# Dope the Halls IV - MADs take note **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 23, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320 "2004-11-23T18:25:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/81 "2004-12-10T02:27:02Z")
> [@Agent Foxtrot](#): > > I can bring salad. Can I make it there? I don’t really have an appropriate bowl or tongs. Caesar okay with everyone? > > Adam I’d suggest not putting any dressing on it at all. We’ll have a couple of semi-observant Jews, and they can’t mix dairy with meat. Bring it along, though - and we’ve got other dressings as well. We’re not all that concerned with ‘appropriate’ bowls or tongs. Hell, you’ll all be eating out of your hands if I don’t go pick up some disposable dishes. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/82 "2004-12-10T03:11:11Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Alas and alack, it does not look like me and Heartache will be making it. Kisses to all the children: Dave, Matthew and Band. I’m disapointed. You’re one of the Dopers I’d like to meet. I forget which thread you posted in that made me think that, but I’ve definitely thought it. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/83 "2004-12-10T03:15:11Z")
GingerOfTheNorth and Weirddave, how many times did I tell you, you were supposed to name the baby Hi Opal. This kid is the third Doper baby. The third of everything is Hi Opal. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/84 "2004-12-10T13:45:04Z")
> [@Wendell Wagner](#): > > GingerOfTheNorth and Weirddave, how many times did I tell you, you were supposed to name the baby Hi Opal. This kid is the third Doper baby. The third of everything is Hi Opal. Oh gosh, I’d better tell the Grandpas he’s name for to change their names to Hi and Opal… A bump for the Friday people that won’t have access tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![TwoTrouts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@TwoTrouts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoTrouts)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/85 "2004-12-10T21:13:32Z")
Crap! Now I may not be able to make it! I have been tapped to be the Stroke-And-Turn judge at the high school swim meet tomorrow at 3PM. I am trying to find someone to fill my slot, but the prospects are dim. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/86 "2004-12-10T21:25:56Z")
> [@TwoTrouts](#): > > Crap! Now I may not be able to make it! I have been tapped to be the Stroke-And-Turn judge at the high school swim meet tomorrow at 3PM. I am trying to find someone to fill my slot, but the prospects are dim. How long will the swim meet last? As I recall, **moi** and **tdc** are arriving late; perhaps you could do the same? I’d love to see you again! ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/87 "2004-12-11T14:43:37Z")
> [@TwoTrouts](#): > > Crap! Now I may not be able to make it! I have been tapped to be the Stroke-And-Turn judge at the high school swim meet tomorrow at 3PM. I am trying to find someone to fill my slot, but the prospects are dim. Yeah, what Norine said. Come later if you like. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/88 "2004-12-11T19:55:29Z")
AAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUGGGHH!!! Fuck fuck fuck fuck!!! :smack: I feel like such a schmuck. :o I’m so sorry to **Wendell**. I just wasn’t anticipating such horrendous holiday traffic, and I got the Metro station about 25 minutes late. I’m sure **Wendell** waited graciously, but of course he had gone when I got there. In my frustrated state, I made a wrong turn leaving the station, and with all the traffic, I just now made it back home, which I had to do since I didn’t bring the directions with me. \ I still really want to come, even though I’ll have to drive, but I just don’t think I can face getting back out on the road right now. (I know no one at the party is reading this now, but I had to get this out before I could do anything else.) ---
**Author:** ![TwoTrouts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@TwoTrouts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoTrouts)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/89 "2004-12-12T00:44:27Z")
**Norinew** , **Ginger** , thanks for the encouragement! I just got back and it’s just not going to work this time around. Sorry!!! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/90 "2004-12-12T02:51:33Z")
My apologies, Alan Smithee, but I waited for a little bit and decided to go on. I just back. The party went well, but I got lost on the way back and ended up taking gobear on an impromptu tour of downtown Baltimore. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/91 "2004-12-12T02:52:43Z")
I just got back, I mean. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/92 "2004-12-12T02:58:27Z")
It was entirely my fault, **Wendell**. I’m glad you didn’t wait around worrying about me. I should have allowed much more time for holiday traffic, getting lost, and all the other things that could have happened. Like I said, I feel like a real schmuck. I’m glad the party went well and you enjoyed yourself. I’ll have to make the next one. It was a really nice veggie tray, too. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/93 "2004-12-12T05:51:47Z")
Many thanks to **Ginger** and **Weirddave** for hosting another superb party! Also great to meet a few new dopers, as well as hanging out with the usual group of suspects. Happy holidays to all! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/94 "2004-12-12T14:26:44Z")
Awesome party! Thanks, Dave and Ginger! Can’t wait to see you all again for Opal’s party. 😃 Adam ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/95 "2004-12-12T14:28:22Z")
Thanks to the **Weird/North** clan for hosting the party. It was great seeing you all. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/96 "2004-12-12T14:54:22Z")
We didn’t get back until about 12:30 or so, and I went straight to bed! But I did want to pop in now, and say, thanks **Dave** and **Ginger** for a great party, thanks **Matthew** for wonderful magic tricks, and thanks to the baby for sleeping on me! What a wonderful feeling that is! It was great to see everyone, and to meet new folks, too! ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/97 "2004-12-12T18:04:42Z")
I missed the magic tricks. I wasn’t _that_ drunk, was I? :eek: Adam ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/98 "2004-12-12T21:23:50Z")
> [@Agent Foxtrot](#): > > I missed the magic tricks. I wasn’t _that_ drunk, was I? :eek: > > Adam No, no. It’s probably that I’m more accustomed to kids, and therefore was more tuned into Matthew. He ducked under the buffet table wearing one shirt, and came out wearing another shirt, and billed it as a “magic trick”. That’s all there was to it. If you were drunk at all, I didn’t notice it! ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/99 "2004-12-13T08:16:07Z")
Many thanks to Ginger and Dave for hosting. It was my first Dopefest, and i had a great time. It was lovely to meet everyone, and i’ll definitely try to make it to more of these in the future. In case anyone’s interested, i’ve posted up a web gallery of the picutres i took. You can find it [here](https://jshare.johnshopkins.edu/mhender4/public_html/dopefest/index.html). Feel free to download any images you might like. Also, if anyone wants higher resolution images appropriate for printing, just let me know and i’ll email them to you. You’ll need an email account that can handle large files, because the full-sized images are 4-5Mb each. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320/100 "2004-12-13T09:08:49Z")
I had a great time! It was good to meet some people I hadn’t before, and good to catch up with old friends 🙂 My photos are up here: [http://gallery.opalcat.com/gallery/DopetheHallsDecember11](http://gallery.opalcat.com/gallery/DopetheHallsDecember11) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-the-halls-iv-mads-take-note/276320.md?page=6)