I bought the panda headbands but I took the one I wanted home. Actually I think I took two home but I'm not sure.

Trudy---did you get your panda headband? If not, I'll check and see if I have an extra.

Anyone who wants the two extra headbands can have them.

I'm pretty sure the gift bag belongs to Trudy Kate.

Say, Christmas Break earlier (late Dec./early Jan., either between the holidays or right after/before then)?

The idea intrigues, but between the expense of Christmas shopping and the pressure of family doings, I'm not sure that's do-able.

Is there a weekend (in March, I'd assume) when all the collegians are on spring break?

BTW, Mardi Gras is 2/8, so NOLA would be prohibitively expensive during the weekend before.

This is a completely random and off-the-wall suggestion, but what if we moved the F2F much earlier so we could hold it in the South? Say, Christmas Break earlier (late Dec./early Jan., either between the holidays or right after/before then)?

New Orleans should be pretty quiet right before the Lenten season, right?

Seriously, though, it's not a bad suggestion.

New Orleans should be pretty quiet right before the Lenten season, right?

In January, maybe. Or after Ash Wednesday.

Just checked the Weather Channel Website for average highs for May 20-22 (which would translate to the same weekend next year):

NOLA.......86
Houston.......87
Dallas.......85

And for comparison:

Minneapolis.......72
KC.......78

This is a completely random and off-the-wall suggestion, but what if we moved the F2F much earlier so we could hold it in the South? Say, Christmas Break earlier (late Dec./early Jan., either between the holidays or right after/before then)?

I think this wouldn't work with a lot of people's schedules. I'd think that a lot of people would have set holiday plans already, and different schools would have finals and different times or be going back to school after the break at different times.

Right around Memorial Day seems to have been working out well. It's just before the big tourist season, so everything's ready for tourists, but not too crowded yet, and it's after most students and teachers are done with spring stuff but before summer stuff starts. I'd really rather not start changing the date around.

I think you could say that DC is surrounded by the south but you know that war? The one that made the Mason-Dixon line so important (not that one between the Penns and the Calverts, silly) -- during that war DC had to be the "North" given that is is the Federal Government HQ and all.

Someone please to Nilly the ND link? I can't find it. :(

New Orleans should be pretty quiet right before the Lenten season, right?

It's great in January, cooler and comfortable and far fewer drunken fratboys. But I don't know if folks could get away or afford travel so close to the holidays.

only beautiful Cincinnati meets Aimee's criterion of "very little to do."

You've obviously never been to Detroit.

OK, anyone who needs to claim stuff from my list, please email me with how to get it to you, and I'll get back to you with how much the shipping will be. It's too confusing to try to keep track of it when it's posted here.