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.
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Good morning Kogs and Kossacks in Dailykosland!
Let's start the working week with a Moral Monday.
Do you believe in love at first sight?
I never believed in love at first sight until it happened to me.
Of course I had heard the term before, and I read and saw The Godfather and knew about “the thunderbolt”. I assumed it was a guy thing—the result of seeing a woman (or man) who matches that checklist of ideal visual requirements everyone carries around in their heads—and figured it would never happen to me because I am not as much of a visual person.
One day I was waiting for a friend of a friend, someone I had never met, to come and give me a ride to a music event. I was not involved with anyone, but I wasn't looking either. I was still recovering from a serious heartbreak, so serious that I changed jobs and moved to another neighborhood so I would not risk running into the guy, and I was still not over him yet. So my mind was not primed to go in a new direction at all. I thought this guy was just doing a favor for my friend by giving me a ride to the event we were all attending.
When I came out of my apartment building and I saw him, I swear to God I personally experienced a whole bunch of clichés at once. I stopped dead in my tracks. My breath caught in my throat. Time stood still. The world stopped turning. It was so sudden and unexpected and disorienting I almost forgot where I was. Then he smiled, and that made it worse. Then he said my name, “I assume you are Leslie?” and it was all over. Sigh.
Throughout the years I have referred to it as “love at first sight” but more than eye appeal was involved. In fact, he was kind of ordinary looking, but he pushed important attraction buttons for me. He had thick dark wavy hair, a little longer than men were wearing it at the time, which was nice. He had a full beard, well trimmed, with a little bit of salt and pepper in it. He was a big guy, a good size for me, a teddy bear, the right combination of muscles and cuddliness. He was wearing a plain white shirt with sleeves rolled up a bit, and he had no way to know that was something I really loved. He was standing next to an otherwise ordinary looking silver car that was several years old. So it wasn't model good looks, an expensive car, stylish clothes, or an athlete's build. Which is just as well because those things in and of themselves don't move me anyway. And I was too far away from him to be affected by pheromones. I had talked to him briefly on the phone the night before when we made arrangements for the ride, and in person the voice was even better—a rich baritone, smooth as honey mixed with butter, and with all sorts of wonderful musical overtones in it. Writing about it now, almost 25 years later, is giving me goosebumps. It was a sensory overload moment in time I had never had before or since.
I fell so hard and so immediately I almost lost my mind. It wasn't just a sexual attraction either--he turned out to be really compatible with me in all kinds of psychosocial ways. For a while I actually thought of him as my missing piece. My soul mate.
That was a bad idea though, because sadly, he was unavailable. Married. One more name on my long list of unrequited loves. But circumstances did lead to his being in my life for a while. My infatuation with him was obvious, I was too moonstruck to hide it, and on one level all men love attention, so he lapped up my affection like a hungry kitten enjoying a saucer of warm milk. But except for occasional harmless flirting and one memorable slow dance nothing ever happened between us.
I was several years getting over it.
In a similar vein, I have been known to fall in love with voices. It's the sound quality and musicality more than the timbre so it's not about how deep the voice is. Some deep voices do nothing for me. Sometimes it's about a lovely accent. I respond to a beautiful speaking voice the way other folks respond to knockout beach bodies... I can't help reacting. Even a man who is average in the looks department can get my attention if he is blessed with the right voice. I wonder if that kind of auditory attraction is primarily a woman thing. Barry White was not conventionally handsome, but no one will ever be able to count how many babies get conceived to Barry White records.
I also know a woman who once fell for a guy because of the way he smelled.
She was being introduced to a guy by a mutual friend. He was freshly showered, all clean clothes, he wasn't sweaty, there was nothing pronounced or exaggerated about his smell that day. I stood right next to him, I even hugged him, and I didn't notice anything. But when he hugged her, she said his natural smell set off all kinds of alarm bells in her—in a good way. Some powerful biochemical response must have gone on there to get her ten alarm fire going. She fell head over heels for him in an instant, and she attributes it to his body chemistry.
I've also experienced the kind of love that develops slowly over a period of time, and believe that mature love grows as time passes. Still, I have felt the boom shake the room moment enough times (twice) to believe that love at first sight is a very real phenomenon. "Love at first sight" is a term of art, though, since it's about more than "sight". The other senses can of course be involved, as well as intuition and assumption and a whole host of other intangibles. At the same time I know lots of people who think it's all hogwash because it has not happened to them. Yet(!).
Have you ever had that kind of overwhelming deep attraction to someone, based on an overload of one or more of the five senses? Have you ever seen/heard/smelled someone and immediately been hit with the thunderbolt?
Do you believe in "love at first sight"?
start up soundtrack
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
Meetup Success! C+J/NE Kossacks Sept 6th
by nhox42 ♥ for New England Kossacks
The New England Kossacks got together at the home brillig and mik north of Boston. Kossacks drove from all over New England to attend. Looks like a great time was had by all.
Folks in attendance were: brillig, mik, K1, K2, Simple, nhox42, Ed Tracey, GreyHawk, Kathy, TrueBlueMajority, theKgirls, Bill in Portland Maine, Common Sense Mainer, mayim, dtheo, RubDMC, AnotherMassachusettsLiberal, Debbie in ME, ialonelady, CwV, sardonyx, Noor B, Andy, James and Alex.
New England Kossacks
Please visit nhox42's diary for MORE photos! Including yummy food pr0n. Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join New England Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to nhox42.
by ZenTrainer ♥ for Nashville KosKats
August 16th, the KosKats met up at the lake at Shipwreck Cove; Patrick is Lucky, Zen Trainer, Mr. and Ms. Sow Hat and 2 red county anonymous dems.
From Zen Trainer:
The Democrats aren’t even trying here. We talked about how to get someone with some sense in here running our state party. I had a name in mind - Mary Mancini.
[...] The other thing we talked about is Moral Mondays. I’d like to really concentrate on getting our legislature to force our Governor to accept expanded Medicaid for our state. I need big time help for that. Most of the KosKats who came to this meet-up don’t live in Nashville, they are on the outskirts. So we need some more local KosKats to step up.
L-R: Photo 1 - Mr. Sow Hat, Patrick is Lucky & Sow Hat Photo 2 - Patrick is Lucky & Zentrainer
Please visit ZenTrainer's diary for photos plus food pr0n! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Nashville KosKats by sending a Kosmail to ZenTrainer.
by mimi ♥ for Maryland Kos
A joint meet-up of the Kossacks from Virginia, Maryland and DC happened on August 23rd. What a nice turn-out with great political discussion. Thanks to team leaders JamieG from Md and NinthElegy for organizing.
Here's one photo:
Back row: STI (JamieG's husband), Sturunner, jhutson, Uncle Cosmo, TRsCousin
Midde row: VeenaS1, Diana in NoVa, Aximill, mollyd, mdmslle, JamieG from Md, JG in MD, a gilas girl
Front row: louisev, patbahn, Laura Wnderer, BDA in VA
Please visit mimi's diary for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it.
You can join Maryland Kos by sending a Kosmail to JamieG from Md.
You can join VIRGINIA KOS by sending a Kosmail to JamieG from Md.
You can join DC KOSSACKS by sending a Kosmail to NinthElegy.
by Sara R ♥ for Koscadia
The Kosacadia Kossacks (rsmpdx, winglion, loggersbrat & Sara R) got together at their local Food Truck pod. They stamped money to support the Stamp Stampede which was organized by Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream as a citizen effort to promote a Constitutional amendment to undo the pernicious effects of the Citizens United decision. Sara R has set up a Daily Kos group to rally others to this cause, please send them a Kosmail if you'd like to join in.
Please visit Sara R's diary for details. You can still REC it. You can join Koscadia by sending a Kosmail to Sara R.
by John Crapper ♥ for Seattle and Puget Sound Kossacks
Excerpts from John Crapper:
[...] Within minutes of my first conversation with Penny GC she said it best. "You know, I feel like I already know you from your posts and comments. Do you know what I mean?" And I immediately nodded my head feeling exactly the same way. That is the beauty of the Kossack experience!
[...] Finally, I gave each an assignment. I am a teacher you know so it's in my DNA. I asked each person to recruit one person in their circle of friends to become a Kossack and join Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks. It's this simple. [...]
Thanks, Mr. Crapper for this excellent organizing of Seattle. We have big hopes for mobilizing all of Washington. So great of you to be on board here in the beginning with such an important metropolitan area.
L to R - Back row: Nelson (soon to be Kossack), Sarge in Seattle, Gemina13, bleeding blue, momomia,
Kneeling down, Yous truly John Crapper, Penny GC
Not in picture: LarissaW & John Crapper's SO
Please visit John Crapper's diary for many MORE details! You can still REC it. You can join
Seattle and Puget Sound Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to
John Crapper.
by remembrance ♥ for Silicon Valley Kossacks
Last Sunday, Silicon Valley Kossacks had their first meet up right in the hub of Downtown San Jose, where plutocrats, technocrats, and college students gather over local brew. The patio of Gordon Biersch was the setting of our open air meeting that would give cause to our newly formed group and inspire us to reach out to voters about progressive candidates and policies.
[...] If you live in the 17th, 18th, or 19th district, please join Silicon Valley Kossacks. If you are not a Daily Kos user but would like to work with us, please make a user account and leave us a comment below. You can follow our group by clicking on the ♥ at the top of the page.
L-R: Back Row: fiercefilms, Senor Unoball, esquimaux, madhause, navajo, Glen The Plumber, Lusty Front Row: Mrs. Senor Unoball, slowbutsure, norm, remembrance, TLO™
Please visit remembrance's diary for more information. You can still REC it. You can join Silicon Valley Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to Glen The Plumber.
Four Corners Kossacks Welcome Entourage from New Mexico
by Thinking Fella ♥ for Four Corners Kossacks
A last minute call went out to anyone interested in welcoming Land of Enchantment and jnhobbs to Durango. LucyTooners and Mr. LucyTooners rose to the occasion. A fantastic evening was reported to me by texts and lots of food pr0n as evidence.
Here's the group photo!
L-R: Mr. LucyTooners, LucyTooners, Thinking Fella, Land of Enchantment & jnhobbs
You can join Four Corners Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to Thinking Fella.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast the date of your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Announcing Mojave Kossacks!
Saturday, September 20th
Mojave Kossacks Inaugural Meet-up
Subtitled: Us Poor Bastards what Gotta Live in Teabagger Districts
Moody is looking for Kossacks in the CA-23 area, Antelope/Aerospace Valley, Bakersfield, Mojave, Barstow, Victorville/Apple Valley, and any other Red State SoCal Kossack willing to make the trip to Lancaster.
It's a potluck and if enough people sign up Moody will BBQ some New England style pulled pork.
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Lancaster City Park
43063 N. 10th Street West • Lancaster
ORGANIZER: Send Moody Loner a kosmail to attend.
Latest diary: Okay, Let's Do This: Mojave Kossacks Meetup 9/20 2PM
Announcing Coachella Kossacks!
Saturday, September 20th
Coachella Kossacks Inaugural Meet-up
Calling all Kossacks in Morongo Basin and Coachella Valley
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Westfield Mall Food Court
Monterey and 111 • Palm Desert
ORGANIZER: Send Susan from 29 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. blue drop
2. ruscle
3. Susan from 29
4. susans
5. TheNinoThomad
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Maybees: |
Latest diaries: Coachella Kossacks Sept 20 Meet Up
SERIOUSLY SEEKING Morongo Basin and Coachella Valley Kossacks
Sunday, September 21st
Voter Outreach & Registration + Kansas Kossacks Meet-up
Jean Schodorf (DailyKos endorsed), Jim Sherow (CD1), Dennis Anderson (State Insurance Commissioner) and more in tandem with LULAC - the League of United Latin American Citizens in an effort to reach out to a large and growing portion of the Kansas Community that has been left out by Republicans.
IF YOU ARE A KOSSACK IN AN UNORGANIZED KANSAS COUNTY, please attend!
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: TBD
[Address] • Dodge City
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Uniting a State: Kossack Meeting Dodge City, KS Sept. 21
Attribution: Jetsonorama
Sunday, September 21st
People's Climate March
TIME: Midday, TBD
LOCATION: Columbus Circle
Central Park West and 59th • New York City
Join hundreds of environmental and climate justice groups and tens of thousands of individuals on the streets of New York City on Sunday, September 21, 2014, for the People's Climate March. The march is being held two days before the UN Climate Summit, where political and corporate leaders are meeting prior to the December 2015 UNFCCC COP21 in Paris. It also precedes Climate Week NYC.
The links below provide information on transportation to New York, volunteer opportunities, events in New York, and other ways you can become involved in your local communities.
• Getting There: Links to available buses, trains, ride boards and creative group transit ideas near you to get the NYC for September 21st
• How to Get Involved
• RSVP and volunteer/donation opportunities
Latest diary: UN Climate Summit: What To Expect and Why it Matters
Sunday, September 21st
NYC Kossacks Meet-up with boatsie & WarrenS!
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Spitzer's Corner
101 Rivington Street (Ludlow) • NYC
ORGANIZER: Send kathny a kosmail to RSVP
RSVPs:
1. boatsie
2. kathny
3. sidnora
4 rubyr
5. joanbrooker
6. WarrenS
7. NancyWH
8. Sean Robertson
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Maybees:
mimi
raines
MizC
MizC's brother
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Latest diary: NYC Post-march meetup 9/21 - w/special out-of-town GUESTS!
Saturday, September 27th
LA Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Guild Restaurant
611 W 7th St • Los Angeles
ORGANIZER: Send susans a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. susans
2. Shockwave
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Seattle City Council member
Kshama Sawan
Saturday, October 4th
Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks Meet-up
SPECIAL SPEAKER: Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant who gained national attention in her successful campaign to get $15.00 min. wage passed in Seattle
TIME: 12:30 PM
LOCATION: Pyramid Alehouse, Brewery & Restaurant
1201 First Avenue South • Seattle
SET MENU COST: $25.00 per person (includes non-alcoholic beverage, gratuity, tax and your choice of entree from a limited-choice menu)
Space will be limited to the first thirty who RSVP for this event and I'm working to have the room filled to capacity, so don't delay.
Please note: A larger group, in a private room, bringing in a guest speaker requires more formality than our past meet ups. Please refer to the google group announcement for more details.
ORGANIZER: Send John Crapper a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. John Crapper
2. John Crapper's SO
3. bleeding blue
4. momomia
5. doingbusinessas
6. cinnamon68
7. Piren
8. Eagle Keeper
9. LarisaW
10. Diachronic
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks - Meet Kshama Sawant - Oct. 4
Saturday, October 4th
Dkos Asheville Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: The Cantina at Historic Biltmore Village
10 Biltmore Plaza • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. randallt
2. davehouck
3. Joieau
4. Lamont Cranston
5. DawnN
6. SteelerGrrl
7. SteelerGuy
8. swhelden
9. Ottery Scribe
10. Burns Lass
11. Family guest
12. smiley7
13. people power granny
14. Gordon20024
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Maybees:
munchkin
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Latest diary: DKos Asheville: Weekly Open Thread
Sunday, October 19th
NYC Kossacks Meet-up with navajo
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Spitzer's Corner
101 Rivington Street (Ludlow) • NYC
ORGANIZER: Send kathny a kosmail to RSVP
RSVPs:
1. navajo
2. ericlewis0
3. belinda ridgewood
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Maybees:
mconvente
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Saturday, November 8th
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.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Seattle Meet Up - Dog Day Activities
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.