Hitting the Road
In two hours (assuming I get my act together in time), Jesse and I are hitting the road and heading for Chicago. I love Chicago. Jesse grew up and went to college there, so he REALLY loves Chicago. We’re going to pick up the kiddos who just spent 2 weeks with Grandma and Grandpa in St. Paul. I’m super excited about this trip because I’ll be hooking up with a few Twitter/Social Media friends while we’re in town. Here’s what we’ll be up to:
- We’re staying with friend and fellow blogger Brad Gross (@bradgross) and will be grilling, sipping iced coffee’s, and taking in a few sights. I’ve worked on a few podcasts with Brad so it will be great to finally meet him! If you’re in the Chicagoland area let us know! It would be fun to see a few more people while we’re there.
- Tonight I’m going to a Marin Foundation Living in Tension Gathering with Andrew Marin. I’ve heard great things about his events where gay, straight, Christian and non-believers gather to talk about life, God, and stuff, and I’m so excited to actually be attending one. And I get to meet Nathan face to face (you can read a post by him here tomorrow). I’ll be posting pictures and my thoughts about the event on Friday when I close out my LGBT Pride Month series.
- Thursday we’re hitting the streets of Boystown with Brad and Andrew. Me, three straight guys, and one of the coolest gay communities in the country. Good times.
- And of course Brad, Jesse, and I will be building a living room fort. My friend Tammy (@inprogress) is hosting her second annual fort building contest, and we’re entering it. You should too! But you have to act fast: entries need to be in this week. You can find all the details here. Be forewarned… WE WILL OWN THIS!
- And of course something fun when we pick up the kids on Saturday. Navy Pier perhaps?
So, before I leave I have two questions for you (feel free to leave fort building tips in the comments too!):
Hi Nicole! If I could meet a social media friend it would be @theHeirtoBlair and of course you!! Who would I love to meet … that's a toughy. Probably Jesus. So … you know RMHC is based outside of Chicago? Would you want to stop by a Ronald McDonald House on your trip here?? There are a couple right in the Chicago area (one pretty near Boystown in fact.) Let me know, and I'd be happy to set up a tour!
I have met SO many social media friends, and they are priceless. I'm a big friend-maker, but I feel certain that someday I will have more friends who I first met via internet than in real life. When I moved to Houston two years ago I got plugged into the SM community here (lots of marketing people and creatives!) and my circle of friends there swells constantly through Twitter and events for us to meet in person.
Also I went to my first blogging conference this year, Mom 2.0 Summit, and I met so many women whose blogs I'd been reading for years! Even Heather Armstrong, possibly the first mom-blog I ever read.
I think I would like to meet YOU someday, though I haven't read a lot of your writing yet. Enough to tell me I want to get to know you. I'd like to meet Matthew and Jessica Turner someday. There are sooo many others. And I see a lot of these as an eventuality for me.
I would LOVE to see you. What does Friday around noon look like? Call me.
I would love to meet all of them
Oh, it would be fun to meet you too. :)
That depends on how you define “friend' :) There are some followers that I'd be cool with not meeting. Just saying. There are also TONS of friends that I would LOVE to hang out (have “fellowship” ;) with. Including you.
After tonite, there will only be about 10-12 others I'd like to meet face to face, several of which are in the PNW (you know who you are!). You and Jesse are at the top of my list, tied for 1st place…and, as fate would have it, you will both be at my house tonite!!!!
I read this comment and said, “Oh, how sweet”. Jesse said, “Yeah, we're pretty cool”. Oh boy.
So right now I would say my “hang out” list consists of, or any combination of, the following (in no particular order): Carlos Whittaker (@loswhit), Jonathan Acuff (@prodigaljohn), Donald Miller (@donmilleris), Matthew Paul Turner (JesusNeedsNewPR), Pete Wilson (@pwilson), Nicole Wick (@nicolewick), and/or Jenni Clayville (@jclayville).
Wow, there are TONS I'd love to meet. The standards would be Carlos Whittaker (@loswhit), Pete Wilson (@pwilson), Kem Meyer (@kemmeyer) and Matthew Paul Turner (@JesusNeedsNewPR). Others include Brent and Tam Hodge (@inworship and @inprogress, Jenni Clayville (@jclayville), Jenni Catron (@jennicatron), Alece Ronzino (@gritandglory), Shelley Hendrix (@shelleyhendrix), and SO many others. Not the LEAST of which would be Nicole Wick, OF COURSE!
I have been able to meet some, like John Saddington (@human3rror), Chris Ames (@dewde), Sarah Markley (@sarahmarkley), and several I work with, albeit remotely, at LifeChurch.tv.
You! if you make a pit stop coming through Kalamazoo DM me:) Have a great time!
You're both right! I'm sweet and you guys are cool! :)
Most of my social media friends are actually people I already know and have been friends with for years. However, the few that aren't I would love to meet! I got to meet @JesusNeedsNewPR a year ago or so when he spoke at my church @centerpointlive. I would like to meet you and @pwilson as well. Not to mention @maxlucado & @karenkingsbury. :)
Oh yeah, and I'm SO jealous you're going to Chicago!! When I was in full-time missions, I lived there for 2 years. Spent a lot of time in Boystown, too. The org I was involved with always hoped to open up a coffeeshop on Belmont. There's this pink building that used to be a church (it may still be) that would have made a cool spot for one. Anyways…..It's my favorite city!! So much culture & life. Have a great time!!!
I'm so excited for you :) We talked about you last nite – me and my bloggy blog pals – @gritandglory (alece) and @thegypsymama (Lisa-Jo) and @traceepersiko (Tracee) as we had some fun gal time at TGIF's. It was all great – don't worry :) There are so many awesome bloggy blog friends I still want to meet – like TamTam and Jenni C and the rest of the West coast crew (including of course David and Diane who need to move here soon)
Have an amazing time w/Andrew and his team… I'm so jealous!! :)
I don't belong in that group, but thank you :)
Ugh… I can't to meet you and Paul someday….
I would love to do that sometime :)
I wish I knew more of my social media friends…
I LOVE Chicago!!!!
Dang, I wish I would have been with you guys!
Ha Ha. I don't agree with everything that they all say but it would be great to hang out and get to know them better. I find that the more time I spend with/read/listen to people of different mindsets the more I am able to process and solidify my own thoughts.
I meant that I'm not nearly as cool as the people you mentioned. Not even close. :)