Got it. Thanks, Nicole.

I think people are talking about two separate Chicago/Ohio trips

My fault, I got confused. It happens more often than I'd like. Sorry, all!

I will probably have the dog with me, and thus will be getting a hotel room.

Brenda, I'm booked with a roomie but we'll have to coordinate hotel plans so I can dognap meet your pup. I'm sure I'll be going through dog withdrawals after a day or two away from home.

Since LJ is back up for most, a community called ohiotrip2005 has been created for discussions regarding the Ohio April invasion get-together. Anyone that's interested in attending is more than welcome to join the community.

I posted my email contents in LJ too, now that it is up.

eta: and sorry about the no mail. I don't know why that happened. You were there, I promise.

No worries, Lee!

Nicole hooked me up. It's all good.

People interested so far include Sail, brenda, DebetEsse, beathen, and shriftykins if she's not buried in work.

(Is apparently chopped liver.)

Seriously, though, if you guys do something on a Saturday, I can probably swing it. If I can get time off work I'll probably visit my folks in Grand Rapids then swing out to Ann Arbor for the gathering. If I can't I'll just drive out that morning and snag a motel room before driving home Sunday.

Oooh, my head is spinning from all the Midwest Buffista get-togetherness. Let me start at the top and work my way down.

Hey! People! In and/or near Michigan! The Empress and her crew will be here beginning next weekend up until February 6. We need to find out people's availability so we can organize a get-together. People interested so far include Sail, brenda, DebetEsse, beathen, and shriftykins if she's not buried in work.

I might be able to do this. It depends on whether I get my car before then, my parents want to see me, and if I have gas money. That's the weekend after I return to the States--school starts on the 3rd (gag me) and I have to see the 'rents at some point. But can I tentatively grab your floor space? It would be sad to miss that. Which means I'd need the weekend of the 4th, but don't base it on me.

You must! I'll take you and Lee to Tattered Cover where we'll surely get lost amongst the stacks! Plus, guest room futon will easily fit two people. Comfy couch is also an option.

You know, I would love to, but the cheapest round-trip ticket I found for Lee's dates were over $250. So I can't. Sorry. :(

You betcha I will! I'll just be able to do a weekend (possibly long), though, since I have to save vacation time for my bro getting married in August -- in Vermont!

Good, because I can only do the weekend. yay for our lives coinciding.

Now I'm wondering if I could arrange a signing/something for Deb in Cincy right before or after the one in Cleveland (as long as she's back in SF for Kristin). I'd bet dollars to donuts (whatever that means) that my writing school would love to have her speak.

We could drive her back down with us. That would be awesome.

(Is apparently chopped liver.)

Eek! Sorry, Kalshane! I do remember seeing your post. We should definitely plan on a Saturday thing.

But can I tentatively grab your floor space? It would be sad to miss that. Which means I'd need the weekend of the 4th, but don't base it on me.

No problem. It's looking like some people can't do the weekend before that anyway, so we'll have probably have two get-togethers, as long as Aims doesn't mind seeing me more than once. This may be an issue, since the first time I see her, I plan to steal Emma and keep her as my teddy bear.

Brenda, I'm booked with a roomie but we'll have to coordinate hotel plans so I can dognap meet your pup. I'm sure I'll be going through dog withdrawals after a day or two away from home.

Nicole, I was flipping through the BRQG yesterday and happened upon your post about the Stuffed Cow Incident. (Lucy has one of those, too, by the way.) From your description, I'm guessing our dogs have more than a slight resemblance, so she'll be a good fill-in. (You can see her in my LJ post on the trip community - she's been my LJ icon forever since I'm too lazy to create another one.)

You know, I would love to, but the cheapest round-trip ticket I found for Lee's dates were over $250. So I can't. Sorry. :(

Well, I'll see your :( and raise the stakes with a big *POUT*, but I still get to see you in April so I won't be pouting for long. Yay for April!

the Stuffed Cow Incident

Heh. Bailey still has that stuffed cow. We've sewn the head back on three times now. I call it FrankenCow. And I'm looking forward to meeting you and Lucy!