WKRN-A-Go-Go I must say that last night was groovy. I love meeting new and creative people, and the WKRN bash was filled with so many people from diverse backgrounds who came together to celebrate the joy of being creative. I felt like the hack of the soiree. Meeting the blogging elite from middle-Tennessee was incredible (damn, I sound like I'm writing a Garden Club overview for the paper with all of these flowery words), and being that we didn't know anyone, we were pleased that everyone made us feel welcome. We were running a bit late, and I must say, being that I hate being late and it makes me psychotic, I was a bit anxious. Once we got there, the nerves calmed a bit and with beer in hand, we started the greet and meet. Of course, Sarcastro greeted me by introducing himself as Roger Abramson, but I'd seen pictures and he was near Aunt B, and that I had told Rodent Queen that I wanted to wear a name tag as Terry Frank on the drive up, I was onto his wiley ways. (Posting pictures can screw up your good time and thanks to the terrific Aunt B. for doing this a couple of weeks ago.I also think there is one on his blog, so that helped as well.) They were delightful. CeeElCee was lovely, as I imagined he would be, as was Sista Smiff. The Sista and I have a connection having both worked at the Country Music Hall of Fame in our youth, and we had some recognition. She updated me on the folks who used to work there. I, of course, had worked the Johnny Cash room, but she had been there prior to that development. She has a picture of herself next to the Elvis car. CeeElCee and RQ shared pictures of our collective dogs from our cells. Huck (whom I adore) and Rex L. Camino sat at the bar. They were great. Huck had a bemused look on his face of the events, and I just wanted to hug him repeatedly. I'm not usually that affectionate toward people I don't know, but it was my reaction to him because he's just the coolest in a totally casual, hip way. I really like reading his posts and he is one of the best commentators on other people's blogs in the the entire state. Rex was hysterical and listened to my sad commentary on alien abductions and giant vegetables fertlized by urine, and my affection for them. (Moment of wishing I worked for Weekly World News, dammit why won't they hire me, but I digress.) Rex and I also spoke of Slick Joe Fick of The Dempseys, who I like so very much as Rex also plays the bass. We also spoke of Charlie Drake, where I admitted that I had screamed Rex's name in my house one day at Rodent Queen while watching Star Trek, where Drake had a guest appearance. Good times. Katherine Coble is such a gentle, sweet, kind woman who reigns as one of my favorite writers. She loves Stephen King and we discussed our adoration for him (and I recommended that she read "The Dark Tower" series, assuring her that it had, indeed, ended. I did tell her you have to get through "The Gunslinger" before it picks up or at least that's my opinion.) Short and Fat is not fat and is very, very funny. Mary from Liberadio (who thought I was a guy, which for some reason tickles the shit out of me) did wear the Terry Frank moniker on her nametag. TV on the Fritz, good lord I love him and told him that reading Aunt B and him were two of the reasons I started blogging. He was great, and was headed to see a buddy of his play after the meet and greet. And Jon Jackson, I pumped his hand like a mad, cat lady when I was introduced to him (who knew I was a crazy stalker) because I really dig Crap and Drivel. He said he reads some of my stuff on his radio show. Go listen to him every week. I command you because he is hip, and I have no doubt that he ran directly to the bathroom to wash that same hand because I probably weirded him out. Kathy was great and gave me her card (she's saucy and fiesty and I dig that.) She introduced me to several other middle-Tennessee bloggers which was great fun. (Shout out to the Comment Tator) Finally, I met Brittney briefly who was there with The Boyfriend and I met The Kleinheider. Other than a moment being smitten by the smooth sounds of Rex L. Camino discussing a Waylon Jennings sighting and a beer bottle, mine of course, (with the help of my elbow) doing a loop de loop to the floor which almost took out our favorite Volunteer Voters blogger, the evening was a success. I did ask him if he lived in a cave as this has been insinuated on other blogs, he looked at me with confused amusement (and I pointed to Aunt B and Brittney) and he just shook his head. Rodent Queen and I were near the last to leave. Probably overstayed my welcome, but it was great fun. One thing to say is that I really think WKRN is cutting edge right now with their understanding of the future of blogging. Working in very, very, very (refer back to urine stained vegetables and my newspaper) small market media, I was impressed by their understanding that bloggers are a very important part of the new order of mass media. Very smart and a standing ovation of one (being me) to the management of WKRN. Back to bashing the government and wishing that I could just once cover a story about BatBoy.  ¶ 7/07/2006 09:43:00 AM