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View Full Version : Central Texas (Meet in the Middle)



tandaina
May 6th, 2013, 04:49 PM
Central Texas folks (Austin, Dallas, Temple/Killeen, Waco)

I notice from the map there are a number of us, now there is a good solid pen club in Dallas, but for the rest that can be quite a haul. I'm wondering if there would be any interest in a meetup a couple times a year a sort of "meet in the middle" in either Waco or Kileen (which are roughly halfway between Dallas and Austin) to try to unite the central Texas pen folks?

I'm in Waco and would be happy to organize and host if there is interest!

caribbean_skye
May 7th, 2013, 03:51 PM
I'm in Killeen but am in Austin at least twice a month, so either would be good for me.

caleath
May 7th, 2013, 08:22 PM
Wow hope you guys make it happen. My dad lives in Waco and bought me some stationary there, the lady that runs the shop told him that she plans to start selling fountain pen stuff. I will find out more and post info then.

tandaina
May 7th, 2013, 08:32 PM
Please do, right now there is no where in town to get fountain pens or ink, or even decent paper really. Would love a local source!

GourmetPens
May 7th, 2013, 08:42 PM
Hey! I'm in Austin myself. I'd be interested in a pen meet :) I have no clue what one does at a pen meet but that doesn't matter, right? Pen people, pens... it must be awesome. There is another lovely pen friend here in Austin (though I don't think she's on the forums here) that would probably be interested as well!

tandaina
May 8th, 2013, 07:52 AM
I assume we drink coffee and ooo and ahh over each other's pens? ;)

GourmetPens
May 8th, 2013, 10:19 AM
I assume we drink coffee and ooo and ahh over each other's pens? ;)
That sounds pretty awesome. I do that at home from my computer heehee! In person would be way more fun!

caleath
May 8th, 2013, 03:59 PM
https://www.facebook.com/pages/noteworthy-waco/278651076691

Thisis the shop that my dad got they stationary from. You guys might want to drop by and give some incouraging to the owners . Heck you might even talk them in to having your meetings there.

amaranzano
May 8th, 2013, 05:25 PM
I'm in San Antonio but would love to take a drive

tandaina
May 8th, 2013, 06:13 PM
Sounds like there is some interest. Since Austin is fun and a good excuse to visit is always nice I'll chose a date and a time and place and we'll see who shows up!

tandaina
May 9th, 2013, 10:29 AM
Thanks for the link!

caribbean_skye
May 10th, 2013, 06:41 PM
Hehe I thought we'd meet up and drool over GourmetPens' pens and ink! :) Kidding.

I'd love a meet up, just lemme know. As for the one in Waco, oooh, I may be there at the end of the month, if so I'll certainly head over there and check it out. I'd love a local source for paper and ink.

KrazyIvan
May 16th, 2013, 10:00 AM
I might be in Dallas sometime in the next two weeks (don't know a date yet) for work. If it is held during the week in the evening I might be able to show up. :)

KrazyIvan
May 16th, 2013, 02:22 PM
Almost confirmed for the 27th of May, late flight out to Dallas.

caribbean_skye
May 16th, 2013, 05:27 PM
Depending on how long you'll be in for KI, if we haven't figured out a time/place for our first meet-up, maybe we (royal we) can arrange to meet someplace halfway between for dinner or something, if you're interested that is.

KrazyIvan
May 16th, 2013, 09:46 PM
Looks like it will be until Friday afternoon. As long as you don't mind my coworker tagging along. He has the rental car. While he does not share the pen geekiness, he has seen every single one of my pens and plays along pretty well. :D

tandaina
May 17th, 2013, 10:29 AM
I'm in Nashville this week. 😉 will try to set a date and place when I get home!

KrazyIvan
May 23rd, 2013, 09:23 AM
One of our teams is in Dallas this week and their reports are that I may not have enough time or I may be too tired to go far from the city. They are working 12 hour days.

caribbean_skye
May 23rd, 2013, 10:14 AM
Oh phooey, that's a shame.

GourmetPens
May 28th, 2013, 01:51 PM
Hey! I received this email a few days ago. Thought I'd share it in case you hadn't seen it!

3078

caleath
May 28th, 2013, 03:07 PM
I plan on goin to that, hard to believe its in Buffalo, that's where we used to go to sell cows.

Robert
May 28th, 2013, 04:29 PM
Thanks for posting this. Might be worth a trip from Houston. I didn't know that the Lone Star Pen Club was still active. Some years back they hosted an annual show at the JW Marriott near the Galleria, which was small but interesting.

tandaina
May 28th, 2013, 04:34 PM
I'm hoping to make it to the swap, would be great to meet folks! We need a HoT FPGeeks badge so we can ID each other. ;)

mmahany
May 28th, 2013, 04:37 PM
I'm in Central Austin myself. I'd certainly be interested in a meet.

KrazyIvan
May 30th, 2013, 09:37 PM
Last night here in the area. It's been fun but lots of work. I might be back in July for another week so maybe things might come together then.

caribbean_skye
May 31st, 2013, 05:17 PM
I'm not going to be able to make it to the swap :( it's right in the middle of my work schedule (noon to 2 on saturday). Shame too, otherwise I'd certainly be going.

KrazyIvan
June 15th, 2013, 04:45 PM
I'll be back in Dallas (Richardson really) the week of July 8.

tandaina
June 15th, 2013, 04:51 PM
How would Friday or Saturday of that week work for folks? We could do dinner Friday night, or we could do brunch Saturday. I'm thinking Austin for either. So that's either the 12th or 13th?

Ya'll vote and we'll pick one and I'll be holding down a table!

mmahany
June 15th, 2013, 05:44 PM
Preferably Friday Dinner for me personally. My Saturdays are usually spent recovering from Friday nights.

caribbean_skye
June 17th, 2013, 01:01 PM
My preference is for Friday as I work on Saturdays.

Heliotrope
June 17th, 2013, 07:04 PM
Just found this thread. I'm in Austin. A pen meet sounds like fun.

KrazyIvan
June 23rd, 2013, 07:37 AM
I received my itinerary on Friday. I leave that Friday afternoon. :( I am on my own this trip. If anyone wants to meet up during that week, let me know. I may be house hunting or at least checking out neighborhoods too.

tarheel1
June 23rd, 2013, 09:02 AM
I am in Killeen and would love meet ups. Wish I still lived in Dallas as there were a couple shops.

mmahany
June 26th, 2013, 10:21 AM
Let's make this happen people. My pens have been working too hard and need a vacation. They've already started packing their bags:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b186/mmahany/20130626_110647_zps883fc413.jpg (http://s19.photobucket.com/user/mmahany/media/20130626_110647_zps883fc413.jpg.html)

tandaina
June 26th, 2013, 10:40 AM
OK, let's go with Friday dinner on the 12th in Austin! I'll find a place as we get closer to it!

caribbean_skye
June 26th, 2013, 02:15 PM
Awesome. I'm in.

tandaina
July 10th, 2013, 09:11 AM
How does Mi Madres sound? I can get their back room so we'll have quiet enough to talk and a table to lay out pens on.

caribbean_skye
July 11th, 2013, 05:52 PM
That sounds fine with me. What time shall we meet and what is everyone bringing?

tandaina
July 11th, 2013, 06:02 PM
6? I'll bring my currently inked pens and some I don't use anymore and am looking to get rid of/trade.

caribbean_skye
July 12th, 2013, 10:31 AM
I probably won't be able to be there much before 7pm but I'll be there.

tandaina
July 12th, 2013, 01:03 PM
Ok, we'll hang out.

tandaina
July 12th, 2013, 01:30 PM
Any other RSVPs? My husband and I will arrive around 6:30 and will need to head out around 7:30 to make the drive back to Waco!

mmahany
July 12th, 2013, 02:50 PM
I have a date at 7, but I'll probably come for a bit. Mi Madres is like 3 miles from my apartment so thank you for not suggesting something in Round Rock/Pflugerville.

A word of advice: 35 is usually a madhouse in downtown Austin. It's not quite as bad on Friday, but plan yourself at least an extra 30 minutes

tandaina
July 12th, 2013, 02:55 PM
I lived in Austin for 4 years. I avoid I35 like the plague!

caribbean_skye
July 12th, 2013, 02:58 PM
Are you taking 130 or 183 in Tandaina?

tandaina
July 12th, 2013, 04:30 PM
In town I use surface streets, often seriously faster.

tandaina
July 12th, 2013, 04:37 PM
In town I use surface streets, often seriously faster.

tandaina
July 12th, 2013, 04:52 PM
Back room is closed on Friday folks so find us seated at the fist bench table as you come in the door!

quinden
July 12th, 2013, 07:09 PM
Wish I could have made it from Houston - bet everybody had a blast! Hopefully next time :)

caribbean_skye
July 12th, 2013, 07:41 PM
My car ended up having an issue en route so I wasn't able to make it. Next time!

caleath
July 15th, 2013, 09:23 AM
Well how did it go....?

mmahany
July 15th, 2013, 09:55 AM
Unfortunately, not terribly well (unless everyone showed up after I had to leave). I showed up around 5:45 drank a couple beers and stayed until 6:15 when I had to leave. Never saw anyone carrying pens around. I think we'll do a much better job of planning a time and place next time so that way everyone can plan ahead and actually get a respectable attendance.

caleath
July 15th, 2013, 10:22 AM
These things take time to start working...don't give up.

tandaina
July 15th, 2013, 10:35 AM
Odd, did we go to different restaurants? My husband and I got tere just before 6, got a table and stayed until 7:15 and never saw anyone who looks pennish! I even had my bounty spread out on the table as bait!

kenmc
July 15th, 2013, 10:40 AM
I sure hate that I missed this post! I would have attended. I live in central Louisiana but this would be the closest pen event for me. Is there any way I can get notification if you have another one of these?

kenmc
July 15th, 2013, 10:44 AM
Hey! I received this email a few days ago. Thought I'd share it in case you hadn't seen it!

3078
Sorry, I didn't see that there were 3 pages here - this is the event I hated missing! :cry:

tandaina
July 15th, 2013, 10:51 AM
Subscribe to this thread.

Yeah we need to play FAR in advance for this. Let's nail down a date in say November and we can all set aside that time on our calendars now... We'll also find a more formal restaurant where we can make a reservation and have a set start and end time. I propose the 15th of November at 6:30pm. Ending at 7:30pm (folks can obviously hang out longer if they wish) for those who drove a fair distance to get back home.

Let me know what you all think. And please pass the word along/subscribe to this thread!

KrazyIvan
July 15th, 2013, 10:56 AM
My flight was at 4:50 pm so I did not have a chance to get out there. I may be back next month. Maybe I could have my flight scheduled to leave Saturday morning instead. Then again I might be moving out there. I have posted for a position at Richardson, TX. I am just waiting to hear if I get an interview.

caleath
July 15th, 2013, 12:19 PM
Well you wont be far away from me the Ivan.

KrazyIvan
July 15th, 2013, 03:08 PM
Well you wont be far away from me the Ivan.

Cool. We will see how it works out. Still having some doubts but it's that or find something locally that pays a lot less. :(

caleath
July 15th, 2013, 03:27 PM
Well I hope it works out.

mmahany
July 16th, 2013, 09:51 AM
Odd, did we go to different restaurants? My husband and I got tere just before 6, got a table and stayed until 7:15 and never saw anyone who looks pennish! I even had my bounty spread out on the table as bait!

If that's true then I certainly feel bad. I even looked for you having a bit of an idea what you looked like (from your avatar).

And I'm far from the typical "pen person" if there is such a thing. I get “frat guy” the most often which apparently is the stereotype for a 25 year old guy who tries to dress nice.

If possible, let's not wait until November. If we schedule it too far out, people will just forget about it again (plus I’m impatient).

Maybe it’s a bit soon, but how would August 16th work for everyone? That's exactly a month from now and on a Friday. I know there are quite a few teachers on here. Once school starts it may be hard for them to attend. Austin ISD starts August 26th, so that would give them time to make this.

We’ll eventually get this back up and running. I’m happy to do whatever I can in any way. Next time I’ll make sure to give everyone my number in order to avoid this issue.