A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward.
|
Good morning Kogs and Kossacks in Dailykosland!
Merry Monday and welcome to the working week
Do you like surprises?
I like surprises, but I am hard to surprise. Too often I hide what I would really like, so when people try to surprise me with gifts they think I want it's my own fault they guess wrong.
My mom tried to give me a surprise party for my 16th birthday. I had a close friend named Alex* (*all names changed to protect the guilty) and mom gave money to Alex's mom for treats and snacks, and asked Alex to invite the kids from school I would most want to have at the party. Alex lived west of Rock Creek Park, and I lived way out in Anacostia, so it was a treat just to see her on the weekend because she lived so far away.
The cover story was that Alex and I were going to go hang out in Georgetown for the afternoon, walking up and down Wisconsin Avenue. This was something I occasionally did alone, and never had a chance to do with a friend. So when I came to her house to find the surprise party, I was massively disappointed, and did not have the good sense to hide it. I had been really excited about going to Georgetown, and instead we were going sit inside on a beautiful day? I actually said something awful like "You mean we're not going to Georgetown? I was really looking forward to that." Just one of many times my mom tried to do the right thing and I did not appreciate her. Sorry, mom! At least I was genuinely surprised!
Sometimes I spoil the surprise by being oddly observant about minor details that most people would normally ignore. One time a dear friend named Eve* organized a surprise birthday party for me. Unfortunately the secret was blown at the very last minute because I am obsessively observant when I have a crush on someone.
Eve had invited my crush to the party, thinking he liked me too and not knowing he had already rejected me. He was gracious enough to come to the party though, and parked down the street so I would not see his truck in front of her apartment.
Duh—if you knew I'd recognize your truck in front of the apartment, why didn't you realize I would recognize your truck parked at the end of the street? Little did he know that as I went about my normal day I took notice every time i saw a truck that looked like his! So as I was walking to Eve's house from the bus stop, I noticed the truck and, I immediately knew it was his because, God help me, I had memorized his license plate number. (Sigh. Thank FSM those days are gone.) My mind put two and two together, and by the time I knocked on her door the surprise was already two minutes old. It was nice to see him, and all of them, and it was a fun party, and it was very sweet that Eve and my other friends went to all that trouble. But I was surprised out on the sidewalk where no one could see it!
The one happy birthday surprise I did get was not a party exactly. For my 40th birthday, my mom came to visit me in Cambridge. It was a big deal, right near the beginning of our reconciliation years, and we both wanted everything to go well. So the next morning I got up early and went down the street to the bakery to get bagels for a special breakfast. When I came back, and while we were preparing to eat, the downstairs buzzer rang. I lived on the top floor and my door buzzer no longer worked, so it meant going down two flights of stairs to open the door manually. Being lazy, and in the middle of something, I went to the intercom to make sure it was someone for me instead of one of my neighbors.
"Hello?" I said questioningly, and a muffled voice said "Delivery". "What?" I said? "Delivery" the voice repeated, even more garbled the second time. My mom helpfully piped up, "Sounded like 'delivery'." "Delivery? I didn't order anything." "Well," mom suggested, "maybe someone sent you a package for your birthday." I immediately started wondering who could have done such a thing, and thought my best friend Charlotte* might have sent me a birthday package that had to be signed for, so I went downstairs with anticipation.
When I got to the door an opened it, it was Charlotte herself. I was totally stunned and thrilled. She had come up from NY to surprise me for my birthday, and had managed to mumble her words well enough that I didn't recognize the voice I talked to multiple times a day every day!
Turned out my mom was in on the whole thing. The two of them had been planning the surprise together for weeks. Charlotte had originally arrived when I was out getting bagels, which threw a tiny wrench in the works, but it all worked out in the end. Mom could still walk pretty well in those days, so we had several days of touristy activity. We went to the Boston Tea Party ship, and the New England Aquarium. We saw The Full Monty at my favorite movie theatre. We ate at Legal Seafoods, and mom had lobster for the first time. We also just hung out at my apartment playing card games. I am smiling from ear to ear with the memories. The visit was great. The two people who loved me most in the world. That was definitely my happiest birthday ever. And the fun started with a very happy surprise.
I tried to surprise Charlotte on her birthday a few years ago by telling her I was having something special delivered to her office, but she left work early and asked the doorman to receive the package. Then she went to dinner with some other friends and turned her cell phone off, not knowing I had come to Manhattan on the bus for one evening to surprise her. I did not reach her until she was most of the way home, and I had to head back to Boston that very night. She said through her disappointment, "You should have just told me you were coming! You know I hate surprises! " Actually, I didn't then, but I certainly do now.
Do you hate surprises? Would you rather know exactly what is happening and when? Has anyone tried to surprise you and failed because you always like to know what is going on? Has anyone ever thrown a surprise party for you? Were you really surprised? (Answer at your own risk!) Have you ever thrown a surprise party for someone? How did you manage to keep the secret? Have you had another special surprise for a birthday or anniversary or other special event?
Do you like surprises?
start up soundtrack
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
List of All Existing Meatspace Groups
Where the Kogs Are: Index/Directory of the 130+ Localized Daily Kos Groups
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Saturday, June 21st
Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Pyramid Alehouse, Brewery & Restaurant
1201 First Avenue South • Seattle
ORGANIZER: Send John Crapper a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. John Crapper
2. John Crapper's SO
3. T-BoneApollo
4. dougiemac
5. Regina in a Sears Kit House
6. Regina's SO
7. doingbusinessas
8. Eagle Keeper
9. Piren
10. SilverWillow
11. Sarge in Seattle
|
Maybees:
Assof
|
Latest diary: Seattle Kossacks Dare to Dream 6/21/14
Sunday, June 22nd
March for Democracy Arrival Rally
Call for a national Constitutional Convention for the sole purpose of proposing an amendment to end big money's corruption of our democracy. Dolores Heurta will be there to speak.
If you can't be there in person please sign this petition.
TIME: 11:00 AM
LOCATION: California State Capitol
1315 10th St • Sacramento
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Shockwave
2. navajo
3. Meteor Blades
4. Glen The Plumber
5. remembrance
6. TLO™
7.
|
Maybees:
dharmasyd (needs a caretaker, please kosmail her)
|
Latest diary: Something big is brewing in California
Tuesday, June 24th
NYC Kossacks Roll Out the Red Carpet for Dave in Northridge
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Donburiya
137 East 47th Street (Lex & 3rd) • New York
(Not wheelchair accessible, entrance is 2 steps down)
ORGANIZER: Send sidnora a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. sidnora
2. Dave in Northridge
3. Avilyn
4. plf515
5. followyourbliss
6. MBNYC
7. cohenzee
8. joanbrooker
9. waterstreet2013
|
Maybees:
Laura Clawson
|
Latest diary: NYC Meetup 6/24: Come Meet Dave in Northridge
Sunday, June 29th
Koscadia Kossacks Meet-up at Catnip Manor with Ojibwa!
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Home of the Reed sisters
Address given by kosmail • Portland
ORGANIZER: Send Sara R a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Ojibwa
2. Sara R
3. winglion
4. llbear
5. watercarrier4diogenes
6. Oregon Gal
7. loggersbrat
|
Maybees: |
Latest diary: Koscadia Meet Up, Sunday, June 29
Wednesday, July 16th
Annual Cheers & Jeers Dinner to Kick-Off NN14, Kossacks Only
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Vicente's Cuban Cuisine
1250 Library St • Detroit
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to RSVP.
RSVPs:
1. Common Sense Mainer
2. Bill in Portland Maine
3. smileycreek
4. paradise50
5. side pocket
6. Mrs. side pocket
7. norm
8. maggiejean
9. Shockwave
10. a gilas girl
11. susans
12. Sara R
13. belinda ridgewood
14. sidnora
15. Mr. sidnora
16. thankgodforairamerica
17. brillig
18. mik
19. K1
20. loggersbrat
21. Dave in Northridge
22. 714day
23. NormAl1792
24. texasmom
25. texasdad
26. a gilas girl
27. peregrine kate
28. provokingmeaning
29. justiceputnam
30. tmservo433
31. Mark E Andersen
32. Son of Mark E Andersen
33. winkk
34. theRoaringGirl
35. shermanesq
36. Doggie269
37. shanikka
38. jakedog42
39. ramara
40. skohayes
41. DebtorsPrison
42. gmats
43. Adam Blomeke
|
Daily Kos Staff:
1. Markos Moulitsas
2. Susan Gardner
3. Will Rockafellow
4. Meteor Blades
5. Joan McCarter
6. Faith Gardner
7. Laura Clawson
8. Chris Bowers
9. navajo
10. Jen Hayden
11. Elisa Batista
12. Denise Oliver-Velez
44. LuLu
45. Chicklette
46. PerfectStormer
47. 4Freedom
48. DemSign
49. vicki
50. Cedwyn
51. jotter
52. aha aha
53. Dennis Shreefer
54. ohmydem
55. Brainwrap
56. Mrs. Brainwrap
57. Eclectablog aka Chris Savage
58. Anne Savage
59. BlueBarnStormer
60. sandiegodem
61. Pam Miles
62. TexMex
63. linkage
64. 2thanks
65. bunnygirl60
66. binkaroni
67. zenbassoon
68. nomandates
69. thepegster
70. Ooooh
71. figbash
Maybees: N in Seattle, Turbonerd, winifred3
|
Latest diary: Connect! Unite! Act! ATTN: DC, Tucson & Seattle Meet-up Info! +Q: Roll Call, Are You Attending NN14?
Friday, July 18th
Daily Kos Detroit VA Hospital Service Project
Sara R delivers 65 quilts, hand knit scarves and hats, books, 65 teddy bears, hand made greeting cards, and phone cards from the DK Quilt Guild, WAYWO, the Readers & Book Lovers, IGTNT and individual Kossacks to the nursing home at the Detroit VA Hospital. This is a wonderful project that many people can be involved with even if they don't attend the convention. If you care about veterans in a nursing home this is your project. Please volunteer to help.
DELIVERY TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Volunteer Office of the Detroit VA Hospital
4646 John R St. • Detroit
ORGANIZER: Send Sara R a Kosmail to participate in making the gifts and/or deliver them.
RSVPs to help deliver gifts:
1. Sara R
2. NormAl1792
3. Winifred
4. linkage (videographer)
5.
|
Maybees: |
Latest diary: DK Quilt Guild: What Inspires You?
Plenary Session Tables during the rest of the Convention
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to have a seat reserved for you in the main ballroom of the convention center for the big events. These table will be there so we can all find each other as a group. The seating is not assigned. You can float from table to table. I'm only counting to see how many tables I need to reserve.
Cheers & Jeers Table:
1. Common Sense Mainer
2. Bill in Portland Maine
3. brillig
4. mik
5. K1
6. vicki
7.
8.
9.
10.
|
Motor City Kossacks:
1. peregrine kate
2. provokingmeaning
3. 4Freedom
4. Brainwrap
5. Mrs. Brainwrap
6. Eclectablog aka Chris Savage
7. 2thanks
8. Sydneyluv
9. DoReMI
10. Mideedah
|
SFKossacks Table:
1. navajo
2. Meteor Blades
3. smileycreek
4. paradise50
5. side pocket
6. Mrs. side pocket
7. Tim Delaney
8. maggiejean
9. Jeff in CA
10. Mrs. Jeff in CA
|
SFKossacks Table II:
1. a gilas girl
2. justiceputnam
3. Dragon5616
4. DebtorsPrison
5. tmservo433
6. shanikka
7. aha aha
8. jotter
9. norm
10. figbash
|
Los Angeles Table:
1. Shockwave
2. susans
3. Dave in Northridge
4. gmats
5. 714day
6. jakedog42
7.
8.
9.
10.
|
New York Table:
1. sidnora
2. Mr. sidnora
3. belinda ridgewood
4. thankgodforairamerica
5. Denise Oliver-Velez
6. hayden
7.
8.
9.
10.
|
Seattle & Portland Table:
1. Lefty Coaster
2. Sara R
3. loggersbrat
4. N in Seattle
5. Cedwyn
6. linkage
7.
8.
9.
10.
|
Texas/Oklahoma/New Mexico Table:
1. texasmom
2. texasdad
3. TexMex
4. nomandates
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
|
Maybees:
kjoftherock, angry marmot, boran2, Turbonerd, northerntier, northerntier's SO,
Sunday, July 20th
Kansas Missouri Kossacks Meet-up with Lyon County Democrats & Governor Candidate Paul Davis
Paul Davis (D-KS) who is running against Sam Brownback will be present. Potluck Dinner format and short meeting for Kossacks/Democrats afterwards. There will also be several other candidates and a full meeting of the county party.
POTLUCK!
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Emporia Senior Center
603 E 12th Ave • Emporia, Kansas
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2.
3.
|
Maybees: |
Latest diary: Tim Huelskamp Asserts Benghazi is a Bipartisan Conspiracy.. And the Man who Could Beat him this year
Saturday, July 26th
Meet the Candidates in Hutchinson, Kansas!
• Jean Shodorf (Candidate for Secretary of State)
• Brian E Davis (Candidate for State House of Representatives)
• Jim Sherow (Candidate for 1st District US House of Representatives)
• Jill Docking (Candidate, Lt. Governor)
• Various County Party Leadership
TIME: 11:00-3:00 PM
LOCATION: Pyle Park
100 E. Ave. B • Hutchinson
BBQ, watermelon and other food provided. Bring a lawn chair.
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2.
3.
|
Maybees: |
Latest diary: Major Kansas Events: Your Chance to Change a State
Sunday, July 27th
Phoenix Kossacks Roll Out the Red Carpet for navajo
Event will be potluck, so please sign up here with food, beverages or booze
TIME: 4:00 PM
LOCATION: Mother Mag's Rooftop Terrace
(address given privately to RSVPs) • Downtown Phoenix
ORGANIZER: Send Mother Mags a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Mother Mags
2. navajo
3. Azazello
4. Mrs. Azazello
5. arizonablue
6. Mr. arizonablue
7. Kane in CA
8. puzzled
9. Late Again
10. Mr. Late Again
|
Maybees:
rasbobbo
DaNang65
drnatrl
dewey of the desert
Mr. dewey of the desert
PSzymeczek
Skippah
|
Latest diary: Arizona meet-up: Summer potluck with Navajo!
Saturday, August 9th
Kansas Missouri Kossacks Picnic - Local Candidate Speaks
Meet at the Hays city park to enjoy a free hamburger/hotdog/watermelon feed. Jim Sherow along with other local candidates will be speaking.
TIME: NOON
LOCATION: Municipal Park
1st and Main • Hays, Kansas
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2. Skohays
3.
|
Maybees: |
Latest diary: Major Kansas Events: Your Chance to Change a State
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.