agile_one

Mike ... keep us informed. If you aren't here in time for Bern's Fri (making 8:00 reservation), then we'll need some other 2nd driver or cab, as my car accommodates 5. Skippers is very tempting, so if you bail on Bern's, that's ok too. I'll still do Bern's because it is a special place, and very "Tampa" (as is Skippers), so good for out of towners to experience. From a quick perusal of this thread, I think we have the following for Bern's on Friday: agile_one - driving, and can take 4 with me Voltron shellyh Boomana tyrion (maybe) - driving if coming morphsci VPI Mexican Dragon ?? (Brent, please confirm) Anyone I've missed?

Looks like plans are falling together nicely. Grahame, thanks for shouting out and joining up with Matt & crew with the van for the Fri Skippers excursion - that will be a fun outing, and I'm a bit jealous to be missing it. That leaves Mike and me to drive to Bern's. Late night rendezvous to follow. Matt ... I leave it to you to negotiate with CCB since you have the connections. I will be there on Thurs afternoon, and can finalize arrangements. I'm calling hotel this morning to get reservation system back on line for any latecomers (phone reservations work fine - just say you are with the Head Case group). The Red Breast and Green Spot have arrived from Dublin to join the Lagavulin 16 and Laphroaig 10 already here.

Nice, Mike. Sounds like a nice getaway for you and Gail. See you in a few days.

Bern's prices only start with that menu, and can go sky high in a hurry with ala carte add ons, wine by the bottle, and the whole desert room/cigar/after dinner drink thing after dinner. You go to a separate upstairs space with semi private rooms where you relax over desert, cigars, etc - very cool. If you're careful, you can get out of there for $50 or so. If not, send money, guns, and lawyers, 'cause it might get ugly at checkout time.

Thought it would be good to throw together a rough agenda for next weekend. First, the location: -Marriott Residence Inn, Tampa Westshore/Airport - Head Case room rates are $94 for studio or 1 bedroom suite, $129 for 2 bedroom suite. - Reserve by clicking hotel link above, then expand the "Special Rates & Awards" + sign - use code "heaheaa" for studio suite - "heaheab" for 1 bedroom suite - "heaheac" for 2 bedroom suite Thursday, Dec 9 Some diehard Travel Team members are arriving on Thursday, so the festivities will begin then. I will try to meet as many as possible at TPA, but if not possible to meet your flight, a 1 1/2 mile cab ride will get you to the hotel. Grahame & Peter fly into Orlando and are driving over in the TamJamVan, with expected arrival of about 9:00 PM. Likely the rest of us will already be at Cigar City Brewing, so they can meet us there. Friday, Dec 10 Big arrival day for most attendees, and a great time for early arrivals to get settled, check out local attractions, and just hang with friends. Below is a map of restaurants, pubs, places to see and do that may be helpful. Friday is also the day for beer and liquor runs to Total Wine and Whole Foods. A group is being formed for dinner at Bern's Steak House. Bern's is somewhat upscale, so not for everyone (think $$$ and dress code). If you want in for Bern's, let me know soon, as reservations need to be made - there is a possibility that Bern's will be full, in which case an alternate will be selected. Alternatively, I think Matt (NightWoundsTime) will be leading a trek to more affordable, and likely rowdy and fun, locale. Some may want to venture in to Ybor City for a night on the town. Saturday, Dec 11 This is meet day, although not quite like meets in the past. There is no meet room per se, but a number of the 2 bedroom suites will have the living areas set up with gear. We will be free to circulate and float between rooms, and new rooms may form as the mood strikes. This will not be a "nanny meet" with structure and schedule. We will all be responsible for our own good times and spontaneity and creativity will be rewarded. Saturday evening is open, but by then we should all have places to go and things to do, and friends to go and do with. I'm checking concert and show schedules, but don't see anything great - Matt? If groups want to splinter off during the day for bowling, shooting, boating beaching, photographing, etc, that is highly encouraged. With no strict time for the meet rooms, you won't miss a chance to see/hear the gear at hand. Sunday, Dec 12 Many are leaving Sunday, so there will be airport runs and farewells. Many are also staying, so there will be sightseeing, pub crawling, football watching, and all manner of fun. It should be a mellow, fun day for those staying in town. Monday, Dec 13 Are these people gone yet? Yes, there are a number staying till late in the day Monday, so the party ain't over yet (you know who you are). By then, I expect a plan will be in place for last minute revelers. Here is a Google Map for some recommended points of interest: TamJam'10 - Google Maps See you all soon, and looking forward to an epic weekend.

^^^ Very impressive timestamp on that post, Mike. May the weekend continue in the impressive manner it started. Here's to no burning garages or cut off appendages. At least there won't be firearms. There won't be firearms, will there?

Si, Senor'. It's at 913 East Hillsborough Ave, and is noted on the TamJam'10 - Google Maps

ummm, yeah, a Bern's excursion is a strong possible for Fri night. Jeff, 6:50 arrival is right on time, so you are in. I'm working on an agenda, list of weekend activities, which I'll post up sometime tomorrow. In the meantime, if any out of towners want to pm me flight arrival times, we will do our best to accommodate you, althouh the hotel is a very short cab ride if we can't. Am I getting psyched with less that a week to go? Hell yes.

RIP, Ron ... as Al said, deserves to be in the hall, and I loved his old school playing and announcing. No doubt where he stood when calling a game.

^^^ Done, Grahame. Also threw in the Taco Bus (former El Taconazo) on Hillsborough, which is real close to Ella's.

^^^^^^^

Yeah, I'll hold your beer, and jp can hold your gun. Gonna be a fun time, Tyll ... looking forward to it.

Fake, my ass ... I found it on teh internets, how could it be fake?

<Maxwell Smart> Missed it by that much ... </Maxwell Smart> Damn, Naaman, so close, but yet so far. Sure wish this could have worked, but, as you say, more reason to lock in MOA II. pffft ... TamJam is throwing down one of these.

Wow ... thanks everyone for the good wishes - makes me all warm and fuzzy. The day was nice - swim, sail, and party with neighbors last night. Lost count of the years, so let's just say I'm getting up there, but that doesn't mean i don't want to go another round with Colin for HC arm wrestling title. Looking forward to seeing a lot of you in Tampa next week for some good times.

Happy Birthday, Bryan. Have a terrific day.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of Head Case. I am thankful for many and much, and wish the same for all.

Oh, hell yes, fuck yeah you can wait till Tampa! Speaking of pecan pie - just sampled Becky's for tomorrow - yummy. She has learned to bake two at a time - one for whatever event is at hand, and one for the immediate gratification. Hard lesson learned from showing up at dos and parties with a cut into pie.

I will try to keep the corks in these till Fri, Al, but with Tyll and Fitz in town, no promises ... Those two (Redbreast and Green Spot0 are very hard to come by this side of the pond, so I ordered from here - Celtic Whiskey Shop in Dublin. The nice bloke there said they will be dispatched (his word) today. Oh, hell yes, fuck yeah.

Methinks Ella's for Sunday over the Temple, given the Temple's slide from original greatness and distance. Besides, what could be better than chicken 'n waffles followed by chocolate covered bacon? Really. Thursday rules. Just got confirmation of these bad boys from the auld sod joining me in time for the meet ...

Sorry for your friend, Vicki. Hellish thing to deal with, and she's fortunate to have you for support. Hope your mom gets well soon, Shelly. By now you hopefully at least have a diagnosis, and know what you are dealing with.

Running 4.2.1 and it seems fine. Thought it might slow things down a bit, but I see no difference. Nice to have Pandora playing in bg as I type this in Safari.

Just off phone with Residence Inn rep, and the online reservation system will now accept Thurs, 12/9 checkins and Mon, 12/13 checkouts for us. Just follow instructions in Post 131 http://www.head-case.org/forums/meets/9006-florida-december-no-cocktail-meet-tampa-12-10-12-13-a-17.html#post403347 Grahame, and others, thanks for your patience, and, yes, I've tested this and it works.

Still no joy this morning - note that checkin of 12/10 and checkout of 12/12 works fine. Made my morning call to bug them to get fixed. Grahame ... see Todd's comment below - a definite workaround if you and Peter going for Studio or one BR. ding, ding, ding, ding ... we have a workaround (for AAA members, at least). Of course, phone still works for 12/9 checkin and/or 12/13 checkout.