"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!

[Angelwood]

Looks like a great gathering of FReepers. Thanks for sharing via such fabulous pictures and putting names and photos together for the rest of us.

[ladyinred]

Thanks Cheney/Chick!
We missed you yesterday!

Forgot to add my other tri tip trivia. It was first introduced by Harris Ranch Beef company, who have farms in Fresno area and Santa Maria!

Gee, isn't it weird that I know this? LOL!

[AmishDude]

You buy salsa by the gallon.

Being in the northeast is so horrible. They have all this "mild" salsa. Or, as I like to call it -- ketchup.

[MinuteGal]

Ooooo, that good ole western beef looks mighty tasty. Bet it beats the roadkill filets and egret thighs they pass off as prime beef here in Florida, LOL!

Leni

[Alamo-Girl]

Buuump!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"maybe next time you will be able to join us"

I am now the ONLY qualified Radio Watchstander in the Coast Guard Auxiliary up here.
The other radio watchstander is moving out of state.
The Coast Guard base is REALLY short handed and when I am on watch
it frees up at least one regular Coast Guard to do something else.
Maybe the next one could be up here. LOL
At least it's always great weather in summer.

[goodieD]

I am so mad about having to miss this I could spit nails~!

[JustAmy]

I'll ask Jim if we can have it there instead of Monterey next year. LOL

[Aquamarine]

Enjoyed reading about your fun picnic. Let us know when you find out what was in that marinade.

[LadyX]

What a thrill to see the Fresno Freepers and Freeper Friends in action, setting an example for all the rest of us!
Thanks, mtngrl, and all the others who will be adding coverage to 'share' the experiences.

Thank you, Tonk, for the ping ~ ~ ~

[Diver Dave]

Great pictures mtngrl and thanks for posting them. The only thing better than the pics was being there to join the fun and fellowship with like-minded folks.

It was well worth the 100 mile drive down under the afternoon sun. I had to use my "TD" (top-down) air conditioner for the trip since the regular AC isn't working. Besides, it gave me a chance to make an "entrance" when I arrived with Old Glory waving in the breeze as I drove up that incline to the picnic area. Kinda like Teddy Roosevelt charging into battle with the Rough Riders, only I was charging into a grate time with everyone at the picnic.

The perspiration was rolling off like sweat as I drove across Herndon Rd., but those cold drinks and the breeze blowing though the picnic shelter made the 100+ degree temp feel very comfortable.

It was so wonderful to meet face to face the folks behind these screen names and renew FRiendship from the FReeping days in Modesto.

It was absolutely wonderful to witness Jim Robinson receiving the Resolution from the California Assemblyman and State Senator. Just imagine folks, JimRob gets honored by the Democrat Controlled State Legislature - Cool!

I'm so glad I was able to be there with all of you. Recovery period of all the fun should only take a week, LOL.

Time to step away and let the rest make their comments.

Thank You Central Valley of California Chapter of FReeRepublic.com. I'm proud to be a card-carrying member.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Thanks for being such kind and generous hosts. You're my home away from home.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

It was a lot of fun. I was one of the few lucky ones that wasn't "honored" by Cool Guy.

My husband and I agreed that it was the best Tri-tip we have ever had. I think that my husband managed to get part of the secret recipe out of JK.

My youngest is outside blowing the bubbles from his door prize. He is currently going through my kitchen trying to find unsual bubble makers. The candy was comsumed at lunch.

I'll try to find something to wear that will go with my new flag pin for my next Freep.

My questions was "what I would like to see Janet Reno do next? My reply was for her to take her truck tour and just keep right on going......

P.S. Jim L'm NOTpoliticallycorewrecked

[CounterCounterCulture]

Thanks for all the work y'awl put into this. It's often a thankless task to organize any kind of get-together. Rounding up FReepers like this must have been like herding cats. ;-)

[Jim Robinson]

Oops. Please pardon the typo. Sorry.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. You always do awesome threads. Can't wait for the next get-together.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Thanks for more Friday pics. Looks like I'm doing my black power pose. LOL! Fight the power!

[mtngrl@vrwc]

You always do awesome threads. Can't wait for the next get-together.

Thanks for the kind words, Cx3!

I can't wait for the next picnic either. I had a blast yesterday!

BTW, were the water pistols your idea or Cool Guy's? They were just the perfect thing to help us keep cool!

[CounterCounterCulture]

The pistols weren't my idea...although next time we should upgrade to super-soakers (Cool Guy is a one-man super-soaker, as you could tell). ;-)

[tubebender]

Good Job...It's great to put a face to all you folks. Where was this meeting of great minds held. I spent the first 21 years of my life in Western Fresno County. Left in 1954 for Eureka but I get down there once in awhile to visit family. I think the heat would do me in now.