I drove down to Malden to catch the end of the Orange Line on the T, figuring that taking the T would be way easier than trying to find a parking spot in Harvard Square on a Saturday night.
I would've been right if not for the Big Dig. The last two stops on the Orange Line were trainless because of construction, so they "shadow bussed" us to the first working station, Wellington Square. From there, I took the Orange Line in, then switched to the Red Line at Downtown Crossing. While waiting for the next train, I THOUGHT I saw someone wearing a "The enemy's gate is down" t-shirt, but the person disappeared and I figured I was hallicinating.
Rode Red Line to HQ and started my quick walk to Bartley's. Saw same person with green backpack and that tshirt and realized either I was hallucinating and/or delusional, or it was one of us.
Turned out to be martha.
When we arrived, just under the wire and ordered immediately before we were seated, everyone (ten of them, plus us two) were standing around in a circle. We went into the restaurant and were crammed around a table meant for four (CRAMMED) and commenced babbling and eating. I shot a straw paper at martha, who spent a couple minutes trying to figure out who did it, realized it was me, and promptly shot one back.
Paul got a gargantuan burger that required squishing to get "small" enough to bite, but it was still huge. Myr got the baby version of Paul's burger and daintily commenced eating hers with a knife and fork.
We have photographic proof of both.
The we piled into two cars and headed over the ice-cream place that martha talked about. This place has flavors that seem like the jelly-belly flavors of the ice cream world: ginger, fresh mint, lavender, etc. We think that Paercival's table (with martha and myr and godric) made fun of us. Paercival flicked cone bits at Paul, Paul pretended not to notice.
Then we all trooped over to martha's place, disturbing her roommate, who was surprisingly good-natured about having twelve people drop in. We crammed (we did a LOT of cramming) into martha's room, sitting on the bed, floor, chairs.
We talked about random things like orange and silver astronaut suits. Godric held his hands over his ears as some of us conversed about Tolkien being dull and tough and not written so well with crappy dialogue. We stopped when we realized that Godric's head might've exploded.
Then I mentioned that Ralphie had told me that we had to talk about her.
Myr said, "About her RACK?!"
Now, you have to understand. Myr has this wonderfully enthusiastic voice about EVERYTHING, so that comment about rack sounded, well...very enthusiastic.
Then someone mentioned something about bisexualism ( I can't remember how it came up).
I said that's being indecisive.
Martha agreed, saying that someone else she knew said the same thing.
I said, "It's like boxer-briefs, the indecisive underwear."
Whereupon Paul piped up, "But they're COMFORTABLE." Then Paul realized he'd said that out loud and turned an alarming shade of red.
Then I realized I had other Hatracker phone numbers.
Let the games begin!
First we called Adrian's cell, but she didn't answer, so we left a whacky-ass message.
We wanted to call Olivet, but it was ten pm and we thought her kiddos would be in bed.
Then I realized I had Ralphie's number. Obviously, we called. Her answering machine picked up, I held out the phone and all twelve of us shouted, "HI!"
So Ralphie picked up.
We passed the phone around to those with the courage to speak to her (Godric, BokBok). Ralphie informed me that if anyone else wanted to talk to her after this phone call, it'd cost $3.99/min.
Still no takers.
So we got more numbers from Ralphie and commenced calling Anne Kate and Ela, Shlomo and JaneX. Played "pass the phone around the room."
We wanted to call Dra, but ran out of time, as folks had to get home at semi-reasonable hours (before 2-3 a.m.) and sleep and then get up to do the dreaded homework.
Joel nicely dropped BokBok off at Union Square (where we didn't know the bus wouldn't show up! o_O) and then me off at Sullivan Square (which is an Orange Line t-stop). I waited 15 minutes for a train, then rode up to Oak Grove (Big Dig has allowed the trains up again).
My car was still in the parking lot.
Driving home, I realized that my contact was totally effed up in my left eye, and I had to drive most of the way with one eye open.
Glad I didn't get pulled over.
I had a great time. We should DEFINATELY do this again!
And, we should start an East Coast/West Coast contest of some kind. (East of the mizzipy, west of the mizzipy).
Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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We passed the phone around to those with the courage to speak to her (Godric, BokBok). Ralphie informed me that if anyone else wanted to talk to her after this phone call, it'd cost $3.99/min.
Still no takers.
So we got more numbers from Ralphie and commenced calling Anne Kate and Ela, Shlomo and JaneX. Played "pass the phone around the room."
You played "pass the phone around the room" for Anne Kate, Ela, Schlomo and Jane, but nobody wanted to talk to Ralphie?
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Well, while you were charging the discounted rate of $1.99/min, the starving artists figured it was still too steep.
Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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Hey, at least you got to hear my cold-affected voice last night And I put on my best NW accent for you, though you got me on the rapidity of speech thing.
You'll just have to wait for the full-on Boston "how do ya like DEM apples" accent that is my actual voice.
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Ralphie, I was star struck, I wouldn't have known what to say to you if they've handed me the phone. Please forgive me!
Posts: 1785 | Registered: May 1999
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Mack, I am very disappointed that there was no off-flipping. Perhaps it was because of Dragon's mom? If this is the case, you may no longer flip me off, because I may well be her age. It would be very disrespectful of you, you see.
The offer to drop you off at one end of the Holyoke Range still stands, as well as any of you other yutes. Dragon's mom and I will have coffee at Atkins Fruit Bowl while you all exercise.
Ralphie, I'm sorry but I was so star-struck that I wouldn't have been able to say a thing on the phone if I had been rich enough to pay the fee.
When we had jsut arrived we looked around and my Mom asked me if I knew what any of these people looked like. It so happened that this comment was overheard by the five people standing behind us who asked if we were looking for the people from Hatrack. Yay! Then a woman wearing a cool cloak walks by and I thought to myself "she looks like someone cool, wonder if she's looking for us?" Turns out that was Suneun.
I had a great time and my Mom no longer thinks you're internet stalkers (which is a very good thing ). I'm really glad we could get so many people!
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I just got back but I'm about to be kidnapped by some friends, so I'll write my version later (which will involve lots more legos and lots less sleep! )
I had an absolutely AWESOME time, everyone is so cool!
Took some pictures, too... not many, but some. Most are of legos...
Don't worry, Ralphie, we were ALL about the Ralphie luvin!
Can we do that again?!?!
[edit: verion, version, same thing. i'm clumsy, so sue me]
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The reddish (maroon) Volvo wagon made friends with Joel's gray Volvo wagon (named Dorian) in my driveway. Posts: 1785 | Registered: May 1999
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Have you ever noticed the male symbol on the front of the Volvos? Well, they are all guys, these cars, so I don't know if they HAVE gestation periods. I think they can only mate with Saabs.
Posts: 10890 | Registered: May 2003
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Hmmm...vanity liscense plates. I've always wanted one that says, "ANMLLVR", meaning "animal lover" (but which might be confused for "animal liver"... I have a soft spot for cuddly animals!! Which explains why there is knat blood on my computer screen...am I off topic??
"Remember, the enemy's gate is down"
Posts: 667 | Registered: Aug 2003
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Moof. I'm glad Dragon liked my cloak. I figured it would be fun to be slightly more strange looking for the hatrack outing.
oh, and medieval weapons entered a conversation at some point. Yey!
Just to incite jealousy,... we had huge and incredibly tasty burgers for dinner on Saturday, wild and wonderful ice creams for dessert, and a few of us (go Godric and *!) had enormous and delicious french toast breakfasts*.
*Well, most of us had french toast. I had waffles. With salty-sour-cream-garlic-mashed-potatoes-turned-home-fries.
Posts: 1892 | Registered: Mar 2002
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Woo, my first post here in a couple of months!
Hey Suneun, I'd just like to point out that I too had a huge french toast breakfast with lots of fruit and whipped cream. Remember, you were sitting next to me? For that matter, so did Joel and Martha.
And Ralphie, I would have talked to you on the phone, but I was a little intimidated by being out of the loop on the whole Ralphie Luvin' thing. Will you forgive this inattentive lurker?
Speaking of which, I'm blowing my cover. My mysterious silent-type cover, that is. Better get back to lurking.
Posts: 1810 | Registered: Jan 1999
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The fun started for me before I even got to Boston. I met with Suneun and Mike in Providence and I got to play juggling! Suneun taught me the basics and I sorta kinda got the three-ball thing down before we had to head on out. Juggling is wonderful fun, I highly recommend it.
At Harvard Square I got to drive around in circles for a while, looking for a parking spot. Well, finally I just shoved my lil' RAV in a sorta-parking-spot, doing some interesting maneuvers, including some over-the-curb-action. Little does anyone know, the Let's Make Fun of Kris started then, when a guy smoking on the sidewalk next to my sorta-parking-spot asked me if I was a stunt driver. But we had a nice conversation and after a while he pointed me in the direction of Bartley's. It was right across the street! Hooray for the best parking spot (even if it was unintentional). I met back up with Suneun and Mike and I proceeded to stare creepily at a group of people until I decided to ask them if I knew them. But it was all good, because I recognized Dragon's smile and I think pointing at her and saying "You're Dragon!" made everyone realize who we were. Bartley's was some good eatin. We all talked and introduced ourselves (again) and watched in morbid fascination as Paul ate his droopy, slimey burger. 'Course, mine was just as gooey, but it was goooood.
More good food followed at Christina's ice cream place. Mmmmmmm. We got to play Loud And Obnoxious Customers, it was great.
Then, as you know, we piled into martha's room and all that jazz. More good times.
Mike, martha, Suneun, Godric and I went to Joel's house for sleeping and taking turns on the computer. In the morning, we made use of the random box of Legos in the living room. This is how we amused ourselves for quite a while. It's amazing what Legos will do with a little persuation Anyway, after way too much fun with that, we went on to...guess what... *more* good food! We experienced "breakfast heaven" at Sound Bites (which had an orange and black sign that I approved of greatly). Then it was bye-bye Godric . Settlers-of-Catan lessons followed back at Joel's...that game seriously rocks. I returned home in a state of severe hyperness.
...I can't wait til next time! Posts: 353 | Registered: Mar 2003
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"The first thing I noticed about travelling via bus is that it all seems so haphazard and based not on whether one has previously bought a ticket, but on a first-come-first-serve basis..."
"An hour layover in New York city was not long enough to grab a quick bite to eat and find my departure gate. Both my stomach and I growled..."
"I arrived in Boston at about 4:20pm. We're supposed to meet four miles away at Bartley's at 6:00pm. A brisk pace should get me there with a little time to spare and allow me to see a bit of the city."
"I passed by the Cheers bar. Sadly, as far as I can tell Ted Danson isn't bartending. Fortunately, neither is Woody Harrelson."
"I arrive at Bartley's early and loiter about until everyone else shows up. An eight hour trip (nine if you count the layover) for burgers. This place had better be good! I think I'll have a Jack Nicholson..."
"Don't let Paul Goldner fool you. He might be woefully ignorant of pop-culture references ('It's getting hot in here') but he's a really friendly and likeable guy. His brother Paercival is the one you've really got to watch out for! He has no qualms about flinging bits of waffle cone at you!"
"Mackillian is the first (and only) person I've ever met off the internet who turned out to be exactly like I pictured. Except she didn't flip anyone off -- a terrible disappointment..."
"Martha is much younger than I thought (although I suppose if I had payed more attention I might not have assumed she was an old maid). She has penetrating eyes and a sharp sense of humor. And she made her boyfriend put us up for the night -- I don't even want to know what devious means she uses for such coercion."
"Sarahdipity is wonderfully quirky and downright pleasent. I think she actually travelled the farthest for this get together (from Nebraska) but since she's going to school in MA, I guess that doesn't really count."
"Bokonon is an old fogey..."
"Myr/* is even more stunnnning in real life than she is in topless pictures. If I lived any closer I might have to woo her -- or at least become random stalker #537."
"Suneun easily out-fashioned us all with her cloak. She seems to possess some sort of magical powers over Legos -- she can bend them to her will. And she can do things with her nose that I think are illegal in most states."
"Mike might be a better lurker in person than even online. After you meet him, you know he's there but you can't ever seem to keep your focus on him and soon forget who he is -- in fact, who am I talking about?"
"Dragon is quiet and does indeed have a stunning smile. But what you've got to watch out for is her mom -- who's pretty darn hip and cool for a mom!"
"I talked to someone claiming to be Ralphie on the phone but she sounded so cute I can't really believe it's our own innuendous purveyor of The Love (Ralphie Love, that is)."
"I played Egyptian Rat Screw with Myr/* and Suneun. They thought I didn't know what I was doing -- but I showed them! I got rid of all my cards first! Mwahahahahaha!"
"We ate breakfast at a wonderful little place called Sound Bites whose name I don't really understand at all."
"My bus back home was supposed to leave at 2:30pm but I got there a little early and jumped the 2:00pm bus instead which would give me almost a two hour layover in New York -- certainly enough time to catch a quick bite!"
"About three hours into the bus ride home my body evolved to fit perfectly into the bus seats and I no longer felt constantly uncomfortable."
"New York! And a bite to eat! ... And a disturbingly warm Coke. The cooler must have been set to an ungodly warm temperature. The newstand owner is lucky I had to run to catch my bus or things might have become a bit heated."
"Home finally at about 1:00am, Sunday night! ... Wait a minute! A restraunt called Sound Bites! I get it! Ha!"
Thanks all you New Englanders! And extra special thanks to Martha and her boyfriend for putting me up for the night! I had a wonderful, wonderful time! I hope to see you all again. And if you're ever down my way, feel free to put upon me for food, accomodations or company.
Posts: 1295 | Registered: Jan 2003
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Remind me to sit at home and wait for a phone call next time there's a Boston Get Together.
Sounds like a fun time guys!! And if anyone cares to wait like.... 5 hours for a download over AIM, I have about 5 straight minutes of Myr giggling insanely. She does that a lot.
Posts: 9754 | Registered: Jul 2002
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Godric, there was a thread about God appearing as a fish and speaking Hebrew but I can't find it now! (darn search to heck )
Posts: 3420 | Registered: Jun 2002
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I sent the most Group Photo-ey picture there was to foobonic. I have a few of us playing with Legos and, of course, the burger-eating ones. I can send these in too.
Actually, I'll do that right now.
::goes to do that::
Posts: 353 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Suneun, I haven't gotten a chance to loook at any of the video (all 2-3 minutes of it) yet. This isn't surprising. I have video over a year old I haven't looked at yet. I'm better keeping up with writing letters to people than watching all the footage I have.
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