Melonpool
OK, I've got nothing left after that. But hey, I spent three hours in an unconditioned Cessna today flying in the desert where the temps on the ground were in the upper-90s to about 100 degrees (35C and 38C, for our foreign friends), and the temperatures at altitude (6500 to 7500 feet) were in the mid-70s to low-80s (24C to 27C). Even with the window open at 119 knots, sometimes it's just warm air blowing on you.
Anyway, RLF is getting back on the road. There are two phases to this. The second (which I mention only because it will be brief) is a return of the Gathering in North Carolina in 2011. I'm going to be scouting some houses out there in September on my way to a wedding, and have about seven picked out. The Gathering itself will probably be in September 2011, which gives you 14 months, give or take, to save up for it, so no excuses!
The first is the sooner of the two, to ease everyone back into the idea of getting away from home (foreign concept, I know). For this, we're working up plans for Las Vegas, home of gambling, stage shows, booze, strip clubs, the mob, sand, an illegal sex industry, and Tom Jones's infamous package. Normally, it would also be the home of heat, but we're going in October, so it hopefully will not be as bad. The average temperature for that weekend, according to Accuweather, is 81 degrees, which for some of you will be a pleasant respite from colder autumn weather. However, as JermCool can probably attest, it can get quite a bit warmer, and sometimes quite a bit cooler. Airfare will also hopefully be somewhat lower by that point, too.
But that won't matter, right? The point of Vegas is to spend your time inside! Whether you're losing money at the tables, at the bar, at the strip clubs, or dodging Tom Jones's package even though you're ten rows back, the point is to be inside having fun.
(If you haven't guessed yet, this is probably going to be a more adult affair than previous RLF trips. Las Vegas just isn't a town for young people. We don't have many people who are not of the drinking age around these days, but if you're not 21 or older, you're really not likely to be able to partake with the rest of us.)
JermCool is trying to arrange a special discount through the hotel where he works. Apparently, for a block of rooms, we need to get a minimum of 10 room reservations. I have doubts that we will, but we can still try. Even if we don't, the inexpensive room deal is still there and a good option. We'll also be checking with other hotels and rental houses to see what kind of deals we can get, but in any case, we need to get an idea of how many people would be going and how many rooms will be necessary.
This one will be a little different, in that everyone will be paying their own way (traditional hosts included). Everyone is responsible for their own rooms, food, tickets, gambling, booze, tips, and hookers. You may be responsible for your own bail unless your story is truly epic (and I mean like beating The Hangover), but even then, you have to pay back whomever chips in on the bondsman, or we'll be there when you're busted like a two-bit crackhead hiding under the bed, hoping the bounty hunter is too dumb to look there.
So, who's onboard in three months for some adult fun, empty bank accounts, and Tom Jones's package (and why am I so focused on that)?
If I show up at your door, chances are you did something to bring me there.
