I'm thinking out loud here...

I've been feeling like a kid at Christmas, because I'm really starting to "count the sleeps" until we head home!

I've been makin' dozens of lists (and checking 'em twice) stocking up on extra cat food and litter, running off copies of paperwork, counting pennies and putting them aside... and just basically working myself into a state.

I've made notes for the friend who'll be staying here at the house to keep an eye on things for me - as well as feed, and 'love on' the cats.

I've made lists for food shopping while we're over there, as well as lists for new clothes to buy.
And I've got lists for things to see and do..especially since we're taking an Aussie friend over with us, and I want her to have a good time.

I'm gettin' antsy... let me tell ya!

But now... (drum roll please)

On to the thinking out loud part.

There are friends and family I want to catch up with, while we're home in Murphys, and I've gotten definite confirmations from several of them.

But what I also want to do, as far as my bloggy friends are concerned... is issue an "sort-of-semi-open-invitation" to a bit of a barbeque/ picnic/ party thang to be held near home on the 24th of April.

See, what I'm thinking is... Since I'm already gonna be meeting up with, and sharing eats with a few folks on the 24th anyway, I would just looove to meet some of you too, if you can be/will be in the neighborhood.

It won't be fancy, (because let's face it, I'm just about the least fancy person you'll ever meet) but it will be fun.
Just a simple "burgers, potato chips and soda" type of thing, with lots of laughter and yakking... you know what I mean?

But rather than just issue a straight out 'open invitation', and risk gate crashers, ax-murderers or the like, or having complete and total weirdos showing up to eat hamburgers, I'm going to ask you to invite yourselves.
That way, hopefully no one will end up on youtube, or the National news.

See, in order to keep all of us safe, what you'll need to do is send me a comment or an email, saying that you would like to meet up with us on the 24th.
And when you do, I'll contact you back... (that means I'll need your contact details) and I'll then give you the location and stuff.
(Oh... and just to put your mind at rest, it will be in a public place. Never fear. I would never ask any of you to put yourselves in a situation that I wouldn't put myself or my family in.)
How does that sound?

That way, if I know exactly who's coming, we won't have to shoot any weirdos.
My son Josh is a dead shot, and he's never missed a target yet.
The problem is, he won't shoot anything but cans.
But if you show up unannounced or univited, and you're wearing a tin-can costume, you better be prepared for some nasty-a** consequences.
That's all I'm sayin'.

Disclaimer:
Of course, this "semi-open-you-have-to-contact-me-first-and-get-approval-invitation", is only for those of you blog-world friends who have actually made the effort to make occasional or semi-regular comments on my blog... or for those of you who I actually know in person or through regular contact.
Is that fair enough?

(How the Pioneer Woman invites 8 total strangers around to spend the whole weekend, I'll never know. I would be peein' my pants, I'm telling you!
I guess that Ree's just braver than I am... or maybe some of those drop-dead gorgeous cowboys that keep dropping in, are packin' heat or something... ya think?)

So, let's get this party started!


(Well DUH.. it helps to tell you where we're actually located, doesn't it?)

"Murphys is located in the central Sierra Nevada foothills between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park, in Calaveras County, California (see location map). Rich in goldrush history, Murphys today is a vibrant, thriving community of approximately 2,000 residents, alive with art galleries and live theatre, eclectic shops, fine restaurants, charming hotels and B&B's, and a multitude of outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities all just a short drive away."

MAP --- > http://www.visitmurphys.com/map.html