"Have to pause here to take care of a few things. Back later, much later. Don't you hate that when they cut to commercial right when something BIG is about to happen? Sorry folks, can't help it; I'm from California. Hollywood is in my blood. Find something else to do for a while"
Don't worry, Brian. It will be difficult but, as usual, we'll be waiting with bated breath, anticipating once again to be hanging on your every word. ;-)
John Dunn in Boise
> Enough of the crap about how "touchy feely good" everything was and on
> to the meat of the event. Having survived breakfast, where spewing
> coffee and French Toast through one's nose is a very real and present
> danger thanks to Jan and Peter, Steve Kinne, Chuckles, and Mike Kone.
> Why is it that EVERYTHING is funny with these guys? Wouldn't matter what
> the topic is, morbid or otherwise, it's always drop dead funny. We were
> even laughing at the fact that we were talking about something not
> really funny and still couldn't stop. It's like being a giggleing 8 year
> old for crying out loud. Add this up all day long all the way through to
> lights out at 2am and you can begin to understand the toll it takes on
> your stomach.
>
> At last we arrive at the Rec. center and all are anxious to hear what
> the four speaking guests have to say. Richie had prepared for us a
> sumptious feast of both "the New Yorker" magazine covers related to
> bicycles (which he protected from harm with the intensity of a badger)
> and a full spread of lugs. Which reminds me, earlier that morning in the
> lobby of the hotel, Richie treated us to a game of "name that lug" where
> each person blindly reached into his crate of bagged lugsets and picked
> out a set which we had to attempt to identify. Beats Jeopardy in my
> book! Just another example of that special time in the morning.
>
> The lead-off speaker was the distinguished Hilary Stone. The topic was
> English component companies. Hilary had prepared for us a slide show
> that complimented his spoken word and he proceeded to probe a subject
> that could fill volumes within the space of an hour. Lovely presentation
> for those who love neat old bike parts and the related details and
> history, which is most if not all of us. Personally I'm quite ignorant
> of the components that predate my personal interest in bikes beginning
> in 1971. My peabrain can only hold so much information so when it come
> to stuff like this all one needs to know is who to ask to get the answer
> you might need. Hilary certainly has the answers. A delightful man and
> again completely approachable and charming. A five minute break and then
> Richard Sachs was due to take the stage. I was having a bit of a time
> maintaing conscienceness during Hilarys presentation thanks to Lou
> Deeter pouring the MASI wine before the start (from which I kept the
> cork to hang from the saddle of my '62 Masi), some jet lag, and the 3am
> turn-in the night before(thanks AGAIN, Chuck). A stretch of the legs and
> a whiff of fresh air and I was ready for The Richard Sachs Roadshow!
>
> Have to pause here to take care of a few things. Back later, much later.
> Don't you hate that when they cut to commercial right when something BIG
> is about to happen? Sorry folks, can't help it; I'm from California.
> Hollywood is in my blood. Find something else to do for a while.
>
> Brian Baylis
> La Mesawood, CA
> Cut! That's a wrap! This baby's in the can.