Msg: 1961 *Conference*

03-15-92 10:15:16

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : STEPHEN MELCHER

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #1959 (BBS TRICKS)

Yes, it's wrong to drink and type.  Remind me to say something to Jack London
next time I see him.
 
How much pizza and beer are consumed at a normal meeting?  Okay, let me see if
I can remember.  People start showing up around 11:45.  Most are there by
12:30.  We've developped a U shapped configuration of 6 tables, seating by
chairs with a long booth on one side.  Our waitress is Laura, she "understands"
our needs, i.e., if it's empty, fill it!  Laula starts us off with two pitchers
of beer, Miller Draft and Anchor Steam, and a pitcher of Coke, one of ice tea,
and any special request--I think I saw Irene Fong, a new member, drinking hot
tea.
 
Things start humming along.  People are talking, computers on the tables, disk
drives warming up, handouts being passed around, questions, comments, okes,
etc.; the usuall stuff.  At this meeting, Paul Lee mentioned something about
his Model 100 having 128K in banks, internal, along with two option ROM
sockets.  He said he bought it used that way.  Of course, we're all ears, and
screwdrivers.  George Gates preceeds to take Paul's Model 100 apart.  We all
gather around and look it over.  Things settle back, while Laula brings another
3 pitchers of beer.
 
Tracy Allen comes in and shows us his new 4extRAM.  It's such a nice set up.
He selects a program file that switches banks and instantly an option ROM image
pops up.  He deactivites that ROM, selects the file again, and WAMO!!!, yet a
different option ROM struts its stuff.  He once again, deactivates the ROM,
selects the 4extRAM again and he's into a bank of files in RAM, and then
another bank of RAM files, then it's back to the original RAM bank with a ROM
on its feet.  IMPRESSIVE!!!!  We all cheer his accomplishments and order
another round.
 
By this time we're starting to get.... hungry... yeah, that's the concept.
Drew, our official ordering person, selects a round of greens while 3 family
size pizza's get ready.  We waff the greens and the pizza arrive, along with
liquid refills.  By this time, factions of selected interests have formed.
Some are into trading hardware secrets, some are into sharing program files,
other are discussing various combinations of add-ons and use, while yours truly
starts a demonstration of how to build a Power Pillow, complete with soldering
iron on the table.
 
Within a flash, the 3 original pizza's are gone!  It's amazing.  And the beer's
gone, too!  What?  Don't you guys eat during the week?  Geeze!  So, of course,
we order another 3 pizza's and more beer.  The pizza's arrive, and we continue
to compute and talk and share and show stuff, etc.  Ingesting has slowed by
now.  It's about 4:30 or 5 (I don't know... who watches the clock) and folks
start leaving.  Another round show up for the die hards.  Then, about 5:30 they
kick us out.  The ticket, with a $20 tip, comes to $180.00.
 
I've seen the bill fluctuate from under $100 to over $250.  I never know how
many people will show.  Each meeting is different and fun.  Some are exciting,
some are mild.  All meetings are fun and interesting.  So, there you have it.
Have you been keeping count?  So, what did we consume?  -Rick-
 
PS I try to put $5 to $10 a day into the meeting fund.  If the fund is
short--which sometimes it is--I make up the difference out of my own pocket.
This happens 1 to 3 times each year, depending on the economy.