I have been told by shape-note singers that the paper is completely intelligible to everyone, which was one of my goals. I have some revisions to make to the presentation version, but after those are done, we can certainly talk.

Well, we'll see how it goes at BFE, and then I'll see what I can do about getting the revised presentation version out.

Will do!

We'll have to ask her when she gets back.

It's always wonderful to see the "proposal accepted" e-mail in your inbox. Somebody wants to hear me speak!

I knew the bit about the Beatles, but that was one of only two things I know about Liverpool. (The other is that the residents of the city are called "Liverpudlians" for some reason.)

I've been poking around at maps to find out where exactly Liverpool is in relation to other interesting sites in England. I won't have time to do extensive traveling at all; this conference is the week before our big gamelan concert. But depending on how plane fares work out, I may get a couple of days.

Now, Devon. (You pronounce it DEH-v'n, right? Because there's a street in Chicago with that name, only it's duh-VAHN Avenue. It's where all the good Indian restaurants are.) I think that's a county, yes? In the little sticky-out bit of southwest England? That doesn't look particularly close to Liverpool. Or to London. I have to look up where flights from Chicago would land in England, and how close I could get to Liverpool by plane. How far apart are Devon and Liverpool in real-people-traveling-time?

Well, the first thing was that it took me a few maps to figure out that Devon was a county rather than a town or city (or street). My colleague here at the U of C who's from Liverpool also suggested the Manchester airport, especially because there are direct flights from Chicago to Manchester, and there are trains that run every half hour according to her.

I don't think I'll be making it down south on this trip, alas, alackaday.

Thanks! I am really excited about this. Possibly a bit too excited, but hey, England! You don't get to go there every day.

Thank you! I'll try to take some conference pictures. And they said that there would be some sightseeing time, too, so I can take a look at Liverpool.

Thank you! I really should work in something about Obama, shouldn't I? Cathryn suggested that I contact one of the British singings to let them know about my presentation.

And thank you for listening to and commenting on the dry run on Saturday. The presentation will be much improved for that.

One of my fellow grad students is from a suburb of Liverpool, and she says that the Cavern Club is still there, but it's become a dive for skanky old men. I'll have to look for Strawberry Fields, though. She also says that England in April will be rainy, but I can deal with a little rain.

I might poke my head in if I have some time. Or not, as the case may be.

I shall look forward to hearing the accent. But I don't think I'll be able to travel around much. I have to be back in Chicago for a gamelan rehearsal on Tuesday, and I don't think I can afford to stay in England much longer than just the conference itself. But the conference itself will be a blast all on its own!