Mosaic FYI & RSVP for Trip!

Can't tell you how fun it is to see new comments and pictures! The blog will be a fun gift in itself for Allyson as well.

Janelle, the mosaic idea came from Mike's sister Nicole in Austin. She has graciously offered to complete a mosaic frame, vase or other object with a collage of images, etc. The mosaic tiles will be clear. I am collecting images from everyone. It could be something that ties you to or reminds you of Allyson - of a person, place or thing. Post the image(s) on the blog or email to me at PamMelaKate@yahoo.com. I am going to create a graphic montage and enhance it to send to Nicole to apply and mosaic over. You have so much experience with co-creative projects with Allyson there in Tucson, if you have any suggestions let us know!

EVERYONE: Nicole and I have been emailing about the execution of the mosaic. She will gather more info on the options. She also had a great suggestion that QUOTES could also be added to the collage. She also suggested adding school logos and significant buildings which I've been downloading. Note you can send more then one if you want!

DEADLINE to submit images, etc: Next Friday, March 9th!

RSVP FOR TRIP! Vote for your date so everyone can start planning!

Better late than never?

Hello everyone. I am Janelle, one of Allyson's Tucson friends. I am also embarrassed it has taken me so long to get on the blog! Where did February go?

I met Allyson when we moved here for my husband to get his Master's degree. There was a group of graduate students that got together weekly for a progressive dinner that took place at people's apartments, etc. on a rotating schedule. My first memory of Allyson was she called me to invite me to a movie with the girls in the group and I remember how thoughtful that was especially since I was just a spouse and not really part of the group. But that is typical of Allyson, now that I know her well.

This picture is us working on her Save the Date cards with my four year old, Brendan. She always finds ways to include him and patiently works with him.

I am usually up for travel and have never been to Portland, so that would be great. It is also easy for me to get to San Diego, Vegas or Tucson! :) I think April 6th will be tough for me since it is Easter and my husband always has a huge tennis tournament that weekend (he is a coach) and I have to take care of my children. The last two weekends in March (24th and 31st) look best for me. I can do before the wedding too, we will be there on Thursday...

I love the mosiac idea. Are you thinking Allyson-Bubba pictures only or us with Allyson or both?

more pictures

Hello group! I'm glad the mosaic/collage idea is coming along. I'm still in search of better pictures (the ones that we took on Allyson's camera) but it may take a little more effort on my part. In the meantime, I found these three and thought I should add them to the hen's blog.

This first one is when Allyson came to visit 'the belly' when I was pregnant. She was the only person who wanted to see me instead of waiting to see the baby!

The second one (above) and this one (left) are from when Allyson & Bubba came to visit us last Memorial Day. Perhaps soon we'll be looking at pictures with their own little one in them. I have to say, Bubba's nieces and nephews have trained them both well - they were so good with Logan!

Ok, I'm looking forward to all of the other Allyson pictures you find! Thanks for posting the ones you found Teresa!

Thanks, Pam!

The girls weekend of April 6 would work best for me. I could also squeeze a trip in April 13th possibly too. I love Portland - it will be fun to visit.

Teresa

Decisions, Decisions....

Muddling through those snap shots? Can't decide? No clue? Go with your gut girls. Pick a picture to submit for the mosaic - maybe it makes you laugh, reminds you of a visit with Allyson, something/someone you know she adores, or maybe it just gives you those oh so warm fuzzy feelings. Don't hold back! Time is ticking ladies... so can you get me these by next Friday, March 9th? Upload here on the hen's den or email me at PamMelaKate@yahoo.com.

Itching for an escape? A little R&R with just the girls? Here's your opportunity. Allyson is really touched at our interest in a gathering. Her schedule does coincide with the suggested dates of late March/early April! She was already planning a trip and would love to show off Portland with the diverse range of things to do. Think of great wineries, beach, mountains, endless diverse restaurants and have you seen how beautiful and green the City of Roses is? As the unofficial poster child for P-town.... you might be tempted via one of the websites below. Any one can stay with me. Butler here at your service available as your personal chauffeur. Of course Max rail is state of the art to our top rated PDX Int'l airport - hear that down under? So which weekend works for you? Mar 23, 30 or Apr 6, 13? Majority vote wins!

http://www.portlandmonthlymag.com/this_issue/

http://www.portlandpicks.com/index2.php

http://www.oregonlive.com/

http://www.willametteweek.com/

Moving On Then!

Hello and Happy Friday! Sorry for delay in follow-up. I wanted to give everyone a chance to comment on the trip and mosaic gift idea. Also I have to check with Allyson about her travel schedule and availability. I've told her that a few are interested in Tucson/Portland/San Diego and dates mentioned. I will try to have this ready at the first of next week for those interested to start planning. That is all she knows - the rest is just between us!

As for the mosaic. It sounds like a good idea to the group? Don't be shy if you have an alternate preference! Why don't we get the ball rolling. EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO CONTRIBUTE SHOULD POST A PICTURE ON THE BLOG OR EMAIL TO ME DIRECTLY at PamMelaKate@yahoo.com. How about by Friday, March 9th? I will start working on the image collage that weekend. Nicky let me know if you have time to do the vase/frame. I will identify the mosaic options I can execute here. Thanks for such a great suggestion!

*pamela

Another thought

Hi all -

Picking up on the idea of piggybacking a bachelorette party onto one of Allyson's pre-planned trips to Portland, we could think about doing the same thing for one of her trips to San Diego. I don't know when she is going down there, but I imagine she would make at least one trip out before the wedding.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Tiffanny

Hi Everyone - I found some pictures from a trip to New York to visit Pam in January 2004. I love the one of Allyson showing her ballet steps for us after being inspired by seeing the ballet in NYC. The others are of Pam, Allyson and me.

Now- getting to Pam's questions. I love the mosaic idea. That sounds great. I also love the idea of getting together for a quick bachelorette trip for those who can get away. Should we have Pam check with Allyson for her schedule and preference of locations?

Hello to you all! Pam, this is a great idea! I imagine one of the best parts of this will be that Allyson can catch up on our conversations after all is said and done - she'll love that you were so sneaky!! I have to congratulate you also on getting me to do something new. Like Diane I just got a digital camera this year and I'm way behind the curve. Bubba once told my husband and I that we need to 'live in the now' - Allyson and Bubba will be very impressed that you got me to blog! I wanted to really stretch and upload a picture of Allyson too - but they're on the home computer, so for this posting I had to put one of Logan - but I'll have Allyson photos soon!

ok, the back story. Allyson and I knew each other in graduate school (seems to be a common theme) and we had one class together. Three years later, I had moved to Bloomington, Indiana and my first week there I was jogging along and Allyson pulls into a parking lot ahead of me (yes, sounds creepy until I realized who it was) and hopped out to say hello. Once we got over what an odd coincidence it was that we ended up in the same place after not having seen each other for years we made up for lost time and spent nearly every weekend together for the next three years (except of course when Allyson was off traveling!). We were lucky that Allyson and Bubba got together before she moved so we've gotten to know him over the past few years as well. They both visited last fall, met our new little baby and we had a great visit. I am so happy for them both - and also for the chance to get to 'chat' with all of you!

So, as for a bachelorette event. I love the crafts idea - the mosaic would be really nice. I put together a scrapbook for my mom's birthday last year and everyone contributed pages, but i think the mosaic might be a nicer idea because it can be displayed somewhere. I'm sure I can dig up a few pictures (although most were on Allyson's digital camera - I'll have to see what I can find!). I'd love to meet up for a bachelorette party, but like Tania I may have trouble getting away from maternal demands! Still, a trip to Tucson or Portland might be a possibility.

Allyson and I have been joking for a while that her 'destination wedding' really needed to be in Indiana. We could experience high culture (I sent her an article on a hog tying event), fine dining (tenderloin sandwiches, perhaps?), and beautiful weather (right now we are in an ice storm, for example). [Jen, when you log on - please forgive me for this!]. So, I'll just throw this out there: anyone for a wild night on the town in the heartland?

This is such a nice idea - and its great to meet you all!

Kim

Hi!

This is Diane. I went to graduate school with Allyson (and Tania, too). Allyson entered the program a couple of years after me and as you all know - once you've met her, you can't not love her! I am so fortunate to have her as a friend.

I still live in Tucson because I ended up meeting the love of my life here (also named Mike), so here I have stayed. I was never so happy as when Allyson decided to come back. As I know that will end once she and Bubba have settled, I've got to milk the time left for all it is worth! We've had the pleasure of meeting up with Bubba twice now when he's been in town and are so happy that two such nice people have found each other.

It sounds like all of us getting together somewhere to do something for her might be tricky even on the wedding weekend. I'm undergoing treatment for cancer right now, so I don't know whether I'll be able to travel - although I love to and might be able to swing it if the timing was right. One question I have about that is, if there is travel for Allyson involved, then there would be travel costs for her, no? Does she have plans to travel to Portland or any of the other locales (besides Tucson of course) that we could piggy-back on? If not, then I would be willing to pitch in for her travel if that was necessary.

I wonder if there's a way to have a "virtual" bachelorette party? I'm not the most creative of persons so I'm not sure how this would work. Maybe we could each pick an activity for her that we can arrange (or if it is in Tucson, I can arrange) or all pitch in on creating a day for her that she would enjoy? A little pampering, a little vino, some crafting, perhaps? I don't know...Or if she does have travel plans already to various places, then maybe we can create a multiple-city virtual bachelorette party?

Aside from a venue, a mosaic sounds wonderful, though - and I'm happy to contribute to any gift. I am sad to say that I don't have many pictures of us despite her years here. I'm sure this dates me, but I didn't get a digital camera until this year and haven't had a working camera for, well, a long time. I could probably come up with something, though! I am envious of you artists out there. I can't even draw a circle!

Thanks for setting up the blog, Pam. And it is great to e-meet the rest of you. I've heard lots of wonderful things about all of you.

Hi everyone!

This is Tiffanny. I am Bubba's sister and Allyson's sorority sister from UCLA. This is my first time "blogging" so I'm just figuring it out. Pam, thanks for going through all the trouble to set this up. I'm glad Nicky, who is much more creative than me, was able to come up with the mosaic idea. I would also be up for a getaway bachelorette trip. It will be a one nighter for me because that's about all my hubby can handle with our little ones. My only suggestion for the locale is that it be somewhere with minimal travel issues. For example, Portland and Tucson are probably easier than Squaw because they are close to airports while Squaw would require renting cars and driving (I think) about an hour. I am available on the weekends of March 30th and April 20th. I am not available to do anything on the wedding weekend because we are flying in Friday morning. I'm anxious to hear what every one else thinks. Talk to you all soon!

Now We're Cooking!

Great feedback ladies and glad you all like.... "the hens blog". Love to hear bits on each other and find out how we all interconnect. We'll be old friends by the time we actually meet at the wedding!

Nicole... it's Nicky right? FAN-TAS-TIC idea on the mosaic. That's exactly the sort of project I had in mind. I've never heard of the photos behind the clear tile. Black & white photos could be stunning. I'm an apparel designer with graphic art experience and can offer to do a photo montage of photos from everyone. What does everyone think about that?

Nicky, are you sure you want to take this on? There are similar workshops here I could also do this if you are too busy! To minimize the time, how does this plan sound.

1. Everyone votes on a frame & vase shape/style options. Are there mosaic shapes to the clear to pick from?
2. Everyone will email me a picture of something Mike & Allyson-esce. Either a place, people or event you share with them. ie: anything aussie, Indy 500, great memory group shots
3. I will create a photo montage, approve it with everyone, then forward to Nicky to apply and mosaic?

As far as any pregathering, if there are only a few interested we can still make an intimate trip. Of course the more the merrier! Any one else interested in Squaw or Portland late March/early April? Same with a Thursday night or Friday brunch before the wedding?

*pamela