From universally beloved commentor SiubhanDuinne:
As you may or may not know, I came to northern Virginia to see/hear Ruth Bader. Ginsburg yesterday and am staying in the area for a few days to visit various friends…
We’re trying to get together a small BJ meetup this Tuesday evening, precise location and time TBD. I’ve been in recent touch with Elizabelle, and some weeks ago was in touch with both Valdivia and Shana. I know Elizabelle is definite for Tuesday, and I think Elmo as well. Would love to meet Steeplejack but haven’t heard from him either by email or in a thread.
Would you be kind enough to put up a note tonight or tomorrow and see if anyone else in this general vicinity would be both available and interested? I’ve mentioned it in a few threads, but it’s usually so long after the threads get underway that they’re pretty dead by the time I comment, so am not sure many people have seen the invitation.
Anyhow, very grateful for any bat signals you can send out. If folks want to contact me directly, my email is SiubhanDuinne (at) gmail (dot) com.
Leave a comment (or send SD an email) if you want to be there, have suggestions for a venue, etc. I’ll repost this tomorrow morning, but this is a chance to start rearranging your schedules.
Tree With Water
Can’t help you, but I envy you the trip. I’ve twice crossed the country to tour the Civil War battlefields thereabouts (this time of year, too) and consider it some of the most beautiful country I’ve ever laid eyes on. If you’ve never seen it, truck on out to Harpers Ferry, and give the souvenir shops my regards.
Omnes Omnibus
Wait, she’s a “universally beloved commentor” and the rest of us get “valued commentor” or “Interminable commentor?”
Never mind, that makes sense.
Omnes Omnibus
@efgoldman: For a guy who created a community, he sure hates all of us.
SiubhanDuinne
@efgoldman:
Maybe a French bistro, to celebrate Bastille Day.
Sorry our paths won’t cross this time, efg. But there will be other trips.
SiubhanDuinne
@Omnes Omnibus:
“Universally beloved” just made me giggle, as most ridiculously unrealistic language does.
But many thanks to the always-reliable front pager Anne Laurie, both for the extravagant description and especially for giving the NOVA-DC meetup such prominence.
Omnes Omnibus
@efgoldman: I also was not present at the creation. I settled here when Eschaton where I had spent a few years started to get a bit odd. He did create it; even if he lost control of his monster as Mary Shelley predicted.
SiubhanDuinne
@efgoldman:
Part of it is still a surprise. He has always known there would be a party of some sort, but AFAIK he still has no idea where it will be or what the theme is to be. And because his wife wants me to come a little early and get him out of her hair while she makes last-minute arrangements, she had to tell him that I was coming up at all, which I’m not sure he knew.
Have fun at the reunion. I’d love to see some of the people I made music with back in the day.
Omnes Omnibus
@SiubhanDuinne:
‘Twas accurate. It applies to maybe five to seven people around here. You, efg, Amir, Elizabelle, Valdivia, and a couple of players to be named later.
satby
@Omnes Omnibus: WaterGirl, too!
satby
I love all of us… even that guy from Brigadoon.
Amir Khalid
@Omnes Omnibus:
You’re very kind. I never expected to make that list.
Omnes Omnibus
@satby: I had to start leaving out names.
@Amir Khalid: Dude, let’s have no false modesty. You are easily on it.
SiubhanDuinne
@Omnes Omnibus:
That seems hyperbolic but if it is true, that is some excellent company.
@Amir Khalid:
I’m pretty sure you would be on everyone’s list. You are enormously respected.
sharl
@SiubhanDuinne:
I might try to make it Tuesday evening, but cannot make a reliable commitment.
If you’re working out details via e-mail, I’ll get in touch that way.
SiubhanDuinne
Speaking of universally beloved, it was two years ago (13 July) that we all got the terrible and shocking news about Tunch. Which means it was also two years ago that we got the very sad but not completely unexpected news about General Stuck.
I miss them both. Stuck would have been in his element with the current GOP primary field, and Tunch was, well, Tunch.
Suzanne
@Omnes Omnibus: Truth. All of those commenters are beloved by me.
I want a series of lists. Can I be on “Obnoxious But Tolerated”? I just don’t want to be on “Nobody Can Really Be THIS Stupid”.
Wish I was on the other coast. Would love to meet up with y’all.
SiubhanDuinne
@sharl:
Sharl, that would be great if you can. If you want to email me now you’ll be in the system, and I can also give you my phone number if that’s easier.
Omnes Omnibus
@SiubhanDuinne: I am not in a hyperbolic mood.
@efgoldman: No, you are doing it right.
Both of you have seen me be vicious to people if I don’t like them. With the two of you, even if I strongly disagreed with what you said, I could never be vicious. And not just because I was taught to be nice to my elders.
Amir Khalid
@SiubhanDuinne:
Both Tunch and the General deserve memorial posts.
Suzanne
@Omnes Omnibus: I would also add Ruckus to that list, as I love him/her.
sharl
@SiubhanDuinne: OK, I’ll get out a message to you during one of the lulls in tonight’s intermittent line fry on the DSL.
satby
@Omnes Omnibus: slippery slope indeed.
Amir, of course you’re “universally beloved”.
And I miss Stuck too.
dww44
@Suzanne: Since you were at the Trump gathering in Phoenix yesterday, perhaps you can clue us in re how many folks were in attendance. Picked up a link to a Trump tweet at Booman’s place earlier and he (Trump) says there was a very big number attending his event. Info provided by a commenter there .
So, is the Donald engaging in hyperbole here as well?
Suzanne
@dww44: I estimated about 9K-10K. I would not be surprised if it was over the maximum allowable occupancy. I have been in that room many times, and it was submitted to the City as an assembly room, with seating. But this time, the room was used with no seating, which packs in many more people.
Yes, I am an architect and I do occupancy calculations and deal with the building and fire departments all the time, so I am positive that I am right here. It concerned me enough that I stuck close to an exit.
SiubhanDuinne
@Omnes Omnibus:
::pats Omnes on the head::
You’re a kind young lad.
Omnes Omnibus
@SiubhanDuinne: LMAO.
SiubhanDuinne
@efgoldman:
Stuck would have skewered them with his finely-honed rapier comments.
Tunch would have sat on them.
Same result.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Omnes Omnibus: Feel happy Omnes, I just get called dipshit.
In other news, the first fruity computing device passed through my door(I found it while walking the dogs). It’s a G4 and doesn’t exactly work, just a white screen. I’ll tinker with it, but spend no funds.
Suzanne
So this just happened:
Spawn the Elder, to her Grammie: So how was Trump?
Grammie:, who has some mild aphasia: It was very entertaining at his…..thingie.
Spawn the Elder: I hope he bought you a drink first.
Spawn the Elder is eleven. Holy cats. LMMFAO.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Suzanne: Ruckus is a he, I’ve met him at one of our meetups here in LALA land.
divF
@Suzanne:
You’ve trained her well.
Suzanne
@BillinGlendaleCA: He is one of my favorite commenters.
Suzanne
@divF: This kid is brilliant and hilarious.
SiubhanDuinne
@Amir Khalid:
One thing I suppose we all see every time we visit this site (although we may not consciously notice it) is the wonderful portrait of Tunch FEED over on the side linking to the Balloon Juice Store. I’m so glad John didn’t take that down after Tunch died; it’s a pleasure to see His Floofiness many times a day, however subliminally.
Omnes Omnibus
@BillinGlendaleCA: You get love from little boots.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Omnes Omnibus: As do you and Steep.
Suzanne
@BillinGlendaleCA: Also love Steep.
Omnes Omnibus
@BillinGlendaleCA: Yeah, we should design a club tie.
NotMax
Hoist one (or two, or three) for those of us way out in the ocean.
sharl
@SiubhanDuinne: E-mail sent! I hope I can make it.
Mnemosyne (tablet)
@Suzanne:
One of the most adorable stories TBogg ever told had a punchline with his young daughter saying, “I gotta pee like a racehorse.” Like father, like daughter.
Jeffro
Would love to catch the next NoVA-area meetup…I’m being dragged way, way against my will by my wife and daughter to the Taylor Swift concert that night…
SiubhanDuinne
@sharl: Received and replied, thanks!
SiubhanDuinne
@Jeffro:
You would surely have more fun with us :-)
Have a good time anyhow, and hope the next one works better for you.
divF
I live in NorCal, but grew up in NoVa / DC. I’m going to be off by one for the meetup (I’m in DC the week of the 20th on business). Here’s to all of you hoping you have a good time.
Tree With Water
@Suzanne: “But this time, the room was used with no seating, which packs in many more people”.
I was swept up in a human tide once when the Rolling Stones hit the Cow Palace stage, and I moved from maybe a hundred to within twenty feet of the stage in a matter of seconds. They opened with Honky Tonk Women, and it took till the end of the song for me to relax. I’ve avoided stand-up crowds like that ever since, and only hover at the edges of those crowds I can’t otherwise avoid. Give me seating facilities every time..
Redshift
Wish I could be there, but I have a county commission meeting, and since I’m the chair right now, they kind of expect me to be there.
Roger Moore
@efgoldman:
FTFY.
SiubhanDuinne
@Roger Moore:
LOL
Origuy
@Suzanne:
Given the occasion, a wise decision even if the room hadn’t been over occupancy.
Anne Laurie
@BillinGlendaleCA: Careful with those street finds, dude…
Ruckus
@Suzanne:
Thank you! That is about one of the nicest things. And I need it tonight. Just started having a massively more significant tremor in my right hand when relaxed about 10 minutes ago. This along with other signs that have been going on for a bit is not a good prognosis. Going back to the VA tomorrow morning. Let the docs give me answers.
Suzanne
@Ruckus: Hang in there, man.
Ruckus
@Suzanne:
I’ve gotten used to every time things start to go OK (they never seem to go great so OK is quite acceptable anymore) something comes along and throws a monkey wrench into the gears. If you believe this sort of thing, I figure I must have done something in a prior life or at least someone thought I did. Personally I think you get one chance and it either works or it doesn’t. So you’ve got to give it all you’ve got and hope that’s enough.
ETA At least if you come back as a dung beetle you can be positive that you fucked up previously.
Mnemosyne (tablet)
@Ruckus:
Ugh. Hopefully it’s a side effect rather than a primary one. Fingers crossed.
Ruckus
@Mnemosyne (tablet):
There really isn’t much of anything for it to be a side effect of. At least it isn’t constant and has subsided for now. Oh well, onward and downward.
Omnes Omnibus
@Ruckus: If one was a GOPer in one’s previous life, wouldn’t dung beetle be a step up?
Frankensteinbeck
@Amir Khalid:
You’re the only commentor I can think of who I’d call ‘universally loved.’ Even the trolls leave you alone, now that MC has been booted.
SiubhanDuinne
@Omnes Omnibus:
Dick Cheney should only wish to come back to such ethical heights as dungbeetlehood (or is it dungbeetledom? dungbeetleness? dungbeetleism?)
Edit: dungbeetleitude
Ruckus
@Omnes Omnibus:
To be my age and have been a republican in a previous life may not have been as much of an issue as it would be to be one now and arrive at a future life.
ETA Also depends on the old republican, current one, not so much.
Everyone has to start someplace, current republican to dung beetle, yes that would be at least one rung up. Second thought, two steps.
Ruckus
@SiubhanDuinne:
He’s so far down the food chain that he needs about ten lifetimes to get up to dung beetle. He’s so low he’s got at least 8 lifetimes to get to be the dung that a dung beetle chows on.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Frankensteinbeck: Cudlip.
Suzanne
@BillinGlendaleCA: Ooooohhh, I forgot how much I miss matoko_chan. She’s on my “Annoying But Fun To Poke With Stick On Occasion” list.
ruemara
Well, I’m back and that’s the last of San Diego for a bit. Plus, I think I caught something from some traveller. My throat is killing me and I have chills, my ear is still stuffed up and my head is pounding. Ahhh, travel.
Amir Khalid
@ruemara:
I once spent 24 hours flying from Kuala Lumpur to Minnesota, followed by 45 hours in Rochester, and another 24 hours flying back to KL. The jet lag messed me up for days, I tell you. Days.
piratedan
we all have our place on the list… I think I’m somewhere in the “reluctantly tolerated” section….
J R in WV
@Frankensteinbeck:
Re Amir, I’ll go universally respected and fondly appreciated.
Aleta
@Ruckus: Will be thinking of you. For anything, early treatment is all to the good; sounds like you’re on top of it.
Amir Khalid
@Ruckus:
Fingers crossed for you.
Ruckus
Thanks all!
At least I’ve got decent health care. 3 yrs ago I had none.
sharl
BBC has just reported that agreement has been reached in Brussels between the EU and Greece’s government; no details yet. Talking heads on BBC are presuming brutal economic restrictions in store for Greece, and while they think the Greece Parliament will probably approve it, the (presumed) severity of the agreement will likely disrupt Greece’s government, i.e., toppling of the current socialist government and a call for new elections. Again, lots of speculation, although it’s been stuff many folks have been saying for quite some time.
mai naem mobile
@Suzanne: Brahm Resnik on his Twitter feed has the Fire Dept saying it was 4500.
Cpl. Cam
@Omnes Omnibus: No Villago Dellanda Est? I love that guy. He always hits the nail on the head.
Valdivia
@SiubhanDuinne: You are indeed universally beloved :)
@Omnes Omnibus: Speechless. That is some very august company and thank you immensely for putting me on that list.
I would definitely add a few more to it (WaterGirl and Steep just off the top of my non caffeinated head)
Tomorrow night’s get together will be so fun. Can’t wait.
Back to the grind.
SFAW
@Omnes Omnibus:
My thoughts exactly. Although I’m not sure that Amir is older than I. (Not a back-handed comment at you, efg – you’ve already confirmed you’re older. At least, in terms of DOB.)
SFAW
Siubhan –
“Universally beloved” is spot on, young lady.
SFAW
@Amir Khalid:
Isn’t that the equivalent of, like 10 gazillion Pater nosters and Ave Marias? (Not that you would be the one to say them, of course.)
Elizabelle
Morning all.
Agree that Siubhan is beloved. Also way snarky.
@divF: Send Siubhan an email, if you would like, and she will forward it to me. Maybe we can do an additional non-Bastille Day meetup next week, when you’re in town. Maybe redshift and anyone with a schedule conflict this week could make it then.
Where’s Steeplejack? Boatboy? elmo? Mumphrey? Come out, wherever you are.
To remind: we have a $25 gift certificate to Murphy’s in Old Town Alexandria, which we should drink up one of these days … (ETA: although I would LOVE to go somewhere else this week.)
Suzanne
@mai naem mobile: I think it was more. The ballroom was. Packed, standing room only, and the line wrapped around the block twice.
Shana
I’m back from travels, unpacking, doing laundry, stocking up at the grocery, picking up the cat from boarding (she’ll be so glad to see me) and generally settling back in today. I’m flexible on timing since I don’t have an outside job so let me know what we decide on place for tomorrow. So looking forward to meeting you all and putting faces to names.
boatboy_srq
@Elizabelle: Here, and so there, both tomorrow night and whenever divF is free. Got a couple ideas for venues as well, depending on where SD is staying: there are some good spots in Clarendon (La Tasca does good tapas and will be fairly quiet that evening, Circa has nice seating in and out and very good nibbles, and I hear good things about both Cava and Fuego), and there’s a wealth of places at Tysons that are now in reach (the usual mix of Gordon Biersch, Coastal Flats, Chang’s, etc, plus good Thai at Busara around the corner from the malls). I’m planning to drive in that day, so I can play chauffeur if anyone needs a lift before/after. We can save Murphy’s for difV…
boatboy_srq
@SiubhanDuinne: Welcome to Northern Virginia! Sorry about the thunderstorms. French food? In NoVA? BWAHAHAHAHA….. Seriously, though, La Madeleine may be cafeteria-style service but the food is good (and the one in Reston actually has some nice seating), and Mon Ami Gabi (also in Reston) has a good reputation. I’m open to suggestions for other places, but la cuisine Française doesn’t seem too high on NoVA’s list of good eats. Then again, haute cuisine of any kind seems a little “off” here: remind me to tell you about the jerk chicken lumpias, the blue-cheese club sandwich (with lobster), and the “Caribbean-inspired BBQ ribs” I’ve been served…
Nethead Jay
@Suzanne: Holy cats indeed. She’s going to be a handful as a teenager, if not already. Hopefully in a good/hilarious way ;-)
Elizabelle
@boatboy_srq: So glad you’re coming! Had your email addy in front of me last week, and then misplaced it.
Please keep thinking of a great spot that’s also Metro accessible. Some of us have cars, some don’t. (Although those Metroing could also email me or whomever for a ride to and from the meeting place …)
I’m thinking about it now …. boatboy: email Siubhan, if you would, and you can be in our email chain too.
boatboy_srq
@Elizabelle: MOST of what I put up is either immediately Metro-accessible or maybe 5-10 minutes’ walk. Wiehle is home and Clarendon is work if that helps.
Elizabelle
@boatboy_srq: Yes. Thanks. Realized you were good on Metro once I read it more closely (which didn’t stop me from firing off a response prematurely …)
Moar coffee required. Particularly on a dark and (not overly) stormy morning.
boatboy_srq
@Elizabelle: On a besoin de café quand il pleut (just for SD and Bastille Day). No worries. And I’m planning on driving, so there’s that too.
We’ll swap/reswap email addresses tomorrow night… ,-)
SiubhanDuinne
@Valdivia:
@SFAW:
Well, thank you both. Blushing and tongue tied.
I adore quite a lot of commenters here; like and respect nearly all (even when I don’t agree with them); and am bored or turned off by only a small number. The terrific diversity in the Balloon Juice mix is what keeps me engaged.
SiubhanDuinne
@boatboy_srq:
Thanks! At the moment it’s only drizzling and overcast here in Chantilly; can’t tell what it’s like to do later, but I have no compelling plans for today so if it pours I’ll just hang out in my room.
I will have my car so, given a street address, I can GPS my way to pretty much anywhere. You and Elizabelle and others in the area know places much better than I do, so I’ll leave it up to y’all. But once a decision is made, I can be responsible for getting the word out to everyone.
Edit: Yes, do please send me an email. SiubhanDuinne (at) gmail (dot) com.
SiubhanDuinne
@SiubhanDuinne:
Stupid autospellcorrectionthing. Likely to do later. Likely.
boatboy_srq
@SiubhanDuinne: @Elizabelle: If SD is in Chantilly (not exactly Metro-friendly territory, plus pretty far west), we should be looking at Reston/Tysons/northwest-Arlington anyway. Add to my suggestions from before: ATR (either Reston or Clarendon), and possibly Legal Sea Foods or Founding Farmers (both Tysons) or Northside Social (coffee/wine bar – at Clarendon).
@SiubhanDuinne: FYI: if the party moves inside the Beltway, there’s parking at Vienna, Dunn-Loring and Wiehle stations, so if Metro becomes more convenient then at least you’ll have options.
SiubhanDuinne
@boatboy_srq: I’m in Chantilly now but tomorrow will transfer to a hotel in Alexandria, near the Pentagon. I’m up for any place you locals want to suggest. Everything sounds good. The most important thing, in my view, is that it’s someplace where people can converse without going either deaf or hoarse.
By my count it looks like a party of 7 so far: boatboy_srq, BoogerTom, Elizabelle, Shana, Sharl, SiubhanDuinne, and Valdivia. Of course, SOs and spouses make things that much merrier. Hope I haven’t missed anyone.
I look forward to learning a decision on venue/time, and I am so excited about seeing everyone!!
Elizabelle
Does dinner and drinks in a Vietnamese restaurant in Clarendon appeal to any? Don’t know which are the best, or where we could most easily talk, but could be fun and there is a tie to France.
boatboy_srq
@Elizabelle: The only Viet places I know in this neighborhood are Four Sisters Grill (almost certainly too loud) and Rien Tong (good food but horrid décor and only marginally quieter). I’m thinking that Tysons may have better options: the Four Sisters in Falls Church (their main site) is probably a better bet.
Valdivia
Hi crew: tried making reservations at the Jose Andres joints for 7 and they’re all booked. I found place for 7 at Lincoln but then noticed they required a credit card and would not take a cancellation (in case we want to go somewhere else instead) so I will await suggestions or a decision :)