It occurred to me today that although I’ve dropped into this thread on occasion, I never actually posted to it. Anyone mind if I drop in? 
I haven’t read through all 6 pages, so if anyone can let me know that the status is of picnic needs (should I bring something to eat, or do we need volunteers to bring other necessary stuff like plates/cups/utensils/etc?), that would be great.
Jadis, you’re certainly more than welcome to come, but not until you’ve read the entire six pages of the thread; there will be a pop quiz about it at the fest, and anyone scoring below an 85 will be sent home directly!
If I’m wrong, I’m sure someone will be along to correct me, but it seems to me that what we could use most at this point is some assorted soft drinks.
The San Diego Marching Band!
We got a little lost…
How about:
Swedes Donning Microscopic Bikinis?
We would have a crowd on our hands. Maybe we could charge admission?
Updated Who is Bringing What List and Dopercount
AntaresJB - chocolate chip cookies
Casey1505 - German potato salad, 5# bean-free chili, beer-on-the-sly, Tabasco
danceswithcats – 5# chili with a 
to other chili folk (warning-contains beans!)
Doktor Fluff - chili-part deux :eek:
FairyChatMom - cucumber-onion salad
Frank #2 - utensils
GingerOfTheNorth – pie
iampunha – ice cream ice cooler surprise?
jayjay - pasta salad & homemade brownies
Medea’s Child - veggie dip & veggies
MsRobyn & Airman Doors – crackers & cheese
norinew - whole wheat mac & chee
nyctea scandiaca – mini-sammitch variety
phall0106 - cornbread
Scuba_Ben - gazpacho soup, soda/juice, and ice
Shirt Ninja 13 - ice cream
Siege - sausage rolls & cheese bread
Steelerphan – cheese tray, crackers & pepperoni
Triskadecamus – cooler & ice, soda, and kimchi
twickster - carrot cake which may not be PG-13
Dopercount including kidlets is 44 but I suspect there are some lurkers.
To be green-I’ll bring bags for aluminum and glass. My waste/recycling goes out on Monday morning, so it’s not a problem.
Just a minor correction- Since we have electric power I’ve decided to bring my roaster and cook some chicken, using a couple different recipes. I can get more food for the buck that way, and I have a good air roaster.
Sounds like you can add Jadis to the list – with beverages, if she’s taking requests (which I’d second – perhaps adding some bottled water to her cooler?)
I think I’ll bring some drinks too – that seems to be where we’re going to be light.’
Also – I’m pretty sure Cleophus is planning to come (perhaps riding with me), though I don’t think he’s signed up for a contribution yet.
Also, TeleTronOne said he is coming too, and will likely bring something. I am also hoping that Anita Vacation and OpalCat will come. I’m gonna be bugging them until they say yes!
I note you’ve got 'punha on the list, but not fizzes.
That’s why you made the list, right? So we could bitch and nitpick?
Just kidding, dances, I know I’m not the only one who appreciates your taking such a firm hold of the tiller.
Had Cleophus and TeleTronOne in on the body count. Will amend the sheet for the punha/fizzy co-op, and also Steelerphan and hot air chicken. I too will fire up the bug-o-matic for Anita Vacation and OpalCat-you and I can double team them on Sunday, nyctea.
Glad to help, twickster. Growing up with my Mom-now there was someone who could elevate bitching and nitpicking to art form! :eek: You folks are sweeties!
Is a hot air chicken anything like a hot air balloon?
I suppose I could bring a couple cases of soda. I’m not really equipped to make and carry anything else, and none of it will be cold.
I think sodas will be much appreciated, and if I’m not mistaken, someone (maybe 'punha?) is bringing a cooler. There’s a grocery store right close by where we can buy some ice if need be. If someone pops in who thinks there will be a shortage of coolers, we could certainly bring one of our own. We have about 82 of the damned things!
I may also bring a gentleman or two with me, although I won’t know until much closer to the date and time. They’re both history buffs and one of them knows quite a bit about the Civil War and Gettysburg in particular.
CJ
Soda sounds great – may I put in a request that one of the cases be diet? And I’d be happy to bring a cooler.
dances – honest to god, I can’t imagine what I was thinking, impugning your numbers like that. grovel grovel grovel.
I generally drink nothing but diet, so no problem from my end.
fizzy thought to bring some watermelon, so I suppose we’ll pick up one or four of those on our way up. I’m thinking we’ll get a nice, cheap styrofoam cooler because I don’t fancy bringing it back to SWVA, so if it breaks it ain’t no skin off my back.
Bit of a bump, since we’re getting closer. I am now definitely coming (I was a maybe, before), and bringing either chocolate/butterscotch or chocolate/peanut butter chip cookies (or both! Depending on what kind of chips they’ve got for the best price at the store) and my guitar. My work schedule gives me weekends off and my father was surprisingly blase about the idea of me driving 2 and 1/2 hours to have a picnic with a bunch of people I met on the internet. So… yay! I’m excited.
Anyone up to driving my brother back with them to the wilds of NOVA? fizzy and I will be staying the night in Gburg, and it occurs to me that it might perhaps not be The Best Idea Evar for him to stay with us. The notion of getting him a hotel room for the night is slightly more money than we’d budgeted for this trip, my mother has no desire to drive up and get him (or drive up to the fest), and he is not yet capable of driving himself anywhere.
The house is all of five minutes from Vienna Metro in an extremely residential area. Not hard to navigate.
Hi. Sorry I’m late to the thread. Me and theckhd will be coming. I dunno what I’m bringing yet - are soda and cups needed? Nametags? I swear I’ve read all six pages, my brain is just fried today.
Oh yeah and the reason there is so much construction is because the bulk of the nation’s highway system was built over 30 years ago - and the predictions for the traffic of the future turned out to be very short of reality. Vehicle ownership and vehicle miles traveled per year have both skyrocketed past the projections used in designing the roadways, and the highway system is caught playing catch-up.
Everyone please drive carefully through the construction zones. I work in one, and if you run me over, I can’t come to the Fest. 
Pun and I have been talking about staying the night in Gettysburg. I’ve been checking availability online for hotels and I haven’t had any luck yet. (Best Wester, Hojo and Holiday Inn are booked up). Seems like the whole damn country will be in Gettysburg that weekend.
Anybody else have any luck finding a place to stay?