Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
Ever since I listened to the first Ricochet podcast with Peter, Rob and Mark Steyn in early 2010, I began a secret fantasy in my mind. In my dream world, I would be sitting at a dinner table listening to Peter, Rob and Mark chat while I occasionally piped up with a vapid comment. Now and then, I could get the guys to laugh. Rob, however, was a tough nut to crack even in my fantasy world. Hmmm.
Finally, after 2 years of hoping and daydreaming and fantasizing, I got to see my dream come true. I got to be a part of a Southern California Ricochet meet up. Well, part of my dream came true. Why only part? That's because over the past two years I found myself wanting to meet and hang out with all of the members and contributors of Ricochet. Last June's meetup in DC was a blast! I could not wait to bring the party to my own neighborhood. The only thing to mar the evening was not getting to see people I had hoped to meet in person (Joe Escalante and Squishy Blue RINO. Joe, you're dead to me now; well... until I get to meet you in person).
Some highlights of the evening, aside from finally getting to meet my internet friends in person, were hearing stories of travels far and wide, listening to political opinions, and hearing stories of bizarre connections. Case in point, I found out that Brian Watt and I used to live about 2 blocks away from each other.
As promised, here are photos of the evening. I'm very sensitive to privacy issues, so I won't be tagging people in the photos. If you are in the photos, feel free to identify yourself, though. Oh. Yeah. Sorry about the captions. I couldn't resist.
"What are you having?" "The risotto looks good."
"At first Obama wanted to take this much of my religious freedoms..."
"Hmmm... this post by Paul Rahe is quite detailed, isn't it?"
"Hee hee hee hee. They let me come to this party without a Bible. Hee hee."
"Great wine, great people, great name tags!"
"Yes! A new member as of this morning!"
"Oh! You worked for that President Bush."
"No, Rob. Newt Gingrich is not The Grinch."
This is Mr. FeliciaB (The Man).
"How can you live with yourself for having worked for Schwarzenegger?"
"And then I had to look Felicia in the eyes and tell her to get a hold of herself. They're just people, not super heroes."
"Yeah, 1964 was when we lost the country."
Oh! Look at me! I'm standing between two superheroes!
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Comments:
May '10
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
I'll have what she's having...
Oct '10
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
Maybe April in San Diego - keep your eyes peeled for a reason to come down to Stone! Great to meet you. Although you didn't travel the longest distance, you probably had to deal with more traffic than anyone else.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
I knew I could rely on Felicia to take great pix! I had a plane ticket all set, when I realized I had a long-standing dinner date Sunday evening in Palm Beach, FL and could not get back in time. Drat! Perhaps next time!
Mar '11
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
So many great conversations with people who have spent time thinking about what they believe and who ask good questions about what they don't understand. Too rare.
One highlight of many was listening to Troy explain the speech writing process in the Bush 43 administration.
Yeah, I'm weird.
Oct '10
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
Gus Marvinson: One highlight of many was listening to Troy explain the speech writing process in the Bush 43 administration.
Yeah, I'm weird.
At least you aren't weird alone. I'm a process wonk too!
Oct '10
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
My only objection is that the women all look terrific and the men all look... like men. ;-)
Nov '10
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
On that historic note, anyone in the Boston area interested in a meet up?
May '10
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
Great pix Felicia... but I have this strange urge to run to the bathroom and shave...
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
I'd just like to point out that mine had sleeves. There are certain lines a man can't cross.
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
Say what you will about the tenets of Ricochet's Southern California staff, but at least they have an ethos.
Oct '10
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
Privacy, Schmivacy, somebody better start naming names!
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
Duane Oyen: The guy with the gray beard... is it.... it looks like... Billy Joel! And no pole dancing?
Boy, I went to the SoCal meeting a year too early, didn't I? · 18 hours ago
The grey in that beard is giving me intimations of mortality...
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
Face it, Trace: you're jealous that I look like a French movie star.
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
It was a spectacular night. What nice people Ricochet members are! And what I especially love is that we're all smart, of course, but also we have these amazing life experiences. It just burnishes, for me, the idea that Ricochet is a national think tank. For people who work for a living rather than talk for a living.
Thanks, FeliciaB, for organizing such a terrific night!
Feb '11
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
Rob Long
Face it, Trace: you're jealous that I look like a French movie star. · 4 minutes ago
Careful there, Rob. You're putting yourself in a class with Gerard Depardieu.
Aug '10
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
To think that Ricochet hosted two get togethers across the country from each other and everybody showed up, had fun, and didn't make any deals, barter away any freedoms. The quid pro quo was a smile and a friendly ear. That is unparalleled . Is there any other affinity group that can say the same ( and at $3.70/mth) ?
I guess those Daily Kos get togethers at various Occupy campsites had more drugs and cheaper food, but does that ever count when you are busy holding your nose while squirting sanitizer on your head with a garden hose ?
May '10
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
katievs: Can anyone explain to me why there hasn't been one of these yet in Philadelphia? Where theConstitutions was ratifiedfor cryin' out loud?!
[Just not during Lent, please.] · 18 hours ago
Edited 18 hours ago
Katie, I am here just a few miles from where the main podcast host lives and spends all his time, and where the Hinderaker-Ward Experience and both hosts live. And there have been no meetups within 1000 miles of here. I can't organize it because that is the guaranteed means to deter all of them from coming.
Furthermore, I even PM'd Rob two months ahead about a Baltimore gathering the week of Thanksgiving, and he made sure to schedule something.... for six hours after my non-refundable flight departed BWI.
I am the unloved Joe Btfsplk of Ricochet.
Though, unlike Joe, I probably earned it....
May '10
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
Duane Oyen
katievs: Can anyone explain to me why there hasn't been one of these yet in Philadelphia? Where theConstitutions was ratifiedfor cryin' out loud?!
[Just not during Lent, please.] · 18 hours ago
Edited 18 hours ago
Katie, I am here just a few miles from where the main podcast host lives and spends all his time, and where the Hinderaker-Ward Experience and both hosts live. And there have been no meetups within 1000 miles of here. I can't organize it because that is the guaranteed means to deter all of them from coming.
Furthermore, I even PM'd Rob two months ahead about a Baltimore gathering the week of Thanksgiving, and he made sure to schedule something.... for six hoursaftermy non-refundable flight departed BWI.
I am the unloved Joe Btfsplk of Ricochet.
Though, unlike Joe, I probably earned it.... · 7 minutes ago
Duane, you need to live life on the edge and just schedule a meet up. It's called risk. You know, that capitalist feature.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
I missed you, too! Next time, PJS, next time.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Southern California Meetup: I Enjoyed Myself So Much I Couldn't Sleep
You're welcome! Thank you for adding to my photograstalker collection.