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The Story of the First Annual AoS-fest (cont.)

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Two memorable things about the day though….

First, a group of 5-8 guys from Ohio were visiting the park and fucking killing it!!! I do not know what it is about Ohio but everyone I meet from there skates big and hauls ass! Our pal, "Ohio" Paul actually knew them and was from their crew ("The Drunks" or something like that?!?!). Small world.

Ohio Ripper

The $32 Drop-in Challenge
The second event…most all day a local bum had been trying to get money from any and every one. Finally, some kids offer him $10 bucks to drop in on the vert ramp. Others hear about this "challenge for the challenged" and soon the bet is up to $32. The guy was actually trying it. Some of us older folks were yelling for him not to try it and just come down before he hurt himself. He sat up on coping with the deck out for a long while but did finally try it. He lucked up and leaned back enough that he pretty much just slid down the ramp in his back. He gave up after that….thank God.
Much of the fun and hijinxs occurred out in the parking lot. We had set up a tailgate camp out there. From time to time, we would take breaks, gather out there for beers and just shoot the shit on a nice day. We met another group parked by us that had made the trip from Memphis…turned out it was the "Drain Fairy" and his crew!!!! Really cool group. We all had a lot of fun out there watching out for cops while drinking adult beverages.

TGM invents "eXtreme Tailgating"

Phil (Smithgrind) Hosey takes a break

End of the day
As the day wore on, we all soon wore out. It was near dark anyways. We made plans to pack up, hit the hotel, clean up and gather for an AoS-fest dinner! Somehow, the dinner decision went fairly well...we all decided on a Tex Mex place the hotel suggested. Good food and good times! With the beers from earlier in the day and the beers from dinner, everyone was ready for a big blowout night on the town! (since rain was forecasted for Sunday and most people were travelling home anyways) After dinner, we found a magical place called Godfather's....some folks call them "gentlemen's clubs", we called it "home" for the night. What happened in there, stays in there...but let's just say fun was had by all! No one lost their money but some lost their minds (rule #1, never fall for a stripper!). Even with several warnings, somehow we manged not to get thrown out, but we did close the place. We all returned via cab ride to the hotel and continued drinking there. Eventually, folks began to drop off like flies.

At the hotel before dinner

Dinner on the town!

Last men standing....5:45 am
The Green Monkey and Jamie LeMay
Sunday, everyone got up, packed and kinda went their separate ways. Due to weather, some decided to head a bit north and try an indoor park. I had to travel home to get ready to fly off the next day back to my real job. Just that fast, the first ever AoS-fest had ended....but it will not be the last!

Thanks so much to all who attended and made it the fun time it was for all. I really look forward to the next to come and the next after those as they grow larger and larger....but a small group of us will be able to say "I was there when it all began". =)
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