Okay, looks like Feb. 4-6 in Michigan is a go for me. I was going to try for the weekend before, but my daughter's first real live rollerderby match is Jan. 30th and she's getting me tickets for it. I do not want to miss that. I look forward to seeing P-C, the Miracleborns and any other Buffistas who aren't burned out with visiting, then!

For me, it looks more and more like I'm going home to my parents that weekend, too. I would have loved to see you guys though!

SA, do you know your flight info for flying into Cincy next week?

Mon, Jan 31: AMERICAN AIRLINES, AA 0087 From: LONDON HEATHROW, UNITED KINGDOM (LHR) map Departs: 10:15am Departure Terminal: TERMINAL 3 Gate: Check for latest information To: CHICAGO OHARE, IL (ORD) map Arrives: 12:50pm Arrival Terminal: TERMINAL 5 Class: Economy Seat: 36B Status: Confirmed Confirmation: HEGRVY Meal: Lunch , Snack or Brunch Smoking: No Aircraft: BOEING 777 JET Mileage: 3950 Flight Time: 8 hours and 35 minutes Verify flight times prior to departure

Mon, Jan 31: AMERICAN AIRLINES, AA 3906 Operated by AMERICAN EAGLE From: CHICAGO OHARE, IL (ORD) map Departs: 3:53pm Departure Terminal: TERMINAL 3 Gate: Check for latest information To: CINCINNATI, OH (CVG) map Arrives: 6:12pm Arrival Terminal: TERMINAL 2 Class: Economy Seat: 13A Status: Confirmed Confirmation: HEGRVY Meal: Smoking: No Aircraft: ERJ-145 JET Mileage: 255 Flight Time: 1 hours and 19 minutes Verify flight times prior to departure

Mon, Jan 31: AMERICAN AIRLINES, AA 3906 Operated by AMERICAN EAGLE From: CHICAGO OHARE, IL (ORD) map Departs: 3:53pm Departure Terminal: TERMINAL 3 Gate: Check for latest information To: CINCINNATI, OH (CVG) map Arrives: 6:12pm Arrival Terminal: TERMINAL 2

Excellent. I'm pretty sure I can get Feb 1st off, so we can hang out all day, unlike last time.

Just back from Michigan, and 1300 posts behind in Natter and Bitches. Sigh.

It was a lovely weekend and my cunning plan of driving to MI the day before the huge blizzard, and leaving the day after, seems to have worked like a charm. Clear roads and uneventful driving all the way home.

So. I saw Aimee and Joe and Emeline and Emily and vw and P-C and beathen and although the world turned into a huge snowdrift around us (trapping Emily and vw in MI), I had a wonderful time. The Miracleborns' local friends, many of whom are named Steve or Jen or Mike, were very gracious and friendly to invisible internet foreigners, very Buffista-like in their hospitality.

The Con (ConFusion XXXI) was fun too. It appealed to me because the GoHs (Emma Bull, Will Shetterly and Steven Brust) are three of my favourite f/sf writers. The con staff did a terrific job putting on a very friendly and fannish con. I had seen info about the con weeks ago, and had thought about it but decided not to go because I didn't know anyone else who was going. And then Joe and Aimee decided to make the con a stop in their Show Off Emeline to Michigan tour. I love it when a plan comes together.

Things I learned this weekend:

1. Emeline is adorable. I say this not only because I'm concerned that Aimee would hurt me if I didn't, but also because it is true.

2. Emily and P-C can be provoked into long DNA component discussions by envelope-licking scenes in Sandra Bullock movies.

3. The board name of beathen rhymes with heathen. Duh. Why my brain persisted in scanning it BEETH-en (not like any word) instead of Bee-THEN (a clever bit of wordplay) I'll never know. My brain disappoints me sometimes.

4. Calling a Trotskyist a Trotskyite is like calling a Trekker a Trekkie, except one is a left-wing political thinker, and one is ... not.

5. When a blizzard is shutting down traffic for the entire midwest and heading for the eastern seaboard, the hotel restaurant is likely to be overburdened. However, food tastes better (eventually) when you are ravenously hungry and it is free.

6. Fans continue to make unfortunate choices regarding spandex and cross-dressing, but attempting to burn out one's own visual receptors is still part of the fun.

7. If you decide to bring a lot of books to a con and tote them around in hopes of getting your favourite writers to sign them, they will be overscheduled and unavailable. If you cleverly bring a minimum number of books along to lighten your load, the writers will be friendly and approachable and have lots of time for chatting and signing.

Anyway, great F2Fing, fun con, really convenient monster blizzard (for me, sorry Emily and vw. The power had even been out at home, but was restored before I got here), and a lovely time.

Emily and P-C can be provoked into long DNA component discussions by envelope-licking scenes in Sandra Bullock movies.

Heh. As it turns out, I was wrong. I figured.

3. The board name of beathen rhymes with heathen. Duh. Why my brain persisted in scanning it BEETH-en (not like any word) instead of Bee-THEN (a clever bit of wordplay) I'll never know. My brain disappoints me sometimes.

Actually, "BEETH-en" is correct. It does rhyme with heathen but with a hard "th" sound.

ION, I had a great weekend! This was my first time meeting any of the Buffistas, or anyone that I've talked with on the internet, and it turned out better than I could have hoped. My highlights...

1. Emeline is most definately the cutest baby in the whole world. I've declared that I'm joining the "godmother of Emeline" list.

2. Aimée, MiracleMan, P-C, vwbug, Emily & JohnSweden are wonderful people. Even though this was my first time meeting them all it felt more like friends reuniting after a long absence.

3. P-C was a great host for the weekend even though the hot water heater in his apartment building was broken. Instead of taking those cold showers I should have just went swimming in a snow bank.

4. When hunger becomes too powerful an urge I'm likely to run a red light on a major road. Fortunately it wasn't at a major intersection. Besides, by the time I saw it if I hit the breaks I would have skid into other cars.

Overall, I had a great time. I'm looking forward to meeting more people this coming weekend!

Even though this was my first time meeting them all it felt more like friends reuniting after a long absence.

This is the very best thing about F2Fing, IMO.

The Miracleborns' local friends

Raggafrassin' my friends too mumble mumble...

Not much to say. Went swimming and (after the first five minutes) had the pool, hot tub, and both saunas all to ourselves. It's nice, staying in a mostly-empty hotel!