Chicago, you say? Exxxcellent.
I couldn't believe it the first twenty times you told us, but it's starting to sink in now.
Riley ,'Lessons'
F2F5: I forget that everyone isn't us
Plan what to do, what to wear (you can never go wrong with a corset), and get ready for the next BuffistaCon.
brenda m - Jan 20, 2026 7:43:34 am PST #12711 of 12720
If you're going through hell/keep on going/don't slow down/keep your fear from showing/you might be gone/'fore the devil even knows you're there
-t - Jan 20, 2026 8:25:08 am PST #12712 of 12720
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration
Looking like a couple of times through Chicago! I’m thinking the first one may just be a layover, but I think it’s several hours so maybe time to get out of the station and meet people or see sights, and I have a lot more room to maneuver for the second one so maybe stay for a night or two…
-t - Jan 21, 2026 4:07:05 pm PST #12713 of 12720
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration
I have requested the time off. I assume it will be approved, but not actually booking the first leg until it is
Tentative plans add up to 200 hours on trains, which is 28% of the 30 days the pass is good for. The four days of Jazzfest will eat up some of that off train time (17% if my notes are correct, leaving 55% unaccounted for! But some of that will be transfers and layovers regardless), hopefully I can scatter the rest effectively
But I have decided, I think, on what the first leg should be, which is Coast Starlight to PDX ETA 4/17 3:40 PM (Friday). I have family there who I would like to see, and also, I think, Buffistas? SA, erin_obscure? Who I would also like to see! Looks like I can be there for about 3 hours or overnight. If anyone has suggestions of where to go and what to do in that time I will take them happily!
And next stop Seattle, either getting in at 11 pm or 10 am on 4/18 (Saturday). The Empire Builder leaves at 5PM, so that's basically a day to hang out. I know I want to go here because I missed it at the F2F, but other than that just seeing as many of y'all as I can is the goal there, possibly being a tourist if that fits in
Which gets me into Chicago 4:45 pm Monday + whatever delays arise
And then I want to catch the City of New Orleans at 8:05pm on Tuesday to make it to said city on Wednesday. So already I might have a spare day to not be on a train somewhere along the line
javachik - Jan 21, 2026 8:11:04 pm PST #12714 of 12720
Our wings are not tired.
I’d to see you and host you on any stop you make through NY/CT! I’m about 35 min from the Stamford Amtrak station. Have a guest room for you and a guest room for anyone who’d want to come see you while at my place.
Tom Scola - Jan 22, 2026 5:06:34 am PST #12715 of 12720
hwæt
Definitely let me know when and for how long you’ll be in NYC!
Trudy Booth - Jan 22, 2026 7:09:41 am PST #12716 of 12720
Greece's financial crisis threatens to take down all of Western civilization - a civilization they themselves founded. A rather tragic irony - which is something they also invented. - Jon Stewart
We should definitely do an NYC thing.
-t - Jan 22, 2026 7:55:04 am PST #12717 of 12720
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration
OK! I had halfway thought I might not get to NYC but I'll rethink. And javachik I will definitely take you up on that, thank you!
-t - Jan 22, 2026 9:20:29 am PST #12718 of 12720
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration
Vacation time approved ::does happy dance::
And apparently I have a "lounge pass" that expires 3/28. I have no idea where that came from, but I do feel like I should use it...which means getting to a station that has a lounge by the end of March and the closest ones are Portland and Los Angeles. Hm. Maybe I should go to Portland for a weekend in March and just go straight through to Seattle in April? A silly idea, but maybe secretly a good idea?
JenP - Feb 03, 2026 7:43:02 am PST #12719 of 12720
The DC/Balto. region is still on the tour, yes? I mean, if you're going from New Orleans to NYC, it kind of has to be, so... well, whenever it happens, I'm around and looking forward!
-t - Feb 03, 2026 10:56:07 am PST #12720 of 12720
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration
Yes! The plan is PDX->SEA->CHI (with overnight if train is sufficiently on time)->NOL->Richmond->DC->CT? NY? Boston? have not figured out how to order that part but those are all places I want to get to. DC (by which I mean the greater area although I will almost definitely pass through Union Station) is pretty certain however the rest gets arranged
Then probably back to Chicago and maybe a big diagonal down to LA before home. We'll see if I run out of time/segments before that, I guess