A pasty faced 30 something, bloodshot eyes peering through poindexter glasses that reflect the blue light of a computer screen, sipping wheatgrass and munching on baby carrots between bursts of typing.
There may be some who fit that description somewhere in the blogosphere, but not at Jim Bob Jumpack’s Crystal River Honky Tonk Hoedown, AspenPost’s blogmeet hosted by B. Jon Traylor last Saturday.
As you can probably tell by the name of the event, there were a lot of heads adorned by cowboy hats. B. Jon is a tried and true Texas boy. Mitch Mulhall also exhibits a strong western persona in his jeans, boots and hat. But it wasn’t all good ol’ boys. There was an equal smattering of aging hippies and colorful characters. Wharf Rat, looks more like what people probably imagine I would look like…if I were a man. And I guess I surprised some of them too, though they’ll have to tell you how in their own words. Fortunately Ed Troy brought his girlfriend Judy, which meant I wasn’t the only ovum producer in the sea of testosterone.
So it was the six of us sitting around the table in Jon’s backyard drinking the famous Shiner Bock, savoring the various BBQ’d meats and marveling at Mitch’s delicious guacamole, getting to know each other’s backgrounds and introduction to AspenPost. Since alpha6 couldn’t make it and the Conman didn’t show, we gossiped about them a little…sorry boys that’s what ya get for missing out.
Mitch left as afternoon turned to evening and the rest of us followed Jon down the trail to the river and got introduced to the Circle of Intellect that he had constructed out of river stones capped with chunks of white marble. Jon made a small fire…well small relative to the recent New Castle blaze…;-) and we set our chairs inside the circle to posit philosophical questions, which got harder to answer the higher the pile of empty Shiner bottles became.
Finally, near 11pm, the much anticipated Star Eagle arrived (wearing a cowboy hat), just as Ed, Judy and Wharf were about to take off. Star, Jon and I, along with neighbor Bruce kept up the conversation for a few more hours, then left Bruce strumming Jon’s guitar by the dying fire as the rest of us hit the sack.
It was quite an experience. Everything I’d hoped and none of what I dreamed.
Since we didn’t get a chance to do it in person, I’d like to take the opportunity here to thank Michael Conniff “the editor of AspenPost and your host here on Congames,” for the opportunity we all have to create a dialogue that includes such diverse opinions, from perspectives that we might not otherwise have a chance to get.
And thank you Jon for all of your hard work, clearing the property, providing food and drink, and creating the time and space for us to meet each other. It’s a rare thing we enjoyed on Saturday, most bloggers probably never meet, with the exception of the huge annual Daily Kos convention. As for me, I’ll take Jim Bob Jumpback’s Crystal River Honky Tonk Hoedown over the Kostravaganza any day.
One thing I’d add… On Saturday we talked about how AspenPost is different than other blogs that offer politically charged discussion. Where your garden variety political blog, be it left- or rightward leaning, tends to attract a politically homogenous readership, AspenPost readers cross a broader field of political thought.
Why?
Commenters tend to observe and enforce a high level of mutual respect… even when they vehemently disagree. This makes AspenPost unusual. Want to feel marginalized? Pick a political blog and pose a contrary argument, but before you do, make sure you don your asbestos underwear…
Now I knock on wood as I write this, for all it’d take is one motivated troll to come in and bollocks things up. Hopefully, however, AspenPost will fly low enough under the radar that the discourse here will remain an enjoyable repast…
Thanks to B. Jon for pulling us all together last Saturday. Hat’s off to you, amigo.
Cheers,
One thing I’d add… On Saturday we talked about how AspenPost is different than other blogs that offer politically charged discussion. Where your garden variety political blog, be it left- or rightward leaning, tends to attract a politically homogenous readership, AspenPost readers cross a broader field of political thought.
Why?
Commenters tend to observe and enforce a high level of mutual respect… even when they vehemently disagree. This makes AspenPost unusual. Want to feel marginalized? Pick a political blog and pose a contrary argument, but before you do, make sure you don your asbestos underwear…
Now I knock on wood as I write this, for all it’d take is one motivated troll to come in and bollocks things up. Hopefully, however, AspenPost will fly low enough under the radar that the discourse here will remain an enjoyable repast…
Thanks to B. Jon for pulling us all together last Saturday. Hat’s off to you, amigo.
Cheers,
My comments/reflections coming later this evening. It might be a bit lengthy, but something magical happened here this weekend. — J
My comments/reflections coming later this evening. It might be a bit lengthy, but something magical happened here this weekend. — J
To my fellow bloggers hoeing down, great meeting you. Judy and I had a most excellent time. A very special thanks to Jon for doing this. That Texas boy can bbq better’in your grandaddy. I convinced Mitch to send me his guacamole recipe, which he more than graciously did. Something I will most assuriedly enjoy. To all, the next time I’m all in, pending travel plans. Looking for Shiner Bock? The Willetts liquor joint has Shiner Bock if that is closer to where ever you are. Geeze, made me reminisce about Sholtzes Beer Garden in Austin TX.
To all,
thank you for the pleasure of meeting all of you.
Edward Troy & Judy
To my fellow bloggers hoeing down, great meeting you. Judy and I had a most excellent time. A very special thanks to Jon for doing this. That Texas boy can bbq better’in your grandaddy. I convinced Mitch to send me his guacamole recipe, which he more than graciously did. Something I will most assuriedly enjoy. To all, the next time I’m all in, pending travel plans. Looking for Shiner Bock? The Willetts liquor joint has Shiner Bock if that is closer to where ever you are. Geeze, made me reminisce about Sholtzes Beer Garden in Austin TX.
To all,
thank you for the pleasure of meeting all of you.
Edward Troy & Judy
I sat by the river last night, watching the eagle work his nest up above me. As I began scoping out prime areas on the river I plan to start fishing, also began to enjoy my thoughts. And I most enjoyed the thoughts related to the reflections of what was truly an awesome weekend.
Sure enough, the first to arrive, was Mr. Mulhall. I new he’d be the first arrival. I enjoyed his company greatly, getting to know him better, as I watched him chop the fresh onions and tomatoes and cilantro (from his own garden, no less) and put together all the fixin’s for what turned out to be some awesome gruacamole.
And I couldn’t help but laugh when he also unloaded a case of Shiner Bock bottles… when we figured out the six degrees of separation thing as far as his undergraduate work being completed at a very nice school about 90 miles from my hometown, and that my best friend in the world was the baseball coach there until recently, we simply found another connection to hash out.
As Mulhall was helping me BBQ some of the many meats we had, around the corner walks the infamous WharfRat. What an enlightening entertainment this man proved to be. In fact, his side dish was perfect! (Klondike Ice Cream sandwiches!) And as for his beer selection? Numerous micro-brewed ales. Stuff I’d never heard of, but must admit, was pretty dang’d good!
And then it happened. Not long after Wharf rolls in, here comes the infamous Reckless G, also known as Mrs. Sue Gray. I immediately got goose-bumps! Seriously. She’s a prime example of why I try so hard never to pre-judge someone’s appearance, persona, etc. She blew me away when she walked around the corner, so stately and confidently, with a warm smile, and began introducing herself. (I’ll get to my reflections on each person in a bit….)
Well, lets just say there wasn’t much in the way of quiet time. And when Mr. Troy showed soon after with his lovely sidekick, I’d dare say there was never a quiet dialogue moment the rest of the day and into the wee hours of the next morning. Troy blows me away with his intellect and his style of sharing it, and his better half is a very good selector of good wine.
Conniff never showed, but I’ll ellude to why in a bit. Star Eagle promised he’d arrive, but he was finishing up a high country pack trip over in the Collegiate Peaks region. So, with a little Johnny Cash and David Allen Coe blaring, and the sound of continuous dialogue and beer bottles clanking… this Saturday afternoon was turning into something special.
I checked out for about an hour to nap and heal a bad migrainish headache. Awoke after a power nap, cleaned up, donned a new silver belly hat, and said, “lets head to the river.”
I think everyone was impressed, as I still am. Two of my neighbors showed up several times throughout the affair were also impressed. What I like is that I still get to experience it, every night, just like last night. Sure enough, with some volunteer help hosing down the trees and ground, and brush, and the circle of intellect, we started a very nice fire, and it burned into the wee hours. Two of the neighbors who came to join did so after hearing the boom… yes, I used some nice fire-startin’ materials! And we enjoyed some awesome company, and some awesome beer and some awesome dialogue for hours upon end.
I went back to the house some beer and other unnamed beverages run, and got Star’s message. He was leaving Buena Vista at the time of his message, swearing he’d make it, along with some Shiners, over Independance Pass and to the gathering.
Then around 10:30 or so, Wharf’s dogs began barking, and sure enough, into the open, from the brushy trail, enters a uniquish, cowboyish figure smiling and said, “this must be the place!” Three of our attendees stuck around a bit to get to meet Star Eagle. But they soon left for home, leaving Star and Reckless, myself and the neighbor Bruce to rob my guitar and provide us his own folksy strumming and hummin’.
About 1:30 in the morning, we left Bruce to his Oneness with the guitar and the river, and we three crashed throughout my place.
Fast forward…. — Sunday morning, I’m having breakfast next door with Bruce around noon, and sure enough Star Eagle shows back up, with the Conman and his fiance 60 seconds behind him. So Conniff showed up alright, right on time, at noon…. just a day late!
A bit later, they left Star Eagle and me to spend the rest of the day by the river, talking fishin’, philosophy, life, high country outfittin’, etc. Such a very nice afternoon that turned out to be.
Last night, as I soaked it all in, I began to think of Martin Teague Traylor, my adoptive grandfather. I never new my blood grandparents, but I didnt’ ever really care. Big Daddy, as we called him, was one of my best friends. I loved him dearly. And as I sat by the river thinking of him, I remembered, again, those words he always told me….
The two of us used to check out, leave everyone else, and just head to the local coffee shop in his truck, to venues that usually were Dairy Queens or a local truckstop. They were always venues where everyone knew him, and he always seemed to know everyone. I loved watching him flirting with the young waitresses, offering his advice, as though he knew of the struggles they were going through.
He’d have his coffee, and I’d have my Dr. Peppers. I’m sure the bill back in those days was never much more than say 2 or 3 bucks. He’d grab his wallet, pull a fresh 10 dollar bill out, and sometimes a fresh, crisp 20 dollar bill, and he’d leave it on the table and say, “we best be going now…” On the way to the truck, he’d look at me and wink, and say, “You know, Jon, life is all about the peope you meet along the way.”
As I thought about him and his words, I thought about this last weekend. He’s right. Life truly is blessed by the people we meet along the way:
Conniff — well, albeit he wasn’t here long, is.. well, a good guy, whom I know off this site.
Mitch — very intelligent, very well spoken, very decent/down to earth good ol’ boy.
Whart? — very intelligent, very laid back, and also a very bright attorney.
Troy? — you gotta spend time with him, and hours thereafter, understanding just how amazingly intelligent this man is…. and Ed, you know that I know that you are a walking symbolic example as to why I think there is still something very amazing about our country. I admire all you’ve overcome to be what you are today.
Bruce — damn’d good neighbor, and damn’d good cook.
Judy — just a helluva nice person, Ed’s lucky to have you, and you know it.
Sue — you are a true Patriot. Don’t ever let anyone’s stupid ignorance make you think otherwise. You had the guts to go to Iraq, you do the research, you lay it out there, and you have more guts than all those dissenters to your message of truth combined have. Lets do coffee, and I mean soon!
Star — all I’ll say is I perhaps met a man that walks with a gate indicative of the fact that perhaps you’ve been on a few more horses than me (and I’ve been on many)… but your intellect and your philosophy on things clicks with mine… and you know it.
All these people are welcome back at my table, anytime, anyplace, anywhere. And Alpha… get your butt back here.
I counted 24 empty Shiners, an empty bottle of wine, 4-5 empty Coors Lights, 7-8 empty fancy micro-brew bottles, a half drank bottle of bourban, and a missing bottle of bourban that I think someone made off with.
My point being is that I also have at least 18 Shiners left in the fridge, and I dang’d sure ain’t gonna drink ‘em by myself. So the door is always open!
Thanks again for a truly awesome weekend. You folks are wonderful! — J
I sat by the river last night, watching the eagle work his nest up above me. As I began scoping out prime areas on the river I plan to start fishing, also began to enjoy my thoughts. And I most enjoyed the thoughts related to the reflections of what was truly an awesome weekend.
Sure enough, the first to arrive, was Mr. Mulhall. I new he’d be the first arrival. I enjoyed his company greatly, getting to know him better, as I watched him chop the fresh onions and tomatoes and cilantro (from his own garden, no less) and put together all the fixin’s for what turned out to be some awesome gruacamole.
And I couldn’t help but laugh when he also unloaded a case of Shiner Bock bottles… when we figured out the six degrees of separation thing as far as his undergraduate work being completed at a very nice school about 90 miles from my hometown, and that my best friend in the world was the baseball coach there until recently, we simply found another connection to hash out.
As Mulhall was helping me BBQ some of the many meats we had, around the corner walks the infamous WharfRat. What an enlightening entertainment this man proved to be. In fact, his side dish was perfect! (Klondike Ice Cream sandwiches!) And as for his beer selection? Numerous micro-brewed ales. Stuff I’d never heard of, but must admit, was pretty dang’d good!
And then it happened. Not long after Wharf rolls in, here comes the infamous Reckless G, also known as Mrs. Sue Gray. I immediately got goose-bumps! Seriously. She’s a prime example of why I try so hard never to pre-judge someone’s appearance, persona, etc. She blew me away when she walked around the corner, so stately and confidently, with a warm smile, and began introducing herself. (I’ll get to my reflections on each person in a bit….)
Well, lets just say there wasn’t much in the way of quiet time. And when Mr. Troy showed soon after with his lovely sidekick, I’d dare say there was never a quiet dialogue moment the rest of the day and into the wee hours of the next morning. Troy blows me away with his intellect and his style of sharing it, and his better half is a very good selector of good wine.
Conniff never showed, but I’ll ellude to why in a bit. Star Eagle promised he’d arrive, but he was finishing up a high country pack trip over in the Collegiate Peaks region. So, with a little Johnny Cash and David Allen Coe blaring, and the sound of continuous dialogue and beer bottles clanking… this Saturday afternoon was turning into something special.
I checked out for about an hour to nap and heal a bad migrainish headache. Awoke after a power nap, cleaned up, donned a new silver belly hat, and said, “lets head to the river.”
I think everyone was impressed, as I still am. Two of my neighbors showed up several times throughout the affair were also impressed. What I like is that I still get to experience it, every night, just like last night. Sure enough, with some volunteer help hosing down the trees and ground, and brush, and the circle of intellect, we started a very nice fire, and it burned into the wee hours. Two of the neighbors who came to join did so after hearing the boom… yes, I used some nice fire-startin’ materials! And we enjoyed some awesome company, and some awesome beer and some awesome dialogue for hours upon end.
I went back to the house some beer and other unnamed beverages run, and got Star’s message. He was leaving Buena Vista at the time of his message, swearing he’d make it, along with some Shiners, over Independance Pass and to the gathering.
Then around 10:30 or so, Wharf’s dogs began barking, and sure enough, into the open, from the brushy trail, enters a uniquish, cowboyish figure smiling and said, “this must be the place!” Three of our attendees stuck around a bit to get to meet Star Eagle. But they soon left for home, leaving Star and Reckless, myself and the neighbor Bruce to rob my guitar and provide us his own folksy strumming and hummin’.
About 1:30 in the morning, we left Bruce to his Oneness with the guitar and the river, and we three crashed throughout my place.
Fast forward…. — Sunday morning, I’m having breakfast next door with Bruce around noon, and sure enough Star Eagle shows back up, with the Conman and his fiance 60 seconds behind him. So Conniff showed up alright, right on time, at noon…. just a day late!
A bit later, they left Star Eagle and me to spend the rest of the day by the river, talking fishin’, philosophy, life, high country outfittin’, etc. Such a very nice afternoon that turned out to be.
Last night, as I soaked it all in, I began to think of Martin Teague Traylor, my adoptive grandfather. I never new my blood grandparents, but I didnt’ ever really care. Big Daddy, as we called him, was one of my best friends. I loved him dearly. And as I sat by the river thinking of him, I remembered, again, those words he always told me….
The two of us used to check out, leave everyone else, and just head to the local coffee shop in his truck, to venues that usually were Dairy Queens or a local truckstop. They were always venues where everyone knew him, and he always seemed to know everyone. I loved watching him flirting with the young waitresses, offering his advice, as though he knew of the struggles they were going through.
He’d have his coffee, and I’d have my Dr. Peppers. I’m sure the bill back in those days was never much more than say 2 or 3 bucks. He’d grab his wallet, pull a fresh 10 dollar bill out, and sometimes a fresh, crisp 20 dollar bill, and he’d leave it on the table and say, “we best be going now…” On the way to the truck, he’d look at me and wink, and say, “You know, Jon, life is all about the peope you meet along the way.”
As I thought about him and his words, I thought about this last weekend. He’s right. Life truly is blessed by the people we meet along the way:
Conniff — well, albeit he wasn’t here long, is.. well, a good guy, whom I know off this site.
Mitch — very intelligent, very well spoken, very decent/down to earth good ol’ boy.
Whart? — very intelligent, very laid back, and also a very bright attorney.
Troy? — you gotta spend time with him, and hours thereafter, understanding just how amazingly intelligent this man is…. and Ed, you know that I know that you are a walking symbolic example as to why I think there is still something very amazing about our country. I admire all you’ve overcome to be what you are today.
Bruce — damn’d good neighbor, and damn’d good cook.
Judy — just a helluva nice person, Ed’s lucky to have you, and you know it.
Sue — you are a true Patriot. Don’t ever let anyone’s stupid ignorance make you think otherwise. You had the guts to go to Iraq, you do the research, you lay it out there, and you have more guts than all those dissenters to your message of truth combined have. Lets do coffee, and I mean soon!
Star — all I’ll say is I perhaps met a man that walks with a gate indicative of the fact that perhaps you’ve been on a few more horses than me (and I’ve been on many)… but your intellect and your philosophy on things clicks with mine… and you know it.
All these people are welcome back at my table, anytime, anyplace, anywhere. And Alpha… get your butt back here.
I counted 24 empty Shiners, an empty bottle of wine, 4-5 empty Coors Lights, 7-8 empty fancy micro-brew bottles, a half drank bottle of bourban, and a missing bottle of bourban that I think someone made off with.
My point being is that I also have at least 18 Shiners left in the fridge, and I dang’d sure ain’t gonna drink ‘em by myself. So the door is always open!
Thanks again for a truly awesome weekend. You folks are wonderful! — J
Granted I’m “fresh” onto this blog, but from the sounds of this “hoedown” it sounds more like a high school kegger than a “meeting of the minds”. It’s interesting how one boasts not of the substance of the meeting rather than the number of empties left over. Now I’m sure that you had plenty to talk about and share around the “circle of intellect”, but was any of it scholarly or just BS? Weeding out the substance from the shit would be worth reading about…..but I guess maybe on another blog. I’ve come to expect better from “reckless g”, but maybe she’s had an off weekend. I hope you turn it around before you start sounding like Billy Bob Jumpback or whatever.
Granted I’m “fresh” onto this blog, but from the sounds of this “hoedown” it sounds more like a high school kegger than a “meeting of the minds”. It’s interesting how one boasts not of the substance of the meeting rather than the number of empties left over. Now I’m sure that you had plenty to talk about and share around the “circle of intellect”, but was any of it scholarly or just BS? Weeding out the substance from the shit would be worth reading about…..but I guess maybe on another blog. I’ve come to expect better from “reckless g”, but maybe she’s had an off weekend. I hope you turn it around before you start sounding like Billy Bob Jumpback or whatever.
Mountainblogger,
Welcome to AspenPost.
Just out of curiosity, do you really find mocking people an effective ice-breaker? If you are new to AspenPost, as you say you are, one sure way to avoid endearing people to you is to march into the middle of a thread and insult readers and commenters.
If attending the “Billy Bob Jumpback” hoe-down taught me anything, it is this: the people who post and comment here do not warrant being cast as a gaggle of adolescent, low-functioning alcoholics.
There were many ways you could have inserted yourself into this conversation, but you chose that, and in doing so set the standard of your future contributions very, very low.
There is a host of ways you can go from here.
I am not encouraged you’ll make a wise choice.
Cheers,
Mountainblogger,
Welcome to AspenPost.
Just out of curiosity, do you really find mocking people an effective ice-breaker? If you are new to AspenPost, as you say you are, one sure way to avoid endearing people to you is to march into the middle of a thread and insult readers and commenters.
If attending the “Billy Bob Jumpback” hoe-down taught me anything, it is this: the people who post and comment here do not warrant being cast as a gaggle of adolescent, low-functioning alcoholics.
There were many ways you could have inserted yourself into this conversation, but you chose that, and in doing so set the standard of your future contributions very, very low.
There is a host of ways you can go from here.
I am not encouraged you’ll make a wise choice.
Cheers,
While alcohol consumption is frowned upon by some societies and subsocieties, it is a very real and important part of American culture. When meeting new people, alcohol (in moderation) breaks down barriers in what can be for some a tense situation. It knocks a window in that wall we put around ourselves, and allows others a glimpse of what’s inside, whether it be insecurity, bravado, sincere emotion, malice, or even…recklessness. It also begets a camaraderie that binds us to our fellows.
When I was in Iraq with Christian Peacemakers, we experienced a horrible accident and the death of one of our team members. One of our Iraqi friends was able to obtain a can of beer which he smuggled in to our hotel room. Alcohol is frowned upon and sometimes forbidden in most Muslim societies, but it was very available in Iraq, though its consumption remained clandestine.
Four of us team members shared that beer sitting on the floor of our room, and that little bit of familiar social custom helped ease the burden and stress of our circumstances. It allowed us to let go of the feelings we’d been masking through tough days of hospital care and pain and grief.
At the party on Saturday we observed and enjoyed a social custom with a long history in America, and opened up to each other, shared ideas, laughed, got to know each other’s unmasked style. The point is, it wasn’t a drunken slurfest, there was no silliness and the content of our conversations was every bit as deep as you read here on Aspen Post.
While alcohol consumption is frowned upon by some societies and subsocieties, it is a very real and important part of American culture. When meeting new people, alcohol (in moderation) breaks down barriers in what can be for some a tense situation. It knocks a window in that wall we put around ourselves, and allows others a glimpse of what’s inside, whether it be insecurity, bravado, sincere emotion, malice, or even…recklessness. It also begets a camaraderie that binds us to our fellows.
When I was in Iraq with Christian Peacemakers, we experienced a horrible accident and the death of one of our team members. One of our Iraqi friends was able to obtain a can of beer which he smuggled in to our hotel room. Alcohol is frowned upon and sometimes forbidden in most Muslim societies, but it was very available in Iraq, though its consumption remained clandestine.
Four of us team members shared that beer sitting on the floor of our room, and that little bit of familiar social custom helped ease the burden and stress of our circumstances. It allowed us to let go of the feelings we’d been masking through tough days of hospital care and pain and grief.
At the party on Saturday we observed and enjoyed a social custom with a long history in America, and opened up to each other, shared ideas, laughed, got to know each other’s unmasked style. The point is, it wasn’t a drunken slurfest, there was no silliness and the content of our conversations was every bit as deep as you read here on Aspen Post.
It wasn’t a “high school kegger” in the least. In fact, if you do the math, it wasn’t even close to a kegger given that we had up to 10 people here over numerous hours. The neighbor, Bruce, told me next day that 6 or 8 of those empties belonged to him. Actually, I think he played my finely tuned guitar most all night, after we all went to bed. He’s quite the character.
If one wants to come onto this site and post an ill-conceived, uninformed comment as an introduction to the site… then I have two serious suggestions:
1) Go back and click on all the serious writers on this site, read their columns, and read the comments to their blogs, and begin to assimulate and accept the idea/thought processs, as well as an acceptance to what is really happening on this site.
and 2) after step number one is done…. then begin to see how all these good folks and intellectual minds began to migrate to something unlike a regular blog….. that some simple dude like me decided it was time to gather the troops and hash it out in person, man to man, man to woman, woman to woman….. and lets make magic happen.
Hence magic happened this past weekend.. Perhaps this mountainblogger person would have served himself/herself well by simply attending.
Whats magical about this site is that we did what we did Saturday and Sunday. Next time, we’ll take JimBob’s name off, and we’ll just host an intellectual meeting of the minds, which as far as I’m concerned, and I’m sure all who attended will attest to… will agree happened! We have much more to hash out. Lets do it again. I’m open through July.
Mountain Blogger? you are more than welcome to attend. Perhaps then you will experience, unprovencially, what we experienced this weekend.
All my best. — jon
P.S. — go back through the last 1-2 years worth of blogs and bloggers, connect the dots, read the intellect and opinions and comments (both for and against)… then open your mind and perhaps try to understand what just might have happened here this last weekend.
It wasn’t a “high school kegger” in the least. In fact, if you do the math, it wasn’t even close to a kegger given that we had up to 10 people here over numerous hours. The neighbor, Bruce, told me next day that 6 or 8 of those empties belonged to him. Actually, I think he played my finely tuned guitar most all night, after we all went to bed. He’s quite the character.
If one wants to come onto this site and post an ill-conceived, uninformed comment as an introduction to the site… then I have two serious suggestions:
1) Go back and click on all the serious writers on this site, read their columns, and read the comments to their blogs, and begin to assimulate and accept the idea/thought processs, as well as an acceptance to what is really happening on this site.
and 2) after step number one is done…. then begin to see how all these good folks and intellectual minds began to migrate to something unlike a regular blog….. that some simple dude like me decided it was time to gather the troops and hash it out in person, man to man, man to woman, woman to woman….. and lets make magic happen.
Hence magic happened this past weekend.. Perhaps this mountainblogger person would have served himself/herself well by simply attending.
Whats magical about this site is that we did what we did Saturday and Sunday. Next time, we’ll take JimBob’s name off, and we’ll just host an intellectual meeting of the minds, which as far as I’m concerned, and I’m sure all who attended will attest to… will agree happened! We have much more to hash out. Lets do it again. I’m open through July.
Mountain Blogger? you are more than welcome to attend. Perhaps then you will experience, unprovencially, what we experienced this weekend.
All my best. — jon
P.S. — go back through the last 1-2 years worth of blogs and bloggers, connect the dots, read the intellect and opinions and comments (both for and against)… then open your mind and perhaps try to understand what just might have happened here this last weekend.
Brah, you shoulda been there…it was the greatest kegger in the history of mankind! Thornton Mellon would have been proud of us and likely would have hired Kurt Vonnegut to write about it.
Definitely a considerable amount of BS. Mitch synchronized the inconsistencies between the written and spoken word, Bobby Jon revealed the true cause of cutis anserina, Reckless solved the riddle of the afterlife, Ed transformed a misguided conservative into a save-the-whales crusader, Judy resolved all differences between Jews and Catholics, and I presented the more covenient truth about global warming. Unfortunately I didn’t see the Con Man (maybe next time), but of course he made Jon’s place safe for neo-intellectuals…with liberty and justice for all.
But when the BS had subsided, the true substance of the individuals was revealed. Not only in the cul-de-sac of intellect, mind you, but in lawn chairs surrounding the most sublime guacamole you will ever taste north of its New Mexico origins. The substance encompassed tales of upbringing, travel, work, pleasure, family, children (and grandchildren), education, adventure, and chain-saw yardkeeping beyond compare. And therein lay the true depth of the Jimbob Jumpback Crystal River Hoedown Kegger. In a world of increasing disconnection and selfishness, a small group of wandering ruffians took the time to meet and greet when the more practical alternative would be to keep the security blanket of an IP address and firewall intact.
I am not ashamed to say that I truly enjoyed every minute of time spent with a handful of complete strangers, and hope that the opportunity arises again. We can collectively move mountains, although it is more likely that we’ll be moving some brush and fueling the Traylor pyrotechnics while laughing heartily at the liberal gladiator’s Grinch impression.
I hope that next time we will be privileged by the attendance of Alpha6, mountainblogger, and any other human bean interested in shooting the breeze with down-to-earth Shiner Bockers.
Brah, you shoulda been there…it was the greatest kegger in the history of mankind! Thornton Mellon would have been proud of us and likely would have hired Kurt Vonnegut to write about it.
Definitely a considerable amount of BS. Mitch synchronized the inconsistencies between the written and spoken word, Bobby Jon revealed the true cause of cutis anserina, Reckless solved the riddle of the afterlife, Ed transformed a misguided conservative into a save-the-whales crusader, Judy resolved all differences between Jews and Catholics, and I presented the more covenient truth about global warming. Unfortunately I didn’t see the Con Man (maybe next time), but of course he made Jon’s place safe for neo-intellectuals…with liberty and justice for all.
But when the BS had subsided, the true substance of the individuals was revealed. Not only in the cul-de-sac of intellect, mind you, but in lawn chairs surrounding the most sublime guacamole you will ever taste north of its New Mexico origins. The substance encompassed tales of upbringing, travel, work, pleasure, family, children (and grandchildren), education, adventure, and chain-saw yardkeeping beyond compare. And therein lay the true depth of the Jimbob Jumpback Crystal River Hoedown Kegger. In a world of increasing disconnection and selfishness, a small group of wandering ruffians took the time to meet and greet when the more practical alternative would be to keep the security blanket of an IP address and firewall intact.
I am not ashamed to say that I truly enjoyed every minute of time spent with a handful of complete strangers, and hope that the opportunity arises again. We can collectively move mountains, although it is more likely that we’ll be moving some brush and fueling the Traylor pyrotechnics while laughing heartily at the liberal gladiator’s Grinch impression.
I hope that next time we will be privileged by the attendance of Alpha6, mountainblogger, and any other human bean interested in shooting the breeze with down-to-earth Shiner Bockers.
Thanks Wharf, that sums up our experiences very well, and with a poetic flare I’ve come to appreciate from you.
But what is most telling is that these responses to mountainblogger’s comment display the wide variety of styles and personalities we were able to enjoy in full at JBJCRHTH/Kegger.
Thanks Wharf, that sums up our experiences very well, and with a poetic flare I’ve come to appreciate from you.
But what is most telling is that these responses to mountainblogger’s comment display the wide variety of styles and personalities we were able to enjoy in full at JBJCRHTH/Kegger.