I don’t have much hair to wash, you’ll need to find another excuse for me, Tony! 
I did, thanks so much! But next time, please refer to me according to my proper status. I accept “Her Supreme Majesty” and “Oh Magnanimous One”. However, since you are a friend, I suppose I could let you by with only calling me the Supreme O’Karina.
Note: Any resemblance in pronunciation to a particular instrument is purely coincidental. I reserve the right to reject any and all interpretations of my name according to any flight of fancy or whim.
Well I ran into Justine (and Micheal Eskin) at the plough on Tuesday night and she said that you guys were planning another getogether. I don’t know if I’ll be around for most of November because I might be in Ireland! but I’m pretty sure I’ll be in the area during the first weekend of November.
And btw Az, you never said replied to my email asking what the actual dates of the trip are… so if you could be so kind to drop me and email I’d appreciate it.
Any weekend in early November is fine with me. though of course, depending on one’s politickal leanings, the results of Nov 2 could have some influence on the spirit of the day - whether we play victory marches or keening laments…
Just a suggestion - why don’t we avoid politicizing the event? I know there are those of us on both sides of the issue in our group, and the last thing I want to do when I meet friends is to spend my time arguing over politics. 
If they’ll accept me as knuckle-dragging mouth-breathing right wing reactionary I’ll accept them as a mush-headed innumerate liberal extremist and we can all get on to what’s really important - playing music and comparing instruments. 
(And eating and drinking - how could I have forgotten that?)
alas, this just goes to show that one of the most limiting features of web dialogue is in its inability to subtly express scarcasm, irony and other attitudinal tones in cybertalk. I’m by no means advocating a politicized gathering, even though a good deal of Irish music has political origins…
Don’t forget to share those dates with the London contingent!
Sorry if I jumped the shark, then.
I figured there was a good chance you were joking, but given the rather . . . extreme . . . variance in political views among Bay Area chiffers I wanted to make certain we wouldn’t end demonstrating the pub-clearing ability of low whistles & flutes. 
Yeah, beware my newest:
Overton Low C
First weekend in November gets my vote.Other Weekender out-of-state so no eye-rollin’ about 30 whistles tootin’ at once. May even be still warm outside, hard to say.
I can’t remember anybody talking politics at either of the two parties at the Higgins’. Because I would have had to bite my tongue off (hey, I do have rules about these things) if they did.
Hmph! I’ll put my Village Smithy up against any of them lesser-metal jobs. With the far opening beveled a bit, it’s not only a fine bludgeon, but an effiicient plug-cutter, as well. Nothing takes an edge like steel–except maybe on o’ them crystal flutes, but you’d probably have to break that to get a really razor-sharp edge.
Darwin and NorCal - have either of you hefted my Serpent Low F - considerably heavier than an Overton Low D. Maybe not razor-sharp, but a fine, fine, bludgeon.
But I think a Susato SB playing 3rd-octave D is deadlier still
You know, a Burke narrow bore d or a Gen high g could put someone’s eye out. (Subtlety, me boys.) I saw a kung fu movie where an assasin shoved a chopstick up a guy’s nose to get him in the brain. (He was from a school that prided itself on leaving no marks on the victim.) If anyone has nunchuckas or throwing stars, bring them along and we’ll get good and drunk and try them out. 
Ok, I’ll shut up.
Tony
Reach, me boys, it is all in the reach. Can’t do no damage if you can’t get to the target! 
This is where all my years of knife and tomahawk throwing is gonna pay off. 
Mike, are you going to wear your coon-skin cap? (I’ll wear mine if you wear yours.)
Tony
That wasn’t a coonskin cap…I have a pony tail.
Are we going with a frontier theme or is it martial arts?
I want to know whether I should strap on my six-guns or my sword.
That wasn’t a coonskin cap…I have a pony tail.
I could have sworn it was striped.
Dana, it’s western frontier samurai motif. (Did you see The Red Sun with Toshiro Mifune and Charles Bronson?) Let’s do Everquest theme and everyone can pick anything they want, from warrior monk to elf to ninja troll. Hmm, I’m starting to get excited about this. I might wear a shirt with poofy sleeves and a leotard and be a minstrel. Can someone loan me a cod-piece, extra large?
Tony
I don’t have any guns at the moment, but I can bring my sword.
Will there be a joust? Who’s got horses?
Tony, are you sure you want to wear someone else’s cod-piece? Doesn’t sound altogether sanitary. What are they made of, anyhow?