Sorry Bev, we will most likely not be there. Kat has Writing Project commitments, and I will be working ridonkulous hours getting the next robotic arm for Mars ready for delivery.

I'm sure you will all have fun enough for those who can't make it.

Well, I'm going to love seeing all the people I've met and meeting all the people I '"know," but I can't help being sad about the people I've yet to meet. So near, and... not there yet. I'll keep a little bit of hope you get a sliver of window and decide to come.

What? It could happen!

I really like the idea of having the previous F2F dates/places on the back, like a concert tour shirt.

Word. And I'm thrilled at the notion of Pete designing the goodies. (And I did like the stuff on the hat a lot.) Would it be cheesy/inappropriate to incorporate a Mr Pointy type of stake into a skyline? Or into whatever design is selected? Just for that little BtVS je ne sais quoi?

Also - Jen MUST come. Yes.

If I could prod the hivemind for a bit, does anyone know anything about whether there are particular difficulties for Chinese nationals applying for a visa to visit the US? Wallybee is a permanent resident in Australia, but still a Chinese citizen, and is concerned that this will make a visa application more difficult.

I wanted to pop in and give a ptbptbptb! to DX, because we have bought the non-refundable plane tickets to San Francisco! Direct, Boston--> SFO, flying in Monday and leaving the following Monday. whooooo!

Am TOO going!

Yay!

If I could prod the hivemind for a bit, does anyone know anything about whether there are particular difficulties for Chinese nationals applying for a visa to visit the US?

Betcha Allyson might - seems like she's mentioned handling that kind of stuff for visiting scientists as part of her day job. Don't know whether she reads here, though. Natter, Minearverse...

Aw. I feel loved. Thanks, y'all. My aim is to be there for sure. Practicalities need to be sorted, but I bet I can do it.

That hat is... wow.

So, meeting today with Eva Garcia. Right now, the headcount for the Prom is way less than the 70 she has pencilled in; we're looking at about 46, with a handful of undecideds.

Trying to sort out things I need to go over with her, so I'm braindumping it here - that way, people can poke me with stuff I've forgotten about.

1. Prom headount - My thinking is to knock it back to 60 instead of 70; does that seem too high? We still have the undecideds and I'd like to leave a bit of wriggle room.

2. erika's room - I'll get the name of the person who's going to be responsible for making sure erika and her mom have everything they need.

3. hospitality suite - fridge, removing beds in favour of seating, corkboard of some kind, TV/DVD player (although I seem to recall that we told them we could provide our own DVD player, if the cost is prohibitive using theirs). Making sure they know it's for three nights rather than four. Make sure I can get into it before it actually opens on the Thursday, to set things up in there. Find out how access is going to work (coded keys, or what?) Am I forgetting anything? Please to poke me.

4. Sunday luggage storage - arranging it so that those who are checking out of the HICC Sunday, but who want to do either the Bay to Breakers or just sneak over to our place after the race for a BBQ or outdoor lunch, can have the hotel store their luggage beyond checkout time. I suspect everyone doing that will be responsible for letting the hotel know, but I want to make sure Eva knows that's probable.

5. Prom itself - details, details, the devil's in the details. Not worried about the menu - I have it, and we can check it out as a group here in-thread as we get a bit farther down the road. But we have the traditional "cost of the banqueting facility is waived with $1500 worth of food and beverage combined" clauses, and I want to know what happens if we wind up at $1406.18, or whatever. Do we make up the difference? How do they tally up the bar tab to come to a total?

Also, the sound equipment for prom. We've already worked out with them that we can provide our own PA - hell, between Nic and Matt, we could probably stage frickin' U2. So at some point, ND can let the guys know just what's needed. Also, said guys are talking about a few genuine honest to goodness old-fashioned rock and roll amps and mics and whatnot, with, like, um, guitars, and maybe putting a set together. So, a) anyone not ok with that possibility? and b) must check with hotel to make sure live music, as opposed to recorded music, is ok with them.

Will probably add to this list as I go along. But, anything I've forgotten?

Current Prom headcount is 47 yes, 10 undecided.

I don't think we've ever had 70 people there before, have we?

No idea, but no problem, either, Jess. I'll just have her bump it back down.