Okay... I realise this took a ridiculously long time in developing, scanning and posting, but now I can finally say... ta-daaa!

Here are a few pics of our mid-summer, mini-KA gathering in Bracebridge Ontario!

The attending kickers were (in order from left to right):
Our good friend Kat (Inanna), the lovely Simone (Jayne), our resident car-buff Dan, and me (mig)!

mig

Now, I'm going to need some help with introducing all the relatives here...!

First on the left is Janet (Dan's sweet wife),.. next is Simone busy hugging her son, 3rd man in is Dan who's standing next to Simone's parents in the center, then it's Kat's Mom next to Kat on far right... tho I'm at a loss to introduce the girls she's hugging....?

mig

This final pic just rearranges a few of us... as someone kindly stole my camera to add me and my boyfriend James (far right) back into this group pic. By a neat coincidence, the pic captured some Canadian flags flying over all our heads in the background!

Thanks for such a great time you guys!!! You're the BEST!

mig

Hi Mig,

Nice pics from the get togehter.... I am assuming that you would not be wearing shorts these days as some are in the pic's.

Take care,

Tim

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional

Hey Tim!

Nope.... shorts season is now but a memory. Summer has definitely come to a screeching halt here and now it's been abnormally cold with a never-ending amount of rain. It's either too hot or too cold on this continent eh? Maybe there is a place at some point of equal distance between us... which is just perfect?

Hope all is well with you!
Hugs,

mig

May be a mini KA gathering but it sure had some major AS Kickers attending.

Great pictures, thanks for posting them.

George

Hey George! So nice to hear from you! Love being refered to as major-ASkickers! Thanks!

Hope all is well out in your neck of the woods!
Hugs,

mig

Thanks Mig

As George said you are all major-ASkickers and I'm glad you all got the chane to meet. GREAT Pic's

John

Mig
Nice pics!!!

Surely that was a peace sign,can't believe you would be putting horns
on Kat..The whole group looks pretty innocent..

David

Excellent pictures Mig. Looks like a great get-together!

There is no drug stronger than a good attitude.

Hi John!

I certainly consider myself fortunate to have met all the wonderful kickers I have so far, but I sure wish I hadn't missed the opportunity of meeting YOU! I think I missed out BIG time on that one! Although it does gives me something to look forward to and hope for in future!

I sure hope your road to recovery is continuing to improve a bit more each day John!
Hugs,

mig

Hey David .... they are suppose to be bunny ears!!!!

My, you are an observant one... now you have given me away! Innocent? Sure, okay, we can go along with that description!

Take care!

mig

HI Debbie!

Now I figure it must be time for a group gathering out your end of the country. Any plans kicking around out there? Speaking from experience, it is a unique and wonderful thing to meet up with fellow kickers!

Take care!

mig

Bunny ears??? First time I've heard that one...Would that be (1)Playboy
(2)Energizer(3)cottontail(4)snoeshoe(5)jackrabbit????

David

Bunny ears are what we called those the old type of antennas stuck on top of tv sets to improve reception, back when I was a kid... yep, I'm old! It has been a long standing tradition in my family to try and sneak some bunny ears over the heads of those next to you! I just thought they'd be cutier on Kat than on James!

As for the myriad of lovely options you came up with... perhaps I will let Kat pick whichever she feels suits her best!
Of course another appropriate answer might have been kitty-Kat ears!!!

Cheers!

mig

Hey Mig....Did ya see the ears that Kat is growing?

What is up with that???

Great pictures. I wish you had made it to Johns this summer also. I missed seeing you again .

Another time....another place I am sure!

Lori

OK, TV antenna.. Always heard them called rabbit ears...



David

Really nice photos Mig.
A very handsome group of ASKickers.

Maggie

I read once of a wonderful island near Tahiti--or perhaps it even was Tahiti--where it has never been below 70 degrees F. and never above 90 degrees F. (might have been 95, but was def. in 90s). Does that fit the bill? Sounded--and still sounds--like heaven to me.

Where exactly is Bracebridge in Ontario? My wife is from Wallaceburg, near Chatham, and she lived in London when I met her. In fact, we'll be in London this coming Sunday meeting an old friend for lunch.

Brad

Thanks for posting these Mig. I had a really great time meeting everyone and hope to meet more kickas'ers one day.

Hugs

Simone

Hey Lori dear... are you tryin' to get me in trouble with Kat or what?! I see you continue to hold true to your rep as mischief maker!

I missed you too! But yes..there is always tomorrow!
Hugs!

mig

Thanks Maggie!

We were certainly a few short of our serious Ontario chapter tho, eh? You are yet another one I missed out on meeting up with again. But, we have so many new kickers around these parts, it probably won't be long before we plan a new big gathering!

Hugs to you!

mig

Hmmm, YOU hold YOUR fingers up over Kats head and I am being accused of trying to get you in trouble.... Dont seem like you need me for that Mig....You seem to do a pretty good job all by yourself....

Come to the Boston party.....you can stay at my house!

Hey Brad!

Bracebridge is about 1 1/2 hr drive straight north of TO, (about 1/2 hr drive north of Barrie)... in the muskoka region! I've never actually been to Chatham or London myself,... both being further west of TO than I usually venture.

Yep, that island would fit the bill... sounds heavenly!
Cheers!

mig

hey wolverine fan,
sorry, not Tahiti.......

Tahiti is a 'high' island, volcanic in origin. The temp varies with altitude- at sea level temp is generally 65/70F to
about 90F during the dry season April-September and it's 70/75F to 95/100F in the rainy season. In the dry season
the humidity is tropical but pretty bearable; during the rainy season tropical downpours fill the afternoons and
the humidity is way up there most of the rest of the time. At night you can get 50/60F temps...Now if you go
up the mountains, the temperature can go down to the 40's...although Tahiti is not large enough or tall enough
to have snow ( like Hawaii).....one really nice thing about Tahiti is the water temp is pretty much 75-78F year
round; there is a lot of air temp variation...and it gets too hot and steamy.

One august morning on Bora Bora, the thermometer in the hotel lobby read 40F....now, from michigan, toronto
or connecticut that's not so bad for the mid-winter blues . oh , and that august morn saw mid 80's in the
afternoon; and the scenery is not grey.

if you're venturing to the south pacific, I do recommend HUAHINE- about 160 miles northwest of Tahiti ( you fly
past Huahine on the trip to Bora Bora) just beautiful, unspoiled, pristine and about the nicest spot on earth...
they grow vanilla and coffee there, the natives are friendly, just about heaven

aloha Ben

Hey Simone!

I was hoping you'd pop in and have a chance to see these!
Hope you are holding up okay this week,.. you and your family continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

Please take good care!
Hugs,

mig

Simone,

I think it is safe to say that meeting other Kickers from the Website at a party wants you to meet more often and others from the board. To bad we do not all live close by.....

If a big party comes about in Western Canada next year as discussed in the Party Forum I may have to fly up that direction.

Take care,

Tim

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional

Boston? You're having a Boston gathering? Cool!

It's a nice town you have down there but quite a crazy place to drive if I remember correctly. I somehow doubt that will be in the cards for me, but I suppose I'll give it some consideration since you're sweet enough to extend such a nice invite!

If (mischievious) people didn't keep pointing out fingers.. she may not have even noticed ya know!
Hugs!

mig

Hi Mig,

Great pics - I've attend one party in Las Vegas, can't wait to have another one.

Hugs,
Sinta

Hi Sinta!

You got to meet up with some great kickers in Vegas... it is an amazing feeling to meet with each other. Someday we hope you'll be able to make it all the way to TO, as it would certainly be our pleasure to meet you someday!!!

Take care!

mig

Nice pictures Mig....sure brought back that day and the weather was much better then. Will have to do that again sometime.

Dan

>>>>>>
We are kicking some AS*.

Yup, to my right is my mom, the girl in red is Hannah (just turned 9) and the little imp in the dress to my left is Ruth (7.5), my much adored nieces.

Mig, you broke me with these photos lady. I'm sitting at my desk a weeping mess. Thank you!

Hugs,

Kat

And Mig, I hadn't noticed the bunny ears until I had to take another look after wiping the tears out of my eyes. Couldn't you have at least made them white and fuzzy?

Kat

Hey Brad, where do you live? I mean, you're going to London and all, so are you at all close to Toronto?

Hugs,

Kat

Hi Dan!

I guess that is the one good thing about me being such a slow poke doin' this.... brings back memories and makes them fresh all over again! I'm sure missing the weather back then too. Such is life as a Canadian eh?

Can't wait for our next meet! Say "hi" to Janet for us okay!
Cheers!

mig

Kat!!!! I knew you'd find this thread eventually!

But please Kat no weeping, the pics are suppose to bring SMILES not tears!
Unless of course they are tears of joy,...then please feel free to continue!

Now you get to tell your cute nieces that they are famous,.. their pics have been seen by folks alllll oooover the world!

Disclaimer:
I'm afraid that I cannot claim responsibility (or credit) for any bunny ears that may have appeared in my pics. Those who would insinuate otherwise, were not present in the aforementioned pics and therefore cannot know this to be a true fact. And 'some' are known to be mischief-makers and are therefore apt to just make things up! It could be that someone unbeknownst to our group... snuck up behind us when we weren't watching! Who knows?

Hugs!

mig

Well, actually, not to put a damper on things (if you'll excuse the sort of pun), but they were tears of pain, brought on by happy memories. If that makes any sense at all. In a really bad way this week - OK for a while now, but particularly the last couple of days.

Hugs,

Kat

Oh Kat I am very sorry to hear you are in midst of a bad patch. Reminders of painfree days when currently in a bad way can cause a mix of emotions.... so I know what you mean. I feel for you!

It is a positive sign for sure that despite the pain you are still tossing around puns! You are a spunky spirited lady ... so I know you can fight your way thru this one and not let it get the best of you! Remember.... you rock!

Take good care of yourself Kat and treat yourself especially nice through this okay?
HUGS!

mig

Thanks Kat.........Now I am really in trouble.....

Ah-HA! That could be construed by some as an admission of sassiness, I think Lori!

At least you are probably used to being in trouble!

Hugs!

mig

I wear trouble very very well Mig. But.........it is always fun!

Hi Mig,

Toronto would be my next destination for sure

Hugs,
Sinta

Hi Mig!
Great photo's of great people. I am fortunate to have met 2 out of the 4. I do hope to meet many more KA people in the future. If there is a Boston party I will have to get a ride (maybe with the crazy lady ) I gave up driving down there decades ago when the neck got bad, limited my distance to the airport and now I won't even do that! Those beantown drivers are pretty aggressive and you have to have very quick reflexes.
Thanks for the photo's Mig, hope your doing well.

peace
Kathy



"The most beautiful stones have been tossed by the wind and washed by the waters and polished to brilliance by life's strongest storms."

Always, Lady. Always!!

Kat

Thanks, Mig. My family doctor put me on Tylenol 3s yesterday (in combo with the vioxx and instead of the tylenol arthritis) until we can get the pain under control. Hopefully, that'll be soon.

Never fear. I'll look after me.

Hugs,

Kat

Beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing. A get-together would be so much fun. - Helen

Hey Helen, I guess you'll just have to fly your AS up here and visit for a bit!!

By the way, I rented a house in Breckenridge with some other friends one summer about 3 years ago. Flew into Denver airport. The view of the rockies, after all that time flying over flat land, was astounding!! Like a massive wall, rising up out of the ground. How lucky you are to see that every day!

Hugs,

Kat

Hi! Yes, most days the mountains are a beautiful sight. Today it is cold and cloudy so no mountains... I got spoiled growing up here. Because I have directional dyslexia, growing up always knowing which way was west was a godsend. It doesn't work at night though or if I am IN the mountains. I used to live in Black Hawk, another lifetime ago, and was driving home early one morning. I was so tired that I pulled over and took a nap before finishing the drive. I was groggy and turned around when I woke up and kept driving back and forth on the highway (in front of a road crew that probably wondered just how many red volkswagens there were in Colorado). I finally figured it out (or I'd still be up there driving) .

I guess I need to pay more attention to possible get-togethers near Denver.

-Helen

Hey Kathy!

You're quite welcome... glad you enjoyed them! We are sooo lucky so have others nearby or within trip range. I know what you mean by long distance driving, that's is not something I can handle well anymore (never really could actually ). Lucky for me I have found a nice man who likes driving and likes my company! Bonus!

Hugs!

mig

Hi Helen!

Yep, you'll have to kick-start a gathering in Denver or make some travel plans! I highly recommend it. Getting together with other kickers is a completely unique experience, as most of us could go our whole lives and not run into anyone with this rather rare 'deal' we have. It just feels right when you meet others who really 'get' it!

Take care!

mig

Just north of you the sun is shinning and the mountains are spectacular in their white coats.

Hey Stranger

How have you been? Seems like forever since I saw you around these parts!

Take care
Lori

OK, I just snorted grapefruit through my nose at the picture of you driving back and forth like that!

Kat

By the way, Mel, the Ontario Spondylitis Association is having a dinner (meet and greet idea, not invitation only) at the Imperial Buffet at Warden and Eglinton tonight. Starts at around 6:30 or so. I'm thinking of heading over there. Want to come?

And Kathy, one of these days, we're going to get you up to Bracebridge when Simone is there. That would just rock!

Hugs,

Kat

Kat - I'm so glad I could add to your day . Helen

Can't make it Kat.... sorry. I'd thought about it when I read the newsletter and then completely forgot! Heading over to a friend's house tonight to play some euchre!

Thanks so much for thinking of me tho!
Hugs!

mig

Well, any opportunity. And if you'd rather play euchre than have dinner with me ... sniff, sniff.

By the way, I love euchre. We should get together sometime to play.

Hugs,

Kat

Oh.... I love Euchre..... maybe I need to move up by you two. In college, our dorm floor played for hour everyday after eating dinner and going to the gym to run some b-ball games. We even had tourneys on the floor.

My dad plays sheepshead on-line with others if you have heard of that card game.

Take care,

Tim

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional

Well what are you waiting for Tim??? I see Kat's game too,.... looks like we could have a BIG euchre party!

Yea I really enjoy euchre ... just wish I wasn't feeling so exhausted right now I almost feel like cancelling due to waves of tiredness that are beyond my normal fatigue but I haven't been out in so long that I'm going to force myself to tough it out and hope I feel better by the time I get there.

Sheepshead? Nope, somehow I missed out on that one,... I hadn't even heard the name before.

Think about it Tim, we are a plane ride away!

mig

Oh I would love to meet Simone! and see you again as well Kat. I promise to be good.



"The most beautiful stones have been tossed by the wind and washed by the waters and polished to brilliance by life's strongest storms."

Just one question Kat......Did it hurt?

Thanks Kathy I would love to meet you to. Actually it would be great if everyone of us could meet at a huge kickas convention. What a party that would be!!!!!

Simone

Can you say 'pulp'? And you thought snorting coca cola was bad!

Kat

Tim and Kathy, the plane ride away bit applies to both of you equally, you know. Hmmm how would G&T mix with 3 handed euchre? bwahahahaha

By the way, Kathy, you couldn't be good, how would we recognize you?

Kat

Dont let her kid you Kat....she cant play cards. You should of seen Eric trying to teach her to play rummy on Saturday.

It was comical. (sorry Kath) She played one hand and quit.

Now the G&T...I think she would handle that just fine!

Hugs
Lori