Blognic, Blognic, la la la...

So Blognic '06 came off without a meaningful hitch -- although some bloggers from Berkeley and Dorchester counties struggled to find the park (in large part because of poor signage) and there was a wee bit o' angst regarding the location of paper plates. But to cut through the clutter, it wound up being a memorably pleasant and enjoyable time. I was struck by how relaxed it felt and what a good mood people seemed to be in.

Here are the reports:

Heather:

Well, with a rough start and a few misses, I think the Blognic was overall a success. I had a great time seeing some of our local bloggers. I am so sorry about those plates. I pulled into the garage and there they were... mocking me. Anyone who did not sample Mike's spread missed out. Also, Jason can I have your recipe for gazpacho, I liked the dill.

Jared:

It was a big success, I think. This is such a great group because we all come from radically different backgrounds and somehow get along so incredibly well, all brought together with our blogs. This is so unique, and I love all of it, and feel privileged to be a part of it!

Sunnie:

I told Jimmy he was going to the next get together if I have to drag him. LOL I was so nervous when I first got there. I've become such a homebody that my stomach gets in knots when I'm purposely going out to meet new people. But I'm definitely glad I went. (I had to after I offered to bring drinks. LOL) I'm looking forward to the next get together and may even get a babysitter so I can take advantage of adult conversation. LOL

Vera:

Pat and I got there early, and I had a panicky Twilight Zone kind of moment when it took a while for the rest of the group to show up.  How glad I was to see Eugene and then Heather.The weather and the food were great, and it was wonderful to meet up with the bloggers.

April:

I would like to further congratulate the city of Charleston for its dispairing lack of adequate street signs. We were lost for about 15 minutes before we figured out how to make the connection to the freeway that leads to James Island... Once at the picnic, a good time was definately had by all, even despite the Great Paper Plate Fiasco of 2006. I really enjoyed talking with all of my fellow bloggers. Even Husband had a good time! Daughter was very well-behaved, I think.

Eugene:

I find Vera's ability to knit and talk at the same time amazing. I think I'd probably end up stabbing myself if I tried to do that.

Mike:

This was the first Lowcountry blogger meet-up where kids were invited.  Evidently Charleston bloggers are very fertile. All of the kids were well-behaved but I'm glad that those days are long over for me... I think it was Heather who suggested that we do this monthly.  I agree.

Jason has a great gallery of photos at Cavaliers and Roundheads. There's also a gallery of blognic shots at Imablog...

The blognic also wound up as the focus of a reworked (and much cut) newspaper story (Sunday's P&C, bottom of page 3B) about local blogging, written by reporter Lucia Walinchus. You can read it here.

In parting, let me say one more thing: This event was planned and executed by Eugene and Heather, to whom we offer our abundant thanks and appreciation. Y'all are great. I'm already looking forward to our next event... which, come to think of it, could include...

ConvergeSouth 2006
Another reminder: Janet and I are heading to Greensboro on Oct. 13 for the second annual ConvergeSouth blogging, journalism and new media conference (party on Oct. 13, conference all day on the 14th). Last year's conference was where we first encountered that spirit of diverse camaraderie that we now find at Lowcountry blogger gatherings, and was a big motivation behind the creation of this blog.

Greensboro has an established and interesting blogging community, one that has become functional enough to pull off events like ConvergeSouth just through the power of their social network and their innate creativity. They're really rather inspiring. Oh, and they throw a GREAT house/barbecue party.

Registration for ConvergeSouth is free, and so is the barbecue on Friday night. All you have to pay for is your transport, food and lodging. Maybe we can even work out some carpooling from here to there and back. Anyway, the event comes highly recommended, and we hope to see y'all there. Just go to the site and sign yourself up.

Commercial over... now, back to...

The rest of the roundup
MISC. MOSH: English Geoff really must be starting to feel like an American. Someone broke into his Tankmobile over the weekend. Happy Monday, indeed... What do you do with a spent fire extinguisher? I mean, beside leaving it forever under the kitchen sink? Don't tell me -- tell Eugene... The experiment with emergency-room work has ended at The Painted Band-Aid Box:

But EMS is happy to have me back, as I am happy to be back. Its like that bad-boy ex that is really, really bad for you, but you still love him anyways despite all the pain and grief he causes. So Im running back, back to my first love. To practice my street medicine or as I was told, practice "without a net"

POLITICS: Lee Walton thinks local governments are redundant and waste tax money... American Entropy Geoff points to the leaked National Intelligence Estimate from April that says the war in Iraq is making our terrorism problems worse:

The conservative right-wing will continue to claim that UBL, al Qaeda, and the terrorists are pulling for progressive Democrats to take the Senate and House. They, again, draw on fear in a desperate attempts to hold on to power. They claim Democrats and progressives will loose the War on Terror and allow more attacks. In reality we are the only ones that have the capacity to understand this war and win it.  The point is to reduce terror.  It's not enough to look tough, you have to make actual progress.

Francis X. Archibald writes about Banned Books Week and concludes:

Banned Books Week is a special time for all of us to be vigilant and to resist censorship wherever it rears its ugly head. We are Americans and we can make most of the decisions about our lives and what is good and bad, and all will still be well in the end.

PARTING SHOT: Fresh off his delicious tour of backroad barbecue joints, Windveil is taking The Mustang on a tour of WPA Buildings around the state...

PARTING SHOT NO. 2: I've added this one just because it struck me funny and begs explanation. It comes from Miss Meghann, and the "Alison" in question is almost certainly the Alison at Baxter Sez. Here's the whole post, including title:

I have to publish this before Alison publishes hers.    

 

FACT:

It is not weird that I spooned out the middle of my danish and ate only the fruit filling and none of the dough.

Booyah.

                       

And here's that answer, from Alison, who updates us from a visit to a women's study conference in Asheville:

High point of the morning: when Meg got herself a cherry danish and then took her plastic spoon and neatly scooped the gelatinous fake cherry goo out of the danish, ate it, and threw the rest away. I said, "I am going to blog about that!" and she said, sort of pathetically, "But that's the part of the danish I like!"

I don't know why I like this so much.

Comments

[Heather]

Someone needs to write Geoff a personal invitation. . .

[geoff]

Sesriously! you do! yes .. i always miss these things - dammit!

[Imabug]

see what happens when you don't stay in touch with the local blogscene? go make sure Lowcountryblogs is on your daily read list.

[Heather]

It's a tragedy so easily avoided.

[Margo]

I had a great time, and it was fun seeing everyone. Next time I plan on leaving the kids at home!! ;-)