Kate!

You're going too? Awesome.

Deb--Thanks for the info. I'm staying with friends starting on Tuesday so I don't need a room. Unfortunately, I have to be back Sunday morning to attend graduation (and since I really want to be rehired here, I can't blow it off) and so can't attend prom. Bummer.

Arse.

Still, lots of opportunities for Buffista-filled highjinks before then!

(And word on the whole OhMyGoshIt'sAlmostF2FTime!!! thing.)

You're going too?

Yep! I get in on Thursday.

Not really nervous anymore. Ok, maybe a little that all of my conversation might devolve to nothing but quotes and references, but is there a better place for that?

I'm asking because I'm missing the shyness-with-others gene and I'm hoping that if anyone really is nervous, there's something we can do at this end to ameloriate that, beyond mere reassurances. So please to let us know?

Deb, sorry for my stream-of-consciousness earlier. I was remembering my nervousness from the past, and how it seemed to be shared by others. I may be exaggerating the phenomenon in my own mind. -It wouldn't be the first time.

I didn't mean to imply that there was anything regarding planning and set-up that was contributing in any way toward nervousness. That was not my intention, and I apologize if it seemed I was saying anything resembling it. On the contrary, everything is perfectly geared toward promoting Buffista-style cocktail party socializing.

I listened to the Shady Grove snippet from your link, and although there are many paths there, we may have wandered about in the same Shady Grove, each experiencing it in our own fashion. Cool.

Liese, from the other day, you mentioned getting together this summer - when will you be around? I'd love to see you!

Ok, maybe a little that all of my conversation might devolve to nothing but quotes and references, but is there a better place for that?

Erika, this is one of the things I've eagerly been anticipating!

when will you be around?

Looks like mid to late June. Week of the 18th or 25th, maybe? And yeah, me too!

Steph, same dates go for you, too, if you're going to be around, although at this point I'm less sure whether or not I'll be making it over to Cincy. But if I do, it'll be somewhere in those dates.

I'd love to see you both! And anybody else that's midwesternish and available. But those plans can wait until after the SF2F flurry.

Ok, maybe a little that all of my conversation might devolve to nothing but quotes and references, but is there a better place for that?

Word. After all, much of the time I'm only entertaining myself with said quotes and references. (Within the past week I've told a small child that hers is an evil laugh, and protested to someone else that nobody deserves mime.)

I didn't mean to imply that there was anything regarding planning and set-up that was contributing in any way toward nervousness. That was not my intention, and I apologize if it seemed I was saying anything resembling it. On the contrary, everything is perfectly geared toward promoting Buffista-style cocktail party socializing.

Good lord, no, I knew that no criticism assumed. That never even crossed my head. But I've been looking at the responses, and they're mostly about "need break from crowds to recharge", and that isn't at all how I understand the definition of shyness. So I did wonder if possibly a "there will be NO HASSLING SHY PEOPLE UNTIL THEY ARE READY TO DEAL" was in any way appropriate. Because I'm shyness-deficient to an obscene degree.

I went to my first F2F a little nervous, but I had the safety net of knowing if it got to be too much I could take a taxi home (such a luxury - I find the Buffistas and about eight months later they came to visit!). And for anyone who finds themselves being overwhelmed, they can go back to their room and post about it.

And remember - you already know the people here!

Steph, same dates go for you, too, if you're going to be around, although at this point I'm less sure whether or not I'll be making it over to Cincy. But if I do, it'll be somewhere in those dates.

Right on! Just let me know.