Yeah, it is crazy long, but I've done the one to Cincinnati from here or San Diego more than once and it's fun to be able to see different parts of the country that way. It depends on it we have the time and if Kristin is game to spend that much time in the car.

My only concern will be about the drive home if I end up getting the NEH grant and have to leave on the 28th, but we can take a look at that later.

being the customary designated driver opens many opportunities to earn extra cash via blackmail if one so chooses.

My excuse for being a light drinker in college -- somebody had to remember the next day what happened the night before.

Seriously, we can pay a student $50 to drive us around. All he/she has to do is drive and wait. They can study or talk on the phone or whatever. Easy money.

Wait, Laura, how old are your boys again?

Ha! I'm leaving the boys home. (so awesome when they are old enough to be home alone!) Most likely. Although Brendon is only 16, so no night driving for him.

yeah, i wouldn't think that Laura would want to party with her children.

Hah. Ask my sister about her designated driver experience when we were at a family wedding and she had her permit. Scarred for life, I'm sure, but at least she got a story out of it.

Hey, I love having an underaged driver at my disposal. Part of why I pay K-Bug's insurance.

Sadly there's no way in Hades I'll be able to make it to this year's F2F, but I'm already wondering about 2009. And can I ask - is there a specific reason that the F2F isn't ever (afaik?) in July?

Fear of mass immolation based on the May temperatures for the 2004 and 2005 gatherings?

Maybe a Canadian F2F in July? depending on how the election goes, we might make it into a mass migration.