TR Forums

**TR BBQ swap meet thread**

There are a lot of ways I could start this thread this year. I think the first thing I want to say is that each year the future of the cottage gets a little dicier. I mentioned this last year, and talked to a few folks about it at the BBQ. The short version of the story is that cottages on Lake Michigan are expensive and the owners that have inherited the property over the years simply don't have the resources that the original purchasers did. This is rapidly becoming more obvious. That said, we're good for at least one more year, so it's time to commence preparations for BBQing!

I don't know if anyone noticed a difference last year, but my "keep it chill" approach worked great for me. The day was still a blur, but I remember feeling distinctly more relaxed without quite as many "extras" happening. I want to just keep focusing on the fundamentals again this year.

I don't have dates in mind for BBQ yet, so feel free to toss out your suggestions and we'll finalize them in the next couple months. Also feel free to share any requests or suggestions.



Edit: 4/30 - let's get this post into shape....

Parking:
1) Let's start with parking, we're going to do the same thing we've done the last couple years, it adds some walking but makes things less complicated overall. Read this post and this post from a couple years ago and you'll have all the details.

Dates:
2) Our normal sequence of events will be in place too:
Friday Evening - Pre-Party 6/22
Anyone that gets into town early and wants to hang out at the cottage and eat some pizza/sushi is welcome!
Saturday Early Afternoon - Main Event 6/23
You know the drill, show up between 11:00 and 1:00 and be ready to feast around 2:00.
Saturday Night - TR After Dark 6/23
FIRE is the one word to describe this part of the BBQ. We'll be sitting around one on the ground and shooting various kinds into the air.
Sunday Morning - Lakeside Breakfast 6/24
Anyone still in the area is invited to come back to the cottage and enjoy an informal breakfast and help put the finishing touches on the cleanup process.

...and now we start the attendee list!

Confirmed:
drfish & Mrs drfish & Ellie & Wren
sis_of_fish & Mama Fish & friends
SHOES & family
Sheldomaus & family & friends
BeechSprout
zgirl
Captain Ned
DragonDaddyBear
Starfalcon
Jeff Kampman
idchafee
thegleek & wife
FroBozz_Inc & family
Damage & gyromancer
Mr. Robot
ajaddict83
finkka & family
chubbyhorse
Dposcorp
LoneWolf15
Inkling
just brew it!

Unconfirmed (but likely):
Aranarth
Forge

Fresh Meat (taking all bets!):
Bomber & friend
GoatMoto
layerup
Cuhulin

Anti-Confirmed:

The List (post in the thread what you are going to bring and I will add your name below so we know everything is covered)
Ribs - zgirl
Burgers - zgirl
Hot dogs - zgirl
Buns - zgirl
Cheese - zgirl
Charcoal - zgirl
Plates - drfish
Napkins - drfish
Silverware - drfish
Garbage bags - drfish
Ice - Captain Ned
Coolers - Captain Ned
Chairs -
Tables -
Firewood - NOT NEEDED
Soda - Mr. Robot, Starfalcon
Water - Captain Ned
Beer - just brew it!
Other drinks -
Chips - The FroBozzes, Starfalcon
Condiments -
Veggies -
Fruits -
Deserts -
Cornhole sets - drfish, zgirl, gleek, FroBozz
Brats/campfire food -
Smores stuff - Bomber's friend
Cooking forks - drfish (some)
Any other food stuffs - Mrs. Shoes bringing THE BEANS
Breakfast supplies for Sunday morning - Grandma fish
Potato Cannon - Captain Ned

Well, it was "chill" until the fireworks display started.

Hehehehehe...

I am leaving my current job next week, and right now have nothing lined up.
Doesn't have anything to do with the BBQ, but just wanted to toss that out

YAY! I'm excited there's at least one more. I'm planning on going again, hopefully on the motorcycle again.

DragonDaddyBear wrote:

YAY! I'm excited there's at least one more. I'm planning on going again, hopefully on the motorcycle again.

FWIW, it isn't that the BBQ would end if/when the cottage became unavailable (which could happen for a number for reasons, including becoming too expensive to rent, even at the family rate). It's just that it becomes a lot more complicated. I think the first thing I would do is see if anyone wanted the host-torch passed to them, people have mentioned being interested already, just in case. If that couldn't get worked out, we'd need to get creative with other location options. Good stuff to start thinking about, but not critical for at least another year.

True. If I had a cabin somewhere I would totally host it. Peeps Gerbils are genuinely nice and a calm crowd.

July is a **** show for me. August is almost completely open except for the weekend of the 26th. Doubt we would have it that late anyway. I will keep that month open as much as possible. If you book July I make no promises.

Noted!

Alright, here come some potential dates, please respond as quickly and decisively as possible.

June 16
Maybe June 23
August 18

Thoughts???

I can make all 3 work.

I believe all 3 are open for me too. Slight anti-preference for 6/23.

Pretty sure I too can make all three dates work.

Any preferences for early or late summer? Two months is a big difference...

Late over Early - but NBD either way

Dposcorp wrote:

I am leaving my current job next week, and right now have nothing lined up.
Doesn't have anything to do with the BBQ, but just wanted to toss that out

Wishing you the best in getting something new in place!

drfish wrote:

Alright, here come some potential dates, please respond as quickly and decisively as possible.

June 16
Maybe June 23
August 18

Thoughts???

Prefer either June date. Would like to attend one of these before it doesn't happen again, and not available in late August - but then I'm just one gerbil.

June 23 and August 18th are my picks. August being better.

Update: The activities coordinator (Kim) says that August 18 is the best date for us.
If it had to be June, then the 23rd is better for us.

Thanks

Computex 2018 is the only big event we likely have to deal with in June so far, and that'll be the first full week of the month so the 16th or 23rd work fine here. August is less certain but I'll likely be open.

I would have to ask if this would be possible but I live about 2 hours away and I have space.
It's a farm, with a barn, horses, and a swimming pond but it is not mine but the inlaws so I would have to get permission.
If we owned it I'd only have to ask the wife.

I'm really hoping to be able to get down there this year.
Last year there was a rabbit show and other stuff we had to get done that weekend.

Looking like one of the June dates is the most likely, I should be able to confirm the date within a week or so.

If we do the 6/23 date, we'd probably be in the front cottage instead of the back cottage, which could be a nice change of pace for those that come early/stay late. It's been a long time since I've been upstairs in the front cottage, I think the bedroom count is the same for overnight guests, but I'll confirm.

Edit: FWIW, 6/23 is all but confirmed.

June 16th won't work for me, because Father's Day car show with my dad and boys is a tradition that can't be tampered with.

June 23rd might work, but any weekend in August is better than June for us.

Aug 18? I'll warm the bike up. That ought to be prime. Still have spots to throw a tent? On the beach mebbe? I would like to rsvp for sidewalk/driveway parking for the bike, if at all possible. Anything solid would be good, otherwise I have to pack a chunk of 2x4 to put the kickstand onto.

When I went last year I just used a 2x4 or something they had laying around. You should be fine if there isn't a lot of rain.

I'll be going, regardless of date. The real question is if I'm dragging the family along with me or not. We'll have to try a mini vacation to see how the toddler travels. Last year we took a trip and it didn't go well. I'm going to predict it's going to be another fun ride out there sans family.

If I don't make some Craigslist sales before June-July, I will have plenty of Sandy/Ivy Core i3/5/7 desktops, and an AMD or two as well, for the swap meet, along with whatever parts I usually have.

As usual, I will bring some chips, Arizona Tea (for those of you who don't like the craft beer that many of us also drink), and a butt that will be whooped at cornhole as usual.

I would really like to attend before this traditional event disappears, but I am unable to fully commit at this time, as it's roughly 2500 miles to travel. That being said, not sure how much pull I really have, but would prefer the June weekends, if at all possible.

6/23/18 confirmed.

Look for a front page post soon.

Oy Vey, hotels in Holland are pricey that weekend. Even worse than August, so book now.

OK, reservations made. This time I won't forget the mini glow-sticks in my hotel room. Another thing to remember in planning is that the 23rd is bang-on the solstice, so the sun goes down later than we're used to in late August.

Captain Ned wrote:

Oy Vey, hotels in Holland are pricey that weekend. Even worse than August, so book now.

OK, reservations made. This time I won't forget the mini glow-sticks in my hotel room. Another thing to remember in planning is that the 23rd is bang-on the solstice, so the sun goes down later than we're used to in late August.

Looks like you had a heck of a rave party in the hotel. Does your wife know?