Vancouver Dopefest Wrap-Up Thread

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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Hey all!

This is the official Vancouver Dopefest wrap-Up thread. (unless someone gets one in while I am composing this one) Yes, I could leave this for Scotticher to do (since she’s the one that organized it all), but she’s probably busy and tired, too. Hey, I’m also tired (we did a LOT of walking today), but I’m up for it! Besdies, I probably should get down the events while they’re still fresh in my mind.

Why am I starting a new thread? Well, the Vancouver Dopefest one probably shouldn’t be bumped any more than it has to be, and I like the idea of wrap-up threads being separate from the original “Let’s have a Dopefest around here sometime!” threads.

That said, I would like to say now that any rumors you may hear in this thread about my being totally smashed are definitely NOT true. However, I can’t say the same for the rumors that have me as being on the quiet side. (about which more later)

We met at the Granville Island Coffee House. (thanks for the directions and description, Barbarian and Larry Mudd) I was actually the first person there: I thought that in case I got lost or something, I should leave time to actually find the place. Nope, I actually managed to find it in enough time that I was the first person there by a good 40 minutes or so. (no, I’m not particularly obsessibe about being on time, why do you ask? :D)

I was sitting inside the coffee shop and reading the paper when this guy that totally reminded me of my friend Mark (same general build, same red hair, etc.) walked up to me and asked if I was there for the Dopefest. Yes, I was indeed. He introduced himself as Barbarian, and we sat and made small talk for a little while.

Since GingeroftheNorth and her hostess had been described as two redheads, and we saw two redheads in the back of the coffee shop, we thought that maybe it would be them. Barbarian decided to go up to them and say something like. “Um, this is going to sound really strange, but are you here for the Straight Dope Dopefest?” They weren’t, but **[Larry Mudd/b] happened to be sitting just behind them.

The three of us made small talk until Ginger and her hostess came in. Her hostess is a new Doper; I believe she said she registered this morning. Everyone else (Scotticher, rjk, and silent_rob) was late, but there was some sort of hour-and-a-half tie-up. Afterwards, we just sat around and slowly got to know each other. (and discussed Ginger’s upcoming wedding, among other things)

Later, we went around Granville Island. Ginger seemed quite taken with the toy store we went to, and almost everyone else was too. Larry and I weren’t quite so taken with it, so we just stood around and talked while waiting for everyone else.

Ginger remarked that I seemed quiet. Big surprise there, I’m sure. :eek: So everyone said that they’d be teasing me endlessly, or was that just you, Larry? I believe Larry said he thought he wouldn’t be able to get a word in edgewise. Ha ha ha. I don’t talk peoples’ ears off in real life, I told him. “So you get it all out online!” he concluded. That could very well be the case. Besides, I’m not one to totally dominate a conversation, especially if it’s around people I really don’t know very well.

After that, we took a water taxi to the West End and walked around a bit on the seawall (which Larry axked if I was cool with… hey, who am I to hold everyone back?), where Ginger decided she literally had to get her feet wet. I actually ran into a couple of my friends while we were walking on the seawall. That will certainly be interesting if my friend asks me where I know those people from.

Later, we ate dinner at the Bayside Lounge (after saying goodbye to Barbarian), where I actually ordered a Guinness for the first time in my life. When I asked Larry if he was expecting me to turn hyper at any moment, he asked if he’d missed it. Nope! I didn’t turn hyper at any point in time during (or after) the fest. (at least, in my opinion)

After saying goodbye to Larry, we decided to take the bus home. On the bus, we discussed stuff about the boards in general (and I learned more than I thought I would)l… Scotticher also announced that she was saving herself for Ed Zotti. For some reason, rjk thought that since we were on public transit at the time, this qualified as an Official Announcement[sup]TM[/sup], and even asked these two girls sitting nearby if they’d heard what she’d said. Needless to say, they were very confused.

They all bid adieu to me at the Skytrain station, after taking me down the escalator. (no elevators for me) For the record, I freeze at escalators. Maybe it’s because I just don’t like the feeling of the moving steps or I feel I’m not safe, or something, but that’s how it is.

I didn’t really talk to silent_rob much at all, but it was great meeting everyone. :cool: Through everyone else’s conversations, I got to learn more about the boards from their perspectives, and got a bit of an insight into Weirddave.

Ginger, I hope you get everything in roder here for your weddng, and may it all go smoothly. Larry, I still have no idea what the mushroom is called for mushroom tea… all I can tell you is that it looks like a big round white fungus thing. (hey, Scotticher backed me on this!) I’ll ask my mom when I see her, though I’m probably not going to get much more out of her than, “It’s a different kind of mushroom.” Um, yes… I knew that already, Mom. Of course, there’s always Google, which I will use later.

So ends the long mundane, pointless story of the Vancouver Dopefest. It was a good time, with lots of stories exchanged. July 20, 2002 will be one of those memorable days for me. :slight_smile:

F_X

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Scotti denies making the announcement! It was really Ginger who said Scotti was keeping herself pure for Ed (OR MAYBE FOR THE MASTER!). Scotti said Ed was too young for her, but we decided he’s old enough, so they’re officially an item. :wink:

(She says it’s also official that she’s going to kill me for posting this.)

Anyway, it was a great afternoon and evening.

And welcome to Ginger’s hostess Sinshine (if I got that name right)!

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And I forgot to say that Flam said more in her wrap-up post than she did all day. But we liked her anyway!

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And to think that I wasn’t going to call rjk at around 11 (maybe 10 minutes after I got home) just to let him know I’d arrived home safely. (because I thought it might be too late, or he wouldn’t be home yet) lel just told me that I should call him now, but I don’t think it would be very nice. :stuck_out_tongue:

Ginger may have said something of the sort, but Scotti did say those words, or something to the same effect. You know that!

So what are you saying, rjk? Are you saying that I’m dso quiet in person that you’d lose me if I didn’t make a sound? (that could be true, but no…) Hey, sometimes I’m shy, or just quiet. Isn’t that allowed? Or should I be really loquaicious next time, to better fit what you’d expect of me based on my posting prolificness? (is that even a word?) Well, I could have done that, but that might not have been me. No, I’m not much fun, and I know it.

But it was a good time! (hey, I was just collecting my impressions and such of the day… I had no idea the post would turn out to be that long)

F_X

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I’m going to make it to one of these Dopefests someday, and Flamsterette_X will seem boisterous next to me. Since I wasn’t able to participate in person, I’ll just make this small contribution to one conversation:

The “mushroom” for tea (really a colony of yeast and bacteria) is called Kombucha.

a bunch of links touting the purported benefits

a more skeptical site with warnings and stuff

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Hello,

As Ginger has been making herself comfortable (and torturing my cat in good fun) it falls to me to say, we had a lovely time.

Thank you, RJK for your welcome. Very cozy.

“The sun shone, the bees buzzed, and the sun beat on their ears” as we trudged our weary little feet all over Vancouver’s touristy places. I enjoyed meeting new faces, that I will now get to know better.

I must admit, I was startled to meet Barbarian who looks too much like MY friend Mark, who is a voice in the Vancouver Bach Choir, and Flamsterette_X whom I thought I might have met before, but still haven’t worked out when or where. I think we can blame Mark for that though - there can’t be more than one person by that name running around this area looking like Barbarian’s not-so-evil twin.

As Ginger says, “I had fun. The End”

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Sinshine, we’re very glad to have you aboard! :slight_smile: Check your email, by the way.

F_X

8

I am home, Silent_Rob is on the bus to his next PNW adventure, and a good time was had by all.

We left Northgate at 8:30AM Saturday (BIG thanks to AudreyK and KKBattousai who got up at the crack of dawn to bring Rob to Northgate Mall to meet me, saving me the trip to Renton) under the mistaken impression that this would give us PLENTY of time to get to rjk’s house by noon. Right.

Just before Everett we ran into the worse traffic jam I have ever seen…it took us one and one-half hours to get from south of Everett to Marysville. A dump truck had run into the big ditch between the north and south bound lanes and they had blocked off four of the six lanes of the freeway to set two cranes up to remove it, or at least that is what it looked like. All in all, I think that given the circumstances the fact that we were only 40 minutes late is kind of a miracle. I still felt bad, though, since I am one of those people who feels late if I am just on time. Anyway…here is a really weird thing.

While we were stuck in this bumper-to-bumper traffic going about 0 miles an hour, Rob said…“It looks like there is a kid driving that truck!” When we got up beside the truck, sure enough…there WAS a KID driving that truck! He looked to be about ten or eleven, and there was another kid with him. He stayed more or less level with us for a bit and then pulled into the next lane and ended up moving ahead of us. VERY strange. And I must say, he appeared to know what he was doing, too. Well, the nice lady at the State Patrol said they would have an officer check the truck out at the end of the bottleneck…there was no way they could get into that mess.

Mercifully, the border was very kind to us and we made up some time there, ending up (as stated) being only 40 minutes late. Sorry folks!

It was very nice meeting everyone, Flam WAS quiet, but she’s allowed and is a sweet lady. I hope to see you again soon, hon. You can be as quiet or loquacious as you want, makes no nevermind to us! Your charming company is welcome either way.

We were lucky to have GingerOfTheNorth join us, which will probably never happen again as she lives nowhere NEAR Vancouver. Long story, but it worked out to OUR advantage, anyway. And she brought her friend, the lovely new Doper Sinshine, with her…we actually MAY be able to see her again, as she DOES live in the area. Welcome to the boards, Sinshine, hope you enjoy your stay! It was great meeting the both of you.

Also in attendance were Barbarian and Larry Mudd, who are very nice and funny gentlemen with lots of great stories to tell. I hope to see you both again sometime.

Silent_Rob and rjk were already two of my favorite people and it was wonderful to get to spend time with them.

Walked all over Granville Island and along the sea wall in the West End, had a great dinner and good and entertaining conversation.

I was sorry to miss saying good bye to both Larry and Flam, as I was up ahead both times when they decided they needed to go in a different direction than we were going. Sorry guys, I really enjoyed meeting you and wanted to hug you goodbye.

(((((Flam)))))
(((((Larry)))))

That’ll have to do.

I also did not get to hug Ed Zotti goodbye, as he wasn’t there in the first place. Suffice to say that “rumors of our relationship are greatly exaggerated”…(I’d say “we are just good friends,” but he might find that presumptuous since I’ve never met him.) See, the sequence of events was this…oh, never mind. You just had to be there. See all the fun you missed? :slight_smile:

And Peregrine, where in NW Washington ARE you?
Most of which Flam already told you, so I will quit blathering and just echo Gingy…I had a good time. Thank you all for a wonderful day and evening and I hope we can do it again soon!

::huggles::

Scotti

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Flam - don’t let rjk give you grief. You may have said more in the OP than you did all day, but I bet he said more all day yesterday than he has said on the board in a month!

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You know, I just thought that people I’ve never met before in real life should not have to be exposed to my hyper personality, Maybe when I get a chance to know all of you people better or something… then I’ll let the truly hyper part of me out.

If I did that yesterday, you’d all have thought I was certifiably insane, and fit to be admitted into Riverview (a mental institution we have around here)! :eek: However, I believe you need your physician or psychologist to refer you there… don’t ask me how I know this stuff, as I’ve never been in there in my life, and don’t wish to start now.

I could have talked more, but for some reason, I don’t feel like dominating a conversation. (never mind what my family thinks when I talk to certain friends of mine on the phone) For some reason, I was never comfortable speaking out… yes, I’m great fun at parties.

Zyada, that might very well be true. (of course, I’m not searching out his posts to back up that assertion) But I’m not letting what rjk said bother me at all. He’s quite nice. By the way, he certainly didn’t hear me talking to Larry while everyone else was enthralled with the tourist shops and things. Not that I said lots of things, but enough.

Oh, and Larry? Don’t worry about the walk… it was good exercise, at any rate. (and just wait till I tell my friends that we met along the way where I met you all… or just wait till I tell Mark tomorrow if I see him)

F_X

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It was a pleasure to meet y’all.

Sorry I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to you, Scotticher, but the terms of my conditional release specifically prohibit me from following attractive redheads to the loo. :wink:

I would like to state for the record that I thought the same thing when I first saw them, but a bit of discreet eavesdropping made it pretty clear that whoe’r they were, they weren’t Dopers: They were enthusiastically discussing their scheduled “psychic readings.” Poor dears.

Flam, the “mushroom tea” your mum brews isn’t what I was groping for, and still can’t remember. (All of my mycology books are at home, and I can’t be bothered to look online with this crappy dialup connection.) I think the mushroom I’m thinking of is called Ling Chi or Ling Xi, and the carpophores it produces resemble elks’ antlers. It’s traditionally used as everything from a general panacea to a, ummm, libido enhancer. Don’t know if it’s actually beneficial, although it’s generally nutritious. There were some in vitro studies at UBC a number of years ago that indicated it may have some anticarcinogenic effects, but I haven’t heard of any practical tests on humans or other animals to back that up. My main interest is that the mushrooms can fetch a pretty good price, and goshdarned if they aren’t legal and everything. :slight_smile:

Sinshine, welcome aboard, like they said. I hope that in short order you’ll be as compulsively addicted to the SDMB as the rest of us. :wink:

Gingerofthenorth was pretty much exactly like I pictured her, only her nose wasn’t slightly windburned, as I’d expected. Go figure. [Waves of well-intentioned envy in the general direction of Weirddave.] Congratulations, kids!

F_X, you still haven’t really had a Guinness. The essential “Guinness-ness” doesn’t seem to fit in the can. Mmmm… that delicious cream on top makes everything just right. And it keeps you regular, besides. Hee hee.

And about that Triple-post: I want to know one thing-- Am I the only one who gets the image of a crazed hamster, dressed up as an english headmaster, screaming “Submit! Submit! Submit!”, while brandishing a leather strap, every time that happens?

I thought that I probably was. But there’s no harm in asking. Right? Right? [sup]Why isn’t there a “crazed” smilie?[/sup]

I dinna have a lot to add-- 'Cept to say, “Well met,” and I hope we can do it again sometime. Preferably after I either reconcile myself with corporate America or find a wealthy and attractive Sugar-Mama, err, I mean “patron”. (Would that be “matron?” Jeez, there’s no getting away from that freudian stuff, is there?)

Ah well, off to make myself a frosted mocha and to avail myself of the traditional Sunday backyard idyll.

Cheers!

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Oh yeah, I’d like to say that rjk bears a passing resemblance to Terrence McKenna.

Although when he speaks, it tends to make more sense. :smiley:

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Vancouver must be nice. I’d love to go to one there too.

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Friday Harbor. I’m just across from you on the map.

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Well, hello hello!

Nice to meet you, and I hope you will be able to join us in person one of these days!

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Larry Mudd *
**Flam, the “mushroom tea” your mum brews isn’t what I was groping for, and still can’t remember. (All of my mycology books are at home, and I can’t be bothered to look online with this crappy dialup connection.) I think the mushroom I’m thinking of is called Ling Chi or Ling Xi, and the carpophores it produces resemble elks’ antlers. It’s traditionally used as everything from a general panacea to a, ummm, libido enhancer. Don’t know if it’s actually beneficial, although it’s generally nutritious. There were some in vitro studies at UBC a number of years ago that indicated it may have some anticarcinogenic effects, but I haven’t heard of any practical tests on humans or other animals to back that up. My main interest is that the mushrooms can fetch a pretty good price, and goshdarned if they aren’t legal and everything. :slight_smile:

Man, you weren’t kidding when you said you were a mushroom nut, Larry. :wink: It’s olkay, though… some people tend to think I’m a bit crazy about names and such myself.

Oh yes… I forgot to add that the entire table (and the manager of the lounge) shrieked at me in disbelief as I attempted to pour my Guinness into my glass. :o Fortunately, I decided to avail myself of Ginger’s offer (made not 30 seconds earlier) to let her pour it for me, like they did at bars.

So it keeps you regular, aye? I have a feeling certain people I know will be just thrilled to hear about that.

I have NO idea how that happened. Previous to this, I had thought that triple-posts in the same minute were virtually impossible, despite having seen one by ResIpsaLoquitor a couple of weeks ago. (I think) Now that I’ve done it myself, though, it apparently is all too easy. Oh well.

And as for that mental image you seem to get, Larry: why don’t you dress that hamster up in leather, with a cat-o’-nine-tails whip instead? (or something else equally suitable) No, I’m not into bondage or similar stuff at all, why do you ask? :slight_smile:

Ooh… Scottish accents and English expressions. Lay it on me, baby! :wink: Speaking of accents, it’s probably a good thing I didn’t get all hyper and buzzed. (I wasn’t buzzed at all, actually… not that I was looking for it or anything, you understand) I know full well that my fake British/Australian accent is very crappy.

Seriously though, you know that book I briefly showed you? (Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon) I have the whole series. If I wasn’t so damn shy and retiring in person (at least, to people I’ve just met), I’d have told you what the book was about. (or at least, if you’d asked… that is, if I’d had the courage to show it to you for more than five seconds) It’s about this English woman who travels 200 years back in time to Scotland. So, lots of Scottish/English expressions to satisfy me. :slight_smile:

F_X

17

Okay, so I thought that Guinness (real or not) hadn’t affected me much, if at all. I think the numerous coding errors and typos I’ve made today sort of belie that fact. :smack:

F_X

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<yawn> G’morning. Oh wait- it’s already Monday. yeesh.

Larry, you may be thinking of a schoolmarm crying “Submit”, but after Flam’s OP I keep thinking of two crazed skinny guys screaming “Small Talk! I have created Small Talk!”

Sinshine, I think you were more surprised by the goatee brushing your cheek :smiley: <man, I’m hoping that photo comes out>
And you say you have a friend named Mark who’s part of the Bach Choir? I’ll ask my friend and co-worker Derek if he knows him…

Hey Peregrine! I’ll be in Friday Harbour next week! I arrive on Sunday, and I’ll be staying with MrsB’s aunt and uncle-- who live in the old pumphouse. Call it a mini-fest!

And the rest of you-- how was the food at that joint anyway? I’m thinking if they had Guinness, it can’t be all that bad-- although if they left cans of Guinness for unsuspecting quiet people, it may be…

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Barbarian, I was going to ask you if you knew someone named Derek who also worked where you do, but I thought, “Naaah.” And actually, Mark does know him. I’ve met Derek once, at a Fellowship function involving karaoke. This is getting weirder and weirder… :eek: In fact, Derek and Mark went to Malaysia together not too long ago. I swear, this is like that “sychronicity” thing they keep talking about… not that I know too well what it is.

The food at that place wasn’t too bad, but the service was a little less than could be expected. (ask **Sinshine/b] about it if you get a chance) But we had a good time, all in all.

F_X

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Yes I know Derek Yap. How coud I not-- there’s less than 200 people where I work…
Didja know he’s heading off for Theology School?