Friday night, October 17, 2008 will live on in infamy as the best wine tasting party ever! Cindy, Marty, and Susie really out-did themselves.

There were so many wines - sweet white, table, dry - pinks and slightly reds - sweet reds, table, dry - and even some that have no category at all. We all know which ones I mean   White Truck was fairly well received, but Red Truck won the award for filling the spit bowl. I can't believe I lost the list!

And the food was fabulous - cheese, crackers, sausage, nuts and candies, chips, bread, and dips, and chocolate fondue! Susie's pumpkin bars are to die for; they melt in your mouth!

If that wasn't enough to sate a body, there were games - pool, wii, and rock band. The guys started a fire proving they are all very macho and can take the bitter cold. Then they roasted hot dogs and there was more food consumed.

Not done yet, though, then some of the gals played Guestures upstairs. Women danced and swam on the floor. While they guys held a best two out of three, pool tournament downstairs.

We finally called it quits well into the wee hours of the morning. What a night! If this is how our mixed activities are going to go, I need more sleep before hand!

Due to the overwhelming popularity and enjoyment of mixed QCBTS Mississippi Sisters and their significant others, future mixed evenings are planned. We talked about a mystery dinner night in February. And Rhonda wants to have us all back out to her place for a special Christmas party. I hear our Victorian decorator goes all out for Christmas! You won't want to miss this one. It will be the second or third Friday night in December. I can't find that piece of paper either!

What a wonderful group of gals! Thank you all, especially Cindy, so much for an unforgetable evening

"Hmm, beer!"

 Rain did not dampen the fun at Rhonda's bonfire and beer tasting party. Sure there was no fire; by the end of the night it was "raining cats and dogs", but everyone had a great time. She has an out-building perfect for casual parties.

To keep us from floating away on all the beer, Rhonda fed us hot dogs, chips, and pie! Most of us preferred the wheat beers, but there were some nice darker blends too. (Frankly, I don't know anything about beer. I drink Michelob Light.) It was an education.

Rhonda graciously granted tours of her completely remodeled - and I have to say absolutely gorgeous - farm house. It is like walking into a living museum or your maiden aunt's home a hundred or more years ago. Brimming with antiques, it is indescribable! She could sell tours.

Consensus was overwhelming that having significant others join us occasionally is a good idea. Cindy decided to invite them back for the wine tasting party in October. It wasn't just husbands; Cara brought her baby boy, Rhonda's dog and cat joined us for much of the night, and a tree frog took up residence on the outside of the windowed door. His visit invited a great deal of interest all around.

 The August meeting was held at 7 pm on the 6th at El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant, 3566 N. Brady Street, Davenport.  Cathy was right; they do have the BEST margaritas in town!  We drank four pitchers.

After dinner and drinks we headed to the Stockade for some tequila and music.  A few of us even went dancing after that.  I can't do it often, but closing down the bars is a lot of fun!  Thanks to Cathy, Rhonda, Pam, Dawn, and Cindy for making it a night to remember.

Bellydancing in Iowa City with the Tipton Blue Thong Society was a real kick!  We enjoyed two hours of techniques, tips, and tummy tucking exercises.  Shira even let us dance with scarves - very beautiful.  Dinner afterward was very tasty.  Thanks to Cindy for getting us all together.  Thanks to Karie, Karol, and Cindy for making it a wonderful afternoon.

 Mama Mia was delightful! Cathy, Rhonda, Pam, Cindy, Susie, and I all met at the Showcase Cinemas 53 for popcorn, soda, and a seaside romp on a Greek island with Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, and Pierce Brosnan among others. The costuming was elaborately 60-70's funk. Show tunes were so creatively choreographed that I couldn't stop laughing. I want to sing "Take a Chance on Me" while scaling the rooftops of an island chateau.

Actors' emotions came across well, but the singing was a bit stiff. We kept asking ourselves, "Does s/he sing? I didn't know they sang." Of course, most musical tunes are the easiest to sing even for beginners.

After the movie, we stopped at Kelly's Irish Pub for a couple of rounds and some catching up. It was great to see Cindy and Susie again.

Cathy, Rhonda, Pam, Tyla, Cara, Leah, and I met at Pat McGuire's to celebrate our first anniversary as the Quad Cities Blue Thong Society, Mississippi Sisters. I hope everyone had a great time.

Our next meeting will be held Wednesday, August 6th at El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant in Davenport. This is Cathy's favorite hangout. They do make excellent Margaritas! Maybe it will become our favorite hangout too.

I think I can safely say the Quad Cities Blue Thong Society, Mississippi Sisters were the best represented group of the night - well, except for the bands of course. Six of us attended the festivities to ring in Summer 2008. Dawn handed out a ton of my cute thong business cards. They were a big hit with the girls at the ticket table.

Four of us checked into our room at Stoney Creek Inn - sweet diggs! We had a room right on the main floor with a window overlooking the Bass Street Landing, where the concert was held. All wearing our Mississippi Sisters t-shirts, we grabbed a pizza at Bad Boyz and totted off to the concert. We met Dawn and her friend at the Landing. The first band played for about an hour but Cat Fight played a good couple of hours plus an encore. The crowd was small but enthusiastic and well worth fighting the early stormy weather to attend as the evening turned into the most perfect night.

Cat Fight finished about eleven so we went to the River House to hear the Blue Fuzzy Monkeys. They are a great up and coming band! They play a jazzy, bluesy sort of rock - fun to dance to. It is so rare to find a drummer who sings lead. They are local, so check them out sometime!

That band quit at midnight and we went to Bent River to hear another band, but they weren't quite our style and we did not seem too impressed with the Mississippi Blonde beer. Back to the Inn we stumbled. A dip in the hot tub sounded great, but it was already closed for the evening. All jammied and ready for bed, Rhonda accidentally (sure...wink, wink) hit the buy button and we were treated to an adult film. Well, we couldn't turn it off after she had to pay for it, now could we?

I was the first to rise the next morning. I went for a swim and met Pam in the Galley for a bite. She had to run. Cathy was off too. Rhonda and I stuck around for a little while and then followed suit. All in all it was a fun way to relive our teen years. I don't even feel tired...yet.

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Saturday, June 14th, nine of us ran - well walked - in the Race for the Cure to help fight breast cancer. It was a beautiful morning, not too hot with clear skies.

  Karol, Rhonda, and I met at Ruby Tuesdays before and after the Sex and the City movie premiere. Cosmos anyone?

I have never seen so many women in one place before in my life! They took over the entire theatre complex. Every where you looked - a sea of women. Even the restaurant was packed with groups of women, young and old. We even ran into Tyla. Is everyone ready for the race?

A few brave men attended the movie with their wives and/or girlfriends, but I didn't notice any Stanford and Anthony couples.

The movie reached new character depths. There are a few character surprises for fun and a rich tapestry of emotional upheavals. If you get a chance, I highly recommend it.

Anyone up for a Mamma Mia movie night? Let me know if you are.

Lora

The May meeting was chocked full of fun.

We heard all about the capers in Cabo. Rhonda even shared her photo album. She also made icy margaritas for everyone in honor of Cinco de Mayo - yum.

Pam shared her artistic talents and a couple of beautiful bonsai trees she has been working on for years.

We watched the Julie Sisk's WQAD Channel 8 special report video featuring US.

Cathy led the brainstorming session on ideas for group names.

We signed up for Race for the Cure. We made plans to design, make, and wear matching t-shirts.

Beautiful plants were exchanged. Ladies, you out-did yourselves! Pam, I still have yours; you left too early.

We even decided to book a room at Stony Creek for the night of Chicks That Rock in Moline for an after concert slumber party. Who's game?

What a hoot! This group just keeps getting better and better!