November 4, 2009
Traveling
Boyfriend and I haven’t done much in the way of vacations. We’re not huge beach layabouts, so there has never been an urge to run to the tropics. It’s somewhat difficult to do anything when you don’t trust anyone to watch your dog, who is your fur-son and for whom you would spend the rest of your life in jail for the killing of the person who lets anything happen to him. So, there’s that. Our first vacation was this year to Alaska, thanks to Alaskan friends who married there. And, but for losing the use of my right hand due to neurological issues caused by sleeping on the plane in contorted positions no body can withstand, it was amazing.
We both return to Michigan, but never at the same time. I do not like to leave Jürgen unless I have to. This wasn’t much of an issue when we lived in Michigan as I knew my mom would gladly watch and take good care of him, but we don’t really know anyone close who would care for him (and allow a webcam for me to check in on him from afar – I’m THAT kind of worrier). So, my September trip to Michigan was alone, as will be his trip home for Thanksgiving.
I discovered a place called “Camp Bow Wow” before our Alaska trip and I was happy with their care. Their webcam wasn’t great, but I was relatively comfortable and Jürgen seemed to enjoy himself. Because of that I am somewhat more comfortable taking off on trips now and then. Which is fortunate, because Boyfriend and I are looking to dash off somewhere for a long weekend. We’ve long wanted to visit Vancouver for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is to experience the music scene, but I think we’ve narrowed our focus to Seattle, a place I’ve always wanted to visit. That Kap, Kerri, Sizzle and Mighty Hunter are in the area is a huge bonus and my reason for pushing the trip. I need a visit with friends.
It’s amazing how, with the evolution of the blogosphere, bloggers no longer think anything of it to pack up and head off for a visit with blogger friends. I love that. Meeting Kris, Kim, Maliavale and Nabbalicious (the latter two are missed here in the ’sphere) the first time had me downing two shots of Crown beforehand to settle my nerves. Because, what if they don’t like Real Me as much as they like Online Me? Online Me is way more fun, more social, a better conversationalist. And that makes sense, for Online Me has the backspace button, some time to think about things before hitting the send button and can, if necessary, do some googling or Wiki searches to check the meaning of something so I don’t sound stupid. Real Me has none of that. None of us do, and I have often found myself wishing I had the powers of Evie from Out of this World. I’d press the tips of my index fingers together firmly to put the world on pause while I picked the seed out of my teeth, googled something, threw a few phrases back and forth to choose the most witty, and then I’d do whatever it was she did to unpause everything. And I’d be wonderful and no one the wiser.
Now no one thinks of these trips as nerve wracking. I love that. I love that I can think of a place for Boyfriend and I to visit and have a few peeps to email or call to tell them to put on their drinking shoes.
I found myself saying last night that, if the Internets were around when I was younger, I may never have developed the crippling self-doubt I have concerning anything related to mathematics. And without that insecurity, I wouldn’t have wasted the time I did because I chose a major that was more about the lack of math classes than about something about which I was truly passionate. So much time has been thrown away because of stupid insecurities that built upon each other in complex, ever thickening layers. And now, thinking about this in the context of blogging, I wonder if I would have felt a lack of self-conscious boundary growing up and into friendships in my early twenties, after college, after it became more difficult to make friends who were everything you needed them to be and not people to whom you felt you had to conform. Without the easy bantering online, I fear I would have retreated more and more into my shell, not recognizing the potential of a good friend in the sea of faces that made me nervous, not excited. Insecurities and fears, layering and callousing the soul, making it harder, uglier.
At any rate, I’m glad for it, this, you. And, if you’re in the Seattle area when we visit in the next month or so and you’ve got a sensible pair of drinking shoes, dust ‘em off and holler at me. I may not feel like I’m as good or fun as Online Stacy, but I can now save the shots for celebrating friendship, not calming the nerves before the actual meetup. After the meetup? Oh, it’s ON.
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- On Blogging and Getting By With a Little Help From Your Friends
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- Diente de perro.
Filed under: Blogging, Daily, Friends, Grad School, Insecurities, Jurgen, Life, Us, Writing
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I love bloggy friendships too. Are you sure you don’t want to do a long weekend in Denver instead?
Jess´s last blog ..Areas where my husband and I are not compatible
Oh, I’ve been wanting to visit Colorado, too!! I think we have friends in Denver, so it is entirely possible that I would get to finally meet you!
Twitter: kerrianne
Says:
YAY. I am seriously so! excited to see you and hang out. Just give me a heads up on dates when you know them so I can board the Iggster and either drive or take the train up from PDX. WOOT!
Kerri Anne´s last blog ..This Is Something; This Is Nothing
I will definitely give you a big head’s up. What is your December like? FUCK. How is it already DECEMBER.
Yeah…don’t you want to come to gorgeous Colorado? I would never judge for doing pre-meet shots of Crown…I’d be doing them too!
(We take our Chloe girl to Camp Bow Wow. We like.)
rosalicious´s last blog ..Secret weapon #2.
Are you in Denver, too? Have you met Jess? Ooh, this is looking like a good trip.
I feel the same way as you do concerning the friendships that have come out of blogging. The fact that I blogged and people (used to) comment and show sympathy or singularity on an issue or thought made my empty life seem fuller.
I love reading your stuff, and am formerly inviting you to dance those drinking shoes over to Orlando!!
Em´s last blog ..Fighting For Air
YES, the whole “I’m not alone in this” has moved me to allergies (tears) many times. I don’t ever want this to change because it proves that people really can be awesome.
And I’d LOVE to come to Orlando. Can you promise a Disney free vacation?? I fear throngs of children.
Wait, question, are you in SF? Because I’m coming for Thanksgiving week!
nicoleantoinette´s last blog ..top sheets, learned behaviors, and letting people rub off on you in all the right ways
YES!!! LADY! You *have to* tell me when you’re here!!!
NYC.
I have *never* been to NYC (or NY) and have always wanted to. I want to see the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. And you! Again!
The fear that you won’t measure up to your online persona is pretty universal, I think. I had the same anxiety… will people realize that I really do talk that fast and swear that much? What if my complete lack of common sense is less funny in real life and more… annoying? But there’s really nothing to worry about, as I’m sure you know. I hope you have fun in Seattle. It’s such a great city.
Operation Pink Herring´s last blog ..Not as awesome as I thought it was going to be
I haven’t (yet) met you, but I feel like I can tell that you have NOTHING to worry about. You are full of awesome.
I have never met a blogger before, and am actually afraid to. I only really write about interesting things on my blog, so I hope people don’t think I’m that interesting all the time. It’s really probably only 10% of the time, plus I’m socially awkward in new situations on top of that.
Felicia´s last blog ..I will use every misogynistic word in the book on this one
Felicia! Seriously? I know it’s easier said than done, but don’t be afraid to meet a blogger, especially one who reads you and with whom you’ve shared conversations. Trust me, NO ONE is as interesting as their blogs and I think it’s a requirement that every blogger has to be somewhat socially awkward. I’m ridiculously bad at meeting people. If I can do it, you can do it in spades.
Sounds like much fun is to be had in Seattle. :) For the record, I know I haven’t seen you since college, but you have always been awesome to me (dating back to elementary school), even though I completely understand what you’re saying about the crippling self-doubt. I’ve been there – and to a certain extent, I *still* am there. :)
Hope you have fun!!!!
I cannot even tell you how happy I am to have caught up through Facebook and that we’ve started to talk after all these long years. I feel like I have my Chesterfield best friend back! And it’s so amazing to reconnect and go back and forth about everything we have in common. You really are fucking awesome and I am SO SO SO grateful that you’re my friend. And I know this is all soggy, but seriously. I love that we’re back in touch. xxxx
Twitter: L_Hoff
Says:
Oh, I am! And I have at least six beloved bars in a ten block radius. And would love to meet you.
You’re in Seattle?! Seriously?? Email me and let me know where you are in relation to the airport. Maybe we can ALL meet up! AAAH! I want to come NOW!
Twitter: thejackb
Says:
I have met a few bloggers. It is kind of fun, but different. The people who read my blog know things about me that some long time friends still don’t know.
Jack´s last blog ..You Suck Dad!
Tell me about it. The people I’ve known longest have never read my blog, to my knowledge. I feel weird thinking about it, which is weird in itself. I’ve known Rachel (above) since, what, third grade? And it was very scary knowing that she was here, that she can read a few posts and, in my mind, realize how fucked up I am. It’s insane how a person can share all of their thoughts and self online to “strangers” and be so shy and clammed up that same person can be with friends they’ve known in person forever.
Twitter: iamstillbroken
Says:
I’ve met quite a few bloggers. I’ve also done some meetups and forum meet-n-greets, which can also turn out kinda awkward.
Well, I know it’s a longshot, but if you’re ever in the Houston area, gimme a shout. In fact, if you’re ever in TX at all, gimme a shout. Our state is big, but I’ll take any excuse I can for a road trip and a reason to get the FUDGE out of this horrid city…
Stillie´s last blog ..Like Tonight
How long have you been in Houston? And likewise for you, if you’re ever in SF or ever want to be, I would so love to meet up.
That’s funny because Katie and I haven’t had much time for vacation. But when we start again in the spring, we’re going to Seattle and the PacNW as well. Gotta figure out when it starts to get nice there again after winter. They’ve been nailed pretty hard lately. Don’t want to ruin our first vacation since early last year with crap weather. But we’ll be hitting up Seattle, Olympia, and Portland and meeting up with some of the same bloggers you will and then some.
kapgar´s last blog ..I’m gonna set you free…
Our versions of “crap weather” may be very different, though. Me, I love the rain and grey skies and some snow and I’m all about gloomy, monochromatic days. For me, crap weather would be days and days of the sun beating down relentlessly with no change. UGH. I will never get used to California. And I am jealous of your being there because I want to meet you and your lady.
Yeah…so help me baby Jeebus I’m gonna figure out a way to make it to see you. It’s gonna happen.
Dysfunction Junction´s last blog ..Only you know how…
IT NEEDS TO. IMMEDIATELY.
Flying to hang with fellow bloggers is the best. All this makes me love the interwebs. Have a great trip!
Moose´s last blog ..Soup and Silver Linings
I love the Internets and I can’t wait to meet you. I hope we both have a free weekend coming up soon so we can meet and have drinks. Let me know when you have a free night!! I don’t remember where we left off on email.
I wish I was going to be in Seattle, not just to meet and drink with you, but because I frikkin’ love that place.
I started going annually to what began as a small blogger meet-up, but has morphed into quite a medium-sized undertaking. Now I fly across the country to spend weekends with bloggers for the hell of it. It’s 100% non-sucky. There consistently seems to be a lot of depth to people I’ve met on the interwebs and when we get together, there’s never a lull in the conversation. Or the drinking. Which helps the conversation.
And the drinking.
It’s an infinite loop of fun!
You can call me, ‘Sir’´s last blog ..Handwritten
I love infinite loops. And Jesus, I would so love to meet you. You have been consistently awesome and amazing and to meet you would be tops.
Crap. Now I’m realizing that you are yet ANOTHER person I forgot to give a heads-up to when I was just out in your part of the world. I am an asshole.
Please forgive me- it was a short trip. Though, truth be told, I could have used some quality drinking with bloggers time while I was there. The Mr. holds only SO much interest for me, you know.
;)
I’ll be out that way again before you know it, and I’ll be stalking you to hang out with me.
You were here and you didn’t tell me?!
*glaring at you*
Seriously, next time needs to come quickly and please don’t forget to let me know!!! I never do anything or go anywhere, so I’m always here and so geeked to meet up and have fun. I have to meet you. HAVE TO.