PiP Thank yous
 

I just wanted to take the time to send out a heart-felt THANK YOU to all of the people who made the PiP so much fun.

In particular, the committee, but specifically Premex whose tireless efforts not only kept everyone organized and up to date (esp. those not there!) but who spent so much time screwing around on his computer uploading pictures that I had lots of time to get to know Wingless by the pool http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Also to Randy, who was so graceful in his participation and contributions. (It's just too bad he stopped buying drinks as soon as I arrived...perhaps that was no coincidence...)

To everyone who helped plan, helped support, who attended and who watched from afar. Thanks, as they say, for the memories http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

PS: Look for my new PiP-inspired FT handle, coming soon...

Matt, you have us on pins and needles!

Hula Boy? Latecomer? Rudi's shoes?


Tell us!!!

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How do you like my new handle?

Cool!.....How do you like mine?

Now what is a left behind doing under a grass skirt? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

The pictures on the PiP website are very nice -- could someone post captions as well? It would be great to have names <--> faces!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Thanks to all those who did advance planning and to all those who had to do spontanious planing on how best to surgically remove me from that pesky bush that kept jumping out at me.


And a special thanks to the lovely lady who finally woke me up to get to the PIP dinner. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Glad to hear from you auh2o!

Here I am sunning myself and getting needed R-and-R (Rest & Recovery) after the ultimate Party of the Century in Honolulu.

I said it before and I'll say it again: THANK ALL OF YOU because the Party would NOT be the success without your hearts and spirit of adventure and fun (Sorry, the mai tai's are getting to me)

YOU ARE ALL FAMILY TO ME!!! AND THAT'S THE GREATEST GIFT OF THIS BOARD! MAHALO AND I KNOW WE WILL ALL MEET AGAIN! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

AuH20, actually, we thought you had died! And to think, you were just napping. Many others attempted to rouse you before the Lovely Lady succeeded! Welcome back from beyond...and Aloha!

Matt - full of shame after that tennis loss - I am glad to have escaped that fast to Asia - ... and Karen2, your "raising" question could be XXX-rated even here in Asia ...

I try to get through all postings and pictures - but answers may have to wait till I am back to Europe (nov-22).

(greetings from Gisela too - from Singapore right now)

Rouse, as to awaken, or am I making it worse??

Don't forget to take Gisela to the Night Zoo!

I especially want to thank you, Rudi, for the gift of the tennis postcard. As you may or may not have noticed, we did not make it to the tennis match so the gift was appropriate after all! The rain convinced us that the match would be cancelled and, since we both hate red eyes, we left with Punki et al. However, I am thinking of you and Gisela as I nibble Swiss chocolate from the tasting/exchange...

In Bangkok, Gisela would enjoy the buffet on the terrace at the Royal Orchid Sheraton. There is a free boat from the Oriental. We liked Sheraton's dinner better than Oriental's. Freshly prepared seafood, overlooking the river...

Keep us posted on your travels!

Hey Karen, are you freeloading on the Marriott boat to go from the Oriental to the Sheraton? Thank goodness they don't ask for a room key/card! I also actually used it so my son could visit his old friends at the Royal Garden Riverside last year when we stayed at the JW! My wife was appalled saying we should take a water taxi! Too short a trip for a long boat!

Having been a Bangkok disciple at Rudi's knee, I can assure you that he will not be at a loss for things to do and see in BKK. In fact, he once gave me a peek into his vaunted Bangkok Folder. About a foot thick, it was, with things he had done and planned to do there. He even let me photocopy out some of the more interesting stuff.

I only hope Gisela survives Wat Po....

I have a HUGE PIP Thank You to post to Old Gold for my gorgeous new Flyer Talk luggage tag which he so generously delivered to the LAX RCC. (I guess this means I am in the in crowd now. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif Yippie!) It is really wonderful.

Today I took my first Post-PIP trip and was so proud to see my "Flyer Talk - Punki" tag dangling from my briefcase in the overhead compartment. I could tell everyone on the plane was envious as I stood up to tuck the tag in before the FA came bye to close the overhead doors.

The "IN" and truly cool thing in Hawaii, don't you know, was to wear an Old Gold Flyer Talk tag around your neck on a gold chain.

A million thanks Old Gold, I love it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Punki,

Welcome to the very exclusive club! But you need to watch out, since you claim to be 110, you could be a new member of Old Gold's
S.T.I.F.F.'s club!

Wait a minute.............. I didn't claim to be 110, I read it somewhere--so it must be true. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Doc - me freeload on a boat? I might but did not have to. When I was last in Bangkok, the Oriental and Sheraton had the same owners and operated a free boat between the two properties. In fact, the travel desk for both hotels was in the Oriental. Rudi is staying one night at the Oriental and a couple at Marriott - must be the stays!! Is it possible the same firm owns all 3 hotels?? I would say they rule the river! (I know, I know - Shangri-La, etc..)

Hey, Grass Skirt - I read your newly acquired occupation!! Does Rudi know???

Just wanted to say thanks to all the members of the PIP planning committee who did such a wonderful job. And thanks too to everyone who attended the PIP and was kind enough to share part of their holiday with me. As a relatively infrequent visitor to the board I wasn't sure at all what to expect (too many Jenny Jones and Jerry Springer "net" shows I imagine). I found everyone very friendly, interesting and fun! I had a great time and appreciate everything everyone did to make things so nice (even you AUH2O :^P).

Just got back from my extended PIP holiday and I have to give a giant two thumbs up to all who had a hand in making this one heck of a great event. Kudos to PremEx , the initiator, TropicalFlyer, the facilitator, Rudi, the director, Catman, our brother, and Randy, the benefactor. Together they created an atmosphere of family, not just an assembly of errant travellers. I only wish my wife could have been there with me to share this unique experience. I did miss her greatly.

Rick

Amen!!

Thanks to you as well flyme2. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Tonight I went out and bought a French tape. You just never know. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/redface.gif

It was a very successful PIP.

CMDR CATCOP even had a good time, once he put down his badge and had a mai tai.

Somewhat OMNI: You hear all the horror stories about people meeting on the Internet. They are true. But I think we proved that there is at least one baskin (SP?) or safe harbor for intelligent, witty, good hearted people who share more than just earning miles interests to become friends and have fun.

THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME BE PART OF PERHAPS THE GREATEST TRIPS I HAVE EVER BEEN ON (THE OTHER BEING THE MAUI REST AND RECOVERY VACATION!)

bastion

Thanks again to the truly wonderful Committee and to FlyerTalk (especially for all the free drinks http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif)

Marie and I had a great time at the PiP, but needed another vacation when we got back! [Stuck in SFO for three or four hours on the way back compounded the jetlag http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif]

Just back from a wonderful, post-PiP, honeymoon at another paradise - the island of Lanai/Lodge at Koele (thanks for the recommendation Rudi).

Many thanks to the planning committee: TropicalFlyer, Catman, PremEx, and Rudi those of us who were there can imaging how much behind-the-scence you guys had to do, Randy and his wonderful team for hosting so many events and the bag of goodies, and finally to all the friends and weirdos Danielle and I have the chance to meet!

Thank you kyklin for bringing your wonderful bride to Hawaii. She is a truly beautiful woman both inside and out and very much brightened our days at the PIP.

Don't you ever forget how lucky you are.

Congratulations on the nuptials, Ken and Danielle. May you forever live in wedded bliss!

I, too, must add my kudos to the PiP committee of PremEx, TropicalFlyer, Rudi & Catman for what was truly the event of the century. I personally don't think things could've gone much better without the trip becoming dream instead of reality. I had the most wonderful time on this trip and I also thank all the rest of Honolulu gang for all the fun & friendship!! When can we do this again?! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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Regards,
- Anna

OK, Now that I'm out from under the mound of s**t that was waiting for me when I returned from the PIP, here are my Thank Yous:

To the committee of course. Beyond the "nice job" stuff, I wanted to recognize the amazing amount of thought that went into every aspect of the weekend. The quotes in the passport and presents, the welcome baskets, the website, etc. No one would have been dissapointed by the PIP if none of these were done. It speaks to the quality of the individuals (Rudi, PremEx, Catman and TropicalFlyer) all of which I feel honored to know.

To Randy and the crew at Webflyer, who could easily have been upset by the "unsanctioned" nature of the PIP that the attendees demanded, but who instead, participated, generously funded many of the events, and arranged for so many one-of-a-kind goodies. Though Flyertalkers have fun debating how much the "gardner" is responsible for the "beauty of the flowers", no one will ever deny that our community of Flyertalkers would not have existed if Webflyer had not provided the forum on which we all met. My heartfelt thank you.

To Old Gold, the creator and provider of the coveted, treasured, airline scrap metal recycled, engraved, Flyertalk luggage tags. Thank you for taking the time to make one for me. It is already on my carry-on waiting to be recognized.

To all of the nice people we finally met in person, and their multitude of kindnesses (Onefreeman and Raeban who helped us get around and learn about the islands, Punki and Joe who brought the smoked salmon, all of the chocolates brought by everyone). Pulling the silly string out of my hair notwithstanding, I can not remember when Helen and I have had the pleasure of meeting a more terriffic bunch of people. Hopefully, as we all criss-cross the world, we will have many more chances to break bread, toast wine, be assulted by shrubbery and share strategies about miles and points.

To the Hilton Hawaiian Village, who gave me a great upgrade, allowed a very late checkout and treated Helen and I like royalty. I understand I was one of the "lucky" ones, and others were not treated so nicely. Hopefully, my luck will never run out.


Till the next time, Aloha!

[This message has been edited by NJDavid (edited 11-16-1999).]

it was my best (excluding our internal family festivities) party of my life! thank you all for preparing, participating and appreciating! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Also best chocolate! Eh, Rudi?? Sweet memories after arriving home.