The sad part of not living near there is that I can’t attend the party. 
The glad part is that I won’t have to help you move. 
Ahh, gee. No one scared me away! It was the start of something wonderful! Of course, y’all may regret this!
I figure I’ll start attending these once I get the post count over 500, and set aside an old moonshine jug to put bar slush money in… Especially after my last absence of 3 months or so, I just feel so…new.
Well, maybe 300, 350 or so. And I looked at the dates that the last batch of subscribed threads died. About 9/20. So that three months was right on.
I came looking for this thread, expecting to have to dig a page or two in, but here it is right on the front page of MPSIMS! Woo Hoo! 
I still hope to attend, but my father has now suggested that I see him on New Year’s Day. And I won’t get to see him this weekend, so I really should take advantage of the fact that I’ll already be in that area next Saturday. At first I was just going to see my mom and brother on the 1st, for a 2pm dinner, but now I need to figure out what to do with Dad. I don’t really like the idea of driving up to Baltimore two days in a row, nor do I like the idea of spending New Year’s Eve there, so I need to put my thinking cap on.
(Hmm . . . maybe I can get Mom to move dinner up an hour or two, then right afterwards go see Dad for a couple of hours, and still get to Falls Church around 6pm . . . ? )
Here is a rundown of who’s responded so far:
Definitely
OpalCat
nyctea scandiaca
gobear
Scuba_Ben
av8rmike
RTFirefly
Anita Vacation
samclem
danceswithcats
TwoTrouts
Edward The Head
Iris
Probably (hopefully!)
Misnomer
Moi & TDC
Wendell Wagner
Maybe/not decided yet
GingerOfTheNorth
Only Mostly Dead
For the probably and maybe people, I really hope you guys can make it!
Only Mostly Dead, you must come! This might be your last chance to meet the famous Opal! I think if you get it up to 250, you’re plenty ready to come to a MAD DopeFest. Better start posting!
Add another name to the list of definites:
Olentzero
WooT !
I had to email him and beg but the humiliation is a small price to pay for the guy who made the best joke ever at a Dopefest (it involved a young boy and a can of whipped cream - but you had to be there). :eek:
Kewl! I miss his delightfully twisted sense of humor. 
UPDATESLIGHT CHANGE OF PLANS*****
Broad Street Grill doesn’t open until 5 pm on New Year’s Day, so we’re going to meet instead at 4 pm at Ireland’s Four Provinces (4Ps) which is directly across the street from Broad Street Grill (4Ps is at 105 W. Broad Street and BSG is at 132 W. Broad Street). The 4Ps has a big green awning and is in the bottom of a brick office building called George Mason Square.
We’ll meet at the 4Ps bar and have drinks until 5 pm, then we’ll move across the street to BSG.
There is a parking garage behind the 4Ps and you can park there.
Here are directions from the 4Ps web site:
From the beltway, take I-66 east, take exit 69 (Washington Blvd/Lee Highway exit). Turn right at stop light onto Lee Highway (Rte 29). Go about 1/2 mile to intersection of Broad Street (Rte 7) and Lee Highway (Rte 29). The 4P’s is located in George Mason Square on the right corner at this intersection.
So, to summarize. Meet at 4Ps at 4pm, then we’ll cross the street to the BSG at 5pm.
P.S. Here’s a link to the 4Ps website: http://irishusa.com/4ps/
Quick update: I won’t be able to attend, after all. Dad’s schedule is kind of weird on New Year’s Day (he’s a church organist and has a handful of masses to play that weekend), so my brother and I won’t be getting to his place until approx. 6pm. I’m a little bummed about missing my first Dopefest opportunity, but I’m sure there will be others! Right?!
Have fun, everyone – and someone have a black & tan for me! 
There are sure to be other fests but this is your last chance to meet and say farewell to Opal. She will be back in the area from time to time and maybe, if we’re lucky and all the planets align, there might be a time when her visit coincides with a MADFest.
Keep your fingers crossed!
Just bumping this again so everyone knows about the slight change in plans, see post # 49 above.
OK folks, the party is only 2 days away, so here’s a reminder to see the slight change in plans above. If anyone has any last-minute questions or problems, call me: [removed personal phone number] (I guess it’s ok to put my number here, right?)
See everyone Saturday!
Posting one’s personal phone number on an internet message board is not a very good idea, nyctea scandiaca.
Cajun Man
for the SDMB
Ok, Ok, if anyone needs to get a hold of us with questions or problems, e-mail me for my number or IM me and it will go to my cell phone. On AIM I am aegolius acadius.
See everyone at the party next year!
- I hope I will be able to come, though I can’t confirm.
- Happy New Year, everybody.
- We’re going to miss you, Opal.
Hope to see people today!
Do you need a ride? Email me at anitavacation at gmail dot com and I’ll give you my cell number.
Does anybody else notice that the posting times are out of whack by 52 minutes?