TBRU - YAY!

[jpinsd]

Friday, I was talking to rugbybearpa about TBRU. He wanted to know if I was going, and I said that I was not. I just didn't 'get' what it was all about. I've talked to a bunch of people about TBRU, and they've all told me basically the same thing. But this time.. it suddenly hit me.

OMG! this could be.. like.. a vacation!

See... I've never taken a vacation. In my 41 years, the only vacations i've ever had were family events. I've never been able to just do my own thing, never been able to just kick it and relax.

Saturday, a bunch of us were getting our geek on playing WoW and we started talking about TBRU. It all started to sound really cool! TBRU. Men! Parties! Men! Chillin' and relaxin'! Men! Meeting new people! and lots of hot, hairy, beefy MEN!

I'm totally sold. I wanna go. But of course I have a ton of questions. :-)

• Weather - what's it usually like there in March?
• Transportation - Suggestions on plane tickets? Are people going to try to go together in groups?
• Hotels - I see that rooms aren't too expensive. Do people usually share rooms?
• Food - yeah yeah. BBQs are fun and stuff. And I know most of you bears are all about meat. But I'm a veggie. Are there any veggie options usually? or other places I can get non-meat food? ;-)
• Other expenses - What other kinds of expenses should I expect?

I know, most of these questions are probably second nature to you all. But like I said, I've only ever traveled with family. And that means that most all of those details were taken care of for me. heh. Even tho I've traveled throughout Europe and the US... I've never done it on my own. I'm a travel n00b.

Comments

[ericsandgo.livejournal.com]

Don't forget, if you're takin' your Cosco tub o' lube, pack it in your suitcase, 'cause if you put it in your carry on, you'll have to either throw it out at the security checkpoint, or split it into a bunch of separate 4oz. containers in zip-lock baggies. (LOL)

HAVE FUN!

[jpinsd.livejournal.com]

OMG. Costco sells lube??!?

[ericsandgo.livejournal.com]

I'm not really sure, since the last condom I had actually "expired" before I got to have sex (hence there being no real use for having lube).

HOWEVER, a friend of mine and his partner have a dispenser on their nightstand that looks frighteningly like a small "kegger". I can't imagine something like that would come from anywhere other than Costco, or perhaps an auto repair supply house.

[jpinsd.livejournal.com]

HA! a kegger of lube. that's too funny. But, as Mark Morford always says " you can never have too much lube".

BTW, Morford is also the man that said "calling Ann Coulter 'witty' is a bit like calling turpentine 'tasty'".

He so rawks my sox.

[ericsandgo.livejournal.com]

Oh, and since you're a nOOb to solo travel...

TSA Info for Travelers (http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/index.shtm)

[maverick1303.livejournal.com]

dude...weather is great there, shorts/jeans tshirt...the hotel is good (read mikey's post on it)...we fly in on thurs, leave on monday...we'll have a rental, so can grab ya if need be, or you can cab it...once there, we generally take the shuttle that runs from the hotel to the bar's....as for veggie food, isn't there a website that lists all of them?

bring your liver, cuz we drink and party hard while we're there....ummmm...oh, and your dancin shoes, cuz again, we party hard while we're there...

[cpratt.livejournal.com]

• Weather - who gives a shit? You're gonna be indoors makin' out and stuff, right?
• Transportation - Kayak is a good place to start, as is Southwest.
• Hotels - I hear "sharing rooms" is actually a euphemism for "mind blowing anal sex." Your mileage may vary.
• Food - As an ex-vegetarian, I assure you that you won't die in Texas. Okra is your friend... besides, you're not going for the food, you're going for the camaraderie.
• Other expenses - Cosmos, beer, Jell-O shooters, and Rid all cost extra. Come on, though - you can afford it. What's the point of having money if you don't do something fun with it every once in a while?

[jpinsd.livejournal.com]

• Weather I am? Wow, this trip is sounding better and better! but i'm still gonna have to go outside to get to the clubs and stuff!
• transportation Kayak is cool! thanks for that link. I've been going to Orbitz, mostly.
• Hotels I guess that's why ericsandgo suggested I bring lots and lots of lube...
• Food Ok, that's good to hear! SoCal is much more veggie friendly than many of the East Coast places I go to when visiting family. I forget that other parts of the country might be more vegggie friendly than Pittsburgh is. And no. Okra is not my friend. We... well, we don't speak anymore. I think Okra is slimy and gross. hehe. And you're right. i'm not going for the food, but i'm gonna be there for 5 days. I gotta eat more than just a dinner salad each meal ;-)
• Expenses HA! very well, i'll get some Rid, and some Quell just to be safe ;-)

[cpratt.livejournal.com]

In all seriousness, weather's about the last thing you should worry about. It's America! Even if it's raining or whatever, you're never far from an awning, a car, or an emergency newspaper hat. Worst case scenario, bring along a baseball hat and use that, but I can't imagine you standing around outside in actual weather for any reason. It's Dallas. People don't do outside things there, especially not during circuit parties bear runs.

Kayak is useful for finding the cheapest fare between two places, but Southwest's systems aren't integrated with anyone else's, so you'd do well to check both. Due to some byzantine federal law, they also use a different airport (Love Field), which is closer to the host hotel, and therefore probably better.

As far as traveling while vegetarian goes, I don't mean to sound like a total douche, but you're not traveling for the food. You want good vegetarian food, go to Berkeley or Austin. If all you get is green salads for five days, so be it. Hell, at least you can get your shitty iceberg salad on a plate with ketchup and mayonnaise mixed together if you absolutely have to - there are lots of places in the world where that's not even an option.

You can eat wild mushroom ragoût with quinoa when you get home (and I make a killer version of that dish). And if you're hanging out with humpy dudes and you wind up going to get barbecue, because that's all there is to do in Dallas? Enjoy the corn bread, smile, and don't complain about the lack of quorn or gluten-derived pork-esque barbecue substitute. Even though there are good reasons to abstain from meat (in my case, it had to do with the energy costs involved in producing meat), there are times it's better to just STFU about it, resolve to eat decent food when you get home, and concentrate on getting back to his room to get going on the next four hours of really good sex instead. You know?

[jpinsd.livejournal.com]

Well, the only reason i'm askin' about weather, is so i know what to pack. I'd like to travel as light as possible. So.. i was wondering if i'll be fine with just shorts and t-shirts, or do i need jeans, and some heavier shirts. But since it's March, I guess I'll bring both.

And again, I know i'm not traveling for the food. I sure hope I haven't come across as one of those ultra-snooty vegetarians that only drinks triple-purified water blessed by a blind sherpa in Tibet, or legumes grown in a hothouse with Mozart, Delibes, or Chopin, playing through speakers during the day. I'm totally fine with cheesy pizza and a coke. If i get hungry, I'll order Domino's or Pizza Hut or something. My question about food was about if they usually offered veggie type food at the BBQ's and stuff.

Remember, i've never been on a bear run before, or any other kind of large group social thing. I'm asking these questions 'cause I don't quite know how they work, or what to expect. Although i'm beginning to pick up on the hints that there might just be a bit of sex goin' on there somewhere....

[cpratt.livejournal.com]

You could always call the restaurant the run is using to ask about vegetarian options for the various buffet meals if it's really gonna be an issue for you...

I suppose what I'm really trying to say is that you have to consider the social aspect of being a vegetarian as well. As with any large group social thing, you have to decide how much leeway you're willing to give in order for it not to be a problem. I've been to waaaay too many bear runs (especially in Chicago and San Francisco) where just going out to dinner turned into a huge cat herding extravaganza because one or two people had Special Needs, food-wise. Let's just say it's not attractive when you're trying to hit on someone at dinner and they're fussing over whether or not the mâche is Demeter-certified biodynamic or what... mmmkay?

[jpinsd.livejournal.com]

oh jezuz. if somebody was that fussy about their food, i wouldn't want to talk to them either!

But that's good advice about checking the restaurants. I still haven't decided if I should spring for the "run package" or not.

[sluggobear.livejournal.com]

People don't do outside things there, especially not during bear runs.

We are doing some outside things there!

[cpratt.livejournal.com]

"Son, you're not from around here, are ya?" ;)

[joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com]

Mikey - see my comment to Jeffrey, below.

I always thought it was silly to go to another big city, and not take advantage of what it has to offer. :)

[jpinsd.livejournal.com]

I heard there was a sub-clause to that rule tho: It's ok, as long as there are also one or more people from outside your home town involved.

That's what I heard, anyway.

[kingfuraday.livejournal.com]

you were told right...

[coryblank.livejournal.com]

JP,

You have to go so you can report back as a TBRU first timer! Several LJ guys hit me up about going, but Texas seems like a long way for a bear run. I can drive to San Francisco in less than two hours for IBR. Perhaps your feedback could convince me otherwise for next year...

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Thanks for the friend add. :)

Warm regards,

Cory

[jpinsd.livejournal.com]

I will do my best to micro-blog, flickr-blog, and otherwise blog-blog all the good, bad, and fury events for ya, Cory!

I would have added ya as a friend earlier if I had known you were on LJ! :-)

[coryblank.livejournal.com]

Looking forward to your posts, buddy!

I've been on Lj for about 15 months. I love the fellowship with the great men in this community! Glad you're on here, too! :)

Cory

[joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com]

TBRU is great fun. (Contrary to what you might think from my latest LJ entries and commentary on them, I don't hate Dallas at all. I do like satirical humor.)

Anyway ...

It looks like you've had the basics answered already. I would add that it would be good to block out some time and take in The Nasher (http://www.nashersculpturecenter.org/index.cfm?FuseAction=Page&PageID=1000001) in downtown Dallas. It's pretty amazing.

At our last TBRU my friends Mark/beeftenderloin, Fernando/bearchitect and I also visited The Kimbell (http://www.kimbellart.org/) and The Modern (http://www.themodern.org/). I think my MPS friends Jaime/reslbear and his partner Jeff/bearinslc may be planning that side trip already for this year's TBRU so perhaps all of you (and others?) could coordinate a group drive over there. I promise you won't be disappointed!

[jpinsd.livejournal.com]

Ooooh! The Nasher looks cool. I'm a sucker for modern sculpture! The Modern looks very promising, also.

Thanks, Joe! I'll keep those in mind when I'm there :-)