Oh, it's starting to hurt. But I'll just channel it into thoughts of next year!!

(but one nice side dealie of not going is that my company's CEO, on the spur of the moment, has decided to take over a local fancy restaurant tonight in honor of our company getting market approval in the EU!)

Thanks, JZ!

For those of you keeping track, I gave Vortex the wrong flight number. I'm on Flight 83, and I'm on my way to the airport.

Okay kids, I'm leaving work now and may not be on the 'nets again until Seattle. See you there, IRL or in pixel!

This is so fun following people making their way to Seattle. It's like watching the red carpet on Oscar night.

It's like watching the red carpet on Oscar night.

Except for the lack of Pictures!

I can haz Reasons!

does jetlagged dance of glee

Wow, you REALLY have to want to come to America. Like, really. Poor Pete had to wait an hour for me to finally get through the queue-of-doom to have my passport checked & my paperwork glared at, and to be asked the purpose of my visit.

"...er. To meet up with a group of invisible internet friends?" I said, hopefully.

Airport Guy looked at me in a dubious fashion.

"...because I'm Just That Much Of A Geek," I added.

"Oookay, lady. If you say so," he said. "So - it's a convention?"

"Well, no it's more of a ..." I began, before realising that there are times and places for being pedantic about terminology, and that this possibly was not one of those times, or indeed places. "Yes. It's a convention."

And then they let me through!

"Yes. It's a convention."

This was the right answer. Maybe not precisely correct, but right.

Welcome to America!

We have had a small lunch, and I -finally - have had caffeine.

I entered the airport at the far end, but it was baggage claim 16 not 60. Seatac ain't that big. Fay's flight was listed as Baggage Claim 1. Color me unamused.

I eventually ended up waiting for Fay at the top of the escalators that ascend from the depth of Passport & Customs Hell™. Fay finally appeared 80 minutes after her flight had landed.

Because of the angle, people's feet would appear before we could see their heads. I recognized Fay just from the knees down (ask me how). I decided to move from the stairs to the barrier and when Fay got to the top of the escalators her thousand yard stare managed to look clean through me. She got accosted by someone directing people to Baggage Claim 1, which she didn't need as she's only packed for three days (yes, I'm looking at you, Jill), and while trying to explain to the person that she didn't need to go to Claim 1, I announced to her that if she wanted to find out where to go "You might want to start by turning around".

And I made Fay jump. And I didn't even try to loom.

ahem...

Traffic was mercifully kind.

And now I have to get some Gothic Charm School stuff done so I can spend the evening with m'peeps.

And, how is it Juliana knew about Plei's BBQ on Saturday morning, and I didn't?

which she didn't need as she's only packed for three days (yes, I'm looking at you, Jill)

Petticoats! Hats! These things take up a lot of room.

And, how is it Juliana knew about Plei's BBQ on Saturday morning, and I didn't?

Um, I thought you were on the email about it? So I didn't need to tell you? Sorry, my scatterbrain is strong recently.