My plans have not changed: I intend to leave Tuesday from Raleigh and drive to St. Louis (about 13 hours), and depart the premises on Sunday. I'd prefer not to do it alone, so if any of the locals (or close to locals) are still planning on going and want to make a road trip out of it, I'll be happy to take passengers and/or co-drivers.

-- MWE

I'm flying in on Southwest and visiting with my brother in Clayton for a couple of days and then will be at the Adams Mark for the convention. Time to visit the Timmermann ancestral home across the river in Clayton County, Illinois.

I am likely going to Chicago first. I have the whole week off, From there, I'll venture down to the Mound City and fly out on Sunday. I haven't figured out how I'll get to Chicago. I'm considering a train. I have time to spare coming to the convention. It's going back that I need to do quickly.

I signed up for the convention and the game finally. I haven't bought a ticket for the Garagiola dinner yet and am on the fence about that one.

I'm in, of course. Haven't thought about when I'll be there, probaby Wednesday. I'll be driving down -- you need a ride, EWK?

SABR 37 will be held in St. Louis, July 25 to 29. With seven weeks to go, hopefully everyone has made (or is ready to make) their plans to attend. The special rate of $77 for the convention is still in effect.

Where'd you get the number $77 from and where did you get that info from? The latest SABR bulletin sasy the special rate fooms at the Adam's Mark are $95, and also says their all booked. They still have rooms in the hotel for $125, and at another hotel for around $100. From my memory, $95 sounds a lot closer to what I booked than $77. Also, your link goes to a screen with no info.

Time to visit the Timmermann ancestral home across the river in Clayton County, Illinois.

Wait a sec, there is no Clayton County, Illinois. (checks wikipeia. checks trusty World Almanac). Yep, no such county. There's a Clay County, and some Clayton townships (in Woodford way up north & in Adams County where Quincy is).

Long time to see the old ancestoral home, eh Bob?

As for myself, I'm missing the entire first day of the convention, but I'll be down on Thursday night through Sunday. I'm presented Saturday. Daly & Giacalone are presented Thursday. Giacalone's presenting again on Sunday. He's one of three with two presentations.

I don't have a full list or anything, but off the top of my head:

1) Me - I'm going. As mentioned.
2) Anthony Giacalone. He's going, presenting, and sharing a room with me.
3) Daly's going as he says in post #3
4) MWE - going.
5) Bob T - going, as it says in post #2
6) Vinay Kumar - mentioned in the lounge a few days ago that he's going. May leave early if he can figure out a way to get to Cooperstown in time for Gwynn's induction.
7) Matt Rauseo. Rooming with Daly.
8) Szym - said he's going somewhere or another.
9) deJesus freak - he's going. Once said he was going to try to get some of the Chicagoland mafia to go. No idea how much success he's had there.
10) DCW3 - I'm pretty sure he said he's going.
11) Sherrif Blalock said he plans to attend
12) meatwad - I don't think he's officially attending the convention, but he said he' be there that weekend.
13) Joe Dimino. I assume he's going
14) Aaron Gleeman. Ditto.
15) Will Young - he said he's coming, job permitting.
16) fra paolo - said he hopes to go.
17) Mike Webber - he's in
18) Ben Jacobs. Haven't heard anything. He's gone to the last two, though.
19) Garth Sears. I think he said he'd like to go. I think.
20) Sean Forman - I'd assume he's going, but I haven't heard anything. I know he's not giving a presentation.
21) John Murphy. Didn't he indicate some interest in MWE's caravan idea?
22) Chris Dial - initially intended to go, but after his proposal got rejected he said he might not.
23) David Nierporent - I'm pretty sure he said he was looking into it. If it fits his schedule or something like that.
24) Dave Studenman. He booked a hotel reservation for the weekend.
25) Jim Furtado. Haven't heard anything. He's only made one of the last three.

I know I'm forgetting a bunch.

FWIW, this year's convention only has about 5 statistical presentation. Just thought I'd mention that because this is btf after all.

There are no rooms left at the Adams Mark.

I'm going, I've got a room at the Adams Mark, booked the day SABR announced it was the site and the dates.

John Murphy is rooming with me. I'm arriving Wednesday early afternoon, leaving Sunday.

I'll be driving in from Champaign, IL . . . anyone who has to pass through there or close is welcome to carpool if you want. I've got a Honda Civic that gets 33 MPG and it would be nice to split the cost of parking, which I imagine will be expensive.

Anyone know if this hotel has a good bar? Gotta keep the priorities in line.

I'll be there to annoy all the Mets fans. :)

19) Garth Sears. I think he said he'd like to go. I think.

I would. The easy four-hour drive makes it very possible. The key is getting off work, but with seven weeks in advance it should be good.

Thought I might be going, but turns out that the wife and I have other vacation plans. Sorry; I know you all were sitting there crossing your fingers and hoping you'd get to meet me. If any of you will be in Scotland, let me know.

13) Joe Dimino. I assume he's going
14) Aaron Gleeman. Ditto.

Can file away Dimino as a yes. And in his blog today, Gleeman said he's in.

So from my list, numbers 1-9, 13, 14, 17, 21, and 24 are in. Likely include 10-12, 15, and 19. Only one to scratch is #23, but cfb says he's in to make up for that. (Assuming cfb was serious in post #8, can't quite tell with the emoticon at the end).

10) DCW3 - I'm pretty sure he said he's going.

Yes, I will indeeed be there.

Where'd you get the number $77 from and where did you get that info from?

That's the cost of the convention - not the cost of the hotel. It's in the link. If you pay on-site it will cost more.

-- MWE

16) fra paolo - said he hopes to go.

I'm definitely going, together with Mrs fra paolo and the little fra paolas, so my ability to socialize outside of the hours of presentations and meetings will be somewhat restricted.

We're flying to Chicago on Monday, by which time I hope I'll have figured out what sight(s) to take in between Chicago and St Louis on the Tuesday before arriving at our hotel (not the Adam's Mark - the Crown something?) on Wednesday afternoon.

John Murphy. Didn't he indicate some interest in MWE's caravan idea?

He did, but if he's not able to go until Wednesday it may not work out. He can bunk in with me until Joe gets there, if that becomes an issue.

-- MWE

It's a long way for me, but I'm actually really interested in going, since this will be my last summer vacation ever. Who can I talk to about this in greater detail?

Hey everyone.. I will be attending as well... I think I most most (some?) of you guys at the conference in Toronto... I'm interested in putting together a team for the trivia contest... if anyone is interested let me know... I was lucky enough to win the individual contest in Toronto...

Thanks,

Joe

I still haven't figured out how much I'll actually be at the convention, but I'm certainly going to be in town.

fra paolo, I've heard from a lot of people the Lincoln Museum in Springfield, IL is the best museum they have ever visited.

I'll throw together a few good places to visit in STL and post them here later today.

Sheriff, do you know of any hotels within walking distance to the Adams Mark?

The closest one is the Drury Plaza Hotel, on 4th Street, which is a block or less away. The Crowne Plaza is also very close. There are several more within a few blocks though.

the SABR site indicates they have an overflow hotel a block down. I think it is the Crowne.

Hey guys Murphy just ditched me, has to work . . . bummer.

I'm 80% sure that I'll be attending. I'll drive up from central Mexico the weekend before, planning to arrive in St. Louis about Wednesday. My sister lives in Webster Groves just off the train line, so I'll probably stay with her, but if an evening goes late and someone has some extra space in their room, I may ask to crash.

Is everyone planning to attend the Cards game on Friday? Are tickets still available in the SABR block?

this year's convention only has about 5 statistical presentations.

I haven't seen the full list yet, but I'm not surprised. Of the statistically-oriented abstracts I reviewed, only one was worth considering for an oral presentation. Most of the ones I saw worked better as poster presentations, and I think some of them will show up on the agenda there.

A lot of people seem to think that a presentation along the lines of "here's what I did, here's how the players ranked when I did that" will sell. Unless the presenter is breaking new ground - and most of them aren't - that type of presentation isn't going to fly. Basically, we're at a point now where we don't really NEED yet another way to rank players, so even if you're doing something that you think is unique. you're better off going in another direction.

-- MWE

I haven't figured out how I'll get to Chicago. I'm considering a train. I have time to spare coming to the convention.

The four of us took the train to Chicago a couple of years ago for Thanksgiving weekend. Add at least 5 hours to Amtrak's posted travel time for that trip (which is in the neighborhood of 20 hours from Springfield. Freight traffic is up, and the freight lines have the right-of-way. The crew said they don't know why Amtrak doesn't just change the schedule, since they've been consistently 5 hours late on that line for a long time.

If you want to take the train just for the experience, go out to Denver and take the train to Salt Lake City, or vice-versa. That's just one magnificent view after another.

If you want to take the train just for the experience, go out to Denver and take the train to Salt Lake City, or vice-versa.

The ride up the coast from Portland to Vancouver isn't bad, either.

-- MWE

Vancouver

Just don't get stabbed at night outside a downtown nightclub. Or get rundown by Asian streetracers in Richmond.

The train price looks reasonable. $80 to $100. I could get some reading done.

Ennui:

Amtrak stinks. I let the wife talk me into taking the train to go out West to see one of her sisters. After twice having to move myself and related stuff from one train to the other, including once in the middle of the night, and THEN almost being left in San Antonio (they unhitched the car for "mechanical reasons" and then almost left the station without the d*mn passengers) I warn anyone about Amtrak.

It was stupid. I like flying first class. But my beloved wanted to see the scenery. I told her in the future I would have the grandkids paint some landscape pictures and have the pilot slap them to the outside of her window before we take off.

You have been duly warned my friend. Amtrak is BAD.

When I was in college I had took the Amtrack from the Chicago area in that direction a couple times (not all the way to St. Louis, just to Galesburg, IL). No horror stories at all. Just a normal train ride. That was about a dozen years ago though.

44magnum - well, if you need a room, looks like Dimino's now got space available.

Harv, are you going this year?

Chris:

Alas, I pushed things by going to New York. As you may recall, the Mrs. had a serious health challenge a while back but over the course of the past year things had improved considerably. Not having been on a trip of any length we thought a jaunt to NYC would be feasible. And while she did have a very good time we did have to cut it shorter than planned because she began to have some spells.

She's fine now. Basically just pushed things a bit much.

Anyway, I am loathe to travel for any extended period unless I am sure family is in the area. And that weekend nobody who I trust is within hailing distance. Correct, I love my entire family but when it comes to the care of my wife that's an inner circle of individuals.

I provide this long answer not to bore anyone with the health saga (all too common with the elderly!) but so that anyone interested knows I am not avoiding folks. St. Louis is little more than a day trip away but even that is unacceptable given the circumstances.

I wish everyone a wonderful time.

Sincerely,

HW

I'm working on a Google map of places of interest, it's in its early stages, so keep checking back for more on it.

St. Louis-SABR map

I'm in, of course. Haven't thought about when I'll be there, probaby Wednesday. I'll be driving down -- you need a ride, EWK?

Oh yeah, it's been years since I've been to Chicago. Might as well hit it up along the way. This has crept up on me. It's only seven weeks away. I have one more tuneup of my presentation in a couple of weeks and I can't find my notes yet.

If someone is desperate for an Adams Mark hotel room, Chris and I each booked a room last year, so we should be able to let you have one of the two.

Dial - or anyone else - if you need a roommate, I do to, since John bailed. I have a room in the Adams Mark, please let me know ASAP. Or if someone wants to take my room, I may just cancel it and sleep on a rollaway in Ben and Aaron's room. I'm open to ideas . . .

I had to bail at the last minute on last year's convention due to work, but I'll be in St. Louis baring some unforseen disaster of course.

but I'll be in St. Louis baring some unforseen disaster of course.

Don't do that!! At least bare something that looks good!!

-- MWE

'm interested in putting together a team for the trivia contest... if anyone is interested let me know..

I'm totally in - we can ride on Joe's coattails!

Oh, I'm almost certainly there.

Also for trivia, I'm going to be smart this time and actually study up on Cardinals-related trivia. I think my Toronto team (me, Dial, Giacalone, uhh, Vinay?) got every single Toronto-related question wrong.

I wish everyone a wonderful time.

Bugger. I was still hoping to dragoon you out for some beer.

i wont be able to attend, damn work....those going to chicago from the east by car then onto st louis, let me know im on the way there.

Got a roommate (Vinay), so that's taken care of.

Also for trivia, I'm going to be smart this time and actually study up on Cardinals-related trivia. I think my Toronto team (me, Dial, Giacalone, uhh, Vinay?)

That was me. My contribution was to randomly guess Shano Collins & Dee Fondy as Canadian-born players with at least 1000 hits. Then me, you, Dial & Joe K. (First Time Poster from #17 in this thread) went to that Thai place.

I'd love to be on a trivia team, but I think they have the first round on Thursday night & I might not be there. (Checks). 7:30 PM? I might get down there by that time. Not sure. Highway driving always takes me longer than I expect to when I'm going unfamiliar places. Plus getting checked in & all that bunk.

Looks like I'm out again this year. I just started a new job as a staff member at Rowing Girl's school and I've got to save my vacation days for the wedding/honeymoon.

Bummer, Will.

So going back over my list & responses from others here in the thread:

In: Me, Giacalone, Daly, Bob T, MWE, Rauseo, Dimino, Kumar, Szym, deJesus, DCW3, Sherrif, Gleeman, fra, Webber, Jacobs (I think I heard somewhere he's rooming with Gleeman), Sears (likely), Studes, cardsfanboy (unless that was just a joke at Mets fans), Joe (post 17), Kirby Kyle (80%), and KJOK.

Out: Will Young, meatwad, Harv, John Murphy, Nierporent.

Unknown/unsure: Forman, Furtado, Dial, IronChef, 44magnum.

Plus there's a whole buncha others you could arguably get mentioned - Greg Spira, Justin Kubatko, Neal Traven, F. X. Flynn, David Jones, Stallard, etc. . . .

Should be larger than the Seattle bunch.

How easy is it to get around St Louis? Mrs fra paolo isn't keen to drive. Can one get from the Crowne Plaza to the zoo without much trouble?

It was stupid. I like flying first class. But my beloved wanted to see the scenery. I told her in the future I would have the grandkids paint some landscape pictures and have the pilot slap them to the outside of her window before we take off.

You have been duly warned my friend. Amtrak is BAD.

I'm with Harvey. Fly first class. Amtrak sucks badly, except in the Northeast Corridor where it only sucks a little bit. The only way I'd take Amtrak is if I didn't care when I got somewhere. Or if.

i took amtrak from south bend out to new mexico, that was one long trip.....i never want to do that again

Unlike the past couple of years, I was able to get the time off from work. Unfortunately, I'm about 85% sure I won't be going. When faced with the choice of limping through another summer with the old server and going to the convention, or ponying up some cash for a new server and starting to roll out some of the things I've been working on, I chose the latter. If I'm able to sell another ad or two, though, I still might get there.

I believe Sean is going.

Yesterday I registered for the convention, the Friday night game, and the luncheon. Unless some zealous Texas cop impounds my car for having foreign plates, I'll be there.

I'm not going to go because I am neither cool enough nor do I have any money at the moment, but given that Amtrak is getting slapped around, allow me to say I've taken the train from NYC to Chicago, Los Angeles to NYC, and round trip NYC to Denver. It was on time every single time every stretch of the way and I found it to be an incredibly peaceful ride.

And this was all before I took the trains in China in April. I had a connection in rural western China that was actually 4 days late. Even Amrtak can't beat that one.

Hurm. I was really hoping I could edit my grammar and spelling screwups there, but I'm not seeing the button.

And sometime in the future, I will indeed make an SABR convention. Gotta have dreams.

Where's the info about the Friday night game? I'm not a member of SABR, but I'd still be interested in going.

Doh, I'm an idiot. The SABR website has all of that.

I'm not a member, but it sounds interesting.

I'm not going to go because I am neither cool enough nor do I have any money at the moment, but given that Amtrak is getting slapped around, allow me to say I've taken the train from NYC to Chicago, Los Angeles to NYC, and round trip NYC to Denver. It was on time every single time every stretch of the way and I found it to be an incredibly peaceful ride.

I can assure you from past experience that being cool is definitely not a requirement for attending the convention.

Hurm. I was really hoping I could edit my grammar and spelling screwups there, but I'm not seeing the button.

In the very near future the edit and ignore features will be added to all the blogs on the site.

If any of you are interested in trying to go to Thursday's game against the Cubs, I'd be interested as well.

I see that only SRO tickets are available through the Cardinals website, so we'd have to secure tickets through other means.

I can assure you from past experience that being cool is definitely not a requirement for attending the convention.

Speak for yourself.

It looks like other people have already posted this, but I'm going and rooming with Gleeman.

I haven't booked my flight yet, but I expect to fly in Wednesday evening and fly out very early Sunday (stupid price skyrockets for later flights for some reason).

I should be able to go to the game on Thursday night with you, dJF. Didn't we do this last year? We could either stubhub it or just buy scalpers outside the park.

I should be able to go to the game on Thursday night with you, dJF. Didn't we do this last year? We could either stubhub it or just buy scalpers outside the park.

Yep. That was the game in which I called an Ichiro home run. Good times.

So I put a query on the local SABR list about then convention. One guy says take Greyhound! 25 hours on a bus. No thanks. I did a six hour ride once, THat was enough.

EWK, I'd give you a ride, but I don't think that would help you out much.

So I mentioned this elsewhere, but my mom brought up the idea of going to St. Louis this summer to scatter the last of my dad's ashes at new Busch, and I mentioned that SABR will be there. So I might show up for a day.

I'm probably flying in and out, but I was just mulling my options.

EWK,

I traveled several thousand miles via Amtrak. He's the deal, you must, must get a sleeper compartment, otherwise its a long slow bus ride. Ply yourself with books, and bring a couple of bottles of booze, and if possible a girl (this helps immensley). Expect to arrive late.

Yeah, I was thinking of going overland at least on one part of the trip (I kind of wanted to see some parts of the country I haven't seen in a while), but it doesn't sound like rail is a good option. I made a quick query to see if anyone around here was interested in carpooling but no luck and I don't think it's cost effective to drive alone.

Jon:

How much would it cost you to get to Raleigh?

-- MWE

MWE, it's not a matter of money, really. I had tome to kill earlier in the week and I figured I'd take the long way to the convention and fly home. I though about a train and the consensus seems to be that that's not a great option. In honor of Doug Pappas, maybe driving would work, but I'm not sure if it's worth renting a car for.

I also plan on going via Chicago. This weekend I'll probably just pick up plane tickets.

Well, I figured if you could somehow get here you could ride w/ me.

-- MWE

What time is everyone arriving?

I'm planning on working a 1/2 day on Wednesday and driving in the 2:45 or so for early afternoon. If no one is going to be there until later I can work later and save vacation time, but if a whole bunch of you will be there by noon-time I can make it a very short half-day. Let me know what to do!

"So I put a query on the local SABR list about then convention. One guy says take Greyhound! 25 hours on a bus. No thanks. I did a six hour ride once, THat was enough."

My dad took a bus from Long Island to Las Vegas in the late 70s or early 80s. IIRC it was a pretty horrible 3 days. I can't remember if he ended up flying home or taking the bus back too.

Let me know what to do!

Since when can anyone tell you what to do? :)

I'm arriving Tuesday, time is up in the air right now.

-- MWE

My dad took a bus from Long Island to Las Vegas in the late 70s or early 80s. IIRC it was a pretty horrible 3 days. I can't remember if he ended up flying home or taking the bus back too.

Depends on how lucky he got, I imagine.

Heh Willie . . . I think the gambooling gene must skip a generation. My grandfather lived out there for like 20 years (my dad went to visit him on that trip), and I love to gamble on just about anything. We would even bet on that jump ball game that used to be on at 2 in the morning on Saturday nights, with the trampolines on the court. We'd just pick blue or red and bet with each other to have something to do!

My dad on the other hand doesn't even like to put a quarter in a slot machine. Very strange.

So when is everyone else arriving?!

BTW, that jump-ball betting was w/friends, not my grandfather, in case there was any confusion, although I imagine he'dve wanted some action too if he was there.

Early Wed morning. I have a 6:15 flight out of LGA.

I'm arriving in St. Louis on Wednesday, but staying at my sister's house on the outskirts. Thursday will be my first day at the convention.

I'll be there from Wednesday until Monday. This is my first of hopefully many conventions to come. If anyone sees a guy walking around with "Ryan Armbrust" on a name tag, come say hi. I'm looking forward to St. Louis.

Ryan:

Make sure you spend some time in the hotel bar.

-- MWE

I'm driving with GGC on Wednesday -- we'll probably be there mid-afternoon.

GGC still live in CT? That's a freaking haul, wow.

Minnow, I'm flying to Chicago tommorrow to see some folks.

If you can get to Champaign from Chicago Wednesday you are welcome to drive with me, I think it's a 2 hour train ride. I think it's a pretty cheap train ride too, not sure though. It's about a 2:45 - 3:00 drive from Champaign to St. Louis.

Oh wait a minute - Willie Keeler is GGC, lol, I didn't know that.

It all just came together. Sorry I'm slow.

I didn't know that Alfred was DeJesus freak either. Damn, people should never be allowed to change the name that I learned them as.

Long time lurker, infrequent poster, but I'll be there on Thursday morning...hope to finally meet some of you! Echoing Ryan above, my nametag will say "Gabe Shepard", so stop and say hi!

And if anyone's curious, Brock Hanke of the Big Bad Baseball Annual's supposed to be there as well.

Over 680 signed up as of 7/12, putting it just 30 below the all-time SABR attendence record.

Not only will Sean Forman be there, but he'll have a booth in the vending room manned alongside Justin Kurbatko/

Update for me. I came back from two weeks in London with pneumonia and with luggage that British Airways thinks they'll have to me "by Friday" after they didn't feel the need to actually put it on the plane. So it doesn't look like I'll be at the convention for the 2nd year in a row, which just kills me, but all I want to do at the moment is curl up in my bed in a fetal position with a blanket over my head.

The Adams Mark has a huge lobby bar and two smaller ones.

-- MWE

Haven't done one of these in a while . . ..

Attending, to the best of my knowledge:
1. Me. It's my list. I get to put myself first, even if I am missing the entire first day.
2. Anthony Gicalone. First two both presenting
3. Joe Dimino
4. deJesusFreak
5. Mr. High Standards
6. Aaron Gleeman. The only 6 from the btf core to attend all since Cincy.
7. Jon Daly. Also presenting
8. Vinay Kumar
9. Ben Jacobs
10. Mike Emeigh - apparnetly finished the World's Lonliest Van Caravan into St Louis
11. Sean Forman - #7-11 have all been to 2 of the previous 3
12. fra paolo. He's the Brit. With the accent (and teeth) to prove it
13. Bob Timmerman. Also been to last slew in a row
14. Mike Webber. Should be higher to put with others who have been to 2 of last 3, but I'm too lazy to reorder
15. Dave Studenmund. He'll be there Thur-Sun morning
16. Joe K. At Toronto, met a couple of us.
17. Phil Birnbaum. Creatd the database, so he's on the list.
18. Justin Kubatko. Working b-ref booth in vending room with Sean. Met us in Cincy. Runs basketball-ref.
19. John Stryker. Met some in Cincy, and I spoke to him several times in Seattle.
20. Daniel Wind. It'll be his first one.
21. Kirby Kyle. Part of the world's longest road trip.
22. Sherriff Blalock. Apparently will be there.
23. KJOK. HoM voter says he's in.
24. Bob Ngo. The guy doing his socio diss. on statnerds. He's interviewing me after the stats analysis committee.
25. Neal Traven. Head of stats committee.
26. F. X. Flynn. SABR honcho not officially listed in the attendees as of 7/12, but I assume he's in.
27. Rob Neyer. Stretching it a bit here, but close enough to primates so that in Seattle Giacalone falsely told people he called Dimino a #####.
28. Ryan Armbrust
29. Gabe Shephard. Honestly? I never heard of these last 2 prior to this thread. Big deal. They're welcome to stop along and say hi just like anyone foolish enough to do so.
30. Greg Spira. Almost forgot. He's registered.

UNSURE:
31. cardsfanboy. Said he's going, but I can't tell if he's joking or not.
32. Mark Stallard. I assume because he lives in KC, but haven't heard for sure and he's got a young'un.
33. Garth Sears. Says he wants to go, but hasn't been definate that he will.
34. David Jones. In Cincy, & Toronto. Current or former committee chair. Not among list of enrolled.
35. Paul Wendt. Everything I said about Jones is true of this HoM voter as well.
36. Eric Enders. Hasn't been to at least 3 in a row, but is a former committee chair, and actually signed up to go to Cincy * said he came close to Toronto.

OUT
37. Jim Furtado. Gave it up for this site. That's sacrifice man.
38. Meatwad. Wanted to. Couldn't.
39. Will Young. Working a trowing girl's school made it impossible
40. Harv. Couldn't
41. David Nierporent. Came close, but nope.
42. John Murphy
43. Chris Dial. Doing their part to ensure Emeigh's van caravan is the worlds' lonliest.
44. Dan Szymborski. We'll be thinking of you Szym. Sure, we'll be doint it while mocking your absence, but we'll be thinking of you nevertheless.

Fifth straight year not making it...

Court case cleared up...check
All moola handed out...semi-check
Inherihouse limbo hell...semi-check
Just got MonsterHD...check (can't leave house)

Next year...!

31. Brock J. Hanke. He'll be there. Move numbers 31-44 back on from post #92.

The Vsn Caravan (actually a Jeep) wasn't TOO awful bad. Driving across southern Indiana and Illinois was the worst part - miles and miles of corn with maybe one exit every 15 miles. From Evansville, IN to Mt. Vernon, IL I was about the only non-commercial vehicle heading west; didn't pass any other ones and was only passed by three.

-- MWE

Mike is the wifey along this year?

Also, regarding #91 - how late do the hotel bars stay open? Also, how late are bars allowed to stay open in Missouri?

Mike - hotel told me rate was $95 (I booked back in November when the dates were set) . . . but your initial post says $77. The link in your post no longer lists a price - where can I find documentaion of the $77 rate?

Ryan and Gabe, don't be shy, come say hi to us in the bar if you see us. If you see a bunch of fat guys with Jack Bauer, a short guy with glasses and a goatee, a not quite as short Indian guy, and a skinny Red Sox fan you've found us.

Driving across southern Indiana and Illinois was the worst part - miles and miles of corn with maybe one exit every 15 miles. From Evansville, IN to Mt. Vernon, IL I was about the only non-commercial vehicle heading west; didn't pass any other ones and was only passed by three.

I live in Evansville and I can vouch for the veracity of this information. I have made this drive dozens of times and it is truly boring beyond belief. I am also old enough to remember before the interstate highway was there and the trip took 4.5 hours instead of the 2.5 it takes today, so it could have been worse.

We'll be thinking of you Szym. Sure, we'll be doint it while mocking your absence, but we'll be thinking of you nevertheless.

I can see everything and will totally kill all of you in Cleveland!