The Secret World of Bloggers...

It's a good thing I'm not trying to pull this off as a surprise for Dad/Dub -- I sent him an email inviting him to join the blog, largely because I didn't think it through.

So, for all those rascally cousins out there who do want to plan a surprise for him, you'll have to resort to email or (gasp!) the phone. I'm thinking that means you, Merci. Particularly the rascally part.

And, everyone, please feel free to tell cousins, siblings, parents, kids about this blog. I'm trying to contact everyone, but I may miss someone -- and that would be a terrible, terrible thing, indeed.

Some cousins

Michelle Deffenbaugh, Linda Brown, Leila Emenson, & Becky Fields
Outside of Linda's bookstore in Los Angeles - September 2004 

This is a map to the park where we'll have the picnic. Dad and Janet's house is just a bit west of this location. We'll be at the Mitchell Park Pavilion, South Shelter, which is just south of the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts (I think). What does Brookfield have against good, detailed maps?!

Virgin Blogger

Okay, so here goes: I'm trying my hand at creating a blog for the family reunion/Dad's birthday party, scheduled for Sunday, September 3, 2006 (Labor Day weekend). My hope is that it will make it easy for everyone to touch base, check in, see what's going on, and contribute ideas and feedback.

It seems the Browns have got 20 million cousins spread across the U.S., between Dad's nieces and nephews, their offspring, spouses and their grandkids! Plus the occasional distant cousin and friends who are practically family. And Janet's family. Hopefully a lot of folks will be interested in attending the reunion on Labor Day, 2006. It should be fun...

We've got a lovely park lined up for the picnic on Sunday of that weekend; I have a lead on a caterer; I've gathered a bit of info on area hotels. There's lots to do, yet, of course, but so far it all seems manageable.

So... here we go!