THE PLOK NEVER STOPS - Houston, TX - 11/14 thru 11/16

[Rip Rokken]

Greetings!

With Journey taking some downtime from the road, some of the Plokkers (Shout Box participants) at the AP board came up with the idea of having a special get-together in TX for all the peeps who had gone thru the recent storms -- a nice little pick-me-up after all the trouble caused by Gustav. The idea caught on and took off, and now an official date and location has been set: NOVEMBER 14th - 16th in HOUSTON, TX.

THE PLOK NEVER STOPS!

ALL ARE INVITED, and we have people coming in from all parts of TX, at least one person from FL, and probably even one from Louisiana! PARTY, PARTY!!! This will be the non-concert event you will NOT want to miss, so if you are interesting in attending, please post here. Details are forthcoming, but the plans are already in the works. I've already purchased my plane ticket, so the countdown begins!

Hope as many people as possible can make it, and WE'LL SEE YA THERE!

[JH'sTXfan]

Thanks, you just answered all my questions. I might be there on Saturday. It depends on my work schedule.

[weatherman90]

It's just a non-stop party down in Texas for you guys isn't it??

I think I need to move there.

[Rick]

Thanks, you just answered all my questions. I might be there on Saturday. It depends on my work schedule.

Is that the River Walk in your av? I have a pic of my wife on that bridge somewhere. I'll see if I can dig it up when I get home. I really enjoyed our trip to see that and the Alamo. Much, much nicer than I anticipated.

[DrFU]

It's just a non-stop party down in Texas for you guys isn't it??

I think I need to move there.

We do our best.

I'm in, Rip.

[JH'sTXfan]

Thanks, you just answered all my questions. I might be there on Saturday. It depends on my work schedule.

Is that the River Walk in your av? I have a pic of my wife on that bridge somewhere. I'll see if I can dig it up when I get home. I really enjoyed our trip to see that and the Alamo. Much, much nicer than I anticipated.

Yep, I go down there every once in a while. Lots of entertainment, sidewalk restaurants, good shopping, and then there's the landscaping, stone walls, fountains, arched bridges, and river boats. It's beautiful.

[Rip Rokken]

Thanks, you just answered all my questions. I might be there on Saturday. It depends on my work schedule.

Looking forward to it! Hope it works out for you to come!

[Rip Rokken]

It's just a non-stop party down in Texas for you guys isn't it??

I think I need to move there.

Don Dokken wants YOU to be there!

[Rip Rokken]

It's just a non-stop party down in Texas for you guys isn't it??

I think I need to move there.

We do our best.

I'm in, Rip.

SWEET!!!!!!

[Maui Tom]

will you be plokken in broad daylight? In front of EVERYBODY?

[Arkansas]

Ya know, I'm all for parties. And if you have the free cash & time, then by all means go.
But for the life of me, I'd never frivolously spend in this economy.

I've got a little wealth, but I think it's because I'm conservative. I don't see how you people travel all over to shows & parties, and still make your mortgage payment.

I dunno. Maybe I'm just jealous. Enjoy it while you can.


later~

[txfirefighter]

"Frivolous" is a very subjective term. What is considered frivolous to one may not be frivolous to another.

I cannot speak for everyone, but if my bills are paid and the mortgage is made and I have expendable funds left over, I choose to live. In the moment.

For me, spending time with friends and making memories that last a lifetime is worth it.

I learned long ago to live with no regrets and do the things I want to do NOW, while I have the means and the good health to do it. Tomorrow holds no guarantees, and I don't want to look back and say "could have, would have, SHOULD have."

[StevePerryHair]

"Frivolous" is a very subjective term. What is considered frivolous to one may not be frivolous to another.

I cannot speak for everyone, but if my bills are paid and the mortgage is made and I have expendable funds left over, I choose to live. In the moment.

For me, spending time with friends and making memories that last a lifetime is worth it.

I learned long ago to live with no regrets and do the things I want to do NOW, while I have the means and the good health to do it. Tomorrow holds no guarantees, and I don't want to look back and say "could have, would have, SHOULD have."

Yep life's too short. My dad saved, put off travels and waited for a retirement that never happened and he passed away at 46. I learned a lot of years ago that life is too short to wait for things.

And when people stop spending in this economy is when things will continue to go downhill.

[SueinFlorida]

After my parents both passed away at a relatively young age and not getting to enjoy retirement I've come to the conclusion that you must still plan for tomorrow but live for today. Enjoy it because all you are guaranteed is today.

[Melissa]

"Frivolous" is a very subjective term. What is considered frivolous to one may not be frivolous to another.

I cannot speak for everyone, but if my bills are paid and the mortgage is made and I have expendable funds left over, I choose to live. In the moment.

For me, spending time with friends and making memories that last a lifetime is worth it.

I learned long ago to live with no regrets and do the things I want to do NOW, while I have the means and the good health to do it. Tomorrow holds no guarantees, and I don't want to look back and say "could have, would have, SHOULD have."

Agreed 100%. We've done a good job of planning for tomorrow, for us and our kids, while still living for today, and we've busted our asses in our careers the last 15 years to get where we are now. I learned the hard way life is too short and to not put off anything you want to do if you can.

Would love to go to this but have plans that weekend already. We'll all see each other again sometime

[Rip Rokken]

Ya know, I'm all for parties. And if you have the free cash & time, then by all means go.
But for the life of me, I'd never frivolously spend in this economy.

This is actually a very cheap trip for me -- already had a travel voucher from the airlines after returning from Shoreline which all but covered my plane fair. It's a doozy!

Mel and the others are right... I try also to balance between saving and living my life, because I never really traveled that much until the past couple of years, and there will most likely never be another 2008 for me -- not like this year. Until a few years ago, I just stayed buried in work and never gave vacations much thought. But I don't want to get old and have no memories other than busting my tail at the office to look back on. This year has been extremely helpful for me in more ways than one.

You should think about coming down, man! We'd love to have ya! There are 3 other MR peeps in my state besides me that I know of, and I have yet to meet any of them...

[Don]

Ya know, I'm all for parties. And if you have the free cash & time, then by all means go.
But for the life of me, I'd never frivolously spend in this economy.

This is actually a very cheap trip for me -- already had a travel voucher from the airlines after returning from Shoreline which all but covered my plane fair. It's a doozy!

Mel and the others are right... I try also to balance between saving and living my life, because I never really traveled that much until the past couple of years, and there will most likely never be another 2008 for me -- not like this year. Until a few years ago, I just stayed buried in work and never gave vacations much thought. But I don't want to get old and have no memories other than busting my tail at the office to look back on. This year has been extremely helpful for me in more ways than one.

You should think about coming down, man! We'd love to have ya! There are 3 other MR peeps in my state besides me that I know of, and I have yet to meet any of them...

You really need to go to the P.I., dude.

[Arkansas]

Oh, I live with NO regrets...for sure. I've done tons of living in all my years so far. Did all this Journey crap on my own in various ways over the years. But one thing that I'll also never regret is second-thinking all spending and saving for the rainy days. Like I said, IN THIS ECONOMY, how can anyone play for hedonism? And I think that any spending beyond securing the/my future is frivolous.

I tell ya what, I'm pretty darned good at turning pennies into dollars. Stay home, enrich your family with quality educational time, grow your own veggies, put on a sweater and turn the heat down. Send all the dollars to me that you'd normally spend chasing some vicarious rock star groupie thing...and within a couple years, I'll pay off your mortgage, put your kids thru school, and secure your future. It's really quite easy...just takes consistent discipline.

This isn't an info-mercial. It's reality. Live simply. Always put tomorrow first...and today will take care of itself.

Again, maybe I'm just jealous...I'd love to hit the shows & parties. But, IMO, living too largely in today's economy will bring eventual doom. And in my mind, there's absolutely no way, unless you don't think much about your future financial status, that parties and shows (not too far from home) should be a big deal.

Do yourselves a favor. Calculate all the $$$ spent in this year alone and write it down. In x-amount of years, look back at that number with interest/growth. You'll wish you had it and invested it then.


later~

[Don]

Oh, I live with NO regrets...for sure. I've done tons of living in all my years so far. Did all this Journey crap on my own in various ways over the years. But one thing that I'll also never regret is second-thinking all spending and saving for the rainy days. Like I said, IN THIS ECONOMY, how can anyone play for hedonism? And I think that any spending beyond securing the/my future is frivolous.

I tell ya what, I'm pretty darned good at turning pennies into dollars. Stay home, enrich your family with quality educational time, grow your own veggies, put on a sweater and turn the heat down. Send all the dollars to me that you'd normally spend chasing some vicarious rock star groupie thing...and within a couple years, I'll pay off your mortgage, put your kids thru school, and secure your future. It's really quite easy...just takes consistent discipline.

This isn't an info-mercial. It's reality. Live simply. Always put tomorrow first...and today will take care of itself.

Again, maybe I'm just jealous...I'd love to hit the shows & parties. But, IMO, living too largely in today's economy will bring eventual doom. And in my mind, there's absolutely no way, unless you don't think much about your future financial status, that parties and shows (not too far from home) should be a big deal.

Do yourselves a favor. Calculate all the $$$ spent in this year alone and write it down. In x-amount of years, look back at that number with interest/growth. You'll wish you had it and invested it then.


later~

You are a wise man. Everyone says live for the day but when you wake up the next day, the bills are still there. Unless you plan on being euthanized when you're 50, it doesn't hurt it to display prudence over fun some of the the time.

[StevePerryHair]

Oh, I live with NO regrets...for sure. I've done tons of living in all my years so far. Did all this Journey crap on my own in various ways over the years. But one thing that I'll also never regret is second-thinking all spending and saving for the rainy days. Like I said, IN THIS ECONOMY, how can anyone play for hedonism? And I think that any spending beyond securing the/my future is frivolous.

I tell ya what, I'm pretty darned good at turning pennies into dollars. Stay home, enrich your family with quality educational time, grow your own veggies, put on a sweater and turn the heat down. Send all the dollars to me that you'd normally spend chasing some vicarious rock star groupie thing...and within a couple years, I'll pay off your mortgage, put your kids thru school, and secure your future. It's really quite easy...just takes consistent discipline.

This isn't an info-mercial. It's reality. Live simply. Always put tomorrow first...and today will take care of itself.

Again, maybe I'm just jealous...I'd love to hit the shows & parties. But, IMO, living too largely in today's economy will bring eventual doom. And in my mind, there's absolutely no way, unless you don't think much about your future financial status, that parties and shows (not too far from home) should be a big deal.

Do yourselves a favor. Calculate all the $$$ spent in this year alone and write it down. In x-amount of years, look back at that number with interest/growth. You'll wish you had it and invested it then.


later~

You know what. That is how you choose to live your life. You are happy, content and that is WONDERFUL. And I would never judge you for how you choose to spend your money. I would never judge you for your choices. Why do you feel the need to come here and give us news of imepending doom and tell us how we are all ruining our lives and our families just because once every 4 months or so we want to travel and meet friends and catch a concert? Maybe we don't spend on certain things so we can have some "fun" money too. I really don't see how it is any of your concern or your place to tell anyone how they should be living. We all make our own choices. Some good, some bad but they are our own. I know I have memories that will be with me until the day I die, be it tomorrow or 30 years from now. You can not put a price on memories. And they are not my only memories. I have a life I live in between, earning money and providing for my family and taking care of my family. How I choose to spend a vacation is really none of your concern.

[JH'sTXfan]

I couldn't grow my own veggies anyway, I live on a big rock. I had an Aunt that lived to be 101 years old, she used to drive me insane by washing, drying and folding used aluminum foil. She would get upset if you used a whole paper towel, she only allowed 1/2 at a time. When she died she had $130,000.00 in the bank. She saved a lot, but never enjoyed any of it. Maybe she just enjoyed having it sit in the bank. I dunno.

Moral to that boring story- You can't take it with you.

[Arkansas]

Oh, I live with NO regrets...for sure. I've done tons of living in all my years so far. Did all this Journey crap on my own in various ways over the years. But one thing that I'll also never regret is second-thinking all spending and saving for the rainy days. Like I said, IN THIS ECONOMY, how can anyone play for hedonism? And I think that any spending beyond securing the/my future is frivolous.

I tell ya what, I'm pretty darned good at turning pennies into dollars. Stay home, enrich your family with quality educational time, grow your own veggies, put on a sweater and turn the heat down. Send all the dollars to me that you'd normally spend chasing some vicarious rock star groupie thing...and within a couple years, I'll pay off your mortgage, put your kids thru school, and secure your future. It's really quite easy...just takes consistent discipline.

This isn't an info-mercial. It's reality. Live simply. Always put tomorrow first...and today will take care of itself.

Again, maybe I'm just jealous...I'd love to hit the shows & parties. But, IMO, living too largely in today's economy will bring eventual doom. And in my mind, there's absolutely no way, unless you don't think much about your future financial status, that parties and shows (not too far from home) should be a big deal.

Do yourselves a favor. Calculate all the $$$ spent in this year alone and write it down. In x-amount of years, look back at that number with interest/growth. You'll wish you had it and invested it then.


later~

You know what. That is how you choose to live your life. You are happy, content and that is WONDERFUL. And I would never judge you for how you choose to spend your money. I would never judge you for your choices. Why do you feel the need to come here and give us news of imepending doom and tell us how we are all ruining our lives and our families just because once every 4 months or so we want to travel and meet friends and catch a concert? Maybe we don't spend on certain things so we can have some "fun" money too. I really don't see how it is any of your concern or your place to tell anyone how they should be living. We all make our own choices. Some good, some bad but they are our own. I know I have memories that will be with me until the day I die, be it tomorrow or 30 years from now. You can not put a price on memories. And they are not my only memories. I have a life I live in between, earning money and providing for my family and taking care of my family. How I choose to spend a vacation is really none of your concern.

Great reply. I sooooo love personal accountability. Like I said, if you've got the want and the means, then do it! This is really cool.

It's not my job to control everyone. In fact, I am all about quite the opposite. My opinion IS to live loose and free..."do as ye will, harm no one". However, my soap box is directed toward those that can't do it responsibly. Vicarious living and then blaming ills on something else, irks me to no end. That's why I preach living within means and taking responsibility for our futures.

If you can blow your cash today and still be secure in your future, then I'm with you. I do it myself. I love life. But I will never pay today's prices, when I can enjoy life without paying those prices. Just because there's a party on the other side of my world - even in the name of music, defended by new quasi-relationships, doesn't mean that I'll dip into funds that could be better spent or saved...in the current economy.

Please, go ahead and spend your cash. But never for one minute will I sympathize or help when you need cash in the future.


later~

[Rip Rokken]

You really need to go to the P.I., dude.

I really want to! No plan has at yet begun to materialize, and I'm concerned that it may be more difficult than I thought, but I'm hoping to be able to pull it off.

[DrFU]

Oh, I live with NO regrets...for sure. I've done tons of living in all my years so far. Did all this Journey crap on my own in various ways over the years. But one thing that I'll also never regret is second-thinking all spending and saving for the rainy days. Like I said, IN THIS ECONOMY, how can anyone play for hedonism? And I think that any spending beyond securing the/my future is frivolous.

I tell ya what, I'm pretty darned good at turning pennies into dollars. Stay home, enrich your family with quality educational time, grow your own veggies, put on a sweater and turn the heat down. Send all the dollars to me that you'd normally spend chasing some vicarious rock star groupie thing...and within a couple years, I'll pay off your mortgage, put your kids thru school, and secure your future. It's really quite easy...just takes consistent discipline.

This isn't an info-mercial. It's reality. Live simply. Always put tomorrow first...and today will take care of itself.

Again, maybe I'm just jealous...I'd love to hit the shows & parties. But, IMO, living too largely in today's economy will bring eventual doom. And in my mind, there's absolutely no way, unless you don't think much about your future financial status, that parties and shows (not too far from home) should be a big deal.

Do yourselves a favor. Calculate all the $$$ spent in this year alone and write it down. In x-amount of years, look back at that number with interest/growth. You'll wish you had it and invested it then.


later~

You know what. That is how you choose to live your life. You are happy, content and that is WONDERFUL. And I would never judge you for how you choose to spend your money. I would never judge you for your choices. Why do you feel the need to come here and give us news of imepending doom and tell us how we are all ruining our lives and our families just because once every 4 months or so we want to travel and meet friends and catch a concert? Maybe we don't spend on certain things so we can have some "fun" money too. I really don't see how it is any of your concern or your place to tell anyone how they should be living. We all make our own choices. Some good, some bad but they are our own. I know I have memories that will be with me until the day I die, be it tomorrow or 30 years from now. You can not put a price on memories. And they are not my only memories. I have a life I live in between, earning money and providing for my family and taking care of my family. How I choose to spend a vacation is really none of your concern.

Great reply. I sooooo love personal accountability. Like I said, if you've got the want and the means, then do it! This is really cool.

It's not my job to control everyone. In fact, I am all about quite the opposite. My opinion IS to live loose and free..."do as ye will, harm no one". However, my soap box is directed toward those that can't do it responsibly. Vicarious living and then blaming ills on something else, irks me to no end. That's why I preach living within means and taking responsibility for our futures.

If you can blow your cash today and still be secure in your future, then I'm with you. I do it myself. I love life. But I will never pay today's prices, when I can enjoy life without paying those prices. Just because there's a party on the other side of my world - even in the name of music, defended by new quasi-relationships, doesn't mean that I'll dip into funds that could be better spent or saved...in the current economy.

Please, go ahead and spend your cash. But never for one minute will I sympathize or help when you need cash in the future.


later~

Perhaps you should consider cancelling your frivolous internet service. There is bound to be some income producing activity in which you could be engaged instead of wasting your time posting breathtakingly judgmental comments on a fan forum for a band you hold in contempt.

[Rip Rokken]

Maybe we don't spend on certain things so we can have some "fun" money too. I really don't see how it is any of your concern or your place to tell anyone how they should be living. We all make our own choices. Some good, some bad but they are our own. I know I have memories that will be with me until the day I die, be it tomorrow or 30 years from now. You can not put a price on memories. And they are not my only memories. I have a life I live in between, earning money and providing for my family and taking care of my family. How I choose to spend a vacation is really none of your concern.

Great reply. I sooooo love personal accountability. Like I said, if you've got the want and the means, then do it! This is really cool.

It's not my job to control everyone. In fact, I am all about quite the opposite. My opinion IS to live loose and free..."do as ye will, harm no one". However, my soap box is directed toward those that can't do it responsibly. Vicarious living and then blaming ills on something else, irks me to no end. That's why I preach living within means and taking responsibility for our futures.

If you can blow your cash today and still be secure in your future, then I'm with you. I do it myself. I love life. But I will never pay today's prices, when I can enjoy life without paying those prices. Just because there's a party on the other side of my world - even in the name of music, defended by new quasi-relationships, doesn't mean that I'll dip into funds that could be better spent or saved...in the current economy.

Please, go ahead and spend your cash. But never for one minute will I sympathize or help when you need cash in the future.

later~

This for me, and for all the peeps I hang out with, is so much more than just a wild party or a rock groupie scene. It's all about the friendships, and Journey provides a common interest that we kinda use as a foundation for everything else. Journey is kinda our excuse to get together, and I've had the honor of meeting so many people that I actually have something in common with, when I really have no one like that back home. I'd practically stopped going to concerts because I was so tired of going with people who complained about the volume or turned into pumpkins at 10pm, and luckily now all that has changed. Our group are the tightest and most fun people I've ever had as friends in my life, and these travels are all about seeing them -- and making new friends like them.

I honestly have yet to meet a one of them who isn't financially responsible or travels beyond their means. Some can go to several shows, and some only a few. Some can fly around the world and some try to stick within driving distance. Doesn't matter, because we get together when we can, and know there will be another time if we can't. If I can't enjoy life like this now, then I'm not really interested in any future. So like I said, balance is the key. Of course I save and invest, but I also know I could get hit by a car tomorrow and there goes my precious future. The industry I'm in hasn't been touched by any recession in my memory, and business is stronger for me now than ever. Because of my trips this year, I feel younger now than I did 10 years ago, and it's brought me back from the point of burnout caused by living too many years for the job instead of myself.

Sure -- I could calculate up how much I've spent on 2008 trips and it would be nice to use some of it to dump more into my IRA while the market is as far tanked as it is, but the investment I made in myself this year has paid off much more for me than my IRA would.

So why don't you come to TX with us?

[Rip Rokken]

Please, go ahead and spend your cash. But never for one minute will I sympathize or help when you need cash in the future.

later~

Perhaps you should consider canceling your frivolous internet service. There is bound to be some income producing activity in which you could be engaged instead of wasting your time posting breathtakingly judgmental comments on a fan forum for a band you hold in contempt.

FU! Is that some of that sarcastic smack-talk you specialize in?

[DrFU]

Please, go ahead and spend your cash. But never for one minute will I sympathize or help when you need cash in the future.

later~

Perhaps you should consider canceling your frivolous internet service. There is bound to be some income producing activity in which you could be engaged instead of wasting your time posting breathtakingly judgmental comments on a fan forum for a band you hold in contempt.

FU! Is that some of that sarcastic smack-talk you specialize in?

Just the bare tip of the iceberg, my friend.

Luv ya, Rip; PlokkerFest Houston will be a blast.

[Arkansas]

Perhaps you should consider cancelling your frivolous internet service. There is bound to be some income producing activity in which you could be engaged instead of wasting your time posting breathtakingly judgmental comments on a fan forum for a band you hold in contempt.

Frivolous? I don't pay for this. My bankers & brokers do. Internet service is a write-off of the most simplictic means. Without it, I'd have to rely on phones & postal mail...and that's way too slow in today's market.

But this bait & debate is fun. Go on...

Like I said, I'm just jealous.


later~

[(Crazy)Dulce Lady]

Perhaps you should consider cancelling your frivolous internet service. There is bound to be some income producing activity in which you could be engaged instead of wasting your time posting breathtakingly judgmental comments on a fan forum for a band you hold in contempt.

Frivolous? I don't pay for this. My bankers & brokers do. Internet service is a write-off of the most simplictic means. Without it, I'd have to rely on phones & postal mail...and that's way too slow in today's market.

But this bait & debate is fun. Go on...

Like I said, I'm just jealous.


later~

You have no clue where we live. Nor do u care obviously. Mimi will not have a throw down with u tonight- I don't have a ladder tall enough to reach u in your ivory tower.

[Melissa]

Well everyone's entitled to their opinion, I just don't see the point in coming into Rip's thread and lecturing, but hey, whatever makes you feel good, lol. We do live simply, and have been very disciplined for years securing our future and saving and investing, and continue to do so and will keep doing so. Can't give ya the veggies though, the dirt here kind of sucks

And these aren't "quasi-relationships" either, there are lots of different levels of friendships among people here behind the scenes that are completely separate from message board banter. And like Rip said, I have yet to meet anyone who isn't responsible financially either like we are.

As for the future stuff, hey I get the point, and felt the same too, until death grabbed hold of my family in a way we never planned for. So yeah, living for now became a little more important. Doesn't mean I stopped planning for the future, I just don't hold my breath about it now while I do.