Buahaa, you are too cute Mary. Thanks for offering. By the way, all of this non sense I caused and I finally clarified this ticket business with United. My one year requirement is to BOOK the flight. I could fly past last year's dates. I am not sure as to what to do now. I have two options. I will stay tuned!

Giant *head desk* here. My October calendar is blank, but that's because I usually don't need to write down my husband's birthday, which is October 26, duh. Are there two meet-ups being planned? If not, I can still get away. He has worked on my birthday, our anniversary and Mother's Day countless times. But I'd come in September if there were two meet-ups.

Claire, clear your head, your desk and your calendar, because, YES, there are two dates, the first is still TBD, based on Zapotee's schedule. That one will be in September and take place near MaryK's shopping sites in the Pasadena and L.A. area.

The second one is scheduled for O.C. and will take place the weekend of Oct. 25-27. We want you to make hubs happy on his birthday AND we want to see your smiling face here, too, so whatever date works with your schedule is good for us. Remember, Claire, the mint is still on the pillow, so if the hotel roomie situation isn't part of the plan this year, you know how to reach me. (My cats aren't allowed to eat chocolate or go in the guest room, so it's semi-allergy proof).

Claire and Vicki, hold the phone! Looking at Zap's message, it looks like there is a possibility of her coming in October after all. So I think the current status is October for sure and September maybe? Zap, correct me if I'm wrong.

You are right Rae! I am able to make the October meetup.
Guys, is the October date finalized?

I may be able to make October, if the date is finalized soon!

Okay! Then, it seems we've zapped Zaptember in September and are aiming for one date, 25-27 October. I think we've just done it! Fantastic.

If you want to have it up in the L.A.-Old Pasadena area to accommodate MaryK and Zap's stay and get-together, that's a beautiful shopping destination. It would also be a different locale for our third anniversary. OC is easy to promote, because I live here, but I'm happy to change it up for all concerned.

So, are we good for this date everyone? Shoptoberfest has been declared!

Ok my boss won't be back from vacation till Monday. I'll see what I can do. It actually looks a bit better than September would have been because one coworker will be back from maternity leave by then.

Outstanding news, Anna! Please post us here when you chat with your boss on Monday!

Vicky, is John Wayne still the airport of choice? Or are we doing LA/ Pasadena?

Whatever you two want to do. Do you want to keep it in the L.A. area near MaryK's woman cave? Or, OC and SCP/FI?

In answer to your question, if you're staying in L.A., it seems wise to fly into LAX or Burbank and we'll get you to all festivities. If you want to stay in O.C. with others flying in, that would be fun, too.

I thought it was L.A. in Sept. and O.C. in Oct. Since it's down to one date, that means we'll have
to decide where people want to go for our shopping opportunities.

I'm easy. Anna, do you have any preferences? Mochi? Other fabbers?

I just need to go where Alaska Airlines flies. They do both Santa Ana and LAX. Also I'm hoping someone will pick me up so I don't have to rent a car.

I can easily pick you up in OC as I'm 10 minutes away. So happy you can make it.

And I can pick up from LAX, it is very close to me off the 405.

OK, I am going to snag Oct 25-27 as days off from work before I have to wrestle a coworker for it.

Now we just have to decide where we want to convene! OC has South Coast Plaza (large mall with many upscale brands), the Lab Antimall (Buffalo Exchange, Urban), Fashion Island, and the first Rack in Cali, which is really big. LA has Melrose (edgy-quirky boutique type stores), Santa Monica Promenade (a large outdoor type mall that was just remodeled and is steps from the beach... brands from Allsaints to Desigual to Old Navy), Robertson (never been but I hear celebs shop there), and of course Beverly Hills/Rodeo Drive.

Should we put it to a vote?

Yes, Rae perhaps we should. I will fly to the closest airport. I am concerned about my ride back to the airport, to catch my return flight to NYC.
Screw my mild self diagnosed social anxiety disorder. I am confirmed for Oct 25-27. Count me in.

Zap, I can take you back to the airport!

Miss MK, did I ever tell you that you are amazing?
Thank you!
Should I fly to LAX or John Wayne?

Rae, I'm voting for OC, naturally, but I'm always up for different shopping experiences whichever way it goes.

Zap, if you fly into OC, I can pick you and Una up.

If it ends up in OC, I'm happy to have a get-together at my place some time during the weekend. If the vote goes
for L.A., I can drive a few people up in my car, if needed.

P.S. I am in Palm Desert and our reception here is sketchy at times so here is one OC scenario, (if Rae is willing):

I'll host a welcome on Friday night and Rae could take us to the Huntington Beach swap meet again on Saturday, then Fashion Island, which sometimes gets missed. We could do SCP and the Anti-Mall and Camp on Sunday.

What do you think?

Flights into OC are more convenient and flights into LAX are probably more reasonable. I can easily pick up OC people and take you to your hotel (have a few ideas on this).

Hope all this helps. Shoptoberfest Oct. 25-27 in OC gets my vote.

Well, I talked to DH and he has no problem with me leaving over his birthday weekend, so I'm in! I

Vicki, that sounds great, I'd love to take you up on that! O.C. is my preference partly because of your hospitality and partly because I've been there and know what the shopping is like. Also I love that airport and it's probably easier for me to fly into.

I'm flexible on the itinerary and happy to go where the group decides.

Don't forget that the hotels around there have free airport shuttle and the one we stayed in two years ago even had a little car rental office in their lobby. I think they might have had a package deal with the room, but IDK because AJ set the whole thing up.

Vicki, your itinerary sounds great! But will someone need to rent a car? Or do the locals have enough room in their cars to accommodate everyone?

Good question, cciele. I can take three in my SUV. I don't know about MaryK, Rae and Marley.

I recall that AJ rented a car, but there may have been a reason why she did so. Claire mentioned the good news, above, that many of the hotels have shuttles, if people were getting in at odd times. I'm 10 min. from OC/SNA Airport, so it's not a big deal. Rae offered to pick up anyone from LAX.

I can take three (four but it'll be tight) in my car!

Good to know about the free hotel-airport shuttles; now wondering about getting to and from the shopping destinations.

It's awesome all the locals are so gracious!

O.C. is my vote. Traffic and parking is about a hundred times easier than L.A. area.

I need to verify that I can get the days off to make sure I can drive people. I am in Missouri earlier in the month, so they may have an issue giving me two full weekends. I am the only one who has requested those dates, though, and there are no store events (unlike September). At the very least I can have opening shifts and meet up with everyone after 5pm.

ETA: current count is 3 votes for OC!

*sigh of relief* that you have flexibility in your schedule, Rae! Anna's checking her work schedule and will know more after Monday.

I have no problem with OC. My first choice is Pasadena, of course, but OC or the West Side are really pretty much the same for me and Marley is right about parking and traffic.

I might be able to help with LAX transport!

Oh, I would love to join you, but probably can't *sigh* - it sounds like a fantastic time!