After hugs, I heard stories about the stresses of planning IROP.  Katherine was again the first face I saw upon arrival in Cleveland, and the last hug I received.  What pushes Kath over the edge?  Marc's, and the lack of carrots.  Indeed.  Carrots are the thing to make Kath go bonkers.  Good to know.

In a private and tender ceremony, almost as soon as we checked into our hotel room,  I collared Catalina.  We have been in an evolving relationship for years now.  Although we both actively continue to seek local opportunities, and relocation is not an option for either of us, we wanted to create a more formal setting for the relationship we do have.  It is a new experience for me, and we're both comfortable with it, despite the non-traditional aspects.  In another non-traditional twist, the collar is actually a Gorean collar, which was a surprise for Cat (and to anyone who knows me) I'm sure.  I selected it for a number of reasons, not least of which, it is a smile to our humble relationship beginnings from port 3050.

I was treated to shortbread again this year, courtesy candie.  Not just shortbread, but overwhelming quantities of shortbread cookies.  Last year I almost made myself sick eating all the cookies, but even I acknowledged 100 of the little devils would not be helpful to my enjoyment of the weekend.  They stayed in the public area, and everyone enjoyed them, commenting how delicious they were.

Gaston and I also shared our Smarties ritual.  Six pounds of Smarties.  This year, more people got involved, knowing the rules of the ritual, and I had a number of very helpful, gracious people pointing out flaws.  We raised the bar on the difficulty factor.  This year, even tiny portions of candy shell caused the entire bag to be rejected.  What fun is it if it all goes perfectly?  No fun at all!  Gaston did not want tuatha to help him sort the rejected Smarties. I can't figure out why!

Speaking of tuatha and rituals, the bar was also raised on the shoelace ritual.  In previous years the crowd was helpful, distracting me and staying silent while tuata did his evil deeds.  Even the year I refused to wear shoes with shoelaces was a dismal failure when he tied HIS shoelaces about my ankle to the chair.  This year, the group energy was different, and he was thwarted at every turn until...Sunday morning, when he was finally successful.  Darn it.

We had a little problem with the telephone in my room, and when the maintenance man showed up to examine the problem (which he was unable to resolve, and which was not resolved before we left. I wonder how the next inhabitant of the room will feel when they hear Ketzer's voicemail referring to them as "Liebchen") we had...well...a little bit of an enjoyable time going on in the room next to ours.  The gentleman is looking at the phone, to the melodic sounds of "SQUEAL! giggle. YIPE!  giggle giggle. AIGH! SQUEAL!"  He looked at the wall while Catalina and I fluttered our lashes looking as much like two innocent and prissy women as possible, despite whatEVER those naughty reprobates next door were doing.  Who was it in the room next door having such a good time?  Same folks four years in a row now.  It seems to be fate.  Good thing we're all friends. 

Dinner was at the hotel restaurant, in a semi-private room.  I did my annual handshake rounds, and finished when I called MistressKali "Sarah" and she "remembered" me as "Gertrude."  Fortunately, "Gertrude" did not stick.  It was reported that the meals at my table were all excellent, and I know mine was.  Half way through, I began to yawn.  As much as I tried to shake it off, I was unsuccessful.  I managed to do a little more visiting after dinner, but very soon my eyes were heavier than my efforts, and I excused myself to sleep.  Despite a few nudges and winks, I really did fall right asleep.  The last thing I remember is that Cat was going to get a shower, and I don't recall hearing the water turn off.  I did wake up numerous times in the night with thoughts swirling in my head. Not least of which, was the sleep-Kim realizing the awake-Kim had overcharged Arrick for his book.  I had a "to do" list in the morning of all the things my sleep-self reminded me about, and I took the time to sit up and write out.  That sleep-Kim/Gertrude is handy to have around!

Saturday morning came early.  7 AM to be precise, when Cat sat up and my eyes popped open.  Time to start the day with a morning beating! I thought the test-swipes with the paddle were far too loud for 7 AM, although my shrieking-giggling neighbors swear they did not hear it.  I wonder why they were sleeping so heavily? No need for concern, I had other quiet toys!  I also informed Cat that she was going to "earn" or "lose" pillows as the day went on, based on her deeds.  The first thing she did was grabbed the very best pillow on her bed and said "I want THIS one!" Naturally I responded by taking it from her, calling her mouthy, and informing her she wasn't going to have that pillow no matter what.  She thinks she will "trick" me next year by hugging the worst pillow and declaring her undying need to have that one, but I'm not falling for it.  Just by looking at the room, you could tell who slept where. The piled-up pillows?  That was my spot.  The pathetic flat pancakes pretending to be pillows? That was her spot.

We went to meet everyone at the public room...