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.

Sqeee! So, I know I am allowed hugs and kisses with JZ. But am I permitted to pat her belly? Because I'm gonna want to. Sqeeeeee!

Um, I made my plane reservations this morning -- bit the bullet and went through SFO for convenience's sake. (At least I hope that's fairly convenient.) So I'm definitely, irretrievably ON.

I believe that 9 out of 10 OB/GYNs specifically recommend Laura belly pats.

ACK! I typed up a BIG LONG POST and got logged out. Drat. Let's try to recreate, and this time, I will CTRL +A and CTRL + C like a SMRT person.

Hello all! I just tried to catch up on 1600+ posts. *head officially spun*

I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE EVERYONE I CAN'T STAND IT. smonster and I both are so looking forward to this, and are so happy about it that it's hard to wrap our brains around it on a dreary Monday.

Sorry for my prolonged absence from the thread. My head can sometimes disappear up my proverbial arse. April was a month. It just was.

Is it too late to express a desire to attend the Winchester House on Saturday? I'll happily chip in for car rental $$.

Also, Deb, I know this is terribly late, but if it isn't too awfully late to RSVP, I'd like to attend BBQ post baseball game on Sunday if that's all right as well.

So, to sum up:

Plane ticket: bought!
Valium for plane trip: acquired!
Prom money: insent!
Baseball game: a go!
Supernatural torrents for Kate P. pimpage: slowly, slowly downloading

Still left to do:

Buy swag
Figure out what to wear to prom
Decide if it's worth it to try and see brother and nephew during Chicago layover
Other things I haven't even figured out yet!

Can't wait to see you all!

JACQUELINE! I need to buy you lunch this week, and will insist on doing that thing, once I find out what days I'm doing what with HWA. I'm supposed to be signing this week, twice, and I only know about the big Borderlands event on Thursday night.

Amyth, excellent, and the BBQ will be delighted to have you, ma'am. Can you email me with your particulars, if you want to be listed? And Theo, you too, ma'am, please?

Hi. As so often happens, I trail along behind amyth and say, "Me, too!"

I think I want to go to the Winchester House, though I'm a bit skeered, and I know I want to attend the BBQ.

Deb, we're flying together, so I'll forward you our info after lunch.

Juliana, my love, we're leaving Tuesday morning - if we need to find other accomodations for part of that time, let me know.

Supernatural torrents for Kate P. pimpage: slowly, slowly downloading

Have I told you lately that I love you?

Juliana, my love, we're leaving Tuesday morning

Hey, I'll be around on Monday too! Yay, more time with amyth and smonster!

Also, I said this over in the Music thread too, but: Huge congratulations to Hec and JZ!!! I am so excited for you both I can hardly stand it. And I must tell you that October 24th is not only my birthday, but also Rebecca Lizard's, so I encourage The Halloweenie to stick as close to her wicked cool due date as possible.