Former Portlander, than Olympian (Olympia, WA) but, as of last Friday, currently a Salemite (Salemander?). which means I have 60 miles less reason to miss this Dopefest than the last one. I may have to rely on my natural fear of meeting groups of people, or call in the “I’d love to, but this stuff isn’t going to unpack itself” excuse. Plus, it’s my first week at a new job, which is stressful.
Well, that last one could be a reason to go the the Dopefest–meet people, have some laughs, make fun of people who actually eat scotch eggs (yuck!!). Arrrrrgh! I don’t know what to do!
I’m going to try to make it. I think. Unless I chicken out, which I’m not going to do. Unless I do. And then, it’s not that I don’t want to meet all of you–I may not post often, but I lurk a lot, so I know you better than you know me. I’ll stop dithering now.
Don’t you just love that word–dithering?
If anyone needs further incentive to come(and to bring a camera), not only will I be bringing tne Official Straight Dope Staff Mug, but I might bring my Moderators Cap!
I think I may have to come–I’ve got this mental image of Moderator underoos, and how they would look . . .well, on second thought, let’s just not go there.
Of course, I also have a mental image of a Moderator’s Cap—kind of like a dunce cap, but in plaid.
With ribbons.
Thanks **‘Zine **! Jeez, you transition into a steep learning curve new job at the ol’ newspaper and miss a few days on the boards, and zingo! there they are plotting a return to the Horse Brass!
I will have to apologize in advance as I have a funeral in The Dalles (where the Hometownboy and his missus hang their hats) on Saturday afternoon. Believe me, I would rather be boiled in prune oil (check the classy inside reference to an Oregon boy made good) than miss a dopefest at the Horse Brass, but this time it is not to be.
All other outlyers who might be considering it, take the word of someone who made the hour and a half trip to Stumptown last time and was incredibly pleased with the result. Excellent beer of all sorts, scotch eggs to die for, and the Missus said her halibut fish 'n chips were the best she’d ever had. Amazing conversation too, plus (as you’d expect) some truly amazing people.
(And for the easily frightened, I swear on a stack of * Return of the Straight Dope * books that ** Czarcasm ** only breathed fire once at a tardy serving wench. Just don’t ask him about the poster whose name was a synonym for hard-stuff-sometimes-used-to-pave-roads.)
I will lift a glass in honor of y’all from upriver
May I ask how we’re going to recognize each other–I mean, unless Czarcasm’s changed his mind about the Underoos?
Remember, I’ve ducked out on two of these things now, if I get up the nerve to come, I don’t want to be wandering around blindly asking groups of strangers if they’re dopers–although that would be a way to meet people in Portland. But I want to meet you Dopers, not strange Dopers–not that you Dopers may not be strange (Gods know, I am), but you’re friendly strange. I’ll just shut up now, and if you want to tell me I can’t come unless I agree to a word limit on my utterances, I’ll understand.
Not only do I dither, I ramble. Sometimes both at the same time.
I have an idea. I plan on showing up sometime between 3 and 3:30. I will bring my copy of Return of the Straight Dope. It’s not the most recent volume, but it does have a bright red cover. I will leave this book on the table in plain view, and it should be easily spotted from just about anywhere in the place.
Actually Kallessa, I don’t know. Last time **Mrs. B. ** and I were there for half an hour before I finally said “You know, that guy over there looks disgruntled, I’ll bet that’s Czarcasm.” And it was.
Anyway, I’ll try to be there before 4:00. I’m 6’2", 270lbs. with grey hair and beard. Just look for someone who looks like Sean Connery in Finding Forrester. Well, the hair’s the same anyway. I’ll be sitting with a guy carrying a copy of Return of the Straight Dope and a guy with a moderator’s cup and cap.
I’d try to tell you what these other guys look like, but I’m planning on being in the same room with them later today.
Hope you make it, in fact, I hope everybody who has responded to this thread will make it. Now if I don’t get out of here and take care of some business, I’m not going to make it.
