formerly Diane's Addled Ramblings... the ramblings are still addled, just like before, and the URL is still the same...
it's just the title at the top of the page that's new

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Chatty Cathy Meets Chatty Kate...

I'm back from DC, where I had my first in-person meeting with a bloggy friend! I met Heather, who was there from Alabama all week for a conference. Since she was only 2 hours away and since she's become my official bloggy little-sister, I headed on up there to hang out with her last night. It was great!

Heather is as completely adorable and sweet and funny in person as she is on her blog. I started laughing with her (and by 'with her' I mean 'at her') before I even laid eyes on her. I'd given her my room number (536) and she said she'd be right down. About 10 minutes later, I was still waiting. Then my phone rang and Heather asked, "Are you actually IN room 506 now?" Yup... room 506, where she'd been standing, knocking, for 5 minutes (I told her she'd just disturbed the people having sex in there). She was embarrassed. I was cracking up.

We sat in my room for a while and talked and talked... then we had a huge dinner (during which we talked and talked), and after we waddled back to the hotel, we planted ourselves in the bar (where we talked and talked... for a total of 8 hours straight, with only a couple of short bathroom breaks). It was my turn to be laughed at then...

I ordered a Guinness, which came in a bottle. I've only ever had Guinness from the tap or in a can... apparently the bottles are a relatively new thing here. Anyway, we were chatting and drinking and I noticed an odd, rattling sound coming from my bottle. I looked at Heather, shook the bottle, and said, "There's something in here." The look on her face, I'm sure, mirrored the look on mine... there is not supposed to be anything in a bottle of beer after all... well, except for beer. I had some unpleasant visions running through my head, let me tell you, so I decided to bring it to someone's attention. I went up to the bar and when the (very cute, very charming) bartender came over, and smiling big, asked what I needed, I said, "Ummm... there's something in my bottle." He replied, "Yes?" Me, again (shaking the bottle this time), "Ummm... there's something in my bottle." His smile turned into a full-fledged guffaw. Apparently bottles of Guinness contain some sort of plug thing that's meant to do something relevant... I dunno... like keeping all the beer from coming out at once...? That's not usually an issue I have, but whatever. When the bartender stopped laughing, he told me the look on my face had been priceless. Whenever he came over to our table for the rest of the night, he asked if I wanted another rattley beer.

So, Heather and I talked and talked until we were nodding off into our beers. We met for breakfast this morning before she had to head to the airport (where she's now stuck for the rest of the afternoon, as her flight was cancelled... poor baby) and I had to wander home. Meeting her was really fanstastic... it was like seeing an old friend again. I'm looking forward to the next time we can get together... and to meeting more of you lovely bloggy people!

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'M SO jealous!

Can't you at least get to St. Louis or Chicago or someowhere halfway between VIrginia and SO. Illinois?

I really wanna see whose butt is bigger, then we can't talk and talk. You can order a rattly beer, and I'll over indulge in any fattening food nearby (I have a fat bottom girl image to uphold now).

Come on Diane, see what you can do.

mo.stoneskin said...

If I'm brutally honest, meeting a blogger face-to-face freaks me out a bit...I mean, what if they think I'm funny (as a blogger) and then I'm a bore...or what if the expect me to tell beautiful anecdotes when I can't be bothered and I really just want a beer and a sleep...

But glad you had a nice time.

Was it Guiness draught, or just regular? Whenever I see it in bottles it is regular, which I don't really like, unless I have had no greens for a week because the missus is away or something, then I CRAVE stout, pure proper stout.

blognut said...

Ha! At least your teeth weren't in that bottle of beer!

Glad you had a great time.

boneman said...

dang...
for whatever reason, and I don't really know.
I thought it was your daughter you were to go
And see, but, evidently not.
oh well, I guess the information got
lost on the freeway when I opened the window.

(what freeway? what window? the one in my head.
Sometimes it's really busy in there, and instead
Of thinking I just make
mental notes and take
The wrong turn, with an open window, where info fled.)

Zuzana said...

Ah, I KNEW you guys would have fun, you always connect so through your comments.;))
I was laughing out loud when you wrote about "something" in the bottle of Guinness.;) I think it aids in pouring it the right way; I know I was also wondering about that in the beginning. P calls it something, which I forgot now.;)
Hope the rest of your weekend is great.;))
xoxo
Z

Ladybird World Mother said...

Wow. How amazing to meet and be able to talk so much and have such fun! Brilliant. So glad you had fun.

Heather said...

Sounds like a great time! And, seriously, I can't even imagine what ran through your mind when you heard the rattling. Oh, the news stories. I feel for ya, sister!

Blu said...

Its a widget.....the thing in the can..

Sounds like you two get on very very well.

Debbie said...

how great for you both!! the powers of the blogging world..and the connections made!! Wonderful!!

Unknown said...

so
you will be flying out here to Australia to meet me next week then ??

I am so jealous !
I want to have tea with you

bloody oceans, bloody millions of miles, bloody seperated land masses
snoff

Lisa xx

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Great news, Diane and Heather! So glad you had fun and yet sooo jealous that you got to meet up!

Such a wonderful account, and I'll bet we could all empty any establishment and dazzle the barman if we all ever had some kind of a convention altogether! Take care. Have a fine Sunday. xxx

Jenners said...

I'm so happy it was such a success and you guys had so much fun! I hope she gets home soon -- she must tired after chatting all night!

Annie K said...

Sounds like a perfectly awesome time!

Michelle said...

Ok, so I know Sherri wants you, but so do I!!! NYC is not that far for you right?? Lots to do and eat and drink!! We don't even have to talk if you don't want to!!! Just eat and drink and stuff!!!

HAPPY WEEKEND!!!

Coachdad said...

How cool... can't imagine meeting a fellow blogger. Nice beer story! Dork.

Lee said...

I didn't know Guinness bottles had thing in them,I knew the cans did. They call it a widget and it helps create the creamy head.

I have met about six blogger now and they are unfailingly lovely. Even the guys.

rachaelgking said...

I love meeting bloggers! It's so cool to finally put a face and IRL personality to the words :-)

Sometimes Sophia said...

What fun to make that connection! Sounds like a delightful time... widgets and all. You must be ready to nap, though... ;)

Anonymous said...

That sounds soooo cool!!

Heather said...

Ha!!! Your rattling beer... that was priceless!! And I totally thought you were looking through the peep hole at room 506 judging whether or not to open the door. :)
But seriously, I had so much fun. Thanks again for coming down to visit! We'll have to do it again sometime.

The Ice Bloggers said...

Lee's already told you what I was going to - about the widget. Sounds as if you had a great time. How lovely.

Henry the Dog said...

Honestly, you girlies. AND not knowing about widgets. Phuh! Perrllleease. I'm a dog and even I know about the widgets.

The Ice Bloggers said...

He's showing off because UHugh once gave him guinness "Fingers of Fun"

Ronda's Rants said...

I don't even drink beer and I knew this...sorry! Hey...if you come to Florida you had better let me know!!
That sounded like fun!

Anonymous said...

Yes, come to Chicago next time! I did not know about Guinness beer plugs. I am going to investigate this.

Kate P. said...

okay...now I'm jealous.

Moomby said...

Fun! lemme know when you visit orange county ca! disneyland, anyone?