HOW BLOGGING SAVED MY NEW YEAR'S

I've met a lot of people through blogging over the last eleven months. Not hundreds, but at least a few dozen. Little did I know that one of those connections would lead me to new friends who helped to save me from a potentially boring New Year's Eve...

First, I met Ari, at the legendary book group that included dignitaries like Smitten, C, Fish, Dahl, and of course, Karol. Dawn Summers and I bonded, initially online, through our mutual admiration for her older sister, Buffy, as well as for her role as the Key. (Hard to be a Key in one season, and sing and dance with a demon in another.) Along the way, I met Lisa and Jessica, but still no Dawn. So when Karol organized a blogger meet to welcome fair Candace to our beloved New York City, I was very excited to finally meet the lovely and generous Dawn.

After a few blogger meets, we all became absorbed in the election. Dawn and Karol waged their regular war between blue and red, called each other evil, and managed to come out with their friendship still intact--strong, even. But another result of the whole electoral process was that we didn't really all gather as a group. (Although I suspect there were some Texas Hold 'Em tourneys that I was not invited too, which is just as well for me, since I'd surely have lost big.)

Then Dawn's friend, Princess Anonymous, contacted me for some blog-related advice...we struck up an email pen pal relationship, occasionally IM'ing for good measure. She invited me to her big Christmas weekend "Jewbilee" party on the Lower East Side...I went, and was surprised to discover that there was actually quite a bit of overlap between our crowds, despite the fact that we'd never met before.

I also met some new people, who invited me to join them for some New Year's Eve parties in some really amazing New York apartments. I guess it kind of became New Year's Bloggin' Eve, without actually being out with any bloggers.

Of course, I've met many more people than those mentioned above. Many among the notably met mean a lot to me, and I'll come back and fill in the links later if I have the energy:

Live, From (or While In) New York
Chayyei Sarah-Soul sister in Jerusalem
Bronco Buddha (Judah)-Fellow Star Wars addict
Candace-She of the above mention and of great shoes
Ginger-Bonded through Braff
Karol-Prolific in politics
Ari-Jewess Geography
C-Knows About everything
Deb-Smitten Kitten
Jessica-Rock star Republican
Steve Silver- Boy in the Hood
Lisa-Hottest Jewish single
Yaron-of the non-Daily Lunch
Writer'sBlocGal-who also has "non-dates"
Ken Wheaton-the ragin' cajun and lohan lover
Allison K. S.-Supermom and byline queen
Dahl-the neighbor I never knew I had till she met me and decided to move
Superjux-LA Soul Sister
Fish-Almost Famous
Jewlicious Trinity (CK, Laya, Muffti)
Janice the Love Doctor

New Year's Resolutions
Draydel (even though Chanukah's over)
Madonna (of course)
Punkin (coming soon to a Big Apple near me!)
Anna Broadway (unless she moves away)
Bloghead (should she visit the States)
Erin Go Blog (perhaps for St. Paddy's Day?)
Words for My Enjoyment (Pauly D)
Passionate Life (I hope he will forgive me for seeing Molly without him...)
Random Thoughts (Jack-should he travel east)
Rick's Ugarte (would love to get to a comedy show that I'm not judging...)

Sphere of Blogfluence
Annabel Lee
PepGiraffe
(No Blog) Lyss
Plantation Todd
Gatsby
Bex

I'm sure there are more I've left out. And they're gonna be wicked peeved.

2005's all about stepping outside the comfort zone, meeting new people, and having new experiences. I've become convinced that this is the only way to move forward. The ever-expanding circle will enhance our lives...

Happy new year, all...

HOW BLOGGING SAVED MY NEW YEAR'S

I've met a lot of people through blogging over the last eleven months. Not hundreds, but at least a few dozen. Little did I know that one of those connections would lead me to new friends who helped to save me from a potentially boring New Year's Eve...

First, I met Ari, at the legendary book group that included dignitaries like Smitten, C, Fish, Dahl, and of course, Karol. Dawn Summers and I bonded, initially online, through our mutual admiration for her older sister, Buffy, as well as for her role as the Key. (Hard to be a Key in one season, and sing and dance with a demon in another.) Along the way, I met Lisa and Jessica, but still no Dawn. So when Karol organized a blogger meet to welcome fair Candace to our beloved New York City, I was very excited to finally meet the lovely and generous Dawn.

After a few blogger meets, we all became absorbed in the election. Dawn and Karol waged their regular war between blue and red, called each other evil, and managed to come out with their friendship still intact--strong, even. But another result of the whole electoral process was that we didn't really all gather as a group. (Although I suspect there were some Texas Hold 'Em tourneys that I was not invited too, which is just as well for me, since I'd surely have lost big.)

Then Dawn's friend, Princess Anonymous, contacted me for some blog-related advice...we struck up an email pen pal relationship, occasionally IM'ing for good measure. She invited me to her big Christmas weekend "Jewbilee" party on the Lower East Side...I went, and was surprised to discover that there was actually quite a bit of overlap between our crowds, despite the fact that we'd never met before.

I also met some new people, who invited me to join them for some New Year's Eve parties in some really amazing New York apartments. I guess it kind of became New Year's Bloggin' Eve, without actually being out with any bloggers.

Of course, I've met many more people than those mentioned above. Many among the notably met mean a lot to me, and I'll come back and fill in the links later if I have the energy:

Live, From (or While In) New York
Chayyei Sarah-Soul sister in Jerusalem
Bronco Buddha (Judah)-Fellow Star Wars addict
Candace-She of the above mention and of great shoes
Ginger-Bonded through Braff
Karol-Prolific in politics
Ari-Jewess Geography
C-Knows About everything
Deb-Smitten Kitten
Jessica-Rock star Republican
Steve Silver- Boy in the Hood
Lisa-Hottest Jewish single
Yaron-of the non-Daily Lunch
Writer'sBlocGal-who also has "non-dates"
Ken Wheaton-the ragin' cajun and lohan lover
Allison K. S.-Supermom and byline queen
Dahl-the neighbor I never knew I had till she met me and decided to move
Superjux-LA Soul Sister
Fish-Almost Famous
Jewlicious Trinity (CK, Laya, Muffti)
Janice the Love Doctor

New Year's Resolutions
Draydel (even though Chanukah's over)
Madonna (of course)
Punkin (coming soon to a Big Apple near me!)
Anna Broadway (unless she moves away)
Bloghead (should she visit the States)
Erin Go Blog (perhaps for St. Paddy's Day?)
Words for My Enjoyment (Pauly D)
Passionate Life (I hope he will forgive me for seeing Molly without him...)
Random Thoughts (Jack-should he travel east)
Rick's Ugarte (would love to get to a comedy show that I'm not judging...)

Sphere of Blogfluence
Annabel Lee
PepGiraffe
(No Blog) Lyss
Plantation Todd
Gatsby
Bex

I'm sure there are more I've left out. And they're gonna be wicked peeved.

2005's all about stepping outside the comfort zone, meeting new people, and having new experiences. I've become convinced that this is the only way to move forward. The ever-expanding circle will enhance our lives...

Happy new year, all...