PAX East 2014 April 11-13 2014

McIrishJihad wrote:

Does that little place happen to be in the beautiful Ohio countryside? And have a recently renovated bar with a re-tooled craft beer menu?

Yes, yes it does. It also has an ever growing library of board games and I will "bring" my entire library any time I visit, er come downstairs.

Well, considering my pay-rate, current disasters and trouble getting past the "just barely making it paycheck to paycheck", I'm going to go ahead and declare that, no, I will not be able to afford going to PAX East 2014.

I'm going to look into the best way to sell my passes, and I'll be selling my roommate's as well, so we'll both be selling our Friday and Saturday passes.

I haven't fully decided yet but I may end up doing the same. It's going to depend how my review goes. I'm trying to get my employer to subsidise some skills training for me this year because I need it but we're still not in great financial condition and they may use that as an excuse to weasel out of it. If they do, I've decided I'm going to start taking programming classes with my own money. Unfortunately, I don't think I can afford to do both that and attend PAX and much as it will kill me to have to delay my first PAX by yet another year, increasing my career skills is the more sensible thing to do. My review's in two weeks so we'll see what happens.

Dibs

So dibs has already called on my passes. Will update.

ccesarano wrote:

Well, considering my pay-rate, current disasters and trouble getting past the "just barely making it paycheck to paycheck", I'm going to go ahead and declare that, no, I will not be able to afford going to PAX East 2014.

I'm going to look into the best way to sell my passes, and I'll be selling my roommate's as well, so we'll both be selling our Friday and Saturday passes.

Parallax Abstraction wrote:

I haven't fully decided yet but I may end up doing the same. It's going to depend how my review goes. I'm trying to get my employer to subsidise some skills training for me this year because I need it but we're still not in great financial condition and they may use that as an excuse to weasel out of it. If they do, I've decided I'm going to start taking programming classes with my own money. Unfortunately, I don't think I can afford to do both that and attend PAX and much as it will kill me to have to delay my first PAX by yet another year, increasing my career skills is the more sensible thing to do. My review's in two weeks so we'll see what happens.

Oh man! Fingers crossed, Parallax.

Not for nothin', but GWJ is a bit hotel starved right now if anyone cancelling PAX plans has a room reserved. Lemme know!

Certis wrote:

Oh man! Fingers crossed, Parallax.

Not for nothin', but GWJ is a bit hotel starved right now if anyone cancelling PAX plans has a room reserved. Lemme know!

Appreciated.

So I do have a double occupancy room booked at the Omni Parker House which isn't super far from the convention center. Originally, my girlfriend was going to come to Boston with me but she's started a new job and had her vacation allotment slashed so she can't any more. The room is a double bed but I could probably change that to two single beds if anyone wanted to split it. My review isn't till mid-February but I should know as of that meeting what my employer's prepared to do for me. After that, I still have to book the flight and get a Roam Mobility SIM card for my phone but I think I can make that work. It's all going to depend on this review but I'm hopeful.

So, since the GWJ panel is on Friday night, is the S&T at the Tamo moving to Saturday?

Certis wrote:
ccesarano wrote:

Well, considering my pay-rate, current disasters and trouble getting past the "just barely making it paycheck to paycheck", I'm going to go ahead and declare that, no, I will not be able to afford going to PAX East 2014.

I'm going to look into the best way to sell my passes, and I'll be selling my roommate's as well, so we'll both be selling our Friday and Saturday passes.

Parallax Abstraction wrote:

I haven't fully decided yet but I may end up doing the same. It's going to depend how my review goes. I'm trying to get my employer to subsidise some skills training for me this year because I need it but we're still not in great financial condition and they may use that as an excuse to weasel out of it. If they do, I've decided I'm going to start taking programming classes with my own money. Unfortunately, I don't think I can afford to do both that and attend PAX and much as it will kill me to have to delay my first PAX by yet another year, increasing my career skills is the more sensible thing to do. My review's in two weeks so we'll see what happens.

Oh man! Fingers crossed, Parallax.

Not for nothin', but GWJ is a bit hotel starved right now if anyone cancelling PAX plans has a room reserved. Lemme know!

I'm waiting to see if my sister and her boyfriend end up crashing with me, but if not, I'd be open to a room share situation. They are I'm technically not attending PAX, but I'll coincidentally be in Boston that weekend (wink wink), hanging out at hotel lobbies in the vicinity of the BCEC

My Friday and Saturday passes are back up for sale, by the way. Two pairs, $60 for each pair is generally what I'm looking for, so $20 cheaper than the original price.

So, I must sadly report that I have also made the decision not to go to PAX East this year. My work review is finally being held this Wednesday but it's already been made clear from other statements management has made that they cannot financially justify paying for anyone's professional development this year (we just barely made it through last year financially and are only breaking even now.) That plus the fact that I may have a hefty tax bill this year (thanks Canadian Home Buyer's Plan!) means that it wouldn't be a responsible idea to spend the additional money of a flight and everything else, especially since my girlfriend can't come with me as originally planned. Hopefully she can next year and I'm going to save up all PAX related expenses in advance so 2015 shouldn't be an issue at all. It sucks being an adult sometimes.

That said, my full pass is up for sale if anyone wants it. My friend Heather bought it and they haven't arrived to her yet. If you want it, let me know and when they arrive, you can pay for it then but I'll reserve it for you now. I'm not going to profit monger, it's going for cost plus whatever shipping it takes to get it to you (which won't be much, it's just a pass after all.) I'm going to put this up on the local classified some time this week (and I've been told people jump on those) so if anyone from here wants it, jump on that PM.

Also, I still have a double occupancy/one bed hotel reservation Omni Parker House for Friday, April 11 check in and Monday, April 14 checkout. I haven't managed to reach OnPeak to see if this can be transferred but I'll check into it. If someone wants that too, let me know and I'll see if I can transfer it over to you rather than cancel it.

Parallax Abstraction wrote:

it's going for cost plus whatever shipping it takes to get it to you

I need to find the website, but you can actually change the shipping address, which is what I plan on doing if anyone bites.

Oh, that's handy. I'll check into it. My friend bought them all because it was crazy trying to get them at the time but I can probably get her to change it.

I believe we are thinking early sat for tamo ... Like 530. That gets us way ahead of the rush and let's folks get to sat sessions concerts and parties they may be digging.

Going to be mostly hanging out with my art guy (and maybe my art lady, if we can get her visa situation figured out), but I intend to give at least some of you some portion of the business.

Sad to hear you won't be able to make it PXA. I was looking forward to meeting you!

Is there any interest in trying to organize a pre-PAX dinner again? It sounds like we have a significantly smaller forum crew attending this year so I'm not sure who's going to be in town on Thursday.

rabbit wrote:

I believe we are thinking early sat for tamo ... Like 530. That gets us way ahead of the rush and let's folks get to sat sessions concerts and parties they may be digging.

I like the sound of this

shoptroll wrote:

Is there any interest in trying to organize a pre-PAX dinner again?

I might be able to swing by for a dinner after work on Thursday, if one were to be organized.

merphle wrote:
shoptroll wrote:

Is there any interest in trying to organize a pre-PAX dinner again?

I might be able to swing by for a dinner after work on Thursday, if one were to be organized. :)

I'm not in town until Friday

I'm be up for a Thursday dinner again, but was planning to hit the Star Citizen thingy on Thursday night - not really sure when that starts/ends, but they've "rented a space that fits 1500 people".

Parallax Abstraction wrote:

My friend bought them all because it was crazy trying to get them at the time but I can probably get her to change it.

Thaaaaat might be a problem, then, as you can't split the delivery order up as far as I'm aware.

And speaking of splitting up, I found a buyer for both of my Saturday passes, but am left with two Friday passes only. So uh, any takers?

EDIT: And they're gone! Wheeeeee.

Panel schedule is now online.

I'm looking for two Saturday passes, so if anyone is looking to unload, please PM me.

Alternately, if anyone has ideas for fun meetups for Saturday refugees like my and my friend, please PM me

I'm planning to spend Saturday at the Seaport Hotel... in/near Tamo bar -- or perhaps in one of the nearby quiet, secluded, and board-game-friendly conference rooms.

merphle wrote:

I'm planning to spend Saturday at the Seaport Hotel... in/near Tamo bar -- or perhaps in one of the nearby quiet, secluded, and board-game-friendly conference rooms.

Likewise - I think there's plenty of boardgaming and hanging out to do outside of the convention center without paying for the privilege of doing it in one specific airplane hangar

Tanglebones wrote:
merphle wrote:

I'm planning to spend Saturday at the Seaport Hotel... in/near Tamo bar -- or perhaps in one of the nearby quiet, secluded, and board-game-friendly conference rooms.

Likewise - I think there's plenty of boardgaming and hanging out to do outside of the convention center without paying for the privilege of doing it in one specific airplane hangar

This gives me hope for next year if we fail to get tickets.

The Assassins game that happens every year at pax is happening again. This year it should be a little less nerve-racking as there's no removal from the game after being assassinated.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/marschelios/assassins-ball-at-pax-east-2014

I ended up with Fri & Sat passes so I'll be looking to do some type of Board/Card gaming with the crew of GWJ'rs. Last year was fun.

Looks like I've got a pass after all, so I'll be around later in the day on Friday, and all day Saturday. Maybe a chunk of Sunday

It looks like I'll be in the Seaport this year instead of the attached Westin. Outside of the Tamo, is there anyplace for reasonable food/etc in there?

That's great news, TB.

Also, I'm thinking of picking up a nice messenger bag or backpack to bring with me, maybe something in canvas. Anyone have a recommendation?