December 7, 2002

“It hurts my little brain.

As for shuttlin everyone for $200.00...not gonna happen, unless your a gorgeous single, available (no bubba's please) woman. For $200.00, I will even massage and rub your footsies once a day for the weekend. Other services available upon request, prices are negotiable...swapping back rubs is cool...females only need apply or REPLY!!!! I am well versed in many techniques.

I managed to secure a 4-wheeler, so, Im bringin the house with me. The rest of you can hike in...hahahahahahahahahaha.”

“LOL.. ya the hog had me cracking up.. Chip (that's his name) was KILLING me telling that so straight faced!”

“Don't forget those Zamfir Pan pipes!”

“By the way- I wish to commission a walking stick- I plan on bringing you a piece of Black Walnut if you are interested.”

“Well let me bubble this thread back up on top again.

I promised to shut up about asking for donations to secure the charit Creek Lodge at the end of this month -- so I have about three days left.

This will be the most talked about event for quite some time afterwards. I am having folks emailing and calling me that I have never talked to before, and certainly have never met.

I am truly excited over what a good response we are getting. I am starting to think that my initial estimates of 100 people being there might be understated.

Woodstock here we come. :) :)”

“So how close are you to getting the needed $$$$?”

“What's the matter, I thought you wanted to volunteer for this endevor. I thought you were a team player. Come'on Sinkmon get it together and help out with this thing. I know you can do it, provide richsha service for anyone that gives 200.00 bucks. I'll even supply you with the richsha, (will a old wheelbarrow work?).

I talk with ya later Stink-mon.

The Stalker”

“I'm not a team player, I'm an evil, self centered, ignorant peice of white trailer trash. I ain't gonna do it, no way, no how........oh...what was the question again???

I always carries me a flute, JoshMan. Halve tunes will travel.

TD...you get my check yet...you better notify everyone that Missouri will be represented by a mean ole desperado and his mangy mutt...stikdog. first you spit on the food, then you drop it in the dirt, then step on it, cook it, serve it to everyone else...thats how we do it here in Missouri.”

“Cripes!...i forgot to mail my check before my trip. I took it by the post office first thing this morning!! Let us know how close we are...i'll wire money if need be!”

“I really want to go, but I just got paid today. Is it too late to send in some money?”

“Missouri (Stikmon) is represented!.. heh.. Thanks.. I got in a check from Kansas also.. (Stalker).. but I hafta tell you guys, TENNESSEE (who else) has taken over the lead.

:)”

“"Chris, I received your email about the backpacker cookoff. Can you tell me a little more about who sponsors it. I guess I should ask how it got started and any other details you can provide. The idea is quite interesting."

Beverly, the cookoff began as a dialog between myself and a good friend in Memphis. We were talking about Memphis in May, and how that event always draws a large crowd. Somewhere in that discussion, the two of us got talking who cooked better than the other, and through the process of typical guy-to-guy thug banter, the idea of having a backpacker's challenge cookoff was born.

Who sponsors it? Everyone, and no one. We have representation from Tennessee Trails Association, Sierra Club, and many other hiking organizations. The prizes are donated by Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, REI, and many other local outfitters. We publicize the event primarily through Matt Johnson's TrailTalk (http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk) and through Backpacker Magazine's Forums (http://forums.backpacker.com). Last year was our first year, and we drew more people than anyone thought imaginable. Credit goes to the fellowship of those at TrailTalk for coming up with the name 'Titanium Chef.'

This year promises to greatly surpass any expectations we can imagine. For more details on last year's event, please consider going to my personal website (http://www.towndawg.com) and clicking on 'trips' and then clicking on the Titanium Chef page. I hope this helps! Please feel free to continue to email or call with any questions you might have in this regard.”

“Opie/Miss Opie-- You have time. Put that check in the mail. The invoice doesn't have to be paid until July.”

“Dang Opie, you had better pay for Miss Opie esp. since she carries all of your gear.”

“Did you get your computer fixed Ewker?”

“Count on Noodles & Mrs Noodles from last year too!She is down with the program and is also a RN so we have a Med.

Hey OPIE-remember what I showed ya?
I'm counting on you man!”

“Tennessee?.. did you say Tennessee?.. Kewlness.. I challenge you to a cookoff my friend.. name the hike.. and the weekend.. no slackpacking.. no car camping.. has to be a real backpack

Know the author?”

“Miss Opie, I haven't had a chance to download the program yet. I read on Tech TV that you have to disable your windows restore or it will come back even after you use the program, so now I have to read on how to do that. It is always something.”

“Joshman.. put a check in the mail. so I can count you in the mix.

Titanium Chef 2002
c/o Chris Fox
300 Cary Drive Bruceton, TN 38317
towndawg@hotmail.com
731.586.4744
888.866.7667”

“Ya man-si”

“Towndog, my check is in the mail. You should receive it by Tuesday. Is that ok?

I agree with you Ewker, since I have to carry all of Opie's gear, I should at least get my trip paid for!”

“Thank you!.. Very much. We are gradually getting there. About the time I think we have collected all the donations we are going to get, some more folks email me and indicate interest.

I am still thinking we might raise the entire $500.”

“JOSHMAN..i sure do remember...and since miss opie is carrying most of my gear i might be able to fit 2 cases, and tie another one onto hers!...or we could do the hand truck and keg deal...”

“What about ice?”

“Hey, it's December, for Pete's sake - who needs ice?”

“hehe.. yupperz.. we might even have snow.. :)”

“Or it could be 75°, in Tenn. you never know what it will be. I have had to cut the grass in Dec before”

“Snow Cones!”

“It was warm last year when we had it, so I am kinda EXPECTING a danged ice storm this year.

:)”

“With the entry of Mrs.Noodles-I would like to announce the formation of "Team Monique"-not to be confused with Eco-Internet or the Greg Lemond's US Postal service team.
Ok- don't sing it -bring it...
All others will bite the Tennessee dust..”

“Tennessee will take all the honors this year.. LOL.. :)”

“I am sending you a box via UPS today-
With some stuff-open the packing slip carefully.”

“Florida has surpassed TN again.. we have a large contingent coming in from Florida apparently.. :)”

“Hey TD, how many people have sent their money in and breakdown the number of people per state so far.”

“Florida-great beaches-not as good as Hawaii or California or North Carolina or Washington or Oregon or Mexico,Jamaica or Texas-hell even Alabama & Louisiana rank a bit in front of FLORIDA beach camping wise.
We won't hold state of origion against anyone..everyone has to live somwhere.
BTW-
Steve S & Bobby B sleep in the same sleeping bag.”

“If any of you would be willing to help publicize TC2, there is a Powerpoint file uploaded to my website.

Download, print it in color, and carry it to your favorite hiking/backpacking store.

http://towndawg.tripod.com/images/cookoff.ppt”

“Me and Josh started doing some publicity work today for TC2.. wow.. GREAT response from the three hiking stores we went in!

Gotta be such an awesome event.

Got the invoice for Charit Creek Lodge the other day, will pay it sometime this week prolly. Thanks again for all the help in raising the money!”

“TD..you get my check?...

hey guys..guess where me and Miss OPIE are....in the bahamas...providence island...nassau...on the south side. logged some mad dive hours this week....bronzed and boozed...but still got the net addiction..just found out the hotel had puters!...Wish ya'll were here!!..hahaha”

“OPIE: I got Ms Opie's chk.. :).. does that apply for you?

*snicker*”

“He's lettin' her do all the heavy lifting AGAIN....”

“He told me that she was the heavy one in the house-something about how does my butt look with this pack? Remember Bit?
He told all sorts of stories about her.The trojan story still kills me.”

“oh god i'm in trouble..cause i don't even remember what your talking about...we're back from the bahamas...pics to be posted soon. TD let me know when you get MY envelope”

“Ms Opie-
I & stikmon will let you in on it.
He is such a beast.”

“for a donation of $200.00, I will keep silent.

Oh yeah...TD, if you want one of my hiking sticks as a prize for something...let me know.

joshman...lets talk offline about your proposed project. I usuall do my stuff when the wood is green, its easier to get all the carving done in the bark, but we can talk, there are other options.

and Opie, I just got back from the outer banks of North carolina...my tan is better than youuuuuuuuurrrrrrrr tan...hehehe.”

“Well.. where to start.. I prolly better work on music and entertainment next.. anyone got any good leads for me to pursue?”

“Hey stikmon-
We will gladly accept a walking stick as a prize-either bring it with you or forward it to TD.

The walnut I would like to use is still growing on the tree-I will wait to prune the tree until December.Thanks”

“State Total Of Amount
AL $60.00
CA $15.00
DC $15.00
FL $75.00
IL $15.00
KS $20.00
MO $15.00
NY $15.00
TN $195.00
VA $20.00

hehe.. chili36's mail is AWOL.. did you send it pony express, chili?”

“Joshman and Stickman.. I'm back from the Bahamas now, and I want stories!”

“Miss Opie-
What goes on while on the trail stays on the trail...”

“You brought it up and now you must confess! :) You shouldn't have mentioned it if you weren't going to finish it.”