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Uff Da, That Fargo Meetup
Well, that was fun. Now I finally know what all the giraffe talk is about, but I’m not allowed to say who told me. I had met Berzerker, Hank Rhody, and Hank’s friend Matt at the Minneapolis Meetup and it was fun to see them again. I met Whiskey Sam and his cousin – who went by the name Whiskey Sam’s cousin – for the first time. Our celebrity guest was Fargo hometown hero James Lileks, who autographed my copy of The Gallery of Regrettable Foods and reminded me to buy the sequel. A really fun and interesting group of guys. Thanks for the nachos, Berzerker.
I made a pitch for the Ricochet Meetup Passport and handed out “stamps” to everyone for inclusion in their passports, should they buy them. We also tossed around a few notions for future large Ricochet meetups. James Lileks suggested we should have a Ricochet cruise, which would be a blast. I’ve also been advised that if one is to have a serious party, it really must include DocJay.
As much as I do want to attend a big meetup one day, there’s a lot of enjoyment to be had by small groups such as this one. If you’ve been thinking that you’d like to host a meetup but figure that your location would only bring in a handful of other members, go ahead and do it. It’s worth it. You can look here for advice on planning it.
I’ve got more pictures, but I’ll have to put them up tomorrow. That is, if Jason Rudert doesn’t mysteriously do it first.
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Wait, you had a Fargo meet-up and didn’t invite Marge Gunderson? Nonetheless, it looks like fun was had.
My first thought, also. How about her husband — Norm, wasn’t it?
You probably thought we don’t know what Uffda means but you might like to know that there are a lot of Norwegians in Seattle. But, we keep them in a ghetto called Ballard. It’s not that we don’t like them but the smell of fish gets to you after a while.
Instead of inserting the different still pictures, I made a little slideshow and put it on Youtube. I don’t know how to embed the video, so you’ll just have to click on the link.
I totally agree that the small meetups are the best. It’s like having a reunion with a dozen of your oldest closest friends…even though you’ve never met face to face.
Fantastic! I wish I had been there. You guys are so lucky to have met James Lileks. And in of all places: Fargo, his home town.
Your use of a youtube video is really a good way to show these photos. I will remember this the next time I go to to one of these meetups. And putting the names of people is also something I will do — assuming that one gets permission.
Thanks for putting up this post.
You’re welcome, Larry. Maybe we’ll get a new tradition started. Provided I get enough pictures from the Salt Lake City meetup in July, I figure I’ll do one for that, too. I know there is cheaper (or free) software for making slideshows but I really like using ProShow Gold by Photodex.
No, I’ve got that out of my system, thanks.
@Whiskey Sam: we would all appreciate it if from now on, any time you are photographed at a Meetup, your hands must be ON THE TABLE. Seriously, it’s a rule.
How to embed video:
Thanks, Jason. I’m saving those instructions for next time.
Did James Lileks talk about his worst date? Hehe . . .
Is that the ….. Gulp, the Diner?
No, but he did tell us about some bad cruise ship experiences, though.
A magician never shows his hands.
We had a great time. Thanks again to Randy for putting all this together! It’s always nice to be able to put faces and personalities with the comments and avatars we normally associate with other members.
Seconding and thirding – a great time had by all, and it was like all the other meet ups I’ve attended. Not a word about politics, really. I like that.
If it had been the Radisson, you know Mike Yanagita would’ve come from Eden Prairie.
He’s a hugger, though.
That whole diversion in the movie is really weird, if you think about it. Brilliant, very Coen like and very weird. I loved the guy playing Yanagita — he was perfect.
Really? All the meetups that I’ve gone to have been all politics. But maybe that’s because all I talk about is politics.
The counters were notably without boomerang-pattern formica. The location was unfortunately more than 18 1/2 minutes from where I happened to be. I heard no jukeboxes playing regrettable music. Evidence indicates that this was not, in fact, The Diner.
Much as I enjoyed the meetup, I’d like to formally reject any hint of association with extremist midwestern groups.
Whiskey Sam asked about my avatar at the meetup, correctly noting that, in it’s current form it’s entirely too small to make out what it is. Specifically, it’s the artwork from a Magic: the Gathering card. Insofar as an avatar is a symbolic representation of you, this particular avatar represents my dedication to a bad joke. (Here’s a larger version of the picture)
I carried a copy of the card with me to this and the minneapolis meetup, to offer a reference for other attendees. Thought I was clever too, until Whiskey Sam showed up in his very own Whiskey Sam T-shirt, with his avatar and name printed on it.
Hank, it would look excellent on your Ricochet Meet-up Passport!
Hmm, that could be an item at the Ricochet store. Have his avatar on it but the title could be Known Associate of Whiskey Sam.
I’m sorry I couldn’t be there to fight with Whiskey Sam!
In order for one of the “Extra” pages on the Ricochet Meetup Group to have a picture, it needs to be able to point to another place, so I’m putting a picture of the Ricochet Meetup Passport Stamp here.
And the above link to the Youtube video doesn’t work, so we may as well plug the working address here.