How many people are going to be around on Friday? I'm coming in Thursday night late (stupid living on the West Coast).
We haven't decided exactly when we are leaving (we are driving, so we can change plans at the last minute), but I imagine we will be around Friday.
Hey, I'll update the main post, but I've got the address. Only I need to dig it out, from a different email account, when I'm on a real computer. You'll need to email me for it.
Any interest in a trip down Smithsonian Row in the afternoon on Friday? I'm open as to which museums.
I'm having dinner with family Friday night, but may be up for something afterwards.
I similarly have dinner plans Friday night but could try to catch up to Mutombo afterwards.
My train is supposed to get to Union Station around 4:30ish on Friday.
I could be interested in meeting at a Smithsonian on Friday (to whoever suggested the idea).
I get in Friday morning. I'm down for the Smithsonian that afternoon.
When in the afternoon are folks thinking? If it's lateish, I might be able to join. Or not, depending on fam stuff.
Am I supposed to be hearing the title of this post as sung by the Bad Brains.
Are there any Saturday afternoon plans? I figure I'll get off the bus and basically head straight for a museum. At least American Art is open after 5.
Ditto 19. I assume people will be liveblogging the whole weekend so I can just find people based on the latest comments.
15: I don't intend to actually stop going to museums until dinner time, so join whenever. If you have a museum preference, we can save that for after you arrive.
For the record, I'm saddened we seemed to have abandoned the name UnfoggeDCon. It had a certain elegance.
Sometimes if a name is really special, you can't use it all the time, or it will lessen the specialness.
I've often said the same thing about your mother, so it must be true.
when it comes to los angeles can it be named for me?
My arrival depends on transport options available to me. On Friday. i feel like i need to attend my department convocation for our seniors, which should end by 2. If anyone who is driving wants to pick me up on the way south or take me back northward on Monday, i'd be much obliged. (I live in DE, just off I-95). Alternatively, I'll take a bus and arrive around 6 on Friday, leave whenever on Monday.
Is there interest in scheduling a few themed discussions? I have an ATM about personal finance, for example, and then could go discuss puppies and wild cubs while others do thinks pertaining to bicycles. Parents and others with kids might want a hangout time, and I think there are going to be a handful of folks who want to discuss how to handle romantic relationships in which one or both partner has mental Heath concerns .
[n.b. am posting under slight influence of sleeping meds; please disregard anything that seems excessively out of character]
Yeah, let's do a skill-share! We can have a Know Your Rights training, and DIY bike maintenance, Consent Is Sexy, Homebrewing 101, Foraging for wild edibles, Consensus decision-making, Cyber security basics, flocking, and a radical moms group!
And then we can have a big confrontation with the DGR people.
Coming early Friday morning. Only thing planned thus far is a 2PM visit to the George Washington Masonic Memorial. Tour had to be reserved. Otherwise free.
Whoever wants to sign up for my workshop in Advanced Awkwardness can, um, uh, never mind. Just forget I said anything. Sorry.
Since we're less than a week out, I'll re-up the mix I made with the occasion in mind: Ten Years Down the Drain (cover, tracklist).
FYI, I looked and the big three Smithsonian museums (Ari & Space, Natural History, American History) are now all on extended hours. They are open until 7:30. The most of the others close ate 5:30. (A notable exception is the Portrait Gallery/American Art Museum, which closes at 7.)
Oh, the National Gallery (not part of the Smithsonian, and not having extended hours during the summer) just opened a new show about the Ballets Russes. The core is a V&A roadshow (expanded by non-V&A items, etc.) and seems to be very costume oriented. Not really my cup of tea, but if that's the type of thing you like, you'll probably like this.
I don't know why people keep calling the piratepad text file a spreadsheet.
It would make me so happy if y'all would visit the air and space museum, go to the "how things fly" gallery and watch a forces of flight demonstration. If you call ahead you can schedule a special demonstration for your group at no cost.
35: Anti-pirate prejudice. I hear there is less of that in Barcelona.
Speaking of dressing like pirates, not sure if this was linked here:
Members of a North Devon WI were left embarrassed after a number of them had dressed up as pirates for a talk by a former sea captain who has been held hostage by Somali pirates for several weeks.
I don't know why people keep calling the piratepad text file a spreadsheet.
Exactly!
Also, I think it's very useful for consolidating discussion so everyone doesn't have to read through all the threads to get the latest. I'll try to keep it updated.
Also, I resent this:
total unordered-ness.
It is quite entertaining watching Sir Kraab organize the spreadsheet text file in real time.
I'm in for Friday afternoon Smithsonian stuff. I'm also happy to help with knitting troubleshooting but don't really have other useful skills to share.
I see that SK got rid of the AMERICAN WOMEN NOVELISTS section of the text file.
44: Doesn't seem mission critical, but then I am narrow of mind and imagination.
Can the D.C. folks suggest a place we can hang out on Friday night? The Brickskeller was great last time because we could get a big table and it wasn't too loud for talking, but now that it's the Blue Baron, I don't know what it's like.
44: now where does Harriet Beecher Stowe go?
47: She booked a room in the cabin a long time ago.
Anyway, I'm hoping to get out to the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial, which is apparently not the easiest place to reach.
Bleg from those not attending: any swordplay should be live blogged and filmed.
Also, I had a whole plan about reposting the old thread up at the top with various extra information. NEB.
Do they know it's like 40 out of towners who know each other through an eclectic web magazine? Or do they think it's just a nice woman with her new baby coming to visit our nation's capital?
Hey, bloggers, leave those sheets alone.
55: He's ruining the plan! He's ruining the whole plan!
56: Well, fuck 'em if they can't take a joke.
For Saturday, let's discuss: what time is the party at? Basically, the question is whether to have dinner at the house - maybe spaghetti buffet or something that scales easily - or to have dinner at a restaurant and then move to the house.
Originally I'd conceived the former - party starts at like 3 or 4 in the afternoon, (or hell, spend the day at the house) with either a potluck or spaghetti dinner. Just because long leisurely parties are fun.
But I don't have a strong opinion. Maybe sampling DC restaurants is part of the fun of visiting DC, you know?
Maybe you can make your own meal by sampling DC restaurants. But, you know, copyright.
Also, I had a whole plan about reposting the old thread up at the top with various extra information. NEB.
Well, you know what they say, heebie. The early bird …
*puts on sunglasses*
… gets the worm.
YEAHHH!
I assume you checked to make sure that's not a violation of the contract? Don't want you to lose the deposit. Because how would they ever find out, it's not like people are talking about it on the internet.
I haven't checked, because it's a go whether or not it's a violation. If we lose our deposit, so it goes. I can eat it, for the mega-party of a decade of this place.
62: You kid, but.
Can the D.C. folks suggest a place we can hang out on Friday night?
I haven't been to the former Brickskeller since it changed over, no idea what it's like now. If you're looking for something near the VRBO, this might be a good option. I suggest it not because it's a particularly good bar (it isn't, it kind of sucks) but it's big and it seems never to be very crowded even on weekends. I've been in there a number of times with large groups and never had a problem. It's half a block from the Eastern Market metro stop (which I think is one stop from the VRBO? and not much of a walk), and right across the street from the Market itself. But I don't know the neighborhood that well, there might be better options.
If you're looking for something in a different part of town I can try to think of something that might work.
61: I'd be in favor of dinner at the house.
I was holding out a slight hope I might be able to get away, but I am now sure I won't make it. If anybody was not committing to avoid me, you're clear.
That's no good. If I told you you're Dr. Oops' favorite commenter, would you be able to make it then?
No, but I'll feel worse about not going.
Dr. Oops is, by the way, the best nickname for a sibling ever.
71
That's no good. If I told you you're Dr. Oops' favorite commenter, would you be able to make it then?
So how come Dr. Oops never (or almost never) comments?
She said I'm her favorite, which doesn't preclude us all sucking.
71: Dr. Oops is a doctor who is not always at a desk and actually has to see patients.
61: Another vote fro dinner at the house. I am not a good cook, that is I don't think up good recipes, but I can do prep work well enough.
34: The exhibit on the Ballets Russes looks fabulous. I'd love to go with people who are interested.
Dr. Oops is, by the way, the best nickname for a sibling ever.
Agreed wholeheartedly, though I believe my brother's long-time internet pseudonym, Mr. Sticky, rates an honorable mention.
74: I said Moby was her favorite. Doesn't mean she likes the rest of you clowns.
I added some Capital Hill restaurants near the house to the Pirate Pad text file, along with Granville Moore's on H Street.
I could bring a couple of bottles of good wine for the dinner on Saturday, not sure how many people will be there...
I'm expecting to head to the house after the sitter arrives at my hotel at 8. Unless you'll all still be out at dinner somewhere, in which case I will follow the liveblogging. I will likely have eaten already with the boy, but will also bring some good wine. And perhaps some amaro.
Some ammo? I assumed the weapon of choice would be knives.
I didn't see anything on PiratePad about signup for the pit-digging detail.
You guys don't make fun he's trying to bring you amaro.
"Some amaro and perhaps some wine" is the better order.
83: Isn't the house near the Congressional cemetery? (Which reminds me, I kind of want to go to the cemetery.)
Have you tried eating at Taco Bell every day for a month?
Make a run for the border between mortality and eternity.
My apologies if 86.last wasn't expressing a wish for death.
The road to hell is paved with &c.
It's really only a matter of time before Taco Bell introduces the Dante Infernito Loco Burrito.
If I thought this hot sauce were for one who would ever return to the world,
this taco should stay without another seasoning; but since none
ever returned alive from this meal, if what I hear is true,
I'll eat it without fear of indigestion.
Thanatostada.
96, via Prurock, mutatis mutaco, is a thing I have always loved.
Dante Infernito
Yesterday I was on a plane across the aisle from some guy trying to pick up the girl next to him by talking about how fascinating and intellectual the new Dan Brown novel about Dante is.
My plan for dealing with any forthcoming interlocutors about Mr. Brown's brilliance centers on whether or not they're wearing a hair shirt. If not, total posers.
I can't see the Pirate Pad thing here at work. But also, wasn't there a map someone had started with thumbtacks on it for points of interest and stuff? Does anyone have a link to that?
46
Can the D.C. folks suggest a place we can hang out on Friday night?
There are several nice places around Eastern Market, six blocks west of the house IIRC. I guess I'd recommend Matchbox, both for the food and the venue, because it has a kind of loft area where a large group may be able to get some privacy, but if you don't feel like pizza that same block has Belgian, Chinese, and an old-fashioned, breakfast-or-dinner-served-anytime diner. Also, lots of places have outdoor seating or patios, if you feel like a little air. I'm not too familiar with places like that in that area, but north around H St., Smith Commons is nice.
79: Granville Moore's is nice - went there myself Sunday - but small. I wouldn't recommend it for a group larger than 4.
Do middle-class homeowners ever form group purchasing organizations to centralize and rationalize the use of contractors? I could imagine living in a house if I had an expert to hand all that off to. But maybe that's a boutique service only for the well-heeled.
Parts of the Red and Orange lines will be closed and replaced by shuttle buses all weekend, from 10pm Friday through Monday night. Only people staying in VA or MD will be affected.
The Red will be closed from Shady Grove to Twinbrook, and the Orange from Vienna to Ballston.
Only people staying in VA or MD will be affected.
Or people flying into or out of Dulles during that time. Lovely. I guess it's the shuttle for me.
The 5A Metrobus from Dulles goes to Rosslyn, which is not part of the construction zone.
104- Are you suggesting we get together to buy a permanent party house?
Oh God, stuff like 106 happens almost every weekend due to track work, and it gets really annoying. Sometimes they give it a rest on holiday weekends, but not this one, apparently.
FWIW, everything is still running except for the westmost three or four stops on two different lines, it's just running more slowly. Roughly 20 minutes between trains instead of 10, I think, depending on the time of day we're talking about or something. And if you do have to go to one of those three or four stops, there will be free shuttle buses from the metro station. So you can still get around, no need to rent a car just because of this if you weren't planning to before, it'll just take longer.
104: there's an upscale assisted living place/ continuing care retirement community that's trying to reach out to people who want to stay in their homes. They provide lists of vetted plumbers and the like. They do a follow up interview to see if you're happy with the service.
I'm at the Dunn Loring stop, so I've been hit by this and it's not too bad. Slow, but there are lots of people in reflective vests to direct you to and from the buses. Just be sure you don't get on the express bus to Vienna unless that's where you want to go.
Definitely enough to push me off public transit for the airport trip, though. It's already very long with one change, I don't want to make that two.
Throw Minivet From The Train, Starring Danny DeVito.
The night was sultry. I had just arrived at Dulles to attend ...
Have any of you ever taken a 3 AM train out of DC? Is it likely to be crowded with already-sleeping people? How much of Union Station is even open at that hour?
Oh hey, something just occurred to me: anyone else want to watch the Champions League final on Saturday? Or know of a bar that's likely to be showing it?
I don't suppose films that open a week earlier in NYC and LA than everywhere else also do so in DC, do they? That just sounds ridiculous now that I've typed it. But if they do, I'm going to Before Midnight on Friday. Not because it's a matter of great importance to see it immediately but because I know enough other people that love those movies that I'm actually afraid of reading spoilers to this film that like twelve other people will see.
Another dumb question, then: is it just big deal movies that show at midnight on Thursday before a Friday release or lots of movies? I...don't go to the movies much.
What time are you leaving for DC? First showing at the Angelika on Friday is 10 am.
After Before Midnight will be Before Before and then, finally, Always Already.
121: My hero! Maybe I will.
Are people still going to be around on Sunday night, mostly? I'm perusing bus tickets right now and the big question mark is whether to leave late-ish Sunday night or Monday morning.
Well, in that case! Alright, I'll go for Monday morning. Wasn't looking forward to arriving in Port Authority at midnight anyhow: the bus station is bad old New York.
Okay, finally finalized. I'll be in on Saturday around 1 pm, and will leave on Monday around 10 am (allow suitable time for bumbling around lost in the Metro).
I have a very dear friend in the area whom I MUST see but am waiting to hear back on when and where. Will anyone be in the rental house at around 2 pm on Saturday, or should I just trundle my I-am-a-European-tourist-backpack around with me?
Most importantly, I will still be around on Sunday night.
So if there are ~40 people coming to the con, and one in 25 people is a sociopath...this could turn into Unfogged's Ten Little Indians.
.this could turn into Unfogged's Ten Little Indians.
Hmmm, I was thinking that I might end up leaving early-ish (depending, but I am dull and not generally one for either staying up late or drinking). I suppose, however, that you should all be wary of the possibility of me sneaking back in a disguise.
And if more than one attendee is on the same flight/train/bus, it could be Orient Express. And liveblogging could turn it into Dr. Ackroyd.
It would be delightfully sociopathic to attend as a different pseud than your own.
And it would be a fantastic setting for a devilishly interesting murder mystery, of course.
EVERYONE WATCH OUT HALFORD WILL BE ATTENDING IN DISGUISE
Or it could be one of those logic puzzles:
Halford never wears bowties
The commenterwho lives closest to nosflow always wears bowties
Nosflow has a stand mixer
Only one commenter does not even own a TV
Be on the lookout for anyone who claims there's a bacon smell coming from a dark room and "we should go check it out." Also, anyone who claims to know a site where we can get intellectual property for free, but, like, a physical site that you have to go to because it's got an untraceable network connection and you'll have to wear a blindfold on the way.
Long before the internet I read a spoiler for The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and was furious because it would have been so excellent to read it not knowing.
There's really no substitute for learning about the escape to the Jupiter colony and the subsequent rebellion of the MOrglafs while you're in the flow of the story.
I'm not going so nobody can be me.
Who wants to be text? Or should we take turns?
If you want to be me then you have to actually pretend to be me, adopt my linguistic mannerisms and so forth. And you should try to dress like me and dance charmingly, etc.
I'll actually be around till Tuesday morning. I'm up for doing whatever, for reasonable values of whatever.
Yeah, I don't leave until Tuesday either (although I have plans during the day on Monday, and possibly the evening as well).
I just engaged a sitter for Sunday night as well, so make sure there's something for me to do.
(although I have plans during the day on Monday, and possibly the evening as well)
You dog.
I'll be hanging out through Monday morning, with no real plans for Sunday -- I'm assuming some museum wandering will happen.
Sunday afternoon you can see more motorcycles than you thought existed if you go over to the Vietnam Memorial.
101: Have we ever figured out why you do this?
Do what? Highlight the potential for an awesome Prufrock-based rock opera?
Oh, I thought you were just typo-shaming me. Withdrawn.
117: Oh hey, something just occurred to me: anyone else want to watch the Champions League final on Saturday? Or know of a bar that's likely to be showing it?
Brought back memories. We were in DC on vacation July 4th, 2006 so I and German guy browbeat the hotel (someplace in DuPont Circle) to put on the Italy-Germany World Cup semifinal. All worked well until a massive thunderstorm knocked out the satellite TV broadcast early in extra time. The German guy risked life and limb running around to every place in the neighborhood confirming that none of them had a signal. I think it may have come back on right after Italy scored in the last minute just as the drenched German got back to the lobby.
anyone else want to watch the Champions League final on Saturday? Or know of a bar that's likely to be showing it?
Maybe. I could even wear my Nationalmannschaft jersey, but that would be weird since it's Özil's, and he's not on either team. But, hey, German.
You should wear your National Mineshaft jersey to the party house.
wasn't there a map someone had started with thumbtacks on it for points of interest and stuff? Does anyone have a link to that?
Anyone can edit it to add new locations or add info in the descriptions.
Wow, the [what does VRBO stand for?] is like seven blocks from my sister's place.
Vacation Rental By Owner. I have a terrible habit of interchanging IMDB and VRBO in conversation.
My daughter and I are in! Booked a hotel room at Kellog Conference Hotel at Gallaudet. We will be there Sat to Sun.
She will want to dance. She will want to hug. She will kiss any cute boys.
||
Hey will I am reading Albion's Seed and what I can only assume is your ancestor (what with you sharing the same name, job, and state/colony of residence) is all over that thing.
|>
I haven't read it. But, yes. That is my ancestor. Left England, married and not a lawyer. When they landed, he was a lawyer and not married. Shady, even back then!
Is it worth reading?
It's fascinating so far, speaking as a waspy waspy wasp wasp. Also, yeah, you should read it just to learn about your, uh, spirited ancestor.
Albion's Seed is great. Everyone should read it.
speaking as a waspy waspy wasp wasp
I knew it!
But no it's fascinating to figure out why various branches of my family tree didn't get along with each other.
170: surely its like the old buddy-comedy writ in a family: some were distressed cavaliers, some were seedy puritans.
I love the part about the man who married late, and badly, and had note made of that fact on his tombstone. Also his "you can go to hell" "I'm going to Arlington" "same-same" exchange.
ROUNDHEADS AMERICANIZE LIKE THIS AND CAVALIERS AMERICANIZE LIKE THIS
some were distressed cavaliers
My family had a distressed cavalier once. Then we sold it and got a Toyota.
174: My family had a Cavalier when I was in high school. After history covered the English Civil War, my friends started calling our other car the Roundhead.
Amaro for Saturday. For everyone but nosflow, because 85 is wrong, wrong, wrong.
sifu: does it mention that he married a 13 year old?? So much to be proud of!
Not that I saw but it does argue for that being pretty common in Virginia then. He did entertain random drunken visiting gentlemen with acrobats, so that's laudable.
Did drunken gentlemen with acrobats visit him often?
I'm guessing they were Trappezist monks.
179:
It is funny bc the description is much like my dad. (he has monkeys.) Carp: 11 at marriage, but sent to England for two years. To be a gentleman.
160,161: Surely we can do better than that!
Very Raunchy Base of Operations
Vermillion Reactive Badger Orifice
Vengeful Rector Beats Off
Vermin Rejoice! Bedding Optional!
Albion's Seed is great. Whether it's actually correct or not I have no idea (and I kind of suspect it of massive selective editing of evidence), but it's exactly the kind of fun speculative plausible super-strongly stated social science that is awesome.
Vainglorious Reprobates Belaboring Ontology
||Oh great. I have a fb friend (wife of good high school friend, very nice) who reposts links all day including animal rights ones that show me beaten-up donkeys. I just...
|>
What's this about a Bear Orgy? I think that's going to be me alone in the sex grotto and I really hardly qualify. Oh wait maybe Apo sort of qualifies. Well, ok! You guys know where to find us! Sorry, Apo. Looks like you and me, kid.
There are pictures of Smearcase beaten-up donkeys?
Albion's Seed is great. Whether it's actually correct or not I have no idea (and I kind of suspect it of massive selective editing of evidence), but it's exactly the kind of fun speculative plausible super-strongly stated social science that is awesome.
I remember looking up his list of weird Puritan given names and reading something suggesting that was probably in fact contemporary mocking of Puritans - "ffly-Fornication" in particular stretches credibility. But it's great to tell people about.
Please put me on the list to drink any good bottles of wine that PGD brings.
For skill-sharing, I can help people improve their swimming. Or discuss divorce!
That historian promised he would do books on other ethnic groups. I really wanted him to come out with one about the Dutch and how they influenced New York.
Sorry, Apo. Looks like you and me, kid.
Helloooo, sailor!
it's exactly the kind of fun speculative plausible super-strongly stated social science that is awesome
Noted.
I think I just committed myself to waking up earlier Saturday morning than I really want to. But I have a ticket to DC.
Yay yay yay to 196 and 197! I did laundry and bought a little cover for my toothbrush. I'm about to make sure everything is clean and ready for the cats while I'm gone, so I'll stop detailing my own journey now. But 27 hours!!!
Serious question--are there rentable lockers on the Mall or nearby that I can stash bags at for the day on Friday? I'm trying to figure out if I should check a bag so I can bring wine and/or fit a sleeping bag, and the prospect of dazedly wandering around all day with a wheeled suitcase and a backpack is stressful.
Haven't used this, but here is Union Station info: Baggage storage is available near Gate A on the Amtrak concourse and is run and staffed by Tiburon Lockers. Amtrak and Union Station do not manage this service. (202) 898-1592
Calling to verify would be prudent.
Some Smithsonian museums have small lockers.
We're at the airport but our flight was just delayed 1.5 hours. Further bulletins as events warrant.
no stilettos nor sharp heels on the hardwood floors
Also, hooves.
Gentlemen are requested to refrain from riding ponies through the Steerage after 8:00 P.M.
205: Could be worse. We have reading, knitting, and no small children to entertain.
For those planning to hit Smithsonians on Friday, the Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum is generally open late, until 7PM.
The pseudo-outdoor courtyard there is one of the best places in the city to just hang out and relax, too, especially if the weather is unpleasant in some way.
Speaking of DC, An actual confirmation to the DC Court of Appeals. 97-0 ... some manner of deal.
Stuff to do Friday night: the first Jazz in the Garden of the year is this week. Starts at 5 p.m., at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, which is at 7th and Constitution St. NW. Closest metro is Archives, but it's just a walk across the Mall from L'Enfant Plaza metro. Free jazz concert in a park with lots of weird sculptures. I recommend getting there early, though, because it's likely to be crowded.
I think I'm going. Still not sure whether I'm getting there tomorrow or Sat.
We plan to go to the Busboys & Poets at 5th & K at 1 pm tomorrow and hang out there before going to the house at 3. Any and all should join us.
Is anyone actually interested in that jazz in the garden? I hadn't thought of it when I posted that comment, but in the meantime my fiancée and a mutual friend have made plans for the three of us to go there. If anyone else from the commentariat is thinking of going, let me know and I might bring a Mutombo sign.
On that note, holy shit, I just Googled "mutombo meme" to see if we were anywhere near the top of Google hits for that, because I had no idea who Mutombo is other than the guy people want to sex, and this is how I learned just now that he's the the guy in those annoying Geico ads. Wow, all these years...
216: Sounds good. As I just wrote on the PiratePad, I think trying to organize a big museum-going deal for Friday isn't going to work very well. People who will be around and want to see museums then can contact Chopper.
The crazy thing is that after casting him as a gecko, they dubbed in someone else's voice.
I'm leaving no later than 5 on Sunday, so I want to get in some kind of sightseeing that morning/afternoon.
223: He first invites you up to see his getchings.
Done with laundry and packing; about to leave for the airport!
Are there any friday night plans? Are there people whose phone # everyone has for coordination purposes? I won't be getting into the city until fairly late, I fear.
227: My thought is to stake out a big table at a not-super-crowded bar Friday night so people can drop in whenever. Various places have been suggested here and on the planning thing. I'm happy to give my number to anyone interested in meeting up there (wherever there is). Email my pseud at gee mail.
Those of us who are converging on the house around 3 or 4 can perhaps choose a spot.
My current plan is museums, or reading in that pseudo outdoor courtyard mentioned above, till 1pm, then Busboys and Poets, then the house, then maybe jazz? Then whatever the evening plans are.
My plane boards in 20 minutes. Did you know SFO has a yoga room? I did not know this. I'm tempted to go and just lie down in there: "it may look like I'm just lying down, but really I'm practicing savasana!"
Oh and I'm totally willing to help with a shipping expedition, though I won't have a car. My backpack is huge, though. IYKWIMAITYD.
Said a Cockney youth, Leon - "the Ponce,"
Who was sorted right out of his bonce,
"There's a pervert 'oo's stalking"
"Me, I'm tired of walking,"
"I'll just have to sit down for the nonce."
Headed to the airport! See you all soon!
My flight is delayed 30 minutes. Makes my phone interview a bit trickier. Stupid flight crew needed to get rest.
I have plans to have dinner with my cousin but hope to go by the house around 3:30.
Sir Kraab and I are now at Busboys and Poets. We're upstairs.
My flight from Anchorage to Dallas was late, so I missed my connection but managed to get on the next flight. Luckily my original flight had me getting in pretty early, so it's not that big a deal. Anyway, I'm here now and will head over to B&P soon.
Is there ever a right thread?
I read this one first, because it's at the top of the page. Someone should do something about that if it's now considered the wrong one.
I am doing something about it. I'm shouting, "Wrong Thread!" at people.
Perhaps the only solution is to create a new post. Don't cross the streams.
BTW, big thanks to Heebie Geebie for everything and to Sir Kraab for wrangling the piratepad doc &c.
Where "here" is this thread or my lab, depending how you construe it.
Wrong thread! Or location, depending on how you construe it.
MegaBus is late and I am FREEZING! But will be there in 2 hours (I hope).
We're winding down at this venue, so if you haven't already commited to coming to B&P, better to head towards the house.
It's like Rat Race! Sifu is being played by John Cleese.
WIND BACK UP WIND BACK UP MY PLAYTHINGS CACKLE CACKLE MR. BEAN YOU SCAMP
Now we just need everyone to end up at a Smash Mouth concert.
D'oh. That was a Metro station, not the Amtrak station. NOW Alexandria. Next stop: UNION STATION!
261: Apparently they are playing at New Buffalo, Michigan tonight, so probably too late.
Union Station! Look out, fuckers!
Stuck in Philly for 5 hours after a cancelled flight. Looks like I'll hit 22 straight hours of travel.
My bus gets in at 11:30 so I'll be there rather late.
Sorry to be missing you all, but thank god you're not in Pittsburgh. I'll be working all weekend.
I feel certain that this is the right thread in which to mention this.
I'll be working all weekend.
Me too! I'm weirdly excited about it, though. First chance to sit down and write without distractions in a long time.
Without distractions other than beautiful weather outside and liveblogging from everyone in DC, that is.
post-blogging: whole family went to meetup pad. It was great: my kids served beer to everyone, willing or not!
Just don't accidentally start surfing.
272: shouldn't be a problem?
273: Presumably Sifu is alluding to my current undisclosed location.
So, not only are you not going to liveblog, you're not going to liveblog on two different threads? You people suck.
The rest of us can keep liveblogging how we're reloading the threads waiting to see liveblogging. I'M HITTING COMMAND+R AGAIN RIGHT NOW
As the President would say, it's a good looking group.
Passed the 22 hour mark, live blogging from the metro!
277: Naturally! ...although with the pathetic weather in upstate New York, I'm also considering whether what I thought was "barely too distant to reasonably go" could actually be "just close enough to go on a whim".
This doesn't look like a new thread.
Multiple active threads are no substitute for body shots.
281: For the record, the weather is still pathetic, but I couldn't quite pull the trigger on making a seven-hour drive at the last minute. Alas!
287 I'm wavering on making the 5 hour drive from the NYC area myself.
Do it! Do it! Even Joyslinger should do it, that 7 hour drive isn't so bad.
my kids served beer to everyone, willing or not!
TJ's kids: too cute to be believed.
MLB.tv is showing Mutombo's Geico commercial more often than usual. Is it rebuking me? I feel rebuked.
Oh, well. Off to the movies!
On a computer with a (poor) keyboard, I thought I'd add a longer re-cap.
I was a little bit nervous about having talked somebody into coming who never reads the blog, but I think both of us had a very good time.
I'm sure everybody scans the thread to look for their own name being mentioned, so some specific observations, in approximate chronological order:
• H-G come across as a notable non-anxious or nervous person. She was so calm sitting down, cuddling Ace, and enjoying watching the party she had organized -- good work!
• Thanks to Mitch and Teo for being welcoming on Friday night. I went over to the house to get some sort of feel for what I was getting myself into and talking to them helped convince me that I had signed up for the right party.
• It was a happy coincidence to share a metro ride with Turgid Jacobian, Bonsaisue, and their two incredibly charming children.
• Nametags were a great idea -- not only to be able to identify people that one was talking to, but also people one was evesdropping on.
• I enjoyed learning something about YK and Kreskins work.
• X. Trapnel comes across as more serious in person than he does in his blog persona (I'm not quite sure why I say that) but seemed to be enjoying himself.
• Eggplant is gracious and a very easy and comfortable person to hang out and chat with.
• Awl had looked like he had a bunch of nervous energy, when I saw him moving around the room, but by the time I talked to him he was starting on a bit of an, "I love you guys" mood, which was nice.
• Jackmormon: I mentioned that the one time I've been jealous of people living in the same city was when there were occasionaly NYC bridge games happening. I also said that I played for the first time in a couple years this week. Those two are connected -- thinking about unfoggedcon, and remembering that bit of jealousy prompted me to talk to one of the people I used to play with and it turned out they did have occasional space for a forth.
• Labrys was jealous when she heard that teraz occasionally cooked for other NYC commenters.
• Teraz is an excellent storyteller.
Josh: The conversation changed, but I was going to say that I appreciate your music recommendations and, in particularl, I do intend to listen to A Night At The Hip-Hopera at some point, even though it isn't on CD.
• Rob H-C and Molly looked very comfortable together, and it was nice meeting them both.
• Labs is also charming and gracious.
• Thorn and Witt are both interesting, thoughtful, generous people. Probably nobody is surprised to hear that, and I wonder if both of them are occasionally conscious about the danger of getting type-cast on the blog. But I have to say it was a treat getting to spend time with both of them.
• It would have been fun to have talked more with Lizardbreath but I am innordinately fond of the fact that in my brief interactions she called me a crazy person (immediately before she introduced herself, "Lizardbreath, by the way" since she wasn't wearing a nametag) for my opinions about kitchen utensils and then, later, used me as an example of a poor pseudonym. All is right with the world.
I am sure that I am forgetting some people, and my apologies.
Also, I made the decision, that I knew there would be too many people to have a chance to spend time with everybody, and I that I just had to accept enjoying whatever happened, and whoever I ended up interacting with and that was both a good mindset to have, and very easy to do in practice. Unfoggedders do tend to be interesting people.
There is a small part of me that wishes I'd gone digging for more gossip however . . .
NickS, you'll just never know what Thorn, trapnel, and I were up to in that bed. (& trapnel will probably never remember)
State-dependent memory, J. A few drinks in him and he'll start talking.
Walking to Union Station, I just saw a bicyclist blow through a red light. On a pennyfarthing.
294: Given that I live-blogged basically not being in bed all night, I'm curious myself what might have gone on!
