Angie and I came up to the knees of these guys
We did it! Angie of Childhood Relived and I met for lunch! It was memorable. Sadly, though, we did stay in this decade, the 2010s (which sounds really weird). We simply couldn’t work in time travel back to the 1980s. Traffic congestion, you see.
We had wonderful plans, Angie and I. Tours. Nostalgia. Archie Bunker and the Smithsonian’s American Museum that contains just the right tidbits of crap from TV Land as brilliantly suggested by Darla of She’s a Maineiac.
But there was one thing that we didn’t factor in ahead of time. Now, what do you suppose that might be.
If you’re guessing that it’s the fact that neither Angie nor I knows how to shut up, “Come On Down.” Yup, we spent a 2 hour lunch fighting for air time. I had my stories; Angie had hers. It was close, but I think Angie won. I want a re-match.
Still, we did do a tour of DC. Sort of.
First of all, none of the restaurants I’d suggested in my earlier post um, worked out. Still, the restaurant we went to is a Washington landmark: The Old Ebbitt Grill. The restaurant has been there for centuries! Famous people have eaten there – Lincoln! Grant! Wilson! FDR! Checkers! It is a piece of Washington history that is seriously cool. Except that it didn’t happen at the place where we had lunch. Yup, we had lunch at the new Old Ebbitt Grill. The OLD Old Ebbitt Grill was torn down not long after I got to DC in 1979. I’m sure there is no connection. And I did tell Angie that we were having an expensive lunch in a fraudulent facility. That’s our nation’s capital for you.
Still, we had a great lunch. Of course, neither of us would stop talking. As a result, the food wasn’t as hot as it might have been. Perhaps we should have sent it back. A good restaurant should factor conversation in.
Anyway after our long lunch, we realized that we really didn’t have time for much else, so we decided to walk around the White House and gloat about Obama’s re-election. Of course, we didn’t know that that night Barack, Michelle and the girls were going to light the White House Christmas Tree. In public. With thousands of folks in attendance. Apparently, everybody in DC, VA and MD was there. So Angie and I, still never pausing our conversation, swam upstream against thousands of folks determined to see the festivities.
Here are the pictures. Angie did her best Angie-1980s in front of some of Washington’s most impressive tourist destinations.
OK, I can’t be that mean. Here she is — and really, she doesn’t often let her mouth hang open like that. It was done only by request.
And here is the picture she took of me!
But the single best moment was when I drove Angie in my car out of a Washington, DC parking lot where we had left my car for 3 hours.
“Twenty Dollars?” she said. “It cost $20 to park for three hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Angie, you’re not in Kansas any more. Or one of those other fly-over states, either. Whichever one you come from.
Come back soon!
Awww…maybe 2013 will bring me to a blogging buddy. Not in Kansas, but I’ll tap my ruby slippers three times and see. Thank you for the follow-up and update.
I hope so, Georgette! And I hope I’m the one!
Sounds like you guys had a great time!
It was a blast. I highly recommend meeting fellow bloggers!
I know only one, personally, and we knew each other before we blogged. At least, before I blogged. If I ever head to the DC area I’ll let you know.
Does your brother count????
Do let me know if you come!
Hahaha. I’m talking about Beefy, not Revis. And if my brother counts then that’s TWO!!
You’re on a roll!
And I just wanted you to know that I cannot keep up with all of your posts! Yikes! You are making up for lost time!
Well, it’s been really slow at work…
I couldn’t get away with that. My boss reads my blog!
Now THAT’S pressure. Do you get evaluated on that?
Every fucking day until you die, and then you are cannonized! (Unless of course you swear too much
)
Lol. Well it’s a good thing your blog kicks ass, then. You can always swear over on my blog if you want, I don’t give a fuck.
I’ve only met one person from the great wide blogging universe – Frank (from AFrankAngle, for those who don’t know him), but it ROCKED! Honestly, it was the second shortest 6 hours (or so) in my life – beat only by the I’m-so-happy-I-always-sweat-like-this wedding day. If you get the chance again, DO IT! If anybody else out there has the chance to meet a fellow blogger (or even lunatic commenter like me) – DO IT! You will never be sorry – except maybe for that fact that you got ZIP done, and are now one more day behind with stuff!
Glad yours worked out so well – even if you didn’t get to do “the tourist thing”. That leaves open a “next time”!
You got to meet Frank! In the flesh? What fun.
I agree. If there is an opportunity, get together. If you read each other, there’s lots to talk about.
Oh my gosh, we had soooo much fun! Even when we were fighting to tell the best story, it was still fun. And I hate fighting to tell the best story, but you were such a worthy challenger. Really, I’m not typically that obnoxious. Except when I’ve had too much coffee (check!) and am meeting someone for the first time (check!) and am hanging out in a city that completely BLOWS MY MIND (checkety-check!).
That psychotic expression you made me flash in front of the White House gates? Might have gotten me arrested. Thanks, Elyse.
Also, I think my inability to operate my 2002-era cell phone was way more classic than my reaction to the parking garage fee. Again, I stress to you this is an Angie-is-eccentric thing and not a Midwesterner thing. Of course, all Midwesterners still prefer pagers. And fax machines. And the telegraph.
HEY! As one Midwesterner to another, how DARE you suggest we prefer the telegraph? Semaphore was good enough for your great-grandfather, sweetie, and it’ll be good enough for your GRAND-kids! Fax machines? Well, la-de-da. What the heck is wrong with a good old Underwood typewriter, anyway?!?
Just the other day when my office was looking at updating our letterhead, we almost slapped ourselves at the very sight of our fax number listed on there. Geesh, does anyone even know how to run those things anymore? I mean, other than Midwesterners.
Whaddaya mean, “anymore”? We’re waiting to UPGRADE to a fax machine! I mean, c’mon, we just got the mimeograph machines back from their yearly maintenance! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I gotta go light all the oil lanterns in the house. (Hey, the Amish have got NUTHIN’ on us Midwesterners, right? Actually, I had to get something on an Amish farm explained to me by the owner. Something about a wheel that’s powered by WATER? Holy Bleedin’ Edge, Batman!
)
I actually know how to run a Telex machine as well as a mimeograph machine. AND I remember when you had to turn a crank to get a fax through, too.
Now I feel like a dinosaur.
See if this helps, Elyse. I learned to type on an honest-to-God Underwood. I can read the holes in 8-bit computer paper tape, and have shuffled cards. I have several “wheel” drills (hand-cranked) and a couple “brace-and-bits”. I have changed points and condensers and rotors on pre-computerised carburetor-equipped cars. I’ve rebuilt coaster brakes on bicycles. And if anybody is dumb enough to break in here, my first go-to weapon is a sword – no running out of bullets for me! Oh, and if you’ve ever wondered why the early area codes were 212, 213, and 312 (NYC, LA, and Chicago, respectively), I can explain manual stepping telephone office switches.
(Seriously, if there ever WERE one of those end-of-the-world-no-more-electronics scenario, come to my house. I’ll be the one with lights on, chatting on sound-powered phones, hand-loading ammo. 
)
Angie, it was a total blast. You were not obnoxious in the least. You know how there are people you meet and 5 minutes later you have no idea what you can possibly have left to talk about? We didn’t have that problem! In fact, you need to make this an annual event and I will be sure to find out when everyone in town will walk down the street we are trying to walk UP!
And yes, I’m sure that the Secret Service is still looking for you. Don’t worry, though. The Federal Penitentiary system has Wi-Fi.
Come back, Toto! (And I know you’re not really from Kansas. But those states are all the same, aren’t they?
Sounds like fun!
It was a great time! And you came up in the discussion, Nicole! As did several other bloggers we both follow.
Hey … .would hubby agree that Angie won the air-time battle? Great that you had a good time … and … Nice coat Elyse!
Thanks Frank. Hubby was not there to referee — nor was Angie’s. We girls went out without chaperones!
And it is a nice coat. Angie’s finger is pretty nice too
It’s like a bloggy blind date! Very cool.
Exactly! I never thought of it that way. And it was seriously cool — possibly because we didn’t meet in Danville.
It sounds like you people have great time together. And that picture of you is really nice.
It was great, Arindam. And hopefully I will get to meet you when YOU come to DC!
How fun! Sounds like you had a great time and that restaurant sounds like a great place to take a guest!
The Old Ebbitt really is a great restaurant, and wonderfully convenient for seeing DC. When you don’t talk too much, that is!
I like the picture she took of you – you look just like I had imagined – and the Washington Monument – wow!
Yes, it is a great photo. It shows my best side. I knew you’d approve! I also know you couldn’t do anything quite this magical with a camera!
You are so right sensei – I am humbled by your skilz
And I by your spelling …
LOLz
Reblogged this on Childhood Relived and commented:
Elyse is the coolest! The next blogger I meet in person will have a hard time competing.
Waiiiiiiitttttt a hold it, Nnng. You were just in Washington, DC?! Am I reading this right?!
Yup — I live in the area and Angie came with her husband. Are you around here Jules?
Yes! Please tell me you didn’t move there last week or I will promptly throw myself off a bridge. I couldn’t live with myself for missing you. For realz, yo.
You can come back …. We didn’t get to Archie’s chair OR Fonzie’s Jacket (maybe you did)….
Aw, man! Thanks for reminding me! Cannot believe I missed that amazing bunch of crap. You know how much I dig nostalgic relics. You know my heart, Elyse.
Oh no! I thought you were going back there on Friday!
See you next year
Next day I hung out with my friend Chad at a coffee house and spent about three hours longer (and four cups of coffee more) than intended. Next year indeed…
Then had you made it, you might have peed on Archie’s chair and the Smithsonian frowns on that type of behavior.
You know Archie peed on that chair before.
That’s what makes it All-American.
I think we are digressing. Or regressing. Digesting? Something.
I am beyond sad about this revelation. I still tear up remembering the first time I saw his jacket. Sigh. Looks like you’ll have to meet up again soon!
I think so, Darla. And you are more than welcome to join us.
Is this going to be one of those things where I learn New Jersey is actually only a fifteen minute train ride to D.C. or some type of geographic nonsense that we Non-East Coasters can’t comprehend?
New Jersey is a 3-4 hour slog. Do-able though. But not a hop skip and a jump.
It’s about 4-5 hours away, Nnng, and as I’m sure you know, I’d be willing to drive exactly 4 hours and 57 minutes for you, so there was a good chance we could have met.
I may never get over this.
Perhaps we can give you “over this” as a Christmas present. Will that work??
Hey, what a tease! Elyse, have you ever posted a photo of yourself on your blog? (where a hand wasn’t blocking the entire shot?)
My husband is convinced someone is going to not like some of my opinions and shoot me. So I must remain anonymous because I promised … besides, cameras bring out my psychotic side.
LMAO! Ok, that’s slightly disconcerting. But I really want to see your curly red hair …
Sadly, that comment was left before the latest US shooting tragedy and my post on it.
I will have to have a back shot taken of me — just for you!
You’re missing out on her amazing reddish curly mane of hair! Meanwhile, I have two dishwater blond strands on my head.
Angie has lovely blond hair that you can’t see in the photos because you’re can’t look away from her mouth …
And yes, ahem, my hair is lovely. I am collecting all the strands as they fall out so that I can make my own wig…
Clearly Elyse spiked my coffee.
That would have been fun. Wish I’d thought of it!
REALLY?! Does she have amazing reddish curly hair? Now this I gotta see! =P
She does have amazing reddish curly hair. It is very long and all of it is falling out. I can send you some, if you’d like!
Oh waait a minute, I thought YOU were the one with the reddish curly hair, Elyse!
Or are you talking in the third person? O_o
I was talking 3rd person. About myself. It’s because I want to pretend that someone else’s lovely hair is falling out instead of mine.
Aww. I’m sure it’s not that bad! Okay, you promised me a back shot right? =P
OK. I’ll do a shot of my hair, anyway. No pulling it, though.
But you’ll have to see it on my site as I can’t post pictures here!
Of course! I will come running over faster than the speed of light.
I find these comment bubble thing-ys confusing. I thought you were responding to my comment on your blog. Instead you were going back a couple of days to an older blog.
Sometimes I get confused!
Haha, omg I was confused too, it’s not just you!!
I hate these things. And it’s the only way you see comments on your own blog! Oy vey.
Jealous! So fun meeting bloggers.
It was, it was. We should have a convention!
That WOULD be awesome! I’m in. I’ll even fire up the grill for some good ole’ back porch Texas barbequ…er, uh, yard veggies.
Yum. But I’m not so sure about the yard veggies. The only thing still growing in my yard is dog poop.
LOL No dog poop here. No dogs either thankfully (another mouth to feed, ass to wipe, medical bill to pay, etc.). Plus, poop-free, dog-free yard means veggies can be pulled from the ground and eaten right there (which they occasionally are).
Warm beer on a porch in Texas?
Ha! You bet. It’s Samuel Adams Octoberfest (seasonal) at the moment, but it’s slightly cooler from the garage stash now that temps are officially out of the 90′s. Supposed to be 70 today!
Yum.
I am answering comments through the bubbles — I wonder what it will look like on the page!
Bubbles? Did you open a champagne bottle without me?
This back and forth makes more sense in the bubbles — in real-time it looks like we’ve all been drinking.
Wow…bundle up!
I’ve loved my OOB (out of blog) conversations with people, jbut meeting them in person is a special treat,
Glad you two had so much fun!
It was a blast, Guap. Heading down to DC anytime soon?
After reading this, I was actually wondering when I could make the drive!
Let me know. But not until after Christmas!
Glad you guys had fun because that would have been an awkward post.
You’re right. Although the possibilities are pretty funny — imagine. “I finally met So and So and he/she is an ass …”!
you’d have thought the obamas would have come out for a chat….
Especially after all the work I did for him … sheesh. He did send me a nice Christmas card though.
I don’t think I knew you were in the DC area, Elyse. I’ll have to remember that the next time I’m in the area! Sounds like you had a great time, and your photo looks like most photos of me. I haven’t met any bloggers in person, the idea is a bit nervous-making but it’s still something I’d like to do!
Lunch is the perfect way to meet bloggers (I say this from my vast experience of meeting ONE) — you limit the stalking opportunities significantly!
Let me know when you’re down here. We can go visit Al from afar — which Angie and I did, BTW.
Sounds like a lot of fun. I would have been the same way – fighting for air time. Blah, blah, blah. I especially loved how you guys gloated about Obama getting reelected. I might have gloated just a tad about that myself. By tad I mean A LOT. Great post.
I find it difficult to gloat too much in front of folks I hardly know, but both Angie and I managed! And yes, we will have plenty more to say for next time!
I’m so glad you had such a great time. Really, talking is all you really needed to do.
True, Michelle. And there was plenty to talk about (blogging didn’t even make up half!)
Reading this made me realize I need more friends IRL
This was the best of both! A virtual buddy in the flesh!
So what’s with the finger-over-the-lens picture anyway? I would have loved to see a photo of the two of you together.
When I started blogging I promised my husband no pictures. I tend to be rather, ummm, outspoken and he worries that someone will shoot me.
Besides, as I’ve said before, the camera brings out my psychotic side.
Good idea. I prefer to stick with clean, wholesome light-hearted content — dirt? kids? — that keeps people (a/k/a/ my own family) from wanting to shoot me.
Psychotic? Hm. You just might be my kinda gal.
I’m psychotic in a very peace-nicky sort of way.
hey, I stood in exACTly that same spot when I visited DC a couple of months ago. Did you guys see the secret note I left by the little doorbell thingy down at the bottom of the fence?
I’m so jealous that you two met and tried to outshout one another over lunch. Not fair. So jealous. Oh, and good for you!
We did notice that note! But we didn’t read it because it was a secret note and Angie and I are good secret keepers.
We had such a good time — but I can’t believe you came to DC and didn’t let me know, Peg — think of the fun we might have had!
What fun! Sounds like you both had a great time talking at the same time.
Funny that I can’t remember anything that either of us said. Sort of like a cell phone conversation!
Anyone who’d willingly pose for a photo like that is my kind of people. Granted, I would never post like that. Frankly, I never pose, as I hate being in pictures, and try to avoid it at all costs. But, still, someone who’d make that face by request has got to be fun to hang out with.
Glad you had a great time!
Angie is a HUGE sport. So much fun — I don’t know if you are familiar with her blog (which is hilarious). Her gravitar picture makes me crack up every time I see it.
I hate having pictures taken of me, too. Not only does the camera, which never lies, make me look psychotic, it reminds me that I am no longer a hot 21 year old babe … which pisses me off every time.
What a blast!!!
Our day will come, que the music.
Absolutely, Val. We will have a blast.
Awwww this was so swell!! I got to meet one of my blogging friends in DC–we walked around the mall for a couple of hours together and it felt like we’d been friends for years. Anyway, glad you two hung out and had fun!
We should try to get together one day, El — we’re not too far. Maybe a blog fest on the mall!
I would love that, Elyse!
Let’s talk about it when the insanity of the holidays is over!
How fun for you both!
It was great. We should organize a blogging convention!
First off, how on earth did I miss this post?
Second, how on earth did you miss seeing Archie’s chair?
I am so jealous. And happy for you guys.
Also, insanely jealous.
Love the photos. I’m beginning to think you’re a figment of the wordpress world, Elyse. Until I see actual proof you exist, I will have my doubts.
And I would have LOVED to be a fly on the wall to hear what you two were out-talking each other about. Any good bloggy gossip? hm? Not that I would EVER do that.
You missed this post? What? You don’t sit on the edge of your seat waiting for me to write? I am devastated, Darla, to learn that you might have a life outside of blogging. Crushed.
As for the reality of my existence, it’s all there in Angie’s photo.
Our conversation was amazingly varied — we talked about blogging in general, but just didn’t have time to slam other bloggers. That is why she needs to come back! Of course, her mid-western niceness might just preclude totally smearing anybody. And I can’t really think of anybody I would want to slam. (It is way easier to ignore folks you don’t like in the ‘sphere. He/She’s a jerk. “Unfollow.” Done!
Slam? Oh, no no no. I meant confess crushes, create secret wordpress handshakes….etc…..y’know, the typical bloggy gossip stuff.
Wait, are you from the midwest, too?
So funny. Great story well told.
Thanks Naomi! It was a fun afternoon.