Forty eight cups of coffee, 6 quarts of unsweetened blackberry-sage tea, 2 quarts of sweet tea, 3/4 liter of high test Pepsi, 4 bottles of water, 1 regular coke, 3 diet cokes, uncounted glasses of tap water, 3 bottles of wine, dish after dish of incredible food and our 2006 Sierra Club retreat has come to a close. This year the planning meeting was held at my house. We began at 10:00 am and the last person left almost 12 hours later. Whew! It was a long day after returning last night from a quick 3 day trip to Portland, Oregon. I am ready to kick back and relax!

We opened with our usual administrative stuff then went into a 6 hour segment in matrix planning and actually making a plan. Kudos to Dave Mulhy who preserved through our restlessness and numerous bathroom trips. He pushed us onward and got the job down.

Listening intently: (back-yellow) Ron, (front) Kelley, John, Barbara and Ray. Ray must be on his 5th cup of coffee at this point, while Barbara, our club secretary, takes some intensive notes. In the mirror, Axel's head is visible.

The sun is bright and the shades are closed to keep the glare out of our eyes. The projector on the front table burns the matrix example onto the wall, while Dave, at the board, pushes us to provide the answers for the matrix. David (right) and Ray (left) listen and comment.

The group at the back table was the most restless. Front to left: Admiral Al, Robin, Kim, Will, Ron and Bill. Are you getting it all guys??

Bob and Axel (blue shirt) watch Dave as the matrix evolves.

Hmmmm...chips!! Are we done yet???

Duane and John standing in the kitchen before the meeting adjourns. They arrived in the evening for dinner and social time. I told them to be there at 5:00 pm, the meeting would definitely be over. They showed up at 5:30 but the meeting was not over until 6:00 pm. They stayed in the kitchen, snacking and talking to the meeting members who drifted in and out of the kitchen.

Finally dinner: from left Bill, Duane, Kim, Will, Dave, and John. Notice the Big Orange shirt...Duane has been at the Lady Vols-UCon game. The Lady Vols pulled out a win. They are now 15-0, #1 in the nation. Go Lady Vols!

From left: David, Axel, Bob, Priscilla (barely visible), John, Robin and Bill. We had a great potluck with lots of healthy, delicious dishes! Let's do it again next year!