Shut up & drink: My first Blogger Happy Hour

I should have known the night was off to a good start when in the first hour a blogger proclaimed “Shut up and drink.” This was in response my declaration that he was trouble. (I was right.)

It almost didn’t happen. I almost didn’t go. It would have been a tragic mistake if I hadn’t. With a small kick from Arjewtino and a gentle shove from i-66, I stopped being lame and agreed to go to this meeting of the minds: this Blogger Happy Hour. I am not a prolific blogger, nor do I blog about anything mind shatteringly interesting. Such is my life, I suppose. Average. But the thing I heard more than once last night was “You’re anything but average.” The same goes for you all!

I tried to explain to a colleague this morning about this event. He said, “all I can think of are a bunch of emo kids hanging out and being all ‘in touch with their emotions’.” He was quickly and sharply corrected. Buffalo Billiards was privy to a meeting of the minds, last night. A group of brilliant, articulate, genuine people. Not to mention that they were a group of particularly attractive, snappy dressers.

I felt like a fish out of water amongst these amazing writers; these eloquent, deep, funny bloggers, well known in the DC blogosphere. Every time someone said “Oh, yeah! I’ve read you,” I felt like I was the butt of a joke until one blogger said, in essence, “Get over it! If they say they’ve read you, they read you. Get over yourself! Oh, and nice glasses.” Ahh, my glasses…

Lessons learned on the night:

1. Remembering names is hard enough. Remember blog names is harder. (sorry!)
2. I need to remember to write down what people tell me. Like blog names. See #1.
3. I can still tie a tie like a champ.
4. I can’t complain to other bloggers about living the burbs. Apparently they do, too!
5. Not everyone I went to high school with is evil. As a matter of fact, some are downright lovely.
6. If your handle has a name in it, and it’s not your actual name, this can be confusing. (sorry again!)
7. I should drink more when drinks are offered to me.
8. When three men stand around a bar and you hear “I’m trying to get laid”, make a mental note and adjust flirting techniques appropriately. *wink*
9. Wear comfy shoes with no heels to blogger events. Seats are limited and bloggers are short. JOKES!
10. I need to stop being a pansy and go out more often. Especially with amazing people like these.

Thanks again to everyone who was nice and welcoming to me last night. List o’ lovelies that I met last night are to come. As soon as I can sort them all out =)

In the comments: Feel free to cryptically identify yourself and your blog because I am, in fact, a big loser.

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