Aimee, I haven't done the Freedom Trail since I was a kid. I'd totally be up for that outing.

Me too! I'm excited about East Coast next year. My only request (which we really don't need to debate right now--just throwing out there to think about when we do begin the planning and pimping) is that we at least consider gathering in late June instead of late May. For those of us in academics, it would be a godsend to not have to sandwich the F2F into the end of the school year, finals, and sundry graduations.

I'm also going to propose that we decide on the *place* before we decide on the time. If we ended up in the Southeast, late June would be brutal. Northeast, late June would be idyllic. I wouldn't fight for late June if I knew we were going to Georgia, for example. Boston, though? Hell yeah.

ION, it was great hanging out with Tom and the Miracleborns and Sean & Shari tonight! I have to *sniffle* take Tom to the airport tomorrow. Phooey.

In terms of the whole "when did our ancestors get here" conversation, both my mother's and my father's families have been here since the late 1500's/early 1600's. I'm descended from Elder William Brewster on my dad's side (Mayflower) and have ancestors who fought in every single war this country's ever had. I even have my great grandfather's Civil War discharge papers from the late 1800's. I could care less about joining a society for any of this, though. For all I know, my revolutionary ancestors were the ones tripping over their muskets and falling into the Connecticut River.

Kristin, while "when is the weather better" is a resonable consideration, I think the primary operative one, up to now, has been "let's see who can come on the dates, since those are more likely to preclude people, and then those who can attend can decide on the where." Not that that can't change, but there is a logic.

Very true, Debet. It was just a thought.

Later will, of course, be better for me, as well, what with the whole "school" "teaching".

The jail that I spoke of was Alcatraz. I'm now at the dude ranch near Quincy where I have no cell signal but I did find a faint wifi signal that's open and joy of joys the internet portions of my phone can use wifi.

Shari qualifies as a DAR, and is related to Robert E. Lee. Two of her ancestors signed the Declaration of Independence. She may have had a relative sign the Constitution as well.

Also, the smile in this picture is killing me DED with the HEARTBREAKINGLY CUTE.

I LOVE that picture.

I do agree w/ Kristin that looking at other times other than smack in the middle of end-of-school-year craziness might be a good idea.

Was there a particular reason we seem to have settled in the latter half of May for our dates? It it just because that's when the most people have generally been available?

It it just because that's when the most people have generally been available?

I really think this is it.

And, I have to say that it totally cracks me up that this cycle is starting again. We go through all of this every year, end up doing a vote, and it always ends up being the third weekend in May. I think we should set up a bet on the results of this years' cycle.

I should clarify that I wouldn't mind seeing it a different weekend, but I just don't think it'll happen, and it doesn't matter that much to me. Third weekend in May is the weekend after my finals. So, it's a wicked crazy week. But, whatever.

I was hijacked last night! *peers around for culprits* I blame it on Pete. Pete and his adorable, username-hijacking ways!