Ok since we are gonna be substitute Land grab agents this year we are planning on being there for Zero night for the first time! So I've not really paid ANY attention in the past. What is zero night like and what should I expect? Other than lots of alcohol? PM me if needed...Keep in mind we'll be there with the girls as well as ourselves (sigh). We won't be partying too hard!
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Re: Zero night?
Thu, July 10, 2008 - 6:40 AMIt's tons of fun!! You'll be parking/camping on the battlefield, after going through troll. Most people don't change into garb, although a few do. The grass is usually a bit high, so it's a good idea to wear boots or shoes that go above the ankle, so that when the dew falls you don't have to walk around with soggy feet. A few people have fires, some make little 'mini' camps (we string a big tarp up for people to sleep under and to party out of the rain).
It's a load of fun--and some of the best partying, 'cause everyone is just so damn happy to be there! -
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Re: Zero night?
Thu, July 10, 2008 - 7:01 AMZero Night is great. Dirk from Howling mouse tries to be there at noon so he can have a really good spot. He sets up an above ground fire pit, and invites folks to have a beer with him. It gets too loud and too frenzied for his usual bardic thing, but it's gallons of fun.
The energy at Zero night is completely off the chain, off the porch and over the fence. It can actually be way too much. I am suggesting, depending on ages, that you set up some very clear boundaries for your girls. Remember, EVERYBODY has access to the spot where you are camping. Last year, I had somebody I didn't know just sit down on the edge of my camp cot, break it, and ended up sleeping on the ground. The worst part was that I was in the cot at the time they sat down.
Also, some very repressed people come to war, and there might be things going on that you don't want your girls seeing. It's their first moment off the chain, and they tend to make up for lost time.
I suggest that you get there before dark, stake off a section that you can call "yours", set up the tent, and get your sleeping arrangements set up before dark. Then, set your camp chairs out in front of your area, and let the party come to you.
Zero night may be my favorite night of war.
f -
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Re: Zero night?
Thu, July 10, 2008 - 7:14 AMThanks!
I'm more concerned about the kids than anything else. That and getting some rest (sigh) I'll be a total A$$H0L@ if I don't get enough sleep before morning and I really do not want to get kicked out the next morning for beating up my fellow landagents on my block! Yah know?
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Re: Zero night?
Thu, July 10, 2008 - 7:33 AMI'd suggest parking on one of the far lanes (further from the entrance to the battlefield). I've found that area to be a bit quieter than the more central lanes.
I totally second the opinion that it's one of the best nights at war!!! -
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Re: Zero night?
Thu, July 10, 2008 - 8:47 AMits.... awesome. there is also a samwich vendor / truck there... : )
i usually sleep in my cart... -
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Re: Zero night?
Thu, July 10, 2008 - 11:55 AMIt's really hard to describe Zero Night, but Freiman did a damned good job. It's like you're eight years old, and have been in class for 50 straight weeks, then a bell rings and teacher yells....
RECESS!!!! -
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Re: Zero night?
Thu, July 10, 2008 - 2:48 PMSleep...hahahahahahahahaha
Not only is it exciting to be there but there is the added expectations of the next day when you can actually go and start setting up...at least it was that way for me the few times I went.
I think if you get there before dark and try to park near the castle. I remember it being quiet down that way. Up near troll was very noisy. No body has any concern for the hour of the night when they see a person they only see once a year. But you can't blame them. You have to go with it.
A few get really drunk. Most are just loud. Things are chaotic. Keep the girls with in a few feet of you at all times. There are cars driving to find spots and when it gets dark it can be very disorienting. rows and rows of vehicals. I kid could be totally lost in seconds.
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Re: Zero night?
Thu, July 10, 2008 - 4:36 PMWell, physical is a no go, but being an asshole is perfectly fine. The real trick is remembering who you interacted with so that you can drop off an "apology" bottle of wine with afterwards.
Seriously.
Anybody worth worrying about will forgive you if you are actually contrite. Being a land agent, especially in your first year, means being 100% asshole compatible. Don't be afraid to offend people. There are people counting on you.
f -
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Re: Zero night?
Thu, July 10, 2008 - 4:56 PMAlso, the parking "lanes" are marked off with thin string that disappears quickly after a few people have walked and/or driven over it. Where it survives, it will trip you up in a heartbeat.
One year I attempted to sleep in the front seat of my truck. At about 5 am, some idiot decided to tell jokes through the window of the vehicle next to me. Not only did he have the world's most irritating voice, but his repertoire of jokes were about the dumbest and unfunniest I'd ever heard. They wouldn't have been funny at any time of the day. Another year a group pulled in very late and began giggling like little girls at a pajama party. I was about to say something when I realized that they were as excited to arrive at that time as I was when I showed up hours earlier. They were having a blast and I certainly couldn't begrudge them that!
Oh, and find Cowboy. He'll be the guy with the knapsack full of jello shots. -
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Re: Zero night?
Sat, July 12, 2008 - 9:50 PMWait, what? They've got string down at foot/ankle level? Oh sh*t, that's not good news. I 've been known to trip over things that aren't even there (yes, while sober), so something that *is* going to be there, hidden and in the dark, amid all sorts of other distractions to pay attention to, scares me a bit.
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Re: Zero night?
Sat, July 12, 2008 - 9:45 PMI can totally relate. I'm not much fun in the morning if I haven't had enough sleep either (or enough caffeine, for that matter). Comes into conflict with my insomnia and general nightowlishness sometimes... and this will probably be one of them. OTOH, my lord and I are relatively mature and civilized, at least, nothing weird and we know how to behave around children... maybe we can stop by with a bottle of wine and say hello! -
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Re: Zero night?
Sat, July 12, 2008 - 9:46 PMCrud, the above was in response to Val. I forgot to paste what I'd copied. It's been that kind of day. -
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Re: Zero night?
Sun, July 13, 2008 - 10:15 AMThey are not at foot or ankle level until someone has tripped over them a few times. They are meant to be where they can be seen by people driving in. -
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Re: Zero night?
Sun, July 13, 2008 - 12:33 PMOkay, kinda what I figured. I think I'm just paranoid after having broken my right ankle back in January. Guess I'll wear closed shoes and make sure I carry a flashlight. And hang onto my lord's arm... ;-) -
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Re: Zero night?
Mon, July 14, 2008 - 5:39 PMI'm looking forward to having a picnic zero afternoon ... probably take a nap after the second bottle of wine, wake up and start it all up again :) -
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Re: Zero night?
Thu, July 17, 2008 - 2:25 PMI'll be looking for you. I'll bring a bottle too.
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Re: Zero night?
Mon, July 21, 2008 - 7:22 PMI usually get the front spot in the second row (which takes a little persuasion and sometimes Dave Cooper), for my Zero night Party. I have already made my first alcohol run which includes a pallet of beer with, of course, J.W. Dundees Honey Brown, plus other micro/imports, wine coolers, and some of the other yummies I've devised over the years ( ie. Butter Rum, Fortified Ameretto, and at least 9 types of cordials).
Please feel free to stop by and enjoy what I've brought for our welcome home Zero night party, and bring anything you'd like to share for others to enjoy. At past Zero nights we have had many cordials, wines, homemade beers, etc. from other people shared around the fire in addition to what I provide. Last year, one gentle brought a 30+ year old bottle of scotch (I don't even want to know what that cost), which I found empty during clean up( and no, he didn't drink it all himself, lol).
While I do encourage people to share a few drinks, I also try to encourage people to limit themselves to a level of drinking that is fun for everybody, not frat party style drinking. I have been doing this since Pennsic XXIII, and the only major problem I've had to deal with was when some "A$$" told a few young ladies that they were "to fat to be belly dancing, and that they should stop embarrassing themselves". To say the least, I was not pleased and the individual disappeared.
Heres hoping for another great Zero night,
Dirk
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Re: Zero night?
Thu, August 14, 2008 - 4:59 PMRe: Zero night?
Zero Night is great. Dirk from Howling mouse tries to be there at noon so he can have a really good spot. He sets up an above ground fire pit, and invites folks to have a beer with him. It gets too loud and too frenzied for his usual bardic thing, but it's gallons of fun.
I will try to do that next year for sure.
Achbar
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Re: Zero night?
Thu, July 10, 2008 - 5:02 PMWOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo!!! It's only 14 days or so away!! -
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Re: Zero night?
Thu, July 10, 2008 - 5:35 PMThis'll be my very first Zero Night!! I'm so excited!!! -
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Re: Zero night?
Thu, July 10, 2008 - 6:32 PMYay! I can't wait to see you all again!!
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Re: Zero night?
Thu, July 10, 2008 - 8:02 PMZero Night =heat stroke Saturday
But, yeah. Worth it. -
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Re: Zero night?
Fri, July 11, 2008 - 3:05 PMBring ear plugs. Seriously. If you plan to sleep, that is. I don't leave home without mine!
Also, I wanted to add that you don't really get to choose where you park on the battle field, the Cooper Staff directs you to the next available spot, and that's where you go. We always pack a dome tent to pitch just for night zero, and we leave our air mattress and at least a little bedding where we can access it that night. Also, food, drink, a light source and a couple chairs. It is indeed good to arrive before dark to get settled in for the night.
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Re: Zero night?
Sat, July 12, 2008 - 12:17 AMDude,
If you can put the kids in the car, or in tent with earplugs, you should be set.
The thing about Zero Night, is it's kinda like the biggest Not Sleepover you've ever been to.
We've been trying to be nice enough to warn folks parked next us, that "there will be noise". It's much excitement on most folks part of having lived the 50 week town run. You see your friends and pals, and go nuts.
We're all Big Children, we lose perspective that others might also be there. If you only have that one moment of selfish behavior a year, well, be willing to cut a lot of slack. Now the folks that are total jerks, yeah, feel free to yell, biatch and complain as needed!
Hope you're not next to the McGroyne's, we just can't help ourselves sometimes. : )
BTW, McGroyne Frelling Night will be going on. Look/yell for "TOUCH!", white trailer, VA TAG: MCGROYN, Banner: Clan McGroyne presents: FRELLING NIGHT!
"What are you serving?"
Answer: "Whatcha carrying?"
But we usually have a road pop or seven for those we know well. : ) -
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Re: Zero night?
Sat, July 12, 2008 - 3:26 AMWell...now that you mentioned it....
One year we had arrived and parked. We had wandered. We had partied. We had fallen asleep.
Then lo and behold, we start hearing "TOUCH!!"
I swear when we fell asleep we were surrounded by cars, vans, trucks and trailers. But somehow magically The McGroynes had managed to drop down out of the sky and into a spot very near us. -
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Re: Zero night?
Sat, July 12, 2008 - 9:40 AMHee hee, don't cha just hate it when that happens?
McGroyne is everywhere. -
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Re: Zero night?
Sat, July 12, 2008 - 11:51 AMbring a flashlight, or two, or three... : )
always a good zero knight thing... : ) -
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Re: Zero night?
Thu, July 17, 2008 - 4:53 PMWhat about if you arrive around 1:30 in the morning, is there still people up...Oh wait this is Pennsic, Duh. See you there.
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Re: Zero night?
Thu, July 17, 2008 - 11:57 PMI will be there by friday afternoon, look forward to seeing everyone -
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Re: Zero night?
Fri, July 18, 2008 - 8:36 AMI cant wait I cant wait I cant wait I cant wait .. zero night is the best night of war worth the whole drive on it's own -
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Re: Zero night?
Sat, July 19, 2008 - 8:32 AMOn zero you get to see all sorts of things.
The first to puke, the first couple using the bumper of the truck in front of you as a place to get to know each other intimately. The first drunk to pass out in one of your chairs. It kind of gets quiet about 4 AM. Time enough for a quick nap before you drunk drive to your campsite in the largest vehicular clusterf@#$ you ever saw. All in All a good time. Oh yeah don't forget the drunks using your truck as a porta-castle. -
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Re: Zero night?
Sat, July 19, 2008 - 12:48 PMIf someone pissed on my vehicle they'd be wishing in the morning that their headache was just from a hangover. -
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Re: Zero night?
Sat, July 19, 2008 - 2:15 PMWeather channel forecast for Pgh- Fri. high of 79, Sat. high of 80. -
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Re: Zero night?
Sat, July 19, 2008 - 3:47 PMYou guys make me jealous I can't come to Landgrab...all the drinking, urinating, intimate encounters and passing out...I hate to miss it.
I dont miss trying to get off the battlefield after landgrab is over. Why the traffic jam at pennsic? -
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Re: Zero night?
Sat, July 19, 2008 - 4:56 PMwhen is zero night? Friday? Damn we leave at 4am on Saturday to get there, usually roll in about 6pm.
I have talked to the Churiuguriens (sorry, i know I butchered that, it's not in my spell check.....) anyway, they always tell us they have been busy with alcohol poisionings and things of that nature. Medieval vacations tend to be very hard on the liver. -
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Re: Zero night?
Sat, July 19, 2008 - 7:36 PMI always tell the drunks to use the right rear tire, as that is the one I use. -
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Re: Zero night?
Mon, July 21, 2008 - 8:06 AMI am jealous of you ALL....
This will be the 1st Zero Night I've missed (well... - missed totally - since showing up at 2 AM still counts if you have that bag o' jello wigglers Azhrde mentioned with you..) - in well over a decade.
Got's family stuff going on back here which I feel I shouldn't miss (for once) on 1st Saturday, so I'll not be arriving until either the wee hours of, or midday on, Sunday. This SO friggin' sucks mates...
- I'm gonna miss having a fair go on that bumper someone mentioned too... - but still - I gotta hope that wasn't me they were rememberin' from years back... ;o) -
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Re: Zero night?
Mon, July 21, 2008 - 8:48 AMBuuuuut.....you'll still be bringing the jello shots, right? -
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Re: Zero night?
Mon, July 21, 2008 - 9:25 AMA Zero night without Cowboy ???? And next someone is going to tell me that bears quit sh*tting in the woods. -
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Re: Zero night?
Mon, July 21, 2008 - 10:25 PMZero Night without Cowboy and Jello Shots? That takes just a little of the sting of missing Pennsic away. (Right...sure it does).
;-)
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Re: Zero night?
Tue, July 22, 2008 - 8:30 PMDamn, Cowboy, while I was happy to finally get me jello shots last year, I was looking forward to a new tradition for me. ah well, look forward to seeing you later that weekend.
Hope the family stuff is all good news :) -
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Re: Zero night?
Wed, July 23, 2008 - 8:35 AMAwww... - you guyzzzz.....
- Better'n a big ol' group hug in here...
It sucks to know I'll miss one of my favorite nights at War - but it sure is nice to know I'll be missed while it happens... ;o)
Guess I'll just hafta bring an extra handle of El Cheapo vodka to help start the Cauldron out at 1st Monday now just to celebrate.
Save that bad booze peeps! See ya's then! -
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Re: Zero night?
Wed, July 23, 2008 - 9:41 AMI don't know about anyone else, but I didn't say I was gonna miss YOU. I'm gonna miss the jello shots....
just kiddin'...ya know I loves ya
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