2012 Sistah's Gathering - Party is at Betty's

GOING INTERNATIONAL ... who would have thunk??? lol

I'm all excited '2012 Sistah's Gathering'. June 28/29/30/July 1 and 2nd"

Know that it has been a difficult few years and not all can attend and I'd be thrilled to have 1/2/3/ or 100

Most of you know what great friends I have so accommodation regardless of how many are coming will be provided for..that takes a chunk away from the budgeting. It will be my pleasure to provide foods..I'll be extra cautious NOT to burn or poison any of you..promise (ok I'll have help in the food dept.)

I've had a few thoughts as to what we might do..

. boat ride on Georgian Bay

. now that I have the date am going to try and confirm a day of Blessing with Elvis in attendance (you know me and
my Elvis festivals

. depending on how many, maybe lunch at Toronto CN tower

. sightseeing in Midland - town of Murals and Martyrs Shrine etc.

. Canada Day celebrations

and whatever we can drum up lol


If life doesn't throw any punches and the good Lord willing, we'll be partying with


LindaKay
Judy and Steve
Barb/Norm
B.J./ Joanna Burch
Debbie and Paul
Jaye
Laura
Janice/Stacey and little Jonathan


Praying that the following will be able to join us...

Marion/Kim

Dianne











This message was edited Jan 29, 2012 6:03 PM

This message was edited Jan 29, 2012 6:10 PM

This message was edited May 9, 2012 9:58 AM

This message was edited May 9, 2012 9:58 AM

WooHoo!!
I'm first to arrive, lol.

Ok got it on calender Betty and will talk to Steve about it tonight!!

There will be NO talking Judy, after my 3 visits it's ' see where we are going in June!'. Lol

LOL Betty!! I know, I know...He already knows that I WILL be there no matter what.
And he does want to come with soo just have to make sure he remembers the dates so he doesn't book any work.
Plus maybe the kids will come with, lol they can camp in your yard!! Would love for them to see Canada...oh wait they don't have passports.

Hubby just gave me the OK, so I need to get a passport. :). What is the nearest airport to fly into please? Or I can fly to N.Y. Rent a car, and pick up Debbie and Barb? Save me a bed Betty, I will be there!!!

OMG!! How exciting Linda Kay, We will finally meet, how cool is that.

Doing the happy dance..

Pearson international airport in Toronto

Not sure how much cheaper if you had to rent a car flying into buffalo but if a few were coming in let's say on Wedn aft. I could pick you up in buffalo

That is super cool! Meeting all of you will be AWESOME!

Well, I have never bookd an international flight before. Can someone point in the right direction and names for airports?

Only airport is Pearson international, Crissy would know name of buffalo airport

I'm here Betty.
Will try to make it, but first, I have to apply for a passport!

Me too!!! I'm marking the calendar now!!!

Me too, going to the post office tomorrow to get the paper work, then find a place for a photo.

Can you all see me smiling?

Barb you are being brave after spending rt of a week with me, have you ever met anyone as chatty?

LK usually the PO that takes the passport info also takes your photo there too. That's where I had mine done......I just got the passcard that is good for 5 years and it is cheaper than getting a full passport.

I loved my visit with you Betty. And I loved all the girls so whomever you manage to pair us up with is fine with us!!!!!

Thanks Barb, I will check into that!

Thanks LK for alerting me about this... OMG... I'd love to make this trip !!! Can I come too?
I know I've been "absent" for a while, and I'm sorry... Life has taken some turns for me... But, I should be more available now.
Long story.
What's the date?

Last three days in June, and July 1 & 2nd I believe?

BeeeeJaaaay!!! What a wonderful Surprise!!!

Jumpin up and down waiving H E L L O.

Ohhh BJ, got shivers, of course you are welcome.. I kid you not, rooms will be available for anyone who would like to come and best part is, it's open to anyone and everyone..happy dance/happy dance!

Ooooo... jumping up and down with you Judy....

Thank you, Betty... I'm so excited... happy happy happy dance !!!!

Now, just have to tell Don... Hmmmmmm.

LADIES!!!! Go to Orbitz.com and put in the info, you can pull up a list of local airports and change them and do whatever you want to do to check prices!!!!!!!

I'm going to try my best to be there but I can't bet on anything, if I can talk Dave into doing that instead of going on our annual Anniversary vacation to the Caribbean it will work, but if not I'm screwed. We still can't find his passport either, I think he left it at the Employment Office or somewhere, it's flat gone.

Just so y'all know, I use Orbitz for ALL of my vacations, I love it.

For me to fly from Little Rock, ARkansas to Toronto and rent a very small car like Betty's is $767, flying on American Airlines.

If I flew into Buffalo International from Little Rock and rented a small car it's $465, flying on United

So yes, it's a lot cheaper to fly here in the States and drive across the border, but the problem with that is you might have hours of wait there, where if you flew into Toronto you wouldn't have to worry about the wait at the border.

Buffalo International Airport is actually called Buffalo Niagara International Airport lol

Does this help??




This message was edited Jan 17, 2012 12:14 PM

Sure does Crissy, sure hope you can work it out...was not a problem for me to pick you up so if before booking flights some could co-ordinate their arrival I could pick some of you up and save the $$$$

Yes, Crissy, that did help. Only $365 to Buffalo from Dallas, and that includes the rent car through Orbitz... flying Delta.
I'm also thinking that if several of us meet in Buffalo, we can drive together... only needing one rent car... and a lot more fun.

wow, now that's a deal..

Crissy that was quite a suggestion..good thinking
Highway robbery to land here..

Yeah it's cheap to fly into Buffalo but if you get to the border and there's a 5 hour wait is it really worth it? The earlier in the day you cross the border the better off you are, so I might just fly into Toronto. I use hotels.com for my hotels, never go through Orbitz for that.

Recently Crissy they have more gates open and not as long a line up but it's each to his own..if flying into Toronto makes it you cannot afford to come then the wait is well worth it if there is one..besides could do Niagara Falls state side while waiting for later in the day crossing.

Next question: What are the stipulations on renting a car in Buffalo, then driving it across the border? Are there additional fees involved? Is there any other issues I need to know about?

I have no idea BJ, I was wondering about that too. You would think it would be just like here since Toronto is soooo very close.

BJ, in the past when we have flown to Canada, we went through Detroit as my family lives in London. We rented cars and drove over --just have to have proof of insurance state side but there were no other issues that I can remember. Last time was when my brother died and although I rented the car, my son did the driving--he just had to be listed as driver and show his insurance. We did have the luck of the draw at the border and had to go through an inspection at customs but that can happen any time. I would think it would be the same no matter where you crossed over into Canada.

I am so wanting to commit but with my Mom being like she is--I won't know for a while. However, not giving up on this for sure. So if all goes okay, I will be seeing you in Victoria Harbour come June.

I know Marion!!! I want to commit too but I can't, Dave wants to go on this lavish vacation and I need to get back to CA when my mom moves back, and that will be a spur of the moment thing. I might go to her house in OKC and help her pack lol

Thank you Marion... that's good to know. I do hope you manage to make it... would be so great to see you again.

Betty, would London airport be an option for flying in to Canada?

Marion,know you have a lot on your plate, NOBODY has to commit now..few hours before a flight would be ok.lol

Do not want anyone missing out on the fun..

Marion, Toronto Airport is about 1 1/2 hrs. from me...London likely 3...I would say if you intend on visiting with family for a few days while here it might be where you would want to go

HELLO GIRLS!!!!!!!!! Thanks to Betty I have FOUND you all again!!!!!!!! Do not know where I lost you, but I did.

I have been trying to save some $$$$ to make the trip to Betty's. Don't know if it will happen but I hope so. Since the state closed the institution where I worked, we are down to a one income family. DH had to use his "vacation" to cover a week he was down with a pinched nerve in his back and the crud. He is a brake/front end specialist at a local Chevy dealership and gets paid by the work he does, so has no "sick" time. That puts him out of coming with me if I get to come. :-( Will know a little closer to time. Good Lord willin' and the Creek don't rise, I'll be able to come.

HELLOOOOO CRIT!!!!! So glad to see you again, it's been awhile!!

We will be crossing our fingers that you find the pennies from now till then Crit as I'm so hoping our Crissy will make it as well.. Know how much fun Crissy is..well all that I have met..

Have to have a good old shindig..that Judy will liven things up for sure. Lol

I'll be there with bells on if I can. You all know my circumstances so even if I have to hire someone to come in for a couple of days (Thinking positively here!!) I would love to join uyou all.

Be still my heart a boat ride on Georgian Bay!!! This is something that noone should miss out on in their life. Betty does the BlueHeron still run out of Little Tub Harbour? Great Art Gallery in Tobermory too - Golden Gallery. Kent used to carry some of my work when I was still doing SG professionally.
Dianne

How far to Midland from you Betty?