We’re on! Welcome to E@RTC!
We’re finally on for Opening Day, Saturday May 8! There is only a 10% chance of rain and only a 50% chance they got that right, so it means anything can happen, but we’re on anyway, because we’re taking that bet. If you’re new, be sure to read the rules and check the criteria page. We’ve never had this much email about the event before, so we think it’s going to be a record turnout, or just a lot of people into email.
Masks will be required on property even though we’re all outside, etc. I know, don’t get me started. Let’s just try and have fun and the historians can write about this years from now. The good news is a few of us won’t look so terrifying in masks. A couple of our volunteers could easily scare pant into a different shade.
Remember, the entrance is one block east of BJs, just as we have for the past two years…or three years. Don’t make us send you around the block! The entrance is the corner of Bear Creek Parkway and 168th Avenue NE, if you want to mark it on your GPS.
Again, we need to say it one more time, but behaviors of those who both participate and spectate will be critical this year under new ownership, so please talk to everyone you know who’s going about our rules. We don’t want to have to ban someone. Really we don’t. We hate to do it, but it’s a big deal to us.
Speaking of which, every season, like it’s some weird schism, we get a few Facebook posts from self-righteous trolls who insist we do something they want. These trolls always have the winning formula; a combination demand and a snide remark rolled into what they think is a clever snarky post. They sit there with momentary pride, as if they just made a big contribution to a better world. We always delete these posts the second they go up. Always! Imagine someone popping their balloon. At the third time, we ban them entirely especially when they don’t get the hint. POP!
To put this in some context, we’ve only had to ban five people in all our years. Just five! We made it to 2012 before we banned the first one, the second in 2016. We had two in 2017, and one in 2020! It’s that rare. We know because Facebook lets us track that stuff with names and dates. It also indicates just how special these trolls really are! Oh, and they get mad when we pop their balloons.
We’re fine if they want to drop us a note with a question or complain about something of real substance, including the weather call. We don’t mind the correspondence and we always answer. Sometimes, with just two words, but we answer.
Showing up at my door in the middle of the night to junk-punch me because of the weather call is not a good idea. Even if you see me in a Starbucks line, it’s still not okay, especially when I’m not looking. (We don’t make the weather calls. The weather service does that.) Just bashing us online with full volume obnoxiousness, because you disagree with something, doesn’t make your case. A flaming bag of poop at my door would have more influence.
Some don’t realize or they forget we’re here to have fun. When it’s not fun, there is no event. Just to make it clear in mathematical terms; fun=event, no fun=no event. How basic is that? That should be clear to everyone, however, there is always that special someone who thinks all of this is about them. They are probably fuming in the basement right now as they read this. “Mom, more Pop-Tarts!”
Of course, they never contribute to anything, but are always standing at the sidelines ready to make snide remarks or tear something down because they are mad. They are like a two year old stamping their feet in the cereal isle at Walmart. A bit of observation Padawan, is people who are always so willing to tear down others, are usually the ones who never built anything, and never will.
So when you see them gone from Facebook, you know why. It’s our junk-punch right back. Pop! We don’t try and appeal to everyone. That would be a recipe for failure…or Taco Bell.
Remember, our weather calls are not up to us. We use what we can gather from other sources, and follow it as best we can. It’s a tradition. Sometimes they get it wrong! Life still goes on.
Breakfast!
The Archer Hotel will be open for breakfast this next week, so don’t forget to go there after you get landed at E@RTC and before the big crowds get there. It’s a nice way to spend the morning and we love supporting those places that support us. It will be yum. I plan to be there when I can.
Also, spend a few bucks around Redmond Town Center. All of those store owners have had to put up with a lot of stuff this past year and could really use the help, so do a little shopping while you’re there. There are a lot of new shops at the mall so spend some time looking around.
Salish Lodge
I’ve not done a shout out to Salish Lodge in a while and a big hello to Chris and the others up there. They have always welcomed us exotic owners and it’s the place to go after E@RTC, but think of them at other times as well. It’s one of my favorite destinations and it’s a great jump off from Redmond Town Center. If we’re rained out, it’s still a great destination. It’s where a lot of people head after E@RTC and where you can see exotics in the wild after our event. It’s also a great place to spend that romantic weekend.