But very willing to take part in the thread!
I don't think you are willing, JP, because I don't think willingness to take part in an activity is compatible with frankly saying that you can't. Your being willing to take part in this activity requires your being willing to do what is necessary for you to take part—the same requirement of course applies to each of us—and if you aren't willing to fly or otherwise get to the SF bay area on time, then you can't really be willing to go to 2–4 wineries in Sonoma with Chopper.
It might be the case that you would be willing if you were differently situated, but to say that you are willing is frankly dishonest.
OK. I would be willing but I can't make it!
Actually, I did cogitate on the considerations you raise (but only after I had commented). It was not clear to me to what extent I could legitimately rely on implied conditions on my willingness. But decided whatever interpretation supported me would be the right
I am willing to drive for about an hour in that direction, then turn around.
As previously indicated, I am willing in the nosflowian sense.
I am most willing, and the sense of my willingness is negotiable.
This is going to mean that no one shows up when I'm in town over thanksgiving, isn't it. ISN'T IT.
I'm willing to take the whole thing, and only that.
I'll show up for you, heebie.
Provided you're in town prior to the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving.
</banned>
One notes the existence of the phrase "willing and able."
<banned>
Don't think I can't logic-chop my way out of that one, JP.
Thanks nosflow. Some info for anyone contemplating the trip--tastings are usually $10 a head, sometimes $20 (although I'm only thinking about one of those). They're also splittable, so if you don't mind sharing a glass, you can knock your costs down that way. The place I'm thinking about for dinner is doable for about $35/head plus booze, but if people don't want to spring for that, I know a great tacqueria and can just host dinner at my place.
People with special dietary needs (vegetarian, etc.) speak up now and I'll find alternatives.
Mmmm, logic chops.
With De Morgan's Sauce.
I will be around over Thanksgiving week! If there is any possibility of doing the Saturday after T-day, Blandings could be involved--he has volunteered to do another dry Thanksgiving with my family because he is the preuxest.
I thought Butterball fixed that problem.
What's the general strategy for getting to Sonoma from the city, drinking a bunch of wine and then getting back? Is there to be buses? Or carpooling? Or staying over?
I would like to go wine tasting and eating. I am very probably free on the proposed weekend.
I'm in. After four days of family, wine will taste so good. Have we reached a quorum, Chopper?
For transportation, it will probably depend on how many people want to go. It might be hard to get from one winery to another without cars there. I visited a few wineries in Sonoma last year, and I would have had to really try hard to drink enough not to be able to drive doing tastings, so I don't think that's too big a concern. At any rate, I'll have a rental car and am happy to drive some who need a ride up and back.
One thing to bear in mind about the 16th is that that's the night that Peter Brötzmann and Paal Nilssen-Love are playing a duo set at Duende oh wait no it isn't, nevermind. BUT the fuckers are playing that duo set not on the 14th, as I had recorded in my calendar, but rather on the 15th—the same night that the PFA is screening Pickpocket!
I know what you're thinking: "Why not just go to the Brötzman/Nilssen-Love set on the 13th at the Center for New Music?" Because that's when the Besnard Lakes are playing somewhere else—oh wait, no, that isn't true either; jesus, what's the point of maintaining a calendar if everything's just going to get moved around?
I'm not really able to drive down to pick people up/drop them back off in SF, but do have access to a small minivan that seats 6 (if we squeeze). We can consolidate vehicles depending on how many cars can drive up, taking multiple cars if we get over 6 people. I'll make appointments with wineries if it looks like we're going to get much above that, otherwise we can just roll along as the day takes us.
I actually looked into limos. They're like $125/hour. I don't roll that deep.
||
Sorry to screw up your Sunday morning plan, but NMM Lou Reed.
|>
Wait, are we still talking the 16th or is it now definitely the week of Thanksgiving? I'm in for the 16th, may be out of town for Thanksgiving. I have room for three in my car and I endorse Chopper's suggestion for dinner unreservedly.
Maybe, with Iberian Beauty coming too, if so. But we may both be too swamped with work.
Yeah, the 16th. There is other talk of a Bay Area meetup for Heebie/JM/Blandings being in town one of the days (Saturday?) after Thanksgiving, but although I would be willing to give a tour in the abstract as many times as people would want to come, tasting on holiday weekends sux--way too many people with the same idea.
I won't be able to make anything the Saturday following Thanksgiving, so what's the point of even talking about it?
I'd very much like to meet blandings, jackmormon, and heebie, so I'll try to make it to that meet-up (but if history is any guide -- and it is, let me tell you! -- I will probably fail). I'm less interested in roaming around the countryside drinking wine with a bunch of ruffians. Could I just come to dinner? Because that place looks nom-nom-nomy. I might even be able to convince a former commenter here to join me there.
You can definitely meet us just for dinner. I'll need a hard count a few days beforehand if the group grows much more just to make sure we can get a reservation.
It appears that VW is ready, willing and able to attend dinner.
I don't understand 50, given the end of 45.
I guess now we see who VW's willing to put in some effort to actually meet.
Well, you said you'd be in on the 16th too, so.
You just need to parse VW's comment right:
I'd very much like to meet blandings, JackmOrmon, and heebie, So I'll try to make it to that meet-up (but if History is any guide -- and it is, let me tell you! -- I will probably fail).
For thanksgiving: we are free Tuesday afternoon and evening, or Saturday lunch and early afternoon. Would either of those times work?
As in Tuesday the 26th or Saturday the 30th.
If I come to dinner, I can sit at a separate table from Josh, right?
I'm out for this one. Still no income.
For the wine-tasting or the saying hi to Heebie?
I think we should do a kickstarter to get smearcase drunk on wine.
I will also probably be in town during and circumscribing Thanksgiving.
If we run low on seating a Zipcar can be had for the day for about $85. Although of course that means another DDs.
It sounds like we'll be OK on cars. I'll wait until we've got a more final headcount, but I wouldn't mind trading my just-me rental for something like a minivan for a day to minimize drivers needed (pending price and how big a PITA that trade would be). A regular rental car is much cheaper, $35/day compared to a Zipcar.
Smearcase, if you'd like to go and it's just the cost keeping you away, I'd be happy to chip in extra for food tab or trade off/split on wine tasting.
A regular rental car is much cheaper, $35/day compared to a Zipcar.
IMX prices get way higher at non-airport rental locations. But you seem to have that covered.
No, I apologize--I was having a middle-of-the-night pity party for myself that accidentally went public! Let me now more neutrally RSVP no, except to the saying hi to Heebie part. We're around all week except Thanksgiving day itself. I can surely say hi!
Do we have a schedule yet? I've got a thing in the morning and won't be able to head up until 11 or so.
If we can meet at my place and be ready to head out by 1, we should have plenty of time for three wineries. Four will be a stretch unless we narrow the geographic area--which is fine, except there's this Sauv Blanc that i adore that's a bit of a drive. I suppose I shouldn't be a total dork trying to experience-optimize beyond what's practical.
I had a dream that I attended but I won't actually be able to, of course. Dream Me highly recommends it, though! You'll all have a fantastic time!
Anyway, anybody who is for sure coming, please chime in here and send me an e-mail at geof dot brown at gmail. We were hovering around six the last I checked, which is the point where they want you to start making reservations (I count me, Josh, Minivet, ydneW, and nosflow as definites as of a few weeks ago, with trapnel and IB as maybes, and Yawnoc having expressed interest). Others are more than welcome, including SOs.
I'd like to get everything nailed down by Tuesday if possible, so please shout out/get in touch before then. Latecomers are welcome, of course, but let's shoot for that.
Don't forget VW and Mysterious Former Commenter! VW!
E-mail sent. I think Bave was also a likely. Maybes, you should come. Chopper has good taste in wine, if the DC meetup is representative.
Chopper, I assume you'll send a mass mail from which we can coordinate rides? I'll be better able to do this in a couple days, but I'll definitely be able to take three passengers without any rental car switching.
69: How could I forget? I was just planning on them for dinner.
70.1: I'm no PGD, but I fake it OK when it comes to Sonoma County.
and 70.2: Yes, that's the plan. No need to manage ALL THE DETAILS here.
Yeah, neither of us, we both have a lot on our plate that weekend.
I'm coming. I think Smearcase is still not into it.
It's true. I'm sitting this one out.
My kids are sick.* They'll probably be healthy in time for me to come, but I can't say for certain. Either way, there sure is a lot of puke around here. Maybe you all should come over for dinner.
* Apparently, everyone in town is sick. Or so the kids' pediatrician said. Even he, who has had everything ever, got this one. Maybe this is the opening chapter of The Stand or something.
I am on my fourth day care cold of the fall. Does it get better, VW? Does it?
Ok, but what about this mysterious former commenter?
I'm a better and more caring parent than you, so it's hard to know for certain what your experience will be like. That said, we had several years -- from 1-3 with the first kid and from 2-3 with the second kid -- when they were sick always. Always. It was insane and awful The older boy eventually needed stents in his ears -- which, of all the places one can have stents installed, is among the very best of choices -- and things improved markedly. So maybe have stents preemptively installed in her ears? You know, just because it might help?
84: I doubt it will come solo, neb, but I'll ask it.
Seconding the stents in the ears thing. It's like Dorothy has gone through all that with the forest and the wizard and the witch, not to mention the fucking monkeys, and the ruby slippers were all she needed all along. And all they have to say is that she needed to learn some bullshit lesson.
To be clear, I'm not talking about Zardoz getting sick (although she has). I'm talking about me getting sick, via Zardoz and the epedemiologist's nightmare in which she spends her days.
Pfff. There's an epidemiologist who has to work with me. They have bigger nightmares.
88: maybe you should get stents put in your ears?
I'm out for wine. Y'all have fun!
Sifu: I think your immune system is as good as it's going to get, so no, it does not get better. Stock up on zinc and Purell.
E-mail sent to everyone who has identified themselves as in. If you've had a last minute change of heart and want in, let me know so I can bump up numbers on reservations and forward you the info.
Really looking forward to this!