The Dive

I went to the Dive Bar yesterday evening. That's where everything Brendan Melican said would happen really did happen.

Being an old fart, and a hang around the house, early to bed and early to rise kinda guy, I got there early.

I was naive enough to think that 6:30 was going to be too early, but when I walked in I found that many of the stellar entities that populate my Worcester online virtual universe were there already.

So, I guess I just wasn't early enough to wander in and do what I do best: hang out, take breaks, and engage in idle chit-chat.

Kaz Gamble and Brendan Melican.

Everybody was very busy getting the event set up, but I have to say that each one of these guys was an absolute pleasure to finally meet in person.

Despite being faced with everything coming together in a matter of less than an hour, rushing around making sure all the equipment was really going to work, worrying that nobody forgot anything, ...they were all still willing to suffer my interrupting and introducing myself, one after another.

They're all very interesting and engaging people, to say the least!

Andrea Ajemian, Mike Benedetti, and Brendan Melican.

As the 7:30 scheduled start drew closer and closer, the mayoral candidates started arriving. Since the bar had a contingent of regulars, apart from those who were only there for the debate, each candidate worked their way down the line of bar stool occupants and standees, introducing themselves and doing what candidates do during campaign season.

First to arrive was Bill Coleman, whom I had never met and have yet to spot on the street while I'm driving around. So I spent several minutes getting to know him and chatting. He's definitely a kindred spirit.

In fairly short order, Rick Rushton, Gary Rosen, and Konnie Lukes all arrived one after the other, and tagging along for the show was also Joe Petty.

After Brendan began the event with some lively introductions, I spent most of my time snapping pictures and floating back and forth to keep out of Kaz's way while he hefted a large video camera.

Naturally, Murphy's Law dictated that my good camera would run out of battery after shooting only a couple of pictures, so I ended up using the old reliable Razr cellphone camera for the bulk of my shots.

It's bad enough to try to get cellphone pix in low light, but when you mix that in with bright spot lights for the videotaping, the contrast ends up being beyond the capacity of the little dinky cellphone camera.

The debate inquisitors: Chris Kanaracus, Andrea Ajemian, and Scott Zoback.

Watching the truly adept while they ply their trade is always interesting, especially for an aging tyro like me.

Honestly, I have no slightest desire to turn into any sort of political observer, reporter, pundit, gadfly, commentator, or opinionator... I only showed up to meet some of the people in the Worcester online community and have my monthly beer.

There were two chalkboards listing all the different beers, and so I ended up taking an awful long time trying to figure out what to order.

The victims of the inquisition: Bill Coleman, Rick Rushton, Gary Rosen, and Konnie Lukes.

About a half hour into the event, I was chomping at the bit to go home and go to bed. I get up at four most mornings, and by eight at night I'm drifting off into dreamland. Besides, they were videotaping, so I'll be able to watch it online later.

It was fun, though, to meet all these folks, and also to run into a handful of people who read this blog and recognized me, introduced themselves, and said nice things.