GJ said about 2 hours later

Thanks, Kristen, since Luddites like me don't use Facebook and wouldn't keep up that way. Anybody with info, post in the comments and Marc or I will add it to the top of this post.

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Marc said about 2 hours later

Thanks for the offer Kristen. I'm thinking we might fly, but haven't decided just yet.

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Steve said about 5 hours later

I'll be driving over Saturday from Michigan. Eric, if you're not bringing the whole family, you and Gina are welcome to ride along.

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Kristen said about 11 hours later

Talked to Dad last night, and it looks like the wake will be from about 2-5 on Sunday and the funeral at 10 on Monday. He apparently is going to do the eulogy, and he is the executor of the will, so he has a LOT on his plate right now.

Marc, if you decide to drive, we could always ride up together. If you decide to fly (or anyone else) we can pick you up from the airport.

Dad said that the Residence Inn in Parsipony (sp?) is likely where people may stay....I haven't looked into it too much yet.

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GJ said about 14 hours later

Here's the hotel's web site: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ewrpy-residence-inn-parsippany/

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GJ said about 14 hours later

I'm in for one night (Sunday) there. $270 for a 2 bedroom suite, no AAA discount allowed. If you can swing the one bedroom suite, that's $200 (or $170 with AAA). We should arrive close to noon Sunday, and we'll head back Monday afternoon.

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Kristen said about 15 hours later

I may stay Sat, sun, and mon and drive back Tues...

wonder if any of us should bunk together in the 2 bed suites...

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Marc said about 15 hours later

Kristen: Laura and I may have the same travel days, so it might be best if we come up and drive up with you guys. I was just looking at getting one of the $99 rooms, am I missing something?

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GJ said about 17 hours later

You don't have kids. :) A room probably does run $100. I'm getting a 2-bedroom suite, since I have a few and they're getting pretty freakin' big.

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GJ said about 17 hours later

The 2 bedroom suites can sleep six, btw...in the end, if you can get a $100 room sleeping two, you're only saving a few bucks with the suite.

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Marc said about 17 hours later

Ok, just wanted to confirm we didn't have some rooms reserved or something. Thanks for clarifying. :)

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Eric said about 17 hours later

Steve,

We may be bringing Aunt Rena since Uncle Bruce is already there. Gina is in discussions. We're bringing the whole crew, but thanks for the offer.

I think we'll be coming in Saturday and leaving on Tuesday, but we have not firmed that up.

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Kristen said about 18 hours later

Marc--that sounds like a great plan. You are welcome to come up Friday night and stay or come up Sat morning, whatever works for you. I saw the $99 rooms too on travelocity. That's a pretty good deal.

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Geoff said about 20 hours later

Hey Guys, please don't send flowers. Dad is taking care of flowers from all of us in NJ. Mom wanted me to tell you. Also, the hotel DOES allow pets, so our dogs are coming. Marc and Laura, just an FYI (and GJ too) if you guys want to bring your dogs, you can. There is a non-refundable $100 fee (not per night, one-time) to have your pet stay with you. Not a bad deal if you ask me.

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GJ said about 20 hours later

Arrivals now look like this:

Sat: Eric, Kristen, Steve, Geoff, Marc
Sun: GJ

See you all this weekend. Safe travels!

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Steve said 1 day later

Anyone need a place to stay? I am getting a one bedroom two room suite for free using my Marriot Rewards points.

Marc said about 3 hours later

The Christmas Lister is up and running and the old data has been cleared out: http://christmas.marcbaumbach.com

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Eric said 9 days later

Okay Marc. Since the list is up, I guess I need to ask you to forward all the usernames and passwords to me for Gina and the kids. I know mine but I have no idea what anyone elses are. I think this happens every year, doesn't it?

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GJ said 9 days later

Prepare for a lot of spam, Eric. Robots hit this site all the time, and your email most certainly got harvested. Hope that one's your honey pot!

Marc can't give you the passwords, he can only reset them. They're invisible to him, stored as a one-way hash in the database. At least...they should be, right Marc? :)

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Marc said 9 days later

That's correct GJ, I'll e-mail the usernames Eric and reset the passwords to be "password". I'd recommend changing them. And you're right, it happens every year, I think I even told GJ that over Thanksgiving. :)

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GJ said 9 days later

You would be correct on that count!

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GJ said 12 days later

and today I managed to forgot both my username and password again. I really enjoy getting senile.

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Marc said 12 days later

An easy way to resolve the issue would be to use e-mail as the username and then I could setup a way to reset your own password, however the reason I didn't do that in the beginning is because I figured the little kids wouldn't have e-mail addresses. But perhaps I don't need to have it enforce a unique e-mail address per user.

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GJ said 13 days later

or in my case, a brain implant.

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Geoff said 13 days later

implant...I not only remembered my username/pass, but Michelle's and Ashlyn's. Booyeah!

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GJ said 13 days later

You're still young, pretty boy.

GJ said less than a minute later

NHL06 for the Gamecube, not the genesis. Duh.

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Marc said about 2 hours later

I was gonna say, NHLPA96 might be more like it. :)

If the kids like Dominion/Killer Bunnies then those two are probably fine. I'm definitely game for some NHL06, that's always fun to beat you guys up in.

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GJ said about 3 hours later

hehe...you and geoff leave me often yelling...."Kaaaaahn!" after you guys finish pummeling the crap out of me in that game.

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GJ said about 3 hours later

And actually, 1993 was the only version of the NHLPA game. Beginning in 1994, it went to just NHL94.

And frankly, the 1993 game is still the best game in the universe.

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Marc said about 5 hours later

I need it was early or mid nineties and the NHLPA was the best.

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Kristen said about 19 hours later

Don't forget to call mom, it's her birthday today!

I won't be home for turkey day--I'll be driving Drew home from the hospital after hip replacement numero uno. I have to give him shots as part of the recovery plan...hehe...I guess I'll bring up everything I want for christmas then.

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GJ said about 20 hours later

good luck with the hip replacement!!

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Geoff said 2 days later

I'm back from driving all over US and Canada...ugh. Sorry I missed out. Ticket to Ride, definitely. I'm game for anything else!

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Steve said 5 days later

I've now played Dominion 4 times, and it is indeed fun. I don't really like the beauracrat card. Have yet to play with any of the other attack cards, but have heard from a friend of a game he played where the winner was the one with the least negative victory points! Sorry we'll miss it at Thanksgiving, but would love to play it at Christmas.

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GJ said 5 days later

The Bureaucrat card has its place--it's a great money making card in games that lack card like the Mine and such. I think the most fun in the game is finding out how to make the set of cards in the current game work for you, and work against the others!

GJ said about 8 hours later

Awww, she's cute! We should have a dog get-together at Mom & Dads and trash the place! LOL

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Marc said about 11 hours later

I forgot to mention she's a Cockapoo in case anyone is interested, not a cockatoo like Mom originally thought I said on the phone. :)

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GJ said about 14 hours later

So she's a poodle mixed with a cockatoo? :)

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Marc said about 14 hours later

Yea, can't you see the mohawk? Except it's a little off center.

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GJ said about 15 hours later

The crest, you mean? I'm a bird dude who happens to have a dog.

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Steve said about 21 hours later

I think It's a cockadoodle. As for trashing Mom's and Dad's, we can bring Sam and Smokey too, though Smokey might eat Abby, Lyla, and Rascal......

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Steve said about 21 hours later

Probably best we leave them home.....

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GJ said about 24 hours later

Sam and Smokey would have fun with Lexie--the three of them could wrestle! Gosh knows I'm getting tired of waiting for her to grow up. :)

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GJ said about 24 hours later

But then again, they'd probably throw us out of Radisson.

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Marc said 1 day later

Lyla kind of looks like a cockadoodle, as she almost has a golden retriever face, but I guess that's what you get when you mix a cocker spaniel and poodle. I've seen quite a range of looks on them, but it mostly has to do with if they're a first generation or 2nd generation. Ours is first gen (meaning cocker spaniel and poodle), some people go a bit more of a dangerous, in terms of health for the dog, route and get a 2nd generation which is a cockapoo and cockapoo. They tend to look less curly and even more like a golden retriever...at least as a puppy.

Also, if I brought Lyla, the only way she could stand a chance playing with the other dogs is if I give her pupperoni. She goes absolutely bonkers for that stuff.

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GJ said 1 day later

pupperoni is dog crack. just sayin'

GJ said about 2 hours later

I like the idea, except for this. What happens to the blog when I get bored with it? Who is the predominant poster on the blog?

Some content stats (approximates):

GJ 62.7%
Steve 11.0%
Geoff 8.5%
Kristen 7.6%
Marc 7.6%
Darcy, Eric and Abby combined 2.5%

I'm not bringing this up to gloat. I'm bringing this up because more than once in the past year I've thought that this blog has outlived its novelty. Don't get me wrong, I like it a lot and you and Geoff did a bang up job migrating this out of Google, and you've continued to add new features to it. However, our total posts have been dropping like a rock, too:

2005: 307
2006: 362
2007: 283
2008: 191

For 2009 so far, we're off 2008's numbers by another 25%.

So--I think we need our audience to tell us--do they really like the blog? Do they use it daily? Would they miss it if it went away?

Will more people contribute? Will existing contributors add more content?

What kind of things would you like to see in the blog? What kind of things DON'T you want to see?

Sorry to be a downer--but the numbers have been bugging me for a while. I would love to expand the blog as you discuss above--I'm just afraid it'd be a lot of work for something that just won't get used.

---

Geoff said about 3 hours later

Even our Blog is in a recession! Marc's suggestion might just be the stimulus plan we need to grow this sucker. With GJ doing most of the posts, of course our stats are down! (Who wants to listen to him gripe anyway?)

jk GJ. Please don't hurt me.

I think this is a great idea myself. We need an easy ability to upload pictures too. I think that would attract at least some interaction for family photos and such (always good topic starters).

Just my 2 cents. I think I'll post something right now to bring my numbers up!

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GJ said about 3 hours later

I've been posting at times when traffic on the blog is pathetically low just to keep the lights on. Most are ripped right off of Fark or other aggregators, so for some of you (Marc, Darcy) they probably aren't even new. Still, content and frequency drive traffic, as does variety. And you're right--if it's 100% me, the numbers will go down! I'm a geek, for crying out loud. :)

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Marc said about 6 hours later

You bring up a good point GJ, and based on what I see through the admin system, it's fairly obvious the people who check this blog often (The nerds...and by often, I mean like every 30-60 minutes). I'm interested as well in knowing how people check this blog, whether it's just a casual I check it every day at this time, or I check it when I come across it in my bookmarks, or whenever I remember. For me, I've got an RSS reader pinging this sucker every 5 minutes, so I don't miss a post (Unless I'm out and about, but even then, my phone tells me a new post has come in). If people are interested, I could write a post on using RSS feeds, but I suspect many others (The non-nerds) aren't too interested in this.

My suggestion for the private posts may help influence who posts and what they post. I don't know how aware everyone is that all these posts and comments are available for the world to see. If you are...are you afraid to make certain topics public? If so, that feature would solve it.

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Marc said about 6 hours later

Also, uploading of photos would be a definite, I've just put off that feature out of laziness and because many of you seem to find ways to link them offsite anyway, but that would definitely be added as part of this.

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Geoff said about 9 hours later

I check quite frequently myself. Usually at least 4 or 5x a day. You can count on me to at least read your posts...and comment when necessary.

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GJ said about 9 hours later

yeah, but again, this was supposed to be a family blog. if it's to be a geek blog (just we geeks), I have a whole host of different features I'd want. :)

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Kristen said about 22 hours later

I have to admit, I really only have time to comment or ask the occasional question...:( But I really like the idea of a family blog!

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Darcy said 1 day later

I like the idea of expanding it to the extended family. It would give everyone a way easily keep in touch--upcoming weddings, new babies, etc.
I don't post or comment much, then again I generally don't have much of interest to say. Besides I really enjoy watching the arguments from the sidelines :)

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GJ said 1 day later

Now you see why see married me! I'm an entertaining debater! Plus it means I'm not "debating" with her.

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Steve said 2 days later

I think it would be a good idea to open a blog for the extended family, as long as we keep a separate blog for the immediate family. I'm fine with sharing some serious debates with you guys here, but don't necessarily want it to be very easy for others to view those discussions (I know, this is public, but how many people outside of us actually know about it an visit it?)

I'd say keep the extended family blog centered around jokes and notes about what's going on in who's life. That kind of stuff. If other discussions erupt, that's ok, but don't expect me to comment on them in front of the entire extended family.

---

Steve said 2 days later

Oh, and I try to get to this site once a day, but I don't have 'net access at work, so it only happens when I'm home. And know that I have Parsla, I don't tend to spend near as much time on the computer as I used to. Something about having a life....

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GJ said 2 days later

Steve--you probably don't want to look at the site hits log. We get our fair share of non-family hits thanks to all the hot-button topics we cover.

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Geoff said 2 days later

wow...I can't believe people would actually read our stuff. Wonder what the average visit time of those users are....?

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GJ said 2 days later

Ok, here's some stats to digest:

For the first 3 months of the years, 95% of the hits on the site are direct bookmark links--that's most likely us. The other 5% comes from the various search engines on the web (google, win live, etc.). Top search terms bringing people here:

kurt cameron

Here's the post that seems to draw the most outside visitors.

Not sure if we're getting the atheist crowd, the psycho Christian crowd, or the grown up teenybopper crowd. :)

---

Steve said 4 days later

Well, Parsla does surf on over here from time to time for the past few months, especially when I point her to something funny posted.

What else is there?  Comment away!

Geoff said 37 minutes later

I'm not even going to respond to that truce comment. I'll take it out on you in Ticket to Ride.

Second, Michelle is DYING to see Twilight, so she is definitely IN (and I'm definitely OUT :)

Cookies, do I hear cookies? Yes, cookies would be most excellent.

---

Steve said about 1 hour later

I'll have Stocks and Bonds too, if anyone wants to try to play that game just for old time's sake.

GJ, do you still have a list of all the winners of the Cup? I found a place that will engrave it for us.

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GJ said about 2 hours later

I'll have to google it....heck, if marc's blog search worked...I think I posted it to the site once upon a time.

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Marc said about 3 hours later

I'm arriving this Saturday and leaving early next Sunday. Since our product shipped at IBM, we got the week off, boo yea!

Yes to cookies, I'm glad Laura knows nothing about Twilight and any board games work for me. Also, I don't know this Neal Peart you speak of. I know only of Neil Peart. You'll get to hear plenty of him as I have so much Rush on Rock Band.

GJ: The blog search should work great. Is it not working for you?

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Marc said about 3 hours later

BTW, Blog search found this for me: http://www.dragoniv.com/baumblog/2005/9/6/calling-all-memory-cells

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GJ said about 10 hours later

Yeah, there is one problem. Try getting to page 2 or later of any search. :)

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GJ said about 10 hours later

OK, unless anyone has any changes, here's the list of hockey winners. Guess what--I don't think we need to list runner ups or regular season winners...they don't do that on the Stanley Cup, do they? Nah, I didn't think so.

2007 Darcy (Neanderthals)
2006 Steve (forget what team name Steve used)
2005 GJ (Glenville Dragons)
2004 no season
2003 GJ (Dragons)
2002 Marc (Subzero)
2001 Geoff (RIT Headhunters)
2000 Darcy (Neanderthals)
1999 GJ (Dragons)

---

Geoff said about 18 hours later

Oh yeah, I should be coming in later Wednesday evening. Marc, let me know when you want to Jam to the best rock band of all time, Rush.

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GJ said about 21 hours later

I'll be kicking Marc's ass in Wii Tennis by then, so I'm sure he'll be glad to join you.

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Geoff said about 22 hours later

Yeah, after which I will return home and beat both ya'll

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Kristen said 1 day later

I'll be home on Wednesday at some point, maybe by dinner. I'll be bringing Drew, sans crutches, which will be nice! We're going to stay at the microtel wed through friday, and head back into town saturday. I closed on my house last night so I'll be moving in on Sunday all day. Fun fun! Ahhh!
That being said, there will be zero cookies coming from me this year, unless I have time to make some at Mom's...although I already packed my recipie box...er.
I'm up for any games, although I don't know about this twilight movie...

---

Kristen said 1 day later

Oh and ps. please no one get Drew talking about GM. I think Dad will end up saying no (or go to hell) when he asks to marry his daughter!!!

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Geoff said 1 day later

wait, WHEN he asks? I wasn't made aware of any engagements...

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GJ said 1 day later

Wait, it sounds like another topic Drew and I would agree on! There aren't all that many others!!! LOL!

As for Twilight...think of it as "Teenagers in Love....with fangs." Abby is hopping to see that one asap, and if I can find some relatives (poor suckers) that want to see it, they can all go together while I remember why I don't like Guitar Hero et.al.

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Kristen said 5 days later

It better be a "when"!

So I found this great game called Smart Ass. I thought it would fit our family perfect and it looks like fun! Tell me no one has found this gem yet...

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GJ said 5 days later

Nope, don't have it. Sounds like a loud game. Should be perfect!

Kristen said 17 minutes later

Thought I'd give you an update on the latest news. So far I have ordered the champagne flutes, the Flex pack, and a photo album from things remembered. The photo album I purchased on a whim--the color of the front is "wine", which I thought was appropriate for the "Ruby" anniversary! I had it engraved with the purpose being that the album will include pictures from our weekend celebration. Hope that's ok, I can't wait to get it and see how it turns out! I am going to include the lyrics to "You're still the one" by Shania Twain, because mom and dad had mentioned a while back that that's their 'new' wedding song. We won't mention that things haven't worked out too well for Shania lately!

I also made a reservation at the Ocean Grill Restaurant's private party 3rd floor (has a great view!). Here's the deal--I asked for Sunday night, but they have an unconfirmed party. So for now it is scheduled for Monday night, but we'll take Sunday if the other group falls through. There is no extra charge for eating up there, and we can just order off the menu w/o restrictions. Obviously we should plan to pay for Mom and Dad. www.oceangrillrestaurant.com
The guy is going to send me a list of their champagnes so we can select one for the toast. I'm not sure how many bottles to reserve, maybe 2? I've put out some inquiries on cakes, so that is in the works. If we do cake at the reception, there is a $3 per person cake cutting fee. I guess they have to get you somewhere, right?! But it would be really nice to do the toast and cake right there in the private room, so I say we go for it.

I'm putting all the expenses on a credit card that had a zero balance so we can easily split everything up that weekend. We can also put mom and dad's meal on it. So far, including an estimate of mom and dad's meal and the cake fee along with the gifts, our total is $91.50 per person (split 6 ways). I'll update you later on what it will be with the cake.

Gee, couldn't mom and dad have had just a few more kids? Think how cheap this would be split 10 ways! KIDDING!

---

Kristen said 20 minutes later

Oh, and one more thing. Any volunteers for actually making a toast? Hum, perhaps this should fall on the eldest child! Muhawhaha!

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GJ said about 6 hours later

Oh you are quite evil. Can I double my donation and get out of it? Or maybe...I'll do one, and invite each of my wonderful siblings to speak their best wishes as well. Muwhahahahahahahaha!

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GJ said about 6 hours later

Also, make it 3 bottles to be safe. I'll drink the remainder if I have to.

And THANK YOU for taking care of this. You rock!!! Let me know how you want me to get the money to you.

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GJ said about 22 hours later

OK, don't all volunteer to do the toast at once. :)

I'll take care of it.

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GJ said about 22 hours later

Not sure yet how I'm going to approach it, but if you each have a memory or event relating to Mom & Dad that you'd like me to consider adding to the toast, email it to me. You know, firstname.lastname at experian.com. If I get enough of them, that could easily form the core of the toast.

Also, if one or more of you really want to speak, we can arrange it, but I want to keep this short (under five minutes total, tops).

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GJ said 1 day later

The toast has been written, tested, and performed...comes in at 90-120 seconds, so it's just about right in length. I decided against a memories style one, since this should be about Mom & Dad, not us. :)

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Kristen said 2 days later

Wow, I am impressed!! Whatever happened to the signature 'wait till the last minute' baumbach trait?

I should have more cake details on Monday....

---

GJ said 2 days later

I got inspiration and decided to act on it. I think Mom and Dad will like it, so I'm going to be sure to bring a copy printed up nicely to keep. So...how do you want the moola?

---

Kristen said 2 days later

I figure that I will collect it when we get down there. What would work really well is to have you guys write a check made out to my credit card! I'll keep updating you guys on what the final total is.

---

Geoff said 2 days later

Thanks for stepping up to the plate Kristen and GJ. I've been busy as can be and haven't had much time to contribute to the blog (or anything for that matter) lately.

Unfortunately I don't believe we will be attending the festivities this year. Just let me know what I owe when the time comes and I can write a check or PayPal it to you. Thanks!

---

Kristen said 2 days later

Bummer, I had just talked with mom the other day and she thought you guys were coming! :( I'm sure you will be busy though...for about the next 18 years or so! LOL

Here's a link to the bakery where I'm getting the cake. The website is really good, I think even you guys will be impressed! The prices for what I'm looking for don't seem too steep, which surprised me. (I even ordered one layer to be vanilla, for Geoff! Doh!) www.sherisedibledesigns.com

---

Geoff said 2 days later

Yeah they sort of got ahead of themselves. I just looked up airfare...which is darn expensive for a 2 day vacation :) Besides that, I've got no one to watch the dog and I would have a lot to cart around for a road trip at this stage...and timing for work isn't too good. Ah well. You guys don't want to listen to a screaming baby in the wee hours anyway :)

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GJ said 2 days later

Young babies actually tend to do great in car rides, but they require so much maintenance at this stage it's just not much fun vacationing *with* them at this point.

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Geoff said 2 days later

All I would do is sleep. No need to spend $1000 to fly to SC for sleep :)

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Kristen said 4 days later

Hey Geoff, just putting it out there--you might be able to find much cheaper rates by flying in near me, and then you could drive down with us. Check into flying into BWI (Baltimore), Dulles, or Reagan.

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Kristen said 4 days later

For example, I just did a quick search on travelocity.com and found a steal: fly into Baltimore from Rochester on thursday morning or afternoon, July 17 (non stop), and then fly back out the following Wed, July 23rd (non stop) for only $148! that's for 2 adults! What a steal!

Mom and dad could grab you at the airport thursday afternoon on their way down to my house, or I could pick you up. Then I can drive you back. BWI is only 90 minutes from my house, no biggie.

Let me know.

---

Steve said 5 days later

Kristen, thanks for arranging everything. Are you leaving to head home early on the 23rd? I thought this was a week long thing - Saturday to Saturday. Just trying to keep in the loop.

---

GJ said 5 days later

Uh, no, it's Saturday to Tuesday morning--for the Hilton Head part.

---

Steve said 5 days later

ok, thanks.

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Steve said 5 days later

Flight booked. I'm flying down Friday afternoon, will spend an evening touring Savannah, then driving up to Hilton Head Saturday morning. Fly home Tuesday afternoon.

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Kristen said 5 days later

Ohhh...I'm jealous! Someday I'll get to Savannah again for more than an hour!

Cake is ordered as well. Now I'm working on planning out some meals. I'll do some grocery shopping when I get down to the resort.

---

Geoff said 5 days later

Hey Kristen, thanks for looking up the flight info. I don't have anywhere to go with the dog, and Michelle won't leave her at the kennel. I'll keep trying to convince her...the dog didn't eat any food when we were at the hospital and she doesn't want that happening at the kennel.

Even so...I'd have to figure out where to go with the luggage, car seat, stroller, portable play pen/crib, and the moon :) I may need a jumbo jet.

For any booking purposes, I would count us out. I doubt we will be able to make it. I'll let you know if plans change otherwise!

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GJ said 5 days later

Kristen, Darcy would love to help with the meal planning and execution.

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Kristen said 6 days later

True Geoff--even if you get the tickets cheap they will charge you an $800 surcharge to put your luggage on the plane!

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Geoff said 9 days later

no doubt!

Marc said about 1 hour later

If Hotel Baumbach or Shambarger fill up, there's also a nice little Baumbach B&B minus the Bed and Breakfast in NC that I could fit a couple people in.

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GJ said about 23 hours later

Thanks for the offer, but we already made reservations last week somewhere in the vast wasteland, uh, I mean beautiful state of Virginia...and, hehe, we'd be a handful. ;)

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Kristen said about 24 hours later

Cool, where are you staying? A wasteland? No way jose, that's like Nebraska or something.

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Darcy said 1 day later

Actually we are staying Thursday night in Wilson, NC. It is the trip home where we will be staying in Virginia when we go to Williamsburg for a few days.

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GJ said 1 day later

Right. The trip planner knows all. I'm just the hired thug who drives. And Virginia is better than Western PA and Western NC, I'll give you that, but driving through Virgina takes all freaking day, so I don't like Virginia much. Rhode Island--now that's much better! ;)

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Kristen said 1 day later

Delaware is good too, and sometimes Maryland. Williamsburg will be fun--not sure if you are planning this, but Busch Gardens is a nice park.

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GJ said 1 day later

We're doing Busch Gardens, as well as a bunch of historical sites. You know, the kind that the kids will complain about. ;)

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Steve said 2 days later

So what day are we supposed to show up? Sounds like everyone is planning to show up Friday. I thought Saturday was arrival day. Need to know...

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GJ said 2 days later

Saturday is the arrival day. My trip planner was wrong, we are staying in Wilson NC on Friday night.

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Steve said 2 days later

Any guess as to what time everyone expects to be arriving? Just trying to figure out travel plans for myself (most importantly, where my stopover will be).

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Kristen said 2 days later

I guess I planned to be there around 10 ish or so.

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GJ said 2 days later

Considering check in is something like 3-4pm, arriving at 10 means you'll have nowhere to put your stuff for six hours. It's 5.5 hours from Wilson to Hilton Head without stopping, so expect to see us in Hilton Head in the 2-4pm window.

Kristen said 26 minutes later

Syracuse Stage info:

Flex 6Pack 2008-09 Season $198 [up]

The Flex 6Pack is a flexible package of six tickets that may be used as you choose – a single seat for six shows, two seats for three shows, whatever combination suits your needs.* To use your Flex 6Pack, simply contact the Box Office any time prior to the performance you wish to attend and receive the best seats available. Tickets may be obtained up to curtain time, pending availability. Flex 6Packs may be redeemed when single tickets go on sale.

I think this is the best deal if we do it. If you buy season tickets, you get tickets to the 6 regular shows (of which I've only heard of one). The two special feature shows (2) are extra (ex. Godspell) If you do the flex deal, you can pick from any of the 8.

We could do a bunch of these things:
Dinner + champagne + cake = maybe $100 per adult?
Syracuse stage tickets: one flex pack (3 shows for both) $200 total
Get-away = $220 plus tax X 2 = about 470
I guess equals $211 each.
Thoughts anyone?

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Kristen said about 1 hour later

Pasted from the Azalea Inn's website:
Relax in the Savannah inn's front garden swing while enjoying our new Savannah heritage garden, featuring indigenous plants from the 19th century. Affordable southern-themed guestrooms feature modern southern comforts of southern food and convivial spaces, including front and side veranda porches, guest parlor, rear deck with swimming pool, waterfall, hidden gardens and fishpond. Cozy guest suites may include private balconies, Jacuzzi whirlpool, and vintage window-doors leading outdoors. Savor beautiful Forsyth Park … within 2 walking blocks of the Inn.

Additional amenities:
WiFi
Imaginative Breakfast
All Day Snacks
Hot & Cold Beverages
Nightly Social with Food & Wine Pairings
Complimentary Off-street Parking
Comfort Bedding

They also have a couple of little yorkies that hang out there, apparently the owner's pets. Mom and dad would get a kick out of them.

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GJ said 1 day later

I'm kinda leaning towards the flex pack, myself.

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Kristen said 1 day later

Are you leaning towards just the flex pack?

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GJ said 1 day later

I'm ok with the whole package, but really want to ensure the flex pack is part of the package.

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Kristen said 1 day later

Yeah that is a good deal.

Marc said about 5 hours later

Congrats guys!

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Geoff said about 5 hours later

You betcha...I got some great camera footage! I will try and post tomorrow sometime as I think there is wireless Internet at the hospital. I had to run home to let the dogs out! In other news, Michelle has also been seeing a therapist and will soon be getting on medication (finally) for anxiety and possibly depression. We need to see another specialist for that diagnosis. Anyway, she is doing well and the baby, according to the doctor, was the happiest baby she's seen all day. Apparently her vital signs indicated she was break dancing in the womb...she must have acquired a few of my genes I guess!

Keep you all posted!

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GJ said about 11 hours later

That's terrific news. We're looking forward to the pics!