Mama's House

So the powers that be are meeting up tomorrow to discuss what went right and wrong this past Fonacier family reunion and to begin preparations for the 2008 version, rumored to be held on August 9.

If you're not one of the powers that be but still want to be heard, you can sound off here. So feel free to say whatever you want - that's what anonymous commenting is for, you cowards - about what you liked and disliked about this year's reunion, what you would like to see happen at next year's, or any other thoughts. Disappointed that there weren't any t-shirts? Loved the selection and want to see the same menu for next year? Happy that we changed locations last minute to stay dry? Found some of the name tags inappropriate? Not enough hot chicks we weren't related to there - always a problem? Thought the neighbor was going to run us all over and thus prevent any need for further family reunions?

Anyway, if you want to see improvements and have a more enjoyable experience next year, speak up and be heard.

As for me, the last minute change of location was disappointing because I had looked so forward to spending the day at the park. So making sure weather is not a concern next time would be nice. I supposed that can be done by either having it on certain days when you know it won't rain or by having it indoors. Regarding this year's location, it was nice that someone opened up their home to all of us, especially at the last minute, so that we could stay dry. But I think that maybe having it at a house is not conducive to getting a large group of people to know each other. It was much too easy for one part of the family to dominate a room at the exclusion of other family members. There were certainly those social butterflies that moved easily from one room to the next, meeting new family members, but on the whole that was limited. So perhaps the answer is to hold it in a place without so many walls so that people can't so easily section themselves off. As for the food, the only things I ate were chips, a hot dog, and a hamburger. And that was more than enough to satisfy just me.

All in all, the first Fonacier Family Reunion went well, very well considering it was our first and the weather did not cooperate. It went well enough that I won't be skipping the next one, especially considering that it was our first and that it can be and should be even better next year.

Pictures have been served on Lindsey's pro flickr account. They can be found here. I still have a few more pictures to upload. A select few can be found below.

Apparently Mother Nature won and the park is too wet to have the family reunion at. So instead of the wide open spaces promised earlier the reunion will be held in the cozy confines of a relative's home. The home is really close to the park where this thing was first intended to be held, just click on the link to get your directions.

Anyway, not only has the rain literally put a damper on things, but the resulting change of location has put a bit of a figurative damper on the family reunion for me. I was looking forward to a day of outdoor activities with old family and new family. And really, outside of baseball players and golfers, who changes plans just because it rains? Not football players. And it's not even raining, it's just wet. Too wet.

Well I suppose one good thing comes of this. Unlike the park, I'm pretty sure alcohol is allowed at the new family reunion location.

Apparently there's some concern about the weather on the day of the reunion. Well fear not, I've got it from two sources that says the rain (a light rain at that) will fall the day before and that the day of will be partly cloudy (alternating between sunny and cloudy). Highs in the mid 70s are also forecast for that day. So expect a clean, crisp autumn day as the rain the day before washes all the crap away.

At last count, over 80 people have been confirmed as attending - that's not including the little ones apparently.

And if like Annette, you're looking for a place to stay for the night you can click the map below for surrounding hotels:


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The latest:

• T-shirt design has been pretty much finalized finally.
  
• Food is still being discussed. What is certain is that there will be burgers and dogs as well as chips and dip. Not yet finalized are the Filipino dishes that will be served though expect it to dominate the menu that day.
  
• Calls are still being made to anyone with Fonacier blood as relatives nationwide and even from the Philippines are expressing interest in the family reunion.

It is official, we finally picked a place to hold this thing. It's going to be at Ralph B. Clark Regional Park in Buena Park. A few of the amenities include baseball fields, volleyball courts, tennis courts, fishing, hiking trails, and barbeque/fire rings but sadly no basketball courts.

Well if you haven't heard yet there's going to be a Fonacier family reunion come this September 22, which is what the above countdown timer is all about. Outside of the date the particulars are still being decided. However, there is strong speculation that it will be held at Craig Park in Fullerton. The odds of it having it there are about the same as Austin having the next kid in the family. By the way, is this blog too young to be self-referential? It's also rumored that a shelter is to be had and that it will be a catered event. And if that's not enough to bring you out to get to know long lost family from Papa's side, then maybe talks of a family reunion t-shirt might persuade you otherwise.






So who's up for some softball that day?