Hey everyone,
I'm really happy that everyone's been enjoying this thread! Aitch and Darren have been doing a great job posting pics and narrating how everything went down....down under
I'm sitting in the LAX lounge with a bit of a layover before getting back to Seattle (I leave on the 23rd for GB) and I need to start putting out some long-overdue thank-you's:
Aitch: A fantastic host. You are such a cool person and I really enjoyed hanging out with you and Pat and your enthusiasm about driving all over Melbourne, to the penguin parade, and hauling Rickenbackers back and forth! Keep watching your mailbox for some Seahawks gear and we'll get you ready for the NFL yet!
Darren: Darren, darren, darren.....on behalf of all of the Mexican maidens I owe you a big thank you to yours and Robyn's fantastic hosting duties as well! I really appreciated your sense of humor and willingness to answer all of my guitar questions. You are a cool dude and you and Robyn are so much fun to be around. You are the 'Rickenbacker Renaissance Man' and don't worry...I'll learn those basslines! Send out the kiddo's anytime!
Greg: Captain TRC! Thanks to you and Andrea for hosting the BBQ! I had a great time at the blues gig with you both (spotting rogue dancers) and joking around. Greg - I'll make sure to send out some aviation stuff as well....have to make sure you are on top of the new hotness!
Ron: My jam session hero! Thanks Ron for rescuing me on all of the impromptu stuff! I had a great time playing and chatting and I hope you get out to the States soon!
Shane: Great talking to you and you are quite the player! Happy to hear about your adventures in the US so far and hope you get a chance to come back and create some new ones!
Joe & Frank: I'm supposed to say that you are both cool guys even though you are Collingwood supporters, but I think you are cool guys nonetheless
In the end, even though this trip was almost two weeks it absolutely flew by. I had an amazing time and a thousand thank-you's goes out to the Aussie Forum Contingent absolutely everything! This was a very special trip and I'll get with some of the US forumites to ensure that I can start to return the favor at this August's confluence!
Everyone has a permanent invitation to Seattle to stay with Zooey (little dog) and I should they find themselves in the area and looking for a place to stay and a tour guide.
Last thank you's go out to Peter (for the forum), JH (for the guitars), and Kenny (because he's Kenny).