I was talking to Dan Farr yesterday and mentioned that I had thrown 2 parties of Poser users... and was thinking about holding one for Studio users. We had a special guest at the first one: kupa came with his laptop. I'd like to have a guest for a Studio party as well, but since DAZ is based in Utah, it will be trickier. Dan said that there will be a few DAZ folks out for MacWorld (first week in January). We didn't talk about the Game Developers Conference (March), but they have had a team out for the last three years including Dan himself. So my questions are: Would you folks in the SF Bay Area like to have a party to celebrate the new application? Would you prefer to wait until someone from DAZ is in the area and we can have a guest, or would any time after release be suitable? A guest might let us have sneak peeks (and would give some of you who have never met the team a chance to realize just how nice and how hard-working they are). Waiting until after release and we've all had a chance to work with it will let us share experiences (and my garden might be in bloom again). What say you? Carolly

Sounds fun. Maybe we could have one on the East coast too.

I'm in. Let me know if I can help with the planning. Heck, we can even do it at my place if you want. Kate

Kate, YOU are the one with the half dozen barbecues! (OK, only a slight exaggeration.) I just seem to be the instigator. Let's see how much interest we have. With enough warning we might even get some of the San Francisco people over. Your place would be closer for Genny, and I think that Xoconostle is up that way, too. Carolly

Works for me, Carolly. I'll keep an eye on the thread here. Kate (who only has TWO barbeques. No, really. g)

Kate, Wait, you had two, and then got a portable one, and... I'm confused, but know better than to get between a woman and her barbecue! Unless, hmmm, you don't consider it a barbecue unless it has a hood and is big enough to take one of Little Dragon's heifers? Whole. ;^) It occurred to me that Jim might prefer that we held it at your place, too, since his cat allergies have flared up so srongly here. (I feel bad about that.) Carolly

hmmmm.... If I get enough notice and can save my money, I'd love to fly down from Portland for a party. Don't know about January, but I can probably make it in March.... A visit to the holy city by the bay, with a legitmate excuse. Wow.

You caught me - the portable is just a "grill" :) (One of those little tabletop camping dealies) Don't feel too badly about Jim's allergy attack. It clears up almost immediately and it was actually pretty mild compared to some reactions he's had. When we go to visit his first wife's ex, he reacts almost as soon as he walks in the door and his whole face goes almost beet red the whole time we're there. It's not pretty. Anyhoo, I was thinking maybe we could take turns hosting these things. That way you'd only have to stress every other time. ;) Kate

:) If the timing works, I would love to drop by as well.

Spike, And we'd like to finally meet you! Jim, It's looking more like March anyway. I think it will be less rushed than trying to do something right in the middle of the holidays. I don't have a spare bedroom, but there is a long-enough sofa and plenty of floor-space. Carolly

Don't make it early March, I have a wedding to go to on the 13th I think..