A Laughter of Bloggers

What happens when a group of people who know each other only via their blog posts, comments, e-mails, and screen names finally gets together in person? And what would you use as a collective noun to describe such a group?

Well, based on yesterday evening's experience, I would say that the word laughter works in both cases.

Yesterday evening we took advantage of the presence of Mike being in town on vacation to organize a bloggers' get-together at a local watering hole.  The group consisted of Agnes and I, Mike and his wife Claudia, Peggy (whose husband Rick, hopelessly mired in traffic, didn't make it), and lapsed blogger Gilahi (whose wife and fellow blogger Laura was kept away by work). We spent a delightful couple of hours trading stories, comparing notes on how we got started with blogging, and generally sharing a lot of laughs ... hence my recommendation of a laughter of bloggers as a collective noun.

Gilahi and I have often gotten together before and know each other pretty well, but getting to know the larger group was tremendous fun. Peggy is a delightful lady, as entertaining in person as she is in her blog, and the personification of what-you-see-is-what-you-get, and Mike turned out to be almost exactly as I'd imagined him from reading him on screen (speaking of on screen, it finally dawned on me that Mike reminds me a bit of actor Ernest Borgnine ... an observation which will no doubt horrify him).

Agnes managed to get a partial group photo of us (less Gilahi, who thinks his photo in the post office is good enough) ...

And a great time was had by all.

If any of you find yourselves in the DC/Maryland/Northern Virginia area and are interested in a bloggers' meeting, send me an e-mail (der(underscore)blogmeister(at)yahoo(dot)com), and I'll try to set it up ... because just trading electrons is no substitute for the energy and good cheer of a group of real people intent on having a good time.

Have a good day. Support your fellow bloggers. See you tomorrow for Cartoon Saturday.

Bilbo

My Sixth Blogoversary!

Yes, Dear Readers, it was on this date in 2006 that I hit the Publish Post button on my very first entry in Bilbo's Random Thought Collection. It was a pretty meager, "why am I doing this?" sort of post, and you can read it here if you're so inclined.

I got my first comment five days later, and since then I've received 8404 more (that were reported to me at my e-mail account), or 8720 more (as recorded by Blogger) ... the difference is that sometimes I don't get e-mail notification of comments as they come in. I average about four comments per post, not counting comments received on my Facebook page, which links to the blog each day.

Today is my 1,986th post. Over the years, I've developed a system by which I post almost every morning, usually on a topic I pick either the day before, or as I sit down at the desk and look at the headlines. I try to keep it topical, but I have a huge "Blog Fodder" file of links to things I think are interesting and worth writing about, so I seldom have a problem finding something on which to base a post.

I started labeling posts fairly late in the process, and have found it an interesting way to keep track of the general sorts of things I've blogged about ... for instance, I've done 180 Cartoon Saturdays and eight Ass Clown of the Week/Month/Year awards.

I've collected a group of online fellow bloggers whose blogs I regularly read, and who are frequent commenters - some of my oldest (and I use the term loosely, for the most part) blogging friends are Mike, John, Amanda, Craziequeen, Captain Picard, and Andrea; newer, but equally valued virtual friends are Angelique, Heidi, Elvis, Peg, Duckbutt, and Banana Oil. Some of my friends don't blog much any more, like Gilahi (although he still lurks and comments occasionally, and we still get together for a few drinks every couple of months), Fiona, and Buggie. In addition to Gilahi and Buggie, I've also met and enjoyed the company of Kathy and her husband, and met other interesting people at various bloggers' happy hours and get-togethers in the local area.

Blogging is my creative outlet and (aside from ballroom dancing) my favorite pastime. I enjoy the writing, the commenting, and the ability to make new ... if virtual ... friends.

And so, Dear Readers, I hope you'll stick with me for the next six years ... or however long I can keep this space fresh and interesting.

Thanks for taking this journey with me. I appreciate all of you.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

Bloggers' Happy Hour at the Goethe Institut in DC

About two weeks ago, I got an e-mail inviting me to a bloggers' open house at the Goethe Institut in Washington, DC.

I was greatly honored, for obviously an organization bearing the name of one of the towering figures of German literature had recognized the excellence and worth of my blog, and had decided to improve its image by basking in the radiance of my quasi-literary presence. Plus there was free food! And a bar with free beer and wine and juice! And other bloggers! I just had to go.

I had a great time! The event was hosted by the Goethe Institut as part of their community outreach programs, looking for ways to spread interest in German language and culture. We spent about an hour of meeting, greeting, and exchanging URLs, and then staff members Craig and Norma presented a short, interesting program about the history and activities of the Goethe Institute, where you can see German films, learn to speak German, enjoy cultural events and exhibitions, and learn more about Germany in particular and Europe in general, all in an airy, inviting location on 7th St, NW, less than a block from the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro station.

But the best part, of course, was the chance to meet other bloggers. We usually know each other only as words on a screen, and it's good to have an opportunity to meet the real people behind the electrons. Everyone has a story, and there were a lot of great stories last night. I owe a special head nod to these bloggers and their blogs, which I heartily encourage you to visit...

If you enjoy poetry, Greg offers his poems and thoughts at Enchilada's Blog.

If you're short on money and long on wanting things to do that don't cost an arm and a leg, check out Amy's Free in DC for great tips on where to go, what to do, and how not to pay much for it. Plus, Amy radiates infectious energy ... five minutes after meeting her, you're exhausted. But it's a good exhaustion.

I've never met a professional flamenco guitarist before, but now I've met Michael. His Flamenco Photo Diary and Blog offers wonderful insights and photos of the exotic world of flamenco. Ole!

Buggie was a delight to meet and talk with. She has two blogs: Ah Bugger ("The vapid utterings of a neurotic mind") and Television Bug ("I watch TV so you don't have to"). I have to admire this lovely lady...it taxes my limited mental capacity to keep up one blog, much less two.

And Kristin writes at Candy Sandwich ("Life in DC? Sometimes it's just like a candy sandwich: good in theory, bad in practice...sometimes, though, it's just what you want.").

I met lots of other interesting people with great blogs, but I do have to go to work today, so I'll just have to stop here for the time being. Please check out my fellow bloggers, and be sure to visit the Goethe Institute - you don't have to speak German, you just have to love learning and culture. Visit their website, then drop by and enjoy their range of interesting and educational programs.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo