Trebs

Not a bad idea - though for Vic - I more picture him in a tiara...

I am definitely going, and Dan is definitely going...

Jason - you're more than welcome to join us! It's for anyone on this site - you don't have to be a postaholic ;-)

Gay Standard Time of course - you know - where a party is advertised as being 8 - 10 PM, and no one shows up until 9 (if even that early)...

Just remember that as with any other gathering of this type, we've got to keep account for GST...

Transport is VERY easy - between great buses, muni-trains, and even cable cars!

Yes David - Dan and I can give you a ride...

If we ever did Texas, I would think Austin would be the better venue...

I sent Joe the info - but basically Southwest can get you from Dallas (Love Field) to Oakland and back for $250... Only downside is they are promotional fares, so if you change your schedule, the fares go up...

Ya, I figure the main focus is on the dinner itself, but some people might get in early so thought it would be good to have something to do, a little more casual way to start to get to know each other...

For some time now, LittleBuddhaWT has been talking with Dan and myself - he's going to be in the San Francisco Bay Area from Wed, Oct 31 through Sunday, Nov 4 this year. He has a work conference that he's attending, and so we thought about getting together sometime Saturday night for dinner or something. The recent "GA Convention" thread came up - and now it seems like we might be able to make this a little bit larger affair - not a full "convention" - but at least a very cool first get together. Who knows, if there is enough interest, maybe we really do plan and try to do this again in another part of the country/world (I personally liked the idea of a few gathering spots linked together with webcams). Now of course, as we're all busy and this is a volunteer coordination thing, don't expect grand large plans ;-) But - I think I can speak from experience, it can be a really great get together to face-to-face "meet" people you've known a while. Also, as we will have both authors as well as potentially minors, I think everyone will understand that my thought is that while I will post and talk about the time and date publicly, other than that we'll be in San Francisco, I will not, and hope all others will not, post the actual locations - only those who confirm they are attending will be sent the address information. The last thing I think any of us want/need is stalkers/anon lurkers showing up because they saw the meeting information. General thoughts (TOTAL first draft) are a casual mid-afternoon get together (think coffee-ish kind of location), then go to somewhere for dinner (7PM-ish), then for those of age, if people want to group and head out to clubs, they'd be welcome to do so... The whole thing would be dutch - and I figure, most food places we'd go, expect to spend around $25-35 for dinner. I'm fine with trying to coordinate car-pools and/or other details as it gets closer - but for now, this rough sketch I think does well enough. I am ABSOLUTELY open to other suggestions (except moving it to another city as the whole point is that part of the plan is already in place). If anyone is nervous about posting your suggestions, you can also send me a PM... So - what think you? Let's hear it...

His conference starts Oct 31 and goes through Sat, Nov 3... As to Myk and JSmith - if you guys need, I can get all of us one big room But ... may only be able to find rooms with one-bed... Ya know - just sayin...

I hadn't read this thread until now - heh, when I saw the title, I had thought it was another Vic virtual convention thread, not a thought for a real get together. I just got back from a weekend in Vegas of a Sony Online FanFaire - I also play Everquest 2 and finally got to meet a lot of guildmates, some who I've "known" for over five years when we first "met" in Star Wars Galaxies. Meeting everyone face to face for the first time was a FANTASTIC experience - the only downside is that I didn't get to go out with DK to North Carolina where I would have finally been able to meet a great friend I first "met"... um... almost 10 years ago? in The Sims Online. But as the ride back with all Dan's family would have been massively overcramped, as well as to save money, he went without me. One other thing I wanna point out - is that we did talk about having a mini-meetup in early November when LittleBuddahTW (David) comes to San Francisco. Dan and I were gonna head over at some point, and anyone else who can join us - we figure we can go out to dinner or something together. I think a few other authors live in or near SF, and definately any other board members would be welcome to join us as well (and not sure what is the best time for David's schedule, but hoping we can do it like Saturday night, Nov 3rd - that way people, say, who live in BAKERSFIELD can even drive up and join us).

He meant to make 6 Horcruxes (which plus the part of his soul still in his "body", would make 7 parts). The fact that a part of his soul went into Harry was something unplanned and even unknown to Riddle.

1) Just like Harry was able to summon the sword in Chamber of Secrets via the sorting hat, my view was that was exactly what Neville did as well. 2) Dan mentioned that last night as well. I'm pretty sure Colin is full muggle-born. I think he started going back to Hogwarts, but soon became one of the first (after Neville) occupants of the Room of Requirements. They moved all the people from the room into the Great Hall, and that's the first time he's mentioned (in the Great Hall trying to stay behind).

Well - I was gonna suggest an animal or child (our dogs have a habit of borrowing things) - but didn't think about hubby... No advice - if I had any, then I'd be able to train DK, and - well - ya, that's not happening... ;-)

It should go up - your pics (and you) look great :-)

I've been having some problems at work, that have stressed me to no end. Someone I know who has been following what has been going on sent me the below email - heh, it DEFINATELY helped my mood.

And, cause it wouldn't let him upload the 2nd pic - here is one of Dan and I at a friend's recent wedding...

DEFINATELY - would be major cool :-)

WOOT! Good luck

That's a pretty tacky thing to say. Also, please tell me how you think one man can influence funding for AIDS research...he wasn't a lawmaker. Do you really think he had that much influence? You give him way too much credit. The fact that you are so happy that someone's dead makes me wonder what you'd do if I died...I don't agree with you politically. Will you rejoice if I die? You can't let people get to you like this. He had a lot of sick views in my opinion, but he's facing God as we speak and he's answering for his life here on earth. Also, you completely ignore the fact that he has a family that's enduring all of this hatred and vile garbage that people are spewing. Is that fair to them? How does it make you any different than Fred Phelps? I have to say that I'm really dissapointed in you right now, Trebs. I thought you were a better person than that. Nope - not tacky at all, just honest. As to his influence - it would be naive to think that he wasn't a major policy-maker, despite never holding elected office. But if people want to remain naive and supportive of those who have contributed to the culture of hatred and ignorance that has killed many of our community... As to yourself, there are many people in the world who's political views I disagree with. Some of them, I am actually even friends with - especially if I respect how they came to those views. The difference (if it wasn't abundently obvious) is what Falwell did with those views - and the many deaths caused by this political opportunism. Equating my views of Falwell with Fred Phelps is ... well, quite a stretch is the kindest way I can put it. As to facing God - well, I have my own belief on that - and... well... up is NOT the direction I believe he was headed...

The world is a much better place with him gone that I have no problem rejoicing. The efforts he undertook, from founding the Moral Majority, to victimization of persons with AIDS, to support of Apartheid, to just merely bearing false witness... He was no Christian - but merely an opportunist. Some private comments that he has made support this such as "Thank God for these gay demonstrators. If I didn't have them, I'd have to invent them. They give me all the publicity I need." Who knows the number of people both here in America, as well as throughout the world, who have died due to his interference in funding AIDS research and education... Who knows the number of gay-bashers who felt that they were in the right, because Falwell says God hates gays and will bless efforts to eliminate lesbians and gays.

I love the stories of yours that I've read (your Ex marks the spot and Soulmate are fantastic shorts, and I loved Yankee)... But... I haven't read any of the Ben and William stuff cause I wanted to start with Wild Life. So - um, what is the recommended order? Should I wait for Wild Life, or if not, which should be read first?

Once, I was flipping through the channels and they had Wagner's Ring operas on - and I knew the stories and background of the opera itself, so thought I'd listen a bit... Ride of the Valkeries started soon after, just as my roommate walked through (who I found out later was a big opera queen) - and I had to go - "OMG, that's the 'Kill the Wabbit' song"...