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A possible substitute for the Beat Hotel?
One of my clients turned me on to this place. It's just what the Doctor ordered to replace the Beat (if it is, in fact replacable). I've also called them about Coachells, but we'll see. If there is room, it will be a miracle.
I present The Desert Star Bungalows Palm Springs. |
Yeah, we're in. Happy Columbus Day.
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I think I've walked by this place. It looks very familiar.
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But would we have the option of wearing clothing in our rooms?
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So is the Beat Hotel officially defunct, never to revive again?
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What about bungalow #6? The "View Bungalows" only shows #1-5 & 7, but a pic of the amenities clearly shows a door marked 6. Curious.
I think we'd have to go for #4 so NM could grill. |
Allowing for the disqualifier of never having been to the real Beat Hotel ... I must ask what in the world is beatnikish or swankified about this desert row of substandard motel rooms posing as "bungalows?"
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Heather and I stayed here Xmas '99. We'd go back in a heartbeat.
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Oh yeah, now we're talkin!
Are the hookas provided, or must we bring our own? |
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The hotel MP linked to has been on my list for a while. It's too expensive for a group thing - plus is is too large for my taste in desert swankings. I like when we have the entire hotel booked for our own purposes. The hotel I mentioned earlier seems to fit the bill, imho. |
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$400 rooms? No thanks. We can swing two nights at $180, but not any higher. Not while we're paying for two weddings.
I think the first ones are perfectly swanky enough. They definitely remind me of the Beat more, anyway, and I thought that was what this was about! |
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And tasting museum.
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And sticky notes.
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And large balls.
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And bathing caps.
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yeah, the alluding is alluring ... but also seems a tad re-capture-lightning-in-a-bottle-ish.
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But, see, we planned to re-capture that lightning every year for the rest of, well, forever. An annual creative retreat and general blowout. And with the loss of our location, we do need to find an alternative if we're going to continue with discovering our own creative continents on Columbus Day. And I'd prefer an alternative in the same vicinity, with the same general feel (if not quite as uniquely historical in decor and feel. Nothing will ever *be* the Beat Hotel.)
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And that's why I'm just not getting it. Nothing will ever BE the Bed of Truth.
But, hey, I wasn't there. I'll chalk up my not getting it to complete asstard ignorance. |
The beauty of it is that, at the very core, we got a weekend of sitting in and around a pool, eating, drinking, and relaxing with friends. If that's all we end up with the second go around, then it's a success. All of the other creativity and hilarity was gravy that'd I certainly hope will result again, but I wouldn't be out to recreate it. All I'd want to recreate are the conditions that lead to it.
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Sadly, it sounds like ISM isn't going to be joining us this year.
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I don't think iSm is saying he doesn't want to go. I think he is on the outside looking in (a place I often fit into when the bed of truth is discussed). He has the right prespective to remind us that whenever something occurs as naturally legendary, it cannot be recaptured. You can reenact the place and people, but never the spontaneity. If you expect a repeat experience, it will be forced or you may be let down. That does not mean you can't create an annual event with similar elements. That does not mean you won't have another amazing time. It just means it will most likely be different.
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Ooooh, nice!!! :D I like it!
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Asstard The Ignorant sounds like an awesome wrestler name...
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Okay, now that we're all State side again, I'm digging this up. So, forgetting decisions on specifics and the uncertainty of the Beat Hotel, is there a group of people committed to doing something in the form of a beat retreat that weekend? 'cause CP and I had initially planned to use that as a jumping off point for our two week sojourn eastward to Chicago and New York. We want to start booking plane tickets and such, but that kinda hinges on knowing whether this is actually happening. If not, we'll just tack the weekend onto the front of the two weeks and maybe make it to Boston as well.
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Well, I am one of the few souls who have Columbus Day off, so I probably will be doing something. I'd love to do another Beat Retreat, so I'll try to expend some energy to make it happen - i.e. find an alternate venue. It certainly won't be like the last. As for getting to the specifics, that won't be happening anytime soon, since now our attentions will be focused on Coachella and figuring out how and where we'll be staying for that - but who know perhaps a new venue might emerge from the experience.
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No worries, no need for specifics. Just a yay-or-nay whether people want to do something. Whatever form the beat retreat takes will certainly benefit from as little advanced planning as possible, whereas our trip, being the obsessive planners that we are, needs more structure. But just knowing whether to block those dates out is all the info we need on that end.
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We're in for Columbus Day Two: Electric Boogaloo
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I'm down for Locking and Popping. Oh wait, we're not talking about Electric Boogaloo... Damn. Let me know enough in advance and I'll let you know what's up with me. Though this year seems fairly slammed. (and it's not even April yet)
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Columbus Day is on October 8 this year - ideally we'd start celebrating on Saturday the 6th. I'll put it on the LoT calendar.
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I've put in some calls to both the Beat and the Desert Star to see what is available.
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Does that mean there is once again a phone for the Beat?
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There was at least a valid voice mail.
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Well, keep us posted!
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Has there been any further progression on this front? I was just noticing that we're only about two months away and probably need to start solidifying plans.
I'm happy to help with finding/booking a place, but we need to figure out what we want to do. |
The Beat is still out of service, apparently. The I've tried to contact the alternate hotel a few times via phone and email. I even got an email response from them saying "I'm sorry we haven't gotten back to you....we'll call you this afternoon" but they never called. Maybe someone else can have better luck. I having trouble finding time in my life to coordinate this - or much of anything else -- at the moment, so I haven't had time to hound them any more.
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I like the idea we kicked around at dinner the other evening of changing things up and going mountains instead of desert. Rent out a private lodge with several rooms. I think the change of scenery would be a refreshing reminder that recreating the specifics of the past is neither feasible nor desirable and that the only important constant is US, not locale.
Big Bear or Arrowhead seem like good candidates. I vote Arrowhead simply because I've never been while I've been to Big Bear several times. |
Also, Idylwild is a possability. Or, maybe Ojai? It's got a real artist vibe. I've got the weekend off and if we go somewhere or not, I'm going to enjoy not working.
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Lavender Inn in Ojai. They are connected with the culinary institute. How fun would it be to have a group cooking class?
Ojai Retreat Center has 12 rooms. I really must stop. Planning is a great form of creativity for me, but time is a problem. Cant. stop. Ojai Film Festival Date: 10/4/2007 - 10/7/2007 Time: Phone: 805-640-1947 or 805-649-4000 www.ojaifilmfestival.com Four day International Film Festival. Screenings of independent narrative, documentary and animated films. Youth film festival, panel discussions, seminars and various special events. Location: various locations EDIT - AGAIN! I've got a few hours this afternoon since my marketing meeting was cancelled. If I can get a miracle accomplished then, I'll try my best. However, after that, I'm back to crazy-land again. |
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The whole Ojai thing is looking mighty attractive... |
Ojai is great. I did some quick checking on line (because it's beyond my control) and it looks like a few places are already booked. We DO have a travel agent on our board. Maybe we could get them involved?
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Ventura?
Temucula? (although a wine tasting focus has zip appeal for me) La Jolla? We stayed here before it was refurbished. It is a GREAT location - next to the museum and on the beach. |
Hmm... I thought y'all were looking for a place to stay during Coachella. Obviously I was wrong.
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Here's one:
El Capitan Canyon - near Santa Barbara (here's another article about the beach area there) ETA: Crystal Cove Beach Cottages Palm Springs Idyllwild |
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I put in a call to Tim (Mrs. Nesbitt) at Craig's Travel. He's going to do some research and put together some ideas for us. While I absolutely LOVE the planning process, I just don't have time. It's time to bring in a professional! He's going to read this thread to see where we're all at, idea-wise.
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Tom suggested earlier the idea of renting a large house, as opposed to a few rooms in a large hotel. He mentioned-- and I agree-- that part of the appeal of the Beat Hotel was that (for the most part) it was just us, and there was a literal (physical) barrier between us and the outside world. Perhaps the rental of a cabin might be a cool idea. I have a bit of work stuff I need to get done, but when I have a second I'm going to look at vacationrentals.com (I think that's what it was, anyway) to see what I can find.
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Ummm... HEL-LO.
If we can get 10 bedrooms filled, this would only be $150/night. http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacat...als/23859.html |
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Where is Lake Tahoe, anyway?
7 bedrooms, $170. http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacat...als/29318.html So... if we go with a hotellish thing, it won't matter exactly how many are going. But if we go with a home rental, it will DEFINITELY matter because we need to put a deposit down on most of them. So. Who's thinking of coming? |
I'm loving those vacation rentals. The price and privacy are spot on.
So, perhaps now, seeing as we're under the 2 month mark and availability is going to quickly be an issue, we should take the next day or so to get a head count. CP & Me, LSPE & Tom, NA & € are definites. bluerica was an early maybe, don't know her status. Mousepod & H are going, whether they know it or not, even if we have to kidnap them. iSm? You going to uncurmudgeon enough to go, and bring your elusive boyfriend? |
Tahoe is further than we'd be willing to go, seeing as we need to be back to LAX for an afternoon flight on Monday. It's on the California/Nevada border, at the point where the border goes from straight north-south to angled to the southeast. About an 8 hour drive.
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Tahoe is too far for a weekend trip. Sadly, so is Big Sur - which has some fantastic options.
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8 hours? Then... Tahoe can suck it, Trebeck.
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Once when I was looking at Ojai for a previous stay, I came upon the Emerald Iguana Inn and her sister, the Blue Iguana, and I made a note of them as lovely places for a future stay, particularly for a creative vacation. Unfortunately, I don't know if we could fill either place entirely ourselves, and the Green Iguana, at least, is probably a little over our target price range.
But look, pretty... http://www.emeraldiguana.com/ http://www.blueiguanainn.com/ |
Ack, don't have time to do so at the moment, but someone PM the possible people, in case they aren't opening the thread!
I'm blown away by the lovely homes we could have all to ourselves!! |
Hmmmm, I'll mention this to the elusive boyfriend ... but I really doubt we can afford to do it. $ = tight rite now.
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Yikes... I just won't be able to do it with school and the new paycheck givers.
But... do have fun! |
A house would be great if it is in a cool location. Although, with the Beat, we never left the place. (Well, once for Korean BBQ.) I'm anxious to see what Tim has found for us. Ojai is sounding quite fun and the film festival looks promising.
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A home might be cool, but it'll be a bit of a crap shoot - I'd want to make sure that we at least had a private room we could retreat to as well as a cool common area. I find I would really like a pool.
Oh, at it would be great if it were clothing optional - even if only in the pool area... |
What was great about the Beat was that there were no neighbors. That would concern me about a home unless it was isolated.
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The Blue Iguana is the family friendly resort and only has 4 rooms available. Issue with these smaller hotels is you are breaking up a weekend. They prefer Friday / Saturday night stays instead of Saturday / Sunday. Columbus Day is not a major holiday weekend. I am checking to see what I can find and should post some ideas tomorrow. My guess it looks like 5 to 7 rooms? |
Not finding much in Ojai. I found this property about 14 miles from there. Would have to verify availibilty tomorrow.
http://www.santapaulainn.com/ I did find this one that looks like it has plenty of availibilty. I will have to verify, but it looks like a good choice. http://www.strawberrycreekinn.com/ For Lisa Art Galleries-Named one of the 100 Best Small Art Towns in America by the popular book of the same name (by John Villani), Idyllwild proudly boasts more than 15 art galleries featuring works by local artists. Called the Art Alliance of Idyllwild, the group also holds art events throughout the year. Ask the innkeepers for a seasonal Visitors Guide or an Art Alliance brochure, which includes a map and a description of each gallery. |
I've stayed at the Strawberry Creek Inn (although, I think it had another name at that point). I think we're too rowdy for such a tranquil place. I also believe the owners live on property - which was fine at the Beat because Steve was so cool, but I'm not sure it would work for this group. We're probably frighten them ;)
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Here are a couple of other choices. I have sent in requests for two homes in Palm Springs that sleep ten. Have to see if they will just do a weekend. Should know tomorrow. I am checking out another hotel a group used this year in Palm Springs. They can be a fairly rowdy group and this hotel was very accommodating. If that all that fails, we move on and try again. :D
http://www.elrancholodge.com/index.html http://www.alpinegardens.com/index.html |
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I tried a few home rentals in Palms Springs. Either they were sold out or required a three nights stay.
Here is the hotel in Palm Desert where a group stayed before and had no problems. They are a fairly rowdy crowd. To take over the entire hotel you would need a pretty good size group as this hotel has 30 rooms. http://www.inn-adc.com/theinn.html |
Thanks for doing the legwork, Mrs. Nesbitt! We appreciate it.
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I say just go for a home invasion: drive up there and cruise around until you find a place that looks good. Barge in and tie-up the homeowners and stuff them in a closet. Just make sure to feed them well and untie them when you leave.
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That is the problem with the house rentals. The rate is either to high, 3 night minimum or sold out. I checked quite a few places today without much luck.
You may have to settle for something. I just don't think you going to ever find a replacement for what you had. I will keep checking though. |
Just throwing this out there, while Ojai or Palm Springs would definitely be my first choice of setting, there's also still the mountain (Arrowhead/Big Bear) option. Just a thought, I don't know if availability is better or worse there, but it might be worth looking in to if there's a better chance of finding a place we could fill.
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as confirmed by visual display at the venue with too loud sound last night: zapppop and I are out, once again. We'll be in Las Vegas over Columbus Day weekend.
That's two years in a row. We are officially not part of the Columbus Day / Beat Generation. :( |
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Sooooo, are we giving up?
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I'm not ready to give up yet. I'll do some looking tonight and see if I can come up with anything.
LSPE and I would be willing to get a place for three nights, if that was necessary and the rate was reasonable. Anyone else's thoughts on that? |
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My sister's. I'm performing the ceremony. Kind of a serious obligation. (But I had zero idea it was columbus day weekend) |
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Columbus Day weekend is overrated anyway.
Let's do this on a different minor holiday each year! Groundhog's Day. Flag Day. Arbor Day. The possibilities are endless! |
We're in for a 3 night stay over nothing, for sure.
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Whispering Pines Cabins I've never stayed there, but I know it is quiet, it doesn't have the hub bub of Big Bear. The disadvantage is there is only one restaurant in town, so you'd probably have to bring your own food. |
I've been researching some house rentals in the desert and have made some inquiries. I'm at work right now, so I'll have to post that info tonight or tomorrow, but I also found one possible place in Ojai.
www.churchillresidence.com They say they have had an inquiry about the 13th, but no one has reserved yet. |
The 13th? Columbus Day weekend is the weekend prior to that, we'll be in Chicago on the 13th.
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I'm tellin' ya .... Arbor Day is wiiiiide open.
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Yeah, but what did trees ever do for us?
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Stand in the Hub and say that, mista!
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If you want to go for the weekend of Oct. 20/21, Sunday is Scotchtoberfest and Monday the 22nd is the Pagan Sabbat, Mabon.
Also, Friday is Evaluate Your Life Day and Mammography Day |
Columbus Day weekend is October 6-8 (Saturday - Monday).
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October 6
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Ooops... Let me recalibrate my reasearch and get back to you.
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OK, so I've done some searching. I reaesarched houses available in the desert and Ojai areas. If anyone likes, I can do further searches for hotels or for different areas, like the mountains. Out of the places I contacted, I had positive responses from the following three, all in Palm Springs. Each of these is available for the weekend of the 6th through 8th.
1) The first is a 4-bedroom home in a residential area of Palm Springs, but seems to offer privacy due to walls and foliage around the property. there's a pool and hot tub and each bedroom has a separate entrance. It has a three night minimum, but provided a quote, including all taxes and fees, of $1300 for the three nights. http://www.property-rentals.info/1000010001/ 2) This house has less photographic documentation than the first, and at $895 a night (not including taxes and fees) with a three night minimum is probably a little too rich for at least Heidi and me. I think I would lean toward options one or three, though if any of you fall in love with this one, I'd consider it. It's also five bedrooms, so we'd need to lasso in someone else to come along. http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacat...als/19873.html 3) Our final contestant has the most bells and whistles. A pool with a spa, a hammock, a sauna, a swim-up bar, man-made river and waterfalls, pool table, putting greens... lots of stuff. The home itself is smaller than the others, about 2000 sq.ft. (#1 is 3000, #4 is 4000), but the back/pool area is practically an aumsement park. It runs $595 a night, and I calculated that after taxes and fees, it would probably be in the neighborhood of $1500 for two nights. http://www.cyberrentals.com/rental/p167037 So that's what I've got. Check 'em out, and we can move on from there. |
Agreed on option #1 or #3, leaning towards #3.
Tom, you rule for doing the legwork. |
For those of us not involved in the first Beat Hotel event, and without reading the WHOLE thread..
what dates are you bantering about? (eta, its October, I see that now) Or, do you have your full quota of persons? |
No. 3 sounds fun ... if we reschedule for Arbor Day weekend.
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Nope, we don't have a full quota. In fact, we could look at the larger abodes if there are more people interested. Right now, we know we have for-sure three couples (H+T, J+G, L+C) and one potential (H+J) and that's about it. We're looking for Columbus Day weekend.
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Thanks for keeping us in the potential list. With all the insanity going on here these weeks, H can't/shouldn't focus on a "getaway" quite yet.
-J |
All signs point to Arbor Day, I tells ya.
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Well, not for Tom and I (as we intend to do an annual creative retreat on Columbus Day)... but there's nothing stopping anyone from doing another house rental for Arbor Day...
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If I'm reading the description of option #3, it sounds like it's 4 bedrooms + sofa bed in living room. So with 3 confirmed couples and 1 maybe couple, there's room for at least 2 more bodies in that house, with bigger house still being an option. |
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I keep reading this thread's title as "A prostitute for the Beat Hotel".
lol! :D |
I like option 1 - floor plan looks great for having great common areas as well as hotel like privacy in the rooms - I also like the notion of staying another day, which this one would seem to require.
I think though, now is the time for anyone interested to express their interest. If we get 8 people cost would be about $165/person for option 1, or $190/person for option 3 |
Sounds like a great retreat for some time in the future, but this isn't looking like my year. Hope you guys have fun, though!
(I'm surprised the "Mad Hatter Day" thing didn't capture the imagination more) |
Having just come back from playing pool, and thinking about option #3 having a pool table (and game room, and lazy river, and...), I would like to switch my vote to #1. #3 is certainly spiffy and full of entertainment, but that's suddenly seeming entirely counter to the blissful non-doing of Columbus Day '06.
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#1 is "Luxurios."
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Just pick - let's book!
Who else is in?? |
We're in. But you already knew that.
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We're good with numero uno, of course. Woo hoo!
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so before I stick my toe in the almost dry cement....
not being an attendee the last time... Was this an event with a plan, or a big lazy get together? ( I love the lazy river, but will go whereever the majority decides) |
The plan was nothing more than to enjoy the surroundings and spark our collective creativity.
The result: A big lazy get together that resulted in some creative joy as well as a general sense of well being and relaxation. |
Last time we all just brought a bunch of art/creativity supplies, lingered around the pool and drew, wrote, chatted, relaxed... hurrah for creative retreating.
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oh cool. I have 4 carburetors to rebuild. theres a good flat surface somewhere right? :D
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Wait: will there be power tools?
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Sure. We'll need some chain saws to do a number on those trees.
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Will Arbor Day be a seaside event since that is the day we celebrate all of the ships coming into the arbor?
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Isn't that what a pirate says when he's cold?
"Arrr!Brrrr!" |
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:snap: Very swanky blast to the past :iSm: !!! ! |
So, umm, should we reserve the 4-bedroom one?
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I just read the thread, was out of the loop for the first annual Beat Meet, and am now throwing my metaphorical hat into the ring. Where have we landed for location?
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Word was #1?
Though-- how many for-sure rooms do we have now? LSPE & Tom NA & Euro Happy Haunts Gn2 Is Ponine a for-sure or a maybe? The Pods? Any thoughts? |
The thoughts on the Pods remain fuzzy, unfortunately. H flies out tomorrow for her first week at the new job (she's staying in a hotel 'til Friday). She flies back up after work on Friday and we caravan down on Saturday. Then, on Tuesday, she flies out for a week of meetings while I await the movers. The concept of "getting away" is not even on our radar right now. If we have to decide today, we'll have to say "no" - not because we won't want to go, but because we're in no place to commit to anything right now. If there's a last-minute opportunity (or even one in two or three weeks), the answer might well be different.
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Me thinks you'll need a respite - although I can think of quite a few complications for you (Monday holiday? Puppies?")
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Bump - if anyone else is interested speak up now - I think we may try to make the ressies real soon
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Okay, now or never. The house has been booked, so if you're going please let us know.
I'm really excited. |
YAY!
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Damn, I wish I could, it sounds like a blast.
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Oh, argh. It's not gonna happen for me this time.
The cheese is making me enough money, finally. It's just not making me enough time. |
We'd love to join you, but we're up in Sacramento that weekend for a friend's wedding.
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Sounds like so much fun to be had. I wish I could go :(
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I just had a synchronous moment.
I'm reading an uncorrected proof of Money for nothing by Edward Ugel, regarding gambling. At one point the author mentions that a friend's father had a tradition of taking his grown sons to Vegas, gambling etc. When he passed away, he left them a bit of money that was earmarked for "one last trip on the old man's dime." The sons took some friends and had a blast... Quote:
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![]() :eek: I'm starting to think I am meant to read this book for some strange reason. |
A DJELIABA!?
This IS a synchronous book. |
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if you were not, you would not since you are, it must be so |
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</derail> |
We need to find the $.99 Djeliaba store.
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can I just cut a hole in a blanket and wear it with my hoodie?
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OK!
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Highs in the mid 90's lows in the mid 60's. I predict flurries of bodies strewn on the lawn chairs.
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Heheh, zapppop and I will be in Las Vegas. Let's have a Who's Desert is Hotter competition!!
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I sooo hope you win
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We bought a crap-ton of basic art supplies today.
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Trader Joe's Cathedral City (118)
67-720 E Palm Canyon Dr Cathedral City, CA 92234 Phone: (760) 202-0090 Trading Hours: 9 am - 9 pm |
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coool. love Trader Joes. I may just give my body a break and eat fruits and veggies all weekend.
so...someone just gave me an xbox and a ton of games....should I bring it? :p (dont be afraid to say "if you do, you sleep in the street") lol |
While I'm a video game fan myself, I would actually prefer that we avoid it over this Beat weekend, as well as screwing around online for hours and watching TV. A movie is a different story.
Just my vote. |
I don't play video games. I really never have. I'd rather work the brain in another fashion.
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:) no worries
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Damn, I wish we were going. I'd bring the full camera gear, and even the green screen to play with.
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still tryin to figure a way to do that porn gig, huh?
:blush: |
Damn, DP, what a great retreat activity that would be, you'll have to do it some other time!
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I love...art.
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Sounds like a great time will be had by all! |
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