I have been woefully not monitoring this thread. Are people coming to Portland, OR? Soonish? I am here! I have free evenings and enjoy wining and dining and pedicures!

Re: F2F, i was born and raised in Richmond. Hollywood Cemetrary is indeed a gorgeous (and ginormous) place, and the city is lovely, but i also hate it for various personal reasons. However, i never mind an excuse to visit with the parentals and old friends.

Providence would rock! Actually any place that would allow me to combine F2F with my annual visit to the family in late June or early July would rock. (Yes, I know this is not All About Me, but ND and I would hate to miss our first wedded F2F, but we'll also be juggling a family celebration for my East Coast relatives next summer. I doubt we could make two trips, but, FTR, I will totally schedule my family stuff around the F2F if possible!)

I'm really, really hoping to make the 2010 F2F, now that my family responsibilities have been reduced. Providence, Pittsburg or Philly would all work for me. (I'll admit to a slight preference for Providence.)

I certainly hope I can make it next year... it's been far too long since I've gotten to see any buffistas in person.

Back from seeing Nora and Tom, Perkins, megan walker, and Polter-Cow.

We met up at the wine bar at Eos and Matilda happily munched on bread and clambered on me while we snarfled up the shitake mushroom dumplings. P-Cow arrived just in time to get No Food Whatsover, except three little potatoes. Then we told him we were going to split the bill evenly.

I tried to lead the herd of us to Alembic but it was too crowded. So Polter-Cow grabbed two slices of pizza and we walked down to the Zam Zam. I was worried that (a) they wouldn't allow outside food to the bar and (b) they wouldn't allow Matilda. But they did. And the bartender made her a super special Cherry Lime Rickey with whipped cream while we all had Manhattans and Martinis.

Matilda announced, "I want a martini too!" Which was the right thing to say in that particular bar but only got her a Cherry Lime Rickey.

Also, Tom and Nora ROCK like the rockingest things ever, but you all already knew that.

Glad to here the McWaringles arrived safe and sound.

In the city there are buses and cabs, but to go to the other cities, it would probably be easiest to carpool.

There are also train options to Boston (MBTA and Amtrak). I'm not sure if the commuter rail one runs all the way to Providence on the weekends, though.

Had dinner with TB on Saturday. Thanks for the conversation, dude.

Take care of our Scola! I would like him well-fed and rested in PDX, please.

What's the plan for N&T at Toronado tomorrow night? If my jetlag doesn't kill me, I might be able to join y'all after the Margaret Atwood reading I'm attending (around 9). Think you'll still be there?

I tried to lead the herd of us to Alembic but it was too crowded.

Should have come to see me....