'm so happy for you, and SO much more filled with sorrow that I can't make it because the timing's off for me by about a week, even if I could afford it, which I can't.

FUCK.

OK, can I throw a few ideas around here, or do I have to confine them strictly to email?

I'd say to throw them around here, I think.

Kewl.

So, a couple of things, which I will also add to a group email once I have the list complete. And all of this, with the exception of Saturday BBQ and Nilly not being able to ride between sunsets on Friday and Saturday:

1. For everyone who isn't Nilly, and who has to be picked up at the airport? Try for Thursday, or try for Friday, afternoon to evening. Reason is, Friday I want to take Nilly and whoever else wants to come along on a ride around tour of the City, and also, to (among other places) DSW, to gratify her expressed desire to see if she can buy shoes in her very small size. So, late afternoon and evening Friday are open, and I can accommodate to pick people up if and as needed. Bev's said she'd love to come along on a "feed the ferals" ride, for instance, so we work that into the weekend.

2. Saturday is BBQ. All-day affair, probably starting late morning and going as late as anyone feels happy with. We'll be holding it outside, so cat allergies shouldn't be an issue.

3. My feeling about Sunday is that a ride north, over the Golden Gate Bridge and up to Napa, Sonoma, St. Helena and environs (the Wine Country), would show Nilly one of the prettiest parts of an incredibly pretty state. Also offers the opportunity for outlet mall shopping (in Napa and St. Helena), as well as wine, olive oil, getting one's feet rubbed, taking a mud bath, whatever appeals. But who knows, people may be zonked out from Saturday. It's a suggestion only.

Thoughts?

Deena, if you're around, are you coming alone or accompanied? I'd like to come, but would like to find someone to share a room with to keep costs down. No big, if you've got something set up. I've got a friend in the Bay area I haven't seen for a few years, he'd be glad to share with me. t wink.

The only thing in LA I have planned for Nilly is a visit with Tim, and an LAistas dinner, likely at Jerry's, which has tables large enough and also I think has kosher food. I didn't want to overplan anything, thinking that different folks would come and pick Nilly up at my place for all sorts of activities and such, since I'll only have a couple of days off.

Sail, I'm sorry, I'm sharing with Nicole, but I'm betting you could doss down at any number of buffista homes. There were several who said they had room farther back in the thread. I'd nilly it, but I never seem to get it right. Deb, JZ and Hec, and Consuela were the most recent mentions.

Oh! Plei. That does make me sad, so I will make doubly merry and lift a glass of something in your honor.

Don't worry about it Deena. I'll give my friend a holler and see if he's in the mood for a little SF fun. Haven't seen him in 4 years, so it'll give us a chance to catch up.

The only things I'm actually hard-planning at all are the BBQ, and taking Nilly shoe-shopping, which she asked me about.

Everything else is completely mutable.

I wish I could come to SF as well as LA but that is pushing my luck right now.Still very excited, anyway.

Haven't seen him in 4 years, so it'll give us a chance to catch up.

Yeah, "catch up."