Happy New Year, everyone!

Since this is happening NEXT WEEK (OMG) I'd better get organized and make something happen. I know we talked about it a little a few weeks ago, but I never firmed up any actual plans. Also, T. is going to be working a lot more than I thought, so I have a lot more potential Buffista time than I originally said that I would. Yay!

LA-istas! I am coming to your city soon and I would love to see you! My friend T. and I are flying in on the night of Jan. 9th and I'll be in town until the afternoon of the 13th. T. will be working a lot of the time, so I have a lot of time to fill! Basically, all day Monday and Monday evening, Tuesday day, Wednesday afternoon, possibly Wednesday evening, and Thursday day, or at least morning.

I just got off of chat with T. He said, "When we're in LA, why don't you get all the LA Buffistas together for a mini-F2F at our hotel?" He may have picked up some of the lingo after living with me all those years, hmm.

Anyway, that's not a bad idea, I guess, if the timing works out. We'll be staying at the Omni Los Angeles at California Plaza, 251 South Olive Street. I've never been to LA, so I have no idea where that is. But if you all want to do that, I've been told by a friend that the bar in that hotel is nice. But I'm also up for individual get-togethers, depending on folks' schedules. Let's plan!

I'll x-post in the F2F thread. Feel free to discuss in-thread, or contact me at my profile address.

We had an awesome time at Javachick's yesterday afternoon and last night. It was fantasic to see Megan Walker, Connie, all of zMayhem and many more, including the hostess with the mostess herself. Food was amazing, conversations sparkly and fun. The blue lipstick girl on Dick Clark freaked me out though.

However, if there is a contest for nightmare houseguests, we accidentally won it. HKF spent a lot of the party happily playing with Matilda and Emmet (thank you again Emmet). When she wasn't filching all of the chocolate candy. And stuffing it in her mouth. She woke up around 11 with the tummy ache and I took her to the loo, but I was dense enough to suspect she was mostly trying to stay up until midnight. If you've seen the King of Cake strip from Hyperbole and a half? The rest of the evening was kind of like that all of a sudden, with added Exorcist. Poor Javachick. Poor noodle. She freaked herself out with her chocolate OD. Us too. We thought we would be able to fly this am but nope. I'd cranked a migraine, and she turned green on the ride... So I begged for a ticket change and we are flying out tomorrow at 6 am, with a 5 hour layover in Dallas. Though Javachik kindly offered to take us all back to her house, we are holed up on a mercifully cheap rate at the Hilton. I'm going to take an insanely hot shower, and just pray that our former-chocoholic is up for the cross country tomorrow. Javachick, we love you and your gorgeous home and you should keep an eye out for packages.

Yeah, the actual Winter Classic this year has been moved to 8 eastern because of the weather. Which will make it an outdoor stadium night game!

You guys were excellent houseguests and I am so so so bummed that we didn't have more time chillaxin together. Seriously, all who are reading, they could not have possibly been better guests (Tom assembled my new patio heater, HKF was in charge of party decorations, and Sox basically ran the kitchen!) and the Incident was not a big deal to me.

The only package I am interested in receiving is more of Consuela's apple cake (because it was so good, the entire thing was gone in a flash) and a HKF.

I pretty much had the second best New Years Eve EVER in my whole life, thanks to be being awesomely fortunate in the friends, neighbors and family department. There's nothing better to me than a house filled with happy shiny wonderful people all enjoying food, megan walker's libations, and conversation. It's pretty cool to look around and see people meet each other and get on well. And apparently my cousin and her husband have been invited to dinner by my neighbors. Ha!

Our very last guests (next door neighbors) didn't leave until almost 2. I'd call that a successful NYE party. Especially since we originally thought it would wind down around 6pm and we'd all be asleep by 8. Ha!

(Best NYE ever was my weekend in Boston with Steve 4 years ago. It was an absolutely phenomenal four days together.)

New Years party story: one couple started out the door at 11:15. Wes, an acquaintance who is not always the most socially adept person shouted: "where are you going. It is going to be the New Year in less than an hour. If you leave what will you do for New Year?"

And the woman half of the couple glares at Wes and replies: "Nothing we care to discuss with you!"

And I'm thinking but do not say "What do you think they will be doing - asshole?" Beats the hell out of just a kiss at midnight, though.

I have to remember that it doesn't matter if I drink over a really long period: I'm still going to be hungover

The unfairest hangovers, yes.

The only package I am interested in receiving is more of Consuela's apple cake (because it was so good, the entire thing was gone in a flash)

Indeed, Consuela, I had to fight Emmett off from eating my slice. Finally he had the sense of his own limits to make JZ carry it in the back seat as I drove us home.

So sorry to hear HKF got sick! Matilda's walking around muttering, "Is [HKF] okay? Next time she can only have four chocolates. Four."

java, we all had a lovely time. I quite enjoyed talking with Sox fam and your friends.

We're all up and I've made waffles. All are content and cuddled up in the house facing the warming glow of the TV (an old Billy and Mandy being on) and disinterested in facing a rainy New Year's Day.

java, we all had a lovely time. I quite enjoyed talking with Sox fam and your friends.

Glad you had fun!

Sox, I can't promise anything, but with 5 hours at DFW email me if there is anything you might need for HKF or yourself. We are only about 20 min away. If you are up for leaving security, I could bring you all stuff, maybe take-out food? Meds? Let me know and give me a contact #.