<subliminal messaging still on> ...meat and malbec, meat and malbec, meat and malbec... <subliminal messaging staying on >

We're going to be missing you! But we'll toast a few glasses of Malbec in your direction!

I'm just not going to be able to swing this one after all.
I just couldn't swing the $1,000 plane tickets.
The MR/mini-do that will earn me over 10k for this same weekend is only $150.
While I've got enuf to do an award ticket, at 6'6", I try to save my miles for upgrades. Altho' that might be changing now that AA is slapping on $250 fees for those.And, as the year ends, I'm saving longer trips for AA Plat-recall next year. It sounds like an AWESOME time, and keep me in the loop for an EZE 2005 do.
FYI, for future reference, since I work for a school, my long-haul do's and MR's are better done during 3-day holiday weekends (can't get extra days off otherwise during the school year), when I can at least get outta' the plane for more than an hour or two going that far.
Again, sorry to have to pass on this one---raise a glass for me!!

Quote SweetWillie: "...blah blah blah..."
Quote skye1: "...blah blah blah..."

<subliminal messaging still on> ...meat and malbec, meat and malbec, meat and malbec... <subliminal messaging staying on>

We'll raise plenty for both of you!!!

Well, the Manhattan Beach Do crowd enjoyed getting a phone call from the VERY 'happy' Buenos Aires crowd yest eve. Sounds like you all were having a fabulous time! And yes, per skye1's instructions, we did toast you - even before you called. Cheers. Sharon

Yep. Sounded like the Buenos Aires crowd has/had wasted no time getting down to the business of malbec. I'll look forward to seeing some of you at the Choco-Do next weekend, so bring on those EZE pics. Thanks for the phone call---GREAT hearing from you!
---John/Skye

WOW!!!!!! What can I say other than it was an absolutely incredible weekend!!!!! BsAs rocks and so do bseller & wwbgd ! They were awesome traveling companions & we had a great time together....whether it was baffling the pax around us en route ORD-IAD, coming up with the "gems" of the day (1. Dave, did you want to do that WHSmith run now or on the way to the plane?, 2. Do I get anything special since it's my first time to cross the equator? 3. Oh sh#t, I forgot my man purse! (I guess we know who didn't say that one! )) or enjoying meat & malbec around BsAs. And it was even better since Elvis was able to join us for dinner on Friday and Saturday! ^ The phone call to the SoCal crowd (we had to check up on Skye and make sure he did toast us!) and the msg we left for another FTer was fun and yes, we were, uh, quite "happy" (although Sunday morning wasn't as rough as Saturday morning ) when we called -- remember it was 01:00 in BA!

I ended up taking almost 300 photos After I get them edited (lots of duplicates I'm sure), labeled & uploaded, I'll post a link here. I'll also be doing a trip report & more than happy to e-mail to anyone who would be interested in reading.

I"m suggesting again (we talked about it yesterday) that we make Meat & Malbec Fest an annual tradition!!! I'm also possibly up for a trip in the autumn!

We had fun finally getting hold of you! It just took us a little longer than originally planned since neither my or Elvis' phones were connecting. IIRC we talked with SkiAdcock, skye1, TrojanHorse and newself (thanks to newself for passing on the football score)

So how much malbec did you bring back and are you going to share any of it??

You'll note that I'm sufficiently jealous and have already blocked out mileage (if nobody will give me a pair of SWU to fly United instead ... ) for next year.

Uh, where was MY phone call, Ms. Jelly Belly?

Can you get phone reception in the middle of a casino??

And yeah, no phone calls for us??

Sweet -- you'll love BA!!!!!! I'm suggesting Columbus Day Weekend again (warning, it's a holiday weekend in BA as well)

I brought back 5 bottles and have one more en route We'll not discuss how many bottles we consumed while we were there

I'm not listing the calls we tried to make but didn't get through, King o' Jelly Belly Besides, we had to give Skye1 a bit of grief for not making the trip with us.

If it's C-Day next year, any shot at GOOD fares should be immediately PM'd or Posted to all interested parties....for the interesting party. And, as time gets closer, any thoughts on routings, etc. Another speedbump for me was that flights back (on OW carriers at least) were only overnight flights...it would be nice to find a routing that lets you leave work Fri. AFternoon, and get there EARLY Sat. Morning, then leave there Mon. morning and get home Mon. night. Just my two cents.

I'm sure those of us flying UA & AA will post if there are any decent fares once we get a weekend confirmed. Likewise with the hotel info. You'll find that FTers tend to be pretty good about that.

IIRC, AA routing (ex-ORD) was via GRU.

On UA, the options (routing from the east/midwest) would be via IAD or ORD nonstop into EZE (ORD nonstop service begins the end of October) and current schedules are only via redeyes in both directions. Of course, those are the schedules NOW, we all know how much things can change in a year's time....the only thing I'd expect to be consistent is the redeye part. I'll be more than happy to go into more detail on the timing specifics on Friday if you'd like.

You're welcome Cheryl. Purdue might just end up in the Rose Bowl playing Cal come Jan 1st.