By Firefly on Monday, April 24, 2000 - 12:19 am:

Hah, first out to comment.. It kicked ass!! 

thx AJ
//FF

By Whoami on Monday, April 24, 2000 - 02:33 pm:

It ruled!!!

1) Ajedrez -- Thanks for hosting another great bughouse gathering at his house(s) (where buggers go when they die --> bug heaven). 

2) Firefly -- Thanks for bring me Snufs (it burns in my mouth) and kicking my ass in bug. 

3) GusMcClain -- "SHEDEAD!! BITCH IS DEAD!! SHUT YOUR MOUTH!! WOOOO OH SHIT!!" comments during 1 0 bug (you made my stomach hurt for laughing too hard). 

4) GusMcClain (2) -- Thanks for giving Blackcomb (my opponent) QQRRNNNBPPP and me (BP) in one of our bug games (not to mention all those other 1 0 bug games where you didn't pass me any pieces) :P 

5) Zap & Sheena -- Thanks for the ping pong exhibition and those bug musics! 

6) Ajedrez's dogs -- Thanks for walking on me while I was sleeping. 

7) InasaneManiac -- Thanks for letting me steal his pieces and those great 1 0 bug games. 

8) Mori -- go back to sleep! 

9) Psychic -- go to sleep with Mori :P 

10) Kingwalker -- Trailer king. 

11) GhostShell -- Slow down you are too fast :P 

12) SuperGrover -- Try to find your free ticket faster next time :P 

13) Blackcomb, Chundragon, and Wade -- Seattle rules (in ping pong) :P 

14) Ajedrez's house staff -- Thanks for your great services. 

Thank you all for such a fun bughouse gathering experience! 

WhoAmI

By Zap on Monday, April 24, 2000 - 09:30 pm:

another great time in San Jose!! 

Thanx AJ...and to all the buggers that made it such a FUN TIME!!! 

let's hammer out the details for Aug...I'm renting a bus and road tripping to San Jose...anyone need a RIDE..already picking up PureBugger!!!

By Sheena on Tuesday, April 25, 2000 - 05:32 am:

I guess I've already commented on the gathering in my notes, but... 

It was _awesome_! I'm glad I could finally make it, and boy was it worth the trip! You guys are so cool! 

And... for the first time in my life, I got a painful sunburn. Now I scratch my nose and reminisce immediately about all the sunshine and mostly beautiful weather we had out there :) 

Ajedrez: a million thanks for hosting this (and letting us stay over!) and getting everyone together like that. You've made it all possible, year after year. Thanks also for the tour of your property ;) 

WhoAmI: you sneaky bastard! Stealing pieces when your opponent wasn't looking! :) You rock! You were radiating happiness and kept the atmosphere there so wonderfully light with your infectious laugh! 

SuperGrover: you blatant bastard! Stealing pieces when everyone _was_ looking! :) You suck! ;) Thanks for coming (go go last minute decisions!) and providing me with a wonderful first impression by immediately taking a "nice" picture of me while I was still groggy ;P 

Firefly: you are way cool! Thanks for being patient with my play and constantly encouraging me. Your skill as my partner made me look good! And thanks for going easy on me when you were my opponent :) 

Mori: as Ajedrez said, "It's dinnertime, do you think we should wake him up?" Well... you still crushed me when you _did_ get up! 

Kingwalker: what can I say? Good food and you provided good company. We had some excellent conversations. You've given me a whole new perspective on the objective of bughouse :) 

GhostShell: Let us in! Let us in! _No_, we don't want to kick you out! Oh... sorry for waking you up :) 

GusMcClain: What can I say? I think WhoAmI covered it all... :) 

AtomicDog and Profligate: You guys really should have stuck around long enough so I could badger you! 

Wade: of _course_ I partner unrateds... and certainly ones who can beat me up on the board. We won against some pretty big guns together! 

Chundragon: We took on some big guys together, too, and had a fun time partnering up. Now we just need to convince you to return to fics. 

Blackcomb: It was neat watching you and firefly blast the ball at each other in ping pong. Also, it was amusing that you wore a "Blackcomb" shirt each day to remind us who you were :) 

leaf: It was neat to see one of the former bug lords come out from his hiding place to once against challenge the big guys. 

mrl: You had a pretty nifty fortress around your king. I must have sac'ed the world to even come close to attacking you! 

Skeezerflabbs and Chris: Thanks for dropping in and taking the tour of ajedrez's property with me. I don't think I'm quite comfortable with sliding down the hill yet, but it was fun! 

Psychic: We had fun hunting down drivers for ajedrez's monitor and fighting over the computer. Thanks also for dropping by, and I'm sorry I didn't stick around long enough Saturday. 

InsaneManiac: you and I think alike, making those priceless x-ray moves. I think I saw you beat up on everyone at one time or another, and bring out quite a bit of cheese against people. 

Zap: My love, thanks for convincing me that the trip would be worth it, and taking me there. Thanks for missing out on the action Saturday night to join me in resting when I wasn't feeling well. Thanks for being ultra-cool and supportive of my play, always. 

By Blackcomb on Tuesday, April 25, 2000 - 12:10 pm:

What can I say, an incredibly spent time! First of all, many thanks to Ajedrez for his unbelievable hospitality. Thanks to Firefly for his coming to US and making this gathering possible :) And thanks to all other people who came and made it such a good time. Not to mention WhoAmI who flagged me in that 1 0 game when I had QQRRNNNBPPP vs his BP ;) 

Almost forgot to mention TheRock who made me laugh so hard it still hurts :)

By SuperGrover on Wednesday, April 26, 2000 - 04:20 pm:

Hi everyone! 

Although, I was only able to attend the gathering for 1 1/2 days, the trip was definitely well worth it! I had an awesome time!!!!!! 

Thank you ajedrez for another spectacular gathering! 

Thank you Sheena for drooling. 

Thank you InsaneManiac for telling me to die. 

Thank you GusMcClain for teaching me what true over-the-board bughouse trash talking is all about.

Thank you Zap for the collector quarters -- Now I have extra change to play video games :) 

Sorry Blackcomb for cheaping you, but WhoAmI taught me how to do it.  So it's ALL HIS FAULT! :) 

I'm grateful for the opportunity to finally meet you all!: chundragon, Psychic, GusMcClain, Skeezerflabbs, Wade, mrl, sheena, Firefly, Blackcomb 

Thank you all for an incredibly great time! 

P.S. 

----  PimpDaddy GhostShell - DAMN IT! I MISSED YOU AT THE GATHERING BY ONLY SEVERAL HOURS! That is unacceptable! This must never happen again! 

---- A word to those skeptics out there who believe that chess is too boring to televise: They obviously haven't seen The People's Champion: Gus "The Rock" McClain play over-the-board bughouse! Believe me, GusMcClain playing otb bughouse on TV would receive significantly higher ratings than Jerry Springer. :)

By Atomic Dog on Wednesday, April 26, 2000 - 06:40 pm:

That was an awesome experience. Everyone was really cool and I'll try to make it again next year. Too bad I couldn't meet everyone but maybe next time. Thanks to Ajedrez for hosting the gathering again. Thanks to Profligate for giving me a ride when I jokingly, randomly asked ch 24 if anyone could give me a ride. Anyone who missed getting a chance to badger me can try to catch me next time.

By Kingwalker on Wednesday, April 26, 2000 - 10:37 pm:

Add a message when "almost" all has been said seems boring but I'll try to "spice it" a little bit: 

Sheena: Wait until I post the picture I took of you sleeping (and retouch it a little bit)... you will probably come to next gathering just to kill me!! :) 

WAI: Now... can you accept that YOU SNORE??!! I have been telling you for a long time and you denied it!!! :) 

Zap, Blackcomb, Chundragon and FF: where and when can I take Ping Pong lessons?? I pay with "king walking lessons"!! 

GhostShell: I think you've got the idea... when in doubt, GO FORWARD with your king!! 

Ajedrez: Chuick! Chuick! (kissing ass to my boss) but this trip he DID NOT beat me at Age of Empires II. 

AtomicDog and Profligate: coming only 1 day was DUMB (besides, I forgot to ask Profligate why his "Brazil" T-shirt) 

Supergrover: YOu waited so long to ask me to write something here??? I could have done it form AJ's house (mostly when I came back to Oregon just today, Wednesday) 

Wade: From a BIG FISH, who froze when he didn't know what to do, to a "normal" fish that keeps on moving even if it was a shitty move. YOU IMPROVED in those few days!! Keep improving (i may partner you then and make you lose your "hard-earned" points) 

And LAST and CERTAINLY Least, GusMcClain: YOU SUCK!! Let me tell you that there is a price on your head from the staff at AJs (the supervisor "used to sleep" above the garage and he couldn't thx to you.) Also, I was told by a professional that "this guy has a problem!!" (like if we didn't know!!) Besides the fact that YOU SUCK!!, I don't want to bragg, but the fact that: "I BEAT YOU AND MORI ALONE IN SIMUL 1-0 OTB" I think it says it all!! Don't worry, I don't hate you! I just tell it like I feel it!! :) 

The biggest (and only) problem with this gathering is that NOW, when I return at home, I have to cook and I'm FAR behind the kind of delicious food we were served over there!! 

Well, I think that this cover most of the "real" stuff in this gathering (not only the "Thx" part) OH! I forgot MORI!!... OK, I don't worry, he won't wake up til after his 12 hours of sleep anyway!! 

If I forgot somebody... don't worry and smile!! I could have said something nasty of you!! :) 

Insanemaniac!! You were hoping I forgot you!!??? DREAM ON!!! Your YOU SUCK! and different phrases with similar content didn't wash when your eyes had tears when you said your "goodbyes"!! And don't be a Shitty One and post a message here!!! 

I may come back with another comments but I think that this is the most important staff I can remember now. 

Thx to all and let's keep "bugging the world"!!

By Psychic on Thursday, April 27, 2000 - 01:41 am:

In reverse alphabetical order, sorted by handle name. 

Zap - Dude, you gave the event a "Blair Witch Project" feel with your on-camera interviews. And you're a lucky man to have a girlfriend who plays killer bug. But you know this. :) 

Whoami - Dude, I answered the call when you said "I need a partner. Anyone with a pulse will do." You are the ultimate partner, and you're always so calm, cool, and in control no matter who you are playing. Unless you're watching Gus that is. :) 

P.S. If anyone is sleeping with Mori It's YOU big guy.. Mori told me how he is your "little white teddy bear". You'd better hope your wife doesn't read this bugboard! 

Wade: Dude, you rock! You HAVE to get a FICS account and play more often, you have lots of talent and you KNOW it's a fun game. 

Supergrover: Hmm.. its three in the morning.. we are all too tired to even move... LET'S BUG!! Dude your bug addiction has reached epic levels. I just hope one day I can last more than 9 moves against you without you thrashing my opening position. :) 

Sheena: Truly the queen of bughouse. I must admit, you play pretty damn good for a 10 year old. You have a quick wit, an awesome smile, and you play a great bughouse game. Zap must think he's dreaming sometimes. 

Mori: Dude, how nice you of you to wake up for dinner. I guess moving so quickly must take a toll on your metabolism. Seriously, thanks for being my mentor on FICS and for offering to partner with me online. 

Kingwalker: The brazilian gentlemen always knew the right thing to say. After speaking with you, I have come to agree with you that the night shift SUCKS ASS. 

Leaf: I'm glad you made it! Now I can brag that I met the "old school" bug GM who told me the story behind how he invented the leaf gambit. Good luck with your upcoming project! 

InsaneManiac: Thanks for totally thrashing me like 6 games in a row, only to lose the seventh game in grand fashion. Remember: If you are my opponent and want to dial my psychic hotline, just dial "D" for DEATH. 

Gus McClain: What everyone says about you is true... truly you are the People's Champion. I loved it when we partnered, I told you "No knight! No knight!" and you said "Oh, Yeah?" and then traded your knight! Then when I got mated you complained to Supergrover "Hey, but you didn't win on this board!". Dude I busted up laughing. You kicked ass, it was wonderful meeting you. 

Ghostshell: You lucky bastard! Two weeks of playing with Firefly! It was great meeting you in person. Take care buddy. 

Firefly: Wow, you were a gentlemen and a treat to watch as you dismantled player after player in creative new ways. You are as dangerous with 2 pawns and a knight as other people are with 2 queens and a knight. Thanks for the games! 

Chundragon: Thanks for being a patient and observant partner. Come back to FICS! You know you want to. :) 

Blackcomb: Didnt get to play you or partner you, but I watched your games, they were always a fierce battle. 

And finally, 

Adjedrez: Thank you SO much for your hospitality and for hosting the best bughouse event ever! Your house kicks ass! What a view, especially at night. I agree that we should form a bughouse club in San Jose. I'll try to scrounge up 3 people who can meet monthly to play some bug. Just remember: Bellarmine rules! 

Thanks to all the moo moos, yahoos and jabronis who I forgot to mention due to my feeble memory. See you all at the next event!

Psychic