TGFB!

Thank Goodness For Bunco. I am deeply indebted to my cousin Ali for inviting me to join her Bunco group almost 2 years ago. I'd hate to think where I might be (most likely the crazy house) if she hadn't reached out & offered me a social outlet. After moving here just before winter began & six weeks after having Autumn (can you say PPD?) and leaving behind a FANTASTIC circle of friends, I was in a bad way. So, about 7 months after arriving to 'the edge of civilization', I began playing Bunco with Ali and her friends in SF. Though I'd never played before and I didn't know the gals from Adam (besides my cousin), I had such a good time. And it's only gotten a whole lot better (and wilder) since then!
...Anyway, I was having so much fun with that group and unfortunately I only got to see those gals once a month, plus I still wasn't really getting to know any of the gals around here, SOOOO...I decided to start a Bunco group here in my neck of the woods! It was a challenging start (who knew that the word "Bunco" could cause so many varying reactions!) but I finally got a group together and we began playing last April. (I still play with my cousin and her friends, by the way...)

Thank Goodness For Bunco. I'd hate to think how I might be feeling (still like an outsider?) if I hadn't started playing locally. I don't think I'd feel as comfortable about living here if I hadn't begun a Bunco group. It's a different experience playing with these gals here in town, but it is still a lot of fun. And it's only gettin' more fun!

...I don't remember exactly when she first mentioned it, but a while ago Caryl (a gal in my local group) offered her time-share for a Bunco sleepover. I've had a hankering off and on for YEARS to have a sleepover with some girls, so I was all for Caryl's idea. After waiting for her availability and then organizing/arranging the details, we were off last Friday (the 2nd) to Park City...hooray! :) We had a blast; we sat & talked while waiting for Tammy & Kristi to get there (they started driving to Cheyenne-ha!) and then we had a yummy, long dinner of homemade soup (courtesy of Jessica), rolls, salad and baked potatoes with all kinds of toppings. After that we got changed and went down to the sauna/hot tub. Those of us in the hot tub spent most of the time playing "Hot Potato" or "Ball, ball" with an almost 5 year old girl from a city about 20 minutes away from ours--we told her mom that even though we were getting away from our own kids, we were happy to play with a kid that we didn't know. :) After a while, we went back up to our rooms and got in our pjs and got ready to play Bunco. Oh, first Caryl made a delectable chocolate fondue and Jessica made a tasty caramel dip. (Can't forget about the food; it's half the fun--hee!) Then we had our most roarin' round of Bunco to date!! (Was it the fact that none of us had to host it or was it the music on the radio or was it the fact that we knew we didn't have to put our kids to bed later--'course, I should note that we didn't even start playing 'til after 11...???) Some might tell you it was all because of me and my silliness, but...... :) Anyway, after playing Bunco, a few of us fiddled around with make-up (my friend Karyn 'made me over') while most of the gals played Cranium...and of course, there was plenty of talking. By 2am, those of us still up (Annette had already hit the hay and Tanmmy was in bed but in the same room as the rest of us) decided to call it a night. Then while Karyn and I tried to get comfortable on the lumpy bed (it was a king), we gabbed some more 'til Karyn fell asleep mid-sentence. :) Unfortunately, we had to get going early the next morning (check-out was at 10am; I've never had it that early). We had French Toast and oranges for breakfast and then got on our way. We then spent the next 2-3 hours at the outlets before grabbing some lunch at Bajio (yay!) and then heading home. I was so, so tired (reminded me of how I used to feel coming home from a sleepover back in the day--or coming home from Girl's Camp) but it was so, so worth it! :) Thanks again, Caryl. And I wasn't kidding when I asked if it was going to become a yearly tradition... :)

OK, so these gals are probably going to FREAK when they see this picture, but oh well...they knew I was documenting the event for my blog... :) Starting in the back row, left: Kristi, Caryl, Kimra, Annette, Terra...front row, left: Jessica, Tammy, Karyn and me (it just now occurred to me that Karyn's probably conveying how she feels about me demanding that I get a picture...!) :)

Back story: I'd been kinda frettin', kinda whinin' about whether or not there'd be enough chocolate (where there is Bunco, there must be chocolate) for our sleepover...SO, once Caryl whipped up her fondue, she and Kimra found me (I was on the balcony talking to Peter who'd been in ID all week) and surprised me (I had my back to them) when she SHOVED the chocolate-covered spoon in my face. Unfortunately, Kimra couldn't get my camera figured out to capture the 'moment of surprise', but she did snap this before going back inside. :)

This photo is AWESOME in a couple of ways...! Caryl usually starts mellow at a typical Bunco night and then gets kooky-hyper right near the end of playing. In Park City, she didn't waste any time! :) :) Also, she said that there isn't a picture with her in it since 15 YEARS AGO...I bet she's exaggerating, but still I know what she means; there probably aren't very many since as the mom you're usually the one taking the pic...so, I think it is HILARIOUS that I got such a rare thing (a photo of Caryl) with THIS expression on her face!!!

Terra just got her first Bunco--yippee!! ('Course, that's not the way she was feeling about me taking her picture...wwwahhahah!) :)


Kimra just got her first Bunco--look at her lookin' all "glam" in her fancy jammies! (I should say here that Terra & Kimra had never been to a Bunco night before...we're always happy to have newcomers; I'm constantly trying to invite other gals--ahem, ahem to four of you who should know who you are!!!) :)

me in my super silly state :)