Any take pics?
Unfortunately, no. We all forgot to bring any cameras.
Yeah. No pictures, because you weren’t there.
Blue Mood came all the way from England (okay, she was here visiting her sister, but still)…
Weren’t we expecting **Shibboleth ** and LadyFoxFire? What happened there?
Sorry, had to work,.
LFF was working and I had a bit of a headache, so I decided not to travel that far (my whole family has had the flu for the past two weeks).
We stood in the snow in 93-degree heat for six hours, you know. Just waiting for you two.
Uphill, both ways.
Oh well…we’ll catch you next time!
It’s been a few days since the dopefest and I’m sure I’ve forgotten a lot, but I’ve been webless the past few days and wanted to report anyway. It was fun getting to meet a few dopers in real life. We started at a pizzeria, where the smart ones of us ordered something pre-made and thus had no wait. On the other hand, Hypnotoad’s stromboli was specially made and looked delicious once it (finally) arrived. **Ludovic ** arrived just as we were finishing eating, having walked for miles in the heat and looking scarily un-out of breath (he is an athlete, but still.) We learned lots of interesting tidbits about insurance scams, thanks to **Really Not All That Bright ** (who, incidentally, fails to live up to his username). Bambi Hasenpfeffer similarly enlightened us about some “interesting” customers he’s had in the past. As **Hypnotoad ** was attending a (MMPORG?) convention, he had some miniatures in his trunk which were quite impressive. Unfortunately, his trunk was attached to his car, which was outside, which meant we got stuck in the downpour that started just as we were moving the party to Starbucks. Once we got to Starbucks (halfway dry - thanks to **Ludovic ** scoping the skies for an opportune moment to escape the temporary shelter our awning afforded) we were disappointed to find there was little seating inside. By this time it was pouring, so **Really Not All That Bright ** bravely went forth into the wet night to seek an alternative. Thus we ended up at Crispers, perhaps a bit less dry than we had been. All except **Ivylad ** and **Ivylass ** that is. Being a very doting and concerned husband, he courteously ushered **Ivylass ** into a shop to wait out the storm. It was sheer good luck that it happened to be a games store and he happened to like games.
At Crispers we had appetizers and delicious milkshakes, although **Hypnotoad ** inexplicably had to wait for his food again. After much interesting conversation the Ivys had to head home where they hoped to find their teenagers intact. Bambi and Really gave us some inside information about the pizza delivery industry, having both been deliverers in the past. And here’s a scary statistic: three of four dopers are outlaws! It was just me and three guys at the end and each of them had been kicked out of a public place. Of course one of them couldn’t help it - it’s in his genes (his mother set the precedent).
All in all it was a very enjoyable evening spent with interesting people.
I’ll be back in Orlando from May 21st, so get excited!
Here’s the stuff you didn’t see on TV: I drove Ludovic home and had him explain the origins of the Mithrandir and the Balrog frpm LOTR. And got briefly lost.
Incidentally, BM, I hereby nominate you to do the write-up for all future Dopefests because you’re really good at it.
Where in Orlando did it rain on Saturday?? Around E. Colonial Drive, it was hot and muggy all day. We coulda used some rain. Well, except when we were doing the wedding rehearsal stuff.
Sorry I missed this party - sounds like you had fun!
It rained at the Winter Park Village.
Oh, I asked Ivylad if he’d ever been kicked out of public place, and he said, “Hell yeah.” So, make that four Dopers and a Doper-in-law. 
How goes the wedding, FCM? Will it be perfect, to suit The Perfect Child [sup]tm[/sup]?
It wasn’t perfect, but it was lovely. The long story, with links to photos, is in the MMP - I’m not going to rehash here, but I am now a FairyChatMom-In-Law!
Holy crap! How did you hold it together? I would have gone ballistic at the bakery counter at Publix, and it would have gone downhill from there.
Lovely pictures…and congratulations!
Apparently only at Winter Park Village - it didn’t rain at the ivyhouse or at Really Not All That Apartment, at least.
Come on! A forum full of nerds and techno geeks an no one has a cell phone camera?! 
Glad you guys had fun. Soon enough, I’ll show my dashingly handsome face. Perhaps if something planned a bit more south wink wink nudge nudge
The further south, the better.
If I see the words KeyWestDope, I am so IN. I don’t care when it is.
(Yeah, yeah, technically that’s further from me than north Georgia… don’t care. Haven’t been there yet. It’s on my list of Places To Go.)
We could always do a FantasyfestDope…