I am back and recovering from my six day trip to Dallas, TX. I meant to… tried to check in but the combination of being one hour off from my Eastern time zone and the hours I was keeping both at relatives and at Jam meant I mostly failed. Grab some of the leftover BBQ ::points at the table over there:: and your beverage of choice (I’ve got a glass of Troublemaker, a blended red wine that’s oddly appropriate for tonight :-)), take a peek at how you can help us out here at TC, and hop below the story break for some semi-random observations about my Dallas time...
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Two things useful to know:
1. I have never lived anywhere but New York State or the greater Boston area. In other words, I’m a northern girl.
2. I’ve only ever been to Texas once before. Netroots Nation 2008 was in Austin, so that’s my sum total Texas experience.
Those facts explain why my first thought of Dallas was “omfg, everything really IS bigger here”. From roads (even the tiny connector to the cul de sac my SIL and family live on was wider than most of the roads in my city) to schools (that is a HIGH SCHOOL campus??!) to houses (the rooms in my nice house up here would be closets in the neighborhood my family lives in, even though housing prices are comparable), everything was big.
Besides size…
1. At least in the area my family lives (NW Dallas suburbs), I don’t think anyone has seen a grown woman with my color hair. When we picked up my nephews aged 4&6 from their schools, I could see every child there turn and stare, and hear the whispers. I’d love to know what my nephews heard the next day! I also had a man walk the length of a small office strip, stand in front of where I was sitting, and say “Hi. I just want to tell you I have never in my life seen a woman with hair like yours.” Umm, do I say thank you or OK or just look embarrassed? Once we got to the airport hotel where Jam was, the stares got fewer and the comments were genuine compliments.
2. I saw many more large trucks, and many fewer small cars. My SIL said that was true, that in her social circle there more people had big gas-guzzling vehicles. Because I live where I do, I’m a LOT more likely to see a Prius than a Tahoe.
3. The BBQ really was that good. If you’re ever in the Bartonville area, check out Marty B's. And most definitely try the Smoked & Stuffed Jalapenos. Totally worth finding the place.
4. Up north we simply do NOT have the megachurches that were everywhere in Dallas. All the congregations in my city would fit in the church we drove by nearest my family’s house. Possibly all the church buildings, too.
On Friday, I met up with my friends at the airport hotel where the Jam was happening. That was a complete mental shift from “Auntie Brillig reading bedtime stories to her nephews” to “Music Groupie Brillig goes to the afterhours party with the musicians”. I wrote about my first Second Life Music Jam back in 2011, then again in 2017, and this Jam, my seventh, proved as excellent as my prior ones. The musicians were both old friends I’ve known since 2011 and folks I’d never met- or in some cases ever heard before. My takeaways…
1. Even if you’re a wallflower introvert, everyone chats to people at a Jam. We’re all there for the same reason, we love to make or listen to live music. I pushed myself out of my shy extrovert comfort zone and made a point of talking with people I didn’t know, and am so glad I did!
2. There are a whole lot of utterly amazing musicians who perform in SL. You may never have heard of them, but I’ve paid a fuckton of money to hear lesser musicians and in SL I listen from home, in PJs, for a couple of dollars. If you’re on my Facebook, I livestreamed a bunch and please give a listen. If not, here’s just one example someone put up on Youtube. Umm… it was costume night so pay no attention to the chicken.
3. Whether it’s Netroots Nation or a music Jam… the whole point of getting together is to have fun, learn, and build community. What you can’t see in that video are the folks teaching each other, watching and imitating chords, and growing as musicians. Just like we all do at NN except with less music and more activism. Heck, they inspired ME to get up and sing part of a song on mic (!)
I had a blast, but it’s good to be home. Please stick around for what you really come here for, which isn’t singing chickens but the trio of Top Comments, Mojo, and Pictures that keep us humming in harmony here! Thanks to BeninSC for the duet we do each week, combining our writing and formatting talents to make a finished product for you!
Top Comments
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From Elizabeth NYC:
This comment from oldhippiedude, in niftywriter's rec list Good News Roundup this morning is a must-read for anyone who might be worried about the potential dangers of Pence becoming president.
From BeninSC:
From the above nominated comment thread, we find this wouldn’t it be wonderful scenario commentby VA Gal!
I am also nominating this comment by JohnB47, simply because of its appreciation for the role comments (in diary threads) play in our political dialogue.
Highlighted by FindingMyVoice:
Is this remarkable wildlife video comment by morgansmom. Stunning! They know!
Highlighted by The Marti:
Is this pictorial comment by FindingMyVoice!
Highlighted by arhpdx:
Is this deep comment ‘about the Trump Tower Theory of Everybody’ by Mokurai!
TOP MOJO
Top Mojo for yesterday, October 28th, 2019, with first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on FAQing Top Mojo.
TOP PICTURES
Top Pictures for October 29, 2019! Thanks so much, jotter!
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