Cereal:

Forwarded, katefate. (The Excel verion, that is).

I can bring an extra cable or so--they're ethernet cables, right?

HI, I'm in the office of the catering mgr., having just signed for order for food, set up, hosp. suite, and bartender & cashier. She's letting me use her computer while she goes to lunch. And so, I cannot ask her about the mike stand. but I will when she gets back.

It cooled down today so that I don't feel exactly like I'm at the Honolulu Airport. However, I'm still wearing a Hawaiian shirt. But it was cool enough to change out of sandals and into running shoes.

I walked down to the lake (I"m camping for now) this AM for the first time and you can see all the holes around the base of the trees where the cicadas crawled out. Then I looked at the base of the same trees - 3 inches deep of cicada carcasses. Yikes! One delayed bloomer was still a larvae (pupae?) crawling up the tree in his/her space monster yellow armor. A couple of cicadas crawled up the outside of my tent but they shake off easily. Fortunately. I know my tent and it is tight when zipped - or I would have been creeped out by the idea of them finding a way in all night long.

The museums are so fabulous, and I haven't even been to all the ones I want to go to yet. How on earth did I miss Roses by Van Gogh before? The green roses. Whoa! Also, Odalequese (sp?) that is practically 3-D.

There are Imax movies that I want to see about Everest, The Young Black Stallion, Jane GOodall and something else, shown in a run 6-9 PM, FYI. The Kennedy Center has free performances at 6 PM every evening. I went to an opera one.

Oh, and no email from Vortex with the list. There will be printouts available tomorrow, yes?

Driving in DC is insane. It's SO bad. Roads are not marked. They have one name on one side of the street and another name on the sign on the other side fo the street, 35 feet away. Someone at a police station gave me WRONG directions! It's made me very happy to just drive to the Vienna Metro STation and take Metro everywhere. I'm a more than a little scared about driving to Ann's tonight and then FINDING MY WAY BACK. Having sounded the knell of driving doom, I hope someone(s) is riding with me to Ann's tonight because otherwise I will tear my hair out! Navigator needed.

After driving up there for Thanksgiving, I can safely say that I lived through it. But I really didn't like it. Bad city for driving, when you don't live there.

And the Metro is incredible. I had no idea BART was so whimpy in comparison. It's the only subway I'd ever ridden on until now.

I have to go eat something. One tangerine 5 hours ago is not enough. See you soon, Hil! Kramerbooks or Teaism, yes?

What does "called me off the cookie" mean?

It kind of the same as calling down from the ledge. My friend Lenny uses it when she's panicking or obsessing on something. She asks me to call her off the cookie - help her think constructively again.

t hands Steph virtual chocolate chip cookie.

Forwarded, katefate.

Thanks, Jen!

Java, thanks for the cicada porn. Let's talk camping this weekend!

I'm in training right now, AIFBoring! I could be at home, packing.

argh! I swear the I sent the list out, really I did! v. frustrating. are you people sure that you're using your computers correctly :)

Have names & directions to the Friday night bars been posted? (And if so, could someone Nilly them for me?)

I don't know, but both Freddies and the Crystal City Sports Pub are located on S.23rd Street in Crystal City. You can take the yellow line to the Crystal City station (which involves taking the red line from Union Station to Gallery Place, and switching trains), or you can drive by taking 395 south (if you take D street away from Union Station, you can take the 3rd st. exit to 395S, watch out for the construction) Take 395 S to Rt 1 S (left exit), then take Rt 1 to S. 23rd St, turn right and the bars and such will be on your right. Be very careful about parking, they will tow.

And are both places fairly visible from the Crystal City station?

Do we have a sense for about what time the Friday night stuff will start? I have to work, and it makes more sense for me to meet you in Crystal City than to go downtown and back out in Friday night traffic. Or, I guess I could call someone on my cell...

Also, I have a prom dress. It is black and slinky. I am still in search of sandals to wear with it, and am therefore very grateful I don't have to pack.

I should be at Anne's in four hours. Yay.

Edit: Also, I don't have a contact info list! What email did you send it to, Vortex?