The Bash has morphed into a Burning Man for Alcoholics, where people travel from all over the farthest corners of the world to gather together in the middle of nowhere to act weird and celebrate one of the greatest cultural icons of the 21st century... AlCantHang.
- Dr. Pauly
Two days later, I'm sitting here on my couch trying to put it all together. What was "going to The Bash" all about? Because to say it was just a big party at a bar is only using one or two crayons out of the box for the entire picture that The Bash was. It requires no less than all 64 and I don't know if I'm up to the task.
My bar and big partying days were laid to rest long ago. My discomfort with large raucus crowds of people has been well documented in this blog, so it should be no surprise to learn I didn't want to go to The Bash. I felt really bad about that because I'm fond of Al. Big Mike's big heart plus his and Al's over-abundance of generosity added another layer to my burden of guilt over not wanting to go.
Ultimately, what cinched the deal and got me on a plane to Philly was the people - all the people whom I've gotten to know over the past few years through the mere transmittal of words on a computer screen. It was the opportunity to reconnect with a few with whom I have a bond. It was the opportunity to meet more of those whom I've been reading and playing with online.
Yes, it was just a big party at a bar. Plenty of booze and a fair share of sophomoric behavior. But at night's end when, as Al says, "the ugly lights come up," there's a feeling of warm satisfaction because you've just spent time laughing and enjoying the company of friends. It was time spent strengthening bonds and forging new ones. And it was a time that couldn't be spoiled by moderately piggish behavior which, really, I just have to laugh about and remember that some people are just a bit behind others on the evolutionary scale.
Philly royalty and masters of generosity: Al, Big Mike, Eva, and the entire Boathouse crew - our designated drivers, et al: Thank you, thank you, thank you for a terrifically wonderful time!! You've set the bar (no pun intended) high my friends, you've set the bar incredibly high.
What would've put the cherry on top would've been seeing the other two-thirds of G-Vegas, Daddy and, of course, my main squeeze and favorite person under 4 feet tall, Iggy.
People who write web-logs centered on the theme of playing poker, aka, Poker Bloggers, are a class act. It's a term that is, perhaps, overused, but is not used lightly here.
Go visit a few 'em who made the trek to Philly (let me know if I've inadvertently left you out). You'll read about the double nut-flush hand, CJ's bottomless luckbox and decimating Falstaff with the hammer, Drizz dropping trou, Brandon and BadBlood representing the community well at beer-pong and a lot, lot more:
- Al
- Eva
- Pauly
- Gracie (and Pablo) - 4 Ever!!
- BG - thank you for the encouragement
- BadBlood
- CJ
- Mr. Bracelet
- Derek
- Joaquin - the king of charmers
- F-Train
- Falstaff
- Drizz
- Heather
- Joe Speaker
- Veneno
- Katitude - wish we could've gotten the tats
- Tripjax - honarary Okie
- Carter - so glad to have FINALLY met you!!!
- StB
- Poker Wolf
- brdweb
- Brandon Schaefer - 69!!!!
- Jordan
- SoxLover
