Well, while it was terribly messy extracting myself from the piles of bodies, I had a good
time.
I. The Tao of Tea
a. Arrivals
I showed up almost exactly on time. As always. :)
I actually went into the wrong part of the tea house to begin with. The Tao of Tea is split
into two different sections, one on each side of a theater(?). The side I went into first had a
lot of yuppie looking people sitting around looking very serious. I new I was in the wrong
section. I traveled to the other section, and was spotted by the large group of scroffy looking
people with funny looks on their faces. "These people", I thought to myself "have to be noders."
In attendence upon my arrival was our (most) gracious host, LordOmar, pukesick,
patientfox, ideath, flamingweasel, and Brain. There were some brief introductions,
during which we swapped between user names and real names. I still have yet to get everyones
real name down, and so will refer to them by their user names. (although I do know moJoe's real
name is (wait for it....) Joe.) There was some muddled conversation about some various geeky
things. pukesick tells us that he will be living quite soon, as he was meeting people. The tea arrives (some nice green tea, and something called "liquid jade"....I don't think it was opium..).
b. General Bullshiting, moJoe shows up, pukesick leaves
The door opens and this guy who looks suspiciously like the Flaming Messiah of Retribution
walks in the door. More general talk is issued forth. There is some discussion of freenet, and
network related issues. pukesick flees into the evening light, that he might meet with "real"
people. Feh. Having a "life". :)
c. More General Bullshitting, dragoon shows up, moJoe dispenses amusing anecdotes
The conversations continue. I realize I'm not being very descriptive, but I was at the extreme
edge of the group for most of this part, and only pulled up a seat next to moJoe (no, I wasn't
trying to hit on him...though he is cute...), so I could hear what was going on. Anecdotes from
here and later to be noded once I have a moment to think. That place was a bit froofy (nice,
though...in a froofy way), so...
d. The party moves, icicle joins us
As we're standing on the sidewalk, looking like a bunch of chumps, this girl walks right through
the group. moJoe looks at her funny, and then calls her back. It be icicle! We all convoy into
a line (at one point, I believe we were actually lined up the way we would be if we were all in
the chatterbox together......it was eerie). I'm towards the rear for most of the short walk,
with ideath and Brain. ideath showed off her abilites at juggling, and patientfox talked
about bands with flamingweasel. LordOmar and moJoe were too far ahead for me to hear what they
were talking about. Our deaths, I'm sure....but I'm getting ahead of myself.
II. The Pizza Place
a. Choosing places to sit & ordering pizza
We wandered to a place called (I believe) the "Oasis Cafe". It serves pizza. This is good, as we
have two veggie eaters in our midst. We stand in the doorway, blocking traffic, as we work out a
way to get nine people around three tables. Eventually, everyone gets situated, and our "dads",
Omar and moJoe, get up to the counter to order us food. Conversations turn more to E2-related
stuff. *cough*Dman*cough* ...And a good time is had by all.
b. Waiting for the pizza
More talking. Some friends of the reedies show up, have food just behind the assembled group,
and leave without really saying anything. They looked nice enough.... more E2 talk, including
the people we enjoy reading (ToasterLeavings got "props" from all).
c. Eating the pizza (mostly done in silence....)
Mm.....bread and cheese......tastes like some sort of food stuff....
d. Post Pizza musings
Yet more E2 talk. Dannye's likely implosion upon entering powell's books is addressed. No real
decision is made. The debate rages on.....
e. The Group splits, LordOmar, Brain, and dragoon leave
After moJoe takes down all of our names (that's what happens when you get old, ya know?), the
group splits in two. Much remorse at the leaving of the fine E2 fellas. Hopes were spread around
for a reunion at the thing in december.
Love is in the air......you know, the love of a man for a fine cuban cigar.
III. The Internet Cafe ("Internet Arena")
a. Browsing the Head shop
The people with nothing to do browse a head shop nearby to the cafe. moJoe examines a lunchbox
with his image as vishnu on it. Comments are made about the expensive chairs. Why did we go in
here again?
b. Traveling to the cars/driving to the Internet Arena
We walk to icicle and flamingweasel's vehicles. icicle and flamingweasel walk next to each other, and ideath mentions that this may be dangerous, on account of their opposing natures. I laugh. We reach the cars. me, fox, weasel, and ideath head off in the combustable rodent's ride, and moJoe and icicle lead the way in the lady's vehicle. Icicle drives kinda slow. And now you know!
c. Things what happened at the Internet Arena, icicle leaves
Upon reaching moJoe's front for his cocaine smuggling ri....job, icicle flees. She had places to be, I believe. moJoe shows us the upstairs of his work, wherein the vast amounts of computer equipment what makes up his business are housed, while ideath hits a computer for her e2 fix.. It was just like my work, only using a bunch of individual computers instead of a couple powerful ones. It smelled like home. We return to the main room and utilize the computers to node en masse, which is a much more social and less creepy experience than one would imagine. ideath does not have scabies.
d. The Washingtonians depart
After about half an hour to 45 minutes of this, my driver (flamin'weasel) announces that it is time to leave. He, I, and patientfox flee into the night, thanking moJoe for his kindness as we leave. The drive to Washington is quiet, as we're all quite tired. Upon reaching my home, I regain my E2 access, and fight a small flame-war with a newbie by the name of flybomber. He loses. I sleep.
I had a great time. As moJoe mentioned, all were quite sociable and normal-tastic. I hope I see everyone again in december. Until then, my friends....