Also? I demanded to be called "Goddess" from now on. So I got that going for me.

Is that higher than Empress? Hmmm.

You know, Kristin, I'm going through all the F2F pictures, and crap, dude. You could engender world peace with your smile.

I generally expect pictures of me to be terrible, since they almost always are, and so I'm always pleasantly surprised if something turns out halfway decent.

You know, Kristin, I'm going through all the F2F pictures, and crap, dude. You could engender world peace with your smile.

Awww! P-C, thank you. That is one of the nicest compliments I have ever received.

Maaaaan! One reason not to have the car. I was driving, so no GropeMobile for me. Last year I got to be part of the Kitchen of Porn, though, so I shouldn't complain.

I was part of BOTH the Kitchen of Porn and the GropeMobile. I also think I may be the only common denominator between the two.

So if Lysana is the Nookie Hog, does this mean you're the Groping Hog, ND? Or do you just have a knack for being in the right place at the right time?

I so want that superpower: The ability to be at the right place at the right time to give any consenting Buffista a hug, a smile, and a friendly grope. Just to make the world a slightly pornier place.

Another city suggestion - Indianapolis. I was talking to a friend who recently moved there and she said it's high on meeting planners' lists. Centrally located (Midwest!), good air access, lots of things to do within walking distance downtown ... and not expensive. I'm not pushing it - just wanted to put another option out there.

ND's probably more of a catalyst.

I was part of BOTH the Kitchen of Porn and the GropeMobile. I also think I may be the only common denominator between the two.

Coincidence? I think not.

Last entry in the 2004 DC F2F report. (sniff)

The Prom and Sunday: Finally being able to put voice and mannerism, physicality, to face and name was so wonderful. And although punctuation is quite nice, and very gratifying when one is in need, physical hugs are still better. I got a great one from DX, and more from Deb, Vortex, Aimee, the list is long. I hugged anybody who hugged me first. A memorable one, since it was so long delayed, was Hec's, which included a backrub during Jon B.'s performance. Lovely. But the evening came to an end eventually, at least for me. Anne and I made our goodbyes and set out for the parking garage. We were accompanied to the stairs by the bartender, who hesitated, then spoke, with a wide smile. "Hey. Thank you." Heh.

At 2AM, the front desk comped parking, and we set off for the wilds of Catonsville, Anne's quiet house, and the welcoming face of Jeeves. We both slept later than usual Sunday morning. Deb was leaving with Jess around 1PM, and had asked us both to lunch before she left, so we headed back into DC after breakfast. There was a subdued crowd in the hospitality suite, watching Lovesick Ass. We found seats and watched, ourselves. I noticed Deb in the back of the room, and in the break between Lovesick Ass and Muffin Buffalo, I meandered over to say hello. She was complaining of a headache and stiff neck, so I put the massage training DH has given me (he worked pro one summer in college) to good use, eventually managing to loosen a walnut-sized knot in her neck muscles. Payback in part for triggering her allergies on Friday.

We lunched at the Senators' Grill downstairs in the hotel. Not bad. Not exceptional, but not bad, and the company couldn't be improved upon: Deb, Vortex, Anne, Ginger, and me. I don't remember Kristin being there, I think she was sleeping the sleep of having spent the wee hours touring DC monuments in the clutches of the Gropemobile. All too soon it was time for Deb and Jess to leave to catch their train to NYC. Anne had brought her spinning wheel, and she set it up in the hospitality suite and began to spin while we watched Once More With Feeling. I think many of us had hoped and planned on a singalong, but the truth was, few of us could summon the energy to sing. After OMWF had ended, NoiseDesign mentioned he had the Angel finale—did anyone want to watch it?

Duh. It was great watching it (again) with people (ND, JohnSweden, among others) who hadn't seen it. The HSQ may have been subdued, but it was satisfactory, nonetheless. We left the hospitality suite for the last time, and Kate P and Askye collected their luggage to stash in Anne's car, as they were staying with her on Sunday night. Askye's bag was locked in storage at the front desk, and the bellman who apparently had the only key was elusive. He was eventually tracked down, her bag was quickly extricated, and she needed a quick stop at the hotel ATM before we could leave. Unfortunately, the nasssty machine was balky. She kept her cool, though, and was eventually victorious, emerging with cash.

A large party of us accompanied Matt to the Tabard Inn, where he had booked a post-F2F stay, and where he talked our way into dinner seating on the patio. It's a lovely place, and again, the company was unmatched. Our server was a bit inattentive, but Mistress Vortex's polite intervention quickly brought her attention to her duties. Our table had appetisers and dessert, and everything was quite good. The comraderie had a tinge of sadness, as this would be the last time many of us would see each other for a very long time.

Good lick in Vegas with you buck sixty-three.

You're wishing your husband good lick in the one state where illegality hasn't driven the price of prostitution into the stratosphere?