United States :: Texas :: Houston

<0> Challenge 2008 -- The RULES!

Breca_Halley — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:58:52 -0700

Rules for the 2008 Challenge: Team Lushguin v the State of Maryland

And please read the highlighted points, even if you've done the challenge before--they're key to participation

Eligibility
• Texans: You must live within 60 miles of Austin or Houston. You may not come from another city that has its own Regional Lounge.
• Marylanders: You must live in the state of Maryland.

Sign-ups
• Notify your challenge coordinator (Breca_Halley in Texas or Tidewaterbound in Maryland) by midnight on November 3 that you want to participate---THIS MUST BE DONE VIA EMAIL ONLY—PM’s or posts do not count.

• You must provide your challenge coordinator with a valid email address. During the challenge, you must respond to any requests from your challenge coordinator within a maximum of three days so we know you aren’t missing in action.
• Your challenge coordinator will provide a “word count thread” -- so post in THIS thread--Challenge 2008 -- The RULES! to track word count. Participants will post ONCE to this thread when instructed by the challenge coordinator. When everyone has posted, the thread will be locked. Which means respond to THIS thread--JUST ONCE--so we can track your word count as we run continual tallies

Updating Word Count
• You must update your word count at least once every five days. If you are unable to update your count, contact your challenge coordinator.
• During the course of the contest, we may ask that you post your word count more frequently.
• You must input your final word count by midnight on November 30. After midnight, you will no longer be able to update your count.

Scoring
• You may drop out of the challenge at any time up to midnight on November 15 without affecting your team’s count.
• Only the official word count from the locked “word count thread” on the NaNoWriMo website will be considered when computing the final score.
• After midnight on November 30, the challenge coordinators from each team will drop the lowest score from their respective counts. They will compute the average score for all remaining competitors.
• The team with the highest word count average will be the winner.
• The challenge coordinators will compare results, and when both coordinators agree, the results will be posted on the NaNo boards.

Trash-talkin’
• Each team will have a clearly labeled “trash talk” thread. The Lushguins trash talk thread will be in the Austin Lounge. Trash talk is to be posted ONLY to the trash talk thread and should remain in good fun and within the bounds of good sportspersonship.

Our God-like powers
• MLs decide what “good sportspersonship” means.
• We reserve the right to remove folks from the competition for any violation of the rules and guidelines listed above.
• MLs are the final authority in any dispute or question about the rules.

Remember It’s All in Fun
• In the heat of competition, we sometimes forget it’s just a game. If you have a concern or question about anything regarding the competition, please contact your challenge coordinator before you post.

To sign up for the Lushguin Team, email me at with the subject line "CHALLENGE," and include your NaNoWriMo username somewhere in the email.
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Austin, TX Co-ML
You can call me Becs, Brex, Chewbecca, or just, yanno, Rebecca. :)
Cats, Writing, & Mayhem | YT Channel

United States :: Texas :: Austin

[STICKY] 48-Hour Frenzy!

sweetmelissa — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:42:58 -0700

Hey Houston ~
Remember ~ ChrisMacG and I are offering a prize for the Houston affiliated participant with the highest word count in the first 48 hours of NaNoWriMo. Use the weekend start to get ahead on your novel and you could win! Chris and I will check word counts at Midnight on Sunday for anyone posted in THIS topic thread. Top 3 word count authors will all receive a prize.

Friendly trash talk welcome here. If you're competing for the 48-Hour Frenzy prize, post in this topic. If you don't post here, you have not entered the contest.

Best luck and may the fastest fingers win!

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take care
love & e-hugs ~ M

United States :: Texas :: Houston

Innerloop Schedule!

telephonesnow — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:10:28 -0700

Hi guys! Here is the tentative schedule for meetings both before and during November. If there are any updates or add-ons, I will post them here, so if you plan to associate with the Innerloop group (whether by living here, working here, or driving here because the city is just that cool, I would highly recommend subscribing to this thread for any updates.

Pre-November

Plot and Character Brainstorm Session
Tuesday, October 28th, 7:30 pm
Catalina Coffee, 2201 Washington Ave

November

Tuesday Nights, 7 pm
Inversion Coffee, 1953 Montrose Blvd

Thursday Nights, 7 pm
Te House of Tea, 2402 Woodhead St‎

Saturday, November 22nd, 1 pm - 5:30 pm
Heights Library (back room reserved), 1302 Heights Blvd

Recommends for Individual Writing and Possibly Coordinated Efforts

Waldo's Coffee House, 1030 Heights Blvd
Agora, 1712 Westheimer Rd
HCC Central, 1300 Holman St
Les Givral's, 801 Congress St

Note: At any of the cafe or food places mentioned, please be courteous and make a purchase when using the free wifi. I would have no qualms about walking into a corporate coffee shop and staying for hours drinking only water and using their wifi, but these places are locally owned and operated. Support the local scene! Buy a coffee! Buy tea! Buy a sandwich!

If anyone else plans to be writing somewhere on a weekly basis and wouldn't mind company, post below where and when you'll be noveling so others can join you.

Any questions, please post below! Thanks so much.

Sarah ((( telephonesnow )))

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United States :: Texas :: Houston

Southwest Region Writing Meet-ups

lumos_aeternum — Fri, 3 Oct 2008 18:14:42 -0700

Guess I'll start this up...for us out SW of town.

Personally, I'm in Sugar Land, but everyone SW, feel free to arrange meet-ups, etc. here. Last year a few of us met up at Coffee Groundz (for the SL crowd), but that, unfortunately, is closed now.

I tend to write now at The Teahouse (formerly It's a Grind) at 4727 Sweetwater Blvd, Sugar Land, TX

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=com.mandriva:en-US:off...

They have bubble tea, free wifi, and plenty of places to sit (and plug in your laptops). Hope all of you are well and are ready to embark upon another voyage into the writing unknown!
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2008 - In Whose Hands
2007 - His Shrouded Soul (Winner!)
2006 - The Last of the Romanata (Winner!)

United States :: Texas :: Houston

Turkey Skirmish

sweetmelissa — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:15:14 -0800

Friday, November 28th We're having a Pot Luck Write-In!

Bring your laptop and Thanksgiving Leftovers or something for the group to share - buffet style, serve yourself, write all day. We're having open house for anyone who wants to come over and write anytime between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Free WiFi, great tunes, food and good company!

This event is in Clear Lake - Please PM either SweetMelissa or ChrisMacG with your real e-mail address and we will send you our home address and directions. The location of this event will not be on the Houston Information Page.

Please also RSVP in this thread if you will be able to make it out.
I'm very much looking forward to it and I'm making pie...

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take care
love & e-hugs ~ M

United States :: Texas :: Houston

It's Almost Over Write-In! (All areas)

telephonesnow — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:45:32 -0800

When: This Saturday, November 22nd, 1:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Where: Heights Library, 1302 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX
Why: It's time to write!
Who: Everyone who belongs to the greater Houston area!

If you guys are up to a trip to the city, please come to the Heights Library this Saturday afternoon for fun, snacks, music and writing! The back room of the library is very nice and I have it reserved for hours. Come group write; if you haven't already, this is your chance!

RSVP in the post below, or if you have any questions or suggestions. If I don't see many RSVPs by Friday I will probably let the room go, so let me know if you're going to be there!

Thanks so much!
Sarah Stephens
Innerloop AL
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United States :: Texas :: Houston

I am not dead

Soluna — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:34:46 -0800

I am so sorry for not being on the forums more, or not able to make one friggin write in this year *sobs* I am so busy and this week I have compounded on my already stressed schedule a sickness that has brought me down onto my knees. Sleeping 11-13 hours per day, working 8, packing, and yes, writing when I can.

I am exhausted, this year is out to kill me. :)
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[img]http://www.sufferinstudios.com/nano/Lushguinsig.jpg[/img]
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
Walt Disney
2006 - Leaving Despair - 250+k words - Winner
2007 - Continuity - 425+k words - Winner
20

United States :: Texas :: Houston

Southeast Area Writers & Write-Ins

ChrisMacG — Sat, 4 Oct 2008 09:48:00 -0700

Living out 45 south has its benefits; we've got one heck of a group of writers out here. For the past four years I've been going to write-ins organized by our co-ML SweetMelissa and they're always well attended and FUN! There's nothing better to spur you on in making that 50,000 word goal than the sounds of fingers typing.

This year Melissa and I are going to be spreading out the write-ins all over the area so you should be able to find one close to home and save some gas. We are also going to focus on organizing at locally owned businesses to support our local economy, but the big chains and local libraries are also going to feature in our picks.

If you have a suggestion for a write-in spot please PM it to either me or SweetMelissa and we'll find a good day for it to host a write-in.

Finally, if you're in the Southeast area (45 S outside the loop including League City, Friendswood, Webster, southern Pasadena and the Clear Lake area) post a shout-out in this thread and introduce yourself.

CHris
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Visit the Houston NaNoWriMo Information Page
Froze to the bone in my igloo home
Counting the days 'til the ice turns green

United States :: Texas :: Houston

West Area Write-Ins

Stitch — Sat, 4 Oct 2008 12:58:55 -0700

As I recall, last year we had write-ins at the Barnes & Noble at Westheimer @ Voss/Hillcroft, Panera Bread on Highway 6 near Westheimer and the library in Katy. Personally, I like Panera the best ... lots of tables. There's a new stand-alone Starbucks near there but they don't have too many tables, although they do have a number of armchairs and sofas. Any preferences as to days and times for you guys?

Stitch
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Stitch
2006: Murder at the Reunion, Winner
2007: Satori - Winner
2008: Untitled

United States :: Texas :: Houston

North Area Write-Ins

JoannB — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 06:33:22 -0700

Well, it was disappointing for Elephande and I to be the only writers at Panera's last night. We had a great meeting anyway. Elephande, you are an inspiration and know your Novel will be awesome! Hope to see others this Tues. at Panera's...let's not be left out in the cold NORTH AREA!
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United States :: Texas :: Houston

Welcome and Shout Out

sweetmelissa — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 07:59:39 -0700

HELLO, HOUSTON!!!!!
And WELCOME to the 10th Anniversary of the challenge we call NaNoWriMo!

My name is SweetMelissa - and I am your fearless Captain. This year Houston has a 2nd ML - the tech-whiz who brought us The Houston Information Page last year - ChrisMacG. Please feel free to contact either of us with any questions or great ideas for coordination and working as a team in the great city of Houston. Our Google Map from last year still has all the locations of coffee shops everyone suggested last year but if you have found a new great place to write, PM ChrisMacG and he’ll add it to the site. Please include info on when you’ll be there noveling so others can join you.

I'm so excited about the NaNo season this year!

Here’s an overview of the month of November ~
Kick-Off Event: All the Houston NaNoWriMo participants get together to meet each other, get fun ideas and goodies to help make it though their noveling challenge. We’ve got some great door-prizes too. I’m working on location but this event will take place the weekend of October 25 or 26.

Midnight Write-in: Traditionally there has been a group of hard-core NaNoWriMo’s (and I’ve been there twice) who start noveling at the stroke of midnight on November 1st. This event will take place on the 2nd floor of Katz’s Deli on Westheimer because they never close. There are usually lots of Halloween activities going on the same night and yes, you’re welcome to come in costume.

November 1st Write-in: This year November starts on a Saturday so almost everyone will be able to use the time to write all weekend.. We’re going to divide up into areas of town – There is a huge group of writers in West Houston (Katy, Sugarland, MoCty area); an Inner Loop Group; a Clear Lake / South Houston Group; and a group in North Houston (Humble, Spring, Woodlands area). We’ll be getting together in small groups at branch libraries in your area for all-day write-ins all around Houston. Also, we’re offering a PRIZE for the most words written in 48-hours called the 48-Hour Frenzy! So use that first weekend to get a great head start on your novel!

Half-Way Par-tay: On November 15th we take a break from noveling and get together to have some fun. This event is still being planned so I’ll e-mail everyone with more details on time and place later on.

Turkey Skirmish: This year we’re resurrecting the Turkey Skirmish at my house. We change Black-Friday to Write-Friday the day after Thanksgiving. This is a pot luck write-in. Bring your Thanksgiving leftovers to share with everyone, and your laptop and write all day. This is a good time to catch up if you’ve fallen a little behind during the dreaded Week 3 and bolster your spirits.

TGIO!! Thank God Its Over Party!: This is a party! No more writing! Only Congratulations We Made It! This is a pot-luck party - BYOBeverage and a treat to share, all ages, bring your significant other, parents of Young Writers welcome. We will have a location nailed down for this party before November begins but the date for this event will be Friday December 5th. We’ll give out prizes and folks will have a chance to read a short excerpt of the novel they’ve just written.

Also new this year, if you are a Twitterer, I’ve set up a HoustonWriMos Twitter profile you can follow. If you follow this Tweet you’ll get a new word every day to try to incorporate into your novel as well as occasional encouraging tweets.

Unofficially, I want to have a Got Plot? Brainstorming Session on October 18th to flesh out some of the details of your novel idea or to get noveling ideas. Check the Houston Information page for details on this event as it approaches.

Writing a novel in 30 days can be intimidating but I assure you it can also be done. Come to the events and on-going write-ins, meet other writers in your area. WriMo’s who have done this for several years always have lots of good ideas and suggestions for how to make it through and succeed. This is a fun and busy month. I can’t wait!

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take care
love & e-hugs ~ M

United States :: Texas :: Houston

Anything going on tomorrow close to UH area?

Presley909 — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:33:01 -0700

Hey guys,

Considered it but didn't get involved with the area people last year or finish my novel(a connection?). I don't see anything going on close to where I am but I'm geographically challenged so I'm open to some correcting if I need it. I'm just wondering if anything is happening in the next few days with the 48 hour frenzy around my area, thanks, or in the next few weeks of November.

Also if you're a UH student on or near campus maybe we can work something out there too. The Library is always fun but perhaps hard to differentiate from fun and study, haha.

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United States :: Texas :: Houston

Humor at it's finest!!!

Diane38 — Thu, 9 Oct 2008 20:10:08 -0700

Anyone want a copy of the 30 Days of NanoWrimo song??

I wrote it in 2006 with a little help from friends and MandalaRules helped me shape it up into a really spiffy file.

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Out in the cold
Hear me calling
Cold
Out in the cold
Please rescue me
Judas Priest 'Out in the Cold' lyrics

United States :: Texas :: Houston

Holy crap--I think I just fell in love with one of my characters!!

orchestratingLife — Wed, 5 Nov 2008 01:00:00 -0800

And it ain't the husband!!!

Anyone having the same issues?
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We are all queer fish.

United States :: Texas :: Houston

Half-Way Par-tay

sweetmelissa — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:08:39 -0800

All Houston Authors ~
You guys have been working hard at writing! Let's take a break to celebrate having half of a novel written with a night of bowling!
We decided that this is better than just seeing a movie together that not everyone can agree on and that we can't talk during. Come out to the bowling alley even if it's just to have fun with the rest of us! Have fun watching me gutter ball over and over.

Who: All Houston authors competing in NaNoWriMo - all ages.
What: Take a writing break to BOWL with your fellow Houston Authors!
When: Saturday, November 15th, 7:00 PM through ???
Where: Palace Bowling Lanes - 4191 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, Texas 77025
http://www.palacebowlinglanes.com/

This should be a lot of fun! I'm looking forward to seeing a huge crowd tomorrow.

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take care
love & e-hugs ~ M

United States :: Texas :: Houston

Challenge Question

Elana — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:29:04 -0800

Yesterday my hard drive crashed. It had been several days since I backed up my story, so I lost several days worth of writing. (Go back up your story right now!) Up to that point I had an exact count. My word count as entered into the site right now includes all my actual word count through Tuesday, plus an estimated 500, which is about what I think I had written from the beginning of my writing session Wednesday up to the time it crashed. Plus what I wrote today. So I've actually written 38,000 words, but the document I'm working on right now only has around 27,000 in it.

I'm not too worried about my official Nano word count, since I'm well above pace, even not counting all my lost words, to pass 50,000 so I can be officially verified. But how should I handle this for the challenge? I wrote the words, I counted them (except for the estimated words for Wed, which I'd be happy to take out of the count since I don't really know exactly how many there were), but then my computer ate them.

Can I get an official ruling from the challenge organizers? Do you want me to post the total number of words I've written, or the total number I still have in my document? What if I go back and re-write those lost chapters? Does that count as writing new words, or replacing old ones?

Until I get an official ruling otherwise, I plan to keep my word count at the total number of words I've written. I know I wrote them, and Nano is all an honor system anyway. I have some faint hopes of rescuing them off my dead hard drive eventually, though it might be too expensive to warrant it.

Did I say, go back up your novel right now?
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2006: The Fuller's Apprentice - Won!
2007: The Tale of Gurion Thricebound - Won!
2008: White Blood

United States :: Texas :: Houston

North side write-in: Saturday, Nov. 15

Elephande — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 08:01:20 -0800

Anyone who'd like to come, I'll be at the Panera in the Woodlands from about 5p.m. 'til they close at 10 p.m. Anyone who so wishes will be welcome to join me.

Panera Bread
1201 Lake Woodlands Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(In the mall complex, across from Rockfish)
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"Matt, I think Jeremy'll be joining us."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, I told Erica that if she was dating someone, we'd make room for them on the trip...Damn it, stop laughing!"
"Sorry, Jeff, but that's funny."
Jeff Jackson and Matt Koric,

United States :: Texas :: Houston

Shout out from CC Texas!

Philosopher — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:04:22 -0800

Hi this is Philosopher the ML for Corpus Christi TX

You guys are an inspiration to us with your soaring word counts. Some day I hope to get the level of participation you have but until then we're not doing too shabby with our "per person" word count if I do say so myself. I may be tempted to strike up a per person rivalry lol. With the stakes being that the ML has to take on any writing challenge... hmmm could get interesting.

For now I wish you all luck and a better week two than you might have expected. Feel free to drop us a note on our forums.
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2005 "Cost of Living" - WON
2006 "Pandora: Life After the Box" - failed
2007 "Monkey Ex Machina" - failed miserably
2008 "Ships and Ports" - Will win!

United States :: Texas :: Houston

Thursday Night Write-In

Elephande — Wed, 5 Nov 2008 11:47:17 -0800

This mainly goes out to the North Area, though if anyone else wants to make the trek up here, I'd be glad to have you.

Thursday, November 6th
5p-whenever
The Goose's Acre
21 Waterway Avenue
The Woodlands, TX 77380

RSVP in this topic.
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"Matt, I think Jeremy'll be joining us."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, I told Erica that if she was dating someone, we'd make room for them on the trip...Damn it, stop laughing!"
"Sorry, Jeff, but that's funny."
Jeff Jackson and Matt Koric,

United States :: Texas :: Houston

Thank you, Chris and Melissa!

telephonesnow — Sat, 8 Nov 2008 17:18:51 -0800

It's ML Appreciation Day! On the behalf of all Houston Novelers, thank you for all your hard work to keep Nanowrimo alive and healthy in Houston!
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United States :: Texas :: Houston

South area weekly write-ins

tschroeder1984 — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 08:54:32 -0700

These are the places and times I’ve got for now. If we find something else works better we’ll change it.

Tuesday 8:30 a.m.
McDonald's play area
1716 N Velasco St.
Angleton TX, 77515

Friday 9:30 a.m.
Angleton Library
401 E Cedar St
Angleton, TX 77515

Sunday 1 p.m.
Hastings
208 Hwy 332 W
Lake Jackson, TX 77566

And if your going to be out writing somewhere then post here so others can join you if they are able.

Tab

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United States :: Texas :: Houston

Pasadena Panera Write-In

Tambra Kendall — Mon, 3 Nov 2008 07:00:02 -0800

Hi everyone,

Melissa said it was okay to post this thread.

I know there were a few of you who wanted to get together at the Panera Bread on Fairmont @ Beltway 8.

My schedule is pretty flexible. I can be there morning, afternoon or evening on any day except Thursday mornong. (I meet with my crit partner there.)

My guess is a Friday or Saturday about 2 or 3 pm would be best because most of y'all work and have children.

Let me know if either of those days work and time work.
If none of those work, post what you can do. I'll make a schedule according to when the majority of us can meet.

Hugs,
Tambra

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Tambra Kendall
Sensual. Magical. Unforgettable Romance
www.tambrakendall.com and www.keeliagreer.com

United States :: Texas :: Houston

Write-in Sunday afternoon

Deia — Wed, 5 Nov 2008 20:00:50 -0800

A few of us will be gathering this Sunday, 11/9/08, at Cafe Artiste on West Main, right off Richmond near Rice University.

The address is:
1601 West Main
Houston, Texas 77006

Google Map Here

We'll be there by around 2 pm, maybe a bit later depending on how long we spend at lunch. If you let us know you'll be there, we can save you a seat and a plug. Bring power strips, if you have them, just in case. Apparently my family does not own any that aren't in use, or we would bring one.

We need power! Or rather, as they said during Ike, we have plenty of "power," what we need is electricity.

Hope to see some of y'all there.
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United States :: Texas :: Houston

SOUTH - Where it all began... WRITERS CHECK IN

abismom04 — Mon, 6 Oct 2008 19:24:32 -0700

LOL Just a little historical tidbit for you...

Brazoria county (the "SOUTH" area of Houston for NANO purposes) is where the state of Texas began!!! ;-)

I'm Jennie - "abismom04" the South area liaison... and I'll be posting here often!!! This will be my 3rd year with Nano, my 20th year writing. I've been married 6 years as of yesterday, have two little children - Abi 4.5 and Deklan 2.75. I'm currently reviewing books and I write a monthly column in Romantic Times BOOKReviews magazine.

Check in, post something, ask questions... do whatever you need to do and we'll have a good time in October getting to know one another before we get our noses to the grindstones!!!

I will start a separate post soon to name some great writing places in our area. I'm not too terrible familiar with "old" Pearland, although I do love the new Barnes and Nobles in the new shopping center off 288. ;-) And I think that the Bass Pro shop has WIFI. ;-)

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United States :: Texas :: Houston

11/7 6:30 - ? at Waldo's Coffee House

telephonesnow — Fri, 7 Nov 2008 14:52:49 -0800

Tonight, 6:30 - ?
Waldo's Coffee House, 1030 Heights Blvd

I'll be there with my baby-laptop! Anyone is welcome to join me!

Sarah
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