Monday, March 19, 2012

Writers & Red Rock, Members, and Ouch!


I sincerely hope all of you had an amazing weekend, productive and restful. How was mine? I'll tell you!

Writers of The Long Table!

It started off with an amazing get-together that Leigh Covington organized called Writers & Cheesecake. The turnout was great. I loved the opportunity to meet several blogging giants that I had yet to meet in person. Good food. Good company. Just one problem: there was no cheesecake involved. The originally planned location (The Cheesecake Factory) refused to seat us. Refused. Seems like a strange move to me. What restaurant, during tough economic times, would turn down 30 plus customers with a nice, guaranteed, gratuity charge?

(And then some - I'm a generous tipper)

I've never been. I'm sure it's a great establishment with awesome service and stellar employees, but it doesn't exactly help the PR, you know? I don't know the details either, so I'll let this one slide. Red Rock Brewery, on the other hand, were more than happy to have us!


We mingled, we ate, and mingled some more. Definitely a night worth repeating. We just might make this an annual/biannual thing. Right, Leigh? ... Leigh? ...



It was pure bliss seeing you, old and new! For those of you attending Storymakers, I'll have to see if my good friend/Italian restaurant owner in Provo will let me reserve their party room for an evening. Details soon.

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This week's new members are a living bunch, so do make the journey to their blogs - just a click away!

and 

Welcome to The Cosmic Laire! We're happy to have you join our ever-growing starship of awesomeness!

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Now for a serious question: did anyone notice at the get-together that I was in terrible pain? Is it possible to have a Charley horse type cramp in your shoulder blade area? I've looked it up. Some results were unsettling. Either I have a medical emergency on my hands or just a bad cramp. I feel fine otherwise, but I'll look into it.

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Update - Once I get this shoulder adjusted, I'm back to the grind. I may not blog as much as I have lately (no worries - there will still be at least three a week). But, yeah. My progress on Dragon's is embarrassing. Time to step it up a notch. Aiming for three chapters this week.

How was your weekend? Has a restaurant ever turned you away before? Where'd all that snow come from?

I'm David, and the Chicken Parmesan was delovely!

57 comments:

  1. That looks like so much fun. Wish I was in that neck of the woods.

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  2. Beer is better than cheesecake anyway. Are you the only guy at that whole long table?

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    1. I think there were seven of us guys there, mostly on the other end.

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  3. Definitely make it an annual or bi-annual thing!!! I was there virtually. Meaning, texting Leigh whenever I could, lol. :)

    I've never been to Cheesecake Factory either, but I mention those words to Leigh now, she turns into the online version of The Hulk. Better stick with Red Rock.

    And where did this snow come from? I swear it's here one day and then vanishes the next.

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  4. lucky!
    its like a colony of writers!

    and cheesecake factory is overpriced!

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  5. Wow! This is seriously a lineup of some of my very favorite bloggers out there! (Morgan, Michael, Angela, et. al) Very jealous, David!

    Get that back/shoulder pain looked at if it doesn't subside soon, btw. Sorry to hear it, and you're right, it could be something more serious.

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  6. Leigh posted pictures as well. That's a lot of bloggers in one room!

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  7. Hey Dave,

    Hope the shoulder is feeling a little better and gets a lot better soon:)

    Re. the pics.... I'm oozing a color that rhymes with dean... it sounds (and looks) like y'all had such a great evening. I would go with the bi-annual thing, what a great way to forge friendships and network with others in the community.

    PS... I used to work for the Cheeesecake Factory... great place to eat (and work!) shocked to hear they couldn't (wouldn't) take you guys on... but glad it didn't ruin the evening :)

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  8. What a fun event! Thanks so much for the shout out. And yes, I think you would like THE LAST APPRENTICE - very cool.

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  9. Gah, I'm SO jealous! Looks like you had tons of fun, wish I could've come! (I live in Idaho...maybe next time I'll have to make the drive...)

    And I can't believe Cheesecake Factory wouldn't seat everyone! (I've only eaten there once, but it is quite fabulous.) Hope your shoulder gets better soon!

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  10. For sure! I think we most definitely should do it again. It was so fun to meet more amazing people in person. I loved it. And I didn't notice you were in pain. :( Sad. I hope it's not a medical emergency. Get this figured out soon, would ya, and let me know you're okay!

    I think your idea about dinner for Storymakers is awesome. I'll all for it. Let us know the details if you can work it out. YUM & FUN!

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  11. I've never been there either. Can't believe they turned you away! That almost happened on my husband's birthday but there were only six of us. Luckily a more experienced waitress was able to make room for us.

    Looks like you had an amazing time! I love reading about events like yours.

    Hope your shoulder feels better soon!

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  12. It looks like you guys had a great time! My group was turned away from Carraba's during my senior prom. There were like..12 of us. Anyhow we made a mad dash to The Bread Company and ended up having a great time. Plus, our dates were pretty happy that they saved 50 bucks ;)

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  13. I've never been to the Cheesecake Factory but I'm also surprised that they refused to seat you. Sounds like you still managed to have a great evening though.

    Good luck with the shoulder and the writing...

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  14. Aw! Looks like you guys had a great time. My kids were all performing that night so I couldn't make it. But I heard it was awesome.

    I'll be at Storymakers on Saturday! You'll have to let us know the plans. ;)

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  15. For sure! I thought it was so much fun. I would love to get together with everyone again. It's nice to meet other writers and be able to share similar frustrating stories.

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  16. Wish I could have been there! I really haven't connected with other writers in person yet. I'm a nurse by the way, and if the pain is the left shoulder, I would get it checked out, it could be the heart. Not that it is, but only certain tests can eliminate that! (Hope it's not!) I left you an award on my blog!

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  17. I got chicken parmesan, too! And another get together sounds fabulous.

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  18. Dang u awesome Utah writers having all the fun! Looks like my evil plan to thwart the cheesecake worked! Mwahhaha...

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  19. SOOOOOOOOO jealous. I wish I was able to make it to Storymakers. :0( I had a fabulous weekend on the coast of Oregon with my hubby for my anniversary.

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  20. I'm sitting here thinking, "Hi. My name is restaurant owner. I like to make money but I'm going to tell all of you lovely people that I can not seat you."

    Uh...WT-

    Moving on, sorry to hear about the pain. Hope it isn't a horrible emergency and that it will settle quickly. Good luck to you as you work towards making progress in the writing angle.

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  21. Sounds like you guys had a great time!
    (I'm so jealous!)

    I hope your shoulder feels better! :)

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  22. Join us Cherie!

    I didn't notice you were in pain :( Are you an writer AND an actor? ;)
    I hope that it goes away and never comes back.

    I posted the picture of us on my blog. You can steal it if you'd like :)

    Can I highly suggest that everyone does this every once in a while?

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    1. I have done some acting before, but I'm rusty. Off to steal your pic now. :)

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  23. Sounds like a fun weekend! Glad you guys found a table somewhere. :)

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  24. Wasn't it fun? Leigh's going to do some checking to see if we can schedule something in a part when the weather gets nice enough. That way we can do more mingling.

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  25. A Pizza party at StoryMakers? I'm in! And that sucks about the shoulder. Yucky!

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  26. It was great seeing everyone! Too bad you were at the other end of the long table. Definitely need to do this again!

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  27. Wow, wherever you live must be the writing capital of the world. Bet it was fun.

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  28. I wish there were bloggers that I knew in my city . Nice to know it was fun.

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  29. I wish I could have been there! Ah! SO jealous!!!!

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  30. I am in for Storymakers if it works out. In the meantime, I need to figure out a way to get some of you awesome people to the land to the south...Shakespeare Festival anyone?

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  31. I had so much fun. I hope Abby does it again soon. Man #theWalkingDead last night left me breathless. I was on the edge of the couch the entire time. I don't know what I'll do for six months. I need a support group LOL.

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  32. WHAT?!?!?!! You. Were. In. Pain????

    DPK, that's insane. I never noticed. Holy crap you can mask pain well.

    It was such a fun evening. Speaking with you, and Michael, Angela, and Leigh and everyone was SO GREAT. Watch out, writing world, Utah writers are going to take you by storm!

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  33. I recognized at least four people in that first shot. I suppose I should make it to one of these things some day.

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  34. Wow! Sounds like you had fun. So sorry Cheesecake Factory was being a stinker. :(

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  35. That looks like so much fun! Sorry to hear about your shoulder. I hope it is feeling better soon. What a great idea to get together with other blogger/writers in your area. I really need to pay attention to where everyone is from.

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  36. So sad I didn't make it! :( Next time though. I'll see you and everyone else at Storymakers! :)

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  37. Thanks for the mention and good luck with the three chapters. I had to cut down on blogging so that I would have more time to work on my novel.

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  38. I like your idea of a good weekend! Sounds great. Strange about the restaurant turning a big group like that down, especially a writers group. Ah well, their loss! Good luck with the shoulder. Sending healing vibes....

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  39. I think is so cool that your wife came! Pretty and supportive. How lucky are you?

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  40. Sounds like so much fun. Wish I could have gone.

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  41. Sounds like a great evening. Can't believe The Cheesecake Factory turned you down (fab place, but just order starters as portions are HUGE). Maybe it was the scary Star Wars-y guns you had that put them off!

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  42. It sounds like a great event! :)

    Did you say snow? Send it over. We've had hardly any at all this year and it's shooting up into the 70s . . . which is definitely abnormal for March.

    I hope your shoulder is better soon.

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  43. That looked like a lot of fun! I also am glad you are not in the middle of a major medical emergency!

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  44. Oh how fun! I wish I lived in a place with more bloggers. I do have my locals though. Weird that a restaurant would turn diners away. What kind of business plan is that?

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  45. Sounds like you had a great time! Too bad that they wouldn't let you have cheesecake.

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  46. Oh man! I'm so jealous. I'd love to meet all you awesome blogger/writers!

    Is your cramp around your shoulder blade kind of under your neck? That's where I get mine. I think its from typing so much...I hope its not more serious...

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  47. That party looked awesome. Wish I could have been there.

    Hope your shoulder is just a cramp. Probably from leaning over a laptop too much :)

    ........dhole

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  48. Sounds epic. Yet another reason I am bummed that I will not be at LDStorymakers.....darn that day job ;)

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  49. How cool to see so many bloggers I know in one place! I'm starting to really be sad that I can't go to Storymakers.

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  50. Man, I so wanted to go to this! Looks like it was tons of fun....I'm in SLC, so unfortunately it was a bit of a long drive considering I had plans for Friday night. Still, next time! Glad you guys had a blast.

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  51. I'm so jealous! It looks like you all had so much fun, despite the lack of cheesecake (what was with them turning you all away? Their restaurants are usually gigantic, more than enough to accommodate a party of 30+). I'm hoping to meet bloggy friends someday in the future!

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  52. I enjoyed being there. It's great to meet authors. Yay for that. I still can't believe I gave you the most lame hand shake ever. *shakes head* How about we forget about that altogether. haha

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  53. Such coolness! I always get a tad jealous when a bunch of bloggers are able to get together and hang out in real life. Although, that said, I'm not sure how I'd do mingling with 30+ people! (me = introvert!) Still, I'm sure it was tons of fun :-)

    Anyone coming to visit South Africa any time soon? Anyone?!

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