Wow, Stephanie, Puerto Rico? I've definitely been out of the loop! (I hear nice things about living there, which combines "foreign and exotic" with enough of the familiar (money, products/stores) to be flat-out pleasing. I hope you can join us more after the move so we can hear about your adventures.

(And now I want the next F2F in PR!)

Photos of an aircraft carrier being sunk: [link] Kinda' cool....

Oriskany is schedule to be scuttled 22 miles south of Pensacola in approximately 212 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico, where it will become the largest ship ever intentionally sunk as an artificial reef. Known as the "Big O," the 32,000-ton, 888-foot aircraft carrier was built at the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard and delivered to the Navy in 1950 and was in action during conflicts in Korea and Vietnam.

A couple years ago the America, a much larger carrier, was also scuttled. Newer environmental regulations make it too costly to scrap old US Navy warships. I'm not sure how sinking them is better.

I think the Enterprise is due to be retired in about four years. Since the Enterprise is nuclear powered, I don't think sinking her is an option....

Corwood - Happy Post B'day. Poor baby with an ear infection.

I love the 10 Commandments link! Hee.

The buffista-ma is indeed a powerful thing. I am honored to be briefly touched by its benevolence.

Thanks for the kind words & cutie-cute baby pics!

Also: Hey, Nilly!

The LOST party was a disaster. Absolute. Disaster.

Maya agreed that it was the last fan event we'll do.

However, the fans were UNBELIEVABLY gracious about it, like, holy butt they were awesome. Kat arrived in a gorgeous swingy party dress with pink ribbons and gave me a red velvet cupcake. The World's Hottest Security Team consoled me. Raised 5K for the Children's Defense Fund.

The LOST party was a disaster. Absolute. Disaster.

Why? What happened?

Oh, Allyson, I'm sorry.

If you can bear to talk about it, what all happened to make it a disaster?

And at least you got some money for charity, which no doubt will be much appreciated.

However, the fans were UNBELIEVABLY gracious about it, like, holy butt they were awesome. Kat arrived in a gorgeous swingy party dress with pink ribbons and gave me a red velvet cupcake. The World's Hottest Security Team consoled me. Raised 5K for the Children's Defense Fund.

Maya planned the party around JJ's schedule, but he didn't come, nor did Exec Prod Damon Lindelof. We had a problem with the bus that was to carry the fans from the hotel to the venue. It got hijacked by another group from the hotel who thought the bus was for them, and so our group was stranded for almost an hour while another bus had to be sent for them.

We had no main cast at all, and only about 70 attendees, so I think Maya went out-of-pocket by about a grand.

Bryan Burk (an exec prod) at LOST came and paid for the bars, because he's just decent that way, so the fans ended up spending their drinking money on the raffle/auction, which was awesome, and saved us some embarassment.

ETA: Also, I'm covered in bruises. Big, nast, purple bruises all over my legs.