AWVP

I say we accept. Wild Jethro/Taz seconds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwwY9y6O3hw

The season is NOT over!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7vtWB4owdE

Roll call!

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

In!

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#23
My name's Dan

That makes 3 Pandas. 5 is the number thou shalt count!

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

May skill an experience prevail. This reminds me of the time I came back from Burning Man, and played 1 on 5--only rule was hit it to me on the serve. I, of course served from the back row, with one foot on the wall:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqvuJLOCSxc

Better if there's a full team though-- : )

C'mon boys. Don't make me ask for essays about what you did INSTEAD of fighting on 10/26. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

What's the worst case scenario?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahZHVBC89aM

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

That y'all go home with video of your team getting handed your a$$ on the court!

Bring your A game!

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Bring your "A" Game!

Well, as my Pandas have shown you, that's already happened to me once. Having experienced failure, it don't scare me. I'm working to make sure we give you good games, and the fans a good show.

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

Do we have 5 Chief? Are Edub and Scott in?

Here's what I'm thinking: Leave Austin Saturday morning at about 10-11 am and drive to Dallas. Play ball. Lot's of ball. Steven mentioned ending ball at 5:00 and then get ready for partying, but I think we're going to want to just keep balling until we can't ball no more.

Looks like rooms are available to rent, so we'll need to figure that out.

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#23
My name's Dan

Here are the available personnel:

Me, Jess, you, Scott. Dub is a strong probable. As alternates we have Jared and Dave. From the pics it looks like they play 5s and 6s up there.

Ideally, we arrive in Dallas at 1 and are balling by 2--3 at the latest. Remember, it's now dark at 7. And I'd like to see 3 hrs of ball.

Depending on how many teams they field, best of 3 challenge games will take about 1-2 hours. After that I recommend mixing teams/all play for the remainder.

I'm hoping we get in some Sunday ball as well. Ronins have pulled this off when visiting from Dallas, which means we can do it too. Last I checked, no Panda turns into a pumpkin if they're not in bed promptly by 10--amirite?

Given the recent change in the weather, it would be really good to hear there's a heater in play. Otherwise, I'm a icicle half way through game 1. Waiting on confirmation.

I'm also supposed to get a briefing on the court rules prior to battle.

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

They have lights

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#23
My name's Dan

That's pretty awesome. Still don't like playing much after dark anymore. I'm old, the lasik is wearing off, so my vision's bad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5F2eL2_eh4

I'm a bit of a net aficionado, like TBone, and theirs looks just a bit saggy. Have to see it to know for sure of course. With a venue with this much bling, one day they might want to opt for one that allows for springy net play.

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

(I HAVE to take this opportunity...can't pass it up!)

What's the matter grandpa? Sensors and motors failing on you? Do we need to make the pool ADA compliant for you? Should I architect and engineer a water-walker for you? I could probably have it ready for you by game day. Let me know what else we can do for you in order for you to be able to beat us come game day!

OK, enough of my taunt! That's just a warm up for you regarding the smack that we talk to each other around here. I know that y'all talk smack pretty well, too. I figured that I would attack just the Chief instead of singling each of you out individually (which is my instinct) because I'm sure your loyalty and feelings lie squarely in the Chief's court, as it should.

I can tell you guys that I can see a lot of myself in your Chief just from the emails that he and I have exchanged. I am indeed looking forward to learning from him (and you guys/gals, too) the things that I don't know, as well as sharing with you the things that I do know. He is absolutely right about Strength and Honor!

While we still have many details to work out before then, I am sure that the 2 weeks from today will pass quickly. We will have a very well planned weekend for those attending. I initiated a brunch seating for the group for Dish at 10:30 AM on Sunday morning (one of the restaurant downstairs in the ilume), then we can play from about noon until you guys decide to head home. Of course, we still have the block party going on Saturday night until 4AM on Sunday morning. The block party will peak about 1 or 2 AM, so there's plenty of time to take it all in and still get plenty of rest before a Sunday get-together.

We are so looking forward to 10/26.

Bring your "A" Game....bitches!

sm

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Bring your "A" Game!

We'll need to reserve hotel rooms. We're 2 weeks away. Looks like there is a Best Western and La Quinta sort of nearby.

Where do we park at the ilume?

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#23
My name's Dan

We park on their dead bodies, Dan.

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

That's not very nice Chief

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#23
My name's Dan

While not very nice, says Dan, it's wasn't as harsh as I was expecting, Chief! My little sister could have done better than that!

I will make sure you guys all have parking passes for parking inside the ilume garage parking. There will be so many people in the neighborhood that it will be impossible to find parking after 6PM on Saturday. Thus, we'll make sure you'll all be parked securely inside the garage gates. We also have excellent security here.

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Bring your "A" Game!

Ilumne Steve: We are planning a meeting of my Austin team on Monday around MNF. Think about setting up a call around halftime. Coordinate with Dan.

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

Excellent! I can be reached at (214) 599-8757. Count me in on the call. Dan, please coordinate the time of call with me so that I will be ready. We may even want to speak beforehand to make sure we're all prepared.

Also, I did speak with the management at ilume again regarding the heater on the pool They assert, again, that the pool heater will be operational and the pool ready for the 10/26 game day. I will check on the corporate apartments for you guys again in a little while when I'm able to go downstairs.

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Bring your "A" Game!

We'll call Monday around 9 pm. If a room is available to rent for Saturday night at the ilume, we want it!

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#23
My name's Dan

So let it be written, so let it be done.

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

I am still working on trying to get 3 furnished corporate apartments for you at no charge. I don't know if this will happen, but I am asking.

I did speak with Andrew (ilume corporate) regarding the pool heater. He assured me (again) that the pool will be heated before game day. We also reminded him that it's just 9 days away. There was a little reality reaction from him, but I believe they will deliver. They have been incredible given my daily stop by to "pester" them about the pool heater, etc.

I will let you know as soon as I know about the corp apts. Should I also see if someone from ilume can be on Monday's call? Somebody that can be a decision maker that will help cut short any follow up that may be needed? Just a thought.

We are still looking forward to you guys coming up to play. Be safe!

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Bring your "A" Game!

We can just talk with you.

Hopefully we will know at that point how many of us will be making the trip.

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#23
My name's Dan

OK, corp apts is a definite no. I guess that I am becoming too much of a daily pest. this is the first time that they told me no, but it's really more about the legal sense of what a leased unit is.

Regardless, myself, and a few others have already stated that we will put you guys up in our spaces. Between my peeps, we can get you guys provided with secure places to sleep for the Saturday night. That actually might be best given the amount of folk there will be in the neighborhood that night.

I did get another commitment from them that the pool heater will be operational before game day. I did let them know that it defeats the purpose if doesn't happen before Friday. We'll see. I will keep you posted as I know.

Looking forward to our phone conversation on Monday.

Thanks,
sm

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Bring your "A" Game!

I respect your diligence, sir. Looks like you are a good Chief.

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

I like the fact that watervolleyball is not a crime in your venue--I spent too much time in "The Troubles" while trying to keep ball alive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGgD8TmI96o

_________________
Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

We'll give you a good show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI1ylg4GKv8

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

Reminds me of my first days in battle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yvyXxBOgVg

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

OK, guys. It is absolutely going to be a crazy week here...LOTS to do before Saturday. However, I am surrounded by lots of folks that help me succeed and I know that everything is all going to come together between now and then.

We are still scheduled to do our phone conference at 9PM this evening. Be advised that today marks the end of my 52 years of life on this planet...still wondering if there really is intelligent life in the universe. Thus, there are many folks wanting to be out celebrating this evening at 9PM. However, many of them are also players, so making time for us to speak is already understood amongst my peeps for this evenings shenanigans.

You should have my number...just call when you're ready.

Looking forward to this Saturday.

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Bring your "A" Game!

Well, Pandas, it's a done deal. We're heading north...

The phone conversation went quite well. Therefore, we fight.

There was a bit of a selection process, and some heavy lifting to overcome inertia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeFiFQ1SD4E

So 4 or us decided to sally forth, to face what comes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-wKe0DNdhI

I bring 4 for sure. Possibly 7. After the meeting, where some of the more experienced players weighed in, our younglings got pumped up.

And why not? Win or lose, we get to go on the road and represent our league, our craft, our profession:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI6sARmxEuc

And those who failed to join us this year will want to do so next year, because of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDpI6Zzy-vo

The battlefield is set. Let the games begin!

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

I get you more and more each day, Chief! You guys truly do want to spend your life playing water volleyball, AND get paid for it, at least enough to pay the bills, but economies of scale (as with professional sporting teams) would be very welcomed. I can say that I would be one of those, if it weren't for the journey that I am on already. However, I think that I can help move WVB down a path that you dream about.

Bring your "A" Game on Saturday and we can discuss the rest. Accept no failure. Set your goals, then go succeed!

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Bring your "A" Game!