As if I haven't been to America enough this year already.....

**Lane Meyer** · 10-08-2006, 01:31 PM

......I'm coming back, again.

This time, on a loooong convoluted work trip, to many places I've not been to in many years, if ever. So I turn to the collective for advice.

Leg 1: [10/12-10/14] Wellington to Auckland to Honolulu. This part I got covered with Da Hui. Offical purpose - a survey of ~30 randomly selected hoteliers along the Waikiki (yuck) beachfront. LM to front desk clerk: "Hello, I am a hazard and disaster management graduate student from New Zealand. I would like to take five minutes of your time to ask you a few questions about your hotel's tsunami awareness / action plan." FDC: "What tsunami awareness plan?"

Leg 2: [10/14-16] HNL to LAX, layover for a few hours (walk to In and Out Burger and the vinyl slinger down the street), then to Portland airport to Vancouver. We're shacking up in Vancouver, WA across the river for two days to do some work with the USGS folks at CVO. Here's one leg where I need some help.
*How far to downtown PDX for eats and other fun stuff? I remember Portland being lots of fun with plenty of really cool bars and clubs and whatnot, and Vancouver being pretty close.
*What's cool to do in Vancouver (if anything) at night? Good ethnic restaurants? Any maggots want to meet up for a beer? My boss and colleagues would love to meet my weird internet friends (especially a certain ripping, hot lawyer whom I haven't seen in a while)

Leg 3:[10/17-21] Vancouver to Tacoma to Seattle - this is the part where team NZ gives a short course on volcanic ash hazard mitigation to critical infrastructure providers across the PacNW at the Tacoma Sheraton. I've never been to Tacoma, even though I used to drive one. So help me out:
*Where to go, what to eat, what to do at night, record stores, ski movie premieres, maggots who want to meet for a beer, etc etc. And if you happen to work for a wastewater treatment facility, come on down and learn about what to do the next time St. Helens dumps some ash all up in your shit. Unfortunately, we're driving to Seattle only briefly to fly out, otherwise I would be super stoked to meet up with Squirrel et al. If we do end up spending the night there, I'll have my secretary call yours.

Leg 4 - [10/21-23]
Seattle to SF. Time to wrap up the work end of things with a weekend in the city by the bay and a day at the USGS in Menlo Park. My boss thinks it's very important that I spend next April in Mammoth collecting information on the perception of volcanic hazards there....so we better get that set up. Got this one covered with a different Hui....but I hope to see 666 and anyone else who wants to meet up for a beer....might try to get to the Walnut Creek premiere of Hustle and Snow.

Leg 5 - [10/24-29] Tahooooooe. That's right, I'm comin' home...so Cody, Oldtimer, Huckasoreass, let's drink some beers and you can convince me and Cody not to have kids for 15 more years.

**Telenater** · 10-08-2006, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by Lane Meyer

......I'm coming back, again.
do some work with the USGS folks at CVO.

Say "Hi" to Dave Ramsey for me.

Originally Posted by Lane Meyer

a day at the USGS in Menlo Park.

Do lunch with Skiergirl.

**girlski0912** · 10-08-2006, 05:04 PM

HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LIVE IN THE COUV!!!!!!! I AM IN NEED OF COOL PEOPLE....particularly you because it has been WAY too long.

Cell number pm'd and we shall hit up P-town my friend.

**Lane Meyer** · 10-08-2006, 05:12 PM

Good. I'll get in touch with team management and see if we need legal services. We roll hard, and deep, so expect caviar lunches, limousine shuttles, and gold lame stationery if you come on board.

**midget** · 10-08-2006, 05:46 PM

what you couldn't make through slc? sheesh. looser

**Lane Meyer** · 10-08-2006, 05:49 PM

No volcanoes brah! I'm not cool enough to hang out with brotographers that get covers anyway. Mammoth in April?

**ptavv** · 10-08-2006, 06:00 PM

If you're going to be in PDX and need the youthful vibe that girlski can no longer bring, I'll volunteer

PM me with questions, yada yada whatever. I'm down for beers, hookers, blow, whatever...

Also, Vancouver sucks, hop over the river to Portland for anything/everything you want to do that does not involve: scrap metal, overalls, meth, guns, rusty pickup trucks.

**Lane Meyer** · 10-08-2006, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by ptavv

anything/everything you want to do that does not involve: scrap metal, overalls, meth, guns, rusty pickup trucks.

there's absolutely nothing left on my list now........

**skier666** · 10-08-2006, 07:49 PM

I think God does not want us to see each other ever again. I'm running the Chicago Marathon on the 22nd, arrive home morning of 23rd. Keep me posted especially if you are leaving back to NZ from SFO.

**Squirrel99** · 10-08-2006, 11:50 PM

we can rally down to Tacoma if need be, but you really ought to come meet us out for a night in Seattle

**Lane Meyer** · 10-09-2006, 12:34 AM

We fly from Seattle the afternoon of the 21st (Saturday....) If there's a way I can convince my boss to let me out the friday afternoon after our course wraps up, can I get to Seattle from Tacoma easily by train or some other means of public transport? There's solme other folks I'd like to see in those parts as well, and a night out in town would be rad.

**P_McPoser** · 10-09-2006, 12:47 AM

public transportation is for jerks and lesbians

**fineline** · 10-09-2006, 12:58 AM

Boo! Come through SLC- I still owe you 20 bucks!!

**Squirrel99** · 10-09-2006, 01:09 AM

Originally Posted by Lane Meyer

We fly from Seattle the afternoon of the 21st (Saturday....) If there's a way I can convince my boss to let me out the friday afternoon after our course wraps up, can I get to Seattle from Tacoma easily by train or some other means of public transport? There's solme other folks I'd like to see in those parts as well, and a night out in town would be rad.

try the Sounder commuter train from Tacoma to Seattle. i'll try and get some details. worst case scenario- we'll pick you up in Tacoma on Friday after work. i'll send an email to ya later with info. now if i was only good at finding decent house music in seattle...

**Lane Meyer** · 10-09-2006, 01:47 AM

Originally Posted by Squirrel99

now if i was only good at finding decent house music in seattle...

I'm bringing at least one CDJ to rock a haloween party in Tahoe and maybe one in SF as well, so just find me a PA and some party people and we'll be all set. There's these guys called the Lawnchair Generals in Seattle that are pretty good....you should go see them.....

**midget** · 10-09-2006, 02:46 AM

Originally Posted by fineline

Boo! Come through SLC- I still owe you 20 bucks!!

HA! Like you have 20 bucks to pay him back with.

Originally Posted by Lane Meyer

No volcanoes brah! I'm not cool enough to hang out with brotographers that get covers anyway. Mammoth in April?

Dude what are you talking about brah, that 10.5 apocalypse mini-series said that something in the Uintas is going to explode.....damn dude you need to get with the program already.