You actually think I'm gonna be sleeping?

On a serious note, I don't know how far it is to the airport from the hotel, but I'd like to have you at the airport with time to spare and not make it too close a call, especially with all the intense checking nowadays.

I wake up every day at 5:30am by the way.

The burger on the Sunday menu is one of my favorites in Tampa too. Anduille/Angus patty with caramelized onions and pecans. What makes it is the bread, which is almost doughnutlike in texture. Perfect.

Holy smokes!

Sounds better than the Roxy burger, if that's possible.

Today I had a chat with the devil and a deal was made. It makes perfect sense that he would work at a bank.

I should be arriving at about 7:30 pm Thursday evening.

Great news Scott!

Today I had a chat with the devil and a deal was made. It makes perfect sense that he would work at a bank.

I should be arriving at about 7:30 pm Thursday evening.

Fuck yeah!

...

The Irish looks awesome, McSweeney! That will be good times.

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.

Great news Scott!

Fuck yeah!

Oh, hell yes, fuck yeah.

Damn, missed that place while I was in Dublin. I have a bottle Jameson 18 I need to open.

Hell yes, fuck yeah, and right on Scott! Devil be damned, we're going to party!

The Redbreast is generally available here, Gene, but I haven't seen the Green Spot. Very cool that you are getting booze straight from the source. I was very close to buying a Cannamara Quarter Cask the other night, but events overtook me.

Open that Jameson in Tampa dammit!

Open that Jameson in Tampa dammit!

I guess I can wait.

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.

Good training Gene!

As for the downfall of the Buddhist temple that I'd mentioned to Gene, it all came down to parking. As the place has gotten more popular over the last 5 or so years, they've always been able to use the huge field across the street as overflow parking. That field belongs to a southern Baptist church, and the word I got was that a few members threw their weight around to get the parking situation shut down. I of course imagine those members to be toothless angry Baptists, but who knows, maybe someone made a rational argument against 200 cars being parked in their grassy field. It could even be a huge fire hazard, if mowing isn't done regularly enough.

End result: Cars are now being parked all along the river and seating is greatly compressed into the garden. Food is still great, but the whole thing feels claustrophobic now instead of peaceful.

That's awesome, Scott! Glad you could make it.

And it only cost you your soul... who needs that anyway...

Edit: meant to quote Matt: re Buddhist Temple

This is sad news. Such a great place. For some reason, I'm wide awake at 4:17am, but thankfully on the right day! I'll definitely be having lunch there today. Some friends from Cayman are in town, and I'm picking them up at the Grand Hyatt at 10am. Would be fun to swing by there. Atom rides to follow, then point them and their rental car to the airport.

Is anyone interested in going bowling as part of this meet?

If not perhaps Bocce ball?

As a last thing, anyone on the thursday-whenever schedule have room for me?

I am down for bocce ball for sure! Bowling is a distant second and shooting lots of guns would trump either of those. Not sure about sleeping arrangements but I get in on Friday. I will check with Gene.

I guess I could bring my Sig up with me and a bunch of ammo in case we find some time to do some shooting. I think I may drop by Dick's Sporting Goods tomorrow and buy a few hundred rounds while they have them on sale.

I could bring guns.

I could bring guns.

I love this place.

Yeah, and she has nice guns too!

Your best range in town is going to be Knight's Shooting Sports, just across the bridge in Clearwater. Indoor rifle range as well.

I guess I could bring my Sig up with me and a bunch of ammo in case we find some time to do some shooting. I think I may drop by Dick's Sporting Goods tomorrow and buy a few hundred rounds while they have them on sale.

Sounds like a great idea....I haven't shot my HK or any gun for that matter in almost 2 years.

Oh man wish this would have been this weekend. I have three days off and it's only a six hour drive. Hopefully they don't send me back and I can make MOA 2.

Hopefully they don't send me back and I can make MOA 2.

My sources tell me that Al is giving a door prize to all who attend. Well two doors technically...