What Time Is It?
Categories
Recent Entries

November 28, 2003

Photo Gallery

We have a few 100 BootsnAll Party Photos up. Enjoy.

Posted by Blogs.BootsnAll at 07:55 AM
View/Add Comments (1) | Category: Post Party

November 23, 2003

We missed the party :(

Hey everyone!

It's Photochick (Claudia) and Ant from India. We seemed to have been asleep during the actual party, so we got shitty with some other travelers we met in a restaurant and kept up the theme. Or at least I did, I don't know about Ant.

We met a Czech guy (Peter) and his wife Ella (maybe?) and they told us all about their horror stories of baggage handler strikes, getting sick, getting ripped off, being tired, cold, and annoyed. We had nothing to respond with because our experience has been 85-90% good here in India so I decided to mention that after using the squat toilet I noticed a dirty (and I mean DIR-TAY) pair of underwear behind the door to keep up the good vibes. It was the best I could do after a few nasty Kingfishers and no dinner. :)

Anyway, sounds like it was a great night, and more photos need to be posted if anyone has em.

PC and Ant

Oh yeah , check us out too: ClaudiAntics

Posted by Claudia at 11:55 PM
View/Add Comments (0) | Category: Cheers from Abroad
Aftermath

Freesia and I are the only 2 left at the BootsnAll hostel. It is quiet and we are tired after staying awake until 4:36 am this morning.

The party could not have gone off much better than it did. The place was packed from 7 p.m. till when we got kicked out well past midnight. Folks were friendly and iinto the topic of travel. There are so many highlights to the evening, I don't know where to start. The highlight for me was to be able to pull it off and to feel like I had a small part in bring all these super cool, open, and genuine people together. Thanks to all who came.

PS: Sorry to the few folks that I may have offended with off comments/questions. Please forgive me.

Posted by Sean at 08:09 PM
View/Add Comments (2) | Category: Post Party
Seems like you

guys had a hell of a time... or a great time in hell... who wants to go to heaven anyway?

Posted by Lets at 05:02 PM
View/Add Comments (0) | Category: Post Party
Better Late Than Never

We thought of you all and toasted many times while being deafened by Pulsator on the sound stage next to our pub at the West End Street Festival in Brisbane.

L-R: Ian, Alia and Juanita

Ging and Juanita

Myself and Sharon

The pub we were in had a small cocktail menu. The Mojito always makes me think of Jen Leo, but they had an interesting twist on an old favourite, the Blueberry and Kiwi Mojito. Anyone who met Jen last night though, may feel the first drink on this list reminds them of her!

Posted by Chris at 03:22 PM
View/Add Comments (1) | Category: Australia, Cheers from Abroad
8:15 AM

We're up. Philip, Joe E, Jessica, and I are awake. We're recapping the night. Since Joe and Jessica turned in right when we got home, the fave question is "What time did you go to bed?"

Philip would like you to know that he got up at 7:30am to go down the street and make a phone call.

Mavis is chipper. And actually we don't have much else to say. It was a blast. Now I have to go rent my truck, pack it up, and drive for 11 hours. Oh yeah! Philip is going with me. Road trip! He's looking forward to trying In-N-Out Burger.

Posted by At the Party at 08:59 AM
View/Add Comments (1) | Category: Live with Leo
the only way to get rid of a headache....

is to drink more. as i did tonight. i've met some absolutely amazing people in the last 36 hours and i can't wait to meet a million more :) anyone want to come to minnesota, i'll put you up. but you've got to be able to handle the cold (old man phillip, don't make a trip in january....you'll freeze!!!)

thanks to everyone for a fantastic party and set-up. i never imagined i'd meet so many people in one room who were as excited to travel as i am (although it's hard to get used to real names versus screen names!)

have a fantastic evening (ok, day, as it is 6 am at home right now) and keep writing and posting pics....especially ones when you are drunk :P

court

Posted by At the Party at 04:40 AM
View/Add Comments (2) | Category:
Dave is the man!

Dave has been such a silent strong force behind making this gathering a success- I know I, along with many others, really appreciate your efforts supporting all of our antics this weekend. To you I send out a big OOOOOOOO Vation! Great to meet ya! Thanks Muchacos!

Ah Che'

Posted by At the Party at 04:36 AM
View/Add Comments (0) | Category:
3:32AM

I'm still up. Even though I made a big stink at 12:30 about going to bed as soon as we got home. Somebody might've made $10 bucks if they put money down on me not going to bed.

How could I? Court and I were playing beer relay. What's that? Sliding across the length of the office floor with beer in hand doing a demonstrative finish at the other end. Beer Me meets Pickle.

Sean is loving the male female ratio right now. I'm not sure how I feel about it. There's one pretty lady who's taking a few too many pictures of moi. Am I getting hit on? Maybe. A first for me. Is this a special occassion?

Posted by At the Party at 04:17 AM
View/Add Comments (0) | Category: Live with Leo
bye bye- Portland

OK- Dave is coming to pick me up in 55 minutes to take me to the aeropuerto. I'm off to Colorado to snowboard for 8 days! yeee hoooo. The post party is getting wierder and wierder...

Continue reading "bye bye- Portland"

Posted by At the Party at 03:59 AM
View/Add Comments (1) | Category: Post Party
I need to go to bed

It's way past my bedtime, once again. The long awaited Boots party ended hours ago but the post-party is still going strong. I"m suffering from extreme sleep deprivation but it's ok.... I couldn't be happier for my old mate Sean.

PS - Leo just almost went head first into the bookcase.

Nite y'all....
Freesia

Posted by At the Party at 03:13 AM
View/Add Comments (2) | Category:
Post Party Party

Ok, now that we had to leave the Lucky Lab (they kicked us out at midnight) we're back here at the Boots Headquarters. I count 12 boots members. What a diverse group.

Post party Wrap Up- the party was awesome. About 55-60 boots members showed up (or were they strangers just there for the free beer, food & wine). He, he, just kidding..... Sean definately knows how to throw a killer party. Thanks, Sean, you're the bestest baby. If he could have planned it all out, the way he thought it should go....I think tonight was near perfect. Phillip was the grateous 'Guest of Honor', who wear a name tag that said "Phillip-White Trash". I also was very honored to be able to be the official 'badge', greeter person. I got to talk to every single person at the party. (almost I started lagging at the end). Yes, I said almost a perfect night as early on I accidentially walked into the men's restroom. OOPS! The sight of urinals always says "WARNING, WARNING, YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER NO WOMAN'S LAND"......Luckily no men in sight and I avoided the embarrassing, "Oh sorry". And the feeling of how stupid am I. Saved in the nick of time.

ok, I must go now there is people to talk to and time is short in Portland.

Cheers

Socalgirl

Posted by At the Party at 02:26 AM
View/Add Comments (0) | Category:
Crazy Nurses

What's up? Hello any traveling nurses out there? Why aren't you at the bootsnall party tonight? This evening we've convinced the Bootsnall staff to start the travel nursing blog. How many of you out there have wondered what is the best assignment to take, should I really go there, do I want to move every threee months? Well we would love to start one of the first travel nursing blogs for bootsnall!!! Are any of you crazy travelers out there interstered?

Let us know....

Posted by At the Party at 02:18 AM
View/Add Comments (1) | Category: At the Party with the Boots Crowd
Full House

The party is still on. I asked PB how many people are here and he said zillions.
Deanna is in the house. Jill is in the house. Heather is pimping out her cousin, and Court is just lovely in her jammies with her Mickey Mouse socks pulled up to her knees.

Freesia looks the best of all of us, and what the hell? I'm wearing Lucky brand boxers and some turquoise winter cap. The traveling nurses are excited about their upcoming blog, and there's a kitchen full of people I didn't talk to at the party. How that happened I have no idea since I couldn't take two steps without running into the next travel enthusie.

Bed before 4am? Not if Jill can help it.

God bless SoCal girl for the late night apps. Chips, guac, and her homemade salsa.

Posted by At the Party at 01:52 AM
View/Add Comments (0) | Category: Live with Leo
COOOL..............................................

What a cracking night - topped off by being told I look like a hungover bitch........quite!!!!!!!!

Posted by At the Party at 01:43 AM
View/Add Comments (0) | Category: Blazdell's in da house..
Post-Party, Post-RWC!!!

Johnny Wilkinson is God!!!!

Ok, I admit, when it came to Saturday night the last thing that was on my mind was Portland, Oregon.. but due to the miracle of timezones you guys are probably still partying!! So here's to you all!!

We were having a good time regardless, singing away at the Beach Palace in Coogee and being pommelled by many yellow afro wigs!! Yes, we were watching the Rugby World Cup Final!! (I would cheer some more at this point, but my throat is too sore *lol*)

go_england.jpg

(I'm on the right, with my housemates Carolyn & Steve)

It was "Swing Low" v "Waltzing Matilda" all through the game, with times of great stress - mainly when the Wallabies came back at England just before the 80th minute, wondering what the hell happens when the RWC ends in a draw, and the longest 20 minutes of my entire life during extra time.

To all Aussies: what a fantastic game! We'll keep the Cup and you can have the lid - how's that?? See you at France 2007!!

..and in the mean time, I'm starting a new job on Monday.. and my colleagues are all Australian.. this could be fun :)

Toodles m'dears, hope you're living it up grandly out there in Oregon!!!!!!!

Posted by Soph at 01:16 AM
View/Add Comments (1) | Category: Australia, Cheers from Abroad
With Michael

At least once in a person's life they will meet a truly unique person. My friend Michael is one of these. Part Diva, part scientist, he both inspires and frustrates. Many of my most interesting travelling memories have been shared with him. Our roadtrip through California and Nevada was one such crazy adventure.

It started pretty tamely with the standard Oregon to Cali drive up I-5. Our greatest challenge was putting on snow chains and staying on the road as we travelled through the snowy passes past trucker plumber's butts galore.

We camped half a night in Santa Barbara. It was a beautiful site along the coast. Michael woke me up around 2:30 am because he thought he heard a bear outside our tent and couldn't go back to sleep. After that, neither could I, so we drove to Vegas in the middle of the night.

On our way back through California to Oregon, we decided to stop by Death Valley. Michael was afraid to camp where snakes might be present, so we looked in Beatty, a small border town for a place to stay. We found a small casino and trailer hotel, but they were completely booked. Our third try yielded a room. When checking us in the clerk told us "don't drink the water, because it turns purple and pink sometimes for no reason." Michael had packed plenty of bottled water, so we weren't afraid. We slept, and I quickly showered the next morning before heading to Yosemite. Two hours later, I had a nice, burning-hot eye infection.

Once at Yosemite, Michael and I had a great time. Before we reached any of the major viewpoints, Michael had been disappointed. "Why is this place considered so beautiful?," he said. "There's just trees." Of course, once half-dome, etc came into view all he could do was sing its praises and take photos (lots). We decided to try a strenuous hike. Half-dome was still not open, so we hiked to the top of Yosemite falls. When we finally reached the top, Michael only allowed me a few minutes before twitching and demanding that we immediately start back. "We only have four hours to get back down before it's dark," he said. Michael was terrified of what the Yosemite bears might do to him in the dark. He started to run, so I followed, running all of the way down. My knees were swollen, so Michael agreed to take the first shift driving back as I sat in the passenger seat with a bag of frozen peas.

After a few hours of painful, one-eyed shifts, Michael and I safely arrived home.

Once I've saved enough money, I plan to travel outside of the U.S. Hopefully, Michael can come along. I love you, Mikey... lv, Anna.

Posted by At the Party at 12:47 AM
View/Add Comments (0) | Category: At the Party with the Boots Crowd

November 22, 2003

Hi Chris!

Hey Chris! How areyou? Scott and Angela and I are all here at the Boots party and we miss you! Just wanted to let you know we are thinking of you and having a pint in your honor. Oh, you need to see "Finding Nemo", they have Seagulls and Pelicans with Australian accents! I can't wait till your back in the States! Take care and enjoy the sun, it is rainy and cold here of course! Jess

Hey, Chris! Ang here. How's the Aussie boy doin? Not much new here. When are we gonna come see you in Bali? When you get there, we have to all come see ya. Maybe not Christmas this year, but next year, of course. Drop me a line when you get a chance. I wanna know what's new. Hope you're doin' well.

Scott wants to know where the Girls Gone Wild from Australia pictures are! The girls with teeth, of course. Are they off fightin' crocs? Have you driven the new 2004 Holden? How's the Peugot? Ahoy, matie! We think of you every time we order things from Pet's Megastore. What cute Aussie accents! (Ang typing for Scott here). We all love you and miss you. Hurry back! Love Scottie pants.

Posted by At the Party at 10:57 PM
View/Add Comments (0) | Category: At the Party with the Boots Crowd
The roof, the roof, the Lucky Lab roof is on Fire!!

Hey All- There are now about 50, count em' 50 bootsnall members here at the party. The noise level is high and people are mingleing (sp?) as only true travelers can. Awesome.

Here are some random comments I heard tonight at the party. "Beer makes you fat, pass me a glass of wine". -Joe E., "Jessica has just invented a new sport, Cowfisting". -Phillip B. , "Your an angel (speaking of Joe E. )- Sally.

Comedy, such comedy.

Cheers to all who came and who could not come.

socalgirl

Posted by At the Party at 10:41 PM
View/Add Comments (0) | Category:
Karen Wine Girl

Okay! Hello, my name is Karen, I've had one glass of wine, sold 6 cases today, and this is my first blog. This party is rockin! There's a comforting buzz and warm energy that resembles a local housewarming meets hostel mixer. Anything that involves personalities connected to Sean must be fabulous, n'est pas? So far, I don't think anyone has posted anything about the OTHER exciting reason we're all celebrating this big party. Philip-ok, we've GOT it. What you may not know is....mom and pop Keener, are celebrating their 44th (or so) wedding anniversary tonight by hangin' with their son. Cool! How did these two, who concepted the travel networker, meet? As legend goes, Dave (dad) was a sales rep for Dr. Scholl's in Chicago. And Mary, (mom) was in personnel at Dr. Scholl's. One day, Dave needed some information on benefits, and headed to personnel. And Mary gave him his benefits. And he was enchanted. And that's the inside story behind Sean Keener.
Cheers to chance meetings, as they mingle with all of us here in Portland in the Lucky Lab, and we all meet each other and pass along our own stories.
Cheers!
ks

Posted by At the Party at 10:22 PM
View/Add Comments (2) | Category: At the Party with the Boots Crowd
View from here

OK,guess I,m up. Having now lived in beautiful Portland for 2 1/2 years without contact with ANY travelers, it is oh, so fine to be here in this crowd of like-minded travelers. (NOT tourists....you know what I,m talking about) So, sorry everyone can't be here...you'd feel so at home. Bought a book about travel stories from a woman's perspective called, "Sand In My Bra." Hopefully I'm going to learn some answers to questions I was always afraid to ask.
Anyway...these [and no doubt you] are my kind of people. Gotta get back on the road! Now, excuse me while I go and refill my glass with some excellent organic Oregon wine! (Cooper Mountain) THANKS SEAN!!!!

Dane

Posted by At the Party at 09:52 PM
View/Add Comments (0) | Category: At the Party with the Boots Crowd
Hospitality

Travel Story, as requested (albiet 5 yrs old)
So. There I was. Fresh off the plane, a lovely solid 14 hrs in the air. Heathrow has the look of a BBC sitcom, clean and very...British. My friend of a friend (isnt that the way it always is?) cannot pick me up, as she is working, but I have good directions. Off onto the tube I go. Past Chelsea, past Stoke Newington into my friend neighborhood. It is a bit rough on the edges, some minimal grafitti and trash on the curb. The Jamacain kids laugh at me and my accent as they play hopscotch; I laugh at them and myself as I only am able to jump to square 5 with my backpack on. Finally I made it to my friends flat; like a condo, attached to all the other flats all down the street. I am exhausted, she gets home from work right then, and I fall asleep promptly on the fold out coach. There comes a moment when propriety and cultural boundaries vanish into nothingness, and that moment came for me through exhaustion. My friend's friend was wonderful. Hilarious, understanding, and kind; she had been a traveler herself over the years and knew this thing that only travelers know which is how appreciative and amazing it is to have a comfortable, safe, warm place to sleep. Cheers to my first moments in England!

Posted by At the Party at 09:32 PM
View/Add Comments (0) | Category: England
Status report?

Well, well well, so how's the party going? It's about 8:30 in Portland and the party must be starting to heat up, but here it's bedtime. Have a long day ahead of me tomorrow. Will go to bed and fall asleep watching Changing Rooms.

Hope you guys have a hell of a time and enough beer and absinth to get rid of one hangover and move on to the next! Will read and envy your fun tomorrow.

Cheers!

Posted by Lets at 09:16 PM
View/Add Comments (0) | Category: At the Party with the Boots Crowd
Let's...

Oi let's tudo bom??

Things here are hotting up - its like O Rio on a good night - so cool to be here in the party - but our thoughts go out to our friends over in Brasil - a gente sao legal!!!!!

Next time we are going to get down and party in Brasil -

ate logo Let's

Philip

Posted by At the Party at 09:14 PM
View/Add Comments (3) | Category: Blazdell's in da house..
Out Damn Park!

OK- Oh my gosh- where to start- the Bootsnall community is amazing! I'm completely overwhelmed by the fantastico people that have come to this party- I've attended most of the airport runs to welcome the out of towners- like myself- Last night I went through a bit of a shy bit thinking - wow these peolpe are REEEALY famous! But you know what- they are just really "Phemominal" (spoken in the words of Mr. Phillip Blazdell). On to the Out Damn Park bit-

Continue reading "Out Damn Park!"

oh yeah

Well, apart from the GHG and Max not being here this is the perfect night - well, ok, I am ignoring the hangover, which is now improving - just standing back and watching, in awe, as everyone warms up and begins to tell the most incredible stories.....

I think we owe the boots boys a massive slap on the back (note - not beer - they drink way toooooooo much anyway).....for their vision....

Philip

Posted by At the Party at 07:59 PM
View/Add Comments (3) | Category: Blazdell's in da house..
We've Started!

The first six people are here. Dane is a new Bootfan, only found them a few months ago. Shawn and Jennifer just took their picture with Philip. Everyone will be taking a picture with the guest of honor.

Michaela is our Pubster and she's now wearing a BootsnAll hat and serving up Lucky Lab microbrew and Cooper Mountain wine. Fixins for cold cut sandwhiches, hummus and pita are in the back.

Dane is sitting next to me thinking of something to write for his post. And I'm so glad that we're able to. There a was a short scare when we couldn't get a dial tone but the owner of the Lucky Lab sorted us out.

Cheers everyone!

Posted by At the Party at 07:53 PM
View/Add Comments (1) | Category: Live with Leo
I'm Here!

Brasil0041menor.jpg

just a quick one, so that I actually feel like I am there, and not just one more pucking orange spot !

this was taken in a night out with a friend that came over from Dublin. She was pretty excited about her new digital camera...

Posted by Lets at 07:16 PM
View/Add Comments (0) | Category: At the Party with the Boots Crowd
things you do when you party

lagoon of vomit menor.jpg

the small orange spot in the picture lower left's corner its me, contribuiting to the Chilean wildederness and scenic views with my stomach fluids. After descending from almost 6.000mt to 3500mt my altitude sickness did not get better at all... it was not party related, i swear... but there was some wine involved since we did not plan well, there was no civilization or food selling along our way and everything we had to share between the four of us was a bottle of of wine and one small package of salty crackers.

we had decided to rent the cheaper car in La Serena and drive along the Elqui Valley for a couple of days. while slowly leaving pieces of our compact car behind along the rocky roads, we saw on the map this side road leading to the Argentinian border, and we decided to go up there, 6.000mt. Amazing view, not a soul on the way, crappy altitude sickness.

the coolets thing about it all? despite how miserable I was feeling in that moment, debbie managed to get that picture and I am so happy about it. second coolest thing? we were a group of four solo travellers. I had met debbie in the streets in La Paz while shopping for hostels, we travelled along together for a couple of weeks before she freaked out and decided she needed some me-time. it was when I met Mette in Atacama and we headed to La Serena together. Couple of days later I heard of Debbie that she was around and Mette heard of Oliver - a friend she had met somewhen in her travels - and we all ended up in the same hostel, for a few nights of chilean wine drinking and seafood cooking.

that was 3 years ago. this july Mette got married, and I headed to Denmark for her wedding (still paying for that ticket...) and so did Debbie and it was a hell of a reunion with a lot of old memories revivals, new memories being built and many more nights of beer and wine drinking.

Posted by Lets at 07:07 PM
View/Add Comments (1) | Category: Cheers from Abroad
packing, sorting, partying

Hooray!

It's about 11:55 pm over here in São paulo, and around 5:55 pm in Portland. SO I figure while I myself should be out drinking you guys at the bootsnall hostel must be getting ready to go to the party.

How's everybody doing?

As to why I am in, it would be quite dorky of me if I had chosen to stay in just to post in the Part Blog... I actually figure I should take care of all the packing and organizing, from which I took a break to get a beer and toast with my computer, Barbarella. I am leaving in 8 days. I just started to feel nervous, I guess it hit me righ now in betwwen the sorting and boxing: I will be working for a year at the other side of the globe! Hello butterflies, hope you have a blast in your little party inside my stomach.

Have fun everybody!

Cheers from Lets

Posted by Lets at 06:43 PM
View/Add Comments (0) | Category: Cheers from Abroad
Latest Comments

Dusty: The BNA party They say it was fun! But a picture o... [read]


justine: Hey missed the party, the web site is not organi... [read]


Mary: Thanks, Dusty, and Karen. Not a better way to spen... [read]


Jen Leo: Isn't he funny. :-) Well actually yes, I was in ra... [read]


Dewbie: Whoa this blog is all over the place! Sad to say t... [read]


delara: In n Out, a true California experience. Did you gu... [read]


delara: Nice lookin' prawns ya got there, Chris! The fam'... [read]


delara: Philip My calendar comes out soon. I'll give you ... [read]


Mary: Everthing to feel good about. A warm, friendly and... [read]


lets: cool philip! we'll have beers and portuguese lesso... [read]



Designed & Hosted by the BootsnAll Travel Network