So we had our second ‘Xangbang’ (I think Sommer coined that phrase maybe?) at Karen and Albert’s home in Houston and this year it was even bigger than before! Loads of the Houston based Xanga people and even a few folks from further afield were there. Here are a few of my pictures.
There were actually a number of people there I hadn’t met or read before. I wanted to get around and chat to everyone, but you know how nights like that can be. They pass all too quickly. But I did at least get to say “hi” to most people and have at least some introduction to those I didn’t know.
Hats off to Heath for coming to the party on her own. I guess she figured we wouldn’t all be weirdoes but still, that was brave to do. She said she wore the ‘God save the Queen’ Sex Pistols T-shirt especially for me. So Heath, I’ll just say I appreciated that, and I told Liz yesterday about it and she said “Big up to you girl”. Our Queen is so hip ;-)
Above Anna talks to someone I was particularly looking forward to meeting, Ashley. She has a funny laugh which I heard often, but each time we chatted she had this look on her face like ‘how the heck do I take Simon, he’s kinda strange.’ It’s a funny thing, we were meeting for a first time, but oddly enough because of the Xanga blogging community link we weren’t really making true ‘first impressions’ upon one another. It’s more like you’re getting a chance to see how the person you’ve been reading for a while actually interacts with other people.
The picture above is hilarious because of Carey. Look at his expression then check out his hands! Below Roy(!) is picked up Chris in some strange ice-dance maneuver, and at the end of the night we started making strange stickers. What can I tell you, we’d had a few drinks!
Now that I’ve posted these pictures it has become apparent to me that I only seem to have pictures of me with girls! I did have a couple of ones with guys, but they were blurred or bleached by the flash to the point we look very sick indeed. In my defense I think I would argue that there was probably a healthy majority of females at the party, but I just know you lot aren’t going to buy that are you.
I want to extend my thanks to Karen and Albert for letting us all descend on their home in Houston. Karen made delicious sandwiches and other stuff and between them they were just great hosts, so I am sure I speak for everyone who came when I say a very big THANK YOU to them for their hospitality.
It was great to meet all you guys who were there, I only wish I could have spoken more to you all. So how do you top a Xangbang?
Wrote the following comment on Sep 27, 2006 at 7:36 pm
I see you have perfected the hold-out-the-camera-and-take-your-own-pic maneuver. And I went to college with lrmrgrt! Funny to see her on here of all places. :)
Sorry I missed you guys.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 27, 2006 at 8:29 pm
Great pics! and a smashing good time!!!
Wrote the following comment on Sep 27, 2006 at 8:31 pm
well if the party was made up of weirdos then i would fit right in!
Wrote the following comment on Sep 27, 2006 at 9:32 pm
I’m so glad I got to meet you! The party was soo fun.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 27, 2006 at 9:33 pm
ha! I like your interpretation of the look on my face.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 27, 2006 at 10:05 pm
i think i see my hair in one… :)
Wrote the following comment on Sep 27, 2006 at 10:45 pm
when did i start drinking budweiser from a can???? i dont even remember that. thats when you know it was a good time. dear god hahhaha.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 27, 2006 at 10:57 pm
and im not even gonna say whats going on in that pic where im laughing.
hahhaha. what a fun party!
Wrote the following comment on Sep 28, 2006 at 1:22 am
why can’t i see the pics?
Wrote the following comment on Sep 28, 2006 at 1:29 am
yea, i saw the pics earlier, but now that i’m back to read comments, they’re gone… i think it was just my mom’s slow computer… agh…
Wrote the following comment on Sep 28, 2006 at 5:03 am
yeah, i can’t see the pics either. it was nice meeting you! i enjoyed talking geek with you. i went and saw some of your web sites. they are really nice. come say hi sometime.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 28, 2006 at 11:16 am
Awesome party .. awesome pics.
Oh, and I’ve got to one up theIndispensableMattWhaley…. he may have gone to college with lrmrgrt … as her uncle I lay claim to the fact that I’ve changed her diaper :-)
Wrote the following comment on Sep 28, 2006 at 5:30 pm
Fun pictures. Looks like it was quite the party. :)
Wrote the following comment on Sep 28, 2006 at 7:06 pm
Thanks for the nice compliments and thanks for posting new pictures – they bring back all the fun.
What a great group of people!
Wrote the following comment on Sep 28, 2006 at 7:58 pm
Finally I met you! I had heard many many things about you. I enjoyed making your acquaintance.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 29, 2006 at 2:39 am
Nice to meet you too. I enjoy your posts, views, and pics. My son Chris wanted to take you to experience some good old Texas fun (shooting), did you ever get to?
Wrote the following comment on Sep 29, 2006 at 4:37 am
Na, never got to fire guns. Next time we should have a texathon shoot’em up! Every man and his gun – yeeha!
Wrote the following comment on Sep 29, 2006 at 5:32 am
I have a gun (small 22 pistol), but I was scared of it being in the house – so I took it apart…I will find all of the parts and be at the next “XangBang Texathon Shoot’em Up.” Sounds like fun! Yeeha!!!
Wrote the following comment on Sep 29, 2006 at 3:07 pm
Looks like you had tons of fun! Wish I could have been there. Maybe I’ll be closer to the Houston area next time.
Wrote the following comment on Oct 11, 2006 at 11:30 am
Awwww! you guys look so cute! The blogging community has really forged some amazing transcontinental friendships huh?
And yes, it is quite the most strangest sensation to meet someone in meatspace for the first time but whom you know really really well in cyberspace! It’s also one of the BEST things you could do in a lifetime! :)
Excellent! :)