Hello, just thought I would post and say its a go. **Purplebear ** and **me ** will be in Florida that week. Looking forward to meeting everyone.
Now I can save some money, by seeing lurker in Fla. instead of driving to NY this summer, still will be going, but dont know if we will be able to see each other.
TruePisces I am looking forward to helping you celebrate your birthday. cant wait to see everyone.
(smiles to herself)
My record remains perfect. I will be in Atlanta that week.
pouts and whines inconsolably
sigh Another one bites the dust.
Can I try to console you with lots and lots of pictures and lots and lots of notes? (I bought 3 steno pads just for the occassion and so far, I have 5 rolls of film for lurker’s trip to Florida… with the intention of buying more!) I’ll try to make it just like you’re there, enjoying every moment! I’ll even TRY to take requests (though no promises that they’ll definitely be able to be filled!) 
I might have missed it, but is there a central meeting time and place?
Cheers,
Dan
elmwood, we’re meeting at 10am at the main entrance. TroubleAgain is making a sign so we all know each other, and we’re going to have the Putz buttons on (and we’re going to leave them at the ticket counter for any stragglers to pick up after we’ve gone inside… Just tell them you’re with the Straight Dope group and that there was supposed to be some buttons left for you to wear… That should work, shouldn’t it, TA? I’ve never done this sort of thing before! 
)
And now that I-4 is back open again, there shouldn’t be any problem with you mid-state people getting over here for this! YEAH!!!
Yes, that was the plan (if those nice RenFest people will be willing to hand out the buttons for us–don’t know why not). Since we’re going to be a large and diverse group, (too big to coordinate all the activities), I though we’d maybe meet at the front gate, say our hellos, etc. Then everyone can do what they want in smaller groups, then maybe we could meet for lunch in a central place, eat together, maybe watch the jousting or Human Chess Match as a group. Does that sound like a plan to you guys?
It seems that my trip to Gulf Wars has been cancelled through no fault of my own, so I am on for the RenDope.
If you see a tall guy in the Knight Templar outfit, wearing chain mail, that would be me. I am so looking forward to this!
Vidi Vici Veni!
TA, I think the best idea is probably to not make any decisions on what we’re doing when we get there until we get there. It could be that everyone decides that they want to DO the same things. It could be that everyone kinda splits up. shrug I’m fairly easy, so I’ll go with the flow of whatever is decided. But I think it’s easier to wait until we see who’s actually there before we decide to split up!
Oicu812, glad you can make it! Are you going to meet us at the gate or show later? I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for you!
Oh, and lurker were talking about the possibility of going out someplace close by to continue the good time after we were done at Ren. Part of this is so (hopefully) Bear can join us and meet at least some more of us (I’ve already sent him my cell number so he can give me a call when he gets out of the class and I can let him know what we’ve decided to do) So if we don’t all hang together through the Ren, there’s the option of afterwards… shrug Again, we’ll see what everyone wants to do when we get there…
10 days and counting!!! 10 days and counting!!!
[sub]Am I a little excited? Nah! ;)[/sub]
I am planning on being there by 9:30 or so. I live in Lakeland currently, so it is only an hour and a half trip.
Vidi Vici Veni!
My calendar is definitely cleared for that day. I’ll probabrly be spending Friday night in St. Pete, so I don’t have to drive in at Oh-Dark-Thirty. And I-4 is (temporarily) open again! Yippee!
[sub]I get to meet Dopers! I get to meet Dopers![/sub]
I am happy to have the opportunity to see you again, screech! We had an awesome conversation last time!
Vidi Vici Veni!
Oicu812, 9:30 will work. Official meet time is 10, but chances are a lot of us will get over there early. Just beware of Malfunction Junction on your way over.
screech-owl, I’m glad you’re a go! What time are you going to be hitting St Pete on Friday night? (And where are you staying?)
Well, this looks like it could be a really GOOD turn out, if the people that have confirmed can still make it! Here’s the list I’ve got so far (though I left off everyone that’s cancelled either on the thread or I talked to and they told me they couldn’t make it)
**Confirmed
TruePisces
lurkernomore
TroubleAgain
GolfWidow
maidenunicorn41
purplebear
screech-owl
Oicu812
SanibelMan
elmwood
tubagirl (possibly)
Mandy’s Mind 101 (possibly)
pezpunk (possibly)**
Plus assorted non-Dopers (or potential Dopers, if we do our job right, 
) that various people are bringing along. This looks like it’s going to be a good turn out! If I missed anybody, please let me know! I just want to get an idea of how many of us there are going to be.
I just can’t HELP but be excited about all this! I’m finally getting a chance to meet lots and lots of Dopers!
Thanks for the warning about the Junction. As it turns out, I work around the corner from the Tampa Airport, so I have the dubious distinction of driving I-4 and 275 on a daily basis. It IS getting a little old, though!
O
I like this phrase “potential Dopers”, bringing new blood in… so long as I don’t have to shave my head and wear a sheet at the airport while I sell flowers…
(no, we aren’t a cult… we just follow the Rev. Sun Myung Cecil…)
Well, how many people got married in one of the MPSIMS virtual marriage thread not too long ago?
Oh, this is going to be so great!
Oicu812, GolfWidow and I are both Lakeland people, too (I live in Bartow, but work in Lakeland.)
TruePisces, whatever happens is great with me, but my friends and I look on the RenFest as A Major Shopping Opportunity, and I didn’t think that would make a very good 20-odd (very odd, some of us ) -person-sized-group activity.
Whomever wants a ride from Lakeland or Bartow, post here. I am going anyway, and am not concerned over gas money or anything else, including unscheduled stops or whatever!
Vidi Vici Veni!
Largo Renaissance Faire and Mini-DopeFest
[corrdinated by TruePisces
Saturday, March 10, 2001
Meeting at ticket booths at 9:30/10:00am.
Purchase own tickets at booth.
Clothing required, RenFaire garb optional.
TroubleAgain is making a meeting place sign
Confirmed
TruePisces
lurkernomore
TroubleAgain
GolfWidow
maidenunicorn41
purplebear
screech-owl
Oicu812
SanibelMan
elmwood
Possibly
tubagirl
Mandy’s Mind 101
pezpunk
Couple of questions:
Am I correct on the above information so far?
Who is bringing the buttons?
Who is bringing cameras?
Would someone e-mail me a cell phone number in case I get horribly lost (this is not an impossibility for me!)?
Are we still meeting Bear_Nenno afterwards if people are still interested in doing so?
Cheers and huzzah!
screech-owl
I have the buttons.
I have a digital camera, which I plan to bring (but bring yours if you want…there’s a lot of good things to photograph!)
GolfWidow will not be with us after all, as of right now. Unavoidable conflict.
I will email my cell phone to any of you who request (send me email). I’m not the best at directions, but I’m not shy about grabbing strangers who look like they know what they’re doing and getting them to give directions.
As far as I can tell, that’s what we’ve gotten so far. I can’t think of anything you’ve missed.
TroubleAgain has those and will be bringing them.
I know I’m going to have one, along with a steno-pad to take notes on for those who won’t be fortunate enough to make it.
[sub]blessedwolf and UncleBill ;)[/sub]
Done!
That’s the plan. I sent him my cell number, but haven’t heard anything back from him, but when I talked to him 2 weeks ago, he seemed really positive about it. I think it’s partly going to be a matter of “Let’s see where the day takes us” But I know I’m planning on it at the very least.
5 days and counting!!!