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zorathenneYou know.. I was just minding my business, enjoying my first morning of actually being able to breathe through my nose for longer than 5 minutes.. riding the cold~med cocktail high.. dealing with yet another early morning phone call from the mother (this 7am phone call crap has got to go..).. counting the intervals between coughing up bits and pieces of my lungs..
*sigh*
Anyway, I decide to potter around in the world that is Livejournal, and see what is up with my friends out there *waves weakly* "Hi, friends.. How are things going with you all today? Ahh... Seems there's a birthday or two or more going on today.. wonderful =).. Pardon me while I go cough up yet another part of my lung.."
You know.. stuff like that..
And I come across... This via![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
michaelnolan. He didn't seem too.. pleased about what the link contained (and neither did quite a few others), and so I, being the curious sort and the type of person to be concerned when friends are upset, click through to the article..
I have posted the article behind the necessary cut..
'Midsummer' blog party draws out crowd of unusally-dressed LJ users
spacer
By Rubina Madan
Contributing Writer
September 10, 2004
I made arrangements to get to a Marietta Midsummer Night’s Dream party with a couple of 45-year-old gay guys I had never met. This, it appeared, would set the scene for the rest of the night.
It was a birthday party for four people, only one of whom I’d met, hosted by a mother of three whose life I’d been reading about for six months. The event was supposed to be a gathering of LiveJournal bloggers, many of whom knew each other’s innermost thoughts, workday detail and blow-by-blows of trips to the doctor.
While they listed each other on their “Friends Lists,” most of them had never met. Online dating has come into its own over the past few years, but blogger parties still have their oddities.
My roommate was skeptical at first. In my lavender gown, with a wreath of purple flowers on my head, I tried to convince her it would be an “experience.”
After quickly getting her dressed, we went downstairs to meet our escorts. They made a cute couple, bickering and laughing. One was a short, gnomish man, the other his 300-pound, much taller partner. Jenn and I threw in our pathetic potluck offerings: a frozen bottle of University of Georgia chardonnay and a five-pack of beer.
The setup was gorgeous: a three-story house with a spacious front yard, castle wallpaper lining the outside, real grape vines wrapped around columns and a candlelit gazebo.
We felt instantly out of place when we got there, despite having met a few of the attendees before. The first people I saw were a knight and what appeared to be a clergyman. People introduced themselves to us by their real names, then paused and added their LiveJournal names.
What surprised me about this large gathering of people was the confidence with which they wore their costumes. These people may have been introverted receptionists, computer programmers and librarians normally, but here they were in their element.
They were wearing fairy wings, elaborate body paint, chain mail and fishnet stockings. Two came as “Bottom” the donkey, joking that they were asses. The women, most of them chubby, overwhelmingly had plunging necklines and showed off their legs.
Unashamed of their bodies, these women wore their garb with confidence. In this crowd, shame was associated more with saying something hystrionic on your blog than with lack of modesty.
The conversations, for the most part, didn’t revolve around politics or pleasantries. Since LiveJournal was what most people there had in common, they talked about the etiquette of “de-friending” (or no longer reading) someone, leaving mean comments and various famous posts.
Then there was the talk about a woman described as a LiveJournal “drama queen” who had apparently annoyed the hosts and many of the attendees by being cruel to them in her posts. Bad-mouthing, it seemed, could occur even if you’d never met the person.
The subculture of bloggers extends far beyond the Internet. There are small gatherings over coffee, Dragon*Con parties and even the occasional huge, themed bash like this, which included 70 people from six different states.
They’re an eclectic group of misfits and closeted enthusiasts, unleashing their obsession (or casual interest) in recording their lives.
The next day there were dozens of posts with pictures, along with declarations about the party of the year. I wouldn’t go that far, but as I promised my roommate, it was an experience.
As requested, I also have her post in her livejournal that mentions the party. It too, is being placed behind a cut.
August 29th, 2004
August Midsummer Nights @ 01:43 pm
Current Mood: good
I had my date with Shayne last night at a somewhat odd time (3:30 PM) for dinner/drinks. He called me when he was 20 minutes from my apartment, telling me he was on the highway headed to Decatur. Having not showered and looking awful, I stepped into quick primping mode. By the time he showed up, I at least felt like I wasn't a complete snob. We went to Little Five Points so he could have a burger at Front Page News, while I had an excellent grape margarita. He was really easy-going, which instantly helped me get over my nervousness. I can clearly never tell if there are any "sparks," but whatever we had was positive.
We walked around Little Five for a little while, ducking into Psycho Sister and Junkman's Daughter to see if I could find anything good for our Las Vegas party. We're going to be postponing it for at least a week, maybe two depending on how many people will be in town. I couldn't find anything shiny and cheap, so that didn't work out, but it was fun wandering around with him, window-shopping, regardless. We had iced coffees at Aurora, and he dropped me off in time to get dressed for the party. No goodbye kiss. I don't necessarily consider that a bad sign like [info]arachne8 or [info]rivanlord. He asked if I wanted to go out again today, but his work hours are kind of strange, so it may be a while.
Afterward Jenn and I got ready for [info]albumlady's Midsummer Night's Dream party. I wore the same lavender/purple dress I bought for my Greek goddess costume, joking I was Helena because I have similar luck with men. We decided to take a five-pack of Guiness ([info]glassynosts minus one) and our cheap UGA chardonnay (which [info]kwilliamyoung had stuck in the freezer, and was consequently frozen). Yes, we are that ghetto. [info]mrmaxdaddy and his boyfriend picked us up so we could haul over to Marietta. They were very cool, somewhat different from what I expected, but we were laughing almost the whole ride down.
When we got there, I was again pleasantly surprised. Dale's house had a gorgeous gazebo, small flames and candles lighting her entire front yard, real grape vines on the posts, and blankets on the ground. [info]ryokan had already taken over the role of outdoor bartender. It all was very put-together, different from most parties I've attended. I was a little nervous at first, but felt better when I saw people I recognized, like [info]mermaidblue (with her boy toy), [info]copycatjsh, and [info]reprobayt. [info]michaelnolan and [info]mynameisbessie make the most attractive couple. There were the expected conversations on LJ: the etiquette of de-friending, various drama, specific posts. The people I met mostly were quite different from my other friends, but I got along with them. It was also nice to see a bunch of people there I hadn't all summer, as usual. By the time I left, I was tipsy on cheap red wine. I hugged and talked to a lot of old and new people. Overall, it was a very good night.
My WTF Moment of the Day implores you to beware of the Talking Moose. This is a very random link, and a good world history lesson. But check the left frame of the site for lots of random links that will amuse and entertain for hours. I could make a week of WTF Moments just from here.
I'm going to do my best to be nice about this.. I really am.. Be thankful for the cold meds.. as the fuzzy foggy feeling I'm in will probably make this rant a tad short (I just hope it makes sense)..
I was one of the partygoers.. So was my boyfriend. So were many many other people I knew before said party..
Now, it could be because I'm still in the cloud of a med~induced fog.. But I don't remember any of us being.. 'closeted'. The last thing about me is closeted.. What the hell would be so closeted about my life or the lives of everyone who attended the party?? If I don't want others knowing certain aspects of my life, that's not being closeted; that's me going by the rule that not everything about my life is everyone's damn business.
You felt instantly out of place at the party?? Did you even understand the true theme of the gathering? And it's interesting how in your article you felt instantly out of place, yet in your own livejournal you seemed to have really enjoyed yourself. Well..? Which opinion is it? Or are you of two separate minds on this account?
If you truly felt so out of place why did you stay? Everyone seemed to have been having the time of their lives..
Of course we're going to feel confidence in wearing our costumes, you idjit.. How in the world is that surprising to you? Oh.. I see.. It has to do with your 'chubby' comment, yes? Or could it have to do with what seems to be your stereotyping..? Receptionist, librarians, and programmers, eh? You seem to have forgotten college professors.. astronomers.. You know.. professions that obviously don't seem to fit in your little pigeon~hole of how we are 'supposed' to act. Introverted? Oh I forgot.. We're such the quiet churchmice.. Just waiting for opportunities such as that party to burst out of our quiet, introverted shells to run around in such drunken frenzy. Lack of modesty? Um, sweetie, it's surprising we didn't all tear out of our clothing to romp around naked in the rain and moonlight.. Considering the theme of the party, one could say it should have been a given that we do so. Maybe you have an issue with the fact that some of the most beautiful women who attended that party looked nothing like 'you'?. They had no reason at all to be ashamed of their bodies, and they were in a comfortable environment of friends. Hell, I thought I was overdressed!
You couldn't have been part of that kissing train, hm? (by the way.. the two girls who started the train.. just one word for the both of you: *purr~rr~r*)
What did it matter that no one was discussing politics..? I remember being a part of many conversations over the course of the night, and I know they didn't all center around Livejournal. Yes, a few times the subject had to have popped up, I'm sure, as more and more people who gathered realized how close or far along they were on the 'degrees of separation' from one person's livejournal to the next. But you can not fault us at all for conversing on something that just happens to be a part of many people's lives.
And this 'obsession' (or casual interest) in recording our lives.. Have you ever stopped to ask why some people choose to have blogs?? You should already know, seeing as you have a livejournal yourself.. I don't need to have an obsession at all for recording anything about my life.. If truth be known, I am not originally from this state.. I grew up on Long Island.. You know how many people I grew up with back in New York?? I live in Georgia now.. It's quite some distance away. Phone calls get expensive, and writing separate letters gets tiring.. Mass emails..? Not always personal enough.. And not only do I have friends back home, many of them have also moved to other states.. I went to college in Pennsylvania.. I picked up many friends there too.. I also play(ed) Everquest.. Being the outgoing person I am, I have many friends through that medium as well.. They all wonder how I am doing from time to time.. So.. I ask you.. What's one of the easiest ways of 'keeping in touch' with so many people at once?
For me, it happens to be this little piece of cyberspace right here.. My Livejournal. If that is an obsession, then so be it. It happens to be an easy and convenient one, as my friends back home can just pop online and see how I am doing. Quite a few of my friends have made accounts through LJ so they can read my posts and those I may happen to friendslock. One of the joys about having such a journal is I have been blessed with meeting so many others and making new friendships. I can even say that Livejournal had a small role in the beginning of my relationship withvernard..
And I must ask you this.. Did you think to run this article by our gracious hostess? What does her private party have to do with Emory? Please, feel free to correct me if I'm speaking out of turn with this, because I'm not a journalist of any nature, but I would have at least had the foresight and courtesy of lettingalbumlady know that her party was going to be the subject of your article. Even if you are under no obligation to inform the hostess of your intentions, it just sounds as though way too many of the things you've written about the party were in such a condenscending tone.
It makes me wonder why you even accepted the invitation to the party in the first place.
Ugh.. okay.. the fuzziness just isn't going away and I'm just getting more and more irritated. I'm going to go put on some water for tea and get comfy again.. Oooh.. Just maybe.. I might return to that which seems to now be my 'obsession'.. I mean, being such a reserved introverted librarian and all..
*sigh*
Anyway, I decide to potter around in the world that is Livejournal, and see what is up with my friends out there *waves weakly* "Hi, friends.. How are things going with you all today? Ahh... Seems there's a birthday or two or more going on today.. wonderful =).. Pardon me while I go cough up yet another part of my lung.."
You know.. stuff like that..
And I come across... This via
michaelnolan. He didn't seem too.. pleased about what the link contained (and neither did quite a few others), and so I, being the curious sort and the type of person to be concerned when friends are upset, click through to the article..I have posted the article behind the necessary cut..
'Midsummer' blog party draws out crowd of unusally-dressed LJ users
spacer
By Rubina Madan
Contributing Writer
September 10, 2004
I made arrangements to get to a Marietta Midsummer Night’s Dream party with a couple of 45-year-old gay guys I had never met. This, it appeared, would set the scene for the rest of the night.
It was a birthday party for four people, only one of whom I’d met, hosted by a mother of three whose life I’d been reading about for six months. The event was supposed to be a gathering of LiveJournal bloggers, many of whom knew each other’s innermost thoughts, workday detail and blow-by-blows of trips to the doctor.
While they listed each other on their “Friends Lists,” most of them had never met. Online dating has come into its own over the past few years, but blogger parties still have their oddities.
My roommate was skeptical at first. In my lavender gown, with a wreath of purple flowers on my head, I tried to convince her it would be an “experience.”
After quickly getting her dressed, we went downstairs to meet our escorts. They made a cute couple, bickering and laughing. One was a short, gnomish man, the other his 300-pound, much taller partner. Jenn and I threw in our pathetic potluck offerings: a frozen bottle of University of Georgia chardonnay and a five-pack of beer.
The setup was gorgeous: a three-story house with a spacious front yard, castle wallpaper lining the outside, real grape vines wrapped around columns and a candlelit gazebo.
We felt instantly out of place when we got there, despite having met a few of the attendees before. The first people I saw were a knight and what appeared to be a clergyman. People introduced themselves to us by their real names, then paused and added their LiveJournal names.
What surprised me about this large gathering of people was the confidence with which they wore their costumes. These people may have been introverted receptionists, computer programmers and librarians normally, but here they were in their element.
They were wearing fairy wings, elaborate body paint, chain mail and fishnet stockings. Two came as “Bottom” the donkey, joking that they were asses. The women, most of them chubby, overwhelmingly had plunging necklines and showed off their legs.
Unashamed of their bodies, these women wore their garb with confidence. In this crowd, shame was associated more with saying something hystrionic on your blog than with lack of modesty.
The conversations, for the most part, didn’t revolve around politics or pleasantries. Since LiveJournal was what most people there had in common, they talked about the etiquette of “de-friending” (or no longer reading) someone, leaving mean comments and various famous posts.
Then there was the talk about a woman described as a LiveJournal “drama queen” who had apparently annoyed the hosts and many of the attendees by being cruel to them in her posts. Bad-mouthing, it seemed, could occur even if you’d never met the person.
The subculture of bloggers extends far beyond the Internet. There are small gatherings over coffee, Dragon*Con parties and even the occasional huge, themed bash like this, which included 70 people from six different states.
They’re an eclectic group of misfits and closeted enthusiasts, unleashing their obsession (or casual interest) in recording their lives.
The next day there were dozens of posts with pictures, along with declarations about the party of the year. I wouldn’t go that far, but as I promised my roommate, it was an experience.
As requested, I also have her post in her livejournal that mentions the party. It too, is being placed behind a cut.
August 29th, 2004
August Midsummer Nights @ 01:43 pm
Current Mood: good
I had my date with Shayne last night at a somewhat odd time (3:30 PM) for dinner/drinks. He called me when he was 20 minutes from my apartment, telling me he was on the highway headed to Decatur. Having not showered and looking awful, I stepped into quick primping mode. By the time he showed up, I at least felt like I wasn't a complete snob. We went to Little Five Points so he could have a burger at Front Page News, while I had an excellent grape margarita. He was really easy-going, which instantly helped me get over my nervousness. I can clearly never tell if there are any "sparks," but whatever we had was positive.
We walked around Little Five for a little while, ducking into Psycho Sister and Junkman's Daughter to see if I could find anything good for our Las Vegas party. We're going to be postponing it for at least a week, maybe two depending on how many people will be in town. I couldn't find anything shiny and cheap, so that didn't work out, but it was fun wandering around with him, window-shopping, regardless. We had iced coffees at Aurora, and he dropped me off in time to get dressed for the party. No goodbye kiss. I don't necessarily consider that a bad sign like [info]arachne8 or [info]rivanlord. He asked if I wanted to go out again today, but his work hours are kind of strange, so it may be a while.
Afterward Jenn and I got ready for [info]albumlady's Midsummer Night's Dream party. I wore the same lavender/purple dress I bought for my Greek goddess costume, joking I was Helena because I have similar luck with men. We decided to take a five-pack of Guiness ([info]glassynosts minus one) and our cheap UGA chardonnay (which [info]kwilliamyoung had stuck in the freezer, and was consequently frozen). Yes, we are that ghetto. [info]mrmaxdaddy and his boyfriend picked us up so we could haul over to Marietta. They were very cool, somewhat different from what I expected, but we were laughing almost the whole ride down.
When we got there, I was again pleasantly surprised. Dale's house had a gorgeous gazebo, small flames and candles lighting her entire front yard, real grape vines on the posts, and blankets on the ground. [info]ryokan had already taken over the role of outdoor bartender. It all was very put-together, different from most parties I've attended. I was a little nervous at first, but felt better when I saw people I recognized, like [info]mermaidblue (with her boy toy), [info]copycatjsh, and [info]reprobayt. [info]michaelnolan and [info]mynameisbessie make the most attractive couple. There were the expected conversations on LJ: the etiquette of de-friending, various drama, specific posts. The people I met mostly were quite different from my other friends, but I got along with them. It was also nice to see a bunch of people there I hadn't all summer, as usual. By the time I left, I was tipsy on cheap red wine. I hugged and talked to a lot of old and new people. Overall, it was a very good night.
My WTF Moment of the Day implores you to beware of the Talking Moose. This is a very random link, and a good world history lesson. But check the left frame of the site for lots of random links that will amuse and entertain for hours. I could make a week of WTF Moments just from here.
I'm going to do my best to be nice about this.. I really am.. Be thankful for the cold meds.. as the fuzzy foggy feeling I'm in will probably make this rant a tad short (I just hope it makes sense)..
I was one of the partygoers.. So was my boyfriend. So were many many other people I knew before said party..
Now, it could be because I'm still in the cloud of a med~induced fog.. But I don't remember any of us being.. 'closeted'. The last thing about me is closeted.. What the hell would be so closeted about my life or the lives of everyone who attended the party?? If I don't want others knowing certain aspects of my life, that's not being closeted; that's me going by the rule that not everything about my life is everyone's damn business.
You felt instantly out of place at the party?? Did you even understand the true theme of the gathering? And it's interesting how in your article you felt instantly out of place, yet in your own livejournal you seemed to have really enjoyed yourself. Well..? Which opinion is it? Or are you of two separate minds on this account?
If you truly felt so out of place why did you stay? Everyone seemed to have been having the time of their lives..
Of course we're going to feel confidence in wearing our costumes, you idjit.. How in the world is that surprising to you? Oh.. I see.. It has to do with your 'chubby' comment, yes? Or could it have to do with what seems to be your stereotyping..? Receptionist, librarians, and programmers, eh? You seem to have forgotten college professors.. astronomers.. You know.. professions that obviously don't seem to fit in your little pigeon~hole of how we are 'supposed' to act. Introverted? Oh I forgot.. We're such the quiet churchmice.. Just waiting for opportunities such as that party to burst out of our quiet, introverted shells to run around in such drunken frenzy. Lack of modesty? Um, sweetie, it's surprising we didn't all tear out of our clothing to romp around naked in the rain and moonlight.. Considering the theme of the party, one could say it should have been a given that we do so. Maybe you have an issue with the fact that some of the most beautiful women who attended that party looked nothing like 'you'?. They had no reason at all to be ashamed of their bodies, and they were in a comfortable environment of friends. Hell, I thought I was overdressed!
You couldn't have been part of that kissing train, hm? (by the way.. the two girls who started the train.. just one word for the both of you: *purr~rr~r*)
What did it matter that no one was discussing politics..? I remember being a part of many conversations over the course of the night, and I know they didn't all center around Livejournal. Yes, a few times the subject had to have popped up, I'm sure, as more and more people who gathered realized how close or far along they were on the 'degrees of separation' from one person's livejournal to the next. But you can not fault us at all for conversing on something that just happens to be a part of many people's lives.
And this 'obsession' (or casual interest) in recording our lives.. Have you ever stopped to ask why some people choose to have blogs?? You should already know, seeing as you have a livejournal yourself.. I don't need to have an obsession at all for recording anything about my life.. If truth be known, I am not originally from this state.. I grew up on Long Island.. You know how many people I grew up with back in New York?? I live in Georgia now.. It's quite some distance away. Phone calls get expensive, and writing separate letters gets tiring.. Mass emails..? Not always personal enough.. And not only do I have friends back home, many of them have also moved to other states.. I went to college in Pennsylvania.. I picked up many friends there too.. I also play(ed) Everquest.. Being the outgoing person I am, I have many friends through that medium as well.. They all wonder how I am doing from time to time.. So.. I ask you.. What's one of the easiest ways of 'keeping in touch' with so many people at once?
For me, it happens to be this little piece of cyberspace right here.. My Livejournal. If that is an obsession, then so be it. It happens to be an easy and convenient one, as my friends back home can just pop online and see how I am doing. Quite a few of my friends have made accounts through LJ so they can read my posts and those I may happen to friendslock. One of the joys about having such a journal is I have been blessed with meeting so many others and making new friendships. I can even say that Livejournal had a small role in the beginning of my relationship with
vernard..And I must ask you this.. Did you think to run this article by our gracious hostess? What does her private party have to do with Emory? Please, feel free to correct me if I'm speaking out of turn with this, because I'm not a journalist of any nature, but I would have at least had the foresight and courtesy of letting
albumlady know that her party was going to be the subject of your article. Even if you are under no obligation to inform the hostess of your intentions, it just sounds as though way too many of the things you've written about the party were in such a condenscending tone.It makes me wonder why you even accepted the invitation to the party in the first place.
Ugh.. okay.. the fuzziness just isn't going away and I'm just getting more and more irritated. I'm going to go put on some water for tea and get comfy again.. Oooh.. Just maybe.. I might return to that which seems to now be my 'obsession'.. I mean, being such a reserved introverted librarian and all..
