Thought it might be a good idea to put the aftermath in a separate thread from the original.

I can't think of a better group of girls and guys to suffer with for 5 days in the hills of Missouri. Extra big thanks to everyone who volunteered to host seminars, run the shooting demos and help keep camp generally running smoothly. I had a total fucking blast.

I'll get pics up soon.

word


to moms and such

Wow, after having met you and your girlfriend, seeing you posting with your gf's pic as the avatar is really freaking me out for some reason.

I cant explain it but it's.. .weird.

This was the best vacation ever. Best Zcon ever. Best group of people ever. Except for Gundown.
Tuesday night (which seems like a month ago), I piled my crap into the ZS van, helped load up, and then drove down with J-rad to the cabin. My esophagus and stomach were seared with what I was told was Jameson, but which I'm pretty sure was battery acid. I remembered why I don't drink. Many people showed up early this year. Many awesome people. It was kind of weird to see familiar faces materialize out of the gloom, and start drinking heavily.
Wednesday morning, Zcon proper! We grabbed a bunch of crap, then carried it up the mountain. Repeat until the mountain is full. Set up tent, tarp, laundry line, unpack gear. Time for the first dip in manbath! GAH! Dinner, chilling, movies, sleep. I brought a wool blanket instead of a sleeping bag, and was damn glad to have done so. I stayed toasty, even though it got a bit nippy.
Thursday was a blast, and made me happy that we added an extra day. The HAM radio seminar was great. It was informative, entertaining, well paced, and the handouts contained plenty of useful info. It was nice to
see the gear in use. Thanks to Dr. Jest and Ollie. The Land Nav seminar could have been a bit speedier, but was very informative. I would have liked to see a little more hands on, but it was still very good. The first aid seminar kicked ass. That's the way it's supposed to be done! The self defense seminar was also good. Grifter knows his shit. All I can say is, I wouldn't want to throw down against the average attendee of Zcon. Y'all are some dangerous bastards. The flintknapping seminar was also awesome. Dan and Kat did a great job of keeping it hands on and entertaining. I'm still looking for a meteorite, though.
The seminars were followed by a prolonged dip in manbath, and free steak. I'm not sure where all the steak was coming from, but who cares? Afterwards, we watched some japanese transvestite porn that had a few zombies in it. LOCK AND LOLL!!!!!
Friday was range day, and it was a hot one! The convoy was a blast. Simon and Gunny had me in stitches. Reacharound squad club was in full effect. When we got to the range, after a short safety briefing, everybody pitched in to get ready. Damn, it was hot. We had a short IPSC style pistol match (thanks to Chris for running it, Slings for helping with the targets, Eric for loaning his watch, and everybody else who made it a sucess). Trebor ran a novice pistol course, and was assisted by JPTP. They did an awesome job of teaching fundamentals to some new shooters. It was awesome to see everybody's toys, even though the heat caused a lot of malfunctions. Not in the Hi-point, though. Then back to the mountain for more manbathing than you could shake a stick at.
Saturday was the float trip, and this was also incredibly fun. If there's anything better than floating down a river with 50 of your best new friends and their own weight in alcohol, I don't know what it is. Then more manbath, to wash off the river stink. I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one with the runs that night, so fuck a bunch of riverwater.
Sunday, sad day, time to tear down. We kicked ass. We got that mountain cleared by 11 o clock, except for a few things I'd rather not mention. Thanks to JPTP for helping me tip the buckets. Gah.
All in all, one of the best weeks on record, and easily the best Zcon so far. We had no drama, no bullshit, lots of learning and camaraderie, and no injuries that a little bandages couldn't handle. To everyone who attended Zombie Con this year, thanks for making my vacation kick ass.

That's why I brought the Hi-Point. I'm trying to win people over.

Eric, are we going to be able to get ahold of the videos you took on the last day?

Kyle, where do we put our photos for all to see? I heard there might be a place for everyone.

-E

JPTP put it best describing Zombie Squad Convoys... "It's like trying to heard kittens" hahah! I guess we got there without any MIAs or KIAs so the ZS Fleet isn't doing too bad. I still think the push and trail trucks need to have gunners mounted next year.

Come on guy's i want to see some pics of Z-Con.

i'm uploading the pics i took to a photosharing site right now, but it's taking FOREVER as soon as it's finished, i'll post the link. in the meantime, i created a Man Bath myspace page for those of you on myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/manbath

The fact that manbath is a swinger bothers me.

haha, ..it bothers you that manbath is a swinger because you were hanging out in manbath, doesn't it????? hmmmm???

poptart.....

Grifter, Jptp and myself made it back home.

The sleep dep finally caught me, but I wanted to say the following:

I miss STL and the people therein. Michelle, Kyle, Will, Jen, Chris, Dimmie, Jules, Martini and the crew, you all are damn fine people to hang out with.

I miss the mountain already. My calves and thighs are twitching and sore, but damnit I miss that 30% slope.

I miss manbath and all of the horrors and pleasures therein. Albeit the cock, or the lack of tits, or the ass to cock or snake reach arounds, I miss it all.

And most of all, I miss my friends. I'll see you guys in a year, until then, keep a warm spot for me on the mountain, a cold beer in the cooler, and keep Gundown far, far away from my innocence

Damn I am so sorry I missed it!!!!

Manbath myspace...excellent.
Ollie, I hope you grabbed the ZS flag, because I forgot about it.

y'all amaze me. i still can't believe how lucky i am to have such great people in my world.

and gunny, what innocence?

Seriously dude. The only innocence I remember was in the blood of the infants that we served on BBQ night.

GunDown is running the video through a computer program to clean up the sound and put it in somewhat of a good interview format. The plan, I think, is to present it to the ZS board for approval for the web site, much like our last commercial.

Well, again, it was great meeting all of you. I can't wait for it again next year. It just seems wrong not being out on that mountain still. Next year I should have some more vacation time so I can make it for the whole thing.
Sorry for the land nav seminar being a little uncoordinated. I was learning it as I was going through it. Sean had a lot of great information put together, but I didn't have the time to learn it beforehand. I'll be running an automotive based seminar next year.
If ZS doesn't have a bus by next year, perhaps we could look into renting one for the two days that we do the gun range and float trip? Everyone could pack into the bus while 1 or 2 trucks carry all the gear that won't fit. Just an idea there...
The only thing I hate is that once I get BACK to the ZS forums, I can't connect anyone's real name, screen name and/or face. So I may remember someone's face and real name, but not forum name or something like that.

Made it back on Monday afternoon okay, but found my computer was killed by an electrical storm in the meantime (even with surge protection). I'm using my kid's computer to type this.

Z-Con was fantastic!!! The seminars were great, especially the first-aid seminar, and the float trip was a blast too. Most of the people on the river floated, but we were a fun bunch, wrestling each other's canoes into the water the entire way. The best part was getting to meet all you ZS crazies I've been talking to for 2 years.

I'll post pics ASAP. I took a bunch.

*crackle*
"Hey Gunny?"

"Yeah, Doc?"

"I spy something green."

"Bradys gonorrhea?"

"......roger that..."




You people made this the best vacation ever. Everyone did their part to make things run smoothly, to make shit hilarious, and to just in general be awesome. We went up that mountain and civilized the fuck out of it.

The seminars were all awesome. I re-read the landnav book at home while dropping a post-zcon deuce of frightening proportions and it's truly good work.

I ended up not taking too many pictures simply because there were so many people with better cameras there. I only had this one gimpy camera with me from 5 years ago that I only keep around in my car to document an accident if I get into one, and I gave up trying to take good pictures with it. Looking through the pictures though, I remembered the sunset trip up the mountain that I had completely forgotten about.

Stumbling back down the mountain, full of wine and scotch in the post-sunset dusk, was great.

Thank you, all of you.

i am both saddened and glad I didn't make it this year, I would have only been able to spend thursday and part of friday with you all and I know coming home early after that short of a span would have sucked.

The whole trip was pretty awesome. I got some pretty good interviews at the end.

The first night I got there I joined Jen in the exclusive club for people who have thrown up on my Converse Allstars. Thanks a lot to Doc Simon. Way to go "Medic". Thanks for all the alcohol poisoning. I thought you were there to save me not put me six feet under by making me two-fist long island ice teas. If I'm ever hurt out in the field and you're the only one to help, do me a favor and just jam a bag of quick clot down my throat. It's because of you that I know what White Castle burgers taste like coming up as well as going down. Brady is hardly any better. Chances are if my life is on the line he'll just hollow me out and pack me full of ice and beer. I did enjoy singing "Fuck her Softly" on the bus ride back from the river though. That's one of the highlights of my trip.


Seriously though I think we may have got the ball rolling on a couple of projects I've been wanting to start that are related to Zombie Squad.

Edit: This is also the first time I bruised any organs or bones. I'm pretty sure there's a rib floating in my kidneys. I'd go to the doctor but my bruise is in the shape of a Z so I've taken it as a sign that it's just meant to be.

My zombie squad experience has been complaeted. An attack from gundown. Yay! It's been an honor ZS, I can die a happy man now.

Okay, you wanted photos, so here are some photos. Thirty of them, to be precise. You might notice this post has been edited a bunch of times. That's because I kept assigning descriptions to the wrong photos.


Me with tactical vest, night vision goggles, and a spatula. Beware, zombies!


Typical life at the main tent. This was also where we saw such excellent cinematic masterpieces such as SARS Wars: Bangkok Zombie Crisis.


A picture of Toad, a very cool guy. He's got the avatar of the guy holding a hand to his bloody face while he points a gun at the camera.


Another typical camp scene.


Roger, AKA Bronze.


Ollie and Tom (Doctor Jest) giving their HAM radio seminar. As you can see, drinking all that manbath water has caused Kyle to grow to twelve feet in height.


More HAM seminar. Notice Kyle's huge head on the right.


The orienteering seminar.


The first aid seminar, which was outstandingly done. Here, Simon and Brady treat Gunny for injuries sustained during lovemaking activities with GunDown.


Me by Will's awesome ZS truck.


Grifter and Eric (Off Duty Ninja) doing a demonstration at the self defense seminar.


Another shot of Grifter and ODN's excellent demonstration.


ODN getting his ass whooped. Watching Grifter whoop ODN's ass is Tom (on the left) and the ever-cool Mike (Jamoni) on the right.


The "How to Make a Toilet Shank" seminar, a great seminar on flint knapping.


Another flint knapping seminar shot.


Watching the sun set on Thursday night (June 14). No rain at all for ZCon this year.


Another sunset photo.


A typical crowd at Wal Mart, this time just before leaving for the shooting range.


The ZCon range day pistols. I have pointed out the best of the bunch, a Ruger P89. I won second place in the shooting contest with it.


The ZCon range day rifles.


Activity at the range. Kyle has found his way into yet another of my photos. He's everywhere at once, that insidious bastard!


People shooting scoped rifles on the pistol range.


Beware of Candians with AK-47s.


Futac Attack with his trusty AK


Me firing my AK on the 100 yard range, undoubtedly hitting the bullseye every time.


Yet another typical camp shot.


ODN.


Doctor Jest. He's a great guy.


Slings Vasqueros. Sorry if I spelled the name wrong. I swear I wasn't trying to find shirtless pics of these guys. They were just often shirtless. Creepy, huh? Don't let Slings' frightening visage scare you - he's a great guy.


Naturally, I must show a picture of manbath.