It seemed harmless enough. Meet up with some people, have dinner together, and share a beverage or two. That was the way I explained it to Ken when I considered going to meet up with Chicago bloggers after attending another graduation party on the eastern part of Illinois.
It just makes sense to drive several hundred miles around Illinois to party, right?
If you’re meeting the fabulous group I met with on Saturday night, well… then the answer is a simple and emphatic YES. First, I met up with Steve and Susan at the Printer’s Row Bookfair and it felt much like it was a blind date because I had no idea what they looked like and had to wait until they identified me. We got to sit down outdoors at Starbucks because it’s required to do such a thing with me.
Later, we met up with several other Chicago bloggers and two who are honorary Chicagoans because they traveled all the way there to meet everyone. Amazingly enough, we were easily comfortable with one another and had a wonderful time with lots of laughs and blog-talk. In fact, after having pizza at Piece we decided the night wasn’t really through and went to a tequila bar.
I highly recommend going to a tequila bar with perfect strangers who you have to convince your husband wouldn’t murder you after meeting you.
It’s cliche by now, but every time you say you’re meeting someone from the internet the standard response is, “But what if they’re psychotic or something? What if they murder you?”
Well, I guess I won’t be blogging about the meeting then.
There are plenty of pictures on the sites of my new friends, none of which are psychotic, which you can check out as well as these on flickr.
Should you be wondering what kind of people wouldn’t murder me upon meeting me, then go see the following fabulous folks:
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I’m so glad you are still alive. (insert giggly laugh here) Doug said the same thing the first time I met my pal Amy in Chicago. “So, you’re sure she’s not a serial killer?” I just laughed.
It sounds like you had a FABULOUS time! And Tequila? He always makes me take my clothes off. (snort and laugh).
Okay….I’m done rambling…..the weekend was exhausting. I gotta wake up still. -hugs-
Dana
Haaaa Kelly! I drove from Houston to Richmond with an internet friend whom I had never met, to meet up with several other folks that neither of us had met. Sadie (who is 30 something) had to convince her mom that I wasn’t an ax murderer. I told her, a 50 something female with no muscles? You’re joking, right?
We had a blast. I had been “talking” with these folks for as long as 5 years. I know some of them as well or better than my own family. Although I am adamant that when we’re talking kids, it’s a different story altogether.
I don’t necessarily advocate driving cross country, but every person that I have met from my internet travels has been a good person whom I otherwise never would have met.
Glad y’all had fun
)
It’s a delayed death. You will start to feel symptoms in the next 48-72 hours. Of course, it can never be traced back to any of us. Muahahahahhahahahahaha!
What fun it was to meet up in Chicago. Susan and I agreed that there’s a great WYSIWYG with Kelly. She’s as funny, open, enthusiastic, and spontaneous in real life as she is in her blog. Even before the visit to Starbucks Miz Mocha was a lively conversationalist, but afterwards she had a whole new gear. Once she and Susan got going on the daughter talk, it was all I could do to keep in sync nodding in agreement.
Good times!
If it makes you feel any better, I went to the meet-up with the intention of killing everybody, but somehow forgot about it. My bad… maybe next time?
It was great meeting you, and I’m glad to know that you had as good a time as I did!
Hello!!
How fun it was!!! I wish I still lived in MI, so I could go and join you!!!
Fabiola
Great pics on Flickr! Looks like tons of fun!
I swear girl—I cannot keep up with you. You write so many entries, every time I sign on I have an hour’s worth of reading to do! I don’t know how you do it all–honestly! What you wrote on June 2 was appropo because I have no clue how to do any of the fancy shmancy stuff on my blog. I left a message for you on my blog today in regards to Mumo. If you get a chance to read and leave words of wisdom, I would be appreciative. It sounds like you had an awesome time on your adventure. I wish I coulda gone. You would be SOOOO fun to hang with! But alas, this pesky kid waiting to be born…. hahhha I hope you and your family are well!
Hugs,
Wen
I was gonna go, but I didn’t want to be murdered or anything like that. Even maimed would be bad.
And I live in LA.
Sounds super fun. I’m glad you made it back to blog about it.
Kelly had a “rock star” moment when I saw her: I pointed and shouted, “That’s her!!!” And she was so gracious–she didn’t turn around and run away from us! I think that I’m going to have a T-shirt made that proclaims: I drank an iced mocha with Mocha Momma.
Seriously, those bloggers were a super group, weren’t they? They’re ruining the reputation of internet psychotics everywhere!
Kelly, I’m just happy I survived the tequila bar. Ever since an evening of really poor judgment approximately 30 years ago, I cannot stand to even smell tequila. And I want to forgive the stuff, I really do, but my tummy just won’t let me. Btw, our little dog passed his test with flying colors–not a bit of mess to clean up and he only made us feel a little bit guilty for leaving him alone for so long.
You were the dynamo of the group Kelly. If we’d have killed you, we would have just had to … like … READ or something.
That is so cool. Glad you survived. I have yet to meet any of my blogger friends. So tell me, are people more interesting in the flesh or in the blog?
Dana – Oh, so you attract the serial killers. Me, just the psychotics. There’s a difference, right?
Pam – Thanks for the reminder. I’ll be hitting those weights in the gym so as to be stronger and overpower people. You’re the best!
Kevin – That’s not funny. I have a stomach pain right now and I think my liver is turning green. My teeth ache and everything is a purply haze. Are those the symptoms? Damn.
Steve – By “new gear” do you mean to imply that the coffee energized me? It no longer affects me. I also love the WYSIWYG descriptor. That would make a great t-shirt.
Dave – I wondered about that cyanide and knife you carried, but was afraid to ask. Sure. Next time sounds great.
Fabiola – You lived in MI? Wonderful. Your home now seems much nicer for the fact that it’s HOT. And I love places that are HOT. I keep asking myself why I put up with Illinois winters.
Jeff – Yes, please look at my pictures on flickr. There’s an awful pic of me with a missing neck on someone else’s site. I’m not telling which.
Wen – You are sweet to remind me to check in with Mumo. I left her a message already, but will think about what you said.
jackt – No, no. Maimed is ok. You’ll recover from that and the tequila will make you forget ALL about it.
Erin – You really don’t know just how persistent I am. I would have tried to blog about it from the grave.
Susan – Your description is hilarious! It was quite a moment when I first saw the two of you and I’ll let you in on a secret: when we locked eyes (sounds like a romance book – ugh) and I started down the stairs my thoughts were, “Don’t trip. Don’t trip.” Now, how many rock stars think that?
RW – Don’t let my loud, obnoxious laugh fool you. By the way, you started on a new book yet? Where’s the list of what everyone is reading? I expected you to blog that.
Mad Dad – Hey! Good of you to come on over. You have been missed. People are far more interesting in the flesh if you’ve read them and think you can hear their “voice” of writing in their speech. Plus, people are just generally interesting as I love to people watch. They are fascinating!
I’m still jonsin for a cuppa at the airport with you. Someday, sweets.
Glad you’re not dead. Tee Hee! 
Hey Kelly,
Sounds like you had a blast. I’m glad they weren’t psychotics
I lost the book list somewhere between the Mexican Zinfandel and running interference on the valet. I think Dave is reading Arthur Conan Doyle or something?
Elizabeth – Well, quit teasing me and have that cuppa with me!
Josh – I didn’t say they weren’t psychotic. I said they didn’t murder me. BIG difference.
RW – Thanks for that valet thing. I realized later what a scam it was.
Sure wished I lived in Chicago about now.
D’oh! Dave and RW? This one time, this psychotic lady on the Ninnernet just murdered me by making me so jealous I died.
If you ever hear “It’s a Small World” in your head and need to get it out by hearing it in person, you’ll let me know, right?
And no killing me at Disney World if you do. We have to set that up as a rule right from the start. Someone (total stranger — not a blogger) already tried that once and it wasn’t a pleasant experience for either of us.
when is your next meet? i’ll make sure i move to Chicago before that.
Hi, Stopped at library to check my email and your space and Brenda’s. Nothing for me. Oh well, busy women. Take care. Peace and love.
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