Blog Date

(Photo stolen from these guys)

The restaurant was bustling, the patio not full but probably all reserved
on a perfect, balmy, beachy Friday night in San Clemente.  I was the first
in our group to arrive at the restaurant, an occurrence so rare that it may
portend the coming of the end of the world.

I wanted to make a good impression. I looked down at my chosen outfit.
Well, I wanted not to look too offensive, at least.  Check.

I had steeled myself against the likelihood that I would probably fall down
a flight of stairs or go hiney-over-teakettle into a fountain, although I
hoped that my pre-date blowdryer injury would appease the Clumsiness
Gods and I might possibly sail through the evening without further injury.
How does someone draw blood on a blowdryer, you ask?  Indeed.

One by one I was joined by three new friends from this blogging
community I have joined:  Suzanne of Emphasis Mine, Marcy of The
Glamorous Life, and Chris of Dharmabum.  These bloggers were not
large and menacing with poisonous fangs and free perfume samples
as I had feared.  No, they were engaging, articulate, warm, attractive,
funny and confident.

This could be WAY worse than I imagined, I thought.

While I managed to get through this blogger meet-up dinner without
spilling any drinks or destroying any furniture or wiping out any water
features, I did distinguish myself as the only human these people had
met who does not have and has never owned a cell phone.  But when
I whipped out my mom's Jitterbug phone, borrowed for this trip, my
new friends' astonishment only grew, I'm sure.

(These people use Jitterbug phones, probably with more facility than I do. Photo
stolen from these guys)

Actually, I'm lying about 83% of this, other than the part about my new
friends being friendly, interesting people, and also that I didn't embarrass
myself.  Except for the Jitterbug.  And the food stuck in my teeth which I
found when I got home.  I know, I can hear you say -- anyone can get
food stuck in their teeth.  But a whole cow?

We talked and talked about, of course, blogging, pets, photography,
Orange County, blog philosophies, design, the Psychedelic Furs, humor,
dive bars of Orange County, and frozen yogurt.  I learned A LOT.  Thank
you to Suz, Chris and Marcy -- and very sorry that Vicki at I Think I'm an
Artist couldn't make it, but I think there could be a reunion, down the road.
At least, as long as I learn how to use a cell phone.

Comments

[Alias Liz]

I'm diggin the Jitterbug. Sounds like fun, the meeting. I would be scared to go. I'm afraid that there would be an IQ test. Do they do that? Perhaps, if ever I have the chance to attend, I'll pretend to be mute and carry an etch a sketch.
Hurry back.
Love
Liz

[KD @ A Bit Squirrelly]

Caspian's Grandpa has a Jitterbug--it's so cute!

Glad you enjoyed your visit!

[Auds]

Woahhhhh those Jitterbugs are HUGE! They shoulda named them JUNEBUGS!

Love the pic of the OES's....

Sounds like you had a great time.

[Chesapeake Bay Woman]

Now, Foolery, you know our parents really didn't want their pictures plastered over the internet...plus how did you get them to use a jitterbug?

And btw when did jitterbug transform from a dance to something you use?

I am envious of these bloggers who got to meet you in person but I am sure many world problems were solved in your discussions.

If you're ever searching for sites for your next convention, you have an open invitation to stay here in Virginia.

-Cheeky

[Suz Broughton]

It was truly, sincerely, honestly great to meet you. You are as funny and engaging in person as you are in your blog.

[Kyddryn]

Another member of the Dork Sisterhood (Not to be confused with the Dark Sisterhood, which is full of women who know how to style their hair without injuring themselves, ascend and descend stairs with style, grace, and no gravity induced flights into he bushes, onlookers, water features, or unsuspecting wait-staff, and never, ever have so much as a particle of food in their mouths when it would be awkward. Perfectly dressed, perfectly pressed, made up and perfumed. We loathe them.)!

I'm president of the Braselton chapter, because I can trip over my own Crocs and fall with tremendous grace and style, and even more tremendous thuds. Also, I have been known to have an entire field of spinach in my teeth during social gatherings and go ass-over-teakettle because of an errant air molecule.

I won't start in on cell phones...suffice it to say I don't like the lack of courtesy they engender in the general public, and I think it's a fine thing not to have one.

Shade and Sweetwater,
K

[Meg]

You have a Jitterbug phone? My husband probably wishes he did. It's all he can do to recall a stored number on the 4 year old phone I bequeathed to him when I upgraded.

[Raz]

I swear the Clumsiness Gods have it in for me. I'm not kidding. When I'm around people I don't like much, who I don't care about impressing, I'm all grace and serenity. As soon as I'm around anyone who I'd like to appear as normal as possible, I fall flat on my face into some yoghurt, or get chewing gum stuck on my shoe. Thank you, ye Gods of Clumsiness. I really appreciate it.

About the mobile phone thing, it's totally normal not...

Ok, I can't do it. I'm sorry. You're abnormal and weird, and I have no idea how you cope.

[Marcy Massura-The Glamorous Life]

Whew! I was bursting at the seams to mention the Jitterbug and your dialing skill in my post on the evening.....so glad YOU did! Wasn't it fun? Oh yes a big ol reunion. Heck I might come herd some cattle soon...and yes I will bring proper shoes. My sling back heels should do nicely.