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Well, one of our local PH club members is working as a civilian in the Baghdad Green Zone providing MWR (morale, welfare and recreation) for our troops. (Yep, I'm in awe.) Anyway, he's planning a Buffettfest for September 17th or 18th and apparently the troops are getting pretty psyched about it. Our club is sending music, decorations, etc. their way, and I've contacted Margaritaville to try and get some memorabilia, over-stock merchandise and/or a recorded greeting from Jimmy to the troops.

What other ideas do you have for helping us get a message through to Jimmy (or someone close to him) so he can have the opportunity to help out? And, do you have any other suggestions for what might be done to make this Buffettfest extra special for our troops?

Thanks for your thoughts on this. If needed, please feel free to send me a PM.

What's been sent and when:

CD of '05 Pittsburgh Show, sent Aug. 4

12 CDs from various artists, 12 phone cards, sent Aug. 8

Two Jimmy Buffett concert recordings: Chicago 9/29/01, Alpine Valley 8/24/02, 80 packs of Juicyfruit gum, 1 pack (12') tropical print Lantern Garland, sent Aug 10

16 bandanas, sent Aug 12

2 pkgs of tropical napkins, 1 jar of TEXAS salsa dip, 1 bottle of TEXAS hot sauce, 1 inflatable palm tree, 5 coloring books, 5 pkgs colored pencils, 1 flamingo ring toss game, 3 pkgs Star Burst candy, 4 Sharpies, 1 tropical print table cloth, 3 tropical print air mattresses, 3 pkgs Butterscotch candy, 1 tropical jigsaw puzzle, 2 JB concerts, 40 bouncy balls, SOASOAPT pics, SOASOAPT history, Assorted size Ziplock bags, 1 thank you note, sent Aug 16

6 paddle / ball thingys, 6 cheerleader pom poms, 12 punchballs, 100+ pieces of bubble gum, 2 CDs of Buffett music, sent Aug 17

2 boxes of beads, sent Aug 17

Hugo Duarte and Full Sail Band CD, sent Aug 16

6ft x 10 ft tailgate pool (holds about 200 gallons), sent Aug 18

252 Drinkie skirts, 2 inflatable flamingos, one mini inflatable palm tree, 6 inflatable pirate parrots, 3 packs of flip flop centerpieces, 1 pack of Hawaiian theme centerpieces, 1 parrot visor and 1 margarita visor, sent Aug 19

Box from Margaritaville Tequila containing t-shirts, cd singles, coconut telegraph, grass skirt for a table and stickers were in one box (quantities unknown), sent Aug 11

5 leis, 5 shot glasses, disposable camera, 2 cans of Virginia's famous Mrs. Fearnow's Brunswick stew, and a thank you card, sent Aug 18

Flip flop rug, sent Aug 19

12 bandanas, 24 folding fans, 24 leis, and 5 sets of the 2004 Columbus show, sent Aug 27

12 inflatables, 100 water balloons, 2 packages streamers, 11 leis, 24 bottles of bubbles, 2 "aloha" banners, 4 sheets tropical stickers, 1 BuffettBear, sent Aug 25

5 boxes: 100 gift bags stuffed with beads, leis, flip flop necklaces/key chains, a tropical printed 16 oz. plastic cup, kazoo, a CD, Tootsie Pops and candies, License to Chill ID, small tropical shirt notepads, assorted toys, stress balls, bottle of bubbles, plastic fishies, and package of Sy's homemade cookies, all tied up with a BN nametag sporting " Hero # 1 thru Hero # 100. Also sent some blow up ukeleles, 100 personalized visors ( BuffettFest, Baghdad), tropical garland, monkeys on a stick, paper drink umbrellas, pinwheels, a tissue paper sun, tropical shirt huggies, small styrofoam gliders, foam footballs, tropical bandanas, golf tees, small battery operated fans, yellow rubber duckies (for the "match a number to a prize" game), sent Aug 25

Heavy duty ziplock bags, key chain, few extra leis, some Buffett tunes, sent Aug 26

5 Hawaiian shirts, DVD, sent Aug 25

From Margaritaville: 100 Margaritaville t-shirts, 50 Salty Piece of Land Tour t-shirts, 50 Salty Piece of Land Tour hats, 25 Margaritaville 20th Anniversary Cups, 100 WWJBD bumper stickers, 25 Songs you know by heart cds, 50 Margaritaville 20th anniversary pins, 50 M'ville caps, 25 "Quit your job and move to Key West" books, temporary tatoos, 500 personalized post cards filled out by guests and staff, Poster with personal message written by Key West (Marty- Coconut Telegraph), sent Aug 26

CD's (125) and some stuffed crustaceans for decorations or to give away, sent Aug 26

120 disposable cams, DVD from our club greeting the troops, 2 banners signed thanking them, Corona parrot signed, beach balls signed, 500 logo stickers, 500 goodie bags, bunches of lei's, Assorted Jimmy concert banners, Toy talking parrots, Trinkets and toys, 500 packs of chewing gum, and some more stuff (still waiting for two more boxes), to be sent Aug 27?

Cincy CD with Baghdad Buffettfest shoutout, sent Aug 27

50 Blow Pops, 1 lb peppermint hard candies, 1 lb butterscotch candies, 3 rubber duck inflatable waist rings, 8 inflatable beach balls, sent Aug 29

Countless beach type games, 2 regulation size Corona Footballs, a dozen hand sized footballs, a couple of CD's with cards attached, 2 disposable cameras, someone brought a box with a couple koozies, some suntan lotion and sunglasses and a "We Pray You Home Soon" scribbled on top...2 awesome beach mats, sent Sept 1

Buffettfest banner, sent Sept 2

Jimmy and Margaritaville Video, sent Sept 3

BN banner and Corona banner, sent Sept 7

50 beach balls, sent Sept 8

1,000 leis and 1,000 CD's, sent Sept 8

No bright ideas at the moment, Alison...but what a wonderful thing to be doing! It gave me chills just reading about it!

KEWL!!!!!!!!!!

From experience, I can tell you that having a little piece of "home" when you're in that part of the planet means the WORLD!

It will be awfully early in the morning in Baghdad, but for anyone who's up, they could play the Wrigley shows live on RM. Or record them and play them later.

Wish I'd known this a few hours ago.... just got back from seeing the Mayers play in RI.... Would definitely have mentioned it...

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:KEWL!!!!!!!!!!

From experience, I can tell you that having a little piece of "home" when you're in that part of the planet means the WORLD!

It will be awfully early in the morning in Baghdad, but for anyone who's up, they could play the Wrigley shows live on RM. Or record them and play them later.

Wish I'd known this a few hours ago.... just got back from seeing the Mayers play in RI.... Would definitely have mentioned it...

Nothing like timing, re. the Mayers.... I hope you enjoyed their show!

Hmmmmm.......I wonder if we could get RM to do a special re-broadcast of the Sunday Wrigley show on Monday morning...(to correspond with ?? ~8 pm in Bagdad)? (assuming they have a way to receive and play the show, e.g. speakers, etc.)

Keep the good thoughts coming!!

Wild, out on a limb, crazy, pre-caffeine thought: Since Buffett himself will be occupied with the "Labor Day weekend" shows, maybe talk to some of the "Buffett-esque" bands about playing. Wouldn't have to go to Bagdad in person, although that would be awesome. Could set up a radio/video feed from here and satellite it there. I know that's a lot, but you never know who knows how to do what Also, could see if you could get Buffett to give a mention to them during the Wrigley show. Good luck with this! It sounds like just an AWESOME idea!

Alison - what a great thing!!!!!!!!! I too have goosebumples!!!

When my keet gets back from visiting his keets I will ask him if he has any bright ideas as well

we know Jimmys people monitor BN, lets keep this on the top so they see it easily

ches4me wrote:we know Jimmys people monitor BN, lets keep this on the top so they see it easily

good idea.

phjrsaunt wrote:Wild, out on a limb, crazy, pre-caffeine thought: Since Buffett himself will be occupied with the "Labor Day weekend" shows, maybe talk to some of the "Buffett-esque" bands about playing. Wouldn't have to go to Bagdad in person, although that would be awesome. Could set up a radio/video feed from here and satellite it there. I know that's a lot, but you never know who knows how to do what Also, could see if you could get Buffett to give a mention to them during the Wrigley show. Good luck with this! It sounds like just an AWESOME idea!

OOoooo, this is a good idea, too!!! We have the technology.

I'll volunteer as an escort to Baghdad if any of those bands actually want to go. (Seriously)

Quiet and Shy wrote:Hmmmmm.......I wonder if we could get RM to do a special re-broadcast of the Sunday Wrigley show on Monday morning...(to correspond with ?? ~8 pm in Bagdad)? (assuming they have a way to receive and play the show, e.g. speakers, etc.)

I have NO doubt someone would figure this out!

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:

phjrsaunt wrote:Wild, out on a limb, crazy, pre-caffeine thought: Since Buffett himself will be occupied with the "Labor Day weekend" shows, maybe talk to some of the "Buffett-esque" bands about playing. Wouldn't have to go to Bagdad in person, although that would be awesome. Could set up a radio/video feed from here and satellite it there. I know that's a lot, but you never know who knows how to do what Also, could see if you could get Buffett to give a mention to them during the Wrigley show. Good luck with this! It sounds like just an AWESOME idea!

OOoooo, this is a good idea, too!!! We have the technology.

I'll volunteer as an escort to Baghdad if any of those bands actually want to go. (Seriously)

I have no passport or I would sooo be with you on this Jen..

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:

ches4me wrote:we know Jimmys people monitor BN, lets keep this on the top so they see it easily

good idea.

BACK TO THE TOP!!!!

Awesome idea Alison, I'm sure Jimmy would do something like a pre-recorded message if the request gets to him. I will try to think of some other ideas.

What a Cool IDEA! What about asking Margaritaville Tequilla to provide some "Boat Drinks" for the celebration???

which particular harbor? wrote:What a Cool IDEA! What about asking Margaritaville Tequilla to provide some "Boat Drinks" for the celebration???

Not sure, but I think they'd have to be virgin boat drinks.... But maybe the new M'Ville non-alcoholic mixers would do.

PM Stizz

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:

which particular harbor? wrote:What a Cool IDEA! What about asking Margaritaville Tequilla to provide some "Boat Drinks" for the celebration???

Not sure, but I think they'd have to be virgin boat drinks.... But maybe the new M'Ville non-alcoholic mixers would do.

Don't know what they can get imported, but my understanding is that it doesn't have to be a "dry" party. Hmmmmm..........makes me think that M'ville Tequila and Corona should be contacted about perhaps sending them some stuff (alcohol and/or promo items), as well.

Anybody with ideas on how to do that?? Thanks!

Quiet and Shy wrote:

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:

which particular harbor? wrote:What a Cool IDEA! What about asking Margaritaville Tequilla to provide some "Boat Drinks" for the celebration???

Not sure, but I think they'd have to be virgin boat drinks.... But maybe the new M'Ville non-alcoholic mixers would do.

Don't know what they can get imported, but my understanding is that it doesn't have to be a "dry" party. Hmmmmm..........makes me think that M'ville Tequila and Corona should be contacted about perhaps sending them some stuff (alcohol and/or promo items), as well.

Anybody with ideas on how to do that?? Thanks!

That would be a recent change then Alison ~ all they have been allowed is "near" beer

I'm late on catching on to this . .

but . .anything , ANYTHING I can do . .count me in . .

awesome idea , Alison . .and great that you brought it to BN. .

now, let's see what all we, all together, can do . .

Okay, just got another idea....what about having the Parrotvision folks at Cincy (the next show) do an extra tape of Parrotheads greeting the troops and wishing them "Happy Buffettfest". Parrotvision obviously has the technology and people to do quick editing and it wouldn't take too much extra effort. Whaddya think?? (Ideal would be Indy show, since he's from the PHINdy club...but there wouldn't be shipping time. )