UTMC

(from the mail I sent to the local crew)

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FINALE! Georgetown hardcore pickleball season ending tournament and field day!

It's official.

Saturday, October 17th, Georgetown playfield, 11 AM, rain or shine.

I'm working on a very special trophy this year, too, so everyone is
encouraged to muster their finest performance!

I think we should set up a tailgating sort of arrangement in the
parking lot to the west of the courts, a couple of grills, perhaps?
Snacks encouraged.

Even if you're not interested in the PBall, come for the company and
other fun to be had.

Also, as a new twist, this year will include a bold iteration of ZK
flavored macro obstacle croquet!
There are many ways to play this, but consider these links on
instructables for inspiration:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Crazy-Croquet/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Crazy-C ... Revisited/

I'd like to challenge/encourage everyone to bring
A:) a mallet of their own construction or choice
B:) at least one obstacle/terrain modifying prop to add to the pool.
This can be anything from a couple 2x4's nailed together, to elaborate
ramp systems, spring loaded traps, rings of fire, pendulums of doom,
cinder blocks, a slalom course of staggered gates, or anything else
you might envision!

We'll be using standard sized croquet balls, about 3-4" in diameter,
so design accordingly.

We're going to make this up as we go, but I envision a sort of linked,
non-linear course, with the goal being to attain each "hole" in the
fewest total strokes.
The usual croquet rules apply: pass through a wicket, hole, or hit a
target, and get an additional stroke. knock into an opponent's ball
and either take another stroke, or whack them to kingdom come!


If you like, bring other games as well, ZK's bin o goodies will be
present, but feel free to add your own doodads.

Pass this mail on to any parties you think would be interested, it's
going to be a grand day in the park....

-Iko

"Macro obstacle croquet" sounds like it could be quite entertaining.

...but you cannot imagine my disappointment when I googled it and discovered that "pickleball" has absolutely nothing to do with shriveled-up cucumbers.

Yeah, well the way we play it, it's more about wiffle shaped welts, skinned knees, and whiskey.

This could be a possibility. Maybe cage it down Friday night.

I've been a busy bee, getting stuff built for the croquet game....



"the Particle Accelerator"- slingshot triggered by ball hitting the target








"The Vortex" (it'll look a lot more like a vortex, once I get the graphics done) this one pivots to face a new direction whenever a ball goes over it.




my flaming mallet of might: "Primus Ratio Regum"


Still to come: "The Nomad", a 12 sided polyhedron, with holes in some of the faces, which can be knocked around by balls or the wind.

To be in Seattle.

I'm in. WW, are you around Friday night? Perhaps beverages at the 4.0823 kg Hammer? Couch space at the Haus? As usual I work til 5:30, putting me in G-Town around 9-9:30.

thrasherbill wrote:I'm in. WW, are you around Friday night? Perhaps beverages at the 4.0823 kg Hammer? Couch space at the Haus? As usual I work til 5:30, putting me in G-Town around 9-9:30.

Hmmm . . . I can't make it out Saturday (which is sad, because I used to play a great deal of croquet), but I might be able to come down for beers at the Hammer.

Friday night sounds good for beer and food- and of course Bill, you're welcome to Hanta's finest auxiliary sleeping amenities.

Will the heat be on or shall I bring sub-zero sleeping gear?

I'd bring the gear- even with the heat on, it's pretty cool here in the winter!

Been a busy bee these last couple of weeks, getting ready for Saturday's festivities.

In addition to the plethora of croquet gadgets, I just finished the trophy for the Pickleball tournament:







To the winner go the spoils!

Amazing work. I'm hoping there'll be video for those of us who can't make it.

probably lots of pictures, but I doubt video.

As much fun as we all have, there would still need to be a lot of raw footage edited down to a tidy highlight reel, and none of us are really into video on a casual, daily level.

Some account will be brought forth, worry not!

I'll be leaving right from work tomorrow so WW, I'll give you a call when I'm getting close.

Killer looking trophy and I can't wait to see the obstacles in action... especially the slingshot contraption! I don't think I'll be partaking in the games as I doubt my shoulder could handle it but I will definitely come stand out in the rain and drink beer! Anyone else going to make it to the 4.0823 kg Hammer tomorrow night?

A few pics of the soggy, glorious day












my shirt was completely soaked, and abandoned early in the day









CJP, croquet master





Thrasherbill, FBR, Kam- a bit tardy, but made it to the party eventually





per tradition, the champion must take a whallop from everyone else in the tournament, who gets to keep smacking balls at them from the baseline until they get a hit. Nice welts usually result!


there's more at:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... 061eafc429

Looks like a truly jinglepantz time. Sorry I couldn't make it out. I was hoping to get off early, but clearwire sucks donkey balls. I should get my life back sometime in Nov. <sigh>

Sorry I couldn't make it out Friday night. That must have been a wild ride down for Bill. At times, the rain was coming down so hard, you could barely see.

Thanks for the pics

No riding for me, I drove the Benz down. Even with the wipers on high there were times on the I5 that I could barely see the tail lights in front of me. Not to mention the 4 inches of water on the highway. I'm quite certain if I was on the bike I might not have made it. Worst rain I have seen in a long time.
Another epic weekend for me! Drank til 6am Friday night and slept on a beanbag chair with a girl on each arm. win.
Managed to sleep through most of the rainy field day but did get to see the pickleball finals. Some intense action there!
Saturday night consisted of ridiculously strong mixed drinks, Kam flashing his junk (damn utilikilts!) and visiting Flatline at the bar he does security at. Now I understand why he carries.
Slept til noon Sunday, then met up with CauseforConcern for breakfast and an afternoon punk rock show at the Funhouse followed by burgers at Dick's (yes we put Dick's in our mouths) and beer at a gay karaoke bar. Not gay as in lame or bad but GAY as in there were dudes singing bad love songs and the girls that were with us were the only females in the bar. Apparently CFC hangs out there a lot
Crossed the border into Kanuckistan just after midnight and somehow managed to make it to work on time this morning.
Thanks to all the PNW Cell that put me up and put up with me! See ya'll for the Cretin's Halloween party!

calamari kid wrote:Looks like a truly jinglepantz time. Sorry I couldn't make it out. I was hoping to get off early, but clearwire sucks donkey balls. I should get my life back sometime in Nov. <sigh>

Don't worry, we all know how much Clearwire sucks a big floppy one.