Colchester/Norwich etc area meet ups?

:| I take it no one's interested in this?

Sounds fun. I can conceivably make it to any town within an hour of Newtown any day of the month.

Sweet. If we can get some other people interested, we'll take the next step and try to get a meet up done...

We could try and do something on Halloween night for a kick off, or maybe even November 1st, but we would need a place to host it...especially if it were going to be rather late. Any ideas? Unfortunately my house isn't the type for such things, so I can't offer it as a possibility.

Yeah, I couldn't reasonably host either; that, and I'm fairly far from Manchester/Norwich if memory serves.

Any local park or library works, I guess. Better to see if we get anymore feedback before planning something. :P

Hmm. Even a library could be iffy. I know that my library, for example, is thinking of shortening their hours. And I think you have to pay a fee to use one of their rooms for meetings and such.

I wish there was a public place that had a big enough area for us to use. Although I guess the bookstore (not the one in the mall but the one outside of it) in Waterford could work, if we got there early enough and there was a fairly small group of us.

And using the bookstore would mean not being able to be there super late...but like I said, if we're there early enough it should be fine. We'd only need maybe a few hours if it wasn't really a -party.-

The Borders in Waterford would be amazing and ideal. As for days of meetings, I think it'd be perfect (at least for me) to have them on weekends, considering a lot of people have those days off from work, and school.

Wherever the meet-ups are, be sure to inform me (: I'd love to go. I can convince either my parents or grandmother to drive me there and whatnot.

I really am interested in the kick-off party...

I'm not entirely sure how well weekends will work for me. I work at a grocery store, so unfortunately unless I change my availability to reflect it, I never really have weekends off. I've just gotten lucky the past two weekends and now this coming one where they've given me a Friday and Saturday off even though I haven't needed it, but I don't know how long that will last since once November comes it'll get into the busy season.

I'd love to go to a kick off party as well, but I think the only reasonable way we'll really be able to have a party is if someone hosts it at their house...and then there's the question of how many people are willing to go and meet complete strangers and be at their house and whatnot. Something to consider would be maybe trying to have a few meet ups at the bookstore during the month of October, and then that way anyone who does want to go to the kick off party can at least get to know the other people...and then if one of them ends up hosting it, the others will already be familiar with the host, at least.

But, it's just a matter of finding someone who's able and willing to host the kick off party and such.

I live in Mansfield. Once you decide where and when, let me know and I'll go.

Getting to know each other at small meetings would be for the best. Doubt my mom would let me go to someone's house at random for something she doesn't understand, haha.

As for the small meet ups, all I need is a week notice and I'll be there, so long as it doesn't conflict with school stuff (after school activities, sigh).

Yeah, I don't think my parents would really like it too much if I tried doing that, and they don't really understand it either.

I find out each Friday what my schedule for the following week is, so I won't know until this Friday, for example, what next week's schedule is. It varies each week, so I can't say what days I'll definitely be available and what times. If by some miracle I get next Saturday off, I could probably do it then. Friday would be possible, too, if I have the day off.

If we can find someone willing to host the kick off party, that would be awesome. That's the hardest part at the moment, is finding a place to do it at. :| I wish my house would work for that sort of thing.

"and then there's the question of how many people are willing to go and meet complete strangers and be at their house"

You make it sound exciting. O-o

I'd host, but I live more 'n an hour from y' all, and I've no space for guests anyway. I see no major problem with a Borders, or any sorta place with WiFi and comfortable seating.

We've a few weeks to brainstorm other options, though; if not a kick-off party, we could have a 'writer's workshop', or something of the sort, mid-November when we've simultaneous availability. 's probably best if we don't rush into things and end up with a half-baked scheme involving tricycles and overnight hotel-stays.

Hey, speaking of segues, we could get some messenger chat going. Anyone have AIM or Windows Live?

I do. My AIM screenname is AWritersFantasy.

I have to work until 4:30, and then I'll be eating dinner and dealing with the trash so I probably won't be back at my computer until like...6, 6:30ish, maybe earlier.

For the rest of this week, as of right now the only time you shouldn't really be able to catch me at the computer is tomorrow between 11:30-4 which means I'll be on by 4:30, 5:00 or so, and then tomorrow night between 9 and 10 because I'll be watching Supernatural. Otherwise I should be around if anyone wants to chat.

I've work from 5-8 tonight. Prolly see you then.

I'm 'Grim Latin Name'.

"The Borders in Waterford would be amazing and ideal."

This seems like it's within driving distance for everyone. So far, I'm the furthest from, and it's still feasible for me. :D

Awesome.

We should try and get a first mini meet up done sooner rather than later. Technically I should be around on Saturday...I might be going to Lake Compounce, but that's not until after 6:00 or so because my friend doesn't get out of work until then, and I'm not 100% positive if we're going to go on Saturday or not. I won't find out until this Friday whether or not next weekend would work, either. The same goes for that Saturday if I have it off and if it doesn't rain.

So we have a meet up place, we just don't really have anywhere to have an actual party yet. >.>

If my grandfather still lived at the elderly housing he used to live at, we could probably use the hall they have. I was about to suggest that, but I remembered that. Plus, it would mean having people drive all the way to Colchester.

I know that at the bookstore, they have a part in the back with a table that would probably sit like...MAYBE eight if people squashed together. They also have a cafe-type-place that might be better.

I think we need to figure out how long we want to meet for and how many of us are going to go to the mini meet ups before NaNo starts.

Does anyone know how the kick off parties usually work? Are they usually Halloween night, or November 1st? I would think they'd technically be Halloween night, but we wouldn't even be able to start writing until midnight, which would mean having to be at someone's house and staying over. So maybe it would be ideal to do it on November 1st?

Any parties about which I've heard are the Saturday before the event starts. That's the 26th this year. We can always rent a private room in a restaurant for a certain price per head; it's quite affordable, from what I've heard. Just getting together to familiarize ourselves and toss about some ideas sounds fun, though. Any Saturday, Sunday or Monday is best for me. I'll have to negotiate a ride to and from; that's the only problem I can see. At worst, I'll spend the night in some motel or something.

If we're doing a write-in (as you implied with the 'start writing until midnight' thing), we'd likely have to find a house at which to spend the night, or organize some kinda group deal at a motel, which'd just be a pain for most of us, I think. If we stick to your general area, I'm the only one who'll have to do a substantial amount of driving, so we could also conceivably stay up until the wee hours and just drive home then. If any of you can drive, volunteering to drop off the young'uns (Kat, and the others who have no license) would probably be a huge help, and I can't imagine getting gas money together would be a huge problem. I'd be glad to contribute there. :D

Assuming I'm the only guy, that presents a problem with the hotel idea. I'll probably drag along a friend, so I'm not totally alone. :P

Anyway, yeah. Making plans sooner rather than later is definitely a good idea. If we can get an AIM chat-room going we should be able to discuss this in greater depth.

Looking forward to your input. ;D

Okay, so after talking to Erudeen and Katraa, it looks like we're going to try to do pre-NaNo meet ups at the Borders in Waterford. Ideally, it'll be on a Saturday, but for me it largely depends on when I have to work.

Unfortunately, it's likely that Erudeen will not be able to go (unless he's somehow able to find someone willing to bring him to and from Danbury or something), so right now Katraa and I are at least two of the people who are probably going to try and meet up.

This Saturday, for example, could work as of right now. The only thing I MIGHT be doing is going to Lake Compounce, but I would have to leave by 5:00 if I do end up going because the friend I'm going with gets off of work at 6. So basically, the earlier we meet, the better.

If it ends up raining Saturday, however, then it won't matter.

If it ends up not happening this weekend, then next weekend might work out better, but only if I have the day off/can get out early enough if I do have to work to justify going to Waterford. But the Lake Compounce thing still might apply if we do not go this weekend.

If we want to have a kick off party, apparently it's usually the weekend before NaNo starts...which means that if we're going to have one, we need someone to host it and I, at least, need to put in for it off by Saturday at the latest. So...anyone who's willing to host it and lives in/near Colchester/Norwich/Wilimantic and doesn't mind having some people they'll barely know, let us know. :D

OR, we could have a party for the weekend AFTER NaNo starts, which might be easiest...but, again, we'd need to find somewhere to host it.

If we plan for a party of some sort in advance for something AFTER NaNo, then we wouldn't necessarily have to worry about having people stay overnight anywhere, and it would just be a matter of when it would start and when it would end.

Hi! I like the idea of meeting up in Borders, it sounds do-able for me too.

And if you can't find someone to host, I might be able to talk my mom into letting you use my house; it's decently sized, and we could always go outside if my little brother and baby sister can't handle it. If you want to get in touch with me (because I don't trust myself to check back here for replies) email me at mandytee50@hotmail.com (or my yahoo, if that's easier for anyone - mina_arzamarski@yahoo.com).

EDIT: I live in Ledyard, btw. My house is only about 15-20 minutes away from Borders.

That would be incredible. O-o

my AIM screen name is ChiiStarPower

I live in Storrs/Mansfield (UConn).

Waterford is pretty far away from me, but I do like Borders...

Argh. I was typing a response earlier, but then my mother needed her computer and she shut it down by accident before I could finish. >.> I don't even remember half of the stuff I was typing. Argh.

My preference would be for us to do a few pre-NaNo meet ups in Waterford or maybe even in Colchester. Either one would work for me, but it would really depend on what day. I won't know until tomorrow what my schedule is for next week. I vote that we try to do at least one or two meet ups before November, either at the bookstore in Waterford or maybe even if Colchester if people feel that they're willing to drive down my way. If we did it in Colchester, I can't offer my house (well, as far as I know I can't), but there are some restaurant possibilities- Colchester Pizza, The Plum Tomato, Family Pizza...Family Pizza has a downstairs, but I bet you have to reserve it...and I also bet it has to be for a rather large group, and I'm not sure right now how many people are interested in coming to Colchester for a meet up. The only other place I can think of is the library, and that's mainly if we have a fairly small group.

Would anyone be interested in even unofficially MLing? I'd be willing to be a co-ML and help out and give ideas and whatnot, but I can't offer a place to hold meet ups and I'm not really the leader type, so...>.> I'd do better with it if I had someone to help and kinda share the load.

Do we want to try and kick off party like...the week AFTER NaNo starts somewhere? That might be easier as far as planning and people getting the time off goes.

Any ideas/volunteers for any of that stuff? >.>

o.O That would be awesome. It doesn't sound like Ledyard is too far from Colchester, either, although I don't know for sure.

So basically, the point of my babbling comes down to:

1. Pre-November meet ups- more than likely at the bookstore in Waterford. I, for one, will know for sure when I can make it tomorrow as far as next week is concerned. How many people are interested in going to that?

2. Co-ML's? I don't know how much I can -really- help because I have a feeling that sooner or later I'll end up getting scheduled at a lousy time and won't be able to go to a meet up, so I don't want to be the only ML and end up not being able to show up or something.

3. Kick off party a week or so after NaNo starts plans?

I think waiting until the week AFTER NaNo might be best, at least for me, because then I'd have more time to put in for the day off. If we did it on, say, the week before NaNo starts, I would have to know for sure that we're going to do it and I'd have to put in for it off as early as tomorrow. /ramble

Next Saturday is now out, at least if we'd be meeting at Waterford. :| I have to work 2:30-7:30, so there's really be no point my trying to go after work or even before it. Basically, the earlier I get up to Waterford, the better.

Essentially the only day I could truly do anything is Thursday, because I have the day off...but that would largely depend on the people who are in school and how quickly they can get to the bookstore after.

Since no one has really expressed interest in doing anything tomorrow, I'd say we're not doing it then either.

Oh. I kind of wanted to.

:| Hmm. I wish I had known that earlier than now, though I don't know if it would have made a ton of difference. I don't know if I'll be able to get up to Waterford or not. It largely depends on my father/anything he wants me to today as far as cleaning goes and whether or not I go to Lake Compounce tonight with my friend.

Hopefully we'll be able to do something sometime before November so that at least some of us can meet each other and then if we by some chance manage to get a kick off party done during the first or second week of NaNo, people won't feel so weird, I think. But the key is finding a place to host it for a good amount of time, and finding someone to make the arrangements and whatnot.
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NaNo 2006: failed.
NaNo 2007: failed.
NaNo 2008: Kalevala: Wizards of the Sky, Book One

Thursdays, I'm sometimes in Waterford with my grandmother for Olive Garden and the works. It'd be from like...around five to eight, at latest, because of school...however, the 23rd would be an amazing day, if you have that Thursday off as well--I have no school the next day (friday).

I won't know if I have that day off until next Friday, but I'm kind of doubting I will. Although if you can't even get there until 5 or so I might get lucky and only have to work until 4...but I kind of doubt that, too.

A group of us thinking of the Ledyard Mystic meetup are talking about Foxwoods.

One of the advantages of Foxwoods is there are buses that go there.

And let's face it big green and hard to miss in the woods.

The food court has lots of quiet tables.

Marie

Maybe something closer to danbury, or new haven? Because i really cant go all the way to foxwoods or anything. I could help organize it?

I think she was just mainly offering it to us as a possibility to go because of the meet up they're (the group that's closer to Foxwoods) having. Foxwoods isn't something I really know how to get to/am comfortable trying to drive to by myself, so I'd like to try and get something organized that's more in the Colchester/Norwich area rather than towards Foxwoods and all that.
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NaNo 2006: failed.
NaNo 2007: failed.
NaNo 2008: Kalevala: Wizards of the Sky, Book One