I will try to help on this one.  Sunday afternoon is pretty good for me.  I may not make in this coming weekend (7th) but the 21st looks good.  I will pencil it into my calendar.

You'll see that I used a photo of Pillsbury, which you are welcome to add to the avatar list.  Or maybe you can find a better one...

Absolutely!  The most difficult thing I have had to learn is to get over the frustration of a bad move, get composed enough to re-evaluate, and regain the will to fight--and to do so quickly, since time is finite.  Defending can be fun, but defending at a disadvantage can seem like torture, especially if one feels he is at a disadvantage because of his own poor play.  I don't mind being outplayed, but I do mind defeating myself.

Anyway, I have no wisdom to offer about opponents with annoying habits.  I had an opponent many years ago who would lean forward over the board to make his move, and then stay that way--the verb "loom" comes to mind--so that he actually cast a shadow over at least half of the board.  I don't think his behavior was meant to affect me.  It was just a habit he had developed.  But it did bug me.

You can count me in for this idea, too.  Sounds like fun.  If we go by USCF ratings, then mine is 28 years old.  I won't get anything current until I can play in some tournaments this year.  You guys probably can get a good idea of where I am by the games on Tuesday nights.

The schedule might affect my ability to participate because of business obligations, but I have some flexibility.

Count me in, too.  I have no experience with various designs, so will leave that to others.

Thanks for the info about the hotel/tournament site.  I am planning to go, but will probably make it a trip with my wife and stay in or nearer to downtown.  That way, I can go off to play (chess) and she can stay in town to play.  We will see as May gets closer.