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Portland Half-Con
Reservation made for the Baker Party of 5 (if anybody else wants to join us, let me know) | |
Time: 12:45 pm
Place: The Veritable Quandary
Location: 1220 SW First Ave, Portland, OR 97201
It's on the corner of Madison St, one block
west of the Hawthorne Bridge.
I'll be calling Blissmiss on my cellphone at 2 pm and turn on the speakerphone
so
she can join us. If anyone else wants to join over the phone, send me an e-mail and I'll se what I can do. I'm not sure if I can conference multiple lines or not, but if I can't then maybe one of the others who'll be there will be able to use their phone and put it on speakerphone, too. I'll try to accomodate as many interested Bakers as possible.
[neilp]'s google earth map
http://www.neilphillips.com/halfbakers/
[hidden truths, Mar 14 2009]
NAWCH
http://myleftgonad....-coast-halfcon.html
[Klaatu, Mar 15 2009]
The other Portland,
http://en.wikipedia...ki/Isle_of_Portland
... just to explain Absinthe's remark. Actually, it seems to be a fairly 'baker-friendly place, combining rare wildlife, naval history and a track record of ambitious and sometimes fatal infrastructure projects... not to mention a tendency (mentioned in Thomas Hardy) for the residents to throw stones at new-comers. [pertinax, Mar 15 2009]
What's on the Menu
http://www.veritabl...dary.com/brunch.php
Here's a sample of the Veritable Quandary's brunch menu. [Canuck, Apr 27 2009]
Cola gloop
http://i122.photobu...enthly/100_0181.jpg
About to go to Portland - see enclosed instructions [nineteenthly, Apr 27 2009]
Photos from the Portland Half-Con
http://myleftgonad....tland-half-con.html
A really good time... [Klaatu, May 02 2009]
Map for Chuck
http://upload.wikim...Spokanerivermap.png
[21 Quest, Aug 19 2010]
[link]
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Do we still have the map of bakers hanging
around? |
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neither link works. I live in Washington, i know that the HB has a following at Reed University in Portland. (or used to) |
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I got the first link to work. Didn't show as many Bakers as I'd expected, though. |
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Good luck rounding them up, [21]. Have a remote [+] from me. |
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I'm technically in that region (you can see on the map). I don't have the time or the means, though. [+] |
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Would you perhaps be able to schedule some time for a 1/2 hour chat at a coffee shop a month from now? I've never met a fellow Halfbaker before, and I'd like the opportunity if it's possible.
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Edit: Never mind, I just MapQuested the distance from Klamath Falls to Portland. Sorry, didn't realize it was such a long drive. |
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Count me in. I'll post the photos as I did for the
North American West Coast Halfcon that I
attended with [2fries] in 2007. |
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Yeah... I remember getting my hopes up for going to that one, then missing it. I'll make this one, come Hell or high water. I'm saying at least a month, no more than 2 months from now. It'll have to be on a weekend, because I get Saturdays and Sundays off work.
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My God, has it really been over a year since the NAWCH? I can't believe I've been here for over three... life flies by, doesn't it? |
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Looking at Oregon using Google Earth, i only found one 'baker in the whole state, but then you people tend to be willing to travel further than us. I don't have a sense of scale here though. |
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Oregon and Washington seem to be still the great
wild west of our fine country. The less people but
by far the most beauty per square mile. (in my
opinion at the very least.) |
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[21] well it's only 30 minutes by plane. But one month from now is right in the middle of spring term. If it were spring break or summer that would be different. Klamathians always look for excuses to go to PDX or medford anyway. |
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//So, not Dorset?// See link. |
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hmmmmm a mere 550 kilometers or so.
hmmmmm |
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So why the hesitation, 2 fries? It's only about an 8-hour drive. That should be a piece of cake for a road warrior like you!
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If you do make a spur-of-the-moment decision to take this road trip, give me a call. If I can get away I could meet up with you around Chilliwack and share the driving. I recall it can get a little boring in the Centralia to Kelso stretch of I-5, and it has been a while since my last visit to the Rose City.
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<hums the old Willie Nelson tune "On the Road Again"> |
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I might just take you up on that Canuck. |
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I'm up for it. Not exactly a prolific baker, but you people are cool. |
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//Looking at Oregon using Google Earth, i only
found one 'baker in the whole state// I don't
believe that I'm the only 'baker in the Beaver
State...? |
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The Google Earth map doesn't open on my computer. I can only open the Geocities map. Is there something I'm missing to open the Google Earth map? On the geocities map, your icon actually appears on the eastern side of the Oregon/Idaho border, Klaatu. You caption says you live in the capital of Oregon, which, according to every map I've checked, is on the west side of the state, just south of Portland. It's a little confusing. Either way, accoding to the Geocities map, there are 2 other Bakers in Oregon besides Klaatu: spacecoyote, and keithbrunkala. |
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I've got a tentative date for the weekend of May 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Any objections? Is that enough notice for everyone planning to go? |
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<feigns righteous indignation> [gisho], [nineteenthly], what do you mean, "you people?" <f r i> |
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keithbrunkala is a friend, he lives a few miles from me. |
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How come I can say "you people" and not get slagged off? I feel left out. |
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But Klaatu your profile says you left us. Are you
for real then or a counterfeit? I hope you are real.
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I guess only the Portland Half-coners will know for
sure! |
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And the ones who attended the NAWCH. |
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Post has been edited. See summary bar. |
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OK, [nineteenthly], kwitcher whinging. I have edited the slaggage above to include you.
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Feel better now, snookums? |
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//But Klaatu your profile says you left us. Are you
for real then or a counterfeit? I hope you are
real.//
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[bliss] I've been living an..."alternate lifestyle" (like
you did once) and occasionally stop by for a look-
see. Just not posting anything new or anno-ing
much these days. I can only stop into the HB
when I can park by a wi-fi hotspot. But, PDX is
just a short hop, so I will be there.
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May 1, 2 or 3 is fine by me. |
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[klaatu] may your life's wrinkles iron out like mine
did. It's just very good to see you here. |
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Just a status update. How many Bakers are on still board with this on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of May? |
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Still on board. When/where? |
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gisho, it's in Portland, Oregon. Haven't got a specific spot picked out just yet. It'll be on a weekend. May 1st is a Friday. |
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Sorry, guess I wasn't clear. I'm aware it's in Portland, Oregon on the weekend of May 1st; I was asking if you had an address and hour. It looks like you don't, so I'll keep checking back. |
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Ah, sorry. I'll have a more accurate place and time shortly. |
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Just noticed that [hippo] used to live in San Francisco.... I spent a good bit of time up on Potero Hill some time ago - De Haro street to be exact. |
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It appears the Canadian contingent (Canuck and 2 fries, at least) is still ready, willing, and able.
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Just tell us what time and which restaurant/coffee shop/greasy spoon and we'll be there, eh? |
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Will do. I'm still looking for a hotel that won't cost an arm and a leg, and so far the best I've found wants a foot and my left pinkie finger. I might have to go extra cheap and get a Motel 6. I'll keep ya posted. |
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If it helps (since I don't get to go :-( ) I went to DC
a few weeks ago and I got a fantastic deal for a
package through Expedia. Flight and hotel were
dirt cheap and it was a great hotel. Go figure.
Hope this helps. |
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That's actually the site I've been searching on, Bliss. Thanks! By the way, why can't you come? |
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Wrong coast-$-too busy looking for a job. Thanks
for asking though. |
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Well that sucks! But I know how it feels to be looking for a job, God knows I go through 'em like candy. It's a shame you can't make it, but I'll make sure lots of pictures get posted for you. |
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It looks like my cross-country trek won't happen
until June, so I'm still in.
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[joke alert] Is there going to be a "theme"? Or, is
this just a CAYA? [j/a]
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[10101 Quest] if you have wheels, you might want
to try a bit south of the Rose City for lodging.
Prices sometimes much less in the Wilsonville
area. Quieter too, and the fun of PDX is just a few
minutes away by car. My 2¢, for what it's worth... |
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I'll check it out, Klaatu. Thanks. |
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If there are any other bakers lurking out there who are thinking they would really, really like to go to this Half-Con but they haven't the wheels to get there, 2 fries and I will be travelling southward from Vancouver (BC, of course, not Wa.) on the morning of - excuse me, what date did you settle on again? Oh, yeah, you're still keeping us in suspense! - the morning of the, ummm, thing. And we will probably have room for a couple of you in our vehicle.
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If you relish the thought of a long car ride with a couple of foreigners you should make arrangements to situate your elf that morning alongside I-5 wearing some form of the official halfbakery uniform (whatever that is) so we'll know it's you.
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We promise to open a door and slow down enough for you to jump on board without doing massive damage to your person, and we will even let you play with the windows. But only 3 times. OK? |
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Halfbakery official wear: Monkey Pants and a
broad grin. |
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It'll probably Friday evening, because I'll get off work at 2 pm, go home, pick up my other thirds, and then leave for Portland. Unless, of course, I'm no longer working the same job at the time (I really tire of bullshit), in which case it'll be earlier. |
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I really wish there were more bakers up in New
England. I'm going on a horseback riding trip next
week in upper state N.H. if anyone is in the area
and has a horsey. We could meet up at the local
stable. (Instead of pub.) |
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Oh, NOW I'm REALLY jealous. I've no horse and I'm on the other coast, as well as being unable to attend the halfcon. |
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Ok, we really should nail this thing down.
My wife is coming as far as Vancouver and spending the night with her folks so it won't be a marathon drive, which is nice, but it means that Gary/[Canuck] and I will have to leave Van at the very least seven a.m. to make a noon meet up. I'm thinking earlier than that is better to be on the safe side, y'know, border crossing and all.
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The only time I've gone into Portland was by accident, being forced into a turning lane at four thirty in the morning, (I think it was four thirty), without a map coming back from the last halfcon, so I can't offer any meeting place suggestions other than this cozy little site I spotted by the tracks in some kind of warehouse district with just the friendliest folks you ever did meet to help a fella find his way home.
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I don't know if I could find it again in the daylight. |
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So, we have determined we'll be getting together on Saturday, May 2, at around 2:00 pm or so. I prefer that because it means I don't need to get up so early to pick up 2 fries to make our run for the border. (However, it means we will probably encounter a much longer lineup at all border crossings) Now all we need to do is decide where.
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I have read some good things about the Portland Saturday Market. The only down side I can see is it might not be ideal for people who have never met before to find each other, monkey pants notwithstanding.
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If you think a shopping center might be appropriate there is Lloyd Center east of the river. Since I'm the designated driver for the Canadian delegation, I won't get into locating pubs.
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21_Q, according to my research EVERY Motel 6 in Portland is east of the river... |
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I once got given a ticket for hitch-hiking in Portland. I
remember a nasty, threatening cop, who demanded 40
dollars that I did not have. Threatened me with prison! I
promised to post the money from San Francisco and did so...
using monopoly money of course.
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I still have a copy of the outstanding citation. This is why I
can never go to Portland again, and will sadly miss the half-
con. |
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there's a half-baked challenge - go in drag xenzag |
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Ok, I'll be leaving Spokane about 5-5:30 Saturday morning. MapQuest (You gotta know I love that site!) tells me the drive to my hotel in Portland is about 5.5 hours, meaning I'll probably be arriving around 11 AM. This gives me time to get settled in the hotel, grab a small breakfast, and unwind for a couple hours. My Fiance probably will not be joining us for the get-together because she's shy around folks she doesn't know and isn't too keen on me meeting people I haven't met. Whatever. She'll probably want to take a nap for a few hours anyway. I'm thinking we should schedule this for around 12:00 - 1:00 PM.
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I've got a few places in mind for the meeting, but I'd like to hear some ideas from the guys who've done this before (2 fries, Canuck, Klaatu). Are we looking for a nice restaurant, a riverside diner, a coffee shop, fast food... give me some ideas what would be best for this kind of get-together, and I'll narrow the list from there and make a reservation.
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Also, I'd appreciate a confirmation e-mail from everyone who plans to attend so I know how many seats to reserve. If you do decide to just show up without forwarning, that's fine, no worries! But an RSVP email would help with the planning. Let's get the ball rolling! |
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// I'd like to hear some ideas from the guys who've done this before // You might glean some nuggets of knowledge if you re-read the comments made about the NAWCH, but I'll throw in my 2 cents worth.
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I don't think it really matters where we meet. I was able to attend the NAWCH because I was in the middle of a cruise that was stopping off for the day in San Francisco. It was my first time on a cruise ship, and my first visit to SF, so I had a lot on my mind. Quite intriguing was the notion of having lunch at a place with a back-story like the Delancey Street Restaurant.
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When I was getting off the ship to wander (literally) across the road to the restaurant I decided to toss out any preconceptions I might have developed in my halfbakery relationships with these people I was about to meet and go into the experience with a completely open mind. I was rewarded with an afternoon of enlightening dialogue that turned out to be much too brief. How do you encapsulate the life experiences of a half dozen people into one afternoon?
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So, 21_Q, I think any site you decide upon will be fine, whether it's a 4-star restaurant, a trendy pub, a greasy spoon, or simply a picnic table in front of the local McD's. This get-together will be about the company, not the location.
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I see your motel has a pool, so maybe we could just bring in some pizza and sit around poolside.
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Nah! If I'm going to drive 5+ hours there and 5+ hours back, I'm going to want more than just pizza and warm soda! |
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Sorry for not rsvp-ing by email. This computer is on its way out and won't call up a cursor for my outgoing mail no matter what I do.
I'll be there...consider yourself warned.
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[xenzag] I think that sucks that you won't risk attending.
I would very much like to make your acquaintance I think, and totally understand if that sentiment is not reciprocated but, if there is any chance it will change your mind about coming...
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On the way back from the SanFranCon, (shortly after untangling myself from Portland and pulling over for a couple hours sleep), I was issued a very hefty speeding ticket by a very pretty bike cop that was meant for the @$$wipe who was passing me until he saw the cops. The car was a rental and new, so I was kind of digging all the bells and whistles and know that I was doing exactly six miles over the speed limit on cruise control but she wasn't buying it.
I don't remember how big the ticket was now, but I felt it my civic duty at the time to protest this heinous injustice by departing with a very stern "G'day eh" and proceeded to leave a torn ticket trail all the way to the border.
There is a very good chance that I'll get pinched crossing back and have to slap it on my credit card to finish the trip.
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I agree with everything 2 Fries said, Xen. If at all possible, please try to make it! Gum? Bah! I've got Altoids... |
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Don't make me pack the Mentos. |
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Hey yeah! You bring the Mentos, and I'll supply the diet coke. Combine the two, and we can spray Xen with the resulting fountain! |
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Nineteenthly has offered to send us some homebrew ginger beer concentrate in the mail to share at the Halfcon. I think it'd be kinda cool to give it a try, but I hate to waste his time, resources, and postage to send it out if I'm going to be the only one drinking it. Is anybody else interested? |
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I got a place. A restaurant called the Veritable Quandary. I read a bunch of reviews on it and it seems like a great place, plus the name sounds like a Halfbakery Tagline. Address is 1220 SW First Ave. It's just one block west of the Hawthorne Bridge. |
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Hello. Actually, it's not ginger beer concentrate so much as cola concentrate. I'll post it tomorrow and enclose instructions in my indecipherable herbalist's scrawl. |
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//[xenzag] I think that sucks that you won't risk attending.
I would very much like to make your acquaintance I think// - I only ever visit the colonies during the summer months... thought I had posted that already.... mutter, mutter.
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Meanwhile, hope it's enjoyable.... how about a competition to liven it up, entitled "Mad Hat or Bovine"?
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Each person has to show up wearing a hat they have made. No hat = forfeit = eat grass off a public lawn, by grazing like a cow, and being prodded with sticks, with plenty of people watching.
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Winner of competition (Maddest Hat) gets a bag of croissants, (judged by halfbakery pics). Looser must eat a fish tail, and show pics to prove. |
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As long as you don't try hitchhiking again you've got nothing to worry about... it's not like the police will have put up "Wanted" posters for you, unless there's something you're not telling us about.
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By the way, I got a reservation for us. Take a peek at the post for the update. |
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//unless there's something you're not telling us about.// - Well, actually I once sent a request to borrow a nuclear bomb for a piece of work I was proposing as an art installation....
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It was a simple work based on the final scene of the film Dr Strangelove, and consisted of a mechanical bull, only the bull part was replaced by a "live" bomb (nuclear of course or nucular as they are known in the colony) The idea being that you could straddle a live nuclear bomb and buck around on it until you were flung off..... they never even replied!! |
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Yep, that sounds like the sort of stunt you'd pull. Has the concept of wearing a disguise ever occurred to you? |
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I wear my face with pride - here's an accurate drawing ;-) |
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// I only ever visit the colonies during the summer months... thought I had posted that already.... mutter, mutter.//
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Sorry.
I annoed this before reading "Laptop SHWAIN".
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I forgot that's where I put that annotation... more muttering. |
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The offer of a ride still stands for any halfbakers who lack transportation to and from Portland (along the I-5 corridor north of Portland, that is). As long as you can get your elf (relatively) close to I-5 at an appropriate time, 2 fries should be able to lean out his open window and scoop you up as we motor past.
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We'll know it's you by the monkey pants and the Mad Hat.
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You might want to bundle up in a mattress in case 2 fries loses his grip and you take a tumble. And please watch out for the rear wheel if you roll when you hit the ground...
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Seriously, if you'd like to come with us you can email 2 fries - strike that, as his computer has been acting silly lately - or moi, Canuck. <scurries off to add email address to profile> |
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Hello, it's the morning of the twenty-seventh April and i've just posted the gloop to Oregon with instructions enclosed. There are about fifteen grammes of the stuff and the instructions are in metric. |
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I'm still up for it - dunno if I'm included in the 5 at this point.
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I'll be the one in the rainbow-striped visor. |
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Did anyone ever volunteer to have a conference
call? I would love to shout out to ya all. |
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I'd be up for it, Bliss. Feel free to e-mail me a number to call if you decide to do it, ok? |
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Quest-done but change the time to 2pm. That
way you can all be comfortably numb and
present...hopefully. |
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Alright then! Post has been updated. |
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Oooh, exciting - is this today? |
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So it seems. I want to know if they got my gloop. |
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Yes zen. I'm calling 2pm PCT. 5pm ECT. 19thly I'll let
you know if they did when I call. If they don't let
you know before then.
I'll send you a note thru facebook and here. Okay? |
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Brilliant, [blissmiss], thanks. My brother said it was probably surrounded by Marines by now. |
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//...probably surrounded by Marines by now.//<sound of distant hand-dryer> |
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I am here...poised and ready to go. I've got my
Custard and my Chips and my Silent Dodgy Wind
Chimes by my side.
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(Hmmm... now where is my left big toe blue tooth
invisible hoovering face shaving time traveling
telephone anyway?) |
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Oh no. The plot thickens. 21Q had car trouble but
is on the way...will be late...but still treking on. |
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rang the restaurant - no-one owned up to being Canuck |
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1447 Pacific Time: Typing this from my phone. Still on the way,
about 90 miles into a 350 mile journey. Rain is coming down hard,
but is not hazardous yet. Stopping periodically to check car's fluid
levels, so far so good. Will keep updating periodically.
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If you call the restaurant, ask for the Baker party. I called a while
ago and spoke to Klaatu and Gisho, they hadn't seen or heard from
2 Fries or Canuck, but said they'd call me if they did. |
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1740: Klaatu just called me... 2 Fries and Canuck have come and
gone... I missed the Halfcon... 2 hours out.... |
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Not quite real-time...but here we are. [link] |
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//rang the restaurant - no-one owned up to being
Canuck//
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Sorry, [po], the waitress asked for "shinook" and
we didn't know. Would have loved for you to say
"Howdy" to all the bakers that made it. |
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1945: I have arrived at my hotel in Portland... of course, at this
point nobody cares... |
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You got it. I got 71 miles out of Spokane and the engine stalled
and wouldn't start. Called a towtruck, sat there for an hour
waiting for it to show up, then found out I blew out the head
gasket and burned out the starter, after spending 2 hours in the
shop while they figured out what went wrong. Then I got towed
back to Spokane, which took over an hour, then I got in my other
car and followed the towtruck to the guy I bought the car from, he
said he'll have it fixed by Monday, then moved my fiance, stepson,
and all our stuff into my other car, and set out again, driving 10
mph below the speed limit the whole way because the car's even
older and more dilapidated than the one that died, and finally got
here 7.5 hours after I left. I initially left Spokane at about 05:30
and got here at about 19:40.
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By the way, I got the gloop. Haven't tried it yet, will probably wait
until I get back home. |
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Probably just as well, [21Q], you'll need a blender and a big bowl or two.
Such a shame you couldn't make it. You must have been gutted. |
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I'm excited the gloop made it. It took us 3 months
to get a "Get Well Card" across the pond. |
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Was it in the opposite direction? Maybe it's the jet stream. |
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I must say it was very nice to meet [gisho] and see [Canuck] and [klattu] again, but now we'll never know whether [21 Quest] is really [Unabubba] yanking our chains.
: ]
Kidding. I'm very sorry to hear about the auto troubles 21Q, there's no way I'd have done the trip with my own wheels, not because I don't think it would make it, just that Murphy thinks he's my pal, and now it seems he's taken a liking to you too.
I was disappointed not to hear from miss [bliss] and I'm so sorry that not one of us clued in when you called [po].
The waitress comes up and says,"This is going to sound strange but does anyone here have the last name Kennik?" We all looked at each other and shook our heads. I was also looking forward to sipping some [ninthtetley] tea. <heavy sigh>
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On a possitive note, at least Canuck and I didn't die on the way back to Vancouver but not without mother nature's torrential downpour and other drivers giving it a good go. I lost count of the number of accidents we saw on the return trip, one wipeout was just coming to rest as we swerved around it and every low spot on the highway tried to hydroplane us into the ditch.
Good times, good times. |
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Kudos to all those who made it there, and especially the brave ones who tried to make it there and selflessly sacrificed time and equipment in the effort.
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And thanks for posting the tales for those of us too far south to make this one. |
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Sorry I didn't post sooner. I was quite bagged by the time I got home after dropping off 2 fries at his in-laws house, so I shuffled off to bed.
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Yesterday was a day that began with great expectations and ended with a warm & fuzzy feeling. I was pumped for the trip and likely would have driven straight from Vancouver right up to the restaurant's door but for the stops for fuel and bladder relief. I let 2 fries drive the final leg mainly to get him to stop whining about not having his turn. Little did he know it was my master plan to allow him the bulk of the seat time coming home! I'm sorry he had to deal with some of the foulest weather I have seen in a very long time.
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We finally arrived at the restaurant about an hour late. Most of that delay was brought about by crossing into America. The US Customs & Border Protection folks apparently had a difficult time believing 2 Canadians would drive more than 5 hours each way in a freshly-rented car just for lunch.
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Once we arrive at the restaurant we realized we had no clue what name the reservation had been made under, but as we stood waiting for a hostess to approach I spied a familiar furry face off in the distance. Klaatu had seat himself so as to monitor the front door and he leapt (as best he could) to his feet when he saw us wander in and waved us over to the table.
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Intros were made, hands were shaken, and seats were taken. Klaatu told us about 21_Quest's misfortune, and I pointed out that the very reason I had followed 2 fries' advice and rented a car for the trip was that my own little pickup truck was in need of a new head gasket and likely would not have even made it to the border. gisho and Klaatu returned to their tasty-looking meals and we ordered ours. For the next couple of hours there was much conversation and exchange of ideas. I was glad gisho seemed to loosen up a bit and join in. I thought *I* was quiet around people I had just met!
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po, I am really very sorry we didn't get to talk to you. As the boys have already pointed out, the young lady at the restaurant so horribly mispronounced my nom-de-screen that none of our 4 massive brains clued in. I guess we should have each worn a "Hello, my name is..." name tag. That way she might have been able to match the spelling.
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blissmiss, ditto. It felt like we were missing 2 fellow bakers at the table.
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After the food and beverages were consumed (alas, no 19thly cola), and the conversation began to lag we were treated to a west-coast spring storm complete with torrential downpour, hail, and thunder & lightning. About the time the lights in the restaurant began to flicker, 2 fries and I decided it would be wise for us to head for home.
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gisho, thank you for joining us. I hope you think we are still cool. You're cool, too.
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Klaatu, you are still amazing. You should write a book. Or several books. I hope the new "medicine" gives you the relief you deserve.
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2 fries, what can I say. Without you I probably would not have made the trip, and if I had gone alone I certainly wouldn't have been home by now. I appreciate your taking over at the wheel so I could catch some nap time. You did a fantastic job in adverse conditions.
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And I almost forgot 21_Quest. Sorry we couldn't stay for your arrival but neither 2 fries nor I had planned for an overnight adventure. Thanks for putting this together, though. 2 fries says he intends to hold a half-con in his back yard one day so I hope to see you there. |
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There are "Knights of the Halfbakery". You guys
are amazing. And I can vouch that [21] isn't
[bubba] having now spoken on the phone to both.
No way to hide the [bubba] accent and [21] held
no such accent.
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Sorry I didn't think to call the restaurant till after I
got back home and saw that po had tried to call. I
would at least have tried to call her just to get
warm fuzzies.
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Anyway nice try and I'm now interested in why
gisho is so quiet. We must squeesh the geesh and
get it outta them/him/ her. |
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//The US Customs & Border Protection folks apparently had a difficult time believing 2 Canadians would drive more than 5 hours each way in a freshly-rented car just for lunch.// You should have just told them you had to go and meet some guys you'd met on some internet site. |
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Ha. We ended up having to...both ways. We thought it would just be easier to say we were meeting a friend and his fiance for lunch but they demanded to know where we knew these people from. Then they had us politely wait while several of them went to a back room, (I think to check out the website).
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Who knows, we just may have recruited some Borderbakers. |
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OMG! I'm so unprepared for this prestigious award.... I have so
many people to thank.... let's see, God of course. Then myself... |
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//God of course. Then myself// OK that clears up one mystery. |
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Still shoulda been a women, damm men! |
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I wonder how you would react if the situation was reversed, and
I said "it should've been a man, damn women!" Just saying.... |
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no different, just saying... |
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Gee, I was hoping this would be another HalfCon in Portland, as I'm up in the San Juan Islands for a bit. Oh, well. |
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If your boat can navigate the waterways to Spokane, we could do
a Halfcon here. |
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...or Vancouver.
<nudge nudge> |
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Back in the SF Bay area. I will make it up to Vancouver one of these days; please send a nautical chart to Spokane! 8-|
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Visited the lighthouse on Patos Is. for the first time, despite having boated around there since my youth about 40 yrs ago. |
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I don't know about charts, Chuck, but take a look at the link. |
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