Aw, I like those people!

Nice shirt, tommyrot.

Looks like a fun time at the Museum! A couple of my fav paintings in there!

So that's what you were doing while I was taking pictures of Shir by The Bean.

Nice pictures!

Nice shirt, tommyrot.

Thanks. I had just been complaining how no one knows what the shirt is about. No non-Buffistas, anyway.

Oh, Buffistas. I had such a lovely time in Chicago, with tommyrot, shrift, aurelia, dcp, Sail, and of course, brenda, who was a wonderful host (and her dog, being so patient with me taking over her room). I loved the art, hanging around, the food, and play, and most of all - just being with Buffistas. I had the best of times.

I'm now at O'hare with ~4 hours to burn before my flight (come say hi if you want), so I have time to rethink and wrap it up.

I don't have enough words to thank you for your generosity, hospitality, guidance, patience, humor, as well as feeding me, and showing me around. That sneaky, simple "I'm going to see my friends" notion I had in mind is far from being simple or taken for granted, especially when all of the people I saw on this trip were online friends. You were all wonderful and fun to meet face to face. I had so many moments of “woah. You’re not pixels”, and it turns out I imagined so many of your quite differently than how you look/ sound like in real life. I feel so incredibly lucky to have you in my life, and for the opportunity to have this trip between my jobs. I also feels like I’ve had enough rest, despite losing many hours of sleep on my way here. A huge chunk of me is missing Jerusalem, but I can't help but feeling sad to leave - I leave so many friends behind.

I’d like to thank again to meara, Gar, Kristin, Drew, BC, kat, Epic, Nora, smonster, another Nora, tommyrot, shrift, aurelia, dcp, Sail, brenda, and all the people you introduced me to as well (if I forgot anybody, I'm so very sorry). All of you, as well as all Buffista people, will be welcome in Jerusalem in any time. Thank you all for being you.

Next time, it’ll be the East Coast tour. I promise.

love and gratitude

It was great seeing you too! Safe travels home.

It was great finally getting to meet you, Shir. Thanks for that lovely post.

It was wonderful getting to meet you Shir. It retrospect I think I dragged you to see too many sights and did not leave enough time for conversation.

So the BFF and her wife and I are thinking of New Orleans for Thanksgiving. Can any of our folk there recommend neighborhoods/locations to stay, or stay away from? We are thinking airbnb, and I was thinking something on the streetcar. No particular plans, though BFF loves architecture tours, and mostly we would probably eat a lot. ;)

I don't know if you've heard about beignets...

I'd recommend a B&B on Prytania Street in the Lower Garden District or on Elysian Fields in the Marigny.

Heh, airbnb. It's all controversial down here right now, regular B&Bs and hotels are pissed. Plus, technically it's illegal.