Help me go to the bachelor party of a stranger
1/12/19 UPDATE: I just found out that the bachelor, Angelo, and his bride to be are expecting their 1st baby! It's a bachelor party and a baby shower! All funds raised beyond the $750 I need for the trip will go to Angelo for hi baby college/food/toys/whatever the baby needs fund!
#AngelosBachelorParty just keeps getting better!
On Monday, 1/7/19, I received the following email from an address and name I do not know (emails edited here for brevity):
Angelo’s Bachelor Party
(1/18-1/20)
Vermont 2019
ATTIRE:
- Bring your 80’s attire, ridiculous awesome get ups, etc. for skiing, ask yourself. “what would Angelo wear?”…. wear that!
Ski Tickets:
If you plan on skiing you’re going to need one of these!
Tickets can be purchased ahead of time to save money!
Or at ticket window at full price
Shirts: Shirts are being made for the weekend, so I need your sizes (small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL) etc.
- I need everyone to respond with shirt size they would like or you will get what you get.
- You will receive your shirt upon arrival.
What’s included in the $150 pp (Food, Beer, Housing etc):
* Since we will be staying off the mountain, we will need Food, Beer, Fire Wood, Housing, etc. I will be providing these.
* To cut cost my wife was kind enough to cook all the food for the weekend and put them in easy oven heat trays to eliminate majority of the cooking.
* We will Have Italian food one night and BBQ food the next.
* There will also be plenty of snack foods, beer, soft drinks, water as well.
- You will also receive an epic one of kind bachelor (Bildo Original) Party T-Shirt.
- This also includes lift tickets for Angelo to ski, after all this weekend is about him.
- We will be staying at the John's Ski Chalet.
· There are multiple bedrooms, bunk beds, pull out couches and sofas to crash on, but with some people twice your age attending, these people will take president over sleeping accommodations:
· I do suggest bringing an air mattress, sleeping bag, blanket etc.
· I will be bringing (2) fold up cots as well.
Signed
Devin
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So of course, I responded:
All,
I do not know who Angelo is. I am a Will Novak who lives in Arizona. Vermont seems like a very far way for me to travel for the bachelor party of a guy I’ve never met.
That being said: fucking count me in! From the contents of this email, Angelo sounds tremendous and I want to help send him off in style. I hope his bride (or groom) to be, is awesome.
I should note that being a desert dweller, I’ve only been skiing once and I was real bad at it. I hope you all are patient with me on the slopes. In exchange for said patience, I can bring my sweet Nintendo Switch so we can play games in the cabin/chalet/whatever in the evenings. If Angelo isn’t into video games I’m happy to bring suduko puzzles or just Indian Leg Wrestle or whatever he likes.
I do find myself tripped up on what to wear. Clearly the direction of asking “what would Angelo wear?” Is a good one. However, again, I do not know him. I once got a wrestling singlet worn by “Hacksaw” Jim Dugan after a WWF event I attended in 1989 (don’t ask how- that’s private), I can just wear that- though it may not be cold weather conducive.
I wear a size L shirt.
I am 35, so I’m not sure where that puts me in age priority in terms of beds. But I always travel with a foldable hammock, so I’m good no matter what.
If you can all advise me on the nearest airport to fly into, I’ll make arrangements forthwith.
Yours in partying,
- Will Novak
The one in Phoenix
PS if there’s ANY way I can get a discount on the $150 price, considering I don’t know how to ski, have to fly across the country and have never met this person, that’d be super appreciated. If that’s not amenable, I totally get it- I want to be there and support my man Angelo.
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And then my friends, things got even more amazing with their response:
William Novak the one in Phoenix,
We all agree, we are all very excited to meet you. As you sound Tremendous as well!
We agree that your timely response may have been one of (if not the best) responses to an e-mail that has ever been sent. And we insist on you coming, this would surely make Angelos day. We can pick you up from the airport. We will provide an outfit that fits though I would agree the wrestling outfit will do just fine. I am sure we can scavenge some money to help your cause and eliminate some cost for sure. Don’t worry about the video Games, but bring Sudoku puzzles (Angelo loves those), and yes we would prefer Indian Leg Wrestling. Your age of 35 fits right in, but unfortunately falls into the half the age bracket, would suggest bringing your folding hammock.
- Flights from Arizona that weekend are $230 RT. If we buck up an extra $ each we can help you out for sure. I don’t see why not, it sounds affordable to me.
- You can either fly into Newark airport in NJ, or Albany, NY. We will be waiting with a suit for you to wear and adequate transportation to Vermont and back to the airport.
- We are willing to eliminate the $150.00 cost.
- If you don’t ski well you’re going to learn, and if not plenty of bars and restaurants to where you can “hang out and put out the vibe”.
What we need from William Novak the one in Phoenix:
- Picture so we can identify you at the airport upon arrival. You’ll know who we are you can’t miss us.
- Facebook or something we can at least check you out, we are crazy but not stupid. I am sure you can understand this little request.
William Novak the one in Phoenix,
We look forward to meeting you and helping us send Angelo off. If you think we are kidding we are not. You better be coming, as we all are all dying to meet you. Not only will this be a weekend Angelo will not forget it will be one you surely will not forget as well.
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Why I am doing this GoFundMe:
I WANT TO GO TO ANGELO'S BACHELOR PARTY!
Angelo and his buddies have offered to help defer some of the costs. I'm of course willing to pay some myself. However, I have a 9 month old daughter and we recently totally re-did our house. A last minute cross country trip wasn't exactly in the family budget. In the last 24 hours, flight prices have also nearly doubled, from $240 to $470!!! So I'll be likely flying into Boston instead of Albany or Newark as it's much cheaper.
What the money will go towards:
*Phoenix to Boston round trip coach flight: roughly $392 before taxes/fees at the time of this posting
*Car rental: this is my one security precaution. On the off chance Angelo and his pals are murderers or horrible racists, having my own car will allow me to bounce. $100 for the car and lets budget $50 for gas.
*Ski ticket: $96
* Skis, ski boots and helmet 1 day rental: $64
*Obviously, Angelo and his pals said they would eliminate the $150 cost which is quite generous. But I still feel I should contribute some food and snack money and of course purchase Angelo a wedding gift. Lets shoot for $48 for this category to get us to an even $750.
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What do you get for donating?
I will be documenting the entire trip live so you can follow this crazy adventure!
You can follow along with this adventure (and make sure I don't get chopped into pieces) on my Twitter (@WillNovak13) and Instagram (instagram.com/willnovak). I'll be doing Instagram stories and live videos the whole time.
You will be helping make my dream come true, but more importantly: Angelo's dream. Think of Angelo. A man who will have a random dude from the other side of America randomly show up at his bachelor party.
Furthermore, the first FIVE donors who donate $30 or more will get their ver own Angelos bachelor party long sleeve t-shirt! Sure you weren't there, but you lived to tell the tale (I may not!)!
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What if we raise over $750?
Any funds raised over $750 will go to Angelo's favorite charity! I don't know what that charity is, because I don't know Angelo! I'll update this later once I know!
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IMPORTANT PS:
Angelo and his friends sent this picture of Alf! Come on, help me meet these Alf loving heroes!