In case you haven’t been diligent enough to follow my life in minute detail, I’ve sold my house and gotten a job so I can live with my husband in Maryland. Yay! I expect to be gone by the end of May, rarely to return. I will be back from time to time if my daughter holds to her plans to stay in Florida. However, I will no longer be a resident.
So, who’s up for a DopeFest? I’d gladly host one here, but Jacksonville is pretty far away from everyone else, so that doesn’t work. I don’t mind driving to a more central location, but that means someone else needs to suggest a venue because I don’t know too much about places outside of my little corner of the state. I’m not all that keen on restaurants and would love to do a picnic in a park or something like that. And either of the last two weekends in April would probably be the best time weatherwise and personal-wise.
I hereby open the floor (thread?) for comment and suggestions. Who’s interested? Who has suggestions of when and where? Is there a brave soul who might consider having a houseful of Dopers? Yes, I know that last one is a lot to expect, but weirder things have happened.
I’m tossing this out and I’ll give it one bump in the next day or two before letting the whole thing die. But I’m giving you all a perfectly valid excuse to party with me before I become a MAD. Stand up and be counted!
Non-Florida resident here-
I will follow this thread to see when a fest is planned. We are planning to move to Florida this summer, and someone has to scout out a house,etc. So maybe I could plan a trip down there around a dopefest. If is ok with you Florida dopers.
FCM, could you have it in Orlando and somehow tie it in with some of the PerfectChild[sup]TM[/sup]'s new school stuff at UCF? It’s about as central as your going to get in that weird shaped state. I’m mostly in Florida from mid-March on, although I will have a few trips out, so hopefully I can make it. We’ll really miss you (once we meet you)!
I won’t be getting the kid into her apartment till after May 21, but Orlando-ish is doable as long as it’s an afternoon and not a night gathering. Which works with my picnic plan. And if no one wants to picnic, I’ll meet you for lunch or something, Shibb - Rue told me I have to meet you! Heck, the way things are going, meeting you will be about as close as I get to meeting him!
I will do my best to be there. If it’s on a weekend, then there is a 75% chance I’ll be there!! If I have drill that weekend, though, I wont be able to attend. Hopefully I’ll be able to go. I’ve never been to a Dopefest with more than a half dozen people. I’ve missed four weddings because of the Army, I’d hate to start missing Dopefests too.
Picnic sounds kick ass to me. Picnic means like BBQ and outdoor games n stuff, right? It doesn’t mean Basket and checkered blanket, right? Hell, either way, Im there. But it will have to be a HUGE blanket to fit all the dopers.
Are theme parks out of the question?
So, you’re leaving your daughter here? Who will look after her? She’s about my age, isn’t she?? he he he he
You shouldn’t be upset; getting married isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Plus it sounds like the Army saved you a ton on alimony. That’s better than GEICO!
FCM, maybe you should bring Swampie down to meet Bear_Nenno. That oughta keep him away from your daughter!
I kind of picture FairyChatMom as more the Babette’s Feast sort, with a nice checkered tablecloth, woven baskets with fine china, duck confit and a nice Beaujolais with cold potato salad and fruit salad. She’ll be wearing her pearls, of course. Or we could get take out from Sonny’s and a keg of bear.*
Oh, and afternoons are fine for me, as long as it’s on a weekend.
*Total Freudian slip there so I thought I’d leave it in.
I’m not interested in going to any theme parks - I’d just like a get together where we can talk and hang out and relax.
As for my daughter, she’s going to be a freshman at UCF and I’m already trying to pimp her out to Jonathan Chance’s brothers. You’ll have to stand in line.
Pearls, Shibb?? You mean like June Cleaver pearls, with or without frilly apron? Um, no, that ain’t me! I’m jeans and T-shirt and sneaks - BBQ on a picnic table works good. I don’t do beer myself, but I’m not like militantly anti-beer. As for bear, well, I’ve met swampy - he’s ok!
Never met Dopers, but would be all for a picnic in Orlando on a weekend (or even anywhere else on the I-4 corridor or Melbourne area.) Oddly enough, the next few months are also the busy month for get-togethers in my other online group…and i am far from a social butterfly. Why can’t everyone just coordinate with each other so I’m not bored outta my skull half the year
OK, here are the dates I propose - we need to pick one. At the moment, all of them work for me.
Sat April 17
Sun April 18
Sat April 24
Sun April 25
The site needs to have parking and potty facilities as well as tables under trees or in a pavillion if possible. OK, tables aren’t necessary, since we can bring our own chairs or blankets or whatever. A grill would be nice, too, so we can do burgers or whatever. Or we can just brown bag it - as far as I’m concerned, it’s about the socializing more than the actual menu.
So, dutchboy, can you find a place that fits that bill? I can’t remember the park where we held OrlanDope - if ivylass finds this thread, maybe she’ll remember.
One of the Saturdays would work good for me. Orlando would be cool also. It’s a little over five hours to drive so not bad. I vote for a nice state like park with a pavillion and a grill.
Shibb I could make all kinds of comments about a bear keg and tapping it and such, but this is not the proper thread to do so.
OK, then, let’s firm things up a bit. What’s the overall feeling about Sat April 24, starting noonish or so, at a picnic site to be named later. What say we bring our own beverage and main course - whether it’s something to toss on the grill or a PB&J sammich, and also bring something else to share. I’ll have a cooler full of ice and I’ll bring paper napkins and cups for all.
So, yea, nay, or other suggestions? It’s 2 months away, so there’s still tons of time to plan.
Fairy, count me in for the Sat. 24. At least… so far. As the last time, though, I may need a ride there and back. But I’m not that bad a companion, right?
April 24th is awesome for me!! Picnic with a table and a roof sounds great. Especially if it’s a pavillian… I HATE trees, the concrete will comfort me!
Jonathan Chances huh?? HA! You haven’t met me yet.
