I knew we were in trouble when my two Home Girls showed up in matching hats. Did you'ns call each other or what??

L to R:
Row one--Nancy H., Hoot (Tinwoman), Jenny
Row two--Jeff (Mr. Mo), Bob (Mr. Hoot), Cindy From The South

L to R:
Row one--Nancy H., Hoot, Jenny
Row two--Mo, CFTS

This is our favorite waiter at Ruby Tuesdays. I'm not so sure we're his favorite guests, but we tried at least! His name is actually Keith. We had to give him nicknames though. He was letting us gab and have time to visit when someone pointed out that they were hungry and where the heck was the food?? So, we asked him this, cuz, hey, WE'RE STARVIN' MARVIN!! So, of course, it stuck. When we found out his real name was Keith, we also called him Keith Partridge...it was sad when we had to explain who that really was. Gawd, we are old.

Nina and Nancy H.

L to R:
Row one--Mo and Hoot
Row two--Bob, CFTS, Nina, Nancy H., Jenny
Row three--Jeff

Jenny, Jeff, and Hoot
On reconnaissance mission to downtown Chicago.

WE'RE HERE!!!

Now whadda we do??
Mo, Hoot, CFTS, and Nina

It's our job and we do it well.
Mo, Hoot, CFTS, and Nina

Reporting for duty:
Row one--Mo and Hoot
Row two--Jenny, Nancy H., CFTS, and Nina

Manny, liar liar pants on fire, (as Cindy so aptly put it) politely escorted us off the Sound Stage studio property. He said the band is already inside. [But he forgot to say, "NO, NOT REALLY."]
Nancy H., CFTS, Hoot, Nina, and Jenny

Mo, CFTS, Hoot, Nina, and Jenny

All professional groupies (aka Penny Lanes) bring along the right equipment...signs, cameras, and, of course, binoculars. Go, Hoot!!

Are they saying "Cheese!" or singing VenTURa Highway? Who knows? A groupie has to pass the time some how. It's our job and we do it well.
Hoot and Nancy H.

Lovely Nina whose motto has ALWAYS been, "I'm just here for the music." We got her out on the stalking grounds anyway. Go, Nina. Peace to you, too.

Get comfortable, CFTS, we're here for the duration...or until Mr. Hoot, our bodyguard, says we have to leave. Let's set a deadline...11:00...no, how about 12:00...was that 12:00 Eastern or 12:00 Central...well Karen L. will be at the hotel at 12:30 and Nancy H. promised to meet her...THANK GOD...the Rock Stars finally showed up at 12:15...we can get Nancy back on time to meet Karen L. Hey, it's our job and we do it well!!

Cindy FTS

A good luck crow with an indigo glow stopped by and sat in the tree to watch over us. So, of course, we sang. It didn't take much to prompt us to sing. We don't do that as well as we stalk but the thought is there.
Nancy H. and Hoot

Arlene, the lovely security guard wasn't sure what to make of us at first. But, we won her over. She said she'd never heard any of the guys songs...perhaps they were unrecognizable from our renditions. But later she said she had heard them rehearsing and recognized, "That no name horse song." She helped us out quite a bit. She stopped the van for a moment as it came in as if she needed to say something to the driver, GregGregGreg (another of the friends we made). Earlier, we 'slyly' asked her where the van had gone to pick up the guys. She just smiled and looked at us sideways. Nice try. Okay, well, we told her we had it narrowed down to three possibilities after our recon mission the previous night. Okay, she was game--what three? DoubleTree, The Ritz Carlton, or The Westin. I must say she looked impressed and nodded that yes, it was one of those three. GO ELITE STALKER TROOPS!! It's our job, and we do it well.

We'll never look at a white van in the same way EVER again. It's Pavlovian now.

Hey, Bones, look...Chicago street walkers. Just what you were looking for!!

Was it worth it? You bet your sweet a$$ it was. Oops, I owe the swear jar a nickel.

Nina holds out her hands to welcome our heroes (even though she's only there for the music...wink, wink). Hoot holds up the sign...the hastily made sign on the back of a Pizzeria Uno coupon I had printed off my computer at home. It said, "Boxers or Briefs?" Well, what did you expect? It also said, "We love you." And, "It's our job and we do it well." And we all autographed it. Now there's a switch for you--us giving them our autographs!! ArleneArleneArlene delivered it to them later for us. Go, Arlene!!
Woodz was in the front seat smiling up a storm. Hey, someone had to be there to welcome our heros. How would they have felt if there was no one there?
Apparently Henry Diltz said at that moment, "If it was Garth Brooks, he'd stop the van." I might have to apply for a groupie job in that camp!! I love country music. No, not really.

Drool alert!!

Hampton Inn poolside...sight of the Sister Golden Hair Lookalike Contest. No, not really.

Hoot, Cindy FTS, Jeff

I think I caught a glimpse of Dew and Ger doing recon outside the window on Thursday night. No, not really.

Nancy H., Bob, Nina

What a Very Handsome Guy.

Row one: Tim, Michelle, Hoot, Mo, Karen
Row two: Bones, Joe Doyle, Gary, Laura, Jenny, Nancy H., Nina, CFTS, Chuck, Cyndi, and Terry

The Insurance Shot...just in case the first one self-destructed!
Same people, same order, slightly different expressions...just slightly.

Aren't we a cute, photogenic bunch?
Row one: Hoot and CFTS
Row two: Karen, Bones, Jenny, Jen, Nancy H., Mo, Kim Cabrina

Terry and Joe
This was an amazing jam session and I didn't even get to hear all of it. [Was otherwise preoccupied at the Ritz for a moment or two.]
You know darn well I'm never gonna win the lottery or write a best-seller. So, since I'm destined to never be able to afford Ger and Dew to play on my deck for my 50th birthday party, I think I'll hire these guys instead. They're just as amazing. AND, they both play Taylors, too!!

Kevin, Karen, and Cyndi

Nina, CFTS, Jeff, Bob, and Jenny

Nightowl Nancy H. and Kim Cabrina

Jenny took the crash course at Stalker University. We in the faculty were well impressed with her ability to catch on quickly and hang with the Elite Troops. Therefore, it is with great honor and benevolence (or some other fancy words) that we hereby bestow upon her the Stalker University diploma and award.
Jenny (wearing her graduation cap...er...napkin) being presented her diploma by President Lovely Nina

We are so proud of you, dear.
JennyJenny

It's way too early in the morning for this, Darl'n.
Row one: Hoot, CFTS, Anita
Row two: Gary, Karen, Nancy M., Jen, Madolyn, Jenny, Mo, Kevin, Kim Cabrina

Jay and Bones
It's a good thing I lub you, Bonesy.

Floridians. What was your first clue?

To know Mr. Hoot is to love Mr. Hoot. I have never seen a person acquiesce to his surroundings more easily than this man. This photo is proof of two things. He sat clear across the room from his wife at the fan breakfast. Not b/c they were in a tiff, heck no. It was b/c he is good at working a room all on his own. Secondly, he sat there and talked so effortlessly that 20 minutes later, he still hadn't eaten a bite. Now, that's a mate...in more ways than one.
Oh, one other story...hence the SMELT BOY caption:
We ate pretty much every meal at the Ruby Tuesdays that is a portion of the Hampton Inn. At the second meal, Bob said to Marvin, "I'd like to order off of the menu."
"Okay," the kindly Marvin said and proceeded to listen intently to Bob's explanation of what he would like to order. When Bob was done with his explanation and then his order, the kindly Marvin looked across the table at me and said, "What??"
I just shrugged and said, "Dunno."
Bob said, in only the slightest of exasperated voices, "I'd like Smelt. Don't you have Smelt?"
Marvin just tried not to look too confused and said, "Um, no."
After that, you guessed it...Mr. Hoot became SMELT BOY!!

The Lovely Larson Family
(Nice jean jacket, KL!!)

Nancy M., Jenny, Madolyn, and Anita

Hoot, Madolyn, and SMELT BOY

Row one: Hoot and Mr. Hoot
Row two: Anita, Nancy M., Madolyn, Jenny

Row one: Hoot and Jenny
Row two: Anita, Mo, Nancy M., Madolyn

Bones, Jeff, Hoot, Bob, and CFTS

Photo from Jenny

Jenny's photo of the Blues Crawl
Bones, Jeff, Mo, Hoot, Bob, and CFTS

Hoot, Mr. Hoot, Jeff, CFTS, and Mo