I too am on the unable to attend list. That trip to California broke the travel budget (and the new toy acquisition budget) so badly that all I got when I mentioned the Meat-Up was a dirty look. Have fun gang and eat some jambalaya for me.
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OK, I'm booked. I gave up on getting PTO approved, I'm prepared to quit this job so what the hey? I am booked at the Homewood Suites in Lafayette from Thurs 26 through Sat 28, I will wander away sometime Sunday afternoon. I may not show up on any AR agenda list, as I booked with Hilton miles instead of the link. If it isn't too late to add to the airboat thingie on Sat, add me. Otherwise, I can find my way around this planet, have vehicle and Visa card and a reasonable sense of direction. Look forward to meeting you all there.
Oh, and hey Draznnl, want me to swing by and pick you up? Road trips with me are a bit of a trial, but I would do it.Comment
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Unfortunately I am going to have to back out again. This time I have a cruise scheduled with the new boo at the beginning of December. I can't do both, and while you guys are ok, I'ma have to choose her.Comment
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I just saw this for the first time. Doesn't matter, 'cause I can't come. The hits just keep coming. We have a huge tree right by our back door. Monday my wife noticed a branch was splitting off. A guy who has cone some renovating for us gave us a name, and his name to drop. Got them there that afternoon. They were going some other jobs back and come back on Wednesday. Tuesday I sent them a pic showing how much worse it had gotten overnight. They were at our house a half hour later. Took the top off the branch, and the split pretty much closed back up. They came back yesterday and finished taking off the branch, but when they aren't already completely booked we will have the rest of the tree taken down. At least now I know where I'm going to put the new patio. But between the branch, the rest of the tree, sewer issues I'm still waiting to find out the costs on, and new windows being installed in November, I'm getting tapped out. However, considering they dropped others to take care of us, and by paying cash, they gave me a pretty good deal.
Maybe someday.Comment
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Bummer! I have had half a dozen or so trees taken down over the years and they can be a real budget biter, especially 30’+ pine trees. I hope the sewer issue isn’t replacing then entire sewer line, because that could be like taking down multiple trees. -
This was a big hackberry. The branch was bigger than any of the eleven or so trees on the property. Still have one of the last elms, and a number of ash. Starting a long term relationship with this guy. I've been waiting over two months to find out if the whole line needs to be replaced. Now I've made contact with an outfit that does pipe lining, but I'm outside their usual area.
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IMPORTANT UPDATES TO THE PREVIOUSLY POSTED REDUNDANT UPDATES! …….
Alrighty folks, we’re getting closer to go time for the Cajun Country MeatUp! Only 6 more weeks until the most highly anticipated get together ever known to man! We’ve got 2 more weeks that The Homewood Suites will guarantee a room for anyone attending. After that they will release the rooms they’ve blocked off for us to the general public. You might still get a room after that, but it’s not guaranteed. If you’re interested in going but haven’t booked a room yet, just git off your ass and do it!….
BOOK YOUR ROOMS WITH THE LINK IN THE POST BELOW…….
IF YOU’RE FLYING IN…….
Lafayette has a small regional airport, info. follows.
DESTINATIONS AND AIRLINES
Lafayette has three (3) passenger airlines servicing four (4) U.S. cities.
• American flies to Dallas, Charlotte, and beyond.
• Delta flies to Atlanta and beyond.
• United flies to Houston and beyond.
At least 18 domestic flights leave LFT daily.
HERE’S THE PLANS FOR THE WEEKEND…..
Thursday October 26……..Check in at the hotel. Meet up and Happy Hour downstairs 4:30 - 6:30 ish. We can discuss dinner plans for the night at that time. I’ll have a short list of nearby restaurants for us to choose from, including a good Mexican Restaurant for anyone in the mood for margaritas and nachos! Feel free to dine wherever you like though. Thursday will be the time for everyone to get to know each other, or to get re-acquainted.
Friday October 27…….Coffee downstairs in the hotel. Complimentary hot breakfast buffet.Don’t get too excited though, it’s just standard hotel food.
For anyone interested, we can take a short 35 minute drive to Avery Island for a tour of the Tabasco Farm and Factory. There’s a museum, gift shop and restaurant on premises as well. The food is supposed to be pretty good and we can have lunch there if you want. The walking self guided tour lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. Just down the street from there is Jungle Gardens. This is a beautiful place where you can walk through, or drive through….or a combination of walking and driving. There’s 14 parking areas throughout the gardens. Self guided tour lasts 1-2 hours, depending on your mode of travel. Ticket price is $15.50 and includes both the Tabasco and Jungle Garden Tours. If this doesn’t float your boat, I’ll have several other places of interest for folks.
I’ve got us reservations at the highly regarded Poorboys Riverside Inn for dinner Friday night….6:30 ish. Excellent Cajun food with beautiful grounds and a turtle pond! Feed their resident raccoons after dinner….
Saturday Oct. 28……This is the big day folks…the swamp tour on an airboat! I’ve got us a boat or 2 reserved for 11:30 am. The company is Atchafalaya Airboat Swamp Tours, located about 25 minutes from Lafayette. Tickets are $60. per person, discounted $5.00 off their regular prices. The tour lasts about 90 minutes and we’ll need to arrive 15 minutes early for a brief orientation, they also have restrooms and a bar onsite. No need for any mosquito repellent, they are not a problem I’ve been assured. For the 4 losers who don’t want to go, 😉 I’ll have a list of other things you can do. 11:30 am was the only slot they had left when I called yesterday. I’ll find us a good breakfast spot for those who want to eat ahead of time. If you decide to eat lunch after the swamp tour [it’s over at 1:00] there’s 2 really good restaurants near the swamp tour company.
Saturday night we’ve got reservations at Prejean’s Cajun Restaurant in Broussard, only about 15 minutes from the hotel. Live Cajun music outside on their patio and delicious Cajun food inside. Guaranteed to be a good time Cher!
Don’t forget to bring your ice chests, there’s a ton of good mom and pop meat markets nearby! Stock up on boudin, Tasso, stuffed pork chops, Andouille and other sausages, alligator etc. and all types of Cajun spices and goodies. Remember, all of our rooms come with a small kitchen and a full size fridge with freezer too, you can store some of your stash there if needed.
As a side note here, there will be swag bags handed out to each attendee after arriving on Thursday. Rumor has it there could be Cajun Country MeatUp coffee mugs included….
Also, I’ll be starting a Cajun MeatUp Travel Post the Tuesday before, for everyone that’s attending, to post pics and commentary about their travels to the MeatUp. Dis gonna be fun Cher!!Last edited by Panhead John; October 7, 2023, 01:55 PM.Comment
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So the cruise has changed from a 7 day cruise to a 4 day affair. Meaning I may still be in the game. I still have my hotel reservation...Comment
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Since we’ll be stuffing ourselves on Cajun food all weekend, I asked Danielle at The Visitors Center for a few of her favorite Mexican restaurants……as a possibility for Thursday night. Here’s one authentic Mexican place she suggested, La Pagua…..ten minutes from the hotel.
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Thanks Beefchop , that’s even better coming from a local…and a Pit Member! Hopefully we’ll get to see you next month, if even for just a while.
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Looks like a great time. Thanks again for the work involved in setting this trip up for everyone. I can't wait !
laissez les bons temp rouler !Comment
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My pleasure Purc ! Glad you’re going and look forward to meeting you..👍 -
We had a few more people that mentioned they would like to come if possible. Just from memory it was Sid P , Michael_in_TX and LA Pork Butt That would be awesome if y’all can make it guys! -
Panhead John I’m not going to make it, as I need to see family in Atlanta instead. The good news is it will still be a BBQ weekend.
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This morning I was reminded that I have a cousin getting married in Chicago right after this event. My plan was to skip the wedding. I am not getting married and I don't particularly enjoy weddings. But now my son is on the program. Speaking, not just a grooms man (is that what it is called?). Dammit!!!!Comment
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Only 19 more days till the Cajun Country MeatUp! There’s still rooms available and seats on the airboat for the swamp tour. If there’s anyone else who’d like to go, jump on in! It’s gonna be a good time fer shur! Here’s the link with more info. and where you can book your room.
If a swamp tour, delicious Cajun food and the camaraderie of fellow Pit Members wasn’t enough, check this out……
The Lafayette Visitors Center has arranged for each attendee to receive a swag bag of goodies upon arrival. Included in each bag will be a commemorative coffee mug for everyone, courtesy of the man himself, Meathead . Thanks for your generosity Meathead, we appreciate it!
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I have the T-shirts!Comment
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Have a great time folks, I'll try and make a meat-up trip one day. Can we have 1 in north Ontario? Here's your theme song...."gulf coast gypsies on the run." https://youtu.be/elTNtk4h1NY?si=3cxbNeUbYHyA_DzNComment
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Good morning Locotech Folks can have a MeatUp wherever and whenever you want. It’s just a matter of someone throwing the idea out there and then someone putting it together. Ontario is unfortunately out of my jurisdiction……😉😂
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I have been debating all day about what to say here, but I just have to go ahead. I think the chances of my making it to the Meat Up are very unlikely right now. A terrible thing happened to an old friend this week, her husband, son and grandson were in a very bad auto accident late Monday. Sunny day, interstate speed, no traffic hitches, her husband driving, son in front passenger and grandson in back of SUV. They simply ran off the road, into a ditchy thing, rolled a couple times and into some trees. Witnesses that stopped said no brake lights, no skid or skid marks, ? of what actually happened. Husband very critically wounded, son very badly so. Husband never woke up from catastrophic head injury, and was removed from ventilator this afternoon (he never took a breath, has now officially died.) Son has many serious injuries, will have a long haul to recover, doesn't remember anything about what happened right now. Grandson, age 1.5, in car seat in back and buckled up correctly, is miraculously unhurt. They are in Virginia, I am in Florida, Meat Up is in Louisiana.
Husband funeral being tentatively planned for Thursday afternoon, graveside Fri am, or both Friday. A very old friend, I can't not go, I was one of her first phone calls when it happened. I can't go on a fun vacay instead. I've spent the afternoon at work, completely distracted, trying to jigsaw together a way to do both. Fly to Virginia, then fly to Louisiana Fri pm and be there for Sat and Sun am? Hard to make sense. Go to Louisiana, then fly to Va on Fri am, back Fri night or Sat am? I am off work tomorrow, will be getting the latest info, and will continue to try to Tetris a solution, but it doesn't look too good right now.
Panhead John, I can take care of the hotel, but I need to know what to do if I need to cancel the airboat. I can call, and can pay if it is too late to cancel, if you just let me know who and how to reach.
Panhead John or CandySueQ , I ordered a shirt, and I know the rules. Have to attend. I will pay for my shirt, if you let me know how much and where to send. I will leave to your discretion to give to someone who attends.
I hate this, I hate the situation, and I hate what has happened to my friend and her family. I hate that I need a vacation, and wanted to meet you guys and talk/eat some food, and I hate the fact that something so awful has happened to people I really love. Can't be helped, still hoping for some kind of miraculous solution but I know that won't happen. So, sorry I will miss it, I will be there in spirit.Comment
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