Big Blue Huddle

Erik, my directions are fine - and I now have a GPS that runs through the car's 8-speaker stereo so I can turn it up louder than whoever happens to be in the passenger seat **cough**. (George, you act like PA isn't a nice state. I was trying to surprise you with a trip to see Joey in Scranton and you went and spoiled it.)

Welcome to Albany! I think you'll find most of the sports bars here have a big contingent of Giants fans -- they're the Capital Region's favorite team by a decent margin, followed by the Jets, with a smattering of Bills and Pats fans.

I'll shoot you a private message with my contact info in case you need any info about your new home base. I've been here since I was a teenager in the 70's - not as long as George, who used to trade for beaver pelts with the French and Indian trappers who traversed the Hudson, but long enough to know my way around.

Kevin

Forgive me for sharing a remnant of the other board, but I wanted anyone who wasn't there in '06 to see this.  We used to do an annual t-shirt in time for the summer get-together in Albany, and this one was special.



The ever-mysterious Chris Allen, who often said he might meet up with one member or another at camp but never did, was memorialized on a medallion on the wrecking-ball chain.

The one and only "Golden Hoofer", aka Gabes.  I got to meet him when he and Joni had travelled to his native RI to visit his mom in a nursing home in Providence. They drove down to Narragansett to meet us for breakfast on a patio by the beach. 

The first thing he did after our greetings, at the age of I believe 68, was to flex his considerable bicep in his tank top and mock-seriously ask me to report back to the BBWC gang that they'd better watch themselves, because "Gabe will kick your @ss !"  He then informed us that he was hesitant to reveal what he'd done for a living before retirement, because it could influence how I perceived him. His lovely wife scoffed and told him he was being silly, but he wouldn't budge. He promised to tell me in six months. I can tell you that for the rest of our vacation in RI that year, my wife and inlaws and I were preoccupied with guessing what the mysterious Gabe's background might hold. (Drake, I know you can relate.)  Some kind of agent was a popular guess -- FBI, CIA, IRS. Perhaps a paroled felon? Nobody guessed medical doctor (eye surgeon, if I recall). 

What a pleasure to know him.

The great Mojo, on the left, with our old friend Spider. John was a font of football knowledge and wit, and I can honestly say I enjoyed every interaction I ever had with him, even the disagreements. Just a flat-out great guy.

I'm sorry I missed the big bash at George's place, but glad I made it to the Barnsider on Friday night to say hello to my old friends and meet some new ones.

I know this has been said many times, but if you're on the fence about attending one of these get-togethers, just do it.

That would be my first choice, Terry, but probably the toughest ticket of all the night games -- still, you never know.  If someone has a ticket for sale that I can afford, I'll be there!

Because I can combine a trip from Albany for the game with a day of working out of our Scarsdale office the following day,  I might be interested in a single ticket to any of the home night games.  I haven't been able to get on here as often as I'd like lately, but please feel free to send me a private message if you're looking to sell a night game ticket -- I'll get an email notification and will get back to you promptly.


Thanks guys!

Man, do I wish I could have made it...the weekend was just too crazy here.  Great group, great menu, and the Giants running away in a laugher.  You guys must be having a blast. 

Wow, this sounds like a great time with a great group -- I wish I could make it, but my plans are STILL up in the air and probably will be until Saturday night.  

I work with a couple of organizations that advocate for peace in central Africa, and am in the middle of trying to find local hosts to put up a group of 6 young people traveling all over the northeast and Canada giving presentations on behalf of Invisible Children.  As it stands right now, they're arriving in the Albany area on Saturday night and I've only managed to find them accommodations for Monday night (that'd be at my little place, haha, Tuesday morning should be interesting with one bathroom &  ten people needing to be out the door by 8:30).

If something drops today or tomorrow and I get all these arrangements made, can I change my mind and join you as a late addition? I promise I'd bring something good to add to the menu.

PS - George, thanks for the ride offer!

I'm going to be a late decision on this, so don't take my location into account when you're making plans.  There's a good chance I'm going to be helping host an event that afternoon and wouldn't be able to make it at 4:00

Dave, good eye -- can't believe you recognized 1/3 of my face back there next to Mojo. You're correct in your identification of George, and that is indeed my daughter Elizabeth on the end at right (wearing the jersey made famous by the old profile shot of Rocky's golden retriever, a prize I won in a trivia contest!). 

While none of us have aged a day, Elizabeth went on her first college tour yesterday at URI.  And for the record, I'm pretty sure Gordon's daughter's name is Jennifer. She's probably a full-fledged practicing urologist by now.

Have we ID'ed everyone but the fella with the beard in between Gordon and George?  I remember him, his kids, his wife, and our conversation about the friends they were staying with over in my general neck of the woods -- but I can't for the life of me recall his screen name.  The other gent with a beard, between Eddie and Steve, I also can't put a name to.

Quote from: murderhill on August 03, 2010, 09:43:02 PM
I am, unfortunately, /??? ambivalent about Friday and Sunday.  My "getting the Motorcycle ready for this trip" has taken a weird turn.  I'll explain it when I get down there but I had been thinking that if i could find a spot of ground to set up a tent near Albany, I might make it to the Friday night affair.  No promises.  Sunday, again will depend where I stay Saturday night.  Spontaneity is how I work most of the time.   If I plan to do something, there's a 50/50 chance I'll blow it.  So I'll see how it goes.  Can't sign up though.

Not sure what your definition of 'near' is, but there's a very nice state campground outside of Albany at Thompson's Lake. Beautiful place. On the other hand, if you're only crashing there Friday night and won't be spending any time there, you might not care how scenic it is.  There might be some places around Guilderland, which is adjacent to the part of Albany where the U Albany campus is located.

Added my name to the dinner list (what's the point in being a moderator if you can't abuse the priveges?) as I'm 97% sure that I'll be able to make it.  I'll miss the BBQ and brunch as I'm heading out of town the following morning, but I'm looking forward to seeing those of you who can make it to dinner.

The Barnsider has always been a pretty reliable steak place, and it's not too far or hard to find from the University-area hotels. I could recommend a bunch of other area restaurants and would be happy to do so for anyone who's staying around longer, but I think it's a great choice for Friday night.

Hi folks, glad to see the planning coming along so well.

I was up near the park a couple weeks ago and drove in to see if anything's changed. The picnic and playground areas were the same as always, but it appears the caretaker's trailer is gone -- probably no on-premises staff any more, just city employees dropping in now and then as needed.

One thing: I can't promise it will be the same when you're there, but on the Monday morning I dropped by, the barrier was gone from that extra parking area we always used. It's possible they finally realized that leaving that lot open will help them avoid the parking nonsense we dealt with last year.

I checked with everyone I know at firehouses, etc. and hit a total brick wall on getting a large charcoal grill hauled up there.  Sorry about that, I'm sure it would have been useful.

The only other advice I've got:  Don't flaunt the beer in front of city employees or cops, since groups your size aren't supposed to have alcohol in the park without a permit. Nobody has ever given us a hard time about it, but just know that they could if they wanted to.

Have fun!

PS - I had my vacation dates fouled up, I'm actually leaving the morning of 8/7.  Not sure how hectic Friday the 6th will be yet, but if anyone is in town a day early and wants to get together at some point, please shoot me a note here or by email or give me a ring.

Just thought of something else regarding your leftovers:  there's a shelter for homeless families right up the road from the park on Washington Ave. Extension that's open 24/7.  One of the programs at the non-profit where I work involves collecting extra produce from gardens and farms and delivering it to missions, pantries, etc. and I've made many deliveries to this place.

http://st-cath.org/SCCC_Published/homeless.htm

It's literally 5 minutes from the park by car -- just go right at the first light past the Home Depot, take another sharp right to the access road running parallel to Washington Ave. Extension -- drive past the Albany Police Dept's Pine Hills station and Marillac's driveway is the next left.

I don't have any particular contacts there, as I just show up with fruit and vegetables and give them to whoever is on duty at the desk.  My guess is that they'd gladly accept any unopened packaged food -- I'm not as sure about meats, salads, etc. but you could always contact them ahead of time to explain the BBQ and ask what food donations they can or can't accept.