ok, I suck. I promise, no more corrections for at least 2 seconds.
Scotti! I didn’t mention you flying down from WA. It was so cool meeting you finally! I can’t wait to head up there and get more bunches of hugs. 
Well, I was only there for a small part of this weekend (about 4 pm to 9 pm Saturday) but I had a good time. I drove up with the always entertaining Monster104 and we got there about an hour before dinner, having no one’s phone number and having no idea where anybody was. So we went to the restaurant’s bar and made a vain attempt at catching up on the drinking we missed (no, actually I just had one drink and he had water). We were eventually joined by Purd Werfect, who started up a compu-nerd conversation with Monster that completely lost me, but then the equally non-tech wevets showed up so the talk turned to more comprehensible subject. Eventually the rest of the gang arrived and I was seated at a rather sparsely populated table with Monster, obfusciatrist, Scotti and Mauvaise. Scotti was as nice as everyone says she is and Obfus was much more charming than the picture of him flipping the bird would imply.
So I went with the gang back to the Madonna Inn, whose kitchiness defies description (the photos don’t do it justice) and hung out for about an hour and didn’t drink any more because I had to drive home with Mercutio. There were a lot of people I didn’t get to talk to, though I got to catch up with pricciar a bit and have to agree with the general view that virtee is hot. And I managed to get a line in The Book, however inadvertantly. (I still don’t know what he was doing to that shirt!)
I drove Merc home and learned about his interesting family history and his photography group, and later he fell asleep and I envied him. I got him home by midnight, which I’m sure his parents appreciated.
So thanks to everyone for all your hospitality–everyone has been so incredibly welcoming at every fest I’ve been to, even though I’m a semi-lurker. But although I risk blowing Demo’s image of me as a sophisticated hottie (
), I have to ask–what’s teabagging?
We had fun drunk.
We had fun sober.
We had fun at the beach.
We had fun at IHOP.
We had fun in a church.
We had fun making baby Jesus cry.
We had fun mocking the living.
We had fun mocking the dead.
We had fun at night.
We had fun in the day.
We had fun at a dance club.
We had fun watching American Bandstand.
This weekend was enormously enjoyable. Noone was able to go home without sore cheeks and a dry mouth from laughing so often. It was fabulous to meet everyone. All of you out of towners, thanks so much for making the trip! You made this a terrific gathering, I cannot wait to see you all again.
SlackerGirl, thanks yet again for putting together the Madonna Inn plan for us all. You rule! It was such a perfect place for the gathering.
Demo, I don’t know why you are complaining so much about being served last. That waitress did give you that reach around, and the sensual nipple massage must have made up somewhat for your late gravy.
We must all watch out for the Miami Sound Machine. It kills and maims, and ruins Seadiver’s pleasant dreams in the morning.
I have already started stalking woodstockbirdybird, myself. This will be great, we will be watching each other from opposing bushes. My bush will have a comfy couch. I am a lazy stalker.
I must echo what has been said ten million times. I wish the weekend didn’t have to end!
pat
Oh yeah, a postscript. I come back all fired up about participating in the boards more with all these cool people, get to work this morning and find out they’ve put in a new firewall thingy called Websense. So not only can’t I post, which I couldn’t do before either, but I can’t even look at the boards at work now. Man, how am I ever going to keep up with things? I guess they expect me to, you know, work there or something.
Well, I’ll do my best guys…one day I’ll reach 1,000…just you wait…
I waited to post until I got my pictures back. I have some really great group shots (a few of which I don’t remember at all)… and I wanted to cry looking at them because it’s all over! We HAVE to this again.
As Friday’s afternoon group can well attest, I am deeply in love with the weather in SLO. My new dream is to live there and work at the Mission Grill with all the hot waiters/hosts/bartenders. (Heh, Doob and I were equally attracted to them, go figure.) I’d maybe work part-time at the Madonna, just so I could go into each and every room and bask in the utter tackiness.
So anyway, everyone pretty much has summed up the events. What people will never know from just reading the posts is how well everyone clicked, and how many already-strong friendships were solidified by finally meeting in person. It meant so much to me to finally hang out with Demo, Pat, Doob, Psy, SeaDiver… the list goes on, but those were the ones I made the trip for. SO worth it.
Demo
It was long, but well worth it. Thanks to everyone for helping make my weekend such a blast! I am tentatively planning on future trips to both NorCal and SoCal (the airfares ain’t bad, and good deals are often to be had), but I can’t make any promises yet.
BunnyGirl
You know, I was going to post a good summary, but everyone else did the work for me.
I have some pretty good pictures, and I’ll be putting them up once I get my new website up.
I read boli’s post and I have to agree. It kicked ass seeing her and VBlaise. We have been virtual friends for so long, it was if we knew each other already. They were exactly how I expected. And then some! They rocked. I am going to make it to a chiDope some time in the future. So, I can party with them yet again.
The same with Strainger. It was great to meet him after talking to him, and seeing his name on the board for so long. I look forward to seeing him again down in SoCal, or up at Demo’s in August. I didn’t get a chance to talk to him much, but I certainly got a chance to just hang out and have fun.
Just thought I would mention that specifically. Until, I read boli’s post, I had forgotten that I never met her VBlaise or Strainger in person.
Heck, I had fun with everyone. I just wanted to say that it was specifically cool to see those guys for the first time in the flesh.
Another thought that crossed my mind. I have to send out a great deal of mad props (As the young people like to say.) to Mercutio for being such a cool guy. He took a lot of ribbing all night (and in this thread) for being so young. But, in all honesty, he is a mature, with it, funny guy. He was able to dish it out as well as he got it. In fact he had one of the best lines of hte night.
“My parents think I am out having wild orgies, doing illegal drugs, while worshipping Satan. And taking bets on it.”
Thank god we didn’t give him any booze, though. I think he might have actually found super strength and found a way to put that gihugic lampshade on his head and danced around.
pat
Yeah, and I got to be in between boli’s thighs at pismo too.
I remember saying something like: “This will be the closest i’ll get to a woman ever”.
Guys, guys, it’s ok - we all know you had a lousy time 'cause I couldn’t make it. All this stuff is cute, but, hey, it’s ok - we understand. No need to make things up, now. Here, have a tissue, have a good cry. I promise to make the next one, really.
I’m really, really sorry I missed it.
Esprix
I have been having Doper hallucinations today. I’ll see someone out of the corner of my eye and say, “Hey, is that Doobieous?” Then I’ll see a guy whose back is to me and think, well, that COULD be obfusciatrist. Then I’ll swear I just saw pricciar. Dunno why it’s happening.
Oh, I got my Dopefest pix back. There’s a trippy one of me sprawled on the couch on Friday night – the colors swirl about because it seems to have been taken by a VERY unsteady hand. I’ll get to scanning a couple one of these days.
Oh, one more little memory just floated to the surface:
The waitresses at the Madonna. Rrrroowll! Kickin’ around in their little busty-Swiss-Miss push-uppy things…<sigh> Can’t help but think jarbaby would fit right in somehow.
I finally got my pics uploaded from my camera and Demo was kind enough to post them on his website for me (thank you! 
).
Great pictures! I am especially impressed with the one of Strainger in the coffee table. I didn’t think anybody had actually done it.
I just put Scotticher on a plane back home :(, so my dopefest weekend has now officially ended. I want to thank everyone responsible for putting this thing together and all the people who attended for making it so much fun!
I’m so glad I finally got to meet so many people whom I’ve posted and chatted with.
First of all, Scotticher you really are as wonderful, sweet and kind in person as you are on line, not to mention absolutely beautiful. I’d say it was great to meet you, but I’m certain that we’ve met before - it was just that comfortable being with you. Thank you for coming all that way for this dopefest. I can’t wait to see you again in October!
Mauvaise, it was so awesome to finally meet you and I’m so glad you came to L.A. a night ahead. Our mini slumber party was a blast. You are definitely going to have to come back more often and you’ve always got a place to stay!
Rasa & Virtee, you are a darling couple and I’m so, so glad to have met you guys before you head back east. I can tell that you have a lot of happiness in your future. hugs to both of you! (And thanks for letting me horn in on you at dinner!)
zyzzyva, you’re a sweetheart, too, and I also enjoyed your company at dinner.
Demo & psycat, you guys are an inspiration to us all. It’s heartwarming to see two people so in love and comfortable with each other. I so enjoyed your company and I hope we get a chance to party together again sometime.
slackergirl, you were a saint in the face of what could have turned into an ugly scene. Charming, sweet and composed. Thank you for keeping us rowdies in line so we didn’t get in too much trouble!
SeaDiver, girlfriend, you are a hoot and a half! I’m sorry I made you cry, but I’m glad they were happy tears, at least. You are seriously going to have to be here in October if I have to come up there and drag you down here myself!
boli, you are a doll. I sure wish you lived closer so we could hang out some more. It was such a pleasure to get to know you this weekend!
Jack Batty, you were SO much fun to party with! What won’t you do for a dollar?! (And yes, you look way cool with black fingernails. They’re so… I don’t know… you, somehow. Next is that bat tattoo!)
woodstockbirdybird, you have a twisted sense of humor, which I can so appreciate. You were one of the highlights of the weekend. Thanks so much for keeping us entertained.
Strainger, I think I may have met you before, too. Were you ever in band camp? Seriously, you are a great guy and it was a pleasure to have you as a guest. You’ll have to let us know when your next business trip to L.A. is so we can plan a dopefest around your visit! (P.S. Scotti, Monster and I would like to thank you for causing all that traffic on our way home. I know it was a nice drive, but did you have to take it all in at 5 mph? ;))
Kyla, you’re a little cutie and I sure hope you’ve recovered from all the fun you had!
Purd Werfect, you also look very cool with black nail polish on - even if it’s only on one finger. You’ll just have to beware the hoards of women who’ll now be flocking to you!
thinksnow, it was really great to get to meet you, too. Thanks for letting me sign your shirt!
obfusciatrist, you only think they didn’t serve you your potatoes at breakfast. The truth is, I swiped them in exchange for that nasty tomato!
Snooooopy, Wevets, Valerieblaise & Doobieous, I didn’t get to talk to you guys very much, but it was great to get a chance to meet you, too (and in Doob’s case, to see you again).
Domina, I really didn’t get to see much of you, but that’s because you were such an angel, making that long drive back and forth in one day so that Mercutio would be able to come. I’m looking forward to seeing you at the next 'fest.
pricciar, I think it was you who picked the restaurant and set up dinner Saturday night. You did a great job - the food and the service were top notch, and I want to thank you for taking care of everything.
Mercutio & Monster, as always, it was a pleasure. You’re great kids and I’m glad you got to come to the 'fest.
I sure hope I haven’t forgotten anyone. If I did, I hope you’ll forgive me. I’m simply exhausted. I started this post quite a while ago and I think all my weekend fun has started to catch up with me. I’ll come back tomorrow and post about some of the stuff that Scotti and I did on the way back and over the past couple of days.
Night night, all. And thanks again to everyone for such a fabulous weekend!
Oh, and the invitation is open to everybody to come to L.A. in October. We’ve narrowed it down to either the weekend of the 12th or the 19th, so start saving your pennies!
Jeg elsker dig, Thomas
Oh, so close. I’ll be in Anaheim the weekend of the 7th, running an event at Disneyland. I don’t think I’ll be able to make it down two weekends in October.
Shayna, I have to say you were a wonderful hostess. Thanks so much for letting us crash at your place Friday night. Also, I love your laugh.
As soon as you get the date nailed down for the October LA Dopefest, would you let Mauvaise and/or me know? There is a fare sale at Southwest ($60 roundtrip between PHX and LAX) that we, and hopefully Padeye, would like to take advantage of. (I’m glad you’re having this later in the month. My mom is going to be in town the first week in October, so obviously I wouldn’t be able to make it then.)
Goshdernit, obfus, I was hoping you and baglady would be able to come. Rats! I really wanted to meet her and give her a hug for all the Wally pins she made for dopefests she didn’t even attend. And since I seem to have neglected mentioning it above, I also thoroughly enjoyed meeting you, as well. Maybe there’ll be another chance sometime, or you’ll find you are able to make 2 October trips.
Strainger, it was my pleasure. Y’all were perfect houseguests. It looks like it’s leaning towards the weekend of the 19th, because so far the fares we’ve found are more than double the week of the 12th compared to the 19th. Spiny & Coldy are going to talk this evening and probably book their flights. I’ll let you know as soon as I do.
Sorry to get here so late, but life has a way of getting in the way, you know?
Anyhow, I think the weekend has been pretty much covered adequately by the rest of the poster’s. So I am just going to add a few comments.
Thank you, Slackergirl for finding the Madonna Inn. That place is the most wonderfully tacky place I have ever seen. I vote we make this an annual event, to be held there. I think we all agree. Except possibly the management of the Madonna Inn, and who cares what THEY think?
Shayna? I just LOVE you, dear. I had the BEST time staying with you, I fell in love with ShaynaKitty and the fish, and whether you realize it or not, I have paid you the best compliment I could by booking a flight to see you again in October. You have NO idea how hard it is to get me out of Bellingham. I already knew how much I loved you, but I was a little concerned since I had never met you face-to-face…what if we just didn’t “mesh?” Well, we meshed, all right…I didn’t want to go home. And for those of you who don’t know her, this lady is beautiful, inside and out. She is also funny, caring, intelligent, and feisty. I can only hope that a little of her rubbed off on me…it could only be an improvement.
Demo and Psy… I have a special spot in my heart for Demo, for various reasons. One of which is our shared love for EXTREMELY hot chicken wings, which he gave me a new recipe for, and which no one I know will eat except my brother. Fine, more for us. Another reason is that he was one of the first people on the board to talk to me as a person, instead of just a newbie username. I love him dearly, and it made me so happy to see Demo and Psy together. They are so in love, so together. I am envious, but I am oh so happy for them.
Mauvaise…well, I wouldn’t have come to this soiree if not for you. Shayna and I had talked about going some time ago, but we sort of dropped it, and I had decided not to go. (so what else is new?) My class reunion was last weekend, and I didn’t really have a burning desire to go. But I felt I should, and various friends were piling on the guilt. But then Mauv emailed me a short time before the DopeFest, and said that she had seen my earlier post about possibly attending. She said that if I was going, she would come, too. Well, it seemed like a sign, if you know what I mean. So I emailed Shayna, we decided to go, and the rest is history. Good history, I hope. So anyway, honey…you are a wonderful lady, and I forgive you for thinking I was your SO and snuggling your behind into my back whilst trying to get warm. Boy, for a person who is used to sleeping alone, do you have any idea how unsettling it is to groggily realize that someone is in BED with you? It took me a moment or two to wake up enough to realize I was NOT at home, and I was NOT in the company of some mad snuggler. Love you too, baby!
I am going to skip all of the other wonderful things I have to say about everyone else individually. I liked everyone, I would do this again with all of them, and most of it has already been covered by the rest of you. I had a wonderful time, I feel priviledged to have gotten to meet you all.
Oh, except for I have to mention Jack Batty. What a darling, darling man. And furthermore, I got to help him by suggesting the theme for his next tattoo. I love tattoos…I don’t have enough guts to actually GET one…but then everyone needs a gutless Scotti in their life. As a cheerleader, if nothing else.
And Woodstockbirdybird which I have most likely spelled wrong. You are a dollface, and much sturm and drang ensued about a couple of threads. I spoke my mind, and you didn’t smack me. Thank you…I bruise easily.
Okay, I just have one more thing to say, for those of you who didn’t give up and go home long ago in the middle of my book.
You may be laboring under a misconception. When thinksnow posted all of those vivid and amusing quotes, it may have occurred to you that there were NONE by Scotti. This may have led you to believe that I SAID nothing memorable/charming/witty. Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is, I was more vivid/amusing/wise than anyone there. (Except for maybe the security guard who kicked us out.) The problem was, the quote book and I were never in the same room at the same time. Really…whenever I was OUTSIDE making unforgettable/droll/enlightening statements, the book was inside. Whenever I was INSIDE making diverting/funny/discerning comments, the book was outside. And trust me, wherever I was, everyone was too busy hanging onto my every indelible/comical/perceptive words to…well, it got got to the point where they were
too enthralled to leave the room/patio and GET the book so they could record my indelible/insightful comments for posterity.
It’s a shame, really. You could have all benefitted. But alas, that is the price I pay for being so witty, charming and wise.
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. [sub]those who were actually THERE can just shut up, thankyouverymuch.[/sub]
In closing, may I just say thank you to all involved. I have never met a better, more compatible bunch. Once again, I am thankful to this message board for enriching my life with wonderful people. I am humbly grateful.
Scotti
Damnit, I promised myself I wouldn’t cry.
Jeez, Louise, Scotti, stop being so gosh-darned nice. You make being a cynic very difficult.
[sub]I second every sentiment you expressed, especially the part about me being “darling”.[/sub]
