March 27, 2007
The Mic Is On: We’re Visiting Big Cities . . .
ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:00 pm
It’s Like Open Mic Only Different
Here’s how it works.
It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.
The rules are simple — be nice.
There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.
We’re Talking About Big Cities
We might talk about
- what we like and we don’t like about big cities
- being alone, being with friends in the city
- big cities during the day, during the night
- big cities where we have been, where we would like to be
- big cities in songs and movies
And, whatever else comes up, including THE EVER POPULAR, Basil the code-writing donkey.
Oh, and bring a link, if you have one to share.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
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332 Comments to “The Mic Is On: We’re Visiting Big Cities . . .”
Tariq Khan said
Hi, Liz
Joe said
Hey Liz,
I guess I didn’t make it first after all.
Got something to take care of, back in about 10 comments.
bj said
New Yawk, Just like I pickcha’d it . . .
Hey, Liz!
Carolyn Manning said
Hi Tariq, hi Liz,
What?! Joe’s not here yet?
bj said
http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3081/not_neutrality/
Robert Hruzek said
Hi Liz! Hello, Tariq!
I’ve been blessed to have had the opportunity to live in big ones, small ones, in many places around the world.
The diversity of cultures is SO much fun! Tariq, you’ve been around too, right?
Where else have you lived, Liz, besides Chicago?
Char said
Good evening all - tuning in from the fringe of suburbia!
Tariq Khan said
Hi, Joe. I am very sorry about your dad, and have been praying for your comfort and that of your whole family.
bj said
I’ve worked in NYC and lived in Philadelphia.
Mike said
I went to college in Boston. Great city for that! Wonderful transportation and 100+ institutions of higher learning. And the Red Sox!
Char said
I used to work in Adams Morgan (downtown Washington DC) but have never lived in a big city.
Somedays I would love to live right in the heart of it all - Las Vegas, New York, Berlin, London, Dublin, to name a few.
In the mean time I will raise my kids out here in the country.
Tariq Khan said
Hello, bj.
Hi, Carolyn. Joe’s here (2).
Hi, Robert. Yes, I’ve been to some places, and agree with you. I like diversity, and people watching. I learn so much just sitting in a place and watching how people do and do not interact.
Hi, Char.
Tariq Khan said
Hi, Mike.
Sean said
Hey everyone.
As for big cities, I’ve been to Tokyo Japan and loved it and would go back anytime.
Also, I have a new home on the web, Geek With Laptop so if you want to keep track of me on my adventures to other cities, you can :)
Mike said
Hi Tariq! Well, I guess I’ll be the first to leave; gotta go get dinner. I’ll check back later and see what fun y’all have had!
Nneka said
Hi all, it’s beginning to storm here in the budding city of Raleigh, NC.
bj said
Hey, Tariq, Carolyn, Robert, Char, Joe!
And of course, Liz.
I had an outdoor stand in a market in the Chelsea district of Manhattan for over 10 years. It was pretty famous in its day, called The Annex Antiques Fair (known to those “in the know” as 26th Street Flea.) It was the most amazing time. One minute you’d be giving half your sandwich away to Anthony the homeless guy, and the next you’d be saying “Hi!” to one of the regulars– Diane Keaton. Some amazing stories I have of that place and time.
Robert Hruzek said
I lived in The Hague (in the Netherlands) way back when I was 15 yrs old. It was actually the perfect size city for me. (Is Karin here?)
There is so much to learn when you have the chance to visit other places!
Nneka said
Robert that’s really true. Are you from the Netherlands?
Nneka
Sean said
and I must not forget, tonight I’ve fired up the grill and oven… tonight I’m making stuffed baked pork chops.
Any requests for other food you don’t see in the sidebar, let me know.
Liz will tell you, I am a grill master :)
bj said
Nneka, I like that! Budding City! I guess Easton, the Crayon Capital of the World, could also be referred to that way.
Char said
Hey Sean, Robert & Nneka! Glad to see you all here.
Bj - that sounds like a really interesting experience.
Char said
Sean - thanks for bringing me a new recipe! Those sound yummy.
Sean said
Hi Char. No problem on the recipe. I plan on bringing more to the table as the night goes on… all this talk of big cities will make any one hungry.
Carolyn Manning said
Sean, I just popped over to Geek With Laptop. This has nothing to do with cities, but the Pork Chop recipe looks like a winner.
Nneka said
Hi Char, how’s it going in your city?
BJ, what’s the Crayon Capital of the World. (I would look it up, but I have to keep hitting refresh :-) )
Sean, how ’bout some grilled peppers?
Nneka
Tariq Khan said
Hi, Sean and Nneka.
Bye, Mike.
bj said
Char, it was. And a great market, where you could find most anything. But, as usual, the antiquers make an area trendy, then the corporations come in and finish the gentrification, which makes it too expensive for the great and interesting markets and shops to stay. 26th Street is no more.
Robert Hruzek said
Nneka, I’m born and raised in Houston, Texas, but I’ve had the opportunity to live in lots of other places.
I loved The Hague! I once walked clean across town in an afternoon, just for something different to do. Great experience for a 15-year old to have.
Where are you from, Nneka? And how do you pronounce your name?
Sean said
Hi Carolyn. The pork chops are really tasty… and if we keep up the fast paced conversation about big cities, we’ll all get very hungry… so in an interesting way, pork chops have a lot to do with big cities :)
bj said
Easton PA is home of Binney and Smith, who made Liz’s crayons . . .
bj said
And that’s what cities are about– constant CHANGE.
Robert Hruzek said
Y’all, if I take a while to answer back, I’m busy trying to install a printer on this new laptop… pray for me!
Nneka said
Robert, I’m from Trinidad, capital city Port-of-Spain. I lived there until I was 16.
I’ve lived in New York and Miami, and I’ve been to every major city on the east coast consulting.
You pronounce my name en-nay-kah. It’s Nigerian, means mother is greater.
Much more than you wanted to know, huh :-)
Sean said
I shall return in an hour or so. I am off to a local pub to pick up some needed supplies for everyone.
Also, Robert Hruzek, may the force be with you on that printer install.
Char said
Praying for you Robert!
Nneka - Life in our little town is pretty quiet tonight. We really live out in the country - the nearest stop light is over 4 miles away.
Joe said
Hey All,
Thanks Tariq amd everyone else.
I guess I was a little off on my estimation of how many comments before I returned. :-)
Nneka said
Wow Char, that used to be Homestead in the ’90’s.
ME Strauss said
A pretty night and the country, that’s lovely with me.
Service Untitled - Douglas said
Evening guys.
Char said
The quiet is lovely, but there is part of me that just loves big cities.
This summer we took the kids to NYC and stayed in Times Square. My 8 year old daughter and I could have been quite content to watch the city from our 14th floor window all day and all night - it was fascinating! But we also had to get down there and be a part of it all.
Nneka said
How was it being a part of it?
I spent 2 years in New York growing up. Let’s just say that we had to make peace last year.
Tariq Khan said
Char, sometimes I wish for a stoplight 4 miles away!
Big cities are great, and I’m thankful I am in one. I do miss the Milky Way — we can barely see stars here in some parts of the city.
Marti said
Hi! Coming to you live from Hickville…way out in the Mazoorah sticks LOL
Evening, all!
Mark Silver said
I’ve lived in small town Rhode Island, and big city Boston and San Francisco, and now live in mid-city Portland.
I love both- I wish I could have both- the convenience of walking and biking safely to neighbors, restaurants, stores, and the wide open spaciousness, and closeness to nature, outside of development.
Char said
Tariq - plenty of stars out here!
bj said
Hey, Douglas!
Anyone ever been to the Mummer’s Parade in Philadelphia? It’s like Carnivale, only bigger and with a lot more banjos.
ME Strauss said
Hi Doug!
bj said
http://mummers.com/
Joe said
Sean,
Put a potato on for me, with a little (real) butter and black pepper. Yummm.
Goes great with pork chops of any type. ;-)
Robert, I hope you have fewer problems than I did with installing my Lexmark All in One. Took forever and I ran out of ink doing all the Tests to see how it worked. :-)
Tariq Khan said
Joe, you’re welcome.
Hi, Douglas.
Marti said
We lived in San Francisco for a few moths, and that was exciting
Service Untitled - Douglas said
Hi Liz, bj, Tariq! How is everyone?
Joe said
Hey Where;s Carolyn???
We havew to promote the Train Trip from Philly to Chicago in May!!!
Anyone from Philly going to SOBCon???
Marti said
Sorry I’m late. Busy day…awful tired, may not have much conversation in me, sorry (again)
Nneka said
Hi Marti and Mark (Marti Mark :-) )
Marti said
Geography round-up…what town are y’all in or near? We are 25 miles east of Kansas City, Missouri
Char said
Marti - glad to have you here - you don’t have to talk much - just read along with us - we’ll know you are here.
Carolyn Manning said
bj, did you know Joe was once a Mummer? And your mention of Easton, PA floored me. No, I’m not from there, but it’s close (in the grand cyberworld)
Tariq Khan said
Hi, Marti and Mark.
Joe said
My mind must have been on food with all the typo’s in that last comment. ;-)
ME Strauss said
Hi Marti, I’ve had a busy day too.
Carolyn Manning said
I’m back, Joe. We just had (another) car emergency. If cars and their quirks don’t make one want to live in the city, I don’t know what will.
bj said
I’m 55 miles due west of NYC and almost the same amount north of Philadelphia.
Service Untitled - Douglas said
I’m about 45 minutes north of Miami. I used to live 45 minutes south of New York.
Joe said
Carolyn,
Easton is only a stones throw from Phoenixville, or Clifton Heights for that matter in the Grand Scheme of Things. :-)
Tariq Khan said
Joe, what’s a SOBcon?
bj said
Oh wow, Joe! I can just hear the banjo music now! Oh, them Golden Slippers . . .
Carolyn, you’re gonna love these photos I took of Easton!
http://kickasswebdesign.com/wordpress/2006/06/the-easton-flood-june-29-2006/
That was last June.
Needless to say I’m glad I’m up over the hill . . .
Joe said
Well, since someone asked…
I grew up in Philly for many, many years. Transitioned to Gloucester NJ for a couple, back to Philly, then out to the Great Main Line. Now in Clifton Heights (another suburb that really looks like the city).
Renée said
Good evening Liz and everyone… :)
bj said
Joe, I was at the Steel City Coffee House in Phoenixville last night to catch Rory Block’s fabulous set.
Marti said
Oh my, Carolyn, I understand car troubles! Cars hate me - LOL
Service Untitled - Douglas said
OK guys. I need to get some work done. See everyone next week! Have a good night
Tariq Khan said
Hi, Renee.
Carolyn Manning said
For the record, I grew up in southwest Philly, moved many times, and (again) want to go back to more of a city environment.
ME Strauss said
Hi Renée,
Welcome! What city do you live closest to?
Marti said
bye douglas
Joe said
Tariq,
Look up in the Left Hand Corner of the Sidebar (up and to the left of where you are looking now) click on the SOBCon 07 Button.
You will find a multitude of information about the Relationship Blogging Conference that Liz (she’s from Chicago) and others are hosting.
If you could possibly make it, Cool.
If not tune in and I’m sure some of us will post something and bring tons of info back to our own Blogs. (that’s my plan anyway).
Hope to see you there.
Carolyn Manning said
bj, when will you next be at Steel City? Maybe my sister and I can meet you there.
Marti said
Surely I’m not the only one west of the Mississippi River - lol
bj said
Carolyn, I lived in Center City Philly for awhile then moved to Northern Maine, about as far from any city as you can get. You learn to love the quiet, only you don’t realize it until you don’t have it anymore. You might find that when you move back into a city it feels claustrophobic. At least it did to me. Working in NYC one day a week, while living in the country, that was a fairly good balance.
Robert Hruzek said
OK, I’m back. Wow! It only took 40 comments to install a new Lexmark all-in-one wireless printer, Joe! Is that a new record? :-)
Let’s see… Nneka, no proble with the language lesson!
Joe, our hearts are with you, man!
Tariq Khan said
Joe, that was a softball, and you hit it well. I would love to attend, but will be moving within this city — just can’t make it.
Another softball — please tell us what participants will get out of it, and what they can bring to it.
Dave said
Hey all is it too late to get in on this conversation.
Joe said
Ohhhh bj,
Did you know that Carolyn and I are puting a Train Trip to Chi-town for SOBCon?
Call me. 610-931-3600
(Big Baby, did you get the #?)
bj said
Steel City? Next time Rory Block plays there. :)
It’s out of the way for me, it’s about an hour and 20 drive, but for certain performers I’ll do that.
However, I do get down that way once a month. I’m the organizer for http://refreshdelval.org and our next meetup is in April in King of Prussia.
Marti said
Outstanding, Robert! Congrats! It would take me a week just to get it out of the box - lol
bj said
Oh, Joe, I’d love to go, but I’m not able to take off the time. I’m a one woman company here.
bj said
Hey Dave!
Robert Hruzek said
Let’s see now… I’ve lived in:
Houston, Texas, USA (home town)
Greenville, South Carolina
Atlanta, Georgia
Richmond, Virginia
Charlotte, North Carolina
Portland, Oregon
Toledo, Ohio
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Robinson, Illinois
Las Vegas, Nevada
And internationally…
The island of Aruba
Cardon, Venezuela
The Hague, The Netherlands
Grenoble, France
Hsin Chu, Taiwan
Marti said
hi dave
Dave said
We live out west. Canada actually. Visited New York for the first time a month ago. What a city!! Loved it!
Tariq Khan said
Robert, please tell how many times you’ve moved.
Marti said
wow, Robert…I’ve barely been out of Missouri - lol
Randa Clay said
Hi everyone… Char invited me over. I started out trying to read the whole conversation before I jumped in, but it was taking too long! I lived in Chicago for 3 years - just moved back to central Ohio a year and a half ago. Chicago is the best city ever - I loved it. Great opera there. I sang with Lyric Opera for 2 years. Anyone an opera fan?? :)
ME Strauss said
London, Rome Trieste!
Carolyn Manning said
I’ll be in touch, bj. Yes, I did, Joe.
Robert Hruzek said
I highly recommend travel for anyone who starts to think the world is a big place. Actually quite small, when you think about it. I mean, just look at how easily we few, from all over, can connect!
Quite an amazing thing, don’t you think? In fact… I have an idea! Why don’t we all… MEET IN CHICAGO!!!!!! Hey Liz, whaddaya think? Can it be done???!!!!
Joe said
Tariq,
What you get out of a Tuesday Night Open Comment Night, only Live and In Person.
You are part of this community and we hope to bring that a little more into the 3-D world.
Maybe even expand on what Liz has built here.
It’s all about Relationship Blogging and building from there.
The sky is the limit.
You can always write something about (and Add to) what we post about the conference. That will only help to build the community. :-)
I hope you don’t think I’m overdoing it, but I am excited to be going. ;-)
Carolyn Manning said
Yikes, Bob (am I correct that you also go by Bob?). Wouldn’t it be easier to name the cities you’ve not lived in? :)
Joe said
Robert, I didn’t miss your kindness in your comment. Thanks.
Marti said
Look at the brain on Robert (just kidding…Pulp Fiction reference)
Joe said
bj,
I’m sure someone would let you use their laptop for a bit… ;-)
Robert Hruzek said
Hi Carolyn! Yep, seems that way sometimes. But there’s lots of places I’d still like to visit. I’m actually hoping to do more travelling one day with my firm. They have offices all over the place. In my experience, travelling with companies is the only way to go - it’s like a working vacation.
Oh, and yes, I go by Bob, too.
Tariq Khan said
Joe, I am all for SOBcon, and have been discussing it with Liz. I am very excited about it, and cannot go. I think it only appropriate that you are excited.
Robert Hruzek said
Marti, I missed the reference. Where’s that from?
Marti said
I didn’t mean to sound sarcastic
(pulling foot out of mouth)
Michael A. Stelzner said
Hey Liz;
Hello from the big city of San Diego, where we had hail today :(
In the spirit of link sharing, I thought I would mention this post of gaining the trust of readers (important for us bloggers).
See http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/03/22/4-tips-for-gaining-trust/
Mike
Char said
Time for a little diversion! How many of you have played Search Engine Smackdown yet?
I saw this at Ben’s site and just couldn’t help myself!
Renée said
Before I gave up my green card, I loved visiting my friends in Boston (may not be as romantic as Paris, somehow I always felt so loved or in love.) :)
Ever since I moved to Singapore I don’t visit Boston anymore. Plus my extended family lives in Los Angeles which I get to see them once a year.
To me, almost all cities look the same (so commercialized). Whereas country living has its own unique favor. *sigh* Grass always greener on the other side.
Marti said
It’s from the movie “Pulp Fiction”
I truly didn’t mean it to sound sarcastic, it is a family joke ’cause we like the movie a lot. We say “Look at the brain on___” whenever we find something someone said as amusing or clever or entertaining. It wasn’t derogatory at all. I should shut up now…I’m babbling from exhaustion, please forgive me
Rick Cockrum said
Hi everyone. Glad to see you here, Joe!
I see Marti’s all alone west of the Mississippi. I’m about half an hour north of Pittsburgh, though I did grow up in Rockford, Illinois.
bj said
Hey, Rick!
Joe said
Did anyone else notice the eHealthInsurance ad?
Is Liz telling us we’re all “SICK”? ;-)
Char said
You are right Renee - why is that we often want what we don’t have?
Speaking of SOBcon - I am going to be interviewing Chris Cree soon. Are there any other SOBcon speakers who would like to make an appearance, get interviewed, or be featured in my Essential Tools series?
Dave said
Rick, I’m joining Marti in the west of the Mississippi club. I’m just a few hours out of Vancouver, BC
Joe said
Hey Rick,
Thanks, glad to be here. :-)
Char said
Hey Rick! We make a trip up the turnpike to the Burgh at least 2-3 times a year to visit my husband’s family.
Marti said
It’s an endearing staetment here at home, and I feel like I’m in a family conversation here, and oh gawd I’m doing it again…(rocking back and forth while clutching knees to chest)
LOL
Char said
Dave - you are close to one of my all time favorite cities - VanCouver! That place is so neat and just beautiful.
Rick Cockrum said
It shows how slow I type, Dave. Between the time I started and now I see you and Michael.
bj said
LOL! Marti, there MUST be another quote you can come up with!
Dave said
Char, It is a beautiful city. The only two other cities that I know of like it are San Diego and Sydney Australia
Robert Hruzek said
Oh, Rene, I’d LOVE to come to Singapore! It was so interesting to finally reach the Orient when I lived in Taiwan, but never got out to the rest of the area due to job issues.
Marti, no offense taken, I wouldn’t have picked it up anyway since I never saw/read it. Don’t worry ’bout it! :-)
Oh, and that was just the list of cities I LIVED in, not the ones I’ve visited! But still, I’d like to see many more places. I think my favorite book concept (haven’t read it) is 1000 Places to See Before You Die.
That’s my kind of travel guide!
Dave said
Rick, this open mic idea is like nothing I’ve ever been part of before. Mind boggling sensory overload. And that’s just the first four comments
Carolyn Manning said
Hey Rick. If we can get a train with a layover in Pittsburg, we’ll be stopping to see you.
Joe said
Rick, you think you TYPE slow, I can’t keep up with hitting REFRESH!!!
Rick Cockrum said
Marti, if you’re going to rock back and forth cuddling your knees you really need to get your hair wet and stringy, too. :-)
Char: Maybe you could actually find your way around here without getting lost. When my family comes I usually meet them just off the highway and have them follow me home.
Robert Hruzek said
There, there, Marti… (pat on back)
bj said
Wow, I’ve never been accused of causing Sensory Overload before! Woohoo!
Tariq Khan said
Liz, thanks again for your hospitality.
Bye, everyone!
bj said
bye Tariq!
Marti said
Insanity doesn’t run in my family. It gallops.
~ Cary Grant
Robert Hruzek said
Good night, Tariq!
Joe said
Nite Tariq.
Marti said
bye tariq
I am very neurotic tonight, please forgive me. I will sit quietly now, I promise
Everything great in the world is done by neurotics; they alone founded our religions and created our masterpieces.
~Marcel Proust
Char said
Rick - I have been to Pittsburgh so many times over the past 13 years, I just about have it down pat! What township are you in?
Liz - can you let Randa out of moderation? I think she is stuck in there. She is a first timer that I invited to our party.
Francie said
Just stoppin’ in briefly - not a city girl, at all.
Those big buildings and the stark concrete scare me! But, I grew up near Boston, which doesn’t seem all that cityish to me compared to other places (like NY). :)
ME Strauss said
Marti,
It’s okay, you’re going to be fine!
Rick Cockrum said
G’night, Tariq.
See bj, you even get ego strokes here.
Dave: It is something else, like being at a party, drifting from group to group, engaging and eavesdroppinging, without feeling guilty about it
bj said
“You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.” ~ Robin Williams
Marti said
{{hugs}}
Joe said
Rick,
Even if you can’t meet us at SOBCon, maybe you could meet us Philly guys in PGH for lunch.
We have a 2 hour layover between trains.
Call me, the # is in comment #85
:-)
Renée said
Bye Tariq!
Hello Rick!
~ Robert ~ Anytime, just give me a ring and I will be your Singapore Host!
Rick Cockrum said
Carolyn and Joe: That would be so cool! I’ll call you tomorrow, Joe.
Char: I live in Monaca. I usually go into town once a year or so.
ME Strauss said
bye Tariq
Robert Hruzek said
Speaking of Chicago, where in the hotel can we can start gathering as we arrive? My flight arrives about 2 or so. I’ll be easy to spot. I’m big… and I’m blue.
Bwa-ha-ha-ha!!
Marti said
bless you all
I really liked living in San Francisco (struggling to get back on topic - lol) It is a beautiful and exciting city
Francie said
Marti, I never saw “Pulp Fiction”, but I like your explanation of how you use the term “look at the brain on _____ ” when they say something clever!
I might even borrow it. Guessin’ it works better when spoken or when the subject knows the reference :)
ME Strauss said
Hi Rick!
Char said
Rick - small world! My husband’s uncle lives in Monaca.
Marti said
If you have never seen Pulp Fiction, you really should. It is a masterpiece of film making, and indeed, there are a great many references to it in our culture now. Or at least on The Simpson’s - LOL
Joe said
Robert,
We were thinking of carnations on the lapel, but we would never get out of Philly alive with them.
Maybe we’ll have to work out some kind of secret whistle.
Robert Hruzek said
Speaking of big cities, anyone ever been to Paris? We were there in early April, just before tourist season. Brrr! But no lines at any sights!
Our favorite memory is being on the Eiffel Tower just as a cold front came through. The temp dropped about 30 degrees F, it started raining and lightning like crazy. All the way to the top, we considered the ramifications of being on the World’s Largest Lightning Rod during a lightning storm…
Marti said
(Picturing Robert as a giant Smurf)
((Cute kids cartoon characters who are all blue))
Rick Cockrum said
Hi Renee. Hi Liz. Late, and on babysitting duty, but I made it.
Lady Glynis or her family probably know your husband’s uncle, Char. With the way this town is, they may be related somewhere along the way if he’s from here.
Robert Hruzek said
Hey, I know! How about if we all print “SOB” across our foreheads! Should make us easy to spot, wouldn’t you say? :-)
bj said
Robert, what an ELECTRIFYING experience!
Joe said
Oh No…
The dreaded 154th comment lull. (or my refresh isn’t refreshing)
Randa Clay said
Paris is amazing. Robert - sounds like you picked an interesting time to go. I was in Rome just after tourist season, and it was hit and miss with regards to weather, but it was nice not to have to fight the crowds.
Marti said
(Picturing all of the SOB Con arrivals carrying semifore flags and waving messages to one another)
Robert Hruzek said
Hey, Marti, I’ve been called worse! :-)
Joe said
Wheew… It was only my refresh!!!
Marti said
Are you familiar with the Smurfs? (she asked, silently praying not to have to pull her foot out of her mouth again - lol)
Chris Cree said
Hey EVERYBODYYYY! I made it tonight! :)
Who wants a Klondike Bar? Tonight’s flavor is Caramel Swirl!
~Baby Don’t you wanna go~
~~Back to that same old place~
~Sweet Home Chicago~~~
Char said
Hello Randa!!! I’m so glad you finally got let out of moderation.
Marti said
hi chris!
Robert Hruzek said
One of the other things we did on that trip was “dress up”. We wore “nice clothes” instead of the usual jeans and t-shirt tourist fare. Plus, we tried to learn and speak a few words of French whenever possible. Worked wonders in building bridges to the locals, let me tell you!
Everyone always appreciates the effort!
Char said
Hey Chris! I’ll take a Klondike.
Char said
Robert - I’ve never been to France, but the coolest thing I have ever experienced is walking around East Berlin, Germany prior to the wall coming down.
Robert Hruzek said
Oops, I forgot to say “Randa” when typing the last comment, Randa. Sorry.
Marti, yes I know who they are - no worries.
I want a banana pudding klondyke bar! Do they make such a critter?
Chris Cree said
Hey Marti! Hey Char! Hi Randa! (pesky moderation.)
Hey, Hey, Hey~!
[Starts flipping Klondikes all around the room.
Here, Catch!
Randa Clay said
Thanks for inviting me Char!
bj said
I’m up for a Klondike.
Rick Cockrum said
Hi Randa. You fought your way out of the Aksimet cage. Yay!
Good evening, Chris. I thought that was ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ (unless your name is Jake or Elwood). :-)
Nneka said
Gotta say good night ;-)
Robert Hruzek said
Char, that sounds interesting! We drove through Munich (saw the KFC downtown), but didn’t go in that direction, but more south through the Black Forest area.
Marti said
{{sighs relief}}
It was hot here in the midwest today, I fear what the summer will be like. Is there weird weather where y’all are?
Joe said
Hey Chris,
Thanks, and welcome to the mayhem.
Robert Hruzek said
Good night, Nneka!
Marti said
bye Nneka
Renée said
Hi Chris, glad to see you tonight!
Rick Cockrum said
It’s been warm her, Marti. The winter was fairly mild except for about a month.
Robert Hruzek said
Y’all, had a great time but gotta go. Need to get my beauty sleep…
Keep smilin’, everyone! Goodnight, Liz!
bj said
Well I’m outta here too. I’ll see y’all sometime.
Rick Cockrum said
Good night, Nneka. Take care.
Marti said
night robert
Carolyn Manning said
Is it ok if I bring up something really very off-topic?
Randa Clay said
It was about 80 in Columbus, OH today. Got a little warm inside chasing my son around, but it wasn’t bad outside. Nice evening for a walk!
Joe said
Robert,
So true.
Not that I went so far as Gay Paris, but when I went to Quebec and tried to use what little French I knew, the locals were Very polite.
I guess it has something to do with “when in Greece…” (or Paris or Quebec)
Marti said
bye bj, please come again
Rick Cockrum said
Sleep well, Robert. Good night, bj.
Char said
Robert,
Berlin was one of the most dramatic memories I have - at the time West Berlin was so full of life, neon lights, and activity and East Berlin was gray, dingy, and somber feeling. I really need to get those pictures back out - it was a once in a lifetime experience.
So, Randa - are you in a small town or larger city?
Marti said
What’s that, Carolyn?
Randa Clay said
Chicago is a great city- nice choice for the SOB Con. I don’t know if anyone read my first comment since it took me a while to get out of that “cage” :) but I lived in Chicago for 3 years recently - great, great city. My favorite I think. I’m sure you guys will have fun.
Chris Cree said
Holy Smokes! Take a moment for a few bites of dinner and I’m missing gobs of conversation!
Rick, Actually J&E were on the iPod when I checked in. With that song.
Chris Cree said
Randa, who’s this “you guys”? Surely you will be joining us there?! ;)
Randa Clay said
I’m in Columbus, OH now. Just medium. Nice size. I’ve been to lots of the great cities though- Rome, Paris, Frankfort, Venice (the best place in the world I think), New York, Dallas, etc.
Chris Cree said
Big cities, eh? [munch, munch, munch.]
Here are some I’ve set foot in so far:
NYC, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Washington DC, Philly, Montreal, Toronto, San Diego, Sao Paulo, Boston, Tokyo, Seoul, London, Edinburgh, Norfolk, Stockholm, Naples…
Carolyn Manning said
The crap that Kathy Sierra has been going through, Marti. I won’t belabor it here, but does anyone have an opinion. Will giving her published support help or hurt? If you don’t want to go into this now, send me an email.
crm0723@comcast.net
Char said
Randa - we lived north of Dayton when I was a kid. I remember many trips to Columbus to COSI (Center of Science and Industry). Is that still there?
Chris - I have a few questions for you - re: our interview. I’ll try to get them to you in the morning.
Randa Clay said
Chris - I’d love to! I think I will- I’ll just leave my son here at home. 20 months is old enough to take care of himself for a couple of days isn’t it? ;)
Rick Cockrum said
Now I’m going to have to go rent the movie, Chris. I don’t remember the song (and that’s a good excuse to rent the movie).
Randa Clay said
Yes, COSI is still here. They’ve moved though, and everyone says it’s not as good as the old COSI. I’m looking forward to visiting it again though.
Marti said
Sorry - my denseometer is on high tonight (Meaning I am as thick as a brick and do not know of what you speak - sorry)
Randa Clay said
Chris - that’s a big list of cities - what’s your favorite?
Char said
Good evening Carolyn!
Rick Cockrum said
Babies start life as bloggers. Whatever they’re going through, they publish to the world. :-)
ME Strauss said
Paris is beautiful. Yeah!
Samuel John Klein said
I’m a Portlander. Native Oregonian, but not, sadly, native Portlander. But I was born less than fifty miles away, so, for me, close enough.
One reason I love Portland is because I love bright shiny objects. Little town I was born in, Silverton, cute place but about 20 years behind the times. Spent my teen years in Salem, our state capital, which is a friendly comfortable city but not glittering enough.
Growing up, I watched TV from Portland, and down inside, something told me that’s where I’d end up. And I didn’t give up until I got here.
Now, living in Portland-that’s an interesting thing. The city itself (never mind the Metro area) is about the 30th largest city in the USA, and our Metro area is the 24th largest. Wit a municipal population of about 565,000, my hometown is closing in on Seattle with respect to population and has long since passed up some other cities I used to think were bigger than us.
But despite our status, we’re still a misfit. Other cities look upon us with a bit of suspicion. We have a reputation for city planning and livability that these days is mostly just PR (we’ve been coasting on our laurels for a long time now) but real in a way; visitors from other cities never quit remarking about how much prettier Portland is than where they come from, and how much more comfortable than Seattle.
And while I’m on that subject, let’s just say where coffee culture was born, and nevermind Starbucks, it wasn’t Seattle. Starbucks is an upstart what did good, but I had my first espresso in Portland in 1983, and they weren’t hard to find then. Sadly, we’ve lost our original purveyors of the best damn brew on the planet (Coffee People, RIP) but we do have an armful of hip and fun little coffee places (even the original coffee people themselves, Jim and Patty, are still at work on NE Fremont Street). You are never far from decent caffeine in Portland, and you never absolutely have to settle for Starbucks.
All my life I’ve had an obsession with addresses and street signs, and that’s what sealed the deal with me in Portland. Portland’s geography is simple: the river, Burnside Street, and Williams Avenue divide the city into 5 somewhat-misnamed quadrants (NW,NE,SW,SE,N) where all street names and numbered avenues add as a directional (SE 39th Avenue, for instance). Portland’s hardly the only city in America to do this, but Portland’s been that way since 1930, and I fancy she’s one of the first cities to do it.
And the city is just a pretty place to be. Go to my blog by clicking on my name above, and you’ll see a photo I’ve taken of our downtown from a local bridge. My blog has many views of town, and if you want to go to http//www.orblogs.com you’ll find that other Oregon bloggers have taken lovely pictures of my home state and home town.
Portland, above all, is an ironic thing. It’s a major city that rolls up its sidewalks, a city where a misfit like myself can feel at home, a city that people aspire to, a town that has an erupting volcano at its back. I adore this place. I’ll never leave.
I have hopes and dreams for my life, but if I die a Portlander, I figure my life will have been at least a partial success.
Information on the city of Portland can be found at the Wikipedia entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland%2C_Oregon and the city’s website is http://www.portlandonline.com
Char said
Rick - too funny.
Joe said
Chrie, You were in Philly and didn’t Call (so what if it was years before our Blogs)? :-)
Marti said
now I’m hearing Johnny Cash singing “I’ve been everywhere, man”
lol
Chris Cree said
Randa, there might be a creative work around. First you have to decide if you really want to go. And that is entirely your decision to make.
Rick, last time I was in Chicago I spent a lot of time near that drawbridge that they jumped in the beginning. (It’s either the 95th or 100th street bridge. Can’t remember. I was all around the place.)
Marti said
good one Rick
I’m still clueless on Kathy Sierra
Carolyn Manning said
Marti, if you were talking to me, she got death/sex threats and, ya know what?, this might not be the best forum to bring it up.
Randa, wonderful blog. Just left a comment about guest posting.
Rick, that’s (#208) a great quote.
Joe said
Sorry Chris, I think that must have been a cross between Chris and Cree!?! ;-)
Char said
Samuel - I just checked out your blog. I saw the release about CS3 today too (and blogged about it ). I love Fireworks - have been using it for years and am so excited about it being added to the rest of the Adobe CS package.
I’ll have to go read your links about it. What can you tell us?
Carolyn Manning said
Char! So sorry. I didn’t see you were here. Forgive me, but I was busy posting.
Chris Cree said
Randa, tough question about the cities.
And Joe, Every time I’ve been to Philly predates my blogging. Sorry Dude. :(
Char said
No problem Carolyn - things are all over the place tonight - so many great people to talk to!
Samuel John Klein said
Actually, Chicago is the biggest city I’ve ever been in. I was in the Navy once, and trained up at the Naval Training Center in North Chicago.
Chicago-that’s one amazing place. I’d heard there were big places like this, but never really had a handle on the reality until I was there.
The first impression I had of Chicago was the view from 40 miles up the lakeshore, at North Chicago. You can see the tops of the Gold Coast towers from there. You’d have to be dead not to be impressed by that.
And a literal high point of my life was going to the top of the Sears Tower. I close my eyes and still see it as though it was yesterday. You can’t really describe it in words, and you can’t ever forget it.
Chris Cree said
Hey Samuel! Portland. Wow.
Randa Clay said
Thanks Carolyn! I sent you an e-mail.
Marti said
I am sooooo lost……
(crawls over to corner of the room to rock quietly back and forth while clutching knees to chest, but leaving enough room to eat a Klondike bar)
LOL
Carolyn Manning said
Chris, hi. Evidently I’ve been missing a bunch of people tonight. May I have a Klondike?
Chris Cree said
Here ya go, Marti! [tosses over a scrumptious Caramel Swirl Klondike.]
Chris Cree said
Carolyn, I can see how you didn’t hear me come in, what with the obnoxious singing and all. ;)
Marti said
Thanks, Chris!
Carolyn Manning said
Marti, what’s wrong?
Rick Cockrum said
And it’s my turn to say farewell. Y’all take care, and don’t get lost in the travels of the world’s cities.:-) Enjoy the views!
Chris Cree said
Here ya go, Carolyn. [Gently hands a bar to Carolyn. He knows better than to ask her to catch it.]
Carolyn Manning said
I’m tone deaf, Chris.
Samuel John Klein said
Char:
Ah, yes, CS3. What a playground.
I can’t wait to get my hands on some of that. I’m interested in the Design Premium edition, but there are now *six*different*kinds* of CS3, from the bare-bones basic Design Standard (which is like CS2 Premium without a web design app) to the Master Collection (which has every damn thing you need to do print, video, audio, and it washes your dishes for you too).
There’s an article I mounted last night on QuarkVSInDesign.com at the following URL:
http://quarkvsindesign.com/articles/a1/news/2007/the-top-10-new-and-cool-things-about-indesignincopy-cs3/
and it has the goods on what *I* think is the best of the bunch. Go read that, visit adobe.com and designorati.com, and I’ll quit my off-topic blog flogging now (sorry about being piggy, Liz)
Carolyn Manning said
Ok, and you know I throw and catch like a girl. I can say that because I am one.
ME Strauss said
Chris,
I’ll take one of those. Toss one over!
Marti said
I have been sticking my foot in my mouth tonight - lol
Thanks for asking. I’m OK….just silly from being tired, but I love it here so much I stay even when I type stoooooopid - LOL
Char said
Samuel - you are not being a piggy at all! I want the CS3 Web Premium version - I don’t like doing print work anymore - I just want all my web tools in one glorious package. :-)
Samuel John Klein said
I have no Klondike bars for anyone, but as long as our imaginations define the limits, does anyone want to catch the entire Klondike region of the Yukon.
No, never mind. Bad joak. Move on.
Char said
Marti - you are being a little too hard on yourself tonight. Relax, you are among friends - friends bearing Klondikes - what more could you ask for? We love you!
Chris Cree said
Randa, I’ve come up with an answer to your favorite city question.
My favorite city so far was Dublin! (I left that one off the list. Go figure.)
I was there back in the 80’s. The people were incredibly nice and the countryside was amazingly beautiful.
Chris Cree said
Samuel, we laugh at bad jokes here too. Have a Bar! [passes one over.]
Marti said
Thank you, darlin’
Samuel, bad jokes are okie dokie
Joe said
Sorry, Tonight I’m really tired
My time and life have been truley mired
In Family and Duty that Must be Kept
And it’s been so long since I’ve truley slept
Thank God for Friends so True as You
That Helped me from getting all Down and Blue
Now, tonight I can Truley Rest
Because my all Friends are Really The Best
Thanks to All for Good Wishes and Prayers
It makes it Easier to Climb the Stairs.
Berma Shave
Nite Liz
Nite All
Thanks…
Joe
Marti said
night, Joe!
Char said
Chris - my parents left for Ireland yesterday. I wanted to hide in their luggage so badly! We went in September and I can’t wait to go back.
Big cities I have been to include: Cork (Ireland), London, Berlin, Vancouver, Cologne (Germany), NYC, Washington DC, Dallas, Honolulu, and a few more.
Marti said
*He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.
Samuel John Klein said
Char: we’ll have to agree to disagree on the print part. I’ll never tire of designing for print.
But I think we’ll be of one mind about the new CS3. I also think a lot of people will be thrilled that Adobe and Macromedia merged.
Randa Clay said
Chris- I’m sure it was great. I’ve always wanted to see the UK. I imagine that Irish people are very friendly. You know, we found Chicagoans to be really friendly and helpful. So different from the rude indifference of New Yorkers!
Chris Cree said
Char, I’d go back in a heartbeat. Take my bride with me too. I know she’d love it.
(Caught your note earlier about the email. No worries. Whenever suits you works great for me. :) )
Char said
Samuel - I have found it is very hard to be a good designer in both media at the same time. When all I did was print I was fine, but the rules for print are much more stringent than the rules for the web, and I have a hard time switching back and forth.
I’m glad we have great print designers still!
Sheila at Family Travel said
Hi everyone! I wish I could stay longer, but I have totally neglected family as I chased down a deadline today.
Wanted to bring a city link, though, ’cause I LOVE me some cities!
OK, so I brought two.
One is our latest Carnival of Cities (#6!) at Home Turf Media, where I work with Jon Symons: http://www.hometurfmedia.com/blog/47/carnival-of-cities-6-worldly-views/
We have everything from San Diego to Mauritius.
And here’s my other link, ’cause I’m a link hog, from my new Disney blog Kid Trippin’ (I’ve gone sorta corporate, but only sorta….)
Paris in a Nutshell: http://family.go.com/blogpost/Mother_Road/5AEBA84C-39D7-4AD8-B9A3-DCD374020B10
Maybe I could stick around and eat another bowl of ice cream and visit….
Randa Clay said
Marti- LOL! That quote struck me as so funny- I don’t know why… must be past my bedtime.
Char said
Sheila - stay, please! Share! What’s your favorite big city?
Chris Cree said
Anyone seen our hostess?
Samuel John Klein said
Chris:
Thank you for the Bar. Have a region of Canada several thousand miles square. We’ll dig ya out in a little while.
Gawd, imagination is a great thing.
Marti said
:)
Chris Cree said
Oh, Randa. [Sighs and shakes his head.]
You know. I’m a New Yorker!
Sheila at Family Travel said
Awww, I gotta choose?
Hong Kong if I must pick one.
If I can pick by continent, San Francisco in the Americas, Hong Kong in Asia, Jerusalem in the MidEast, Europe is really tough….um, gosh, Amsterdam or Venice.
Samuel John Klein said
A city I definitely want to visit before I die is Berlin, Germany. I dream of going there most every day.
I want to visit before I die because if I do so afterwards the scenery won’t likely be as nice.
Chris Cree said
The one city I want to see that I’ve not been to yet is Jerusalem.
Oh. And Sydney.
Randa Clay said
Chris- ah, then you know what I mean about those rude New Yorkers huh! heheh I’d be a New Yorker if I could. I love big cities. I’m jealous of people who get to live there. I’m a Rude New Yorker wanna-be.
Char said
The list of cities I would like to see is so long!
Montreal, Boston, Moscow, Tokyo, Sydney, Cape Town, and so many more
Samuel John Klein said
Oh, and if anyone sees Liz, tell her hello for me too.
I have to go, It’s been fun as usual. If I can make one wholly crass, off topic request before I go, it would be this:
My ‘blog has just about notched it’s 19,500th hit (not as big as some, but hey, I love ‘em). I’m campaigning to make that last 500 in one day. Could you folks spread the word?
It’s http://zehnkatzen.blogspot.com
Hey, if you never ask, you never know.
Yes, it’s just random silly foolishness. Thank you all for putting up with it (especially you, Liz).
Good luck, and good night!
Sheila at Family Travel said
Hey, Char mentioned Cologne/Koln, Germany. Go there!
The Kolner Dom (cathedral) is (dare I say it) almost as impressive as Notre Dame, maybe more so.
Go during December for German Xmas markets — can’t beat the gluwein.
I’m missing all my umlauts, sorry.
Chris Cree said
Randa, I’m sure not offended. I didn’t learn to be nice to strangers myself until I moved down here to the Say-outh. ;)
I totally know what you mean.
Char said
Samuel - you have new reader tonight! I don’t want to miss anything on CS3.
Sheila - I would like to go back to Germany in the winter. I’ve only been in summer.
Marti said
bye samuel nice to meet you please come back
Char said
Chris - you live in one of my most favorite southern cities! There is just something about Savannah.