[JustAmy]

YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN FRESNO WHEN...

1. You have to explain to company from out of town, what animal a "Tri-tip" comes from and that it's indigenous to the area.
2. You buy salsa by the gallon.
3. Drivers think a red traffic light is just a suggestion.
4. All of your out-of-state friends start to visit after October, but clear out before the end of April.
5. Most of the restaurants in town have the first name "El" or "Los"
6. You think 6 tons of crushed rock makes a beautiful yard.
7. You notice your car overheating before you drive it.
8. You no longer associate bridges (or rivers) with water.
9. You see more irrigation water on the street than in the river.
10. You know a swamp cooler is not a happy hour drink.
11. You can say 115 degrees without fainting.
12. Vehicles with open windows have the right-of-way.
13. People break out coats when the temperature drops below 70.
14. You discover, in July, it only takes two fingers to drive your car.
15. You think someone driving wearing oven mitts is clever.
16. The pool can be warmer than you are.
17. You can make sun tea instantly.
18. You run your air conditioner in the middle of winter so you can use your fireplace.
19. People with black cars or upholstery are assumed to be from out-of-town.
20. Hot air balloons can't go up, because the air outside is hotter than the air inside.
21. You realize that Valley Fever isn't a disco dance.
22. The water from the cold water tap is the same temperature as the hot one.
23. It's noon in July, the kids are on summer vacation, and not one person is moving in the streets.
24. You actually burn your hand opening the car door. 25. You notice the best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.

[ohioWfan]

I think it cooled off a bit.

LOL! Spoken like a true Californian! I'm from Ohio, Jim, and there's no way that anything over 100 degrees can be called 'cooling off!' (Thursday we had a low of 50 and a high of 78!)

At any rate, I'm glad you had a good time! Looks like fun!

[ml/nj]

No cigars?

I know this is California, but really!

ML/NJ

[ladyinred]

FABULOUS just isn't a descriptive enough word. Can anyone think of one?

Sure I can! GROOVY!

We did have a wonderful time in spite of the heat, and everyone was just so fun and the little brat with the dimples (Cool Guy) made everyone's day! (lol)

JKPhoto can cook for us anytime! I agree, the best tri tip I have ever had too! What does he do? What is his secret marinade? Who will tell us? We must know! LOL

Thanks so much for everyone who worked so hard putting on this "groovy" picnic! All of the food was as good as any Baptist can cook, and the fellowship was just great!

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Great report and pictures. Freepers have more fun! So glad all who attended did so and also all who put the work into planning and carrying it out - BRAVO!!!!

[ladyinred]

BTW: Clovis_Skeptics daughter is my niece, lucky kid was even named after me! (lol) Isn't she just gorgeous? But of course! (VBG)

Chadsworth will add our few puney pictures as soon as he remembers how! So hold your breath, and cross your fingers! We have a really good one of BAD JOE!

[Exit148]

No one looks like they are hot or sweaty!!! Do you have a different 100' than East coast 100'?

The pictures are all wonderful! Good shots, good camera and great subjects!

I'd like to know what some of those little slips of paper said. ------or do I?

[JustAmy]

My pictures from Friday's Rally. I will post dinner and picnic pics later.

gracie1 and FriendAnn


FriendAnn


CounterCounterCulture


Cool Guy


gracie1 and Jim Robinson


Saundra Duffy


senorita


lager


Doughty1


Sandy and Doughty1


jkphoto

[Victoria Delsoul]

Great photos, thanks for the ping.

[Issaquahking]

Thanks Brian for the Ping! i would have drove down out of the "greenie zone" if I were in the northwet....but am stuck over in Mesquite,Nevada for a bit(and it's REALLY HOT here).

Happy to see a great turn out for a Freepin' good time!

[Great Dane]

Great pic's, nice to put faces to names.

[ladyinred]

Tri Tip is a cut of beef that is very popular here in California. It originated in Santa Maria,Calif. It is I understand, comparable to Brisket of Beef. But there is a slight difference. Hope that helps!

[mtngrl@vrwc]

No one looks like they are hot or sweaty!!! Do you have a different 100' than East coast 100'?

Oh we sweated allright. Or we would have if Cool Guy hadn't continually cooled us all off!

Actually it was 105 degrees but it didn't seem like it because of a nice breeze that was a God send.

I'd like to know what some of those little slips of paper said. ------or do I?

LOL! Mine said "Imitate the face you think that Hillary made when she was booed in NYC". Others will have to share what theirs said. (Mine was a really easy one, some were not so easy!)

[lodwick]

bttt - thanks so much guyz! For everything.

[ladyinred]

We have the famous dry heat, no humidity! That is the difference. I think the offical high was 105 yesterday!