MiniMerlin 2009: The Details Post!

[solarcat]

Hello, my lovely MiniMerliners! \0/

We have only a week to go before our fantastic and wonderful mini-con kicks off, so it's time to sum up the details and put the finishing touches on this shebang!

First off, if you've missed any of the other MiniMerlin info posts, here's a handy quicklist:

The General Information Post
The Registration Post
(Note: Registration is closed.)
The Transportation Post
The Parking Info Post
The Room Assignments Post

Got all that? Great! Let's move on to the fine print, shall we? =3

How Can I Help?
Several of you have been so kind as to ask this question, and now is your time to shine! (Depending on your ability/availability!)

We need people to help us stock the con suite with munchies and beverages!
Philly natives would be very helpful here, but if anyone is driving in and can bring a flat of water bottles or a twelve pack of Coke or a bag of Tostitos or some Oreos or Chex Mix or apples or bagels or whatvever, that would be fantastic! But please refrain from bringing things that need to be refrigerated, unless you plan to bring the refrigerator! We are like Bradley--we are not allowed to have milk!

If you're interested, PLEASE COMMENT ON THIS POST with what you're thinking of bringing and an approximate budget. (Please don't buy anything until I give you the greenlight!! I don't want to show up at the con and realize that twenty people each brought $50 worth of junk food and we don't have enough in the budget to reimburse everyone!!)

Bring the receipts for whatever you buy with you to the con, and I'll reimburse you. I'd prefer to do this by check, since that provides a paper trail for anyone who ever questions the use of con funds, but if you prefer cash, just say so--I'll just make you sign a little piece of paper saying "SolarCat totes paid me $X for this stuff I brought to MiniMerlin" and we'll be good. (But do forewarn me, please! I don't really want to travel with hundreds of dollars in cash, so if you want cash reimbursement, please say so now so I can plan accordingly.)


We need a Vid Show!
Please go over to our Vid Show Post and link me to your favorite Merlin vids! I already have a LOT of Merlin vids for us to watch, the vast majority of which are Merlin/Arthur in nature. Do feel free to link to anything, but Gen, Femslash, Het and Other Slash vids aren't very well represented on the current list, and I'd love to have a few more for variety, if they're out there. <3




solar_cat! you cry, How are we to know where the con suite is if we are not staying in the hotel??

Well, I will be posting an announcement when I arrive and book us into the con suite on Friday evening, so check back to this journal (my personal journal, solar_cat; the post will be public). If for some reason you are concerned that you won't have internet access, it would be best for you to write down this number:

(810) 964–6778

This is my cell number, and is at your disposal for the weekend of MiniMerlin. If you have hideous problems with just about anything related to MiniMerlin, feel free to call and I'll do my best to help you out. It's a bit like using your Phone A Friend lifeline to phone several hotel rooms full of your friends, all of whom have access to Google. ;D

PLEASE DO NOT TEXT ME. For one, I hate text messaging. And for another, text messages hate me back. If you text me, there is no guarantee that I will get the message before the Monday after the con. ^^;; Calling is infinitely preferred; if for some reason I don't pick up, leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

The Big List of Attendees!
solar_cat
ocelotspots
shinetheway
gblvr
incapricious
evil_erato
bewarethesmirk
kerryblaze
mariamme
ras_elased
merelyn
mirimeneume
libitina
tacitus3
missdewey
ink_n_imp
unavee
pasty_pants
renwednesday
Katherine
faynia
chi1013
leupagus
rageprufrock
archaeologist_d
puckling
alixtii
moonythestrals
moony's +1
polysamachan
treewishes
skig
shadowyroses
mystictwilight
wordplay
cherrybina

TOTAL: 36

Any Questions?
Please feel free to ask any remaining questions here! Otherwise, I can't wait to meet all of you! =D

*runs off to make that vid show post*

Comments

[gblvr.livejournal.com]

I'll bring fudge, and you don't have to reimburse me. ;-)

::bounces::

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

O HAI, YOU ARE INCREDIBLY SWEET!! <33333

Thank you!! =D *bounces with you*

[gblvr.livejournal.com]

I'm maybe a little bit excited about this. Maybe. a little bit

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

*g* me too

[treewishes.livejournal.com]

I KNOW!!!

I just have no idea yet how I'm getting up there. I have workiness until at least 4 pm on Friday, and probably later, so am considering either Amtrak or driving, but train is MUCH more likely.

[gblvr.livejournal.com]

Well, let us know, so we know when to expect you....

[ocelotspots.livejournal.com]

Wow I am so excited! I can get stuff to bring if you need me to, although I don't want to bring so much that I have trouble getting to your place Thursday.

And umm, yeah. Aside from that just let me know if you need help with anything else! I'm a very useful person! XD

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

I will let you know! I think however much stuff we can collectively bring will depend on whether we need my TV or not. XD So I'm waiting to hear back from my contact at the hotel on that point. If we don't need the TV, we'll hopefully have some extra space in the car and we'll probably end up bringing "whatever the con needs that no one else is bringing". XDDDDDD

[ocelotspots.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I kinda figured we'd be the ones to pick up whatever was left. Which is still exciting. Because everything about this con is exciting. Seriously. <3 <3

[gblvr.livejournal.com]

Okay -- here's the thing. If it turns out we do need a TV, I can bring mine -- Shine and I will have more room, since it's going to be just the two of us. That way the four of you will be less crowded.

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

That... would actually be kind of awesome. =D Does your TV have an HDMI hookup, though? I wouldn't want to ask you to do that if it doesn't, since we need the HDMI to hook my laptop up to it. I was gonna haul mine since it's a flat panel, monitor-style TV and it's not too heavy, but it definitely would take up a decent chunk of our storage space in the car. ^^;;;

[gblvr.livejournal.com]

Actually, I think it does -- let me double check though.

ETA: The answer here is yes -- it's a 19" flatscreen (I'm stealing my kid's TV); I can also bring a DVD player, just in case we need one.

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Okay, you have convinced me! If it's not too much trouble to bring that stuff, I would love you forever!!! <33333333333333
I'll even let you have first shower! Really! XD

I'll burn a DVD as well as bring the vid show playlist on my laptop (and bring my HDMI cable), so hopefully something will work. ...Otherwise we'll just smush nearly 40 people in around my laptop screen. XDDD

[gblvr.livejournal.com]

EEEEEEEEEEEEE! I am *so* excited!!!

[missdewey.livejournal.com]

I will pick up some goodies, whatever I happen to see first at the market probably. :D No need to reimburse, though!

Edited to ask: No fridge, got it, but what do we have access to? For example, do we have a microwave for popping corn, or should all corn come pre-popped? :D

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

I don't believe we will have a microwave, unless someone feels like bringing one. ^^;;; Space in the Boston car is being reserved for luggage, a wireless router and possibly my TV (plus, y'know, four fangirls), so there's not much more space, unfortunately. XD

So yes, corn should come pre-popped. XD There is tea and coffee in the rooms, though, and the usual hotel vending services (so we'll have ice, obvs, and will be able to make cup noodle if necessary for survival in the event of sudden zombie apocalypse). ^^

ETA: OH AND ALSO YOU ARE AWESOME YAY! THANK YOU!! <333

[missdewey.livejournal.com]

Pre-popped it is! We can't have a party without popcorn. :D

Also, omg, why are you just now mentioning the possibility of a zombie apocalypse?!?! SO BRINGING MY CAMERA. Someone needs to document the carnage!

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

It never hurts to be prepared for zombie apocalypse! They could rise at any moment! CONSTANT VIGILANCE!!!

(Actually, I'm moving into a new apartment soon, and I commented to my friend/future roomie that we were really moving to a hideous area even though the neighborhood is actually quite nice because we are lovingly sandwiched between two of the biggest cemeteries in the Boston area. WE WILL BE THE FIRST TO BE EATEN. 0_0
I don't think she got it, but I plan to purchase a precautionary flamethrower as soon as possible.

[kerryblaze.livejournal.com]

Since I'm in Philly, I'll bring a case of water and sodas. I'll get a mix of sodas - diet and regular. Plus some Philly treats: soft pretzels and tastykakes. Also, because I have access to a fridge at my office. I have a special treat that I'm going to leave there and bring over on Sat. All of it is on me.

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

How are all of you so awesome??? *loves* Thank you so much!!! =D

*can't wait to try the Philly foodstuffs*

[cherrybina.livejournal.com]

I like peanut butter kandykakes and butterscotch krimpets :D

[kerryblaze.livejournal.com]

They will be there for sure!

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

*salivates*

I think I'm going to like Philadelphia. <3

[cherrybina.livejournal.com]

I'm local and I can bring whatever we need. I can wait until later in the week when more people have signed up and then just fill in any gaps. Also, I have a large cooler that I can bring. We could fill it with ice and put drinks in there to keep them cold, Y/N?

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes! That would be fantastic!! =D *was worried about that and whether she would have to purchase one of those styrofoam ones at a gas station or something on the way down*

[polysamachan.livejournal.com]

I'm local, but I'm taking public transportation down. I guess that means it'll probably be whatever I can carry, then. XD Probably normal snack food, like chips and pretzels and such? Maybe some sweet stuff. It is also entirely possible that I will bring cookies or something as I bake when I'm excited! :D

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

This is totally based on ability, so don't feel pressured to bring anything if it's going to cause transportation issues for you! But if you would like to bring stuff, just kinda give me an approximate idea of how much you think you'll be spending, so I can budget accordingly. ^_^

[polysamachan.livejournal.com]

The more I think of it, the more I think I'll just bake. :) You don't need to reimburse me, really. I already have most of the ingredients.

[alixtii.livejournal.com]

If there's anything I can fairly easily bring from Jersey on the train and there's need, I will. So my plan of attack should be to insanely refreshing my flist (It'll be like Yuletide!) on Friday evening until I see a post from you, at which point I should jump on the train and head to Philly?

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Depends on where you are, I guess! XD Hopefully we will be set up by 7pm on Friday (this is my goal, we'll see how it pans out) and I'll be able to post the room number. Alternatively, though, you can show up when you show up and just call me, and I'll tell you which room we're in. XD (That's why I have that, so people who need to be on the road before my post will go up can still find us!)

[libitina]

I have random crazy healthy? food. I'll peek in my fridge and see what looks like it'll last a while that day.

If you have any special requests, though, I have incredibly easy access to grocery stores.

And unless your special requests are particularly taxing, there's no need to reimburse.

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Random crazy healthy? food works for me. =3 Actually, it'd probably be good to have some stuff with slightly more nutritional value than an oreo. XDDD

I don't know quite yet if we'll have any special requests... when do you need to know by?

[libitina]

Anytime at all. It's an easy busride back and forth to my apartment.

Hey, if I clean the thing, I could even suggest everyone swing by my place for a garden party in the afternoon should the weather be too unbearably good.

Right. I'll break out the vacuum cleaner just in case.

[libitina]

Also, may I just say that if anyone wanted to bring a hard drive full of Supernatural episodes, I'd be willing to start from the beginning to do my best to appreciate that show. Because I hear it has hot angelic sex in the margins.

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

...I might be able to help with that. >.> *cough*

Oh, but before I promise anything, are you on a PC or a Mac?

[libitina]

PC, but files is files, right?

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, but unfortunately my external harddrive is Mac formatted. T_T

I can, however, point you in the correct direction to get the eps yourself, if you like. (In PM or email, obvs.)

[libitina]

We'll talk this weekend

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Sure. ^^

[pasty-pants.livejournal.com]

I baked cookies, but for some reason I ended up with 19 cookies, so I just gave it to my family ;_;

[ras-elased.livejournal.com]

WHAT DO YOU NEED ME TO BRING? I will have, like, a very small window of time that I can possibly go shopping tomorrow. Let me know what you need, and I'll bring it with me in my car.