I met a fellow blogger today. That’s excitement in my book (I need a better book, I know.) Really and truly, though, getting to talk face to face with someone I’ve been trading comments with for months or years is cool.
Windsurfing bloggers are gregarious and make an effort to meet. I’ve connected with OBX Bill and Lost In Hatteras Andy with ease, and had to screw up pretty badly to miss meeting Mac of Water Turtle and Catapulting Aaron. (Drysuit2 Frank and Peconic Jeff I knew pre-blog.)
But the sailboat bloggers are cut from different stuff.
Their blogs are fun to read (they have so many exotic topics to explore…”vang tension”?) but the bloggers themselves like their privacy. The sailboat crowd generally doesn’t let you get too close. They think they’re so damn superior…
So when I received an email from Adam of Messing About in Sailboats it was a pleasant surprise. First we went back and forth about PJ Harvey (for his “Songs for Friday” series) then a bit about work (we’re vaguely in the same field) and then lunch came up (we’re both working in NYC).
So we did it. It was great fun…the best part being all the trash talking we did about The Horse's Mouth Joe and the Tillerman and Frogma Bonnie Bonnie Bonnie…*
(* I would never trash talk Bonnie Bonnie Bonnie. Besides, she’s a kayak and cucumber blogger and is perfectly sociable. Furthermore Joe and Lord Tillerman have been quite generous to the Puffin, so any bad behaviour towards them on my part is inexcusable. It wouldn't be the first time...)
"Trash talking about the Tillerman"? Please do share with the world what you said about me.
And why do you say that we sailboaters come over as so "damn superior"? I try hard on my blog to expose all my foibles and hardly ever mention such impenetrable topics as "vang tension".
Let's do lunch. Have your people call my people.
Posted by: Lord Tillerman | June 25, 2008 at 10:20 PM
I am superior, damn it! Why? Because I only drink 100% Blue Agave tequila, which everyone knows is superior. Plus, I have been aged in fine old American plastic, the Force 5, ensuring for my incredible smoothness.
Now back to your story. Let's see some pics!
Posted by: Joe Rouse | June 26, 2008 at 12:49 AM
You missed it!!! heckscher went off today. Sailed 5.3 for 5 1/2 hours. Thursday looks to be even better. By the way, I know about all those sailboat guys........"I have the biggest dinghy" yada yada.......
Posted by: mike Burns | June 26, 2008 at 01:07 AM
I once left a voicemail with James Douglass saying "Hey James, it's Aaron from the internet."
Posted by: catapulting_aaron | June 26, 2008 at 01:35 AM
(this is cool, I have both Lord Tillerman and his lordship Mike Burns..."King of the East" commenting at the same time.)
Sir Tillerman: No actual trash talking took place about your worship. One must realize, however, that when you are the best sailing blog on the planet, lesser mortals will talk! Of course then there's your buddy with the Superblog...in my wildest dreams I daren't dream of reaching such heights (but then again, that guy won't inspect his own mast top for sea monster eggs...) It's true you are good on the foible tip, but you are speaking to a windsurfer, sir! We aspire to foibles, living as we do in the "I suck" domain. The blogger noted here as Catapulting Aaron proclaims himself to be the worst windsurfer in the world! I take kindly to him as I have previously held (and defended) that title. Lastly, I LOVE the vang tension talk. Remember your post about new Harken blocks? I think that was the first time I commented on your venerable blog. Give be precision bearings any day (you think I'm kidding...I'm not!)
Mr. Joe...we have no photos. I actually brought a camera, but the lighting wasn't at all good (Messing Adam found us quite a cool little underground spot.) Pour the tequila on yer boat...I want to hear more about your sake adventures!
Lord Mike...5.3? Argh!!! Do you think today will happen? I will reach out to you directly (as we windsurfers do.)
C-Aaron...you are good! I'd tell you to track down The Horses Mouth now that you are in the Bay area, but he is a man of mystery (and a wide variety of water toys.)
Posted by: Michael | June 26, 2008 at 09:35 AM
I don't think I've ever written a post about new Harken blocks. And The Google can't find such a post on my blog either. I think you must be losing your bearings.
Posted by: lord tillerman | June 26, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Lost my bearings, lost my bearings...it was Live Sail Die with the Harken blocks. I remember googling "vang tension" and ending up on a page selling the rigging...and the harken gear...so it got all tangled up in my bird brain.
You probably don't even LIKE pulleys. Now I remember...you like goldfish!
Posted by: Michael | June 26, 2008 at 10:37 AM
I exploded one of my Lewmar Self tailing winches this weekend. I could go on...AND I WILL...on my blog. If I ever get the time to post up again.
Posted by: Frank Messina | June 26, 2008 at 03:37 PM
I am not sure what's more worrying: That this conversation is happening or that I am actually fascinated by it?
Posted by: Adam Turinas | June 27, 2008 at 02:31 PM
Wow, look what happens when bloggers talk to bloggers (and I go off and park myself in a tent with no internet connection for a few days)!
Posted by: bonnie | June 30, 2008 at 12:07 PM
We needed you, Bonnie, as a voice of reason.
OT it will be a strange day when campsites offer wifi.
Posted by: michael | June 30, 2008 at 12:33 PM