EDIT: But let me remind everyone, the trip probably won't be quite so central to Chicago as the California trip was to California. I live about 2.5 hours from Chicago. Not that we can't go to Chicago and also utilize to my place, but just making sure everyone understands the slight travel involved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~UPDATED 3/23~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Updated list of people saying they're up to going to Michigan (Andrew's place):
Ryan
Bruce
Jake
Andrew
Mario
Jacqueline
Since Ryan is the only person to put down any specific times that work for him, he's listed the absolute earliest he can arrive is August 22nd, and he can stay til Sept. 3rd. For me, since I'll be traveling with Eric, his first day of classes actually starts on the 24th, meaning.. I would actually prefer to leave sometime on the 22nd. I propose a compromise! If all of this is okay with Andrew... maybe we could just have that weekend designated to all meet up, whenever we can. Eric and I can show up and mingle with everyone all Friday night (the 21st), sleep in Saturday until Ryan gets in, briefly meet him, and then we'd have to leave to drive all night and pretty much all day Sunday. MEANWHILE everyone else can continue the get-together until... well, I was going to suggest the 24th, but that's really up to Andrew.
This is assuming everyone else would be okay with at least one of the days that weekend. Maybe to make things easier, people could meet up in Chicago either Friday or Thursday or something and then take that train to Andrew's place? I'll be wanting to drive myself, but that might work out better for others.
SUM UP DATE: weekend of August 21st to the 24th, give or take a few days depending on peoples' responses to this.
LOCATION: Kalamazoo, Michigan, with Andrew and Megan
Andrew, is all of this sounding okay to you? Everyone else, think you can pull this off?
My time is semi-flexible. I am available for any of those times, but I can't float around the entire two weeks. I have to go home and see my family during that time too. I intend to spend at least a couple days, up to a week or so, at Andrew's place. So, we should really try to make it that first weekend anyway.
You know, I haven't even consulted Andrew about this. I should do that sometime.
I've always said my time is fully flexible (as I can use vacation time), with the important caveat that I'll need to know the specific dates soon so I can put in the proper requests. Nail down some dates, people!
These dates sound good to me. I'm going to have to cut it off at the VERY latest at August 31st, because I think classes start near the first of September. But the 10 day period of August 21-August 31 sounds good to me. I'll probably quit my summer job by that point and just laze around entertaining you bums. =D
If I can build up the nerve to crawl out from under my rock I could possibly show up as well. Like Mario, I'd need to know solid dates for vacation time.
So! I fail at planning. Our friends' wedding is on the 22nd of August... we'll be gone the entire day. So people won't be able to be at our place. Bummer... can we move it up a weekend, or is this weekend the only one available?
The wedding throws a wrench... kinda. But with some creative planning, I think we can work around it.
So, Ryan will hopefully arrive in Chicago by plane on the 21st. This gives him time to get out to Michigan by that night. Or we could take him back with us if we're in Chicago that day. Whatever.
On the 22nd, people can just use our house while we're gone. I trust Ryan with my life, so he'll be our caretaker in our absence. We would only be gone for the day, probably back that night. So it will just be like a temporary hotel room, but free! And with fun stuff to do in it.
So, what does everyone think? This really doesn't change anything... only means Ryan may be with us for longer than originally anticipated and that Megan and I would be gone for one of the days.
Admittedly, this plan only works if Ryan can get a flight out one day earlier, so we still have an unknown variable here.
I'm pretty much okay with this, although this means I'm going to have to buy my ticket in the very near future to make sure everyone else can plan accordingly.
I am going to start preparing as though we're going through with this. Everyone else for keeping the date as Aug. 21~24ish say AYE!
I also have a bit more definitive of a plan in mind:
Before the 21st: Anyone is welcome to crash at our place in lieu of getting a hotel near Chicago.
21st: Everyone meets in Millennium Park in Chicago on the 21st... maybe at like noon or something. Also, recommended that you drive to a train station in the Chicago suburbs and take the train in instead of driving in... I can point out specific stations with parking that would be appropriate. We spend the day in Chicago, seeing whatever. We leave in the afternoon/evening, picking up Ryan wherever we can and taking him back to Michigan with us. That evening we pick up some beer and spirits (there's a GREAT store for microbrews and unusual liquors here, we'll hit them up) and make a night of it.
22nd: Everyone can just chill at our place while me and Megan are gone. Ryan will be our trustee. Lauren and Eric will most likely leave in the afternoon.
After the 22nd: Ryan will be staying for a while I think, so people can just chill until they're ready to go, we can take people to bus or train stations whenever.
So, if this plan works out, how does everyone fit in as far as where you're coming from, mode of transportation, and dates of arrival and departure and all that?
21st is hangin in Chicago, that evening we're drivin to Michigan, staying the 22nd until Andrew gets back, and then everything as the original plans goes?
If this is totally okay with you (Andrew, Megan and Ryan), then I say AYE!
OH and I think we'll be driving to your house, so if everyone else is taking the train we could take Ryan and show up a little before everyone else to unlock things, haha.
Totally okay with me... I wish I could hang out on the 22nd, but oh well, this will still be fun.
Though I wouldn't necessarily make you stay until I got back... this is something of a "good ol' country wedding" so it may last a while... this certainly isn't a cake and punch reception.
If you need to leave us all homeless for a day or 2 it wouldn't be the end of the world. I'd find a motel room somewhere and anyone would be free to crash there. Or I could bring a tent and we could all cuddle. These are just little details now. As long as we all have a location and time to hang out, I say we're golden.
I will be flying into O'Hare International Airport (Airport code ORD). Andrew, are there other airports that may be more convenient for domestic flights?
EDIT: Actually, there's an international airport really close to here.. Gerald R. Ford International Airport. It's in Grand Rapids, MI, which is just 45 minutes north of Kalamazoo. That would be a good flight destination for everyone.
That is, depending on your plans. If you plan on crashing here BEFORE or AFTER the Chicago trip, by all means fly in to Grand Rapids and we'll pick you up. IF, however, you plan on arriving DURING the Chicago trip, you'd probably want to fly in to O'Hare.
Okay, possible slight change of plans on my entry.
I might be flying to Grand Rapids instead of Chicago. Flying to Chicago is damn expensive in August, and I might be able to save myself about $500 bucks by connecting in Detroit and flying to Grand Rapids instead.
If I do that, I'm not sure how the meet up in Chicago thing will pan out. I will try to get my ticket secured in the next week or two. After that I will let you all know so you can plan your flights accordingly.
I think I'm going to drive out. I now know my schedule for the rest of the year, so i'm putting in for vacation tomorrow or Wednesday. We're positive about this date?
Comments
EDIT: But let me remind everyone, the trip probably won't be quite so central to Chicago as the California trip was to California. I live about 2.5 hours from Chicago. Not that we can't go to Chicago and also utilize to my place, but just making sure everyone understands the slight travel involved.
I mean, Aye!
You know, I haven't even consulted Andrew about this. I should do that sometime.
Disregard earlier post about weekend, it is now back on the table for discussion
The wedding throws a wrench... kinda. But with some creative planning, I think we can work around it.
So, Ryan will hopefully arrive in Chicago by plane on the 21st. This gives him time to get out to Michigan by that night. Or we could take him back with us if we're in Chicago that day. Whatever.
On the 22nd, people can just use our house while we're gone. I trust Ryan with my life, so he'll be our caretaker in our absence. We would only be gone for the day, probably back that night. So it will just be like a temporary hotel room, but free! And with fun stuff to do in it.
So, what does everyone think? This really doesn't change anything... only means Ryan may be with us for longer than originally anticipated and that Megan and I would be gone for one of the days.
Admittedly, this plan only works if Ryan can get a flight out one day earlier, so we still have an unknown variable here.
I am going to start preparing as though we're going through with this. Everyone else for keeping the date as Aug. 21~24ish say AYE!
I also have a bit more definitive of a plan in mind:
Before the 21st: Anyone is welcome to crash at our place in lieu of getting a hotel near Chicago.
21st: Everyone meets in Millennium Park in Chicago on the 21st... maybe at like noon or something. Also, recommended that you drive to a train station in the Chicago suburbs and take the train in instead of driving in... I can point out specific stations with parking that would be appropriate. We spend the day in Chicago, seeing whatever. We leave in the afternoon/evening, picking up Ryan wherever we can and taking him back to Michigan with us. That evening we pick up some beer and spirits (there's a GREAT store for microbrews and unusual liquors here, we'll hit them up) and make a night of it.
22nd: Everyone can just chill at our place while me and Megan are gone. Ryan will be our trustee. Lauren and Eric will most likely leave in the afternoon.
After the 22nd: Ryan will be staying for a while I think, so people can just chill until they're ready to go, we can take people to bus or train stations whenever.
So, if this plan works out, how does everyone fit in as far as where you're coming from, mode of transportation, and dates of arrival and departure and all that?
If this is totally okay with you (Andrew, Megan and Ryan), then I say AYE!
OH and I think we'll be driving to your house, so if everyone else is taking the train we could take Ryan and show up a little before everyone else to unlock things, haha.
Though I wouldn't necessarily make you stay until I got back... this is something of a "good ol' country wedding" so it may last a while... this certainly isn't a cake and punch reception.
I will be flying into O'Hare International Airport (Airport code ORD). Andrew, are there other airports that may be more convenient for domestic flights?
EDIT: Actually, there's an international airport really close to here.. Gerald R. Ford International Airport. It's in Grand Rapids, MI, which is just 45 minutes north of Kalamazoo. That would be a good flight destination for everyone.
That is, depending on your plans. If you plan on crashing here BEFORE or AFTER the Chicago trip, by all means fly in to Grand Rapids and we'll pick you up. IF, however, you plan on arriving DURING the Chicago trip, you'd probably want to fly in to O'Hare.
I might be flying to Grand Rapids instead of Chicago. Flying to Chicago is damn expensive in August, and I might be able to save myself about $500 bucks by connecting in Detroit and flying to Grand Rapids instead.
If I do that, I'm not sure how the meet up in Chicago thing will pan out. I will try to get my ticket secured in the next week or two. After that I will let you all know so you can plan your flights accordingly.