I think this should work. And it won’t scroll off.
The Get-together: the official word
September 5th-8th is the date.
I’ve investigated hotels and deals.
Here’s the plan.
The Doubletree hotel downtown is the big convention hotel in Spokane. It also does a room rate that can be 149.00 for four people, two queen beds.
IF just one person shows up for those 3 days, Jane and I can be nice city hosts.
If a dozen or two dozen show up we have, around that hotel: the Loof Carousel. Duck feeding: bring your own bread. Numerous restaurants within walking distance. Numerous pubs within walking distance. The gondola over the falls. The bridge across the falls. Riverfront park. Wonders of the World inside the Old Flour Mill, which is a gew-gaw shop ranging from the extravagantly expensive to the whimsical and cheap. And various places where, in that season, we can watch the water, feed the ducks, ride the Carousel, and otherwise just sit in the hotel bar or restaurant or somebody’s room and have a good time. You will also be next to the INB, which is Spokane’s live theater: sometimes they have shows. You’re pretty well on your own for booking that, because they’re sometimes Broadway Show prices and we’re not going to try to organize anything.
We’re not doing the kayak and lake cruise this year: that’s also organization and handling money and we don’t propose to do that: we have to write. BUT we will be able to entertain you (everybody on their own ticket! We can’t afford to pay for it), talk, shoot the bull, and if we have enough people with cars or can make multiple 3-passenger trips in the Prius—we can get you to our house for a backyard barbecue in pretty temperate weather, at that time in Spokane, and that won’t cost you anything. We can come and get you at the airport [we also suspect the Doubletree has a bus], meet you at the train station/bus station, and generally use the blog to help everybody coordinate: you can put the discussion in this thread.
We’re hoping to get everyone housed for as little as 38.00 each a night—if you pair up in fours and share…or 50.00 a night if you pair up in twos for the 109.00 room. Food is, well, you can hike all over that area (including a Chili’s and an Azteca next door) and eat either more expensively or far cheaper than there. There’s a very nice sports bar about a 4 block hike away.
Nothing that I can think of will be further than a 4-5 block walk, and if that’s a trial for you, we can figure some way to get you there.
So what we’re proposing is this:
THE HOTEL
If you group up and reserve rooms now, you’ve got the option to cancel them if your plans change.
We’re setting aside those 3 days. It’s the best choice we can make for our schedule. If one person shows up, we’ll still have a good time, but we really hope a lot of you can show up. If 5000 of you show up, we’re in trouble, and we’ll be contacting the local convention-throwers for helicopter assistance…
Our focus in this is getting together with you guys, as many as can make it. We want to keep it affordable for everybody if you can just get here, we want to be in a period when we can hope for comfortable weather, we want you to have plenty available to do in the area, and we’ll be there to talk, sit about, and generally have a 3-day party.
for some reason, and this is inexplicable to me, as Google+ doesn’t give very good instructions….the email said “Bajio Kabisu has added you to a circle and invited you to join Google+.” I already have a Google+ account, but for whatever reason, it won’t allow me to do anything with Bajio Kabisu except read only… I can’t comment, I can’t add stuff that might be informative…..
This isn’t a full service website. Mostly I “circled” people to make group emails easier. For some of you, I’m using non-google emails, and that means you can get info but not post it in the circle. We love your emails, though – please keep them coming! (hint hint)
Okay, I understand much better now…thanks….
I need to purchase another set of ink cartridges for the printer….the ones in there have inexplicably dried up, at least, the black ink cartridge has….well, I don’t need to buy the extended capacity, since I rarely print anything in color, except for pictures for my parents.
Wal-Mart has an economy set for about $20 or so, which will be plenty for what I need.
I rarely print also. Mine tend to do that too. There’s not a tight seal at the parking spot. I’ve created a reminder to print something that pops once a week–if I’m on that computer. But I usually ignore it, so they dry out.
I did make a small 8-segment “color pie”.
I am finalizing the name tags…..I’m not at all sure that everyone has given me the avatar that they want me to use…….so, if you haven’t sent me anything saying, “Yes” or “No” to the avatar you’re using here on WWAS (with the exception of those who have sent their avatars as attachments to an email to me), I really need to know now. I’m having a little bit of difficulty with some of the avatars, but nothing I cannot overcome. I would just like a little bit of help from those who have not replied to my requests. Thank you.
I’m still not sure, but there is some possibility.
Are you comfortable with the avatar you have here, or did you want another? It’s not difficult to change them….
I’m not sure–please don’t do anything yet. (Teasel has volunteered to come down and pick me up, then I could take Amtrak home from Seattle–a very generous offer! 🙂 Let’s hear it for her generosity!)
Got a cruise around Hawaii booked for first week of October with an old friend. (Seeing Kiluea has been on my bucket list since I was nine.) Perhaps it’s not uncommon in ASD, but novelty “isn’t my thing” and that’s already as much travel with lots of strange people as I feel comfortable with, and that only because she’ll be there. Not that I think y’all are strange people–ummm–well, I guess you may be, but in a nice way, eh? 😉
Hostess gift is purchased; a print of Pride of Chanur from Michael Whalen is on it’s way to become a raffle gift to help subsidize the hostess gift; Sharon Zeni (Neco-ji) has sent an assortment of her handmade soaps for people and pets which I will be giving out to attendees to make sure we “Keep it Clean”. Is there anything else I should be working on getting for ShejiCon?
Can’t think of anything offhand. I was going to try to remember to bring some tinfoil and crafty stuff as I don’t think tinfoil hats would survive transit so should be manufactured on site. I was going to ask if there was anything people wanted me to bring down from Canada, but most things are cheaper and just as available in Washington, so there is no point. Of the things I know you can’t get, high volume toilet tanks are too cumbersome to transport in a small hatchback, and Havana cigars and rum are verboten. [Your customs guys just have NO sense of humor]
Oh, the deal with tinfoil hats is that they ARE manufactured on the spot, from a sheet of tinfoil you’re handed at the party.
As is the case with many large parties, things not readily available but specifically desired by guests should be brought by said guests, unless prior arrangement is made.
Name tags are done….if there is a change, I can make the changes easily enough, but I felt it was best that I get them out of the way, especially since I discovered that the ink cartridges in my inkjet printer were almost dried up. Never fails…..
If there’s anything you want changed, there’s still time.
If Trevin and Nancy decide to let us know what avatars they’d prefer, I can redo their tags….right now, they’ve got baji-naji……
Just saw this, baji-naji will be wonderful.
ATTENTION! ATTENTION! ATTENTION!
Michael Whelan and his lovely wife Audrey have provided a copy of his “Pride of Chanur” print to be raffled off to help defray costs for the Con and hostess gift. This is your chance to own a copy of a print straight from Michael’s Gallery. This print is normally sold for $200. Audrey indicates it may be the last copy in the shop. Raffle tickets will be $5.00 each or 5 for $25. This print is normally sold for $200. For each ticket that we receive payment through WarriorofWorry’s Paypal account we will place a 3X5 card in the box, and during ShejiCon CJ will draw the name and sign the print, and the print will be mailed as soon as we notify you and verify your address. To arrange for payment contact us at bajio[dot]kabisu[at]gmail[dot]com.
======== Correction ========
$5/each or 5/$20
Looking at the forecast for Spokane for Friday, it appears the high temperature will be in the mid-70s, with the lows in the high 40s. If you’re coming from a warmer area, you might want a light jacket or a sweater for the evenings.
Apologies for the delayed response. Were out of the country attending Worldcon and vacationing. Nancy and I will be coming.
cheers,
trevin
Trevin, did you and Nancy have a particular avatar you wanted to use for your name tags? I’ve made up a generic avatar for both of your tags, but if you need it changed, please let me know this evening at the latest, because I’m leaving tomorrow morning and won’t be able to change them.
The car is packed, I’m going to be heading out in about an hour, and I’ll be off to meet up with Griffinmoon and we’ll be on our way. Looking forward to seeing all of you again.
Have fun! I’m off for an ultrasound! Just too much happening!!! 🙁
Local information for tourist requested. I know Washington has apples, most of the ones at my local cheap fruit and veggie store are “local” apples from WA. But does the state do cider; that is, is it generally available in common liquor outlets? Presence of apples does not mean presence of cider as I once found to my horror on a visit to Nova Scotia. There I was, in the Annapolis valley surrounded by orchards and the only cider was some horrible drek that was only purchased by underage drinkers trying to get hammered fast. “Yeah, we all drink cider” said the locals, “but we all make our own so there’s no market for it.” The question behind this ramble is, do I need to bring my own cider to Spokane? Not that I was ever much of a drinker, even before the type 2 diabetes, but I never learned to like beer and I just don’t have much of a palate for wine. Since I realized my drive will take me into bits of Channeled Scablands I am dreading the trip much less, even though it will be a godawful long haul. I consult maps and guidebook in gleeful anticipation.
THere is cider. Angry Orchard is one of the better known ones.
Whew!, thanks for the info. One less thing I need to remember to bring. Cider seems to be another of the beneficiaries of the craft brewing trend, so is thankfully available on a much wider basis.
I absolutely HATE to tell you Votary and I won’t be able to make it. Just days before we were supposed to leave, Betty the Scion began squealing. We (and some mechanics) thought it was just the serpentine belt (+/- $200). Due to the holiday, I couldn’t get an appointment until yesterday, when we found out it was not just the belt, but the water pump. Which runs, among other important parts and pieces, the hydraulic tensioner for the belt.* Total damage $700+. Not something we could cover without dipping WAY into the travel $.
Baji-naji in action.
So, now that I’ve stopped crying and pouting**, I’ll just say that we’re very disappointed, and will miss participating in the best little con there is, and spending time with all of you. We’re hoping to make Sasquan next year, and to save a little time out for a get-together with CJ, Jane, and associates.
*And thank heavens we didn’t get on the road with this problem!
**No kidding. Poor Votary.
Also, you can still get your raffle tickets through paypal (see 8-26 post above) or hold on to the cash for Ready. You don’t have to be present to win, remember!
Oh, noes! We are so sorry!
And we are VERY glad this problem did not catch you somewhere halfway between you and us.
Thank you! We are too. It may have been the difference between overcoming the odds or having the odds overcome us. . 😉
Ouch, the eternal perversity of automobiles…
I’ll be arriving at the airport at 1:30 p.m. Friday and driving to the Doubletree after picking up the rent car. I assume I will be able to connect with folks there to find out what’s going on?
Definitely: we’ll be at the Doubletree.
I picked up Griffinmoon in Toledo where she drove from Buffalo. We made it to LaCrosse, WI the first night, and then right now are in Sheridan, WY after driving all day. This was supposed to be our stop tomorrow night, but because the distance between Sheridan and Spokane is about as far as we drove today, we decided that it would be best to make as much time today as possible and then drive like mad tomorrow, too, and then Friday’s drive will be much shorter and possibly more sedate. Other than the road construction and the winds in Wyoming, it’s been an uneventful trip.
Joe, reaching Rocker, other side of Butte, offers a clean Motel 6 (take Rocker exit and go under I-90 and its there) and a good springboard for a drive to SPokane. If you want to drive longer, you could reach Missoula, Ruby’s Inn, which is the Miscon convention hotel.
We stopped in Missoula, but too late to get your message. We’re at the Budget Inn on Broadway, just off I-90. I figure that the drive to Spokane will be about 4 hours or so, and we should be there somewhere around noon….then we’ll see what traffic is like. I have your cell phone number from 4 years ago and will call if necessary, but if it’s changed, then never mind, we’ll let you know somehow that we’re there or not.
readyGuy and I will be in Spokane tomorrow evening (not sure where we’ll be staying as we are arriving a day early) but we will be available early Friday afternoon. I’ll check with the front desk of the Doubletree to leave a message for the known attendees.
We will be at the DOubletree at checkin time on Friday.
Joe: The Whitehouses are in ok. We’ll look for you two and others tomorrow. It’s an easy drive from Missoula: note the green rock on the righthand road cut near Missoula—it’s serpentinite, really ancient seafloor compressed mud-muck—a whole cliff of carveable pipestone: you might expect this stuff in the basement of a fault. There’s a great tourist stop at Regis, where they offer you a trout aquarium view, and really great huckleberry shakes. That’s about halfway to Spokane.
Okay…we’ll look for them….thank you…..