Comments on: 3rd Annual WGOM Convention (Video & Photos)

By: Banjo

Banjo — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:53:18 +0000

I can't take much credit in terms of "having figured it out" -- I was more like logistical support for your brilliant plan. I like the breakfast plan - any excuse to eat breakfast and drink coffee outside. You know next year, even though I love the falls, we might be able to legitimately "tailgate."

By: cheaptoy

cheaptoy — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:46:45 +0000

See, now that sounds downright delicious. I think I've resigned myself to the fact that I will have to make my own if I want to have one.

By: hungry joe

hungry joe — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:46:24 +0000

if you think the freaks come out at the falls, go check out hidden beach. wow.

By: SBG

SBG — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:38:11 +0000

I hate to say that one convention is better than another, but I do believe (a) Banjo and I have this thing figured out now in terms of how much food to make -- last year way too much, (b) next year will be open to those who want to stop by for breakfast -- and I'll be working on making a worthwhile endeavor, and (c) Sparrow was something else.

By: davidwatts

davidwatts — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:33:43 +0000

By: AMR

AMR — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:30:16 +0000

I think you're confusing "Albino" with "Albanian." The Albanian spy was "Adil." I don't recall his codename, but "Sparrow" seems correct.

By: Algonad

Algonad — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:13:35 +0000

Wasn't Sparrow the code name for the Albanian (White all over with pink eyes?) spy kid that stayed with the Simpsons?

Was Sparrow a White Sox fan perhaps? He sounds way too polite to be a White Sox fan but maybe that was part of the act.

By: SBG

SBG — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:14:53 +0000

28.) He did this low pitch, gutteral Shaman-esque growl for us.

By: ubelmann

ubelmann — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 05:23:42 +0000

That's too bad about your nap. No good deed goes unpunished, I guess.

By: brianS

brianS — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:59:15 +0000

ahem. the correct term is "Girly-men".

By: SBG

SBG — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:00:39 +0000

I'll have to work on what I want to say. Something along the lines of Sacramento is for sissies or something.

By: Banjo

Banjo — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 03:36:30 +0000

It was fun..more footage next year. I uploaded a corrected "Sparrow" image for the site.

By: SBG

SBG — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 03:04:39 +0000

Thanks for the video, Banjo! That's pretty fun. I believe, though, that Sparrow was born in 1992.

By: UncleWalt

UncleWalt — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 01:03:56 +0000

We had a great time. Thanks to everyone who carried it off. And it was fun to meet Nation folks in person.

FWIW, we had a good time at the PGA too. It's a lot more fun to be there than it is to watch golf on TV. Of course, we only stayed for a couple hours, but we saw Tiger three times. The highlight may have using the same portable toilet Tiger used by the 11th tee. The lowlight was when the youngest made a beeline onto the course during Tiger's follow-through on his second shot from the bunker on 15. Apparently, the officials throw people out for going onto the course, but we left before they could track us down.

By: SBG

SBG — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:56:08 +0000

That's the guy.

By: UncleWalt

UncleWalt — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:55:54 +0000

Bizarre. We had a sitter that night and almost went to the Nook. Instead, we went with the Blue Door. The new Bacon Blucy has cheddar and bacon stuffed in the hamburger, with BBQ sauce and onion rings. It might be the new fav.

By: UncleWalt

UncleWalt — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:54:06 +0000

Seriously, how did I miss this guy? Is the picture of him reaching for my wife's banana chocolate chunk bars? Looks like he could use a couple.

By: cheaptoy

cheaptoy — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:21:49 +0000

And I thank you for the Pig's Ass and the Moose Drool.

By: cheaptoy

cheaptoy — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:44:07 +0000

For anyone who might care, we were unsuccessful in getting juicy lucy's after the game because the Nook was much too busy. We ended up eating at Chatterbox, which was to say, interesting. (I've never seen so many hipsters in one place before). But aside from the burnt out host, the food was pretty good. I had a tasty sloppy joe with a decent maibock to wash it down.

By: cheaptoy

cheaptoy — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:20:58 +0000

Fortunately, I did not take his dollar, so his beer was free. Of course, had I realized he was underage, I would have saved that beer for someone else.

You guys definitely missed the most amazing Sparrow moments, though.

27) Has craaaaazzzy conspiracy theories about various things, most notably homeless people and gas chambers in California.

By: brianS

brianS — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:47:55 +0000

Sammy Davis Jr.? ... Yes!!

By: E-6

E-6 — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:32:11 +0000

Keep your eye on ~~the~~ Sparrow.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zpj4mCzres

By: SBG

SBG — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:42:46 +0000

Next year, Top Jimmy wings!

By: SBG

SBG — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:42:03 +0000

18.) While he was correct that there was going to be a Woodstock tribute at the Park (which provided some nice background music), he was a little off on his prediction that hippies from all over the country were about to descend on the park.
19.) Actually, he drank his coffee with cream, but didn't want to take our cream.
20.) Borrowed my cellphone to call a bunch of people have them come to the concert. No one showed up. But, some guy called me this afternoon in the middle of my nap to inform me that I had called his number yesterday, wanting to know what I wanted.
21.) Laid out a blanket to watch the show a long ways from the music and in an area that made it really hard for him to see the musicians.
22.) Admitted that getting a job with facial tattoos was a tough thing to do.
23.) Was very polite and was thankful for a cup of coffee, a big old Banjo-sized pancake, and cup of water. Never once asked us for any money.
24.) Needs to put on about 10 pounds.
25.) Bought a homebrew from cheaptoy with what I think was his only dollar. I had to tell cheaptoy after the fact that I believe he is a minor. Not too sure about that 17 year old story, though.
26.) Allegedly had been all over the country.

By: brianS

brianS — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:11:12 +0000

By: Banjo

Banjo — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:06:53 +0000

Does bacon count?

By: brianS

brianS — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:03:46 +0000

and yet, no poultry On the Grill.

somehow, I'm dissatisfied.

By: ubelmann

ubelmann — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:53:27 +0000

He is truly a font of wisdom! I'm going out to get some wrist guards right now.

By: Banjo

Banjo — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:48:52 +0000

Fun facts about "Sparrow"

1.) Real name: "Curtiss" - but only his mom calls him that
2.) Age: 17 (or so he said)
3. ) Tats: at least two - feathers under his eyes.
4. ) Coffee - he likes his black
5.) His drum: broken at/near a McDonald's drive through
6.) His dad - an ex-Navy electrician who worked on nuclear submarines
7.) Dreds - he's working on them and he claimed that even guys with receding hairlines can have dreads and they "look pretty cool". He said I was at least 5 years off
8.) Drugs dealt: Marijuana, Mushrooms, LSD - but none of the hard stuff
9.) His grandpappy wrote songs for George Jones.
10.) Rollerblading wrist guards -- apparently both stop infections and protect you in the case of a fight
11.) Loves Rum wants to go the British Virgin Islands where you can get a case for, like $5 bucks
12.) Predicted a "Woodstock" reunion at Minnehaha Park, and was correct.
13.) Smokes - American Spirit, of course
14.) Was nearly molested on a truckstop in the midst of Hurricane Rita
15. ) The Lord helped him secure "Widespread Panic" tickets when he had no money.
16.) Shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die. No wait, that was someone else.
17.) Stopped a gang of three thugs from choking a women by McDonald's

To be continued...

By: spookymilk

spookymilk — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:44:26 +0000

I'm going to have to attempt to make every fourth convention, I guess.

By: ubelmann

ubelmann — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:39:54 +0000

I wish I could've made it, but I have made every even-numbered convention, so hopefully I'll be able to keep that up at least.

By: brianS

brianS — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:34:54 +0000

I dunno, but he had a certain sense of style.

By: ubelmann

ubelmann — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:31:27 +0000

I'm intrigued by this Sparrow fellow. What sort of enlightenment did he possess?

By: greenmachine

greenmachine — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:31:02 +0000

Fun to see everybody, and thanks again to SGB and Banjo for setting it up. AuntWalt for the chocolate bars I gorged myself on. cheaptoy for the homebrews.

It was a frustrating game, but we did see the wonders of a Delmon Young walk and a Mauer homerun, so I was satisfied.

By: Banjo

Banjo — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:27:14 +0000

That was TJ on fire.

By: brianS

brianS — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:09:36 +0000

Very good use of Reusse and, was that Top Jimmy?

By: Rhubarb_Runner

Rhubarb_Runner — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:54:46 +0000

Very "New Guy" in your prediction, Boss. Too bad about that.

By: FirstTimeLongTime

FirstTimeLongTime — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:17:37 +0000

What is sparrow doing to that hot dog?