Return to Malarkey's

Post conference on Thursday night, PM and I decide to take in food somewhere different, then go back to Malarkey's to meet up with Babs and Pete.

We go to 'Mint' -- a local diner-type place with good food and it is all dirt cheap. I eat my first fried cheese curds. DELICIOUS. Seriously, I can't live in WI, I'll be 800 lbs. Had a good dinner and then we took a walk down the street to the mall and wandered there. After perusing the stuff, we headed back to Malarkeys.

There we met up with our bartender from the Tuesday night, Tennile, who not only remembered us but was delighted to help us pour some more Spotted Cow down our throats. We relaxed and people watched for about an hour before Babs and Pete showed up.

It was like old home week with them, all of us laughing and joking, having a wonderful night. Honestly, it was like we had known them forever. The offer of the pig roast was reiterated and I said I would try to go to it. I'm of the opinion it will be a wonderful time.

After a few hours of merriment, Babs and Pete have to head home b/c Babs has to work in the morning. We exchange hugs and business cards, sending them on their way. PM and I finish our final Spotted Cows and head back to the hotel, relaxed and happy, feeling like we've been blessed beyond words with our new friends. Good people, Babs and Pete, and I hope to get back to Wausau in July to see them.

This morning was a National Science Foundation workshop for me and then PM and I flew back to Indy. Good flights, a touch delayed but I got a nap in, as always, very important.

Just as I was leaving to head to the airport, I got a call that Pete had dropped off a book for me at the hotel that we had discussed the night before. Micki (a conference organizer) agreed to go back for it and I was happy for it. Looking forward to reading it :) It is a murder mystery set in Venice and Pete gave it high praise.

What a week. Glad to be back in Indy, already missing the clean air and water of Wisconsin and good friends Babs and Pete.