Minutes of the Bal'mer/DC doperfest II

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Almost nobody was prepared for the size of the portions at Chevy’s. I personally was stuffed, and Lucrecia & Bluesman went home with a major doggie bag.

I would like to say that we closed the place, but a it’s undoubtedly still going on at this very moment.

The list of attendees included (but is not limited to):

•John Corrado
•Lucretia
•Bluesman
•Geobabe
•Wendell Wagner
•RTfirefly
•Sqrlcub
•the guy next to Sqrlcub who was wearing a name tag that said “Satan”, but I wasn’t fooled
•Wierddave
•Falcon
•Pldennison
•the gal next to pldennison
•joe angle
and
•yours truly

This time we got better service than at the Capitol City Brewing Company (the waiter actually seemed pleased to wait on us) and I heartily recommend our waiter who was named either Brian or Ryan or possibly even Myron. Just ask for him when you go there.

And did I mention that the portions were huge? All of our entrees were served on turkey platters and the beer was served in a bucket.

Unfortunately, joe angle & I had to leave early. I get up too early to to stay very late. I left $40 with John for our part of the tab, including my last ten Sackies. These were an instant hit and got passed around the table. Wendell bit down on one (perhaps he thought is was one of those gold-foil covered chocolate coins) and after that, nobody else would touch it.

The NC gang arrived around the same time as the 2nd bucket of beer (8:00ish), at which time we were treated to pictures of silo (aka Michael Masterson) and Satan’s ass (I had to take Falcon’s word for it). After carefully studying the photos, it was generally agreed upon that silo was not packing an eight-pound salami, if you get my drift.

The rest of it is all a vague, semicomical blur. I distinctly remember wierddave doing something with a bartender’s tray & a salsa dish that I’m pretty sure was in direct violation of the law of gravity. My brain is starting to shut down now so I’ll defer to the other board members to fill in the gaps. We’ll also need an update on the events that ensued after my departure (no doubt I missed the table dancing).

2

::Livin’ vicariously though the account of my homeport’s Doperfest::

3

LoL! Now you guys aren’t gonna make me prove you wrong. :slight_smile:
(BTW, not to brag guys but, I am too big, and i’m not just sayin’ that, ok)

4

Sorry I couldn’t make it, but new fatherhood is really time-consuming. Glad y’all had fun.

5

Weirddave is indeed the king of the bartender’s tray. It was an amazing demonstration of skill.

Bluesman regaled us with many hilarious stories about his drinking adventures. Everything’s better with gunfire!

I came out of it with a possible new sig line: “I’m all about the dick.” (P.S. Silo, that was not in reference to you…)

I laughed so much I’m a bit hoarse now. It was a great time!

6

Yay! Geo used her new sigline! And yes, everything is better with gunfire.

Anyway, I got there a bit late after having LOTS of fun on I-95 in Richmond. (1 hour to go 2 miles. Jesus.) But everyone forgave me. :slight_smile: As usual, the conversations drifted from here to Cuba and back. Which confused bluesman until I said we needed to start actually SAYING “hijack” when we digressed… Various…umm…interesting GQ topics and weird internet sites were brought up as well. Which scared poor Leigh Ann so terribly she had to run off to the bathroom. (Which had really cool doors, btw.)

It was also agreed that the idea of ChiefScott letting us on the ship (hey, I got it right this time) was a GREAT idea for the next gathering. Well, as long as he and bluesman don’t get into a fight over which is better - Navy or Air Force.

Anyway, had a WONDERFUL time again with you all, and I’m sure I’ll post more later…the driving and lateness are beginning to make my head swim…

(And hey Silo, you wouldn’t show it off, so we have to guess! Sheesh!)

7

Darn it, Falcon. That twarnt for public release here yet! I wanted to let the cat out of the bag!

But yes, I’m looking at Aug. 26 for the Norfolk Pre-Fall Blowout and Aircraft Carrier Tour.

Stay tuned to this forum for more info soon.

I now return you to the minutes…

8

Dammit. Now Chiefy’s mad at me AGAIN.

Um, would it be any better if I said Satan spread it around at the North Carolina meeting earlier that day? No, huh.

Crap. Better get that fallout shelter set up again…methinks Chief might shoot me soon. :slight_smile:

9

Damn, I was hoping for more drunken debauchery. Unless it’s still going on so people haven’t had time to post yet. Pics, people! I want pics!!!

10

The list of attendees included:

                 •John Corrado
                 •Lucretia
                 •Bluesman
                 •Geobabe
                 •Wendell Wagner
                 •RTFirefly
                 •SqrlCub
                 •dcnewsman (wearing "Satan" nametag)
                 •weirddave
                 •Falcon
                 •pldennison
                 •Peta Tzunami (next to pldennison)
                 •joe angle
                 •opus
                 •Cabbage

I remember laughing uproariously at bluesman’s tales of liquor, glass, and gunfire; I’ll have to post more when I’ve had a chance to recover from a terrific but exhausting Saturday!

11

Bluesman and I had a huge time. Weirddaves feats of waitorial prowess were truly a wonder to behold, and Wendell proved that if the intern position for Cecil is still open, he should definitely be considered.

We are looking forward to Dopin’ up the Ike in August, Chief!

12

It was great to see RT, Falcon, Opus, John, Wendall, Dave, et al again, and nice to meet everbody else.

I had a great seat (right next to Geobabe; shoulda squeezed her knee when I had the chance…) OW…I mean, next to my lovely wife Lucretia.

By the way, my tales of drinking are from my dissolute youth, and I don’t even own any firearms now. (As far as you know.)

Can’t wait to go down to Norfolk in August and open Eisenhower Air Force Base.
[hijack…joke for ChiefScott]

The Joint Chiefs of Staff were having an argument with each other about which one of the services was more valuable to the country. None of the Chiefs were willing to concede, when the Pentagon’s chaplain walked into the room. They all agreed to ask for divine guidance, and the chaplain prayed for an indication from God.

Suddenly, a snow-white dove flew into the office. It landed on General Shelton’s desk, and in it’s beak was a piece of gold leaf. The dove laid the gold leaf in the Chairman’s in-box, and flew out the window. The chaplain picked up the gold leaf, and read the message that was written on it:

“ALL of the services are valuable, and carry out the work of protecting the defenseless, freeing the enslaved and exploited people, and keeping the peace of the world. ALL of the services are must work together to do my work, as none can do everything alone. And ALL of the services are deserving of my blessing and protection.”

Signed,
God Almighty
Chief Master Sergeant, USAF (Ret.)
[/hijack]

13

Oh, yeah.
His mother wasn’t only a virgin, she was a Sailor as well!

14

But UndeadDude was on call, which means he can’t go further than 15 minutes from home :frowning: Plus I was on a lot of pain medication for my teeth. ( http://fff.fathom.org/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000519.html )

We will be there for the next one, I hope… and we’ll bring the laptop & webcam.

15

Bluesman behaved himself, mostly. Although I don’t know what would have happened had Lucretia not been there to keep the rest of us safe!

Opal and UndeadDude were definitely missed. Then again, as I pointed out, without pictures, we can all maintain deniability for anything that might have gone on…

16

Pictures were taken, Geobabe - I got y’all to pose for a group shot on the way out of Chevy’s, remember. It may take me awhile to get the pix developed, though.

But I also saw Sqrl and dcnewsman’s camera in action, early on - and theirs is digital. So I’m assuming their shots will be up on Falcon’s site before too long.

17

Our evening began with a leisurely drive up the GW Parkway to get to the Beltway. Unfortunately, I took a wrong curve around downtown and ended up crossing the Arlington Bridge into downtown. Bravely, Peta Tzunami (not the world’s greatest map reader in years past) navigated me back onto the Parkway. Having been in the area a mere week, we have grown accustomed to the VA Beltway already, but the MD Beltway traffic is something else altogether. It quickly sent my blood pressure into the stratosphere. However, we made it to Chevy’s relatively unscathed to find opus, Joe Angle, Bluesman and Lucretia, and John Corrado already in attendance. Geobabe, weirddave, Wendell Wagner, and the brave NC attendees showed up in due time.

The people I had already met were at least as fun as I remember them, and the people I met for the first time were equally good company. Everyone was good for terrific conversation and a lot of laughs. Memorable moment–Lucretia asking SqrlCub if she and Bluesman get hugs, and him replying, “Not the first time.”

The food was not bad–there were at least two vegetarian dishes. Upon reflection, I can’t believe we spent several hours at a Mexican food joint and nobody had margaritas. Have to remedy that next time. And I never got my damned tequila shot, either.

Unfortunately, upon leaving, we took the Beltway in the wrong direction and had to travel all the way around the Maryland side and across the WW bridge to get home. Nevertheless, a great time was had, and we’ll plan on being at ChiefScott’s soiree down in Norfolk. BTW, Sunday I went to the O’s game with my dad for father’s day and got horrific sunburn on my arms and legs.

18

It was a dark and stormy night (from time to time anyway) and PLDennison and me (Mrs. PLD aka Peta Tzunami) decided we didn’t much care for the BWI or the Beltway positioned through Maryland as we arrived 10 to 15 minutes late for the Doperfest. We, however, were not the latest nor the greatest to arrive.

Having already achieved a certain comfort level with DC Dopers from mini-meetings in the don’t too distant past, it was great to meet some others.

Bluesman and Lucretia were a shear delight and I knew, despite never having had an opportunity yet to read his postings, from the minute I layed eyes on him he was military…guess my senses are heightened with our new proximity to Fort Belvoir (or maybe it was just really obvious?). And I believe the vote was unanimous (among female dopers anyway) that next gathering Bluesman should wear his dress uniform. (BTW, on the car ride home, PLD was doing his impression of Bill Murray from Stripes: “Bluesman, I wanna party with you…”)

Now, Geobabe I wouldn’t have pegged as ex-Navy until she started talking like a sailor. :slight_smile: And afterall, she is all about dick.

Dave’s tray trick was a hoot, but I couldn’t tell if he could tell when I was joking (or trying too) about things like sports (which I am to understand are NOT a laughing matter–well, unless you are talking about the Brown-Ravens or the Browns ;). I liked Wendall; he seemed highly intelligent, though I don’t think SOME of US let him get in too many words in edgewise. As far as Opus, his friend and Cabbage were concerned, they weren’t too much within my earshot so I can’t comment, but didn’t want them to feel ignored. :slight_smile:

The Too-Late-Crew arrived and confused the waiter further by proceding to order dinners and desserts (he professed that he though he didn’t charge us for EVERYTHING), which is good because from time to time we seemed more of a distraction than patrons (IMHO).

Sqrlcub telling Lucretia and Bluesman they couldn’t have hugs the first time had me cracking up. And I was greatly surprised to learn that while we were visiting Ikea Saturday afternoon we were simultaneously appearing at the NC Doperfest. Neat trick, eh? DCNewsman, thanks for the BossTemps tip; I’ll probably look into it near the end of the week, and I’ll be sure to mention you (I assume there’s a finder’s fee?).

[hijack]For those who heard about it at this or previous DC Doper events (or those who didn’t but are curious), the Legend of the Easter Bunny has been posted for your enjoyment and/or amusement…just remember it was a creative writing assignment from school about a trillion years ago.[/hijack]

Falcon, don’t forget to tell Satan that “your dad kicked my dad’s ass!” :wink:

I’ll probably add more later…What can I say, I don’t have a life right now. I’m unemployed and can’t spend ALL my computer time at home looking for a job, can I?

p.s. Just as I finish typing this and preview it, I learn that SOMEONE is posting from his dial-up at work…some people just don’t have a life! :stuck_out_tongue: Guess these Sunday-sunburns aren’t TOO painful to keep either of us from typing…but that’s another thread. :cool:

19

I definitely had a blast; and I’m glad to know that certain photos of me were a source of great delight down at the NC doper-fest.

I’m very much looking forward to the next area Doper-fest, which looks like it will be “Dopers vs. The Eisenhower” or “Cecil Adam’s Navy.” If the latter, I definitely want the Tim Conway role.

20

Hey all! I had a fantastic time. I’m blushing right about now about the aclaim for my tray act. It’s no big deal. Really. It just takes hours and hours of practice.:wink: The group was great. I am wondering from the above posts how long y’all stuck around, though. I left, at what I thought was the cusp of the get together, cuz I had a ways to go. You probobly did all the real fun stuff afterwords. Peta, for future reference, the Browns are a laughing matter, the Ravens are not.:wink: Seriously, I had no problems with anything you said. I hope I can make August, but it is the week before Vegas, and I may have to miss it cuz I’m going the next week to Vegas. I hope to see y’all soon.

Dave