This official report is my account, my recollection of the big gathering which took place on Saturday, June 12, 2004. Once we're there, pictures will follow to show you things we saw and did. Plus get you excited for the next one.

Our plan was to drive to NYC and get to the NY Public Library around 11:45 to meet Will and Jess from the Maryland Ghostbusters. The Subway (excuse me, NJ Light Rails) schedules changed the timing immediately. Apparently they run whenever they wish on a Saturday. Before I knew that, I had left early from HQ to catch a light rail to meet Bill at Newark's Penn Station for a 10:12 arrival. Normally it would take 10, maybe 15 minutes to go from Belleville to Newark. Since the lightrail showed up at oh 9:50 I knew we weren't going to meet up on time. Let alone be in NY, at the library by 11:45. Once I finally got to Penn Station, it didn't take long for Bill and I to find each other, then it was a quick walk back down to catch a lightrail back.

Quick being an irrevlant term as we talked and waited. Finally again a lightrail came and I wasn't sure it was the right one. A few moments before it left, Bill and I agreed to take it. I jumped on. Like somehow the doors wouldn't close because don't all electronic doors have that sensor thing so people won't get hurt? Fortunately we really didn't have to find out. Bill and I returned to the station near HQ around 11 and waited a few more minutes for our ride back to HQ. (Thanks mom!)

While waiting Bill took a few interesting pix of the wall near the end of the station. Something strange had to have happened there ages ago. seen by these statue like artworks which protruded from the walls. We noted it, wanting to investigate it further at another time.

Once at the North GBNJ HQ I grabbed a few last minute things (except my Neo Matrix Imposter wear sunglasses) and we were off to New York City! Now you have to realize for how "close" I live to NY, I rarely go there, (I did more this year) let alone drive there. I've only done it once before this, in 1998 when I went to the firehouse my first time. A significant event as it would set up gatherings like this one. I wasn't quite sure I knew the way (it was assumed), fortunately signs were followed correctly and next thing we know (nice way to speed this up Rich) we're in the Lincoln Tunnel with excellent cell phone reception.

For reasons that had nothing do with the gathering, Bill's sister and GBNJ staff called to tell him about what is now her new used car. It did get us more excited as Bill's cell phone with his sponsor Sprint plays the Ghostbusters theme. Around that time he and I were also entering NY. A short time later, we're out of the tunnel and following fairly easy directions to get to 5th Ave and the NY Public Library. Even though it didn't take long to get there, we were late from when we wanted to start the actual gathering.

We also didn't have a way to contact Will and Jess because they didn't have a sponsorship with a wireless company like we do. So we drove around the library, looking for them and parking. Neither were to be found. This is also when we found out or remembered how every street in NY (or atleast midtown) is a one way. We drove past Port Authority and up near Times Square where we finally found a paid parking lot. Not my first choice, better then no choice. Remember that we parked here, its important for later on. After leaving my car, Ecto C and all my keys (which felt strange) Bill and I walked back to the library. It didn't take long to meet up with Will and Jess. That was cool in itself. It worked out being late as we all were because the means to get us to NY didn't care that we were late. Once we knew what happened and took in the scope of what was to come, we began to relax and see the events/shooting locations.

You all should know the blockbuster movie based on real events from 20 years ago. For those who somehow missed it, the film opens at the main branch of the NY Public Library. We all met up here because its the first event/shooting location and its the closest, most recognized "GB location" once getting to NYC. Before going inside, we spent time outside taking pix of the library. As you might have notice, I tried to get some of the pictures throughout the gathering as we might have seen them in the movie.

The four of us go inside. As Bill and I had never been there, we didn't know what to expect. I knew about the security check points, unlike the film you don't just walk in and you're in the reading rooms. Something I guess I thought was real for years. Instead you climb (I'm sure there was an elevator) beautiful, period piece stairs to the 3rd floor. At that time I didn't think to take pictures as they weren't officially part of the tour. Once we were on the 3rd floor we checked things out, finding the right areas.

I didn't get a pic of where Dr. Venkman questioned Alice, however I did take a pic of where Egon was sitting before Dr. V messed with Dr. Spengler. On the way back downstairs we stopped at a computer, hoping to bring up GBIweb (now ghostbustersinternational.com), unfortunately this computer was only for the card catalog.

We head back downstairs going outside, ready to go to the next place on the gathering, Planet Hollywood. Where props and costumes from the film are suppose to be. We did need to eat, so it only made sense.