On-topic: Has anyone other than me gotten plane tickets and made hotel reservations for NO yet?

I have the plane ticket and am finalizing the hotel reservation today.

I really need to change my tag.

I've made a room reservation, but haven't committed to plane tickets yet. I've got a farewatch on expedia, tho.

I'm not coming this year, but am hoping to contribute something to the fund. ND, it will likely have to wait until early to mid-February before I can, though (health insurance quarterly payment of $1604 due by 1 February). Is that too late?

Short form question, how soon do you need contributions, and what's the latest they can be sent in?

I don't know exactly when it will be too late, Deb, but I know that February is definitely not too late. My guess is that April will be the cut-off since that's the room deadline as well as when we have to pay the balance of our owed bills.

Excellent! Thanks, Kristin.

I'll also likely be driving, but also probably staying at my parents' house, and will need my own car.

I was just going to send Kristin a check

No worries, you can send a check either to me or to Kristin.

Is that too late?

Not at all. I opened things up nice and early so that there wouldn't be a scramble at the end and so that we can see how the money situation is shaping up. I'll happily take money right up until the event as any extra that we get can help folks get there or get us nice stuff to munch on in the hospitality suite.

Just a note about that last - unlike other locales, my plan for New Orleans is to be so overstuffed from meals that having food available at the prom is a very low priority. If others feel the same way, we may want to take that into consideration when planning the overall amount to have on hand.

Just a note about that last - unlike other locales, my plan for New Orleans is to be so overstuffed from meals that having food available at the prom is a very low priority. If others feel the same way, we may want to take that into consideration when planning the overall amount to have on hand.

Here's the thing. We need to spend $1500 on Saturday night between food and drinks. In DC we spent around $400 on drinks. So we need to spend the money on the catering that night or we have to give them the difference as payment for the room. So, have an appetite for Saturday night. The food that the hotel has available looks to be quite good and a big chunk of the money we need to collect is going to this item.

So, the plan is drink and eat more?!

Damn, double-sorry I won't be there. I mourn seafood and raw oysters.

Mmmm. Raw oysters.