The Bloggers Meet – Part 1

I decided. I searched. I found the place. I mingled. I drank the coffee (?!). I left.

This is exactly how I would describe Sunday`s Chennai Bloggers Meet ….in 16 words. If you give me more elbowroom…maybe I can spice it up for you.

[Whatever I say after this line needs to be read with a pinch on salt on one hand and some pepper in the other]

I am not much of a guy for Blog Meets. And it was for the same reason that I didn`t visit the Bangalore Bloggers meet in which some of the urls that stood out were beerdrinker.blogspot.com, freebeer.blogspot.com, pubhopper.rediffblogs.com, beerguzzler.blogdrive.com and blogs.sify.com/vat69.

This weekend, Rekha`s relatives (and mine too) were in Chennai and the Bloggers Meet was a good excuse to leave them behind. I had to talk my way out because my F-in-Law wanted me to escort him to T-Nagar. Here is the conversation –

Father-in-law: So, where are you going?
Me: I am going to a Blogger`s meet.

Father-in-law: Bloggers? What bloggers?
Me: You know like…writers.

Father-in-law: Something like a kavi sammelan?
Me: Most bloggers don`t wear kurtas but yes…something like a kavi sammelan.

Father-in-law: Have you taken your poems?
Me: What poems?

Father-in-law: To recite there. Or would you read your stories?
Me: What stories?

Father-in-law: Arree…you are going to a writers meet…what will you be doing there?
Me: I will chat up with them and we will spend some time…maybe drink coffee.. and then be back.

Father-in-law: So..these are not writers but friends.
Me: No…no…they are not friends …they are bloggers…something like writers.

Father-in-law: OK….so they are writers without jobs…so they meet and spend time.
Me: No…no…they are all working elsewhere and also like to write…like to Blog.

Father-in-law: I don`t understand blogs.
Me: We also don`t understand some blogs.

Father-in-law: Are you trying to pull a fast one on me? You can tell me straight if you don`t want to accompany us to T-Nagar.
Me: Not at all. This is true. Bloggers do exist.

Father-in-law: What bloggers?

[Since we were now a full circle I left him wondering at the doorstep of our palatial mansion, and kick-started my Yamaha]

The security at the Amethyst, venue for the Blog Meet, almost lost me. For those who don`t know… Amethyst is a coffee joint. I didn`t know till the time I met the security guard at the gates.

Even as I parked my Yamaha, he asked: “Sir, have you come to drink coffee?”

“What?” [For a moment I thought I had entered a drive-in coffee-shop]

“I asked because you came on a bike.” He continued.

“What do you mean?”

“Sir…I kind of knew that you didn`t come for a coffee because you look the kind that would go to Saravana Bhavan. Here one coffee costs Rs 35 or more and it is yuck.”

“You are so very right…I did not come for coffee. But if I wanted I could drink 10 coffees right here in front of you. I am serious…I can afford it. I have the money.” Wonder what part of me made him think like that…

“The way you argue…I know you have come for the “Bugle” meet. You will have to go in and turn right. Mr Kirupa is organizing it.”

[I convey my thanks and move towards the ‘bugle` community. That is Blogging, by the way.]

PART TWO – RELEASING SHORTLY AT A BLOG NEAR YOU