I am, too, meara!

Updates: this is harder than I imagined it to be. I never thought choosing travel destinations could bear resemblance to Sophie's choice. I really wish I had enough time and money to see all of you properly.

Regional F2Fs in L.A. and Seattle: In the two scenarios I planned to some extant (the "yes, you can afford this" scenario, and the "nope, you can only afford 2/3 of this" one), Seattle dates will between May 3/4 and 7. L.A. dates will be on May 7 till about May 10. From there it'll depend on what the travel agent will tell me I can afford - I got a name and number of a supposedly magical travel agent who can work wonders with small budgets. I'll be contacting her next week once the holiday is over. Either way, I'll definitely arrive to Chicago later. Other places I'm aiming for, depending on the answers I'll get next week: SF, NOLA, NC, and maybe another place on the East Coast. I'll also try to get a connection through Kansas City.

Also, just to make sure you guys won't worry for nothing: I'm mostly secular, so eating non-kosher is not a problem. However, I am vegetarian, avoid spicy food, fresh peppers and stuff that taste like anise, but that's it when it comes to limitations (I mean, we all know cilantro is evil, right?).

Oh no. Thus begins the cilantro wars of 2014.

Shir, that's fine. If you're still planning on staying at our place while you're in LA, just let me know. The guest room will be available.

Shir, my only no-go date in Olympia in your time frame is a medical appointment May 6th. And even that is in the morning. Also Oly is a great place to get bland vegetarian food. (Also vegan).

Shir, it's in my calendar. I do have a home owners association meeting that Thursday from 6:30 to about 8:30pm. Aside from normal work stuff, that's the only conflict for me.

Looking forward to seeing you! You are welcome to crash on my couch (although PixDesigns guest room is more comfy).

Pix - yes please, I'd love to stay at your place. I also can't wait to meet the dogs.

Gar - I do plan to visit you in Olympia. It's about 3 hours on a bus from Seattle, if I remember it right, isn't it?

Never done it by bus. Have done it by train. Three hours one way by transit does sound about right. If you use buses make sure to take an express. Transfers could greatly extend the journey. (Public transit in WA state , though not bad by U.S. standards is not great compared to Europe or Israel.)

Here are some bus schedules. They actually seem pretty good, but note that in many cases you can leave an hour later and arrive within minutes of the bus that left an hour earlier.

[link]

OK, thank you.