Photos and commentary: TT-West
 

First, foremost, and above all else: thanks to Gina and the rest of the planning group on an OUTSTANDING job of organizing this year's TT-West. I enjoyed all of the planned activities as well as the "off time" to just sit around and BS or wash cars ... or, in my case, nap.

:-)

The drive out to Las Vegas was as much fun as any of it. Five TTs left Dallas Wednesday AM, spent the night in ABQ where we met up with Scot, and then met the AZ/NM group in Flagstaff for lunch. Our little group of nine TTs then made the final leg of the journey into Las Vegas. Here's our little group:
<img src="http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/ff1f44b6/bc/TT-West2002/TT+West+042.jpg?BCpSt59AZSsfzdeY">

The organized drives were fun, too, and the scenery was breath-takingly beautiful. I had never thought of the desert as being so pulchritudinous, but it is. Lake Meade and the Hoover Dam are things that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.

I was able to renew several friendships and to make a whole bunch of new ones. Evan's "A gathering of Friends" idea was perfect...it's the best way to describe the events that have come to be such an integral part of our annual TT schedule.

OK...having said that, I'll give the tally as to stats (like I did when I went to Bracketfest) and some things I learned.

<u>STATS:</u>
<b>States visited:</b> TX, NM, AZ, NV
<b>Total Miles Driven:</b> 3,056.5 (this includes the two organized drives)
<b>Total hours behind the wheel:</b> 50.05

<u>Things I learned at TT-West 2003:</u>
1. "Misano" must be a German word for "please run over my car when you switch lanes" or something reasonably similar. I was almost hit three times on the way to LV -- one time the event was captured on video by VW Weezer -- and came within six inches of being part of a MAJOR wreck on the way back (no BS on that one -- the guy who almost hit me ended up doing about three 360s and hit a dividing wall).

2. It's a L O N G way from Dallas to ABQ. Even for someone from TX who's used to traveling a long way to get anywhere, DFW to ABQ is a LONG way.

3. I now have indisputable proof for houTTini that Mac-N-Chez is, in fact, a vegetable:
<img src="http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/ff1f44b6/bc/TT-West2002/TT+West+005.jpg?BCKRt59A._BZzzXf">

4. It is very important to have a good trunk monkey if you attend these events. Mine was so good, in fact, that Gina ("ginand tonic" now! LOL)tried to adopt him! Thanks to Elaine ("3.14ryTT") for bringing him to Vegas for me. I can just see you trying to explain to the luggage screener why there was a miniature silver back gorilla in your luggage!
<img src="http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/ff1f44b6/bc/TT-West2002/TT+West+022.jpg?BCyit59ArY.6NLaG">

5. There are some REALLY expensive shoes out there...(if you'd been there, you'd understand!)
<img src="http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/ff1f44b6/bc/TT-West2002/TT+West+041.jpg?BCFkt59ANcNpGUHX">

6. SuiTTman should never abandon his wife at a desert store.

:-)

7. VenTTed is very concerned with keeping the desert as irrigated as possible. I'm pretty sure that he should be a member of the Green Party.
<img src="http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/ff1f44b6/bc/TT-West2002/TT+West+049.jpg?BChlt59Ayzz4mOb6">

8. The next time I go out and try to pick up some women, I am going to ask Ex-TTahoe-Bum if I can borrow his new gloves...they are the bomb! LMAO

9. When you're scheduling a GTG with a group for lunch, you should probably take different time zones into account. Sorry about that, AZ/NM group!!!

10. The iced tea at Oregano's in Flagstaff is unlike any other tea I've ever had...

:-)

11. The APR cars are AWESOME. So are the folks who work there. They are friendly, helpful, and very up on their stuff. I highly recommend them.

12. Disco Barbie does exist.

13. I'm pretty sure that CBI could whip CBB's ass...based only on the fact that CBI has survived so much. CBB, though, is a mac-daddy. He picked up LOTS of women while we were in LV...heck, he even got married and he had only just met the woman! 8^)

14. After the drive to LV and back, my car needs washed (that one's just for you, Jason!!!):
<img src="http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/ff1f44b6/bc/TT-West2002/TT+West+054.jpg?BCUot59AfkWIOXbp">.

15. The number one quote of the day from TT-W was heard over the FRS radio while in the desert: "I've got a ranger coming up the rear." Nobody ever actually took credit for it... ROFLMAO

Like I said earlier, thanks for a great time. I enjoyed myself tremendously. I can't wait until the next one!

Click on the link below to see the rest of my pics from TT-W.

Totally love this post!!! Ferg rules. Glad you are home, safe and sound.

Great post. I can assure you that Brad and I settled our differences long ago,
 

before there were such things as TT roadsters and Frigidaire TT's and day glo red TT's. It was so long ago the Mod Shack(tm) was a cave. :) So no battle is in the offing, except perhaps a friendly game of Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots. :)

Thanks, Mom! I thought about you last week before I left for Vegas. We got the USST app pack
 

for the Gator and my boss was commenting again how much he appreciated you letting us know about it.

:-)

That, and I of course again blamed you for my desire to own an ALMS after seeing yours in A$$ville.

I don't doubt it. Of course, CBI does get more action than CBB, it's just that chindos don't really
 

count as "sex" for real...

:-p

Didn't even want to ask what was happening with that for fear of jinxing it. Glad you
 

got the application...crossing my fingers. Hey, don't blame me for the ALMS...you love it, right?

Oh, absolutely. Of the 40 or so TTs at LV, only three were ALMS: two Misano and one Avus.

Whoa, that was a trip down memory lane....has been a while..

"pulchritudinous" >>>
 

"Characterized by or having great physical beauty and appeal"

Good one, Ferg!

BTW, I didn't invent the "Gathering of Friends" thing... may have been Glen and Gina.

CI is to CB as Ross is to Chandler. Or something like that.
 

It's not the amount of action, it's the quality of the action one gets. :)