FaithWriters 2013 Conference is planned!

[Hoomi]

I suspect the Great Lakes is some mighty cool diving, too. About the coldest I've dove in so far is around 60 - 65 degree F water, and I was wearing a 6mm wetsuit. I could probably go just a bit cooler if I wore the Lavacore underneath that, but not much colder. While 60 - 65 doesn't sound too bad when we think of air temperatures, water is a far more efficient heat sink than air is, and the cold water will pull the heat out of the body rapidly if we're not well insulated. That's not to say I won't ever make it to a Michigan Conference. I'd had tentative plans to attend last year, before the conference got shelved for the year. I've never been to Michigan, and wouldn't mind to add it to the list of states I've visited. I've been to Florida before, but never farther east than Pensacola, and that some 35 years ago. So, yeah. I'm hoping to start attending more FW Conferences.

I could say that we need to add a Southwest venue to the list of rotations for the Conference. You can get some pretty cheap accommodations in the Phoenix metro around June to July, because, well, who wants to go to Phoenix in the summer? Southern California is a more pleasant destination around that time, but suffers from the higher prices of being a popular vacation choice. Flagstaff is nice, and it might be kind of fun to think about having us Faithwriters getting our kicks on Route 66, but again, it's a popular summer destination, so prices go up accordingly. You can come to Tucson any time you'd like, but the trouble is, most people class Tucson in the same thermal class as Hell itself during the summer. Rumor has it, even the Devil himself finds Tucson too hot in July and August. So, I don't think I'll lobby for a Southwest Venue any time soon. I'd say by the end of June, a long weekend in Portland is going to sound mighty good to us. I might even have to pack a coat.

[Hoomi]

Okay, we're booked. We're flying in on a Redeye from Phoenix on Thursday night, and will pick up our rental car around noon on Friday. The Radisson information indicates they have a 24 hour shuttle service from the airport, so I figured it didn't make much sense to worry about dealing with the car rental at 1:30 in the morning anyway. We're checking out of the Radisson on Tuesday and driving up to Seattle, where we'll stay a night to sight see and visit some friends, and fly back to Phoenix on Wednesday night, and have July 4th to rest and recover before going back to work on Friday.

I'm already getting excited about this one!

[RedBaron]

Frank came home with a packet of papers from work. Since another company bought out the one he works for, they added some new benefits. One of them is access to discount travel stuff. I'm going to be checking into it soon to see what I might be able to get through it

[WriterFearNot]

Well, 2013 is here and I am ready to plan my 2013 Conference trip!

My family will be traveling with me to Oregon. We'll probably stay near the beach for a couple of days before the Conference, check out the beaches, and do some touristy stuff in Tillamook.

Then we'll relocate to the Radisson. My dear husband will be hanging out with the kids while I'm at the conference, and then I'm thinking he should have a day or two for fishing, since it is one of his passions and he's never fished Oregon.

Anyone have hot tips on Oregon fishing? Are there any other avid fishermen who'd like to consider joining him in his fishing adventure?

And while husband is fishing, I was thinking the kids and I would join the FW group in their tour adventures...

Anyway, this will be my first FaithWriter conference and I am very excited. Can't wait to meet you all.

Theresa

[Sparrow]

Hoomi, so excited to finally meet you!

Theresa, great you'll be joining us, too! What kind of fishing does he like? My family does stream fishing, and know of some great places way up in Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

[WriterFearNot]

Well Amy, it looks like I have a change in plans. I will be coming without the family.

I was excited when I thought the whole family was coming, but now I think I'm even more excited because I can focus more deeply on the Conference, and spend more time getting to know everyone.



Theresa

[Sparrow]

I'm glad it still works for you to come, anyway!

[RedBaron]

I've been tracking flight costs through a website, so far it looks like it'll be around $300-ish for my flight. I'm going to have to wait till tax refund time to even think about booking the flight and see how much we get back and see what else the money has to be used for.

God has always provided in the past, I'm praying he'll do the same this time. I'm going to talk to my parents about staying at the house to take care of the kids while I'm gone/Frank's at work/class. I know Eileen would love to come to see folks again, but I can't afford that lol. She can come when it's at a driving distance for me again lol. Josh probably wouldn't want to come/be bored, even if it was driving distance. And I won't have to bring Jolynn with me, so I'll be able to enjoy everything I'll miss them, but it'll be good to be around grownups for a few days lol.

[violin4jesus]

Yay, Shari!!! Will be wonderful to see you again!

[Sparrow]

I sure hope it works, Shari!! Conference wouldn't be the same without you.

[Allison]

Well, I'm discovering that, at least for getting out there on Friday, I have one of three options, as far as flights are concerned:
1. Leave super early in the morning, as in the flight leaves before 7 AM
2. Have a layover of less than 1 hour with a change of planes... Uh... 4.5 months after hip surgery? NO THANK YOU!
3. Arrive at 9 PM or later.

"Pay an arm and a leg" may be an option also, but I haven't even looked at those flights yet.

Looks like I'll be leaving super early in the morning.

In case you're wondering, I can't leave Thursday because of the children's musical at church. That Thursday before the conference is the one rehearsal the main leader will have to miss, so it's kind of important that everyone else is there. This could get interesting.

[yomamarita]

So the conference is in my backyard this year...

It seems so far off on the calendar for me right now but I'll have to keep an eye on the info and see what my life holds when the time approaches.

[Sparrow]

Well, I'm discovering that, at least for getting out there on Friday, I have one of three options, as far as flights are concerned:
1. Leave super early in the morning, as in the flight leaves before 7 AM
2. Have a layover of less than 1 hour with a change of planes... Uh... 4.5 months after hip surgery? NO THANK YOU!
3. Arrive at 9 PM or later.

"Pay an arm and a leg" may be an option also, but I haven't even looked at those flights yet.

Looks like I'll be leaving super early in the morning.

I had the same problem when I booked my flight to go see Andy. Most of the flights had me getting there at 11:30 pm. I ended up both leaving way early in the morning and only having a 50 minute layover. At least with my cane they are more eager to help and will call me an electronic cart that should get me to my gate on time, hopefully. I'd prefer time to eat and use the bathroom and all that, but hey, can't be picky, right?

[Hoomi]

There should be a number of us there with rental cars as well, so if you need picked up from the airport or somewhere else, one of us should be able to accommodate you.

I suspect as it gets closer, we'll get a topic going to connect people that need rides with those that can provide.

[WriterFearNot]

Any idea when registration will be open for the Oregon summer conference? I don't want to purchase my plane tickets until I'm registered, and airfare is pretty decent right now...


Theresa