jvlgato

But you didn't hold his bag while smoking his pipe. Sure, you stuck his bag in your man purse, but that's like wearing a condom! I'm getting a little dizzy. So he only lets skinny Asian men hold his bag while also smoking his pipe. Wasn't there another thread for this type of thing?

Hey, I thought I was 'the guy who holds reks' bag'! What, do you just grab any old skinny Asian guy standing around to hold your bag? And here I thought I was special. And I'll bet you let him smoke your pipe, too, didn't you?

I have so many friends, acquaintances, and patients who are gay parents. I would seriously lose count, if I tried to count; probably a result of where we chose to live, and people recognizing that we don't think it's a big deal. They adopt, inseminate, 'borrow' friends ... There's plenty of ways to become a parent, even if you are gay. In order to be educated about my gay parent patients, I read a book about children of gay parents, and their kids turn out statistically equal in outcome measures like grades, being well adjusted and such. So if you really want to be a dad, it is certainly still very possible. I'd be glad to share the experiences of the people I know, if you are interested. Heh. Funny thing, but I grew up in a town that was 88% Jewish. I set foot in more synagogues than churches in my childhood, went to about 10-15 bar mitzvahs in 7th grade, still have a drawer full of personalized embroidered yamulkas from those bar mitzvahs in my parents' house, and have had several shabis (spelling?) dinners. I literally thought all white people were Jewish when I was a kid, and was shocked when I went to college (Go Wildcats!), and the Jews were actually a minority! I got all the Jewish holidays off, and while my friends had to go to Hebrew school, my brother and I had a free day off to play! The only thing is, as the only Catholic Chinese guys in a town of Jews, it was hell trying to date as a teenager...

Wow, strong words, coming from you, Al! Thanks, I'm touched! I've already planted the seeds and mentioned to my wife about what a great way it would be to travel ...

Did anyone else get a great big bear hug from spritzer? He just about crushed me ...

I didn't have a chance to introduce myself, there were so many people to meet. But I had hoped to meet you because I had heard great things about you from others... Hearing about Alaska, though, suddenly triggers a memory - was I standing RIGHT NEXT TO YOU Saturday night outside the hotel aroudnd 1130pm, after drinking beer and smoking reks' pipe (no pun intended )? I said I was freezing, and ran inside, and walked off - realizing the late hour, that my dogs were probably going to do bad things if I didn't get home NOW. A fellow I didn't know (I pretty much didn't know anyone until that night) said he wasn't cold, he was from Alaska ... I think I smiled and left without introducing myself ... If so, DAMN, sorry! You were someone I really wanted to meet, *sigh*! Well, I'm a nobody here, or maybe one step up from a nobody after my first CJ, but ... Hey, sexual orientation is not anything more or less than anything else that makes up who you are, in my book; it's just a neutral fact, it is what it is. I lived in Boy's Town, the main gay area of Chicago for many years, and now live in a suburb known for being accepting of and wanting to integrate people of all sorts (race, orientation, etc). My wife and I, like recstar, purposely chose a church (Catholic, believe it or not) that is openly accepting of homosexuals. I have a Catholic patient who is gay, but not accepting of his own homosexuality. He went to our church and was shocked and appalled that our church is so openly accepting - he left our church in anger for this reason! I've tried to convince him that the official church stance is wrong on this matter, and there are entire parishes that feel this way, and he can be accepted in his life style and still be Catholic; you don't HAVE to agree with everything in a large institution, but rather work to make change, but he can't accept this. Well, that's a bigger topic than can be dealt with here. But anyways, it's cool with me, and based on my short experience here, it seems that one is judged on knowledge, helpfulness, and lack of idiocy ... pretty cool and strong post, in my opinion ... thanks for comin' out! Oh, and as a single guy living in Boy's Town for so many years, I was mistaken as gay many times. I was flattered more than anything, because 'those' guys generally are good looking, cultured and sophisticated ... or is that just a stereotype ... I think not ... Fwiw, I kinda thought 'choir boy' recstar might have been gay - and I mean that in only the best way - but then he announced his 'wife' was pregnant! I still barely know most of the people that I met and really liked this weekend - any one of them might be gay. Doesn't matter.

Nice meeting so many of you yesterday! Too many to list, but what a great group! My classic HC memory, and it reads even funnier: Standing outside the hotel in shorts after the concert, freezing my ass off, talking to a perhaps intoxicated reks. Reks: 'Here, hold my bag' Me: 'Sure, I can be useful' Reks: 'I thought you were a nobody' Me: 'I am a nobody ... Until tonight!' Reks: 'Yeah, now you're "the guy who holds Reks' bag"' 'Here, wanna smoke my pipe?' Me: 'Sure, I can smoke your pipe' (Sucks reks' pipe) Reks: 'My pipe is good, isn't it?' Me: 'Mmm, it's very tasty!' 'So I suppose my HC title is now 'the guy who holds reks' bag'? Reks: 'Yeah. But remind me, because I won't remember tonight.' 'Give me my bag back, you're done holding my bag. Wanna smoke my pipe?' Me: 'Sure, it's good' Reks: 'Remind me, because I won't remember tonight' I have to say that smoking reks' pipe was good, but it leaves a really bad taste in your mouth the next morning.

Dang, forgot to bring the haggis! Hope you found something!

*sigh* I ought to switch to Comcast. But I've heard such nightmares about their customer service around here. Also have been told they'll suddenly and randomly increase their prices.

Mmmm, love oxtail stew! Grew up on it, Mom made it all the time. The Cuban place nearby has it. But yes, it's really, really fatty, so in the interest of my cholesterol level, it's a rare treat now. My Dad used to tell me about all kinds of vegetable protein based 'meat' the Buddhist monks would eat in the Philippines. Never had a chance to try any myself. Sounds interesting, though.

Good gawd! Way faster than my home DSL! Hmm, I'll need to keep a closer watch on Clear, which is making some nice offers here in the Chicagoland area.

What speeds are you getting?

Looks like my old Nokia charger is different from yours - 5V and 355mA. But I keep a spare backup cell phone just in case. It's a T-Mobile GSM, maybe it'll work with your Cingular SIM card? You're welcome to use it over the weekend if you can't find a charger, but I won't be there until Sat. I'll just throw it in my bag - if you are in need, just remind me when you pick up your free vinyl on Saturday. You didn't forget that, did you? ;-)

Nope, purely month to month. A big factor in my purchase.

Often, when I order a grilled fish sandwich and it comes with slaw, I'll open that bad boy up and dump the slaw right into the sandwich... Very bizarre. That burger-fry sandwich looks fabulous. I want. Wish they'd open a store in Chicago! Missed my best shot at eating horse when I was in Kazakhstan for 6 weeks. I was told it's a delicacy there. At a local food shop, I saw a can with a bunch of Russian writing, and picture of a horse on it. I held out, figuring I'd see it on a menu somewhere, but I never saw horse to eat after that. Oh well, I heard it's pretty darn dry and tasteless.

But you have that really cool WW2 leather case, don't you? You can bring that, right?!

Thanks, I admit I was being lazy, point taken. Looks pretty good, actually, will have to look for this! How was the flavor of this beast?

Thanks for bringing this back to life! What is beefalo? Thought it was a typo except that you listed buffalo.

Recstar, Just saw your wtb post, and I am using the T Mobile version of that same old router you're getting rid of, but it works great for me. Kinda weird.

I am on b only on two different wifi setups; I have older equipment, that's the only reason. I've had no problems at all on either one. But I also spent a lot of time a year ago increasing signal strength throughout the house and reducing interference, because I was switching over to T Mobile UMA at home and the office (wifi phone calling), and experiencing a lot of dropped calls, as well as problems connecting on my laptop at times, and also with my Squeezebox. I did a site survey and picked a channel that was far from the several other signals I picked up. I replaced my wireless landline phone with a DECT system. I added a signal booster at the far end of the house. After that, I had almost no connection problems, and it probably cleared the way for the iPad now! Not suggesting you do all that, but it may be an easy thing to try b only, and/or pick a different channel until you decide on new equipment.

How is your signal strength? Just for kicks, have you tried b only?

For me, the biggest truly useful advantages are: Use as a PDA. It replaces my old Palm, and I know your phone does this, but I like to keep my business Calendar and contacts separate from my personal data. Also this info is automatically synced wirelessly to the cloud or any computer I choose, so my secretary has up to date info. And I have up to date info from my wife. I use this function several times a day, every day. Instant on and 10 hour battery life are huge for me. You'd have to live with this to appreciate it. I really appreciate it. Size/weight. I ride my bike to work most of the time, and let me tell you, throwing this in my backback is not even noticeable, whereas my laptop flares up my old back injury, and I need an extra pannier bag just for the laptop. Worth the price? Depends. I'd like to see lower price options for the more casual user. That will probably come with time. i fully understand that many would spend the money elsewhere for now. For me, well worth the price. A new Palm TX is $299, repairing my old one is $249, and that is for a dead platform! A no brainer in my case.

I was wondering the same thing ... I see a bunch of posts in the not so official looking 'what gear are you bringing' but very little in the official 'sign up for your table and state what you'll bring here' thread. I wonder if people are just bringing stuff without registering for a table?

I've been saying that for years now ... ... go on Friday at about 2pm. dsavitsk - having met you briefly last fall - you are such a kind and gentle soul - I laugh out loud every time I see your avatar.

Hot Doug's has been on my radar for a long time, as well, esp the duck fat fries. But ... fear the line. I have friends who have gone and left due to the long wait. If you go, definitely go during a time that is early or late for a meal time.