LADope 2003 Wrap-Up

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Well, it’s over.

The tar has been assimilated, the fish and chips and bangers and mash and beer and soft drinks have been consumed, friendships have been renewed and made, and LA Dope 2003 is in the history books.

cadolphin and I started by picking up Freyer and heading to the Tar Pits. Once there, we were quickly joined by Johnny L.A., Anamorphic, Java Maven1, scout1222, Greg Charles, Ruffian and **Death Llama, CelticCowboy **and Edwardina, JustPlainBryan, BraheSilver, Mercutio, David Simmons and his lovely wife Wilma, dougie_monty, ava and **High Priestess, **and Encinitas.

After touring the George C. Page Museum and watching an animated movie about the Tar Pits, we met up and the women quickly decided that we were going to the gift shop to spend money. After several items were purchased we went back outside where the tar pits were oohed and ahhed over, and a small tar pit in the middle of the sidewalk was inspected very closely by Freyer, who is studying anthropology and was very excited about this visit.

On to dinner. Ye Olde Kings Head in Santa Monica was the perfect location and they were the perfect hosts. We were joined at the restaurant by Esprix, Shayna and SpinyNorman, Rick, and deb2world.

Fish and Chips seemed to be the order of the day, but bangers and mash were also in evidence. The food was amazing. Tasty, and very filling, although several people simply HAD to try the desserts.

Two events of note were celebrated. Edwardina was celebrating her birthday, and David Simmons and his wife were celebrating their 59th wedding anniversary. Yes, that’s no typo. 59 years! Someone had better start a thread congratulating them on this!!!

After the congratulations I turned the floor over to Esprix, who led us in a toast to our departed dopers. We then circulated for a while longer, telling stories and enjoying each other’s company. Then Kathy and I had to leave early, and I hope someone who was there can fill me in on the depravity we missed.

Friends, it was a great time! We need to do this again, and soon! Thank you all for making this such a success and so enjoyable for everyone!

I will have a web page with pictures up by tomorrow at the latest. Check back to this thread for the URL.

Ric (Rico)

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That was quick! Here’s the website:

LA Dope 2003 Pictures

Enjoy and please, if you were there, post your thoughts.

Ric

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And now, the rest of the story.

Well, some of it anyway. After leaving Ye Olde King’s Head a mob of us headed for the Santa Monica Pier. About half way across the bridge we lost High Priestest and Ava. I didn’t see where they went. Anyway, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

The pier was lively and we found ourselves by a ticket booth for the rides. There was a pudgy, shirtless teenaged guy trying to hustle money. He would let you “rub Buddha’s belly” (his own) for a buck. We didn’t see any takers. He also said he’d streak the boardwalk for a hundred dollars. No takers. Eventually he offered to put his shirt back on for ten dollars (Ha! We didn’t fall for that! He’d probably take it right off again!), and then went back to the “rub my belly for luck” routine.

Spiny Norman, Greg Charles, deb2world and I rode the very tame roller coaster. We went to the arcade where Shayna and Spiny Norman played ski-ball and deb2world played pinball. Eventually we headed out.

We strolled along the Third Street Promenade. We were deciding to get some drinkage, when somebody noticed Psychic Cat. I’d mentioned Psychic Cat to Anamorphic earlier, and I was pleased to have proof that this was not just one of those stories I make up. deb2world fronted me two bucks and I sat for the entertainment. There were two psychic cats, and I chose the one that was wearing a sweater because he looked so jaunty. The handler had a bizarre carved monkey thing (or maybe it was a bird – I don’t remember) with scrolls in a little tray. He held the thing up to the jaunty-looking cat and proffered a small spoonful of catfood. The cat stepped on the carved thing, making it tilt forward and pull up a scroll in its mouth. Then the cat took the scroll in its two front paws (again, with cat food induced prompting) and held it while I took it from him. The handler put the scroll into a little plastic pouch and handed it to the cat (more cat food) who held it while I retrieved it. Then it was time to pay the kitty. I held the two dollars and the cat (more food) took them in its paws for the handler. It was all very cute. Here is my fortune in its entirety:

(Did I mention the handler had a fairly thick Eastern European accent?)

Shayna, Spiny Norman, Greg Charles, deb2world, Scout1222 and I hit Mickey D’s for drinks and sat around one of the tables and chatted for a while. Mercutio, Anamorphic, and a couple others came by. Eventually we decided it was time to head home and we shed companions as we approached their parking places.

All in all it was a very good evening. The King’s Head is my favourite pub, and they make the best fish’n’chips. But seeing Rico’s bangers’n’mash reminded me how much I like the sausages! I’ll have them next time.

Thanks Rico and cadolphin for setting it up! :slight_smile:

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High Priestest
High Priestess. (Must be past my bedtime.)

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And I’ve got video of it, so if anyone still doesn’t beleive it, we’ve got proof!

It was great to see old friends, and to meet all the new people. I had a great time! I’ll try and quickly edit together some of the video I took tomorrow to share with everyone.

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Sounds/looks like a blast was had. When is the next LADope? I’d love to attend and lurk about.
And the jaunty psychic cat is all that’s keeping me in SoCal. :smiley:

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Dang. You got those pictures up quick, Rico.

I had a great time and I’m glad I got a chance to see everyone again.

When I’m rested and refreshed, I will have a more coherent post :D.

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Here is a photo of Psychic Cat from 1998. There were different cats tonight. The card that came with the “fortune” has a web address on it: www.psychicamulet.com – but it seems to unlocateable.

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Looks like I missed out on some fun! Glad it was a good time had by all.

Yesterday ended up being pretty busy for us, so we didn’t get to make it. Ah, well, there’s always next time!

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We missed you, Heloise!

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Okay… one small complaint,

My name is spelt: F R E Y R !

There’s only on E!

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Whoops…

Other than that, it was a great time. A BIG THANK YOU to Rico and CaDolphin for giving me a ride. Their hospitality was truly gracious. Thanks so much.

Seeing everyone else was fantastic! Warm hugs all around!

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Rico and CaDolphin did such a great job of pulling TARDOPE together! I had a blast and hope we can get together again soon.
One little side note about my experiences after I ditched the group at the arcade…I had parked my car in an underground garage off Santa Monica Blvd. On the way out of the garage I stopped at the toll booth to turn in my ticket. The attendant held the gate for me but as I drove under it fell onto the top of my car and went clunk, clunk, clunk as my car passed underneath! At first I didn’t know what was happening. The noise was horrendous. I thought perhaps my roof rack was scraping against the ceiling. I stopped and got out, the attendant leaned out of his booth looking agast. I checked my car and no damage. Can’t say the same thing about the gate!

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Fabulous time. Simply lovely. I’m already planning San DiegDopefest II.

And man, that roller coast was LAME.

Esprix

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d’oh! perhaps next time one of these California dope-fests can be planned during university-break-times so us college students can attend?

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Harmonix, unfortunately, it’s impossible to plan a schedule that will fit everyone’s schedule.

cadolphin and I went over several weekends before we finally settled on one - and we started on January 7 planning this.

Watch this forum for info on the next one, you can get your input in, and we hope to see you out at the next one! Or heck, if you feel so inclined (as we did), put out feelers on the board and get your own together! It really is fun - both attending and planning (unless, of course, the restaurant cancels at the last minute - which was a blessing in disguise for us!).

You’re always welcome at a Dopefest!

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ava and I had to magically disappear because our ride showed up. Sorry about that, especially to the folks who called for me at the restaurant and were told that I’d “be right back.” Was there something specific y’all wanted to poke at me about, or?

Really was nice to meet you all, and I had fun despite my intent to spend the whole time skulking behind my fiancee, as I’m prone to do at social events. I’ll voluntarily go to the next one. ;p

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Those who got to Ye Olde King’s Head on time saw me come in agitated. I apologize. I lived in this area once but that was 40 years ago. I drove around and around and around before finding a public parking structure to park in, on 4th between Arizona and SM Blvd. On the way back, I found I had 1) left my car’s lights on :o and 2) to pay $1.00–that’s right, one dollar. I raised a fuss over so little. And, from other posts in this thread, missed out on some things. Oh, well, someday… :frowning:

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I had a blast. I tend to be shy when first meeting people, but I loved y’all. Can’t wait to attend another one. I took a short little video at the resturant. I have to hook up my camera and all this other stuff I am too tired to do right now, so I’ll stick the video online tomarrow.

See you at the next one!

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Let’s see, other stuff to mention:

Shayna and Spiny Norman had pictures of their wedding. (GREAT location, and included a few Dopers, too!)

Ruffian had a picture of her baby - the horse!

The “video game” where one dances on the pad, while presumably a good athletic workout, is something that one should master in private. Incredibly all Dopers present were wise enough to heed the previous statement. :smiley:

Coffee Crisp! In America! Well, I had to buy it! [Wilshire Blvd, about a block west of the pub, in case you’re dying for a little Canuck confection]

All in all, it was a fun time. Good to see the people I’d met before, and to get to meet a few new cool Dopers.