4th Annual Pet Talk Calif. Bbq

[dukedogsmom]

I hadn't even thought about transportation. I know it's a little early to worry about that right now though but I will need to do something. I would like to spare the expense of renting a car, too. I'd be scared to drive over there, anyway. Is there going to be an official PT taxi? Maybe Mario can drive.

[neko1]

Yeah I was wondering if it was too early to think of all this stuff too, but I was also concerned about transportation. Also, how long does everyone usually stay, do people make like a little mini-vacation out of it? Are the hotel's expensive? It's already gonna cost over $300 for the plane ticket for me, I'm very concerned about the whole monetary thing (especially since I will be without any means of savings once I have to live on my own )

[gini]

Val and Michelle, I live the closest to the L.A. airport (1/2 hour drive). Richard lives a bit further away and Kelly is now quite a drive away. Sara lives about an hour and a half away.

People have stayed for a week - or just a few days - or just overnight and have driven back home the next day.

I have a Toyota Highlander (better known as Scotty) and it can seat four people and a lot of luggage.

But here is the problem that I have encountered. Last year people flew in from Canada, New Mexico, Washington D.C. and other places around the country. Where I could, I tried to pick them up at the airport. The problem is that not everyone arrives at the same time - or even the same terminal........so it took some planning to coordinate flight arrival times and days of arrival.

I had to speak up and say that I just cannot drive to the airport on the day of the BBQ - Saturday. It just became difficult to have a house full of people - a BBQ to prepare for - and leave to go to the airport. Just not enough hours in the day.

Because of gas prices, the taxi services, shuttles and cars have become very expensive. I just flew back from Boston in December and encountered this in Boston as well as L.A. It added a considerable amount to my flight cost.

Last year it was costing $40.00 one way - and this year it is closer to $50 - $60. Outrageous in my mind.

Due to that fact, I am very sensitive to the cost for all of you and want to try to pick people up when I can do it.

I think the closer we get to the actual date and people have reservations we can make better plans.

As to housing or hotels - Richard does have a good idea about finding a house to rent for a week..........but where? It's a good idea - but not so easy to find someone who would be willing. (a furnished house, of course).

My house isn't that large and last year I had three house guests and Richard spent the night in a sleeping bag in my backyard office. One guest slept in my den with the hideabed - one on a blow up bed in my breakfast room and another on the sofa.

I have one bathroom - and if you followed last years thread you heard that I had plumbing problems (no ones fault - it was just ROOT REVENGE!).

Ha, and I know what that comment will bring - just abuse about my shaving my legs!

I just had this idea of possibly renting a motor home..........hmmmm, I have no idea how much that would cost or if we could even park it at my home.
But it is a thought.

I know as we get closer to the date these things will work out - they always do..........and I am very sensitive to the costs for everyone.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

I just had this idea of possibly renting a motor home..........hmmmm, I have no idea how much that would cost or if we could even park it at my home.
But it is a thought.

Here is a website for renting a motorhome. http://www.cruiseamerica.com/ This wouldn't be all that bad of an idea because the expensive part of renting these is the mileage. They don't come with free mileage like rental cars do. I'm sure there's somewhere near LA that rents them out and I checked and there are plenty of campgrounds within 25 miles of LA, so it would just be a matter of finding the closest one to you.

Seeing as you actually live in LA, I would highly doubt that parking a motorhome at your place would be acceptable for more than overnight - and that would probably have to be in your driveway, not on the street.

My idea on this would be that renting a pull along trailer would be better because it has more sleeping capacity. When I first saw your idea, I thought it was a not so subtle hint for us to bring ours but we really only have sleeping capacity for maybe 4 adults. Most motorhomes are not built for sleeping capacity, but trailers are - some even come with bunk beds. However, a Class C can be driven back and forth from the campground to the BBQ whereas a trailer would need some sort of tow vehicle, so a rental vehicle would still be needed by at least one person.

If someone does do this, I would definitely recommend staying at a campground because 4 adults in any camping vehicle that isn't "plugged in" (in more ways than one) will greatly tax the campers water capacity, both incoming and outgoing.

Anyway, if anyone wants to pursue this for expanded accomdations, I would be more than happy to help with the research, just let me know.

Oh, and at the rate Terry is going with the love of his job, we may just be in Tucson as early as July, so bringing our motorhome might not be totally out of the question.....

[gini]

Oh goodness, Debbie, actually it was your "owning" a motorhome that gave me the idea - but it sure wasn't a subtle hint for you to drive out here with it so that you could accommodate a few guests!

Subtle hints don't work too well, I would have just come out and asked you!

Because I am a bookkeeper for advertising clients - I know that they rent motorhomes for photo shoots and so forth and I can ask through that info line - but I think because of that they charge an arm and a leg and a huge deposit.

I know that my neighbor a few years back had his brother and wife visit in their motorhome and they had it parked across the street for a week and no one objected. However, I do have "no parking" on my side of the street on Fridays and the meter maid sits there like a vulture waiting to ticket those cars even a minute past 10 am in the morning.

We also had a postal worker who was close to retirement, so he sold his home, bought a motorhome and "camped out" in front of my home. To get ready for work he started his generator at 5 AM............and that DID get a lot of attention and he finally had to move it. I don't know why he didn't just park it at the post office - only three blocks away.

Hmmm, gotta think on this some more.........I don't know if one would fit in my backyard or could get through the gate - I doubt it - too wide I think.

[caseysmom]

I was going to rent a motorhome for the upcoming 3 day weekend, went as far as calling cruise america, right now the prices are very reduced because of offseason and it was more expensive than a pretty nice hotel by the oceon. The RV was going to be 330 for 3 days and 2 nights and the hotel is 254 and it takes my dogs.

[RICHARD]

I found this site-

http://vacationhomes.com/city_search.cfm?l=535

If you type "Weekly vacation rental, Los Angeles" or something like that you'll get sites to look at.

[anna_66]

Mark and I have already talked about this and "hopefully" we'll be in attendance this year
Can't let you have all the fun

[slick]

Anna, that's just great news. Looking forward to meeting you.

Looking at the growing list of attendees makes me wonder.....

Gini's neighbours thought they had it bad last year....maybe we could set up a few of those mattresses outside the E Museum and move them over there for the weekend.

[Uabassoon]

Anna that's great news! It would be so exciting if you and Mark could make it out!

[dukedogsmom]

I'm already getting excited! Anna, that would be great if you and Mark could come. I can't wait to meet everyone. I've been so envious of all the fun had at the past ones. And, we must have firemen. I'm sure it will all work out. I just need to know if I do need to plan on trying to pay for a hotel room, too. If that will be the case, I need to save up so I can book it and maybe someone can share the room?

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Slick, you gave me a great idea! We get some mattresses set up by the E Museum, then we hire some homeless people to partake of them for a few days. The neighbors will all be so worried nad up in arms about their "new neighbors" that they won't even bother with their old neighbor....who just so happens to be having a ton of people over right now....

[gini]

Got caught up in tax forms again today and just now saw this. Anna and Mark - WOW! I am glad now that I started this thread as early as I did, because all of us can get excited and have this to look forward to.......

I am getting wonderful offers for help - Slick is coming up with some great recipe ideas - Richard is researching accommodation ideas.

Maybe I could call the E Museum and they would allow all of you to stay "inside"...............

The other ridiculous idea that came to my mind is that I buy a bunch of blow up mattresses and line them up in the driveway in the back yard.

One year Laurie wanted to know if I owned a tent. I do, and it was soooooo tempting to set up the tent - and put a sleeping bag in it - and the porta-potty outside........with a big sign 'RESERVED FOR LAURIE' but the tent is a big one - so I never did it.

I just gotta get back to work - more later

[zippy-kat]

Zippy, I was taught the "R in RSVP stood for "Respondez" S'il Vous Plait!

"Respondez So Veryz Politezly," she was a girl of manners afterall (unless, of course, parsley was involved).

[shais_mom]

Mark and I have already talked about this and "hopefully" we'll be in attendance this year
Can't let you have all the fun

sweeeet!
Keep me informed Anna - we might be able to coincide our flights and / or hotels as Last year I flew out of Dayton. And with Kel's living arrangements I probably will be staying in a hotel.