From Dave, the pup coordinator:

"Friday started for me with a pleasant ride up to the Hyatt with a fellow Chipup, Becky. We got there, settled in, and even took naps, then it was off to Midway airport to get Missy. (Missy's flight was to Midway, but the Hyatt was by O'Hare.)
Newark had been having delays so we expected the plane to be late. It was actually early, so I got a page while we were still about 2 miles away. We rode up to O'Hare, and chatted with some pups, and relaxed for about 45 mins. then we took the "L" into the city. This was a longer process than I anticipated. <g> We ended up at dinner about 30 mins. late, but we were not the latest ones, and there was plenty of time allowed for dinner. The "L" is an interesting ride in any case, but shorter would have been good. <g>
Dinner was fun. I was not sitting with a lot of the Chipups, and a lot of them didn't go to a lot of other events, so I hope you all had fun too. :-) The bathrooms (at least the men's room) had some "interesting" pictures. There were pictures of small children going to the bathroom, and pictures
of men's genitals dress in little costumes. N-E-way... The food was good, we had bread-garlic (as opposed to garlic bread), onion filled salad, and more garlic stuff. (No vampires that night).
There was a lot of left over food, and not many people that could take it. Some of it  got taken but here was still a bag when everyone was leaving, and my sister took this one. When we got to the play there was a homeless person asleep on a bench, so we left the bag of food next to the other
bags.
Missy had been up about 20 hours by this point, and had a headache, so she missed the play, and didn't get to catch it the rest of the weekend. :-( :-( :-(
The play was very good, and very funny, and all pups should come see it. :-)"

"  "

Medora MacD wrote:

"It was a real pleasure meeting in the flesh some of the folks I've had the pleasure to banter with on the list -- you're all just as nice in person as in cyberspace. I look forward to staying in touch.

And Missy was fabulous. She knows stuff. Lots of stuff. Some stuff she told us. Like when DCTM and EOTS will be wrapping up (they're both in the home stretch). And like where Mark gets his info (data analyzers and packets and other really neat sounding technical stuff). And like whether Cait and Palladia's relationship will come to a climax. "Literally?" she responded. (Went there. Came back laughing hysterically. Laur handed out bus passes.) And how the third reworking of the TS movie script is going (back to the relationship -- Hooray!). And when pre-production and filming might take place (July in Miami possibly).

Then there's the stuff she won't tell. Like who may have been cast as Kerry in the movie. (She can't tell, don't ask her. Really.) And what the X:WP writers were planning re Xena's baby, as of the time Dragon Con took place. (She won't tell. It may have changed. Don't ask. Really.)

Then we had some great fun, throwing out suggestions for the Thanksgiving story to follow EOTS. Laur went on record early and often in expressing her interest in showers and bubble wrap. The fictional shower that results, however, could owe something to the one that resulted in a change of venue for the pup breakfast. As I understand it, a candle set fire to a bouquet in the assigned room, resulting in a downpour from the sprinkler system. Don't be surprised if the city of Chicago makes an appearance as well. (If you want _your_ city in a Missy masterpiece, you'll just have to invite her to your next pup party. An excellent idea in any case!)"

Christine N. wrote a little about the Xena convention:

"First, we had the dinner Friday and had some pretty good Italian food.  Missy had a heck of a time on the train ride from the hotel to the restaurant but all made it safe and we got to talk with her about 'odds and ends' stuff.  Then most of us took a brisk Chicago walk down to a place called the 'About Face' theater which is the only gay and lesbian theater house here in Chicago.  We got to see a production of 'Xena Live'.  It was great and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.  SOme of us are playing to go see it again and again.  They may even do more showings after the holidays.  Anyway, it was really put on well and we laughed through it and the subtext became maintext in the show. PS, a rather good looking tall woman whose last name begins with 'L' plays Xena 1...wow, what a woman.

So, anyway, that brings us to Sat. breakfast at the hotel.  Yes there was a slight fire, but it made for
great table talk but he food was good and the discussions were better.  We got to hear about the new revisions to the TS script and the script consultants views (oddly enough he wants to see moreof Dar and Ker's relationship, mmm, where have I heard that before?).  We travelled around on the 'GO There' bus a couple of times and then off to the convention.

Claire was first and she was just great.  Dang, that woman is tall!  BUt she was a good speaker and I thought she told some rather funny anecdotes.  Danielle was up next and I just loved her accent.
FIrst time I've ever heard a Kiwi accent...too cool.  She was the best I thought.  Someone gave her a homemade 'Ephiny' barbie doll and she kept playing with it on stage and talking to it...had me in
hysterics.  She's going to be the first actress turned model as well, at least in her opinion.  THen we saw some Xena bloopers...there's one on there from the 'dancing' episode I couldn't stop laughing. I can't wait to get kit #3 so I can see it again.  Then came Ted and he trully is a kidder.  He was very light hearted and rather a gentleman.  I liked him a lot and am starting to realize that maybe Joxer isn't so bad after all.