you are on!!

if dogster takes her to his hotel for tea, then the ticket will be first class

Sure count me in for 2 (there was some talk a while back about this being in Burbank) is that incorrect?
[email protected]
Can't wait.

I was of course speaking of Jimmy Nelson's sidekick. It's scary that the Dogster would dig up the long-ago ventriloquist. Do you think he knows about Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smith?

It is this level of attention to meaningless detail and his superb writing that mekes him/her beloved to all Fodorites.

Well, as everybody knows, Jerry and Knucklehead were puppets.

No, gpanda, they were not real people who liked someones hand sticking up their bottom - they were puppets..

Paul Winchell was their creator. Let's take a moment from our busy day to celebrate a remarkable life.

Here goes.

You may not know that the ex-Mr. Winchell is the original patent holder of the artificial heart.

Very few people know he was the first person to present the disposable razor to the public. Unfortunately, at the time Paul put too much stock in the views of others and dropped the project.

Ooops, Paul.

Other inventions include the flameless cigarette lighter, illuminated pen-ballpoint (behind cartridge), the freezer interrupt indicator (which allowed people to see if their food had gone bad when their electricity was interrupted), battery heated gloves, a battery lighted key case, a portable blood plasma defroster, a sectional garment for hypothermia, a piezo-electric diaphragm, an aluminum electrical generator, novelty phonograph records, novelty upside down mask and mirror, a reversible alphabet that could be seen normally when shown in a mirror, rubber sand that allowed for the sturdy attachment of pictures to frames, an invisible garter belt and a retractable fountain pen.

What a guy. Vale Paul Winchell.

Ave atque Vale (Rizutto may correct me).

Paul Winchell was a great guy. He made me giggle uncontrollably as a child. A function the Dogster has taken over in my current life. We are waiting for his updated reports with "Baited" breath (that means that I have a bunch of worms in my mouth).

Good night, Mr and Mrs America and all the ships at sea!

As for Farfel, I much preferred the "N-E-S-T-L-E-S, Nestlé's makes a chocolate mess" version.

Don, that's exactly the sequence to which I was referring. My memory from childhood is that it was always stunning. Farfel had a particularly attractive method of clacking his mouth at the end.

I'm in and willing to help from my Pasadena location. Guen, Kathie Bob and Craig have my email. I'll have to make an appearance at another function on that Saturday night but will come for part on Sat and everything else planned.

karen and I and andy and beth will be staying at the sofitel in hollywood during the GTG...

got good rates on both hotwire and priceline---its a long story....we have two nites on each site...lucked out with same hotel

4* for $149+ and $126+ (weekend)...

we are pleased to be in the vacinity of the GTG...

Is this a GTG for Southern Californians and out-of-towners only or can Northern Californians attend as well?

Those Yiddish pellets sound yummy and is filmwill still offering lodging in his broom closet?

Ahh, the Sofitel. Perfect location for shopping! ...right across from the Beverly Center, near Melrose and Robertson and even Rodeo. More importantly, this really opens the door to a veritable smorgasbord of speedos to purchase! You know all those studio heads need to rock the love handles for their mistresses...so LA is the capital of bathing suits that men should never wear.

The Sofitel is the perfect choice for the Mass. folks...especially given the location of the Friday night dinner I have in mind (not too far!)

Of course, the GTG is open to all...and the broom closet, alas, has already been reserved by Bob. I suppose Karen will be enjoying the Sofitel all by her lonesome (maybe a blessing for her?) while Bob enjoys the cockroaches.

:)

i bet if david did the cleaning there would be no bugs....

can't speak for billy/david, but most GTG's are open to anyone....in march W might be available for a celeb spot....

hope those HI types will show up...they really add off shore humor to our GTG's...

how about some NY types too so they can argue with the LA types as to which large city is better....

Thank you for having an open GTG!

I'll probably be staying in either Westwood or Culver City, so the GTG location is perfect for me also.

Hope this thread gets topped at the beginning of next year, as I don't have a 2009 calendar yet.

Carol: please try to come! I'd love to finally meet up with you, since we missed each other by hours in Bangkok!

Will I be ble to get a thong near the Sofitel?

one hopes not gpanda,lol

Where is the GTG going to be held? Maybe I missed it somewhere in this thread. Happy Travels!

Nothing is set in stone yet, Guen...and until that time, I'm hesitant to mention any locations.

It is LA, after all, so no matter where we end up having it, everyone will still always be 20 minutes away :)

Guen-it's LA. We're not going to physically get together. We're hoping that close proximity will suffice so that our spirits can meld. The positive vibrations emanating therefrom will be sufficien reward for those of us that have traveled THOUSANDS OF MILES to be there. I'm bringing a pyramid. Bob is bringing a pentagon ( big surprise).

filmwill,

what is a good area(s) to stay in for the gtg?

Are there hotels that will be closer to the "action"

Aloha!

There will be no "action". It's ephemeral. Each night, we'll set aside some time for directed meditation( can't you just see Bob sitting on the floor chanting?). This will suffice. All will prosper.

Just wanted to clarify that the Sofitel is not in Hollywood, but rather in the Beverly Center area, which is near WEST Hollywood. As filmwill accurately stated, Hollywood's about 20 minutes away.

No, I can't see Bob sitting on the floor or on anything but a huge chair or throne......imagination needed, lol

Last time I was in W. Hollywood I got in trouble in a place at the top of La Cienaga........

Thanks crosscheck, now I know the area, thanks.

Andy, does that mean we have to check in "daily" or just chant "un yaleman" and hope that the Needhamite will follow blindly(maybe I should hold a Marriott pastry in my hand as bait), lol

Aloha!

HT-I love the bait idea. Of course we'll be meditating daily. It's the only way to properly get in tune with the flow of the universe, i.e., synchronize with the revolution of the Earth.

Hollywood, Schmollywood. The good news is that Bob has pre-paid and if we don't like the hotel, we can stick him with the bill for our room. It's a new take on "Star" wood points.

HT,

I think if you stay central (West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, even Hollywood...) you'll be fine. Places like Santa Monica might be a bit out of the way location-wise.

Maybe some of the regulars can confab about where they're staying, so at least the core group are all staying fairly close together?

Our actual GTG might be in an area you wouldn't want to get a hotel in :) But we're going for food--not charm.

i get it now....we are going to have the GTG on one of the big movie lots and the GTG will be a special made for TV movie....btw, its star is not gpanda.....

Looks like we will be able to attend. Filmwill, Bob has my email address. Email if I can help with anything as I am in LA.

the numbers are growing, thats a good sign...

will, let me know if you want anyone's address that i might have...

i just reread all of this, it looks like we might need a football field to accomodate all the attendees?? hope so that would be fun...

I might be able to attend also in March.

We just bought our tickets yesterday, as the flights are now half the price they were previously.

Whoo-hoo! The more, the merrier!

I'll do a recount of all the yays and nays so far and sent out a separate email to those who have already emailed me.

Bob, can you email me Paulo's email?

Kathie, SO happy you guys are coming!

Thanks! We're really looking forward to it.

Bookmarking, This will be a few days before my first ever Asia trip, PERFECT!

Somehow I've totally missed seeing this thread. I'd love to attend and meet some of the faces behind the names! Am in L.A. and am happy to help in any way needed.

Great news, John. We look forward to meeting you too!

Send me your email to me at:

[email protected]

I'll add you to the list.

Initial details should be coming within the week.

...you beat me to the punch. Just noticed you already emailed. Thanks, John. I'll add you to the list.

As I start putting things in place for our GTG in March, I wanted to update this thread with the current list of confirmed attendees I have down (I have not included 'may comes'.)

Please email me if I missed you or let me know if for some reason your plans have changed.

I've noted who's bringing a guest (please email corrections if wrong) and who I'm missing email addresses for (please email me this as well).

Also, I've noted out-of-town guests as well. If I have this info wrong, again, please let me know.

Thanks guys...we're getting there. As I prefer to remain cryptic for now, I'll just say I think everyone is going to have a great time.

rhkkmk +1
gpanda +1
mrwunrfl +1
Kathie +1
lcuy
Guenmai
hawaiiantraveler +2
nywoman (NEED EMAIL ADDRESS)
Kristina +1 *Local*
crosscheck +1 *Local*
femi
laurieco
waynehazel +1
magical + 1
paulo59 *Local*
Thyra (NEED EMAIL ADDRESS)
JohnH *Local*
moremiles *Local*

I should be here. No travel plans.

So mark me down as myself, local. :D

great news, rkkwan!

Also, just realized I didn't list Guenmai as local, but I know she is :)