Anybody want to see what I look like?

[5thGenDemocrat]

This is by way of sending out another invitation to all the DUers to come to our little party on June 19. Chip is down from Greenville and he brought his digital camera, so here is a photo of me from an hour ago (we're also in the middle of putting FUNDAY RADIO together).
Feel free to ask questions about the party. And, for those of you who are so inclined, we can still use all sorts of material for the radio playlist.
Chip says "hi." So do Polly and Andy the Right Wing Republican.
John

<>

This is, by the way, the first photo I've ever posted here (this is my 5729th post). How do you like it?
It is now 82 days, 13 hours and 51 minutes to FUNDAY X.

[CatWoman]

1. John

your'e a honey

:hi:

Wish I could make FunDay -- I just so damned broke ;(

[5thGenDemocrat]

3. Well, we still have time to organize a car pool

Davsand's coming up from her small Illinois town, 399 miles from here.
John
I know Atlanta's somewhat farther, but maybe I can talk my Fort Myers sister into coming and picking you up enroute. We're working on it -- I want EVERYBODY at FUNDAY. Especially you (and thanks for the compliment).
It is now 82 days, 13 hours and six minutes to FUNDAY.

[GOPisEvil]

2. You look like you should be driving a hot rod.

Love the shades - got a pair just like 'em.

[5thGenDemocrat]

4. No hot rod

But I do have a 29-foot, seven ton 1963 International Harvester bus/motor home here. Come on up to FUNDAY and I'll give you a tour of it.
John
Blah blah blah and four minutes to FUNDAY.

[GOPisEvil]

5. We'll see how the travel budget works out this summer.

There are so many places to go and so many DUers to see! :D

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. Grumpys should have room. Although it's a drive to Saginaw

from here. :hi:

[GOPisEvil]

10. That's very nice of you to offer!

It sounds like a lot of fun. I've never been to Michigan. We'll see. :-)

[5thGenDemocrat]

12. Here's where I sweeten the pot

As Davsand can tell you, if you're a long-distance attendee, we can even arrange overnight accomodations for you (nice ones, too -- no refrigerator boxes or anything). On Sunday morning, when you're, um, sober, we feed you coffee and Danish and send you on your way.*
John
It is now 82 days, 11 hours and 52 minutes to FUNDAY.

* - And if you're from Illinois, like Davsand, we'll put you up until Monday and drive you to the Ann Arbor AMTRAK station. Now, is THAT service or what?

[ScreamingMeemie]

28. ...Oh yeah...well. We have BEER at the Grumpys!!!

;)

and on edit: PassingFair, another DUer is a neighbor of mine. You get to meet two for one!!!

[5thGenDemocrat]

29. Do you have a replica Brett Favre jersey at your house?

I do -- and if you get up here, it's yours (actually, I suspect you probably already have several -- home and away). Packer stuff gives this native-born (like, three blocks from here) Michiganian a rash.
MSchreader is planning on driving his bus (a different bus than my bus) up from Detroit for the party. I've already asked him if he'd coordinate transportation from down there and he said he'd be glad to. His bus, the Red Special II, will carry, like, at least 20 passengers.
He lives over in the Grand River/Six Mile neighborhood which, I know, is clean across town from you, but it's another possibility for those who just as soon not drive or who'd rather travel in a pack of leftists. And I suspect splitting the gas as many ways as possible is a good idea.
Either way, I'm eagerly awaiting meeting you, Mr Grumpy and Passing Fair. There were, IIRC, eight DUers last year (including me), and I'd sure like at least a dozen this year.
John
It is now 81 days, 18 hours and 55 minutes to FUNDAY. See you then.

[ScreamingMeemie]

37. Several versions. heheheheh. Yes if the gas prices get up where they

are supposed to go car or bus pooling won't be a bad idea at all. He's a bit aways, but not too far. Can't wait. :hi:

[5thGenDemocrat]

44. Me neither

This is going to be great! My neighbor, Tom, can be a real prick at times (oh, he's okay -- it's more like we're just two completely different people), but he either packs up the family and gets out of town for the day or comes over and has a couple beers with all the yahoos.
We say about 24 words to each other the rest of the year. Usually, he just stands on his raised deck and glares over the fence at me (it makes him look just like Hitler at Nuremburg). I think my bus ("Social Embarrassment") really ticks him off. Or maybe I do. Or maybe both.
John
It is now 81 days, 13 hours and 39 minutes to FUNDAY. Somewhat less until Tom gets his formal invite.

[davsand]

6. YOU do look Maaaahvelous!

WE posted a host photo of you on here during one of the Fundays--I know we did-- but since you were not the "poster" I'll let you slide on the statement that you've never posted a photo on here before.

I was worring about you just last night--hadn't run across you for a while and figured you were on some extended debauch. Good to see you are free, up, and about!

This is a bitch to report, but Kevsand will be in Cleveland the weekend of FunDay 10 presenting on his software again. (Doesn't it figure?) He will be done by Sat Noon--and I'm working to see if I can get him a flight into Saginaw. Any suggestions?

Kiss everybody for me.

Laura

[5thGenDemocrat]

9. Well, I know there are direct connex from Cleveland to Saginaw

I'll look into it and send the info. No problem getting a car out to MBS to pick him up (it's only about 12 miles or so). All is well here, except we miss you guys.
John
Oh -- and Chip mentioned you were the one who posted the previous photo (at FUNDAY VIII). So my reputation as an honest broker remains intact.
Polly says hi -- and she's looking forward to seeing you guys.
It is now 82 days, 12 hours and 53 minutes to FUNDAY. I can't wait.

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. Well...that's an offer the Grumpys may not be able to refuse....

You look like you could be an extra on the Sopranos. I mean that in a complimentary way of course. ;) :hi:

[5thGenDemocrat]

11. Now, you KNOW I'm expecting you two to make it

No excuses will be accepted from my fellow Michiganian DUers. And, don't forget -- I'm buying the beer!!
John
Blah blah and 52 minutes to FUNDAY.

[TahitiNut]

30. Isn't it nice of John to have a party every year for my birthday??

Isn't that just speshul? :silly: (Heck, I might even show up once now that I'm in Mitchigun.)

[5thGenDemocrat]

31. Well, it's on your birthday this year

Some years, it's on my buddy Mike B's (and Polly's daughter's) birthday (June 17), but it's ALWAYS on a Saturday and it's ALWAYS either the first party of summer or the last party of spring.
I'm hoping for a big Detroit contingent this year and am certainly expecting you, Mr Nut.
Your fellow Detroiter, MSchreader, missed the very first one, but has made every one since (of course, I knew Marty more than ten years before we both wound up here (he discovered DU because of FUNDAY VIII). So the party has lots of positive aspects and only a couple of negative ones.
John
All of which you can discover for yourself 81 days, 17 hours and 34 minutes from now.

[TahitiNut]

32. "Mike B" huh? (That makes two of us.) ;-))

Actually it was two years ago that you had it right on my birthday (6-22), I think. If Laura and Mr. G are gonna be there, I might just have to show up to tell him how lucky he is. Then Marty can try to sign me up as a Socialist. (I get more anti-corporate every day. Capitalists will be the cause of capitalism's failure.)

[5thGenDemocrat]

33. Plus, it's an opportunity to run your political opinions

Past Andy the Right Wing Republican. And you should see the fur fly when he and Marty get together -- wowie! Just because someone likes all his friends doesn't mean all his friends like each other.
Last year, I walked into the living room and there were three DUers (Marty not among them) who had Andy cornered on the couch, giving him the business. To his credit, Andy was fighting them off mightily.
Anyhow, Mike B is a great guy and is one of only two people (besides me, of course) to have made every FUNDAY until now.
He's been one of my best friends for nearly 25 years now. He hates Dopey like he hated Ronnie Racist (a lot) and loves the Detroit Tigers. We go to at least five or six games together every year (six for him, seven for me last season -- but six together).
I hope you can get clear to make it this year -- we've discussed your attendance each year and your schedule, until now, has precluded your making it. And this IS the tenth anniversary party -- so we have a few new twists planned. Hope to see you here.
John
It is now 81 days, 15 hours and 39 minutes to FUNDAY.

[ScreamingMeemie]

47. Awww, that's really nice of you Mike. I didn't know your birthday was

in June! Mine is the 6th. It'll be a DU birthday bash too!!

:hug:

[5thGenDemocrat]

48. We can do that

Polly's daughter lives in Waterford and will be here, too. I'll put "cake" on the shopping list and we can all sing "Happy Birthday to You" off-key.
John
Beer. Cake. Tux. Check.
It is now 81 days, 13 hours and 18 minutes to FUNDAY. Someone kindly remember the candles.

[ScreamingMeemie]

49. K...so long as it's off key. I'll see if I can find my old prom dress.

I hear fuscha is back in. ;)

[5thGenDemocrat]

51. Fuschia never went out

At least not in Saginaw. But our number one landmark is a giant pink-neon jack rabbit, so what do we know?
John
It is now 81 days, 13 hours and eight minutes to FUNDAY. When you come up, we'll show you the Big Bunny -- it's only a few blocks from here.

[Madrone]

13. Hey! Where's your sidekick?

Phillip Michael Thomas?

:D

Just kidding - you look GREAT in that pic.

[5thGenDemocrat]

14. Sssshhhhhh

You don't want to give away ALL the FUNDAY surprises now, do you?
John
I'm confused -- your profile says you live in Washington state, but you have a Michigan avatar. If you do live in MI, do you think you can make the party? And, if you live in WS, do you think you can still make it anyhow? Did I mention I'm buying the beer?
Blah blah blah and 42 minutes to FUNDAY.

[Madrone]

15. I am a born & bred Michigander that's been in WA for 5ish years.

Born in Kalamazoo, and lived around the Kalamazoo area until moving to WA in the fall of '98.

I'd love to come - but unfortunately my vacation time all seems to get sucked up by family medical emergencies that have me flying home on a moments notice and spending my time in a hospital waiting room. Most recently, I spent the first three weeks of January in Kalamazoo because my stepfather had a massive heart attack NYE night and wasn't expected to live. He did - and I'm all outta vacation :)

I'll probably end up moving back someday - but definitely no plans for anytime in the near future. I miss it there - I think we grow people differently in MI, and I'm certainly not in my "niche" here in WA. I'm not homesick though, so that's a good thing :)

Hope you guys have fun on FUNDAY - I'm sure you will. The last few (or was it 2?) sounded like a blast!

[5thGenDemocrat]

19. Actually, this is the tenth FUNDAY coming up

But, of course, I've only been getting DU attendees for the past two.
I'm glad your stepfather is okay and we all miss you here in Michigan.
John
We'll be posting pictures and hoping you can find a way clear to attend -- if not this June, then certainly next.
It is now 82 days, nine hours and 40 minutes to FUNDAY.

[SarahB]

16. Lou Reed?

That's okay though, he's pretty cool! :)

[5thGenDemocrat]

20. Lou Reed IS cool

And being compared to him is way better than to French Stewart -- who Polly is always telling me I look like.
John
Blah blah and 36 minutes to FUNDAY. We hope you can make it.

[HEyHEY]

17. Dude, we have the same tailor

I have a Sportcoat just like that

[5thGenDemocrat]

21. Hey, HEyHEY, I'm a former sportswriter

It's in our contracts that we have to have lots of plaid, polyester sports jackets. Best one I ever saw was the one the sports editor at the Bay City Times had -- salmon pink with brass buttons. God, it was gorgeous.
John
That's how I met Chip (above) -- covering the late, unlamented Saginaw Lumber Kings hockey club for our respective outlets. He has a few loud jackets his own self.
Blah blah and 32 minutes to FUNDAY. Hope to meet you.

[Paragon]

18. Mr. Green Jeans?

;-)

[5thGenDemocrat]

22. Now, Mr Bunny Rabbit

You better leave those carrots alone. Let's talk beer and sports jackets, instead.
John
Blah blah and 30 minutes.

[flamingyouth]

23. What a great photo!

It's very '80s throwback, and I mean that in the highest possible way. It must be partly the cassette tapes in the background that really complete the scene. :D

[5thGenDemocrat]

24. You're the first person to comment on the tapes

I've been collecting them since, well, the mid-80s. I give friends blank tapes and ask them to cut me 90 minutes of THEIR favorite music. There's also a lot of cut-out bin stuff and inherited tapes from folks who think tapes are declasse', but here I am at 47 and I can tell King Missile from the Circle Jerks from PJ and the Terrorists.
I mention my upstairs library here occasionally. That's the music section -- one of two walls of tapes, along with 400 or 500 albums and Lord-only-knows how many CDs. I've even got about 150 Grateful Dead bootlegs, in case there are any tape-swappers here.
The photo is going to be on the FUNDAY website, which we'll unveil at about T-minus 50 days to go.
Thank you for the nice words. See what you can do about making the party -- we'll be arranging car pools where we can.
John
It is now 82 days, eight hours and 21 minutes to FUNDAY.

[5thGenDemocrat]

25. Just giving a bit of a bump...

Hi folks....Polly here. Just giving the "cool John" pic a bump.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

34. Hey Polly! That's one bad ass mutha you married in the pic!

:thumbsup:

[5thGenDemocrat]

36. Oh, Polly and I aren't married

We are, as the French would say "Marie a la de Bretagne."
"Married in the style of Brittany." Shacked up and happily so.
Thanks for the kind word. Hope to see you at FUNDAY.
John
Blah blah 14 hours and 15 minutes from now.

[Aristus]

26. Hey, 5thGen,

you're one cool lookin' dude! B-)

[5thGenDemocrat]

27. Why, thank you

Like I've said around here before, I've still got all my hair and most of my teeth. It's hard for me to believe I'm going to be 50 in less than a thousand days. I don't mind -- everybody's born into a spot on the cosmic timeline string thingy, and one's piece of the string is only going to be so long.
But, I don't FEEL 47. I could believe I was 27 if I didn't have that damned birth certificate lying around somewhere (like everything else, I'd have to dig for it). My dad used to say the same thing -- that he felt the same as he did at 20 -- so what was THAT face doing staring back at him in the mirror every morning?
Anyhow, that all sounds more philosophical than I meant it to. Thanks again.
John
And it is now 81 days, 19 hours and 19 minutes to FUNDAY. Make it if you possibly can.

[Kat45]

35. Emanating a very cool vibe from that photo...

a bit of Lou Reed, a touch of Kevin Bacon--but much better looking.

You're right: you don't look 47--just as I don't look 49. :-)

[5thGenDemocrat]

39. Thank you -- Polly always says I "clean up well"

I'm half-thinking about busting out a tux (after 6 pm, of course) at FUNDAY this year. Normally, I wouldn't be caught dead in one of those things -- but it IS the tenth anniversary soiree, and I have to do something completely different.
The drawback to that is that the newcomers will probably think I'm a waiter and have me dashing off to the keg all night for drinks. I try to be a good host but there is a line I won't cross.
Hope to see all you DUers here. I'll keep you posted on the tux.
John
Blah blah 14 hours and five minutes to FUNDAY. The keg'll be right over there in the side yard and it's self-serve.

[DemoTex]

38. Totally (TOTALLY!) dispels my minds-eye image of you.

But what is the use of a pre-conceived minds-eye image? Dressed to kill, my man! Love the Wayfarers, too. Is that a DVD library behind you?

[5thGenDemocrat]

41. Nope, those are cassette tapes of every band everywhere ever

Now, I'm curious -- what was your pre-conceived minds-eye image of me and did it have anything to do with my having been a Signal Corps REMF?
Thank you for the compliment -- it's just a little something I threw together.
John
Keep 'em flying, Tex! Hope to meet you someday.
Especially someday 81 days, 13 hours and 57 minutes from now.

[SmileyBoy]

40. Richard Belzer??? Is that you???

Are you the Belz???

[5thGenDemocrat]

42. No, but I DO channel the Belz when people point cameras at me

I'll give him a call and see if he can make it to the party. If he says "yes," though, you have to come too -- or we're coming to North Dakota and hunting you down (and how often have you had a chance to meet Richard Belzer? Yeah, me neither).
John
My buddy, Mike B's (above) dad was from North Dakota. I was in the Army with a gal named Rita Sapa who was also from ND -- but that's about my entire experience with the Peace Garden State. Hope you're taking good care of it.
Blah blah 13 hours and 46 minutes to FUNDAY.

[MrSlayer]

43. Do you sell used cars or operate a peep show?

:P

[5thGenDemocrat]

45. Yes

But you have to guess which one.
John
81/13/34 and counting. Hope to see you here -- bring cash.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

46. YOU HAVE WAYFARERS ON!!!!

ahhhh!

the cigarette is eh, but cool picture :)

[5thGenDemocrat]

50. Thank you

Wayfarers are the preferred sunglasses of middle-aged urban hipsters everywhere. Even at night and even upstairs in a library.
John
81d/13h/11m to FUNDAY. Hope you can make it.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

52. I'm waiting for you to jump out at me, and like Tom Cruise said in

"Risky Business" go:

"Sometimes you gotta say, what the fuck!"

LOL!

[5thGenDemocrat]

53. "Looks like it's The University of Illinois for me!!"

Or, in my own case, Central Michigan University. Fire Up, Chips!!
Maybe I should put Rebecca deMornay on the invite list. Couldn't hurt.
John
Hope you can make it to the party -- 81 days, 12 hours and 35 minutes from now.