Let The Countdown Begin!

[Breandan]

never been to A-Kon, alas. No, of all things it was the interrogation scene in the first Transformers movie with the giant plate of donuts. PB&J sandwich cured the craving, so now I am back to my standard meat-craving

[Rani Zemirah]

Oh, that's right...there are so many cons thai time of year that I get them all mixed up! Taffy was telling me  earlier about a woman at A-con who wore a top made out of two donuts...and string. She wasn't sure what it was supposed to represent, but I bet she got a lot of attention... and I'm sure that was the actual goal, anyway.    

We had pb & j today, also... with apples and crackers.   Mmmmm...

[Rani Zemirah]

Oh, and pork tenderloin roasted in a bbq glaze...

[KiltedPrivateer]

Rani - sorry  to jump in and then run. Super  busy  preparing for a system test with my customer in a month.  I'm actually in the office now - slaving away.  It will be non stop for me until September.

Howdy Frasier and to everyone else - and now I'm gone again (o:

[KiltedPrivateer]

Just for the hell of it

It is 104 days, 23 hours, 41 minutes, 12 seconds
until Saturday, October 8, 2011 at 9:00:00 AM (Houston time)

[maeven]

My future is so bright that I'm hemmoraging AWESOME!

I like that saying! I might have to use that one day.

[Merlin the Elder]

Just for the hell of it

It is 104 days, 23 hours, 41 minutes, 12 seconds
until Saturday, October 8, 2011 at 9:00:00 AM (Houston time)

What happens then, KP? (** ducking**)

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

It seems so far away...

Before you know it, it's September and you don't have a damn thing ready.

I'm hoping that with all the crap i've "invested" in over the last three years, I'll be able to just worry about making enough Loki, buying food, tickets & beer.  Throw all the junk in a trailer and roll out...


*Yeah, i don't see that happening* 

[Rani Zemirah]

Well, I don't know about you, but I have things to sew, things to make and things to buy, still... AND Loki to brew.  I also need to search for a new tent this year.

I guess I need to get a countdown widget that has hours minutes and seconds on it, also...because KP's count sounds closer than mine!    

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

Oh, i still have junk to buy... i meant after this season.    I still have to get my new kilt/fly plaid... I'm picking up my new tent on my way home today... Season pass to be purchased this payday or next... then there's the last two batches of Loki, beer, food... generator rental... two new space heaters... lamps... batteries...candles... etc... etc...etc.  Oh crap... that's a lot of money still to go.     It's all good though... that's why I'm working 70 hrs a week...


 

[Rani Zemirah]

I've thought about using a space heater in our tent, but really, we do pretty well without them.  I just put a couple of those Hot Hands in the bedding about 20 minutes before bedtime, and it warms things up nicely... as long as it doesn't take too long to get ready for bed, anyway!    Of course, if anyone has to get up in the middle of the night, it's not very pleasant trying to find shoes and such, but the carpet does help with that.

Scally is pressing for her own little satellite tent this year, as well...  She wants a little independence, while still being right next door. 


(ahem)  Speaking of new tents... I'm still looking, and would really appreciate any advice or recommendations you might have!  There are a lot of them out there, and I've just pretty much resigned myself to spending far more than I'd prefer, but we want something that will be comfortable for extended camping trips.  In other words... BIG.    Which tent are you going to be getting, if you don't mind me asking... and what features made you choose it?  I'm trying to do my research with this one, and not just grab something off the shelf because it's time to go...      I NEED some input, please!!! 

[Rani Zemirah]

No pets... but we want something that is at least 14' x 10', or bigger, and big enough to stand in comfortably, preferably with 3 rooms.  But I want one of the straight wall tents.  I guess I'm looking at around $250-300... because I want something that will last for years, and something that will stand up to all sorts of weather, through spring/summer/fall, anyway.  I don't plan to be doing any deep winter camping in it. 

But I'm really looking for specific product recommendations that come with personal experience, and not just links to sporting goods sites, because I can look all that up, myself... and have been for a couple of weeks, now.  I want to know WHY someone chose their particular tent...

[Rapier Half-Wit]

I recommend the Columbia Cougar Flats II

http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-Cougar-15-Foot-10-Foot-Person/dp/B00170JZE4

It is a 15 foot by 10 foot, 8 person, 2 room tent. I know you've seen it Rani. I love this tent so much I bought a second one.

This tent normally sells in the $280 range. If you pay close attention to the sales, you can catch it for $200, which is what I did both times.

There is one completly undocumented feature of this tent; there are 2 very small ports in the front and back tent walls where you can bring in cables for power.

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

New faire digs acquired.  Good to go...

[Rani Zemirah]

I LOVE your tent/s, Rapier... and it's the one I really WANT!  I couldn't remember the brand, though...  

How is the set-up, though?  As Scally gets bigger she is able to help more, but generally I'm the one doing most of the work, so I need to be able to set it up in a decent amount of time, without half killing myself getting it done.  


The major problem with this tent, though, is that it's Currently Unavailable... and there is no indication of when it might become available again... at least from Amazon.com.  And I haven't been able to find it anywhere else, so far...  



Fraser... will you PLEASE tell me what kind of tent you bought?!?  And where...  (see, I'm even asking VERY nicely...)