It's over.
Waaaaaahhhhh!
I spent three wonderful days in Seattle and they're all gone, now. Polar bear!
All told, though, it was a lovely experience. It's only the: it's all over, post-vacation let down speaking. It really was very, very good.
Friday
The transportation part of the trip actually went off without a hitch. ::knocks wood for all future expeditions:: Got myself up and together, loaded the car and hit the road by 5:30am. Picked up coffee on the way out of town and was at the airport in Milwaukee by 7:00am. Got my bag checked and to the gate with an hour to spare, but no flight mate! Where was
brendalu? The flight left on time and arrived in Seattle as scheduled. Picked up my suitcase and Brenda (who snuck on at the last minute, in business class, the sly dog) and the adventures began!
We got to the Hotel Monaco and found the hospitality suite (which absolutely rocked!), which was already half full of slounging Buffistas. We collected up a medium size group and took off for Pike's Place market and other downtown environs. First stop was for food and refreshment at The Alibi Room in Post Alley. Pine and Swine pizza! Apples, honey and brie with pita bread! Nomnomnom. And a very, very good IPA by a local microbrew, Elysian. Lots of good convo and the group was off to explore the rest of Pike's Place.
Minus me. Wouldn't you know the travelling would set off an invasion by the Communist hordes. WTF? body!! Nineteen days since my last period and you just had to bring your own fucking party that excluded, you know, having fun at it? I, on the other hand, went on the hunt for a drug store to pick up supplies. So not fair.
All being equal, though, this allowed me to go back to the hospitality suite and slounge with more pretty people, while I waited for my dinner party to congregate. From there it was on to Wild Ginger for dinner. I highly recommend this restaurant. Not only was the food delicious, but the service was outstanding. Our server was able to help us choose dishes we would like, while taking into account the likes and dislikes of a party of eleven. Not an easy thing to do. And we had just the right amount of food, no one was left wanting and everything got cleaned (if not downright licked) off the plates.
From there, we all wandered en masse back to the hospitality suite, where there was more slounging, merriment, snarkiness and booze. Good lord, the booze. Pink, sparkling vodka! And that is where I stayed, despite having procured a ticket for the Underworld tour of old Seattle. My back just wasn't able to withstand the cramped airplane seat, all the hill walking from earlier and mild cramps. It hurt and I was stiff. It sounded like a fun tour from the reports of those who did participate, but it would have left me in no state to do anything for the rest of the weekend.
Saturday
Up early Saturday, damn that jet lag. I set the alarm for 8am, but of course I woke up at 6am because that's, you know, 8am CST even while I'm inPST. Polar bear. Nonetheless, I lazed in bed, refusing to get up until the alarm should have gone off. Good call. Especially since my roomie, Brenda, was much peppier than I. She was dressed and out the door for coffee before I was even sitting up. And she brought me back a caramel macchiato from Starbucks! Sweetheart! Then, showered, quick stop at the hospitality suite, it was off to the lobby to schmooze with Zenkitty and Toddson while waiting for a cab to hie us off to
minim_calibre's for brunch.
OMG, food, brunch! Lots of it! Pancakes, bacon, fakon, cardamom buns, blueberries, bananas, canteloupe, scrambled eggs, orange juice, coffee, scrambled tofu and on and on. And, or course, lots of Buffistas for great conversation and much laughter. We can haz
arliss!!! She showed us her completed SPN hunter's bracelet with all its wee charms, so cool! We laughed over the birthday cards Plei got in the mail and we "squeeeeeed" with delight when Neil Gaiman tweeted about
cupcake_goth's website, Gothic Charm School!! Then it was cab time, again, where we ended with Bev in the front and dcp, Zenkitty and myself in back with SA laying on our laps. There was, I confess, some minor gropage, which SA carried off with aplomb.
Back at the hotel for some regrouping (myself, Toddson, Zenkitty and Brenda) and then off to the nail salon for mani/pedis. Only we had a 45 minute wait, so it was off to Pike Place Pub and Brewery for a tipple while waiting for the salon to have room for four of us. After some tasty brews, Toddson decided to forego the mani for wandering the shops. Being a Buffista-filled city by this point, we crossed paths with Trudy Booth on our way to the nail salon, so we still ended up with a four person pedicure posse. OMG, I love those massage chairs they have in nail salons. My back needed that soooo badly. Especially since I really wanted to be able to walk and dance in high heels at prom! Afterward, it was back to the hotel and more regrouping in the hospitality suite and dinner. Zenkitty and I ate at Sazerac, the restaurant in the hotel. Again, I highly recommend this restaurant. Very tasty food and they also offer half plates, all at very reasonable prices. I'd just stay away from the bar; it was poorly stocked for the specialty drinks they offered and the bartender was, to put it bluntly, incompetent. And then it was time to get ready for prom.
Prom!!! OMG, fun, fun, fun!! All I can say is, you can find pictures here. We are very pretty. Smonster did two belly dances for us (of which, I took no pictures, I sorry), Jilli and Stunt Husband danced the swirly dance, and we all jumped around a lot! There were costume changes and minor wardrobe malfunctions that were encouraged with glee, but nothing too terribly outre. We had Shir skype in from Israel, so we could all say "hi" and share the fun with her. Unfortunately, she could not stay the entire time. Nor could Bev. She had to leave before her carriage turned into a pumpkin, but we got many hours of basking in her smile and spicy brains to hold us over. For a very small while. ::pout:: It was all very, very much fun, but it did, alas, have to end.
The after-prom events were, of course, near legendary. There was more pink, sparkly vodka, there were people in the hot tub (fully-clothed!), there was snoggage to be had, there were boobies, there was a parade of animal print bathrobes. Sean skyped in from LA. And then, around 3am, there was bed (for me, alone.) But, OMG, what a day! Only with these people, my people.
Sunday
I did manage to sleep until around 8am, though, this time! Hee. Still, lazed in bed for a while, uploading pictures from the trip. After showering, it was back to the hospitality suite, down to the restaurant for breakfast with Zenkitty and Brenda. French toast with bananas foster and pecans, nummy! And then off to Diva Dollz with a huge group to see if I could find something retro for next years F2F. Alas, there was nothing tempting in my size.
Still babying my back, I forewent more shopping. Zenkitty and I decided on a one hour harbor cruise where we could sit and let the scenery come to us. It was just right. The weather was clear over the harbor (but not clear over Mt. Ranier, it remained stubbornly covered in clouds), it was in the 60s, not too breezy. I would have loved to stay on the water longer, but our schedule wouldn't allow it. Being a tad peckish by then, I convinced Zenkitty to stop at the Alibi Room for snacks. OMG, the climb up Post Alley nearly killed us! My first visit was from the other end of the alley, I had no idea how steep and long it was! Still,it was worth it.
Finally, back to the hotel where we flopped in the lobby and waited for other late departing Buffistas to wander through to say good-bye. Which was hard. Very, very hard. These are my people! As my people go, so go I! But they were all going home: to Thailand, to Boston, to Charlottesville, to New York, to LA, to San Francisco and even the ones that were still in Seattle, I had to leave them! Polar bear!
But, leave I did. In a cab with Brenda and Frankenbuddha. Again, the airport went smooth, the flight left on time (midnight, WTFRedeye!), I did manage to snooze a little and we got into Milwaukee at 5:30am. Blargh. I picked up coffee (caffinated, for sure!) at Starbucks, gave Brenda a huge hug good-bye and found my shuttle for remote parking. Drove home and was sad. And very, very tired. But, still, also very, very grateful for having these people in my life. For the support, the love, the spicy brains, the snark, the pretty, the whole damn package. I miss you peeps! Polar bear.
I spent three wonderful days in Seattle and they're all gone, now. Polar bear!
All told, though, it was a lovely experience. It's only the: it's all over, post-vacation let down speaking. It really was very, very good.
Friday
The transportation part of the trip actually went off without a hitch. ::knocks wood for all future expeditions:: Got myself up and together, loaded the car and hit the road by 5:30am. Picked up coffee on the way out of town and was at the airport in Milwaukee by 7:00am. Got my bag checked and to the gate with an hour to spare, but no flight mate! Where was
brendalu? The flight left on time and arrived in Seattle as scheduled. Picked up my suitcase and Brenda (who snuck on at the last minute, in business class, the sly dog) and the adventures began!
We got to the Hotel Monaco and found the hospitality suite (which absolutely rocked!), which was already half full of slounging Buffistas. We collected up a medium size group and took off for Pike's Place market and other downtown environs. First stop was for food and refreshment at The Alibi Room in Post Alley. Pine and Swine pizza! Apples, honey and brie with pita bread! Nomnomnom. And a very, very good IPA by a local microbrew, Elysian. Lots of good convo and the group was off to explore the rest of Pike's Place.
Minus me. Wouldn't you know the travelling would set off an invasion by the Communist hordes. WTF? body!! Nineteen days since my last period and you just had to bring your own fucking party that excluded, you know, having fun at it? I, on the other hand, went on the hunt for a drug store to pick up supplies. So not fair.
All being equal, though, this allowed me to go back to the hospitality suite and slounge with more pretty people, while I waited for my dinner party to congregate. From there it was on to Wild Ginger for dinner. I highly recommend this restaurant. Not only was the food delicious, but the service was outstanding. Our server was able to help us choose dishes we would like, while taking into account the likes and dislikes of a party of eleven. Not an easy thing to do. And we had just the right amount of food, no one was left wanting and everything got cleaned (if not downright licked) off the plates.
From there, we all wandered en masse back to the hospitality suite, where there was more slounging, merriment, snarkiness and booze. Good lord, the booze. Pink, sparkling vodka! And that is where I stayed, despite having procured a ticket for the Underworld tour of old Seattle. My back just wasn't able to withstand the cramped airplane seat, all the hill walking from earlier and mild cramps. It hurt and I was stiff. It sounded like a fun tour from the reports of those who did participate, but it would have left me in no state to do anything for the rest of the weekend.
Saturday
Up early Saturday, damn that jet lag. I set the alarm for 8am, but of course I woke up at 6am because that's, you know, 8am CST even while I'm inPST. Polar bear. Nonetheless, I lazed in bed, refusing to get up until the alarm should have gone off. Good call. Especially since my roomie, Brenda, was much peppier than I. She was dressed and out the door for coffee before I was even sitting up. And she brought me back a caramel macchiato from Starbucks! Sweetheart! Then, showered, quick stop at the hospitality suite, it was off to the lobby to schmooze with Zenkitty and Toddson while waiting for a cab to hie us off to
minim_calibre's for brunch.
OMG, food, brunch! Lots of it! Pancakes, bacon, fakon, cardamom buns, blueberries, bananas, canteloupe, scrambled eggs, orange juice, coffee, scrambled tofu and on and on. And, or course, lots of Buffistas for great conversation and much laughter. We can haz
arliss!!! She showed us her completed SPN hunter's bracelet with all its wee charms, so cool! We laughed over the birthday cards Plei got in the mail and we "squeeeeeed" with delight when Neil Gaiman tweeted about
cupcake_goth's website, Gothic Charm School!! Then it was cab time, again, where we ended with Bev in the front and dcp, Zenkitty and myself in back with SA laying on our laps. There was, I confess, some minor gropage, which SA carried off with aplomb.
Back at the hotel for some regrouping (myself, Toddson, Zenkitty and Brenda) and then off to the nail salon for mani/pedis. Only we had a 45 minute wait, so it was off to Pike Place Pub and Brewery for a tipple while waiting for the salon to have room for four of us. After some tasty brews, Toddson decided to forego the mani for wandering the shops. Being a Buffista-filled city by this point, we crossed paths with Trudy Booth on our way to the nail salon, so we still ended up with a four person pedicure posse. OMG, I love those massage chairs they have in nail salons. My back needed that soooo badly. Especially since I really wanted to be able to walk and dance in high heels at prom! Afterward, it was back to the hotel and more regrouping in the hospitality suite and dinner. Zenkitty and I ate at Sazerac, the restaurant in the hotel. Again, I highly recommend this restaurant. Very tasty food and they also offer half plates, all at very reasonable prices. I'd just stay away from the bar; it was poorly stocked for the specialty drinks they offered and the bartender was, to put it bluntly, incompetent. And then it was time to get ready for prom.
Prom!!! OMG, fun, fun, fun!! All I can say is, you can find pictures here. We are very pretty. Smonster did two belly dances for us (of which, I took no pictures, I sorry), Jilli and Stunt Husband danced the swirly dance, and we all jumped around a lot! There were costume changes and minor wardrobe malfunctions that were encouraged with glee, but nothing too terribly outre. We had Shir skype in from Israel, so we could all say "hi" and share the fun with her. Unfortunately, she could not stay the entire time. Nor could Bev. She had to leave before her carriage turned into a pumpkin, but we got many hours of basking in her smile and spicy brains to hold us over. For a very small while. ::pout:: It was all very, very much fun, but it did, alas, have to end.
The after-prom events were, of course, near legendary. There was more pink, sparkly vodka, there were people in the hot tub (fully-clothed!), there was snoggage to be had, there were boobies, there was a parade of animal print bathrobes. Sean skyped in from LA. And then, around 3am, there was bed (for me, alone.) But, OMG, what a day! Only with these people, my people.
Sunday
I did manage to sleep until around 8am, though, this time! Hee. Still, lazed in bed for a while, uploading pictures from the trip. After showering, it was back to the hospitality suite, down to the restaurant for breakfast with Zenkitty and Brenda. French toast with bananas foster and pecans, nummy! And then off to Diva Dollz with a huge group to see if I could find something retro for next years F2F. Alas, there was nothing tempting in my size.
Still babying my back, I forewent more shopping. Zenkitty and I decided on a one hour harbor cruise where we could sit and let the scenery come to us. It was just right. The weather was clear over the harbor (but not clear over Mt. Ranier, it remained stubbornly covered in clouds), it was in the 60s, not too breezy. I would have loved to stay on the water longer, but our schedule wouldn't allow it. Being a tad peckish by then, I convinced Zenkitty to stop at the Alibi Room for snacks. OMG, the climb up Post Alley nearly killed us! My first visit was from the other end of the alley, I had no idea how steep and long it was! Still,it was worth it.
Finally, back to the hotel where we flopped in the lobby and waited for other late departing Buffistas to wander through to say good-bye. Which was hard. Very, very hard. These are my people! As my people go, so go I! But they were all going home: to Thailand, to Boston, to Charlottesville, to New York, to LA, to San Francisco and even the ones that were still in Seattle, I had to leave them! Polar bear!
But, leave I did. In a cab with Brenda and Frankenbuddha. Again, the airport went smooth, the flight left on time (midnight, WTFRedeye!), I did manage to snooze a little and we got into Milwaukee at 5:30am. Blargh. I picked up coffee (caffinated, for sure!) at Starbucks, gave Brenda a huge hug good-bye and found my shuttle for remote parking. Drove home and was sad. And very, very tired. But, still, also very, very grateful for having these people in my life. For the support, the love, the spicy brains, the snark, the pretty, the whole damn package. I miss you peeps! Polar bear.