thinking out loud...

[chhotii]

Arisia is in 2 weeks!

To-do: I will have to pack, that will be simple.

Also, having tried the hotel restaurants last year, I have to pack in food. Of course, there's the con suite, but that can't be relied on. And the hotel might do better this year about keeping the food stands in the lobby open at useful times, but I'm not going to bet on it. Plus maybe this time we will manage to be in on the big group pizza or Chinese delivery parties, but it saves a lot of stress to have a plan B to fall back on if I'm not at the right place at the right time for that to happen. Also, if this mild weather keeps up, maybe we will actually want to venture out-of-doors and walk to Legal Seafood or some-such, but I'm sure not going to count on that. Thus, I need to get to Trader Joe's in search of just enough instant wholesome square meals to keep me from getting grumpy for the weekend. (Rich and Sophia might still be grumpy, regardless.) Was it Trader Joe's that had packets of spiced pre-cooked chick peas? I might like that.

Food packed in might call for a microwave. I don't want the hassle of transporting the microwave. Where in the hotel can I mooch a microwave? Will the con suite have a microwave? I should ask ceo and gosling if they are bringing a microwave again this year.

Which reminds me, I should ask Ben, have we been slotted into a hotel room in the vicinity of Benjamin's parents, Meredith's parents, Will's parents, etc., etc.? It may be a "kid ghetto" but it does make some things easier. (And I inevitably wake up early anyway these days, so little feet running up and down the hall won't be an issue.)

Have to coordinate getting-to-hotel logistics with Rich, maybe with Jaden's mom. Possible alternatives:
- Rich goes to work oh-god-early, gets off in time to pick up Sophia at the regular time, and then drives to the hotel;
- We put Sophia into after-school Y for that day, Rich works his regular hours, then picks up Sophia, and drives to the hotel;
- Jaden's mom picks up Sophia, and brings her along with her own kids to the hotel...
In any of these scenarios, I spend most of the day at work (in Boston) and then take public transit to the hotel. In any other scenario, I don't go to work, and I get Sophia from school, and take her to the hotel myself. Probably in the car. And Rich makes his way to the hotel somehow; not in the other car, as it would be silly to pay to park 2 cars there. (Perhaps by that time the VW will be vacationing at ABJ's.)

That's about it. I didn't get involved in the creation of any programming this year, so this will be really laid-back.

Comments

[deguspice.livejournal.com]

Starbucks will be open 24-hours during Arisia with an extended menu. The food in the lobby will be available from 11am - 7pm Sat/Sun.

I sent mail privately about the Kid's block.

For A and me, it looks like we'll wait for her to get home from work, and then drive down to the hotel after dinner so we can have just one car at the hotel.

[candle-light.livejournal.com]

Hey Ben. People don't get put in the kid ghetto unless they ask, right?

[deguspice.livejournal.com]

Correct.

[candle-light.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :-)

[chhotii.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a huge improvement over last year's lobby food hours.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

There will be a shuttle to Quincy Market, where there are plenty of food options. We used it last year (I'm told we were literally the only ones) and it was great. Even if it's very cold, you won't be outside long enough for it to be a problem. You can also order in without it being a group or party order.

TJ's does have the TastyBites-style packets, but most any Indian grocer will have a much larger selection. You can heat them up in hot water, so the in-room coffee maker could do it, or you could bring a small water-heating device.

[chhotii.livejournal.com]

Obviously the shuttle to Quincy Market must have been very poorly publicized; I hadn't heard about that. Thanks!

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Yes, very poorly. I happened to catch a note about it in the at-con newsletter, but I actually read the entire thing. I think that's rare. :)

[candle-light.livejournal.com]

Don't forget to bring some microwave safe bowls, that has bitten us in the past. As Jude mentioned, the hot water capabilities of the coffee maker can be utilized also.

[ceo]

I don't think we're bringing our microwave. We will try to be more organized about big group food orders, at least to the extent of having a list of likely interested people to call.

Our plan is to drive in with kids and stuff, unload same and then I drive the car home and take the T back in. If you need to, you can probably stow a car in our driveway for the weekend.