All right then. Here’s a clean, fresh, new thread to gather all the pertinent information about my departure party all in one place. All questions will be answered here, refined from this thread.
To summarize:[ul]Saturday, April 24
[li]Rainbow Springs State Park Admission is $1[/li][li]Late morning till whenever – I plan to get there by 11 to claim some tables and a grill.[/li][li]Bring your lunch – either something you’ll toss on the grill or a PB&J or whatever –it’s your lunch.[/li][li]Bring something to share – I’m not coordinating this. If everyone decides to bring cole slaw, we’ll wrestle in it.[/li][li]I’ll bring a cooler of ice, water, and plastic cups – if you want something else to drink, bring it along. Alcohol is forbidden in state parks.[/li][li]This is a family-friendly party – bring the spouse, the kids, the dog (really – well-behaved dogs are allowed)[/li][li]Bring a swimsuit if you want to jump into the spring. Canoe and kayak rentals are available. There’s also a nature trail for your ambling pleasure.[/ul][/li]
As for slightly more specific directions than are on the website: When you exit I-75 and head west on SR 40, you’ll drive about 17.5 miles and 40 will end at 41. Turn left. The park entrance will be on the left about ½ mile after you turn. There seems to be a lot of parking, but it’s a bit of a stroll from the lot to the picnic area. You’ll pay just as you enter the park. At that point, if you look to the right, you’ll see three picnic pavilions. I’ll be in one of them, having laid claim to at least 2 tables. I plan to mark our territory with balloons.
There are bathrooms and a snack bar in the park, as well as a gift shop, for those who absolutely have to buy something!
Woo! Sounds like a Doping good time! I do wish I could bring my dogs, but I’m just not sure how Jaz will do around groups of people–she’s so skittish. Which is a shame, since Ladybug LOVESLOVESLOVES people. I just don’t feel right bringing her, though, and leaving Jaz at home.
I’ll be bringing Bernie - she’s probably half a step above a throw rug on the activity scale. I don’t want to have to leave her all cooped up at home all day and I know she won’t be a problem. She’ll look for a little skrtching, then lie down underfoot the rest of the time.
Dogs are okay in state parks, right? They won’t become gator bait, I hope.
We were at Homosassa Springs park this past weekend. Very cool, I’ll probably mention it in the MMP if I can find it.
Anyway, I still plan to be there. My business cohorts in Florida are trying to have an April meeting on a Saturday, so if they pick that Saturday (I told them not to, but it still could happen), then I’ll have to go to Orlando first and I’ll be late. Otherwise I’ll be there early with bells on, and I’ll bring some cole slaw so we can have cole slaw rasslin’. FCM said we could. Actually, I’ll probably bring something else and if I have to go to Orlando first then it’ll be store bought something else.
I had wanted to be there and doing some house hunting that week as well.
My husband and his daughters sat down and had a long talk. They are not ready to give up seeing him on weekends yet. It’s darn near impossible to arrange for frequent visitations when we are 24 hours away from them. So, we are going to stay in Iowa for a little while longer. It makes me feel good to know that we are an important part of their lives and they want us to be around.
I’m still a definite maybe! And looking forward to hopefully posting a definite yes soon (or at least by the week of the scheduled event - lol!).
(Also, FCM disregard the apparent error in the “limerick” thread where I say you’re leaving the SDMB (I was trying to rhyme sorry!) and ETF says you’re leaving FOR Florida instead of FROM Florida. Hey, at least we worked you into our game! )
Well, FCM, I’m not planning to come to this thing, but I wish I could. I just wanted to say I wish you were staying. I think you help to offset Florida’s reputation as a home for idjits. And I surely can’t.
Thanks, but it’s actually a return for me. I spent my formative years in the Baltimore metro area, but we’re settling in St. Marys County - California, to be specific. While we’re building our house there, we’ll be living aboard our boat in Solomons.
And as a fellow MAD, you’ll have to watch for RTF’s thread when he throws me welcoming orgy… er, fest.
Yogini, I think you’re very confused. But that’s ok - some of my best friends are confused!
Dung Beetle, you are too kind. If it’s any consolation, my daughter is staying behind, and she’s not too idiotic.
While we were canoeing out of the Refuge at Oklawaha, (former)Roommate ran me into an overhanging branch on the Silver River (tributary near the Oklawaha) and then I fell in getting out of the canoe below the Rodman Dam. Does that count?
