Midwest Meetup!

[kevbo]

The dinner party was great.

Can't wait to show y'alls a kevbo party now...

 

[Yooper]

I am now overly bummed I couldn't make it.

Especially that I've now heard CG's voice.

CG, I really hope you put together a blog about your big trip. You've certainly seen a lot already and I'd love to hear about your impressions about the US and all you've seen. And you certainly will have an interesting perspective, traveling from Eau Claire to Minneapolis in a Semi! Not even many Americans have that opportunity!

Maybe you can post something using someone's computer the next couple of days, providing you are not too 'busy.'

Edit: Hopefully you'll have a chance to see the ACTUAL Mississippi over the next couple of days.

 

[Lube]

Thanks,everyone, for your wonderful compliments.

I know Joe and I had a fabulous time with our fabulous new friends! Even if I did come downstairs half-dressed to find 8 guys waiting at my front door. (I'm always late for everything)

Evryone was so generous. I got a feel for just how remote ChickenGuys's home is. I meant all those toasts that I gave, because of all the great people that came to this meet.

Thanks especially for Ted for asking, "that chicken looks good, what's in it?", to which I responded, "it's chicken and... Oh, shit, I forgot to add the olives and lemon juice", which saved the meal!

And my plan worked: serve dinner so late, that everyone insists dinner was delicious, if only because you'd have eaten raw monkey entrails at that point because you were so hungry.

Can't wait to do Part II today!!!!!!

I'll just be a little late--lots of cleaning to do, since Joe has to be at work today.

 

[Lube]

My photos from last night.
Here's a group shot from that album:

 

[Knucklehead]

I just got off the phone with Ted.Seems like you guys are having a blast..

Have fun tonight in Minneapolis!

 

[unloadonme]

Did someone glue NoC's hand to that glass?

 

[NineOfClubs]

Did someone glue NoC's hand to that glass?

If it wouldn't be such a nuisance in the shower, I'd have one surgically implanted.

 

[swerve]

Can't wait to show y'alls a kevbo party now...

DANGER Will Robinson DANGER!!!

The following video is BEST played on MUTE!!!

I TRIED partying Kevbo style while in Eau Claire -- and THIS is the RESULT!!!

NO ONE has EVER gotten me to sing Karaoke before...

And just to show that I can LAUGH at myself...

Here is the result...



p.s. I would LIKE to use the Shots and 10 or 100 pitchers of beer that we had as an excuse -- but even THAT doesn't explain how HORRIBLE I was...

 

[swerve]

And here is Kevbo showing us how it SHOULD be done...

 

[swerve]

OK -- now that I've made a TOTAL FOOL of myself...

I wanted to post some still photo's I took yesterday...

Minneapolis is such a CLEAN MODERN city with a VERY COOL VIBE!!!

Here are a couple shots taken downtown...

and...

^I'm actually kind of curious as to what this building is -- maybe one of the locals can let me know -- I LOVE the architecture!!!

I was able to give Chickenguy a ride from Wisconsin to Minneapolis in my truck -- here he getting ready for LIFT OFF...

Frankfrank and Lilbit posing in front of the Mary Tyler Moore statue...

And Nineofclubs -- who I met MANY years ago through JUB -- and has become my VERY BEST FRIEND over time, and myself in front of the SAME statue...

 

[frankfrank]

Frank was happy to be able to bring you and Chickenguy into the city.

WaGWaG, I hope you can make it to something else, seeing as some of us only got to meet you for a few minutes.

I was also happy that I could save some time for Lube as well, knowing that there was a lot of work putting all that together for us.

Yeah hope to see you again over the weekend WaGWaG!

I am now overly bummed I couldn't make it.

Especially that I've now heard CG's voice.

you certainly will have an interesting perspective, traveling from Eau Claire to Minneapolis in a Semi!

Me too, you would've had a blast...

And I heard Swerve's voice, too!

Swerve, you DIDN'T stick CG in the trailer all the way, did you?? LOL

 

[opinterph]

Here is the result...

Paula Abdul: I thought you carried the song well and added your own interpretation. You have a very strong voice and <burp> I thought it was great! Hey~ Whaddya doin tonight after the show?

Kara DioGuardi: You picked a song that was hard to pull off. Next time I think you should choose something that compliments your voice better.

Ellen DeGeneres: I liked the way your body language synched to the rhythm. You have some very nice moves. I enjoyed it. Come on my show sometime and we can dance!

Randy Jackson: I dunno dog. I kinda liked the tone, but I think you lost the key once or twice toward the end. Not your best performance, but I’m rootin for you.

Simon Cowell: That was the most disgusting excuse for a performance I’ve ever seen. People all over the Internet are probably reformatting their hard drives after listening to it.

​

 

[swerve]

Although the JUB WEEKEND is still in FULL SWING -- I had to leave Minneapolis early this morning in an effort to meet commitments I had previously made...

I wanted to post my thoughts, observations, perceptions -- and THANK YOU's while they are still fresh in my mind...

FOR ME -- it all started in Eau Claire with FINALLY meeting KEVBO -- what a FUN person!!! I have been wanting to go drinking with him for YEARS and it finally happened -- he, along with others, volunteered and provided transportation making my weekend a LOT MORE stress free -- EVERYONE in Eau Claire LOVES Kevbo!!! He is EXTREMELY personable and just a LOT OF FUN to be around...

I then got to meet Chickenguy -- I had really been looking forward to this (and talking with him on the phone for days before the meet) -- I don't think I've EVER met someone from Scotland before -- He is ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE!!! VERY knowledgeable about a WIDE VARIETY of topics and just a LOT OF FUN to be around -- it was my PLEASURE to have him tag along with me Friday morning in the truck as I went about some of the work I had to do...

Once we finished with the work and got settled into the truck stop -- Frankfrank and lilbit showed up providing a generous and much appreciated ride into the city...

Frankfrank is a JUBBER I have been wanting to meet for YEARS!!! Ever since he was prarielooner lol He probably knows MORE about odd places and facts than the encyclopedia and map companies COMBINED!!! With a very QUIRKY presentation -- he is an absolutely FASCINATING guy to know -- he also must have some sort of GPS IMPLANT in his brain -- as he took us on a 20 mile trip through backroads, neighborhoods, a university, etc and SOMEHOW we ended up EXACTLY where we were going!!! AMAZING GUY!!!

Lilbit BLEW ME AWAY!!! An EXTRAORDINARILY sociable INTELLECTUAL!!! Imagine that!!! NOT ONLY was he SUPER SMART -- but had a DRAMATIC FLAIR in conversation that only a RARE FEW possess... I strongly suspect that he is THE FAVORITE professor on campus EVEN THOUGH he teaches REALLY HARD Classes...

They dropped me off at Nineofclubs hotel -- so I could take a quick shower and meet up later -- Well, what MORE can I say about Nineofclubs... Just an EXAMPLE of what EVERYONE should STRIVE to be -- Smart, sociable, FUN, an INCREDIBLE host (when I'm in Portland), a GREAT conversationalist -- well -- I may be somewhat biased as he has become one of my very best friends...

We then met up for a quick snack with a Jubber I haven't really known before -- OMMINC -- He said that he is shy and more of a lurker -- but I'm NOT SURE I agree with his self assessment -- He attends school right there in DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS and, since none of knew our way around -- he IMMEDIATELY fulfilled the role of "host"!!! Not only is he SUPER FUN, providing LOTS of interesting conversation -- but just a GREAT ALL AROUND GUY -- IF he REALLY IS SHY, it took a LOT OF COURAGE for him to come and meet all of us -- and he pulled it off with finesse and social graces of an EXTREMELY OUTGOING guy -- hmmmm... I REALLY LIKED you OMMINC!!!

After finishing the snack -- a VERY NEW TO JUB guy (less than a month on the web site) took time out of his busy schedule to meet some of us -- WaGWaG -- That was AWESOME!!! A SUPER GREAT guy -- and I'm REALLY GLAD that he is now part of JUB!!! Smart, Fun, Well rounded, level headed guy -- THANKS for stopping by (and I KNOW the rest of the guys hope to see you again this weekend). There are a LOT of JUBBERS that haven't made it to ANY meet -- and to be ONE MONTH IN and take the time to see relative strangers -- well, I just thought that was SUPER COOL...

The rest of the downtown gang met up with us -- and we then proceeded to meet Thad1527!!! I was REALLY looking forward to MEETING him -- ESPECIALLY since he has been sending opinterph and I Christmas cards for the last several years!!! WOW!!! What a SUPER GREGARIOUS and just TOTALLY FUN PERSON!!! Oh -- he ALSO had pre-planned EVERYTHING!!! (EXACTLY what I like to do... ) It was SUPER COOL getting to finally meet you...

So then...

Well -- we ended up at Lube's and his partners house...

This is where I'll need to take pause, and explain that they have a BEAUTIFUL house -- but what is REALLY SPECIAL is their INCREDIBLE relationship -- and how they TURNED that beautiful house into a BEAUTIFUL HOME!!!

It is not often you meet someone for the FIRST TIME and IMMEDIATELY feel like you are part of their family -- and that is EXACTLY how I felt at their place...

As others have mentioned -- the food was AWESOME -- but what REALLY APPEALED to me was the HOSPITALITY!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH for providing the PERFECT environment for all of us to get to know each other better...

Transpogue arrived as SOON as she could after a LONG work day -- I was also REALLY LOOKING forward to meeting her!!! I had tried before, but my timing was HORRIBLE lol as she was moving that weekend -- so I finally got to meet her... She is SO QUICK WITTED and FUNNY that it is SOMETIMES hard to keep up with her!!! STUNNINGLY and STRIKINGLY beautiful (for a girl ) -- just an ABSOLUTELY ALL AROUND GREAT PERSON!!! THANK you SO MUCH for being an INTEGRAL part (along with Kevbo and Lube) for making this weekend happen!!!

It was kind of like a night -- hanging out with OLD FRIENDS!!!

Also -- Thanks sausy and station2station for CALLING and allowing yourselves to be PASSED around the ROOM -- it was SUPER COOL to talk with BOTH of you...

AND -- to yooper!!! Your GENEROUS OFFER to pay for us to experience the cheese that you so much love wasn't able to be fulfilled -- but what an AWESOME gesture!!!

What an INCREDIBLY AWESOME time I had -- and as you go throughout the rest of the weekend making YOUR memories...

There are HIGHLIGHTS in EVERYONE'S life that they will ALWAYS remember, and...

I will TRULY CHERISH and TREASURE my memories of this weekend...

THANK YOU to EVERYONE and I HOPE to see MANY (if not ALL) of you again in the near future!!!

 

[alley]

Glad ya'll had a swell time.

It's great seeing all of you together.

 

[Lefty]

Damnation but it sounds like the cast from GLEE all singing

the same song.Even us tone deaf post whores are jealous.

Speaking of singing...one suggestion....Swerve, we totally

love ya man but don't miss a truck payment dude.

Seriously, since you guys represent all JUB at the gathering,

you better have a f@#@@ng good enough time for all of us.

Happy Mothers Day and all that...safe trips home to all.

 

[ChickenGuy]

FINALLY found time to post you all!

I'm using the laptop in LilBit and frankfrank's room - they're both snoring loudly just now.

All I can say is....

WOW.

What an INCREDIBLE few days this has been. Like nothing I've experienced before.

And it started on Thursday in Eau Claire. I met swerve and kevbo (the first openly gay guys I've ever met). It says a lot about swerve, that the very first thing he did on seeing me, was give me a big hug.

And then, it was over to the local gay bar (the first I've ever been to) and kevbo did a few karaoke numbers. It's great to see someone so relaxed and confident like that. What a really cool guy. I even managed a chat with someone! Some guy who was in a red USMC shirt - a local firefighter, he said - swerve and kevbo know who I'm talking about. Was he really interested in me? I dunno. But the biggest thing I took from that whole night, was that not once did I feel nervous, anxious, or uncomfortable. NOT ONCE. And for me, that was quite remarkable. I surprised even myself with that.

Then, on Friday morning, I got a ride to Minneapolis in swerve's truck! Can you believe it! And we stopped at a truck stop diner! I guess not many tourists to America get an experience like that! swerve's such a big-hearted and kind guy.

Then I met LilBit and frankfrank. LilBit's such a witty character. He puts us all to shame with his one-liners. And all with a touch of camp and femininity. frankfrank is the great traveller and navigator of the meet. I think we'd have got lost more than once without him.

We spent that evening at Lube and his partner's house. It was so great to see a couple like that, living together happily, for years on end. And they were the perfect hosts. Transpogue gave us a few tips on 'dykedom 101' I think that her, kevbo and LilBit should form a comedy triple act. They're so sharp on the draw.

Saturday, and I saw the Mall of America! Got a souvenir gift for my dad (anyone have the photo?) a Minnesota log-cabin bird house! That brings us to last night, which we spent at omminc's apartment. He's such a fountain of geek knowledge! And a really friendly and down-to-earth character to boot. His expertise also covers art and design, and, erm, Japanese 'cartoons'

That night was one of the highlights of the trip for me. There was such a wonderful casual, relaxed, friendly, atmosphere, all of us just hanging out in that room together. I felt so comfortable there. Comfortable inside.

At one stage, a lot of tits were exposed but I'm going to put this down to temporary insanity and a 'collective wardrobe malfunction'.

And OMG, kevbo's boyfriend! What a sweet guy! I'm afraid I couldn't resist glancing over whenever kevbo went to give him a quick kiss. It was just such a lovely and brilliant thing to see. They eventually, erm, departed for a mysterious and undisclosed hotel room in a secret location for some reason or other and returned later on. And what better way for all of us to end the evening than with a big group hug.

I must admit, I felt a pang of regret at one stage. Here was this 18-year old, already out, already in a relationship, happy, and living life to the full. And then I thought how I was when I was 18. I couldn't help but feel down, for the 15 years difference in our age, that I've missed out on. But I know that I can't have those years back. It just takes a bit of time to put this issue behind me, and focus instead on the future.

The last few days, since Thursday, have been some of the best of my life. I know that it doesn't show, but they have.

I know that outwardly, I may seem a bit socially awkward, withdrawn, and quiet, but inside, I'm having a great time. I've experienced the company of openly gay people for the first time in my life. And it feels wonderful. Mostly at the end of the day, in the quiet of the hotel room at night, I reflect on things. And I realise just how far I've come in my life in the past year.

JUB has come through for me, big time, just when I needed it. And I feel SO LUCKY to have this experience. THIS is the sort of lifestyle I want to lead, and the one I want for every gay person in the world. No delusion, no denial, no self-hatred.

I wish I had the ability to live away from home. I'm beginning to dread the thought of having to go back home to that isolated, closed-minded island. It offers nothing for me any more. I really don't want to go back. I'm wildly trying to think of ways to avoid it. I don't know if I've got much choice in the matter. I'll just have to wait and see what the future holds for me.

So that's about it, I've gone ever so slightly overboard on this post. It seems that I'm a little more comfortable expressing myself on here that I am in real life, doesn't it?



Andrew

 

[Lube]

^Wow, Andrew, I came here to post some pictures, and now you've made me cry!

Cry with happiness for you.

Sure, you can be kind of quiet, but you let slip a few comments here and there in the past couple days, and I had an inkling you were having a really good time. It's just so good to see you verbalize it like that.

Anyway, as I wipe the tears of joy from my eyes, I posted a few more photos, including Andrew's latté the size of Texas, and this gem :

Oh, and I don't have time to give it justice, but Swerve's post above was another very beautiful, very eloquent post. Those of us who saw it felt compelled to bring it up today and discuss it with the others, because it was so heartfelt and memorable.

 

[Corny]

wow chickenguy! you go guy! it has always been a pleasure watching you "grow"
i'm happy that you all had such a good time, it's so often that people laugh at online community and think the social interactions there are worth nothing - it always feels so good to prove them wrong

(ps: don't call it lifestyle .. it's a life)

 

[omminc]

Last night was a blast! It was great talking to ya'll about things and getting to know each one of you better a little better.

Sorry I couldn't make it today, I woke up an hour late and sense I had a ton of homework to do I stayed home. I hope you all had fun today though, how was the Diner?

I'll upload the photos I have when I get back this evening from dinner.

~odin

 

[kevbo]

This meet was so worth getting pick-pocketed and my car robbed.

swerve - It was fun finally meeting you, and I'm glad we were able to have a great time both nights. I'll forever hold your karaoke v-card... Can't wait to party with ya again!

ChickenGuy - I'm so glad you came from Scotland. While you were quiet, I could tell you were having a good time and I'm glad I could take your gay bar v-card... Thank you SO much for helping me out, as well.

Lube - Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for opening your and Joe's home for this meet. You are such a great guy and so is Joe, and I can't wait to see you guys again up in the Cities!

NineOfClubs - Another drinking bud. Glad you liked the Honey Bears, and I might just take you up on that Portland offer!

LilBit - So fun. Hope you enjoyed my AND Brandon's tits... Check the "I Dedicate this song to..." thread

FrankFrank - We didn't get a chance to speak that much one on one, but it was great having ya around!

Thad - Can't wait until the next time you're in the Cities so I can bring you to Wisconsin and show you something better than River Falls...

omminc - Like, Frankfrank, didn't have much time to chat with you alone, but it was great meeting you! Thank you so much for opening your home to all of us! It was a great time

Transpogue - Can't wait to hang out with you again! Even thought I know you hated me

It was a great meet! I'm definitely going to have to make it to another one!