I'll let you know by Saturday if I'm doing it, if so I can certainly do that. I'm waiting to see if my spouse can get some days off flipped. 

LMAO if he's that mischievous then maybe I do wanna  see him

Aye I'm gonna be at gotj, haven't been since 2011 I gotta roll thru and kick it for a bit with Y'all 

Okay, ya'll...

Here's the real reason why I won't be able to attend The Gathering this year...

...because I love my dog.

 

There it is. Hate me if you wanna.

I love my dog, Kosmo.

 

At least... that's what it's come to.

 

Last year was a collection of calamities...

After returning from the Gathering BEFORE last (16), our dishwasher started backing up into our clotheswasher downstairs which required us to get our backyard ripped up in order to lay new piping into a new drain field... [#mo_money]

Last spring, the piping LEADING to the septic tank needed replacing because everything we flushed or showered, was backwashing out from the toilet on the ground floor... [#mo_money]

Last winter... our heater crapped out... requiring us to get brand new heating and air-handler units installed... [#mo_money]

ALL on monthly payment plans. Thousands.

 

Since that time, my dog Kosmo has developed a benign tumor about two sizes larger than a softball in an "uncomfortable place"...

The "medical" diagnosis is a "Circumanal gland adenoma". [#mo_money]

The "literal" description of what that is is:

Also... before Christmas, my car crapped out on me. One of the belt drive pulleys has locked up. I gotta get it towed to even find out how much it would cost before I get it towed somewhere else to get a second opinion...

IOW, Gonads & Strife.

 

An' this was gonna be my "Year of the Flow"!

I *finally* get to feelin' like I have every piece of camping/Gathering gear I could want or need; I didn't spend the last year trying to find shit or figure shit out; with the exception of the usual camping sundries... I AM SET TO GATHER!!!

I could finally "just flow with it"... I know what I need to know, I have all the gear I feel I need... Set my shit up!... An' I'm GOOD!

Based on "what I know"... all I need is a' paycheck's worth, and I'm only slightly on the WRONG side of a Ballas Pass in an RV... only in a plush tent setup, "Gathering Harder".

 

For all intents... It starts with the car. If my car was running, I'd be there.

But I don't know how much it will cost to fix, it will need to be towed SOMEwhere, I may not like their price and even if I DO and CAN'T pay it, the car will still have to be towed BACK to my house... [#mo_money]

OKC, for ME alone, is a two day trip that would also require hotel reservations...[#mo_money]

Hotel reservations and deposits without a credit card...? [#mo_money]

Round trip [#mo_money]

I looked into renting a car capable of carrying all my gear... and even though Jessica Simpson ASSURED me that I could afford to rent a wagon within my price range... Credit though? an' I ain't got no credit CARD...? Deposits n'such? [#mo_money]

I even looked into whether or not I could use my car insurance coverage FOR a rental as though mine had been in an accident and I needed one for work... would it be covered?... [#mo_money]

 

But when I thought about all of the financial/mental gymnastics needed to get me to The Gathering this year...

I see my dog unable to lay down when he wants to. He doesn't wag his tail because it hurts. He can't take a shit without getting it on "himself" (ie the tumor) which we then have to (apparently) painfully wipe off and has now made him that much more self-conscious about it... (he hides after coming in from outside if he hears a faucet running water... to wipe his ass).

When I have the thought of attending an event where I probably watched some guy spend $4k on a fuckin' Mystery Box of CDs, toys and jerseys that would have MORE than paid for Kosmo's operation... only to return home to a family member with that gorgeous/stupid/smiley face of his... and a huge TUMOR growing off his ass...

I can't find too many "moral excuses" to justify taking money away from anything that might get him the help he needs SOONER.

THANKFULLY!!! we were approved for a kind of "pet insurance" (really a LOAN) specifically for veterinary surgical procedures and Kosmo just got out of surgery TODAY but I won't be able to pick him up until tomorrow (and he's gonna be on meds for a while).

All the same... whatever funds I would/am able to dig out to attend this year... would still be coming out of "the fund".

 

The drain field, the septic, the heater, the car and now the dog... All on monthly installments.

 

Back when I was feelin' "Cash Rich", I was gonna follow through with my "Year of the Flow" concept and was gonna get everyone in The Village personalized LED fidget spinners (not the real things but cheap knock-offs with just enough power to fuel a night), and bring gloves and my flow staffs n'shit... [and new COFFINS to make you bitches tag up BETTER]

But... I can't.

I gotta catch up with MY shit, before I can catch up with all of YOU...

 

BUT!

That March though... I'mma be there!

I love you guys!

I'm dealing with the serious effects of the FOMO! I know that last year was really not "one to be missed"... but... this year is one that I feel like I SHOULD not miss (given the year's events).

 

I've played to a lot of empty rooms. I've always told myself, "It takes a single blade of grass to grow a lawn..."

I regret that my blade won't be counted amongst the green this year.

 

But I love my dog.

 

Whoop! Whoop!

Pour one out for meh!

'~'=

Wait, @cheshyr did u get Jessica Simpson's digits? How's she lookin nowadays?

I'm mostly open during the main stage lol. 

I'm standing with my initial suggestion of doing Massacres on the first and third nights. With maybe Shaman's official Kill em and Grill em sacrificial bbq pit on tuesday so that we're all well fed before Shangri La. And then a close out "Year book signing Free For all" on saturday, some time before ICPs set.

Where Massacre just means we meet up and say hey to old friends and possibly meet new ones? Put some faces to names and shit like that. Take a photo or two. Maybe play a game or two. From what I remember Jules has retired from gathering so we can't play her hatchets to hatchets but maybe someone can cop juggalos against sanity? Or something else?

Shaman's official Kill em and grill em bbq pit would just be what it says on the tin. If he still wants to do a bbq. Dude murked that shit last time. Bring your own meat stuffs.

Year Book Signing would just be where we get together to say peace out. Sign some caskets or notebooks. Make fun of JC for crying about how shes gonna miss everybody. All that.