I love when I meet online friends.
People who don’t talk to strangers online are always like, “They’re not your real friends!” and “They could be psychos!” but I’ve met many onliners and I’ve had nothing but positive experiences. I’m seldom understood, and I’ll take understanding where I can get it, cause there is nothin like the high of bein got.
This last weekend, I got to meet MARIAN ALLEN! Marian Allen, Author Lady. I met Marian through Dan, and couldn’t believe she was another writery person in Indiana. I mean, Indiana DID produce Vonnegut, and I one time saw some Hoosier authors at the mall in the 80s, but… you know, corn, basketball, racin…
Marian writes a lot of different stuff. I’m fond of herΒ Steffie stories, personally. And then there are the occasional posts on Fatal Foodies, and some recipes I’ve adopted.
Marian, like other people I’ve finally met in person, is as she seemed to be online. If anything, she is merely more herself. Like, 3-D — and I got to see she has lively eyes.
She’s more mommer than I’d thought. Directly when I met her, she fussed over my sleeves and reminded someone to take medicine. She’s the nurturing type.
But did you know she actually has a publishing company?!? Like, I knew she was part of one, and I recognized the banner, but Marian Allen, Author Lady, is a business owner and y’all, she even does maths.
See? Some of the most interesting and magical people are online, and they’re real.
I was a hot mess and totally socially awkward and completely out of my element and Marian seemed to enjoy me anyway, so I think she’s one of those warm, accepting humans that so many claim to be, yet one seldom encounters.
We visited for a few hours and I really enjoyed talking to her. I’m glad I made this connection. Yay me!
Have you met any of the people who live in your computer?
Yeah, you did it too, met a fellow blogger! And now a question we are all dying to ask: DID YOU DO A DOORSCURSION TOGETHER? π I haven’t met many bloggers at all yet, only Liz with whom I did the last Thursday Doors, and one non-blogger online friend, which led to my real-life move to Italy. π I am always open to it though. I’m sure you two had a grand time and it’s good to see both of your eyes together. β€
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Thanks, we did enjoy it π We didn’t doorscursion, since we met an an event she was working.
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Oh yes, I just read her post. Still mighty nice. π
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Well, yay you! And Hi Marian!
I have met computer people – Joanne, a couple of years back. And more recently, a FB contact who was born and raised in Cobalt – he and his wife came to visit last week – but before he arrived, my hubby was gathering intel – what’s this guy like? What does he do? How do we know? etc. etc.
tch.
As if I’d ever consort with anyone but the best! And I mean, THE BEST! (Here’s lookin’ at you, kid.)
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Thanks, Maggie. That’s nice π I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a lil caution, but I bet your Cobalt blogger guy didn’t ask you to meet him at the abandoned woodshed five miles from civilization, am I right? π
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No, he did not. AND he brought his wife!
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π
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Yay both of you!!!!
So glad you were able to meet in person. It’s always fun when online friends get to meet face to face. I haven’t met many yet but the few that I have turned out to be even nicer in person.
So was there a doorscursion out of this meet up?
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I know you’ve met at least two, and I’m glad yours have gone well too π Marian and I couldn’t hunt for doors, since I met her at an event she was working.
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I’ve never met one of my online friends, but I live way out here in the wilderness.
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True that. I can honestly say I can’t see a possibility when I’ll be out your way. Maybe you’ll get sent to Louisville again π
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Someday, maybe.
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Good for both of you. Meeting people you only correspond with is always great. When it comes to Hoosier authors you can’t forget Tarkington, Riley or Wakefield.
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Pardon me, I think my preference was showing. π
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How fun! Now for the burning questions- was there girl food, and a Doorscursion? π
I’ve met Flickr a couple of Flickr friends in person and it was lovely.
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I tried to steal her away for a coffee and cookie, but she had to stay and work the event. It was great anyway, though. π
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You gave it a good try though. Hopefully, there will be a next time and you two can have that coffee, cookie, doorscursion. π
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Yayy you! Yayy Marian Allen, Author Lady! People who live in your computer are THE BEST!!!
And yup, met a few of my own. And there’s a few others I am unlikely to ever meet in the flesh (on account of how flipping far apart our fleshes live), and it ain’t even matter. #besties
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True story! I’m glad you’ve had some great meet-up experiences, too! π
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I agree, meeting fellow bloggers is so much fun. I’ve met on in San Francisco, three in the Philadelphia area, a whole batch at a writers’ workshop in Missouri, and one (and her husband) in France, where we spent a day on their barge! I look forward to meeting other bloggers as well and, as we plan to get to Indy one of these days, you as well. π Is that a threat or a promise? Depends.
janet
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I do not feel threatened, but per my previous comment, I shan’t be meeting people at the abandoned woodshed five miles from civilization, either!
Glad you had so many positive experiences, too π
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That’s probably a good idea, Joey. π
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Good for you, Joey! I have a feeling she got a lot out of meeting the genuine you as well. I’ve met several blogger friends who are now 3D friends who unfortunately live too far away to see often enough.
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Thanks, Mark. π Distance is a tough obstacle to overcome!
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You’re welcome, Joey. Yeah, for sure!
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Congratulations to both of you. I didn’t know I was responsible for bringing you guys together. I had forgotten that Vonnegut was from your land. He is perhaps my favorite author, ever. I am also a fan of Steffie π
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That’s all good news to me π
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You got to meet Marian! What a treat.
I never go anywhere con-wise, so enjoy it for me – and report back.
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It was a treat!
I’m not a con person, hence out of my element, but I could see that many people were enjoying it. Lots of supernatural, fantasy, sci-fi stuff. I did admire the art.
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I have met a few and always felt the same way about them as I did before. Great picture!
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Thanks π
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This is so cool! I love y’all’s photo together. I’ll bet it was fun. I’ve never met anyone from online, but came close with a FB friend I met through Twitter. Our schedules didn’t work out at the time, with flight schedules and all, but we did skype. So glad you got the chance to meet in person! π
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I’ve come so close a few times, too, so I understand the frustration of scheduling! It was a wonderful experience, thanks π
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I blogged about meeting you today, too, Joey! I’ve met lots of my online friends, since so many of them are also writers and attend some of the same conventions/events I do. My T-Rex son was an online friend before I met him IRL. If I can get some time away from showing my teef and being an evil salesbeing next time I’m in Indy, I hope we can do more than sit behind a table — although sitting still and jawing is (are) what I do best.
We did NOT get to go on a doorscursion and stuff, because SELLING. Next time!
Y’all, what IS the appeal of Steffie? She’s a cold stone KILLA! No angst at all. None.
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But we LUF Steffie! π
I’d enjoy taking our relationship to the next level. Maybe have a coffee and if that goes well, bring you back to my place for dinner. Meet the fam. Tour some doors, drink more coffee. You know, friendly stuff π
You are VERY personable. Nothin awkward about you! I thought your grace with the peacock lady was quite admirable π
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Good on you two. Sounds like a fun thing to do. I’ve seen Marian around for about as long as I’ve been here, but will make more of an effort to check-in with her on a regular basis.
In answer to your question: Yes, I have met a blogger in real life. It was an accidental meeting and she never knew who I was. Long story short, she wasn’t the same person in real life as she appeared to be online. π
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Oh that’s unfortunate.
I hope one day you will have a much better experience.
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Gee, I just finished over at her place, and I see your smiling faces over here, too.
When I traveled a lot, I would try and get together with people I knew. Haven’t done that since starting the blog, though, because I’m pretty much limited as far as traveling…
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I understand. I’m glad you took those prior opportunities, John.
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That’s awesome that you and Marian were able to meet…and I LOVE your photo together. Pretty special, but I hope you get to do it again.
I met a fellow blogger a couple of years ago, but haven’t reconnected because she lives in South Carolina and travels a lot. I hope one day to meet you, Marian, Dan, my biker buddy Laurie in Virginia, Katie in Oregon, and a few others. I’m thinking of taking a road trip next year out to Virginia, with a few stops to meet my fellow crazy blogger peeps. I think that would be fun!
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A road trip is an excellent plan. We had one when The Mister had his previous job, he’d get 5 weeks next summer if he still worked there, but um, no. So we’d planned to head northwest and hit up several of our online friends on the way to see and stay with another online friend. I think now, it’s not so much a plan as a hope.
I’m honored to be on your list! π If you even get close, contact me and I’ll drive, too!
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I will absolutely let you know if I come anywhere close to Indy. I’d love to meet you, Joey!
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π
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I’ve not had the chance to meet anyone yet, but this post sure does encourage me to try!
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Good! I’ve done it many times, and I have not yet *knock wood* been disappointed π
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That’s so sweet! You’re still one of my most favorite people I’ve met from online. (Probably THEE most favorite, but shhh…) β₯
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I won’t tell a soul, Jeni β€ β€ β€
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Yay for blogger meet ups!!
I’m lucky that I have met several bloggers in real life and each one was exactly what you described – Just like their online self but more so and in 3D. I could even relate to the part about feeling socially awkward and out of your element. Why can’t I be sparkling and bubbly in person like I am in my head? π
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LOL! I’m never sparkling and certainly not bubbly, even in my head, so you’re miles ahead of me! I met Marian at a supernatural/sci-fi/fantasy con, so that was WAY outta my element.
I’m so glad you’ve had the same experience with online meetings π
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I did once! YOU! π
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Am I the only one?!? Did Jake and I take your online-meetup virginity?!? Cool!
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You did, and it was fabulous!
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π
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I met a couple of bloggers once, too. It was fun. Kinda awkward since I’m me, but fun.
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Big nod to the awkward, E. Big nod. lol
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That is totally fantastic… I want to meet her now. I think I will check out her site.
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π
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So fun! I wish some of my fellow bloggers were more near by, I’d love to meet them in person – you’re one of them! β€
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OH me too! π
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How cool! One of my blogger friends lives next door so I have met her!
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Wonderful!
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That’s so exciting! My niece blogs…now vlogs… and helped push me over my fear of an online presence. So I’ve met her, but that’s all.
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We travel less since we moved here, so I’m having better luck with people coming here. I hope you have the opportunity sometime.
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I have once! I wish it could happen more often! π
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How lovely for you Joey. It is wonderful meeting up with fellow bloggers,especially as the ones that I have met are exactly like they appear to be online, I met quite a few bloggers the Blogger’s Bash in 2016, and just before that I met Sandra(or Daffy as I call her) from Wild Daffodil who was taking a course near where I loved. She came and had dinner with us, and it was a wonderful evening.
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I remember reading a bit about that π
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I have three I really want to connect with but haven’t yet. You are one of them, Joey! xo
I’ll be a little like a “mama” but mainly all excited to meet up with you. No maths nor publishing company but fun times ahead. . .
Hey, it will happen when I am not so much busy at work and my grandies stop counting on my being their “relief from parents.” π π
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Sounds great! π
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Yay #HoosiersConnect! You were in Southern Indiana and didn’t give me a heads up!!!! I’ve met two blogger/online friends and it was seriously like picking up conversations like we’ve known each other forever. Or was Marian up your way, I’m too damn close to Indy for you to not have taken me out to dinner :), or excuse me where are my manners we are Midwest people it would only be proper if I take you out to dinner :).
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NOOOOO, she came here π
I will get down your way, I will. Hit me up if you’re local again, cause with me not working and The Mister done with school, we have a lot more time and ENERGY.
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How do you say it……..I will fersure.
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