There.As of a few minutes ago, the 2006 shift signup grid was just distributed to tech. Thus ends phase 1 of the Busy Season, and begins the mad rush of Phase 2. Today—the shift grid release day—is the day that I work for months toward, knowing that the moment these grids are released, I am not likely to have time to work on anything else.

Phase 2 involves wardialing. I'll get those shift signups, by hook or by crook. I'm not above calling people and cajoling, begging, wheedling, bartering, or outright bribing them to take shifts. I am writing this in the wee hours of Tuesday morning; I head for Atlanta in eight days.

I have eight days to make this work; eight days to take this amalgamated mess of shifts and soundboard needs and events to be videotaped and 113 free-floating staffers and somehow fold them all together into something that is fluid and responsive and just works.

Don't ask me how I do it. I don't have an answer for you.

Check back in eight days, and maybe I will by then.

Dragon*con should buy me a lovely bottle of port. I'd just need to find time to drink it.