Find a reason, make the time, gether together.
The reason: You and I -whomever you might be here at CHUD.com- eventually need to put face to text, flesh to personality. Personalities and words on a screen do no justice to people. So the idea became reality...CHUDWEST '02. The genesis of things to come.
Make the time: After careful consideration of all the available facts - certain conventions, lead times, people's work schedules, etc. - a particular weekend became targeted. Time to roll the pebble down the slope.
Gather together: Our own Bill Bowen(Will) makes it crystal clear to me that this must happen at his hillside BBQ-friendly estate in Burbank. A little town where, as you might know, much of what you see on Television is made or housed. The perfect locale.
Now, I don't know about any of you, but when I travel to places like Burbank I almost can smell TV in the air(I have no idea what that means). But the location for this epic gathering was set...Burbank, weekend of August 24.
Nothing special about the date except that it was set...the seed is sown.
Several of us who decided to attend begin arriving Friday afternoon...some Thursday...for their own reasons. You see, there was business to be done.
For those who were coming Friday evening Will genrously invites us to VIDA, an out of the way little spot which specializes in...well, I'm not really sure. There was though an incredible-looking smoked steak that everybody seems to have had...more about that later*.
Ghost of Timmy picked me up at Burbank airport and on the way I discover purely by chance that he and I have a mutual friend...never knew this prior and I don't know why.
Arriving at the Bowen residence I am greeted by none other than Hot Animal Machine, Grendel, HotPants, The Grendelettes, Nelson, Subotai, Rylander, CTDelude, et. al. All filtered in at various times in the late afternoon. All roads lead to Will's.
So after a while of "getting to know" -and in Grendel & HP's case, getting re-acquainted- we head on out to VIDA. When we get there I am greeted by Blofeld, Smilin' Jack, and Il Commendatore, Nick Nunziata, standing next to Will on the entrance ramp to the restaurant.
There was this palpable air of "oh god don't let these people suck" which I have the distinct impression most attending were allowing themselves to think at least once.
That all passed away once we gathered on the ramp at VIDA. Some hugged, others politely introduced, there was no biting(although HotPants...naahhh...better not go there).
We are brought into a reserved dining room. I have to excuse myself for the moment and when I come back no real estate to be found at the table. Also no chairs...period. Yes my friends, pillows. Definitely not to be expected. yet somehow both in character and not particularly an uncomfortable thing.
So I grab one of the little chair-ettes that's two inches high and actually has a back. I swing it on over to an inviting corner with CT and Nelson. The waiter comes and offers drinks. Some sort of house specialty with various fruit juices and infused vodka. Hey, can't go wrong with vodka, right? Although it was a bit of a girly-man drink I still enjoyed it...what the hell does that mean?
What it meant was that I was surrounded by Chewers from literally thousands of miles away and of varying backgrounds, faiths, personalities, and energies. People of fine character each and every one. And we were all together because of this place you're reading right now. Surreal.
And the atomosphere was infused with not only vodka, but with possibilities.
Nelson, CT, Blofeld and I had some great conversation. HotPants came bounding over in her own inimitable way to join me and we caught up on a lot of the craziness going on in their lives.
Dinner over, back to lodgings all. The evening and the morning were the first day.
_____________
*The steaks there looked incredibly huge and wonderfully prepared. Problem was, I was sitting with no table under plate. Cool, I can deal with that...order the seared tuna! No need for two hands. Ok steak people, you lost out on a great experience. Sorry, but the seared tuna was absolutely fabulous! And that was after the best crab cakes I think I've ever had...with an equally heavenly sauce.
The reason: You and I -whomever you might be here at CHUD.com- eventually need to put face to text, flesh to personality. Personalities and words on a screen do no justice to people. So the idea became reality...CHUDWEST '02. The genesis of things to come.
Make the time: After careful consideration of all the available facts - certain conventions, lead times, people's work schedules, etc. - a particular weekend became targeted. Time to roll the pebble down the slope.
Gather together: Our own Bill Bowen(Will) makes it crystal clear to me that this must happen at his hillside BBQ-friendly estate in Burbank. A little town where, as you might know, much of what you see on Television is made or housed. The perfect locale.
Now, I don't know about any of you, but when I travel to places like Burbank I almost can smell TV in the air(I have no idea what that means). But the location for this epic gathering was set...Burbank, weekend of August 24.
Nothing special about the date except that it was set...the seed is sown.
Several of us who decided to attend begin arriving Friday afternoon...some Thursday...for their own reasons. You see, there was business to be done.
For those who were coming Friday evening Will genrously invites us to VIDA, an out of the way little spot which specializes in...well, I'm not really sure. There was though an incredible-looking smoked steak that everybody seems to have had...more about that later*.
Ghost of Timmy picked me up at Burbank airport and on the way I discover purely by chance that he and I have a mutual friend...never knew this prior and I don't know why.
Arriving at the Bowen residence I am greeted by none other than Hot Animal Machine, Grendel, HotPants, The Grendelettes, Nelson, Subotai, Rylander, CTDelude, et. al. All filtered in at various times in the late afternoon. All roads lead to Will's.
So after a while of "getting to know" -and in Grendel & HP's case, getting re-acquainted- we head on out to VIDA. When we get there I am greeted by Blofeld, Smilin' Jack, and Il Commendatore, Nick Nunziata, standing next to Will on the entrance ramp to the restaurant.
There was this palpable air of "oh god don't let these people suck" which I have the distinct impression most attending were allowing themselves to think at least once.
That all passed away once we gathered on the ramp at VIDA. Some hugged, others politely introduced, there was no biting(although HotPants...naahhh...better not go there).
We are brought into a reserved dining room. I have to excuse myself for the moment and when I come back no real estate to be found at the table. Also no chairs...period. Yes my friends, pillows. Definitely not to be expected. yet somehow both in character and not particularly an uncomfortable thing.
So I grab one of the little chair-ettes that's two inches high and actually has a back. I swing it on over to an inviting corner with CT and Nelson. The waiter comes and offers drinks. Some sort of house specialty with various fruit juices and infused vodka. Hey, can't go wrong with vodka, right? Although it was a bit of a girly-man drink I still enjoyed it...what the hell does that mean?
What it meant was that I was surrounded by Chewers from literally thousands of miles away and of varying backgrounds, faiths, personalities, and energies. People of fine character each and every one. And we were all together because of this place you're reading right now. Surreal.
And the atomosphere was infused with not only vodka, but with possibilities.
Nelson, CT, Blofeld and I had some great conversation. HotPants came bounding over in her own inimitable way to join me and we caught up on a lot of the craziness going on in their lives.
Dinner over, back to lodgings all. The evening and the morning were the first day.
_____________
*The steaks there looked incredibly huge and wonderfully prepared. Problem was, I was sitting with no table under plate. Cool, I can deal with that...order the seared tuna! No need for two hands. Ok steak people, you lost out on a great experience. Sorry, but the seared tuna was absolutely fabulous! And that was after the best crab cakes I think I've ever had...with an equally heavenly sauce.
