Mike9322, if we have room for a cooler we should stock one and take it. . .I don't know if we will. . .(I emailed everybody in the pool today)

Speaking of pools, the hotel has one, and I'd be up for waterfalling or hottubbing or whatnot - I'd say everybody bring a suit or a suit-like ensemble.

Shouldn't the naked co-ed jell-o wrestling tournament fill all the down time?

I'd call that Up time, jonmc.

I'll have to teach you all the Hand Game. Best part: it doesn't require any equipment beyond what you've already got on your person! (Amputees are sadly discriminated against.)

Okay, I'll just teach you here because it's really simple and surprisingly fun, especially with a large group.

Each person sits around a table. Play goes around the table, and each person's turn consists of him moving one hand either atop another player's hand or onto the table. The winner is the first person to get one of his hands atop his other hand.

Uh, a player's move obviously can also be putting one hand on top of his other, since that's the object of the game.

If anyone has a board game request, please post it: odds are I have it. Anything from the last 40 years, please ask.

KICKBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Believe me, there's no shortage of trouble we can get you into down here.

See? See? Then we'll need closed toed shoes! That's important moonbird! *stresses* **over plans**

Seriously, kickball sounds fun. Any semi-athletic endeavor.

I could bring croquet? I think the bocce balls are too heavy to really be portable.

Sorry dano, looks like you're not riding with us. We're going to have too much shit. We had to decide between you and al, and, well, be honest: you'd probably pick al too. Nothing personal.

Okay, those stupid reality shows where they're voting for someone to be kicked off the show and they say "nothing personal"? Bullfuckingshit! It couldn't be more personal!! If I'm ever on a reality show and I'm voting your ass off, you can bet I'll be the one saying "Fuck yeah it's personal, jackass! (Nothing personal.)"

I hope, even if it's too dry for inner-tubing, that the hot springs is still on the agenda.

*trusts in moonbird's and mgl's trouble making skills*
*trusts in mechas' general chatting and gaming skills*

Is there a rundown of the various dibs on the inside crash spots? I notice that, sadly, box has dropped out, opening up a sofa. rainbaby brought up a good point about my tent/sleeping bag perhaps not fitting in mike's car (and my would-be camping buddy Omie is definately out) . . . so I'm wondering if I should try to place a dib, if there's any left.

On preview, well I guess there's room for campin' gear in my trunk after all. *places junk in da trunk*

dano, I think perhaps I'm worrying a bit too much about trunk space. If your tent is the standard fits-in-a-bag tent, we should have any trouble. Sleeping bags are compressible. Bring all your crap and if there's anything we can't fit, we'll prioritize and leave overflow at rainbaby's.

shouldn't have any trouble, that is.

Actually, it's a circus tent. The clowns would be cool about being left as overflow, but the lions might be kinda bitchy about it.

You're expecting downtime, Cabana Boy?

I'm very sad to have to drop out--workplace, don't-you-know.

rainbaby, although I won't be there, can I request Personal Preference and Facts in Five?

Downtime goes better with herbal remedies.

I am soooo bringing Balderdash and Scattergories.

I don't have either of those games, box! I should look for Facts In Five, though.

Goes without saying, matildaben.

You should look for both of 'em, rainbaby. And don't let Mike make you settle for Scattergories, either.

Also, sigh, moan, complain, I wish I could attend.

OMG! Facts in Five! I love that game. I hunted down an old copy on Ebay to give to my sister for Christmas last year.

I want to see lots and lots of pictures. Many taken drunk. And I want a phenomenally inappropriate shout out...written on someone's ball sack or something. Or just shaved into someone's head while they're passed out.

I think there should be a sidetrip to kidnap Box.

Oh, wait. No. We'd never do that. ;)

I'm just bringing a sleeping bag and small bag for clothes so there'll be plenty of room for games/toys/etc.

(A week and a half? WTF?!)

I maintain my stance that Scattergories is a perfectly acceptable drunken party game. *crosses arms, glares at box*

Sounds like there will be enough of you to keep the orgy going non stop during non music times. . .

*pouts that she won't be there to encourage a game of spin-the-bottle*

I'll bring the game called Chez Geek.

mike9322: those are my two favorite board games!

*loves mike even more*
*remembers that she's not going. cries*

See that, box? gaspode loves me!!

It totally sucks that you're not coming, 'pode.

How scheduled do y'all want this thing to be? Can we set a time to meet in IRC and talk it all over? I'm crazy busy right now y'all, I'm sorry, I feel like I've sort of dropped the ball - computers wonky, kids on it all the time anyway or I'm working like mad and on top of all that, ye gods, I just got a job, a real job (although the pays shit) and I'm, like, swamped.

OKAY!! This is what I'm vaguely planning, let me know if it's okay.

Friday night PARTY at my house, including some Asheville people, most notably the Blogasheville people.

Saturday choice of excursions: 40 minute drive to hike to waterfall or 40 minute drive to Hot Springs or 3 minute drive to rent canoes to paddle down French Broad River. Followed by wandering around downtown. Saturday night, bars? Or we could reverse this and do bars on Friday. Or something else entirely.

Sunday: nothing yet is planned. We could do any or none of the above. Pity none of the NYC people are coming or we could astound them by taking them to the mall or Wal Mart or one of those kinda things they ain't got in no Noo Yawk. (I keed, I keed)

Board games? Hmmm. We have Monopoly & backgammon & chess & Trivial Pursuit & Life & Izzi & dominoes & about half of Stratego & some really weird thing where you're supposed to set up these kind of trap things and then there's an inheritance battle - but it makes no sense and anyway the dog ate half the pieces.

What to bring? BEER, YOU FOOLS! Also, I don't know, blankets? The weather here is hot during the day right now, like mid to high 80s and then it cools off to the low 70s at night and sometimes dips down into the low 60s so it can get almost chilly & you might want a sweater. I don't have air conditioning.

Not being majorly plan-oriented sounds fine - the parameters you set up sound good. People can take care of themselves, unless they are like, totally anal.

Yo MGL, I'll help w/ planning too! I've got scads of ideas but it's too dark to type right now for any major length of time. Call me!

mygothlaundry, you're great, don't stress.

I think Friday at your house makes great sense, as people will be arriving at various times.

And I love that your advice is basically "bring a sweater."

Yeah, mgl, that's why I'm asking, because I kind of expect it to be kind of an ad hoc, chill out, do whatever kind of weekend, with smatterings of organized activities here and there. Don't worry one little bit!

I think, though, that rather than bringing beer and using up valuable trunk space, I'll just bring cash and make a beer run once we get there.

That sounds great, mgl. Thanks so much to you and moonbird!!!!

Maybe we could start a metatalk thread inviting (non-mecha/non-Blogasheville) MeFites out to the bars on Saturday? Would that pin us down to one location too much? (Or perhaps there are no non-mecha/non-Blogasheville MeFites in Ashveille?)

Oh, and I'll put up $50 to sponsor gas for a New York (or PA for that matter) contingent. Seriously.