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Kat- I know xnera's having some sort of Serenity event, although I'm not sure if it's a hatrack thing. You might want to get in touch with her and see.
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I'm not local? True, I don't live in Madison itself, but I do live in Milwaukee- I'm practically next door!
Oh, and ElJay, my wife's nick is "keedokes," and we'll be bringing Ella along. Good to know the actual weekend. I can get a hotel room that way.
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I actually noticed I was wrong about who was attached to whom, but was too lazy to go back and fix it.
I figure Milwaukee is not local enough that you'd want to go home for the night.
We gonna start talking activites yet, or is it still too soon? Will there be enough people to do another Eye of Argon reading? That was fun!
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Oh, If I didn't have the free night certificate, I would go home. It's only about 90 minutes or so.
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If we're doing activities, we're going to need a large space. I would not mind an Eye of Argon reading done on State Street, but YMMV. Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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Oh Celia. You're breakin' my heart. You're shakin' my confidence, baby. Oh Celia, I'm down on my knees I'm beggin' you please to come home. Come on home.
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Looks like I'm bringing my kids as well. Mom's on call that weekend which means she won't be consistently available and Dad's got a paintball thing with my brother.
BotaLadyG, I can still pick you up at Union Station Chicago and drive you up, if you're still planning on going? We can discuss details as we get closer.
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That would be awesome! Yeah, I still have a glimmer of hope for attending. I will keep my peepers on this thread and let you know whats going on.
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I don't know. I really don't. Who is this Carrie person? Isn't it wierd if I go to a party for someone I don't know? If I can tag along in the pregnancy car, maybe. (Oh, gods, the rumors that is going to start). I really just don't know. You ladies will just have to start including me on your travel plan emails.
And Rackham's Razor is dating another hatracker (prolixshor). As far as I know, they're not married, and I would expect to get at least an announcement. *ahem*
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Nope, it's not weird - everyone's more than welcome. Heck, I go to parties for people I don't know all the time.
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See, celia, one of the purposes of this party is for Carrie to meet all the midwesterners she hasn't, actually, met while living in the midwest. So if you want to get techincal, I don't know her either, and I'm planning the darn thing. So you're fine.
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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Soooooo... anyone from the area want to make suggestions on hotels? We're at the point when we really should be making decisions and reservations. Somewhere with a conference room available for not too much money would be nice, I think there's enough of us that we'll need one.
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A member of my immediate family is having a wedding reception that weekend. Ok, it's my sister, and I just found out about the reception. Grrr. Anyway, I'll be the black sheep of the family if I don't show up. I'm not happy about this, or about missing the Hatrack gathering.
space opera
edit: Oh, and who the heck plans a reception for Father's Day?!?
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I feel like a terrible person for wanting to skip the reception. But, it is a 4th wedding. Not to be a jerk, but I'm not certain why there's a reception at all. *plasters on smile* But it's family!
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Darnit, SO, I keep not getting opportunities to see you! I was going to give you the baby stuff I knit at the gathering, too (assuming I got it done in time). I may just have to drive down there and take you to lunch or something one of these days.
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Stray, I am definately going to make it to Bloomington when Raia is there this summer (did she say July?) Since this is my 2nd cancellation, Hatrackers have permission to burn me at the stake if I can't make it. Seriously though, I might just plan my own Bloomington get-together. It's only a 90 minute drive, and my kiddos will be gone with my ex for almost 2 weeks this summer.
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Seconding the hotel request... Nicole, would you like to room with my girls and I as well as ride with us from Chicago?
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What are you guys willing to spend on a hotel? I don't know what kind of rates I could pull for you, but I could use some of my hotel insider knowhow to squeeze something out.
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We hadn't said anything, but I was really hoping we could make it. However, we now have a moving van arriving on the 20th, so I'm afriad there is no way. Sorry Carrie, I would have liked to have met you.
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I'm fond of the $100/night range, myself. That way if people want to put four in a room it gets down to $25/night/each, which is manageable for most people, or if they prefer not to share beds they can go for two at $50/night.
It would also be nice to have a conference room, dependant on price. For that, I'd aim at attendees not having to spend more than around $10/each extra. If it's more than that, we'd probably be motivated to find someplace free to hang out, or just hang out in the rooms.
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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I could talk to the Woodfield in Madison (I used to work for the Woodfield in Milwaukee and know the Madison property is just as nice). I could use the Orbitz price of $85/night to get us that rate.
The reason this works is quite simple. If the desk clerk at the hotel refuses to match the price, the guest will then book it on Orbitz anyways. The guest pays $85, but, of that, the hotel will only get about $65 after Orbitz takes its commission. If you use internet rates for leverage, a lot of times you'll get the hotel to match the rate just so they can get the whole dollar amount, instead of paying someone else for commissions.
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Of course, this is assuming the rooms are available. Orbitz does not check availability, ever. I'd have to call the hotel itself and get the exact numbers from the clerks there (I know the AGM personally).
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That would be wonderful, PC. I think we need a check in to see who's actually coming, who's rooming with who, and how many rooms we need. I'll change the title...
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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well, I don't know.. we will have just returned from CAlifornia.. I want to come but I don't want to commit. I know that's horrid of me, but I just don't know what sort of state I will be in upon my return.
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Okay, I talked to Tracy, the sales manager over at the Woodfield, and she gave me a rate of $89 for one-room suites with two double-beds. The meeting room is $125 with a $25 setup fee. I didn't set anything in stone yet because I have no idea about anyone's interest.
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Oh, yes, the meeting room is available and there are 10 rooms available currently in the two-room two double variety.
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Cool, thank you. Let's see how many people respond... a possibility, also, would be to just get the meeting room for Saturday, not both days.
If people don't check in in a reasonable amount of time, I'll send emails to those who expressed interest.
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It's looking like I probably can't come I'm going to have to road-trip out to Wyoming for a friend's wedding in early August, and money is going to be tight tight tight before, during, and after that. I know this trip wouldn't cost too terribly much, but at this point in time it's still looking infeasible. I'm sorry Posts: 957 | Registered: Aug 2002
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Okay, here's the deal: I'm pretty firmly against meeting in a hotel. There's absolutely no need for it.
If people coming from a serious distance out of town want to crash in a place together, great. But I think it's excessive for us to try to line up a hotel for a going-away party when we have the entire city of Madison and all its perfectly good public places available to us.
For one thing, people might be intimidated by room costs. I know I'm perfectly willing to put up somebody at our place, if that's an issue.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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Oh, just FYI. The one room suites also come with pullouts. They should easily sleep 3-6 (depending upon how comfortable you are sharing sleep space).
Posts: 4753 | Registered: May 2002
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I'm just trying to get something done. If people want to stay in a hotel, I figured I could just lend a hand and check into prices and such. I'm not even paying for the hotel I'm staying in.
Posts: 4753 | Registered: May 2002
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My daughters and I are definite. And we could definitely take on a roommate or two if they're willing to share with us (the kids will likely bring their sleeping bags, they just love those things).
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Tom -- there are about 12 people coming from out of town, depending on who is able to make it and who will cancel as we get closer. I still don't know what the heck we're going to do while we're there... I don't know the city, and to this point no locals have volunteered to organize.
If the locals think they can put us all up, that would be great. I'm cheap. But if not, I'd certainly rather we were staying together, and it's getting close enough that we need to do it.
So... about those perfectly good public places, Tom. What can we do while we're in town? Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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Well, I'd still like to hear from Carrie about what she's interested in doing. I know how I like to spend time in Madison, but it's not my party. *laugh*
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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Yeah I would like to hitch with you Goody, and room if it's possible. Um how old are your daughters, just out of curiosity? I am still hoping I can scrape up the money for the train ticket and hotel costs by then *crosses fingers*. wish me luck..lol.
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Well, you can contact the hotel directly. I only talked to the Sales Manager, I didn't set anything in stone yet. I needed to talk to the SM because she handles the meeting spaces. I don't think we need the meeting room to be honest. As Tom said, there are plenty of places for us to hang out- we don't need to rent a meeting room.
They may give you some line about the one room, two double suites not being included in the Orbitz price. Just let them know that you were quoted a rate of $89 by Tracy, the Sales Manager. They should honor that. If you have any trouble, I'll call the hotel myself and smooth things over.
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I actually noticed I was wrong about who was attached to whom, but was too lazy to go back and fix it. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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I've been looking for this thread.![[Cry]](graemlins/cry.gif)
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Tom.![[Frown]](frown.gif)
Sorry Carrie, I would have liked to have met you.
