From ever-reliable commentor Satby:
Here’s the best picture from last night’s meet up in Chicago.
Counterclockwise from bottom right it’s Elmo, Eric S, MGB, my exchange daughters Valentina and Qunoot, me (satby) in the red sleeves, ThomasB, and Christopholes. We had lots of fun swapping stories.
Elmo gets to Chicago several times a year, so we’ll plan further out for the next meetup and give people a chance to plan.
Tales of Balloon-Juice glory, increasing global outreach :) !
schrodinger's cat
No green balloons?
Royston Vasey
I wonder if there are readers in New Zealand?
RV in NZ
JPL
The picture brought a smile to my face, because it looked like you were having so much fun.
The exchange students are going to have so many stories to tell when they return home.
Steeplejack
@schrodinger’s cat:
Whoever had them—Eric S., I think—said he left them in his room. But he did wear a green shirt.
satby
@schrodinger’s cat: Eric’s shirt was our green batsignal.
JPL
@satby: I want to order some soaps, for the company staying here for my son’s wedding. Do you have some things already made up?
satby
@JPL: and one of the stories is how terrified they were as we drove through a near zero visibility thunderstorm.
JPL
@satby: hah.. We can probably all relate to that.
satby
@JPL: I do have stock in everything on the website right now, so just let me know what and how many. There’s also enough time (more than a month) to cure new soap too.
Mary G
Sounds great. That’s a good crowd for a meeting scheduled so fast. It’s always nice to have faces to go with nyms. I find I imagine everyone wrong.
Schlemazel
Jesus Quotes the Candidates
not hilarious but funny
JPL
@satby: I need suggestions.. I am not a little cute soap, type of person, but I imagined you figured that out.
I have seventh generation hand soap near the sink..
satby
And I got to tell the story of my surprise Publisher’s Clearing House win!
I won $10.
The universe is just yanking my chain with that one ;)
JPL
@satby: What about the home spa set? Would that be appropriate to leave in the guest rooms when they arrive?
satby
@Mary G: I never think I look like me either ;)
Elmo
All thanks to Eric for the suggestion and the location. It really was great fun, and a terrific break for me – solo business trips can make for lonely and dull evenings, and this was anything but.
Baud
Damn fine looking group. Damn fine.
satby
@JPL: I can send you some suggestions and we can work out something that can go with the wedding theme, or even your bathroom motif. Email me at the Etsy site and we’ll figure out something good!
Elmo
@Mary G: that’s okay. I imagine me wrong too. Who the hell is the middle-aged chunky with gray hair???
satby
@Baud: yes, they were.
The kids say I don’t look that fat IRL, but then they do depend on me for sustenance.
Pogonip
@Elmo: I was surprised to see you are not covered with red fur! What gives?
Baud
@satby: “they”?
Pogonip
@Elmo: Me too! Who the heck is that old lady who lives in my mirror?
After the first time a store clerk calls you “Ma’am” and not “Miss,” you’re on borrowed time.
JustRuss
That picture couldn’t have been taken in Chicago. I hear it’s all-crime, all the time, and only a couple of you look like gangsters.
JPL
@satby: Thanks. I’m pretty sure, that I sent you a request. What I’m looking for is bath soaps and maybe a cute gift they can bring home.
satby
@Baud: yes they (the group) were damn fine looking.
… they (my exchange daughters) do depend on me ….
I can see how that was confusing.
Baud
@satby:
No, I was confused by the use of “they” rather than “we” in the first sentence.
Just Some Fuckhead
Awesome. Love Elmo’s fuck me eyes. No wait, who is the dude on the bottom left?
Felonius Monk
Indeed a fine looking group. Pleased to meet you (well, you know what I mean).
satby
@JPL: ok, how about if you pick a soap you like I make matching hand and body cream and a sugar scrub to take home?
satby
@JPL: Or that, yes we could do that too!
Really, whatever you want. I looked, but I don’t see a message on my site? Can you resend?
the Conster, la Citoyenne
These are my people!!
Great to see Elmo and satby!
Meetups are so much fun – but I think New Rules should be every meetup pic has to have green balloons,
because those are the safe words of my people.
satby
@Just Some Fuckhead: Christopholes
satby
We did have fun, what an interesting bunch of folks. Next time I hope we can have a few more folks, but Eric S picked a nice place and pulled it together really well. Thanks Eric!
JPL
@satby: I resent the email address. Earlier I had put it under custom order.
satby
@JPL: ahh, gotcha. Going now!
Baud
@JPL:
What did the email address do?
Eric S.
@Steeplejack: I left them on my desk at work. I failed. Slightly.
satby
@Eric S.: Not at all, your green shirt did the trick.
satby
@Baud: oh not a fan of pictures of me is all.
Baud
@satby: No worries. I’m the same way. Another reason for running a virtual campaign.
Eric S.
That is far, far from the wrist picture I’ve taken. I have no idea how to smile on command.
MGB
Good times were had. And having some names with faces is a good thing.
Eric S.
That is far, far from the wrist picture I’ve taken. I have no idea how to smile on command.
Eta worst, not wrist
MomSense
Glad you had fun!
Eric S.
@MGB: I knew you had a car related nym. MGB? MPG? MPH? I just couldn’t pull it out of the memory banks early this morning.
Christopholes
Oh wow I don’t look too awful
BruceFromOhio
Oh, nicely done. So good to see all of you!
delk
Looks like the rain let up!
Eric S.
@Christopholes: Agreed, every one’s opinion may vary bit I think that pic does everyone justice.
Peale
Complaining that a letter from my bank marked “tax document enclosed” was instead a marketing mailing. Grrrrrrrrrr.
satby
@Christopholes: you look great. JSF thinks so too.
satby
@delk: next time you come too!
MGB
@Eric S.: Nope! Actually it’s just my initials.
Babette
@Royston Vasey: Yes, me, but I’m only visiting. Back next summer after New Year.
NotMax
What a handsome bunch!
Patricia Kayden
@satby: That’s more than I’ve ever won.
Love the photo. All the meet up photos should be put in their own section on BJ.
Frivolous
Nice picture. I like the looks of MGB and Christopholes.
Mustang Bobby
What a friendly-looking group!
Paul in KY
@satby: Glad y’all had a great time. A fine lookin crew!