Boston Gathering, February 22-24, 2008 - With Thomas!

This evening, by train.

good -- have a safe trip...

I just saw what's going-on weatherwise in the New York area. I'm really glad to hear you've got your train ticket booked, Thomas.

Even by this time the roads were getting slick. Cleared main roads are mostly fine with patches of frozen slush. Side roads are snow-icy. But still driveable here. I hear NY and CT are a lot sloppier.

The train was a good choice. Hope it runs straight through.

Seems like the train would be fun too.

Have a good time, y'all.

Started prepping food tonight. Pretty exciting! I don't know what I'm doing! Who knows if the dinner will be any good!

<going to go drink>

Just checked into my hotel. The train arrived at Boston South only 30 minutes late. The only unpleasant aspect of transportation were the Boston taxi drivers, who wanted $20 for the five block drive to my hotel. (The "Limousine service" even said $60.) They were lucky: Once upon a time, according to a PBS documentary about the War of Independence, Bostonians used to tar and feather people for crap like this. I just shot them a look even colder than the weather and said: "Thanks, I'll walk."

Everything is good.

The sad part is, they weren't even trying to gouge you. That's a normal fare in Boston. Get in a cab and it'll show close to $16 on the meter before you've even moved.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to make the festivities, but welcome to our fair city Thomas!

You're right. As Frank Apisa would have said, these things are impossible to know. However, I have faith in your dinner, Kris. I hope you enjoy your drink!

I'll consider paying this much after I've sold you my my underground road tunnel whose walls will come off the day after the dedication. Oh wait, you've already got one of those ....

Sarcasm aside, I'm glad to be here, and it's a pity I'll miss you, fishin!

Have a nice time, all!

(In my experience, public transport is great in Boston. Okay, sometimes you'll have to wait a bit longer for a bus. But then, three, four, five arrive, one after the other ....)

The cabs here are a little cheaper than NYC.

I'm only a $13-16 cab ride to Fan. Hall....but going home they're a pain in the ass. Cab drivers will ask you where you're going, and if it's outside downtown, they'll drive off on you, looking for a closer fare(they know they're not going to pick anybody up in my town going back into the city). So I lie, and tell them I'm going a few blocks down. Once in the car, I change my mind. It's the only way to get my drunken ass home on the weekends.

... and it's getting even better for the Boston crowd: As I wake up this morning, I have literally lost my voice -- completely. It had been somewhat coarse for a couple of days -- nothing that would keep me from talking without interruption -- but today, it's just gone. Nada.

Other than that, I'm fine. I'm looking forward to being with you guys this evening. But if I we want to chat during the party, I'll have gesticulate or go on the internet for a chatroom.

As I said, all of this is to the benefit of the Bostoners. You guys had no idea about the avalanche of talking you were in for. Now the lord has spared you. See you soon!

oh no! I hope you didn't lose your appetite too. Maybe we'll set up our laptops so everyone can talk to you. That could make for an interesting thread to try and follow.

it's ok, we can just chat through a2k.....except my ganglion cyst in my wrist is back and typing hurts..... i'll talk, thomas types.

Welcome to Boston, Thomas!

I was down at South Station myself this morning.
Nigel came in from Montreal on the red-eye bus.

Sorry I'll miss you today.

Thomas, 30 minutes late is excellent for a snowy friday night.
was it an acela?

fishin & George, sorry we won't see you guys... next time for sure...

shovellin' is done... gettin' psyched for tonight!

RP--

I approve of the Green Man.

Now there's a point--should we bring shovels? Share the work?

Noddy, whatta relief

username, i could think of 20 or 30 things i'd rather do... but i'll lend a hand if a hand is what needs lendin'...