Da' Jersey Blogmeet in Review

Awesome. Simply awesome.

Right now I am sitting in my snuggies on the McGuinness family couch. I’m exhausted but still charged up from the blogmeet. So, before I drift off to dreamland, I figured I would jot down a few mildly coherent thoughts, so you can get a little taste of our first official get together. So, kindly pardon the less-than-stellar grammar.

(Note: For the sake of ease, I will refer to everyone by the name of their blog. Yes, I know people have real names like Erin and Jim but, really, how often do I get to say I shared a beer with Sluggo and Cootiehog?)

First, let me set the stage: We had a whole bar all to ourselves. (Yes!) Yummy buffet. Free-flowing cocktails. (Open bar? Double yes!) And, oh yeah, it was raining so hard outside I thought we might need canoes to get home.

Nevertheless…

Everyone – I mean everyone – was an absolute delight. I only wish I had more time to chat with all in attendance.

The first to arrive were KateSpot and BookBlog. Bookblog is sweet and saucy. KateSpot is warm and witty. No surprise. I liked both of them instantly. Thanks to BookBlog’s technical savvy, we were even able to watch KateSpot’s CNN clip. For those of you who haven’t seen her on the t.v, she really does a great job.

I got to sneak in some time with the ladies – Barista of Bloomfield Avenue, This Full House, Cootiehog and MOM and Pop Culture, as we noshed on some nibbles. We talked family, choosing blog names, property taxes, bras and defined the term depornify, as in “Honey, hide your copies of Stuff magazine. I have to depornify the house before Grandma comes over for Easter.” I am happy to report that all the ladies are as lovely as they are clever. Also, Cootiehog’s baby is adorable!

Shamrocketship graciously endured my gushing about a recent post of hers. Cripes, Suzette has offered to share gardening tips and soup recipes. (As a novice gardener, it’s nice to be able to talk to someone about dirt.) DynamoBuzz is a sweetie. I even got to see pics of his beautiful family. Sluggo Needs a Nap is as warm and engaging as I expected. Jersey Style plays a fine guitar! Riss of the Tequila Shots for the Soul blog is a gorgeous gal I didn’t get nearly enough time to talk to. However, we seem to share a mutual appreciation of the B-52’s “Love Shack.”  Despite his less-than-perky-sounding-name Sad Old Goth is surprisingly cheerful and came bearing a tray of delicious, homemade brownies. Gigglechick is an awesome storyteller and great to be around. (Giggle – I would buy you a DVD player any day of the week!) Tigerhawk, I seem to have missed chatting with you. This is something I hope to remedy next time we all meet up.

The Jersey Side and South Orange Journal were not only as cool in person as they are on their sites but also came bearing gifts. (Much love to NJ.com for the goodie bags.)

KateSpot, Parkway Rest Stop and I even got to make a slightly (OK, very) tipsy phone call to honorary Jersey girl and big blog sistah, Feisty Repartee. (Already having had way more than my share of gin and tonics, I have no doubt my end of the call sounded like, “IAMSOGLADTOFINALLYTALKTOYOUYOUROCKIWISHYOUWEREHEEEEEEEREINJERSEYLOVEYOUSOMUCH!!!!!!” Thankfully, she sounded amused -- and cute and southern, to boot!)

I can’t wait to see everyone again soon. Also plan to add all to the blogroll tomorrow when I'm not so dog tired.

Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Parkway Rest Stop for executing such a great event. Also, many thanks to KateSpot, organizer, public relations manager and hostess with the mostest. Much love to all the blog enthusiasts in attendance. Finally, thank you very much to our volunteer bartenders -- Ken the Bodyguard and Jeff the Magic Chef. Thank you for keeping the tunes blasting and our glasses filled.

Comments

[erin]

awesome to meet you as well!!!! (my stories were nervous ramblings tonight :)

[the barista]

Goodie bags! I didn't get no stinking goodie bag!

Still, it was great meeting everyone, and those mint-laced brownies were spectacular. I had two.

[Kate]

TONS of fun TJ. It was awesome to finally meet you and the very cool Mistah. {{{hugs}}} Great wrapup.

[Mr. Surly]

Uh, hello I was there too. No props to Mr. Surly? Talk about cold. I did such a good job of hiding Stuff and Maxim from your Grandmother and this is the thanks I get? Geez.

[Christina]

I was thrilled and delighted to hear from ya'll!!

Hononary Jersey Girls ROCKS!

Thank YOU!

[zonker]

Sorry that I didn't get a chance to talk to you when I (finally) called. Hope you have a wonderful and safe trip!

[Jaynee]

It was fun meeting you as well! and I had the same impression of Sad Old Goth even though I didn't talk to him much - whenever I saw him he had a big smile on his face - not so sad after all. =)

[Shamrock]

Everyone there was SO nice, I was having trouble believing I was actually in NJ ... I think the combination of personalities and drinks must have somehow teleported us to Kansas. Or maybe bloggers just are THE best!

[marydell]

I had a great time and it was a blast meeting so many cool people from the Garden State. I'm already signed up for the next blogmeet. :)

[Gregor]

It was fantastic. I haven't laughed so much in years. Can't wait for the next one!
It was great to meet you!

[TJ]

Again, it was fan-farookin'-tastic to meet everyone. Can't wait to mark my calendar for Blogmeet #2!

[Janet]

If you wanna do it all over again, check out the next blog meet we're trying to organize and add your 2 cents...

[Riss]

You, me, prairie fires. Coming soon!