Leighton is the king of partygivers in Austin, his legendary parties have been an outrageous string of no holds barred, spare no expense, outfrickingrageous events. This years Halloween party was no exception. In fact, we have "videoslides" running on the current Spring front page showing several hundred thousand random cuts from this event and the Fourth of July party a few months back.

HHave one 'round the holidays, so's I can check it out!

OK I'll see what we can do, what dates will you be around?

12-25 thru 12-29ish

Are we going to get to meet for a Spring get together then?

I'd like to.

Let's do it!

Sounds good... when? I need to fit in a visit to our fave Italian chef in Far West, a couple of beers with old friends and dinner at several local joints, a run around Town Lake (old times sake) and (I HOPE) a bike ride.

Sounds like a party!

Well, I'll be at work almost the entire time that you're here, so it shouldn't be too difficult to work your visit in. And if it is, tell me where to bring you yo' stuff, madam.

I might actually stay until 1/3, but tix have not been purchased yet so... I'll let everyone know.

Let us know! We'll plan something.

will do!

This is something you expect to experience in California, but it happened ratch here in the Texas Hill Country. I had a wonderful time at the Dubose Natural Farm in the hill country outside of Austin. Such a happy scene and so many nice women and men. We played and sang and talked and ended up around the campfire late at night. The highlight was Mangala and Patricia Dubose descriptions of how Patricia came to be caretaker of this incredible 1600 acres. The sun was warm and we put our feet in the cool river. We went swing out over the Little Blanco River on a rope swing. Someone brought some beautiful horsemint to the campfire and we passed it around. Oh yeah. Sue came and played songs off her new CD. Sue's in the Feldenkraus body workshop. Her Mother Eagle song is a gorgeous tearjerker. "Tears of love, blessed are my tears . . . " And Patricia got her account of Bo's cremation published in a book of pagan rituals. My friend Katrina was there sparkling all over the place, she's so vibrant and aware. And so pretty. And her friends Lyndon and "reesa". The Spring slide show is of this event (warning, there is one "full monty" scene of mail frontal and dorsal nudity of a guy swimming in the ice cold Blanco River"); promise you won't turn me into the decency police? The river with clear springs feeding into it was something to behold. The landscape was awesome. I plan to spend a day exploring it sometime, or better even a week.

I wanna go!

There will be more. And this Thanksgiving party happens every year.

It was fun going out "on the town" with Stacey and Kitchen Manager. Now, today's party. Don't miss it! New Years Day January 1st, 1998 2 pm till very late Bring: family & friends pot luck 5 pm snacks tv/game room potluck volleyball byob dominoes games *BONFIRE* music Internet feed on instruments http://www.spring.com Bring Yule Tree to burn At Cidneyes Hwy 71 East to Bastrop out of Austin, Texas Hwy 969 - 3.3 miles Turn right at the Yin Yang sign Call 512.303.4000 if you get lost and need directions or 303.3418.

I agree Terry, and thanks! Don't know if we're going to make it today, I just woke up. Happy 1998 to everyone there...

Didn't see you or Stacey there, could it be that you guys peaked too early at Fados?

Could be... Didn't get to sleep until 6 am wed night/ thur morn, so, I was somewhat tired. Maybe next time...

Paul, the festivities sounded great but we left town to get Mr. Brandon back on a plane to Colorado. And my parents planned a family portrait... I am sorry I missed it.

When's your next Austin trip?

I'll pitch in on your air fare!

Not until the summer probably... Spring break is always an option but nothing has been planned yet.

Just got off the phone with WER, kitchenmanager, and he said his mom came through ok! Wonderful news, isn't it!!! Hope you can stay longer next time and we can plan some more activities (and maybe even get in some workouts).

yes! Great news! And yes, I'd like to stay longer next time!

that could be nice

and of course it will be!

= - )

This just in from Leighton Hodges Four Score and yadda yadda............. Enough already!!! Interdependence Day Party Friday, 6:00 P.M. July 3,1998 6209 Bon Terra That's right an In-ter-dependence Day party. The wind beneath the wings of the 4th! To celebrate our interdependence on each other for community, support, harmony and fun! Bring someone with whom you are interdependent (even a co dependent will do!). You can celebrate being in-de-pendent from your ex-lover, your kids, your parents, the bank or the British on the day after this party. We'll probably talk, eat, and then play acoustic music until 9:00 after which we'll drum and dance. Feel free to bring musical instruments. I'll provide Margaritas, mineral water, soft drinks, virtual fireworks, Barbeque and fixen's. You can bring something additional to snack on (a dessert and/or a drink). If you want, BYOB. Bring someone you're with whom you're interdependent and we'll expand from there. Come and be a promiscuous hugger (hugging five people you don't know in one evening), sing, harmonize, talk, eat, listen and dance interdependently. DIRECTIONS: Go west from MO PAC and 2222 three lites and veer down the hill on 2222 going towards the lake. Right on Dry Creek (by the Quix store). Fourth right is Bon Terra. Red lites on house. 454-7971 if you get lost. I'll provide Margaritas, mineral water, soft drinks, virtual fireworks, Barbeque and fixen's. You can bring something additional to snack on (a dessert and/or a drink). If you want, BYOB. We'll probably play and sing acoustic music until 9:00 after which we'll drum and dance. Feel free to bring musical instruments. Bring someone you're with whom you're interdependent and we'll expand from there. Come and be a promiscuous hugger (hugging five people you don't know in one evening), sing, harmonize, talk, eat, listen and dance interdependently. DIRECTIONS: Go west from MO PAC and 2222 three lites and veer down the hill on 2222 going towards the lake. Right on Dry Creek (by the Quix store). Fourth right is Bon Terra. Red lites on house. 454-7971 if you get lost.. from Leighton Hodges

Wow, sounds great. Damn distance, and damn poverty!

Let the Spring party continue. Give Jeff Kramer a round of applause for getting us back up and running a few minutes ago. If you feel like there was a lost weekend, you're not alone. Full details later. And we're starting to build a newer, more robust and bulletproof server. No one dislikes downtime more than me.

THANK YOU Jeff!!

Thanks for fixing that in a jiffy, Jeffy! We're all truly grateful, as this is where we come to when even our loved ones get tired of us.

i think we should have a spring-party, which we can all (me n riette included) come to =)

I thoroughly agree! But where, deary? Don't think they're all going to come a'flying over here just two see us two fruit cakes! Not even if I lured them with wiffs of my sensational fondue . . .

Well, actually, I'd probably have Stacey sitting on top of my stove, staring into the cheese bubbles with stoney eyes, and drool dripping from her dainty, drooping dottom djaw (for the sake of poetry!) within minutes of sending out those wiffs.

pretty darn accurate there, Riette

And which wiffs should be sent your way, Mithtew Kitchen?

at this point, I assume yours and Stacey's...

Okay, but I'll just send Stacey's - I know the hypnotizing effect those'll have on you.

now, where'd you get that idea?

ESP coming from you. Every Single Pant, that is!

well i think you and i should fly to austin :)

Sure, when? WHERE is Austin? And you must promise not to get airsick, alright? Because Chris collects sickbags, and he'd never forgive me for bringing back a yuksies one.

austin, texas, usa. depending on when we flew, it shouldn't be *too* expensive.

with enough planning, the rest of us could probably pitch in...

Are you guys being serious here? If so, then we're going to have to plan way in advance, because with my third world passport I have to apply for a visum over a month in advance. Boy, it's so unpractical coming from the bush. But we'll have a blast if we do that, I'm sure!!!

i'm serious. not for a while, obviously...maybe to celebrate something. anyone got anything to celebrate? christmas? new year party?

Sure, we can make it an October or November New Year party - I have to be home in December (exhibition coming up then). I can probably make it November, but have an exhibition the end of August, which is akward. Or we can wait and do a big spring party early next year. That is, if I'm still in Z�rich by then.

Next Spring party in Austin: July 18th. Email terry for details.

Thanks, Terry! Shall we try and make that one, Mike? That's time enough to make arrangements, and I should know withing the next four or five weeks whether I'm going down under or not.

July 18th?? I can't make that - no cash. sorry :( something later in the year, or early next year would be better.

I thought that WAS next year? Because I can't make this July either - going on a very short holiday to England at the end of it, so no extra cash here either. Oh, what a bore to live out here!

We'll have a big one on the first day of Spring next year. Our tenth anniversery as an organization and our 5th year on the net.

And of course we'll have to do something for the millenium.

Mike and I WILL be there! Right, Mike? Shall we fly from Heathrow?

How about the first weekend in August?!? (that's when I'm coming down!!!)

Sure, we can do a party then. Are we talking August 1-2 or August 8-9?

er... somewhere round there... (tickets haven't been bought yet!)

Let us know when you get your tickets and we'll have a swim party here at Spring World HQ, in your honor!

WooWoo!!!!!

Summer Swim/Dance Party starts 4 pm Saturday July 18 at the Spring, 9011 Quail Creek Drive Directions: 183 to Peyton Gin Road (between Lamar and Burnet exits), left on Quail Creek about 3 blocks on right or go past 183 on Lamar and turn left on Quail Creek and right on Little Walnut (turns in to Quail Creek) Vegetarian Potluck * Dancing * Music call 303-4000 or 302-4000 for more info/directions Music Mix by MixMaster Bob Nagy: Rock * BritPop * Euro * Techno * Ethnic * swing Ska * Reggae * Mambo * Salsa * HipHop * Zydeco bowling on the green * croquet * water volleyball and basketball * dancing * swimming * synchronized swimming contest with prizes * live webcast If you cant come in person, drop by http://www.spring.net for the live video/audio feed

coooool i think we should get something vaguely definite about riette and i coming over, and wolf, wer, stacey, autumn et. al. dropping by :) sometime during the later months of the year (flight prices cheaper then), perhaps?

this Saturday... We are headed up to Leadville, CO for the COurage Classic. Three day charity bike ride to benefit Children's Hospital. I received enough sponsorship to participate and am terribly excited about three days of riding and camping! The ride takes us from Leadville to Copper Mountain on Friday, CopperMountain up to Loveland Pass and back to Copper on Saturday and from Copper to Leadville on Sunday!

good luck!!! (and more importantly, enjoy!)

That sort of weekend would positively KILL me.

What do you mean, Riette?

Well, I love cycling - in Germany or Holland, that is. And I love camping - in dry, desert conditions, that is. But I love room service even more.

Then you need to cycle to a desert campground with room service.

ha-ha!!! Something like that. Think I'll have to get to heaven first to find an arrangement like that, and the chances of my getting to heaven is like. . . . . slim.

My idea of roughing it is staying in a hotel that doesn't have a lot of outlets...I can't imagine that fugitive hiding out in the Appalachian Mtns. for 6 months. I mean, at least in prison he'd have cable!

Absolutely!

The party is rumbling closer. It will be webcast. The marguarita machine has been delivered. The pool light has been fixed and I dosed the pool with "Pool Clear" to make it sparkle tomorrow. I picked up the smoke machine and the colored lights from rock and roll rentals. The dance music has been skillfully chosen and pieced together into a 5 hour tape by Bob Nagy who is going all out for this thing. Bill has called about 200 folks around Austin. Leighton has done his bit with his party mailing list. I think, we're about . . . ready to rumble!!!!! Bob will be by in the morning to set up the scene. Bill has about 89 more calls to make. I can feel it, this one's going to be ... big! Are you ready for a webcast?

Yes. You mean the little photos will appear in the front page? And DAMN! You all partying, and me having to do some shopping to keep my children from starving. DAMN.

Yep, while you nourish those little buggers that kept you up all night, we'll be partyin' down. Feel free to watch the pictures fly by on the web page and listen to the sounds and music! I hear Bob has put together and awesome sound track.

Blimey, that sounds like one *heck* of a party :)) "But I love room service even more." I love that line, Riette :))

�rolling on the floor blushing my arse off�

typing in straight from Terry's party...

What? It's still going? SPEW? The wine not very good (I spitefully hope)?

not sure...was drinking margaritas... (spew is yet another alter ego...)

A multi-personality muffin! The one in 'name the puppy' sounded like his name should have been Spew . . .

There wasnt' much wine. The margaritas were spellbinding. wer looked somewhat stunned (must have had a grueling day at Lilitaly). Bob's music mix was awesome, anyone here see us live?

I looked at the pictures, but my computer won't do that audio-thing, the ba$tard. The margaritas probably just made Wer shy! And so did you all have a great time, Terry? And don't you dare say yes!

It was just miserable, Reitte, wasn't it wer?

You have to say it like you mean it though.

Do I hafta?

Yes. Otherwise I might burst out in tears. �BIG SMILE� How long did the party go on for altogether?

Till about 3 am. Replays are still going on.

i heard some of the music as you were setting up. I think it was Bob phoning answermachines to leave messages "Hi, the xxx people, the xxx people and the spring dot net people are having a party, and you're invited!" :) Nice one L:)

That was Bill making those calls. He did a good job, I think we had about 80 folks.

cool..that's what i love so much about the states. randomly phone people up to invite them to a big party, which would never hapen in this country, and then they come. which also would never happen in this country.

What WOULD happen?

So what did you think of Bill's spiel that Bob wrote?

it wasn't the margaritas, Riette, it was a social gathering, therefore I was out of place, so shy will work just fine... was initially shy when I first met Terry and Stacey, also...

what would happen in the UK? Nothing. Nobody would organise a big party, nobody would get invited and nobody would *ever* come. we're just so "restrained" (read: boring)

Lies, all lies!!! The English are wonderful people, and open, and very very funny, and just so normal. My greatest times and only great parties here in Europe happened in England. Or perhaps it just FEELS that way because of sterile Switzerland? ARGH! Whatever. Just wanted to defend Mike's tribe! Don't worry Wer, I also get quite shy when I have to meet people I don't know. No, really!! So you DID meet Stacey! Did you like her? And did she like you? Or are you just teasing? I can never tell.

He's telling the truth, I was there. And they seemed to hit it off. The three of us met at Fados down on Fourth Street after dinner at Little Italy.

That is great!!!

Yep, Terry chaperoned so us kids wouldn't get in trouble...let's see, Terry and Stacey came in for dinner, I cooked for them, they left and went to Fado's where I met them after work. After a couple of beers or so, went to another restaurant (Magnolia Cafe) and ate, Terry dropped us off at Stacey's car, she gave me a ride to mine, we talked for awhile, went home, took a nap, me the wife and kids met her at Kerbey Lane for breakfast...