Posted on 02/24/2009 8:14:59 AM PST by Ultra Sonic 007
Okay everyone, welcome to the general Alabama thread on Free Republic!
Use this thread to post interesting news, tidbits, plans, meeting times, or just to converse with your fellow people of Alabama. This thread will be used to properly coordinate FR activism and various other activities...and, if things go well, serve as the proper thread for Alabama FR chapters to plan and organize.
Hope you all make good use of it!
Consider the Alabama Board: for some time, we've had people talking about meetings, where to go, what to do...but talk is talk, and nothing was in the works.
So I got the ball rolling. I was just going to hold an informal FReeper meeting at a bookstore (as some of you recall the daily reminder being 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 (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, it was 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: this Friday in the evening, 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...
So an idea struck.
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).
So far, I have a few people confirmed to be going: myself (will probably end up bringing a few family members along), along with BudgieRamone and his wife. del4hope will let me know whether or not she'll be coming by Thursday.
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.
Well...that's my current plan.
In other interesting news, there's lots of talk about Rick Santelli and his Tea Party. A few FReepers have been discussing ideas about a possible tea dump sometime in the near future, while the iron is hot. Coalesce ideas here and finalize something!
Also, in an unrelated story, it seems that Bob Riley is rejecting part of the Porkulus funds earmarked for Alabama.
Contact him and let him know it would be best to reject the whole thing!
Well...that's all for now.
Bookmark this thread for future use!
Count me in!!!!
How Bubba Gump Shrimp?
Oh great now there will be 57 of these....
If it includes Lynard Skynard, count me in. Much bluegrass music done there?
Left coast.
I’m up here in the Huntsville area so I pass on the get togethers in B’ham. However, I would really like to be added your PING list for all things AL.
oops, I forgot one thing: How many FReepers know which state L.A. is in? he he
Well, proudofthesouth and mtnwmn are in North Alabama, so you might want to talk to them about Huntsville-related events.
Looks great. Can we steal for North Alabama too?
From Huntsville here. I would like to make contact and have a get together.
It's the Florida panhandle...Lower Alabama (LA).
If by ‘steal’ you mean contact people for the ping list...then sure. You mean you want a North Alabama version?
You stole my response. lol
Good job sir! We have work to do to give this conservative state representation at the state and federal levels. There is an ongoing concerted effort to turn it blue.
Way to go, Alabama!! Great work!!
A bookmark ping.
Hey there everyone. Count me in too! :-)
I’m here in North Shelby, 280 hiway.
If things are normal around here, I’ll be there Friday night at Ruby Tuesdays at the Galleria, 7:30 pm. :-)
Wonderful! I’ll put you in confirmed. See you then!
You know, pending the ‘normalcy’ of events.
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