We want to begin planning our Temple meetup.  Original thread from fall is getting a bit long so starting this new one to catch people's eye so we can work out details.

April is a really busy month for me, but  April 19th or 20th would be OK; or waiting until May 3rd or 4th would be even better.    If those interested could reply here or PM me about your date preference, maybe we can narrow this down and  folks can start making some  travel plans.   The girls and I are going to go scout out the park again this wekend. 

Oh, Nat, that would be great! I don't mind I-35 at all. It's AUSTIN traffic that drives me up a wall now. I make Lance do all the driving in Austin LOL. Funny thing is......we both went to UT and traffic wasn't bad in Austin in the early 70's. But what a nightmare it can be now!

So far everyone who expressed an interest in the Temple meetup says May 3rd or 4th might be better; one vote for "either weekend", which I'll put into the most requested date tally. I'm keeping up with it on paper, so if your plans change and the other date would be better, post on this thread and I'll change your request.

I agree!  It's like they are Frank and Jesse James or something.  Button (on the left) is the mean one and Zipper (on the right) is the not quite right in the head younger sibling.  At least that's the characters they would play in a western movie.

So noted on my list, NoodlesNMe.  Still haven't heard back from 3-4 others who expressed an interest in coming. 

Pam and Gari-Ann, you guys are so funny! Button always looks so "stiff" and almost angry when I take her pic. Can't figure it out.  She doesn't look that way at all in the flesh, honest! LOL Zipper always looks a little "out-to-lunch", God love her. LOL

Austin to Temple is 60 miles. An hour drive even if traffic is bad on I35, less than an hour if light traffic.

I've noted your "flexible on date" on my list, Kacie. 

Here's the date vote so far:  Peggy, Pam, Ashley, Kacie, Bonita, Noodles'nMe, Nat can all do it on May 3rd as it stands right now.  

Last fall, rKendrick, dbleblanc and SarahK  said they might want to come.  Haven't heard from them yet on their date preferences.

Let's just go ahead and set our Temple Meetup date for Saturday, May 3rd.   Everybody seems OK with that date.   I'll continue to tally up any others that express an interest in coming.    Spouses, boyfriends, and children welcome, too.     

I've never been to a doggie meetup, so you folks who have, I'm looking for your suggestions.  I don't really know if anything goes on at these things besides gathering for a social visit and meeting everybody's doggies.  PM me or post your ideas in this thread.

I can bring hot dogs and assorted cold drinks for lunch for everyone.   Any other thoughts/ideas?

I think it will take me about 3 hours also..........chairs can do ......and contribute to meal.......love to eat.........sounds like fun.

rKendrick, Fort Worth is 2½ hrs from Temple. Houston is about 3 hrs 15 min. from Temple.  Ashley, you're in Tyler with the longest drive (about 4 hours I think), so set your alarm, girl.  

There's a nice park, Lions Park, that has real easy access from I-35.  It's also very near my house if we discover we urgently need something after arrival!   They have  picnic tables & shelters fairly close to the main entrance.  People may still want to bring more comfortable chairs though.  Wooden benches can get hard fast!  I'll work up instructions on how to get there as the event gets closer).  They have restrooms somewhere (I'll find out tomorrow when I go scout it out again).  There's also a softball field, and a jogging/walking track on the grounds.  There's also lots of wide open field space for frisbee ratties. 

Some members have a 3 hour drive.  Ashley in the Tyler area has a 150 mile drive (and not on interstate), so maybe 4 hours Ashley? If I remember right it took us 4½ to get to Mt. Pleasant when we adopted Zipper and Tyler is closer.  Let's shoot for between 12:00 and 12:30 on Saturday folks.  That way nobody has to kill themselves getting up too early and can make a leisurely drive of it.  I sure hope the weather cooperates, but my husband remembers seeing shelters if it rains.  Maybe we can just set up at the shelters to begin with to make life easier just in case.  I'll call the Parks & Recreation people this week to find out if shelters must be reserved and (for those who want to bring it) whether beer consumption is allowed in the park.

Right now I'm showing these people coming:  Peggy, Nat, Kacie, Pam, Bonita, Cat, Ashley, & rKendrick.  Let me know if I've missed anybody.   One lady in SE-Rattie Yahoo Group in Ft. Worth may join us if she's not worn out from the Rattie Jamboree trip..

LUNCH:  I'll plan on bringing my roaster oven full of hotdogs and buns for everybody and necessary condiments.  (I'll get a head count when we get closer to the date to find out how many humans will be in your party)  Will also fill my 54 qt. cooler with assorted diet/regular soft drinks.  Let me call the city and ask about beer in case some want to bring that with them.  Already have a gigantimus box of paper plates from Sam's so we're covered there.   Maybe you travelers could bring easy-to-transport stuff like cookies (maybe Pam will bring her lemon cookies from cake mix she posted a recipe for recently, hint, hint), or baked beans, or cake, or plastic forks if we do beans?  You guys decide.