Monday, October 03, 2005


Well it’s about that time.

The Brewster clan is stateside and somewhat settled. Everyone else is married and has a traveling partner if not several smaller companions as well. And for the moment we’re all gainfully employed enough for some sort of travel.

It’s time for a homecoming as the Baptists like to say.

Motions are already on the floor for a spring or summer reunion.Here is the short list of things to consider.

Location…Montgomery is where it all began and where ½ half of our extended family lives so it’s easy to shack up together and retread old stomping grounds. But other locations should be considered for points of interest and travel needs.

Time…The spring / summer time frame works for planning and can accommodate work and schooling schedules long with the hopes that the weather will be pleasant if not exceptionally humid.The floor is now open for discussion. 3-day, 4-day???

52 comments:

Diana said...

AMEN

Mat Brewster said...

I'm thinking more like 4 days. Its a good 10 hour+ trip for the Brewsters and I'd rather stay awhile after making it.

As far as time goes I'm thinking either spring break or early summer. Di, when is your spring break? With any luck yours and Amys will be the same.

If not early summer is the thing. We have no freaking idea what we're doing. Amy is done with Phd courses in May. She has talked about staying another year to do some TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) work. But she will definitely have to get a job.

Depending the job will either be go work at Target while you take classes, or find a job somewhere at a university using your degree.

bigsip said...

hey, everybody come on down!

yeah, we had all better start planning now. there is much to do!

mullinz8 said...

Just to throw it out there no one likes the idea of doing something in Chattanooga or Gatlinburg.

They both have plenty of things to see and do (insert Jamison contradiction here) and are somewhat cheap and offer a lot of places to stay.

I hate to be "that" guy but once things are figured out we'll most likely stay at a hotel or something. With two kids we'll need the extra space. Plus Isaac can't travel out of town anymore without being able to jump between the beds. Frankly I hate to deny him the memories or the potential broken arm.

What about a beach? I know the Stubbs and Chuck may not be hip to the whole idea but four days in a hotel could as easily be spent on the sun surf and sand as in stuffy old Mont-boring.

Plus we could all cut costs by getting a larger place where we could all fit.
I will always say Gatlinburg, not because of the city but because I loved staying with you guys all day and night. Plus no one in Montgomery comes with a hot tub!

bigsip said...

I have to be honest and say I hated Gatlinburg. Enjoyed the company, hated the town. But, the beach is always cool with me.

However, Knoxville might be nice. It would keep the Mullins from travelling and the Brews from travelling so much.

bigsip said...

But, I'm still game for folks coming to Montgomery...

There's always Myrtle Beach, too. That, my friends, was a good time!

Then again, if this iss around spring break, just about any beach is going to be unnvigable. So, let's aim for less-populated, in my opinion.

mullinz8 said...

dude, there is nothing to do in Knoxville really. Chattanooga has lots of things now days.

I agree the city of Gatlinburg isn't mush but the idea of everyone staying togehter sounds fun again plus I think it might help cut some costs.

More input needed.

JS said...

Brewsters... if you come to FUNgomery, you can also check out huntingdon and AUM for possible jobs...

When my wife and i found our home, we loved it and wanted to buy it without any other options, but, just to say we looked at others, we looked at two more.

Likewise, Montgomery is the #1 choice, but, for arguments sake, ill thorw out there Destin Florida and Chattanooga, TN.

I hate gatlinburg and i hate chattanooga, but id rather be in chatt than gatlinburg...

both have horrible traffic, but chatt isnt as tacky...

bigsip said...

I say lower traffic/more fun.

I love Florida beaches, but making the Brews travel that much farther is crazy.

If Chat is more central then let's give the Brews some Noogas.

Diana said...

I'm really torn right now. I live at the beach so I don't know how I feel, I REALLY want to go to Tennessee because I miss it (what about camping???), but no one else likes that idea, I love Montgomery, geez, I dunno. Not a fan of the Myrtle Beach idea. What about something totally random like Memphis or Atlanta?

Anything y'all decide will be fine with me so long as we can afford it.

Spring break for me is March 12-20. We were allready planning on going out of town, too, to see you fine folks.

JS said...

im leaning to early summer...

atlanta is not that thrilling to me in my book.

I honestly would prefer montgomery, i was just offering other suggestions for the heck of it...

but if it couldnt be montgomery, destin would be my top choice (prices ar elow due to hurricane damage and people not wanting to travel there, but my mom was there last week and loved it)

Diana said...

p.s. I have to take some classes this summer.

JS said...

for some reason, the idea of us going to a very very small toan and living it up terrorizing the locals sounds fun and some great pic opps.

JS said...

pps... time doesnt matter to me... whatever day yall do it, ill probably be here... just if i had a time frame to lean towards, it would have been summer, but spring is cool too,,,

lilsip said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
JS said...

man, now i know how you guys felt when i mentioned something about chuck! What was this comment about above me????

Diana said...

ppps

ok

:)

mullinz8 said...

We need Brew and Chuck thoughts, unless he's too up in the air and will have to tack things down once he's not a zombie anymore.

Top choices so far are
Montgomery,
Chattanooga and
Destin.

Montgomery: Built in accommodations (Braly, Sipper & Chucks), we all know the city, somewhat limited fun things (maybe not, it's been a while). Limited space to centralize the 16 person gang, including kids obviously.

Chattanooga: Interesting downtown, only one person is familiar with location, lots of kid/adult stuff. Hotel or equivalent, typically lots of space but costs go up. Requires everyone to drive some distance but not as much as some choices.

Destin: Hefty drive, carpooling options in Montgomery to all points south. Stubbs & Chuck not thrilled with visiting a beach. Summer & Spring prices $$$. Much ocean fun and generally good food, not that greasy Myrtle Beach $50 buffet crap (ha)!

Thoughts?

lilsip said...

Jamison, I'd posted a link that didn't work. Not exactly a juicy secret. I was looking at cabin rentals in the N. Georgia mountains, which would be somewhat central, less crowded, and relatively cheap.

Here's something to think about... what kind of fun stuff do you guys want to do exactly? Personally, I'm all about the free stuff. Hiking and beach bumming are free, so those are good for me. Not so big on touristy stuff that costs a bundle.

Also, just hanging out with our buds can be the most fun of anything we do, no matter where we are. Just my two cents.

Diana said...

I'm with Rachel. I like the idea of a woodsy vacay, which is why Tennessee appealed so much to me. You know, toasting marshmellows, maybe a little fishing... A cabin rental would be fun and cheap.

But I like the idea of Chatanooga too

mullinz8 said...

For me I like the idea of letting the kids go wild while we can sit and watch doing little to nothing but visiting is best. Free is very good but I know it’s hard to come by sometimes.

Some place in north GA might be fun. I love being outside and doing that sort of stuff, what ever it may be. Ra, I think your thought that hanging out time will be the best no matter the location for the adults.

The reason I suggested someplace in a city is so that we can still escape each other if needed. I mean hanging with the kids is fun but the non-initiated may reach a limit after a day of antics and may need adult time.

We went on a family reunion to Fall Creek Falls once and it was a blast. It’s in the middle of no where, the lodging was decent and had alright food with tons of outdoor activities for all ages. Hikes, biking riding, canoeing what have you. At night we all gathered together and did a Sipper family type singing. The problem was that once you were there, that was it. Your options were very limited. I loved it but it does ware you down.

I'm open to what ever, I like the wilderness idea.

JS said...

im all for a party every night with the gang in FUNgomery or at the beach...

im like dianna in that, she doesnt care for the beach since she lives there, and while i love the mountains, id rather not go there for a vacation since i grew up in them....
i think we are thinking too hard about this... just just do what is easiest and cheapest. With the 12 of us, we will have fun no matter what.

Of course, if you can get good deals on a cabin, ill go anywhere.
6 bedroom cabins can be got for a good price split 6 ways.

But larissa and I are going to china this sumer, about 1400 bucks for each of us...

Diana said...

I think money's an issue for all of us, which is good, because it will be easy to agree.
I vote woodsy cabin.
I nominate Rachel to plan.

JS said...

dont woodsy cabins cost more than free lodging in montgomery though...?

lilsip said...

My #1 choice: Montgomery
#2 choice: Cabin somewhere

bigsip said...

I prefer Montgomery, but I just thought we might be able to make it a little easier on the Brews and Stubbs by hiking north a bit.

However, it might be easier/cheaper all around to have everyone come to Monkeytown for the stay. I know our funds are limited as far as accomodations are concerned.

So it really comes down to either:

A. We all convene on MTown and stay cheap and have fun together or

B. We all go somewhere, spend money on lodging, and enjoy the great outdoors/entertainment/whatever.

I've done th mountains (they were ok in my opinion), love the beach but can do without it...

If it came to a choice and we could all go somewhere cool, I'd say Savannah or Charleston. But, the money thing arises once more.

So, let's either plan and save right now for the costly rentals, or just decide to do it on the cheap and have a smash in Montgomery.

In the latter case, it probably won't help the Mullins' clan, so if we could find them a free place down here with plenty of space, that'd be good. Anyone know osmeone with an extra house they could lend for putting up some christians?

Diana said...

That would be fabulous as well. I love Montgomery.
I claim the Sipps.

Mat Brewster said...

I'd like to do Montgomery for several reasons.

I haven't been in a very long time, and I'd kind of like to see the old haunts.

For those who live there, or visit often seeing the old campus and visiting with the likes of Dr. Morris is probably dull, but I haven't been in 6-7 years and I'd like to visit again.

Free lodging. Cabins are nice and all but a little homesteading with the sips, bralys or mccowns is even lovelier.

Its a reunion of our time at FU. It seems appropriate to actually visit the place.

Eating donuts with a fork. Its a Montgomery tradition

Mat Brewster said...

If everyone else wants to go somewhere else thats fine. I automatically veto anyplace farther than Montgomery.

As for stuff to do, that's why we have each other. The point of this for me is to hang out with you guys, not shop in some tourist trap.

We can catch a show at shakespeare. Play in the park. Visit all the old places we used to take girls. What more do you want in three or four days?

JS said...

then eating dougnuts in montgomery with a fork it is! (Husbands, please get your wives hip to this inside joke).

i havent 'hung out' and faulkner in a long time except for jamborees... and i felt pretty out of place... having the gang around me will be fun. We can even go see a show at the dinner theatre, since we used to rule that part of the school.

mullinz8 said...

With a majority of smoke signals rising the consensus seems to be a gathering of tribes in the sacred city of Montgomery.

Next point of business...

All those engaged in schooling or work specific trips or what ever. What are your dream dates to visit?

Di and Amy (Mat) please list your spring and summer breaks and times when you would have a minimum of three to four days away from a commitment. If the working stiffs can foresee a business trip please send notice.

I’ll make a calendar upon which we may all gaze once folks have submitted their dates.

So first date confirmation, Mullins: open and all good, so far.

JS said...

so far as I can tell, no conflicting dates in spring and summer for us OTHER than a trip to china in the summer that will last 7 to 10 days. I am not certain of the dates as of yet

bigsip said...

spring in Montgomery is beautiful. let's aim for springtime, i say. but, it'll really come down to school skeds, i think.

Diana said...

Spring break for me is March 12-20.
I won't know my schedule for summer for a while now.

Mat Brewster said...

We'll take the Braly abode.

That is, if Sir Braly will have us.

O Captain my Captain and so forth.

Mat Brewster said...

Not sure when Amys spring break is. Tentatively I'd say it won't match Dianas and we should all start thinking about the first week of June.

When do classes end there Diana? There is usually a little break between classes ending and summer courses begining.

JS said...

i still, to this day, want to spell amys name as aimee... she looks like an aimee maybe

Mat Brewster said...

As if she didn't have enough reason to hate you that you have to go and spell her name wrong.

JS said...

wasnt that the original reason for her hating me in the first place?

Mat Brewster said...

Ah, perhaps that is the begining of the hate. Then you have brought it full circle.

Good show old chap!

bigsip said...

Sooooo, when's everyone coming?

mullinz8 said...

June 1 hits on a Thursday ending that Sunday the 4th. This first full week is June 5th Monday through the 11th, obviously Sunday.

Diana, what’s your calendar look like that far in advance?
Jamison, when can you find out if this is a conflict with your trip?

This is the first tentative date given by anyone so lets check our plans against it and see what happens. I think the school kids will be the largest factor in this so their camps need to add the crux of the input.

Diana said...

Last day of classes next semester May 5
First Day of Maymester May 8
Last Day of Maymester June 2
First Day of Summer I June 5
Last Day of Summer I July 7
First day of Summer II July 10
Last day of Summer II August 11
Fall semester starts August 16

Class scedules won't be available until next semester, so I won't know until maybe March when I'll have classes in the summer and how many (and how I'm gonna pay for them, for pete's sake). The very most I will have is two, so I know there will be one month I'm free. Unless I get a bunch of money and I get to go to Greece.

Diana said...

Fat chance though.

Diana said...

Does Amy go to Indiana State?
If so our spring breaks do match. I looked up their achedemic calender on the web.
In that case I vote spring break.

bigsip said...

Well heck! If your spring breaks match, that seems like a good call to me!

JS said...

i work at a school... so spring time is good for me too... although i know my sproing break is diff from yalls colleges, but who cares, i mean, i am at home right now and it is 10:30am on a wednesday

bigsip said...

Man, I wish they let us telecommute! I'd do it in a minute!

JS said...

it isnt all heaven... now my work and my home are starting to mesh, and you know that i hate there not being a line between work and home.

JS said...

Sipper;
once we know the dates of the gang comng, we should try to see if we cant get the band to have a gig that week sometime, and then thats free entertainment and free food for all our friends!

JS said...

or at least a music making in luverne

bigsip said...

that'd be great!

btw, i probably won't be making music tonight. i've had to work LATE all week.

we're coming up on a release very quickly and have to get done.

sorry, man.