The Philadelphia Story - Completed 2/18
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BostonTeaParty · 02-07-2005, 09:45 PM

I suppose we should get this thing started. As I said "we got a lot of 'splainin' to do.

I am counting on all the participants to jump in and offer their point-of-view. (and their pictures).

Who: A cast of thousands

What: A Passporter Meet

When: Saturday and Sunday - February 5th and 6th, 2005

Where: Philadelphia, PA

Why: Why not????

It all started so innocently. My doorbell rang just before 8:30 a.m., Saturday morning. It was Janine (FanOfMickey), here to pick me up for our ride to the airport in Manchester, NH. I kissed my husband goodbye, grabbed a bottle of water and my overnight bag, and ran out the door. Our plan was to meet Marie (CRCrazy) at the airport around 9:30 a.m. The drive was smooth and uneventful. Janine and I talked about work, her upcoming trip(s), various postings on the boards, and of course, the fact that in just a couple of hours we'd be touching down in Philadelphia for yet another Passporter Meet! The weather was cooperating - we had blue skies, mild temps., and sunshine. There was snow on the ground, but the roads were clear and the driving was a breeze. Before we knew it, we were at the airport. We were getting very excited! We parked and made our way to the elevator. A family with young children was following us, bogged down with a stroller, luggage, etc. I held the door so they could step inside the lobby and share an elevator with us. Janine struck up a conversation with them, and can you guess where they were going? That's right - Orlando! The Mom was telling us they had resevations for CRT for their little girl. They seemed really excited and we were happy for them. But we had reached our floor, and after wishing them a safe trip we stepped out into the lobby and there, looming right in front of us, was a statue of a giant moose! This wasn't just any moose - oh no - this was an anatomically correct moose!

I did a double take! "Janine! Look at that Moose! It's a boy moose!" I said while cracking up laughing. I mean, this was a BIG moose. I am short ("petite" Tara calls me), and I was eye level with...well... I averted my eyes.

Sitting nearby was Marie. We instantly walk over to her and exchange greetings, shared our thoughts on "the moose" with her, and then headed upstairs on the escalator to grab coffee and check in for our flight. We got in the line at Dunkin' Donuts, placed our orders and found a table. We passed the time talking, and enjoying a light breakfast until it was time to board our Southwestern flight to Philly. Marie always has great stories to share about her family and her job as a teacher. She filled us in on what was new with her and before we knew it, it was time to go! I haven't flown in a while and I thought it was funny that we had to take our shoes off. Janine and I got through security no problem. Here comes Marie and BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! off go the alarms. Okay Marie, how many times have we told you to leave your gun at home!...I'm just kidding...she didn't really have a gun...it was her camera...really! She forgot and left it in her coat pocket. She made it through on the second pass - whew!

Next Up: UP, UP and AWAY

GoofyMom · 02-08-2005, 10:38 AM

Ok, a TR that starts with a MOOSE! You just know this is going to be great!

joyful1nh · 02-08-2005, 11:06 AM

Don't ya love that moose? We should name him

Maybe Marty the Moose (from the original Vacation movie)?

debsta922 · 02-08-2005, 11:39 AM

Very funny! I've walked pass that moose many times and have to say I've never noticed that he was anatomically correct!

OffKilter_Lynn · 02-08-2005, 11:55 AM

What?! No pictures of the moose?!

[img]http://smileys.*************.com/cat/16/16_3_168.gif[/img]

loobyoxlip · 02-08-2005, 12:48 PM

WE WANT PICTURES!

WE WANT PICTURES!!

WE WANT PICTURES!!!

barries5199 · 02-08-2005, 01:34 PM

I guess I never thought of moose as viewed thru the eyes of the vertically challenged.

I'm sure I will remember this TR the next time I see one--and we do see them a lot in town this time of year!

BostonTeaParty · 02-08-2005, 03:24 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I guess I never thought of moose as viewed thru the eyes of the vertically challenged.

I'm sure I will remember this TR the next time I see one--and we do see them a lot in town this time of year!

[/ QUOTE ]

That's exactly why I happened to notice his...anatomy. I was at eye level with it. Marie...or Janine...can you help us out with a picture of Bullwinkle? I didn't bring a camera.

**chezp** · 02-08-2005, 03:33 PM

This is such a great start - I can't wait to read more!

joyful1nh · 02-13-2005, 01:35 PM

[ QUOTE ]
WE WANT PICTURES!

WE WANT PICTURES!!

WE WANT PICTURES!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Love the trip report, btw! I notice no one has posted pics of the moose yet -- I'm flying out of MHT week after next to FLL & I promise to take moose pics. I'll have my laptop with me, so if all goes well you'll see them posted here around the 26th unless someone else beats me to it.

I must confess that I'm 6' -- so I too missed out on noticing certain parts of the moose's anatomy -- guess I'll have to have my 7 year old take the photo to give us the right perspective!

elbug10 · 02-14-2005, 03:23 AM

Just catching up with this fantastic TR! Sounds like you all had a BLAST together! Loving all the different points of view, and the pics are great, too! Next PP meet let me know; I"m only a train ride away from NY or Boston, and it's probably not much farther to Philly.

Nancy, I know what you mean about feeling weird about getting into a "stranger's" car at the Airport; I did the same thing in November when I met Tara at WDW. It should've been awkward, but we felt like we'd always known each other, and I didn't have any hesitation about getting into a car w/ someone I'd never met (says the girl who's never heard from again! Don't worry, I only do that with Passporters!). Other people don't understand that though, and I'm still hearing "you did WHAT???" from friends...

Philly sounds like lots of fun and a beautiful city. Would love to try a mushroom cheesesteak wit' cheez whiz at Pat's

So sorry Tara got "the flu" or, since it was Coronas, Montezuma's Revenge?

Okay, next segment, please!

FanOfMickey · 02-08-2005, 07:44 PM

LOL that moose is too funny. I will try to shoot up to the airport next time I am at my sisters house, she is pretty much just down the street from the airport.

luvnwdwgal · 02-08-2005, 08:00 PM

Great start! Looking forward to more along with a picture of that moose!

BostonTeaParty · 02-09-2005, 07:39 AM

UP, UP AND AWAY - The Philadelphia Story continues...

We boarded the plane and found seats together. In a very short time we were in the air and on our way! Marie and I passed the time trading labor and delivery war stories. Poor Janine got all the intimate details of our childbirth experiences.

A flight attendant came by with complimentary drinks and peanuts. It seemed we had just finished our snacks when they announced we were preparing for landing. All we had to do was grab our bags from the overhead compartment, and head outside to look for a green suburban. Well we got outside, and saw the car almost immediately. However, we saw some other people head over to it, and it looked like it was their ride. Okay, we'll look for another green suburban. Wait a minute - no - those people were now walking away from the suburban. On closer inspection the two women emerging from the vehicle looked a lot like Tara and Lynn. In fact, it was them! We headed over and excited greetings were exchanged all around. We were laughing at how we had taken a flight to Philly, to meet and get in a car with, people we had never met before!!

Only Passporters!! The weird part was, it didn't feel weird at all!! It felt like we were meeting up with old friends we had known for years. One of my first thoughts on seeing Lynn was "wow, she's carrying small."

Yes, they got me good with the "Lynn is pregnant" joke. I never read the follow-up on the boards, and here I was telling Janine and Marie on the way down that Lynn was expecting. (Note to self: In the future, read all follow-ups on Passporters!) So, we piled into the suburban and headed to our first stop - Pats - for Philly cheesesteaks! Driving through the city, especially south Philly, we noted how similar it was to Boston. We even had the same beautiful weather in Philly that we had back home. Tara found a spot to park, and we walked the remaining distance. One thing about Philly that sets it apart from anyplace I've ever seen, are the many murals painted onto buildings. They are quite unusual and interesting, a real conversation piece. Well, we got to Pats, just across from Geno's, and there were lines at both places. I was the last to order so I could watch everyone else and make sure I got it right. I certainly didn't want to get sent to the back of that line! I think we all ordered "wit", and maybe it was just me, but it felt surreal to be ordering from the same place I had just watched on the Food Network only recently. We all squished in around a small table and enjoyed our first taste of Philly. We took some pictures, strolled back over to the car, and headed to the hotel to check-in.

Coming up: A RUN IN With May 5TH