A Single Southern Guy in America

November 03, 2003

Jawja Blogger Meet-Up Recap

UPDATE: I neglected to mention that The Yeti and Stasia also got phone calls from the meet-up.

Now that I have basically recovered from the Jawja Blogger Meet in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia, I’ll take a shot at chronicling the ‘declassified’ portions of the revelries.

Saturday was a gorgeous day in North Atlanta where I met up my mother, stepfather, and grandmother at the Northpoint Mall. As I had not found time to do any laundry and I figured I needed some warm clothes, I met the family there to secure a new pair of blue jeans, a flannel shirt, a belt, and a few other related items (read drawers and socks). (see Angie and Kelley --I really do go shopping with my mom and grandmother)

I looked at the time and saw that I was going to be late to meet Kelley who was gracious enough to offer me a ride to Dahlonega. I bid my farewell to the family and headed out to meet Kelley five exits up GA 400. What I didn’t realize is that exit numbers are listed chronologically on this road and not corresponding to the mile marker. So instead of being five miles away, I was more like ten or fifteen. I loaded up with Kelley and after a quick drive-thru to Starbucks to fortify ourselves with caffeine we were on our way.

Dahlonega is quite the charming and quaint town. The centerpiece is the town square with the gold mining museum in the center. It reminded me very much of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and any number of small towns around the South that had managed to avoid extinction by becoming a tourist destination. To say people were everywhere is an understatement. Dahlonega has a population of around 3000. I would bet there was a good 2000 meandering around the square, browsing the various shops, walking their puppies. I believe it is safe to say that most of the folks meandering around the square are what Dax explained to me as 'Leaf Lookers.'

Kelley and I were blessed by the day tripping gods and found a perfect parking spot, just across the square from Caruso’s. We exited the car, crossed the street to a candle shop, and asked for directions to Caruso’s(that’s right, I asked for directions).

As we strolled towards the square, Kelley spied an admittedly cute puppy. I was fearful I’d have to put a leash on her to keep her from fawning all over the little pup. We ambled on and the courteous drivers allowed us to cross the streets to reach the restaurant.

Caruso’s is a charming little pub with rustic wood walls and floors and decorations ranging from a Michael Vick jersey to a “Meet The Beatles” album cover. In the pub area of the establishment, there were a number of televisions for watching “THE” game—Georgia-Florida. I had a sense of foreboding about the game because the last time I was out with the “usual suspects” (Dax and Kelley) the Bulldogs lost to LSU while my Razorbacks triumphed. I was wearing my long sleeve “Undefeated In The Rock” Razorbacks t-shirt Saturday and was fearful of Georgia loss despite my hopes that they would because it would throw the SEC East into the stickiest division leader tie in years. Dax threatened to whoop me if Georgia lost and believe me when I say that big ole Georgia boy could probably do it. And no, Dax didn’t. He’s much to good a person to lay out a butt-kicking over a football game.

Kelley and I paused in the doorway and looked over to the three tables pulled together. Dax raised a hand in welcome and we had arrived. I took a seat next to Donnie and Kelley sat across from me next to Donnie’s splendidly pleasant wife. The three tables became four as more and more bloggers, readers, and friends and spouses of bloggers joined the gathering. Later, I switched seats with Eric to visit with Rob and Dax. Later Kelley joined our end of the table. Cameras and flash bulbs were everywhere and often. You would have thought the paparazzi were after us. I was one of the few who didn’t bring a camera, but I figure there were enough pics taken that my contribution wouldn’t be missed. I was conscripted to take a few pictures for other folks, which elicited at least one, “You suck, Adam” from Georgia due to my clear lack of understanding on how to operate her digital camera. I figured it out later and at some point found myself standing a chair taking a picture of toes.

Our time at Caruso’s only lasted about four hours, but emerging from the restaurant, it seemed much later. While we lost a few, the majority of us headed towards the cabins at Blood Mountain. En route, a few of us stopped by a convenience store to add our contribution to the beer, wine, and munchies repository at the Chipmunk cabin. Georgia had given us very clear directions to the cabin and Kelley and I bravely headed into the mountains to our destination nineteen miles away. Those roads leading to Blood Mountain had more twists and turns than a Grisham thriller. You can imagine the feeling in the pit of our stomachs when we passed a curve where a car had apparently went over the curve and down the hill. The lights of emergency vehicles suggested the cranival reverie we had all just abandoned in fear that it could be one of us. I could not relax until all who were coming to the cabinproved to be present and accounted for.

We parked in the parking lot of the general store of the cabin, gathered our party supplies, and hiked along the narrow lane to the cabin. After a momentary confusion over who had the keys, we were into the cabin and the party began.

There is no way I could chronicle all that happened Saturday night. Some because of the three river rule and some because simply so much happened. Instead, I’ll give you a sampling, guitars we’re played, songs were sang (Kelley really is a mean singer), drinks were consumed, an acre’s worth of tobacco was smoked, jokes were told (I delivered the two preacher jokes which had the neighboring cabin call the proprietor on us), a new phrase was created (alternately ball-spankin’ and nut-spankin’), and many new friendships were created. It is odd that at times when talking to other bloggers you often refer a question or comment to a post on your site. At least three times, I referred someone to my Helping Folks Out posts. It is also odd, but perfectly acceptable to talk to each other as if you have known them for some time though you’ve only just met them. As Kelley and I had discussed on the way up, only a few years ago, I would have thought it insane and dangerous to meet a bunch of people in real life that I only knew from the internet. For some reason, in the realm of bloggers, it seems perfectly natural to drive an hour and half to a cabin in the mountains and party away.

In any event, the night wore on and it was time for Kelley to head back to her blighted suburb. I walked her to her car, bid her good bye and to be careful and made the stroll back down the leafy lane. We continued to sing, to talk, to learn more about each other, to argue, to drink, to tell tales, and to become better friends. At some point, it became past time for Eric, Dax, and I to let Recondo32, Georgia, Acidman, and Kenny get some sleep. We secured our drinks of choice and made our way to the opposite end of the cabin’s property to the Bear cabin. This trek was rather interesting as the leafy canopy, little moon, and the steep hillside made it nearly total blackness. My favorite exchange during this walk—

Adam: Dax—is that water down there?

Dax: Yeah. Keep walking.

The next morning we discovered that the water I discovered was actually the faint reflection of the roadway below us.

Eric, Dax, and I settled into Bear Cabin and began to talk. We were up till 5 a.m. or so, talking, drinking, and telling secrets. Most of what was discussed in Bear Cabin is staying right there.

The next morning, actually later that morning, we rose around nine and started to gather our belongings. Georgia popped to say goodbye and check on us. The folks in the Chipmunk cabin had rose early, already packed, and were preparing to head home. I inquired as to my bag of clothes I had left over there. Georgia distinctly remembered putting it into Rob’s truck. When I caught up with Rob and Kenny at the general store there was no bag. He was sure it was with Georgia. We decided we could call Recondo32 and Georgia on the way home and catch up with them and retrieve the bag as I (mistakenly) thought my keys were in the bag. I rode with Rob and Kenny back up to the Bear Cabin where Dax and Eric had made a pot of coffee. We visited for a bit, said our farewells, and headed in our opposite directions.

Dax and I loaded ourselves into his Bronco and started the gorgeous drive home through the North Georgia mountains. Though a good deal of the leaves had already been shed, there were more than enough left to offer some truly spectacular views of golden yellows, fiery reds, pine greens, and every other autumn color in a display that makes one grateful for God’s artistry.

When Dax and I finally reached enough civilization to reach Georgia, we arranged to meet up with them at a gas station on their way. I don’t know how many times I felt so grateful to have a friend like Dax who knew all the roads and backroads and was willing to cart my sorry no clothes, no keys having self around. When we arrived at the rendezvous spot, I was dismayed to learn that they indeed did not have the bag o’ clothes and I still had no keys. As if she was reading my mind, the phone rang. It was Kelley and I had left my keys in her car. She’d drop them off to me back at where we met up. That resolved, Georgia and Recondo32 headed back out and Dax and returned to my vehicle. He waited with me for a bit until I urged him to head home and get some rest since he had to work at three that afternoon. We both lost track of the number of times the two of us said, “Just Damn!”

In not too long Kelley and her husband arrived with my keys. We visited for a bit and I brought them up to date on the incredible evening we had. I hopped in and headed over to Momma’s house to fulfill my usual Sunday visit.
Isn’t it amazing that last year, it was just Rob, Recondo32, Georgia, and Dax? My best count so far was that we had 16 folks in attendance (17 if you count our waitress who had just started a blog).

And the end of the write-up on the blogger’s social page read, “and a good time was had by all.”

I’ll do another post with a list of all the attendee’s and their links later. Thanks again to Kelley and Dax for the rides. Much gratitude also to Rob who grabbed the tab at Caruso’s, got an additional cabin so that there would be plenty of room for everyone to stay, and provided t-shirts for all the attendees.

Posted by Adam H at November 3, 2003 06:28 PM ~ Link Cosmos | Trackbacks (2)
suburban blight linked with Jawja Blogger 2003, Baby.
Ain't Done It! linked with After Action Review

Comments

Damn, that sounds like fun.
Glad you had a good time and everything went well.

Posted by: Starhawk at November 3, 2003 04:07 PM

Did Georgia ever find your clothes? If she doesn't have them, check the trash cans at Blood Mountain Cabins. That woman is a dervish when she starts to clean and pack. She'll stuff YOU in a trash can if you don't start moving up to her speed.

Posted by: Acidman at November 3, 2003 04:36 PM

I did not throw away your clothes or shaving kit I believe that Rob and Kenny are at fault but I really can't see Kenny doing it. You can do the math.

Posted by: Georgia at November 7, 2003 06:09 PM