Pinging a bunch of Alabama Freepers; bookmark ping!
Okay, I’m pinging a bunch of people who’ve posted on the FR Alabama board (at least those who I’m relatively sure are in the Greater Birmingham Area/North Alabama. This is in regards to the little informal meeting that some of you may have seen blared daily across the Alabama board.
Done of my own volition to get the ball rolling, it was just going to be a small get-together of sorts at the Lakeshore Books-A-Million. Bigger meetings, more organization...that sort of thing can come later. Right now, I’m just putting out feelers of sorts to try and ‘corral’ people into getting things going.
Anyhow, about three people showed up today (which is just fine for the first time around). Bizzy Bugz was first, followed by BudgieRamone. We just introduced ourselves and spoke casually about various issues for a half hour, much of it revolving around historical parallels, our occupations, the freedoms of our parents’ days, and the porkulus bill. Though, as BudgieRamone and Bizzy Bugz will attest to, there were a few tense moments where I saw one of my history professors no more than 20-30 feet away at times, checking out books on the display shelves near the front of the store. Given that this is a professor who often walked into class with a copy of ‘The New Republic’ in his arms (though he mercifully kept his lectures politically neutral), I mentally wondered if he would end up walking to our table and asking me some questions about the people I was meeting with.
Perhaps a bit paranoid of me, but then again, my next thought after that was whether or not he would begin regretting writing the letter of recommendation I asked for so I could enter graduate school...so yeah, some justified paranoia!
Fortunately, nothing came of that.
Anyways, Bizzy Bugz left; about two minutes after she left, TweetEBird007 arrived. BudgieRamone had to vacate, leaving me to talk alone with TweetEBird007. We did a round of introductions, him mentioning his kinfolk, history, and some military-related matters. It was around 5:05 PM where we both decided to end the ‘meeting’, and return home for the day.
All in all, a productive day. Ya’ll can Freepmail BudgieRamone, Bizzy Bugz, and TweetEBird007 for confirmation that this actually happened (because I was somewhat aware that the idea of following the directions of some random dude on the Internet would ring people’s “Hmm...” alarms these days; hence why I said it was to be an informal meeting at 4:00 PM at a Books-A-Million in a rather populated shopping plaza). However, given issues regarding the Birmingham rush hour and the fact that a lot of people are still working around 4:00 PM, I posited the following idea for the next meeting:
Somewhere in Hoover, near the Riverchase Galleria: next Friday at around 7:00 PM, where we can all meet for a FReeper dinner meeting (I find it easier to get acquainted with people over a hot meal). Something a bit more formal, but I’m thinking it would be at a restaurant that’s not too expensive...maybe a place like Olive Garden.
Or maybe even the Ruby Tuesday that’s located right at the entrance of the Galleria?
http://www.riverchasegalleria.com/html/AttractionDetail.asp?aid=1375
Ruby Tuesday: Somewhat less expensive than the other restaurants, yet still formal enough for an actual meeting. And the food’s pretty good too.
How about that? Friday, 7:30 PM. Would like to have more people show up this time around; if all goes well, we could get something started regarding a North Alabama FR Chapter (at least within an official sense).
If anybody is definitely going, please let me know so I can have good idea of what kind of table I’ll need to reserve.