Boy, did I skip, like, 600 messages.

At Jessica's; we're doing our pasta y fagioli feast tonight, with chocolate decadence and ganache and ice cream for dessert. There will be garlic bread, and salad.

If we're voting midwest cities already, I am firmly in Minneapolis' court. I love that place.

At Jessica's; we're doing our pasta y fagioli feast tonight, with chocolate decadence and ganache and ice cream for dessert. There will be garlic bread, and salad.

Now I'm really wishing I was in NY this week instead of here, studying. (Though, one of my friends is house-sitting in Silver Spring, so we'll be studying by a pool. But, still studying.)

Minneapolis sounds good. (Yeah, that is like the fifth city I've said sounded good.)

If we're looking at smaller places, I wouldn't mind seeing Madison, Wisconsin. I've heard it's pretty.

Not that I'm likely to be around this time next year, of course. Though that's what I said last year too.

I'm all for a place that doesn't have as much to do as DC but still has something so that people can break up in smaller groups and go somewhere and with good restaurants.

Also next year I'm not drinking, or not as much. I realize now that I was probably drinking because I was nervous (I'm not sure why I was) and next year I can just take a bit of my medicine and it will take away the anxious feeling.

Cereal:

This morning I woke up unable to talk except with a whisper that cut in and out and now after taking some cough medicine I'm actually able to talk a little bit.

I've noticed in some recent travels - that I can't tell anything by a picture of a hotel. Been burned a few times.

yeah, that's where having a localista really helps. For example, one of the hotels that we were looking at was teh Best Western "Pentagon", which is not near the Pentagon at all (well, a 5 minute drive, and no public transportation), but itseemed like a good location.

I'd be down for a Buffista cruise. Plenty of places to eat :) also, would have destinations for those so inclined. I would suggest on leaving from someplace like Ft. Lauderdale, 'cause that's a cheap place to get to.

I would suggest on leaving from someplace like Ft. Lauderdale, 'cause that's a cheap place to get to.

And, I'd guess, a fair number of cruise options.

As much fun as a Buffista cruise would be, having the F2F on a boat would severely limit people's flexibility in terms of arrival and departure times.

The other thing to consider is that while "destination" cities may be more expensive to stay in, they are often cheaper to get to, simply because, being "destinations," there are more flight/train options.

[edit: And going way back, Toronto isn't on the East Coast of Canada, but it is practically due north from DC/NYC/Boston, which puts it in the East Coast category for F2F purposes, I think.]

And going way back, Toronto isn't on the East Coast of Canada, but it is practically due north from DC/NYC/Boston, which puts it in the East Coast category for F2F purposes, I think.

I guess Toronto is falling between two bar stools, because last year we talked about leaving Toronto for this year's discussion, since it was a midwest city. I don't sense much enthusiasm for coming up here anyway (I think it was only Plei who was keen, as she has family here), so it is pretty much moot, I'd say. No worries.

because last year we talked about leaving Toronto for this year's discussion, since it was a midwest city.

Really? I thought it was dropped primarily because it's so insanely expensive to fly into. I don't remember it being a geographical issue.