To fill in the long gap between the Fall and Spring gatherings Tony Higgins hosts, and shorten the drive for those of us in the southern reaches of the San Francisco bay area, the Bay Area Winter Chiff & Fipple get-together will be Saturday, March March 19, 2005
We’ve got a reasonably large amount of space to spread out, and (if warm and dry) a decent sized patio we can use. Bring something for the pot luck if you can, don’t sweat it if you can’t - we’d like your company. I’ll set up the BBQ for those who want to grill something. And if it’s a clear night I’ll set up one of my telescopes on the patio for the folks who want to take a look.
Judging by the response I’ve been getting offline, it looks like we’ll have a good turnout. But the more the merrier - please come if you can. I’m looking forward to meeting old friends and making ones.
Bring your whistles and other instruments - I promise to drop out once the musical level gets above my head
We’re down in San Jose’s Almaden Valley, a couple of miles south of Highway 85 - email me for directions: d_crom AT yahoo DOT com
I think the best dates for me would be February 5 or March 5. As you know, my daughter’s birthday party is on Feb. 19, so we couldn’t make it then, and I think my parents are planning on visiting in late March, though those dates haven’t been nailed down yet (on the upside, if I know soon what the gathering date is to be, I might be able to tell them “we’re busy on X weekend…can you come weekend Y?”).
Ted, looks like I got the dates wrong - I thought I saw the earlier weekend when I checked their website. Just checked again, and you’re right. I’ve changed the dates above.
My weekends tend to be pretty busy, but I’d like to come if I can get away. The weekends in March will probably work best for me, but please don’t try to schedule it around me. I’ll keep an eye on this thread to see what you decide.
I think that the 12th of February is out for me (again with the yarn convention) and the 19th (parade in SF) has already been ruled out, which was my only other conflict.
I wouldn’t expect you to schedule around me, though, but if this works out, I’d really like to make it!
Audrey’s and Ted’s dates work for me, Sf Tionol on the weekend of the 18th is my only conflict. Where abouts in San Jose will the gethering take place Dana?
I’ve scheduled around the Tionol, so that shouldn’t be a problem.
We’re in Almaden Valley, about half a mile from the intersection of Camden and the Almaden Expressway. For non San Jose folks, that’s a couple of miles south (and a touch west) of the intersection of Highway 85 and Highway 87.
Drop me a line by email and I’ll give address, phone #, and detailed directions.
Other than the 19th, which is already ruled out anyway, my only conflicts are “soft conflicts”…in other words, they’re kind of dependent on what my parents decide to do, and I may not know that for a while. I will call them tonight and see if they’ve decided when they plan to travel here…if they don’t know yet, just pick a date without worrying about me, and I’ll just flat tell them “I have a conflict that weekend.” I think they’re still flexible, so if I know enough in advance, I can kind of schedule them around the gathering.
Things are looking pretty good from my end. While my parents don’t have their entire itinerary finalized, they’re hoping to be at my sister’s place in Oregon on her birthday (March 18)…then they’re going to Reno and to my relatives in Merced before coming here, so it looks like most of the dates would work for me and mine. And again, if I have a date in hand, there’s still time to tell them “don’t aim to be here on this date if you can help it…unless you really want to go hang out with a bunch of musicians in San Jose!” (knowing my dad, he might actually get into that, but I’m not sure mom would agree!)
It looks like the dates with the lowest indicated conflict levels would be March 19 or April 2, since Redwolf says she may be able to schedule around them. But I suspect any date we choose will have potential conflicts. Folks, if you think you’d like to attend, please let me know what dates work best for you, either on this thread or by email. I’ll choose the date once I’ve heard from everybody who has a scheduling conflict (ie, I haven’t got any more input for 2-3 days).
Also, I’m curious about what instruments we’ll see. Besides my whistles, we’ve got a piano set up in our family room, so anyone with keyboard skills can have a go. Who’s bringing what?
Ah, if you postpone it long enough, I’ll visit myself upon my daughter (ancatsidhe) and attend too.
Seriously, I’m presently researching hostel options for a springtime visit since the kid’s in a kind of group house with no extra space. Any suggestions?
Please reply via PM or e-mail to avoid derailing the thread.
That would be very nice, especially if she’s willing to give us a tune or two on the pipes. The family knows the sound of pipes from my CDs, but I think my wife’s mental image of “bagpipes” involves the Black Watch on parade.
I love you Dana and I will be at your session! This is much better than the reaction I got at a session last summer. As soon as I started playing the pipes there, one muscian got up and walked out, and another one said, “Ummm…could you play whistle instead?”
Blackhawk is right; I wouldn’t miss it.
Justine
P.S. Any day is fine with me (except of course the tionol).
Hmm, I really don’t know as things are so crazy with me right now. I returned from Canada to find that I need to find a new place to stay by next month or I need to find 2 new roomates cause my friends are poor and cannot make rent anymore. Plus on top of that my own personal wealth is running short so I need to get myself a job. But enough of that sad stuff.
I think most of the weekends in Feb are not good for me and the first weekend in March is a out because of Friday Harbor but outside of that the rest of March looks good. Don’t go out of your way to schedule this around me though. Sounds like fun and I’ll keep an eye on this thread to see what date you guys pick.
It seems to be looking like the later March date works for the most people, so we’ll hope you can make it there.
Good luck with your financial situation - unfortunately, “starving student” is often all too true. They say adversity builds character, but wouldn’t it be nice to have a chance to at least try being spoiled?
I hope that your own whistle and flute are enough to lure you over, though. I don’t have an accordion to offer as extra bait.
Hehe, well I’ve yet to be a starving student. I had a huge surplus from my last job cause I worked all the time and never had time off to spend my money so I’ve been living the good life the last six months. But what was once 7grand is now only 1500 So yes I was spoiling myself with ONLY going to school and playing soccer last semester. Now it’s back to school, work and sports.
So yes I was spoiling myself with ONLY going to school and playing soccer last semester. Now it’s back to school, work and sports.