So is this long-awaited meet-up going to happen or what?

[cagoldi]

One was scheduled for Sept (I think?) in the Northeast (I think?) but I don't believe that ever materialized? Should we try to plan something?

We can move to the the private board once serious discussion of details begins.

Thoughts?

[trtlcrzy]

Unless it's somewhere within driving distance for me, I don't think it will be financially possible for a while. I'd love to see everyone in person though!

[klongoria11]

Sans kids or with?

[trtlcrzy]

Feb 9, 2017 19:21:18 GMT -5 @peachsmama said:

Feb 9, 2017 17:34:20 GMT -5 trtlcrzy said:

Unless it's somewhere within driving distance for me, I don't think it will be financially possible for a while. I'd love to see everyone in person though!

Where are you again?

SD. Driving distance would be Minneapolis, Omaha, Kansas City.

[cagoldi]

Feb 9, 2017 19:28:18 GMT -5 wedding said:

How close are you to La Jolla cagoldi? I have a work trip in June.

I can come down. If chrisy01 wants to go, we can carpool. I'm fine making that drive.

[cagoldi]

Feb 9, 2017 21:32:34 GMT -5 wedding said:

Feb 9, 2017 21:29:48 GMT -5 cagoldi said:

I can come down. If chrisy01 wants to go, we can carpool. I'm fine making that drive.

Cool. I'll knee you posted. It's for a Federal Clerks conference and I know it's highly scheduled but hopefully I'll have free time.

SQUEE.

I'm excited!

[mamabear13]

Feb 9, 2017 20:17:54 GMT -5 trtlcrzy said:

Feb 9, 2017 19:21:18 GMT -5 @peachsmama said:

Where are you again?

SD. Driving distance would be Minneapolis, Omaha, Kansas City.

Random side note: tell me about SD! Being from the east I've wondered about those middle states. I feel like I know nothing about them

[melaniesue05]

I'd love to do it but depends on when/where.

[cagoldi]

Feb 10, 2017 12:05:35 GMT -5 @surelycantbesrs said:

I'm interested. In order to have max attendance I think picking a major airport hub city would help.

Probably a good idea. Maybe we should think about timeframe also?

I figure September could be tough since school is starting.

So maybe mid-August or some time in October that way we aren't getting too close to holidays when people are also busy with family commitments.

[trtlcrzy]

Feb 10, 2017 11:26:03 GMT -5 mamabear13 said:

Feb 9, 2017 20:17:54 GMT -5 trtlcrzy said:

SD. Driving distance would be Minneapolis, Omaha, Kansas City.

Random side note: tell me about SD! Being from the east I've wondered about those middle states. I feel like I know nothing about them

What would you like to know? It's not very exciting, lol. Winter is cold and snowy, summers are mild. Blink your eyes and the weather can change. My part of the state (east river) is pretty flat with lots of farmland. The center of the state is the big Sioux river, state capitol and the reservations. The west side is where the black hills are. Lots more exciting things to see over there, including scenery. The biggest city is Sioux Falls, which is where I live. The population is around 160k so it's still pretty small by big city standards.

[mamabear13]

Feb 10, 2017 13:51:02 GMT -5 trtlcrzy said:

Feb 10, 2017 11:26:03 GMT -5 mamabear13 said:

Random side note: tell me about SD! Being from the east I've wondered about those middle states. I feel like I know nothing about them

What would you like to know? It's not very exciting, lol. Winter is cold and snowy, summers are mild. Blink your eyes and the weather can change. My part of the state (east river) is pretty flat with lots of farmland. The center of the state is the big Sioux river, state capitol and the reservations. The west side is where the black hills are. Lots more exciting things to see over there, including scenery. The biggest city is Sioux Falls, which is where I live. The population is around 160k so it's still pretty small by big city standards.

Cool! Are there any things specific to the area, like food or traditions?

[trtlcrzy]

Feb 10, 2017 14:52:43 GMT -5 mamabear13 said:

Feb 10, 2017 13:51:02 GMT -5 trtlcrzy said:

What would you like to know? It's not very exciting, lol. Winter is cold and snowy, summers are mild. Blink your eyes and the weather can change. My part of the state (east river) is pretty flat with lots of farmland. The center of the state is the big Sioux river, state capitol and the reservations. The west side is where the black hills are. Lots more exciting things to see over there, including scenery. The biggest city is Sioux Falls, which is where I live. The population is around 160k so it's still pretty small by big city standards.

Cool! Are there any things specific to the area, like food or traditions?

Yep. There is something here called chislic which I learned is specific to this state. It's lamb meat (or steak) cut into cubes and fryed. We use toothpicks to pick it up, it's mostly a bar food. We also do a lot of hot dishes, like tater tot hot dish. Potlucks are big here. We also have cinnamon rolls with our chili. At sporting events they serve walking tacos, which is a personal size bag of Fritos (some people do Doritos) with taco meat and fixings in it. You eat it with a fork. I'm trying to think of anything else we do/eat that people on the board have thought was odd. I can't think of any specific traditions at the moment. Houses here are mostly ranch style or split level. We have basements because we get tornados in the spring/summer. Public transportation isn't very big here because everything is so spread out. Hunting and fishing are also popular here.

[yummeecookee]

You also have Mt Rushmore trtlcrzy!

[trtlcrzy]

Feb 10, 2017 15:25:33 GMT -5 yummeecookee said:

You also have Mt Rushmore trtlcrzy!

Well, yeah but that's on the other side of the state. I just skimmed over the black hills, lol.

[cagoldi]

Not gonna lie, I might try to make a vegan version of those walking tacos.

[mamabear13]

trtlcrzy, that all sounds delicious. And thanks for sharing, I learned something today!

[slenle]

trtlcrzy mh went to sd hunting last year and had Chislic and was so excited about it. "It's a bunch of fried meat!" So now he always wants to make it. Haha I guess you can't go wrong with fried meat.

Walking tacos are big here too, but more so with Doritos than Fritos. Funny what changes within a hundred or so miles!

[cagoldi]

Feb 10, 2017 16:38:26 GMT -5 guster said:

Feb 10, 2017 16:30:56 GMT -5 cagoldi said:

Not gonna lie, I might try to make a vegan version of those walking tacos.

A black bean chili on top of those sweet and spicy purple bag Doritos would be great.

Yes, I love those sweet chili Dorito's. might try a Frito's version, too.

[trtlcrzy]

Feb 11, 2017 16:24:42 GMT -5 @surelycantbesrs said:

trtlcrzy, don't forget Wall Drug and the Corn Palace! I learned about those from Road Rules (the MTV show that was Real World in an RV) when I was in HS and had to visit a couple of years ago when I drove across the state. It's a long drive.

Yes. Wall drug has 5 cent coffee and an animatronic t-Rex. The corn palace has a mural on the exterior made completely of corn that is changed (the design and the corn) yearly.

[yummeecookee]

Feb 11, 2017 17:28:18 GMT -5 trtlcrzy said:

Feb 11, 2017 16:24:42 GMT -5 @surelycantbesrs said:

trtlcrzy, don't forget Wall Drug and the Corn Palace! I learned about those from Road Rules (the MTV show that was Real World in an RV) when I was in HS and had to visit a couple of years ago when I drove across the state. It's a long drive.

Yes. Wall drug has 5 cent coffee and an animatronic t-Rex. The corn palace has a mural on the exterior made completely of corn that is changed (the design and the corn) yearly.

I had no idea corn palace was in SD! And I have been there! 😂

[kellykinns]

Feb 9, 2017 20:17:54 GMT -5 trtlcrzy said:

Feb 9, 2017 19:21:18 GMT -5 @peachsmama said:

Where are you again?

SD. Driving distance would be Minneapolis, Omaha, Kansas City.

Jumping in, haven't read anything....

MINNEAPOLIS!  I think we could drive there... also grandparents and great-family members!  I have built in babysitters.

Honestly we're single income right now and our budget is HUGELY tight.  Like after necessities, we have maybe 200-300 a month wiggle room.  Which is like nothing.  However, this is a long way off, but after December I'm done with school, will have time, and eventually will even have a job and money... and at some point day care is going to get cheaper.

So basically unless its close enough to drive I'm probably not going to be able to go.  But future times.... are on.

[slenle]

Yes to Minneapolis!