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Now that Danville is over, I was curious if anyone had any funny or unusual experiences with their host family. I was going to try it this year but waited too late to get a host family.
Since I've never stayed with anyone I was curious what it is like. I heard that it is customary to bring your host family a gift for putting you up for the event. I would imagine some kind of sign for their home or kids rooms.
I sure would like to try it someday. Let's hear some of your experiences.
Sign-cerely curious, Steve
-------------------- Steve Luck Sign Magic Inc. 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 (618)466-9120 signmagic@sbcglobal.net Posts: 870 | From: 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 | Registered: Dec 2004
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Steve, I had doubts last year about staying with a host family, but I'm really glad I did. Our hosts in Pontiac were Bob and Susan Karls, the city administrator. We still exchange Christmas cards and e-mails and I went over to visit with him at the Walldog Museum after the Danville meet. He also came over to Danville and handed out museum t-shirts. As we were talking at our wall, this year's host family came up and I introduced them to each other.
Timi Barrow, Blake Wright, and I stayed with Neal and Melody Ehrlich and their two lovely daughters, Alexia and Hannah. We never got in before 2:30 am, and were up and gone by 8, but they always had the coffee ready and greeted us warmly, which is quite an accomplishment if you've ever seen Timi first thing in the morning.
I now have another set of good friends that I will cherish forever. I highly recommend staying with a host family because much of the magic created at a Walldog event is thru interaction with the locals......
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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I had the wonderful experiance of staying with Dean and Pam Dempsey in Danville. I enjoyed them very much and on Sunday morning they made a fabulous breakfast with "real homemade" Navajo tortillas and blue corn pancakes. The absolute best was Dean's Navajo blessing before the meal. They also have the ccolest bathroom sink I have ever seen. It has the four square white porcelain hot and water handles but has no sepparate faucet. The basin is shaped so that it forms the faucet itself. Hard to describe, but really cool! Pam is a journalist and Dean makes drums. He asked me what kind of paint to use to decorate the hide tops. Any suggestions?
-------------------- Nancy B. Bennett Walldog Public Art 317 N. 13th St. Centerville, Iowa 52544 Posts: 95 | From: Centerville, IA, USA | Registered: Mar 2000
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I was very lucky to be at the beautiful home (almost a mansion) of Dave & Sandy Wood. My lady friend and I were treated extremely well, just like family. I was at a great place in Pontiac, but this was like a dream come true. Bill
-------------------- Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. 15 Warren Street Little Ferry, N.J. 07643 billsr@riedelsignco.com Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Some very kind Danville folks opened up their B&B to me this time around. I had a private entrance in a very nice place over their garage - separate from my host's house. I saw the landlord on the day of my arrival and each morning as I left. He also dropped by the wall a few times for progress reports.
The place was comfortable, spotless and VERY QUIET! I couldn't have hoped for more.
THANKS to Jerry Venute and his wife!
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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I had the pleasure of staying with Jim and Roberta Williams who jumped in at the last minute when they found out I hadn't been able to find anyone for me and my faithful pup, Pepper.
My only problem was getting out in the morning, as they made me coffee and breakfast and were so fun to talk to that I felt bad running out.
-------------------- Carole Bersin Carole Bersin Painting 3527 24th Av S, Minneapolis, Mn 55406 cbersin@visi.com Posts: 211 | From: Minneapolis, Mn USA | Registered: May 2005
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Wow, I am surprised that nobody has had a crazy experience with their host family. I guess I don't have anything to be worried about next time out. I had never asked about what would be proper protocol for being a guest at a walldog meet. Sounds like everyone so far has had a positive and enjoyable stay. I'm still curious to hear from others about this subject. Please don't be shy and share your experiences.
Sign-cerely, Steve
-------------------- Steve Luck Sign Magic Inc. 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 (618)466-9120 signmagic@sbcglobal.net Posts: 870 | From: 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 | Registered: Dec 2004
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when Blake and I went in to meet the Ehrlich's,... Neal asked if we knew Sonny,..to which I promptly told him that I was one of Sonny's cousins that he mentioned in the email,....
[ August 11, 2010, 06:00 PM: Message edited by: Tim Barrow ]
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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And Neal didn't have a heart attack when you told him that Timi????
Hey, it was good to talk with you buddy!
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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You guys were so lucky they didn't lock all the doors and not answer the door when you arrived! When I read what Sonny posted about his email to them I laughed and laughed! How funny was that? I'm still smiling when I think about it.
Sign-cerely, Steve
-------------------- Steve Luck Sign Magic Inc. 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 (618)466-9120 signmagic@sbcglobal.net Posts: 870 | From: 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 | Registered: Dec 2004
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I can't script a better experience than my stay with Sue and Steve Rodman. Quality people through and through. They totally accommodated my odd ball schedule and we're sincerely happy to do so. They have a beautiful home and I had my own "wing" with a separate air conditioning system. They went over the top when they invited my crew of ladies over for a fabulous steak barbecue. Steve built the PVC frame to mount Kelly's pictorial panel. He supplied the hardware and even helped me install it.
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Brenda, Jenna and I stayed with Andy and Pat Phillips in their beautiful home in Danville. They lived two blocks from our mural site, so it was easy to walk back "home" from the event. They also both volunteered to come over and do some painting on the Balloon Classic wall. They drove us out to Donna "the Balloon Pilots" farm at 6 am so we could go for our balloon ride.
Overall our stay was wonderful. I don't think I could have asked for a nicer place to stay or nicer people to stay with. I always feel bad for host families because I tend to work late and I hate coming in only to wake them up late at night. I try to be respectful and quiet but my hours are crazy at these things!
I have stayed with quite a few different host families during the last 10 or so years of Walldoggin'. I bunked with Nancy B. and Sal up in Moose Jaw Canada. We almost walked into the wrong house our first night there. And my stay out in Lodi, CA was a bit "interesting". But for the most part it is a wonderful way to meet a local family and many of their friends to boot.
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Although I only live 50 miles or so away, I deicided not to try the drive on Rt. 1 every am and pm. So...daughter Kelly and I got to stay at what is referred to as the "Jerry Van Dyke" mansion. After talking with Judy Grossman, I got an invite for her to stay there also with our host family Brenda and Eddie DeWiggins ( kept singing the Billy Joel song to that ). Wonderful estate home, great hosts. The first morning I tried to quietly leave, and couldn't get the front door opened. Brenda was sound asleep with her cup of coffee, Eddie was in the infamous "man cave" which we never did get to see, I got the giggles that I also couldn't find another way out. Turns out you have to use a key to open and close the door. Brenda was a wise woman and kept food out, and I was able to pack snacks to take. Need to get those darn containers back to her! We formed a wonderful friendship, and will stay in touch. Glad I decided to stay in town, and will treasure the new friends in Danville!
-------------------- Carol Kaufmann Watseka Sign 1801 N State Rt 1 Watseka, IL 60970 Posts: 33 | From: Watseka, IL | Registered: Jan 2002
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